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Sides look evenly matched as cricket returns to free-to-air TV in the UK

The Preview by Danyal Rasool29-Aug-2020

The ECB may have failed to get a 100-ball tournament off the ground this year, but 97 deliveries in an incomplete T20 demonstrated that even formats this short allow for plenty of time for ebbs and flows. Pakistan began the contest applying the squeeze on England, Imad Wasim removing Jonny Bairstow in the first over, and Tom Banton’s struggles from the PSL appeared set to continue when he nicked off to Shaheen Afridi, only for Iftikhar Ahmed to put down a dolly.That invigorated the opener, who would play the innings of his brief international career to propel England past 100 in under 12 overs, Pakistan’s Shadab Khan bearing the brunt of his belligerence. However, when the legspinner got rid of him for a scintillating 42-ball 71, the England of the first few overs resurfaced. They proceeded to lose 4 wickets for 14 runs, and were stumbling rather quickly to the point that when the rain came, it was perhaps a bigger relief for Eoin Morgan’s side than Babar Azam’s.Shadab Khan claimed the key wicket of Tom Banton•Getty Images

While the weather played spoilsport for a third consecutive match between these two, what little cricket we got revealed this has the makings of a thoroughly entertaining series. For one, England and Pakistan appear very evenly matched, with the Old Trafford surface suggesting it didn’t discriminate between bat and ball as much as it did between good and bad cricket.Each side was rewarded when they were tactically cannier and technically superior, and while Banton’s brilliance made a mockery of the venue’s alleged spin-friendliness, all of England’s wickets (besides a run-out) did fall to the spinners. That should continue to be an integral theme of the series, and England’s slower bowlers will know they have to keep up with Pakistan’s when they’re the ones being put under pressure.As a whole, Pakistan probably emerged from the game the stronger-looking side, with the hosts’ vaunted T20 power-hitting batsman struggling to impose themselves – one notable exception, of course. Dawid Malan’s slow starts continued – he finished with a run-a-ball 23 – and none of the other batsmen managed 15, while even Pakistan’s two left-arm quicks were encouragingly economical, conceding a combined 24 in 25 balls. A batting line-up that appears slightly long in the tooth, however, hasn’t yet been tested; Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez were both picked for the first game, while Haider Ali sat out. It was, well, an interesting decision, but one that never was put to the test. Will they throw Banton’s youthful Peshawar Zalmi teammate into the mix in the second match? It should be great fun when we find out tomorrow.

England WWLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Pakistan WWLLL

It’s been more than two years since Adil Rashid last played a T20I in England – as opposed to Wales – and while his economy was the most impressive characteristic in that series against India, it was his wicket-taking in his following short-form outing against Sri Lanka in Colombo. He would go on to take five wickets averaging 9.00 in the following series against West Indies, and though keeping the run rate down can be an occasional problem, it isn’t often he goes wicketless. An obvious automatic pick in this format, Rashid’s ability to vary the flight and adjust late in his delivery stride make him an excellent exponent of legspin in T20 cricket. He may have played only three T20Is at Old Trafford, but it’s a venue that should hold great potential for his craft.Imad Wasim demonstrated once more why he was such an integral figure in Pakistan’s march to the number one T20I ranking. His role with the ball is so predictable as to be formulaic, but that doesn’t mean opposition sides have been able to do much to counter him. He will open the bowling, concede very few runs in the over or two he bowls, and more often than not pick up a wicket or two in the process as the pressure on the batsman builds. It isn’t just that he doesn’t give away runs, it’s the speed at which he gets through his spell that can often smother so effectively. It sets the tone, and for this Pakistan side, muscle memory kicks in from there. It appeared to be working on Friday, and expect more of it tomorrow.

With the first T20I rained off before England had a bowl and nothing standing out conspicuously enough to demand correction, it’s unlikely Morgan’s side will line up any differently for the second match.England (possible): 1 Tom Banton, 2 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Moeen Ali, 6 Sam Billings, 7 Lewis Gregory, 8 Tom Curran, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Saqib MahmoodPakistan opted heavily for experience over youth, at least as far as the batting lineup went. In the bowling ranks, however, Haris Rauf got the nod ahead of Wahab Riaz, and ended up proving the most expensive of the lot. The left-armer should fancy his chances of inclusion this time around.Pakistan (possible): 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Shoaib Malik, 5 Shadab Khan, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Iftikhar Ahmed, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Wahab Riaz/Haris Rauf, 11 Shaheen Afridi

It’s the same venue as the first Test, and with the same strip being used, there shouldn’t be much variation in the nature of the contest. The weather, though, is far more encouraging, and while the evening should be nippy, rain is unlikely to play a part.

