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The form of Chris Woakes means he can hardly be dropped which is making Steven Finn vulnerable, while Misbah-ul-Haq’s command of Moeen Ali is a concern

George Dobell at Lord's14-Jul-2016He was not, perhaps, the swing bowler that many in the Lord’s crowd had hoped to see, but Chris Woakes continued his breakthrough summer with another performance of skill and maturity.Woakes, with his fourth career-best performance of a Test season that may come to define him, ensured England ended the first day of the series with their noses in front. On a slow, flat wicket, anything less than 350 might well leave Pakistan precariously placed in this match.Not only did Woakes have the quickest average speed of England’s seamers – a familiar statistic since he came back into the side in South Africa – but he conceded the fewest boundaries and offered the most threat. Gaining more life from the surface than any of his colleagues, Woakes also gained more movement and demonstrated the patience required to prosper on a docile surface. Comfortable in the dressing room and growing in confidence by the match, he is now starting to replicate his county form for his country on a consistent basis.Offered another opportunity at this level by injury to Ben Stokes, Woakes has taken his chance admirably. Having twice posted Test-best scores against Sri Lanka, he also recorded his best match analysis in Durham and has followed it with his best innings analysis here. His Test bowling average is now below that of Stokes and he must have given himself an excellent opportunity of retaining his place when Stokes returns.While Woakes has, of late, appeared to be in competition with Stokes, it is James Anderson who he most resembles as a bowler. And, while he is some way short of replicating that armoury of skills, he does offer hope that England have a decent fall back for life after Anderson.If it was his extra pace that accounted for Shan Masood – drawn into an unwise flirt outside off stump – it was his swing that accounted for Asad Shafiq. Shafiq, perhaps the most technically correct of Pakistan’s batsmen and certainly the one who plays straightest, was unsettled by a delivery that left him sharply and then found himself, unsure whether to play or leave, being drawn into an edge off the next delivery at he tried to withdraw the bat.

Ball savours a ‘great day’

Jake Ball admitted the Lord’s surface was “slower than England would have liked” after a demanding first day in the field in Test cricket.
But Ball, who claimed his maiden Test wicket shortly after lunch on an impressive start at this level, felt two late wickets had left England well-placed going into the second day.
“It is a bit slower than we would have liked,” he said. “We’ve had a couple of nicks that haven’t quite carried and the ones that have carried kept quite low. It’s a wicket for being patient and hitting a good length. Then, hopefully, the batter makes a mistake.
“But those two late wickets gave everyone a lift and we know that, if we can come out in the morning and restrict to 350, we are well in the game.”
Ball also described the presentation of his Test cap ahead of play by his uncle, the England wicketkeeping coach Bruce French, as “an extra-special moment.
“It settled me down a bit,” Ball said. “He said how proud my family are of me and to receive it from my uncle was an extra-special moment. He was holding back the tears which was extra-special, again. It was incredible to get the first wicket. I settled in pretty well. It was a great day and hopefully I’ll have many more.”

But Woakes’ success was a bright spot in a day that, for England, offered as many reasons for concern as celebration. Primarily there must be a real danger that their captain, Alastair Cook, will miss the second Test while two more chances were dropped in the slips and two bowlers, Steven Finn and Moeen Ali, endured the sort of chastening days that will concern the selectors.England’s over-rate slipped way behind the required pace here. There were still 11 overs to bowl when 6pm came and three were lost when play was called-off at 6.30pm. Quite apart from the fact that spectators are being short-changed by England’s slow over-rate – if you paid £90 for a bottle of wine and a waiter took a slug before pouring it, you would be entitled to ask for your money back – Cook is also running the risk of a suspension.The ICC’s regulations (Appendix 2, section 4.2 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct) state that, for a second offence within 12-months in the same format – England were also penalised after the Ashes Test at The Oval – the captain should be fined 20% of their match fee for each over short and be suspended for the next international match. While the over-rate is only judged after a complete Test – meaning England have time to make amends – there is a real danger that Cook could be suspended for the Old Trafford Test. He has previously been suspended from an ODI in Sri Lanka for the same offence.Cook’s problem is, in part, that he can hardly bowl Moeen against Misbah-ul-Haq. So complete is Misbah’s mastery against spin in general and Moeen in particular that, after a couple of expensive Moeen overs, England relied upon their four seamers for all but two of the first 68 overs before Cook was obliged to re-introduce Moeen to combat the over-rate issue.While a first day pitch at Lord’s in unlikely to flatter many spinners – especially spinners bowling against Misbah – Moeen’s continuing struggles cannot be ignored. Since the start of 2016, he has played six-and-a-half Tests and taken five wickets at an average of 119. Yes, he has played on some unhelpful surfaces but, by conceding an average of 3.58 runs per over, he has also struggled to provide the holding role required. His place for the next Test must be in jeopardy.The same is true of Finn. Despite a typically whole-hearted effort, trying to extract bounce from a docile wicket with a prolonged spell of short-pitched bowling, Finn lacked the requisite rhythm or control and conceded more than four-an-over. His pitch map was more mountain range than mountain and, despite an average pace lower than either Woakes or Ball, he bowled almost as many deliveries outside leg stump as off. For much of the day, as he struggled with the slope, he looked like a man who had never previously bowled at Lord’s; an odd state of affairs for a fellow on his home ground.In an ideal world, England would like to bear with him, providing the support and patience required to help him rediscover his form and confidence. But Anderson is expected to be available for Manchester; Stokes, too. Someone has to make way and it is becoming hard to justify an argument where that man is not Finn.Neither of the two slip chances that went down were simple. But, on a docile surface, they were the sort of moments that can shape games: Hafeez was reprieved on 11 and Misbah on 16. On both occasions, the ball flew low and to the left of the fielders. They were desperately tough chances.But we have seen them taken. And we have, perhaps, seen a couple of the balls that flew wide of third slip taken, too. Remember the Stokes wonder-catch at Trent Bridge?Might it be relevant that James Vince was the guilty man on one occasion here? Vince has now been offered six catching chances – nearly all of them really tricky – in his brief Test career and dropped four of them. Suffice to say, Stokes’ return to the cordon cannot come soon enough.But what of the pitch? Anyone coming to Lord’s and expecting a track offering much pace and bounce has not watched much cricket here in recent years and, to be fair to the groundstaff, it cannot have been easy to produce a perfect surface given the sustained wet weather in England in recent weeks. It wasn’t great, offering little to batsman, bowler or spectator, but we’ve seen far worse and this was a largely engrossing day.It is ironic, though, that the MCC’s cricket committee continue to pontificate about the global game without tending to the problem in their own yard. The pitch at Lord’s has been sluggish for years. What might have been fine a generation ago looks arcane in the age of T20. If the MCC are serious about combating the dangers to the future of Test cricket they could do a lot worse than focus their attention into potential technological advancements in pitch preparation: drop-in surfaces, artificial heating all offer more help to Test cricket, at least, than limiting the size of bats. The expression about removing the plank from their own eye before worrying about the sawdust in everyone else’s springs to mind.

