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Star overseas signing only bowls two overs as rain curtails debut

ESPNcricinfo staff and ECB Reporters Network08-Apr-2024Lancashire are hoping that “common sense prevails” in their discussions with Cricket Australia over Nathan Lyon’s availability, after his debut for the county against Surrey was heavily curtailed by the Manchester weather.Lyon initially signed for the whole season but was only made available for seven out of Lancashire’s first nine County Championship fixtures by CA. He was selected as one of two spinners, alongside Tom Hartley, for the opening match but his involvement was restricted to a first-ball duck and two wicketless overs.Asked if Lyon’s cameo would count as one of his seven permitted appearances, Lancashire coach Dale Benkenstein said: “I hope not. We have asked the question and hope common sense prevails. Two overs doesn’t constitute a match. But we are waiting to hear back from Cricket Australia.”Related

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• Lyon looks beyond Ashes to spread spin gospel

Only 81.1 overs were possible across the four days at Emirates Old Trafford. The water table on the ground is very high and heavy overnight rain made the prospects of play on the final day slim even before a further morning shower. Umpires Peter Hartley and Paul Pollard carried out three inspections before finally pulling the plug at 2.15 pm.”It wasn’t ideal but there’s a few grounds [around the country] where it has been worse,” Benkenstein said. “At least we got some play. We got some positives out of it and there were a few areas in which we can do better.”Although there wasn’t a lot of cricket out in the middle, the nets have been great. Everybody’s managed to get a good bowl outside, and there has been a lot of batting in the nets on grass which helps us top up and get ready for the Hampshire game.”Surrey’s coach Gareth Batty praised the performances of Cameron Steel and Dan Lawrence, who took nine first-innings wickets between them. “I think both Cam and Dan are very skilled spinners but because we have a very good seam attack, the spinners don’t always get a go,” Batty said. “They got a go here and they were both quite magnificent.”Having bowled out Lancashire for 202 on Saturday , Surrey took 11 points from the game while Lancashire took eight points. Rory Burns’ team now return home to play Somerset at The Oval in a game starting on Friday while Lancashire’s next match is away at Hampshire, also on Friday.

Opener underpins strong showing before Lions lose regular wickets in second innings

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2023England Lions 413 for 8 dec and 164 for 8 (Robinson 39) lead SL President’s XI 355 for 9 dec (Madushka 150, Udara 93, Tongue 3-22) by 222 runsNishan Madushka’s 150 underpinned a strong reply from SL President’s XI on day two of their warm-up match against England Lions in Colombo. Madushka went along at close to a run a ball before retiring out, while wicketkeeper Lahiru Udara cracked 93 off 85 balls to repay the Lions for some of their aggression on day one.SL President’s XI eventually declared 58 runs behind but made deep inroads when the Lions batted again. The visitors, who scored at 6.16 an over in their first innings, were 63 for 4 second time around, before a counterattacking stand between Ollie Robinson and Liam Patterson-White, with the latter rattling off 39 from 25 balls.The Lions eventually closed on 164 for 8, leading by 222 ahead of the final day, with Jack Haynes and Josh Bohannon – who both made first-innings fifties – at the crease.The day began with Udara joining Madushka in the middle, and the pair put on a partnership worth 170 in 24 overs. Jack Carson removed Udara and Patterson-White picked up the second of his three wickets before Madushka retired out to leave SL President’s XI on 328 for 5. Josh Tongue then picked up three wickets in the space of four overs, to finish with tidy figures of 3 for 22.Lions captain Haseeb Hameed fell cheaply for the second time in the match, and Alex Lees added a 22-ball 27 to his first-innings hundred before retiring. Tom Haines and Lyndon James were both bowled by Sahan Arachchige, while Nimesh Vimukthi also picked up two-for as the Lions cracked on again, scoring at a rate of 5.29 while wickets tumbled.

