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Kane Williamson was delighted with the fighting spirit his charges showed as they snatched a dramatic four-run win in the first Test in Abu Dhabi against Pakistan

Danyal Rasool19-Nov-2018Kane Williamson has hailed the astonishing four-run win in Abu Dhabi as New Zealand’s “best in recent memory” and among the best in his career. Speaking just after New Zealand triggered a Pakistan collapse that saw the hosts lose their last six wickets for 24 runs to be bowled out for 171, the New Zealand captain praised the attitude and “fighting attributes” of his side.”Some of the characteristics we hold very dear is our attitude whenever we had to get back into the game, be it with the bat, ball or in the field throughout these four days,” he said. “I think the fighting attributes of this team really shone through, certainly today. It’s important to build on a number of parts to go into the next game, for sure.”It wasn’t just today that the momentum of the game ebbed and flowed. In truth, it had been a match that, across four days, refused to reveal its hand, with no side able to establish a clear advantage over the other. For the most part, it was Pakistan doing the frontrunning, but whenever it appeared they were pulling too far ahead, New Zealand rallied, dragging themselves back into the contest, refusing to lie down.Consider that New Zealand’s 153 was the lowest ever first innings score by any side in Abu Dhabi. When, two sessions into the match, the visitors had been turned over, it looked like the result was already a foregone conclusion, with Pakistan having historically demonstrated the ability to grind opponents into the desert dust. Here, however, Williamson’s men, playing their first Test match in seven months, kept themselves in the contest. 74 was a sizeable first innings lead, but partnerships in the second innings ensured they would leave themselves with enough to play with to have a shot.”It certainly was dramatic,” Williamson reflected. “Throughout the four days, both teams were put under pressure. I think at the end of the day it was a great advertisement for Test cricket. The wicket was challenging and both teams had to fight hard, and certainly Pakistan had the upper hand after day one.”To get through the four days and stay in the match and come out with this result must obviously rank as one of our best wins. In theory it was an old-fashioned Test match, really slow in terms of scoring. The guys had to really fight hard for the runs and that partnership [112 runs between BJ Watling and Henry Nicholls] was huge for us to get a lead, even though it wasn’t a big lead. But it still kept us in the game. I guess when you look back, winning by such a small margin means every contribution in terms of runs scored and runs saved on the field did matter.”It was a game for partnerships, with one wicket triggering several more on numerous occasions. That meant those pairings that did find a way to spend quality time at the crease made crucial, and in New Zealand’s case, match winning contributions. Of the 402 runs the visitors aggregated over two innings, 270 came across just three partnerships. It was up to the specialist batsmen to make they key difference in the most testing of conditions; only 136 runs were scored by the last five wickets across the four innings, the lowest of any match since 1980.”We saw the nature of how wickets fell in clumps,” Williamson said. “I’m not sure why it was challenging to start as a batsman, and we knew if you’re able to keep the pressure on, who knows what might happen? This game was very close and you can reflect on how you do so many little things differently depending on which side of the result you’re on, but at the end of the day it was a great game.”It certainly was, prompting many to gush about the state of Test cricket, and the value of the format at a time when it is in increasing danger of being marginalised. But across in the other dressing room, Pakistan will draw little consolation about the fillip this match provided to a format that, just two years ago, they were ranked the best in the world in.

Zimbabwe’s lower-middle order had crumbled twice in the first Test, with nos. 5 – 8 making 36 runs in the first innings and 48 in the second

Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo28-Oct-2017Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer has targetted a big first innings-total as the hosts attempt to draw level with West Indies in the second Test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo”That first innings with the bat is so crucial in Test cricket,” Cremer said. “If you don’t do well in that first innings, you’re always chasing the game. So we’re hoping to rectify that. To win a Test match, you’ve probably got to score 600 runs in your two innings, so hopefully we’ll do that and won’t leave too much for our second innings with the bat.”Batting aside, both the captain and Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak suggested there would not be too much tinkering with Zimbabwe’s tactics or their playing XI. “We’re unlikely to make unforced changes,” Streak said. “We’ve got a couple of niggles that we’re managing, so we’ll have a final check tomorrow on one or two guys, but we’ll try not to change the team too much. That’s what we’ve done consistently over the last year, trying to give guys a fair crack.”The quick turnaround between games does not give the hosts much freedom in testing out any new combinations, so Zimbabwe have instead focused on rest and recuperation, especially for a bowling attack that had plenty of work to do in intense heat during the first Test. “We just gave our quick bowlers a couple of days off with some achy bodies, and a couple of the guys had big workloads, the spinners especially, so just time to mentally refresh,” Streak said. “And we went through what was effective and worked for us in the Test. There’s obviously not much we can change in terms of our skills, just making sure that tactically we know exactly what we want to do and what we want to execute in the game.”Two issues for Zimbabwe are their middle order and the wicketkeeper position. Zimbabwe’s lower-middle order crumbled twice in the first Test, with nos. 5 – 8 making 36 runs in the first innings and 48 in the second. Wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva had a reasonable game behind the stumps, but contributed just 13 runs across two innings.”We spoke about soft dismissals and I know the guys were very disappointed, especially the middle-order guys,” Streak said. “There were a few soft dismissals from the middle order. On the keeping front, Chakabva didn’t score runs but he had an outstanding game with the gloves on a wicket that turned a lot. He’s got an important role to do, and hopefully he can contribute with the bat in this next game.”After the extreme heat last week, the build-up to the second Test has seen rain and unseasonably low temperatures in Bulawayo. But with the warmth set to return next week, Streak expected very similar playing conditions for the second Test. “It’s very unseasonal to get this cold, [persistent drizzle] type weather,” Streak explained. “Normally October is quite hot, with thunderstorms. We’ll have to see, but the forecast from Monday onwards is improving. If the wicket gets a bit of sun on it, I think we’ll see it continue to dust up. It’s dry now, and very similar [to the last pitch].”

Dale Steyn picked up his first five-wicket haul in international cricket since December 2014 as South Africa bowled New Zealand out for 195 to wrap up a 204-run win on the fourth day in Centurion

The Report by Nikhil Kalro30-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA masterful display of swing bowling from Dale Steyn, who picked up his first five-wicket haul in international cricket since December 2014, helped South Africa bowl New Zealand out for 195 in their chase of 400 on the fourth day in Centurion. Steyn and Vernon Philander, abetted by exaggerated variable bounce on a deteriorating SuperSport Park surface, set up South Africa’s first Test series win since early 2015 by ripping through New Zealand’s top order in a devastating seven-over period before lunch.Despite an impressive half-century from Henry Nicholls, New Zealand never really recovered from being 18 for 4 at lunch, and they were eventually bowled out half an hour from stumps.Steyn landed the first ball of the fourth innings in the channel outside off stump – it was wide enough for Tom Latham not to play but the extra bounce caught him unawares, and the ball clattered into the stumps off Latham’s withdrawing bat. It was the third time in three innings on this tour that Steyn had dismissed Latham.Five balls later, Martin Guptill got an unplayable outswinger: it pitched on off and swerved away to take the outside edge to Hashim Amla at first slip.The variable bounce kept troubling New Zealand. In the second over, Kane Williamson was rapped on the glove by an inswinger from Philander that reared at him from a good length. In the next over, Steyn got one to land on a similar length and scoot along the surface to Ross Taylor, trapping him in front. Could New Zealand’s situation get worse?It did. Williamson, perhaps still suffering the after-effects of the blow to his left hand, wafted at a wide delivery from Philander. He had avoided playing that line throughout the first innings. The ball swung further away and took his outside edge, and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock completed a stunning one-handed catch low to his right.Nicholls offered New Zealand’s only real resistance with 76, his highest Test score. He was particularly effective square on either side of the wicket, picking off straight deliveries and punishing width outside off. When the bowlers overpitched, he collected runs through vacant areas down the ground.After weathering a tough period before lunch, he added 68 with Watling for the fifth wicket. With the ball moving both ways, Nicholls and Watling left well outside off, forcing the seamers towards the stumps. The quicks were continually rotated and batting became gradually easier as the middle session wore on.Just when it looked like New Zealand would get through the session unscathed, the offspinner Dane Piedt got one to spin back viciously. Watling shuffled across, missed his flick, and was struck in front of off stump. Watling reviewed, but umpire’s call on impact meant South Africa had their only wicket of the session.Kagiso Rabada, hitting the high 130-kph range as opposed to the 150 mark he regularly clocked in the first innings, struggled for fluency, rhythm and accuracy before tea. A number of wayward deliveries on either side of the wicket were easily avoided or dispatched to the boundary. However, he returned late in the day to pick up two-lower order wickets: he had Tim Southee bowled with a spearing yorker on off stump and beat Neil Wagner for pace to pin him in front of middle and leg.Mitchell Santner, Doug Bracewell and Southee all got off to starts, but could not stay long enough at the crease to help Nicholls to a maiden Test ton. At 195 for 9, Nicholls was quickly running out of partners and du Plessis recalled Steyn. A top-edged pull off a short delivery, aimed at Nicholls’ ribs, was taken at fine leg to end New Zealand’s resistance.In the morning, resuming from a score of 105 for 6, overnight batsmen Temba Bavuma and Vernon Philander were patient early, leaving and blocking Trent Boult and Tim Southee, both of whom generated appreciable lateral movement like they had on the third evening. Philander looked untroubled until he left a good-length delivery from Southee that jagged back prodigiously to uproot the off stump. South Africa declared at 132 for 7, having added 27 in the first hour.

