Holden, Du Plooy unbeaten at close as Northants are made to toil on batters’ day

ECB Reporters Network14-Apr-2024Teenage opener Nathan Fernandes became Middlesex’s youngest debut centurion in first-class cricket since 1862 as the visitors piled on runs in their Vitality County Championship clash against Northamptonshire.Left-hander Fernandes, drafted in to replace the injured Sam Robson at the top of the order, hit 103 before team-mates Max Holden and Leus du Plooy both plundered the bowling at Wantage Road, steering the visitors to 553 for two at stumps.Fernandes, who turns 20 later this month, was the first Middlesex player to mark his first-class debut with a ton since Ted Clark in 1959 and the youngest since Isaac Walker achieved the feat against Surrey almost 100 years earlier.Northamptonshire’s bowlers toiled gamely in the batting-friendly conditions, but they were put to the sword by Holden – who passed 200 for the first time in his career – and Du Plooy, who was just four short of his own double-century at the close.It took Fernandes until the sixth over of the morning to increase his overnight score of 65, but the teenager then settled into his stride with a series of classy strokes on either side of the wicket.Fernandes was particularly strong outside off stump, cutting the seamers to the boundary and also delved into his bag of white-ball shots to dab Chris Tremain over the slips for four as he progressed towards his hundred.That cherished moment arrived when Fernandes pulled a Rob Keogh long-hop to the fence, taking him to exactly 100 from 208 deliveries and confirming him as Middlesex’s first debut centurion in first-class cricket for 65 years.However, the opener was on his way soon afterwards, mistiming his attempt to paddle a slow bouncer from Luke Procter that ballooned up to give wicketkeeper Lewis McManus a routine catch.The Northamptonshire skipper’s strike ended a partnership that had yielded 170, but Holden continued to accumulate runs, displaying greater attacking intent after lunch in tandem with Du Plooy.Ben Sanderson did get the new ball to whistle just past Holden’s outside edge, but the left-hander remained composed and punched the first delivery of his next over across the off-side rope to move into three figures for the first time in red-ball cricket since 2018.It was Du Plooy who took control of the innings, twice hammering Sanderson over long on for six and stroking a boundary to third man off Tremain to register his half-century as the Seaxes pressed the accelerator.They secured a third batting bonus point just before the tea interval, with Du Plooy crashing four and then another straight six from successive Raphy Weatherall deliveries to complete his first Middlesex hundred in just 112 balls.While Holden and Du Plooy declined to have a tilt at a further bonus point prior to the cut-off, their continued presence at the crease denied Northamptonshire any bowling points at all.The pair matched each other almost stride for stride during the final session, breaking the county’s record partnership against Northamptonshire in the process and Holden was first to his double-hundred, driving Saif Zaib to the midwicket boundary.He finished on 211 not out, with Du Plooy on 196 to leave Middlesex one run ahead of their hosts’ 552 for six declared.

The two Everton stars were photographed enjoying America's favorite pastime at Yankee Stadium in New York City, sporting personalized Yankees jerseys

• Pickford wore a Yankees jersey with his iconic #1
• Keane received a Yankees jersey displaying his Everton #5
• Both stars were given a stadium tour

• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane attended a Yankees home game in New York as part of Everton Football Club's pre-season tour of the United States. The Premier League stars were photographed on the field before the game wearing personalized Yankees jerseys featuring their Everton squad numbers – Pickford with his No. 1 and Keane sporting No. 5. Their visit came during Everton's scheduled stop in New York, part of the club's broader preseason preparation that includes friendly matches.

Advertisement

• WHAT THE YANKEES POSTED

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The stadium visit highlights Everton's continued efforts to expand their brand presence in the American market, following the club's strategic focus on growing their fanbase in the United States.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Pickford and Keane will continue with Everton's pre-season schedule, which includes being a part of the Premier League Summer Series where they'll face West Ham United in Chicago on July 30.

