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Ed Cowan has reiterated Australia’s calls for a uniform approach to the Decision Review System on a day when he and Michael Hussey fell to decisions that would have been overturned had they been reviewed

Brydon Coverdale at the MCG26-Dec-2011Ed Cowan has reiterated Australia’s calls for a uniform approach to the Decision Review System on a day when he and Michael Hussey fell to decisions that would have been overturned had they been reviewed. As a Test debutant at the age of 29, Cowan has spent longer than most men watching the game from the outside, and he believes the ICC should take the lead on the DRS.Cowan’s call came after Michael Clarke, the Australia captain, had said before the match that he wanted consistency from the DRS, which the ICC mandated in Tests and ODIs earlier this year only to reverse the decision three months later. The BCCI’s opposition to review technology meant that under the new rules, in which both boards must agree for the DRS to be used, the system was always going to be absent from this series.Hussey was especially unfortunate to be given out first ball when umpire Marais Erasmus adjudged him caught behind, and replays showed Zaheer Khan’s bouncer had clearly come off Hussey’s sleeve. Later, Ian Gould gave Cowan out caught behind off R Ashwin, although Hot Spot showed no contact, and the batsman appeared to be surprised at the decision.When asked if he hit the ball, Cowan said, “I was disappointed to get out, it was a bit of a lazy shot … You saw the replays, you saw my reaction, you can join the dots I guess. With the DRS, I’m an interesting perspective because I’ve been a consumer of the game for so long; this is day one on the job for me.”So as someone who loves his cricket and has watched a lot of cricket, I just don’t understand why it can’t be handed down by the ICC to be uniform in all games. And that’s me speaking as an outsider, not as someone who has been in the bubble for a long time. It is an interesting one, we’ll see how it pans out, I’m sure it’ll even itself out over the course of the series.”Michael Hussey lasted one ball without the DRS•AFP

Ricky Ponting, speaking to ABC radio, also called for uniformity. “I thought it was compulsory in every series we are going to play, but apparently not. As players you want uniformity around the world and consistency in the technology and things that you are using in the game. And it’s just this one series against India that keeps poping up where we are not using the system. As players that’s what we are after”Those two dismissals, which took Australia from 4 for 205 to 6 for 214, gave India the advantage in the final session, although resistance from Brad Haddin and Peter Siddle later eased concerns for the hosts. Cowan said the loss of Hussey for a golden duck straight after the departure of Michael Clarke was pivotal in the day’s play.”It was a massive moment in the game, a huge moment,” he said. “We’d just had a 100-run partnership [between Cowan and Ricky Ponting], wrestled back the momentum, almost a 50-run partnership [Cowan and Clarke]. We felt we were half an hour away from really nailing them, grinding them into the dust. We get through that Zaheer spell unscathed and it is a completely different complexion to the day’s play.”It’s not an issue of DRS. It doesn’t matter what cricket you play in, umpiring decisions always change momentum in the game. It doesn’t matter whether it is an MCG Test match or me playing club cricket, that’s the game – we all accept that. Today momentum went against us because of it, two of your top six, but that’s the game and we’ll take the good with the bad.”This series is the first time Australia have played Tests without the DRS since their last battle with India, away from home late last year. And while the decisions went against Australia today, Cowan said their final position was a good result at the end of a day on which batsmen had to knuckle down.”I thought it was a really great day’s cricket,” Cowan said. “The bat had its moments, the ball had its moments, a good cricket wicket. If you bent your back and put it in a good spot you got something out of it. There was turn, there was bounce, but if you were good enough to play your shots, you could score runs. So it was great to see a good cricket wicket on day one. They bowled really well in patches. I thought we batted really well in patches and I think we’ve got our noses ahead.”That position came largely thanks to Cowan’s level-headed innings of 68 on debut, an effort that showed the value of developing his technique on a difficult, green Hobart pitch over the past few seasons. He faced the first ball of the Test and while wickets fell at the other end, he stayed calm, a result of what he described as a lack of jitters.”I was strangely not nervous, I can’t explain why,” Cowan said. “I was a little anxious when we won the toss and batted, but no more than we would’ve been if I was playing state cricket for Tasmania at Bellerive.”Those nerves of wanting to contribute for the team upfront, it is my job to set the game up. I should’ve been a lot more nervous. I had to keep pinching myself to think, ‘mate you should be more nervous here, more anxious’, but being relaxed really helped me through it and it felt like another bat-on-ball contest.”

