It seems Virat Kohli is to not bat before the 12th or 13th over to strengthen the middle and the lower middle order. It suggests a lack of confidence in what was supposed to be India’s strength in their title defence: their batting

Sidharth Monga21-Jan-20150:33

‘Virat can steady the innings at No.4’ – Dhoni

Virat Kohli was India’s best batsman in the Tests. He was setting the tone. He was taking Australia on. He was the face of the Indian team on this tour. He has also been an extremely successful No. 3 batsman in the world for a while. Arguably the best going around in the world at the moment. When Sachin Tendulkar retired from Tests, Kohli spoke about how he had always wanted to set up situations rather than react to them. Not that he wasn’t good at No. 4 – he averages 61 at 4 and 52 at 3 – but you want your best batsman to face as many balls as possible. He played at four because Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were in the team. It has been curious then that Kohli has now dropped down to No. 4, sending in – at times – the inexperienced Ambati Rayudu to face the new ball.When Kohli moved to No. 4, against West Indies in Delhi in October 2014, he had gone 16 international innings with just one half-century to his name, including a failure against West Indies at home too. India’s best batsman was struggling against the new moving ball, and they were getting desperate about it. Out of desperation came the move down to No. 4, and Kohli scored 62 in his first effort after demotion. He went on to score a hundred later from No. 4 later during the home season.When he regained his confidence during the Tests in Australia – not just regained, he had multiplied it – you would have thought that Kohli would reassume his position in the ODIs: you don’t want to waste precious balls at the top of the innings by sending in a lesser batsman. Yet when Shikhar Dhawan fell in the first over in the MCG ODI, out came Ajinkya Rahane. And when Rahane moved up to open in Rohit Sharma’s absence at the Gabba, Dhawan’s wicket in the third over brought out Rayudu.Were India protecting their best batsman? Trying to limit their losses with the new balls. On the face of it defensive, but in their minds a sensible move. If you look at the ODI against West Indies in Dharamsala, on 17 October 2014, you would think that to be the case. For a change India got off to a good start, losing their first wicket in the 12th over. And out came Kohli. And he scored a century. On the evidence of the first two ODIs India have played in Australia, they are going to continue with their flexible strategy. If the first wicket falls early, Rahane or Rayudu goes out to bat at No. 3 and tries to blunt the new ball. If the openers have batted for 10 overs, Kohli goes back to No. 3.The Indian team says Virat Kohli’s move down from No. 3 is a considered move, and a forced one•Getty ImagesQuite convenient for the best batsman in the team, we will say, when he should be facing the tough situations head on. But the team says this is a considered move, and a forced one. The game has changed. You want your best batsmen in the final 20 too, where the big runs can be scored. Although India need to keep in mind that the innings graphs in Australia tend to be more even: it is not as easy to clear these grounds as it is in Indias and South Africas.Also India’s lower middle order is almost non-existent now. The new rules mean India need to play five specialist bowlers. After years spent on developing Ravindra Jadeja as a hitter, India don’t have his services at the moment. It sounds good to say the best batsman should play as many balls as possible, but they also need somebody to hold an innings together should the start not be good.MS Dhoni’s explanation for Kohli’s move down the order was typical of Dhoni in press conferences: unclear and saying many things at once. He wants to both protect Kohli against the new ball, and strengthen the middle order. “We have to make the middle order strong, the middle and the lower middle order,” Dhoni said after India’s massive loss to England in Brisbane.”The reason being Jadeja is also not there. Today okay, Stuart [Binny] was playing and we all know he can bat. But with Akshar [Patel] and [R] Ashwin, if both of them are playing, then me and [Suresh] Raina at 5 and 6. After that, there is not much of batting. So with Virat batting at 4, what really happens is if he bats, he will go in quite early. Still close to the 12th or the 13th over if the wicket falls we will send him. And from then on, he can create partnerships. He can bat from one end and we can all look to give him company from the other side.”This is to basically say that Kohli is to not bat before the 12th or 13th over because then the middle and the lower middle order become weak. Some might see this as Kohli’s inability to build an innings should he be required to bat earlier than that. Can you imagine Viv Richards and Ricky Ponting, when at their prime, agreeing to do this? We don’t know what Kohli thinks of this move. It is possible he might have requested to move down. It is possible he doesn’t like it. It is possible everybody is happy with it. Call it defensive, call it practical, but this move suggests a lack of confidence in what was supposed to be India’s strength in their title defence: their batting. As it is there are a few aspects of the game Dhoni’s team has to get around; this is another unwelcome addition.

