Northants held off a plucky challenge by Worcestershire but fear for David Willey after he damaged an ankle in a collision with Jack Shantry

ECB/PA26-Jun-2015
ScorecardDavid Willey is in pain after a collision with Jack Shantry•Getty Images

An astonishing onslaught by Steven Crook and Rory Kleinveldt set up Northants Steelbacks to beat NatWest T20 Blast North Group leaders Worcestershire Rapids by two runs at New Road.The eighth-wicket pair thrashed 62 from 3.1 overs before Kleinveldt was caught on the straight boundary from the last ball of the Steelbacks innings after hitting six sixes in a match-turning 42 from 12 deliveries.Having lifted the Steelbacks to a formidable 193 for 8, the South African led the next phase with the first-ball dismissal of Moeen Ali before the Rapids were held to 191 for 6 as they narrowly failed to extend a three-match winning run.

Insights

In a tightly fought match Kleinveldt and Crook’s assault can be seen to be the difference between the two teams. While Worcestershire are a strong team who should push for a top four finish they may rue the absence of a high quality death bowler this season. Most counties in the country have one but Worcestershire generally seem a little short. They’ll hope that Saeed Ajmal’s quality in the middle-overs can make up for it, but as Luke Wright showed in Bristol any total at the death is gettable and teams need bowlers who can defend them.

Moeen’s exit capped a night of mishaps for England players. David Willey’s return from the one-day internationals ended in discomfort after damaging an ankle when bumping into Jack Shantry while making 31 from 12 balls at the start of Northants’ innings.Willey’s injury to his right ankle was a worry for Northants head coach David Ripley. He said: “We have got our fingers crossed. He has gone off for an X-ray just to check his bone. He’s kind of gone over a bit on his foot. He is booked in for a scan on Monday. Maybe it will be a twisted ankle and he’ll be back firing for us next week.”With Willey unable to bowl when the Rapids batted, Moeen bowed out tamely when driving to extra cover in his final county appearance before joining England’s pre-Ashes training camp in Spain this weekend.Perhaps it was a sign of the pressure that came from losing control in the late stages of the Northants innings. If Kleinveldt was the supercharged force, Crook was not far behind with an undefeated 56 which came from 35 balls as the Steelbacks kicked on from 131 for 7 in the 17th over.The transformation began when Kleinveldt launched a sequence of four, six, six from Saeed Ajmal’s last three balls. Shantry’s final over then cost 24 runs and Kleinveldt spoiled Ed Barnard’s figures with three consecutive sixes from the
closing over.The Steelbacks also made a flying start. Richard Levi made 19 from 11 balls until being caught at deep mid-wicket and Willey hit two sixes before limping out of his accidental collision with Shantry. After treatment, he cleared the rope twice more before top-edging Ajmal to short fine leg.The middle of the innings was less convincing with only Alex Wakely making significant progress against Worcestershire’s three spinners. After brilliantly running out Josh Cobb, Brett D’Oliveira bowled his four overs for 26 runs and one wicket.Worcestershire made a bold attempt to keep up with the rate in a partnership of 76 in just short of eight overs by Daryl Mitchell and Tom Kohler-Cadmor, but wickets began to fall, most damagingly when Colin Munro was caught at long-off in a brilliant over from Muhammad Azharullah.Still the Rapids kept going with an unbeaten 41 from 39 balls by Ross Whiteley and support from Ben Cox in a late stand of 54.However, man of the match Kleinveldt had the last word with two crucial overs in which he dismissed Cox and conceded only one boundary. With 14 wanted from the last over, Whiteley drove Azharullah’s first five balls for twos but could
only manage a leg-bye from the last.

