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ESPNcricinfo’s wrap of the week in the Women’s Big Bash League

Geoff Lemon and Adam Collins08-Jan-20164:41

Hurricanes miss a trick at home

The Cane Train derails, Thunder Road goes top
Top of the table, bottom of the country. The centrepiece of Week 5 was a three-way play-off in Australia’s southernmost state capital, Hobart, involving its northernmost WBBL teams, the home Hurricanes hosting the Sydney Thunder and the Brisbane Heat.In the end it was a golden opportunity lost for the Hurricanes: four home games in a weekend gave them the chance to lock down top spot, but after knocking over Brisbane for 97 after setting them 131, Hobart dropped their next three in a row and saw the Thunder shoot past them on the league table.The Thunder warmed up with a win over a tepid Heat, keeping Brisbane to a second sub-100 score in as many games before breezing past 95 in less than 13 overs. The Thunder then batted first twice against Hobart, setting scores of 135 and 121 and defending both successfully.All this was built on Sydney’s varied bowling attack. Experienced international Rene Farrell twice returned figures of 2 for 15. Teenage left-arm seamer Lauren Cheatle consistently struck early, taking 2 for 21 in the first match and 3 for 15 in the third. Nicola Carey recorded the tournament’s best analysis for a seam bowler, with 4 for 12 in that second Hurricanes chase, the same game as opening batsman Stafanie Taylor shrugged off a rare duck to take two-top order wickets for 14.The weekend also included a dream debut for teenage legspinner Maisy Gibson, who bowled her full allotment in the first win against the Heat and finished with 3 for 14, then took another 1 for 13 in each of her next two games. (Admittedly, the third time that came from one over.)The Thunder’s batting meanwhile broadened from its reliance on Taylor. Captain Alex Blackwell made consistent runs, twice undismissed, in the anchor role she so often plays for the national side. Rachael Haynes’ aggressive 39 was key to their second win over Hobart.Then there was Naomi Stalenberg, hardly one of the biggest names coming into this competition. A New South Welshwoman who plays for New Zealand’s Northern Districts and has represented the Netherlands, Stalenberg has had an eclectic cricketing career by the age of 21. But she’s quickly solidifying her home presence by becoming the inaugural WBBL’s most dangerous striker.In a tournament where scoring rates have been pegged back at times, she tore into Brisbane with 42 from 24 balls, including two sixes, before hitting a couple more in her 37 from 16 balls in the first win against Hobart. Nor were these the first times she has teed off this season: her tournament strike rate of 150.98 is the best in the competition by 30 runs.As for Hobart, it was a weekend when their batting never got going. Corinne Hall’s 39 in their opening game was their highest score for the round, so they could neither chase nor set a convincing target. Their 4 for 107 was overrun by Brisbane when Beth Mooney finally clicked with 48 not out in the second contest between the sides.That win was all that the Heat could take from the weekend, though, another underwhelming performance that leaves a fancied side on 14 points with one game to play. They may be in third spot now, but with a tough trip to Adelaide awaiting, and games in hand for the teams behind them, Brisbane are a big chance of being overrun by the Strikers and the Stars.Adelaide strike form at the perfect time
When South Australia nabbed the Women’s National Cricket League 50-over title from the hands of New South Wales for the first time in a decade there was every reason to believe the South Australian outfit would press for the inaugural WBBL title too.With international star Sarah Taylor on the books alongside Australian seam combo Megan Schutt and Sarah Coyte, the Adelaide Strikers looked set for firepower. But after losing their first three fixtures, their season looked over before it had started.After picking up their first win the previous week, the Strikers went back to back on home turf against the similarly underperforming Perth Scorchers. Playing on New Year’s Eve, in debilitating heat, and on national television, Taylor reinforced how quickly she can set up a game with her range of straight drives, neat cuts and clever laps. Her 48 laid the base for a hard-to-beat 6 for 135.When Perth’s top four – loaded with internationals – failed to fire, the Strikers did the rest, running through the visitors for 100. Schutt’s 3 for 11 was to be expected as Australia’s best swing bowler, but far more surprising was the work of Amanda Wellington.The 19-year-old leggie drifted and turned the ball in the best traditions of her craft to claim 3 for 13, in a coming-of-age performance in front of the cameras, exciting Adam Gilchrist at the back of the commentary box and prompting Taylor to tell ESPNcricinfo that she hopes that Wellington won’t be playing against her for Australia any time soon.In the return leg Adelaide had to chase 137 for the points, but did so with nine balls to spare and six wickets in hand. Coyte showed her long-handle ability in this format of the game is just important as her work with ball, cracking a quick half-century to carry the chase.Halfway through their fixture list, the Strikers may have timed their run very nicely indeed. Meanwhile at 5-7, the Scorchers remain this season’s biggest let-down.Same old Stars rely on same old star
We keep saying it, but it keeps happening. When the Renegades’ Molly Strano picked up Meg Lanning for 2 in the second over of the inaugural Melbourne derby, the Stars had to reset the pattern of a tournament: to make a competitive score in the absence of their leader.They couldn’t. Reduced to 4 for 8 in the fourth over, the game should have been over there and then. As the first game moved to Network Ten’s main channel, thankfully the Stars rallied to bat out their overs thanks to a stubborn 36 from the South African late arrival Mignon du Preez. Even with her efforts, the side logged 9 for 85.Strano’s 5 for 15 was the first five-for of the WBBL, earned across three spells of penetrative and resourceful off-spin. The Renegades made particularly hard work of the chase, scoring only 31 by the halfway mark, but got there with one ball to spare, ensuring an exciting finish for an audience that peaked not far short of half a million viewers.The next day? Back to normal programming, with an untelevised 77 not out from Lanning as she again successfully batted through an innings. That stacked up too many for the Renegades, who continue to underwhelm with the bat.Both Melbourne sides have plenty to play for this weekend, the Stars needing to arrest their middling form to secure a finals berth and the Renegades needing just about everything to go right if they are to feature in the post-season.Week Six is underway
The sixth weekend of the WBBL has just got underway, and as ever we’ll recap those games in the days to come. This round is all about Melbourne, with the Stars and the Renegades variously hosting the Strikers, the Sixers and the Thunder in a three-day carnival featuring seven games held mostly at the Junction Oval.The feature match of the weekend though will be at the Docklands Stadium, with the Renegades and the Thunder playing in a double-header before the men’s BBL has its Melbourne derby.It’s a great chance to follow up the Chris Gayle fiasco by reminding the world (and the Renegades’ own administrators) that there is also a team of women wearing the Renegades uniform, and possibly with more distinction than some of their counterparts.

