“We certainly value contributions of people who’ve been there, and if they’ve missed out due to injury, they deserve the right to come back in”

Karthik Krishnaswamy15-Feb-202310:51

Dravid: ‘Nagpur is done, but we need to keep playing tough cricket’

Shreyas Iyer is set to return to India’s side for the second Test against Australia in Delhi, which begins on Friday, if he passes his fitness assessment on the eve of the match. Iyer missed the first Test in Nagpur with a back injury, and rejoined the squad in Delhi, where he had a long stint batting in the nets on Wednesday.India coach Rahul Dravid has said Iyer will “walk straight into the side” if he feels fine after batting on Thursday as well.”We’ll take a call after a couple of days of training,” Dravid said. “He’s had a long session today in terms of training today, we’ll assess it tomorrow as well, once he comes in for a light hit, and see how he feels in the evening. But certainly, if he’s fit and ready to go and ready to take the load of a five-day Test match, then it is without doubt that his performance means he will walk straight into the side.”Related

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• Starc 'still lacking a bit of strength', touch and go to be ready for Delhi Test

• Fit-again Shreyas Iyer to join India's Test squad in Delhi

• At fever pitch: Reviewing the Nagpur Test

Ever since scoring a century on Test debut against New Zealand in Kanpur in November 2021, Iyer has been a key middle-order batter for India especially in Asian conditions, and has been involved in several rescue jobs. Apart from his ability against spin, Dravid identified Iyer’s temperament and ability to find solutions under pressure as assets he brings to India’s line-up.Dravid took the examples of the innings Iyer played in pressure situations in both innings of his Kanpur debut, and the match-winning partnership with R Ashwin in Dhaka last December, which came after India were 74 for 7 in a chase of 145. He indicated that Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 8 in India’s only innings in Nagpur, where he made his debut, would probably make way for Iyer.”Without it being written in stone and without it being a rule, we certainly value contributions of people who’ve been there, and if they’ve missed out due to injury, they deserve the right to come back in, if they’ve performed, irrespective of what has happened in the time that they’ve been injured,” Dravid said.”So yes, it’s something that I can’t answer for everyone, but it’s certainly the outlook of the team management [in this case]. And yes, Shreyas has played well against spin, but what’s really stood out has been his temperament. We’ve been in quite a few pressure situations with Shreyas around, right from the first Test match that he played, his debut game in Kanpur.”We’ve been in some tough situations, and he and Rishabh [Pant] and [Ravindra] Jadeja, really, have been the ones who’ve been bailing us out and playing those critical knocks. His temperament in Bangladesh, when we were under pressure, along with Ashwin. That’s something that’s a really good sign, obviously along with his skill of playing spin really well.”He’s spent a lot of time in domestic cricket before getting in, so he obviously understands how to get runs, but I think at this level, also what really counts is your ability to deal with those pressure situations, that temperament, that ability to find solutions and find answers when we’re under pressure, and from the little sample size that we have, he’s been very good at that.”It’ll be nice to have him back, and he certainly has been one of our better players, he deserves it, and people in the team understand that as well. They know that if they are replacing someone who is injured, that person will probably come back, and the same thing will be followed for them as well – if they get injured, hopefully we’ll be able to give them the same treatment as well.”

