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The match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Brisbane Heat was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Ahmedabad

The Report by Mohammad Isam30-Sep-2013The rain began during the T&T-Lions match•BCCI

The match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Brisbane Heat was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Ahmedabad. This puts Sunrisers out of the Champions League after they finished with six points from four matches, winning once and losing twice. This was the third washout in Motera, after the double-header on September 23 took the same route due to rain.Heat were already knocked out having lost their first three matches. This leaves the Titans and Trinidad & Tobago battling for the second position in Group B behind Chennai Super Kings who have already qualified. All T&T need to do is not lose by a great margin against Super Kings in their final group match.The match scheduled for an 8:30pm start couldn’t go through after heavy rain began during the first match between T&T and Titans. That match ended with three overs to spare, the Caribbean side winning by six runs by the Duckworth/Lewis method.The two matches were retained in Ahmedabad, after an earlier game was moved out of the city due to week-long rains. Though there was 60% chance of rain today, the first game was uninterrupted until rain struck 17 overs into Titans’ chase.

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has described the national team as a “rudderless ship” after they were whitewashed 0-3 in the ODI series and beaten convicingly in the only T20I on their ongoing tour of Bangladesh

Gaurav Kalra25-Apr-20154:25

‘Gone are the days of Pakistan’s abundant talent’ – Ramiz

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has described the national team as a “rudderless ship” after they were whitewashed 0-3 in the ODI series and beaten convicingly in the only T20I on their ongoing tour of Bangladesh. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Ramiz said he was disappointed by the “lack of direction” and the lack of “fresh ideas” from the PCB.”They have gone to the players who have put a mute button on Pakistan cricket for a long time,” Ramiz said. “There’s no freshness of ideas or direction. It’s the same old logic to keep wickets in hand and then go hard in the last 10 overs. This is a throwback to the 80’s and 90’s stuff. I was hoping that the situation would improve but there is hardly any new direction given by the new coaching staff.”Ramiz, who is currently in India as a commentator for the IPL, believes Pakistan need to urgently set up a T20 league on similar lines as that “environment will help the players understand the game better.””That (a T20 league) will really help them to concentrate on the game and play the game in the way that it should be played,” he said. “I hope the Pakistan Cricket Board works on it and somehow makes it happen. If not in Pakistan, then in the middle east. It’s not about money, it’s about the environment that Pakistan cricket so badly needs to share that experience and to learn from the greats of the game.”Describing the series in Bangladesh as “embarrassing” and the “lowest point in our international history”, Ramiz said the outcome was the culmination “of a badly thought out strategy.” According to him, Pakistan are no longer producing the same assembly line of talent as they did in the past, and even the players coming through are not being “used properly” by the team management.”I’m deeply concerned because I was hoping that some of the younger players would step up but they weren’t good enough,” Ramiz said. “Timid is the right word, boxed in mentality, which is not expanding your range in T20 or 50-overs cricket. It’s the way they’re brought up.”They have technical and mental issues. They don’t know how to construct a knock; those who know it don’t have the technical know-how. Some of them are suppressed by the environment because they are not sure whether they’ll play the next game. The overall strategy needs to improve. The coaching staff has to come to their rescue because gone are the days when Pakistan would have a well rounded and talented side.”The lone bright spark for Pakistan in the one-day series was newly appointed captain Azhar Ali, who scored a hundred and a fifty in his three innings to emerge as the team’s top-run getter. While complimenting Azhar on his solid start, Ramiz, who had advocated Wahab Riaz for the captaincy after Pakistan’s World Cup exit, believes the door should be kept open on that option.”The players have technical and mental issues. They don’t know how to construct a knock, and those who know it don’t have the technical know-how”•AFP

