All posts by h716a5.icu

A sameness to their approach, and a stubborn adherence to last year’s strategies were the main reasons for Kings XI Punjab’s slide in IPL 2015

Nagraj Gollapudi16-May-2015OverviewThere were 11 fifties scored by five Kings XI batsmen, two overseas and three Indians, last IPL.  There were two centurions, too: Virender Sehwag and Wriddhiman Saha. This season there have been just five fifties – by three overseas players. There were six bowlers who got wickets in double-digits last season. This season only Anureet Singh, Axar Patel and Sandeep Sharma have managed to get 10-plus wickets.Kings XI’s victorious run to the final last season was the story of the IPL. They remained the story of this IPL, too, but the plot was different: how did they manage the fast slide from runners-up to rock-bottom?There was a sameness to Kings XI’s approach this season, at times bordering on the tiring. Even Sanjay Bangar, their coach, finally admitted that the team was glued to the strategies used last season. Such stubbornness only proved to be calamitous.Even as hard-hitting openers like Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan and Robin Uthappa were making bold statements, the experienced Kings XI opening pair of Sehwag and M Vijay failed to adapt to the demands of the fast-paced format. Take out David Miller, and to an extent George Bailey, and the middle order was as weighty as candyfloss.Even the bowling, which was penetrative and diverse last year, was miserable. Although the Indian trio of Anureet, Sandeep and Axar strived, they seemed stretched by the inability of Mitchell Johnson to provide the momentum. Johnson probably was stretched and tired himself and might have guarded against trying too hard keeping the Ashes in mind.High pointRajasthan Royals raised 191 in the afternoon heat at Motera. Kings XI needed two runs per ball at the halfway stage. It became 14 off the last over from James Faulkner. With five needed for a victory from the final ball, Axar Patel hit a four to tie the match. Shaun Marsh, the top-scorer in the chase with 65, hit three fours in a row against Morris, who had got Miller first ball of the one-over eliminator. Johnson bowled a tight line to get rid of Shane Watson and then Faulkner was run out to clinch the thriller.Low pointBefore they were dismissed for 88 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI were the only team to have played all eight IPLs and never been bowled out for less than 100. That 88 is the lowest total this season. Another record that will not be erased soon: seven batsmen were bowled, the highest ever for that mode of dismissal in an IPL innings.Top of the classDavid Miller is the only player to have scored 1000 runs for Kings XI since 2012. He is their second-highest run-getter overall after Shaun Marsh. Miller has made a 50-plus score four times at a strike-rate of at least 200 and is the only player to do so in IPL history. It remains a mystery as to why he was never promoted up the batting order.Royal Challengers pushed AB de Villiers to No. 3 knowing very well that if he lasted for more than five overs he could create mayhem. Yet Miller walked in at No. 5, mostly to rebuild and repair the irreparable damage caused due to the collapsed of the preceding batsmen. Still the South African managed to finish as the best batsman with two fifties, the second of which was a late flourish that nearly shocked Sunrisers Hyderabad in a high-scoring chase that Kings XI lost by five runs.Under-par performerVirender Sehwag, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Johnson were consistent failures. All three men had important roles to perform: Sehwag had to provide robust starts, Maxwell was entrusted with providing the aggression in the middle and his inimitable dashing cameos at the end, while Johnson was supposed to instil doubt and fear in the batsmen. All three failed badly.Tip for 2016Find a quality top-order batsman and a good spinner, preferably a legspinner. If anything, the downfall would have taught Kings XI that while reaching the top is difficult, it is harder to stay at the top.

Much about Lahore has changed during Pakistan’s isolation from international cricket, but the city remains friendly and welcoming. Pakistan’s players and fans are pleased cricket is coming home again.

