All posts by h716a5.icu

Joining Matthew Hayden as opening partner in the former Australia captain’s Ashes XI: an unflappable run-getter from England

Ricky Ponting07-Jul-20151:37

Alastair Cook

“He is a dogged player, not flamboyant but once he’s in, he’s very hard to get out. He’s had a very good career with over a 100 Tests and also captained England. His best attribute is his temperament as he is unflappable at the crease”

Stats*OVERALL: Matches 114 Innings 204 Runs 9000 Average 46.87 100s/50s 27/42
ASHES: Matches 25 Innings 46 Runs 1787 Average 39.71 100s/50s 4/9Best performance235 not out in Brisbane, 2010
England had regained the Ashes at home, but their previous visit to Australia in 2006-07 had been a 5-0 whitewash. And it wasn’t looking good after Australia took a 221-run first-innings lead. But nothing would been more deflating for the hosts than Cook’s 10-and-a-half hour stay at the crease, racking up 235 and combining with Andrew Strauss and Jonathon Trott to pile up 517 for 1 declared to help his side draw the Test and get the psychological advantage. Cook went past Don Bradman’s 226 to record the highest score at the Gabba, and scored a total of 302 runs in the Test.TriviaCook’s eventual score of 235 not out in Brisbane was nearly nine times his previous average in Tests against Australia.*Numbers as on July 7, 2015

Stats highlights from the second T20I between India and South Africa in Cuttack.

Shiva Jayaraman05-Oct-20151:11

India lose fourth consecutive T20I under Dhoni

1 Instances prior to this match where India had been dismissed for under 100 runs in a T20I. The previous instance had come against Australia in 2008 when they were dismissed for 74. The score of 92 is India’s second-lowest total in a full innings. This match was only the fourth time in 40 innings that India have been bowled out in a T20I.86 The lowest total for which South Africa have dismissed a Test-playing nation in T20Is. India’s total today was the second lowest and only the ninth time South Africa bowled out a Test-playing nation in the format.4 Number of consecutive T20Is in which an India opener has been run-out, including Rohit Sharma in this match. Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed in this manner in the first T20I against South Africa. Ajinkya Rahane and M Vijay were run-out in the previous series against Zimbabwe.3/12 Albie Morkel’s bowling figures in this match – the best of his T20 international career. His previous best was 2 for 12 against England in Cape Town in 2007. This match was also Morkel’s 50th T20I for South Africa.0 Number of times, prior to this match, that a team had been bowled in a T20 international in India. This is the only instance of a team being bowled out in 24 T20I innings in India.29 Wickets by R Ashwin in T20 internationals – the most by any India bowler. Ashwin went past Irfan Pathan [28 wickets] when he dismissed AB de Villiers in this match. Ashwin has taken 29 wickets at an economy of 7.24.5 Number of times de Villiers has been dismissed by Ashwin in T20s – the most by any bowler. No other bowler has dismissed him more than three times. De Villiers averages 12.40 against Ashwin with a strike rate of 105.80.0 Instances of Imran Tahir opening the bowling for South Africa in T20 internationals before this match. Tahir took 2 for 24 from his four overs. He had conceded 35 runs in three overs in the first T20 in Dharamsala, his poorest returns in a T20I so far.4 Consecutive T20Is defeats for India under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, including this loss. This streak – which started with the World T20 final – equals the longest string of losses for India under his captaincy. India had a similar run of four losses under Dhoni in 2009.10 Consecutive T20 international innings, before this match, in which Virat Kohli had scored at least 20 runs. This was his first single-digit score in 11 innings. Kohli made 484 runs, including five fifties, and averaged 69.14 in these ten innings.

The allrounder has prospered this season for Surrey, but scoring runs and taking wickets are only one part of what makes Zafar Ansari tick

Paul Edwards15-Sep-2015″Cricket is not the end for me. My life isn’t directed towards it. Cricket is a part of my life.”They are not, perhaps, the sort of statements you might expect to hear from an international player, yet if the England coaches are to get the very best from Zafar Ansari, they might do well to heed them.Speaking after his selection for May’s one-off one-day international against Ireland but before he was chosen in England’s squad for next month’s Test series against Pakistan, Ansari revealed himself as someone who is not so absorbed by the game that it has led to him being swallowed up by it and incapable of talking about anything else.Indeed, the avoidance of such obsessions seems a guiding principle of his life. “Balance” and “options” are important words for him.He is a man with a formidable range of accomplishments, none of which dominate his life. Having taken a double-first at Cambridge, he is currently writing a 40,000-word dissertation on the Deacons of Defence, a little known group involved in the Civil Rights struggle in America; he is a talented pianist but that is now a relaxation; his accepts “bookishness” as one of his characteristics but he does not spend his life away from the game in London’s Senate House or University College libraries.And he is a county and international cricketer who greatly enjoys the company of family and friends with no particular interest in the game. Why, one wonders, did he choose this profession at all?

