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India born Ish Sodhi is looking forward to the challenge of bowling against India, who are fine players of spin

Abhishek Purohit in Auckland04-Feb-2014Ish Sodhi was born in India and spent his childhood years in the country before migrating with his parents to New Zealand. He could be playing his first match against the Indians at Eden Park in two days’ time, and his parents could be watching from the stands. While he feels that will be a special moment, he makes it clear it means a lot to be able to represent New Zealand. Sodhi is only 21, and says it will be his hardest challenge so far to bowl to the Indians, who are such fine players of spin.”First and foremost the main thing is I might get a chance to play for my country and that is the biggest thing for me,” Sodhi said. “And any chance to play India, obviously I was born there (Ludhiana) and it is special being able to play against India because I have a massive Indian heritage. But I am playing against the best players in the world. That is the big thing to come out of it. The players are also very good players of spin. In general Indian batsmen do come hard at spin. It is quite exciting. Emotion is always going to be there.”It is a very big challenge. Obviously you want to be playing against the best in the world and you want to be challenged, and that is the way you find yourself as a cricketer and a person. Also as a person you put yourself in tough situations. Playing at Eden Park is also special to me.”Sodhi grew up idolizing Anil Kumble and has recently spent some time talking legspin with Shane Warne. He said the biggest takeaway from the meeting was Warne’s ability to focus. “As a child you always like to copy bowlers, you try to be Shane Warne, you try to be Anil Kumble. He was my hero growing up. But it is different because you get to a point where you sort of tell yourself ‘I can’t be like Anil Kumble, I can’t be Shane Warne because I’m not built the same way, my mind doesn’t work the same way’. So I have to take into account the bigger things they do and sort of make them the best I can make them with the ability that I have.”The biggest thing for me was that he (Warne) was so balanced about the approach to the game. Whether that be, inside the cricket field or outside the cricket field. He was never really clouding his mind with too many thoughts. But when he did bowl everything he took into account how he was going to bowl that day. That was massive to me, kind of relaxed. You are not the only person under pressure.”As a young bowler, advice comes from all corners, and Sodhi said one had to learn how to filter out the useful bits, although he would keep talking to people who were close to him. “A lot of people do offer you advice, and the way you use that advice is up to you really. Some stuff is really good and some is not helpful. But being young you sort of listen and depending on how tough you are you sort of list things you should and shouldn’t do. That is how I am learning as I grow. As I say I am still young and I have quite a lot to learn before I can feel like a whole package.”I have spoken to a few people like Daniel Vettori, we have spoken a few times about it but not in too much detail. In the next two days I will have a few conversations. Otherwise a lot of people in this team have played a lot of cricket and I will be able to pick their brains.”Sodhi goes into the Tests on the back of a five-wicket haul for Northern Districts against Canterbury. While he said his rhythm was good, he admitted he would have to perform a defensive role as well, especially in the first innings. “(With) legspin you see yourself as an attacking weapon. But I think there are going to be times in the Test series there will be the holding job and I might have to do that. It will be the pace bowlers in the first innings and if it does spin later in the second innings then I might have to (attack). It is about adjusting between those two modes.”

A round-up of matches played in the President’s One-Day Cup tournament 2012-13 played on April 11, 2013

