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The Pakistan legspinner on his fabulous Test century – which helped him go one up against his idol Warne, no less

Deivarayan Muthu01-Dec-2019Yasir Shah might not have Shane Warne’s numbers when it comes to legspin, but the Pakistani has now achieved something that his childhood hero couldn’t during his 15-year Test career. When Yasir dragged seamer Josh Hazlewood over mid-on in the 86th over of Pakistan’s first innings, he became a Test centurion – and that too against the pink ball. Incidentally, this was also Yasir’s maiden first-class hundred.”I haven’t spoken to him [Warne] about it [the Test hundred],” Yasir said after the third day’s play in Adelaide. “I’m always in touch with Shane Warne. We communicate over phone messages too. And he only talks to me about bowling.”Yasir’s landmark now probably gives him good authority to speak to Warne about batting. His innings provided the Pakistan fans something to cheer about after the other batsmen had collapsed around captain Babar Azam’s 97 in response to Australia’s 589 for 3 declared. So, did Yasir believe that he would score a Test ton?”When we were on our way to the ground in the morning, I had this thought in my mind that I will bat throughout the day,” he said. “And if I bat throughout the day, I will make a century. That was exactly what I was talking to my friends Naseem Shah and Muhammad Musa about this morning. Then, I went to the nets and batted, and kept thinking about batting throughout the day.”Yasir was reprieved at least three times – on 35 (a stumping), 43 (a dolly of a caught-and-bowled to Marnus Labuschagne) and 106 (another simple chance to Labuschagne at short leg) – and he capitalised on it, reaching 113 off 213 balls before he was the last Pakistan batsman to be dismissed in their first innings.”I tried my best to make sure I spend a lot of time at the crease,” he said. “When you do that, you get set and you find batting becomes easier. It’s tough against this world-class Australian bowling attack, and to score a century against them was good.”ALSO READ: Yasir Shah – Pakistan’s first centurion at No. 8 since 2006Yasir celebrated the landmark by leaping in the air and waving his bat towards the crowd, with all his team-mates warmly applauding him from Pakistan’s corner.”I was so excited and happy,” he said of his celebration. “It’s a dream to score a century in Adelaide and on an Australian tour. At that point, I wasn’t aware of what I was doing really but I know I jumped in the air and swung my bat around. And I enjoyed it a lot. It was great fun.”While the century might not make up for his poor returns with the ball in Australia – he averages nearly 90 in the country – Yasir said that he had learnt lessons from the previous trip although he couldn’t quite implement those against a rampaging David Warner who made history with 335 not out.”I was trying to perform at my best even the last time I came here,” Yasir said. “It’s every spinner’s wish to do well in Australia because that raises your image and profile. I’ve put in a lot of hard work.”The last time I bowled too fast. And I was bowling at a faster pace than what I wanted to here, too, and I didn’t use my variations well.”David Warner played really well to score a triple-ton. He didn’t let me settle and get my lines and lengths. And, at times, he even scored runs of our good balls. And he’s too good a batsman to miss out on our bad balls.”

Internal experience was cited by CA’s chairman David Peever as the reason to choose Roberts as James Sutherland’s successor

