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Hyderabad Sunrisers have now won five in five after routing Delhi Daredevils with 37 balls remaining

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran04-May-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Delhi Daredevils’ campaign is dead and buried•BCCI

A couple of years ago, the Hyderabad Cricket Association had performed several at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal seeking divine intervention to change the fortunes of the home side which seemed to invariably lose at the venue. Whether it was India, the local Ranji side or the now-defunct Deccan Chargers, the Hyderabad crowd turned up only to see their side defeated.Whether it is due to the or not, the home side’s fortunes have certainly changed at the Uppal stadium. India won two Tests there this season, and the new franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad have now won five in five after routing Delhi Daredevils with 37 balls remaining.The bedrock of Sunrisers’ surprisingly successful season so far has been the bowling. Dale Steyn has bowled with frightening pace, Amit Mishra and Karan Sharma have used their googlies to flummox the batsmen, Thisara Perera has had plenty of success with both bat and ball and Ishant Sharma, usually so profligate in the limited-overs format, has been effective with the new ball. All of that came together perfectly as they hounded out Daredevils for 80, the lowest total of the season.Daredevils’ campaign had been on life support over the past week, with a couple of victories just about keeping them alive in the competition. Their chances are now dead and buried after their faltering batting failed once again. There were only four fours and one six in the entire innings, less than what AB de Villiers managed in a single over against Ashok Dinda earlier this week.Their openers survived a couple of pacy, probing overs from Steyn at the start before Asad Rauf gave a rough lbw decision to Mahela Jayawardene. Virender Sehwag followed soon after as he missed an indipper from Darren Sammy and lost his offstump. That left only David Warner among the big names, and though he was put down on 6, he couldn’t make it to double-digits as he misread a Mishra googly and was stumped by yards.The Sunrisers quicks had a plan on a track that was slow and had some variable bounce – they didn’t bowl anything full, giving nothing that could be driven easily. The surface also offered turn for the spinners, which both Mishra and Karan exploited.Daredevils had lengthened their batting with the inclusion of two overseas allrounders, Johan Botha and Jeevan Mendis, but it was to little avail. Mendis holed out to long-on, Botha top-edged to the keeper, and Irfan Pathan dragged on a Steyn delivery to the stumps. Daredevils went from 70 for 5 to 80 all out.Sunrisers major weakness is their frail batting, and the pitch was not a batting beauty but the target was too small for Daredevils’ bowlers to stand a real chance of defending it. Shikhar Dhawan made it seem like a flat track early on with some sumptuous shots, and though there were a few hiccups, Sunrisers maintained their 100% home record without too much trouble.

Scotland have been forced to rethink their plans for an overseas player after George Worke was selected for New Zealand’s development programme.

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Mar-2012Scotland have been forced to rethink their plans for an overseas player this season after George Worker, the New Zealand batsman originally signed as their professional for 2012, was selected for New Zealand’s winter development programme.Worker, 23, had agreed to play for Scotland in the Clydesdale Bank 40 and coach and play for Watsonian CC on Myerside. But his impressive form for Canterbury has earned him a call up for the close-season programme.”It’s very disappointing news because George Worker ticked all the boxes,” Roddy Smith, the Cricket Scotland chief executive, told Cricket Media Scotland. “He played a few games for us last season and fitted in really well with all the guys. It will be extremely difficult – if not impossible – to replace him like-for-like.”He has made two centuries this season, scoring 337 first-class runs at 37.44 in five matches and 308 runs at 38.50 in eight 50-over matches.The 20-week programme features 10 up-and-coming players and runs from May 1 to September 30 – ruling Worker out of most of the British season – and includes five camps at the New Zealand high performance centre in Lincoln where players benefit from specialist support from New Zealand’s high performance coaching staff.”There is also an expectation that each player selected in the programme will also continue their work and commitment to develop a career outside the game by way of a part time job, study or work experience,” New Zealand national selection manager Kim Littlejohn said. “This is an important aspect of the programme and will form part of the players individual performance plan.”

The tourists must succeed in every match to avoid losing the contest, while Australia have the luxury of having some off nights after earning a 3-1 lead.