Umar Farooq11-Apr-2013Mohammad Nawaz’s all-round performance helped National Bank of Pakistan beat Khan Research Laboratories by 12 runs at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. This was KRL’s third straight defeat, and NBP’s third consecutive win. NBP, after being asked to bat, started poorly, with Nasir Jamshed (4) and Sami Aslam (1) back in the hut in quick time. Kamran Akmal (40) and captain Fawad Alam (57) had to do the repair work. NBP, though, then slipped to 95 for 5. Alam hit his 18th List A fifty before being dismissed by Mohammad Irfan. Alam helped add 54 with Nawaz to take his team towards 206.In reply, KRL openers Mohammad Yasin (34) and Tayab Riaz (47) laid a solid foundation with an 82-run stand but three wickets in quick succession put KRL on the back foot. Saeed Anwar Junior was the only batsman who offered some resistance. His 55 was in vain, as Raza Hasan (4-36), Nawaz (2-36) and Imran Khan (31-2) ripped though the line-up to bowl out KRL for 194 in 49.1 overs.Hussain Talat’s hundred and Harris Sohail’s brisk was too much for Port Qasim Authority, as Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited won by 8 wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Asked to bat, PQA were off to a good start, with opener Khurram Manzoor scoring his second hundred of the tournament. Shahzaib Hasan (37), Umar Amin (42), and Tanvir Ahmed (36) chipped in with cameos to power PQA to 297 for 6 in 50 overs.The ZTBL reply was strong, with the openers adding 169. ZTBL lost Sharjeel Khan (81) and Babar Azam (10) in relatively quick time, but Talat (141*) and Sohail (56*) remained unbeaten to take their side home. ZTBL chased down 298 in just 42.2 overs.Water and Power Development Authority, spearheaded by Rafatullah Mohmand’s hundred, defeated Habib Bank Limited by five wickets at the National Stadium Karachi. WAPDA chased down a commanding total of 287 with Rafatullah (102), Saad Nasim (84) and Sohaib Maqsood (66) helping complete the chase with 15 balls to spare.WAPDA had put HBL in to bat. Imran Farhat (11) and Younis Khan (25) fell without making a significant contribution. Two young batsmen, Ahmed Shahzad (112) and Asad Shafiq (79), boosted HBL to a good total. Shahid Afridi scored just 5 while Junaid Khan was the key wicket-taker for WAPDA, taking 4 for 42.Abid Ali’s 91 and Kashif Bhatti’s 4 for 38 helped United Bank Limited beat Pakistan International Airlines by nine runs at Shaheed Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto International Cricket Stadium, Ghari Khuda Bakhsh. Put in to bat, PIA reduced UBL to 53 for 4 at one stage. But the middle and lower orders chipped in. Itmad-ul-Haq (28), Shabbir Ahmed (22), Kasif Bhatti (20) and Mohammad Irshad (23*) guided their team to 222 for 8.PIA, in their reply, began poorly. Agha Sabir (40) and Sheharyar Ghani (52) then tried to resist but Bhatti, along with Mohammad Zubair, shared seven wickets to bowl out PIA in 48.3 overs.

This was Derbyshire’s day by some distance, the achievement of Wayne Madsen and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in setting a partnership record against Surrey underpinned by Richard Johnson’s maiden half-century for the county

Jon Culley at Derby31-May-2013
ScorecardWayne Madsen made his 14th first-class hundred•Getty ImagesThis was Derbyshire’s day by some distance, the achievement of Wayne Madsen and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in setting a partnership record against Surrey underpinned by Richard Johnson’s maiden half-century for the county, but there was at least one encouraging subtext for Surrey, who are no closer to breaking their duck for the Championship season.It came in the form of five wickets for Chris Tremlett, who had not taken that many in a single first-class innings since he did so for England against Sri Lanka in June 2011, and never before for Surrey. The 6ft 7ins fast bowler took the wicket that captured the Ashes in Australia in January 2011 but has been ravaged by injuries in the interim, requiring operations for back and knee problems. His return to Surrey’s Championship side last month was only his second appearance in the competition in 21 months.Surrey are nursing him back carefully, which is understandable in the circumstances. England are monitoring his progress but are unlikely to call on him any time soon, unless there is an exceptional run of injuries. At 31, and with a Test record of 49 wickets at 26.75, Tremlett is eager to believe that he has another Ashes series ahead of him but if he is to face Australia again you suspect it will be next winter rather than this summer. Mindful, perhaps, that he broke down after one comeback match last summer, precipitating further surgery in September, he accepts that patience is vital.”I’d like to get back to where I was before the injuries and England is at the back of my mind but it is a matter of not getting ahead of myself,” he said. “I feel I’m going in the right direction. It is nice to get five wickets but the important thing is bowling overs and hoping my body stays strong.”Tremlett, who had bowled Chesney Hughes with his fifth delivery on Thursday, did the most damage with the second new ball as Wes Durston and Ben Slater, a left-hander making his Derbyshire debut, edged deliveries that left them off the pitch. Tremlett bowled tailender Mark Turner and finished off the Derbyshire innings when wicketkeeper Johnson’s fine 72 ended with a catch at first slip.Yet in the context of the day, it was a minor victory for Surrey. If there was an opportunity to acquire some impetus as another year of under-achievement beckons, it was in this match, against a side struggling to make the transition to Division One cricket, particularly with Ricky Ponting in the dressing room and offering encouragement from the slip cordon.However, they are a stubborn bunch, Derbyshire, unwilling to accept that they are destined merely to be whipping boys, determined that promotion will be a genuine learning experience. Resuming at 232 for 2, they built so handsomely on Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s first-day century as to almost double their score.The Guyanese batsman had been labouring with a heavy cold for most of his innings and he was less fluent yesterday morning, although there was handsome consolation. Wayne Madsen, equally impressive as the two built a partnership ultimately worth 265 runs, outscored his partner and was setting his own targets high when Chanderpaul was surprised by a short ball from Stuart Meaker and sent the ball looping off the glove to Ponting in the gully.Madsen went on to reach 152, picking up boundaries with impressive fluency, 17 in all. Surrey’s bowlers again could not hit a testing line and length frequently enough to build pressure and Madsen, having looked so comfortable, was furious with himself when he failed to read a ball angled in by Meaker that took his off stump.It left Derbyshire at a potentially difficult moment, 336 for 6 having been 294 for 2. Had they fallen away it would not have been an unusual development. In the event, they failed to take all the batting points available but will set that disappointment against a strong position at the halfway stage of the match.Johnson batted solidly and took few risks, aided first by David Wainwright in a stand of 59 for the seventh wicket and latterly by some eager and enterprising batting from the tail. His 72 equalled his career best and reaffirmed Derbyshire’s self-belief.It was further enhanced when Madsen ran out Rory Burns with a stunning direct hit almost from the boundary at long-off. Mark Footitt worked up a fierce pace and Vikram Solanki, going in ahead of Ponting at three, needed treatment after taking a blow to the body. The target to avoid the follow-on may feel a long way off when he and Arun Harinath resume.

