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Just as England’s players benefit from rest and rotation, so Andy Flower’s long-term future as director of cricket might be extended and enhanced if he enjoyed similar treatment.

George Dobell12-Jul-2012These are golden days for English cricket. After years of mediocrity, after years when success was the exception not the norm, after years of gallows humour, of early exits and embarrassing defeats, England are within an ace of becoming the top-rated side in all three formats of the game.Whatever happened in the UAE, and whatever happens in the series against South Africa – there will be bumps in the road on any journey – English cricket has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance.A key and enduring ingredient in that success has been Andy Flower. It is quite true that he has built on the work of others – the likes of Lord MacLaurin, Nasser Hussain, Duncan Fletcher, Micky Stewart, Michael Vaughan and David Lloyd all played their part – but Flower, with his planning, his dedication, his calm and his vision, has helped transform a side that was beaten 5-0 in the Ashes in 2006-07 to one that looks as if could inflict a similarly overwhelming victory over the same opposition next year.Flower is a gem. He needs to be valued. To be nurtured. And, just as the players benefit from rest and rotation, so Flower’s long-term future as coach might be extended and enhanced if he enjoyed similar treatment.The topic is beginning to be discussed in senior circles in the ECB. The recognition is privately growing that England’s non-stop schedule could one day lose a coach of inestimable value unless a solution is not only adopted, but vigorously defended.Flower’s schedule is relentless. This winter, for example, he will depart for Sri Lanka in September for the World T20. If England progress to the final of that, he will have about two weeks in England before departing for the tour of India and New Zealand which, but for eight days at Christmas, is unbroken until the end of March. This is a schedule that asks a great deal of any one. For a man with a wife and young children, it is a schedule that asks too much.In The Plan, Steve James’ study of how Fletcher and Flower have transformed English cricket, James recalls an interview that Flower gave a little more than a year ago. In it, he admits guilt that for most of the year he is an absentee father.Flower said: “I’m not convinced I’m doing the right thing by the family by doing this job. I’m a bit greedy because I’m trying to get the best of both worlds by helping to raise a young family and also trying to make a difference with the England cricket team. I worry about the fact that this time can’t be regained. I worry about the fact that the kids might at some stage resent me for being away during these years.”It is not just that the ECB – and, in particular Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket – have a duty of care towards Flower, it is that they should view resting him as an investment. If Flower, as he has hinted, walks away from the job in a year or two with a view to spending more time with his family, England will have a huge pair of shoes to fill.But, if Flower is managed properly, if he is allowed more balance in his life, there is no reason to think he could not be fulfilling the same role in five or six years.There are a couple of obvious opportunities to rest him. The ODI tour of India, which begins at the start of January, is in one option. The tour, though likely to be watched by many, has little relevance to future global ODI tournaments, with conditions in Asia markedly different to those for the next ICC Champions Trophy next year in England or the World Cup, to be played in Australia and New Zealand.The Test tour of New Zealand provides another potential opportunity. While some will decry any suggestion that England are not prioritising Test cricket, it is also worth noting that it currently appears that several New Zealand players will miss the return tour due to their involvement in the IPL.That only leaves the question of a substitute for Flower. While there are obvious candidates within the county games – Mick Newell, Ashley Giles, Chris Adams and Peter Moores all offer viable alternatives – the most likely man is already with the squad. Richard Halsall, ostensibly the fielding coach, has increasingly grown into the role of Flower’s right-hand man and has already stood in for him when Flower was given a break for the ODI in Dublin in August 2011 and for two days of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane in November 2010 when Flower required surgery to remove a melanoma from below his right eye.The benefit of Halsall is not only that he offers continuity – he knows the team, Flower’s methods and would cause minimum disruption – but that his short-term promotion will not offer the complications that could arise if a new coach, with new methods, comes in to the role and enjoys immediate success.It is to Flower’s credit that he may not seek such opportunities. But, just as even the best bowlers needs a break between his spells, Flower, for his and the team’s long-term good, needs a break.

The arrival of the IPL teams will give the Champions League its customary noise and colour. For now the lesser-known teams are warming up for the main event

Firdose Moonda05-Oct-2012Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium has a wardrobe most women would be envious of. A seasoned international host, she has worn the branding of sponsors for so long that some of them, like cigarette companies, are not even allowed to promote themselves anymore. This summer, the empress’ new clothes are bright blue, pink and green and have the letters C, L, T and the numbers 2 and 0 on them. The Champions League T20 has come to town.The 2010 edition in South Africa is remembered as a high-profile, noisy, colourful event, what Lions’ batsman Neil McKenzie calls the “closest thing to international cricket.” Unlike other domestic tournaments, which is essentially what the CLT20 is, the teams are bussed in by police escorts, put up in some of the city’s best hotels and interact with more media than most see over the course of a quiet career.Many of the cricketers who play in the CLT20 will have exactly that. Although they are professional sportsmen, their careers will not often be punctuated with glamour. It is they that the CLT20 should actually be about because they, more than anyone else, relish the opportunity of playing in a tournament like this.Two teams with players like that were out practicing at the newly made up Wanderers four days before the qualifiers begin. Some casual observations of both the Lions and the Auckland Aces provided enough of a glimpse to know the tournament is important, taken seriously by domestic teams the world over and can provide opportunity if it is properly run.
First, there was the intensity. Summer has arrived in full force and both held longer sessions than in over 30 degree heat and took turns using the nets and outfield.Then, there was the camaraderie. The Lions asked Auckland if left-arm spinner Ronnie Hira wouldn’t mind turning his arm over to some of their batsmen. He obliged and was soon joined by the veteran Andre Adams. Chris Martin kept a close watch.

