Tag Futebol

Opener reaches third hundred of Championship season as visitors eye vital victory at Gloucestershire

David Hopps20-Sep-2022Dom Sibley could have been a guardsman at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth. He has that sense of duty about him. He is an upright sort who knows how to stand perfectly still. He can march in time as the pitch instructs him, never too slowly, never too fast. Indomitable, someone called him, and he was precisely that. Just what you need at a time of crisis.He reached his third Championship hundred of the season, and 18th of his career, as the light faded over Bristol, 15 minutes from the close. There was no excess – there had been none throughout the day – merely a workaday clip through wide mid-on against the left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar, the sort of functional shot he can play in his sleep and probably does. Gohar held Gloucestershire together, bowling 32 overs on a pitch offering gentle first-day turn to finish with 4 for 59. They would have been bereft this season without him.Sibley imagined that Warwickshire, at 255 for 8, had a slight edge. He deserved that thought because he had to work hard for his runs, but Bristol pitches have a tendency to ease. Whether they ease in September remains to be seen.Sibley does not score hundreds as much as logs them away. It is surprising that he has not made more than 18; a surprise, too, that, he is only 27, because he seems to have been wearing down attacks for a long time. He was dropped off Tom Price on 14 at backward point by the substitute Dom Goodman, a ball that reared at him from a length and brought much discussion and pitch-tapping before the game could resume. As for Goodman, he made a hangdog departure after the over concluded.Dutiful airs are not really in vogue. As long as the Stokes / McCullum axis holds sway, he appears unlikely to add to his 17 Test caps. He is returning to Surrey at the end of the season to form an opening partnership with Rory Burns: two top-order batters wondering if England opportunities have passed then by. Perhaps London will get him noticed again.His immediate task is to save Warwickshire from relegation. Champions last season, they lie equal second bottom with Kent with two matches to go. In their final match, they play Hampshire. If Kent pull off a shock win at the Ageas Bowl then at least Hampshire may lose impetus in the final week. So many permutations.Victory against the bottom club, Gloucestershire, who are virtually relegated, is essential. At 138 for 6, they were in the mire before Danny Briggs, with an adventurous 68 in easing conditions, made far and away his top score of an unproductive summer. Briggs was dropped too, another expensive miss, this time by Jack Taylor at first slip off Ajeet Singh Dale.How has it come to this for Warwickshire? Perhaps they overachieved in 2021 when they won the Championship, playing a grinding style of cricket in which every player gave no quarter. In the midst of the Covid crisis, it was perhaps a serious mood for its time. They must adjust, too, to the departure after four years of their director of cricket, Paul Farbrace, at the end of the season. Olly Stone and Adam Hose are on their way too.Rob Yates, who made such an impact at the top of the order, is down on runs this season, but the most obvious difference has been in the bowling returns where Oliver Hannon-Dalby is again in credit, but this time with less support, particularly from the former Gloucestershire pair, Liam Norwell and Craig Miles, who have either been injured or out of form. They have won only once, against Essex at Edgbaston – and that was back in mid-April.We have reached the climax to the Championship with seven of the nine counties harbouring either title ambitions or relegation fears, the chance for the premier club competition in the country to reassert its significance in the fabric of English cricket, except that many think differently these days. The ECB, in its perpetual undermining of the competition over the past generation, has gradually done untold damage. Andrew Strauss will make a pronouncement on Wednesday about his high-performance review. There will doubtless be much talk about the need to serve England’s needs and very little about the need for holistic solutions. There is only one realm to be served these days and it has many foot soldiers.As September spreads itself, and the pitches seam once more, cricket writers of a certain vintage traditionally turn to Keats and trot out the reference to a season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. Quoting Keats’ extolling of autumn during a cost-of living crisis is highly inadvisable, liable only to bring a look of suspicion and advice to put another sweater on.But it was warm in Bristol and layers were being dispensed with. By the time Sibley had his first towel-down of the day, Warwickshire were two down. Yates, edging to first slip, and Alex Davies, driving an inswinger, both played with haste. By contrast, Sibley’ first boundary, a hunched on drive, was a study in circumspection, his tone set for the day. The approach was also adopted by Sam Hain, who managed only a single in his first 45 balls, deposited Singh Dale for his only boundary and fell in the following over (10 from 74 balls) as an inside-edge to short leg brought Gohar his first wicket.Sibley and Will Rhodes promised reconstruction. Sibley’s half-century was announced on the PA system in sonorous tones, but Rhodes fended the next ball, from Tom Price, to his brother Olly at second slip. Sonorous tones were heard again as he crossed the boundary rope and this time there appeared to be the merest undertone of celebration. Gloucestershire, still without a win, had known few days like this all season.But Gloucestershire, not for the first time this season, could not finish the job. Zafar removed Briggs with one that turned, which just left time for a comedic final wicket: Singh Dale, struck by cramp at the end of his run, stretched his left leg uncertainly, ran it gingerly and delivered a wide long hop which Henry Brookes cut straight to third man whereupon Singh Dale fell to the turf, exultant, for further treatment.

