All posts by h716a5.icu

Sri Lanka’s selectors must decide whether the burden of captaincy and high expectations are hampering Dinesh Chandimal’s growth as a batsman

Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Aug-2013When Dinesh Chandimal was named Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 captain in February, chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya justified his decision with these words: “We thought that it would be too much for Angelo Mathews, to give him the Twenty20 captaincy as well. We wanted to allow him to concentrate on the Tests and ODIs.” At the time, the irony in his statement eluded many. After Sri Lanka’s 2-1 home loss to South Africa, it has become clearer. In relieving Mathews of the Twenty20 reins, the selectors have overburdened another young talent, whose value to Sri Lanka lies primarily in the other formats.Chandimal has long been spoken of as Sri Lanka’s next great batting hope. An ODI hundred at Lord’s in 2011 announced his potential on the big stage and this was underscored by the two fifties in his Test debut in Durban. He has since made encouraging enough gains in Test cricket to satisfy a steep set of expectations.Yet it is the Twenty20 side he leads. Power has never been integral to his game, nor has finding the boundary at rapid rate. In 16 international T20 innings, he averages 13.18 and has a strike rate below 100. Unlike in ODI cricket, he can hardly claim he does not bat in positions that suit him. Half of his innings have been at no. 3 and a fourth of them at 4. Yet his average does not climb above 15 in either position.Both he and Lahiru Thirimanne have recently spoken of the immense challenges they face in their attempts to establish themselves in the game. They are tasked with producing their best domestic form at a much more demanding level and, in ODIs, have routinely gone to work in high-pressure situations to which they are unaccustomed. Chandimal’s stroke range remains limited, and though his technique is more polished than when he first appeared, the best bowlers will still feel encouraged by its enduring raw aesthetic and they will think they are capable of locating its flaws. Given that Chandimal has not crossed 50 in 15 limited-overs innings, perhaps some bowlers already have.There is a logic to the selectors’ thinking, that is sound, perhaps even commendable. In his brief stints at the helm, Chandimal has proved himself creative and attuned to the game’s heartbeat. His team-mates also seem to relish playing for him, feeding off the boyish enthusiasm with which he approaches all aspects of cricket. The school record for most outright wins in a season still belongs to the Ananda College side that Chandimal led at 18.But the task ahead for him is a monumental one. He averages 58.30 in Tests, and if he is to provide any confidence that Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan will not be missed, he cannot allow that figure to drop significantly. Chandimal was asked to take the gloves in Sri Lanka’s most recent Test series, and might eventually inherit them in ODIs as well, when Sangakkara hangs his up.His fine one-day returns in Australia, England and South Africa marked him out as a special talent early on in his career, but his inability to make big runs in the subcontinent, has yet to be rectified. His technique against spin on turning tracks can hardly have had a more thorough inspection than Sri Lanka’s first-class competition, but in ODIs, slow bowlers have succeeded in denying him early runs, and felling him when he seeks to attack. Chandimal has said he far prefers faster foreign tracks to the slow, dry ones at home, but as he plays most of his cricket in Asia, that is not an outlook he can allow to go unchecked at length.Sri Lanka have also now begun to set sights on the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh next March. Having so far retained the top ranking they have had since the last global event, they will feel they are among the leading contenders to win the trophy, in conditions they should like.But they will not be doing justice to their chances if they do not embark on that campaign with their best XI men. Chandimal, and to some extent Thirimanne, occupy places that befit more natural strikers of the ball. The provincial tournament that is about to begin may provide apt replacements and give an indication of players’ form, but if Sri Lanka are to arrive in Bangladesh with their best possible combination, the selectors must act quickly. Sri Lanka have only three Twenty20 internationals confirmed for the seven months before the tournament.The side’s senior batsmen carried them through the home series against South Africa, as they have done for some years now. All three are yet to taste major tournament glory, and now may only have two more opportunities remaining to them before the years begin to weary their game. The selectors’ quest for regeneration is meritorious, but if they seek to develop young talent only in the formats that suit each individual, for now, both the team and its youngsters stand to reap better benefits.

