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The Test captain’s plans have taken a backseat due to the pandemic but he isn’t too worried about it

Mohammad Isam25-Jun-2020Mominul Haque’s plans as Bangladesh’s new Test captain have had to be temporarily shelved because of the Covid-19 crisis, which has led to the postponement of eight matches across five series for the team. The latest to be deferred is the three-Test tour of Sri Lanka.”Of course I miss the cricket, of course I feel bad,” Haque told . “Like everyone else, I also had plans for the year, but we have hit a barrier. But we have to remember that this is not in our control, so there’s nothing we can do about it.”We have had so many Tests postponed, but the only ray of hope is that since this is the World Test Championship, we may get to play those Tests. We had targeted improvement in small steps. We were watching the pace-bowling unit progress on their own after we had set them some goals. Players’ focus should remain intact, and we must keep remembering what we improved on when we get back to action.”Bangladesh has been severely hit by the pandemic, which means it could be among the last Test-playing nations to resume cricket activity. The BCB headquarters remains shut as it is in one of the worst-affected areas in the capital. These circumstances are bound to make it difficult for a Test team that has been struggling for a while.Haque was forced to take up the reins in October last year after Shakib Al Hasan was handed a one-year ban for failing to report a corrupt approach. It hasn’t been easy – his first three Tests in charge were in India and Pakistan, and Bangladesh lost each of them by innings margins, before beating Zimbabwe at home, a game in which Haque himself hit 132.He has been checking up on his team-mates regularly. He talks to the younger players, in particular, many of whom are handicapped because of the absence of gym and fitness equipment in their homes.”I speak to the players, especially the younger lot, quite often,” he said. “I check on them, how they are coping with the lockdown. I speak to the senior players too. Tamim [Iqbal] and Mushfiqur [Rahim] have equipment at home and you know how hard they work on their own. Captaincy is about being responsible and taking the opportunity to do something for the country. Only a select few get to that level, and I feel I am lucky to be among them.”Haque also stressed on the need to remain mentally strong in times like these, where the only option is to remain indoors. He spends time reading autobiographies and the holy Quran and sometimes watches motivational videos on the internet.”As professional players, it is in our blood to be one with bat and ball, all the time,” he said. “So it is important to be mentally tuned to yourself during these days, when you are locked up at home for two to three months. I think you can hold on to your fitness by working out for five or six days, but being mentally strong is the most important factor.”Also one must remember that although we are getting unscheduled rest, next year we might not get a breather due to the volume of cricket. So it is best to use this time for one’s benefit. Read a book of someone who has been successful, watch a motivational video or read the Quran. Use your time properly.”

Vice-captain says positive approach won’t change, but England need better execution of plans

George Dobell in Gros Islet07-Feb-2019Jos Buttler has admitted the reaction to England’s defeat in the Caribbean has left the players with “hurt pride”.Buttler, England’s vice-captain, conceded it had been a “really disappointing tour” from an England perspective and accepted that Darren Bravo’s determined innings in Antigua had been “a good example” to England’s batsmen.But hearing England’s coach, Trevor Bayliss, question the side’s “will to fight” and “guts and determination” was especially “stinging” to the side, according to Buttler, and left them wanting to prove him wrong.”It has been a really disappointing tour so far,” Buttler said. “We have played well under what we are capable of and what we expect of ourselves. We have not been able to soak up areas of pressure West Indies have put on us and we haven’t got anything going in partnerships. Those are the areas we need to improve this week.”Were Trevor’s words stinging? Yes, of course. As a player, when those kind of things are questioned, it can hurt your pride. You want to prove him wrong.”Darren Bravo showed lots of guts and courage on a tough wicket. It was a good example of a way of playing and being brave. He took lots of blows. And sometimes that is what it takes.”But the guts, courage and determination of the group is very strong. We have not been good enough to show that at times on this tour. This week we will be looking to show lots more of that.”While there has also been criticism of England’s aggressive approach in Test cricket, Buttler insisted it was not the approach that was wrong as much the execution of it. So while he believed England’s “bold and attacking” style had brought the side a fair amount of success, he also accepted they had to get better at adapting to conditions.”The plan isn’t changing,” Buttler said. “We just have to play better.”If I look back at the games I’ve been involved in since I came back into the side, the conditions have been fast-forward cricket. That style of being bold and attacking has paid dividends at times.”But we have to be smarter and adapt to our conditions. You’re always trying to adapt to conditions and play the situation accordingly and we’ve been way off with that. The commitment side of things is a big part of it, to commit to your style of playing as an individual and a group.”In international cricket you will come up against lots of different situations and lots of different conditions. The real skill of the best players and best teams around the world is they adapt to those conditions better than the opposition. As a player and as a team you’re always reviewing that logically: are we getting that balance quite right? That’s another area the team can improve.”

