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England batsman sealed the spoils with 150 from 77 balls, but was pushed closer than anyone could have imagined

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Feb-2019Jos Buttler said that England’s hard-fought victory over a Chris Gayle-powered West Indies in Grenada was the ideal dress rehearsal ahead of this summer’s World Cup, as their No. 1 team were pushed to the limits before sealing a remarkable 29-run win in a match lit up by two displays of world-class hitting.Buttler sealed the spoils with his innings of 150 from 77 balls, including 12 sixes and an acceleration from 50 to 150 in a mere 31 deliveries. But Gayle pushed him closer than anyone could have imagined with his riposte of 162 from 97, and could well have edged it had he not been bowled by Ben Stokes with 15 full overs of the chase remaining.”It was hectic,” Buttler told afterwards. “I’m trying to catch my breath. It was an unbelievable game of cricket. I think as a side, being put under a huge amount of pressure in a game like that, we showed a huge amount of character to come through it.”England’s victory ensures them at least a share of the spoils in what is now a four-match series after Monday’s washout. And a win in Saturday’s finale in St Lucia will guarantee they remain top of the rankings going into their final World Cup preparations against Ireland and Pakistan in May.But having been forced to hunt down a hefty target of 361 in their first match in Barbados, before being stung by an untimely collapse at the same ground two days later, Buttler believed that England had learned some valuable lessons against a hugely competitive West Indies side with a resurgent world-beater in their ranks.”It’s a great dress rehearsal, with lots of pressure,” he said. “But it just goes to show, no matter who’s favourite, on any given day there will be unbelievable games of cricket, and if Chris Gayle is in the opposition, you can lose those games. I’ve probably never seen anyone hit sixes as easy as he can. He’s a legend of the game.”As England’s vice-captain, Buttler was right in the thick of the permutations as England attempted to stem the tide during West Indies’ pursuit.”There were lots of discussions out in the middle,” he said. “We needed wickets all the time, because we felt that if Gayle batted long enough they’d win the game, which is incredible when you’ve got 420 on the board.”In the end, the game was sealed in two contrasting but character-filled performances from Mark Wood, who was an aggressive handful with new ball and old, and picked up four wickets all told, and Adil Rashid, who recovered from some rough treatment early in his day’s work to scalp four wickets in a single over to complete a remarkable five-wicket haul.”Mark Wood was outstanding again,” Buttler said. “He bowled fantastically, with a lot of confidence, charging in and bowling fast. A fit and firing Wood has got that X-factor.”And I like the way that Adil wants the ball in those situations. Being able to spin the ball both ways, he’s tough to get after. We juggled the bowlers well, and for Adil to bowl an over like that at that time was special. We were put under great pressure and did well to stand up to it.”However, it was Buttler himself who produced the Man-of-the-Match performance, with a blistering innings that he was at a loss to explain afterwards.”It was special,” he said. “I enjoyed it, because when you get into that zone, to continue it is pleasing. Range hitting is fun, I enjoy practising it in the nets, with no consequences, just learning to have fun, improvise and improve.”I had a chat with Joe Root [when I came to the crease], he said we needed north of 350, so knowing that was at the back of my mind. With 12-13 overs left, we were well set so it was time to kick on.”That’s one of the strengths of the team,” he added. “There are no egos, we have a lots of guys willing to bat in a multitude of positions, with no set batting order.”Gayle was also full of praise for Buttler’s performance after the match, albeit with a jokey caveat.”Buttler is superb,” he said. “You can’t take away the fact that he’s one of the best strikers in the world today … but he’s not close to the Universe Boss though!”But he’s a youngster, he’ll get there eventually. He’s showcased his talent all round the world. He’s a game changer, a game winner, any team needs a Buttler in their team to win them games.”He’s a superb player, he’s been in superb form from the last IPL, and he’s done this for England for some time. He’s a key player, batted superbly well and took the game away from us.”

Batsman will play in the Bangladesh Cricket League, along with seven other players who are in contention for the national team

Mohammad Isam04-Jan-2018Mosaddek Hossain’s return to international cricket remains on track, despite his being kept out of the teams for both of Bangladesh’s practice matches – on January 6 and 9 – ahead of the tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe which starts from January 15. The two teams will led by Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza.Mosaddek will instead be playing for Central Zone next week in the Bangladesh Cricket League, a first-class competition. Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said that Mosaddek would get a longer time to bat in the middle for Central Zone. “He is definitely in contention for the ODI squad selection. But we want him to play a longer innings, so we are sending him to the BCL,” he said.Apart from Mosaddek, Shafiul Islam, Mominul Haque, Subashis Roy, Shadman Islam, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Taijul Islam, and Mahedi Hasan have all been released for the BCL’s first round, which is scheduled to begin from January 9.The 22-year-old Mosaddek last played international cricket during the Champions Trophy in 2017, before picking up an eye infection which kept him out of Bangladesh’s Test series against Australia and South Africa. Mosaddek had impressed in his only Test, against Sri Lanka early in 2017, hitting a crucial 75 in the first innings in Colombo.Mosaddek had limited opportunity in the recently-concluded Bangladesh Premier League where he batted mostly in the lower order for Dhaka Dynamites, scoring 64 runs in nine innings.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said day-night Tests are likely to be the future of cricket, just the way Twenty20s have gained popularity over ODIs in the last few years

