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Pessimism abounds after early Lancashire wickets before Abell and Rew fashion prolonged resistance

Paul Edwards20-Apr-2023
Those readers familiar with the oeuvre of Chris Sandford might recall that one of his early hits, “Not too Little, Not too Much” reached No 17 in the charts nearly 60 years ago. The song’s publicity was enhanced by it being included in an episode of the soap in which Sandford played the part of the window-cleaner, Walter Potts. Throughout the history of cricket, however, the title might have stood as an axiom for bowlers of all stripes and persuasions: move the ball too little and most idiots can play it; move it too much and only the Gods nick off.James Anderson has delivered plenty of the latter and occasionally offered a wry smile when he did so. But given that he has bowled more than a thousand balls that strike a perfectly destructive compromise between the two extremes, he can afford to do so. The discouraging thing for Somerset’s batsmen on the first morning of this game – and what made their subsequent achievement all the more memorable – is that Anderson’s thirst for success shows no sign of being slaked.Rather like Derek Underwood, who celebrated every success, Burnley’s finest takes more wickets partly because he very much wants to. And so driven, he picked up two more inside the first 45 minutes at the County Ground as neither Sean Dickson, who was haplessly half-forward, nor Tom Lammonby, who failed to cover the movement off the seam, could deal with him. Nobody who watched those dismissals contemplated the likelihood of the day ending with just two more wickets falling and matters ending in a golden light with applause for two Somerset centurions.Instead, it got worse for the locals in the first session and people merely shrugged when it did. None of the home side’s specialist batsmen began this game with an aggregate of 100 runs from four innings and Somerset had lost one game and been on the wrong end of a draw in the other.Their coach, Jason Kerr, had sought refuge in metonymy: “The dressing room is hurting,” he said, and so one assumes the pain deepened when Cameron Bancroft edged Tom Bailey to George Bell and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, having made 38 runs in an hour, whipped Colin de Grandhomme off his hip and saw the ball sail into the hands of Bailey at long leg. In the context of Somerset’s current needs, Kohler-Cadmore’s innings resembled some of West Ham United’s football in the 1970s: it was attractive but ineffectual.Pleasingly, therefore, for most of the spectators who thronged the James Hildreth Stand and maybe also for the students whose singing enlivened the afternoon session, the home side’s fortunes improved rather dramatically in the remainder of the day. Unexpected, one or two dour locals might have called it but that adjective does little honour to the batting of Tom Abell and James Rew, whose unbroken 231-run stand was studded with fine strokes. For many, the second-best moment of the partnership arrived when Abell thick-edged de Grandhomme past slip to go to the 14th first-class century of his career. There should be no surprise at this reaction. Abell’s loyalties to his county go marrow-deep and that love is reciprocated by many in this ground’s four pavilions.But 19-year-old Rew also looks an exceptional prospect and appears to have more strokes around the wicket than his captain, whose gorgeous on-drive nevertheless signs his best innings. For his part, Lancashire’s skipper, Keaton Jennings, was left to rotate his bowlers to a degree he might not have envisaged. For example, at 3.20, left-arm spinner Tom Hartley was given his first bowl of the day, only to be driven through the covers by Rew before being whacked over midwicket, a stroke that took the lad past fifty for the third time in a first-class career that has spanned less than a year.Before long, the pair also set a new fifth-wicket record for Somerset against Lancashire, albeit that only vanquished the 145 set by Rew and Lewis Goldsworthy at Southport last July. More significantly, of course, the balance of the contest and the shape of their side’s early season changed as well. It is easy during the first month or so of a campaign for a county’s season to suffer the same fate as SpaceX and experience a “rapid, unscheduled disassembly”. Had Abell’s team being bundled out below 200 on this wonderful Thursday afternoon when leaves seemed to appear on the trees almost as quickly as Somerset’s day improved, there was a danger that their early season would have been plagued by self-doubt and lack of confidence.Nor have two sessions changed everything. But when Rew cover-drove de Grandhomme to the Ondaatje Pavilion boundary four overs before the close to reach his second first-class century in 18 innings and his first on this ground, one was reminded of the afternoon nearly eight years ago when Abell had made his maiden century and Marcus Trescothick, who had earlier also made a ton, admitted that he felt like a warm-up act for his young colleague. Trescothick and Abell were interviewed that day. This evening, it is Abell and Rew who are facing some kindly faces and appreciative questions.Trescothick and Abell…Abell and Rew. “Pass it on,” says Hector in Alan Bennett’s play “That’s the lesson I want you to learn.”