Allrounder left out of Championship clash with Hampshire after losing non-overseas status

Matt Roller22-Apr-2021Graeme van Buuren, the South African-born allrounder, has been ruled out of Gloucestershire’s County Championship fixture against Hampshire after the complications of Brexit lost him his status as a non-overseas player.Van Buuren, 30, was born in Pretoria and played for Northerns and Titans in South Africa early in his career. He has been playing for Gloucestershire as a local player since 2016 through his wife’s British passport, and has become a first-team regular in all formats.However, the UK’s departure from the European Union led to a change in the ECB’s eligibility and registration regulations on December 31, 2020. In September, Alan Fordham, the operations manager for first-class cricket, wrote to the counties outlining the changes, including the removal of “the rights of so-called ‘Kolpak’ players to be registered as a ‘qualified cricketer'” and the cancellation of the registrations of players qualifying as locals through EU passports or family or ancestral visas, unless they had evidence of having settled or pre-settled status under the government’s settlement scheme.In van Buuren’s case, he had applied for indefinite leave to remain in the UK as a pathway to British citizenship, but delays in processing his paperwork have left him in a state of limbo. As a result, he has only been able to play as an overseas player, and with Daniel Worrall and Kraigg Brathwaite filling Gloucestershire’s two permitted spots in their fixture against Hampshire this week, van Buuren has been left out of the side, two weeks after hitting a match-winning 110 not out off 98 balls against Surrey.It is understood that van Buuren would have been able to apply for indefinite leave to remain through a fast-tracked service, but the logistical complications caused by Covid-19 have taken that option away from him.Related

• David Bedingham thrives on post-Brexit discomfort to power Durham once more

• van Buuren century trumps Foakes as Gloucestershire seize chance

• Glenn Phillips signs Gloucestershire deal for Vitality T20 Blast

• Ryan Higgins: The Ben Stokes injury replacement hiding in plain sight

Gloucestershire do not know how long the delay will take, but do not anticipate it being a long-term issue. Van Buuren is still registered as a player – clubs are able to register three overseas players for the two spots in their side – and may be rotated into the side in later rounds of fixtures, given Gloucestershire have not fielded a frontline spinner in his absence.”Graeme van Buuren, having been a Gloucestershire player and Bristol resident for the last five years, has to date been playing cricket in the UK as a non-overseas player,” a club statement said. “He has built a life in the UK, is married to a British citizen, and is settled in Bristol with two young children born in the city during his time at the club.”Earlier in the year, having completed the requisite five years in the UK, Graeme started the process of applying for his “indefinite leave to remain” as a pathway to British Citizenship. This was anticipated to allow him to play, under recently changed regulations, as an England-qualified player from the early part of this season. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in delays in the UK government processing his paperwork and the impact of Brexit means that the rights previously afforded to him are no longer available in the UK.”Graeme has played a huge part in the two victories of the 2021 season so far and is an integral member of the Gloucestershire cricket family. The club, along with the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA), continue to support his application and the speedy resolution of what is a very difficult period for Graeme and his family.”

The hosts can match India’s batting with power, but but it is in the bowling that India continue to be a superior side

The Preview by Sidharth Monga25-Jan-2020

Big Picture

New Zealand actually had a fairly decent game with the ball – their plans were good, execution not always but spot on but more on than off – but they still lost comfortably to India in the series opener. This tells you two things: when India are chasing, you need to put on an above-par score, and Jasprit Bumrah always stands in the way of such an endeavour. In an innings that New Zealand kept nudging at 10 an over, looking for a final kick to push them past 220, Bumrah conceded just 16 runs in overs 18 and 20, three overthrows included.New Zealand can match India’s accomplished batting line-up over 20 overs with power and innovation, but it is in the bowling that India continue to be a superior side. In the second of the double-header at Eden Park, the hosts will have to find a way to hurt India’s bowling to give their bowlers a chance. Expect Shivam Dube and Yuzvendra Chahal to be put under more pressure and not be allowed to go at eight an over on such a small ground.India’s batting remains good as gold in chases, but if they lose the toss, their newfound intent – and they have shown it when batting first against West Indies and Australia in both T20Is and ODIs recently – will be tested when setting a target on the small ground.

