They face the overwhelming World Cup favourites Australia in the semi-final on Wednesday

Firdose Moonda28-Mar-2022Of all the things we were not expecting at this Women’s World Cup – England to lose their first three games and qualify for the semi-finals, South Africa to win four matches under pressure in the final over, New Zealand to crash out at home – West Indies beating Australia must now be on top of the list. And who can blame us?In 14 ODI meetings between the two teams, West Indies have only won one and that was nine years ago. While Australia marched into the final four unbeaten and mostly unchallenged, West Indies can consider themselves fortunate to be here after they were left to rely on other results to push them through. And of the inconsistent batting performances West Indies have put on at this World Cup, their blow-out against Australia – when they were dismissed for 131 and beaten inside 33 overs – was the worst.But those are just numbers and if you look at the West Indies campaign it hasn’t really about that. It’s about heart. “The girls are still in good spirits. We always have that never say die attitude,” Deandra Dottin said after their washout against South Africa, which took their fate out of their hands. “We had a good start to the tournament and it’s just about taking the positives from there.”Fletcher tests positive for Covid-19

Legspinner Afy Fletcher has been ruled out of West Indies’ semi-final against Australia on Wednesday after testing positive for Covid-19. Twenty-two-year-old allrounder Mandy Mangru has been approved as her replacement, the ICC announced on Tuesday.

Mangru, who bowls offspin, made her ODI debut against South Africa earlier this year. She also featured for West Indies A against Pakistan A, a series that was played concurrently with the national sides in July last year.

A Covid replacement for the World Cup is temporary in nature and allows the original player to return to the squad upon recovery.

Fletcher has featured in three of West Indies’ matches in the World Cup so far, returning a match-winning 3 for 29 against Bangladesh. It was her first match of the tournament after a maternity break.

West Indies beat hosts New Zealand and defending champions England in their first two matches, in the process also notching up their first wins in New Zealand and taking the early lead. But they could not sustain their performances and went on to collapse against India, Australia and Bangladesh. “We’ve played good cricket but just at certain stages when it comes to the batting, we didn’t put good runs on the board,” Dottin said after the South Africa match.And that’s putting it lightly.West Indies only have one player, Hayley Matthews, who has scored more than 200 runs in the tournament (the other three semi-finalists all have at least two) and four other contributions of fifty-plus in an innings. By contrast, Australia have two centuries and eight fifties among their line-up; England have one century and seven fifties and South Africa have nine fifties. Their middle-order has been particularly problematic with Shemaine Campbelle holding things together but apart from Chedean Nation’s 49* against England and Stafanie Taylor’s fifty against Australia there’s been little else.Based on those performances, it’s not surprising that the odds were stacked against West Indies progressing to the final four, even before the weather intervened in their games against Pakistan, which they lost, and South Africa, which didn’t see any play. West Indies knew they still had a chance to get through but didn’t really seem to think they would. Taylor said she “went on vacation for three days,” after the South Africa game.But the team gathered together to watch South Africa play India and could not contain themselves when India lost in the final over, opening the door for them to progress. “Us waiting on those results was pretty nerve wracking,” Matthews said.”We knew we were in a tight spot and results had to go our way. The result was pretty nerve wracking but then it was just pure ecstasy at the end.”

To the semi-finals WI go!!!!! #CWC22 #TeamWestIndies pic.twitter.com/OHRr7vPpcT

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 27, 2022

Masood makes big gains on County Championship run-getters’ chart

Danyal Rasool16-May-2022Division OneHaris RaufRauf endured a tough few days with the ball this round, but then again, which Yorkshire bowler didn’t? Keaton Jennings, who scored 238, and Steven Croft (104) piled on a 237-run third wicket stand for Lancashire until the Pakistani pacer broke through Croft’s defences, but that was the only fleeting moment of joy Rauf experienced as Lancashire put on 566 in the first innings. Yorkshire only just hung on for a draw, and like their premier fast bowler, will likely be happy to put this round behind them and move on to the next.Related

Pakistanis in the County Championship: Abbas runs through Gloucestershire, Azhar scraps his way into form

Division TwoAzhar AliPerhaps Azhar really has turned a corner in the Championship. After 92 in the second innings last time around, Azhar followed up with a pair of half-centuries against Derbyshire, his 88 and 60 making him the contest’s second-highest scorer, one run behind Jack Haynes. It included a 177-run first innings third wicket stand with Haynes as Worcestershire scored 368 against Derbyshire. With Derbyshire following up with a mammoth 565, Azhar would, alongside Jake Libby, assuage any concerns of an ensuing collapse, combining for a 164-run second wicket partnership this time.Shan MasoodThat Derbyshire needed to bat only once against Worcestershire, was courtesy the 113 that Masood made. After Derbyshire didn’t play the previous round, Masood made up for lost time with his third hundred in four matches, his century setting his side on their way to the mammoth 565. It takes the Pakistan opener back to the top of the run charts for this season, leapfrogging Sean Dickson and Cheteshwar Pujara, with 826 at an average of 118.

