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Bangladesh’s 58-run win against Zimbabwe in the second ODI defending a total of 241 for 9 gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead and sealed their fifth consecutive bilateral ODI series win.

The Report by Mohammad Isam09-Nov-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsImrul Kayes top-scored with 76 in an otherwise middling innings for the hosts•AFP

The last four series wins have drilled into Bangladesh the way to get out of tight corners. So when they were faced with another, in the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Mirpur on Monday, they stuck to the known paths and ensured a way out. Their 58-run win defending a total of 241 for 9 gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead and sealed their fifth consecutive bilateral ODI series win. They beat their own record of four series wins in a row in 2006-07 and 2009 and the lead means that, in ODIs, Bangladesh will be unbeaten in bilateral series throughout 2015 unless there is another series next month.Bangladesh’s bowling effort was steered smoothly by the captain Mashrafe Mortaza and the line-up hardly missed Shakib Al Hasan, who left Dhaka to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. Mustafizur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for 33 runs, while Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny and Mashrafe himself bowled with control and showed a knack for putting together dot balls.Wickets in clumps always help and Bangladesh got those early in Zimbabwe’s chase, and at a later stage when Elton Chigumbura and Sikandar Raza were starting to look dangerous.The visitors started the 242-run chase by losing both openers Regis Chakabva and Chamu Chibhabha within the first 5.1 overs. Chakabva was trapped leg-before in Arafat Sunny’s first over and four balls later Mashrafe Mortaza had Chibhabha inside-edge one on to the stumps.Sean Williams and Craig Ervine were fidgety, edging many and missing some too. Williams was caught at short midwicket after he misread a Mustafizur off-cutter. Ervine and Chigumbura tried to consolidate for the fourth-wicket stand but the former was run-out after Liton Das threw down the stumps from mid-off to leave the score at 78 for 4 in the 21st over.Chigumbura badly needed Sikandar Raza to stay with him, and the pair added 73 runs for the fifth wicket with minimal effort. Raza hardly played a false short after he blasted Sunny over long-off early in his innings. Chigumbura was looking for a release point and it came in the 32nd over when he went after Mashrafe for a six and two fours off consecutive deliveries.The six was blasted over the bowler’s head before Liton and Nasir Hossain couldn’t chase down a ball near the leg-side boundary. The third boundary came off an outside edge but it seemed Zimbabwe were turning a corner.Al-Amin removed both in the 34th and 36th overs. Raza holed out to mid-on for 33 off 42 balls, which included two fours and a six, while hit an upper-cut to Kayes at third man, who took the catch diving forward. The Zimbabwe captain’s knock could hardly be described as berserk and he hit two fours and a six in 47 off 77 deliveries.Mustafizur took two more wickets, removing Luke Jongwe and Tinashe Panyangara, while Nasir took the wickets of Malcolm Waller and Graeme Cremer, to shut Zimbabwe down for 183 runs in 43.2 overs.Earlier in the afternoon, Bangladesh were presented with a situation similar to the first ODI when they were put into bat and lost two early wickets. This time, however, there were no moderate or big partnerships. Imrul Kayes was the only batsman with some semblance of prolonged authority as he made 76 off 89 balls and batted until the 32nd over.Tamim Iqbal got out to peach of a Panyangara delivery that held its line and took the outside edge in the seventh over. Liton Das’ tough start to his ODI career continued after he got out trying to pull Panyangara, when he could have left the high-bouncing delivery. Mahmudullah’s struggle continued, too – this time he batted for 32 minutes to make 7 and his dismissal made it 79 for 3 in the 18th over.Mushfiqur Rahim, fresh from his fourth ODI hundred in the first match of the series, looked in ominous touch as he started off with a slog-sweep and a loft over cover for boundaries. The fourth-wicket partnership added 48 runs before another attempt at an inside-out shot took the edge and he was caught at short third-man, in the 28th over. Sabbir Rahman also looked to be hitting clean but, like the batsmen above him, he flattered to deceive with his 40-ball 33 that had four boundaries. Just when it looked like he would take the team to a high-scoring finish in the last ten overs, Sabbir fell to a poor slash outside off stump that gave Chakabva his fourth catch behind the stumps.Mashrafe and Nasir, who made 41 off 53 balls, tried to up the ante but Bangladesh ended up with only 53 runs in the last ten overs as Zimbabwe took good catches and bowled tightly to keep the scoring down to 241 for 9 in 50 overs.

