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Nathan Coulter-Nile has been squeezed out of the Western Australia XI for the Sheffield Shield opener because Mitchell Johnson cannot be relied upon to bowl in an economical fashion

Daniel Brettig11-Oct-2011One of the more promising young fast bowlers in Australia, Nathan Coulter-Nile, has been squeezed out of the Western Australia XI for the opening round of the Sheffield Shield because Mitchell Johnson cannot be relied upon to bowl in an economical fashion.Coulter-Nile, widely expected to push for higher honours in coming seasons, has been handed drinks duties for Western Australia in the match against Tasmania at the WACA ground, as Cricket Australia encourages its international players to take part in as much state cricket as possible.He was not chosen primarily because Johnson, playing at home for his state for the first time since moving from Queensland three years ago, is considered an attacking bowler too likely to concede runs in the search for wickets, despite his international pedigree and considerable experience.This is understood to have ruled a line through Coulter-Nile’s name because his own bowling is also geared towards aggression, and WA team management considered the risk of leaking runs was too great. Another factor was the absence of the young allrounder Mitchell Marsh on Australia duty, meaning the Warriors picked only four bowlers in the team to face the Tigers.Michael Hogan, Matt Dixon and the left-arm spinner Michael Beer were considered better options to support Johnson at the WACA ground, in an episode that recalled numerous selection dilemmas in the Australian team over the past four years.The inconsistencies of Johnson’s bowling have influenced Australia’s team balance for quite some time, forcing the selection of steadier pace bowlers around him and also piling pressure on a succession of spinners to be parsimonious in their methods despite lacking international experience.Johnson was available for the fixture because he has been dropped from the Australian Twenty20 team, having conceded too many runs during his most recent T20 appearances in Sri Lanka. He will depart for the ODI leg of the South Africa tour at the conclusion of the Shield match.At the age of 24, Coulter-Nile has played seven first-class matches for his state, claiming 32 wickets at 23.71 and also showing potential with the bat.He has been described by Mickey Arthur, the WA coach, as “the one player in this group who will definitely go on and play higher”, and bears more than a passing resemblance in method and physique to Ryan Harris, Australia’s outstanding bowler on the recently completed tour of Sri Lanka.

After being frightened by a duck and overlooked for Australia’s one-day side, Andrew McDonald took out his frustration on Western Australia with a brutal 163

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2010

ScorecardAndrew McDonald was brutal as he muscled his way to 163 off 116 balls•PA Photos

After being frightened by a duck and overlooked for Australia’s one-day side, Andrew McDonald took out his frustration on Western Australia with a brutal 163 off 116 balls that drove Victoria to 529. Darren Pattinson made sure the locals struggled in their reply, taking all four wickets as the hosts reached 108, but the day belonged to McDonald.McDonald and Aaron Finch, who put on 219 at 6.5 an over, also had an eventful time before the match started. They were walking in the morning when they went too close to some ducklings and upset the drake. “He got on top of my backpack and started chipping away at my head,” McDonald said after his century. “It was a savage attack, so lucky to survive. I never knew they could be so feisty.”The Western Australians were soon experiencing a similarly frenzied attack as McDonald, who was 9 overnight, blasted 21 fours and seven sixes in an innings that lasted a touch over two hours. On Sunday John Hastings, the Victorian allrounder, was called up to the one-day team, a spot held by McDonald in India last year.McDonald still has a Cricket Australia contract and the decision makers will be impressed when they learn he jumped from 50 to 150 in 49 deliveries. Finch was also in good form on the way to 84 before Ryan Duffield picked up both batsmen.Duffield finished with 3 for 92 on debut while Michael Beer, the other first-gamer, gained 3 for 109 as the Victorian tail went quickly. Pattinson removed Liam Davis early and then returned late in the day to knock over Michael Swart (21), Adam Voges (0) and Wes Robinson (38). His 4 for 18 came off 12 overs, while Peter Siddle gave up 45 runs in 8.2 overs on his first-class comeback.

