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South Africa A have played their part in softening Australia up ahead of the two-Test series against the senior side next week

Firdose Moonda in Potchefstroom03-Nov-2011South Africa A have played their part in softening Australia up ahead of the two-Test series against the senior side next week. Although Australia won the four-day tour match in Potchefstroom with more than a day to spare, their batsmen did not have maximum time in the middle on a lively pitch, which offered plenty of assistance to the bowlers.”We don’t want a red carpet rolled out with a white wicket and teams come and bat for three days,” Vincent Barnes, South Africa High Performance and A team coach, said. “That’s why we batted first. The wicket looked a bit sporty but we felt we wanted to bat twice and give them [Australia] as little time as possible in the middle so they leave here a bit undercooked.”Australia’s quicks, particularly Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle, enjoyed the seamer-friendly pitch, which saw them bowl South Africa A out for 183 before tea on the first day. In a low-scoring match, Australia were then dismissed for 236 and no team was able to score more than 264 in an innings.Thirteen wickets fell on both the first and second day before the pitch flattened and dried on the third, with Australia getting the easier batting conditions as they neared victory. South Africa A were not too disappointed by their defeat, saying the manner in which it was achieved will probably give the country a headstart in the psychological battle.”We didn’t want them to take as much as they could out of the game,” Barnes said. “One or two of them are still walking around thinking ‘I haven’t really had good preparation in this game,’ especially a guy like Ponting.” Ponting scored 31 runs in the match and did not have enough time to play himself in or enjoy a decent knock.Far from being hospitable hosts, the South Africa A side were openly hostile in the field. The South African fielders were not short of a word throughout Australia’s chase and made it clear that the battle lines had been drawn, even though the series is a shortened, two-match one.”That’s our responsibility; to make sure these guys go into the Test series feeling a bit underdone,” Alviro Petersen, South Africa A captain, said, “We wanted to make sure that they know playing in South Africa is going to be hard work.”Petersen, who was dropped from the Test squad to make room for Jacques Rudolph, grafted out 103 in tough conditions and had some advice to pass on to the national batsmen. “Their bowlers, when they get a bit tired, it’s easier to score off them,” he said. “They also don’t have a world class spinner, although the spinner that they do have, there’s something there.”Barnes was more bullish about South Africa’s ability to handle the Australian attack. “We are in a better position against their bowlers,” he said, adding that the key match-up in the Test series will be between both team’s pace bowlers and that South Africa have the edge. “Our bowlers are better in our conditions and I believe our batters can handle their attack.”Mitchell Johnson, who finished the match with nine-wickets and resumed a profitable relationship with South African pitches, was identified as the biggest threat. “He can change a game in one session, he showed it here this morning” Petersen said. Johnson ripped through South Africa’s tail with three wickets in five overs in the first hour and Petersen felt he was probably the leading bowler for Australia at this stage.While South Africa A saw their main task as sizing up the opposition ahead of an important Test series, Barnes described their role a “two-fold,” with their second component to analyse the resources in the country. “It showed us that the cupboards are not bare,” Barnes said.He was particularly heartened by the bowling options he saw, with 21-year-old Marchant de Lange stealing the headlines with his five-for in Australia’s first innings. “Marchant has come and bowled unbelievably well. He’s got a long way to go and a lot to learn but he showed us that there is something there,” Barnes said. “He just pulled Wayne Parnell with him. That’s the best I’ve seen Wayne bowl in first-class cricket.” Parnell was aggressive and used the bouncer to good effect. He has been seen as an outside contender for the Test squad, having never completed a full season of first-class cricket in South Africa, because of his international commitments.Vernon Philander, who has been included in the Test squad, is, according to Barnes “ready to play.” Philander will compete with Lonwabo Tsotsobe for the third seamers’ spot and Barnes expects it to be tough for the selectors to choose between them, especially since Philander has taken 80 wickets in the previous two seasons of first-class cricket.”Vern is a highly skillful bowler. If there’s anything in the wicket, he is going to exploit it. He also has added advantage of batting,” Barnes said. With the first Test at Newlands, Philander’s hunting ground, Barnes said he won’t be surprised to see Philander get his first cap. “You might want to use somebody who has played there for most of his career.”Barnes also had a compliment for Petersen, who has handled his rejection with classy composure. “That’s one of the better 100s I’ve seen in a while under the conditions and the bowling,” he said. Petersen, on the other hand, chose not to dwell on being dropped. “I think Jacques Rudolph played really well in the last year or two and I think he deserves his call up,” he said. “I was just the unfortunate one to be left out.”

