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Plays of the day from England and South Afirca’s Champions Trophy semi-final

George Dobell and Jarrod Kimber at The Oval19-Jun-2013Selection of the day
The selection of James Tredwell and his subsequent success raised an interesting question for England. Graeme Swann believed he was fit enough to play but the England management, keen not to risk him ahead of the Ashes, left him out to avoid any chance of his calf strain becoming a tear and compromising his availability. Bearing in mind how well Tredwell fared, though, it does raise the question of who will win selection for the final if both men are fully fit.Stumping of the day
If you bowl a brilliant offbreak, beat the bat, the ball hits the pad and goes to slip and slip takes off the bails as the batsman is stranded down the wicket, the dismissal is recorded as a run-out. Even though the batsman was not attempting a run and, had the exact same thing happened and a wicketkeeper taken off the bails, it would have been a stumping and the bowler would have been credited with a well-deserved wicket. But that’s what happened to Tredwell, after a smart bit of fielding from Jonathan Trott.Drop of the day
If South Africa were to have any chance of clawing their way back into this game, they had to take every chance offered to them in the field. As it was, though, Joe Root was on 16 when he was beaten by one from Chris Morris only to see his inside edge evade the diving AB de Villiers behind the stumps. England would have been 92 for 3 had it been taken.Catch of the day
Jos Buttler is still learning his trade as a keeper but he produced an outstanding performance in this game to underline his improvement and potential. He claimed six catches in all – equalling the record for a keeper in ODIs, the third Englishman to do so alongside Matt Prior and Alec Stewart – with the best of them an outstanding, diving catch down the leg side to dismiss Rory Kleinveldt.Set-up of the day
When Steven Finn was taken off after three overs and Stuart Broad’s first two overs were expensive, it seemed South Africa might fight their way back into the game. But then James Anderson came around the wicket to Robin Peterson. Four straight outswingers that landed within a few inches of each other set Petersen up; the straight one that followed dismissed him. It precipitated a decline that saw South Africa collapse from 45 for 2 to 80 for 8.Delivery of the day
Like R Ashwin, Robert Croft and Saeed Ajmal, Tim Bresnan’s wife, Hannah, appears to have mastered the art of pausing just before delivery. Bresnan missed training on Tuesday in order to spend time with his wife, with the England management having arranged a driver to take him back to The Oval in time for the game. The baby appeared as hard to get out as Jonathan Trott but, shortly after England’s victory, the birth of Max Geoffrey Bresnan was confirmed.Lap of the day
The break between innings allowed the Cricketeers, the volunteers who have done so much to make the Champions Trophy such a success, the chance to take a lap of honour around the boundary at The Oval’s playing surface. Around 2,600 people volunteered to help with this tournament, with 800 selected to help supporters with directions to and around the ground, to support the media and to fulfil a multitude of other tasks that aid spectators’ enjoyment of the games. Immediately recognisable with their red shirts and over-sized foam fingers, they have been cheerful and willing, with the idea considered such a success that it will be repeated to help with the Ashes.

While Harshad Khadiwale has shown glimpses of his talent in seasons past, his consistent start to the 2013-14 Ranji Trophy shows how much he has matured as an opener

Amol Karhadkar in Pune22-Nov-2013When Harshad Khadiwale first toured with Maharashtra’s squad as a teenager, almost a decade ago for the West Zone one-dayers in 2004-05, he was labelled the boy wonder of Maharashtra cricket. But, despite creating ripples on the Under-19 circuit and making his first-class debut as an 18-year-old, Khadiwale somehow couldn’t live up to his potential.The first half of the current season, though, seems to suggest Khadiwale has finally matured as an opener. No doubt he has had the advantage of flat decks and mediocre opposition in Group C of the Ranji Trophy. Still, a century in each of Maharashtra’s three games so far, the latest being a double, has supported the notion that Khadiwale has finally reached the peak of his career. His 262 against Goa was a lesson in pacing an innings as an opener.He began cautiously, then focused on rotating the strike, before getting into boundary-scoring mode. When an aggressive batsman like Kedar Jadhav was in full flow, Khadiwale was happy to take the back seat. But the moment Jadhav perished, he balanced the roles of sheet anchor and aggressor to perfection. It reflected in his numbers, as more than half of his runs came in boundaries in an innings that lasted seven minutes shy of 10 hours.Khadiwale may have been sporting a beard, perhaps to appear mature, but his face still has that boyish charm. Usually a man of few words, Khadiwale did open up a bit after his marathon innings, admitting he has taken time to come of age, but adding that he doesn’t think he has done badly either. “First and foremost, it’s difficult for an opener to be consistent at any level. Opening the batting is perhaps the most difficult role and I don’t think I have fared badly. It’s just that the big runs were not coming as consistently as it is happening now,” Khadiwale told ESPNcricinfo. “I am glad things are falling in place now and I hope to continue in the same vein.”The other major factor behind his lack of consistency was captaincy, which was thrust upon him at the tender age of 21. Ever since Hrishikesh Kanitkar’s relationship with the state association’s top bosses turned sour, Maharashtra seem to have experimented too much with leadership and team selection. As a result, in 2009-10, when Khadiwale was perhaps too young for such responsibility, he was entrusted with it. “You had to think of not just your batting but also about all other things, so it may have affected me a little,” Khadiwale said. “Once I was relieved of the captaincy, I have been able to concentrate much more on my batting.”Over the past eight seasons, Khadiwale had given glimpses of his talent. Except for his debut first-class season, in 2006-07, he hasn’t had a season without at least one century. But he hasn’t been able to convert his starts into big hundreds. This is the first time that he has managed to score more than two hundreds in a season.Khadiwale said the presence of Surendra Bhave – the former Maharashtra stalwart who was Khadiwale’s mentor ever since he was child – as the team’s coach has helped a lot. “He has always been supportive and some of the small tips that he gives helps us a lot. Since he has also been an opener, he understands my game very well,” Khadiwale said.Bhave said while there is no doubt about Khadiwale’s technique, he had been conditioning him mentally. “He has got the most fluent technique of all our batsmen and it has reflected into his performance,” Bhave said. “[But] before the season, we had to prepare him mentally for greater responsibility, and he has delivered by carrying [the team] on his shoulders.”Khadiwale said that he has “stopped setting targets” for himself. “All I am thinking of right now is to spend as much time at the wicket as I can. If I can do that, the runs will obviously follow.”If he can convert his words into action, by the end of the season Khadiwale would have done a world of good not only for himself but also for Maharashtra, who are looking to be promoted from the lowest rung of the Ranji Trophy.

