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Australia’s wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is acutely aware of his tenuous place at the top of what is by far the national team’s most competitive market

Daniel Brettig in Hobart12-Dec-2012Australia’s wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is acutely aware of his tenuous place at the top of what is by far the national team’s most competitive market. At a time when high quality batsmen and spin bowlers are in short supply and fast bowlers are almost as likely to drop with injury as they are to flourish, Australia has seldom had a more bounteous supply of glovemen.While Phillip Hughes was recalled after his first Sheffield Shield century of the summer, Wade knows that behind him in the queue lurks a small army of stumpers. His predecessor Brad Haddin, keen on one more Ashes tour, is swinging from the hip for New South Wales with a reconfigured batting grip. Tim Paine has battled back manfully from a serious finger fracture and took the Australia A gloves this year. Chris Hartley maintains a never less than fastidious standard behind the stumps for Queensland and has grown his batting notably.And this is all without mentioning the likes of Peter Nevill, Tom Triffitt and Peter Handscomb, all considered worthy of eventual national call-ups. Wade regularly runs his eyes across the competition, the resurgent Haddin in particular, and has resolved to play each match in the manner Ricky Ponting approached the Perth Test – as his last.”Every time you walk out onto the ground for Australia you’ve got to live that moment. Every time could be your last,” Wade said. “So in that regard, I do live the moment I suppose for Australia. I keep an eye on cricket games and, yeah, Hadds is playing really nicely and he was always going to. A world-class player. Anyone who’s played 60 Tests and goes back and plays first-class and domestic cricket is always going to do very well.”There’s so many good keepers in Australia. It’s not just one or two people. In a matter of months there can be keepers come out of the woodwork and play good cricket so if I’m worried too much about them, then my performance out here is going to be affected. It’s just about preparing well and giving myself the best chance.”Wade was unsatisfied with his returns against South Africa, both as a wicketkeeper and a batsman. His best, exemplified by a reflex take to dismiss Robin Peterson off Nathan Lyon and then a rapid 68 in the first innings of the Perth Test, was of a glittering standard. His worst, a missed stumping of Graeme Smith in Adelaide and an agitated slog at Peterson to be dismissed in the second innings at the WACA ground, was not.There is less concern from Wade when another missed chance is mentioned, Faf du Plessis edging Ben Hilfenhaus in and out of his gloves on the tense final day in Adelaide, for it was the result of his decision to move up to the stumps in an effort to interrupt du Plessis’ otherwise serene batting rhythm. If Wade set the trap but could not bring it to completion, he consoles himself with the fact that an opportunity had been created.”It plays on your mind definitely after the game, but I was lucky that we had two days off and were starting another Test match,” Wade said. “Everyone was really supportive. I went up there to make something happen, the game was drifting on a little bit, something did happen and it just didn’t stick that day. Two days later I got a catch off Nathan Lyon and it stuck. That’s unfortunately the game I play, one will stick one day and some will fall out others.”Up to the stumps is where you can really challenge yourself and change a game. You can make or break a game up to the stumps, as simple as that. That when the pressure’s on and I think every keeper likes getting up there and having a real crack, whether it’s a quick or a spinner. It’s going to be interesting, hopefully I get to India and I can keep in similar conditions in the West Indies where it spins a lot more, and challenge myself a little bit more.”Wade’s enthusiasm for the visit to India is a rare sentiment, for the subcontinent provides a more sustained test of a wicketkeeper’s ability than almost anywhere else on the globe. However Wade has reasoned from his West Indies experiences that lower bounce suits his diminutive stature, making him more comfortable against the fizzing, turning ball in Delhi than he is when keeping up to the bouncing variety in Brisbane or Perth.”In the West Indies I enjoyed keeping up to the stumps,” Wade said. “Australia’s a different kettle of fish when you keep up, it’s not as much side spin, it’s more bounce, which is probably the hardest thing for me to keep to because of my height, the bounce in the wickets can get up around my chest so that’s probably harder for me.”In Australia I’ve learned a lot over the past four or five years keeping up to the stumps and I’ve got to continue to improve that. I enjoy keeping up tot he stumps because then you’re in the game, and you’re challenged a lot. In Adelaide I probably didn’t have the greatest game up to the stumps, I kept as well as I did in Perth in Adelaide, I just a missed a couple of chances and it gets highlighted a lot more – as it should – than other things.”Once, those lapses would have been terminal for a Test keeper’s career, but now the requirement to add runs as well as dismissals has had the effect of spreading their responsibilities, and also their chances to justify their place. “It’s definitely an allrounder’s position but it’s probably better for the keepers now to have two positions,” Wade said. “Back in the day if you didn’t keep well enough you got dropped, simple as that. Now you’ve got both aspects, batting and keeping, so it’s probably a good thing for us because we’re expected to make runs and keep also – we’ve got two opportunities to do well in the game.”Given how many are straining to have the job Wade currently enjoys, two chances at success are certainly better than one.