It was a luxury that I had in terms of cricket being a summer sport that I wouldn’t have had if I had been playing rugby or football. And getting a good degree was more important to me than whether or not I became a professional cricketer

“From a relatively early age it was something that people thought that I’d do and I think you fall into things a little bit,” he began disarmingly. “I got offered a summer contract when I left school and there’s really no reason why you wouldn’t take it.”I was enjoying playing cricket and it snowballed from there. I was at university but still playing cricket to a relatively high standard. Part of it was through circumstance rather than a particular decision.”And he now plays for Surrey because the schedule allows him to wander down other avenues, although he knows that freedom will now be limited somewhat by his England selection.”There are a lot of benefits to playing cricket,” he said. “There’s enjoyment to be had through playing yourself but also it gives you time and opportunity to do other things while earning a living. Cricket allows me to do things which I find interesting which aren’t playing with a bat and a ball”At times I find it a bit of a slog and tiring but a lot of the time you are testing yourself at something you find difficult and challenging and then testing yourself against other people who are skilled and seeing how you compare.”As might be expected, Ansari’s three years at Cambridge tested him in other ways.”I wanted to prove that I could cope and excel at Cambridge as well as being genuinely a professional cricketer,” he said. “I wanted to show that I could do both.”But cricket wasn’t my priority while I was there. It was a luxury that I had in terms of cricket being a summer sport that I wouldn’t have had if I had been playing rugby or football. And getting a good degree was more important to me than whether or not I became a professional cricketer.”There is the expectation at Cambridge that everything you do is dedicated towards your academic work, which is on a pedestal. Getting back to cricket after you’ve been there is a challenge. My director of studies, David Runciman, was very interested in cricket but with some of my other tutors, if I said I have to go and play this game, there was a sort of scepticism about it and a questioning asking me why in a world-class academic institution I was playing a game that doesn’t really matter.”Playing his own game: scoring rates are not something that bother Zafar Ansari•PA PhotosAlmost needless to say, Ansari’s time-management and ability to organise himself is formidable, but so is his understanding of his own role within Surrey’s team, specifically his responsibilities as a County Championship opener in an order filled with free-scoring batsmen.”I’ve opened the innings on some tough wickets and I feel that I’ve contributed a lot to where we are as a side. The issue I have with individual statistics is that you can open the innings on a green wicket against a fine attack and actually have done a very good job.”There is a feeling in English cricket that you have to score your runs at a certain rate for them to have an extra value. When I score runs, I score them pretty slowly not because I go out there to block it but because I have to be selective or otherwise I’ll get out. There is value in that for the team. We know what each of us is good at. When you have people like Jason Roy, Kumar Sangakkara or Steve Davies to come in, there is value in taking the shine off the new ball.”Ansari’s talents have so far earned him 771 runs and 44 wickets in the 2015 County Championship. Surrey have won promotion and on Saturday they take on Gloucestershire in the final of the Royal London Cup. And now Ansari has to plan for an autumn with England. As ever, he keeps things in perspective.”You look around the country and there are players that I would put ahead of me who haven’t been selected for England and I am very fortunate to get this opportunity. It is an event and it feels like it. Even though I have never been driven by playing for England , once it’s happened you can always say that something’s been lifted off your shoulders.”Playing for England wasn’t on my radar going into this season and I’m now looking forward to what the next month and a half has to offer. As much as anything I’m there to learn and develop quickly.”