Experienced Australian has worked in county cricket, Sheffield Shield and the Big Bash

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2022Matt Mason has been appointed as England Women’s fast bowling coach.Mason, 48, has coached extensively in the county game as well as his native Australia, and joins after leaving his current position as bowling coach with Warwickshire. He will be charged with developing a clutch of young quicks coming into the national team, including Issy Wong, Lauren Bell and Freya Kemp, following the retirement of Anya Shrusbole and Katherine Brunt’s decision to focus on limited-overs cricket.The ECB is currently hunting for a new head coach for the women’s team, after Lisa Keightley opted against extending her contract. Her assistant, Tim McDonald, looked after the bowlers previously but departed from his role after the Commonwealth Games.”I am really excited about taking on this role and I can’t wait to get started with England Women,” Mason said. “There are only a handful of jobs I would have left Warwickshire for, this is one of them. I had no intention of leaving the club, I loved my time there, but when this opportunity came up I felt I had to take it.”I’ve never coached at international level before, it’s an exciting prospect and I don’t know if such a chance would ever arise again in the future. I’m looking forward to meeting the group, getting to know everyone and hopefully helping drive the team forward to on-field success.”Mason began playing in Western Australia but spent most of his career with Worcestershire, taking more than 400 wickets for the county. He retired in 2011, having already started to work for the club as a coach, and subsequently took on similar roles with Leicestershire, Western Australia and Perth Scorchers.Mason, who only joined Warwickshire in April, was highly rated for his work with a number of young Australian bowlers. The Edgbaston club said they had already started the process of looking for a replacement.Jonathan Finch, director of England women’s cricket, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have secured someone of the calibre of Matt. He was a very strong candidate for the role and we’re looking forward to seeing what he brings to the England Women’s cricket team.”It was important that we recruited someone with a track record of working with and improving a group of fast bowlers at elite level. Matt will play a central role in developing current and future England bowlers, and we are excited by the leadership he will bring to fast bowling across the women’s game.”We’re in the process of recruiting a head coach and Matt will be a valued part of that person’s coaching staff, bringing great expertise and experience in the field of fast bowling.”I would also like to thank Warwickshire CCC in allowing Matt to make the move to his new role so quickly.”

Seamer receives fitness boost ahead of Ireland Test and upcoming Ashes

Vithushan Ehantharajah23-May-2023England were handed good news ahead of the Test summer as scans revealed Ollie Robinson had suffered no damage to his left ankle.The seamer reported discomfort in the ankle after day two of Sussex’s LV= Insurance County Championship match against Glamorgan at Hove last week. He left the field on day three with soreness and sported crutches and a protective boot on day four leading to fears about his fitness to face Australia next month.With James Anderson also nursing a minor groin strain, and queries over whether captain Ben Stokes can operate fully as an allrounder given his long-standing left knee issue – as well as more significant injuries to Jofra Archer and Olly Stone – there were concerns England would be understocked in the bowling reserves with an Ashes series on the horizon.Related

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However, following scans on Monday, the ECB has announced that all is well. Robinson, who has 16 caps to his name and is the ICC’s No. 6-ranked Test bowler, will prepare with the men’s national team as usual from this weekend.An ECB statement read: “Scan results have revealed no damage to the ankle and that Robinson will join up with the England men’s Test squad this weekend ahead of the LV= Insurance Test match against Ireland starting on Thursday, June 1 at Lord’s.”Robinson’s soreness resulted from tendon irritation, which will be monitored over the next week and coming week. As such, it is highly likely he will now miss the Ireland Test, which begins in nine days, to preserve him for the opening Test against Australia at Edgbaston starting on Jine 16.Anderson and fast bowler Mark Wood are also expected to sit out against Ireland, which means England are likely to go in with a seam attack of Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Matthew Potts. The selectors are yet to decide whether to call in bowling reinforcements, with a decision to be made one way or another later this week.