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2016Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said day-night Tests are likely to be the future of cricket, just the way Twenty20s have gained popularity over ODIs in the last few years. Misbah also expressed reservations about the visibility of the pink ball, but said it would probably lead to “a fair competition between bat and ball”.”At the moment, it looks like [the future] keeping in mind the interest of the audience, who want to watch Test cricket,” Misbah said a day before Pakistan’s first day-night Test, against West Indies in Dubai. “After they [spectators] come from work, it’s a good opportunity and you will see it mostly in future. Let’s see how it goes with the pink ball, it’s an experiment. First the one-day came, then Twenty20 came, so [day-night Test] is a good step to keep the Tests alive.”When asked about the pink ball in particular, Misbah’s main concern related to the timing of the Test; he said the players would have to readjust to the pink ball once the lights come on later in the day. Misbah also did not hesitate to crack a joke, when asked if the pink ball needed more grass to survive on.”The only difference is the different timing [of the matches], just the visibility because it’s different for red ball and white ball,” he said. “Maybe when the pink ball gets older, you have to look at it carefully as a batsman because it could be difficult at times [under lights]. You need to make a few adjustments here and there. Overall, it’s good playing under lights also. It’s not like it’s terribly difficult for the batsmen. It’s a fair competition between bat and ball.”Maybe the pink ball survives on grassy pitches but we also have to make sure that we survive as a team,” Misbah said with a laugh. “You look at your strengths and I believe that it’s up to the team; the better team performs well in all conditions and that is the bottom line. I think if you are a good team, then you do well irrespective of the circumstances. Forget about the pink ball and lights, just go out and perform.”Pakistan had recently moved to No. 2 in the ICC Test rankings after drawing 2-2 in England, and rose to the top for the first time since the current ranking system was introduced when India’s last Test in the West Indies was washed out. Now No. 2 again after India’s home series win against New Zealand, Misbah said they would rather focus on the upcoming series against West Indies than the rankings.”That’s not important for us,” Misbah said. “The most important thing is to do well; we are more attentive to our performance in this series. You can’t take West Indies lightly because they are a young side and they have everything to prove and such a side is more motivated. We have done well in the last six years, did well on the England tour so the expectations are high.”Misbah on Babar Azam’s chances: ‘I think there could be no better time than this to make his Test debut’•Getty Images

Pakistan would, however, be without Younis Khan for the first Test as the batsman was advised 10 days of rest to recover from a bout of dengue fever. That would probably mean a debut for an in-form Babar Azam, who struck three straight centuries in the recent ODIs, and maybe a shuffle in the batting order too. Pakistan had already moved Azhar Ali to No. 3 during the England tour after Shoaib Malik’s Test retirement last year, and tried Asad Shafiq ahead of Younis only for the fourth Test, in which Shafiq shone with a century.”I think at the start it was tough, we had to do that in England and considering the conditions it was tough. Not only promoting Azhar but also Asad for No. 3,” Misbah said. “Once we did that and it was successful, we know can do that again. It was a chance to bring in the fifth bowler and bring in a youngster at No. 7. I think a window has opened. I think opening and batting at No. 3 here is a good opportunity before the [upcoming away] New Zealand series, so it’s an advantage to do this before a tough series and settle down on a structure and a balance.”I think there could be no better time than this to make his Test debut,” Misbah said of Azam. “He has played mature innings and has developed well. He has played well not only here but also in New Zealand and looks a good prospect. He is lucky to get a chance at this time, unfortunately because of Younis’ absence due to ill health, but I think this is the best time.”Pakistan will be playing their 400th Test starting Thursday and Misbah said it would be a source of “motivation” for the players to make the historic match “memorable” for them.

A round-up of the Momentum One Day Cup matches on October 23, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Oct-2015Alviro Petersen’s fourth hundred in as many innings set up Lions‘ 184-run win over Knights in Potchefstroom.The margin of victory meant Lions pocketed the bonus point to lift themselves into the third spot at the halfway mark in the competition.Petersen, who made a 128-ball 134, found support from Neil McKenzie (56), Dwaine Pretorious (50 off 22 balls) and Stephen Cook (42) as Lions posted an imposing 317 for 6 in 50 overs after being sent in to bat. The Knights’ chase fizzled out early as they lost their top five inside 100 runs, with the side eventually bowled out for 133 in 34.5 overs.Eddie Leie, the legspinner who was recently part of the T20I series in India, returned figures of 5 for 30, while Pretorious also contributed with the ball with three scalps.Warriors beat Cobras by five wickets in Cape Town to cement their second spot in the points standings. Sisanda Magala, the pacer, picked five wickets to restrict Cobras to 250 for 9. That they got there was courtesy a 98-ball 77 from captain Justin Ontong.Warriors were driven by Colin Ingram, who top-scored with 77 to help the team march ahead of the asking rate. Although they lost two quick wickets to leave the team at 174 for 5, the momentum provided by Ingram helped them prevail. Christiaan Jonker (44 not out) and Colin Ackermann (35 not out) shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 79 to see the Warriors home with seven balls to spare.

