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Chris Cairns has been found not guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice following a nine-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. Here’s how the events unfolded

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2015Chris Cairns has been found not guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice following a nine-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. Here’s how the events unfolded:Monday, October 5Mr Justice Sweeney, the presiding judge at Southwark Crown Court, outlines the case to the 16 shortlisted men and women of the jury, of whom 12 will be sworn in on Wednesday. His “pessimistic” view is that the trial will extend until November 20.Monday, October 12Lou Vincent, the first of the witnesses to be called for the prosecution, claims he was under “direct orders” from Cairns to get involved in match-fixing. His introduction had come while playing for Chandigarh Lions during the 2008 Indian Cricket League.Tuesday, October 13During his second day on the witness stand, Vincent recalls how Daryl Tuffey, an alleged fellow member of the Chandigarh Lions match-fixing operation, threatened to “f****** kill” Cairns for non-payment. Under cross-examination from Orlando Pownall, QC, Vincent’s emotional state causes an early adjournment.Wednesday, October 14Vincent recalls how Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain, accused him and Cairns of being “dirty”. Despite claiming to have been “disgusted” at Cairns’ lies, Vincent nevertheless agreed to support his libel action against Modi. The reason for this, suggests Cairns’ defence, was “there was no corrupt activity … and you could give a truthful account.”Thursday, October 15Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand captain, tells how he had been approached three times by Cairns to get involved in spot-fixing, but did not report this to the authorities for three years because he “did not want it to be true”. The defence queries the inconsistencies in McCullum’s three statements to the ICC, claiming that his main concern was to protect his lucrative “Brand McCullum”.Friday, October 16Andre Adams and Kyle Mills, two former New Zealand team-mates, take the stand via videolink. Adams recalls how Cairns had doubted how the ICL could prevent corruption because it was an unsanctioned event. Mills states that he had been “gobsmacked” in 2009, when McCullum admitted his approach from Cairns.Monday, October 19Eleanor Riley, Vincent’s ex-wife, tells the court of a key conversation in a bar in Hale, Greater Manchester, in which Cairns calmed her fears about her husband’s activities by saying “everyone was doing it in India”. Riley insists her recall was “clear as a bell” despite the defence suggesting she had been “infected” by alcohol. “I certainly wouldn’t come to a perjury trial to lie,” she adds.Tuesday, October 20Ricky Ponting, the former Australia captain, confirms he was present in a bar in Kolkata in 2008 when McCullum claims to have been first approached by Cairns to spot-fix. McCullum, he said, described a five-minute phone-call with “Cairnsy” as a “business proposition”.Tuesday, October 20Leanne McGoldrick, McCullum’s former agent, recalls how her client had asked her during a dinner in Christchurch whether she thought Cairns was involved in match-fixing. “I was completely shocked,” she says. “I couldn’t believe what he was saying.” She encouraged McCullum to report the approach but their business relationship ended soon afterwards.Wednesday, October 21John Rhodes, the ICC anti-corruption officer, says that McCullum’s initial statement to the ACSU in February 2011 omitted any explicit mention of “match-fixing”. Rhodes tells the defence that the “inference was clear” in the statement but says that he was not in a “position to put words” into McCullum’s mouth.Wednesday, October 21Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the chairman of the ACSU, denies the defence’s assertion that the “scalp” of Cairns is being sought to deflect criticism away from his unit’s lack of success in tackling corruption. “Absolutely not,” he says. “If scalp turns out to be an appropriate description, I think it is an absolute tragedy.”Thursday, October 22Daniel Vettori tells the court he was “shocked and angry” upon hearing that his “mentor” Cairns was allegedly involved in match-fixing. He encouraged McCullum to report Cairns’ approaches following an anti-corruption briefing in 2011, but played down his own request for Cairns to buy him a US$15,000 diamond ring with the proceeds from a toothpaste commercial in 2006 as “innocuous”.Monday, October 26Chris Harris, the captain of the ICL franchise Mumbai Champs, claims that Cairns had worn an “unusual” expression after Chandigarh’s wicketkeeper, Sarabjit Singh, had won a match featuring an “unusual number of strange incidents” with 41 not out from 22 balls. Harris also claims that Andrew Fitch-Holland, Cairns’ co-defendant, had stated “Cairnsy’s guilty” during a Lashings charity game ahead of the libel case. The comment, it was suggested, could have related to his marital issues.Tuesday, October 27Vincent’s mental state made him “vulnerable” to approaches from match-fixers, according to his friend and former Auckland team-mate, Steve Pearson. In his own testimony, Vincent had outlined how he had struggled with depression since being dropped by New Zealand in 2007. Confessing to his involvement in match-fixing was, Pearson said of Vincent, “a release”.Wednesday, October 28Cairns’ statements to the Metropolitan