They were overwhelming favourites and UAE hardly put up a fight, but India still got to test a few areas which needed tinkering

Abhishek Purohit in Perth28-Feb-20151:50

Agarkar: India ‘clinical’ as they aim to achieve perfection

The match lasted just over the duration of an innings and the Indian team had enough energy and enthusiasm left to slot in a long game of football under the WACA lights afterwards. Despite the lack of fight from UAE, though, the defending champions managed to test out a few areas that they had not been able to during their first two games.They were made to bowl first, something they had not done against Pakistan and South Africa. They were without Mohammed Shami, who had provided them early breakthroughs with the new ball in both those matches. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had not bowled in a game since the warm-up against Australia nearly three weeks ago, was drafted in for his first match of the World Cup, and sent down five reasonable overs.In the chase, Shikhar Dhawan departed for his first low score of the tournament, and Rohit Sharma made his first decent score in three matches. So there were some takeaways for India even from a match in which they were overwhelming favourites , and in which they registered their biggest ever World Cup win in terms of balls remaining.It was good that India lost the toss, for they were looking to bat first as well. Bat first, bat big and bat the opposition out is the way they have looked to go in this World Cup, and it had worked alright against Pakistan and South Africa. Had they done so against UAE as well, it would have been the same template repeated with probably a bigger margin.It would have also meant that they would have had gone halfway through the group stage without knowing how their bowlers would do if they had to set up a target. UAE played too many shots too early against a versatile attack on a bouncy pitch, but India’s bowlers were not lacking in intensity against lesser opponents.Shami had claimed Younis Khan and Quinton de Kock cheaply, but in his absence, Umesh charged in with rhythm and bowled with lots of pace and bounce. Too often, he beat the batsmen for speed on both fuller and shorter deliveries. And the delivery to get the opposition’s form player, Shaiman Anwar, was a peach that was angled in and swung away late to hit off stump. It would have claimed even better batsmen.Bhuvneshwar would not have played had it not been for Shami’s unavailability. Whether he has bowled or not in the nets has become headline material in recent weeks, so carefully have India been treating him as he eases back from an ankle injury. Bhuvneshwar had worked up a decent pace and flow during training last afternoon, and was getting some neat away swing in the warm-ups ahead of the match. He bowled only five overs against UAE, and was largely accurate, but looked rusty at times. MS Dhoni, however, was pleased with his bowler’s first outing in a while.”It was good to give him a game,” Dhoni said. “I thought Bhuvi started off well. He was slightly up in pace. That’s what it felt like from behind. It’s good to see the whole fast-bowling unit available for selection. We’ll see who is the best on those particular wickets that are provided. It’s good to see him getting a bit of action.”There was not much to achieve for the batsmen with a target of 103, but Rohit has not had much game time after picking up a hamstring injury at the start of the one-day tri-series. He threw away a start against Pakistan, and was run out for a duck against South Africa. Rohit is someone who needs quite some time in the middle to get a feel of things and remaining unbeaten on a fifty will have given him just that. All in all, India took away a bit more than two points and a better net run-rate from their first of two matches in Perth.

In the last seven years, Sri Lanka are the only team to have won more games than they have lost when playing Australia at their own backyard

Bishen Jeswant07-Mar-20159-6 Sri Lanka’s win-loss record against Australia, in Australia, in their last 15 completed ODIs. They are the only team to have won more than they have lost when playing against Australia, in Australia, during this period.6-1Australia’s win-loss record against Sri Lanka in World Cups. The only time Sri Lanka have beaten Australia in a World Cup game was in the final of 1996 edition. Earlier in that tournament, Australia had forfeited a league game against them because they chose not to travel to Sri Lanka for safety reasons.9-12 Australia’s win-loss record in their last 23 ODIs against Sri Lanka, since February 2008. South Africa and Sri Lanka are the only two teams against whom Australia have lost more ODIs than they have won in this period.21 Ducks made by Australia’s top-order batsmen (Nos. 1 to 7) since 2013, the fewest for any team. Sri Lanka’s top-order batsmen have made 33 ducks, the second-most after West Indies (36 ducks).29.5 Strike-rate of Australia’s pacers in Australia and New Zealand since 2013, the best for any top-eight team. Sri Lanka’s pacers average 36.6 in these conditions during the same period, the second-worst among these teams.2.6 Australia’s win-loss ratio in home ODIs in the last ten years, the best for any team. They have 74 wins and 28 losses. South Africa and India are the only other teams to have won twice as many home-ODIs as they have lost in this period.31 The average age of the Sri Lankan squad, highest among the Test nations, with only UAE averaging more among other teams (32.5). Four players in the Sri Lankan squad are over 35: Rangana Herath (36), Kumar Sangakkara (37), Mahela Jayawardene (37) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (38).4.63 Economy rate of Sri Lanka’s spinners in ODIs outside Asia since 2013, the second-best for any Test nation. Their average of 32.2 is also the second-best, after India’s spinners (30.3).10 Number of times in the last 10 ODIs that the captain winning the toss has chosen to bat in Sydney. However, the team batting first has only won three of those games.147 Number of ODIs that have been played in Sydney, the second-most at any venue in the world. The only venue to host more ODIs is Sharjah (218).

