In pleasant conditions at Boland Park, the South African Invitation XI provided a tame attack as the New Zealanders scored 311 for 6 on the first day of the tour match

The Report by Firdose Moonda in Paarl28-Dec-2012
Scorecard File photo: Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson put on a 108-run stand for the third wicket•AFP

The New Zealanders could not have asked for a more hospitable welcome as the one they got in the Winelands to begin their Test preparation. Temperatures hovered around the upper 20 degrees at Boland Park and the South African Invitation XI provided a tame attack to help the tourists get their eyes in ahead of the two-Test series starting next week.Their top four batsman all had time at the crease, with the pair of whom most is expected of – Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum – cashing in. They put on 108 for the third wicket with both making half-centuries.Peter Fulton, who was testing out his knee injury as much as his batting, and Martin Guptill started well against the unusual action of Gino Vries. The 25-year-old from the Free State has a double hop and jump at the start of his run-up but that did not distract the opening pair, who also enjoyed the pace of under-19 bowler Travis Muller. Guptill’s drives to long-on and Fulton’s controlled pull shots were the highlights of their pairing.They looked to be having a productive morning, having reached drinks on 78 without loss. But Fulton appeared to lose concentration when he lobbed the ball to the cover fielder to depart for 39. Guptill was joined by Kane Williamson, fresh from the century he scored against South Africa in Wellington. His got off the mark with an authoritative pull.Instead of building a stand, Guptill looked in a hurry to bring up his half-century and carelessly played the ball to short midwicket off local lad Petrus Jeftha. Colin Ackermann split the chance. In Jeftha’s next over, Guptill tried the same thing and Ackermann held on.Williamson and McCullum played like men taking part in a practice match. They gave themselves time to get used to conditions before showing off some of their trademark shots. Williamson’s high-elbowed drive was the treat of the middle session while McCullum scored the only six of the innings, a slog sweep off Siya Simetu.The invitation side’s bowlers lacked impetus as the tea break approached and runs were freely available. But after the interval, offspinner Colin Ackermann claimed New Zealand’s marquee pair to ignite the contest. Williamson offered a catch off the bottom of his glove, which Bradley Barnes accepted.Flynn’s 34 balls were the least faced by any of the visiting batsmen. He was fairly aggressive in approach and caught at midwicket. In Ackermann’s next over, McCullum was given lbw, hit in front of middle and leg.BJ Watling and James Franklin batted untroubled as the shadows grew longer. Both seemed certain to bring up half-centuries but it is a milestone only Watling could celebrate up on the second day. Franklin was bowled by a full delivery from occasional bowler Matthew Kleinveldt (cousin of Rory, and primarily a batsman). It is also possible that the New Zealanders will declare overnight as Franklin and Watling were their last recognised batting pair — they would want to give their bowlers a first run on a South African strip rather than have the tail spend too much time in the middle.

New Zealand have named an unchanged squad from the first Test against England in Dunedin, for the next Test in Wellington, which begins on March 14

Andrew McGlashan in Wellington10-Mar-2013Doug Bracewell has been ruled out of the second Test against England after failing to recover from the foot injury that kept him out of the Dunedin match. Ian Butler, the Otago seamer, has been retained in an unchanged 13-man squad for the Wellington Test which starts on Thursday.Mike Hesson, the coach, said a decision on Bracewell’s fitness will be taken closer to the third Test in Auckland, which begins March 22. He cut his foot while cleaning up after a party the day before joining up with the New Zealand squad last week.”Unfortunately he just hasn’t recovered as we would have hoped,” Hesson said. “There’s nothing sinister going on with his foot it’s just taking longer than we would have hoped.”He’s not running. We hoped he would bowl yesterday to come into consideration but he couldn’t get to that point. So he’s at home, trying to get back as quick as he can. Hopefully two or three days there and he might get a game for Central Districts and then maybe the third Test.”The key issue for Hesson over the next two days, in the build-up to the Wellington match, is ensuring his three incumbent pace bowlers – Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner – recover from their second-innings exertions at University Oval. New Zealand were in the field for 170 overs and the three quicks sent down 114 of those.”The next two days will be very much about a rest and recovery period,” he said. “They bowled their heart out for a couple of days so we certainly won’t be asking too much of them between Tests. We saw with playing four bowlers they have to sustain pace over a long period, so we are after guys who have the ability to keep running in.”After the match Brendon McCullum suggested that an unchanged team is likely for Wellington. “Once the dust settles on this Test match we will turn our attentions to the balance of the next one, but I wouldn’t expect too much difference for the next one,” he said.Hesson added that the same balance of bowling attack – three quicks and one spinner – is likely to be retained and he expects more life in the surface for the second Test.Squad: Brendon McCullum, Trent Boult, Dean Brownlie, Ian Butler, Peter Fulton, Tom Latham, Bruce Martin, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Walting, Kane Williamson.