Stats and trivia

• Six members of England’s starting XI from the first T20I have played for PSL franchise Peshawar Zalmi at some point or other. Should Wahab Riaz and Haider Ali get a chance tomorrow, as many as ten Peshawar players could start the second T20I.
• Adil Rashid and Shadab Khan have each bowled in 41 T20I innings, sending down a combined 290.3 overs. They have just the one maiden each during this time. Mohammad Amir, meanwhile has sent down five, just two short of the record, currently held by Jasprit Bumrah.
• The second T20I will be broadcast live on free-to-air TV in the UK, with BBC One showing live international cricket for the first time since 1999.

“It’s fantastic – a great opportunity for cricket in general, and for us as a team. So we’ll be hoping we can put on a good show. I don’t think we need to put any more pressure on ourselves as a team.”
“They have a good side, but I think we have a better one. If the match had been completed, you would have found that out.”

Zimbabwe batsman Mark Vermeulen has been banned from all cricket by Zimbabwe Cricket after it emerged that he had engaged in a racist tirade on social media

Liam Brickhill16-Oct-2015Zimbabwe batsman Mark Vermeulen has been banned from all cricket by Zimbabwe Cricket after it emerged that he had engaged in a racist tirade on social media during which he referred to black Zimbabweans as “apes”.”Racism is abominable and there can be no defence for it,” said a statement released by Zimbabwe Cricket. “Mark Vermeulen has been banned from participating in all cricket activities, after he owned up to repulsive remarks that reflect racism, prejudice and plain ignorance. We find Vermeulen’s Facebook comment distasteful and unacceptable, particularly for a senior sportsman who should have learned from playing in Zimbabwe and abroad that there is no place for racism in sport.”Vermeulen had posted his comment in July, on a thread underneath an article posted on Facebook about Prosper Utseya’s letter to the ZC Board, which alleged that racism persisted in Zimbabwean cricket. Though Vermeulen subsequently deleted the comment, a screenshot eventually made its way into the public sphere, again on social media.ESPNcricinfo has seen the screenshot of the comment, which talked of “white people” having “fxxxd up the apes’ lives”. “If we… had never educated them, Prosper wouldn’t be having these problems,” it said.As the reaction to his comment gathered steam online, it is believed that some members of Vermeulen’s domestic franchise, Mashonaland Eagles, insisted they would boycott any team with Vermeulen in it. The administration of the franchise met today to decide how to respond, and this evening it was confirmed that Vermeulen has been banned from all cricket activities by Zimbabwe Cricket.Vermeulen had issued a public statement, which was reproduced in local newspapers today, and which he called an apology. In it, Vermeulen said that he had apologised personally to Utseya and that “he accepted my apology”.”I know my comments were over the top and I apologise to all that I have offended,” continued Vermeulen’s statement. “But as a cricketer, it’s how our minds work… It was not meant in a menacing way. It was just a chirp that often happens out on the field of play and as men, you take the blow on the chin and get on with the game.”Behavioural and disciplinary issues have long been a problem for Vermeulen, with trouble surfacing as early as his high school days in Harare in the mid-1990s. He was banned from representing his school, Prince Edward High in Harare, for walking off with the stumps after receiving a poor lbw decision and locking himself in the changing room.His fierce desire to succeed as a cricketer led to a Test debut in 2002, but two years later he was struck on the head by a bouncer from Irfan Pathan at the Gabba, during a tri-series in Australia. The injury, which replicated one he had suffered in 2003, when he was struck on the head by fast bowler Travis Friend while batting in the nets, required urgent surgery, and Vermeulen’s behaviour became increasingly erratic. He was banned from playing cricket in England for ten years after an altercation with some spectators during a club game and, most infamously, he burned down Zimbabwe’s cricket academy in 2006 in retaliation for being overlooked by the national side.Vermeulen was acquitted of charges of arson in 2008, on the grounds that he had been suffering psychiatric problems, including partial complex epilepsy and impulsive behaviour disorder, ever since his injury in Australia. Remarkably, Vermeulen returned to international cricket with a one-day half-century against Bangladesh the following year, but his form tailed off and, though he played for every domestic franchise in the country in his efforts to win a national contract, it seemed his days as an international cricketer were over. Yet Vermeulen was called upon once more in 2014, re-selected by coach Steve Mangongo and convener of selectors Givemore Makoni, for a one-off Test against South Africa. There had also been talk that Vermeulen was hoping to win yet another recall for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.