We have seen the chainsaw, the Gangnam, the chicken dance, and the airplane among others. But is Springer’s chest roll the best? Vote for your favourite

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2016

Plays of the day from the second T20 between New Zealand and Pakistan in Hamilton

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Hamilton17-Jan-2016The high-flying projectile
Pakistan had largely targeted the short, eastern boundary at Seddon Park, until in the 16th over, Umar Akmal broke the trend, and possibly, a car windshield. Akmal picked the slower ball from Grant Elliott, crouched low on his front foot, and slammed the ball high over cow corner, for a towering 103-metre six that saw the ball bouncing around on Seddon Road.Six and out
Shahid Afridi had hit 23 from 8 balls in the first T20, then in Hamilton produced another innings that was at once bizarre, brief and explosive. He got a hittable low full toss first ball, but did nothing more than steer this one to point. Next ball, he cleared his front leg and walloped a sharp Adam Milne length ball high over long-off. Then, attempting to repeat the stroke, Afridi holed out to mid-off next ball. His contribution was seven from three balls, with one six.The adjustment

Kane Williamson was aggressive against Imad Wasim, who had kept New Zealand quiet in the early overs at Eden Park, from the outset. Having gone back to cut Wasim for four first ball, Williamson came out of his crease for the second, but the bowler had seen him advancing. Wasim fired a flat, quicker ball wide of Williamson, but the batsman was good enough to adjust. He simply stopped mid-pitch, leant over and slapped it through a tight off-side field for another boundary.The wild wide
As if to show the wheels were coming off Pakistan’s defence of 168, Wahab Riaz delivered the worst ball of the day in the 17th over. A heavy defeat was all but assured for Pakistan, with New Zealand on 159 for 0. Wahab steamed in and flung one way down the offside, the ball passing through where a wide slip might have stood.

A look at what the teams in Group 1 need to do to qualify for the semi-finals of the World T20

