All posts by h716a5.icu

Chris Lynn, who dislocated his shoulder, and Aaron Finch, who broke his finger, will not be available for the two T20s against Sri Lanka later this week

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Sep-2016Chris Lynn and Aaron Finch are the latest Australians to be injured on the Sri Lanka tour. They joined Shaun Marsh (broken finger) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (back injury) on the injury roster, and will not be available for the two T20Is later this week.”Chris dislocated his left shoulder whilst diving during a fielding drill at training today,” Australia’s physiotherapist David Beakley said. “Consequently he will be unavailable for the remaining matches and instead will return to Brisbane to undergo further investigation to determine the full extent of the injury.”Aaron was hit on the right index finger when fielding a ball [during the fifth ODI] and subsequent x-rays have shown a fracture.”The injury to Lynn’s left shoulder continues a disastrous trend for the batsman, who in the lead-up to the 2014-15 season had surgery to fix a rotator cuff problem in his left shoulder. As a result, he missed the entire Matador Cup campaign and the first half of the Sheffield Shield summer.Then in September 2015, Lynn dislocated the same shoulder during a fielding drill and once again missed the entire Matador Cup season, in which he was set to captain Queensland, and the first half of the Shield summer. The 2016-17 Matador Cup season is to begin in less than four weeks.Although the seriousness of the latest injury to Lynn’s left shoulder remains to be seen, given his history the possibility of a third consecutive curtailed season would be a major blow. Lynn’s entire international career so far consists of five T20s, but for some time he has been considered one of the most promising batsmen in the country.Lynn had been in prime form in the Caribbean Premier League, topping the run-charts with 454 runs at an average of 45.40 and strike-rate of 133.13. Finch had been one of Australia’s most dominant batsmen in Sri Lanka, striking a record-equalling 18-ball fifty in the fourth ODI.With Mitchell Marsh and Steven Smith having left for home to rest, Australia were almost in danger of not having XI fit men to put on the park for Tuesday’s T20 until they asked wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and batsman George Bailey to remain in Sri Lanka after the ODI series that ended today.Wade, who will stay on for both T20s, and Bailey, for one of them, have also handled Sri Lanka’s spinners in dry and dusty pitches excellently. Usman Khawaja had been added to the squad when Marsh was forced to leave last week. Finch will perform 12th man duties during the T20s.Australia squad: David Warner (capt), George Bailey, Scott Boland, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa

In the practice match in Fatullah on Tuesday, England will be facing two young pace bowlers in the BCB XI who are such unknown quantities that even the BCB didn’t know one of their names correctly when announcing the 13-man squad

Mohammad Isam03-Oct-2016In the practice match in Fatullah on Tuesday, England will be facing two young pace bowlers in the BCB XI who are such unknown quantities that even the BCB didn’t know one of their names correctly when announcing the 13-man squad on Saturday.The BCB named one “Md Manik” which turned out to be Ali Ahmmed (whose nickname is Manik). The 20-year-old, 6ft 2in pacer is from Gopalganj, and is a regular at the Shere Bangla National Stadium nets. He caught the eye of Bangladesh’s new bowling coach Courtney Walsh, who suggested him to the national selectors.”This is a very big deal for me,” Ahmmed said. “I have been excited since I heard about it couple of days ago. I have spent four days under Courtney Walsh. He has worked with me about a few things, and I am focusing on those. My main strength is outswing. He told me to use my height. He worked on a mistake I have in my run-up. I have improved quickly so maybe he saw something in me.”Ahmmed made his first-class debut for Dhaka Division in October last year, and has only played two List-A matches for Cricket Coaching School in the Dhaka Premier League.The other rookie, Ebadot Hossain, made his first-class debut this season and has never played in the DPL. He is a volleyball player employed by the Bangladesh Air Force but he was picked in this year’s High Performance squad after impressing scouts in the pace bowlers hunt earlier in 2016.He impressed Aaqib Javed, who came for a week as a fast bowling consultant, during the HP camp in August. After making his first-class debut, he was also picked up by Rajshahi Kings in the BPL draft.He hopes to use this practice match as a platform for better things, though he is having a hard time getting past the excitement of sharing a gym with the Bangladesh players.”I have been trying to get better since the Robi Pacer Hunt,” he said. “I made it to the HP team and then played in the NCL. I now have a chance to bowl against England in the practice game. Hopefully I can do well and catch everyone’s attention. I got to do gym with the national players, which is thrilling for me.”