A look at the key issues between the BCCI and the Lodha Committee as the board prepares to respond to the status report in the Supreme Court

Nagraj Gollapudi05-Oct-20162:25

Archive – Lodha proposes, BCCI disposes

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of India will hear the BCCI’s response to the Lodha Committee’s status report, which had recommended that the board’s top officials – the president, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer – be “superseded” with “immediate effect” and replaced by a panel of administrators. The Committee said that such a step was necessary because the BCCI had failed to put in place recommendations passed by the Supreme Court by the September 30 deadline.A bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, who had approved the majority of the Lodha report’s recommendations in a court order on July 18, will hear the BCCI’s response and decide on the status report. The following are the key points of the issue:Why was a status report presented in the Supreme Court?
While passing the order on July 18, the Supreme Court had asked the BCCI to follow the directives of the Lodha Committee, which was put in charge of overseeing the process of overhauling the governance structure of the board. “Should any impediments arise, the Committee shall be free to seek appropriate directions from this Court by filing a status report in that regard,” the order stated. RM Lodha, the chairman of the Lodha Committee, and a former Chief Justice of India, said his team had faced “serious impediments” in dealing with the BCCI and elaborated on the same in the status report.What were the impediments?
The Lodha Committee said the BCCI had not complied with as many as seven timelines by the deadline of September 30. The board had not accepted the fresh Memorandum of Association and rules and regulations, which would have been an indicator of the BCCI deciding to implement the recommendations.Lodha also said the BCCI had breached the committee’s directive by taking decisions concerning the future at its annual general meeting on September 21. The Committee had instructed the BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri to restrict the agenda of the AGM to “routine” decisions.What else did the BCCI do to draw such flak?
According to Lodha, several decisions taken at the BCCI’s AGM were contrary to the committee’s recommendations. Some of them were: Ajay Shirke being elected board secretary though he had not mentioned his eligibility criteria in the nomination form, and the board picking five-member selection panels when the recommendations said three. The Committee was also unhappy that the BCCI had called a special general meeting on September 30 to “consider” the recommendations, when it had said earlier that it would meet by September 28 to implement the recommendations.What happened at the SGM?
After the meeting in Mumbai, the BCCI said it had “unanimously” accepted “important recommendations” of the Lodha Committee. In fact, it had selectively accepted recommendations, and the key ones not adopted included: an age cap of 70 for BCCI administrators, a maximum term of nine years and a cooling-off period between each three-year term, and the one-state-one-vote policy.Why is the BCCI against adopting these three recommendations?
The nine-year tenure limit – broken into three, three-year terms with a three-year cooling off period between each term – will hinder continuity, the BCCI said. According to the board, these restrictions will deter able administrators from joining the BCCI.4:26

Archive – ‘BCCI’s conduct indicates it must have a plan’