Daniel Brettig03-Oct-2018To the ring of applause from his Cricket Australia underlings, the new chief executive Kevin Roberts insisted he was the right man to drive culture and reputation change for the governing body. He did so despite his intimate role in its long road towards the dual infamies of the 2017 players pay dispute and the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering scandal.Flanked by the CA chairman David Peever, who joined the board on the same day in 2012 and has been Roberts’ close ally and leadership sponsor throughout, the 46-year-old former first-class batsman, then-apparel executive for Canterbury, Adidas, Colorado and 2XU, declared his intent to repair relationships and rebuild trust with the Australian community. He will need to do so while remaining closely linked to the episodes that caused those bonds and trust to be eroded in the first place.Notwithstanding the succession jockeying that ensued after James Sutherland announced his intention to resign in June, throwing up candidates such as John Harnden, John Warn and Christina Matthews, Roberts’ succession had seemed ordained almost from the moment he left the CA Board to become a part of Sutherland’s executive team in late 2015. Peever duly cited internal experience as the major reason to choose Roberts, who led CA’s side of last year’s fractious pay dispute with the Australian Cricketers Association.”I did absolutely play a key role in those negotiations and our strategy was endorsed by CA and the state and territory associations, we were all in it together,” Roberts said. “But we do have a lot to reflect on and learn from, as we have. There’s no doubt it was a challenging situation, but we move forward, we learn and we make commitments as to how we grow the game and how we grow those partnerships into the future.”We obviously can’t change history, what we can do is work very closely with the ACA on a sustained basis over many years. To make sure the relationship with the ACA and the players is not defined by negotiations that happen over a few months every five years or so, but the relationship is defined by how we work together, to develop national teams, to support our players and to help them develop as athletes, as competitors and as people. The key learning is the importance of the relationship being defined by how we work together over a sustained period, rather than having this pressure cooker type build up to a five-yearly negotiation.”So we’ve got over three and a half year until the next MoU needs to be negotiated and our commitment is to build a stronger relationship in that period. That’s the greatest learning to come out of it, to have that foundation. There will be bumps in the road for cricket along the way, no question, we’re all human and we’ll experience some challenges along the way, but when we work on really sincerely and genuinely building that relationship with the ACA, and continuing to strengthen our relationship with players, cricket will be in a far better space when it comes time to contemplate the next MoU down the track.”Roberts’ appointment was met with a cautious response from the ACA president Greg Dyer. “This is a critical time for Australian cricket,” he said. “The cricket public need to reconnect with the game and this will begin with CA being open, fair and transparent in order to regain their trust. The on and off-field events of the past 18 months have created an expectation that a number of things will need to change.”The findings and recommendations of CA’s Longstaff and McCosker reviews will hopefully identify the changes that need to occur. Just as the players have been held accountable, we also expect that CA will be fully accountable in taking the difficult steps required to restore the reputation of the game.”The wider cultural review of CA, prepared by the corporate ethics expert Simon Longstaff, was handed to the board in recent weeks, meaning its contents were able to be viewed before a final decision was reached. Peever declined to comment on its content, but said that implementing review’s recommendations would be a critical early task for Roberts, whether it was strengthening the link between CA and the national teams or building a more open and constructive relationship with the ACA.”We recognise it is likely as we work through what needs to happen with the information that comes out of the review, that someone with strong experience both in leadership and in leading cultural change will be a very important leader in the organisation,” Peever said. “So Kevin’s credentials in that respect helped the Board have very strong conviction about his appointment.”There’s no doubt when you look at the [MoU] process, we can all learn from that. But that said, the outcome for cricket has been a good outcome, and just let me reiterate we have professionalised the women, our men are the best-paid sportsmen in the country, and with the agreement of the ACA we have been able to now stream off some of the above expected revenues into grassroots. Those conversations are going on now. I refer to the foundation that has been set, and that’s a very important part of that foundation.”In his corporate career, Roberts had some intriguing moments. He was still with Adidas when the company cut ties with CA as sponsor and supplier in 2011, leading to a deal with Asics. More recently, Roberts departed his role at 2XU to join CA in a fractious year for the sportswear brand, involving the collapse of its biggest US customer The Sports Authority. One of 2XU’s biggest shareholders is Tanarra Capital, whose principal happens to be the Sport Australia chairman, John Wylie.Among other issues for Roberts to tackle is the improvement of relationships between CA and its sponsors and broadcast partners. In the latter category, at least, there are fresh starts to be had with Seven and Fox Sports, both of which have bet big on cricket’s reputation not being so damaged as to affect their chances of leveraging off a $1.18 billion broadcasting deal to draw eyeballs to their free-to-air, pay television and digital platforms.”I think the challenge is to unite the cricket community and build trust and respect from the level that it’s at now, and we’ve got a great opportunity to do that,” Roberts said. “We’ve got such a rich tapestry as a cricket community across the nation, and part of that rich tapestry is the diversity of views, the diversity of needs, the diversity of communities. It’s a great opportunity to unite Australian cricket across all of that diversity, but that is a challenge and a compelling challenge.”A saying that’s very relevant to sport is things are rarely as good or as bad as they seem. That’s very true coming out of the Cape Town incident, which was let’s be honest a low point for our sport. But things are most certainly not as bad as they seem to some right now, and we push forward with optimism. Cricket is a game that embraces optimism, it’s all about optimism and I’m sure the cricket community feels the same way. So I’d characterise cricket’s relationship with its communities around the country as good, and we aspire to be great.”We won’t be perfect, but I absolutely promise that we’ll be genuine in our intentions to build respect, build trust, and we’ll try to bring fans and players closer together. Our players in the national men’s and women’s teams are outstanding young Australians, and we want to help other Australians understand more about those male and female players, just what great people they are, and at the same time help our players empathise with fans and what they’re experiencing in the game. It’s really all about bringing those two groups together.”Standing at the back of the room was Sutherland, who will formally exit his role at the CA AGM on October 25, more than 17 years after he was appointed in June 2001. “I am confident Kevin is ready to lead Australian cricket through the sport’s next stage of growth,” he said. “He has been a key member of our executive team over recent years and provided terrific support to me in my role. I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him the very best.”

