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The review of Brendon McCullum’s lbw was a vital moment; one that Ross Taylor believed left the Test “evenly placed” at stumps on the first day

Cricinfo staff24-Nov-2009
Ross Taylor’s 94 was the top score for New Zealand on the opening day•Getty Images

When Simon Taufel gave Brendon McCullum lbw off the penultimate ball in Dunedin, Pakistan appeared to have separated New Zealand’s last reliable batsmen and won the day. McCullum, however, asked for a review and Taufel changed his decision after replays showed the ball hitting pad just outside off stump. It was a vital moment; one that Ross Taylor believed left the Test “evenly placed” at stumps on the first day.”The last decision going our way helped us immensely,” Taylor said. “The partnership between Daniel [Vettori] and Brendon [McCullum] has probably put us back in the match. Being 200 for 6 at the end of the day’s play would have favoured Pakistan, but 270 for 6, I think it’s pretty even.”Taylor’s fighting 94 propped up New Zealand after the loss of two early wickets before a mini-collapse, during which they lost three wickets for 19 runs. McCullum and Vettori then added 65 for the seventh wicket to help the hosts recover before the scare in the final over.Earlier in the day Pakistan had also referred a close lbw shout against Taylor, which was ruled in the batsman’s favour when he was on 54. After two reviews went New Zealand’s way on the first day of the new system’s implementation, Taylor was happy with it.”I have seen it [the first referral] since I have been out, it was a little bit closer than I thought,” he said. “When I first got hit I thought it was high and might have even hit outside the line. As it worked out, the umpire made the right decision and I suppose I am happy for that. With the referrals system, last year, we had a few that did not go in our favour and today we had a couple go our way, so it is good at the moment.”Taylor began his innings after New Zealand were reduced to 27 for 2 in the sixth over and survived a testing period against the seamers. He got hit on the body thrice by Mohammad Aamer, kept getting beaten outside off by Mohammad Asif, and scored only 6 off his first 44 balls. However, he settled in and forged a 117-run partnership with Martin Guptill. Taylor didn’t make it to 100, though, edging Saeed Ajmal to first slip on 94.”Obviously the goal as a batsman is to get to three figures. To be very close in the end, but not close enough is disappointing,” Taylor said. “But I can’t really complain too much. The shot I played in the end wasn’t a poor shot. You are going to play and miss on that wicket occasionally, and you just hope you don’t nick it.”It has been a struggle over the last month and a half. [I have] been working hard on my game with various people over the last week or so. It is always good when you put in the hard work and get some reward.”Taylor had words for encouragement for Martin Guptill who batted well in his company to stabilise the innings. Guptill too failed to capitalise on his start, perishing for 60 by top-edging a pull off Aamer.”Yeah, I thought he batted very well,” Taylor said. “He has had a few starts over his career, so it is good for him to go on and get past 50. But I’m sure he will also be disappointed with getting out for 60, doing all the hard work. Hopefully we can both kick on in the second innings.”The pitch will play a crucial role over the course of this Test and Taylor said that the bounce would be unpredictable. “There are some bare patches and a lot of grass. So some get through and some don’t. Not all balls carried through to Kamran Akmal, so obviously that’s going to play a part over the next four days. Hopefully we can learn from that and hopefully maybe just bowl a little straighter for a consistent period.”

Andrew Strauss has saluted his bowlers after England’s clinical seven-wicket victory over South Africa, just two days after a 112-run mauling in Cape Town