“I believe that Pakistan cricket needs a tonic of aggression,” Ramiz insisted. “What I saw of Wahab Riaz convinced me that he has got the potential and arsenal to give Pakistan that all important positive direction. He could lead them into action because against Australia and throughout the World Cup he was the go-to guy. He would make things happen and that is the kind of individual I was hoping Pakistan would pin its hopes on. He was not even made the vice captain which is strange.”Ramiz was also not surprised by the ineffectiveness of Saeed Ajmal, who returned to the Pakistan squad after remodeling his action. Ajmal, who missed the World Cup, was able to pick up just one wicket in the first two one-dayers and went wicketless in the T20I. Ramiz believes it will be difficult for Ajmal be equally threatening as he felt his doosra has been neutralised by the new action.”Pakistan will be severely hit as both Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez were extremely good with the straighter ball which now they can’t bowl,” he said. “I fear the worst for Saeed Ajmal. He’s not pausing and firing them in. It’s not spinning for him. He is clearly a bit uneasy and uncomfortable, lacks confidence. It will be difficult for him to bowl at the level he was bowling for Pakistan a year back.”The teams now face off in a two-Test series starting on April 28 in Khulna where Misbah-ul-Haq will return as captain alongside senior batsman Younis Khan to shore up the middle order. Ramiz, however, expects Bangladesh to have a “huge advantage” going into the series as Pakistan are “hurt mentally and technically.””I think Bangladesh should be relentless as this a golden chance for them to create history,” he said. “The pressure is on Pakistan to redefine themselves and find the magic to keep Bangladesh at a distance. It’s going to be difficult as things can’t change dramatically as the coaching staff is the same; most of the players are same. Pakistan have been hit by losses and injuries and it’s going to be a real challenge.”

India’s decision to play five bowlers in the subcontinent has generated a lot of buzz, and now more importantly, some tangible results. Enough for Virat Kohli to maintain his faith in it

Alagappan Muthu in Fatullah14-Jun-20153:43

‘Big fan of playing five bowlers’ – Kohli

India’s decision to play five bowlers in the subcontinent has generated a lot of buzz, and now more importantly, some tangible results. Enough for Virat Kohli to maintain his faith in it.Although the only Test in Fatullah ended in a draw, the additional help had proved useful as R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh combined to take eight wickets to force Bangladesh to follow-on. But with rain usurping a giant chunk of the game, the expected end came to pass. But not before Kohli was able to work out a few more permutations to his strategy.”I would want someone like R Ashwin, who is averaging 40 with the bat in Test matches – you really can’t ask for more from an allrounder – and someone like Harbhajan Singh to step up with the bat, and [Wriddhiman] Saha too,” Kohli said. “If those three start clicking, you literally have eight batsmen, and you can’t really ask for more as a captain. It’s basically up to the first six to take more responsibility and we are confident of doing that.”

‘Reserve day in Tests a good suggestion’

Virat Kohli admitted playing against the weather was a futile task, but was intrigued by the possibility of reserve days in Tests matches.
“That’s a debatable question. It could be, I don’t know,” he said. “Say, on the fourth day a team is struggling to save a game, and the next day it rains for two sessions and the game is drawn. The team that deserves to win doesn’t get a win. So yes, there might be a thought there. It’s a good suggestion actually.
“You might want to add another day seeing the situation of the game. If there is a possible result, there is no harm in giving the team that’s winning a fair chance to compete for three sessions. You earn a draw or the deserving team gets a victory. Might not be a bad thing, but I’m not sure how the discussions are going to go.”

Next on India’s docket is a tour to Sri Lanka, before hosting South Africa, who have not lost an away series since July 2006. Naturally, fronting up with a team full of options was a priority for Kohli. Will he retain the present attack with Ashwin and Harbhajan working in tandem?”I would like to have players who can win us games in the bowling unit. And both of them have that ability,” Kohli said. “Especially now that we have a prolonged season in the subcontinent, we need to look at how we can strengthen our team for that as of now. And both of them are good enough to do the same thing when we go away from home as well, it’s just about the mindset I guess. The more confidence we build in this season, we’ll carry it forward to wherever we play in the future as well.”Watching them bowl together in a pair was really exciting as a captain. And I think both of them enjoyed bowling together as well – if one put pressure, the other took a wicket and vice-versa.”Kohli is not known as a man who takes a backward step. And he has a simple reason for playing that way. It’s fun: “We want to play that sort of cricket. When I captained in my first Test in Adelaide too, I had the same thought process, that we should play aggressively and give ourselves a chance to win the game. You enjoy the game when you play like that.”I think, as a team, it’s very important to have that intensity and attitude especially when we are fielding. Because that is the one time when all 11 players are together and you get the true sense of being a team. We have that understanding in the team that we need to maintain intensity in the field at all times, regardless of the conditions, the pitch, or the situation. If your intent is to win, you will always do well in any situation and come out better than the other team more often than not.”That’s my thinking, but the credit goes to the whole team for responding to that. Because I can think something, but if players don’t respond then it’s useless. We are all on one page, and in sync. It’s a good thing and if we keep building that we’ll get even stronger.”Amid India’s push to move onward and upward, there were a few moments to reflect on and Kohli was asked about life after MS Dhoni.”It’s obviously strange,” he said. “The same thing happened when Sachin Tendulkar retired. A few games after that it was a very strange feeling. You suddenly don’t see a very impactful figure in the dressing room. As a cricketer, you always get used to having him around, listening to him, having discussions with him. That voice is always there and it’s a very familiar feeling in the change room.”Now that he’s not there, you sometimes do feel he’s going to pop out of somewhere. Those sort of things happen, it’s a natural process. But now he’s decided to retire from this format and everything moves on. The team wants to continue in the same way, that has done well in the subcontinent in the past as well, so we can take that leaf out of his book. He’s really helped a lot of us youngsters in becoming good international players. He’s given us ample opportunities, so now is the time for us to take up the responsibility and take Indian cricket forward.”

