Justin Langer laments 'really slack' over rate after World Test Championship elimination

The points docked after the Test at the MCG ended up being the difference for Australia

Daniel Brettig09-Mar-20218:06

Ravi Shastri on India qualifying for WTC from bio-bubble: ‘I cannot say enough how proud I am of my team’

Though Australia were comfortably clear in the World Test Championship standings at the time, Australia’s coach Justin Langer has admitted to a feeling of dread when his side dropped four points due to a penalty for slow over rates during the Boxing Day Test against India – ultimately all that separated the team from a place in the final later this year.While Tim Paine’s side won only two of the four series it contested over the period of the WTC, while also having away series against Bangladesh and South Africa cancelled due to complications around Covid-19, they would have claimed enough points over matches played to squeak past New Zealand into second place behind India if not for being docked the four points at the conclusion of the MCG loss.Langer claimed that the team had no idea they were behind the required over rate by enough of a margin to incur a penalty until after the Test concluded, despite regular updates always being provided by match officials. In 2008, Australia’s then captain Ricky Ponting resorted to bowling part-timers at a critical moment of a Test match in Nagpur when there were concerns the team’s over rate had sagged to a level at which he may well have been suspended under the disciplinary system in use by the ICC at the time.Related

  • England and India docked two WTC points apiece for slow over rate

  • Australia players '100% behind' head coach Justin Langer, says Tim Paine

  • Covid summer brings Australia back to the field

  • A decade of Glenn Maxwell: is there another chapter to write?

  • India are the best Test team irrespective of WTC standings

“Our manager Gavin Dovey had gone home … for Christmas with his family in England, and it wasn’t until after the game that we realised our over rate was down,” Langer told SEN Radio. “That’s really slack on our behalf, but I remember we were in the team room afterwards and I spoke to Painey and Dene Hills, our analyst, about it. I was a bit grumpy about it and I thought ‘imagine if this cost us the World Test Championship’.”And I mentioned it to the players afterwards that two overs down could cost us the World Test Championship. And so, we have to get better at that and make sure it doesn’t happen in Sydney and Brisbane. It didn’t, but we also couldn’t bowl out India twice and we didn’t make enough runs. It was relevant at the time, and it certainly became incredibly significant over the weekend.”At the start of his reign as coach in 2018, Langer had coined the phrase “From Lille to Lord’s”, in reference to a tenure that had begun with a commemorative trip to the battlefields of the Western Front and took in a couple of chances to play finals at the home of cricket: the 2019 World Cup final and this year’s WTC final, albeit before it was moved to Southampton’s Ageas Bowl.The MCG proved costly for Australia, and not just because of the defeat against India•Getty Images

“It’s disappointing for a couple of reasons – one we didn’t get to play in South Africa to have another crack at it after the India series and is it’s disappointing for me because this Test Championship goes over a couple of years, we were in the box seat for a lot of it,” Langer said.”We’ve played some great cricket. Losing to India at home that was really disappointing, but…we got docked two [four] points for a slow over rate, and that cost us. That’s how close it was and how often do you get docked points in Test cricket these days? Rarely. We have that in our control, that’s an attitudinal thing, at the time we probably thought ‘oh it’s not that big a deal’, but that cost us the WTC after what had been two really good years when we were ranked No. 1 again. The things we can control we have to control, and we can’t for a second relax in Test cricket.”After Australia’s white-ball squad returned home from a 3-2 T20I series defeat in New Zealand that he sat out, Langer expressed approval for Glenn Maxwell’s recently stated desire to put himself back into Test match contention given the multiple Test series looming for the national team in Asia over the next two years.”I’m absolutely supportive of that,” Langer said. “We know how destructive he can be. We’re always looking for greater consistency from Maxy and all of our players, but he’s so destructive and so talented and a gun fielder.”I’d love that energy in the field. For example, I think we dropped 16 catches in this Test series, things that are in our control like the over rate, and they’re areas we want to keep getting better at because otherwise the old ‘catches win matches’ costs you. Glenn Maxwell’s fielding, he bowls handy offspinners, absolutely we would encourage him to get amongst it. I’d like to see all our star players playing. It would be good for Glenn Maxwell, but it would be great for domestic cricket.”You imagine young bowlers bowling against a hungry Glenn Maxwell who wants to push to play Test cricket in the future. He’ll be hungry, I’d love to see [Aaron] Finch play as well. I’d love to see all those guys play because never underestimate the benefit for young players, within your team and the opposition, playing against the best players. But that’s going to be a decision for Victoria and I’ll watch that really closely.”It remains to be seen whether Maxwell will be included in the Victorian squad for their coming bracket of Sheffield Shield matches ahead of his next stint in the IPL.

