All posts by h716a5.icu

Western Australia hung on to win their first match of the Ryobi Cup campaign despite a century from Queensland’s Nathan Reardon at the Gabba

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2012
ScorecardNathan Reardon made his first one-day century for Queensland•Getty ImagesWestern Australia hung on to win their first match of the Ryobi Cup campaign despite a century from Queensland’s Nathan Reardon at the Gabba. Chasing 285, the Bulls struggled early but worked their way back and were in the stronger position at the start of the final over, needing nine for victory with Reardon on strike facing Nathan Coulter-Nile.Reardon struck the first ball of that over high and long but not quite far enough to clear the rope, and Travis Birt at long-on held on to the catch just inside the boundary. That left Queensland nine wickets down and the final pair of Chris Swan and Alister McDermott could not conjure the required runs as Coulter-Nile held his nerve to concede only four for the over.The Bulls were favourites while Reardon was at the crease compiling his innings of 116, which was his first one-day century for Queensland in a career spanning seven seasons. He drove well early and was especially strong square on the off side, and he had impressive support from Joe Burns, who scored 82 as they put on 115 for the fourth wicket.Queensland needed somebody to lead a recovery after they stumbled to 3 for 44, two of those early wickets having fallen to Jason Behrendorff, who finished with 3 for 45. At that stage Western Australia were in control, following a strong batting effort led by the captain Marcus North with 93 and Adam Voges, who made 62.The Warriors made 9 for 284 from their 50 overs, although Shaun Marsh was not amongst the runs, caught at slip for 7. Ben Cutting picked up 4 for 68 for the Bulls, who can still make the final. However, they will now need to beat Tasmania and earn a bonus point from their final match of the campaign in order to meet South Australia in the decider.

A round-up of Sunday’s matches in the MiWAY T20 Challenge

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2012Faf du Plessis’ five-wicket haul was in vain as Titans fell short of Lions’ 163 by 16 runs in Johannesburg. du Plessis bowled four batsmen on his way to 5 for 28 after Titans chose to field. Lions were 97 for 2 after 12 overs but du Plessis kept them to 163 for 7. Quinton de Kock and Neil McKenzie chipped in with forties while Jean Symes struck an unbeaten 32. Titans’ chase stuttered at the start and they were soon reduced to 70 for 5. Farhaan Behardien kept them going with 48 off 26 but Chris Morris led a successful defence with 4 for 24 as Titans were restricted to 147 for 9.Richard Levi cracked nine boundaries in his 61 as Cape Cobras easily completed their chase of 157 against Knights for the loss of only four wickets in Paarl. By the time Levi was dismissed for 61 off 32, Cobras were already on 97 in the tenth over. Dane Vilas and Justin Kemp finished the job with an unbroken 55-run stand as Cobras won in the 19th over. Knights’ innings of 156 for 7 was a collection of wasted starts as no batsman made more than 31. Obus Pienaar began with two sixes but fell for 22 off 11 to Brad Hogg. Hogg and Alistair Gray picked up two wickets each for Cobras.Dolphins suffered their fourth washout in a row as their game against Warriors was abandoned without a ball being bowled in East London.

For all their style Somerset are so often grateful for the substance of Nick Compton

