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The T10 tournament will feature six men’s teams and three women’s teams competing for their respective Universe Boss trophies

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jul-2022Chris Gayle has signed up for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots for the inaugural 6IXTY, a T10 tournament that will run from August 24 to 28 in St Kitts, ahead of the Caribbean Premier League. West Indies openers Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher as well as South African Dewald Brevis will be turning up for Patriots.The 6IXTY is a joint venture between Cricket West Indies and the CPL and will feature six men’s teams and three women’s teams competing for their respective Universe Boss trophies, named in honour of Gayle who is also the ambassador for the tournament.

Notable differences in 6IXTY

• Each batting team has six wickets, rather than ten

• Batting teams can “unlock” a floating third powerplay over by hitting two sixes in the initial two-over powerplay

• Teams will bowl five consecutive overs from each end, rather than switching ends after each over

• If teams fail to bowl their ten overs within 45 minutes, a fielder will be removed for the final six balls

• Fans will be able to vote for a “mystery free hit” via an app or website

Gayle had earlier said that he was “genuinely excited” about the current innovations in this tournament after opting out of CPL 2022. “In particular, I am looking forward to the mystery team ball and hitting two sixes in the first 12 balls to unlock a third powerplay over,” he had said.The tournament will also witness overseas players such as Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane and Australia allrounder Chris Green – all representing Jamaica Tallawahs.New Zealand wickekeeper-batter Tim Seifert and Sri Lanka’s Seekkuge Prasanna will appear for Trinbago Knight Riders.South Africa’s Colin Ingram and Heinrich Klaasen, and Ireland’s Paul Stirling will strengthen the batting of Guyana Amazon Warriors, whereas New Zealand fast bowler Scott Kuggeleijn will add to Saint Lucia Kings’ bowling muscle.Barbados Royals, meanwhile, have picked Pakistan’s Azam Khan, Ireland’s Harry Tector and young South African allrounder Corbin Bosch.Women’s squads are yet to be announced.

Men’s squads

Barbados Royals: Jason Holder, Obed McCoy, Kyle Mayers, Azam Khan (wk), Hayden Walsh Jr, Oshane Thomas, Rahkeem Cornwall, Harry Tector, Devon Thomas (wk), Joshua Bishop, Justin Greaves, Corbin Bosch, Nyeem Young, Teddy Bishop, Ramon SimmondsJamaica Tallawahs: Rovman Powell, Sandeep Lamichhane, Fabian Allen, Imad Wasim, Brandon King, Kennar Lewis, Mohammad Amir, Shamarh Brooks, Migael Pretorius, Chris Green, Raymon Reifer, Jamie Merchant, Amir Jangoo (wk), Shamar Springer, Nicholson Gordon, Kirk Mckenzie, Joshua JamesGuyana Amazon Warriors: Shimron Hetmyer, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Colin Ingram, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shai Hope, Paul Stirling, Heinrich Klaasen, Keemo Paul, Jermaine Blackwood, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, John Campbell, Shermon Lewis, Ronsford Beaton, Matthew Nandu (wk), Junior SinclairSt Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, Qasim Akram, Sherfane Rutherford, Dwaine Pretorius, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Dewald Brevis, Izharulhaq Naveed, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Jon-Riss Jaggesar, Keacy Carty, Kelvin Pittman, Jaden CarmichaelSt Lucia Kings: Roston Chase, Johnson Charles (wk), Kesrick Williams, McKenney Clarke, Alzarri Joseph, Scott Kuggeleijn, Mark Deyal, Jeavor Royal, Matthew Forde, Leroy Lugg, Preston McSween, Larry Edwards, Ackeem Auguste, Rivaldo Clarke, Roshon Primus, Ravendra Persaud, Jesse BootanTrinbago Knight Riders: Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul, Tim Seifert (wk), Seekkuge Prasanna, Jayden Seales, Tion Webster, Khary Pierre, Anderson Phillip, Terrence Hinds, Leonardo Julien, Shaaron Lewis