Hamish Rutherford’s century and Wayne Madsen’s unbeaten 79 denied Glamorgan a record-breaking fifth consecutive victory

ECB/PA09-Jul-2015
ScorecardWayne Madsen passed 6,000 Championship runs on the way to his 79*•Getty Images

Glamorgan’s bid to make history was ended by Hamish Rutherford’s first century for Derbyshire which guided his team to a draw in the LV= County Championship Division Two match at Chesterfield.The visitors were chasing a fifth consecutive championship victory for the first time but Rutherford batted for more than five hours to score 108 and captain Wayne Madsen was unbeaten on 79 when Derbyshire declared 123 runs ahead on 281 for 3 shortly before 5pm.Andrew Salter had struck twice with his off-spin before lunch to raise Glamorgan’s hopes but Rutherford and Madsen stayed together for more than 43 overs to add 132 and save the game.Derbyshire had trailed by 121 runs at the start of the day and still had a lot of batting to do when Salter removed Billy Godleman and Chesney Hughes in the space of six overs.The off-spinner had found some bounce bowling from the Lake End but Godleman was trapped playing half forward and a quicker ball accounted for Hughes with the home side still 74 runs short of making Glamorgan bat again.Another couple of wickets before lunch would really have opened the door for Glamorgan but instead it was slowly closed by the application of Rutherford and Madsen, who batted past tea to make the game safe.The lift that Salter had occasionally extracted in the morning was absent after lunch, possibly as the sun drew any remaining moisture from the pitch, and there were few alarms for either batsman as Derbyshire moved into credit.Madsen reached 6000 championship runs when he got to 32 and the 100 stand came from 187 balls before Glamorgan’s last chance of victory literally slipped through their hands.Rutherford was on 88 when he edged Colin Ingram to slip where Rudolph juggled but could not hold on and the opener celebrated his reprieve by lofting the next two balls over long on to reach three figures.At tea, Derbyshire were 58 in front and although Rutherford was lbw to David Lloyd second ball after the interval, Madsen and Wes Durston made sure there were no late alarms by adding 65 in 11 overs before the teams shook hands.Glamorgan head coach Toby Radford admitted: “There were clearly better batting conditions, the sun shone all day and the ball got a little bit soft and the wicket flatter so it was hard work but I was pleased with the way we bowled, I don’t think we could have done any more and sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition.”We wanted to try and do something that has never been done by Glamorgan before, four in a row has been done but not five so we were going to give it everything so it’s a little bit frustrating but I’m still delighted that it’s July 9th and we are unbeaten in the championship.”Derbyshire’s elite performance director Graeme Welch said: “We needed to bounce back after we let ourselves down in the previous game against Surrey and we showed great fight with the bat and played some good cricket. We let ourselves down a little bit with the ball so once we get the batting and bowling right together, I think we’ll be alright!”We just asked for some application and fight and desire and that’s exactly what the lads have shown so we’ve just got to kick on now.”