A look at some of the milestones in Afghanistan’s remarkable journey from being nowhere on the cricket map to securing a place in World Cup 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2013The triumphant Afghanistan team with the ACC Twenty20 Cup in 2011•Travis Pittman/HKCA/Travis Pittman2001: The Afghanistan Cricket Federation is set up by Afghan expats living in Pakistan, and the country is recognised as an Affiliate Member of the ICC. The team embarks on its first tour, travelling to Pakistan as the US-led war in Afghanistan begins. The side lose three games and draws two matches on the tour.June 2004: Afghanistan participate in the Asian Cricket Council Elite Cup and win a match against Bahrain.November 2007: Afghanistan win their first tournament, the ACC Twenty20 Cup – the final against Oman ends in a tie and the teams share the trophy. They go on to win the title in 2009, 2011 and 2013.May 2008: Afghanistan win Division Five of the World Cricket League, embarking on a campaign to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.January 2009: Afghanistan win WCL Division Three in Buenos Aires on the basis of net run rate to progress to the 2009 World Cup qualifier, the final qualifying tournament for the 2011 World Cup. The side finishes sixth in the qualifier, failing to make it to the World Cup, but the result ensures they are granted ODI status for the first time.February 2010: Afghanistan beat Ireland in the final of the World T20 qualifier to win a place in the World T20 in the West Indies. Expectedly, they fail to progress beyond the league stage of the World T20.December 2010: In 2009, Afghanistan participated in their first Intercontinental Cup, a first-class tournament organised by the ICC. In December 2010, they beat Scotland by seven wickets to win the title.March 2012: Finish runners-up in the World T20 qualifiers, losing to Ireland. They play the World T20 in Sri Lanka in Group A, along with India and England, and have their moments but fail to progress beyond the league stage.June 2013: Afghanistan are recognised as an Associate member of the ICC.October 2013: Afghanistan beat Kenya to finish second in the WCL Championship and qualify for the 2015 World Cup, becoming the 20th team to gain entry into the tournament overall.

Azhar Ali suffered a dip in form in 2013 but replacing him with Mohammad Hafeez may not be a solution for Pakistan’s long-term plans

Umar Farooq in Abu Dhabi02-Jan-20140:00

‘Want to end Sri Lanka resurgence’ – Bhatti

Pakistan handed debuts to eight players in 2013, but the batting line-up between No. 3 and No. 6 remained constant, until Azhar Ali was dropped for Mohammad Hafeez in the Abu Dhabi Test. The move raised questions on Pakistan’s long-term planning that aimed to allow youngsters to settle and establish themselves in the Test team in the long run.Azhar made a debut for Pakistan in 2010 and has since been considered an automatic selection. He has brought stability to the top order, scoring 2081 runs at 38.53 and has become integral at the No 3 position in recent years. Though he experienced a dip in form in 2013 – he scored 270 runs in seven matches at an average of 19.28 with two fifties – the performances could be put down to Pakistan’s irregular Test schedule.In Abu Dhabi, Azhar was dropped in favour of Hafeez, who was also axed from the Test team in 2013 for his poor form. In five Tests, before Abu Dhabi, in 2013, Hafeez scored 102 runs at an average of 10.2. After three Tests at the start of the year against South Africa, Hafeez did not play a Test until the Zimbabwe tour in September. He was left out of the Tests against South Africa, and then came back for the match against Sri Lanka in December.Hafeez’s form in limited-overs, though, was much better, as he scored 1301 runs in 33 ODIs at 46.46 with five hundreds and four fifties in the same period. It was this form that sealed his place in the XI for Abu Dhabi, even though his form and technique in the longer format have been under the scanner for a while. On his third comeback to Test cricket, Hafeez scored 11 off 18 balls.Azhar on the other hand, prepared for the Test series with two first-class hundreds. But Hafeez’s selection means that the No. 3 spot in the Pakistan line-up is suddenly uncertain, even as the side tries to find a settled combination for the openers’ slot, which has been in transition since Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail retired.A rough patch is an inevitable part of a cricketer’s career. Younis Khan, Pakistan’s former No. 3, also suffered similar losses in form before settling down to become one of Pakistan’s highest run-getters. Similarly, Azhar, who averaged 45 until 2012, also needs to be supported. Among the current crop of Pakistan players, Azhar is also seen as a future captain.”Azhar brought a stability at the No.3 position,” Basit Ali, Azhar’s coach at his domestic team Sui National Gas and Pipelines Ltd, told ESPNcricinfo. “It was really an unfair call to drop him for a batsman who was meant to bat in the opening slot. It’s a very important position, you need to have someone like Azhar – who have been developed to play a role for the specialised position.”I have concerns that he was dropped from a place for which he has been an automatic option. He has become an important player in the last three years and dropping him from the XI doesn’t make sense to me. Playing Hafeez at No. 3 is temporary, but dropping Azhar at this stage might disturb him as he is a future prospect and is here to stay for long.”Before the Test, Hafeez had rued the long gaps between Tests and admitted he had a technique-related issue against swing bowling. “We always have been ruing the lack of Test cricket and the six-month gaps between series are also making it difficult for players to maintain momentum,” Hafeez said. “For me, it was a matter of not scoring runs in the format and, in fact, it’s more than a technique thing for which I have worked so hard. I went on analyzing my videos to found why I have been struggling against swing bowling.”Hafeez’s form may be peaking through the limited-overs run, but his temperament and technique in Tests have been challenged on several occasions. Age is also something he needs to factor in. Hafeez is 33, five years older than Azhar and the latter perhaps has a lot more to offer to Pakistan cricket in the long run.

