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David Warner believes if Michael Clarke moves up from No. 5, it will add much-needed stability to Australia’s top order but, he said, it would be disappointing as it meant the rest of the batsmen had not been performing

Brydon Coverdale11-Mar-2013David Warner believes if Michael Clarke moves up from No. 5, it will add much-needed stability to Australia’s top order but he said it would be disappointing if such a change was required because it meant the rest of the batsmen had not been performing adequately. Clarke’s batting position for the Mohali Test has not yet been confirmed but after the loss in Hyderabad, where he was out for 91 in the first innings trying to score quickly with the tail, he indicated he would need to promote himself.Clarke, who has scored more than twice as many runs as any other members of the top six on this tour, could bat at either first drop or second drop given how early India have been using their spinners. So far in the series, Clarke has come in at 126 for 3, 65 for 3, 57 for 3 and 75 for 3, and although the conditions have played a part in those low scores, three-down for very few has become an all-too-familiar sight on Australia’s scorecard in recent years.”I just think it will stabilise us a lot, instead of losing three wickets we might only lose one wicket and rotate the strike more,” Warner said. “I don’t think it is necessarily about having Michael at three; it is about us, the top four, to knuckling down and scoring runs, that’s the main issue. If we can do our job right there is no reason to reshuffle the order.”Warner started the series with a scratchy half-century in the first innings in Chennai and since then has had little impact, despite making a couple of starts and reaching the 20s. In the second innings in Hyderabad he was bowled around his legs trying to sweep the first ball he faced from R Ashwin over the wicket and it was a shot that frustrated the coach Mickey Arthur, who had that morning instilled in the team the need to avoid cross-bat shots.Warner could have spent some time adjusting to Ashwin’s new line and perhaps even kicked the ball away given that it was pitching outside leg stump and he could not be lbw. Another option would have been to flick the ball through midwicket but that would have carried the risk of a leading edge. Warner said in hindsight his best play would have been to come down the pitch and reach the ball on the full.”If you’re pushing a ball through midwicket against the turn you could get a leading edge and get caught at slip,” Warner said. “I think that ball, when I look back at it, if I took the stride down the wicket, I could have got to it on the full. If I had a second line of defence I wouldn’t have got bowled. They’re the things that you look at and the decisions that you make at the time.”I saw the ball drift late. What happens if you [try to pad it away and] miss it? It drifted at the last minute. If you go to pad those away you’re still leaving a gap between your legs, unless you’re guarding the stumps like a castle.”Australia enter the Mohali Test, which starts on Thursday, needing a victory to keep the series and their chances of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy alive after going down 2-0 in Chennai and Hyderabad. The innings loss inside three and a half days in the second Test led the former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar to ponder in a newspaper column whether this was the worst Australian team ever to tour India, but Warner said it was important to remember that historically teams have struggled in the conditions.”We’ve won one tour [in the last 40 years],” Warner said. “Four out of the 16 blokes who are here have played Test-match cricket here [before]. We’re doing pretty well to put up a fight at least. We’ve had the best of conditions in both the first innings, that’s no excuse. But in the second innings with the ball turning, it has been tough for us because we aren’t used to the conditions.”In the first innings there’s no excuse, we’re supposed to be scoring well into high-300s, early-400s. We’ve got the capabilities of doing that. Hopefully in the next two Test matches we can not only prove everyone wrong but prove to ourselves that we’re good enough. We’ve got the right team and the right balance to do that.”

