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Just when it looked like Imran Farhat’s century was going to take the game away from them, PIA’s Aizaz Cheema and Kamran Sajid sparked an HBL middle-order collapse that left the game finely poised at the end of the second day

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jan-2011ScorecardImran Farhat laid a solid foundation for HBL with his 109•Getty Images

The tea break came to Pakistan International Airlines’ rescue on the second day at the National Stadium in Karachi. Just when it looked like Imran Farhat’s century was going to take the game away from them, left-arm seamer Aizaz Cheema and their captain Kamran Sajid sparked a middle-order collapse that saw Habib Bank Limited lose six wickets for 28 runs in the last session and left the game finely poised at the end of the day.HBL still managed build a lead of 52 thanks to a rearguard action by fast bowler Fahad Masood, but PIA will hope they can knock off the two remaining wickets tomorrow and then improve on their first-innings batting performance to set HBL a decent total.At the tea break, HBL were cruising. Farhat and his captain Hasan Raza had put together 104 for the third wicket and they were already within 14 runs of PIA’s total with eight wickets still remaining. It came down to Cheema, who has led PIA’s bowling attack almost single-handedly at times this season, having taken more than twice the number of wickets any of the other bowlers have, to make the breakthroughHe got one to nip back in sharply from outside off to Raza, in the first over after tea, and had him out lbw for 38. That suddenly opened the floodgates for HBL. Sajid, who had only bowled one three-over spell in each of the first two sessions, brought himself back in the attack and struck in his third over, bowling Aftab Alam for a duck with an inswinger. In his next over, he got the big one: Imran Farhat was struck in front of middle stump, swinging across the line, but he was unlucky as the ball had pitched well outside leg stump.PIA built on their luck, though. Cheema went on the rampage, bowling wicketkeeper Humayun Farhat with another late inswinger and then startling Danish Kaneria with a short ball that he could only fend to short leg. By the time Kaneria went, HBL were suddenly 242 for 8, only 14 ahead of PIA, when at tea they would have been dreaming of a lead of well over 100. PIA would be slightly disappointed they didn’t finish the job as tail-enders Masood and Mohammad Aslam saw off nine overs with the new ball at the end of the day.Before the dramatic collapse, Farhat had played a well-paced innings. Having come to the wicket in the fourth over after Kamran Hussain fell early, he started off slightly scratchily – three of his first four boundaries were thick edges to the third-man boundary – but settled in once the spinner Shoaib Malik came on to bowl, picking him for boundaries on either side of the wicket. He favoured the off side against the quicks, driving and cutting as HBL built a solid foundation for a big score.Unfortunately for Farhat, HBL’s scorecard looked very similar to PIA’s first-innings one: one batsman scoring big while the others struggled. For PIA it had been Sajid, and for HBL none of the middle-order players could build on Farhat’s start.

Daren Ganga, the Trinidad & Tobago, believes the fund-raising charity Twenty20 against Guyana in Port of Spain will be an emotional affair for both sides

Cricinfo staff19-Jan-2010Daren Ganga, the Trinidad & Tobago, believes the
fund-raising charity Twenty20 against Guyana in Port of Spain will be an emotional affair for both sides. The match, to be played on January 20, is to aid victims of the catastrophic earthquake which struck Haiti last week and Ganga expected a full house at the Queen’s Park Oval.”My team-mates and I were saddened and overwhelmed by the enormity of the disaster that has befallen the people of Haiti from the awesome earthquake,” he said. “We needed no persuasion to play in the charity match for our suffering and unfortunate CARICOM (Caribbean community) brothers and sisters.”Ganga believed T&T’s success at the inaugural Champions League Twenty20, where their stunning run to the final not only won Indian hearts but also brought alive the tournament, would similarly bring the crowds to their feet in the upcoming match.Guyana’s captain, Sewnarine Chattergoon, was equally sentimental when asked about the disastrous situation in Haiti and his team’s decision to take part in the fund-raising event. “The Guyana Cricket Board, the team management and us the players acknowledge unhesitatingly how critical it is to show solidarity and support for our fellow Caribbean families in their moment of need and desperation,” he said.The International Red Cross estimates that about three million people were affected by the earthquake, which devastated the capital Port-au-Prince and caused an estimated 45,000-50,000 deaths.The two teams to be involved in the charity match are currently playing each other in a historic first-class four-day game at the Sir Vivian Richards Ground in Antigua.T&T squad: Daren Ganga (capt), Lendl Simmons, William Perkins, Jason Mohammed, Imran Khan, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Samuel Badree, Sherwin Ganga, Dave Mohammed, Ravi Rampaul, Navin Stewart, Daron Cruickshank, Rayad Emrit, Richard Kelly.Guyana: Sewnarine Chattergoon (capt), Travis Dowlin, Assad Fudadin, Rajindra Chandrika, Narsingh Deonarine, Royston Crandon, Vishaul Singh, Esuan Crandon, Veersammy Permaul, Derwin Christian, Devendra Bishoo, Brendon Bess, Trevor Benn.