Just 18 years young, Kagiso Rabada has raised eyebrows for the speed and accuracy of his bowling. If he can realize his potential, South Africa may have yet another pace diamond in their ranks

Kanishkaa Balachandran in Dubai14-Feb-2014At the Under-19 level, one would normally set the bar lower as far as expectations regarding bowling speeds are concerned. Coaches will tell you that fast bowlers start hitting their peak speeds only during their early 20s, once their physique develops. The U-19 World Cup has produced fast bowlers over the years who average in the mid-80s (mph) and higher.The opening game of the U-19 World Cup in the UAE between West Indies and South Africa was highlighted by raw pace from bowlers on both sides, but it was Kagiso Rabada’s thunderbolts, on an average of 85mph, which proved more incisive, leaving West Indies’ top order shell-shocked. But strangely, the South Africa seamer didn’t appear terribly satisfied with the pace he generated in conditions not known for supporting quicks. He warns that batsmen can expect more venom, if he’s bowling back at home.”I don’t think the pace was there today. I think I am much quicker than that,” Rabada said humbly. “But that doesn’t matter. Hitting the right areas matters the most. I can touch 90mph on a different wicket, this pitch was much slower.”Rabada’s matter-of-fact reaction suggested that topping 90 and above is a piece of cake for him. He doesn’t bustle to the crease like Makhaya Ntini used to do. He has a more measured approach, and likes to hit the deck. His short-of-a-length deliveries with the new ball under the afternoon sun had the West Indies batsmen ducking and weaving, with one of them taking a blow on the helmet. Rabada finished with figures of 3 for 14 in eight overs, but his first spell of 6-3-9-3 was what had done the damage. One can imagine how much more threatening he could have been if South Africa had bowled first.Rabada had Shimron Hetmeyer and Jonathan Drakes edging behind the wicket with the fuller deliveries. He then beat Jeremy Solozano for pace when the batsman dragged one onto the stumps. The short stuff was enough to intimidate the batsmen and pile on the pressure, despite the modest target.The Johannesburg-born Rabada is a product of the privileged St Stithians Boys College in Randburg, known for its sporting pedigree. The school has also produced the former Test fast bowler David Terbrugge, and Rabada says it’s now churning out more promising players. However, he admits that cricket wasn’t his first love.”I took to cricket when I was in Grade 3, when I was nine years old,” Rabada says. “I remember I was not so much into cricket and was into rugby. My coach asked me to try it out. The love for the game grew.”For several young players, securing a cricket kit and the required funding to further their aspirations in the game has been an issue, but Rabada says his school helped ease those concerns. Support from his family has also helped him pursue the sport.”The facilities were there, but getting the kit was difficult for me. But, the school did eventually supply the kid for me. Eventually, I started getting sponsors. I should say that it has not been a huge problem for me and I am blessed for that,” Rabada says. “My mom and dad and my entire family are very supportive of me.”Rabada made his national U-19 one-day debut almost a year ago to the day, against the touring England side. He ended the series with a best of 3 for 35 at Stellenbosch and he was later picked for the U-19 Quadrangular Series in Visakhapatnam later in the year. His 3 for 45 helped beat India in a close finish.He wants to follow in Dale Steyn’s footsteps, both for his skills and attitude. “(I admire) Steyn’s away-swing and ability to keep the ball full. He is fiery and aggressive. That is what I want to be.”His U-19 coach, Ray Jennings, says he sees a similar attitude in Rabada and wants the fast bowler to harness it if he wants to stay on the radar longer. Jennings says that Rabada’s other strength is his physique.”He has to love what he does, he has to stay aggressive and he has to be mean,” Jennings says. “Whether he takes the new ball or not and there always has to be that aggression in his bowling. He has to keep his feet on the ground moving forward to higher levels and he’s got to learn from certain people.”The Grade 12 student has another ambition to fulfill – a law degree. “I didn’t want to study this year because I was involved with the Lions (franchise),” he says. “So, it was too much on my plate to study and play. But next year, I will take a few subjects each and every year and complete my degree, no matter how long it takes.”