S Rajesh25-Mar-2016West Indies and England are on top on the group with four points each, but West Indies are better placed between the two teams, since they have not yet played Afghanistan, the weakest team in the group. However, if West Indies lose to South Africa and beat Afghanistan, it may not guarantee them a place in the semi-finals as three teams could finish on three wins each. That could happen if South Africa win their last two games – against West Indies and Sri Lanka – and England beat Sri Lanka. In that case, West Indies, South Africa and England will all finish on three wins. West Indies’ current NRR is marginally ahead of South Africa’s, and a big win against Afghanistan will help their cause even if they lose to South Africa.However, if Sri Lanka beat England on Saturday then six points will be enough for West Indies, as in that case only one of Sri Lanka or South Africa will be in a position to get to six.England are currently second on the table with four points, but their NRR is below those of West Indies and South Africa. A win against Sri Lanka will leave them well-placed for qualification, but they could still miss out if South Africa win their two remaining games, and West Indies beat Afghanistan. In that case, England, South Africa and West Indies will all have six points, but England’s NRR will almost certainly be below those of the other two teams.If England lose to Sri Lanka they will almost certainly miss out. Though there is a possibility of South Africa and Sri Lanka finishing on four points as well, England’s NRR will most likely be below that of South Africa’s.South Africa have two tough games coming up, against West Indies and Sri Lanka. Wins in both will almost certainly see them through – even if England beat Sri Lanka – but if South Africa lose one of their games, they will need other results to go their way to qualify. For a start, England will have to lose to Sri Lanka, for an England victory will push them to six points, and West Indies will get there too if they beat Afghanistan, regardless of their result against South Africa.However, if England lose to Sri Lanka, then four points might be enough for South Africa provided they lose to West Indies and beat Sri Lanka. In that case, England, Sri Lanka and South Africa will all be on four points, but South Africa could finish with the better NRR. The results margins for the three teams against Afghanistan could be the key factor here: South Africa beat them by 37 runs, while England won by 15, and Sri Lanka with only seven balls to spare.Sri Lanka are in a similar position to South Africa – they have beaten Afghanistan but lost to one of the stronger teams – which means they too have two difficult games coming up, against England and South Africa. Since their NRR is not as good as South Africa’s, they need a convincing win in one of their two remaining games to significantly push up their chances. For instance, if Sri Lanka beat England by 30 runs on Saturday, their NRR will go up to around 0.40. For them to go through with four points, though, they will need South Africa to lose heavily to West Indies, so that they stay ahead of them on NRR.However, Sri Lanka are the one team, apart from West Indies, who do not need to depend on other results to get through. If they win their last two games and move up to six points, then both England and South Africa will get knocked out.

Three years on from his sacking as Australia’s coach, Mickey Arthur believes the same adherence to discipline will help Pakistan achieve redemption in England

