Mikel Arteta giving nothing away! Arsenal boss responds to David Raya's disastrous display against Luton that nearly cost Gunners two points

Mikel Arteta was in no mood to answer questions about goalkeeper David Raya after his error in Arsenal's 4-3 win against Luton on Tuesday.

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Raya conceded three goals against LutonDisplay will likely revive Ramsdale debateArteta refused to comment on goalkeeperWHAT HAPPENED?

The goalkeeper conceded three times as Luton took a 3-2 lead in the second half, with Ross Barkley's goal a particularly glaring error from the shot stopper. However, Arteta refused to address the Spaniard's performance as he spoke to the media afterwards.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT ARTETA SAID

Asked to comment on Raya's display, Arteta said: "I was so happy for the team. I have spoken to all of them, they are so happy they are jumping around."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Raya's display will likely revive the debate surrounding Raya's place in the team. Many fans have been calling for Aaron Ramsdale to be reinstated as the first choice shot stopper as they feel he is a more reliable option, whereas Raya has faced criticism for his many errors since joining the Gunners on loan from Brentford.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

It seems Arteta will stand by his decision to make Raya his starting goalkeeper when his side meet Aston Villa at the weekend. The north London side will hope to extend their winning run to seven matches in all competitions in Saturday's game.

Willey the matchwinner after England release

Northamptonshire claimed their opening win of the Natwest T20 Blast campaign with a comfortable six-wicket win over Derbyshire at Wantage Road

ECB/PA11-Jun-2015
ScorecardDay release: David Willey clubbed 60 off 27 balls and also claimed wickets•Getty ImagesNorthamptonshire claimed their opening win of the Natwest T20 Blast campaign with a comfortable six-wicket win over Derbyshire at Wantage Road.David Willey was the star of the North Group contest after being released from England’s national team’s one-day squad, hitting an impressive 60 off 27 balls and two wickets as the Steelbacks overhauled the visitors’ 166 for seven with 13 balls to spare.After losing the toss and bowling first, the home side were encouraged in Willey’s opening over when Derbyshire’s Sri Lankan star Tillekaratne Dilshan tried his scoop shot – only to see middle and leg stump knocked back. It was the Sri Lankan’s final innings before a stint in the Caribbean Premier League.The next four overs yielded 27 runs, with Wes Durston providing most of the momentum. But Chesney Hughes wafted at Steven Crook’s first ball outside the off stump and edged to Ben Duckett which was immediately followed by Wayne Madsen being trapped lbw first ball.That left Derbyshire 37 for 3 but Scott Elstone helped Durston put on 52 for the fourth wicket, with a slog sweep just over midwicket off Shahid Afridi his highlight.As the Falcons tried to up the tempo, Shiv Thakor was run out for 15 when going for a third, although third umpire Mark Benson had to check whether Willey had touched the rope in preventing a boundary before effecting the dismissal.Tom Poynton bludgeoned two sixes off the final over but Durston was left largely alone to keep the attack going. He carried his bat for 77 off 63 balls, with his half-century coming off 41.Northamptonshire lost Richard Levi in the first over, clipping Thakor to Wayne Madsen inside the circle at backward square leg – and Derbyshire sensed they were in the game.But Willey decided to up the rate in exciting fashion, taking 24 off the fourth over – bowled by Dilshan from the Turner Stand End. Two sixes sailed over long-off, followed by a cover drive for four, with the over completed with another huge six down the ground.Willey – who reached his 50 off 21 balls was caught gleefully by Madsen off Palladino – but Afridi picked up where he left off, continuing the frenetic pace.Surviving a tight stumping appeal off Hughes, the Pakistani globetrotter added 34 off 17 before Billy Godleman’s footwork in front of the boundary rope allowed a stunning catch for Thakor’s second wicket.However, Alex Wakely and Steven Crook saw the hosts home, giving them their first win in 2015 and consigning Derbyshire to a fourth defeat in five.