ESPNcricinfo evaluates the performances of Australia’s players after their 5-0 Ashes whitewash

Daniel Brettig06-Jan-201410Mitchell JohnsonIn a word, terrifying. So fast did Johnson bowl and so finely calibrated were his previously untrustworthy sights that England’s batsmen and bowlers were often made to look like club cricketers who had stumbled their way into batting in Tests. Starting with a nightmarish burst on day two in Brisbane and concluding with arguably his finest new ball spells of the series at the SCG, Johnson did not slacken off at any point, a tribute as much to his long-standing physical durability as his new-found mental strength.Brad HaddinIn any other era, Stuart MacGill would have taken 400 Test wickets. In any other Ashes, Haddin would have walked away with the man of the series award. Bailing out Australia’s batting every first innings of the contest, Haddin’s batting bore the fearless look of a man with life and cricket in perspective. He was also wonderfully nimble behind the stumps, claiming fewer catches than he had done in England only because edges flew more frequently to the slip fielders beside him. Michael Clarke’s best lieutenant, Haddin also added much wit and wisdom to the dressing room.9Ryan HarrisUnrelenting in his effort and unwavering in his skill, Harris repeatedly punched through England’s top order batting to allow Johnson to surge through the breach. Lacking only the extreme speed of Johnson, Harris is otherwise the complete fast bowler, across the series earning comparisons with anyone from Malcolm Marshall to Sir Richard Hadlee. Although aged 34 and nursing a battered body, Harris now wants to push on to the 2015 Ashes tour. Provided his fitness holds up he will be the first man chosen.8Nathan LyonFlight, turn and bounce reaped 19 wickets for Lyon as he outshone Graeme Swann to be the most accomplished spinner on either side. Lyon’s confidence grew throughout, as he benefited from the decision to have his mentor John Davison at hand for most of the series. Gave his all with the bat and in the field also, while also settling happily into his role as the team song master. Still only 26, Lyon is on his way to becoming Australia’s most prolific offspinner of all.Chris RogersUnobtrusive but endearingly consistent, Rogers wore down England’s bowlers in the manner of the best opening batsmen. He struggled initially for batting form and rhythm, but fought out the series admirably to compile centuries in Melbourne and Sydney. Having waited so long to add to his one Test, the garland of leading run-maker over the two Ashes series was just reward for his persistence.Peter SiddleUnsung but indispensable, Siddle bowled spell after spell of wholehearted and questioning fast medium. His role in building up pressure by bowling “boring” was rewarded most of all by the wicket of Kevin Pietersen, England’s most dangerous batsman developing a major problem with an adversary he was prone to underestimate.Steven SmithConsistency is still to flow completely through Smith’s batting but his best in the series was worth waiting for. First-innings centuries in Perth and Sydney, on pitches favourable to fast bowling, spoke volumes for his progress from the fidgety stripling who was directed to “come into the team and be fun” in 2010-11. Has a long Test career ahead, not only as a lively batsman but also the most likely next long-term captain of Australia.7Michael ClarkeThough his returns tapered off somewhat around the time the series was won, Clarke made critical runs when it mattered most while also leading his team with typical aggression and nifty tactics. A calculated attack on Swann in Brisbane neutered England’s most critical bowling option, before his barked threat to the arm of James Anderson revealed Clarke’s ruthless side to the Australian public. His catching at slip was never less than exemplary. At series end there was no prouder man in Australia.David WarnerFitter, happier and more productive, Warner confirmed his threat to England by scoring swiftly and decisively to build Australia’s leads. Reaping the rewards of pre-season work with his personal batting coach Trent Woodhill, Warner batted with a clear mind and intent to attack, no longer muddled by defensive thoughts. If this meant the occasional low score, the rewards outweighed the risks. A few more first-innings runs will further enhance his improving reputation.6Shane WatsonA useful rather than overwhelming contributor, Watson cracked the most brutal century of the series in Perth and also played busily to help Rogers guide Australia home in Melbourne. His change bowling was invariably handy, claiming useful wickets at important times, while his problematic body held up decently to the challenge of five Test matches.4George BaileyLimited in his stroke range and vulnerable outside off stump, Bailey found the going harder than many teammates. Only one half century from five Tests was a poor return, even if he contributed usefully to the team’s cause at times while also catching well at short leg. The only member of the Ashes XI whose place is in doubt for the South Africa Tests.

The new format for England’s T20 competition represents an invaluable chance to inspire a new generation of supporters and players