Coach Chandika Hathurusingha wants his players to bat like they do in the BPL

Mohammad Isam08-Mar-2023On the eve of the first T20 international against England, several Bangladesh batters were gathered around one of the centre wickets at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. There was laughter, shouting, and balls flying in different directions. The acoustics of the Chattogram venue lets you hear what is being said in the middle from the sidelines, and it became apparent the players were taking part in a game where the batter had to keep hitting sixes to continue batting.As Shakib Al Hasan hit one towards the long-on boundary at the media centre end, the rest of the group comprising Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Towhid Hridoy and Rony Talukdar burst into laughter and rushed towards their captain. They were saying that Shakib had failed to clear the boundary and so had to let the next batter have a go. Shakib was having none of it, waving them back and smiling sheepishly. You can’t really win against Shakib on a cricket field, can you?That fun exercise was part of Bangladesh’s larger endeavour to become a more proactive and big-hitting T20 unit. They haven’t succeeded yet, but with the next T20 World Cup a little more than a year away, they have the time to do it. Their new coach Chandika Hathurusingha joined in the action in the middle for a while to observe what was happening, and said later that he wants the players to bring what they do in the BPL to the international stage.”I am very open to see what we can do,” Hathurusingha said. “I expect players to do the same thing that got them selected. So go and show in the international level against the world champions, for them to understand where they are at, and for us to understand whether we are better than them in our conditions or they are better than us. Good opportunity for us to see our skillset in T20s.”Towhid Hridoy and Rony Talukdar were among those who impressed Hathurusingha in the nets, but he wants to see what they do in match situations.”I have seen Rony before. I remember he played one game against South Africa. I can’t remember if he got injured or some other people started doing well,” Hathurusingha said. “I am actually very interested to see what he can do.”Hathurusingha, who re-joined Bangladesh as head coach last month after a six-year gap, , said he had observed an overall improvement in the team, despite losing the ODI series to England 2-1.”It is a good start. I was impressed with certain areas. The fast bowlers did well in not so helpful conditions. Their discipline and understanding of the game, especially Taskin and Ebadot, stood out. I was happy with the fielding effort. I think we out-fielded England. I have observed a few things that we can get better at in batting.”We have to be the best fielding side in Asia. We can’t compare with others, but we know where we need to get to. Young legs on the field definitely helps fielding. They are faster, energetic. Hridoy is one of the really exciting fielders.”Still, T20 cricket is mostly about runs, and Bangladesh are still a long way from being a legit big-hitting side. Hathurusingha believes a lot depends on physical power – an area Bangladesh have traditionally struggled with – but batters can develop a good swing and base to improve their hitting ability.”Power is a big factor,” Hathurusingha said. “But you need to have good mechanism like good swing, good base. You can get little better but if you have power, it gives you a head start more than others.”Bangladesh play England in the first T20I in Chattogram on Thursday, followed by two game in Mirpur on March 12 and 14.

Vithushan Ehantharajah witnesses stunning collapse after Lawrence century, Roland-Jones seven-for

Vithushan Ehantharajah07-Apr-2023Essex 266 (Lawrence 105, Roland-Jones 7-61) lead Middlesex 170 (Higgins 70, Simpson 63, Porter 6-35) by 96 runsVisitors to Lord’s will notice that there are now two replay screens above the Allen Stand next to the Pavilion. Opulence, perhaps, but in an UltraHD era, the crispness of those letters and digits were a recognisable example of a traditional sport moving with the times. And yet there was a moment at about 2.50pm on Good Friday, when all within the ground strained between blinks as they tried to register what both screens displayed.Middlesex’s top four all had noughts to their names, all dismissed, yet four runs had been amassed by virtue of two front-foot no-balls. Jamie Porter had figures of 3 for 2 – Sam Robson was lbw to the first ball of Middlesex’s innings before Pieter Malan was bowled with the third, then Stevie Eskinazi was caught down the leg side with the 16th – just after Sam Cook got in on the act with Mark Stoneman caught behind.Four for Four. And not just any four for four; the first time in 48 years No.1, 2, 3 and 4 had all been dismissed for ducks in the County Championship.All that was missing was the sitcom record-scratch accompanied by the usual “You’re probably wondering how we got here?”. The answer to that in itself was more than enough to get your head around at the start of a Bank Holiday weekend. Dan Lawrence completed a measured yet engaging century, but with Toby Roland-Jones taking 7 for 61 in response, Essex, having begun day two on 162 for 3, were limited to 266 all out under bright blue skies.What advantage they had ceded was quickly re-established with the ball. It took 4.4 overs for Middlesex to get their first run off the bat, a frantic tip-and-run from Max Holden drawing ironic cheers from the stands. He was the next to fall – 20 for 5 – when Porter nabbed a fourth thanks to a smart low catch by Simon Harmer at second slip.A period of breath-catching followed with a127-run stand between Ryan Higgins and John Simpson. But it only delayed the inevitable of a sizeable Essex first-innings lead – 98 – and Porter’s first five-wicket haul of the summer. The 29-year-old finished with six for 35, with Harmer’s 3 for 33 – beginning with bowling Higgins through the gate to break the sixth-wicket partnership – keeping the tail honest. That Essex were able to remove the last five Middlesex wickets for just 23 at the end of a session pushing three hours was a testament to their red-ball dominance established well before this day.It felt like an age since Lawrence had resumed on 74. It was a whole different game with a very different story when he was ticking off the remaining runs to a 13th first-class century with the same patience, sound judgement and the odd flash of brilliance he showcased on Thursday. He marched at Tim Murtagh to pull him for six – a second of this knock – and went from 99 to 103 with an on-drive for four. The stroke was greeted with a skip and punch of the air at the climax of a cursory jaunt to the non-striker’s end.Dan Lawrence celebrates reaching his hundred•Getty Images

