Joe Root described Alastair Cook as a model pro without banter and regretteds the fact the third longest innings in Test history might have been ended by a no ball

Andrew McGlashan16-Oct-2015Such were the exertions that Alastair Cook had put himself through in nearly 14 hours at the crease in temperatures easily in the high 30s – and the convention that the England captain usually only speaks after a Test match is finished, except for the occasional TV grab – that for the second day running it was left to a team-mate to marvel at the captain’s qualities.This time it was Joe Root, seemingly leader-elect and a player who will go onto challenge whatever stack of records Cook leaves behind, after he made 85 in dominating a fourth-wicket stand of 141, who was the spokesman.”As you can imagine being out there for two days it’s taken a lot out of him, but I’m sure it’s a good pain and one at the start of the week he’d have loved to have had,” he said. “I’m sure he’ll rest up tonight and be as fresh as a daisy tomorrow.”It was a hell of an effort, two days in that heat showed huge amounts of skill, concentration and fitness. We spoke a lot as a side about batting long periods of time out here and how important it will be if we are to give ourselves a chance of winning. Our captain has led from the front and set the example for the rest of the series.”Such have been the conditions in the UAE that even Cook – who is well known for not sweating – has had to change his gloves more than ever. There is, as yet, no count on the exact number of pairs or volume of shirts that the third longest Test innings required. Root did, though, say that while Cook may have changed gloves he did not change persona at any stage whether in the middle or the dressing room.Joe Root shows his frustration at a century that eluded him•Getty Images

“He was just the same as always, pretty down to earth chats about rubbish. It’s a bit like batting in the middle, he doesn’t give you any banter or doesn’t look like he’s overly concentrating. He’s just a model professional, he knows what he needs to do and he can switch off when he needs to. I think that’s one reason he can bat long periods of time.”Cook’s innings, which made him the leading non-Asian batsman in Asia ahead of Jacques Kallis, eventually ended with a top-edged sweep to short fine leg – a shot that had been a key part of his stay – but replays showed that Shoaib Malik’s delivery was a no-ball. Although Malik’s foot did drag back, it is the first point of planting that matters and he had nothing behind the line. It was one of the increasingly rare dismissals where the front line was not checked, so there was no recourse.Root, though, acknowledged how the energy-sapping conditions that the players have gone through are the same for the umpires, two men who have to stand in the middle throughout.”It’s disappointing,” he said of Cook’s dismissal. “It’s tough, the umpires are in a position where they can never win. If they make a good decision they are expected to do it, if they make a bad one everyone wants their heads. I have a little of sympathy for the umpires out there in that heat as well, they have to concentration for just as long as we have but you want to see those decision go the right way. Unfortunately everyone makes mistakes.”

Dale Steyn could spend the rest of the Mohali Test as a spectator after picking up a groin strain in the field on the second day

Firdose Moonda in Mohali06-Nov-2015Dale Steyn could spend the rest of the Mohali Test as a spectator after picking up a groin strain in the field on the second day. Steyn did not bowl at all in India’s second innings as a “precaution,” according to the CSA Twitter feed at the time, but the post-day analysis appears more serious.”I think he’s struggling. I think he has got a groin strain and I can’t see him bowling tomorrow,” Claude Henderson, South Africa’s spin consultant, said.The news will come as a blow to South Africa, who are looking to limit India’s lead, which has already reached 142 by the end of the second day, and may have looked to Steyn to generate reverse swing. They will not lack for an option in out and out pace though, with Kagiso Rabada bowling at around 145 kph plus.Steyn’s absence will leave Vernon Philander to lead the attack, with Morne Morkel missing the match through injury and will force South Africa to rely more heavily on spin. Henderson hopes legspinner Imran Tahir, who has taken three wickets so far but has been used sparingly by Hashim Amla, will have the opportunity to make more of an impact.”Imran Tahir has just come back into Test cricket. He is seen as an attacking bowler by Hashim, so maybe that’s why he is using him in short spells, and Dean Elgar took four wickets in the first innings. But I agree, I would have loved to see him bowl longer today. Maybe that will happen tomorrow,” Henderson said. “The good sign is I’ve seen Imran bowl a few balls in the last session that turned and bounced.”That sign may not be so good for South Africa’s chase, which is already looking tough, and which Henderson said could get tougher as soon as India’s lead pops over the 200-run mark. “We need wickets early to try to create some pressure. Anything above 200 will be challenging,” he said. “But I’ve seen this team do some special things. With our batting line-up I wouldn’t be at ease if I was India because there’s a lot of time left in this game. But you don’t want to go past 300.”

