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England star Mary Earps is driving her Manchester United team-mate Phallon Tullis-Joyce to get even better, Red Devils boss Marc Skinner believes.

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Earps and Tullis-Joyce both praised by SkinnerEngland's No.1 firmly first-choice at Man UtdBut is also driving her team-mate to new levelsWHAT HAPPENED?

Tullis-Joyce joined the club in September after shining in the NWSL with the Seattle Reign but has found it difficult to usurp the Lionesses' No.1 for opportunities. The American did start all four of United's Continental Cup games but Earps was preferred for the clash with second-tier Southampton in the FA Cup last week, a game many thought she would be rested for.

AdvertisementWHAT SKINNER SAID

Asked about the competition between the two goalkeepers on Thursday, Skinner praised both – Earps for the standards she sets and Tullis-Joyce for her desire to meet them. "I recently had a meeting with with Phallon, just to catch up really and just to reiterate the quality she has. She's a fantastic goalkeeper – but she's also behind the world's number one goalkeeper. That's the level," Skinner said.

"The beauty of Phallon is that she wants to raise her game to try and get to Mary's standard. Mary's difference is in the mind, the way she thinks, the way she moves, the way she prepares. She almost sees the danger before it comes. I'm in that fortunate but unfortunate position of having to not play one of them but Mary is at the highest of levels and Phallon wants to get there. I think she understands the journey, I think she understands what she has to do."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Tullis-Joyce could well inherit the first-choice role at United later this year as Earps is out of contract at the club and is attracting interest from several parties. There is still a chance that the England star could stay and sign a new deal, though.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Only Manchester City teenager Khiara Keating (6) has kept more clean sheets in the Women's Super League this season than Earps (5).

Paul van Meekeren took 4 for 11 as Netherlands ended their World T20 with victory over Ireland in a six-over match

The Report by David Hopps13-Mar-2016
Scorecards and ball-by-ball detailsPaul van Meekeren is ecstatic after dismissing Max Sorensen•ICC/Getty ImagesIreland’s faith in themselves as the leading nation among cricket’s cold-shouldered fraternity was dented when they lost to the Netherlands in Sylhet in the 2014 World Twenty20. Two years on, their sense of well-being has been further eroded in a six-over thrash on a cold and grouchy day in Dharamsala that fell Netherlands’ way by 12 runsThere was snow on the mountain tops in Himachal Pradesh, if the drizzle had cleared the temperatures were plunging and Ireland felt the chill as once they were again tormented by the side in orange.Sainsbury’s supermarket was once forced to ditch its orange branding when the elderly citizens of Frinton-on-Sea, England’s staidest seaside resort, complained it was too garish, and increasingly Ireland will look upon the Netherlands and know how they feel.The orange flash at deep midwicket that sparkled most brightly of all came 14 balls into Ireland’s pursuit of 60 and belonged to Pieter Seelaar as he sprinted along the midwicket boundary before clinging to a slick diving catch. There will be few better in the tournament proper. Paul van Meekeren banged the ball in back of a length, Kevin O’Brien’s pull was middled, but the shot that might have broken the run chase (had it gone for six Ireland would have been 34 for 1 after 14 balls) was instead the harbinger of Ireland’s growing despondency.As for van Meekeren, a return of 4 for 11 will awaken a little interest, one suspects, in English county cricket. By the time he began the final over, Ireland were still 20 short, and he demolished the stumps of Max Sorensen and George Dockrell to ensure there was no monkey business.Whatever occurred, both countries knew at the start of this match that they were already eliminated. There was no mountain left to climb – just the Himalayas to look at as they headed to the airport, but Netherlands headed there much the happier.Twas a game, of sorts, and there was a passion to win it. Only one Ireland player was allowed to bowl two overs and Dockrell’s left-arm spin proved to be a wise choice, registering 3 for 7, and producing catching opportunities from three of his first five balls, two of which were taken. Seven dot balls out of 12, including an over in the Powerplay, was an astounding effort that might have brought victory.The Dharamsala pitch offered up its usual plasticine consistency, but Dockrell found turn all the same as Netherlands’ batsmen floundered against him. Tom Cooper slogged his third ball to mid-on, affording the opportunity to prey upon Roelof van der Merwe who was promoted to No. 3.It did not work out for van der Merwe. Twice, he slogged Dockrell’s left-arm spin to the legside. Kevin O’Brien spilled the first – a slice to long-off and a grimace from O’Brien as he landed heavily, but van der Merwe’s next attempt was entirely bungled and he fell off the cue end at short third man.The coup de grace came in Dockrell’s second over when his turn outdid Wesley Barresi as he came down the pitch, leaving Niall O’Brien with a simple stumping.Memories of Sylhet in 2014 meant that Ireland were particularly wary of Stephan Myburgh. When Netherlands chased down 190 in 13.5 overs in the World T20 two years ago, the muscular Myburgh got 63 – his 50, in 17 balls standing as the equal third fastest in T20Is.On this occasion he was dropped on 9 by Paul Stirling at deep midwicket but was still restricted to 27 from 18 balls before he was run out against the penultimate ball. Dockrell bowled only one ball at him – the first ball of his spell – and got away with a leg bye off his waist.Stirling was quick to address Ireland’s chase. He twice walked across his stumps in Timm van der Gugten’s first over to flick him over fine leg for six. But Seelaar’s thrilling intervention changed the complexion of the game and Stirling fell to the next ball, his ramp shot collected at third man.At 28 for 3 off 2.3, Ireland had opportunity even in a six-over game for a settling period, but their plight worsened when Gary Wilson and Andrew Poynter departed against van der Merwe within three balls – Wilson falling to a reverse sweep, Poynter skying a rustic slog.With 25 needed from two, and only five wickets remaining, Netherlands were suddenly favourites. A fine penultimate over from Mudassar Bukhari meant 20 were needed off the last. They never got close.And that, for Ireland and Netherlands, was that. A dead rubber in a qualifying tournament disrupted by rain and in a state where most attention has been drawn by a grandstanding chief minister, was a cruel end for both sides to their stay in Himachal Pradesh.But they remained as driven as ever by the need to advertise their worth, propelled by an entrenched sense of anger towards a sport that limits their appearances to occasional token appearances and a lack of expansionist philosophy in the higher echelons of the ICC. Even in a match reduced to 72 balls, their passion insisted that they deserve better.

