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The Sunrisers Hyderabad batting pair put on 131 in just 12.2 overs, which reduced the 160-run chase to a cakewalk in the end

The Report by Mohammad Isam21-Apr-20194:41

Plan was to save my overs for Russell – Rashid

David Warner and Jonny Bairstow crushed Kolkata Knight Riders, who slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat. The Sunrisers Hyderabad batting pair put on 131 in just 12.2 overs, which reduced the 160-run chase to a cakewalk in the end.Bairstow finished unbeaten on 80 off 43 balls with four sixes and seven fours while Warner, who was the only batsman to be dismissed in the second innings, made 67 off 38 balls with three fours and five sixes.When they bowled, it was Rashid Khan who held back the Knight Riders middle order after Khaleel Ahmed had given them a strong start with a three-wicket haulESPNcricinfo Ltd

Khaleel thwarts a fast KKR startChris Lynn and Sunil Narine struck five fours and three sixes in the first 2.3 overs, and just as they reached a crescendo, Khaleel’s slower ball stung Narine’s leg-stump. The left-arm quick had been struck for a six and two fours off two previous deliveries, so his celebration was understandably one of rage.Khaleel made it a double breakthrough when he removed Shubman Gill, who guided the ball to point where Vijay Shankar took a simple catch. The Knight Riders were already losing much of their early impetus when Bhuvneshwar had Nitish Rana caught behind and Dinesh Karthik self-destructed with a run out in the ninth over.Lynn held back, or holds back?The usually big hitting Chris Lynn ended up making his slowest IPL fifty – 51 off 47 balls – having been at the crease for an hour and a half. He would have gone after almost every ball but the Knight Riders also needed him to bat through after they lost four wickets in less than six overs, for only 31 runs.Lynn, who added 51 runs for the fifth wicket with Rinku Singh, got out with three overs left in the innings and even Andre Russell couldn’t salvage a decent enough score this time.Knight Riders finished with 159 for 8 in 20 overs, due in large part to Russell coming in late and Lynn holding himself back.Another Warner-Bairstow specialIn four out of nine innings so far, Warner and Bairstow have put together a 100-plus stand, now just behind Dhawan and Warner for most century partnerships for the first wicket in the IPL.Warner began the onslaught with a straight six off newcomer Prithvi Raj. But only a few balls later, KC Cariappa put down a sitter at deep point off Bairstow’s slash. Sixteen came off that over, before Cariappa’ nightmare outing continued, leaking 20 runs off his first over, which included two sixes.They brought up the 100-run stand in the ninth over, before Warner pasted Narine for his fifth six. Bairstow, who was the more conservative of the two openers, got two more lives, on 55 and 58, before Raj bowled Warner in the 13th over. Bairstow, then, cut loose in the 15th over when his third and fourth sixes completed the chase.

Delhi are already in the playoffs, but will hope to win their final group game to try and book their place in the top two

The Preview by Hemant Brar03-May-20192:25

We have bench strength to cover for Smith – Samson

Big picture

Playing at home is always an advantage. The familiar conditions give you the chance to dominate the opposition. Except when you are Delhi Capitals (or Daredevils). Out of the 69 IPL games they have played at Feroz Shah Kotla over the years, they have won 30, giving them a win percentage of just 44.1.Capitals have done marginally better this time. Their home record in IPL 2019 stands at three wins and three losses from six games. The other things they have done well this time is qualifying for the playoffs – for the first time since 2012 – and now have a chance to throw their hat in the ring for a valuable top-two finish.

Form guide (last three completed games, most recent first)

Capitals: Lost to Super Kings by 80 runs, beat Royal Challengers by 16 runs, beat Royals by six wickets
Royals: Beat Sunrisers by seven wickets, beat Knight Riders by three wickets, lost to Capitals by six wickets

However, when they face Rajasthan Royals at home on Saturday, they will once again be without Kagiso Rabada, out for the remainder of the tournament after picking up a back injury. Moreover, Royals have a better overall record at the Kotla, with four wins and as many losses from eight games.A win will take Capitals to 18 points, and if Mumbai lose their last league game – against Kolkata Knight Riders – Capitals will likely finish second on the points table. But a loss may jeopardise their chances given their negative net run-rate (-0.096).Royals, on the other hand, are hanging by the thinnest of threads after a washout against Royal Challengers Bangalore. To make it to the playoffs, they not only need to beat Capitals but also hope that Sunrisers Hyderabad lose to Royal Challengers Bangalore, and for the winners of the Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders to lose their last match.But Royals must be confident as they are coming into this game on the back of two successive wins in their last two completed games while Capitals had a heavy defeat against Chennai Super Kings in their previous match.