Police in April and May 2014, following the allegations from McCullum, Vincent and Riley, are played back to the court. “Seriously? These are the accusations in regard to this?” Cairns is heard saying. “This is why I can’t get money, this is why I can’t make a living? This is it? I don’t want to seem like a whack job. I’ve been wracking my brains for months, I’ve been f**ked over.”Thursday, October 29Cairns’ defence questions the motives of the police investigation, in particular why there was no move to charge Vincent for his admissions of match-fixing and money-laundering. Detective chief superintendant Michael Duthrie said his force was interested only in what happened at the High Court, but added that Vincent had not been granted immunity from prosecution.Tuesday, November 3Cairns takes the stand for the first time in the trial but limits his responses largely to one-word answers. Asked by Pownall, his barrister, whether at any stage he was involved in match-fixing, Cairns replied: “No.” “Did you contemplate match-fixing?” Pownall continued. Cairns again replied: “No.”Wednesday, November 4Cairns receives a warning from the judge for evasion during a cross-examination from the prosecution. Mr Justice Sweeney told him to stop “making speeches” as he struggles to give straight answers to Ms Wass’ line of questioning.Thursday, November 5Cairns’ wife, Mel, denies that any discussion about match-fixing had taken place in the Manhattan Bar and Grill in 2008, the scene of Riley’s alleged encounter with Cairns. “I would never lie to help my husband in court,” she said via videolink, adding that the couple had not been able to afford for her to fly to the UK to support him during the trial.Friday, November 6Fitch-Holland, Cairns’ co-defendant, denies attempting to procure a false witness statement from Vincent during a recorded Skype conversation. He also denies all memory of a conversation at a charity cricket match in which he was alleged to have declared that “Cairnsy’s guilty”.Monday, November 9Under cross-examination, Fitch-Holland is reminded of an incident in 2009 in which Rod Marsh, the former Australia wicketkeeper, refused to sign a cricket bat which already had Cairns’ name on it. It was a sign, said the prosecution, that players had been “warned off” associating with Cairns. Fitch-Holland, however, said that the ICC had told him he was not under investigation.Tuesday, November 10Fitch-Holland is accused by the prosecution of inventing a convoluted story to explain his “very guilty words” in the Skype conversation with Vincent. “I’ve come up with the truth,” Fitch-Holland says. “I’m saying Lou Vincent is a self-confessed liar, and a cheat … I hoped I would be believed over him, as I hope now I will be believed over him.”Thursday, November 12Ms Wass closes the case for the prosecution by describing Cairns as the “Lance Armstrong” of cricket. The evidence that he was involved in match-fixing is “overwhelming”, she says. “He has made a mockery of the game of cricket, the fans, the game.”Monday, November 16Cairns’ barrister, Pownall, denounces four of the nine witnesses for the prosecution as liars, namely Vincent, McCullum, Vettori and Riley. Cricket’s authorities, Pownall added, were “determined to have the scalp of an innocent man”.Tuesday, November 17The case for the prosecution was “biased” from the outset, according to Pownall. “Beyond rumour, beyond self-motivated lies, you cannot be sure Mr Cairns is guilty. For that reason, we invite you to acquit him.”Wednesday, November 18Jonathan Laidlaw QC, Fitch-Holland’s barrister, protests that his client’s case has become a “sideshow”. “The prosecution has become rather too Cairns-focused in this case,” says Laidlaw. “Have they overlooked that there is a second man on trial here?”Friday, November 20Mr Justice Sweeney, beginning his summing-up, warns the jury to treat Vincent’s evidence with caution, given a self-confessed reputation for lying. “It is incumbent on me to emphasise to you the potential danger posed by such a witness and point out to you that he might have his own interests to serve by giving evidence.”Monday, November 23The evidence provided by Ms Riley is highlighted by the judge as “the most important”, seeing as it stemmed from a direct conversation with Cairns. Mr Justice Sweeney also reminded the jury of Andrew Hall’s testimony, that Cairns had told him his suspension from the ICL had been for match-fixing allegations. It was not, however, “evidence of the truth” per se.Tuesday, November 24The jury retires to consider its verdict at the completion of Mr Justice Sweeney’s summing-up. It is a “matter for you”, he tells them after outlining McCullum’s evidence, whether they believed he altered his ICC statements deliberately to serve his own interests, or as a consequence of more careful questioning in each of his three interviews with the ACSU.Friday, November 27After a two-day break, the jury is unable to reach a unanimous verdict in its initial deliberations. Court is reconvened at 11.44am in order for the judge to grant them permission to seek a majority verdict of 11-1 or 10-2. With no time pressure, the hearing is adjourned for the weekend at 4.30pm.Monday, November 30After 10 hours and 17 minutes of deliberation, the jury find Cairns not guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice. His co-defendant, Fitch-Holland, is also acquitted on the second charge. Speaking after the verdict, a relieved Cairns speaks of the five-year “hell” through which he and his family have been put, but admits that his reputation in cricket has been “scorched”.

