All posts by h716a5.icu

Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner have revealed how their carefully laid plans to dismantle New Zealand’s batsmen came to fruition

Brydon Coverdale at the MCG29-Mar-2015Mitchell Starc and bowling coach Craig McDermott might have been quoting from the during the innings break of the World Cup final. “I love it when a plan comes together”. The Australians emerged from their loss to New Zealand in Auckland four weeks ago with a few questions, none more so than how to keep Brendon McCullum quiet.At Eden Park, McCullum had faced Starc’s first over of New Zealand’s small chase, and smashed him for 14 runs. In all, he plundered 50 off 24 deliveries to set New Zealand on the path to victory, albeit a path that nearly stopped short of the destination. The prospect of facing New Zealand in a knockout further along in the tournament set Starc and McDermott thinking.Their plans came together when McCullum chose to bat first in the final at the MCG. In the first over, Starc’s 149kph inswinging yorker missed McCullum’s bat and barely the off stump as well. Second ball: McCullum charged Starc, who followed him and again bat was not laid on ball. The third delivery was like the second, only it rattled McCullum’s stumps. The crowd erupted at a defining moment.”We’ve watched him a fair bit through the tournament be pretty destructive,” Starc said. “He’s been a key player for them right from the beginning. He’s been fantastic for the Kiwis to get them off to great starts. I think after that game in New Zealand we had to assess him as we went, because he’s very unpredictable.”Personally, I had a bit of a plan going with Craig McDermott about bowling a decent yorker to him first up. I’m not sure how that first one missed, but lucky that third one hit. There’s a lot of luck involved but just lucky to see that plan came off.”Starc was not surprisingly named Player of the Tournament for his 22 wickets at 10.18 and a remarkable economy rate of 3.50. His form continued in the decider when he collected 2 for 20 from his eight overs after adding Luke Ronchi’s wicket, and McCullum said he had no answers for Starc in the first over of the match.”He was a bit too good for me today, that’s for sure,” McCullum said. “He deserves the Man of the Tournament. He was outstanding bowling at good pace, he swung the ball late, he was incredibly accurate all the way along as well. Sometimes in this game you go in with the best-laid plans and your ideal scenario of how you see the game panning out, but sometimes a guy is just too good for you.”If Starc was too good early, the Player of the Match, James Faulkner was too good late. The other key moment of the match came when the Powerplay began in the 36th over and Faulkner used the first ball of it to catch Ross Taylor’s edge with a slower delivery that ended the 111-run partnership between Taylor and Grant Elliott which had threatened to set up a challenging total. Faulkner struck again two balls later.”I thought at times New Zealand looked like they were going to get away from us,” Faulkner said. “I thought Ross Taylor and Grant Elliot had an exceptional partnership considering what happened at the start, to pull things back for them, but at the end of the day, to bowl them out for 183 was fantastic.”I use [the slower ball] as a change of pace so the batters don’t get set. I bowl in the Powerplays and at the death. If you’re bowling the same ball there’s more chance of you getting hit out of the park. It’s the change-up I use to take wickets and also to change the batters’ swing when they’re trying to hit me to parts of the ground. Sometimes it doesn’t come out as good as what I wanted but today it came out okay and I used it half a dozen times.”It was that kind of day for Australia, a day when all their plans came together.

Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Marsh have been granted permission by their IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab to return home after Monday’s match against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Nagraj Gollapudi11-May-2015Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson and batsman Shaun Marsh have been granted permission by their IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab to return home after Monday’s match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. According to Kings XI coach Sanjay Bangar, the two players made the request so that they could travel with the Australian squad for the series in the West Indies in June.Johnson and Marsh will miss Kings XI’s last two games, against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings, in Mohali on May 13 and 16.”While both the players have been of great significance to the team and contributed immensely, we respect our players’ decisions,” Kings XI said in a release. “We have a fine line up in place and are hopeful of a good performance in the upcoming matches.”Having finished runners-up the previous IPL season, Kings XI were the first team to be eliminated from the running for the playoffs this year, having won only two of their first 11 games. Though Bangar had not singled out anyone as responsible for his team’s failures, the poor performances from the overseas contingent of George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Marsh and Johnson hurt the team severely.Marsh played only four games this season, and 65 of his 81 runs came in one innings against Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad, a match Kings XI won via a one-over eliminator after the match was tied.Johnson’s failures were more pronounced. He took only nine wickets in nine matches and had an economy rate of 9.37 per over, a performance that was at odds with his billing as one of the best fast bowlers in the world.

