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Graeme Smith made a battling half-century to lift the pressure of expectation from his shoulders

Firdose Moonda in Port Elizabeth23-Oct-2011For Graeme Smith, batting has lately been a little like driving on a road pockmarked with potholes. Every time he has tried to move out of first gear, he has hit a bump and stalled. But in Port Elizabeth he finally found a smooth track on which he could accelerate freely.After three failures, Smith’s broad shoulders would have felt the weight of expectations and they would have stooped a little lower when the innings began, as they have throughout the series. This time though, it was not Smith who departed early, but his partner. Hashim Amla got a leading edge back to Doug Bollinger and trudged to the dressing room without a run on the board.Jacques Kallis came to the crease and eased any jangling nerves Smith might have had by dealing with the next 11 deliveries. By the time Smith had to face a ball, Kallis had already hooked Johnson for six and driven him for four. There was still stress, as Smith had to take guard against a left-arm seamer in Doug Bollinger, who started with a leg-side wide. Instead of following it up with a delivery that would undo Smith, as he did in the T20, Bollinger hurled down a chest-high short delivery that Smith evaded. Then, Smith was off the mark with a prod to point.Kallis’ presence at the other end allowed Smith the luxury of batting himself in. While Smith nudged, Kallis drove, while Smith clipped off the pads, Kallis cut over point, taking the pressure off the former captain. Kallis’ strike-rate was close to 100 in the early stages of the innings, allowing Smith’s to slither down to little more than 50.Smith’s first four, a drive through the covers, was the most fluent shot he played in four innings but he did not get carried away by it and was willing to grind. He started getting bat to ball in a more confident fashion and was not rattled when he had to defend. Even when a Watson delivery kept low and passed the off stump, Smith was unmoved.It was in the 11th over that Smith showed he might be well and truly back. He had survived the left-armers’ assault, been beaten by Cummins’ pace and battled to 13 off 27 balls, with awkward, but at least, apparent foot movement. Cummins bowled a fairly wide delivery outside off, Smith had to reach but he pushed it through the covers with such power that his intent was clear. In the same over, he drove through the offside again, the second time with more conviction and better footwork.The change in Smith after those two shots was evident. He started strutting rather than shuffling at the crease and was confident enough to argue with Mitchell Johnson when the bowler stood in Smith’s way as he tried to complete a run. Words were exchanged and fingers were pointed but Smith was clearly the victor when Johnson missed a simple chance to run him out two balls later. So wayward was Johnson’s hurl that the ball did not land on the pitch.Getting under the skin of the man who had broken his hand twice in the past allowed Smith to grow more confident. All of Smith’s six fours were scored on the off side, a remarkable feat, given his preference for scoring on the leg. He made room for himself, danced down the track and even hustled between the wickets with rare speed.The innings meant a lot to Smith, who looked up to the sky after reaching his half-century. For the first time this season, a home crowd was on its feet for him and there was no jeering. He acknowledged them warmly.The reverse-sweep was the one shot Smith could not pull off. He was beaten when he first tried it against Steve Smith and then caught behind when he attempted it again off the same bowler. The umpire originally gave it not out but the review showed Smith had gloved it. He walked off the field having given away the chance to do something big, but he had done enough for now.

Misbah-ul-Haq did not,after his side’s crushing defeat of England, sound like a man about to get carried away with his success, and with good reason

David Hopps19-Jan-2012Misbah-ul-Haq might be extolled as a great Pakistan captain after his side’s crushing defeat of England but did not sound like a man about to get carried away with his success. With good reason; only ten months ago, he was condemned as an old man whose time had gone after he was made the scapegoat for Pakistan’s defeat against India in the World Cup semi-final in Mohali.Even allowing for Pakistan’s recent improvement, a 10-wicket victory against England in the opening Test in Dubai had to be Misbah’s finest moment. “It’s a big victory for us against the No. 1 side in the world, a confidence-building win,” Misbah said, with no trace of emotion. “But we can expect a tough time from England in the next Test. That is something that makes you No. 1. They have quality cricketers. Their bowling attack are fighters and they will come back hard.”Misbah’s World Cup crawl was viewed by some as inexplicable, but many saw it as a failed attempt to bring stability to a subsiding Pakistan innings. There was a reminder of that reputation for slow scoring on the second day, when he edged Pakistan into a position of authority with great deliberation. He made 52 from 154 balls, an innings of old-fashioned virtues, but nobody will be questioning his approach now.”There were runs to be had if you applied yourself,” he said. “At one stage England were bowling very well with the new ball. We were just concentrating on survival and looking for a lead of more than 100.”Not too many cricketers would have had the strength to recover from that World Cup defeat, especially since it was to India. But against all the odds, at 37, he has proved himself what the former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson always said he was: the sharpest cricket brain in the Pakistan side, something altogether more substantial than his predecessor Salman Butt.A captain of substance, Mishbah-ul-Haq seems to have held things together•Getty ImagesIt is because Misbah is a captain of substance that he will recognise more than most that Pakistan’s victory, for all the delightful variations of Ajmal, owed much to England’s ineptitude. Pakistan were efficient, but England surely cannot bat as badly again.Extraordinarily, Pakistan have an air of stability when, in fact, they are clearly in transition. Mohsin Khan is a successful yet interim coach and the man identified to replace him, Dav Whatmore, has been in as yet unresolved talks with the PCB – just the sort of thing to tempt a less orderly Pakistan side into endless conjecture at best, divisions at worst.Misbah, though, seems to have held things together. “I am asked about the coaching situation so many times,” he said. “It all depends on what the PCB decide. Waqar Younis worked hard with the team and the performances [under him] were very good, and now Mohsin’s team is performing very well. Whoever comes [in], it is for our betterment and we will have to adjust.”Alongside Misbah, the ruler, sat his talented court jester, Saeed Ajmal, bathed in smiles after his match figures of 10 for 97. He is the bowler whom England must conquer if they are to fight back in this three-Test series.Ajmal provided the banter that his audience wanted to hear. Firstly, there was the little matter of his ‘teesra’, which had not lived up to his pre-match billing. To come up with a fourth one would require a lot of hard work, he suggested, so he would concentrate on three for now. And he would have got more than 10 wickets, but he was just trying to help Umar Gul get five as he had not managed it for a long time.Misbah offered some pertinent observations about his action and the whisperings that surrounded it the moment the England roadshow came to town, as if oblivious to the fact that he underwent stringent testing by the ICC in 2009 when he was stripped to the waist, reflective markers were put all over his arm and he was filmed from every angle by high-speed 3D cameras.”He is cleared by the ICC already,” Misbah said. “He’s been playing four or five years in international cricket, he has played in county cricket. Nobody said anything. We should just admit that he is a good bowler. He has some great variations.”It is a jolt to recognise that a Test between Pakistan and England has passed off without incident. It might well be the case that Pakistan had reached such a low point in its cricketing history that it demanded a significant reassessment.”The spirit of the game was wonderful from both teams throughout the match,” Misbah said. “Both teams are focussing on cricket and want to build a good relationship. Nothing happened on field. You haven’t seen any gestures – like rude gestures. Everyone was just concentrating on giving hard a time to each other with their batting or bowling.”The hard times were entirely England’s. The good times remain with Pakistan. Misbah has supervised a crushing Pakistan victory. To do it once is impressive. Whether Pakistan are capable of maintaining their tempo for the final two Tests, though, remains in question.