Toby Lester was not the most famous left-arm bowler on show, not with Ryan Sidebottom’s 11 for 76 leading Yorkshire to victory and messrs Starc and Johnson on hand for Australia but Lancashire valued his debut all the same

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford08-Jul-2015
ScorecardNick Browne stood firm as Essex’s middle order collapsed•Getty Images

Toby Lester was not the most famous left-arm new-ball bowler playing first-class cricket in England on Wednesday afternoon. At Cardiff the Mitchells, Starc and Johnson, were firing the opening shots in an Ashes battle which will be waged for six weeks; at Edgbaston Ryan Sidebottom was collecting match figures of 11-76 as Yorkshire took another stride towards retaining the County Championship.By contrast, unless you were a cricket fan from Blackpool or followed Second XI games closely, you may not have been too sure who Lester was until Monday morning. It was then that he was named in Lancashire’s side to play Essex at Emirates Old Trafford. And by the third evening of the game both Jaik Mickleburgh and Liam Dawson were acquainted with him. For he had castled them both with his swing to give Lancashire a strong sniff of victory in a Division Two game which had been cursed by rain for its first seven sessions.By close of play that sniff had been encouraged by, what for Lancashire followers, had been the delicious aroma of collapse after James Faulkner, a cricketer as well known in Brisbane as Bispham, had removed three key members of Essex’s middle order as the visitors displayed all the carelessness Lancashire’s batsmen had most diligently eschewed.Ravi Bopara edged a flat-footed slash to wicketkeeper Alex Davies; Jesse Ryder’s irresponsible cut found only the safe hands of Arron Lilley at backward point; and Ryan ten Doeschate was lbw on the back foot to his second ball when Faulkner brought one back off the seam. None of the trio reached double figures.Ten Doeschate’s wicket left Essex perilously placed on 81 for five with over 22 overs left in what was a remarkable day’s cricket, and had it not been for the good sense of James Foster and opener Nick Browne, whose unbroken sixth-wicket stand was worth 58 by close of play Essex would have been in very deep trouble indeed. Browne ended the day unbeaten on 78 and he and Foster will be key men again on the final morning, especially since the pitch is offering assistance to Lilley’s off-spin.Even on the third evening, though, it still seems more likely that the game will end in a draw but the outcome is nothing like as certain as it appeared when Lancashire declared on 402 for 8 in mid-afternoon. Croft’s players can go into the last day very encouraged by the way in which they have approached a match which will be remembered, in part, for its grey skies and frequent showers.”Manchester on a rainy day,” wrote RC Robertson-Glasgow, “is the nearest thing I know to an academic speech on Free Trade.” Perhaps so, but Croft’s batsmen never let the gloom infect their approach to matters. Instead, they played with resolution and enterprise, no one more so than the skipper himself, who reached his second century of the championship season off 210 balls and added 144 with Faulkner, who put a tricky few days behind him to concentrate on his cricket skills.Reece Topley accounted for Croft, Faukner and Jordan Clark during a penetrative spell with the second new ball early in the afternoon session but the skipper’s 122 and the all-rounder’s 68 had changed the temper of the contest. Lancashire’s dominance was reinforced when Lilley’s breezy 40 off 31 balls helped the home side to their fifth bonus point and Croft beckoned his men off the field as soon as it was reached.

Chris Rogers is set to be clear to play in the third Test of the Investec Ashes series in Birmingham after scans cleared him of serious damage following his retired hurt on the final morning of the Lord’s Test

