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India out-muscled South Africa then Australia and now Pakistan in every department

Nagraj Gollapudi16-Jun-20191:40

Effortless Rohit making this his World Cup

Pakistan were reeling at 146 for 5. MS Dhoni pointed to the third man fielder, asking him to come fine. Kedar Jadhav, the fielder, didn’t acknowledge because he was not watching Dhoni. Dhoni carried on waving. With every passing second the wave became stronger and faster till Dhoni nearly folded both his hands to plead Jadhav to listen to him. Finally, Jadhav noticed the senior glovesman’s signal and quickly shuffled to the desired position.

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Bhuvneshwar Kumar had walked out of the ground having just bowled 16 deliveries. It was the fifth over of the Pakistan innings, but already Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar had built intense pressure by tying up the opposition openers with tight lines and lengths. As soon as Bhuvnewshar handed the ball to the umpire and walked out, Virat Kohli turned to Vijay Shankar. He might have been nervous for certain, but he swung the ball into Imam-ul-Haq’s pads to become only the third man to fetch a wicket off the first ball on World Cup debut.

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Kohli was fielding in the inner circle. Pakistan were in disarray after Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya had broken their back in the middle overs. Kohli picked up an innocuous tap from one of the batsman and threw it back lamely towards Dhoni. The throw went high over the wicketkeeper, making him stretch and could have resulted in unnecessary overthrow. Kohli quickly owned up to his mistake to Dhoni by raising his hands at the end of the over.

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These examples only go on to illustrate why Kohli’s India are being called favorites this World Cup. In all three departments of the game, Indian players have shown the presence of mind, the patience, the smarts, the hunger and the ability to snatch and own the situation at all points of time in a match.In their tournament opener, in difficult conditions in Southampton, against South Africa, Rohit Sharma played the “best” innings of his life according to his captain. Then he hit a quiet half-century even as his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan distracted the Australians. Unfortunately, Dhawan picked up a hairline fracture in that match, forcing the think tank to figure out a solution. KL Rahul, who was chosen as a third opener, who had become the accidental No. 4 on the eve of the tournament, was promoted.Rahul admitted he was nervous on Sunday. He left alone more balls (11) than all other batsmen put together from both sides. Yet he walked back with a vital half-century, having stitched a century partnership with Rohit, despite both men opening for the first time together. Rahul might have been quiet in the first Powerplay, but in the company of Rohit, he ran more singles in the last year for an Indian opening pair.Adaptability and flexibility are terms Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri have repeatedly used in the last two years. Even on Saturday, Kohli said India did not believe in rigidity. The best example of that approach was to send Pandya in as No. 4 in the game against Australia and on Sunday. In a matter of a dozen balls Pandya, using those snappy wrists of his, can crack the opposition bowling without