In an unprecedented move, the West Indies Cricket board (WICB) has awarded central retainer contracts to six of its women cricketers for the period October 2010 to September 2011

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Dec-2010In an unprecedented move, the West Indies Cricket board (WICB) has awarded central retainer contracts to six of its women cricketers for the period October 2010 to September 2011.”The board of directors took a decision that the WICB must commit to ensuring that our women players have a level of personal security which will assist as they continue their climb to the top of world cricket,” said Ernest Hilaire, WICB CEO. “This is an exciting period of revitalisation of women’s cricket and we see the awarding of central retainer contracts to these six outstanding players as another positive step in the development of West Indies women’s cricket.”Allrounder Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin, who was the first woman to score an international Twenty20 hundred, have been awarded Grade A contracts. West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira, offspinner Anisa Mohammed, and allrounders Stacy-Ann King and Shanel Daley have been awarded Grade B contracts.”The granting of these six retainer contracts represents a start and we are hoping to expand the programme in coming years. This is a tangible commitment to the players that the WICB is very serious about women’s cricket and its development in the region,” added Hilaire. “We have re-activated the women’s cricket programme in a serious way and we have been working steadily to ensure that our women’s team play more cricket on international tours.”The players have repaid the investment of the WICB thus far by showing that they are determined and committed to realising their goal of making the West Indies women’s team the best in the world,” Hilaire said.West Indies have enjoyed a successful run in recent times – they won the inaugural ICC Women’s Challenge Twenty20 tournament and finished runners-up in the 50-over format in South Africa in October. Their next campaign is a tour of India in January where they play five ODIs and three Twenty20s.Speaking on Wednesday Aguilleira, Dottin and Taylor expressed their excitement at the contracts. “It was a great birthday gift for me,” said Aguillera, who is captain of the national side and received the news of her central retainer on her 25th birthday. “When I got the news I was on my way to training and I was very happy. I went to the training field thinking I now have to dig deeper and deliver even more for the team.”I can now dedicate even more time to training and there is less stress about financial worries,” she added. “This is a major step forward for women’s cricket in the West Indies and a major investment in the development of the young females across the Caribbean. It is also a major step forward for women’s cricket on the world stage.””It is great to see the WICB is looking out for the girls,” added the 19 year-old Dottin, who is a multi-talented sportswoman, having represented Barbados at cricket, football and athletics. “We work so hard and we are pleased with this show of support. On behalf of everyone I would like to say thanks for looking out for us. I promise we will continue to do West Indies proud.””This is a major step and I’m really excited,” agreed Taylor, who is in the top 10 batters and top five allrounders in women’s ODIs and was nominated for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award earlier this year. “Before I didn’t have a job, I was going to school, so this is my first profession, as a cricketer. The work has now started.”I have to work doubly hard as I did before and look to bring greater reward to West Indies cricket. A lot will be expected of us as players on and off the field and I have to lead by example. As players we have been working hard and now we have to double up and lift West Indies cricket closer to the top.”

Alex Brown previews the first Test match of 2010

The Preview by Alex Brown02-Jan-2010

Match facts

January 3-7, 2010
Start time 10.30am (23.30 GMT)

Big picture

Danish Kaneria is set to return, and his record has surprised the opposing captain•Getty Images

Pakistan’s plans for a positive start to 2010 were dealt a withering blow with the news Mohammad Aamer, by far his team’s best bowler in Melbourne, has been ruled out of the Sydney Test with a groin injury. Following a disastrous 2009 campaign, during which they were cast as cricketing nomads after being stripped of host venue status, Pakistan’s hopes for a resurgent year have encountered trouble at the first hurdle with the loss of their most penetrative bowler.The SCG was the site of Pakistan’s last victory over Australia 15 years ago, and the expected reintroductions of Danish Kaneria and Umar Gul into the attack should provide them with added pep. But the likelihood of three bowling changes from the Boxing Day Test will do little for team stability, although that is hardly a new concept to a Pakistani team well accustomed to tumult.Australia, meanwhile, produced one of their finest all-round displays in the post-Warne/McGrath era in Melbourne and will be looking for a repeat performance. The evolution of Shane Watson and Simon Katich as a potent opening combination, the maturation of Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger in their respective old- and new-ball roles and the rise of Nathan Hauritz auger well for a new decade and the varied
challenges it will bring.The hosts’ primary concern surrounds the fitness of Katich, who is nursing an elbow injury. Phillip Hughes was on Saturday called into the squad as cover, however Katich’s notoriously high pain threshold has him favoured to resume his place alongside Watson at the top of the order.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia – WWDWL
Pakistan – LDWLD

Watch out for…

Mitchell Johnson found his groove as a first-change specialist towards the end of a tumultuous 2009 campaign. His pace, bounce and reverse swing with the old ball at the MCG proved harassing for Pakistan’s batsmen, and served as the perfect foil for fast bowling counterparts Bollinger and Peter Siddle. The recognition may have gone the way of Hauritz following his maiden five-wicket haul, but Johnson’s match figures of 6 for 82 from 40 overs were the most prolific and economical of the Australian attack.Danish Kaneria proved his workman-like qualities with his first visit to the SCG, claiming 7 for 188 from 49.3 challenging overs in the first innings against a rampant Australian batting line-up. Now recovered from the finger injury that ruled him out of the Melbourne Test, Kaneria is set to join forces with Ajmal in a twin-spin attack on Australia’s most famous
turning surface. The younger contingent of Australia’s modern day batting line-up have had little exposure to quality legspin, possibly providing Kaneria with an early advantage.Ricky Ponting was surprised by Kaneria’s record when he checked it out last week. “He’s a very good bowler but I saw his record come up against some of the great spinners of the last 10 years and it stacks up very well against the best of them,” he said. “His record is actually better than Abdul Qadir and everyone knows how highly regarded he was. We have played him here before and he has bowled well.”

