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Bangladesh paid the price for dropping Karunaratne on 28, before debutant Shoriful Islam got him for 118

Mohammad Isam29-Apr-2021Stumps Centuries from Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne gave Sri Lanka full control of the first day of the second Test in Pallekele, as the home side ended at 291 for 1 at stumps. The pitch offered next to nothing to the Bangladesh bowlers, but the visitors were also guilty of sitting on defensive lengths and spread-out fields from quite early on.It allowed Karunaratne, fresh from his maiden double-century last weekend, and Thirimanne to dominate once they had managed to bat out the first couple of hours cautiously. The pair added 209, Sri Lanka’s first 200-plus opening stand since 2011, and the first in the country in 21 years. The partnership, which is also the pair’s third consecutive century stand, ended when Karunaratne was caught behind off Bangladesh’s debutant Shoriful Islam shortly after tea.Karunaratne made 118 off 190 balls, having struck 15 boundaries. During the course of the innings, he crossed 5,000 Test runs, apart from reaching his 12th Test century, the most by any active Sri Lanka batter. Thirimanne was the more circumspect of the two, as he reached his third Test century – the second this year – having piled up his fifth fifty-plus score in his last six innings.Thirimanne was unbeaten on 131 off 253 balls with 14 fours, alongside Oshada Fernando, who kept things calm after the long opening partnership. Fernando ended on 40 not out off 98 balls.Karunaratne and Thirimanne had begun the day slowly, adding just 66 runs in 27 overs in the first session. They had to ride out initial movement from Taskin Ahmed and Abu Jayed. Ahmed in particular was a real menace in his first two spells. He could have had an early success but Najmul Hossain Shanto dropped Karunaratne on 28 during the first session.Only Taskin and newcomer Shoriful looked penetrative over the length of their spells, but they too seemed to have gradually got tired. Jayed hardly tried anything other than a largely straight line and length, while the spinners Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled too quickly in most of their spells.Karunaratne largely focused on getting his boundaries through the range between wide third man and extra cover. Eleven out of his 15 boundaries came through this region, as he hardly scored through mid-off and mid-on. Thirimanne too got plenty of runs through point and cover, and also played some fascinating straight drives besides a couple through wide mid-on.The home side remains on course to put up a dominating first innings total, perhaps one that would be enough to keep Bangladesh out of contention for the rest of the game.

Wade and D’Arcy Short added an opening stand of 203 as the Strikers were left to settle for third place and a spot in the Knockout final

The Report by Andrew McGlashan26-Jan-2020A breathtaking century by captain Matthew Wade helped the Hobart Hurricanes time their run into the BBL finals just right as they secured a spot in the Eliminator by overcoming the Adelaide Strikers in a high-scoring match of more than 400 runs.Wade and D’Arcy Short added 203 for the first wicket with Wade finishing on a magnificent unbeaten 130 off 61 balls, which, at one stage, looked set to threaten Marcus Stoinis’ recent BBL record of 147.Matthew Wade was in blistering form•Getty Images