George Dobell15-May-201412:54

The County Show: Prepare for Blast-off

“It’s the economy, stupid.” Bill Clinton was almost certainly not thinking about the re-launch of the English domestic T20 tournament when he adopted that slogan for the 1992 US presidential elections but it remains pertinent, nevertheless.The launch of the NatWest T20 Blast on Friday provides counties with an opportunity not just to boost their finances in the short-term, but reassert their relevance to communities in the long. Which county wins is largely irrelevant. It is about the county game winning as a whole.For many years the counties have been accused – unfairly, given the development role they fulfil – of surviving on hand-outs earned by the England side. While the launch of the original one-day competition, the Gillette Cup, in 1963 and the T20 Cup in 2003 provided welcome revenue, the value of such events has been diluted over the years. There have been times in the last few seasons when some of the T20 cricket seen in England – attritional, percentage cricket featuring flat spinners and begrudging medium-pacers on damp Tuesday afternoons in largely deserted stadiums – has been almost everything it was set-up to avoid.Packed out crowds and inspiration for the next generation: these are key ingredients for the NatWest T20 Blast•Getty ImagesNow, with a regular, predictable place in the schedule, the casual cricket watcher – and that is exactly the sort this competition is designed to attract – can attend games without needing to check and double-check fixture lists. They can budget their finances and their time so they can attend a game every couple of weeks across the summer, rather than face a glut of three games in six days as has, at times, been the case in recent years.It is essential the counties buy into the re-launch. It is essential that they understand the primary aim of the competition is to attract a new generation of supporters. So it is essential that tickets prices remain accessible to a mass-market audience that is just finding its feet after recession and that the visitor experience is, in every way, welcoming.Players must sign autographs until their arms ache, the grim-faced stewards who have presided in some grounds for far too long must be banished. Members, too, must appreciate the requirement for some of the more populist marketing ploys – the cheerleaders, the music, the talk of Andrew Flintoff’s return – that they might find trying. Cricket in England has to realise that it cannot afford to be exclusive.And, crucially, it is vital the counties provide the appropriate pitches. Seasoned cricket lovers may celebrate the absorbing battle of low-scoring games; the uninitiated will not. This tournament requires good-paced pitches that encourage free hitting and fast bowling. Those counties that prepare slow, low surfaces they think will benefit their slow bowlers have to understand the long-term damage they will inflict on the game. This has been spelt out to them by the ECB.Warwickshire’s decision to rebrand themselves ‘Birmingham Bears’ has proved one of the more controversial marketing initiatives of the re-launch. But there is nothing to be feared by such an experiment. The club reasoned that its somewhat austere image – again, a largely outdated image – had failed to engage the inner-city spectators that live within easy reach of Edgbaston. Specifically, the club has failed to attract the Asian spectators that attend in such numbers when their favoured international teams play at the ground. Warwickshire’s attempt to reach out to this audience is laudable and should not be mistaken for a move towards a city-based mentality.A city-based franchise league in England would be a mistake. While such leagues may work in Australia or India, the landscape in the UK is vastly different. Cricket, in England, is a niche sport. It cannot rely on the passionate support that exists in India to draw people from the shires to the cities. It will always live in the shadow of football. If cricket does not go to the people, the people in market towns around the nation, it will be in danger of becoming irrelevant to vast swathes of the country.The counties, especially in an era when cricket is so rarely seen on free-to-air television, do not exist simply to entertain their members or produce England cricketers – worthy aims though they are. They also exist to keep the game alive by inspiring, identifying and developing players. They offer, for many people, the only realistic chance to witness professional cricket and have a role to play in inspiring young people and then going into clubs and schools in their local community to develop their skills. The Blast is their shop window and their opportunity to earn the resources required to afford the development schemes and the wages demanded of the best players.

A city-based franchise league in England would be a mistake. While such leagues may work in Australia or India, the landscape in the UK is vastly different

And that must be the longer-term aim of this re-launch. It must engage and inspire a new generation of players. For as the identity of the next generation of England’s Test team has taken shape over recent weeks, it has become apparent that, once again, a disproportionate number of the new members – the likes of Sam Robson, Chris Jordan and Gary Ballance – will have been, to a greater or lesser extent, products of foreign systems.To a large extent, that is to be celebrated. Not only does it reaffirm the attraction of county cricket to aspiring young players across the world, but it helps England field a team that reflects the mobile, multicultural society that it represents; a team that reflects a nation with a unique history of commonwealth and empire.But it does beg the question: how good could England be if they utilised the hugely untapped pool of talent that must exist in their own backyard? With competitive cricket now hardly played in state schools, England is obliged to draw its side largely from those who attended private school and those who were given their first exposure to the sport abroad. Those breeding grounds will always be valuable, but it makes sense to also try to utilise the vast, underdeveloped resources of the state system. T20 offers a chance to reach that resource.In the long-term, the ECB may well decide that the benefit of returning some cricket to free-to-air TV outweighs any relatively short-term financial gain. Just as the Sunday League proved the ‘gateway drug’ to several generations of cricket lovers, so could a knockout T20 event incorporating, perhaps, the minor counties. With a little imagination, this free-to-air coverage could be provided by Sky. No amount of coaching clinics, Chance to Shine visits, inner city facilities or autograph sessions – excellent though all those things may be – can replace the simple thrill of stumbling upon the sport on TV and falling in love with it.There will always be challenges. Not least, there is the suspicion that the competition’s success hinges to a large extent on a factor beyond the control of governing bodies or marketing companies: the weather. Several counties are concerned that the tournament begins a week or two early and that a later start might provide a better chance of good weather and increase the chances of the event building early momentum.The Caribbean Premier League offers further competition for players and attention from the cricket-watching public. While the county game has long since grown resigned to losing players to the IPL, the likes of Shahid Afridi (who declined an approach from Warwickshire in the hope of securing a deal in the Caribbean) and Kevin Pietersen plans to commute between Blast and CPL commitments. Various football tournaments and the Olympics will compete for attention, too.So it is into a crowded marketplace that the NatWest Blast must venture. But with a sensible schedule, a few more appearances from the England players and some good weather, it has at least given itself a chance to prosper. County cricket is always involved in a fight for its survival; the T20 Blast represents a significant battleground.

South Africa’s maiden ODI series win in Sri Lanka showcased the lessons they had learned from a chastening 1-4 drubbing the last time they visited – An improved top-order and a better spin attack

