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An absorbing day of Test-match cut and thrust finished with honours more or less even but with South Africa over-flowing with belief, thanks to a searing yorker from the final ball of Kagiso Rabada’s day

The Report by Andrew Miller04-Aug-20171:57

Kimber: Lack of big scores could come back to bite England

England 260 for 6 (Stokes 58, Root 52) v South Africa

Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAn absorbing day of Test-match cut and thrust finished with honours more or less even but with South Africa over-flowing with belief, thanks to a searing yorker from the final ball of Kagiso Rabada’s day that burst through the defences of England’s top-scorer and most potent threat, Ben Stokes. His stumps were splayed to bring to an end a 65-run stand for the sixth wicket with Jonny Bairstow and bring to the crease the nightwatchman, Toby Roland-Jones, who loitered at the non-striker’s end without facing a delivery as England closed on 260 for 6.Each of England’s top six made starts, including the captain Joe Root, who went past 5000 runs in the course of his 52 – an innings which also equalled John Edrich’s England record of ten consecutive matches with at least a half-century. But, as a testing morning session under slate-grey skies gave way to perfect sun-kissed batting conditions in the afternoon, England’s recent propensity to squander solid positions with reckless intent threatened once again to destabilise their series prospects.It had been a testing decision for Root to bat first after winning the toss. After several days of the most stereotypically grim Mancunian weather imaginable, the suspicion lingered that the surface, though ostensibly dry, could hardly have avoided absorbing a considerable amount of moisture in its preparation. And sure enough, England found the going tough from the outset, even in the absence of the one South Africa bowler most likely to have thrived in the seam-and-swing conditions.

105 Innings taken by Joe Root to score 5000 Test runs, the fifth-fastest by an England batsman, behind Jack Hobbs, Wally Hammond, Ken Barrington and Len Hutton. Root also became the third-youngest ever to score 5000 Test runs, behind Sachin Tendulkar and Alastair Cook.
10 Consecutive fifties for Root in Tests – the joint-highest for England in Tests. Root equalled John Edrich, who set his record between 1969 and 1971. The overall record is held by AB de Villiers, with fifties in 12 consecutive matches.
100 Wicketkeeping dismissals for Quinton De Kock in Tests – the fourth wicketkeeper from South Africa to this feat. De Kock reached 100 dismissals in his 23rd Test, equalling Mark Boucher’s South Africa record. Adam Gilchrist set the overall mark in his 22nd Test.

After battling through illness in the third Test at The Oval, Vernon Philander succumbed to a back spasm on the eve of the match, as did another valued member of their fast-bowling stocks, Chris Morris – whose pace and aggression had been instrumental in their second-Test fightback at Trent Bridge last month.However, Morne Morkel and Rabada set South Africa’s example with the new ball, hammering out an edge-threatening line and length to England’s brace of left-handed openers, before Duanne Olivier provided pace, enthusiasm and the odd unplayable delivery in a lively return to the ranks. The undersung hero, however, was the left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj, who churned out 29 overs from the Brian Statham End to allow his quicker counterparts to stay fresh and threatening in rotation from the newly anointed James Anderson End.Keaton Jennings, whose 48 in the second innings at The Oval had been a streaky but valuable reminder of his battling qualities, once again failed to dispel the gathering doubts about his Test aptitude with a battling but unfulfilled innings of 17 from 37 balls. He could, and perhaps should, have been dismissed by his fourth ball of the match, a lollipopping inside-edge onto the pad flap that Rabada couldn’t gather in his followthrough but that short leg would have swallowed, but was instead lured forward by a sharp lifter outside off by Olivier, for Quinton de Kock to take the catch that ended an opening stand of 35.Alastair Cook, true to his phlegmatic approach, was tested time and again in the channel outside off, particularly by the superb and largely luckless Morkel, but managed, through a combination of skill, luck and judgment, to guide England to a digestible lunch at 67 for 1. His most productive scoring area, unusually for the first morning of a Test match, was straight down the ground, where he twice placed fractionally overpitched deliveries from Morkel and Olivier with dead-eyed timing.Cook did have one moment of discomfort against the sharp pace of Rabada, who hurried him on the pull as he combated a round-the-wicket bouncer, and gloved a top-edge over the keeper’s head for four. But it was the spin of Maharaj that made the next big breakthrough, half an hour after the resumption. Warming to a spell that would span the entire session, his relentless accuracy on and around the blockhole, allied to a hint of spin and natural variation, lured Cook into the indiscretion that the seamers had been unable to tempt.Harnessing the breeze across the ground, Maharaj drifted the ball past an urgent drive for de Kock to gather a thin edge behind the stumps. Cook was gone for 46 from 103 balls, an innings that almost precisely represented both his career average (46.18) and strike rate (46.77). Distinctly average by his standards, therefore, but a cut above what most other players would have produced in such conditions.Ben Stokes made a fifty but fell in the penultimate over of the day•Getty Images