However, the Strikers – who could have clinched second place with victory – gave the chase a terrific attempt led by Phil Salt as he looked capable of matching Wade. However, the impressive Nathan Ellis again shone at the death while James Faulkner showed his experience when it mattered.The outcome means that the Strikers will host the knockout match at the Adelaide Oval on February 1 while the Sydney Sixers have earned a spot in the Qualifier against the Melbourne Stars and two chances to reach the final. The Hurricanes’ opponents, the Brisbane Heat away or Sydney Thunder at home, would be known on Monday after the final regular-season match between the Heat and the Melbourne Renegades.Wade’s masterclassWade, who has hit a purple patch in the last week, looked in the mood early on and by the end of the powerplay had 38 off 19 balls with the Hurricanes going at ten an over. It was the eighth over, which would become Billy Stanlake’s only one of the innings, where the Strikers began to really lose control as Wade fed off a leg-side line in an over that cost 22. Though he had gone for 21 before the final ball of the over, it might have been different for Stanlake if Jono Wells had managed to hold Wade at deep square-leg on 57. The Strikers’ go-to bowler, Rashid Khan, was also taken for consecutive sixes before Wade brought up his hundred from 48 balls after reaching 99 with a bottom-handed flick over the ropes off Peter Siddle.Short plays second fiddleIt is little surprise that the Hurricanes’ season has come together as they’ve got Wade and Short back in harness after their respective international duties. Short made a duck in his game after the India tour (although he took a five-wicket haul) and did not quite look in his best form for most of this innings, but showed maturity by playing in Wade’s slipstream and not giving it away. In a mark of the contrasting innings, Short’s fifty and Wade’s hundred both took 48 deliveries but Short got some rewards late on as he struck three sixes in the space of four balls to take the total over 200. The last two overs from the Strikers only went for 15 but a lot of damage had been done.A sprinkling of SaltAlthough they could secure second spot, overall there was less pressure on the Strikers than the Hurricanes and they were able to approach a tough chase with a degree of freedom knowing a home knockout match was theirs even in defeat. Salt was dropped second ball – a sitter to George Bailey at point, who managed to maintain his sense of humour (his career now has at least one more game) – and raced out of the blocks to put the Hurricanes’ bowlers under the pump. At the end of the powerplay, the Strikers were ahead in the comparison at 1 for 66. With the halfway mark of the innings approaching, they had kept the required rate around 11 but attempting to clear the popular deep midwicket area, Salt picked out Short, who had previously given him a life in the same spot on 43.Nerves at the deathWhen Scott Boland removed Travis Head – the ball rolling up his leg and back into the stumps – the Strikers surged again as Alex Carey and Wells took 25 off the next seven deliveries. By the start of the 17th over, they needed 48 off 24 balls with a set Carey and in-form Wells in the middle. However, Clive Rose bravely held back his first delivery of the over and Wells missed his sweep, and then it was over to Ellis and Faulkner to close out. Ellis’ first ball of the 18th was swung for six by Khan but his next was a pinpoint yorker, which earned an lbw. He went for just six off the next four deliveries, and then Faulkner used all his variations to concede five off the penultimate over, leaving Ellis with 22 to defend from the last.

India’s captain said he might have played four quicks in the Perth Test even if R Ashwin had been fit

Sidharth Monga in Perth18-Dec-20184:09

‘We were totally convinced about this combination’ – Kohli

India might have gone into the Perth Test without a spinner even if R Ashwin had been fit, their captain Virat Kohli has said.Ashwin was ruled out of the game with a side strain, and India, rather than replacing him with Ravindra Jadeja, the other spinner in their 13-man squad for the Test, went ahead with a four-man pace attack. Australia stuck with their 3-1 combination and their spinner Nathan Lyon won the Man-of-the-Match award for his eight wickets.These events were somewhat similar to those of the Adelaide Test on the 2014-15 tour – Kohli’s first Test as captain – when India had played the rookie legspinner Karn Sharma, who leaked runs with little success, and Lyon had taken 12 wickets.India’s selection came in for sharp criticism, but Kohli defended it, saying the pitch had played exactly how the team management had expected it to.”Yes, we could have considered that (playing four quicks),” Kohli said, when asked if Ashwin would have played had he been fit. “If you see, the rough didn’t have much assistance. It was just the pace on the ball that Lyon bowled that he got the wickets that he got.”We as a team didn’t want to think that we definitely wanted to consider a spinning option on this pitch, especially having a look at the pitch on day one and how we thought it would play on the first three days, and exactly played out that way. We thought a fast bowler is going to be more productive and more helpful for us as a team.”The choice of the fourth fast bowler was also contentious, with Umesh Yadav getting a go ahead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is usually considered an automatic pick on well-grassed pitches. Kohli said Bhuvneshwar lost out because he had not played much four-day cricket of late.”Bhuvi hasn’t played a lot of four-day cricket recently, and Umesh took 10 wickets in his last Test (against West Indies in Hyderabad), and was in good bowling rhythm. So that was the reason behind picking Umesh over Bhuvi.”Bhuvneshwar’s last first-class match was in Johannesburg, nearly 11 months ago. In England, he aggravated a lower-back injury during the ODI series, and was ruled out of the Test series in the same country, where conditions are considered to be ideal for him to bowl in. He was then rested for the home Tests against West Indies.Umesh Yadav gets to his run up•Associated Press