Zimbabwe captain praises the fight his team showed even though they lost the second Test to Afghanistan

Hemant Brar14-Mar-2021Zimbabwe captain Sean Williams lauded the way his side fought back in their second innings of the second Test against Afghanistan even though they lost the match on the fifth evening, thus missing out on a series win.After winning the first Test in under two days, Zimbabwe would have fancied their chances but a returning Rashid Khan thwarted their hopes with an 11-wicket match haul. Still, Zimbabwe almost pulled off a Houdini-esque escape.Following on, Zimbabwe were reduced to 142 for 7 – still 116 in arrears – before Williams (151*) and Donald Tiripano (95) added 187 for the eighth wicket. Their resistance meant Afghanistan needed to bat again and score 108 in a minimum of 45 overs; they reached there in 26.1.According to Williams, this Test would serve as a good learning experience for his side, especially when they host Pakistan for two Tests (and three T20Is) next month.”We got ourselves into trouble and then we managed to fight through that,” Williams said after the match. “We got close to the top of the mountain but didn’t quite get there. It was a good learning curve and it shows what mental and physical strength you need to get through Test matches like this.”The young guys showed a lot of fight. Being 60 minutes away from winning the series, having one hand on the trophy and going through that fighting period was extremely important for them as a learning curve. Also, the senior players pulling the team together and showing that we would do anything for each other was important.”I think it’s a huge thing going into the Test series at home. Not only what has happened here but being at home is going to be huge, our wickets, our conditions. So yeah, I am looking forward to that series.”When Afghanistan came out for the chase, the Zimbabwe seamers bowled plenty of short stuff. Williams said that was part of the plan and if there were more runs on the board, they might have salvaged a draw and won the series.”It was a tactical move because the wicket was up and down and there were a lot of cracks in it. It was very hard to score with seamers bowling cross-seam and slower balls. If we had more runs on the board, we would have won the series. We had three seamers, so going into day five in the last session, they would have pulled us through.”While Zimbabwe impressed overall, Wesley Madhevere, who made his debut in the first Test, had a torrid time with the bat. After a first-ball duck in his only innings in the first Test, the 20-year-old bagged another pair here. Williams, though, backed the youngster to come out stronger.”With Wesley, it was purely a technical fault,” Williams said. “But I think mentally he is in a good place and we just keep on supporting the guys to make it through the tough times. Everybody goes through a tough stage, be it cricket or life in general. We just keep on supporting, keep on growing, we don’t stop. We just told him not to give up.”

Sam Harper’s half-century goes in vain as defending champions overcome Australia’s fight

Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom28-Jan-2020In their chase of 234, Australia received a punch to the gut right at the start, when their in-form opener Jake Fraser-McGurk was run-out for a diamond duck. After that India’s right-arm quick Kartik Tyagi delivered three blows in his first two overs to put Australia down for the count which they couldn’t ever recover from, eventually losing to the defending champions by 74 runs at the first quarter-final in Potchefstroom. India’s win sets them up for a semi-final clash against the winners of the quarter-final between Afghanistan and Pakistan, while Australia can now, at best, finish fifth in the tournament.Tyagi, consistently clocking speeds in upwards of 135kph, was given the responsibility of beginning India’s defense. His first delivery was driven by Sam Fanning to mid-off, but he took off for a single while Fraser-McGurk was watching the ball and as a result was run-out without facing a ball. By the end of the over, Australia’s misery had compounded thrice over, with their captain Mackenzie Harvey lbw to a full delivery – although it pitched outside leg stump – and Lachlan Hearne bowled for a first-ball duck to Tyagi’s yorker.Tyagi’s second over was equally menacing albeit only half as rewarding, with the Australia batsmen playing and missing before No. 5 Oliver Davies edged a drive into the hands of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the slips. From 14 for 4, it was going to be a mammoth effort for Australia to win the game, especially after Tyagi struck again in his second spell, dismissing Patrick Rowe in the 21st over as his fourth scalp, to reduce the batting side to 68 for 5.But Australia were not willing to give up just yet. Fanning and No. 7 Liam Scott – who wasn’t in the XI but was batting as a concussion substitute following Corey Kelly’s injury while fielding – put on 81 for the sixth wicket. The partnership made India nervous, with India captain Priyam Garg shouting “body language, guys” to keep his team-mates zoned into the game. Fanning held up one end while Scott played more freely, but soon after the latter hit a six over midwicket, he was out caught-behind by legspinner Ravi Bishnoi in the 41st over. The score of 149 for 6, however, soon became 155 for 9 following a team hat-trick.Sam Fanning cuts•ICC via Getty