Jonathan Carter’s century put Barbados in control despite only 32.3 overs being bowled on the first two days, but Jamaica avoided their second loss of the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2017
ScorecardAFP

Persistent rain in Kingston marred the day-night encounter between Jamaica and Barbados, forcing a draw despite bowling-friendly conditions. Only 32.3 overs were bowled on the first two days. Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican took 3 for 22 to give Barbados hope of an outright win, but Jamaica closed their second innings at 98 for 6 in 48 overs as time ran out.Jonathan Carter had earlier posted his fourth first-class century to bolster Barbados with a 128-run, first-innings lead. Steven Taylor, who was axed as USA captain following his desire to play first-class cricket for Jamaica to pursue a West Indies cap, made his debut, and scored a combined 13 runs in both innings.Having opted to bat first, Jamaica’s opening pair of John Campbell and Garth Garvey struck an 85-run partnership. Barbados’ offspinner Ashley Nurse and seamer Kevin Stoute then combined to reduce Jamaica to 143 for 7. Jamaica declared on 176 for 8 on the third day.Barbados replied strongly after losing opener Anthony Alleyne early. A 68-run stand between Sheyne Mosely and Shamarh Brooks for the second wicket steadied the innings, before Carter’s 186-ball 103 put Barbados in control, as they declared at 304 for 7 in the 94th over.Jamaica were 37 for 3 in their second innings, but resistance from captain Paul Palmer (32 off 115 balls) helped them avoid their second loss of the season. Both the teams are yet to register a win in the competition.

New Zealanders showed positive intent with the bat against a non-threatening Mumbai attack on a non-threatening track on the first day of the warm-up game in Delhi

The Report by Sidharth Monga in Delhi16-Sep-2016
ScorecardSuccessful overseas batsmen in India have often been successful by lofting the ball over the infield. Even in the days of in-and-out fields, when Alastair Cook scored 562 runs including three hundreds in 2012-13, the most runs by a visiting batsman in a four-Test series in India, he relied on the lofted shots both for runs and also to get rid of the close-in fielders. On their first day of play on the Indian tour, New Zealand batsmen used the loft liberally to suggest it will be the shot they will go to often in the Tests.Albeit on a non-threatening track against a non-threatening attack, New Zealanders made their intent clear as everybody apart from Martin Guptill got a hit in in their score of 324 for 7 declared. There was no hanging about either as they gave Mumbai 13 overs to play before stumps, and took a wicket during that period. The declaration gave them a good chance of having a proper second innings.Two of the wickets were retirements to allow others a chance to bat. Incidentally, the two who gave up their batting, Tom Latham and BJ Watling, were the ones who batted at a more sedate pace. Apart from the two, and Henry Nicholls, everybody struck at more than 70. Apart from Guptill, who scored 15, everybody crossed 20, including fifties from Kane Williamson and Latham. Targets in particular were the spinners, whose 49 overs were taken for 230 runs. Two of these spinners were part-timers, and two others yet to make their first-class debuts.Another heartening news for New Zealand will be that their lower order and lower-middle order – crucial on raging turners – was among the runs. Watling looked comfortable in his 21, Mitchell Santner and Mark Craig ran away to 45 and 33 not out, and Ish Sodhi scored a slightly streakier 29.Every batsman that faced spin played the lofted shot early in the innings. That leaves out Guptill, who got out even before spin came on, but he had started the day with a hooked six in the first over of the match. A Mumbai attack missing its spearhead Shardul Thakur and with left-arm spinner Vishal Dabholkar – average of 31 – as its best spinner was then punished. Williamson stepped out repeatedly to loft Dabholkar over mid-on. He went back to taking singles once the fielder was pushed to long-on, but went aerial again as soon as Dabholkar called the fielder back up. Latham once swept Dabholkar for four from way outside the off stump. The intent – on a friendly surface against friendly bowlers – was clear.Balwinder Sandhu, with healthy swing but at a gentle pace, was the only shining light for Mumbai. He got the wickets of Guptill and Williamson in the first session with outswingers. As the day wore on, though, Mumbai made more and more use of spinners. Ross Taylor made use of the cut shot before lofting legspinner Parikshit Valsangkar into the sightscreen. Facing his first over of spin, Nicholls came down the wicket to loft left-arm spinner Vijay Gohil for two fours. Santner did the same to Gohil as soon as he came out to bat. Craig reserved the same treatment for Dabholkar.New Zealand had just one three-day warm-up game to get used to the conditions before going into the first Test in Kanpur. As has become the norm world over, the hosts did them no favours by giving them a pitch that looks nothing like the raging turners that teams expect in India nowadays. Also they had a second-string Mumbai side to face with their best players playing for India A in Australia. New Zealanders’ success with their ploy of using their feet and the lofted shots needs to be seen in that light, but one thing was clear: they showed enough signs they are not here to play passive cricket, which South Africa, at times, might have been accused of in India’s last home season.