One of the reasons Bhuvneshwar was missed was his batting. Even in Johannesburg, on a pitch that just escaped being labelled dangerous, he scored 30 and 33 out of India’s totals of 187 and 247. India have often spoken of lower-order runs as one of the major contributing factors to their Test success, and this was the case just last week in Adelaide, where Ashwin scored 25 in a crucial 62-run stand for the seventh wicket. In Perth, India’s Nos. 8 to 11 only contributed 11 runs between them across both innings.”You obviously have two situations that you can think of,” Kohli said. “When you pick another fast bowler, obviously Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja have more ability with the bat, we all know that. It’s a very tricky decision to make, what kind of a bowling option you want to go with or you want to think that that guy can contribute with the bat as well.”So eventually you come to one decision, and we back that decision and went ahead with it. Whether it comes off or not, that’s a different thing, but we were totally convinced in the team that that was our best combination to go with, and the batsmen have to take responsibility. There are lots of variables that can happen during the course of a cricket match but before that, you need to have clarity as to what you want to do. And as a side, we were totally clear that this was the combination we wanted to go with.”The preferred option, Umesh, ended the match with figures of 2 for 139 from 37 overs and consolidated his reputation as a bowler much better suited to Indian conditions where he has reverse-swing to work with. Umesh’s economy rate of 3.75 had two knock-on effects: the part-time spinners bowled 29 overs, and the other three quicks had to keep coming back for spells when they may not have been at their freshest.Kohli was, however, happy with the fast bowlers’ performance overall.”Especially yesterday, the first session, giving away only 56-odd runs without getting a wicket,” Kohli said, when asked if he was satisfied with the control he had on the game, in the absence of a spinner. “I think it was outstanding bowling, and obviously [Mohammed] Shami did what he did in the next session with the ball (he took six wickets in the second innings), which was again wonderful to see. So, yeah. I think they executed their plans to 95% of what we expected.”I think you definitely can be happy with that. In the past when we have played four quicks, we definitely haven’t been as consistent as we were in this game. So, I think they were pretty accurate, pretty consistent, and as I said we were pretty convinced about going in with four fast bowlers looking at the conditions. I think they did pretty well.”

Stuart Law has suggested West Indies could show leniency in their selection policy towards senior players such as Chris Gayle because of the experience they bring

Nagraj Gollapudi06-Oct-2017West Indies coach Stuart Law is open to showing “leniency” towards selecting Chris Gayle as long as veteran opener can fulfil certain “guidelines”. Law said he had seen enough during the limited-overs leg of the England tour last month to convince him that Gayle had earned the right for the management to relax certain selection norms.Gayle played his first ODIs since the 2015 World Cup, having also made a T20 comeback earlier this year. Two instances in particular, during the T20 international at Chester-le-Street and the fourth ODI, at The Oval, assured Law of Gayle’s commitment.”There are certain players you give leniency to,” Law told ESPNcricinfo, during a wide-ranging interview. “Chris is one of our greatest-ever players. You have got to pay respect to that. Not saying it is an open draw, but there have got to be certain guidelines, which I am still trying to work out. What I saw in the T20 game in Durham and what I saw in the ODI at The Oval was a guy who was committed to the cause.”Gayle played the catalyst for the first time when he checked the emotions of his opening partner Evin Lewis in the T20I, which West Indies won. “In Durham he slowed the play down for a bit while Evin was batting at the other end,” Law said. “Evin was a bit twitchy facing Joe Root. Three dot balls. Chris realised Evin was going to try and hit the next ball for a six. Chris just stopped the play, walked down, had a quick chat and calmed Evin down.”During the Oval ODI, which West Indies lost on DLS in a rain-affected match, Gayle was busy helping his captain Jason Holder setting fields in addition to motivating the bowlers.Law agreed that seniors like Gayle and fellow Jamaican Marlon Samuels were expected to perform, but the two most experienced players could also prove effective by mentoring team-mates during a match, which was the best form of coaching.Although Samuels has been struggling in the past few years, Law was certain he was committed to the job just like Gayle. “I have not spoken to them at any length about their involvement in the future, but as far as I am concerned, if they are not committed, why are they here? If they are just playing for the sake of playing, I don’t think that is Marlon or Chris. They are here to play because they want to be here. They have got to perform, yes. But imparting knowledge to the youngsters is invaluable. It is tough to build a team without that experience together out on the ground, talking through situations. We can send messages from the sideline, but those don’t have the same impact.”Law took over as West Indies coach in January and in the last eight months, the team has won 11 out of 34 matches under his watch. Among the victories were two Test wins: against Pakistan at Bridgetown and then the thriller at Headingley against England. Law, along with the selectors and director of cricket, Jimmy Adams, have a lot of trust in the young Test unit, whose average age is 23.However, Law’s priority is to make sure West Indies reach the 2019 World Cup. Having lost out on the direct entry route, West Indies will need to finish among the top two at the World Cup Qualifiers next March. With the amnesty put in place by Cricket West Indies recently opening up the potential for some of the best limited-overs players to return, Law is optimistic he will have the services of the likes of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Carlos Brathwaite.Law also agreed with the relaxed criteria put in place by Adams and CWI chief executive, Johnny Grave, in order for the players to qualify for selection for the ODIs. “I want the best players available,” Law said.”I am not a selector, but yes, I do sit in on the selection process. There are some qualification criteria that the players have to adhere to. Now the number of games [in domestic cricket] they have to play to qualify has been significantly reduced. That gives them the best of both worlds: they can go out and play certain [T20] tournaments they are already contracted to, but it also gives them time to come back and play the quota [of domestic cricket] they have to be eligible to play ODI cricket.”The Pro50 finishes about a week before the World Cup Qualifiers, so it would be good to have players play our domestic tournament. They would be playing 50-over cricket before the World Cup Qualifiers, which is essential.”

