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Simon Taufel, the former ICC Elite Panel umpire, has warned that there is a “double edge” to using technology in decision making but officials should be more “pragmatic” in utilising all available tools.

Nagraj Gollapudi24-Jul-2013Simon Taufel, the former ICC Elite Panel umpire, has warned that there is a “double edge” to using technology in decision making but officials should be more “pragmatic” in utilising all available tools.Taufel, who retired from umpiring after the World T20 in October 2012, delivered the 13th MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey lecture at Lord’s and warned that the highly intrusive nature of technology can put “pressure” on the umpire if not utilised cautiously. Yet, at the same time, Taufel said the match officials, who he called the “third team”, needed to be more prudent about the use of technology.In addition to being the first umpire to deliver this prestigious lecture, Taufel was the third Australian. The inaugural lecture in 2001 was delivered by Richie Benaud before Adam Gilchrist spoke in 2009. Taufel also is the third non-player to deliver the speech with the previous two being Desmond Tutu in 2009 and the late journalist Christopher Martin-Jenkins in 2006.Taufel, who has been rated one of the best umpires of all time, now serves as the ICC umpire training and performance manager. Being the first umpire to deliver the Cowdrey lecture might have carried a unique honour but Taufel was equally aware of the timing: in the middle of an Ashes series during which the decision-making of the umpires and the use of the DRS has garnered as much attention as the Australians’ batting.But like a true fencer, Taufel had come equipped with all protective gear even though he called himself a “target”. He said the public scrutiny faced by umpires where their every movement and facial expression is judged has its dangers.”In today’s cricket, the decision of the umpire is scrutinised by all these cameras,” Taufel said. “Slow motion, ultra motion, Hot Spot front on, Hot Spot leg side, Hot Spot off side, ball tracking and prediction, Snicko, stump audio, the mat and then by up to three commentary experts. After all that public scrutiny and technology, there is often divided opinion about what the correct decision was.”Although Taufel was not against the broadcasters spending money on high-end technology, he was wary of the fast-gathering army of armchair critics, which is quick to adjudge the match official. “The investment by television companies in extra cameras, high-speed frame rates, computer software programs and military infra-red technology, plus high definition has certainly given the spectators a lot more information,” he said. “There is no doubt we now have a lot more ‘armchair’ experts.”Today, everyone umpires the game by watching television. The invasive nature of this broadcasting has a double edge to it – it does put more pressure on players and umpires. Not too much now happens on a cricket field that is not captured by a camera, a microphone or piece of technology. This has the ability to bring out the best in the game and also the worst.”According to Taufel, the role of the umpire today is much more than just making decisions. “We have to police (and I personally dislike this term and approach) other vital areas of the modern game,” he said. “Player behaviour, ball tampering, over rates, logos and clothing, impact of ground, weather and light, having to reduce playing times.” In that respect the introduction of technology had its benefits and even allowed the player and the viewer to understand the challenge faced by match officials during a live match.”One benefit of the current technology system has been the reduction in dissent charges and improvement in behaviour accordingly on the field. In the majority of cases in the modern game, if an umpire has made an error, there is an ability to correct it. In an Ashes Test, if there is an error off the first ball of the game, it can be corrected at the time rather than have it on the umpire’s conscience for the rest of the day and have the players constantly remind him of it. If I make an error, it stays with me all day, all game and I have to keep focused and performing in the middle. There is no dressing room to immediately take refuge while another umpire comes out to the middle, no time off the field to regather thoughts and regroup.”Regardless of the many backers technology has, it has many times, as during this Ashes, proved to be inconclusive. That has stoked the scepticism of the biggest detractor of the DRS, the BCCI, which has refused to adopt a mandatory DRS in a bilateral series, even threatening to not participate if such a decision was imposed.But Taufel said everyone involved needs take a call that would only serve cricket well and increase respect among its fans. “I believe the highest form of the game needs to have the highest standards of respect, spirit of cricket, behaviour and integrity – those at the highest level are setting the tone and standards for others to follow, be they players, umpires or administrators. We owe the future of our game that much.”The technology genie has been let out of the bottle and it’s not going to go back in. I would simply advocate that we look at ways to be as pragmatic as possible so we can get more correct decisions and deliver more justice. I do have an important message on this topic though as it is often asked, ‘what is your view on the DRS?’ I’m not sure that this is the right question.”Perhaps we should be asking ‘are we using technology in the best way to serve the players, supporters, umpires and values of our game?’ No matter what system of technology we implement in our game, it will not be perfect or 100%. The all-human solution is not 100%, neither is the DRS and neither will be an ‘all appeals’ review system. There are trade-offs and compromises with every system adopted. It all depends how the majority believe our game should be played underpinned with the values we want to promote and preserve.”

