West Indies captain Jason Holder has conceded that his team’s bowling, including his own, was below par in their match against South Africa in St Kitts on Wednesday, where Hashim Amla’s century set up a hefty win for South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jun-20162:16

‘I just didn’t think we bowled well, it’s as simple as that’ – Jason Holder

West Indies captain Jason Holder has conceded that his team’s bowling, including his own, was below par in their match in St Kitts on Wednesday, where Hashim Amla’s century set up a hefty win for South Africa.Amla scored 110 out of South Africa’s 343 for 4, and his opening partnership of 182 with Quinton de Kock put South Africa firmly on top throughout the day. Holder bowled six overs and claimed 0 for 51, Jerome Taylor picked up 1 for 72 from eight, and only the spinners Sunil Narine and Sulieman Benn were able to keep the runs to five or less per over.”I just didn’t think we bowled well, it’s as simple as that,” Holder said. “The pitch was better than the last game, but having said that I still don’t think we bowled particularly well, especially in the first Powerplay.”Myself and Jerome – I thought Jerome bowled reasonably well in the first Powerplay but myself, I was totally off the mark. We paid for it. Credit must go to the way Hashim Amla played. I thought he was brilliant. But having said that I don’t think we bowled at our very best.”The strong South African batting came after they were sent in at the toss by Holder, typical of the West Indian preference to chase in limited-overs matches. Holder said he had no regrets about his decision, only about the way he and his men bowled.”If I could do it over I’d probably do the same thing again,” he said. “I just don’t think we bowled well. They got 340-odd. At the beginning of the game, you’d probably take 280 or 300, given the type of pitch and the dimensions of the ground. We just thought they were 40 or 50 runs too many, and we paid for it in the end.”South Africa’s victory meant that after six matches in Guyana and St Kitts, all three teams sit on two wins and two losses. South Africa have gained two bonus points, Australia one and West Indies none, and the teams have two matches each in Barbados to determine which sides will meet in the final at Kensington Oval.”After losing wickets in clusters, we never really got partnerships going to prevent them from getting the bonus point,” Holder said. “But it was in the back of our minds, to prevent them from getting the bonus point. But unfortunately we didn’t.”For all three teams it’s must-win. The points table is still very close. Whoever wins two games in Barbados is guaranteed a spot in the final. If you win one of the two you’ve got to wait and see how you finish on the table.”

Misbah-ul-Haq said that Pakistan could not cope with England’s mastery or reverse swing on the final day at Edgbaston

George Dobell07-Aug-2016Misbah-ul-Haq has admitted his batsmen did not have “any clue” how to handle the reverse swing generated by the England bowlers on the final day at Edgbaston.Pakistan lost four wickets for one run in mid-afternoon as England’s seamers transformed conditions that Misbah described as “easy” before lunch to those which they “could not handle”.It lead Misbah to suggest, with tongue in cheek, that Pakistan might have to think about sending their young bowlers to England to learn how to master the art of reverse swinging the ball; an irony considering it was Pakistan bowlers who perfected the art and England, for many years, were tortured by it.”Until lunch it was easy,” Misbah said. “But after lunch they got it reversing and we were not having any clue. We were trying to cope with it, but we could not handle it.”Anderson and Broad are used to these conditions. They are really experienced. Full credit to England for the way they fought back after we had a lead of more than 100.”I think we’ll just have to send someone to learn from England now how they’re reversing this ball. We could not do it even on the fourth day. I think they are really doing it well.”While Alastair Cook rated the victory as one of his most pleasing as England captain, he dismissed the possibility that England could reach No. 1 in the Test rankings over the next few weeks as “an irrelevance.”It is possible that, if England win the final Test and India do not win against West Indies, that England could reach the top spot. But Cook feels his side are still a couple of years from their peak and seems to regard the landmark as something of a distraction at present.”If we become number one there, that’s fantastic,” Cook said. “But it will be a bit of an irrelevance, because this side has still got much further to go.”If we do win at The Oval, I wouldn’t say we are anywhere near our potential. I thought that might come in a couple of years’ time.”Cook was especially pleased by the nature of the win bearing in mind that nobody in his side scored a century or claimed a five-wicket haul. Instead it was an impressive team performance with all five of his frontline bowlers claiming two wickets in the second innings – including Steven Finn, who bowled with hostility and claimed his first wickets of the series – while all seven batsmen contributed decent scores. England were not reliant on one or two outstanding individuals.”Everyone will be in the dressing-room feeling proud to be part of the team and feeling like they contributed,” Cook said. “That doesn’t always happen.”In an absolutely ideal world, I thought there were hundreds left out there. But everyone responded, and I think this side might have just toughened up a little bit. It was hard in the second innings. We weren’t scoring any runs, but everyone dug in.”But Cook refuted Misbah’s suggestion that the reverse swing was lavish and instead suggested it was his bowlers’ skill that magnified the small amount of assistance they gained.”We bowled brilliantly,” he said. “It reverse-swung a little bit. I don’t think it did it massively. It just did enough and if it does a bit either way, Jimmy and Stuart are very good.”Misbah could at least take some consolation in the emergence of Sami Aslam. The 20-year-old responded to his surprise call-up – this was his first first-class game of the year – by scoring 152 runs in the match and looking a player with the technique and temperament to enjoy a long career at this level.But he admitted the balance of the Pakistan side – with just four bowlers carrying a heavy burden – was putting them at a disadvantage and highlighted England’s all-rounders as a key difference between the sides”Sami looks a compact player and has shown great temperament,” Misbah said. “I am happy that he did well against such type of bowling: experienced bowlers in their own conditions. The way he handled the pressure was good to see. It’s good to find this sort of opener for Pakistan.”But having just four bowlers is a problem. We used to have Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik who could bowl, but here we don’t have that option now.”England have Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes. Here Yasir Shah carries a tremendous load and this is a problem for us.”

