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England were bowled out in a session on the second day at Trent Bridge with an unlikely figure doing much of the damage

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Aug-2018

24.1 – Root c Rahul b Pandya 16 (86 for 4)

Pandya to Root, OUT, has that carried to second slip? KL Rahul has certainly celebrated like it has. Hard to think the soft signal will be anything other than out, given that. Yes, soft signal is out…it is a legal delivery…oh this will be close! There is possibility of there being a bounce and he can only possibly have fingertips under it…third umpire rules he has fingertips under it! Joe Root cannot believe it. Neither can the crowd. By the rules, that is the correct decision – there wasn’t conclusive evidence to overturn an out decision. But it wouldn’t have been overturned if it was given not out in the first place. It’s that soft signal debate lurking again. That was short of a length and straightening in the corridor as Root defended inside the line. Pandya bowled from wide of the crease. Root never looked convinced, not even before the replay was taken. He was marking his guard as the review happened.

30.1 – Bairstow c Rahul b Pandya 15 (110 for 6)

Pandya to Bairstow, OUT, What a ball, Hardik Pandya! What a spell, Hardik Pandya! Perfectly-pitched ball, full, angling in towards middle and off, makes Bairstow play, the late seam movement squares him up, and finds the outside edge. This is held comfortably by Rahul at second slip. From 54 for 0, England have fallen to 110 for 6

30.6 – Woakes c Pant b Pandya 8 (118 for 7)

Pandya to Woakes, OUT, Pant takes a step to the leg side, then stretches out his right glove, the ball just about sticks in his webbing even as it keeps swerving away from his reach. Umpire Erasmus raises his finger and gives Woakes out caught behind. Woakes challenges the on-field out decision. Bouncer aimed at the arm-pit, cramps the batsman for room. Woakes still dares to hook, he only tickles it off the bat to Pant

32.1 – Rashid c Pant b Pandya 5 (128 for 8)

Pandya to Rashid, OUT, Four wickets for Pandya, five catches for Pant. Pant dives to his right and snaffles this edge. Shastri and Bangar are up on their feet, applauding their boys. Full, angling in just a shade outside off, and nibbling away, Rashid has a defensive push at it and nicks it behind to the debutant. England’s procession continues…

32.5 – Broad lbw b Pandya 0 (128 for 9)

Pandya to Broad, OUT, Pandya bags his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket. He holds the red ball aloft and celebrates. Broad thinks about a review but decides against it. Plumb. This is full and straight, swings in, 142ks, Broad falls over a leg-side flick and is pinned in front of middle. This is some spell from Pandya. Five wickets inside five oversGraphic: Hardik Pandya’s maiden Test five-for took all of 29 balls•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The former Pakistan batsman said the WhatsApp conversations that the PCB intend to use against him in court were baseless