The Northern Territory aims to bring Australia back for winter cricket

AAP21-Aug-2024The Northern Territory has set its sights on Australia’s white-ball series against South Africa next winter as their chance to end a 16-year wait for international cricket in Darwin.Darwin hosted the last of its four ODIs in 2008. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also played Tests in the city in 2003 and 2004.Since then, two drop-in wickets have been installed at the ICC-accredited TIO Stadium and the Top End T20 series launched, as part of the all-year Cricket 365 branding in the Territory.The Top End series last week brought in four Big Bash clubs, Tasmania, the ACT and teams from Pakistan and Bangladesh, with eyes to expand further in the future.Ten past or present Test players attended, including the likes of Jhye Richardson playing for the Perth Scorchers, and Marcus Harris with the Melbourne Renegades.But also on the horizon is international cricket, with Australia slated to host South Africa in three ODIs and three T20Is next August, and negotiations ongoing between the NT government and Cricket Australia.”I want that content. I don’t expect all of it, and I don’t expect any of it, but I want some of it – and I’m going after it,” NT Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey told AAP. “We are putting the foundation in place to be ready. We have the infrastructure and it has had exceptional cricket on it [with the Top End series].”It’s not the Big Bash or international cricket, but we have shown we have that calibre of players playing on these wickets. We have the venue and it is ICC-accredited – and we have the weather.”Dovey spent time holding a national team training camp in Darwin in his former life as Australia’s men’s team manager, before taking up the NT role last January.He is keen to make Darwin a consistent option for international fixtures, given only the Territory and North Queensland can host winter matches in Australia and are more likely to be held in the country in 2026.”It makes sense to get some T20s. We’ve never hosted a men’s T20, and there has been over 100 played in Australia,” Dovey said. “I’m not particularly after content every 10 years. I don’t see the legacy in it. Consistent content every year or two would mean kids don’t have to go a decade before they meet their BBL heroes or national heroes.”Dovey’s plan for growth is two-fold, with a desire to expand the Top End series to up to 12 teams, with more Big Bash franchises and overseas sides.Nearly 700,000 people watched this year’s nine-team, 30-match tournament via YouTube, while that number sat at 10.6 million last year once overseas broadcasters were included.Dovey is hopeful of adding teams from New Zealand and Nepal next year, along with the big lure of appealing to IPL franchises.”It’s in an August window where no one else can play. The wickets wouldn’t be like ours with the weather [elsewhere],” he  said. “It’s an incredible window to the subcontinent, where you can’t play easily this time of year either.  The event is awesome and has a point of difference with the international teams.”

For Hurricanes, who were without usual captain Nathan Ellis, Nikhil Chaudhary was the top scorer, while Chris Jordan led a clinical bowling performance

AAP01-Jan-2025Hobart Hurricanes overcame the late withdrawal of captain Nathan Ellis to hand Sydney Sixers their first BBL loss of the season.Ellis pulled out from Wednesday afternoon’s game at Ninja Stadium with illness, but his bowling team-mates stood up against the table-topping Sixers.Hurricanes posted 161 for 6 and bowled out Sydney for 111 in 19.3 overs to jump to fourth on the ladder with a third win in a row. Chris Jordan picked up 3 for 22, including the big wickets of James Vince early and noted finisher Jordan Silk in the middle overs. He was assisted by fellow import Waqar Salamkheil, who took 2 for 22 with his left-arm wristspin and bowled Kurtis Patterson with one that turned the other way.Allrounder Nikhil Chaudhary was impressive, top-scoring with 42 from 31 deliveries and picking up 1 for 15 with the ball.Sixers, who stay in first place on the ladder, had won four from four prior to the match, while Hurricanes are on the rise after being flogged by Melbourne Renegades in their opening game.Earlier, evergreen Sixers quick Jackson Bird took career-best T20 figures of 4 for 16 on familiar turf in Hobart after his side won the toss and elected to bowl.Jackson Bird returned 4 for 16 but there wasn’t a lot of heroics from the other Sixers bowlers•Getty Images

Bird, the 38-year-old who played for Tasmania for more than a decade, removed big-hitters Matthew Wade, Shai Hope, Ben McDermott and Tim David.Opener Mitchell Owen got Hurricanes off to a brisk start with 33 from 17 balls but couldn’t go on.Returning from a calf injury, Wade was scratchy in a 16-ball 15 and became Bird’s first victim off a nifty caught and bowled. Bird then had West Indian Hope caught behind two balls later as Hurricanes lost three wickets within ten runs.McDermott (34 from 25) came to life in the power surge, hitting 20 off one Hayden Kerr over, but he was undone by Bird, who also returned late to get rid of David via a top edge.Sixers’ chase had a bright spark early when English opener Vince launched a Billy Stanlake delivery over the hill. But they wobbled to 28 for 3 inside the first five overs and couldn’t stem the flow of wickets.Hurricanes spinner Peter Hatzoglou, who replaced Ellis and played his first game of the season, finished with 1 for 15.