England opener Jason Roy and fast bowler David Willey have been fined for breaching the ICC’s Code of Conduct during their team’s 10-run victory against Sri Lanka in Delhi

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Mar-2016England opener Jason Roy and fast bowler David Willey have been fined for breaching the ICC’s Code of Conduct during their team’s 10-run victory against Sri Lanka in Delhi.Roy, who blasted a 39-ball 42, was found to have been in violation of Article 2.1.5, which relates to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match”. Roy, after being adjudged lbw in the 13th over, was heard using obscene language, and threw his bat and helmet as he left the field. He was fined 30% of his match fee.Willey’s incident concerned his send-off for Milinda Siriwardana during Sri Lanka’s innings. Willey, who ended with 2 for 26, was seen pointing to the pavilion and using obscene language after dismissing the batsman. He had violated Article 2.1.7, dealing with “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an international match”, and was docked 15% of his match fee.Since both Willey and Roy admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, there was no need for a formal hearing.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Karu Jain and allrounder Thirush Kamini have been included in India’s 15-member squad for the Women’s World Cup to be held in Mumbai

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Dec-2012Wicketkeeper-batsman Karu Jain and allrounder Thirush Kamini have been included in India’s 15-member squad for the Women’s World Cup to be held in Mumbai. Offspinner Archana Das, who debuted in February 2012 and played nine ODIs this year, has been left out.Twenty-seven-year-old Jain last played an ODI more than four years ago, on India’s tour of England. Kamini’s last ODI appearance was also against England, in February 2010.The team will be led by Mithali Raj, who was also the captain of the side during the 2005 World Cup in South Africa; India had then finished as the runners-up, their best showing in this tournament.India are placed in Group A along with West Indies, Sri Lanka and three-time champions England. They play their first match against West Indies on January 31 at the Wankhede Stadium.Squad: Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Ekta Bisht, Karu Jain, Jhulan Goswami, Reema Malhotra, Mona Meshram, Sulakshana Naik, Nagarajan Niranjana, Rasanara Parwin, Poonam Raut, Amita Sharma, Shubhlakshmi Sharma, Thirush Kamini, Gouher Sultana

After yet another defeat chasing a 250-plus total, Misbah-ul-Haq said Pakistan could have won easily had he and Umar Akmal remained at the crease till the end