Alexander Isak’s hopes of securing a switch to Liverpool have taken an unexpected twist, with the Swedish forward now reportedly ready to consider a nuclear option that could see him unilaterally terminate his contract at the club.

Isak wants to force an exit from NewcastleThe forward is training alone with SociedadCould even unilaterally terminate his contractFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Magpies initially claimed that an injury had prevented him from travelling with the squad on their recent tour of Asia. However, it has now become increasingly apparent that the striker’s absence stems from his determination to engineer a move to Anfield, as revealed by

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Isak has made it known to Newcastle’s hierarchy that he has set his heart on joining the Premier League champions. His representatives have reportedly communicated his desire to leave St James’ Park and relocate to Merseyside, emphasising that Liverpool is the only destination he is interested in.

Despite Isak's clear stance, Liverpool have yet to submit a formal bid for the striker. The Reds recently completed the £65 million ($86m) sale of Colombian winger Luis Díaz, a move expected to free up funds for a potential incoming marquee signing. The Magpies have placed a hefty £150m ($198m) valuation on their star forward, who ended last season as the club’s top scorer. The Saudi-backed ownership group at Newcastle are reportedly unwilling to entertain any offers below that figure, hoping to maximise the return on a player who played a key role in their 2023/24 campaign, including a goal in their Carabao Cup Final triumph.

DID YOU KNOW?

Behind the scenes, there is growing concern that the standoff could escalate further. Should Newcastle continue to block a transfer or price Liverpool out of a deal, Isak and his team may explore a drastic alternative, unilaterally terminating his contract.

This potential ‘nuclear option’ has become more feasible following a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice in 2023. The court sided with former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra in a case that challenged some of FIFA’s longstanding transfer rules. The decision ruled that certain restrictions placed on players were inconsistent with European Union law, particularly regarding labour mobility and anti-competitive behaviour. Isak’s camp is believed to be aware of the implications of this ruling and may view it as a last resort should Newcastle hold firm on their valuation.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ISAK?

With less than a month to go before the Premier League kicks off, time is running short for all parties to find a resolution. Newcastle remain hopeful that they can convince Isak to stay or at least secure a fee that reflects their valuation. Meanwhile, Liverpool may be biding their time before making a formal approach, knowing that the player’s growing frustration could eventually force Newcastle’s hand.

Keith Miller, who died today aged 84, was a barnstorming allrounder who lit up the decade after the Second World War with his performances

Steven Lynch22-Jun-2005181 on first-class debut, 1937-38

Miller was only 66 days past his 18th birthday when he took the field for the first time in a first-class match, for Victoria against Tasmania at the MCG in February 1938. Tasmania weren’t in the Sheffield Shield then, and as Victoria had a Shield game in Adelaide the day after this match finished it was very much a second-string side – Miller was one of seven debutants. But he scored 181 in 289 minutes as Victoria made 470. It wasn’t the biggest crowd that Miller was to enthrall: the three-day attendance was 864, and the total takings £17.105 in the first Victory Test, 1945

Miller first made a mark at Lord’s with a century in the first of the “Victory Tests”, a hastily arranged series to celebrate the end of the Second World War. They weren’t official Tests – the Australian side was largely drawn from servicemen who happened to be in the country – but proved very popular. Miller, playing alongside his future Test captain Lindsay Hassett, was the backbone of the Australian first innings of 455, which set up a six-wicket victory.185 for the Dominions at Lord’s, 1945

The end-of-war celebrations concluded with a star-studded side, captained by the old West Indian allrounder Learie Constantine, taking on England at Lord’s. The New Zealander Martin Donnelly made 133 in the Dominions’ first innings, but it was Miller’s 185 that lit up the match – there were seven sixes, and Plum Warner called it the greatest exhibition of batting he ever saw. It gave Miller’s side just enough runs to secure victory.7 for 60 in first Ashes Test, 1946-47