Plays of the day from the match between Royal Challengers and Daredevils

Devashish Fuloria13-May-2014The hat-trick
Whose return to form has been the most pleasing, asked a poll question on television, and Yuvraj was the popular choice by a large margin, over Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. You could see why. Yuvraj hadn’t just scored runs like the other two, he had been explosive. His first six tonight was off a powerful sweep against Tahir. It landed a few rows back in the stands. He kept getting better and better. The next two deliveries sailed deep into the crowd too – the first one over cover and the second one into the second tier behind long-off.The hat-trick part – II
Shukla had bowled his first three overs for 14 runs and had dismissed Chris Gayle with the ball and Kohli with his fielding. But then he came up against a steaming hot Yuvraj in the last over. He tried to bowl a full and wide line to Yuvraj but was smoked into the stands over cover with imperious drives off consecutive deliveries. When he shortened his length for the third delivery, Yuvraj was ready for the pull and swatted the ball over fine leg, scoring his second hat-trick of sixes.The daze
After taking 27 runs off the first five legal deliveries in the last over of the innings, Yuvraj finally missed the last ball. But no one was ready to leave the field just as yet – Rahul Shukla went to the top of his run-up, Yuvraj readied himself to play the supposed last delivery and the fielders stayed where they were. Belatedly, the umpires realised the innings was over. It was another case of everyone at the ground being in a daze; yesterday, a Mumbai batsman incorrectly took strike after a time-out and no one realised the error till the end of the innings.The throw
Virat Kohli is an excellent runner between the wickets but his wretched run was extended by an excellent throw from the deep. Kohli got an inside edge down to deep backward square leg off Imran Tahir and looked set for a couple, but Rahul Shukla, who had earlier sent Gayle back, charged towards the ball, swooped low and fired a flat throw, without wasting time in getting in an upright position, right on top of the stumps. Kohli, the replays showed, was only a few inches short.The drops
That Chris Gayle cannot run is no secret. That means he has to be hidden in the field, in positions close to the bat. The only job he is needed to do then is to take catches – he is a dependable catcher – and stop the balls hit straight at him. Tonight was not a good night for him at the office though. First he dropped Mayank Agarwal at slip off Yuzvendra Chahal in the eighth over – a regulation chance, then, at point, he juggled a high chance before dropping it, off JP Duminy’s bat in the 17th over. The second one of those could have been a gamechanger, but luckily for Gayle, Duminy could add only six more runs.The turn
Today was not turning out as one of those happy days for legspinner Chahal, the find of the season for Royal Challengers, not at least in his first 17 balls. He had been hit for two fours and three sixes, a catch had been dropped off his bowling and 36 runs had been taken off him. But out of nowhere, he unleashed the ball of the day. Kevin Pietersen stepped out early knowing that Chahal doesn’t turn much. The bowler though spotted the move, slowed it down, got it to drift in and then turn a mile past the swinging bat to end Pietersen’s stay.

Usman Khawaja’s alleged involvement deepens the intrigue as the ECB struggles to formulate a decisive stance on abuse, sledging and darker forms of misbehaviour

