All posts by h716a5.icu

Despite being the only member of South Africa’s top six to have not scored a century in the group stages, Quinton de Kock remains AB de Villiers’ “first pick” for the starting XI in the knockouts

Firdose Moonda in Wellington12-Mar-20152:26

‘When push comes to shove, I believe de Kock will play a big knock for us’ – AB de Villiers

Quinton de Kock is the only member of South Africa’s top six who did not score a century in the group stage of this World Cup, but he remains his captain’s “first pick,” for the starting XI in the knockouts.”There is no doubt in my mind that Quinton is a match winner and he will play a part in us winning this World Cup,” AB de Villiers said. “He is still my first pick. When push comes to shove, I believe he will play a big knock for us. I’d hate to see him go but it’s something we’ll discuss as we go on”De Kock notched 26 against UAE, his highest score of the tournament and only his second in double figures. He spent an hour and a quarter at the crease grinding out what de Villiers saw as a gutsy innings. “He showed signs of good form, he was much better and prepared to fight it out,” de Villiers said.De Kock has not made a half-century this year, since returning from an ankle ligament tear which healed a month sooner than expected, and has been retained mainly on reputation and for another reason, as de Villiers revealed.”I don’t want to keep,” he said. “It puts a lot of pressure on me when I am in the field and managing the bowler. When I don’t keep I’ve got more time.”De Villiers is the only reserve keeper in South Africa’s squad and if he does not want to do the job, de Kock will remain in the side and at the top of the order. That would leave the selectors with a choice between Rilee Rossouw and Farhaan Behardien at No.7, provided Faf du Plessis, who sat out this game with a lower-back injury, makes a full recovery.”I’m pretty sure he (du Plessis) will be fit,” de Villiers said. “If all of them are fit, it’s a difficult call and it will probably come down to Farhaan or Rilee. It gives us a good headache. They are totally different. Rilee is very attacking and Farhaan more of a finisher. Depending on conditions and who are playing, we will make the call.”South Africa’s other straight shootout for a spot is between two bowlers, with Vernon Philander and Kyle Abbott competing for the third seamer’s job. Philander made a return from a hamstring strain against UAE while Abbott was forced back onto the bench despite three decent outings, and de Villiers confirmed he does not “think both will play at the same time,” because they “have different sets of skills.” While Abbott is aggressive upfront, swings the ball and has put his hand up to return at the death, Philander bowls nagging lines and lengths and thrives when there is a little bit on offer.While the selectors ponder their choices, the one player in South Africa’s squad who may not get a game at all, is left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso. He was included as back-up to Imran Tahir but with the legspinner in his elements, has been a reserve all tournament and will likely remain that way barring a major injury.”We were very tempted to give Phangi a game and his attitude has been superb,” de Villiers said. “He works hard in the nets. He is a big match player. I face him in the nets and I have been assessing him and I have nothing to worry about if we need him in the knockouts.”

AB de Villiers has said he always wanted to bat in the top order, in T20 cricket, after his unbeaten 133 led Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory in Mumbai

ESPNcricinfo staff11-May-20155:11

‘AB de Villiers just doesn’t miss’