Miller’s first Test against England, and after scoring 79 at Brisbane he cut back his pace and moved the ball around on a helpful pitch, for what remained his best Test bowling figures. He removed Len Hutton first ball in the second innings, too, as England crashed to a huge defeat (an innings and 332 runs).141 not out, 1946-47

In the fourth Test at Adelaide, in unrelenting heat over the 100-degree mark, Don Bradman fell for a duck after England had made 460. Arthur Morris made 122, then Miller stepped up with an unbeaten 141, his first Test hundred. Bruce Harris, a watching British journalist, wrote: “Miller, big and buoyant, is no pleasant batsman to have in opposition at 5.30 of a hot January day in Adelaide.” The match was drawn, with both Morris and Denis Compton making centuries in both innings.109 v England, Lord’s, 1953

A restrained, chanceless 109 from Miller at Lord’s – Wisden said he “subjugated his natural inclinations” – set up what seemed to be a matchwinning position for Australia. But Trevor Bailey and Willie Watson resisted for four hours on the final day to force a draw. John Arlott observed: “As he has so often done, Miller adopted a particular role in this innings. He has succeeded in turn – and as Australia has needed it most – as attacking or defensive bat, fast bowler or spin bowler, stock or shock, cover or slip fieldsman. This was a faultless hundred … quite how rare they are is not always appreciated, but I doubt one in five of Test hundreds is made without a chance.”147 v West Indies, 1954-55

Miller kicked off this high-scoring series with 147 at Kingston, which remained his highest Test score. By now batting at No. 4, Miller hit 15 fours and put on 224 with Neil Harvey. He made three centuries in that series, including one in the final Test, also at Kingston, where a record five batsmen scored hundreds as Australia piled up 758 for 8.281 not out against Leicestershire, 1956

Miller kicked off his third and final tour of England in 1956 with 281 not out in the second match (he didn’t play in the first) at Grace Road. “Driving superbly,” according to Wisden, Miller hit 35 fours, a six and a five. Peter West watched the innings, and wrote: “Such is his reach – and such the qualities of his wrist and timing – that he can drive, apparently quite effortlessly, the ball which to lesser mortals would be of unimpeachable length.”Ten wickets at Lord’s, 1956

Nearly 37, Miller had been hoping to rest his dodgy back in England in 1956. But at Lord’s Ray Lindwall was out injured and Pat Crawford, his replacement, broke down. Miller responded with a magnificent bowling effort, taking five wickets in each innings, the only ten-wicket haul of his Test career. Said Wisden of his first-innings display: “Miller, bowling for long spells and moving the ball either way at varying pace, took half the wickets for 72.”102 on debut for Notts, 1959

Miller’s last hurrah came in 1959, when he turned out to play for Nottinghamshire as a guest (no overseas players then) in one match against Cambridge University at Trent Bridge. He was nearly 40, but spanked the students for 62 and 102 not out – his hundred came up in 125 minutes, and he clouted 13 fours and two sixes. They were his last runs in first-class cricket – he played for MCC against Oxford University the following week, but pulled a calf muscle and had to retire hurt before he’d scored.

Down 1-2 in the series, this was a must-win game for Pakistan, and the pressure of the situation showed in the manner in which they approached their innings

On the Ball with S Rajesh16-Feb-2006Down 1-2 in the series, this was a must-win game for Pakistan, and the pressure of the situation showed in the manner in which they approached their innings. The Indian bowlers showed exemplary discipline early on, but Pakistan contributed with their attitude. The first couple of overs were maidens, and when the runs came, they were in trickles, interspersed with plenty of dot balls. The early defensive mindset of the batsmen allowed the bowlers to settle into a rhythm on a pitch which didn’t offer them too much assistance.The batsmen’s approach eventually resulted in a rash of poor strokes, so that after 15 overs their total read a miserable 38 for 4, from which there was no coming back. The pie-chart below shows just how much of a stranglehold the Indian bowlers had in the first 15: there were 32 defensive shots, while 18 balls were left alone. A comparison with the number of deliveries left alone in the earlier three games tells the story: in the previous match the number was six, while the figure from the first two games was three. Pakistan played 75 dot balls and managed just three fours in the first 15, and ultimately, that’s where the match was decided.