Sri Lanka Cricket’s hunt for the next national coach is not necessarily confined to its two-man shortlist of Marvan Atapattu and Mark Davis, CEO Ashley de Silva has confirmed

Andrew Fidel Fernando20-Nov-2013Sri Lanka Cricket’s hunt for the next national coach is not necessarily confined to its two-man shortlist of Marvan Atapattu and Mark Davis, CEO Ashley de Silva has confirmed.SLC had narrowed its field of candidates down to Atapattu and Davis on November 6, stating they would carry out a final round of interviews with these two applicants. However, while either man could still end up with the job, it is possible the SLC will look further afield, if the board’s executive committee deems it necessary.The committee appointed to nominate the next coach will present its proposals to the executive committee over the next fortnight, and at least one of those proposals precludes both Atapattu and Davis from the position. De Silva, who is part of the coach-nomination committee, said the committee would be “giving some options” to the executive committee.”The committee to nominate a coach met last week, and we will make our proposal to the executive committee,” de Silva said. “Once the executive committee ratifies something, we will release it to the press. The executive committee meeting will hopefully be sometime next week – the date has not yet been set.”SLC was underwhelmed with the 11 candidates who initially applied for the role, and kept its application process open long beyond the initial deadline. The board also approached several high-profile coaches, including Greg Chappell and Tim Nielsen who turned SLC down, while talks with Steve Rixon broke down, largely over the question of pay.The coach-nomination committee does not have a specific individual in mind, if neither Atapattu nor Davis are deemed suitable by the board. However, Dav Whatmore who coached Sri Lanka to a World Cup win in the first of his two stints with Sri Lanka, has recently become free, after the Pakistan Cricket Board chose not to extend his contract.Atapattu has been Sri Lanka’s batting coach since 2011, before he was promoted to the position of assistant coach in March this year. Davis is a relatively low-profile candidate, currently among the coaching staff at Sussex. He played first-class cricket in South Africa and England.Current coach Graham Ford finishes his tenure with Sri Lanka at the end of January, after the team’s away tour against Pakistan. He had opted not to renew his contract with SLC, citing family reasons.

