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Given the milestone, it was only appropriate that Bangladesh came up with their best fielding effort of the series, and across the last few Tests, on the opening day in Colombo

Mohammad Isam in Colombo15-Mar-2017Mehedi Hasan was a livewire in the field on the first day of the Colombo Test, but the hot weather can take the sting out of even the fittest player. Mehedi had taken one catch and two wickets, and had been bowling long and short spells. So when Dinesh Chandimal top-edged a sweep off Taijul Islam before the tea break, not many expected Mehedi, fielding at fine leg, to go for the catch.He did, running in a fair distance, and nearly pulled it off. As he got up with the ball in his fingertips, Chandimal waited for the umpires to check the catch. Unfortunately for Bangladesh, the replays were inconclusive in showing whether he had collected it cleanly and with the soft signal given as not out, the catch wasn’t allowed.Mehedi and the rest of the Bangladesh team kept up their spirits after that opportunity, however, and in his next over, Taijul removed Dhananjaya de Silva to end a dangerous fifth-wicket stand on 66.It was that kind of day for the visitors, the start of a landmark 100th Test that had them looking sharp on the field. They bowled well to take seven Sri Lanka wickets, took their catches and created plenty of wicket-taking opportunities, forcing the home side to use referrals repeatedly. Sri Lanka were successful on three occasions while Bangladesh lost one review, an optimistic one to a ball that was certainly going down the leg side.Given the landmark, it was natural that all the attention at the P Sara Oval would be on the visiting side. A pre-match felicitation ceremony was backed up by a great start with the ball and once Mehedi had pouched Dimuth Karunaratne, the confidence of the fielders, having been battered in New Zealand and India, was boosted to an extent.There were plenty of theories about what had caused such an upturn in confidence and the body language in the group. Perhaps it was seeing Mehedi take the catch at gully, or the sight of Mustafizur Rahman beating the bat consistently in his first spell.The occasion of their 100th Test inspired Bangladesh to a better fielding performance•Getty ImagesOr maybe it was the occasion of Bangladesh’s 100th Test, a milestone which means a lot to the players, many of whom were teenagers in 2000. Some are too young to remember the inaugural Test but on the eve of the Colombo match, Mushfiqur Rahim said that seeing Bangladesh play their first Test meant that he could dream of playing one himself one day.Perhaps it was also their position in the Test series. Leading into the series, Bangladesh had spoken of how they could challenge Sri Lanka, only to suffer a 259-run loss in Galle. Apart from the criticism that follows a defeat, there was also the added drama surrounding Mahmudullah’s exclusion on Monday and Liton Das’ last-minute withdrawal due to injury. Team sports, however, are all about dealing with last-minute pull-outs and form issues and unexpectedly big losses.The meeting with BCB president Nazmul Hassan could also have motivated them. The discussions at the meeting are unknown but, stick or carrot, it is never a great feeling to meet the headmaster before an exam.It was hard to deny the role that the senior players Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur and Shakib Al Hasan played in this. Tamim had stated on the eve of the match the need for someone to make heavy contributions at the start. In the Dhaka Test against England, which Bangladesh won by 108 runs to level the series, Tamim’s first-day century had inspired positivity.In Colombo on the first day, Tamim, Shakib and Mushfiqur kept the team positive in the field. Shakib and Mushfiqur made direct contributions in terms of wickets, even as vice-captain Tamim was always at the bowler’s ear, either cheering him on, telling him off or sometimes just sharing a joke. Tamim plays much the same role in his interactions with the younger players. He sets the mood in the dressing-room and helps them out with small off-field issues, and they listen to him intently.Whatever the reason, Mushfiqur and his side have to ensure it is repeated over the next four days, and in every game they play going forward. Bangladesh reacted well to the situation on the first day in Colombo but they need to keep it up. They know well what the other side of this upturn looks like.