George Dobell at Edgbaston13-Apr-2012
ScorecardNick Compton played a crucial hand to keep Somerset’s second innings afloat•Getty ImagesWhen the good people of Somerset come to renew their county memberships it is, no doubt, largely in the hope of watching the likes of Trescothick and Trego, Hildreth and Buttler, Kieswetter and Gayle. Each one of them is an exciting stroke maker and the sort of player that marketing types refer to as ‘box office’.For all their style, though, Somerset are so often grateful for the substance of Nick Compton. Here, as so often before, he provided foundations for an innings that could so easily have faltered. Somerset are still on the back foot in this game, but without Compton’s defiance, Warwickshire might have won already.That is not to say that Compton is an unattractive player. But, while several of his colleagues are liable to make Somerset followers gasp – and not always for the right reasons – Compton allows them to relax. Last year he averaged 56.11 in the Championship and was the only man at the club apart from Trescothick to pass 1,000 runs. In a team full of Sehwags, he is the Trott.Compton is in golden form at present. Having scored a century in a pre-season warm-up game against Glamorgan, he made a double century against Cardiff MCCU followed by 99 in the first Championship match against Middlesex. Here, taking advantage of improving batting conditions, he was watchful in defence, accumulated patiently and put away the bad ball without fuss. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? But nobody else on either side has managed it with such calm assurance.Neither side have taken their opportunities in this game. Having bowled out Somerset cheaply, Warwickshire, resuming 36 behind and with seven wickets in hand, were unable to take their chance to establish a dominant position. Varun Chopra, who received his county cap on the first day and was watched by national selector Geoff Miller on the second, never settled and edged an outswinger to slip, while the middle-order’s attempt to be positive backfired. Miller cannot have been overly impressed by the Craig Kieswetter’s tally of 17 byes, either.Somerset had chances, too. Had Steve Kirby, in his follow through, been able to retain his footing, then he would surely have held on to the simplest of return catches to dismiss Keith Barker for 20 and limit Warwickshire’s lead to 61. As it was, Barker and Chris Wright eked out 47 runs for Warwickshire’s tenth wicket and extended the lead to 96 runs. It could yet prove vital.Then, just as Arul Suppiah and Compton were establishing a dominant position in a second-wicket stand of 86 – easily the highest of the game – they suffered a mix-up that resulted in both of them standing at the same end. Trescothick was undone once again by Barker’s swing and Hildreth was beaten by a beauty from Neil Carter, bowling around the wicket, that held its own and hit middle stump.As the conditions eased, though, Somerset settled. Compton, driving sweetly and cutting nicely, became the first man in the game to register a half-century. Warwickshire’s bowlers, failing to adapt to the altering conditions, conceded runs as they strove for the magic ball, allowing Compton to reach the milestone from just 61 deliveries. More importantly, Compton negated the movement by leaving well and displaying a compact, straight technique. They are not, perhaps, the most marketable qualities, but from Somerset’s perspective they are highly valuable.There is still plenty in this pitch for the bowlers. Jeetan Patel, finding sharp turn, bowled Kieswetter through the gate in the dying minutes of the game to suggest that, with a lead of 200 and George Dockrell in their side, Somerset could yet win this game.

Based on the evidence of two days in Barbados, the adjustment to life on Caribbean pitches will take rather more time for Australia’s batsmen than it has for the bowlers

Daniel Brettig in Barbados03-Apr-2012ScorecardNathan Lyon showed he was a quick learner by improving on his first innings display•Getty ImagesBased on the evidence of two days in Barbados, the adjustment to life on Caribbean pitches will take rather more time for Australia’s batsmen than it has for the bowlers.Michael Clarke’s top six stuttered notably in their first longer form examination on a bone-dry surface at the Three Ws Oval, before the fast and slow men showed they were adapting swiftly to the demands of the region by routing the WICB President’s XI.It was a source of some interest that the two batsmen not expected to play in the first Test, Peter Forrest and Peter Nevill, offered the most accomplished innings, while Clarke and Ricky Ponting stayed only briefly.Ed Cowan and Shane Watson had been accounted for on the first evening, while David Warner, Michael Hussey and Matthew Wade will play at Kensington Oval after being rested here.The spin of Ryan Austin and Nkrumah Bonner posed numerous problems, an omen for the West Indies’ likely tweaker Devendra Bishoo, and from 81 for 2 the visitors subsided to 214 for 9 in reply to 201 when Clarke declared. Bonner’s leg breaks are not of the same standard as Bishoo’s, which were hidden from Australia’s view during the limited overs matches.That left Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Lyon to carve up the hosts between them for 98 in the afternoon. Lyon’s spell was among the more telling passages of the day, showing how quickly he was capable of learning after an indifferent first innings and likely heading off any claims Michael Beer had on the spin berth.Bowling a little more quickly than on the first day but not lapsing into anything too short or flat, he had the ball spitting treacherously from the surface and nabbed four wickets after Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson had snipped the top off the batting order.Ponting and Clarke had resumed comfortably, and a few crisp strokes in the first half-hour, not least the captain’s punched pull shots from Nelon Pascal, suggested a languid day. However Clarke would then fall victim to a tidy spell from Kevin McLean, who tucked up both batsmen then offered a wider delivery that Clarke swished at and edged behind.The left-armer Delorn Johnson’s action makes little use of his leading arm, but he did not appear to need it in a sturdy stint at the bowling crease that accounted for Ponting, snicking a ball angled across him to depart for 13. The wicketkeeper Nevill demonstrated the compact technique that had served him well over the domestic summer, adding 49 with Forrest in a combination that not so long ago would have been a common sight at a NSW second XI fixture.Nevill’s stay was ended when he tried to cut a leg break from Bonner and touched it on the way through to Baugh, who gathered the chance at the second attempt. Bonner and Austin weaved something of a web around the middle order and tail, varying their degree of turn while maintaining an accurate line on the dustiest of strips.Peter Siddle was lbw to Bonner on the sweep, Harris went the same way propping forward, before James Pattinson and Hilfenhaus succumbed to off breaks from Austin. At the other end Forrest was playing a neat, unhurried innings after negotiating a handful of short balls early on, and with the last man Lyon he took the tourists into the lead.Hilfenhaus wasted little time when the Australians bowled again, finding Kieran Powell very lbw when the ball failed to bounce as he expected. No. 3 Bonner was undone by a lack of pace off the pitch, closing the face of his bat too early and deflecting to backward point where Cowan held an athletic catch.Pattinson rumbled in after tea and removed Devon Smith’s off stump as the batsman played around a fast delivery, and Lyon made a useful start to his stint by coaxing Devon Thomas into a wild dance down the pitch that ended with the stumps being tilted back.Lyon’s fourth over would reap two more wickets, Kyle Corbin miscuing a sweep to Clarke running across from slip, and Dwayne Smith squeezing a catch to short leg when an off-break jumped at him. Hilfenhaus was denied the wicket of Jason Holder when Ponting claimed a low catch but the umpires indicated a bump ball off the bat.Ponting’s visible frustration was assuaged as the final four wickets went down rapidly, Hilfenhaus on a hat-trick when he whirred successive deliveries into the pads of McLean and Johnson, only for Pascal to play and miss at the next. Siddle claimed him, leaving Cowan and Watson to collect 30 of the 86 runs required for victory.