breaking any sweat. Ask Australia.Virat Kohli speaks to the team before the restart•Getty ImagesThe reason that Hardik, Rahul and MS Dhoni can bat with freedom and no pressure is only because the top order comprising Rohit, Dhawan and Kohli has been solid. Rohit has two centuries in three matches and a 50, Kohli has scored crucial half centuries in the last two matches and Dhawan demolished Australia with a matchwinning century. India has worked out a strategy where at least one player in the top order needs to bat deep to alleviate the pressures on the middle order and the lower order can face with not much time to settle in. And to make that plan work, the pace of the innings at the start, even if it can tend to be slow, doesn’t matter.Not that that is a rule of thumb, though. As Rohit proved today scoring his fastest half century while India recorded one of the quickest starts in the last year – not only did they snatch the momentum straight away, but also deflated Pakistan’s well-stacked plans.Complementing that were the Indian fast bowlers. Take the first Powerplay. As per ESPNcricinfo logs, Indian new-ball bowlers pitched 36 balls on length and short-of-good-length (15 +21) conceding 22 runs; there were 20 fuller-length deliveries going for 12 runs and just one full toss along with three short deliveries.In contrast, Pakistan’s new ball bowling unit comprising Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz bowled 28 short-of-length deliveries at nearly a run a ball (30 runs) and three short balls (5 runs). There were just 16 length and 13 full-length deliveries of which Indian openers scored 17 runs. If Bumrah and co bowled tight lines with discipline, pitching accurate lengths, Pakistan’s experienced bowling unit sprayed it wide and short on a pitch where the margin for error was minimal.Overall, India’s bowling unit has been the most disciplined in the tournament. India have bowled more deliveries on line-lengths that have gone for fewer runs. As per the logs if you restrict to just length and short-of-good-length balls outside off, India have pitched 62 deliveries in this zone, conceding only 20 runs. In comparison, Australian bowlers have pitched full and on length leaking runs at a 5-plus run rate.So far this World Cup, India’s new-ball bowlers have conceded a boundary every 11.25 balls in the first Powerplay, which is the joint least along with West Indies.Another area where India outscored Pakistan was the fielding. While Indian batsmen stole a single or two at will, daring the arm of every opposition fielder, Pakistan batsmen could not afford the same indulgence because of the intensity and athleticism of the Indian fielders. Even at end of the day, when the teams returned for a few overs, KL Rahul dropped a catch in the deep. Kohli was furious and snapped his hands to express his dissatisfaction. Pakistan bowlers were furious, too, but at the lethargic approach toward fielding by some of their team-mates.If you take all these things into account, you can see how far India have come since the 2017 Champions Trophy final they lost to Pakistan. It was that loss that prompted India to recalibrate their approach to the limited overs game. And they have not been shy to take bold decisions.Pakistan should not feel bad. Only for the fact that they were beaten by a very good team. Kohli’s India is not just consistent, not just brave, not just smart. It out-muscled South Africa then Australia and now Pakistan in every department. It has become a scary machine.