Lawrence is not usually a big celebrator, but the personal value of this knock after a 2022 summer of struggle – just 420 runs at 21.20 – was high, and not just because this was a first hundred at Lord’s. He knows this is a huge summer as far as international credentials are concerned.Unlike last summer, when he drifted away from the Test set-up under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum despite a valiant showing in the Caribbean under different interim management, Lawrence looks more at ease. He may have only carried drinks in New Zealand, but was left with a far better idea of where he stands and what he can do to move forward.”I think the general messaging for me was I score quickly enough anyway,” Lawrence explained about the nuggets he had been offered from Stokes and McCullum. “So I don’t need to change that much. It was probably more the other way for me; I’m trying to hone my defence a little bit more and then have the odd calculated gamble where I’ll take someone on when I feel like I need to. And it paid off this week.”The game changed considerably when Lawrence departed. He was the first of four wickets to fall for just 30 runs, the last three to Roland-Jones, bringing up the seamer’s 25th five-wicket haul. The first came as the culmination of a 12-over period in which Essex managed just 14 runs. Helm, Higgins and Luke Hollman kept things quiet until the new ball, before the skipper stepped in to finish things off.Adam Rossington, formerly of this parish, flicked straight to square leg before Roland-Jones bagged Simon Harmer (lbw) and Shane Snater (bowled via an inside-edge) in consecutive deliveries, the latter giving him five in the match and a 500th first-class dismissal. The hat-trick ball was a naff half-volley on leg stump put away by Ben Allison with ease. A more appropriate delivery to a No.9 eventually came after lunch – the 35-year-old seaming one into the front pad after Allison had committed early to a forward defence.Matt Critchley was watching calmly at the other end, like a Parisian dining alfresco amid a riot. His calm indifference to the collapse unfolding was characterised after lunch when he struck four fours in the 89th over off Helm, including a gorgeous straight drive to remind Middlesex a frontline batter had been playing possum.Critchley moved to 50 from 98 – a third score of fifty or more for Essex since joining from Derbyshire at the end of 2021 – but greeted the milestone with a shake of his head. He had exposed the No.11 Porter to five deliveries of a Roland-Jones over in taking that single. Ironically, he would be the man to fall to the Middlesex skipper, lured into attacking the short boundary and skying a pull that was smartly taken by Simpson.Barely 30 minutes after the catch, Simpson was back out there tending to the wreckage of Middlesex’s top-order. He was the one to walk out on 4 for 4, for so often the designated firefighter this side of London, heading towards the danger once more. Higgins was more of the aggressor in their stand – a half-century from 72 balls, whereas Simpson’s came from 151 – and Simpson’s failed attempt to take matters into his own hands further spoke of Essex’s chokehold on the game.Essex could have had Simpson for just 5 had Rossington reacted better to a nick off Porter. That would have made it 15 for 5 and perhaps increased the likelihood of Middlesex not passing the follow-on target of 116. Nevertheless, the hosts have plenty to do to avoid a chastening defeat in their first match back in Division One.