Cheteshwar Pujara, the captain of India A’s squad that will play in the West Indies in June, has said that he used the time spent on the sidelines for Royal Challengers Bangalore during the IPL to do his homework for the tour

ESPNcricinfo staff29-May-2012Cheteshwar Pujara, the captain of India A’s squad that will play in the West Indies in June, has said that he used the time spent on the sidelines for Royal Challengers Bangalore during the IPL to do his homework for the tour.Pujara had played only three matches for Royal Challengers this season and, he said, he had used the opportunity to seek the advice of the more illustrious names in the Bangalore camp on how best to cope with the pitches in the Caribbean. “I might not have played for RCB in the last month and a half, but I was working really hard at the nets,” Pujara told . “Since this is my first tour of the West Indies, I was keen on doing a bit of homework.”I spoke to AB (de Villiers) about the wickets there and also on my batting. He gave me some good tips on subtle adjustments in batting. RCB coach Venkatesh Prasad also told me that apart from Kingston, the pitches at other venues would be on a slower side, which would suit our batsmen.”Pujara said that having experienced players in the squad will stand them in good stead against West Indies. “Most of us have played for the A team on overseas tours, so we have that requisite experience,” he said. “I don’t feel any pressure. Rather than pressure of performing, it is a big motivation to play for India A as any good performance at this level will be noticed.”Pujara, who is touted to be a leading Test prospect for India, has been trying to work his way back into national contention after prolonged layoff following a knee injury sustained during the 2011 IPL. He said that he has already proved he’s match-fit before flying to the West Indies. “I won’t say that it’s like starting from zero. After coming back from injury, I had played four Ranji Trophy matches as well as in the Duleep Trophy. I have also played a few matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore.”India A will play three four-day matches, three one-day matches and two Twenty20s on the tour, which begins in Barbados on June 2.Edited by Carlyle Laurie

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, while praising the effort of Thisara Perera, who swung the fourth ODI Sri Lanka’s way with a hat-trick, said a lot of credit should go to Lasith Malinga for setting it all up