As if to prove the point, four overs ticked by without addition to the score before Tom Westley too was extracted – his 29 echoing his 25 in his debut innings at The Oval last week, in that it had showcased a Test-worthy technique and temperament, but had been cut short before it had fully formed. This time the executioner was Rabada, and in dramatic style. Cranking himself up to full pace and ferocity, he burst a lifting delivery off the edge and into the outstretched right mitt of de Kock.A brilliant dismissal though it was, de Kock had arguably made up in athleticism and hang-time what he had lacked in his initial footwork, as he dived fully to his right to gather the flying edge. It was a suspicion that would be reinforced in jaw-dropping style three overs after tea, when he failed to react as Morne Morkel found Root’s edge with a lifter that couldn’t have passed his motionless gloves by more than a foot.De Kock’s crestfallen expression brought to mind that of Mark Boucher after dropping Nasser Hussain at Trent Bridge in 1998. And, as Root ground through to his fifty from 91 balls, South Africa might have feared it would be equally ruinous to their series prospects. And yet, on 52, and with a lazy afternoon of accumulation yawning in front of him, he galloped down the pitch to Olivier and fell lbw to a one-day waft through midwicket.By that stage, Malan had been and gone, having played his part in a fourth-wicket stand of 52 with Root, before succumbing to another moment of impetuosity with four minutes of the afternoon session remaining. He might have departed first ball, as he whooshed into a nervy and hard-handed drive to an exocet from Rabada outside off. But, having steadied his nerves and remembered his arena, he was suckered by a change of angle from Morkel, who had switched his line to the left-hander from round the wicket to over.Suddenly balls that had been bearing into Malan’s body were being dangled across his bows, and it was too much of a temptation for a man whose first international innings had been 78 from 44 balls. Du Plessis took the chance in his breadbasket, and Malan stalked from the field, swishing his bat in annoyance.The evening session, therefore, was reserved for England’s middle-order pairing of Stokes and Bairstow – the most prolific partnership of the Trevor Bayliss era, and architects of that 399-run stand in Cape Town 18 months ago. This was a performance far removed from that batsman’s benefit game, however, and both men were obliged to ride their luck despite occasionally breezy moments of accumulation.Bairstow, on 4, was given not out, out and not out again by a combination of Kumar Dharmasena and the TV umpire, Joel Wilson, after an inside-edge off Maharaj was adjudged to have fallen millimetres short of Dean Elgar at slip. And Stokes, his face reddening in keeping with his mood as he gritted his teeth in the day’s closing overs, exacerbated Morkel’s lack of luck by edging his fifth delivery with the second new ball clean through the unposted third slip. Undeterred, he punched Rabada down the ground to bring up his fifty from 89 balls, to allow England to reclaim the upper hand.But, with stumps approaching, Rabada cranked up his aggro in one last-ditch bid for a breakthrough. Stokes picked off two boundaries in a high-octane finale, including a rushed pull that flew through at a catchable height through fine leg. But he had no answer to the yorker, and South Africa reached the close with their ambitions still very much intact.

St Lucia Zouks’ dreams of a maiden CPL title were ended by defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders, who won convincingly to qualify for Playoff 2

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRonsford Beaton’s three wickets helped to tie St Lucia Zouks down in the middle phase of their innings•Sportsfile/Getty Images