Cricinfo staff30-Nov-2009Andrew Strauss has saluted his bowlers after England’s clinical seven-wicket victory over South Africa, just two days after a 112-run mauling in Cape Town. The architect of the turnaround was James Anderson, who took a career-best 5 for 23 to rip through South Africa.Anderson, who played with a likely broken toe after stubbing it on a chair, started with a wild delivery down the leg side, and had figures of 3-0-15-0 before turning in two devastating spells of fast bowling. “Jimmy was outstanding with how he built pressure but also bowled wicket-taking deliveries,” Strauss said, “but today was a day for the bowling unit as a whole and they complemented each other very well.”Anderson’s performance eased concerns over his troublesome knee, which has required strapping during the early weeks of the tour, and he is confident it won’t be a further problem although his toe required a local anaesthetic.”If it’s getting better while I’m playing I’m pretty confident it will just continue to do so,” he said of the knee. “It’s not a concern at all once I’ve started bowling. “It seems to be getting better. The practice sessions, I’m taking reasonably lightly – and I’m getting it strapped up in a game as well. The way we are managing it, it is gradually getting better – and I hope it can continue.”The win gives England an unbeatable 2-1 lead heading into the final ODI and came on the back of a remarkable effort from the bowlers, who had leaked 354 runs in Friday’s ODI.”The key was to start well and it was a good toss to lose if I’m honest. But I was pleased with how the bowlers reacted to the conditions,” Strauss said. “You have got to adapt quickly and make sure that if there’s anything in your favour then you use it. I think we did that today.”After being smashed for 55 runs in seven overs in the third ODI, Anderson was thrilled with his Man-of-the-Match performance. “We had a chat after the last game because we didn’t bowl as well as we could have done,” Anderson said. “We wanted to come here and bowl a lot better and, luckily, we got a wicket that helped us with our plans.”England have had an excellent run against South Africa since last year, winning seven out of the last eight completed games. Victory in the fifth ODI in Durban on December 4 will hand them the series.

Andrew McGlashan in Durban27-Dec-2009England get a review right
Few in the England team are in favour of the review system and their experiences during the first Test at Centurion won’t have helped when they had five reviews rejected. On the opening day here the occasion didn’t arrive to call for one, but when Graeme Swann was convinced he’d trapped Mark Boucher lbw, Andrew Strauss eventually decided to use one of his options. And it proved exactly the right call as TV evidence showed the ball had straightened from around the wicket and struck Boucher’s pad before bat in front of middle. At last, England will have thought.AB’s trip
Moments after Boucher departed England nearly had another important wicket but this would have come through luck not judgement. Morne Morkel worked the ball through the leg side to open his account and AB de Villiers, one of the game’s quickest runners, was coming back for a second when he suddenly got into a tangle and dropped his bat. If the throw from the outfield had hit direct de Villiers would have been short, but fortune was favouring him.A Steyn on Swann’s figures
Swann has already proved his huge value to England during this series and was at it again when he removed Boucher, Morkel and Paul Harris. He was desperate for his five-wicket haul and Strauss was happy to entrust his spinner to claim the final wicket, but it didn’t go to plan. Dale Steyn took the long-handle approach and launched Swann for three sixes in the long-on area during a valuable last-wicket stand, leaving Swann to settle for a four-for and a slightly higher economy rate.Cook’s elbow
Batting is proving a real struggle for Alastair Cook at the moment and as Strauss launched England’s innings with a flurry of boundaries he battled to survive. Shortly before tea Cook went for a sweep against Harris and the ball was caught a silly point by de Villiers. The South Africans appealed, then reviewed the decision believing Cook had got a glove or edge, but the TV pictures showed it came straight off his elbow. It was such a clear decision that it was a waste for South Africa and one they could come to regret.Strauss’s nick
One minute Strauss was thankful for the inside edge of his bat and a few moments later he was cursing it. Shortly after tea, when on 50, he was given out lbw to Morkel but Strauss immediately called for a review. There is some suggestion he thought it was high but was eventually saved by a nick after much deliberation from Steve Davis, the third umpire. However, four runs later there was no doubt as Morkel demolished the stumps with a little help from that same inside edge. Strauss wasn’t going to review that one.Check the meter
The Kingsmead authorities could have a hefty electricity bill when this game is done and dusted. The floodlights were on throughout the second day’s play and on this occasion probably enabled far more play than would have been likely without them. If the forecast proves right they will be needed some more before this match is over and whoever is in charge of paying the bill will want to make sure they have some cash handy.