Souther Brave wristspinner Jake Lintott describes the “buzz” ahead of the second season of the Hundred

Jake Lintott02-Aug-2022I was a wildcard pick for Southern Brave last year and had no real expectations going into the Hundred: I thought I would be carrying the drinks for most of the tournament. Being that bit different, bowling left-arm wristspin, I hoped I would get a chance but I knew I wouldn’t start and it felt like a bit of a free shot.It’s a different situation for me coming back down this year and I had a real buzz to get to the Ageas Bowl when I drove down to the hotel on Monday morning to meet up with the squad. Having done well last year – personally and as a team – I want to try and replicate that. There’s a really good vibe around the group, having won the competition last year.We know what to expect now. That uncertainty has gone, but the level of excitement definitely hasn’t. When you’re all in the same hotel, you spend a lot of time together and create some tight-knit friendships: it’s been really good to see some old faces but also some new ones as well.Related

• Globe-trotting James Foster ready to plant flag for English coaching at the Hundred

• Men's Hundred tactics board: Par scores, home advantage and 10-ball sets

• The Hundred – everything you need to know (or have forgotten)

• Jonny Bairstow out of the Hundred after opting for rest

I think everyone expects us to do well again. We’ve got a really good side on paper which is really well-suited to conditions here. The coaches and Joe Maiden, our analyst, have put a squad together which covers all bases. There’s pressure on us and everyone will want to beat the team that won it last year. It’s a different challenge, but we’ll give it a really good crack.We’ve got three of the best overseas players you can get, plus Finn Allen and Paul Stirling coming in later in the competition as well. Quinton de Kock is one of the best at what he does at the top of the order, and is brilliant at managing the game behind the stumps. I’ve never played with or against Marcus Stoinis before but he’s one of the best around and Tim David – “Timmy D” – is the same: he gives us real firepower and when you play your home games on a big ground, having someone who can hit it 100 metres is pretty handy.We’ve got Rehan Ahmed this year too, who I took under my wing a bit when we were with the England Lions. He’s got all the credentials to play international cricket in the future, but it’s really important that we as players – and the media – understand that he’s only 17. Legspinners have ups and downs and have to deal with those, but he seems like a really level-headed lad, impressive in his attitude and fearless.

“It’s my ambition to play for England, it’s something I think I can do. I have a nice point of difference as a left-arm wristspinner”

Playing for the Lions against South Africa was a great opportunity for me. I loved it, and I really enjoyed how relaxed the environment was. It gave me a taste of the next level and I definitely want to keep improving so I can get myself in the frame again moving forwards.It’s my ambition to play for England. I want to do that, and it’s something I think I can do. I have a nice point of difference as a left-arm wristspinner. It’s in the back of my mind but at the same time, it’s about me putting in performances in the Hundred and the rest will take care of itself. There potentially is a gap in the T20 squad for a back-up spinner but I just need to focus on taking as many wickets as possible.I feel like I’m ready to play a big role for Southern Brave this year. I took on a role like that with Warwickshire in the Blast and bowled some tough overs, including at the death, so I feel I’d like to take on some more leadership this year if that’s what the team needs.We play Welsh Fire in the opening game of the season on Wednesday night and they have a great side. Out of every team, comparing squads from last year to this season, they look the most improved and have a lot of batting firepower now. We’ll have to make sure we’re on it, because they could be up there at the back end of the tournament.Looking across the competition, there’s a wealth of talent throughout every squad, so the tournament should be pretty box-office. It’s a format where it can go either way on the night and a game can turn against you quite quickly if you don’t show up. There’s some quality overseas players involved but the depth of white-ball cricket in this country means that every team will be really strong.Last summer, everyone locally got behind both the women’s and the men’s teams and there was a really good vibe to it, so it will be different tomorrow night and it’s a shame that we’re the only team playing. It’ll be great when we the women get back from the Commonwealth Games and we’re all playing at home together, because the Ageas Bowl was a bit of a fortress for both teams last year.