Matt Walker has withdrawn from England’s tri-series against Australia and New Zealand due to his commitments with Kent

George Dobell19-Aug-2017Matt Walker has withdrawn from England’s tri-series against Australia and New Zealand due to his commitments with Kent.While Walker, the Kent head coach, had previously indicated to the England team management that he was keen to take the opportunity to join the coaching unit during the T20 tournament, he contacted head coach, Trevor Bayliss, on Friday night to inform him of his unavailability. Kent are intending to spend February playing cricket overseas as part of their pre-season plans.”I have been asked. But I’m unable to do it because of my commitments with Kent. It coincides with hopefully going abroad,” Walker told Kent Online. “You can’t have your head coach not being around for the whole of that pre-season trip. It makes no sense to me, so yes, great to be asked, really honoured and hopefully another opportunity will arise in the future.”It’s very flattering absolutely. I’m chuffed to bits. It’s a shame I can’t do it, I would’ve loved to have been involved with England over that period but my priority is with Kent.”The original plan was for Walker to replace England’s assistant coach, Paul Farbrace, for the tri-series section of the tour allowing Farbrace a month off during a hectic winter. It is understood England will continue to search for a suitable stand-in.

There may be more impressive individual performances and more action-packed days in the next two or three months but, in the context of this Pakistan tour, this was an almost perfect start.

George Dobell at Taunton03-Jul-2016
Scorecard2:10

‘Good to start the tour on a high’ – Younis

There may be more impressive individual performances and more action-packed days in the next two or three months but, in the context of this Pakistan tour, this was an almost perfect start.On a benign pitch, in front of a good natured crowd, Pakistan were able to ease their way into a tour that promises some tough moments on and perhaps off the pitch, with a low-key day – a wonderfully low key day from a Pakistan perspective – of gentle cricket.It wasn’t like this the last time they were here. The last time Pakistan were in Taunton, in September 2010, they were besieged. It was only days after the story had broken and, as helicopters hovered over their hotel and journalists waited in the car-park, the atmosphere inside the squad was anything but low key and gentle.The Pakistan camp remain nervous, probably unnecessarily so, about the reception that awaits them on this tour. So to have started this trip with three weeks training out of the spotlight and then enjoy a relatively uneventful day during which nearly all of their top six enjoyed a decent amount of time in the middle represented an ideal start.Not for the first time, Pakistan were grateful to the composure and class of Younis Khan. The 38-year-old, who missed the 2010 tour having fallen out of favour with the team management, finished the day unbeaten on 99 having added 179 for the fifth-wicket with Asad Shafiq.It was not a flawless innings. Younis was reprieved on 20 (a tough chance wide to Marcus Trescothick’s right at second slip) and again on 75 (when Alex Barrow was unable to cling on to an even tougher chance offered via the inside edge). But, in between times, he began to settle into the pace of pitch and the movement in the air and unveiled many of those familiar strokes – the devastating sweep, the flamboyant cut and the pleasing drives off front and back foot – that have already brought him more than 9,000 Test runs and 31 centuries.”It’s not easy for any team when they come to England,” Younis said afterwards. “But we have come to the country very early and we are very well prepared. I think this may be the first time that Pakistan have batted well at the start of a tour. We nearly all had 50 or 60 balls in the middle.”It would be fantastic for me if my performances helped the team do well. It would make me the happy man of the earth.”Shafiq was no less impressive. Joining Younis with the side on 132 for 4 and in just a little trouble, he survived an early run out chance but then was admirably compact and watchful in steering his side into a safer waters. While he may reflect he squandered an excellent opportunity to register a century – he sliced a somewhat wild drive off a wide one that turned a little – he will have taken confidence from this start.The one man to miss out was the captain. Misbah-up-Haq felt for his second ball, a delivery some way outside off stump, without any foot movement and edged to slip.Tougher challenges remain, of course. The days when county teams looked upon these matches as an opportunity to make a name for themselves are largely gone, especially for bowlers. So here Somerset, resting the Overton brothers and Lewis Gregory, fielded an attack that included three men with one Championship cap for the club between them including a first-class debut for 18-year-old off-spinner, Dominic Bess, who moved from Sidmouth to Exeter a couple of years ago to ensure him of more opportunity at club level.They bowled tidily enough. Paul van Meekeren, a Dutch international who has been playing club cricket for Benwell Hill near Newcastle, has just signed until the end of the season and did himself no harm with a whole-hearted effort. After Mohammad Hafeez missed a straight one, van Meekeren produced a beauty that draw a stroke from Azhar Ali but left him to take the edge.Tim Groenewald also finished with two wickets. Two balls before Misbah’s departure he had seen Shan Masood fall across a straight one as he tried to whip the ball through the leg side.But Josh Davey, the Scotland international, was less fortunate. After dropping a relatively simple caught and bowled chance offered by Masood on 17, he was also the unlucky bowler on both occasions that Younis was reprieved. On another day, he might also have won a leg before shout against Hafeez before the batsman had scored.Masood, especially efficient off his legs, and Hafeez, who pulled successive sixes when the medium-paced Davey dropped short, may both feel they missed out on the chance to cash-in against this inexperienced attack. But, in terms of gaining time at the crease ahead of the serious business part of this tour, this was a pleasing start for Pakistan.