Rain saves Tshwane Spartans from precarious situation

It was the second washout for the Spartans in as many games

The Report by Hemant Brar13-Nov-2019Match abandoned Tshwane Spartans 33 for 4 (de Villiers 10*, van Biljon 3*, Morris 2-8) v Nelson Mandela Bay GiantsTshwane Spartans were in a precarious position against Nelson Mandela Bay Giants before a floodlight failure, lightning and then rain forced the game to be called off.The Spartans were 33 for 4 in 7.1 overs when the floodlights malfunctioned at 6.10pm local time. While the players were waiting for power to be restored, a lightning threat forced them indoors. The floodlights were back on in about 40 minutes but then rain made an appearance and the match was eventually called off at 7.35pm.The Spartans’ first game, against Durban Heat, was abandoned without a ball being bowled. The Giants are at the top of the table for now with six points from two games.The Spartans didn’t have a great start after being put in as Chris Morris dismissed Theunis de Bruyn and Dean Elgar in the third over. de Bruyn top-edged a flick in front of square leg, while Elgar failed to put bat to a full toss and was trapped lbw for a first-ball duck.Vaughn van Jaarsveld fell in the next over when Junior Dala hit the stumps direct at the non-striker’s end with the batsman a bit slow to get back in. Dala dented the Spartans further with captain Heinrich Klaasen’s wicket to leave them reeling at 28 for 4 in the sixth over.AB de Villiers tried to rescue them and was batting on 10 along with Pite van Biljon before the external factors had their say.

No. 10 Dieter Klein hits 94 before Glamorgan take victory

There will be much soul-searching in Cardiff over the winter, but the season at least finished on a positive note

ECB Reporters Network26-Sep-2018
ScorecardAfter Glamorgan had reduced Leicestershire to 102 for 8 shortly before tea, they would have been ready to celebrate their second Championship win of the season, but the Leicestershire tailenders had other ideas, and the home team had to wait until the first ball of the penultimate over before the final wicket fell, with Glamorgan winning by 132 runs.Dieter Klein, batting at No. 10, joined Callum Parkinson and the ninth-wicket pair stayed for 17 overs to add 72, before Parkinson was bowled by Michael Hogan for 31. Gavin Griffiths and Klein then further frustrated Glamorgan with Klein going on to score a career-best 94, before he was leg before to Timm van der Gugten – the last two Leicestershire wickets adding 168 runs.Klein faced 100 balls, striking a six and fifteen fours and he deserved a century. If the senior batsmen had only emulated his approach, the visitors could have challenged the stiff target of 403.Meanwhile, Glamorgan can reflect on a season where they won their first and last Championship games but, although they were without senior players with Marchant de Lange playing only three Championship games and Shaun Marsh four, they underperformed with their young players lacking confidence.Glamorgan resumed on 106 for 4 at the start of play, but any thoughts of quick runs and a declaration were quickly dispelled, as Leicestershire’s seamers mare early inroads. Jeremy Lawlor failed to add to his overnight score when he was bowled by Tom Taylor for 21, who then dismissed Craig Meschede and top scorer Chris Cooke in quick succession.Taylor, who was making his Leicestershire Championship debut, but who was injured for most of the season, was easily Leicestershire’s most impressive bowler, ending with excellent figures of 12.4-7-15-4.The visitors had three overs before lunch, but lost Ateeq Javed to Michael Hogan’s first ball, and when Colin Ackerman departed to van der Gugten, Leicestershire were 4 for 2. Mark Cosgrove was on a king pair against his former county and though he avoided that tamely chipped Hogan to midwicket.Hogan relied on his seamers and when Meschede was brought into the attack he had Lewis Hill caught low down by wicketkeeper Cooke, before the same combination dismissed Harry Dearden for 24.Taylor then showed he has the attributes of becoming an useful allrounder with some firm drives through the offside before nicking Hogan to first slip.
Leicestershire were then 102 for 8, but Klein and Parkinson settled to share a productive partnership with both players playing every ball on merit and making sure that their team did not lose before tea.They put on 72 in 17 overs, before Parkinson was yorked by Hogan for 31, the Glamorgan captain taking his season’s tally to 44 wickets.