Phillip Hughes, who was dropped following a series of poor scores in the Ashes, has said that he is unfazed by his axing

Brydon Coverdale15-Aug-2013Phillip Hughes knows a thing or two about being dropped and, as a result, he feels better about his current exile than his previous omissions. Hughes was left out after two Ashes Tests in 2009 when he struggled against the short ball, and again after the home series against New Zealand in 2011, when he became the bunny of bowler Chris Martin and slip fielder Martin Guptill. This time, though, Hughes has been shuffled out at a time when he is confident in his own game.Making way for the Old Trafford Test was a harsh blow for Hughes, who at the time was Australia’s leading run scorer in the first-class matches on this Ashes tour. Even now, after two more Tests, he sits behind only Test centurions Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers on that list. His fighting 81 not out in the first innings at Trent Bridge was followed by 0, 1 and 1. But Hughes believes that despite the low scores, he is in a much better place than he was after his 2011 axing.”It’s never easy to be dropped but I feel that one was tougher than this one, and I’m being really honest about that,” Hughes said. “I feel this one, it was only three bats before I got dropped. I probably scored one of my better Test innings so it’s something I’m not overly concerned about. I feel my game is in a really good place.”Also I got runs in Sussex [in a tour game] as well and I suppose the games that have been on tour in Worcester, Somerset and Sussex, I feel like I’m hitting the ball well. But I did miss out and had a real poor game at Lord’s. I suppose they’re trying to find the best combination and I wasn’t in that for the last two games and I respect that. But hopefully I can get back in the side sooner rather than later. I feel like my confidence isn’t shot at all.”There is always pressure. I have always felt pressure at this level. When you lose there is more pressure. In my short career in the past couple of years we haven’t won enough Test matches. You feel you are only in the team for a couple of games. That comes with losing. You need form nearly every innings these days to hold your spot and until we start winning that’s going to continue.”Hughes will have a chance to remind the selectors of his tour form during Australia’s two-day match against the England Lions in Northampton starting on Friday. Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris and Brad Haddin have already traveled to London ahead of The Oval Test but the rest of the squad is in Northampton and there are a number of men who will be searching for batting form, including the Test No.3 Usman Khawaja and the wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.”When you do play games there’s an opportunity,” Hughes said. “Whoever plays will have an opportunity and that’s a good thing. I haven’t had an opportunity since I got dropped – or got left out the side – so I’ve really been looking forward to going out and playing some cricket and hopefully push my claims forward with a big score. It is always disappointing to get dropped, but it’s about moving on and I’m not one to dwell on what’s happened.”Hughes said he had been given feedback by the coach Darren Lehmann and the on-duty selector Rod Marsh after being dropped, and knew that one of his areas for improvement was to ensure he gets a start. That Hughes fell so early in his three innings following the 81 at Lord’s hurt his chances of retaining his place in the side when David Warner returned from South Africa.”You have to take your chances. That is something I didn’t do at Lord’s. What hurt was scoring three very low scores after that 80,” he said. “I missed out twice. I feel that in my career I’ve got a lot of low scores but when I get in, I go on with it. I have to start and get my scores up to 20s and 30s and get more starts. My record would say if I do that I go on with it. I have to get better at getting through the first 20 or 30 balls.”

Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar will face off in the opening match of the Champions League

The Preview by Kanishkaa Balachandran20-Sep-2013

Match facts

September 21, 2013
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Shane Watson ended his England tour on a high, which is bad news for the opposition•BCCI