The fast-bowling allrounder first picked up two wickets – including that of Marsh – before scoring 70 off 45

Tristan Lavalette07-Jan-2025Skipper Will Sutherland dismissed Mitchell Marsh for a golden duck before producing a brilliant knock under pressure alongside Tom Rogers to lift Melbourne Renegades over Perth Scorchers in a nerve-jangling match at Optus Stadium.Chasing 148, Renegades were in disarray at 10 for 4 before Sutherland came to his side’s rescue with 70 off 45 balls. He combined with Rogers in a remarkable 92-run partnership to inch ‘Gades closer to victory.But Sutherland fell with 12 runs needed and seven balls left to set up a grandstand finish. After the first ball of the final over by quick Matt Kelly was caught off a waist high no ball, Rogers clubbed a six off the second ball and he sealed Renegades’ stunning win with a boundary off the fourth ball. He finished 49 not out off 31 balls.It was a see-saw match that started with Scorchers struggling at 114 for 8 before Ashton Agar, battling the fiu along with a red-hot Renegades attack, provided a late flurry with an unbeaten 51 from 30 balls.It was an important win for Renegades, who join Scorchers with 3-4 records. But the win came at a cost with batter Jonathan Wells suffering a hamstring injury while fielding.

Sutherland, Rogers provide heroics after top-order collapse

With opener Josh Brown injured, Renegades had to reshape their batting-order and promoted in-form Tim Seifert, who succumbed to left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff in the first over.Having struggled since the Pakistan white-ball series, Jake Fraser-McGurk moved down a spot but it did not do the trick after he fell in ugly fashion for a golden duck. He tried to slice a short delivery from Behrendorff but could only edge behind where Finn Allen took a sharp catch high to his right with the gloves.Jacob Bethell and Laurie Evans, who became a Scorchers cult hero last season, also couldn’t handle the pressure as Renegades only just passed the lowest ever score in a powerplay. Sutherland and Marcus Harris, almost batting in red-ball cricket mode, were forced to grind it out.Tom Rogers and Will Sutherland helped Melbourne Renegades to a come-from-behind win•Getty Images

Harris fell just before drinks, but Sutherland had found his rhythm and took a liking to the older ball. He found a willing partner in Rogers, who was also adventurous to spark a remarkable revival.Sutherland had a reprieve on 40 when substitute fielder Andrew Tye dropped a chance on the deep midwicket boundary. He rolled to his half-century off 31 balls and looked set to get them home.He wasn’t there at the end, but Rogers stepped up at the death.

Scorchers pace attack rampant early before falling off

After Agar’s momentum-shifting knock, Scorchers felt rejuvenated and safe in the knowledge that they have defended similar scores over the years. Behrendorff has often ignited those famous wins and he did so again with a blistering opening spell.He was well backed up by Jhye Richardson, fresh after being part of Australia’s Test squad, and Lance Morris with both speedsters bowling well over 140 kph.But Scorchers’ quicks were rattled by Sutherland and struggled for the second straight game at the death overs as their finals hopes took a hit. Kelly was the quick targeted by Renegades and he struggled to deliver in the final over.