Jimmy Adams progressed to a double hundred before his bowlers claimed five wickets to leave Worcestershire struggling to avoid the follow-on

Ivo Tennant at the Ageas Bowl25-Apr-2013
ScorecardMoeen Ali took four wickets before scoring a half-century but Hampshire took charge on day two•Getty Images

While Rod Bransgrove, the Hampshire chairman, was affixing the last bolt to the framework that will support a 175-bedroom hotel at the Northern End of the Ageas Bowl, the grand view afforded of the middle was of his captain completing the third double-century of his career. A measure of Jimmy Adams’ dominance was that his unbeaten 219 was the highest score by a Hampshire captain since Dick Moore made 316 against Warwickshire at Bournemouth in 1937.Many captains have come and gone since then. One or two of them, such as Roy Marshall and Richard Gilliat, have been better batsmen, but none can have concentrated so determinedly. There was no difference in the tempo of Adams’ innings from the first session of this match on Wednesday – and there was no greater likelihood that Worcestershire would take his wicket.Indeed, all that was in question was whether Adams would surpass the highest score of his career, an unbeaten 262 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in 2006. After Chris Wood had gone, having added 96 with the captain, David Balcombe and Danny Briggs did not remain at the crease for long enough to encourage Adams, who had struck 29 fours, to continue batting. A declaration at 500 for 9 left Worcestershire already facing a job to avoid the follow-on.To judge by the way they had batted against Glamorgan in their last fixture, that would constitute an ambition of sorts. Not that there was anything in the pitch for the quicker bowlers, or Briggs, or Moeen Ali, whose offspin had brought him four wickets without any discernible indication of turn.Still, Worcestershire laboured. Daryl Mitchell was nicely taken low down to his left by Liam Dawson at second slip, Matt Pardoe was caught at midwicket, the shot a loose one. Thilan Samaraweera hung his bat out and only edged into Sean Ervine’s midriff. Alexei Kervezee flicked to gully. This was the upshot of steady, saturating seam-up; nothing more. The quicker bowlers shared the five wickets to fall.Still, Moeen remained, all wristy flicks and cover drives that seemed to persuade the ball to the boundary. At least, he remained until he had reached a half-century, whereupon he too flicked a catch to the slip cordon: another dismissal that could have been avoided. Worcestershire are, of course, missing Vikram Solanki; they are deserving of some sympathy for losing players to Surrey through an unattractive form of transfer market. The harsh reality, though, is that they are 341 runs behind and require 192 to avoid the follow on.Rupert Kyrle, the Mayor of Eastleigh Borough Council, which is funding the £32m hotel here, had left the ground by now; Bransgrove and his delegation had completed their tour of what will become a four star Hilton, with some bedrooms facing the cricket and others looking out at the proposed 18-hole golf course at the back. It will open next April. Chris Huhne, formerly the local MP, may or may not be invited to the gala opening but rest assured that Sir Ian Botham, Bransgrove’s friend, will be on the guest list.

Stuart Broad did not bowl during England’s first training session in Galle to protect an ankle injury he picked up earlier in the tour

Andrew McGlashan in Galle24-Mar-2012Stuart Broad did not bowl during England’s first training session in Galle to protect an ankle injury he picked up earlier in the tour but is still expected to be available for the first Test against Sri Lanka which starts on Monday.Broad tripped on a boundary rope shortly before the first warm-up match against a President’s XI in Colombo and was pulled out of the game. However, he was part of the team for the second practice game where he sent down 23 overs against the Sri Lanka Development XI for four wickets and was the most impressive of England’s bowlers.”He just wanted an extra day off from bowling after the game he played,” James Anderson, his new-ball partner, said. “He bowled quite a few overs in the last game and he’s just giving his ankle a little bit of extra time to recover.”However, if England maintain the balance of playing two quicks and two spinners with which they completed the series against Pakistan in the UAE, they cannot afford any doubts over one of the pacemen. England are not short of fast-bowling reserves — Steven Finn has played both warm-up matches and Tim Bresnan is also in the squad — but Broad has become an integral part of the team after recapturing his form against India last year. Since the first Test of that series, at Lord’s, he has taken 38 wickets at 16.10 in seven matches.The make-up of England team is one of the major talking points heading into the series, particularly following a side strain to Ravi Bopara which could likely prevent him from bowling in either of the two Tests. He is still expected to return to the side at No. 6 to replace the dropped Eoin Morgan, but in energy-sapping conditions the thought of having a better-than-part-time fifth-bowling option will be one that Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower will continue to ponder.”It is going be a difficult decision with Ravi not being able to bowl,” Anderson admitted. “It’s always difficult going in with just two seamers and two spinners and not having a fifth bowling option. Trotty and KP can bowl a few overs but the decision the selectors have to make is whether they want the fifth bowler to be someone who is more capable with the ball.”England do have a couple of ways to balance the side if they so wish; a Test debut for Samit Patel at No. 6 or a recall for Bresnan with Matt Prior moving up the order one place. The latter would be a positive statement to make at the start of the short series but remains a long shot with Strauss and Flower reluctant to play five frontline bowlers. Patel, meanwhile, showed form with the bat in the last warm-up game with 72 off 78 balls but in 18 overs during the first innings conceded four-and-a-half an over and in the second innings seven.The least likely route England seem like taking is dropping a spinner to accommodate a third seamer after the success of Monty Panesar in the UAE. “We started going with two seamers and two spinners in the UAE and it worked well for us. Hopefully we can continue with that form,” Anderson said. “It makes things slightly different for the quicks because in this heat the spells will be shorter than we’re used to. It puts more focus on us to be right on the money every ball.”