James Vince notched his maiden LV= County Championship century of the season before the bowlers lead Hampshire well on the way to a crushing victory at the Ageas Bowl

09-Aug-2015
ScorecardJames Vince, seen here in England Lions action, made his first Championship century of the summer•Getty Images

James Vince notched his maiden LV= County Championship century of the season before the bowlers lead Hampshire well on the way to a crushing victory at the Ageas Bowl. Captain Vince amassed 1525 runs last season and seemed on the brink of an international call-up but bar three figures in a university match he has struggled in red ball cricket.His ton was followed up by a team effort with the ball as Liam Dawson and Fidel Edwards both snatched two each with Hampshire needing four wickets on the final day for their maiden home win of the season.Vince, with batting partner Michael Carberry, began the day as they ended the previous in glorious touch – the pair amassing 180 for the second wicket. Both went past 50, Vince in 105 balls and Carberry in 120 deliveries – with the former smashing a six over midwicket – as the hosts scored quickly.

Hampshire in false position – Brown

Warwickshire director of cricket Dougie Brown said: “If we’re totally honest we have been short in both disciplines, bat and ball. With the ball we have tried really hard but they have outplayed us.
“This game shows where the Division One Championship is at the minute: there are a lot of good teams. The position Hampshire are in in the Championship belittles their ability.”

The partnership was ended out of nowhere when England and Ireland international Boyd Rankin found an edge before Tim Ambrose pulled off an eye-catching catch behind – Carberry departing for 91, his second dismissal in the 90s this season. Will Smith came and west for two before lunch with a loose cut shot – another bowled Rankin, caught Ambrose.After lunch, Vince reached his lavish century from 170 balls – which included 11 fours and a six. Vince and Gatting scored quickly putting on 79 runs in 9.5 overs before the former called the sides off to give Warwickshire almost five sessions to either chase 444 or find a draw.And the quest to avoid defeat started badly when Varun Chopra was leg before to a Gareth Berg ball which nipped back and stayed low. Laurie Evans was then bowled by Jackson Bird – the ball pinging back the batsman’s off peg for a duck – and Jonathan Trott’s continued a horrendous week against Hampshire by departing lbw for 5. Wickets continued as Sam Hain was leg before to first innings star Edwards.Ian Westwood provided a minuscule of personal delight with his fourth fifty of the season – from 108 balls – but the next ball he looped a push to Will Smith at short leg. Former Test duo Tim Ambrose and Rikki Clarke delivered some resistance in the twilight with a sixth wicket stand of 64.Clarke became the second Warwickshire player to reach 50 in the match, coming in 55 balls, and brought up with a clanging pull in front of square. Wicketkeeper Ambrose prodded to Vince at first slip off the West Indian Edwards – as he ended the day with figures of 2 for 25, Dawson 2 for 34.