Craig White, the former Yorkshire and England allrounder, is to join Hampshire’s coaching set-up ahead of the new season

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Feb-2012Craig White, the former Yorkshire and England allrounder, is to join Hampshire’s coaching set-up ahead of the new season. White had been expected to pursue a career as an umpire after leaving his position as coach of Yorkshire’s second XI in November of last year, but he will now take up his new role on March 1.White left Yorkshire after more than two decades as a player and coach, with the club bringing in Jason Gilliespie and Paul Farbrace as part of a backroom shake-up. He retired as a player in 2008, having made more than 12,000 runs and taken 395 wickets in first-class cricket, with 30 Test appearances for England and another 51 in ODIs.”This is a very exciting new challenge for me,” White said. “I’ve been at Yorkshire for 22 years but I now feel it would be interesting to see how things are at a new county. I’ve always admired the way things are done at Hampshire – it seems a very focused but relaxed place so it should be exactly my kind of atmosphere. They’ve got some great young cricketers there so I’m looking forward to working with them.”Hampshire finished bottom of Division One in last season’s County Championship and were subsequently relegated. It has been a winter of change at the Rose Bowl, with players such as Dominic Cork, Nic Pothas and Michael Lumb all departing. Simon Katich has been signed as the county’s overseas player, while Jimmy Adams will continue as captain after taking up the role at the end of last season.Giles White, the Hampshire manager, said: “The players and staff are excited about this appointment. We all look forward to working with Craig and tapping into his experience. We are delighted to have him at Hampshire.”

A round-up of the seventh round of matches from the 2010-11 Plunket Shield

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Mar-2011Canterbury moved up to third place in the Plunket Shield table, beating Wellington by 76 runs in a closely-fought game at the Manipower Oval in Rangiora. A five-wicket haul from left-arm seamer Andy McKay helped bowl out Canterbury for 162 on the first day. Half-centuries from Wellington captain Grant Elliott and then Jeetan Patel lower down the order gave Wellington a handy 85-run lead though Canterbury did well to fight back with legspinner Todd Astle taking five wickets.Canterbury batted more spiritedly in their second innings, overcoming a poor start by way of a 167-run fifth-wicket stand between Shanan Stewart and Reece Young. Stewart made 99 while McKay backed up his first-innings performance with a four-for. Canterbury managed 339, a lead of 254, and Wellington faced a challenging chase. The way the openers Stephen Murdoch and Cameron Merchant were going, adding 105, it seemed Wellington would ease to victory. But Matthew Henry starred on debut, triggering a collapse and grabbing a five-for. Nine wickets fell for 73 and Wellington, who are now second from bottom, fell 76 short.Auckland and Northern Districts served up a thriller at Seddon Park in Hamilton, one in which Auckland held their nerve to seal their first win of the tournament. Auckland batted first and, thanks to a lower-order revival, led by Michael Bates and Bruce Martin, reached 228. Bates, in a fine all-round performance, combined with Chris Martin to limit the lead to 63. He picked up five wickets, Chris Martin took four, but fifties from Brad Wilson and Peter McGlashan ensured the advantage remained with ND.A collective bowling display led by seamer Trent Boult who took four wickets pegged back Auckland further. Gareth Hopkins resisted with 85, and was supported by useful contributions from Anaru Kitchen, Bradley Cachopa and Daryl Tuffey. But a target of 197 didn’t seem sufficient. No one told the Auckland bowlers that, as Chris Martin again stepped up, taking a five-for to finish with nine in the match. The ND batsmen would regret not capitalising on starts. The last three wickets fell for just two runs and ND capitulated to 178, losing by 18 runs.Rain ruined what was shaping up to be an exciting game at the University Oval in Dunedin, between Otago and Central Districts. Kieran Noema-Barnett grabbed four wickets to bowl out Otago for 147 and a lower-order led effort steered CD to a 75-run lead. Kruger van Wyk and Tarun Nethula struck half-centuries to give CD the edge. However, Otago replied strongly in the second innings, and were at 113 for 2 at the end of the third day. Rain, which had washed out the second day, returned to haunt the fourth as well.