In the news

Rabada has been ruled out of the IPL. He had complained of discomfort after Capitals’ match against Royal Challengers on April 28, then missed Capitals’ last match, against Super Kings on Wednesday, and has since gone back to South Africa.For Royals, with Steven Smith having returned to Australia, Ajinkya Rahane will once again assume the captaincy role.Shreyas Gopal takes off after another top order strike•BCCI

Previous meeting

When these two sides met earlier in the tournament, Rishabh Pant’s scintillating 78 not out off 36 balls outshone Rahane’s unbeaten 105 as Capitals chased down Royals’ 191 with four wickets and as many balls in hand.

Likely XIs

Delhi Capitals: 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Prithvi Shaw, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Colin Ingram, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Chris Morris, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Sherfane Rutherford, 9 J Suchith, 10 Amit Mishra, 11 Trent BoultRajasthan Royals: 1 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 2 Liam Livingstone, 3 Sanju Samson (wk), 4 Rahul Tripathi, 5 Ashton Turner, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 Stuart Binny, 8 Shreyas Gopal, 9 Jaydev Unadkat, 10 Varun Aaron, 11 Oshane Thomas

Strategy punt

• Chris Morris has conceded 180 runs in the 18 overs – for an economy of 10.0 – he has bowled in the first 15 overs of an innings so far. In contrast, his returns at the death – where you would normally expect a bowler to leak runs – have been exceptional: ten wickets at an economy of 8.4. In Rabada’s absence, it makes sense for Capitals to use Morris as much as possible at the death.
• With five wickets in three matches, Oshane Thomas has lived up to expectations. Among the Royals pacers to have bowled this year, Thomas has the best average (13.2), best economy (7.3) and best strike rate (10.8). Thomas has picked up wickets in all three phases too. Therefore, Royals should use him in short bursts.

Stats that matter

• With 18 wickets in 13 matches, Shreyas Gopal is currently the third leading wicket-taker this season. Shreyas has picked up 13 wickets with googlies, the most by a spinner in IPL 2019. And significantly, all his wickets have been of top-order batsmen (No. 1 to No. 5).
• Rahane needs 14 more to bring up 5,000 T20 runs.
• Shikhar Dhawan is four short of 100 sixes in the IPL.

The Scotland captain has been recognised for services to cricket where he has achieved some notable milestones

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jun-2019Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer has been awarded an MBE for services to cricket in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.Coetzer, 35, has played 52 ODIs and 48 T20Is alongside scoring 4404 runs in his first-class career and more than 5000 in List A cricket. He is Scotland’s all-time leading run-scorer and made their first World Cup century, against Bangladesh, in 2015.He led the team to their historic ODI victory over England in Edinburgh last year.”It’s very special and a huge honour to be awarded an MBE,” he said. “It’s not something you ever consider, and it was a huge shock to hear the news. A special thank you to my family, friends and colleagues who have played a huge part in supporting me in my cricketing journey.”Huge credit must also go to all my amazing team-mates, coaches and back room staff who have helped guide and shape me towards this special award. I couldn’t have done it without every one of you.”Tony Brian, the chairman of Cricket Scotland, said: “This is a richly deserved award for one of Scotland’s best and most iconic cricketers in the 250 years of the sport.”Kyle has been an inspirational player and captain who has led the men’s team through its most successful period ever including the never to be forgotten win against England in June 2018.”