Daniel Brettig in London20-Jul-2015Chris Rogers is set to be clear to play in the third Test of the Investec Ashes series in Birmingham after scans cleared him of serious damage following his retired hurt on the final morning of the Lord’s Test.On day two of the Test, Rogers was struck on the helmet near the right ear by James Anderson, and two days later had to leave the field as he complained of dizziness while standing at the non-striker’s end.There was considerable concern for Rogers due to a recent history of concussion – he missed both Tests of the West Indies tour after being struck on the helmet by the Dominican net bowler Anderson Burton – and the team doctor Peter Brukner sought independent medical advice in London the day after Australia’s 405-run victory at Lord’s.Rogers did not take the field after his dizzy spell but stayed with the team for their celebrations in the dressing rooms, after levelling the Ashes series at 1-1. Brukner said the signs of Rogers’ progress were promising.”Chris’s condition is certainly improving. He has had scans and seen a specialist since yesterday to help determine the cause of his dizziness,” he said. “The initial scans have cleared him of any serious damage and we await the results of further tests.”It appears the most likely diagnosis is a delayed ear problem related to being struck on day two of the Test match. We are confident that this is something we can manage in the lead up to the third Test at Edgbaston.”As a precaution he’ll be reviewed by the specialist in London again on Wednesday morning before re-joining the touring party. Chris was not scheduled to play in the tour match against Derbyshire, so he has time to continue resting ahead of the Test match.”Having made his highest Test score of 173 and then 49 in the second innings at the time of his retired hurt, Rogers is a central plank of Australia’s batting order in this series, though he has flagged he will most likely retire from international cricket after the Ashes.”He’s important for a period of time,” the coach Darren Lehmann said. “I think he’s made it clear he’s not going to come on the next Ashes tour, although he’d probably like to, as a tour host. He knows these conditions so well, he loves England and he helps our batters out, that’s the most pleasing thing.”He helps our batters and bowlers about conditions here and for example Middlesex and Lord’s, all the angles you’ve got to play with the slope. He knows them so well, he’s a very important part of this tour.”

Dane Vilas is unsure what he will be doing in a month’s time as he battles for a spot in South Africa’s senior team with Quinton de Kock

Firdose Moonda03-Sep-2015There are 8678 kilometres between Bangladesh and Benoni and for Dane Vilas, it may feel even longer. Little more than a month ago, Vilas made his Test debut for South Africa in Dhaka. This weekend, he will play as the only international in Western Province’s Africa Cup T20 squad, after Wayne Parnell was forced to withdraw with a hamstring injury. And next month, Vilas does not know where he will be.Either he will be back with the South African squad as they embark on their longest-ever tour of India, or he will still be with his domestic team, who may either be playing in the Africa Cup knockouts or preparing for the franchise season ahead. In between, there’s not too much he can do to force his fate in either direction.”I am not sure,” Vilas told ESPNcricinfo when asked whether he knows what he needs to do to make sure he goes to India. “I am just going to plan and train as though I am going and then if happens, that’s great. There’s not a lot of cricket between now and then.”The only cricket in September is the Africa Cup, where Vilas and his rival, Quinton de Kock are both playing but their performances in the tournament will do little to sway selection. The Africa Cup is a semi-professional competition where Vilas and de Kock will be men among boys and not the right platform to decide whether either should earn the right to be a boy among the men of international cricket.South Africa A’s recently completed tour of India is a better measure for that purpose and those statistics suggest stiff competition between the two glovemen. De Kock found his form with three successive centuries but Vilas, who bats in the middle order, was also in good nick. He scored 50 in one of the List A matches and 75 in an unofficial Test. “We both did well on the tour so it’s difficult to speculate,” Vilas said.The selectors may have to make a decision based more on nuances than numbers and if that is the case, Vilas may have the edge over de Kock for now. Vilas is eight years older than de Kock and knows the rigour of establishing himself in an unfamiliar team.Five years ago, he left Johannesburg’s Lions franchise to join Cape Town’s Cobras. At the time, he was competing with Thami Tsolekile for a place in the Lions’ team and the Cobras were swapping between keepers in different formats and wanted some consistency. Vilas still had to prove himself, to take the gloves off Ryan Canning and Andrew Puttick and become a regular in the starting XI, but it was a task he stuck to with tenacity.”When I moved, I put more responsibility on myself to get into the team and to hold a regular place. It’s more difficult when you are out of your comfort zone, away from your family and friends and I guess it was a bit of a fast-track to growing up,” Vilas said.Once he had done that, it seemed Vilas had hit a ceiling. “My career has fallen in the time between Mark Boucher at the national side, Thami Tsolekile with the A side and then Quinton with the national side,” he said. “So you have to get a bit lucky and then if you get a chance, you’ve got to be able to take it.”When it became clear Tsolekile was no longer in contention for South Africa, because of the rise of de Kock, Vilas got a chance in the A side. His big break only came when AB de Villiers went on paternity leave, and then de Kock was dropped because of poor batting form. Vilas was the reserve gloveman in the Test squad that went to Bangladesh and was capped in Dhaka as a result.Despite a forgettable debut, since play was only possible for one day of the match, Vilas treasures the memory. “It was amazing – to get the call-up to be part of the squad and then to make my debut; it was everything I had worked for,” he said. “But it was also bittersweet because of the washout.”The rain robbed Vilas of the chance to show what he could do with the bat and only allowed for a brief glimpse of his skills behind the stumps, but he hopes it was enough to demonstrate his ability to adapt. “At least, I know what to expect from a conditions perspective – the ball stays lower and what I found different was that we were using the SG ball, which gets softer a lot quicker. You have to get used to the way it reacts off the pitch.”Vilas had time to get used to that in Bangladesh and on the A side’s tour of India, and he believes he can do the job if picked for the senior tour there. He also believes he can come good for South Africa for a sustained period, even though he is older than de Kock. “It’s probably better that I got selected now that I am older and know my game. It’s better for me in the long-term,” he said. “I am fit and strong and I am only 30, so I hope I’ve still got six or seven good years to give.” Whether they are in Bangladesh or Benoni.

