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Johan Botha has said South Africa’s one-off Twenty20 international against India on Friday will be an opportunity for fringe players to impress ahead of the World Twenty20

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Mar-2012Johan Botha has said South Africa’s one-off Twenty20 international against India on Friday will be an opportunity for fringe players to impress ahead of the World Twenty20. Botha, who will lead South Africa in the match, said resting some of the senior players from the squad would give South Africa an opportunity to test some young players against quality opposition.”There are some world-class pros sitting out but we have some young guys who have done well in the MiWAY T20 Challenge and it will be a good introduction to international cricket for them, to be playing against a top team,” Botha said.South Africa have included the uncapped Dane Vilas and Farhaan Behardien in their 13-man squad, both of who finished in the top ten on the run-charts in the MiWAY T20. They have also picked Morne van Wyk, who has not played for South Africa since the 2011 one-day World Cup.”You don’t want to put pressure on the young guys saying this is your only chance,” Botha said, “but the senior players will come back into the team after they’ve rested and there’s only a few games left before the World T20. So this is an opportunity for the fringe players to seal a spot in the World T20 squad.”Gary Kirsten, the South Africa coach, had joked that it might be hard for him to stay awake through the game because he would have had very little rest after a long flight from New Zealand. Botha, however, said the players would take the game seriously and would try to do well for Jacques Kallis, to whom the game is being dedicated.”With the World Twenty20 coming up in October, every T20 game is important and you can learn in every game. Hopefully, we can make it 1-1 after losing to India in the one-off Twenty20 we played when they toured last year. We want to do well for Jacques, who is a legend in South African cricket.”The players did not train together before the game but Botha said they were prepared enough. “Most of us have played in the T20 challenge, so we’ll come in ready, with a few days of rest [the previous game in the MiWAY T20 was on March 25], and just play. Often players over-train and overthink, so this could work. Gary always leaves it up to the players. It’s our responsibility. If guys want to go work on something tomorrow there’s still time before the game.”Edited by Dustin Silgardo

Australia’s new bowling coach is expected to be named this week, with Craig McDermott and Allister de Winter among the leading contenders

ESPNcricinfo staff09-May-2011Australia’s new bowling coach is expected to be named this week, with Craig McDermott and Allister de Winter among the leading contenders. The former Test fast men Jason Gillespie and Andy Bichel have already been eliminated in the race to become Troy Cooley’s replacement, while at least one high-profile overseas candidate is still in contention.McDermott, 46, has been coaching at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane for two years and appeared to be the front-runner when he went on last month’s tour of Bangladesh with Michael Clarke’s side. However, de Winter, the former Tasmania allrounder, has also made it through the first round of interviews and could be a surprise appointment.A fringe player during his seven seasons with Tasmania during the late 1980s and early 1990s, de Winter took 35 wickets in 21 first-class appearances at an average of 50.51. It is a far cry from the 291 Test victims collected by McDermott, but it’s a similar record to Cooley, a former team-mate of de Winter at Tasmania, who took 54 first-class wickets in 33 games.de Winter, 43, joined Tasmania as an assistant coach in 2007, after returning from Bangladesh, where he was head coach of the National Cricket Academy and the Bangladesh Under-19s. He has also toured with the Australia side, joining them in South Africa in 2009 as part of Cricket Australia’s coaching development programme.Last summer, de Winter guided a Tasmanian bowling attack that was instrumental in securing the state’s second Sheffield Shield title, utilising swing and seam on helpful pitches. The new mentor will play a key role in guiding Australia’s bowlers on their next Test tour, a planned visit to Sri Lanka later this year, before the trip to South Africa in October and November.

