Category Uncategorized

Worcestershire broke the only unbeaten record in this season’s NatWest T20 Blast and moved clear at the top of the North Group

ECB Reporters Network10-Jun-2016
ScorecardBen Cox sealed Worcestershire’s victory in the final over•Getty Images

Worcestershire broke the only unbeaten record in this season’s NatWest T20 Blast and moved clear at the top of the North Group when beating Northamptonshire by Worcestershire by three wickets at New Road.Wicketkeeper Ben Cox followed up three catches in Northamptonshire’s 169 for 7 by taking the nine runs wanted from the last over in three balls from Mohammad Azharullah – a reverse paddle for four, a pull for four and a single into the covers.Cox finished unbeaten with 42 from 24 balls, having turned the match in his team’s favour after going in at 102 for 5, but it seemed that Worcestershire had lost their best chance when Tom Kohler-Cadmore was dismissed for 60 by Rob Keogh’s juggling act on the deep extra cover boundary.Keogh, who previously held a one-handed catch at mid-off from Brett D’Oliveira, knocked the ball up before completing the catch.Both sides were handicapped by constant drizzle and poor light in Worcestershire’s innings and at first the game was tilting towards Northants when Azharullah took two wickets in an over to leave the home side teetering on 20 for 3.Earlier, Ben Duckett’s first half-century of the season in the competition was crucial to setting up a challenging total for Northants, but the left hander benefited from two lapses in Worcestershire’s normally reliable fielding.This was rough luck on George Rhodes as the son of the county’s director of cricket made his home debut following an impressive start in the Royal London Cup against Yorkshire earlier in the week.The 22-year-old spinner was in his first over when Duckett, on 6, was dropped by Jack Shantry at short third man and returned later to see the batsman’s second life, on 28, when D’Oliveira fumbled a stringing drive to extra cover. Rhodes had figures of 1 for 11 from his two overs, his wicket coming when Alexei Kervezee at deep square leg held a well-judged catch from Steven Crook.Duckett went on to reach his 50 from 34 balls after hitting three sixes and four fours but without addition to his score he was seventh out at 140, bowled by Joe Leach as Worcestershire’s acting captain finished with 3 for 26.Leach was called on to lead the side when Daryl Mitchell suffered a side strain in the nets, a major blow to Worcestershire, who were already without paceman Matt Henry, but Northamptonshire were even more depleted with Richard Levi, Rory Kleinveldt and Olly Stone on their lengthening casualty list.Wickets fell on a regular basis on a sluggish surface, although Alex Wakely, Josh Cobb and Keogh all had time to deal in some heavy blows.Keogh was brilliantly caught overhead at mid-off as Shantry atoned for his earlier miss but the when he came on to bowl the penultimate over, Graeme White smashed three consecutive sixes.

Rajiv Shukla, the IPL chairman, has said the BCCI is looking to scrap the Champions League Twenty20 in favour of an alternative tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff15-May-20151:13

Kalra: Alternative option required to protect sponsorship interests

Rajiv Shukla, the IPL chairman, has said the BCCI is looking to scrap the Champions League Twenty20. The issue was discussed at the board’s governing council meeting in April as a result of limited interest from fans and sponsors.Shukla said there are thoughts of conducting a different tournament in its place, and that he and BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur are weighing possible options.”Yes, we are planning to do away with the Champions League T20,” he told . “In place of that, we are considering an alternative league. But at the moment all this is at the planning stage.”Several ideas are coming and honourable secretary and myself are considering those ideas. We will sit together after the IPL gets over and try and plan out something.”At the moment we don’t have anything in hand, but yes we are in the process of bouncing off ideas. When something concrete comes up, we will certainly bring it to everyone’s notice.”There have been six editions of the CLT20 so far pitting the top teams of various countries against each other. India, Australia and South Africa are the primary stakeholders of the tournament, while teams from West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been regular competitors.The major fallout for the teams would be the loss of monetary benefits. CLT20 appearances are included in IPL teams’ sponsorship deals and the non-Indian teams receive $200,000.There have been reports of the top-four IPL teams who make the playoffs this season to play a league-based event leading into a knockout stage to be played in the UAE.