Form guide

New Zealand LLLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India WWWWLThe not-often-seen orthodox straight drive from Colin Munro•Getty Images

In the spotlight

New Zealand openers gave them a start in the first T20I, but they ended up with strike rates of 140 and 158. They will want at least one of Martin Guptill and Colin Munro to score at near two runs a ball to get a score big enough for this venue.Five overs for 42 runs and two wickets, Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube will have pleased India no end with their performance in the first match. That there are two allrounders eases the pressure on both of them. If they can keep delivering similar results, India will be closer to finding a plan for the T20 World Cup.

Team news

New Zealand might think of the odd change but they will know it was not in the choice of the personnel that they lost the first game.New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Kane Williamson (capt.),4 Colin de Grandhomme, 5 Ross Taylor, 6 Tim Seifert (wk) 7 Mitchell Santner/ Daryl Mitchell, 8 Ish Sodhi, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Blair Tickner, 11 Hamish BennettNow that they have preferred Manish Pandey to Rishabh Pant in the middle order, India are expected to give him a decent run. Expect only one change in the Indian XI: Navdeep Saini in for Shardul Thakur.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 KL Rahul (wk), 3 Virat Kohli (capt.), 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Shivam Dube 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Yuzvendra Chahal, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Navdeep Saini, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Pitch and conditions

The first T20I featured some dew, which will be on the minds of captains at the toss. Other than that, expect a lot of runs and no stoppages.

Stats and trivia

• Ish Sodhi needs one wicket to become the fourth New Zealand bowler to take 50. Mitchell Santner had reached the landmark on Friday.
• Only one of the last six matches at Eden Park has resulted in a win for the side batting first.

Quotes

“We had great support. We had 80% India fans here, and the atmosphere was great. You need that in a 200-plus chase, they help us go further, be braver.”
“Every time we play India, whether it is a home game, away game or a neutral venue, they’re always very well supported. I am not sure what the numbers were today. There’s probably 20,000, and probably 12,000 were Indian supporters.”

Pakistan have never beaten New Zealand in a bilateral ODI series in UAE, and they’ve got their backs to the wall again

The Preview by Akshay Gopalakrishnan08-Nov-2018

Big Picture

Pakistan have problems when they switch between the two limited-over formats. Give them 20 overs to play, and they are unstoppable. They can defend low scores, chase tricky targets, go ballistic at the top, and inflict collapses. Ask them to go a little longer, for 50 overs, and all of a sudden, their batsmen are scratching around. Straightforward targets seem like insurmountable mountains. And the batting is more susceptible to collapses than blocks in a game of Jenga. It’s almost as if they forget all the elements that enable them to succeed in the shortest format.How else does one explain this paradox, really? Pakistan are the No. 1 T20I side. They are unbeaten over their last nine matches in the format. Just as recently as last week, they blanked New Zealand 3-0 in the T20Is. And then, the ODIs came around. And it took Trent Boult three balls to rip through them and seal their fate.Returning after the birth of his child, Boult exposed Pakistan’s familiar frailties: loose play outside off, flashing away from the body, and playing across the line when the ball swings. Each of these factors would presumably play a decisive role in the World Cup in the swing-friendly environs of England next year. With about seven months left for that, Pakistan need to act on these issues with urgency.The flip side of Boult’s performance, however, was that it tapered over some of New Zealand’s own issues. They fell back on Ross Taylor to bail them out with the bat. Apart from Taylor, Kane Williamson is the only reassuring presence they have. George Worker is still finding his feet, which puts the onus on Colin Munro, his opening partner, to take additional responsibility. Munro has the flair and confidence, but New Zealand need more runs from him.As if their existing issues weren’t enough, it seems Pakistan, once again, have to deal with increased scrutiny around Mohammad Hafeez’s action. That did not deter Sarfraz Ahmed from bowling him for six overs, however, and, in any case, Pakistan have enough cushion when it comes to the bowling. It’s with the bat that they need to find a way to sustain the effectiveness they’ve shown in T20Is over longer periods. New Zealand have never lost a bilateral ODI series to Pakistan in the Emirates, and, barring a quick remedy to their batting, Pakistan risk suffering the same fate again.