The Gujarat Titans captain also praised his team-mates for their match-winning performance against Lucknow Super Giants after only a day’s rest

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2023Hardik Pandya has hailed Rashid Khan’s athletic outfield catch to dismiss Kyle Mayers that broke Lucknow Super Giants’ strong opening stand as a “match-changing” effort, after Gujarat Titans prevailed by 56 runs in Ahmedabad.Chasing 228, Mayers had powered to 48 off 31 balls in a partnership of 88 with Quinton de Kock in just 8.1 overs. Then, he top-edged a pull over square leg off a Mohit Sharma slower ball. Rashid came sprinting in, running diagonally from fine leg, then slid and dived to take the catch to his right after making a last-minute adjustment.Super Giants lost momentum after losing Mayers and scored only 33 runs between overs 9 and 14, leaving them with too much to do in the last six.Related

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Hardik said that Rashid’s catch was the game-changer at a time when his team was under pressure. “The way the game changed after that… at one point of time at the eighth or ninth over we were even-stevens but that catch just changed the momentum and we were able to squeeze in a couple of tight overs,” he said after the match. “And after that I think they were chasing the game more than us.”We started controlling the game. Before that they were taking [us] on and we had to chase the game and make sure that we don’t concede as many runs and let them get into the game. So I think that catch was match-changing.””I think we both were driving at 100 kilometers per hour as a team but I think that bump in their innings cost them the game and got us back in the game.”Hardik also praised his team-mates for producing a match-winning performance after only one day’s rest. Titans’ last game was on Friday night and their match against Super Giants was the afternoon game on Sunday.”I don’t think I can ask anything better from the boys, Hardik said. “Especially, playing after one day’s gap and playing an afternoon game, the boys showed up and how.”Mohit, who gave Titans that vital first wicket, finished with 4 for 29, his best figures in the IPL since 2014. He has 12 wickets in eight matches in IPL 2023 with an economy rate of 6.96 despite bowling many of his overs at the death.”We keep discussing how to go about it, especially once the ball gets a little old how we can mix it up,” Mohit told broadcasters after the game. “And if I get the chance with a new ball, then what can I do with it. Today it was a day game so I knew that the wicket could get a little drier and be on the slower side so how we can mix it up in those conditions, that’s the kind of stuff I discuss with Shami.”I have practiced the knuckle ball, but I have a slight injury on my fingers so it’s not holding, so I am not able to bowl the knuckle ball. But I am using back-of-the-hand deliveries. When it’s the second innings and there’s a bit of dew, I can’t pitch it up too much, I have to bowl it away from the batter. So I am trying to stay as far from the batter’s range as possible.”I keep talking with Ashu Pa [Nehra] off the field. We talk a lot about bowling, what kind of balls I can bowl to different batters. Especially how we can mix up the length ball,” Mohit said. “He keeps saying that it shouldn’t be too short. It should be around top of off.”The win against Super Giants was Titans’ eighth victory in 11 games, giving them a three-point lead over Chennai Super Kings at the top of the table.

Central ended the day 124 ahead of East; North East 475 runs behind North’s total

Himanshu Agrawal29-Jun-2023

Avesh, Saurabh lead for Central

Fast bowler Avesh Khan and left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar hit back against East Zone by helping Central Zone secure a handy 60-run first-innings lead. With Central restricted to 182 on the first day, the two bowlers took three wickets each to bowl East out for 122 on day two in Alur.After Avesh had already struck twice on the previous evening, Saurabh gave Central their first wicket on the second morning. He trapped Sudip Kumar Gharami lbw for 27 in the 20th over of the innings, before cleaning up nightwatcher Shahbaz Nadeem six overs later. In between, Yash Thakur had the experienced Anustup Majumdar caught behind for 4. As a result, 44 for 2 soon became 76 for 7, as Avesh had Shahbaz Ahmed bowled for 3.Riyan Parag and Manisankar Munasingh then entertained with a quick 40-run partnership. But Central captain Shivam Mavi had Parag caught for 33, during which the batter hit five fours and a six, before dismissing Akash Deep for his second wicket of the innings.In the second innings, Central’s openers Vivek Singh and Himanshu Mantri added 64 in an unbroken stand, stretching the lead to 124 before rain brought an early end to the day’s play

Sindhu, Harshit dominate North East

North Zone’s Nishant Sindhu slammed 150 while No. 9 Harshit Rana cracked an unbeaten 122 off just 86 balls to cement the side’s strong position against North East Zone. Their heroics led North to 540 for 8, at which point they declared the innings.Nishant Sindhu raises his century•PTI