Stats highlights from the Group B match between India and West Indies in Perth

Bishen Jeswant06-Mar-20154:31

Insights – India’s best pace attack at a World Cup?

13 Wickets taken by India’s bowlers using the short ball this World Cup, the most for any team. Australia have taken eight wickets using the short ball, while Pakistan and South Africa have taken seven each.9 Years since India have bowled out the opposition in four consecutive ODIs. The last time India managed this was in 2006 against England, West Indies and Australia (twice). India have bowled out their opposition in each of the first four games of this World Cup, against Pakistan, South Africa, UAE and West Indies.5 Number of times that West Indies have been bowled out in a World Cup match against India, their most against any team. England and Australia have bowled out West Indies four times each in a World Cup game.10 Instances of West Indies losing four wickets for 50 runs or less in an ODI against India. The only team against whom West Indies have been in such a situation on more occasions is Australia, against whom this has happened 14 times.The Indian pacers’ average of 17.1 this World Cup is their best in any ODI tournament of at least four games•Associated Press8 Runs scored by West Indies in the first five overs. Their lowest five-over score against India, since 2001, is 6 for 2 in Bulawayo in June 2001.12 Runs scored by India in the first five overs, their second-lowest against West Indies since 2001 and the lowest when chasing. India’s lowest five-over score against West Indies is 11 for 0 at Port of Spain in June 2002.17.1 The bowling average of India’s pacers in four matches this World Cup, the best average for India’s pacers in any ODI tournament where they have played at least four matches.3 Consecutive World Cup matches that India have now won against West Indies. India achieved wins against West Indies in the 1996, 2011 and 2015 World Cups. India lost three of their five World Cup encounters against West Indies prior to 1996.

At Trent Bridge in 1973, a team of “pushovers” were set 479 and they went for it. Not the right time to be studying for an O-level

Steven Lynch07-Jun-2015I’ve always enjoyed watching New Zealand. Especially the current team, arguably their finest. Along with every other non-Aussie, I was rooting for them in the World Cup final in Melbourne at the end of March: this summer, only the most dedicated England fans could have begrudged them a share of the annoyingly short series. It’s not just the attacking batting, although that’s what catches the eye: I’m not sure I’ve ever seen such collective fielding excellence, which often led to three men tearing after the ball towards the boundary. And Trent Boult is a real handful with the ball.New Zealand’s displays this summer brought to mind an against-the-odds performance from my youth – one that, as we’ll see, threatened to derail my school exams.Until the 1970s, New Zealand were usually heavily outgunned in England. The honourable exception was the 1949 side, captained by Richard Hadlee’s father Walter, which drew all of that summer’s four Tests, and brought about a change in thinking. Those were three-day matches: previously, only Australia were thought worthy of the full five days, although South Africa usually got four. But after the New Zealanders’ plucky performance, all Tests in Britain were scheduled to last five days – something that rebounded on England the following year, when they lost 3-1 to West Indies.However, apart from Hadlee’s band (which boasted several fine batsmen in Martin Donnelly and the young Bert Sutcliffe and John Reid), New Zealand’s results weren’t great. The 1958 side was arguably the weakest touring team ever to tour England; only rain prevented a 5-0 whitewash, with Tony Lock taking 34 wickets at 7.47. Five times New Zealand were bowled out for less than 100; in the third Test, at Headingley, England declared at 267 for 2 and won by an innings. The 1965 and 1969 teams were despatched with more whimpers than bangs too.