New Zealand Cricket has confirmed that Ross Taylor will have a more senior role with the national team, naming him as a ‘stand-by’ captain for the upcoming Bangladesh and Australia series

Cricinfo staff29-Jan-2010Ross Taylor has been named as ‘stand-by’ captain for the upcoming Bangladesh and Australia series, giving him a more senior role with the national team. A statement by New Zealand Cricket said Taylor was not vice-captain but will take over as leader if Daniel Vettori is unavailable for any match over the home summer.Brendon McCullum was Vettori’s deputy till last October but was relieved of his duties soon after Andy Moles stepped down as national coach. Geoff Allott, NZC’s general manager of cricket, said both McCullum and Taylor were potential captains and that the latest move was an effort to polish Taylor’s leadership skills.”The Black Caps have deliberately not named a vice-captain in recent times as we wish to allow development of a broader leadership group,” Allott said. “We are fortunate to currently have two outstanding individuals in Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum, who could both assume the captaincy in the event Daniel Vettori was not available.”The elevation marks a rapid rise for Taylor, who made his international debut less than four years ago. “Brendon has recently fulfilled the role of stand-by captain, and Ross now gets his opportunity this summer,” Allott said. “Both players have offered on-field support and assistance to Dan during recent tours and it is anticipated that this will continue.”Taylor’s appointment should not be seen as a demotion for McCullum, said Justin Vaughan, the NZC chief executive. “This by no means is saying the Ross is number two and Brendon is number three – that isn’t the case,” he said. “Brendon will play the stand-by captain’s role in future series.”New Zealand’s next international assignment is the Bangladesh series, which starts with a Twenty20 on Wednesday in Hamilton.

Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah counterattacked admirably, and the latter completed his maiden Test ton, to take Bangladesh past the follow-on mark on the third day in Hamilton

The Bulletin by Andrew Fernando17-Feb-2010Stumps
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outMahmudullah played well for his maiden ton and took Bangladesh past the follow-on mark in Hamilton•Getty Images

A rousing seventh wicket stand between Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah rescued Bangladesh from the follow-on the third day at Seddon Park. New Zealand batted for five overs before bad light intervened, but lost the wicket of BJ Watling, to finish 154 ahead at stumps.Shakib and Mahmudullah combined with Bangladesh reeling at 196 for 6, and added a stroke-filled 145, in the process setting a new Bangladesh record for the seventh wicket, to propel the score past 400.Earlier in the day, the New Zealand seamers, supported by the ever-threatening Daniel Vettori had run rampant, demolishing the touring top order by picking up five wickets for 127 runs in the first session. Chris Martin and Tim Southee set the tone early, bowling a niggardly line and length to induce fatal errors from the overnight pair. Tamim Iqbal’s innings retained little of the breathtaking panache from the previous evening, and he was out to a Southee delivery that was not short enough to pull. The remainder of the Bangladesh top order crumbled spinelessly under the relentless pressure, and things looked bleak going in to lunch at 211 for 6.The New Zealand captain had the cushion of runs to play with, and it showed. The slip cordon was jam-packed for the seamers all morning, and a veritable swarm of close-in catchers encircled the Bangladesh batsmen while the spinners were in operation. The familiar Bangladesh collapse that ensued suggested that the match was heading to yet another embarrassing defeat for the tourists, but Shakib and Mahmudullah were on hand to arrest the slide and save face for Bangladesh.Both batsmen were circumspect at the start of their partnership, seeing off testing spells from Chris Martin and Daryl Tuffey, before being spurred into action by the introduction of spin from both ends. Using their feet to negate the gentle turn on offer, the pair flayed the slow bowlers to all corners in the afternoon session. A series of powerful drives was punctuated with lovely instances of deft touch, Shakib in particular using the lap-sweep and the scoop shot productively. Jeetan Patel was the primary victim of the duo’s assault, ending wicketless in the innings after having conceded 53 runs in 10 overs.Chris Martin broke the resistance soon after tea with the second new ball, though replays showed that Shakib’s under-edge bounced well short of Brendon McCullum, who claimed the catch instantly. It was an unfortunate end to a special innings from Shakib, who had overseen Bangladesh’s rescue-operation only to fall in sight of a well deserved maiden ton.
Mahmudullah however, was not to be denied and, reached the landmark soon after Shakib’s departure with a boundary to square leg. He was eventually trapped in front by Daniel Vettori for a fantastic 115, while the rest of the tail perished around him. Bangladesh were all out for 408, their sixth highest total in Test matches, but still 145 runs adrift of New Zealand’s first innings score.The New Zealanders then batted out five overs of spirited bowling from the Bangladesh seamers, who created enough pressure to have BJ Watling brilliantly run out by Shakib for 1. The hosts are still well in control of the test match, ending the day effectively at 154 for 1, but Bangladesh showed encouraging signs of fight, and will hope for early wickets tomorrow if they are to challenge a New Zealand, who will hope they have seen the best that their opponents have to offer.