Zimbabwe subsided to one of the lowest Twenty20 totals against New Zealand to become the first team to bow out of the competition

The Bulletin by Siddarth Ravindran04-May-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Nathan McCullum swept through the Zimbabwe middle-order, picking 3 for 16 off his four overs•Getty Images

Zimbabwe came into the tournament as one of the form teams after shocking Pakistan and Australia in the warm-ups, but they subsided to one of the lowest Twenty20 totals against New Zealand to become the first team to bow out of the competition. After making a sprightly start, they collapsed spectacularly – losing eight wickets for sixteen runs – to ease New Zealand’s path to the Super Eights.With rain hampering play in Guyana for the second day in a row, Zimbabwe’s entire campaign in the West Indies lasted only 48.2 overs. Though the end was not as farcical as the near-darkness climax to the 2007 World Cup final, they was plenty of confusion before the match ended: after play was initially halted 8.1 overs into the chase, the teams came back onto the field an hour and a half later, expecting to play a couple of overs and complete the game. The players stood around for a few minutes before officials decided no more play was possible, declaring New Zealand winners.On the field, Nathan McCullum was the hero for New Zealand again. After his all-round heroics against Sri Lanka on Friday, he swept through the Zimbabwe middle-order to collect his second successive Man-of-the-Match award. The quick offspinners of Scott Styris also scooped up three wickets in an over to hasten the end of the innings.Such a limp finish didn’t seem likely after Zimbabwe’s openers defied New Zealand on a Providence pitch offering plenty of turn. At 57 for 1 in the seventh over, things were looking good for Zimbabwe, but a sharp bit of fielding from Jacob Oram and Gareth Hopkins started the slide. Hamilton Masakadza, one of the biggest-hitters in the Zimbabwe line-up, swung the ball towards deep square leg, where Oram moved quickly to his left and fired in a slightly wayward throw; Hopkins collected yards in front of the stumps and under-armed it to catch a diving Masakadza short.There was no resistance after that: Andy Blignaut, playing his first international game in five years, had started confidently after being pushed up to No. 3, but made a mess of a slog sweep to be bowled by Vettori.Nathan McCullum’s next over dealt the killer blows, as he nipped out three wickets with his loopy offbreaks. Elton Chigumbura slammed the first ball straight to long-on, Charles Coventry punched loosely back to the bowler two balls later, and Craig Ervine didn’t get near the ball after charging out of the crease to be stumped off the final delivery. Zimbabwe had sunk to 63 for 6 after nine.After Timycen Maruma and Greg Lamb watchfully played out a few overs, Styris scalped three in four deliveries in the 13th over to erase Zimbabwe’s hopes of reaching triple-digits. Vettori returned to finish off the innings by bowling Ray Price which meant Zimbabwe had been bowled out with nearly five overs to spare.It was the second shortest completed innings in Twenty20s, and marked a total reversal of fortunes from the strong position they were placed in by Tatenda Taibu and Masakadza. Taibu dominated the partnership with a combination of nifty footwork and improvised strokeplay, such as the bent-knee carve over backward point for four off Shane Bond after making plenty of room. He fell slapping a short ball straight to square leg, but Masakadza kept the run-rate high with typically muscular strokes before his run-out sparked the slide that sent Zimbabwe out of the competition.Their exit was confirmed by some sensible batting from New Zealand, who were always mindful of the Duckworth/Lewis machinations during their chase. Brendon McCullum powered a couple of midwicket fours and there was a trademark scoop for three, but the rest of runs were mostly made in calm singles.

“All I am thinking about is about playing for Bengal. I have forgotten everything that happened in the past”

Sreshth Shah12-Aug-2024Wriddhiman Saha has said that he wants to bury his past issues with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), as he looks ahead to a fruitful reunion with the team that he represented from 2007 to 2022.Speaking to the media at the Eden Gardens, Saha was clear that he did not want to discuss the past at all, and instead had his focus on serving Bengal cricket for the remainder of his career. Saha, 39, said, he was keen to take the field as a Bengal cricketer but was also open to a coaching stint in the future.”I don’t think of the past or the future, but only stay in the present. And on that note, currently, all I am thinking about is about playing for Bengal. I have forgotten everything that happened in the past,” he said. “But I am open to help Bengal in any capacity possible. Since I am a cricketer, I would be better off helping Bengal in coaching instead of any administrative role.”Saha had parted ways with the Bengal team before the 2022-23 domestic season following a clash of words with CAB joint-secretary Debabrata Das, who in a statement had made references about Saha “giving all sorts of excuses” to “skip” Ranji Trophy games for Bengal.Related

