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Kyle Mills has warned against underestimating Zimbabwe, after the tourists suffered heavy defeats in the one-off Test and the first ODI

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Feb-2012New Zealand seamer Kyle Mills has warned against underestimating Zimbabwe, after the tourists suffered heavy defeats in the one-off Test and the first one-day international. Ahead of the second ODI in Whangarei, Mills said he expected Zimbabwe to be better acclimatised with the seamer-friendly conditions and be more competitive in the remaining games.”There’s no doubt they are going to come back a lot better, harder and stronger in Whangarei,” Mills told. “That’s the general theme in most series around the world. The waters are tested in the first game but as the series progresses, both teams get a better read on each other and what they’re trying to do and get a better understanding of individual strengths and weaknesses.”Zimbabwe lost the Napier Test by an innings and 301 runs within three days, their worst ever Test defeat. They were rolled over twice on the same day, for scores of 51 and 143. The Test finished on the third day, with a bulk of play on the second day lost due to rain. The team fared marginally better in the first ODI in Dunedin, bowling out a new-look New Zealand for 248, but the batsmen failed yet again, scoring 158.Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor top-scored with 58 but the next-highest was Raymond Price’s unbeaten 26 at No. 10.During New Zealand’s tour of the country last year, the hosts pulled off a surprise win in the dead-rubber third ODI in Bulawayo, successfully chasing down 329 in a thrilling climax. A victory in Whangarei will give New Zealand the series, with one match to go, but Mills said the hosts are capable of bouncing back to keep the series alive.”It’s a must-win game for them and they did that up in the series in Zimbabwe as well – they progressively got better,” Mills said. “It’s really important we stay on our game in Whangarei because there’s no doubt they will be a lot stronger and mentally prepared for it.”

Kevin Pietersen has said that England’s hectic schedule leading up to the World Cup is “ridiculous”

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jan-2011England batsman Kevin Pietersen has termed his side’s hectic schedule leading up to the World Cup as ‘ridiculous’. England will leave for the World Cup in the subcontinent just three days after their ongoing tour of Australia, which began in October last year.”Our schedule is ridiculous going into this World Cup,” Pietersen told . “It has been for England teams for a very long time, and that’s probably why England have not done well in World Cups.”Pietersen also criticised the format of the six-week long tournament, saying the gaps between matches were too long. “How can the England team play once and then in six days’ time play again, and then in six days’ time play again,” he asked. “It’s ridiculous but there’s nothing we can do about the schedules. I wouldn’t say we’re going to be knackered because it’s going to be the World Cup, and we all want to win this World Cup.”Despite being unimpressed with the itinerary, Pietersen felt that England had a good chance of following up their maiden ICC title victory in last year’s World Twenty20 with their first World Cup triumph. England have shown vast improvement in the limited-overs format in the last two years, winning nine of their previous ten bilateral ODI series before losing steam early to concede the ongoing seven-match ODI series against Australia.Pietersen credited England’s resurgence to enhanced skills in all departments of their game. “The batsmen have improved, the fielding is top-notch, our catching is incredible, our bowling is so skilful. I just think our skill levels are really, really good.”

Nothing can be enough preparation for an Indian comeback from the dead at Eden Gardens

The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga14-Feb-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
HawkeyeAlviro Petersen’s footwork was decisive and he scored at a good clip•Getty Images

