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South Africa couldn’t have asked for a better start to their summer. After having achieved their initial objective – a series win – they are in a position to inflict a whitewash against the top-ranked ODI side

The Preview by Firdose Moonda11-Oct-2016

Match facts

October 12, 2016
Start time 1330 local (1130 GMT)South Africa have an opportunity to inflict the first whitewash of Australia in a five-match series•AFP

Big Picture

South Africa couldn’t have asked for a better start to their summer. After having achieved their initial objective – a series win – they are in a position to inflict a whitewash against the top-ranked ODI side.The margins of victory reflect how South Africa have been dominant in every aspect. Two of the wins have come with more than 10 overs to spare, another by more than 140 runs. In the only match Australia threatened to come close, in Kingsmead, a freak performance by an out-of-form David Miller sealed the series.Miller apart, South Africa have been helped with contributions from Rilee Rossouw, Andile Phehlukwayo and Kyle Abbott, all of whom were considered fringe players coming into the series. That has meant South Africa are spoilt for choice, something Australia will covet.That Australian haven’t bowled South Africa out even once in the series reiterates the inexperience in their attack. But that doesn’t mean there are no other headaches. Australia have crossed 300 just once and have been bowled out for under 220 twice. Their over-reliance on big names hasn’t helped their cause. But they have the added motivation of trying to avoid being blanked.That they will have to do that at one of South Africa’s favourite grounds, in front of a sell-out crowd, will be a challenge. Newlands had earlier raised concerns about the match being scheduled on the same day as a religious holiday, , but it seems the enthusiasm is hardly affected by that.

Form guide

South Africa: WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia: LLLLW

In the spotlight

With seven wickets in four matches, Andile Phehlukwayo has underlined the difference between both sides so far. Phehlukwayo is not part of the national squad in any other formats yet, but his ability to change pace and his maturity in accepting the responsibility of bowling at the death could change that. He has proved himself handy with the bat too, and can further boost his claim to be an allrounder.Steven Smith and David Warner are the only two Australians to have scored a hundred so far. Smith, the captain, doesn’t seem to bring as much out of his men as Warner did when he led them to an ODI series win in Sri Lanka. Before the series, Smith said he hoped to continue riding the wave Warner had created, but now may be left wondering if his one-day leadership credentials could be measured against Warner’s.

Team news

South Africa are looking at bringing back their big bowling guns in search of a clean sweep. That means Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada may force one of Kyle Abbott or Phehlukwayo out of the XI. They may continue with two spinners, with Imran Tahir likely to be brought back in place of Tabraiz Shamsi, the left-arm wrist spinner. With the Tests looming, there’s merit in giving Shamsi a breather and allowing him to fully recover from a quad niggle. Others walking wounded include Rossouw, who hurt his finger, and Farhaan Behardien, who tweaked a hamstring. Both passed fitness Tests, but Temba Bavuma has been at training as cover, while Miller has made sufficient progress from his groin strain.South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 Rilee Rossouw, 5 JP Duminy, 6 Farhaan Behardien/David Miller, 7 Dwaine Pretorius, 8 and 9 Andile Phehlukwayo/Kyle Abbott/Dale Steyn/Kagiso Rabada, 10 Aaron Phangiso, 11 Imran TahirHaving tried all their bowling combinations in vain, Australia could make their young attack draw straws to decide which of Chris Tremain, Daniel Worrall, Joe Mennie or Scott Boland has to play the final ODI. Usman Khawaja has not been used at all and may be brought in to add depth to the batting.Australia (possible): 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch/Usman Khawaja, 3 Steve Smith (capt), 4 George Bailey, 5 Mitchell Marsh, 6 Travis Head, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 John Hastings, 9 Adam Zampa, 10 and 11 Chris Tremain/Scott Boland/Daniel Worrall/Joe Mennie

Pitch and conditions

A cold front early in the week brought rain to Cape Town on Tuesday, but Newlands has a new drainage system which should keep the outfield dry should the rain stay away. Groundsman Evan Flint does not predict a run-fest, instead aiming for a surface that will offer the bowlers something as well. The weather is expected to be mild with temperatures in the teens, with a light breeze.

Stats and trivia

• Australia have never lost all of the matches in a five-game ODI series. The last time they lost all the matches played in an ODI series was in 2006-07 when they were beaten 3-0 by New Zealand. The only other time they were blanked 3-0 was by England, in 1997
• South Africa have beaten Australia 4-1 before, in a series in Australia in 2009

Quotes

“If you play against Australia, every little mental thing you can get on your side does play a role. It’s important for everyone to be in good touch. The one-percenters play a big role.”