Tim Murtagh took 5 for 12 as Derbyshire were blown away for 60 in their second innings to give Middlesex their second win in as many games

Alan Gardner at Lord's19-Apr-2013
ScorecardTim Murtagh wrought havoc in Derbyshire’s second innings as they were dismissed for 60•Middlesex CCC

For six-and-half sessions, Derbyshire sweated and fought their way into the ascendency against a team plenty have tipped as title contenders. The Division One novices, back in the top tier for the first time since 2000, ground out more than they might have got with the bat and then kept hustling with the ball, for a first-innings lead that could have proved decisive in a low-scoring match. They caught a glimpse of the path to a famous Lord’s victory, if only they could hold their nerve. But then, in about the average running time of a movie, as deftly as Keyser Soze springing the coop, “like that, it was gone”.Middlesex now have two wins from two, this comprehensive nine-wicket victory brought about by the usual suspects of their formidable fast-bowling attack, who dismantled Derbyshire in a little over two hours. Skip a session in the top tier and it can hurt you. Tim Murtagh had bowled better than 2 for 68 suggested in Derbyshire’s first innings but he was richly rewarded for pitching the ball up in an unchanged 12-over spell from the Nursery End either side of lunch on Friday. Swing and seam deputised effectively for shock and awe, as Murtagh returned devastating figures of 12-7-12-5.Steven Finn was also appreciably hostile, despite being uppercut for six by Wayne Madsen (he dismissed Derbyshire’s captain next ball), while Toby Roland-Jones made sure the innings disappeared in a suitably dramatic puff of smoke by removing nine, ten and jack in consecutive deliveries to complete the first hat-trick of his senior career. The teams had tugged back and forth on the rope for two days but it took only one sharp jerk to bring Derbyshire down in a heap for their lowest score against Middlesex.It was the sort of bowling display to make Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s director of cricket, puff out his chest with understandable pride, although he admitted his team had “mugged” Derbyshire. “To have won two games out of two is a fantastic start but we can still play better,” he said, ominously for opponents but enticingly for those studying the fixture list: Middlesex’s next game is at home to Surrey in two weeks’ time. “From our perspective that’s the encouraging thing, we have started well, we’re playing some good cricket but we can do better, there’s room for improvement.””I don’t think many counties have won a title in April,” was his good-humoured response to talk of the Championship (which Middlesex last won when Fraser was a player in 1993). “At the start of the season, our goals were to build on what we’ve achieved in the last two years and to establish ourselves as one of the top three or four sides in the country and that remains the case.”When 15 wickets fall in little more than two sessions of cricket, hurrying this game to an unexpected three-day finish, you can be sure that polite questions will be asked about the technique and application of batsmen. In fact, they might not have been so polite in the away dressing room, with only three Derbyshire players getting into double figures. Shivnarine Chanderpaul has seen one or two collapses in his time – he featured in two of West Indies’ five lowest Test scores, including their 54 all out on this ground in 2000 – but his unflustered, two-hour 18 not out was perhaps the archetype of a man keeping his head while all around others were losing theirs.No one was blaming Chanderpaul, of course, and Kipling’s poem “If” also contains that canonical line about treating the imposters of triumph and disaster the same. Karl Krikken, Derbyshire’s coach, will hope his players can do just that, in order to steel themselves for what looks like being a testing season, and although he attempted to shrug off the collapse he was disappointed that a hard-working display had not resulted in a more impregnable first-innings position.”We felt we competed for two days,” Krikken said. “Sides do get bowled out for 60 occasionally, Middlesex bowled well. I don’t think we dealt with it as well as we should have done. But the most disappointing part of it, when you look at the game, we were 130 for 3 in the first innings and you hope from that position you push on to 300. I felt we’d done all the hard work and just let it go. Obviously it’s disappointing to get bowled out for 60 but I felt we had the match in the ascendency on the first day and we took our foot off the pedal.”Of the pressing need for more runs, Krikken said: “Ultimately it’s up to the players to man up with the bat. We’ve had two fifties this year in 33 knocks and it’s just not good enough.” This defeat was certainly a schooling and, in a division where there are several fearsome attacks willing to beat up vulnerable teams behind the bike sheds, Derbyshire will have to learn fast.