Kim Barnett, the former county stalwart and briefly England batsman, has been found guilty of harassing his ex-wife and fined £380.

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Mar-2013Kim Barnett, the former county stalwart and briefly England batsman, has been found guilty of harassing his ex-wife and fined £380.Barnett, 52, played four Tests for England in 1988 and 1989 and was also man of the match in his only ODI. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was also ordered to pay £250 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge.In September last year, he left a picture of his ex-wife Janet in his car in Leek, where she also lives, alongside a picture of a witch under the slogan “which is witch?” He also admitted driving his car past his ex-wife’s home despite having been issued with a harassment warning in April.Barnett enjoyed a 25-year career in which he scored 28,593 first-class runs at 40.38 for Derbyshire and Gloucestershire. But after his retirement in 2003, his marriage broke down and he and his wife separated a year later.Newcastle-under-Lyme magistrates heard that Barnett was suffering from mental health issues following his divorce in 2010.Defence solicitor David Green told the court that Barnett was an “impeccable” character who found the divorce extremely difficult to deal with. “These incidents occurred in the aftermath of the break-up and everything else that happened as a result of that,” Green said.”We have two incidents on two separate days which are in my submission quite bizarre, but also in some ways quite childish.” Green stressed that Barnett’s actions were “ill-thought out” and did not involve any direct contact with his ex-wife.Barnett captained Derbyshire to the 1993 Benson and Hedges Cup and was a part of the Gloucestershire side that dominated one-day cricket at the turn of the century. In 1989 he was named as one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year.

A century partnership between Tanmay Mishra and Rakep Patel saw Kenya fightback against Canada on the second day in Dubai.

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2013
ScorecardA century partnership between Tanmay Mishra and Rakep Patel saw Kenya fightback against Canada on the second day in Dubai. At 95 for 3 Kenya were facing a sizable deficit but Mishra and Patel got together to put their side in a strong position.Both players made half-centuries with Patel’s the livelier, coming in just 54 balls with seven fours and a six. Mishra was more sedate and had faced 119 balls by the close for his 57 not out. Together, the pair had got Kenya back into the game.They had made a poor start in reply to Canada’s solid total, losing openers Irfan Karim and Duncan Allan after both had made starts. Captain Collins Obuya also settled with six fours but he fell top-edging Nikhil Dutta’s off spin to leave his side struggling.At that stage Canada were right on top having added 112 to their overnight total with useful contributions from the tail, the pick of which, 32 from No. 11 Henry Osinde, included three fours and two sixes. The tenth wicket added 57 as Canada took control of the game before the response from Mishra and Patel.

Marcus Trescothick has never known a season like this one. Not, personally, with the bat and neither, collectively, as a team

Ivo Tennant at Taunton30-May-2013
ScorecardMarcus Trescothick looked as though he was regaining his form•Getty Images