George Dobell and Umar Farooq13-Jun-2017Nasir Jamshed found the evidence of corruption against him so “flimsy” that he laughed out loud when he read about it. The former Pakistan batsman was arrested in the UK in February in connection with an investigation into corruption in the 2017 Pakistan Super League. Through its own investigations, the PCB insists Jamshed is a central figure.Four months later, the only charge the board has laid against him is for obstruction and non-cooperation in the investigations. But the PCB has indicated that further, more serious charges can be laid against him, and is waiting for the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) – which arrested Jamshed – to share more evidence with it.And Jamshed is the subject of two concurrent hearings in front of a tribunal constituted by the PCB in Lahore; the main one, in front of a three-man tribunal looking into the obstruction charges and the second, in front of a one-man disciplinary panel, is one Jamshed initiated arguing for his provisional suspension to be lifted.In the meantime, details of a key element of the board’s evidence against him have been leaked, but are, Jamshed insists, so “ridiculous” that he was “amused” when he read them in the media. Eight WhatsApp voice notes, allegedly exchanged between Jamshed and Khalid Latif – another Pakistan batsman facing charges of corruption – first found their way into the media and have now been uploaded to a standalone website. The exchanges, in Urdu, are ostensibly about one or more bat deals; the PCB’s argument is that they are code for corrupt deals.”They claim they have WhatsApp voice messages that show me talking about spot-fixing in code,” Jamshed told ESPNcricinfo in his first interview since his arrest. “But what they actually have is WhatsApp voice messages that show me talking about selling bats. There’s no code involved at all.”I’ve had an arrangement for years whereby I would sell a few CA bats and take a 10% commission. It’s no secret; I’m allowed to do it. I laughed out loud when I saw details of their evidence against me. I was amused. It’s so flimsy. It’s ridiculous.”The guy they say is a bookie… works in a Honda showroom as far as I know … We spoke about him buying some bats from me, but in the end he didn’t.”If that is as good as they have, they should dismiss the case now. They have no evidence of any financial gain and, after all this time, they have not even charged me with spot-fixing or trying to fix a game. They have no real evidence against me.”Those messages, however, are not the only evidence the PCB claims to have against Jamshed. The board says there are witness statements from several players that appear to implicate him. There is also the potential NCA information, which the PCB believes could have a bearing not only on the ongoing hearings against Sharjeel Khan and Latif, but also Jamshed.In fact, the board feels it has enough to continue with proceedings against Jamshed even if he is cleared by the NCA – the PCB’s anti-corruption code being different to the UK criminal code. It has maintained since it laid charges against Jamshed, that it retains the right to level further corruption charges, and that had the board been able to meet him, it would already have done so.”The original corruption investigation is still pending and we have retained our right to bring additional corruption charges at any time we deem fit,” a PCB official told ESPNcricinfo.Jamshed lives with his British-born wife – who during these interviews often acted as his interpreter – in Birmingham, where he too is waiting for the outcome of the NCA investigation. It is expected to conclude in June, with Jamshed either cleared or informed that he will be prosecuted.”We have every confidence in the National Crime Agency,” Jamshed said. “But we have very little confidence in the PCB.”How can we trust them? They have leaked information to the media, they have made up stories about me moving house to avoid the authorities – I’ve been here in Birmingham since January – and the tribunal they have formed to hear my case is made up of former PCB employees. How can that be independent?”Nasir Jamshed has alleged he is being used as a ‘scapegoat’•AFP

The PCB’s anti-corruption code calls for a tribunal to be independent of the board. In this case, it is made up of a former chairman (Tauqir Zia), a former legal advisor (Asghar Haider) and a former employee (Wasim Bari, a former Pakistan captain who has served in a number of different board roles, including as manager of the side as recently as January 2017). None of them are currently working for the PCB, however. Latif has also challenged the constitution of the tribunal, albeit unsuccessfully so far.”I expect the NCA to clear me,” Jamshed said. “But my worry is that I could be cleared by the NCA and found guilty by the PCB. That would still prevent me from playing cricket again. I’ve asked FICA (the international players’ union) for help, but as Pakistan are not affiliated to them, there is not much they can do.”Jamshed is particularly upset by comments made by PCB chairman, Shaharyar Khan, and lawyers working for the board who say he is refusing to return to Pakistan to face charges.”He said I had changed my address and phone number in an attempt not to have any contact with them,” Jamshed said. “But I’ve been here since January. My passport and phone have both been taken off me so I can’t travel. They know that yet they continue to say I’m refusing to return to Pakistan.”The only reason I have been reluctant to meet the PCB in the UK – and yes, they did suggest a London meeting – until now is that I’m not prepared to settle.”It is this refusal to sit down with PCB investigators, who travelled to the UK in April in the hopes of meeting him, that has led to the charges of non-cooperation and obstruction.Jamshed’s explanation of the WhatsApp messages is backed up by a couple of other sources. Jamie Boyle, the captain at Old Elizabethans CC, where Jamshed played in 2016, confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that several members of the club had bought CA bats from him.”Yes, Nasir was selling bats when he was with us,” Boyle said. “There was never any secret in that. I think about four of our team ended up buying one from him.”Naeem Anjum, a first-class cricketer in Pakistan who plays club cricket in England and runs a sports shop, also confirmed he was the one providing bats for Jamshed.”It’s completely legal,” Anjum said. “I obtain a no-objection certificate from the makers and then send bats out depending on the demand. The last time I had an order from Nasir was just before the PSL.”Jamshed alleges that other players have been “coerced” into naming him to save their own careers and that he has been used as a scapegoat by a board keen to be seen as tough on corruption.”The PCB knew I was looking at a future in England,” he said. “I was hoping to play county cricket here. I would still like to after all this has been resolved.”They are so keen to show the world they have cleaned up all the corruption in Pakistan cricket they are looking for a quick resolution to this case. All I can think is that I am seen as expendable.”But some of those other players, such as Khalid Latif, have already raised their concerns about the PCB’s investigation. I’m confident the NCA will clear me and, when they have, I hope the PCB will drop this case.”Jamshed’s main tribunal hearing in which the charges against him will be heard has not begun in earnest; it was due to on May 26, but has been delayed and will resume on June 30.