Coetzer 'chuffed for the guys' after first win over a Full Member

Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer said that he was praying that the ball would land inside the ropes when Malcolm Waller’s fighting innings ended with a controversial catch on the deep square leg boundary

Peter Della Penna in Edinburgh16-Jun-2017Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer and vice-captain Con de Lange were yearning for divine intervention during Malcolm Waller’s late surge that took their first-ever ODI against Zimbabwe down to the wire. Their prayers were answered when Waller, in his attempt to strike a sixth six, found Chris Sole on the deep square leg boundary – some may say literally. It ended Waller’s innings at 92 off 62 balls as Scotland prevailed by 26 runs via the DLS Method to pick up their first ODI win against a Full Member.”When that ball was going to deep square off Waller, I was just praying for it to land inside the ropes because he hadn’t hit many inside,” Coetzer told ESPNcricinfo. “He hit them all over the rope or even out of the ground. Then, when that last one went up, just over the moon; really, really over the moon, really chuffed for the guys. You could tell by the emotions and the celebrations from the guys, we’re obviously really happy with the day.”Waller had struck a series of sixes straight down the ground and to the east boundary, including one extraordinary cut with the wind at his back that sailed 30 yards over the point boundary, into the adjacent tennis courts. Zimbabwe entered the last three overs requiring 38 with two wickets in hand. After a lengthy chat, left-arm spinner de Lange was brought on, and Waller drove his second ball for a straight six out of the ground. But three balls later, in trying to hit one through the wind, Waller’s slog hung up in the stiff breeze for Sole to take the catch.It was controversial as video footage appeared to indicate Sole’s foot came in contact with the boundary rope before quickly coming off. Waller initially stayed on the field while Zimbabwe’s bench protested; the umpires conferred before sticking with the call that it had been a clean catch. Waller said another six there would have made the last two overs manageable, especially with at least one needing to be bowled by a medium pacer.”With this wind, we knew you have to target the one side where it is,” Waller said. “When they brought the spinner on in the third-last over there, I felt it was a good chance for me to bang a couple of boundaries, even though the wind was coming. I was probably looking to go straighter. I knew that if I could put the spinner under a lot of pressure and get two or three sixes in that over, they would definitely be under a lot of pressure with two seamers left. Ten an over against seamers, I think is pretty comfortable on here.”De Lange said he felt tense at the start of the 41st over despite having already taken four wickets, and prayed for the wind to help keep the ball in play.”It was quite nerve-wracking. I must be honest because the one that went for six, I missed the length slightly, and then that one hit the length, trying to get him to hit into the wind, and then I was just praying for the ball to come down inside the rope and it was taken,” de Lange said. “That’s why we all play cricket. That’s what you grow up as a kid dreaming towards, beating Test nations.”Our victory is probably a result of belief that we can do really well, can compete and beat the big boys. So to win, just everyone’s emotion afterwards, as soon as that last catch was taken, that relief is a fantastic feeling.”The controversial catch aside, Waller felt Zimbabwe had tripped themselves up early in the chase with needless run-outs on a good batting track. Hamilton Masakadza had battered Scotland in the Powerplay and looked set for a big score before he was run out, responding to a call for a tight single from Solomon Mire, in the 11th over for 38. It ended the opening partnership at 55.”We’ve been following a couple of games that have been played here, and obviously they have been high-scoring,” Waller said. “So we knew it is a decent batting track, and I think on average, guys are looking at 280-290. So when they posted that score, we were confident and felt if we had wickets in hand and had a good start up front that we’d be able to chase it down or get close to it towards the end.”When you’re chasing a big score like that, you don’t want run-outs. You’re going to get run-outs in games, but it’s crucial not to lose your wickets like that. I think we got off to a really good start with Hamilton and Mire, and we were definitely going along and putting them under pressure. But then just silly run-outs definitely put a damper, and then a couple of quick wickets after that definitely holds you back when you have to go at six-seven an over.”Over the course of the day, Scotland had been the side to hold their nerve under pressure. They were tested at the start, where they were limited to four runs off the first four overs. But Coetzer, who was composed to begin with, unleashed his array of drives and cuts later in the Powerplay en route to his fourth ODI ton that set up a defendable total. Coetzer hoped that the win, Scotland’s first in ODIs over a Full Member after 23 losses, will influence other Full Members to schedule fixtures against them.”I hope it will prove and put a case forward to giving us more opportunities, and this is what we’ve been waiting to do for a little while,” Coetzer said. “We’ve taken a little bit longer than other teams have, but we’ve now got a strong squad of players and we hope that we could still keep on challenging and maybe play some of the other Test-ranked teams. It’s definitely made a statement today.”