Where should AB de Villiers bat? South Africa use him in the middle order at present in limited-overs cricket and Royal Challengers Bangalore had him at No. 4 and 5 for the first four matches of this IPL season. De Villiers made 28, 46, 41 and 14 in those innings, scoring at a high strike-rate, making use of the limited opportunity. Royal Challengers won only one of those games, though, and then promoted de Villiers to No. 3. He’s had scores of 47*, 57, 2, 21, 47* and 133* since, and Royal Challengers lost only one of the next seven games.”I have always wanted to play at the top of the order,” de Villiers told iplt20.com after his century in Mumbai led Royal Challengers to a 39-run win. “From the day I started playing T20 cricket I always wanted to bat in the top three and I am very thankful for the fact that Royal Challengers Bangalore has given me the chance to bat at three now.”De Villiers joined Virat Kohli at the Wankhede with Royal Challengers on 20 for 1 in 3.1 overs, having lost Chris Gayle. They went on to have an unbeaten 215-run stand, de Villiers making 133 off 59 balls. The standout feature of his innings was that he hit only four sixes and yet finished with a strike-rate of 225.”I won’t say this is the best I have played, I have played much better before but things went my way today,” de Villiers said. “I tried to stick to my game plan as much as possible. I tried to keep it simple and that is what I did right throughout my innings.”De Villiers was able to toy with the opposition, altering lengths and lines by moving forward, back and across in his crease. He then deployed a range of strokes, picking out gaps in the outfield at will.”I have played the game for a long time now and most batsmen will tell you that it comes with experience,” he said about his ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ground. “Yes, maybe back in the day all the other sports other than cricket that I played helped me to put some of those skills in my cricket. But I have played the game for eleven years now in the international level. I know my game pretty well and that is the secret to success in most sports. I just try and earn my right to get on top of the bowlers and that is how I play every game.”De Villiers’ innings drew praise from all corners of the cricket world, and Chennai Super Kings and New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum said he was “playing a different game than the rest of us.””He is a freak of nature but he is so humble as well,” McCullum said. “When speaking after the game he just deflected the praise to everyone else. He is not only a fantastic cricketer but an absolute legend bloke as well.”When asked what skill of de Villiers’ he would like to have, McCullum said it was his balance at the crease. “Jeez, it is pretty hard to pick one. He can hit it all around the park. He has tremendous balance at the crease. Anyone who can access the areas of the field that he can and with the power he can has got to have very good eyes. But I think his balance is one thing that allows him to be as strong as he is all around the wicket. So, if I could steal one thing from him, it would be his balance while batting.”David Warner, Australia and Sunrisers Hyderabad opener, said on Twitter that de Villiers was “the best batter in world cricket.””That is a fantastic compliment from a great player himself,” de Villiers said in response to Warner’s tribute. “I am at top of the game at the moment but I know this game knocks you down very quickly. I try and keep my feet on the ground and keep working at my game. I know you are only as good as your last game. I am already thinking of my next performance and I have moved on from what happened today.”

At 6pm on Monday, with less than 10 overs of a compelling Test match remaining, Trent Boult upper cut Stuart Broad towards third man where Moeen Ali took a superbly judged running catch

The Report by Andrew McGlashan 25-May-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsBen Stokes proved England’s talisman on the final afternoon•Getty ImagesShortly before lunch on Saturday, New Zealand were 404 for 3, building a lead, and England’s new era was heading for a difficult start. At 6pm on Monday, with less than 10 overs of a compelling Test match remaining, Trent Boult upper cut Stuart Broad towards third man where Moeen Ali, stationed there by Alastair Cook but not right on the boundary edge, took a superbly judged running catch to earn England a 124-run victory and complete a remarkable turnaround.Less than a year after falling one wicket short of beating Sri Lanka on this ground England were just beginning to get twitchy as Boult and Matt Henry negotiated eight overs with the ball starting to fall short or wide of fielders. But Broad, from round the wicket, dug the ball in and Boult, who had blocked unconventionally, could not resist playing. That it was taken at a position that needed some astute captaincy was the perfect finish for Cook, who had been so central to England’s fightback with his 162.It was a combined effort to bowl New Zealand out for a second time; James Anderson and Stuart Broad firstly reducing them to 12 for 3 before lunch, but it was Ben Stokes who really lit up Lord’s for the second afternoon running in with an electrifying over in which he removed two of New Zealand’s lynchpins, Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum, in consecutive balls to leave them 61 for 5.Plunkett in Headingley squad

Liam Plunkett has been added to England’s squad for the second Test, at Headingley, which begins on Friday. Back-to-back Tests means a heavy workload for the fast bowlers and England have chosen to bring in Plunkett, who last played a Test last summer, as another option alongside the 12 selected for Lord’s. Chris Jordan, who is currently playing in a Championship match for Sussex, was the player to miss out in the first Test as Mark Wood made his debut.
England squad: Alastair Cook (capt), Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett

Corey Anderson and BJ Watling made contrasting half-centuries in a free-wheeling 107-run partnership but, with 26 overs remaining, Mark Wood produced a wicked delivery to brush Watling’s glove and three overs later Joe Root trapped Anderson lbw. Stokes was not finished, either, and returned to removed Mark Craig then next ball Moeen took an excellent return catch off Southee. Moeen’s next catch would be even better.There have only been nine higher totals than New Zealand’s 523 in defeat and England had only ever won three times having conceded more. The change in fortunes centred around England’s second-innings 478, anchored by Cook’s marathon innings and ended 11 overs into the final morning to leave New Zealand 345 to win 77 overs.Anderson and Broad gave England the ideal start with the ball as both openers departed for ducks – Martin Guptill edging to slip to become Anderson’s 399th Test wicket and Tom Latham lbw to Broad’s first delivery – then Ross Taylor also fell in single figures, before Williamson and Watling, who was tactically promoted to No. 5, brought a little stability.But life was never easy and then Stokes, from the Nursery End, made his latest indelible mark on the match. After twice beating Williamson with deliveries that nipped away to beat the outside edge he lured him into pushing at a slightly wider ball and Root took a low catch in the gully. Next ball he bent one back into McCullum and the New Zealand captain deflected it down into his stumps.Lord’s, populated by people who had queued around the ground for final-morning tickets on a Bank Holiday, roared its approval of a cricketer who, if he doesn’t already, will soon have hero status. The hat-trick ball to Anderson was greeted by six slips, a short leg, leg gully and short cover. Stokes continued to challenge the batsmen and his duel with fellow allrounder Anderson was absorbing as the New Zealander took a similarly aggressive route to Stokes, which included two crunching fours and a mighty pulled six into the Mound Stand.Anderson also attacked Moeen, who struggled to settle into his spell, and quickly overtook Watling who had a 17-run head start on him. Continuing to play his strokes as tea approached, three consecutive boundaries off Moeen took him to a 44-ball half-century – 46 of the 51 runs coming in boundaries.Watling, who did not kept wicket since lunch on the first day due to a knee injury, has performed some monumental match-saving efforts for New Zealand, and the partnership took the visitors to tea with 36 overs remaining in the day.Runs continued to flow freely at the start of the evening session – although Anderson, for a moment, though he had his 400th wicket when Watling was given caught down the leg side but S Ravi’s decision was quickly overturned – before Wood, who impressed hugely in his debut Test, found a delivery to bounce from short of a length and England had their opening into the lower order. Moeen’s struggles meant Cook turned to Root and his Midas touch continued when he won an lbw verdict that the DRS upheld, with the ball just shaving leg stump.Craig was beaten by a full delivery from Stokes and Southee, certainly more a basher than a blocker, chipped one low to Moeen’s left and the bowler plucked it out. The floodlights came on as the evening became gloomy and the final hour was beginning to advance when the final wicket was extracted.Boult, whose day started much more brightly when he secured a place on the honours board with 5 for 85 as he claimed the final four England wickets, stood forlornly at the striker’s end before being joined by Matt Henry. New Zealand will know a fantastic opportunity escaped them, but they were part of a wonderful match.

Former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones has announced that he will retire from all cricket at the end of the English summer and has stood down as Gloucestershire captain with immediate effect.

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2015Former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones has announced that he will retire from cricket at the end of the English summer and has stood down as Gloucestershire captain with immediate effect.The 38-year-old, who played 34 Tests for England and was part of the side that won the 2005 Ashes, will remain available for his county in all formats for the remainder of the season but was not named in the squad to face Northamptonshire in the Championship at Cheltenham from Wednesday.”It’s been something I’ve been thinking about quite strongly in the last few weeks,” Jones said, “and I’ve come to the decision that this season will be my last as a cricket player. But it’s on a positive note that I’ve made the decision. Yes the family side has been a big consideration but ultimately it’s about what’s best for Gloucestershire cricket and this squad.”Over the last few weeks I felt there were guys who needed an opportunity and my place in the team was potentially that opportunity. I still want to play a big role in helping the team on and off the field but now is a chance for them to start to formulate the best way forward for this group of players and for Gloucestershire cricket.”Jones made his final Test match appearance for England on the Ashes tour of 2006-07 but has represented Papua New Guinea, the country of his birth, in recent years.Jones signed a two-year deal in October 2014 when joining Gloucestershire from his county of 13 years, Kent. He was named captain of the four-day side, with Michael Klinger absent for the start of the season, and has led in every Championship fixture so far, scoring 400 runs at an average of 26.67.He has also has kept wicket in place of Gareth Roderick in recent weeks. Jones said Roderick’s return from injury was a motivating factor in stepping down from the captaincy.”With him coming back into the side it would have meant someone like Ian Cockbain missing out,” Jones said. “He’s been in and out of the side over the last few years and what was nagging away was that given the security of his place what could he be capable of? We all know what a good player he is in one-day cricket. It also gives the coaches a chance to work out where best to bat these guys and start planning for the future.”Gloucestershire head coach, Richard Dawson, said: “I respect Geraint’s decision and the reasons behind it. He has had a fantastic career and still has a big role to play in the development of the team going forward.”