They must have read about it. They must have heard about it. They must have planned for it. Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla have played a Test there before. Nothing, though, can be preparation enough for an Indian comeback from the dead at Eden Gardens.On Sunday, South Africa met the devil himself, and didn’t know what to do. They had reached 218 for 1 in 58 overs, via assured and quick centuries from Amla and debutant Alviro Petersen, when the famous Eden Gardens turnaround began. Eight wickets fell for 43 runs, Harbhajan Singh took three in two overs, VVS Laxman ran from first slip to short fine leg to take a catch, the crowd seemingly intimidated the batsmen, two of the middle-order batsmen just froze, AB de Villiers ran himself out, Zaheer Khan hit with a pick-up-and-throw, and the batsmen forgot about scoring runs.And, by the way, there were only about 35,000 present in the ground because half the stands have been brought down for renovation. And it was virtually a two-man attack, with Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra looking innocuous for most of the day. And Amla and Petersen had all but beaten the hapless looking fielding unit into submission.Parallels with were inescapable. Australia had pummelled India in Mumbai back in 2000-01, much like South Africa did in Nagpur. Australia had reached 193 for 1 in Kolkata when the Harbhajan show began with the wicket of Matthew Hayden.Today, though, it was Zaheer who started the magic. Ishant had just bowled a spell full of bouncers in the afternoon, hitting Amla – not out on 100-plus – on the arm guard once, but had overdone the short stuff. Zaheer, though, got the wickets, dismissing a centurion either side of tea. He did Petersen in with slight seam movement away from off, and then got a top edge from Amla. Two wickets for 11 runs, game on again.Harbhajan, who had got drift and bounce, looked better than he did in Nagpur, and had Amla dropped when on 60, could now sense it. He tossed the ball up nicely, got dip and drift, Kallis and de Villiers tried to hit him off rhythm by lofting him for straight boundaries. Harbhajan kept at it, didn’t fire deliveries into the pads, didn’t overdo doosras. Only six times he pitched on middle and leg to the right-hand batsmen, that too when bowling from round the stumps.The breakthrough finally came when Kallis looked to slog-sweep him, and top-edged a sharp topspinner. It went high towards short fine leg, Laxman – a dropped sitter in his account already – ran back from slip and made this blinder. Harbhajan held arms aloft, gestured towards the crowd, and they responded. They were going to be the 12th man now.In his next over, Harbhajan got Ashwell Prince, back in the middle order but still low on confidence. This was no magic delivery, just a straight topspinner, and Prince played for the big offbreak. Harbhajan knew he had got him when he appealed, ran straight towards the boundary, and sent the crowd into delirium. The crowd fed off Harbhajan, Harbhajan fed off the crowd. JP Duminy should have known better than playing for an offbreak, instead he got Harbhajan’s ball of the day. Drifting, dipping, going straight with the arm, and getting another plumb lbw. Dale Steyn survived the hat-trick, but the day had turned.Harbhajan Singh led India’s riposte after tea•Getty Images

In the next over, de Villiers wanted a single and the strike, Steyn reckoned there was no need to panic, and sent him back. Zaheer ran in from mid-off to cover, picked up and threw in one motion, and found de Villiers short. Ishant and Mishra came back too, getting their first wickets of the series, in their 43rd and 71st overs of the series. Sitting inside the dressing room, Petersen must have wondered just what had happened to what was supposed to be his day.After the early fall of Graeme Smith, both Petersen and Amla batted with clarity of thought that sets apart teams that are ahead in a contest. Amla began as if 253 not out overnight, and took his tally to 367 runs in the series before he got out. Petersen, a late bloomer in first-class cricket, took little time to get into his stride and became only the third South African to score a century on Test debut.Both of them counterattacked – without fuss, without manic hitting, without needing to go in the air – bringing up the 100 in 20 overs, hitting 17 boundaries in that period. Ten of those came from Petersen, who was composed and decisive in his footwork.Petersen’s plan revolved around the front foot: press forward whenever possible, defend if the line is good, and go for runs if it is either too wide or too straight. No runs down the ground, four flicks for boundaries, and two gorgeous cover-drives worked fine for him in the first half of his effort, after which he became more circumspect and let Amla lead the scoring.The first ball Amla faced, he moved across to Zaheer, and eased an accurate delivery past square leg for two – not much power, just good timing. The two gorgeous cover-drives he played early on in the innings, one each against Zaheer and Ishant, put him into the high strike-rate mode too. Throughout his effort Amla confidently whipped from in front of stumps, and cut with ease.In the middle session, Amla survived a good spell from Harbhajan, and even played his first aerial shot of the series, clearing mid-off, Mishra, by inches. Both the batsmen reached their centuries without further incident, but Kolkata was up to mischief soon after.

Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in their group-stage game and then did Bangladesh a favour by beating Afghanistan, and go into this game with momentum on their side

Mohammad Isam19-Sep-20252:22

Maharoof: Mendis a nightmare for spinners once he gets going

Big picture: A twist to the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka tale

Bangladesh cricket fans had to put on hold their antagonistic feelings towards Sri Lanka for a couple of days – they needed Sri Lanka to beat Afghanistan to stay alive in the Asia Cup, after all. That’s how it panned out, leaving Bangladesh fans thrilled. Social media in Bangladesh has been buzzing with self-deprecating memes, all with photos of the Sri Lankan flag or Bangladeshis wearing the Sri Lanka jersey.The rivalry that has developed over the last seven years has often been full of cringe-worthy elements, but it’s also true that the players have been able to move up an extra gear whenever they’ve been in contest with each other. So there is a lot of interest in Saturday’s match, the first of the Super Four stage.Related

• Pathum Nissanka is raising his bar one notch at a time

• With goals reset, Kusal Mendis finally finds his niche

• Nasum Ahmed's bouncebackability on show again

Charith Asalanka’s side has been the more dominant in the Asia Cup. They won all three of their group games, including against Bangladesh. Curiously, Hong Kong pushed them harder than Bangladesh or Afghanistan could.Importantly for them, Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis commandeered the 170-run chase against Afghanistan relieving the pressure that’s been on Pathum Nissanka. The opener has been in good form and has been crying out for support. Sri Lanka were finally able to give that to him and will take confidence from that going into the pointy end of this tournament.2:18

Maharoof: Nissanka among the best all-format openers

Bangladesh have an opportunity for course correction. Some of it is already underway, with Parvez Hossain Emon losing his place in the team. Saif Hassan, who took his spot, has looked competent but Sri Lanka will be a major test for the comeback man. Bangladesh suffered back-to-back wicket maidens to start the game when the teams last met. The balance of their bowling is another puzzle they must solve. Their fifth-bowler combination (Saif and Shamim Hossain) didn’t work in the previous game.This promises to be a closer contest than the earlier game. The stakes are higher, with the first set of points crucial. Asalanka and Litton Das will also be leading two sets of players eager to one-up each other after a brief bit of peace.

Form guide

Bangladesh WLWWW
Sri Lanka WWWWLMustafizur Rahman has been effective, but not always frugal•Associated Press

In the spotlight: Mustafizur Rahman and Kusal Mendis

Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets to help Bangladesh against Afghanistan, but the left-arm quick has been quite expensive in the Asia Cup. Especially in the group match against Sri Lanka, Mustafizur bowled his most expensive spell of the year (3-0-35-1). Bangladesh will hope the left-arm quick returns to his stingy best. Mustafizur will have the added motivation of completing 150 wickets in T20Is – he is four short of the milestone – and also overtaking Shakib Al Hasan, who has 149.Kusal Mendis carried Sri Lanka to their six-wicket win against Afghanistan with a sparkling, unbeaten 74. Mendis is also very good against Bangladesh. He is already Sri Lanka’s second-highest run-getter with four centuries across formats against them. He is undoubtedly the key wicket in the Super Four opener.2:27

Abhinav lauds Bangladesh’s spin-choke tactic

Team news: Wellalage available to play

Bangladesh could bring in either of the allrounders Mahedi Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin to fill their fifth-bowler gap.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Litton Das (capt, wk), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Shamim Hossain, 6 Nurul Hasan, 7 Jaker Ali, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Nasum Ahmed, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur RahmanDunith Wellalage, who flew back home following the death of his father, is set to rejoin the Sri Lankan team on the morning of the match and is available for selection.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Dunith Wellalage, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Nuwan Thushara

Pitch and conditions: Struggle for runs in Dubai

Batters have only gone at a strike rate of 109.26 in Dubai at this Asia Cup. Abu Dhabi, for comparison, has been slightly better – 119.50. The slow nature of Dubai’s pitches have certainly helped the spinners. The weather forecast is for a typical hot evening.

Stats and trivia: Litton on top

• With 513 runs, Litton is currently this year’s top run-getter in T20Is among Full Member sides.
• Thushara’s 4 for 18 against Afghanistan is Sri Lanka’s best figures in the Asia Cup’s T20I version.
• Jaker has shown in the last 12 months that he has a few tricks up his sleeve but in this series, his 53 runs have required 48 balls and include only three fours.