Brett Lee has conceded that he might never bowl another ball, although he has not completely given up hope of returning to international cricket

Cricinfo staff16-Feb-2010Brett Lee has conceded that he might never bowl again, although he has not completely given up hope of returning to international cricket. Lee is recovering from elbow surgery that he described as the most painful he had ever encountered and he remains uncertain of when or if he will be able to resume bowling.The operation in early December ruled Lee out of Australia’s entire home summer of Tests and ODIs and he has not played at any level since mid-November. Lee, 33, last walked out in a Test team in December 2008 and while he remains an important one-day player when fit, he knows his future depends on how he recovers from his latest injury.”As far as my cricket goes, anything is possible,” Lee told the . “I may play one-dayers, or no cricket at all. I may never bowl another ball and if that’s the case, I’m so satisfied with my career and my longevity. I’m not saying it’s definitely over, but I’m not sure what I want to be just yet.”To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure what I still want to do in my cricketing life. I need to get to the stage where, if I want to, I can do what I need to do on the field. If it’s the case that I don’t play again, well, that’s the case. There is a part of me that would like to play some sort of cricket again.”Lee has endured plenty of injuries over his decade-long international career but has still found time to take 310 Test wickets at 30.81 and 324 ODI wickets at 23.01. However, he said the elbow problem was proving especially tough to get over.”This has been the hardest surgery I’ve been through,” he said. “It’s certainly been the most painful. There’s no miracle treatment for me. It’s taking time. I still don’t know when I’ll be able to bowl again. I can’t even give you an exact time. I will see how the arm pulls up because I can’t achieve any aspirations in cricket unless my body is functional.”With Lee and his fellow senior fast man Stuart Clark both enduring long periods on the sidelines, Australia’s fast-bowling depth has been tested this summer and the results have been promising. Lee said he would consider talking to Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting when deciding whether to retire or attempt to regain his place in the team.

Essex have recorded an “immensely disappointing” loss of £216,000 for 2009 but are confident they will be able to withstand the tough financial conditions

Cricinfo staff22-Mar-2010Essex have recorded an “immensely disappointing” loss of £216,000 for 2009 but are confident they will be able to withstand the tough financial conditions.Their position is in stark contrast to Surrey, who announced a profit of £752,000 on the same day, and Essex’s sums show the split that is start to appear in the county game – largely between those with Test grounds and the other, smaller, venues.On a positive note for the club was an increase in membership income and strong attendance at Twenty20 games. They are hopeful that their position in Division One of the Championship will provide a boost along with tour matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan.”It is immensely disappointing to announce a six figure loss of 216,000 pounds for 2009 after investment results and a tax rebate,” said Keith Brown, the club treasure. “Cricket is not immune from the recession and this impacted our corporate income, including sponsorship and advertising.”However, our membership income was up and we attracted high attendances at the Twenty20 matches. Our cricket costs were impacted by the absence of exceptional ECB income we received in 2008 and additional contract payments at the end of 2009”.”While other counties have produced similar losses this is no consolation and our 2010 budget process has been very robust with the aim to return to profit.”But Brown took the opportunity to issue a further warning about the potential listing of the Ashes and the subsequent reduction in broadcasting revenue. “However, there is one word of warning. If cricket is forced onto terrestrial television it will have a devastating impact on our income, which will mean we will have to make some very hard decisions.””Promotion achieved one of our objectives for 2009 and it was pleasing to see our home grown players make an impact on the international stage,” added chairman Nigel Hilliard. “Financially the club has had a difficult year, importantly there were no surprises in the accounts the committee were aware that 2009 would be loss making and the final result was a considerable improvement on our budgeted numbers.”