Gloucestershire took four wickets after tea to damage Lancashire’s first-innings response to 388 on day two of their Championship match at Old Trafford

Press Association11-May-2015
ScorecardPaul Horton made his first hundred of the season•Getty ImagesGloucestershire took four wickets after tea to damage Lancashire’s first-innings response to 388 on day two of their Championship match at Old Trafford.Paul Horton’s 15th Championship century had helped the Division Two leaders into a position of strength at 207 for 2 in the 52nd over of their reply. Horton shared 134 inside 28 overs for the third wicket with Ashwell Prince either side of tea, but Prince’s departure for 57 was the first of four wickets to fall for 58 as Lancashire slipped to 265 for 6. Horton was unbeaten on 134 at the close.Gloucestershire started the day by advancing their first innings from 322 for 7, with Kyle Jarvis taking two of the three wickets to fall to finish with 4 for 121 from 31 overs.Opening batsman Horton and in-form Prince then prospered in good batting conditions through the majority of the afternoon, with Prince going beyond 430 runs for the season. Craig Miles, Kieron Noema-Barnett and Liam Norwell picked up a wicket apiece after tea.Earlier, Norwell and Miles struck either side of lunch to get rid of Luis Reece and Alviro Petersen cheaply to boost the visitors, but Horton and Prince were rarely troubled until the latter drove loosely at Miles and was caught behind. Norwell had Reece caught behind off a bottom edge as he attempted to pull in the 12th over, with the score on 27, before Petersen chopped on to Miles as Lancashire slipped to 73 for 2.Horton and Prince built their partnership at a healthy rate of 4.84 runs per over before the latter fell in the third over after tea. Prince is second only to Kevin Pietersen in the Division Two run-scoring at present, while Horton also went beyond 300 runs for the campaign.The 32-year-old finished last season with high hopes of being named Lancashire’s new captain in place of Glen Chapple, and there were concerns that his disappointment at missing out may affect his form. But he has responded in the best way possible, adding his first Championship century in 12 innings to scores of 71 and 67 not out in a recent win against Kent on this ground, and 49 in last week’s draw at Northamptonshire.He reached his century off 150 balls in the closing stages of the afternoon. Horton and stand-in captain Steven Croft later shared 40 for the fourth wicket before Croft and Alex Davies fell in successive balls in the 68th over, leaving the score at 247 for five.Noema-Barnett’s medium pace trapped Croft lbw before Davies was run out from point by a Will Tavare throw to the striker’s end. And Norwell ensured Gloucestershire ended the day on a high by trapping Jordan Clark lbw as he offered no shot.

Chris Rogers, the Australia opener, has confirmed he is set to retire after the Ashes in England this summer

ESPNcricinfo staff18-May-2015Chris Rogers, the Australia opener, has confirmed he is set to retire after the Ashes in England this summer. Rogers said finishing his international career in the country where he had played a lot of county cricket would be a fitting end.”I’m very happy, I’ve been pretty fortunate to have this second go at it and have loved every moment of it, but time calls on everyone and I think it’s nearly up for me,” he told Fox Sports. “I think to go out in the Ashes and in England where I’ve played a lot of cricket is pretty fitting.”Rogers, 37, had indicated in November, when he was selected for the home series against India, that the Ashes would be his finishing line. Before the Ashes, however, Rogers will travel with the Australian squad to the Caribbean for two Tests against West Indies in June.He has played 20 Tests for Australia in a career than began in 2008, scoring 1535 runs with four hundreds at an average of 39. He’s played 289 first-class matches for various state sides in Australia and counties in England, making 23,796 at an average of 50.

The USA Cricket Association confirmed the cancellation of pre-tournament preparation camps for both the men’s and U-19 teams, which were to be held later this month