Kent overcome second-innings wobble as seasoned pair bat out to secure draw

ECB Reporters Network08-Apr-2024Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond both hit centuries as Kent survived a mid-morning scare to earn a draw with Somerset in the Vitality County Championship at Canterbury.Kent were in trouble on 10 for 2 and again at 70 for 3, until a partnership of 222 for the fourth wicket took the sting out of the contest and they closed on 290 for 4 declared. Denly beat his partner to three figures, posting 110 from 142 balls including 11 fours and a six, while Bell-Drummond made 107 not out from 169, with 14 fours.Earlier Kasey Aldridge hit 57 before Somerset were bowled out for 403, a lead of 119. Nathan Gilchrist had Kent’s best bowling figures with 3 for 64.The draw was the clear favourite at the start of day four and one “win predictor” app claimed Kent’s chances of winning were precisely zero. Certainly if any side had a realistic chance it was the visitors.Somerset resumed on 374 for 7 and immediately went on the attack. Aldridge, who was on 50 overnight, drove the first ball of the day for four before he was brilliantly caught at midwicket by Jack Leaning off Gilchrist. Bell-Drummond then ran out Ned Leonard for 1, throwing down the stumps from short mid-on.Jake Ball hit his first ball as a Somerset player for a six into the lower Frank Woolley Stand and a fourth batting point was secured when Josh Davey flicked Wes Agar to third man for a single, but the innings was wrapped up when Ball played on to Gilchrist.Somerset clearly felt they had a chance as their batters sprinted for the dressing room and the more nervous home supporters were soon worried. Kent had a minimum 87 overs to navigate and lost both openers in the first five. Ben Compton went in the fourth, strangled by Ball to a delivery he clearly didn’t think he’d hit and Tawanda Muyeye then swatted Davey to Tom Banton at point.Bell-Drummond and Jack Leaning calmed the situation by batting though till lunch, at which point it was 68 for 2.Somerset’s hopes soared again when Leaning perished in the second over of the afternoon, bowled by Lewis Goldsworthy for 32, but Denly joined Bell-Drummond and quickly wiped out the deficit.Denly, who had also scored a century in his last red-ball innings for Kent in the final game of the 2023 season, clearly felt attack was the best form of defence. He raced to 50 from 53 balls, bringing up his half-century when he glanced Lewis Gregory for four.Bell-Drummond passed the same landmark when he took a single from the same bowler and by tea it was 228 for 2. The tension had subsided and as one observer put it: “I’ve never been so delighted to be bored.”Denly’s century arrived with arguably his worst shot of the day, an edge for two off Goldsworthy that flew over the slips and Bell-Drummond’s followed soon afterwards, when he hit Goldsworthy back over his head for four.Denly was out in the final over when he edged Goldsworthy to Matt Renshaw in the slips, but with any hopes of a win for either side long gone, Kent declared at 4.50pm and the teams shook hands on a draw. Somerset take 15 points and Kent 12.

England don’t name replacement, but Will Jacks could arrive in Bangladesh for the ODIs if not selected for second Test in NZ

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2023Tom Abell has been ruled out of England’s upcoming tour to Bangladesh with a side strain, denying him the chance to win his first international cap.Abell, the Somerset captain who bats in the middle order, strained his left side while bowling the first ball of his third over in England Lions’ victory over Sri Lanka A in Colombo on Wednesday.He did not complete his over, and was unused as a batter in the run chase as Lions secured a four-wicket win. A scan on Thursday confirmed the injury, with Abell to return home shortly to begin his recovery.Andy Hurry, Abell’s director of cricket at Somerset, said: “Obviously, we are all extremely disappointed for Tom. He has shown over a number of seasons the quality of player he is, and picking up an injury at this time is incredibly frustrating for him. We will focus now on ensuring he receives all the appropriate support he needs during a period of rehabilitation through to him returning to play.”Related

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• Buttler 'frustrated' as England grapple with scheduling dilemmas

• Mahmood marks injury comeback with three wickets in Lions win

• Tamim Iqbal returns to ODI side for England series

England initially named 15-man squads for both the T20I and ODI legs of the tour, which runs from March 1-14, but said on Thursday that they would not name a replacement for Abell.However, ESPNcricinfo understands that Will Jacks – who is only in the T20I squad – could travel to Bangladesh early and arrive in time for the ODI series if he is not selected for the second Test in New Zealand.Several potential replacements such as Sam Billings, Alex Hales and Liam Dawson had previously ruled themselves out of the tour, instead opting to fulfil their respective contracts in the ongoing Pakistan Super League.Abell’s name did not feature among Birmingham Phoenix’s retained players when the ECB confirmed player movements in the Hundred on Thursday, but ESPNcricinfo understands Welsh Fire are instead considering signing him as captain in next month’s draft.England arrive in Dhaka next Friday ahead of the first ODI on March 1. The three ODIs are part of the ICC’s Super League, though both teams have already secured qualification for the 2023 World Cup.ODI squad: Jos Buttler (capt & wk), Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, James Vince, Chris Woakes and Mark WoodT20I squad: Ben Duckett, Will Jacks and Chris Jordan replace Saqib Mahmood, Jason Roy and James Vince.