Steven Smith interspersed an effective tap-and-run routine with creative big shots to direct Rising Pune Supergiants’ batting effort against Gujarat Lions

Arun Venugopal in Pune30-Apr-2016Steven Smith’s batting can look like a revved-up remix of a Michael Bevan special. Revisit a Smith innings and you will find that your brain hasn’t registered many breathtaking shots – all you may see are images on loop of his restless twitching at the crease, wristy bunts to the leg side and borderline-crazy running. But when you look up the scorecard, there’s a dandy 54-ball 101 staring you down in all its cold authority. How cool is that?Against Gujarat Lions, Smith only had to wait till the third over to unleash his coolness. When he joined Ajinkya Rahane, his fellow busy accumulator at Rajasthan Royals in the past, Rising Pune Supergiants were scoring at a below-par rate. It took Smith only two overs to crank it up. After flicking a first-ball four and loosening up with a few singles, he shot out of the crease to bash the medium pace of Praveen Kumar through the covers. Next ball, Praveen attempted to swing it in to catch him out on the shuffle, but couldn’t beat Smith’s late leg glance, which gave him four more.Smith broke his tap-and-run routine again in the next over by charging seamer Dhawal Kulkarni, who spotted the movement early and bowled a slower ball wide of off. But Smith waited and, with his back leg in the air, stretched out to give the ball a meaty thunk. Four more to the score. From 22 for 1 in four overs, Supergiants had reeled in 26 more in two overs to end the Powerplay at 48 for 1.

Steven Smith on Pune’s bowling.

“I thought we were a bit disappointing with the way we bowled. I think we chopped and changed a little bit too much, rather than being nice and patient and hitting a good line and length, and making them go after the good balls. Any time you do that your chances of taking a wicket [increase] and if you take a wicket up top when you’re chasing 195, it makes things very difficult.”
On Supergiants’ two wins coming in away games
“Usually it’s the other way around isn’t it? In a tournament like this it doesn’t really matter where you play; it’s about going out there on any given day, giving it your all. It’s obviously about winning more to get yourself into that top four and, at the moment, we’re not doing that and we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Rahane, meanwhile, was on 23 off 23 balls and might well have stagnated under pressure, or hit out rashly, had Smith not taken it upon himself to ensure the run flow remained fluent. Supergiants scored 37 in the next four overs, despite the field being spread and only three boundaries hit. There were only four dot balls in this period, as Smith pushed himself and Rahane to race through for singles and twos, mostly after cleverly placed dabs and nudges to the leg side – overall, 39 of Smith’s runs came in this fashion.Smith did enjoy a bit of good luck in the tenth over when debutant chinaman bowler Shivil Kaushik overstepped while forcing Smith to sweep one on to his stumps. Smith merrily carted the free-hit over long-off for six; the no-ball, he said, switched him to attack mode.”Probably around [that] point when I said to Rahane, ‘I will go [after the bowling] and you keep batting as you are doing,'” Smith said. “It was nice batting with Ajinkya. He is very quick between the wickets. That’s the kind of player I like to bat with. I like to hit the gaps and run ones and twos.”Lions’ captain Suresh Raina then engaged his death-over specialists – Dwayne Bravo and James Faulkner. Smith was Jackie Chan-esque in response, slipping in a boundary amid a sequence of singles like a punch following pokes to the eye. In the 13th over, he swivelled into a sweep-hoick to put away Faulkner’s slower one for six, before clipping the next ball – a low full toss – wide of long-on and bolting with two runs in mind. Under pressure to prevent the double, Ravindra Jadeja failed to gather the ball which hurried to the fence.While he shuffled around to the seamers, Smith remained still in the crease against slow men Jadeja and Kaushik, getting underneath their fuller deliveries to dispatch them for three straight sixes. All the while he never missed an opportunity to pinch a run, which explained why he finished with just 10 dots. Even when Rahane was about to be run out after backing up too far, Smith was ready for the overthrow in case Bravo missed the stumps. He and Rahane formed a dynamic pairing at long-off and long-on as well but, unfortunately for him, like Virat Kohli, his first T20 century coincided with a mediocre bowling effort from his team.