Sa'adi Thawfeeq17-Jun-2012Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, while praising the effort of Thisara Perera, who swung the fourth ODI Sri Lanka’s way with a hat-trick, said a lot of credit should go to Lasith Malinga for setting it all up. Pakistan needed 78 to win from 76 deliveries with eight wickets in hand when Malinga dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq for 57 to trigger a collapse which had them crumbling from 166 for 2 to 179 for 9.”Lasith gave us that momentum. A couple of overs of aggressive bowling put them on the back foot and created a bit of doubt in their minds,” Jayawardene said. “Lasith triggered it off and [Nuwan] Kulasekera picked up Umar [Akmal] so those two senior bowlers did the damage upfront and then Thisara came and bowled probably one of the best overs I’ve seen. He needed a bit of luck but at the same time he put the ball in the right areas to create those opportunities. It was a great team effort. I am very proud of the boys.”Jayawardene said the game could have gone either way when Pakistan took the batting Powerplay at the start of the 36th over at 152 for 2. “It’s tough for the batsman to go after the batting Powerplay. You have to take calculated risks and try and get some momentum with the field up,” Jayawardene said. “I knew that either we could lose the match in the 45th over or we could get 2-3 wickets and get back into the game. It went our way and the bowlers should take credit. In that situation they put their hands up and bowled well.”Jayawardene welcomed the return to form of his former captain Kumar Sangakkara who scored a fluent 97 following a string of low scores. After a slow start, Sangakkara benefited from a dropped catch to dominate the 110-run fourth-wicket partnership with Jayawardene. “I am not too worried about Kumar’s performances because I know that when he struggles for a couple of games he is much hungrier for big runs. He is definitely sure to get one big but the wicket played a part in it. It was a bit slow so it took him some time to get going. Once Kumar and myself got together I just told him, ‘let’s try and take the bowlers on’ because we had to push the run-rate. Once we got that momentum both of us batted really well.””It’s about understanding each other’s game. It was important that in the first 20-30 overs we didn’t lose too many wickets. Kumar did that pretty well but when three wickets fell around him he had to hold back but when he wanted to go he went. It was a very good team effort a lot of guys took responsibility in different situations and performed well.”

The Sydney Thunder have secured two of the biggest names in Twenty20 cricket, with Chris Gayle set to return for the side this year, alongside the Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-2012The Sydney Thunder have secured two of the biggest names in Twenty20 cricket, with Chris Gayle set to return for the side this year, alongside the Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi. Gayle was the major drawcard for the Thunder last summer, when he topped their run tally with 252 at an average of 42, and the presence of Afridi alongside him will be cause for concern among opposition attacks.Last season, the Thunder chose Fidel Edwards as their second overseas player but they have opted to go with two powerful batsmen this season. Afridi turned out for the Melbourne Renegades last season and his results with the bat were disappointing, but his ten wickets made him the team’s leading wicket taker.The Thunder were the only side not to name 14 squad members by last Friday, having been granted an extension by Cricket Australia, and they believe the delay was worth the wait. Having finished on the bottom of the table last summer, there is plenty of work ahead of the Thunder this year but Gayle is pleased to be back despite the side’s results last year.”I am really happy to have re-signed with the Thunder,” Gayle said. “After my experience last year, I always wanted to return. I love Sydney, so I cannot wait to get amongst the guys again. The Thunder squad is looking good with a solid mix of youth and experience.”Afridi said he was looking forward to joining the Thunder, his third Australian domestic T20 side after South Australia and the Renegades. “I am looking forward to playing in Sydney for the Thunder and helping them earn the bragging rights in the city over the Sixers,” Afridi said.

Jeetan Patel, the New Zealand offspinner, has said his side can ‘fight’ and come back in the Hyderabad Test