In the 42th over, Fanning was dismissed by an Akash Singh short ball for 75. The next ball Australia were eight down as Tanveer Sangha’s attempted jab-and-run didn’t pay off. Wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel picked the stray ball and aimed at the stumps with an underarm throw, effecting his fourth dismissal of the day, running Connor Sully out. Singh then cranked up the pace to No. 10 Todd Murphy to bowl him for a duck. It wasn’t long before Australia folded for 159, igniting celebrations from the handful of India fans who were present at the ground.In the first innings, India – asked to bat – had begun steadily but lost three wickets in the space of 21 runs to be reduced from 35 for 0 to 54 for 3 inside 16 overs. Seamers Kelly and Sully dismissed opener Divyaansh Saxena and Garg cheaply, while offspinner Murphy removed the No. 3 Tilak Verma.A brief recovery from India followed. Opener Jaiswal, scoring his third fifty in four World Cup games, combined in a 48-run fourth-wicket with Siddhesh Veer, but he was bowled by Sangha’s legspin just after the team crossed 100 in the 26th over. Murphy then deceived wicketkeeper-batsman Jurel with a loopy delivery that took his outside edge to take his second wicket, and when Veer’s attempted pull was top-edged to third man, India were at 144 for 6 with 12 overs to go.At that stage, it looked like India wouldn’t last the full 50 overs with Australia’s bowlers having exposed the lower order, but allrounder Atharva Ankolekar got together with Bishnoi to drag India past 200. Bishnoi, who made 30 in 31 balls, was eventually run-out in the 48th over with India searching for quick runs, but Ankolekar provided a flourishing finish for India, reaching his half-century with a six in the last over.Ankolekar and Bishnoi ran their twos hard and found the occasional boundaries. Their 61-run stand for the seventh wicket came in 59 deliveries and raised India’s run-rate significantly. In their last two overs, Ankolekar and the last two batsmen scored 24 runs and India finished on 233 for 9. India had wrested the momentum from Australia by the end of the innings and after Tyagi’s three wickets in the first two overs of the chase, they always remained ahead in the game.

India finished day two with a significant lead of 144, despite a five-for from Australia debutant Todd Murphy

Andrew McGlashan10-Feb-2023
How competitive could Australia’s 177 prove? The answer, it would appear, was not very. This felt like a Test that would be set up by one innings, and Rohit Sharma is likely to have produced that performance with an outstanding century on the second day in Nagpur before the lower order benefited from his efforts.Australia just about kept in touch, largely through the magnificent performance of Todd Murphy who claimed five wickets on debut, but India’s lead grew to a substantial one. Rohit’s century, his first as Test captain, giving him hundreds in all three formats both as a batter and a leader, was supplemented by Ravindra Jadeja adding a half-century to his bowling success alongside a second Test fifty from fellow left-arm spinner Axar Patel.Due to injury this was just the fourth match of Rohit’s Test captaincy tenure so he had not yet had the chance to really imprint himself on the side. He could not have done much more in this display, facing 212 balls over nearly six hours in the middle, an almost faultless display on a surface which, while not as difficult as some had predicted, certainly kept the bowlers in the contest.There was a different tempo to his batting on the second day compared to the first evening when he had taken advantage of a wayward Pat Cummins to skip to a 66-ball fifty. Instead the first session today brought him 29 runs and the second 33, before he was finally extracted by a superb delivery from Cummins with the second new ball, with perhaps a hint of tired footwork.But by then India were in the lead and it was swelled to commanding proportions late in the day as Jadeja and Axar added an unbroken 81 for the eighth wicket against an attack that started to show some weariness. A final-over dropped catch by Steven Smith at slip, while not the pivotal moment, summed up Australia’s position.Most of Australia’s reasons to celebrate on the day were provided by newbie Todd Murphy•Getty Images

It will take a huge effort from them to post enough of a target to defend, but they could at least toast the debut of Murphy, playing just his eighth first-class match, after a performance that belied his professional inexperience but showed why he is so highly rated.Having claimed KL Rahul late on the first day, he provided Australia their opening incision (and would take the first four wickets) when he trapped the rather overqualified nightwatcher R Ashwin lbw with the aid of DRS. A bigger scalp was soon to follow when Cheteshwar Pujara paid the price for a rare sweep, top-edging from well outside leg to short fine.Australia had a glimmer of an opening and it became much brighter straight after lunch when, the first delivery of the session, another leg-side ball, this time to Virat Kohli, brought a wicket with the thin edge being well held at the second attempt by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.Virat Kohli’s dismissal•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