Gerald Majola, the suspended CSA chief executive, has been found guilty on all nine charges laid against him at his disciplinary hearing

Firdose Moonda17-Oct-2012Gerald Majola, the suspended CSA chief executive, has been found guilty on all nine charges laid against him at his disciplinary hearing, including accepting bonuses, not declaring them to the board and wrongdoing around travel claims. The sanction against him will only be decided on Friday, although it is likely he will be fired.Majola’s hearing took place without him after he withdrew from proceedings last week. He was invited to appear before chairperson Karel Tip for the decision today but chose not to. He could still make an appearance tomorrow to make submissions on the sanction that will be handed down.When that takes place it will bring to an end an almost three-year long saga over which has centred on R4.7 million (then US$ 671,428) in bonuses that were paid to Majola and 29 other staff members after the hosting of the 2009 IPL in South Africa. Three separate investigations found that the money was not properly declared to the board and contravened principles of corporate governance.Suspicion first emerged when CSA’a auditors picked up the payments as an irregularity in August 2009. At the time, sources close to the body maintained that the payments were made in accordance with precedents set during other non-CSA events, such as the 2007 World Twenty20. The then-president Dr Nyoka called for a more thorough look into the matter. CSA initially said they would have an external enquiry but decided to exhaust their internal mechanisms first and moved the matter in-house.AK Khan chaired the commission and cleared Majola of any wrongdoing but reprimanded him for making an error of judgement in not declaring the money. On Nyoka’s insistence – after having votes of no confidence passed against him twice and winning a court battle – CSA had to subject itself to an audit by major firm KPMG. Their investigation recommended CSA seek legal advice on whether Majola broke the law. After hearing testimony from a lawyer, the board chose to reprimand Majola severely in response.The action was deemed to be unsatisfactory by the country’s sports minister Fikile Mbalula. He stepped in and ordered that another investigation be conducted under Judge Chris Nicholson. Hearings were held from December last year to February 2012 and in March, Nicholson issued his findings. The two most notable ones were that Majola be suspended pending a disciplinary hearing and that CSA restructure its board.The latter is almost complete. On Tuesday CSA announced the five independent directors who will sit on the new board and will appoint five provincial presidents to join them at the AGM on October 27. They may also have to appoint a new chief executive if Majola loses his job after the sanctions have been announced. Jacques Faul, the acting chief executive, and Haroon Lorgat, the former ICC boss, are believed to be in the running.Majola’s hearing was due to be complete by the end of May but it was delayed when he contested the appointed chairperson. The challenge was successful because John Myburgh, who was to hear the proceedings, made an advisory award against Majola and he was believed not to be impartial in the matter because of that.Tip was then appointed and the hearing started last Wednesday. Majola has since launched a challenge in the country’s Labour Court. He is challenging the legitimacy of the action taken against him over the last year, particularly the decision to hold a disciplinary hearing against him.

Daren Ganga says Trinidad & Tobago’s performances in domestic Twenty20 cricket in the West Indies have inspired many youngsters, but it is still to be seen whether that translates into progress

Abhishek Purohit in Hyderabad17-Sep-2011Three captains turned up to face the media today in Hyderabad ahead of the Champions League Twenty20 qualifiers. Mahela Udawatte, of Ruhuna, looked a little lost and out of place. Matthew Hoggard, of Leicestershire, wore the broadest of smiles which lit up an otherwise humdrum interaction. Daren Ganga, of Trinidad & Tobago, was forthcoming, forceful and meant business.Over the years, Ganga has acquired a reputation of being an insightful and capable leader of men. His replies showed that the image has been well-earned. Coming from the tempestuous Caribbean where cricket has made headlines lately mainly for off-field reasons like player contracts or spats between the board and players, Ganga would have expected what was thrown at him by the sparse gathering of reporters.Twenty20 has made mercenaries of players all over the world, but the greatest impact has been felt in the Caribbean, already battling a steady decline in standards. “T20 have an impact. Such is the nature of the game,” Ganga said. “We have always played our cricket stylishly and aggressively in the Caribbean. So it is no wonder that T20 is attractive there.”Aggressive was the way T&T played in the inaugural Champions League in 2009, getting stopped only by New South Wales’ Brett Lee in the final. Ganga wasn’t surprised then, and he isn’t now that T&T are back in the league as Caribbean champions. “We have dominated T20 in the Caribbean since its onset,” he said in a voice that would have seemed boastful if it wasn’t true. “We love to play exciting cricket.”T&T’s performance in 2009 brought a lot of cheer to the country and to the Caribbean. But Ganga was quick to distinguish mere celebration from concrete results. “There was a lot of excitement in the West Indies due to our success last time. It inspired a lot of youngsters which was good to see. But whether we see a result of that [in terms of performance], time will tell.”The realistic tone of Ganga’s narrative was broken when he was asked how he felt being an acclaimed leader of a side that has given the people of the region periodic respite from the depressing performances of the West Indies team. “I have been fortunate to have a bunch of players with me who have had the discipline and the drive to do well. It’s the most heartening thing as a captain to see players come in at a very young age and then develop and go on to play international cricket.”I was selected when I was 16 and Brian Lara took me under his wings and taught me about cricket and leadership. I have a lot of respect for him for what he has taught me. It is a continuation of seniors teaching juniors. Hopefully when I move on, the current players can do the same for the next generation.”He then took the distinction between T&T and West Indies a step further. “I am proud to have been part of a successful group of individuals. We as West Indies have not been known much recently for our results. Who knows in the future cricket could be an Olympic sport and we could even play as a nation.”T&T are without the services of two star players, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, both of whom have chosen to play for their respective IPL sides – Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians – in the Champions League. If T&T qualify for the main tournament, Ganga could be up against his countrymen.His response might well be to point out that his side won the regional T20 tournament this year without the two playing a single game.