A brutal Sri Lankan performance delivered Australia their first Twenty20 defeat at home

Peter English31-Oct-2010Sri Lanka 3 for 135 (Sangakkara 44*, Dilshan 41) beat Australia 8 for 133 (Haddin 35, Randiv 3-25) by 7 wickets

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 41 off 34 balls helped swing Sri Lanka to victory•AFP

A brutal Sri Lankan performance delivered Australia their first Twenty20 defeat at home as Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara thrust the tourists to a commanding seven-wicket victory. The hosts were first overwhelmed by a stunning bowling display, dropping to 5 for 43 in the 11th over and finishing at 8 for 133, before becoming the victims of an explosive batting effort.The opener Dilshan guided the small chase with 41 off 34 balls while the captain Kumar Sangakkara registered a delightful 44 off 43 and the game was over 21 balls early. With the English squad staying a short walk away as they prepare for the Ashes – Kevin Pietersen was in the stands – Australia suffered their fourth Twenty20 loss in a row and their first in 11 games at home. The defeat felt as severe as the result inflicted by England in Southampton at the start of Australia’s failed 2005 Ashes tour.Mahela Jayawardene and Dilshan raced to 35 in the fourth over and Dilshan kept up the pace when Jayawardene went for 24 off 16. Sangakkara joined Dilshan and they were rarely troubled as they drove, flicked and forced boundaries. Dilshan, who was stumped off Steven Smith, finished with six fours and Sangakkara gained six of them as the pair enjoyed tormenting the inexperienced attack. Thisara Perera then arrived to finish the game off by thrashing Smith for a six, a four and another six over long-on to finish the match.Jayawardene crashed two boundaries from Clint McKay’s opening over and then blasted two more from Peter Siddle, who got his revenge when the batsman edged behind. Siddle was back in Australian colours for the first time since January and the breakthrough was a relief for the hosts. Dirk Nannes was then fortunate to have Dinesh Chandimal (2) lbw to a ball pitching outside leg, but that was when Australia’s luck ran out.Brad Haddin and Smith were in charge of Australia’s first-innings rescue and put on a much-needed 66 in 7.2 overs. Haddin, playing his first international since the World Twenty20 in May, showed his elbow was healed with 35 off 30 balls, including a crisp straight six off Dilhara Fernando.However, the offspinner Suraj Randiv dismissed Haddin and Smith (34) in the same over to stop them from racing away. Sri Lanka’s attack was brilliant as it dominated on a surface offering some helpful bounce. Randiv was impressive with 3 for 25 off four overs while Malinga (1 for 26) and Fernando (1 for 29) were fast and uncomfortable. Perera also chipped in with a very handy 2 for 22 from four.Clarke delivered an immediate surprise after winning the toss by walking out to open with David Warner, but the restructure didn’t provide the required boost as he strolled to 16 off 19. He has been criticised for his run-a-ball scoring in a game that demands much more but the move back-fired, especially in comparison to the output of his opponents.Clarke managed the first four in the third over and also lifted Muttiah Muralitharan for six, but in between the boundaries a frustrated David Warner (2 off 8) miscued Fernando. Fernando then removed Clarke with a spectacular back-pedalling, one-handed catch at mid-on to turn the volume down on a crowd desperate for the locals to fire.The exits of David Hussey (7) and Shane Watson (4) added to the Australian headaches, leaving them at 4 for 31 in the eighth over. When Cameron White edged behind to Malinga five of their main men were gone just after the halfway point of the innings. From that point the game was Sri Lanka’s.

Rain and bad light kept the final day to 31 overs at Bellerive Oval, where Tasmania took the only points in the draw due to their first-innings lead

Cricinfo staff27-Nov-2009
ScorecardPeter George finished the match with 11 wickets•South Australian Cricket Association

Rain and bad light kept the final day to 31 overs at Bellerive Oval, where Tasmania took the only points in the draw due to their first-innings lead. When play was called off the Tigers had 4 for 129 in what had become a meaningless second innings with George Bailey on 64 and Luke Butterworth on 29.Rain delayed the start substantially and when play finally resumed Tasmania added 90 to their overnight total for the loss of one wicket. Much of the interest on the final day was in how many victims Peter George would end up with for the match, having grabbed eight wickets in the first innings.He finished with three in the second innings, making the only breakthrough on the fourth day when he had Daniel Marsh caught for 4. It meant George ended up with match figures of 11 for 131, the best analysis by a South Australia bowler in a Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup match since Paul Rofe picked up 13 in a game in 2001-02.

