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Najam Sethi, the PSL chairman, has spoken to the overseas players taking part in the tournament about the security measures in place for the final to take place in Lahore

Umar Farooq07-Feb-2017The PSL chairman Najam Sethi met all the overseas players in the Pakistan Super League in Dubai on Tuesday to brief them about the exhaustive security arrangements put in place to host the final of the tournament in Lahore. The PCB has also drawn contingency plans in case some of the participants do not want to make the trip. In the last week of February, a player draft will be held so that the five franchises can top up their rosters, albeit with local talent.At the launch of the second season of the tournament in Dubai on Monday, Sethi confirmed the final will be at the Gaddafi stadium. The PCB has received assurances from the Punjab government and other security agencies and is confident they can conduct the match without trouble.The PCB has been trying to persuade foreign players to travel to Pakistan for a while now, having invested in four bulletproof buses, and have also been mulling the idea of flying the players in for the PSL final on March 5, the day of the match, and flying them out immediately the end of it. The teams going through to the final are expected to stay at the National Cricket Academy.Sethi was confident the security arrangements for the PSL final will be “endorsed” by the ICC and player associations even though the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association, in January, reported that “an accepted level of participant safety cannot be expected or guaranteed”.As opposed to last year, when all the franchise captains were Pakistani, three of the five – Kumar Sangakarra (Karachi Kings), Darren Sammy (Peshawar Zalmi) and Brendon McCullum (Lahore Qalandars) – are foreign players.PSL ambassadors Ramiz Raja and Wasim Akram – who was born in Lahore – implored the overseas contingent to stay on and play the final.”Lahore is a beautiful city, the perceptions about the place might be muddled, but I can assure you that the players who will travel will be making a priceless contribution to Pakistan cricket,” Raja said. “Once you taste the flavour of cricket in the country you will come to realise how welcoming the crowds are. I am hoping that cricket can be brought back to Pakistan, it will be a huge contribution to the emotions of the cricket fans in the country.”Akram said: “Growing up I saw legends like Michael Holding and Sunil Gavaskar play in the stadiums, which was hugely inspiring. It is imperative that cricket returns to the country, Pakistanis are passionate about the game, my wife who is an Australian is staying in Karachi for the last four years and she is having a great time. Let me also remind you all that the government will do everything possible to ensure the safety of the players.”Akram explained the importance of bringing cricket back to Pakistan by recalling an incident from the 1996 World Cup, when the security situation in Sri Lanka was dire enough that Australia and West Indies did not travel to Colombo and forfeited their matches instead.”A team comprising of six star players each from Pakistan and India travelled to the country to play a solidarity match and change perceptions,” he said. “We played a positive role in 1996 that was warmly welcomed in Sri Lanka. Trust me, the foreigners who travel to Lahore for the final will be given heroic status in the country and their contribution will be remembered by Pakistanis for a long time, the passionate followers of the game will be hugely welcoming and thankful.”Another thing that may reduce the players’ perception of risk could be Giles Clarke’s comments about the situation in Lahore. He had visited the city in January as head of a Task Force to see if international cricket can be brought back to the country. Clarke is understood to have shared details of his trips to the member boards at the ICC meetings in Dubai over the weekend.

Former international batsman Asanka Gurusinha has been appointed Sri Lanka’s manager

Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Feb-2017Former international batsman Asanka Gurusinha has been appointed Sri Lanka’s cricket manager, SLC has announced. Presently residing in Melbourne, Gurusinha will arrive in Sri Lanka over the next few days to begin work with the team ahead of the series against Bangladesh.”Gurusinha, a marketer by profession, was awarded the title of Deshabandu in 1996, for his role in the World Cup victory, and has since been domiciled in Australia for the past many years,” an SLC release said. “Gurusinha is a Level 3 certified cricket coach with many years of experience, and most recently served as the Consultant Regional Cricket Coach for Cricket Australia.”Though he had not held any official role with Sri Lanka cricket since moving to Australia soon after the 1996 World Cup, Gurusinha had always said he was open to the possibility. He will work alongside Ranjit Fernando, who will remain with the team performing some of the managerial roles.*”It is indeed welcome news that Gura will be coming on board with our vision,” SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said. “”We are enhancing our resource team with professionals to achieve or national objective.”*This story had originally said Gurusinha would relieve Fernando. However, Fernando will remain with the team, also in a managerial capacity.