Pakistan’s next full-time coach is “99%” certain to be a local man, according to PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, though a tweaked coaching set-up may also look at incorporating inputs from foreign coaches as and when required

Osman Samiuddin23-Feb-2010Pakistan’s next full-time coach is “99%” certain to be a local man, according to PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, though a tweaked coaching set-up may also look at incorporating inputs from foreign coaches as and when required. Waqar Younis, Butt said, is among the men the board is looking at.”The full-time coach of the Pakistan side will be 99% a Pakistani,” Butt told Cricinfo. “We have two-three people in mind and Waqar is one of those that we have met and are looking at. A decision will be taken in the next couple of days on this.”Butt’s comments seem to all but shut the door on speculation over the last few weeks on a foreign coach being appointed to the national side, increasing the likelihood that Waqar may land the role. The board did approach Greg Chappell, though he turned down the offer. Mickey Arthur’s name has also come up, though he has yet to be approached and it is believed would be keener on a short-term role.The post is not a particularly attractive one for foreign candidates, given the relative insecurity of any administration that makes the appointment. The security situation in the country will also be a factor, though neither of Pakistan’s last two foreign coaches – Bob Woolmer or Geoff Lawson – had any problems staying in the country’s cricket headquarters in Lahore.But the peculiar nature of Pakistan’s future commitments now may lead to the board appointing foreign consultants as and when required. All of Pakistan’s home commitments will be played abroad for the forseeable future, either in the UAE, or in specific arrangements with other countries: the ‘home series’ against New Zealand, for example, last year was played in New Zealand, while they will play a much-postponed ‘home series’ against Australia in England later this year.For these commitments Pakistan may look to get inputs from consultants. “We may hire foreign coaches for consultants positions, or have specific positions, depending on what and where our commitments are and what our needs are,” Butt said. “But our full-time coach is most likely to be a local.” In the summer’s Tests against Australia and England in England, for instance, Arthur may yet be brought on board to play a consulting role of some kind.Pakistan’s two foreign coaches in the last few years had a mixed time. Woolmer had some success with the side between 2004 and 2006, but by the time of his death during the World Cup a year later, the experiment had soured. Soon after Woolmer’s demise, the board said they would hire a local coach, only to U-turn and plump for Geoff Lawson instead. He had a tougher time and though popular with the players, he was removed and replaced by Intikhab Alam, soon after the administrative change that saw Butt take over as chairman in 2008.

They have called for an indefinite boycott of the Dhaka leagues

Mohammad Isam08-Oct-2025Dhaka cricket clubs’ officials have called for an indefinite boycott of the Dhaka leagues in protest of the recently held BCB elections, which they are calling “illegal”. These are the same clubs that withdrew from the polls held on October 6 after claiming interference in the electoral process.Tamim Iqbal, who withdrew from the race before the election, was among the club officials present at the press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday. Masuduzzaman, the BCB councillor from Mohammedan Sporting Club, said that they had a majority of the clubs united in the boycott, which he said would also include district-level cricket.”Starting from the third-division cricket league, including the second and first-division leagues and the Premier League, all the organisers who are participating, we saw how the beauty of cricket got lost,” Masuduzzaman said. “Therefore, if you continue like this, we will not play cricket. We will also boycott cricket at the district level.Related

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“We will all remain united in announcing that cricket will be temporarily closed. We didn’t accept the elections. We said many times that this election should not be allowed to happen. But no one listened. In our opinion, he [Aminul Islam] has conducted an illegal election.”Hours later, BCB chief Aminul Islam said that they would protect the interests of the cricketers. “The betterment of Bangladesh cricket and the well-being of those who matter most – the cricketers – are the main objectives and goals of the BCB. We are all in this together; those within the board and those outside share the same philosophy and passion,” he said in a BCB press release.According to reports, at least 38 clubs are behind the boycott, including seven Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) teams. These include defending champions Abahani Limited and their arch-rivals Mohammedan. The other DPL clubs are Legends of Rupganj, Gulshan Cricket Club, Brothers Union, Partex Sporting Club and Shinepukur City Club.Dhaka’s league structure has the DPL at the top of the pyramid, followed by the first-, second- and third-division leagues in a professional system that is the heartbeat of Bangladesh cricket. It is the competitive system that has sustained the country’s cricketers since the 1950s.As a result, the Dhaka clubs also enjoy the majority of positions in the BCB’s board of directors. Ahead of the elections this year, however, the Tamim-led faction had complained of interference, particularly after the BCB president issued a controversial letter on September 18, in which he asked the sports ministry to send a fresh list of councillors from the districts and divisions category.