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Nov-2015Hales started fluently in a 54-run stand for the first wicket•Getty ImagesBut Mohammad Irfan removed him for 22 to break that partnership•Getty ImagesRoy, however, kept England’s score ticking in the first half of the innings•Getty ImagesHe eventually brought up his maiden ODI century from 113 balls•Getty ImagesRoy and Joe Root added 140 for England’s second wicket•Getty Images… setting the stage for Jos Buttler to unfurl his full repertoire•Getty ImagesEoin Morgan was stumped for 14 from 13 balls as England pursued quick runs•Getty ImagesBut Buttler kept powering along to an incredible 46-ball hundred•Getty ImagesHe crashed eight sixes and ten fours in an epic performance•Getty ImagesAzhar Ali’s 32-ball 44 gave Pakistan a flying start to their run-chase•Getty Images… although David Willey’s breakthroughs kept England in control•Getty ImagesMohammad Hafeez was run out for 37 to break a threatening stand of 65 with Babar Azam•Getty Images,,, and Babar himself was caught for 51 by Alex Hales, who made amends for an earlier drop•Getty ImagesAdil Rashid had Mohammad Rizwan caught behind for 11 as England chipped away•Getty ImagesShoaib Malik’s 30-ball half-century kept Pakistan on course …•Getty Images… but his dismissal to a Reece Topley full-toss spelt the end of their hopes•Getty Images

Constant chopping and changing and a lack of T20 vision have caused Australia much distress, and with a lack of good spinners and batsmen who can tackle spin, they will need to find a way of bringing their ‘A’ game

Brydon Coverdale16-Mar-20166:56

Chappell: Big Bash key component in Australia’s T20 readiness

Big PictureMuch like Mr Magoo, lack of Twenty20 vision has caused Australia all sorts of trouble over the years, at least when it comes to internationals. The Big Bash League is one of the format’s great success stories, but Australia are yet to translate that to the international stage. Just a month ago, they had slipped to eighth in the ICC’s T20 international rankings; they are now up to fifth, but by comparison, are No.1 in both Tests and ODIs. It is true that the rankings in the shortest form are especially fluid due to the limited number of games played, so note instead Australia’s record at the previous five World T20s: only once have they reached the final, when they lost to England in the West Indies in 2010. Their World Cup triumph last year was their fifth in the 50-over version, but the World T20 trophy is that rarest piece of cricket silverware: something Australia have never held.It is tempting to view T20 as something of a crapshoot in which anyone can win on any day, the long gaps between international matches preventing any sort of momentum. But Australia’s selection approach to the format has not helped, either. In the early years of the World T20, they selected conservatively, and too often, based on 50-over form; in recent years, they have used BBL form as more of a guide, but have handed out caps with almost complete abandon. Since the last World T20 in Bangladesh in 2014, Australia have played only 11 T20 internationals, yet have used 37 players. 37! The only team that has come vaguely close to such a turnover in the same period is Pakistan, who have used 32 players. But they have played nearly twice as many matches as Australia. Forget pick and stick; in T20, Australia pick and flick.Of course, the reason for that approach was to find the right group to take to India for this very tournament. The selectors hope that the proof of the pudding will be in the beating of other teams. And on paper, Australia’s squad looks good. Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell – that’s a pretty handy batting group to choose from. They will desperately miss the injured Mitchell Starc, though, and how their relatively inexperienced attack will contain teams in turning conditions is a big question.At the helm Just over a month ago, Aaron Finch was Australia’s T20 captain, having been appointed to replace George Bailey in late 2014. But when they settled on their World T20 squad, the selectors made the call to install Steven Smith as leader in all formats. “There has been a broader leadership transition in Test and One-Day International cricket with Michael Clarke retiring and Steve Smith assuming the captaincy in Test and one-day cricket,” national selector Rod Marsh said at the time. “We think now is the right time for Steve to lead Australia in all three forms of the game as it offers us important continuity, not only ahead of the World T20, but beyond that tournament as well.” T20 continuity has been lacking for Australia in recent years and Smith’s captaincy credentials are well established.Key Stat25That’s the number of players Australia have used in T20 internationals in 2016. It is quite an extraordinary tally when you consider Australia have played only six games. But in 2015, they played only one T20, which meant that in the new year, the selectors had much sifting to do quickly in order to find their best mix ahead of the world tournament. For the record, the ten men tried in 2016 and discarded ahead of the World T20 were Shaun Tait, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Matthew Wade, Cameron Boyce, Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Travis Head, Kane Richardson and Chris Lynn.Leading Men David WarnerOne of the changes Australia made on the eve of this tournament was to shift Warner down the order. The presence of Warner, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja and Shane Watson means Australia are overburdened with opening options. During this month’s series in South Africa, Warner was used at No. 3 and No. 4, and scores of 20, 77 and 33 suggested the shift did not disagree with him. “But he could open in the first game. You don’t know, it just depends on the match-ups and what we like at the time,” coach Darren Lehmann said after the South Africa tour. “We’re going to be pretty versatile at this tournament. I think that’s one of our advantages, we have batsmen that can float and move.”Glenn MaxwellSpeaking of versatility, Maxwell should be a key man for Australia in this tournament with bat, ball and in the field. At No. 5, he can build on the solid platform of the top order or can change the game single-handedly if the first four have stumbled. In spinning conditions, Australia will likely use him as the second spinner, and there is arguably no better fielder in what is an outstanding fielding side.James FaulknerMan of the Match in the World Cup final last year, Faulkner is a player for big occasions. The absence of Starc means his left-arm variety will be important in the attack, but his striking down the order could be just as crucial. There is a reason Faulkner is renowned as one of the game’s finest finishers, and no chase ever feels out of reach while his wicket remains intact.Burning QuestionHow will they handle spin?
Both bowling spin and facing it loom as key issues for Australia, given the conditions in India. The previous World T20 in Bangladesh was a failure for Australia as they lost group matches to Pakistan, West Indies and India. They face two of those same teams again – Pakistan and India – this time around. Finch conceded after their recent loss in Durban that ego sometimes played a role in Australia’s batsmen going after spinners, and they will have to curb that in order not to be spun out in India. Additionally, settling on their own preferred T20 spinners took some time. Last time in Bangladesh, the Brad Hogg-James Muirhead combination had little effect. On this occasion, Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar have been preferred over Cameron Boyce and Nathan Lyon.World T20 historyIn 2007 they lost a semi-final, in 2009 they failed to pass the group stage, in 2010 they lost the final to England, in 2012 they lost a semi-final to eventual champions West Indies, and in 2014 they failed again to progress past the group matches. New Zealand, Pakistan and India are all stiff competition in 2016, and Australia will need to be at the top of their game to get through the early stages this time.Aakash Chopra on Australia’s strengths and weaknesses