Karnataka scrape lead after collapse

A round-up of the Group A matches of the Ranji Trophy that took place on December 7, 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Dec-2013
ScorecardHarshal Patel triggered panic in the Karnataka camp with a five-wicket haulKarnataka were coasting towards a first-innings lead in Lahli but there was room for afternoon drama following a batting collapse. Harshal Patel ran through the middle and lower order with a five-wicket haul, leaving Karnataka nine down and still needing two to overhaul the home side’s 247. Karnataka eventually scraped through and ended the second day six ahead with a wicket in hand.Karnataka got off to a strong start, with their openers Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul adding 96. Ashish Hooda and Patel struck quickly, reducing Karnataka to 120 for 3. Rahul and captain CM Gautam then added 97 to put Karnataka on track towards taking an innings lead. The trouble started when Sachin Rana got rid of Gautam for 54. Karnataka’s mainstay, Rahul, fell two short of a hundred when he was bowled by Patel. Karnataka had lost half their side for 224 and the score quickly became 234 for 7 after Patel, the right-arm seamer, trapped Ganesh Satish and Stuart Binny leg before. Patel bowled Abhimanyu Mithun with the visitors still 11 short of equaling the score and there was further drama when Ronit More fell with the score on 246. Abrar Kazi and the No.11 HS Sharath saw the side through the nervous moments.
ScorecardAn unbeaten 158 by Rajat Bhatia helped Delhi to 442 before the seamers removed three Odisha top-order wickets on the second day in Sambalpur. Resuming on 268 for 6, Delhi lost the early wicket of Varun Sood, off Suryakant Pradhan. Odisha struggled to dislodge the lower order, with Sumit Narwal and Ashish Nehra scoring 40 each and adding 65 and 92 respectively with Bhatia. Bhatia went on to score is 13th first-class century and his knock included 18 fours and two sixes.Narwal and Nehra struck early with the new ball by removing Bikas Pati and Niranjan Behera in the seventh over. Natraj Behera and Govind Podder gave the innings some stability with a stand of 53, before Parvinder Awana removed Podder for 34. Odisha were in a spot of bother at 70 for 3, but Natraj remained unbeaten 53 and had Biplab Samantray for company till stumps.
ScorecardFaiz Fazal and Ravi Jangid took Vidarbha to a commanding position with a solid 203-run stand for the second wicket, giving them a lead of 148 runs at the end of the second day against Punjab in Mohali. Fazal, who already has two hundreds this season, fell short of another one by one run and Jangid scored 104, his second first-class hundred.Fazal and Jangid started the day at 75 for 1 and took the total to 222 before the former was dismissed by Sandeep Sharma. Vidarbha’s innings stuttered from there as they lost five more wickets within 19 runs as Sandeep and VRV Singh ran through the middle and lower order. Sandeep trapped Hemang Badani and Shrikant Wagh lbw for ducks on their first and second ball respectively, to finish with 4 for 78 on the second day.At 241 for 7, and with a lead of 57, Vidarbha were steered to safety with a partnership of 91 between Urvesh Patel and No.9 Amol Jungade. While Patel scored a patient 32 off 99, Jungade scored a brisk 59 off 83 with 11 fours.

Essex offer Mahmood new start

The future of Sajid Mahmood, the former England fast bowler, has been resolved with Essex signing him on a two-year deal.

Alex Winter20-Nov-2012The future of Sajid Mahmood, the former England fast bowler, has been resolved with Essex signing him on a two-year deal.Mahmood was released by Lancashire, for whom he took 260 first-class wickets, at the end of the 2012 season after sending him out on loan to Somerset at the end of the year where he made three appearances.It is perhaps indicative of Mahmood’s fall from grace that he has extended his career by signing for a team that finished fifth in Division Two of the County Championship last season. In 2011, he was part of the Lancashire side that won the title, taking 35 wickets in the campaign, but missed the end of the season and made just three appearances at the start of 2012.Mahmood’s drift into the cricketing wilderness was quite a contrast from the fearsome fast bowler who was signed from the Bolton league in 2002. A year later he was on an England A tour and demonstrating his pace by breaking Alex Gidman’s hand and injuring Andrew Flintoff with a beamer.An ODI debut quickly followed in 2004 and two years later he played the first of his eight Tests against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, Mahmood a beneficiary of Duncan Fletcher’s policy of finding raw pace. But the concluding act of England’s 5-0 whitewash in Sydney was the final Test he played and, after the World Cup that followed in the West Indies, his ODI career was almost over too.Mahmood’s domestic returns remained modest, averaging just over 30 in first-class cricket from 2007 to 2010 and his economy rate in one-day cricket rose – last season he went at over eight-an-over. And it was a high economy rate that ended his Lancashire career – his last appearance saw him concede 42 from 2.3 overs, including 17 off his last three legitimate deliveries, in Lancashire’s opening Friends Life t20 defeat to Derbyshire.While other promising fast bowlers have moved to Division One counties – Liam Plunkett and Jack Brooks both moved to Yorkshire, Ajmal Shahzad signed for Nottinghamshire – Mahmood has been forced to find a less fashionable county to continue his career, where he will look to prove the credentials that earned him an international career.Proving a point is a factor that attracted Mahmood to Essex head coach Paul Grayson. “I’m really pleased Saj has joined the club,” Grayson said. “I like cricketers who feel that they have something to prove to people and he has lots of ability, he’s experienced and he’s a fit guy who can bowl with good pace as well so we feel Saj will be a real addition to the squad.”Mahmood added: “I am delighted to be joining Essex. Playing at Lancashire was a great experience for me and I thank them for all they did for my cricket. I see this move as a new beginning and can’t wait to get started. Paul Grayson has been brilliant throughout the recruitment process and I appreciate the faith he’s shown in me.”