Merissa Aguilleira and Stafanie Taylor have welcomed the West Indies Cricket Board’s decision to offer central retainer contracts to six players in the their side

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2010West Indies women captain, Merissa Aguilleira, and leading batsman Stafanie Taylor have welcomed the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) decision to offer central retainer contracts to six players in the their side.”When I first heard the WICB was offering retainers to members of our team I said to the others ‘wow, this is great news for us’,” said Taylor, who has been in top form in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge in South Africa. “I am truly very happy not just for myself but for the other members of my team. We are all playing our hearts out for West Indies cricket and we are truly delighted that the WICB is taking notice and looking out for us.
“Our coach always urges us to play with heart and one day we will get the recognition. With the contracts, we can now concentrate fully on our cricket and we know we will have income to sustain ourselves.”Taylor, 19, is one of the rising stars in the women’s game, and on Wednesday became the youngest woman to reach 1000 ODI runs, when she made 72 against Ireland. Her captain Aguilleira led the side to the semi-finals in the 2010 World Twenty20 and West Indies have also made steady improvement and moved up the ODI rankings.”This news could not have come at a better time,” Aguilleira said. “This is a good incentive for the girls to continue the hard work we have been putting in over the last few years since we started to make strides up the international ladder. I have been speaking to the girls and they are over the moon to hear we will be offered retainer contracts. We will continue to work hard to improve and get better at doing what we love.”

The loss of Cameron Green’s overs are not viewed as vital, but the frontline bowlers will likely need a break at some point

Tristan Lavalette21-Nov-20245:56

Cummins: ‘Smith’s hands have made their way to Perth’

On the eve of the first Test, as he went about various media duties, Australia captain Pat Cummins appeared extremely relaxed and seemingly sported a permanent smile.He seems to have good reason to feel at ease. While much of the focus ahead of the series has been on the uncertainty over India’s line-up, Australia’s XI has been settled ever since uncapped Nathan McSweeney won the race to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.It’s an experienced group of players and they are relatively refreshed with a lot of forward planning having been made in a bid to get them through a gruelling five-match series played within seven weeks.Related

• Labuschagne wants to do to India what Pujara did to Australia

• In fast and bouncy Perth test, Lyon could be the trick question for India

• Get to know India's newcomers: Four players who could be in action in Perth

But if there has been a cause for concern, it’s the fitness of allrounder Mitchell Marsh who has only bowled four overs since tearing his hamstring during the IPL.All of those overs were in the fourth ODI against England at Lord’s in September. He then pulled up sore and missed the subsequent match before playing as a specialist batter for Western Australia in two Sheffield Shield matches in October.Marsh had publicly declared ahead of the second Shield match, against Tasmania, that he would return to bowling but his body was not quite ready. His role with the ball has grown in significance for Australia with Cameron Green missing the entire series due to a stress fracture of his back.Having become a father a day earlier, his wife Greta giving birth to their first child, Marsh on Monday pushed through weariness and built up his bowling loads in a lengthy centre wicket session as Australia started their first Test preparations. There were no signs of discomfort as Marsh powered through the crease and he also impressed during Australia’s training session on Wednesday.”He will definitely bowl this Test. He is an allrounder and with the way us four bowlers set out, we never really budget around an allrounder bowling heaps,” Cummins said.Marsh, however, is unlikely to be able to cover Green’s workload. He was used sparingly during the seven Tests last summer where he never bowled more than nine overs in an innings.Marsh, 33, is set to be utilised across a couple of short spells, possibly relatively early in the innings given his ability to produce outswing and also around the 60-70 over mark with the old ball.”We never put an upper limit [on overs] on anyone,” Cummins said. “But he’s ready to go and happy to bowl as much as we need. I would imagine a few spells each innings. He’s been bowling great this week, his body is the best it has been for a while.”Mitchell Marsh has barely bowled since an injury in the IPL earlier this year•Getty Images