Peter English in Brisbane28-Jan-2011

Match Facts

January 30, Brisbane

Start time 13.20 (03.20 GMT)Local hero: Shane Watson•Getty Images

The Big Picture

England won quite convincingly in Adelaide on Wednesday but their quest over the final three games remains the same. The tourists must succeed in every match to avoid losing the contest, while Australia have the luxury of having some off nights after earning a 3-1 lead. The hosts were below their best in Adelaide with bat and ball, but always enjoy returning to their Gabba fortress.


Brisbane is currently a city under-going a big clean-up after devastating floods a fortnight ago. The fifth ODI will be a major fund-raiser for victims and will support the Queensland premier’s appeal. The Gabba was not affected by the destruction and the curator was ready to host a game just three days after the Brisbane River peaked.England have only a week to go before they head home for a very short break ahead of the World Cup. Australia’s itinerary is a lot more relaxed and the players are looking and operating like the favourites to claim the trophy.

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first)
Australia LWWWW

England WLLLW

Watch out for…

This part of Australia is Shane Watson territory and he has visited a couple of times over the past two weeks to inspect the flood damage and raise spirits. He grew up in Ipswich and played for Queensland, but has not had any real international success at the ground that was his home before he switched to New South Wales. While he has been Australia’s form player of the summer and scored 161 in the first ODI, the locals would love him to do something special on Sunday.


Chris Tremlett has been one of England’s stars on this trip and can’t believe what is happening to him. First there was a place on the Ashes tour, then a key role, opening the bowling in the one-day side, and being elevated to an ECB contract. “All these surprises keep happening and sometimes I still pinch myself,” he said. He has taken six wickets in the past four games and should be a big threat on the Gabba pitch, which offers pace and seam.

Team news

Shaun Tait (thigh) and Mitchell Johnson (throat infection) are improving and give Australia some pace options on what will be a lively wicket. Johnson should come in on his old home ground as he looks to re-find form ahead of next month’s World Cup.


Australia (possible) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Cameron White, 6 David Hussey, 7 Steve Smith, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Xavier Doherty, 11 Doug Bollinger.England’s main problem is whether to pick another specialist fast bowler. They went with only three in Adelaide, but Brisbane is a different prospect and the extra speed is vital. That leaves Paul Collingwood and Michael Yardy in vulnerable positions, while the chances of Chris Woakes or Luke Wright being recalled have increased.England (possible) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Matt Prior (wk), 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Eoin Morgan, 7 Paul Collingwood, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Ajmal Shahzad, 10 Chris Tremlett, 11 James Anderson.

Stats and trivia

• The only international team with a better winning percentage at the Gabba than Australia’s 56.66% is West Indies’ 76.19%. England sit fourth on 53.84% after seven wins in 13 appearances.
• Australia’s only loss in five games against England here came in 1998-99, when Alan Mullally’s 4 for 18 helped dismiss the hosts for 145.
• David Gower holds the highest score at the ground with 158 off 118 balls, with 18 fours and four sixes, against New Zealand in 1982-83.

Quotes

“It’s going to be a very emotional day and hopefully that can help pull us over the line and win the series.”
“We played pretty well the other night in Adelaide and we’ve got some momentum back from that performance. Hopefully we can take it from there, try to do what Australia did and win three games in a row.”

A report commissioned by the players’ unions in England, Australia and South Africa has said that the recent terror threats are credible and that security cannot be guaranteed in India