Chris Hartley held on for Queensland, who were hit by a surging New South Wales, as they finished the second day 182 behind at 6 for 269

Cricinfo staff12-Dec-2009Queensland 6 for 269 (Hartley 107*, Simpson 54*, Starc 3-44) trail New South Wales 5 for 451 dec (Khawaja 132*, Smith 102*, Simpson 3-98) by 182 runs
ScorecardUsman Khawaja led the Blues with 132 as they controlled most of the proceedings at the Gabba•Getty Images

The wicketkeeper Chris Hartley held on for Queensland, who were hit by a surging New South Wales, as they finished the second day 182 behind at 6 for 269. Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja scored centuries in New South Wales’ 5 for 451 declared and the hosts were in deep trouble in their reply before Hartley posted his fourth first-class century.The Bulls flopped to 4 for 42 as Mitchell Starc ran through them with three wickets before Hartley’s recovery. Hartley started with a 70-run stand with James Hopes and he also got help from the captain Chris Simpson to improve the local mood at the Gabba. At stumps Hartley was 107, having hit 15 fours and stayed for 164 deliveries, while Simpson was 54.Smith caught the openers Greg Moller (14) and Wade Townsend (10) off Starc, who then caught-and-bowled Nathan Reardon. Josh Hazlewood chipped in to have Craig Philipson taken by the keeper and it was left to Lee Carseldine (46) to steady the hosts until he was also taken by Smith, this time off the bowling of Moises Henriques.Khawaja, who passed 1000 career runs in his 15th game, moved to his century in the morning and was unbeaten on 132, but his fine effort was overshadowed by Smith’s 102. Smith resumed on 4, with his side at 5 for 299, and reached his century well before the lunch break as the Blues declared.He blasted 16 fours and a six during his 102-ball display and he put on 160 with Khawaja in a partnership that drained the hosts. It wasn’t Smith’s day throughout, with his first three overs of legspin going for 34 on the way to 0 for 67 off 11.

Sajid Khan is back partnering Noman Ali and Pakistan have also recalled Abrar Ahmed

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jan-2025Mohammad Abbas and Naseem Shah have been rested from Pakistan’s Test squad for the two-Test home series against West Indies with Pakistan looking to beef up their spin options.Aamer Jamal and Mir Hamza, who played in South Africa, have also been rested as Pakistan recalled Mohammad Ali and picked fast bowler Kashif Ali for the first time.Sajid Khan, who played a leading role in the series win against England earlier in the season, is back partnering Noman Ali. Pakistan have also recalled Abrar Ahmed.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“As part of workload management, the pace quartet of Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza, and Naseem Shah has been rested,” the PCB said in a media release.Abbas was a standout performer in the South Africa series, ending as the joint-highest wicket-taker with ten wickets from the two Tests – including his 100th Test victim. Those were his first Tests for three years. His resting is likely also a result of the expected condition of the pitches – aiding spin – on which his relatively slower pace might not offer a threat.There is no place in the squad again for Shaheen Afridi, who also didn’t play in the Tests in South Africa. With Naseem also out, it means that a home season that began with Pakistan talking up their pace depth and fielding an all-pace attack will end with Shaheen and Naseem having played two and three Tests out of nine. The pair was widely seen as the attack’s pace spearheads when the season began but neither managed to play two Tests consecutively. Tellingly, when Pakistan fielded an all-pace attack in Cape Town against South Africa in their most recent Test, neither made it to the XI.Noman Ali and Sajid Khan reunite for the West Indies Tests•Getty Images

Saim Ayub, who sustained a fracture of his right ankle during the first Test against South Africa, is also missing from the squad. That will mean a new opening combination for the series as Abdullah Shafique, on the back of a prolonged run of poor form compounded by three ducks in three ODIs in South Africa, has also been dropped. The selectors have picked Imam-ul-Haq and Muhammad Hurraira in their places.Rohail Nazir will be the back-up wicketkeeper for Mohammad Rizwan. He replaces Haseebullah Khan, who split the webbing on his right hand in South Africa.Both Tests against West Indies will be played in Multan, with the first starting on January 17 and the second on January 25.

Pakistan Test squad for West Indies series

Shan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel (vice-capt), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Agha

Glenn Maxwell’s form and fitness shows promising signs for Australia as the real deal approaches

Andrew McGlashan04-Oct-20232:22

What role will Travis Head play at World Cup for Australia?