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from Chennai Super Kings v Sydney Sixers at the Wanderers

Firdose Moonda at the Wanderers14-Oct-2012Throw of the day Ben Hilfenhaus had misjudged a catch off Michael Lumb that seemed to circle Pluto before dipping, but that was not a true measure of his fielding ability. When Shane Watson cut the ball to the sweeper and called for the second, Hilfenhaus was called to action. His throw – flat and accurate – came in quickly to MS Dhoni in front of the stumps who managed to break them without getting his gloves in the way. Watson looked in World T20 form and Chennai Super Kings were lucky to get rid of him before he reached his half-century. Hilfenhaus had the spotlight on him again when he caught Brad Haddin, falling forward, in the deep a few overs later.Reception of the day With a lot of big names in action, there were bound to be big greetings from the crowd. Sachin Tendulkar may receive the biggest cheers later on, but in the first match, those went to South Africa’s Faf du Plessis, who doesn’t usually get welcomed so warmly at the Wanderers. Du Plessis plays for the Titans franchise domestically, who are arch rivals of the home team, the Lions. The derbies between the two sides are fierce but the fans were able to put that aside when they saw du Plessis come on to bowl in yellow.Test series pre-cursor of the day Australia’s bowling attack will clash with South Africa’s batsmen again in three weeks’ time for a Test series in Australia and two players in this match provided a bit of an appetiser. Chennai’s du Plessis, who is pushing for a spot in South Africa’s XI in the No.6 position, played an innings about half as good as Jacques Rudolph’s last night. He took a good few off a man who will appear for Australia in Perth, Pat Cummins, including three fours off his first over: a leg-stump half-volley that was dispatched, a drive through the covers and a pull after charging the young quick. Cummins won the war though. Du Plessis did not get enough on an attempted clearance of long-on and was caught by another national bowler, Mitchell Starc.Contribution of the day Steve Smith scored a handy 26 but is often criticised for both his batting and bowling. One thing he could not be jeered at about was his catch on the boundary. Suresh Raina was on 57 and hit out high to long-on where Smith was stationed. He caught the ball over his shoulder and some nifty footwork ensured that he remained inside the playing area, saving six runs and dismissing Chennai’s top-scorer.

ESPNcricinfo assesses the performances of the Sri Lanka players in their series loss in Australia

Andrew Fernando07-Jan-2013

8

Rangana Herath  
12 wickets at 33.91Continues to be Sri Lanka’s best cricketer, and has been a pleasure to watch. Herath’s figures do him little justice, as a number of straightforward chances went down off his bowling throughout the series, and he was the victim of some inconsistent umpiring as well. His over to dismiss Phil Hughes in the second innings in Sydney should be studied by aspiring spinners of all persuasions as a case study in outfoxing a batsman. He was often supported poorly by the other bowlers in the attack, but he gave his all in the field nonetheless.

7

Kumar Sangakkara
152 at 50.66Found some form in the second innings in Hobart and was sublime in Melbourne while those around him crashed and burned. He looked good for a big score on Boxing Day, but began running out of partners and was forced to seek quick runs. Became fastest equal to 10,000 runs alongside Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, and there can be little doubt now that he is a great of the modern game. Will likely finish his career with an average of 60.33 in Australia, which does justice to his exploits there.

6

Tillakaratne Dilshan
208 runs at 34.66, 3 wickets at 61.66His 147 in Hobart was Sri Lanka’s best innings of the series, but despite that strong start, he was ineffective thereafter. His ungainly swipe across the line in the first innings at the MCG set the tone for Sri Lanka’s collapse, and he could not prosper in Sydney either, despite having adopted a more measured approach. Provided a helpful offspin option for Sri Lanka, and was rarely wayward in that capacity.Dinesh Chandimal
86 runs at 86, 3 catchesJoyful as ever, but responsible too, in his only Test, having sat out of the XI for months. Chandimal showed his game had come along during the downtime, but that he hasn’t lost his habit of taking his opportunities when they have come. His last-wicket stand with Nuwan Pradeep on the final day of the series affirmed his ability, and though he was not as sharp as Prasanna Jayawardene, he was tidy behind the stumps.