Zimbabwe’s players are “back to full training,” and are likely to rubber-stamp an agreement with their board on Saturday after agreeing terms on payment

Firdose Moonda16-Aug-2013

Zimbabwe Practice Squad

Brendan Taylor (capt & wk), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Michael Chinouya, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Tino Mawoyo, Natsai M’shangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams

Zimbabwe’s players are “back to full training,” and are likely to rubber-stamp an agreement with their board on Saturday after agreeing terms on payment. The newly formed players’ union will continue to represent cricketers’ issues and the series against Pakistan will go ahead as planned.ESPNcricinfo confirmed the players have reached consensus with Zimbabwe Cricket after two days of meetings. One of them, who asked not to be named, said ZC had provided an assurance that outstanding salaries from the month of July would be paid and that cricketers would receive match fees from now on.The exact amount has not been revealed, although the had reported players were demanding US$5,000 per Test match, $3,000 for an ODI and $1,500 for every T20. Given that the board is in severe debt, it is unlikely it will be able to match those figures but the players are said to be satisfied with the amounts ZC has offered.”We wanted to make them aware we were the only international team that were playing without match fees,” the player said. “Now we will be receiving them.”The issue of disbursements from the board’s share of ICC events, which ZC MD Wilfred Mukondiwa said on Friday morning was the only outstanding article of debate, has still not been resolved. Instead, the players have been told the board needs “more time to do research,” and will clarify its position on how the monies from such tournaments will be distributed in an appendix to the new playing contracts.With financial concerns smoothed over, the players will continue to prepare for the series against Pakistan that starts August 23, with the board announcing a 21-member practice squad. “Training has resumed in full and as things stand now, there will be no boycott of the series,” the player said.However, the players’ association formed by a group of senior players – believed to be Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya and Elton Chigumbura – will become a permanent fixture in Zimbabwe cricket.”It was something the players put together because we did not have a proper arrangement in the past. The board is now open to the idea of having a player association and we wanted to take that chance,” the player said. “There are a lot if issues that crop up in Zimbabwean cricket and without a singular voice it was very difficult for us to get things done.”Zimbabwe have had many aborted attempts at a players’ association and have not had a fully functioning body since a player representative sat on the board before the white-player walkout. Unlike then, when Zimbabwe’s players were divided over race, they “all united” in their cause to fight for what they consider better pay.Zimbabwe’s cricketers have long been considered underpaid. On the eve of their Test comeback in 2011, Tatenda Taibu said they were not receiving adequate funding. Just four months ago, not much had changed. The players threatened a no-show during Bangladesh’s April visit because of an unsatisfactory daily allowance for those who were not on central contracts.