Peter Della Penna24-Jun-2015The USA Cricket Association confirmed the cancellation of pre-tournament preparation camps for both the men’s and Under-19 teams. The camps were due to be held later this month ahead of the squads’ participation in the World T20 Qualifier and U-19 Americas Division One Qualifier respectively.Owen Grey, vice-president and director of player operations of USACA, said that in the end it came down to a lack of finances. “Sponsors haven’t fulfilled their obligations since releasing the calendar back in February,” Grey told ESPNcricinfo.In February, just prior to USACA’s general elections, the board had announced camps for the senior team to be held from April 23 to 25 in Jamaica ahead of May’s ICC Americas Division One Twenty20 tournament in Indianapolis. Another camp was scheduled initially for June 26 to 28 in Jamaica, then moved to June 19 to 21 for the men’s team prior to leaving for the World T20 Qualifier in Ireland next month. The U-19 squad was due to play three games against a New York Region U-23 team from June 26 to 28 in New York before the U-19 Qualifier in Bermuda.”Players aren’t willing to lose income from their job for camps and training sessions without equal compensation,” Grey said. “To sum it up it’s a problem with resources and commitment.”Despite Grey’s statement, five USA players arranged for their own flights and hotel accommodations to attend a week-long camp in Barbados from June 15 with the Barbados Tridents. They received an invitation from Robin Singh with coordination from former USA team manager Shoaib Ahmed. The opportunity was arranged at short notice with several players personally securing help from benefactors to defray the costs without financial assistance from the USACA.Several USA squad players, who were not part of the Tridents camp, have told ESPNcricinfo they would have paid on their own to get there had they known about it because they are eager for preparation that USACA had not organised for ahead of the World T20 Qualifier. However, they did not receive invitations and only found out about the Tridents camp after their USA team-mates started posting pictures from Barbados on social media.In a phone call with ESPNcricinfo, Grey also stated that USACA had decided it would be more cost efficient to send the players over to Ireland a week early to get acclimatised to conditions ahead of their first match on July 10, rather than spend extra money on a weekend camp elsewhere. USA’s players will depart for Dublin to arrive on July 3, the same scheduled arrival date arranged by the ICC for all teams competing at the World T20 Qualifier.

Hours after being suspended by the BCCI for making corrupt approach to a Mumbai team-mate, batsman Hiken Shah has stressed he is “innocent”

Amol Karhadkar13-Jul-2015Hours after being suspended by the BCCI after the board found him guilty of making corrupt approach to a Mumbai team-mate, batsman Hiken Shah has stressed he is “innocent”.”I am innocent. I have not done anything wrong,” Shah told ESPNcricinfo from Lancashire, United Kingdom. When asked if he had made the alleged approach to his Mumbai team-mate, who also represents IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, Shah said, “All I will say is I am innocent and I will fight to prove it.”Earlier in the day, however, Shah told the television news channel that he had met the said player for coaching-related activities. “I have no idea what is happening. I had just met him for a coaching thing and not any irregular activity,” he said.Though ESPNcricinfo has confirmed the identity of the player who reported the incident in March, his name cannot be revealed as the BCCI has not officially announced it.It is understood that approximately a fortnight before the eighth edition of the IPL commenced on April 8, Shah was training with some of his Mumbai team-mates. After training, he sat with the Royals cricketer in his car and allegedly tried to convince him to cheat during one of the games. Shah allegedly told the player he didn’t have much cricket left in him and considering he didn’t fetch exceptional price at the auction, he should think of making a quick buck by cheating in a game.The Royals player told him to stop and immediately discussed the conversation with another Mumbai and Royals colleague. The duo decided to report it to the Royals team management, since the player approached was sure it wasn’t a prank. The Royals management immediately alerted the BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit who took almost three months to investigate the matter before prima facie finding him guilty.The ACU is understood to have sent a show-cause notice to Shah and the batsman thought the ACU officials were satisfied with his replies. It is also understood that Shah had asked if he could go to England for playing minor county leagues and he was granted permission by the BCCI.Shah has been playing for Whalley Cricket Club in the Ribblesdale Cricket League, a minor county league in Lancashire, since May and has amassed eight fifties and two centuries in the 15 innings so far this season.Shah, however, is expected to return home by the weekend in a bid to clear his name. He is likely to be asked to appear before the BCCI disciplinary committee, headed by president Jagmohan Dalmiya.Shah is stunned by the BCCI’s action and he is not alone. Shah is considered to be one of the most soft-spoken and disciplined cricketers in Mumbai and coupled with his sound background – his father involved in garment business and Shah is employed with the customs department – the incident has left many members of Mumbai’s cricket fraternity shocked.While Sanjay Patil, the former Mumbai spinner who played a pivotal role in helping Shah get employed by customs, was speechless, Mumbai’s chief selector, Milind Rege, said such an activity was least expected from someone like Shah.”It is absolutely shocking. One doesn’t expect in today’s times when the vigilance level has gone up so high for such things to happen, more so from someone like Hiken,” Rege said. “One has known this boy for some time. He has always been one of the quiet ones. Least expected from somebody like him.”The BCCI suspension has become the biggest talking point in Shah’s almost decade-long inconsistent run in first-class cricket for Mumbai. The left-handed batsman made his debut in a league game against Rajasthan in 2006-07 and in his first innings, applied himself for well over an hour before stumps to see off the opening day. That prompted , a Mumbai tabloid, to carry a piece on him with the headline “He-ken bat”. First ball of the next morning, Shah attempted an extravagant on-drive to hole out to mid-on. Later in the season, he was one of five Mumbai batsmen dismissed for a duck in the semi-final against Baroda and was dropped for the final.After failing to find a permanent place in the side over the next couple of seasons, he accepted an offer from Jammu & Kashmir to play as a professional in 2009-10. He scored 242 runs in seven innings in the Plate league and decided to return to his home side the next season. He was also employed with the customs department at this time.The Mumbai Cricket Association has a rule that a home player who wants to be reconsidered for selection, after playing for another team, has to spend a one-year cooling-off period and Shah spent that time scoring heavily for his office team as well his club side, Payyade Sports Club, owned by Mumbai Cricket Association joint secretary Dr PV Shetty.By then, he had established himself as a steady batsman, someone who could hold one end together and let other batsmen rally around him. The run of form helped him make a return to Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy side midway through the 2011-12 season. The next season, 2012-13, turned out to be his standout season.With 773 runs at an average of 55.21, Shah was one of the architects of Mumbai’s 40th Ranji title. In his only Ranji final, he scored a fifty against Saurashtra. His form prompted the zonal selectors to pick him in the West Zone team but he failed against a formidable South Zone attack.He failed to achieve the same consistency in the last two seasons, and lost his place in the side midway through the last season. He questioned his exclusion in local press and, as a result, he was not considered for the rest of the season.