Leading into Australia’s key England clash, he said his Sri Lanka struggles were an anomaly – but his numbers at home say otherwise

Alex Malcolm27-Oct-20222:40

Aaron Finch: ‘Still feel like I’m playing pretty well’

If Thursday’s press conference was a net session, then Aaron Finch was seeing them well and striking them even better.Just 24 hours out from Australia’s must-win game against England at the MCG, Finch copped a probing delivery from a journalist.”What have you made of some of the talk around your position?” The reporter asked directly. The reporter added that former Australian captain Allan Border had suggested Steven Smith should play in place of Finch.”Lucky I pick the team then, isn’t it?” Finch retorted with a smile.”One of,” Finch quickly clarified. “There’s a few of us that sit down and discuss the team. But everyone’s got their opinion, that’s fine. I’ve got no issues with what their personal opinions [are]. I don’t read or listen to any of it personally.”He had presented the full face of the bat to the question. It was struck firmly enough to return the delivery back from where it came quickly.But press conferences aren’t net sessions. Nor are net sessions even close to match situations. But when Finch stepped into the indoor centre at Junction Oval no more than two hours after his press conference, the crisp timing he showed behind the podium eluded him.Nets are never a great indicator of anything for either professional or amateur cricketers, especially indoors. Form in the nets should always be taken with a large grain of salt.But in Finch’s case, it’s hard to ignore. He was facing Australia coach Andrew McDonald and bowling coach Daniel Vettori, a right-left combination in tandem, armed with side arms and near-new white Kookaburras.

“I felt I was playing quite well. And once Maxy [Glenn Maxwell] started to get away, I probably went into my shell a little bit and looked to just get off strike rather than hitting good strong shots out to a deep man.”Aaron Finch on his Sri Lanka innings

When compared to Mitch Marsh, who was batting in the next net, facing assistants Michael Di Venuto and Andre Borovec in the same fashion, the difference in the quality of the timing, movement patterns and balance was stark.Finch admitted on Tuesday that his innings against Sri Lanka in Perth had been poor. On Thursday, he called it an outlier.”I think it’s an anomaly in my career,” Finch said. “It’s just one of those days. I hit a really nice pull straight to the fielder, and then an off drive in the same over straight to the fielder.”I felt I was playing quite well. And once Maxy [Glenn Maxwell] started to get away, I probably went into my shell a little bit and looked to just get off strike rather than hitting good strong shots out to a deep man. I was trying to get off strike [by hitting] in the ring, which is never easy when you’re facing a world-class spinner like [Maheesh] Theekshana.”And that’s probably what I will change next time. I think I was probably one or two boundaries away from being back to a run-a-ball and it probably looks a little bit different there.”There is an argument that Finch’s innings, as slow as it was, did play an important role in helping lay a foundation for Australia’s middle order. He was 20 off 24 when Maxwell entered and he had kept his gun middle-order matchwinner away from the new ball in the powerplay and his less preferred match-up of Lahiru Kumara. It allowed Maxwell to face the spin of Dhananjaya de Silva and Wanindu Hasaranga in his first two overs. He smashed 22 off his first six balls to reduce the equation to 73 off 60 and relieve any pressure Australia were feeling.”We identified early in the game or in our powerplay when the ball was zipping around a bit that we didn’t want to try over-attack and expose the middle order too early, because then you risk going two or three down in the powerplay,” Finch said. “Then it’s a struggle to get the game back into a position where you can get home a little bit more comfortably.”So it’s just that middle part. I think straight after the 10-over timeout, there was only a wide off an over, so a lot of dot balls there. But I still feel like I’m playing pretty well.”Therein lies the problem for the Australian captain. It’s a sound strategy to be buying yourself time in the powerplay in this World Cup when the seamers are dominating as the new ball has seamed, swung and bounced prodigiously, particularly in Perth and Melbourne. But Finch’s inability to accelerate beyond that places a huge burden on those around him, particularly in home conditions.Aaron Finch’s knock against Sri Lanka was the slowest innings of 40 or more balls ever at Men’s T20 World Cups•AFP/Getty ImagesFinch, and Australia’s selectors, have been quick to point to Finch’s T20I numbers this year to suggest he remains in decent form in the format despite retiring from ODI cricket after a string of low scores. Since March, he has made three half-centuries in 14 T20I innings, averaging 30.91 and striking at 124.49.There was also a strong belief that he would be fine in home conditions having experienced more troubles away. But the opposite is true. He has actually had a lot more success away than at home recently. Since the start of 2020, he has scored six half-centuries in 23 innings, averaging 37.75 and striking at 138.42 overseas. At home he has been struggling. In 14 matches he strikes at just 98.45 and averages 19.61 with one half-century against West Indies this month on the Gold Coast.His innings against Sri Lanka, the slowest of any consisting of 40 or more balls in Men’s T20 World Cup history, was not an anomaly in that context.He has been working tirelessly to find a method to neutralise the lbw threat that has plagued him throughout his career, and he has succeeded having only fallen twice to it in T20Is since the start of 2020 and never in Australia. But in doing so he seems to have completely neutralised his scoring ability off both feet.Finch was asked by another journalist if he felt the weight of the world on his shoulders.”I don’t feel any more pressure than I ever have,” Finch said. “The only pressure is the expectation you put on yourself. “Another well-timed response to another probing verbal delivery. But in the end, he needs his bat to do the talking.

