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After such a build-up, the behaviour of the MCG track on the opening day was a disappointment, and while the ground staff and management may be looking at long-term development, the clock is ticking for the venue

Daniel Brettig in Melbourne26-Dec-20181:40

Hodge: Cummins made batsmen question their technique

As he did in Perth, Nathan Lyon drags Virat Kohli wide of the off stump with his drift and his drop, leaving India’s captain feeling for a ball of which ball he is not quite to the pitch. Rather than skidding on and taking the edge, however, this ball grips a little, turning past the groping bat and hitting Kohli on the front pad outside the line of the off stump.In usual circumstances, this would have been cause for an “oooh”, a speculative appeal, and maybe a cursory chat about referring Marais Erasmus’ not out verdict. But this was the MCG on Boxing Day, on a pitch that, for all the work of the curator Matt Page and the Melbourne Cricket Club over the past 12 months, showed little sign of improvement in terms of the life on offer for wicket-taking or fast scoring.So instead the Australians saw the mirage of a genuine chance for a wicket, appealing desperately, then consulting thoroughly in the limited time available before the captain Tim Paine gave Erasmus the “T” signal for a review.The fact of the mirage was revealed from the moment of the very first replay, showing that the ball had struck Kohli so far outside the line of the off stump that by the time ball-tracking was ready the Australians had already resumed their in-out fielding positions. A Melbourne crowd of 73,516 that had momentarily stirred, collectively chuckled then returned to thoughts of home and an early night after all the holiday revelry.After such a large build-up, and plenty of optimism from Page and his ground staff about the experimental work they had done throughout the winter, the behaviour of the surface on the biggest day of the Australian cricket calendar had to be regarded as something of a disappointment. Little more than half an hour of pace was required before Paine resorted to the spin of Lyon, only the second time he had bowled inside eight overs in a first innings in a Test in Australia over eight summers.Within the next 10 minutes, Paine dispensed with third and then second slips, deciding that ring fields and searching for a mistake was the order of the day rather than the more predatory hunt for outside edges that he and his pacemen prefer. While the pitch did begin to quicken after the first hour, aiding the exemplary Pat Cummins in conjuring a short ball to pin Hanuma Vihari on the gloves and end his stay in the 19th over of the match, the process was stunted.”Yeah tough going. There wasn’t much on offer,” Cummins told Fox Cricket afterwards. “Especially this morning. There wasn’t really any sideways or bounce or pace. It got a little bit quicker towards the end of the day but not a lot in it for us bowlers and they batted pretty well.”I think the key on this kind of wicket is you’re not going to blast them out so you’ve just got to be really disciplined. We bowled a couple of good spells, a couple of maidens, I think it’s about trying to bowl five or six maidens in a row and hopefully they crack. But they’re batting pretty well at the moment.”4:39