David Hopps21-Sep-2014Usman Khawaja, Lancashire’s Australia batsman, has been named as the driving force behind the official complaint to the ECB that sees Andrew Gale facing formal allegations of racial abuse which, if he is found guilty, will bring the risk of a record ban.Although exact details of Khawaja’s involvement have not been made public, the has alleged that Khawaja was “the leading figure in taking the case further than the Level 2 charge originally brought by the umpires for dissent”.Usman Khawaja has been alleged as the man to complain about Andrew Gale’s abuse•Getty ImagesKhawaja has potentially become the MS Dhoni to Ashwell Prince’s Ravindra Jadeja in a case that has vague echoes – although with the charge of racism attached – of the stand-off between India and England during the Test series this summer.Khawaja was batting at the time with Prince when Gale, who was increasingly infuriated by Lancashire’s timewasting tactics on the third evening of the Roses Championship match, launched into a tirade, telling Prince to “f*** off back to your own country you Kolpak f*****”.The umpires, Steve O’Shaughnessy and Steve Garrett, immediately lodged a Level 2 dissent charge which saw Gale suspended for the last two Championship matches of the season, with previous charges also taken into consideration, and controversially banned from taking any part in the trophy presentation after Yorkshire won the Championship at Trent Bridge.Khawaja, according to the , then pushed for Gale’s outburst to dealt with more severely – leading to Gale to become the first England county cricketer to be charged of a racism offence when Gerard Elias QC, head of the ECB’s disciplinary committee, decided that a formal hearing was necessary.Khawaja, now back in Australia, has not yet had the opportunity to comment. It is believed that he was interviewed by the ECB before he returned to Australia, but after Elias lodged further charges against Gale.Widespread derision that the term “Kolpak” could be termed racist has caused the ECB to adjust its ground and privately to brief that it is effectively concentrating attention on only half the sentence – to whit, whether Gale’s rejoinder to “f*** off back to your own country” can be construed as racist under the Race Relations Act and Equality Act or whether it is just another example of the abuse with a dollop of knee-jerk xenophobia thrown in, which Yorkshire insist is endemic in the game.

The ECB must take this opportunity to provide leadership, stop hiding behind the Spirit of Cricket, and restate strong guidelines to umpires about how it expects the professional game to be run

The involvement of Lancashire in supporting the case against Gale has not yet been made clear. Khawaja has been recalled by Queensland and will not be available to play the final Championship match of the season against Middlesex next week, which Lancashire need to win handsomely to avoid relegation. They have been most anxious that the hearing should not coincide with that match, which could also lead to Prince being unavailable. Such a clash would also not go down well with Sky, which has chosen to televise the match.In his first public appearance since the affair escalated, Gale displayed the Championship trophy at Elland Road on Saturday during Leeds United’s derby against Huddersfield Town and, even as a Huddersfield supporter, received resounding applause.Far from parading remorse, Yorkshire will defend Gale with a top legal team. They will pursue their conviction that the ECB must give serious attention to an increasing failure by umpires to manage the game and insist that Gale must not be scapegoated on the grounds of a forensic interpretation of a single retaliatory phrase at a time when sledging is incessant and gamesmanship has reached epidemic proportions.This view has already been expressed in writing to the ECB but it is likely to act as mitigation, at best, as the ECB wrestles with an affair which has become a political minefield. This summer, the ECB successfully defended England’s fast bowler James Anderson against charges of physical violence and personal abuse towards Jadeja and also remained silent when British Indians shouted at Moeen Ali to “f*** off home” during the ODI at Edgbaston – less difficult than they might have imagined as he is Birmingham born and lives a couple of miles down the road.Anderson’s comments that his clash with Jadeja should have been sorted there and then emphasises the conviction in the England camp that abuse is part and parcel of the modern game. The ICC seemed to uphold that view when, in the absence of video evidence and with the testimonies of witnesses on both sides condemned by the judicial commissioner Gordon Lewis as hopelessly biased, Lewis found both players not guilty.One view expressed in ECB high office is that “at least we will know where we stand” when the Gale ruling is made. On what constitutes racism, it is true that the lawyers will provide an expensive education and Gale, whatever the outcome, will be branded for life. But it suggests a governing body struggling to provide a coherent message.Prince himself said that he had not viewed Gale’s outburst as racist when he spoke to a South African radio station – and although that was in direct answer to a question on the Kolpak phrase, Yorkshire will seize on the remark. Prince made no reference to Khawaja’s alleged involvement.But on the general topic of player behaviour, on the abuse and gamesmanship that is spreading to all levels of the game, this regrettable episode gives the ECB an opportunity to provide leadership, stop hiding behind the sham of the Spirit of Cricket, as well intentioned as it was, and restate strong guidelines to umpires about how it expects the professional game to be run. Only if that is a beneficial outcome of the Gale investigation will cricket be the better for it.