Alastair Cook and Joe Root restored England’s equilibrium after defeat at Lord’s with immaculate hundreds on a flawless pitch on the opening day of the Old Trafford Test

The Report by David Hopps22-Jul-2016England 314 for 4 (Root 141*, Cook 105) v Pakistan

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFor England, the opening forays in the Old Trafford Test presented a chance to restate basic values, an opportunity to eradicate the slackness that had characterised their batting during a 75-run defeat at Lord’s. Their leading lights, Alastair Cook and Joe Root, did their utmost to set the tone: centuries claimed by both on a day of Pakistan toil.England were fortunate they did because Alex Hales, James Vince and Gary Ballance – the latter against the second new ball – all fell cheaply as the middle order failed to assert itself in excellent batting conditions.Cook’s 29th Test hundred took him alongside Don Bradman, albeit in about three times as many innings, and there was such a skip in his step that he had it signed, sealed and delivered 15 minutes before tea, his second fifty at virtually a run a ball.It would have been tempting to call it an immaculate hundred on a flawless pitch, were it not for the evidence of what became the last ball before tea. He was bowled for 105 by Mohammad Amir, betrayed on the back foot by a delivery that scuttled through malevolently to bowl him off a defensive cue end.Root was 87 upon Cook’s dismissal, the partnership worth 185 in 49 overs, but his desire to recalibrate extended to the close at which point he was unbeaten on 141. There has been a growing sense that Root has felt in such bountiful form at the crease that he has been lulled into over ambition, but this was an innings of unremitting virtue, straighter of stroke, as he committed himself to eliminating risk and was rewarded for his discretion.The last time Cook made a Test hundred, it broke Len Hutton’s record for the longest Test innings, in terms of minutes, ever assembled by an England batsman. Pakistan conceded that one, too, in a high-scoring stalemate in Abu Dhabi in November. There will be some suffering for bowlers before this Test turns in their favour, but stalemate seems unlikely.Amir possessed most verve for Pakistan. He had received a gracious welcome at Lord’s on his return to Test cricket and the sense of a sentence served, and a career reborn, largely survived in Manchester. There were sporadic taunts of “no-ball” from the crowd, a contrast to Lord’s where even talking loudly is viewed as indecorous, but there was no malevolence, and he should view that as fair enough in his comeback series.It will be no surprise if his growing confidence that forgiveness is widespread – and that even those who would have life-banned him have made their peace with the decision – is indicated in the growing ambition of his haircut. It was wild and flowing in his teenaged years, assumed military sobriety on his return from suspension as if a symbol of repentance laid down by the High Sparrow, but there is a sign now of something imaginative going on.Hales was the England batsman to fall in the morning, his progress in the series against Sri Lanka so far stilled by a Pakistan left-arm pace attack of higher quality. He was cleaned up by Amir, a ball that might have been driveable had his footwork possessed more conviction and it not swung in with pace and malice to bowl him through the gate.By then, Hales had been given a bit of a going-over. A leave against Rahat Ali was perilously close, an lbw appeal resulting from a Rahat inswinger also adjacent, and three balls before his dismissal a boundary against Amir burst through gully’s hands. This is an examination of far greater intensity than the one provided by the Sri Lanka attack that Sanath Jayasuriya risibly billed as the best in the world.England have not lost at Old Trafford since 2001, a warm day told of a gathering summer and, if the pitch was not quite as quick as some hoped, it had pace and evenness enough to make batting an enjoyable proposition for Cook and Root.Pakistan employed Yasir’s legspin as early as the 13th over and he completed two short spells by lunch, but in the afternoon, with Cook and Root in absolute control, he was reduced to negativity when he went around the wicket to Root, hunting out imaginary rough created by Pakistan’s imaginary right-arm quicks. He will be more of a handful second time around – although 31 overs on the opening day was quite a burden.For Cook, such an easeful innings was rare; here is a batsman who has proceeded through a productive Test career by virtue of dogged concentration and pared-down risk. His introductory boundaries were edgy affairs – Amir causing him to edge wide of third slip with the sixth ball of the day – but he rarely had so many opportunities to unveil his favourite cut shot and a measured first 50 turned into a dance in the park.Root looked crisp of mind and stroke from the outset, his approach an assertion that he had tired of himself as “The Great Entertainer”. That he rode a blow on the shoulder from Amir, rather than risk a pull with two men back, told of his mindset. He reduced risk against the left-arm angle by driving determinedly straight off the front foot and square off the back foot. His afternoon began with a controlled pull against Rahat, and was rounded off with his first slog-sweep, against the spin of Yasir, with the ball full enough to minimise the risk and the wrists rolled.Take away Cook and Root and not everything was rosy for England. Vince still has no half-century in an increasingly troubled introductory Test summer in which has dismissal, driving at a wide one from , has become his own version of Groundhog Day. Nothing has removed the suspicion held by many county watchers that for all his mournful-faced style he is prone to error.Ballance battled to take advantage of his second Test phase, but he looked uncertain here, arising from his stance like a mole emerging from a mound of earth, not entirely sure of its bearings. Rahat bowled him, a delivery angled in by the left-armer which Ballance tried to chop behind point when it was too close for the shot and instead deflected on to his stumps.Pakistan’s pace bowlers were at their least impressive with the second new ball, Misbah-ul-Haq almost indicating that he expected as much by semi-defensive fields. How a four-strong attack must have regretted the lack of Mohammad Hafeez’s offspin – his action is due to be retested after a 12-month ban expired – because a few holding overs would have helped them through the day.