Michael Clarke underlined his side must stick to the methods that have reaped benefits in the past, which includes an aggressive, occasionally unsociable manner on the field

Daniel Brettig in Cardiff07-Jul-2015New England, old Australia. Michael Clarke has underlined the fact that in the face of an evolving opponent, his touring side must stick to the methods that have reaped significant success over the past 18 months – and that includes an aggressive, occasionally unsociable manner on the field.Both sides have been told at the pre-series meeting with match officials that the ICC will not tolerate too much in the way of verbal stoushes, something David Warner appears to have taken note of. But Clarke said he did not want to see his side shrink from the outwardly bold and brash attitude they have combined with a high level of skill and plenty of determination in series wins over England, South Africa and India, plus a World Cup victory at home.Nor does he mind if the English press – or even some Australian outlets – paint his men as the latest incarnation of the “ugly Aussies” panned in broadsheets and tabloids alike at times during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. On the contrary, he thinks such talk will only help add to the edge in the air when the Investec Ashes series begins.”I know we play a tough brand of cricket but we’re also respectful towards the players we play against, and to the game of cricket,”
Clarke said. “A lot of it sells newspapers and it builds the series as well, so I’m more than happy for there to be a lot of talk about it.
It’s entertaining for the people who are going to be at home watching or come to the ground to watch.”I think everyone knows where the line is. In the last Ashes series if anyone overstepped it, it was me so I have to make sure I set my standard and have the discipline to stay there as well, which I know I will. You definitely need to respect the laws of the game, you can play hard but play fair. You don’t have to sledge to play tough cricket. It’s as much about body language and intent and attitude as it is about verbal stuff that comes out of your mouth.”I’ve learned from what’s happened in the past, and the boys know how we play our best cricket. This Australian team, and any Australian team I’ve been part of, has always played tough cricket on the field but also understood and respected there’s a line there. As long as the boys respect that I’ll be happy.”Having played under bright sunshine in Canterbury and Chelmsford, Clarke’s men were confronted by a pea soup of a day in Cardiff two days out from the first Test, and found the ball swinging and seaming lavishly in the nets. For now there is plenty of grass on the match strip, leaving the selectors Darren Lehmann and Rod Marsh to ponder their options. Batting wise the experience of Clarke, Chris Rogers, Adam Voges and Shane Watson in English conditions will be critical, and among the bowlers Peter Siddle is now under some consideration.”It’s got a lot of grass on it. It’s surprising how much grass is on it,” Clarke said. “So I think if it stays that way it’s going to be interesting to see how it plays. I think it’ll come down to what England are after. If they’re worried about spin bowling, they’ll leave more grass on it. If they’re worried about pace, it’ll have a bit more moisture in it.”From what I’m see today and what the groundsman’s telling me, I think we’re going to see some sideways movement from the fast bowlers.”On his fourth Ashes tour, Clarke said he had learned to look as much at the skies as the pitch when deciding how to approach an English Test match. “A lot of grounds around the world you look at the pitch before deciding whether you’re going to bat or bowl first. In the UK you look above more than at the wicket,” he said. “When it’s overcast you see a lot more movement around the country and when the sun’s out it can be a really nice place to bat.”The other thing is in conditions like that, once you get in as batsman you have to go on and make a big score. You’re never out of the game as a bowler, there’s always something there – whether it’s the slope at Lord’s or you get some overhead conditions, or you take the second new ball. There’s always an opportunity with the Duke ball.”So as a batter you need to know that. In Australia when you feel like you’re batting well and get to 40 and 50, things become a little bit easier. Sometimes here it’s not the case, you’ve got to work your backside off for your whole innings.”There is not a member of Clarke’s team unaware of the fact Australia have not won the Ashes in England since 2001, and without Ryan Harris that task has been made harder. Nevertheless, they have plenty of experience, and a method they trust. Now all they need is Wednesday to arrive.

A Mumbai court has issued a non-bailable warrant against former IPL chairman Lalit Modi in an IPL-related money-laundering case being investigated by India’s Enforcement Directorate, a government agency responsible for prosecuting economic offences

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-20152:57

‘No imminent arrest for Lalit Modi’

