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“I’ve changed my mindset over the winter and since Hobart,” says senior seamer headed for hometown Test

Valkerie Baynes06-Jun-2022If Stuart Broad learned one thing from his dramatic post-Ashes axing, it was to not look too far beyond his next match.The old “one game at a time” phrase couldn’t be more yawn-inducing but Broad’s approach is much more nuanced than that. So, like his wise words to the England team mid-Ashes drubbing about focusing on the present rather than a future that might not come, Broad’s advice to himself about not viewing this week’s clash with New Zealand at Trent Bridge as potentially his last home-ground Test rings true.As things stand, there is no Test scheduled for his native Nottingham next year but, with England looking to take an unassailable 2-0 lead after their stirring win at Lord’s, Broad is revelling in being back in the action alongside fellow seam-bowling veteran James Anderson after both were controversially dumped for the fateful tour of the Caribbean in March.”I’ve changed my mindset over the winter and since Hobart,” Broad said. “It’s not looking too far ahead, it’s just enjoying each week for what it is, give everything, and then reset for the next week.”Jimmy turns 40 this year, four years ago was he thinking 2018 might be his last at Old Trafford? Probably not. That just takes your mind away from enjoying the week.”I started this season not knowing if I’d pull on the England shirt again, I was just enjoying every day for what it was. I wear the Notts shirt with the same pride as the England badge and I’ll attack this week with the same mindset: walk out on that first day, look around the stands, and know how lucky I am to be there.”Related

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• Joe Root: I had an 'unhealthy relationship' with England captaincy

• Ben Stokes: 'This is what me and Brendon are trying to work towards'

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• Joe Root ascends snow-capped peaks of greatness, carrying his team on his shoulders

England’s five-wicket victory over New Zealand on Sunday’s fourth morning was their first in 10 matches played since they beat India at Headingley last August and heralded a new era under captain Ben Stokes and Test head coach Brendon McCullum.”It’s been one of the most fun weeks we’ve had as a team,” Broad said, “just the relaxed environment, the way we’re talking as a team. It’s not too structured, it’s just a case of what do you need to do to make you feel you’re 10-foot tall?”To see the way we’ve attacked that target shows that mindset. Things went our way – that no-ball makes it a different game – but it’s no mean feat chasing a score like that. That’s a mindset thing.”The no-ball referred to was Colin de Grandomme’s overstep which would have seen Stokes bowled for just 1. Stokes, who took over from former skipper Joe Root ahead of the New Zealand series, went on to make a valuable 54, sharing a significant stand with Root, who struck the winning runs in an unbeaten century the following day after joining forces with Ben Foakes to guide England past their target of 277.The match was Broad’s first under Stokes as captain – he was memorably dropped when Stokes stood in for Root against West Indies in 2020 – and he gave a positive appraisal of the new leadership.”It’s noticeable from Stokesy and Baz that it’s all about taking wickets,” Broad said. “To start the Stokes-McCullum era with a win is huge for us. To chase 277 is awesome for us as a group.”I don’t think anyone who has come to Lord’s can argue it’s not been fun, the style of cricket, edge-of-the-seat at times, the crowd has got involved and it’s something we want to take to Trent Bridge.”And Broad reiterated that his relationship with Root remained strong, despite hints of tension during the Ashes and Root being part of the selection panel which left him out for the subsequent West Indies tour.”Joe and I spoke at length when he stood down as captain and I said to him how much he’s meant to me as a captain, and what a privilege it was playing under him,” Broad said. “I told him I hope he really enjoys the next few years, all that pressure has gone now, he’s already a legend of the game, so he can just go out there and enjoy it.”Joe and I are great friends and I’ve always been someone who can distinguish between business and pleasure. I can’t fall out with someone because they don’t pick me in a team, that would be a bit pathetic.”Broad took two wickets in three balls in a trademark burst•AFP/Getty Images

Broad, who turns 36 this month, would not have been the most left-field option as captain following Root’s decision to step down – had his place in the side been secure at the time – given his experience and the ease with which he fronts the media.But he played a leadership role on and off the field during the first New Zealand Test, buying into England’s succession planning by joining Anderson and impressive debutant seamer Matthew Potts on a pre-match round of golf. Broad also helped whip the Lord’s crowd into a frenzy in the middle of an extraordinary three-ball turning point during the third day when he dismissed centurion Daryl Mitchell and bowled Kyle Jamieson for a duck either side of de Grandhomme’s bizarre run-out while Broad was belting out an unsuccessful appeal for lbw.”Yesterday was probably using my experience, thinking the team needs something here,” Broad said. “It adds a different pressure though. If you whip the crowd up, then bowl a half-volley and go for four you look daft. But I quite like that pressure. You’ll see this summer, when I feel we need that extra lift and momentum, I’ll do it again.”People say Trent Bridge and Edgbaston are the best Test match atmospheres in the country and after what was a really interesting win at Lord’s, it should see people who are heading to Trent Bridge have a lot of excitement about what is to come.”