Steven Smith is prepared to shelve his attacking mindset and “bore” the batsmen out if that is what is needed to succeed in his first full series as Australia’s Test captain, in Bangladesh in October

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2015Steven Smith is prepared to shelve his attacking mindset and “bore” the batsmen out if that is what is needed to succeed in his first full series as Australia’s Test captain, in Bangladesh in October. Australia will play Tests in Chittagong and Mirpur, their first bilateral series in the country since 2006.”I think that’s something I’m going to have to adapt to with my captaincy,” Smith said. “In Australia you can be a little bit more attacking. In places on the subcontinent you’ve got to find ways to get batsmen out, you might have to bore them out.”For me it’s about being adaptable wherever we play. So you might have to be more defensive with that and when the ball starts to spin and reverse swing, that’s when you can attack.”Smith has led Australia in Tests before, when Michael Clarke was injured for three matches at home against India in 2014-15, but this will be his first assignment as full-time captain. He is taking a new-look squad to Bangladesh, one shorn of the experience of Clarke, Ryan Harris, Shane Watson, Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin, all of whom retired at various points during Australia’s tour of England, where the Ashes were lost 2-3.With David Warner unavailable for the Bangladesh tour as well because of a fractured thumb, Smith said he hoped the new Queensland captain Usman Khawaja would take his chance in the top order. Khawaja has played nine Tests, the last of which was in the 2013 Ashes, and is making a comeback from a severe knee injury he suffered in December 2014.”He’s got another opportunity, he’s worked really hard to get back,” Smith said. “He’s had a tough time of it with his knee but he’s back in the squad now and I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings.”Smith said he had not seen much of the newest addition to Australia’s pace attack – Tasmania’s 30-year old Andrew Fekete, who has played only two seasons of Shield cricket. “I haven’t seen Fekete bowl for a while,” he said. “Last time I saw him bowl he got me out in a second XI game and I was part of a hat-trick.”Fekete made the squad for Bangladesh because Australia rested fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood from the tour. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Peter Siddle make up the rest of the pace attack. Siddle is the most experienced player in the squad, having played 57 Tests, but he made his debut two years after Australia’s last tour to Bangladesh. He hoped his experience of bowling in the subcontinent – six Tests in India and Sri Lanka – would help him succeed in Bangladesh.”A big part of my game, especially in Australian conditions, has been reverse swing,” Siddle said. “That does benefit me a lot over there, and what I normally do is what I’ll do over there – be patient, build pressure and bowl in the right areas. And I think my experience, not in Bangladesh, but in those conditions, will help.”