Ross Whiteley thrashed 91 from 35 balls as Yorkshire were eliminated from the NatWest Blast in a comprehensive manner they could barely have conceived at the start of the season

David Hopps14-Jul-2015
ScorecardRoss Whiteley’s assault left a young Yorkshire side in disarray•Getty Images

There are dangerous T20 hitters hidden away in the English county game who the major overseas T20 leagues do not know exist and who, for that matter, are barely known outside their native county. Ross Whiteley is a case in point. It was his unbeaten 91 from 35 deliveries with 11 sixes which swept Worcestershire into the quarter-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast and which ensured that Yorkshire were effectively eliminated with the sense of their own inadequacy running high.Whiteley’s assault set Yorkshire a formidable target of 192 on a sunlit night at Headingley, their death bowling once again wanting as they spilled 103 from the final seven overs. They never came close, defeated by 74 runs. It was quite a way to go. “There will be people watching who are bitterly disappointed,” said Yorkshire’s captain Andrew Gale. “Whiteley turned the game on its head. It is disappointing because so much preparation has gone into this pre-season.”Yorkshire have four players in England’s Ashes squad, Aaron Finch is flying back to Australia with a broken foot and the overs of Ryan Sidebottom and Jack Brooks are being saved for the task of defending their Championship title. Possibly Tim Bresnan is being spared as well: he stands in the field in T20 matches but these days for reasons that have not been entirely explained – niggling injuries or the fact he goes for 11 an over? – he does not bowl his allocation.Another star Australian, Glenn Maxwell, who barely plays in the Championship and so attunes himself with nets and golf – not necessarily in that order – has played one influential innings all season. He was out first ball, holing out against the leg breaks of Brett D’Oliveira and checking the bottom of his bat: a World Cup winner playing in what was a glorified developmental XI. It can’t have been like that in the brochure.Developmental XIs have their place and Yorkshire develop better than anybody. But Yorkshire had identified the NatWest T20 Blast as a priority, alongside the Championship this season. They installed floodlights, they banged the drum and crowds have risen by 20%.Not many of those new spectators, their pride swollen by a Championship win, and a possibility of a second one, anticipated that the night they would be eliminated from the tournament would see them thrashed at home by such a margin with a defeatist batting collapse to follow the concession of a score probably 20 over par by an attack including four brittle teenagers having to learn their trade the hard way.Yorkshire are bottom of the table – and a failure to qualify for the quarter-finals might well have been inevitable, so much were the odds stacked against them, but which they seem to have tacitly accepted before their time.Whiteley was born in Sheffield, but he played his early county cricket at Derbyshire. “No slogging,” he said of his innings. Just lots of balls disappearing into the crowd, mostly over the short side. His strike rate has now swollen to 176.87 and he tops Worcestershire’s batting averages. That is heading towards Chris Gayle territory, even if he can’t match his batting average of 328.Another Yorkshireman smiling was Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire’s coach. He has a well-drilled squad which has surprised many people in this tournament. Their third quarter-final in four years suggests that they are a side full of good habits.At 63 for 4, Yorkshire’s bowlers had their tails up, but Worcestershire stirred with a stand of 61 from six overs before Mitchell was bowled by Liam Plunkett for 49 from 45 balls, a measured innings that might have come to grief earlier, on 24, if Jonny Bairstow had not broken the stumps with his hip while trying to effect a run out.Yorkshire’s bowling attack bore the look of a developmental XI – and so did the approach of the captain, Andrew Gale, as he bowled them ahead of two international bowlers. Yorkshire chose four teenagers and they bowled 13 overs between them. How does Maxwell not complete his spell in this attack?They gave T20 debuts to two 19-year-olds – the young left-arm spinner Karl Carver and medium pacer Ryan Gibson – and Will Rhodes was another T20 ingenue, veteran of five games. In such company, Matthew Fisher, at 17 but relatively proven, must have felt like a dispenser of wisdom.Carver, who mixed up his pace confidently, and Rhodes, who as an allrounder looks to have something about him, would have been relieved to escape with 30 conceded, Carver with two top-order wickets as well, but Gibson, who was faced with a big ask as he was thrown the ball for the 16th over, felt the full force of Whiteley, conceding 19 in his first over as the ball disappeared over the short boundary into the West Stand.The crowd disappeared about an hour later, grumbling as they went, and with good reason.