Form guide

Pakistan LLLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)New Zealand WLWLL

In the spotlight

Mohammad Hafeez‘s action coming under the scanner is an unwelcome headache for Pakistan, but one they need to deal with nevertheless. While it would be an overstatement to say that Taylor’s act has soured the series, it certainly drew the ire of the Pakistan captain. Hafeez’s action was cleared only as recently as May this year. But he remained in focus, calling out the ICC’s procedure for identifying suspect actions and subsequently escaping punishment for his comments. Hafeez has endured a tumultuous year, spending it in and out of the side. His international career appeared to be winding down after months of being overlooked, before he was thrown a lifeline when he was named in the Test squad for the Australia series. He was then called back to the ODI squad as well, after being left out of the Asia Cup earlier this year. Now, with the fuss around his action, every move of his will be magnified.Colin Munro has undoubted potential and he has shown that in flashes. But the big hundred has eluded the opening batsman after 37 innings in the format. A big innings from him would reinforce the power New Zealand possess at the top of the order, give the newcomer Worker some time to settle in, and make Williamson and Taylor’s job of building the innings through the middle overs more effective by giving them a solid platform to launch from.

Team news

Hasan Ali is going through a rough patch, and it seems increasingly likely that Pakistan may soon turn to a replacement. Faheem Ashraf wouldn’t be a bad choice if they do choose to do so. And with the circumstances surrounding Hafeez, Faheem gives Pakistan that extra all-round option.Pakistan (probable XI): 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Hasan Ali/Faheem Ashraf, 10 Shaheen Afridi, 11 Junaid KhanLegspinner Todd Astle has returned home without playing a single game on the tour to have his right knee examined. Astle’s absence, however, shouldn’t have much of an effect on a New Zealand team that won’t likely be swayed into making any changes.New Zealand (probable XI): 1 George Worker, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Henry Nicholls, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Trent Boult

Pitch and conditions

Five out of the six ODIs in Abu Dhabi this year have been won by the team batting first. Pakistan barely scraped through in a chase of 258 in the other game. And besides, with the prickly afternoon weather, most teams would prefer being on the field after the night sets in. Surfaces in the UAE have shown a tendency recently to not favour extremely high scores, so a total of 250 or thereabouts should prove competitive.

Stats and trivia

• Sarfraz Ahmed needs 120 more to complete 2000 career runs, and four more catches to complete a 100 of them in ODIs.
• Fakhar Zaman has a dismal record in home ODIs. In 11 innings, he has 205 runs, is yet to cross fifty, and has an average of 18.63, which pales in comparison to his career average of 56.10.

Somerset will need to find rare batting resilience to avoid defeat on the final day at the Kia Oval

Tim Wigmore at Kia Oval21-Sep-20171:33

County Championship round-up: Finn eases Middlesex fears

The majesty of Kumar Sangakkara’s innings, which extended to 157 in a blissful hour’s batting in the morning, gave way to an afternoon of attritional cricket in keeping with the gloomy skies at The Oval.For Somerset, facing a deficit of 164 runs while trying not to be disheartened by events five miles north, where Middlesex were securing a crucial Championship victory, this was a day to scrap and fight, knowing that their cherished Division One status could depend upon it.On an Oval wicket offering unusual assistance for seam, at least by its normally docile standards, the task threatened to be a daunting one, especially when Sam Curran curved the eighth ball of Somerset’s reply away from Marcus Trescothick, who glided it into the hands of third slip.By the time play was truncated, as bad light and then rain left 37 overs in the day unbowled, Somerset had given an unwelcome reminder of the batting frailties that have undermined a season that had begun with genuine hope that they could improve on their Championship position by a solitary position and so take the title to the Quantocks for the very first time.Such optimism died long ago, replaced by the sobering reality that Somerset’s Division One berth is imperilled. They have enjoyed 10 unbroken years in Division One, the highest of any county – and, indeed, an all-time record.It is a testament to what Somerset have achieved with an exemplary youth system – one that develops talent not just in the county’s confines but in the entire South-West, with Devon producing alone producing a formidable home-grown bowling attack in recent years – and fierce local pride.They have outperformed counties who enjoy the benefits of hosting Test cricket and financial clout, either from their grounds or, more often, from generous local backers. Their status as the most popular second county in the shies, both for what the success of the club means to the county and for how they have challenged financial determinism in domestic cricket, is well-established.If three Championship runners-ups medals in seven seasons have brought no medals – and there has been copious heartbreak in the other competitions too – their performances have brought huge pride.After a chastening season, marred both by defeats on the field and poorly managed contractual situations for their players off it, the same pride has been evident in recent weeks too. Somerset responded to a thumping at Chelmsford with back-to-back victories at Edgbaston and at home to Lancashire. These were compelling all-round performances, the sort to briefly rekindle memories of those September dreams of 2016.Sangakkara leaves The Oval for the last time•Getty Images