The 68-year old is said to be experiencing mild symptoms

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Mar-2021Pakistan Prime Minister and former cricket captain Imran Khan has tested positive for Covid-19. The news was confirmed by Dr Faisal Sultan, an infectious diseases expert and special advisor to the PM on health. Khan, 68, is understood to be experiencing mild symptoms, with Sultan confirming he would be self-isolating at home.Khan was given his first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine two days earlier, and his advisors were keen to point out, immunity takes time to kick in after a shot and the vaccine itself does not infect people with the virus. A number of doctors and government officials hastened to add this wasn’t a reason for people not to get vaccinated, a crucial message in a country where vaccine take-up has been low.Khan became prime minister in August 2018 after his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (Movement for Justice) won the largest number of seats. Since the start of the pandemic, he has resisted the imposition of a complete lockdown, with the government implementing what they have called “smart lockdowns”, targeting specific regions that have seen outbreaks spike. Over the past few days, Khan has been making public appearances, inaugurating projects and meeting people, with the government urging anyone who has been in close contact with him to get themselves tested.Pakistan has been spared the worst effects of the virus over the duration of the pandemic. There have been, to date, around 625,000 cases and under 14,000 deaths since the first case was recorded in February 2020.But that has changed recently, with a clear rise in cases and hospital admissions over the past month indicating a third wave of the pandemic. Just last week, the government announced all restaurants in Punjab, the largest province, would be closed temporarily. With social distancing measures and mask-wearing relatively low, there have been warnings Pakistan might have to close all non-essential businesses and implement a complete lockdown to get the virus under control.

The head coach defends tactics after team gets bowled out for 106

Mohammad Isam at Eden Gardens22-Nov-2019Bangladesh’s decision to bat first in Kolkata may look unwise after they were blown away for just 106, but it is the type of boldness that coach Russell Domingo said he wants to bring to the dressing room. Conventional cricketing wisdom certainly went with Bangladesh but there was also the perception that an inexperienced batting line-up was left to take on a red-hot fast bowling unit.That plan which had already played out poorly for the visitors in Indore but Domingo said doing anything other than putting runs on the board would have been a negative approach.”Obviously, it was a terrible day for us but I really think it is important to understand that Bangladesh are not just here to serve up balls for India,” he said at the end-of-day press conference. “I know everyone was hoping Bangladesh can bowl first so India can get 400-450. But that’s not why we were here. We think the best way to win a Test match in India is to bat first. Ninety-nine per cent of the time you bat first in the sub-continent, on a good wicket. We have no qualms with the decision to bat first.”ALSO READ: Bangladesh batting falls flat on big occasionIn time, Domingo hoped Bangladesh can approach big games as calm as they approached the T20s earlier this month, when they won the Delhi game to go 1-0 up in the series.”When we won the first T20, our dugout was calm and no one was jumping up and down. It is a conscious thing we are doing, by not being surprised when beating India. It has to become something that we expect to do. When you win the toss in India, doesn’t mean we will bowl first because we are scared of getting bowled out. We are trying to make those brave decisions that will benefit us in the long run. There’s going to be some hurt and disappointment now, but hopefully we can continue making those brave decisions and it will ultimately help us.”Domingo said that the big gap in experience and performance between the two sides is making a big difference in this Test series. He cited the example of Virat Kohli having more Test centuries than the entire Bangladesh team to explain the gulf between the two line-ups. Domingo said that no matter how well they were prepared for the pink ball, that gap would not have shortened in a week.”I wouldn’t say we were underprepared for the pink ball. India had similar time to train. There’s a big difference between the two sides, regardless of six or seven days of preparation for the pink ball.”We are a long way behind in Tests. Virat Kohli has 26 Test hundreds while our whole team has 16 or 17. We have to address that, going forward,” he said.Domingo said that the batting line-up is short in confidence too, and they have a number of issues to deal with, which will take time to get over. “There’s lack of confidence. There’s lack of experience against this type of attack week in, week out. It is a bit of mental, technical and confidence.”It was not a 30-over all out wicket. There’s no doubt that we didn’t bat well enough. We are facing some really world-class bowlers and coming short. We have to deal with a whole host of issues at the moment.”

England have named an unchanged XI from Galle, with Ben Stokes set to move up to No. 3