The last time Australia opened the bowling with two left-arm quicks it was all about the Mitches

Melinda Farrell at Lord's25-Jun-2019The last time Australia opened the bowling with two left-arm quicks it was all about the Mitches. Australia were facing Sri Lanka in the 2015 World Cup, Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson took two wickets apiece and Australia won by 64 runs. Four years later, on the other side of the world in another World Cup, Starc and Jason Behrendorff conjured some left-arm wizardry, took nine wickets between them and Australia won by 64 runs. Cricket is funny, sometimes.Behrendorff is a very different bowler to Johnson but the decisions to select him and hand him the new ball proved to be masterstrokes against England. Bowling up the slope from the Nursery End and generating troublesome swing, Behrendorff took just two deliveries to strike the first blow for Australia, shattering the stumps of James Vince and evoking memories of Starc’s wicket-taking fireworks against Brendon McCullum and New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup Final. Cricket is funny, sometimes.Watch on Hotstar (India only): Highlights of Behrendorff’s five-wicket haulBut it hasn’t always been a barrel full of chuckles for Behrendorff. At 29 years of age, he has had a frustrating international career, a wealth of promise curtailed by a series of debilitating back injuries. Coming into this tournament he seemed to be down the pecking order, behind Nathan Coulter-Nile as the main contender for the third seamer role, or perhaps a back-up for Starc. Now his name will be etched on the honours board at the Home of Cricket; something that seemed far off during his many extensive rehabilitations.”Some days, especially during all the rehab periods, you think, am I going to get back; am I going to be able to get out there and play for my country,” said Behrendorff. “It’s one of those things you dream of as a kid to play cricket for Australia; and then to come here and play at Lord’s my first time here, I trained here the other day and my first game here, so yeah, it was something special.”It’s something I’ll treasure for sure. It’s something that you don’t play cricket for, the accolades, but to play at Lord’s and to take five today was really special.”Jason Behrendorff’s five wickets included both England openers•Getty Images

It was Aaron Finch’s call to open the bowling with Behrendorff rather than Pat Cummins and he was repaid handsomely, with the wicket of Jonny Bairstow following that of Vince. Behrendorff saw Finch’s decision as an enormous vote of confidence.”Yeah, it was huge,” said Behrendorff. “That’s where I guess one of my primary strengths lies, bowling up front, swinging with the new ball. So it was great to be given that opportunity to be able to get, as well, the wicket early doors. That was really important, as well, so I was happy with that.”Starc and Behrendorff made the most of Finch losing the toss and spent the first innings assessing the wicket and lengths England were bowling, particularly early on. Their observations paid dividends and the pair did the most important damage with the swinging new ball, bowling a fuller length and leaving England 4 for 53 and very much on the back foot.”That’s something we were assessing as they were bowling,” said Behrendorff. “They didn’t hit the stumps, or the balls were going to hit the stumps too often, so we made a conscious effort to try to pitch up and we hit the stumps as much as we could early doors.”I think we executed that quite well on the whole, which was really positive, and we were able to get off to a excellent start with, I think it was maybe three wickets in the first ten overs, which is always really important.”I guess as a bowling team, whenever you get off to a good start, you get your foot on the throat, and you don’t want to let it off. It’s something that we — I think the best way to determine, like we really want to play aggressive cricket and set the tone up front. So it was really positive that we were able to do that and continue that throughout the innings.”The presence of Starc and Johnson in the same attack wasn’t exactly a rarity but it still remains a talking point when two-left arm quicks take the field together. While the chances of that happening may well depend on particular match-ups, Behrendorff is naturally hopeful his performance against England will increase the likelihood of another day out with Starc.”We don’t often see it, but yeah, I don’t see why we can’t,” said Behrendorff. “Sometimes you play three right-armers, so why can’t we play two lefties? Mitch and I do different roles throughout the team, so it’s really good that we could partner together.”And then, yeah, second part of it, key match-up. That’s something we thought was going to work well and I think Mitch and I picked up nine wickets between the two of us, so potentially worked quite well there.”Behrendorff has a polite and unassuming demeanour when he talks to the media, and Starc paints a similar picture of him in the dressing room.”He’s fairly quiet,” said Starc. “But when he speaks it’s all sense. He’s come into the group really nicely. He hasn’t played a heap of cricket for Australia but when he has he’s bowled those good balls and come up with those good spells. He’s continuing to learn and develop as a bowler and he’s done a good job again today.”He bowled us a fantastic starting over to get us along and start the tone. It was awesome. For someone in their second World Cup game, he bowled beautifully for his five today.”Australia are now assured of a semi-final berth and, should they face England again – something that is now far from guaranteed – Behrendorff said their two defeats of England – in the warm-up match and at Lord’s – gave them enormous confidence they could be successful again, and take that success through to the final.”It’s huge,” said Behrendorff. “Every game that we can win is massive. Especially in a tournament like this – they talk a lot about momentum, and that’s something that’s really important.”So to continue winning, to continue playing good cricket, we’re still trying to play a perfect game, but we’re slowly getting better and better each time and today was another really good result for us.”

