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Stats highlights from the final day of the Christchurch Test between Australia and New Zealand, where the visitors wrapped up a 2-0 series win

Bharath Seervi24-Feb-20160 Number of home Tests lost by New Zealand out of the 12 they had playedunder Brendon McCullum’s captaincy before this series. They lost both Tests in this series, thereby losing their first home series under him.7-0 Australia’s win-loss record in Tests under Steven Smith, in 11 Tests. They are yet to lost a Test under him since he started captaining in 2014-15. This 11-Test streak is also the longest for an Australia captain before his first defeat. Warwick Armstrong had not lost any of his ten Tests as Australia captain.10 Successive Tests by Australia in New Zealand without a defeat. Their last loss was in 1992-93 in Auckland. Since then they have won nine of ten Tests.2010-11 The last time New Zealand lost two or more consecutive home Tests before this. They had lost two Tests to Australia and then to Pakistan in three consecutive home matches in 2010-11.8 Instances of two Australia batsmen scoring a century and another fifty-plus score in the same Test. In this Test, Joe Burns made 170 and 65 and Steven Smith 138 and 53 not out. Among the eight such instances, three have come in 2015-16. Burns and David Warner had done it against New Zealand in Brisbane, Usman Khawaja and Smith against West Indies at the MCG. The only other previous instance by Australia batsmen against New Zealand was in 1973-74, when Ian Chappell and Greg Chappell scored centuries in both innings in Wellington.80.54 Combined average of Australia’s top-five batsmen this season – the highest for them in any season. This is also the highest for any side in a season playing five or more Tests. The 19 centuries from these batsmen in 2015-16 is the second highest for a team in any season. There were 20 centuries from Australia’s top-five in 2005-06.2 Instances of a team’s top five scoring 500-plus runs each in a season at an average of 50-plus. Australia’s top five this season – Burns, Warner, Khawaja, Smith and Voges – have all scored 500 or more at average of more than 50. In 2003-04, South Africa’s Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolf, Jacques Kallis and Gary Kirsten had done the same.28 Smith’s average in the fourth innings of Tests before his unbeaten 53. He had scored just 252 runs in 10 innings with two fifties. His unbeaten 53 has raised his fourth-innings average to 33.88. He averages 88.08 in the first innings of Tests, 47.30 in the second and 45.55 in the third.161.50 Adam Voges’ average in the 2015-16 season, scoring 969 runs in 11 innings with four centuries. It is the third-highest average for a batsman scoring 500 or more in a season. The top two averages are both by Don Bradman: 201.50 in 1931-32 and 178.75 in 1947-48.2 Instances of two batsmen averaging 100 or more while scoring 500 or more in a season for a team. Along with Voges, Khawaja has also ended the season with average in excess of 100, scoring 713 runs. The only previous such instance for a team was in 1982-83 for Pakistan, when Mudassar Nazar scored 959 at 106.55 and Zaheer Abbas 919 at 114.87. There have been other instances of two batsmen from different teams doing this in a season: Sunil Gavaskar and Charlie Davis in 1970-71, Brian Lara and Hashan Tillakaratne in 2001-02, Alastair Cook and Jacques Kallis in 2010-11, and Mominul Haque and Ross Taylor in 2013-14.

When Kieron Pollard came out to bat, having already given RCB a foothold with the ball, the game could have gone either way; he made sure it was Mumbai’s with a dominant show on a tricky pitch

Deivarayan Muthu in Bangalore12-May-2016Kieron Pollard is among the most powerful finishers in the world. Mumbai Indians’ batting coach Robin Singh had recently said that Pollard’s role is to give the opposition the “jitters”. When he walked out to bat at 79 for 3 in Bangalore on Wednesday night, it might have been his team experiencing the jitters, with their asking rate having climbed to 10.42 in a chase of 152. That might have been stroll on an easy-paced, hit-through-the-line Chinnaswamy surface. But here they were presented with a slow surface that offered grip even to the new ball.Pollard had found that grip as well, earlier in the evening, in the only over he bowled – the 18th of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s innings. But he had become too predictable, sending down slower ball after slower ball, and leaked 22 plus a leg bye. This meant that the hosts boosted their total to 151 for 4 from 98 for 4 in 15.3 overs.But Pollard recovered from that onslaught with one of his own. He finished the match for Mumbai with an unbeaten 35 off 19 balls. Twenty minutes before his 29th birthday, Pollard was celebrating in the middle with Jos Buttler.This was still anyone’s game when Mumbai were 84 for 3 in 14 overs. Shane Watson, Royal Challengers’ in-form bowler who had three overs left at that point, bowled the 15th over. He marginally missed his yorkers and offered width, and Pollard clouted a flat six over long-on and followed it with a punchy drive to the right of sweeper cover for four.AB de Villiers claimed a stunning catch in the 16th over to get rid of Ambati Rayudu for 44 off 47 balls, but that did not stop Pollard from attacking Watson again to grab hold of the game. Having ducked under a loopy bouncer, which was called a wide, Pollard launched a full ball over long-off for his 400th six in T20s off the first legal ball of the 17th. He then sliced and whipped Watson for successive fours to bring the equation down to 26 off 18 balls. Pollard had flayed 26 off 10 balls from Watson to take the pressure off Buttler, who later showed off his hitting range as well.Things did not go quite as well with the ball for Pollard. When Rohit Sharma eventually turned to him, both fine leg and third man were inside the circle and Pollard dropped hints that he was going to bowl slower balls or cutters. His first ball was floated outside off at 105kph and KL Rahul, having waited for the ball to arrive, swatted it over square leg for six. Rahul deflected the next one off his pads for one and then Sachin Baby threw his bat too early at a cutter for a dot. He adjusted, waited more patiently for the next two balls and clubbed them both for sixes. Baby capped the over by pulling a short, slower ball to the square-leg boundary. Pollard was left seething, but then he redeemed himself with the bat.Mumbai will want him to do more of the same with the bat and better with the ball as the tournament reaches its climax. Before this game, Pollard had hit a 17-ball half-century against Kolkata Knight Riders, but by the time he had come in Rohit’s own half-century had already ensured that game was Mumbai’s. He has had little else to contribute this season, with 168 runs in nine innings and having conceded 81 runs from six overs.That his bowling and fielding have not been at full tilt is perhaps because he is returning from a lengthy injury lay-off; a knee injury ended Pollard’s Ram Slam T20 Challenge last year and then forced him out of the subsequent Big Bash League and World T20. He will know that Mumbai also have Corey Anderson, who could be similarly unstoppable with the bat if he gets going and perhaps offers more with the ball than Pollard. The New Zealand allrounder has been on the sidelines for all 11 Mumbai games so far. Pollard will know he needs to find more consistency to keep justifying his place in the XI. With the bat on Wednesday, he did state a solid case to stick with him.