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2015James Anderson picked up two wickets in an over to leave Pakistan wobbling on 3 for 2•Associated PressMohammad Hafeez helped calms nerves and, although he was run out after lunch, there was no hint of the drama to come when Pakistan were 102 for 3 at tea•Associated PressMisbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan seemed to have guided Pakistan to safety…•Associated Press…but Younis gave Adil Rashid his first Test wicket and a collapse ensued•Associated PressMisbah was bowled aiming a slog at Moeen…•Associated Press…Wahab Riaz did not last long either…•Getty Images…and Adil Rashid took the last two wickets with consecutive deliveries to bowl Pakistan out for 173•Getty ImagesRashid finished with 5 for 64, the first five-wicket haul by an English legspinner since 1959•Getty ImagesThat left England needing only 99 to win but although there were plenty of overs left, the light was fading•Getty ImagesJoe Root provided much of the impetus but England were 25 short on 74 for 4 when the umpires decided to call a halt and declare the match a draw•Getty Images

From two embattled captains to the challenge for India’s openers against the new ball, ESPNcricinfo picks five contests that could determine the series

Alan Gardner07-Jul-2014Alastair Cook v MS Dhoni
Two captains who think defence is the first line of attack, Cook and Dhoni will be under pressure for different reasons coming into the series. His tactical limitations and England’s eight-Test run without victory aside, it is a lack of runs – 24 innings since his last hundred – that will weigh heaviest on Cook. When leading England to victory in India 18 months ago, he scored 562, including three centuries. That inflicted a rare defeat at home on India but they continue to travel about as well as ice cream in the desert. It is now three years and 14 Tests since they won away, with Dhoni in charge for all but one of them. Over the course of a five-Test series, will either abandon their innate conservatism?Peter Moores v Duncan Fletcher
The sphinx-like Fletcher comes up against his original successor in the England job, whose utterances are sometimes equally difficult to decode. Moores has only had 11 weeks in charge since being appointed coach for a second time but, after losing in all three formats to Sri Lanka, a one-off ODI in Scotland remains his sole success. He may reflect uneasily on the parallels with 2007, when he took over following an Ashes whitewash and promptly lost at home to India. For Fletcher, the young batsmen he has groomed for the last three years to replace India’s old guard of Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman have begun to produce the requisite stacks of runs. They won the Champions Trophy in England a year ago but, according to Fletcher, suffered from overconfidence on subsequent tours to South Africa and New Zealand.Ian Bell v Virat Kohli
While the heat of the kitchen has been getting to Cook, Bell has coolly donned the “England’s best batsman” apron. With 100 Tests under his belt and having shifted up the order to occupy Kevin Pietersen’s old berth at No. 4, Bell is now expected to provide steel and silk to order. Consistency can still be an issue – he followed a Man-of-the-Series 562 runs at 62.44 in last year’s Ashes with 235 at 26.11 during the return leg in Australia – and England will need more than the two half-centuries he managed against Sri Lanka. Opposite Bell in the India line-up is Kohli, an avenging angel in limited-overs cricket but who is still negotiating with the devil on his other shoulder in Tests. Nevertheless, his average of 46.51 is already better than Bell’s and, as centuries in Adelaide, Johannesburg and Wellington prove, he has the game to flourish overseas.James Anderson v Shikhar Dhawan
On India’s last tour of England, they used four different opening combinations in as many Tests and only managed three stands in double figures, the highest of which was worth 63. While Stuart Broad was England’s leading wicket-taker, it was Anderson who knocked over more top-order batsmen, his removal of Virender Sehwag for a king pair at Edgbaston symbolic of India being deposed as the No. 1 Test nation. Dhawan has inherited Sehwag’s cutlass as opener but he will hope not to suffer a similar affliction against the swinging ball: in England, Sehwag averaged just 27.80. Dhawan and his partner, Murali Vijay, will face an undeniably wearier Anderson than three years ago, however, and England’s attack leader may struggle to get through five Tests crammed into seven weeks.Spin v Seam
The workload for Anderson and Broad will in part be determined by England’s selection and tactics. Unless Moeen Ali is given more overs (or a specialist spinner comes into the side), or India disintegrate with the same alacrity as 2011, England seem bound to rotate their fast bowlers – James Whitaker has already suggested all six seamers in the squad for the first Test will play at some point. India’s pace attack, meanwhile, will be greener than the surfaces England hope to be given. However, if the pitches remain flat and dry, as is increasingly the case in England, and the weather warm, it is not inconceivable that spin will play a greater role than expected in determining the series. Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin could yet be trump cards.