Stats highlights from the fourth day of the third Test between West Indies and South Africa in Cape Town

Bishen Jeswant05-Jan-201566 Number of Test fifties scored by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, second only to Sachin Tendulkar who scored 68.27104 Balls faced by Chanderpaul in Tests. From matches where balls-faced data is available, only three batsmen have faced more deliveries: Rahul Dravid (31258), Sachin Tendulkar* (29437) and Jacques Kallis (28903).8 Number of years since Chanderpaul has been run-out in Tests. He was run-out against New Zealand in Napier in 2006. This is the fourth time he has been run-out in his Test career.7 Number of wickets taken by Simon Harmer, the most by a South African spinner on debut in a home Test. Two other South African spinners have taken seven or more wickets in their first Test – Dane Piedt (8 for 152, Harare, 2014) and Ian Smith (7 for 189, Nottingham, 1947)50 Number of overs bowled by Harmer in this Test. He is only the fourth South African spinner in 68 years to bowl 50 or more overs on Test debut. Interestingly, three South African spinners bowled 50-plus overs each on debut in the same Test in 1947, against England.890 Runs scored by Chanderpaul in South Africa, the most by a West Indies batsman. He went past Lara (841) during his 50 in the second innings.98 Marlon Samuels’ strike rate against Harmer during his knock of 74 in the second innings. He scored 46 runs off 47 balls against Harmer. Against the other bowlers, Samuels scored 28 runs off 103 balls at a strike rate of 27.5 Number of times that Samuels has faced 150-plus balls in an innings against South Africa, more than against any other team. He has done this three times each against England and India. Samuels played exactly 150 balls for his 74 in the second innings.8 Number of ducks scored by Denesh Ramdin, the second-most by a West Indies wicketkeeper in Tests. The only wicketkeeper to score more ducks is Ridley Jacobs – 12 ducks.355 Number of balls since Vernon Philander has taken a Test wicket at Newlands, Cape Town. His last wicket here was against Australia in March 2014, when he took a wicket in the first innings and returned match figures of 1 for 158.

26-Feb-2015Coming together at 40 for 3, Matt Machan (pic) and Preston Mommsen accumulated 53 in 10.1 overs•ICCMohammad Nabi, though, bowled Machan for 31 in the 22nd over to end the partnership•AFPShapoor Zadran bowled with more verve and purpose in his second spell, as Scotland collapsed to 144 for 8•AFPHe was aided by Hamid Hassan, who ended with figures of 1 for 32 to add to a tumbling catch to dismiss Josh Davey, paving the way for his somersault celebration•Associated PressMajid Haq and Alasdair Evans (in pic) showed some stomach for a fight, adding a record 62 runs for the ninth wicket even as an early finish loomed large•AFPEvans became Shapoor’s fourth victim off the last ball of the innings, but Scotland had gone past the 200-mark by then•ICCEvans carried forward the momentum, this time striking with the ball to remove Nawroz Mangal and Asghar Stanikzai cheaply in their chase of 211•AFPJaved Ahmadi counterattacked, clattering 51 at a run a ball•AFPOnce Richie Berrington got rid of the opener, though, the chase went to a free fall. He claimed figures of 10-0-40-4 to snatch the game by the scruff of its neck, as Afghanistan slumped to 97 for 7•Getty ImagesSamiullah Shenwari then built his innings steadily, before finding his range to help Afghanistan fight back•AFPHe added 60 for the ninth wicket with Hamid Hassan, and with 38 needed off 24 balls, turned the match around by whacking Haq for three sixes in the 47th over•ICCBut the game took another twist when Shenwari was caught attempting another six off the final delivery of the over. He was dismissed for 96. Scotland needed just one wicket. Afghanistan needed just 19 runs•Getty ImagesBut it was Afghanistan’s last pair Shapoor and Hassan who stayed cool under immense pressure, nudging away for crucial singles. With five needed off the last over, Shapoor finally sealed Afghanistan’s historic win with a swipe past short fine-leg for four•Getty ImagesIt sparked frenzied celebrations among the players, who could scarcely believe what they had just pulled off•ICC

It is little surprise that a team which pulled out of a major bilateral tour only four months ago, and against India of all opposition, continues to be the subject of murmurings of further discontent