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At the time, Saha had sought an apology, and even though the CAB selected him for subsequent games, he didn’t back down from getting the NOC (No-Objection Certificate) that would take him as a player-mentor to Tripura.The incident happened around the same time that Saha, then 37, was also informed by the Rahul Dravid-led India team management that he would not be considered for upcoming Test squads following India’s return from the away tour of South Africa in January 2022.”I am not looking at retiring at the moment,” Saha, wearing a cap with the slogan “Never Give Up”, said when asked about his prospects of working in the media or participating in various T20 leagues. “When I will retire, I will leave all forms and all formats of cricket, but right now, I am focused on red-ball cricket, white-ball cricket, the IPL, and I’m available for everything. I will be managing my workload with one eye on my age, but I still have the drive to play cricket and see Bengal do well.”While CAB president Snehasish Ganguly was tight-lipped about whether Saha would be handed the Bengal captaincy now that Manoj Tiwary has retired from cricket after the 2023-24 season, he did say that someone of Saha’s experience was necessary for Bengal to fill the gap left by Tiwary. Ganguly also said CAB were delighted in not only getting Saha, a “son of the soil”, but also former vice-captain Sudip Chatterjee, who had left for Tripura around the same time as Saha.However, Saha’s availability for Bengal now leaves the team with two high-quality wicket-keepers in their ranks with Abishek Porel also in the mix and potentially only one place in the XI for either player. On finding the balance between grooming a young wicketkeeper like Porel and using his experience to help Bengal, Saha said he would support Porel’s growth wholeheartedly and ensure he doesn’t fall by the wayside just to accommodate the senior pro.”Even before I left Bengal, I was grooming Abishek from the sidelines, and that will continue,” Saha said. “I have been seeing his growth from his young days, and have been having conversations with him. I am sure the management will also aim to give Abishek all the opportunities possible.”Wriddhiman Saha had signed with Tripura for the 2022-23 Indian domestic season, before making a return to Bengal•PTI

Bengal have been knocking on the doors of a Ranji Trophy title for the last four years, reaching the final twice but losing on both occasions to Saurashtra in 2019-20 and 2022-23. However, one concern among the fans of Bengal cricket has been the lack of Bengali cricketers in the team. Saha, though, felt players should mainly be selected only on merit.”When you get selected for India, there is no quota of having these number of boys from North Zone or South Zone or East Zone or West Zone,” he said. “If you play well, you will get an opportunity, and that’s what has been happening in Bengal. Even if some of our players have originated from outside Bengal and may not be Bengalis, it does not make them any less part of the Bengal team. Shahbaz [Ahmed], Akash [Deep] and [Abhimanyu] Easwaran, I have seen them training here from their young days. They haven’t just come here overnight. They are as much a part of the Bengal side [as others].”I can understand that some people may feel that the Bengal team should have more Bengalis, but I don’t feel that’s enough reason as talent and hard work should be the primary criteria. If you see that way, then you’ll also say Manoj Tiwary is not a Bengali. But that’s obviously not true. So I do not feel that’s such an issue in Bengal cricket, especially when you’re doing so well, like we have seen the team in the last four to five years.”Last season, Bengal failed to qualify out of their Group in the Ranji Trophy, finishing third behind Mumbai and Andhra in Group B. In the List A Vijay Hazare Trophy, Bengal were eliminated in the quarter-finals. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, they were knocked out in the preliminary quarter-final.