The racial tension bubbling within Zimbabwe cricket has been brought to the surface by a lengthy letter from Prosper Utseya to Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Wilson Manase in which he claims to have been a victim of racism

Liam Brickhill and Tristan Holme18-Jul-2015Zimbabwe offspinner Prosper Utseya has, in a letter to Zimbabwe Cricket, claimed that he is a victim of racism and has levelled a string of allegations against Alistair Campbell, managing director of ZC. In a letter to Wilson Manase, ZC chairman, Utseya claims Campbell: Has a “personal agenda” against him which influenced his non-selection [in the playing XI] at the recent World Cup. Appointed white coaches and administrators during his 2010-2012 stint as chairman of the cricket committee in order to take control of cricket. Had a conflict of interest in setting up Dominus Sport, the company that ran ZC’s marketing affairs during his time as cricket committee chairman, and his actions had an impact on ZC’s funds. Utseya confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that he had written the letter after the World Cup and prior to Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan, but could not comment further at this stage. Campbell said he was unable to comment as the matter was pending either legal or internal disciplinary action.With Utseya openly basing some of these claims in the letter on “rumour”, he would appear to be open to legal action, though the matter may ultimately be dealt with internally at ZC. It is understood that ZC is currently investigating the letter.”Racism and Victimisation”The letter copies all ZC board members and bears the headline “Racism and Victimisation”, and begins: “Through you Mr. Chairman I wish to share my frustrations as I believe I am a victim of racism and have come to a point where I feel I have been quiet for too long whilst a lot has been happening.” After more than 10,000 words, Utseya finally closes his case with a plea for the board to consider his concerns.Utseya, who was in Zimbabwe’s World Cup squad but did not get a game, claims he considered leaving the World Cup prematurely out of frustration, and cites Campbell’s pre-tournament comments as a back story to support his contention that ZC’s managing director conspired against his potential selection. Last year, the ICC banned Utseya from bowling offspin, and in a guest column for the governing body in the lead-up to the World Cup, Campbell wrote: “I’m still a bit baffled by how Prosper Utseya will get on without being allowed to bowl his off-spinner, but no doubt he’ll find a way. He’ll certainly be the only bowler in the tournament without a ‘stock’ ball. He has been bowling medium-pacers and off-cutters recently so perhaps that is the way he will go.”Utseya was banned from bowling after testing in September 2014. In December, his offbreak was found to be illegal but his other deliveries were deemed legal, and so he was cleared to bowl again so long as he did not utilise his stock ball.His new method was field-tested for the first time on a trip to Uganda in December 2014 and he then captained Zimbabwe A against Canada at home in January. In four games he took five wickets at an average of 17.80, bowling his full 10 overs in every match, never conceding more than 24 runs, and also contributed useful runs down the order. In his letter, he uses this as evidence that he deserved to be picked at the World Cup, but does not elaborate on how Campbell was able to influence selection at the tournament.Propser Utseya was part of the 2015 World Cup squad but did not play a single match during the tournament•ICCAdministrative allegationsTo support his racial allegations, Utseya goes on to list cases where Campbell appointed white people for coaching and administration posts, during his stint as chairman of the cricket committee and chairman of selectors, including coaching roles to Heath Streak and Grant Flower. Utseya claims the decision to make Mangongo assistant coach was merely “a cover up to have a black man”. The employment of foreign white coaches at franchise level – Jason Gillespie, Allan Donald and Andrew Hall all coached Zimbabwean franchises during this period – is also cited as a ploy to “make sure that it is dominated by whites and thereby taking control of cricket”.Utseya also alleges that the appointment of Elton Chigumbura as Zimbabwe captain after he stepped down in 2010 was a short-term set up for Campbell to achieve a long-term goal. “When I was removed from the captaincy with no genuine reason Elton Chigumbura was then appointed,” Utseya writes. “Their aim was simply to put a white captain in B Taylor simply because they believe a white coach cannot work with a black captain and the change from Utseya to B Taylor would not look good politically hence the Elton route. Elton was not given a chance to prove himself and was quickly dropped from the captaincy.”Chigumbura captained Zimbabwe in 20 ODIs between May 2010 and the end of the 2011 World Cup, but the extra responsibility affected his form. After the 2011 World Cup, Chigumbura said that he planned to resign and focus on his own game, but later retracted that statement. In June 2011, ZC’s then managing director Ozias Bvute announced that Taylor would take over the captaincy.