St Lucia Zouks’ dreams of a maiden CPL title were ended by defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders, who turned out a clinical batting display in the eliminator at St Kitts to qualify for the second playoff while knocking Zouks out of the competition.Ronsford Beaton and Brendon McCullum played starring roles as Knight Riders kept Zouks to 164, before chasing down the target with five wickets in hand and nine balls to spare.St Lucia’s innings started strongly and finished strongly, but lost momentum in the middle. After being put in to bat, openers Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher put on a breezy stand of 62 off 44. They had their share of luck along the way – not only did they benefit from three dropped chances, but Fletcher also survived a close shave in the second over when a Beaton yorker squeezed under his bat and hit the base of the stumps without dislodging the bails. Charles was the more attacking of the two, hitting three fours and two sixes in his 22-ball 31, but it was his dismissal in the eighth over that broke the momentum.It took Zouks 10.1 overs, and the loss of six wickets, to score their next 62. Wickets fell at regular intervals, with Beaton collecting figures of 3 for 23 including two in two in the 18th over. Fletcher, the only batsman to spend appreciable time in the middle during this phase, struggled to find the boundary and ran out of steam to finish with 41 off 43. At the fall of the seventh wicket, Zouks were languishing at 124, with just 15 balls left in the innings.However, captain Darren Sammy and Shane Shillingford provided the innings with a late fillip, smashing 40 runs in those last 15 balls, including two sixes each in that period. Knight Riders’ sloppy fielding cost them dearly, as Sammy and Shillingford were each dropped twice before embarking on their respective six-hitting rampages. Shillingford’s two sixes came off the last two balls of the innings, propelling Zouks to 164 and leaving Knight Riders to contemplate a shoddy fielding performance that included seven drops in all.They seemed to have put that behind them by the time the run chase came around, though, with the top three getting the side off to a flying start. Though all three lost their wickets inside the Powerplay, they had helped Knight Riders on to 68 for 3 after six overs, with Umar Akmal scoring 30 off 15.Thereafter, McCullum – who had dropped two catches earlier in the day – steered the innings with an unbeaten 49 off 41. Knight Riders were in cruise control from about halfway through their chase, requiring little over a run a ball as McCullum controlled proceedings. Sunil Narine, coming in at No. 7, ensured that the match did not go into the last over; he hit consecutive sixes off Delorn Johnson* in the 19th and sealed the win with a single past point.Knight Riders now move on to the second playoff, a virtual semi-final, where they will play Jamaica Tallawahs for a berth in the final.*GMT 0730 August 5, 2016: The report had erroneously mentioned Mitchell Johnson. This has now been corrected.

Yuvraj Singh’s injury will force India into changing their combination for the first time in the World T20. They will have to make a choice between batsman Manish Pandey and left-arm spinning allrounder Pawan Negi

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Mumbai30-Mar-2016Fifty-two runs at an average of 13.00. Three overs, 19 runs, one wicket. One twisted ankle. At 34, these might well be the last set of numbers generated by Yuvraj Singh at an ICC event. A modest set of numbers for a limited-overs great, but they do not reveal the importance of some of his contributions, his batting in partnership with Virat Kohli easing India through pressure situations against Pakistan and Australia, and his three overs against Australia helping India drag their way back into a must-win game.Ravi Shastri, India’s team director, highlighted those three overs when asked what impact Yuvraj’s injury would have on India’s plans for Thursday’s semi-final against West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium.”It will have an impact because he’s had his moments,” Shastri said. “I thought his three overs were brilliant in the last game. That really put the brakes on the scoring and allowed us to come back into the game. After the first four overs it was a no-contest, because at one stage it looked like [Australia would score] 200-plus, which would have been very difficult to chase on that surface. So he will be missed. [It’s] unfortunate. It’s an injury that happened during the game. Looking to take off [for a run], he did his ankle in, and I believe it’s a minor tear in the ankle.”India have played the same eleven right through the World T20, and Yuvraj’s injury will force them into changing their combination for the first time. They have three possible replacements, none of them exactly like-for-like. Ajinkya Rahane is viewed as a back-up for India’s top three, and not as a middle-order batsman. Pawan Negi bats left-handed and bowls left-arm spin, like Yuvraj, but is a bits-and-pieces allrounder rather than a specialist batsman who bowls part-time. Manish Pandey, who has replaced Yuvraj in India’s squad, is a middle-order batsman who doesn’t really offer a bowling option.

Ravi Shastri on…

Facing West Indies: “I’ve said it from the beginning – they’re probably one of the most dangerous sides in this format because they’ve got explosive players, match-winners. We know what we’re up against. But we’re up and ready as well. This is not a knockout for us, our knockout was the last game [against Australia]. That was a quarter-final, this is a semi-final.”
Virat Kohli’s innings against Australia: “Outstanding innings, one of the best you’ll ever see in T20 cricket. I don’t know how long T20 cricket will be played but when you consider the occasion, the pressure, and the kind of shots he played – all cricketing shots – it was quite unbelievable.”
The poor form of India’s batsmen apart from Kohli: “You’ll need [them to step up] in a big game like this, a semi-final. We’ve played to 70% of our abilities in this tournament. So there’s still 30% in areas we need to improve, so let’s hope it happens tomorrow. In a semi-final you’ve got to get your A game. You cannot rely on a couple of players. You need six or seven to step up to the plate and it’s not happened really in this tournament, so let’s hope tomorrow is a start.”
Whether the bowlers can cope on a flat Wankhede pitch: “I see no reason why [they can’t cope]. I thought Bangalore and Mohali were good surfaces, this has always been a good surface, so again, it’s repeating what they’ve been doing. Keeping things simple.”