Lasith Malinga announced his return to full fitness by storming his way to an unprecedented second World Cup hat-trick that shut out Kenya

The Bulletin by Siddarth Ravindran01-Mar-2011 Sri Lanka 146 for 1 (Tharanga 67*, Dilshan 44) beat Kenya 142 (C Obuya 52, D Obuya 51, Malinga 6-38) by nine wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Kenya had no answer to Lasith Malinga•AFP

Lasith Malinga announced his return to full fitness by storming his way to an unprecedented second World Cup hat-trick with an exhibition of yorker-on-demand bowling that proved too much for Kenya’s tail at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The visitors imploded to 142 all out despite dogged half-centuries from the Obuya brothers, who enjoyed plenty of fortune in a determined 94-run stand that kept the varied threats of Sri Lanka’s bowling at bay for nearly 30 overs. Sri Lanka’s batsmen barely had to break a sweat in the chase, finishing it off in 18 overs.

Smart Stats

• Lasith Malinga became the only bowler to pick up two hat-tricks in World Cups. His previous one had come against South Africa in 2007. So far, six bowlers have taken a hat-trick in World Cups.

• This was also the first instance of bowlers taking hat-tricks in consecutive matches in a World Cup. The 2003 World Cup was the last edition to see two hat-tricks.

• Malinga’s 6 for 38 is the second-best bowling figures by a Sri Lankan bowler in World Cups, behind Chaminda Vaas’ 6 for 25 against Bangladesh in 2003.

• The 94-run stand between David Obuya and Collins Obuya is the fourth-best for Kenya for the third wicket in World Cups.

• Apart from David Obuya and Collins Obuya, the rest of the batsmen failed to reach double figures and aggregated just 20 runs among them. From a decent position of 120 for 3, Kenya lost the last seven wickets for just 22 runs to be bowled out for 142.

• David Obuya’s strike-rate of 48.11 and Collins Obuya’s strike-rate of 52 are third and seventh on the list of lowest strike-rates for scores between 50 and 99 in World Cups. The lowest is Ishwar Maraj’s 53 off 155 balls, at a strike-rate of 34.19 against South Africa in 2003.

• The 188 dot-balls in the Kenya innings is the second-highest in the 2011 World Cup, behind the 194 dots in Canada’s innings against Zimbabwe.

• Sri Lanka’s nine-wicket win over Kenya was achieved with 188 balls to spare. This is third on the list of victories with most balls to spare for Sri Lanka in World Cups.

The Obuyas weren’t exactly convincing – testing every edge of their bat, surviving close lbw calls, regularly air-driving outside off and rarely reading the spinner’s variations – but hung on obdurately to take Kenya into triple-digits. A solid platform was in place when they had hauled Kenya to 102 for 2, but Malinga’s burst demolished the tail as the final eight wickets were blasted out for 40 runs. None of the other Kenyan batsmen made it past single-figures.The Kenyan collapse was rapid: it took only 22 deliveries for them to go from 127 for 4 to being bowled out. Muttiah Muralitharan started it off by getting the set batsman David Obuya to slog-sweep to midwicket.Then it was Malinga time. Jimmy Kamande barely found his bearings after being struck by a toe-crusher, and decided to go for a single when the ball was only a couple of metres away from him. Chamara Silva pounced from midwicket and did a passable imitation of Jonty Rhodes from 1992 to crash into the stumps and dismiss Kamande.Tanmay Mishra was next, becoming the first victim of Malinga’s hat-trick after missing a full delivery on leg stump to fall for a 13-ball duck. It was the final ball of the over, and Malinga gave Peter Ongondo the warmest welcome possible to the tournament in the first ball of his next – a yorker that uprooted middle. The staggered dismissals meant many in the crowd weren’t aware that Malinga was on a hat-trick. He steamed in and middle stump was dismantled again next ball, the clueless batsman this time was Shem Ngoche.Attention then shifted to whether Malinga could repeat his outrageous four-in-four from the 2007 World Cup, but he sprayed a wild delivery for five leg-side wides. Elijah Otieno defended the next ball, but that was followed by another unstoppable yorker from Malinga that thud into leg stump to end Kenya’s innings. Malinga had taken four in five legal deliveries to finish with 6 for 38.A tiresomely familiar tale seemed set to play out earlier in the afternoon when Kenya slid to 8 for 2 in the third over. Nuwan Kulasekara and Malinga removed the openers cheaply with their favourite weapons – Kulasekara getting Maurice Ouma with an inducker, and Malinga dislodging Seren Waters with an inswinging yorker that left the batsman on his knees.The Obuyas ensured there wasn’t a repeat of Kenya’s house-of-cards performance against New Zealand. Kulasekara gave away only nine runs in a constricting six-over opening spell, but Kenya were more at ease against Angelo Mathews, who was taken for a couple of boundaries.Sri Lanka brought on the spin of Ajantha Mendis in the 14th over to break the frustrating stand, but though the batsmen weren’t sure which way the ball would turn, they survived his bag of tricks with some dour defence. Kumar Sangakkara then turned to Muttiah Muralitharan to get the wickets, but though there were leading edges and outside edges, Murali couldn’t break through, with the batsmen negotiating him with a series of sweeps.It was painfully slow progress from the Obuyas, and after more than two hours of defiance, it was that most deadly of weapons that separated them – a Malinga yorker. Some more of those left Sri Lanka chasing a tiny target in front of a raucous Colombo crowd.The fans had even more to cheer when Sri Lanka batted, as Tillkaratne Dilshan provided a typically fast start with an array of punches through cover. He picked up a couple of boundaries in three successive overs to power Sri Lanka to 51 in the sixth over. Upul Tharanga, who started sedately, then joined the party with three fours in the next over. Dilshan fell short of a half-century, but Tharanga went on to make 67 with a string of lofted boundaries in the batting Powerplay to hasten the finish, and push Sri Lanka to the top of the table on net run-rate.