Both teams will look to free themselves from a rough patch with Super League points not at stake

Mohammad Isam09-Jul-2022

Big picture

West Indies winning the T20Is against Bangladesh earlier this week was good news for their fans, but the style and chutzpah coming back is what they want as the tour goes into the ODI leg from Sunday.Bangladesh have had a forgettable tour so far, having lost both the Tests and T20I series 2-0. They will also be playing the ODI series without their superstars Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim for the first time since their debuts in 2006.The visitors will, however, be relieved to be playing the one-day format, where they’ve had some success in the recent past. Bangladesh are coming off series wins against Afghanistan and South Africa earlier this year. It also put them on top of the ICC ODI Super League for a few months. The win in South Africa was historic in itself as they beat the hosts away from home for the first time across formats.Meanwhile, West Indies have had a quiet year in ODIs. They have only won one out of their four series, against Netherlands, under new white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran.Shamarh Brooks and Shai Hope have been their best batters recently in this format and they will rely on Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph in the bowling department. However, Pooran would want the newcomers like Kyle Mayers to step up in ODIs, after having done well in the Tests and T20Is.The series provides an opportunity for West Indies to rebuild their ODI side while Bangladesh will be looking to recover from the defeats so far and notch up their first win on the tour. Given this series is not part of the ODI Super League, they will have more freedom to be fearless.

Form guide

West Indies LLLWW (Last five completed matches; most recent first)
Bangladesh WLWLW
Will WI be able to sweep the three-format contest with the ODI win too?•AFP via Getty Images

In the spotlight

It has only been two months since Nicholas Pooran took over the role as captain and he had said that he will be an “instinctive” leader. His unbeaten 74 in the third T20I proved that captaincy has not played a part in him becoming a subdued player. He was also quite vocal as a captain behind the stumps. Will he be able to revive West Indies in this format after a positive start to the limited-overs leg?Tamim Iqbal also has a major task at hand. After taking a break between the Tests and T20Is, the opener-cum-captain has joined the squad in Guyana, now with the responsibility of lifting the mood in the side. Bangladesh haven’t won a match since Tamim led them to a 2-1 series win in South Africa. Under him, Bangladesh have improved as an ODI side and the team will be hoping to get back to winning ways.

Team news

West Indies could include left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie to complement Akeal Hosein in the spin department.In another news, fast bowler Keemo Paul tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday and has been replaced by Romario Shepherd, who was a reserve in the squad. West Indies (probable): 1 Shai Hope (wk), 2 Kyle Mayers, 3 Shamarh Brooks, 4 Keacy Carty, 5 Nicholas Pooran (capt), 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Akeal Hosein, 8 Alzarri Joseph, 9 Romario Shepherd, 10 Gudakesh Motie, 11 Jayden SealesAnamul Haque will most likely get the No. 3 spot since no other options are available. Mahmudullah might bat a bit higher, leaving Nurul Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain in the middle and lower-middle order.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 2 Litton Das, 3 Anamul Haque, 4 Mahmudullah, 5 Afif Hossain, 6 Nurul Hasan (wk), 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

Apart from providing early movement for the fast bowlers, the Providence Stadium might be batting friendly. Rain is forecast for most of the day.

Stats and trivia

• West Indies’ last ODI series win against Bangladesh was way back in 2014. Since then, they have lost three series in a row to Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh have won two out of three ODIs at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

Quotes

“Losing is no fun. We want to end the West Indies tour on a high. I think everyone wants to finish well.”

Strong second-innings showing boosts hopes of fightback win after first-day collapse