Batter keen to use the series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand to adapt to role with an eye on the 2023 World Cup

Andrew McGlashan23-Aug-20220:34

Warner: ‘Cricket schedule over next five years looks scary’

Marnus Labuschagne is a self-confessed tinkerer when it comes to his batting, sometimes changing things mid-innings, and he is focused on using the upcoming six ODIs against Zimbabwe and New Zealand in northern Australia to continue to adapt his middle-order game with little more than a year to go until the World Cup.Labuschagne now has 21 ODIs under his belt since making his debut shortly before Covid disrupted the game – the opening ODI against Zimbabwe in Townsville on August 28 will be Australia’s first on home soil since November 2020. He scored a century in his fifth innings, an emotional performance against South Africa in the country of his birth, and has also made a couple of sparkling half-centuries either side of Australia’s 13-month absence from the format.Related

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However, he was left frustrated by his returns on the recent tour of Sri Lanka, even knowing there were some tough conditions as the series progressed, having fallen between 18 and 31 in all five innings.”Looking back on it, I certainly wish I’d played a slightly different way,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “I almost started a little too defensively so I’m just reviewing my theories there and wished I’d applied my Test method a little bit more in those conditions; sweeping the ball, using my feet a little more. It was a bit disappointing from my end, that I didn’t really do that until the Test series came. For me, it’s a learning experience.”Part of that learning is to adjust to what could be the No. 5 position on a more regular basis. He twice batted there in Sri Lanka, with Josh Inglis and Travis Head in the slot above, and though neither of those players is part of the current squad, Mitchell Marsh and Steven Smith could both go in ahead of Labuschagne.”I enjoy the different challenges, that’s for sure,” he said. “I always like batting in the top order, I’ve spent my whole life there, but understanding the team make-up, batting at No. 5, I need to continue to get better at that role and through the middle overs understanding when to attack and defend. It’s about really trusting myself. That’s the great thing with the coaching staff, they have full trust in us as players, to take the game on and put pressure back on the opposition.”To be really positive out of the blocks is key for me. Understanding what the situation is. If we are going well it’s about making sure that I’m getting the other batter on strike if he’s really got momentum and starting to build the partnership. Putting the bowler under pressure from ball one and if I can do that it certainly changes the dynamic.”Marnus Labuschagne had fallen between 18 and 31 in all five innings in the recent tour of Sri Lanka•Getty Images

There has been some discussion about whether there is room for both Labuschagne and Smith in the ODI middle order with them having career strike rates of 85.80 and 88.43 respectively, but unsurprisingly, Labuschagne is not having a bar of that. Back in November 2020, the pair produced a stand of 136 in 16 overs against India at the SCG which gave a glimpse of how they could work together.”I don’t really see us as similar players, I think we attack the game very differently,” Labuschagne said. “[Steve] goes a lot more straight down the wicket, especially against spin, whereas I attack it quite square with sweeps. Obviously, I think there’s room for both of us. Steve got 100 off 60 balls against India in back-to-back games and feel like we complement each other depending on what the situation is. If it’s a tough wicket, we can control the middle overs, but on the other side, we can put pressure on the opposition at a lower risk and be able to score quickly. The challenge is we’ve just got to continue to push that run rate, especially when we are batting first, and we both understand that.”On the broader theme of the ODI format’s standing in the game at a time of unprecedented schedule crunch, Labuschagne is equally enthusiastic and hopes to add another chapter to Australia’s World Cup legacy next year in India.”I love 50-over cricket, it’s a good mix, you need to show some really good tactical nous, understanding your opposition, getting wickets through the middle overs and trying to score at seven or eight runs an over at low risk, that’s a different challenge in itself. I really enjoy the format, there’s space for all three, it’s just about how we schedule it.”The history that comes with one-day cricket makes it such an amazing format. There’s been so many great World Cup wins over so many years, so to be a part of a World Cup would be an amazing experience and one that I look forward to. Still think it’s the pinnacle of international white-ball events.”