Andrew McGlashan in Nelson16-Feb-20152:37

If we bowl like this, we won’t win many matches – Sammy

Before play in Nelson, Curtly Ambrose shook hands with Mike Atherton. Two adversaries who produced many a great battle in the 1990s. That was the decade which began with West Indies still a powerhouse in world cricket, but by the end the decline had set in. Since then it has become almost passé to refer to the downward spiral of West Indies cricket.However, the speed of the unravelling has been alarming of late. These are desperate times. The World T20 title in 2012 was hoped to mark the beginning of something better, instead it is appearing increasingly like the final glory of a once great cricket nation.Among the saddest aspects of West Indies’ display in Nelson, without for a moment diminishing another glorious World Cup day for Ireland, was that West Indies’ performance was entirely predictable. Being especially harsh, the fightback from 87 for 5 was the unexpected aspect. If Darren Sammy’s first ball edge had not eluded the left hand of Paul Stirling at slip, it could have been very one-sided. He and Lendl Simmons, at least with the bat, looked like two players who did care.Sammy went as far as to say that West Indies had taken Ireland “for granted” with their performance in the field. “The batting partnership should have been motivation enough to go out there and want to run into the Irish,” he said. “We were lackadaisical in the field and we just thought ‘yeah, we scored 300 and are supposed to win’.”It is little surprise that a team which pulled out of a major bilateral tour only four months ago, and against India of all opposition, continues to be the subject of murmurings of further discontent. Their public pronouncements of unity and ‘the team’ are sounding increasingly hollow. The encouragement in the field as Ireland hurtled to their target came from a few rather than plenty.The ‘laid-back’ attitude of some – notably Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels – is often mentioned and regularly dismissed with the same ‘it’s the way they play’ manner as when batsmen keep picking out deep fielders. You could not have had a more stark contrast to the hustle of Ireland’s fielders to the shuffle of West Indians.Sammy talked of helping Jason Holder, the raw 23-year-old captain, but in truth he should still be the captain himself. He certainly does more than his fair share of cajoling and field setting. However, these experiences are draining even for someone of his exuberant nature.”When things are not going your way it’s always difficult to motivate yourself, but as a group you have to keep believing and we need to find some inspiration somewhere – and we need to find it quickly. I will always try to be positive, help our young captain, and hopefully the rest of the team could follow.”Talking on ESPNcricinfo’s Match Point show, Michael Holding asked why Holder was being burdened by the captaincy. There were glimpses today of his significant potential as a bowler. He was the most economical pacemen in the match, only to watch his fellow quicks plundered.His speed was up a notch from the tour of South Africa, where he rarely nudged 140kph, but he has some major technical issues to work on. Better to allow him to do that without having to coax a rabble onto the park.Not all fault is on the players’ side in the various problems that are inflicting West Indies cricket but the fractious nature of both sides only goes to highlight the deep divides that have opened up.There are many decisions of late that do not make much sense in West Indies cricket. There are strange goings on back in the Caribbean, even leaving aside the debate around Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard missing this tournament. No satisfactory explanation of the situation regarding Kieran Powell, for example, the opening batsman who appears at odds with the board and management over his status following a period of absence from the game.Then there is Sunil Narine who decided two days after taking 6 for 9 in the Nagico50 final that he was not confident enough in his action to go to the World Cup. What a hole he leaves in the side. Sulieman Benn’s back twinge was unfortunate timing but West Indies significantly misread the pitch in not playing left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, although neither of them come close to matching Narine in limited-overs cricket, and were out-thought by Ireland who had a brace of specialists plus a handy part-timer.Their problems were exacerbated by Sammy’s own back issues. He battled through it with the bat, regularly flexing during his 89, but the three overs were less than comfortable: painful bowling, painful viewing.”It’s one game,” Sammy said, a glazed look in his eyes, “we still believe.” It was words he had to say, but it was hard to know if he really believed them. Where West Indies go from here is difficult to say, but it would take a brave person to suggest it is a quarter-final of this World Cup.