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Later in the letter, Utseya claims that Campbell has suggested he become a coach, is not giving him a chance to remodel his action and is trying to prevent him from gaining a national contract. “Bearing in mind I still have an opportunity at 30 years old to work on my off spin. If I can reinvent in 2 months and make it Man of the Series in my comeback series with my new bowling action I reckon within 4 months I will be brilliant and what more in a year’s time I will be an artist at work. ICC can take away my offspin but they cannot take away my brains and experience which must count for something.”Utseya goes on to suggest that given Zimbabwe’s “unique” racial situation, the position of managing director should be split – and offers to fill the second post. “It is my humble wish that if Alistair Campbell can suggest that at 30 years old I can be involved in Franchise coaching and if the ZC Board also agrees with him in that I am not adding value as a player with my new bowling action I would like to go 2 steps further than his suggestion and put my hand up for consideration for the proposed split post as I have the credentials.”Race and cricket in ZimbabweThis is not the first instance of allegations of racism surfacing in the Zimbabwe cricket set-up. Cricket remained a predominantly white sport in Zimbabwe for two decades after majority rule in 1980, although after Henry Olonga became the country’s first black cricketer in 1995, other black players started to filter through.For a time it seemed that transformation of the game might happen organically, but the troubled wider political and social context caught up with cricket. In March 2001, ZCU announced the formation of an Integration Task Force focused on the “rapid evolution” of the game, and the eradication of racial discrimination in cricket. Players had to fill out a racism survey and, in the eyes of the predominantly white players, the integration targets set out by the Task Force amounted to an unofficial quota system. This was one of the factors that led to the player rebellion in April 2004, followed by the exit of 15 white players from the national squad. In September that year, the ICC held a hearing into allegations of racism began in Harare. The hearing ended amid allegations that ZCU was trying to create a hostile environment and intimidate witnesses and in October, then ICC president Ehsan Mani said he was satisfied with the findings of the report which found no evidence of racism in Zimbabwe cricket.In January 2013 issues of race came to the fore again when the Sports and Recreation Commission, headed by the then Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, issued a directive that any person tasked with convening the selection of a national side should have played international sport themselves. The directive was portrayed as being racially motivated by Givemore Makoni, the convenor of selectors and the man most directly affected by it.Stephen Mangongo’s tenure as national coach was marked by general player ambivalence towards his coaching style, rather than any particular racial tension, but when Mangongo lost his position after Zimbabwe’s whitewashing by Bangladesh last December, he reportedly said: “I am inclined to comment that I don’t think that Zimbabwe cricket was ready for an indigenous black person. It’s about acceptance, it’s about being ready for that and the alarmists already rang a lot of bells because a black guy had taken the head coach’s mantle.” This was despite the fact that the people responsible for the termination of his position were also black, and is indicative, in a general sense, of the way in which matters of race and racism are drawn into areas of disagreement in Zimbabwean cricket.