Marlon Samuels, the West Indies and Jamaica batsman, has said he declined a chance to play in the ongoing World Cup as a replacement for an injured Dwayne Bravo

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2011Marlon Samuels, the West Indies and Jamaica batsman, has declined a chance to play in the World Cup as a replacement for an injured Dwayne Bravo. Samuels, who served a two-year ban from official cricket for links with an Indian bookmaker, said he was “not 100% ready” for one-day cricket, and wanted, instead, to focus on the four-day game on the domestic circuit.”First of all, I want to say thanks to the regional selectors for sitting down and thinking about selecting me for the World Cup. I am honoured to get such a phone call,” Samuels told the . “But as I had said in interviews before the start of the tournament, I want to focus on four-day and not one-day cricket, and try to be out there in the sun for hours on top of hours. I am doing that at the moment.”I still don’t think I am 100 per cent ready and I want to be honest with myself. I hope the selectors understand and respect my decision.”Samuels had been banned by a West Indies Cricket Board disciplinary committee in 2008 for discussing team information with Mukesh Kochar and later approaching him to pay a hotel bill. He returned to official cricket in May last year and is now playing for Jamaica in the Regional Four Day Competition, the Caribbean’s first-class domestic tournament.Samuels played 29 Tests and 107 ODIs for West Indies over an eight-year span, and is keen to return to Tests during the home series against India and Pakistan following the World Cup. “I am definitely looking to play in the upcoming home series, so hopefully I will continue on the road that I am and continue to score centuries,” he said.Bravo, who suffered a knee injury in West Indies’ opening game against South Africa, was ultimately replaced by the Guyana legspinner Devendra Bishoo.

The two teams playing the first ever IPL match in Ahmedabad present a bit of a contrast

The Preview by George Binoy14-Mar-2010

Match facts

Monday, March 15
Start time 2000 (1430GMT)Delhi Daredevils had to fight for victory against Punjab, but it’ll take some effort to beat them (file photo)•Associated Press

Big Picture

The two teams playing the first ever IPL match in Ahmedabad present a bit of a contrast. The Rajasthan Royals, even though they were champions in 2008, are perennial underdogs and seem comfortable playing that role. They’re the team most fans love to support after their own. They possess the tournament’s fastest bowler and perhaps its most destructive batsman but, a few overseas players apart, also a bunch of boys who aren’t individually threatening. Their captain, formerly the world’s greatest legspinner, is now a glamorous poker player, an expert at staying in fashion and the team’s chief inspiration. He spearheads Rajasthan’s PR on Twitter, engaging in entertaining and sometimes frivolous banter with his mates, and he’s fashioned a team in his own image, one that in his own words “plays to entertain”.There aren’t any Delhi Daredevils on Twitter, unless they’ve been hiding in obscurity, apart from Wayne Parnell. Their players aren’t darlings of the media, their owner is in infrastructure not Bollywood, and their captain, who’s got into trouble more than once for his on-field temper, is sullen compared to his larger-than-life counterpart. Delhi have few frills and a low-key media presence. They are the team that shows up to get the job done, clinically, and the one most opponents will be a little intimidated by, even if they won’t admit it. They have their best foreign players available for the whole tournament, their top five in the batting order is unmatched, and their Indian contingent is among the strongest. No matter who they play and where, Delhi are usually favourites.These two teams, with their different styles, will clash for the first time at Motera, a 48,000 seater, one of four new venues this season. Both contested closely-fought opening games on Saturday: Delhi won theirs in Mohali, Rajasthan fell agonisingly short in a mammoth chase against Mumbai. One loss doesn’t ruin a season, but a second in a row will be a little harder to come back from.