5


Lahiru Thirimanne
98 runs at 49His 91 on the first day in Sydney was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s innings, made all the more impressive by the fact that he’d walked off the plane from Sri Lanka only 36 hours prior. Visibly nervous to begin with, but firm in defence nonetheless, and possessed of a good technique to counter both fast and slow bowling. He got himself out when a hundred beckoned, rather than being bested by a good delivery, but there was plenty for Sri Lanka fans to be encouraged about in that innings. The middle order may be the place for him.Lahiru Thirimanne scored 91, only 36 hours after landing in Australia•Getty Images

4

Mahela Jayawardene


166 runs at 27.66Did little to bust the argument that he struggles on fast, bouncy pitches, though he did regroup well after Melbourne to make two purring half centuries in Sydney. Still, he was unable to provide the big score his side needed from him. His captaincy was also worryingly conservative at times, and in every innings but the final one in Sydney, he did not bring Herath on as early as he could have. He still has plenty to offer the team with the bat, but more importantly, he will need to work closely with Angelo Mathews to ensure his successor can have a successful tenure.

Angelo Mathews


175 runs at 29.16, 2 wickets at 58.5A good 75 in Hobart, but precious little else. Mathews still doesn’t seem to have mastered the skill of batting well for long periods and his frustrating habit of throwing away starts bore no signs of ceasing. He is expected to become captain in all forms at the end of the tour, but he still has a long way to develop as a player. He was economical with the ball, but perhaps what is needed is a more singular focus on his batting.
Dimuth Karunaratne


140 runs at 23.33A 30 in Hobart was the best he could show for his two first Tests, but hit a sparkling 85 in the second innings in Sydney to redeem his tour somewhat. There are obvious flaws in his game, particularly to the full ball outside off stump, but there is enough spunk and ability there to suggest he could become a very good Test opener. He may seem suited for limited overs cricket, but he needs to be kept away from those formats for now, until he develops a more robust technique. Sri Lanka need him to be a good Test batsman first.


Prasanna Jayawardene


85 runs at 28.33, 2 catches and 1 stumpingOnly had three innings with the bat, but failed to provide much in the way of substance in them. His glovework in Hobart was terrific however, and Sri Lanka missed him sorely behind the stumps in Melbourne, where sharp chances that might have brought them back into the game were spilled.

Chanaka Welegedara


6 wickets at 42.83Was lucky to pick up three scalps in the first innings in Hobart, but returned in the second innings to bowl some tighter spells. Also used the old ball well, but succumbed to injury early in the Melbourne Test. He has had an injury-ravaged 10 months, and at 31, he cannot afford many more long layoffs.Shaminda Eranga


5 wickets at 50.40Had good pace at times, and was dangerous when he moved the ball, but it happened too infrequently for him to pose a major threat. His forte is taking the ball away from the right hander, and he was frustrated by an Australian top-order carrying largely southpaws. He has good pace, but needs to be able to maintain it, but more importantly, he needs to improve the modest movement he has been getting.Thilan Samaraweera’s form hit a low in the series•Associated Press

3



Dhammika Prasad


3 wickets at 53
Bowled well on day two in Melbourne, picking up three wickets there, but was underwhelming in Sydney, where he traveled for plenty. Needs to move the ball to become effective at his pace and height.Nuwan Pradeep 


2 wickets at 64
Could match the quickest Australian bowlers for pace, but his lack of control left much to be desired. Is capable of becoming a decent fast bowler, but needs to stave away injury and work on becoming more consistent. His 24-ball resistance with the bat in the second innings was also heartening, and helped give the visitors a glimmer of hope heading into the fourth innings.Nuwan Kulasekara 

0 wickets
Wicketless in his only outing, but often he seemed the only bowler capable of supporting Rangana Herath. Built up decent periods of pressure throughout the first Test, and finished with an economy rate of 2.36. May never win Sri Lanka a Test, but the attack lacks control at present, and he seems the only bowler capable of providing it.

2

Suranga Lakmal



1 wicket at 113
Had just one training session in which to adjust to Australian conditions, but was mediocre nonetheless. He is coming back from an ankle surgery, but though he found a regular place in the side twelve months ago, will now need to jostle with three or four others for a spot in future. Loses a mark for playing an awful stroke in the second innings, when the team and Chandimal desperately needed him to stick around.

Thilan Samaraweera 


79 runs at 13.16

What was most disconcerting about Samaraweera’s series was not the paucity of runs, but the manner of his dismissals. In Melbourne, he was out playing an irresponsible hook shot on 10, and in Sydney, he charged Nathan Lyon and played an ungainly swipe entirely inconsistent with his formula for success. He is the oldest member of the team, and with so few Tests to come in 2013, Samaraweera’s  inspiring career may be about to wind down. That said, he has proved doubters wrong several times before.

There’s yummy food in Hobart, and lovely buildings in Australia’s second-largest city. Too bad Sri Lanka don’t quite show up for the second Test