When Suryakumar Yadav’s debut innings ended with a loose drive at Nathan Lyon, allowing the ball to spin back through a big gate into off stump, India were 168 for 5 and still behind Australia’s underwhelming total. However, this India team bats deep and not for the first time it was the lower-middle order who played a crucial role.Rohit’s frustrations at some of his team-mates’ dismissals had been clear, but after the wobble either side of lunch, which saw India lose 3 for 33, he retained his composure and slowly worked through the 90s before reaching three figures with a classy lofted drive wide of mid-off. It was a pumped-up celebration: this was a huge innings in the context of the match, and maybe the series.He had a partner he could trust in Jadeja, these days transformed into a top-order Test player, and the duo saw out the rest of the afternoon session although Jadeja had two moments of fortune. On 22 he edged the luckless Scott Boland past Smith at a wide slip – the ball went under the right hand on the full – and on 33 was the beneficiary of an excruciatingly tight umpire’s call for an lbw shout from Murphy.However, Murphy was not to be denied his fifth wicket. After Cummins, with his best spell of the game, had finally uprooted Rohit – the ball after Smith had missed a clear-cut chance at second slip – Murphy pushed one into the pads of fellow debutant KS Bharat and this time the DRS went in Australia’s favour.A resolute Axar Patel grew India’s lead late on the second day•Getty Images

If the visitors could have cut through the tail quickly the prospect of setting a fourth-innings target would have been realistic, but their pre-play hopes that one wicket would bring a clatter never really transpired. The fact India’s No. 9 (albeit a batter better than that position suggests) was able to play with relative comfort put into context some of the chatter on the pitch that preceded this game.Jadeja and Axar were initially very circumspect – time on the pitch a factor as well as runs – but as the shadows lengthened the run rate quickened with Axar producing some eye-catching drives. You suspected, however, that when this pair and Ashwin had the ball back in their hand on Saturday, batting would look a rather different prospect.

The broadcaster has claimed that starting the BBL in the state was “commercially irrational”

Daniel Brettig02-Dec-2020Tasmania’s state government has emphatically denied allegations from Channel Seven that it provided financial inducement for Cricket Australia to play the opening rounds of the BBL in a hub in the island state.In an affidavit lodged with the Australian Federal Court on Monday, Seven’s head of sport Lewis Martin sought to outline the network’s claims that CA has breached its broadcast contract by not prioritising the broadcaster’s interests at every turn of a year that has been overturned in planning terms by Covid-19.Among the claims was that CA had scheduled the opening matches of the BBL in Tasmania, a decision Martin described as “commercially irrational unless CA were otherwise incentivised, presumably by arrangement with the government of Tasmania, to do so”.ALSO READ: Seven sues CA for not being centre of cricket universeCA has stated that commencing the BBL in Tasmania gave it far greater flexibility to travel elsewhere once the tournament gets underway, due to the state’s low instances of Covid-19 and low risk status with other state health authorities as a result.”It appears to me that CA’s scheduling decisions may have been motivated by CA’s broader interests in relation to the BCCI, Foxtel and also a positive incentive given to CA by the State of Tasmania,” Martin wrote. “If my belief is well-founded I expect that Seven’s damages claim may be for many millions of dollars given the significance of cricket coverage to Seven’s advertising revenue and the magnitude of the scheduling changes made by CA.”The Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein, was quick to respond to the allegations on Tuesday night. “The Government welcomes the BBL games being played in Tasmania, in view of the COVID-safe nature of our state and to provide opportunities for Tasmanians to experience world-class cricket. We are thrilled to host the 10 world-class games, which is a huge win for Tasmanians and puts our state on a global stage,” he said in a statement.”The Tasmanian Government continues to provide funding to Cricket Tasmania to support cricket development and the hosting of Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League matches in the state, but there were no incentive payments made.”Andrew Gaggin, the long-serving Cricket Tasmania chairman, followed up on Wednesday, referring to Seven’s allegations as “Trump-like” in their distortion. “The Trump-like allegations concerning the Tasmanian State Government are patently absurd and untrue,” Gaggin said. “The Tasmanian Government has certainly provided an incentive. Its proactive and responsible Covid-19 policies have ensured that Tasmania is one of the world’s safest places and the perfect location to host the start of the Big Bash.”However, let it be clear that no financial incentive was provided by the Tasmanian Government to Cricket Australia for BBL matches to be played in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Government continues to be a great supporter of all cricket in Tasmania.”Tasmania has long been the grassroots champion of Australian cricket, having provided a host of great players and the current Test captain. It is pleasing that Cricket Australia has acknowledged this and we look forward to an amazing start to the tournament.”Cricket Tasmania is an equal owner of Australian cricket and will continue to push for world class content to be played in this State. Tasmania has successfully hosted international cricket for over 30 years and will continue to do so.”