Going into the tri-series opener against West Indies, South Africa may need to choose between Chris Morris and Wayne Parnell for one spot in their eleven

Firdose Moonda02-Jun-2016As much as Chris Morris enjoyed “connecting” with his South African team-mates on their first assignment together in two months, he also issued a warning to one of them: Wayne Parnell, his chief competitor for a place in the starting XI. Morris and Parnell are the two pace-bowling all-rounders in the current squad and there is likely to be space for only one of them to take the field and Morris made it clear he wants that one to be him.”It’s quite a big responsibility to be the all-rounder in the team,” Morris said. “It’s an opportunity I am trying to grab with two hands. I am trying to grab it and go because it’s what I want to do.”Morris was South Africa’s preferred allrounder at the World T20 after eye-catching performances in the limited-overs matches against England in February. He single-handedly kept South Africa in the ODI series with a swashbuckling 62 in Johannesburg and he hopes his batting could set him apart. “I have put a lot of hard work on especially my batting,” Morris said. “I look at it as an exciting phase of my career. I am at an age where I think I can cement my spot and it’s an opportunity to do it so I am going to give it my all.”At 29, Morris is three years older than Parnell and he is also ahead in game-time terms. While Parnell has been at home in April and May, Morris has been toiling at the IPL, where he justified his million-dollar deal. “The IPL was one a good one personally,” he said. “It’s a good place to learn more about yourself as a person and as a cricketer. It was a very good year for me. I will take a lot of confidence out of the IPL.”Morris’ Delhi Daredevils finished third from bottom on the IPL table after winning as many of their 14 matches as they lost. Morris played in 12 of those and was their leading wicket-taker with 13 scalps at 23.69 and also did his bit with the bat. Morris finished as Delhi’s fifth run-scorer with 195 runs at 65.00 which included an unbeaten 32-ball 82.Still, Morris admitted the international game was “a different animal,” and that it would take more than a few strong performances in a T20 competition to succeed in making the step up. “I have never been [in the West Indies] before,” he said. “It’s going to take a couple of overs to adjust.”Neither has Parnell, which could leave South Africa with an interesting choice of who to include. For all Parnell’s recent inactivity, he has fought his way back to into the national side with strong performances in the 50-overs format for his franchise, the Cobras. He was their highest wicket-taker, and third highest overall in the domestic one-day cup and his coach Paul Adams said he has “never seen Wayne play better.”

Ben Stokes has been the difference between England and Bangladesh in conditions where he has not always prospered

George Dobell22-Oct-2016England’s problem child has grown up.The kid who was sent home from a Lions tour, the kid who missed a World T20 after smashing his hand on a locker has matured – or, at least, is well on the way to maturing – into the player his talent promised he might be. In Ben Stokes, England have a gem.There will be those who look at the scorecard of this match, shrug and say: “But it was only Bangladesh.”And it is true that there were moments – such as during their first innings collapse – when Bangladesh’s lack of experience in Test cricket was obvious. England’s record against them – they have, to date, won all eight of the Tests they have played against one another – hardly reflects the narrowing gap between these two sides.But in these conditions, the margin is not very big at all. And in this game, it has been defined by Stokes. Having produced an outstanding spell of bowling to help take Bangladesh’s last six wickets for the addition of just 27 runs, he then contributed perhaps the most mature innings of his Test career to date.True, he didn’t turn it into a century. And true, it wasn’t as eye-catching or awe-inspiring as his centuries at Perth, Lord’s or Cape Town.But while all those surfaces offered, to greater or lesser degree, the pace and bounce on which Stokes naturally feasts, this innings was compiled in conditions in which he has often struggled.

We knew Stokes had talent: we knew he was strong; that he could thrash sixes and bowl bouncers. But he hasn’t always looked an intelligent, adaptable cricketer