A Mumbai court has issued a non-bailable warrant against former IPL chairman Lalit Modi in an IPL-related money-laundering case being investigated by India’s Enforcement Directorate, a government agency responsible for prosecuting economic offences. The warrant could pave the way for the ED to request a red-corner notice by Interpol against him, with the aim of securing his extradition from the UK, where he currently lives, to India.The sessions court judge PR Bhavake said it was a fit case to issue a warrant as Modi had not co-operated with the agency despite being summoned three times for the investigation. The ED said it had sent multiple summons since July 3 to Modi for its investigation without any response. The deadline for Modi’s personal appearance as stated by the summons expired on July 19.The case against Modi, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002, was filed by the BCCI against him in 2010. It relates to the handling of IPL broadcast rights in 2009 and his role in the deal between the two broadcasters – Multi Screen Media and World Sports Group (Mauritius) – is under investigation.In 2008, the BCCI sold the IPL’s global television rights to World Sport Group India for a period of ten years, while the broadcast rights in India were awarded to MSM for a period of five years.In March 2009, the BCCI terminated its agreement with MSM on account of various breaches and within a few hours of the termination, granted global and Indian broadcast rights for 2009 to 2017 to World Sport Group Mauritius which had the same directors as WSG India.A fresh agreement with WSG Mauritius was entered into, under which WSG Mauritius had 72 hours to find a broadcast partner, failing which the rights would revert to the BCCI. It was also expected to pay the BCCI Rs 112.5 crores as a signing fee – a sum the BCCI contended it never received. When WSG Mauritius failed to get a partner, it agreed the rights would come back to the BCCI but WSG India would retain the global rights (excluding Indian subcontinent) till 2017.The BCCI then contended that MSM had paid WSG Mauritius a facilitation fee of $80 million [Rs 425 crore] to cut a deal that would ensure the India rights came back to MSM. According to the BCCI, this was done with the knowledge and active participation of Modi. In June 2010, the BCCI terminated all IPL media license agreements with WSG Mauritius over the issue of the facilitation fee.In its petition, the ED – which called Modi a “potential accused” – said that he “was not authorized to terminate the media rights contract with …MSM” and didn’t follow a tender process or obtain approval from the IPL governing council for signing the deal with WSG Mauritius.

Legspinner Imran Tahir and offspinner Dane Piedt have joined the incumbent spinner Simon Harmer in South Africa’s Test squad for the tour to India in October and November

Firdose Moonda10-Sep-20152:02

Moonda: Make-or-break for Tahir’s Test career

Ins and outs

Tests
In: AB de Villiers, Imran Tahir, Dane Piedt
Out: Aaron Phangiso, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks
ODIs
In: Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Chris Morris, Morne Morkel
Out: David Wiese, Morne van Wyk, Vernon Philander, Dean Elgar
T20s
In: Quinton de Kock, Chris Morris, Marchant de Lange, Imran Tahir, Khaya Zondo
Out: Morne Morkel, Morne van Wyk, Rilee Rossouw (injury), Aaron Phangiso