Andrew Miller27-Jun-2016The main event of the English summer is drawing ever closer, and what a feisty first act it promises to serve up: the return of Pakistan and Mohammad Amir to Lord’s, the scene of the crime on the 2010 tour and, now, an opportunity for redemption six years later.But, before the storm, the calm. For Pakistan’s cricketers, lest it has gone unnoticed, have already been in England for more than a week – holed up at the Ageas Bowl on the outskirts of Southampton, honing their techniques on the practice square behind the East Stand, and sitting tight in the newly completed Hilton hotel at the northern end of the ground, awaiting their call to centre stage.It’s a scenario that could hardly feel more of a rarity in this day and age. England’s exhaustively planned Ashes campaign in 2010-11 involved a similarly lengthy acclimatisation period – and how Andrew Strauss’s men reaped the rewards as that series progressed. But by and large, Test tours in the Twenty20 era are suck-it-and-see affairs, as visiting teams get parachuted into alien conditions, rush through the motions with a handful of low-key warm-ups, and, as often than not, come unstuck as a consequence.The fact that Pakistan are laying such diligent foundations for this tour is, of course, as much to do with PR as practice. The PCB’s desperation to atone for the team’s disgrace in 2010 means that it is leaving nothing to chance, or indeed, suspicion – the last thing they want is for an under-prepared team to come unstuck in the same manner that Sri Lanka’s batsmen did at Headingley and Chester-le-Street earlier this summer.To that end, the Ageas Bowl’s legendary remoteness is ideal. A self-contained bubble of a venue, not dissimilar in its self-sufficiency to a motorway service station, it is – as Scyld Berry noted in the Sunday Telegraph last week – “far from the bright lights and distractions of uncles and cousins dropping in for selfies, and less savoury hangers-on”.It is also a venue that has witnessed the first stirrings of a fascinating social experiment – one that seeks to apply such notions as conformity and best practice to a nation whose on-field representatives are rarely advocates of unnecessary discipline.And yet, in uniting the languid leadership of Misbah-ul-Haq with the clipped and urgent managerial processes favoured by Mickey Arthur, Pakistan have set an improbably high bar for themselves on this tour. And who knows, given everything that’s at stake – all the scrutiny and payback and desire to prove people wrong – it might yet be a partnership that serves the ultimate purpose.”This team did really well after 2010,” Arthur said, “but now it’s time, while we are here where it happened, to prove by playing good cricket and with good conduct off the field, that we can be a force at international level. It’s a good opportunity for us to perform here, not only on the field but off the field also.”Arthur, of course, has his own reasons for seeking redemption on this trip. It was three years ago this week, at the identical stage of his team’s preparations ahead of the 2013 Ashes, that Arthur was dropkicked from his role as Australia’s coach to be replaced by Darren Lehmann.The reports of that saga, he protested now, were “totally way off the pace of what happened” but the surface-level evidence seemed plain enough to the layman. Australia’s senior players baulked at what they perceived as a nitpicking attitude to team discipline – culminating, of course, in the infamous suspension of four players for failing to complete their “homework” during a 4-0 series loss in India.Reports, therefore, of Yasir Shah – only recently restored to the Test squad after serving a three-month ban for a doping violation – rocking up to a training camp in Lahore and protesting “I’m only two days late” are perhaps a harbinger of challenges to come. But for the time being, Arthur is sticking to the methods that he has honed throughout his career and which, let’s not forget, have triumphed in England before, on South Africa’s Test tour in 2008.”I am sick and tired of talking about homework-gate, but in terms of running teams there are ways of doing it,” he said. “You go back and analyse and think about it, and I’ve obviously learnt a hell of a lot from that experience, but I haven’t changed my style because I don’t think you can compromise on what you think is the right way to work.”It will help Arthur’s cause, no doubt, to have been united with a leader of Misbah’s stature and groundedness – the manner in which Pakistan’s captain commands respect is reminiscent of the heyday of Arthur’s partnership with Graeme Smith – and the signs are so far encouraging that the new partnership is gelling well.”Mickey will work more on discipline in our training sessions and fitness,” Misbah said. “That is the key if you want to perform consistently. When it comes to stability on the ground, it’s my job to look after the players and the team. These are the two key factors in our performance. If you want to perform consistently, without discipline and stability it is impossible.””What we do is just give structure,” Arthur added of his coaching team, which includes the former Zimbabwe batsman Grant Flower and Mushtaq Ahmed, the Pakistan spinner who was until recently an insider in England’s dressing room. “We try to make sure every guy is totally aware of his role, and contrary to what’s been written, I’m very personable in terms of working with the players.”We want to cultivate a culture of greatness, we want everything to be done at best practice, and at the highest level,” he added. “And that, for me as a coach, is the non-negotiable. When you are coaching internationally, you have to do the best things more often. You have to have an environment which is one of excellence. An environment that’s mediocre means mediocre results. We push the players to make sure they are in the best possible space to execute their skills, which are outstanding.”Mickey Arthur will try to get the best out of Pakistan’s talented squad•AFPDespite the windy language (some of which, you suspect, might get lost in translation into Urdu) Arthur is not wrong on that final point, and in Amir and Yasir – a matchwinning legspinner fit to inherit the mantle passed down from Abdul Qadir to Mushtaq and Danish Kaneria before him – he has at his disposal two of the most skilful executors that he has ever been able to work with in an international squad”The skill levels the Pakistan team have are unbelievable,” Arthur said. “But, having coached against Pakistan, and watched Pakistan for ages, good has been unbelievable and bad has been very poor. For me I’m trying to make sure the good and bad get a lot closer together, so that we get more consistency.”Other teams have fitness levels, structures and self-disciplines in knowing their own game, so I’m trying to get patience into the skills. Mohammad Amir, and Sohail Khan, they like to bowl outswinger, outswinger, inswinger – so I just want them to hold those lines a little bit longer. The patience isn’t what other teams are, but skill levels are higher.”Where Amir is concerned, Arthur knows that his role could extend into the pastoral as he seeks to restore his reputation as one of the most thrilling young Test cricketers of his generation.”He’s been outstanding,” Arthur said. “His training has been excellent, he’s fitted back into the team exceptionally well, his team-mates have worked brilliantly with him, and as I said, it’s up to me and the coaching staff to make him the best he can possibly be in these conditions. We all understand he’s going to be under the microscope and he realises that too. And the way he’s trying to handle that is to let his performances do the talking.”The challenge of winning a Test series in English conditions is among the toughest assignments in the world game – Pakistan have not achieved the feat since the heyday of Wasim and Waqar in 1992 and 1996. And notwithstanding the intensity of their preparations and the talent at their disposal, Arthur knows that backing up their 2-0 series win in the UAE last winter will require a special performance.”I really do think if we play our best cricket we are as good as anyone in the world,” he said. “We’ve discussed it as a team, it’s like playing at the South Pole versus the North Pole, just as England struggle coming to the UAE so Asian teams have struggled coming to places like England, South Africa and Australia. But the preparation has been outstanding, technically I’ve been really happy and the guys have responded.”We make no bones about the fact that we want to be the Manchester United, or should I say the Arsenal, of world cricket. We believe that every player in our squad, from 1 to 16, believes they can create a bit of history.”

Under Virat Kohli, India have tended to go for quick-scoring batsmen at the expense of solid players. Is it an error in judgement or a larger sign of flexible thinking and practices?