Big Picture

The IPL champions, Mumbai Indians, take on the side that finished third in the tournament this year, despite all the adversity and negative publicity surrounding them because of the spot-fixing scandal. The attention will be on two legends on either side who will be playing their limited overs farewell tournament – Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. Speaking ahead of the game, Dravid, the Royals captain, insisted that it was a contest between two teams and not two individuals. There’s a match to be played, a tournament to be won and the Sawai Mansingh Stadium is a good place to start for the Royals who were unbeaten at their home venue throughout IPL 2013.Royals have the core of their side intact. Shane Watson, who had a mixed tour of England, is coming off his match-winning 143 in the final ODI against England at the Rose Bowl. James Faulkner, the allrounder, finished the IPL season with 28 wickets at 15.25, and the Australian pair will be key to Royals’ fortunes. They have the experienced Brad Hodge in the middle order, and Paddy Upton, the coach, said the team also had promising youngsters. “We are fortunate that the upcoming players like Sanju Samson and Dishant Yagnik and also Pravin Tambe, who was not so prominent, have done so well,” Upton said. “It would important for us to keep the team in better shape because we have limited players now after the ban on few of our squad players.”Mumbai will have to learn quickly to cope without Lasith Malinga, who’s skipped the tournament for family reasons. Mitchell Johnson and Harbhajan Singh will have to carry the attack in his absence. They will rely on their batsmen to fire and there’s no shortage of power hitters in the line-up. Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik were in good form in the IPL, and will look to continue in the same vein.

Players to watch

There’s no clarity yet on whether Harmeet Singh, the left-arm spinner caught in the spot-fixing scandal, is available to play. Royals are short on specialist spinners and Ashok Menaria, the allrounder, could take on the role. Menaria, who also bowls left-arm spin, has form on his side, with ten wickets in three one-dayers against New Zealand A recently, and a fifty as well. Dravid hinted that Menaria may fit into the line-up.One of the best outcomes for Mumbai in the IPL was the emergence of Rohit Sharma as an able replacement for Ricky Ponting, who was dropped from the line-up. Rohit took over the captaincy and led Mumbai to their elusive IPL title. The captaincy had a positive influence on his batting as he finished as their leading run-scorer. Can Rohit maintain that consistency in the Champions League?

Pakistan are among the most successful T20 sides while Bangladesh are 12th in terms of wins, but on current form the home team is the favourite going into the only Twenty20 international in Mirpur

The Preview by Mohammad Isam23-Apr-2015

Match facts

Friday, April 24, 2015
Start time 1830 local (1230 GMT)1:59

Isam: Bangladesh go in with more confidence

Big picture

Pakistan are among the most successful T20 sides while Bangladesh are 12th in terms of wins, but on current form the home team is the favourite going into the only Twenty20 international in Mirpur. Bangladesh have just swept the ODI series 3-0, and each of those victories were more one-sided than the previous one.Bangladesh, however, have not played a T20 for more than a year. Their only match in this format after the World T20 at home was washed out in the West Indies in August last year. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has not staged a domestic T20 tournament since December 2013 either, so the players will need to adapt their ODI confidence and skills to the shorter format.Pakistan have won the most T20 internationals. Shahid Afridi’s side has T20 match-winners like Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir and Ahmed Shehzad. These players appear in domestic T20 tournaments around the world. Shehzad, Afridi and Tanvir are only part of the T20 side, while Gul and Ajmal have struggled so far in Bangladesh.Pakistan may have won 50 out of 85 T20s, while Bangladesh only have 11 wins in 41 games, but the number the visitors will want to improve is their zero victories on this tour so far.

Form guide

Bangladesh LLLLL (last five matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LWLLW

In the spotlight

Shahid Afridi has often been Bangladesh’s scourge, but will he be viewed differently now that the home side has finally had success against Pakistan? Afridi did not have a successful World Cup and is taking over the leadership of a team that has just suffered an unprecedented defeat. Will he be able to lift himself for one game, in the only format he plays internationally?Soumya Sarkar bludgeoned the Pakistan bowlers in the third ODI for an unbeaten 127 off 110 balls, a perfect preparation for his T20 debut. He has a 100-plus strike-rate in domestic T20s, and is expected to open with Tamim Iqbal on Friday.

Team news

Bangladesh could include Litton Das or Rony Talukdar in place of Mahmudullah, who made just 26 runs in the ODIs and averages 14.65 in T20s. They could also take a chance on Mustafizur Rahman, the rookie left-arm pace bowler.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Mahmudullah/Litton Das/Rony Talukdar, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Sabbir Rahman, 7 Nasir Hossain, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Arafat Sunny, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur RahmanSohail Tanvir, a T20 specialist, is likely to replace Junaid Khan. Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has showed inclination towards picking newcomers ahead of established names in this series so far, so Mukhtar Ahmed could play instead of Mohammad Hafeez.Pakistan (probable): 1 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Haris Sohail, 4 Mohammad Rizwan, 5 Mukhtar Ahmed, 6 Shahid Afridi (capt), 7 Saad Nasim, 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Umar Gul

Pitch and conditions

An evening start doesn’t mean conditions will be any different in Mirpur. The curator Gamini di Silva is likely to prepare another batting-friendly pitch with minimal turn.