Like a number of teams over the last few weeks, Australia have been trying to reach the start line of the World Cup without any further major setbacks. They have had to manage a lengthy injury list but have just about got there.If a reminder was needed of how seriously to take the last couple of warm-up matches, the sight of David Warner sending down two overs of long hops and full tosses against Pakistan (albeit nearly conjuring a wicket which would have given him plenty of social media content) reinforced that it’s dangerous to read too much into the final stretch of preparation.There was a grain of truth when George Bailey, the national selector, joked before the match against Netherlands that if there were any Australians around Kerala they should pop down for game – for some players there has been a risk of too much cricket and it’s been all about getting to Chennai where they face India on October 8.Related

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But while the scoreline against Pakistan was largely irrelevant, there were a few aspects that may not be insignificant over the coming weeks.

Form and fitness coming together for Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell is a pivotal player in Australia’s hopes of another title, even more so now that he is effectively the second frontline spinner alongside Adam Zampa. He struck a breezy 77 off 71 balls in Hyderabad, a significant stint in the middle to test the durability of his previously broken leg, then backed that up with a tidy eight overs.”There’s always that weariness I suppose mentally – ‘how’s it gonna go tonight?’ But once I get moving I’m absolutely fine,” Maxwell told reporters.”My warm-up’s probably a little bit more structured these days. Have to do all those little things that I negated early in my career – I used to just run out here and go 100 percent and I was fine. But probably [now] just a little bit more thought around how much time I spend out there in the warm up and certain little drills I have to do.”Then there was the timely half-century for Cameron Green, who has struggled with the bat for much of the year since the IPL. It was his first fifty since the 47-ball hundred he struck for Mumbai Indians in May.The concussion he suffered in South Africa disrupted preparations, but he would appear inked in ahead of Marcus Stoinis who has not appeared in either of the warm-up matches or the last two ODIs against India.Cameron Green spent valuable time in the middle•Getty Images

The fact fellow allrounder Mitchell Marsh has bowled in consecutive matches having not been used at all against South Africa and India is another plus when it comes to balancing the side.

Josh Inglis vs Alex Carey?

Alex Carey could have done with a substantial innings ahead of the tournament, but he was run out for 11. Aside from the 99 he flayed in a heavy defeat at Centurion, he has been unconvincing with the bat with only one other score over 20 against South Africa, India and in these two warm-ups.It is unlikely Australia will move away from him, at least early in the tournament, partly because he adds a left-handed option in a right-hand dominated batting order. However, Josh Inglis gave a reminder of his versatility with a lively 48 off 30 balls in the closing stages.With preparations now almost complete, and Australia working with 14 fit players for now until Travis Head recovers from his broken hand, it would appear that their XI to face India is taking shape. Marnus Labuschagne has surely done enough to lock himself in at No. 4 behind Warner, Marsh and Steven Smith.Having been heavy on allrounders in the lead-up, there has been shift back towards the big three quicks – captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood – lining up together, although Sean Abbott could still be in the frame if they want to lengthen the batting at No. 8. But with nine round-robin matches plus a heavy travel schedule, it’s likely the entire squad will be needed at some point.

“He is a diamond. All we’ve done is to cut and polish him a little,” says Surrey’s interim assistant coach Azhar Mahmood

Osman Samiuddin23-Jun-2022Jamie Overton has been a long, long time coming. Having impressed at U-19 level a decade ago, and been first called up to an England squad in 2013, and despite being a near-permanent presence on England’s radar, he only makes his England debut today, at Headingley.The pace has always kept them interested but, this season, a confluence of events has finally thrust him into the limelight proper. England are missing, through injury, nearly an entire XI of fast bowlers, but Overton’s performances this season for Surrey mean he would’ve been beeping brightly on that radar in any case.Related