30-Mar-2016Both batsmen, however, fell in successive overs as England Women fought back•IDI/Getty ImagesBut captain Meg Lanning sussed out the slow surface and knocked the ball into the gaps, putting her side back on track•Getty ImagesShe made 55 off 50 balls, including six fours•Getty ImagesEngland produced some late strikes, including the wicket of Lanning, but Australia finished with a competitive total of 132 for 6•Associated PressCharlotte Edwards ensured England got off to a strong start with a 29-ball 31•Getty ImagesEdwards found good support from Tammy Beaumont, who chipped in with 32 off 40 balls•Getty ImagesAustralia’s bowlers, though, squeezed England’s misfiring middle order•Getty ImagesThe onus then fell on Sarah Taylor who hit 21 before popping a catch behind to Healy. By then, England were reduced to 103 for 5•Getty ImagesThe collapse seeped into the lower order as well. England slumped from 67 for 0 to 117 for 7 and eventually fell short by five runs•IDI/Getty ImagesMegan Schutt was the pick of Australia’s bowlers, claiming figures of 2 for 15•AFPThe win left Australia eyeing their fourth successive World T20 title•Associated Press

Also, losing ten-fors, and back to back Tests at Lord’s

Steven Lynch19-Jul-2016Yasir Shah has 86 wickets after 13 Tests. Has anyone ever taken more at that point, and who was the quickest to 100? asked Aslam Mohammad from Pakistan
Yasir Shah’s fine performance at Lord’s – the 28th ten-for there, but the first by an Asian bowler – took him to 86 wickets after only 13 Tests, more than anyone else at that stage of a career. He has eclipsed a trio of famous 19th-century bowlers: the Australian “Terror” Charles Turner had 81 wickets after 13 matches, the Surrey and England fast bowler Tom Richardson 78, and another Australian in Fred “The Demon” Spofforth 77. Arthur Mailey and R Ashwin had 75 wickets after 13 Tests, while Vernon Philander and Alf Valentine had 74.To be the fastest to 100 in terms of matches, Yasir needs 14 wickets in the next two games. Another 19th-century name, England’s George Lohmann, reached his century in 16 Tests, while Turner, Sydney Barnes and Clarrie Grimmett took 17. The quickest since the Second World War is Ashwin, who got there in 18 Tests, one quicker than Philander, Valentine, Ian Botham, Andy Roberts and Saeed Ajmal (and Colin Blythe, the England spinner who was killed in the First World War).I was wondering how many players older than Misbah-ul-Haq have played a Test in England for the first time? asked Kenneth Harrison from England
Misbah-ul-Haq became only the 25th player aged 42 or more ever to appear in a Test in England (50-year-old WG Grace, in 1899, remains the oldest of all). Of those 25, only two before Misbah made their debut in England after their 42nd birthday – the Nottinghamshire batsman William “Dodge” Whysall in 1930, and legspinner Somachandra de Silva, in Sri Lanka’s first Test in England in 1984. Whysall, who had played three previous Tests in Australia in 1924-25, was recalled for the final match of the 1930 Ashes at The Oval, and made 13 and 10 in a heavy defeat. Sadly, by the time England played their next Test (in South Africa that winter) Whysall was dead. He injured his elbow at a dance in November 1930, and passed away shortly afterwards from septicaemia.Jack Hobbs made seven Test centuries after turning 42•Getty ImagesMisbah became only the sixth 42-year-old to score a Test century, but the first since Eric Rowan for South Africa against England at Headingley in 1951 (Rowan, who was slightly younger than Misbah, made 236 and remains Test cricket’s oldest double-centurion). Jack Hobbs made seven Test centuries after turning 42 (three of them when younger than Misbah), while the others were Frank Woolley (aged 42 in 1929), Dave Nourse (42 in 1921-22), Warren Bardsley (43 when he made 193 not out at Lord’s in 1926), and Patsy Hendren (45 in 1934).Have two bowlers ever taken ten wickets in the same Test at Lord’s before? asked Meera Sabesan from Ghana