New Zealand left-arm quick retires after being told he would not be selected in the upcoming series against Australia

Alex Malcolm27-Feb-20241:16

Neil Wagner’s favourite Test memories

Neil Wagner has announced his retirement from international cricket effective immediately after the New Zealand selectors told him he would not be picked for the upcoming two-Test series against Australia starting on Thursday.Wagner, 37, made the emotional decision following a tough conversation with coach Gary Stead last week, where it was confirmed he was not in New Zealand’s best XI for the upcoming series against Australia. He announced his retirement at a press conference alongside Stead at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Tuesday, having been invited to be part of the squad for the first Test.He retires after 64 Tests for his adopted country having moved across from South Africa. He took 260 wickets at 27.57 with a strike rate of just 52.7. Only Sir Richard Hadlee has a better Test strike rate among New Zealand bowlers to have taken more than 100 wickets.Related

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Wagner will continue to play first-class cricket but felt like the time was right to step away from the Test arena.”I knew the time was coming near,” Wagner said. “They sometimes say when you think about retirement, you’re screwed in a way. I knew the time was going to come and it was going to come close. In the last week, reflecting and looking into the future, looking at the Test matches that are to come, I thought it was the right time to step down and let the other guys come in and do what we’ve been doing as a group for a number of years and obviously grow that attack.”It’s never easy. It’s an emotional road. It’s a big rollercoaster. But it’s something that I feel like the time [has] come to pass that baton on and leave that Black Cap in a good place for the rest to take it and hopefully grow their legacy forward.”Wagner and Stead held a conversation after New Zealand’s Test series win over South Africa in Hamilton – which has turned out to be Wagner’s final Test – about his future within the Test side. Wagner was initially not going to be part of the build-up to the Australia series at all, but the team invited their talismanic fast bowler down to be part of the first Test even though he wouldn’t play.”I wasn’t going to be down here,” Wagner said. “I think it’s a very nice way for the team… they invited me to come down here and spend this time with them to celebrate it but also help them prepare for the series to get stuck in against Australia and it was a really nice, kind gesture.”And I thought it’d be a nice way to bow out, doing what I’ve always been doing, to come here, be here with the team, do everything with a smile on my face and service the lads. That’s just who I am. And it’s a pretty nice gesture and I’m really, extremely grateful to be here and that the team and everyone and Gary has asked me to do this.”Stead said it had been difficult to tell Wagner that he was not part of New Zealand’s plans moving forward.”Very, very tough conversations to have,” Stead said. “Neil understood. As he said, he was very grateful for his time in the Black Cap which I think is enormously big of him as well. I think it’s taken a bit of time for Neil just to work out what this means for him as well and it’s not retiring from everything. He’s still available for domestic cricket, just retiring from international cricket. But they’re incredibly tough conversations. Especially with the calibre of the guy that’s next to me as well and everything he’s done for the team.”In a statement released by New Zealand Cricket, Test captain Tim Southee described Wagner as one of the great team men.”You always knew what you were going to get with Neil and that was 100% commitment to the cause,” Southee said. “He would do anything for the team and has earned nothing but respect and admiration within the dressing room. Personally, I’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Neil on and off the field and am sure our friendship will continue for years to come.”It’s going to be great to have him with us this week for the first Test and we’ll look forward to celebrating his incredible career at the end of the match.”Wagner cited his first Test win over India in 2014, New Zealand’s first series victory in the West Indies in 2014, the series win over England in 2018 where he batted for 107 minutes on the final day in Christchurch, the World Test Championship win over India and the one-run win last year against England as his favourite memories in Test cricket.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“I will never forget walking out to bat with Ish [Sodhi] in that draw at Hagley, it came up on the screen, they were talking about it,” Wagner said. “Mark Richardson mentioned something about 30-odd years and I thought gosh, that’s how old I am, since we last won a Test series against England. So that really sparked me up to try and go and do what I did out there. Myself and Ish found a way. That was a pretty special series to be a part of.”And then no doubt obviously the World Test Championship final was something you can never take away. It’s a pretty special moment to take in. And then that last Test here last year will definitely be one in the memory box to stick around for a long time.”Wagner broke down in tears as he thanked his family, his friends, coaches, and mentors who helped him along the journey. He said he hoped the New Zealand public would remember him as someone who gave his all for the cap.”I’ve said this in the past, I never saw myself as the most talented or most gifted bloke going around in cricket,” Wagner said. “I just saw myself as someone who loved this game and loved playing for this team, loved playing for my mates and for that Black Cap and I wear my heart on my sleeve. I know that I had to work extremely hard and find different ways and different methods.”