Superlative fielding efforts, stunning shots and special hat-tricks find a place in our shortlist

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2022

Qalandars have a lot of their player development programme imports in the mix while Sultans bought in Josh Little

Umar Farooq11-Feb-2023

Lahore Qalandars

Captain: Shaheen Shah Afridi

Head coach: Aaqib Javed
Batting and fielding coach: Muhammad Shahzad Butt
Bowling coach: Waqas Ahmed
Full squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), Fakhar Zaman, Rashid Khan, David Wiese, Hussain Talat, Haris Rauf, Abdullah Shafique, Liam Dawson, Sikandar Raza, Ahmad Daniyal, Dilbar Hussain, Harry Brook, Kamran Ghulam, Mirza Tahir Baig, Shawaiz Irfan, Zaman Khan, Jalat Khan, Jordan Cox (wk), Ahsan Bhatti, Sam Billings (wk), Shane Dadswell, Shai HopeRelated

• Aqib Javed: 'We wanted the best bowling unit, everyone else is after the best hitters'

• PSL – a Pakistan success story and a welcome distraction for its people

• As it happened – PSL 2023 player draft

• Rizwan admits he 'didn't deserve to play in NZ series'

• Karachi lack batting firepower; Peshawar missing premium fast bowlers

Last season: Champions
Played in two finals in the last three seasons and won the last tournament with a roar. Finished second in the group stage with six wins and four defeats, losing to Multan Sultans in the Qualifier and eliminating Islamabad United in the playoff to make it into the final to take on Sultans again. Qalandars posted a challenging 180 after a shaky start, and it proved enough for them to lift the trophy.Without a title until last season and finishing at the bottom for a long time, Qalandars turned the tables to redeem themselves, their magical season came with Afridi leading the team last season and giving them a new direction.What’s changed this season?
Qalandars have built a strong core around Afridi, who is returning from a knee injury, and they let go of veteran Hafeez. Fakhar Zaman was released and re-picked in the draft along with Haris Rauf, Wiese and Rashid Khan. They also have an eye on the future, with Kamran Ghulam and Abdullah Shafique in the mix. They have also selected as many as six players from their player development program (PDP) with fast bowler Jalat Khan and batters Tahir Baig and Ahsan Bhatti being the notable names from the Qalandars High Performance Center class of 2022.But Rashid won’t be available for the first three games, while Brook will miss out due to national duty with England. Qalandars also had a double blow by losing Jordan Cox, the wicketkeeper-batter (England national duty), and later Kusal Mendis (who didn’t get a NOC) and ended up picking Sam Billings (partially available) and Shai Hope as replacements.Fakhar Zaman was released and re-picked in the PSL draft•Pakistan Super LeaguePlayers to watch
Qalandars PDP’s poster boy Rauf has come a long way to become a star for the country while the franchise brought in another home-grown fast bowler Jalat. They continue investing in Zaman Khan, who already made an impact last season.Key stats
Since May 2022, Sikandar Raza has bagged seven Player-of-the-Match awards in 38 T20s, only behind Suryakumar Yadav’s eight. In this period, Raza has scored 954 runs with six fifties and a strike rate of over 140. With the ball, he has claimed 39 wickets while going at only 6.8 runs an over.David Wiese has excelled with both bat and ball in every T20 league he has played in the past year. He scored 558 runs while striking at 160.80 in T20s and 36 wickets at an economy rate of 7.88 since the start of 2022. Wiese succeeds with his bowling at the death, going at only 8.60 and strikes at 206.18 with the willow in hand during the same phase.Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan will form the batting fulcrum for Multan Sultans•PSL