“You can do drafts for new players coming in, you can do trades, you can do loans and allow teams to build something for the long haul”

Nagraj Gollapudi and Raunak Kapoor01-Dec-20215:50

Why were Russell and Narine retained? KKR CEO explains

The big IPL auction has “outlived its usefulness”. That’s the view of Kolkata Knight Riders’ chief executive officer Venky Mysore and Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal.The strong statements from the heads of two of the eight existing T20 franchises came on Tuesday, after the teams finalised their player retentions ahead of the 2022 mega auction. While Mysore felt the big auction was no more the “level-playing field” it once was, when it was first held in 2011, Jindal said it was “heart-breaking” to invest time and money into so many players only to lose them three years on.”There is a tipping point that’s coming for the league where you have to question whether a big auction is really something that needs to be part of this whole process,” Mysore told ESPNcricinfo while discussing Knight Riders’ retentions on Tuesday. “Or you can do drafts for new players coming in, you can do trades, you can do loans and allow teams to build something for the long haul.”Related

• IPL 2022: Brian Lara, Dale Steyn join Sunrisers' support staff; Tom Moody returns as coach

• Rashid, Rahul, Hardik among big names released

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• IPL retention in numbers: Venkatesh Iyer's 40x pay hike; uncapped Umran Malik's big contract

Both franchises retained four players each, but they had to release others who had been part of their core group for the past few years. For example, Knight Riders parted ways with Shubman Gill, Lockie Ferguson, Rahul Tripathi and Nitish Rana, among others, while Capitals let go of Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, R Ashwin and many more.While Shreyas Iyer had opted to leave the Capitals and go back into the auction, Jindal felt the situation could been avoided. “It was heart-breaking to lose Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan, a Kagiso Rabada, an Ashwin,” Jindal said while speaking to host broadcaster on Tuesday. “It’s just that this auction process is built like this and I think going forward the IPL really needs to look at it because it’s not really fair that you build up a team, you give youngsters a chance, you groom them through your set-up and they get opportunities, they play for your franchise, then they go and play for the county or their respective countries, and then you lose them after three years.”Several of the IPL franchises now own academies and have an in-house scouting system that taps talent from the lower rungs with the aim to groom them for the team.”Directionally at this stage, if you ask me, since the league has completed 14 years, the big auction has outlived its usefulness,” Mysore said. “And you have to reward franchises investing in scouting and academies, in growth. We have done that with KKR Academy and we have our scouting structure, both domestic (and) international. Someone sent me a note the other day that from 2018, we have had six uncapped players who have gone to play for India. You feel very happy that that we are making some contribution in that regard as well.”More importantly, from a franchise standpoint, there’s return on the kind of investment that you make and you feel good about that. There was a time when the big auction really was important to create that level-playing field, but even then we were sort of feeling like if you are going to give a franchise the opportunity to pick some players back, it should be through right-to-match cards rather than pre-auction retention.”When the IPL started in 2008, the plan involved all players going back to the auction. However, before the 2011 mega auction, when two new teams – Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala – were added to the league, the IPL decided the eight original teams could retain four players each. Before the second mega auction, in 2014, Mysore had suggested the right-to-match method so teams could retain their core. It was accepted and the teams were allowed to retain four players and match two players. In the 2018 mega auction, the eight existing teams were allowed two right-to-matches, again along with three retentions.This time, the IPL removed the right-to-match option. And with the two new teams – Lucknow and Ahmedabad – allowed to pick three players each from the non-retained pool, both big-name and uncapped players have opted not to be retained.6:17

Vettori: Delhi Capitals have nailed their retentions

“My sense is this challenge will always occur as long as you have this pre-auction retention rule there,” Mysore said. “Our recommendation has always been to say – please allow the marketplace to determine the price and allow teams to pick the numbers of people at the auction.”So our consistent recommendation is put everybody back into the auction and if you are allowing existing teams to pick four people, give each of them four right-to-match cards and give three to the two new teams. So there is no confusion.”One downside to the right-to-match method is that rival teams can always drive up the price of a player you want just to cut your auction purse. Pre-auction retention was designed to stop that but Mysore isn’t convinced.”You can’t blame anyone either because there’s always that argument – why pre-auction retention? Then someone says, ‘oh, you know, if you go only to the auction and have only right-to-match cards, other teams know who the franchise is going to retain, they are going to run up the price’.”I think the league has reached a level of maturity and all the people at the table, they also understand how this works. And they’ve been burnt also – if you try to use that strategy, just to drive somebody’s price up so that they will have lesser money for the next lot of players, that can come back to haunt you if you really don’t want that player. If you want that player then that’s a different story.”