Shakib Al Hasan has said his century on the third day stemmed from a lot of “thinking overnight”

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Colombo17-Mar-2017Shakib Al Hasan was cagey about what drove him to recklessness on the second evening, but conceded he had done some hard thinking overnight before he resumed his innings where he went on to score a vital hundred on the third day of Bangladesh’s 100th Test against Sri Lanka.Bangladesh had lost two quick wickets and would soon lose a third when he had arrived at the crease yesterday, and though they were in danger of being dismissed well short of Sri Lanka’s 338, Shakib was nevertheless aggressive: he hit 18 off eight balls, and would have been out for 11 had Upul Tharanga held on to a chance at deep square leg.This morning’s session saw a different Shakib, however. He would hit only two further boundaries before lunch, and though he could have been run out on 40, he was largely content to push the ball around for runs into the outfield – relying on the paddle towards fine leg and a back-foot punch through the offside to bring him runs. At lunch he was at 57 off 78 balls, and progressed to his fifth Test century off the 143rd ball he faced.Shakib was unwilling to dwell on why he had been so belligerent on the second day, providing curt answers, or stonewalling the question completely whenever the topic was breached. But he did concede that there certainly had been a change in his mindset.”Yesterday, as I was not out, there was time at night to think about it. And in that time I thought about what approach would be good, especially the way Dinesh Chandimal batted in the first innings,” Shakib said. “I think there was a lot to learn from that knock with respect to how to bat in this innings. That helped. I had to work really hard to get those runs.” Chandimal’s innings had been uncharacteristically measured where he took 300 balls to score 138.Shakib’s century took Bangladesh to a strong position in the Test, as they imposed a lead of 129 at the end of two innings. Bangladesh’s batting saw them move onto unfamiliar territory, having only once earlier taken a first-innings lead after batting second away from home.”If in any situation you can score a hundred, from a personal viewpoint it is a special thing,” Shakib said. “Since there was a big need to score runs here and I could do that, I am very happy. Now the situation is very good, it is in a balanced state.”Sri Lanka cut that lead down to 75 by stumps – their openers combining for 54. In the past, Sri Lanka have overturned two first-innings deficits against Australia last year although they did not have a three-digit deficit in either of those Tests.”I think the first session tomorrow will be the most important session in the whole Test,” Shakib said. “It is very balanced, but if tomorrow if they bat well, the match may get away from us, and if we bowl well and take wickets we will be in the driving seat. A lot depends on that period.”Though there was significant turn on the pitch from the first day itself, there has been less in the surface for the bowlers since. However, Mehedi Hasan and Rangana Herath did get some bite out of the pitch towards the end of day three, which suggests the surface will increasingly begin to favour the slow bowlers as the Test continues.”I think the wicket gives enough assistance, but we have to bowl in very good areas. I won’t say that it is in a very bad state, neither is it in a good state. There is enough help, but for that we have to be patient.”

The official broadcaster of the Champions Trophy, Star, has written to the ICC outlining its concerns regarding the uncertainty over India’s participation in the tournament