A round-up of the Regional 4 Day Tournament matches that ended on November 9, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2015Four wickets each from offspinner Steven Jacobs and left-arm pacer Raymon Reifer helped Guyana bowl out Windward Islands for 125 in their chase of 230, for a 104-run win at the Providence Stadium. After Guyana were all out for 95 on the third day, Windwards had the entire last day to bat but lasted 46.1 overs as the hosts took 18 points compared to Windwards’ three.Guyana built on their decision to bat by posting 362 with the help of opener Rajendra Chandrika’s maiden first-class hundred (146). Several other batsmen reached double-figures but could not build on starts as Shane Shillingford troubled the middle and lower order to finish with 6 for 107. Windwards’ batting was led at the top by Devon Smith’s 52 and 46 runs from opener Tyrone Thephile before Jacobs took four in the first innings to restrict the visitors to 228, for a lead of 134 runs.Guyana were then skittled for only 95 as Shillingford ran through their lower order again, with 5 for 36, and Windwards were set a target of 230. Only four of their batsmen reached double-figures because Jacobs claimed four more to finish with career-best match figures of 8 for 91. Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored 34 in each of the innings.Barbados‘ bowling attack combined with a first-innings century from Kraigg Brathwaite to lead them to a 10-wicket win after making Jamaica follow-on to claim 17 points in the first round of the Regional 4 Day Tournament. After posting 373 in the first innings, Barbados dismissed Jamaica for 189 and 187 to chase a target of only four runs.Put in to bat, Barbados were led by Brathwaite’s 14th first-class hundred (119), followed by a 77 from No. 3 Shai Hope and useful contributions from Sharmarh Brooks (49) and Roston Chase (48). The lower order didn’t contribute much and Nikita Miller’s 4 for 100 meant they were restricted to under 400.Jamaica’s top order also fared better than their lower order, but not better than Barbados’ top order. Opener John Campbell scored 49 and Kirk Edwards chipped in with a fifty (58) before four wickets from Kevin Stoute (4 for 21) and three from left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican bowled Jamaica out for 189, to make them bat again. The second time, Campbell top-scored with 35 and only five more batsmen scored in double-digits. Miguel Cummins and Ashley Nurse took three wickets each to dismiss Jamaica again and the Barbados openers took three overs to register the win.

Pakistan’s ODI captain Azhar Ali and allrounder Mohammad Hafeez chose to stay away from the ongoing conditioning camp in Lahore, reportedly due to Mohammad Amir’s inclusion among the probables for the camp

Umar Farooq24-Dec-2015Pakistan’s ODI captain Azhar Ali and veteran allrounder Mohammad Hafeez have chosen to stay away from the ongoing conditioning camp in Lahore, apparently due to Mohammad Amir’s inclusion among the probables for the camp. Azhar confirmed that he had stayed away because of Amir and Pakistan’s team media manager, Agha Akbar, said Hafeez’s absence was also apparently for the same reason.Amir, who is in the selection mix after serving a five-year ban for his role in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, was one of the 26 probables named for the pre-season conditioning camp in the build-up to the New Zealand tour. Both Hafeez and Azhar were playing domestic matches in Karachi and had missed the first three days of the camp which began on December 21. They were scheduled to join the camp on Thursday, but Agha Akbar confirmed that the pair did not train with the side.”Both are not joining the training camp today apparently because of Mohammad Amir,” Akbar told ESPNcricinfo.Azhar was more direct. “I will not attend the camp as long as Amir is there,” he said. “This is my decision and we are open to discuss with the PCB. I don’t want to comment on Hafeez’s decision, but we both have the same stance.'”In November, Hafeez had reportedly turned down an offer in the Bangladesh Premier League from the Chittagong Vikings franchise, who had enlisted Amir. Hafeez told ESPNcricinfo that he could not play “with any player who has tarnished and brought a bad name to the country”, but was open to accepting an offer from a different franchise. He stressed that this was his personal opinion.In November 2011, Amir – along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif – was sentenced in a London Court on charges conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat at gambling after a plot was uncovered in a sting operation to bowl deliberate no-balls in a Test against England in 2010. Amir was given a six-month jail sentence and served half of it at the Portland Young Offenders Institution in DorsetHe was also given a five-year ban by the ICC, and his suspension period formally ended on September 1 this year. Amir had been allowed to return to cricket ahead of schedule by the ICC in January and has since featured in Pakistan’s domestic T20 and first-class competitions. He was also a part of the BPL 2015-16, playing nine matches for the Chittagong Vikings franchise.