Umar Farooq in Lahore21-May-2015Still Lahore Lahore aye!
The city is known for its openhearted, welcoming and friendly nature. In the past six years the city has been modernised with wide roads, huge buildings, parking plazas, overhead bridges, underpasses, more cinemas than ever. In short, the city has grown a lot in the time of isolation from international cricket. But the nature of the Lahoris has remained the same. They might be starved of the entertainment of international cricket but their hospitality remains warm. They might not able to greet the team due to the tight security but the match tickets were sold out within two days ahead of the first Twenty20.Gaddafi Stadium back to life
With no international cricket, the state of the stands had deteriorated and the far ends of the stadium reflected a scene of gloom. The stadium used to have two press boxes – one for the local media and one for the foreigners – but with no international teams visiting, one facility had been converted into the corporate office of Pakistan Super League and the marketing department. The press conference room on the ground floor was the ugliest and most neglected room in the stadium.But now with Zimbabwe’s visit, the stadium is alive again with every corner of the venue beaming and reflecting a fresh look. The stands have been refurbished, the media facilities have suddenly been upgraded, the ugliest room has become the brightest room and journalists who rarely visited the press box in the past few years are now desperate for accreditation.The ground and the pitches remained the best feature of the stadium through Pakistan’s isolation and have been very well maintained. The surrounding stands might have been a gloomy backdrop but the ground had retained its lush, green grass. And with a foreign team romping around in the field training ahead of their first international fixtures, the venue has blossomed.Home sweet home
Since the attack on the Sri Lanka team in 2009, Pakistan have been forced to play away from home, mostly in the UAE. The players often complained about the homesickness that came with spending more time living away from home throughout the past few years. Now the Pakistan players can feel the sense of comfort of home. They might be staying at a hotel during the series but they are just minutes away from their families.Home advantage
Nearly three dozen players have made their debut outside Pakistan and have never played any international cricket on their home soil. Although the UAE might have been their home for the past six years, they have always been deprived of the true sense of a home advantage, an advantage that would give them confidence from playing in front of their home crowd and on grounds where they grew up playing cricket.One of Pakistan’s best prospects, Umar Akmal, has played 16 Tests, 111 ODIs and 59 T20s in the past six years but is yet to play a single fixture at home. Likewise Ahmed Shehzad, another talented batsman who became the only Pakistani to score a hundred in every format, has never played at home. Of the current squad, only Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Sami, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Hafeez and Sarfraz Ahmed have played internationals at home.Security gates
The fears of a terrorist attack on a cricket team became a reality in 2009 when the Sri Lankans were attacked at Liberty roundabout. The incident changed everything, and gave powerful evidence that Pakistan could not be regarded as safe, even for sportsmen. Over the years that perception became stronger. Gaddafi Stadium is situated within the Nishtar Park Sports Complex and the authorities have had to protect the facility with some strong measures, installing 14 huge metal gates at every entry point into the complex to instil a sense of security for the athletes.

Their slow-burning brand of cricket might not be the most exciting, but it certainly appears to be the team’s most logical approach

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Colombo26-Jun-2015Elsewhere on planet cricket, thrill-a-minute fun is on the rise. New Zealand have their well-stocked slip cordon. Michael Clarke is the archduke of funk. Even England, who were cricket’s version of hospital food (you could almost hear the flatlining heart monitors as Alastair Cook captained) have lately found zest for the game in one format at least. Bangladesh, as well, have discovered a more consistent version of their flamboyant selves.As the second day dragged on at the P Sara Oval, it became clear that in time to come, Sri Lanka may put more people into comas than raise patients out of them. Against a side missing their form pace bowler through injury, on a pitch that was probably at its best for batting, Sri Lanka moved at 2.56 runs per over to get 166 runs ahead – effective, but rarely exciting.The hosts always speak about being “positive and aggressive”. The phrase has gone from captain to captain, and is now recited by rote. It made sense to hear it when Sri Lanka were the most thrilling team in cricket, dishing out counterattacks and flooding the infield with catching men. But by modern Test standards, they are a tentative bunch. Spin bowlers are eased into the attack with men on the fence. Holes are plugged when boundaries are hit. Run-rates languish, whether chasing the game, or running it.Take Kaushal Silva, who has made the most runs so far in this series. His cover drive is pretty enough, but his innings have more leaves than a banyan tree. Silva’s first run in this innings was 13 balls in the making. It took him 76 deliveries to reach 20, then 163 to reach 50. At times on Friday morning, it seemed like his game plan was to put spectators to sleep, then change the scoreboard while the stadium dozed. All over the ground, people woke up in pools of drool to note Silva had advanced 10 runs. Then, straining in vain to stay awake for a four that never came, they would topple over in their chairs.You could hardly blame him Dimuth Karunaratne had been out slashing at a wide ball. Kumar Sangakkara, reliving one of his all-time classic modes of dismissal, picked out long on with precision. Lahiru Thirimanne’s Test woes continued, and even Angelo Mathews should have been out trying to clear the infield, had he not been a recipient of a dropped catch – a daily award prescribed by Pakistan fielding custom.