SLC confident they can keep the bubble secure with the tournament being staged in different venues unlike last edition

Madushka Balasuriya02-Dec-2021The SLC has confirmed that spectators will be allowed up to 50% of stadium capacity for the second edition of the Lanka Premier League, starting on Sunday.Fans entering the stadium will need to be double vaccinated, with a period of at least two weeks having elapsed since receiving their second dose, Arjuna De Silva, the head of SLC’s medical committee, revealed on Thursday. The board said that the tickets will be available for online purchase in the coming days.Related

• Mathews could miss entire LPL due to thigh strain

• Lanka Premier League to start on December 5

• LPL terminates 2020 champion franchise Jaffna Stallions

• So what's going on with Sri Lankan cricket?

“We have had discussions right along with the Ministry of Health, and they have agreed to give us 50% spectators,” Arjuna said at a media briefing ahead of the tournament. “There is a new variant [Omicron], but that is immaterial, as we always follow the health guidelines. We are asking for spectators who have been double vaccinated for at least two weeks.”The ongoing Test series between Sri Lanka and the West Indies is the first instance of fans being allowed in a stadium in Sri Lanka since the pandemic last year.Sri Lanka’s bio-bubble protocols were successful during the last year’s LPL, with no Covid-19 cases detected during the tournament – two cases were reported before its start. All the matches took place at a single venue last year. This time around, though, most of the games – including the playoffs – will take place at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, with the action switching to Hambantota for the start of the Eliminator and the final.”There could be a problem when moving from venue to venue,” Arjuna said. “That was the problem faced during the IPL, though that was also because many teams had to fly to different venues. But we’re confident we can keep the bubble secure.”As per the Covid protocols, players will be tested every five days during the competition. Before entering the bubble, a player who is already in the country must do a PCR test 48 hours prior, and quarantine himself for 24 hours. Double vaccinated (by an SL/WHO-recognised vaccine) foreign players and local players flying in from abroad will be required to show a negative PCR test 48 hours before arrival, as well as an on-arrival PCR. They will also need to quarantine for three days after that.Most of the protocols will remain the same for the non-vaccinated players too, except the quarantine period, which will be extended to six days. They will also need to undergo both a PCR and antigen test before entering the bubble.”This is just to further ensure the safety of the players and the security of the bubble,” Arjuna said.SLC will also be obtaining the services of the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, along with the Sri Lankan sports ministry’s anti-corruption officers, to oversee the tournament.”There are three anti-corruption officers, nominated by the ICC. There were anti-corruption officers last year as well,” SLC CEO Ashley De Silva said.When asked if there had been any anti-corruption breaches reported during the inaugural edition, Ashley said: “We have not been notified of any approaches last year. But we do have their [ICC] anti-corruption unit and the anti-corruption unit from the ministry [of sport] officiating in this year’s tournament.”Although the inaugural edition of LPL had largely been deemed a success, the lead-up to the second season has faced significant hurdles. The tournament was postponed twice to avoid clashes with other T20 leagues around the world. And of the five franchises that competed in the first edition, three have been terminated by organisers, including the Jaffna Stallions franchise, who had won the first season. Colombo and Dambulla franchises are the other two to have been terminated.Upon the defending champions’ exit, the Stallions owners alleged mismanagement and a lack of transparency within the league. Earlier this week, the former owner of the Dambulla Giants made similar allegations.