Match Timeline

England captain Andrew Strauss has defended the trip to Germany that resulted in star seamer James Anderson suffering a broken rib.

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2010England captain Andrew Strauss has defended the trip to Germany that resulted in fast bowler James Anderson suffering a broken rib.The England management opted to send the squad for what has been dubbed by sections of the press as a boot camp. The bonding sessions has been described as extremely positive ahead of what is likely to be a demanding Ashes tour, but it came at a cost as Anderson emerged from a spell of boxing with a broken rib.The Ashes gets underway on November 25 and Strauss is confident Anderson will be available to lead the attack at the Gabba.Asked if the camp was a mistake, Strauss told : “I don’t think so. We gained a huge amount out of it. The reason we had it when we did was it gave us a huge amount of time ahead of the first Test in case there were injuries. We weren’t expecting injuries and the guys taking the course were told to make sure that did not happen, but things do happen.”We are professional sportsmen and you are going to get injuries, whether it is in the nets, the gym sessions or on one of these camps. It is not ideal but we have every confidence Jimmy will be fighting fit well before the first Test.”Hopefully the side benefited from a shared experience, it was a tough one and we will need to be tough over there.”It has been reported that Anderson is touch and go to make the first Test, but Strauss claims the indications are the Lancashire bowler will be a 100% for the Brisbane curtain raiser.”Ideally that will be the case,” Strauss said in response to questions on whether Anderson will be ready for the lead-up to the tournament. “The indications are he will have a reasonable amount of time before the first Test but you never know. We have to be prepared as in any tour you will get injuries.”Chris Tremlett is said to have landed the blow that got through Anderson’s defences and Strauss joked that his boxing technique may need improvement. “I don’t know who it was with, it was three minutes of boxing each. We were well protected so Jimmy’s defensive technique needs working on.”

Kent lost their last eight wickets for 120 runs in a session and nine balls to gift Lancashire only their second success in Canterbury since 1936

21-Aug-2010

ScorecardKent lost their last eight wickets for 120 runs in a session and nine balls to gift Lancashire only their second success in Canterbury since 1936. The 121-run drubbing moved the visitors to fourth in the County Championship Division One table with a game in hand to maintain their outside championship hopes, whereas Kent slip back toward the relegation scrap following their fifth defeat of the top-flight campaign.Resuming on their overnight score of 84 for 2 and in pursuit of an unlikely victory target of 339, Kent added 13 runs before the start of their nightmare slide against the twin seam threat of Tom Smith and Glen Chapple that saw them lose four wickets for three runs in the space of 27 balls.Visiting skipper Chapple was first to strike, running one down the Canterbury slope and away from right-hander Martin van Jaarsveld who edged to Paul Horton at slip to make it 97 for 3.In the next over Sam Northeast went back and across his stumps to Smith only to work across the line and go leg before then, in his next over, Smith got one to lift sharply at Geraint Jones who feathered a catch to his counterpart Luke Sutton.Without addition to the score Darren Stevens followed a Chapple leg-cutter to give Sutton another catch and leave Kent floundering on 100 for 6. Lancashire struck again through Smith when Alex Blake, chopping down late on a short one, played the ball onto the base of off-stump.Kent partially saved face thereafter with a sprightly eighth-wicket stand of 72 in 63 balls between left-handers James Tredwell and Matt Coles (51) that at least took the game into its penultimate session.Coles raced to his maiden half-century for the county from 41 balls and with six fours but, two deliveries after raising his bat, the 20-year-old miscued a slog sweep against Gary Keedy straight into the hands of Sajid Mahmood at deep midwicket.In the over before lunch, Tredwell, having hit five boundaries to take Kent beyond 200, danced past one from Keedy to be stumped by a yard. Nine balls after the restart and without addition to the total, Cook swept at Keedy only to be caught at deep mid-wicket and hand Lancashire their 21-point win while Kent bank only four.