Siddarth Ravindran in Bangalore01-Sep-2012Barely had the Saturday crowd at the Chinnaswamy Stadium finished savouring one of their favourite shots in cricket – a Sachin Tendulkar straight drive – when Tendulkar was bowled through the gate by Doug Bracewell and India were down at 80 for 4. As in 2010, the apparent no-hopers from New Zealand had again pushed India to a tight spot. The rescue artist VVS Laxman was no longer around, and it was down to the Test rookies to save them.Despite India still being nearly 300 behind, Suresh Raina didn’t opt for wait-and-watch cricket. Instead, he went on the offensive, with a hat-trick of fours off Bracewell, and a patented extra-cover loft for six off Jeetan Patel. Suddenly, the New Zealand attack was no longer as menacing and the Indian fightback was well and truly on.Raina said he was inspired by Ross Taylor’s hurricane hundred on the first day. “Whenever I got the ball in my area, I made sure to bat positively because Taylor was going really great against us so this is the style I would like to play in Test cricket,” he said. “At the same time I need to control my aggression, need to judge the line and length, so I am getting better. I have done well in one-dayers so hopefully I will be better in Test cricket too.”By the time Raina was dismissed for 55, India had progressed to 179 and Virat Kohli was looking assured. Though Raina was disappointed he couldn’t carry on to a bigger score, it was a vital innings for him, as his place is the most vulnerable in the Indian line-up. After the mauling in England last year where he looked completely out of depth, this is Raina’s comeback series and the challengers for his spot are plenty.Raina knows the importance of this series for him, and it helped that he is fresh off several match-turning knocks in the recent limited-overs series in Sri Lanka. “There was no pressure to score big runs but I always looked to enjoy the game,” he said. “I didn’t do well in England but I went back to the domestic cricket, played couple of matches, scored a double hundred and then played crucial knocks against Sri Lanka and did well in the IPL.”Now that we have a lot of young players, this is the time to score as many runs and book my place in the side because there are a lot of Test matches coming up in India and abroad as well.”With Raina’s exit, New Zealand had a look-in, but like India’s bowlers in the final session on Friday, the visitors also failed to produce breakthroughs late in the day, as Kohli and MS Dhoni helped India even up the match. Tim Southee, who justified his selection ahead of Chris Martin with three wickets, didn’t think his side flagged as the day progressed.”No, we’re still creating chances and getting edges,” Southee said. “I guess we didn’t
build enough pressure through dot balls. The ball got a bit old and it wasn’t carrying. I thought we bowled well. It just gets easier as the ball gets older and unfortunately we couldn’t get it to reverse.
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“I don’t think it was a very abrasive surface so the ball hasn’t scuffed up as much as we would have liked. That’s why we couldn’t get it to reverse.”With the old ball proving ineffective, Southee said the first hour on Sunday will be crucial. “The wicket is a pretty good wicket. So I guess now it’s a pretty important time for us with the second new ball (which is two overs away) to see if we can pick up the rest of the wickets.”

England Under-19s scrapped hard to level the series against South Africa Under-19s with a four-wicket win in a low-scoring encounter at Northampton

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2011
Scorecard
Adam Ball’s 42 from 47 balls helped his side level the series•Getty Images

England Under-19s scrapped hard to level the series against South Africa Under-19s with a four-wicket win in a low-scoring encounter at Northampton.England’s bowlers fought back to restrict South Africa to 219 after the tourists had reached 121 for 1 and in pursuit the batsmen battled from 9 for 2 to reach the target with 23 balls to spare. Aneesh Kapil was the star with the ball, taking four for 36 on his debut, while Daniel Bell-Drummond led the way again with the bat, making 68 to set up the chase.Bell-Drummond and Sam Wood steadied England after the two early wickets with a stand of 90 before Wood was caught behind off Prenelan Subrayen for 42. A short rain break interrupted Bell-Drummond’s progress after he reached his half-century from 71 balls, and he was stumped shortly after the delay. His 68 included seven fours and a six and followed on from his classy 86 in a losing cause the game before.Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes and captain Adam Ball ensured Bell-Drummond would get the right result this time, adding 73 in 12.3 overs to all but take England over the finish line. Though they fell in quick succession, Kapil and Jamie Overton saw England home with plenty of time to spare.It was a disappointment for the tourists after they had looked so well placed on the back of Quinton de Kock and Shaylin Pillay’s 73-run second-wicket stand. de Kock advanced to a sprightly 69 from 83 balls before he was bowled by Wood.Wickets tumbled thereafter and though Pillay tried to drop anchor he was finally removed by Reece Topley for 47 and the tail was wiped out by Kapil, who earned three of his four wickets by hitting the stumps.

Australia were struck by another fitness concern ahead of the Leeds Test after Marcus North failed to train on Monday due to a stomach upset.