Slow, low and offering help to the spinners, it was the sort of surface on which Stokes has often thrashed like a drowning man and given it away in infuriating fashion. Remember the dismissals in Grenada and Abu Dhabi: caught on the mid-wicket fence. Or the dismissals in Antigua or Abu Dhabi: charging down the pitch in desperation and missing.Bangladesh tried to entice him into similar mistakes here. But where once he would have tried to thrash his way to a decent score, here he played like a Test batsman. Where once he had no confidence in his defensive technique, here he gave himself a chance to succeed by playing himself in, defending when necessary, rotating the strike and still putting away the poor ball with that brutal power that has become customary.There were three sixes in this innings, but he no longer has boundary options alone; he has the ability, the technique and temperament to build an innings. Not satisfied with being a middle-order biffer – the sort of role that some, like Shahid Afridi, settled into a little too readily – he has combined his talent with an impressive determination to work hard and keep improving. He is well on his way to being England’s best all-rounder since Ian Botham.There will be those who point to his averages – the batting average is under 35; the bowling average over – and wonder what all the fuss is about. But if you judge everything on averages, you make some very average judgments.Stokes is a cricketer who, with bat, ball and in the field, is capable of altering games in circumstances where few can. Each one of his Test centuries might reasonably be described as “great;” he has taken some catches – remember Trent Bridge, 2015 – that few could and his bowling here defied a slow pitch to change the course of this game.In brutal conditions in which other seamers operated in three (or even one) over spells, Stokes started the day with a six-over spell of sustained skill and hostility. On a surface on which other seamers struggled to get the ball above hip height, he had batsmen jumping and sparring. And in an environment in which other seamers had to be content with cutters and slower balls, he swung the ball sharply.With his strength, his skill and his determination, he has developed into a huge asset to England as a bowler. If he couldn’t bat to save his life, Stokes may still be an international cricketer.Some aspects of this will be of no surprise. We knew Stokes had talent: we knew he was strong; that he could thrash sixes and bowl bouncers. But he hasn’t always looked an intelligent, adaptable cricketer. He hasn’t always had the subtlety to complement his raw ability. But now that he has the skill to harness the reverse swing and now that he is learning to adapt to the slow surfaces on which he will probably have to play half his career, he is developing into something quite special.Ben Stokes followed his wickets with a mature innings•AFPEngland missed him when he was injured. It wasn’t just his on-field influence, either. The team management felt the dressing-room environment at The Oval, when Pakistan defeated them to level the Test series, was a little too quiet; a little too passive. Stokes’ belief, energy and determination play a huge part in driving this team forward.As Paul Farbrace said a couple of weeks ago: “Stokes is a leader, wherever he goes, people want to go with him. He’s loved being vice-captain on this tour. But vice-captain or not, he is a leader, and people follow him and want to know where he is going, whether he’s going out for dinner, when he’s practising.”The England management deserve some credit here. For many months now, they have done everything they can to make Stokes feel valued and appreciated.It would have been perfectly reasonable to demote him to No. 7 in the order here or to leave him out of the limited-overs sides. Instead they given him responsibility – he was vice-captain of the ODI side on this tour – and security in his roles. Knowing his value and seeing his potential, they have invested heavily in him. Aged 25, he should be able to repay them for several years.Don’t discount that New Zealand influence, either. His father, Ged Stokes, was a rugby league player and coach who famously had a finger amputated when he couldn’t wait for it to recover from a bad break. The son has inherited the father’s determination and spirit.There’s more than a little Brendon McCullum about the way he lifts this England team: he might have made a decent All Black had he stayed in New Zealand.None of this disguises the fact that England’s top-order failed again. Again and again over the last couple of years, England’s middle-order has rescued them after poor starts. While their sixth-wicket averages 83 in 2016, their next-best partnership is 53 for the seventh-wicket. That is fine, up to a point. But if England are to beat they best, if they are to win in Australia or in India, they will need the top-order to contribute far more often.This game isn’t won yet, either. What we have learned so far in this match is that, after the first 30 overs or so, the ball becomes quite soft and the slow pace of the wicket partially negates the turn on offer. Bangladesh scored 331 in the fourth innings here against England in 2010 and lost, while New Zealand scored 317 for 7 to win in the fourth innings here in 2008.As a result, spinners are more dangerous with the new ball, when some deliveries turn sharply and others skid on, and seamers come into their own only if they can find some reverse. In that regard, England are well-served with Stokes. He has enjoyed an outstanding 24 hours or so, but his work is not yet done.

For a generation of cricketers who grew up not knowing where they would ply their wares, due to a 16-year battle against the system, the time is now

Shashank Kishore04-Oct-2016If you were to ask someone even remotely connected to one of several cricket academies that have sprung up across Raipur about Vishal Kushwaha, it’s unlikely you will come back without hearing stories of how he has destroyed several bowling attacks during inter-district matches in Chhattisgarh over the last five years.Local journalists, who have covered Kushwaha during his Under-25 days, remember him nonchalantly flicking Umesh Yadav for sixes at the old VCA ground in Nagpur on several occasions. During one such knock, against Vidarbha XI in 2012, he was identified by talent scouts from Kings XI Punjab. “I thought there was some hope,” Kushwaha recollects. “But I was shocked by what I saw at the trials.”Kings Cup, a tournament organised by the franchise, consisted of four teams made up of shortlisted players. Kushwaha batted a handful of deliveries in a rain-affected game. He didn’t bowl or field. Three days later, he was asked to head home. The reason: he didn’t come from a “state that played cricket”.”They asked me how many first-class and List A matches I’ve played. I told them Chhattisgarh still doesn’t have affiliation, so I haven’t played any. I was immediately asked to leave and come back when I had played ‘recognised cricket’. Was it my fault? No. They picked me for the trials, they called me, and they sent me back.”That wasn’t it. Kushwaha was in for similar treatment from Delhi Daredevils. “Shortlisted, but again they asked me the same questions,” he says. “It made me wonder if talent scouting is about ability or which association you play for. That is when the gravity of the situation hit me. I contemplated giving up the game at 25.”It was only after employment with the Account General’s office as an accountant in Raipur – he completed his commerce degree in a bid to forge a parallel path – did he rethink his decision to quit cricket. For now, it’s a decision he’s happy with and hopes to play for “seven or eight” seasons.In many ways, Kushwaha’s frustration at being overlooked because of the system reflected the mood around the game in Chhattisgarh.

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Between 2000 and 2008, upcoming cricketers would hit a dead end by the time they were 15 or 16. With little help from the association, which was grappling with several issues – lack of funding, affiliation woes – players were left to fend for themselves.Jalaj Saxena, who learnt his early cricket in Bhilai where his father was employed, moved to Indore along with his brother Jatin for better prospects. He has since established himself as a reliable allrounder in domestic cricket. Harpreet Singh, member of India’s Under-19 team at the 2010 World Cup now plays for Madhya Pradesh, having moved from Durg.Sahil Gupta shifted to Baroda to pursue the game. It was only after the confirmation of Chhattisgarh’s status as full member that he returned. Sumit Ruikar, employed by the Accountant General’s office in Chhattisgarh during the off-season, played his cricket in Nagpur. They were part of a fortunate group who were able to play elsewhere.Now with the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) receiving full membership from the BCCI, three years after their five-year qualification period ended, cricketers looking to take up the game perhaps may not suffer the frustration that threatened to derail careers of those who couldn’t afford to shift outside the state.