ECB Reporters Network26-Jul-2022 Derbyshire 130 (Dal 55, Pennington 4-36) and 286 for 6 (Dal 85*, Madsen 69, McKiernan 58*) lead Worcestershire 185 (Kashif 52, Aitchison 4-40) by 231 runsVeteran Wayne Madsen completed 1,000 first-class runs as he and Anuj Dal helped manoeuvre Derbyshire back into strong contention on day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship match with Worcestershire at New Road.Madsen reached four figures in a campaign for the sixth time when he reached 32 and went onto make an invaluable 69.The 38-year-old had scored six Championship centuries in 2016 but had taken the next five seasons to double that tally as his impact slowly declined in red-ball cricket in recent years.But he has enjoyed a renaissance under new head of cricket, Mickey Arthur during 2022 and this was his 10th fifty-plus score, including three hundreds.Anuj Dal then capitalised on Madsen’s foundations with a second half-century of the game and this is by far his most prolific season with the bat.He has now surpassed 700 Championship runs this summer in the number seven role after ending unbeaten on 85 in addition to chipping in with 22 wickets.Mattie McKiernan, 58 not out, gave him sterling support during an unbroken stand of 120 and 169 runs were scored in an elongated final session which ended at 7.10pm.Ben Aitchison ensured that Worcestershire lead was restricted to only 55 with a three-wicket burst after they had resumed on 141 for 5 under overcast skies on a pitch where the ball still nibbled around.Gareth Roderick was undone by a delivery of extra bounce which he edged through to keeper Brooke Guest, Joe Leach (0) was lbw working to leg and Josh Baker (2) pushed forward and was bowled.Ed Barnard again looked in good form and when on 13 surpassed his previous best first-class run tally in a season of 746 achieved last summer.But after making 39 he presented Guest his sixth catch of the innings when nicking an away swinger from Dal.It was the first time a Derbyshire keeper had taken six or more dismissals in an innings since Harvey Hosein against Surrey at The Oval in 2014.Former Worcestershire pace bowler George Scrimshaw wrapped up the innings when Muhammad Hasnain was pouched at first slip.Aitchison finished with figures of 15-3-40-4 and Sam Conners lifted his wicket tally for the summer to 35 with a return of 15-2-63-3.The sun had come out by the time Derbyshire launched their second innings but ball initially continued to dominate over bat.Leach made good use of the new ball either side of lunch as Luis Reece went back to a good length ball and was lbw and then Guest was bowled via an inside edge.Opener Harry Came looked in good touch as Derbyshire wiped out their first-innings arrears with still eight wickets in hand.But the return to the attack of Dillon Pennington dealt a double blow to the Peakites.Came, on 39, went lbw to a delivery which arrowed back in and then Derbyshire captain, Leus du Plooy was bowled after working to leg.Derbyshire were only 37 ahead when they lost a fifth wicket as Hilton Cartwright was stumped in bizarre fashion.He failed to connect with a legside hit aimed at spinner Josh Baker and was stumped as the ball rebounded off the pads of keeper Gareth Roderick onto the stumps.Madsen swept Baker for four to complete 1,000 first class runs for the season before going lbw to a ball that nipped back in from Barnard.But Dal and McKiernan swung the game in Derbyshire’s favour with a 100 partnership from just 121 balls as batting looked increasingly straightforward.

“He has been with the team ahead of a lot of guys who are sitting back home because he’s clear in his mind,” India captain says about Arshdeep

Shashank Kishore07-Sep-20221:48

Rohit on Arshdeep’s drop vs Pakistan: We don’t look too much into social media

Rohit Sharma, the India captain, has hailed Arshdeep Singh’s confidence and composure despite the recent social media backlash after the India-Pakistan clash. Arshdeep had been tasked with bowling two of his four overs at the death in both of India’s Super 4s game, and while India ended up losing both, his yorkers and the ability to hold his own in tight situations stood out.The social media backlash that turned into a full-blown troll fest came in the aftermath of a dropped chance in a crunch moment, when Pakistan needed 31 off 16 balls and Arshdeep reprieved Asif Ali first ball at short third. Asif would go on to dent India by hitting 16 off eight balls before Iftikhar Ahmed sealed a dramatic last-over win.Related

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“Honestly, guys don’t look too much into social media, there’s too much crap happening there,” Rohit said. “A few losses here and there, few games here and there, one drop catch…I don’t think we look too much into it.”Yes, he himself was disappointed because it was a catch that could’ve been taken, but again if you saw his confidence in that final over, he nailed that yorker pretty well to get Asif Ali out. That shows if he was down and out, when you’re mentally not there, the execution doesn’t happen. But in his case, he came out confident to execute. In fact, he just ran into his place and took the ball, because he wanted that over to be bowled by him.”On Tuesday, like it was against Pakistan, Arshdeep bowled two of his four overs – the 17th and 20th – at the death. His final over, with Sri Lanka needing seven – was an outstanding one, particularly. He delivered four pin-point yorkers that went for three singles and a double, before Sri Lanka squeezed home courtesy two byes – a miss from Rishabh Pant at the striker’s end and Arshdeep at the non-striker’s end.Arshdeep has so far featured in 10 T20Is, picking up 13 wickets at an economy rate of 7.60. His ability to swing the new ball both ways and his yorkers at the death have been the standout factors that have impressed the team management.”Even today, he bowled pretty well, those last two overs,” Rohit said. “He is a very confident lad, that’s why he is here. He has been with the team ahead of a lot of guys who are sitting back home because he’s clear in his mind, a very confident lad. I’ve not seen many people like that in their early days of playing for India. He’s very confident and wants to do well. He’s quite hungry for success for the team, which is a good sign for me as captain. Even Rahul [Dravid] will tell you, we’re very happy with how he takes his game, and how approaches his game.”Rohit on Arshdeep: He’s quite hungry for success for the team, which is a good sign for me as captain•Associated Press