Cricinfo staff21-Feb-2010A report commissioned by the players’ unions in England, Australia and South Africa and written by the England team’s security adviser Reg Dickason has said that the recent threat from the 313 Brigade, Al-Qaeda’s operational arm in Pakistan, is credible and that security cannot be guaranteed in India, according to newspaper reports in England and Australia. The assessment has apparently already been passed on to the players’ unions and the cricketers concerned have been informed of its contents.England are currently headed to Bangladesh for a full series after contesting a short two-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan in the UAE. The England players signed up for the IPL are Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Owais Shah, Ravi Bapora, Dimitri Mascarenhas, and Graham Napier. Collingwood, England’s Twenty20 captain, and Pietersen are expected to join the IPL only on March 24 but the rest are due to play the entire tournament.”I am aware of the reported security risks and am in constant communication with Delhi Daredevils,” said Collingwood, who till then had not seen the report. “I will make a decision once I have had a chance to review all the available information and talk to the relevant people.”A report in the said no final decision had been taken yet by the Australian Cricketers’ Association on what advice to give the country’s large contingent of players who have signed up with the IPL. ”We’re not in a position to talk about it right now,” Paul Marsh, the ACA’s chief executive, told the paper. ”I’ve just received it and I’m working my way through it.”Security fears regarding the IPL intensified
after a string of statements warning countries not to send its representatives to major sports events being staged in India, including the IPL. Tim May, the chief executive of FICA, the international players’ union, has warned of a spate of player withdrawals from the IPL due to security concerns over playing in India.May’s statements came on a day the Jaipur police said they had received intelligence inputs of a terrorist threat relating to the one-day international in the city between India and South Africa on Sunday. This followed other reported threats targeting the Commonwealth Games and the Hockey World Cup, both due to be hosted in India this year. Earlier, the Shiv Sena, a right-wing regional political party, had claimed it would not allow Australian cricketers to participate in the competition as a protest against attacks on Indian students in Australia.

Middlesex stutter to 189 for 8 on truncated day at Emirates Old Trafford

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-Sep-2025Middlesex 189 for 8 (De Caires 52, Geddes 52, Bailey 4-60) vs Lancashire Tom Bailey took four wickets to ensure Lancashire reduced Middlesex’s already slim promotion hopes still further on a rain-affected second day of the Rothesay County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.After the first day of the game had been wiped out by rain, only 44 overs’ play was possible between the heavy showers on the second but the visitors ended a long and mostly sunlit evening session on 189 for 8 after Ben Geddes had been dismissed for 52 four overs before the close and Seb Morgan had fallen lbw to Bailey’s last ball of a truncated day.Having been asked to bat first in bowler-friendly conditions, the visitors were also indebted to opener Josh De Caires, who made 52 runs, many of them against the new ball at a time when the players were regularly forced off the field by rain.The match began at noon but barely 20 minutes’ play was possible before a heavy shower forced the players off again. In that time, however, Middlesex lost two wickets in five overs, Sam Robson being caught at second slip by Keaton Jennings off Bailey for 9, and the left-handed Luke Hollman being taken at first slip by Michael Jones for a four-ball nought when James Anderson slanted a ball across him and induced the edge.Two balls later – and probably to Hollman’s intense irritation – more showers blew in on the westerly wind and prevented play resuming for over two hours. An early lunch was taken and Middlesex resumed their innings on 13 for 2.On the bright side, the visitors then added 48 runs in six overs, De Caires hitting three successive fours off Tom Aspinwall and the visitors bringing up their fifty in the tenth over. However, only seven more balls were possible, though, before yet more heavy rain arrived from the direction of the Party Stand with Middlesex on 61 for 2.Play resumed at four o’clock and Middlesex immediately lost two wickets to successive deliveries from Aspinwall. Having put on 54 with de Caires, Leus du Plooy was caught behind for 22 when attempting to drive and Ryan Higgins departed first ball when he appeared surprised by Aspinwall’s pace and edged a catch to Jones at first slip.Geddes joined de Caires and the pair put on another 54 runs during the course of which the Middlesex opener was dropped by Bailey off his own bowling when on 46. De Caires reached his fifty off 65 balls when he nicked Bailey past third slip and to the boundary but the opener was caught behind for 52 three balls later when driving ambitiously at the same bowler.Josh Bohannon was introduced into the attack from the Statham End and struck with his first ball when he bowled Joe Cracknell for 6. By the close, however, Middlesex had recovered to near parity in the conditions with Geddes having reached his 50 off 80 balls with five fours and three sixes, all of the latter having been whacked over the short boundary on the Party Stand side of the ground.Nine balls after reaching that personal landmark, Geddes nicked Bailey high to Jennings’ left at second slip and the former Lancashire skipper took a fine two-handed catch. At the close, Zafar Gohar was 16 not out. Bailey finished the day with figures of 4 for 60 and Aspinwall with 2 for 48.