With the IPL teams comes the bling and the superstars and in their shadow this afternoon at the Wanderers will not be remembered by anyone. If the CLT20 hopes to make gains in credibility terms, its afternoons like these which must take precedence over the gimmicks

Mark O’Donnell, who coached the Lions before they became a franchise, exchanged pleasantries with McKenzie and Lions’ coach Geoffrey Toyana, who he has known for years. Some of the younger players got to know each other as Chris Morris shook hands with Colin de Grandhomme. Numbers were exchanged and plans to meet made. Cricket in its simplest form was being practiced.There was no indication that the teams were gearing up to contest prize money of US$6 million – the winner will walk away with $ 2.3 millon – or that these men thought they were celebrities rather than people. In three weeks’ time, some of them will be celebrities.
Notable performances at the CLT20 have kickstarted careers – just ask Sunil Narine or Kieron Pollard – and they earned some, like Davy Jacobs, IPL contracts. A massive television audience across many countries will soon be able to recognise these players and if the preparation is anything to go by, the two teams training at the Wanderers this afternoon are ready.Auckland have been in South Africa since September 22. Even though they could end up playing nothing more than their two qualifying matches, they have spent two weeks preparing for it. Coach Paul Strang has acquired the services of fellow Zimbabwean Heath Streak as a bowling consultant for the tournament. Streak is missing the start of his domestic season, where he will coach the Tuskers franchise, to do the job.As a team that has participated in this competition before, Auckland do not want to repeat the mistakes of last year. There, they failed to get past the qualifiers, which included a narrow defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders followed by a heavier one against Somerset.The Lions have also had experience of the tournament. They played in the 2010 edition in South Africa but did not make it out of the group stage and are determined to put that right this time. Being in a group with a qualifier, the Sydney Sixers, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will not make that task easy.The presence of IPL teams overshadows almost everything in this tournament. Just from a numbers perspective, they skew the balance because there are four of them. The other shareholders, South Africa and Australia, only have two teams and Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies have only one team who may not even play in the tournament proper.The IPL teams also tend to house the bulk of the marquee players, though the IPL franchises pay $150,000 to the home team of a player who opts for them – so everyone gains in some form.With the IPL teams comes the bling and the superstars and in their shadow this afternoon at the Wanderers will not be remembered by anyone. If the CLT20 hopes to make gains in credibility terms, its afternoons like these which must take precedence over the gimmicks.

The first day of the Sri Lankan Premier League was damp, but featured plenty of action from Dilshan

Sachit Talagala12-Aug-2012Choice of game
Opening night of the Sri Lanka Premier League. After a false start last year, and so many obstacles, it was nice to see the tournament get underway. I was curious to see how Sri Lankan fans would react to the new tournament. The prospect of seeing Kandurata, with their dangerous line-up, take on Tillakaratne Dilshan’s Basnahira team, featuring some top-class bowlers, was exciting.Team supported

All the teams have some good players in their ranks, but since I was born and raised in the Basnahira (Western) province, I rooted for Basnahira Cricket Dundee, in spite of their really awkward name.Key performer
Dilshan wasn’t in the best of form during the recent ODI and Twenty20 series against India, but the opening night of the SLPL certainly belonged to him. His explosive innings lifted Basnahira to a daunting score, after which he came back to pick up two wickets, take a catch and inflict a run-out. It seemed as if he had a point to prove, and was intense and pumped up through the game.One thing I’d have changed
Cricket in Sri Lanka is normally associated with rain. No exception at the SLPL. It was frustrating to wait in the stands for the game to commence, and when it did, it was unsurprising to find out that it was curtailed. It was a bit one-sided since Kandurata crawled for the first two to three overs. In such short game, a side cannot recover from a slow start.Face-off I relished
Thisara Perera v his Sri Lankan team mates: Having seen Perera bat really well, especially against Pakistan in recent times, I was curious to see how he would handle his own national team-mates. He looked at ease against both Dilshan and Rangana Herath, striking two fours and a six off Dilshan and a boundary off Herath.Dilshan v Sohail Tanvir: Tanvir bowled well against Dilshan during the recent ODI series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Unfortunately, tonight Dilshan faced only five balls from Tanvir, and scored one run.Wow moment
Tanvir’s first over was wayward but he managed to swing the ball prodigiously and succeeded in dismissing Daniel Smith, who looked out of depth. Tanvir’s first spell looked threatening but he went for 18 runs in his last over.Close encounter
Before the start of the game, the Kandurata players warmed up and played football just below our tier. Some guys were shouting for Perera, and being the nice guy he is, he obliged by waving to them.Shot of the day
The second six Dilshan hit off Dilhara Lokuhettige was big, powerful and sweet-sounding.Crowd meter
The crowd was sparse, but considering the obstacles that the SLPL faced – the cancelled 2011 season and a lot of negative remarks by many factions – the turnout was decent. There was the usual Papare music and a cheerful atmosphere. The spectators did enjoy themselves.Biggest cheer of the day
Lasith Malinga, Perera and Dishan all received loud cheers whenever they batted or bowled. Shahid Afridi too seemed to be a huge favourite with the crowd. But the biggest cheer of the day was for Kumar Sangakkara, when he was shown on the giant screen.Twenty20s v ODIs
This is a difficult one for me. I grew up on a diet of Test and ODI cricket, and I still love those formats, but I also like T20s. I don’t agree with people who say T20 does not require skill, and to be honest, I haven’t had the time to watch an entire day’s play of a Test or a full ODI for a very long time. T20 is a more practical format, without a doubt.Entertainment
Contemporary hits were played along with a few popular local tracks. The cheerleaders, nowadays compulsory for T20 cricket, were there as well. I felt sorry for a couple of them when they did somersaults on the soggy outfield during the rain delay. The absence of the ear-splitting vuvuzelas was very welcome.Overall
Dilshan thrilled the crowd with some audacious strokeplay, and later on Brad Hodge joined in the fun. It was great to see well-known international players like Scott Styris, Hodge and Charl Langeveldt rub shoulders with upcoming local players like Dimuth Karunarathna. The rain was a spoiler, and Kandurata’s approach was mediocre. A bigger crowd would have been better, but I guess Sri Lankan fans are a bit sceptical at the moment. Given some time, I think, the fans will slowly get used to a high-level domestic league.Marks out of 10
6. Rain, a dour batting display by Kandurata, and a sparse crowd probably took away quite a bit of the shine.