Nagraj Gollapudi04-May-2017The official broadcaster of the Champions Trophy, Star, has written to the ICC outlining its concerns regarding the uncertainty over India’s participation in the tournament and the consequences that could have on advertising revenue.In the letter to ICC chief executive David Richardson, Star said it needed clarity so that it could reassure advertisers who had paid money to buy space during the Champions Trophy, but were now worried that India would pull out.It is understood that Star asked the ICC to make a public statement to clear the air and state how it was trying to resolve the situation. Though the tone of the letter was not alarming, the ICC top brass is making sure Star’s concerns were dealt with. It is understood Richardson called up ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, who said he would speak to the broadcaster himself.In 2014, Star had won broadcast rights for 18 ICC tournaments between 2015 and 2023 in a deal understood to be worth in excess of $2 billion. The eight-year contract included two World Cups in 2019 and 2023, two Champions Trophies in 2017 and 2021, and two World T20s in 2016 and 2020.The uncertainty over India’s participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy stems from the BCCI missing the April 25 deadline to send its squad to the ICC. The BCCI said at the time that the delay was due to “operational” reasons, but the issue is also linked to the board’s unhappiness over events at the ICC Board meetings in April.At the ICC Board meetings, the BCCI was outvoted overwhelmingly by other ICC members and the new constitution, governance changes and financial model was approved. The BCCI’s biggest grouse was with the financial model, because according to the new one it stood to receive a significantly smaller share of ICC revenue. Since then there has been talk of the BCCI using the Champions Trophy as a bargaining chip to get a greater share of the financial pie.However, a day after Star sent the letter to the ICC, the committee of administrators appointed by the Supreme Court of India to supervise the BCCI sent an email to the board’s acting secretary asking it to convene a selection meeting immediately to pick the squad for the Champions Trophy.The BCCI is expected to take a final decision at a special general meeting (SGM) in Delhi on May 7. A part of the board, including its acting president CK Khanna, acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry, was in favour of revoking the Members Participation Agreement (MPA) signed with the ICC.If the BCCI does revoke the MPA, then India will not be able to play any ICC tournaments until 2023, when the cycle of rights held by Star end.The CoA, however, made it clear to the BCCI that the vote at the SGM needed to be unanimous, and if any decisions that were not in the “interests of Indian cricket” were taken, it would ask the Supreme Court to intervene.

The Schön Group, a Dubai-based enterprise well-established in the real estate business, has won the rights to the sixth franchise of the Pakistan Super League, and chosen Multan as its team

Umar Farooq02-Jun-2017The Schön Group, a Dubai-based enterprise well-established in the real estate business, has won the rights to the sixth franchise of the Pakistan Super League, and chosen Multan as its team. The deal has been confirmed by the PCB, pending legal formalities, and the contract is for eight years. The Schön Group’s owners have roots in Pakistan.As many as 30 companies, according to the PCB, showed interest in the franchise, with about 12 submitting bids. Out of these bids, only Schön made a bid high enough to meet the base price of USD 5.2 million per year. The highest bidder had the right to choose the base city for the new franchise out of Multan, Faisalabad, Dera Murad Jamali, FATA and Hyderabad.The PCB had been considering adding a sixth team to the tournament after its first season in 2016, but a contract between the PCB and the five franchises meant the expansion could take place only after the second season. The first two seasons of the PSL featured Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.These original five franchises were sold for USD 93 million for a ten-year period. Karachi became the most expensive team with the ARY Group shelling out USD 26 million to gain ownership. Lahore sold for USD 25 million to Qatar Lubricants Company (QALCO), while the Haier Group paid USD 16 million for Peshawar. The franchise from the capital, Islamabad, went to Leonine Global Sports, which is an entity created specifically for the PSL by a group of Pakistani investors, for USD 15 million. Omar Associate, a Karachi-based building company, secured Quetta for USD 11 million.In 2016, Najam Sethi, the PSL chairman, had floated an idea to have a Kashmir team in the tournament, but it was rejected after opposition from some of the franchises on financial grounds and the potential for controversy given Kashmir’s sensitive status vis-a-vis India. The opposition from the franchises back then was centered around the potential cut in their share of the central revenue pool if a sixth franchise were to be created.Pakistan have been hosting the PSL in the UAE due to the security concerns of the overseas players. However, in 2017, the final was played in Lahore at the Gaddafi stadium amid presidential-style security and went off without incident. Last month, Sethi revealed plans to host as many as eight matches in Pakistan in 2018, with four each to be held in Lahore and Karachi.