Along with Marsh and Travis Head’s handy offspin, Cummins might also revert to Marnus Labuschagne, who has emerged as an unlikely seam bowling option after lengthy stints in the Shield caught many observers by surprise. He has almost exclusively bowled seam rather than legspin, which has yielded him some success previously at Test level.Having taken the captaincy reins of Queensland, Labuschagne has utilised himself with the ball and took 2 for 5 from 6.2 overs in the season opener against Western Australia at the WACA. He then bowled 27 overs across the match against South Australia at Allan Border Field.His bowling has been marked by short-ball aggression, which he has also unfurled during Australia’s training sessions ahead of the first Test, providing a potential tactic for Cummins to utilise.”He’s always trying to impress the ball, which is great,” Cummins said. “He loves bowling. He’s one of those guys, as we know, who always wants to be involved. He’s bowled some handy overs for Queensland. Obviously, he’s got legspin, a bit of offspin in the past and then this year, it’s been on to pace bowling.”I’m sure he’ll get the ball at some stage and bowl quite a few bouncers as well. So that’s maybe something we’ll turn to at some point as well.”While there is intrigue over Australia’s back-up bowlers, a refreshed Cummins and his frontline attack are hoping to mostly shoulder the workload. He will enter the series having not played red-ball cricket since March in New Zealand.Cummins was earmarked to play a Shield match for New South Wales, but has instead played one domestic 50-over game and two ODIs against Pakistan.”I feel great. Couldn’t have asked for a better lead in, so hopefully it translates into a good summer,” he said. “I’ve been really lucky to have four or five months off to build up, get strong. I feel as strong and as fresh and as fit as I have for a long time.”

The India batter on coming back from injury “without any baggage”, his surprise inclusion in the XI against Pakistan, and more

Shashank Kishore12-Sep-20231:33

Uthappa: Rahul’s innings showed how much work he has put in

KL Rahul wasn’t in India’s first XI for their Asia Cup Super Four fixture against Pakistan. But just prior to the toss in Colombo, when he was asked by head coach Rahul Dravid to get ready, there was a slight problem. Knowing he was going to carry drinks, Rahul had left his batting gear and kit back at the hotel. It needed frantic running around from the team manager to get his kit across to the R Premadasa Stadium.”Five minutes before toss, Rahul told me you might have to play because Shreyas [Iyer] has a back spasm,” Rahul told official broadcaster Star Sports after he marked his comeback with his sixth ODI hundred in India’s record win. “I hadn’t brought any of my batting gear, I didn’t get my batting t-shirt, skins, nothing. I’d come like that because I had to just carry drinks (laughs). I just had one T-shirt.”At the last minute, our manager had to run to the hotel to get my stuff. Strange things have happened in my career. This isn’t the first time. It has happened earlier too. Mentally I guess I know what to do when I’m thrown into the ring, I give my best. I’m happy such performances happen [when he’s been faced with such situations]. Maybe it’s also a sign that I don’t have to think too much. I can just go out there and enjoy my cricket. That’s the learning for me.”Related