Chris Cairns, the former New Zealand allrounder, has won his libel suit against Lalit Modi and has been awarded damages of £90,000

By Alan Gardner at the Royal Courts of Justice26-Mar-2012Chris Cairns, the former New Zealand allrounder, has won his libel case against Lalit Modi and has been awarded damages of £90,000 ($142,000). Modi was also ordered to pay costs – which amounted to around £1.5 million ($2.4 million) – by the judge, David Bean, who delivered his judgement on Monday morning. Neither Cairns nor Modi was present in court.”Today’s verdict lifts a dark cloud that has been over me for the past two years,” Cairns said. “I am proud that I had the courage to stand up and defend my name and feel great relief that I can once again walk into any cricket ground in the world with my head held high.”Cairns was suing the former IPL chairman in the UK’s first Twitter libel case over a defamatory tweet sent in January 2010, in which Modi referred to Cairns’ alleged involvement in match-fixing as the reason for barring him from the IPL auction. Cairns brought the matter to court, saying the allegations threatened to reduce his cricketing achievements to “dust”.Justice Bean, however, said that Modi had “singularly failed to provide any reliable evidence” that Cairns was involved in match-fixing or spot-fixing or even that there were strong grounds for suspicion that he was.”It is obvious that an allegation that a professional cricketer is a match-fixer goes to the core attributes of his personality and, if true, entirely destroys his reputation for integrity,” the judge said. “The allegation is not as serious as one of involvement in terrorism or sexual offences (to take two examples from recent cases). But it is otherwise as serious an allegation as anyone could make against a professional sportsman.”The judge also said Cairns was entitled to an injunction, preventing the accusations from being repeated.In a brief statement, Modi said: “I have received the judgement and I am immediately considering an appeal with my legal team. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment any further at this time.”The case centred on the reason for Cairns’ suspension and dismissal from the Indian Cricket League (ICL), a rival Twenty20 league to the IPL. Cairns captained the Chandigarh Lions in the ICL but had his contract cancelled shortly after the start of the third edition in October 2008. The official reason given was Cairns’ failure to disclose an ankle injury but Modi’s legal team argued that this was an orchestrated “cover-up” to conceal his involvement in corrupt activity.The court heard evidence from several of Cairns’ former Chandigarh team-mates, who made various claims against him. On the witness stand, where he gave evidence for almost eight hours, Cairns vigorously denied the allegations and the judge found in his favour, casting doubt on several of the witnesses’ credibility.Bean said evidence from Gaurav Gupta, TP Singh and Rajesh Sharma was “not to be believed”, adding: “The hearsay evidence of Uniyal and Ablish is inconsistent and unreliable; and Karanveer Singh’s last-minute evidence falls well short of sustaining the defendant’s case.”He added that while there was a “quite a substantial volume of evidence against Dinesh Mongia”, the unofficial vice-captain at Chandigarh, this did not prove Cairns’ involvement. Other players, such as TP Singh, had confessed to fixing themselves. “They had an obvious incentive to put forward by way of mitigation that they were only obeying orders, or at least giving into pressure from their charismatic captain,” Bean wrote in his judgement.The judge also said he was “not impressed” with evidence given by Howard Beer, the former ICL anti-corruption officer who conducted the investigation into allegations of fixing, criticising the Australian former police officer’s conduct as “partisan to the point of being unprofessional”.Bean accepted that Cairns had been dismissed by the ICL for breach of contract over his injury and also dismissed suggestions of impropriety about money Cairns received for work with an Indian diamond trader. “Despite prolonged, searching and occasionally intrusive questioning about his sporting, financial and personal life he emerged essentially unscathed,” Bean added.The aggressive tone adopted by the defence was an aggravating factor in Bean’s award for damages, increasing them by a factor of 20%. Modi was given 28 days to settle with Cairns, as well as to make an interim payment of £400,000 in costs to the claimant’s legal team. His own legal bill was estimated at more than £1m. Modi was granted permission to appeal the level of damages.The news that one 24-word tweet could end up costing Lalit Modi £1.5m may chill the blood of even the most hardened keyboard warrior. Confirmation that UK libel laws apply to Twitter – even if posted half the world away – sets a significant precedent and one that may make some of those who use the social network to engage in bar room discussion hesitate the next time they decide to flame a public figure.Although the tweet was read by only a handful of people in England and Wales, the damages awarded to Chris Cairns reflect the unquantifiable reach of such an accusation. Even without Modi’s hefty legal fees, the thought as you hover over the tweet button of receiving a £90,000 bill is likely to make your finger twitch.However, the law that underpins this judgement is still the same. Cairns’ QC said there was little difference between Twitter and slander (spoken, rather than written, defamation); and the judge referred to internet gossip as being of “little significance” when compared to a statement made by one of “the most powerful men in cricket”. Opinions are as welcome online as in the pub – just be careful how you express them.
Alan Gardner

Jacob Oram is set for his international comeback after being included in New Zealand’s 12-man squad for the first two ODIs against Pakistan that start in Wellington on Sunday