A decade since Lasith Malinga nearly pulled off an epic heist against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup, his speed has waned but the respect shown by his foes has not

Andrew McGlashan at The Oval03-Jun-2017A decade ago, Lasith Malinga wrote himself a place in the history books by becoming the first – and still only – bowler to take four wickets in four balls in a one-day international. During the 2007 World Cup, against South Africa in Guyana, he almost conjured a remarkable Sri Lanka victory by removing Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini with a mixture of slower balls and yorkers.He had already made a name for himself with that set of skills before the tournament and would continue to dominate the white-ball landscape over the next eight years. However, the last two years have been a different story. A string of leg injuries have kept him sidelined or restricted to the four-over allotments of T20 cricket. In many ways, when thinking of Malinga in recent times it has felt like he is older than his 33 years. More than a decade of flinging his body to the crease, with his unique action, has taken its toll.Sri Lanka’s opening Champions Trophy match against South Africa was Malinga’s first ODI since facing West Indies at Pallekele in November 2015. The speed gun was often closer to 130 kph than the 140-145 kph at Malinga’s peak, which rattled batsmen’s stumps for so long. The run-up had a touch more waddle about it and his variations, in length and pace, were utilised far earlier in the innings in an effort to compensate.”He didn’t bowl quite like two years ago,” Upul Tharanga, Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain, said, “but he’s getting better and better. He bowled well up front and also at the death.”There was just enough to revive memories of Malinga’s heyday though. Most notably, he conceded two runs when he returned for the 40th over of the innings, and his set of six included a toe-crusher at Hashim Amla which could well have got through a batsman less set than Amla on 96. The breakdown of his spells were certainly respectable for someone whose 10 overs will have felt like a hefty workload: 4-0-14-0, 2-0-13-0, 1-0-2-0 and 3-0-28-0.”He’s still got the same skill,” Faf du Plessis said. “The pace is down and that makes it a little easier to face because when he bowls quick, then the real slower ball it becomes tricky. So the difference in pace made it easier but you still have to be very watchful and he’s very accurate. We played him really well not to give him any wickets.”He may have held his own with the ball, but Malinga’s fielding was a different matter. In an overall display by Sri Lanka which was eye-catchingly sharp, Malinga’s drop of du Plessis at long leg was an eyesore. Du Plessis was on 8 and South Africa had not yet moved through the gears when Malinga made a complete mess of the chance. Nuwan Pradeep had already dismissed Quinton de Kock in the 13th over and induced a top-edged pull by du Plessis in the 17th to create another opportunity headed for Malinga, who initially stepped on the rope before realising he had gone too far back and then failed to cling on to the ball while diving forward.From that moment on, the Amla-du Plessis stand flourished, the run-rate of the partnership passing seven-an-over. Sri Lanka deserve credit for how they pulled the innings back to keep South Africa a tick under 300 – the final 10 overs costing 78 runs is a solid feat against a side with wickets in hand – and Niroshan Dickwella’s brazen approach against new ball raised hopes of a notable reversal. In the end, however, the final margin pretty much went to script – one which had become familiar on the tour of South Africa earlier this year.It is understandable that Sri Lanka have returned to Malinga – you don’t throw away 291 ODI wickets – even though it had to be considered a gamble. But elsewhere there was a feeling that Sri Lanka took a backward step in their selection for this match. They were dealt a cruel hand when Angelo Mathews failed his morning fitness test, removing their best batsman and a useful bowling option, but responded with a negative mindset.As Bangladesh did against England, Sri Lanka packed the batting. They opted for Chamara Kapugedera, playing his first ODI for 18 months who was then lbw first ball, and the rolling legspin of Seekkuge Prasanna – picked off at seven-an-over – ahead of the left-arm wrist spin of Lakshan Sandakan, a bowler who befuddled Australia, albeit in Test cricket, and would have presented a wicket-taking option. It continued an early theme of the tournament: leaving out wrist spinners. England omitted Adil Rashid against Bangladesh, Australia let Adam Zampa warm the bench against New Zealand and Sri Lanka followed suit with Sandakan.It seems increasingly apparent that the only way to prevent sides approaching or comfortably crossing 300 will be to bowl them out. At the moment the prevailing view is that any target is chaseable these days, but a sense of attack in selection could open up another route to victory. It feels especially important for less favoured sides in the tournament – Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan – whose batting line-ups are not as hefty whoever they select.There is a group of younger players with gumption. Dickwella showed it here, Kusal Mendis is a rare talent and Sandakan should be in that bracket. They need backing, belief and to be selected. Sri Lanka have looked to the past for inspiration from Malinga, but they also need to embrace the future to keep their tournament alive.

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.

Also, high scores and low averages, most ducks in international cricket, and the 12-year-old Test player