This double by Chris Woakes (11 for 102) and Yasir Shah (10 for 141) was the first occasion that two bowlers had taken ten or more wickets in the same Test at Lord’s (for the list, see the first question). There had been only 20 previous Tests worldwide in which two bowlers took ten-fors, most recently by Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) and Harbhajan Singh (India) in Galle in 2008. The first instance came in Sydney in 1891-92, when George Giffen took 10 for 160 for Australia, and George Lohmann 10 for 142 for England.Who was the last England bowler before Chris Woakes to take ten wickets in a Test but end up on the losing side? asked Savo Ceprnich from South Africa
Chris Woakes provided the unlucky 13th instance of an England bowler taking ten of more wickets in a Test but losing. The last one before him was Ryan Sidebottom, who took ten in a 189-run defeat by New Zealand in Hamilton in 2007-08. In all there have now been 71 Tests in which a bowler ended up losing despite taking a ten-for. The best figures in defeat are Javagal Srinath’s 13 for 132 for India against Pakistan in Kolkata in 1998-99; Tom Richardson (1896), Sydney Barnes (1901-02) and Merv Hughes (1988-89) also took 13 wickets in a losing cause. Wasim Akram lost three Tests in which he took ten or more wickets, while Muttiah Muralitharan, Tom Richardson, Saeed Ajmal, Hugh Trumble, Daniel Vettori and Shane Warne all did it twice.Javagal Srinath has the best figures by a bowler – 13 for 132 – in a Test defeat•ESPNcricinfo LtdAlastair Cook became the highest scorer from the opening spot during the Lord’s Test. Who are the biggest scorers from the other positions? asked John Raju from India
During the Lord’s Test against Pakistan, Alastair Cook took his total while opening the batting to 9638 runs, passing Sunil Gavaskar’s 9607. Graeme Smith (9030) also made more than 9000. (These figures obviously exclude runs scored from elsewhere in the batting order.) The other leaders are: No. 3 – Kumar Sangakkara (11,679), ahead of Rahul Dravid (10,524) and Ricky Ponting (9904). No. 4 – Sachin Tendulkar (13,492), then Mahela Jayawardene (9509) and Jacques Kallis (9033). No. 5 – Shivnarine Chanderpaul (6883), Steve Waugh (6754) and Michael Clarke (5959). No. 6 – Steve Waugh (3165), Hashan Tillakaratne (2843), VVS Laxman (2760). No. 7 – Adam Gilchrist (3948), Ian Healy (3041), Brad Haddin (3010), Rod Marsh (3009). No. 8 – Daniel Vettori (2227), Shane Warne (2005), Chaminda Vaas (1913). No. 9 – Stuart Broad (1155), Vettori (1105), Brett Lee (1003). No. 10 – Waqar Younis (496), Dale Steyn (487), Bishan Bedi (470). No. 11 – Muttiah Muralitharan (623), Glenn McGrath (603) and Courtney Walsh (553).England played successive Tests at Lord’s this year, against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. How rare is this? asked Michael Browne from England
It’s surprisingly unusual for England to play successive Tests at the same ground. Apart from the rather special case of 1997-98, when there were two in a row in Port-of-Spain after the early abandonment of the first Test in Kingston, it hadn’t happened since 1929-30, when England met New Zealand in successive Tests in Auckland. Then you have to go back to 1913-14, when South Africa staged consecutive matches of England’s tour at the old Wanderers ground in Johannesburg. The last time it happened in England was during the Triangular Tournament in 1912, with successive matches being played at Lord’s then The Oval. The difficulties of travel meant it was not too uncommon before that. There were nine previous instances in Australia and South Africa, including three cases of three Tests in a row at the same place – in Johannesburg in 1905-06 (the first three matches of England’s tour), in Sydney in 1886-87 and 1887-88, and in Melbourne in 1876-77 and 1878-79 (the first three Tests of all). Other countries have occasionally played two in a row as well: recent examples include Zimbabwe staging both their Tests against Bangladesh in April 2013 in Harare, and Pakistan playing Australia twice running in Sharjah in 2002. India also played two successive Tests against West Indies in Port-of-Spain, in 1975-76.Send in your questions using our feedback form.