He may be a master of his craft but Anil’s greatness lies in his ability to always see himself as a student

Rahul Dravid17-Dec-2005
“He does not know what ‘give up’ means” © Getty Images
Gifted spinner, stoic warrior, devoted son, gentle father, enthusiastic photographer, demanding team-mate, committed friend – Anil Kumble is a man of many interesting parts. It is hard not to admire such a man, though my first impressions of him were of awe and confusion.It was during the days when we both played Under-19 cricket. I was yet to gain a reputation and he, a few years older, already owned one. He was gathering wickets by the bucketful and was occasionally labelled the “next Chandra”, while I was the nervous wicketkeeper wondering how the hell I was going to keep to Anil on matting wickets.Fortunately, I was not totally embarrassed.Initial trepidation was also accompanied by bewilderment. With his thick glasses and grim demeanour, he appeared a fellow who might be more comfortable in the first row of a classroom rather than spinning a ball on a cricket field. Of course, Anil eventually proved himself in both areas: he has a degree in engineering and a PhD in legspin bowling.Anil is not a flippant man, and it is reflected in his cricket. The game brings him pleasure but it is never taken lightly. I read once that as a boy he only went out to play cricket after finishing his school homework. As a cricketer he is the same, for he never goes to play until he has done his cricketing homework. Batsmen are analysed, his own bowling is scrutinised, plans are made. There is something wonderfully thorough, organised and disciplined about his approach, which makes him a powerful role model.Anil is now regarded as a master of his craft, especially since he broke Kapil’s record of 434 wickets, but his greatness arrives from his ability to always see himself as a student. He is always learning, and through the years he has consistently made small improvements, extending his range and polishing his repertoire. When he first arrived in the team his googly was not as evolved as it is now. He has also developed a flipper that is delivered at different speeds. He didn’t bowl round the wicket as often in the early days. but now he’s comfortable from both sides.People have often doubted Anil but he himself never has. People have said that he did not turn the ball sufficiently, that he was comparatively ineffective abroad, but he always believed he had the tools to succeed. His performances in Australia and Pakistan over the past 13 months have vindicated his belief in himself.For me, he has been more than a team-mate; he has been a wise friend. I knew I could count on him, and that he was honest enough to not tell me what I wanted to hear. When I struggled in the one-day game, for instance, he insisted I was good enough, but gently suggested that I needed to polish my skills, whether it was rotating the strike or converting starts.Anil works hard for the team, and not just with ball in hand. When he was recovering from his shoulder injury, he didn’t stay at home; he came to the Indian camp and assisted Bhajji and the other spinners. When the player contracts had to be decided on, he took the trouble to sift through and understand the issues. Never does he shy away from responsibility. He has stood up to be counted, and courted controversy if required.Anil is tough and I like that about him. He is the essential 100-per-cent cricketer, every day, every over, every ball, bringing great energy to the contest, facing every challenge with his jaw sternly set – or even broken for that matter!His attitude makes him a dream to captain. When I led against New Zealand in 2003 at Mohali and we lost the toss and had to bowl first on a flat wicket, not once did Anil complain. Occasionally a bowler, faced with an unresponsive wicket, might give up mentally, but not Anil; never did he say, “Rahul, give me a break.” He just bowled on and on. He does not know what giving up means.Breaking Kapil’s record was an important moment for it allowed people a chance to recognise and reflect on what a magnificent bowler Anil has been. His stamp on the Indian game is now indelible.He is still hungry, still committed, still gifted, still a man who finds great strength from his family. If I had to pick a change in him, it would be that he is a little mellower than he once was (except, of course, when it comes to batsmen). Part of the reason is his young family, and after the Kolkata Test against South Africa, in which he equalled Kapil’s record, he brought his baby son into the dressing room. His often grave face was now curled into a radiant smile. It was the look of a contented man, and it was good to see.