Eoin Morgan clarified that Ben Stokes did not have any significant signs of injury after the allrounder bowled only two overs against South Africa in the first ODI

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-20172:32

Morgan’s innings was the game-changer – Amla

England captain Eoin Morgan has played down injury concerns around Ben Stokes, after the allrounder left the field for a few overs due to a sore left knee and bowled only two overs in the first ODI against South Africa in Headingley.Morgan stated that Stokes did not have any significant signs of injury and said that he had opted not to bowl him once he came back on the field as a precautionary measure.”When he came back onto the field he had the green light to bowl,” Morgan said. “I felt bowling him again wasn’t worth the risk. He doesn’t even have swelling – there are no significant signs of an injury – but we can assess that over the next couple of days. He did the right thing to go out and get it checked. A knee can be quite a significant injury if it does happen.”Stokes came into the attack in the 18th over, with South Africa well placed at 97 for 1 in a chase of 340 and was in some discomfort at the end of the over. He had a chat with the team physio by the edge of the boundary between overs and left the field after his second over. He then returned in the 26th over, after South Africa had lost Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis quickly.Ultimately, England did not need Stokes’ services as a bowler, as they defended 339 with considerable ease, winning by 72 runs. Amla, who top-scored for the visitors with 73, felt his side suffered as none of the batsmen went on to make a century to anchor their steep chase. He was fulsome in his praise for Morgan and Moeen Ali, who had slammed an unbeaten 77 off 51 balls to lead England surge in the slog overs.”In any ODI, if somebody gets to a hundred, it will propel you to a good total, specially if you bat lower down the order,” Amla said. “You get guys batting at 4 and 5 coming late in the game and getting a hundred, that’s why Morgan’s innings was a game-changer. Moeen’s 70-odd also allowed England to get 20-30 runs more than what we expected.”Morgan lauded Moeen’s composure at the crease as the pair added 117 runs for the sixth wicket in 81 balls, and England went on to plunder 102 runs in their last 10 overs.”Batting at No. 7 is one of the hardest jobs going because you don’t know whether to shoot or not,” Morgan said. “He was very calm and composed in what he did, gave himself some time at the crease and was able to take the game to South Africa at the end.”Morgan’s 107 against South Africa on Wednesday was his third ODI hundred in 2017, taking his tally to 491 from nine innings with an average of 54.55. He is in the most consistent form of his England career.”I feel in good form. I felt like this against Ireland, I felt like this in India, I felt like this in the Big Bash,” he said. “I have never gone through a stage this long where I have been able to keep it up. I’m not sure what it is down to. Maybe a bit of experience.”

Alex Blake pulled off a last-ball run out to salvage a tie for Kent and reward Sam Billings first notable innings of the Blast season

ECB Reporters Network23-Jul-2017
Sam Billings played his first Blast innings of substance [file picture]•Getty Images