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He has been the standout English fast bowler on the circuit; his strike rate of 38.3 is bettered only by his twin brother Craig (min. five matches), but it is – again, still – the pace that has people cooing. He’s picked up a decent haul of wickets, but there’s been as much excitement about the hustle and threat of his bouncers. In some dispatches he’s said to have been 10mph quicker than any other bowler around him.It is in stark contrast to the desperate struggle of last season, in which Overton picked up six wickets at 75 in eight games. The inconsistency has been a theme but, this season, under the watchful eye of Azhar Mahmood, there are signs that may be changing.Mahmood has quietly built up an impressive coaching career, with international experience with Pakistan burnished by stints in the Pakistan Super League – most recently as head coach at Islamabad United. As an interim assistant coach at Surrey, he has taken on Overton as a personal project and early results, after a little technical tweaking, have been spectacular.”The first thing we did with him was to reduce his run-up,” Mahmood says. “We reduced it from 24 yards or so that it was before to around 18 now. He was losing momentum when he was running in for those last strides to the popping crease, where you actually have to build that momentum up.”Because of that loss in momentum, Mahmood explains, he wasn’t following through towards his target properly. “When you drive your hip through in the action, you transfer weight and bring your hip forward, for the follow-through. He was stopping a little but if you watch now, he gets closer to the batsman. He is taller at the crease now.”Mahmood is meticulous when it comes to thinking through bowling actions, though he’s careful to not tinker too much. His phone is a video treasure trove of bowlers and bowling actions from his work around the world; little tips that he’s given them, minor tweaks he’s made, hours he’s spent just watching and logging.He identified Overton’s run-up as a prime cause for the inconsistency in his release and action, which would result in him often straying down legside. But pre-season work brought some immediate results. After shortening the run-up, Mahmood asked Overton to note how many balls he bowls down the legside. Overton bowled to Hashim Amla in the nets one day for half an hour and Mahmood remembers only two balls that Amla could play through the legside. Amla was impressed and wondered whether Overton could sustain that consistency.Mahmood identified Overton’s run-up as a prime cause for the inconsistency in his release and action, which would result in him often straying down legside•Getty Images

“Now you can see, it’s half a season gone and he’s been sustaining it,” Mahmood said. “Because of his pace that inconsistency can creep in. At that pace, a good day can be a great day, but a bad day a very poor one. If you’re slightly off line at that pace, you go for runs. Jamie’s getting that consistency now. He’s still a work in progress. That will keep going. But this season I think people have seen the best of him.”Mahmood remembers, in particular, Overton’s first game this season. Having been rested for tactical reasons for Surrey’s season-opener, Overton blew away Hampshire with an eight-wicket haul at The Oval. The performance had all the classic really fast-bowling dismissals: an outswinger that hit the stumps, bouncers from round the wicket, yorkers and then, a sustained short-pitched attack in the second innings. The speed gun, Mahmood says, clocked him at 92mph at one point.The one wicket he recalls, though, is from the Somerset game: Matt Renshaw bowled from over the wicket, leaving a full ball that swung in late and quick. ” [blew away his sticks],” Mahmood says.Mahmood has been almost as excited by Overton’s batting this season, not least in a game against Kent where he watched in awe as Overton hit a 92-ball 93. He sees a bit of himself in the batting: Mahmood hit three Test hundreds, all against strong South African attacks, two in South Africa and from seven and eight in the order. He averaged nearly 32 in first-class cricket.”I spoke to him about his batting,” he says. “I said you remind me of myself, you have exactly the role I used to have. To help build an innings lower down in the order. I said to him this is the role. With that batting this guy can be one of the best allrounders in the world.”I really haven’t done that much with him. Jamie Overton is special. He is a diamond. All we’ve done is to cut and polish him a little.”

“We can see a lot of positives, but we tend to choose the negatives”

Sidharth Monga16-Feb-20214:33

R Ashwin: ‘It was an outbursting of emotion when I reached the hundred’

After delivering a dream performance in front of his home crowd, R Ashwin has asked for more positivity, understanding and pride from the cricket community in India. Ashwin’s eight-wicket haul and century led India to a series-levelling win in Chennai where the crowd made him “feel like a hero”, cheering every move of his on the ground.However, one of the other heroes of India’s incredible success in Australia and here, Rishabh Pant, was not long ago made to feel like a villain in Indian grounds when the crowds chanted MS Dhoni’s name whenever he made a mistake. Ashwin compared the opinion around Pant to the one around a young Australia cricketer when asked what he made of Pant’s wicketkeeping.Related

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“I didn’t think I would say this but I am coming out and saying it,” Ashwin said. “But because you are asking me this question, I couldn’t think of anything else. About two months ago we had a cricketer called Cameron Green who made his debut for Australia. Even before he made his debut, everybody said he was the next big thing. And as he was playing, I think he got one fifty in the entire series. I don’t think he got a wicket through the series. But how much he was built up and how much confidence he was given back in Australia made me reflect and think about how we as a community treat our cricketers when they come through, the young ones. It gave me a massive perspective.”Rishabh Pant is an excellent cricketer. There are many more excellent excellent cricketers who are there in the squad and outside of the team scheme as well. They are all excellent cricketers. We believe they are excellent. That is why they end up playing for the country. And when they play for the country, it is almost as if we are searching for what is wrong with them.”Rishabh Pant was always going to be a good cricketer, he was always going to improve. Only if we back them in such a way that they can improve, they will improve faster. But if you are going to find those loopholes and faults, cricketers are going to take that much longer. It is more of a mindset issue for us. As a community we should be able to embrace how good a cricketer is. We can [choose to] see a lot of positives, but we tend to choose the negatives. If we see a lot more positives, we will see a lot more champion cricketers.”‘When people come out with such opinions, we should respect them but we should be able to magnanimously deflect them’ – R Ashwin’s response to people railing against a turning pitch•BCCI