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jan-2011Jacob Oram is set for his international comeback after being included in New Zealand’s 12-man squad for the first two ODIs against Pakistan that start in Wellington on Sunday.Oram was named in New Zealand’s World Cup squad having completed his rehabilitation from knee surgery and hasn’t played for New Zealand since August last year.Hamish Bennett, the 23-year-old paceman, is also included after playing the last of his two ODIs in October last year while three players named in the World Cup squad – uncapped Luke Woodcock, Kane Williamson and Kyle Mills – have been left out of to play domestic cricket.Williamson was in New Zealand’s side during their recent ODI series against India but has struggled for form in the Test series against Pakistan.New Zealand face a resurgent Pakistan side who completed their first Test series win since 2006 after drawing the Wellington Test. Allan Donald, who has recently been named as New Zealand’s bowling coach, will join the squad ahead of the opening ODI.Squad: Daniel Vettori, Hamish Bennett, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor.

Harbhajan Singh has come in for criticism after a lacklustre showing during the defeat in Nagpur, but he defended his performance

Cricinfo staff11-Feb-2010Harbhajan Singh, India’s leading spinner, has come in for criticism after a lacklustre showing during the defeat in Nagpur, but he defended his performance in a Test where he was outbowled by South African left-arm spinner Paul Harris. After returning figures of 2 for 166, with only one maiden in 46 overs, Harbhajan praised the manner in which South Africa batted.”You can’t really take five wickets every day,” he told the on Wednesday. “They (the South Africans) have come here to play, they aren’t here on holiday. They are among the best in the world, and have played superbly, you can’t take that away from them, give them that credit.”Despite being the top wicket-taker in the home series against Sri Lanka late last year, a listless tour of Bangladesh followed by the ineffectiveness in Nagpur has put Harbhajan, India’s most successful offspinner with over 300 Test wickets, under pressure. “I have the support of my team and frankly, that’s what matters, not what anyone says,” he said. “I know myself, I know what I need to do. I’ve performed very well over time and the statistics, the records reflect that, that’s for everyone to see.”Anil Kumble, the senior spinner in the Indian team for much of Harbhajan’s career, said he expected a much-improved performance in Kolkata. “I am confident that if he gets some early wickets, he will be a different bowler,” he told the . “It’s only a matter of confidence … Kolkata has been a favourite ground for Harbhajan and I am confident he is going to get back to his old way of picking wickets.”India’s hold on the No. 1 Test ranking is shaky after the embarrassing loss in Nagpur, and though the new-look batting flopped in both innings, there was plenty of concern over the bowling, which despite being at full strength allowed South Africa to pile up 558 for 6. Unless the home side win the second Test in Kolkata, starting Sunday, South Africa will win the series and reclaim top spot in the ICC rankings.

“If you don’t believe you belong at the international level, you start over-respecting the opposition and forget your strengths”

Shashank Kishore15-Sep-20251:14

Maharoof: Bangladesh have been lacking in major tournaments

Belief. That was the buzzword as Mushtaq Ahmed, Bangladesh’s spin consultant, addressed a press conference ahead of his team’s must-win Asia Cup fixture against Afghanistan.Bangladesh’s chastening defeat to Sri Lanka with 32 balls to spare dented a net run-rate that should’ve received a bigger fillip when they beat Hong Kong. That they took 17.4 overs to knock off 144 despite having a platform was criticised from several quarters.That means Bangladesh won’t be able to control their fate even if they win, since Afghanistan and Sri Lanka play the last group game of the pool.Related

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“You have to believe. The coaches and management keep telling the players that belief is very important,” Mushtaq said. “It’s difficult, of course, having to rely on ifs and buts, but you have to concentrate on winning the match first.”Asked of potential dangers to look out for, Mushtaq was clear it would come from Afghanistan’s spinners, led by their captain, Rashid Khan.”Their spin department is very good, especially in the middle overs,” he said. “If we can counter their spin well and put a decent score on the board, we can challenge them because our bowling unit is also strong. My main concern is the middle overs.”This middle phase is where Bangladesh revived their innings in their previous game, with Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain reviving a floundering innings. From 59 for 5, they put together an unbroken 80-run stand to lift Bangladesh to 139.Mushtaq said despite their batting struggles, the messaging has been constant: to try and keep going for their shots, which he also said wasn’t something that can be ingrained instantly. But it’s something they’ve been trying to develop in trying to ramp up their batting methods – like their focus towards six-hitting.”Sometimes, early failures lead to losing four or five wickets quickly,” Mushtaq explained. “We tell our batsmen that such things happen, but they must move on fast. If they dwell on the past, their progress will be slow. As coaches, our duty is to prevent them from going into a shell, maintain their confidence, and keep giving them belief.Bangladesh suffered a heavy defeat to Sri Lanka•Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images