Shastri hinted that India might need a bowling option.”We’ve not decided [who will replace Yuvraj] because Manish has just joined the party yesterday,” Shastri said. “We’ll take a good look at everything in the nets and see what our best options will be for tomorrow’s game. We’ll have to keep those overs in mind.”India’s practice session began soon after Shastri’s press conference. The players occupied three of the Wankhede’s practice pitches, two on the eastern side of the ground and one on the west. As if on a conveyor belt, their batsmen moved from east to west, facing the quick bowlers first, then the spinners, and then – after a break for water and electrolytes – throwdowns. This was their order: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Kohli, Suresh Raina, Pandey, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Negi.Negi batted as late as he did because he had been bowling for around 20 minutes to Raina, Pandey, Dhoni and Pandya. And while Harbhajan only got to face a set of net bowlers at the seamers’ net, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was summoned up for a second bowling stint when Negi came in to bat.Rahane wasn’t part of this sequence: he was the first batsman to face throwdowns, but did not spend any time at either the seamers’ or spinners’ nets.From all this, it seemed safe to assume the choice was between Pandey and Negi, two entirely different cricketers.Pandey is a proper batsman with a 50-plus first-class average and a reputation for scoring runs in crunch situations, particularly in steep run-chases: whether it’s a Ranji Trophy final , an IPL final, or an ODI against Australia. He can play his shots, but his T20 strike rate is 115.84, which is less even than Rahane’s.Negi is a T20 specialist – he has played 57 T20s, but only three first-class matches and 19 List A games – who can hit big in the lower middle order. He has a strike rate of 134.92, and hits a four or six roughly once every six balls. He has taken 47 wickets at 26.06, while maintaining an economy rate of 7.38.The fact that he can bowl, and left-arm spin at that, might tilt the choice Negi’s way, given that everyone in West Indies’ batting line-up bats right-handed apart from Chris Gayle and Sulieman Benn. But that may not be a significant factor considering the Wankhede’s short boundaries, particularly if its pitch is as flat as it was in the early part of the tournament. And given the iffy form of the top order barring Kohli, India might value the batting pedigree of Pandey over Negi’s utility value. Either way, they have a difficult choice to make on Thursday morning.

Shane Warne has said he wants to see as many countries as possible play in a World Cup and hopes fans now watching the Cricket All-Stars tournament might one day turn up one day at the showpiece event and represent America

Peter Della Penna in Houston12-Nov-2015Shane Warne has said he wants to see as many countries as possible play in a World Cup and hopes fans now watching the Cricket All-Stars tournament might one day turn up one day at the showpiece event and represent America.”We all think it’s a global game and would love everyone to play the game of cricket,” Warne said in the post-match press conference in Houston on Wednesday, after his Warriors beat Sachin Tendulkar’s Blasters by 51 runs.The Cricket All-Stars series has been billed as a means to expand the reach of the game, but it comes at a time when the ICC has shrunk the number of teams participating at a World Cup to 10, limiting the chances of Associates like the USA taking part. Warne was asked of this disparity and he replied by saying he thought the ICC “are trying to do the best they can by the game of cricket.””All we can do is do our part,” he said. “And that’s why we’re [the All-Stars] here in America playing the game of cricket and trying to promote the game of cricket as best we possibly can. We would love to see all the countries play in a World Cup but at the end of the day, the ICC are trying to do the best they can by the game of cricket.”America only just missed out on the last [T20] World Cup. So hopefully we can see America playing in a World Cup down the track and maybe one of these kids or some of these guys that we’ve coached in New York or Houston or maybe in LA, we might see them in one of the World Cups down the track and that would be absolutely fantastic.”The crowd in Houston was modest – the 42,000 capacity stadium was less than half-full – but rowdy. The overwhelming majority at both Citi Field in New York and Minute Maid Park here were either South Asian immigrants, who grew up watching cricket in the subcontinent, or their American-born children. When asked if he felt the matches had succeeded in making a connection with the wider American community, Tendulkar acknowledged that there was still a ways to go.”I think we’ll have to take gradual steps,” he said. “We’re not going to get 25,000 Americans watching overnight but it has to start somewhere. I’m sure among these spectators, even if there are 2% Americans, then that 2% is better than nothing. Over the years, cricket was not played here at this scale. Now slowly, slowly it’s going to start. The whole idea is to try and motivate as many youngsters as possible to pick up a cricket bat, which we’ve been doing.There have been rumours that the Cricket All-Stars plan to come back to the USA annually, but there is no guarantee. If they do come, it’s difficult to envision Houston as a repeat destination based on the crowd turnout when there are alternatives such as Chicago or San Francisco to check out. Despite that, Warne was effusive in his praise for the city and the stadium.”I think all of the players enjoyed the facilities at the stadium here. As an annual event, we’d love to come back to America every year. All of us, everywhere we’ve been so far, we’ve been welcomed. I think everyone, the amount of those who’ve said thank you for bringing cricket to America. It’s our pleasure to be here, to have us in this great country and for all the players to be playing. Whether we come back to Houston? We hope we can because we’ve been treated wonderfully well here.”