Andrew Fernando01-Jan-2013December 12
Leave Hobart airport worn and weary and am comforted by how small the place feels. The town is over the other side of the river from my accommodation, but the Russian motel owner insists I have to see the city today. He moved here eight years ago, and it does not surprise me to learn that he is also an immigration agent, specialising in bringing people to Tasmania.”This is the greatest place in the world to live,” he says. “If you live 15 minutes from where you work, people ask, ‘What the hell is wrong with you? Where are you living?'””Unemployment is high here too, but I don’t tell that to my clients.”December 13
First sighting of the gorgeous Bellerive Oval. It’s so close to the edge of the Derwent River you feel that if a strong easterly blows in, the stadium could slide into the water.The view from the press box is lovely. “It used to be better before they raised the southern stand,” complains an Australian journalist.”We should enjoy the view we’ve got now, because in a couple of year’s time, it won’t be there,” another chimes in.Meet Mahela Jayawardene for a short interview at the team hotel later in the afternoon. He’s got his fingers crossed about the Bellerive pitch.”Hopefully they’ll leave the grass on and our quicks can get something out of it,” he says.”Not a request you always hear from a Sri Lankan captain,” I reply.He flashes a smile. “That’s the only way we’re going to win a Test match here.”December 14
I had heard from several journalists that Hobart’s press-box food was the best around, but I had been skeptical. The city is charming but a little vanilla, which doesn’t usually make for a vibrant culinary scene. I was wrong. So very wrong.They serve up oily, fresh, flavoursome salmon on the first day, and I’m hooked. The fish are farmed, rather than wild, but the brochure provided to each reporter claims that that did not compromise on taste, and I am not in any position to argue.I’ll have my cheque made out to cash, please, Tourism Tasmania.December 15
Coming from Sri Lanka, where the largest contingents of spectators at Test matches are routinely the hordes of groundstaff, I had hoped to witness the kinds of numbers cricket’s best format deserves in Australia. I soon find it is not to be the case in Hobart, where the stands are sparsely occupied on all five days. Strangely, Tasmania Cricket’s chairman then goes on to warn, “If you don’t like Tasmania, don’t come here,” which seems to me like the opposite of what needed to be said.December 16
So Mahela never got his wish, and for the first three days of the Test, the Hobart pitch is fairly tame. Tillakaratne Dilshan gets a warm ovation for his hundred, from an almost entirely pro-Australian audience. Australians want their side to win, but perhaps not always at the expense of good cricket, which they appreciate better than most.December 17
As I leave the ground in twilight, several local teenagers in their swimming costumes are daring each other to take a dip in the Derwent. I test the water temperature with my hand and proceeded to suppress a loud slew of expletives. They make them hard in Tasmania, I’ve heard, but I’m not sure that will slow hypothermia down any. They all seemed terrified of taking a dip, but intent on making fun of each other for not going in first.December 18
The Sri Lankan contingent in the press box breaks the news on Peter Siddle’s suspected ball-tampering on day three, leading to much murmuring and covert calling for the remainder of the day.”Was Australia too quiet for you blokes?” a local journalist asks in jest.I’m called by an Australian sports radio station to outline Sri Lanka’s position on the whole issue, which is basically: “We think he maybe, might have, possibly raised the seam a teeny bit, and we’re very concerned, but also, under no circumstances, in any way, are we ever going to make an official complaint.”At the end of the day the ICC sends out a press release claiming Siddle had already been cleared by the umpires at the end of day three, which is information that might have saved everyone time, stress and migraines, had it been brought to light promptly.December 19
Catch a very early flight to Melbourne, and first impression of the city is that everything seems to be a slick operation. Traffic doesn’t appear to be a major issue. The public transport is frequent and punctual, though a tad expensive. And being very cosmopolitan, there seems to be a huge variety of eateries.Arrive at my lodging, fairly close to the city, to find that it is right across the road from an establishment of dubious ethics named The Harem. I offer a friend money to go in dressed in a kaftan, wielding a falsetto, claiming he is a eunuch looking for work. He briefly considers and wisely declines.December 20
Does not take long for me to run into another Sri Lankan in Melbourne, on the tram. We discuss the team’s chances, and his assessments are about as pessimistic as mine, but we both hope we are proven wrong. He tells me about the massive Sri Lankan community in Melbourne.”There seems to be a Sri Lankan concert every other week, and in some of the suburbs, you will meet more Sri Lankans than Australians.”Several of the team have family and friends here too, whom they have been visiting, while the other Sri Lankan journalists are also spending time with relatives. I quickly begin to feel like the only Sri Lankan in the world who doesn’t have family in Australia.December 21
Meet Asanka Gurusinha for an interview and he is as thoughtful as he is gracious. The beard is gone but the gut has been embellished. He’s going back to Sri Lanka just before Christmas and is there for a month. He’s particularly excited about this visit because he will be catching up with the legendary class of ’96.”We are playing a charity match in Colombo on January 11. I think the only members of ’96 World Cup team who can’t come are Marvan [Atapattu], because he’ll be here with the team, and Kumar Dharmasena, who might be umpiring. Murali will definitely come if his team gets knocked out of the Big Bash.”After the match we will have a dinner just for the players and families, so I’m really looking forward to that.”Oh, to be a fly on that wall.December 22
The most striking thing about Melbourne’s central business district is the juxtaposition of the old and the new. Flinders Street Station is right across the intersection from St Paul’s Cathredral. They are two of the oldest and most majestic buildings in the city. On another corner of the junction is the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, a senseless modern cube in a fractured shell. The friend who is travelling with me tells me he hates the ACMI building, but personally I’m a fan. Without the awful there, right in view, perhaps the enduring charm of the two other buildings would not seem so stark.December 23
The MCG is as overwhelming as I’d imagined. I go down to field level and stride onto the playing surface with as much confidence as I can muster, so as to look like I am allowed to be walking to the pitch. I just want to get a feel for what it would be like to stand in the middle. I’m stopped about 10 metres in from the boundary, though, and even with a press pass around my neck, I can’t argue my case for getting a closer look at the surface.December 24
Melbourne CBD on Christmas eve is more enchanting than I expected. There is a fair share of last-minute shoppers and the usual commercial gimmicks associated with the holiday, but there is also a festive atmosphere that is quite irresistible. The town hall’s façade is lit up beautifully, and a crowd admires the building from across the road as trams buzz regularly by.Federation Square and St Paul’s Cathedral and in Melbourne•Getty ImagesDecember 25
I am tasked with working on Christmas day, and to my dismay, Jayawardene and Michael Clarke both give press conferences nearing 20 minutes each.Meet with a couple of old friends for a drink after a lonely Christmas dinner in Chinatown, and go to bed excited about covering my first Boxing Day Test.December 26
The crowd is over 67,000 and the roar for Mitchell Johnson as he approached the crease to deliver his hat-trick ball is an experience that will never leave me.”I almost pulled up halfway through my run-up because I was about to smile. I couldn’t concentrate,” Johnson says at the end of the day.December 27


Receive an invitation to have lunch with MCC members on day four – apparently a Boxing Day Test tradition for journalists. Someone in the press box is skeptical the game will last that long, but I go to Sri Lanka’s defence, foolishly, in hindsight.Finish work early enough to sample a little of Melbourne’s nightlife and a few locally made drinks, including something called a “Dirty Granny cider”.December 28