A rain-shortened contest at Hove ended in a thrilling tie, on Duckworth-Lewis, as Alex Blake hit the stumps from long on to run out Laurie Evans as he tried to complete a second run for Chris Nash, who finished 50 not out as Sussex ended up on 87 for 3 in reply to Kent’s 176 for 4.Kent’s total owed much to Sam Billings and Jimmy Neesham, who added a record 102 in ten overs for the fourth wicket and scored 64 and 51 not out respectively before heavy rain interrupted this NatWest T20 Blast south group match.The final over of the game, bowled by Mitch Claydon and Sussex’s eighth as they chased a revised target, began with just eight runs required and both Nash and Evans going well.Evans hit the first ball for two to long on and, after Claydon sent down a wide and then a dot ball, there were three singles as the fast bowler held his nerve amid mounting tension. That left Nash needing two to win, and one to tie, from the last ball – which he drove towards Blake at long on. The fielder sprinted in to pick up and throw down the stumps at the bowler’s end.A diving Evans just failed to make the crease and Blake wheeled away, his arm raised in triumph, before being surrounded by his celebrating teammates. Grabbing the tie was certainly to Kent’s credit, and particularly to Claydon’s as his first over had earlier been despatched for 18 runs.Sussex’s chase, of 88 from eight overs, began well with Nash and Luke Wright plundering 19 from the opening over, bowled by Matt Coles.Nash flicked Coles’ first ball over midwicket for four and then lifted the second ball of the innings over the legside ropes for six. Later in the over, Wright pulled Coles for six, but in the second over he was caught for 8 at long on attempting another big hit at Neesham.Ross Taylor soon followed, chipping a return catch to medium-pacer Calum Haggett, but Nash effortlessly lofted Imran Qayyum’s left arm spin high over extra cover for six in the fourth over and the next, Claydon’s first, cost 18 runs as Nash twice swung him over mid wicket for six before Evans square drove for four.A Coles full toss was smashed over square leg for six by Evans, in an otherwise tidy sixth over, leaving Sussex to score 20 from the last two. In a remarkable seventh over, Nash pulled a Neesham full toss for six off the first ball but was then perplexed by the next four deliveries – a mixture of slower ones and fast, short-pitched balls – before carving the final ball over Blake’s head at long on for another six.That blow looked to have sealed the game for Sussex, but then came the dramatic finale and Evans’ run out for 23. Nash’s 50 took him just 25 balls, with six sixes and one four.Billings’ 64 came from 42 balls, with one six and nine fours, while New Zealand left-hander Neesham clubbed five sixes and just a solitary four in an impressive 51 not out from 30 balls as 112 runs were plundered from the second half of the innings. Chris Jordan, the England seamer, conceded 43 runs from his three overs.Kent were 64 for 3 at the mid-point of their innings, losing Sam Northeast in the tenth over when the captain cut hard at a sharply-rising short ball from George Garton and edged behind to go for 28 off 25 balls. Northeast had pulled Jordan and swatted Briggs for sixes as he sought to rebuild a Kent innings which had stuttered initially to 33 for 2 following the early fall of openers Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond.Denly had launched David Wiese’s medium pace for six over wide mid-wicket before being superbly caught for 16 by keeper Ben Brown, diving a long way to his left to hold an authentic leg glance off the pace of Tymal Mills. Bell-Drummond, however, had struggled to 5 from 15 balls before skying an attempted hoick at a short ball from Jofra Archer to cover.Neesham swung Danny Briggs’s left arm spin high over mid wicket for six as he and Billings, who had begun carefully, began to accelerate the scoring rate. The fourteen over, bowled by Garton, signalled the start of the Kentish charge, with Billings driving the young left-armer with stunning power through extra cover for four and then flipping the next ball, a short one, to the deep square leg boundary. Later in the over, Neesham clubbed four through square leg and after 15 overs the Kent total had reached 114.The last five overs saw Sussex’s bowlers become powerless the staunch the rapid flow of runs as Billings and Neesham took control. Billings pulled Mills for four and then slapped a slower ball straight for another boundary, while Neesham pulled Garton brutally for six.The partnership sailed past Kent’s previous record for the fourth wicket against Sussex, the unbroken 91 added by Billings and Blake at Hove in 2015, and had reached three figures by the time Billings drove Jordan to Wiese at long on from the fourth ball of the final over.Kent’s innings, though, finished in spectacular style as Neesham lapped a Jordan full toss over the unguarded fine leg boundary for six and then, from the last ball, flipped another six over long leg to complete his half-century.

Surrey condemn “irresponsible act” and promise own investigation as ground evacuated and Championship match against Middlesex abandoned

Vithushan Ehantharajah31-Aug-2017Armed police were called to the final day of Surrey versus Middlesex in the County Championship after a crossbow bolt was fired onto the field, abandoning play on the afternoon of the fourth day.Police believe the 12-inch long metal-tipped bolt travelled around 800 metres before coming to ground about ten yards from the pitch. The incident took place at 4.20pm, during the 69th over of Middlesex’s second innings.The players alerted the umpires, Michael Gough and Paul Baldwin, who acted quickly to take the players off the field – a number of them sprinting towards the changing room.Fifteen minutes later, the Metropolitan police had been made aware of the incident, at which point officers, including firearm officers, made their way to the Kia Oval.It was at this point that an announcement was made across the PA system at the ground for spectators and those in the open to “find cover”. Another announcement followed, urging people to move inside.A full search of the ground was carried out by police and around 30 security staff. The game was abandoned at 5.05pm by which time around 1,000 spectators had been informed that they could leave.The Metropolitan Police believe the bolt was fired from outside the ground, though they are unsure as to whether the bolt was fired deliberately or whether it was targeted at The Oval. They have, at this stage, stated that the incident is not being treated as terrorism related.Richard Gould, Surrey’s chief executive, speaking after play was officially called off, said: “It had a pointed end and stuck in the turf when it crossed the outfield and landed.”We are investigating reports that there was a noise on the roof of the OCS Stand but we haven’t been able to get up there to investigate whether it was the projectile ricocheting off the roof or a separate projectile. It is the sort of thing that could easily have been fired some distance from outside the ground if it came from a crossbow. It could very easily have killed someone.”We may never find out if it was a deliberate act, but in these heightened times these sorts of acts are wholly irresponsible.”People should not feel threatened in this way. If it is more than mischief-making then we need to find the perpetrators. We will review our security arrangements but threats can be so wide-ranging.”There is probably no way of securing against this type of incident if it was fired from outside. We always try and provide the safest type of environment but it can be very difficult to stop this kind of act.”Surrey’s captain Gareth Batty, who was fielding 25-yards away from where the arrow landed, said: “It was a pretty tasty arrow with a proper metal end. I did archery as a kid and that was not a normal archery arrow. The umpires dealt with it very well. There were no questions asked – we went off very quickly.”Someone saw it in flight, there was a noise when it landed but it happened so quick. It is a deadly weapon for sure. If it had hit someone it would have caused some serious damage. It just shows the world we live in.Surrey chief executive Richard Gould promised a full investigation•Getty Images