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Nov-2018

Big picture

The track in Pallekele looks dry so it will probably turn. If there is a touch of rain in the mountain air it could swing as well. But even if the pitch starts spitting fire, and a blizzard rolls through, England might still feel confident. They feel as if they have an attack for all seasons.Cloudy skies and a new ball in hand? Have a bit of James Anderson, who bowls like he has pictures of the clouds in uncompromising positions, and so will exploit them relentlessly. Think you can handle Anderson? Well, try a bit of Sam Curran for the left-arm angle. Or why not Ben Stokes, who bowls vicious bouncers with the new ball, and gets reverse with the older one?And so what if Adil Rashid is having an off day? Moeen Ali and Jack Leach are still around. Not even the England camp will claim these are exceptional spinners, but the way Sri Lanka batted in Galle, they don’t have to be. If a quick over needs bowling, to try and squeeze another one in before lunch, Joe Root can fire down a few non-turning offbreaks as well. England’s is not exactly a superstar attack, but they have the variety to expose an array of opposition weaknesses. If they bat like they did in Galle, “weakness” could even be the collective term for Sri Lanka’s top order.”There go the lot of them. A whole weakness of Sri Lanka batsmen.”Let’s not pretend that the hosts’ outlook isn’t bleak. They’ve won six of their last 13 Tests, losing only three, but in that time they’ve relied heavily on runs from Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal, as well as wickets from Rangana Herath. Two of those three players won’t feature in this game. There is also a biomechanics test hanging over Akila Dananjaya, which could affect his performance. The team manager has quit midway through the series over differences with head coach Chandika Hathurusingha as well.Malinda Pushpakumara is expected to come in for the retired Rangana Herath•Getty Images

The one thing going for Sri Lanka, though, is that they are well-practised harnessers of chaos. Sometimes the more upheaval there is around the team, the better they perform. You don’t have to look back that far to find examples. In June, captain Chandimal was banned for three Tests over ball-tampering and spirit-of-cricket-related offences. Hathurusingha was suspended for two of those matches himself. Sri Lanka won all three of those games, coming from behind in Barbados, before crushing South Africa twice at home. In December last year, they drew a tough Test in Delhi despite almost half their team feeling the effects of seriously polluted air.There is no formula to how this Sri Lanka team have got themselves to creditable results over the past 14 months, but they have dug deep and clawed their way into series. They have to believe they can do it again.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LWWWD (completed matches, most recent first)
England WWWLW

In the spotlight

Fifty Test matches, a bowling average north of 40 – on the surface, there isn’t much about Suranga Lakmal that will really threaten an opposition. But look deeper. On unhelpful decks at home, he often performs an invaluable role, taking wickets with the new ball when he can, then keeping the pressure on the opposition while spinners attack at the other end. As acting captain, he has even been something of a revelation. Sri Lanka have won all three Tests he has led in. Never before has a fast bowler led Sri Lanka, but look at the way he marshals the limited resources at his disposal, and you wonder why it had not happened sooner.News from the England camp is that following Moeen’s twin failures at No. 3 in Galle, Ben Stokes will be asked to come in at first-drop. It is not a job he has ever done before, though that is not to say it is a bad option on a pitch expected to take turn from day one. In English conditions, No. 3 batsmen are tasked with holding the innings together and batting as deep as possible. On the trickier pitches in Sri Lanka, there is merit in sending an aggressive batsman up the order, to prevent the spinners from settling early, and to put some momentum into the innings. This is perhaps the theory England are basing their strategy on.

Team news

News from the England camp is that Jonny Bairstow is fit, but such are their riches at the moment, he is being left out of the side. England have confirmed an unchanged XI from Galle. Ben Stokes will bat at 3.England (possible): 1 Rory Burns, 2 Keaton Jennings, 3 Ben Stokes, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Jos Buttler, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Sam Curran, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Jack Leach, 11 James AndersonLakmal strongly suggested that Sri Lanka would go in with three spinners, a seamer, and seven batsmen again. Roshen Silva looks likeliest to replace Dinesh Chandimal. Malinda Pushpakumara could slot into the position vacated by Herath, which means Lakshan Sandakan will likely have to remain outside the XI.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kaushal Silva, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne , 3 Roshen Silva, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 7 Dhananjaya de Silva, 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal (capt), 10 Akila Dananjaya, 11 Malinda Pushpakumara

Pitch and conditions

Sri Lanka are understood to have been unhappy at the lack of drastic turn at Galle, and have instructed the groundstaff to produce a sharp turner in Pallekele at least. The pitch looks drier than the Galle surface was on the eve of the match. This being Pallekele, there is always the threat of rain interrupting play. And this being the tail-end of the monsoon, the threat is double.

Stats and trivia

• Aside from Karunaratne and Chandimal, no other batsman in the Sri Lanka squad averages more than 40 since the start of 2017.
• Although Jos Buttler has a reputation for playing spin well in the shorter formats, he averages only 26.1 from 12 Test innings in Asia, compared to a career average of 35.97.
• Of the three Pallekele Tests that have produced a result, Sri Lanka have lost two matches, to India and Pakistan. Their one victory here was against Australia in 2016.
• The last 22 Tests in Sri Lanka have now produced a result – a growing world record.