The board’s rationale for being against the age cap is that many administrators over the age of 70 have remained fit and able, and such a limit does not apply to the country’s politicians. The BCCI argued that an age cap of 70 would deprive the board and the state associations of considerable knowledge and experience.As for the opposition to the one-state-one-vote policy, the BCCI indicated that such a recommendation was against its legacy because several associations have been full members of the board from the very beginning. “There are three associations in Maharashtra. Mumbai is the cricketing hub that has won Ranji Trophy 41 times. Maharashtra has the maximum districts. Vidarbha has the maximum infrastructure because we have two stadiums and an indoor academy. So on what basis do we decide who should be given full member status?” former BCCI president Shashank Manohar had said before resigning the post.Were there any other transgressions by BCCI?
On September 30, the BCCI conducted an unscheduled working committee meeting, at which it took a few financial decisions, including doubling the Test match fee for the men’s team. There were two other decisions taken, which the Lodha Committee objected to: an additional INR 10 crore being granted to full member state associations to increase the infrastructure subsidy to INR 70 crore, and the distribution of compensation money received from the broadcaster as a result of the cancellation of the Champions League T20, which was about INR 550 crore according to the committee. On October 4, the Committee warned state associations not to touch the funds that had been received from the BCCI between September 29 and October 1 and were related to those two transactions.What is the next step for the BCCI?
The court had given the board a week to respond to the Lodha Committee’s status report that called for a panel of administrators to replace the top BCCI officials, while telling the board to “fall in line or we will make you fall in line.”The BCCI had also filed an application in the Supreme Court, pleading for the court’s July 18 order to be “suspended” until it heard the board’s review and curative petitions against the mandatory implementation of most of the Lodha Committee’s recommendations. In its review petition, the BCCI called the court order “unreasoned” and asked for the recusal of Chief Justice Thakur from its hearing. However, the petition has been lying “in defect” because the court raised technical objections to the petition and asked the BCCI to repair them.

Aakash Chopra on Stuart Broad’s cutters, a changed line of attack to Virat Kohli and India’s seamers trying to bounce Haseeb Hameed

Aakash Chopra20-Nov-2016Wrist for Anderson, fingers for BroadIn the morning, Stuart Broad put on an exhibition of top-quality seam bowling. These days when we talk about the art of fast bowling, the focus is always on the wrist and rarely on the fingers. Broad has shown that even if cutters are no longer in vogue, they’re equally effective as swing, if not more. From a batsman’s perspective playing swing is relatively easy because he can see the movement in the air and also, if the lateral movement off the pitch is complimenting the swing in the air, he can adjust. In Vizag, Broad brought the ball back into the batsman in the air and whenever he wanted to make it go away after pitching, he pressed the index finger a little more. It’s next to impossible for a batsman to gauge that little change from the hand and the only clue is the slightly wobbly seam position in the air.Bowling straighter to KohliEngland’s seamers kept everything outside off in the first innings. The idea, once again, was to target the chink they successfully exploited in 2014 in England. But the pitch at Vizag is different and the Virat Kohli they were bowling to this time is different. Kohli was content in leaving a lot of balls alone in the first innings. So, in the second innings, the English bowlers tried bowling a lot straighter. But even in the second innings, Kohli was up to it. For every plan that England had for Kohli, Kohli had a counter plan.India’s seamers tried the short ball against Haseeb Hameed in Visakhapatnam•ESPNcricinfo LtdIndia finally bounce HameedIn the first Test match, India’s seamers didn’t attempt too many bouncers to young Haseeb Hameed. But in today’s age of in-depth video analysis, it was only a matter of time that before India changed tack. The first ball that Hameed faced from Mohammed Shami was a bouncer that hit him on the gloves. Umesh Yadav, from the other end, also tried a couple of bouncers early on. So far, Hameed has handled the bouncer threat well.Hameed’s second-innings beehive from Rajkot•ESPNcricinfo LtdThe follow-up ballTaking wickets in a Test match is often a result of a nice set-up. The ball that gets you the wicket isn’t always the best ball. In fact, very often the preceding few balls lead you to commit the fatal mistake, and that’s why it is important to follow up a good ball with an equally good ball. The first bouncer to Hameed, which hit him on the gloves, was followed by a ball that drifted down leg straight to the keeper. The same thing happened in the next over from Umesh. The ball that hit Hameed in the unmentionables was followed by another ball down leg.India seamers hiding the shineAnother noticeable change from how India’s seamers operated in Rajkot was the way they hid the shine in Vizag. Both Shami and Umesh have started carrying the ball in the non-bowling hand in the run-up and it had two benefits – the obvious one is that hiding the shine betrays the swing later and also, transferring the ball from non-bowling hand to the bowling hand while loading helps you to hold the action together better. At times the non-bowling arm doesn’t work as much as it should but the moment you start transferring the ball while loading, you’re forced to make the non-bowling arm work appropriately.