Marcus Trescothick has never known a season like this one. Not, personally, with the bat and neither, collectively, as a team. He was averaging 27.72 before taking guard against Yorkshire, with the little matter of 301 runs required to save the follow-on and, maybe, Somerset’s season. This is a plight that the captain has not experienced at the County Ground before now.Trescothick responded manfully, all his know-how and expertise to the fore – and a degree of his familiar sublime timing. It is not hard to ascertain when he is feeling his way back into form. The body weight is swiftly transferred onto the front foot, the ball is struck with the minimum of follow through and is sent scudding to the boundary. It is what the West Indians would call ‘a not a man move’ shot. The inner ring give up any pretence at a chase.He had made 74, with 12 fours, his highest score of the season, when he played outside the line of a straight ball from Richard Pyrah and was palpably leg before. That one misjudgement indicated he is not yet back to his best: a few more such innings are necessary before we can state that. Or, much more to the point, he will start to feel this himself.Still, May is not yet out. Two drives in one over from Steven Patterson, one uppish and the other along the ground, both straight, were indicative that, although he will be 38 later this year, the runs will keep flowing for quite a while yet. Of rather more concern to him will be the two slip catches he missed, both off Steve Kirby, when Andrew Hodd was in at the start of the day.Otherwise, Somerset’s batting lacked consistency, which has been the case all summer. Arul Suppiah, whose average for the season remains in single figures, was leg before to Patterson, similarly playing down the wrong line. Lewis Gregory, surprisingly given the chance to come in first wicket down, went the same way, although in his case padding up.Dean Elgar tucked the ball off his legs in a manner which suggested his five-week stay might well prove fruitful, but he, too, got himself out. A short ball from Ryan Sidebottom was slapped straight to the fielder at point. There were others, too, who needed to play a long innings. James Hildreth, for one. There were signs here, as well, of a return to some sort of form as he reached a half century off 78 balls.These batsmen are too good to be out of touch for long. The same cannot necessarily be said of Alex Barrow and Peter Trego, who went to Adam Lyth’s little used offspin – the light was poor at this stage – in two balls.At the other end of the run-making spectrum is Adil Rashid, who is averaging more than 200 this season. In six innings he has compiled three centuries and a half-century. Having made a considerable start overnight, he progressed immediately to 50 off 59 balls and, wristily finding the gaps against an attack which appeared jaded on a pitch offering little by way of succour, reached 100 from 119 balls with 14 fours.Yorkshire could well have batted on, but chose to declare now. Hodd, having survived those two dropped slip catches when on 41 and 50, achieved his highest score for Yorkshire, his 68 coming off 99 balls with eight fours. Against an opposition of scant achievement this season, they would consider that a total of 450 would be sufficient; Yorkshire’s prime obstacle, though, is the weather.

A round-up of the fourth day’s action from the Ramadan T20 Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2013
ScorecardFahad Masood’s fifty and three wickets went in vain•PCB

Shoaib Malik and Sheharyar Ghani scored fifties to chase Habib Bank Limited’s competitive target of 181 which meant Fahad Masood’s all-round performance went in vain.After Pakistan International Airlines chose to field, Habib Bank lost Imran Farhat after he struck three fours which was followed by a 101-run stand between Asad Baig and Masood. The pair batted for 12.2 overs, scoring at more than eight an over. Masood was dismissed for 64 which included eight fours and two sixes. Baig was joined by Hasan Raza and the two scored 60 off the last 32 balls to take them to 180. They were also aided by 20 extras.PIA were in trouble early, as three of their top four batsmen scored five runs in all. They were 7 for 2 after the first five balls and 29 for 3 in the fifth over. However, Malik and Ghani revived them by scoring 118 runs in only 12.3 overs. They needed 56 from the last five overs and when Malik was run-out for 78, they still needed 34 off 16. Anwar Ali was also run-out in the next over but Ghani scored 19 in the penultimate over and his unbeaten 71 ensured they won with two balls to spare. Masood took all three wickets that were taken by bowlers.
ScorecardState Bank of Pakistan (SBP) overcame a stop-start batting performance to beat Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) by three runs to record their first win of the Ramadan T20 Cup.Choosing to bat, SBP’s openers began brightly with Rameez Raja collecting a four off the first ball. But just as Raja and his opening partner Farrukh Shehzad were getting into their stride, Mohammad Mudassar accounted for both of them in successive overs to leave SBP at 36 for 2 in the sixth over. SBP flourished again with Adnan Raees and Usman Saeed as they added 52 runs off 38 balls, but both of them were removed in the 17th and 19th overs respectively. SBP lost a further three wickets in the last seven balls to score 139 in 20 overs. Zulfiqar Babar and Mudassar took three wickets apiece for WAPDA.WAPDA began well and had the target in sight even as late as the 12th over when left-arm spinner Mohammad Waheed turned the game around. Needing 70 runs off 51 balls with eight wickets in hand, the well-set Sohaib Maqsood was run out and Waheed capitalised by removing Mohammad Ayub and Saad Nasim to leave WAPDA at a precarious 92 for 5 in the 16th over. Ayaz Tasawwar came up with a threatening cameo but fell in the eighteenth over. With 12 needed off the last over, Rizwan Haider came up with two crucial dot balls to give away only eight and seal the win.