IPL has permitted families to travel and stay inside the bio-secure bubble, but franchises to take final decision

Nagraj Gollapudi04-Aug-2020The IPL has laid out a rigorous testing process for players and support staff who will need to clear at least four tests along with a week-long quarantine before they can start training in the UAE. Details of the testing process and frequency feature among the draft document of standard operating procedures (SOPs), which the IPL shared with franchises on Monday.The SOPs include details on dos and don’ts during travel, lodging and training during the 53-day tournament, which is scheduled to be played at three venues in the UAE – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah – between September 19 and November 10. The BCCI is yet to announce the tournament schedule as it awaits a formal nod from the Indian government.ESPNcricinfo understands that teams have been asked to travel with “minimum” contingents and not before August 20. Among the SOPs, the IPL has permitted families of squad members to travel to the UAE and stay inside the bio-secure bubble, but the final decision on that front will remain with each franchise. However, the IPL has made it mandatory that each team will need to have a medical doctor on board to help the franchise mitigate risks as well educate the squad during the Covid-19 pandemic.Testing protocolsAs per the draft SOPs, IPL has recommended to franchises that all members carry out two tests before their squads depart for the UAE. Those two tests will need to be done at 24-hour intervals as per the World Health Organisation norms. They will also need to be done before the player or coaching/support staff member assembles in the city where they will board the flight for the UAE. The validity of the second test result will need to last for at least four days (96 hours) including the date of landing in the UAE.The player or staff in question can only fly out if both those tests come out negative. Anyone infected will need to undergo the mandatory two-week quarantine period as per the guidelines of the Indian government. After that, the person will need to undergo a fresh set of two tests and clear them before joining the squad in the UAE.Once the squad lands in the UAE, all members are to undergo another test at the airport before heading to the team hotel. From this point, the IPL testing protocol will kick in.As per the protocol, every squad will undergo a mandatory seven-day quarantine in the team hotel. During this week every squad member will be tested thrice – on days 1, 3 and 6. Once all those results come back negative, the squad can start training.After that, all squad members will be tested on the fifth day of every week throughout the tournament.As far as the non-Indian players and staff are concerned, they will need to carry the negative result of the test carried out in the last 96 hours before arriving in the UAE.As per the local rules, during the tournament squads travelling to Abu Dhabi will need to carry negative test results carried out in the previous 48 hours. As per the IPL guidelines, if the weekly test result has expired during the course of travel to Abu Dhabi, squads will need to undergo a fresh test again.Testing positive during the tournamentIn such a scenario, it is understood that the person in question would need to isolate but outside the bubble, considering that aerosols – respiratory droplets – can easily be transmitted. That infected person would be put in a sanitised room within the same hotel. One of the guidelines recommends having a few rooms where the squad is staying to isolate any infected person(s).No stepping out of the bubbleIt is understood the IPL has made it clear no person can go in and out of the bio-secure bubble during the course of the tournament. Strict social distancing norms have been recommended, including squad members discouraged from having any close contact even within the bubble which includes moving between hotel rooms. Squad members have also been asked to wear masks outside their rooms at hotels and avoid any unnecessary movement.There will be exceptions. If an injured player needs to visit a hospital for X-rays or scans, then the guidelines suggest the movement be restricted to the clinic with minimal interaction with outsiders.One team per hotelAs per the guidelines all eight teams will stay in separate hotels. The franchises have been asked to book a hotel or resort exclusively for the squads with no outsiders allowed. If that is not possible, then IPL has recommended they stay somewhere with a separate wing, entrance and exit.

“The decision will now be sent the DDCA Apex Council to be ratified,” president Rajat Sharma said and expected it to be enforced in full overnight