The former Glamorgan captain collapsed during a dinner in London on Tuesday night and died overnight

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jul-2019Former Glamorgan captain Malcolm Nash, best known for being slammed for six sixes in an over by Garry Sobers, has died at the age of 74.Reports said that Nash had collapsed while attending a dinner at Lord’s in London on Tuesday night, and died in a city hospital overnight.Nash played 17 seasons of first-class cricket, from 1966 to 1983, turning out in 336 matches in which he picked up 993 wickets – 991 of them for Glamorgan – at an average of 25.87 with his left-arm medium-pace bowling. He scored 7129 runs in 469 innings with two centuries and 25 half-centuries. He also played 271 List A matches between 1967 and 1985, picking up 324 wickets at 21.27.ALSO READ: The other side of 36In a note in the following Nash’s retirement from first-class cricket, John Arlott wrote: “Malcolm Nash was pre-eminently a highly skilful manipulator of medium-pace seam bowling. A thoughtful and sensitive cricketer, he, too, helped out as captain for a couple of difficult seasons, though from a sense of duty rather than real enthusiasm for the post. It appealed to his astute cricket brain but not to his essentially amiable personality. He was never a bowler to settle for the slavishly defensive; but sought to attack and to outwit opposing batsmen. He is, as he ruefully accepts, best known for being hit for six sixes in a six-ball over by Garfield Sobers in 1968; and secondly for five sixes and a four, by Frank Hayes of Lancashire. It is less often remembered that he himself once hit four consecutive balls from Dennis Breakwell of Somerset for six. He also set what was then a club record of nine sixes in a championship innings, against Gloucestershire at Swansea in 1973. Those memories were some balm for him. In 17 seasons he scored 7129 runs and held 148 catches but, most important, he took 993 wickets without, however, taking a hundred in any season.”Nash was the first bowler to concede six sixes in an over in representative cricket. In 1968, Nottighamshire were in St Helen’s in Swansea to face Glamorgan and Nash, then 23 and primarily a seam bowler, tried his hand at left-arm spin to Sobers but it didn’t turn out the way he would have liked at all.Composite of Garry Sobers’ six sixes in an over off Malcolm Nash•BBC

Interestingly, as with most other things in Nash’s impressive career, it has been largely forgotten that he had picked up four of the five wickets to fall in that Nottinghamshire innings before the Sobers carnage.Glamorgan County Cricket Club, in their tribute to Nash, remembered the cricketer as “one of the finest new ball bowlers from the late 1960s until the early 1980s”. “A man skillful enough with the new ball who was rated by Barry Richards, the legendary Springbok batsman, as one of the most difficult bowlers he faced whilst playing county cricket with Hampshire,” the tribute added.Born in May 1945 in Abergavenny, Nash made his 2nd XI debut for Glamorgan in 1964 before joining the county’s staff two days later. He made his first-class debut against Cambridge University in 1966 and his Championship debut against Yorkshire the following year.One of the highlights of his career came in August 1968, when Nash played a key role in Glamorgan beating the touring Australians. Then later, in 1969, when he picked up 71 wickets to finish as the county’s leading wicket-taker in their Championship title run under Tony Lewis’ captaincy. He never played for England, but did get a call-up for a trial in 1976.”Malcolm was a true Glamorgan legend whose exploits have gone down in club folklore,” club chief executive Hugh Morris, said on the Glamorgan website. “”His name is connected with that of Garry Sobers and St. Helen’s but he was a fantastic cricketer who was an integral part of the club’s history and the side that lifted the County Championship in 1969.”He was also a larger than life character who always had the best interests of the club at heart and continued to be involved closely with the Club after his retirement. Malcolm will be sorely missed by everyone at Glamorgan and throughout the cricketing world and we extend our deepest sympathies to his friends and family.”