Stats highlights from the third T20I between Afghanistan and Ireland in Noida, where a number of T20I records were broken

Shiva Jayaraman12-Mar-20170 Totals by Associate teams in T20Is bigger than Afghanistan’s 233 in this match. The previous highest was Ireland’s 225 for 7 against Afghanistan in the final of the ICC World T20 qualifier in 2013. Afghanistan’s previous highest total was 215 for 6, which they made against Zimbabwe in Sharjah in 2016. Afghanistan’s 233 for 8 is the eighth-highest total in T20Is. Click here for the highest totals in T20Is.104 Runs plundered by Afghanistan in the last six overs of their innings – the highest made by any team in T20Is in the last six overs. Australia had made 97 runs against Sri Lanka in a T20I in Pallekele last year, which were the previous most.91 Runs scored by Ireland in the Powerplay overs – joint-most in these overs in a T20I. Netherlands had hit the same number of runs against them in Sylhet in the first round of the 2014 World T20.0 Number of scores bigger than Mohammad Nabi’s 89 by batsman at No. 6 or lower in T20Is. The previous highest was Cameron White’s 85 not out batting at No. 6 against Sri Lanka in the 2010 World T20. Click here for the highest individual scores at No. 6 or lower in T20Is.2 Number of individual scores in T20Is by Afghanistan batsmen higher than Nabi’s 89. Mohammad Shahzad’s 118 not out against Zimbabwe in 2016 is the highest, followed by Najeeb Tarakai’s 90 in the second T20I of this series. Click here for Afghanistan’s highest individual T20I scores.21 Balls taken by Nabi to reach his fifty in this match – the fewest by any Afghanistan batsman in T20Is. Their previous fastest fifty was Najibullah Zadran’s 22-ball half-century against UAE in a T20I in Dubai in 2016. Nabi’s fifty is also the fourth-fastest by an Associate batsman in T20Is. Stephan Myburgh of Netherlands and Paul Stirling of Ireland hold the record for the fastest half-century: off 17 balls against Ireland and Afghanistan respectively.9 Sixes hit by Nabi in this match – the most by an Associate batsman in T20Is. Shahzad’s eight sixes against Zimbabwe in 2016 was the previous best. Nabi’s nine sixes are also the most by a batsman at No. 6 or lower in T20Is. Ravi Bopara’s seven sixes against Australia in Hobart in 2014 was the previous best. Click here for the most sixes in an innings by batsmen at No. 6 or lower in T20Is.296.66 Nabi’s strike rate in this match – the third-highest in an innings of 50 or more runs by any batsman in T20Is. Yuvraj Singh’s 16-ball 58 (SR: 362.50) against England in the 2007 World T20 and Colin Munro’s unbeaten 14-ball 50 (SR: 357.14) in a T20I against Sri Lanka last year are the innings that rank higher than Nabi’s.ESPNcricinfo Ltd69 Runs conceded by Barry McCarthy in this match – the most by any bowler in a T20I. The previous most was the 68 that Kyle Abbott had conceded against West Indies in in 2015. Click here for the most expensive spells in T20Is.438 Runs made in this match – the sixth-highest in a T20I. This is also the most runs scored in a match involving two Associate teams. The previous highest was 383 made in a match between Afghanistan and Scotland in the ICC World T20 Qualifier in 2015.6/5 Ireland’s score in the last two overs of the match. They were 199 for 5 at the end of the 18th over – four more than what Afghanistan had made in the first innings. While Afghanistan scored 38 runs for the loss of two wickets in their last two overs, Ireland collapsed to 205 all out in the face of the stiff asking rate. There is only one instance when the last five wickets of a team have fallen for fewer runs in a chase in T20Is. Scotland had lost their last five for just two runs, crashing from 89 for 5 to to 91 all out while chasing 184 against Kenya in the 2013 World T20 qualifier.

Ravi Bopara talks about Essex’s prospects of winning limited-overs silverware this year, and his aspirations of playing for England again

Interview by Alan Gardner10-Apr-2017It’s the start of a new season, Essex back in Division One of the Championship. What are your expectations?
I don’t know, I don’t really set goals, but I’m going to take every day as it comes. Excited to play against some different teams as well – we haven’t played some other teams for years now, so that’ll be nice. New set of bowlers, new set of batters to bowl at as well. It’s exciting, should be a good season.Last year you were captain of the limited-overs sides but have decided to step down. Why was that?
I just want to concentrate on my own game. I think I’ve got a lot to give as a player. I’m still young, 31, and if I want to go back to captaincy, I can in the future. So I just want to focus on my own game, take some more time out to work on stuff that I want to work on rather than having that tired feeling of organisation and that sort of thing. I just want to play cricket.Was it about trying get your enjoyment of game back?
I’ve always enjoyed it, I’ve never stopped enjoying it. It’s just more time to myself, really, so I can fit everything in.

“We get asked this question a lot: what do we need to do? Nothing special: just win. Win as many games as you can. If you don’t, you go down. If you do, you stay up. Hopefully, if you win enough, you win the league”