Imran Tahir and Dane Piedt were recalled to South Africa’s Test squad to form part of a trio of spinners to take on India in October and November. South Africa’s 72-day tour starts with three T20s, where the only new cap across all three squads, is Dolphins’ batsman Khaya Zondo, who replaced the injured Rilee Rossouw in the T20 squad. Rossouw, however, was expected to be fit in time for the ODIs that follow. The rest of the T20, ODI and Test outfits include the regulars with AB de Villiers back in whites after paternity leave, Quinton de Kock included for the limited-overs’ matches but not the Tests where Dane Vilas will keep the gloves, and Chris Morris who has also been included for the white-ball formats.The spin section, particularly for the Tests, was the most debated aspect of the squads because South Africa have struggled to settle on a specialist in the role. Over the last year, all of Tahir, Piedt and Simon Harmer have played, with varying degrees of success and will now compete for a spot in the starting XI. South Africa are still likely to only field one spinner with JP Duminy also providing a spinning option in Tests.Harmer is the incumbent after playing in the last series against Bangladesh, while Piedt could come into contention after performing well on South Africa A’s recent trip to India and Tahir provides an attacking option, making sure South Africa have all bases covered. “When we look back five years ago with South Africa, we struggled with spinners and now we’ve got a volume of spinners coming through,” Linda Zondi, South Africa’s convener of selectors said. “To go with three spinners is vital for the captain and the coach to have enough options. Dane Piedt and Simon Harmer are perceived as holding spinners and then we’ve got Imran who is an attacking spinner. We are very confident in them all; having three spinners is something we haven’t done in a long time and its a positive message from the selection panel that we are trying to pick players based on the conditions.”That justification could be seen as a reason for the selectors to have slotted de Kock, who scored 354 runs in four matches at an average of 70.80 including three centuries on South Africa A’s visit to India, straight back into the Test side too but they stopped short of doing that in order to give Vilas a sustained run. Vilas played just one Test in Bangladesh and did not get the chance to bat after four days were washed out and Zondi wants to see what he can offer at the highest level.”It’s important for us as a new selection panel to make sure we are consistent in our selection and that’s the reason for Vilas being included. He did not have much game time in Bangladesh and we want to make sure that we back players,” Zondi said, before reassuring de Kock the door is still open for him. “With Quinton, we weren’t worried about his keeping that much, we were worried about his runs and he has done the job there. We are optimistic that going forward he will come back in the Test side. That’s why we brought him in the T20s and ODIs.”De Kock will return to opening the batting in the shorter formats but may not be behind the stumps in T20s, where South Africa will continue to trial the idea of de Villiers keeping ahead of the World T20. “AB keeping in T20s hasn’t changed but it’s vital for us to give the coach more options. We decided that was one of the plans – to make sure AB continued to keep because he is going to give us balance – so that the option is still there,” Zondi said. “The thinking behind it is that if AB plays then AB can play a keeping role and open the batting but if Quinny (de Kock) plays, it will be up to Russell to see where Quinny can fit in.”It may be difficult to find a spot for de Kock in the T20s, especially with the inclusion of Zondo, who will take up a middle-order position. Zondo, who bats at No. 5 for his franchise, was South Africa’s second-highest run-scorer in the A team triangular series in India, behind de Kock. His domestic record may not immediately explain his selection – Zondo has a List A average of 27.84 and although he has a T20 hundred to his name, he scored just 131 runs from 10 matches in last season’s domestic T20 competition but Zondi explained that his performances with A side were convincing enough.”With the whole pipeline, it’s important that the guys that are playing for SA A are in our minds. It’s important to reward guys who have done well for SA A. For now, it’s an entry level for Khaya to get into the T20 set-up. He has done well in the fifty-over matches for SA A and it’s important for us to look at the players who have done well in the conditions we are going to play in,” Zondi said.That was also not enough to save Aaron Phangiso, who did well in the T20s in Bangladesh but has not been included in the T20 squad for India with Eddie Leie preferred to partner Tahir. However, Phangiso is in the ODI squad, where David Wiese misses out after an indifferent showing against New Zealand. Morris has been tasked with the allrounder role alongside Farhaan Behardien while Wayne Parnell has been left out of all the squads.South Africa will also continue with their policy of resting key members of the pace pack in limited-overs matches with Vernon Philander not included in the ODI squad and Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel both left out of the T20s. That should mean more game time for Kyle Abbott and, in the T20s, Marchant de Lange, who was recalled after an impressive Caribbean Premier League campaign.South Africa Test squad: Hashim Amla (capt), AB de Villiers, Temba Bavuma, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Simon Harmer, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas.ODI squad: AB de Villiers (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn.T20 squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Marchant de Lange, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Eddie Leie, David Miller, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, David Wiese, Khaya Zondo

More than a decade since his debut, Amit Mishra has finally found a secure place in the Indian team, but he isn’t taking anything for granted