The fast bowler, who is set to play his first ever Test match in India, speaks about his most memorable moment and the art of remaining calm on the field

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Sep-2019Jasprit Bumrah’s steep rise in international cricket across formats has been marked by the speed, versatility and nous, but he showed in India’s Test series sweep in West Indies that he still had room to add more weapons to his bowling, unveiling the outswinger. Virat Kohli’s “complete bowler” said it was a delivery he had, but needed honing to unleash in a match.”I have always had the outswingers, I have not used it much,” Bumrah said at an event in Mumbai on Friday. “But playing in England gave me a lot of confidence with the Dukes ball swinging for a long period of time. I got more and more confident as I played more and more Test cricket.”ALSO READ: Jasprit Bumrah’s game sense is his most striking feature – Andy Roberts“In white ball cricket, the ball doesn’t swing for a long period so you have to assess what kind of delivery works every time,” he said. “I was working on it [the outswinger] for a long period. I used it in England as well when we were playing against county teams. You can’t use everything in one match. You just try to assess the conditions on the given day and see what could work.”Bumrah started off being looked at as white-ball specialist, but in the years leading up to his Test debut and after, he always maintained that doing well in the longest format was one of his most cherished goals, which is reflected in the moment he picked as the ‘most memorable’ one of his career.”Getting my first Test fifer, which I got in Johannesburg. Playing in my first [Test] series, when I got the fifth wicket, that was the moment – ‘now I’ve got a Test fifer, nobody can take it away from me’.”As a domestic player, I have played a lot of Ranji Trophy cricket, so you always wanted to make a mark in Test cricket. I always had the belief that if I have done well in first-class cricket, I can replicate that in Tests as well. I have played only 12 matches, but finally after I made my debut after playing for two years of international cricket in South Africa, it was a good experience, a dream come true. I was really happy, just being there and playing in a white jersey was a great feeling. And then slowly, slowly starting to contribute towards the team’s success gave me a lot of satisfaction.”I just didn’t want to be a cricketer who played one-day and T20,” he said. “So the journey has been good. It’s just started, hopefully a long way to go. I’m learning from the experience that I’ve gained by playing in South Africa, England, Australia and the West Indies. India will be a different challenge, which I’m looking forward to.”ALSO READ: Rabada ‘not too worried’ with Archer, Bumrah snatching spotlightOne of the things Bumrah stresses on is self-belief.”For me, even if things don’t go well, the only opinion that matters, in my opinion, is your [own] opinion. It doesn’t matter what others think of you. That’s the philosophy I follow,” he said. “Whatever people think, whatever everybody’s opinion is, that is not important. If they give you love, that’s good. If they don’t, that’s good. Ultimately, it’s what’s inside your head, you’re there, you should have that belief. If you have the belief, everything will fall in place.”So far, all of Bumrah’s Test appearances have been overseas, away from the subcontinent: four in Australia, three each in South Africa and England, and two in the Caribbean. He has picked up five-fors in each of those countries, becoming the quickest (in terms of number of Tests) to record five-wicket hauls in four different countries. Now, he is set to play a Test in India for the first time in the series against South Africa, with three Tests scheduled in Visakhapatnam, Pune and Ranchi, which will form a new challenge.”I have played all my life in Ranji Trophy cricket in India. These are not alien conditions for me,” Bumrah said. “For me, a lot of preparation goes in before any match or tournament. I assess the conditions, we will discuss with the team management and the senior players, who have played a lot of cricket over here, as to what works, what doesn’t work, so will take everything into consideration and see how it goes.”All these things I listen to, and filter them, and figure out what I can do and cannot. I try to asses all this and make my plans.”That mindset, and the self-belief, also helps Bumrah ‘stay calm’ when things don’t go his way on the field. “If you get angry and show unnecessary emotion, it doesn’t really help. It’s a waste of energy. During that time, I like to stay calm, I try to smile, then I tell myself, ‘see, you are playing international cricket, you are playing at the highest level, which you always wanted to do as a child, so why are you getting frustrated’,” he said.”So few people in the world get such an opportunity. At that moment I feel grateful, I feel happy that I am playing at this level, small frustrations here and there will happen, but just be happy with the opportunity.”