India captain MS Dhoni has said Virat Kohli’s ability to rotate strike is the key to converting starts into big scores in pressure situations after India’s six-wicket win over Pakistan

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2016India captain MS Dhoni has said Virat Kohli’s ability to rotate strike is the key to converting starts into big scores in pressure situations after Kohli’s unbeaten 55 off 37 balls took India to a six-wicket win over Pakistan at Eden Gardens on Saturday.Kohli arrived in the third over with the score on 14 for 1 and had only faced two deliveries by the time India fell to 23 for 3 in the fifth over in pursuit of Pakistan’s 118, but Dhoni said Kohli thrived in such situations by not depending on boundaries to get himself and the team out of trouble. Up until the ninth over, Kohli had only struck one boundary but had taken nine singles in his first 13 deliveries in partnership with Yuvraj Singh to add the first 31 runs in a 61-run stand that took India within striking distance of victory. In all, Kohli scored off 28 of his 37 deliveries, including 19 singles.”It’s very simple. What an innings is all about is how you convert it, when you’re under pressure,” Dhoni said after the win. “There are a few ways to handle pressure. At times we have seen, in Test cricket, or ODI and T20 format, when there is a lot of pressure, often they go for the big shot. It seems at that point of time that that’s the best option, but when you’re under a lot of pressure, the best way to deal with it is to take a single, go to the other end, because that calms you down, and at the same time you have that positive intent because you’re looking for that single. And you know your areas.”Everybody knows what their strength is – for some it’s a flick, for some it’s the cut. So if it’s in your area, you have to play your shot. If not, try to take a single, go to the other end. And if you see his batting, that’s what he really does. And where he has an edge over the others is, you have to push hard. That’s why he loves batting with individuals who can run hard with him. Because running hard is the easiest way to score runs. You hit it in the middle, between long-on and deep midwicket, if you have two good runners, you can convert that one into two, or one-and-a-half runs into two, and that puts a lot of pressure on the bowler and the fielders.”The other ingredient to success that Dhoni attributed to Kohli is his “hunger to perform”. Dhoni said Kohli’s preparation habits enabled him to consistently score runs rather than going through dips in form.”He takes everything as a challenge,” Dhoni said. “He wants to improve, he wants to contribute in each and every game, and that’s what it’s all about, because he wants to contribute, he wants to score runs, he prepares well, he takes care of his fitness. He knows, he understands now, in different wickets how he’s supposed to bat and score runs. And we all know, once he gets going, once he gets a start, he always converts it into a big innings, which I feel is one of the most important things for any youngster coming into the game.”MS Dhoni attributes Kohli’s ability to thrive under pressure to his eagerness for taking singles•IDI/Getty ImagesKohli’s success helped shield the problems faced by other batsmen on the day, in particular Suresh Raina who was out first ball to Mohammad Sami. The left-hander has struggled recently, scoring 1 in two of his previous three T20I innings. However, Dhoni deflected questions about Raina’s form and said the team still had confidence in him.”People don’t score runs in one or two games, that question will be asked,” Dhoni said. “If Shikhar doesn’t score in one more game that question will be asked, why not Jinks to open and Shikhar left out. I feel it is important to back players and at the same time, if you see there are too many people who need to bat at that No. 3 slot.”If you compare the stats, especially when it’s happening in India, you’ll see there are lot of individuals who should bat at three, but Virat gets an edge, and in the same way I think [Raina] deserves that No. 4 position more than anyone else, and it’s important to back him. Yes, there might be tactical changes when he won’t get that slot, but overall I think he’s the best option.”Dhoni also gave credit to his spinners for exploiting conditions after winning the toss and inserting Pakistan to bat first. The India captain said the amount of time the pitch spent covered due to rain throughout of the day was a strong factor in his decision-making, though he was surprised at the amount of turn so early in the match. At the same time, he also explained his reasoning for not bowling out R Ashwin despite the trouble caused by Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja early in the match.”Initially we never thought it would turn so much. Reading the wicket, I thought there was a bit of moisture because they had watered the wicket yesterday and I don’t think they got enough sun today. The last time when I saw the wicket was before the start of the game, and then it was quite damp. And even when you roll the wicket, the top surface may look a bit good, but it’s more a cosmetic thing, because underneath there was a lot of moisture.”I feel it was because of the moisture that the spinners were getting a lot of turn. Even the ones that were bowling it quite hard, if you hit the seam you can turn the ball, and that’s what Jadeja and Ashwin did. The Pakistan batsmen, they are good players of spin bowling, and later on I felt, there was a chance, if I had given it to Ashwin they could have gone after him. I’m not saying he can’t deal with it, but I went for the safer option.”While Dhoni said he is proud of India’s historic unbeaten record against Pakistan in World Cups and World T20s, he said it’s not something they take for granted.”There is also a reality that one day we will lose – whether it is today or in ten years or 20 years or 50 years. There is no such thing that you will always keep winning. Also, our team has evolved a lot, and somehow in ICC events our performances have been good of late, whether it’s the last Champions Trophy or the World Cup. We have given pretty good performances, so that also plays a role. I feel we have played good cricket, and that’s the reason.”