New Zealand have never won a Test series against South Africa, but given the balance in their current side and with recent form in their favour, this could be their best chance yet

The Preview by Firdose Moonda18-Aug-2016Match facts

August 19-23, Durban
Start time 1000 local (0800 GMT)1:31

New Zealand’s chance at first Test-series win against South Africa

Big Picture

The world has already accepted cricket as a year-round – and not summer – sport, and now it’s South Africa’s turn. This is the first time Test cricket will be played in what is essentially winter, although Durban’s balmy conditions beat summer in most places. The weather is certain, but at this time of the year, no one knows what to expect from the conditions, not even South Africa.The home side will begin their fresh start at an unfamiliar time of the year, and with their permanent captain and one of their premier pacemen out with injury. Stand-in leader Faf du Plessis admitted he does not know what to expect from the Durban strip, which did not appear unusually green the day before the match. Some say it will take turn, others feel it will be slow, and the prevailing view is that the quicks will have to work hard for their wickets.Among those are South Africa’s returning seamers, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander, who will play together for the first time since November last year. The pair sat out most of the previous summer with injuries, but has recovered ahead of a busy season. They will face a stern test against New Zealand’s strong batting line-up, who played themselves into form in the preceding two-Test series in Zimbabwe, but will know this will be a much sterner challenge.New Zealand were shot out for 45 in the first innings of the first Test they played in South Africa three years ago, and lost both matches in the series by an innings. But they used that humiliation as a catalyst to rebuild and have since racked up a string of good results at home, and, importantly for their growth as a team, away. They want to be able to build on that, although history does not favour them in this series.New Zealand have never won a Test series against South Africa, but could see this as their best chance. They are ranked two places ahead of the hosts, and with a similarly balanced side and recent form behind them, could be seen as favourites. But South Africa are not keen to concede the advantage early on and have promised to start more aggressively than before in a bid to begin their rebirth.

Form guide

South Africa WLDLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand WWLLW

In the spotlight

At the end of January, Faf du Plessis would have had reason to doubt he would play in this series. Du Plessis had scored one half-century in 13 innings dating back to South Africa’s tour of Bangladesh in July 2015 and was dropped for the Centurion Test against England. Fast-forward seven months and not only is du Plessis back in the team, but he is the captain in de Villiers’ injury-enforced absence. He will have to find form and a leadership style quickly as South Africa begin to rebuild.The last time New Zealand were in South Africa, BJ Watling was one of the few bright spots for the visitors. He finished behind Dean Brownlie in New Zealand’s batting charts with twin half-centuries in the Port Elizabeth Test. Since then, Watling has scored five Test centuries and has earned the praise of coach Mike Hesson for being able to change approach mid-game. Watling could bat as high as No. 5 in this series and will have additional run-scoring responsibility, which he has been tipped to take on with aplomb.