You haven’t played for England since the 2015 World Cup. Since then, Eoin Morgan’s team has completely revitalised the way England approach the limited-overs game. Do you still think about getting back in the set-up?
It’s always in the back of my mind. It would be nice for me to have a good summer and to be knocking on that door. There’s a part of me that still thinks about it, yeah. It looks a good environment to play in. So hopefully I can have a good summer. Let’s see what happens.Have you spoken to Trevor Bayliss since he took over?
No, I haven’t. I haven’t spoken to anyone.England are one of the favourites for the Champions Trophy this year. Do you ever look back on the 2013 final as a missed opportunity?
No, I don’t regret it. We had a good time to get to the final. It’s a shame we couldn’t chase down 130. But that’s cricket for you – you win some, you lose some. We won many games we should have lost, so you’ve got to take everything as it comes. India deserved it, hats off.As you said, you’re still only 31. Do you see yourself still playing in six, seven, eight years’ time?
That’s the plan. I’ve definitely still got the hunger. The plan is to play as long as possible. We’re a long time retired as cricketers, so hopefully I can play many, many more years.”Every year we target a one-day trophy, we back ourselves as a one-day team. It would be nice to go further than the quarter-finals. It gets a bit annoying – quarter-finals, semi-finals, out”•PA PhotosThere are a few flecks of grey in the beard now – but you’re not feeling like one of the old boys?
No, not at all. I’m moving well, moving like a youngster. I’m feeling good – and I’m going to have a little trim as well, so you can’t see them!Essex are in Division One for the first time since 2010. What do you have to do to survive this season? It’s something Essex haven’t managed before.
We’ve just got to win games. It’s as simple as that. We get asked this question a lot: what do we need to do? Nothing special: just win. Win as many games as you can. If you don’t, you go down. If you do, you stay up. Hopefully, if you win enough, you win the league.Can Essex realistically challenge the other teams?
Yeah, why not. A lot of people question us, but our batting line-up is very strong. We can put runs on the board, I know that for a fact. When you’ve got runs on the board, you’ve got a chance. So let’s just focus on doing those basics first.Does the extra attention and focus on Division One give you an incentive to perform?
There is a part that does get you going a little bit. But I’ve played 16 seasons now and it’s another year and I just look forward to going out and playing cricket with some of my best friends up there on a green outfield. It’s the best job in the world and the sheer fact that I enjoy it that much and I love the job that much, I don’t think about Division One, runs count and runs don’t count. I don’t really care – just go out and play cricket.

“I’m still young, 31, and if I want to go back to captaincy, I can in the future. So I just want to focus on my own game”

Last year was the third season running that Essex lost in the quarter-finals of both limited-overs competitions. Is it about time you went all the way?
Every year we target a one-day trophy, we back ourselves as a one-day team. It would be nice to go further than the quarter-finals. It gets a bit annoying – quarter-finals, semi-finals, out. It’s getting to the boys now, so it would be nice to go all the way this year. It’s going to be tough, but that’s the best thing about it. We enjoy playing together, turning up to the ground pretty much every day. It’s good fun.You have played in several of the T20 leagues around the world – the IPL, and more recently, the Bangladesh Premier League and the Pakistan Super League. Can that help Essex win a trophy?
Yeah, I think so. The experience of playing in other conditions, as well. Sometimes you come up against similar conditions, dry pitches – and you think, ‘I’ve kind of played on these pitches, so I know what to do here’, know what we should do with the bowling and fields. And just playing that many games helps, I think. You’re a more rounded, experienced player.There has been a lot of talk about the ECB introducing a new T20 competition in this country, now slated for 2020 – although it could threaten smaller counties like Essex. What do you think of the plans?
In the big scheme of things it’s important for England to have that structure. It’s not about individual counties, it’s about the bigger picture. We’re falling behind. You can look at the stats of youngsters playing cricket in England – they are falling. Traditionally we are always the last ones to do something, I don’t know why.Although England did invent T20.
We invented it, but we do um and ah a lot when it comes to changing things. It’s good that we’ve brought the change in. It would be nice to start it next year but we can’t. Let’s just wait until 2020 and play it then, but yeah, it was a good decision. I’ll be very keen.

Rashid Khan made history by becoming the first Afghanistan player to be picked for an IPL game. But who is he, and what has he done?

Peter Della Penna05-Apr-20174:47

Hogg: Rashid Khan should be utilised early

Who is Rashid Khan?
Afghanistan’s legspinning Messiah, with a googly so good it’s like manna from heaven. $600,000 worth of awesome is also an acceptable answer.Why is his selection in the opening game of IPL 2017 significant?
With his selection in the Sunrisers Hyderabad XI, Rashid became the second player from an Associate country to play in the IPL while still ostensibly active for his national team. One could make a case that Rashid is truly the first, and at the very least the first organically home-grown Associate player, to make a debut in the IPL.Dirk Nannes took the new ball for Netherlands in their famous win over England at Lord’s in the 2009 World T20, two weeks after wrapping up his first season with Delhi Daredevils. Nannes’ Dutch career was short lived after he was picked to play for his native Australia later that same summer.South African T20 nomad Ryan ten Doeschate also had a lengthy list of appearances with Netherlands, but made his debut for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2011 three weeks after he signed off on his Dutch career with a century against Ireland in the 2011 World Cup.What are his strengths?