Renegades bowl superbly until the death

After electing to bowl, Renegades attack looked set for a tough time with in-form opener Allen going berserk early. Rogers erred by bowling too short, but quickly adjusted and superbly attacked the stumps with the ball moving off the seam.Sutherland also targeted a full length as Renegades swarmed all over Scorchers’ top-order. Returning from injury, quick Kane Richardson bowled well in the middle overs and so did legspinner Adam Zampa.Will Sutherland handed Mitchell Marsh a golden duck on BBL return•Getty Images

Zampa removed Nick Hobson with a brilliant googly, but mostly used subtle variations to good effect. Renegades almost submitted a near flawless bowling performance before a tardy effort at the death almost proved fatal.

Marsh fails, Agar provides late spark

Marsh’s first BBL game in three years forced a reshuffle of Scorchers’ batting order with Aaron Hardie elevated to open after taking his place having tweaked his abdomen against Sydney Thunder.After brief fireworks from Allen, Marsh arrived in the third over and received a thunderous ovation from the 31,795 crowd. There had been much anticipation over the hometown hero’s return with Marsh splashed all over the local paper’s back page.A pumped-up Marsh skipped to the crease and probably glad that he did not have to face tormentor Jasprit Bumrah. But Sutherland executed an inswinging delivery that would have earned Bumrah’s nod of approval as he trapped Marsh plumb lbw.Marsh didn’t bother reviewing even after a brief consult with Hardie. Scorchers were further in ruins when Cooper Connolly, the BBL’s leading run-scorer, fell for a second ball duck while skipper Ashton Turner was unable to rescue them on this occasion.After a delayed start to the season due to a quad strain, Hardie has struggled as a specialist batter and his woes continued. Mistimed shots left him frustrated before he fell on the first ball of the power surge after a thick outside edge flew straight to short third.Scorchers were in big trouble before Agar, returning from back spasms, produced clean hitting marked by several huge blows down the ground.

Head coach Jonathan Trott breaks down the reasons behind the change in Afghanistan’s batting approach

Ashish Pant02-Nov-2023Soaking up pressure and adapting their T20 skills to the pace of ODIs are the reasons for Afghanistan’s batting success at the World Cup, according to their head coach Jonathan Trott ahead of a crucial game against Netherlands in Lucknow.Coming into the tournament, Afghanistan’s middle order had the lowest average of all Full Member nations in ODIs since the start of 2021 – 26.44. That number has gone up to 36.93 in the World Cup, the fifth best in the tournament.Related

• Jonathan Trott: 'If people are going to have to play like Maxwell did to beat us, I can't complain'

• Clinical, risk-assessed, productive – Afghanistan's batting evolution unlocks new highs

• Rahmat Shah, the odd one out in Afghanistan's band of T20 stars

• Crafty Azmatullah Omarzai on his way to be Afghanistan's own Hardik Pandya

• Afghanistan turn to careful cricket for unprecedented success

“I think it’s a case more of just being better all-around, and thinking more about your all-around game,” Trott said in Lucknow on Friday. “Afghanistan [players] naturally grow up playing a lot more T20 cricket than any other format, so the skills for T20 are there. It’s about adding to that sort of base of T20 skills. As you see, 50-over cricket is a long time and you have to be able to, I think, ride the sort of ebbs, and flows of a game.”While openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have been scoring consistently, it hasn’t gone bust when they have not fired. In their previous game against Sri Lanka, Gurbaz fell for a four-ball duck but Rahmat Shah stepped up and had half-century stands with Ibrahim and Hashmatullah Shahidi, who in turn put on 111 with Azmatullah Omarzai to finish the chase.”The thing I’m really happy about from the last game is we lost a wicket in the first over and Rahmat Shah was able to go into No. 3 and soak up that pressure but still kept scoring at a good tempo,” Trott said. “That shows the ability to soak up pressure at times, what you have to do in 50-over cricket, but also then accelerate at certain times.”Rahmat Shah has been unfazed even when Afghanistan have lost an early wicket•AFP/Getty Images