Discussions on reciprocal tour in 2021 not on the table at the moment, says Wasim Khan

Umar Farooq11-May-2020A watchful PCB is ready to do what it can – health and safety permitting – to ensure that its summer tour to England goes ahead. A panel of the board’s executives and directors as well as head coach Misbah-ul-Haq will meet its ECB counterparts on May 15 over a video link to take the discussion forward.The PCB is likely to seek a number of assurances from England around the situation in that country with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic. The UK has been one of the hardest-hit countries in the world in terms of infections and deaths, and has been in lockdown since the end of March. But, on Sunday evening, prime minister Boris Johnson announced a series of slow, gradual stages through which the lockdown will be eased.There have been suggestions that Pakistan touring this summer could have a favourable impact on England’s next scheduled tour to Pakistan, in 2021 – the PCB is keen to push harder on touring teams visiting the country now for home series rather than travelling the UAE. But Wasim Khan, the PCB chief executive, said the summer tour wouldn’t be seen through that lens.”It’s a tough situation for everyone right now, and I don’t think it’s fair to take advantage of the situation,” Khan told reporters in Lahore. “The most important thing for us is to revive the game for all countries. If we don’t, we will be facing a lot of problems going forward.”The next 12 months will be tough for cricket financially… thankfully, the PCB is fine for the next 12 months but thereafter, in 18 months’ time, we will also have problems. Hopefully, by then, cricket will resume and I don’t think we are going to take our discussion with the ECB (with the reciprocal tour in mind), but we will definitely talk about it when we tour them. Look, the MCC toured Pakistan, an Australia delegation came as well, so there is no reason why England and Australia shouldn’t be here in 2021 and 2022.”As such, from the point of view of the PCB, the May 15 meeting will largely be about understanding the ECB’s plans about the resumption of cricket, and it is also expecting an update following ECB’s meeting with UK government departments vis-à-vis medical safety arrangements, logistics and the SOPs within the ground.Pakistan were not the only scheduled visitors this summer to England – West Indies were supposed to play a three-Test series in June-July. Reports have suggested that planning is underway within the ECB to set up a bio-secure environment in which six Tests can be played in July and August.Pakistan plans of a European summer has already been affected, with the series of three ODIs in the Netherlands postponed indefinitely with the Dutch government banning all sporting and cultural events till September 1. The tour of Ireland is also unlikely to go ahead, with Pakistan’s first Test against England slotted for a July 30 start at Lord’s, followed by fixtures at Old Trafford and Trent Bridge. If the tour does take place, it will run till September 2, with the last of a three-match T20I series.”Health and safety is paramount for our players and officials and we are not going to compromise on it,” Khan stressed. “The situation in England is poor right now, and we will ask them about their plans. We are not making any decisions, but we will assess and decide in next three to four weeks.”This isn’t an easy situation, and it isn’t an easy decision to make, because things are changing every day in England. There are so many things to be considered – flights, hotels and they are talking about bio-security stadiums… so if people ask me, I will tell them to wait and be patient.”The longer they stay there, the more our players will be exposed. So there is speculation that the tour might be extended, but I can confirm that this is presently not on the table. The West Indies tour to England is also uncertain, and we don’t know what to expect. So we are looking forward to the May 15 meeting and will see what are the options.”

India’s stand-in T20I captain also said running between the wickets was a ‘major difference’ between her team and others

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Mar-20193:02

Our domestic players need to be more fearless – Mandhana

India women’s stand-in captain for the T20I series, Smriti Mandhana, has urged domestic players, particularly the batsmen, to step up and play more “fearlessly” to bridge the gap between domestic and international levels.Mandhana’s comments came after India scored a modest 111 for 8 against England in the second T20I, which they lost by five wickets to go 2-0 down in the three-match series. In the first T20I, India had been restricted to 119 for 6 in reply to England’s 160 for 4.”I think if you look at it, the batters we get in domestic [circuit], they face very different bowling and fielding attack to international cricket,” Mandhana said. “There is a huge gap between international and domestic cricket. That gap needs to be lessened. Our domestic circuit needs to step up. There should be a bit of fearlessness in domestic circuit because if you start playing fearless cricket in domestic, that is the only way you are going to play the same way in international cricket.”If you look at our domestic scores in T20s, it is generally around 110-120. I think we all need to go back, step up our domestic circuit, take those scores to 140-150. If that is happening then all the batters will come with the same mindset of playing a fearless brand of cricket. Fearless doesn’t mean careless. There is a thin line between fearless and careless. I think we need to play fearless.”Smriti Mandhana smashes one in the nets•PTI