Durham’s inexpensively assembled side defended 155 rather comfortably in the end, as Lancashire lost five wickets for four runs in eight balls

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford22-May-2015
ScorecardMark Stoneman top-scored for Durham with 55 (file photo)•Getty Images

The mellifluous tones of The Cure’s Robert Smith boomed out from the loudspeakers but Lancashire fans clearly don’t regard Friday in May as sufficient reason to fall completely in love with short-form cricket. A grey evening matching the gloom of the Crawley band’s early albums probably explained the modest attendance of just under 4000 at Old Trafford.Then again, maybe those who stayed away knew a thing or two. For instead of watching Lancashire chase down 155 in a fashion they have come to know rather well, the home supporters watched Durham’s inexpensively assembled side defend that score and do so rather comfortably in the end as Steven Croft’s men lost five wickets for four runs in eight balls.That collapse left the last pair of George Edwards and Stephen Parry collecting singles of little consequence in the final over as Durham’s players completed their second successive victory in this year’s NatWest T20 Blast and their first in eight games against Lancashire.The defeat may seem harsh on Ashwell Prince, who anticipated his 38th birthday next week by making a career-best 78 off 51 balls before he was run out by wicketkeeper Phil Mustard when his side needed 24 runs off ten balls. Prince, though, was never really given the support he needed from his colleagues. Alviro Petersen was the next highest scorer with 20 and Alex Davies was the only other batsman to reach double figures. Whereas Durham had been 91 for 2 at the midpoint of their innings, Lancashire had managed just 62 for 3 at the same stage and they then needed 34 off the last three overs.There were no stars in Durham’s attack but there were a lot of hard workers at the coalface of this game and the visitors deserved their win. The best bowler was probably legspinner Scott Borthwick, who conceded only 21 runs from four mid-innings overs delivered at a time when Lancashire were looking to put the hammer down. Yet Usman Arshad and John Hastings collected a couple of wickets apiece and there were three run-outs as Mark Stoneman’s men maintained their mental discipline and gave away nothing at all.

Insights

This was a match of two collapses, Lancashire’s, 4 for 5 (1.2 overs) significantly worse than Durham’s, 50 for 8 (8.1 overs) and it was for that reason that they emerged defeated and will look back and at a missed opportunity chasing a manageable target. Four run-outs, including three in 16 balls, in a chase is simply unforgivable.

Curiously, though, even as they reflect on their victory in the cool of Saturday morning Durham may still regard their innings as something of a missed opportunity. With skipper Stoneman and Paul Collingwood both batting well and without hazard the visitors had galloped to 105 for 2 in the 12th over but then lost their last eight wickets for 50 runs in just 8.1 overs. It was nothing like the collapse Lancashire achieved but it seemed significant at the timeThat gradual decline from outright prosperity may have been particularly irritating for Stoneman, whose 57 was both a career-best short-form score and only his second half-century in T20 cricket. Certainly his 38-ball innings, which included three relatively orthodox boundaries off an Edwards over, seemed to have laid foundations for a total of about 180.At the other end, Calum MacLeod employed cricket’s favoured T20 demolition firm, Scoop, Ramp and Clobber, to damage Tom Bailey’s figures, and when MacLeod had lost his middle stump trying to repeat the scoop off Jordan Clark, Collingwood maintained the innings’ momentum by hitting 30 off 19 balls.As so often in T20, though, spin changed the game. Offspinner Arron Lilley removed Collingwoood in his second over when a reverse sweep only dollied the ball to Davies behind the stumps and Lilley then dismissed Stoneman in his next when the wicketkeeper completed a stumping at something like the third attempt. Davies later stumped Borthwick but also missed at least a couple of other chances on an evening when his various accomplishments were trumpeted to all and sundry by a band of raucous supporters.None of the missed opportunities in the second half of Durham’s innings were costly. Only Gordon Muchall reached double figures and both Edwards and Bailey picked up a couple of wickets. Bailey, indeed, bowled Hastings, much as he had accounted for opener Mustard, with an outrageous slower ball which the batsman totally misjudged. The 24-year-old thus matched the chutzpah exhibited in an earlier era by Franklyn Stephenson and Chris Cairns.That, though, rather encapsulated the nature of the contest. One remembered the individual excellence of Bailey, Prince and Lilley but it was Durham’s band of hard-working cricketers who took the two points. “Let’s Dance” the crowd were exhorted endlessly but neither they nor Croft’s players ever showed their best moves. “Hi-ho” blared those loudspeakers at a volume to disturb the dead but it was Durham’s eleven players who went off to work.