Stats and trivia

• The top three wicket-takers in T20 internationals – Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi – are all in Pakistan’s current squad.
• Shakib Al Hasan has a chance to overtake Abdur Razzak to become Bangladesh’s highest T20 wicket-taker. They are currently level on 44 wickets.
• Mustafizur Rahman is yet to play a domestic T20 match.

Quotes

“We haven’t played a T20 for a long time. But our recent performance has made us positive. It is hard to adjust to this format and we have just one day to do so. We have to set individual plans and targets within this time.”
“We have a very good combination in T20. I am very positive and confident that we will do well.”

Michael Holding, the former West Indies fast bowler, has backed the chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd’s logic of jettisoning Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the Australia series

ESPNcricinfo staff28-May-20153:08

Michael Holding supports Clive Lloyd’s move of omitting Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Michael Holding, the former West Indies fast bowler, has backed the chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd’s logic of jettisoning Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the Australia series. Holding said that Chanderpaul, who has managed 183 runs in his last 11 innings at 16.64, was no longer good enough to be picked for West Indies.”I don’t believe that cricketers should just get a series for getting a series sake. I don’t think Shivnarine Chanderpaul has proven in recent times that he is still a good enough player to be playing for West Indies,” Holding told ESPNcricinfo. “He has done yeoman service for over two decades. West Indies should be happy to have had him playing for them for that long. All good things have to come to an end.”I saw him play against South Africa recently and he certainly did not look like the Shivnarine Chanderpaul that I was accustomed to seeing. He was a little bit slow with his reactions to the fast bowlers and we know what Australia are going to be bringing.”Holding also echoed Lloyd’s sentiment of making way for youth though it would take time to fill the Chanderpaul-sized void.”Chanderpaul has to make way for someone younger. The person that comes in obviously is not going to fill Chanderpaul’s shoes immediately. He has done so much good work for West Indies. But it is time for someone younger than him who can grow into those shoes.”While Chanderpaul’s former team-mate, Brian Lara, criticised the ‘despicable’ treatment meted out to Chanderpaul and called for a farewell series akin to the one arranged by the BCCI for Sachin Tendulkar, Holding said that he had “no problems” with the way the WICB had dealt with the issue. Chanderpaul is just 86 short of equalling Lara’s record of being the highest West Indian run-scorer in Tests.”From what I have heard I don’t think anybody can complain. From what I heard they called him, had a meeting with him. They told him exactly what they would like to do and I have no problems with that,” Holding said.”I don’t think Chanderpaul is ever going to be one to say, ‘listen, my time has come and I have to move on’. So they have done the right thing.”When asked about the legacy left behind by Chanderpaul, Holding said: “Chanderpaul’s legacy will be someone who went and played for West Indies and gave his all for a very long time. To show everyone that if you can go out and work hard, if you have deficiencies in technique and you work hard enough, you can produce the goods.”

Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Sami have been picked in the Pakistan ODI squad for the first time in over two years

ESPNcricinfo staff24-May-2015Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Sami have been picked in the Pakistan ODI squad for the first time in nearly two years. However, Saeed Ajmal was not among the 16 members to meet Zimbabwe in the three-match series in Lahore.Malik hadn’t played 50-over cricket since June 2013, but has averaged 50.36 in List A cricket over 12 matches in the last two years, including a hundred and five fifties – made in successive innings.Sami was last with the ODI team in June 2012. His last 12 months in domestic one-day cricket have fetched 19 wickets at an average of 23.63 and economy-rate of 5.10.