North had begun with Sindhu and Pulkit Narang resuming their overnight seventh-wicket partnership, which ended at 130 when Narang fell for 46. Sindhu and Harshit then got together, adding another 104 at almost a run-a-ball. Sindhu got to his highest first-class score of 150, as the two North batters kept scoring runs at will.Harshit continued being aggressive even after Sindhu departed. He hit 12 fours and nine sixes during his innings, which was his maiden first-class hundred. Harshit formed an undefeated union of 64 off 58 balls for the ninth wicket with Siddarth Kaul.When North declared their innings after 136 overs, there was finally some relief for the North East bowlers and fielders. With a mountain of a score in front of them, North East’s openers started cautiously, before Kaul cleaned up Kishan Lyngdoh in the fourth over. Next over, it was Baltej Singh’s turn to strike, as he removed Joseph Lalthankhuma for 4.From 10 for 2, Nilesh Lamichaney and captain Rongsen Jonathan added 47 for the third wicket to stage a brief recovery, but Harshit then hit back with the ball to have Jonathan lbw late in the day. North East ended the day 475 behind North’s total as rain played spoilsport in the final session here as well.

Team chases down 278 inside 43 overs to overhaul Scotland’s net run rate

Danyal Rasool06-Jul-2023Netherlands have qualified for the ODI World Cup in India later this year after beating Scotland in Bulawayo by six wickets. They sealed qualification with a stunning win spearheaded by Bas de Leede, who smashed 123 off 92 balls, to take the team to the 50-over World Cup for the first time since 2011.It seemed an uphill task for the Netherlands, who needed to win by a comprehensive enough margin to overhaul Scotland’s superior net run rate. Scotland were inserted into bat and scored 277 thanks to a century by Brandon McMullen, leaving the Dutch requiring 278 in 44 overs to qualify.Related

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While Scott Edwards’ side appeared on track for victory through the chase, reaching the target within that threshold looked unlikely. However, needing 45 off the last four overs, talisman de Leede, instrumental to the chase, shot through the gears in an astonishing onslaught, smashing four of the five sixes that Netherlands hit off the next two overs. Those overs saw 42 runs scored, and all of a sudden, the qualification that looked a distant dream was suddenly a foregone conclusion. De Leede was run out just before the winning runs were hit, but the Netherlands got home with seven balls to spare.That means Netherlands and Sri Lanka will go through to the final of the Qualifier, as well as to the World Cup proper. Regardless of the result in the final, the Netherlands go through as Q1, and Sri Lanka as Q2. The Netherlands are the only Associate side to qualify for the World Cup since the tournament shrunk to include just 10 teams.The final will be played on Sunday in Harare.

Miles Hammond resists but can’t prevent Gloucestershire from slipping to three-day defeat

ECB Reporters Network12-Jul-2023 Durham 453 (Lees 195, Clark 82, Carse 62, Goodman 4-73) and 52 for 1 beat Gloucestershire 316 and 188 (Hammond 86, Potts 4-24) by nine wicketsDurham wrapped up a dominant nine-wicket victory over Gloucestershire inside three days to edge themselves further towards promotion from Division Two in the LV= Insurance County Championship.The hosts began day three needing 17 to secure maximum batting points and Matthew Potts duly obliged with the bat before he blew the game open with the new Kookaburra ball. The England seamer claimed figures of four for 24 in his six-over burst dismantling the Gloucestershire top order.Miles Hammond prevented an innings defeat with a defiant knock of 86, but Matt Parkinson and Brydon Carse claimed two wickets apiece to clean up the tail, leaving Durham to chase only 52. The hosts eased over the line within 12 overs to extend their lead at the top of Division Two with five games remaining after claiming 24 points from the contest.Resuming on day three on 433 for seven and Carse unbeaten on 60, Durham looked to press on and reach the 17 runs required to secure maximum batting points for the fifth time of the campaign.But, Matt Taylor ended Carse’s knock to claim his 200th first-class wicket after the Durham all-rounder added only two runs to his overnight score. Two boundaries from Potts saw the hosts over the 450-mark before he was caught on the fence to hand Dominic Goodman his fourth wicket, finishing with career-best figures.After rain forced an early lunch, Potts turned the screw with a devastating new-ball spell to demolish the Gloucestershire top order.Having been overlooked by the England selectors for the 4th Ashes Test, Potts continued his devastating Championship form as he bowled Ben Charlesworth, Ollie Price and Chris Dent with outstanding deliveries, removing the top three for single-figure scores, reducing the visitors to 10 for three.Grant Roelofsen soon followed with an outside edge to present Potts with a fourth wicket, while at the other end, Hammond was given a reprieve when he was dropped at slip on six. Hammond and James Bracey offered resistance against the new ball to prevent Potts surging through the line-up.The backbone of the Gloucestershire line-up was broken when Bracey chased a wide one from Migael Pretorius to end the stand for 39. Zafar Gohar survived a couple of close calls against Matt Parkinson, but then gave his wicket away attempting to launch a slog-sweep that only ended up in the grasp of Carse.Hammond held up the Durham victory charge with a defiant knock of 86, scoring his second fifty of the game. He shared a partnership worth 62 with Taylor to prevent an innings defeat for the visitors. Taylor frustrated the Durham attack for almost an hour, keeping Potts and Carse at bay. But, Raine’s return broke the stand removing Taylor for 22 before Hammond was caught on the leg-side pushing for his century, falling 14 runs shy, leaving Durham requiring only 52 to register their fifth win of the campaign.Alex Lees was the only man to fall in the chase when he was bowled by Gohar for 22. Scott Borthwick and Michael Jones were there at the end to secure the win within 12 overs, taking maximum points in the process.