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-20140:00

‘We should have won that’ – Misbah

Pakistan’s 12-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the opening match of the Asia Cup meant they hadn’t managed to chase a 250-plus target successfully since February 2011. Asked what the issue was, their captain Misbah-ul-Haq said they had no problem constructing chases, but simply lacked finishing.”I think there is no problem,” he said. “We just chased even in the Test match [against Sri Lanka in Sharjah, where they scored 302 in 57 overs in the fourth innings], and the effort even today was good. A little bit more, we should have batted the same way, batsmen should have taken a little bit more responsibility and finished the game.”Misbah-ul-Haq’s 73 took Pakistan to the brink of victory•AFPAt one stage, with Misbah and Umar Akmal at the crease and both having crossed 50, Pakistan seemed to be cantering to an easy win. Their batsmen then proceeded to gift Sri Lanka wickets with a series of poor shots.”The way Umar and I had a partnership going, if we had just played out the overs the match was easy,” Misbah said. “Only a wicket could get them back in the game, and that is the mistake we made.”Pakistan had done well to restrict Sri Lanka to 296, after Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara had laid the platform for a massive total with their 161-run stand for the second wicket. Misbah was pleased with the job his bowlers had done at the death, but wished they had started the match a little stronger.”In the last 10 overs, if you see, whichever bowlers we used, they gave away 64 runs,” Misbah said. “This was the reason we held them back. Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan have been bowling the last few overs for some time now, and they did the same thing today. I think at the start we bowled too many bad balls, or boundary balls. If we had bowled a little better then, the 10-15 run margin that decided the game, I think we could have done better.”

Mumbai Indians have signed up the right-arm seamer Praveen Kumar as their replacement for the injured Zaheer Khan

ESPNcricinfo staff08-May-2014Mumbai Indians have signed the right-arm seamer Praveen Kumar as their replacement for the injured Zaheer Khan, who played six games before he was ruled out for the rest of the season because of a side strain (left latissimus dorsi muscle).Praveen will be available for Mumbai’s next game against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.Praveen went unsold in the auction in February. He was a regular for Kings XI Punjab in the 2013 IPL, taking 12 wickets in 15 matches at an economy rate of 6.62. He picked eight wickets in six games for Uttar Pradesh in the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before the IPL. He last played for India in a T20 against South Africa in 2012.Since his exclusion from the Indian team, Praveen has struggled with fitness and disciplinary issues. He couldn’t play a full domestic first-class season in 2012-13 due to injury and his comeback was marred by a suspension, earned by an angry outburst against a player during a Corporate Trophy match in February 2013. Following a full season with Kings XI in 2013, injuries kept him out of the 2013-14 Ranji Trophy.Praveen, who was a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2008 to 2010, moved to Kings XI Punjab in 2011.

After the uncertainty surrounding their participation in the tournament and the venue of their matches, Pakistan began their Women’s World Cup campaign promisingly, but it did not last

Amol Karhadkar01-Feb-2013After the uncertainty surrounding their participation in the tournament and the venue of their matches, Pakistan began their Women’s World Cup campaign promisingly, but it did not last. They restricted Australia to 175 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, but their batsmen did not make it even halfway to the target.Despite the World Cup being held in India, the favourites to win are defending champions England, New Zealand and Australia. While India have the underdog billing, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are rank outsiders. While Sri Lanka upset England to state they are not here to make up the numbers, Pakistan started positively but their challenge fizzled out against Australia’s experience and tactics.Neither captain expected a high-scoring affair on a low and slow wicket, and when Pakistan had reduced Australia to 99 for 6 in the 29th over, they would have been hoping for a win against the odds. The tail, however, came to Australia’s rescue, as it does consistently. Sarah Coyte’s unbeaten 35 at No. 9 ensured Australia made it past 170.”Our team bats from 1 to 11. We are quite confident about that,” Jodie Fields, Australia’s captain, said. “As Sarah came out and had a partnership lower down the order, just proves that our batting depth is great. I knew that if we got closer to 175, we could bowl to it.”Once they got to the desired total, Australia’s all-round bowling performance helped them win without much difficulty. While the Australian bowlers stuck to their plan of”bowling straight”, Pakistan’s batters played too many rash strokes.”It was a case of poor shot selection from our batters,” the Pakistan captain Sana Mir said. “After we lost early wickets, I would say when I got out, I think that was the turningpoint. We have to be more disciplined, we have to be responsible, because we couldn’t capitalise on all the hard work done by the bowlers.”The pitch was keeping low, no doubt about that. But there is no excuse for this kind of performance [with the bat]. I hold myself responsible.”Mir, however, took positives from her team’s bowling and fielding effort, which produced in four run-outs. “I think this has been our best bowling performance till date against a top opponent like Australia,” she said. “The performance we produced with the ball and in the field is really encouraging. If we can restrict Australia, we can restrict anyteam … be it New Zealand or any other.”While Australia will need to improve their batting against South Africa at the DRIEMS Ground on Sunday, Pakistan will hope to challenge New Zealand at the Barabati. And it being a Sunday, the Odisha Cricket Association will hope the security personnel don’t outnumber the spectators in the stands, like they did today.