We restricted India well in trying conditions – Head

Kohli was to offer a more genuine chance when Paine took the second new ball, tempted wide of the stumps by Mitchell Starc and edging, but Paine’s dive from close to the stumps was unable to achieve a clean interception. If the Australians, half expecting such conditions, had trained for being closer than they had stood in Adelaide and Perth, they undoubtedly would prefer to be standing further back for clearer sights of the ball.For India’s debutant Mayank Agarwal, there was vindication of his sound mental approach before opening the batting in Melbourne. He had chosen to keep his mind clear of preconceived notions about the pitch until he could actually play on it and adapt accordingly. “I won’t complain about the pitch, I thought it was good to bat on. It did do a bit early on and then it was a bit slow. As the day progressed and we batted on it more, it got a little quicker,” Agarwal said.”I didn’t think too much of the wicket and didn’t put too much thought into the wicket before the game. I wanted to try to stay blank and take it as it comes and just let me assess the wicket and see how I would go about it. I thought they bowled extremely well, they didn’t give us any loose balls, they kept it tight, and they were attacking.”A Test-match pitch should offer evolution over hours, sessions and days, affording assistance to various disciplines of the game across its lengthy journey towards a conclusion. It may be too early to make a definitive judgment of this surface, particularly given the far hotter temperatures expected in Melbourne over the next two days, but the vast body of evidence about the MCG’s drop-in pitches and the concrete slab underneath them is that if the turf does not afford early assistance to bowlers and reap wickets as a result, there will be little deterioration later in the game to counterbalance it.In the words of Page to ESPNcricinfo before the Test: “We’re finding if we leave the grass on them, not too thatchy, more leaf grass, but if we leave the grass on and more moisture in, then we actually get a better result in terms of pace, bounce, ability for the spinners to be able to spin the ball off the surface, than if we go in drier and harder.”According to all of the ground staff’s research and preparatory work, this surface should have done more than it has. But at the same time the ground’s custodians are aware that more must be done urgently to ensure that there is more for Page and company to work with, namely by adopting a more up-to-date system for drop-in pitches that will mean less concrete and more natural variation provided by Melbourne’s mixture of clay, turf, gravel and sand.Certainly for Cummins, his reminder earlier this week that he would like to discuss with Cricket Australia the prospect of longer-term central contracts for the fast bowlers only gained in relevance as he and his fellow pacemen slogged their way through what should have been the best day to bowl in this match. “As fast bowlers, we put ourselves through a lot,” Cummins told AAP before the match. “I guess every sport has long-term contracts so I just asked the question of seeing if I could do something longer term.”Longer term is exactly how the MCG’s management and staff are thinking in terms of creating better pitches, but the clock is ticking. Afforded the luck of the calendar by the ICC’s move to a more punitive pitch rating and penalty system a matter of days after the conclusion of last year’s dirge of a draw, they need to see improvement, and soon. Otherwise the mirage Lyon and Australia’s fielders saw when Kohli was struck outside the line will be followed by genuine questions about a fitting location for Boxing Day.

And other surprising facts about David Miller, revealed by the man himself

Interview by Shashank Kishore07-May-2017Where were you when you first heard that you were picked to play in the IPL?
I’d just come back from a four-day game and was setting up a new house I’d bought near the harbour in Durban when I got a call from my manager saying I’ve been picked. I couldn’t quite believe it. After a while, I got a call from Colonel Arvinder Singh, who was then the CEO of Kings XI Punjab. It was the first time I was talking to an Indian from India, so I couldn’t really understand what he was saying. But it didn’t sink in till I got to India. It was quite an epic moment.How did you react when you heard about the money you were being signed up for?
I opened the calculator and did a US-dollar-to-rand conversion. Couldn’t believe it! It was a big thing for me.From where did your “Killer Miller” tag originate?
It started when I played against Royal Challengers Bangalore and scored 101, in 2013. While I was busy batting, the big screen showed some guys in the crowd with a placard saying: “Killer Miller”. It came from there and has stuck with me since.What has been your best IPL knock?
That one against Royal Challengers in Mohali, without doubt. I’ve played some enjoyable knocks over the years, but that one defined me and changed a lot for me. I haven’t looked back since.One line of Hindi or Punjabi you’ve picked up over the years?
“Aap bahut sundar ho.” [You’re very beautiful]

I was about 40 minutes late for my first professional game. I arrived 25 minutes before the first ball was bowled. I was 18, it was meant to be my debut!