Only 18 years old, Rashid’s biggest asset is not a physical skill but his ability to come through in pressure situations. Sunrisers coach Tom Moody identified that as a key reason for bidding INR 4 crore for Rashid at the auction. At any Afghanistan match, the mood changes when Rashid takes the ball, his charisma imbuing confidence in fans and team-mates regardless of how solid or perilous a position his side is in.As for his physical skills, Rashid has immaculate control for a legspinner, leading to a spectacular economy rate. He builds pressure not just through dot balls but through his rapid approach to the crease and quickness through the air, bowling at a pace akin to his idol Shahid Afridi. He turns his googly more than his legbreak, and his ability to disguise it so well causes fits for left-handers in particular.What has he been up to recently?
On the same day he was taken in the CPL draft by Guyana Amazon Warriors, Rashid produced a record haul of 5 for 3 in two overs against Ireland to keep Afghanistan’s world-record streak of consecutive T20I wins – 11 – alive.In the second ODI against Ireland, Rashid showed Paul Stirling that “anything you can do I can do better”, besting Stirling’s 6 for 55 in the first innings by taking 6 for 43 in the second. Rashid finished as the leading wicket-taker in both the T20I and ODI series, and then took a five-for in the first innings – eight wickets for the match – in Afghanistan’s Intercontinental Cup win over Ireland. To say he enters the IPL in good form is putting it mildly.What are the highlights of his career?
Rashid can hang his hat on those twin record-setting T20 and ODI hauls last month against Ireland. He was Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker on the way to winning the Desert T20 Challenge in January, helped Afghanistan U-19 beat New Zealand and Zimbabwe on the way to the Plate Championship at the 2016 U-19 World Cup. He’s also been a regular thorn in the side of Zimbabwe’s senior team over the last 18 months since making his senior debut as a 17-year-old in October 2015.Most of all, Rashid has made Afghanistan believe there is a path to success with or without Hamid Hassan, Afghanistan’s original – but oft-injured – bowling talisman. Success for Rashid in the IPL will give added credibility to the deeds of others at Associate level and could perhaps open the door to IPL contracts for Associate players both within and beyond Afghanistan.

The stats and landmarks from a memorable day for West Indies in the second Investec Test against England at Headingley

Bharath Seervi26-Aug-20171984 – Last time West Indies had a bigger partnership in England than the 246 runs between Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope. Larry Gomes and Gordon Greenidge shared an unbeaten second-wicket partnership of 287 in their famous chase at Lord’s. This is West Indies’ first double-century partnership since Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Denesh Ramdin added 200 at Hamilton in 2013-14.2008 – Last instance of a double-century partnership at Headingley for any pair – 212 between AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince. England haven’t had such a partnership at the venue since 1967 whereas visiting pairs have had seven such stands including the one in this match.6 – Centuries for Braithwaite in Tests. Since his debut, only Darren Bravo and Chanderpaul, eight each, have more hundreds for West Indies. He’s still 24 and only Graeme Smith (11) and Alastair Cook (7) had more centuries as openers before their 25th birthday.3 – Number of away countries in which Braithwaite has hit hundreds – 106 in Port Elizabeth in South Africa in 2014-15, 142 not out in Sharjah in UAE in 2016-17 and this one at Headingley. No other opener has scored centuries in more away countries in the last three years, although Cook, Dean Elgar and KL Rahul have all matched Brathwaite’s tally in that time.2004 – Last time a West Indies opener scored a century in England – Chris Gayle made 105 at The Oval. Brathwaite’s 134 is highest by a West Indies opener in England since Greenidge’s 223 at Old Trafford in 1984.147* – Hope’s score, at the end of the day, is so far the highest score by a West Indies batsman in England since Brian Lara’s 179 at The Oval in 1995.2004 – Last instance of West Indies getting a first-innings lead in England – although on that occasion, at Old Trafford, they went on to lose by seven wickets. The most recent occasion when they led on first innings against England was in Bridgetown in 2009.18.18 – Braithwaite’s srike rate against James Anderson, scoring eight runs from 44 balls. He had a strike rate of nearly 50 and above against all other bowlers. Hope had a strike rate of less than 35 against Ben Stokes and Tom Westley.1 – Number of bigger fourth-wicket partnerships for West Indies after being three-down for less than 50. Gerry Gomez and Clyde Walcott added 267 in Delhi in 1948-49. Against England, only Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford’s 388, which also came at Headingley, in 1934 is higher than the one in this match.

The run-out on 97 was disappointing but on his debut, Aiden Markram showed the qualities that are important for success in international cricket