It was hard to concentrate on dictée and les neiges d’antan when, not too far away, there was a Test match in the balance. Luckily the master invigilating that day was also a cricket lover

New Zealand had still never won a Test against England, home or away, so the arrival of the 1973 team didn’t raise the temperature too much, although Glenn Turner scoring 1000 runs before the end of May in the warm-up games did at least boost their public profile. When the Tests came, though, Turner’s form had fizzled out: in the first one, at Trent Bridge, he scored 11 and 9, while his opening partner John Parker – who I’d seen get a few runs for Worcestershire (though not as many as Turner) – failed to reach double figures in either innings.A peculiar Test match thus unfolded at Nottingham. England’s batsmen hadn’t set the world alight in making 250, but their seamers made that look more imposing by shooting the tourists out for just 97. England’s second innings was strangely lopsided: eight batsmen were dismissed in single figures – but in the middle of that Dennis Amiss made 138 and Tony Greig 139, sharing a stand of 210. The youthful Ask Steven was distinctly unamused when Geoff Arnold at No. 11 ruined what might have been a unique scorecard by making 10 not out.Bevan Congdon batted on and on and ended with 176•Getty ImagesNew Zealand were thus left with a record 479 to win, in more than two days, and the early loss of Turner and Parker didn’t bode well. But then things started getting interesting – and started to impinge on the preparations for my French O-level exam, scheduled for the final day. Who, after all, could be bothered about irregular verbs, and that pesky business about whether nouns are masculine or feminine, when Greig was bouncing in to bowl, or Arnold was wobbling his seamers around?From an unpromising 130 for 4, New Zealand were soon well past 200, thanks to a fine partnership between their captain, Bevan Congdon, and the British-born Vic Pollard – probably the finest Test player to emerge from Burnley pre-Anderson. They batted for most of the fourth day, and slowly the miracle seemed possible. Congdon, old-fashioned of technique and hairstyle, seemed immovable, and reached a career-best 176 before, in a major blow to New Zealand hopes, he was bowled by Arnold just before the close.All the commentators seemed to call him “Bev” Congdon, and the habit stuck with me. Until a couple of years ago, when I mentioned him in an article and received a pained email from a Kiwi: “One of my pet hates! Congdon was always Bevan not Bev in NZ. Not sure why the English media always called him Bev!” Duly chastened, I’ve tried to give him the full Bevan ev since.The next morning the French textbooks were still not getting much attention as Pollard reached his maiden Test century, in the course of a stand of 95 with the ill-fated wicketkeeper Ken Wadsworth. As the total inched towards 400 – less than 100 to win! – I remember giving serious consideration to calling in sick for the exam. But I did eventually tear myself away – it was supposed to be one of my better subjects, after all.But it was hard to concentrate on dictée and les neiges d’antan when, not too far away, there was a Test match in the balance. Luckily the master invigilating that day was also a cricket lover; he’d been at school with Tom Dollery, Warwickshire’s captain when they won the Championship in 1951. And he put my mind at rest by sidling round mid-exam and – probably breaking every known rule – surreptitiously showing me a piece of paper: “England won by 38 runs.”Yes, unseen by me, New Zealand had made it to 402 for 5 – just 77 short of the holy grail – but then England’s persistent seamers claimed the last five wickets for 38. Still, 440 was the highest losing fourth-innings total in a Test at the time (it has since been surpassed, although New Zealand remain the record holders, with 451 against England in Christchurch in 2001-02). And they showed their performance was no fluke, in the next Test, at Lord’s: Congdon followed 176 with 175, and Pollard made another century. This time they managed to draw. England took that series, but New Zealand were clearly pushovers no more. A Test victory over England finally came, in 1977-78, and in 1983 they recorded their first win on English soil.And, dear reader, I passed.

South African batsman Colin Ingram on his international career, fishing as a sport, and why he’s called Mop and Bozie