Who has been the biggest influence in your cricket career?
My father. He never gets involved in cricketing situations because he didn’t play at the same level, but I’m thankful for what he has given me. He’s taught me all the attributes I needed as a professional.What’s the craziest thing you have done on the cricket field?
I was about 40 minutes late for my first professional game. I arrived 25 minutes before the first ball was bowled. I was 18, it was meant to be my debut!What’s the worst sledge ever directed at you?
I don’t know, can’t remember.What’s the worst sledge you have ever used?
That’s more in Tests, where you’ve time to tick off someone. I haven’t played any!If you were to choose a buddy for an African safari, who would you ring first?
Kyle Abbott.Tell us one thing about you that your fans will be surprised to learn.
My left foot is bigger than my right foot.Favourite Indian dish? Er, next question, please•ICCWhat’s the one thing you’d grab and run if your house was on fire?
My cell phone.Give us one word each that comes to your mind when you hear these names.
Jacques Kallis? Genius. Dale Steyn? Fire. AB de Villiers? Explosive. Virender Sehwag? Freedom.Is there a question you wish you weren’t asked often by journalists at the IPL?
“What’s your favourite Indian dish?”Tell us about a dressing-room incident that leaves you in splits.
Marcus Stoinis has come onto this dog-jaw trick with a few of the guys. There’s a whole story behind it. He catches guys with his dog jaw and they feel in his jaw and they fall for it. He’s done it to a few guys and that really is funny.What’s your first memory of being a spectator?
It was a local game in South Africa. I was about ten. Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Dale Benkenstein were all there. I wanted to meet Jonty at any cost. After the game, I managed to catch his eye. He came over to me, spent a couple of minutes. That’s something I’ll never forget.Do you have a travel tip for those wanting to travel in India?
Hand sanitiser! At times, with the weather and with so many people, it could get a little sticky.

Mohammad Amir wasn’t quite at his menacing best on his return to Pakistan colours, but there was plenty of pace and promise for the months to come

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Auckland15-Jan-2016There had been a protest from team-mates, and a visa complication owing to his time in jail, but since he has landed in New Zealand, Mohammad Amir has kept a low profile. His work in the nets was earnest. Occasionally he struck up a conversation, but usually kept to himself. Neither life of the party nor outcast – Amir’s reintegration was almost becoming nondescript.He kept emotions in check through the early overs in his return, like a man who knows he is still in the dock, though it is years since his conviction. There had been cheers in the crowd when his name was announced in the XI. A few boos as well. Teammates might have been lukewarm but some Pakistan fans in the Auckland crowd embraced his return. They chanted his name in his first over. A few had brought “Welcome back” signs. At times, if you were in the right section of the crowd, it felt like the return of the prodigal son, brother or friend.The first over was low-key, like his attitude. Having sent his first ball down the leg side, he bowled sharp inswing at the right-handers, veering a little too far down the leg side, perhaps, but regularly breaching 140kph. It wasn’t quite Amir at his best; just the kind of bowling that prompted coach Waqar Younis to later say that his return was neither great nor poor, but “pretty okay”.In his second over, Amir got an abrupt refresher on what being a Pakistan fast bowler is all about. Having induced a mistake from one of the form batsmen in the world, Amir watched Kane Williamson’s mishit sail towards cover, where Shahid Afridi settled beautifully beneath it, before proceeding, of course, to drop the catch. Amir kept his cool on that occasion, as teammates sent sympathetic applause in his direction. He was less impressed with Sohaib Maqsood, who dropped another straightforward catch in the 17th over. Amir let out a curt yell of frustration, before regaining his zen.”I wanted those catches to be taken because it would have really given him that confidence at the beginning of the game,” Waqar later said. “Unfortunately that’s part of the game. I’m sure he knows that he will come back.”When the wicket finally came off his final ball of the evening, Afridi – the catcher – made the more triumphant jubilation, striking his star-man pose as teammates converged. There were some high-fives and pats on the back for Amir. On the scoreboard, his returns read 4-0-31-1 – figures in perfect step with the ethos of his last week.”I thought Amir bowled pretty okay,” Waqar said, summing up. “He’ll probably get better and better. I’m expecting him to give breakthroughs with the new ball, which I think he’s got the capability to do.”It may take time for those capabilities to be fully realised, but opportunity beckons, with an Asia Cup, a World T20 and, later, an England tour on the horizon. For now, Amir has suggested his skill belongs on the international stage, though he hasn’t quite set that stage alight.