Team news

Katich’s elbow problem was deemed serious enough for Hughes to be hauled in from state duty, with a decision to be made shortly before the coin toss. Ponting (elbow) and Hauritz (groin) are carrying niggles, however the fact selectors opted against naming shadow players indicates those two will play. Marcus North appears the only member of the starting XI under pressure with three single-figure dismissals this summer to balance out two half-centuries. The final two Tests against Pakistan will provide a strong
indicator as to whether he will be retained for this year’s Ashes series.Australia: (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Doug Bollinger.The loss of Aamer just days after he became the youngest fast bowler in Test history to claim a five-wicket haul has forced the selectors into yet another change to the bowling line-up. Gul had already been expected to replace the out-of-sorts Abdur Rauf, and a fit-again Kaneria tipped to replace Saeed Ajmal. It now appears Mohammad Sami will slot in for Aamer, potentially leaving Mohammad Asif as the only surviving member of the Pakistan bowling attack from last week’s Boxing Day Test.Pakistan: (probable) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Faisal Iqbal, 4 Mohammad Yousuf (capt), 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Mohammad Sami, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Mohammad Asif, 11 Danish Kaneria

Pitch and conditions

The SCG pitch has worn many faces this year – from the slow, low track of the NSW-Tasmania Sheffield Shield game to the hard, seaming deck of the NSW-Victoria one-dayer. Tom Parker, the SCG curator, is hoping for something in between, but believes recent rain in Sydney will provide the fast bowlers with assistance. Indeed, the pitch had a distinct green tinge two days
before the coin toss, save for a bare patch two-thirds of the way down the strip. Just whether that will prove helpful for the spinners remains to be seen. Further rain on Saturday added to the groundstaff’s worries.

Stats and trivia

• Australia’s 170-run victory at the MCG was their tenth consecutive Test win against Pakistan. Pakistan’s last success over Australia in the Test arena came at the SCG in 1995, albeit in the final match of a series the hosts had already won.
• Pakistan closed out a difficult 2009 campaign with a Test record of one win, four losses and four draws. Australia’s record for the corresponding period was seven wins, three losses and three draws; a marked improvement on their 5-5-4 record from the previous year.
• Katich and Watson have amassed 856 runs for the first wicket in just seven Tests as Australia’s opening combination, including three century and as many half-century stands. Their partnership average of 71.33 trails only Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe among opening partnerships with ten or more innings together.

Quotes

“We know what to expect from them, we know they have some very talented players. Last week we had their measure, up to us to make sure we start well again.”
“We’re feeling good. There is no disappointment at all. I told the team, ‘OK we lost but it doesn’t matter. Don’t let it get you down, learn from the mistakes you made’. There is still a lot of cricket to look forward to.”

Short, Shepherd, and Rauf starred as Orcas slipped to their fifth straight loss

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jun-2025San Francisco Unicorns became the first team to advance to the playoffs of the MLC 2025, beating Seattle Orcas by 32 runs in Dallas on Wednesday night. They remain unbeaten in this competition, having won all six matches so far and also strengthened their position at the top of the points table. Orcas suffered their fifth straight defeat this season and continue to sit at the bottom.Captain Matthew Short and Romario Shepherd’s all-round heroics along with Haris Rauf’s four-wicket haul were the highlights for Unicorns on a day when they had to win mini-battles.Asked to bat first, Unicorns lost Finn Allen in the second over. But Jake Fraser-McGurk and Short put on a 68-run second-wicket stand that not only steadied the innings but also provided them momentum. McGurk fell for a well-made 21-ball 34 in the eighth over to left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh and this triggered a collapse as Unicorns slipped from 86 for 1 to 103 for 6. Short, who smashed seven fours and two sixes in his 29-ball stay, departed for 52 when Harmeet dismissed him and Hassan Khan in the same over.Shepherd then blasted four sixes and four fours in his 56 off 31 balls, lifting Unicorns to a competitive 176 for 8. Gerald Coetzee also chipped in with 3 for 34, including key middle-order wickets. However, this late onslaught proved more than enough with the Orcas once again denied a maiden win despite a bright start to the chase.Orcas picked up 29 runs in the first two overs, thanks to Shayan Jahangir, who looked impressive throughout his knock. He played a range of eye-catching shots to score 40 off just 22 balls. However, Shepherd provided the breakthrough by dismissing Jahangir in the seventh over.In the following over, Short struck twice, removing both David Warner and Kyle Mayers. Orcas never recovered from these early setbacks and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Shimron Hetmyer and Sujit Nayak attempted to rebuild the innings, but only briefly. Rauf, who had earlier dismissed Heinrich Klaasen, wrapped up the innings by removing Coetzee and Hetmyer in the 16th over and Cameron Gannon in the 18th, finishing with figures of 4 for 32.