None of the teams in Group A are through to the Super Six stage of the Women’s World Cup yet, as they head into the final round of league matches

Abhishek Purohit in Mumbai04-Feb-2013Sri Lanka have never beaten India in women’s cricket. They hadn’t beaten defending champions England either, until three days ago. No wonder India captain Mithali Raj was wary of Sri Lanka going into their final group game of the tournament, especially given the flat pitch at Brabourne Stadium, which has produced big totals in all but one of six innings so far.”Next game is a do-or-die game for us and we are not going to take Sri Lanka lightly,” Raj said. “On such a wicket, especially, it could be anybody’s game and they have done well against England.”Raj said India’s unbeaten record against Sri Lanka wouldn’t make any difference to their approach. “This is a World Cup. We definitely don’t look down upon any team as such. So we are going to take them as another opponent that we need to win against to qualify for the Super Six. That’s our aim now.”All four teams in Group A have a victory each. While the two sides that win on Tuesday – England play West Indies in Mumbai as well – will proceed to the Super Six, the final spot will go to the losing team with the better net run-rate. Sri Lanka’s NRR nose-dived after their heavy defeat to West Indies, but their captain Shashikala Siriwardene was hoping to beat India so that her side wouldn’t have to depend on the other game’s result. Siriwardene also felt India’s batsmen wouldn’t be as big a headache as Stefanie Taylor and Co proved to be, given they don’t have the powerful hitters West Indies did.In all four games played so far in Mumbai, teams have bowled after winning the toss but of those sides, only Sri Lanka ended up victorious, that too, off the last ball against England. India lost to England after asking them to bat, but Raj said she would still choose to field, if given a fresh pitch.Tuesday’s game between India and Sri Lanka will be played under lights, just like the tournament opener between India and West Indies. The India bowlers got consistent movement, in the air and off the pitch, and the West Indians found batting difficult in the evening.England captain Charlotte Edwards pointed out that difference between morning and afternoon starts, but Raj was clear what she would do.”I will [have to] see if we are getting a fresh wicket. If it is the same condition I will still opt to field because the way Jhulan [Goswami] bowled in the first spell [against England], she was brilliant. So I wouldn’t want any other pacer to get that kind of an edge so I will still go for fielding if we win the toss.”India had stuck early against England, but following a steady century partnership between Edwards and Sarah Taylor, they conceded too many runs in the latter half of the innings. Raj was hopeful of avoiding a repeat of that against Sri Lanka. “The kind of start the bowlers have given us, getting us the first breakthrough, I only hope that we don’t give away too many runs in the Powerplay or in the last session.”That’s where I guess we were a little lost [against England] so probably that wouldn’t be happening in the next game. In the last session we seemed a little lost in terms of bowling and [giving away] few boundaries. I guess we will try and minimise the boundaries.”To achieve that, India could take a look at the way England have tackled the benign conditions. “I think we have adapted well,” Edwards said. “It is important that we bowl wicket-to-wicket stuff. That is something we have tried to talk about. Any width on these wickets is just a free hit.”

Cricket Kenya and Supersport have agreed terms for the broadcaster to televise the East African Premier League and East Africa Cup in 2012 and 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jan-2012Cricket Kenya and Supersport have agreed terms for the broadcaster to televise the East African Premier League and East Africa Cup for the next two years.The continuation of the partnership will see Supersport broadcast coverage of the Twenty20 and 50-over competitions in 2012 and 2013. Supersport will show comprehensive live coverage of both the competitions and look to build on their additional coverage which included a weekly magazine show featuring highlights, features and player profiles in the inaugural season.”The extension of our broadcast agreement with Supersport is testimony to how successful the first year of the East African Cricket Competitions has been,” explained Tom Sears, Cricket Kenya’s CEO. “The Supersport coverage has generated enormous interest all over Africa and the feedback we have had is incredibly encouraging. To have East African domestic cricket broadcast all over the continent gives the game wonderful exposure and presents fantastic opportunities to commercial partners.”We are delighted with how the first year has gone, weather interfering with the finals aside, and we are currently reviewing ways we can further improve the competitions for 2012. The East African Cricket Competitions are a key part of our strategy for the future development of cricket at all levels in the region and Supersport’s endorsement of what we are striving to achieve is enormously encouraging.”