Stats highlights from the fifth ODI between Australia and South Africa, in Sydney

Bishen Jeswant23-Nov-20144-1 Australia’s margin of victory in this series. The previous bilateral ODI series between these countries in Australia, in 2009, was also decided by the same margin, but in favour of South Africa on that occasion.1 Number of times that Australia have beaten South Africa in a bilateral ODI series at home; this is the first. There have been two previous series’; South Africa won in 2009, while the series was drawn in 2000. Australia have beaten South Africa in a couple of bilateral ODI series in South Africa.6 Number of ODI centuries for Quinton de Kock. Six is also the number of South African players who have scored more ODI hundreds than de Kock.4 Number of wicketkeepers who have scored more ODI hundreds than de Kock – Kumar Sangakkara (17), Adam Gilchrist (16), AB de Villiers (9) and MS Dhoni (9). De Kock, with his sixth ODI century in this game, overtook Kamran Akmal (5), to go sole fifth on this list.5.8 Number of matches per century for de Kock in ODIs. This is the best matches-per-hundred ratio for any of the 71 batsmen who have scored more than five ODI hundreds. Next on the list is Hashim Amla, who scores a hundred every 6.1 games (17 hundreds in 103 matches).1 Number of batsmen who had scored as many hundreds as de Kock at the age of 21 – Upul Tharanga. With six hundreds each, de Kock and Tharanga hold the joint record for the most hundreds at this age.* Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most hundreds at the age of 22, eight, followed by Virat Kohli with seven. De Kock has them both well within his sights.63 Runs scored by Farhaan Behardien in this game, his highest ODI score. He had made only one fifty in his 15 previous games, 58 against Pakistan in 2013. His strike rate during that innings was 70.7. In this innings, Behardien was striking at 153.7.83 Number of runs that Shane Watson had scored, at an average of 13.8, from six previous ODI innings in 2014. He scored 82 runs in this match, taking his average up to a slightly less embarrassing 23.6 for the year.*15.00GMT, November 23: The article had earlier stated that Quinton de Kock is third on the list for most hundreds at 21.

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.

Mumbai’s games have been better attended than most in this IPL, thanks to the Tendulkar effect

Tariq Engineer20-May-2011It is an understatement to say Jaipur is hot at the end of April. The heat is like a living thing, determined to scorch the earth of all other living things. Yet there the Sawai Mansingh Stadium was three weeks ago, with its uncovered stands, already half-full at 2.30pm, a good 90 minutes before the scheduled IPL game. By the time the umpires walked out to the middle, the place was packed with fans eager with anticipation.Rajasthan Royals typically draw tremendous home support, but on this day it was clear the fans weren’t there just for them. The opposing team were Mumbai Indians, and the fans had come to see Sachin Tendulkar. They cheered when he came out to warm up, cheered when he came out for the toss, and cheered when he came out to bat. Such was the reception for Tendulkar that during Rajasthan’s next game against Pune Warriors, Shane Warne was moved to say at the toss that it was “nice to be home. They cheer us well here as long as Sachin’s not playing.”The faces in the crowd reflected their dual allegiances, literally. One girl had the Rajasthan logo – the double R – painted on her right cheek. On her left, in the same blue paint, she had “Sachin Tendulkar”. Unfortunately for the fans, Ashok Menaria had Tendulkar stumped for 7 in the fifth over. Having missed out on a chance to cheer their hero at the crease, the fans produced the loudest roar of the game when Tendulkar caught Rahul Dravid. No opportunity to celebrate India’s most cherished cricketer was going to be missed, whatever the situation.It has been a similar story at stadiums around the country. What the 2011 IPL has made clear is that Tendulkar transcends team loyalties, especially now in the twilight of his career, when it’s hard to know if there will be another chance to see him play. The fans want to get a glimpse of him so they can tell their grandchildren: yes, I saw him bat. India’s World Cup triumph has added to his aura, making his career appear complete. It was the final piece in the puzzle, the storybook ending, and what we are seeing now amounts to the standing ovation at the end of play.”People are making an extra effort to be at the ground,” Amrit Mathur, the chief executive of the Delhi Daredevils, told ESPNcricinfo. “It is one more chance to see a legend, to see Tendulkar. Because he is Tendulkar, and if you miss out, you might not see him again.”The numbers back up the existence of a “Tendulkar effect”. Television ratings for Mumbai have been consistently higher, and their games have attracted more viewers, than those of the other franchises. It is the same story at the box office. Ashish Hemrajani, the founder and chief executive of BookMyShow.com, which handles ticket sales for four of the 10 franchises, told ESPNcricinfo that all the Mumbai games have been sold out, barring a few early ones. While other teams’ sales depend in part on the quality of the opposition and the time of the match, Mumbai, he said, has transcended these factors. “The Mumbai games most certainly sell off quicker.”Neetu Bhatia, who heads Kyazoonga.com, which handles tickets for Pune, said they were selling about 70% of the tickets for each game, with one exception – Mumbai. “It was completely sold out. And not just sold out two days prior but sold out three weeks prior.” When it comes to watching Tendulkar, you don’t take chances.