Eight players who helped England Women win the World Cup in 2009 are part of the squad for their title defence in India next year

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Dec-2012Eight players who helped England win the World Cup in 2009 are part of the squad for their title defence in India next year. Warwickshire’s Amy Jones is the one uncapped player, although she was part of the World Twenty20 squad in Sri Lanka, while seamer Georgia Elwiss has earned her first call-up for a global event.Elwiss, who has played nine ODIs, made her debut against South Africa in 2011 and has best figures of 3 for 17 against India, at Wormsley, in July. She is the only addition to the squad that took part in the World T20, while the unlucky Susie Rowe, who was forced out of the World T20 with a broken finger, misses out. Charlotte Edwards, the captain, will be playing in her fifth World Cup.”The whole team is really excited about defending our world title in Mumbai in February,” Edwards said. “I’m so proud to be captaining such a talented team in what is the pinnacle event in our sport.”There is a great blend to our squad with a combination of experienced players who were part of the 2009 success and emerging young players who have already shown that they can perform at this level. Every player in our squad has experience of playing in subcontinental conditions and we will continue to work hard during our final preparations so come February we are in the best possible shape to defend our title.”Clare Connor, the head of women’s cricket, said: “It has never been harder to select the England Women’s squad than ahead of this World Cup. So many players have impressed during 2012 and this final group of 15 should be congratulated on their selection. They have the honour of going to the World Cup as the current world champions and we wish them every success in rising to the challenge of bringing the trophy home again.”England will depart on January 17 for a preparation camp before facing Sri Lanka in their first match of the competition on February 2.Squad Charlotte Edwards (capt), Tammy Beaumont, Arran Brindle, Katherine Brunt, Holly Colvin, Georgia Elwiss, Lydia Greenway, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor (wk), Danielle Wyatt

MS Dhoni, the India captain, has said Virender Sehwag has the ability to repeat his feat of a double-century in a one-day international

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2011MS Dhoni, the India captain, has said Virender Sehwag has the ability to repeat his feat of a double-century in a one-day international. Sehwag, who is standing in for Dhoni during the ongoing one-day series against West Indies, broke the record for the highest score in an ODI on December 8, hitting 219 in Indore. Dhoni said he always knew Sehwag was capable of going past 200 in a one-dayer.”I had always believed that on his day, Sehwag has the ability to score 200 because apart from the big shots, he also uses the bowlers’ pace against them and plays calculative innings,” Dhoni told . “It was a pleasure to watch him batting. Given his talent, he can do it again. So, hopefully, it will be done by him again.”Suresh Raina, who shared a 140-run partnership with Sehwag in Indore, said Sehwag was singing songs by famous Indian singer Kishore Kumar during his knock. “He was playing very well with no tension,” Raina said at a youth summit in Chennai, where India will play the fifth and final ODI against West Indies on December 11. “That day, he was singing some Kishore Kumar songs. He was not feeling any kind of tension.”