“You have to be diligent, it would be stupid not to be but if you’re constantly worrying about what is going to happen that is not a great place to be. If it is a crossbow rather than a longbow it is probably someone messing around and not understanding the implications of firing something into the air.”Let’s hope it’s a couple of people who will feel pretty ashamed in the morning when they realise what happened.”The Surrey players were in shock as they waited in the dressing room. Some only heard the bolt through the air before it hit the ground, with one player stating it “would have taken out a drive-man at midwicket”. Surrey vice-captain Rory Burns, stationed at orthodox midwicket, was the closest player to the bolt when it landed. Some players thought it had made its way into the ground from the direction of the Gas CylindersOfficers took statements from the players, before giving them the all clear to leave the ground shortly after six o’clock, as part of what the Metropolitan police described as “a controlled evacuation”.The match itself was abandoned as a draw: Middlesex establishing a second-innings lead of 181 after Sam Curran’s spell of three wickets in 10-balls had threatened to turn the game Surrey’s way, reducing Middlesex to 38 for 3 – a lead of just five.A battling 88 not out from John Simpson kept the defending Champions safe, before the umpires, Surrey County Cricket Club staff and the Metropolitan police were called to ensure the safety of them and everyone else.

The outfield of the Shere Bangla National Stadium has been rated “poor” by ICC match referee Jeff Crowe who oversaw the first Test between Bangladesh and Australia last month

Mohammad Isam14-Sep-2017The outfield of the Shere Bangla National Stadium has been rated “poor” by ICC match referee Jeff Crowe who oversaw the first Test between Bangladesh and Australia last month in Dhaka. Crowe, in accordance with Clause 3 of the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, submitted his report to the ICC in which he “expressed concern” over the quality of the outfield.The report has been forwarded to the Bangladesh Cricket Board, which now has 14 days to provide its response. Once they respond, it will be reviewed by ICC’s General Manager – Cricket, Geoff Allardice, and Ranjan Madugalle from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.”The grass was their main concern and we understand why they found it to be poor,” BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said. “The weather this year was the worst in the last decade, but the groundstaff gave it their best.”The matter will be dealt by Clause 4 of the process in which the first occasion of such a rating is dealt with a warning and/or a fine not exceeding $15,000 given together with “a directive for appropriate corrective action”. If it happens again within five years of the first finding, the fine goes up to $30,000.Although the Test was held during Bangladesh’s off season, the BCB’s grounds committee was preparing the Dhaka outfield for months in advance. After the 2016 BPL final was completed, the outfield grass was completely taken off and the surface was relaid. But ESPNcricinfo had learned a week before the Dhaka Test, there were serious concerns about the quality of the outfield. There was even talk of the Test match being shifted elsewhere as most of the ground didn’t have full grass covering, giving it a brownish look.So much so that on the day before the game, Crowe was seen having long discussions with the stadium’s curator Gamini Silva and BCB’s grounds department staff. Reportedly, the ground wasn’t handed over to the match referee in time as the groundstaff needed more time for last-minute touch-ups.During the Test itself, the outfield seemed slow and some players privately spoke about the poor quality of a normally fine ground. This is the first time the Shere Bangla National Stadium’s outfield has come under such scrutiny.