Nottinghamshire have announced a pre-tax surplus of £19,652, the latest in a series of financial results which have so far defied the disruption caused by one of the wettest summers on record.

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jan-2013Nottinghamshire have announced a pre-tax surplus of £19,652 for the year to September 2012, the latest in a series of financial results which have so far defied the disruption caused by one of the wettest summers on record.The club’s annual report show a reduction in net debt of almost £1 million despite a further investment in facilities at Trent Bridge at a time when nine international grounds are jostling for their share of international cricket.Peter Wright, Nottinghamshire’s chairman, said: “Historically, we have a strong track record of profitability but we now face significant challenges and we must continue to raise income to meet increased international match staging fees, invest in the playing squad and continue to enhance our venue.”There is a lot to look forward to and we take some pride in the position we have achieved in tough economic times.”Trent Bridge will host two international matches in 2013 including the first Ashes Test against Australia in July.Nottingham County Council has provided a grant of £900,000 to the club to part fund a new scoreboard and replay screen, contending that the retention of international cricket will bring £30m of economic benefit to the East Midlands in the next four years.

Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s captain, has said that his dismissal occurred a crucial stage in Pakistan’s second innings and triggered the collapse

Firdose Moonda in Cape Town17-Feb-2013Just as a captain is supposed to, Misbah-ul-Haq went down with his ship, as Pakistan lost the Newlands Test in four days, and with it the series. He went as far as to say he was responsible for their downfall, a brave but necessary admission from a leader who should not bear all the blame but was willing to do so.On 114 for 3, Pakistan were 100 runs short of what many thought would have been a total challenging enough to be match-winning. To get there, Misbah had to bat a while longer. He had no problems facing Robin Peterson and was sweeping with ease, until one went wrong. His mistake was that he top-edged to short fine-leg and he acknowledged it was a costly one.”That was the turning point. After that, the collapse started,” Misbah said of his dismissal. “We really blame ourselves. We made mistakes and we couldn’t afford to do that.”Pakistan, however, had let themselves down long before Misbah’s second-innings dismissal. Allowing Robin Peterson to score 84 at No. 8 and take South Africa to within 12 runs of Pakistan’s first-innings total was what Graeme Smith regarded as most significant. “The way Robbie batted was pretty inspirational,” he said. “We knew that getting as close as we could to their total was going to be key.”A lack of adequate back up for Saeed Ajmal was Pakistan’s main problem and Tanvir Ahmed’s selection remained a mystery. Tanvir offered neither pace nor movement and, although his first-innings runs were valuable, he did not perform in the role he was selected for.Mohammed Hafeez was used too sparingly and brought on too late and as South Africa crept up on Pakistan, they erased the advantage. “The lead should have been 70 or 80 runs,” Misbah said.Although Pakistan began their second innings on level terms, mentally they were behind, and then their openers departed in the space of two overs. “The third innings can be the toughest of the Test match,” Smith said. “You’ve got to make a play and if you are not positive enough the game can get you. That’s what happened to Pakistan.”Still, Pakistan entered day four with the opportunity to take control, especially with the knowledge that their nemesis, the new ball, was a session and more away. Their shot selection and decision making let them down though. Asad Shafiq lacked awareness when the ball bounced behind him and he didn’t know where it was until it had hit his off stump. Sarfraz Ahmed mysteriously left a Peterson delivery that spun back and bowled him, and Umar Gul chased a wide one.Feats such as bowling England out for 72 would have inspired Pakistan but Newlands is not the UAE – although Graeme Smith said conditions were “not ideal” for the home side – and South Africa are not England. Like the previous world No.1 side, they struggled against Ajmal and had Pakistan set a higher target, Misbah expected the mindset would have been different.”Whenever you are chasing 250 in the last innings and Saeed Ajmal is on the opposition side, it is difficult,” Misbah said. “And pressure is different when you are chasing 250 to when you are chasing 180. Ajmal really gave us a chance but we could not [put] pressure from both sides and runs were flowing. If we could have bowled more overs and restricted them, it might have been different.”Smith admitted his side did not have a method to counter the Ajmal yet. “It can be guesswork at times. He bowls a quick pace and delayed action makes it difficult to use your feet. The toughest part is to pick which way the ball is going. And he is very consistent and a lands a lot of balls in the right areas.”Ajmal’s ten wickets are an achievement that will long be remembered and marvelled at. “He is a world-class bowler and he proved that today against a top quality side by taking ten wickets against South Africa in South Africa,” Misbah said. “They know he can cause problems for them.”Pakistan need a lot more of Ajmal’s type of discipline to earn a consolation win in Centurion. They have already provided a sterner contest than South Africa have had all summer and have got better over the two matches.”We lost the Test series but we know we are playing against the No.1 team in the world in their own conditions and we will try to put a better showing there,” Misbah said. “We want to stick to the basics and spend time at the crease. There was a little bit of panic today at the time when Peterson was bowling. We can’t do that. Experience makes a big difference in this kind of game. You need to have experience to develop.”