Essex face an awkward final-day run chase as they seek to strengthen their hold at the top of Division Two of the Specsavers Championship after a sudden Gloucestershire collapse at Cheltenham

Paul Edwards at Cheltenham15-Jul-2016
ScorecardThings went wrong for Gloucestershire after Gareth Roderick’s century•Getty Images

A day which some thought would confirm Essex as favourites to take Division Two’s single promotion place eventually did so but not without suggesting the type of resistance the leaders must overcome if they are to prevail.After a long day which warmed and brightened and even, at its best, confirmed the arrival of summer, Ryan ten Doeschate’s batsmen need another 197 runs with nine wickets in hand to clinch a victory that would give them a 23-point lead at the top of the table. Essex are in a dominant position but the loss of Jaik Mickleburgh’s wicket three overs before the close will have reminded the visitors that there is still serious work ahead of them.But the rather pleasant state of affairs for supporters travelling from Colchester and Clacton followed two very fruitful sessions for home loyalists in which Gloucestershire’s batsmen had made light of a 78-run first-innings deficit and had themselves established a decent lead of 153 runs with seven wickets in hand at tea.Gareth Roderick’s century and Chris Dent’s increasingly assured 72 had fortified the hopes of those frequenting the hopes of those in the Churchdown and Charlton Kings marquees that Essex might be set a stiff target on the final day of this match.However, once the openers were out, ten Doeschate’s bowlers greedily exploited the weakness of Gloucestershire’s later batsmen and the home side lost their last eight wickets for 62 runs with Matt Quinn removing four of the top seven batsmen to end with a match analysis of 11 for 63, comfortably the best of his career.Graham Napier also showed what a loss he will be to Essex when he retires at the end of the season by making short work of the Gloucestershire tailenders. The combination of Quinn’s hostility and Napier’s movement finally broke the home side.Foster took three catches off Napier and Quinn won a lively red-blooded exchange with Craig Miles, who whacked him for six over midwicket before giving a catch to ten Doeschate at leg slip next ball. Michael Klinger was left undefeated on 53 and three of Gloucestershire’s batsmen scored nearly 80% of their team’s runs”The clock hath ceased to sound…shadow is round the eaves / The long day closes” wrote the lyricist Henry Fothergill Chorley in his famously gloomy part-song collaboration with Arthur Sullivan. As Nick Browne and the nighwatchman, Jamie Porter, made their way off the College Ground at ten past seven, one could see what he meant but the Essex players will not give a hoot about hard work should they be celebrating a victory on Saturday afternoon.Nevertheless, it felt rather more than eight hours since grey cloud had lain quilted over the College Ground on the third morning of this game. That, of course, should not have brought either warmth or comfort to Gloucestershire’s cricketers. The change in atmospheric conditions had helped cause their ruination in the first innings and they probably longed for the benevolent sunlight enjoyed by Dan Lawrence on Thursday evening. Instead, they would have to bat in double-maths weather with no prospect of a visit to the tuck shop.But conditions which augured only struggle instead brought affluence in the first half of the day as Roderick and Dent put on 148 runs for their side’s first wicket in 31.3 overs. The warmth that had helped Quinn to make hay on the first afternoon was lacking. So instead of struggling against a late-swinging ball, the openers prospered on the cool, rain-haunted morning.Roderick cover-drove Porter to the schoolchildren on the boundary in the third over and that was the first of six crisp fours struck by Gloucestershire’s captain on the way to a 43-ball fifty, his sixth half-century of the Championship season. The last of these, a clattering pull off a short ball from Quinn also wiped out the deficit with which the home side had begun the day. The layered members in front of the pavilion applauded generously, although this may have been have been as much to warm themselves as to salute the landmark. ” ‘Ee gave ‘im some ‘ammer” said one.Either side of a half-hour break for drizzle, the openers put on 88 in the first session and were pleasantly settled when Nottingham and Cleeve Hills were reduced to grey shapes as more rain fell and the umpires called for an early lunch. Then the hills disappeared entirely and only the leaves on the trees persuaded one this was not October.Nevertheless, the cricket brought happiness to the primary school children from Northleach, Amberley and Thrupp and to the folk in the marquees sponsored by the Churchdown Club and Gloucestershire Arms. The former, rebelling against killjoy injunction, were both seen and heard whereas the latter’s comments could be made out ever more distinctly as the afternoon drifted on and hospitality did its work. Essex’s more frivolous appeals were treated to ribald mockery.The jocular mood was stilled a little when Ravi Bopara bowled Dent off the inside edge when the batsmen was only half-way through his shot and quietened even more when Graeme van Buuren was caught down the leg side for 25 by James Foster off Quinn. Then Roderick, after completing his first century of the season off 134 balls, was leg before to Bopara and the home side were 228 for 3.The ale still flowed in the tents, of course – this is the Cheltenham Festival and enjoyment has never been dependent upon success. But it should be the Essex players who are savouring their pints tomorrow afternoon