Multan Sultans

Captain: Mohammad Rizwan
Head coach: Andy Flower
Assistant coach: Abdul Rehman
Assistant and spin bowling coach: Mushtaq Ahmed
Fast bowling coach: Ajmal Shehzad
Fielding coach: Richard Halsall
Full squad: Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk), David Miller, Josh Little, Shan Masood, Khushdil Shah, Rilee Rossouw, Akeal Hosain, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tim David, Usama Mir, Sameen Gul, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Sarwar, Usman Khan, Arafat Minhas, Ihsanullah, Abbas Afridi, Kieron Pollard, Ammad Butt, Wayne Parnell, IzharulHaq Naveed.Last season: Runners-up
Sultans had a blockbuster last season. The most consistent team lost only two games out of 12, including the final against Qalandars, in the entire season. No other team managed to win more than six games in the group stage. They have been the most successful franchise in terms of wins overall, finishing in the top two in the last three seasons and clinching the title in 2021.What’s changed this season?
Sultans retained their core intact with Mohammad Rizwan being the success story. Picked up through a trump card last season, Tim David was also retained but was demoted from the Platinum category to Gold. Shan Masood, Khushdil Shah, Rilee Rossouw, and Shahnawaz Dahani remain with the franchise. Abbas Afridi and Ihsanullah are the emerging-category retentions.They bought Irish seamer Josh Little, who played for Manchester Originals in the Hundred, and took 2 for 16 in Ireland’s victory over England in the T20 World Cup. With David – partially available for the season – Kieron Pollard and David Miller in the roster, they offer a blitz in the middle. Wayne Parnell is their leading overseas allrounder but is available subject to his fitness as he is nursing a groin injury that he picked up during the SA20.Usama Mir will be the lead spinner for Sultans•Associated PressPlayer to watch
Legspinner Usama Mir was recently rewarded with an ODI cap after a strong Pakistan Cup showing, where he finished as the highest wicket-taker with 28 strikes at 17.96. He had been part of Karachi Kings for four seasons between 2016 and 2020 and was outshined by allrounder Shadab Khan. But in the last year, he is trying to make up for his lost time. His performance in the upcoming season could give his career a new direction. Mir has four ODI wickets from three matches against New Zealand.Key stats
Miller is among the best players of spin in T20 cricket, averaging 71.54 per dismissal and striking at 139.29 since the start of 2021. Three years before this period, he struck at only 122.14 against spin while being dismissed for every 33.46 runs.Since 2021, Josh Little has an average of 17.14 and he strikes every 14.7 balls in T20s. His numbers are among the best when bowling to the top six in the batting order and he averages 18.72 against them, the second-best for any bowler who has bowled a minimum of 600 balls in this period.

They are far from perfect, but have put together a solid body of work over the past few seasons

Himanshu Agrawal15-Feb-2023Bengal have a shot at Ranji Trophy glory nearly 34 years after they last won it, and have in their ranks two players – Manoj Tiwary and Anustup Majumdar – who might be getting a shot at the biggest prize in Indian domestic cricket for the last time.For a while now, the two have been the team’s go-to men, not just as senior players but also as friends and mentors to the younger players trying to make a name for themselves. Among them, Abhimanyu Easwaran is a star in the line-up, and is even at the doorstep of the national team. There is a core of regular first-XI players. While others, like Sudip Kumar Gharami, Karan Lal, Abishek Porel, Kazi Saifi and Koushik Ghosh are working their way up. All playing their part in a period of transition for the team.”I just want someone to grab that [second] opening slot and support Abhimanyu,” Tiwary, the Bengal captain, told ESPNcricinfo ahead of the final against Saurashtra starting Thursday. “But, despite that, I believe that the reserve players in Bengal are good enough to be a part of the XI.”Anustup Majumdar is ‘the backbone of the side’Bengal have tried as many as six opening pairs this season with Abhimanyu, after returning from India A duty, the only constant. Majumdar, as he did during their inspired run to the final in 2019-20, has been the glue that has held the batting together. He’s the team’s crisis man who has made “tough runs” time and again, like he did in the semi-final last week, in making 120 and 80 to oust defending champions Madhya Pradesh.”People don’t talk about Anustup, what a hero he is,” Arun Lal, former coach and member of the last Ranji-winning side, said. “He is the backbone of the side. I get worried when he gets out.”Arun Lal on Anustup Majumdar: “I get worried when he gets out”•Cricket Association of BengalArun’s worries stem from the fact that the younger batters have often failed to make the most of their opportunities. But there’s hope. Gharami, who debuted during the 2019-20 final, averages nearly 43 in first-class cricket across 28 innings with four hundreds. Three of those have come this season, including one in the semi-final.”Sudip will be a sensation,” Arun said. “He is young and hungry, and will be a big name in the next ten years.”Tiwary as also optimistic about Abishek Porel, the wicketkeeper, who has become a regular member of the side following the departure of Wriddhiman Saha and Shreevats Goswami to Tripura and Mizoram respectively. Last year, Abishek was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning squad. While the transition to first-class cricket hasn’t been the smoothest for him, there has been plenty of promise with both bat and gloves.”Abishek is a very aggressive player,” Tiwary said. “And look at some of his catches this season; they show the hard work he has put in.”Fast bowlers are making the difference for BengalSince Ashok Dinda’s departure following a tiff with the coaching staff in 2019-20, Bengal have relied on a youngish pace attack to carry them forward. And each of them, Mukesh Kumar, Ishan Porel and Akash Deep, have delivered stunning returns, with plenty of support from spin-bowling allrounder Shahbaz Ahmed.Related