Kusal Perera hit the second-fastest ODI fifty in history, but Pakistan still made Sri Lanka huff and puff to run down a target of 288

The Report by Alagappan Muthu15-Jul-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:27

Kusal Perera blitz sees Sri Lanka home

It was the tale of two lefties in Pallekele. Kusal Perera hammered Sri Lanka’s joint fastest fifty in ODIs, which made a target of 288 look like a cakewalk. But when Pakistan’s tenacity brought them back and put the game on a razor’s edge – 92 runs needed off 112 balls with only four wickets left – debutant Sachith Pathirana produced a decisive cameo -33 off 28 – to help the hosts square the series with an action-packed two-wicket victory.Sri Lanka have lately struggled to find batsmen down the order who can handle the pressure of a chase, or that of a top-order collapse. From his first impression, Pathirana seems a good bet. Although known more for his ability with the ball, hence his batting position at No. 8, he displayed excellent mettle under fire.Pathirana allowed himself a few balls to get used to the pitch, and the wisdom of that decision became apparent very soon. From 4 off 11, he produced a smart late cut to shift gears. He smashed anything short either side of the pitch, and was even able to pick Yasir Shah’s googlies. One of those shots was calmly lofted over mid-off’s head. It must have helped though that he had a very composed Dinesh Chandimal for company, as the pair added 52 runs off 49 balls.Pakistan deserve credit for finding their senses after Kusal bashed them silly. He reached his half-century off 17 balls, filled with pick-up shots over the leg side very much like the one who’s record he equaled, Sanath Jayasuriya.Mohammad Irfan’s extra bounce posed little threat; Kusal’s smashed him at a strike-rate of 242.85. Kusal v Rahat Ali was another no-contest as well – 26 runs off eight balls. Even Mohammad Hafeez, with his penchant for dismissing left-handers, was carted around at a strike rate of 242.85. Kusal faced Anwar Ali for only three balls, but it included a flat, hard, vicious six over square leg. The innings lasted only 25 deliveries, but yielded 68 runs. By the time he creamed one of the bevy of length balls that Pakistan paraded for him down the throat of deep square leg, Sri Lanka were 92 for 1 in the ninth over. At the same time, the visitors had been 27 for 0. Slow and steady does have a history of winning the race, but it was the hare’s day today.The tortoise, of course, did not throw it away. Even with three runs required off 18 balls, Anwar got a leading edge from Thisara Perera to settle in point’s hands. But as that was happening, Chandimal had made sure to cross. Chandimal, who had produced a fine half-century four days ago but ended up on the losing side, did not want to feel that disappointment again. He struck 48 off 63 balls and was there until the end, as per his new role as a finisher, and sealed the third-highest chase in Sri Lanka.The fortunes of both teams changed frequently and somewhat drastically. Pakistan won a good toss, but their top order was not allowed to capitalise because Sri Lanka’s bowlers were extremely tight. At one point Angelo Mathews, who trusted himself to take the new ball and bowl in the death, strung 24 dot balls in a five-overs spell. But the other bowlers could not maintain their levels through the innings and Pakistan took advantage of that – 88 runs in the last 10 overs. There were also several catches dropped – Pathirana dropped two in the space of four balls – and umpteen misfields – Nuwan Pradeep on the boundary was a terrible liability. Those lapses contributed to Pakistan getting off the hook.Azhar Ali had laid the foundation with his fifth fifty-plus score in eight ODIs. He was 8 off 23 balls, but got going with a well thought-out loft over long-on. Singles and twos fed his innings until a less clever swipe towards cow corner cost him his wicket for 79 off 104 balls.That’s when Shoaib Malik took over with a run-a-ball fifty. With his experience, he was quick to assess the Pallekele pitch was rather slow. Brute force only worked against the bad balls, so until they came, Malik used the spinners’ pace to pick his gaps. Fifteen runs were collected behind point, and 26 more belted into the leg side. Finally Mohammad Rizwan hit 52 off 38 balls, and pasted Lastith Malinga around for 20 runs in the 47th over to leave Pakistan with an excellent chance to extend the lead they had coming into this game. As it stands, Sri Lanka have squared it 1-1.Although not without huffing and puffing. They lost four middle order wickets for only 19 runs, and a lot of them were ugly. Upul Tharanga was caught napping by an indipper from Rahat. Tillakaratne Dilshan dragged on for 47 off 63, Angelo Mathews called for a single and was halfway down the pitch before he realised Lahiru Thirimanne was not interested. The Sri Lanka captain could do little more than just give up. Then Thirimanne added to the slide by slicing a catch to deep third man. Pakistan became favourites at this point. But they had not accounted for Chandimal’s resilience.With the required rate always at manageable levels, Chandimal understood that the key to Sri Lanka’s victory was for him to stick around. And so he did. Thirty-two of his 43 runs came from singles. He did not let the pressure suck him into the big shot. Nor did he let the occasion of Sri Lanka’s victory suck him into a glory shot. It was a delicate little glance to long leg and up came the arms and out came a roar. It would seem that Chandimal had decided to mature.