Former USA vice-captain Timroy Allen, who top-scored in the first trial match, and fast bowler David Pieters were the standout players during Sunday’s trial matches at the ICC Americas Combine in Indianapolis

Peter Della Penna21-Sep-20153:15

‘A rare opportunity to work with Walsh’ – Allen

Former USA vice-captain Timroy Allen and fast bowler David Pieters were the standout players during Sunday’s trial matches at the ICC Americas Combine in Indianapolis. Allen top-scored in the first T20 trial match, which was played on the main turf wicket at the Indianapolis World Sports Park, before following it up with a fiery opening spell as his team defended a total of 102 to win by six runs.”In every trial scenario, they’re always going to look at techniques and all that but on the other hand you have the match situation and the position you have been put in. You have to do whatever it takes to get your team through,” Allen said.Allen also spoke highly of the talent at the trial and was impressed with the level of competition on display. “There’s a lot of potential here. For there to be these many guys here, and the amount of cuts they’re making, there’s going to be a lot of potential that get bypassed.”Pieters, who hails from San Diego, was the leading wicket-taker in the opening match with 3 for 15 in his four overs and also executed a run-out in the field. He gave credit, particularly, to being able to work with Courtney Walsh on Saturday during the skills assessment rotations.”That was amazing. I’ve never experienced anything like that. Just being in that personal space with him and having him actually challenge you. He wasn’t an easy coach. He wasn’t taking it easy on us at all. He wanted to push and get the best out of us and that’s exactly what he did. Just the way I ended with that session yesterday, hitting the cones that he wanted me to hit and getting a clap from him, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”The 66 players will have another day of trial matches on Monday before final selections are made for phase two beginning on Friday.

India will look to lift themselves to force the series into a decider in Mumbai while South Africa will be keen to wrap up the series and set the tone for the Tests

The Preview by Firdose Moonda21-Oct-2015

Match facts

Thursday, October 22, 2015
Start time 1330 local (0800GMT)5:11

Manjrekar: India need to look at new bowling talent

Big picture

There comes a time in every chase when the players are under so much pressure that unless they catch up, the game is over. For India, that time is now.After trailing South Africa in both limited-overs’ formats, India face the prospect of a second successive series defeat unless they draw level in Chennai. To do that, they will need a more convincing batting performance particularly in the death overs, where they have lacked aggression. Simply put, they have to ensure they compete over 50 overs, not just 35, because South Africa have demanded that level of commitment from them.The tension in the twilight exchanges of the three matches so far has made for absorbing viewing and neutrals will hope there is more to come so that a grand finale is set up for the fifth game. But South Africa won’t be advocating excitement of that kind.They will want to secure their second trophy of the tour before the final match. Not only will that tick the box of dominating an opposition in their own backyard but it will set the tone for the Tests, where South Africa are the authority on traveling, having last lost a series away from home nine years ago. Victory in Chennai will allow the players that aim to continue that legacy, particularly the fast bowlers, a chance to rest and South Africa’s bench strength to be tested in Mumbai.