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Feb-2019A life ban has been recommended for Anuj Dedha, the Delhi cricketer who assaulted Amit Bhandari, the former India bowler and now chairman of selectors for Delhi’s senior and Under-23 teams.The recommendation to ban Dedha was taken on Wednesday at a Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) meeting attended by its president Rajat Sharma, members of the senior selection panel, the head coach and the team manager. The decision also found support from former Delhi and India opening batsmen Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.Sharma said Dedha would not be allowed to carry out or be part of Delhi’s cricketing activities. “The decision will now be sent the DDCA Apex Council to be ratified,” he told ESPNcricinfo and expected it to be enforced in full overnight.ALSO READ: Mumbai teen gets three-year ban for flashing in dressing room
Bhandari, 40, was attacked by men wielding hockey sticks and iron rods during a cricket match at Delhi’s St Stephen’s Cricket Ground on Monday. Bhandari, who suffered head and ear injuries, was watching a selection trial game with two other selectors at the time. He was taken to a city hospital immediately, and Dedha, whose actions were reportedly in retaliation for not being selected in the Delhi Under-23 team, as well as one of his accomplices were arrested.”Dedha will also not be allowed to play in any club match or any tournament affiliated with the DDCA,” Sharma told . “It was Gautam [Gambhir], who mooted the idea of a life ban and also suggested that from now on, no parents, relatives or friends will be allowed to watch the trials. Only the players whether U-14 or U-16 will get entry inside the stadium premises.”The attack took place when the first match of the day was about to end, with one more match scheduled. According to eyewitness accounts, when players and DDCA officials tried to intervene, they were threatened with dire consequences.A player present at the game told that Bhandari was lucky he was able to run away and maintain distance with the attackers otherwise the injuries could have been much worse.Sharma also confirmed that selectors would be provided with more security going forward. “Wherever any trials take place in any ground and selectors are present, security will be provided,” he said. “No parent or friends of the cricketers will be allowed to enter the field while the selection procedure will take place.”

The board was only able to pay 50% of November salaries and also indicated December salaries would be delayed

Firdose Moonda08-Dec-2017Zimbabwe Cricket has postponed domestic cricket for the rest of 2017, in order to upgrade facilities ahead of next year’s World Cup qualifiers and allow themselves breathing room to deal with another cash crunch, which will cause salary delays over the Christmas season.An internal memo, seen by ESPNcricinfo, was sent to all ZC staff on December 6, and stated that due to “adverse prevailing financial circumstances,” ZC was only able to pay 50% of November salaries and also indicated December salaries would not be paid at all. “While ZC is currently making all efforts to secure funding for December this cannot be guaranteed. Accordingly it is highly likely that staff will receive their December salaries in mid-January 2018,” the memo read.Some ZC staff have also been asked to work over their end-of-year break to ensure facilities are ready for the World Cup qualifiers in March. ZC are upgrading five venues – Harare Sports Club, Old Hararians, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Athletic Club and Kwekwe Sports Club –
for the tournament itself, and Takashinga Cricket Club and Old Mutual Heath Streak Academy as practice venues. Their tasks include rescarifying outfields and planting new grass to painting, plumbing, erecting temporary structures and sprucing up change-rooms and media centres.An ICC team will arrive in Zimbabwe on Monday to inspect facilities, resulting in all grounds being out of action until at least January 20, 2018. Two Logan Cup matches and six List A matches, due to be played between December 10 and 18 have been postponed, and ZC are yet to confirm new dates. Six of those eight matches were scheduled to be played at grounds that will be used for the World Cup Qualifiers.Still, with ZC only needing two venues per round of domestic matches – the set-up comprises five teams and only four can play at a time – it may have been possible to move games around, but ZC will also save money by postponing them.Several sources have indicated that ZC were struggling to cover the costs of domestic games including daily allowances and kit management. In one example, players from the Mountaineers team were wearing three different colours at a List A game because their clothing was being held with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, awaiting customs clearance, which ZC had yet to pay.This is the second time ZC has had a salary delay in recent months. When West Indies toured in October, salaries were only partly paid when they were due at the end of the month, and later paid in full. Match fees from the Sri Lanka series, played in July last year, have also not yet been paid despite players being assured they would receive it in September.At the time, ZC admitted “strained cash flows,” exacerbated by hosting West Indies. ZC also revealed they will look to limit home Tests in future, in order to be more financially sustainable. ZC are planning to prepare a monthly cash-flow plan which includes a salary pot.However, in an uncertain economic climate in Zimbabwe – even after Robert Mugabe’s resignation – it will take creative solutions to get ZC in the black. In the short term, the board will receive their ICC distribution amount in January, which they hope to use to clear the outstanding salaries. They will also receive US$1 million for hosting the World Cup qualifiers but that money will go towards stadium upgrades.That makes Zimbabwe’s qualification for the World Cup even more vital – as they will receive a hefty participation fee. Zimbabwe, currently ranked 11th on the ODI rankings, did not automatically qualify for the World Cup. Instead, they will attempt to qualify through a ten-team tournament, which also includes West Indies and Afghanistan (both ranked above Zimbabwe), Netherlands and Ireland in March. The top two teams will play in the 2019 World Cup.