Mack reaches ton as duo share record-breaking stand of 191 for third wicket

ECB Reporters Network24-Apr-2024A century from Australian Katie Mack and a record-breaking partnership of 191 runs for the third wicket ensured Lancashire Thunder got off the mark in style with a commanding 142 run victory over Sunrisers at Emirates Old Trafford in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Thunder had lost their opening game in the competition by nine wickets to Northern Diamonds but there was no apparent hangover from that error-strewn performance with Mack and third-wicket partner Fi Morris, who hit 89, taking the hosts to a daunting total of 292 for 5 before Sunrisers were bundled out for just 150 in reply.With Saturday’s loss fresh in the memory, Thunder would have been forgiven for having a sense of déjà vu when opener Emma Lamb fell early, mistiming a pull shot to Maddy Villiers at midwicket off Kate Coppack for 5 and things got worse when Seren Smale missed a full, straight one from Jodi Grewcock to be bowled for 21 and leave the hosts 32 for 2.But where that defeat saw Thunder fail to recover from the loss of early wickets, here they seemed galvanised by the challenge as Mack and Morris set about a stunning rebuilding project. Full of inventiveness, skill and some excellent running between the wickets, the partnership began with the duo never allowing Sunrisers’ spinners to settle into any kind of rhythm.While Mack’s knock was full of ramps, sweeps and late cuts, Morris frequently walked down the pitch to meet the spinners’ deliveries with the combination of finesse and power between the two working perfectly.Mack reached her half-century off 67 balls with Morris passing hers off 66 as the pair’s partnership went beyond 100 runs and into record-breaking territory.Eventually Morris was dismissed by the returning Coppack who trapped her lbw for 89, but the damage was done and the stand was the second-highest for any wicket by any side in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Mack deservedly reached her century soon after with a characteristic late cut to the boundary before she was stumped off Villiers for 100 – her fourth century in List A cricket.The stage was set for Ellie Threlkeld and Sophie Ecclestone to have a swing and they extended the score to 285 before the England spinner was caught at long on for a breezy 24 which contained two sixes and helped Thunder reach their highest score in the competition as they closed on 292 for 5 with Threlkeld unbeaten on 26.Faced with a hefty target and the returning Ecclestone and Kate Cross, the task always looked a daunting one for Sunrisers and it was Cross who immediately hit the mark producing five overs for just eight runs and the wicket of Ariana Dowse caught by Lamb at short midwicket for 10.At the other end, Sunrisers skipper Grace Scrivens was stuck in an almighty rut and had reached just 9 off 46 balls when she skied one to bowler Hannah Jones to make it 36 for 2 which became 36 for 3 after Cordelia Griffith departed for 11 after another caught and bowled for Ecclestone.The longed-for partnership just would not materialise for the visitors with Mady Villiers and Amara Carr falling to Morris and Ecclestone as the run rate continued to climb.The one bright spot for Sunrisers was Grewcock who stood firm in reaching 38 as she and Florence Miller compiled 50 runs for the sixth wicket before the former was bowled by Jones and the latter edged Phobe Graham behind for 19.Ecclestone picked up her third when Nicola Hancock was caught on the boundary by Norris for 15 and her England teammate Cross made quick work of the rest of the tail in dismissing Joanne Gardner for six and Coppack without scoring to end with 3 for 21 off 8.1 overs as Sunrisers failed to score a run off the bat off the last 30 balls of the innings.

Sri Lanka need their bowlers to step up in their quest to level the three-match series

Hemant Brar11-Jan-20234:13

Do India need a bowling allrounder? Who replaces Madushanka if he misses out?

Big picture: Can Sri Lanka stage a comeback?

The last time India and Sri Lanka played an ODI at Eden Gardens, in 2014, Rohit Sharma smashed a world-record 264. He looked set for a big hundred in Tuesday’s ODI in Guwahati as well before getting out for a 67-ball 83. Still, it was a big positive for India as Rohit was playing his first game after his hand injury in Bangladesh.Related

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Rohit’s decisions regarding the playing XI too proved to be right. Before the opening ODI, he had announced that Shubman Gill was ahead of Ishan Kishan in the pecking order despite the latter scoring the fastest double-century in ODI cricket in his previous match. There was a reason behind that.Going into the first game, Gill had been the most prolific run-getter in the world in ODIs since his comeback in July last year, with 638 runs at an average of 70.88 and a strike rate of 102.57. He carried on in the same vein in Guwahati, scoring 70 off 60 balls.