Also, the most wickets after 15 Tests, and overcoming 100-plus deficits to win a Test by more than 100 runs

Steven Lynch09-Aug-2016At the end of the first Test against Sri Lanka, Australia faced something like 25 successive maidens. Was this a record? asked Brian Gladwin from Australia
Steve O’Keefe hit a four from the fifth delivery of the 63rd over of the final innings in Pallekele – his only scoring shot in 98 balls – to take Australia to 161 for 8, after which they faced 154 further deliveries (25.4 overs) without scoring a single run. O’Keefe and Peter Nevill faced 138 of those (including the ball that dismissed Nevill), then O’Keefe and last man Josh Hazlewood had 16 more. Such a scoreless sequence is easily a Test record – England went 92 balls without scoring, largely against Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine, as they slipped to defeat against West Indies at Lord’s in 1950. Charles Davis, the assiduous Australian statistician, has pinpointed another possible similar barren run: on the first day of the first Test in Melbourne in 1882-83, Alec Bannerman and Billy Murdoch patted back 22 successive four-ball maidens from Billy Barnes, Dick Barlow and Willie Bates. That’s 88 deliveries without a run, and it’s possible it was as many as 92 in all.The four opening partnerships in the second Test in Sri Lanka managed just eight runs. Is this a record low? asked Stephen Anderson from Australia
The openers certainly struggled in the second Test in Galle. Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka was dismissed by the first ball of the match, then Joe Burns fell to the second ball of Australia’s reply. In the second innings, Kaushal Silva fell in the second over with the score on 5, then Burns was again out in the first over, with three runs on the board. There have been two other instances of four opening partnerships adding up to eight runs in a Test: by England (5 and 3) and New Zealand (0 and 0, with Roger Twose bagging a pair) at Edgbaston in 1999, swiftly followed by West Indies (4 and 0) and Zimbabwe (0 and 4) in Port-of-Spain in 1999-2000. But the clear winner comes from another Caribbean Test. In Kingston in 2006, the opening partnerships for West Indies (0 and 0, with a pair for Chris Gayle) and India (1 and 1) amounted to just two runs.At Edgbaston England trailed by 103 runs on first innings, yet won by 141. Is this the biggest turnaround by runs in a Test? asked Richard Shavei-Tzion from Israel
Well, there have been three Tests which were won by a team which followed-on – by England against Australia at Sydney in 1894-95 and at Headingley in 1981, and by India against Australia in Kolkata in 2000-01, so I suppose those would be the biggest turnarounds of all. But England at Edgbaston last week provided only the eighth instance of a team winning by more than 100 runs after being more than 100 behind on first innings – and England were also the last to do it, against New Zealand at Lord’s last year. It happened twice in the 12 months before that, as well: Sri Lanka beat England by 100 runs at Headingley in 2014 after being 108 behind on first innings, while New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 193 in Wellington in 2014-15 after trailing by 135. The first instance was in 1931-32, when Australia (160 behind on first innings) beat South Africa by 169 runs in Melbourne; South Africa turned the tables in Johannesburg in 1966-67, defeating Australia by 233 runs after trailing by 126. India in Kolkata in 2000-01 trailed by a whopping 274 runs, but won by 171 after the heroics of VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid, and finally Australia beat Sri Lanka by 197 runs in Galle in 2003-04, after starting their second innings 161 adrift.At Sabina Park in 2006, the total of all four opening stands amounted to just two runs. Chris Gayle made a pair•AFPYasir Shah now has 90 wickets from 15 Tests. Is this a record? asked Nigel Cooke from Jamaica
Despite his relative lack of success in the second and third Tests of the current series – he struck only once at Old Trafford, and three times at Edgbaston – Yasir Shah still has more wickets after 15 Tests than anyone else in history. The 19th-century England pace bowler George Lohmann had 89, while his contemporary Tom Richardson totalled 88 from just 14 Tests in all. Sydney Barnes, Clarrie Grimmett and Vernon Philander all had 87 wickets after 15 Tests. Lohmann took 12 wickets in his 16th match, against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1895-96, so Yasir has his work cut out in the final Test at The Oval if he is to stay ahead – and equal Lohmann’s record for the fewest matches required to reach 100 wickets.New Zealand’s 582 for 4 in Bulawayo was apparently their highest total against Zimbabwe. But was it also their highest total away from home? asked Joan Fernandes from the UAE
New Zealand’s 582 for 4 in the second Test in Bulawayo at the weekend improved their highest total against Zimbabwe, which was set all of a week earlier – 576 for 6, also in Bulawayo. Before that their highest against Zimbabwe was 495 for 7, in Napier in 2011-12, which also led to an innings victory. New Zealand have made 11 higher totals in all Tests, four of them away from home, including their highest of all – 690 against Pakistan in Sharjah in 2014-15. They also amassed 630 for 6 against India in Mohali in 2003-04, 624 v Australia in Perth in 2015-16, and 593 for 8 against South Africa in Cape Town in 2005-06. For the full list of New Zealand’s highest Test totals, click here.Who took five wickets from the last 17 balls he bowled in Test cricket? asked Brian Murdoch from Australia
The man who produced this stunning finish was the Australian medium-pacer Gervys “Gerry” Hazlitt, in the last match of the one and only Triangular Tournament, in England in 1912. Bowling cutters to good effect on a rain-affected track at The Oval, Hazlitt took 5 for 1 in his last 17 balls to finish with career-best figures of 7 for 25 in 21.4 overs. His success, though, enabled England’s bowlers to get at the Australian batsmen before the conditions improved: “Subsequent events proved that his astounding success was for England a blessing in disguise,” reported Wisden, “as it led to victory before the end of the day.” Australia were skittled for 65, and England won by 244 runs to take the triangular series, that also included South Africa. Australia didn’t play another Test until after the First World War, by which time the unfortunate Hazlitt had died. He succumbed to a heart condition in 1915, aged just 27.Send in your questions using our feedback form.