Team news

The much-anticipated return of Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander will give South Africa’s attack its reputation back. While Morkel will not be around, the pair have Kagiso Rabada as a third prong. Dane Piedt will operate as the only specialist spinner, while JP Duminy is certain to be called on to bowl a bit too. De Villiers’ absence will see the return of du Plessis, in a familiar, if lacking-for-form, middle order. Stephen Cook has been promised an extended run at the top, which will mean Stiaan van Zyl is sidelined.South Africa: (probable) 1 Stephen Cook, 2 Dean Elgar, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt), 5 Temba Bavuma, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Quinton de Kock (wk), 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dane Piedt, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Kagiso RabadaMost of the XI that did duty in Zimbabwe will retain their place. Henry Nicholls had an average series in Zimbabwe, where he failed to get past 20, but is likely to retain his place. Mitchell Santner, who has been asked to do more of an all-round job, may have a bigger role in both disciplines, and could also operate as the only specialist spinner. Conditions could keep Ish Sodhi out for Doug Bracewell to provide a fourth seam-bowling option.New Zealand: (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Doug Bracewell/Ish Sodhi 9 Neil Wagner, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Tim Southee

Pitch and conditions

A foreign surface awaits both teams, neither of which knows what to expect from early-season conditions. Without baking hot sunshine to harden the surface, there is talk of a strip that could be slower than the usual South African surface, and one which may also take turn early on. The outfield is the main concern as it appeared patchy in places.Durban’s rain-free winter was interrupted by showers in the week leading up to the Test and may interfere with the cricket. Rain is forecast for parts of Saturday and Monday, days two and four. Temperatures will remain in the early 20s with high humidity.

Stats and trivia

• South Africa and New Zealand have played each other in 14 Test series dating back to 1932. New Zealand have never won, but have managed three draws, most recently in 2003-04 in New Zealand
• There has never been a Test match played in Kingsmead in August
• Dale Steyn is 16 wickets away from overtaking Shaun Pollock as South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in Tests

Quotes

“I accept the fact that we haven’t played the best cricket. Losing 3-0 in India took a lot of our points away. It was tough conditions – we should have done better, but it was really tough. Where we are lying at the moment, at No. 6 or No. 7, is not where we are going to be. We have New Zealand at home and then Sri Lanka at home. If we win both these series, we will start to climb up the rankings.”
“I don’t think we regard ourselves as favourites. We know that South Africa are always a strong opposition, regardless of the rankings. For us the focus is on playing our cricket, going out there and adapting quickly.”

New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee has been ruled out of the three-match Test series against India which begins on September 22 in Kanpur

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2016New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee has been ruled out of the three-match Test series against India which begins on September 22 in Kanpur after a scan revealed a grade two ligament strain in his left ankle.

New Zealand’s Test squad

Kane Williamson (capt), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling
In: Matt Henry
Out: Tim Southee

Southee felt pain in his left foot during a training session and will now head back to New Zealand for rest and rehabilitation with a goal to be fit for the start of the five-match ODI series beginning on October 16 in Dharamsala.”Tim has been working hard in preparation for this tour, so he’s understandably very disappointed to be ruled out of all three Tests,” said New Zealand coach Mike Hesson. “The focus now is for Tim to give his ankle 7-10 days rest, before slowly building his bowling loads back up ahead of the ODI series.”The injury news robs New Zealand of their most experienced Test bowler, with Southee having taken 177 wickets in 52 Tests. Trent Boult is the next most capped New Zealand bowler, having played 43 Tests.Matt Henry has been drafted in as Southee’s replacement. Henry, 24, has played four Tests for New Zealand since debuting against England at Lord’s in May 2015. His last Test came in February against Australia at Christchurch where he finished with 0 for 134 in a combined 41 overs across both innings of Australia’s seven-wicket win. He was included in New Zealand’s Test squads for the tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa but did not play in any of the four Tests.

The BCCI has submitted an affidavit with the Supreme Court saying that 12 state associations have transferred funds received from the board between September 26 and October 1, 2016 to a term deposit

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-2016The BCCI has submitted an affidavit with the Supreme Court saying that 12 state associations have transferred funds received from the board between September 26 and October 1, 2016, to a term deposit with a bank and will not utilise those amounts without further instructions from the court. Such an undertaking fulfils one of the conditions laid down by the Supreme Court in its interim order on October 7.The associations of Andhra, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Punjab, Saurashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh were those that sent letters and supporting documents to the BCCI saying they had set aside the amounts ranging from INR 16 crore to INR 19 crore each.The BCCI’s affidavit, dated October 24, was signed by its general manager, administration and game development, Ratnakar Shetty.On October 7, the Supreme Court was told during a hearing that the BCCI had disbursed “substantial sums” to state associations before putting in place a disbursement policy, which was one of the Lodha Committee recommendations the board had to adopt by September 30.The total amount in question was INR 2500 crore, which the BCCI had received as compensation from the broadcaster on account of termination of the Champions League T20, which was discontinued in 2015.The court then directed the state associations not to use the amounts received, and told the BCCI that no further money should be given unless the state association passed a resolution to implement the Lodha Committee’s recommendations.After a subsequent hearing on October 21, the states were told they had until December 3 to provide an affidavit stating their willingness to comply with the Lodha Committee’s recommendations.