Escaping The Oval with a draw would be a huge help if Somerset are to winter looking forward to an 11th straight year in Division One.The diligence with which Somerset approached their task in sepulchral conditions reflected how seriously they are taking their task. What was lacking – Somerset will hope it comes tomorrow from Tom Abell or Steve Davies, and preferably both – was a truly substantive innings, the sort of exercise in bloody mindedness that can inoculate a team against defeat.There were admirable contributions from George Bartlett and Eddie Byrom, infused with grit, but both departed before the weather intervened.Bartlett, like James Hildreth, was the victim of Stuart Meaker, who showcased the pace, reverse swing and ferocity that makes it easy to see why he played for England in some limited overs cricket in 2011 and 2012. Both batsmen succumbed to full deliveries, though Hildreth might have got bat on the yorker before it hit his pads.Byrom’s dismissal was bizarre. Gareth Batty, astute and showcasing immaculate control, produced a beautiful offspinner which just evaded Byrom’s edge and then just missed offstump too – at least, that’s how it appeared. As Batty turned in despair at his own ill-luck, only Ben Foakes noticed that his delivery had actually clipped the offbail, so delicately that it might not have disturbed a zing bail. Byrom remained motionless for a few seconds after, unable to believe his fate.Somerset will need the same obduracy, and a little more luck – either on the field or from the heavens – if they are to avoid a sixth Championship defeat of the season. Should they indeed leave London with another five points, they will guard them as closely as a parent would their newborn child.

England surged into a dominant position through a stand of 132 in 27 overs between Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali

The Report by Andrew McGlashan06-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJonny Bairstow aggression in the final session gave England a good lead•Getty Images