At times on Friday morning, it seemed like Silva’s game plan was to put spectators to sleep, then change the scoreboard while the stadium dozed

Mathews’ innings perhaps contained the most watchable batting moments of the day, when he wristily turned Yasir Shah through midwicket for a pair of Azharuddin-esque boundaries. But he undid all that handsomeness when he helped bring about that ugliest form of dismissal- a run-out. Ignoring Silva’s call for a quick single, Mathews watched his partner dosey doe the middle of the pitch, then leave the ground disappointed, on 80. In Mathews’ defence he could have been taken aback by the call, given Silva had shown intense disdain for making runs for most of his innings. Still, he must be at least partly to blame. Since his debut, no cricketer has been involved in anywhere near the 54 run-outs Mathews has been a part of. On average, a run-out occurs every 4.6 times Mathews makes his way to the middle.As if to drive home the point that Silva’s slow burn was Sri Lanka’s best approach for the moment, Dinesh Chandimal and Kithuruwan Vithanage lost their wickets attacking, for the second innings on the trot. Chandimal ran at Yasir and yorked himself. Having been out sweeping Yasir with the spin in the last match, Vithanage attempted to reverse sweep against the spin early in this innings. This is a bit like body slamming a bonfire to avenge it for burning your finger. Predictably, he was bowled. Even Silva, usually a sympathetic and generous team-mate, found the shot hard to defend.”I can’t comment on that shot actually,” Silva said. “At that stage the ball was spinning and he took the wrong option. That’s all what I can say. He reverse-sweeps well and I am not saying that was a good shot. But we all make mistakes and that’s part of the game.”Karunaratne, Thirimanne, Chandimal and Vithanage deserved to be persevered with. Having already sunk resources into these men, Sri Lanka have few other choices. Maybe one day, they will begin playing the exhilarating cricket that befits the successors of batsmen such as Duleep Mendis, Aravinda de Silva and Mahela Jayawardene. But for now, prudence seems to mark Sri Lanka’s route forward. Better a few sleepy spectators than complete implosion.

Australia won the Test in Hobart so comprehensively that the gap in teams’ batting averages was the largest for West Indies in defeats

Shiva Jayaraman12-Dec-20155 Times West Indies have lost a Test by an innings and 200-plus runs. The margin in Hobart – an innings and 212 runs – was their fifth-worst innings defeat in history and their second-worst against Australia. They haven’t been this abject against the hosts since 1930-31 – bundled out for an innings and 217 runs in Brisbane. But including this game, two of West Indies’ most dismal losses have come in the last two years.125.13 The difference in averages (runs scored per wicket lost) between the two teams in this Test: Australia made 583 runs losing only four wickets, West Indies scrounged up only 371 and gave away 18 wickets. This is the biggest such difference for West Indies in a Test defeat, eclipsing the Durban episode of 2007-08, when they made 456 runs losing 19 wickets and South Africa lost just four wickets to score 556 runs.5/27 James Pattinson’s figures in the second innings – equals his best that he took on Test debut against New Zealand in 2011-12. Pattonson has 56 wickets in 14 matches, at an average of 26.35 with four five-fors in 14 matches.33 Times West Indies have been asked to follow-on in Tests now, which is one more than the times they have asked the opposition to follow-on. It is also the first time since 1948 that they have been asked to follow-on more often than they have managed to enforce it.63.51 Percentage of runs scored by Kraigg Brathwaite in West Indies’ total of 148 in their second innings. This is the fourth-highest in a completed innings and the highest for a West Indian. Brathwaite only narrowly beat Gordon Greenidge’s record – 134 out of 211 in the Old Trafford Test in 1976. Overall, Charles Bannerman’s 67.34%, an individual contribution of 165 in a total of 245 in the first-ever Test match, is the best.2008The last time, before Hobart, that a Test which had one team scoring 500 or more runs in an innings ended inside three days. West Indies were on the wrong side of that game too. They were bowled out in just 34.3 overs on the first day in Durban, South Africa replied with 556 and they were then bundled out again on the third day in 86.5 overs. Since 1950, the Hobart Test is only the 14th such instance and the second with West Indies ending up the vanquished.1993 The last time Australia recorded an innings victory with a larger margin at home – they beat against New Zealand by an innings and 222 runs at Hobart again. Overall, this is the fifth-biggest innings-win for Australia at home.1323 Balls this Test lasted – the sixth-least for any Test in Australia that has ended in a decisive result. The last time a Test was wrapped up quicker was in 2012-13 when Australia brushed Sri Lanka aside in 1216 deliveries.6 Hundreds made by Darren Bravo in 20 away Tests, including his 108 in West Indies’ first innings here. He has only one century at home from 20 Tests. Bravo has made 1759 at 51.73 outside West Indies and 1094 at 31.25 at home. The difference of 20.52 between Bravo’s away and home averages is the highest among batsmen who have got at least 500 runs both home and away since 2000.51 Wickets for Josh Hazlewood in Tests in 2015 – joint second-best by any bowler along with Stuart Broad. Only R Ashwin has been more successful this year. Among the 25 fast bowlers who have taken at least 10 wickets, Hazlewood’s average of 21.60 is the best.36.3 Overs West Indies’ lasted in their second innings. It is their fifth-shortest innings, in terms of deliveries, against Australia. Their shortest innings against Australia had come in Port of Spain in 1998-99 when they were bowled out in just 19.1 overs in their second innings.