Nagraj Gollapudi17-Aug-2016After clinching victory in the third Test, in St Lucia, India’s captain Virat Kohli made a revealing statement. He said that he would continue batting at No. 3, one step up from his usual position in Test cricket. In conversation with Sanjay Manjrekar at the post-match presentation, Kohli said that the reshuffle in the middle order was to accommodate Rohit Sharma at No. 5. Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara, the original No. 3, who has averaged 45.44 since his latest comeback, has been dropped to accommodate Rohit.”We understood Rohit needs to be backed at a particular position,” Kohli told Manjrekar, who was curious to know if Kohli would bat at his new position going forward. “I batted at No. 3, Jinks [Ajinkya Rahane] at No. 4. Rohit is dangerous at No.5. That means I take up the extra responsibility at No. 3. I don’t mind that and someone like Ashwin is batting well. And we can play five bowlers.”Rohit, Kohli reckoned, had the potential to influence the game with his aggression; the often-used phrase is “he can change a Test in a session”. So, in St Lucia, it was not only Pujara who had to sit out. Also missing was regular opener M Vijay, who was fit after a hand injury had kept him out of the second Test. The team management retained KL Rahul, Vijay’s replacement in Kingston, to open with Shikhar Dhawan. The incriminating statistic that possibly explains the common fate of Pujara and Vijay is their strike rates – Pujara’s strike rate since his comeback is 43.51 [48.2 overall] and Vijay’s career strike rate of 46.88.

Rohit on his role in India’s line-up

“I’ve batted in many different positions and again I’m willing to do that here. It’s not my choice, I’m not the captain or the coach to decide where I want to bat,” Rohit told bcci.tv. “It’s up to the management and what they feel is the best for the team.
“The message was very clear, ‘there will be times when you have to change the course of the game’, and I am ready to do that. I am willing to take up the challenge and get the team into the best position. My natural game is to attack. Whether I play the first ball or last ball of the game, or in the middle, whenever I see that opportunity I’m ready to take it and put the pressure back on the bowler.
“I wont let all these things (scrutiny on place in the team) affect me. It doesn’t bother me. I’m just focusing on staying happy, staying positive and not letting these things affect me. Where I am right now, I should be happy and grateful that I’ve come till here.”

Kohli and Rahane, who had finally found home at No. 5, having lived an itinerant life in the Indian middle order, moved up a slot each. Kohli endured his lowest match aggregate in Tests, but Rahane had a good Test, scoring 35 and an unbeaten 78. Yet India did leave themselves vulnerable at 126 for 5, and were rescued only by a long and slow partnership between R Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha. The extent to which India will go to accommodate Rohit at No. 5 has drawn various reactions from experts.Former India captain Sourav Ganguly disapproves of the decision. Writing in the , Ganguly made a case for both sidelined batsmen. “If Murali Vijay is fit, he should be the first-choice opener,” Ganguly wrote. “I would still advocate for Pujara at three. One has to remember this position is not only about scoring. Many a time, the No. 3 has to wear out the new ball to make life easy for the rest. Rahul and [Shikhar] Dhawan tend to score briskly, but there will be times when someone will have to bear the brunt of the new ball. For that, Pujara should bat at three, followed by Virat and Rahane at four and five.”As a captain, Kohli has made his motive clear: dominate the opposition by playing positive, aggressive cricket. And these selections are consistent with that plan. Experts who have followed Kohli closely believe he is a keen captain and if there is a toss-up between two players, he shows a preference for the more attacking one.It is also no secret that Kohli has been a fan of, and has a lot of faith in, Rohit. Despite all his talent and skills, Rohit, the Test batsman, polarises opinion. As many backers as Rohit has within the Indian camp, there are an equal number of – if not more – sceptics outside who do not quite understand the team management’s fascination for him. One expert calls it an “obsession” with Rohit. He has batted at every position in the middle order, from 3 to 6, with most of his runs coming lower down, including centuries in his first two Tests. His performance in Test cricket – an average of 32.62 with just those two centuries to his name – does not match this hype, but perhaps Kohli puts it down to his not getting a string of matches in a row.Still, there are observers asking why a similar amount of patience has not been shown with Pujara, who has shown his mettle in tough situations. It’s well known that he scores quick runs after getting himself in. Why not wait for such innings from him, the way they are waiting for Rohit to come good? The team must believe that when Rohit comes good, it will be exceptional, because Kohli is ready to put himself in a position that is not his preferred station. He is still not watertight against the moving new ball, a job the No. 3 often has to do. Many believe Kohli is still fallible outside the off stump, a weakness that was thoroughly exposed on the England tour in 2014.There is a another school of thought, though, which contends that it is not about Rohit or Pujara or individual players. It is about figuring about the best combinations when challenges tougher than a rebuilding West Indies arrive. Former India and Bengal wicketkeeper-batsman Deep Dasgupta is a fan of this experimentation. “You can’t have someone like Rohit Sharma travelling with the team and not getting a chance, and suddenly he gets a chance and you expect him to score,” Dasgupta says. “So it is not a bad idea. This was the opportunity the team management had to try things out, to work out what is your best XI.”Surendra Bhave , a former national selector, sees a larger good coming out of this move. According to him, Asian teams and players have always had an attachment to particular positions in the batting order. He finds it refreshing that Kohli is breaking that mould, and is himself making the most uncomfortable move. “What he is saying, essentially, is you have to be detached from a particular number,” Bhave says. “There should be flexibility.”Bhave agrees with Kohli’s point that if India have to win a Test he has to pick the best combination for those conditions and that opposition. “Putting out the best combination is the most important thing,” Bhave says. “And if that means that I have to bat 3 or open, I am willing to do that. That is what he said. I see that as a very positive thing.”As long as the openers’ positions are not shuffled, Bhave does not mind keeping the positions of the rest of the middle order flexible. According to Bhave, a former Maharashtra opener and captain, in first-class cricket batsmen have moved up and down the order regularly to bat at whichever position is vacant in the national team. Hence, he says, there is no point being too harsh about India now shuffling their middle order.As much as he backs Kohli’s plan, Bhave says it will not work without conviction. “You have to remain consistent with it,” Bhave says. “And the reason behind changing the batting order should never be other than for the team’s cause. It is a step forward.”Dasgupta is impressed with Kohli’s selfless move up the order. “You are talking about a different mentality here,” Dasgupta says. “You are pushing yourself in terms of extending your boundaries, try and get out of your comfort zone. And the best way to do it as a captain yourself. Not just talking in the dressing room, but actually going out there and doing it.”Such a move, Dasgupta says, sends a signal to rest of the team saying, “Keep an open mind, I am there with you, I am backing you to the hilt, let us try out a few things, let us not be stuck in our cocoon and be comfortable where we are.”