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The other important decision was the omission of Suryakumar Yadav, who has been making heads turn with his T20I performances. India stuck with Shreyas Iyer, and he chipped in with a handy cameo as the team looked for quick runs to guard against dew in the second innings.One concern for India is, with Axar Patel slotted at No. 7 and followed by four bowlers, the tail is too long. They have Washington Sundar on the bench, but the question is, whom do they drop to fit him in?Even though Sri Lanka were outplayed in the first ODI, there were some encouraging signs. Pathum Nissanka scored 72 at the top of the order, Dhananjaya de Silva contributed a 40-ball 47, and Dasun Shanaka continued his good form with an unbeaten hundred.Dilshan Madushanka hurt his shoulder while trying to make a stop•BCCI

Having said that, their bowlers need to put in a much-improved performance if they are to keep the series alive. However, it may not be easy given the lack of experience in the bowling unit. It’s also not clear if Dilshan Madushanka will be available for Thursday’s match. The left-arm seamer dislocated his right shoulder while fielding during the first ODI. He was sent for an X-ray and MRI, and the reports are awaited.

Form guide

India WWLLL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LWLLW

In the spotlight: Umran Malik and Wanindu Hasaranga

In the absence of Prasidh Krishna, Umran Malik has been tasked with being the enforcer in the middle overs. After impressing during the T20I series, he picked up 3 for 57 from eight overs in the first ODI. At one point, he had figures of 6-0-32-3 before Shanaka took him on at the death. Having already improved his control, perhaps it’s time to incorporate some variations.Wanindu Hasaranga hasn’t been at his best in ODIs•Associated Press

From Sri Lanka’s side, the focus will be on Wanindu Hasaranga. While he is among the best spinners in T20I cricket, his ODI record is a bit underwhelming. In 35 ODIs, he has 39 wickets at an average of 36.51. But he is the leading wicket-taker in the squad, and his team requires him to step up.

Team news: Will India go unchanged?

Before the series, Rohit said India were not looking to chop and change. So expect them to go with an unchanged XI, especially after a win in the first game.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Mohammed Shami, 9 Umran Malik, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalSri Lanka could bring in Lahiru Kumara if Madushanka is unavailable. No other changes are expected.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Charith Asalanka, 5 Dhananjaya de Silva, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Chamika Karunaratne, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Dilshan Madushanka/Lahiru Kumara

Pitch and conditions: Haze at Eden Gardens?

Eden Gardens last hosted an ODI more than five years ago when India, batting first, were all out for 252. In response, Australia folded for just 202. There is no forecast of rain, but it could be hazy at times. During the daytime, the temperature will be around 25°C but could drop by more than 10° at night.

Stats and trivia

• Virat Kohli (12,584) needs 67 runs to go past Mahela Jayawardene’s ODI tally of 12650 and move to fifth position on the list of top run-getters in the format.
• Since the start of 2010, India have played 24 bilateral ODI series at home. Of those, they have lost only three – against Pakistan in 2012, South Africa in 2015 and Australia in 2019.
• Avishka Fernando is 31 short of 1000 runs in ODI cricket. If he reaches there on Thursday, in his 28th innings, he will be the joint second-fastest to the landmark from his country, along with Upul Tharanga and Kusal Mendis. Roy Dias holds the Sri Lankan record, getting there in 27 innings.