Rohit also offered his support for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had two ordinary outings, especially in the death overs. In both games, he bowled the penultimate over that went for 19 (against Pakistan) and 14 (against Sri Lanka). His combined figures in both the games read 8-0-70-1. Rohit was firm in his response, that these things weren’t going to worry the team management and how two bad days won’t undo years of good work in the team management’s eyes.”No , there’s no worry,” Rohit said. “You lose two games and then you don’t start worrying. We don’t talk like this in our dressing room. We’ve won so many matches post the [T20] World Cup [2021]. Experienced players get out, experienced players concede runs, these are normal things. They happen. I don’t think we should worry about these things. Bhuvi has been playing for so many years, has been winning games for us in death overs, so one or two games, we shouldn’t be judgmental.”Rohit also went to great lengths to explain how despite the nature of losses, the bowlers were all in a good headspace, contrary to the perception that they had been “mentally disturbed.””If you don’t get wickets upfront, yes, there’s pressure when you don’t have a 190-200 target. We’ve seen while chasing, the wicket becomes better. We knew if we didn’t get wickets in the powerplay, it would be difficult, but it doesn’t seem to be that any bowler is down or mentally disturbed. All the boys have confidence in their ability.”If you play these many games consistently, execution [going off] happens at times. In our judgment, we don’t say the morale is down. There will be such matches, it happens to everyone. I don’t think we look at it this way. All the boys are confident and have done well for us in the last six months”.

Visitors mirror Perth win in Canberra to go 2-0 up in three-match series

Tristan Lavalette12-Oct-2022Dawid Malan showcased his liking for Australian conditions with a blistering 82 then Sam Curran again held his nerve with the ball, as England wrapped up the T20I series with an eight-run victory in Canberra.After winning by the same margin in the series opener in Perth, England overcame a full-strength Australia to build momentum ahead of the looming T20 World Cup.Malan’s blistering 49-ball knock dug England out of an early hole after the visitors were sent in to bat on a seaming pitch in chilly conditions.Chasing 179 to keep the series alive, Australia threatened but were thwarted by a calm Curran with the defending T20 World Cup champions facing continual questions over a misfiring batting order.The series finale will be played on Friday at the same venue.Malan fires in his return to No.3After Jos Buttler and Alex Hales’ record century opening stand in Perth, Malan was the casualty as England sought flexibility and promoted a slew of big hitters up the order.It meant the elegant left-handed batter shifted down to No. 7 and faced just two deliveries at the death. But on a seaming Manuka Oval pitch under lights, against a full-strength Australia attack, Malan returned to his customary No. 3 slot and rescued England from a wobbly 54 for 4.Malan mixed trademark gorgeous cover drives with more belligerent strokes in a further indication that he’s well suited to the quicker Australian conditions. He received strong support from Moeen Ali, who received a life early after a rare drop from Glenn Maxwell at backward point. He made Australia pay with 44 off 27 balls to combine with Malan in a rapid 92-run partnership.After Moeen departed in the 17th over, Malan put the foot down to power England to a competitive total and provide a glimpse of what may lay ahead for the 35-year-old at the T20 World Cup.Starc held back, Stoinis steals the showTheir star bowlers returned after skipping the long journey to Perth, but Australia tinkered with spearhead Mitchell Starc not opening the bowling for just the third time in his T20I career and first since 2014.It seemed to pay dividends with Pat Cummins picking up the big wicket of Buttler in the fourth over before allrounder Marcus Stoinis continued his solid start to the series by removing Hales shortly after.Starc finally came into the attack in the sixth over and was promptly counterattacked by a free-wheeling Malan. The left-armer along with his fellow star quicks leaked runs, but Australia enjoyed a strong contribution from Stoinis, who claimed a three-wicket haul for the first time in his T20I career, while reliable leg-spinner Adam Zampa slowed England in the middle overs.However, they were left to rue several dropped catches in a sloppy fielding display.Australia has unresolved batting issuesAfter recently shifting away from his usual opening role, Aaron Finch returned to the top but it failed to do the trick with the skipper holing out to mid-off for 13.Maxwell, who returned after being rested for game one, had a golden opportunity to get out of a prolonged rut when he entered at 22 for 2 after the wicket of in-form David Warner.But Maxwell once again failed to get going and was caught for just eight meaning he has made only 16 runs in his last six T20I innings. With Steve Smith in the wings, having been unable to crack into the line-up this series, the pressure for spots is fierce.Big-hitters Mitchell Marsh and Tim David looked in powerful form but couldn’t stay at the crease long enough to get Australia over the line.Curran does it againWithout speedster Mark Wood, who ignited game one with rapid bowling in a three-wicket haul, England’s attack appeared susceptible, exacerbated by Chris Jordan struggling in his return from injury.The pressure was on Curran, who delivered in spades with the wickets of Maxwell and Stoinis mid-innings. Much like his clutch death bowling in Perth, Curran held his nerve when he returned in the 18th over to snare the key wicket of David, who was on the cusp of turning the match on its head.It capped another strong performance from the 24-year-old who is primed for a big T20 World Cup.