Bengal aim to end 34-year wait at Eden Gardens

Ranji Trophy final to have 'full version' of DRS

Across the last three Ranji seasons, the 258 wickets the Bengal quicks have picked up is the best for any team. This Ranji season, the 348 for 4 Himachal Pradesh scored against them in a drawn game is the most they have conceded in an innings. Uttarakhand’s 272, in another draw, is the second highest.These performances have resulted in a national call-up for Mukesh, while Akash Deep and Ishan Porel have been knocking on the doors of India A. Shahbaz, meanwhile, made his India debut in the shorter formats late last year.”Currently they are the best bowling side in the country by far,” Arun Lal said. “There’s no respite [against them]. Akash has been a revelation: he won’t bowl every ball at 140kph, but his line and length stands out.”This season, Akash Deep has picked up 37 wickets at 20, including three five-wicket innings hauls and a ten-wicket match haul. That consists of a 4 for 62 in the quarter-final, and 5 for 42 in the semi-final. Mukesh has pocketed 18 wickets in only four games, while Ishan Porel, too, has had his moments, beginning with a five-for against Uttar Pradesh.Akash Deep has picked up 37 wickets this season, including three five-wicket innings hauls and a ten-wicket match haul•Cricket Association of BengalShahbaz’s contribution hasn’t been limited to just the ball. While his 20 wickets have cost only 27.80 apiece, he has scored 339 runs at 48, including 81 in the quarter-final. Since the 2019-20 season, Shahbaz is one of only two players to have scored at least 1000 runs and taken 50 wickets in the Ranji Trophy.”We’ve got a champion in Shahbaz,” Arun Lal said. “He provides solid depth from No. 6 or 7. The era has changed. Now you need an allrounder to get you a hundred. That is where the difference really arrives.”In a further positive for Bengal, the oldest of the quartet of bowlers are Mukesh and Shahbaz, both 29. Safe to say then that Bengal’s bowling is in great hands at least in the medium term.’Everybody will have to chase Bengal cricket’Two months back, Tiwary had hinted that this season could be his last. With Abhimanyu away on national duty, he accepted captaincy again and has nurtured a young group of players, placing a lot of emphasis on team spirit and camaraderie, which hasn’t been Bengal’s strongest suit in the past. Having spent considerable time with them in a high-performance environment, Tiwary liked what he’s seen and was optimistic of the future.”The youngsters have established themselves,” he said. “The pace bowlers have been so good that with all due respect to Dinda, I haven’t really missed him as captain. Obviously Wriddhi was experienced and consistent, but Abishek has shown promise Today’s youngsters represent India A quite often, and also get to play in the IPL. hat has helped them develop outstanding work ethic. Those things give you dividends.”Come Thursday, all of them will take the field with one common dream: to recreate there magic of 1989-90. Even if that doesn’t happen, Arun Lal suggested that it was only a matter of time. “In the next five years, this mature group of younger players will help Bengal win the Ranji at least twice,” he predicted. “Everybody will have to chase Bengal cricket.”

South Africa’s new T20I captain begins his long-awaited tenure with a three-match series against West Indies

Firdose Moonda24-Mar-2023It has been more than nine years since Aiden Markram captained South Africa’s Under-19 side to victory at the World Cup, and more than five since he led the senior side in five of the six ODIs they played in a marathon series against India. Those were tasters of what seemed to be Markram’s birthright as skipper of South Africa’s men’s national team, and they gave him opposite experiences of what the role would ultimately entail.His U-19 experience was successful and fun. “Everyone just wanted to play and you just had to make sure the team was getting on and guys understood their roles and that was pretty much as simple as it was,” Markram said at a press conference on the eve of the first T20I against West Indies.The ODI experience was chastening, for both the team and for him. South Africa lost the series 5-1. Markram’s top-score was 32. He was dropped from the side shortly after and was bitterly disappointed with how things had gone because he expected much more from himself. “I was quite fresh back at that young age, I was quite hard on myself,” he said. “I always wanted to do well and we know that in sport, it doesn’t always work out that way.”Related

Miller 'certainly not bitter' about not being named T20I captain

Has anyone had a bigger gap between Test tons than Bavuma?