Team talk

Graeme Smith, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Shaun Tait and Shane Warne were the four overseas players Rajasthan fielded against Mumbai. Given that their top order struggled, they might consider replacing Mascarenhas and bringing in Damien Martyn or Michael Lumb to bolster the batting. Tait, though he leaked 11.50 runs an over, is likely to play to counter Delhi’s powerful top order. Munaf Patel, who was ill ahead of the first game, could also come into the XI if fit. Warne had said they “don’t want to change anything in the middle [order] as [Abhishek] Jhunjhunwala and [Paras] Dogra batted beautifully.” But with Rajasthan, you never can tell.Delhi had to do without Ashish Nehra’s services against Punjab because of an injury. He could return in place of either Pradeep Sangwan or Yo Mahesh if fit. Another option, which will strengthen a formidable batting line-up, would be for Nehra to replace Farveez Maharoof, who took 2 for 37, while David Warner comes in as the fourth overseas player, instead of Mithun Manhas. That would be unfortunate for Manhas, who made a crucial 31 against Punjab, but a top order comprising Sehwag, Gambhir, Warner, de Villiers and Dilshan, with Karthik to follow, seems too good to pass on. Parnell has joined the Delhi squad after completing domestic duties in South Africa but is unlikely to play.

Previously…

The first contest between these two sides in 2008 was a no-contest, with Delhi cruising to a nine-wicket win with 29 balls to spare. The clash in Jaipur was much closer – Rajasthan won in the last over with three wickets in hand. Rajasthan won the first game between the sides in 2009 by five wickets, but lost the second by 14 runs.

In the spotlight

Yusuf Pathan: His 37-ball century, the fastest in the IPL and second quickest overall, was the sole reason Rajasthan got anywhere close to Mumbai’s 212. On flat pitches and small grounds, Yusuf is a brutal batsman and Rajasthan’s strategy in previous tournaments has been to build a platform for him to launch an assault from, whether chasing or batting first. He wasn’t attacked with any bouncers during his blitz, which was surprising considering he has struggled against the short ball. A cheap dismissal will severely dent Rajasthan’s chances of challenging Delhi’s batting line-up. Expect Nannes to dig them in tomorrow.Tait v Nannes: Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes are specialist Twenty20 fast bowlers for Australia. Tait sent down thunderbolts nearing 160kmh during the summer, intimidating international batsmen into dismissals, while Nannes maintained his accurate lines and lengths at around 150kmh. In combination, they were a potent force but tomorrow they will be opponents with the responsibility of making inroads into other’s top order. Nannes was exceptional against Punjab but Tait was poor at Brabourne. Another failure tomorrow could result in Rajasthan chasing leather.

Prime numbers

• Yusuf went from 15 off 14 balls to 69 off 25 against Mumbai by hitting 11 consecutive balls for 6,6,6,6,4,4,6,4,4,4 and 4.
• Nannes’ first spell Punjab was 2-0-3-0 with ten dot balls. His spell at the death was 2-0-9-2.

Chatter

“Over the 30-odd games we have played if you look at our numbers we probably are the worst in the first six overs. If you take the top three of Graeme Smith, Swapnil Asnodkar and Shane Watson that first year compared to last year (there is a ) 900 runs difference (of their aggregate score).”

Kathryn Bryce, Kirstie Gordon play key roles as Blaze hold nerve in low-scorer

ECB Reporters Network24-May-2024Australian allrounder Erin Burns took a career-best 5 for 25 but it was not enough to win the night for Northern Diamonds as The Blaze defended 136 to make it two wins from two in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.Scotland skipper Kathryn Bryce top-scored with 31 for the home side with England Under-19 captain Josie Groves making 24 not out, before Blaze skipper Kirstie Gordon led a superb effort in the field by taking 3 for 20 as the home side won by four runs.Offspinner Burns, a 35-year-old franchise veteran in her first season with Diamonds, took wickets in each of her four overs, including two in the powerplay and two with her last two deliveries as The Blaze were bowled out for 136 in exactly 20 overs. Legspinner Katie Levick (3 for 22) also had a good night with the ball.But despite Lauren Winfield-Hill and Hollie Armitage – who had arrived on the ground with only 20 minutes to spare after being released from the England Women squad at Derby – seeming to put them on track for a victory, Diamonds could not overhaul the 2023 runners-up.Having been put in on a chilly night under the Trent Bridge lights, The Blaze emerged from their batting powerplay at 38 for 2. Marie Kelly reverse-swept the second ball of the match for four but lost her middle stump playing across the line to the next. Opening partner Teresa Graves picked up two boundaries but after being dropped on 12 she was bowled by Burns.The Blaze were 60 for 3 by the halfway point, Kathryn Bryce having looked in good order before miscuing Levick’s legspin to Armitage at extra cover.Sarah Bryce holed out to mid-off as Burns claimed her third success, sparking a Blaze wobble that saw 80 for 3 become 84 for 6 in the space of six balls as Levick dismissed Ella Claridge caught-and-bowled before bowling Nadine de Klerk.Groves hit a booming six over deep midwicket as she and Michaela Kirk added 36 in three overs before Kirk fell victim to a fine catch on the square-leg boundary by Grace Hall, whose post-catch roll took her perilously close to stepping on the rope.Gordon was caught at deep midwicket before Burns finished off with two in two as Lucy Higham hit straight to extra cover and Grace Ballinger was stumped.Diamonds were 39 for 1 from their opening six, Leah Dobson their sole casualty. Armitage and Winfield-Hill added 49 for the second wicket before Armitage, attempting a reverse, became a second leg-before victim for Gordon’s left-arm spin as the Blaze skipper avenged a six in the same over.At 65 for 2 at halfway, Diamonds had their noses in front but one relatively costly over from Groves apart, the next five overs saw The Blaze dry up the runs and push the required rate up to nine-an-over, the pressure perhaps accounting for two wickets in a single Kathryn Bryce over as the balance suddenly tilted the way of the home side.Winfield-Hill was bowled stepping down the pitch to the medium-pacer before Burns was run out going for a second to Groves at deep square. Beth Heath was well caught at long-on off de Klerk, Stere Kallis run out after a mix-up with Emma Marlow, who was then bowled by Gordon.Diamonds needed an unlikely 19 from the final over by Kathryn Bryce and though Katherine Fraser launched a six over wide midwicket they fell five short.