ESPNcricinfo’s preview of the one-off ODI between Afghanistan and Australia in Sharjah

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale25-Aug-2012Match factsThis will be the first match of any format between Australia and Afghanistan•UAE Cricket BoardAugust 25-26, 2012
Start time 1800 (1400 GMT)
Big PictureTen years ago, the idea of a one-day international between Australia and Afghanistan seemed about as plausible as playing cricket on the moon. But Afghanistan’s cricket progress has been one of the most remarkable success stories in the game’s recent history and now they have a chance to play Australia for the first time. The one-off match will be Afghanistan’s second ODI against an ICC full member and Cricket Australia’s chief executive James Sutherland said when he announced the fixture last month that he hoped it would help the development of the Afghanistan team.”Everyone in world cricket have been really impressed with how cricket has flourished in Afghanistan, despite its pressing national problems,” Sutherland said at the time. “As an ICC member, CA strongly supports world cricket’s ambition for cricket to continue to develop as a global sport and that, combined with the strong relationships between our two countries, encouraged us to look at how we might recognise and encourage Afghanistan by playing them on the field.”Australia are expected to win the match but their captain Michael Clarke was careful not to underestimate Afghanistan before the game, noting that they would be more familiar with the conditions, whereas Australia have just come from a tour of England and a cold winter back home. The Afghanistan captain Nawroz Mangal said the match would be “a huge moment” for all of his players.There is another reason this fixture is significant: it is rare, if not unprecedented, for a one-day international to be played across two days. The extreme heat in the UAE forced a rethink of the playing times for a 50-over contest and to avoid the worst of the sun, it was decided that Australia’s ODIs against Afghanistan and Pakistan would start at 6pm and would be scheduled to finish at 1.45am. It is not so much day-night cricket as night-morning cricket.Form guide (Complete matches, most recent first)Afghanistan LWLLW
Australia LLLLWWatch out forThe legspinner Samiullah Shenwari is Afghanistan’s leading wicket taker in one-day internationals, with 27 victims at 26.66. He also doesn’t mind the conditions in Sharjah, where he has played five of his 22 ODIs, and where he picked up his best figures of 4 for 31 against Canada. The Australians will be a stiffer challenge, but on a pitch expected to offer some turn he could prove a tricky customer.Glenn Maxwell will become Australia’s 196th one-day international player and the sixth man to debut for them in the format this year. In 2010-11, he broke the record for the fastest half-century in Australian domestic one-day history, with a 19-ball effort for Victoria, and he will provide some strikepower in the lower middle order. He is athletic in the field and will enjoy bowling on the turning Sharjah surface.Team newsAfghanistan have named a 15-man squad, with their captain Nawroz Mangal back in the mix after he missed their most recent matches in Ireland in July.Afghanistan (possible) 1 Karim Sadiq, 2 Javed Ahmadi, 3 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 4 Nawroz Mangal (capt), 5 Najibullah Zadran, 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Asghar Stanikzai, 8 Samiullah Shenwari, 9 Gulbodin Naib, 10 Dawlat Zadran, 11 Shapoor ZadranAustralia have named their starting XI ahead of time. Maxwell will make his international debut and Clarke has promoted himself to No.3. The four players to miss out from within the squad were Callum Ferguson, Daniel Christian, Steven Smith and Alister McDermott.Australia 1 Matthew Wade (wk), 2 Dave Warner, 3 Michael Clarke (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 George Bailey, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 James Pattinson, 11 Xavier DohertyPitch and conditions”The wicket looks quite hard, there’s no grass on it at all,” Clarke said on the day before the match. “I think as the game goes on there’ll probably be a bit more spin throughout the game.”The weather can be summed up in one word: scorching. Even late at night the temperature is not expected to dip below 34C.Stats and trivia This is Afghanistan’s second ODI against a full member of the ICC; they lost their first by seven wickets to Pakistan in Sharjah in February Although most of their games have been against fellow associate members, Afghanistan have an impressive ODI record, having won 12 of the 22 matches they have played The No.3 position has been a problem for Australia in ODIs recently; in the past year they have used six batsmen there for a combined average of 21.13
Quotes”This will be a huge moment for every single one of us, playing against the mighty Australians.”
“They’ve played a lot of cricket over the last couple of weeks in preparation for the T20 World Cup. It’s an opportunity for them to come out with nothing to lose and plenty to gain.”

Dhaka Gladiators opener and Pakistan batsman Imran Nazir was hit on the head by a Peter Trego bouncer during the Bangladesh Premier League game in Chittagong today

Mohammad Isam22-Feb-2012Dhaka Gladiators opener and Pakistan batsman Imran Nazir was hit on the head by a Peter Trego bouncer during the Bangladesh Premier League game in Chittagong.Nazir suffered the blow in the seventh over of Dhaka’s chase against Sylhet Royals when he was on 31. He had a hat on rather than a helmet and immediately went down to the ground holding his head. Minutes later he walked off with physio Vibhav Singh holding an ice-pack on the injured area on the side of Nazir’s head.Nazir was immediately taken to a local clinic where it was found that he was out of danger. The medical reports showed that he had suffered soft tissue damage. As a precautionary measure, Nazir will be kept under observation in Chittagong for an additional day. Dhaka’s next game is against Chittagong Kings at home on February 24.