Debutant produces key innings as Jamie Porter’s four-for goes vain amid bad weather

ECB Reporters Network15-Apr-2024Essex 530 for 7 dec (Critchley 151*, Elgar 120, Cox 67) and 257 for 4 dec (Cox 116*) drew with Kent 413 (Compton 165, Bell-Drummond 135, Critchley 5-105) and 164 for 7 (Jaydn Denly 41*, Porter 4-20)A combination of Kent’s 18-year-old debutant Jaydn Denly and bad weather scuppered Essex’s hopes of recording back-to-back County Championship wins.The all-rounder joined forces with uncle Joe in a sixth-wicket stand that took 16 overs and contributed 51 runs after Kent had been on the ropes at 65 for 5.Jaydn Denly stood firm for 128 balls on a rain-interrupted final day at Chelmsford, finishing on 41 not out in Kent’s 164 for 7, Jamie Porter taking 4 for 20.Essex had declared for the second time in the match on their overnight 257 for 4, with Jordan Cox unbeaten on 116 after his fireworks of the previous evening.That set Kent 375 to win, initially from 76 overs, then 64 after the morning session was abandoned following another downpour.Kent’s batters donned black armbands to mark the death of their former England spinner Derek Underwood at the age of 78.Essex’s quest got off to a flying start in Porter’s second over when Tawanda Muyeye edged an inswinger to the wicketkeeper and the seamer then had Ben Compton lbw for six.Simon Harmer dropped Jack Leaning first ball but made amends when Daniel Bell-Drummond went to sweep and was lbw for 18.Leaning soon lost his off-stump to Shane Snater before Harry Finch was lbw to Matt Critchley, his sixth wicket in the match.That saw Joe Denly, who twice advanced down the wicket and hit Harmer over long leg for six, joined in the middle by his nephew.The younger Denly rode his luck early on against Harmer and Critchley before rocking on to the back foot to ease the latter through the covers for his first four.When their partnership reached 50, from 88 balls, there was an equal split in contributions, but almost immediately Porter had Joe Denly whipping the ball off his legs and into the hands of Feroze Khushi at bat-pad.Wes Agar drove Porter to Snater to become the seventh wicket to fall.

Defending a mere 99, New Zealand’s bowlers stretched the game to its penultimate ball

Hemant Brar29-Jan-2023In a low-scoring thriller in Lucknow, New Zealand almost defended 99, but with three needed from two balls, Suryakumar Yadav swatted Blair Tickner over mid-off to help India level the series 1-1 with one match to go.Before Sunday, the Ekana Stadium had hosted five T20Is, with the team batting first winning on all five occasions. Keeping that in mind, Mitchell Santner opted to bat after winning the toss. With the red-soil pitch at the Ekana Stadium expected to help spinners, India brought in Yuzvendra Chahal for Umran Malik. That gave them four spin-bowling options, including Deepak Hooda.All of them troubled New Zealand and restricted them to a mere 99 for 8. It was New Zealand’s lowest total against India in a full-length T20I. Still, it was far from a cruise for India.New Zealand used five spinners – and eight bowlers in all – and they were as effective as their India counterparts in strangling the scoring rate. India, though, had the advantage of knowing their target. They took the game deep and crossed the line with one ball to spare.In all, spinners bowled 30 overs in the match – the second-most in any T20I, and the most in a game involving Full Member teams.

New Zealand lose three to reverse-sweep

Finn Allen looked to take the attack to the opposition straightaway. He was lucky to collect streaky, back-to-back boundaries off Hardik Pandya but was at sea against spin.Introduced in the fourth over, Chahal found turn straightaway. His first delivery pitched on the leg stump, beat Allen’s outside edge, and missed off stump. Allen tried to counter him with the reverse sweep, only to be bowled via a deflection off his right leg.After Chahal’s wicket maiden, Devon Conway attempted a reverse sweep against Washington Sundar in the next over. The ball, though, brushed his wrist and lobbed to Ishan Kishan. Glenn Phillips too found it difficult to score against spin and resorted to the reverse sweep. In the process, he ended up exposing nearly all three stumps to an innocuous Hooda delivery and was bowled, leaving New Zealand 35 for 3 in the seventh over.Yuzvendra Chahal set the tone for India with a wicket maiden inside the powerplay•BCCI