A round-up of the matches in the Under-19 World Cup on January 29

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jan-2016England Under-19 fast bowlers Sam Curran and Saqib Mahmood took two and four wickets respectively to help dismiss West Indies Under-19 for 221 and complete a 61-run victory in Chittagong. Curran began the defence of 282 in splendid fashion, dismissing Tevin Imlach and no. 3 Shimron Hetmyer for ducks in the first over of the West Indies chase. The other opener Gidron Pope made 60 out of the team’s first 84 runs at a run a ball before he was dismissed in the 18th over. The only other innings of substance came from the no. 7 Keemo Paul, who made 65 off 58 deliveries. Mahmood ran through the lower order and West Indies were all out in 43.4 overs.England had relied on a collective performance to post 282 for 7 after winning the toss, their second successive imposing total of the tournament. Opener Dan Lawrence was impressive again, making 55, while Callum Taylor top scored with 59. Jack Burnham made 44 and George Bartlett 48, and Curran also contributed 39 off 36 balls at no. 6 before wrecking the start of the chase.Fiji Under-19 suffered another massive defeat in their second match of the World Cup, losing by seven wickets to Zimbabwe Under-19 in Chittagong, two days after a 299-run thrashing against England. This time Fiji batted first and were shot out for 81 in 27.4 overs, with only three batsmen making double-figure scores and no one getting past 20. Offspinner Wesley Madhevere began his tournament with figures of 5 for 24, while legspinner Blessing Mavuta claimed 3 for 13 in Zimbabwe’s victory.Zimbabwe made short work of the chase, getting to 84 in 18.5 overs but lost three wickets in doing so. They were 27 for 2 at one stage. However, opener Brendan Sly made an unbeaten 29, while Jeremy Ives scored 23 off 26 balls, to seal victory. Medium-pacer Josaia Baleicikoibia took 2 for 19 for Fiji.The Namibia Under-19 bowlers dismissed Scotland Under-19 for 159 in Cox’s Bazar after which their top-order batsmen polished off the chase in 26 overs with nine wickets in hand. After winning the toss, Scotland lost their opener Jack Waller to Fritz Coetzee off the first legal ball of the game and never really recovered. They slumped from 59 for 2 to 97 for 8, before their last two wickets propped them up to 159 before they were all out in 36.3 overs. Owais Shah’s 39 at No.3 was Scotland’s top score, while Michael van Lingen took 3 for Namibia.Unlike Scotland, Namibia had a strong start to their chase, with their openers adding 95 in 15.3 overs. Niko Davin fell for 52 off 37 balls, while SJ Loftie-Eaton was unbeaten on 67 when the winning runs were hit with 144 balls to spare. He had added 67 for the second wicket with his captain Zane Green, who was unbeaten on 39 off 42 balls.

Mohammad Nabi is set to leave the Pakistan Super League and link-up with the Afghanistan squad ahead of their Asia Cup T20 qualifier clash against UAE

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2016Mohammad Nabi is set to leave the Pakistan Super League and link-up with the Afghanistan squad ahead of their Asia Cup T20 qualifier clash against United Arab Emirates in Fatullah on Friday.Nabi, who made an unbeaten 12-ball 30, including a last-ball four to help Quetta Gladiators clinch a thriller against Lahore Qalandars in Dubai on Tuesday night, played eight matches for the franchise. The former Afghanistan captain and allrounder will be replaced by Nathan McCullum, the New Zealand offspinning allrounder, for the remainder of the tournament that concludes on February 24.McCullum, who announced his plans to retire from international cricket at the end of the 2015-16 seasom, last played for New Zealand during the tour of Sri Lanka in August 2015. He has been a regular member for Otago, who finished runners-up in the domestic T20 competition, with McCullum finishing the tournament as the second-highest wicket-taker for his side.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has hinted that the decision to play Pakistan’s World T20 matches at Indian venues will only be taken after consulting with the central government

