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Jerome Taylor has attributed West Indies’ resurgence on the first day of the Trinidad Test to a strategy of waiting it out on a grassy surface at Queen’s Park Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-20143:41

‘I bowled straighter this time’ – Taylor

West Indies seamer Jerome Taylor attributed his team’s resurgence on the first day of the Trinidad Test to a strategy of waiting it out on a grassy surface at the Queen’s Park Oval.Having lost the toss, West Indies were made to field and put on the back foot by a half-century from Tom Latham, who also added 104 runs for the second wicket with Kane Williamson to take the visitors to a strong 120 for 1. However, two quick wickets in the second session triggered a collapse, as New Zealand lost their last seven wickets for just 62 runs in the final session and were dismissed for 221.”It [Queen’s Park Oval] is the kind of pitch that you have to put in something to get something out of it. You have to put in that hard work,” Taylor said. “After the first session, we went back out knowing that we had to give ourselves a chance to get into the game and just be a bit more patient.Jerome Taylor continued his impressive return to the international stage with a haul of 4 for 34•WICB”It just goes to show that whenever you’re patient and you’re disciplined it pays off. We spoke about how they got away from us in the first session and decided we had to make amends and cut down the run rate and look to get some wickets in between. I think we did a good job.”Taylor believed it was this patient approach that was missing from West Indies’ game during their 186-run mauling in Jamaica.”In the first game in Jamaica, we spoke about the need to be patient as well. The New Zealanders were patient and they pulled off a win and we needed to beat them at that,” he said. “I think I bowled a bit straighter and a bit fuller than I did in Jamaica and that also helped me. I had the batsmen playing a bit mor, which is what you need to do as a fast bowler.”Taylor, who had not played a Test series since 2009, continued his impressive return to the international stage with a haul of 4 for 34. He removed Hamish Rutherford early in the day, before snaring three more scalps in the final session to wreck New Zealand’s middle order. He credited his performances to the inputs provided by West Indies’ bowling coach Curtly Ambrose.”I have been having a lot of talks with Sir Curtly and he is someone that you can learn a lot from in terms of fast bowling,” Taylor said. “He is passing on a lot of the knowledge and that is something that is vital for us.”I must give some credit to him, he had done a lot for us in terms of mindset and approach to the game. He continues to stress that in Test cricket you need to be patient with the ball.”

Mervin Mathew’s 3 for 14 set up a shock seven-wicket victory for the St Lucia Zouks over the Jamaica Tallawahs on Saturday at Warner Park in St Kitts

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Aug-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Mervin Mathew’s 3 for 15 set up a shock seven-wicket victory for St Lucia Zouks over Jamaica Tallawahs on Saturday at Warner Park in St Kitts. The Zouks registered just their second win of the season while the Tallawahs wasted a chance to leapfrog the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel into sole possession of first place in CPL 2014.The Tallawahs got off to a decent start after being sent in to bat as Chadwick Walton bashed five sixes on his way to top-scoring with 48 opening the innings. However, no one else in the top five made it past 10. Darren Sammy caused some middle-order damage with the wickets of Owais Shah for 8 and Adam Voges for 4.Mathew made further inroads with the wickets of Nkrumah Bonner for 10 and Andre Russell for 18 to deprive the Tallawahs their best chance of a strong finishing kick to the innings. Mathew dismissed Jerome Taylor on the first ball of the 20th for the last Tallawahs wicket as they were wiped out for 143, a paltry total considering the tiny boundaries at Warner Park.After Daniel Vettori removed Johnson Charles in the fifth over of the chase for 16, Andre Fletcher and Kevin Pietersen produced a 60-run stand for the second wicket as the Zouks coasted toward the below-par target. Pietersen’s mere presence underscored how badly he was missed throughout the earlier part of a season in which the Zouks middle order routinely folded cheaply. Fletcher played with increasing freedom and finished with a game-high 49 off 35 balls before he fell leg before to Russell in the 13th.Pietersen only made 23 by the time he was dismissed in the 16th to make it 119 for 3, but the stability he provided took pressure off the rest of the Zouks squad. Henry Davids (29 not out) and Sohail Tanvir (20 not out) finished off the match with ease as Tanvir clubbed two sixes in the 18th to finish off the game with 15 balls to spare.