Ireland will be without the experience of Alex Cusack when they take on England next month, after the allrounder was ruled out with a back injury

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Aug-2013Ireland will be without the experience of Alex Cusack when they take on England next month, after the allrounder was ruled out with a back injury. He has been rested from domestic cricket in recent weeks but will not be fit for the September 3 ODI.Cusack has played 50 ODIs for Ireland, taking 52 wickets with his right-arm medium pace to go with 679 runs at 22.63. He shared a sixth-wicket stand of 162 with Kevin O’Brien, scoring 47, during Ireland’s famous victory over England in Bangalore at the 2011 World Cup.”It’s certainly disappointing for Alex to miss the game as he’s an important player for us, particularly in the Powerplays,” Ireland’s coach, Phil Simmons, said. “However, we have strength in depth now and it’ll give one of the other guys a chance to shine. We are blessed with a number of very talented allrounders so have plenty of cover in that department.”The match against England will mark the opening of Ireland’s redeveloped ground at Malahide, which has had its capacity increased to 11,000. With three weeks to go, tickets are still available on the Cricket Ireland website but well over half of the allocation has already been sold and Simmons said that anticipation was building.”We’ve seen just how well the tickets have gone with over 7,000 sold already,” Simmons said. “It’s going to the biggest match ever held in Ireland, and there will be a fantastic atmosphere at the new international venue at Malahide. It’s my home town and I know just how much of a buzz there is around the place to have the Ashes winners coming here. It’ll be a magnificent occasion, and hopefully we’ll give the Irish fans another day to remember.”Despite losing to Ireland in a record run chase at the last World Cup, England have won on each of their four visits to play ODIs. As in 2009, England will arrive in Ireland having won the Ashes – and on that occasion their winning margin was just three runs in a rain-affected game.

Alan Richardson completed his second 10-wicket return in a week as Worcestershire piled the pressure on Gloucestershire in their Division Two match at New Road

24-May-2013
ScorecardAlan Richardson made it consecutive 10-wicket hauls to put Worcestershire in sight of victory•PA Photos

Alan Richardson completed his second 10-wicket return in a week as Worcestershire piled the pressure on Gloucestershire in their Division Two match at New Road.After his side had batted on to make 457, the veteran seamer led the push for victory with 3 for 34 as Gloucestershire continued to struggle on a ground where they have not won in the Championship for 27 years. Needing 223 to avoid an innings defeat, they were still 136 short of their target on closing the third day because of bad light at 87 for 5.At the age of 38, Richardson is in the form of his life with career-best match figures of 12 for 63 in a two-day win against Kent and so far a return of 11 for 71 in the current game following his eight for 37 in the first innings. Yet up to the trip to Canterbury last week, he was beginning to feel he “couldn’t buy a wicket” after taking only 6 for 282 in the first four matches of the season.Now his mood is upbeat after playing on two helpful pitches. When the ball is new and nipping around, as it has done in this match, he is likely to cause problems for the best batsmen. Gloucestershire had no answer on the first day and they were again in trouble when batting again in between afternoon showers.After an initial flurry of boundaries, Richardson brought one back into Chris Dent’s pads and claimed a second success in his next over when wicketkeeper Michael Johnson held a straightforward chance from Dan Housego.Gloucestershire’s captain Michael Klinger, who played for Worcestershire in the first part of last season, looked in good form with five boundaries but having reached 26 he played on as soon as Gareth Andrew switched ends to replace Richardson.Hamish Marshall stayed for more than an hour but then edged Chris Russell’s first ball down the leg-side and Richardson claimed the bigger prize when Alex Gidman was also caught behind after making 26 in 33 overs.Gloucestershire’s struggle was tough on teenage pace bowler Craig Miles after his efforts in taking 6 for 99 in only his fourth Championship appearance. When Worcestershire resumed at 302 for 3, Moeen Ali added only one run before he was out for 123, pulling Miles to square leg for the first of three wickets in nine balls.The home side could have wobbled when Neil Pinner fell to Liam Norwell for 18, but the ever-dangerous Andrew smacked 66 from 71 balls and put on 98 with Jack Shantry (31) before Miles took two of the last three wickets.