Plays of the day from the World T20 match between England and West Indies

David Hopps16-Mar-20162:13

Star of the day: Chris Gayle

The variety
Dwayne Bravo had the audacity to begin with an over of slower balls, the last of them full and loopy outside off stump which Alex Hales mistimed into the coversThe fielder
There are few more electrifying fielders in the world than Andre Russell. One of several boundary saves came when Joe Root clipped Jerome Taylor to long-on and, even though he didn’t quite time it, must have imagined a boundary was on the cards. Russell’s sprint, dive over the boundary, and dash back to return the ball restricted him to two.The impetus
England were beginning to stall at 106 for 2 midway through the 14th over when Jos Buttler slapped Samuel Badree over long-on for six, giving the first sign of the steely wrists that have been valued so highly this season in IPL on the ground where he will star for Mumbai Indians.The captain’s intervention
There was much work to do when Eoin Morgan came to the crease. Russell spat a bouncer at him, second ball, and Morgan was up to the challenge, depositing it into the second tier.Remember me
Chris Gayle was staved off the strike in the early overs while Marlon Samuels set about England. He announced himself with a 98m straight six into the top tier off Adil Rashid and, for good measure, repeated it against the next delivery.The break
It is a rare sight to see a Super Sopper at work midway through an innings, but that was the decision midway through West Indies’ innings. At 85 for 2, West Indies were well in control and, having won the toss, would have been happy with as much dew on the outfield as they could get.The boss
Successive sixes off Ben Stokes took Gayle past Brendon McCullum as the leading six-hitter in T20 internationals. Just for once, he did not connect perfectly, but his pull cleared the leaping Root on the square-leg boundaryThe triple decker
Three successive sixes by Gayle off Moeen Ali settled the contest. Moeen had conceded 20 from his first 3.3 overs, but another 18 came from his last three balls, the last blow – a full toss, unceremoniously dragged over long-on – leaving England with nowhere to go.

Stats highlights from the Asia Cup clash between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Mirpur