Form guide

(last five completed games most recent first)
India LWLWW
South Africa WLWWL

In the spotlight

With just three runs from the three matches so far – and all of those in the first game – Suresh Raina will be aware that he needs to step up. He has been dismissed for ducks in his last two innings and has not contributed a fifty since the World Cup. With India’s middle-order being prone to meltdowns, Raina will have to be in the runs soon to help solve the problem.Hashim Amla is 22 runs away from being the fastest to 6000 ODI runs but he may be more concerned with the speed with which he hits top gear after a quiet tour so far. Amla has bubbled under with small starts but is struggling to push on and has been uncharacteristically stumped off the spinners in the last two matches. If he can shake the rut, South Africa’s line-up will be in full flow again.

Team news

India altered their squad as the series heads into its decisive stage and added S Aravind in place of Umesh Yadav and the left-arm seamer could find himself in the XI. The three-spinner strategy worked well for India and if they stick with it, they may have to leave out another seamer as well.India: (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Ajinkya Rahane 4 Virat Kohli, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Suresh Raina, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Amit Mishra, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 S AravindJP Duminy’s hand injury, which has ruled him out of the rest of the series, presents South Africa with a puzzle in the allrounder’s department. Dean Elgar, Duminy’s replacement, only arrived early on Wednesday morning and may need time to acclimatise, which could allow Chris Morris his first chance in the ODI series. David Miller may have to return to the middle order as a result, unless Khaya Zondo is given a debut ahead of him. With all the tinkering in the batting department, South Africa are unlikely to fiddle with their bowling combinations unless Morne Morkel, who picked up a quad injury in the third ODI, is unfit. Kyle Abbott is in reserve if needed.South Africa: (probable) 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 Farhaan Behardien, 6 David Miller, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Dale Steyn, 9 Morne Morkel/Kyle Abbott, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Imran Tahir

Pitch and conditions

Dale Steyn said he expected a slow wicket that may take turn but there are rumours of some extra bounce, which will be a welcome surprise for the visitors. Chennai will warm up to 34 degrees, a couple cooler than Rajkot and Kanpur, but humidity will be a factor. This match will be officiated by two local umpires because Aleem Dar was withdrawn over security concerns following the anti-Pakistan protest at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. Umpires Chettithody Shamsuddin and S Ravi, who is from Chennai, will stand.

Stats and Trivia

• Though MS Dhoni is not from Chennai, the city is an adopted home to him because of the Super Kings franchise and he seems to have embraced it as a favourite venue. He averages 153.50 in ODIs at Chepauk, where he has scored two undefeated hundreds.
• The last ODI played in Chennai was between India and Pakistan in December 2012.

Quotes

“We want to take wickets as a spinning unit and whoever is bowling at any point of time, we want to attack, we want to have a lot of catching fielders in place. “
“We’ve been to a lot of different cities since arriving and it’s arrive, play, practice, go – that kind of thing. It’s on the go all the time. The boys have needed the rest.”