JP Duminy emerged from nowhere to star in South Africa’s first series win in Australia

Firdose Moonda06-Nov-2012After being completely outplayed in Australia in 2001-02, South Africa managed to just avoid a second whitewash when they returned in 2005-06.A draw in the first Test, in Perth, was somewhat cathartic for Jacques Rudolph. He scored an unbeaten century after being left out of the XI in all three matches of the previous visit because of a change in selection policy. But South Africa lost the next two Tests and returned home empty-handed again.By the time they made the trip four seasons later, South Africa were a team transformed. They had beaten England for the first time since readmission and went to Australia with a fresh mindset. There was not the excitement of 1993, or the false bravado of 2001, but a quiet confidence in their plans.The tour didn’t begin well, though, when a day before the first Test, Ashwell Prince, who had made two centuries in England and was a core part of South Africa’s middle order, injured his thumb in the nets. Losing him was a big blow, especially because his replacement, JP Duminy, was a rookie.”I was in the field catching for Paul Harris and I didn’t really bat much that day, because the playing XI got preference, when Mickey [Arthur] rushed over and said Ashwell had got hit,” Duminy said. “Mickey said I’ve got to get into the nets and prepare.”Duminy had a “sleepless night”, but when his phone buzzed early the next morning he knew what was coming. “Ashwell SMS-ed me at 6 o’clock to say he didn’t think he was going to be able to play, and he wished all the best to me, which was quite nice from his side.”Australia took a first-innings lead of 94, and Mitchell Johnson, who took 8 for 61, was looking dangerous. One of Johnson’s wickets was that of Duminy, although the South African batsman maintains he wasn’t out. “I got a bouncer from Johnson, was hit on the arm and got given out. So I was a little disappointed.”The short ball would go on to become Duminy’s nemesis further in his Test career, but only after his heroics in Perth and Melbourne.Australia scored 319 in their second innings, and even though none of their batsmen made hundreds in the match, they set South Africa 414 to win. It required a near-world-record chase*, and few thought South Africa could do it, given their reputation as chokers.Opener Neil McKenzie fell to Johnson for 10, but Graeme Smith added to his enormous pile of second-innings runs in successful chases with a stoic century, and Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis contributed fifties. On a fifth-day pitch that was as good as a third-day one, South Africa inched closer.With Kallis and AB de Villiers at the crease, they had the right mix of experience and aggression, but when Kallis was dismissed with South Africa still needing 111, the responsibility fell on young Duminy.”I was walking out and Kallis said to me as we passed each other, ‘Go make history.’ It’s something that I’ve always remembered, because that’s what it was. It was history in the making and it was a special effort from our side.”

“I was walking out and Kallis said to me as we passed each other, ‘Go make history.’ It’s something that I’ve always remembered”