India’s captain made 43 not out in a decisive partnership with Webb and took two wickets to dismantle the defending champions for 86

Alex Malcolm23-Oct-2023

Harmanpreet Kaur and Courtney Webb shared an unbeaten 93-run stand•Getty Images

A decisive 93-run stand between Courtney Webb and Harmanpreet Kaur followed by a crafty bowling display led by Ella Hayward and Hayley Matthews helped Melbourne Renegades to a thumping upset win over defending WBBL champions Adelaide Strikers at the Junction Oval.Webb made 49 not out and Harmanpreet remained unbeaten on 43 as the pair controlled the second half of Renegades’ innings against an impressive Strikers bowling unit to post a competitive 167 for 3 after being sent into bat.Related

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Renegades spinners, led by Hayward and Matthews in the powerplay, as well as Sarah Coyte strangled Strikers in the chase. The trio picked up two wickets each and Coyte produced a stunning direct-hit run out off her own bowling to dismiss Bridget Patterson as Strikers’ chase never gained any momentum against the disciplined bowling performance.Renegades’ batting display was steady without being spectacular. They were aided by some shoddy Strikers fielding with Jemma Barsby spilling two catches.Strikers started well with Georgia Adams removing Matthews for 12, but she strangely only bowled one over for the innings. Tammy Beaumont and Josie Dooley both made starts and threatened to break free at times during a 51-run stand but neither were able to kick on. Both fell within an over of each other to leave Renegades precariously placed at 74 for 3 in the 10th over.Harmanpreet and Webb assessed the situation and did not panic despite both scoring at less than a run-a-ball through the first 40 runs of their partnership, including only taking 14 runs off the power surge. But they scored 39 runs off the last 14 balls of the innings finding the boundary eight times against Amanda-Jade Wellington, Danielle Gibson and Megan Schutt. Webb struck five of them and Harmanpreet three.The chase never got going as Hayward bowled four of the first nine overs of the innings and picked up the key wickets of Laura Wolvaardt and Katie Mack. Hayward’s lengths and lines were superb as she rarely gave the stumps away. Wolvaardt was stumped trying to launch over long-off but was completely deceived in flight. Mack was also beaten in flight as she miscued to mid-off.Coyte dropped an easy catch in the deep off Tahlia McGrath that threatened to be costly but she more than made up for it with a stunning run out. Patterson drove a ball towards long-on and took off for a single, Coyte dived full length to her right, gathered in the right hand and threw in the one motion while laying on her stomach and produced a direct hit as Patterson tried to scramble back at the striker’s end.McGrath holed out off Matthews and the chase fell apart from there. Strikers lost their last seven wickets for just 21 runs. Harmanpreet and Georgia Wareham chimed in with two wickets each as India’s captain was named player of the match.

“That’s why you pay big money to big-game players,” Tom Moody says of Starc’s second-ball wicket of Travis Head

ESPNcricinfo staff21-May-20241:33

‘That’s why you pay big money for big-game players’

Mitchell Starc has had a patchy IPL 2024, but he brought his experience and nous of playing in “some big games and big occasions” when it mattered by running through the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) top order in Qualifier 1 in Ahmedabad.Starc bowled three overs in the powerplay and sent back Travis Head off the second ball of the game, and Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed, the last two off consecutive balls in the fifth over.”I guess I have played a fair bit of cricket so I have been fortunate enough to play in some big games and some big occasions,” Starc said between innings on the official broadcast after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had stopped SRH for 159. “Nine months ago [in the ODI World Cup final] we were here in front of a full stadium. It was nice to get the team off to a good start that we needed [today].Related

