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Jake Lehmann reeled off his third century of the summer as a young South Australia side held their own against New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield match at Coffs Harbour

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-2016
ScorecardJake Lehmann’s 148-ball 122 included 14 fours and a six•Getty Images

Jake Lehmann reeled off his third century of the summer as a young South Australia side held their own against New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield match at Coffs Harbour.Following Lehmann’s hundred, Joe Mennie was able to dismiss Ed Cowan cheaply before stumps were drawn. Cowan was returning to the team after he missed their draw against Western Australia in Perth due to the after-effects of a blow to the helmet inflicted by a Joel Paris bouncer in Lincoln.The match is being held on the NSW north coast in memory of the late Phillip Hughes, and Lehmann marked it with a swashbuckling left-hander’s century as part of a concerted Redbacks counterattack that followed the loss of three early wickets.SA’s selectors had been the subject of considerable debate in Adelaide after the decision to drop the experienced but underperforming Tom Cooper and Tim Ludeman.Their replacements Jake Weatherald and Alex Carey both made strong contributions. Opener Weatherald made a sprightly 58 while the gloveman added 105 with Lehmann after the visitors had slipped further to 5 for 123.Another youngster, the second-game seamer Cameron Valente, helped add further runs with Lehmann, allowing the Redbacks to reach the fringes of 300.Arjun Nair, the teenaged finger spinner who became the Blues’ 738th first-class cricketer and 11th youngest debutant, claimed a pair of tail-end wickets to help round up SA’s innings.

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.”

Two West Indian bowlers spearheaded the successful defence of 264 in the fourth ODI in St Kitts, allowing the home side to clinch the series with a game to spare

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jul-2012Two West Indies bowlers spearheaded the successful defence of 264 in the fourth ODI in St Kitts, allowing the home side to clinch the series with a game to spare. Tino Best was playing his first game of the series and bowled with buster, hitting nearly 150 kph and taking four wickets. Sunil Narine was parsimonious, slowing down New Zealand’s run-rate, especially at the death, even though they had Ross Taylor batting on a hundred.”I love this feeling … winning feels good … really, really good,” Best said after the 24-run victory. “We were made to work hard for this win and I’m happy I played a crucial role in bowling the team to victory. I bowled quick and I got wickets. That’s the job of a fast bowler.”Best struck in the first over, beating Martin Guptill with pace to trap the batsman lbw, but his initial three-over spell cost 23 runs. Rob Nicol hit him for two sixes, a streaky slash over third man and a clean strike over long-on.”I went for a few [runs] in my opening spell and I knew I had to hit back second time around. I had a chat with captain Darren Sammy and he told me it’s better to bowl the ball ‘flat’ side rather than look to hit the seam. I took his advice and it worked,” Best said. “I was up on pace and I knew once I got the ball in the right areas I could make it quite difficult for the batsmen.”Best’s second spell was more economical, and included a maiden over to the well-set Taylor. His third and fourth contained the wickets of Nathan McCullum, Jacob Oram and Taylor, which ended hopes of a New Zealand victory. In his last six overs, Best conceded no boundaries. His figures of 4 for 46 were the second best of his 14-ODI career, spread over eight years.”I must say it was great the way the crowd got behind me and the team and urged us on,” Best said. “They came here today expecting us to win and we gave them something to celebrate.”The Man-of-the-Match award, however, did not go to Best, but to Narine for his spell of 10-1-20-2. New Zealand had reached 61 for 2 before Narine was introduced in the 10th over. The effect was immediate. During his first spell, Narine dismissed Kane Williamson and dragged New Zealand back. By the end of his first six overs, Narine had figures of 1 for 8 and the visitors were 85 for 4 after 20.”Normally, when I go onto the field I look at the scoreboard and see what is required of me,” Narine said. “Sometimes it requires me to be attacking, other times I just have to keep the pressure on. Today I tried to keep my composure and build the pressure. We got wickets at key stages and the pressure mounted on them.”Narine’s second and last spell was during the final ten overs, when Taylor was threatening to pull off a superb chase. When he came on in the 42nd over, New Zealand needed 76 with Taylor on 74 and Jacob Oram on 2. Narine conceded five in that over, and after Taylor took Andre Russell for 21 runs in the 43rd, Narine pulled it back again for West Indies by giving away only two in the 44th. Not even Taylor could score off Narine and the control he exerted in the final overs of the chase was a significant difference between the two attacks.”We wanted to win on Wednesday and seal the series, but we ended on the wrong end, so it was very important that we rebounded today and finish off the job,” Narine said. “There was a great deal of effort today. We had to dig deep to come up with this win, and that made it feel that much better. To win a series at home is special. Tino kept running in and I knew my job was to remain accurate and build the pressure on the batsmen.”We don’t want to stop here. We want to come back on Monday and look for another victory. Everyone knows that 4-1 would look a lot better than 3-2, so we will be going for that.”