Sri Lanka’s misfiring middle order has been the cause of most concern in the 2-1 Twenty20 series loss to South Africa, but Tuesday’s Man of the match Tillakaratne Dilshan has said the youngsters’ failures do not necessarily bode ill for the team’s future

Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Aug-2013Sri Lanka’s misfiring middle order has been the cause of most concern in the 2-1 Twenty20 series loss to South Africa, but Tuesday’s Man of the match Tillakaratne Dilshan has said the youngsters’ failures do not necessarily bode ill for the team’s future.Dilshan’s 74 not out from 51, was Sri Lanka’s primary propellant in a chase of 164, in which three young players – Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews – failed to make significant contributions again. Kumar Sangakkara had held the chases together in the first two games, but found inadequate support from a frail string of batsmen in the middle order.Sri Lanka had rested one senior batsman for each of the matches in the series, in an attempt to allow the young players to bat in more familiar positions, but of the four batsmen in their mid-twenties, only Thisara Perera played an innings of note. Thisara, incidentally, had only been granted an extended run in the team during the latter half of Dilshan’s year as captain.”They might not have been successful here, but they have got some important experience from these matches and that will be valuable for their future,” Dilshan said of the youngsters. “When I was captain, I brought in young players as well. They didn’t start firing straight away, but they are winning matches now.”We knew before the series that each of us senior batsmen would be sitting out a game. That was a decision taken by the management. The three of us can’t play forever. In two or three years we’ll be gone. These things will pay off for Sri Lanka in the future.”Dilshan said he also sympathised with the young players, who have proven themselves in domestic cricket, but have not yet fully found their feet in internationals. Dilshan himself had had an average international record for the first half of his career, and it was not until he moved permanently to the position of opener in 2009 that his talent began to be fully realised.”In our country we don’t often see players who come in and immediately start playing well at the international level. You really only see that in places like South Africa, Australia and England. If we had better domestic tournaments, the new players would not feel much of a difference when they get to the international team, but in the current situation there is a big step up. We need to fix that. In other countries that have high-quality replacements, the players below them push the top team really hard as well. But that said, it’s time that our youngsters started making use of the opportunities that they have been given.”Sri Lanka have struggled to find an adequate long-term opening partner for Dilshan in the past four years, but when he is paired with Mahela Jayawardene, they have formed a dynamic combination. They adopted a hyper-aggressive approach again on Tuesday evening, and their opening stand of 67 from 5.5 overs set Sri Lanka on course for the victory.”The start was important, especially when you’re chasing 164, it’s not easy,” Dilshan said. “It’s not that South Africa bowled badly. Myself and Mahela know that when we get going, we can put pressure on any attack. We put pressure on their main bowlers and their plans. We know that if someone has to bowl three overs in the first six, they can’t bowl in the death. In four overs we took 47 runs, and it worked out for us.”It’s a lot easier for us and a lot harder for them when there is that kind of pressure from both ends. Mahela was hitting the loose balls away really well. We talked to each other before we went out. We knew we would have to take some risks in the Powerplay when chasing a score like this.”Dilshan reined in the big shots during the middle overs, as South Africa made regular breakthroughs. Having needed less than seven an over to win with nine wickets in hand, after the Powerplay, Sri Lanka’s slight stagnation put South Africa in the hunt again, but Dilshan said he was never concerned about the game slipping away.”I wasn’t worried during the middle overs, simply because of the quality of the start that we had. They only have one spinner, and I knew the quicks had to come in after that. I knew I could hit the fast bowlers on this pitch – especially with the wind. I didn’t go for unnecessary shots in the middle overs. I just took the singles and brought the target a little closer to take the pressure off our younger guys. It was a good team chase in the end.”

Virat Kohli, India’s captain during the ODI series in Zimbabwe, has said he is “not surprised” by Ravindra Jadeja’s rise in the ICC ODI bowlers’ rankings after the left-arm spinner jumped up four places to be joint No. 1 with West Indies offspinner Sunil