That is not too different with what happened with Ashwin the batsman when he went through a lean phase and started to lose his place in the side in away Tests because of his batting. The turnaround began with the tour of Australia, blossomed with his match-saving effort in Sydney, and the cherry on the cake was the hundred in front of his home crowd.”The last hundred I scored was in the West Indies in 2016,” Ashwin said. “Literally five years ago. A lot of people were frustrated that I have the batting ability but I am not able to contribute. The problem is, in India there are so many opinions and they all lean towards advising you. Nobody pauses to think how the cricketer thinks. And what help is needed. The way I needed some help, I also needed some reassurance, which I got from this batting coach [Vikram Rathour]. During the Covid-19 lockdown I practised a lot at home. Hitting balls against the wall, sweeping, footwork, everything. All put together, it was an outbursting of emotion when I reached the hundred.”Ashwin asked for a similar positive outlook towards the spinning pitches. The one for the second Test in Chennai received criticism from former players – mostly outside India but a few Indian names too – for being too loaded in favour of spin too early into the match.”Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Ashwin said. “Whoever is giving their opinion are well within their rights. It is us who are reading into it and seeing if it is working or not. As a cricketing fraternity or a country, the way we deal with such accusations needs to get better. We must hold our pride in saying how we are playing good cricket. Test matches are won over a period of time. You play a lot of overs.”When people give their opinions, I am completely fine with how they have opinions. We will also have our opinions reserved when we tour. We don’t complain or crib, we just get on with it. I have never seen any of our greats, be it our coach Ravi Shastri or Sunil Gavaskar. They have been on lots of tours. I have never seen them talking about pitches having a lot of grass. It is more of a mentality. When people come out with such opinions, we should respect them but we should be able to magnanimously deflect them.”

Unhelpful surface sees England made to wait for declaration as Glenn Phillips makes ton