Leicester City midfielder James Maddison has finally spoken out after his side were relegated from the Premier League last weekend.

What has James Maddison said about Leicester's relegation?

It was an awful season for the Foxes. Even so, they still had survival hopes right up until the very last seconds of the final match.

Indeed, having beaten West Ham United 2-1 at home, they needed Everton to drop points against Bournemouth but the Toffees hung on to a 1-0 victory.

And so, just seven years on from lifting the Premier League title and only two on from winning the FA Cup, Maddison and co were relegated.

The Englishman had refrained from posting on his Instagram page in the time since but has now broken his silence with an honest assessment of things.

Indeed, he said: "Absolutely devastated to be relegated from the Premier League. I’ve took a bit of time to reflect on the outcome of the season and to be honest it doesn’t make it any easier at all.

"This will hurt for a very long time and probably stick with us all forever. But that’s life & it’s about how you bounce back from setbacks & failure and unfortunately that’s exactly what this season was.. a failure.

"We should never have been in the position we were, with the players we have. But we take responsibility for that & the negativity that comes with it & continue to stick together."

Who wants to buy James Maddison?

Of course, there will be a number of teams interested to read the tone of his message, to see if it gives away any clues about his future.

By the sounds of it though, the £110k-p/w midfielder is keeping his cards close to his chest. Indeed, this doesn't exactly read as a goodbye message even though he may well be leaving in the summer.

According to a number of reports in the media (collated on football.london), Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have all got an interest in signing the player.

As per the Daily Telegraph (via Independent), of those teams, Spurs are supposedly leading the race to land him right now but with the summer market yet to officially open there's still a long way to go.

While it seems Maddison has been coming to terms with his relegation over the past week, he'll likely soon turn his attention to what comes next in his career with a number of options on the table.

Leeds United have just been handed a huge boost in their hunt for a new manager, with Andrea Radrizzani looking to make the club as attractive as possible in preparation for a likely sale.

What's the latest Leeds manager news?

French outlet RMC Sport detail OGC Nice's interest in Graham Potter initially, before outlining a host of alternatives.

With a few English clubs vying for his signature, it is expected that the former Chelsea boss would prefer such a move, as Crystal Palace and Leicester City circle.

However, the Whites are another option touted, who could tempt the 48-year-old to Elland Road in an effort to escape the Championship at the first time of asking.

Is Graham Potter better than Marcelo Bielsa?

In snagging this progressive long-term coach, it seems like the Yorkshire club are truly serious about building a brighter and more sustainable future than the one Marcelo Bielsa conjured.

After all, despite the huge success he achieved in returning this club to the Premier League, his methods were what ultimately let him down. Stubbornly standing by a smaller group of players, he forged closer bonds but left himself wide open to an injury crisis.

Around the time of his sacking, he had been without Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips for large parts of the season, yet he retained his aggressive all-action style that was leaking goals for fun.

That year, when they narrowly avoided relegation, his side shipped 79 goals across the 38 games.

Meanwhile, Potter was quietly making a name for himself at Brighton and Hove Albion, spearheading their steady progression that has culminated in their Europa League finish in the most recent campaign.

Whilst Roberto De Zerbi will earn all the plaudits for finishing off the job, it was the Englishman who led them from a side that escaped the drop by just two points the year before his appointment.