The Bangladesh fast bowler believes his success on the domestic circuit has primed him for a strong return to international cricket

Cricinfo staff23-Apr-2010The Bangladesh fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza believes his success on the domestic circuit has primed him for a strong return to international cricket. Mortaza was the Player of the Tournament in the recently concluded National Cricket League, taking ten wickets and scoring 93 runs, and he said he was raring to go at the ICC World Twenty20 starting April 30.”It was a good tournament for me because I got back my confidence by playing this Twenty20 tournament. I played one one-day game against England after recovering from injury but in this tournament I played six games without any trouble,” Mortaza told the .”It takes time to get back full rhythm in my bowling but still I am happy with the way I bowled in the tournament and I also enjoyed my batting there. My action has changed a little bit after the injury but the most satisfying fact is that I was getting back my in-swingers.”After eight months on the sidelines, Mortaza made his first appearance in national colours since a knee injury during the tour of West Indies in July, in an ODI against England in February. However, he went wicketless in that game, and was not played further as Bangladesh’s captain Shakib Al Hasan fuelled rumours of a rift between the two players when he called into question Mortaza’s enduring worth at international level.Mortaza chose not to dwell on the past and instead looked forward to regain his aggressive ways with the ball. “I am now fully concentrating on my fitness and how I can regain my aggression in my bowling because without that it’s impossible to prove myself again as a wicket-taking bowler,” he said. “I believe in performance and hope I can prove myself again as a performer.”In total, Mortaza has undergone six knee reconstructions in the space of eight years, but his latest return to fitness followed arguably the most demoralising setback yet. In July 2009, he was handed the captaincy for Bangladesh’s tour of the Caribbean to allow Mohammad Ashraful to concentrate on his batting. But he was able to bowl just 6.3 overs in their famous Test victory in Kingstown, his first match in charge, before collapsing in his follow through on the second day of the game.Mortaza was aware that he would have to ease himself back into limited-overs cricket but had his sights trained on the biggest challenge of all. “Definitely now I’m seriously thinking about Test cricket and I am confident that I can revive my Test career also but I want to take time. I requested captain Shakib and the selectors not to consider me for the Test series in England. Right at the moment I want to play only one-day and Twenty20 matches,” said Mortaza.”I am fit enough to bowl at least 15 overs if I want to play Test cricket and that’s why I need to see how things go in the shorter version of the game, after which I will decide about my Test comeback. But everything will depend on whether the team needs my service.”

Pakistan breezed to a 68-run win over Windward Islands in the first of their warm-up games at Gros Islet.

Cricinfo staff27-Apr-2010
Scorecard
Mohammad Hafeez scored 57 and took 1 for 16•Getty Images

Pakistan breezed to a 68-run win over Windward Islands in the first of their warm-up games at Gros Islet. Put in to bat by Windward Islands, the visitors reached 160 for 7 thanks mainly to Mohammad Hafeez’s enterprising half century. Windward Islands crawled to 92 for 4 in reply, with Mohammad Asif the only Pakistan bowler to go for more than four runs an over.Pakistan lost Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal early in their innings but Hafeez steadied the middle order and lead a late charge before he was bowled by Keron Cottoy for 57. Captain Shahid Afridi and Fawad Alam both reached the 20s before they were dismissed, and a late flurry by Misbah-ul-Haq, who smote two sixes in an eight-ball 17, boosted Pakistan’s score in the closing overs.Windward Islands’ reply never got going, and after captain Johnson Charles was caught by Hafeez off the bowling of Mohammad Aamer for 15 the fight seemed to go from the batsmen. Keddy Lesporis top-scored with 24, while the wickets were shared around by Pakistan’s bowlers, with Aamer, Hafeez, Afridi and Saeed Ajmal each picking up one.Pakistan’s next warm-up is against Zimbabwe on Thursday at the same venue.