Trott also stressed on the importance of the batters who are in to stay till the end and finish the job, especially while chasing.”I think when chasing those targets, we saw just what is possible if you have a good solid start and you have batsmen in the last ten overs,” he said. “That’s happened for us, but it’s also happened against us in games where it’s been difficult to stop the opposition with set batters in the last ten overs.”Having that sort of vision, knowing that you can score quickly towards the back end of games, I think that’s the pennies we’re starting to see drop with the players.”Afghanistan have managed to walk the talk, especially in their previous two games, against Pakistan and Sri Lanka where they chased down targets of 283 and 242 with ease.”Obviously, there’s a difference between talking about it and actually going out and doing it. And we’re seeing players go out and do it now,” Trott said. “We’ve spoken a lot about it and worked really hard to try and achieve it, so it’s nice to see the players do well and have a smile on the face when they’re there batting at the end of the game, having chased in the last two games and won.”

“He has played better than anybody else in the Indian team for the last couple of series”

PTI15-Aug-2022Suryakumar Yadav has received high praise from the great Ricky Ponting, who compared the Indian batter with AB de Villiers, for possessing a 360-degree game.Ponting suggested that Suryakumar should bat at No. 4 in the Indian line-up.Related

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“Surya (Yadav) scores 360 degrees around the ground, a bit like an AB de Villiers did when he was in his actual prime. The lap shots, the late cuts, you know, the ramps over the keeper’s head. He can hit down the ground,” Ponting said on the latest episode of .”He hits really well over the leg side, flicks to deep backward square particularly well, and he’s a good player of fast bowling and is a good player of spin bowling.”Suryakumar, 31, has scored 672 runs at an average of 37.33 and a strike rate of 175.45 in 23 matches and now sits at No.2 in the ICC T20I batting rankings, behind Pakistan captain Babar Azam.”I think you’d find him in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, not just their squad. And if he’s in that team, then I think all the fans in Australia are going to see a very, very good player,” Ponting, who has seen Suryakumar up close in his early years at Mumbai Indians, said.”He’s quite a confident person. He backs himself and he’s never going to step down from a challenge or any situation that arises in a game. I feel he thinks he can win that situation and therefore go on and win the game for his team.”Asked whether Suryakumar would make India’s best XI, the former Australian captain said he has “played better than anybody else in the Indian team for the last couple of series” and should be slotted at the top order.”It’s got to be in the top four, I think. I said stick with him (Virat Kohli) in his traditional spot, which has been No. 3,” Ponting, a two-time ODI World Cup-winning captain, said.”For Surya, it’s one, two or four. I think he can open, but I think he’s probably, you know, if you could probably just keep him away from the new ball, let him control the middle part of the game outside the Powerplay, through in the middle, and if he’s in at the end, you know what can happen.”Suryakumar’s strike rate rises to 258.82 in the death overs in T20Is — in 34 balls he has smashed 88 runs with 15 of those deliveries going for boundaries.Ponting said: “I think in the top four is, well, actually I’ll go out on a limb: I don’t want him to open. I think number four is his best spot.”Australia will host the T20 World Cup in October-November.

“I don’t think I could have done anything more than that,” Samson said after just failing to clear the rope

Vishal Dikshit13-Apr-20213:48

Sangakkara: Next time Sanju will hit it 10 yards further

Rajasthan Royals team director Kumar Sangakkara has backed his captain Sanju Samson’s decision to retain the strike for the last ball of the chase against Punjab Kings by declining the single that would have brought allrounder Chris Morris on strike.When the Royals needed five to win off two balls against Arshdeep Singh in the 222 chase, Samson, batting on 119, drilled the ball to wide long-off and sent Morris back, who returned in disbelief after nearly coming face to face with the captain. Samson trusted himself to hit a six off the final ball and he nearly pulled it off but ended up slicing the ball to deep cover where Deepak Hooda took the catch only a few yards inside the boundary, and the Royals fell short by four runs.”I think Sanju backed himself to get the job done and he nearly did,” Sangakkara said at the post-match press conference. “He was five or six yards short of hitting the last ball for a six and sometimes when you know you’re hitting the ball well and you’re in form and you believe that you can do it, you’ve got to take that responsibility. And it was really encouraging to see Sanju do that.Related

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• Talking Points – Did Samson do the right thing?

