India captain Virat Kohli praised Yuzvendra Chahal as someone who “never says no” to bowling in any situation after the legspinner took 6 for 25 in India’s 75-run win over England at Bangalore

Deivarayan Muthu in Bangalore01-Feb-20172:05

‘We fought fire with fire’ – Kohli

India captain Virat Kohli has hailed the emergence of his side’s youngsters after they trampled England by 75 runs in the decider of the three-match series in Bangalore to add the T20 trophy to the Test and ODI series wins over the past three months.”We got the results we wanted,” Kohli said. “Obviously winning all three series feels really, really good right now because we’re up against a top-quality side. We understand that and to come on top after the end of all three series is a great feeling altogether knowing that we didn’t have that much experience in our teams.”The Test team is almost as good as new. Even in the one-day circuit, we have 3-4 experienced guys, but rest of the guys who stepped up are all youngsters, which is, I think, is a massive, massive boost for Indian cricket.”Kohli singled out wristspinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who led the hosts to a series win in Bangalore with figures of 6 for 25, an Indian record, for special praise. He was also pleased with the depth in the spin group, led by R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who were both rested for the T20 leg.”The key today was to take wickets in the middle overs,” Kohli said. “Chahal didn’t do such a bad job with that. I always back someone like Chahal. In the IPL too, I use him in most of the matches. He never says no to bowling with the new ball or bowling in the middle overs, so I mean having a guy like this is great. He doesn’t say no to any situation.”It was Amit Mishra who set the stage for Chahal by removing Jason Roy with a loopy legbreak in the seventh over before finishing with 1 for 23. Mishra’s last over in the 13th, which cost India just three runs, preceded Chahal’s third over in which the latter took down England’s big guns – Joe Root and captain Eoin Morgan. Kohli said that the wicket-taking ability of Chahal and Mishra would allow the management to rest Ashwin and Jadeja “whenever” they want.”See guys like Chahal and Mishy, who has done well for us in limited-overs and in Tests also,” Kohli said. “Jayant [Yadav] too came in beautifully and did very well for us in the Tests. It gives us an opportunity to rest Ashwin and Jadeja whenever we want. There is no harm in using them as Test specialists and keeping them fresh. Guys like Chahal and Mishra and even [Parvez] Rasool are bowling so well. So we have a lot of spinners who are not only run-containing bowlers but also wicket-taking bowlers.”Chahal and Mishra both have an attacking mindset. All I tell them is go for the wickets, even if you get hit for a six, no big deal. Having them as the next line of spinners is a great thing for us.”Suresh Raina, arriving in the second over of the match after Kohli was run-out for 2, showed that attacking mindset with the bat to lay the groundwork for India’s score of 202 for 6. He set off with a flair-dripping inside-out six over the cover-point boundary and often flitted around the crease to throw the bowlers off their lengths, a departure from India’s recent safety-first approach with the bat in T20s.”The way we batted was again a revelation,” Kohli said. “Even after me getting out initially, Raina and KL [Rahul] didn’t stop their instincts, which is needed in T20 cricket. To reveal themselves, to find their characters, players need to play that way. They don’t need to think about what has happened. They need to keep thinking and looking ahead. That’s exactly what we did this game.”Kohli also credited MS Dhoni and senior seamer Ashish Nehra for offering their inputs during various stages of the limited-overs series.”I take a lot of advice from MS and am always speaking a lot to Ashish Nehra too,” Kohli said. “In the ODI series, I was talking to MS a lot. Although I have captained in the Test format for a while, ODI and T20 games move very fast. So to take advice from a person who has captained the side at this level for so long and understands the game really well is never a bad idea in crucial situations.”Kohli revealed that he was looking to squeeze an over from allrounder Hardik Pandya and widen the equation further after exhausting Chahal’s quota, but instead turned to a strike bowler in Jasprit Bumrah after discussing with Dhoni and Nehra. Bumrah responded by sewing up the game and the series with two wickets in three balls.”Bringing on Bumrah right after that over from Chahal, I was thinking of giving [Hardik] Pandya another over instead,” Kohli said. “[Dhoni and Nehra] suggested that let’s not wait till the 19th over and instead bring on the main bowlers. So these things really help when you are a new captain in the limited-overs format. But again, I am not new to captaincy, but there has to be a balance between understanding the skills needed to lead in shorter formats. MS has been helping a lot on that front.”