Matthew Wade is in doubt for the third Test after hurting his ankle while playing basketball in Chandigarh on Saturday

Brydon Coverdale10-Mar-2013Australia wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is in doubt for the third Test after hurting his ankle while playing basketball in Chandigarh on Saturday. Brad Haddin has been placed on standby for Wade and is a strong chance to fly to India, pending the result of scans on Sunday morning, four days before the start of the Test.”Matt Wade sprained his right ankle playing basketball yesterday afternoon,” Australia physio Alex Kountouris said. “His ankle is subsequently swollen and painful so will have a scan this morning to help determine the extent of the injury and how we manage it. He will not take part in today’s training session.”This is the second consecutive Test in which there has been doubt surrounding Wade’s fitness, after he suffered a minor fracture to his cheek while facing throwdowns in the nets on the eve of the second Test in Hyderabad. Wade played that match and scored 62 in the first innings batting at No.6, which has been his position since the final Test of the home summer.There was no backup wicketkeeper in the group in the lead-up to the second Test and Phillip Hughes, who has occasionally stood in at state and international level, was in line to take the gloves had Wade been ruled out. But the longer break ahead of the third Test means there will be plenty of time to fly Haddin to India if required.Haddin has played four Tests in India, all during the 2008 tour, and scored 163 at an average of 27.16. However, he has been in strong Sheffield Shield form this summer and has made 468 runs at 52 including two centuries. Haddin has not played a Test since the end of the home series against India in January 2012; Wade became the preferred gloveman in all formats on the West Indies tour later that year.Both Wade and Haddin are likely to be part of the squad for the Ashes tour but if Haddin was to play in India and succeed with the bat and gloves it could raise questions over the first-choice man for the start of the Ashes. Wade has performed well with the bat at Test level, scoring a century at No.6 in the Sydney Test against Sri Lanka, but his glovework has been shaky at times.”I don’t know the extent of the injury but with Matty I definitely think he’s a chance of carrying it through if it’s only something minor,” the allrounder Moises Henriques said on Sunday morning. “I haven’t seen him since it happened. He won’t be training with us [today], but he’s as tough a little character as there is, so if there’s a chance of him playing he certainly will.”The Australians arrived in Chandigarh on Thursday but the players have had two days off since following their innings defeat in Hyderabad. The squad will train at the Mohali ground for the first time on Sunday.