Having played for England since his was 20, Stuart Broad is now at a crossroads and needs to fulfil his potential or remain a perennial prospect

George Dobell21-Nov-2012Which seam bowler has taken the most Test wickets in world cricket this calendar year? And which seam bowler has the best match figures in a Test this year? Who was England’s Man of the Series the last time they played India and who claimed the best innings and match figures of their Test career only a few months ago?The answer to all these questions is Stuart Broad. Not only that, but Broad has a Test century and nine Test half-centuries to his name and his batting once moved Geoffrey Boycott to say: “There’s a bit of Sobers in him.”So it might be somewhat surprising that some, including former England captain Sir Ian Botham, are calling for Broad to be dropped. But, after a disappointing performance in the first Test at Ahmedabad, there appears to be a growing number feeling that Broad has become just a little complacent in the England team and could do with a wake-up call. Such a reminder was administered by Twitter users, in response to whom Broad launched a rebuttal.Broad was out-bowled by both Indian seamers, Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav, in Ahmedabad. He looked to have lost some pace and, as a consequence, lacked the potency to strike on pitches offering little. But most concerning was the impression that Ahmedabad was not a one-off poor game. Broad also struggled against South Africa, finishing the series with a bowling average of 39.72 and, despite showing rich promise with the bat when scoring 169 against Pakistan at Lord’s in 2010, he has made only one half-century this year. Since June, his bowling average is 48.54 and his batting average is 14.But the picture with Broad is far from black and white. While his recent form may be disappointing, his overall record is still good. And, aged 26, he should still have his best years in front of him. It is worth remembering, too, that until the South Africa series, Broad looked to be developing well. A hat-trick against India at Nottingham in 2011 had inspired the best form of his career. He bowled beautifully in the UAE.Part of Broad’s problem is that he promised so much. Fast-tracked into England’s limited-overs team after just six List A appearances, Broad has been playing for England since he was 20 years old. He was elevated to the Twenty20 captaincy in 2011 and, at the start of this tour, was named as vice-captain of the Test squad. There are those who believe promotion came too easy for Broad. There are those who think reward preceded achievement. That he has never known the motivating power of being excluded. That a period out of the team would provide just the impetus he requires.It is true that such a tactic has worked in the past. Matt Prior and Andrew Strauss were both dropped and used the pain of omission to drive them to make improvements in their game. The same could be said for former greats such as Graham Gooch and David Gower.But there is equal evidence to suggest that continuity of selection brings rewards. Towards the end of the 2010 England season, Alastair Cook looked out of form and confidence and was struggling to justify his retention. The selectors maintained faith and Cook repaid them with a prolific Ashes series. He has hardly looked back.

And before u listen to too many ex playing ‘experts’ being negative, ask them if they ever won a Test series in India….#28years

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) November 19, 2012

Injury to Steven Finn, who is set to continue his rehabilitation by playing for the Performance Programme side next week, may well mean a reprieve for Broad in Mumbai. But, even if Finn had been fit, England would be loathe to drop Broad. It is not just that they have a naturally conservative selection policy and a new captain who, understandably, may be keen to avoid souring the relationship with his right-hand man; it is that England believe in Broad.He was, after all, the man that produced the key burst at The Oval to clinch the Ashes in 2009 and produced the series-defining spell against India at Trent Bridge in 2011. Nor are there many obviously better cricketers than him in the county game: between 2009 and 2011, Broad played only six Championship matches, but claimed four five-wicket hauls, taking 37 wickets at 21.32. Broad’s talent is not questioned, but England are not currently maximising it.It is possible the pitch in Mumbai may suit him a little more. But, while its reputation suggests it will offer a little more bounce, it has been used previously, at the start of November, for a Ranji Trophy match in which Sachin Tendulkar scored a century. All the signs suggest the spinners will be to the forefront once again.In time, we may come to see Broad as a victim of England’s schedule. It may be that he and his fellow seamers are simply weary. Broad, in particular, plays all three formats of the game and, though he has been rested and missed games through injury, has appeared jaded in recent times. All the games and, just as importantly, all the training, may be taking their toll. International cricket is becoming a squad game and fast bowlers, especially, may require rotation.Either way, Broad is now at a crossroads. He still has time to fulfil his potential but should be aware of other prodigiously talented allrounders – the likes of Chris Lewis – who remained promising for their entire careers. It is hard to escape the conclusion that time is running out.