Interview by Jack Wilson08-May-2015What is the best innings you have ever played?
I hit 136 in my first senior school game. We were chasing 200-odd and we got them in about 25 overs. I’d told the coach I was going to do it too. It’s always nice when you do that and it comes off. I don’t think I’ve ever played better than that since.How do you look at your South Africa career?
I started off really well and scored a few hundreds but I lacked consistency. I needed to score more heavily but I really enjoyed it. International cricket was absolutely awesome.You have bowled six balls in your ODI career and went for 17 runs. What happened?
We were playing Pakistan. Misbah-ul-Haq was on strike and I tossed one of my leggies up and he clubbed it for six. I turned round and said, “Let’s see if you can do it again” – and he did.Might have been best not to say that, then?
I don’t regret it! As a leggie you know sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t.Which cricketer would you like to be from the past?
I’d love to have been Brian Lara. He spent so much time at the crease and scored so many runs.What is the one thing in your cricket career that you regret?
Not getting a double-hundred – yet.What was the best thing about playing in the IPL?
It was great to mix with a totally different culture. You are out there for a couple of months and get to see people from backgrounds so different to yours. It was an incredible experience.If you could be a professional at any other sport, what would it be?
That’s easy, fishing. It’s a great sport.What has been the worst sledge directed at you?
Dillon du Preez once commented on my hair and said it looked like a mop because it hadn’t been cut for a while. He still calls me Mop now.Tell us something we don’t know about you.
I have a Black Angus cattle stud called Ingram Angus.What do you do in a rain break?
Look for conversation with someone who is light-hearted and up for banter.Ingram looks quite suited for the long hours of stillness required during fishing•Associated PressYour nickname is Bozie – why?
It’s from when I was a kid. I had a walking ring and I used to ram into everything. Bozie comes from bulldozer. My nan said I used to bulldoze around. She worked at my school and kindly passed it on to all my friends.What’s the funniest prank you’ve seen in a dressing room?
A team-mate once put a hamburger patty into someone’s pad. It ended up staying there for three weeks before he told him. The smell was horrific.Which of your team-mates – past or present – has the worst dress sense?
Justin Kreusch is the worst. A lot of us Warriors lads were in our twenties, he was in his thirties, and he dressed like he was in his fifties.Who has the worst taste in music?
Basheer Walters at the Warriors. He listens to one-tone music which goes on for about eight minutes. Awful.And who has the most natural talent?
Graham Wagg seems to be able to do anything. AB de Villiers is a freak too. He can do any sport he wants well – even darts.

As he nears his 29th birthday, David Warner does not want to be the chief on-field “attack dog” anymore, and away from the middle he wants to keep a lower profile

Daniel Brettig in Kingston10-Jun-2015In the early weeks of Australia’s tour to the Caribbean, David Warner made waves for not making them. He was quiet, withdrawn, and not given to social interaction with teammates and team staff who had grown used to a far louder, more jack-in-the-box persona.The difference was so pronounced that it caught the attention of the coach Darren Lehmann, who spoke with Warner about it. While accepting Lehmann’s counsel, Warner is determined to reposition himself, both on and off the field.Warner has told ESPNcricinfo the changes witnessed in the early days of this trip were deliberate, and a statement of intent. As he nears his 29th birthday, Warner does not want to be the chief on-field “attack dog” anymore, and away from the middle he wants to keep a lower profile. In Dominica, this was personified by how Warner threw himself around the field with considerable abandon, but was hardly glimpsed in confrontation with the opposition.These decisions will have considerable implications for the Australian team, but Warner hopes they will ultimately result in a most critical benefit – consistent runs, and bigger hundreds.”My approach the last couple of weeks, I sat down and had a think about what lies ahead for me and how much cricket there is coming up over the next 18 to 24 months,” Warner said. “For me it’s about conserving my energy. In the everyday world, everyone knows that sitting down and having a conversation with someone can be draining and energy-zapping.”So when you’re in big groups and around each other all the time at training, you want to give 100% at training and you’re committed in the nets and try to help out as much as you can, but you’ve got to try to conserve as much energy as you can. I’ve quietened down a little bit around the guys, and it’s more about myself for the longevity of my career and giving your all when you’re actually out there for Australia.”Much of Warner’s energy had recently been directed at numerous unfortunates on the opposing side. Under the leadership duo of Lehmann and Michael Clarke, Warner had been given licence – sometimes even instruction – to instigate confrontations with opponents and rile them to distraction. Jonathan Trott, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are just a few of the players he has crossed, resulting in several fines.

“In the past I’ve been someone who’s been told to go out there and do this and do that, but at the end of the day I’ve got to look after myself. If I don’t want to be that instigator, I don’t have to be that instigator.” – David Warner