Will Gidman claimed a career-best five for 38 as Gloucestershire bowled out Kent for 205 on the opening day of the County Championship match at Cheltenham.

20-Jul-2011Gloucestershire 107 for 3 v Kent 205
ScorecardWill Gidman claimed a career-best five for 38 as Gloucestershire bowled out Kent for 205 on the opening day of the County Championship match at Cheltenham.It was the former Durham all-rounder’s maiden five-wicket haul and his first three scalps helped reduce the visitors to 59 for 6 before Darren Stevens (67) and James Tredwell (45) put together a seventh-wicket stand of 83.By the close, Gloucestershire had reached 107 for 3 in reply, Hamish Marshall (37) and Kane Williamson (29) having added 78 for the second wicket.It was Jon Lewis who put the skids under Kent on an overcast morning, sending back Championship debutant Chris Piesley lbw for a duck and fellow opener Joe Denly, bowled for 13, to make the score 21 for 2.Marshall produced a fine low catch off his own bowling to dismiss Martin van Jaarsveld, who was captaining Kent in the absence of Rob Key with a hand injury. Then Gidman took over, claiming a wicket in each of his first three overs. Sam Northeast was caught behind having played positively for his 34 off 33 balls.Geraint Jones departed without scoring and Alex Blake could make only two as Gidman worked up good pace from the Chapel End. By lunch Kent had struggled to 89 for 6 off 33 overs. The over after the interval saw Tredwell, on 15, dropped by Ian Cockbain at gully off Lewis and it proved an expensive miss as the sun broke through and the left-hander counter-attacked to hit seven fours and a sixth in his 90-ball innings.Stevens was more watchful as the pair dug Kent out of a deep hole. The partnership ended when Gidman returned to have Tredwell caught by wicketkeeper Richard Coughtrie. The same bowler accounted for Simon Cook, taken at second slip by Chris Dent for six and Ian Saxelby wrapped up the innings by removing David Balcombe and Stevens.The latter was last man out having been forced to go for his shots. He was caught on the extra cover boundary by Chris Taylor having faced 138 balls and hit nine fours.Gloucestershire’s reply had reached unlucky 13 when Dent got an edge to Stevens and fell to a catch behind for 12. Marshall and Williamson then produced the most attractive batting of the day before a short shower interrupted play at 5.50pm.The first ball after the resumption at 6.10pm saw Marshall bowled by Tredwell first delivery of the match. There was further success for Kent when Williamson nicked a rising ball from Balcombe to be caught by wicketkeeper Jones.