After 15 wickets fell on day one, the teams were not able to take the field in Mirpur

Mohammad Isam07-Dec-20231:27

Explainer: Mushfiqur Rahim’s obstructing the field dismissal

Rain prevented any play from happening on the second day of the second Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Mirpur. The day was abandoned at 1:55pm local time.The rain had begun early on Thursday morning and continued through the day. The umpires inspected the conditions a few times, with the last one at 1.00 pm, after which the rain intensified and forced the abandonment.However, given the pace at which the Test progressed on day one, there is still plenty of time for a result. Bangladesh were bowled out for 172 on the first day with New Zealand’s spinners picking up eight of the ten wickets. Tim Southee took one, while Mushfiqur Rahim became the first Bangladesh batter to be given out for obstructing the field. His dismissal would have been a bigger talking point for the hosts had their spinners not reduced New Zealand to 55 for 5 when bad light ended play.Bangladesh are still 117 runs ahead in the first innings, and are pushing for their maiden Test series victory against New Zealand, after winning the first match by 150 runs.Play is scheduled to start at 9.15 am local time on day three in Mirpur, with a minimum of 98 overs to be bowled.

Keegan Petersen admits Old Trafford defeat “hurt” with SA batters in search of big runs

Firdose Moonda06-Sep-2022″It hurt,” Keegan Petersen said, referring to defeat at Old Trafford and not the blow Dean Elgar took to his right shoulder on Tuesday morning.The South African captain was the victim of a hostile throw from his own coach, Mark Boucher, which bounced off the front of his shoulder and hit him on the grille. Elgar was later spotted holding the arm awkwardly with an ice pack to the injured area, and he did not take part in any slip catching. But sources confirm his participation in the decider is not in any doubt. If it was, it would really have hurt as South Africa are still searching for a way to put more runs on the board.For Petersen, the task ahead is simple in word, albeit tricky in practice. “It’s obvious. We need to score hundreds up top,” he said. “That hasn’t happened for a while now. The batters have to step up now and get a couple of big scores.”He wouldn’t go as far as to say some of them are playing for their Test places, but with at least one of the reserves certain of a start in Rassie van der Dussen’s injury-enforced absence, the writing must be close to being on the wall. “I don’t think we want to think that way,” Petersen said. “As an individual you’re probably going to feel that way, but I don’t believe there’s pressure from up top that’s going to make us feel that way.”Related

• Sarel Erwee: 'England is where you learn Test cricket as an opener'

• Race and role-definition collide as Zondo, Markram, van der Dussen jostle for one batting spot

• Khaya Zondo ends eight-year wait for a double-century

• Stokes inspires England as Anderson, Robinson round up South Africa for innings win

• Bavuma to lead South Africa at T20 World Cup, injured van der Dussen out

Even if van der Dussen had not broken his left index finger in Manchester, his place for The Oval was in doubt. He has gone 13 innings without a half-century and averages 24.17 from his last seven Tests. Either he or Aiden Markram, who averages 15.56 in his last nine Tests, would have had to make way for Ryan Rickelton.With van der Dussen definitely out, Rickelton seems certain to play but South Africa may see fit to make a double-change, with Markram sitting out for Khaya Zondo. Neither Rickelton nor Zondo have extensive Test experience – Rickelton played two Tests against Bangladesh and Zondo debuted as a Covid-19 substitute in the same series but did not bat – and whoever plays will be under scrutiny from the get-go. But if they are given an opportunity, they’re batting for the bigger picture and the opportunity to make a middle-order spot their own.Rickleton comes in off a second hot streak of form, both of which South Africa have failed to capitalise on. He scored three hundreds and a ninety in five first-class innings between November 2021 and January 2022 but did not play against New Zealand on South Africa’s February tour despite Petersen missing the tour after he contracted Covid-19. Now, Rickelton has two hundreds and four fifties in eight innings for Northamptonshire on a short-term deal he got by chance but specifically in preparation to play in England.Ryan Rickelton is likely to play in the third Test at The Oval•Getty Images

Rickelton was gearing up for winter training in South Africa when his old school friend Ricardo Vasconcelos asked him if he was interested in a county stint. With the Test tour in mind, Rickelton jumped at the chance and has been in the country since late June, familiarising himself with conditions, specifically the swing. If he can counter that, as Sarel Erwee said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo, that’s a big part of the challenge overcome.In South Africa, Rickelton is known for his temperament – honed by years of practising in the school nets when his father was sporting director – and ability to build an innings, something no South African batter besides Erwee has done on the tour so far. He has struck the balance between patience and power-hitting and crucially, converts his starts. He has 14 first-class fifties and 12 hundreds. Of Rickleton’s 12 centuries, five are scores of 150-plus. No-one in South Africa’s Test squad has made a score of that significance since Faf du Plessis’ 199 against Sri Lanka in the Boxing Day Test in 2020, 14 Test matches ago.Petersen puts the lack of big runs down to mindset rather than application, and doesn’t yet have a solution other than showing more resolve. “It’s all mental. I don’t think we’ve struggled to get in. It’s getting starts and getting out, that’s the problem,” he said. “It’s the situation in the middle that you have to prepare for, and you know it’s going to be tough. You have to at least try and fight through that tough period. That’s where you have to challenge yourself mentally all the time. There’s no real process of doing that. It’s just going to happen in the moment.”Keegan Petersen: “It’s obvious. We need to score hundreds up top”•AFP/Getty Images