Displaying remarkable clarity of mind and control, Duminy crafted a fine fifty and hit the winning runs. At no stage did he think South Africa would not get there. “We had six wickets in hand, the pitch was playing very well and AB was going well too. I thought we had the upper hand. I suppose, on the plus side, we didn’t lose any more wickets.”The victory represented more than just an odds-defying achievement. A series lead had been taken over the old enemy. “Going up 1-0 against Australia gave us the belief that we can chase down anything and that we can beat the Aussies in Australia,” de Villiers said. “That was a massive mental thing for us to get over.”Come Boxing Day, however, tension had mounted to the point of exploding. Ricky Ponting’s century was offset by the South African pace trio’s wickets, and Australia went to stumps at 280 for 6. On day two, Michael Clarke and the tail added another 114 runs, after which the Australian bowlers stuck into South Africa.With his side on 132 for 5, Duminy was presented with a different kind of pressure from that in Perth. His team’s hope that he could be like Prince and drag them out of trouble, his own uncertainty about his position and his game plan all weighed him down.”Leading up to that second game, I still wasn’t sure if I would play, because Ashwell was getting a lot of rehabilitation. There was still a chance of him playing, so I wasn’t sure where I stood until fairly late again. I just took the opportunity that arose. The team was in a bit of trouble when I went in to bat and I just took it ball by ball. Initially it was a little bit difficult, but it was just about absorbing that pressure.”Duminy lost partners steadily, though, and when Dale Steyn walked in at No. 10, South Africa were still 143 runs behind. “The partnership with Dale stands out because of the way he went about his business, Duminy said. “He was getting hit quite a few times on the body and [there were] one or two dropped catches.” Johnson struck Steyn on the left hand, Ponting dropped him at second slip, Michael Hussey at mid-on, and Nathan Hauritz off his own bowling. Steyn went on to score a career-best 76.Duminy accelerated at all the right moments – when the Australian seamers were tired and when Steyn was able to hold his own. When he got to his hundred, Duminy leaped up and punched the air. Mark Nicholas, on commentary, exclaimed, “You beauty, you superstar”.Duminy was finally dismissed for 166 and South Africa on 459. The lead of 65 was worth far more because of the psychological blows they had dealt Australia.Ponting led the reply with 99, but when South Africa were set only 183 to win, Australia’s series defeat was inevitable. Duminy did not have to bat again but there was no doubt that he was the architect of South Africa’s series win. “We had a team huddle and a meeting on the field, and a few guys spoke. There were definitely emotions around and we made memories I will always hold close,” Duminy said.South Africa were the first team to beat Australia at home in 16 years. That it came down to a player who would not even have featured in the series seemed to make it more special. De Villiers pointed out that the bowlers’ contributions were vital as well. “JP’s innings in Melbourne was special, but also the way our bowlers came to the party.” Steyn took ten wickets and his all-round performance earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.The champagne flows after the series win•PA PhotosAustralia pulled back a victory in Sydney but the Test is better remembered for Graeme Smith batting with a broken hand. He was given a thunderous standing ovation – an affirmation that he is one of the great captains of the game.The bulk of that 2008-09 South African squad are now back in Australia for more, and they hope to achieve the double – winning in England and Australia in the same year – again.This time, Steyn said, they are better prepared than before. “The last time, I wasn’t as prepared for how difficult the cricket was going to be or for the crowd’s abuse. This time I know what to expect.” But there is also the burden of expectations, which Duminy hopes they can shake off quickly. “Whatever happened four years ago is in the past. It’s about making new memories this time. The only difference is that we’ve come here now expecting to win, because we are the No. 1 Test team.”08:41:13 GMT, 6 November 2012: Corrected from “world-record chase”

The India coach is in a territory he’s often stayed out of since he took charge. He’s in the limelight, and his familiarity with South Africa has a lot to do with it