Wiese fought with a valiant half-century but fell in the final over as Namibia fell short

Firdose Moonda20-Oct-2022United Arab Emirates 148 for 3 (Waseem 50, Rizwan 43, Scholtz 1-22) beat Namibia 141 for 8 (Wiese 55, Hameed 2-17, Zahoor 2-20) by seven runs.It has taken UAE six matches in two tournaments, spread over eight years, but finally they have notched up a win at a T20 World Cup. They scored their second-highest tournament total and defended it fiercely, dismissing Namibia for…From 69 for 7, Namibia had no business being in the Super 12s but they have got there, and got there by topping their group and breaking Dutch and Emirati hearts in the process. Namibia’s win means both they and Sri Lanka advance, with Netherlands’ hopes hinging on a UAE win and UAE being denied their first win at a T20 World Cup.Actually, in a match to confound every writer of match reports, it was UAE who triumphed despite David Wiese and Ruben Trumpelmann putting on 80 off 56 balls for the eighth wicket after Namibia were 69 for 7. Namibia needed 14 runs off the final over, bowled by Muhammad Waseem, but Wiese was dismissed off the fourth ball and Namibia did not have enough muscle at the end.The result matters most to Netherlands, who will advance in second place to the Super12s alongside Sri Lanka, with Namibia knocked out despite being the favourites. UAE will also depart the tournament, but with a some points to show for it.Related

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They very nearly dropped their chance of victory when Waseem, who had set up UAE’s total with a half-century and was tasked with bowling the 17th over, dropped Wiese off his own bowling on 33. Wiese slogged and the ball went straight up, giving Waseem time to get there but he could not hold on. He then bowled the final over and had Wiese well-caught by Alishan Sharafu at long-on – the ball was heading for six had Sharafu not timed his jump and held on – to end Namibia’s chances. Incidentally, Waseem had bowled only 22 balls before in 19 T20 games and one of his three victims before Thursday was Wiese.Earlier, on a surface that seemed to get better for batting as the ball got older, UAE’s innings began with a slow burn but finished strongly. They were 58 for 1 in the first 10 overs and only reached 100 in the 16th over. But, they scored 51 runs off the last five overs to push the total close to 150 and notch up their second-highest total in T20 World Cups. Namibia’s effort in the field was mostly disciplined but the left-armers JJ Smit and Jan Frylinck conceded 69 runs in seven overs between them while opening bowler Ben Shikongo only delivered one over, the 15th.In contrast, the UAE’s captain Chundangapoyil Rizwan made some inspired decisions in the field. Basil Hameed became the first bowler to deliver three successive overs in the powerplay in Geelong in this tournament and took two wickets to leave Namibia on 26 for 3 inside five overs. Karthik Meiyappan removed Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus and ran out Smit to open up the middle-order. From 46 for 5, even with David Wiese to come, Namibia could not find a way back and that was underlined when Zahoor Khan was brought back in the 13th over. He took two wickets in his second over to leave Namibia in tatters but Wiese and Trumplemann resurrected their cause only to fall short in the end.Waseem leads the way
UAE’s most accomplished batter anchored their innings with the right mix of energy and aggression to set them up for a competitive score. He found his first boundary when he went down on one knee to sweep Bernard Scholtz over deep backward square and then worked the the ball around through a quiet period before showing off his strong footwork against Jan Frylinck.Waseem advanced down the track to push him over mid-off and then straight back over his head for one of the group’s biggest sixes. His fifty came off 40 balls and despite the slow scoring rate, Waseem maintained a strike rate of over 100 and he did that by running well. He ran 16 singles and six twos and shared partnerships of 39 for the first wicket and 58 for the second to give UAE a base to build on.David Wiese raised hopes of an unlikely Namibian win with his big-hitting•AFP/Getty Images