Lead swells to 275 at stumps on day three, despite Dubey scoring a century for Madhya Pradesh

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Mar-2023
Services offspinner Pulkit Narang picked up a four-wicket haul to help dismiss Madhya Pradesh for 294 and hand Rest of India a first-innings lead of 190 on the third day of the Irani Cup in Gwalior. Mumbai batter Yashasvi Jaiswal followed up his first-innings double-hundred with a 46-ball half-century to swell Rest of India’s overall lead to 275 at stumps. Jaiswal was unbeaten on 58 along with Abhimanyu Easwaran, who made 26 not out off 51 balls.From an overnight 112 for 3, MP fought their way towards 300, thanks in no small part to Yash Dubey, who scored his fourth first-class ton. However, his dismissal by Narang sparked a collapse as MP lost their last five wickets for 53 runs. Narang also accounted for Saransh Jain, who was the second-highest scorer for MP with 66 off 150 balls. Jain and Dubey added 96 for the sixth wicket before Narang ran through the lower order.Earlier in the day, Harsh Gawli converted his overnight 47 into a half-century, but Navdeep Saini cut his innings short at 54 off 149 balls. Saini, who is working his way back from injury, proved his fitness and form by taking 3 for 56 in 20 overs. As for Narang, he ended with 4 for 65 in 25.5 overs.Rest of India then had a wobble at the start of their second innings, losing their captain Mayank Agarwal for a duck to left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya. However, Jaiswal and Abhimanyu struck up an unbroken 84-run stand for the second wicket off 102 balls to help their team re-establish command over MP. Jaiswal struck eight fours and a six, including three in a row off fast bowler Avesh Khan in the fourth over. Jaiswal was also severe on Ankit Kushwah, taking him for 19 off 13 balls.

Uday Saharan, Rishith Reddy, Ansh Gosai, Abishek Porel and Pushpendra Singh Rathore called up

Sreshth Shah21-Jan-2022The BCCI is sending five players to the Under-19 World Cup in the West indies as back-up following a Covid-19 outbreak in the Indian camp, with five players of the original squad in the Caribbean testing positive for the virus this week.The five players being sent in as reinforcements are Uday Saharan, Abishek Porel, Rishith Reddy, Ansh Gosai and Pushpendra Singh Rathore.On Wednesday, six India players were unavailable for selection for the fixture against Ireland. The group included captain Yash Dhull and vice-captain Shaik Rasheed. They, along with Aaradhya Yadav, Manav Parakh and Siddarth Yadav have also been ruled out of India’s last group-stage game, against Uganda, scheduled for Saturday.While Saharan, Reddy, Gosai and Rathore were all part of the travelling reserves announced by the BCCI before the World Cup, they did not travel to the Caribbean with the main squad. Porel, who was initially not part of the reserves, has made the cut in the place of Amrit Raj Upadhyay.Related

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Left-arm spinner Upadhyay was originally picked among the reserves, but has been pipped by Porel, and the reason, ESPNcricinfo understands, is that he is a wicketkeeper. Aaradhya, the second keeper in the main squad, is currently in isolation, leaving the squad with only Dinesh Bana to wear the big gloves.Saharan is a batter from Rajasthan, who hit 102 in the tri-series competition played between two India Under-19 sides and Bangladesh Under-19 late last year. Reddy is a right-arm seamer from Hyderabad who picked up 5 for 53 against Bangladesh Under-19s in the same tournament. Saurashtra’s Gosai is a right-handed batter known for his innovative shot-making, and Rajasthan’s Rathore is a batting allrounder.Once the five reserves reach the Caribbean, they will have to serve a mandatory quarantine period before joining the team. They are currently not part of the main squad; the tournament’s event technical committee will have to approve them before they can play in the competition.It’s possible that the committee will allow them only as temporary Covid-19 replacements, which comes with the caveat that they must exit the squad once the affected players return after recovery. If the BCCI so wants, these players can apply to be permanent additions to the squad, but that is usually done to replace injured players.Although the five Covid-infected players are currently in isolation, they are expected to be available for India’s quarter-final game, which likely be played on January 29. However, if their recovery takes longer or more players return positive tests or suffer injuries, the team management can dip into their reserves at short notice.India, who became the first team in the competition to qualify for the quarter-finals, have their knockout fixture scheduled in another country, Antigua and Barbuda. This means the players who are currently in Trinidad and Tobago will have to return negative tests before they can fly out.