A heavily revamped Pakistan ODI squad

In: Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Sami, Hammad Azam, Imad Wasim, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Anwar Ali
Out Fawad Alam, Saad Nasim, Saeed Ajmal, Sami Aslam, Umar Gul, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali

After a 0-3 defeat to Bangladesh, the Pakistan Cricket Board had hinted at making considerable changes. Ahmed Shehzad and has reclaimed his place as well. Imad Wasim, who made his Pakistan debut in the second T20 against Zimbabwe, is also part of the squad.Umar Gul, Rahat Ali and Zulfiqar Babar have lost their place, though. So the fast-bowling workload will be borne by Wahab Riaz, Anwar Ali, Junaid Khan and Sami. Yasir Shah is the lone specialist spinner in the squad.Opener Sami Aslam and middle-order batsmen Saad Nasim and Fawad Alam have been dropped as well. Umar Akmal, who was not picked for the Bangladesh tour, hasn’t been preferred for this series either.Pakistan ODI squad Azhar Ali (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami, Junaid Khan

Chadwick Walton and Chris Gayle powered Jamaica Tallawahs to a resounding nine-wicket victory with four overs to spare against St Lucia Zouks at Sabina Park

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDarren Sammy dropped a catch during the Tallawahs chase•Caribbean Premier League

A brace of half-centuries from Chadwick Walton and Chris Gayle, scored at a strike rate of more than 150, powered Jamaica Tallawahs to a resounding nine-wicket victory with four overs to spare against St Lucia Zouks at Sabina Park.Medium-pacer Krishmar Santokie put Tallawahs on course after they had won the toss, dismissing the Zouks openers in the first and third over. Kevin Pietersen attacked at his end, scoring an unbeaten 83 off 57 balls with four sixes, but he received poor support from his team-mates. Having been dropped on 42 by the wicketkeeper Walton, Pietersen went on to hit two fours and a six in each of the last two overs to lift Zouks to 158.He added 70 runs for the fifth wicket with Darren Sammy, who had to retire hurt on 29 in the final over because of an injured finger and did not bowl in the defence. Daniel Vettori bowled an economical spell for Tallawahs, conceding only 13 runs in four overs.The chase was a no-contest. Watlon and Gayle began in a blaze of boundaries and carried on to add 119 in 13.5 overs. Sammy had a tough day in the field, putting down Gayle on 28 and later Chris Lynn on 6. Gayle made Zouks pay for that reprieve, smashing five sixes during his 64 off 42 balls, while Walton made 76 off 48 with three sixes.

The BCCI has suspended Hiken Shah, a Mumbai batsman, with immediate effect for having “found guilty of breaching BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Code for participants”

Amol Karhadkar13-Jul-2015The BCCI has suspended Hiken Shah, a Mumbai batsman, with immediate effect after he was found guilty of breaching the board’s anti-corruption code for participants.”Hiken Shah made a corrupt approach to one of his colleagues from first-class cricket, who is also a member of one of the IPL teams,” BCCI said in a statement. “The approached player immediately informed the incident to his franchise team. The franchise team followed the process of informing the incident to the Anti Corruption Unit of the BCCI. Based on the information, BCCI President, Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, instructed ACU to conduct an immediate enquiry into the matter.”After a detailed inquiry into the reported incident, the inquiry commissioner found Hiken Shah guilty of committing breach of Articles 2.1.1; 2.1.2; and 2.1.4 of the BCCI Anti-Corruption Code for participants and recommended their provisions to the BCCI President.”

BCCI’s anti-corruption code

• 2.1.1 Fixing or contriving in any way or otherwise influencing improperly, or being a party to any effort to fix or contrive in any way or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any Match or Event.

• 2.1.2 Seeking, accepting, offering or agreeing to accept any bribe or other Reward to fix or to contrive in any way or otherwise to influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any Match or Event.

• 2.1.4 Soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or facilitating (a) any Participant to commit an offence under any of the foregoing provisions of this Article 2.1 and/or (b) any other person to do any act that would be an offence if that person were a Participant