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A crisscross of Raipur talking cricket is met with philosophical undertones when asked about Chhattisgarh’s Ranji Trophy debut this season.”,” [This is the reward for hardwork] Rajesh Dave, secretary of the CSCS, says of their elevation, which has arrived after a battle that lasted 16 years.”It’s not like just those who travel with their kit bags in crowded trains from Kandivali and Thane to Churchgate to play cricket struggle. Ours has been a big struggle too,” says a local cricketer, trying to fit in to the system despite being branded an “outsider” by the very state that once nurtured his talent.”,” [Cricket has made us cry. Going forward, it will just be the passion that will drive us] Kushwaha says. He was regarded as the face of Chhattisgarh cricket, until Amandeep Khare rose through the age-group structure to become the first cricketer from the state to represent the country – at the Under-19 level.Chhattisgarh players in a buoyant mood at training•Shashank Kishore/ESPNcricinfo Ltd

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The ” (the fruit of labour) Dave, a former Madhya Pradesh player, refers to is the fight for affiliation from the BCCI since 2000, when Chhattisgarh was separated from MP. Two factions fighting for control led to Chhattisgarh cricket being in a state of flux.It was only in 2005, when Baldev Singh Bhatia, the current president, and Dave came together following reconciliation, that the seeds of recognition were sown. Sanjay Jagdale, the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association secretary, was a key member in the negotiations, according to Dave. Three years later, Chhattisgarh were granted associate status on account of “stability.” It meant they could participate in the age-group tournaments conducted for affiliates and associates.The first signs of promise came in 2009-10, when Chhattisgarh’s Under-19 side emerged champions of the Associates and Affiliate tournament. Then they repeated that feat in 2011-12 to earn a promotion to the plate league of the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy. In 2013-14, the Under-19 side finished third in their group. They narrowly missed qualification for semi-finals, but voices from within the board hinted at full membership in the “not-too-distant future.””The actual churn started around then,” Dave recalls. The association’s subsidy was increased from Rs 50 lakh to 75 lakh. With the team having already spent close to four years as an associate, there was a buzz that they could possibly become a full member in 2013. “Cricketers who were lost to the game started to return, while many other youngsters came forward,” Dave says.As heartening as it was to see the pool of cricketers widen, the CSCS was now faced with the challenge of having to build turf wickets across the districts, outside of Bhilai, the most established center in the state. From having only three turf wickets outside the steel city, they built 20 surfaces. The biggest challenge, however, was the absence of qualified coaches and trainers.Realising the need to put together a system, the association managed to rope in support staff for their functional academies in Raipur, Bhilai and Bilaspur. The funding came via grants from the state government and local industries.But the challenges continued. Trials would often be disrupted by violence – Chhattisgarh’s deep interior is still gripped with trouble from the Naxals – leading to the association’s inability to streamline talent. Camps would come to an abrupt halt, leaving academies teeming with aspirants being denied opportunities.”We had our own share of trouble, but it didn’t stop us from conducting inter-district tournaments to bring the best players to Raipur and train them,” Dave says. “A lot of them left out too, but we weren’t in a position to do much. We also had a financial crunch, but were fortunate to have received the patronage of the state government and the industries in this region for having helped us at a difficult time.”The Shaheed Veer Narayan Stadium in Chhattisgarh’s proposed administrative capital Naya Raipur is a state-of-the-art facility•Rachna Shetty/ESPNcricinfo LtdA key step towards Chhattisgarh’s realisation of being a full member was taken when the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium was slotted to host IPL matches in 2013. Completely funded by the state government, the stadium, for which work started in 2001, was inaugurated with Delhi Daredevils hosting Pune Warriors. A capacity of 55,000, which made it the second-biggest in India in terms of seating, a large outfield with 10 turf wickets, and state-of-the-art facilities meant the association could finally call something their own. Hosting the IPL and the now defunct Champions League T20 also brought in funds.A final seal of approval awaited them, but it proved a false dawn. The implications of the IPL spot fixing scandal of 2013 – with N Srinivasan being asked to step down as BCCI president – led to the issue being put on the backburner. Jagmohan Dalmiya’s death while in office in 2015 led to the issue being sidetracked again. In February 2016, CSCS finally received the “good news.”It brings a financial package that will be at par with all the other full members – Rs 20 crores annually – which the association wants to use to build residential academies in Raipur, Bhilai and Bilaspur, apart from developing a separate women’s wing.

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Till affiliation was received, players largely relied on government jobs through sports quota to continue playing the game in uncertain times. The less-fortunate cricketers were beneficiaries of industrial development in Chhattisgarh, known for its mineral wealth, steel plants and hydro-electric projects.One of them is Abhishek Darekar, a fast bowler, who impressed Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai in 2011. After playing league cricket in Chennai for a few seasons, he faded away. The joke among local cricketing circles is, if you don’t find cricketers on the field, chances are that they would be in the industries and factories near Raipur.For today’s generation, however, things are looking up, as epitomised by Khare’s rise. The 19-year-old batsman, who didn’t get a game during India’s Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, could have either been a revolutionary or a footnote. He considered moving states, along with the prospect of enrolling into an undergraduate science course from Delhi University on sports quota. Today, he is happy to have waited on the decision.”I was ready with my application, but in the same week, we got news of the affiliation,” Khare says. “My parents were supportive, but after the Under-19 World Cup, they were worried I’d hit a dead end like many other cricketers from this region. Fortunately now, that won’t be the case and they are much more relieved than I am.”Realising the need to fast-track their development ahead of their Ranji Trophy debut, CSCS appointed Sulakshan Kulkarni, the former Mumbai wicketkeeper, as the head coach for a three-year term. Kulkarni, who has been a part of six Ranji Trophy winning teams as a player and four as coach, the last of which came in 2012-13 under Ajit Agarkar’s captaincy for Mumbai, was returning to the domestic set-up for the first time since 2013-14.”Developing sides have nothing to lose,” Kulkarni says. “If you take one person to the next level, there’s a big lift within the group. So that’s why I wanted to work here. The background of Chhattisgarh was impressive. They have shown big improvement in in junior cricket, which is the heart of any association. Ranji Trophy is merely the face.”The face of this team will be Mohammad Kaif, the former India batsman who has moved from Andhra, and is the only professional cricketer within the set-up. At 35, the end may be closer, but Kaif knows a thing or two about captaincy, having led India to the Under-19 World Cup win in 2000, and then Uttar Pradesh to their only Ranji title till date, in 2005-06.Kulkarni, meanwhile, already has a road map in place. He says the passion he has seen among the local administrators is unparalleled. The need to give back to the game, as he calls it, has taken a completely different meaning.