Kent romp to victory by seven wickets after Podmore, Stevens star with ball

ECB Reporters Network08-Sep-2020England Test batsman Zak Crawley hammered an imperious 94-ball century to help Kent to a comfortable seven-wicket Bob Willis Trophy win over Hampshire in Canterbury.Crawley, who stroked 18 boundaries during his 146-minute stay, joined forces with Marcus O’Riordan (52 not out) – his former Tonbridge School team-mate – to mark their maiden first-class partnership with a match-winning second-wicket stand worth 157 as Kent cantered home with a day and 21 overs to spare.Crawley, who suffered an eight-ball duck in the first innings here, reached three figures for only the fifth time in domestic first-class cricket with a rasping pulled four against seamer Ajeet Dale.With the hosts needing only 16 for victory, Crawley blotted his copybook by missing an ambitious sweep against leg-spinner Mason Crane to depart leg before for 105.Jack Leaning was bowled by Dale for a duck during the final throes, but O’Riordan, diligent to the end, saw the job through with an unbeaten 52, reaching his maiden first-class fifty from 121 balls and with six fours.Kent had made a miserable start to their successful pursuit when acting captain Daniel Bell-Drummond became a first-over casualty, bowled for seven after allowing the ball from Ian Holland to spin back onto his stumps and dislodge the off bail.But O’Riordan, playing as Kent’s makeshift opening bat due to Jordan Cox’s issues with stomach cramps, combined with Crawley to add 50 inside 66 minutes.On his competition debut, Crawley should have gone for 35 but saw his lofted, bottom-handed on-drive against Tom Scriven dropped by Dale at wide mid-on and, much to Scriven’s annoyance, parried to the ropes for four.The tall right-hander celebrated the let-off by cracking three more quick-fire boundaries off Scriven to reach a 44-ball 50 with 10 fours.The pair took their run-a-minute stand into three figures inside 24 overs, by which time the classy Crawley was virtually playing see-ball, hit ball.Despite dropping six cordon catches in the opening two days of the game, Kent polished off their win soon after tea to secure their third Willis Trophy victory in five starts. Their only defeat coming in the opening round away to Essex, who had secured their south group title with a nine-wicket triumph over Middlesex at Chelmsford earlier in the day.Hampshire had started day three on their overnight total of 108 for five – for an overall lead in the match of 129 runs – yet failed to bat out the morning session despite a three-hour career-best vigil worth 68 by Scriven.They added only two before Lewis McManus steered Harry Podmore’s lifting leg-cutter to third slip without adding to his 95-ball half-century.Scriven, the 21-year-old all-rounder making his second Willis Trophy appearance, reached his maiden first-class 50 from 96 balls and with nine fours with a rasping square drive against Grant Stewart who, somewhat unusually, opened the bowling ahead of Kent’s leading wicket-taker Darren Stevens.Podmore bagged his first five-wicket return of the campaign in his next over by enticing debutant Scott Currie to follow an away-swinger and edge low to slip.Stevens replaced Stewart at The Nackington Road End after 40 minutes’ play and, as if to make a point to acting skipper Bell-Drummond, struck with his fifth ball by removing Crane after a sliced drive to gully.With Matt Milnes unable to bowl and off the field with a stiff back, Stewart was switched to the Pavilion End to replace Podmore but, despite beating the bat on numerous occasions struggled to find an edge.Kent’s relentless pressure paid dividends, however, when Scriven dragged an attempted straight drive against Stevens straight into the hands of Podmore at mid-on.Stewart finally got his deserved wicket and denied Stevens another five-wicket return when last man Dale edged an attempted push drive through to the keeper.Podmore closed with season’s best figures of 5 for 43 and Stevens returned 4 for 35 and match figures of 9 for 72.