That’s also why Zondo may come into the mix. He doesn’t have Rickelton’s recent numbers but more than enough mental resolve after the anguish of non-selection several years before, his testimony at the Social Justice and Nation-Building hearings and his first double-hundred last summer. As a black African batter, Zondo is also a rarity in South African cricket and will recognise the symbolism of his selection and the importance attached to his performances. In some ways, it may create an unfair burden on him, but he has spoken powerfully about issues of discrimination and his commitment to representing what he believes is right.The final option for South Africa’s line-up is Wiaan Mulder, who joined the squad when van der Dussen was ruled out and adds to their lower-order reserves. Like Rickelton, he has also had good performances in the County Championship, and scored two hundreds and two fifties for Leicestershire in Division Two and is the third-highest run-scorer in the one-day Cup.Mulder’s place in South Africa’s set-up remains confusing – he hasn’t played a white-ball game in a year, has lost ground to Dwaine Pretorius and Wayne Parnell and did not make the T20 World Cup squad. He played Tests as recently as the Bangladesh series in March-April and then missed out on this squad. With Marco Jansen the preferred allrounder, it’s difficult to see how Mulder will get a more regular run but if the opportunity presents itself, given the form he is in, he’s in a good place to grab it.With some parts of their XI unsettled, South Africa are not going into the decider in as stable a position as they may like to. Their batting still presents more questions than answers, it’s still scraping along thanks to several small contributions and it has to improve markedly if it’s going to challenge the best bowling attacks in the world.But it has got them through four series undefeated (West Indies, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh) and is one win (or draw, though South Africa have not drawn a Test since 2017) away from a fifth and it’s as ready as it can be. “This is what we live for as cricketers: series deciders. It’s going to be thrilling,” Petersen said. “There’s a lot on the line for both teams and I think you’re going to get a good game.”

The 17-man squad will be trimmed to 13 ahead of the series opener

Deivarayan Muthu04-Jun-2021Trinidad & Tobago fast bowler Jayden Seales has bolted into West Indies’ provisional squad for the forthcoming two-match Test series against South Africa in St Lucia. The 19-year-old’s only first-class match so far was for West Indies A in New Zealand last December, and in all, he has played only ten professional games at senior level.Seales was particularly impressive in the Team Hamilton vs Team Blackwood four-day intra-squad game more recently, taking 4 for 40 in the second innings, including the wickets of Shai Hope and Darren Bravo. He had first made an impression in the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa last year, claiming ten wickets in six matches at an average of 18.30 and economy rate of 3.89. He went on to bag a CPL deal with the Trinbago Knight Riders, who have retained him ahead of the upcoming season.Hope, Roston Chase, and Kieran Powell were also rewarded with spots in the 17-member squad. The trio was not part of the squad for the recent home Test series against Sri Lanka. Jahmar Hamilton is the second wicketkeeper in the group behind Joshua Da Silva.Hope’s last first-class game was the Manchester Test in July 2020, but in the intra-squad fixture, he scored 106, the highest score of the match.Chase, who missed out on a West Indies central contract last month, sparkled both with ball and bat. After taking four wickets in the first innings for Team Hamilton, Chase closed out a three-wicket win with an unbeaten 45 off 50 balls in the second. Powell, who top-scored with 95 in that innings, too, earned a recall, after having played the last of his 40 Tests in Bangladesh in 2018. He replaced John Campbell who had managed only 68 runs in four innings at an average of 17 against Sri Lanka.Related

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Seales bolsters the seam attack that already includes regulars – Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder and Kemar Roach, who is back from his stint with Surrey in county cricket. Roach brings with him strong form, having bagged a match haul of nine wickets in his most recent first-class game, at The Oval. As for Chemar Holder, he was unavailable for selection due to injury. Jomel Warrican will be assisted by Rakheem Cornwall and Chase in the spin attack.Marquino Mindley, who had recovered from Covid-19, will remain in St Lucia along with fellow seamers Keon Harding, Preston McSween and Nial Smith to “assist the Test squad with their preparations”, a Cricket West Indies media release said.The squad will be trimmed from 17 to 13 on June 7, three days before the tour opener at the Daren Sammy Stadium. The second – and final – Test of the series will be played at the same venue from June 18. This series will be the last in the inaugural cycle of the World Test Championship. West Indies are currently sixth on the table and their opponents South Africa are seventh.Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-capt), Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican

You could make the case that Smith has never had to work hard for his runs, yet while it has been the summer of Labuschagne he has been there when it matters