A Pakistani TV channel has broadcast previously unseen video footage of Mazhar Majeed in which he takes the names of four more Pakistani players who, he claims, work with him

Osman Samiuddin30-Nov-2010A Pakistani TV channel has broadcast previously unseen video footage of Mazhar Majeed, the player agent allegedly at the centre of the spot-fixing scandal, in which he takes the names of four more Pakistani players who, he claims, work with him.The video footage, obtained and shown by the news channel, is part of the hidden camera recordings that formed the original sting operation in August. In those, an undercover reporter pretending to be a member of a betting syndicate was seen meeting with Majeed a number of times to allegedly orchestrate spot-fixing scams involving members of the Pakistan team.At the time the tabloid revealed the names of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and claimed that there were four others involved but didn’t name them. Butt, Asif and Amir were provisionally suspended by the ICC; the tabloid claimed to have exposed their plan, with Majeed, to bowl deliberate, pre-arranged no-balls during the fourth Test between Pakistan and England at Lord’s.The footage, well-placed sources confirmed to ESPNcricinfo, was shown as an exhibit in the ICC’s provisional suspension hearings of Butt and Amir, held in October in Dubai, and was part of the evidence submitted by ICC against the three.The freshly aired footage takes place in Majeed’s house, where he is talking to a reporter with a hidden camera who asks him about the players who work with him: “What’s the latest situation?” Majeed replies: “I’ll tell you who we’ve got then. We’ve got Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt, Wahab Riaz … that’s six, yeah? Imran Farhat … that’s seven out of 11 players.”Majeed goes on to explain how certain players are good for certain acts and how he targets younger players in particular. “It’s long-term thinking. These boys are going to be around years and I’ve got the best boys.” Senior players such as Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Saeed Ajmal, he says, do not interest him because they only have a few years left. Ajmal, he says, is “too religious.”Of the four players named in the claims aired on Tuesday, Umar and Riaz continue to very much be a part of the Pakistan side; both were selected today in Pakistan’s Twenty20 and Test squads for a tour to New Zealand. Riaz was questioned by Scotland Yard during the England tour, though he was released without any charge laid on him.The eldest Akmal, Kamran, has been frozen out, however, and has not been picked since the England tour. He was the subject of a notice sent by the ACSU after the World Twenty20 in May, but was recently told by the ICC that he is cleared to play for Pakistan.According to the PCB’s chief selector Mohsin Khan, Kamran wasn’t picked for the New Zealand series because the PCB didn’t clear him. Though his Test form has been poor, he would generally be considered an essential part of the limited-overs side given the balance his hard-hitting batting brings.Farhat was part of Pakistan’s squad in the series against South Africa but has also been dropped. His axing is likelier to be the result of poor performances, however, and the relative success of a new opening pair in Taufeeq Umar and Mohammad Hafeez.The emergence of this footage is likely to increase concerns in the ICC – which has not commented publicly on any of the other four players – about the legal representation the suspended trio is getting. Earlier this month, the same channel broadcast text messages allegedly exchanged between Butt and Majeed. That led to the ICC asking the players’ lawyers to return the evidence given to them during the hearings, unhappy that it was being leaked to the media.Observers familiar with and, in some instances, involved in the case have repeatedly expressed concerns over the attitude of some of the lawyers and how it might affect the workings of the final hearings into the case, due to be held in January in Doha, Qatar. Sources who witnessed the provisional suspension hearings claim that the players’ lawyers signed a document agreeing not to discuss the hearing and the case publicly, something that has not happened.

It may be nothing but a late swish against the inevitability of time, but Misbah-ul-Haq’s defiant innings, sandwiched between two vibrant flushes of youth, gave the day a nice touch.