Australian opening batsman Chris Rogers has been left red-faced after it emerged that he has been attempting to sell tickets for the Ashes Test at Lord’s contrary to regulations

George Dobell23-Jun-20151:26

Rogers reprimanded for Lord’s ticket offer

Chris Rogers has been left red-faced after it emerged that he has been attempting to sell tickets for the Ashes Test at Lord’s contrary to regulations.Rogers, who is likely to open the batting for Australia in the Ashes, was one of two partners in Inside Edge Experience, a company offering tickets and hospitality to the Lord’s Ashes Test. The other partner was Tom Scollay, a former Middlesex colleague.To further embarrass Rogers, it appears that Scollay was offering prospective clients access to the Australian team as part of the package. Rogers has denied that he knew of such an offer.Sourcing 10 tickets quite legally from Middlesex – Rogers is a former club captain – the pair offered them as hospitality packages from a minimum of $3,590 Australian dollars (£1,765 ) for the Test, including additions such as a refillable cooler bag for drinks and a picnic lunch. The price of packages rose, with travel and accommodation included, to $5,950 (£2,925 ) for the Test.But when the MCC, the owners of Lord’s, learned of the scheme, they contacted Middlesex and it was immediately closed down. Inside Edge Experience are not licensed to sell cricket hospitality packages and are not one of the MCC’s approved operators. It is understood that only one package had been sold and that the party involved will receive a full refund.”We are vehemently opposed to the second ticket market,” a spokesman for the MCC told ESPNcricinfo. “In this case, we understand that no tickets have changed hands and we were assured that it was simply a case of naivety and over enthusiasm.”Middlesex’s senior management were also disappointed. They are given a relatively few tickets by the MCC – fewer than 100 a day – and supply them in the expectation they are used by family and friends.They have made it quite clear than onward selling of them for profit is inappropriate and an abuse of the privilege, though they have accepted that a junior member of staff knew about the scheme and had no idea that it breached any guidelines. They also accept that Rogers did not know the guidelines and made a genuine mistake.”They shouldn’t have done this,” a club official told ESPNcricinfo. “We have a great relationship with our landlords, the MCC, and the last thing we would want to do is jeopardise that.”These tickets are meant for family and friends and there has been some naive thinking if anyone thinks they can sell them on. It shouldn’t happen and we will have to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”A Cricket Australia spokesman termed the episode a “misunderstanding” and confirmed that Rogers had not faced disciplinary action.”He was very open about the venture,” the spokesman said, “but it may be he reflects that this type of thing is more appropriate once he has finished playing.”Cricket Australia were not aware of the suggestion that access had been offered to players. But an email sent by Scollay describes it as “a very unique opportunity to have access to the players during the test (sic) and something people can’t get elsewhere.”He went on to say: “Australian test opener Chris Rogers is my partner in this venture but we have to keep that off mainstream media due to Cricket Australia contract reasons.”As of June 23, the company’s website and Facebook page were still active. Middlesex demanded their logo was removed immediately.