The Pakistan captain has had some time to reassess his career and he is looking forward to leading the team during the three Tests in the Caribbean in April

Umar Farooq18-Feb-20171:11

‘Enjoying the game again’ – Misbah-ul-Haq

Pakistan tour of WI 2017

1st T20I, March 31, Port of Spain
2nd T20I, April 2, Port of Spain
1st ODI, April 7, Providence
2nd ODI, April 9, Providence
3rd ODI, April 11, Providence
Tour game, April 15-17, Trelawny
1st Test, April 22-26, Kingston
2nd Test, April 30-May 4, Bridgetown
3rd Test, May 10-14, Roseau

Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan Test captain, has said he is “most likely” to be on the tour to West Indies in March with the PCB open to his playing another series before taking a call on his retirement.Misbah has been under immense scrutiny having led the team to six successive defeats in Test cricket, although it was under him that Pakistan were ranked No. 1 in the format last year. A dip in his batting form and his being 42 years old added to the drama that reached its peak after the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne last year when Misbah admitted to being unsure about his future as a cricketer. He has since had time to reassess and is in a better frame of mind.”It was tough on me recently with my form but now overall everything is going well so far,” Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. “I am spending time in middle, hitting the ball pretty well. Played practice matches before the PSL started and had sessions of range hitting so getting confidence with every passing game.”I am also enjoying the game so it’s most likely that I am going to the West Indies. I always believed if had to go [and play cricket] then I have to go with form and confidence otherwise there was no point of going.”ESPNcricinfo understands that the PCB and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq are putting plans in place for a smooth transition by which Pakistan can move on from the senior players like Misbah and Younis Khan. Recent meetings between the board and the selection panel have indicated their preference for having one captain for all formats but Shaharyar Khan, who has the constitutional right as PCB chief to appoint the captain, is happy to leave the call with Misbah himself. “We will respect Misbah’s decision, whatever it is. But if he is willing to play then he is my captain.”Misbah has led Pakistan in more Tests than any other player, and the 24 wins in his tenure is a national record as well. However, in comparison with some of his peers – Imran Khan or Javed Miandad – he has also lost a lot more matches. Misbah’s contribution as batsman has been significant. Since he took charge of Pakistan in 2010, he averages 50.55 which is on par with the best in history.Head coach Mickey Arthur has been in talks with Misbah as well regarding his future. Both of them are currently in the UAE for the Pakistan Super League. “I am scheduled to have another chat with Misbah next week and we will see how that all transpires. The one thing that for certain is Misbah has been fantastic for Pakistan cricket. He has been a great leader and he has been a great servant and he deserves all the accolades that he will get eventually whether that is now or whenever he does go. So I can’t shed any more lights on that because I don’t know and I am not even sure that Misbah knows it himself.”

He had only recently begun training at full intensity following back-to-back hamstring injuries. To come good on the back of that was very satisfying for the New Zealand opener

Andrew McGlashan in Hamilton01-Mar-2017″Decent stick I’ve got, I’ll put that one on ice until next time,” Martin Guptill said about the bat that helped him pile up his series-levelling unbeaten 180 against South Africa.It was a performance he rated as probably his best ODI innings, which would put it ahead of his 237 in the World Cup quarter-final against West Indies, because it came off the back of a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. That was a sentiment supported by his captain Kane Williamson who termed it a “world-class” innings.Guptill had only begun netting a week ago, and the session the day before the fourth ODI was the highest intensity he had trained at since injuring his hamstring before the one-off T20I against South Africa, which followed a previous hamstring strain during the home Chappell-Hadlee series. In all, Guptill has only batted three times in 2017, twice for New Zealand and once for Auckland: his scores 112, 61 and 180 not out.He had spoken before this match of hoping that he could regain the rhythm he had earlier in the season. The outcome was a magnificent display of clean hitting which included 11 sixes and left him with New Zealand’s three highest scores in 50-over cricket.”It’s pretty up there, possibly No.1. I’m reasonably happy with how today went without a lot of preparation,” he said. “It was difficult to bat all round, two-paced, turning, slower balls gripping, it wasn’t easy, and I wanted to create a good partnership. I did that reasonably well and fortunately I was able to get a few out of the middle.”He had immediately jumped in an ice bath after the match and said his hamstrings were “a bit tight” but nothing that wasn’t to be expected.The two camps differed somewhat on how the conditions panned out with AB de Villiers believing the surface eased, starting at the back end of South Africa’s innings when they scored 100 off the last eight overs, but Williamson supported Guptill’s view that it remained a tricky pitch throughout.”I said to Martin when he came off, that’s probably his best, and he’s done it a few times to be fair so there are a few tight comparisons,” Williamson said. “In a chasing effort on what wasn’t an easy surface and to hit the ball the way he did and play with the freedom we know he can and do something special against the best team in the world was a special, world-class effort.”In a chase of 280, Guptill inside-edged his first ball from Kagiso Rabada past the stumps, played out a maiden from Wayne Parnell in the second over and was 2 off 10 balls when he connected with a stinging pull shot off the left-arm quick for the first of his sixes. The splits for his fifties were 38 balls, 44 and 41 with his last 30 runs taking 15 deliveries.”I wanted to give myself a chance really, have a look at what it was doing,” he said. “I got a few away and developed a strike rate early at the top and carried it through.”Guptill’s innings continued an upturn in his fortunes against South Africa. In the previous one-day series between the teams, Guptill scored his first hundred against them in the second match in Potchefstroom having had a previous best of 58 from 12 innings at an average of 14.50. In the space of three innings, the average against South Africa has lifted to 35.92.”I’ve always rated him as a player, he’s had to work through a few things,” de Villiers said. “I was always hoping this day would never come, where he’s figured out his game, playing it nice and late and he’s moving well. I could sit here for quite some time and talk about that knock. It was a very special innings.”