What SA and WI need to do to secure ODI WC spots

In between that, Markram was led by Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma and Dean Elgar at national level; by Sam Northeast at Hampshire and by Kane Williamson and KL Rahul at the IPL. Of those, du Plessis made the biggest impression. “How Faf managed to marshal his troops was something I really looked up to and something I strive to become. I’ve learnt a lot from him – probably without him knowing – just observing from the side,” Markram said. “The years of being in this environment has helped. We’ve had some great leaders around, so to sponge information off them and see how they operate has also shaped the way I am starting to think as well.”Now, after cutting the last of his teeth at Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the team he led to the inaugural SA20 title, Markram is finally, really ready to fulfil what many thought was his destiny. He has been named South Africa’s new, permanent T20I captain and begins his tenure with a three-match series against West Indies this weekend.As far as challenges go, although playing the former world champions always asks questions of a team, there is not much in the way of consequence for Markram’s inaugural outing. It’s not a T20 World Cup year, so the squad does not need to stack up a string of good results for anything other than pride and putting in place a few foundation stones for his tenure. Still there is excitement in the air. “West Indies are a great team to be able to test our skills against, see where we are with regards to our T20 side,” Markram said.

“You have to try to take performances and outcomes out of things and focus on the things that give you the best chance to succeed on the day, whether it works or not”Aiden Markram

South Africa have already had their high this year. Their franchise T20 tournament was played to mostly sold-out crowds, and even better than that, their women’s team made it to the T20 World Cup final. “We are almost seeing it as them setting the standard, and it’s something for us to chase,” Markram said. “They’ve inspired us to try and get there as well.”But there’s no expectation on the men’s team to reach those heights anytime soon. South Africa aren’t yet sure of a place in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Their set up, led by white-ball coach Rob Walter, are focused on 2027. By then, Markram will be 32 and there is a strong chance he will be captaining his team in a home World Cup.Before getting there, he will first need to accumulate a wealth of knowledge and maybe take some of his own advice as well. “You have to learn to take things in your stride,” Markram said. “You have to try to take performances and outcomes out of things and focus on the things that give you the best chance to succeed on the day, whether it works or not. Those things have helped me so far.”

With only 150 to chase, he could have taken a safer route. Instead, he smashed 98 not out off 47 balls to take down KKR

Sreshth Shah12-May-20234:50

Dasgupta: ‘Jaiswal’s innings was absolutely flawless’

On Thursday, if Yashasvi Jaiswal had started his innings with caution, you would have understood why. With only 150 to chase, there was merit in the opening batter to have a watchful start, protect his wicket against the new ball, and get his bearings before cashing in. With Jos Buttler at the other end, there was little reason to go too hard at the top, and in an era of data-driven cricket, even more so against an offspinner who can take the ball away.Therefore, it seemed to be a smart ploy from Nitish Rana to bowl the first over for Kolkata Knight Riders. Rana is a handy part-time spinner with a somewhat golden arm, and the idea to sneak in a quiet first over wasn’t a bad one. Worst case for Rana, if the over didn’t go as planned, at least it was a brave attempt to buy an early wicket since that was the only way in for KKR in their defence of 149. Instead, it turned out to be an expensive decision. Jaiswal hit Rana for 26 runs, the most by a batter in the opening over of an IPL innings.But you can’t blame Rana for bowling that over; you can only praise Jaiswal. The batter came down the track first ball and hit it for a six, and followed it up with another next ball. In all the years of IPL cricket, only once had that been done before – Virat Kohli in 2019 against Varun Aaron in a five-over match – and even after the 12 runs off the first two balls, Jaiswal was only whetting his appetite. Three of the next four balls in the over went for boundaries, the fourth ball very nearly did too.Related