Brydon Coverdale in Leeds19-Jul-2010Australia were struck by another fitness concern ahead of the Leeds Test after Marcus North failed to train on Monday due to a stomach upset. Ben Hilfenhaus did not bowl during the practice session as he continues to recover from a shoulder problem picked up during the Lord’s Test.Although the Australians remain hopeful that both North and Hilfenhaus will be fine by the start of the match on Wednesday, Peter George and Usman Khawaja will be keeping a close eye on the pair. George would be in line for a debut if Hilfenhaus sat out, while the uncapped Khawaja is the only backup batsman in the squad.If North was to sit out, it wouldn’t be the first Test he had missed due to illness; a bout of gastro ruled him out in Cape Town last year and allowed Bryce McGain to make his debut. The Australians have called Clint McKay in as a cover player but the physio Alex Kountouris is still working with Hilfenhaus, who is hoping to play.”I don’t think he bowled today, he’s still seeing the physio but he’s certainly improving,” the vice-captain Michael Clarke said. “Fingers crossed, hopefully he’ll be right come day one of the Test match.”He’s had a few niggles over the last couple of years of his career. He’ll be disappointed if he misses the Test match but he’s in good hands with Alex, he knows what’s going on and has spent a lot of time with Hilfy over the last year or so. I think he’ll get him on the park. If he misses out it gives someone else an opportunity.”Australia have handed out plenty of baggy greens over the past two and a half years, with 17 debutants since the start of 2008. Tim Paine and Steven Smith were the latest additions to that list at Lord’s, and time will tell if George or Khawaja join them on this trip.

Australia report clean bill of health, but weather around Lord’s may influence contest

Alan Gardner26-Sep-2024

Big Picture: Ashes comeback redux?

Here we go, then. After finding themselves 2-0 down through a combination of hubris, inexperience and self-sabotage, Harry Brook’s bucks got themselves on the board up in Durham – from here on it’ll be Bazballs to the wall as they look to emulate last summer’s rip-roaring Ashes comeback (with the potential for a similarly underwhelming final outcome if the weather forecast holds true).Or perhaps not. Certainly, there won’t be the accompanying levels of interest, even if England can prove victory at Chester-le-Street to keep the series alive was not a flash in the pan. But there was undoubtedly something invigorating about the performance, with England’s one-day cricket perhaps at its lowest ebb since the disastrous 2015 World Cup campaign.Brook was to the fore as stand-in skipper, and one of the batters expecting to carry the side forward, scoring his maiden ODI hundred to make a chase of 305 look relatively straightforward (even if the rain meant England didn’t quite get to knock off the requirement themselves). With England seemingly floundering again at 11 for 2, the 156-run stand between Brook and Will Jacks was not only timely but demonstrated their ability to go through the gears in a format that requires stickability as well as crash, bang, wallop.It helped, of course, that Australia were missing their two best performers, in Travis Head and Adam Zampa – as did Brook winning the toss for the third time in a row. While England’s bowlers could not fully capitalise on useful seam-bowling conditions early on, as Alex Carey again lifted Australia clear of trouble, the pitch became more conducive to buccaneering strokeplay as the day wore on.For Australia, the end of their 14-game winning streak – second only to that put up by the legendary class of 2003 – will unlikely be cause for much lamenting. Steven Smith gave a reminder of his old-school qualities with his first fifty of the tour, while Aaron Hardie’s late-order cameo provided a glimpse of the future for this Australia side. The bowlers were not at their best but they have the experience and knowhow to saddle up and go again in a bid to seal the series at Lord’s.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
England WLLLW
Australia LWWWW

In the spotlight: Will Jacks and Alex Carey

While Brook took the headlines, Will Jacks was equally important to the Chester-le-Street turnaround. Although he was unable to press on to a maiden hundred, an innings of 84 from 82 balls was, by his own evaluation, his best international performance to date. Following his half-century at Trent Bridge, it suggested he is beginning to acclimatise to the format and his role at No. 3. Curiously, despite a body of work in T20 that dwarfs his List A experience (186 appearances to 32), it is in ODIs that he has currently had more of an impact with England.There was weather around as the teams trained at Lord’s•PA Photos/Getty Images

Alex Carey may have arrived back in the UK with a touch of trepidation, given his turbulent experience during last summer’s Ashes, but after being handed an unexpected opportunity with the ODI side after Josh Inglis’ injury he has seized it with both hands. Showing absolutely no ring-rust despite having not batted in a competitive scenario since March, Carey has top-scored for Australia two matches running while continuing to be an assured presence behind the stumps. It has, in the words of head coach Andrew McDonald, created a “good problem” for the team as preparation for the Champions Trophy gears up.