Finishing strong
The UAE entered the final two overs on 115 for 3 and were still being kept fairly quiet but with 140-plus in their sights, had to hit out. Hameed began the assault when he carefully ran Wiese wide of Zane Green to third for four and then tucked into a short ball and pulled it over deep square for six. Wiese’s final over cost 12 runs but the best for the UAE was still to come. JJ Smits was preferred over Ben Shikongo to deliver the 20th over and immediately missed his yorker.Rizwan sent a waist-high full-toss over fine leg for six. He then ran three to put Hameed back on strike and he finished by whacking a length ball over midwicket and then reverse-scooping another over the wicket-keeper’s head. In between Smit got one in the right place but his final over went for 21. UAE scored 33 in the last two overs.Namibia begin to bottle it
Namibia made a nervy start to their reply as UAE made good use of a short-ball strategy upfront. Stephen Baard faced five of the balls from Junaid Siddique: got one away for a single, mistimed another, swung and missed at a third, sent the fourth to deep third for four and then inside-edged to give Ahmed Raza at short cover catching practice. Michael van Lingen faced three from Hameed, cut the first one for four, defended the second and then tried to hit the third over deep backward square but found Sharafu, who was perfectly positioned for the catch.But the biggest blow came when Rizwan opted to keep Hameed on for a third over in the powerplay and Jan-Nicol Loftie-Eaton missed a sweep. Though it looked like the ball was going down leg, Rizwan was persuaded to review and ball-tracking showed it would go on to hit the stumps. Namibia were 26 for 3 after five overs.Karthik’s over of mania…
Karthik took a hat-trick against Sri Lanka and made the major incisions into the Namibian line-up and will leave this tournament having made a name for himself. He was brought on to bowl the eighth over and foxed Erasmus with a back-of-a-hand delivery outside off that the Namibian captain made room to slice way and was bowled instead. Three balls later, Smit pushed the ball to a vacant mid-wicket region and wanted two runs. But Frylinck turned down the second, so Smit had to head back to the non-striker’s crease. By then, Karthik had chased the ball and fired a throw to the bowler’s end, leaving Smit short of his ground and furious.…and his other over of mania
Namibia entered the final five overs on 85 for 7, needing 64 runs. That may not have seem completely improbable given that UAE scored 51 in their last five, but with only three wickets in hand, it was going to take some doing. Pressure was building on both sides and UAE were first to let it affect them when Siddique misfielded on the sweeper cover boundary to turn what should have been a single to Wiese into four. Wiese kept strike but then gave it up with a single, clearly trusting his partner, Trumpelmann. He got out the slog and scored 12 runs off the next three balls, all with the same shot, including a four and a six. The over cost Meiyappan 18 runs and shifted momentum to Namibia.

The home side’s bowlers all played their role with Mitchell Starc making new-ball inroads

Tristan Lavalette02-Dec-2022
After a starring role where he claimed his 200th Test wicket in style, captain Pat Cummins resisted making West Indies follow on late on day three as Australia strengthened their big lead in the first Test at Optus Stadium.Cummins and Mitchell Starc ran through West Indies with the second new ball in the final session, as Australia gained a huge first innings lead of 315 runs.Wickets came in a rush after Australia had toiled against determined West Indies’ batting on a surface lacking the venom expected. With Cummins preferring a rest for his bowlers, Australia faced 11 overs before stumps but lost opener Usman Khawaja who was caught behind off quick Kemar Roach.Related

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Amid lengthening shadows from the towering grandstands, perhaps inspired by England’s ballistic batting against Pakistan in the concurrent Test in Rawalpindi, opener David Warner started with consecutive boundaries.It was a sign of what should be ahead early on day four as Australia seeks quick runs before a likely declaration. Warner, however, will be looking to cash in after a failure in the first innings continued a lean patch in Test cricket.Cummins led a well-balanced attack with wickets shared around the frontline bowlers. Australia’s quicks successfully reverted to hitting better lengths after a short-ball strategy late on day two was unfruitful.After lunch, Cummins knocked over captain Kraigg Brathwaite with a pearler to memorably celebrate his 200th wicket. Playing his 44th Test, Cummins became the fifth fastest to the landmark from an Australian behind only Clarrie Grimmett (36), Dennis Lillee (38), Stuart MacGill (41) and Shane Warne (42).His Test bowling average of 21.50 moved him fractionally ahead of Glenn McGrath as the lowest for Australians with at least 200 wickets.
Cummins claimed two more with the second new ball after tea as West Indies’ defiance came crashing down. Starc did the damage initially when he trapped Jermaine Blackwood lbw with a full delivery, which was upheld on review in an umpire’s call. He then cleaned up Josh Da Silva with a trademark full delivery, as Starc started to menacingly conjure swing.Allrounder Cameron Green picked up his first Test wicket at home when he had concussion substitute Shamarh Brooks caught behind. It was a good reward for Green, who in his home Test debut didn’t bat in Australia’s first innings, after threatening earlier in the day with sharp pace and conjuring bounce with his towering height.A searing Green bouncer hit the helmet of No. 3 Nkrumah Bonner, who batted for another 40 minutes in the morning session before eventually being ruled out with concussion and replaced by Brooks.Pat Cummins goes up in appeal•Getty Images

Cummins had earlier summoned a mighty spell after lunch to prove there was some spice lurking in the much discussed green-tinged surface. He led an Australian attack who worked over a determined West Indies batting order with three wickets in the middle session.It dashed West Indies’ hopes of batting for the long haul in their daunting task of hauling in Australia’s mammoth first innings of 598 for 4.Heading into the match, West Indies had set a target of batting at least 100 overs, which they almost achieved but it was nearly not enough after such a listless bowling and fielding effort.They had started impressively against the odds with a 78-run partnership between Brathwaite and debutant Tagenarine Chanderpaul, whose eye-catching 79-ball knock ended in the first over of the day when he nicked Josh Hazlewood to first slip.Chanderpaul had one ball earlier notched his half-century with a lucky boundary through slips but Brathwaite continued to play a strong rearguard to blunt Australia’s accurate attack.Brathwaite, however, could do little to thwart a gem from his opposite number as Cummins enjoyed another memorable performance.