For the second time in four days, India and West Indies showed that big hits aren’t crucial ingredients in absorbing cricket

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran29-Nov-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Nos. 10 and 11, Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav, managed to string together the 11 runs India required to take a 1-0 lead in the series•AFPFor the second time in four days, India and West Indies showed that big hits aren’t crucial ingredients in absorbing cricket. As in the Mumbai Test, the final delivery of the match was punched to long-on, but this time there were no tears for the home fans as last man Umesh Yadav’s drive went for four to end a pulsating match.It wasn’t the highest quality of cricket, but there was no shortage of entertainment for a voluble Cuttack crowd watching its first international match in two years. Rohit Sharma seemed to have sealed the game with a mostly level-headed half-century after India slipped to 59 for 5, but his dismissal 11 runs short of the target provided an extra dollop of suspense to an already tumultuous match.Watching tailenders bat ranks high among the enjoyable sidelights in cricket, and watching a panicky No. 10 Varun Aaron and Umesh, with all of 10 ODI caps between them, negotiate the final passage was a heart-warmer. The two came together after Vinay Kumar, a relatively more skilled batsman, lost his head and his wicket by charging out and holing out to mid-off, and that five deliveries after Rohit’s dismissal.Eleven runs were needed from the final pair, off 23 deliveries. It was to be expected that the predominant mood in the middle wouldn’t be calm-and-collected, but it was still hard to explain the thinking behind Aaron declining a single off the fifth delivery of the 47th, so that he could take strike in the next over. A visibly stricken Rohit couldn’t believe that decision, and substitute Ajinkya Rahane muttered under his breath.A spell of 15 dot balls was finally ended by Aaron thumping the ball to long-off for a single. More headless-chicken stuff followed as Umesh nurdled the fifth ball of the 48th, with Aaron this time desperately wanting a non-existent second in another attempt to face the start of the next over.In Aaron’s defence, Umesh wasn’t exactly the most confidence-inspiring of batsmen, regularly planting his front foot across the stumps and poking at the ball. Umesh managed to sneak a single towards square leg off the first delivery of the penultimate over, for which the pacy Andre Russell might have been a better choice than the innocuous Darren Sammy. An on-target yorker at Russell’s pace could have been the game, but Sammy perhaps feared the edged boundary to third man or fine leg.In any case, Sammy’s second delivery was a hit-me short-and-wide delivery that was dispatched for four by Aaron, to bring India within four of victory. He guided the next ball towards point for a single, and in his enthusiasm to look for yet another unlikely second, he slipped and had to settle for one. Umesh coolly shouldered arms to the next delivery, before punching a length ball past mid-on for the boundary that extended India’s winning streak in home ODIs to ten. It also ended Aaron’s mad scramble for the second run, something he famously did, without delivering victory, off the final delivery in the Mumbai Test.At the other extreme when it comes to taking the second is R Ashwin, who was mildly criticised after delaying setting off for the potentially winning-run in Mumbai. This time he will receive a lot more criticism, after staying put for too long though his senior partner Rohit was running to the danger end, and was confident of making it.Before that run-out, India were 54 away with plenty of overs to go, with Rohit and Ashwin – fresh from a Test century – in the middle. A fairly comfortable state, which India reached due to a 83-run stand for the sixth wicket between Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja. That stand administered CPR to a chase that was fast fading at 59 for 5.Rohit played the more expansive strokes – a stylish six over the bowler, a textbook cover drive for four off Russell, followed by a controlled pull for another boundary. Jadeja was more content playing the no-frills role, picking up several of his boundaries through glides behind point. It was crucial innings for both players – Rohit, returning after several months out due to a finger injury, is looking to secure a spot in the crowded middle order, while Jadeja is still to emphatically prove he deserves a spot as high as No. 7.All the drama seemed unlikely when India’s openers galloped to 37 four overs into the chase. The dew was expected to play a huge role in the evening, and a chock-a-block crowd was probably one of the biggest many of the West Indians had played in front of. Kemar Roach didn’t let any of that affect him as he pulled West Indies back into the match by removing Parthiv Patel and Gautam Gambhir in the fifth over, and adding the scalp of Virat Kohli soon after.When Russell snuck one past Virender Sehwag’s bat, and Suresh Raina chipped a catch to mid-off, it was West Indies who were in control, particularly as India’s most reliable middle-order finishers, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, were absent.Rohit and the bowlers clinched it for India at the end, but the inexperienced attack had been hugely impressively in the afternoon as well. India had none of the regular members of their World Cup-winning line-up but that didn’t prevent them from limiting the visitors to a small total. Umesh and Varun showed off the pace for which they have made a name, Vinay ‘s patented away-swinger was on display, and the spinners continued to give the selectors no reason to think of Harbhajan Singh.West Indies’ batting had had a reviving stand of its own between Darren Bravo and Danza Hyatt after the top-order stumbled. Bravo doled out his usual share of easy-on-the-eyes boundaries as he extended his rich form from the Tests to make 60, while Hyatt was more controlled after starting problems, due to which he has reached double-digits only twice in six ODI-innings so far.Some amateurish running from Hyatt took away any semblance of momentum from the West Indian batting, and the dismissals of Bravo and Kieron Pollard within a short span, meant the final third of the innings was slow going.The 211 they posted seemed far from substantial, especially as the pitch wasn’t playing too many tricks – the curator had boldly predicted 300-plus ahead of the match – but they again showed an encouraging ability to fight. That may not have translated into results on this trip so far, but it has resulted in the home side being forced to dig very deep in most of the matches.