Leicestershire come close to formidable Durham total

A superb opening partnership of 180 between Phil Mustard and Mark Stoneman, hit in just 27.5 overs, was the foundation Durham needed to compile a formidable total that proved just beyond Leicestershire’s capacity

ECB Reporters Network05-Jun-2016
ScorecardMark Stoneman was a central feature of Durham’s victory•Getty Images

A superb opening partnership of 180 between Phil Mustard and Mark Stoneman, hit in just 27.5 overs, was the foundation Durham needed to compile a total that proved beyond Leicestershire’s capacity to chase down, though the Foxes made a valiant effort, falling only 11 runs short.Played on the same pitch on which Durham made 120 for 9 in the previous day’s T20 match between the counties, a score Leicestershire knocked off for the loss of four wickets, it quickly became apparent this was going to be a very different sort of match.Having begun relatively cautiously, taking 37 from the first ten overs, the two left-handed Durham openers accelerated in style, with 48 coming off the next five overs. Stoneman, who took the majority of the strike, was first to his half-century, but Mustard clipped off-spinner Jigar Naik effortlessly over midwicket for six as the two left-handers passed the previous record one day partnership for Durham against Leicestershire, 167 between Michael Roseberry and John Morris in 1996.Centuries looked there for the taking, so much so that Mustard looked as shocked as anyone when he pulled a short ball from Kevin O’Brien low into the hands of Rob Taylor at long-on, his 88 having come off 70 balls and including four sixes.Stoneman too missed out on three figures, chipping a simple catch back to Taylor as the left-arm seamer held one back, his 93 coming off 113 deliveries.Having been very much under the cosh, Leicestershire’s bowlers began to exert a measure of control. Taylor bowled Graham Clark as the batsman stepped across his crease and attempted a paddle sweep, and Borthwick, having made 63, went in exactly the same manner.
Paul Collingwood and Ryan Pringle came and went quickly, but an important unbroken partnership of 48 between Keaton Jennings and Callum MacLeod ensured Durham’s final score was close to the 350 that had looked to be their minimal target after Mustard and Stoneman’s partnership.Leicestershire’s openers proved rather less effective, Mark Pettini losing his middle stump playing across the line at Chris Rushworth, and a frustrated Neil Dexter going well caught by wicketkeeper Mustard diving to his right after edging an attempted drive at Jamie Harrison.Kevin O’Brien pulled his first ball mightily for six, however, and together with Mark Cosgrove, ensured the home team remained in touch by bringing up the 100 in the 19th over. O’Brien went to his 50 off 41 balls, and Cosgrove in 48 before two balls after hitting Borthwick over extra cover for six, Cosgrove steered the leg-spinner straight to Collingwood at point.Niall O’Brien joined his brother in keeping up the run rate before lofting Pringle’s off-spin to Borthwick at long-off, after a partnership of 72 in 10 overs with his brother, and even after Kevin was dismissed for 89, Lewis Hill (31) and Tom Wells (31) kept the Foxes in the hunt.The Durham bowlers kept picking up wickets however, and Harrison, who finished with 4-40, and Rushworth (2-48), were outstanding at the death, giving the Leicestershire batsmen little to hit.