“People are making an extra effort to be at the ground. It is one more chance to see a legend, to see Tendulkar. Because he is Tendulkar, and if you miss out, you might not see him again”Amrit Mathur, Delhi Daredevils CEO

Part of Tendulkar’s universal appeal is his consistent excellence, which resonates with fans of all backgrounds. Keshav Joshi, 29, has been watching cricket since he was six years old. In 1996 he went to each of India’s games in the World Cup. Having grown up in Pune, he supports the Warriors and the Maharashtra state team, who have had a long, albeit unsuccessful, rivalry with Mumbai in Indian domestic cricket (think of Maharashtra as the Manchester City and Mumbai as the Manchester United of Indian cricket). It is safe to say that Joshi is not a Mumbai fan. But like millions of others, he finds it impossible to set aside his admiration for Tendulkar, the India batsman, in favour of IPL team loyalty.”I think SRT’s fan following is based on his exploits for the Indian team, and although he plays for a different IPL team, deep down I want him to do well even against the Warriors, as long as we win,” Joshi said. “The same question could be asked to supporters of the Maharashtra Ranji team. When we play Mumbai, I still want SRT to do well. A lot of it has to do with him showing his mastery irrespective of who he is playing against.”Joshi roots for Tendulkar to score runs against the teams he supports, so he can have “the opportunity of seeing the best batsman on earth play”. He even supported Mumbai in the first three IPLs because of Tendulkar and the team’s geographical proximity to Pune, but switched loyalties once the Warriors were born. His support for Tendulkar, however, remained intact, as it has for others like him. “A lot of my friends, now that PWI is pretty much out, have begun supporting Mumbai again.”It isn’t just the fans who revere Tendulkar either. Mathur, the Delhi chief executive, says it extends to the players who play with and against Tendulkar. “The people in the squads on either side – they consider it a privilege that they are in a game with Tendulkar.” Signs of that were evident during the World Cup. R Ashwin, the India offspinner who plays for Chennai Super Kings, said playing with Tendulkar was a moment he had waited for. After his first World Cup game, Ashwin took a stump out of the ground and got Tendulkar to sign it as a memento.It is an aura that has grown not only with the sheer weight of Tendulkar’s achievements but also because of how he has carried himself as a person. “He is one icon who has conducted himself very well,” Mathur said. “No taint in his conduct or in his behaviour or in a way he has carried himself, not just as a cricketer but as a personality and as a role model. He has reached a stage I think it will be impossible for anyone [else] to reach.”Mumbai has two games left in the league stage and at least two more playoff games. Two of those games will be played in Mumbai, but wherever Tendulkar plays, it will sound and feel like home.

Stats preview to the fourth Test between Australia and India in Adelaide

George Binoy23-Jan-2008It’s not often that a visiting team can draw confidence from a previous performance at an Australian venue, especially in recent years. But with one Test to play and the scoreline 2-1 in Australia’s favour, the series moves to Adelaide for the final Test, a venue where India scored a thrilling win in 2003-04. However, leaving that blip aside, Australia have a formidable record at the Adelaide Oval, winning 12 out of 18 Tests since 1990, and eight out of nine since the draw against South Africa in 1998. Since their defeat against India, Australia have had convincing wins against New Zealand, West Indies and England.