Firdose Moonda12-Jul-2014If progress can be measured by the way the result changes when going to back to the same place, South Africa’s one-day team has made some impressive advances.South Africa’s last visit to Sri Lanka 12 months ago presented them as a disjointed unit, lacking in key players, and clear game plans. Russell Domingo’s coaching tenure began with a 1-4 drubbing and the side deserved every bit of flak it attracted. But over the last week, South Africa have buried those memories with two clinical and energetic team performances to earn a first-ever ODI series win in Sri Lanka. They are due some generous praise and it was good to see the captain, AB de Villiers, leading the chorus.”We learnt from our mistakes. We came back here a more experienced team this time,” de Villiers said. “When I pushed on the buttons, everyone came forward and performed for the team.”Being wiser and responding to expectations were not the only differences between the South African class of 2013 and 2014. This year’s group had better personnel, improved techniques, sound strategies and a more focused mindset, all of which bode well for the future.They have dropped the dead weight from a year ago when Colin Ingram and Alviro Petersen were part of a rotating opening pair that never quite clicked and Robin Peterson was still being used as the premier spinner.Quinton de Kock’s progress has contributed to South Africa gaining better solidity. Twelve months ago he was a talented, but clueless kid who was riding on his promise but unravelled when he couldn’t meet his potential.De Kock returned home and demanded seemingly never-ending net sessions with his franchise coach Geoffrey Toyana. He honed his skills against spin and also worked on his temperament and timing. The results were evident last December when de Kock joined an elite club of six batsmen to have scored centuries in three consecutive innings. But there was still a question over his ability in the subcontinent. After two quiet games, de Kock answered them with a century that showcased improved levels of concentration to match his capability. He has inked his place as Hashim Amla’s partner.While de Kock’s international career is just starting, South Africa’s administration appear to have ended Peterson’s. His phasing out had begun during the T20 series in Sri Lanka last year, and Imran Tahir has taken over in all formats. Tahir was not part of South Africa’s limited-overs squads to Sri Lanka last year which cost the visitors dearly. From his international debut at the 2011 World Cup, the legspinner announced himself as a threat, particularly in subcontinent conditions and ideally should have had more matches under his belt by now.But Tahir is the type of bowler who does not mind being hit and South Africa have traditionally preferred a spinner who can contain. On this tour, Tahir has proved he can do both. He was South Africa’s second-most successful bowler with six wickets. He accounted for Mahela Jayawardene, an excellent player of spin, in all three matches and maintained an economy of 4.44.He also had an able partner in JP Duminy whose bowling has developed to the point where Domingo no longer considers him a part-timer. Duminy plays as one of three, perhaps, four allrounders in a South African side that likes the depth he provides. Although he lacked for runs in this series, his ability to find them in future should provide stability in the batting line-up and set David Miller up for a final assault. Miller was also not a major player in South Africa’s success but showed that he can be. Together with Ryan McLaren he added teeth to the lower middle-order and appears to have grown comfortable in his role as finisher.However, it was McLaren who was the find of the series for South Africa, if a 31-year-old more than a decade into his career can still be considered as such. He averaged 13.11 and his nine wickets was the best tally for the series from both teams. He was effective in the powerplay and at the death and out bowled the men he usually operates in the shadows of – Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.Steyn’s return was thought to bolster South Africa’s attack but he had only a modest impact. Morkel had better success, but McLaren, often operating at third-change was the danger man. His unlikely rise to heroism is a sign South Africa’s talent identification and nurturing is working.The individual components of South Africa’s one-day outfit have only two major questions: how much longer will they wait on Jacques Kallis to find form and if he delivers against Zimbabwe will that be enough to continue benching Faf du Plessis? And how does Vernon Philander fit into the attack? The return of Lonwabo Tsotsobe to full fitness may make the latter a moot point.There has been a sense of community in South Africa’s performance, which should buy them some time in answering those questions. It could be picked up in how JP Duminy was careful in ensuring de Villiers got as much strike as possible in Hambantota, from how the irritation is subdued when a catch is dropped as De Kock found out when he failed to convert a chance Dale Steyn produced or when Kallis, despite not bowling himself, was seen offering advice to the rest of the attack.There’s also evidence that South Africa are having fun: They enjoyed a team dinner at Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene’s restaurant, Morkel flew kites in Colombo and Steyn, McLaren and Miller went for a stroll on the beach to do some bird-watching in Hambantota.Their maiden series win in Sri Lanka ranks highly not simply because it allows them to enter new territory and make history but it also helps them override the more recent past; a past many of them were part of. Returning to the scene of their most severe series defeats and emerging victorious this time is something to be savoured.But de Villiers knows it is just the start. “It’s not a World Cup but it’s a huge step in the right direction.” Now, South Africa have to stay the course.

Plays of the day from Lahore Lions’ last league match against Perth Scorchers

Devashish Fuloria30-Sep-2014The jailbreak
Things had gone pear-shaped for Lahore Lions from the start. They had lost one of their key players, Ahmed Shehzad, to sickness, lost the crucial toss, lost Nasir Jamshed to the third ball of the afternoon, lost their other opener in the same over after a 43-minute rain break and showed no sign of recovery thereafter. At 11 for 4, things were looking rather bleak for Lions. That’s when Umar Akmal arrived and broke the shackles with successive boundaries off Yasir Arafat and finally got the innings in motion.The distraction
In the context of how low-scoring this match was, and the net run rate calculations that would determine whether or not they reached the semifinals, Lions would have welcomed the two extra runs. Saad Nasim flicked an Arafat delivery behind square on the leg side and it looked as if the fielder running in from deep square leg was set to cut it off. Just as he might have been looking to put in the dive, though, the fielder noticed the crane-mounted camera – it was a safe distance away – in his peripheral vision and stopped, covering his head, and let the ball slip through to the boundary.The field placement
Lahore Lions needed early wickets. They did not have the cushion of runs. The result: Test-match fields from the outset. As Mohammad Hafeez came in to bowl, he had a slip, a short leg and a silly point in place. And they were immediately into action. Hafeez got one to dart in from round the wicket and as Craig Simmons pushed outside the line, the thick inside edge was gobbled up by Umar Siddiq at short legThe howler
Sam Whiteman had walked to the crease at the fall of Simmons’ wicket and with close-in fields, he knew what to expect. Still, he made exactly the same mistake as Simmons had the previous ball, playing outside the line of an angled delivery from Hafeez. Simmons had been unlucky to be given out bat-pad though – the ball had not touched the bat at all. However, for Whiteman, there was a clear inside edge and Siddiq grabbed another smart catch at short leg. Lions had two wickets in two balls. Except umpire Rod Tucker completely missed it this time.