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The drive from Raipur to the international stadium, 25km away, in Naya Raipur is a unique one. Congested main roads and narrow bylines dangling with wires on either side with movement of cows and cattle apart from a colony of rickshaws and street hawkers suddenly open up into an eight-lane expressway that has malls and scores of cranes coming up.Then after a stretch of nothingness emerges a majestic modern-day marvel out of nowhere. It somewhat mirrors the growth of cricket in Chhattisgarh – a steady rise, but not without its fair share of upheavals. For a generation of cricketers who grew up not knowing where they would ply their wares, the time is now.

The 2016-17 Women’s Big Bash League will be a consolidation chapter after the success of the inaugural tournament last year

Geoff Lemon and Adam Collins08-Dec-20166:11

‘Bigger, better Women’s Big Bash League season on the cards’

The principal drawback of success is that people then expect you to have more of it. Right now, the summer of 2016-17 is the ‘difficult second album’ stage for the Women’s Big Bash League. The inaugural edition a year ago was deemed to have exceeded expectations, but that’s not so difficult when no one knew what their expectations were. It drew good crowds, surprisingly strong television numbers, and provided a stage for some excellent young talent. Second time around, we might insist it’s a minimum requirement to have a legspinner ripping the ball a yard and a half in front of ten thousand at the ground and half a million on TV.In truth though this season is a consolidation chapter, all part of Cricket Australia’s long-term strategy to increase cricket’s inclusiveness for women and girls, raise the standard of the women’s game for spectators, and help that game support itself with revenue.Nonetheless, WBBL|02 is positioned to do well. Channel Ten has expanded its commitment to screen 12 games, including a prime-time evening match amongst four to be broadcast on the standalone opening weekend. That first carnival round will feature all eight teams across three days in Sydney, taking the spotlight a week before the men’s counterpart competition gets underway.The opening round aside, the WBBL schedule won’t be as crowded this year. Gone are the absurd rosters that saw some teams play twice in a day, though some games have moved to further-flung grounds to make the competition more accessible. Rooty Hill, Glenelg, Cranbourne or Albury might not be mentioned in the same breath as the WACA, Etihad Stadium or the SCG, but this season’s locales will range from the most illustrious to the most modest. And with free entry for all but the BBL double-headers, it couldn’t be much easier.Harmanpreet Kaur is new to the Thunder line-up•Getty ImagesSydney ThunderThe champs of WBBL|01 will defend their title in rude health, losing none of the firepower that won them the competition while adding Indian middle-order dynamo Harmanpreet Kaur. No player does more all-round damage in the women’s T20 game than West Indian Stafanie Taylor, returning to the Thunder after topping the runs and most wickets in England’s domestic competition mid-year, after holding aloft the World T20 trophy in April.Led by the always-calm Southern Stars mainstay Alex Blackwell, international experience is present via Rene Farrell’s seam and Erin Osborne’s spin. On top of that, the Thunder boast two youngsters who made it to the highest level after big tournaments last year, left-arm quick Lauren Cheatle and picket-clearing Naomi Stalenberg. With emerging talent like spinner Maisy Gibson also on their books, they have the matchwinners and depth to make winning a habit.Dane van Niekerk has joined the Sixers•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesSydney SixersThe pink side of Sydney flipped from competition duds to darlings last season. Facing the earliest possible elimination after losing six games, they went all Mighty Ducks to make the final after winning eight in a row to qualify for the semis. Luckily for the superstitious they’ve re-signed New Zealand international Sara McGlashan, the star of several of those wins, whose nerveless 79 not out took them into the finals from the last ball of the regular season.The bowling version of Ebenezer Scrooge also returns in South African opener Marizanne Kapp, and her national skipper Dane van Niekerk has been poached from the Renegades to bolster the middle order. A reasonably handy type you may have heard of named Ellyse Perry is floating about, along with spinner Lisa Sthalekar who continues her Warne-like practice of staving off retirement with occasional T20 appearances.Anya Shrubsole has signed with the Scorchers•Getty ImagesPerth ScorchersAnother side that has promised much more than delivered, the Scorchers immediately look weaker for losing England champion Charlotte Edwards and West Indies bludgeoner Deandra Dottin. But in adding Anya Shrubsole to her England opening partner Katherine Brunt, the best new-ball pair in international cricket now also lines up for Perth.Shrubsole’s arrival will be delayed due to injury, with England left-arm tweaker Rebecca ‘Reg’ Grundy taking her place for the opening four games. Batting responsibility falls on the shoulders of experienced trio Suzie Bates, Nicole Bolton and Elyse Villani. Bates is at the peak of her powers as New Zealand skipper – player of the match in the Super League final in England – while the latter pair are vastly experienced Australian openers. Like the Stars, and like last year, the Scorchers look great – on paper.Charlotte Edwards has moved to the Strikers this season•ICC/GettyAdelaide StrikersThe strain of elite women’s cricket can be seen in Adelaide’s ranks, with last year’s star England international Sarah Taylor on a break to deal with anxiety, and opening bowler Sarah Coyte recently opening up about her struggles with an eating disorder. Difficult as their experiences are, by speaking about them these women are providing help and reassurance for girls with similar issues.Another former England player, Charlotte Edwards, has switched from Perth in a swap for Lauren Ebsary, and will combine for batting stability with fellow recruit Sarah Elliott, the Test centurion arriving from the Renegades. Two young Strikers – leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington and all-rounder Tahlia McGrath – just made their ODI debuts for Australia, while swing bowler Megan Schutt is a national fixture. English import Tammy Beaumont is one of the biggest hitters in the game, and New Zealand’s Sophie Devine can match her for power. On balance, this might be the most exciting squad in the comp.Meg Lanning remains key for the Stars•Getty ImagesMelbourne StarsThere wasn’t a side in WBBL|01 that promised more but delivered less. A side led by the best player in the world in Meg Lanning, it made sense the Stars would waltz through the regular season and beyond. They didn’t. Foreign recruits underperformed, domestic players didn’t make the leap – especially with the bat. But they still have Lanning, and returning international Natalie Sciver is a cricketer reborn since last on these shores, evolving into a batsman capable of taking down attacks in a matter of overs in the revitalised England set up.Her national team-mate Danielle Hazell joins the squad as a temporary replacement while Australian first-choice leggie Kristen Beams recovers from a finger injury. Kiwi bowler Morna Nielsen was dominant last year, and powerful Australian bat Jess Cameron is making a comeback after a year away from the game. In short: the Stars have no excuses.The Renegades have lured Grace Harris from the Heat•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesMelbourne RenegadesThe team in red had a poor first season, scraping four wins in some scrappy affairs, though they did roll the Stars in their New Year’s game on live TV. Light on for batting, they’ve lured Australia’s biggest hitter in Grace Harris from Brisbane. But one batsman can’t carry a team, with diminutive placement player Danielle Wyatt and Kiwi wicketkeeper Rachel Priest the only noted willow-handlers alongside. Hiring the CEO’s daughter can’t hurt a club in the longer term, but we can’t expect 15-year-old Annabel Sutherland to generate more headlines than CA boss James.Molly Strano and Sophie Molineux, also known as Molly & Molly, could act as a mood enhancer if they land the pill right, but it’s been a major comedown losing South African tearaway Shabnim Ismail to a disciplinary suspension from her home board. If they keep their young team together, the Renegades can become something in seasons ahead, but this time around will likely be another struggle.Smriti Mandhana is on the Heat roster this year•Getty ImagesBrisbane HeatIn Brisbane last year they got hot fast, but cooled quicker, falling away badly when it mattered most. While the Heat have lost matchwinner Grace Harris in the off-season, stylish Indian bat Smriti Mandhana can replace her at the top of the list, while West Indian Deandra Dottin can clatter bowlers just as far.Beth Mooney’s consistency with the bat earned her a national call-up last summer, and she carried that on with a big century for Queensland in the WNCL. She’s a player they can and must build a batting line up around. With the ball, Holly Ferling’s burgeoning seniority in Australian ranks suggests she is ready to take a step up here, while Southern Stars all-rounder Jess Jonassen has the best straight drive in women’s cricket. On their day they’re formidable, they just have to ensure that day comes around more often.Corinne Hall provided some brilliance in the field for the Hurricanes last season•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesHobart HurricanesThe Moneyball side of the WBBL, the Hurricanes have no frills, no mystique and no Southern Stars. It’s indicative of domestic cricket’s power disparity that not a single national representative has chosen to represent Tasmania. But none of that stopped Hobart putting together an even outfit that most often got the job done, topping the table for much of last year and making the semi-finals.This was built on consistent contributions from low-wattage players like Erin Burns, Brooke Hepburn, and Corinne Hall, though the latter provided some brilliance in the field. That squad is almost unchanged, with wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne the lone inclusion. The team’s few international stars are England’s Heather Knight, who was top ten in the runs and wickets last year; Hayley Matthews, the West Indies teenager who destroyed Australia’s bowling to win the World T20; and Amy Satterthwaite, who starred for New Zealand with two ODI centuries less than a month ago.