The Indians
bowled out a fairly strong Rest of South Africa side for 138 and 224, but
the manner in which their own top order capitulated in both innings is
cause for tremendous worry heading into the Test series.

Dileep Premachandran in Potchefstroom10-Dec-2006

It’s not often that a team wins a four-day game by 96 runs, with a day to
spare, and finds itself with more questions than answers. The Indians
bowled out a fairly strong Rest of South Africa side for 138 and 224, but
the manner in which their own top order capitulated in both innings is
cause for tremendous worry heading into the Test series.Even before the game, the focus was on how to deal with the pace attack
that South Africa will unleash at the Wanderers next Friday. And with that
in mind, the net sessions, especially with the bowling machine had been
extremely specific. A lot of the time, it was set to a “Pollock length”,
so that the Indian batsmen could explore ways of scoring runs against a
man renowned for giving nothing away. As Greg Chappell told Cricinfo: “If
one can’t score from a particular bowler, it’s only a matter of time
before he gets you out.” After all, that’s how Glenn McGrath has operated
for more than a decade.One of the few saving graces was the batting of Sourav Ganguly and Irfan
Pathan. Ganguly’s first-innings 83 was all about sheer bloodymindedness
and experience. He had his uncomfortable moments, being hit on the helmet
and then dropped at gully, but more than a decade of experience allowed
him to keep going. He was getting into line, and he played some superb
strokes through the off side, even when Jacques Rudolph tried to choke off
the runs by having seven men there.And he wasn’t playing some kids either. Morne Morkel will take the new
ball for South Africa, sooner rather than later, and Alfonso Thomas is
part of that dying breed, a medium-fast swing bowler who’s tremendously
accurate. Nantie Hayward had his moments too, while Friedel de Wet gave
nothing away. “Sourav played very well,” said Chappell later. “His feet
were moving well, and he showed the discipline that is required to make
runs. His example inspired Irfan.”Pathan carried on the good work in the second innings as well, even as the
rest folded for next to nothing, but his first-innings century was
relegated to the shadows by Ganguly’s return. Right from the first
handshake with Chappell at the nets after Ganguly’s arrival in
Potchefstroom, the TV crews and others have tried to magnify every single
gesture made by both men, often arriving at ludicrous conclusions.On the morning after his 83, Ganguly arrived at the nets wanting to
practise the cut shot. Chappell sent down about 20 balls, and the little
episode was caught on camera by the ESPN crew, there to interview the
coach in the build-up to the Test series. The others went into a tizzy
when they realised that ESPN had such footage, and it was hard to believe
that so much was made of something as innocuous as a coach giving
throw-downs to one of his players. Both men are professionals, with nearly
200 Test matches between them, and neither has anything to gain by
sabotaging the other in these desperately lean times for Indian cricket.If there was a negative, it was the manner of Ganguly’s dismissal in the
second innings. Having ducked under one bouncer, he got himself into a
real tangle against another short-pitched ball, looping up the simplest of
catches off the right glove. The South African bowlers, who will no doubt
have watched it, will certainly have made a mental note to bowl fast and
straight, with the ball pitched short of a length. Such a scenario will
force Ganguly to play either the hook or the pull to make runs, or wait
for the odd ball pitched on a driving length.In that regard, Pathan’s batting had only complicated selection matters.
He’s clearly not intimidated by short-pitched fast bowling, and the
assurance with which he got into line will tempt the team management to
explore the idea of fitting him somewhere in the batting line-up. For the
moment, he can’t hold down a place on the strength of his bowling, but
with the likes of Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag so short on runs and
confidence, it’ll be interesting to see what decision they make.Even with Munaf Patel looking increasingly unlikely to play in
Johannesburg, there are few such worries about the bowling. Sreesanth
bowled good outswing at lively pace, while Zaheer Khan was simply
outstanding. The delivery that nipped back sharply to castle Jean Paul
Duminy in the second inning was perhaps the best of the match, but to an
extent, even he was eclipsed by VRV Singh, the wild-card pick who had
divided opinion when he was called up for the Tests.For as long as most of us can remember, Indians have been at the receiving
end when it comes to raw pace. Now, they have someone who can dish it out.
Chappell, who had been anxious to have him in the touring party, came into
the press box on Saturday afternoon and spoke of how excited some of the
seniors had been. “Sachin said at lunch time [on Friday] that he had
really enjoyed watching from slip, and that he felt VRV had touched around
the 145kmph mark,” said Chappell. “They were standing so far back at
slip.”Cyril Mitchley, the former umpire who was match referee for the game, also
spoke of how impressed he had been with the bowling from both sides.
“There wasn’t much wrong with the pitch at all,” he told Cricinfo. “But
the overhead conditions helped swing, and most batsmen are no longer used
to playing high-quality swing bowling at pace.”With Anil Kumble certain to slot in for the Test, India certainly appear
to have the bowling resources to stretch a South African line-up that were
horribly exposed by the likes of Stuart Clark not so long ago. Whether
they have batting to put runs on the board is another matter. Rahul
Dravid’s return will undoubtedly help, as will an innings of substance
from Sachin Tendulkar. Chappell and others feel that Tendulkar’s problems
are more in the mind than anything else, and if he can get his headspace
right, who knows what’s possible. As Lara, McGrath and Warne have shown
recently, writing off the old-stagers is an exercise fraught with danger.