Following the heart translates into migrating from England to Australia – and no regrets

Jenny Thompson17-Nov-2014″You left London for… Adelaide?” My new colleagues in the Adelaide Oval press box were incredulous. “Yep!” I said. “And how lucky are we to live here?”They weren’t convinced. It was 2007 and Adelaide was a sleepy city, its Test ground statuesque but jaded. Both have since been radically overhauled, but even back then I knew I’d found my paradise.Since I was a child, I had dreamed of leaving damp and dreary England for bright and beachy Australia. and the Ashes painted sunshine onto my drab ’80s existence, while real-live Aussies at my cricket club taught me heaps-good phrases.”Nine inches” – less dodgy than it sounds – reminds an outfielder to throw within the width of the stumps, and “We’re not playing for sheep stations” means “Don’t take the game so seriously, punk.”Teenage me was so hooked on cricket – specifically Aussie-style – that while my mates were cruising Topshop, crushing on Kurt Cobain and applying grungy eyeliner, I was smearing on Warnie-esque zinc, fearing AB’s captaincy and perfecting my impression of Merv’s bustling trundle-and-release.* Yeah, I was cool.By my twenties I’d decamped to London to work in sports media while fantasising about escaping to less stressful, more spacious Australia – even though I’d never been there. I continued to do nothing about it till I landed a transfer to… Adelaide.Brilliant, but I couldn’t place the city on a map, nor tell you it was the capital of South Australia. I knew it had a Test ground, though, and beaches, so I figured it must be all right.Ducks by the banks of the River Torrens•UniversalImagesGroupAfter renting a four-bed beachfront house for the same price as a third-floor room in London, and being stoked to be in a country where cricket was still televised for free, the next thing was to head down to Adelaide Oval to catch some Sheffield Shield. Under an endless blue sky, I instantly felt at home among the picket fences, and I loved that, unlike at England’s Test grounds, here you could sit on the grass.I’ve seen some memorable moments since – a Tendulkar ton; du Plessis’ absorbing debut; Lehmann’s emotional retirement; Cook destroying the Aussies; Johnson destroying the Pommies. I’ve slowly embraced the Big Bash and day-night Sheffield Shield. I’ve even played on the Oval in an A Grade club final (we were flogged, but it was awesome).Over recent years I’ve seen the ground itself transformed through a A$500m facelift. The saggy orange skin of the Bradman Stand has been sloughed away, leaving intact the beautiful bone structure of the brick walls. I had worried the scoreboard would be exiled to the outer perimeter, à la the SCG, and that they’d take away my hill. But both stayed, and as a progressive traditionalist (if that’s not oxymoronic) I was super-happy with the result.The redevelopment also means the AFL boys are back in town, with record crowds making the city pump. Pre-development, I did watch an Aussie-Kiwi soccer friendly, but footy at the ground felt incongruous. The Oval used to host Rugby Sevens and there was an ATP World Tour tennis event on adjacent courts, but both have since been lost to Queensland, and the F1 to Victoria. While we’ve retained the lucrative Clipsal 500 and Tour Down Under races, they just ain’t as sexy.Watching cricket in perpetual sunshine: what’s not to like?•Getty ImagesMelbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are only short plane rides away anyway, and great for weekend breaks. It’s probably sacrilegious to my adopted city, however, to admit that visiting the MCG – albeit “only” to watch a Sri Lanka trouncing – was particularly special.Adelaide’s the modest little sister of those big cities so I’m happy to take the loudhailer and boast on her behalf about why I love this place. It’s on Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Cities to Visit in 2014 and consistently makes the world’s top ten most liveable cities for good reasons, ranging from low unemployment and low crime to a fairly robust economy and an enviable pace of life.It’s as relaxed as you want it to be, or as hectic. With a small population, people have time for you, nobody’s ever in a rush. Carl Hooper and JM Coetzee have made it their home, Ben Folds wrote a song about living here, and Julia Gillard has moved back post-prime ministership. Yes: Adelaide’s very liveable, and ultra-loveable.It’s less the City of Churches these days, more the City of Culture. Beyond sport and beaches, there are concerts, festivals and cute little laneways housing pop-up bars, all building a growing vibe about town. The 2015 World Cup will be an integral part of “Mad March”, a month where the Adelaide Festival, WOMADadelaide, Writer’s Week and Clipsal converge in Adelaide’s very accessible space.Beyond the city, there are wine regions and natural splendour and shark diving and swimming with dolphins. Our clean food and wine are world-renowned. We’re also proud of being a free settler state… a little too much in the case of the original governors, who never even planned a jail. The state has its fair share of dark history, though, with the so-called Snowtown Murders particularly notable.Of course Adelaide’s not perfect – no place is. It has dodgy areas and patchy public transport. Geographically, for me, it will always be a long way from my family: Skype’s no substitute for an in-person cuppa. And in Australia, I further feel disconnected from English cricket and other league sports that were once the fabric of my existence. Foxtel helps but watching live games can be tricky with opposing time zones.McLaren Wharf at Port Adelaide•Raymond Warren/Getty ImagesFurthermore, cricket clubs here don’t have the same atmosphere as English ones. Strip lighting makes them feel stark and the ridiculously hot weather contributed to me quitting after a few seasons. I still do some ad hoc coaching but mainly I want my summer weekends for camping, fishing, cycling, yoga and beach running: in other words, living la dolce vita.Actually, every day feels like a holiday in my coastal suburb of Largs Bay, which is only a 20-minute train ride from the city. After beach cricket matches, it’s fun to sink a pint at the Largs Pier Hotel, where Cold Chisel’s Jimmy Barnes began his career. I love having a local, and being one – and in Adelaide, I’ve found the sense of community I always found lacking in London. Citizenship has further cemented my belonging. Now I support both England and Australia, although when they clash, my heart orders me to back the Poms, even when my head counsels otherwise.When I moved to Australia, I only wanted a Test ground and a beach, yet I’ve found more than I ever dreamed possible. For once I was ahead of a curve and now me ‘n’ Adelaide are surfing a big barrelling wave together – and we’re loving it.*This involves setting your arms roundly and holding them firm towards the ground while bounding in as hard as you can, determination etched into your face. Fake mo optional.