Shoaib Malik, who is currently serving a one-year ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is set to join Lancashire for their Friends Provident Twenty20 campaign that begins in the first week of June

Cricinfo staff11-May-2010Shoaib Malik, the former Pakistan captain who is currently serving a one-year ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is set to join Lancashire for their Friends Provident Twenty20 campaign that begins in the first week of June. His participation has been supported by the PCB, who gave the No Objection Certificate (NOC) but is subject to visa regulations.Malik was one of the seven players punished by the PCB following Pakistan’s tour of Australia, where they lost all their matches and were bogged by off-field controversies. Malik has since kept himself occupied with his wedding to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, and with the appeals process against the ban. The PCB is yet to give its verdict on the appeals. Malik’s last competitive appearance was the final of the RBS Twenty20 Cup final in March, when he led Sialkot Stallions to the title, three days before PCB handed the ban.Despite the ban, the PCB had no problem with Malik, and other banned players, perusing county opportunities. “The suspended players can play in domestic cricket and anywhere
abroad,” PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said. “We gave Rana Naved the necessary permission to play in county cricket and Malik’s case was similar.”Malik has a commendable Twenty20 record at the international level, averaging 26.21 at a strike-rate of 114.85 with the bat, in addition to a bowling average of 20.42 and an economy rate of 6.65 runs per over. He led Pakistan to the final of the World Twenty20 in 2007, and was a member of the team that won the tournament in 2009.The offspinning allrounder was delighted by the opportunity to play for Lancashire. “When Lancashire approached me to come and play for them I didn’t hesitate in saying yes. I love playing cricket in England and the opportunity to play with a club of Lancashire’s reputation was too good to pass up.”Their recent overseas signings in [Simon] Katich and [Shivnarine] Chanderpaul only add to an already strong list. I’m very excited and look forward to a strong Twenty20 campaign,” Malik said.Mike Watkinson, the Lancashire County Cricket Club chairman, believed that Malik would be an asset to the side. “We are delighted to recruit yet another world-class player to the cricket club. Shoaib will be a quality addition to our Twenty20 squad.”Peter Moores, the head coach of the county side shared Watkinson’s optimism about Malik’s inclusion. “Shoaib has a proven track record in the game and is a versatile cricketer. He’s at a good age, can bat up and down the order and is an experienced spin bowler. We look forward to welcoming him to the squad,” Moores said.

Kemar Roach is smaller than the great West Indian bowlers of the past but faster than he looks

Peter English19-Nov-2009Kemar Roach is smaller than the great West Indian bowlers of the past but faster than he looks. Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Corey Collymore were Roach’s childhood heroes and he would like to carry on the tradition by leading the side in the three-Test series against Australia starting next week.Standing at well under six feet, Roach is a 21-year-old with a reasonably gentle run-up before he explodes through the crease and his slippery deliveries surprised the local batsmen. He regularly hurried Nick Kruger, who carried a headache after being struck on the helmet during his 172, and collected Ryan Broad’s edge with a lifting delivery before lunch.While Roach’s 1 for 67 off 23 overs came in the Bulls’ hefty total of 4 for 384, he gained frequent plays and misses and was frustrated not to win a couple more calls from the umpires. “That’s what cricket is all about – hard days and long days,” he said. “I know to work hard to get wickets and I’ll bowl all day if I have to. It was tiring but I was accustomed to that, I’m accustomed to bowling a long time. It’s not a problem for me.”Roach, who was clocked at 94.5mph [152kph] during the Champions Trophy, was called up for the two Tests against Bangladesh during the players’ strike and was the leading bowler with 13 wickets in the lost series. “He just ambles in but then it is on you,” Kruger said. “He is quick and he got me with a good one – I have got a bit of a headache.”Kruger felt Roach was holding back too. “He was just ambling in there today,” he said. Both Kruger and Wade Townsend, who also scored a maiden century, had some tough moments in the early stages but recovered for a satisfying 243-run stand for the second wicket.”They came hard at us but we batted pretty well,” Kruger said. “It was my day, I had a couple of chances and they were probably recovering from a bit of jet-lag.”The West Indians were not helped by some dropped chances, but Roach expected the performances to improve for the first Test. “There’s more cricket to play and that was only one day,” he said. “I don’t think we will be that bad again.”