Bharath Seervi02-Mar-20162 Consecutive T20Is in which Bangladesh have beaten Pakistan. Before this win, they had won by seven wickets the last time both sides met in April 2015. Pakistan had won each of the seven matches between the two sides prior to that. This was Pakistan’s fourth loss in six games this year.2 Number of times Bangladesh have reached the final of any kind in international cricket, before the Asia Cup T20. Both those appearances came in the 50-over format – tri-Nation Tournament involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in 2008-09 and Asia Cup 2011-12.129 Pakistan’s total on Wednesday – their lowest against Bangladesh in T20Is. On the six occasions they batted first against them, they made more than 170 four times.48 Runs scored by Soumya Sarkar, which is his highest in T20Is. He went past his previous highest of 43 against Zimbabwe in Khulna earlier this year.14.16 Average opening stand for Pakistan in six T20Is in 2016 – lowest among the full-member sides. Their highest stand has been just 33 this year. Last year, their average stand was 28.18 in 16 innings with three stands of 50 or more and highest of 142.20 Runs conceded by Bangladesh in the Powerplays – their lowest in T20Is. The previous lowest was 23 against Zimbabwe at the same venue in November 2015. For Pakistan, this was the fifth-lowest aggregate in the first six overs.3/25 Bowling figures of Al-Amin-Hossain – best for Bangladesh against Pakistan in T20Is. He is only the second Bangladesh bowler to take three wickets in a T20I against Pakistan. The first being Mohammad Ashraful’s 3 for 42 in Nairobi in 2006-07. These are the joint-best figures in T20Is between Pakistan and Bangladesh. This was Al-Amin-Hossain’s second consecutive three-wicket haul in T20Is and fifth overall – joint-most for Bangladesh with Shakib Al Hasan.34 Runs scored by Pakistan in the first ten overs, which is the lowest for them in T20Is. Their previous lowest was 35 for 4 against West Indies at the same venue in World T20 2014.8.66 Pakistan’s average runs per wicket in the Powerplays in this Asia Cup – lowest among the five teams. Their economy rate of 4.33 is also the lowest among the teams. They scored 32 for 3 in the Powerplays against India and 26 for 3 against UAE before being 20 for 3 in this match.4 Number of ducks for Shahid Afridi as captain, which is the joint-most by any batsman with Ireland’s William Porterfield. Overall, this was his eighth duck in this format – third-most after Tillakaratne Dilshan (10) and Luke Wright (9).

The problem of suspect actions has plagued Bangladesh cricket right through its history, and the BCB remains slow to respond to it

Mohammad Isam21-Apr-2016If it hadn’t been for the international sanctions on Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny during the World T20, the BCB, by its own admission, would not have taken suspicious bowling actions seriously. The Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, the domestic one-day tournament that begins on Friday, is the first chance to take a look at the problem but the board has not created its proposed bowlers’ review committee yet, and remains relaxed in letting bowlers with illegal actions play in the competition.There is talk of including a board director, a coach and an umpire in the committee, but the BCB has so far only circulated the draft regulations among the board directors. Upon approval, the BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said, “the committee will be formed in two to four days”. Apart from this delay, questions have been raised about the permission given to Taskin, Sunny and Sanjit Saha, the offspinner reported during the Under-19 World Cup, to play in the domestic tournament before their bowling actions have been approved even by the BCB.Taskin and Sunny have been training with their respective clubs since the April 10 players draft, meaning they have had little time to work on their actions. The board hasn’t yet mentioned when either of the duo will be prepared to undergo their second bowling-action assessment. Taskin has mentioned recently that he will need eight to ten weeks to get ready, while nothing of the kind has been heard from or about Sunny. Sanjit is said to have worked hard with a local coach without making much progress.But the problem of suspicious actions is not new to Bangladesh, and isn’t limited to these three bowlers. For decades, illegal bowling actions have plagued the domestic competitions, where a lack of technical knowledge, and technology, has hampered proper analysis.Only after Bangladesh gained Test status in 2000 did the BCB discover that some of its bowlers had kinks in their arms. Just two months after Bangladesh’s inaugural Test, the then captain Naimur Rahman, an offspinner, and left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique were reported by the ICC. In 2004, it was another left-arm spinner, Abdur Razzak, who was reported for a suspect action. He was suspended from bowling in December 2008, before the ICC was satisfied with his action within four months. In 2014 it was Sohag Gazi and Al-Amin Hossain who were suspended and had their bowling bans upturned after successful second assessments.In domestic cricket, hardly any bowler has had to suffer a prolonged suspension due to a suspect action. The BCB had worked with a few bowlers in 2007 but there was no procedural follow-up. Though umpires have reported bowlers from time to time, the BCB has not taken any concerted action.BCB director Khaled Mahmud, the former national captain who is now the Bangladesh manager as well as Abahani’s head coach, said the board should have taken suspicious bowling actions seriously at least three years ago. “There has been work with suspect bowlers in the past but we should have continued with it,” he said. “It would have created a system, possibly we could have built the lab that we are now thinking of. I think now these things will get implemented.”Nazmul Abedeen, the BCB’s national game development manager and an experienced coach who has worked with bowlers with suspect actions, said performance is often given more importance than technique in domestic cricket, resulting in more bowlers getting ahead by gaining an undue advantage with suspect actions.”I think we have been putting a lot of emphasis on performers, without always checking their bowling action,” Abedeen said. “I think many bowlers with suspect action get advantage over those with cleaner actions, and when they perform, they get selected. I think this is a lesson for us, and we should take it very seriously.”Soon after Taskin and Sunny were slapped with suspensions during the World T20, the BCB went up in arms. It demanded a review of Taskin’s ban while also realising the problem back home. Nazmul Hassan, the BCB president, said last month that the bowling review group would be created soon.”In our domestic cricket we don’t concentrate much with our bowling action that’s why many players fall in trouble in international cricket,” he said. “We have to review our players’ bowling actions. We are creating a group who will monitor these bowlers so that we don’t get in trouble in international cricket.”With the final domestic tournament of 2015-16 about to get underway, the proposal still only exists on paper.