With a strong work ethic and a moral compass that many a modern-day player would do well to follow, Mike Denness helped build and maintain the glory days of Kent cricket

Mark Pennell20-Apr-2013At his pomp during the mid to late 1970s Mike Denness was a man living the dream – a cricketer who became the stuff of Kentish legend. A graceful, fleet-footed and stylish right-handed batsman, astute captain and dynamic cover fielder, his near -telepathic running between the wickets in tandem with county opening partner Brian Luckhurst went down in hop county folklore.Tall and slim, handsome and dapper, Denness spoke softly and in measured Scottish brogue – he was Kent’s equivalent to the matinee idol. Yet beneath the surface lay a fiercely determined personality and under his leadership the county won six domestic trophies between 1972 and 1976.He won 28 caps for England, his debut coming against New Zealand at The Oval in 1969 and his leadership skills were held in high enough regards for 19 of them to come as captain. He remains the only Scottish-born captain of England, although Douglas Jardine, the scourge of Australia in the infamous Bodyline series, was born in Mumbai of Scottish parents.With a strong work ethic and a moral compass that many a modern-day player would do well to follow, Denness helped build and maintain the glory days of Kent cricket, yet, around every corner, for both Kent and England, controversy lurked for him.Born in Lanarkshire and educated at the Ayr Academy, Denness played for Ayr Cricket Club from the age of eight, where he blossomed under the tutelage of club coach and former Sussex stalwart, Charlie Oakes.Happenchance led to his first opportunity in county cricket when, in 1959, Denness became the first schoolboy to be capped for Scotland. Selected to play against Ireland, he lined up alongside former Kent slow left-armer Jimmy Allan, who recommended the teenager to his old club soon after.Allan’s endorsement was supported by a glowing report from E. W. Swanton, the press box doyenne and Kent’s éminence grise, who met Denness while on an after-dinner speaking engagement in Ayr. Les Ames, then the club’s secretary and first team manager, duly invited Denness for a month’s trial in the spring of 1961 and, after joining the club on special registration, the Scotsman went on to make an ignominious debut against Essex the following July when, on a turning pitch at Dover, he scored 0 and 3 and was twice dismissed by Jim Laker.Capped by Kent in 1965, Denness ultimately scored 17,047 for the county, making 333 appearances. He reached 1,000-runs for the first time in 1963 and went on to pass the milestone in 12 of the following 15 summers.After helping Kent to the championship pennant in 1970 – the club’s first title in 60 years – he returned to the Test arena as vice-captain on the MCC’s 1972-73 tour of India and Pakistan where his fleet-footed prowess against spin bowling emerged. Two of his four Test hundreds came against India.He replaced Ray Illingworth as England captain and won plaudits for his leadership during a hard-fought drawn series in the West Indies in 1973-74 against a strong home side.The following winter on England’s 1974-75 trip to Australia was a tormenting one for both England and Denness. His preparations for the series were not helped when he was afflicted by kidney inflammation. But that was nothing like the suffering heaped upon England because of the fierce pace of Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee.

He dropped himself ‘for the good of the team’ for the fourth rubber in Sydney, against the wishes of the tour manager, Alec Bedser – a match the hosts won to regain the Ashes. He called it “the lowest point of my life.”