'Catastrophe' for Alisha Lehmann and Switzerland! Euro 2025 hosts see funding for tournament cut drastically in controversial move that has caused 'outrage' in parliament

The decision to cut the funding for the 2025 women's European Championship in Switzerland has been labelled a "catastrophe".

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Federal govt cuts Euro 2025 fundsCompetition to take place in SwitzerlandDecision labelled a 'catastrophe'Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Swiss publication SRF states the country's Federal Council does not want to spend as much money on the women's Euros, where Aston Villa star Alisha Lehmann will be the face of the tournament, as originally planned. The report says 15 million Swiss Francs (£13.5m) were initially earmarked but that has fallen to 4 million Swiss Francs (£3.6m) – something that has been widely criticised.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT CRITICS HAVE SAID

GLP National Councillor Corina Gredig, who is co-president of the parliamentary group “Euro 25”, said there is outrage in parliament. “If you say now that you don’t have any money, then it will turn into a grumpy tournament," she told SRF.

Meanwhile, SP National Councilor Matthias Aebischer, president of the parliamentary sports group, said this was the wrong message for young girls looking to get into the sport.

He commented: "And now the Federal Council comes and says: We are not giving any money for the 2025 Women’s European Championship in Switzerland. This is simply a catastrophe.”

Thun local councilor Katharina Ali-Oesch added: “Pure disappointment. We were expecting something completely different than what has now come from the federal government and that poses major challenges for everyone."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 2025 tournament is taking place in eight Swiss cities: Zurich, Basel, Bern, Thun, St. Gallen, Lucerne, Sion and Geneva. The fact that funds have been significantly slashed is not a good look for promoting women's football in Switzerland and, arguably, sends a negative message about the game, too. Moreover, the less funds a tournament has, the less likely it will be will run smoothly; plus, they beat France, Poland, and a joint Scandinavian bid to stage the competition – one that others desperately wanted to host.

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WHAT NEXT?

The 14th edition of the women's Euros is scheduled to get underway on July 2, 2025, and will be made up of 16 teams. England will be looking to retain their title when the tournament comes round in just under 18 months' time.

SLPL second season draft on July 14

The second season of the Sri Lanka Premier League is expected to begin with the player draft on July 14 in Colombo

Sa'adi Thawfeeq07-Jul-2013The player draft of the second Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) season is scheduled for July 14 in Colombo and is expected to contain several international players, including a strong South African contingent, according to the league’s chief executive officer, Ajith Jayasekara. The league is scheduled between August 10 and September 7.”We have the entire South African squad with the exception of Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis lined up to take part,” Jayasekara said. “Pakistan has also shown their intention to send their present lot of cricketers but the participation of most of their key players depends on whether their tour to Zimbabwe takes place.”South Africa are due to tour Sri Lanka from July 20 to August 6 for five ODIs and three T20s and there is a possibility that members of the visiting team will stay back to participate in the league.”With the exception of England and India, players from all the other Test-playing nations have shown interest in participating in the league,” Jayasekara said. “Even a top performer like Chris Gayle has expressed his intention to take part once the Caribbean Premier League ends on August 24.”Other West Indian players like fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor, as well as Australians such as Doug Bollinger, Brad Hodge and Shaun Tait are among those who are expected to participate. The list also includes Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladesh captain. Jayasekara also said the franchises would reveal the list of players they are releasing by July 8.The draft rules allow a franchise to pick a minimum of 19 and a maximum of 25 players. If they stick to 19 players, the franchises have to pick seven international cricketers, nine domestic cricketers and three under-21 cricketers. If the squad comprises 25 members, the numbers change to 10, 11 and four respectively.Last season, 56 international players, mostly from Australia and Pakistan, and 90 local players were drafted in the league.Jayasekara brushed aside reports of problems with player payments in the first season. “We are perhaps the only league in the world to pay the players fees on time. Even the IPL has faltered on its payments. Some of the players who represented Kochi Tuskers Kerala have yet to receive their money and most of the players who took part in the Bangladesh Premier League have not been paid.”Like last season, officials of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit will monitor all matches of the second season of the SLPL. SLC is also looking to increase the number of venues this season and matches are scheduled in Hambantota, Galle, Dambulla and Kurunegala, apart from the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and Pallekele stadium in Kandy. Jayasekera said the SLC was also exploring the possibility of hosting matches at Moratuwa and Matara.”We want to take the matches to the provinces that are being represented in the tournament,” Jayasekera said. “Some of the matches will be day games because the venues do not have facilities for night matches.”The SLPL was set up by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to generate steady revenue to improve their wavering financial position after the 2011 World Cup. SLC signed a 15-year agreement with a Singapore-based company, Somerset Entertainment Ventures, to host the SLPL under an equal profit sharing arrangement.Jayasekera indicated that in the inaugural year, SLC earned as much as SLR 285 million, a figure which they approximately expect to receive each year over the next 14 years.The number of teams participating in the league this year is the same as last season: Uva Next (defending champions), Nagenahira Nagas (runner-up), Kandurata Warriors and Wayamba United (losing semi-finalists), Ruhuna Royals, Uthura Rudras and Basnahira Cricket Dundee.