Andrew McGlashan in Sydney03-Jan-2020The crowd cheered and Steven Smith acknowledged them. But this was a landmark of a different sort. Smith had finally got off the mark.After 38 balls, he tucked a ball off the hip against his nemesis Neil Wagner and scampered through for such a sharp single that Marnus Labuschagne had to get the dive out. The SCG roared, Smith smiled, raised a sheepish glove in mock celebration and got a pat on the back from Wagner.”I actually had no idea he was on zero until the 38th ball. I actually thought we were rotating the strike quite well, which is quite funny,” Labuschagne said after the day’s play. “I came to the middle and though what was the carry on for, there’s a lot of noise, and he’s like ‘I’m on zero’ and I had no idea.”Runs have not come easily for Smith this season, the fluency of the Ashes rarely being on view except in the T20Is against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with the series against New Zealand (strike rate 34.13) and the Test season (strike rate 36.23) of 2019-20 comfortably the slowest of his career. Since 2000, no Australia batsman who has faced more than 500 balls in a home season has scored slower than Smith.The tone was set by his two Sheffield Shield hundreds earlier in the summer which were valuable but grinding affairs on slow pitches, the second against Western Australia the slowest of his career. In the Tests against Pakistan he twice entered on the back of mountainous partnerships, playing around Yasir Shah in Brisbane and edging a swipe against Shaheen Afridi in Adelaide. There was little riding on those situations, but against New Zealand it has been a little different in the first innings of these matches.The final scorelines are heavily in Australia’s favour, but in each of the three Tests Smith has walked in with New Zealand buoyed by removing David Warner who, like Smith, fell to Wagner for the fourth time. Another wicket and there would have been an opening, but each time Smith has stood firm when it mattered, often riding in the slip stream of Labuschagne who has had the summer of his life.In Perth he batted 164 balls across more than three hours adding 132 with Labuschagne in the first innings. In Melbourne it was a more modest stand of 83, with Smith eventually being bounced out by Wagner for 85 by when New Zealand’s energy had also been zapped.At the SCG, Smith again entered with Warner not converting a start into something more substantial – he has not quite built on the prolific form against Pakistan – when he flicked to leg gully and what transpired was the latest installment in the fascinating contest between Smith and Wagner.The first ball (short, of course) took Smith in the stomach and Wagner sent down another 19 dots to him. At the other end Colin de Grandhomme and then legspinner Todd Astle did their part, Smith’s frustrations growing by the moment as he kept hitting the fielders when he tried to work Astle away. The crowd were getting into it, the absorbing nature of watching the best batsman in the world being kept scoreless. The moments in Test cricket where nothing, but everything, is happening in unison.Smith had got to 4 off 48 balls when he danced down the pitch and lofted Will Somerville over wide mid-on and steadily the runs came a little more freely as he picked off errors in length from the spinners. From getting off the mark, he added 41 in another 62 deliveries to tea, the stand with Labuschagne again grinding New Zealand down in what was a re-run of the first two Tests.And then things stalled again. He was kept on 49 for 17 balls – unsurprisingly with Wagner in the midst of another spell – before grabbing the single to bring up a half-century that brought another ovation from the Sydney crowd.The second new ball did for him, edging an outswinger from de Grandhomme to slip, to give the depleted New Zealanders something to cling on to. It was the first time this series Smith hadn’t fallen to Wagner, his series tally against him 27 runs from 159 balls. “They’ve come prepared, come at the best batter in the world in a different way. He’s still countering it, he’s still putting runs on the board. It’s just testament to him as a player,” Labuschagne said.You could make the case that Smith has never had to work hard for his runs, yet while it has been the summer of Labuschagne he has been there when it matters.

Aditya Verma, who has sought to depose before the panel looking into the sexual-harassment allegations, slams the language used by the panel