A round-up of matches from the Caribbean T20 on Tuesday, January 15, 2012

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2013
Scorecard
Trinidad and Tobago have now won four out of their five games in the Caribbean T20 and are at the top of the table. Their latest win came against Windward Islands in St Lucia, and a comprehensive one at that. Windwards batted first and were restricted to 125 for 6, thanks to economical spells from most of T&T’s bowlers. Keddy Lesporis top-scored with 31, but it came off 33 balls, and even Darren Sammy scored at less than a run a ball, making an unbeaten 25 off 27. Legspinner Samuel Badree was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 for 15 in four overs.T&T lost openers Lendl Simmons and William Perkins inside the first five overs but Dwayne Bravo and Darren Bravo ensured there were no further hiccups. Both struck half-centuries, Darren striking four fours and three sixes, and Dwayne finishing with 62, with five fours and four sixes. Their unbeaten stand of 112 in just 68 balls sealed victory with 22 balls to spare.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Jamaica picked up their third win in the Caribbean T20, beating Guyana by five wickets in St Lucia. Jamaica chose to field and they had Guyana in trouble very early in the innings, the fast-bowling combination of Sheldon Cotterrell and Andre Russell rattling the Guyana top order. The pair shared six wickets between them, Russell taking four of them, and reduced Guyana to 41 for 6. Christopher Barnwell and Royston Crandon added 33 for the seventh wicket, Nikita Miller picked up two wickets and the innings folded for just 93.Jamaica’s chase suffered an early setback with the loss of two wickets inside the first three overs but Danza Hyatt, Krishmar Santokie followed by Russell chipped in with valuable 20s to see their team home with 11 balls to spare.

ESPNcricinfo previews the second Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Durban

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran25-Dec-2011

Match facts

December 26-30, Durban
Start time 10:00 (08:00GMT)Vernon Philander’s knee injury was a major worry for South Africa ahead of the Durban Test•Getty Images

The Big Picture

For a team that has almost always been near the summit of the Test rankings, South Africa’s recent home record is surprisingly ordinary – no series wins in more than three years. Their performances at Kingsmead in that period are similarly bleak – losing to each of the other major contenders for the title of world’s best Test team. Graeme Smith and his side get the chance to erase both those blots this week as they take on a disjointed Sri Lanka.After subsiding for below 200 in both innings of the first Test, the Sri Lanka batsmen won’t be overly thrilled at the sight of a green-tinged track. In a bid to bolster the batting, Sri Lanka are mulling bringing in highly rated wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal in place of Kaushal Silva, who hasn’t had the best of times in his three matches as replacement for regular gloveman Prasanna Jayawardene.The number that is becoming synonymous with discussions about the decline of Sri Lankan cricket is the number of Tests they have gone without a victory since the retirement of their greatest player, Muttiah Muralitharan, last year. That now stands at 15, but almost as worrying is that in only two of those matches have Sri Lanka managed to bowl out the opposition twice.Adding to the troubles on the field, are the many problems off it. A bankrupt board which is struggling to pay player salaries, and has indefinitely postponed its domestic matches. To top it off was the confusion in communication – their captain Tillakaratne Dilshan’s announcement that fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara will join the squad was over-ruled a few days later by the sports ministry. All of which means Sri Lanka will need a Christmas miracle to pull off a victory in Durban.

Form guide

(Most recent first)
South Africa WLWDL
Sri Lanka LDLDD

Watch out for…

Thilan Samaraweera boasts a career average of 52.20 after playing as many as 69 Tests. But he doesn’t get the respect that others with similar figures do because of his average record overseas, particularly against top teams like England, Australia and India. A big contribution on a tough Kingsmead track against a world-class South Africa attack will be a fitting riposte to his detractors.Jacques Rudolph revived a seemingly dead South Africa career with a wagon-load of domestic runs this year, but he hasn’t been able to carry that form to the Test level. With no half-century in three Tests, the selectors could be tempted to bring back Alviro Petersen if there are more failures. Petersen himself was axed after a relatively short fallow period, and his recall to the squad for the series sends a message to Rudolph.