Geoff Boycott had opted out of the tour and by the end of the first Test Dennis Amiss and John Edrich had fractures. Denness advocated that Colin Cowdrey, his Kent team-mate, should be summoned back to the fray, but it was no miracle cure as England were caught on a Perth flyer. “Never before had I seen such a variety of armour as was available at Perth,” Denness later reflected in his autobiography, . It was a time before batting helmets and Denness admitted that some players, including himself, feared for their safety.He dropped himself ‘for the good of the team’ for the fourth rubber in Sydney, against the wishes of the tour manager, Alec Bedser – a match the hosts won to regain the Ashes. He called it “the lowest point of my life.”An injury to Edrich allowed him to return for the sixth and final Test in Melbourne and he top-scored against an Australia attack shorn of Thomson, who had injured his shoulder playing tennis, and with Lillee nursing an injury. His stoic 188 was his best in Tests.The following season he captained England to the World Cup semi-finals but misread conditions at Edgbaston in the first Ashes Test, allowing Australia to ease to an innings win.Denness suggested during the post-match debrief with his TCCB paymasters that a change of leadership might benefit the team and they clearly agreed. The mild-mannered Scotsman never played for his adopted country again.The distraction of his successful benefit in 1974 also ended his glorious run-scoring feats for Kent, but in 1975 he was named one of Wisden’s cricketers of the year after scoring 1,088 runs at an average of 41.84.His five-year tenure as Kent skipper came to a fractious end in 1976 when, after a fall out with club coach Colin Page, Kent’s committee wielded the axe – voting 11-1 in favour of Asif Iqbal. Denness refused to sanction the club’s statement suggesting he had resigned and agreed to join Essex the following season. He played three seasons at Chelmsford, playing a major role in their Championship and Benson & Hedges Cup double of 1979.Mike Denness and his Kent team-mates with the 1974 Gillette Cup•The Cricketer InternationalDenness retired from playing in 1980 at the age of 40 with 25,866 first-class career runs at an average of 33.48. He scored 33 hundreds, with a best of 195 for Essex against Leicestershire at Grace Road in 1977. In all, he played 232 one-day games, 12 of them for England, scoring 5,393 runs with six centuries. Several of his limited overs batting partnerships with Luckhurst remain in Kent’s records books to this day.Denness remained at New Writtle Street as 2nd XI captain and then coach until 1984 and worked off-season in insurance and public relations until, in March 1996, he accepted the ICC’s invitation to become a match referee – a role he fulfilled through to 2002 officiating in 14 Tests and 35 ODIs.Once again, Denness courted controversy when, in the 2001-02 series in South Africa he suspended Sachin Tendulkar for ball tampering during the Port Elizabeth Test, while also sanctioning five other members of the India side for unwarranted appealing.The ICC refused India’s call to stand Denness down for the final game of the series but, fearing a boycott, South Africa appointed a replacement match referee. The match was ultimately stripped of its Test status and Denness’s career as a match referee ended in ignominy.A strong desire to give something back to the game led to him working for the ECB as a pitch inspector and to building new bridges with Kent, where he returned as chairman of cricket. It was a role that also came to an abrupt and controversial end in 2004.Having been asked to intervene following an on-field dispute at New Road between acting Kent captain Ed Smith and his disillusioned team-members Andrew Symonds and Rob Key, Denness called for strong disciplinary measures, particularly against Symonds. But, in the eyes of Denness at least, the matter was merely swept under the committee room carpet and he duly resigned.Denness was proposed for the Kent presidency in late 2011 by his former team-mate John Shepherd and a little over a year later awarded an OBE in the 2013 New Year’s Honours list for his services to the sport.His fight against cancer was long, yet bravely and lightly born. Just weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour he was installed as Kent president for 2012-13 at the county’s annual meeting. He died on April 19, during his final week in office. He was 72.

Plays from the IPL game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Kolkata

Sidharth Monga14-Apr-2013The mistake
Young Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Hanuma Vihari might have got Chris Gayle with his first IPL delivery, but giving him the second over today – ahead of two specialist spinners – proved to be a mistake. Bowling to Indian opening batsmen, Vihari delivered from round the stumps and flat. Manvinder Bisla took him for two fours, Gautam Gambhir one. Kolkata Knight Riders never struggled for momentum after that.The eye
Eoin Morgan had a Sachin Tendulkar moment when in the 18th over he asked the bowler Thisara Perera to remove all the bandages on the fingers of his bowling hand. Perera had no choice but to oblige. Morgan must have begun to sight the ball much better: the next four legal deliveries went for four, six, four, four.The yorkers
Slower balls might be all the rage nowadays, but Sunrisers at least would have realised today that there is no substitute for a good old-fashioned yorker. They were assaulted ruthlessly by Morgan and Jacques Kallis in the last five overs as the bowlers went through the whole catalogue of their variations, but Ishant Sharma finally produced two yorkers to end the innings. Kallis faced both of them, and could manage only one run.The catch
The fielding in this IPL has been a bit of a mixed bag, but there has been a quite amazing highlight reel of some sensational catches. Yusuf Pathan added to it today with one overhead at long-on. Cameron White had just about got going with back-to-back fours in the 11th over of the chase, but Yusuf cut short that resurgence with his highness. White had thought he had hit Kallis for a six, but he hadn’t reckoned for the tall Yusuf, who jumped about three feet in the air and caught it at full stretch.The miss
It was inconsequential for the match, but could end up having a bearing on whether Sunil Narine gets the purple cap. Perera tried to hit Narine for a second straight six, but mis-hit flat for what looked like a sitter for Morgan at long-on. However, Morgan lost the ball in the lights, and instead ran for cover lest the ball lands on his head. After that, he seemed to point that the flood-light tower is a bit low. He will get a taste of lower lights when he plays in Mohali in two days’ time.The celebration
For a man who said before the start of the match he doesn’t know why the hell injuries keep chasing him, Manoj Tiwary is not the most cautious player on the field. Twice he took catches in Sunrisers’ chase, and twice he kicked the ball hard in jubilation. The last thing an injury-prone player would want to do is get hit by a hard cricket ball on the ankle when celebrating a catch.