You might think that for a young boy growing up in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, cricket wouldn’t feature too prominently on his list of extra-curricular activities.

Will Luke in Nairobi02-Feb-2007

More international cricket can only benefit Ireland, says Peter Gillespite © Getty Images
You might think that for a young boy growing up in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, cricket wouldn’t feature too prominently on his list of extra-curricular activities. But for Peter Gillespie, the Ireland allrounder, choosing to play the sport was more lifestyle choice.He was one of four Gillespies turning out for Strabane’s first XI, the remainder made up of three other families: the Pattons, two Stewarts and two Porters. Cricket runs through the community’s veins, in spite of Catholicism being the town’s predominant religion.”You wouldn’t normally associate cricket with Catholics,” he said after a training session at the Aga Khan ground this week. “It’s more a protestant sport in Northern Ireland. There were always British army troops based in Northern Ireland and Strabane and, perhaps, they would’ve brought it with them. But it’s always had an affection with the locals and it’s been played by all traditions in Strabane.”Cricket helped me see the world, but it also helped me see a new outlook – especially growing through a lot of turmoil in Northern Ireland and our town. Cricket was a get-out clause. I was able to get to know all types of different people, backgrounds and religions and it helped me broaden my outlook in general.”Might his life have taken a dangerous, darker route without the influence and diversion of cricket? ‘What ifs’ are not the most incisive of questions but, in Gillespie’s case, the question has added poignancy; it hangs in the air for several telling moments but he responds with assuredness and honesty.”Yes. It could’ve happened. Although I guess that might have affected my brothers more than me,” he said. “They were born in the 1960s – but we were all just really fortunate to have cricket. We had a vision and a focus, what our parents wanted. It was a way of life for us. It was a social club more than a cricket club – a focal point for our lives for a very long time.”Gillespie’s story, while not unique, is rare. The lure of football for Ireland’s teenagers is still strong and cricket’s interest remains in the minority. The two primary schools near Gillespie’s home in Strabane were the fortunate recipients of his father’s generous offer to provide facilities at the club for the children two use. The schools took up the offer and, consequently, a number of first XI players were born, for want of a better phrase.The responsibility should not be on a club captain to nurture young talent but Gillespie is philosophical about the plight of Irish cricket. “Cricket is well down the list [of popular sports], hence our struggles for funding and sponsorship…but what do you do? If you love playing something and you’re good at it, you continue playing.”From Strabane to Nairobi, Gillespie passionately believes the Associates desperately need to play each other much more often – a trend among all the players in the tournament.”We need to be playing as much as possible,” he said. “The last time we played Bermuda was in the ICC Trophy in 2005 [when] they had probably come off playing mainly club cricket. But in the intervening years they’ve probably played more international cricket than us; they’ve had a lot of exposure since we last played and they’ve closed the gap on us.”When we first played them, they needed to improve – and they have. That’s the great thing about being in the top six – the extra exposure, the extra funding, more high quality games.”There have been high quality games, too. Scotland shocked Ireland with a last ball win this week and, today, Ireland again snatched defeat, this time from Kenya. There is no doubting the passion among the Associate nations. But where will the next Peter Gillespie, Eoin Morgan or Niall O’Brien come from? You wouldn’t bet against Strabane, but you wouldn’t want to rely on it either.