Test captain wants to keep playing all formats but acknowledges challenge from next generation

George Dobell22-Oct-2019Joe Root has admitted he will have to be at the top of his game if he is to win a place in England’s side at next year’s T20 World Cup.Root, England’s Test captain, accepts he could be “swept away and eaten up” by the emergence of younger players such as Tom Banton, but insisted he remains as keen as ever to play in all three formats of the international game.With Root and other senior members of the England sides rested for the T20I series in New Zealand, Banton is among a number of young players who will have a chance to stake a claim for a prolonged run in the side. The T20 World Cup takes place in Australia next October and November.ALSO READ: Bairstow targets T20Is as first step to Test comeback“For me to get in to the T20I side, it will mean that I have to keep getting better,” Root said. “If someone like Tom Banton comes in and sets the world alight, I’ve got to try force him out in the limited opportunities I get to play.”If that happens, it raises the standard of English cricket in that format. That’s the food chain that cricket is sometimes. You have to be at the top of it otherwise you get swept away and eaten up.”Root’s T20I record is respectable. He made an unbeaten 90 in his first T20I innings, against Australia in 2013 – it remains his highest score in the format – and an impressive 54, top-scoring for England in the 2016 World T20 final. But he has reached 10 only twice in his most recent six T20I innings and, despite a healthy-looking average of 35.72 in the format (of England players to have enjoyed 20 innings in the format, only Kevin Pietersen’s average is higher), a strike rate of 126.30 places him only 14th on the list of England players to have featured in 20 matches.He has also struggled for opportunities to work on his game in the format. While he did have an unremarkable spell at the last edition of the Big Bash, scoring 99 runs in seven innings with a best of 26 and an average of 14.14, he has generally either not been picked up by T20 franchise leagues or not been available to appear in them due to his schedule. He remains confident, however, that should he win a sustained opportunity to play T20 cricket, he can adapt to its demands.”I obviously scored runs in the 2016 final and I’ve always felt that when I have had a block of that format, to really get stuck into it, I’ve generally done pretty well,” he said. “I felt that was the case with the last T20 World Cup. It took me a couple of warm-up games over a two-week period beforehand to really get back into it.”But then once the tournament started, I found my way in, and felt like it was very similar to the one-day team where I knew how everyone else was going to play. Then you dovetail around them.”I’ve got good experiences to call upon. I know what it’s like to have to perform in those scenarios.”Pat Cummins bowled Joe Root for 57•Getty Images

There will be those who suggest Root should accept he is not cut out for the T20 format and decide instead to concentrate on the other formats of the game. His Test average has fallen to 47.91, after all, and as captain to 40.81. A case could be made to suggest he had plenty on his plate without worrying about improving his T20 batting – not to mention grappling with a new format in the form of the Hundred.But, while he acknowledged the importance of his Test form, Root was adamant that playing all formats will improve him as a batsman.”I know how important it is that Test cricket is my main focus,” he said. “But as long as the other formats aren’t a distraction or taking away from what I can give to the Test team then I’ll always look to improve my game and put myself in as many situations and scenarios which I think will long-term help me as a player.”To that end, he has already started to prepare for the Test team’s tour of New Zealand admitting he felt there were some technical issues to address by the time the Ashes series ended.”I want to start the winter off with a bang,” he said. “I want to set a marker early in terms of going out to New Zealand and making big scores. I really want to try to lead from the front.”I felt sometimes [in the summer] I was getting a little bit too off side of the ball and then as though I was trying to fight that. So if I can find something which feels very rhythmical, that’s a big part of how I bat well. Also if I am better aligned, I can access everywhere a lot easier.”Four years ago is the last time I had a break as long as this and that was because I broke my thumb. So to have a block and a chance to spend some time working at certain technical things without the pressure of a game around the corner is invaluable really.”