It will take a greater show of character and determination than any Zimbabwe have managed in the recent past for them to put one past Pakistan

Firdose Moonda22-Aug-2013In between threats of a boycott, the formation of a players’ union and the retirement of a key player, Zimbabwe also have to play some cricket. A two-T20, three-ODI and two-Test series against Pakistan will challenge everything from their skills to their resolve, and could be a litmus test for the sport in the country going forward.Zimbabwe players, through their newly formed union, have negotiated match fees that are said to be in line with other international teams’ standards for this series. Their fans will hope the promise of money in the bank will give them the security needed to perform better than they have in recent times.They were blanked by a second-string India team in a series that ended just over two weeks’ ago, to start new coach Andy Waller’s tenure off in unconvincing fashion. Before that, they drew a Test and Twenty20 series and won a three-match ODI rubber against Bangladesh but, overall, results have not been positive for Zimbabwe since they made their Test comeback two years’ ago.The glory of their initial win was shortlived, with Pakistan bringing them back down to earth after they beat Bangladesh in August 2011. Saeed Ajmal made Zimbabwe’s batsmen, apart from Tino Mawoyo, appear out of their depth in the only Test, and Pakistan went on to record victories in each of the three ODIs and two T20s played thereafter. Zimbabwe were humbled and realised how much ground they would have to cover to compete against top teams.Two years have passed since then and Zimbabwe have not improved as much as they would have wanted. They lost series against New Zealand, both at home and away, and West Indies, away, and were barely a factor in the World Twenty20 last year. The board’s financial worries have mounted to the point where salaries were delayed, paltry winter contracts were offered – and in the case of Craig Ervine, refused – and bargaining for more money has become more pressing than batting or bowling.In the words of the country’s former sports minister, David Coltart, the national team “morale is low and it is reflecting in their performances”. Coltart, a passionate supporter of the game, believes Zimbabwe are capable of more than they have shown but concerns over where the next pay cheque will come from is holding the team back from delivering to their full potential.That will be difficult for Zimbabwe to do also because they do not have their best players available to them. A week before the series began, Kyle Jarvis, regarded as one of the country’s most promising bowlers and a product of the franchise system, announced a premature retirement from international cricket to embark on a county career.Jarvis’ decision will affect many more than just himself. The message he sent to his team-mates is that he does not feel Zimbabwean cricket has a future. If they are feeling the same way, no one can blame them. But they will have to put those thoughts aside to challenge Pakistan.For the first two days of the series, it may be easier to do. The contest begins with back-to-back T20s and Jarvis did not seem to be part of plans in the shortest format. He was not included in the starting XI for the T20s against Bangladesh with the fit-again Brian Vitori, Tendai Chatara and Tinashe Panyangara tasked with the seam-bowling jobs.With Prosper Utseya and a clutch of promising young spinners including Natsai Mushangwe and Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Zimbabwe’s bowling could hold its own in the shorter formats. Jarvis will be missed in the Tests, especially as Chris Mpofu remains unavailable due to injury. If one of the others can step up, they may prove competitive in that department.Batting is their worry, especially against spinners, and they will need someone other than captain Brendan Taylor and senior statesman Hamilton Masakadza to perform. Vusi Sibanda and Malcolm Waller are due some runs while Sikandar Raza will look to build on a promising start. The return of Mawoyo, in the longer format, will also boost Zimbabwe’s chances.What’s more important than individual performances is that all their players to band together. If they can show the same unity on the field as they are showing off it, they may surprise a few people. But they should be warned anything less than a complete showing will not be good enough. They cannot bank on the overused adage that depending on which Pakistan shows up, they may be in with a chance.Pakistan are a far more consistent side than their reputation hints at and will have their own goals, apart from winning, on this tour. When Misbah-ul-Haq left South Africa in March, after their series there, his worry was how much game-time his team would have before they next took on Graeme Smith and Co in the UAE in October.At that time, Pakistan were not scheduled to play any Tests between March and October, so the two matches here will serve as fairly good practice for a far tougher challenge against South Africa. The conditions will not be too much of a test, with Zimbabwe’s late winter pitches likely to be flat and slow, especially in Bulawayo, so batsmen who show the right temperament could spend ample time on them.Their limited-overs squads include some new faces such as quick bowler Anwar Ali and Sohaib Maqsood. After series wins over West Indies in both shorter formats, this tour could be an opportunity for some experimentation, which will be important for Pakistan’s development going forward.For a team that only plays together away from home, this will be another opportunity to bond and form team culture. It may be their focus to work on those things as part of a bigger picture because history, especially the history of two years ago, suggests Pakistan will dominate the series. It will take a show of character and determination, which Zimbabwe have not been able to muster with real conviction in the recent past, to change that.

Yuvraj’s second comeback since cancer was characterised by his signature pick-up flicks and lofted drives. He bossed the narrative of the match. It was Yuvraj of the old