Despite having a decent County Championship season at best, Zafar Ansari has impressed the England management with his temperament and all-round skills, and is in line to play his maiden Test

George Dobell26-Oct-2016It will come a year later than anticipated, but Zafar Ansari looks set to make his Test debut in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Friday.But for a badly-broken left thumb, Ansari would almost certainly have played his maiden Test in the UAE 12 months ago. But, just hours after he was picked for the tour, he sustained the injury in the field, and was subsequently obliged to undergo two operations. Samit Patel was recalled, instead, and he played the Sharjah Test.While Ansari enjoyed a decent rather than spectacular season for Surrey in the County Championship – he averaged 27.43 with the bat and claimed 22 wickets at 31.40 – the England management admires his calm temperament almost as much as his all-round abilities. While they were reluctant to thrust Jack Leach, the Somerset spinner, who enjoyed a more remarkable season – he claimed 68 wickets in the first-class season at an average of 22.58 – into international cricket, they seem to have no qualms about Ansari.The case of Simon Kerrigan continues to influence selectors in such cases. Kerrigan, drafted in for his debut in the final Ashes Test of the 2013 summer, was mauled by Australia’s batsmen, and appears to have never fully recovered from the experience. Even Leach’s captain at Somerset, Chris Rogers, remarked that “emotionally, he still has a bit of a way to go” before he would consider him suitable for selection. He will instead be given an opportunity to familiarise himself with the England environment as part of the Lions programme.Ansari, though slightly younger, is seen as more worldly and experienced. He gained a first from Cambridge University, and, having graduated through the England age-group system – he played for England at the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels – made his international debut in the rain-ruined ODI in Ireland in May 2015. He bowls at a relatively sharp pace, and, as a left-arm spinner whose turn will take the ball away from the right-handers, could prove more useful than a second spinner when England face an Indian top-order heavily stocked with right-handers.Ansari fits the mould of this team, too, in that he can bat, bowl and field to a decent standard. Generally patient and compact in red-ball cricket, he has opened the batting for Surrey. But, after a modest County season – his highest score was 53 – it seems Ansari will bat at No. 8 for England. That will move Chris Woakes to No. 9, and Adil Rashid, a man with 10 first-class centuries, down to No. 10. It seems Gareth Batty will be the unfortunate one to make way.There might have been a good case for resting Rashid instead. The pitch looks remarkably dry and cracked already, and, while the weather forecast for Dhaka is not wonderful – the city is braced for cyclonic storm Kyant – it seems likely that Bangladesh may take a bit of a risk in preparing a result-surface in the hope that they can square the series. On such turning surfaces, the control of Batty might prove more useful than the turn of Rashid, though Rashid did look as though he would benefit from anther long bowl ahead of the India series.England are also set to recall Steven Finn. He has been bowling with good pace in the nets and will probably replace Stuart Broad, who will have to wait until the India Tests before gaining his 100th Test cap. While there will be a temptation to give Jake Ball a game and rest Chris Woakes, the team management may be wary of making too many changes against an improving Bangladesh side that went within an ace of achieving their first Test victory against England in Chittagong.That means little opportunity for Jos Buttler. While he continues to hit the ball well in the nets – as one of the local net bowlers discovered on Wednesday when he received a black eye after being unable to get out of the way of a straight drive – Jonny Bairstow took another step towards cementing his place with the gloves with an impressive performance standing up to the stumps in Chittagong. And Trevor Bayliss has already indicated that he is keen to stick with the top-six in the batting line-up for the Dhaka Test.