His fluid 3-4-2-1 system allowed him to nurture his squad into a group of high-quality and versatile players, all able to play various roles well above their expected levels. This culminated in their highest-ever top-flight finish in his last full season (until this year), and when he left for Stamford Bridge, the Seagulls sat in fourth.

Such were his achievements, even the great Pep Guardiola sought to laud him, noting: "I am a big fan of Graham Potter. From the first time at Swansea, it was a joy to analyse his teams but also a concern when you play them. His players have the courage to play, they all know what to do. The first thing I would tell my players is: 'We have to be at a high level against them.'"

Although De Zerbi has since proven the following statement wrong, it was a testament to his work at progressing a club far smaller than Leeds that journalist Sam Morton spoke so highly of Potter: "It was a shame to see Cucurella and Bissouma leave Brighton but Graham Potter is the only irreplaceable asset at the club, you feel. The man is a genius."

Although he had his struggles in west London, many would argue that he was given particularly unfavourable circumstances with which to work. Perhaps a return to management where he could awake a sleeping giant under Radrizzani, could be the perfect place to rebuild his reputation and surpass Bielsa's legacy by earning promotion and a sustainable future in the top flight.

Imran Tahir will equal Marcus North’s record of playing for six different counties after signing for Derbyshire

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2016Imran Tahir will equal Marcus North’s record of playing for six different counties after signing for Derbyshire. Tahir, the South Africa legspinner, is expected to be available from June onwards, depending on his international commitments.Derbyshire have begun overhauling their squad after a disappointing season, with chairman Chris Grant signalling a move to making more experienced signings. Ireland wicketkeeper-batsman Gary Wilson has joined from Surrey and Luis Reece accepted a contract after being released by Lancashire but the arrival of Tahir will add extra quality.Tahir, 37, is ranked the No. 1 T20 bowler and No. 3 in ODIs, according to the ICC player ratings. Last season, he played seven Championship matches for Nottinghamshire, taking 25 wickets at 37.20, although he could not prevent their relegation to Division Two.”I love playing cricket in England and I’m looking forward to playing a senior role at Derbyshire,” Tahir said. “I’ve learned a lot over the years and if I can pass my knowledge on to youngsters and help win matches, then it’s a great option for me.”Tahir will be in England from May, with South Africa playing a bilateral ODI series ahead of the Champions Trophy, but will then link up with Derbyshire. South Africa are scheduled to play a four-Test series afterwards but Tahir is unlikely to be involved.Derbyshire recently appointed a new director of cricket, Kim Barnett, after finishing bottom of Division Two and failing to progress in the two limited-overs competitions. They have also taken the rare step of bringing in a specialist T20 coach, another former player, New Zealand’s John Wright.Barnett said that alongside his proven ability, Tahir would help the development of Derbyshire’s young legspinner Matt Critchley.”We are keen to strengthen our squad with experienced match winners who will also help our talented youngsters,” Barnett said. “With his vast international and domestic experience here in England, Imran fits the bill perfectly.”He is one of the best legspinners in the world and we’re very excited to have him on board. Not only will Imran bring an added dimension to our bowling line up, his influence on the team and players, such as Matt Critchley, will be immense.”Former Australia batsman North became the first overseas player to represent six different counties when he joined Glamorgan in 2012. From next summer, Tahir will be able to count Derbyshire alongside Nottinghamshire, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Yorkshire and Middlesex.

Manchester United are reportedly keeping a close eye on Chicago Fire sensation, Brian Gutierrez ahead of the summer window, albeit with rival suitors also in the mix for the teenager's signature.

What's the latest on Gutierrez to Man United?

According to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils are said to be among the clubs who are interested in signing the 19-year-old, with Scottish Premiership side Rangers also believed to be keen on the American starlet.

The piece does add, however, that both United and the Ibrox outfit may find it difficult to land a work permit for the 5 foot 10 playmaker, with that handing the advantage to the likes of Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Girona who also hoping to strike a deal.

Who is Brian Gutierrez?