New Zealand’s five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday confirmed this; that means Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan are out of contention

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Feb-2025New Zealand and India are through to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy from Group A, following New Zealand’s five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday. The two will face each other on March 2 in Dubai for top spot in Group A, but regardless of the result in that game, India will play the first semi-final in Dubai on March 4, while New Zealand play the second semi-final in Lahore on March 5.Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan are out of the running. The two will play each other for consolation points – both are winless after two games each – in Rawalpindi on February 27.New Zealand leave for Dubai on Tuesday morning, captain Mitchell Santner confirmed after the Bangladesh match. He lauded Player of the Match Michael Bracewell for setting up the victory over Bangladesh. “We knew Bangladesh would be a tough challenge on this wicket and I think the way we were able to pull it back with the ball in the middle [overs] was pleasing,” Santner said at the post-match presentation. “That’s probably the hardest thing in one-day cricket, to take wickets in the middle, and I think Bracewell was outstanding.”Bracewell bowled his ten overs on the trot to finish with figures of 4 for 26 – 43 dots included – as New Zealand restricted Bangladesh to 236 for 9, and then the chase was directed by centurion Rachin Ravindra, who stroked 112 off 105.Bangladesh had been 45 for 0 when Bracewell came on in the ninth over, but he struck straightaway, and by the time he was done in the 27th, they had fallen to 119 for 5. Bracewell said he was happy to contribute to sealing the semi-final spot, and the experience he gained from the preceding tri-series against Pakistan and South Africa helped.”It’s awesome to contribute to a win. The main focus was coming here and getting the win and securing that semi-final spot, and we were able to do that today,” Bracewell said, adding about his learnings from the tri-series: “I think just keeping the stumps in play as long as you can [is important]. Looks like if you give a little bit of width [on these pitches], guys can free their arms and score pretty freely, so [I was] just trying to bowl as straight as I can, bring in that little bit of variable bounce [which the pitch offered].”Australia and South Africa, who play at this same venue on Tuesday, might be taking note. They are in a tussle in Group B, which is still wide open. Both teams as well as Afghanistan and England are still in contention for a semi-final spot, although Afghanistan and England have little room left for error, both having lost their first game.

Both teams are waiting until the morning of the game to find out whether their captains will be fit to play

Mohammad Isam23-Oct-20234:35

Preview: Is batting first Bangladesh’s only chance to beat South Africa?

Big picture: Crucial game for Bangladesh

Who wants to face the team that smashed 399 in their previous game? And at the venue they did it too. Bangladesh have that privilege, as they take on a South African unit fresh – or are they, given the searing Mumbai heat? – from their dismantling of defending champions England on Saturday.With three wins in four games, South Africa are comfortably placed at No. 3 in the points table. And their thumping margins of victories – 102 runs against Sri Lanka, 134 against Australia, and 229 against England – have earned them the best net run rate in the tournament.South Africa have scored 300-plus every time they have batted first in this World Cup – with their top order laying a strong platform for a powerful finish, of which Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen provided a devastating example at the Wankhede.Their pace-heavy bowling attack – comprising Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, along with the left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj – dismissed the line-ups of Sri Lanka, Australia and England. The only time they fell short in both disciplines was when they bowled first against Netherlands.While South Africa are well placed to push for a semi-final spot, Bangladesh are struggling to be a serious contender, having lost three games – to England, New Zealand and India – after an opening victory against Afghanistan. They are one of four teams stuck on one win after four matches, and another defeat will almost certainly extinguish their flickering chances of qualification.Mushfiqur Rahim has been their best batter, with the likes of Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz unable to make significant contributions in the middle order. Tanzid Hasan scored a fifty against India after a tough start to his international career, while Litton Das has been hot and cold at the top of the order. Whether Shakib Al Hasan, who missed their previous game against India with a niggle, is passed fit to play is critical, as Bangladesh will be without the injured Taskin Ahmed once again.

Form guide

South Africa WLWWW (last five ODIs, most recent first)Bangladesh LLLWLSouth Africa thumped England by 229 runs at the Wankhede on Saturday•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight: Klaasen and Mushfiqur

Heinrich Klaasen will undoubtedly be a hot topic at the Bangladesh team meeting after his 109 off 67 balls against England at the Wankhede, an innings that was played in the gruelling afternoon heat and humidity of Mumbai. A late-bloomer in the South African setup, Klaasen is having his best year in ODIs, having made 725 runs at 55.76 in 2023. His strike rate of 139.43 makes him one of the most destructive batters at the World Cup. After not fielding during England’s chase, will Klaasen have recovered to have enough gas in the tank against Bangladesh?Amid Bangladesh’s batting gloom, Mushfiqur Rahim has emerged as their top scorer and most dependable batter. He has been batting at No. 6 this year, which seems a bit too low for an in-form batter in a misfiring middle-order. The batting line-up, especially in Shakib’s absence, could do with Mushfiqur at No 4 but he is unlikely to move up the order.