“Our T20 games have been getting longer and longer each year, and we want to do what we can to arrest this trend”

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Aug-2023The 2023 Caribbean Premier League – men’s and women’s – has announced severe penalties for teams going through their overs slowly, even putting in place a red card-like system of removing a player if the fielding side is behind schedule at the start of the 20th over of an innings, a first in the game.”We have been disappointed that our T20 games have been getting longer and longer each year, and we want to do what we can to arrest this trend,” Michael Hall, the CPL’s tournament operations director, said in a statement on the subject. “It is the duty of those involved in cricket to ensure that the game keeps moving and we have sensitised both the franchises and our match officials to this duty ahead of the tournament. Our hope is that these in-game penalties are not needed, but we believe they are proportionate and necessary.”The slow over-rate penalties

• If behind the required over rate at the start of the 18th over, one additional player must enter the fielding circle – for a total of five players inside the circle
• If behind the rate at the start of the 19th over, two additional fielders must enter the fielding circle – for a total of six inside the circle
• If behind the rate at the start of the final over, teams will lose a player from the field – selected by the captain – and have six inside the fielding circle
• There will also be an onus on batting teams to keep the game moving. After a first and final warning from the umpires, the batting team will be slapped with a five-run penalty for each instance of time wasting

Using the 85-minutes-per-innings rule for T20 cricket, a CPL statement said that the issue “will be monitored more closely” in the 2023 edition of the tournament. The 17th over of the innings must be completed by 72 minutes and 15 seconds, the 18th by 76 minutes and 30 seconds, and the 19th by 80 minutes and 45 seconds, before the last over ends within 85 minutes.”Over rates will be monitored by the third umpire and communicated to the captains via on-field umpires at the end of every over, as well as to the crowd and TV audience, with graphics showing how far they are behind (or ahead of) the over rate,” the statement said. “Dispensations will be given for injuries, DRS and time-wasting by batting side where appropriate.”The men’s CPL 2023 starts on August 17 with Jamaica Tallawahs taking on St Lucia Kings in Gros Islet, and the women’s event will start on August 31 with a game between Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors in Barbados.

The tournament has had its first upset – and one of the biggest of all time – while two teams face an almost must-win clash in Lucknow

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Oct-20233:56

Trott: ‘Manner and margin of Afghanistan’s win makes it significant’

—Fixtures | Squads | Points table | Tournament Index

Top Story: The Great Upset – Afghanistan bring World Cup to life with England conquest

Afghanistan claimed the most famous scalp of their international history, and in the process provided the first big shock of the 2023 World Cup, by routing England’s world champions by 69 runs in a spin-and-seam masterclass under the Delhi floodlights.Their dominance was set in motion by a fearless display of power-hitting from the 21-year-old Rahmanullah Gurbaz, whose 80 from 57 had promised so much more until a run-out sawed him off in his prime. But Ikram Alikhil marshalled Afghanistan’s lower-order with a precious half-century in his first game of this year’s World Cup, whereupon they set about making a target of 285 seem as dim and distant as England’s hopes of defending their title must now feel.Click here for the full report