Ravindra Jadeja’s appeal against his initial guilty Level 1 verdict wasn’t technically an appeal

Sidharth Monga03-Aug-2014Ravindra Jadeja’s appeal against his initial guilty Level 1 verdict wasn’t technically an appeal. Judicial commissioner Gordon Lewis’ written verdict has explained that it was treated like a new case heard from the start.That should also explain why the appeal was allowed in the first case: this was being considered a Level 2 offence, not Level 1 as Jadeja was found guilty of. The ICC had earlier disallowed the appeal because even though this was Jadeja’s second Level 1 offence in a year, both had been under different sub-codes – 2.1.4 and 2.1.8. As it was with James Anderson’s not-guilty verdict, there wasn’t enough evidence to find Jadeja guilty of any offence, which raises questions about match referee David Boon’s original sentence.”As part of that decision, the match referee had reduced the level of the charge against Jadeja to Level 1 and pursuant to Article 8.1.1 an appeal against a Level 1 offence is not permitted,” Lewis’ verdict said. “However, because any appeal from a decision of a match referee is heard de novo [afresh] by a disciplinary commissioner, I ruled that any rulings by the match referee no longer had any effect and a commissioner commences the hearing of the appeal with a clean sheet, that is with the charge against Jadeja in its original form, i.e. alleging a Level 2 offence and was thus appealable.”Once the case began again, it stood no chance in Lewis’ court because of conflicting witnesses, heavily biased towards their own teams, and with no proper audio or video evidence to prove anyone’s guilt.”In short, I am not satisfied that the Level 2 charge against Jadeja has been made out to a standard of proof with which I am comfortably satisfied, and as I have previously announced, his appeal against the ruling of the match referee is upheld,” Lewis explained. “I am not prepared to exercise my discretion to substitute a lesser charge, as I could not be satisfied even at Level 1, that the necessary standard of proof has been met. In the circumstances this matter is also dismissed.”Given the lack of evidence, it shouldn’t come as surprise that India were aggrieved at the original verdict handed out by Boon.

Ian Botham used the platform of his MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture to brand the IPL “too powerful” for the good of cricket and said he believed it should not exist

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Sep-2014Ian Botham used the platform of his MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture to brand the IPL “too powerful” for the good of cricket and said he believed it should not exist.He said that the tournament provided the “perfect opportunity for betting and therefore fixing” and on the subject of corruption also called on the ICC to do more to expose the “big names” involved.”I’m worried about the IPL – in fact, I feel it shouldn’t be there at all as it is changing the priorities of world cricket,” Botham said. “Players are slaves to it. Administrators bow to it.”How on earth did the IPL own the best players in the world for two months a year and not pay a penny to the boards who brought these players into the game?”I know this has been modified to a degree, but it is still an imbalance. The IPL is too powerful for the long-term good of the game.”Corruption is enough of a problem in itself, but the IPL compounds that problem given it provides the perfect opportunity for betting and therefore fixing.”Expanding on the corruption theme, he added: “We have seen a few players exposed, but does throwing the odd second XI player into jail solve it? To kill the serpent, you must cut off its head. The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit must pursue the root of the problem and if necessary expose the big names.”Closer to home, Botham questioned whether the presence of central contracts had made England’s players too “cosy” and also called on the UK government to do more cricket in schools.”Central contracts are brilliant, but it has now become so essential to the England player that the sharpness goes,” he said. “A long contract is a cosy contract. To play international sport, above all else – above even freshness and rest – you must have desire. Hunger is still the most important attribute for any sportsman.”On the facilities and time given to sport, especially cricket, in schools Botham said it drove him “insane” how little is being done and called on the Prime Minister David Cameron to live up to his promise of making change happen.”Why aren’t the Government focusing on sport as a necessity in the school curriculum?” he said. “This subject drives me insane. I feel it is my duty to point out the problems that face sport in schools, and specifically cricket.”The problem is now that schools are too big and there is no personal touch with the teachers. And as schools get bigger, one of the things you lose are your playing fields,” he added. “Come on David Cameron – when I came to Downing Street to meet you, you made all the right noises and promised to come back to me with your ideas. I’m still waiting.”

Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey razed the Dolphins attack with unbeaten fifties and a 153-run partnership, the highest stand in the Champions League, to take Kolkata Knight Riders to their 13th successive win in T20s

The Report by Rachna Shetty29-Sep-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRobin Uthappa and Manish Pandey’s 153-run stand was the highest partnership in the Champions League T20•BCCILeading in his 100th T20, against Dolphins in Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir wanted his side to do something different and test themselves before the semi-final. So for the second time in their streak of 13 victories, incidentally the longest for an Indian T20 side, Knight Riders batted first. It veered from their set game plan of allowing their spinners to tie up the opposition in knots before chasing a target but the end result was along expected lines, specially after Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey had razed the Dolphins attack with unbeaten fifties and a 153-run partnership, the highest stand in the Champions League.Dolphins made a small dent early in Knight Riders’ innings, getting rid of Gambhir and Jacques Kallis, and Kyle Abbott managed to slip in a couple of searching overs at the start, utilising some movement off the pitch. Then Uthappa and Pandey came together with the score at 34 for 2 in the fifth over and by the time the innings ended, their stand had come at a swift clip of 10 runs per over. Their batting was almost effortless, specially Uthappa’s, whose polished drives were mixed in with well-timed steers behind the wicket.Pandey, at the other end, used a swinging backlift to carve out fours and sixes. He also benefitted from two reprieves; he was dropped on 32 and 33 in the 13th and 14th overs and duly repaid Dolphins by smashing 42 off the next 19 balls he faced. He mauled Abbott, Dolphins’ best bowler, scything and swinging his way to 21 runs in the 18th over. The ease with which the pair accumulated the runs meant that Knight Riders coasted at more than eight runs an over for most of their innings, before ending at 187 for 2.In their previous games, Dolphins had shown glimpses of explosiveness in their batting but it didn’t come together in this game. The early wickets added to the pressure of a tall chase but there were bright spots for Dolphins, particularly the entertaining, and at times brash, 63-run partnership between Khaya Zondo and Andile Phehlukwayo. The latter survived an edgy start before slamming some powerful shots, including a reverse sweep off Sunil Narine that came off due to his late adjustment. Narine contributed 3 for 33 to the win, which now places Knight Riders behind Surrey and Otago on the list of teams with most successive wins in T20s.

Four Sri Lanka players, including Kumar Sangakkara, will be replaced in the squad for the two final ODIs against India, as the selectors seek to test fringe players with the World Cup on the horizon

Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Nov-2014Four Sri Lanka players, including Kumar Sangakkara, will be replaced in the squad for the two final ODIs against India, as the selectors seek to test fringe players with the World Cup on the horizon.Dhammika Prasad, Suraj Randiv, Upul Tharanga and Sangakkara will be withdrawn after the third ODI, and Shaminda Eranga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal and Ajantha Mendis will enter the squad in their stead. Of the four withdrawn players, only Sangakkara and Prasad were being rested, team manager Michael de Zoysa said.Thirimanne and Chandimal arrive in the side with some match practice, and form, having recently played against West Indies A, on their tour of Sri Lanka. Thirimanne hit three fifties in four innings during that tour, while Chandimal hit two half centuries in his four outings. Chandimal may also keep wickets against India, in Sangakkara’s stead, though Kusal Perera is also capable of filling that role.If he plays, Eranga is expected to add pace and experience to the pace attack, which has seemed flat and out of ideas in the first two matches. He has not played an ODI since July 2013, however. Ajantha Mendis’ inclusion comes days after he was named in the ICC’s ODI team of the year – the only Sri Lanka player to make that side.Tharanga’s ODI career appears on hold once more, having already been dropped, and now replaced, after a mediocre outing in the first ODI. Kusal had done no better in Tharanga’s place when he collected a duck in the second match, but with Thirimanne now in the mix for the last two matches, Sri Lanka have yet another opening option available.