Abhishek Purohit in Hyderabad24-Aug-2012Jeetan Patel, the New Zealand offspinner, has said his side can “fight” and come back in the Hyderabad Test despite needing another 133 runs to avoid the follow-on with all the specialist batsmen dismissed.”We have got the opportunity tomorrow,” Jeetan said. “Face the music, and fight – what we know the best. The best thing about the Kiwi cricketers is we know how to fight. We have been in a lot of situations where we had to fight. Tomorrow is a good chance for the guys to get back in.”While Jeetan was hopeful of a comeback, R Ashwin, his India counterpart, said the home side would have an eye on enforcing the follow-on if New Zealand were to get dismissed early tomorrow.”With respect to how the wicket is behaving and it being a little bit cloudy, I think we should be looking to bowl twice and get the job done,” Ashwin said.The pitch did not deteriorate much on the second day but there was a lot of bounce and some turn for the India spinners. Patel said New Zealand were expecting the pitch to behave the way it did. “I think the wicket has changed a little bit. But it’s still slow and low with the seamers. It is taking more turn, probably a little more than we expected, such as an under-prepared wicket, and we expected that.”Despite knowing that, New Zealand could not handle the Indian spinners, losing Martin Guptill to Ashwin’s first delivery and Brendon McCullum to Pragyan Ojha’s third ball. Ashwin and Ojha claimed all five New Zealand wickets to fall today. “It is disappointing. It’s as simple as that,” Jeetan said. “They bowled some good balls and we nicked them. That is what happens in cricket. It’s tough. It was always going to be a hard tour for us bowling first up on a wicket that does not help you.”Not that Jeetan did badly when he bowled. India usually target the opposition spinner, but Jeetan was difficult to get away, and ended with 4 for 100 in 41 overs. Bowling to a 6-3 on-side field right through, he restricted run-scoring opportunities, and three of his four wickets came when batsmen tried to hit out. With Daniel Vettori being New Zealand’s lead spinner, this is only Jeetan’s 14th Test since making his debut in 2006, and he spoke about making the most whenever he got the chance.”There aren’t too many opportunities when I get to play Test cricket, so when I do, I got to put my hand up. I want to contribute and get wins for us. Obviously, getting a four-for is nice but I will have to get more than that to get us over the line.”Jeetan said he had a made a few adjustments, both technical and mental, and was now enjoying his game more. “A couple of years ago, I made a couple of changes to my action and my mental approach to the game is different now. I’m trying to enjoy a lot more the moments that I play as opposed to looking at it as if it is my last moment. That sort of mental attitude has put me in the forefront of what’s happening rather than what has happened. Getting an opportunity in county cricket [for Warwickshire] was very good for me. I needed four months of just bowling as many overs as I could.”

Stuart Thompson has been included in an otherwise experienced 15-member Ireland squad for the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Aug-2012Ireland squad for World Twenty20

William Porterfield (capt), Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Trent Johnston, Nigel Jones, Ed Joyce, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Max Sorensen, Stuart Thompson, Andrew White, Gary Wilson.

Uncapped 21-year-old allrounder Stuart Thompson has been included in an otherwise experienced 15-member Ireland squad for the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, in which only Thompson, Tim Murtagh and Max Sorensen haven’t played in a previous World Cup or World Twenty20. The team will be led by William Porterfield.Ireland Coach Phil Simmons said that representing Ireland will be a big opportunity for Thompson, who is part of the Ireland XI team that is currently playing South Africa A at home. “He’s done well at A team level and in the few senior games he’s played this year,” Simmons said. “It’s up to him to push and cement his place in the squad.”Simmons also expressed satisfaction at the composition of the team. “Everybody has been there before and knows what’s expected of them,” he said. “It’s good for the younger players who will learn how we do things and how we proceed at tournaments.”The Ireland squad will be without the services of John Mooney, who was ruled out because of a serious finger fracture. Simmons said that losing Mooney a day before team selection was a serious blow. “It’s disappointing for both John [Mooney] and the team. He’s suffered two finger injuries and this latest one won’t heal in time for the start of the tournament. He’s been a major part of the team for the last 3 or 4 years and it’s disappointing we have to go without him.”This will give others other an opportunity to push for his place and stake a claim. We have guys who can come in and fill the spot and if selected can hopefully fill the role of John Mooney.”Ireland are placed in Group B with Australia, whom they play on September 19 in Colombo, and West Indies.

With last year’s agonising disappointment in mind, Ashley Giles won’t be at peace until the Championship title is secured