George Dobell in Whangarei15-Nov-2019If England had any doubts about the magnitude of the task facing them over the next few weeks, they will have been dispelled by a tough day in the field in Whangarei.Unable to coax movement from the ball or life from the surface, they were instead obliged to wait for the declaration from a New Zealand A batting line-up containing three men with Test experience. Glenn Phillips, a 22-year-old batsman with more than a hint of Steve Smith about him, recorded the fourth century of his first-class career and England conceded 3.59 runs an over.The loss of Rory Burns, who cut a long-hop to point moments before the close, rounded off the challenge. The appearance of Jack Leach as nightwatchman seemed an oddly negative response. The purpose of such games is, after all, to put players under pressure in order to prepare for challenges to come.Afterwards, Darren Gough – England’s short-term bowling consultant – was full of empathy for his charges. He had his share of such days, after all. But, among the words of support and respect, there was a reminder that the best, as he put it, “find a way” to succeed in such conditions.ALSO READ: Curran set for Test berth ahead of Woakes“The way I look at it,” Gough said, “is that New Zealand’s bowlers, Trent Boult and Tim Southee, bowl at 85mph and they somehow find a way to take wickets on New Zealand pitches. The ball has to swing here, because they are swing bowlers and they have good records. You have to find a way.”Ben Stokes suggested that the pitch was “seriously flat” and that it had provided a useful challenge. “[It was] a bit surprising,” he told Test Match Special, “but that’s a great test for us as a bowling group to be exposed to. It was a great opportunity for us to try a few different things; set different fields, bowl to different plans that we normally wouldn’t.”As ever with such warm-up games, it probably pays not to read too much into the statistics. Many of this England side are now pretty experienced and will not be striving for peak performance in such circumstances. It’s all about being ready for next week.But it was, Jofra Archer aside, hard to see where England were going to find the weapons to damage New Zealand. On these surfaces, with this ball, Kane Williamson looks a desperately tough proposition.Archer’s third spell was probably the day’s highlight from an England perspective. Generating sharp pace from a docile wicket and an old ball, he unsettled the batsmen with some well-directed short-balls. Phillips took one blow to the forearm and was thrown off his feet as he jerked his head out of the way of another. Earlier Hamish Rutherford had been struck on the side of the head by an Archer bouncer, but looked in excellent touch before departing in somewhat unfortunate fashion as he feathered an edge down the leg side.England’s problem, though, is that their opposition know Archer cannot bowl forever. And with no Mark Wood or Olly Stone in reserve, it is hard to build the required intensity from an attack that lacks the pace to sustain Archer’s threat. Stokes could, perhaps, fulfil the role of fast-bowling foil to Archer – he certainly bowled fast enough on slow surfaces in Sri Lanka – but in this game, understandably, was probably holding back just a little.While Stuart Broad struck early, neither he or Sam Curran carried much threat for the rest of the day. Curran came back pretty well after a disappointing first spell but he could face a tough series if he is unable to coax any swing from these balls. Stokes, while expensive, took two quick wickets after deceiving Tim Seifert with what appeared to be a slower ball and then saw Jimmy Neesham play-on as he attempted a forcing stroke. Leach conceded three fours in five deliveries at one stage but only conceded one more in his 26 overs. Again, there is nothing in these conditions for Leach but if he can restrict the scoring rate to 2.15 an over as he did here, he can feel he has done a decent job for his team.One thing is certain: if England are to win here for the first time since 2008, they will have to hold their catches. On the first day of this match, Dom Sibley, at second slip, put down a relatively simple stomach-height offered by Phillips on 27 off Stokes. These things happen, of course, but they are starting to happen just a little more often than can be ignored. Tom Blundell was reprieved on 60, too, when it caught behind off what turned out to be a no-ball, though he was very well caught at midwicket next ball.Joe Root suffered an injury scare in England’s warm-up•Getty Images

There was also an injury scare. Joe Root was forced off the field for a while after landing heavily when diving to prevent a boundary at long-on. He was subsequently diagnosed with a jarred hip, but returned to field well before stumps. It is not anticipated there will be lasting consequences.In the longer-term, Gough felt Saqib Mahmood could be the sort of bowler who could make inroads in such conditions. With his pace, his somewhat slingy action and a willingness to pitch the ball full, he would appear to have the ingredients to reverse this kookaburra ball as Gough once did. “He’s different to the others,” Gough said. “He’s another option when the pitch is flat. We’re working on reverse. He has the natural talent to do it and he’s desperate to be better at it. He’s keen to learn.”Some may point to Curran’s figures and suggest Chris Woakes was unfortunate to miss out here. And it is true that Woakes, with his extra pace, can at least force batsmen on to the back foot a little more readily. He also feels his recently-acquired ability to bowl the wobble seam gives him a new weapon in such conditions. But it’s not as if he has not had chances in such circumstances and it may well be wishful thinking to suggest he would have provided any more of a cutting edge. As Gough said later, while recognising Woakes’ skills, “whether he has to do something different to the past away from home, it will be interesting to see if he gets an opportunity and realises that.” The slightly depressing truth is, after years of playing county cricket on seaming wickets and with a Dukes ball, there are very few England bowlers who will flourish in these conditions.”I’ve not seen a swinging ball in the two weeks I’ve been here,” Gough said, though he did admit he had managed to swing it in the nets. “At about 70 mph. And that’s a big difference. If it swings, it will be for the first eight or nine overs.”Whatever happens on this tour, the influence of Gough has been perceived as a success. The combination of a fresh voice and his vast experience have provided new ideas to experienced bowlers who have probably heard rather a lot of the familiar, somewhat homogenised ECB voices. Gough, positive but prepared to offer some home truths where necessary, has encouraged new ideas. It seems unlikely he will be lured into anything like a full-time role – he enjoys his radio job too much for that – but conversations about future consultancy spells with England’s bowlers are ongoing.