• Kuldeep credits straighter run-up, increased pace for ODI success

• Sublime India launch their Star Destroyers into hyperdrive

• India's fitness to be put to test against in-form Sri Lanka

• When menace meets precision – Jasprit Bumrah shows what he's all about

Rahul was right when he said such things had happened earlier too. One such moment, in 2016, perhaps changed the course of his career. At an IPL game in Rajkot against Gujarat Lions, Rahul wasn’t listed in the XI for Royal Challengers Bangalore at toss time. But ten minutes prior to the start, he was seen rushing off the field to get ready after Mandeep Singh tore the webbing on his left hand. Virat Kohli then asked Suresh Raina, the opposition captain, if they could make a late change.Rahul responded with a gutsy half-century at No. 4. It was the start of a golden run for him that season. From being a non-starter in the XI, Rahul became a regular as RCB made an inspired run to the final. While Kohli made a chart-topping 973 runs, Rahul contributed heavily too: 397 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 146.49. That season dispelled notions of him being a one-format player. In fact, it was also during that season when Rahul made a mark as a wicketkeeper, a role he has grown in over time. He would make his ODI and T20I debut for India soon after the IPL.This ability to bat in the middle and keep wickets makes him a crucial part of India’s ODI World Cup jigsaw. This is why the team management waited on him to return to full fitness five months after he limped off with an injured hamstring. It has taken a lot of work behind the scenes for Rahul to fully get ready before he joined the team last week ahead of the Super Fours.”I’ve had three [tests] done in the last ten days,” Rahul said with a laugh. “Two yo-yo tests, two practice matches, this [batting in the middle in humid conditions] was worse than that [yo-yo tests]. Yeah, for four months I’ve had a lot of juice, and energy. Hopefully, I can carry this, try to recover fast and come back fresh [for the Sri Lanka game].KL Rahul finished with 111* off 106 balls against Pakistan•Associated Press

Rahul then touched upon the route he took to his India comeback. There was a lot of soul-searching, and introspection of his game – which he mostly said was around the mental side – and, of course, the hard yards at rehab at the National Cricket Academy.”Firstly, three out of the five months I spent getting fitter, giving my body the rest,” he said. “I was in great hands at the NCA. I want to thank the NCA staff and Rajni sir [Physio S Rajnikanth], he made me run around a lot. He’s gotten me fit for this. I knew when I returned, I was aiming for the Asia Cup. I knew the conditions would be humid.”I knew the World Cup that will follow at home would be challenging, especially to do both keeping and batting. I trained that much extra. Batting, when you’re out and have a lot of time. I watched a lot of videos, and reflected on things where I can get better. I spoke to a few coaches, and I knew where the fault lines were, it was mostly mental, and I tried to address those things. I also came back fresh without any baggage, guess that helps.”How did he feel when he walked out for his first international game in six months, where he was up against Pakistan’s gun pace attack of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah?”It was my first international match after a long time, the intensity isn’t the same at a practice match,” Rahul said as he opened up about his unbeaten 233-run stand with Virat Kohli. “When I walked in, there was that nervousness. It took me 10-15 minutes to just calm myself down and get my feet moving, get my mind thinking about the right things.”When I hit one or two boundaries, the fogginess went away, and it became like before. I was reacting to the ball, to the situation. Just when my rhythm was building, it started raining and we had to wait for a whole day and restart, so again [upon resumption] the 10-15 balls were nervy. Once I hit a few balls in the middle, you forget about those things.”On Monday, he batted the way he would, largely risk-free and with clarity, especially against spin in the middle overs. Unlike at the 2019 ODI World Cup, where Rahul had to shift back up to open in the wake of Shikhar Dhawan’s injury after being initially slotted in the middle order, there seems to be clarity that middle order is where his calling will be. India will hope that clarity will pay rich dividends at the World Cup.

South Africa batter available for two rounds of County Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jun-2022Ryan Rickelton, the South Africa batter, has signed for a short-term spell as an overseas player with Northamptonshire. He will be available for their next two LV= Insurance County Championship games.Rickelton, who made his Test debut against Bangladesh in March, comes in to strengthen the squad in red-ball cricket after the departure of Will Young, on international duty with New Zealand, and Matt Kelly, who has returned home to Australia.”It’s really exciting and a great opportunity to be joining Northamptonshire.” Rickelton said.Related

• Cele, Rickelton, Snyman get maiden South Africa call-ups

• Strong showing from second string gives South Africa 'options' ahead of Test winter

• Kohler-Cadmore signs for Somerset as Yorkshire exodus intensifies

“I have always wanted to play county cricket and to be part of such a well-rounded, strong group is brilliant and I look forward to hopefully contributing to the side’s success in the County Championship.”Rickelton, 25, has scored 2973 runs at 50.38 in first-class cricket, and knows Northants captain, Ricardo Vasconcelos, from their time growing up in South Africa.He will arrive in the UK this week, ahead of Northamptonshire’s Championship fixture against Warwickshire starting on Sunday. He is also due to feature against Kent next month.”I’m delighted to have Ryan join us for a couple of games, we’ve known each other since we were little so I’m looking forward to hopefully getting to bat together for Northamptonshire,” Vasconcelos said.”He’s a really positive batsman, he plays his shots and has scored a lot of runs in the last couple of years. He got off the mark in test cricket with a reverse sweep I think, so that tells you a bit about him.”