Which players will fetch the big bids and which ones will get snubbed?

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2017

Stats highlights from Bangladesh’s convincing 90-run win against Sri Lanka in Dambulla

S Rajesh25-Mar-20175 Wins for Bangladesh in 39 ODIs against Sri Lanka – they have lost 33 while one was washed out. However, this is their first win when batting first; their previous four victories had all come in chases. This is also their second win against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, after the three-wicket triumph in Pallekele in 2013.324/5 Bangladesh’s total, their third-highest in ODIs, and their best away from home. Their two higher totals – 329 and 326 – have both come against Pakistan in Mirpur. This is their tenth 300-plus total, but their first in an away game against a higher-ranked team.90 The margin of victory, in terms of runs. Only once have they beaten one of the top eight teams by a larger margin, when they beat West Indies by 160 runs in Khulna in 2012.127 Tamim Iqbal’s score, the seventh-highest in ODIs for Bangladesh. Tamim features five times in the top eight ODI scores for Bangladesh.144 The partnership between Tamim and Shakib Al Hasan, which is Bangladesh’s fourth-best for the fourth wicket in all ODIs, and their best for any wicket against Sri Lanka. In fact, this is only their second century stand in ODIs against Sri Lanka: the previous one came almost 13 years ago in Colombo, when Manjural Islam Rana and Mohammad Ashraful added exactly 100 for the fifth wicket.14/8 Bangladesh’s win-loss record in ODIs since the 2015 World Cup, with five wins in seven series. Among teams which have played at least 20 ODIs during this period, only South Africa and England have a better win-loss ratio.9.25 Lahiru Kumara’s economy rate – he leaked 74 in eight overs. It is the worst economy rate for any bowler who has bowled eight or more overs in an ODI against Bangladesh. The previous worst was 8.50, by Mitchell McClenaghan, who went for 68 in eight.