ECB Reporters Network11-Sep-2018
ScorecardBen Slater and Kraigg Brathwaite combined to give Nottinghamshire a slender advantage by stumps on the second day of their Specsavers County Championship meeting with Essex at Trent Bridge.Batting for a second time, 56 runs adrift, the home county’s opening pair reproduced last week’s heroics with a century stand to help Notts towards 116 for one by the close, a lead of 60.A week ago, in the drawn Yorkshire fixture, Brathwaite and Slater compiled stands of 182 and 91 on their home debuts.They were parted in the first over on the opening day of this match but rediscovered their mojo to blunt the Essex attack for more than two hours.
Slater, who scored 109 against the White Rose, made 54 before being dismissed just before the close. Brathwaite remains undefeated on 47.Earlier, the visitors were bowled out for 233 before tea, with captain Steven Mullaney taking four for 68, his best figures of the season.Resuming after lunch, from 133 for five, after rain had wiped out the entire morning session, the reigning county champions lost Jamie Porter in the first over of the day, lbw to Luke Fletcher.The same bowler then had Adam Wheater spilled twice in the slip cordon but the batsman couldn’t make the most of his good fortune by then nicking Mullaney behind for 14.Ryan ten Doeschate took his side to within three of the Notts’ first innings score before falling lbw to Mullaney for 32.Emulating Nottinghamshire’s tail-wagging exploits of the opening day, Essex’s last couple of wickets helped themselves to some unexpected but welcome runs.Simon Harmer received good support from both Matt Coles and Matt Quinn as the last two wickets added a further 59.Luke Wood eventually finished things off, trapping Coles lbw for nine, before inducing Harmer to chop on for a well-constructed 48, leaving Quinn unbeaten on one after 33 minutes at the crease.Slater had an early scare when he nicked Porter at the start of Nottinghamshire’s second innings but Dan Lawrence, at third slip, could only parry the ball away at full stretch.Chances from then on were few and far between as the deficit was wiped out without too much inconvenience.Slater’s 50 was reached from 83 balls faced but he failed to see out the day after being struck on the pads by Coles.Fletcher, in as Nottinghamshire’s nightwatchman, was spilled by Murali Vijay in the final over of the day but Brathwaite, who has registered half-centuries in each of his first two outings for Notts, will resume on the third morning within three runs of extending that sequence.

Kyle Hope and Sunil Ambris have earned call-ups to West Indies’ one-day international squad for the final three ODIs of their ongoing home series against India

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jun-2017Kyle Hope and Sunil Ambris have earned call-ups to West Indies’ one-day international squad* for the final three ODIs of their ongoing home series against India. The duo came in at the expense of Jonathan Carter and Kieran Powell in Cricket West Indies’ 13-man squad named on Tuesday.

West Indies squad

Jason Holder (capt), Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Kyle Hope, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Kesrick Williams

Hope, the 28-year old top-order batsman and brother of incumbent national wicketkeeper Shai, captains Trinidad & Tobago in domestic cricket, while Ambris, a 24-year old wicketkeeper-batsman, plays for Windward Islands. Both players are uncapped at the international level.Hope opened the batting for West Indies A on the one-day leg of their tour of Sri Lanka last year, and turned in good performances with a century and an 81 in three matches. He was also one of the stars of T&T’s campaign in the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4 Day Tournament (PCL) in 2016-17, finishing second only to Yannic Cariah on the tournament run charts.Ambris was the seventh-best run-scorer in that tournament with 608 runs at 43.42. That included a double-century against Leeward Islands, when he cracked a 256-ball 231, with the help of 27 fours and five sixes, to set up Windward Islands’ seven-wicket win.”Sunil Ambris and Kyle Hope are two very promising young batsmen who have been selected on the basis of strong performances in our competitions,” Courtney Browne, Cricket West Indies’ chairman of selectors, said. “Kyle opened on our last A team one-day tour to Sri Lanka and had some very good performances. In addition, he also had a good showing opening the batting for the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force franchise in this year’s PCL competition.”Sunil did well in our Regional Super50 One-Day tournament and also had a good showing in this year’s PCL first-class tournament for Windward Islands Volcanoes, and therefore will fit within our middle order. They will be up against a good Indian team and they have an opportunity to show their skills and contribute to a stronger team performance.”The third ODI takes place on Friday in Antigua, which will also host the fourth game, before the teams head to Kingston for the fifth and final match and a one-off T20 International. India lead the one-day series 1-0, having picked up a 105-run win in Port of Spain after the first match ended in a washout.*15.40 GMT The story has been updated to reflect Kesrick Williams’ presence in the squad, per a WICB media release pointing out a correction in the squad they had sent out.