A round-up of Tier 1 and Tier 2 National Cricket League matches played from October 31 to November 3, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2015Khulna Division became NCL champions for the fourth time after their rain-affected drawn game against Rangpur Division in Chittagong. Their previous titles were in the 2002-03, 2007-08 and 2012-13 seasons, having also come within a single point of winning the title last season.Rajshahi Division and Dhaka Division have been champions five times each while Rangpur, Chittagong and Bangladesh Biman won the title once each.Rangpur ended the game against Khulna with more points, but Khulna’s seven ensured they remained above Dhaka Metropolis in the points table. Rangpur, however, were relegated to Tier-2 after finishing at the bottom of tier-1 with 38 points.Rain had allowed only 32 minutes of play in the first two days of this game. Rangpur, put into bat, made 344 runs, with No. 7 Tanveer Haider making 105 off 209 balls, including nine fours and a six.Khulna captain Abdur Razzak took five wickets while the other left-arm spinner, Murad Khan, took four wickets. There was enough time in the game for Imrul Kayes to score his 14th first-class hundred, a 104-ball 107.Khulna’s path to becoming the NCL champions became easier after the match between Dhaka Metropolis and Dhaka Division game had three washed off days in Cox’s Bazar and predictably ended in a draw. On the fourth day, Dhaka Metro batted 75 overs to make 286 for three. Shamsur Rahman made 105 while Mehedi Maruf retired hurt on 99.Barisal Division ended the competition on top of Tier-2, and earned promotion to Tier-1 in the 2016-17 season. They drew with Chittagong Division in a high-scoring game in Bogra where Shahriar Nafees struck twin centuries while Mominul Haque completed his maiden double-hundred. They both shared the man-of-the-match award.Batting first, Barisal made 489 courtesy Nafees’ 168 and captain Fazle Mahmud’s 133. In reply, Chittagong ran up a score of 425, with Mominul scoring 239 after having batted for seven hours and 31 minutes. Mominul struck 37 boundaries in the 322 balls he faced.Barisal fell into some trouble in the second innings but Nafees struck his second hundred of the game, this one bulging up to 174 off 209 balls with the help of 21 fours and two sixes. He added 122 runs for the fourth wicket with Al-Amin who made 68.In the only match of the NCL’s sixth round that bore a result, Rajshahi Division crushed Sylhet Division by ten wickets inside three days in Khulna.Batting first, Sylhet were shot out for 176 with Moinul Islam and Sunzamul Islam picking up three wickets each. Rajshahi replied with 395, with hundreds from Farhad Hossain, playing his 100th first-class match, and Hamidul Islam.Sylhet did a little better in their second innings with Ruman Ahmed scoring a hundred. Rajshahi, however, completed the chase of 24 in 6.2 overs without losing a wicket.

Peter Siddle has insisted that he is not disheartened by the fact that Australia’s selectors declined to pick him in the XI until the final Test against New Zealand

Daniel Brettig24-Nov-20152:03

‘I’ll make sure I’m ready to go’ – Siddle

Having considered Peter Siddle surplus to requirements until the moment of last resort during the Ashes, Australia’s selectors have once again declined to pick him until the final Test against New Zealand.For a time, Siddle was not considered fast enough, explosive enough or good enough next to others. But Siddle is now needed more than ever because of two other things he does not do: retiring, and conceding too many runs.The way Siddle’s fortunes have turned is pronounced. Before the dual tours of the West Indies and England, he was more or less the last man picked, and did not even enjoy the security of a Cricket Australia contract – the first time he had missed out since 2008. Now, however, he has been termed one of four “prime bowlers” – alongside Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson – by the coach Darren Lehmann, who has reservations about the pace stocks beneath.”It’s always been about not worrying about what I can’t control,” Siddle said of his time on the outer. “That opportunity in England gave me that little bit of confidence that I can come in and perform. I think that is the added bonus. I obviously missed out on the first two here but know it isn’t that long since I came out and performed. It gives myself a boost but the powers that be above know that I can perform when called upon.”[Losing my contract] didn’t worry me at all, like the selections. I knew last year that I went back to state cricket and performed well and took the most wickets after Christmas of the fast bowlers in state cricket. I did the same when I went to England, took wickets again. I have confidence in my own ability, what I can do and that’s all I worry about, preparing well and looking for my opportunity.”You can’t worry about the other things, it gives you too much stress. If you worry about little things like that you can’t prepare as well as you want to. That’s the thing with me I am always positive, and laid back.”Though he has in recent times been a fringe member of the squad, Siddle’s record as a bowler would suggest he is at his best when confronting players of the highest class. His first Test wicket was one Sachin Tendulkar, and he enjoys enviable records against the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. No matter the player, it seems, Siddle’s minimalist methods have as strong a chance of success as anything more spectacular from others.Rightly, he recalled that the Ashes success of two summers ago was built as much on the pressure applied by Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon and himself as it was the naked intimidation of Mitchell Johnson.In the first two Tests of this series, Australia’s pace attack did not perform in quite the same balanced manner. Starc, Hazlewood and Johnson all offered outstanding spells at various points, but none were consistent enough to create the suffocating pressure so loathed by batsmen. Siddle pointed to this as a key reason why Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor have been able to flourish.”You can’t worry about the other things, it gives you too much stress. That’s the thing with me I am always positive, and laid back” – Peter Siddle•Getty Images