Warner is conscious of the fate that befell Andrew Symonds, an earlier man tasked with the job of giving no quarter to opposing teams, and he now wants respect as well as success. Given his hyper-competitive nature and predilection for motivating himself through the occasional stoush, it will be a challenging transition to make. It is possible to imagine players he has berated in the past wondering what has come over him.”There’s times when you need to try and keep quiet, but what people perceive me on the field as … the ways I’ve approached the game on the field the last couple of years, I created that myself,” Warner said. “I’m always in the heat of the battle. I’m always the one who’s going at the batters, not saying I’m not going to do that, but every opportunity there is out there it always seems to be cameras on me.”So I’ve got to be smarter, on my game, and make sure I don’t get too carried away with being in that moment. Now at 28, almost 29, I’ve got a daughter I love dearly. Settling down and maturing can happen on the field as well. My goal for … hopefully I play longer than five years … is to be the person who gets that respect from people.”Whether the team is happy with Warner taking a back seat from acts of sledging or gamesmanship remains to be seen. Lehmann’s desire for his teams to “go hard” at opponents is well known and was epitomised by the brilliance married with boorishness during this year’s World Cup final. Asked how the team felt, Warner said it was ultimately up to him to choose how he conducted himself.”It’s up to me to deal with that,” he said. “In the past I’ve been someone who’s been told to go out there and do this and do that, but at the end of the day I’ve got to look after myself, and that’s what everyone does. There are people who do talk and don’t talk on the field. If I don’t want to be that instigator, I don’t have to be that instigator. So time will tell. I’ve learned a lot over the last five years.”And what of Warner the batsman? The West Indies is a place that has challenged him, both in 2012 on his first overseas tour as a member of the Test team and this time as he contemplates a new approach. The more prominent seam of the Dukes ball has been one area of challenge, the combination of slow pitches and slow outfields another. What he wants more than anything else are big hundreds. Should he make them, it is hard to see many members of the team minding that it is a different Warner doing so.”I’ve still got to go out there and play the game as I play it, because if I get bogged down and go defensive it’s not going to help my game, I’m not going to score any runs,” Warner said. “So I need to take on the bowlers but respect the bowlers as well. I’ve done that in the past, shown what I can do and that’s the approach I’ll keep taking.”Moving forward the challenge for me is to turn hundreds into big hundreds and not to be content and complacent when I’m out there. I need to keep working hard as I can in these conditions to try to bat time as an opening batter. It’s great to be 1 or 2 for 250, but I want to be the person who’s there when we’re 400 or 500. That’s where I’ve learned a lot since previous tours in these kinds of conditions, and I think that’s going to help immensely.”So there it is, David Warner as silent(ish) assassin. He, and we, will see how it fits.

Technically, it wasn’t a home game for Mumbai Indians but the Wankhede Stadium was a sea of blue almost an hour before the start and played its role to help Mumbai turn the playoff tide against Super Kings

Amol Karhadkar in Mumbai20-May-20151:37

Karhadkar: Dramatic turnaround for Mumbai Indians

The opening comboWith an average of 45-plus, David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan had been the opening partnership of the tournament. Not anymore. Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel have emerged as the best opening association, crossing the 50-run mark when it comes to runs per innings.Simmons and Patel have not only bettered the Sunrisers duo in terms of numbers, but more importantly, in impact as well. If their second hundred-plus partnership in Hyderabad two nights ago had ensured Mumbai Indians sailed into the playoffs without any fuss, they repeated the heroics by putting on 90 against the Super Kings.The partnership laid the foundation for a big total to justify Mumbai’s decision to bat first. Moreover, a lack of early breakthroughs meant perhaps for the first time did MS Dhoni throw the ball to Dwayne Bravo in the middle overs. While the move worked as Bravo broke the stand in the 11th, it left the Trinidadian with only two overs to bowl at the back end.Brutal PollardWhen Kieron Pollard dug a bail to mark his guard in a trademark West Indian manner, 38 balls had left to be bowled in the Mumbai innings. Super Kings had held the upper hand for the preceding four overs, their longest period of strength in the whole match. If Pollard could bat half the remaining balls, it could end up being the difference between the two teams.When Pollard was caught off Bravo at long-off in the last over, he had faced two balls fewer than half the allotment, but the damage had been done. Of the first four balls he faced, two sailed into the crowd. But Pollard’s audacious touch was amply displayed in his fifth six, struck on the delivery before he was dismissed. Bravo pitched it well outside off but Pollard swung it so hard and flat that the ball cleared the long-on boundary, with most spectators realizing it was a six only after watching Faf du Plessis attempting a futile dive.Illingworth sets the paceThe IPL has continued to expose mediocre standards of Indian umpires. On Tuesday, English umpire Richard Illingworth joined the ranks by adjudging Dwayne Smith leg before off a Lasith Malinga slower one when the ball was sliding past where fifth stump could have been.Owing to his New Zealand commitments, Brendon McCullum was missing from the Chennai Super Kings squad. If Chennai Super Kings had to keep the Baz going, Smith had to return to scoring big. Having scored just 72 runs in his last six innings, Smith got off to a cautious start, avoiding an audacious stroke for the first three balls.On the fourth ball, he didn’t pick Malinga’s change of pace but more than that was undone by Illingworth’s error in judgment. Once pegged back, the Super Kings chase could never manage to hit the top gear, always playing catch-up.Lasith Malinga seized on a generous decision to dismantle Chennai’s chase from the start•BCCIHarbhajan does a SuchithJ Suchith’s two wickets in as many balls put Mumbai Indians in firm control of their must-win final league game in Hyderabad two nights earlier. It was Harbhajan Singh’s turn to repeat the heroics this time around.Harbhajan has been one of the silent contributors to Mumbai Indians’ resurgence this year but he made a big impression by dismissing Suresh Raina and Dhoni off successive balls. In a high-pressure game, any instance of two-in-two would help the bowling team take a firm grip on the match. When the victims included the most successful batsman in IPL history and the best finisher in limited overs’ cricket, Harbhajan’s job was more than done.Had Harbhajan completed a second return catch of the over off the last ball to see Bravo’s back, the Super Kings may well have waved the white flag there and then.Home run reverses the qualifier trendThe four matches of the IPL playoffs are organised by the BCCI-IPL, and not by the hosting franchise. So technically, it wasn’t a home game for Mumbai Indians. But the technicality came to zilch as the Wankhede Stadium was a sea of blue almost an hour before the game was to start. The Wankhede crowd, which often acts as a 12th man for Mumbai Indians, played its role to help Mumbai turn the playoff tide against Super Kings.The paroxysm of noise from the Wankhede crowd usually peaks after 10 pm, when stadium loudspeakers have to be turned off due to a state government regulation. That is when the loud chants of Ma-lin-ngaa and Mumbai, Mumbai [clap, clap, clap] give pangs in the stomachs of visiting teams.Tuesday was no different. The crowd played its part to help Mumbai Indians buck the playoff trend against Super Kings. Though Mumbai Indians had clinched the 2013 IPL by beating Super Kings in the final, they had failed to win any of their four qualifiers/eliminators against the same opposition.