Four Englishwomen, three Indians, three South Africans, and an Australian make up our team of the tournament

Shashank Kishore and Annesha Ghosh 24-Jul-2017.1. Laura Wolvaardt – 324 runs, average 64.80, strike-rate 68.21It’s possible that the 18-year old could consider medicine over cricket, but after showing promise in the Women’s World Cup, she could perhaps do a rethink. The composure, assurance, and maturity in her game shone through while she scored four fifties and remained unbeaten twice in seven innings for South Africa. She was technically correct – with a cover drive to feast one’s eyes on – and a livewire on the field.2. Tammy Beaumont – 410 runs, average 45.55, strike-rate 76.92One of the poster girls of the Mark Robinson era in England cricket, Beaumont quashed any remnants of her post-2014 World T20 self-doubt while plundering runs at the top of the order. She validated her role as opener, stitching up mammoth partnerships including stands worth 275 and 170 with Sarah Taylor and Natalie Sciver respectively. The outcome of her obstinacy at the crease? England won the World Cup at Lord’s, and Beaumont walked away with the Player-of-the-Tournament award in front of a sell-out crowd.3. Mithali Raj (capt) – 409 runs, average 45.44, strike-rate 70.15On the eve of the tournament, she made headlines with her assertive stand on the individuality of women’s cricket. On matchdays, she grabbed eyeballs, reading books as she waited for her turn to bat. When she did stride out to the middle, she stood out with fluent strokeplay and tactical nous as captain, as her side exceeded her pre-tournament belief that making the semi-finals was a “realistic dream”. The ultimate glory, in her fifth World Cup, slipped by, but there’s no doubting that Raj has woken up a young generation of women’s cricketers. She finished the tournament as its second-highest run-getter behind Beaumont .4. Harmanpreet Kaur – 359 runs, average 59.83, strike-rate 95.47; economy rate 5.25If one performance could define the extent to which the eleventh edition of the Women’s World Cup captured the public imagination, Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 171 in the semi-final against Australia did so. Harmonster, Harmanator, Kaur-ageous, Kaur-nage – the puns on social media were as plentiful as her boundaries: 20 fours and seven sixes. A lukewarm beginning to her campaign – she scored 77 in her first five innings – made way for three successive fifty-plus scores, giving India a real shot at a maiden title.Harmanpreet Kaur smashed the highest individual score in a Women’s World Cup knockout game•Getty Images5. Ellyse Perry – 404 runs, average 80.80, strike-rate 77.54; nine wickets, economy rate 4.60Perry’s stellar run in the tournament, with bat and ball, coincided with her leapfrogging Stafanie Taylor to become the world’s top-ranked allrounder. In the lead-up to the semi-final, Perry scored five consecutive half-centuries – the joint-most in the World Cup – and moved to a career-high ranking of No.3 among ODI batsmen. She was an unstoppable force in combination with Meg Lanning, and in her captain’s absence lent stability to the middle order. In addition, Perry routinely shared the new ball with Megan Schutt and made up for the lack of a third frontline quick in Australia’s XI.6. Sarah Taylor (wk) – 396 runs, average 49.50, strike-rate 99She endured a difficult 2016, pulling out of the game due to anxiety-related issues, but her return to the set-up ahead of the World Cup couldn’t have come at a better time for England. Spectacular behind the stumps – her stumping of Trisha Chetty in the semi-final against South Africa was among the most eye-catching moments of the tournament – and adventurous in front of it, she was the driving force behind England’s eight-match winning streak.7. Natalie Sciver – 369 runs, average 46.12, strike-rate 107.58She was born in Tokyo, played professional football as a child in Poland, and tried her hand at hockey and tennis before settling for cricket. The variety shows in her game too. Her ‘Natmeg’ – squeezing yorker-length deliveries between the legs and into the leg side – became an instant hit. Her utility in the team came to the fore in the final at Lord’s, where no other England batsman made more than her 51. She chipped in with her medium-pace as well, picking up seven wickets at 28.57 while conceding less than five runs an over.The Natmeg: one of the most enduring images from the Women’s World Cup•Getty Images8. Deepti Sharma – 216 runs, average 30.85; 12 wickets, economy 4.70In the run-up to the World Cup, Raj had equated the on-field tenacity of the 19-year-old Deepti Sharma to that of her own younger self. That Deepti finished as India’s highest wicket-taker in the tournament besides chipping in with two half-centuries, effecting run-outs and taking back-pedalling catches, was testament to her potential as a world-class allrounder in the making. She picked up match-winning three-wicket hauls in India’s tournament opener and semi-final, and dug in with the bat during a 137-run stand with Harmanpreet against Australia in the semi-final.9. Dane van Niekerk – 99 runs, average 19.80, strike-rate 70.71; 15 wickets, economy rate 3.46She marshalled South Africa to their first World Cup semi-final in 17 years on the back of three four-wicket hauls, including a record-breaking 4 for 0 against West Indies. If her legspin weren’t enough for the opposition to contend with, van Niekerk played dogged knocks in the middle order. Off the field, she took pride in her bowling attack for being the “best in the world”. On it, she led them with gusto, finishing atop the wickets charts while sharing laughs and tears in a memorable journey that culminated in a final-over elimination at the hands of England.Anya Shrubsole ripped the fight out of India in the final•Getty Images10. Marizanne Kapp – 13 wickets, economy rate 4.46Kapp combined with Shabnim Ismail to form what was perhaps the tournament’s most fearsome new-ball pair. Her bustling run-up, slingy action and late outswing cast doubts in the mind of the batsmen. When she was summoned to pick up wickets at difficult stages, she delivered, and her lower-order batting and athletic fielding also contributed to South Africa’s all-round strength.11. Anya Shrubsole – 12 wickets, economy rate 4.62Until the semi-final, she wasn’t the same threat England have known her to be. She wasn’t expensive, but six wickets in eight games suggested batsmen had found ways to negate her threat. But she stood tallest when it mattered most, her 6 for 46, the best figures in a World Cup final, ripping the fight out of India. Sixteen years ago, when her father Ian played in a club final at Lord’s, Shrubsole told him she would like to play at the ground too. On July 23, she did her father and her entire country proud.(12th man) Amelia Kerr – 10 wickets, economy rate 4.48While her Tawa College mates were busy taking mid-year exams in Wellington, Kerr redefined life goals for fellow 16-year-olds and delivered masterclasses in legspin. As New Zealand’s youngest representative at the World Cup, Kerr’s control with the ball was as impressive as her ability to soak up pressure. Even the likes of Meg Lanning, Beaumont and Sciver struggled to negotiate her deft changes in pace and wily wrong’uns.