• Sunrisers in must-win territory; Super Giants' margin for error fast closing

• Jaiswal and Chahal smash records and KKR

• Stats – All the records that Jaiswal broke during his 13-ball fifty

• Jaiswal takes a big step towards becoming a complete batter

Those six balls showed such pristine form that even Buttler did not hesitate to sacrifice his wicket next over. On zero, Buttler had turned down Jaiswal for a single but the youngster hadn’t spotted it and had run through. Once Buttler noticed that, he made the split-second decision to cross Jaiswal so that Jaiswal would not be out.”When I saw Nitish bowl, I thought that if I can get runs off him with my shots then I should go for it,” Jaiswal said after the match. “You never know how someone will bowl their first ball, but after spotting the field placements, I calculated what my shot options were.”Between Jos and me, I am learning a lot. Today, he sacrificed his wicket because of my error, and I really respect that. We all know that it happens in the game, nobody does it purposely. But that was the moment where I decided to take responsibility, thinking ‘it is okay’ but I need to take responsibility from here on.”

“I also know that I will not bat like this every day. I have to accept that on some days my shots will pay off and on other days they won’t. So it is important to continue learning irrespective of how my innings pans out”Yashasvi Jaiswal

Jaiswal did not let Buttler’s sacrifice go to waste. He pulled Harshit Rana for a six, enjoyed some luck to earn four overthrows, and then tore into Shardul Thakur with a hat-trick of fours.He first hit Shardul by moving leg side and driving an inswinger, then by pulling through midwicket and finally following it up with another drive through the covers. On 49 off 12 balls, Jaiswal had very nearly broken the all-time record for the fastest T20 fifty. On the next delivery, he shaved one ball off the IPL record.”I was very excited,” Jaiswal said. “When I reached the 13-ball fifty, for a brief moment I thought there was a chance it was the fastest IPL fifty, but I wasn’t sure till I found out after the game. I enjoyed that moment, I celebrated also, I did this [flexes his right arm] and this [flexes his left arm]. I told myself, ‘Let’s celebrate.'”The quality of the shots he played and the fluency with which they travelled to the boundary was the highlight of Jaiswal’s fifty, but even more impressive was his clear thinking. Jaiswal did not approach his innings based on what the target was. Neither did he change his style in the aftermath of the Buttler dismissal, nor was it a case of ‘see ball, hit ball’. Instead, Jaiswal’s mantra was to scan the field, identify scoring options and then remain wholly committed to it. It is that sort of mindset that has made Jaiswal the frontrunner for the orange cap and the emerging player award, and holistically takes him closer to becoming a complete batter.Coming into the KKR game, Jaiswal’s ball-per-boundary ratio of 3.1 in the powerplay this season was the best. He is also extremely quick off the blocks, possessing the second-best strike rate (175) and an even better ball-per-boundary ratio (2.9) in his first ten balls of an innings. Even though he scores faster against pace bowlers, he is yet to be dismissed by spin in IPL 2023. These quick bursts have set him up for success this season, with the KKR innings now giving him his fifth 50-plus score in 12 innings and very nearly a second IPL 2023 century, having already hit 124 against Mumbai Indians.Yashasvi Jaiswal takes a bow after hitting the winning runs•BCCI”Every wicket has a different behaviour and you play according to that wicket and the ball being bowled,” Jaiswal said on his consistency this season. “I try to understand what they [the bowlers] can do, where they can bowl, and what the field is. And I try to understand the wicket also. Because sometimes that can go in your favour if you understand the wicket. My preparation has been focused around my discipline lately. Because after fielding for 20 overs with high intensity, you have to go bat. That’s why I am working on my fitness and the mental aspect of the game.”I also know that I will not bat like this every day. I have to accept that on some days my shots will pay off and on other days they won’t. So it is important to continue learning irrespective of how my innings pans out. Around me, there are many experienced players and I keep talking to them about how to keep your mindset as a batter. The legends like MS [Dhoni] sir, Virat Kohli sir and Jos and Sanju [Samson] … whenever I meet them, I try to learn what more I can add to my game and how I can control my mind.”In his last 20 balls, Jaiswal caught on to the fact that Samson was timing it better and therefore took a back seat. Samson pumped five sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 29-ball 48, but that also meant there were not enough runs left for Jaiswal to reach his century. Needing six to get the century but only three to finish the game, the winning runs from Jaiswal could only be a four, leaving him stranded on 98 off 47 deliveries. For all intents and purposes, it was a century, with Jaiswal also treating it like that, removing his helmet and bowing to the camera after the game was buried.”I thought that I will go for a six to get the hundred if I could, but it is okay,” Jaiswal said. “The other thing I had in mind was that I have to play long and finish the games, so even at the end, that was the only thought in my mind, to leave the field by finishing the game. I will remember this innings a lot. It was short-lived but also very intense.”