Phil Simmons and Jason Mohammed will hope for promise to turn into fight in the second ODI

Mohammad Isam21-Jan-2021

Big picture

Bangladesh played to their favourites tag in the opening ODI in Dhaka, predictably outplaying the inexperienced West Indies line-up in a six-wicket win. It wasn’t exciting cricket but the home side will take the ten points for the ICC ODI Super League, which helps their approach towards automatic qualification to the 2023 World Cup.Tamim Iqbal’s ODI captaincy reign started with the win, as did Shakib Al Hasan’s come back with a player-of-the-match performance. Shakib took three wickets in his mean first spell of seven overs, with a slip fielder constant and often employing a silly mid-off and a short-leg. Andre McCarthy, Jason Mohammed and Nkrumah Bonner had no answer to the returning giant, who seems to have added a number of strings to his bow.But there were other dangers for West Indies too. Mustafizur Rahman got Bangladesh their first two breakthroughs, while Rubel Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz held strong; and debutant Hasan Mahmud took three wickets in the space of nine balls later.After West Indies were bowled out for 122 runs, Bangladesh took their own sweet time to reach the target, but still had 16.1 overs in hand. It was a justified approach given the long break they’ve had since playing an international match. They didn’t want to get it wrong, neither did they have it easy.It may not have been awe-inspiring batting, but it should be expected the way the pitch played out. Later both captains Tamim Iqbal and Mohammed said that they had to be patient with the bat; Mohammed acknowledged they needed to bat with more patience during the middle overs.There’s some promise in the way West Indies batted. Sunil Ambris started positively, debutant Kyle Mayers looked like a free-flowing batsman while captain Mohammed tried to survive through the spin test. If the top six can bat for at least 35 overs, it can free up Rovman Powell to bat his way in the slog overs. But one persisting problem for them would be the really long tail, which Bangladesh exploited quite well in the first game.

Form guide

Bangladesh (last five completed matches, most recent first): WWWWLWest Indies: LLLLW

In the spotlight

The most threatening aspect of Shakib Al Hasan‘s four-wicket haul was his economy and how he kept the West Indies batsmen tied to the crease for long periods. The visitors are going to have a hard time keeping him away for the next three weeks.Akeal Hosein was West Indies’ glimmer of hope, with his impressive 3-26 on debut. Hosein’s wicket of Liton Das was the way any left-arm spinner would like to start their careers, but the way he carried on for the rest of his 10-over spell, was the most encouraging part.

Team news

Seven squad members are warming Bangladesh’s benches but with ODI Super League points up for grabs, it is unlikely that they would make any changes. Mohammad Saifuddin’s fitness update would however keep the team management interested.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 2 Liton Das, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Soumya Sarkar, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Rubel Hossain, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Mustafizur RahmanIt might be too son for Phil Simmons to press the panic button and go for changes, mainly because he doesn’t have a lot of options in the ODI bench.West Indies (possible): 1 Joshua da Silva (wk), 2 Sunil Ambris, 3 Andre McCarthy, 4 Jason Mohammed (capt), 5 Kyle Mayers, 6 Nkrumah Bonner, 7 Rovman Powell, 8 Raymon Reifer, 9 Chemar Holder, 10, Akeal Hosein, 11 Alzarri Joseph

Pitch and conditions

Both captains said that it was a difficult pitch to bat on, during the first ODI. But with a slightly warmer forecast for Friday, batsmen on both sides can expect a bit of heat to take out the moisture from the surface.

Stats and trivia

• Shakib’s 4-8 was the most economical four-wicket haul for Bangladesh in ODIs
• Hasan Mahmud’s 3-28 is the best bowling figures on ODI debut for Bangladesh since Mustafizur Rahman’s 5-50 in 2015

Quotes

“When he was playing (before his one-year ban), he was the best allrounder in the world. He is one of the best spinners going around. He had a very good spell. We can see that with his figures.””You cannot judge anyone after one match. He did well. You can ask this question after one year.”

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.