No rift in team, Sehwag 'misquoted' – Rajiv Shukla

The BCCI top brass have denied reports of an alleged rift in the Indian team, saying that the media have taken an “exaggerated” stand in the wake of stand-in captain Virender Sehwag’s contentious comments following India’s defeat to Sri Lanka on Tuesday

Nagraj Gollapudi22-Feb-2012The BCCI top brass have denied reports of an alleged rift in the Indian team, saying that the media have taken an “exaggerated” stand in the wake of stand-in captain Virender Sehwag’s contentious comments following India’s defeat to Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Sehwag had said that he was unaware that one of reasons MS Dhoni wanted to rotate the three openers (Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir) was because he feared they would leak at least 20 runs in the field.”I don’t think there is any rift within the team,” Rajiv Shukla, the BCCI vice-president who was meeting with other board officials in Mumbai at the IPL governing council meet, said. “It is only speculation by a section of the media. The team is united. So I don’t think there is a problem.”Shukla said the board was constantly in touch with the team management. “From what we have understood, Sehwag has been misquoted.”Sehwag had lead India against Sri Lanka in the absence of Dhoni, who was serving a one-match ban for not meeting the required over-rate in the previous game against Australia. In the post-match media conference, speaking on the rotation policy, Sehwag said that Dhoni had had chats with him, Tendulkar and Gambhir individually, telling them that the young players in the squad should get enough exposure in Australian conditions, keeping in mind that the next World Cup will be played in Australia and New Zealand. Sehwag said he was fine with that reasoning, but was unaware that Dhoni had said, after the February 19 match against Australia, that he could not fit all three openers into the XI because of their slowness in the field. That statement sparked speculation in the media, raising the question as to whether there was a divide in the team.The BCCI president, N Srinivasan, said there was nothing to be “concerned” about. “We have to see what exactly they [Sehwag and Dhoni] have said. They were responding to some question in a press conference. I have spoken to the media manager there [in Australia]. I think the reports here are exaggerated.”Asked if the pair of Duncan Fletcher and Dhoni had informed the board of their plans to try out the younger players and adopt the rotation policy, Shukla said that matter was entirely the decision of the tour selection committee, comprising the captain, coach and team manager. “It is for the coach and captain to decide on the team composition,” Shukla said.Edited by Nikita Bastian

Broad leads charge to Ashes victory

Stuart Broad ripped through Australia with six wickets as they slumped from 120 for 1 at tea to lose by 74 runs and give England the series