On Monday, Zimbabwe clawed their way out of a hole only to take a running start and leap right back into it. Their fans wanted no part of such a debacle

Alagappan Muthu13-Jun-20161:06

Zimbabwe could’ve batted better – Rayudu

The Harare Sports Club is the beating heart of Zimbabwe cricket. It is a place of fun and a source of pride. Only four grounds in the world have hosted more ODIs than its count of 128. Unlike its peers – Melbourne, Sydney, Sharjah and Colombo – it is also steeped in pain.”What a shame,” proclaimed a lone occupant of Castle Corner on Monday. It was a white board.Usually that part of the ground is filled with die-hard fans of Zimbabwe. Making music and dancing to it. It had still been populated at twilight on a brilliant Sunday in July 2015, when Sikandar Raza was savouring the moment after leading his country to its first ever T20I victory over India. It was roaring when Elton Chigumbura embarrassed the Australians in September 2014, with a little help from Prosper Utseya.In June 2016, Raza and Chigumbura fell in the space of two balls. Not long after, Zimbabwe were all out for 126. And Castle Corner was abandoned.Mitigating factors first. Their second-highest scorer over the last 18 months, Sean Williams, was brought into the XI but injured his finger soon after the toss. So the hosts had to make do with ten men, which was a greater handicap when they lost the toss again and had to bat with frighteningly grey clouds stalking the ground. Zimbabwe had a tough enough job when Harare was bathed in sunshine on Saturday, when they were rounded up for 168.Damning evidence, now. Zimbabwe were 106 for 3. The pitch did not have much grass on it, and some of the shots played by Vusi Sibanda indicated its pace and bounce were more or less true. The ball kept low when it hit the odd crack, but otherwise it came onto the bat and India helped the batsmen’s cause by bowling shorter than they had in the first ODI. Zimbabwe should have got 250. Maybe more.For most of his hour and a half at the crease, Sibanda defined the potential coaches and selectors had seen in him before they thrust him into international cricket in November 2003, a month after his 20th birthday. One of his pulls screamed past midwicket, to his left, which is proof of the batsman picking the ball up early and trusting the bounce, which is vital to playing a horizontal-bat shot well. In the 15th over, he stood tall against Jasprit Bumrah’s pace and laced a drive to the cover boundary. Awkward action and constricting angle into the right-hander be damned.It was grim viewing for Zimbabwe fans in Harare•Associated PressZimbabwe had found a foundation, from 39 for 3 in the 10th over. This recovery was because the batsmen had learned from their mistakes. Most of them took guard outside their crease to negate the swing.Chamu Chibhabha, who could have been lbw in the second over to Barinder Sran’s first ball two days ago, had opened up his stance to see the seam coming out of the left-arm quick’s hand better and also reduce the chances of his front foot going towards off stump and leaving him vulnerable to the indipper.Sibanda punished bad balls whether they were from the fast bowlers or the spinners. An extra-cover drive when left-arm spinner Axar Patel overpitched was simply regal. And he was even able to make up for his partner Raza’s slow scoring. The fourth-wicket partnership put on 67 runs in 92 balls, of which 42 were gobbled up by Raza to make only 16.The fans in Harare began to hope. Makhaya Ntini was delighted when Sibanda reached his half-century. The interim head coach traded his broom for a towel, which he waved like it was a chequered flag in an F1 race. By the time Zimbabwe got to the finish line, though, they were simply broken. The patrons who frequent Castle Corner did not want to see their team like that.Batting coach Lance Klusener has said, “There is no doubting their talent.” The television commentators have echoed the same. But the tone of those words is often sombre. Like they think there is some inexplicable force in Zimbabwe that prevents the blooming of this talent. How else do you explain a player of Sibanda’s skill having an ODI average of 24.19 and a strike-rate of 63.43? Shot selection is clearly an issue – he hit Yuzvendra Chahal to long-on minutes after the legspinner had claimed a double-strike – but shouldn’t he know that after playing 125 matches?Lack of cricket, and quality opposition, have been given as reasons for Zimbabwe’s decline. Over the past five years, Pakistan have come for two full tours – Tests, ODIs and T20s – and a third time to play limited-overs cricket. South Africa and Australia played Zimbabwe in a tri-series in August 2014 and New Zealand have looked in once.It isn’t a lot, and not every team has come with their strongest XI. But Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, Dale Steyn, Mitchell Starc, Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson were there in 2014. Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Saeed Ajmal in 2013. Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor in 2015. The best thing you can learn competing against players of that calibre is how to absorb and retaliate against pressure and it shouldn’t take hundreds of matches to do so.On Monday, Zimbabwe clawed their way out of a hole only to take a running start and leap right back into it, and a second-string Indian side won the series while losing only three wickets. It made you wonder if the case was a little more dire.It made you wonder if what Alan Butcher, a former Zimbabwe coach, tweeted was right. “They lack enough quality first and foremost.”