Quotes

“I want us to look to take the positive option if we’re unsure at any stage. I want us to keep taking the game to the opposition.”
“We’ve asked for a pitch that favours the spinners, and I think that’s basically what we have got here.”

Sussex are still standing entering the final day as the Division Two promotion scrap gets serious

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Wantage Road07-Sep-2017Sussex 172 (Kleinveldt 5-50) and 382 for 9 (Archer 74*, Robson 72, Nash 66, Wiese 61) lead Northamptonshire 426 (Duckett 193) by 128 runs
Usually, a fightback of this magnitude is saved for the silver screen. But at Wantage Road, in front of a crowd that died down at tea with a Northamptonshire win looking a foregone conclusion, Sussex threw counter-punches that Rocky Balboa would be proud of to take us to a fourth round.
Somehow, they have amassed a lead that, combined with a few more lusty blows tomorrow, could leave Northants facing a difficult fourth-innings chase.The two key protagonists were Jofra Archer and David Wiese – two allrounders in a Jack of All Trades Sussex tail. The pair came together with a deficit of eight set against Northamptonshire’s first innings of 426, with just two wickets left in their follow-on innings. In the space of 15 overs, they dovetailed brilliantly to thrash 124 for the ninth-wicket, taking their side into a lead that by stumps had been boosted to 128.Archer, the more dashing of the two, hit through the line of the ball emphatically, while also finding boundaries square: two back-to-back fours off Simon Kerrigan (through midwicket and then point) took him to his half-century from 80 balls. That’s not to say Wiese was a slouch: his second fifty of the summer came up from 55-balls with a huge six, also off Kerrigan, into the roof of the Lynn Wilson Centre that sits opposite the pavilion.Without wanting to pour too much misery onto the left-arm spinner, who has bowled well in this match, it was his error that let the partnership get this far. When Archer was on 15, the scoreboard reading 249 for 8 (trailing by three), Kerrigan set himself at deep square leg under a wild hook but was unable to take a routine catch. While Wiese was eventually trapped lbw by Richard Gleeson, Archer remains unbeaten overnight having beaten his previous career-best score of 73, achieved last summer against Essex at Colchester.For Northamptonshire, the toil of almost two days in the field took its toll. What control there was to skittle Sussex out for 172 in their first innings on day two and then grind away for the next eight wickets was lost when the second new ball arrived. Rory Kleinveldt, who removed Luke Wright and Ben Brown in the space of three balls, could not persist with an off-stump line that has given him eight wickets in this match so far. Richard Gleeson, troubling batsmen throughout with his extra pace and bounce, particularly from the Wantage Road End, sprayed a few down the leg side and looked fed up by stumps. The enthusiasm in the field was long gone by the time the umpires took the players off for bad light.Northants skipper Alex Wakely talked openly of a quiet dressing room that felt they should have already been tucking into some celebratory beers rather than nursing some wounds and preparing to go again on the morrow. As Archer and Wiese showed, the pitch is still playing true and as awkward as a chase of, say, 150, might be, Northants are still favourites.Sussex were steady for the first 45 overs of the day, which only brought one wicket: Stiaan van Zyl edging through to David Murphy off the bowling of Gleeson. Angus Robson and Chris Nash were any plays-and-misses behind them to bat for the best part of 29 overs. In that time, Robson was able to move to his first half-century of the season, from 100 balls, in his third match for Sussex.Released from his contract with Leicestershire earlier this season, citing differences with the head coach Pierre de Bruyn, who left his post earlier this week, he was taken on for a season-long trial at Sussex. Prolific form in the 2nd XI, combined with a misfiring top-order saw Robson given his full-debut for the club in their win against Worcestershire at New Road.The opening position has been an issue down at Hove. With Luke Wells coming into the season with an injury, Sussex were close to signing Surrey’s Arun Harinath on loan as cover before that did not come to pass. Instead, Harry Finch and Nash took on new ball duties with limited success. While Nash has been moved back into the middle order, Finch has been dropped after averaging just 22.5 from 16 innings and Robson given the chance to do what he has done for most of his career: respect the good ones, go after the bad ones. This was his 28th first-class and one that he could and should have converted to what would have been only his third career hundred.But when he pressed forward and edged Kerrigan to first slip, after the left-arm spinner had changed to over the wicket to make use of the footmarks on leg stump, it set about an almighty collapse of four wickets in the space of six overs. A sound position of 173 for two was decimated to 193 for six.That eventually became 246 for 8, when Nash was helpless to keep out a low delivery from Mohammad Azharullah that left one stump standing. Sussex’s hopes of saving face and promotion had all but gone and plans were made by most to spend Friday elsewhere. Instead, tomorrow brings a fascinating conclusion.