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Aug-2016It was down to the other opener, Dhananjaya de Silva, to hold the innings together. By the time he brought up his maiden ODI fifty, the rest of the batsmen had tallied only 19 runs•Associated PressSri Lanka needed someone to lend the innings some substance, especially after Scott Boland dismissed Dinesh Chandimal, who had struck six fifties in eight one-day innings•Associated PressAngelo Mathews, who had come in with the score at 31 for 3, helped turn the tide•Associated PressBut he was struck on the helmet, and later had to retire hurt as a result of a calf injury. He had strung 84 runs with de Silva for the fourth wicket•AFPThen John Hastings bounced de Silva out and Sri Lanka were 121 for 4•Associated PressPart-time spinner Travis Head had Kusal Perera caught tamely at short cover to leave Sri Lanka in deeper trouble at 134 for 6•Associated PressA packed crowd in Dambulla were hoping for a fightback from the home side•Associated PressSachith Pathirana answered the call, to an extent, with a knock of 24 off 39 in the final 10 overs that helped Sri Lanka past 200•AFPMathews hobbled back out at the fall of the eighth wicket and, on one leg, struck a couple of fours to take his side to 212 all out•Associated PressHastings was the stand-out bowler for Australia; he picked up his first five-wicket haul in ODI cricket and finished with 6 for 45•AFPAaron Finch got Australia’s chase off to a blistering start, hitting eight fours and a six in the first 14 balls he faced•AFPHe went on to make his fifty off just 18 balls, equalling the fastest by an Australian•Associated PressHowever, Pathirana took three wickets in the space of five balls to leave Australia at 97 for 3 in the eighth over•Associated PressGeorge Bailey employed sweeps and reverse sweeps to accrue his runs, as he and Head took control of Australia’s chase•Associated PressBailey finished on an unbeaten 90 as Australia cantered to the series win with 19 overs to spare•Associated Press