Am up bright and early to talk about Sri Lanka’s chances in the Test on the radio. Proceed to take even more careful aim at my foot as I predict some fight from the visitors. Sri Lanka pull the trigger for me in the first few overs of their innings. Most Sri Lanka fans are unsure whether to laugh or cry. Mitchell Johnson goes on a bouncer rampage and Sri Lanka’s physiotherapist Steve Mount ends up spending more time in the middle than most of their batsmen.December 29


Wake up still unsure of what to make of what happened the previous day, but it only gets worse as I hear of Tony Greig’s death. I call Sri Lanka’s team manager, Charith Senanayake, for an injury update, but end up relaying the news of Greig’s passing, which leaves him speechless – a reaction many Sri Lankans will have had to the news.December 30


As Sri Lanka have no media activities planned, I explore Melbourne a little more. Have the best dumplings I’ve ever had, and take a peek inside St Paul’s Cathedral and Scots Church, which are as beautiful on the inside as their exteriors. There are Australian Open billboards everywhere, and I sense a twinge of longing to see Roger Federer play, but I will be gone long before the tennis starts.December 31


Tens of thousands of people have flocked to the CBD on New Year’s Eve, and as the calendar rolls over, I see why. About a dozen sets of fireworks go off in perfect synchronisation from the top of various skyscrapers about town. Even the sleepy children who have been dragged around the city muster a smile and a shout. Surprisingly few drunks to negotiate on the long walk home.

From Edward Schofield, United Kingdom

Cricinfo25-Feb-2013
Plenty to like about the ChampionshipThe thought of the County Championship conjures up a wonderfully quintessential English image in one’s mind. Instantly visions of warm yellow sunbeams being cast across a perfectly manicured green outfield and the wizened faces of the onlookers conjure a sense of homeliness and relaxation and the very notion of summer.That feeling of seemingly endless balmy days spent whiling away hours as the play unfolds in front of you brings a glint to the eye and a glow to the soul, almost in that beautifully wistful way when thoughts of pleasant past and glorious present collide.Certainly this is how it feels to lovers of the game, those who almost revel in being classed as sporting outcasts due to their love of this supposedly quaint pursuit by those who simply don’t understand. There’s none of the corporate hoo-ha of the international game, none of the flight-by-night culture, where big earners and big spenders use the day to flex their financial muscles in a status symbol culture hoping to woo fellow prospectors – this is the format for the purists.Whether this is a good or bad thing is up for debate but one thing is for certain county cricket has a special place in the hearts of many. The continual discussion about the worth and place of the four-day game at county level rages on but the fact that it rages on suggests that it does have worth and it does have a place, it’s when the talking stops that greater concern arises.That is not to say there aren’t questions to be answered, the Morgan report has thrown up some controversial issues and it is key that while cricket doesn’t lose its soul, it moves with the times. The nature of the County Championship is that it is likely to be associated with the older generation of fan, the majority of play takes place during the working week, that this is the case is oddly seen by some as a negative, age plays no part in the value of a spectator.Perhaps the demographic of those attending leads to the misconception that the appeal of the Championship is waning, it should not be forgotten that just because people are not able to attend doesn’t mean they are not following the state of the match from afar. That domestic cricket can attract followers on a cold Monday morning in April is impressive in itself, it should also be remembered that the aggregate Championship attendance last season was 70,000 higher than in 2005, an impressive increase.As with all sports, the County Championship does have a responsibility to ensure it has a sustainable future; maintaining interest, renewal of followers and continued relevance are all important. The last of these is naturally tied in with the future of Test cricket and that is another lengthy debate for another time.The other two go hand in hand and there is reason to be positive. Rarely have I felt such anticipation in the build-up to the commencement of the county season, possibly it concerns the excellent season that we are following on from, Lancashire dramatically snatching their first outright title since 1934 on the final day at Taunton, all of course broadcast on Sky. Any television coverage is naturally a major boon to the sport and provides exposure to a version of the game that is often more accessible, with local teams and grounds, and certainly more cost-effective to potential new patrons than the International format. Furthermore there appears more written and discussed on the Championship with the advent of live blogs and ball-by-ball updates on the internet. That major sites such as ESPNcricinfo and The Guardian choose to devote live blogs to coverage is wonderful news for fans and administrators alike.In terms of improving attendances, I would urge all of those in power to do their utmost to encourage people to get into the habit of attending live cricket. Good value is essential of course, ticket deals and tie-ins would be a good development, perhaps offering free tickets with Internationals and T20 purchases as well as free or nominal entry fee after the tea interval. One area that is possibly an untapped market is the student population, many grounds are situated in University heartland and this is a great opportunity to recruit new followers. There is certainly a market there, I was fortunate enough to take in Worcestershire vs Warwickshire at New Road last season on a bank holiday Friday in front of an almost full house in glorious sunshine and it was the epitome of all that the County Championship stands for and a great advert for domestic cricket.Naturally, at the centre of it all is the competition itself and although we may no longer have the privilege of watching the superstar teams like Somerset in the eighties or always have the benefit of overseas heroes staying throughout the season, we certainly are treated to some high quality cricket, played at great intensity. Any fan would have their appetite whetted at the thought of Somerset arriving at the Riverside and seeing Trescothick, Kieswetter and Co taking on Durham’s army of pace bowlers. Cricket doesn’t come much better than Onions, Plunkett and Harmison roaring in at batsmen of that class. Moreover, despite the now sporadic nature of the international players, the County Championship will still see players of the ilk of Katich, Prince, Sarwan, North and Philander at points this year, which is hugely exciting.The County Championship really does have a lot to offer, it represents a beautiful element of sporting culture that has been around for a great many years and has provided a huge amount of pleasure to its followers, it also is an example of the English at play in summer at their very best. Most crucially of course it gives all cricket fans an opportunity to take in the sport they love played by sportsmen of the highest calibre in an array of fantastic venues, old and new. So, let’s hope for a long, warm summer and another hugely enjoyable County Championship season to go with it.