Sidharth Monga in Centurion13-Dec-2010Gary Kirsten’s shoulder has played a major role in India’s rise as a team during the almost three years that he has spent with them. He is supremely fit for a man his age, for someone who last played international cricket six-and-a-half years ago, fitter probably than some of his wards. No one has kept a count on the number of balls he throws down to the Indian batsmen in the nets, but here is an estimation guide: in every nets session he gives each batsman about 40 throwdowns. And there is at least one nets session before every international match to go with the training camps and pre-tour preparations where he goes absolutely berserk working at the batsmen’s techniques. Just count the number of games India play, and the number of batsmen they have, and do the math.And these are not half-hearted throwdowns from the middle of the pitch. These come at full pace, from across the whole 22 yards. And he is no bowling machine. He adjusts according to batsmen’s weaknesses, the conditions and the opposition bowlers’ strengths. He scuffs up the balls to swing them at times, and sometimes he uses soft balls and serves them with a tennis racquet to either get prodigious swing or the disconcerting bounce. After almost every shot he gives the batsmen feedback on their position, their bat swing, their feet movement. He puts an arm around Gautam Gambhir’s shoulder and talks, he keeps joking with Virender Sehwag, and he has long earnest discussions with Sachin Tendulkar, who incidentally is the biggest fan of Kirsten’s throwdowns and always keeps asking for more.When somebody plays a good shot, he shouts “shot” followed by the batsman’s full name; when somebody doesn’t he comes up close and tries to understand why he might not be playing good shots.On one of the most important tours his team is on, one that he says could be the “defining moment”, he has been pulled out of his comfort zone. His comfort zone has been to stay away from the limelight, to let his team express itself, and in the process give him expression. His comfort zone has been to try and put the team in a happy place, to allow it to make optimum use of the talent he knows it has. Suddenly, though, with his being a South African, everybody is talking of the effect Kirsten’s knowledge of the local conditions and the psyche of the South African players might have on the outcome of the series.There was also a small matter of having convinced the BCCI to do something unprecedented, to make them pull out many of the star players from a home ODI series, a big commercial draw, and send them to South Africa early so they could get acclimatised with the conditions, so they could get into a happy place. Down here in South Africa he has had the team train at his academy for about a week. For a change Kirsten is drawing all the attention.Out of his comfort zone, Kirsten has shortened the lengths of his throwdowns, and is also running in a bit so that the balls are coming quicker at the batsmen. And he is getting them to bounce head high on the practice pitches at the Supersport Park in Centurion, where two days of drizzle and cold weather finally gave way to a sunny Monday afternoon and a three-hour-long workout for the team. There is a lot of precision involved: the difference between the lengths of deliveries that Suresh Raina should sway away from and the ones he should duck under is less than a foot. And Kirsten keeps hitting those lengths. Raina sways out of the line of most, staying outside their line, and ducks under a few. Suddenly a full one arrives without warning, and Raina’s weight is not back and he drives handsomely. “Shot Suresh Raina.”When Tendulkar gets to face Kirsten, he requests for more even when his time is over and he is supposed to switch to the other net. Kirsten will be happy he has been shouting out full names often today. Especially Sehwag’s. He has an eye over at the adjoining nets too where Tendulkar – bowling with pads and the full batting gear save the helmet on – has caused a racket by bowling Gambhir around his legs. He joins in the laugh for a few seconds, and then gets back to his throwdowns.Kirsten is happy that the team is happy, looking prepared for their biggest challenge since their ascent to No. 1 started. And the team is happy with him. “Apart from having good players in the side, he was the one thing – you can say the best thing that happened to Indian cricket,” MS Dhoni says. He also adds that having Kirsten is a huge advantage coming to South Africa. “It is not only about the conditions, he also knows about the mindset of the players that are part of their side. Of course it is a good asset.”Over the next two days, Kirsten will do his utmost to prepare the team in the best possible way, for the conditions he knows and the opposition whose mindset he knows. But come 10 am on Thursday, when Dhoni walks out for the toss, he will disappear into the background again. His comfort zone.

Apart from his cricketing career and the death threats he received in Zimbabwe – culminating in his eventual exile – Henry Olonga’s other claim to fame is his music