Sidharth Monga & Sharda Ugra09-Nov-2018The independent inquiry committee looking into allegations of sexual misconduct against the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri has been criticised for using language that will “dissuade and discourage people from coming forward”. That’s the view of leading women’s right lawyers contacted by ESPNcricinfo after Aditya Verma, who sought to depose before the committee, said he felt the first response he received from the three-member panel was trying to “scare away complainants”.Verma, the whistleblower whose original litigation resulted in the Lodha reforms, had earlier written a letter to the BCCI’s Committee of Administrators (CoA), accusing it of “hushing up” a previous complaint of alleged sexual harassment against Johri from a BCCI employee. The CoA has never acknowledged such a complaint. Now, Verma aside, former Mumbai captain Shishir Hattangadi has also offered to help out with a fresh complaint of alleged sexual misconduct that pertains to a time when Johri was the board CEO.Responding to the messages received from Verma and Hattangadi, the committee said in an email: “At the outset we expect from you to demonstrate your bona fides and locus standi to put forth your statement, material before the committee.” ESPNcricinfo has seen this email, which goes on to ask of the complainants: “Are you friend/guardian, close relative, husband of the alleged sexually harassed lady or woman, employee of BCCI or a visitor to the premises office or in some way associated with the affairs of BCCI? How are you connected with the subject matter?”In his response to that email, Verma has objected to both the language used and the concept of locus standi (as defined by the Cambridge dictionary, locus standi is the right or ability to bring a legal action to a court of law or to appear in a court). ESPNcricinfo has seen Verma’s response, in which he has also pointed out that a member of the independent committee, Veena Gowda, had been excluded from the mail sent by the committee. Gowda is also an external member of internal complaints committees at the BCCI and other corporations under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Moreover, the committee has failed to maintain confidentiality in communication by marking both Verma and Hattangadi on the same email.”This committee needs to appreciate the fact that the principle of locus standi does not stand the test of public interest,” Verma wrote, referring to earlier Supreme Court rulings that have found the BCCI to be “discharging public functions”.”In the case of BCCI, which is a body that performs some public functions, the organisation cannot hide behind the veil of locus standi, especially in the case where their top functionary is accused of sexual harassment or worse. An attempt by the committee to thwart a member of the public from bringing to its notice information that may be relevant flies in the face of the judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.”Verma went on to write: “The message that your email carries seems to be one to scare away complainants rather than to make it conducive for them to complain about being harassed. It lacks the basic sensitivity required to deal with such situations.”This is a sentiment that finds resonance with prominent women’s rights lawyers. Vrinda Grover, lawyer, researcher and human and women’s rights activist, told ESPNcricinfo: “The communication of the committee should encourage people to come forward because the probe is against a very powerful, high-profile man. The tone and tonality should not dissuade or frighten the person putting the statement forward. The way this [email] is crafted, the presumption is that I am a motivated person if I am giving a statement out. The presumption should be otherwise, because I am not the one you are inquiring into.”The committee is completely right in asking the person to present a statement and/or material evidence that is relevant, but to ask a person to first demonstrate their bona fides (as per the Cambridge dictionary, bona fides refers to the abilities and experience that make someone suitable for a particular job or activity, or proof of these abilities and experience) is quite unwarranted. Under any proceeding, whether it’s an inquiry or a trial, the witness must be relevant, but to ask a witness to prove their bona fides is in my view counter-productive. That will dissuade and discourage people from coming forward and the objective of the committee will be lost.”I would go to the extent of saying that they [the committee] should be asking that person, ‘Would you want us to provide you confidentiality? Do you apprehend any retaliation? Do you need any support?’ That is how you encourage witnesses.”Also for a committee examining a complaint of sexual harassment, it is imperative that all communications and proceedings of the committee are sensitive and respectful. For instance, it’s a bit baffling why the email insists on making a distinction between a lady and a woman. Also, why does the email specifically ask if the person is the husband, when it has already asked the person to clarify whether they are a family member or relative. Surely that would include a husband too? It’s very crucial for all communications of the committee to demonstrate gender sensitivity, respect and impartiality.”Abha Singh, a former civil servant and a lawyer in the High Court of Judicature in Bombay, told ESPNcricinfo: “Such types of emails by an official committee are uncalled for. An inquiry committee should themselves exhort a person to provide information and leads, which may help unravel the hidden evidence. If a person has some incriminating information against the delinquent, it is the duty of the committee to call him for a statement and to interrogate him, in case they find there is something amiss or if they feel that more evidence or clarifications are necessary.”In short, the disposition of the committee should be to welcome informers and those who possess incriminating evidence. To send such discouraging emails would not be conducive to a complete and in-depth probe. They are a regrettable aberration on part of the committee.”Gowda aside, the three-member independent committee includes Rakesh Sharma, former judge at Allahabad High Court, and Barkha Singh, former chairperson of Delhi Commission for women.Today is the last date for people – within or outside BCCI – to reach out to the inquiry committee on the e-mail address provided ([email protected]). Over the next two days, the committee will study the material it receives and then call people it “considers necessary to appear and depose”. It is understood that if the committee seeks more time, the CoA will be willing to extend the time frame to complete the probe.

Jack Leach began the season with a remodelled action and doubts about his effectiveness. He finished it with 50 Championship wickets as he bowled Somerset to safety