Nathan Lyon enjoyed bowling on the Gabba pitch against New Zealand last year and he should again find some turn and bounce, according to the curator Kevin Mitchell Jr

Brydon Coverdale in Brisbane07-Nov-2012Nathan Lyon enjoyed bowling on the Gabba pitch against New Zealand last year and he should again find some turn and bounce, according to the curator Kevin Mitchell Jr. Australia have not yet decided on the make-up of their attack for the first Test against South Africa, which begins in Brisbane on Friday, but over the past few days all the murmurs from the camp have been that a four-man pace attack is unlikely.The stereotype of the Gabba being a green-top has not held true in Test cricket for many years, although there is always some assistance for the fast men on the first morning. Mitchell said there was unlikely to be as much seam movement as there was for last year’s Test – the preparation 12 months ago was interrupted by too much rain – and there would be plenty of runs available for the batsmen.”It’ll probably be similar to last year’s wicket, maybe not as much sideways movement,” Mitchell said. “We had a little bit of interrupted weather last year leading-up [to the match]. We’re hoping it’s going to be fast, good bounce and carry, and then wears on as the game goes on.”There’s always going to be that nip around for the first couple of hours and then it tends to flatten out and the moisture goes out of it. Then it’s a pretty good batting wicket, but a new-ball deck. Given a nice day you’d tend to want to have a bat [first]. But sometimes we get humid weather in Brisbane and as you know the ball swings around a bit.”The strong pace attacks of both teams will enjoy some pace and bounce but as the match goes on, Lyon and his South Africa counterpart, Imran Tahir, will be expected to play more of a role. Shane Warne always said the Gabba was one of his favourite venues at which to bowl – he took more wickets there than at any other venue – and Mitchell expects there will again be something for the spinners.”If the weather dries it out there certainly will be,” he said. “We’ll probably get a bit of deterioration with some cracking and then the footmarks will dust up for the spinners.”That is good news for Lyon, who took seven wickets against New Zealand last year in what was not only his first Gabba Test, but also the first time he had so much as visited the ground. Since then, he has been back for one Sheffield Shield match and he is looking forward to the chance of sending down some more overs over the next week.”It was great to bowl out here,” Lyon said. “I really enjoyed it. Hopefully I get my chance on Friday morning and we’ll see where we get to. I love it because you get great bounce and if it’s a bit tacky early in the game, it spins a bit. Then later on it spins even more. I’m just really looking forward to the opportunity of getting out there on Friday.”On Wednesday, Lyon was bowling in the nets under the watchful eye of John Davison, the spin mentor at the Centre of Excellence, and one of a select group of coaches to whom Lyon now turns. A left-field addition to that group is Steve Rixon, officially Australia’s fielding coach, who has also been assigned a role with Lyon to allow the bowling coach Ali de Winter to focus on the fast men.”Stumper [Rixon] is just going to be around at training as someone I can talk to, more so that Ali de Winter can just concentrate on his quicks and they can work together,” Lyon said. “I’m pretty excited, Stumper has kept to some great spinners in his career and has worked with some. I’m really excited and it’s going to be a great thing.”

The resumption of international cricket in Pakistan could be the by-product of a deal between the PCB and its Bangladesh counterpart over choosing the next ICC vice-president

Umar Farooq and Mohammad Isam23-Nov-2011The resumption of international cricket in Pakistan, which stopped after the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009, could be the by-product of a deal between the PCB and its Bangladesh counterpart over choosing the next ICC vice-president. The nomination rests with the two countries and Pakistan are reportedly ready to concede its right for an expected tour by Bangladesh in 2012.The deal, however, is being explained in official circles as the conclusion of a gentleman’s agreement that resulted in Pakistan’s Ehsan Mani becoming the ICC president in 2003.The ICC executive board, at its meeting in October, had asked the PCB and BCB to nominate a candidate for the vice-presidency for the 2012-14 term, in keeping with the rotational system. The nomination has to be firmed up by December 31, the ICC will discuss it in January and the appointment will be effective in June. The two board chiefs, Zaka Ashraf of the PCB and the BCB’s Mustafa Kamal, have already held one – reportedly inconclusive – meeting in Dubai. They are due to meet again in Dhaka on the sidelines of Pakistan’s tour in December.For Pakistan, the benefits are clear: they are keen for international cricket to return to the country and Ashraf, barely a month into his job, has set that as his primary target – even at the cost of what will lead to the top job in international cricket. To that end, he has repaired relations with Bangladesh to an extent, from the frosty ties under his predecessor Ijaz Butt. The ties were strained after cancelled junior cricket tours to Pakistan and by Bangladesh not supporting Pakistan over the staging of matches during the 2011 World Cup.On the face of it the deal is a formality. When, in 2003, the two boards agreed on Mani’s candidature for the president’s post, it was on the understanding that the next cycle would go Bangladesh’s way. Even the mooted tour is not expected to be a problem; Bangladesh don’t have any problems with travel to Pakistan – the national football team went there earlier this year for a World Cup qualifier – and the series is part of the ICC future tours programme, scheduled for April 2012.Pakistan, however, has reportedly sought written assurance from Bangladesh that it will not backtrack from the understanding.The bigger issue, however, seems to be a lack of clarity in Bangladesh. The BCB hasn’t discussed it, nor has Kamal spoken to his directors about his meeting with Ashraf. BCB officials say they are wary of commenting since the decision will be taken at the highest political levels. Nor is there any unanimity on candidates for ICC vice-president, with several hats in the ring.Kamal leads the way and seems to have his sights firmly on the job. A political appointment, like all his predecessors, he’s also a Minister of Parliament (MP) and reasonably in favour with the top bosses of the ruling Awami League. Kamal’s closest contender seems to be Saber Hossain Chowdhury, the former BCB president. Chowdhury, also an MP, has immense credibility as a cricket administrator – he ushered Bangladesh into Test cricket after overseeing their ICC Trophy win and securing their ODI status, and also brought in Gordon Greenidge as coach. However, his political clout has waned in recent times; he was once a close aide of the Prime Minister’s but has been kept away from a ministerial role.Also doing the rounds are the names of two Pakistanis – Mani, and former captain Majid Khan. Mani told ESPNcricinfo he had been contacted by officials from Bangladesh but it is believed the PCB has made no serious attempt to make contact with either; despite their strong CVs they remain long shots.”I have no interest in seeking the post for a second time,” Mani told ESPNcricinfo. “There are other very good people in Bangladesh and Pakistan and I am sure that if the right person is selected he would be a credit to both the countries.”The important thing is that the two boards should ensure that their nominee has the right qualification and standing in the game and will act in the best interests of the game.”