The PCB has announced that Haroon Rasheed’s selection committee is to be disbanded with immediate effect

Umar Farooq04-Apr-2016The PCB has announced that Haroon Rasheed’s selection committee is to be disbanded with immediate effect. Rasheed came in for criticism in the post-World T20 report submitted by Waqar Younis – who has since stood down as head coach – and a PCB Special Committee has now determined that new selectors are to be appointed.The board formed a five-man fact-finding committee following the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, after the government questioned Pakistan’s dismal performance. The committee was given a mandate to investigate the poor show in World T20 as well and after detailed deliberation the PCB has decided to revamp the entire cricketing structure.No official report has been released but Waqar resigned on Monday, the entire selection committee was dismissed and Shahid Afridi has also relinquished the captaincy. Afridi has indicated his willingness to play on but it is understood that his international future is uncertain and he is not an automatic selection.The PCB now faces having to name a new selection panel, T20 captain and coach – and will be assisted by Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja in the latter search. Issues with player fitness were highlighted by Waqar in the review of Pakistan’s group-stage exit at the World T20 and those selected for the forthcoming tour of England will have to attend a boot camp with the army. The committee has also recommended hiring a psychologist and dietitian.In longer-term measures, the PCB is to focus on who holds a number of key positions. The directorship of National Cricket Academy is presently being held by a businessman who has no cricketing experiences, while the cricket committee and the game development committee are also occupied by a non-cricketer – something the PCB wishes to address.Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure, which has been subject to frequent upheaval, is again set to change. The format of the entire circuit was revamped last year but another overhaul is now expected. “A more competitive domestic first-class program involving fewer teams and players is being worked out,” said the PCB statement. Pitches and their curation are to be given special attention, with directions already issued to improve the quality of domestic tracks.”I am thankful to the Special Committee for presenting their detailed report which had important recommendations that I am pleased to accept,” the PCB chairman, Shahryar Khan, said. “While the decision on selection committee, coaches and T20 captain was a tough one, in the interest of Pakistan cricket we have now taken the above steps to address the decline in our cricket.”I am thankful to Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi and selection committee headed by Haroon Rasheed for the services they provided to Pakistan cricket in the past and wish them all good luck in their future endeavours. PCB has not sought scapegoats or played the blame game. PCB recognises the need for honest introspection. It is now time to move forward for betterment of cricket.”