Archer and the England team are still coming to terms with each other’s little ways

George Dobell in Manchester07-Sep-2019Like a couple who have just moved in together, Jofra Archer and the England team are still coming to terms with each other’s little ways.Both know this is a special relationship. And both know it’s made to last. But, as they settle down together, they are still marvelling at their new partner’s qualities, working out what makes them tick and wondering why on earth they keep leaving the top off the toothpaste.Take Archer in this match. In the first innings, with his team still riding the crest of the drama of Leeds and the game to be defined, he went missing a bit. It wasn’t just that his speed was down a little – his average first innings speed was still a respectable 85 mph; his highest was a more than respectable 91 – but that he was unable to replicate the probing lines and lengths he had managed at Headingley. He finished with 0-97 from 27 overs and Australia built a match-defining position.In the second innings he suddenly went up a gear. His top pace was 93 mph and his average was 88. He was, once again, the high-class fast bowler England have needed for so long. He produced an invigorating spell of fast bowling that, for a moment, threatened to drag England back into the match. But Archer and the equally admirable Stuart Broad had to be rested and, honest though the rest of the attack is, they lack the bite of the opening pair.Also read: Bayliss holding out for a heroThe catalyst for the spell seemed to be some sledging from a couple of Australian players when Archer batted. Matthew Wade and Travis Head had been particularly vocal, appearing to question Archer’s commitment to Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash. It didn’t seem especially serious stuff – certainly there was nothing inappropriate, though Adelaide Strikers’ supporters may have been encouraged by it – but it did seem to irritate Archer. When Head came in to bat he was waiting.Immediately, Archer’s pace went up to 90 mph. His first delivery beat an airy push, his second was dug out and his third, a bouncer, saw Head jerk out of the way. Shortly afterwards, the batsman was struck on the arm by another short one and the pair exchanged words. The next ball, again well over 90 mph, was driven for four but the one after that, a searing inswinger to the left-hander, knocked out his middle stump. The spell to Wade was not quite as dramatic but again, Archer got his man.What can we conclude from all this? Well, firstly, that it probably isn’t too clever to rile Archer. Just as Dean Jones found when he complained about Curtly Ambrose’s wristbands or South Africa found when they bounced Devon Malcolm, it’s sometimes best not to provide any extra motivation for fast bowlers. Archer, under that calm demeanour, is a fierce competitor and thrives in the heat of the battle. Maybe the England management, and Archer himself, need to find a way to unlock that aggression on demand. You would think it may be a task for the team psychologist.But, from an England perspective, there may also have to be some tempering of expectations. Yes, Archer can bowl fast. But it is hard and it requires many factors to fall together if it is to happen. So in Leeds, for example, Archer did not feel it was necessary and concentrated on control and movement. And on the first day here, with a fierce wind and a wet outfield, he was simply unable to replicate the same rhythm. Trevor Bayliss rated the conditions “the toughest I’ve ever seen cricket played in.” He’s not a man prone to hyperbole.Broad seemed to concur. “The outfield was very wet,” he said. “It’s cut very short, so it churns up a bit and it’s hard to get grip when running in. You can’t charge in. Your feet were almost sinking behind you.” Put simply, Wednesday’s conditions would have troubled any seamer. For a young man brought up in Barbados and playing only his 31st first-class game they were hugely testing.It’s important to remind ourselves about that inexperience. That number of first-class games is almost a third of the number played by Craig Overton, who is less than a year older. Archer is learning his trade. There are bound to be days when it shows.Unlike just about everyone else who has played for England in recent years, Archer hasn’t come through the ECB’s pathways. As a result, there is little knowledge for the England management to draw upon: few captain or coach reports; no assessments from Loughborough; no feedback from Lions tours. England know they have something special here, but they don’t know many of the details of how Archer works or how he can best be utilised. There will be days when that shows, too.Jofra Archer celebrates the wicket of Matthew Wade•Getty Images