Bangladesh are 1-0 up going into the decider in Colombo and are confident of upsetting the hosts, who have lost all six of their most recent completed ODIs

Mohammad Isam31-Mar-2017

Match Facts

April 1, 2017
Start time: 0930 local (0400GMT)Kusal Mendis, who hit his maiden century in Dambulla, has shown signs of his desire to be a leading batsman in world cricket•AFP

Big Picture

Sri Lanka would have felt hard done by after rain ruined the second ODI, when they put up a total of 311. No team had ever won a 50-over game on the island after being set a target over 300.But after taking Sri Lanka’s last six wickets in the final five overs, Bangladesh must have thought they were in the contest. Taskin Ahmed’s hat-trick would have charged them up even further and considering they had made their highest total away from home in the first ODI – 324 – things had been shaping up brilliantly before the weather intervened.Bangladesh may be 1-0 up and eyeing a series win, but with Kusal Mendis living up to his promise and the rest of the Sri Lankan line-up batting around his maiden hundred Tuesday, the hosts would feel like they have got their menace back. Upul Tharanga made an eye-catching half-century as well, but the team management would want him to play a longer innings, while also hoping Thisara Perera’s 9 in Dambulla was a one-off low score. The big-hitting allrounder made 55 off 35 balls only a week ago and another such display could help them end a six-match losing streak.With the action moving to the SSC, and its slow and dry surfaces, Bangladesh would have an easier time putting behind their bowling performance from the last game. They can expect grip for Mustafizur Rahman’s cutters and turn for Mehedi Hasan’s offbreaks. So should the weather hold up well, a contest with a lot of context is on the cards.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LLLLL (completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh WLLLL

In the spotlight

After his Test century in Galle earlier this month, Kusal Mendis had said that he wanted to be a leading batsman in world cricket and his 107 off 107 balls in Dambulla was another reminder of this young batsman’s ambition. He was very much on-side dependent but that was mostly because the Bangladesh bowlers preferred to attack his stumps. Sri Lanka would expect more runs from their No. 3, especially in a crunch situation.He didn’t get going in the first ODI but Mushfiqur Rahim had a pretty good day behind the stumps, despite missing one stumping. He held a fine running catch to dismiss Danushka Gunathilaka, helped in the Tharanga’s run-out and then produced direct hits to end Dilruwan Perera and Thisara Perera’s stay in the middle. All he needs no are some runs.Mehedi Hasan and the rest of the spinners will look to extract purchase from a usually-response SSC pitch•AFP

Team news

Sri Lanka made three changes to their XI in the second ODI but while their batting clicked, the newly-formed bowling attack couldn’t be tested. They are likely to remain unchanged, but there is a chance Seekkuge Prasanna will enter the XI.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Upul Tharanga (capt), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 5 Asela Gunaratne, 6 Milinda Siriwardana, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Nuwan Kulasekara, 11 Nuwan PradeepBangladesh have Imrul Kayes, Rubel Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Shuvagata Hom, Subashis Roy and newcomer Sunzamul Islam on the bench but it is unlikely that they would break their winning combination in the third ODI.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mosaddek Hossain, 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Mehedi Hasan, 9 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Taskin Ahmed

Pitch and conditions

An ODI hasn’t been played at the SSC in six years, but in the interim, it has hosted plenty of List-A games. The average score for the team batting first those games is a remarkably low 146. Sri Lanka’s cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha said he expected this particular track to be batting friendly. Chandika Hathurusingha was slightly surprised that the pitch looked underprepared even two days before the ODI. Weather in Colombo could be troublesome on match day too, with chances of a late-afternoon shower.