Will Luke19-Nov-2006

Buy this CD for £10Apart from his cricketing career and the death threats he received in Zimbabwe – culminating in his eventual exile – Henry Olonga’s other claim to fame is his music. A talented tenor, he was spotted by the London-based Australian composer and conductor, Barrington Pheloung after appearing on the BBC. However, his first album, , is a move away from his tenor-cum-gospel upbringing. It’s Boyzone meets Westlife, Henry Olonga style.Aurelia is the latin for chrysalis, or the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly, several of which can be seen in the sleeve notes. However the cover also has a mystical, ghostly green depiction of Aurelia Borealis: the magnificent Northern Lights. Is it an insect in change or an electrical discharge? Either way, both could describe Olonga’s turbulent life.The music is accessible, modern and shiny and is a good example of what he is capable of as a singer. Also, the influence of Robbie Bronnimann as his producer is unmistakable. Bronnimann has mixed and produced for the Sugababes, Howard Jones and other acts and is as much his work as Olonga’s.Indeed it’s difficult to tell how much influence Olonga had on the 10 tracks, each of which are named with a wistful longing to a better, safer and happier time. “You Deserve,” “Rise Again” and “Make It All Count” could describe his career as a cricketer quite aptly.It’s equally difficult to know its intended market. Teenage girls might enjoy the syrupy lyrics and gentle nature of the album, but fans of Olonga’s voice might be better off waiting for his second album which, he promises, will bridge popular music with classical. He is nothing if not a charismatic, determined character and, after all his trials, this is an impressive first album. But unlike the chrysalises littered in the sleeve notes, he hasn’t quite broken free – yet.

Big Picture: A sellout at Newlands

Ask any South African and they will tell you they never expected this – their team in the Women’s T20 title decider, the first senior cricket side from their country to reach a World Cup final. Ask any Australian and they will tell you they expected this – their team one match away from a third straight T20I World Cup crown and sixth in all.After South Africa’s three-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tournament and six-wicket loss to Australia in Gqeberha, they had to defeat Bangladesh in their final group match to reach the semi-finals, which is where this World Cup truly lit up. Australia edged past a courageous India by just five runs to advance before the hosts’ stirring six-run victory over England who, like Australia, had reached the knockout phase unbeaten.

Followers in the US can watch the Women’s T20 World Cup final LIVE on ESPN+

So have South Africa played their final already? Or can they be expected to lift another level before an expected sell-out crowd – a first for a women’s sporting event in South Africa – of nearly 13,000 at Newlands? It is hard to see any dents in Australia’s armour – even in getting a scare from India they did what they so often do and found a way, thanks to a superior fielding performance, their rock-solid top four and calm death bowling from Ashleigh Gardner and Jess Jonassen.The home side, however, are riding a huge wave of emotion and confidence. Their bowling attack is supreme, as shown in their win over England and they were sharp in the field during the semi-final also – especially Tazmin Brits – showing that they can handle the pressure.

Form guide

South Africa WWLWL (all completed matches, most recent first)
Australia WWWWWSune Luus and Meg Lanning pose with the Women’s T20 World Cup trophy•ICC via Getty Images

In the spotlight: Australia’s batting vs South Africa’s bowling

Australia’s batting line-up has been nigh on indomitable over recent years so the likes of Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning, Garnder and Ellyse Perry against Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Marizanne Kapp and Nonkululeko Mlaba looms as the key match-up of this final. Australia have three of the top 10 run-scorers at this tournament so far and South Africa two while each have two bowlers inside the leading 10 wicket-takers. South Africa’s batting really only began to gel in the last two games, with Brits and Laura Wolvaardt putting on opening stands of 117 and 96 so that’s an area they’ll need to fire against Australia, who have proven wicket-takers across the board.Don’t forget the home crowd. An additional 3,000 tickets were made available for the upper tiers at Newlands on Saturday morning and they had all been snapped up by mid-afternoon. Australia know what it’s like to play with a packed house behind them and now that the South African side can expect the same, there’s no telling what that could do.

Team news: Jonassen over King for Australia?