India’s woeful form in the shortest format continued after they were whitewashed 3-0 in New Zealand recently. In that series too, weaknesses in India’s batting were exposed, such as over-reliance on Mandhana, who scored two half-centuries, Jemimah Rodrigues and an out-of-form Harmanpreet Kaur. Only two India batsmen – Mandhana and Rodrigues – scored over 50 runs in the entire T20I series.When asked how the domestic players could express themselves more, Mandhana said, “We have spoken to all the batters, [Coach WV] Raman sir has spoken to them. Even me, Mithu (Mithali Raj) and Harry (Harmanpreet) have spoken to all the domestic batters regarding how the approach should be. We are definitely working on it. It is going to take some time because still our batters have the fear of getting out.”I think we need to leave that fear, including me. We need to just get off those fear and select the areas [to hit]. Our batters are not going out there and selecting the areas in terms of which balls to hit. I think another major difference between other teams and our team is running between the wickets. We either play a dot ball or boundary. We don’t take lot a of singles. Definitely we will be looking to work on reducing the dot-ball percentage, taking more singles and rotating the strike.”The third and final T20I of the series will be played on Saturday in Guwahati.

While the Heat captain disagreed with the third umpire’s decision of giving Alex Ross out for obstructing the field, he aimed his ire not at the them but at Hobart Hurricanes

Alex Malcolm10-Jan-2018Brisbane Heat captain Brendon McCullum has said Hobart Hurricanes captain George Bailey “missed an opportunity” to uphold the spirit of the game following a bizarre obstructing-the-field incident during a BBL clash at the Gabba.Batsman Alex Ross was given out obstructing the field at a critical point in the Heat’s chase of 180. Needing 49 runs from 19 balls, Ross pulled the ball to deep midwicket and looked to return for a second run. Jofra Archer fired a throw wide of the stumps at the striker’s end and hit Ross as he was sliding to make his ground. The ball eventually ricocheted onto the stumps off Ross.The Hurricanes initially appealed thinking he might have been run-out. Replays then showed he had made his ground but they also indicated he had veered off his line. Ross appeared to veer away from the ball to avoid being hit rather than get intentionally into the line of the ball to block the throw but the third umpire gave him out obstructing the field.
Law 37.1 says a batsman is out obstructing the field “if he wilfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action.”McCullum held long and animated discussions with both the umpires and Bailey after the end of the match. While he disagreed with the third umpire’s decision, he aimed his ire not at the them but at Bailey and the Hurricanes for not calling Ross back.”Firstly, I don’t believe it was the right decision,” McCullum said post-match.”We’re not righteous about our stance on spirit of the game. But I think every now and then you get an opportunity to stand up for the spirit of the game. Tonight, I think the Hurricanes and George (Bailey) missed an opportunity.”Bailey felt he had done nothing wrong and told broadcasters, , post-match that he had simply asked the question of the umpires and left the decision up to them.McCullum said he and Bailey did not budge from their opposing views during their tense conversation.”We were debating the philosophical merits of one another’s points,” McCullum said.”Whatever the rules are, to be honest I don’t really care what the rules are. To me that’s one of those grey areas about the definition of that rule, just like a Mankad is a grey area as well in terms of the rules that we have.”But to me it also falls into the spirit of the game and that was what I was making the point to George and he’s quite entitled to do differently.”As we say we’re not righteous about our stance. But I’m also going to be truthful about it and say that I think he missed an opportunity tonight. And perhaps in time, sometimes these opportunities are more important than the two points at play. I think he missed one of those tonight.”I think (Ross) was trying to veer away from the ball. If you do check the laws it’s about wilfully obstructing the field. Again, none of that matters because to me it is a grey rule. When it’s grey, then it comes into the definition of the spirit of the game.”They are quite entitled to do what they want. But I just get the feeling, speaking from experience that this is an opportunity that he, in time, will perhaps live to wish he had made the other choice.”I did the Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey lecture a couple of years ago and I openly admitted my own mistakes about not adhering to what was a great opportunity to, I guess, hold the spirit of cricket up where it needs to sit.”Look, that’s the way we want to play the game. Other teams don’t have to play like that. I think we’ll certainly endear ourselves to a select group of fans for the way we play and you can judge the others how you want.”McCullum did state that he felt the Hurricanes deserved to win the game because they had played the better cricket.The two teams are set to meet again in at Blundstone Arena in Hobart on Monday.