The Report by Daniel Brettig12-Aug-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsStuart Broad took six wickets during the evening session as England stormed to a dramatic victory•Getty ImagesTo Headingley and Edgbaston 1981 may be added Durham 2013. As happened 32 years ago, Australia tossed away day upon day of diligent cricket with a crowded hour or so of batting calamity, against bowling of high quality from an England team that had looked momentarily bereft of inspiration.Where in 1981 Bob Willis and Ian Botham had rained blows on their antipodean rivals, this time it was Stuart Broad, aided by a critical cameo from Tim Bresnan. Back then, England had been marshalled expertly by Mike Brearley; now it was Alastair Cook who pulled the right rein by replacing Graeme Swann with Bresnan when Australia were 167 for 2 and hurtling towards 299 to win.What followed was a cavalcade of wickets that undid nine days’ worth of hard graft from an Australia team straining to break a sequence of ineptitude. England would have hoped to stay in the match with four wickets after tea – they won it by claiming nine, six to a fearsome Broad. Slightly sheepish in their Ashes retention in Manchester, the hosts could now celebrate winning them in dramatic and damaging style.For all their efforts at Old Trafford and Chester-le-Street the tourists are 3-0 down, confidence battered by the realisation of futility. Australia’s belief that they can win Test matches will be extremely shaken. England’s sense that they can defeat Australia come what may can never be stronger than it is now. Chris Rogers, Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris, all heroic at times in this match, will ponder whether the twilight of their careers will be lived without Ashes hope. Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja now bear the scars that once dogged England’s 1990s generation.Broad’s impact on the match was profound, as a tally of 11 wickets attests. His away cutter to defeat Michael Clarke was among the balls of the series. But it was Bresnan’s introduction that swung the contest, reaping the dismissal of a fluent and focused David Warner. With Rogers he had blunted England’s bowlers in a stirring century stand and, though Swann had beaten Rogers with spin and Khawaja without it, Warner and Clarke were scoring freely.Warner has seldom played better in Tests, repeatedly piercing the off-side field with back-foot punches, then advancing to loft Swann over wide long off for six. But as a modicum of cloud cover passed over Durham, Bresnan extracted bounce and movement from a perfect length to tickle Warner’s outside edge and pull England back from the precipice.Andy Flower’s messages from the boundary had circulated freely as Australia swept closer to their target, and a drinks break brought about the plan that would do in Clarke. England set a field that foreshadowed a short ball, and Clarke could not help but notice. Instead he received a delivery that was full, fast and seaming away. The off stump tilted back as Joe Root’s had on day three, and Broad roared his approval.Smith has had a poor match, out cheaply on day two then dropping a catch on the fourth morning. He eluded one caught-behind appeal when the ball struck his hip rather than his bat, but when essaying the shot again could manage only to drag it off his body and on to the stumps.Shane Watson’s front pad again got in the way, plonked across the stumps to Bresnan. Leg stump was visible when he was struck in line, and though the angle was sharp, Aleem Dar’s finger was raised. Watson’s review showed the ball clipping the stumps, enough to keep him walking.Broad’s pace was pushing the Australians back in their crease, a dangerous position from which to play the seaming ball. Haddin would fall in this manner, struck in line and with feet in the air. As the only batsman left he had to review Tony Hill’s decision, and like Watson would depart to a ball barely clipping the stumps. England celebrated like winners.From there, all that remained was to mop up Australia’s longest tail of the series. Harris ended a match he should be proud of by being pinned lbw, Nathan Lyon was far too late and crooked on a Broad delivery that made a mess of his stumps. In fading light, Cook claimed the extra half hour to clinch the match, and a final burst of sun allowed him to call on Broad again. Three balls later Peter Siddle lamely poked a catch to mid-off, a fitting end for Broad but also Australia.To his evening contribution, Bresnan had added a critical morning prelude. In Harris’ hands the new ball immediately started to dance on a pitch showing increasing signs of wear. Bresnan shouldered arms to one ball from Jackson Bird that seamed back and would have clipped the top of the stumps, but that was not enough to overturn Dar’s not-out verdict – Australia lost their final review.The first ball of Harris’ second over was fast, skidding and low of bounce, crashing into Bell’s stumps after 254 minutes’ batting of the highest class. Matt Prior marched out for precisely one delivery, which kicked up off a similar length to the previous one and crashed into off stump via the batsman’s arm. Broad averted the hat-trick, but was soon pinned on the gloves by a vicious bouncer from around the wicket.Harris now had six wickets and England a lead of 243. Knowing this was not enough, Bresnan moved up a gear, clouting Bird out of the attack with a series of muscular blows, then put a dent in the figures of Harris. Swann followed up by gliding Siddle’s first ball of the morning to the cover fence. Australian shoulders began to slump.Clarke replaced Siddle with Lyon, and his maiden calmed the innings. Harris then bowled similarly tightly to Bresnan and was rewarded with a return catch and his best figures in Tests. Swann’s response to the fall of the ninth wicket was to try to hit Lyon into the stands, and he offered a high, swirling chance to Smith. He was under the ball in plenty of time but did not get entirely balanced, and the ball bounced out of tense hands.Swann took England’s lead near enough to 300 before Lyon found Anderson’s outside edge. They had more than doubled the runs Australia’s tail managed to cobble on the previous morning, a difference that would prove almost as decisive as the bowling of Broad and Bresnan. Though they have dodged punches for the most part of two matches, England are deserving Ashes winners. Australia, as they did 32 years ago, have become awfully accomplished at finding ways to lose.