Srinivasan re-elected, Biswal named IPL chairman

N Srinivasan has reportedly been re-elected the BCCI president for a one-year second term. He was the only contestant for the post

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Sep-201311.35am N Srinivasan has been re-elected the BCCI president for a one-year second term. He was the only contestant for the post: it would have taken nominations from two boards from the south zone to even force an election. However, Srinivasan cannot take charge as president until India’s Supreme Court announces its verdict on the Special Leave Petition filed by the Cricket Association of Bihar against the BCCI’s probe panel formed to investigate corruption in the IPL. The Supreme Court’s next hearing is scheduled for Monday.The AGM, which began at 11am, continues. Some of the other issues on the table are the selection of other important officials including vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer and IPL chairman. The impasse over the tour to South Africa is also likely to be discussed.Noon The other big news coming is that – as expected – Sanjay Patel and Anirudh Chaudhury have been named the BCCI secretary and treasurer respectively. Vacancies for these posts were created when Sanjay Jagdale and Ajay Shirke resigned in protest against how the inquiry into the IPL betting scandal was handled.Baroda’s Patel was the interim secretary already so this was a mere confirmation. Chaudhury has replaced the interim treasurer Ravi Savant, who is likely to be named the vice-president from the west zone. Haryana Cricket Association’s Chaudhury is the son of former BCCI president, Ranbir Mahendra, who was a known Jagmohan Dalmiya ally.12.15pm Sneh Bansal (north), Ravi Savant (west) and Rajiv Shukla (central) have replaced Arun Jaitley, Niranjan Shah and Sudhir Dabir as vice-presidents. Shivlal Yadav and Chitrak Mitra have held on to their vice-presidency from south and east zone.Jaitley, leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, is understood to have pulled out because he will be busy with next year’s general elections. Shah and Dabir, though, are understood to be from the anti-Srinivasan camp. Shah’s replacement – Savant – emerged as a Srinivasan ally during the betting scandal, and was even the interim treasurer after Shirke resigned. Vidarbha’s Dabir is considered to be a Shashank Manohar-Sharad Pawar man. His replacement, Shukla, a junior minister in the national government who resigned as IPL chairman, is considered to be the BCCI’s problem solver in New Delhi.1.15pm After long deliberation, Ranjib Biswal, the Orissa Cricket Association chief, has been named the IPL chairman. Biswal, who was the team manager when India won the World Cup in 2011, and Jagmohan Dalmiya, who is the interim president in Srinivasan’s absence, were the two leading candidates for the post last night. The decision on the IPL chairman has featured the longest debate so far in the AGM.Biswal, a former Orissa allrounder with five first-class hundreds and 153 wickets in 41 matches, was also been the National Cricket Academy (NCA) chairman in the past. Kerala’s TC Mathew will now replace him as NCA chairman. Biswal also captained India Under-19 in 19891.30pm Among other appointments, Andhra’s G Ganga Raju has been named the head of the BCCI’s finance committee. Andhra’s staying with Srinivasan was crucial because only a split in the south zone could have caused an election for the president post. Raju has replaced Jyotiraditya Scindia, one of the first to openly question Srinivasan’s continuing as the president.Jharkhand’s Amitabh Choudhary has replaced Jammu & Kashmir’s Farooq Abdullah as the head of the marketing committee. This committee might have a lot of work ahead. The search for a title sponsor is already on, and if Sahara doesn’t continue its deal a new team sponsor will need to be found.1.40pm In a politician-for-politician switch, Rajiv Shukla has replaced Arun Jaitley as the head of the tour, programme and fixture committee.Goa’s Vinod Phadke is the new media committee chief, replacing Rajasthan’s CP Joshi.1.50pm First minor surprise of the day. Former Baroda batsman Connor Williams has replaced former India wicket-keeper Chandrakant Pandit in the junior selection committee.2.20pm A new committee to promote cricket in north-eastern parts of India has been formed. Jagmohan Dalmiya will head the north-east development committee. Currently there are two Ranji teams from the north-east: Assam and Tripura

Rohit backs India's bowling unit

India’s bowlers lost the second warm-up Twenty20 from a strong position against Pakistan, but Rohit Sharma does not believe the side’s attack is a concern ahead of the World Twenty20