Mitchell Starc will fly home from India to have surgery on his ankle and will miss the fourth and final Test in Delhi

Brydon Coverdale19-Mar-2013Mitchell Starc will fly home from India to have surgery on his ankle and will miss the fourth and final Test in Delhi.Starc has been affected by bone spurs in his right ankle for some time and the problem was a key factor in him being rested for the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka, and while he was able to continue through the rest of the Australian summer and the Indian tour, the Australians are hoping an early operation will ensure he is fully fit for the Ashes.Starc was one of Australia’s strongest performers in the loss in Mohali, where he scored 99 and 35, and collected two wickets during a spell of impressive swing bowling with the second new ball in India’s second innings. However, with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy now in India’s hands, the Australian team management decided that Starc’s injury was best dealt with immediately to give him the best chance of being available for the tour of England.”Mitch has been experiencing ankle pain related to bone spurs during the India Test series and whilst manageable, this represents an appropriate time for Mitch to have the surgery with a view to having him fully fit for the Ashes in late June,” the team doctor Peter Brukner said. “Mitch will have surgery later this week and we’ll assess his recovery as he returns to bowling.”Australia’s coach Mickey Arthur said Starc could have continued playing but that could have been more of a risk than booking him in for the operation now.”I think the dilemma with Mitchell Starc, as it has been throughout the whole summer, is he has these bone spurs,” Arthur said. “They are going to snap at some stage – we just had to look for what we thought was the best possible window to get them done, or not get them done and just take the risk.”We looked at it now and just thought ‘this is a proper gap for us to be able to get it done, clean it out’ so that he can come back with no gamble and no I guess injury cloud at all. It gives us a good window now to get it done properly. In terms of risk this was the best time. He’ll be ready we’re hoping by the Champions Trophy, if not he’ll be 100% ready to go for the Ashes. We just thought it was the best time.”Starc’s absence for the Delhi Test could bring Mitchell Johnson into contention to play his first Test of the tour. Johnson and James Pattinson will again be available for selection after being left out due to their failure to complete a team task in Mohali and while Pattinson is a certainty to play, the make-up of the rest of the attack is less clear. The pitch in Delhi is expected to offer significant turn.

Rahul Dravid said he was happy to see Sreesanth bounce back during Rajasthan Royals’ six-wicket win against Kings XI Punjab after an expensive spell against Pune Warriors

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Apr-2013Rahul Dravid said he was happy to see Sreesanth bounce back during Rajasthan Royals’ six-wicket win against Kings XI Punjab after an expensive spell against Pune Warriors. Sreesanth picked up the wickets of Kings XI openers – Adam Gilchrist and Mandeep Singh – in his first over and was economical giving away 20 runs in his spell.”You have to realise that in T20, you will have bad games,” Dravid said. “It’s part and parcel of the game. Out of four games, Sreesanth’s had three good games. If 75 per cent of the time in the tournament you have good games, then I’ll take it happily. He did really well today and it was good to see him bounce back from the previous game.”Sreesanth drew consistent movement off the Jaipur pitch that offered help to the seamers and, along with James Faulkner and Siddharth Trivedi, helped Royals to limit Kings XI to 124. The Royals had lost four wickets with 46 needed to win, but an unbeaten stand between Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samson took them over the line in the last over.”Chasing 125 was not going to be easy on this surface because it was offering movement,” Dravid said. “All wickets should not be of 170-180 runs. 140-150 run wickets can also have exciting games. We are happy with the wicket and don’t interfere with the job of curator. We need to learn to bat better on such wickets.””[Shane] Watson played beautifully to add quick runs and release some pressure. But we got stuck in the middle with fall of couple of wickets but Ajinkya Rahane stood there till the end to steer us home. Sanju Samson also batted beautifully and has shown a lot of promise. All in all, it was a fine team effort.”He also brushed aside any concerns regarding the form of his batsmen, while stating that Brad Hodge’s position in the batting order would depend on the situation the team faces. “As far as the matter of Hodge batting up the order is concerned I feel he has been very good in accelerating at the end overs,” he said. “If the need arises, he can be promoted up the order. The good is thing is that we now have enough cover and options for all positions and can shuffle to meet the demands of situations.”