• 'Sanju's innings will be remembered as one of the finest'

“We can always talk about a missed single here or there but the crucial thing for me is the players’ belief in attitude and commitment and they know what their strengths are. And Sanju took it upon himself to finish that game and he just fell a few yards short. That happens, but the next time I’ll believe he’ll hit it that 10 yards further to win us the game.”Compared to Samson, who had already struck seven sixes on the night including one on the fourth ball of the final over, Morris was new at the crease having faced only four balls. Morris, who otherwise has a T20 strike rate of 150 and is a fearless lower-order batsman, had missed one ball, struck one straight to cover and managed only two singles after coming in to bat in the 19th over when the Royals needed 21 to win from 11 balls. That might have led Samson to giving himself a higher chance of hitting the last ball for six than giving the strike to Morris to hit a four on the final ball.1:42

Should Samson have taken the single on the penultimate ball?

After Samson’s stroke off the last ball fell just a few yards short, he said he thought he had connected well for a six.”I don’t think I could have done anything more than that [on the last ball],” an exhausted Samson said on Star Sports. “I thought I timed it well for a six but it somehow landed inside the rope.”I don’t have words to tell that [explain my feelings]. It was a very close game and would really loved to have finished it off for my team but unfortunately…don’t have much to say.”Samson single-handedly carried the Royals to the last ball with his third IPL century, off 54 balls, that was filled with crisp boundaries. He had started much slower by scoring 29 runs off the first 22 balls he faced in the first eight overs. Even though two wickets had fallen, Samson then took off by taking on the quick bowlers and raced to his fifty by striking his next 11 balls for 21 runs and his second fifty – from 50 to 100 – in just 21 balls.”The second part of my innings was my best IPL performance,” Samson said during the presentation. “The first part I was really struggling to get my rhythm but I went back to the basics, communicated with my partners, I took my time a bit more, respected the bowlers bowling well, I took the singles and I rotated the strike and slowly I got into my rhythm.”Sanju Samson came within one stroke of pulling off a huge chase•BCCI/IPL

Samson realised his batting style came with a high-risk high-reward approach, and that’s exactly how he preferred it.”When I am in the zone, and I’m watching the ball well with a good intent, my batting automatically happens. The sixes come out naturally, and in that process I tend to lose my wickets also. I’ve very happy to play in that manner no matter what.”In the end, it was only one shot that stood between Samson and victory on his IPL captaincy debut. Arshdeep finished with 3 for 35 from his four overs and later said his plan in the last over was to bowl wide to the batsman, which worked because when the Royals needed 13, he conceded just two runs off the first three balls by bowling wide, and didn’t lose his composure despite getting hit for a six off the fourth ball by Samson.”The plan was to bowl wide to the batsmen, try as many wide yorkers and if we try to execute all six balls properly then it’ll be difficult for them to get under the ball,” Arshdeep said. “The main thing was to back the execution and the plans we had made.”

New Zealand’s bowlers kept their disciplines in extreme conditions to keep the match in the balance

The Report by Daniel Brettig12-Dec-2019Stumps A hat-trick of Test hundreds for Marnus Labuschagne, sealed with a straight six, belied an otherwise fascinating battle between Australia’s batting order and New Zealand’s skilful and diligent attack, even as it was shorn of Lockie Ferguson by a calf strain that may cause increasing pain for the visitors the longer the Perth day-night Test goes on.In front of a crowd of 19,084 who huddled in what shaded areas they could find on a day when temperatures hovered near 40C until the sun went down, New Zealand gave an exceptional account of themselves in the absence of Trent Boult and despite the looming threats of David Warner and Steven Smith.Both Warner, before lunch, and Smith in a lengthy partnership with the ebullient Labuschagne, had some influence on proceedings. But in each case the tourists’ discipline, fitness and commitment to the plans hatched by their captain Kane Williamson ensured that neither Warner nor Smith could get away from them. In Smith’s case it meant one of his slowest Test innings, ended in the leg trap that the unstinting Neil Wagner has set for so many international batsmen over a career that has surprised in much the same way Labuschagne’s now is.Marnus Labuschagne celebrates his hundred•Associated Press