Team news: Archer set to play

Jofra Archer is expected to play back-to-back games so England could well be unchanged. Reece Topley has left the squad after suffering from illness.England: (possible) 1 Ben Duckett, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Jamie Smith (wk), 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Jacob Bethell, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Olly Stone, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Matthew PottsAfter the illness issues that dogged the start of the tour, Australia have reported a clean bill of health, which includes Adam Zampa, whose absence was significant at Chester-le-Street. The only issue is whether Inglis is yet match-fit, though Carey’s form makes that academic.Australia: (possible) 1 Travis Head, 2 Matthew Short, 3 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 4 Steven Smith, 5 Marnus Labuschagne, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Aaron Hardie, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Adam Zampa

Pitch and conditions

Lord’s is not foremost among English grounds when it comes to playing like a billiards table, although England did put up 311 in their previous ODI in north London against New Zealand last September. Given the amount of rain around recently, it could well be another seamer-friendly track – that’s if the weather relents enough to get a game, with showers forecast for the morning and early afternoon.

Stats and trivia

• With two wickets in Durham, Starc overtook Mitchell Johnson to go clear in fourth on Australia’s ODI wicket-takers’ list. He has a bit of a climb to reach Shane Warne in third.
• Brook’s hundred was only his second in the 50-over format – and first since 2019, when he scored 103 off 105 balls for Yorkshire against Leicestershire. In the intervening period, he made 13 first-class centuries (five in Tests) and three in T20.
• Australia have a strong record at Lord’s, winning six of their last seven ODIs against England at the ground – including their 2019 World Cup group stage encounter.
• England have only played three ODIs at Lord’s since the 2019 World Cup final, winning all three.

Quotes

“We said once we were 2-0 down, we’re going to stay true to how we play. And I think we’d done that at Durham and backed everyone to play their own game. It paid off at Durham, so I don’t see there’s any reason [to change].”
Matt Potts says England are on the comeback trail again“None of the blokes are training, we’re only here for lunch.”

Already without Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal was ruled out for the hosts on the eve of the game

Mohammad Isam13-Jun-2023

Big picture

A Test match between two nations will be played in one of the premier cricket stadiums, and in front of a live TV audience. If this is considered as enough of a context, then the Bangladesh vs Afghanistan one-off Test is relevant. Otherwise, sandwiched between the World Test Championship final and the upcoming Ashes, this contest in Dhaka, being held bang in the middle of Bangladesh’s monsoon season, struggles to gain significance for their fans.The Future Tours Programme originally had this series scheduled as a two-match affair, before one Test was cut off. That, perhaps, is an indication that even the solitary Test seems out of place, not least when both sides will be rather more keenly looking forward to the ODI World Cup, which is less than four months away.In fact, Bangladesh have played just one Test this year – the one-off game against Ireland in April – with their next matches in the format scheduled only for November, shortly after the World Cup.Related

• Hathurusinghe: Forget WTC, winning Tests for your country is motivation enough

• Litton Das: Test experience gives us advantage over Afghanistan

• Litton to captain Bangladesh in Afghanistan Test in Shakib's absence

• Rashid Khan rested for Afghanistan's one-off Test against Bangladesh

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s last Test had come a long time ago – against Zimbabwe in March 2021 – although one of their six games in the format so far has featured a 224-run win against Bangladesh, even as it came further back in 2019.Nevertheless, the hosts enter the Test against Afghanistan on the back of an A series against West Indies in May, where an impressive show by uncapped batter Shahadat Hossain helped him earn a call-up to the national side. Bangladesh will be without regular Test captain Shakib Al Hasan – he is out with a finger injury – and Tamim Iqbal, who was ruled out on the eve of the game due to a lower back pain.However, the visitors will be taking some positives into the game: allrounder Karim Janat, who hasn’t made his Test debut, was the highest run-getter in the last Ahmad Shah Abdali four-day tournament – he also had 18 wickets at an average of 20 – while Amir Hamza had topped the wicket-taking charts. There were several other performers in that competition among those who are part of the squad for the Test against Bangladesh, including left-arm wristspinner Zahir Khan and legspinner Izharulhaq Naveed, who is also yet to play a Test.Ibrahim Zadran averages 44 after four Tests, where he has three half-centuries•Abu Dhabi Cricket