That action, that guile: just 14, Usman Qadir is a chip off the old block and looks set to go far

Shahid Hashmi09-Mar-2008
His father’s action: Usman Qadir © PCB
Fourteen-year-old Usman Qadir makes the expression “like father, like son” seem an understatement. In his bowling he is the spitting image of his father, the legendary legspinner Abdul Qadir. Amazing it is for one so young to bowl six accurate deliveries across 22 yards; more so for him to not just bowl an immaculate length but also have all the tricks a leggie can boast of.Usman was one of the star attractions in the recently-concluded PCB Under-16 regional competition. He took 5 for 37 against Karachi to anchor Lahore’s win in the semi-final, and then two wickets in the win over Islamabad in the final, finishing with 13 wickets – second-best in the competition.More than his figures, it was the unmistakable Qadir action that caught the eye. It is not strange for little boys to want to grow up to be like their fathers. And in this case, a whole generation grew up on Qadir’s legendary bowling in the 1980s. But with his peculiar action, Abdul has always been tough to imitate. Usman, though, has the bloodlines. At eight he began to copy, frame by frame, his father’s bowling action from videos. He now possesses the sharp look Abdul used to give batsmen, and the same sharp disguise in his bowling.”People say that I have taken a leaf out of my father’s book, and they are right,” says Usman, who would sit in front of the television for hours, watching his father’s matches, etching the pictures into his memory. He would even dream of his father bowling.”The basic lesson I got was to bowl an off-stump line so that I could perfect the googly, which is always dangerous if a legspinner maintains the off-stump line,” he says, giving an imaginary ball a rip.Abdul was a hard taskmaster. “I invited his wrath whenever I bowled the wrong length,” says Usman, who is in the seventh grade at the Cathedral School in Lahore. “My father helped me develop a bowling action, but he always told me that education came first.”Before he took the youngest of his four sons under his wing, Abdul initially tried to dissuade him. “Yes, I did try to stop him from playing cricket,” he says. “I would call it my bad luck that all my sons took to cricket despite my advice, because cricketers’ sons have never been treated properly in Pakistan.”Rehman the eldest, was a better batsman than he was a legspinner. He played for National Bank but failed to make it to the top. Imran then followed in his father’s footsteps, and almost filled his shoes as a legspinner, before a dust allergy impeded his career. Both Rehman and Imran feature in league cricket in England regularly and earn their livings there.Next came Sulaman Qadir. He was different in style and better in achievement. An offspinner and combative batsman, Sulaman was the vice-captain of the team that won the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2004. He didn’t get a chance at national level, though, which irks his father no end. “Sulaman hit a hundred on first-class debut, and despite Shaharyar Khan promising to give him a side match, he was overlooked.” I don’t exaggerate, but in his early days Shane Warne didn’t bowl a googly as perfect as Usman does Abdul QadirMore than his sons’ talent or lack of it, it was perhaps Qadir’s propensity for calling a spade a spade and rubbing the establishment up the wrong way that damaged the boys’ prospects. Usman is yet to reach the stage where his career could be halted in similar fashion, but he is aware of what befell his brothers. “Dad told me that he would only help me master the art and would never go to anyone to beg for a place for me,” he says.Abdul for his part is full of praise for his youngest. “It is not that he was dearer than other sons, but his devotion and ability to pick up a lesson amazed me,” he says. “In a short time Usman has learned all the three frames [according to Qadir senior, every batsman has three frames of motion which bowlers identify and exploit] of a right-hand and a left-hand batsman. I don’t exaggerate: in his early days Shane Warne didn’t bowl a googly as perfect as Usman does.”The boy has progressed in leaps and bounds. His father had him play three games for the family club, Dharampur Gymkhana, where, bowling to batsmen twice his age, Usman bagged five wickets in each match. “Everyone was amazed at his bowling,” Abdul says. “Without my permission, Usman took the LCCA [Lahore City Cricket Association] trials and was picked for inter-district Under-19 matches. He took five wickets in each of the two zone matches. Then he shone in the Under-16 competition, and I felt so proud when some of my Habib Bank colleagues phoned to tell me that they saw the Qadir of the 1970s in Usman.”Unlike Abdul, who never paid much attention to his batting, Usman is determined to contribute in both departments. Already he is a bit of a dasher who can slog to good effect, and his batting idol is Adam Gilchrist. Bowling remains his top priority, though.Usman’s sights are set on making it to international cricket first. After that, the first target is to go past Warne’s tally of wickets and then Muttiah Muralitharan’s world record. His other dream is to bowl at Sachin Tendulkar. That would be a sight to behold: memories of a 16-year-old Tendulkar launching Qadir for sixes during his 18-ball 53 on the 1989 tour still remain fresh in the mind. How would the son fare?