Smith’s 71 and Green’s 52 builds Australia’s lead to 254 with three wickets in hand on tricky batting surface

Andrew McGlashan05-Jul-2025A pristine innings from Steven Smith and Cameron Green’s first half-century at No. 3 put Australia in control of the second Test in Grenada on a day limited to 58.3 overs by three rain interruptions, a lethargic over rate and latterly bad light. However, regular breakthroughs after tea kept West Indies in touch although the surface remained a challenge for batters.Smith, playing with the lingering effects of the compound dislocation he suffered in the World Test Championship which requires him to wear a splint on his right little finger, barely put a foot wrong during an innings studded with classy drives. There was general shock, not least from Smith himself, when he fell lbw to Justin Greaves for 71 shortly after tea – the DRS confirming ball had struck pad first – leaving the series still waiting for its first century.Greaves became the somewhat unlikely figure to keep West Indies’ hopes alive when he then had Beau Webster edge to a lone slip. After a third shower briefly suspended play, Travis Head was cleaned up by Shamar Joseph, defeated by the angle from round the wicket, leaving Alex Carey the key figure in terms of how many more Australia could add. After the second day’s play, Roston Chase said West Indies would be confident chasing anything under 200 – they are now going to need considerably more than that.Related

• 'Today was a nice sign' – Green hoping to trend upwards at No.3

• King and Seales do their bit to make West Indies' grand plan work

• Seales' late strikes, King's 75 put Australia under pressure

• Hard work done but no pay day for Green as questions linger

There remained regular signs of uneven bounce – Green received a delivery early on which scuttled for four byes – but the ones that shot low were either not straight or were able to be kept out. As had been evident on the first two days, batting became more manageable as the ball got softer which added to the importance of the 93-run stand between Green and Smith in taking the sting out of the attack.Green, who had done the hard work in the first innings but couldn’t take advantage of being given a life, brought up his first half-century as a Test No. 3 with a perfect straight drive. However, he was again left furious when he chopped on next ball, dropping his bat to the ground in anger before trudging off.Overall, though, it was a step in the right direction. He nearly fell for West Indies’ short ball plan when he top-edged short of deep square leg, but he defended solidly and waited for anything with a hint of width to put away through the off side.Cameron Green got to fifty the ball before he was dismissed•Associated Press

Australia had resumed on 12 for 2 after a difficult finish to the second day where Jayden Seales removed both openers. Progress from Green and nightwatcher Nathan Lyon was sedate before a 40-minute rain break. Shortly after the resumption Lyon edged to third slip where John Campbell, who has had an indifferent time in the field, clung on with a juggle.Lyon had joked in a pre-play interview that Smith thought he should retire to let him bat straightaway. Smith, whose preparation for returning to the side included a session a New York batting cage, received a brutal first ball from Alzarri Joseph which took the glove of his injured hand but he looked in the zone from the off.Smith did well to keep out a delivery from Anderson Phillip that kept low, from which point on he limited his trigger movements to remain stiller at the crease. He collected back-to-back boundaries off Shamar Joseph – a straight drive and one through the covers – as his game looked in top working order despite the recent lay-off.When the ball got soft, West Indies went for a bouncer strategy with, at times, three on the leg-side rope, a deep third and a short leg but Smith was rarely bothered by it. While variable in bounce, the pitch does not have great pace which made a bouncer-barrage hard work although it may have been in part to try and get the ball changed.Smith’s fifty came up from 79 balls with a leg glance and he greeted the introduction of Greaves by stepping out of the crease and clubbing him straight down the ground. Chase’s offspin was then sent straight for six as Australia sensed a chance to cash in on their hard work.After Green’s dismissal, Head came out and threaded his first delivery through the covers with a rasping drive. Another crisp drive, this time off Greaves, took him into the 20s at better than a run-a-ball. He went down a gear after tea amid the loss of Smith and Webster before falling late in the day. But Carey was swiftly into his work and Australia’s bowlers will hope he can given them a cushion of another 50 runs.