Legspinner Mitchell Swepson is returning to Australia for the birth of his first child

Alex Malcolm and Andrew McGlashan12-Feb-20232:53

Can Warner overcome the Ashwin challenge?

Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has been called up to Australia’s squad in India and is a “live chance” make his Test debut in Delhi on Friday.Kuhnemann, 26, is flying in while Mitchell Swepson makes a pre-planned return home for the birth of his first child. Swepson is due to return ahead of the third Test, the venue for which remains uncertain with doubts over whether Dharamshala will be able to host the game.Related

• Australia could pick third spinner instead of Starc, if Green is fit

• Should Australia risk Cameron Green in the XI? Is there room for a third spinner?

• Will Starc play in Delhi? Boland happy to make it tough for the selectors

• Australia's plans to train in Nagpur scuppered after ground staff water pitches

• Dazed Australia search for answers after first-round knockout

The chances of Kuhnemann coming straight into contention are reasonably high if Cameron Green becomes available, with Australia desperate to find an option to try and replicate the success Ravindra Jadeja enjoyed in the opening Test having not had the faith to select Ashton Agar in Nagpur.Kuhnemann is inexperienced at first-class level with 35 wickets at 34.80 in 13 matches, and often struggles to get a starting place for Queensland when Swepson is available. However, he showed promise when he made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka after being a late addition to that squad and was close to making this original tour party.Todd Murphy, who was preferred to Agar, had an outstanding debut with 7 for 124 in just his eighth first-class match as the one bright spot for Australia in their innings thrashing.Matthew Kuhnemann in his delivery stride•Getty Images

“Got a phone call yesterday morning when walking out for the warm-ups. Was pretty shocked,” Kuhnemann said after Queensland’s Sheffield Shield match against Victoria. “I was just lucky enough that my passport was in my bag.”I watched every day [of the first Test] just being such a fan. These series are so good to watch. Todd Murphy was exceptional and sort of watched how Jadeja bowled. So just really excited to get over there.”I was fortunate enough to stay with the Test guys and bowl to them in the nets in Sri Lanka so that’s still pretty fresh in my memory. I learned heaps just being over there for a couple months. If I got the opportunity I’d like to think I’d be okay.”However, Kuhnemann’s selection would likely require Australia to go down the route of three specialist spinners and will depend on the nature of the surface in Delhi and the fitness of Green so that he could share the pace bowling with captain Pat Cummins.”He’s a live chance to play in the next Test match,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said on Sunday. “If we play three spinners then we clearly want back-up here and available in the squad if that’s the way we want to go.”Green is making promising progress in his recovery from the broken finger he suffered at the MCG against South Africa and has built up his workload over the last few days in Nagpur. He had two-hour batting sessions and is bowling close to full capacity. The main concern for the management has been building up Green’s bowling after the layoff.”We’re hopeful. It’s been six weeks now,” McDonald said. “I think he’s actually got his final X-ray or scan today. He does allow us different options to the way that we want to structure up.”Australia are hopeful Cameron Green will be available in Delhi•Getty Images