While the BCCI hasn’t revealed the name of the first-class cricketer, it is understood that Shah had approached a Mumbai team-mate ahead of IPL 2015. That falls against the above mentioned articles which prohibit any player from “seeking to fix”, “offering any bribe or other rewards” or “improperly influencing” the course of a match.The BCCI anti-corruption unit inquiry found that Shah had made an “exploratory approach” and now a three-member disciplinary committee, which includes BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, KP Kajaria and Jyotiraditya Scindia, will now take a final call on Shah’s fate after hearing him out.”BCCI has zero tolerance for corruption in the game of cricket,” Dalmiya said. “We have and we will take swift action against such incidents to set a precedent and control the menace of corruption in the game. While placing the player under suspension, I have referred the matter to the disciplinary committee of the BCCI to take further action against the player involved.”Board secretary Anurag Thakur, meanwhile, was pleased that precautionary measures put in place to keep cricket clean were working: “This particular incident demonstrates that BCCI’s education policy against corruption is showing results, as the player approached was vigilant enough to report the matter to the ACU of the BCCI. Having said that, the fight against corruption is an ongoing battle and we will not leave any stone unturned. BCCI is committed to keep cricket corruption-free.”Shah is presently playing for Whalley Cricket Club in the Ribblesdale Cricket League, a minor county league in Lancashire. He is the second Mumbai cricketer to be found guilty of being involved in corrupt activities. Left-arm spinner Ankeet Chavan, who has been chargesheeted for his involvement in the 2013 IPL corruption scandal, was banned for life by the BCCI for his involvement in spot-fixing.”It is shocking for us. After the Ankeet Chavan case, we never thought any Mumbai cricketer would even think of being involved in such activities, but there has been another case and it is shocking,” Dr PV Shetty, joint secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association, told ESPNcricinfo.Shah made his first-class debut for Mumbai in 2006-07. After failing to cement a place, he moved to Jammu & Kashmir as a professional in 2009-10. Later, he decided to return home and was back playing for Mumbai in the 2011-12 Ranji season.In November 2012, Shah made an impressive 92 against England. He continued that form into domestic season and emerged as a key architect of Mumbai’s Ranji title in 2012-13. But patchy performances since led to his being dropped midway through the 2014-15 season.

A fresh – if familiar – format, some new colours, a couple of new faces and a return to a favourite old venue was all it took to freshen England up and keep the Ashes alive

Will Macpherson at Chelmsford26-Aug-2015
ScorecardCharlotte Edwards congratulates Sarah Taylor on a matchwinning fifty•Stephen Pond/Getty Images

A fresh – if familiar – format, some new colours, a couple of new faces and a return to a favourite old venue was all it took to freshen England up and keep the Ashes alive.After a torrid Test match that saw little go right for England, there was still the chance of winning the Ashes overall in a series where they are decided by virtue of points gained in all three formats.Charlotte Edwards’ side ticked boxes aplenty: their fielding – with three sharp run outs, a series of fine dives in the deep, and some excellent catching – returned to the spectacular level achieved in the series opener at Taunton, Edwards was more tactically astute, and, crucially, Sarah Taylor – fresh from a pair in the Test match at Canterbury – enjoyed a timely return to form with the bat, that characteristic insouciance and those rubbery wrists back as she notched a nonchalant half-century.Even the promotion of the brutalist Katherine Brunt to No 5 worked, as she boshed 12 from Ellyse Perry’s final over to help England home with 15 balls to spare; her 21 from 10 balls was just her third double-figure score in twenty T20I innings.This bumptious Australian side – whose run of 16 consecutive T20I victories comes to an end with this defeat – seldom seem cowed. But with a partisan packed house cheering the hosts on, they were unable to recover from a sluggish start having been inserted.Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole were immediately into their groove, and England were particularly lively in the field, with both Danielles – Wyatt and Hazell – making impressive early contributions. But Australia were passive in the opening powerplay, which included 22 dot balls for the loss of Elyse Villani, whose leading edge off Shrubsole’s fifth ball – a slower one – fell simply back to the bowler.Australia’s start was slow, but their two strongest batsmen, Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning, were set. As if to demonstrate that point, Lanning swept Jenny Gunn’s first delivery – the first after the powerplay – for six. The introduction of Hazell, however, tied the pair down. Her first over went for one, before Lanning drove straight and hit Hazell square on the leg, and two dot balls later she slogged a rank full toss to deep square-leg, where Lydia Greenway took a sharp catch.Gunn failed to pick up a Perry miscue off Hazell’s next over and shelled the catch, but the drop was worth just a slogged four to cow and a single, as Nat Sciver’s first ball saw Perry bowled off the pad by a full one.Wickets fell steadily from that point. Canterbury hero Jess Jonassen was deceived by Sciver’s slower ball, and then, as Australia took on risky singles, the run outs began. Youngster Grace Harris was dismissed by a direct hit when backing up, Alyssa Healy by a fired up Brunt, and Erin Osborne by sharp work from Greenway. Between times, Alex Blackwell lofted Gunn’s first ball back to cover, and tight bowling meant runs were hard to come by.A target of 123 was underpar, but with a dewy outfield, a quality attack, and an English order prone to indecision, was eminently defendable. But Australia – particularly in the middle overs – bowled an ugly set of half-trackers and full tosses, and dropped both Edwards and Taylor, who shared 77 after Perry had Lauren Winfield caught at mid-on in her second over.The pair bristled with intent in the powerplay, as Megan Schutt once again made the ball talk. Taylor unleashed her ramp to Perry and used her feet to Sarah Coyte’s seam, while Edwards showed off that classical cover drive and flick to midwicket out, too. Australia had their chances, with Villani dropping Edwards on 19 at mid-off, and Coyte shelling a low caught and bowled off Taylor on 34.Both batsmen were eventually stumped by Healy, Edwards sharply and Taylor easily, but by then the damage was done, as hard-hitting cameos from Sciver and Brunt ensured victory. England must do this twice more, of course, and if the Ashes are to be retained, they will have to do it away from their happy hunting ground, where they have now won six from six.