Mluleki Nkala was a talented fast bowler with a privileged cricket education who found himself stuck in the middle when the country’s cricket plunged into crisis in 2004

Firdose Moonda01-May-2013Mluleki Nkala knows how it feels to be beaten. Zimbabwe lost eight of the ten Tests he played in, 43 of 50 ODIs, and his only T20. Naturally the memories of the few occasions they triumphed are vivid. Jodhpur 2000 is one of them.”I was part of some great games, like the time we beat India. When you play for Zimbabwe, it’s those few times when you win big matches in front of important crowds that stay with you,” Nkala said.”Neil Johnson said to me, ‘Every time you win a game, you have to enjoy it. We fight hard. It’s very tough for us to win games, so every time we win, we’ve got to enjoy it.’ There were times when we were getting beaten heavily, and he reminded me that those days happen to us often but we have to keep going so that when we won, we could enjoy a wonderful feeling.”Nkala’s career began during the country’s so-called golden age – the late 1990s and early 2000s. Sentimental fans will tell you if politics hadn’t intervened, that group of players could have gone on to accomplish bigger, better things. But those who supported the change in administration will tell you Zimbabwe won and lost about as much then as they do now. Ask Nkala and he will tell you he isn’t sure what would have happened.”It was such a difficult time. I would never underestimate the divisions people were talking about – and there were clear divisions – but I think I was too immature to understand what was really going on.”What was going on was that the players were threatening to boycott, either because of problems over salaries or racial politics between those who wanted transformation and those who didn’t.Nkala had a privileged education in the game, “which I have my dad to thank for taking the initiative to get my brothers and me into good schools”. He attended Whitestones, a private junior school in Bulawayo, on an academic scholarship, and his sporting ability shone through at a young age. It earned him admission to Falcon College, the institution Heath Streak, the Strangs and the Whittalls emerged from.There, Nkala excelled in both cricket and rugby. He played in Craven Week, South Africa’s prestigious schools rugby tournament, and also played age-group cricket. “It was a school with very rich sporting traditions, so it was all about winning and being as good as you can.”It was obvious he would have more opportunities than some of his peers could hope for, and his brothers tried to make him understand the importance of it. “My brothers were a bit older and they would say stuff like, ‘You could be the first age-group black captain’, or things like that, but it really didn’t mean much to me at the time.”His cricket career began in earnest when he was picked for a Zimbabwe Under-19 tour to England, and when he was selected for the 1998 U-19 World Cup squad, alongside Mark Vermeulen and Dion Ebrahim, Nkala knew he was on his way to the national side.Age groups, A teams and board XIs were the route to the Zimbabwe team, because the regional structure wasn’t strong enough. “The professional pool was quite small and there was a push to get youngsters involved in the A side, and I was a beneficiary of that. I remember I actually played a Test match before I played for Matabeleland”.Nkala made his one-day debut in 1998 and in Tests two years later, against England in Nottingham, where he took five wickets. It was around that time that the first signs of unhappiness over payments became visible.”People were trying to make a living and guys were trying to be professional cricketers. The world was changing in terms of professional sport. We heard of guys getting central contracts and that there was television-rights money. We wondered why we weren’t seeing any of that, especially because when we went on tour we were competing with guys who were getting paid better.”In his autobiography, Henry Olonga recounted the players threatening a strike, but Nkala, as one of the younger members of the side, couldn’t decide whether or not he agreed with his team-mates’ reasons for a boycott.”People were introducing new concepts about money to me,” he said. “I came into a professional structure and I had no understanding of any of it. The worst thing was that I thought I was smart enough to understand and I was so easily pulled this way and that. My belief at the time was that I wanted a career in cricket. People I played with and practised with were telling me, ‘This is how cricket should be run, this is how much you should be paid’, and all I wanted was an opportunity to play. The one thing I would do differently if I had the opportunity is to learn how to operate in a professional structure.”In the end there was no boycott and a better payment structure was negotiated, but tensions remained, some of them now with racial overtones.”There was definitely an issue at the time and maybe I didn’t feel it that much because I came from a different environment,” Nkala said. “There was some discomfort with people coming in, playing differently and being from different backgrounds. People were used to cricket being run a certain way and the team being selected a certain way. Many were uncomfortable when people tried to instil change.”

“A lot of our guys get out-thought rather than outplayed. If you go to a net session and watch some of the Zimbabweans play, you will notice there is a lot of talent, but when it comes to tactics, you don’t see a lot of that”