He also said India’s 250 for 9 is a good total on a pitch that was two-paced and was a lot more difficult to bat on that is apparent on tv

Sidharth Monga in Adelaide06-Dec-20182:15

Top-order should have batted better – Pujara

After playing “one of my top five innings” in Test cricket, Cheteshwar Pujara feels he has taken India to a decent total mainly because the pitch in Adelaide is difficult to bat on. It is one of those that doesn’t look difficult on television because there isn’t exaggerated movement, but it was two-paced, which made stroke-making difficult.”I would say it is a decent total because there is enough turn,” Pujara said of India’s 250 for 9. “Ashwin will also come into play. Sometimes when you are seeing it on TV, it doesn’t look like it is doing a lot but when I batted in the first and second sessions, I felt it wasn’t easy to bat on. I will share my experience of what line and length to bowl on this pitch with our fast bowlers.”It is the grass. The odd ball is skidding on, and the odd ball is holding a bit more from the grass. I would say it is kind of a two-paced pitch, not easy to bat on.”Having made 123 off 246 balls, Pujara said it took him two sessions to figure out what shots he can play on such a surface. That is perhaps why he would have liked a little more application from the other batsmen. “To be honest, we should have batted better but they also bowled well in the first two sessions and I knew that I had to stay patient and wait for the loose balls,” Pujara said. “They bowled in the right areas. I also felt that our top order should have batted better, but they will learn from the mistakes and put up a better show in the second innings.”The batsmen were there to show their gratitude, though. “It is one of my top innings in Test cricket, I could say top five,” Pujara said. “The way the team-mates appreciated it, they were saying it was one of the best.”Pujara had to struggle with a hamstring niggle as he accelerated with the tail for company, but it was a case of mind over matter in the end. “It was tough but I was set and I knew I could play my shots, especially when we lost the seventh wicket,” Pujara said. “Myself and Ash were having a good partnership but once we lost Ash, I thought I had to accelerate. I knew what shots I could play on that wicket because I had batted for two sessions, and I think it was tough it was considering the weather. It was quite hot, we are used to it in India but still…”The hamstring will be assessed overnight. “My leg got stuck into the pitch, and when I was trying to go for the second run, I had a little bit of a pull in my hamstring but I am going to consult the physio now,” Pujara said. “Hopefully it is not too bad.”He was run out off the last ball of the day and though it has been a problem in Pujara’s career, you can’t blame him this time. He had to take the risk in order to manipulate the strike, he had a dodgy hamstring, and he was also undone by a sensational piece of fielding from Pat Cummings. Still, if India’s bowlers and batsmen can follow Pujara’s lead on the coming days, he might have played one of the most significant knocks for India.

Nick Compton was capped 16 times in Tests for England, playing his part in memorable series wins in India and South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2018Former England opener Nick Compton has announced his retirement from the game. Compton, 35, did not feature for Middlesex during the 2018 season – which was also his benefit year – but will remain working for the club in an ambassadorial role.Compton played 16 Tests for England, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Denis. He was Alastair Cook’s first opening partner after the retirement of Andrew Strauss in 2012, and played his part in memorable series wins in India and South Africa.His last cap came during the summer of 2016, a season which ended with Middlesex lifting the County Championship for the first time since 1993.”After almost two decades of professional cricket, I am announcing my retirement from the game I love so much,” Compton said. “It has been a privilege to play first-class cricket for Middlesex, Somerset, and the MCC.”Of course, the pinnacle of my career was following in my grandfather Denis Compton’s footsteps, having achieved my dream of playing and winning Test series for England. I am particularly proud of my successful opening partnership with Alastair Cook and our series victory in India, the first time in 28 years an England team had won in India.”In contrast to his famously dashing grandfather, Nick Compton was a dogged top-order accumulator who carved out a reputation for making hard runs.Having started out at Middlesex, the club closely associated with his family, Compton moved to Somerset in 2010. It was there he found the form that would win him England recognition; in 2012, he scored 1494 runs at 99.60, narrowly failing to become the ninth man in history to score 1000 first-class runs before the end of May.He made his international debut in Ahmedabad that winter and was part of the England side that came from behind to win 2-1 in India. Compton scored hundreds in Dunedin and Wellington on England’s next tour, a 0-0 draw with New Zealand, but lost his place ahead of the 2013 Ashes despite an opening partnership with Cook that averaged 57.93.A second coming in 2015 saw him score 85 and 49 at No. 3 as England won in Durban on the way to a 2-1 series victory, but Compton only played three more Tests, making his final outing against Sri Lanka at Lord’s.”There have been some challenges that I have had to confront, but in spite of these I feel incredibly fortunate to have had this career of mine,” he said. “For one, being named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year in the 150th Anniversary Edition [in 2013] alongside both my cricketing hero Jacques Kallis, and my school friend Hashim Amla.”Other highlights include being chosen as PCA Player of the Year by my peers after coming so close to being the first cricketer for 25 years to score 1000 runs before the end of May is another, up there with making my Test debut in India and receiving my cap from England legend Graham Gooch.”I treasure the 16 Test matches I played for England, especially my back-to-back Test hundreds which I scored in New Zealand. On the domestic front, what a team I played in at Somerset. And winning the County Championship at Lord’s on the final day of the 2016 season for Middlesex provided all involved with an experience that we will savour for the rest of our lives.”In all, Compton scored more than 12,000 first-class runs at an average of 40.42, the last of his 27 hundreds coming for Sri Lanka Ports Authority during a spell playing Sri Lankan domestic cricket in February.He had already begun to explore options for his post-playing career, working as an analyst during the summer for Sky and ESPNcricinfo. “I look forward to pursuing my other interests, particularly in the media and photography as well as working on a few business ventures,” he said.Middlesex’s chief executive, Richard Goatley, added: “It is a sad day for us that Nick Compton has retired from professional cricket. Nick has been a very special servant to the club, culminating in his key role in the Championship winning success of 2016.”Nick is highly valued by Middlesex Cricket and we are delighted that he will remain with the club in an ambassadorial role. We welcome his all-round ability, and want him to add further value by helping to inspire our future success in an off the field capacity.”He has contributed effectively towards the club’s off-field work in the past, both with our senior leadership team and the commercial team at Lord’s, and we look forward to extending that work in the future. Nick Compton will always be welcome at Lord’s.”