Win-loss record in Adelaide

Team Win Loss Draw

Australia 33 16 16 India 1 5 2 Other teams 15 28 14 Australia since 1990 12 3 3 Matthew Hayden has recovered from a thigh injury and his return will add considerable strength to the batting order. The third Test in Perth was the first that Hayden missed since 1999 and his absence was felt as Chris Rogers and Phil Jaques added only 12 and 21 for the first wicket at the WACA. Moreover, Hayden has a splendid record in Adelaide, where he has scored 722 runs at 55.53. In fact, all of Australia’s top-order batsmen have excellent records in Adelaide: Michael Hussey averages 315 here for he’s been dismissed only once while racking up scores of 133, 30, 91 and 61.Among the Indian batsmen, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, who average 115.33 and 55.25 respectively, have performed well here, but Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly have failed. It was Dravid’s 233 and Laxman’s 148 that led India’s revival in 2003 after they were struggling at 84 for 4 in the first innings. Tendulkar, however, has managed only 122 runs from six innings while Ganguly has 117 from four.

Australian batsmen in Adelaide

Batsman Tests Runs Average 100/50

Ricky Ponting 11 1158 57.904/4 Matthew Hayden 8 722 55.532/4 Adam Gilchrist 8 337 30.630/3 Michael Hussey 2 315 3151/2 Michael Clarke 2 152 761/0 Andrew Symonds 1 9 90/0 India’s inexperienced pace attack exceeded expectations in Perth, which means it will be tough to leave out any of Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma or RP Singh to accommodate Harbhajan Singh, who could play a role on an Adelaide pitch that is expected to aid spin. In such a scenario, Wasim Jaffer could make way for Harbhajan with either Irfan Pathan or Rahul Dravid opening the batting. The table below shows the average partnership for each wicket in Adelaide since 1990 and, although Australia have higher figures, the overseas teams haven’t done too badly either. The only significant difference is for the second wicket, where Ricky Ponting, at No. 3, has been a tremendous force for the home side.

Partnership for Australia and other teams in Adelaide since 1990

Wicket Aus avg 100/50 Overseas 100/50

1st wicket 39.35 4/7 43.003/9 2nd wicket 47.35 7/6 20.160/5 3rd wicket 50.45 4/6 40.41 4/7 4th wicket 39.50 3/6 42.054/7 5th wicket 49.64 4/5 35.773/7 6th wicket 51.34 6/6 26.801/6 7th wicket 41.96 3/5 28.09 2/5 Of Australia’s bowlers, Brett Lee is the only one to have played more than one Test in Adelaide and his record isn’t flash: he’s picked up 12 wickets in three Tests at 36.75 apiece.Pathan made his Test debut in Adelaide in 2003 and had a torrid match, finishing with figures of 1 for 160 and an economy rate of 4.70 per over. Anil Kumble has nine wickets from two Tests in Adelaide but has had to labour through 126 overs for them. His average of 42.88 and strike-rate of 84 indicate a success for perseverance rather than brilliance.

Pace v spin in Adelaide since 1990

Type Wickets Average Strike-rate 5WI/10WM

Pace 413 32.89 6715/2 Spin 163 37.69 80.76/1 There’s rain forecast for the first two days in Adelaide and the groundsman has said that the cloud cover could help the fast bowlers. However, batting first would be the way to go, for the average runs per wicket, for both Australian and visiting teams, have dipped steadily as the match progresses.