Yorkshire have appointed Mark Arthur as the county’s new chief executive. He will take up his post at Headingley on May 7.

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Apr-2013Yorkshire have appointed Mark Arthur as the county’s new chief executive. He will take up his post at Headingley on May 7.Arthur has a background in cricket administration having worked for the Test and County Cricket Board (the forerunner to the ECB) before becoming chief executive at Nottinghamshire. He then moved across the Trent to take up the same role at Nottingham Forest football club. He spent 13 years at the City Ground before being sacked by the club’s new Kuwaiti owners in January.”I am delighted to be joining Yorkshire,” Arthur said. “It is an honour and a massive opportunity to be part of the biggest cricket club in the world, which boasts nearly 900 playing clubs and a vibrant development programme, which is the envy of world cricket.”I will do everything during my time at Headingley for the betterment of Yorkshire cricket. The hard work has been undertaken over the last few years to stabilise the club and now we have a great opportunity and a solid platform to take the club forward.”Arthur inherits a modern, recently-developed stadium and a team that won their place back in Davison One of the County Championship last season. He will take on the challenge of maintaining Headingley’s status as an international venue in an increasingly competitive market. Yorkshire decided not to bid for an Ashes Test in 2013 or 2015, deeming it too costly.”Mark’s appointment It is fantastic news for the club,” Colin Graves, Yorkshire chairman, added. “He has over 20 years’ experience at the highest level of sports administration, both in cricket and football. His experience and knowledge will be vital in taking the club forward in what will be an exciting period, both on and off the field.”

Only India, once, had ever successfully chased such a daunting target in an ODI at The Oval, but Sri Lanka made a confident start

The Report by David Hopps13-Jun-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKumar Sangakkara played one of his finest one-day innings to keep Sri Lanka in the tournament•Getty Images