With Services 54 for 5 in their chase of 113, Soumik Chatterjee hobbled and went on to play the most significant innings of his career

The Report by Abhishek Purohit in Indore08-Jan-2013Over time, when they look back at the history of the game for inspiration, they would do well to consider Soumik Chatterjee’s unbeaten 34, made on one leg and with plenty of bravado. Unable to walk, the Services captain had been carried off by four of his team-mates from the dressing room to the team bus on day one, after he’d badly damaged his left knee while fielding. He’d dragged himself out to the middle to bat at No 11 in the Services first innings, and lasted one delivery. In the second, with Services 54 for 5 in their chase of 113, Chatterjee hobbled in again and went on to play the most significant innings of his career, which led to what he called the biggest achievement of his life.”This match is my life’s biggest achievement,” Chatterjee said of Services’ Ranji Trophy quarter-final win over Uttar Pradesh. ” [I won’t come back without winning it for the team]. Yes, I was injured but I knew that if I made up my mind, I could win the game for the team.”It was a matter of having a partnership for five-six overs. When that happens, the other side loses the advantage. I knew that if I and Rajat [Paliwal] could play out five-six overs, the game would be ours.”Chatterjee was asked whether he had thought about the chance of aggravating his injury when deciding to come out to bat. Scans had revealed serious clotting around the knee. “There was no risk. Even if I lose my life, I will always be there for team,” he replied in the emotional aftermath of victory.When Chatterjee came out to bat, the immediate reaction among journalists watching the game was that with his perceived inability to run, he would end up squeezing out any remaining momentum from the chase. But to everyone’s disbelief, he soon started limping and then, unable to bear the pain, hopping on his fit right leg for singles.Wing Commander Deepak Bhaskar, the Services manager, said it was a collective decision by himself, the coach and Chatterjee to send in the captain at No 7. “We were not sure whether he would be able to run,” Bhaskar said. “It was all down to him, how he felt out there when he started batting.”While Chatterjee was sure he would be able to recover in time for the semi-final starting on January 16, Bhaskar was more realistic. “It is a call we will have to take,” Bhaskar said. “We will see how his treatment goes.”There is still more than a week left for the semi-finals, and for the moment, Chatterjee was grateful to all his team-mates. “All 11 players of the side are special and I give credit to all of them,” Chatterjee said. “We won because of all of them. Not only the 11, but all the 15 (in the squad) and the 17, including the coach and the manager, and also the four who have sat out, I credit them all. We won because of all their hard work.”

While there is no doubt Jayawardene and his men will have a packed Premadasa cheering for them tomorrow, there is also no doubting who most neutral fans want to win