Leicestershire have restocked with some experienced county pros in a pragmatic attempt to take another small step forward

George Dobell02-Apr-2016Director of cricket Andrew McDonald
Captain Mark Cosgrove (Champ); Mark Pettini (T20, 50)
Last season
In: Paul Horton (Lancashire), Neil Dexter (Middlesex), Wayne White (Derbyshire), Kevin O’Brien (limited-overs), Mark Pettini (Essex)
Out: Matthew Boyce (retired), Andrea Agathangelou, Dan Redfern, Alex Wyatt, Neil Pinner (all released)
Overseas: Clint McKay, Umar Akmal (T20), Rilee Rossouw (T20)
2015 in a nutshell
It tells you everything you need to know about Leicestershire’s form over recent seasons that 2015, when they finished bottom in the Championship, the Royal London group and won only four times in the NatWest Blast, was seen as a step in the right direction. Energised by the appointment of Wasim Khan as CEO and Andrew McDonald as coach, the club secured a first Championship win since 2012 and might have won a couple more but for inexperience. Their limited-overs form remained grim, however, and a small financial profit was overshadowed by an auditor’s report that expressed “significant doubt about the club’s ability to continue as a going concern.”2016 prospects
Boosted by the recruitment of several experienced players – all likely to feature in the first team immediately – it seems reasonable to anticipate further progress from Leicestershire. To move into mid-table in the Championship, more will be required from Ned Eckersley – who endured a modest 2015 – and the club will have to find a stronger opening partnership. Ben Raine and Angus Robson are likely to be the most important of the young players. Raine claimed 59 Championship wickets in 2015 and also contributed more than 500 runs. Off the pitch, Leicestershire have installed floodlights – crucial to their long-term survival – agreed a ground sponsorship deal and arranged to host women’s matches. They have also shaken up the coaching staff and agreed a loan from the local council. From a subterranean base, they are improving.Key player
Clint McKay will earn his money as overseas player. Impressive in 2015, he will again carry a heavy load as strike bowler and workhorse and will also be expected to fulfil the role of senior-pro in the dressing room. The fact that he was leading wicket-taker for Sydney Thunder as they won the BBL bodes well. He is vice-captain of the white ball side.Bright young thing
Aadil Ali, schooled across the road from the ground and a member of the treble-winning second XI side of 2014, made a good impression as a well-organised, patient batsman in 2015. It would provide a huge morale boost to the club if he can build on that promising start. It’s worth keeping an eye on Atif Sheikh, too. He’s left-arm, fast and has plenty of scope for improvement.ESPNcricinfo verdict
It was always going to take time to for Wasim Khan to turn things around at Grace Road and we are still in the early stages of the recovery. But, with some well-targeted recruits, Leicestershire’s results should improve.Bet365 odds: Specsavers Championship, Div 2: 25-1; NatWest Blast n/a; Royal London Cup 50-1

Franklyn Rose, the former West Indies pacer, was deported to Jamaica from New Zealand on Tuesday after spending five weeks in prison for overstaying on a work visa which expired in 2012

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-2016Franklyn Rose, the former West Indies pacer, was deported to Jamaica from New Zealand on Tuesday after spending five weeks in prison for overstaying on a work visa which expired in 2012.Rose, 44, played for University Cricket Club’s premier team apart from serving as a volunteer cricket coach for school kids in Auckland since moving to New Zealand in 2011. He spent the last five weeks imprisoned at Auckland’s Mt Eden Prison. reported that Rose was first served a deportation notice in 2014. His special application to stay back in New Zealand on “humanitarian circumstances” was dismissed by Craig Foss, the Associate Minister of Immigration.Rose, who made his international debut in 1997, played 19 Tests and 27 ODIs in all. Rose toured New Zealand in the summer of 1999-2000, and played his final Test against England in August 2000. He finished with 82 international wickets.