With the Australia A tour of England having begun here’s a quick look at the form of the Australians who are plying their trade in county cricket

Andrew McGlashan23-Jun-2019Cameron Bancroft (Durham) We’ve had the comeback stories of Steven Smith and David Warner over the last few weeks. Will Bancroft add his name to the list during the Ashes? That opportunity is probably drifting away after a lean time for Durham. His last six innings have brought a top score of 40 and he is averaging an underwhelming 23.66 from five Championship matches, albeit in a Durham line-up that has struggled for runs throughout. With Joe Burns currently recovering from his chronic fatigue there may yet be a spot for a reserve opener, behind the likely first-choice pair of David Warner and Marcus Harris, but at the moment a call-up would seem unlikely.Marnus Labuschagne (Glamorgan)It is worth remembering that Labuschagne is an incumbent member of the Test side having faced Sri Lanka earlier this year and it has been a promising few weeks for the allrounder as he has helped Glamorgan climb the Division Two table. He now has 704 runs at 64.00 including three centuries, one of which was a career-best 182 against Sussex, and his legspin has collected 16 wickets at 32.18. Australia appear to have moved away from a seam-bowling allrounder at No. 6, but Labuschangne’s ability to provide more-than-useful overs over a crammed five-Test series could yet keep him in the frame.Callum Ferguson (Worcestershire)Ferguson’s international days appear behind him, destined to remain with that single Test cap against South Africa in Hobart where he was swiftly discarded after a crushing defeat. He was in the mix for a one-day recall earlier this year, but that ship also sailed for the 34-year-old. Runs have not flowed by the bucketload in recent weeks at Worcestershire, with one half-century in four matches since the Championship resumed after the one-day competition, although he has had to contend with two particularly strong attacks in Lancashire and Middlesex.James Pattinson (Nottinghamshire)The Ashes beckons for Pattinson and after overcoming a niggly side injury, coupled with a lack of overs due to the recent wet weather, he was back to full force with 6 for 73 against Kent albeit in what became a heavy defeat for Nottinghamshire. Tim Paine has spoken about saying prayers that Pattinson can stay fit to play a role against England with him potentially being earmarked for the flatter pitches during the series. He is due to link up with the Australia A tour shortly and all eyes will be on how he builds over the next month ahead of the Ashes selection.Peter Siddle (Essex)It has since been admitted that not playing Siddle until the final Test of the 2015 Ashes was a major mistake – compounded by the fact he then took six wickets in the dead rubber at The Oval. There has been much talk of him getting another go this time around having found a new lease of life over the last couple of seasons, but it has been a quiet for weeks for him with eight wickets in his last three Championship outings. He has not been included in the Australia squad because of his county deal and he might yet need a couple of compelling performances to avoid drifting down the pecking order.Chadd Sayers (Gloucestershire)It is probably a longshot for Sayers, who has one cap under his belt from the Johannesburg Test last year, to claim an Ashes berth and there has been some toil since he arrived to replace the injured Daniel Worrall at Gloucestershire. In his most recent outing he claimed 3 for 91 in a runfest against Leicestershire that included two triple-century stands.