This was a tournament packed with amazing storylines, from surprise packages to shock early exits, but who stood out, for both good and bad reasons?

The 2023 Women's World Cup delivered a tournament like no other, with thrills and spills at every corner as the likes of Germany, Brazil and the United States, winners of the last two editions, all crashed out early on, while teams such as Japan entertained all and co-hosts Australia reached an historic semi-final.

It was a World Cup that saw young stars rise to the fore, with Salma Paralluelo shining for eventual champions Spain, Aoba Fujino putting in some dazzling performances for Japan and Lauren James lighting up the world stage for England.

And it was a tournament that delivered its fair share of memorable games, be it Colombia's incredible win over Germany, South Africa's dramatic triumph over Italy that secured a first-ever appearance in the knockout rounds, or Jamaica's draw against Brazil which allowed them to follow the African champions in booking an historic last-16 spot.

So, who were the biggest winners and losers in Australia and New Zealand? GOAL takes a look…

Getty ImagesWINNER: Jorge Vilda

Spain came into this tournament with so much noise around them. After calls for change within the federation followed last year's European Championship, 15 players withdrew from selection for the national team and only three returned for this World Cup.

That meant they were without stars such as Mapi Leon, widely regarded as the best centre-back in the world; Patri Guijarro, Player of the Match in the Women's Champions League final in June; and Claudia Pina, one of Spain's brightest young talents.

But the federation stuck with head coach Jorge Vilda, despite reporting his 'excessive control' and the players' desire for 'greater demand in training'. Had Spain endured a disappointing World Cup, perhaps greater questions would be asked of that decision in the aftermath. However, their triumph will certainly quieten that noise and benefit Vilda.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Sam Kerr

This was meant to be Sam Kerr's tournament. One of the best players on the planet and the face of the Australia women's national team, this was supposed to be a dream for her, a chance for her to captain her team to levels they'd never before reached, and all on home soil.

In the end, it was a fantastic tournament for the Matildas, who reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history. But for Kerr it will be bittersweet, as a calf injury completely limited her on-pitch involvement in that success.

That team-mate and close friend Steph Catley described her absence from the opening game as "one of the most heart-breaking moments of [her] career" said it all. Kerr did get her moment in the semi-finals, Stadium Australia erupting when her thunderous strike flew over Mary Earps and into the top corner to level the scores against England, and it is a moment that will stick with so many Matildas fans forever.

But she'll be rueing those two missed chances that followed it, before England ran out 3-1 winners. If she'd have been fully fit, instead of that being her first start of the tournament, she'd have probably put them away, too.

GettyWINNER: Africa

This World Cup was an absolutely massive one for Africa, with each of Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa qualifying from really tough groups to reach the last 16.

For Morocco, it was a big nod to the strong work the federation has done investing in women's football and committing to supporting the sport more. The country did a fantastic job at last year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations, both in how it was hosted and that the national team reached the final, and their successful debut at the World Cup was another huge step in the right direction.

Nigeria and South Africa, meanwhile, sent messages to their federations with their performances. Both teams have been surrounded by off-field chaos before, during and after the tournament, but they did their talking on the pitch in Australia and New Zealand, showcasing the wonderful talent they have and the fantastic football they can play.

Hopefully this is the latest sign that women's football is massively on the rise in Africa and there will be more investment and, thus, success stories in the near future.

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Getty ImagesLOSER: Sweden

Sweden have reached the semi-finals in seven of their last nine major tournaments and yet winning one continues to elude them.