Abhishek Purohit11-Oct-2013During the 2011 World Cup quarter-final between India and Australia, Yuvraj Singh played the cut off Brett Lee. It was a typical Yuvraj stroke. It was played on the move, with the confidence of a batsman settled in an ODI innings, actively seeking runs. The ball travelled so fast, third man had little chance of saving the boundary. Yet, Yuvraj hadn’t appeared to have used brute strength. He hadn’t merely guided the ball either. What he had done seemed to lie exactly between the two extremes – the hard and the soft, the severe and the gentle. He had blended power and timing so well the stroke appeared effortless as well as graceful without losing any of its potency. Yuvraj in full flow, they said.That is what Yuvraj of the old used to do before being hit by cancer. That is what the man who came back last year after overcoming the illness could not seem to do. That is what the man who has mounted a second comeback seems capable of, again. Tonight against Australia, that characteristic blend of power and timing marked his strokes. Yuvraj in full flow, they said again.It has been a while since we have seen that “flow”. Yuvraj was given an emotional comeback in 2012 after recovering from cancer, in a T20 against New Zealand in Chennai. He played a big slog-sweep or two in making 34 off 26 but generally struggled to rediscover his rhythm. Tellingly, he paused to catch his breath for several seconds after running a two, or even when sprinting for a quick single, his eyes wide open with the effort.It was the same sight in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka a couple of weeks later. The running and fielding were labored. The pulls weren’t flying into the stands. The drives didn’t have the familiar imperiousness. If you looked closely, even the ever-present swagger had lost some of its assurance. It was becoming clearer and clearer that it had been a largely emotional selection, with evidence of the lack of match practice. Yuvraj’s body hadn’t regained enough strength to be able to execute his mind’s desire to perform like he used to in international cricket.He hung on for some more time before being dropped. The desire was still intact, and led him to put his body through a punishing fitness regimen. A leaner, fitter Yuvraj forced his way back this time through the weight of List A runs.It is only one innings yet, but the contrast with the earlier comeback, and the resemblance with the original version, was striking. It was not simply the fact that Yuvraj made an unbeaten 77 off 35 to resurrect another limited-overs chase for India. It was the way he made those runs. It was the way those pick-up flicks and lofted drives flew off his bat.The pick-up flick is not an easy shot to pull off. A leading edge can make people wonder what exactly you were trying to attempt. But when he is in his zone, as he was on Thursday, Yuvraj can make the shot appear so straightforward a response and its execution so emphatic, not going for it would seem unnatural.Apart from the choice of strokes, there is one larger theme to Yuvraj on such days. He gives you the feeling that he is in complete charge of the situation. He does not seem to be merely controlling the narrative of a match, he seems to be bossing it. You can spot that in his movements, in the way he picks up the length, in his swagger after hitting a boundary, in his determined eyes. You know the asking-rate is high, you know there isn’t much batting to follow, but somewhere inside, you also know that Yuvraj is going to produce the big shot when it is required.There were a few tweets from fans saying that the sight of Yuvraj in flow had somewhat lessened the numbness they felt on the day Sachin Tendulkar had announced his retirement. That is what the Yuvraj of old could do. He could move people. As he did in Rajkot. It has been a while.

Afghanistan’s bowlers may have been fighting it out mainly at Associate level in the past, but for large periods on Thursday, Pakistan had no answer to their pace or accuracy

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Fatullah27-Feb-2014When you watch an Associate nation play a Test team, the first point of difference you usually notice between the sides is their seam attacks. The spearhead of the Associate team’s attack, apart from the rare exception such as Boyd Rankin, is usually a medium-fast bowler: a Martin Suji or a Mudassar Bukhari, bowling in the low-to-mid 120s.On Thursday against Pakistan, Afghanistan opened their bowling with Shapoor Zadran, a towering left-armer with a run-up so long it was a throwback to an earlier era, and Dawlat Zadran, a right-armer with an action redolent of Waqar Younis.Dawlat was nearly as quick as Waqar too. He bowled at an average speed of 138.4kph, and his fastest ball clocked 145.3kph. Shapoor wasn’t too far behind, averaging 134.2kph and hitting 142.4kph at his quickest. Hamid Hassan, who is part of their squad but didn’t play this game, is reputed to bowl as fast as Dawlat, perhaps even faster.Against Pakistan, Dawlat wasn’t always on the money with his line and length but Shapoor mostly was. He seemed to know exactly how to bowl to Sharjeel Khan, a left-handed opener who loves width but gets into closed positions against balls directed into his body, and finds it difficult to tuck the ball away into the leg side. Afghanistan’s team seemed to have sat down and done their homework on him. When Shapoor bowled to Sharjeel, one of their catching fielders was a leg gully.How have Afghanistan managed to unearth so many fast-bowling talents, someone asked their coach Kabir Khan during the post-match press conference.”We are culturally strong, well-built and tough,” Kabir said. “They are aggressive. Kids back home want to be fast bowlers, not spinners. That’s natural.”Hamza Hotak clearly wasn’t one of those kids. His ESPNcricinfo profile says he compares his bowling style to Daniel Vettori’s, and you would believe him if you saw his aggressive pivot at the bowling crease, after he came on in the tenth over of Pakistan’s innings.Ashraf did not put even a single ball on leg stump against Mohammad Hafeez•ESPNcricinfo LtdOut of that brisk action, the ball usually emerged with enough loop and inward drift to make batsmen think twice about where it would drop. Hotak bowled eight overs for 22 runs, and took the wicket of the left-handed Sharjeel Khan. It was a mow to deep midwicket, but the ball’s trajectory contributed in some way towards making the batsman hit the ball straighter than intended.From the 12th over of Pakistan’s innings to the 22nd, Hotak bowled in tandem with Mirwais Ashraf, a medium-pacer in the Gavin Larsen mould. In those 11 overs, Pakistan scored 31 runs and lost two wickets.Ashraf had a simple plan against Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez. Just back of a driving length, outside off, angling in, with the odd ball moving away off the seam. If you have a thing for accurate bowling, and if you’re a geeky sort of cricket fan, gaze at Ashraf’s beehive clusters against Shehzad and Hafeez. They are objects of beauty. Not a single ball on leg stump. Not one. He might have played most of his ODI cricket against fellow Associates, but Ashraf’s career economy rate of 3.97 isn’t to be baulked at.After all those stifling overs from Hotak and Ashraf, Afghanistan brought on Samiullah Shenwari, their legspinner. Shenwari is never going to win an intra-team contest for the neatest-looking beehive cluster, and he bowled his share of long-hops and full-tosses to the Pakistan batsmen. But he also bowled some little gems. In his fifth over, he performed the classic legspinner’s two-card trick: a ripping leg-break that spun across the face of Anwar Ali’s bat, followed by a slightly shorter skidder that hurried Anwar into an ungainly defensive stroke.Shenwari’s two wickets in Afghanistan’s first Asia Cup appearance may come to be overshadowed by the catch he dropped of Umar Akmal, which ultimately allowed Pakistan to get away to a match-winning total. The bowlers lost some sting after that, and Akmal’s aggression rattled them enough for them to concede 59 in the last five overs. But that shouldn’t take away from how they had given their opponents a real scare before that. There’s definitely more to come from this attack.