Geraint Jones, England’s 2005 Ashes-winning wicketkeeper, has backed Jos Buttler for a swift return to form in next week’s first Test against Pakistan

Andrew Miller02-Oct-20152:09

‘Buttler will come back stronger’ – Jones

Geraint Jones, England’s 2005 Ashes-winning wicketkeeper, has backed Jos Buttler for a swift return to form in the first Test against Pakistan, following his much-needed break during the recent ODIs against Australia.Buttler is expected to make his return to the fold in England’s opening warm-up game against Pakistan A in Sharjah on Monday, having handed the gloves over to Jonny Bairstow following a third-ball duck in the second ODI against Australia at Lord’s in September.Buttler, like Jones a decade ago, has been England’s first-choice wicketkeeper in all three formats since taking over from the previous Test incumbent, Matt Prior, during the 2014 home series against India.He started the triple role brightly, with scores of 85 and 70 in his first two Test innings at the Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford, and is also the scorer of England’s two fastest centuries in one-day cricket – an astonishing 61-ball onslaught against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in 2014, and a no-less-remarkable 66-ball effort against New Zealand at Edgbaston in June, in which England passed 400 for the first time in an ODI.However, the burden of being on constant duty appeared to have taken its toll during the Ashes, in which Buttler made 122 runs at 15.25, with a top score of 42 coming in the fifth and final Test at The Oval.Until his break, Buttler had missed just two of England’s 45 matches since his Test debut in July 2014, both through injury. Only Joe Root, who was also rested during the Australia ODIs, had made more appearances in that time and Jones warned that the pressures on modern-day wicketkeepers were so intense that careful management would be needed in the future.Jos Buttler will return for England in the UAE after a break during the one-day series with Australia•Getty Images

“Don’t underestimate how taxing it is being a wicketkeeper in all three forms,” Jones told ESPNcricinfo. “The pressure when he goes out there, the expectation to hit the ball to all parts. He’s such a fantastic player, the public want to see all the shots he can play and he’ll want to do that himself.”It’s good that he got a rest towards the back-end of the summer because, without doubt, he’s the best we’ve got, and will be for the foreseeable future. I can see him playing for as long as he wants.”Jones, who retired from professional cricket last month following his starring role in Gloucestershire’s Royal London Cup final victory over Surrey at Lord’s, endured incessant scrutiny in the course of his 34-Test career, not least because his opposite number in Australia’s ranks, Adam Gilchrist, broke the mould for modern-day wicketkeepers with his flawless glovework and aggressive, counterattacking strokeplay.”Everyone blames Gilchrist but blaming is the wrong word,” Jones said. “He moved the game forward like you wouldn’t believe and now it’s the standard you have to get to. Your keeping has to be impeccable and you have to score regular hundreds, and the game can only be good for that.”That’s where Jos fits in so well because he can do both fantastically well. Batting at six and seven is such a crucial role because of your weight of runs. It means getting sides to a good total or getting them out of a bit of trouble.”Having succumbed to the offspin of Nathan Lyon on four occasions during the Ashes, Buttler knows his technique will be challenged on the slow, spin-friendly surfaces of the UAE. Jones, however, believes his talent will shine through in the end.”It’s been a tough summer but that’s part of international cricket,” Jones said. “But he’ll be better for it and, going forward, I expect him to play really well and contribute strongly.”

This was one of New Zealand’s greatest days of Test cricket in recent times as they outplayed one of the strongest Test teams in the world from start to finish