Average per wicket in Adelaide since 1990

Innings Aus avg Overseas

1st innings 46.47 37.18 2nd innings 41.97 30.04 3rd innings 37.75 22.24 4th innings 28.44 24.77

George Bell’s maiden first-class fifty provides Lancashire with middle-order substance

ECB Reporters Network13-Apr-2023

James Anderson removed Nick Browne for a duck in his first over•Andrew Miller

Essex 98 for 3 trail Lancashire 207 (Bell 60, S Cook 5-42) by 109 runs James Anderson warmed up for this summer’s Ashes by claiming the prized scalp of former England captain Sir Alastair Cook in his first LV= Insurance County Championship appearance for 11 months.Lancashire’s decision to bat first on a straw-coloured wicket meant Anderson remained tucked up in the pavilion until required to bat shortly before tea. He made nine not out. However, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker required just three balls in Essex’s reply to collect his first wicket of the domestic season before having Cook playing forward half-cock to be judged lbw.Anderson had struck straight away when Cook’s opening partner Nick Browne chased one that lifted outside off-stump to give catching practice to Luke Wells at first slip. Anderson finished the day with two wickets for 33 from 11 overs as Essex reached the close on 98 for three.With almost impeccable timing, it was Sam Cook, the more than promising Essex seamer with aspirations of eventually replacing Anderson when he retires from Test cricket, who took the limelight with his first five-wicket haul of the season as Lancashire were dismissed for 207 on the stroke of tea.Lancashire’s up-and-down innings was underpinned by 20-year-old wicketkeeper George Bell, having only his fourth Championship outing, who was ninth out for a career-best 60 from 109 balls that included 10 fours and displayed maturity beyond his years.Not that there were too many signs early on of the sort of life that Anderson was to extract in his seven-over salvo in the evening session. Only when Essex’s overseas debutant Doug Bracewell joined the attack did a few sparks start to fly. The New Zealander had the Lancashire upper-order ducking and weaving, and Josh Bohannon had to watch one pass just under his throat.However, on a fresh and breezy April day that had Harmer standing at second slip almost incognito inside a snood that covered the lower part of his face, it was a rejuvenated Jamie Porter who made the initial breakthrough. Porter took just 19 Championship wickets last year but needed just 10 balls to raise his 10th of this season when he had Luke Wells strangled down legside.Keaton Jennings seemed to find plenty of time against the Essex pace attack and walked down the wicket to pat away the majority of deliveries faced. However, Adam Rossington clocked the move and crept closer to the stumps and duly profited as Jennings wafted at one to give Cook his first wicket. Jennings had weighed anchor for 36 minutes for the single next to his name.However, it was the introduction of Bracewell that blasted a hole in the Lancashire batting. He was soon celebrating his first Essex wicket when Steven Croft drove at one outside off-stump and was grabbed at shoulder-height by Harmer. The same partnership accounted for Bohannon, fencing at another wide ball with Harmer taking a smart one-handed catch.Two quick wickets fell straight after lunch when Cook was brought back into the attack. First Vilas was pinned in front playing down the wrong line, and five balls later Colin de Grandhomme was similarly undone and lost his off-stump.Bell and Tom Hartley steadied the ship with a 67-run seventh-wicket stand. Hartley survived two dropped-catch chances to record a 50-ball 33 that included five fours and a six before he attempted to reverse-sweep Harmer and exited lbw.Bell lost another partner when Tom Bailey pushed Bracewell to midwicket and Porter’s direct throw beat him to the non-striker’s end. The youngster followed two overs later, victim of the Cook-Cook alliance before Cook the bowler wrapped up the innings to finish with figures of five for 42.The elder Cook drove Anderson crisply to the midwicket boundary three balls before he perished. Essex were three down in the next over when Tom Westley misjudged a ball from Will Williams and was another lbw victim.Dan Lawrence (39) and Matt Critchley (23) saw Essex to stumps with an unbroken half-century partnership that included five penalty runs when Grandhomme’s return to the wicketkeeper hit Critchley’s bat and was penalised under Law 28.2 for ‘illegal fielding of the ball’.

Sassuolo have confirmed the free signing of Nemanja Matic, with the midfielder making his return to Serie A after leaving Lyon this month.