Form guide

Bangladesh WLLLLL
Afghanistan WLLWW

In the spotlight

The green pitch in Mirpur would put the onus on Bangladesh’s fast bowlers to come up with a match-winning showing. Taskin Ahmed is considered the leader of the pack, which also includes Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and the uncapped Musfik Hasan. A three-man pace attack is most likely against Afghanistan, although coach Chandika Hathurusinghe hinted that Bangladesh might even consider fielding four pace bowlers.Ibrahim Zadran is the in-form batter for Afghanistan. The tall, graceful right-hand opener averages 44 after four Tests, where he has three half-centuries – including an 87 against Bangladesh – and enters this solitary Test on the back of a match-winning 98 in an ODI against Sri Lanka earlier this month. He has the fourth-highest runs for any Afghanistan batter in Tests, and with only 84 runs separating him from the topper, Zadran has the chance to get right on top in Dhaka.

Team news

Bangladesh will be forced to make at least two changes, with Shakib and Tamim out. On Monday, Litton said that he would like to go with five bowlers although it is unlikely that Taskin Ahmed will be brought back so soon after recovering from a side strain.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 2 Zakir Hasan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Khaled Ahmed, 11 Ebadot HossainAfghanistan last played a Test two years ago, with only four players from that side part of the squad to face Bangladesh. Rashid Khan has been rested. Thus, Abdul Malik is likely to open the innings with Zadran, while middle-order batter Bahir Shah, Janat and Naveed could be the debutants.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Ibrahim Zadran, 2 Abdul Malik, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Bahir Shah, 6 Karim Janat, 7 Afsar Zazai (wk), 8 Amir Hamza, 9 Yamin Ahmadzai, 10 Izharulhaq Naweed, 11 Zahir KhanMehidy Hasan Miraz is one away from 50 wickets at the Shere Bangla National Stadium•AFP/Getty Images

Pitch and conditions

There was a surprising tinge of green on the Shere Bangla National Stadium pitch when the ground staff unveiled it amid the rain breaks two days before the game. And if the forecast turns out to be true, there is likely to be a number of rain interruptions throughout the five days. Not much pace and bounce is expected at the venue.

Stats and trivia

Wijetunge, Abeywickrama appointed as spin-bowling coach and fielding coach respectively

Andrew Fidel Fernando17-Apr-2022Naveed Nawaz, the former Sri Lanka batter, has been named the Sri Lanka men’s side’s assistant coach under new head coach Chris Silverwood.Nawaz had recently been Bangladesh’s Under-19 coach, and had overseen that side’s victory in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup. The term of his appointment is two years.Related

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Also appointed to Sri Lanka’s coaching staff is former seam bowler Chaminda Vaas, who has been bowling coach in several stints over the past 10 years. Piyal Wijetunge, for years the lead spin bowling coach in the country, has also been added to the top team’s staff as well, while Manoj Abeywickrama has been named fielding coach. These coaches, however, have only been appointed until the end of Sri Lanka’s forthcoming Bangladesh tour, in May.Nawaz had even been considered for the head coach role as Sri Lanka sought to replace Mickey Arthur, over the past few months, but it is understood that eventually the decision was made to appoint a better-heeled international coach. In Bangladesh, Nawaz had played a role in developing young players such as Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shoriful Islam, and Shamim Hossain, who have all since graduated to the senior men’s side.As a player, Nawaz played one Test and three ODIs for Sri Lanka, and was a force in first-class cricket in the late 1990s and early 2000s, hitting 6892 runs at an average of 36.27Vaas’ reappointment, meanwhile, comes only months after the board declined to renew his contract in December last year. He had been Sri Lanka’s bowling coach under Mickey Arthur, but did not do the job on the recent tour of India.