Steven Lynch16-Sep-2014What’s the most dismissals made by a wicketkeeper on his Test debut? asked Stuart McMeekin from England
Two wicketkeepers have made eight dismissals in their first Test matches. The first to do it was Australia’s Brian Taber, with seven catches and a stumping against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1966-67. He was followed by Chris Read, who also took seven catches and a stumping on his debut, against New Zealand at Edgbaston in 1999. This list of players who made seven dismissals on Test debut includes five other wicketkeepers… and one outfielder, India’s Yajurvindra Singh, who clasped seven catches against England in Bangalore in 1976-77. For the full list, click here.Of all the batsmen who have scored more than 150 in an ODI innings, does Denesh Ramdin have the lowest average? asked Savo Ceprnich from South Africa
Denesh Ramdin, West Indies’ new captain, qualified for this list by scoring 169 against Bangladesh in St Kitts recently. He currently averages 24.96 in one-day internationals – and there are actually five batsmen who average less than that despite having recorded a score of 150 or more. Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe (highest score 194 not out) averages 24.87, Pakistan’s Imran Nazir (HS 160) 24.61, Kapil Dev of India (HS 175 not out) 23.79, and Zimbabwe’s Craig Wishart (HS 172 not out) 23.22. But easily top (or bottom) of this list is another West Indian, Xavier Marshall, who averaged only 17.85 overall despite a highest score of 157 not out, with a dozen sixes, against Canada in King City in August 2008. In 23 other matches, Marshall made 218 runs at an average of 10.38, with five ducks and a highest score of 35.Waqar Younis took 54% of his ODI wickets either bowled or lbw. Has anyone got a higher proportion? asked Malcolm Maciver from Scotland
I suppose it’s a pretty good indication of how straight (and how fast!) Waqar Younis bowled that 37% of his 416 victims in one-day internationals were bowled, and 17% lbw. Of bowlers with 50 or more wickets in ODIs, only four have a higher percentage of bowled victims, and none of them managed 100 overall; the Pakistan offspinner Tauseef Ahmed (55 wickets) leads the way with 42%. Waqar also took 17% of his victims with lbws. Only two bowlers – both current ones – exceed his overall percentage of 54% bowled or lbw: Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan has taken 57% of his 122 ODI victims this way, and Abdur Razzak of Bangladesh (207 wickets) 56%.I think Courtney Walsh has bagged the most ducks in Tests. But does he hold the overall record for all international cricket? asked Craig Leatheran from the United States
Courtney Walsh collected a record 43 ducks in Tests, well clear of Chris Martin (36), Glenn McGrath (35) and Shane Warne (34). Next comes Muttiah Muralitharan with 33 – and it’s Murali who is on top of the overall list. He was out for 0 on 33 occasions in Tests, 24 times in one-day internationals (Sanath Jayasuriya leads the way there with 34), and twice in T20s, a grand total of 59 ducks. Next comes Walsh with 54, Jayasuriya with 53, and McGrath with 49. For the full list, click here.Isa Guha made her Test debut for England at the age of 17. Is she still the youngest woman to play in a Test? asked Daryl Montuya from Singapore
Isa Guha’s debut for England came against India in Taunton in 2002, when her first wicket was Mithali Raj for 214. The only younger England player at the time was Charlotte Edwards, now the captain, who was 16 in 1996 – but there have been two younger than Guha since: Sarah Taylor was 17 in 2006, while England’s youngest player remains Holly Colvin, only 15 when called up to play against Australia in Hove in 2005. Overall, though, Colvin is only fourth on the list, and Guha 11th: the youngest from any country to appear in a women’s Test match was 12-year-old Sajjida Shah, for Pakistan against Ireland in Dublin in 2000. For the full list, click here.Both captains kept wicket in the West Indies-Bangladesh Test in St Vincent. Has this ever happened before? asked Ian Hugo from Bangladesh
It’s quite rare for one captain in a Test match to keep wicket too, let alone both. Only 29 captains have kept wicket in Tests in which they skippered, and several of those were only temporary appointments. The double achieved by Denesh Ramdin and Mushfiqur Rahim in St Vincent and St Lucia has been seen before on only five previous occasions. It happened for the first time in a two-Test series in 1995-96, when New Zealand were captained by Lee Germon and Zimbabwe by Andy Flower in Hamilton and in Auckland. And it happened again in 2002-03, first in East London in 2002-03, when South Africa were captained by Mark Boucher and Bangladesh by Khaled Mashud, then later that same season in the two-Test series in Bangladesh, when Mashud was opposed by West Indies’ Ridley Jacobs in Dhaka and in Chittagong.

Leading a team short on experience, Michael Clarke will face delicate task of balancing his aggressive instincts against an under-pressure home side seeking momentum