A round-up of the Georgie Pie Super Smash matches on November 28, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Nov-2014An unbeaten half-century from the opener George Walker helped Central Districts beat Otago by six wickets at McLean Park. Chasing a revised target of 121 from 17 overs, Central Districts were wrecked early by two wickets apiece from Jacob Duffy and Josh Finnie. They were precariously placed at 82 for 4 in the 13th over, but Worker’s unbeaten 71 guided the team home with two deliveries to spare. He struck six fours and a six during his 53-ball knock, and even though no other batsman made more than 17, it was enough to send Otago crashing towards their seventh defeat of the tournament.Opting to bat, Otago had earlier scored 120 for 8 from their 17 overs following a rain delay. They were aided by contributions throughout their line-up, but only Ryan ten Doeschate managed to make more than 15, hitting a 29-ball 31. The Central Districts bowlers all chipped in with wickets, but Seth Rance was the pick of the lot, collecting 2 for 22.

Sri Lanka will aim to lock down their best ODI combination as World Cup preparation begin in earnest, during the seven-match series against England, captain Angelo Mathews said

Sa'adi Thawfeeq23-Nov-2014Sri Lanka will aim to lock down their best ODI combination as World Cup preparation begin in earnest, during the seven-match series against England, captain Angelo Mathews said. Sri Lanka had experimented with their XI in the five-match series against India, resting key players and handing out two ODI debuts, but Mathews said he now sought to build momentum with the players who would comprise the best side at the World Cup.”We need to get back into our groove and we will also try and taper the experiments down,” he said. “We talked about it, and we just want to look at the players whom we think need to be looked at and whom we think will go on the World Cup. We will try and concentrate on those players.”It’s very important that we sort out our bowlers and also the batting order. We might do a little bit of changes here and there in the batting and bowling and towards the end of the series we should have a very clear idea of whom we want to take to the World Cup.”One area of concern for Sri Lanka is the opening slot. Sri Lanka tried three different partners for Tillakaratne Dilshan during the India series, but failed to find a pair that took the first-wicket partnership beyond 50 runs.”When it comes to chasing or setting up a score the opening partnership is very crucial,” Mathews said. “Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene got exposed too early, and that’s the way it has been for us in the past year or two. We need to get that right quickly as possible because we are running into a World Cup and we can’t be experimenting with the top order.”We tried with Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Dimuth Karunaratne and Mahela in the past. We will try and sort it out towards the end of the series. It’s very important to keep your options open. It there is a problem in the top order and someone needs to be promoted we should experiment.Sri Lanka have also roped in the services of two former English country cricketers to bolster their preparations for both the New Zealand tour, and the World Cup. Zimbabwean-born Trevor Penney, a Warwickshire stalwart for 17 years, is back with the Sri Lanka team as fielding coach. Penney was fielding coach of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2007. Head coach Marvan Atapattu suggested Penney’s had been a timely appointment.”We are going to pay more attention to our fielding – that’s one aspect we have to improve. We are putting a lot of effort in making this group a better fielding side. Trevor has been here before and knows the system and the boys. It’s going to help.”Jeremy Snape, a former England ODI and T20 cricketer who played for Gloucestershire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire has also been hired as psychologist for the Sri Lanka team. He is expected to join the team at the start of the ODI series against England on November 26 and spend 17 days with the squad.”Jeremy is a performance enhancing psychologist and his role is to get the players performing at optimum levels and getting them thinking in areas they really haven’t thought about,” Atapattu said. “We had Sandy Gordon in that role during Tom Moody’s time, when I was a player, and I thought it was good. That was the reason behind suggesting Jeremy.””Considering the amount of cricket that is being played these days players need to be refreshed not just physically but mentally too. It’s about getting the stress out of the system and to refresh the mind and prepare for the next game.”Jeremy’s services have been proven over the years with Rajasthan Royals, when they won the IPL under Shane Warne, with Melbourne Stars where Lasith Malinga played in the Big Bash, and South African cricket under Graeme Smith. Motivating is one part of his job coming from a cricketing back ground and he could be a handful to the squad.”