Led by a Virat Kohli classic, India are now within 82 runs of the New Zealand first innings total

The Report by Sharda Ugra01-Sep-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSuresh Raina’s fifty had aggression mixed in with an urgency to find security around his No. 6 spot•Associated PressLed by a Virat Kohli classic, after staggering somewhat at two points of their innings, India find themselves within 82 runs of the New Zealand first innings total of 365. Plus a healthy chance in this Test match. At stumps on day two, India were 283 for 5 with Kohli seven short of his century and MS Dhoni four short of his fifty.Kohli formed the core of two middle-order partnerships that ensured that the Indians kept moving ahead. Just after lunch, India had wobbled at 80 for 4, before Kohli became the fulcrum of the Indian resistance even as New Zealand’s impressive seam bowlers threatened to get their teeth into the Indian lower order.A fifth wicket stand of 99 with Suresh Raina took control of the Indian innings after the loss of the top four. A sixth-wicket unbeaten 104-run partnership with Dhoni had made the most of the softer old ball. New Zealand’s triumvirate of leading quick bowlers, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell and Trent Boult had an outstanding day of purpose, energy, swing bowling and wickets, more than ably aided by their fielders. In the final count, though, New Zealand were held off by these two partnerships.At stumps, the Indian response was centered around Kohli’s most intelligently compilied knock. He came in at 67 for 3, at the fall of Virender Sehwag’s wicket. In the early part of innings, he gave the bowling due respect and with two aggressive partners at the other end, Kohli played at his own pace. He was neither over-defensive or overdosing on the aggro. His strokemaking was of the highest calibre, his first boundary only off the 21st ball. He stepped out confidently to hoist Jeetan Patel over midwicket for six and hitting Boult, Bracewell and James Franklin down the ground for straight boundaries. A controlled pull off his face to Bracewell was sufficient proof of his calibre.Raina’s 55 was a different kind of fifty. It had aggression mixed in with an urgency to find security around his No. 6 spot. He was the prime mover in the partnership with Kohli, given enough opportunity to go onto his front foot. His three boundaries in the second over he faced from Bracewell, however, included a cracking pull shot. When Patel tossed one up, Raina struck a sweet six over extra cover. He was given a reprieve on 48, stumped off a no ball off Patel. His innings came to an end quickly after tea. Like Hyderabad, he was caught trying to tickle one down the leg side, this time to Southee.Much like Raina had done on his arrival during a crisis, Dhoni led his innings with big-hitting strokeplay. He took maximum benefit of the fact that his counterpart had offered him Patel’s off spin at one end for as many as eight overs. Dhoni charged down the wicket against Patel, taking on the fielder at long-on and belted two sixes over his head. That kicked off his innings and got the partnership with Kohli going at a good clip.Smart stats

Pragyan Ojha’s five-for is the third of his career and his first against New Zealand. The previous two came against West Indies.

With Ojha’s five-wicket haul, the number of five-fors for India in the series went up to three. It is only the fourth time that India have had three five-fors in a series of two Tests.

The opening stand between Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir yielded just five runs. In the last ten innings, the pair has not been involved in a single fifty-plus stand.

The 104-run stand between MS Dhoni and Kohli is the sixth century stand for the sixth wicket for India against New Zealand. Dhoni has been involved in four of them.