Kuldeep dents New Zealand further

If New Zealand had any hopes of a recovery with Daryl Mitchell, the Player of the Match in the previous game, and Mark Chapman in the middle, Kuldeep Yadav shattered them. The wristspinner got one to turn back in sharply from outside off to breach Mitchell’s defence and hit the off stump.Chapman and Michael Bracewell tried to revive the innings. Their stand was worth 20 when Bracewell reverse-swept Hooda uppishly towards short third. Kuldeep slipped and couldn’t go for the catch but his quick throw to Kishan meant Chapman, who had taken off for a single, couldn’t retrace his steps in time.Till the 17th over, Hardik was the only seamer India had used. In the death overs, he and Arshdeep Singh used the bouncer to good effect to pick up three wickets between them. The New Zealand innings featured only six fours and no six. There would be no six in India’s innings either.

India hobble to the target

It was never going to be a cakewalk for India. Jacob Duffy bowled the first over of the chase but from there till the 18th over, New Zealand bowled only spin from both ends.Shubman Gill fell for 11, top-edging Bracewell to deep square leg. Ishan Kishan struggled and was run out for 19 off 32 balls by an excellent piece of fielding. Kishan got an inside edge towards midwicket against Phillips and looked to collect two. The bowler sprinted towards the ball, put in a slide and fired the throw to the non-striker’s end. In the meantime, Rahul Tripathi had sent Kishan back and his bat was on the crease when Santner broke the stumps.Ish Sodhi dismissed Tripathi soon after, reducing India to 50 for 3 in the 11th over. Suryakumar and Washington, promoted to No. 5, calmed the Indian dugout somewhat. The pair largely dealt in ones and twos to take the side to within 30 runs of the target before a mix-up resulted in Washington sacrificing his wicket.In the end, it came down to 13 required from 12 balls. Lockie Ferguson conceded only seven off the 19th over despite Hardik finding a boundary. Suryakumar, though, ensured Washington’s sacrifice didn’t go in vain.

Cricket Ireland high-performance director says Ford wanted to put “his mental health, physical health and family first at this time”

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Nov-2021Graham Ford has stepped down as head coach of the Ireland men’s team with immediate effect, with Richard Holdsworth, high-performance director for Cricket Ireland, saying that dealing with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic “has taken its toll and he [Ford] needs a break from the game”.Ireland are getting ready to tour USA in December and then the West Indies in January next year, and Cricket Ireland said in a statement: “Interim coaching plans will be put in place over the coming weeks, while a longer-term plan is developed, which will take into account any recommendations from the current T20 World Cup Review underway.”Related

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In the meantime, Ford will be on leave as he observes his contractual notice period that runs until mid-December.”The last four years have been very special for me – I have enjoyed many happy days with a cricket squad made up of very special people,” Ford said. “I have also enjoyed watching club cricket and experiencing the passion and club loyalty of many fine cricketing people.”When compared with the other ICC Full Member nations, Cricket Ireland has faced many handicaps and challenges. Despite this, on several occasions the team has competed impressively with some of the top teams in world cricket and it has been a privilege for me to experience first-hand the character and togetherness of the Irish players.”However, over a period of time these challenges and handicaps have taken their toll on me. After much consideration and discussion with my family, I realise that this is the right time for me to step away from Cricket Ireland. I’d like to end by thanking all the players and the support staff for their impressive attitudes and loyal support during the four years and I look forward to watching them achieve big things in the future.”Ford, a South African national, was appointed Ireland head coach in late 2017, initially on a three-year contract that was extended by three years in 2019. He oversaw a transitional phase with the team, that included their Test debut in 2018 and, more recently, the disappointing run at the T20 World Cup.During Ford’s tenure as head coach, Ireland played 101 international matches – 51 T20Is, 47 ODIs, and three Tests. He had also provided insights for the restructuring of the men’s inter-provincial set-up, and the regional performance coaching hubs.Ireland made their appearance as a Test nation during Ford’s tenure•Getty Images

Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie thanked Ford for his “consistent positivity”. “Graham has been one of the best coaches I have ever worked with, and I feel very fortunate that I got to spend four years working with him, not just for the playing development side of my game, but for his incredible support during my captaincy to date,” Balbirnie said. “We have had our challenges over the last number of years as a squad, but his consistent positivity has been infectious and his determination to improve the skills of everyone in the squad has brought some of our young cricketers on leaps and bounds…”Holdsworth said he respected Ford’s decision to put “his mental health, physical health and family first at this time”.”It is a sad day to see Graham bid farewell to Cricket Ireland – he is a truly world-class coach who has incredible respect within the game, both for his achievements on the field and his work in developing players off the field,” Holdsworth said. “It would be sugar-coating the occasion to not acknowledge the challenges that Graham has faced – in many respects, unprecedented challenges. The physical and mental impact of the pandemic has been much talked about regarding players, but the coaches and support staff are equally impacted by circumstances…Graham has been a stoic coach, mentor and support for a squad of players dealing with extremely demanding circumstances. And, as he admits himself, it has taken its toll and he needs a break from the game.”He has barely taken a day off voluntarily in his four years here, such is his commitment, and probably hasn’t had a sustained break from the game for well over two decades. The pace, relentlessness and increasing pressures of international cricket – compounded by the impact of the pandemic – are such that we fully understand and appreciate Graham’s position.”

Can Hope and co. look Gabriel and Roach in the eye after their efforts in this series?

Nagraj Gollapudi28-Jul-2020What exactly did West Indies’ batsmen learn between the second and third Tests? They had to bat time on the final day of both matches. Both days, they walked back defeated.On the final day of the second Test, they managed to survive 70.1 overs out of the 85 they needed to. Today they struggled to last just 37.1 overs, having been tasked to be vigilant for 98.It was shambolic and embarrassing. Every specialist batsman showed the resolve of a child spotting an ice-cream truck. None gave the impression that he understood what the batting group’s main goal was: to bat out the balls they needed to.Jermaine Blackwood was the only visiting batsman today who lasted an hour. The rest of the batting line-up were easily distracted, and lured into the playing shots at balls they could easily have left alone. They were easy pickings for Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes, who barely broke a sweat between them on a breezy, rainy final day of this first-ever biosecure Test series played behind closed doors.Kraigg Brathwaite hangs his head after his dismissal•Getty Images