Abhishek Purohit in Colombo06-Oct-2012As Darren Sammy’s pre-final press conference ended, a few journalists and camerapersons standing at the back of the Premadasa media room actually clapped. If you were looking for evidence of just what West Indies, even a decade-and-a-half after their decline, mean to cricket and its fans, here it was. No one clapped after Mahela Jayawardene had finished speaking to the media; not even the local media men. While there is no doubt Jayawardene and his men will have a packed Premadasa cheering for them tomorrow, there is also no doubting who most neutral fans want to win.West Indies are the game’s original, and only, gladiators. In their prime, their bowlers put the fear of death in opposition batsmen’s minds, their batsmen fearlessly slaughtered opposition bowlers, and their team ruled the cricket world with sheer force. Everywhere, fans loved the raw skill and passion which West Indies brought to cricket. The skill and passion have dimmed over the years, but fans still keep waiting for some performances, or a performance, that will remind them that once, this was a side which forced you to sit down and watch it do its stuff.In these difficult times, West Indies have invested their faith in a man who has divided opinion in a way a modern captain scarcely has. Whether he should be there in the side or not is a debate which will probably continue as long as he is captain, but Sammy is the man who will go down in history as the one who led West Indies to their first World Cup final – albeit in the Twenty20 form – since 1983. Yes, it has taken just two outright wins, over Australia and England in the Super Eights, to make the final, but West Indies won’t mind that.Sammy has been nearly invisible with bat and ball through the tournament while Chris Gayle has soaked in most of the attention. He has had to face difficult questions over Gayle’s absence from the squad and his subsequent return. It was heartwarming to see Sammy jump around in the dugout with delight after every Gayle six in the semi-final. The captain has no pretensions to being a world-class player but has always maintained he’s there to bring the squad together, to involve everyone, and make it easy for his players to perform without inhibition. Even when he was asked about what the final meant for him as a leader, as someone who had worked for a united squad, he only spoke about the Caribbean people.”For me, it is going to be a memorable occasion,” Sammy said. “I am more focussed on the team and the Caribbean people. I have just been playing cricket for a few years but the fans have been supporting for a number of years. To me it is all about them. They are who come and watch us play, wake early in the morning and stay up late at night.”What if West Indies went a step further, what if they beat Sri Lanka tomorrow? “It would be massive,” Sammy said. “It’s been over a decade and the fans are craving for bigger success. That is the goal we left the Caribbean with. We have been saying it in the dressing room, it is one team, one people, one mission. We are just one step away from the World Twenty20. When we do well people in the Caribbean are very happy, work stops for a few hours back home. It would mean everything to us as players, as coaching staff. It would give us a big boost.”Sammy said the last man who won a World Cup for West Indies, Clive Lloyd, had a message for the side ahead of the final. “I got an email from Mr. Lloyd saying we are very proud in the Caribbean of what the team is doing, people are very happy and just go out and win it. ‘Success comes before work only in the dictionary. Continue to work hard so that you can reap success tomorrow,’ he said. It means a lot to everybody. That in itself will be the biggest motivation for us.”Lloyd and the people of the Caribbean won’t be the only ones rooting for West Indies tomorrow. There is a world title to be won, and probably the entire cricketing world, barring the Sri Lankans, will be behind Sammy and his men.

A little calmer when it mattered most, Australia completed a victory more testing than the scoreboard ultimately showed to defeat Pakistan in Sharjah and claim the overnight ODI series 2-1

The Report by Daniel Brettig03-Sep-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed added 129 at the top•Associated Press

A little calmer when it mattered most, Australia completed a victory more testing than the scoreboard ultimately showed to defeat Pakistan in Sharjah and claim the overnight ODI series 2-1. It was a result achieved as much by perspiration as inspiration, Michael Hussey and the nerveless tyro Glenn Maxwell forming the critical union to rescue their team from the uncertainty of 159 for 5 when Matthew Wade fell to Abdur Rehman.Michael Hussey could so easily have been out lbw to Saeed Ajmal before he had scored, amid a mesmerising spell in which the offspinner claimed what appeared a pivotal 3 for 11. But Misbah-ul-Haq made a pair of judgements that were to prove too timid – failing to refer the umpire Billy Bowden’s decision, and then taking Ajmal off after five overs when another wicket or two might have sealed Australia’s fate.Pakistan’s hesitation could perhaps be attributed to the weight of history, having not defeated Australia in an ODI series since 2002. There was to be little such trepidation about the way Michael Hussey and Maxwell closed in on the target, which had been reined in to manageable proportions by Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc after Pakistan’s openers made their team’s best start against Australia since 1985.Mohammad Hafeez’s stand of 129 with Nasir Jamshed should have allowed Pakistan to soar well past 250, but Australia’s bowlers stuck admirably to their task to limit the rest. It was Johnson who started the salvage operation, claiming two wickets while keeping his economy-rate down, and thus allowing Starc to strike four times to continue his decent form.As had been flagged as a possibility by the assistant coach Steve Rixon earlier in the series, Wade’s exertions during 50 overs in the field were deemed too much for him to back up immediately as an opener.His replacement at the top of the order was unexpected – David Hussey opening for the first time in his ODI career – but provided a useful left-right contrast with David Warner in a stand that showed plenty of brio if not total safety.Warner and David Hussey both smote huge sixes, causing the umpires to twice call for a replacement ball, and denting the previously tidy series figures of Hafeez. Rehman hurried a Warner pull shot and claimed his wicket to break the partnership at 44, but Michael Clarke was typically fluent and with David Hussey he kept Australia ahead of the asking-rate.However Ajmal’s introduction brought a marked change to proceedings, as he found spin despite the moist night air and yet again confused the Australians with his variations. Clarke had struck one significant blow in drawing blood from the left hand of Shahid Afridi with a fierce drive, but he advanced too early to Ajmal and was well stumped down the leg side by Kamran Akmal.Michael Hussey seemed palpably lbw, but Pakistan chose conservatively not to refer Billy Bowden’s not-out verdict. David Hussey perished in pursuit of another six, and George Bailey gloved an attempted paddle-sweep. Ajmal’s spin had turned the innings, but he was then withdrawn to allow Wade and Michael Hussey some desperately needed breathing room.They steadied things until Wade’s exit, bowled between bat and pad, whereupon Maxwell made another free-spirited contribution to a series in which his batting comfortably outshone his bowling as he ransacked Afridi for 16 runs in the 43rd over. Michael Hussey was out to a tired slog and Dan Christian did not endure, but Maxwell kept his cool and his timing to guide the weary Australians home.They had been grateful to win the toss and avoid the worst excesses of the evening moisture. Bolstered by happy memories of game one when they had topped and tailed the Pakistan innings, Pattinson and Starc took the new ball with some intent. Starc looked initially short of rhythm and comfort having shrugged off a side/chest complaint to take part, but Australia’s opening duo made Jamshed and Hafeez work hard to survive the early overs.Both batsmen top-edged attempted hook shots and were fortunate to see their respective strokes fall safely. Nonetheless, the shots signalled their ambition, even as a sluggish pitch, slow outfield and tidy Australian fielding made scoring difficult.Gradually, Hafeez and Jamshed wrested the initiative, seeing off a useful spell by Johnson and profiting more from the others. The allrounder Christian shelled a difficult return catch when Hafeez was on 26, but it was the only hint of a chance offered by the openers as they strode to Pakistan’s first century opening stand against Australia in ODIs since 1985.Jamshed’s innings was a worthy follow-up to his match-shaping innings in Abu Dhabi, while Hafeez was finally showing the Australians the worth of his batting after some years of underachievement. The six off Pattinson was a particularly compelling reminder.Australia were so desperate for a wicket that Clarke sacrificed his one referral to a speculative appeal for a leg-side catch off Jamshed. The stratagem was indirectly helpful in securing the breakthrough, distracting Jamshed enough for Johnson to have him touching a bouncer behind in the same over.Afridi was promoted in the order to make a flash-in-the-pan seven, and Hafeez’s innings was ended when Clarke struck him in front while attempting to sweep. Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali did not go beyond their starts, keeping the target within Australia’s reach.