The fifth-wicket stand between Suresh Raina and Kohli is only the fifth 99-run partnership for India (broken stands only). The last such stand was between Syed Kirmani and Sunil Gavaskar in Chennai in 1979.

Sachin Tendulkar was bowled for the second consecutive innings in this series. He became the third batsman after Rahul Dravid and Allan Border to be bowled on fifty or more occasions.

Regardless of what was happening to Patel, Boult, Bracewell and Southee got the ball to move at good pace, even if they were a bit lenient by not putting enough short ball queries to Raina. Like he had done in Hyderabad, Ross Taylor overbowled Patel at a time when his three seamers were – between them – asking constant questions of the batsmen. Rather than use Franklin’s very medium pace to wobble the ball around, Taylor chose to fall back on Patel.Until then, New Zealand had given themselves the best chance in this Test, Southee instantly justifying his selection over Chris Martin, not only because he’d hit a six during his brief time at the crease. Within ten overs of the Indian innings, Southee had the wickets of Gautam Gambhir, shouldering arms and having his bail disturbed, and Cheteshwara Pujara, mistiming a hook leaving the hosts at 2 for 27.At the other end, after a watchful start, Sehwag lashed at the bowling. At the lunch break he was on 39, with seven boundaries, an surviving an appeal for leg before and two nicks through the slips. His partner Sachin Tendulkar played at a subdued pace, searching for touch and timing.In his first over after lunch, Bracewell’s leg stump line to Sehwag was meant to eliminate the width and room he gobbled up on his way to 43. The third ball was whipped to the square leg boundary. The fourth ball, slightly straighter, was hit uppishly and ended up in the hands of the flying Flynn at short midwicket.When Tendulkar hit a classic straight drive off Bracewell, it offered the clue that he may finally have settled in. One ball later, came the bowler’s denouement: Tendulkar played all over a straight one and was bowled through his defence. It is the second time that Tendulkar was bowled through the gate in this series. Within eleven balls after lunch, India were tottering at 80 for 4 before Raina and Kohli got together.Play had started half an hour early and New Zealand lost their last four wickets for 20 runs, within 45 minutes. The two overnight batsmen, Kruger van Wyk and Bracewell who added 99 for the seventh wicket, met with contrasting ends. van Wyk fell to a sustained spell of inquiry from Zaheer Khan, trying to guide one through to third man, Gambhir-style, but instead edged it to a diving Raina at second slip. Bracewell was unlucky to be the non-striker who ended up backing Southee too far. Ojha finished with 5 for 99, when he had Southee leg before for a lusty 14.Overall, it was a tight day’s Test cricket; New Zealand have kept throwing the challenges, Southee finishing with 3 for 35 and Bracewell 2 for 66; the control of the game will, however, depend on what India’s last batting pair do on Sunday morning.

South Africa’s march towards a result that will draw the series and prolong their seven-year unbeaten record away from home continued unabated, but the gloss on their seemingly impeccable performance was lost when the on-field umpires penalised them for t