While it was pace duo Ismail and Khaka who did the damage in the semi-final, they have a top-class spinner in Mlaba in their midst too. South Africa played their best XI against England and are unlikely to change that winning formula for the final.South Africa (possible): 1 Tazmin Brits, 2 Laura Wolvaardt, 3 Marizanne Kapp, 4 Suné Luus (capt), 5 Chloe Tryon, 6 Anneke Bosch, 7 Nadine de Klerk, 8 Sinalo Jafta (wk), 9 Shabnim Ismail, 10 Ayabonga Khaka, 11 Nonkululeko MlabaAustralia have all players available for selection heading into the final. They replaced legspinner Alana King with left-arm spinner Jonassen for the semi-final against India and Jonassen’s bowling at the death was a key factor in Australia’s five-run victory so it would be no surprise to see her retain her place.Australia (possible): 1 Alyssa Healy (wk), 2 Beth Mooney, 3 Meg Lanning (capt), 4 Ashleigh Gardner, 5 Ellyse Perry, 6 Tahlia McGrath, 7 Grace Harris, 8 Georgia Wareham, 9 Jess Jonassen, 10 Megan Schutt, 11 Darcie BrownBig demand for tickets for the Women’s T20 World Cup final•ICC/Getty Images

Pitch and conditions

The match will be played on the same Newlands pitch that staged both semi-finals where pace played a part, particularly early in England’s chase as Ismail unleashed her thunderbolts. But by the following day it was looking fairly brown with some cracks appearing under a baking sun and with a drying wind about. Another sunny day is forecast with temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius expected. Almost bang in the centre of the ground, the on- and off-side boundaries are pretty much equidistant.

Stats and trivia

• Australia have won all six of the T20Is between these sides and 14 of 15 ODIs. The only time South Africa avoided defeat was in a tied game in 2016.
• Brits and Wolvaardt have shared 299 partnership runs between them so far. Only Healy and Mooney (352 runs in 2020) have added more runs together in an edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
• Healy has five fifties in her last 10 innings at the Women’s T20 World Cup, where she has scored 407 runs at an average of 45.22 and a strike rate of 138.43.

Quotes

“We know we’re probably not going to be the team that everyone’s cheering for but that’s fine, you know it’s going to be an incredible atmosphere and an incredible game at an amazing venue – so we’re pumped, we can’t wait to get out here and play and no doubt it’s going to be a great contest.”
“That is just it, my friend. It’s history, understand? Tomorrow, it’s a one-off game. You can’t be worrying about Australia and what they’re doing.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Jhegson Méndez foi convocado pela seleção do Equador para a disputa de amistosos que acontecem entre os dias 24 e 28 de março. Assim, deverá retornar ao São Paulo em abril, pouco antes da estreia da equipe na Copa Sul-Americana.

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Com a convocação, Méndez perderá o período de intertemporada que o Tricolor passará neste mês, após a complicada eliminação nas quartas de finais do Campeonato Paulista, pelo Água Santa. O equatoriano perdeu um pênalti decisivo nesta partida.

Queda para o Água Santa no Paulistão é 14º vexame do São Paulo em mata-mata nos últimos dez anos

Veja tabela do Campeonato Paulista e simule os próximos jogos

Porém, seu companheiro Arboleda não foi convocado desta vez. Os dois foram colegas de seleção na Copa do Mundo, no Catar. Embora o zagueiro não tenha entrado em campo nenhuma vez, Méndez foi titular em todos os jogos que disputou, perdendo somente a última rodada da fase de grupos, quando estava cumprindo suspensão.

A estreia da equipe na Copa Sul-Americana está prevista para acontecer no dia 5 de abril. Desta forma, caso nenhuma ocorrência fora do esperado aconteça – como uma lesão -, Méndez já deve estar disponível para o confronto. Os amistosos que irá disputar acontecerão emSidney e Melbourne.

Com a crise que o clube enfrenta, alguns planos para este período de intertemporada foram alterados.O principal é o cancelamento da ideia que se tinha de realizar um período de treino e concentração do elenco no CT de Cotia, usado pelas categorias de base do Tricolor.

O clube não avançou nas tratativas para a realização de amistosos durante esse período sem partidas a serem realizadas. Coritiba e Santos teriam sido convidados.