The emerging superstar has caught the eye after playing a regular role for Chicago in recent seasons, with the Illinois native having already racked up 74 appearances for the MLS outfit to date since making his senior debut back in 2020.

The versatile dynamo – who can operate on the flanks or in an attacking midfield role – has showcased flashes of his quality throughout his time in the first team, notably scoring twice and laying on 11 assists across all competitions, including four assists in just 17 games in 2023.

That early impact has evidently caught the attention of clubs across Europe, with the United States U20 international having undoubtedly warranted that interest having been hailed as a player who has "got everything" according to coach Frank Klopas, with the latter man also listing the teen's attributes:

"Good with the ball, his work rate, key passes, ability to beat players, technical ability."

Those traits appear to have impressed Ten Hag and co, with there the potential for Gutierrez to be a long-term heir to Bruno Fernandes in that playmaking berth at Old Trafford, with the Portugal international seemingly having no genuine understudy at present.

The 28-year-old was again an everpresent for United in 2022/23 as he featured in 59 games in all competitions, showcasing his ability to make an impact in the final third after scoring 14 goals and contributing 15 assists in that time.

The key facet to the £240k-per-week man's game is seemingly his creativity, with the former Sporting CP star having finished first in the division with regard to big chances created (32), while also averaging 7.04 progressive passes per 90 across the last 365 days as a sign of his front-foot approach.

While still arguably just a young prospect, Gutierrez has shown signs that he could potentially emulate the impact of Fernandes in the years to come, with the £4m-rated American having also shown his creative spark after averaging 5.81 progressive passes per 90 across the last 365 days.

The precocious talent also mirrors Fernandes with regard to his impressive work ethic off the ball as he has also averaged 1.64 tackles per 90, as per FBref, with the current United ace averaging only slightly ahead at 1.79 per 90 for that same metric.

That would suggest that if Ten Hag is looking for a suitable successor to his midfield maestro, then Gutierrez could be just the solution.

he ECB’s proposal for a new city-based T20 competition, which had originally be slated for a launch season in 2018, may now be postponed until 2020

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2016The ECB’s proposal for a new city-based T20 competition, which had originally been slated for a launch season in 2018, may now be postponed until 2020 to coincide with a new broadcasting deal.The go-ahead to further explore the eight-team proposal was given by a 16-3 vote at the ECB board meeting at Lord’s in September, following discussions between the 18 first-class counties, the Professional Cricketers’ Association, and MCC.The ECB hierarchy, led by chairman Colin Graves and chief executive Tom Harrison, have been keen to push through a new T20 league to rival the success generated by the Indian Premier League and Australia’s Big Bash, despite fears from many counties that it would undermine their raison d’etre.Championship by night

A round of Championship matches will be played under floodlights in 2017 – possibly in late June, the brightest time of the year.
The matches will be played using pink Dukes balls, so keeping faith with the make of ball used in the county game. Dukes have yet to be tested under lights with all previous experiments using a Kookaburra.

Surrey, Kent and Sussex were reportedly the three counties who opposed the proposal, although several have since expressed reservations about the lack of detail.The original plan had been for the competition to be shown on Sky Sports for at least the first two seasons, with few England players likely to be involved due to an overlap with international commitments. However, the delayed start may now encourage a terrestrial broadcaster to come forward, in line with the ECB’s desire to use the competition as a vehicle to attract new audiences to the game.In a separate development, the ECB board today ratified a recommendation from the Cricket Committee that the option of allowing the visiting team to bowl first in County Championship fixtures should be retained for the 2017 season.The proposal caused some controversy when it was brought in for the start of the 2016 season. However, the stated aim of encouraging home counties to produce better four-day pitches – and improving the conditions for spin bowlers – were broadly considered to have been a success.The Cricket Committee – which included Yorkshire’s director of cricket Martyn Moxon, Leicestershire’s chief executive Wasim Khan and David Leatherdale, the chief executive of the PCA – studied a range of data that showed, among other factors, that a total of 10,094 overs of spin had been bowled across the season, compared to 8,643 in 2015 – the highest since 2011.Peter Wright, the chairman of the Cricket Committee, told ECB.co.uk: “In many ways the statistics merely reinforced the feeling we had been picking up around the game throughout the summer, that the experiment was working in beginning to rebalance the game.”As we stressed when we introduced the new options for visiting captains, this was not all about spin. We wanted matches to last longer, and to become more thorough preparation for international cricket.”That meant better, four-day pitches, which would mean bowlers had to work harder to take wickets, and would encourage a greater variety of bowling, whether spin in its various forms, genuine pace or reverse swing from more abrasive pitches.