Stats and trivia

• The last ODI played at the SSC was before the 2011 World Cup, while Bangladesh’s last ODI here was in 2005.
• The rained-out second ODI hurt Bangladesh more as they lost the chance to go up to No. 6 in the ICC ODI rankings. The two teams will retain their places at on the table – Sri Lanka at No. 6 and Bangladesh at No. 7 – regardless of the how the third ODI pans out.

Quotes

“The seniors have responded to [the responsibility of getting a big score] really well. It comes with the belief and maturity of the players. They are really confident in their preparation now.

Mohammad Nawaz has been issued a notice of demand to appear before the PCB’s security and vigilance department for possible breaches of the board’s anti-corruption code

ESPNcricinfo staff08-May-2017The scope and span of the PCB’s investigation into corruption allegations continues, with yet another international cricketer called up for questioning, on Monday.The PCB’s security and vigilance department issued a notice of demand to allrounder Mohammad Nawaz as part of its continuing investigations into corruption. Nawaz has been asked to appear before the security and vigilance department in relation to the possible breaches of the PCB’s anti-corruption code.A PCB release said Nawaz was issued a notice “in continuation of its fight against the menace of corruption in cricket”. The notice of demand was issued under Article 4.3 of the PCB Anti Corruption Code. The release also said the PCB would not make further comments due to the “sensitivity of the matters under question”.Article 4.3 says the security and vigilance department can make a written demand to any participant to provide in writing and/or by answering questions in person at an interview with any information that the department believes may be relevant to the investigation.Though the release did not specify as such, the demand to question Nawaz is part of the ongoing fallout from the second season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). It is believed that the PCB is concerned, specifically, about a failure to report a potentially corrupt approach made to the player.The notice now brings to seven the number of players who are either facing charges of corruption, have been banned, or were questioned by the PCB for developments in the PSL. Proceedings against Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Nasir Jamshed and Shahzaib Hassan are already underway; Mohammad Irfan has been punished and suspended for a year; Zulfiqar Babar has been questioned as part of investigations and now Nawaz has been summoned.Of particular concern to the PCB will be the fact that other than Jamshed and Shahzaib, all the players have been in and around Pakistan’s international squads. Nawaz rose to prominence after the first PSL last year and was inducted into the limited-overs and Test sides as Pakistan searched desperately for an allrounder.Though he didn’t set the Test scene alight, there were occasional signs that he could equip himself in the shorter formats. He was prominent, rather than spectacular, for Quetta Gladiators this season, though the performances did include a memorable and nerveless final over against Peshawar Zalmi which took his side to the final.He was in Pakistan’s T20 squad for the tour to the Caribbean, though he didn’t play and was somewhat overtaken by Shadab Khan in the race for the allrounder’s slot. He is currently at the NCA in Lahore as part of an ongoing allrounders’ camp the PCB is conducting.

Calf injury could force out designated captain; Upul Tharanga likely to take over

Andrew Fidel Fernando31-May-2017Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews is likely to miss his team’s Champions Trophy opener against South Africa on Saturday due to a calf injury. Vice-captain Upul Tharanga is the likeliest candidate to lead the team in Mathews’ stead.Mathews has not played internationals since January because of a hamstring complaint, and had also missed a tri-series in Zimbabwe late last year because of “multiple injuries” in his legs.”Mathews had complained of stiffness and pain, prompting the team management to conduct radiographic investigations, which revealed a strain on the muscle,” an SLC release said. “He will engage in supervised recovery over the next few days but will most likely sit out the first group stage match.”Mathews’ absence would be a substantial blow to Sri Lanka, who rely on him to bring balance to the XI – he often delivers 10 overs in ODIs in addition to batting at No. 5. Mathews had also appeared to be in good batting form, having struck 95 off 106 deliveries against Australia in Sri Lanka’s first warm-up encounter. He didn’t play the second practice match against New Zealand.

The BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which had been tasked with finalising India’s new head coach, was yet to reach a decision by Tuesday evening

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jul-20172:12

Kohli will be consulted, but he’s not the main decision-maker – Ganguly

By Tuesday evening, no decision had been reached on the next coach of India, despite the Committee of Administrators’ urging the BCCI to make a decision as soon as possibleA BCCI official said the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which was tasked with finalising India’s new head coach, was yet to arrive at a unanimous choice, but was hopeful that a decision would be made on Tuesday night.”CoA has advised us to that effect and rightly,” the official said. “We are also of the same view.”The official, though, said the BCCI was not pushing the CAC to make a hurried decision. “Nobody is pushing them,” he said. “There is no problem, and they are also equally sensitive to the fact that the conversation should be comprehensive. But it should also be time-sensitive.”The CAC, comprising former India cricketers Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar, had interviewed five candidates in Mumbai on Monday, and said they would make their final decision after speaking with captain Virat Kohli. Ganguly even hinted that India could embark on their tour of Sri Lanka with the current set-up of batting and fielding coaches, but no head coach or bowling coach.ESPNcricinfo understands that CoA chairman Vinod Rai suggested to the BCCI that if a decision had been made it was best to announce the final pick and end all uncertainty and speculation. Rai offered that suggestion once he was told that there was a difference of opinion within the CAC as to when they should finalise their choice.Ganguly indicated that the CAC had not expected the CoA to push so strongly for a quick announcement.”We’ll speak to him. He’s a very respected man, Mr. Vinod Rai, and I will speak to him this afternoon,” Ganguly said. “I was supposed to go to Delhi, so obviously that’s been cancelled now because of this. We’ll speak to him, because what all was announced yesterday was with all permission and everybody was informed about it.”Although the CoA had not been involved in the interview process, it was happy with the CAC’s decision to speak to Kohli on his return from the USA to discuss the issue before announcing the new coach.”The COA was fine with the CAC having a discussion with Virat – not about him getting involved with their decision, but whatever decision they made surrounding the coach,” a BCCI official said. “There is no harm in having a discussion with the captain saying we have gone through a process, this is the individual that we believe is good for the team. These are his views in terms of how he views his role. Hopefully this will work out so that there is no repeat of the Kumble situation. So there is no harm in a having a transparent conversation and then making it public.”

Sarah Taylor’s half-century and Jenny Gunn’s cameo unbeaten 27 helped England fight nerves and a full-blown batting collapse to progress to their fifth World Cup final

The Report by Shashank Kishore18-Jul-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSarah Taylor helped England nudge ahead early in their chase•Getty Images