Sassuolo have announced the signing of MaticHe joins until 2026 with an option for another yearMutualy terminated contract after agreement with LyonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Sassuolo have announced the signing of Matic on a free transfer, with the midfielder agreeing a contract until June 2026 which will renew for another year if he meets certain criteria.

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The former Manchester United and Chelsea player returns to Serie A after his initial spell with Roma under Jose Mourinho, where he reached a Europa League final and secured a top-six finish. The two-time Premier League winner later joined Lyon, becoming an important part of Paulo Fonseca’s midfield, before mutually terminating his contract after just one season.

DID YOU KNOW?

As well as Matic's arrival, winger Domenico Berardi has signed a long-term extension until 2029 at Sassuolo, potentially keeping him at the Mapei Stadium until age 35. A club icon, his renewal is a major boost for fans and strengthens hopes of maintaining Sassuolo’s Serie A status.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MATIC AND SASSUOLO?

After a losing start to Serie A with a 2-0 loss to champions Napoli, Sassuolo will hope that the signing of Matic will boost their hopes of staying in the top flight.

وجه توماس فرانك، المدير الفني لنادي توتنهام هوتسبير، الإشادة إلى زميله في مانشستر سيتي بيب جوارديولا، وذلك عقب المواجهة التي جمعتهما اليوم السبت بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وصنع توتنهام المفاجأة وتمكن من تحقيق انتصار ثمين على حساب مانشستر سيتي بهدفين مقابل لا شيء، في قمة الجولة الثانية من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز على ملعب الاتحاد.

وجعل هذا الانتصار توتنهام يتربع على صدارة ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز برصيد 6 نقاط.

اقرأ أيضًا.. بالينيا بعد الفوز على مانشستر سيتي: توماس فرانك أقنعني بالتوقيع مع توتنهام

وقال فرانك في تصريحات إلى قناة “تي إن تي سبورتس”: ”أعتقد أن الاتحاد أحد أصعب الملاعب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز. لقد قدموا كل ما لديهم، وأعتقد أنهم كانوا أكثر سيطرة على مجريات اللعب قبل هدفنا وسيطرتهم علينا. حافظنا على هدوئنا. كنا متماسكين وتمتعنا بعقلية قوية”.

وأضاف: “بعد الهدف الأول، كنا الفريق الأفضل تقريبًا.وجدت عقلية قوية لدى اللاعبين. مجموعة من اللاعبين الذين مروا بموسم صعب وأنهوا الموسم بشكل رائع. اللاعبين لديهم عقلية رائعة من نواحي عديدة، وكان علينا البناء على ذلك”.

وأوضح فرانك: “في مباراة اليوم حاولنا اللعب بأسلوبنا، وكان ذلك ناجحًا للغاية في بعض الأحيان، لكن الأهم هو كيفية الضغط الذي نلعب به، لعبنا بخطة رجل لرجل، وهذا أمر مهم بالنسبة لي”.

وعن جوارديولا، واصل فرانك: ”أعتقد أنه مدرب رائع، إنه مدرب كنت أتطلع إليه لسنوات طويلة، ودرسته وتابعته بدقة”.

وعن نجم هجوم توتنهام، ريتشاليسون اختتم: “مرة أخرى، قدم ريتشارليسون أداءً جيدًا اليوم. تمتع بمعدل عمل مميز، وكل شيء كان جيدًا جدًا. نحن بحاجة إلى مهاجمين جيدين ، سنلعب الكثير من المباريات. ريتشارليسون يبدأ الآن بشكل أساسي وبحاجة إلى الحفاظ على مركزه”.

فرانك تولى تدريب توتنهام خلال الأشهر الماضية، وذلك خلفًا لأنجي بوستيكوجلو الذي رحل عن السبيرز عقب نهاية الموسم الماضي.

توتنهام كان قد حقق انتصارًا كبيرًا بثلاثة أهداف دون رد على بيرنلي الأسبوع الماضي، ليؤكد السبيرز عزمه على تقديم موسم مختلف مع فرانك.