New Zealand captain pleased with fight shown despite losing a second successive ODI series decider in India

Sidharth Monga in Kanpur29-Oct-20171:34

‘Hard to swallow loss in another decider’ – Williamson

New Zealand got five full tosses and two half-volleys in the last two overs. Only one of those was hit for a six. In a game that featured 668 runs, it is extremely rare for a side defending to get away with so many errors.Perhaps if one of those had been connected cleanly, India would have been under more pressure and thus more prone to more mistakes. Perhaps if Colin de Grandhomme had not frozen. Perhaps if he had sacrificed himself when Tom Latham wanted to steal a bye off an MS Dhoni fumble and was left to be run out. Perhaps if Bhuvneshwar Kumar had not got away with a wide on the last ball of the 49th over.These are exactly the things New Zealand want to stay away from thinking in the aftermath of their six-run defeat as they came heart-breakingly close to what would have been a maiden ODI series win in India. They are led by arguably two of the calmest men in the business. Captain Kane Williamson and coach Mike Hesson do not lack in perspective.”When you do come so close to victory, you can look at hundreds of different little things and go ‘what if’, but at the end of the day you can’t really do that,” Williamson said. “You need to accept it. Whenever you lose, whether it is by one run; or if you win by 100 runs, you still want to learn from the performance and be better next time. I think that’s where our focus will be.”I mean, naturally if you look back at a game, to lose by six runs, having come so close in a big run chase, is frustrating, disappointing, but if you sit back and look at the work that was put in in that batting innings to get so close, it is a really promising thing for this batting unit. Yeah it is hard to swallow, another decider here on India. I think we put in some good performances, but you have got to be at your best when you play this Indian team, especially at home.”Williamson said Hesson’s thoughts were not expected to be any different when asked what Hesson brings to the side. “Very calm. He Sheds perspective on things, which is always important. The players are obviously in the heat of the battle, and ride the emotion a little bit. Certainly one of his strengths has been to be able to sit back and look at it for what it is. I am sure his messages will be pretty similar to perhaps what I am talking to you guys.”Yes it is frustrating, yes you can look at different little things, but at the end of the day there were really good signs. All you can do, I suppose, after any game, whether win or loss, is to move on to your next opportunity. And try to learn from that as best as you can and grow as a team. I am sure these will be our discussions that we will have a little bit shortly.”As for lessons, there were a few satisfying signs in how well they adapted to the conditions, and some not so good ones too. “To come into the first game and adapt and play like we did was really promising,” Williamson said. “In the second game, it was a point that we made, reflecting on that loss, that we could have adapted and communicated a little bit better to the change of surface.”I suppose that brings us to this game. We spoke about it again. And I thought we did it pretty well. On a good surface, on a new ground again, which you do have to, I suppose, think on your feet when you turn up and make those decisions and learn as quickly as you can. Naturally being the touring side, you don’t have as much experience on some of these surfaces. There are a lot of good signs.”New Zealand have been a side known for their wicket-taking abilities through ODI innings but in this series they played on pretty decent surfaces and were missing their enforcer Mitchell McClenaghan. In a new role, building pressure through denial, Williamson felt the bowlers did fairly well. “I thought the bowlers stuck at it really well,” he said. “Good surfaces. They were able to restrict a lot of the time and put a little bit of pressure despite the very good batting unit that India have.”Even in the defeat in the decider, despite a rare consecutive wicketless match for Trent Boult, the bowlers came back well in the last 10 overs to concede just 85 runs. “I mean if you bowl first, you don’t want the opposition to get 337, but it was a very good surface and a very fast outfield,” Williamson said. “After the start India got, the way we pulled it back in the last 10 overs was a good effort.”The way the ball swung early on, you are never far away from perhaps taking some early wickets, but they are a very good batting unit and they played very well today. To restrict them was a good effort, the dew later in the evening was helpful, but you have got to move on, learn from that.”Williamson was mighty impressed with his middle order. “Our middle order with the bat was something of a highlight throughout this series,” he said. “Particularly Tom Latham, from opening the batting to coming into the middle order, taking that role, adopting it like he has and batting so beautifully, it was a great sign for us.”