Don't need to spoon-feed bowlers – Dhoni

India captain MS Dhoni, who had hit the third-highest score for a No. 6 batsman to lift his wobbling side to above 300, admitted that the bowling is a headache that is getting worse for the team

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Oct-20130:00

‘Nobody wants to bowl a bad over’ – Dhoni

India captain MS Dhoni, who had hit the third-highest score for a No. 6 batsman to lift his wobbling side to above 300, admitted that death-overs bowling is a headache that is getting worse for the team, especially with the fifth fielder having to come up inside the circle according to the new rules.Australia required 44 off the last three overs at Mohali, but Ishant Sharma’s persistence with either length or short-pitched bowling played into James Faulkner’s game plan as he robbed four sixes to reduce the equation to a far simpler 14 off 12 balls.”I think the last few overs were disappointing, it is an area of concern and it is getting worse. There was a bit of dew but not like in the last game, the individuals will have to step up, you have to back your strength,” Dhoni said. “You don’t need to spoon-feed bowlers at the international level.”Dhoni sympathised with the challenge the bowlers have to tackle with only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle after the Powerplays, but added that holding one’s discipline even at the worst of times could prove the most telling difference in the course of a match.”This generation of bowlers, though they have some amount of experience, if you consider the rule changes, with fifth fielder inside [the circle], I think most of the bowlers or all the bowlers are very new because experience doesn’t really count at the point of time.”A few bowlers may have off days and that’s where you have to make sure you are not giving away too many runs,” he said. “Even when you bowl a bad over, try to restrict it in between 15-18 runs, because if you go higher than that, it has a bigger impact on the game.”Dhoni predicted such shifts late in the game could become quite common, especially in the course of this series, with pitches favouring batting, the impact of dew and two good sides on display.”In the last game, we performed in the same situation and we were able to put pressure on them,” he said. “To some extent, we were in a winning position in this game but I think in this series especially, you’ll see quite a few times this balance shifting, and from that point the side that bowls slightly better is the one that will win most of the games”As much as taking wickets restricted the opposition’s scoring, the new rules provide the batting side with the opportunity to spark a turnaround, as India themselves proved rising from 154 for 6 in the 32nd over to finish at 303.”Today we kept losing wickets but still we got 300-odd runs,” Dhoni said. “So with that fifth fielder inside its becoming a bit difficult and with right amount of partnerships and if you have wickets in hand, you may see the team scoring on the higher end of the 300-plus scores”To prepare for such situations, Dhoni said India try to simulate the slog overs by putting fielders in place and checking how far the ball can be hit, even off the outside edge. But net performance does not mirror match situations because there is no “real pressure”.”Nobody really wants to bowl a bad over, but if it happens the individual is more disappointed than anyone else in the stadium or the team,” he said. “Ideally, it is best to leave him to this thoughts and then have a chat with him after the team is back at the hotel when he will be less frustrated and more accepting.”

Yorkshire bring in David Miller for t20

Yorkshire have signed David Miller, the South African batsman, as their second overseas player for the Friends Life T20.

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jun-2012Yorkshire have signed David Miller, the South African batsman, as their second overseas player for the Friends Life t20. He joins Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who is already with the county.Miller, 22, played for Durham in last season’s competition, scoring 212 runs in 13 matches, including one half-century as Durham reached the quarter-final, losing at Hampshire. He has also played in this season’s IPL, with 98 runs in six innings for Kings XI Punjab.”David is available for the whole tournament which made him an attractive proposition,” Yorkshire’s director of cricket Martyn Moxon said. “You look at his strike-rate, he averages 120-plus per 100 balls, and in the Indian Premier League he’s been scoring at 150-plus.He’s that explosive type of player we’ve been looking for. I’m excited by the squad we’ve assembled for this campaign.”Miller, a powerful middle-order batsman, has also played eight T20s for South Africa and 16 ODIs, including a best of 59 from 51 balls against Australia in Port Elizabeth. He made his international debut in May 2010, where he top-scored in a T20 against West Indies.Yorkshire’s first game in the Flt20 is against Miller’s club of last year, Durham, at Headingley on June 15. He will hope to help Yorkshire to their first quarter final since 2007.

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