The Queensland quick is the current leading wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield

AAP14-Nov-2021Queensland skipper Usman Khawaja has likened team-mate Mark Steketee to South Africa great Dale Steyn, labelling the quick’s current form as career-best.Steketee is among a host of fast bowlers fighting for advantage in the pecking order behind Australia’s Test trio Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.Although Queensland went down in the Sheffield Shield to Western Australia by seven wickets on Saturday at the Gabba, Steketee again performed strongly with 4 for 74 and 2 for 21.The 27-year-old, who picked up career-best figures of 7 for 44 against South Australia last month, tops the Shield wicket-taker list this season with 18 at 15.72.Related

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“[He] has been around the Aussie thinking [and] the next fast bowling crop for a while now,” Khawaja told reporters. “This year, the way he’s been bowling is as good as I’ve seen him bowl. He’s got gears too, you can tell he’s experienced now. He can read the conditions.”When he was younger he just used to try and bowl 100 percent. He’s got the skills and the gears now to take it back a bit and then ramp it up, much like Dale Steyn used to and learnt throughout his career.”Australia is expected to soon name an extended Ashes squad, with an intrasquad practice game early next month looming as a key shootout ahead of the first Test against England on December 8.Steketee, Queensland team-mate Michael Neser, experienced Victorian Scott Boland, WA quick Jhye Richardson and New South Wales allrounder Sean Abbott are among the next crop of quicks.Richardson, who has two Tests to his name, starred against the Bulls with 3 for 38 and 5 for 23 and hit a valuable 35 with the bat. Neser picked up a hamstring injury in his side’s loss but is expected to be fit by the start of the Ashes. National selectors could opt for a rotation policy with the five-Test series being squeezed into six weeks.Khawaja, himself in top touch with the bat and pushing for a return to the Test side, indicated Steketee should be at the top of the pack.”He’s bowling beautifully right now. He’s been the pick of our bowlers all season,” he said. “The bounce and the kiss he’s getting off the wicket, we feel in the game every ball.”

Southampton treat paves the way for another enthralling contest as second Test begins at Old Trafford

The Preview by Valkerie Baynes15-Jul-2020

Big picture

What a comeback that was for Test cricket. After the world was plunged into chaos and uncertainty became the only certainty, we wondered if it would even happen this summer. But it did happen – and how! So the first Test wasn’t the hands-to-head-in-disbelief nail-biter of last year’s Ashes contest at Headingley, although in fairness, not many are. No, England vs West Indies at the Ageas Bowl was a slow-burner with myriad storylines woven together to create a classic.The Jason Holder v Ben Stokes contest, Shannon Gabriel’s transformation from recovering reserve to nine-wicket contributor to West Indies’ victory, Jofra Archer’s fiery return to Test cricket after injury and Jermaine Blackwood’s fulfilled promise (on the second attempt) to change his ways and bat long leading to a crucial innings, all combined to make the first international cricket match in nearly four months entirely gripping. Now turning to Emirates Old Trafford, West Indies are a big step closer to securing their first Test series victory in England since 1988.Just be careful how you describe the significance of West Indies’ position to Holder, their captain, who took issue in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday with one journalist using the word “unbelievable” when asking about the prospect of breaking a 32-year drought. There is, understandably a reluctance within the West Indies camp to focus too much on history, with Holder and head coach Phil Simmons acknowledging that there is plenty of work to do. However, Simmons put the situation in context when he said: “You don’t want to have to chase England in England. So the chasing is from their point of view now.”So the focus turns to England and the big (though not unexpected) news that Joe Denly has been dropped. He makes way for Joe Root, who returns from paternity leave to resume the captaincy from stand-in Stokes and the No. 4 spot in the order from Denly, who made his Test debut during West Indies 2-1 series triumph in the Caribbean 18 months ago. Unconvincing returns since then and young Kent team-mate Zak Crawley’s impressive second-innings 76 batting at No. 3 in Southampton made Denly’s position untenable.Gabriel’s five-wicket haul in England’s second innings, which came after he had been elevated to the Test squad having travelled as a reserve following ankle surgery, was instrumental in West Indies’ success. So too was Blackwood’s ability – after a failing in the first innings – to suppress his aggressive instincts as a batsman and guide his side a long way to their second-innings target of 200 for victory with a considered 95. But the fact that England’s batsmen only managed 204 in the first innings – when Holder took a career-best 6 for 42, went a long way to ensuring the hosts’ undoing.Jason Holder on the eve of the second Test•Getty Images

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)England LWWWL
West Indies WWLLL