To understand how listless West Indies and how confident England’s bowlers were, you should have heard Broad recounting an anecdote from fourth day after the victory. Broad said that James Anderson had pointed to Windies opener Kraigg Brathwaite and said it was a matter of time before he would become Broad’s 500 Test victim.Both great bowlers had a chuckle. As it happens, Brathwaite was Anderson’s 500th Test wicket during the 2017 tour of England. Brathwaite might as well make 500 the number he wears on his Test shirt, if the ICC allows.But it is not about being a laughing stock, Brathwaite must understand. His fraught technique, where he bats back and across, not knowing where his off-stump is despite taking an off-stump guard, has contributed to his string of failures, especially in the second innings.Today, he was defeated by a Broad ball that had pitched on the seam, on a good length, on the fourth stump before darting in low and fast to hit his raised back leg. Brathwaite could have played on the front foot, but his defensive mindset exposed him, resulting in him getting squared up.ALSO READ: Why Hope’s Headingley opus might not sustain him much longerOn the flight back tomorrow Shai Hope will definitely think about several what-ifs. One simple question he should be asking himself is: was it really necessary to pull a short ball, trying to shovel it from wide outside off stump, only to balloon an easy catch to mid-on? And that too 45 minutes from lunch, not long after Brathwaite had departed?The stroke that Hope attempted today is a stroke batsmen play predominantly in limited-overs cricket when they spot the mid-on fielder well inside the circle. Were West Indies actually playing for a win today? Hope’s highest score in his six innings in this series was 31, which came today. Questions about his future are certain now.Hope’s was not the only self-inflicted blunder. Similar examples of loose decision-making included: Shamarh Brooks playing at a straight ball that needed to be left alone; Roston Chase – who had proved to be the most reliable player – stuttering to respond to call from Blackwood late and turning an easy run into a run-out; Jason Holder failing to take a stride forward against a length ball that trapped him plumb; and ditto Shane Dowrich. Such benevolence helped Woakes to quietly steal a five-for without being particularly scheming.At about half past two in the afternoon, minutes after he had got out, Holder was caught by the TV cameras holding his head in his hands. That was she same head that was held proudly aloft on the final afternoon in Southampton, after Holder and Blackwood had led West Indies to a historic victory to take the series lead. Prime ministers would call Holder to tell him how proud they were he had kept a cool head to take West Indies past the finishing line.From those giddy heights, about a week later, Holder could not believe his batsmen had failed to show the spine to withstand the mounting pressure from Broad and co. as they were bowled out twice in two days, despite sitting pretty before the final session on the penultimate day of the second Test.Another week later, Holder said he could not explain what exactly had happened that West Indies had lost the series 2-1. England has never been an easy place for visiting teams to win especially in the past eight years, when they have been beaten only once – in 2014 by Sri Lanka.Yet Holder and his troops had been gung-ho having won the home series against England in 2019. That victory was possible because some of their batsmen had excelled at home – including Holder, who had blasted a maiden double-century.This time around, West Indies breached the 300-run mark just once – in the first innings of the first Test. That total had allowed their fast bowlers – led by Holder and Shannon Gabriel – to attack England.Jason Holder reflects on West Indies’ series loss•Getty Images

To put those failings into context, this was first time since 1928 that no West Indies batsman recorded a single Test century against England. It was also only the fifth instance of zero centuries in Test series comprising at least three matches for West Indies.This series West Indies managed just 23.73 runs per wicket which was marginally better than their 2017 trip to England. However, last year when West Indies won the series at home against England that figure was a healthy 31.15. Their top three averaged 20.29 which is the second-lowest against England.At the outset of the series Windies batting great Brian Lara had pointed out that the key to succeed in England is to protect your stumps. However this West Indies batting unit’s defence has been too porous: there were 19 lbw dismissals, which is the second-highest count in a three-Test series for them.West Indies batsmen need to think hard. They are not just letting themselves down, but also their fast bowlers, who strived and fought through the pain of bowling not just in back-to-back Test matches, but also long tireless spells.Can they look in the eye of Gabriel, who was playing in his first Test series since surgery last September and was stiff after his match-winning spell in Southampton? Can they do the same with Kemar Roach, who toiled endlessly throughout the series and finally got to the milestone of 200 Test wickets, but could not celebrate the feat? The fast bowlers need an apology.It is not just about the technique and mental strength that makes Test cricket the pinnacle. To win the minor battles, you need presence of mind, too. West Indies were aware on Tuesday that play would be hampered by frequent showers. West Indies were bowled out six minutes before three o’clock. Less than half an hour later, it was raining heavily at Old Trafford.Michael Holding had the first word in this series, calling “timber” after Gabriel bent back Dom Sibley’s off stump to take the first wicket in this series. Holding had the last word, too. He got a message from a friend in the Caribbean who wanted to check if the rain could save West Indies this afternoon. Holding’s response was: “The Lord only helps those who help themselves.”