Two new captains will face each other at Lord’s, but while Dean Elgar is just a stand-in, for Joe Root it is the beginning of his era of English cricket

George Dobell at Lord's05-Jul-2017So, Gary Ballance is England’s No. 3 and Liam Dawson has been promoted to be the No. 1 spinner. For a man criticised for some conservative selections in his first Test squad, these are bold decisions from Joe Root. The decisions of a man who knows what he wants and has the confidence to argue for them. It is not thought there was complete consensus over the Ballance decision, in particular.There’s a certain irony in Ballance winning a recall at Lord’s. It was after the Lord’s Test in 2015 that he was dropped; a decision that hit him hard and led to a period of introspection that eroded his confidence and resulted in the somewhat nervy batsman we saw for much of the subsequent 18 months.But if the selectors lacked confidence in him then, they have shown it in him now. And he owes his recall, above all, to the faith shown in him by his old flat-mate and new captain, Root.Ballance probably was a little unfortunate to be dropped in 2015. He had a poor Ashes Test at Lord’s in July, for sure, making 23 and 14, but he was not alone there. He had also made 61 in the first innings of the Cardiff Test and added 153 with Root to help their side recover from 43 for 3. In the context of the series, that was a vital partnership. It was less than three months since he had become the third-fastest England batsman in history to record 1,000 Test runs, too.But he was probably recalled too quickly, as well. He made one eye-catching century at Scarborough against Middlesex in July 2016 and found himself back in the Test side before his confidence had returned or he had settled back into a method that he truly trusted against top-quality bowling. His subsequent struggles in Bangladesh, albeit in tough conditions, saw him dropped again. Possibly permanently.But Root’s confidence in him has seen to an early recall. And he currently looks in terrific form. He is averaging 98.55 for Yorkshire this season and, while his technique – with little foot movement – will never be to everyone’s taste, it is not so unlike Marcus Trescothick’s. He has, he says, not changed – despite advice to do so – but rather reasoned that he is better to stick to what he does – and do it better.It’s not hard to see why Root likes Ballance. He is low-maintenance, good-humoured and managed to show – on the surface at least – an upbeat demeanour on the India tour when he must have been going through some turmoil under the surface. He also has a wonderful first-class record – he averages 49.95 – and, at county level, has started to dominate in the manner that Graeme Hick once did. It will have escaped nobody’s notice, however, that Hick was rarely able to translate his domestic dominance to international consistency. But Root knows he can trust him, has seen him succeed under pressure and believes in him. In short, he is the sort of man Root wants at his side when the going gets tough.Gary Ballance knows he is unlikely to get a fourth chance to cement his Test place•Getty ImagesDescribing Ballance’s current form as “phenomenal”, Root insisted his new No. 3 was “a completely different player” to the last time he represented England in October.”I look at how he has performed this year and the amount of runs he has scored and he has been phenomenal,” Root said. “He has generally scored runs when the side has been up against it. He is that sort of character and a lot of people asked questions about the last time he played for England but I look at his game now, as do the other selectors, and he is a completely different player. He is desperate to prove a point and score some runs in this series.”A fourth recall, in this day and age, is unlikely. So Ballance will know he has to make this chance count. Root admits that both he and Ballance would probably prefer to bat at No. 4 – Ballance has batted there for Yorkshire this season and for England Lions as recently as last week – but Root has concluded, reasonably enough, that he should decide where he bats.”I think No. 4 is where I play my best cricket and where I have scored my best runs,” Root said. “Hopefully moving forward that can be settled and help the team.”Among the doubts the England management expressed over Ballance was his ability to play the short ball. In particular, they felt he needed to pull or hook more often in order to put pressure back on the bowlers and lessen their ability to push him onto the back foot. He has certainly been pulling this season, though South Africa’s attack – blessed with pace as it is – are sure to test him in that regard. If he gets runs against this attack – and a green pitch at Lord’s may have them licking their lips – he will have earned a prolonged run in the side. If not… One way or another, Ballance’s future looks set to be decided in the next few weeks.”Gary is very aware of his game,” Root said. “He has worked very hard at it and looks like he has found ways of putting pressure back on bowlers and making sure he does not waste opportunities. In terms of his defence, he looks very assured.”The other interesting nugget from Root was the suggestion that Dawson was now considered the team’s No. 1 spinner. As he claimed only 20 wickets in the 2016 Championship season – 11 fewer than his team-mate Mason Crane and three fewer than Adil Rashid managed in the five Tests in India – that is some surprise. He was not, after all, one of the four spinners England named in their original Test squads ahead of the Asian tours at the end of last year.But he bowled tidily on his Test debut – he claimed 2-129 from 43 overs – and weighed-in with a half-century. While Rashid is certainly unfortunate, it seems England have wearied of his unpredictability (and Root, as a Yorkshire colleague, will know Rashid better than most). Instead they favour – as they have so often – a spinner who can tie down an end and offer a semblance of control. It is a reminder that England are not in a golden age of spin. The harsh would suggest they may not even be in a bronze age.”Dawson bowled with great control in India,” Root said. “He looked very at home and he will complement the rest of the attack as well.”And where does that leave Moeen? England’s utility player, the man who has batted everywhere from No. 1 to No. 9, now finds himself, for pretty much the first time in his Test career, playing as a batsman. Oh, yes, his batting has kept him in the side on many occasions. But he was picked originally as a spinner; a role Root now describes as “an add-on”.”We have our seven best batters in the country in our line-up,” Root said. “Moeen is one of our best batters. He will bat No. 7 and Jonny Bairstow No. 5. Moeen’s bowling can be an add-on to that and he can be very aggressive when he gets opportunity to bowl.”These are bold calls from Root.