“As I’ve said in press conferences, I emphasise on belief. I played with legends like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, and Wasim Akram. One lesson I learned from them is that if you don’t believe you belong at the international level, you start over-respecting the opposition and forget your strengths. Even failure while playing aggressively makes you a stronger player.”If coaches and management can instill that belief, the team can challenge any side. Players like Litton [Das], [Towhid] Hridoy, Tanzim [Hasan], Jaker and Shamim have shown that even when situations look tough, they can find momentum and score 170-180. With good fast bowlers and spinners, and if we get stronger as a team, we can challenge any team.”Mushtaq also called for some patience while dealing with a player like Rishad Hossain, the legspinner. It’s an art that hasn’t always been explored to its full potential in Bangladesh, primarily because of their battery of traditional left-arm spinners over the years.Rishad, though, has had an impressive initiation into international cricket, even though he hasn’t picked up wickets by the truckloads. His only over the other night against Sri Lanka went for 18.”Sometimes, as a young leg-spinner, you can overthink and try too many deliveries in one over,” Mushtaq assessed. “Especially in the first few overs, you risk losing your line and length. Funny enough, you asked this question [about his form].”I spoke to him today before we came to the nets. His strength is always to bowl the first three balls in good areas. That builds belief and confidence, after which he can use variations. He has to learn these little things quickly and also figure out, situation-wise, which deliveries to bowl more.”If a bowler, like Rishad, struggles in the first three balls, it doesn’t mean he loses rhythm for the rest of the spell. As a leg-spin bowling coach, I remind all spinners to focus on the process. Bowling good balls consistently builds confidence. He’s young and hasn’t played much red-ball cricket, so it’s my responsibility to ensure he remembers his process before worrying about outcomes.”Mushtaq was then asked what Afghanistan are doing in their development of wristspinners and cricketers in general that Bangladesh aren’t.”Afghanistan players have played lots of franchise cricket,” he explained. “You can buy a bed, but you can’t buy sleep. Bangladesh has been strong at home, but in ICC or ACC tournaments, we have to improve.”

Visitors face stiff final day of batting after being set a target in excess of 400

ECB Reporters Network14-Apr-2024Glamorgan pulled in front on day three of their Vitality County Championship match against Derbyshire after they posted 361 for seven declared to set a target of 401 for the visitors.The mainstay for Glamorgan was Chris Cooke who finished on 126 not out, by far the highest score of this match so far. He was well supported by 61 not out from James Harris and a well made 32 from Dan Douthwaite.In the 12 overs that were bowled before the close Derbyshire reached 40 for one with David Lloyd and Luis Reece undefeated.With Derbyshire still 361 runs away from their victory target a Glamorgan victory is the most likely outcome as the match heads into a final day with a mixed weather forecast.Mason Crane had come into bat as a nightwatchman late on day two and he did a good job of supporting Colin Ingram in a 45-run stand for the fifth wicket. Crane was trapped lbw by Thomson for 19 to bring the experienced pair of Ingram and Cooke together. For the first time in this match, batting started looking straightforward.Ingram was batting with great rhythm as he passed fifty from 76 balls. Shortly after reaching the milestone, he called Cooke through for a single and was sent back too late and was run out by a throw from Sam Conners.In the first two innings of the match, it was at this point that wickets had come in a hurry. Here Cooke and Douthwaite put together a partnership worth 109, the highest of the match up to that point. Cooke missed out on a chance to bat during the record-breaking efforts at Lord’s last week and he made the most of his chance in the middle in this game as he made the 13th hundred of his first-class career.After seeing the ball spin appreciably throughout the first two days, it was a lot easier going on day three, but Thomson continued to be a threat. He bowled the first 33 overs of the Glamorgan innings from the River Taff end and sent down 44 overs in total as he finished with career-best match figures of 12 for 201.Cooke was joined by Harris after Douthwaite was dismissed by Thomson to complete his second five-wicket haul of the match and Glamorgan continued to turn the screw with a second hundred-run stand in succession, eclipsing the stand by Cooke and Douthwaite as they made 116 undefeated for the eighth wicket. When the declaration came it set Derbyshire a target of 401.Harris was the man to make the one breakthrough on the third evening when he had Harry Came trapped lbw for three. As the clouds came over Sophia Gardens in the early evening it became too dark for play to continue and the players left the field with three overs unbowled.With the ball still turning on this pitch much will depend on how well Crane bowls on the final day with Glamorgan still needing nine wickets for victory.