In the spotlight

With England’s batting falling short, the next man under scrutiny will be Jos Buttler. With selectors having finally dropped Denly – many would argue not before time – it can also be said that Buttler has been given ample opportunity to make an impact with the bat. Buttler clearly has the faith of the England hierarchy, with Root on the eve of the second Test expressing confidence he is not far away from transferring his limited-overs prowess to the longer format. Root drew on Buttler’s first-innings 35 off 47 balls, but his second-innings 9 and the fact that he averages 31.46 with a solitary century from 42 Tests has raised questions over whether he should be regarded as a white-ball specialist. With every innings that falls short of expectation, and England not short of wicketkeeping talent, the pressure mounts on Buttler.Similar to England, it is West Indies’ batting that has found to be more wanting than the bowling. Shai Hope travelled to England in the spotlight after his twin centuries at Headingley in 2017 and the gaze has only intensified given that they remain his only Test hundreds. Scores of 16 and 9 in Southampton mean the eyes on him are now glaring. Like Root with Buttler, however, Holder has said he believes a big score is imminent for Hope. Joshua Da Silva thrust his name forward during West Indies’ intra-squad warm-up matches but he remained on the sidelines for the first Test. Without weight of runs – Hope has managed just two fifties from his last 34 innings – he is in need of a big knock.ALSO READ: Why Hope’s Headingley opus may not sustain him much longer

Team news

In a dramatic turn of events, Jofra Archer has been dropped from the team following a breach of the ECB’s bio-secure protocols, and while he goes into self-isolation for five days, the state of England’s bowling stocks is suddenly in a bit of flux. Archer had produced a jaw-dropping seven-over spell of pace and bounce on the final day in Southampton and had been set to retain his place with both Mark Wood and James Anderson being rested. That situation is unlikely to change, so with Stuart Broad raring to go after being left out at the Ageas Bowl, England may need to choose two from Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson – who earned his first call-up to the senior squad – and left-arm seamer Sam Curran. While there’s no like-for-like replacement among that trio, Robinson’s performance in the warm-ups suggest his time may have come, although Curran’s recall would add welcome depth to the batting.England (possible): 1 Rory Burns, 2 Dom Sibley, 3 Zak Crawley, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Ollie Pope, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Dom Bess, 10 Sam Curran/Ollie Robinson, 11 Stuart BroadJohn Campbell has pulled up a little sore but “as well as we would like”, according to Holder, after suffering a bruised, as opposed to broken, toe when he was struck by a yorker from Archer and retired hurt in West Indies’ second innings at the Ageas Bowl. Campbell did return after Blackwood’s place-sealing innings and hit the winnings runs. Both are in line to play. Kemar Roach looked distraught at one point after going wicketless for the match but his fortitude in the second innings – he did not leak runs and kept the pressure on – means he has little to worry about. In fact, with cloudy conditions forecast for Manchester, Roach could be the tourists’ go-to bowler for this match. Depending on the pitch, there may be a temptation to bring in offspinner Rahkeem Cornwall.West Indies (possible): 1 John Campbell, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Shai Hope, 4 Shamarh Brooks, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Jermaine Blackwood, 7 Shane Dowrich (wk), 8 Jason Holder (capt), 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon Gabriel

Pitch and conditions

With overcast conditions forecast for the first two days, followed by rain on Saturday and then some sunshine breaking through, there could be plenty of fun to be had for the seamers. The pitch has been covered for the past two days due to the rain, but Root managed to take a peek on Tuesday and said: “It was a nice brownish colour, it looked a good wicket. I’m expecting it to be just that.”The Old Trafford pitch looked a fair bit quicker than the Ageas Bowl in the warm-ups and you would expect it to produce more runs. The fact that it’s been under cover for a good amount of time could present another tough decision at the toss. It may feel a little chilly, with temperatures in the high teens or low 20s expected but, having spent the best part of a month based at the ground before re-locating to Southampton for the first Test, the touring team will be fairly accustomed to Manchester climes. For the England side, well, that’s just summer, isn’t it?