There are some potential areas of improvement, though. Archer would appear not to be the most enthusiastic embracer of warm-ups – he often bowls spin on the morning of games and sometimes on the day before the match – and instead seems to prefer to ease his way into games through bowling. That’s understandable. If he is required to bowl in match situations as often as England seem to demand, he doesn’t want to waste any deliveries in training.But, given the importance of utilising the new ball in Test cricket, that is a habit that may need to change. He needs to hit the ground running. He needs to adapt and learn. The England management, whoever that is in a few weeks, need to help him come to terms with that.Equally, though, they have to understand that he cannot be a strike and stock bowler. Mitchell Johnson, for example, bowled only three or four-overs spells during that peak period he enjoyed in 2013 to 2015. Archer’s first spell on Saturday was nine overs and, 16 overs later, he was recalled for a second spell. That workload may be sustainable for a classic English seamer – the likes of Overton – but Archer’s ceiling is higher than that. He has to be looked after a bit more. Weariness – both mental and physical – may well have played a role in his declining pace since his Test debut at Lord’s.Maybe we should be aware of some alarm bells here. We now know that Archer had a pain-killing injection in his side at the end of normal play in the World Cup final and ahead of the super-over. We know, too, that he had undergone injections ahead of several other games. Is it right that four-months into his England career, he is already requiring such treatment? He has a precious talent; he needs resting and nurturing and protecting as much as he needs medical help to continue playing.Most of all, we have to be realistic. That’s the management, the media and the supporters. Even the very best in the business of fast bowling – the likes of Malcolm Marshall and Richard Hadlee – did not bowl flat out every day. Archer showed at Leeds that he could be successful by cutting his pace and concentrating on control and movement. We shouldn’t just judge him by the speed gun. He’s better than that.At Sussex, they believe he is at his best pitching a full length that would hit a couple of inches below bail height on off stump. With his delivery point so close to the stumps and his ability to move the ball both ways, such a length invites the drives but offers the promise of several modes of dismissal. The bouncer is there only to ensure the batsman isn’t too quick to come forward and as a shock. It shouldn’t be his stock ball.Archer has already helped England to that elusive World Cup title. He’s already achieved the highest pace recorded by an England seamer. Bowlers like this come along, in England at least, very rarely. But there are going to be a few poor days on the journey and, if he’s to fulfil his obvious potential, there has be deeper understanding of what is reasonable to expect and demand from him.

Captain also rejects suggestions new competition poses a threat to England’s Test aspirations

George Dobell21-Oct-2019Joe Root has insisted that the introduction of the Hundred will help England in their bid to retain the World Cup in 2023.Some have suggested that the new competition will reduce England’s competitiveness in ODI cricket as their leading white-ball players will no longer be available for the domestic 50-over tournament, which is scheduled at the same time as the Hundred.But Root feels the benefits of exposing young English players to some of the best overseas players in the world will outweigh any such issues.”By playing the Hundred, you’re exposing our next generation of players to play against some of the best players in the world,” Root told ESPNcricinfo. “Regardless of the format that will be more influential and have more of an impact.”Look at the guys in the current white-ball team who have gone off to play in the IPL: they’ve come back better players for it. I feel the Hundred will have a similar impact on more English players. Not just the top end guys, but on the next group of players that are on the fringe of the international teams. And, on the back of it, they’ll have more opportunity to play elsewhere, too.”Of course it’s important we look after our 50-over cricket and, long-term, don’t let it slide off a cliff. But I don’t think playing the Hundred will dilute our chances of winning the next World Cup.”Root also refutes the suggestion that the Hundred poses a threat to England’s Test aspirations. While the window created for the competition means the Championship will be played disproportionately in the margins of the summer – a scenario which all too often leads to conditions providing copious assistance to the sort of seam bowlers who find little encouragement on the better surfaces generally encountered in Test cricket – England’s Test captain feels the county groundsmen simply have to do a better job of creating high quality surfaces. County groundsmen, recovering from the longest season in history, could be forgiven for shaking their heads ruefully and wondering how they can be expected to produce good batting surfaces in the drizzle of early April.”The key is making sure the wickets for Championship cricket are good,” Root said. “Some of the wickets have not been good enough this season. We have to make sure we’re producing wickets that allow guys to get in and make big scores.”You want the next group of batters to know what’s it’s like to score big hundreds; to deal with scoreboard pressure; to bat for two days to stay in a game and earn a dull draw. And you also have to find a way to take wickets – to take 20 wickets – on flat ones.”I’d like to see wickets improve. And that ultimately comes down to the counties. I know they’re under huge pressure to win but, from a purely selfish point of view, I think it would be really good for English cricket if we saw better wickets next season.”