Mitchell Starc has arrived in Dehli having missed the start of the tour as he recovered from the finger injury he also sustained in Melbourne. Australia face some tricky decisions over how to balance their side if they want to include Starc. Scott Boland was unfortunate to finish wicketless in the first Test.”[Starc] will have a rest day today [in Delhi] and then he’ll train tomorrow on his own up there,” McDonald said. “A couple of the staff members will go up there. We’re hopeful that both of those are back on the selection table and that would change the balance of our side.”Josh Hazlewood won’t be available for the second Test having missed the first due to an Achilles issue that continues to nag him. He had a solid bowl on the eve of the Nagpur Test and then needed three days to recover before having another bowl on Saturday.”He’s close. So I think it’s just probably the load in that Achilles,” McDonald said. “We just don’t want to push it. He’s going to have three days off and then have a main bowl if he gets through that.”Meanwhile, Matt Renshaw’s knee will continue to be monitored after he spent considerable time off the field on the second day in Nagpur. He had retained his place in the middle order when Travis Head was left out but made just 0 and 2 at No. 5.McDonald defended the Head decision but noted in hindsight that Renshaw didn’t perform as expected.”We valued others’ skill sets in those extreme conditions,” McDonald said. “I think the discussion point that we went through in the process will be different to the hindsight. And the hindsight is that those people that you will compare the competition for place around didn’t perform the way that we’d probably expected.”[Head] had different thoughts on that and that’s fair enough. And he’s entitled to have different thoughts on that along with others. And we’re not saying any decision that we make is right or wrong.”The Todd Murphy one was heavily discussed as well. Could we play the ball spinning in, two of those types of bowlers against the Indian batting line-up, all those discussions that we had behind the scenes are pretty much what you discussed as well.”

Spinner says the hosts’ bowlers failed to form partnerships as Pakistan put on 161 for 2 on day one in Dhaka

Mohammad Isam04-Dec-2021Bangladesh rarely pick five specialist bowlers at home, so when they did so against Pakistan in the Dhaka Test, there were more expectations of them. But as Mehidy Hasan Miraz put it, even during a truncated first day’s play, the home team’s bowlers couldn’t combine well to keep the visitors from asserting their authority.
Taijul Islam continued to thrive in this Test series, picking up both wickets that fell on Saturday. He took eight wickets in the first Test in Chattogram, including 7 for 116 in the first innings that allowed Bangladesh to take a slim lead.Bangladesh had Shakib Al Hasan back in the attack for the Dhaka fixture, and included Khaled Ahmed in the XI. But with only Shakib and Taijul showing any rhythm, all the resources they had just didn’t seem enough. Bangladesh’s best chance to dent the opposition came during the second hour of play, when they took 2 for 24 in 16 overs. But it slipped away because the rest of their bowling attack couldn’t keep the pressure.”Taijul started well,” Miraz said. “He was in great shape in the last Test. He took more wickets [than anyone else today]. He was bowling very well from one end. Partnership bowling is important in Tests. If both pacers applied pressure from both ends, we could have taken one or two wickets in the first hour. Shakib and Taijul bowled tight from both ends, which created two wickets. It always gives us the opportunity. Myself and the others couldn’t really apply similar pressure in the second session, which allowed them to dominate.”Miraz, in particular, pointed out the fast bowlers’ inability to provide early wickets as one of the reasons why Bangladesh couldn’t dominate on the first day.”Things would have been better for us if the pacers took out a few more wickets. Everyone has to contribute with the ball, and today it was just Taijul and Shakib . Early wickets are important in Tests. If that doesn’t happen, we should contain the runs. It wasn’t happening for us.”Ebadot [Hossain] bowled well, almost wicket-taking. I think we were in a decent position in the first session. If we had taken a few more wickets in the second session, it would have been easier for us,” he said.Miraz also received a bit of flak in Chattogram for picking up only two wickets. He has often copped criticism for what some believe is a one-dimensional style of bowling, without any mystery deliveries or a major variation. Miraz, however, defended his bowling by saying that it is important to be accurate and consistent in Tests, rather than trying too much and leaking runs.”Line and length is more important than variation. You must have good line and length to get your variation in order. You can try variations in shorter formats. Test cricket requires patience, so you have to bowl in the same spot repeatedly.”You have to wait for the batters to make mistakes. I cannot be expected to take wickets every over in a Test match. I have to bowl well for five or seven overs, before I can try a variation. I think this patience brings success in Tests,” he said.