Team news: Will Bavuma and Shakib play?

South Africa were led by Aiden Markram against England because Temba Bavuma was not fit. If he’s recovered by Tuesday he will come back in for his replacement Reeza Hendricks, who scored 85 off 75 balls against England. The decision will be made on the morning of the game.South Africa (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma (capt)/Reeza Hendricks, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi NgidiShakib missed the game against India with a left quadriceps injury but he said he trained without issues on Sunday and is likely to be fit for the game. Taskin remains unavailable because of a shoulder injury.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Mahmudullah, 9 Hasan Mahmud, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions: Another sweltering day

Expect another hot afternoon with temperatures in the mid-30 celsius with high humidity. Jos Buttler conceded he had perhaps made a mistake by fielding first in such conditions on Saturday, so expect the team that wins the toss to bat first on a flat Wankhede pitch and wear out the opposition by the time the chase begins.

Stats and trivia

• Bangladesh have outplayed South Africa in two of their three World Cup matches, in Providence (2007) and at The Oval (2019). South Africa won the game in Mirpur (2011) with a huge margin of 206 runs.
• Klaasen’s strike-rate of 147.95 this year is the second highest among batters who have scored more than 700 runs in ODIs.
• In 2022, Bangladesh won an away ODI series against South Africa for the first time

Quotes

“We haven’t done particularly well against them in the past, so that’s extra motivation for us to come out and replicate what was a good performance against England.”
“I really don’t think there’s any need to motivate players in the World Cup. Everyone is well motivated and trying hard. We have had some individual performances, so if we can pool it together, we can have a good result.”

Kent buckle down in pursuit of survival and who-knows-what-else come season’s end

Paul Edwards28-Jun-2022Towards the back of what will always be known as the Peter May Stand at the Kia Oval a small encampment has been created. There is a canopied seating area with open sides and you might call the thing a gazebo if that description did not sound incongruous in an urban setting of concrete and glass. And one hesitates to dub the place a redoubt before checking the definition and finding the following: “a temporary or supplementary fortification, typically square or polygonal and without flanking defences”. That sounds better, not least because those sitting under the canvas clearly have something to defend. “No City Franchises – Save Our Cricket” declares one of their banners. “Peter May Boys” announces another. I think we get the picture. Let’s assume the Boys didn’t contribute to Tom Harrison’s leaving gift.But it would be pleasant if every county’s guardians declared their loyalties so plainly. As one watched 19-year-old Tom Lawes delight both himself and all Surrey supporters by taking two important wickets in successive overs just before lunch and then another shortly after the resumption, it came as a renewed shock to realise that the 18 first-class teams have only a limited idea what they are playing for.Actually, of course, that is not altogether correct. The season is barely half over and a clutch of sides in both divisions have their eyes on their respective titles. Just as significantly, a four-day, first-class match is an intense affair in which the players invest considerable physical and emotional capital. Winning is important and careers depend on the outcome of such games. So Lawes’s joy when he bowled Jack Leaning off the inside edge for 75 and then had Ollie Robinson caught at fine gully by Ryan Patel carried both collective and personal significance. It began a slow collapse that saw Kent lose their last seven wickets for 91 runs and be forced to follow-on 342 runs behind. For his part, Lawes strolled off this great field with figures of 4 for 51 against his name in what is his first Championship match.At the same time, all English seasons since the introduction of two divisions have offered the prospect of promotion and the jeopardy of relegation. This summer, recommendations as to next year’s structure will be made by Andrew Strauss’s high-performance review panel before being polished by a small group of carefully chosen county chief-executives and voted on by the county chairmen in the autumn. Only then might the mere players find out what their professional lives will be like in 2023. You need to be rather arrogant to develop such a plan but no less deranged to blame England’s Ashes defeat on county cricket in the first place. Perhaps someone should ask the ECB’s howl-at-the-moon crazies whether the domestic game is also responsible for the 3-0 victory against New Zealand.In the meantime, Surrey’s players will keep chasing what would be their county’s 20th outright title and Kent’s will keep on keeping on. The visitors’ chances of scoring the 523 they needed to avoid the follow-on were slim this morning but Daniel Bell-Drummond and Leaning had taken their side to 216 for 2 before their 161-run third wicket stand was ended when Bell-Drummond chased a wide offspinner from Will Jacks and skewed a catch to Hashim Amla at point. Lawes then took his first two wickets and induced George Linde to play on after lunch. Apart from Jordan Cox’s 47, the remainder of Kent’s batting never threatened to change the shape of a game the result of which will be dependent on its third innings. However, a mention in dispatches is required for the short leg catch by Ben Geddes off Connor McKerr that dismissed Jaz Singh and ended Kent’s innings. It was an absurdly good right-handed reflex effort and worthy of a more pivotal moment in any match.It was also Surrey’s final wicket of the day. Rather than be overwhelmed by a deficit of 342, Kent’s batted out the remaining 44 overs with some ease, thus leaving Surrey’s bowlers with plenty of work to do on a fourth-day pitch offering them limited assistance. Joe Denly, in only his second Championship innings of the season, is unbeaten on 63 and was the more expansive of the pair; his eight fours included flourished drives and a whack over mid-on against Jacks’ off spin. Ben Compton was more restrained but passed 1000 runs for the season and needs only four runs to reach fifty for the tenth time in 15 first-class innings.The contrast between the pair was beguiling and almost unexpectedly satisfying. Patel bowled the last over and by that time Rory Burns was trying to unsettle the batters with unorthodox fields, the sort some would label “funky”. There was a silly mid-on and silly mid-off posted when the final ball of the day was greeted with Denly’s resolute forward defensive. The players left the field and almost at once one wondered how many opportunities fine cricketers of Compton’s ilk might get should red-ball cricket be reduced to a niche activity, one whose only purpose is the production of Test players rather than also being concerned with the maintenance of strong counties and all the benefits they bring to clubs and communities across the land. Members and supporters around the country are expressing their views and it’s no use thinking it will be easy to find consensus. Me? I’m with Peter May Boys on their redoubt and a few county chairmen might also be receiving their call-up papers quite soon.