Abhishek Purohit in Colombo17-Sep-2012India’s bowlers lost the second warm-up Twenty20 from a strong position against Pakistan, but Rohit Sharma does not believe the side’s attack is a concern ahead of the World Twenty20. Rohit pointed out that the same bowlers had defended a much lower total against Sri Lanka in the first warm-up match on Saturday.”It was one of those bad days, I would say,” Rohit said. “If you look at the last game against Sri Lanka, the bowlers got plenty of wickets. We defended a low score on that track, 145-odd runs. It was not a par score [for that track] yet the bowlers defended that. Yes, we had an off day today. I am sure we will come hard against Afghanistan and [do well] from there on.”Rohit and Virat Kohli had made fifties to lift India to 185 for 3, which Rohit felt was a decent score on the Premadasa pitch, but barring R Ashwin, who took 4 for 23, all the India bowlers were wicketless and expensive. “The track was very good to bat on. As you saw, more than 180 runs were scored in both the innings. It was a typical Sri Lankan wicket; if you bat well and apply yourself, you will get runs here. It was a good target I felt on this track, because I thought there was a little bit of help for the spinners. But it was one of those days where things didn’t come together.”We still have one more day before our actual game on 19th, so we will see how we should come back. It is not the end, it is just the start. Still a long way to go in the tournament, unfortunately things didn’t go our way today.”Rohit said despite it being a warm-up game, India had come out wanting to win it. “We were very focussed. We were quite intense in the field. It’s just that our bowling didn’t click together, which is a little bit frustrating because if you want to win the game everything has to click together. Our bowlers did a pretty good job in the first warm-up game when we defended 145 on that flat track. I don’t want to take any credit away from them. They have been bowling really well. I am sure they will come on well as the tournament progresses.”Batting is certainly India’s strength, but the openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir haven’t had a decent outing in both warm-up games. Rohit backed the experienced duo to come good. “Getting a good start is important. They have been batting really well, there is no doubt about that. I am sure that in the coming games, when the actual tournament starts, they will come good. They have experience playing in these conditions and it is just a matter of one game, and we are right in it after that.”

Lessons aplenty for the visitors

Australia needs to show the capacity to learn quickly from the reverses of the first match, while Sri Lanka seek to extend a psychological advantage

Daniel Brettig07-Aug-2011Match facts
August 8, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Start time 19:00 (13:30 GMT, 23:30 EST)Big Picture
There is no substitute for match conditioning. This much was clear after the first Twenty20 between Sri Lanka and Australia in Kandy, as the hosts showed the benefits of a testing tour of England, as opposed to the training camps in Brisbane and net sessions in Colombo that served as the visitors’ preparation for the tour opener. The Sri Lankans also showed far better knowledge of the conditions, bowling plenty of spin on a surface that offered turn, while Cameron White preferred to use his pace bowlers in the latter stages and saw them belted out of sight by his opposite number Tillakaratne Dilshan.Australia’s coach Tim Nielsen described it as a “frustrating” start to the tour, but there will be more gnashing of teeth in store for the tourists if they do not tighten their fundamentals and show a little more understanding of the conditions that confront them. Shaun Marsh and David Hussey in particular looked out of sorts against the accurate spin of Dilruwan Perera, while Mitchell Johnson’s first spell of the tour was disheartening in its inconsistency. More encouraging was the bowling and batting of Steve O’Keefe, and the slugging power of David Warner.Australia need to show the capacity to learn quickly from the reverses of the first match, while Sri Lankan will seek to extend a psychological advantage.Form guide
Sri Lanka WWWWL
Australia LWLLLIn the spotlight
Tillakaratne Dilshan was the undisputed star of the first match, and the Australians will need to find better ways of coping with his combative attitude and inventive strokeplay. Dilshan was not placed under too much pressure as a captain in the field either, as his bowlers kept the Australians in check. Cameron White said he had resorted to adjusting his field to counter the ‘Dil-scoop’ and thus created other gaps for the Sri Lankan captain, a rare admission.Mitchell Johnson was attacked mercilessly towards the end of the innings, and was unable to find consistent line or length, let alone any swing. His work with the new bowling coach Craig McDermott is key to Australia’s success in future matches on this tour, and he will want to improve his performance after a shoddy start.Team news
Sri Lanka seem unlikely to make many changes to a team that performed so soundly and evenly in game one. For the Australians, Aaron Finch’s pugnacity may be useful after some of the batsmen struggled for traction in the opener, and James Pattinson could be in line for a T20 debut.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Mahela Jayawardene, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Jeevan Mendis, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Dilruwan Perera, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Dhammika Prasad, 10 Rangana Herath, 11 Suranga Lakmal.Australia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 David Hussey, 5 Cameron White (capt), 6 Steven Smith, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Steve O’Keefe, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Brett Lee, 11 James Pattinson.Pitch and conditions
The surface for the first match confused the Australians somewhat by offering some bounce but also plenty of spin, a combination the Sri Lankans were far quicker to adjust to. Match two will be played on a similarly equal-opportunity surface.Stats and trivia* Tillakaratne Dilshan’s century was the fifth in T20 internationals
* Dinesh Chandimal was the fifth batsman to be out hit wicket in T20I matches
* Sri Lanka had not previously won a T20I at home, losing their first four such fixtures
* Dilruwan Perera achieved the rare feat of taking wickets in each of his first three overs in international cricket
Quotes
“I had the confidence to play it. It worked and I think after I played the Dil-scoop they changed the field and I felt [it was] more easy to score more runs in other areas.”Tillakaratne Dilshan succeeded in dictating terms to Australia’s bowlers in game one”If anyone scores a hundred off 57 [55] balls it will be hard work to win the game from there. But look, there were some disappointing aspects of the game from our end as well.”Cameron White knows the Australians need to sharpen up after looking rusty in the opener