For two sessions this was a day of twists and turns, not the thrilling variety of batting collapses or exhilarating innings, but steady shifting of the sands, before England surged into a dominant position through a stand of 132 in 27 overs between Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali. It left them well-placed to push for a final-day victory at Edgbaston, with a lead of 311, because while the pitch remains true they will know there is a vulnerability to the Pakistan batting order.In each session there was a time where Pakistan had an advantage, and were one quick wicket away from sending jitters through the England line-up. They removed Alastair Cook and Alex Hales within the first five overs of the day, shifted Joe Root and James Vince before tea and when Gary Ballance fell to Yasir Shah for the third time in the series the lead was still an uncertain 179.But over the course of the remainder of the last session, Bairstow took control with a perfectly paced counterattacking innings, the most fluent batting of the day, as he and Moeen flayed a tiring attack. Having initially bided his time, he moved from 15 off 52 balls to a half-century from 83 deliveries, in the process becoming England’s highest-scoring wicketkeeper in a calendar year. His speed between the wickets took advantage of some heavy legs among the Pakistan side.Some of the finest shots, though, came from Moeen as he dominated Yasir: a dance down the pitch and a whip wide of mid-on were the best of the lot, but his controlled off-side drive was worthy of note given his much-criticised dismissal at Lord’s. His second half-century of the match came from 64 ballsMisbah-ul-Haq was content not to over-attack even after the early breakthroughs and opted to bowl at England’s ego for much of the day – namely, their desire to score briskly – with a combination of close catchers and boundary sweepers. Rahat Ali’s seven-over spell in the first session included five consecutive maidens. The first session brought 63 runs, the second 79 but, having not quite taken enough wickets to keep England firmly on the back foot, and again limited by the four-man attack, the last session brought 152 in 36 overs. By the close, Azhar Ali was unfurling his friendly legspin.There was, perhaps, one key moment Pakistan will look back on with regret before their long efforts in the field caught up with them. During a period of the morning session in which Pakistan kept the scoring rate down, Root, on 25, edged Rahat low towards Mohammad Hafeez at first slip but the chance was grassed. At that stage England were just 63 to the good.Instead, Root and Vince were able to consolidate either side of lunch which took the immediate sting out of the day following the jolt of losing both overnight batsmen. There was a brief surge in the scoring shortly after lunch as Root went to his fifty from 108 balls, and his eagerness to increase the tempo may have played a part in his dismissal when he top-edged a sweep against Yasir with the legspinner operating round the wicket.Vince had produced his sturdiest Test innings to date, resisting, ball after ball, from chasing deliveries outside off stump as Pakistan’s quicks hung the ball wide. He had again opened with a driven boundary, but forced himself to play within his body, profiting when the bowlers strayed too straight, with his other six boundaries come through the leg side. Yet, after 121 balls of composure, the nemesis returned as he dangled his bat at Mohammad Amir’s first delivery with the second new ball and edged to second slip.Ballance again looked solid, but was again undone by Yasir from around the wicket. At Lord’s he was bowled, in the first innings here he tickled to the keeper and this time the edge went wider to the perfectly positioned leg slip, as though he momentarily forgot the man was there. It was worthy reward for Yasir who finished with 42 overs to his name. The pitch did not offer him much, but he created some uncertainty from round the wicket into the footmarks.While the day ended strongly for England, and the threat of defeat has been all but removed barring something remarkable from one of Pakistan’s top order, it will irk them that none of the top three could convert their starts into three figures, something that was an issue in the first Test before being overcome at Old Trafford.After letting the game slip on the third evening – Mickey Arthur made his displeasure known after play – Pakistan needed an early spark. They got it from Yasir, but in the field rather than with the ball. Sohail Khan, who had come in for some of Arthur’s criticism, drew Cook into driving at a wide delivery which he spooned towards point where Yasir dived full length to his left.In the next over, Hales’ patience also snapped as Amir probed away outside his off stump and suckered him into a drive which was well taken at second slip by Younis Khan. There was a zip about Pakistan’s cricket, sensing a sniff to get into England’s middle order, and Root was given an early wake up when his second ball from Sohail leapt over his top edge.Root appeared to be having problems with his back, a long-standing issue he manages, and at one stage need attention from the physio. But it did not appear to overly hamper him in the afternoon, the pain on his face as he walked off more a realisation that another Test hundred had passed him by.

Ben Stokes is aware that he carries a major responsibility as England’s allrounder in the Ashes series and to no-one’s surprise, it is a challenge he is looking straight in the eye

Andrew McGlashan02-Jul-2015It has already been an interesting year for Ben Stokes as he has forged his way back into the England Test side. Saluted off the field in Grenada by Marlon Samuels, then saluted as a hero at Lord’s with the finest all-round performance by an England cricketer since Andrew Flintoff was at his peak.It can be assumed that 2015 is unlikely to quieten down for him over the next few weeks as the Investec Ashes unfolds following a typically pantomime-esque phoney war. Stokes was one of the few players to emerge with credit from the debacle Down Under in 2013-14 after scoring a bristling maiden Test hundred in the toughest of conditions at the WACA, then claiming a six-wicket haul amid England’s final mauling in Sydney.”It sounds like all I want to do his fight them,” he laughed when asked if the memories of that whitewash was extra motivation for what lies ahead. “That was the first taste of it, it didn’t go well, and there a wrongs that we want to right.”Stokes does not need to underline his competitive edge. Mitchell Johnson remarked earlier this week that the Australians quickly cottoned on that he was one of the few Englishmen up for the fight and they soon started to target him for some special attention.Eighteen months later, Australia know how many of England’s Ashes hopes are pinned on Stokes making a success of the allrounder’s role – as his performance against New Zealand at Lord’s suggested he can do – so that they can retain his counterpunching batting at No. 6 and his zippy seam bowling which enables a five-pronged attack. He will likely be the focus of plenty more attention over the coming two months.One of the challenges for Stokes early in his international career has been to control his temper. He was fined for giving a send-off to James Faulkner in an ODI at Perth and there was the infamous exchange with a locker in Barbados which left him with a broken hand. But the way he held himself together during the exchange with Samuels in April hinted at the maturing of a cricketer, not that his natural instincts will be dulled.”I’m definitely expecting there to be a few feuds out on the pitch, but I’m not one to go looking for it and cause an argument,” Stokes said. “If anyone comes at you in the heat of the moment, with the adrenalin going, I don’t think anyone in our squad will shy away. We have different ways of handling it, some turn their backs and walk away but I’m sort of the other way – look them in the eye and probably say something.”