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor leaves Sussex this week with thanks for a committed contribution – and it gives them a chance of avoiding defeat against Kent in Tunbridge Wells

ECB Reporters Network19-Jul-2016
ScorecardRoss Taylor has made a big impact at Sussex [file picture]•Getty Images

New Zealand Test batsman Ross Taylor proved an immovable rock at the Nevill Ground hitting an unbeaten 142 as Sussex were dismissed for 333 on a day of cut and thrust under the sun.Kent will go into the final day of this Specsavers County Championship clash holding a 242-run lead and with the option to enforce the follow-on and push for their third win of the Division Two campaign.But it was the former Blackcaps Test skipper, Taylor, who batted a shade under six hours on the hottest day of the year, who made Kent work hardest. In praise of his team-mate’s work ethic, Sussex opener Chris Nash, said: “Ross has been brilliant for us in all formats. He’s won three T20s for us off his own back and in four-day cricket he’s shown tremendous application.”He leaves us at the end of the week to go off for a Test series with South Africa and it’s perfect timing for him that he goes with a 140 under his belt. We’re chuffed to bits for him and we all hope he’ll come back to Sussex at some time soon.”As for his early morning battle with Kent’s South Africa paceman Kagiso Rabada, who looks set to extend his battle with Taylor in the Test arena later in the month, Nash added: “He tested us all with the new ball, hit good areas and extracted everything he could out of the new ball and a pretty dead pitch.”When he’s been on he’s been very threatening. He was fast with the new ball and then, when he came back with the older ball, he got that reversing. It was really good fun to try and get through it. It really gets your beans going, because you realise you are facing one of the top young bowlers in the world. On a quick wicket he’d be really hard work.”Rabada, who bagged three for 81 on the fairly lifeless Nevill pitch, said: “A lot of the guys are exhausted, that was a hot day wherever you might be in the world. We fought very hard and tomorrow we’ll be looking to finish these guys off. There’s a bit of turn for the spinners, and some footmarks, so hopefully they can create problems.”This has been a magnificent effort by the team and everyone bowled well today and played their part. We’re giving it our best shot and even though some complained about the heat, it was all in good spirits, it was all banter. When we have to do the business and execute our skills we will and hopefully we can come out tomorrow fully rested and blow them away.”Taylor teamed up with England T20 star Luke Wright to add 114 in 34 overs either side of lunch before Rabada broke the stand with the second new ball. Swishing outside off stump and on the back-foot, Wright edged to Kent’s stand-in keeper Callum Jackson to make it 219 for four.Ben Brown sidled out but, with his score on five, proffered no shot to a Rabada length-ball to go leg before and give the 21-year-old his third wicket.Just before a delayed tea, Chris Jordan (7) lent back aiming to force one from Darren Stevens through the covers only to edge to James Tredwell at second slip.Six wickets down at tea, Sussex did their utmost to bat out the session, losing their last man in the final over of the day. Will Beer was run out by a direct hit by Stevens from mid-off and, after taking a fearful blow on the helmet from a Rabada bouncer, Danny Briggs was caught behind off James Tredwell who, together with Imran Qayyum, polished off the innings with lbw decisions.Having resumed on their overnight total of 69 for one – a first innings deficit of 506 – Sussex suffered their first casualty of the day after half-an-hour when Nash fell for 55.Moments after posting a 128-ball 50 with nine fours, the veteran right-hander was pinned on the back foot by a Rabada off-cutter that appeared to keep low. Indian umpire Virendra Sharma, officiating in the game as part of an ECB exchange scheme, duly raised his finger for the first time in the match.Rabada was rested after a morning stint of 5-3-7-1 and replaced at The Pavilion End at The Nevill Ground by Mitch Claydon. He struck in the 51st over to remove Luke Wells for 22. Looking to square drive, the youngster found a thick inside edge to drag the ball onto his own leg stump.