Our correspondent enjoys postcard-pretty New Zealand, rough landings and all

Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Jan-2015December 23
Air New Zealand’s Hobbit-themed safety video is an ideal introduction to the country. It features some of the nation’s beautiful vistas, adventure sports, vowel-less accents, and Tolkien nerds, all wrapped in a cutesy, lighthearted tone. Perfect for a country so friendly, its national bird has de-evolved to become little more than a flightless blob of feathered flesh.December 24
Almost all of Christchurch’s inner-city streets are named after places that exist more famously elsewhere. There is an Oxford Terrace, a Madras Street, and to my surprise, even a Colombo Street that runs through the heart of town. I assume it was thus named because of the earthquake-related holes in the pavement that so resemble the sidewalk-graves that currently beset Colombo while the drainage there is upgraded.The Colombo mimicry is only half-hearted, though. I walk along the road for at least two kilometres and not once does Mahinda Rajapakse’s glorious moustache beam down upon me from the nearest billboard, lamp post, street sign, public transport vehicle, tree trunk, abandoned building, mound of dirt, or string clenched between the beaks of city crows.Only a few days out of Sri Lanka, and I’m starting to miss the old guy. I pull out my wallet to check if I have any of the 1000-rupee notes on which he features. I do not. I am heartbroken. Is this what drug withdrawal feels like?December 26
Hagley Oval is a cricket ground for romantics. Ensconced in foliage, with gentle grass banks and a low, elegant pavilion, it is the kind of venue where you feel intimately connected to the match, no matter where you’re sitting. You can hear the batsmen’s calls, clear as crystal, scoot around to catch the ball when it leaps up from the boundary and over the pickets, and smell the players’ lunch as its aroma wafts out of the dressing room.Christchurch has not seen Test cricket since 2006, so the city turns up in its finery for this momentous day. Brendon McCullum gives the 8000-strong crowd the show they deserve.A Christchurch cathedral lies dilapidated following the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011•Andrew Fidel Fernando/ESPNcricinfo LtdDecember 27
Christchurch was once New Zealand’s prettiest city, the locals say. Walking past ruins and empty gravel lots that would once have been buildings, it is difficult now to see what it was like before the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. The caved-in cathedral in the centre of town is now fenced off; its once-manicured lawns now sprout knee-length weeds.But there are pockets of the city that are still lovely enough to draw you in. Waking up earlier than intended (I seemed to be suffering some sort of weird reverse jet-lag at this point), I walk to the banks of the Avon River and settle into a book as ducks waddle past and birds chirp away the morning. Occasionally a tourist will float by quietly in a gondola. At 10am I have to tear myself away from the tranquility, and head to Hagley for the start of the day’s play.December 30
Meet up with a few Sri Lankan friends living in Christchurch, and head to their place for an evening of music and black-label whiskey. They make a chicken curry to go with their version of a , which I’ve never seen made at home. Roti or paratha bread is hard to come by in Christchurch, so they chop up bits of taco wraps instead. I tell them that in Sri Lanka we use roti or as taco substitutes when in the mood for some Mexican food.December 31
The pilot on the flight to Wellington makes announcements unlike any I’ve ever heard. While most try to pass off severe mid-air shaking about as “mild turbulence”, this guy not only pulls no punches, he seems to delight in our peril. About 15 minutes before landing, he tells us that there is a “ferocious northerly” blowing in Wellington, which will “certainly make for a rough descent”. There is more than just a hint of glee in his voice. He’s almost daring himself to land the plane in the gale.Having ratcheted up the tension in the cabin, he then points the nose downwards and takes us into the worst of the weather. It quickly begins to feel like I am sitting in a jackhammer. The lady next to me has clutched her seat so tightly I fear she will never be able to unclench it, and so will have to be buried with an aeroplane seat still attached to her hand, once they find our bodies in the wreckage. I swear I hear the pilot cackling over the PA, but suddenly, we’re on the ground. You would expect, hugging, applause and tears of joy after that kind of landing, but New Zealanders are too laid-back for that. “Flying to Wellington is not for everybody,” says a guy sitting a few seats over.The Avon river is a great place to catch up on your reading•Andrew Fidel Fernando/ESPNcricinfo LtdJanuary 1
Spot Angelo Mathews and Dhammika Prasad floating down Courtenay Place just after the clock strikes 12 and the New Year has begun. Both are distinctly sober. Rangana Herath soon bounces down the road and stops, beaming, for a brief chat. He was by far the highest Test wicket-taker in 2014, turned Sri Lanka’s World T20 campaign in an outstanding spell, and capped off the year by welcoming his second child into the world late in December. Not a bad return. He wishes me a happy new year and trails off after his team-mates. To call Herath down-to-earth would almost be an insult, because in his own mind, why on earth would he be any other way?January 2
The Basin Reserve is gorgeous when the Pohutukawa trees that skirt the outside of the venue are in full bloom, shocking the lush green of the grass banks with splashes of red. The pitch, too, is as green as they come. It’s virtually indistinguishable from the outfield. Several journalists try to go out onto the square to get a photo, but are stopped by the ground staff. Apparently the curator, who also looks after the Westpac Stadium turf, had some bad press recently when a football player blamed an ankle injury on a crater in the outfield. He hasn’t quite begun to trust the media after that, or so the story goes.January 4