England’s allrounders after 11 Tests

Ben Stokes: 683 runs @ 34.15, 2 hundreds; 29 wickets @ 43.24
Andrew Flintoff: 259 runs @ 14.38, 0 hundreds; 9 wickets @ 58.22
Ian Botham: 500 runs @ 41.66, 3 hundreds; 64 wickets @ 16.54
Tony Greig: 783 runs @ 48.93, 1 hundred; 27 wickets @28.11

What chances a repeat of Samuels? “I’m not sure they’ll salute; they might. It will be good banter if they do.”Stokes admitted that the likeliest chance of a flashpoint is when he has ball in hand – his bowling role is one of striking rather than containment – but he insisted it is part of his DNA as a cricketer.”I’m not sure cool and calculated is the right way to describe my batting, but my emotions certainly do come out when I’m bowling – there’s a lot more adrenalin involved compared to batting. If there are any incidents it will probably be when I have the ball in hand. It’s definitely a strength of mine, you are in a battle and you don’t want to be losing. I don’t want to take a backward step and let them think they are on top.”Stokes’ own memories of the 2005 series, for which the 10-year anniversary is providing a regular reference point, are of being involved in an Under-15 tournament for Cumbria where the parents sat around their cars more interested in the Ashes score than what their children were up to. That series is largely viewed as having been played in good spirit, centred on Flintoff’s arm-round-the-shoulder to Brett Lee at Edgbaston.But there were flashpoints, too, not least when Ricky Ponting was run out by Gary Pratt at Trent Bridge and before the series when Matthew Hayden and Simon Jones went chest-to-chest in an ODI at Edgbaston, a moment often cited by England players of the time as when they made it clear to Australia they would hunt as a pack. It is a mindset Stokes hinted would be used again if needed.”You know that if you chose to pick a battle you have the other 10 guys backing you. That doesn’t mean I’m going to start throwing punches, but you know your team-mates will back you.”Beyond all the pre-series bluster, enacted for the third time in two years, Stokes has every right to believe his cricketing skills alone will be enough to carry him through the Ashes. He has emerged from a difficult 2014 following the tour of Australia, which included three consecutive ducks against India, with a period of consistent cricket, highlighted by his Lord’s heroics where he made 92, 101 – the fastest Test hundred on the ground – and claimed three second-innings wickets including a wicked inswinger to remove Brendon McCullum.”Since I first came in I’ve been in and out of the side, so this is the first time I’ve really been involved heavily for a good amount of time,” he said. “I do feel a bit more part of it, part of a team and a group that is making people want to watch cricket again.”Flintoff has been among those to laud Stokes’ ability – saying Stokes is a better player than he was while he “bluffed his way through” – but Flintoff’s Ashes of 2005 came when he was seven years into his career and had dominated the world stage for the preceding 18 months: from The Oval Test of 2003 against South Africa to start of 2005 Ashes, Flintoff scored 1268 runs at 43.72 and claimed 78 wickets at 24.60.Expectations of Stokes then can get out of hand, although after 11 Tests he has a significantly superior batting tally to Flintoff and also better bowling figures.Stokes insisted he had not let himself ponder what life might be like if he has a telling impact on this year’s Ashes. “I’ve not really thought about anything like that to be honest. We know how big the Ashes is: I was part of one in Australia and on the receiving end of a few mad Aussies when walking around the street. But we are in England now and have the support of the nation for seven weeks. It will be a bit different for Australia.”

After an impressive opening victory, Mohammad Hafeez wanted the Lahore Lions to keep up the good form