Andrew McGlashan in Dunedin07-Mar-2013Was this really the team bowled out for 45 two Tests ago? Was it really the team who sacked their captain in such a way that he took time away from the game? Was it really the team whose off-field exploits make as many headlines as those on it? Was this really the team whose management and executive structure do not appear to see eye-to-eye?What this was, without doubt, was one of New Zealand’s greatest days of Test cricket in recent times. This was not dominating against a lowly Zimbabwe or Bangladesh side. They outplayed one of the strongest Test teams in the world from start to finish. There was an air of disbelief from those who have followed New Zealand cricket’s recent woes.”We’re in the position that every team can dream of at the moment,” Neil Wagner said, and even that sounded like an understatement.It was Wagner who sparked New Zealand’s incredible day. In his first over, with his second and third deliveries, he removed England captain Alastair Cook and trapped Kevin Pietersen lbw first ball. England’s top order looked a little vulnerable coming into the match due to the lack of match practice and the home side made it count.Wagner had been bullish in Queenstown after roughing up England’s batsmen, including removing Pietersen, and highlighted keeping him short of runs. He said New Zealand would try to “hammer” on his confidence. He was as good as his word today and, when asked about England’s performance, did not produce a dead-bat answer.”They were under a bit of pressure and thought they might take lower-risk shots but at the end of the day, that’s the way they play,” he said. “There’s days when it doesn’t come off and days when it comes off and on those days you don’t want to be the opposition and they can hurt you badly. Other days it doesn’t come off and it was just one of those days when it didn’t work for them.”The standout feature of New Zealand’s day, of which there were many, was that the key individuals – Wagner, Bruce Martin and Hamish Rutherford – could, in slightly different circumstances, have been playing in the Ford Trophy one-day tournament rather than a Test match.Wagner was only included in the squad after impressing for the New Zealand XI in Queenstown. Initially, Mark Gillespie was tipped to be the likely option to bolster the pace resources, but Wagner’s six wickets last week tipped the balance back his way. He may still have missed the final cut, though, if Doug Bracewell had not decided to clean up his house, in the process stepping on a piece of glass. In this case, Wagner’s glass was certainly half full.However, his first three Tests had brought five wickets at 68.80 and it was already being suggested that he was another player unable to transfer dominant domestic form to the top level. One good day does not mean he has cracked it, but the relief from him was palpable. “I needed it and I was just glad to get it under the belt I guess,” he said.Wagner shared eight wickets with Martin, but the 32-year-old left-arm spinner was not a certain starter in this match just the day before. Four quicks were being seriously considered by Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson. It’s difficult to say Martin bowled for his wickets (caught point, deep square-leg and short fine-leg) but his presence ensured England’s batsmen could not settle in against four medium-fast bowlers.Martin also made it clear before the series that he was not too interested in being a defensive bowler and “would look to take a few poles and bowl to some attacking fields” if he got his chance. McCullum, a captain out of the same aggressive mindset, supported him with men around the bat and also gave him the ball straight after lunch when logic might have suggested resuming with two seamers. When Matt Prior began to open his shoulders, McCullum did not withdraw Martin to the safety of the outfield and the following over he claimed the wicket.Then there is Rutherford, like Wagner, an Otago cricketer playing on his home ground. Of all the problem areas in the New Zealand team over recent times, the opening partnership has been one of most vexing.Rutherford did not look remotely out of place, resisting England’s attempts to disturb him with the short ball and driving more confidently than during the one-day series. His opening stand with Peter Fulton, currently worth 131, is New Zealand’s best since Mark Richardson and Stephen Fleming added 163 against England, at Trent Bridge, in 2004.A compact left-hander from the same school as McCullum, Rutherford was picked on the basis of strong domestic form but was not the most prolific option available.  There is also the likelihood that if Martin Guptill had not been injured during the one-day series, he would have been given another chance alongside Peter Fulton.  It was a day for a host of accidental heroes.

Mashrafe Mortaza has reported to his franchise an approach from a fellow cricketer regarding potential spot-fixing during the Bangladesh Premier League

Mohammad Isam09-Feb-2012Mashrafe Mortaza has reported to his franchise an approach from a fellow cricketer regarding potential spot-fixing during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). His franchise, Dhaka Gladiators, say they have informed the BPL of the approach.”I have told my team management [about the approach] and I’m sure they will do the right thing,” Mashrafe told ESPNcricinfo. Gladiators media manager Minhaz Uddin Khan confirmed the report and said the franchise had passed on the information to the BPL.The story was first reported in Thursday morning’s Dhaka papers, which included a quote from Mashrafe saying he would step down from the team captaincy if he suspected any irregularities once the tournament got underway.The reports said Mashrafe was asked to provide information on whether he would play certain matches and even whether he’d be wearing his sunglasses or cap. In exchange, he was told, he would be paid 15-20% of the earnings from the spot-betting.However, there is some confusion over the details of the approach – the date and place – and which officials are in the loop regarding this. Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar, who is an advisor to the Gladiators, told ESPNcricinfo that he informed BPL governing council chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain of the incident on Tuesday; however, the league’s secretary Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir said on Thursday morning he was not aware of any such report and had learned of it in the papers.”We have found out after reading the newspaper reports. I don’t understand why he went to the press first before telling us. There’s a proper process for all this,” Alamgir said. “If he had reported it to us, we would have started investigation right away. But even now, we will talk to Mashrafe and take his official statement.”Alamgir confirmed that an ICC ACSU officer is already in Dhaka for the BPL and will be made aware of this new information. “The protocol is for the player to report to the BPL governing council or for the franchise owners to report to BPL. None of them have done that before the news was published in the media. I will also tell our ACSU officer about the incident and we’ll conduct whatever is necessary in this situation.”