Depending on the type of pitch Rajkot prepares for its Test debut, a new India cap could be handed out to either Hardik Pandya or Karun Nair

Alagappan Muthu in Rajkot06-Nov-20163:44

‘Important to communicate with the injured players’ – Kumble

There may be two Indian Test debuts on Wednesday. One is the venue – Rajkot. The other could be Hardik Pandya or Karun Nair. Both men spent a lot of time in the nets three days before the series-opener against England.Pandya, an allrounder, was bowling for the most part. His presence in the squad was a bit of a surprise. It was his first Test call-up and starkly still, he has played only 16 first-class matches over the past three years. His ability to clock 140kph and a mindset made stronger by his time with the India A team under the supervision of Rahul Dravid has given him a leg-up. Most of the shots he played at training, as a pleasant-ish morning gave way into afternoon heat, were drives along the ground.Karun, though, is the better batsman. He made back-to-back-to-back centuries in his maiden first-class season to help Karnataka win the Ranji Trophy title in 2013-14. He averages more than 52 in first-class cricket, and has started the current season with scores of 74, 54*, 53 and 145.Now, he was receiving throwdowns from one of Karnataka’s greatest cricketers and the current India coach Anil Kumble and when that was done, he faced up to R Ashwin for a little while. Nair was among the last to leave after practice.The choice, then, may hinge on what type of pitch is provided for the first Test. If it turns early, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will bet on themselves to take care of England’s batsmen before they cause too much trouble and India might ponder batting reinforcement to make sure the opposition struggles to return the favour. Nair probably edges ahead in this scenario.If not – if it is a pitch where a batsman has to be prised out, then having an allrounder like Pandya becomes a huge asset. He can give the main bowlers a break, which may prove vital regardless of conditions underfoot. The heat in Rajkot can be quite sapping and temperatures are expected to be in the mid-30s during the Test.”Whether it is a short glimpse in T20s, or even in the [New Zealand] one-dayers when he bowled in Dharamsala and batted in Delhi, we could see that he is a quality player and that’s why we have backed him to get him into the Test squad because we understand the importance of an allrounder, the importance of a fifth bowler,” Kumble said of Pandya. “If someone can bowl 140 and give you the option of batting really well lower down the order, that’s a great option to have. So we are really looking forward to seeing how Hardik develops.”Karun is certainly someone we have kept a close eye on and backed him for all the things he has done in domestic cricket. There was a little bit of talk of him not performing for India A in Australia but what we are looking at is consistency and he has done all the hard work and that’s why he was a part of the [squad for the Tests against New Zealand] as well and since then he has gone into Ranji Trophy and got more runs, got hundreds, and it’s opened an opportunity for Karun.”Kumble said India hadn’t decided on their combination yet.”Everyone is available for selection,” he said. “With Hardik being part of the squad, we have more options. This is the first Test in Rajkot, it’s a new stadium – we’ve played one-day and T20 cricket here, but in a Test, we don’t know how the wicket is going to be. The looks of it, it looks a good surface. We still have a couple of days, so we’ll look at all the combinations.”That Pandya and Nair are in with a chance of getting an India cap is also, in part, due to several injuries. KL Rahul, who began the 13-Test-long Indian season as first-choice opener has hamstring trouble, Shikhar Dhawan broke his thumb in the Kolkata Test against New Zealand, and Rohit Sharma will head to London next week for treatment on his thigh and may well miss the ODIs against England.”I know exactly what goes through a player’s mind when he’s injured and watching the game and somebody else is playing,” Kumble said. “Of course, all of us want the team to do well and the player who’s replaced also to do well. But having said that, it’s important to keep everyone in the loop.”What is most important for a coach to communicate to them is not to look at coming back quickly because that’s not going to help that particular individual and also it might let the team down. So it’s important that the injured players come back when they feel 100% right.”With respect to that, the team management has asked anyone returning from injury to play a domestic match before an international one. It was for this reason that Bhuvneshwar Kumar – who has regained full fitness after hurting his hamstring at the start of October – wasn’t picked for the first two Tests of this series. He can return once he proves himself match-ready.”That’s the kind of protocols we have set,” Kumble said. “So if someone’s injured, he goes back and plays domestic cricket, if there is domestic competition happening, so that he plays under pressure and then comes in, unless there is an emergency or a case-to-case basis we may change that.”Kumble still sympathised with those forced onto the bench. “It’s unfortunate that someone like KL Rahul who has batted brilliantly since the time he has made his international debut in all the three formats is missing out. But we are hoping that he comes back soon. So is Bhuvi. So is Shikhar. Unfortunate that he still hasn’t recovered. Big blow for Rohit, unfortunately the timing of his injury wasn’t ideal for him. He was really doing well in the Test format.”