Test debutant Suraj Randiv was ecstatic after getting his first wicket, that of Virender Sehwag, with a doosra

Sa'adi Thawfeeq at the SSC28-Jul-2010Test debutant Suraj Randiv was ecstatic after getting his first wicket, that of Virender Sehwag, with a doosra. “Sehwag was on 99 at that time. I thought he might go for a big shot and I thought of bowling a doosra at him. It worked and I got his wicket,” said Randiv who ended the third day of the second Test with figures of 2 for 108. “When you get a player of his calibre it’s a big thing. It’s a privilege. I just came onto bowl and I thought he will do something different. Our bowlers hadn’t given him any easy runs at that stage.”Sehwag had said after the day’s play that he had spotted Randiv’s doosra, but decided to attempt the big hit anyway. “I bowl the doosra but like Murali it doesn’t go the other way a lot,” Randiv said. “But I got some bounce and some help (today),” he said.Randiv said that he was a bit nervous playing in his first Test. “However, with confidence that goes away. I had an opportunity to bowl a lot and it just went away. I guess any player will be nervous.”Randiv stated that there was more help for the spinners on the wicket than for the fast bowlers. “There was a lot of bounce on the track but it was a bit slow.” He said that he was not overawed by the reputation of the Indian batting line-up. “I was just thinking of bowling my line and length. I got a bit of bounce with my action. It was very difficult to bowl a good line and length to Sachin [Tendulkar]. He comes forward and he goes back. It is very difficult to get a correct line and length to him. I think I bowled well to him.He said there was still a lot of hard work ahead for Sri Lanka in the Test. “We need to stop the runs. We need to work hard. The pitch is good and it is very hard to get wickets. We have to be disciplined.”

Pat Cummins confirms just the one change to Australia’s XI but expects Scott Boland to play a role again

Andrew McGlashan13-Dec-2024Josh Hazlewood has been declared fit to play in the third Test against India in Brisbane with captain Pat Cummins confirming he will replace Scott Boland as the only change to Australia’s XI.Hazlewood missed Australia’s win in Adelaide due to a side strain he suffered in the opening Test in Perth with Boland taking five vital wickets across two innings in the second Test.Hazlewood underwent a couple of fitness tests during the week. With only short run-ups available in the Gabba nets and no spare centre wickets, Hazlewood went out to Allan Border Field on Thursday to bowl off his full run alongside Mitchell Starc, under the eye of bowling coach Daniel Vettori.Related

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“He’s had no hiccups,” Cummins said. “He had a really good bowl yesterday and a bowl in Adelaide a couple of days previous. The medical team are super confident.”It means that Boland, who averages 13.54 in home Tests, will again be carrying the drinks but Cummins expected him to have another opportunity across the final two matches of the series. There will likely be a debate about a horses-for-courses selection ahead of the MCG where he has an outstanding record, including the stunning 6 for 7 on debut against England, although he was overlooked against Pakistan last season.”It’s tough [leaving him out], he was fantastic in Adelaide,” Cummins said. “Unfortunately he spent quite a bit of time on the bench over the last 18 months and whenever he plays he’s fantastic. Shame for Scotty, but still a fair bit to play out in the series so I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get another crack at some point.””[We told him] it’s about preparing for the MCG because there’s a good chance we might need you. History suggests there’s always some form of natural attrition throughout a Test series. A good thing [is], he’s probably played a Test earlier in the series than he maybe thought. Showed that his standards still super high. [It’s] about trying to set him up for the last two Test matches.”Hazlewood explained on Monday that the latest injury was not “a typical side strain”, but was part of an ongoing issue he has had which has left him frustrated and searching for a solution.”You’re running in to bowl, and you just grab your hat and you’re off and you’re out for six weeks – it’s not that sort of side strain,” he said. “It’s from sort of repetitive use. It’s caused me a lot of trouble over the last few years, but [had] perfect prep this year, played the Shield game and ticked all that off.”I was very happy where I was, and it still happened. So I was pretty annoyed there for a few days. There was plenty of meetings from CA’s point of view [with] physios, doctors, all that stuff. So [we will] come up with a few options and see if we can stop it from happening again.”The fact Hazlewood has missed just one Test is likely down to him only bowling two more overs after he first felt some pain in Perth.”We’ve seen it a few times where Joshy has kind of pushed through a Test match and a little bit of soreness turns into a month or two injury,” Cummins said. “We kind of made the call it wasn’t worth the risk of keeping him bowling. Think he bowled an extra two overs leading into a tea break and said he felt okay, [but] I thought from there that’s enough.”