A bowler with a Test average of 10.36 could lose his place with the selectors facing one of their biggest calls

Andrew McGlashan19-Dec-2022Australia’s selectors are potentially facing one of their toughest calls for Boxing Day: in one corner you have Josh Hazlewood, 217 Test wickets at 26.16, and in the other you have new cult hero Scott Boland who has an average of 10.36 from five matches with a stunning record at the MCG.With Hazlewood confident in his recovery from the side strain which has kept him out of the last two Tests, allowing Boland to come in having missed out in Perth, the final XI to face South Africa in Melbourne could give an indication of whether the pecking order of Australia’s quicks has been changed.On one hand, how do they leave out Boland? He is a wicket-taking machine who five times in five Tests has taken multiple scalps in an over, the most recent on the helter-skelter second day at the Gabba.Related

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But then there’s Hazlewood, a world-class fast bowler with an outstanding record, albeit one whose Test career has stuttered over the last two years due to injury and conditions-based selection. Perhaps relevant will be Hazlewood’s first-class record at the MCG, where he averages 35.69, which is significantly higher than his career mark. Boland averages 24.35 at the venue.It’s the second time in two summers that a player initially outside the XI is making the case that he cannot be left out. Usman Khawaja returned last season, when Travis Head missed the Sydney Test with Covid, and his twin centuries meant room had to be found for him so Marcus Harris was left out two games after top-scoring on a devilish pitch at the MCG.This time there is not another potential fall guy in the XI to accommodate both Boland and Hazlewood assuming everyone else is fit.”It’s a good problem to have. I can’t state it any other way,” national selector George Bailey said. “Couldn’t ask for anything more…and effectively Uzzie was in the same position last summer. Travis gets the nod in the first Test. Uzzie waits, gets his opportunity and grabs it. And that’s a really important part of what this team is at the moment, that when that opportunity is there you grab it, you come in, there’s a really clear role you can perform. Barrell [Boland] is doing it, he’s been fantastic. Hoff [Hazlewood] has obviously done it for a very, very long time as well.”The South Africa Test will mark a year since Boland’s stunning arrival into the format when he claimed 6 for 7 to roll England on the third morning. At the time he was viewed as something of an MCG specialist, but subsequent success in Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide has reinforced that he is a mighty fine bowler in most locations.”He was on the radar for the MCG last year because of exactly what we’ve seen him do,” Bailey said. “He bashes a length, I think his ability to take multiple wickets in the same over speaks to how consistent he is and the questions he asks of the batter right from ball one. He’s going fantastically. [Josh will] keep building and clearly we’ve got a decision to make. I’m really glad that it is a tough decision to make.”When Hazlewood spoke on Sunday, he admitted it had been a frustrating period of his Test career and conceded being a three-format bowler, having established himself as one of the leading T20 performers, had brought challenges. However, although it is the second summer in a row where Hazlewood has suffered a side injury it has been described as a different problem and the medical teams are not concerned about a pattern emerging.”Let’s be honest, fast bowlers face injury more than any other type of cricketer,” Bailey said. “So they’re constantly under pressure with it. It’s a challenge trying to get [the balance] right. The flip side of that is I think Josh giving himself the opportunity through the IPL has seen him become the T20 bowler [he is]. He’s just a phenomenal bowler. It’s hard work.”Not that it can be a serious selection criteria, but how would the Melbourne locals react to Boland being omitted? Mitchell Marsh was booed during the 2018-19 Test against India after being picked in place of Victoria’s Peter Handscomb whose numbers then were far less compelling than Boland’s.”It’s very important to have two Victorian selectors on the panel,” Bailey joked. “Tony Dodemaide and Andrew McDonald will be in charge of that.”

Both teams were also fined 40% of their match fee by match referee Chris Broad

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Aug-2021England and India have been fined two World Test Championship points each for their slow over-rates during the first Test in Nottingham, which ended as a rain-affected draw on Sunday. Both teams were also fined 40% of their match fee by match referee Chris Broad.The teams now take two points each out of the Test match, instead of the four they would normally get for a draw under the new points system for the 2021-23 WTC cycle.Related

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“As a team we were not pleased we lost two points because of factors that were definitely in our control,” India captain Virat Kohli said on Wednesday. “We were short by two overs, but we made up quite a few overs in that second innings. we basically have to keep up to speed with the pace of the game – small little things where we can save 10-15 seconds, that really matters, we practised that in the second innings and we were able to cover up three to four overs. You don’t want to be that far behind in the game that you are not able then to not to catch up and cover your overs in time, as the points are very, very crucial.”A major factor behind the slow over rates was both teams opting for pace-heavy attacks owing to the seam-and-swing-friendly pitch and overhead conditions at Trent Bridge. England picked four fast bowlers and no spinners, and India four fast bowlers and one spinner, Ravindra Jadeja. In the end, the quicks sent down all but 16 of the 250.2 overs bowled during the Test match.The match was also beset by frequent rain interruptions, while the completion of overs was also delayed by batters not being ready to face. As light worsened on the second afternoon, KL Rahul took his time to get into his position against James Anderson. England’s batters, meanwhile, also made Mohammed Siraj wait on more than one occasion.Over-rate-related points deductions could prove costly to teams during the WTC. In the inaugural 2019-21 cycle, Australia were docked four points for their slow over rate during the 2020 Boxing Day Test against India in Melbourne. It ultimately cost them a place in the final, which instead went to eventual champions New Zealand.