Upul Tharanga will have to lead a side shorn of many of its heavyweights. Zimbabwe are exactly the sort of banana skin he won’t want to slip up on

Liam Brickhill in Harare13-Nov-2016Match factsNovember 14, 2016, Harare
Start time 0930 local (0730 GMT)Zimbabwe would welcome the change of format after giving a poor account of themselves in the Test series•Associated PressBig PictureThe summer rains have arrived in Zimbabwe. Scattered showers have cooled the countryside after October’s oven, and there is a palpable sense of relief in a country where many depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Zimbabwe’s national cricket team doesn’t include quite as many farmers (chicken or otherwise) as it once did, but they will also be somewhat relieved to be out of the unfamiliar cauldron of Test cricket and in the more forgiving climes of the limited-overs game.The scorecards from their Test matches against Sri Lanka will show a pair of huge wins for the visitors, but Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer was happy to own the cliché and take some positives out of that series: his own Test hundred, the unearthing of a new talent in Carl Mumba, and a little more grit.Despite their successes in the Tests, Sri Lanka still have a few concerns. The middle order was a perennial worry in the home series against Australia, which Sri Lanka lost 1-4. Stand-in captain Upul Tharanga only played in one of those games against Australia, but he will now have to lead a side shorn of many of its heavyweights. Zimbabwe are exactly the sort of banana skin he won’t want to slip up on.Zimbabwe might look to Australia’s performance in those one-dayers for some tips: whenever pressure was built, Sri Lanka lost wickets in clusters. While Zimbabwe don’t have bowlers of Australia’s calibre, several times during the Tests they were able to string together disciplined spells, with Chris Mpofu opening the fourth morning of the second Test with six maidens on the trot.Test matches allow the time and space to ease that sort of pressure, but ODIs don’t and Cremer suggested before the tri-series that Zimbabwe’s bowlers would aim to nullify Sri Lanka’s scoring options wherever possible. Or at least, that’s the plan. Despite the inexperience of their squad, Sri Lanka will be fancied as favourites in the opener and this tri-series will allow them to feel out some combinations before their rather more testing assignment against South Africa in similar conditions in the new year.Form guideZimbabwe LLLLW (completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LLLWLIn the spotlightPeter Moor’s batting talent and commitment to the national cricket side are beyond doubt, but multiple errors behind the stumps during the two Tests against Sri Lanka mean his glovework will be in the spotlight on Monday. Zimbabwe have not picked another frontline wicketkeeper in their squad, though Brian Chari might be available to fill in if need arises. So Moor will be under some pressure to put in a cleaner performance.Upul Tharanga is closing in on 200 ODIs for Sri Lanka, but he has never captained the country in any format. He made runs in both Tests against Zimbabwe, cracking an unbeaten 110 in the first match, and he will look to continue to lead from the front in the ODIs, both for the benefit of the team and to solidify his own position in the XI.Team newsSeamer Tinashe Panyangara’s return from injury will lend a little more experience to Zimbabwe’s bowling line-up, while at the other end of the spectrum, the hosts have included uncapped 22-year-old batsman Tarisai Musakanda in their squad. Musakanda was also with the team for the Tests, though he did not debut. Now, his chance may come at the expense of an underperforming Hamilton Masakadza. Given his workload in the Tests, Zimbabwe may rest seamer Chris Mpofu ahead of the games at his home ground in Bulawayo.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Chamu Chibhabha, 2 Brian Chari, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Hamilton Masakadza/Tarisai Musakanda, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 PJ Moor (wk), 8 Graeme Cremer (c), 9 Tendai Chisoro, 10 Carl Mumba, 11 Tinashe PanyangaraVeteran seamer Nuwan Kulasekara, who last played an ODI at the beginning of this year, has been recalled to Sri Lanka’s squad, having also played in the final game of Sri Lanka A’s limited overs series against West Indies A at the end of October, taking 2 for 65. Kulasekara will bring a wealth of experience to Sri Lanka’s attack. Sri Lanka have multiple wicketkeeping and spin options to sift through, with Jeffrey Vandersay returning from a finger injury and in good form after his six-for in the series win against West Indies A last month.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Dhananjaya de Silva, 2 Niroshan Dickwella, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Upul Tharanga (c), 5 Kusal Perera (wk), 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Shehan Jayasuriya, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Jeffrey Vandersay, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Nuwan PradeepPitch and conditionsHarare Sports Club’s trend of producing somewhat lifeless pitches means that, while the ball may not be going round corners, batsmen will still have to toil for their runs, and it may not be easy to force the pace first up. There is plenty of rain about at the moment, particularly in the late afternoon, and scattered thunderstorms are expected around Harare on Monday.Stats and trivia This will be Kulasekara’s fourth tour of Zimbabwe. The seaming allrounder has previously visited in 2004, 2008 and 2010, when he was part of the Sri Lankan side that won a tri-series, also featuring India. Sri Lanka have played 47 ODIs against Zimbabwe, winning 39. Zimbabwe’s last win against Sri Lanka came six years ago at Harare Sports Club. Six of the members of that playing XI are part of their current squad.Quotes”We learned a lot about the conditions here and the wickets during the Tests , very different to Sri Lanka! I don’t think the toss is going to make a huge difference. The wicket isn’t going to change that much.”
doesn’t expect the toss to play an important role in the limited-overs matches.”Playing at home, we know these conditions. If we play well on the day, I don’t think we will be an underdog. We also play a lot more white ball cricket than we do red ball cricket.”