Com isso, é provável que o São Paulo faça jogos-treinos contra suas equipes de base, principalmente o sub-20, treinador por Belletti, no centro de treinamento na Grande São Paulo. Mas Méndez já será um desfalque certo para esta etapa.

His tenure is now scheduled to end in mid-2027, by when Ireland’s qualification status for the ODI World Cup will be known

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2024

Heinrich Malan has agreed to a two-year contract extension as head coach of the Ireland men’s team. Malan, who had secured a three-year contract upon being appointed in January 2022, will now continue to hold onto the role until mid-2027.The decision comes with the aim of Malan helping Ireland qualify for the 2027 ODI World Cup, slated for October and November. The 14-team event will comprise hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, the top-eight ranked teams excluding the hosts, and four teams from the World Cup Qualifier in 2026, which means that Ireland’s qualification status will be known by the end of Malan’s tenure.Ireland were unable to qualify for the previous two ODI World Cups, which were ten-team events, but featured in both T20 World Cups and defeated eventual champions England in the group stage of the last edition. They claimed their first-ever Test victory by beating Afghanistan in February and now head over to the Caribbean for the 2024 T20 World Cup, which starts on June 1.Related

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Malan spoke about his role and the team’s ambitions ahead of Ireland’s departure. “I am delighted with the extension as it provides the squad and coaching staff a great deal more certainty as we build upon the foundations we have put in place over the last two years.”We are now a three-format squad and – despite our smaller talent pool to draw from compared to other Full Members – we have been gradually building a sustainable structure that ensures we can continue to compete and improve on all three fronts.”This work has borne fruit in two successful T20 World Cup qualifying campaigns and in our recent Test success. But we are all conscious that we’ve missed out on playing in the last two 50-over world cups, and qualification for the 2027 tournament will be one of the focus areas across the next three years.”Malan’s extension comes after Ireland’s players secured revised central contracts, including pay raises, after negotiation. Extending his contract was a “very straightforward decision,” according to Richard Holdsworth, High Performance Director of Cricket Ireland.”Over the last 18 months or so, the team has improved significantly in the T20 format which was our weakest format,” Holdsworth said. “His research into what world-class looks like, and the data he has gathered around the T20 format globally, has led to the production of a blueprint for the Ireland Men’s team.”Malan will join forces with captain Paul Stirling – who took over from Andy Balbirnie, after Ireland failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup – and the duo’s first ICC event comes on the back of the team beating Pakistan for the first time in T20Is and winning a tri-series against Netherlands and Scotland.”With new leadership in white-ball cricket, the relationship between Heinrich and the two captains has been key,” Holdsworth said. “This goes from strength-to-strength, and we now have a key focus on strategic planning towards the 2027 Cricket World Cup in mind. I look forward to seeing what the next three years brings.”Ireland will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against India on June 5 in New York and are part of Group A, along with Canada, USA, India and Pakistan.Malan has had extensive coaching stints in New Zealand before being appointed as Ireland’s head coach two years ago. He is a former middle-order batter and medium-fast bowler, who played first-class cricket in South Africa from 2005 to 2009.

Ruben Dias’ girlfriend Maya Jama has hatched a plan that would allow her to turn social media “lurkers” into cold, hard cash.

TV presenter is dating Portugal internationalCouple have more eyes on them than everJama joked about launching YouTube channelFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images EntertainmentWHAT HAPPENED?

Jama continues to see her profile soar across several platforms. She is, for now at least, the host of Love Island UK while boasting commercial contracts with a number of leading brands.

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A partnership with Switzerland international Alisha Lehmann brought her into the world of football management at Baller League UK in 2025, with her budding relationship with Dias going public during that event.

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Jama was first linked to Manchester City defender Dias at the turn of the calendar year, and they have since spent plenty of time together holidaying around their day jobs. Both are seeing their celebrity status enjoy a welcome boost as a result.

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It could be that they branch out into the world of video production at some point in the not too distant future, with Jama joking about how she is ready to embrace a different form of social media after seeing her Instagram post viewing figures spike.