England seamer is not ready to call it quits just yet after landmark achievement

George Dobell28-Jul-2020Of course Stuart Broad had the final word. Of course, at the end of a series he has dominated since his spell with the second new ball on the fourth evening of the second Test, it was his wicket that sealed the series.Some might argue that Broad dominated the series even before he was selected. His omission from the side for the first Test so disappointed him that he made the unusual decision to give an interview midway through a game in which he was not involved to express his frustration. He also suggested he was bowling as well as ever.It’s one thing to talk a good game; it’s quite another to back it with performances. And, over the last couple of weeks, Broad has proved his point more eloquently than his words ever could. The upshot is, a campaign that started with him struggling to get into the side has finished with him being named player of the series. The third Test produced his best innings analysis since 2016 and both his best match analysis and highest innings since 2013.Back to his best? Well, maybe. In truth, he is a slightly different bowler to the man who was winning Tests for England a decade ago. Certainly not worse; just different. For while he was once capable of delivering genuinely quick spells and tended to hit just back of a length, he now pitches a yard or so fuller and nags away on off stump like an unpaid bill. He’s not quite as quick but he has just finished his third series out of four (the Ashes and the South Africa tour were the others) as England’s leading wicket-taker.Where once he was inclined to resort to the bouncer just a bit too quickly, it’s almost as if his slightly diminished pace has forced him to find different ways to defeat batsmen. As a result, he’s become a more sophisticated bowler. It’s hardly surprising he has no intention of calling it a day just yet.”You always hear ex-sportsmen saying they knew when it was time to go,” Broad said. “They say they lost that feeling.”Well, I’ve still got it in abundance. A couple of weeks ago I was in a bit of a thinking place. I couldn’t leave a cricket ground where I’d been left out. I thought ‘where am I going here?'”But I’m glad I stayed strong because I’m very happy two weeks later.”I feel I’m bowling as well as I ever have. I’ve done some technical work and changed my run-up in the last 18 months. I’m challenging the stumps and trying to make the batsmen play as much as possible. That’s a tactical thing that’s really taken me to a really exciting level.Stuart Broad claims his 500th Test wicket•Getty Images

“I felt like my alignment to the stumps was really good in this game. I had a bit of confidence and match practice from the second Test so my tempo and alignment felt like every time I released the ball I could bring off stump into play.”That’s my go-to: I want to make the batsman play. I don’t like to get left too often. When you come on a pitch with a little bit of wear that’s keeping low, that’s sort of my dream pitch. Most fast bowlers like it flying through, catching the edge and going to slip at chest height but if I can bring the stumps into play, it really suits my style.”If Broad required any inspiration for the pursuit of sporting excellence in his mid-30s, he doesn’t have far to look. James Anderson’s hunger to pick up new skills and his dedication to his fitness have carried him to the brink of 600 Test wickets. Broad doesn’t rule out pushing on to the same milestone.”Jimmy is my idol on that,” Broad said. “He turns 38 during this break we have now. He’s someone I have watched very closely and has been a great friend of mine for many years.”Also, the way he has maintained himself and kept upskilling himself to be able to not just compete but get better at this level. You look at both of our records over the last few years, we are actually improving. Compare my last 18 months to my career record, it’s way better. It’s a great sign.ALSO READ: Stuart Broad, England’s spring-heeled superstar“It is easy to get to 34 and start thinking ‘I’ll do what I have done for the last 13 years and be okay’. But I’m looking for the next step that will improve me as a cricketer. That keeps you moving forward as a cricketer.”If you’d asked me four years ago, ‘at 34 do you think you could play another three or four years?’ I’d have said absolutely not. Now I’m 34 and I feel fit. Post-lockdown my fitness testing was the best it’s ever been. I feel excited.”I’m not someone who sets targets. I never said I really want to get to 500 wickets or 600 wickets. But at the moment I feel fresh, I feel fit. I’m bowling how I want to be bowling. If I keep bowling the way I am for the next few years then I wouldn’t rule anything out.”But his greatest attribute, he says, is not his height, his experience or his seam position.”My defining quality? I never give up,” he said. “It probably comes from my Mum. I feel like we can win from any situation. The most recent time when that came through was in Cape Town at tea. I can’t remember how many wickets we needed but we were slogging away for a long period of time.Stuart Broad, England’s man of the series, braves the rain at Old Trafford•Getty Images