For four years Junaid Khan was Pakistan’s best bowler after Saeed Ajmal, but he is now struggling to regain the pace and accuracy he had before the knee injury in October

Umar Farooq in Colombo29-Jun-2015Junaid Khan pitched the ball on what was a perfect length for a bouncer, but Kithuruwan Vithanage dismissed him to the midwicket boundary with a powerful pull. The bouncer used to be a standout feature of Junaid’s bowling – jagging back at the batsman’s throat from outside off – but something is now missing, and it has been so since the tour of Bangladesh earlier this year.On the fifth day of the Test at the P Sara Oval in Colombo, Junaid was removed from the attack after his second over. He finished with figures of 0 for 30 in four overs to go with his 29-5-89-1 in the first innings. He had gone wicketless in Galle, and is now a doubtful starter for the third Test in Pallekele, with Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq saying Junaid’s form was a “worrying sign” for the team.

Misbah rues first-innings failure

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has vowed to bounce back in the third and final Test in Pallekele after losing by seven wickets in Colombo.
“We are definitely going into the next Test determined, and we have the example of Sri Lanka – the way they bounced back,” Misbah said. “I think our batsman are not scoring big runs and it’s on them. We are obviously going to sit and discuss our mistakes and come up with a positive state of mind to try and win the next Test.”
Pakistan never recovered after being bowled out for 138 in the first innings and Sri Lanka leveled the series on the final day.”We couldn’t handle the pressure after being 70 for 2 and then 138 all out, that really was something that didn’t allow us to get back in the game. That was the thing that kept us under pressure throughout the Test.”
Pakistan put up a better fight in the second innings, which included a dogged century by Azhar Ali, but the target of 152 was insufficient. “They knew the weather condition and they got only one chance to go out and finish the game before lunch. That actually took a bit of pressure off them and they batted freely. Otherwise, had they had a full game ahead of them and had to score 150, it could have been a different game. But they came out with an attacking approach and that made the chase look easy for them.”