James Taylor is “relishing” the prospect of facing South Africa’s bowling attack at Headingley having been called into the squad for the second Test but is not taking his debut for granted

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jul-2012James Taylor is “relishing” the prospect of facing South Africa’s bowling attack at Headingley having been called into the squad for the second Test but is not taking his debut for granted.Unless England change the balance of their side and play five bowlers, which is unlikely, Taylor will earn his first cap at No. 6 after Ravi Bopara became unavailable due to personal reasons shortly before the squad was named on Sunday morning.Taylor, who has been captain of England Lions over the last two years and averages 61.60 from ten first-class matches for them, has long been earmarked as a Test batsman in waiting. But he had seemingly fallen down the pecking order at the start of this season after failing to secure a place in the extended England performance squad and Jonny Bairstow was chosen to replace an injured Bopara against West Indies.However, Taylor led the Lions against the West Indians in May and scored an impressive century at Derby and this week hit his first Championship hundred for his new county, Nottinghamshire, against Sussex. It is actually Taylor’s one-day form that has been more consistent and he has made 345 runs at 69 in the CB40.”Facing South Africa’s bowling attack is always going to be a tough challenge but it’s something that I would relish because getting an England Test call has been my aim from the word go,” he said. “Test cricket is the pinnacle but there was a noticeable step up to division one of the Championship and wickets haven’t been easy to bat on this season”I’ve always backed myself to play at the highest level and even though I’m young I’ve played a lot of cricket and I’ve got a lot of runs behind me. The next goal is to get a place in the eleven and if I get that opportunity I have to take it with both hands. If I get in the team then I have to work hard to get runs and then work harder again to do that consistently.”I’ve always tried to keep my feet on the ground and strive to become a better player and that will always be my mantra.”Taylor’s move from Leicestershire to Nottinghamshire for this season was with the aim of boosting his Test ambitions after getting a brief taste of international cricket last season against Ireland. He has now jumped back ahead of Bairstow while fighting off the challenge of Eoin Morgan and Nick Compton.”I hoped that I would be next in line but I never took anything for granted although I have scored consistent runs in all forms of the game to earn this chance,” he said. “Playing at Headingley would be a very proud moment for me but nothing has happened yet, I’m just one step closer and waiting for the nod and the opportunity to help England to get back into the series.