Wellington is a hodge-podge of handsome villas perched tightly together on hillsides, and higgledy-piggledy streets that twist one way, then another, all the while oscillating up and down like a cardiogram. The centre of town is cupped in a flatter valley, around which the suburban hills have formed a circle. The wind can be brutal in the winter, locals say, but they love the city’s vibe. It’s easy to see why. Street performers take over the pedestrian malls during daytime, then live music pours out of the bars and eateries at night. Have a beer and a burger at a joint where the bearded restaurant owner leaves paper and pencils on the table, so you can explore your art as you wait.Christchurch’s Hagley Oval is a delight for cricket romantics•Andrew Fidel Fernando/ESPNcricinfo LtdJanuary 6
Kane Williamson is incapable of talking about himself. I discover this because on a day on which he has hit 242 not out and transformed his team’s position in the match, he wants to do nothing but talk about his team-mates – particularly BJ Watling, who was his other half in that 365-run record stand.The press pack keeps trying to get him to reflect on his own innings. “How did you concentrate, Kane?” “How did you negotiate the bowling, Kane?” Nothing works. He deflects praise like it was a back-of-a-length ball outside off stump. We could have asked him about his haircut, and he’d reply with something like, “But have you seen BJ’s do? He looks mighty dashing in it, doesn’t he?”Speaking of hair, Williamson’s beard is also quite impressive up close, especially as he’s only 24. It glows a fierce ginger in the sunlight, which makes him look like he has been lapping at a puddle of Fanta before the day’s play..January 7
ESPN’s wants someone who was at the ground to talk about Williamson’s extraordinary catch to dismiss Angelo Mathews, which has become their top play of the day. As ESPN’s lackey at the ground, this falls to me. The producer gets me to talk him through the catch before they call me to go on air, and by the end of the conversation, Americanisms have seeped into my own vocabulary and I’m calling it a “play” rather than a “catch”. A few minutes later, I hear that has contacted Williamson himself, which unceremoniously knocks me off the show.January 8
“Middle of Middle-Earth” reads the sign at Wellington Airport. JRR Tolkien took inspiration from Europe of the Middle Ages when he crafted his fantasy world, but now New Zealand is the spiritual home of the . As my flight to Wellington takes off (thankfully in much calmer weather) and loops around the Cook Strait, I wonder if New Zealand is selling itself short. The world Tolkien describes is wondrous for sure, but in parts, this country is a 360-degree postcard. Sometimes you are convinced the landscape has been photoshopped, but then there you are, standing in it. The view over the bays and inlets at the base of the North Island, as the setting sun skips across the ripples of the sea, is breathtaking.

A two-day tour match in St. Kitts is England’s first stop in a five-month stretch of cricket that could decide the futures of Alastair Cook and Peter Moores

George Dobell in St. Kitts06-Apr-2015Like the M1 and Donatella Versace, it seems the England side is in a constant state of reconstruction.Less than two years since they won an Ashes series 3-0 and reached the final of a global ODI tournament, England’s captain and coach are – again – fighting for their futures.But amid the debris of England’s World Cup campaign – “campain” might be a better description – it could be forgotten that the team have actually won their last three Tests. That they have, in Gary Ballance, Joe Root, Moeen Ali and Jos Buttler the foundations of a decent batting line-up for years to come and that James Anderson, for all his problems with the white ball, bowled as well as ever with the red one towards the end of last summer.The morale of English cricket as a whole may be low, but the Test side is, by some distance, in better health than the limited-overs teams.The fate of the current England team management – certainly this captain and coach – will be decided over the next five months. In that time, they will play Test series against West Indies, New Zealand and Australia. Victory in two of the three could probably be considered a decent return, though the Ashes remains – probably incorrectly – the barometer by which much in English cricket is judged.To reach the Ashes, though, England’s management need good results in the Caribbean. With Colin Graves, the incoming chairman of the ECB, having already – and rather unhelpfully – suggested that West Indies offer “mediocre” opposition and that defeat will provoke “some enquiries”, Peter Moores, in particular, will know that failure here will leave his position most precarious.It is true that West Indies are not the fearsome proposition they once were. And it is true that they will be weakened by the absence of some players on IPL duty. But they still produce players with huge amounts of natural talent – not least fast bowlers – and they did win the last series at home against England (in early 2009) 1-0. Under Phil Simmons, their new coach who did such a tremendous job with limited resources in Ireland – they are at the start of a rebuilding job themselves, but it is foolishness to underestimate them.This first of two two-day warm-up matches in St Kitts from Monday will – subject to agreement between both team managers – be a 12-a-side encounter. While England would, in an ideal world, like to ensure everyone is match-ready for the Test series, they are also aware that they have little time to prepare for their first Test since August. The 12 named here will, therefore, provide a strong hint of the likely Test side. It is possible that the second two-day match, starting on Wednesday, will feature England players on both sides.The pitch for the warm-up games is expected to be slow, but the Test track in Antigua is said to be quicker than it has been previously – though that is not saying much – and offer less assistance to spin than was widely anticipated. For that reason, England will probably play only one spinner – and judging by Adil Rashid’s performance in the nets, that spinner will be James Tredwell – with Moeen Ali expected to join up with the squad ahead of the second Test in Grenada.England may well send a few of this squad home before the end of the tour. If it becomes clear that there is little prospect of them taking any part, they will be sent back to county cricket and considered for the ODI in Ireland on May 8. While James Taylor is currently the most likely captain for that match, the likes of Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad could all be considered if not required in the Caribbean. James Vince – who impressed on the Lions tour – is another possibility.Broad will probably start the series, but can no longer be viewed as an automatic selection in any England side. While he still shows flashes of the great fast bowler he might have become, his diminished pace has compromised his effectiveness and he no longer has any pretensions as a batsman. Mark Wood, bowling with good pace and swinging the ball, has been most impressive in training here and was the stand-out seamer on the Lions trip, but Liam Plunkett looked especially hostile and unusually swift. Chris Jordan, too, offers swing and some pace. Broad is currently looking over his shoulder at all of them.If Trott plays here – and the fact that he opened with Alastair Cook in middle practice indicates he may well – it seems safe to assume he will make his 50th Test appearance in Antigua. While he owes his recall, in the main, to the weight of runs he has scored in county cricket since his recovery, his long-standing relationship with Cook may also have been a factor.Last summer Cook found, just as Eoin Morgan did at the World Cup, that he could not always rely on his senior players – Anderson and Broad, in particular – when they were most required. With Matt Prior and Graeme Swann gone, Cook will be looking to Trott and Ian Bell to provide experience and stability on and off the pitch. Adam Lyth, an exceptional catcher and attractive batsman, might be in for a frustrating few weeks.Most of Cook’s problems will melt away if he scores runs. There are many ways to lead and Cook showed, in helping England to victory in India in 2012, that his methods – by example and by taking responsibility for his side’s run-scoring – could work just fine.If he scores heavily here – and he has half-centuries in three of his last four Test innings but no century since May 2013 – all the talk about Kevin Pietersen and all the unfavourable comparisons with Michael Clarke and Brendon McCullum will abate.If he doesn’t, England could yet go into the Ashes with a new captain and coach.