Tanvir Islam and Anjum Ahmed shared seven wickets to help Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity to a six-wicket win over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2018Salauddin Pappu’s maiden List-A century powered Legends of Rupganj to second place in the Dhaka Premier League after a 26-run win against Kalabagan Krira Chakra.Batting first at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Rupganj made 314 for 5 in 50 overs with Pappu smashing eight sixes and 12 fours in his 95-ball 125. He added 150 runs in 22.3 overs for the second wicket stand with Mohammad Naim, who made 45 himself. The captain Naeem Islam also chipped in with an unbeaten on 61 off 53 balls.Kalabagan got off to a fast start with Shreevats Goswami and Tasamul Haque adding 65 runs for the opening stand. Goswami (75) and Mohammad Ashraful (64) followed that up with another half-century stand once that was broken, the middle order couldn’t keep pace with the asking rate. Spinners Parvez Rasool and Asif Hasan took three wickets each while seamer Mohammad Shahid took two.Agrani Bank banked on half-centuries from Azmir Ahmed (65), Salman Hossain (63), Rishi Dhawan (70) and Jahid Javed (55) to beat Brothers Union by three wickets at Fatullah Cricket Stadium.Chasing 290 to win, Azmir and Salman added 88 runs for the second wicket before Salman and Dhiman Ghosh contributed 50 for the third wicket. While all of that set up the chase, it was finished by Dhawan and Javed, who batted at better than run-a-ball to ensure their team secured victory.Earlier in the day, Mizanur Rahman and Junaid Siddique recorded only the third 200-plus opening partnership in Bangladesh List A history. Mizanur made 102 off 120 balls with nine fours and three sixes. Junaid missed out on the century, making 92 off 103 balls with eight fours and a six. Shafiul Islam was the pick of Agrani’s bowlers, finishing with 4 for 48.Tanvir Islam and Anjum Ahmed shared seven wickets to help Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity to a six-wicket win over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.Batting first, Dhanmondi Club were bowled out for 167 runs in 48 overs. Tanvir took four wickets while Anjum claimed three, their combined figures reading 18-0-46-7. Tanbir Hayder top-scored with 52. Khelaghar wrapped up a straightforward chase with Ashok Menaria scoring 58 off 71 balls and Rafsan Al Mahmud giving good support with 49 off 82.

While the short ball that took out Mushfiqur was the most conspicuous aspect of New Zealand’s attack in Wellington, Trent Boult has said the reverse swing they achieved was also a valuable addition

Mohammad Isam in Christchurch19-Jan-2017While the short-ball barrage that took out Mushfiqur Rahim was the most conspicuous aspect of New Zealand’s attack in Wellington, Trent Boult has said the reverse swing they achieved at Basin Reserve was also a valuable addition to an armoury well stocked with swing and bouncers.New Zealand used both reverse swing and the bouncer to skittle Bangladesh for 160 in the second innings, which turned the Wellington Test in the home side’s favour despite conceding 595 in the first innings.”A big positive from the Test match was that we got the ball to reverse swing eventually,” Boult said. “Australia, the last time they came, taught us a lesson on ways to bowl sides out on flat wickets.”Boult said the ability to bowl short deliveries effectively was an asset to a bowling attack because it made the full deliveries more dangerous. “I think the short ball is a valuable skill for a fast bowler. I think people have to realise why we are bowling short in the first place. It is to upset the batsman and get them struck on the crease to make the fuller ball more effective.”When you are bowling a short ball it is definitely not with the intention of hurting the batsman but to make your other skills more effective. I think it is a method that we have been using successfully for a while. I am sure there will be short-pitched bowling among the group, looking to put pressure on the opponents.”Boult said it could be difficult to keep facing deliveries aimed at the throat, but felt Bangladesh had coped well by playing aggressively whenever the shot was directed downwind.”It is a bit intimidating facing a barrage of short-pitched bowling. They played it nicely,” Boult said. “They looked to be aggressive towards it and picked their times downwind and into the wind on when to play the shots. I am sure they got plans in place to adapt to it.”Bangladesh’s chances in the Wellington Test took a severe blow when Mushfiqur retired hurt in the second innings after he was hit on the head by a bouncer from Tim Southee, who had been targeting the batsman with short balls to exploit his injured finger. Boult said the prolonged use of the tactic depended on how successful it was.”I think it depends on how the opposition played it. I think you are trying to read how uncomfortable they are feeling and the game plan they are bringing towards it,” he said. “The Australians have played it quite nicely. So you have to quickly change your plans.”We are hoping that it will be nice, seam bowling conditions [in Christchurch] where we can pitch the ball up and skin the cat a different way.”Tamim Iqbal, the Bangladesh opener who will be standing in as captain at Hagley Oval, said there was no reason to complain over the short deliveries.”I think short ball is part of the game. I can’t really complain about it,” he said. “If we feel that a certain batsman is not comfortable, we might use those tactics. It is fair game. I said in the last press conference, we expect these things in this part of the world. When New Zealand or any other team go to our conditions, they expect spin. I am sure they don’t complain about the ball spinning too much so why should we complain about bouncers?”