Craig Cachopa smashed his highest career T20 score to end Sussex’s hoodoo against Hampshire as they thrashed the early South Group pacesetters by seven wickets

ECB/PA19-Jun-2015
ScorecardCraig Cachopa’s unbeaten 89 saw Sussex home with room to spare (file photo)•Getty Images

Craig Cachopa smashed his highest career T20 score to end Sussex’s hoodoo against Hampshire as they thrashed the early South Group pacesetters by seven wickets.New Zealander Cachopa struck a fantastic 89 not out at the Ageas Bowl as Sussex chased down a victory target of 158 to beat their south-coast rivals for the first time in eight attempts. Cachopa was brilliantly accompanied by Matt Machan, who scored an unbeaten 52 as the pair put on 144 for the fourth wicket, knocking off the winning runs with eight balls to spare.Sussex started atrociously as they lost former England international Luke Wright in the second over to a stunning catch from Will Smith off Chris Wood. And Wood picked up a second two balls later as Mahela Jayawardene loosely edged behind to end his stint on the south coast with 4 off five balls.The procession to and from the dugout continued in the next over as Gareth Berg took his first T20 wicket for Hampshire as Ben Brown chipped straight to Sean Ervine. That left Sussex in deep trouble on 14 for 3 but Cachopa and Machan reconstructed the innings, striking 50 off 36 deliveries before two monstrous overs off spinners Danny Briggs and Smith went for 32 runs.

Insights

This was Hampshire’s lowest home score of the season and second-lowest score anywhere and they were always going to find defending it successfully hard work. Hampshire’s highest scorer was Vince with 41, which was Hampshire’s lowest high score this season. In all but one other match at least one Hampshire player has scored fifty and they lacked that standout performance in this match. Sussex got that performance and they got it when they needed it most, reeling at 14 for 3 in the run chase. Cachopa’s 89 not out was his highest T20 score and only his second fifty.

Cachopa collected his second career T20 half-century – after earlier passing 1000 T20 career runs – with a late cut for four. The stand for the fourth wicket passed 100, with a colossal Cachopa six over long-off, in exactly 12 overs.The 23-year-old clobbered a six over the concourse and into the Nursery Ground before easing past his previous highest T20 score of 79 with a sweetly timed on drive as the visitors cruised home with room to spare.Earlier, Sussex won the toss and elected to field and restricted Hampshire to a below-par 157 for 6. Michael Carberry began watchfully before clubbing the first boundary of the evening straight down the ground off Ollie Robinson from the match’s fourth ball.Fellow opener James Vince was lucky not to be caught second ball as he gloved behind and the very next delivery the skipper became the fourth Hampshire player to score 2000 T20 runs for the county – after Carberry, Jimmy Adams and Ervine – with a crisply struck cut for four.Carberry was dropped at mid-on by a slow moving Tymal Mills before Vince used the former Essex man’s pace to dispatch the game’s first maximum over square leg in the next over.Mills atoned for his drop as he forced Carberry into looping a top edge off his hips to Chris Liddle at short fine leg to depart for 10. Vince offloaded some of the building pressure with slog sweep six but two balls latter Michael Yardy cleverly dragged the ball wide of off stump to have the recent England call-up stumped for a classy 41.The wicket of the talismanic Vince caused a panic for Hampshire as they lost Adams – who went for well-made 21 to give Machan his first T20 wicket for Sussex – and Ervine as spin became king.Adam Wheater and Owais Shah got Hampshire back on track with a 32-ball 50 partnership – the former reverse sweeping to take the home side past 100 in the 15th over. The pair both departed playing one shot too many, though, as Hampshire disappointed in front of a season-high 7200 at the Ageas Bowl.

If England had any illusions about the enormity of their task in India, they would have largely been dispelled on the second day against Haryana

George Dobell in Ahmedabad09-Nov-2012
ScorecardEngland’s bowlers were made to work hard for their wickets on an unresponsive pitch•Getty Images