“I knew deep down that if we kept applying pressure, South Africa would crack. That’s the mindset which helped us win that Test match.”I’ve never shied away from intimidating moments. I really enjoy moments when the game need changing. I want to be the person to do it. I want to be the person to get thrown the ball or go into bat when we need to change the momentum of the game.”All of which begs the question: why was Broad left out of the side for the first Test?England’s rotation of their seamers was one of the key differences in the series. With each of them bowling in a maximum of two games, they looked fit and fresh right to the end. West Indies’ trio of fast bowlers, by contrast, played in all three matches and looked close to exhaustion some time ago. It was not especially controversial, really. England’s strength in seam-bowling depth is a huge asset, even if it does make for awkward selection meetings at times.It’s also highly likely the same policy will be used in the series against Pakistan. Which means there may be days when other high-profile players – the likes of Anderson and Jofra Archer, included – will be rotated. And yes, there will be days, particularly in the conditions anticipated this winter, when Broad is left out once again. Sometimes the word ‘dropped’ can be a bit emotive.”Let’s be honest, we have so many fast bowlers if you’re not taking wickets you’re probably not going to play,” Broad said. “It keeps the standard high.”There were echoes of Fred Trueman when Broad was asked whether anyone else could achieve the 500 Test wicket milestone. Trueman, on reaching the 300 landmark, famously quipped that if anyone else achieved it they would be “bloody tired”. Broad’s point was more that modern seam bowlers might not have the opportunity to play enough games.While Nathan Lyon, who currently has 390 wickets, would appear to have a chance, the next highest wicket-taker among current seamers is Ishant Sharma who, at 31 years of age, has 297. It is entirely possible Broad will be the last seamer to reach the figure.”You need a lot of Test matches to get 500 wickets,” Broad said. “I think there’ll be people who have the talent to get the numbers, but whether a seamer will be able to play the amount of Test cricket to get that feat remains to be seen. There is a lot of competition out there between different T20 leagues franchises.”There’s talk of thinning the amount of Tests down. I feel very lucky to have played for England in an era where we’ve played a lot of Test cricket.”England have been lucky to have him, too. And only a fool would suggest there aren’t a few pages in the story left to be told.

Quinton de Kock is the only specialist wicketkeeper in the squad, with David Miller available for back-up should de Kock be injured during a game

Liam Brickhill18-Apr-2019After months of speculation around his form and place in the ODI side, Hashim Amla has been included in South Africa’s 15-person squad for the World Cup in England and Wales. Amla’s inclusion, along with Aiden Markram, means that top-order batsman Reeza Hendricks missed out on selection for the tournament.With South Africa opting for Amla’s experience, and Markram’s imposing domestic form, there were no major surprises when the squad was announced on Thursday afternoon.”We’re looking for players who are prepared to die on the field for their country,” Cricket South Africa president Chris Nenzani said. “We’re looking for quality. We’re looking for integrity. And we’re looking for players who are prepared to entertain the country.”As expected, Faf du Plessis will captain the side that includes only one specialist wicketkeeper in Quinton de Kock, with David Miller available for back-up should de Kock be injured during a game. Miller was trialled in the role during Sri Lanka’s visit earlier this year.”Everyone has been on our case for not having a back-up keeper, but as a panel we felt it was important, when looking at the batting and bowling we have, some of the keepers we’ve been looking at, their performances weren’t quite there in terms of looking at our bowling back up and the batters we currently we have,” National Selection Panel Convener Linda Zondi said. “Hence we went with David Miller. In the Sri Lanka series we gave him the gloves to make sure that if anything happens to Quinton de Kock within the World Cup, Miller can fit in and play that role.”South Africa World Cup squads comparison•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

There was no place in the squad for allrounder Chris Morris, who is currently playing for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, and who is one of several South Africa players taking part in the league, with Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir currently topping the wicket charts there.Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje, who would also have been at the IPL were it not for late-season injuries, have been included in the squad. Zondi explained that both were on the mend, and are expected to be fit to join South Africa’s pre-tournament camp on May 12.CSA confirmed that if any of the South Africa players featuring in the IPL should be required to play in the league final on May 12, they will be available and will join the national squad immediately afterwards. “The plan is for guys who make the final to join us on the 13th,” a CSA official said.
Five of the players – du Plessis, Amla, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir and Dale Steyn – made their World Cup debuts at the tournament in the sub-continent in 2011 and will be playing in their third World Cup. De Kock and David Miller made their debuts in the 2015 tournament in Australasia and will be going to the World Cup for the second time.”We feel that Faf’s team is well equipped to handle whatever conditions are presented to them, bearing in mind the weather extremes one can encounter in the British Isles,” Zondi said. “We have also been highly encouraged by the form shown by those of our players who are currently in action in the Indian Premier League and there is no doubt that there is a great sense of anticipation and determination among our players.”When CSA appointed Ottis Gibson, he came with his own philosophy. Part of that was playing confident cricket. For years as South Africa we were playing conservative cricket. It was important for us as a panel to make sure that you can then take a team where everyone from [No.] 1 to 6 is going to play confident and attacking cricket. We’re confident, looking at his philosophy and the kind of players we’ve picked. They are winners in their own right.”I am also very happy to announce that two of our fast bowlers currently on the injured list, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje, are well on the way to recovery and we expect them to be ready for our pre-tournament camp next month”.Squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), JP Duminy, David Miller, Dale Steyn, Andile Phehlukwayo, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Quinton de Kock (wk), Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Hashim Amla, Tabraiz Shamsi