The Report by George Binoy25-Oct-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSouth Africa’s bowlers made slow but steady progress towards squaring the Test series•Associated PressSouth Africa’s march towards a result that will draw the series and prolong their seven-year unbeaten record away from home continued unabated, but the gloss on their seemingly impeccable performance was lost when the on-field umpires penalised them for tampering with the ball. Graeme Smith’s team ended the third day needing six wickets to complete an emphatic victory – probably by an innings considering Pakistan were still trailing by 286 with two days remaining – but the likelihood of a meeting with the Match Referee loomed large as the sun set in Dubai.The incident occurred two overs after tea, before the start of the 31st over, following television visuals of one player rubbing the ball allegedly on the zipper of his trouser pocket. The umpires Ian Gould and Rod Tucker called Graeme Smith over for a chat and subsequently changed the ball and awarded a five-run penalty against South Africa, sanctions that are consistent with the penalty for unlawfully changing the condition of the ball. A second television visual showed another player allegedly picking at the side of the ball with his finger.On either side of that unsavoury episode, however, South Africa made strides towards victory, albeit not at the pace at which they had shut Pakistan out of the Test over the first two days. After South Africa were dismissed for 517 with a lead of 418, 16 minutes before lunch, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander punched Pakistan in the gut by dismissing their openers in their only overs before the break.Steyn swung the ball back into Shan Masood’s front pad and the left-hand batsman continued Pakistan’s lousy use of reviews by wasting one on an lbw that was plumb. Philander then handed Khurram Manzoor his first pair in Test cricket; the right-hand batsman hung his bat outside off stump and watched Jacques Kallis dive to his right at second slip to take the catch at head height. Pakistan were 2 for 2.After lunch, Younis Khan and Azhar Ali focused on survival. Steyn swung and seamed the new ball away from the right-handers; Philander bowled with unrelenting accuracy; Morne Morkel hit speeds off 149.6 kph – the fastest ball of the Test – in his first over. With four slips and other catches in place, there were gaps to exploit on the huge outfield but only 18 runs were scored in the first 13 overs. One of Tahir’s legbreaks spun so viciously from the rough around off stump that it went straight to first slip.Azhar and Younis, however, survived all that until Smith brought on the part-time offspinner JP Duminy ten minutes before tea. His first ball spun sharply into Azhar and kept low to hit the back pad just in line with off stump. In an instant, a vast amount of hard graft had come undone and Pakistan were 48 for 3. Duminy could have struck in his second over, too, but Kallis failed to catch an outside edge from Younis off the penultimate ball before the break.Younis’ composure, which had served him well through the second session, disappeared soon after the tampering incident, when he charged Tahir and attempted a mow across the line. He missed and the ball bounced off his pad on to his stumps. At 70 for 4, Pakistan were in danger of sliding further towards defeat but Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq put on an unbeaten 62-run stand. Shafiq was fortunate to survive a stumping chance on 18 off Duminy, and Pakistan will need a miraculous performance from him and the rest to prevent an innings defeat.The third day had begun with promise of more records being broken, with Smith resuming on 227 and de Villiers on 157. However, with the job already done unlike when they had come together early on the second day, their stroke-play wasn’t as tight.De Villiers began to drive at Mohammad Irfan from the start, but a ball after he placed one to the straight boundary, he drove again and edged. This time Adnan Akmal caught it, 164 runs and 273 deliveries after he should have caught de Villiers first ball. Irfan had now worked up a brisk pace and soon drew an edge from Smith. Akmal dropped it again, and Irfan told the wicketkeeper just what he thought of that effort. The mistake did not cost Pakistan, though, because Ajmal had Smith caught at slip a ball later, leaving South Africa 478 for 6.What followed made Pakistan wonder about the different paths this match might have taken had Akmal not dropped de Villiers before he had scored. Irfan ran in from over the wicket and tormented Duminy with deliveries that pitched on a good length outside off stump and jagged into the left-handed batsman. Three times in a row, Irfan struck Duminy on the pad and bellowed appeals for lbw. He was denied each time because the impact was too high.In his next over, after hitting Faf du Plessis on the glove, Irfan took the umpire out of the equation by bowling Duminy between bat and pad with a fuller delivery. He celebrated with vigour, but in his next over – the innings’ 149th – Irfan ran out of rope the umpires had given him by following through on the danger area once again. He was suspended from bowling further in the innings.With Irfan lost, and Junaid Khan blunt, Ajmal was the only threat and du Plessis steered South Africa past 500 and the lead past 400. Ajmal gradually worked his way through the tail to pick up a six-wicket haul, but the end of South Africa’s innings provided little relief for Pakistan.

Dwayne Smith, the West Indies allrounder, has been re-signed by Sussex as an overseas player for the Friends Life t20

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2013Dwayne Smith, the West Indies allrounder, has been re-signed by Sussex as an overseas player for the Friends Life t20. Smith previously played in all formats for the county on a Kolpak agreement in 2008 and 2009, then as an overseas T20 signing the following year.Smith hit 59 from 26 balls to help Sussex to victory in the 2009 Twenty20 Cup final, part of a limited-overs double with the Pro40 league, which they also won in 2008. Smith, 30, who is currently playing in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, will join former New Zealand international Scott Styris as Sussex’s overseas players, after a deal for John Hastings fell through.”I’m very happy to be joining Sussex again,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to get back to my second home and the lovely crowd at Hove.”Having played 87 ODIs, to go with 10 Tests and 17 T20 internationals, Smith last week missed out on selection for West Indies’ Champions Trophy squad. Sussex, who were beaten semi-finalists in last season’s FLt20, will begin their campaign at home to Surrey on June 28.Sussex’s professional cricket manager, Mark Robinson, said: “Dwayne has the ability to win games by himself with the bat, he is a more-than-useful bowler and he is one of the best fielders ever to have been seen at Hove. He is immensely popular with the players, the members and the sponsors and everybody is excited about his return.”