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Aug-2013Virat Kohli, India’s captain during the ODI series in Zimbabwe, has said he is “not surprised” by Ravindra Jadeja’s rise in the ICC ODI bowlers’ rankings after the left-arm spinner jumped up four places to be joint No. 1 with West Indies offspinner Sunil Narine.Kohli lauded Jadeja’s performances during the last two years and said he has made a “huge impact” in India’s recent ODI victories.”I am really happy for Jadeja that he is the No.1 bowler in the world and he deserves it,” Kohli told at a promotional event in Delhi. “He is one of those guys who will always make something happen on the field. When he comes on to bowl, he will probably get you the breakthrough or just control the run flow straightaway. He has made a huge impact on our ODI victories.”I am not surprised, to be honest. He has made huge strides in international cricket specially in the ODIs. In the last one or two years he has really been consistent with his bowling. Plus, he chips in with the bat every time the team needs.”Jadeja took only five wickets in five matches against Zimbabwe but is the leading wicket-taker this year in ODIs with 38 wickets from 22 matches, with an average of 18.86 and economy of 3.78.Kohli has led India in eight ODIs but the series against Zimbabwe was his first full series as captain which India won 5-0. Kohli stated he has spoken to MS Dhoni several times about captaincy, among other things, and has picked up several tips from him on the field.”I spoke a lot to Dhoni about how to keep my composure in difficult situations,” he said. “I have seen him and he does not react at all, it is a very hard thing for a captain and I tried to learn as much as I could from him. I spoke to him about field placings, when to control a certain situation in a match, when to go defensive and when on the attack.”I observe him a lot when I am standing with him on the field. I notice what he tries to do with his bowlers and field placements. I have really learnt a lot from him and it has really helped me in leading the side.”

Brian Lara will travel with the Trinidad and Tobago team for the Champions League in India in a non-management role in order to help guide the team

Renaldo Matadeen12-Sep-2013Brian Lara will travel with the Trinidad & Tobago team for the upcoming Champions League T20 in India, although he will not be a formal part of the management group. Lara had performed a similar role as unofficial adviser to the T&T franchise during the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League (CPL).”It’s an honour to be part of the upcoming trip. I’m happy to be associated with Trinidad & Tobago’s participation. We have a team that will make us proud,” Lara said. “I am just going to be there, not a part of management but as a former cricketer. I am willing to lend a hand in any way I can. I hope I will have a chance to interact with the guys while in India and in whatever way I can help.”Having recently been called an instrumental adviser by West Indies limited-overs captain, Dwayne Bravo, Lara was eager to continue in such a capacity. “I have always had an open door policy and I look forward to working with you guys (the cricketers), the management, the captain, Denesh Ramdin, and all the other players.”Bravo was optimistic about Lara’s role within the team: “Brian’s always giving us advice as a team and individually. He also boosts my confidence as a captain and loves helping T&T cricket,” Bravo had said at the recently concluded CPL.Bravo will line up for Chennai Super Kings this edition but Lara was keen to point out that with Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, and other exciting youngsters such as Adrian Barath and Nicholas Pooran coming to the fore, he expected T&T to be competitive.

West Indies A stayed ahead by scoring 429 and removing India A’s top order for a little more than 100 runs on the second day of the first unofficial test in Mysore

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-2013
ScorecardFile photo – Assad Fudadin’s unbeaten knock gave West Indies a strong total•WICB Media/Randy Brooks Photo

West Indies A stayed ahead by scoring 429 and removing India A’s top order for a little more than 100 runs on the second day of the first unofficial Test in Mysore. After Kraigg Brathwaite and Kirk Edwards fell in the 90s on the first day, Assad Fudadin took his team to a strong total with the tail. Lokesh Rahul and Manpreet Juneja tried to stabilise India after two wickets fell before the score crossed 50, but Nikita Miller removed Rahul to give West Indies the advantage again.Resuming at 264 for 5, West Indies lost Chadwick Walton for 35 to Ishwar Pandey but Fudadin and Miller denied India any further success by putting on 88 for the seventh wicket. Miller struck five boundaries during his 49 before being run-out. Once he fell, with the score at 364, the rest of the tail did not add much but Fudadin took them past 400 with a patient and unbeaten 86 during which he faced over 200 deliveries.Offspinner Parvez Rasool took the remaining three wickets for his fourth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and finished with 5 for 116.India put on a stable 45 for the opening stand which was broken by left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul who had Jiwanjot Singh caught behind for 16. India were given a big blow when they lost captain Cheteshwar Pujara to Miguel Cummins after adding only 3 to the scoreboard and India’s score was only 49. Rahul and Juneja steered the Indian innings with a 60-run stand, taking India past 100, but West Indies struck again when Rahul became Miller’s first victim for 46. Juneja was given company by Harshad Khadiwale for about an hour before stumps during which he made a tolerant 5 off 36.