George Dobell at New Road05-Sep-2012
ScorecardVarun Chopra fell five short of a double century•PA PhotosOn the face of things, Ashley Giles’ admission that the anxiety of his side’s Championship challenge is causing him sleepless nights might be somewhat surprising. After all, it will take something approaching a miracle to deny Warwickshire now.But, bearing in mind how close Warwickshire came to the title last year, the nerves of their director of cricket are understandable. Going into the final day of the 2011 campaign, Warwickshire required only seven wickets against Hampshire, who were already assured of relegation, to secure the Championship. On a slow and flat pitch, however, Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie batted with admirable resolution to deny them. It left Warwickshire bitterly disappointed and, as Giles had his first cup of tea at 1.30am on Wednesday morning, it was the pain of that disappointment that lingered on his mind.”It was pretty desperate,” Giles said on the second day of this game at New Road. “I wasn’t suicidal, but it was desperate, I think everyone in the team felt the same and it’s why we have driven so hard during the winter. It comes back sometimes. You are just driven to keep going, keep working hard and keep up the discipline and then you find yourself in this position as a result of all the hard work.”But my message to the team ahead of this game was: there is an opportunity; go and get it; don’t let it pass you by. Championships don’t come very often.”We talk a lot about legacy. For a long time we talked about the Warwickshire teams of the 1990s. But this is our chance to create our own history. It is about this team, not about what happened 20 years ago.”So yes, in the last few weeks I have had some trouble sleeping. There’s so much going on. There’s this; there’s the CB40. As soon as I wake-up I’m thinking about cricket.”There should certainly be no doubt about how much Giles – or his Warwickshire side – want this title. He won the Ashes in 2005 and played a part in teams that won Championship titles in 1995, when he played half the season, and 2004, when he played one game, but he admits this success would be “right up there” in terms of his achievements.”As a coach, winning the Championship is the ultimate,” Giles said. “The true test of a cricket team over a whole season is winning division one. And you see the guys who have won it as coach – Bob Woolmer and John Inverarity – and you think ‘that’s nice.’ That team of the 90s won so much. Maybe this would mean more.”I’m probably a far better coach now than I was two years ago. You learn from every experience and you move on. Let’s not talk about coaching England: I’ve always said I’d love to do it someday, but I’ve plenty to do here for now.”If – perhaps that should be when – Warwickshire do secure this title, they will have particular cause to thank Varun Chopra. The 25-year-old ensured a huge first innings lead by extending his overnight total to 195 and passing both 1,000 first-class runs and 1,000 Championship runs in the process. It is the second year in a row he has reached the landmark. Only two men, the Somerset pair of Nick Compton and James Hildreth, have scored more this season.He might have also made a decent case for a place on England’s Test tour of India. Geoff Miller, the national selector, was among those at New Road and, with England searching for a new opening batsman, cannot fail to have been impressed by the elegance of Chopra’s strokeplay. He cuts, pulls, drives and glances beautifully and, if one or two bowlers might fancy their chances against his high back-lift, it did Graham Gooch and Brian Lara little harm.Chopra survived a couple of chances – on 44 and 149 – when he flashed through the slips and will surely face far sterner challenges if he is promoted to the next level. Alan Richardson, whose figures are a travesty of justice after another wholehearted performance, tested him here, but few would pretend this is a daunting bowling attack. Three of the bowlers conceded more than four an over; the main spinner almost as much and the fielding became ragged.”Everyone knows what’s up for grabs,” Giles said. “And with no obvious candidate, there is an opportunity for someone. I’m pleased for him: he has scored 1,000 runs back-to-back. He still has some polishing to do, but when he is good, he is very good.”Warwickshire eventually extended their first innings lead to an eye-watering 411. Ian Blackwell and Keith Barker thumped the ball around New Road merrily, the latter hoping to persuade Warwickshire to offer him a longer-term deal. But this was barely competitive cricket. Worcestershire, tired and seemingly resigned to relegation, cut a dispirited sight.Worcestershire, requiring their highest Championship score of the season to avoid an innings defeat, started poorly. Phil Hughes, with negligible foot movement and scant regard for the situation, launched into a horrid slash in the second over that was well held at third slip, though Matt Pardoe and Daryl Mitchell then displayed far more resistance in adding 76 in 25 overs.Perhaps Chris Wright and, in particular, Keith Barker, failed to make the batsmen play as much as they might have done, but this was an encouraging partnership that spoke of the character and ability within the dressing room that hints at encouraging times ahead. Pardoe, cutting a long hop to cover, fell shortly before the close, but it is around such young men that the future of Worcestershire must be built.If they need any further encouragement, they need only consider the example of their near neighbours. In 2007, Warwickshire were relegated in both the first-class and limited-overs leagues and, with players leaving, the ground decaying and their coach sacked, the future looked grim. Transforming Worcestershire will not be easy but, with calm heads, some vision and good management, it can be done.