The team might feel like it is being unfairly targeted, but merely arguing that it is the victim of a media war is not going to work

Firdose Moonda18-Nov-20162:40

Moonda: SA feel victimised by ball-tampering allegation

For the first time since the opening day in Perth, South Africa’s defences have been tested, and this time they have held up strongly. The entire squad and support staff stood in solidarity with stand-in captain Faf du Plessis against what they see as victimisation after their third successive series win in Australia.Let’s start with the obvious. Whether or not du Plessis is found guilty of altering the condition of the ball – which, when indulged in, is to encourage reverse swing – is irrelevant to the outcome of the series. Vernon Philander would still have found seam movement either way, Australia would still have lost. So South Africa see the charges as taking the shine off a deserved win and an attempt to diminish their success.Hashim Amla said as much when he called the episode “sour sweets” in an extraordinary press conference at the MCG. Amla was accompanied by every member of the touring party, who stood with him as he delivered the South African response to a charge that, at that stage, had not even been laid. Amla said he was not aware that the ICC was reviewing the footage, and used strong words to dismiss the allegation. Words like “joke” and “ridiculous”, which came in response to similarly harsh words in the Australian media.When the footage of du Plessis was first released on Wednesday, newspapers carrying the story described du Plessis as a “confessed ball-tamperer” and the team as “notorious” for their working of the ball. Every major publication carried several stories on it, and it received substantial airtime on television. South Africa are not used to that sort of coverage: the media landscape is much smaller back home, and much softer in India – the other place where they are confronted with mass reportage.They are understood to be seeing it as their fight against the Australian fourth estate, without whose intervention this would not have come to light. Not even the match officials knew that du Plessis was shining the ball with saliva that had also allegedly been in contact with a mint. When it came to their attention via the media, the 18-hour window for them to report it had lapsed but Cricket Australia could still have laid a complaint. The board did not, and made clear it had no intention to do so. Instead, the ICC chose to review the footage of its own volition and chief executive David Richardson has since laid the charge. Given that course of events, one can see why South Africa feel they’ve been unfairly treated.

Exactly how South Africa will get themselves out of this with reputations unscathed remains to be seen but, for now, there is some space to understand why they’re feeling a little hard done by

This is not the first time that South African players being caught on camera has spun into a controversy beyond the actual incident. When Philander was fined for ball-tampering in Sri Lanka in 2014, Ten Sports had visuals of him scratching the ball and picking the seam on the third day, and alerted the match referee, Jeff Crowe. Philander was subsequently charged and fined 75% of his match fee. The pictures were not aired publicly until the fifth day and insiders said Cricket South Africa had put pressure on Ten Sports not to broadcast the visuals. When Sri Lanka Cricket found out, it made its own demands to air the footage.A year before that, Ten Sports caught du Plessis rubbing the ball near the zipper on his trouser pocket in the UAE, in a match against Pakistan. The television umpire alerted on-field officials, who awarded penalty runs against South Africa, and du Plessis was later fined. CSA was furious with Ten Sports at the time and threatened their rights and access.On both those occasions, the player involved did not contest the charge and accepted the punishment, although in 2013, du Plessis insisted he did not act with intent. That seems likely to be the defence this time as well, except that du Plessis is contesting the charge and will need legal representation for a hearing. South Africa are in conversation with their counsel and will begin preparing a case.Arguing that they are the victims of a media war is not going to work. The law on using an artificial substance to shine the ball is clear: it’s not allowed. Even though, as Amla pointed out, players walk out onto the field having consumed any number of things, and it’s an open secret that the tactic does get used (Marcus Trecothick wrote as much in his autobiography), using the “everybody does it” defence is also unlikely to earn South Africa any advantage.Exactly how they will get themselves out of this with reputations unscathed remains to be seen, but for now there is some space to understand why they’re feeling a little hard done by. They have already had to deal with racist graffiti aimed at Amla on the fence inside Bellerive Oval, and a public outcry from home when Ian Chappell, on commentary, responding to Ian Healy’s questions about how Kagiso Rabada developed his pace, said: “You’d have to ask all the batsmen in his village.” The word “village” was the one people took issue with. Rabada is from a privileged city background in Johannesburg, and the stereotyping left a bitter taste in South African mouths.Now Australian mints could do the same in another reminder that a tour here is never only fought on the field. That’s part of what makes it so challenging. It is also part of what makes winning here so sweet.