Osman Samiuddin in Melbourne28-Dec-2009In between two vibrant flushes of youth, an older man began to save a career at the MCG. It may be nothing but a late swish against the inevitability of time, but it gave the day a nice touch.Misbah-ul-Haq’s career has been a strange one, even by Pakistan’s standards. He was tried and dispensed with early in the decade. He went back content to less-lit fields and did big things for five years, before suddenly, when least expected, he became a celebrated nearly man for Pakistan.Some success came, a quirky penchant for brain-fades, the vice-captaincy and even talk of leadership, but it always felt like a gift from God to an ailing man late in life. When the form faded and he was dropped from all three formats for the tours to New Zealand and Australia that seemed just about that. Not many complained. But such is the way the wheel turns in Pakistan that a new captain came in and immediately demanded his return to the middle order.So Misbah returned and though he didn’t do much in New Zealand, he played a quiet and entirely unexpected gem today. Only his third half-century this year, it was his most grooved innings in some time. At the time of his dropping, he had become a curious pendulum of a batsman, either blocking everything, or having a bash at everything. But he was fluid today, moving well, taking singles and looking for runs.It helped him to begin against Nathan Hauritz, for he has always fancied his chances against spin. He slogged the very first ball for a massive six, before sweeping him square straight after. He took more time against the pacemen, but a clutter of wickets and the last man brought out a range of strokes last seen a few years back.Doug Bollinger, in the middle of a bullying spell, was driven back hard and then pulled away elegantly. A whippy, upright square cut came off Peter Siddle and plenty of gaps were cleverly found to keep the bowlers away from Saeed Ajmal. The fifty was an important personal milestone – for a Pakistani a half-century in Australia is still a big thing. Taking his side past the follow-on with Ajmal was a bigger accomplishment from the team’s perspective.”It was a really important innings for me,” Misbah said. “I was under immense pressure before that, not scoring runs and even in New Zealand I was getting starts but not scoring runs. That innings really helps me for the future and I would like to thank the captain [Mohammad Yousuf]. He has given me a lot of confidence and I hope to make this a consistent thing.”Despite his efforts and those of Umar Akmal and Mohammad Aamer, Pakistan will still have to do very well to save this Test, punishment for their inertia in the first two days. The docile surface, Misbah said, might still help them. “The wicket is really good still. It’s very good for batting. You can’t say anything in cricket but you can make sure that you play well and see what happens. We can’t control the result all the time but we can play good cricket.”The guys bowled well, especially Aamer and [Mohammad] Asif, they started really well. Let’s see what they set for us. What we can do is just fight and play well and let’s see what the result will be. It’s up to them now – let’s see how we bowl tomorrow. If we get them out in the first session, let’s see how it goes.”Misbah noted that the advent of Aamer and Akmal meant exciting times ahead for his team. “Aamer’s a really good prospect for Pakistan. A guy who bowls 150kmph is always an asset for the team and he’s batting well as well.Umar’s an exciting player. He just wants to dominate any bowling and it’s good to see him dominating an Australian attack. He has a big future ahead of him. He loves to play under pressure and loves the challenge. We just always advise him to play his natural game. That is how you can be successful. We suggest to him to not play rash shots but the way your attacking instinct and cricketing shots are you should go and hit them,” Misbah said.

Supporting fifties from Middleton, Weatherley and Organ defy Notts push to enforce follow-on

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay24-Jul-2025Hampshire 367 for 6 (Varma 112, Organ 71*, Weatherley 52, Middleton 52) trail Nottinghamshire 578 for 8 dec (James 203*, Haynes 103, McCann 79, Hutton 71) by 211 runsTilak Varma once again proved his enormous talent with his second century in three matches as Hampshire fought hard to keep title-challenging Nottinghamshire at bay at Utilita Bowl.India prodigy Varma added 112 to take his average in his Hampshire stint to just under 79. He put on 42 with Nick Gubbins, 58 with Ben Brown, and most substantially 126 with Felix Organ to bite into Nottinghamshire’s large 578 first-innings score.Organ ended the day unbeaten on 71 with 61 runs still needed to avoid the follow-on – in doing so Hampshire should be safe from defeat on the final day.Fletcha Middleton and Joe Weatherley had hunkered down for 32 overs of hard graft the previous evening. They got their rewards by collecting half-centuries in the morning. Neither showed any flashiness, just survival-style opening batting – putting on 94 together.That was unsurprising for Weatherley who was playing his first red ball match for two years, having lost favour in the Championship and fallen behind Middleton, Toby Albert, Felix Organ, Mark Stoneman, Ali Orr, Ian Holland in recent years.He reached 52 but was bounced out by Mo Abbas – caught on the hook. Middleton also scored 52 and fell on Nelson when he edged Abbas behind.It suddenly felt like an inevitable Abbas day. The Pakistan international had spearheaded the Hampshire attack for four seasons, taking 180 wickets at an average below 20. The Weatherley scalp was his 100th at Utilita Bowl.He was back in his familiar surroundings, not least because the keys to ‘his’ Hilton Hotel suite on the ground had been handed back to him for this week – famously having blocked Manchester City Pep Guardiola from taking the room a few years ago.But despite his mid-morning burst, the Kookaburra ball softened and fast bowling was a game of patience, while the pitch didn’t offer regular turn for the spinners. Not that it stopped Liam Patterson-White ripping one to pin Nick Gubbins lbw playing not shot, before Tom Prest loosely hoicked to mid-on.Brown looked like the man to stick with Varma, but after a 58-run alliance, the Hampshire captain was leg-before to Lyndon James.Josh Tongue had been released by England for the last two days of the match. He replaced Brett Hutton at the beginning of the day but went wicketless in his 18 overs. Notts’ bowlers otherwise toiled for little reward – and will have taken pleasure at the rate never reaching three runs an over.In a low red-ball period for Hampshire, Varma has been a giant. His arrival, which came thanks to Indian owners GMR Group’s influence, has brought a calmness to the middle-order, with plenty of runs to match.He opened with a century against Essex, before 56 and 47 versus Worcestershire and then this century – during those innings he has barely looked like being dislodged. Varma’s judgement of line and length is a superpower, with the ability to boundaries when the right parameters are met for risk.He already has 29 international caps, they will surely only surge in a short amount of time. The left-hander’s century came in 203 deliveries, although he was outdone for patience by Organ, who took zero risks, with large spells of no scoring.Organ’s second fifty of the season came in 138 balls, and even with Varma strangled down the leg side, Hampshire will feel almost safe.