Stats and trivia

• Joe Root’s average at Old Trafford is 85.00, his best among home venues where he has played more than one Test.
• England have a 9-1 win-loss record at Old Trafford in the last 12 Tests, their only loss was against Australia last summer.
• In the last five Tests in Manchester, going back to 2013, seamers have averaged 28.44 (121 wickets) to 43.44 by spinners (36 wickets).
• After going past 100 Test wickets in West Indies’ last home Test, against India in Jamaica last summer, Jason Holder needs 83 runs to reach 2000 in Test cricket and become only the third West Indies player behind Sir Garfield Sobers and Carl Hooper to achieve the feat.
• Kemar Roach needs seven more wickets to become the first West Indian fast bowler since Curtly Ambrose to reach 200 in Tests.

Quotes

“It’s a matter of time before we see some of those special innings that we’ve seen in white-ball cricket, his performances in that arena, transfer across.”

Joe Root has faith in Jos Buttler.“I don’t like the word you use in terms of ‘unbelievable’ but if that’s the word you choose to use, then fair enough.”
Jason Holder takes umbrage at an assessment of his side being on the verge of a first series victory in England for 32 years.

PCB chairman’s statement comes at the closing ceremony ahead of the PSL 2019 final at Karachi’s National Stadium

Umar Farooq in Karachi17-Mar-2019All matches of the next edition of the PSL could be held in Pakistan, and not around UAE, with PCB chairman Ehsan Mani saying at the closing ceremony ahead of the PSL 2019 final at Karachi’s National Stadium, “Next year we look forward to welcome you back with all the PSL matches in Pakistan.””Today for Pakistan, especially for Karachi, it’s a historic day. Since PSL is in Karachi, over 200,000 spectators witness the games at the stadium and millions witnessed on TV and digital platform,” Mani said at the National Stadium, where over 30,000 spectators are attending the final of PSL 2019, between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.”We should always remember that cricket is the one game that brings happiness and light in life and this lesson shouldn’t be forgotten.ALSO READ: Before and after Lahore 2009 – Pakistan’s cricket in numbers“The biggest reward should be given to the people of Karachi, the way you people have supported and embraced PSL 4 here in your city. The love and support was extraordinary.”Finally, I would like to say that all overseas players, officials and technical support teams, you have seen yourself the passion and love for cricket in Pakistan. Next year we look forward to welcome you back with all the PSL matches in Pakistan.”Darren Sammy and Sarfaraz Ahmed pose with the PSL 2019 trophy at Mazar-e-Quaid•Pakistan Super League

Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who attended the PSL final, hoped Karachi would continue to play a significant role in the return of international cricket to Pakistan. “Two years ago, I promised that we will bring the PSL matches to Karachi,” Shah said. “Last year, we hosted the final and this year we staged eight matches here. I salute the fans of Karachi who despite all problems helped us stage the final.”The government of Sindh will strive for the return of international cricket in Pakistan and that too will start from Karachi. I thank all the foreign players for visiting Karachi and, in the end, I would say whoever wins the final, cricket will be the winner, people of Karachi will be the winner and Pakistan will be the winner.”For the PCB, the PSL, now coming to the end of its fourth season, has been a platform to try and bring top-drawer cricket back to the country. The final of the 2017 edition was held in Lahore, followed by the last four games, including the final, in 2018. This year, the last eight games have been held in Karachi.Alongside, international limited-overs series against a World XI, West Indies and Sri Lanka have also been held in the country over the past couple of years with considerable success.The ongoing PSL started in the UAE, where 26 games were played, before the action shifted to Pakistan. Originally, three of the eight games were scheduled to be played in Lahore, followed by five in Karachi, but all games were moved to Karachi because of logistical concerns.Earlier this month, Pakistan completed ten years since the country became a no-go zone – with rare exceptions – for international cricket teams, following the armed attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore. The PCB was forced to make UAE their home away from home and, before the recent tours, the only top-tier team to visit Pakistan were Zimbabwe, in 2015, for a limited-overs series in Lahore.A short tour of three T20Is by an ICC-supported World XI in September 2017, in which a number of high-profile cricketers from around the world took part, led to a change of heart on the part of many visitors, to an extent. It was a key step for the PCB in its efforts to convince teams that the country is ready to host top-flight international cricket again.This year, all overseas players involved in the PSL made the trip from the UAE to Karachi, including the usually reluctant Australian star Shane Watson, raising the profile of the tournament.