Bangladesh cricketer Rubel Hossain has been granted bail by a Dhaka court, three days after he was sent to jail in a case filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act

Mohammad Isam11-Jan-2015Bangladesh cricketer Rubel Hossain has been granted bail by a Dhaka court, three days after he was sent to jail in a case filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. Judge (in-charge) KM Imrul Kayes of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court of Dhaka passed the order after hearing Rubel’s bail petition. He was released from Dhaka Jail on Sunday afternoon and is likely to join the Bangladesh team’s World Cup training session on Monday.In the petition, Rubel sought bail as he is part of Bangladesh’s World Cup team that will fly to Brisbane on January 24 to prepare for the World Cup. He has been given bail until the police submits the chargesheet to the court.Earlier on January 8, Rubel was sent to jail by Dhaka Metropolitan magistrate Muhammad Anwar Sadat who passed the order after Rubel surrendered before the court and pleaded for bail.Rubel had, on December 15, been granted four weeks of anticipatory bail in the case. This came two days after the complainant, an actress, had filed the case against Rubel with Mirpur police station on charges of making false promises of marriage.

A wrap of the final round of league matches in the Ford Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jan-2015Northern Districts qualified for the playoffs after finishing fourth in the league by beating Auckland by two wickets in a low-scoring contest in Mount Maunganui. Graeme Aldridge set up the result, taking 4 for 18 to help dismiss Auckland for 160 in 43.5 overs. They were 65 for 7 in the 18th over before Carl Cachopa made 51 and Tarun Nethula 41 to prop up the innings. Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner took two wickets each for Northern Districts.The chase of 161 was going smoothly for Northern Districts, with their openers adding 37, until they lost their first three wickets for five runs. Dean Brownlie and BJ Watling added 52 for the fourth wicket, but there was another slide after that which left Northern Districts on 150 for 8, needing 11 runs to win. Scott Kuggeleijn and Jono Boult got the job done. Matthew Quinn, with 3 for 19, was Auckland’s best bowler.Canterbury’s outside chances of making the playoffs ended after rain washed out their match against Otago in Rangiora. Only 23 overs were bowled after Otago were sent in to bat, and they had reached 109 for 1 when the final rain interruption proved decisive. Aaron Redmond was unbeaten on 54.Bottom-placed Wellington scored a consolation win in their last league match over table toppers Central Districts at Basin Reserve. Wellington made 244 for 7 after winning the toss, with half-centuries from Stephen Murdoch and Tom Blundell. Jamie Gibson provided the acceleration by smacking 42 off 35 balls before he was dismissed off the last ball of the innings. Andrew Mathieson took 3 for 51 for Central Districts.The chase started poorly for Central Districts, with Matt McEwan reducing them to 0 for 2 in the first over. Dane Hutchinson then dismissed Jamie How and McEwan had Will Young caught behind and Central Districts were foundering at 19 for 4 in 6.2 overs. The middle and lower order rallied but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat by 22 runs. McEwan finished with 4 for 41 for Wellington, while spinner Luke Woodcock conceded only 31 runs and took two wickets in his ten overs.