Warner had earlier seen a promising start ended by a superlative caught and bowled from Wagner, who alongside Colin de Grandomme, Tim Southee and Ferguson formed a typically diligent New Zealand attack – something all the more admirable in the prevailing conditions.Williamson was unable to pick Trent Boult as he continues his recovery from a side strain suffered against England, meaning a debut for the speedy Ferguson. Australia were unchanged for the third match in a row. They have not lost a series at home to New Zealand since 1985.Warner made his intent known by hustling a single from Tim Southee’s first ball of the match, and while Ferguson neared 150kph in his first over, his lines and lengths were variable enough to allow scoring opportunities for both openers. Southee’s frustration at not finding an early wicket was demonstrated when he hurled a solidly defended ball back at Joe Burns, prompting an exchange with Warner who rebuked him as “you’re supposed to be Mr Nice Guy”.Ferguson’s replacement by Wagner and the introduction of de Grandhomme brought some more pertinent questions for Burns and Warner, as the run-rate was clamped. De Grandhomme’s first ball to Burns was not the away swinger he evidently expected but a nip backer that won an lbw verdict from umpire Aleem Dar, even through ball-tracking would show the ball comfortably missing leg stump as Burns was batting well forward of his crease.Neil Wagner celebrates a stunning caught and bowled•Getty Images

Labuschagne settled in quickly enough, but as tea beckoned, Warner misjudged a Wagner change-up and was on his way, allowing Steven Smith his earliest entry to the Test batting crease this summer. Warner had looked set to maintain his commanding run of form this summer, but six minutes before the interval he scooped back a low full toss to Wagner, who claimed the chance inches from the ground with his right hand as he followed through.Runs did not accrue easily when play resumed, to the extent that both Smith and Labuschagne could be seen trying to force a few shots that did not necessarily lend themselves to the types of questions they were being asked. Wagner’s angles and preference for the short ball posed challenges for both batsmen, while Ferguson had Smith flirting with balls well wide of the off stump, breaking 149kph every now and then and gaining plenty of bounce from the surface also.Labuschagne strode to an eighth score of 50 or more in Test matches this year, but Smith’s inability to turn the scoreboard over ultimately drew an outside edge from Ferguson. Maddeningly for New Zealand, Tom Latham picked up the chance late and could only throw his hands to the left as the ball burst through them. Australia were thus able to get through to the final, floodlit session with eight wickets in the bank and two formidable players at the crease.Lockie Ferguson made his Test debut•Associated Press

Things got worse for the visitors when they advised early in the final session that Ferguson had gone to hospital for scans on a calf problem. The mere fact that they were required suggesting he may well be out of the match and perhaps the whole, tightly-packed series also. With Labuschagne quickly closing on a century and Smith straining to break his shackles, this was a moment in which many sides would have flagged, but Williamson was able to conjure further efforts from his men, aided perhaps by cooler evening temperatures.While Labuschagne advanced to loft Mitchell Santner beyond long-on for only the second six of his career to leap from 95 to a joyous 101, Wagner was not deterred from his attempts to corral Smith, and he was ultimately rewarded with a distracted attempt at a hook shot and a miscue lobbing gently to Southee at leg gully. Smith was furious with himself, but the pressure had built over 164 balls – a volume of deliveries by which time he had usually passed three figures in England.Better tidings arrived for New Zealand when Southee took the second new ball and bent an inswinger around Matthew Wade’s front pad to flick the off stump as the left-hander shouldered arms to his immediate regret.Four wickets down with 47 deliveries left in the evening, made for a queasy sort of session as far as Australia were concerned, as underlined by how Labuschagne was troubled more than once to pick up the line of the ball. But Travis Head was able to survive a few nervous moments to keep Labuschagne company up to the close, even if the No. 3 offered Wagner an airy upper cut in the final over that fell slightly short and wide of third man. Australia know they have been in a fight; they have enough batting left to land some major blows on day two.