Former ECB lead bowling coach reunited with Peter Moores as club plots return to top flight

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2019Kevin Shine, the ECB’s former lead fast bowling coach, has joined Nottinghamshire as an assistant coach, bringing an end to his 14-year association with the national academy at Loughborough.In his new role at Trent Bridge, Shine, 50, will be reunited with the former England head coach, Peter Moores, where his first challenge will be to plot Nottinghamshire’s route back to the top flight after their calamitous relegation in 2019.Shine’s departure from the ECB follows this week’s confirmation that Peter Such, the lead spin coach, is also moving on from Loughborough as part of an overall of the coaching set-up since the appointment of Chris Silverwood as England’s new head coach.Prior to his move to the national set-up, which encompassed four Ashes wins, the World T20 victory in 2010 and England’s rise to No.1 in the ICC world rankings in 2011, Shine served as Head Coach and Academy Director at Somerset.”When the opportunity came up it was a no-brainer for me,” said Shine. “I’m really looking forward to working with Pete [Moores] again. He is one of the best coaches in the game and a person I have huge respect for.”I love coaching, so to be able to support and work with coaches of the calibre of Mooresy, Franksie [Paul Franks], Ant Botha, Andy Pick and Matt Wood, who I know from working at Somerset, is amazing.”I have spent the last 14 years trying to develop international cricketers and to put a bit of what I have learnt back into county cricket is really exciting.”Shine’s arrival means that Andy Pick, Nottinghamshire’s long-term assistant, will take up a new role in the identification of emerging talent for the first team, alongside Elite Pathway Manager Matt Wood and Second XI Coach Ant Botha.”On the back of last season, we know we’ve got to get better,” said Nottinghamshire Head Coach Peter Moores.”Our coaching is part of that and – with Kevin becoming available – we saw an opportunity to shake things up in a way we believe will help us improve.”He’s coming from 14 years in an elite environment with England, where he’s worked within various coaching regimes and with a whole host of different players.”His track record is there for all to see in the current crop of international bowlers available to England, and it’s fantastic that we can now tap into that experience at Notts.”Equally exciting is the opportunity for our young cricketers to work with a coach of the calibre of Andy Pick.”Andy will have a specific focus on developing our bowling talent, whilst also being perfectly placed to help inform our recruitment.”The depth of his experience across senior and youth levels is second to none, so it feels like a real step forward for us.”

James Pattinson and Michael Neser remain the reserve quick bowlers in the 13-man squad

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2019Cameron Bancroft has been left out of Australia’s 13-man squad for the Test series against New Zealand, which starts in Perth next week, in an otherwise unchanged group from the one which swept Pakistan 2-0 with a brace of innings victories.James Pattinson, who was ruled out of the opening Test against Pakistan after his code of conduct suspension, and the uncapped Michael Neser remain the support pace-bowling options.Rotation was a theme among Australia’s pace attack in the Ashes but barring any injuries it would be a surprise if they changed the current trio for the opening Test against New Zealand. Mitchell Starc, who took 14 wickets at 17 in the two Tests, grimaced at times in Pakistan’s second innings in Adelaide, but Tim Paine was confident there was no significant concern.”We’re lucky not only because of how good [the quick bowlers] are but they’re great athletes as well,” he said. “Starcy has a bit of a cut on his big toe, he did land awkwardly at one stage yesterday but that was fine. Most of his grimacing today…I think he’s waiting the nail to come off the big toe which happens to a lot of fast bowlers and until it actually happens it can be quite painful. He’s battling a little bit with that but nothing he hasn’t gone through before.”Bancroft was the spare batsman for the Brisbane and Adelaide Tests and will remain a standby player, but has not been officially included this time. The selection chairman, Trevor Hohns, has left it open to add a player to the squad if conditions dictate which could be the case in Sydney where two spinners may be an option.Bancroft was released ahead of the Adelaide Test to play in the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia where he made 12 and 23 to continue a lean first-class season, his first-innings dismissal seeing him caught at leg gully for the fifth time this summer.Given the dominance of Australia’s top order against Pakistan – and the two innings wins – some of the batsmen have had limited time in the middle with Travis Head and Tim Paine batting just one in the series.”As we said prior to the Pakistan series we are striving to maintain a core group of players,” Hohns said. “The performance of the team against Pakistan was very impressive across all areas, while there is always some room to improve”We are backing the current batting line-up to continue their form across the next three Tests. Whilst not a part of this squad, Cameron Bancroft remains one of the standby players. Similarly, depending on conditions, we reserve the right to add a player to the squad at any time during the Series.”Michael [Neser] will play for Queensland against New South Wales in the Marsh Sheffield Shield game at the SCG, as James [Pattinson] did last week for Victoria.”The round of Sheffield Shield matches which begins on Saturday is the final one before the competition breaks for the BBL.Squad David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head, Tim Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Michael Neser