The Scandinavian nation have long had an incredible generation of talent, with the likes of Barcelona star Fridolina Rolfo, AC Milan playmaker Kosovare Asllani, and Magdalena Eriksson, the long-time Chelsea captain before her summer switch to Bayern Munich, all in the 23 for this year's World Cup. But getting over the line and getting their hands on a major title continues to be beyond them.

At the weekend, they claimed a third World Cup bronze medal in 12 years to go alongside the two Olympic silver medals they've collected in that same timeframe. They had a real chance to make this final, too, scoring a late equaliser in the last four against Spain, only to lose all that momentum when they conceded the winning goal moments later.

Will they be able to go all the way on these big stages?

Kevin Pietersen’s involvement in the 2015 IPL hangs on a crisis meeting at Lord’s on Tuesday that will examine England’s response to a disastrous showing at the World Cup

David Hopps and George Dobell15-Mar-20153:50

Dobell: Pietersen wants to be back on the big stage

Kevin Pietersen’s involvement in the 2015 IPL hangs on a crisis meeting at Lord’s on Tuesday that will examine England’s response to a disastrous showing at the World Cup.That Pietersen might withdraw entirely from the IPL in the hope of making an England comeback would be a remarkable twist in an extraordinary career, but that probability – first intimated by ESPNcricinfo – is becoming likelier by the day as a battle for the control of English cricket takes shape.At that Lord’s meeting, Paul Downton, the managing director of England cricket and the man whose first act upon assuming the job a year ago was to end Pietersen’s international career, will face further questions about the series of disasters that has bedevilled England, on and off the field, ever since the decision was made.If Pietersen receives any encouragement from the outcome of those talks that his England career might potentially be revived, his representatives will immediately step up negotiations to release him from his contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the hope of one last hurrah in Test cricket.It is also entirely possible that Downton, even if he avoided the sack, might regard his own position as untenable.Let’s try that again: Kevin Pietersen is edging closer to a dramatic England return•Getty ImagesSunrisers have made no comment on the situation but it is understood that IPL officials are already aware of the growing probability that Pietersen will want to withdraw.Although, from the point of view of England or the player himself, that Sunrisers might challenge Pietersen’s right to resume an international career might be regarded as beyond contemplation, the IPL franchise might feel that their auction strategy and subsequent marketing push demand that the player honours his contract – whatever the cost on both sides.Money is not the prime motivation for Pietersen, who is perpetually excited by the fact that he might challenge all assumptions and commit himself to England in what would instantly become the most talked-about Ashes series in England since 2005 – his debut Test summer and one in which he was a prime force in England securing the Ashes in the final Test at The Oval.It is The Oval, home of Surrey, which is strongly expected to provide the next chapter of the Pietersen story. Surrey released him at the end of last season – not only did they did not want to consider him as a Twenty20 specialist, there was the possibility of legal action over his impending autobiography to consider – but if he expresses a desire to play in all forms of the game then his return will be sanctioned.Around six English counties have been in the running to provide a home for cricket’s most controversial son, with some of them prepared to offer him a T20-only deal.It is T20 which many observers believe offers Pietersen the best possibility of an England recall, culminating in a grand return at the World T20 in India next year, but it is the chance – however slim – of another shot at the Ashes which has energised him.To achieve that, he would have to forego the glitz of the IPL and rouse himself in front of small crowds in Division Two of the County Championship, something that does not fit easily with him.It is the dream of another Ashes fling which is his prime motivation. After the personal trauma of the past 14 months, the attraction of finishing his England career on a high clearly appeals.Nevertheless, he must also have been disappointed by the outcome of the IPL auction when he failed to attract interest from the likes of Bangalore or Delhi but was picked up by Sunrisers at his base price of Rs 2 crore (£210,000).If the Lord’s meeting ended with an understanding that the Pietersen slate was wiped clean, it would point to the weakening authority not just of Downton but also of Andy Flower, the former England coach, who by the time he left the job after last winter’s 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia was also of the mind that Pietersen should go.The change of mood has been sparked by a new leadership team at the head of the ECB – the incoming chairman, Colin Graves, and chief executive, Tom Harrison.Both are keenly aware of how English cricket is losing the hearts of a wide cross-section of the public. Downton suggested that Pietersen was disconnected with his team-mates after that Ashes disaster, but it is the disconnect between cricket and the nation that could bring about an astonishing development.