R Ashwin dominated the stats again as India wrapped up victory early on the fifth day in Mumbai

S Rajesh12-Dec-201617 Consecutive Tests in which India have remained unbeaten, which equals their record – they also went 17 Tests without a defeat between September 1985 and March 1987; however, they only won four of the 17 matches over that stretch, drawing 12 while one was tied. In this stretch of 17, India have won 13 and drawn four. There have been only six instances of teams going more than 17 Tests without a defeat, with West Indies’ 27-match stretch in the 1980s being the best.5 Successive series wins for India, which also equals their record: they had won five in a row between 2008 and 2010, at home against Australia, England and Sri Lanka, and away in New Zealand and Bangladesh. This time, they have won at home against South Africa, New Zealand and England, and away in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. The record for any team is nine, by England and Australia.3 Instances of teams losing by an innings after scoring 400 or more in the first innings of a Test. The two previous such instances were in 1930, when England lost to Australia at The Oval, and in 2011, when Sri Lanka lost in Cardiff.7 Ten-wicket hauls for R Ashwin, just one behind Anil Kumble’s eight, which is the highest for India. Ashwin has played just 43 Tests for his seven such hauls – only two bowlers have reached there quicker: Sydney Barnes, who got there in 27 Tests, and Clarrie Grimmett (37). The next fastest is 58 Tests, by Dennis Lillee.Only two bowlers have taken seven ten-wicket hauls in fewer Tests than R Ashwin•ESPNcricinfo Ltd24 Five-wicket hauls for Ashwin, which takes him past Kapil Dev, and into third place in India’s all-time list, after Kumble (35) and Harbhajan Singh (25). In terms of number of matches to get to 24 five-fors, Ashwin is second fastest after Barnes, who had 24 in 27 Tests. Muralitharan got there in 58 Tests, and Richard Hadlee in 60.12/167 Ashwin’s match haul, the best for India at the Wankhede, and the second best by any bowler here, after Ian Botham’s 13 for 106 in 1980.15 Five-fors in Tests for Ashwin in the last two years, which the highest for any bowler in two successive calendar years. Muralitharan took 14 on two occasions – in 2000-01 and 2006-07. Ashwin’s eight such hauls this year is one short of the record by any bowler in a calendar year – Malcolm Marshall (in 1984) and Muralitharan (in 2006) had nine each.15 Runs for which England lost their last five wickets, as they slumped from 180 for 5 to 195 all out. Only once have they lost their last five for fewer runs against India – in Mohali 15 years ago, when they collapsed from 224 for 5 to 238 all out in their first innings.