Firdose Moonda in Potchefstroom 28-Sep-2017This was going to be a story that asked what more Aiden Markram could have wanted from today, because he seemed to have it all.He made his Test debut on one of the most placid pitches around, in front of his family and against a Bangladesh side that bafflingly chose to bowl first. He had his franchise opening partner, friend and battle-hardened international Dean Elgar at the other end. He had the freedom of knowing this was the start of what is set to be a long run to establish himself in the Test XI.In all honesty, it might have been more difficult playing for his franchise team, Titans, down the road at SuperSport Park. His predecessor in the South Africa XI, Heino Kuhn, was doing that and managed 73 against an attack that included Beuran Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, Wiaan Mulder, Craig Alexander and Aaron Phangiso, effectively a second-string South African pack who know how to make the ball talk. Markram did not have to bother with any of that because the Bangladesh bowling attack was all but mute. The first ball Markram faced just about rolled to the wicketkeeper, that’s how quiet it was.By lunch, he had (mostly) cover-driven himself to 43. Even though the news that Cricket South Africa no longer has a CEO had taken the focus completely off the opening day of the international season, things were still going pretty well for Markram.After the lunch break, they went even better. The Markram-Elgar stand reached 100, the first time a South African opening pair have managed that many in 18 innings. Markram got to fifty with one of those of those gorgeous drives. He hit offspinner Mehidy Hasan – the captain of Bangladesh’s Under-19 World Cup side in 2014, the same year Markram led South Africa to victory – over his head for four and then to the midwicket boundary for four more to scoot past Elgar, and displayed the aggression he is known for. The pair played a cat-and-mouse game and entered the 70s, then the 80s, then the 90s together. Along the way they put on the second most successful opening stand by South Africa after being asked to bat first, after Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs’ 301 against West Indies in Centurion in January 2004.Overall, proceedings could barely be described as engaging but watching the openers approach their centuries together had its charm. There was Elgar, a grinder who makes brutalist architecture look pretty, fighting his way through, even though there was nothing to fight over. And then there was Markram, young, supremely talented, the perfect combination of force and finesse, crafting his way to the milestone.No one seemed to want Markram to get there more than Elgar. It was big-brother-little-brother stuff. Not only does Elgar have a good relationship with Markram from their domestic days together, but he is desperate for an opening partner who does not leave all the pressure on him. Elgar has been through four who were thought to be long-term options – Alviro Petersen, Stiaan van Zyl, Stephen Cook and Kuhn – and none of them have stuck. Despite that, he has done his bit and more, with four hundreds this year, but he needs someone to stay at the other end, and the early signs are that Markram can do that.Then at two minutes to tea, we found out what more Markram could have wanted from the day. He wanted not to have been so hasty to complete the single that would take Elgar to a ninth international century. What was the rush? He wanted to have been sent back a milli-second earlier. Maybe he even wanted Elgar to try and run towards the danger end, if only because his batting partner had already experienced the feeling of raising his bat eight times before and he was about to do it for the first time.Elgar also wanted Markram’s centry, though maybe not at the expense of sacrificing himself. He sunk to his knees, furious with himself for depriving his mate of the chance to make a little bit of history. He celebrated his own hundred, which came up two balls later, with a little less gusto than usual. Elgar also became Test cricket’s highest run-scorer this year. He did well, though maybe for that one moment, when he played a part in Markram’s run-out, he could have done better.Of course, Markram will have many, many, many more chances. At least nine more matches this summer alone. He is seen as the real deal. Even in relatively simple circumstances, he showed some important qualities every international needs: he was not overawed by the occasion, he treated deliveries that demanded respect with exactly that, he was wary against variable bounce, which may become a challenge later on, and he recognised an opportunity to cash in and almost did in a big way.But there was something more he wanted from what would have been an otherwise perfect first day as an international. And there may be something else he may want a little later: Elgar and Markram drove from Pretoria to Potchefstroom together; Markram may want a good soundtrack on the way back.

The India Under-19 batsman showed remarkable composure during his match-winning hundred in the World Cup semi-final against Pakistan

Shashank Kishore in Christchurch30-Jan-20184:14

Who is Shubman Gill?

“Dravid sir only tells me one thing…” Shubman Gill began to say, after being named Player of the Match in the Under-19 World Cup quarter-final against Bangladesh.TV cameras then focussed on the India U-19 coach, as he listened to what his player had to say. “He always tells me don’t hit the ball in the air and play along the ground,” Gill finished. Dravid began to smile, and as Gill walked back with his medal, Dravid followed the batsman for a team selfie.In the high-pressure semi-final against Pakistan, it is unlikely Gill would have been dwelling on those words, but he put them to practice.For most of his first 50 runs, Gill shelved the swipe, short-arm jab, upper cut, and the slog sweep. Even after he was set, he looked to bat through without risks. Gill hit only seven boundaries and no sixes in his unbeaten 102, yet had a strike rate of 108.5.The muscle-powered shots, which he may well bring out for Kolkata Knight Riders this IPL, were traded for sharp singles and twos. His calling for a run was crystal clear and he understood his partners. As India’s middle order collapsed around him, Gill kept his composure.After India were reduced to 166 for 5, Gill delivered a masterclass for someone so young, farming strike and carrying his team to a substantial score. His calmness rubbed off on Anukul Roy, who could have panicked and looked to hit out. Instead, he buckled down too and rotated strike, adding 67 runs that helped India pass 250.The drama at the end of Gill’s innings – he miscued a lofted hit on 97 and the ball fell just short of the fielder running in from cover – was lost on him because he was running as hard he could to complete the run. He hit the next ball straight to long-on, where the catch was dropped, but Gill was busy haring back for the second.For a moment, he didn’t quite realise what had happened, but then let out a roar and pumped his fists as his team stood up to applaud. As he walked back, Gill tucked his red handkerchief deep into his pocket, a charm much like the one Steve Waugh had.Shubman Gill struck India’s first century of the tournament•ICC/Getty ImagesThis is the tale behind the handkerchief. Gill had a bad patch for form at the Under-16 level. Then for the next match, he found in his pocket a white handkerchief, and made a hundred to end a string of low scores. The handkerchief was soiled by all the running and diving. For the next match, he carried a red handkerchief and made another hundred. And then it became habit.Gill’s shot selection at the end of India’s innings indicated he was looking to clear the boundary despite the field being spread, when he could have so easily played it safe to bring up his hundred. “It didn’t matter if I got out on 99, I was thinking I’ll try for a four or a six,” he said. “The intent was good; luckily it turned out to be a no-ball.”When India were in trouble earlier, however, all Gill did was nudge and run, quite a change for a player who looks to attack. There is backstory there too: “There used to be three-four matches going on [in the Chandigarh maidans] and the leg side was cordoned off, so I had to focus on playing only on the off side. Because of that, I learnt to also play straight and nudge the ball for singles.”Gill is usually quiet and reserved, but lights up when asked about his Under-16 days. He is shy too, and when asked about his emotions while on 99, he merely said: “I was just trying to run as fast as I could, that’s all.”There’s another side to his personality, though: he’s quite the prankster. Prithvi Shaw, the India Under-19 captain listening quietly on the sidelines, jumped in to say: ” (He’s the most mischievous guy in the team, makes everyone laugh along with Abhishek, but doesn’t talk much in press conferences). He’s a fun chap who keeps pulling everyone’s leg off the field.”There’s a story about Gill, from the India U-19 tour of England, where he was supposed to treat the team for scoring a century and India winning. ” (he’s a stingy guy), we are still waiting for the treat. He doesn’t spend a penny,” Abhishek Sharma complained in jest. Gill is supposed to have said he’d treat “if we win the World Cup.”