Match analysis: Forget Bazball, this was Gurbazball

Rashid Khan clinches Afghanistan’s historic win against England•Getty Images

The ball skidded past Mark Wood’s bat and into the stumps, and Rashid Khan stood with his arms outstretched, arching his back and facing the night sky. It was a moment to savour, one which will reverberate across Delhi, India and far beyond: Afghanistan had not only beaten the world champions, but thrashed them.This was the performance of a team with no fear or inhibition, attacking first with the bat and then with the ball. Afghanistan had won once in their 17 previous World Cup matches, a one-wicket victory over Scotland eight years ago: they were a team with nothing to lose, who gained everything.Amid political turmoil and humanitarian crises, India has become a home away from home for Afghanistan. This, their most famous night as a sporting nation, came in front of over 25,000 fans in a city with a substantial Afghan diaspora. Many of them waved Afghanistan flags and danced along as played over the PA system.Read the full analysis by Matt Roller in Delhi

Have your say: Which is England’s most shocking loss?England have been on the wrong end of some big upsets in ICC events and have been shocked once again in this World Cup, by Afghanistan in Delhi. Which of these defeats was the most surprising? Click here to vote

Must Watch: Aaron Finch on Pat Cummins

4:43

Finch: ‘Everyone in the team respects Cummins and his tactics’

News headlines

• Travis Head is hopeful of being able to fly out to join Australia’s World Cup squad later this week as he continues to recover from his fractured hand
• England captain Jos Buttler has said the team “must let this defeat hurt” after they were toppled by Afghanistan

Match preview

Australia vs Sri Lanka, Lucknow (2pm IST; 8.30am GMT; 7.30pm AEST)1:32

Kumble on Australia’s limited spin attack

Even in a tournament with nine group-stage matches which allows room for a slip up or two, you don’t want to be 0-3 early in the competition. But that’s exactly the situation which will confront one of Australia and Sri Lanka after they face off in Lucknow in what already shapes as a contest to retain realistic semi-final hopes. It has been a tough start for both sides, but two points in this fixture will revive belief that they can still challenge for the top four.Full previewTeam newsAustralia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodSri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Dunith Wellalage, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Dilshan Madushanka

Feature: Tired and tested – Australia’s challenges at this World Cup

It’s no doubt a view coloured by recent results and the mediaperson’s tendency to hanker for shiny new things to talk about, but there’s a definite jadedness to Australia’s ODI set-up. Where some other teams – India, for instance – have torn up their ODI template and started over more than once over the last two World Cup cycles, Australia continue to play the way they’ve always played. They have an explosive line-up buttressed by a pair of busy anchors, and they trust in their best – which usually translates to Test – fast bowlers no matter what the conditions are.Read the full piece by Karthik Krishnaswamy in Lucknow

Steven Smith is likely to return after missing the Afghanistan game, whereas Bangladesh will be without Shakib Al Hasan

Tristan Lavalette10-Nov-2023

Big picture: Australia look to fine-tune against Bangladesh ahead of semi-final

Before Glenn Maxwell unleashed the most surreal batting imaginable, Australia appeared headed for a hefty defeat against Afghanistan and almost getting into must-win territory against Bangladesh. That nervy scenario was alleviated by Maxwell, who powered Australia into a semi-final against South Africa. But Australia won’t be treating this as a dead rubber and will field their strongest available line-up for the clash in Pune.Even though Australia have won six consecutive matches, after such a rocky start, their form has been patchy at times. They’ve been relying on individual brilliance – none more so than Maxwell’s tour de force – rather than a collective.Australia still face selection issues in a bid to find the right balance. They have several players struggling for consistency as Australia look to produce a more complete performance against an opponent out of semi-final contention.But Bangladesh are in a fight to be among the top eight teams to qualify for the Champions Trophy. An upset will go a long way towards this and notching consecutive victories will also ensure a strong finish for Bangladesh, whose tournament hopes nosedived after beating Afghanistan in their opener.But there is a feeling that this is more than the end of their campaign amid off-field rumblings. Bangladesh are dealing with several exits from their dressing room. Fast-bowling coach Allan Donald and computer analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekaran have announced that they won’t be renewing their contracts. In Donald’s case, there is controversy as the BCB sought an explanation from him after he criticised captain Shakib Al Hasan’s appeal in the drama over Angelo Mathews’ timed out dismissal.More coaching staff changes are likely, but Bangladesh will be hoping the off-field turmoil does not affect them in their bid to finish a disappointing World Cup campaign on a bright note.