A round-up of Sunday’s matches in the WICB one-day tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2010Barbados marched into the semi-finals of the WICB Cup with a 151-run hammering of Guyana at Sabina Park. Tino Best scythed through the top order to help dismiss Guyana for 100, after half-centuries from Jonathan Carter and Dale Richards had helped Barbados to 251.Fast bowler Best struck four times in his first three overs, which included the big wicket of Ramnaresh Sarwan, to reduce Guyana to 6 for 4. The left-arm spin duo of Ryan Hinds and Sulieman Benn then picked up five wickets between them and Guyana’s misery was complete. Best returned to take one more, finishing with career-best figures of 5 for 24, his maiden List A five-wicket haul.Legspinner Devendra Bishoo went one better than Best in taking 6 for 36 – his maiden List A five-wicket haul as well – in Barbados’ innings, but lacked support from the other bowlers. Though he triggered a late collapse, from 221 for 3 to 251 all out, aggressive knocks from Carter and Richards had already ensured that Barbados had enough runs.Rain scuppered what was building up to an interesting contest at Kensington Park in Kingston, where Sagicor High Performance Centre (HPC) had lost two early wickets in their chase of Leeward Islands‘ 168, in a match that was halted briefly because the pitch was deemed dangerous.The bowlers justified HPC’s decision to bowl first when they came back strongly to take eight wickets for 64 runs, as Leeward collapsed from a strong 104 for 2. Nkruma Bonner led the way, taking 3 for 21 with his legspin.Leeward’s opening bowlers, Lionel Baker and Gavin Tonge, replied in kind by reducing HPC to 21 for 2 in the eighth over, but rain intervened at that point and the match had to be called off.The umpires had earlier deemed the pitch as dangerous and halted the match after the first six overs. Play resumed after the surface had been rolled again. Leeward captain Wilden Cornwall said that the pitch did not look right in the morning, and even the outfield was not fit for play. “This tournament is our highest tournament for the West Indies, it is the next level to West Indies cricket, why are we treating cricket like this in the Caribbean,” Cornwall told . “It is poor, really poor and I am very much upset.”

England have lost nine of their ten white-ball games this year, culminating in their early exit from the Champions Trophy

Matt Roller26-Feb-20253:13

Knight: Will be tough for Buttler to hold on to captaincy

Jos Buttler has conceded that he will “consider all possibilities” about his future as England’s white-ball captain after they were eliminated from the Champions Trophy following an eight-run defeat to Afghanistan on Wednesday night. It was their ninth loss in ten white-ball matches this year.Buttler won the 2022 T20 World Cup, his first ICC tournament as captain, but England have underperformed ever since. They lost six out of nine games at the 2023 ODI World Cup, were thrashed by India in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2024, and have now gone out of the Champions Trophy with one group match remaining following back-to-back defeats to Australia and Afghanistan.Related