FAQs: Who owns this league? Is it sanctioned by the ICC? Why are some really big players taking part?

Nagraj Gollapudi08-Jun-2018Who owns Global T20 Canada?
The league is owned by Mercuri Canada Limited, an offshoot of Mercuri Talent Management, run by Sriram Bakthisaran, an Indian entrepreneur. Mercuri has signed a Master License Agreement with Cricket Canada to own and operate the league for 25 years. ESPNcricinfo understands that in 2011, Bakthisaran and the Cricket Canada administration at the time had signed a letter of intent to operate the T20 league, but it did not get off the ground because the commercial proposal was not good enough.Are there any investors supporting Mercuri?
Mercuri is the sole owner of the league currently. The company aims to rope in investors and is in talks to sell five of the six teams.Has Mercuri or Sriram Bakthisaran been involved in cricket before?
Mercuri has diverse business interests. It promotes itself as a multinational conglomerate and an emerging player in technology, sports, media and entertainment domains with operations in the Americas, India and the Caribbean.Mercuri Group facilitated sponsorship deals with different IPL franchises including Rising Pune Super Giant and Sunrisers Hyderabad.It has also been associated with tennis and Formula 1. It had commercial deals to help Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan race in Formula 1.How does Cricket Canada benefit from the league?
According to the agreement signed last November, ESPNcricinfo understands Mercuri will pay Cricket Canada an annual fee of USD 500,000 for the first year with an increment of USD 100,000 each year for the next five years. From the sixth year, Cricket Canada will get the stipulated fee or 10% of the gross profit, whichever is higher.Mercuri has also given a commitment to help develop cricket talent at a grassroot level in Canada. Part of that endevour is providing more exposure to the Canadian national team by taking players overseas for training. As part of the contract, Mercuri will help 24 players travel in the first year. Mercuri would also partly sponsor Cricket Canada in setting up a High Performance Centre. All these investments are aimed at seeing Canada make the knockouts of the 2023 World Cup.What is the advantage of holding the tournament in North America?
The large diaspora from the Indian subcontinent and the Caribbean makes North America an untapped cricket market. In its presentation to Cricket Canada, Mercuri stressed this passion on the streets has been kept alive by the expats, and could be harnessed for the growth of the game.How many teams are there in the league?
Six: Toronto Nationals, Vancouver Knights, Edmonton Royals, Montreal Tigers, Winnipeg Hawks, and a CWI sponsored sixth team comprising second-string West Indies players.BCCIIn what capacity is the CWI involved?
The West Indies board is a partner that will assist Cricket Canada in the conduct of the tournament. It will be getting a fee for sending a team.What is the prize money?
The total prize money is understood be USD 1 million, with USD 500,000 for the winner.How much do top players stand to earn?
The marquee players will be paid USD 100,000 each. The remaining players were bought in the player draft held last week, with contracts ranging from USD 3000 to 90,000. All the contracts are for a year.How many matches in the tournament?
22Will the league be broadcast on TV or the internet?
There are two match slots: the first game will start at 11am and the second at 4 pm Canadian time. Some premium channels across the globe are in talks with the organisers and an announcement will be made shortly.Does the tournament have anti-corruption cover?
Mercuri will make the payment for the anti-corruption and match officials that ICC will facilitate. The ICC has primarily given its approval to the league because of Cricket Canada and CWI’s involvement.Is there a clear window for the league?
Keeping in mind the climate in Canada, the best window is between June and August. The organisers will finalise a window for next year by October this year, keeping in mind the 2019 World Cup.How many venues will the matches be played at?
Although three venues in Toronto were shortlisted, Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City has been confirmed as the host. It previously hosted a quadrangular series involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Canada in 2008. The venue has five pitches currently.