1,000 silver Ashes urns were displayed on the Lord’s outfield to mark 100 days until the Ashes

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-2013With 100 days to go until the London Olympics, Seb Coe was planting trees at Kew Gardens, Weymouth council were building sandcastles and the London 2012 motto “inspire a generation” was born.Having arrived at the same landmark ahead of this summer’s Ashes, MCC will be hoping one of the world’s most iconic series can also enthuse new crop of cricketers.As a reminder of what is to come this summer and to launch Chance to Shine’s campaign to promote good sportsmanship in schools, the Lord’s outfield was given the Art Attack treatment, minus Neil Buchanan, as schoolchildren helped create a giant Ashes urn.1,000 silver urns were used to balloon the smallest trophy in world sport to a giant 30 x 15 metre glittering outline on the Lord’s turf as the countdown to July 10 began, when the opening Ashes Test will take place at Trent Bridge.The new campaign will see 1,500 replica urns going around the country to 4,500 state schools where Chance to Shine cricket coaches will deliver hundreds of MCC Spirit of Cricket assemblies and lessons in good sportsmanship to around 400,000 children.”It may feel more like winter outside than summer but every cloud has a silver lining: there are just 100 days to go until the start of the Ashes,” Chance to Shine chief executive Wasim Khan, said. “And this summer there will not just be one Ashes series taking place but hundreds of them in schools up and down the country, thanks to our partnership with MCC. We’ll be using these replicas of the famous urn to inspire children to take up the game and to teach them about MCC’s Spirit of Cricket message: ‘play hard, play fair’.”

Adam Gilchrist will double up as coach-cum-captain at Kings XI Punjab starting this season

Nagraj Gollapudi23-Mar-2012

Injured Rimmington out

Western Australia fast bowler Nathan Rimmington is injured and has been ruled out for the entire IPL season. Rimmington has been diagnosed with medial tibial plateau stress reaction.
Kings XI had picked Rimmington at the auction last year for $20,000. The franchise said that they would not be seeking any replacement for Rimmington because they have a spare overseas fast bowler in Australia left-armer James Faulkner.

Adam Gilchrist will double up as coach-cum-captain at Kings XI Punjab starting this season. The franchise has appointed Gilchrist, the former Australia wicketkeeper, as head coach for the next three years.Gilchrist will find ample Australian support on the coaching bench: Joe Dawes, the newly-appointed India bowling coach, and Mike Young, fielding consultant previously with Cricket Australia, would serve as Kings XI bowling and fielding coaches respectively. Vikram Rathour, currently coach of the Punjab state team in domestic cricket, will be the assistant coach to Gilchrist.Gilchrist replaced his former Australia teammate Michael Bevan, whose contract was not renewed by the franchise. “We were impressed with his leadership and his technical skills in his first year at Punjab. So it was a natural progression to make him in charge of everything cricket at KXIP,” Arvinder Singh, the head of the franchise’s management, told ESPNcricinfo.Arvinder said the franchise felt there was no need for an exclusive head coach for various reasons. “You don’t have access to your players through the year. You just get to meet them a week to ten days before the IPL starts and then you play sixteen games through the season. So the coach is not going to be somebody who is going to upgrade your skills during that period,” Arvinder said. “You need a person who can understand each individual and the kind of value he brings to the team and utilise it to the maximum.”Gilchrist, Arvinder pointed out, was the right person in the right place to accomplish that. “Gilchrist is the captain and with his vast experience is in a good position. It is best to let one guy decide along with the right support staff and let him decide things.”Meanwhile, Patrick Farhart, who served as Kings XI physiotherapist in the first three seasons of the IPL before moving last year to Mumbai Indians has returned.Edited by Abhishek Purohit

Nick Kruger booked his new side Tasmania a place in the Sheffield Shield final with a century on the first day against New South Wales in Hobart, after the Blues were rolled for their sixth-lowest Shield total of all time

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Mar-2011
ScorecardNick Kruger booked his new side Tasmania a place in the Sheffield Shield final with a century on the first day against New South Wales in Hobart, after the Blues were rolled for their sixth-lowest Shield total of all time. Adam Maher picked up 5 for 14 and Luke Butterworth (3 for 20) continued his outstanding form to skittle New South Wales for 74, before Kruger helped the Tigers cruise to first-innings points.That was enough to ensure they will play in the final, although New South Wales are also likely to reach the decider due to their healthy buffer from the third-placed Queensland. But they will need to lift after their effort at Bellerive, where they were sent in and quickly capitulated to Butterworth and Ben Hilfenhaus, who collected two wickets.New South Wales were 4 for 11 and they never recovered, only just lasting until after lunch. Following the break, Kruger, who was axed by Queensland during the off season, powered to triple figures, totally dominating as Tasmania reached 2 for 204. At stumps, Kruger was unbeaten on 124 with the Tasmania captain George Bailey on 25.