The left hander, who has played 11 Tests, is having an outstanding domestic season

AAP04-Dec-20221:09

Warner on future: ‘Will take each series as it comes’

In-form Queensland opener Matt Renshaw says he’s ready for an Australian Test recall after making key changes to his approach to cricket.Renshaw, the 26-year-old left-hander, played the last of his 11 Tests in 2018. His form this summer has been top shelf. Renshaw has scored 491 first-class runs this season at an average of 81.83.An unbeaten 200 for Queensland against New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield and scores of 81 and 101 not out against the touring West Indies for the Prime Minister’s XI have been highlights.Related

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Australia’s Test opener David Warner, 36, is nearing the end of his career and fellow opener Usman Khawaja, 35, is also in his twilight years. Renshaw just has to be patient, with Test tours of India and England on the horizon.”I am ready,” Renshaw told AAP when asked about the possibility of a Test recall. “The last few years I have definitely re-thought about how I go about my cricket.”The Aussie stuff is important but you can get caught up with your mindset and trying to play for that, rather than just playing for my team and doing well for Queensland.”That is the big learning I have had, along with enjoying my cricket. If [a Test recall] comes then it comes. It will take care of itself.”Matthew Renshaw scored a century against West Indies in the pink-ball Prime Minister’s XI game•Getty Images

Renshaw scored 636 runs at an average of 33.47 in his 11 Tests with a top score of 184. He has adapted and developed his game to be able to seamlessly up the ante when required during an innings.That was on show in his most recent Sheffield Shield knock of 54 for Queensland against Western Australia where he dug in early during tough conditions before opening up.”I was talking to Joe [Burns] a bit about it…how at the start of my career when I came in I was quite slow,” Renshaw said. “I tried to reinvent myself and become a lot quicker but that was my downfall in the end.”Now I feel really comfortable being able to flick through the gears when I need to, depending on what the situation dictates. There are a couple of technical changes that I have made, but the insatiable desire to achieve is the biggest thing.”Queensland captain Khawaja, who also spent three years out of the Test team before his recall this year, recently said Renshaw would get his chance again at the top level.”I spend a lot of time with Usman on and off the field and he is someone I look up to a lot,” Renshaw said. “There are definitely some learnings from his career and the way he goes about things. We are similar characters in that way. We both love succeeding and we love batting.”

Ravindra Jadeja, who has not played any cricket since August 2022, has been picked subject to fitness

Alagappan Muthu13-Jan-2023Suryakumar Yadav’s incredible exploits in T20I cricket have propelled him into the Test arena, with the 32-year-old batter picked in a 17-member squad to play for India against Australia. The squad, picked for only the first two Tests of the four-match home series, includes another player who has made his name in the white-ball circuit. Ishan Kishan has come into the side with first-choice wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in recovery after a car accident.India go into the Border-Gavaskar series, starting on February 9, with the spearhead of their pace attack stuck on the sidelines. Jasprit Bumrah had, not so long ago, looked like he was ready to return to cricket after recovering from a stress reaction in his back. But in the process of getting himself used to normal workloads again, he felt stiffness in his right glute and has now been advised at least another month’s rehabilitation.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Ravindra Jadeja is coming out of his own long-term injury lay-off. The left-arm spin-bowling allrounder has been picked in the squad and could have a huge role to play in a home series that India need to win 3-1 or better to be assured of a place in the World Test Championship final. Jadeja has not played any cricket since August 2022. He was originally due to return during the tour of Bangladesh late last year, but it emerged that he needed more time to recover from a knee surgery done in September. Even now, the BCCI has noted in its press release announcing the squad that Jadeja’s inclusion “is subject to fitness.”India’s Test-match batting is set to receive an injection of pace should either of Kishan or Suryakumar make the XI. Both players have strike rates above 60 in first-class cricket. But getting them in remains a challenge.Related