“I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better than what I did today.”

Mohammad Isam26-Mar-2021For newcomers Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell, the Wellington ODI turned out to be a dream outing as they both struck maiden ODI centuries. Mitchell reached the personal landmark off the last ball of the New Zealand innings, as he scampered for the second and managed to reach the crease while Mushfiqur Rahim fumbled the return from midwicket.Related

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Mitchell pumped his fist as the nearly full-house roared in delight. Conway, who had shortly before left the crease with a superb 126 under his belt, saw him from the foot of the pavilion. The pair had earlier added 159 runs for the fifth wicket, breaking a 38-year-old partnership record at the Basin Reserve. It helped New Zealand recover to 318-run total when at 57 for 3, they might have settled for a middling total.”I remember the ground announcer talking about my partnership with Daryl (Mitchell),” Conway said. “When they said it was the highest partnership, it was a cool moment. Him (Daryl Mitchell) coming over to congratulate me for the hundred was a pretty special feeling. Unfortunately I wasn’t at the other end to see him reach his hundred, but watching him from the tunnel, come back for that two, I will remember this for a long time.”For Conway the century topped off an impressive first international season. In a match that included another century, a five-wicket haul and a four-for, his contribution won his second Player-of-the-Match award. His 225 runs in the ODI series also earned him the Player-of-the-Series honour.Conway, who moved to New Zealand from his native South Africa in 2017, said that his first international match at his adopted home ground, the Basin Reserve, added to the overall occasion of Bangladesh’s 50th Independence Day. Conway had recently scored an unbeaten 93 in the Super Smash final at this ground to lead Wellington to victory.He said that this match reminded him of his first match at the venue just over three years ago. Conway plays for the Victoria University of Wellington Cricket Club, who play their matches at the nearby Kelburn Park.”It was a pretty special feeling out there. I woke up and I was like, ‘wow I am going to play at the Basin Reserve today for the Black Caps’. Singing the national anthems and commemorating Bangladesh’s 50th Independence Day, it was a special feeling. I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better than what I did today.”When I was out there ticking along the nineties, I had a little feeling of how it all started. I remember playing a little internal game here at the Basin over three years ago,” he said.Conway revealed that despite playing 11 T20Is for New Zealand in the past four months, he made a nervous start on his ODI debut in Dunedin last week. He said that he felt better speaking to Ross Taylor, and following Tom Latham during their match-winning partnership in Christchurch.”I think naturally there was a bit of pressure that I put on myself in the first game. It was about just trying to focus on things that I can control. Take it slowly, watch each ball and play it on its merit. It is key for my batting. I tried to continue on a positive mindset throughout.”I had good conversations with some of the guys who have been around. Ross Taylor was with us throughout the series, so it was good to lean on him a few times. During the partnership with Tommy Latham in Christchurch, saw how he went about his business,” he said.Conway is part of New Zealand’s T20I side that takes on Bangladesh in the three-match series starting in Hamilton on Sunday.