Arthur has been a major proponent of changes in the fitness standards of international cricketers in Pakistan since his appointment in 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-2019Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said suffering a clean sweep at home against Australia “hurts us incredibly”. Addressing a press conference after the team returned home from Dubai – having lost all five ODIs – Arthur pointed to the number of players Pakistan had decided to rest, but conceded the side’s fielding and fitness fell well below the standards required over the five games.”I think on this tour, our fitness standards and our fielding were not where they needed to be,” Arthur said. “That’s understandable when you see the likes of young Abid Ali, Hasnain, and guys like that hadn’t been in our setup before. Those that had been in our setup for a long period of time, who know what the standards are, are aware we will never ever compromise on fitness.”All our key players are fit enough going into the World Cup. It’s our strength players, those that sit just under our setup that is worrying. How we pull those guys up to the level required is going to rest on themselves and on the structure to give them that education to make sure when they step up into our side, they are ready to perform on the level we expect.”Pakistan’s ODI form has been a worry over the past 15 months, with the team having lost ODI series against New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in addition to a dismal Asia Cup outing in September 2018. Arthur, however, cautioned against panicking weeks out from the World Cup, pointing out Pakistan still had plenty of games to play before the tournament began.”This series was an opportunity to rest our key players ahead of what is a very demanding schedule leading up to the World Cup,” Arthur said. “We’ve got 11 fully fledged games of cricket from the beginning of May until our first World Cup game. That includes three games against counties, five ODIs against England and then two warm-up games for the World Cup.”So we viewed this tour of an opportunity to look at a final few places. Inzi and I had a look at the final places that we were looking to secure. We looked at the areas we wanted players. We wanted to give our next tear of players an opportunity to play at the highest level, to see what they can do. You’re only good as your bench strength, so for us, our bench strength is incredibly important.”Abid Ali scored 112 – his debut hundred – and Mohammad Rizwan made 104, but it wasn’t enough to chase down Australia’s total of 277•Getty Images

Arthur also pointed out that Pakistan could come away from the series with some positives, especially in the batting department. “Five hundreds across the series was the impressive thing. The fact that I think we’ve certainly found a batsman [Abid Ali], we’ve found a young quick bowler that’s going to serve Pakistan well for the years to come [Mohammad Hasnain] and probably sorted our fast bowling leading into the World Cup. From that point of view, we saw a lot of positive things. Quite a few negatives as well and those need to get sorted out and sorted out quickly.”Arthur was more reserved about what conclusions he had reached with respect to Pakistan’s World Cup squad, keeping his cards close to his chest, but did say he was on the same page with chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq.”We’ll meet this afternoon. We’ve got individual plans for every one of our players,” Arthur said. “Those individual plans will evolve into the England tour, especially for the guys that we want to take [to the World Cup]. Inzi, myself and selectors will sit down in the next couple of days and start our final work towards that World Cup squad. We’ll have fitness testing around April 14 and 15, and we’ll work back on individual planning again today.”He also had time to single out Mohammad Rizwan for praise. Until January, Rizwan had not played an international for Pakistan for over two years, firmly a back-up to the ever-present Sarfaraz Ahmed. Now, he has played 10 internationals for the country on the bounce, and was one of the standout batsmen on tour, scoring two hundreds and finishing as the second-highest scorer for Pakistan this series. But Arthur also made it clear Pakistan were in no way vacillating over the wicketkeeping position.”We know Saify [Sarfaraz] is our captain and our first choice wicketkeeper. And he’s going to lead us into the World Cup.”