In a recent five-match T20I series, Namibia had beaten Oman but only just, winning 3-2

Abhimanyu Bose02-Jun-20243:02

A big task ahead for Oman against confident Namibia

Match details

Namibia vs Oman
Bridgetown, 8.30pm local

Big picture

Playing in their third consecutive T20 World Cup, Namibia will be looking to build on impressive previous showings. In 2021, they had surprised many by qualifying for Super 12s – at the expense of Ireland and Netherlands – and in 2022 they beat Sri Lanka in the first round, but fell short of progressing.They made it to T20 World Cup 2024 by dominating the Africa qualifier, winning all six of their games. With England and Australia also in their group, they will know that their best shot at the Super 8s involves beating Oman and Scotland and then pulling off an upset.But Oman, their first opponents, could offer tough competition. When the two teams faced off in a five-match T20I series in April, Oman ran Namibia close, with Namibia eventually sealing a 3-2 win.Oman, also making their third T20 World Cup appearance, come into the tournament with momentum on their side. They reached the ACC Premier Cup final, winning five games on the trot, although they lost to UAE in the final. They have a new captain for this World Cup, with Aqib Ilyas replacing the experienced Zeeshan Maqsood in the role.

Form guide

Namibia WWLLW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
Oman LWWWW

In the spotlight – David Wiese and Aqib Ilyas

David Wiese, one of the biggest reasons behind Namibia’s impressive campaign in 2021, has since become a T20 globetrotter, playing in several franchise leagues including the IPL, the Hundred and the PSL. He has also played the CPL and MLC, giving him a feel of the conditions on offer by T20 World Cup’s two hosts. Namibia would hope that the experience he has gained over the last few years will set him up for a good campaign, as he is key to their plans with bat and ball.Aqib Ilyas, apart from being a top-order batter, is also a more-than-handy spinner. He was the leading wicket-taker in the ACC Premier Cup with 12 scalps from five matches at an economy of 6.22. In the series decider against Namibia, he picked up 2 for 21 from three overs and then struck a 29-ball 51 in an unsuccessful chase of 213. Namibia will be wary of the threat he poses, but how he deals with the added responsibility of leading the team will have to be seen.David Wiese will be key to Namibia’s plans with bat and ball•ICC via Getty

Team news

Namibia could field an XI with as many as seven bowling options, while their potential No. 9 Ruben Trumpelmann is no mug with the bat.Namibia (probable XI): 1 Nikolas Davin, 2 Jean-Pierre Kotze, 3 Michael van Lingen, 4 Gerhard Erasmus (capt), 5 JJ Smit, 6 David Wiese, 7 Jan Frylinck, 8 Zane Green (wk), 9 Ruben Trumpelmann, 10 Bernard Scholtz, 11 Ben ShikongoOman also have plenty of bowling options among their top- and middle-order batters. They could put out the same line-up that played in the final of the Premier Cup.Oman (probable XI): 1 Kashyap Prajapati, 2 Naseem Khushi (wk), 3 Aqib Ilyas (capt), 4 Zeeshan Maqsood, 5 Pratik Athavale (wk), 6 Ayaan Khan, 7 Khalid Kail, 8 Shakeel Ahmad, 9 Rafiullah, 10 Fayyaz Butt, 11 Bilal Khan

Pitch and conditions

In the past, batters have found it difficult to score off spinners in Bridgetown. It’s not a particularly high-scoring ground, and in 12 games at the venue since the start of 2022, the average first-innings score has been 178. Teams batting first have won eight of those 12 matches.There is a 40% chance of rain, but it’s not expected to last more than half an hour even if it does pour.

Stats that matter

• One of Namibia’s many allrounders, their captain Gerhard Erasmus, has been in excellent bowling form. He has taken a wicket in eight of his last ten matches, and has not conceded more than run a ball in any of those games.
• Bilal Khan, Oman’s 37-year-old fast bowler, had an economy rate of 4.45 from three matches in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
• Maqsood, Mehran Khan and Bilal are the only three players from Oman’s squad in their first T20 World Cup campaign in 2016 to be part of this year’s squad.

Quotes

“Now that I am leading the side, I have more responsibilities. I have to be more smart and give my 100%. We have worked really hard in the past, in the camp and everything. Now when we step onto the field, it’s just the mind game, presence and game awareness. I am looking for some big performances, to get at least two Man of the Matches in the first round.”