Form guide

Australia WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Bangladesh WLLLL

In the spotlight: Mitchell Starc and Taskin Ahmed

Only Glenn McGrath and Muthiah Muralidaran have taken more World Cup wickets than left-arm quick Mitchell Starc, who starred in the 2015 and 2019 editions. But Starc has struggled to find his top form in this tournament with 10 wickets at 43.90 and an economy rate of 6.55. He has taken just five wickets in his last five games culminating with 1 for 70 from nine overs against Afghanistan, where Starc couldn’t trouble the batters early and he was torn apart at the death in a ragged display. If Australia are to win a sixth title, Starc will have to rediscover his best and he has a golden opportunity to turn around his form against a Bangladesh batting order susceptible to left-arm pace.Taskin Ahmed has bounced back in the last few games•Associated Press

Quick Taskin Ahmed finally bowled well in the World Cup after several ordinary outings. Even though he finished wicketless for the second straight match, his pace was up and his wobble seam delivery was on show against Sri Lanka. He bowled a strong opening spell, and then delivered tight bowling in the middle and at the end. He conceded just 39 runs in 10 overs to be clearly his team’s most economical bowler. Taskin is known as the bowling pack leader, so it was important that he bounced back after indifferent performances.

Team news: Smith set to return from vertigo, Shakib ruled out

Steven Smith is likely to return after missing the match against Afghanistan due to vertigo, while Maxwell faces a fitness test after severely cramping during his herculean innings. If they are available to play, Australia will have a fully fit squad to choose from for the first time this tournament. Marnus Labuschagne or Marcus Stoinis will likely make way for Smith depending on what type of balance the team management leans towards. Labuschagne is a similar type of batter to Smith and has been a consistent scorer in the tournament although he is striking sedately at 77. Stoinis has generally struggled, but provides alluring big-hitting and all-round skills much like Maxwell. Sean Abbott could also come into the mix if one of the big three quicks is given a break before the semi-final.Australia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Travis Head, 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Marcus Stoinis/Marnus Labuschagne, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodCaptain Shakib Al Hasan will miss this game with a fractured left index finger and he is likely to be replaced by allrounder Mahedi Hasan or left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed. Anamul Haque, Shakib’s replacement in the squad, might be in line to replace opener Tanzid Hasan, who has made just one half-century from eight innings in the tournament.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Litton Das, 2 Tanzid Hasan/Anamul Haque, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 7 Nasum Ahmed/Mahedi Hasan, 8 Towhid Hridoy, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Shoriful Islam

Pitch and conditions

The Maharashtra Cricket Association surface has been batting-friendly with South Africa and England posting scores over 330 after batting first in the last two matches at the ground. But seamers have also done well on a pitch offering bounce and carry.Warm and sunny conditions are expected on Saturday with a maximum temperature of 32 degrees Celsius forecast.

Stats and trivia

• Australia and Bangladesh have not played against each other in ODIs since the 2019 World Cup.
• Australia have won 19 of 20 completed ODIs against Bangladesh and all three contested in World Cups.
• Glenn Maxwell is 108 runs away from becoming the 19th Australian to reach 4000 ODI runs.
  

  Quotes

  “It will be based on the surface. If we think that we have a surface that is challenging in a certain area then we can shift in one direction. The more bowling options that we have we feel we can cover in terms of the opposition batting.”
  “We [are] actually spoiled. We had him for a long, long time and I mean when you have someone like Shakib’s calibre, [the] No. 1 all-rounder, it’s two players in one so it’s hard to do much with the combination. So, we will definitely want to fill his bowling vacuum with another spinner or a fast bowler. It’s batting we’re going to miss and his leadership. So, it’s hard.”