His impact with Somerset has reinforced his reputation as a roving T20 gun but Chris Gayle still considers himself to be the king of all formats

Andrew Miller11-Jun-20152:28

‘I’m the king of all formats’ – Gayle

Chris Gayle may have taken the county circuit by storm in his hard-hitting introduction to the NatWest T20 Blast, but home remains where the heart is for a man who yearns for another chance to represent West Indies on the international stage.With scores of 92, 151 not out and 85 not out in his three appearances to date for Somerset, Gayle has amassed 328 runs for once out, from 170 balls and with a remarkable 29 sixes – almost three times the tally of any other player in the competition.Yet, with a Test series currently underway between West Indies and Australia in the Caribbean, Gayle cannot help but have half an eye on the fortunes of his team, for whom he scored an ODI career-best 215 against Zimbabwe in the recent World Cup.”I’d love to play a few more international games to be honest with you,” Gayle told ESPNcricinfo. “But we’ll have to wait and see. It’s tough, the travelling is very hectic, sometimes you have to know when you’ve reached the limit in life, sometimes you have to draw the line.”But I will still push to play international cricket, when I go back home I will have a discussion with the coach and maybe with the board, so that we can work out Chris Gayle’s future, to see if they are still interested. I am still interested so I’ll look forward to that and see how best it can work out.”Chris Gayle has made a huge impact in his brief stint with Somerset•PA PhotosThroughout his stint with Somerset, Gayle has played with the number 333 on his back, a tribute to his highest Test score against Sri Lanka in 2010.”People all say Chris is the king of T20, Chris is the this and that of T20, I am the king of Test cricket too,” he says. “I scored two triple centuries. And 21 ODI centuries. So I’m the king of something. The king of all formats.”A Test match is fantastic,” he adds. “It’s a test of character but the entertainment part of cricket is phenomenal. T20 has actually brought new cricket fans into the game, so we have to continue with this as well so that people who didn’t watch can eventually get to watch Test cricket.”West Indies are in the middle of a Test series against Australia, so fingers crossed some youngsters get some opportunities and I hope they make the best use of it, we definitely have to look to the future sometimes.”Gayle’s own future seems firmly mapped out as a Twenty20 gun for hire and the reception he has received in England after his long-awaited debut in England’s competition has confirmed his status as one of the iconic players of his age.He has now scored 15 centuries in all Twenty20 competitions – the next most prolific is New Zealand’s captain, Brendon McCullum, with six – and has featured in domestic tournaments in seven different countries.”It’s good to travel the world and share different dressing rooms with different players over the world,” he says. “you learn more about your culture and you make new friends, you gain more fans around the world as well. It’s been brilliant for me, it’s fantastic, and I’ve got a century for, if not all, then most of these teams. It’s great to achieve such things, but I never know which tournament is coming up next.”Few players are better placed to assess the merits of England’s revamped Twenty20 competition, but Gayle’s initial verdict is that the quality falls a long way short of the standards he has encountered in the IPL, as well as Australia and the Caribbean.”There’s no doubt there’s a big gap between other leagues compared to IPL,” he says. “IPL is definitely No. 1, but the Caribbean Premier League is fantastic too and [Australia’s] Big Bash is up there as well. Those three leagues are the top leagues.”His opinion of England, meanwhile, is coloured by the size of the venues he has so far encountered, with his initial matches taking place on two of the country’s smaller grounds at Chelmsford and Taunton, where one of his sixes landed in the nearby River Tone.”Yeah, those two grounds are a bit small to be honest with you,” he says. “Especially Somerset, with a good track out there as well, so that’s even better. You can clear the boundary easily but anything can happen in cricket, you can get one and nick off early. When you do get a chance to score some runs you try and make the best use of it.”

“I’m looking forward to the CPL, that’s the party tournament. You can have a drink before and after the game – but, kids, don’t try this at home”

Gayle’s determination to make the most of time in the middle was exemplified in his opening fixture against Essex, when his acclimatisation to the conditions meant he was restricted to five singles in the first five overs of Somerset’s run chase. However, he eventually opened his shoulders to set up a last-ball victory.”I was trying to get a rhythm, but it just didn’t happen so at the same time I said I’m not going to panic, I know that if I bat a bit deeper I should be able to play catch-up and get it back in the bag, and that’s what happened. It was my first game, I hadn’t had a net session, I struggled to get a feel for the conditions so it was just experience.””It’s a mind thing,” he adds. “You have to prepare yourself mentally for these sort of situations. I knew it was going to be tough here, I knew it was going to be cold as well, so that’s always a trouble from a West Indian point of view. But I stuck to the task and got across the line.”After all three of his starring roles, Gayle took time to sign autographs and take photographs with hundreds of fans who thronged to meet the superstar in their midst.”The fans were fantastic in both games,” he says. “The first game was an away game but the fans were actually cheering for Chris Gayle which was very pleasing to see, and I’m glad I gave them something to cheer about. In England you always get that sort of reception, they like to make you welcome and feel at home.”Gayle’s stint in England will be over all too soon, however – a match sooner than expected, too – with his thoughts set to turn to the Caribbean Premier League in July and August.”I’m definitely looking forward to the CPL, that’s the party tournament,” he says. “You can have a drink before and after the game – kids, don’t try this at home – but that’s the main objective of CPL, to have fun.”The overseas guys come to the Caribbean, they go to the beach, have fun, chill, have a bit of rum, and then on the field we play hard cricket because we all want to win the tournament. It’s only going to get bigger and better, the buzz is going off, it’s the third year, looking forward to getting back home and getting into it.”For the second year running, one of the overseas players will be Kevin Pietersen, surplus to requirements for England’s Ashes summer despite a remarkable statement of form with a career-best 355 not out against Leicestershire last month. And Gayle had a personal message for his friend and foe.”KP, England don’t want you? Okay, come to the CPL. We’ll look after you there, if your own don’t want you, we’ll take you, we’ll accept you with both hands. You play for St Lucia Zouks, entertain the fans there, and it’ll be a cracker.”