Every team had been asked to pick a 140kph-plus fast bowler and a legspinner in their line-ups

Mohammad Isam09-Dec-2019The two Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) teams that are being managed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in the upcoming edition of the tournament have failed to comply with the board’s own diktat, that all squads must have an overseas quick who bowls above 140kph and a legspinner, who has to bowl four overs in each game.Rangpur Rangers don’t have that make of fast bowler, and their legspinner could well be picked for the Under-19 World Cup, while Cumilla Warriors are still trying to get themselves a fast bowler, and aren’t even looking for a full-fledged legspinner.Minhajul Abedin, Bangladesh’s chief selector who has been appointed Cumilla’s technical advisor, disagreed, propping up Afghanistan fingerspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who bowls a mixed bag of deliveries including a right-hander’s legbreak, as their legspinner.”We have picked Mujeeb, who is a world-class spinner, which fulfills the requirement,” Minjahul told ESPNcricinfo. “He bowls both legspin and offspin, and he is a great bowler. So that’s not going to be a problem.”On Cumilla’s radar is Oshane Thomas, who they are hoping to bring on board, but they are yet to get NOCs for many of the overseas players they have signed up.”Kusal Perera is not getting NOC. Dasun Shanaka and [Bhanuka] Rajapakse are yet to get theirs. We are in touch with Kyle Jarvis, who has a great record in Bangladesh while playing for Zimbabwe, but he too hasn’t been given the NOC,” Minhajul said. “We are also in talks with Oshane Thomas. We are hoping that we get enough overseas players, otherwise we have Mujeeb and [Dawid] Malan, who will play the first match.”As for Rangpur, Akram Khan, their team director who is also BCB’s cricket operations chairman, argued that there’s no compulsion to play a legspinner but, in any case, they have Rishad Hossain, the 17-year-old who has done well in first-class cricket recently. But Rishad could be picked in the Under-19 side, in which case he would be unavailable from early January.Mujeeb Ur Rahman celebrates a wicket•Getty Images

“It is not mandatory to play a legspinner, but we have some really good bowlers like Mustafiz [Mustafizur Rahman], Taskin [Ahmed], Mohammad Nabi and Arafat Sunny, as well as Lewis Gregory, who is a pace-bowling allrounder,” Akram said.On October 11, BCB director Mahbubul Anam had explained that “BCB wants this BPL [being run by the board as opposed to being a franchise based event] to be about improving Bangladesh’s cricketers in T20s, so we want to make sure that our batsmen and bowlers get enough opportunities [against quicks and legspinners].”Not long after that, on October 17, two coaches in the National Cricket League – Rangpur Division’s Masud Parvez Razan and Dhaka Division’s Jahangir Alam – had been dismissed by the BCB for not picking legspinners, though available, in their playing XIs.As for the BPL, it’s not just Cumilla and Rangpur. Two other teams have also failed to fulfill the criteria.Sylhet Thunders picked Sheldon Cottrell after the draft, but he has since informed the team of his unavailability due to West Indies commitments. Sylhet then picked veteran Pakistan bowler Mohammad Sami. Chattogram Challengers did sign up legspinner Jubair Hossain, but not a 140-plus fast bowler.Dhaka Platoon, Khulna Tigers and Rajshahi Royals are the only teams to have ticked all the boxes. The tournament kicks off on December 11 with fixtures between Chattogram and Sylhet, and Cumilla and Rangpur.

West Indies scoring 300 plus in the first two ODIs might have prompted India to recall their best quicks for the remainder of the series, according to their coach Stuart Law