George Dobell at Taunton28-Sep-20171:11

ECB officer explains ‘below average’ Taunton pitch rating

Of course it was spin that sealed Somerset’s victory. And of course it was Jack Leach who took the final wicket.Less than a year after his career was threatened by suggestion that his action was not legal, Leach clinched his fourth five-wicket haul of the campaign to secure his side’s third victory in the final four games of the season. As a result, he passed 50 wickets in the season and Somerset avoided relegation. Matt Maynard, Somerset’s departing director of cricket, said he “couldn’t make sense” of the decision not to take him to the Ashes.Leach wouldn’t see many pitches like this in Australia, of course. Pitches where spinners open the bowling in three of the four innings and take all 10 wickets in the fourth innings. Somerset have made a point of preparing such surfaces in the last couple of years and, in Leach and Dom Bess, they have two bowlers well equipped to take advantage.The Somerset players took a lap of honour at the end of the game. It wasn’t so much a sign that they were content with their low position in the table; more a reflection of their relief in retaining their decade-long stay in Division One (no side in the land will have been in the top division so long when the 2018 starts) and gratitude to their 2000 supporters. Cricket still matters in Taunton.This pitch was marked “below average” by the Cricket Liaison Officer (CLO), Wayne Noon, as it showed signs of “excessive turn” from the start. Crucially he could not see any uneven bounce on days one or two. As a result there will be no points deduction and Somerset’s place in Division One is assured.That isn’t quite the get out of jail free card it might appear. The ECB regulations state that, should a pitch be marked “below average” twice within a 12-month period in the same competition, penalties can be applied. While Somerset have not had another such mark this season, they will, Noon said “have to be very mindful” of their surfaces in 2018.There is a slight caveat to all this. Phil Whitticase, a senior CLO, will arrive in Taunton on Friday and conduct a further investigation into the pitch. He will, as part of that investigation, speak to the umpires and the groundsman and it remains theoretically possible that he will increase the penalty. He could also decrease it.But it would be a major surprise – and an astounding own goal from the ECB – if they should, for the second season in succession, alter the table after the campaign has finished and change the relegation positions. But, not so long ago, it seemed impossible that a hotel magnate with comic hair would become US president; life is full of surprises and not all of them are good.Adam Voges, the Middlesex captain, was frank in his assessment of the pitch. “We knew we’d get a spinning wicket,” he said. “And I’ve no problem with teams preparing pitches to suit their strengths.”But we were surprised by how much disturbance there was before a ball was bowled. There was excessive spin from ball one. There were rake marks at both ends. There should be a line and whether that line was crossed is the match-referee’s decision.”He remains more upset by the two-point deduction for a slow over rate following the crossbow incident at The Oval last month. He feels his team were assured by officials at the time that the nature of the incident would be taken into account and no penalty levelled.”It was such an extraordinary circumstance,” he said. “We had every intention to rectify our over rate and were assured at the time that it wouldn’t be an issue. Whether there is anything that can be done now is up to the administrators.”Voges admitted, though, that to leave themselves in a position where they were hurt by such moments was a reflection of their disappointing cricket over the course of the season. Champions in 2016, they end 2017 with rumours of deep dressing-room discontent. They still look a very strong side on paper, though, and might reflect in time that they have simply been victim to a league which relegates a quarter of its participants a season. Over-reaction would probably be an error.”You look at the season as a whole and it’s obviously been disappointing,” Voges said. “It’s not just the last week or the last month.”It took less than two hours to wrap-up victory on the final day. Leach and his fellow left-arm spinner, Roelof van der Merwe, utilised the conditions expertly with the latter finishing with career-best figures. Leach, in particular, bowled beautifully with his subtle and wonderfully disguised changes of pace causing many of the problems. And, for all the talk about this pitch, it wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow in Asia. England really don’t play spin very well.Marcus Trescothick salutes the crowd after Somerset secured Division One status•Getty Images

Leach may yet feature in the Ashes. He can expect to be named in the Lions party that will train in Perth as the Test series is played and, should anything befall Moeen Ali, could well be called into the Test squad if required.”I’d prefer to see him there instead of Mason Crane,” Maynard said. “Crane can’t get into the Hampshire side all the time. I can’t understand it. If he gets called into the team he won’t know anyone there. They’ve missed a trick in not picking him”One thing is sure: for Leach to recover from the low he was in only a few months ago is testament to impressive resilience. To re-model an action without missing a game and then emerge as a better, more skilful, more mature bowler bodes well for his future.He had, he admits, some “dark moments” on the Lions tour of the UAE last winter. There were times, as he tried to bowl with his new action, when he feared he might never recapture the bite and consistency of previous days. Just nine months later, he is back to winning games for his side and pushing for an England spot.”I’ve shown good resilience,” he said. “Something like that can’t be fixed overnight and, from a mental perspective more than technical, there were some dark moments on that tour. I wanted to make a really good impression but it was hard.”Now I look back on it as part of the journey. I think I’m probably a better bowler now. I can bowl a bit quicker and I’ve learned a lot. About myself and my action. At the start of the season I wasn’t sure if I could keep doing this, so to have finished with more than 50 wickets…. Yes, I’m proud of how I’ve reacted to the challenges. It was tough.”Leach was one of eight academy products in this Somerset side. Well, academy or equivalent. They didn’t have academies when Marcus Trescothick was growing up. Hell, they didn’t even have the Quantocks. But it means that Maynard’s successor – and it still seems likely that Andy Hurry will be named as such next week with Jason Kerr as his deputy – inherits strong foundations ahead of next season.”I’d love to have stayed and seen the project through,” Maynard said. “We did have discussions about me doing the head coach role, but decided there could be friction if I didn’t agree with the new director of cricket. So a settlement was agreed and we part very amicably. The club have handled it well.”The club have undergone quite a transition under Maynard. The over-reliance upon imports has improved and the trust in home-grown youth has improved. And it was his idea that Trescothick, at slip, should field on his knees to the spinners in certain circumstances. “When the ball is dying, we felt he could get that bit lower,” he explained. It wasn’t, perhaps, a perfect stay but the club went within an ace of winning that elusive first Championship title a year ago. Memories in cricket have never been shorter.It transpires the review of the club structure was led by James Taylor, the England batsman who retired through illness at the start of last season, who felt it was necessary to employ a head coach and director of cricket. Maynard, who described cricket as his passion, will now consider more “backseat” roles such as batting consultancy positions. He is unlikely to be without offers for long.So, Somerset will play in Division One in 2018. And that means Trescothick could yet fulfil that Championship-winning dream. If he does, it would be a success popular far beyond the borders of the county.