Sidharth Monga23-Sep-20151:43

‘Very positive on my current performances and form’ – Mishra

Amit Mishra will turn 33 this November. He has been a first-class cricketer since 2000, and made his international debut more than 12 years ago. Yet now is the most secure he can feel about his place in the side. This is the first time he is starting a home season with reasonable hope of playing a significant part in all three India squads. Before the Sri Lanka Tests in August this year, Mishra had played every match of a series only twice – against South Africa in 2010 and against England in 2008, both at home – but even then he did not feature in the limited-overs sides on those tours.The only other time he was picked in all the matches of a series – not counting those when first-choice players were rested – was the World Twenty20 last year, when Mishra repaid the faith by ending up as India’s second-best bowler, only to be left behind later in the year by Karn Sharma in the Tests and Axar Patel in the World Cup side. If he was hurt, he did a good job of not making it apparent. With the Sri Lanka tour and a dearth of spin, especially with Ravindra Jadeja not coming back the same bowler post a shoulder injury, Mishra has capitalised on the opportunity. He can now feel comfortable that he is a first pick in all squads. Except that he isn’t taking his place for granted.”Whether I will play depends on captain and team management,” Mishra said on the sidelines of India’s pre-season preparatory camp in Bangalore. “I still can’t say I will play all the matches, but yeah I can say that the way I have performed I should get some matches. I am positive in my mind, I am positive about my bowling, I am looking to improve.”Mishra knows better than to take his place in the side for granted. He has been in and out of the side most of his career. As he said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo earlier this year, Mishra has come back a more mature legspinner. He has shown better control of his legbreak, and through some variations has shown he can get better of his old problem: slow turn, which used to let batsmen recover even if he beat them in the air.Asked if he has ever bowled better, Mishra said: “I can only say I have improved. I have worked hard.”Asked about the slowness, he said: “Yes I needed to work on bowling the right pace for different pitches and different batsmen. I have worked hard on my fitness, on my strength. Now I feel I can bowl the pace I need.”How much confidence does being assured of a place give him? “Nobody should think along the lines of whether he is in the side or not,” Mishra said. “Just work on your bowling. I have just thought of ways to improve over the last four-five years. That chases out negative thoughts from your head.”No doubt you are disappointed when not part of the team, but whenever I have been left out of the team I have looked for ways to improve. Work on my fitness [apart from the bowling]. Work on my fielding. Work on my batting.”Mishra said he worked on his batting too to become more valuable to the side. He said he learnt the value of lower-order runs when he captained Haryana, when he always looked for extra runs from himself and fellow bowlers. In a team that is looking to play five bowlers, Mishra’s runs will be welcome.On Thursday Mishra, along with 29 of India’s best cricketers, will begin to work on his bowling, batting and fielding again after a short break. Thursday will be the fourth day of India’s pre-season camp, which got off to a slow start with the board president dying on the eve of the camp.The first three days have been all about medical appraisals and fitness work. Players have mostly stayed indoors. They began with a visit to Hosmat Hospital for a medical check-up followed by training in the gym of National Cricket Academy at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu had a net session on Wednesday, but it was optional activity.

The four-team Asia Cup T20 Qualifier will be held in Bangladesh from February 19 to 22

Peter Della Penna04-Nov-2015The four-team Asia Cup T20 Qualifier will be held in Bangladesh from February 19 to 22. Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Oman and UAE will play each other to decide the one Associate who will advance to the main draw involving the region’s four Full Member teams.ESPNcricinfo understands the format for the qualifier will feature a single round-robin stage with each team playing three matches and the team that finishes on top will advance to the main event. In case two teams finish with the same points, their net run rates will be used as tiebreaker.Sources had earlier indicated that the qualifier might be played in November in the UAE due to the fact that Hong Kong are touring to play UAE for a four-day Intercontinental Cup match and two WCL Championship ODIs while Afghanistan are hosting Papua New Guinea at Sharjah in the I-Cup a few days later.Oman’s geographical proximity to the UAE was also a factor, but the four Asian teams will be playing a series of bilateral T20Is against each other from November 25 to 30. They will be the first T20Is for each country since the World T20 Qualifier in June. Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Oman have all qualified for the World T20 next March in India.

Travis Dean became the first Victoria batsman in nearly 27 years to score a century on first-class debut as the Bushrangers took control on the third day against Queensland at the MCG

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Oct-2015
ScorecardTravis Dean became the first Victoria batsman in nearly 27 years to score a century on first-class debut as the Bushrangers took control on the third day against Queensland at the MCG. Peter Siddle and James Pattinson claimed three wickets each as the Bulls were skittled for 103 in their second innings, leaving Victoria with a very gettable target of 229 to win.At stumps, Victoria had made a solid start in their chase and were 0 for 38, needing a further 191 runs for victory, with Dean again at the crease on 23 and Rob Quiney on 14. It capped off an outstanding day for the Victorians, who had declared 125 runs behind on the first innings in an effort to make a game of it.Dean finished the first innings unbeaten on 154, having scored most of his runs during a 271-run partnership with Peter Handscomb, whose 137 was his fifth first-class hundred. Dean’s hundred on first-class debut was the first by a Victorian since future one-Test opener Wayne Phillips managed 111 against the touring West Indians at the MCG in 1988.Victoria then needed either a declaration from Queensland or a demolition from their own bowlers, and Siddle and Pattinson provided the latter. Pattinson accounted for both Joe Burns (6) and Usman Khawaja (11) on the day of their call-up into Australia’s Test squad and Siddle, who is also part of the squad for the first Test against New Zealand, picked up 3 for 21.