India A’s robust lower middle order contributed three half-centuries to help the side to a strong total before their bowlers scuppered the visitors’ chase

The Report by Arun Venugopal in Bangalore16-Sep-2015
Scorecard2:02

I was a bit worried about how I’ll do – Gurkeerat

India A’s robust lower middle order contributed three half-centuries to help the side to a strong total before their bowlers scuppered the visitors’ chase.Gurkeerat Singh had the biggest role in his team’s victory as he followed up a fifty with five wickets, while Rishi Dhawan first smashed an unbeaten 56 off 34 balls and then claimed two wickets. Sanju Samson (73) and Mayank Agarwal (56) provided calmer counterpoints to the late-order blast that eventually ensued. Samson put on 102 runs with Gurkeerat for the sixth wicket, before adding 78 for the seventh with Dhawan.Chasing 323, Bangladesh A were off to a wobbly start as left-arm seamer S Aravind dismissed the top three batsmen for a cumulative score of 34. The visitors were reduced to 87 for 5 after Dhawan removed Bangladesh A captain Mominul Haque and Sabbir Rahman. Bangladesh A, however, were roused by a 120-run alliance for the sixth wicket between Nasir Hossain (52) and Liton Das (75). But, once Gurkeerat removed both the batsmen in the space of three overs, the chase headed south, and they were bowled out with 7.3 overs still remaining.While Nasir and Liton were at the crease, however, India A had a genuine scare, as the duo looked untroubled against spin and pace. This was significant given how Aravind had made things difficult by moving the ball sharply, even dismissing Soumya Sarkar and Anamul Haque with successive deliveries. Nasir and Liton mixed cheek and alacrity to ensure Bangladesh A’s scoring rate never really sagged. However, wickets at the wrong time pushed them out of the game.Earlier, having been inserted on a surface that had generous grass cover, India A began briskly. This was partly a result of Bangladesh A’s largesse with the ball: Taskin Ahmed conceded 14 runs in wides in his first two overs even as Mayank Agarwal and captain Unmukt Chand breezed to 44 runs inside five overs. Taskin struck the first blow and sent Chand back. After bowling one that nipped back appreciably off a length, Taskin got one delivery to hold its line and Chand’s airy waft was pouched by the keeper.Meanwhile, Shafiul Islam, who was less profligate, used the bounce on offer judiciously and had Manish Pandey caught behind three overs later. Suresh Raina walked in to cheers from a sparse crowd and, along with Agarwal, sought to stabilise the innings.While not always assured, Raina struck a couple of eye-catching cover-drives. But, Nasir trapped him in front of the stumps in the 16th over with one that didn’t turn much, and Raina did not offer a more confident forward stride. Nasir was in the thick of things again four balls later, as he threw down the stumps to catch Kedar Jadhav short of the crease for a three-ball duck.Agarwal, in the company of Samson, repeatedly played the slog-sweep, but also fell to the shot, finding the fielder at deep midwicket after scoring 56.Samson continued to play steadily for his 73 even as Gurkeerat delighted in some street-smart play in his 65, bisecting Sarkar between point and short third man for successive boundaries. After Gurkeerat was trapped lbw by Arafat Sunny, Dhawan produced an innings that was an amalgam of hacks, dabs and squirts. His innings allowed India A to ransack 98 runs in the last 10 overs, aided by underwhelming fielding from Bangladesh A.