With all that going on, Nkala felt he was being swamped as he tried to deal with his own cricket problems. “I had my own issues of form and injury. I wish I had blanked it out and focused on being the best cricketer I could be, but those issues were real too.”Luckily he had “the best coach I played under” to turn to. Former Australia batsman Geoff Marsh was in charge and he tried to isolate and protect the team from the external factors that could derail them.”There is always stuff going around the team, but as a coach he was able to step away,” Nkala said. “He never got himself involved in the politics, the infighting, and he made sure he stuck to his job. He knew he couldn’t be on anyone’s side, and that it was all about trying to get the team ready and trying to win games. He realised he did not have to sort out the whole structure and everything that went with it. He focused on being national coach rather than trying to sort out the big picture.”When Marsh took over, Zimbabwean cricket appeared quite healthy. They beat Bangladesh 2-0 in a Test series in April 2001, the last time Zimbabwe won two consecutive Tests. Nkala has fond memories of that rare period of dominance.”It was a weird feeling, because for the first time we were expected to win,” he said. “There was some pressure to try and get recognised in the team, and I was always fighting to have a bowl.”Andy Blignaut made his debut and had a really good tour. Heath was there too, and Brighton Watambwa also did well.” Nkala puts the victory down to being comfortable in home conditions, which Bangladesh weren’t used to.After that there was a steady decline in the fortunes of Zimbabwe and Nkala. When Marsh left in 2004 and Zimbabwean cricket was shaken to the core by the player rebellion, Nkala was troubled by ankle injuries. He was forced out of action the next year and spent two years out of the game. “I wish my ankles had been fixed earlier, because I was always sore and getting injured and my bowling didn’t progress as I would have liked it to.”He made a return before the 2007 World Cup but was not named in the squad, “which was a major disappointment”, and he soon realised he would have to find other ways to make money. He played provincial, and later, franchise cricket at home and club cricket in the UK. He also began commentating and studying, and will complete a degree in finance this year.He remains passionate about Zimbabwean cricket and is pained by their struggle.”In Test cricket the guys are babies and we can’t judge them on those records. More cricket would give these guys a better opportunity to show what they could do. It would also mean that you will be able to identify those who can’t do that, and it will give you a chance to push other guys in. That’s how your cricket structure grows and gets stronger. Teams like New Zealand and Bangladesh have rotated players. They have been able to say which ones are not good enough. You can’t do that if you don’t play games. I’d love the guys to get the opportunity to show what they can do on a consistent basis with a decent schedule.”A lot of our guys get out-thought rather than outplayed. If you go to a net session and watch some of the Zimbabweans play, you will notice there is a lot of talent, but when it comes to tactics, you don’t see a lot of that. They will only learn game situations when they play more.”Nkala is not the only one who has called for more regular series for Zimbabwe, and he will be pleased with their schedule this winter: they host Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The players’ techniques and temperaments will be thoroughly tested but the hope is that they will come out stronger from the experience.For those who don’t make it to the national side, Nkala has some old-fashioned advice. “If you are going to be a professional cricketer and you are not in the national squad, then at the end of the season you’ve got to make a plan to play club cricket in England. People have been doing it for years. You can’t just say, ‘Zimbabwe cricket should look after me 365 days a year.’ It might not be a wonderful, top-class living, but the opportunities are there, and in the off season, you must make your own plan.”

Both teams have one or two selection questions to ponder as they prepare for the transition to a rare Test outing at the start of the points-based Ashes

Alison Mitchell10-Aug-2013Jodie Fields’ preparations for the sole Test match of the Ashes series have been hampered by a finger injury on her right hand sustained during Australia’s tour match earlier this week, but the captain is confident of leading her team in the opening fixture of the new multi-format series, which starts at Wormsley on Sunday.Fields, who missed Australia’s victorious World Twenty20 campaign of 2010 and the 2011 Ashes Test with hamstring injuries, carried out wicketkeeping drills as part of an optional training session at the picturesque Wormsley Ground on Saturday. Despite the Australians having played no international cricket since lifting the World Cup in February, the 29-year-old believes they have prepared as well as they could for the series comprising one four-day Test, three ODIs and three Twenty20s.”We’ve got 16 fit girls ready to go,” she said. “And the 11 who do end up playing, I’m sure they’ll be ready to go. We’ve been training for about three months at home – a mixture of skills and fitness – and I’m really happy where we’re sitting.”There remains a question mark over medium-pacer Julie Hunter, though, who has a minor side strain, and both sides have leading strike bowlers returning from injury.For England, Katherine Brunt probably hasn’t bowled as many overs as she might like, having first recovered from a foot injury sustained at the World Cup, then suffering a recurrence of an old back problem. She and offspinner Laura Marsh both missed last month’s Pakistan series – Marsh having had shoulder surgery following the World Cup.With frontline spinner Holly Colvin still recovering from a broken thumb, taking 20 wickets could be the biggest challenge for England, although they still have the swing of Anya Shrubsole and the skilled medium-pace of Jenny Gunn to call on, should Brunt and Marsh take a while to settle in.Australia have the golden girl of international cricket Ellyse Perry back, after the 22-year-old fast bowler limped off victorious at the end of the World Cup final, then had ankle surgery to remove bone spurs. The tour match against the England Academy was her first game since that match-winning performance in Mumbai and she came through it successfully, taking 3 for 49 off 10 overs, but she, too, hasn’t had much in the way of a prolonged run out.”Ellyse is really professional about her rehab and training and she’s done that really well,” Fields said. “As I said, we’ve got 16 fit players and she’s one of them and I can’t wait to see her get out there and help our bowling attack.”One member of that bowling attack could be Holly Ferling. The gangly 17-year-old burst on to the international scene at the World Cup, filling in for Perry when she was injured, and was one of Australia’s best bowlers. She wasn’t always accurate but she bounded in exuberantly with dangerous energy. With her wide smile and trademark white ribbon tied around her unruly blonde locks, she wasn’t nicknamed “the smiling assassin” for nothing.A four-day game is new territory for a number of players from both sides, as all domestic cricket in both countries is of the one-day variety. England have the slight advantage of using a red ball and white clothing in the County Championship, whereas Australia play with a white ball, but adapting to the mindset of batting for long periods and building sustained pressure with the ball will be key to who takes away the six points awarded for the Test win. The victors will have a huge advantage when it comes to winning the Ashes trophy, currently held by Australia, and it is hoped that carrot will act as a spur for attacking cricket and an attempt to force a result, rather than either side settling for a draw.If the points format is successful, England captain Charlotte Edwards hopes it could get used for other women’s series in the future.”I hope everyone will take a look at what we’ve done,” she said. “You have to applaud the ECB and Cricket Australia for going through with this format. I really hope that Test cricket can start being played amongst more women’s team because I think there is so much we can learn from Test cricket. Hopefully this will catch on and it can be the norm for any women’s series played across the country.”

Vote on our shortlist of classic Ashes moments that have taken place in England since 1981

21-Aug-2013To coincide with the 2013 Investec Ashes series, we are asking you to vote on our shortlist of classic Ashes moments that have taken place in England since 1981. You can watch each episode of our series and then vote for your winner.