“I really don’t know what is happening with him but I think maybe after injury he is not able to gain the confidence and rhythm that is required,” Misbah said of Junaid after Pakistan lost the second Test by seven wickets. “We expected that after playing a couple of matches he might find his form, but I think it’s a worrying sign for us. Lets see how it goes. We have other options in the form of three more seamers and we will take a call after looking at the conditions there.”Junaid burst on to the international circuit soon after the spot-fixing scandal in 2010 and his success gave Pakistan a reason to look beyond the banned Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif. He took a five-wicket haul in only his second Test and developed into Pakistan’s first-choice fast bowler despite most of the pitches he played on being placid UAE surfaces. After 14 Tests, he had 50 wickets to Amir’s 51 in the same number of matches; Junaid’s cost 27.54 apiece while Amir took his at 29.Between 2011 and 2014, he was Pakistan’s best bet after Saeed Ajmal and Misbah once said they were the kind of bowlers who made life easy for him. Shorn of home games because of security reasons, Junaid’s services helped Pakistan rebuild after the troubles of 2010. It was a delight to watch him bowl, his orthodox run-up beginning with a little jump that gives him the rhythm to steam in.Four years later, Junaid is arguably the weakest link in Pakistan’s attack on this tour of Sri Lanka. His pace and movement are diminished, his lengths inconsistent, and his demeanour unthreatening. And before this tour, he had enjoyed tremendous success against Sri Lanka – 49 of his 70 wickets were against them at 26 apiece. It’s hard not to feel for him.Junaid’s problems began in October 2014, when a grade 3 osteochondral fracture in his knee forced him to miss series’ against Australia and New Zealand in the UAE. He recovered to be named in the squad for the one-dayers in New Zealand ahead of the World Cup, but had a fall while training at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. He missed those ODIs and was subsequently ruled out of the World Cup too. Since his return, Junaid has six wickets in four Tests, the leanest patch of his career.It could be argued that Junaid could have been eased back into international cricket after some practice games at home. He was bowling in the nets during his rehab at the NCA and he did not play any competitive cricket before being sent on the tour of Bangladesh after the World Cup, having been out of action for almost eight months.Now, with Rahat Ali coming in for the injured Wahab Riaz, and Ehsan Adil and Imran Khan on the bench, Junaid might not make the cut for Pallekele. “He might be dropped and why not?” said Ramiz Raja, the former Pakistan captain. “He is one fine bowler but after injury it’s quite natural. He might have lost his pace, which happens after injury, but he can revive himself and regain his confidence with time.”

Stats highlights from the second ODI between Zimbabwe and New Zealand in Harare

Bishen Jeswant04-Aug-2015236 New Zealand’s opening partnership in this game, their highest in ODI history during a chase. Overall, this is their second-highest opening stand in ODIs, and the third instance of their openers posting a 200-plus stand.2 Number of times that both New Zealand openers have made centuries in the same ODI. Tom Latham and Guptill both made centuries for New Zealand in this ODI, with the only previous instance of their openers doing this being against Ireland in 2008.10 Number of wickets by which New Zealand won this ODI, their seventh 10-wicket win in all ODIs. Zimbabwe are the only team against whom New Zealand have achieved two wins by a 10-wicket margin.5 Number of times that a team has won an ODI by 10 wickets when chasing a target of 200-plus runs. Zimbabwe are the only opposition to have suffered this fate twice, and Harare is the only venue where such a loss has been suffered on two occasions. There have been a total of 2619 ODIs where the team batting first has set the opposition a target of 200 or more.8 Number of ODI centuries for Martin Guptill, going past Kane Williamson (7) and equalling Stephen Fleming (8). The only New Zealand batsmen to score more ODI centuries than Guptill are Nathan Astle (16) and Ross Taylor (15).14 Number of ODI hundreds scored by New Zealand batsmen in 2015, by far the most for them in a calendar year. The previous record for New Zealand was seven centuries in a year, scored in 2007, 2011 and 2014.89 The partnership between Tinashe Panyangara and Sikandar Raza, the highest ninth-wicket stand for Zimbabwe in their ODI history, going past the 55-run stand between Kevin Curran and Peter Rawson against West Indies in 1983.100 Runs scored by No. 7 Raza in this game – the first instance of a Zimbabwe batsman making a century when batting at No. 6 or lower in an ODI. There had been four instances of Zimbabwe batsmen making 90s from these batting positions before.1003 ODI runs aggregated by Craig Ervine, making him the 22nd batsman from Zimbabwe to reach 1000 ODI runs. His average of 37.14 is the highest for any Zimbabwe batsman who has scored 1000 runs. Ervine needed only 31 innings to reach the 1000-run mark, which is the second-fastest for any Zimbabwe batsman after Neil Johnson (28 innings).1007 ODI runs aggregated by Sikandar Raza, making him the 23rd batsman from Zimbabwe to reach 1000 ODI runs. His strike rate of 84.90 is the highest for any Zimbabwe batsman who has scored 1000 runs.1 Number of times Zimbabwe have successfully defended a total of 250 or less against New Zealand – in Christchurch in 1998.10 Number of players who have scored 4000-plus ODI runs for New Zealand. Martin Guptill became the 10th New Zealander to this mark when he was batting on 56 during in this game.3 Number of 100-plus opening stands for New Zealand in 2015. New Zealand only had one 100-plus opening stand in the 33 months before that, going back to March 2012.33 Runs scored by Panyangara in this ODI, more than double his previous best ODI score – 16 not out verus Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2005. Interestingly, Panyangara had scored a total of 33 runs in his previous 13 ODIs (eight innings).