Leicester City midfielder James Maddison wouldn't suit playing for Liverpool, according to The RedMenTv's Ste Hoare.

The England international has been linked with a move away from the Foxes, having suffered relegation to the Championship. And, according to Ben Jacobs, Liverpool are in the race for his signature.

Are Liverpool interested in James Maddison?

Even though Liverpool are in the race to sign Maddison this summer, as per Jacobs, they are not alone in the pursuit of is signature.

According to John Cross of The Mirror, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United are also among the sides looking to sign Maddison this summer, who is valued at £40m, as per Cross.

Having scored 10 goals and assisted a further nine in the Premier League last season, Maddison's transfer links to big six clubs comes as little surprise.

The Englishman has more than proven that he is Premier League quality, and was one of the few bright sparks at the King Power Stadium last season, even as Leicester went down.

What did Ste Hoare say about James Maddison and Liverpool?

Speaking to Football FanCast, when asked about Maddison, The RedMenTV's Hoare said: "A lot of the other players don’t really fit the bill, system-wise, style-wise, profile-wise. I like Tyler Adams, I just don’t see it happening.

"The Maddison thing, he’s a number 10 and we just don’t play with number 10s. We’re going to sell [Fabio] Carvalho probably or loan him because he is a number 10. We don’t suit them. Again, I think Maddison’s a good player, but not a good Liverpool player."

How much does James Maddison earn?

With a number of clubs setting their sights on Maddison this summer, the question comes to the fore about just how much these clubs can expect to pay in wages for the midfielder.

According to Salary Sport, Maddison's current Leicester City contract sees him earn a staggering £110k-per-week.

Given that only Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic, and Harvey Elliott earn less than that in Liverpool's midfield, this is a deal that would not really disrupt the Reds' wage bill.