Not many of the 26,000 at the SCG knew Lahiru Thirimanne upon his arrival at the crease, yet they rose to give him a warm ovation when he departed short of the three-figure score

Andrew Fernando at the SCG03-Jan-2013From all the innings, shots, wickets and catches Mahela Jayawardene oversawas captain of Sri Lanka in 2012, his favourite moment was an instance ofexceptional gall from Lahiru Thirimanne. Sri Lanka were five runs short of victory in Pallekele in their first Super Eights match of the World Twenty20, but they only had two balls remaining, with Tim Southee at thebowling crease, delivering one of the spells of the tournament. Thirimanne,fresh from the dugout, had not managed a convincing stroke from either ofthe balls he had faced, yet on the penultimate delivery of Sri Lanka’sinnings, he knelt and played a scoop he had never tried before ininternational cricket, sending Southee’s yorker over short fine leg forfour, and the stadium into raptures.”For Lahiru to have the courage to do that and back himself was fantastic,”Jayawardene said months later, while reflecting on the year’s events. “Ithink among the young group, he has that mindset to handle those reallytough situations.” Courage, self-belief, fortitude. They are the samevirtues that fashioned Thirimanne’s 91 in Sydney, and provided the backboneof Sri Lanka’s first innings after the team had shown little of the abovewith the bat in their last Test.Not many of the 26,000 at the SCG knew Thirimanne upon his arrival at thecrease, and until five days before the match, he had no idea he would beplaying a New Year Test either. Yet, when he departed short of thethree-figure score he deserved, the stadium rose to give him a warmovation. They only need to think back to last year’s Test to recall knocksthat dwarf Thirimanne’s 91 in heft, skill and allure, but there was much toenjoy about the steel in his defense and the defiance in his strokes, andthey did not withhold their appreciation. Perhaps the crowd had also heardon their earpiece radios by then, that Thirimanne had stepped off a planeonly 36 hours before his innings began.If Thirimanne was not nervous when he arrived at the crease, the lbw shoutand referral off his first ball certainly would have put him on edge. “Ithought that was out,” he said at the end of the day, but he did not allowthat rattling introduction detract from focus or technique. He leftpositively and even early in his innings, his scoring strokes were assured.As he grew more accustomed to the pace of the pitch, he drove the quicks onthe front foot with the same comfort with which he dispatched Nathan Lyonthrough the offside, leaning back. Australia cannot have had long toanalyse footage of Thirimanne to deduct a plan of attack, but if there areglaring vulnerabilities in his game, he did well to hide them. Few SriLankan batsmen graduate from the domestic system without a major weaknessthat must be ironed out at the top level.Thirimanne had replaced Kumar Sangakkara, and the bent-knee cover drive he wielded with increasing command throughout the day bore strong parallels to Sangakkara’s signature stroke, only it was less clean. Like Thirimanne, Sangakkara had a limited range of strokes once, but a strong mind andtireless work ethic transformed him into one of the greats of the moderngame. It is encouraging that Thirimanne already seems to possess an irontemperament, but he would do well to emulate the hunger and commitmentSangakkara has ridden to acclaim, if he is to make good on the potentialhis innings made plain.Before receiving the call from Sri Lanka’s selectors, Thirimanne’s lastmatch was at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo, where even the likesof Mitchell Johnson might find getting the ball above chest height afruitless pursuit. The SCG may be the least daunting Australian venue forSri Lanka, but the bounce and carry in the pitch on day one is a worldremoved from the featherbed on which he scratched out a limited overshalf-century a week ago, and he has had just one training session toadjust to batting in conditions that have not flattered his teammates inthe first two Tests. Uncluttered by the baggage of the Melbourne massacreperhaps, Thirimanne relied on resilience to compensate for unfamiliarity.”It was a bit difficult to adjust, but it’s all about mindset,” he said.”You have to adapt to any conditions quickly if you want to playinternational cricket. Whether we are playing ODIs or Test we have to getour mindset right. I adapted really well today. I am disappointed to havemissed a hundred, but I’m happy with my performance.”Just as Rangana Herath has shown Sri Lanka there is life after MuttiahMuralitharan, there are signs from the likes of Thirimanne and DineshChandimal that Sri Lanka can be hopeful about their batting beyond thecareers of the four ageing men who have begun winding down their careers.On day one in Sydney, a 23-year-old propelled Sri Lanka towardsrespectability with spunk and composure. The visitors may still be placedpoorly in the match, with a second-string pace attack now tasked withreining Australia in, but fans at home will take even more pleasure inThirimanne’s innings than the SCG crowd that witnessed it, becausesuddenly, the future does not look so bleak.