“I don’t think he has changed a hell of a lot, he has got a lot smarter with how he plays,” Siddle said of Williamson. “He still plays the same game but he’s probably just a bit tighter than the past and it’s working for him. I think it’s just about being patient; that’s one thing he’s very good at, and that’s one thing we can be slightly better at in our bowling, building a bit more pressure, having a bit more patience and working players like that over.”The good players are happy to spend a lot of time out there and make you bowl a lot. So the more pressure you can put on them early on is going to work in our favour. You look at all the class players in world cricket, it’s worked hasn’t it? It worked against Sachin, it worked against KP, it works against Kohli, that’s the thing, it works. It’s pretty basic but it happens against all the best teams.”Going back to the big success we had during the Ashes here in Australia, that was the big key thing for us, building pressure and getting them out that way. Smudger’s [Steven Smith] a good captain to work with in that he’s willing to put players in the positions you want, and works well with the bowlers. I think it’ll be no different coming into this match, which might need a few little tactical manoeuvres to get some of these guys out.”These words come with plenty of experience behind them, and also a close relationship with the assistant coach Craig McDermott that helped Siddle to understand his own game better. Starting in Adelaide, Siddle is hopeful of acting as a “bowling captain” to the pace battery, counselling them on the field while also leading with his own parsimonious example of how to bowl relentlessly and well. The exit of Johnson has afforded him that chance.”I’ve been around for just a little bit shorter time than Mitch but I’ve been around and played enough Test cricket, played enough around the world, to be able to give enough knowledge and experience to these guys,” he said. “All these guys debuted with me alongside them, especially Starcy and Patto a few years ago. Having that relationship with those guys – I grew up with a lot of them – I think I’ll be able to pass on enough to them and work alongside them. Obviously my skill set works well with the way their play their games.”All in all we’re still in a good place. Starcy has shown over the past especially 12 months, the way he can perform, that he can take over that mantle as the type of player Mitch Johnson was in the [2013-14] Ashes: the fast, aggressive wicket-taker. ‘Starcy’ has definitely shown in the past 12 months that he can fill that role – and fill it well. Cricket-wise we don’t lose too much, but as a mate and a class player we definitely lose out. But I think there’s enough players around to cover the role from now on.”

Joe Root believes England are up to the challenge of beating South Africa in a Test series for the first time in a decade