Kumar Sangakkara has never been part of a Sri Lanka team winning a major ICC one-day trophy outright. Neither have the other outstanding players of this Sri Lanka era – Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga or Tillakaratne Dilshan. But they will believe there is still time after Sangakkara’s magnificent unbeaten 134 from 135 balls pulled off an improbable run chase against England by seven wickets with 17 balls to spare at The Oval.Only India had ever pulled off such a daunting target on this ground and, if Sri Lanka had failed to hit such heights, they would have been eliminated. But, as the clouds cleared, the pitch was encouraging and Sangakkara, driven by the vision that his redoubtable career need not go unrewarded, summoned a shrewd and inspired response.England now face New Zealand in Cardiff in their final match on Sunday and Sri Lanka are pitted against Australia at The Oval the following day with Group A in the balance.ODI batting England style, a methodical, statistically-justified policy that involves stripping as much risk out of the game as possible, setting up an appropriate base and then staking much on havoc at the end had been found wanting, and as Sangakkara drove Sri Lanka towards victory, its chief architect, Jonathan Trott, who had made 76 from 87 balls in inimitable style, watched in forlorn mood from the dressing room, ice pack pressed to a strained thigh.Sangakkara marshalled Sri Lanka’s response superbly despite the initially distracting, and ultimately inspired, presence of the promoted tail-ender, Nuwan Kulasekara, who was sent in to No. 5 to have a swing in the Powerplay and who for a prolonged period was about as useful to Sangakkara as a loose horse in the Grand National.His promotion looked ill-judged as he struggled against James Anderson, but when he launched Graeme Swann’s offspin for two successive leg-side sixes, and continued to thrash his way to an unbeaten 58 from 38 balls it abruptly became a masterstroke and long before the end had left England looking demoralised.Kulasekara also knew his place. Shortly after Sangakkara reached his 15th ODI hundred, and his first against England, he stumbled in mid-pitch and, recognising the danger of a run out, Kulasekara ran alongside him to ensure that he would be run out if anybody would be. In his instantaneous recognition that he must protect his partner at all costs, it spoke volumes for his good sense.When Sangakkara responded by hoisting Anderson’s slower ball for six, it communicated that he was worth preserving. Anderson was impressive, and England’s ground fielding, led by the sub Jonny Bairstow, was exceptional at times, but three overs from Joe Root, England’s insurance bowler, cost 27, and Stuart Broad had an expensive night. Jayawardene and Dilshan also played their part for Sri Lanka with a couple of 40s and Malinga was Sri Lanka’s biggest threat with the ball: the star players had found a response.Sri Lanka must have feared the game was up when Ravi Bopara struck 28 from the last over, from Shaminda Eranga, including three sixes and two fours, leaving Angelo Mathews mentally rewriting his close-of-innings speech in the Sri Lanka huddle as Bopara left the ground to rousing cheers.Three England wickets had fallen in six balls at the death, including Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler, the latter second ball for 0 – the batsmen they look to for the final flourish both silenced. But Bopara tore into Eranga, depositing him for sixes over long-on, extra cover and long-on again. He even took two runs off the only ball that Eranga managed to get into the blockhole.That was the excitement; the rest belonged to Trott. His uncanny ability to turn a one-day international innings into an algorithm might not thrill cricket crowds around the world, but when he bats through, it requires something special in return for England to lose.He worked the leg side with alacrity and, by the time he fell lbw, sweeping at Rangana Herath’s left-arm spin, his time had been served. His one-day record is proven, his method brings victory more often than not, and many of those who rail against his methodical ways are railing, in part, about the fact that he is limiting the spectacle.Alongside Trott, Root provided the perkiest of half-centuries, built on an appreciation of quick ones and twos and occasional inventiveness. If Root was shaken by his altercation with David Warner in the Walkabout bar in Birmingham on Sunday, he did not show it for a moment. Root fell to a slower offcutter from Malinga and left with a wink. Perhaps he winked at Warner, in his green and gold wig, and rued the consequences?Sri Lanka dropped four catches in all, the most embarrassing of the lot from their eventual saviour, Sangakkara, who dashed from behind the stumps to claim Root’s skier to midwicket, and shouted loudly enough, but then feared Mathews was about to collide with him and fumbled the ball in the process.Dilshan also had the sort of afternoon that befalls this celebrated fielder so rarely. He dropped three catches in all, reprieving Alastair Cook twice, the first a tough diving chance to his right at backward point and the second an easier return catch when again he dived to his right but the ball eluded him. His third mishap, against Root, was a swirler as he dashed back from backward point. At the end of the night, all that was forgotten. A lively tournament had been brought alive.

For the second time this season, indeed in less than 12 sessions of play all told, Sussex out-played Somerset to the extent of defenestration

Ivo Tennant at Taunton10-Jul-2013
ScorecardChris Nash ensured Sussex made swift work of victory•Getty Images