Also: most wickets in a bowler’s last Test, and Australia’s whitewashes

Steven Lynch18-Oct-2016Which bowler took the most wickets in his last Test? asked Partha Pratim Pal from India
The best match figures by a bowler in what turned out to be his last Test are 14 for 144 – 7 for 56 and 7 for 88 – by the legendary England medium-pacer Sydney Barnes, against South Africa in Durban in 1913-14. Two others took 13 in their last match: left-armer John Ferris claimed 13 for 91 in his only Test for England (after eight for Australia), against South Africa in Cape Town in 1891-92, while legspinner Clarrie Grimmett bagged 13 for 173 for Australia against South Africa in Durban in 1935-36. Charles “Father” Marriott, another legspinner, took 11 for 96 in his only Test, for England against West Indies at The Oval in 1933. In all, there are nine bowlers who have taken ten or more wickets in what turned out to be their final Test, excluding R Ashwin, Rangana Herath and Devendra Bishoo, who are on the list as I write but will presumably play again (but not Pragyan Ojha, who hasn’t appeared for three years now).What is the highest score by a batsman carrying his bat in an ODI? asked Craig Manuel from South Africa
There have been only ten genuine instances of an opener carrying his bat through a completed one-day international innings. The highest score among them remains 125 not out, by Nick Knight in England’s all-out total of 246 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 1996. Three other openers reached three figures: Saeed Anwar made 103 in Pakistan’s 219 against Zimbabwe in Harare in 1994-95, Damien Martyn 116 of Australia’s 191 v New Zealand in Auckland in 1999-2000, and Alec Stewart a round 100 in England’s 192 against West Indies at Trent Bridge in 2000. For it to be classified as carrying the bat, all the other wickets have to go down (apart from cases of injury). This occasionally leads to confusion, as it doesn’t count if an opener bats through an innings in which all the wickets don’t fall. The highest such score is Martin Guptill’s 237 not out – in New Zealand’s 50-over total of 393 for 6 – against West Indies in Wellington during the 2015 World Cup.Australia had never been whitewashed 5-0 in an ODI series before their recent series against South Africa•AFPAzhar Ali made 302 in the first innings in Dubai, and 2 in the second. Is this the biggest difference between two scores in the same Test? asked Rajiv Radhakrishnan from England
The biggest difference between two individual scores in the same match is actually 320, by Hanif Mohammad – he made 17 in the first innings against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1957-58, then amassed 337 in a famous rearguard as Pakistan followed on. There’s one other instance higher than Azhar Ali’s difference of 300 against West Indies in Dubai. In the Ashes Test at Old Trafford in 1964, Australia’s captain Bob Simpson made 311 in the first innings, and 4 not out in the second.Devendra Bishoo took 8 for 49 against Pakistan in Dubai. Was this the cheapest eight-for in Tests? asked Allan Alexander from the United States
While the West Indian legspinner Devendra Bishoo’s performance for West Indies against Pakistan in Dubai was a remarkable one, it comes in only 21st on the list of the cheapest hauls of eight or more wickets in Tests. In 1895-96, the England opening bowler George Lohmann took 9 for 28 against South Africa in Johannesburg, while Jim Laker claimed 9 for 37 in the first innings against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956 (and 10 for 53 in the second). Lohmann also has the cheapest eight-for – he claimed 8 for 7 as South Africa were blown away for 30 in the previous Test, in Port Elizabeth, and finished that three-match series in 1895-96 with 35 wickets at 5.80.The difference of 300 between Azhar Ali’s two innings in Dubai has only been bettered by Hanif Mohammad and Bob Simpson•Getty Images Pakistan’s 579 for 3 in Dubai had only one three-figure score, in Azhar Ali’s unbeaten 302. Was this the highest Test score with only one individual centurion? asked Ali Asif from Pakistan
Rather surprisingly perhaps, there have been 24 higher totals with just one three-figure score in Tests than Pakistan’s 579 for 3 declared against West Indies in Dubai. The highest of all was by West Indies when they made 687 for 8 declared against England at The Oval in 1976, Viv Richards made 291, but the next-best was Clive Lloyd’s 84. The highest total to include a single century (rather than a 200 or 300) is India’s 664 against England at The Oval in 2007. Anil Kumble top-scored with 110, but there were half-centuries for Dinesh Karthik (91), Rahul Dravid (55), Sachin Tendulkar (82),VVS Laxman (51), MS Dhoni (92) and even Extras (54).Australia were blanked 5-0 in the recent one-day series in South Africa. Has this ever happened to them in a one-day series before? asked Stuart from South Africa
The short answer is no – Australia had never previously lost a five-match bilateral one-day series 5-0. They had been whitewashed in a four-match rubber (in England in 2012, in a series in which one match was completely rained off), and in two three-match ones (in England in 1997, and in New Zealand in 2006-07). For the full list of one-day whitewashes in series of three or more matches, click here.Post your questions in the comments below