If England had any illusions about the enormity of their task in India, they would have largely been dispelled on the second day against Haryana.Having lost their last five wickets for 14 runs in the morning session, England’s bowlers then spent the rest of the day toiling under a hot sun, claiming just four wickets in 61 overs. Matt Prior was forced off the pitch suffering from a stomach upset and, perhaps more worryingly, the Haryana offspinner, Jayant Yadav, delivered a less than glowing review of England’s performance against spin bowling.While England’s total of 521 underlines the ease with which the batsmen flourished for the main, it is worth noting that against 40.1 overs of spin they lost eight wickets for 177. Yadav, an unremarkable bowler playing only his fifth first-class game, finished with 4 for 110, the best figures of his career to date.It may be wrong to read too much into that. In the latter stages of the innings, with the total over 500 and the lack of intensity in the match situation producing lethargic cricket, England played some carefree strokes. But, given England’s recent history against spin bowling, and bearing in mind that this surface is offering precious little help to bowlers of any type, those statistics will be just a little unsettling.England’s top-order looked comfortable against Yadav. Several batsmen, notably Ian Bell, Nick Compton, Prior and Kevin Pietersen, quickly took advantage of the lack of spin to come down the pitch to drive him over the top. But, far from being impressed by such confidence, Yadav interpreted it as a sign of insecurity.”They looked very uncomfortable against spin,” Yadav said. “That’s why they resorted to playing that way. If you are comfortable you play from the crease. You would use your feet once or twice. But from the outset they had a mindset to attack the spinners, because they were unsure how to play them. The wicket was not offering much to the spinners. It was very slow and didn’t turn much at all. There were uncomfortable.”Whether that is fair or not, it is certainl that England’s tail – without Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad – folded quickly. After Bell fell early, attempting to run one to third man but edging to slip, Samit Patel and Prior added 69 in 12 overs. Both looked in fine form, with Patel registering his third score over 50 in succession on the tour. He could hardly have done more to nail down the No. 6 position for the first Test.But when Prior, perhaps already feeling unwell, skipped down the pitch and missed one, it precipitated a sharp decline. Tim Bresnan and Patel, unwilling to grind out runs with the total already over 500, both slogged down the throat of long-on, before Stuart Meaker’s drive was sharply taken by Amit Mishra in his follow through and Graham Onions was bowled playing back to one that skidded on. So, it was five quick wickets, but a far cry from the hopeless displays that characterised the trip to the UAE earlier in the year.England’s bowlers were also made to work hard. While Nitin Saini, unsettled by a good bouncer, soon steered Bresnan to point, Rahul Dewan and Sunny Singh added 97 for the second wicket. At one stage Singh, a man with a first-class triple century to his name, took Bresnan for three successive boundaries and also skipped down the pitch to drive Patel for successive fours, while Dewan, cutting particularly well, hit Onions for two boundaries in a row and looked a well organised, patient batsman. He enjoyed only one moment of fortune when Prior, clearly unwell by this stage, dropped a tough chance down the leg side off Meaker’s second delivery.Poor Prior was obliged to make two emergency dashes for the bathroom, but England’s initial request to use a substitute wicketkeeper from outside their playing XI was declined by the umpires and match referee. While the convention in English domestic cricket permits a substitution on the grounds that the ECB believes that county cricket could be lessened as a spectacle by the use of a make-shift wicket-keeper, the Laws of the game (Law 2:3 specifically) actually forbid it. Ultimately, however, the BCCI, in an admirably magnanimous gesture, were contacted and made a special dispensation towards England. Jonny Bairstow took the gloves and Prior retired to a dark room.England did eventually break through – Jonathan Trott clinging on to the first of two sharp catches in the slips – but Bresnan later rated the wicket the best for batting he had ever experienced.”That wicket out there is possibly the best I’ve ever bowled on,” he said. “It’s unbelievable. It’s easy-paced, has nice bounce and just comes on to the bat lovely. You get the feeling you’re in an ‘indoor school’ scenario. It’s not doing much off the straight, not seaming, not really bouncing much – and it’s not spinning at all. So it’s difficult.”All three of England’s seamers worked up a decent pace – Meaker in particular – but the line was just a little too wayward to build any pressure. Monty Panesar, in stock bowler mode, gave away little and, on a warm afternoon against determined but limited batsmen, the game drifted in somnambulant fashion. Indeed, it will tell you much about the day that the most entertaining moment came when play was briefly suspended while two monkeys ran across the pitch and enjoyed a romantic liaison at third man. You don’t see too much of that sort of thing at Lord’s.There was better news off the pitch for England, though. Steven Finn has improved more than expected and was able to bowl off his full run-up in the nets and, while Stuart Broad continued to rest and Graeme Swann remains in the UK, both are expected to be available for the first Test.”Finn is off his full run now,” Bresnan said. “That’s a very good sign. With six days to go, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be fully fit. If he can bowl at 90mph plus consistently, and get that bounce and lift, he’s going to add to any team. He would probably get in any side in the world at the minute.”