After the carnival of the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, a one-day tri-series in Zimbabwe may not seem like the sort of fare to whet the appetite, but India and Sri Lanka’s trip to the Southern African nation is an important sounding board for all three

Liam Brickhill26-May-2010After the carnival of the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, a one-day tri-series in Zimbabwe may not seem like the sort of fare to whet the appetite, but India and Sri Lanka’s trip to the Southern African nation is an important sounding board for all three teams.The reasons for this are manifold. For a start, the 50-over World Cup is just over nine months away, and after India’s lacklustre showing at the World Twenty20, the performance of their squad for this series – with a number of big names not making the trip – will be a test of India’s bench strength and may also unearth the potential of some of the less experienced players. Should this squad perform beyond expectations, it may also be just the reality check needed to get India’s heavyweights performing again.Sri Lanka made it as far as the semi-finals of the World Twenty20, but that they got there at all was almost entirely due to Mahela Jayawardene’s sparkling early-tournament form. But with Sri Lanka also resting a slew of their frontline players, they too have the opportunity to test the depth of their resources and allow a few youngsters the opportunity to gain international experience in what should be fairly easy conditions.The fact that so many known international stars are not making the trip has irked more than a few people in the Zimbabwe set-up, but while there are worries about how much local attention tours by two second-string sides might draw, Zimbabwe must surely also be looking ahead to the World Cup and a couple of positive results in this series could only help their attempt at a cricketing renaissance. Zimbabwe also need all the exposure they can get, and with a paucity of international cricket on their calendar, this series may be their last chance to really test themselves ahead of the tournament in February next year.But the issue of most immediate importance is Zimbabwe’s first hosting of a series against major opposition since the last time Sri Lanka toured the country in November 2008. Since then, the only senior sides to visit have been Kenya, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and although the Zimbabweans have travelled to South Africa and the West Indies – as well as the obligatory visits to Bangladesh and Kenya – and sent an invitational XI to play in the Deodhar Trophy in India in 2008-09, the successful hosting of two international sides will send an important message both about the state of cricket there, and more importantly about the state of the country.In both areas, there has been little wholesale change, but positive steps are being made. Zimbabwe won the first Twenty20 and one-day game of their West Indies tour in March, and scored two notable victories against Pakistan and Australia in the warm-ups to the World Twenty20. Inbetween those successes, however, the team – and particularly the batsmen – have struggled.Zimbabwe’s early exit from the World Twenty20 came as a result of the frustrating, but far from unfamiliar, failure of the team’s batsmen to apply themselves when even a modicum of pressure is placed upon them. The weakness is a mental one, as batsmen who have been repeatedly brutalised by being thrust onto the international stage before their time have had their confidence fractured, perhaps irredeemably so. The spectacular collapse has become a default setting, rather than an aberration. In this light, six games (at least) against weakened opposition on home soil will be an opportunity for the home side’s batsmen to start pulling themselves out of the mire.The last time Sri Lanka toured they came away with a 5-0 series whitewash, but were at least challenged in a few of the games, scraping home by five runs and two wickets respectively in the third and fourth games, while only a five-wicket haul by Muttiah Muralitharan saved them from defeat in the fifth. This time, the touring side will be missing Murali’s guile, while Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara are also being rested.The last Indian side to tour the country was an A side in 2007. That team included players such as Pankaj Singh, Pragyan Ojha and Rohit Sharma, and Zimbabwe also have experience of players such as Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin from their Deodhar adventure. The last full Indian side was in the country in 2005-06, and is unrecognisable from this touring squad.It seems, then, that this tri-series may well be more competitive than many of Zimbabwe’s recent international outings. Whether the home side plays to its potential, or implodes spectacularly, remains to be seen. Either way, the first major international tour to Zimbabwe in 18 months is a step in the right direction.