Shaun Tait stunned the world and his team-mates by announcing he was taking an indefinite sabbatical from the game

08-Feb-2008

“Being a fast bowler and a pretty good mate, you pick up little things, and I could tell he was hurting for a while. Seeing his warm-ups, seeing him getting strapped and preparing for games, even walking back to his mark, there were some little signs there.”
“Obviously Taity has been run down for a long period of time. We never saw it. He is just the happiest bloke to have around the change room. It’s hit me like a ton of bricks … We’re all flabbergasted.”
“He’s a really genuine character, a great bloke to have around. He was his usual laughable [sic] self, but deep down he was obviously battling pretty hard. He was obviously going through a tough time … When he does come back, a few guys will really have to take him under their wings I think.”
“We are playing a lot more cricket. We are also under a lot more scrutiny through the media, especially if you are not taking wickets or scoring runs … Taity is going through a bit of a tough time, but it’s up to us as mates to make sure we are calling him and make sure he is in a good place.”
“If ever he wanted advice or to talk to me about what happened to me, I would be more than happy to pass it on.”
“I’d love to have a talk with him, but nobody in Australian cricket has ever asked me to.”
“For me, it shows a lack of character that he’s given up. Instead of people saying, ‘We wish him well and we hope he comes back’ (and we all wish that), I wish he hadn’t gone away and had shown more commitment and more desire.”
“If he’s saying that he’s exhausted, I guarantee that he is … I don’t have any doubts really [that he’ll come back to cricket], but it’s hard for me to say. The main thing is he has got to get that love and passion back for the game – and how long it takes is how long it takes.”
“What a blow. He’s such a popular bloke, a real country boy. I’m sorry he won’t be around for a while.”
“It’s [cricket] the great leveller, as they say … The demons are always around the corner.”
“The amount of depression that I’ve sensed in the game is very considerable. In a way, it’s a tribute to the power of the game. It’s no idle pastime. It’s something that envelopes people.”
By His Own Hand,