Chittagong Vikings captain Tamim Iqbal said that he asked the local players in his team to perform as well as their overseas signings

Mohammad Isam08-Nov-2016Chittagong Vikings captain Tamim Iqbal said that he had urged the local players in his side to step up and match the performances of their overseas signings, ahead of their 29-run win over defending champions Comilla Victorians in the BPL opener on Tuesday.”Before today’s match, I told our local players, although we have four or five big names, you cannot become their shadows,” Tamim said. “BPL is our tournament. Bangladesh doesn’t lose ten out of ten games anymore. The local players have to show that they are good cricketers. They have to express themselves. Every BPL, we find one or two Bangladeshi heroes, so I want one from our team this year.”Tamim made 54, and Jahurul Islam contributed 29 in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 60 with Shoaib Malik to steer Chittagong to 161 for 3 in 20 overs. Later, Abdur Razzak bowled four very good overs, but the rest of the work was done by Mohammad Nabi and Tymal Mills. Taskin Ahmed, who took one wicket and a catch, bowled a poor last over.Comilla’s situation was worse and they need their local batsmen to quickly step up to enable the inclusion of bowlers like Rashid Khan. “If we keep playing more overseas batsmen, we will have to play with a bowler short. Already, we haven’t found a place for Rashid Khan, so it won’t be possible for us to use more overseas batsmen. Our local players are capable, but they have to take more responsibilities in the field,” Comilla captain Mashrafe Mortaza said.Mashrafe further said that local batsmen will have to get used to fast bowlers like Mills, who shook the Comilla batsmen with his variations in pace. “Batsmen from our country aren’t quite accustomed to play the sort of pace generated by Tymal Mills, who is very quick. Still, it was a good experience for Shanto, who would have handled him better had there been more wickets in hand.”Mills’ slower deliveries are also quite effective, because everyone thinks about his pace.”Local players have dominated the batting and bowling charts in the last three editions of the tournament. In 2015, there were five local players among the top ten batsmen, with Imrul Kayes second, while Abu Hider was the second-highest wicket-taker. In the edition before that, in 2013, there were six locals among the top-ten batsmen, with Mushfiqur Rahim topping the run charts and Shamsur Rahman at third, and Enamul Haque jnr was third in the bowling charts. In the inaugural edition in 2012, Elias Sunny was the joint-highest wicket-taker with Mohammad Sami, but the batsmen didn’t fare too well.

South Australia reached 5 for 360 in the first day against Victoria at the MCG

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-2016
ScorecardTravis Head scored his fourth first-class century (file photo)•Getty Images

Travis Head scored the fourth century of his first-class career, while Tom Cooper and Jake Weatherald also piled on the runs as South Australia dominated the first day against Victoria at the MCG. At stumps, the Redbacks had motored along to 5 for 360, with Cooper on 93 and in-form wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey on 17.However, Callum Ferguson’s lean patch continued when he was caught behind off Scott Boland for 5. It means that Ferguson has failed to reach double figures in any of his past six first-class innings, with a run of scores reading 0, 3, 1, 4, 4 and 5. Two of those innings – the 3 and the 1 – came in his appearance for Australia in the Hobart Test.Weatherald struck a brisk 88 before he was also caught behind off Boland, and Jake Lehmann was lbw to Jon Holland for 2, which left South Australia at 4 for 133. But Head and Cooper then combined for a 188-run stand that pushed the Redbacks up over 300, and brought Head his first hundred of the season.Always a promising batsman, Head took until the 64th innings of his first-class career – in November last year – to finally score a century. He now has four in the space of just over 12 months, and moved on to 130 before he was bowled, the third wicket for Boland.Cooper, celebrating his 30th birthday, also continued his productive start to the summer. He began the Shield campaign with 138 against Western Australia in Perth and has the perfect opportunity to bring up a ninth first-class hundred on day two.