Plays of the day from the second ODI between Australia and New Zealand in Canberra

Daniel Brettig06-Dec-2016The third slip
Winning the toss and sending Australia in was a gamble by Kane Williamson, but in the early exchanges he paid the price for not actually betting big enough. David Warner’s first ball from Trent Boult was a beauty, good length, swinging and going further off the seam, and Warner’s edge flew at eminently catchable height. Unfortunately for Williamson it flew straight to where third slip might have been, eluding the two catching men he had posted. It was virtually the last false stroke Warner played.The Nathan Lyon
Not present in Canberra, Nathan Lyon is infamous in the Australian side for trying to sweep pretty much every ball he receives from the spinners. Facing up to Mitchell Santner, Aaron Finch tried a similar approach, with less than satisfactory results. First he was unable to make good contact, instead gloving a ball down the leg side that narrowly evaded the clutches of BJ Watling. In the same over he went again, to a higher and straighter Santner offering. Instead of hearing the crisper sound of willow on ball, Finch’s ears burned to the clatter of ball on stumps, and had to take his leave.The hat-trick
For much of his innings, Mitchell Marsh found himself jammed by full deliveries, either bunting them back to the bowler or squeezing them down the ground for a single. He tried various stances on the batting crease, and hit pay dirt in the final over of Australia’s innings. Matt Henry’s lengths wavered, and a trio of eminently hittable length balls were deposited into the seats over the bowler’s head. Marsh’s straight hitting is among the strengths of his game – a mystery of his Test troubles was why he was so seldom able to use it.The stinger
Jimmy Neesham was principally concerned with Mitchell Starc’s reverse-swinging yorkers when the bowler surprised him with a shorter ball. It was not exactly a bouncer, something Neesham discovered when he took evasive action, only to feel the ball thud into his right forearm, just below the elbow. The arm quickly started to swell, and lengthy physio attention was called for, with a compression bandage of sorts being applied. To Neesham’s immense credit, he barely flinched at the blow and then resumed his innings, connecting with several more meaty blows before his eventual dismissal.