India’s decision to go with four bowlers meant each of them had to step up – a job they did and would have felt happier about had the match situation been different

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Bengaluru05-Mar-2017Ishant Sharma began day two of the Bengaluru Test with a half-volley on David Warner’s pads, and when he sent down another boundary ball in his second over – short, punched through cover point – Australia moved to 50 for 0, Warner to 28, and everything looked ominous for India.India had lost the first Test and followed that up by getting bowled out for 189 on the first day of the second. They were one more bad day from losing the chance to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They had only picked four specialist bowlers for this game, and couldn’t afford even one of them having an off day. They could rely on their spinners not to have off days, but they couldn’t be quite as sure about Ishant or Umesh Yadav.Now, Ishant wasn’t making the greatest start to the day.He ran in again, with Warner standing at least a foot outside his crease. The speed gun said 141kph, which doesn’t sound particularly lightning, but bouncers always clock less than full balls, and Warner was certainly slow to react as the ball spat towards his right ear. His head ducked sideways, and his glove went up instinctively. He was lucky the ball missed everything and whizzed over his right shoulder.From there on, everything was different. It was as if that bouncer had transformed the mood of the match. Having conceded two fours in his first 10 balls of the day, Ishant would bowl a further 98 balls and concede only one more, Matthew Wade edging past the diving wicketkeeper.Ishant ended the day with figures of 1 for 39 from 23 overs. Umesh ended it with 1 for 57 from 24. This was India’s best day of the series, and the two fast bowlers were as much at the forefront as R Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja.Ashwin hardly gave anything away – particularly while bowling over the wicket and into the rough outside the left-handers’ leg stump – and went to stumps with figures of 1 for 75 from 41 overs. He did not get the ball to misbehave with the frequency of Nathan Lyon on day one, which could have had something to do with his style – he does not put as much overspin on the ball as the Australian – or the fact that the pitch had gotten a little lower and slower, without the first-day dampness that Lyon profited from.Kohli’s sparing use of Ravindra Jadeja brought three wickets to the spinner•AFPStill, Australia hardly scored off Ashwin, and that, coupled with the fast bowlers’ unexpected frugality, probably caused them to play more shots against Jadeja than they otherwise might have. In a curious reversal of roles, Jadeja ended up profiting from the other bowlers’ economy, with two of his three wickets – Renshaw jumping out too early and getting stumped down the leg side and Peter Handscomb failing to clear midwicket – coming from batsmen taking chances.For once, though, Jadeja bowled fewer overs than India’s other specialists. On a dry, cracked surface that caused the odd ball to keep low or jag sideways, Virat Kohli kept going to his two quicks – it took until the 47th over of the day for the spinners to bowl in tandem – and Ishant and Umesh kept running in and asking questions, and could well have ended up with more than just a wicket each.Umesh found Matt Renshaw’s edge four times in two overs, and none of them carried to the slips. Three streaked to the third man boundary, and Kohli could have caught one of them had he not risen too early from his anticipatory crouch.Then Umesh had Shaun Marsh caught behind off the glove. It was given not out, and Wriddhiman Saha, whose appeal was the most vociferous of all the Indian players, did not persuade Kohli to call for a review. When Umesh had Marsh adjudged lbw shortly after tea, a review saved the batsman – an inch the other way and the ball would have hit his pad in line with off stump.Ishant then nearly had Marsh lbw too. Replays suggested the umpire had every reason to give it out had the bowler not overstepped.It was that kind of day for India’s bowlers, their frustrations amplified by the match situation. On its own, keeping high-quality opponents to 197 for 6 in 90 overs would represent a highly satisfactory day’s work, but by the end of it Australia were already ahead by 48 runs. On an absorbing second day, India chased the game as well as they probably could have, but by the end of it were fully aware they were still chasing it.

Sunrisers Hyderabad had a chance when they needed 13 off the final over. But Jaydev Unadkat gave nothing away

ESPNcricinfo staff06-May-201719.1 Unadkat to Bipul Sharma, no run, full offcutter outside off, 119ks, the line is wide, Bipul slogs early to the leg side…. and misses19.2 Unadkat to Bipul Sharma, OUT, Unadkat and Stokes combine for another wicket. Slower ball, good length on off, Bipul Sharma picks it and swings to leg again. He only skews it off the bottom of the bat. Gets more height as opposed to distance. Holes out to Stokes(who else?) at deep midwicketBipul Sharma c Stokes b Unadkat 8 (7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 114.2819.3 Unadkat to Rashid Khan, OUT, Two in two for Unadkat. Another slower ball outside off. Rashid does not pick it. Clears his front leg and toe-ends it in the air. Unadkat himself settles under the skierRashid Khan c & b Unadkat 3 (4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 75.0019.4 Unadkat to Kumar, OUT, four straight dots and a hat-trick in the last over! What a way to reach 100 IPL wickets. Yet another slower ball outside off, this is slightly short. Bhuvneshwar is through with his pull and splices a catch to the right of coverB Kumar c Tiwary b Unadkat 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.0019.5 Unadkat to Kaul, no run, wide of the crease, another slower ball, which bounces over the stumps, as the batsman plays down the wrong line19.6 Unadkat to Kaul, no run, what a finish from Unadkat. A hat-trick maiden in the last over. Offcutter outside off, flat-batted to extra cover. There is a mix-up between the wickets, it’s eventually a dot. Take a bow, Unadkat. He becomes only the third player after Malinga and Badree to take triple-wicket maidens in the IPL