Gary Ballance is one of several admirable young members of England’s side, and it defies belief that there was talk of his position being in danger

George Dobell at North Sound17-Apr-2015There is an odd, febrile atmosphere in English cricket at present. It feels like the day after the revolution: the guilty are being rounded up and guillotined. And if a few innocents happen to be rounded up with them, so be it.How else could it be that Gary Ballance, after an outstanding start to his Test career, could feel under pressure going into the second innings of this Test? How else is it that some could be speculating that his position was in jeopardy?That is Gary Ballance who came into this game with a Test batting average of 60.75. Gary Ballance who scored three centuries in seven Tests last summer. Gary Ballance who filled the considerable hole left by Jonathan Trott and seems to have the temperament, the technique and the time – he is only 25 – to continue to fill it for much of the next decade.The problem for Ballance, and several others, is perception. The reputation of England cricket is currently so low that everything associated with it risks contamination.To some extent that is understandable. England cricket is still, probably incorrectly, judged on Ashes results and the last series was a humiliating whitewash. They were also wretched at the World Cup.Furthermore, some of the more visible members of the administration have behaved in an arrogant, high-handed way without demonstrating the competence to match: think of the “outside cricket” media release and the handling of the Kevin Pietersen affair as examples.But we need to take a step back and reflect on the difference between young players and the board that pays them; the difference between an England of Giles Clarke and Paul Downton and an England of Gary Ballance and James Tredwell. And the difference between limited-overs and Test cricket.Because somewhere, far below the headlines made by the Pietersen saga, far quieter than the cries for the head of Peter Moores or Alastair Cook, clouded by the debate about successors and leaks from Lord’s, an exciting new England Test team is emerging.It is a team containing Ben Stokes, arguably the most exciting young allrounder in the world; Joe Root, a prolific batsman who, at 24, has the world at his feet; Jos Buttler, an outrageous talent with the bat and, standing back at least, a vastly improved keeper; Moeen Ali, an allrounder whose batting you want to take for a weekend in Paris; and, right in the middle of it, Gary Ballance.Ballance lacks the glamour of some of the others. He is the Volvo to their Jaguar. Not quite as exciting, perhaps. But reliable. Sturdy. Guaranteed for 10 years and, actually, a bit quicker than you think. His ability to cut almost any delivery – at times it drove West Indies to the brink of despair – his hunger for runs, his love of batting. There is just a hint of Jacques Kallis about him. And praise comes little higher.There is a danger that this innings will be dismissed as it was “just” against West Indies. But when he came in, Jerome Taylor was in the midst of an outstanding spell of bowling and a Test was in the balance. He left the ball astutely, defended compactly and showed glimpses of his “other gear” when accelerating towards setting up the declaration. It was selfless, composed and reassuring. He earned the opportunity to bat against tired bowlers and an old ball by seeing off both when they were new.”Coming in when the seam bowlers have done well up front, swinging the ball at pace, is always tough,” he said. “So I had to fight hard yesterday. I probably looked a bit scratchy, but I was able to kick on and to get a hundred in the second innings is huge.”I would like to have thought after last summer I was settled in the number three spot but I guess that’s international sport. I didn’t come here thinking if I had a bad game I was going to get dropped. I came here trying to win games for England.”It’s obviously been a tough winter for myself and the team. I’ve found there is pressure playing international cricket, but four bad innings at the World Cup doesn’t make you a bad cricketer.”It is odd that Ballance felt under any pressure. He had, after all, experienced only one poor Test innings in his last nine. But the punch of the air and sustained celebration when he reached three-figures told their own story; clearly the run of low scores – albeit in a different format of the game – have been weighing heavy on him.Equally, England’s seven-month break from Test cricket, has resulted in some forgetting the fact that they have actually won their last three matches and that Ballance performed well in them. The World Cup debacle and administrative shambles have overshadowed everything, but actually their Test ranking – No.3 – remains respectable.Ballance was not given the best chance to succeed in the World Cup. Having not been included in the ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour, he won a recall to the squad after Alastair Cook’s sacking but was unable to take part in the tri-series after sustaining a hand injury at the start of the tour. Then, thrown into the opening game of the World Cup despite little meaningful cricket before hand, he struggled. And as the struggle continued, so his confidence ebbed.”Getting an injury early on didn’t help because I went into the tour feeling very good,” he explained. “Then, in the first game, against Australia, we were chasing 350 so I had to get on with it and didn’t get a score. Then you don’t score again and you start to feel the pressure of the World Cup.”But whether Ballance turns out to be a successful ODI cricketer should have little bearing on his Test career. Indeed, given England’s exhausting schedule, the chance to focus on one format might extend his career.Whatever England’s problems – and whatever the anger towards the ECB – the likes of Ballance show a new, admirable Test side is emerging. As young players they will sometimes err and sometimes fail. But it would be folly to jettison them as a reaction to impatience with the board. They are the future. And they are a more entertaining, more likeable, more exciting future than many might have noticed amid the din.