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Matthew Mott lost his job as England’s coach after last year’s T20 World Cup and Buttler admitted that he had feared for his own job at the time. He has since captained the team on a tough tour to India, where they won only once in eight games, and appeared to concede that his time in charge was likely up in the aftermath of Wednesday night’s game.”It’s tough to say, stood here right now, and I don’t want to make any sort of emotional statements,” Buttler told . “But I think it’s fair to say that you’ve got to consider all possibilities.”I’ve enjoyed it [the captaincy]. I’ve seen lots of people say it doesn’t sit well with me, but I do enjoy it. I enjoy the challenge. Obviously, I don’t enjoy losing games of cricket and the results. And, of course, when they’re not going well, you do look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘am I part of the problem or am I part of the solution?’ I think that’s what I’ve got to work out.”Buttler admitted at his post-match press conference that his future may not be in his own hands. “You [the press] are probably not the first people I’d discuss that with,” he said. “I’ll take a little bit of time to work out, personally, what I think is right, and obviously the guys at the top are in charge, and they’ll have their own views as well.2:16

Buttler on captaincy: Have to work up whether I’m part of the problem or solution

“I enjoy leading. Even before, when I wasn’t captain, I’d like to think of myself as a leader in the team. But results are tough, and they weigh heavy at times. Of course, you want to be leading a winning team, and we haven’t been that for a while now, so obviously that brings some difficult moments.”Harry Brook captained England in their ODI series against Australia in September and is their official vice-captain at the Champions Trophy, while Liam Livingstone (ODI) and Phil Salt (T20I) have also deputised in Buttler’s absence. After Saturday’s game against South Africa, England’s next white-ball fixtures are against West Indies in June.In Lahore, England fell just short in pursuit of the 326-run target set by Afghanistan despite Joe Root’s first ODI hundred since 2019. Buttler said that their failure to reach the target on a flat pitch was a reflection of the team’s wider struggles.”I think a confident team would’ve romped home tonight,” he said. “That’s the way sport goes sometimes. When you’ve been short of results in those 50-50 games, you probably find ways to lose as opposed to win when you’re a really confident, flying team.Buttler fell for 38 after an 83-run partnership with Joe Root•Getty Images

“The last ten overs with the ball got away from us: they scored 113 runs in that phase. If we could have restricted them, that would’ve made the chase a lot easier. Joe Root played an unbelievable innings, full of class and character as usual, and we needed one of the top six to go longer with him.”Everyone is going to be very disappointed, and it is going to be raw… You’ve got to allow things like this to push you forward and drive you forward in your future – as an individual, as a team, and, as an England white-ball side, to get back to the level that we want to be at, competing in these tournaments and being here to win.”Buttler fell for 38 at a critical time in the run chase after an 83-run stand with Root, opening up an end for Afghanistan to target. He has been short of runs in 50-over cricket for some time, with 352 ODI runs at 22.00 since the start of the 2023 World Cup.”I think when I’m at my best, I’m one of the best players in the world,” he said. “I’m not performing at that level at the moment. I’ve felt in good touch, but I’m not getting the scores that I’ve been used to over time, so that’s frustrating.”

The two teams meet for their fourth separate series in India this calendar year, not including the World Cup which finished four days ago or the WTC final

Alex Malcolm22-Nov-20231:37

Finch on Australia’s plans with Smith for T20Is

Big picture: More India vs Australia coming your way

Nothing exemplifies the problem with the international cricket schedule quite like this T20I series between India and Australia. To start a five-match series four days after an ODI World Cup final is absurd in itself, although there is precedent as recently as 12 months ago with England forced to front up for a three-match ODI series against Australia four days after their T20 World Cup triumph.On top of that, haven’t these two sides played against each other enough this year? They played a four-Test series in India in February and March, followed by a three-match ODI series. They played in the World Test Championship final in June straight after the IPL. They then played a second three-match ODI series in India in September just two weeks out from the ODI World Cup, where they met at the start and the end of the tournament. Not to mention the two sides played a three-match T20I series in India in September last year. Australia’s involvement in the Ashes series and India’s Asia Cup and Asia Games adventures in between times only add to the completely nonsensical scheduling of this series.But, it’s on, and we’ll watch it. India have quite rightly rested nearly all of their World Cup squad, with the exception of Suryakumar Yadav who will lead the side, Ishan Kishan and Prasidh Krishna, although Kishan played just two games in the World Cup and Prasidh none. Shreyas Iyer will return for the last two games of the series after being rested for the first three while coach Rahul Dravid is also missing the series with VVS Laxman taking charge after coaching the victorious Asain Games team.Related

• Ashwin admits India were undone by 'tactical brilliance and execution' from Cummins

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• Suryakumar to lead India for Australia T20Is; Axar returns

• Borovec to coach Australia for India T20Is with McDonald resting

• Captain Wade unsure if he will be Australia's first-choice keeper at T20 World Cup