Brydon Coverdale21-Feb-2013Michael Clarke is widely regarded as Australia’s finest captain since Mark Taylor. If he can lead his men to a series win in India the last three words of that sentence might become superfluous. In the modern era, only Ashes triumphs have ranked as highly for Australian Test teams as the fabled series win in India, a goal that has eluded a long list of captains including Taylor, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Kim Hughes.In the past 43 years, only a team of champions steered by Adam Gilchrist in 2004 has enjoyed such a success. At his disposal, Gilchrist had Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Simon Katich, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Shane Warne, and a young Clarke. Now in charge, Clarke must do the job this year with resources that by comparison appear as thin as Ishant Sharma.It is not that his squad is weak, just lacking in experience. Only four members of the squad have played Test cricket in India and one of those, Mitchell Johnson, was not even picked for the first Test in Chennai. Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey are gone, permanently. Ponting was the last remaining link to the 2004 team that served as Clarke’s welcoming party to Test cricket. It is no coincidence that since Ponting’s retirement late last year, Clarke has often found himself emotional and reflective.As he prepared for the Chennai Test on the eve of the match, Clarke was out in the middle of the MA Chidambaram Stadium, standing in batting mode on the pitch, practicing his shots, visualising his innings. He would have seen Hayden go through the same motions at the same venue in 2004, for it was a classic habit of the opener. But whereas Hayden was only part of a powerful and experienced top seven, Clarke will need shoulders the size of Hayden’s to carry Australia in this series.It is not a dissimilar situation to the one Border found himself in during the 1986 tour. Although Border was not the player of spin that Clarke is, he entered the series as the talisman of a side that was about to unearth a few jewels. The first Test in Madras was Border’s 82nd and the Australian XI combined had only 192 matches of Test experience.This Chennai Test will be Clarke’s 90th; his team in total has played 254. Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev between them had played more Tests than the entire Australian team in Madras in 1986. This time around the same can be said of Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh, or Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, or Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, such is the experience throughout the India outfit.”That’s where the team’s at now,” Clarke said in Chennai on the eve of the first Test. “I guess that was probably why I was a little bit emotional during the Australian summer when Ricky Ponting retired, when Michael Hussey retired, speaking at the Allan Border Medal. All the players I grew up with, watching and then playing with at the start of my career, that generation of players is gone.”So that’s been quite hard to see, that transition, that change. But on the other side I’m really excited about that because now we have the opportunity as a young team to create our own destiny, build our own legacy. There would be nothing more satisfying than [a new era of success]. Who knows, we might never be the team that wins 16 Test matches in a row, but we might be as well. It’s going to take time. It’s going to take a lot of hard work.”Border’s team managed a drawn series in 1986 and such a result would certainly be a pass mark for Clarke’s 2013 squad, given that nine of the touring party have played fewer than ten Tests. It is rare for an Australian Test side to have such low expectations entering a series, but the changing nature of the team combined with Australia’s historically poor record in India means that nobody really expects Clarke’s team to triumph.Win and they will be hailed as heroes; lose and, well, that was to be expected. Not that abject team failures and extended slumps from individuals will be allowed to pass unnoticed. England’s success in the Test series in India late last year showed that MS Dhoni’s men can be beaten at home, and also set the bar high ahead of the upcoming Ashes contest this year. But England may also have done Australia a favour by increasing the pressure on India.”They lost their last series so that’s the reason the Indian media have built this series up so much. For me I haven’t looked too much into it,” Clarke said. “I’m not that bothered about what’s happened in regards to the Indian series against England. I watched a fair bit of it … but we’re a different team to England. Our strengths are different. We play a different brand of cricket.”A big part of that brand is based around Clarke’s positive captaincy, always searching for a way to win. It looks good when it works. But Clarke will face a delicate balancing act between attacking an under-pressure India and halting their momentum when it starts to flow, as it surely will. And all of this with a team that is still finding its way. One way or another, the next five weeks will be a steep learning curve.

Largely impassive through his brief maiden interaction with the Indian media, there were a only a few glimpses of the real Duncan Fletcher that bubbled over the veil