The World T20 has been simmering during its qualifying round, but the big boys have descended and Bangladesh have almost made the Super 10. It’s about to boil over

Alan Gardner20-Mar-2014The first few days have established the atmosphere nicely, aided by Bangladesh’s sashaying around their own party looking like a million dollars, but the hubbub is about to increase noticeably. The A-listers have arrived, hoovering up the remaining canapés, distracting the snappers and showing off their entourages. Only the bolshevism shown by Ireland looks like preventing the Super 10 stage from resembling a Full Members’ club, as notions of equality and opportunity are replaced by the established batting order.The World T20, in all its unpredictable, telegenic, effervescent glory, has established itself as a tournament that gives with both hands: the games come thick and fast, high in calorie content and E-numbers, but the weight is quickly shed. With a few vigorous blows a batsman is back in form, while bowlers can “leave it all on the field” during a maximum of four overs, safe in the knowledge that they are expected to get tonked anyway. Supporters gorge themselves on boundaries and ambient pop (sic), then go home, move on.Neither is it just a warm-up for the forthcoming IPL. International rivalry has always been cricket’s strongest conduit of support and the near certainty that the hosts will qualify for the Super 10 stage sets up Dhaka as the jumping-est joint in the country. Group 2, while forbiddingly tough, will allow Bangladesh the opportunity to have a fresh crack at snooty neighbours India and Pakistan, who will resume their own argument over the garden hedge in a hotly anticipated opening to the second round on Friday evening.The port city of Chittagong, once known for its Portuguese settlements, will welcome hopefuls from Europe, Africa and Australia, though Sri Lanka’s local knowledge will be expected to help them chart a course through Group 1. At around the same time, an expanded women’s tournament will also begin in the more genteel surroundings of the new Sylhet stadium, located in a tea garden.Bangladesh and Ireland will be making their maiden appearances at the Women’s World T20, with ten teams contesting 27 matches over 15 days. Two-time defending champions Australia are in the opposite pot to England, winners of the inaugural competition in 2009, with West Indies, New Zealand and India likely to also come into contention. The semi-finals and finals will again take place as double-headers with the men’s events, though in a country with a female prime minister and where crowds in the thousands turned out to watch games at the women’s World Cup Qualifier in 2011, healthy attendances will be hoped for throughout.In the men’s competition, it is simpler to suggest who probably won’t win it than who will. In four previous tournaments, there have been four different winners, which is indicative of T20’s capacity for mischief. The specialist planning and bespoke technique teams come up with for the format has made it something akin to hit ‘n goggle but good old-fashioned confidence and momentum will play a key role in whoever carries off the title this time.Of the eight sides entering at the second round, England and South Africa look the most peaky, especially given the conditions. India’s recent results have also been poor and they have only played one T20 international since December 2012. A few weeks ago, West Indies, the defending champions, would have also been bracketed with the long-shots, having suffered a fifth T20 defeat in a row, against Ireland, but the signs in the warm-ups games suggest that they are rousing themselves at the perfect time once again.One of the favourites, Australia, have Aaron Finch, but no Mitchell Johnson. One of their spinners is a veteran, the other is very raw•Getty ImagesSri Lanka, ranked No. 1 in the world, certainly have form. They have an unenviable record of failing in recent finals – including at the last World T20 at home – but will gain confidence from putting away mercurial geniuses Pakistan in the Asia Cup earlier this month. Will the impending retirements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene inspire a dash to victory or could the emotion cause Sri Lanka to choke up again?Pakistan have been the best team in the World T20’s short history, never failing to make the semi-finals. The charge against them is that they bowl with brio but bat like brioche (soft, light and easy to tear apart). The latter tendency came to the fore again on Wednesday, dismissed for 71 by South Africa in Fatullah. Best get them out of the way beforehand, eh?According to the bookmakers, the mantle of favourites apparently lies with Australia, perhaps draped especially around the broad shoulders of Aaron Finch, one of the few men who can rival Chris Gayle in a destruction derby. The loss of Mitchell Johnson to injury will deny them a valuable weapon on slower pitches, however, and exacting questions will be asked of their spin options, which include 43-year-old Brad Hogg (international debut: 1996) and 20-year-old James Muirhead (international debut: January 2014). Then there is New Zealand, who a wise man never discounts.The Commonwealth Games are known as the “friendly games” and so far Bangladesh has united in a display of colour and confraternity to put on the “friendly T20”. There are likely to be some flashes of enmity on the field but T20’s spirit of hedonism should quickly subsume all other emotions. The first five days of the tournament served something of a noble purpose; now, at least until the knockout stages begin, it is time for guilty pleasures.