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The captain Rohit Sharma, the vice-captain KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli will likely occupy the top four spots. Shreyas Iyer should slot in at No. 5 or 6 given his recent form – he averaged 101 in India’s most recent Test series, against Bangladesh in December 2022, while Shubman Gill seems the first reserve for both opening and middle-order roles. Kishan has been designated as a wicketkeeper in the squad so he will be pitted against KS Bharat, who has long been the understudy to Pant.On the bowling front, Mohammed Shami will step up as the front man of the attack with support from Mohammed Siraj, who enjoyed a stellar debut series against Australia when India beat them on their turf in 2020-21, Jaydev Unadkat, the left-armer who recently broke a spell of 12 years between Test matches, and Umesh Yadav. Hardik Pandya, although a regular part of India’s white-ball set-up, is not part of the Test squad. It is learnt that he does not yet have the fitness to bowl long spells in red-ball cricket. R Ashwin will be the lead spinner with Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav backing him up.Changes between India’s last Test squad and this one
In: Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav
Out: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Rishabh Pant, Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, Shardul Thakur.

“He has blown the house down,” says Bangladesh’s fast bowling coach, while praising his bowling group for their showing these past 12 months

Mohammad Isam22-Mar-2023Allan Donald, the Bangladesh fast bowling coach, has said that Ebadot Hossain’s extra pace is making the difference in the team’s bowling line-up. Ebadot’s career-best figures in the first ODI against Ireland helped Bangladesh win by a record margin of 183 runs.The second game was a washout, which means Ebadot now has 17 wickets in his first seven ODIs. That is one wicket behind Mustafizur Rahman at the same stage of his career, in 2015.Related

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“He has blown the house down,” Donald said of Ebadot’s explosive start in ODIs. “From the moment I met him in Johannesburg exactly 12 months ago, he has been impressive. He is an athlete. He has a great engine on him. The ‘Syhet Rocket’.”We are working on small things which are more tactical. We are working on game intelligence in every game. I am still trying to find the area that he needs to work on.”What stands out for Ebadot is the stark difference in the way his Test and ODI careers got going. He had picked up seven wickets after his seventh Test, averaging 90.71 and with a strike rate of 139.70.But the turning point was his 6 for 46 against New Zealand in Bangladesh’s famous win in the Mount Maunganui Test in January 2022. His wicket counter went up and his bowling average and strike rate improved significantly. Ebadot became a much-improved bowler, making his ODI and T20I debut later in the year.”What has impressed me the most is that Ebadot is always in the game,” Donald said. “He will be in the wickets column in every single game. He bowls 145-148 [kph], so you know the pace factor will have a massive impact on the game. He showed it the other night [first ODI].”He is a wonderful talent; from a guy who won a fast-bowling competition to where he is now, he could consistently be a member of all three formats.”Mustafizur Rahman chats with Allan Donald at a training session•AFP/Getty Images

Donald praised the entire bowling group for their performances in the last 12 months, which has included two four-fors by Ebadot and one each from Shoriful Islam and Mustafizur. Taskin Ahmed’s 5 for 35 against South Africa last year gave Bangladesh a historic series win over the hosts.”It has been a terrific performance collectively. We have been speaking about this pack mentality for a while,” Donald exclaimed.”I just think great plaudits should go to the mindset of the group. It was wonderful to see how we bowled the other night [first ODI]. All three of them were very potent. All had an impact, asking questions and creating chances. Very happy to see that.”Donald also welcomed the addition of head coach Chandika Hathurusingha to the team for the second time. The former South Africa fast bowler said that his style matches with that of Hathurusingha’s and that is helping in the players’ development.”I have been here for 12 months. My work with that group and the stuff that I have done with them has never changed. Hathu [Hathurusingha] is an attacking, aggressive coach. It is my style as well. What he has told the whole group as well is to take the game on, not be afraid to win. I think it is a great message,” Donald said.”Hathu has been brilliant around the group. He has expressed his freedom to the group. I think they have unshackled themselves and played aggressive cricket. My mindset has never changed since I was 16-17. It is to be aggressive but someone has to give me an expansive role. It is exactly what I have done to the bowling group.”Mushfiqur Rahim cracked 100* off 60 balls, Bangladesh’s fastest in ODIs in the second game•AFP/Getty Images

Bangladesh’s aggressive intent has come to the fore in the ongoing series against Ireland where they have put up scores of 338 and 349 in the first two ODIs. Mushfiqur Rahim scored Bangladesh’s fastest century in the the format in the second ODI, while Shakib Al Hasan and Towhid Hridoy got quickfire nineties in the first game. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das also scored fifties in the second ODI.Donald added that Bangladesh are now looking to breach the elusive 400-plus mark in the third ODI, given their batting form and stocks.”It is definitely achievable. A couple of guys got nineties in the first game, couple of guys got seventies in the second game. Mushy [Mushfiqur] obviously converted it into a magnificent knock. We want to take those partnerships deeper, we want the hurt to feel even more. Take Ireland to the last ten overs with six or seven wickets in hand, so we can pile it on.”