Centuries from David Lloyd and Graham Wagg restored Welsh pride and ensured Kent will need to be on their mettle to secure a win

ECB Reporters Network03-May-2016
ScorecardGraham Wagg formed an impressive stand with David Lloyd to give Glamorgan a chance•Getty ImagesCenturies from David Lloyd and Graham Wagg restored Welsh pride and ensured Kent will need to be on their mettle if they are to open their Specsavers County Championship win account on the final day of this cut and thrust game in Canterbury.Lloyd posted 107 for his maiden championship hundred, while Wagg – a thorn in Kentish sides on his last three appearances here – hit 106 to help Glamorgan to an impressive second innings total of 414.Kent reached 22 without loss in the six overs through to stumps and need a further 167 on the fourth and final day to land their first victory of the campaign from three Division Two starts.Trailing by 212 overnight, the visitors made the most of ideal batting conditions and were soon celebrating a Will Bragg half-century from 68 balls as he and James Kettleborough added 78 for the second wicket.But Bragg then dragged one from Hugh Bernard on to off stump and Kettleborough edged a defensive push against Mitch Claydon to the keeper.Two more Glamorgan wickets fell in the mid-session; Cooke fencing a short one from Matt Coles high to Tom Latham at second slip, who then snaffled a tumbling chance to his right that accounted for Aneurin Donald against the same bowler.That bought together Lloyd and Wagg for a potentially game-changing stand. Wagg should have gone for 11 when he nibbled one to slip against Coles where Darren Stevens dropped Kent’s fifth chance of the match. It proved a vital chance that caused the hosts to lose their way.The visiting pair went on to set a new record sixth-wicket stand for matches between Glamorgan and Kent of 215 in 38.2 overs – beating an unbroken 206 set by Jim Pressdee and Alan Rees at The Mote in Maidstone in 1964 – on a day when press box sage, Edward Bevan, was Glamorgan’s 12th man. “I remember it well,” said Eddie. “Glamorgan were following on and Rees blocked an over of full-tosses from Colin Cowdrey. The crowd were in uproar.”Lloyd clubbed a long-hop from Adam Riley to reach his maiden four-day ton on a disappointing day for the Kent offspinner. Still rebuilding his action and confidence following a stint with the ECB Performance Programme two winters ago, Riley’s wicketless final 10-over stint of the day cost 64 runs.Wagg reached three figures, taking a ball more than Lloyd to do so, but both fell in quick succession once Kent took the second new ball. Lloyd edged a pull through to the keeper against Claydon, Craig Meschede shouldered arms to be bowled by Stevens without scoring then Wagg, working to leg against a straight one, departed lbw to Stevens to make it 377 for 8.Stevens, who finished with 4 for 79, had Andrew Salter snaffled in the cordon by Latham, leaving Coles to have last man Michael Hogan caught behind to an eighth catch in the match by Adam Rouse.

Drawing a standing ovation from a hostile stadium, like the Real Madrid star, is a feat that only the very best footballers can hope to achieve

GettyAlessandro Del Piero | Real Madrid vs Juventus, 2008Del Piero returned to Juve at the height of the Calciopoli scandal, but showed off his masterful skills with a double as the Merengue were dismantled in front of their own fans. The Bernabeu could not help but show its appreciation, as it gave the Italian maestro a reception mirrored 10 years later for Ronaldo in Turin.AdvertisementGettyRonaldo | Manchester United vs Real Madrid, 2003One of the greatest games 'original' Ronaldo played in the Madrid shirt. The Brazilian smashed a hat-trick at Old Trafford in a 3-1 win for the visitors and soaked up the affection of an admiring Theatre of Dreams.GoalDennis Bergkamp | Manchester City vs Arsenal, 2003The man affectionately christened the 'Non-flying Dutchman' in memory of his aversion to airplanes was simply unstoppable at his best. Bergkamp ran riot at Maine Road, scoring once and generally leading City a merry dance as Arsenal ran out 5-1 winners.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyRonaldinho | Real Madrid vs Barcelona, 2005It takes something truly special for a Barcelona player to earn a standing ovation at the Bernabeu. But Ronaldinho was one of a kind, his talent on the field matched with an infectious joy that made the Brazilian one of the most lovable stars in the game. In 2005 Ronaldinho took Madrid to pieces in a 3-0 win, scoring twice and basking in the applause of Barca's bitter rivals.