In Makhaya Ntini’s farewell game, it was Rohit Sharma and Morne van Wyk, two players who weren’t supposed to be there, who shone brightest

Sidharth Monga at Moses Mabhida Stadium09-Jan-2011Neither Rohit Sharma nor Morne van Wyk were supposed to be here. Yet both of them shone on Makhaya Ntini’s big day, his farewell.Rohit was a last-minute addition to the Indian touring party after Virender Sehwag was forced to miss the ODIs as a precautionary measure for his dodgy shoulder. Still, Rohit would have only been a back-up man had not a bruised, battered, but successful Gautam Gambhir not left for India. van Wyk only came in because Graeme Smith had another hand injury to tend to.However, the two adjusted the best to the slow and low conditions at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, scoring fine fifties in front of the biggest crowd gathered to see cricket in South Africa.Rohit did much as he does in Twenty20s. He didn’t look to hit the ball too hard, waiting for it to arrive and then lofting it square or straight. His driving on the slow track stood out. His knock set up India’s innings, after which Suresh Raina provided the important runs in the final few overs. If signs were to be looked for, these can’t be bad for a man trying to force his way back into the national side.”It was important to start on a good note,” Rohit said after the game. “And I am thankful it came off at the right time. I will take every opportunity as it comes. I do not want to put pressure on myself. I have played the IPL here before, and know the conditions here. The wicket was on the slower side. I took my time knowing that we had a good batting line-up.”For the 31-year-old van Wyk, who seems destined to end up a journeyman cricketer, this was an even bigger opportunity. He grabbed it with both hands, running back from mid-off and then diving nearly to a full stretch to remove M Vijay. Then came his batting.van Wyk is an interesting batsman with an interesting back lift. The bat reaches his ear as he waits for the ball, and the face is always open, showing the maker’s name to the point fieldsmen. By the time it comes down, though, the bat is straight, and there is no problem in closing its face too. As he demonstrated to Munaf Patel, hitting him over midwicket, through point and over mid-on in the same over. Munaf seemd to be at the wrong end of van Wyk today: when he came back for another spell, he found van Wyk flicking him over long leg and squeezing a yorker between the two point fieldsmen.By the time van Wyk got out for 67, South Africa had scored only 92, showing how he was the only man who adjusted well to the conditions. “Definitely, when Morne was going pretty well for us, we were up with the rate, ahead of it actually,” South African captain Johan Botha said. “But as soon as the rate went high, it was difficult to come back. We can’t expect Nos 8, 9, 10 and 11 to get more than 10 an over in the end.”Two men least likely to make an impact in the limited-overs leg of the tour a week ago have made the most impact in the first game. It will be interesting to see if they can carry it into the ODIs.

Wasim Akram has expressed surprise over the appointment of Eric Simons as bowling consultant for the Indian team

Cricinfo staff20-Jan-2010Wasim Akram has expressed surprise over the appointment of Eric Simons as bowling consultant for the Indian team. “Who is this guy? I never heard of Simons before,” Akram told PTI. “I read his [Simons’] name in the morning papers and was surprised at the choice. I don’t know if he possesses any exceptional coaching skill. If he does, then it’s good for India.”The BCCI had appointed Simons only for the two Tests in Bangladesh and the subsequent home-series against South Africa. Akram questioned the decision to award Simons a short-term contract, which he believes will not be of much benefit to the team.”These short stints will certainly not help the players. If I tell a few things to the players for a period of two weeks, then I will have to ensure that they are followed or implemented for some time. Only then a coach will get the desired results,” Akram said. “I feel a coach should stay with the boys for a minimum period of six to eight months and only then the bowling will show improvement.”Akram was also critical of the trend of sub-continental teams looking for foreign coaches and specialists. “I don’t understand the fact why do Asian teams employ foreign coaches? And if a South African coach is appointed then why does he bring along a South African guy for the fielding or bowling coach’s role,” Akram said. India is currently coached by Gary Kirsten, a South African, while Paddy Upton, a prominent member of the support staff is also from the same country. In addition to Simons, Allan Donald, former South African fast bowler, was also in the fray for the bowling consultant role.”A home coach can not only impart good knowledge to the players but can also gel with the players and talk to them in their own language,” Akram said.