Part 5 – most memorable Ashes moments

We have chosen the following shortlist from the great Ashes contests in England over the past 30 years.Headingley 1981 – 500-1 and all that
England’s remarkable recovery led by Ian Botham and Bob Willis sparks scenes of unbridled joy at Headingley over a victory at one time regarded as a 500-1 chance.
Scorecard | Wisden reportOld Trafford 1993 – An Ashes legend arrives
Shane Warne’s Ball of the Century changed the feel of Ashes cricket for more than a decade. Warne, nervous about his first delivery in an Ashes Test, just wanted to land a turning legspinner in roughly the right place. Mike Gatting’s look of consternation showed that he had done just that.
Scorecard | Wisden reportTrent Bridge 2005 – The substitute
Gary Pratt became a household name for one moment of brilliant fielding – a direct hit from cover to run out Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting – which left Ponting seething about England’s tactical use of substitutes.
Scorecard | Wisden reportEdgbaston 2005 – Freddie’s over
Andrew Flintoff has surely never bowled a finer over for England than the one at Edgbaston in which he dismissed Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer in a single over. The legend of Fred was born.
Scorecard | Wisden reportCardiff 2009 – Monty and Jimmy save the day
England’s last pair, Monty Panesar and James Anderson, hold out for an unlikely draw at Cardiff. Rarely has determined blocking from a final pair been so wildly acclaimed.
Scorecard | Wisden report
Most Memorable Ashes momentsHeadingley 1981 – England’s recovery0% Old Trafford 1993 – Warne’s Ball of the Century0% Trent Bridge 2005 – Pratt runs out Ponting0% Edgbaston 2005 – Flintoff’s magic over0% Cardiff 2009 – England’s unlikely batting duo0%

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ESPNcricinfo looks at five reasons for England’s failure to compete in Australia

George Dobell17-Dec-2013Selection and coaching
When the England squad was announced, there was excitement over the inclusion of three unusually tall fast bowlers – Boyd Rankin, Chris Tremlett and Steven Finn – and the expectation that one or all could play a key role on Australian pitches offering pace and bounce.But anyone who had watched county cricket in 2013 could have confirmed this was always unlikely. There was a mountain of evidence to suggest that Tremlett was not the force he once was and that Finn was enduring something of a crisis of confidence as he weighed up conflicting advice from county and international coaches. It was naive to think that an England set-up with little track-record of improving bowlers – James Anderson and Stuart Broad were international players before the current management took charge – could revitalise such players. It might well have proved helpful to have Graham Onions, the best bowler in county cricket over the last two seasons, on the tour to provide cover and balance.Rankin may still prove a valuable player but he failed to shine in his few opportunities and, under the guidance of England bowling coach, David Saker, has regressed during the tour. Indeed, Saker’s influence requires some reflection: to have failed to capitalise on the substantial talents of Finn is a major stain on his record.Questions might be asked about Graham Gooch, too. There is little doubt that England have brought, give or take a name or two, their best batting line-up on this trip: the records of Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell will stand the test of time. They have proved they are fine players. But England are failing to maximise their talent. While the primary responsibility must always lie with the individuals, it is fair and sensible to raise questions of a batting coach who seems so unable to coax the best from talented players.One man who could feel unfortunate not to make the tour is Nick Compton. He was dropped after two poor games at the start of the 2013 English summer – a decision that suggests cliques – but has continued to churn out runs in the county game. The last time England scored 400 in a Test, Compton and Jonathan Trott contributed centuries. His solidity and restraint would have been valuable.The inclusion of Jonny Bairstow is also questionable. He appears, through no fault of his own, not to be trusted with bat or gloves by the management. So why bring him?Losing Trott
The departure of Trott disturbed England. It was not just the absence of a top-order batsman, a vital buffer despite his drop in form, but the sight of a friend and colleague in obvious distress shocked the dressing room and disrupted the equilibrium of those left behind. All the planning, all the attempts to create a calm environment were dashed in that moment. England have never recovered.Jonathan Trott’s absence left a huge hole•Getty ImagesMental and physical overload
Trott’s descent into exhaustion may be extreme, but it is not unique. Several other members of this squad have progressed further down the same road than should have been allowed. A combination of a reliance upon a few key players in all formats and the ECB’s schedule – a schedule that prioritises income above a duty of care to their most important assets – has asked too much of too few.Since December 2011, no one has faced more deliveries in international cricket than Cook, with Bell and Trott also featuring in the top five. In the same period, no seamer has bowled more deliveries than Anderson or Broad and only R Ashwin has bowled more deliveries than Graeme Swann as a spinner. That is despite Swann undergoing surgery and missing games with a variety of injuries.But it is not just the quantity of cricket that England have been playing. It is also the environment in which they travel and train. The intensity of the England set-up has done nothing to dispel the pressure that can build up over time with the many virtues of Andy Flower – the attention to detail, the drive – slowly becoming vices as they are repeated over a long period of time without levity. It may be no coincidence that three of those who have fared best in this series are the three that have most recently come into the side: Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Michael Carberry.Somewhere, somehow, England forgot to enjoy the journey.Batting and fielding failures
It may seem odd to lump these two aspects of the game together, but the failures in both may well have the same root: weariness and a lack of belief.Fielding is often the barometer of a team’s morale and England’s in this series has been poor. By the time Australia declared in Perth, it had sunk to the level of appalling. England’s inability to take their chances in the field reached its nadir in Adelaide when an opportunity to dismiss Australia for around 350 was punished ruthlessly and fatally.The batsmen have failed to score 400 in an innings since March, 22 innings ago, with Stokes the only centurion in the series so far. The failure in England’s top order simply exposed a soft middle to lower order before the tail were blown away.The domestic system
It is no coincidence that, when the England side enjoyed its best years, it was on the back of a sharp improvement in the standard of county cricket. The move to two divisions, the introduction of promotion and relegation, the appearance of strong overseas and non-England-qualified players heralded a particularly competitive era in the county game, with the likes of Justin Langer remarking that it was as tough domestic cricket as he had experienced.But the ECB could not resist tinkering. It brought in young player incentives, tightened work-permit criteria, took the best players out of the county game for reasons as diverse as Lions matches, rest and gym sessions and created a schedule that squeezed the County Championship into the margins of the season. Furthermore, it allowed games to be staged on homogenised slabs of mud which bear little resemblance to those on which international cricket is played. Many of the initiatives were well intentioned but nearly all of them have backfired.