He will go in at the top for the first time in his career against West Indies in Adelaide

Andrew McGlashan13-Jan-2024Steven Smith has laid out his rationale behind pushing for a move to open in Test cricket, and it’s pretty simple: he doesn’t want to wait.Smith had been the only incumbent player to publicly state he wanted to shift up the order to replace David Warner and the selectors ended up taking the option, which has also allowed them to bring Cameron Green back in at No. 4.The new-look batting order will have its first outing in the opening Test against West Indies, in Adelaide, which starts on January 17.Related

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• Da Silva hits century as WI find positives before Test challenge

Smith has never opened in Test or first-class before in a career spanning 16 years, but is no stranger to facing an almost new ball, particularly when he was batting at No. 3. However, he cited the 2019 Ashes, where he was No. 4, as an example of when he was frequently been tested early in an innings – in those four Tests (he missed one with concussion) the highest total, and longest wait, he entered at was 60 for 2 in the 23rd over at Lord’s.”Since I guess Marnus [Labuschagne] has been playing at No. 3, I’ve been waiting to bat for quite a long period of time and I don’t really like waiting to bat,” he told while playing for Sydney Sixers on Friday night. “So I thought, why don’t I put my hand up and have a crack up top and that way you can get Cameron Green in and you’re playing your six best batters so hopefully it works out.”I am [excited]. I like facing the newer ball. I think if you look back to the 2019 Ashes I was in pretty early most of the time there where I was facing the new ball. I batted No. 3 for a number of years as well and was in early and did pretty well against the new ball so it’s nothing new or foreign to me. You know I enjoy getting in there and getting amongst it and yeah, I’m looking forward to that challenge.”Steven Smith has faced a lot of short bowling in recent times•Getty Images

Warner, who retired from Test cricket after facing Pakistan in Sydney, believes one of the advantages for Smith is that he will likely face more conventional bowling and tactics early in his innings which may allow him to score more freely.In recent years, oppositions have come up with a variety of plans to Smith – including bouncers from round the wicket and stacked leg-side fields – which, while not often dismissing him quickly, have stemmed his scoring rate.”He likes to walk cross and get onto the legside and get it away there,” Warner said. “People have been bowling short to him when he first gets in. But he finds a way. Early on, they’re going to try and swing the ball and pitch the ball up. And he’s going to be allowed to get into his game and his game plan. Get into the rhythm of how he wants to bat and he can dictate. So I’m actually looking forward to seeing how he goes.”Warner added that he thought Smith and Usman Khawaja both had “another year or two” in them in Test cricket, which could take them up to the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia after next season’s series against India. Matt Renshaw has now been earmarked as the next batter in line, but Warner backed the move to get Green back in the side.”It’s a good taste for Greeny…24 years of age,” he said. “They’re going to have to look for two new guys up the top [of] the order. But to get that No. 4 replacement as well, that’s your foundation at three and four. So if they can knuckle that down, they’ve got a base in the middle. Then they just have a look for some more openers.”