Australia have kept more of their World Cup squad in India with seven players remaining plus Tanveer Sangha who has been a travelling reserve for the entire tournament. They only have added seven new faces including Matthew Wade who will captain the side, which means at least four of those who are still celebrating Sunday’s win will have to sober up enough to take the field. David Warner was originally picked to play in the series but made a late decision to withdraw and has been replaced by Aaron Hardie. Spencer Johnson has also been withdrawn from the original squad due to injury with Kane Richardson replacing him. Pat Cummins, the ODI captain, and Mitch Marsh, the stand-in T20 captain for the last series Australia played in South Africa, have flown home alongside Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green. Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald has also flown home to Australia with assistant coach Andre Borovec taking charge for the first time.Whilst there are plenty of reasons not to play this series, it should be noted that the next T20 World Cup is just over six months away. For both sides, these five matches are part of only 11 scheduled T20Is before that World Cup.It should be noted too, that for as meaningless as Australia’s three-match ODI series was against England last year in days after the T20 World Cup, it did provide the opportunity for Travis Head to nail his spot as Australia’s ODI World Cup opener and gave Cummins the chance to captain in ODIs for the first time. With that in mind, there are opportunities here for players on both sides to bed down roles for the T20 World Cup next year.

Form guide

India WWWWL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Australia WWWWW

In the spotlight: Kishan and Wade

Ishan Kishan hasn’t been able to bed down his T20I spot•AFP/Getty Images

This is a golden chance for Ishan Kishan to bed down the role of wicketkeeper ahead of the next World Cup. Kishan had the role for the first eight of India’s T20Is this year but lost his place after just two games in the five-match series against West Indies in the Caribbean and the United States in August and was replaced by Sanju Samson. There was no room for Samson in this squad and Jitesh Sharma has been named as the second wicketkeeper. With Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad both part of the squad, Kishan could be locked in a three-way battle for the opening spot. Only twice in his 29-match T20I career has Kishan batted outside the opening spot – at No. 3 in March 2021 and at No. 6 in July 2021.This looms as a really interesting series for Matthew Wade. The fact that he has been named as captain in the absence of Cummins and Marsh suggests he is still very highly regarded by the Australian selectors but even he admitted he is unsure whether he will be the first-choice wicketkeeper at next year’s T20 World Cup. Josh Inglis usurped Alex Carey in the ODI World Cup side and despite what appear as modest returns, he showed his capabilities in big moments and is one of Australia’s best players of spin bowling in the middle overs in both white-ball formats. But the Marcus Stoinis-Tim David-Wade axis at Nos. 5-7 have actually been the most reliable aspect of Australia’s T20 batting in the last two years. There would need to be a good reason to break the band up for the T20 World Cup, given their experience in big moments and their power on slow pitches. Wade can take the discussion completely off the table if he bats, keeps and leads well in this series.

Team news

Guessing the two XIs would be a fun trivia game for any fans ahead of this series. India’s XI is a complete mystery, as they have played so many different combinations in recent times; but it would seem likely that Suryakumar will slot in at No.3 and Ishan Kishan will likely keep, but where he bats remains a mystery. Axar Patel should be a lock to return.India (probable): 1 Ishan Kishan (wk), 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Axar Patel/Washington Sundar, 8 Ravi Bishnoi, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Prasidh Krishna/Avesh Khan, 11 Mukesh KumarAustralia are purely looking for sober cricketers. Steven Smith could well play as he was set to open in the T20I series against South Africa before he was ruled out with a wrist injury. Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott should play given they both missed the World Cup semi and final and Tanveer Sangha will probably get a chance to allow Zampa to relax.Australia (probable): 1 Steven Smith, 2 Matthew Short, 3 Aaron Hardie, 4 Josh Inglis, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Tim David, 7 Matthew Wade (capt, wk), 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Jason Behrendorff, 11 Tanveer Sangha

Pitch and conditions

It will be humid and there is a chance of a couple of showers in the afternoon. It was similar weather when these two sides met in an ODI at the same venue in March and Australia quicks help set up a 10-wicket win. Australia also won a low-scoring T20I at the same venue in 2019. Ball has tended to dominate bat in the three T20Is played at the ground.

Stats and trivia

• Australia have played five internationals at the two grounds in Visakhapatnam including four ODIs and one T20I and have only lost once.
• Suryakumar Yadav will become the ninth India T20I captain since the start of 2021 and the fourth this year after Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
• Matthew Wade has captained Australia’s T20I side in seven matches previously including against India in 2020. He also led Australia in their final match of the 2022 World Cup when Aaron Finch was injured.

Quotes

“Keeping the T20 World Cup in mind, the games we are going to play till then are very important. My message to them [younger players] is very clear: be fearless and do whatever it takes to help the team. And they have been doing that in the IPL; they have played a lot domestic cricket as well recently. So they are in a good nick, which I have heard from our support staff.”
“Traditionally, the pitches are very, very good for batting over here. In the West Indies, they tend to slow up and take a little bit of spin. So any opportunity we get on a slowish wicket with a bit of spin is an opportunity for someone to put their hand up and show what they can do.”