Having just spent a reported £35m on Alexis Mac Allister, however, the Merseyside club may be hesitant to splash out even further for another player in a similar role this summer.

Wherever Maddison does end up, he certainly has the quality to improve a side, despite failing to keep Leicester afloat even after 19 Premier League goal involvements last season.

Brendon McCullum’s leadership, coupled with accurate bowling in the slog overs helped Brisbane Heat choked the Adelaide Strikers to defended 206

Daniel Brettig21-Dec-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsBrendon McCullum’s fluent 42 and his leadership set the tone for Brisbane Heat’s comeback win•Getty ImagesMarshalled expertly by Brendon McCullum, Brisbane Heat held their nerve to storm Adelaide Oval and deny the Strikers in a high-scoring Big Bash League shootout in front of a hefty pre-Christmas crowd.McCullum and Jimmy Peirson set the Heat on the road to a tally of more than 200 on a pristine batting surface, before the visitors persevered through a blistering opening stand by Ben Dunk and Jake Weatherald to constrict the Strikers middle order and walk off the victors.Slam DunkThe Heat showcased a useful recruit of their own when the former Striker Alex Ross tailed off the Heat’s innings with a series of telling blows, but it was Dunk’s pyrotechnics at the start of the Strikers innings that stuck in the memory. Though he was dropped twice, Dunk also produced a series of exceptionally clean blows, the best of which was an inside out cover-driven six off Samuel Badree that comfortably cleared a teal wall of fielders on the off side.Dunk was able to pull along the promising left-hander Weatherald in his slipstream, and the pair now look likely to be one of the more dangerous opening combinations in the tournament. Dunk’s own hitting was to be placed in perspective by the struggles of the batsmen that followed him, quickly turning a gettable equation into a favourable one for the Heat.Second spellBadree is of course one of the world’s leading T20 exponents, and he did not let 15 runs from his first seven balls fluster him. Only two more singles could be taken from the remainder of that second over, and when returning in the 10th over, Weatherald and Dunk still flying, Badree was able to tie up the younger batsman with a trio of dot balls that were the first sign of any momentum being lost.Recalled to the attack to twirl the ball down at the new batsman Travis Head after Weatherald was finally dismissed, Badree produced the rarest of T20 gems – a maiden. In his recent ODI appearances for Australia, Head was a batsman of almost perpetual motion, but he was unable either to muscle or finesse Badree. The Strikers’ required run-rate leapt up by more than a run in the space of that over, and from there McCullum was able to use his other bowlers to keep that rate climbing.Another area in which Badree’s influence could be seen was in how the other legspinner Mitchell Swepson responded to his own difficult start. At a time when the Strikers needed boundaries, he conceded only four singles and a two, while also dismissing Head with a hard-spun delivery that the batsman could only top edge to, you guessed it, Badree running around from short third man.Six and not outThe Adelaide Oval’s crowds have been the most consistently bounteous of the BBL since the ground was redeveloped, and those on the short square boundaries have gotten quite used to trying to catch the many sixes hit in their direction. The first six of the night, a typically rasping cut over point by McCullum, was expertly caught by one man in the members, who promptly threw it back up in celebration.Later, Jake Weatherald hammered a pull shot to straight midwicket where another catch was neatly held. But the most notable effort was the most nonchalant of takes behind square leg by a security guard posted on the fence. Joe Burns’ hook shot arrowed towards him, and he held it without even getting up from his seat. Three sixes caught from among a crowd of 38,011 was an impressive effort.The McCullum effectBrisbane’s signing of McCullum as far back as BBL01 had to be done with one eye on the time they would be able to utilise him full-time, and his international retirement last season means he will now be available for the entirety of this competition. Not only did the Heat benefit from his lead-off hitting before the Adelaide sun went down, but his composure and confidence in the field radiated in a way that helped the Heat’s players keep their heads while the Strikers gave up a handsome position in the chase.