For the second time this season, indeed in less than 12 sessions of play all told, Sussex out-played Somerset to the extent of defenestration. One side is now distinctly concerned about relegation, as Marcus Trescothick candidly admitted, while the other leads the Division One Championship table.Sussex, captained by Ed Joyce for the first time in this match upon his return from representing Ireland, took the remaining three Somerset wickets in the first 22 minutes of play and, needing 91 to win, had triumphed before lunch. It was hardly worth George Dockrell’s while returning with Joyce: Chris Nash brought about victory by hitting him for four and, next ball, for six.For the second time in the match, Steve Magoffin took four wickets, maintaining a steady length and benefiting from Trescothick’s erroneous decision to bat upon winning the toss through movement off the pitch. Now, he had Alfonso Thomas caught at an unaccustomedly short mid-on (so it was worth Joyce’s while to journey to the west country) and bowled Jamie Overton.Peter Trego, who can change the course of a match as rapidly as any batsman through quick scoring, attempted to square cut Chris Jordan and was held by Ben Brown, whose ninth catch of the match this was. So Somerset were dismissed for the second time for a total under 250. Even in conditions in which there was more movement than the customary first hour on the first morning, this was never likely to be enough at Taunton.Sussex began their second innings as if adamant that the match would be over by lunchtime. Although Luke Wells edged Steve Kirby to third slip, Nash, now relegated to the role of stand-in leader, reached a half century off 58 balls with eight fours and a six. There was a little turn for Dockrell, but insufficient bite.”We are concerned about second division cricket,” said Trescothick, who has a first-class best of 74 this season. “All the players are hurting as much as anybody else. Over the first two days we were not good enough and I regret my decision to bat first – I didn’t expect the ball to move off the seam as much as it did. Although I have won the toss quite a few times, I have made mistakes deciding whether to bat or bowl.”My own form is not good enough and because we are losing wickets early, pressure is being put on the batsmen coming in at three and four. Our batsmen and bowlers are not getting us ahead of the game.”The difficulty Somerset have now is that they do not have another Championship fixture until they play Nottinghamshire at the start of August. In the meantime, there are countless t20 fixtures. “We are gelling in that,” Trescothick added. The drawback, of course, is that his players will be in the wrong sort of mode to resume first-class cricket.There is no substance in the rumours on Twitter that he will be giving up the captaincy or retiring. One might have thought Trescothick would be the last person to indulge in social media in that he is a private, family man, not the kind of person to indulge in frippery or idle gossip.Yet he was aware of what was being said and there he was tweeting his best wishes to England before play at Trent Bridge – at any rate, when he was out of the nets. What he and his players will need over the remainder of the season is a period of good old-fashioned consolidation.

The BCCI has objected to the itinerary of India’s tour to South Africa starting in November, which was announced by Cricket South Africa on Monday

Amol Karhadkar09-Jul-2013The BCCI has objected to the itinerary of India’s tour to South Africa starting in November, which was announced by Cricket South Africa on Monday. According to the BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel, CSA announced the schedule without obtaining the BCCI’s consent.”We have written to CSA mentioning that while we have been discussing the tour itinerary, nothing had been agreed upon (before they announced the schedule). The discussions are on and a consensual decision will come soon,” Patel told ESPNcricinfo. Jagmohan Dalmiya, who has been in charge of the BCCI’s day-to-day affairs with N Srinivasan having stepped aside as president, confirmed that the BCCI had raised “concerns” with CSA.While Patel refused to elaborate on those concerns, Dalmiya said the BCCI had issues with the scheduling of the Tests. At the moment, the tour comprises two Twenty20 internationals and seven ODIs, followed by three Tests.”We have some concerns over the gap between the last two Tests of the three-match series,” Dalmiya told reporters in Kolkata. “We have informed this to our South African counterpart (CSA) and the two boards are trying very amicably to sort out the matter. The new schedule will be announced soon.” *The present schedule has an eight-day gap between the second and third Tests. Earlier this year, when South Africa hosted Pakistan, there was a similar eight-day gap between two Tests. The BCCI prefers to play three-Test series with a three-day interval for home series. The last time India toured South Africa (in 2010-11), the biggest gap was five days – between the first Test at Centurion and the Boxing Day Test. This time, the gap between the first two Tests is just two days, with CSA deciding to reinstate the Boxing Day and New Year Tests to Durban and Newlands respectively.It is learned that the new BCCI administration has concerns with the “number of matches and the itinerary” for the tour. The tour is scheduled to end on January 19, just before the start of the New Zealand tour, though the schedule for that tour hasn’t yet been finalised.The BCCI feels that seven ODIs are “too many”. “If we have five ODIs, perhaps the tour can get over a week early and the boys can have a week-long break before flying to New Zealand,” a BCCI insider said, preferring anonymity. He also revealed that the board has been consulting the players on whether they would prefer to play the Tests before the ODIs.CSA, however, has claimed that it has not received any formal complaint from the BCCI and that they have followed all the correct protocols. “If the BCCI has any concerns they can raise them with us and we will sort them out amicably as we have always done in the past,” Michael Owen Smith, CSA media consultant, said.* – July 9, 2013, 1815 GMT – story updated with Dalmiya quotes