Sriram Veera in Chennai13-May-2011The first thing about Duncan Fletcher that stood out in his maiden press conference in India was his expression – or lack of it. He maintained a largely impassive face over the brief interaction – all of 19 minutes – but there were a few glimpses of the man that occasionally bubbled over the veil.The first came when he was asked whether his philosophy of coaching would suit India and its prevailing superstar culture. He didn’t hem or haw, he didn’t say he would try to fit in, he didn’t say that he was hopeful; instead he nailed the question swiftly and effectively. “Gary Kirsten followed my philosophy … and now, by Gary sort of pushing me for this job by taking my credentials to the BCCI, he realised that my philosophy of coaching is right for India.” There was no trace of arrogance; just a statement of fact: Kirsten’s way was way (or even the other way round).This conference will probably be the gentlest that Fletcher will attend during his tenure. There were around 15 journalists, a motley group from the print and electronic media, and public attention was focused squarely on the election results from five states including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. For perhaps the first and last time, an Indian coach’s press conference wasn’t even carried live. It was the calm before the storm.Yet, even in this short span of time Fletcher had to fend off a couple of googlies. Out of the blue came a question about the DRS, which the BCCI has opposed vehemently for some time now. Perhaps unaware of the background, Fletcher said the DRS was here to stay. “I think it’s a system that will come in place. Obviously there are imperfections but once they are sorted out, it will play a role.” Barely had he completed his reply did N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary sitting alongside, intervened. He first turned to Fletcher, whispered something to him and turned to the questioner: “That was a loaded question. Mr Fletcher doesn’t know the BCCI’s stance on DRS. You should have prefaced your question properly. Anyway, it doesn’t matter.” Fletcher, as ever, wore that impassive cloak on his face.Later, he was asked his views on the player rotation policy. Again, Srinivasan chose to interject. “It’s a selection matter, no? He can give advice but ultimately it will come down to the selectors. But I am sure when the coach sits in on those meetings his views will be taken on board by the selectors.”The cumulative effect of those two brief statements was seen when Fletcher was asked about the possibility of seniors retiring. “That’s up to the selectors,” he said. “My job is to go out there and offer advice to the players on how to handle some situations. I believe if a player is good enough to play – no matter what his age- he should play. India is fortunate to have outstanding senior players.”There was another moment where his strong character came through, when his unimpressive ODI record as coach of the England team was brought up. “It’s interesting,” Fletcher began, clearly warming up. “I know that was bandied about [in the media]. But when I left Western Province, and Glamorgan, I had a better record in ODIs…if you go and look at my record there. It was somewhere along 13 matches, I think, for Western Province that played against England sides at first-class level. I didn’t lose a match against England … When I played for Zimbabwe, we only played ODIs. As it turned out, we (England) had a better record statistically in tests but I am very comfortable with ODIs.”There was only one genuine faux pas from Fletcher. “Hopefully, my observations on the players will prove useful when I coach the England team.””I mean the Indian team.”

Sri Lanka’s 78-run defeat against South Africa leaves them on the brink of being eliminated from the Champions Trophy, but all isn’t lost for them yet

S Rajesh24-Oct-2006

A second defeat in three games for Mahela Jayawardene and his side, but all isn’t lost for them yet © AFP
Sri Lanka’s 78-run defeat against South Africa leaves them on the brink of being eliminated from the Champions Trophy, but all isn’t lost for them yet. Since they have played all three matches in the group, the situation isn’t in their hands any more, but if other results pan out well, Sri Lanka might still make it to the semi-finals.For that to happen, though, Pakistan will need to win both their remaining matches, which will put them on top of the group with six points, leaving New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka with one win each. In such a case, the net run rate will decide which team joins Pakistan in the semi-finals.Currently, Sri Lanka’s NRR of -0.195 is below that of South Africa (-0.090) and New Zealand (0.414). For them to make it, Sri Lanka will have to hope that Pakistan demolish South Africa and New Zealand by big enough margins to make their NRR drop below Sri Lanka’s.In fact, South Africa’s NRR is so marginally above Sri Lanka’s that even a narrow defeat against Pakistan will be a huge setback – if, for example, Pakistan score 250 and South Africa lose by 30 runs, their NRR will still drop to -0.26.For Sri Lanka to beat New Zealand’s NRR, though, they’ll need greater help from Pakistan. If Pakistan manage 250, they will have to restrict New Zealand to less than 189 for Sri Lanka to get through. Considering the way batsmen have struggled in this tournament, such a margin of defeat can hardly be ruled out. It’s not the ideal situation for Mahela Jayawardene and his team, but it’s hardly time yet to pack their bags and head home.

Al-Hilal are growing confident of signing Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes before the Club World Cup.

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Al-Hilal confident of landing FernandesFernandes discussing his move with familySaudi giants want an answer by FridayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per journalist , the Saudi Pro League giants believe they are "close" to convincing Fernandes to join them this summer after several rounds of positive talks. The Portuguese midfielder is currently discussing his possible move to the Middle East with his family, while the club has issued an ultimatum to the player that they want an answer by Friday, June 6.