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Dec-2015Joe Root believes England are up to the challenge of beating South Africa in a Test series for the first time in a decade. Root, who has yet to play a Test against South Africa, will be one of England’s key players as the No. 2-ranked batsman in the world and vice-captain to Alastair Cook and he is predicting an “entertaining spectacle” between two sides with clear strengths and weaknesses.England have arrived in South Africa and begun preparations for the four-Test series by taking on an Invitational XI in Pochesfstroom. Among their first concerns will be settling on a new combination at the top of the order – likely Alex Hales opening alongside Cook with Nick Compton at No. 3 – and establishing the identity of the third seamer behind James Anderson and Stuart Broad.South Africa have issues of their own to deal with after a chastening 3-0 defeat in India, with coach Russell Domingo admitting “there is a lot of work to do”. Aside from a batting order struggling for form, Vernon Philander suffered ankle ligament damage that will keep him out of the first two Tests and Dale Steyn is also a fitness concern after hurting his groin in Mohali last month.They will still be able to call on Morne Morkel, along with the talented Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada, who will present a significant challenge on faster, bouncier surfaces than England are used to. Root said that the fast-bowling contest could be what ultimately decides the series.”It should be a really entertaining spectacle, with their attack and our attack as well, in those conditions – I’m looking forward to getting out there and being a part of it,” he told ESPNcricinfo.Asked if England could win away from home against the top-ranked Test side, he replied: “Absolutely, yeah. I think it’s going to be a really close series, and a really interesting battle with the two seam attacks. The way that Stuart and Jimmy lead our attack, with some very exciting guys below them as well, it could be an interesting battle against the No. 1 side in the world.”England last played South Africa in 2012, when a 2-0 home defeat hastened the retirement of Andrew Strauss and led to Cook’s elevation to the Test captaincy. They have not beaten South Africa since 2004-05 – with Anderson the only survivor from that tour – and have not won a Test series overseas since India in the winter of 2012, Cook’s first in charge and also the scene of Root’s debut.A successful start for Cook as Test captain was followed by a nightmarish year in which England suffered a 5-0 Ashes whitewash, lost at home to Sri Lanka and tentatively began to rebuild after the loss of several key players. Cook contemplated giving up the captaincy (and was also sacked from the role in ODIs) but his authority has never been stronger after England regained the Ashes with a 3-2 win earlier this year.Root – the man widely considered next in line – said Cook’s drive to get better set the perfect example for a young team still finding their way.”He’s been developing as a captain since he took on the role, it’s something that you can never really practice until you actually do it and I thought the way he approached this Ashes, both on and off the field – obviously the way he trains and the example he sets as a player and batsman have always been exemplary, but as a leader and his tactical nous over the last 12 months has been remarkable. He’s always learning all the time and he’s always willing to learn, which is exactly what you want from a leader.”Under Cook, Root has become a key player for England, particularly since coming back from being dropped at the end of the 2013-14 Ashes, and already in 2015 he has broken his country’s record for international runs in a calendar year. Root hopes there is improvement still to come and cited a batsman England will come up against over the next few weeks, AB de Villiers, as the current gold standard.”He is a big inspiration and I think it’s important as players that we look to learn from guys like him,” Root said. “He’s one of the guys taking the game forward and moving it on all the time and we’ve got to make sure as individuals, we have that responsibility to try and develop our games and try and stick with the best in the world and go past them if we can.”

A round-up of the Under-19 World Cup matches played on January 27, 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jan-2016Group AA half-century from Nazmul Hossain Shanto steered Bangladesh U19 to a total of 240, which their bowlers defended with ease despite a hundred from the South Africa U19 opener Liam Smith. Smith was sedate at the start of his innings, and South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals, with seamer Mohammad Saifuddin firing in pinpoint yorkers and Bangladesh’s impressive assortment of spinners strangling the run rate expertly. Smith picked up the pace as he approached his hundred, but South Africa’s challenge effectively ended when he was caught brilliantly in the covers by the Bangladesh captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz in the 45th over of the innings. Bangladesh eventually won by 43 runs, with Saifuddin and offspinner Mehedi picking up three wickets each.Having opted to bat first, Bangladesh made steady progress, with Pinak Ghosh and Joyraz Sheikh scoring 40s before the left-handed Nazmul guided them through the middle and late overs with an 82-ball 73. South Africa chipped away at the wickets, with seamer Wiaan Mulder picking up three, but there were useful contributions right through the Bangladesh order, ensuring they reached what proved an amply defendable total.Group CDan Lawrence and Jack Burnham’s centuries led England U19 to a massive win over Fiji U19 in their Group C game in Chittagong. After opting to bat, England piled up 371 for 3 and then bowled out Fiji for 72 to complete a 299-run win.Cakacaka Tikoisuva removed Max Holden early, but Lawrence (174 off 150) and Burnham (148 off 137) combined for a 303-run second-wicket stand in 265 balls. Callum Taylor struck a brisk 21 and the last six overs yielded 89 runs as England raced to 371.Fiji were never in the chase from the start, losing five wickets within the first six overs, with Sam Curran and Saqib Mahmood doing much of the damage. Both picked up three wickets apiece, with Mahmood’s figures reading 5-4-2-3. Peni Vuniwaqa provided brief resistance with a 74-ball 36, but it was nowhere near enough. He was the last man out in the 28th over.