Gayle admitted that the constant travel does takes its toll and added, hinting at the resolution of his defamation case, that he was hoping for things to get easier for him personally

Liam Brickhill03-Dec-2018Chris Gayle said it was “good to be back” in South Africa, having jetted back to the country and into Jozi Stars’ Mzansi Super League squad after missing the last five matches while he was away playing for Kerala Knights in the T10 League.Gayle was in Sharjah in October for the Afghanistan Premier League, and had played in Jozi Stars’ Mzansi Super League opener before leaving for the UAE. Yesterday he flew back from the T10 league, to a T20 tournament in another country, South Africa. Gayle admitted that the constant travel does takes its toll and added, hinting at the resolution of his defamation case, that he was hoping for things to get easier for him personally.”In the future, I’m looking forward to things being a bit more simpler for me, from a personal point of view,” Gayle said. “It’s not so easy, to be honest with you. Especially at this age as well. You jump on a flight, and then you jump on a cricket field. But in a way you manage yourself, and I have a great team that keeps the body ready to perform up to standard and I’ve been doing this for years.”You make the necessary adjustment as quickly as possible, and take it from there. It’s not a big issue. It’s not a big concern for me at this point in time to be honest.”Stars had lost the opener, but have since won three out of five games thanks to Reeza Hendricks’ back-to-back centuries, and are currently in third place on the points table. “I think the Jozi Stars are starting to peak at the right time. It’s good to have a win under our belt last night. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, up against the top guns. Hopefully we can continue the winning ways.””I’d love Hendricks to make it three in a row,” added Gayle. “That would be nice to see. Two centuries back to back is always good, and coming in in such good form as well. He knows the conditions well. I’m looking forward to opening the batting with him.”With his form, maybe he can actually take a bit of pressure off me. You guys keep mentioning my name, but it’s Hendricks you should be wary of. I’ll try and get a good start with him. Just enjoy the moment with him as well.”Stars coach Enoch Nkwe welcomed Gayle back to the squad. “He’s our international marquee player and a very important member of the squad,” said Nkwe. “We’re very happy to have him back. I know the dressing room is very excited. We’re looking forward to having him on the field.”

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.

Ben Stokes is hopeful that his international season is not over despite the calf injury that has ruled him out of the third against Pakistan and appears likely to keep him out of the final Test as well

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2016Ben Stokes is hopeful that his international season is not over despite the calf injury that has ruled him out of the third against Pakistan and appears likely to keep him out of the final Test as well.Stokes pulled up during his sixth over in Pakistan’s second innings at Old Trafford and subsequent MRI scans confirmed a tear. He will undergo further assessment when the England squad meet up at Edgbaston on Monday but the fourth Test at The Oval, which begins on August 11, will almost certainly come too soon for him.Stokes tweeted about his frustration having just returned from knee surgery after he pulled up during the first Test against Sri Lanka in May. The Old Trafford Test was his first match back for England.”Devastated about the injury especially with all the hard work put in by myself and others to get me back to FULL fitness,” he posted. “Another couple weeks of rehab and hoping to finish off what has been great summer so far for @ECB_cricket.”Following the Tests, England’s five-match ODI series against Pakistan starts on August 24 before a one-off T20 on September 7 completes the international season.England will be reluctant to rush Stokes back given the crammed period of cricket they have to finish the year. Pending security assessments they leave for the tour of Bangladesh at the end of September – a trip that includes three ODIs and two Tests – before a five-match Test series India.Stokes will be vital to the balance of the side on the subcontinent where England will likely want to field two spinners. The performances of Chris Woakes since his comeback against Sri Lanka mean that they are not without another all-round option, but their combined skills mean England could at some stage field a six-man bowling attack with Stokes considered a good enough batsman to play in the top five.In the short-term, for Edgbaston next week and at The Oval, England are likely to turn back to a frontline quick to fill Stokes’ place with both Steven Finn and Jake Ball in the 13-man squad. Adil Rashid is also in the party, and will be an option if the pitches look like favouring spin, although having seen how Pakistan handled the quicks at Old Trafford England will probably opt to hit them with pace.