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“We know the powerplay wickets are very important. The way Sunrisers take on the powerplay, they have sort of matched us throughout the season in terms of getting off to good starts. It was great to get powerplay wickets and I think our bowling group was fantastic throughout.”Starc got the ball to seam from the outset and struck with his second ball, castling his Australia team-mate Head with one that shaped back in sharply. Vaibhav Arora then sent back Abhishek Sharma for 3 as SRH lost their big-hitting openers inside two overs. Starc bowled his third over inside the powerplay and first removed Reddy with a short-of-a-length ball that the batter skied with an attempted pull, and then hit Shahbaz’s middle pole off the inside edge.But Head’s wicket was one that Starc enjoyed the most, and one he wants to keep in his “back pocket”.”I might keep that one in the back pocket for when he starts to give me some niggle and I have to pull it out on him,” Starc said. “He’s been phenomenal through the tournament. But we knew he was going to be a big wicket.”Obviously Abhishek for them at the top as well. That partnership has been key for them, so to get both of them pretty cheap was great and we got set on our way today.”After the match, and after Starc had won the Player-of-the-Match award, Ravi Shastri brought up the fact that Starc had pulled his length back a bit in the early overs. “Yeah, spot on. Particularly with the way Trav and Abhishek have been playing throughout the series, they like the width [and to] free their arms,” Starc said. “So if we can get that ball swinging and keep it in line with the stumps and bowl a really hard length, which we really did in the powerplay, and that really got into their middle order…”Starc’s delivery to remove Head left Tom Moody impressed as well. “Class from Starc. We know that he has had a difficult three-quarters of the tournament, but that’s why you pay big money to big-game players,” he said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show.On asked about the conditions, Starc conceded there was dew, which started to appear about halfway through the SRH innings. He said he expected the surface to get better to bat on in the second innings.”There is certainly dew now. It started to pick up through probably halfway through our innings. The wicket has got a bit skiddier. There is some swing. Our spinners found a way to be effective and take wickets,” Starc said. “The wicket is going to get a little bit better just with the dew and the bit of skid but in turn, it is also going to swing a little bit.”

Uttarakhand bowled out in fewer than 28 overs on fourth morning in crushing 725-run defeat

Himanshu Agrawal09-Jun-2022Mumbai 647 for 8 dec (Parkar 252, Sarfaraz 153, Dhapola 3-89) and 261 for 3 dec (Jaiswal 103, Shaw 72) beat Uttarakhand 114 (Kamal 40, Mulani 5-39) and 69 (Khurana 25*, Kulkarni 3-11, Kotian 3-13, Mulani 3-15) by 725 runsMumbai registered the world record for the biggest ever first-class win in terms of runs by crushing Uttarakhand by 725 runs on their way to the Ranji Trophy 2021-22 semi-final. They went past the previous record of 685 runs, held by New South Wales when they beat Queensland in the Sheffield Shield way back in 1929-30.Uttarakhand lost all ten wickets on the fourth morning after Mumbai declared their second innings overnight on 261. Uttarakhand were bowled out short of 28 overs the second time around, crumbling for 69. Dhawal Kulkarni, Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani bagged three wickets each. The win was set up much earlier though, by debutant double-centurion Suved Parkar and Sarfaraz Khan, who cracked 153 in the first innings.Parkar’s 252 was the second-highest score by a Mumbai batter on first-class debut – he fell just eight short of his coach Amol Muzumdar’s record – as they raked up 647, before cleaning Uttarakhand up for 114. Mulani pocketed 5 for 39 to continue his dream run in domestic cricket this season; he leads the Ranji wickets charts with 37 thus far.Mumbai opted to bat again despite obtaining a mammoth first-innings lead of 533, allowing openers Prithvi Shaw and Yashasvi Jaiswal the opportunity to get a good score under their belts. Both capitalised on the chance: Shaw hit an entertaining 72 off 80 balls, while Jaiswal cracked 103, his maiden first-class century in his second match after he debuted in January 2019.Uttarakhand reduced Mumbai to 64 for 2 on the first morning, but were never in the game thereafter as Parkar, Sarfaraz and Armaan Jaffer steadied the ship. Mumbai now meet Uttar Pradesh in the semi-final, after their come-from-behind win against Karnataka.