Tamil Nadu trump Gujarat in thriller, Khaleel Ahmed’s first T20 five-for goes in vain as Rajasthan lose to Vidarbha

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-2019Uttarakhand keep winning streak aliveUttarakhand continued their remarkable run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2018-19, clocking their fourth victory on the trot by beating Tripura by a handy 37 runs. Uttarakhand are yet to lose a match in the competition, and are currently sitting on top of the Group E table with 16 points.Put in to bat, Uttarakhand were well served once again by Karn Veer Kaushal, who hit 58 off 44 balls opening the innings. Vaibhav Panwar also made 46 as Uttarakhand put up a reasonable 147 for five.ALSO READ: Uttarakhand’s rise from Big Bang chaosTripura’s reply ran into early trouble and never recovered, as they were bowled out for 110 in 19 overs, Rohit Dangwal taking 3 for 16. Captain Rajat Bhatia took 3 for 29, and outside of a 56-run stand for the fifth wicket in which Manisankar Murasingh contributed 33 in 18 balls, Tripura didn’t have any substantial partnerships.Tamil Nadu sneak past Gujarat in low-scoring contestA combined effort from Tamil Nadu’s bowlers stopped Gujarat at 124, giving TN a one-run win after they had put up 125 for 6 after being put in to bat.TN were in early trouble at 21 for three, having lost M Vijay and B Indrajith, but steady contributions from the middle order averted a collapse. NS Chaturved (34) and Washington Sundar (33) both scored at less than a run a ball, and N Jagadeesan’s 29 boosted TN towards the end.For Gujarat, Arzan Nagwaswalla had a successful T20 debut with 3 for 11 in four overs, building on the good form he had shown with both white ball and red earlier in the season.CHECK OUT: All the Syed Mushtaq Ali scorecardsGujarat’s reply was helmed by Chirag Gandhi, who remained not out on 68 off 66 balls from No. 4, but the next highest score was Nagwaswalla’s 12 from No. 10. Gandhi ended with his highest T20 score, but could only watch in frustration as Hardik Patel, the last man, was run out at the bowler’s end after a mix up.Gujarat had slipped to 96 for nine in 16.5 overs with Nagwaswalla’s wicket, and Gandhi ensured he farmed the strike as much as possible, facing almost every delivery thereafter. He hit four sixes and an equal number of fours, single-handedly adding 28 runs for the last wicket – 25 off his bat and three extras. With Gujarat 123 for nine and one ball left, Abhishek Tanwar bowled one well wide. The umpire signalled it, but Hardik had run almost down the length of the pitch even as Gandhi stayed put. Before Hardik could scramble back, the ball had been relayed to the bowler, who broke the stumps.Khaleel Ahmed is thrilled after picking up a wicket•Associated Press

Karnewar’s four trumps Khaleel’s fiveKhaleel Ahmed continued his good form with a first-ever five-wicket haul in T20 cricket, but despite his 5 for 18, Rajasthan lost a low-scoring match against Vidarbha by 44 runs.Choosing to bat first, Vidarbha were shot out for 117 in 16.5 overs, with Khaleel doing the damage in just 2.5 overs. Vidarbha had started well, but collapsed after being 61 for two in 5.2 overs. Atharva Taide made 23 off 16 at the top of the order while wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma hit 49 off 29, but the rest couldn’t contribute too much, with Khaleel taking the last three wickets in five balls.Rajasthan began steadily, with opener Manender Singh and No. 3 Robin Bist putting on 45 runs off 41 balls for the second wicket, but went from 47 for one to 73 all out. The wrecker in chief was Akshay Karnewar, who took 4 for 7 in 3.5 overs, his best-ever T20 figures. Rajasthan’s innings also lasted exactly 16.5 overs, and Karnewar replicated Khaleel’s feat in finishing things off with three wickets in the last five balls.Shaw returns to formPrithvi Shaw, who had made a tepid comeback from injury in the tournament, returned to form with a blazing 71 off 47, taking Mumbai to a six-wicket win against Goa. Shaw had scored ten, eight and a duck in Mumbai’s three previous games, but smashed seven sixes and five fours as Mumbai chased down their target of 141 in just 18.2 overs.Goa were restricted to 140 for four after choosing to bat. Each of the top four made more than 25, but only captain Amogh Desai (38 off 24) scored at a strike rate better than 120.In Mumbai’s reply, Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane put on 95 in 11.1 overs to set them well on course. Rahane (31 off 25) played second fiddle in the stand, but even though Shaw fell and Shreyas Iyer had a rare failure, Mumbai’s fast start meant they completed the chase comfortably.