Uncertainty means freezing squads for a year would prove close to impossible

Matt Roller05-May-2020Coaches in the Hundred have raised questions about how squads in the competition will look next year, suggesting that a partial re-draft of squads will be necessary ahead of the tournament’s delayed launch in 2021.Players’ contracts were terminated on Monday through a ‘force majeure’ clause following the tournament’s postponement and the ECB has opened discussions with the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) and other stakeholders in the past few days to work out what will happen to squads.And while there seems to be little appetite for a total re-draft, question marks over Kolpak players, overseas availability, and possible retirements mean that freezing the squads would prove close to impossible.ALSO READ: Hundred delay a knock for women’s game – LevickUnder the competition’s planned retention rules, teams were able to keep up to ten players from their initial squad for the 2021 edition of a tournament, at a salary band negotiated with the player. Another draft would then follow for teams to fill the gaps in their squads during the winter, with the lower number of players to pick allowing a shorter and more focused programme for TV. A modified version of this system seems – at an early stage – to be the most likely solution.Speaking on a Sky Sports podcast, Shane Warne and Tom Moody – coaches of London Spirit and Oval Invincibles respectively – said that there would be issues with keeping the same squads for 2021.”It’ll be two years basically when the Hundred starts from when we did the auction [draft],” Warne said. “There’ll be different players, some players might retire, so I’m not sure how they’re going to – will they start from scratch again, where you have to put together different squads? Will they have a ten-player core of that squad and then you can only pick ten players?”It’ll be interesting to see what the ECB come up with about the rules and whether they say ‘you know what, we’re going to start again’ or another alternative. I think everyone was pretty happy with the squad they had but two years later from when the auction [draft] is, there’s a lot of time passed as to how players develop in that time. It’d be interesting to see how it affects them. People might be playing international cricket then, might have got elevated so they’re not available as much, so you might have chosen a different squad.”In the London Spirit squad Warne picked, there are four players who would be 35 or older at the start of next year’s competition: Joe Denly, Jade Dernbach, Mohammad Nabi, and Roelof van der Merwe. Kyle Abbott, initially selected as a local player thanks to his Kolpak registration, would have to be picked as an overseas player. Moody’s Invincibles squad has fewer issues in terms of age, but he has a similar problem with Kolpak players having signed Rilee Rossouw and Hardus Viljoen for £75,000 and £60,000 respectively.”I think most teams would be pretty comfortable with the squads they’ve got. Not only did most teams plan to have a squad that was capable of winning in the first year, I think they had also a long-term eye as well with regards to making sure that they had players they wanted to be part of their franchise for years to come,” Moody said.”I think there are some tricky little hurdles that the organisers will have to get their head around. One of the ones that really stands out for me is the Kolpak player situation – it [the loophole] is due to expire at the end of December this year, so teams that had picked Kolpak players knowing that they had them for the first year but then would have had to make a decision with them the following year, with regards to whether they keep them on board as an overseas or let them go back into pasture.”Jason Roy models the Oval Invincibles’ kit•Getty Images

PCA chairman Daryl Mitchell has taken the lead in discussions and has led multiple calls with county representatives and other senior players since the tournament was officially postponed last Thursday. Of the 21 county reps (three counties have two), six have contracts in the Hundred: Ben Cox, Luke Fletcher, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, David Payne, Max Waller and Chris Wood. Others, such as Jake Ball and Jack Taylor, would have been well-placed to win selection as a ‘wildcard’ through performances in the T20 Blast.ALSO READ: Where now for the Hundred following ECB postponement?Both men’s and women’s players were notified via a letter on Monday that their contracts had been terminated. An ECB spokesperson said: “This letter is necessary paperwork to legally update and inform players of the situation, which follows a notification last week around the launch of the new competition being moved to 2021. We are currently working with the PCA and other key stakeholders with regard to player selection and retention for the first edition of the Hundred in 2021.”Selection and retention for the women’s competition is less likely to raise concerns, with players signed by teams partly based on location via an informal recruitment process rather than a draft. Charlotte Edwards, the former England captain and Southern Brave head coach, said on Sunday it was a “worrying time” for the women’s game following the tournament’s postponement, with several players set to miss out on deals in the short term.While the Hundred’s postponement has been confirmed, the ECB has downplayed reports that a revised schedule for the summer could include no women’s cricket. “We’re working alongside all international boards whose men’s or women’s teams are due to come here this summer,” said a spokesperson.