Varun Shetty in Pune26-Oct-20181:40

Being written off fires us up – Stuart Law

West Indies scoring more than 300 in the first two ODIs might have prompted India to recall rested fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the remainder of the series, according to West Indies coach Stuart Law. West Indies lost the first ODI by a big margin despite making 322, and tied the second by matching India’s 321.”Yeah I’d like to think so,” Law said on the eve of the third ODI in Pune. “That’s probably the reason why they’ve called back their two most experienced one-day bowlers. We came here understanding that it was going to be tough, but to our credit we haven’t shied away from it. We’ve understood it, we’ve asked questions and had numerous honest discussions about how to improve and how to tackle the Indian team. And it’s a credit to our players to manufacture change in the bowling line-up after two games.”So yeah, hopefully we are getting the Indians to ask questions to themselves. They’re giving us plenty of questions to ask ourselves, but at this stage we’re coming up with pretty good answers. I know it’s a tight series, we have still gotta win to level it tomorrow, so we understand the enormity of it and we’re not backing down.”West Indies have shown remarkable resistance against India’s bowling combinations so far, particularly the middle order that has had to tackle three kinds of spinners. But at no point have they been under pressure to rebuild an innings, which could be a challenge as India’s more experienced fast bowlers take the new ball in Pune. Law doesn’t believe the batting approach will be too different on Saturday, particularly for Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope, their best batsmen on tour so far.”I don’t think the pressure goes away no matter who you play against,” Law said. “I’ve listened to commentary, I’ve listened to numerous talk shows, talking about the match-up between West Indies and India – and not too many people have given us a chance of competing in this series. But that’s fuel to our boys’ fire. They like being written out of the contest, and it gives an opportunity to go out and play good cricket.Law wasn’t allowed in the dressing room for the first two ODIs because of a two-match ban he had picked up during the second Test in Hyderabad and, as such, the third ODI is a return for him. The coach downplayed the suggestion that this absence was a factor in West Indies failing to win the second ODI.”I have missed being part of the dressing room. Not sure if most boys have missed me. And looking back, now in Pune [with the sights], maybe I should have held back a bit and got banned here!” Law joked. “Nah, Vizag and Guwahati were great but I would rather be at the dressing room. You get a different perspective on TV, which I have managed to talk into in the training.”But to get back into the dressing room…the dressing room is running by itself. The players have played enough cricket and understand how and what’s needed to be done. It’s on us, as coaches, to facilitate what the players need to do to produce the best out in the field. I don’t need to say much. I don’t think the dynamics in the dressing room will change.”His absence could also have been offset by the presence of Marlon Samuels who, Law said, had given a “different role” on this tour – one that is more inclined towards mentorship. As a batsman, Samuels has also been tasked with tackling spin, but he hasn’t batted more than 10 balls in the series.”You can write him off at your own peril. He’s one of those players who stands up on big occasions,” Law said. “Every game we play from hereon is a final, and we all know what Marlon can do in the finals.”I’ve given him a different role on this tour. He is basically here to help the young kids. We have a very inexperienced squad. He needs to help those young guys learn very quickly on the field and he’s doing a great job. He has got a bigger role now, other than just playing cricket and scoring runs. I think he started looking really good the other night. Kuldeep – he’s having a little trouble reading him. He’ll take time but Marlon is a good player of spin. He looks like he has improved from the first game to the second.”