Kumble to help SA's young spinners

Anil Kumble, the former Indian legspinner, will be travelling to South Africa next week to take part in a coaching clinic with some of South Africa’s up-and-coming spin bowlers in Johannesburg on Thursday

Cricinfo staff13-Aug-2010Anil Kumble, the former Indian legspinner, will be travelling to South Africa next week to take part in a coaching clinic with some of South Africa’s up-and-coming spin bowlers in Johannesburg on Thursday. Kumble will be joined by fellow slow bowlers Paul Harris and Johan Botha as a host of young spinners receive first-hand coaching from one of Test cricket’s leading wicket-takers.The spin-bowling clinic, which will also be attended by Cricket South Africa’s High Performance spinning coaches, Shafiek Abrahams, Harry Shapiro and Paul Adams, will run alongside the second CSA Annual Conference, which will take place from August 18 in Sandton.”Anil Kumble is a living legend, and CSA is honoured that he has accepted our invitation to come out to South Africa and work with tomorrow’s stars,” said CSA chief executive Gerald Majola. “We will also invite some of our women cricketers, young batsmen and wicketkeepers who we believe will benefit from the experience.”CSA is encouraged by the progress made by our High Performance team, and we are confident that this visit is going to boost the good work being done in the spinning department.”

Hasenhuttl dealt huge KWP injury blow

Southampton look to have been handed another big injury blow, with Kyle Walker-Peters expected to miss Tuesday’s game with Arsenal after picking up an injury.

The club confirmed earlier this week that the right-back would miss the game against the Gunners after he picked up a muscle injury in training.

It comes as a huge blow to Ralph Hasenhuttl, as the 23-year-old has played every single minute in the Premier League so far this season, having established himself as a key player in the Austrian’s squad following his permanent move from Tottenham Hotspur during the summer.

The young defender has been one of the Saints’ star performers so far this season, having averaged a strong 7.03 rating across his 18 appearances in the top-flight, which is enough to see him ranked as the fifth-best performer in the Premier League.

He has certainly had a big impact on Southampton’s defensive performance since joining, as they have already earned eight clean sheets in the Premier League this season, the third-most in the division, meaning they are just one away from the total they managed in the entirety of the 2019/20 season.

Only Oriol Romeu has averaged more tackles than the right-back this season, whilst he also scores highly on the number of interceptions, blocks and clearances, emphasising how important he has become in this Southampton side.

Walker-Peters was excellent in Southampton’s 1-0 win against Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday, providing the assist for the only goal of the game, so it is undoubtedly going to cause Hasenhuttl some frustration that he is unavailable for Tuesday’s Premier League fixture, especially in a time where the Saints are going through an injury crisis.

It looks as if Yan Valery is likely to step up in his place, and considering his lack of game time this season, he could well be exposed by Arsenal’s in-form youngsters Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe on the Southampton right-hand side.

Therefore, Hasenhuttl will be praying that Walker-Peters’ injury is only a minor one and that he will be back in time for the home game against Aston Villa at the weekend.

And, in other news… “What a player” – Exclusive: Pundit claims he is “surprised” Hasenhuttl fave is still at Southampton, and it isn’t Ings…