Team news

South Africa will be waiting on Vernon Philander’s fitness after he injured his knee during training, but it seems likely he will play. If he doesn’t, Lonwabo Tsotsobe is the likely replacement, provided he has recovered fully from a side strain which has sidelined him since early November. If not, South Africa will have to call on a reserve – Marchant de Lange could make his debut. Smith has said that “ideally the team will stay the same.”South Africa: (probable) 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Jacques Rudolph, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Ashwell Prince, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran TahirDilshan has hinted that Chandimal will play in place of Kaushal Silva and it’s expected that Thisara Perera will sit out for Dhammika Prasad.Sri Lanka: (probable) 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), 2 Tharanga Paranavitana, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 8 Rangana Herath, 9 Dhammika Prasad, 10 Dilhara Fernando, 11 Chanaka Welegedara

Pitch and conditions

Durban has usually been a fast bowler’s delight, and it is expected to have plenty of swing this time round as well, so don’t count on a high-scoring draw. The bowlers will relish the green pitch and overcast conditions and the only downer is the mid-week rain that is predicted.

Stats and trivia

• Sri Lanka are the only team against which Jacques Kallis hasn’t scored a Test century
• If Chandimal is picked, he will be Sri Lanka’s eighth Test debutant this year, the most since 1999
• In Tests between the two countries, Muttiah Muralitharan has 104 wickets – that’s more than twice the next highest, Shaun Pollock with 48

For a full stats analysis, click here.

Quotes

“The wicket looks like it should go more than three days, unless one team puts up their hand and plays unbelievable cricket. It will be a good Test wicket with something for both bat and ball and something to play for over five days for a change.”
“I remember facing Mfuneko Ngam, who was the quickest bowler I had faced. It was a Test match that we fought hard to draw.”

A round-up of the second day of the seventh round of Division One of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2010Faisalabad have an excellent chance of picking up their first win of the season as Multan lead them by just 118 runs with one wicket in hand at the Bahawal Stadium in Bahawalpur. That Multan even lead by that much was due largely to Kashif Naved’s remarkable 97, which is 45 more than anyone else has managed so far. Coming in at No.7, Naved decided to go after the bowling, smashing 15 fours in his 108-ball effort, and was unfortunate to miss out on a hundred, edging one to the keeper off Zeeshan Butt. In contrast, opener Zaka-ul-Rashid needed 172 balls to make 54, as he battled for four hours and four minutes. Butt and Hasan Mahmood picked up three wickets each, to leave Multan 207 for 9 at stumps. Only 10 wickets fell on day two, after 19 batsmen made the walk back to the pavilion yesterday.Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited trail Habib Bank Limited by 37 runs with seven wickets in hand in their second innings at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. HBL started the day on 130 for 4, and Hasan Raza and Aftab Alam extended their fifth-wicket partnership to 84 before Alam was bowled by Rehan Riaz for 44. Raza went on to make 60, and Kamran Hussain chipped in with 42 down the order, the two sharing 60-run partnership for the seventh wicket, to take HBL to 299. Mohammad Khalil bagged 5 for 64 for ZTBL. Openers Yasir Hameed and Inam-ul-Haq then set about erasing the deficit, adding 124 together, but three quick wickets at the end, two to Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria, titled the game firmly in HBL’s favour. HBL and ZTBL are currently tied for second in the points table with 39 points each.Sialkot took control of their game against Karachi Blues at the National Stadium in Karachi on the backs of a mammoth stand between centurions Mohammad Ayub and 22-year-old allrounder Mansoor Amjad, and the pace bowling of Imran Malik. Ayub and Amjad, who has played one ODI for Pakistan, added 289, with the former making 134 and the latter 157, in the visitor’s total of 389 for 9 declared. Malik then took 4 for 22 from 14 stingy overs, to leave Karachi reeling at 136 for 8. Rameez Raja and Murtaza Majeed, with 37 and 35 respectively, were the only two batsmen to go past 20.National Bank of Pakistan rebounded from a poor first innings to edge ahead in their game against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. NBP took the last 8 SNGP wickets for just 62 runs to dismiss them for 135, before the openers added 73 to extend their lead to 88. Resuming on 73 for 2, Naeemuddin was the only batsman to offer any resistance, making 48 in a little under four hours, as wickets tumbled all around him. Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal had a banner day behind the stumps, grabbing six catches, as four bowlers shared the nine wickets to fall (Samiullah Khan was absent hurt).The game between Water and Power Development Authority and Pakistan International Airlines was evenly poised at the Marghzar Cricket Ground in Islamabad, after PIA took a 13-run first-innings lead, and extended it to 81 by the close of play. Rafatullah Mohmand was the only WAPDA batsman to go past 50, making 57 before becoming one of Anwar Ali’s three victims. He shared in a stand worth 57 with Aamer Sajid, who made 35. Aizaz Cheema took 4 for 57 to lead the bowlers. Agha Sabir made 41, before retiring hurt, to take PIA to 68 for 2.A maiden ton from Shoib Nasir and half-centuries from Babar Naeem and Zahid Mansoor put Rawalpindi in command of their game against Islamabad at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad. Nasir, playing just his fourth first-class game, made 110, and added 126 for the fourth wicket with Naeem, who made a rapid 66-ball 58, striking 11 fours. Both batsmen were bowled by Fakhar Hussain, who finished with 5 for 56, his first career five-wicket haul. Mansoor was unbeaten on 59, having put on 71 with Jamal Anwar for the eighth wicket, as Rawalpindi ended the day on 353 for 7.