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jul-20171. Statement in support of cricket
Players resolved first and foremost to express their highest respect for the game of cricket and its fans, and for the great honour of being a professional cricketer in Australia. Players expressed their desire to be on the field playing the game they love, interacting with the fans and supporters of cricket and representing their states and countries as soon as possible.2. Response to the behaviour of CA: players will support their team-mates
Australia’s male and female cricketers expressed disappointment at the conduct of CA during the MoU negotiations. And were concerned that 20 years of good faith partnership had been disrespected and disregarded by CA. The players noted with great pride that the efforts by CA to divide them has had the opposite effect. That across domestic and international lines and between men and women, resolve and unity had grown even stronger. And that for CA to have thought otherwise was to misunderstand what it means to be a member of a team as an Australian cricket player.3. Fair remuneration
Not all players reach the top level of cricket. If they do, players have a relatively short career at that level. As such it was important for all players, men and women, domestic and international to be fairly remunerated for their efforts. The Executive noted in relation to CA’s March offer, that with the removal of accounting tricks and with more realistic assumptions, the overall funding to the players is significantly less than how it has been presented to the players.4. Players to stay united as a matter of principle
The players have resolved that, unless contractually obliged, no male or female players intend to play for a Cricket Australia (CA) team whilst fellow players remain unemployed due to the absence of an MoU. This is an outright rejection of CA’s attempts to divide and rule. It is a resolution which will be revisited at the next and subsequent ACA Executive meetings, since the players remain hopeful that common sense will prevail and a new MoU can still be agreed on fair terms.In terms of contractual obligation:
The Executive noted that all players with valid and enforceable contracts (such as multi-year State or BBL deals) will continue to honour them, and will expect their employers to do the same. This includes an expectation of the players sharing in revenue as contained in those contracts. If this is not honoured by their employer, then the enforceability of these contracts will also become questionable.The Executive noted legal advice that a State Player may “accept” or reject an offer to participate on a Tour with CA, such as the proposed Australia A Tour of South Africa.
Australia’s Women’s World Cup Squad will continue and complete their Tournament as they agreed to do in good faith prior to the expiration of the MOU. The ACA wished them the best in their endeavours.5. Upcoming Australia A Tour of South Africa by CA
All Australian professional cricketers are not obliged to and are unavailable to Tour South Africa as a part of the Australia A team without an agreed MoU. This decision has been made consistent with resolution 4 above that, unless contractually obliged, no player intends to Tour for a Cricket Australia team whilst others are unemployed courtesy of the expired MOU. And is done in possession of legal advice examining the MOU and mandated player contracts that:The players cannot be contractually required by CA to participate and play in an international Tour, including the Proposed Australia A Tour, beyond 30 June 2017 because:
(a) in the case of CA Contracted Players, their contracts with and obligations to CA will all have expired on 30 June 2017.
(b) in the case of the more than 50% of State Contracted Players, their contracts with and obligations to CA (and their State Associations) will have expired on 30 June 2017.
(c) in the case of the remaining State Contracted Players on multi-year contracts extending beyond 30 June 2017, their State Player Contracts and the MOU acknowledge that a player can either ‘accept’ an offer by CA to Tour or not; there is no compulsion to do so. Also for the period beyond 30 June 2017 there are many important issues that are not agreed in the State Player contract, such as the form of Tour Contract that would apply if no MOU is in place, the applicable Squad, Team and Tour Payments and any applicable list of CA protected sponsors.This decision not to Tour in the absence of a renewed MoU has been discussed and endorsed by the Australia A squad in solidarity. The Australia A squad wishes to represent Australia, and is willing to give CA another opportunity. They will gather in Brisbane on Monday to prepare for the Tour, in a gesture of the players’ continued good faith and in hope that CA will reciprocate by agreeing an MOU on fair terms as soon as possible.6. Tours of Bangladesh and India
Players expressed a strong desire to Tour both Bangladesh and India and urged CA to support them by renewing an MoU on fair terms, allowing the Tours to proceed.
However, due to the fact of unemployment and the resolution above, absent an MoU there are no professional cricketers presently obliged or available to Tour.7. The Summer of Cricket
All players expressed a strong desire to participate in the Australian Summer of Cricket and urged CA to support them by renewing an MoU on fair terms so the Summer can proceed.8. Rescuing tours and the Summer of Cricket should there be no MOU: the Employment rights of players
To rescue the Tours and the Summer of Cricket referenced above, if there was no agreed MoU, the ACA will be discussing with the players the assignment to the ACA of an exclusive option to employ or second them.’In contract’ players will also participate in the discussion regarding assigning rights to the ACA to allow them to Tour. This means the ACA could offer to facilitate the availability of players on the right terms to assist those games and series that we all wish to see played.This may extend to the ACA offering the players back to CA on the right terms for the purposes of rescuing the Summer of Cricket. This would be best achieved by an agreed MOU.This option is available to the ACA and could be exercised absent an agreed MOU.
It should be regarded as an option for rescuing tours and the Summer of Cricket absent an agreed MOU which remains the clear preference.9. Restraint of Trade
Players have resolved to support any out-of-contract players who are restrained from post-employment professional cricket opportunities. This would apply to any refusal to provide an out-of-contract player with a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
It would also apply to any threat to lock players out of future employment opportunities if they engage in an ‘exhibition game’ to raise money for their unemployed team-mates.10. Intellectual Property of the players and The Cricketers’ Brand
The ACA Executive noted that with the passage of the June 30 deadline The Cricketers’ Brand was now looking to sign Sponsorships and arrange Player Appearances on behalf of Australia’s greatest players, now unemployed, and in consultation with player agents.The Cricketers’ Brand has been given approval to work with agents to commence the process of signing Sponsors and to deal with Broadcasters wanting to use these players’ attributes.*Those State players with multi-year State Playing Contracts will continue to honour those agreements, including to attend player Appearances as directed.
**CA retains some rights to use out of contract players’ attributes for game promotion and development.11. WaMCAP (Women and Men Cricketer Assistance Plan) funding distribution to players in need
The ACA Executive approved the making of payments to players who need financial assistance from the WaMCAP fund.12. Revenue sharing for all men and women who play professional cricket
The players have affirmed their commitment to all male and female players at both international and domestic level receiving a ‘fair share’ of the revenue they generate for the game. And again, expressed a willingness to make sensible changes to the current model to reach agreement.13. Mediation is still the right process
The players affirm their view that third party mediation at CEO level remains the right process to resolve the current impasse.14. Grassroots Cricket Investment
The ACA Executive continued its call for a review into the current under investment in grassroots cricket and for recommendations to be developed for increasing grassroots investment.And noted that the current level of underinvestment seemed incompatible with the CA decisions to:
– Almost double the number of CA employees over the last five years;
– Grow CA cash reserves to the current level of approximately $70 million; whilst
– Allowing grassroots investment to stagnate at the level of only approximately 12% of revenues.