Umar Farooq02-Dec-2012An experienced and explosive batting order and a strong bowling line-up have made Lahore Lions one of the favourites in the domestic Faysal Bank T-20 Cup, and they showed how dangerous they are in their opening match, comfortably beating Karachi Zebras by seven wickets. Their captain Mohammad Hafeez wanted his side to build on the impressive beginning.”It’s just a start but obviously the onus is on us, as a side filled with international players, to win the crown,” Hafeez said at the post-match press conference. “There is a sense of responsibility in the boys and that they want to live up to the billing of being a star side. All of them are focused on winning the national championship.”Hafeez, who was appointed the Pakistan T20 captain in May this year, wasn’t considered for the leadership role by Lions in the 14-team regional Twenty20 tournament. However, minutes before the Lions’ first match against Karachi Zebras at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the original captain Mohammad Yousuf passed on the role to him. “I didn’t want to lead the side but it was Yousuf himself who insisted on me taking up the role otherwise I wanted to play as a regular player. I respect his decision and stepped in his role to do the job but still I am carrying on the same strategy as we planned to execute before the match.”ESPNcricinfo understands that Hafeez withdrew from his usual side, the Faisalabad Wolves, after differences with the city association over selection issues. He has been playing for Faisalabad Wolves in the domestic Twenty20 competition since 2005 but this year Hafeez, now a Lahore resident, chose to represent Lions. “Sargodha and Faisalabad are my own cities and it’s tough to play against them but I wanted a change, that’s why I’m playing for Lahore. Playing against Faisalabad is obviously a tough one, but on various instances, we have been playing against (each other) and sometimes in one team in domestic level. This is something similar and I am enjoying playing for Lahore.”Hafeez, who has opened for Pakistan in most of his T20 matches, surprisingly batted at No. 3 for Lions in the opening game against Karachi Zebras. He said there wasn’t any plan to move him to No. 3 in the national team. “I didn’t want to disturb the combination as both Nasir (Jamshed) and Ahmed (Shehzad) have been doing well for long. But it’s just a temporary move only for the event and nothing to do with my national team spot. I don’t know about the India series, that is something need to be discussed later. But at the moment this event is serving as a useful practice ahead of the India tour.”

Vinay Kumar, the Karnataka fast bowler, has been picked as a replacement for the injured Varun Aaron in India’s Test squad to Australia

Nagraj Gollapudi09-Dec-2011Vinay Kumar, the Karnataka fast bowler, has been picked as a replacement for the injured Varun Aaron in India’s Test squad to Australia. Aaron’s injury was detected on Thursday evening, making him India’s second first-choice fast bowler to pull out of the squad due to injury. Praveen Kumar had been ruled of the Australia tour late last month after suffering a rib injury.Reportedly, Aaron is suffering from a stress reaction in his back, which was diagnosed during the Indore ODI. He will be reporting to the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore next week, to chalk out a rehabilitation plan. Incidentally, Aaron had to sit out of the Ahmedabad ODI only because the nail on a toe of his left foot had fallen out. Abhimanyu Mithun replaced him for that match.Vinay, 27, has been on the fringes of the India’s limited-overs sides for the past year and a half, but has not had a chance in Tests so far. Though he wasn’t a part of the squad for the World Cup, Vinay was the most experienced of the quick bowlers in the side for the current home series against West Indies, until Irfan Pathan was included for the final two one-dayers.He has been a consistent performer in first-class cricket for several seasons. He was the second highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy as far back as 2007-08, a feat he repeated two years later when he spearheaded Karnataka’s attack during their run to the finals.It was only two days ago that Vinay had restated his desire to be a part of the Test set-up, a stage where several younger competitors – Abhimanyu Mithun, Umesh Yadav, Aaron – had already got the chance to show off their talent.

South Africa have left out offspinner Johan Botha, left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell and batsman JP Duminy from their squad for the first Test against India in Centurion that begins on December 16

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2010South Africa have left out offspinner Johan Botha, left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell and batsman JP Duminy from their line-up for the first Test against India in Centurion that begins on December 16. The three players, who were part of the original 15-man squad, have been released by CSA to represent their respective domestic teams in the latest round of the Supersport series that begins on Thursday. Parnell and Botha will play for the Warriors, and Duminy for the Cobras.The decision means Ryan McLaren and Lonwabo Tsotsobe are the candidates for the third seamer’s slot, while Paul Harris, should South Africa opt for spin, is a certainty in the playing XI. Duminy’s exclusion ensures Ashwell Prince will keep the No.6 slot.Meanwhile, South Africa captain Graeme Smith has said he is recovering well from a fractured ring finger on his left hand – an injury he suffered during the second Test against Pakistan in the UAE. He had his first net session on Monday, though he mostly faced up to slow bowlers. “I was very pleased with the way it went,” he said. “I am following the same processes I have always followed when coming back from injury. I will step up my batting schedule over the next two days.”South Africa squad for first Test: Graeme Smith (capt), AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Mark Boucher (wk), Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Ryan McLaren, Paul Harris, Hashim Amla, Alviro Petersen