Umar Farooq09-Feb-20161:29

Bazid Khan on Pakistan playing in India

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has hinted that the decision to play Pakistan’s World T20 matches at Indian venues will only be taken after consulting with the central government and ESPNcricinfo understands that the PCB has written to the government in this matter. He said that if the central government in Islamabad refuses to allow the team to travel to India for the tournament which starts on March 8, then the board will ask the ICC to shift Pakistan’s matches to a neutral venue.”We have told the ICC the decision is with the government and it’s not just us who have to decide,” Khan told reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. “We need to understand that there are specific Pakistan-oriented security threats and we are concerned, hence [we have] involved the government. These are not general threats, like Australia had in Bangladesh and they did not send their team for the Under-19 World Cup.”We didn’t say or propose playing the World T20 matches at neutral venue but someone at the ICC meeting said that if there are concerns over any extremist activity [at Pakistan matches] then neutral venues will be looked into. Since it’s an ICC event and not a bilateral series we have to play it but if the decision [by the government] is negative then maybe the ICC could say that our matches be held in neutral venues in Sri Lanka or United Arab Emirates, and we will be ready for that.”In October 2015, talks between the India and Pakistan boards for a proposed series in December were put on hold after protests from the Shiv Sena, a regional political party. Fifty party workers stormed the BCCI office in Mumbai, shouting anti-Pakistan slogans and demanding that the BCCI cancel the series. Following the protests, the ICC withdrew umpire Aleem Dar from the last two ODIs of the South Africa series [the fifth match was held in Mumbai] and former Pakistan cricketers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, who were in India on commentary duty, also returned home early.In the World T20, none of Pakistan’s league games will be played in the state of Maharashtra. Should Pakistan qualify for the semi-final, they will play that match in New Delhi, regardless of whether they place first or second in their group; the other qualifier from their group will play the semi-final allotted to Mumbai. The semi-final venue could change if Delhi is unable to host World T20 games.Currently, more than 400 Pakistani athletes across disciplines are in India for the South Asian Games in Guwahati, Assam. Khan, however, said, cricket could attract more threats. “There are more chances of attacks on cricketers than on swimmers and players of other games,” he said.

Aaron Finch, who until January this year, was Australia’s T20I captain, has said that he isn’t sure of his place in the side when Australia take on New Zealand in their opening match of the World T20 on Friday

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-20160:43

‘I’m just getting prepared to play as everyone is’ – Finch

Aaron Finch, who had been Australia’s T20 captain until January, has said that he isn’t sure of making the XI when Australia take on New Zealand in their opening match of the World T20 in Dharamsala on Friday.”I’ve got no idea, to be honest,” Finch said. “I’m just getting prepared to play as everyone is. I’m sure the selectors will make a call once they see the wicket.”Finch is vying for the second opener’s slot in the team, considering Shane Watson’s good form and all-round skills makes him a certainty as first opener. Watson struck a blistering century in the third T20I against India earlier this year and also enjoyed a decent run in the Pakistan Super League. More recently, he scored 60 in a World T20 warm-up tie against West Indies.Finch, who is the No. 1-ranked T20I batsman, faces stiff competition from Khawaja, who was the second-highest run-scorer in the 2015-16 Big Bash League. Khawaja has also done well in Indian conditions – he scored 267 runs at 66.75 in four List A matches for Australia A last year in a triangular series, also involving South Africa A.Finch, while not as consistent, has notched up a few good scores of his own, including an 18-ball 40 against South Africa in Durban. “I feel really good with my game at the moment,” he said. “I feel as though I’m hitting the ball really well, so if I get the first crack at it, I’m ready to go.”We get up there (Dharamshala) on Tuesday, train on Wednesday and Thursday, so we’ll probably have a really good chance to have a look at the wicket then and the guys (selectors) can make a decision then.”If the selectors do opt for Khawaja, it would give Australia a left-right opening combination. “It’s probably less important in the first six overs, the left hand-right hand combination,” Finch said. “From my point of view, it’s about trying to get us off to a quick start. I’m sure Shane (Watson) is thinking the same and Uzzie (Khawaja) is probably in the same boat.”If Khawaja gets his opportunity, it’s about getting us off to a flyer while the ball is new and hard and then you can afford to probably have a bit more of a look through that middle period when spin comes on and they take the pace right off the ball.”Josh Hazlewood felt similar pressure over his place in the XI despite a hat-trick against West Indies.Australia have four specialist seamers in their squad – Hazlewood, John Hastings, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Andrew Tye – and seam-bowling allrounders in James Faulkner, Mitchell Marsh and Watson. With an eye on the conditions, Hazlewood suggested that the think-tank may be happy with just one frontline fast bowler.”It could be as simple as that. Depending on the wicket, it could really be one quick and a bunch of allrounders who do play this format a lot of the time,” Hazlewood said. Australia may also want to accommodate Ashton Agar or Adam Zampa to take advantage of slow, spin-friendly pitches.A player forcing his way into the XI after missing out initially is an unlikely scenario according to Hazlewood, given the shorter duration of the World T20.”The one-day World Cup, it went a little bit longer – six weeks,” he said. “If you get that first opportunity and take it in this one, we’ve got four games in pretty quick time. So I don’t think there will be as much chopping and changing, but in saying that it depends on the conditions at each ground.”