One of the key challenges that England will have to confront as they aim to secure a series victory against South Africa won’t actually come from the home side, but rather the geographical location of the Wanderers

Andrew McGlashan in Johannesburg11-Jan-2010One of the key challenges that England will have to confront as they aim to secure a series victory against South Africa won’t actually come from the home side, but rather the geographical location of the Wanderers. The stadium is 6000 feet above sea level which creates a unique atmosphere – or lack of it – for the players.The air is noticeably thinner at such a height and after three weeks down at sea level for the Durban and Cape Town Tests it will take some getting used to. The batsmen tend to notice it running while between the wickets, the fielders while chasing down boundaries – and the ball seems to travel that much quicker at altitude – and the fast bowlers notice it while coming off their long runs.As a home team has every right to do, South Africa have been clever in their scheduling of this tour – although they haven’t made the most of their home advantage thus far, seeing as they are currently 1-0 down. Prior to the first Test at Centurion Park, which is also on the highveld, England spent 10 days on the coast in East London and they are now in the same situation.”It’s unbelievable. There’s no oxygen, for a start,” Matt Prior, the England wicketkeeper said. “Your body, your lungs can feel it just in the warm-up. We’ve been at sea level a long time, at Durban and Cape Town, so coming back to altitude is something that takes a bit of getting used to. But the fitness work has been good so it should be fine after today and tomorrow.”The altitude also has an impact on Prior’s role behind the stumps, with the ball flying through quicker from the pacemen and demanding that he says alert. “The odd one seems to hit the hands a bit harder than usual,” he said. “But you just have to adapt to the conditions.”However, Prior is now a very confident wicketkeeper – far removed from the fragile player who was dropped following the 2007-08 series in Sri Lanka in which he scored runs but missed a host of chances – and the fact he has barely been talked about in this series is a sign of his development. An invisible keeper is a good keeper, and Prior had an extra long practice session with Bruce French, England’s keeping coach, on the outfield at the Wanderers on Monday.”Touch wood,” he said when his almost error-free keeping was mentioned. “I’ve worked very, very hard on my keeping and I’ll continue to do so. I always mention Frenchy. He’s been an absolutely fantastic help.”All or nothing: Matt Prior has had a hit-and-miss series with the bat•Getty Images

Prior added that it has been his batting form that has caused him more problems during the tour despite two important half-centuries at Durban and Cape Town. It has been a case of all-or-nothing for Prior during the Tests, with his other three innings being single figures.”It’s been a weird series for me individually with the bat,” he said. “I’ve managed to get a couple of scores, which has been nice, at important times. To help the team in those situations is always a great feeling.”But I’ve not gone into the series feeling in great form with the bat. It’s as important to come up with those performances when you’re maybe not feeling in the best nick. It’s no good just scoring runs when you’re feeling great; sometimes, you’ve got to get your ‘ugly’ runs when the feet maybe aren’t moving as well as you’d hope. You’ve still got to get stuck in.”Before the series began it was expected that Prior would play at No. 6 with England fielding an extra bowling option – either Luke Wright or Ryan Sidebottom – but Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower went for six batsmen which shunted Prior down a spot. It was seen in some quarters as a defensive approach, but has worked a treat so far with the extra batsman – Ian Bell – helping to win and draw a Test.However, Prior was adamant that even though England only need a draw at the Wanderers to take home the main prize there won’t be any thoughts of playing it safe.”This team is going out to win this Test match, not to hang on to a draw or try to scrape through,” he said. “If we can go back 2-0, that would be a dream come true for all of us. It would obviously be a fabulous achievement to beat two of the top teams in the world, in back-to-back Test series.”We didn’t come here to draw a series; we came here to win one. The coach had a long chat with us this morning and was pretty adamant on that. We don’t want to be the nearly-men.”