The Blues have come to regret a few of their transfers in recent years, including the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku

GettyKevin De Bruyne

The attacking midfielder was signed from Genk in 2012 before being loaned to Werder Bremen. Limited to just three Premier League appearances the folloewing season, he fled to Wolfsburg and became the star of the Bundesliga, prompting Manchester City to snap him up. Now one of the world’s best attacking players, the Belgium international is powering Pep Guardiola’s league leaders and the decision to sell him certainly goes down as one of Chelsea's biggest mistakes.

AdvertisementGettyRomelu Lukaku

The Stamford Bridge club sought to rectify their mistake in letting him join Everton on a permanent basis when they made a late push to bring him back in the summer, only to see the Belgian forward join Manchester United. The £75 million striker has scored 12 in 19 goals for title hopefuls United this term and is expected to get close to last season's tally of 25 in the Premier League for Everton.

GettyMohamed Salah

The Egypt international has excelled with Liverpool this season with nine goals in 12 Premier League games after they snapped him up for Roma. Salah may have a point to prove when he comes up against Chelsea, having made just three appearances in the competition during the few months he spent in London upon his arrival from Basel. Salah was soon loaned to Fiorentina for 18 months but fled after just a few and forced a temporary switch to Roma. The Italian club made it a permanent deal but got just one season out of him as Jurgen Klopp came calling. 

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GettyArjen Robben

The Dutch winger was just 20 when he joined Jose Mourinho’s side from PSV, but had already proven himself as one of Europe’s most promising players. A two-time Premier League champion with Chelsea, he went on to join Real Madrid before settling down at Bayern Munich. He has more than fulfilled his promise since leaving England and at 33, he remains a regular for the Bavarian side when fit and one of the best players around.

At Chelsea, Christian Pulisic will aim to surpass the achievements of some legendary figures in the Premier League

Getty ImagesJohn Harkes: Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham United, Nottingham Forest – 1992–93, 1995–96, 1998–99

John Harkes was the first American to play in the Premier League, making his first appearance in the competition on the second day of the 1992-93 season while playing with Sheffield Wednesday.

He went on to make 43 appearances in the rebranded competition, scoring two goals, yet it is in the League Cup that he is most remembered. Harkes scored for Wednesday in a 2-1 final defeat to Arsenal in 1993 and became just the second American to net at Wembley.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRoy Wegerle: Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City – 1992–95

Roy Wegerle ended his career with 76 Premier League appearances but was a long-time stalwart of England’s top division, having plied his trade in the country since 1986, when he signed for Chelsea having played indoor soccer in the U.S. for the Tacoma Stars.

He was perhaps past his peak by the time the Premier League formed, but the attacker still managed 13 goals, becoming the first player from the USA to net in the competition when he scored a double against Norwich in a 7-1 victory. Wegerle helped his Blackburn side to second in the table before he was later sold to Coventry.

Getty ImagesKasey Keller: Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Fulham – 1996–99, 2001–05, 2007–08

Kasey Keller first moved to England from the Portland Timbers in 1996 but spent his time outside of the top flight with Millwall. Four years later, he moved to Leicester, where he made the first of 201 Premier League appearances.

Playing for four different clubs, he amassed more than 18,000 minutes of game time and would go on to keep 57 clean sheets in the competition.

During his career, he also turned out for Rayo Vallecano in La Liga and Borussia Monchegladbach in the Bundesliga.

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unknownBrad Friedel: Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur – 1997–2000, 2001–14

Brad Friedel should go down as one of the great goalkeepers in Premier League history simply for the fact that between May 15, 2004 and October 7, 2012, he did not miss a single match in the competition.

That incredible run, which spanned 310 fixtures for three different clubs – Blackburn, Aston Villa and Tottenham – is unsurprisingly the longest such run in the league’s history.