ESPNcricinfo previews the first ODI between India and England in Hyderabad

The Preview by Sidharth Monga13-Oct-2011

Match facts

India v England, October 14, Hyderabad
Start time 1430 (0900 GMT)

Big Picture

India’s winless tour of England has not been without what initially seemed like positives. At least the admen had moved on from the theme that has been the easiest way to sell an India-England series in India. Except that colonial references have now made way for war ones. “There’s no weapon deadlier than vengeance,” says one in all caps. “India takes on England. The war resumes this October.”To give the marketing machinery generous benefit of doubt, India and England haven’t exactly offered them much by the way of close series. India last beat England in England in September 2007. The corresponding date for England in India is April 2006. India have whitewashed only two Test series (longer than two matches); one of those victims was England. Four out of their seven whitewashes (in series longer than two matches) have been handed by England; the last one earlier this year now invokes the deadly weapon of vengeance.Except that this is no revenge series. For one of your three worst tours of all time, including the 4-0 Test whitewash for the then No. 1 side, is not avenged over five ODIs. It will, however, be an opportunity to know what a win feels like. India last enjoyed that feeling in June in the West Indies. It will be an opportunity to arrest a slide, stack up some victories and regain confidence before they leave for Australia, their next really big assignment. It won’t be easy, though, playing as they are without Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel. Given their schedules, though, they better get used to this, at least in limited-overs formats.It will be an opportunity for their opponents to set a record right. That they have won only one of their last 13 completed ODIs against India in India is enough to justify England’s remarkably early arrival and long preparation. Most of those defeats suggest the lack of the power game required in the subcontinent, which along with Test series wins in India and Sri Lanka stands in England’s way of their aim of all-round domination.England can’t quite claim to know the grammar of subcontinent ODIs well. They entertained in the World Cup, but their batsmen tried to win it through cute dabs and paddles. When England were sleepwalking through a 5-0 ODI series defeat in 2008-09, David Lloyd told the story through the way the respective sides’ batsmen prepared to face a delivery. The Indians, he observed, had higher back lifts, ready to impart power into the shots and also trusting the pitches, looking to play down the ground. The England batsmen didn’t lift those bats as high in preparation, they often pre-meditated, the crookedness of the face either way to run the ball behind square for a single, at times two, stood out.England, though, are in a much better mental state than their two previous trips to India. In 2008-09 the captain and the coach weren’t quite moving in the same direction; in the World Cup they were tired, injured and possibly longing for home. They will also gain from an Indian XI weakened by injuries. Still a major part of responsibility to prevent this from being yet another one-sided India-England series lies with their batsmen – crucially missing Eoin Morgan – and their response to the conditions.

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first)
India LTLLL
England WTWWW

Watch out for …

Craig Kieswetter comes with the promise of the power game required in India. He also comes with the confidence of having done well against India in the English summer, and then in the Champions League T20. England will want positive starts from him.Gautam Gambhir will make a comeback not only to the side but also to the opening role, which he had to relinquish during the World Cup. This is the start of a defining season for him, a season he will want to get through without fitness-related layoffs, a season he will want to end with runs in Australia. Form doesn’t really apply after the various breaks, but for what it is worth Gambhir has reached double figures in 17 of his last 18 innings, averaging 58 with two centuries and six fifties.

Team news

Despite Gambhir’s comeback, both Parthiv Patel and Ajinkya Rahane are likely to be rewarded for their good work in England. As is the case with Ravindra Jadeja. The bowling, if it was possible, looks even weaker than it did in England. They will be forced to try Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav at some point in the series.India (likely) 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Parthiv Patel, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Ajinkya Rahane, 5 MS Dhoni (capt. & wk), 6 Suresh Raina, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Praveen Kumar, 9 R Ashwin, 10, 11 two out of Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron and Vinay KumarJonny Bairstow and Ravi Bopara have made strong middle-order statements for England, which leaves a close competition. There is a case for including all five of Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Bopara and Bairstow. There is an equally strong case for playing Samit Patel at 7, as the second-spinner-allrounder.England (likely) 1 Alastair Cook (capt.), 2 Craig Kieswetter (wk), 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ravi Bopara, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Samit Patel, 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Jade Dernbach, 11 Steven Finn

Pitch and conditions

The scores in the two practice games have ranged between 114 and 367, but don’t expect any favours for the bowlers, unless the pitch just turns out to be really slow. An expected high of 31 degree celsius and 61% humidity should test batsmen on the new no-runner rule. If the forecast of “scattered thunderstorms” doesn’t come to fruition, that is.

Stats and trivia

• Andrew Strauss, no longer part of England’s ODI plans, scored 445 runs in his previous five matches in India.
• If they all get picked, Kieswetter, Cook, Bairstow, Dernbach and Finn will be playing their first ODI in India.
• India have lost two of their 19 completed home ODIs, both to South Africa. Similarly they have lost just two home Tests since March 2006, both to South Africa.