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the BCCI’s constitution was incapable of achieving the values of transparency, objectivity and accountability, and these could be attained only by changing it

PTI03-May-2016The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the BCCI’s constitution was incapable of achieving the values of transparency, objectivity and accountability, and these could only be attained by changing it.”The inherent constitution of the BCCI is such that it is highly incapable of achieving the values of transparency, objectivity and accountability [such] that without changing its structure it can’t be done so,” a two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice Ibrahim Kalifulla said, while hearing a matter related to the implementation of reforms suggested by the three-member panel led by Justice RM Lodha.The court’s remarks were made after the views presented by senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, who was appointed amicus curiae to assist the court on how the recommendations of the Lodha committee, which favoured large-scale structural reforms to the BCCI, could be implemented.Subramanium said that if the constitution of the BCCI does not allow the values to be achieved then it could be said to be illegal as the cricket board is discharging a public function.”You discharge a public function but you want to enjoy private status,” Subramanium said. “If you have a public persona then you have to shed the private persona. This cannot be done. It [the BCCI] selects the national team for the country, it cannot be a private society. It is a public entity.”Justifying the reforms suggested by the Lodha panel, Subramanium said the board would not have had the need for these recommendations if it had adhered to the constitutional values. Subramanium added that the BCCI is the beneficiary of the recommendations as implementing them will help ensure credibility of the institution.”[The] Recommendations are in the right directions and the steps are in the right direction to ensure that constitutional values are adhered to ensure institutional integrity,” he saidThe court also asked Subramanium’s views on the ‘one state, one vote’ recommendation that has drawn opposition from the BCCI’s affiliated state associations. The court asked the amicus curiae what he made of the suggested reform that allows states which were earlier deprived of voting rights to exercise them, while removing the individual voting rights of members in states like Maharashtra and Gujarat, which have more than one association. Subramanium said the only ground which connected the two aspects was parity and every state should have been given an equal opportunity.Subramanium also suggested that franchise members should be included in the IPL governing council to bring in more transparency. The bench then asked for the BCCI’s response on legalising betting after Subramanium supported the recommendation.Senior advocate KK Venugopal, who represented the BCCI, said a law has to be passed to legalise betting and such a measure was not feasible as every state has its own laws relating to betting and gambling.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore continued a remarkable run of scores at New Road as Worcestershire escaped from a dire position on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two fixture at New Road

ECB Reporters Network29-May-2016
ScorecardTom Kohler-Cadmore lifted Worcestershire out of a dire position•Getty Images

Tom Kohler-Cadmore continued a remarkable run of scores at New Road as Worcestershire escaped from a dire position on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two fixture at New Road.In leading a beleaguered side from 34 for 5 to 341 for 8, the 21-year-old batsman made 153 not out, his fourth century in his last five innings on his home ground for an aggregate of 580 with only two dismissals.The sequence began last September with 130 not out against Middlesex and this season he has followed up with 119 not out against Essex and 127 from 54 balls in a NatWest T20 Blast match against Durham. In his only other knock, he scored 51 against Sussex.Until Kohler-Cadmore went to work, in particular peppering the midwicket boundary for many of his 23 fours from 262 balls, Gloucestershire were celebrating their decision to bowl first on a dry, greenish pitch.David Payne was the spearhead, exploiting swing and seam movement with 3 for 11 in seven overs. There were also wickets for Liam Norwell, on his return after a month’s lay-off, and Josh Shaw before Ben Cox, with 75 from 108 balls, turned things round in a partnership of 155 with Kohler-Cadmore.This equalled the county’s sixth-wicket record against Gloucestershire which Cox himself had set when batting with Joe Clarke at Bristol in April.Apart from a difficult caught-and-bowled chance to Norwell on 52, wicketkeeper Cox looked at ease in making the highest of his seven fifties since he scored 109 against Somerset in May last year.When he was dislodged by Craig Miles, giving Chris Dent his third catch in the innings at second slip, Worcestershire briefly faltered as Joe Leach also fell to Miles, slicing to point with the total on 205 for 7.However, Kohler-Cadmore powered on to a new career-best mark with an edged boundary off Jack Taylor, and in Ed Barnard he found another strong partner in putting on 92 in 27 overs. The former England Under-19 allrounder played well for 50 from 80 balls, a maiden first-class half-century, before he was lbw to Norwell.Jack Shantry, unbeaten with 26, then added to Gloucestershire’s frustration on a day that had begun so well. Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell was lbw to Payne from the third ball of the match and Clarke edged Norwell to Dent in the second over.Alexei Kervezee was also snapped up by Dent – a second success for Payne – and in his next over the left-arm seamer had Brett D’Oliveira leg-before. When Shaw bowled Ross Whiteley with his fourth ball, half the side had gone inside 12 overs in the first hour.