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Al-Hilal are yet to submit a formal bid to United. However, they believe that Fernandes' current employers wouldn't stand in his way if he asked for a transfer. The Red Devils have so far remained firm on their stance that their captain will not leave Old Trafford in the summer.

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It was reported last week that Fernandes' representatives held formal talks with Al-Hilal officials, where the player was offered £200 million ($271m) in wages over three years.

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Getty WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

Ruben Amorim's side are currently on vacation after a hectic season and then a post-season tour to Malaysia and Hong Kong. The squad will reassemble in late July before heading back to Asia for the first part of their pre-season schedule.

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Neste domingo (26), o Palmeiras enfrenta a Ferroviária às 18h30, no Allianz Parque, em partida válida pela11ª rodada da fase de grupos do Paulistão 2023.E agora depende só de si para reconquistar a primeira colocação do grupo D e permanecer com a melhor campanha geral da competição.

> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2023 clicando aqui

Devido à vitória do São Bernardo diante do São Paulo por 1 a 0, no Morumbi, o Verdão precisa vencer tanto a Ferroviária hoje (26), no Allianz Parque, quanto o Guarani no próximo domingo (5), em Campinas, para garantir ambas as lideranças da competição. Outros resultados a não ser os três pontos nas duas partidas podem permitir que o Bernô ultrapasse o Alviverde.

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O Palmeiras atualmente ocupa a segunda posição do grupo D com 24 pontos, dois a menos que o primeiro colocado São Bernardo. Logo, a equipe comandada pelo técnico Abel Ferreira precisa de 100% de aproveitamento nos dois últimos jogos da fase de grupos para conquistar o primeiro lugar na classificação geral e no seu grupo.

> Palmeiras x Ferroviária: onde assistir, prováveis times e desfalques
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Mesmo já estando classificado para a fase de mata-mata, o treinador palmeirense já afirmou que não irá poupar jogadores e que o Verdão irá com força máxima para os últimos jogos da fase de grupos do Campeonato Paulista.

تلقى نادي ليفربول ضربة موجعة بين صفوفه، وذلك قبل مواجهة نيوكاسل يونايتد المرتقبة اليوم الإثنين، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من عمر الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ليفربول يحل ضيفًا ثقيلًا على ملعب سانت جيمس بارك، حيث سيواجه نيوكاسل في قمة الجولة الثانية من المسابقة المحلية.

ويريد ليفربول الخروج بنقاط الفوز من أرض نيوكاسل، حيث استطاع الريدز الانتصار الأسبوع الماضي بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدفين على حساب بورنموث.

طالع.. تشكيل ليفربول المتوقع أمام نيوكاسل اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

وذكرت صحيفة “ميرور”، أن ليفربول تعرض لغياب جديد في صفوفه قبل لقاء نيوكاسل، حيث لن يتمكن لاعب خط الوسط أليكسيس ماك أليستر من المشاركة في لقاء اليوم.

وأضاف المصدر، أن ماك أليستر لم يتم مشاهدته ضمن قائمة الـ21 لاعبًا من قبل ليفربول والذين سافروا للتوجه إلى مواجهة نيوكاسل اليوم الإثنين.

وأوضح المصدر، أن ماك أليستر ليس مصابًا، وإنما سوف يغيب عن لقاء اليوم بعدما تم الكشف أن زوجته سوف تلد خلال الأيام القليلة المقبلة.

غياب ماك أليستر عن لقاء اليوم يمثل ضربة كبيرة لتشكيلة ليفربول، خصوصًا مع إصابة جيريمي فريمبونج، بجانب عدم جاهزية كونور برادلي بشكل كامل.

وتمثلت عودة ريان جرافنبيرخ للعب من جديد مع ليفربول بمثابة نبأ سعيد للمدرب آرني سلوت، وعلى الأرجح سيكون الدولي الهولندي أساسيًا اليوم إلى جانب دومينيك سوبوسلاي أو كورتيس جونز.