England progressed to their fifth World Cup final but not before South Africa gave them a mighty scare in Bristol. England nearly paid the price for switching off. A cruise when Sarah Taylor and Heather Knight were at the crease turned into a full-blown collapse when they lost three wickets – one of those to a brilliant run-out and another to a rank full toss – in the space of eleven deliveries. At 149 for 5, chasing 219, it was game on.But England dug deep to find a way out. Fran Wilson and Jenny Gunn exhibited England’s batting depth to take them within six runs of victory. Wilson showed tremendous guts – none more than her scoop to a full ball over short third man off Shabnim Ismail with England needing 40 off 38 – to make 30, before falling in the 48th over.It should have been easily from there on, but pressure can do strange things. South Africa were taking every step to make Nelson Mandela Day a memorable one. The game hinged on a knife’s edge as it went into the final over, off which England needed three. Ismail, entrusted with the responsibility of trying to polish off the last three wickets, put down a sharp chance off the first ball to reprieve Gunn. Nerves were jangling. Then with two needed off four, she foxed Laura Marsh with a slower ball. The England players were on tenterhooks now.South Africa needed two wickets. Anya Shrubsole, hardly needed to bat in the tournament, was on strike. She saw width and flayed it through point to bring up the winning runs, runs that were like a dagger through South Africa’s hearts as another World Cup dream crashing down to leave them heart-broken even as a jubilant England side extended an arm of support to the wounded soldiers.If South Africa were to reflect on the heart-wrenching loss, as they would in all likelihood, they’d perhaps rue letting England drift away when Taylor whipped, scooped and flicked her way to a half-century. Up until then, they had managed to pull things back courtesy Ayabongo Khaka’s 10-over spell which yielded two wickets, including that of Tammy Beaumont, the highest run-getter in the tournament.But Taylor’s 78-run stand with Knight had a deflating effect. They also didn’t help matters early in the chase by being a little off-colour on the field. Trisha Chetty, the record-holder for most dismissals in women’s ODIs, had a particularly bad day, fluffing two opportunities along with a number of fumbles to leak runs.All of this meant South Africa had no control over proceedings until Dane van Niekerk brought them back with an inspirational effort – a one-handed pick up at cover to run Taylor out with a direct hit at the striker’s end in the 33rd over. They weren’t the same side from there on. Laura Wolvaardt’s acrobatic effort at square leg off a full toss sent Knight back. When Natalie Sciver was bowled around her legs by Sune Luus, South Africa’s hopes brightened.The tournament’s best batting line-up was seriously being challenged by a gun attack. But England had a Gunn in their ranks too, and she biffed two boundaries off the 47th over to bring the equation to under a run-a-ball, shortly after Mosaline Daniels removed Katherine Brunt. But at the end, South Africa were left to rue a lower-order collapse of their own, which left them at least 30 short of what they should’ve got.Wolvaardt and Mignon du Preez struck half-centuries, and together they put on 77 for the third wicket, to set South Africa for a tilt at 250, but they never gained momentum. Once Wolvaardt fell, England simply didn’t let the middle and lower order get away on a slow surface where manufacturing shots wasn’t easy.Yet, Wolvaardt’s control of her batting stood out when runs were hard to come by. She batted with the maturity of a veteran, who knew how to make up for the slow start. At the other end, du Preez improvised, often manufacturing strokes by walking across or using the depth of the crease to either flick or cut and pull.But the first sign of growing comfort resulted in Knight introducing spin. It was a sign that they’d done their homework. Laura Marsh and Alex Hartley tied the runs down in the middle overs, before Knight reaped the reward in her first over when Wolvaardt was out bowled trying to cut a skiddy delivery. Three balls later, a mix-up led to Marizanne Kapp’s run out.South Africa’s last roll of the dice at 250 were Van Niekerk and Chloe Tryon, who replaced Masabata Klaas, only because they needed the middle-order muscle. When she chipped a simple return catch off her third delivery, South Africa’s innings had quickly descended into free fall. It needed a pugnacious unbeaten 76 from du Preez to give them a fighting chance, but it wasn’t quite enough.

The board announced a bonus for the two senior selection committees for the impressive performances of the men’s and women’s teams in recent times

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Aug-2017The BCCI will award INR 15 lakh each to the members of the men’s and women’s senior selection committees for having selected “good teams”. The decision was communicated at the end of the meeting between the board’s office bearers and the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) in Delhi on Wednesday.”They have been rewarded for selecting good teams,” CoA member Diana Edulji told reporters.The men’s selection committee, headed by MSK Prasad and comprising Sarandeep Singh and Devang Gandhi, has overseen a fruitful period for India since its appointment in September last year. During the last 12 months, India registered Test series wins in West Indies and at home over New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia, before sealing the ongoing series in Sri Lanka 2-0. India also had a good run in limited-overs cricket, winning home series against New Zealand and England, and being runners-up at the Champions Trophy in June.The Hemalata Kala-led women’s panel, which includes Lopamudra Banerjee and Shashi Gupta, has also enjoyed much success over the last year. Mithali Raj’s team won the Asia Cup and the Quadrangular tournament featuring South Africa, Ireland and Zimbabwe, before making the final of the World Cup in June.In other developments, the question of India’s participation in the Olympics, Edulji said, would be decided by the BCCI’s general body. The other point of discussion was the revision of domestic players’ wages for which Edulji said BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary was entrusted with firming up the modalities of the revised arrangement. The matter would be taken up during the CoA’s next meeting on August 23 in Mumbai. On the subject of payment of former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin’s pending dues, Edulji said it had been referred to the board’s general body. She also said that the legal team was studying Sreesanth’s case after the Kerala High Court overturned his life ban imposed by the BCCI.

Essex knew the Championship was theirs last night and it was confirmed as they drove down the motorway back to Chelmsford where they were greeted by supporters and started to reflect on what the title means

Alan Gardner at Chelmsford15-Sep-20172:15

‘We’ve believed in the plan’ – Silverwood

When Essex’s coach rolled into Chelmsford, to be greeted by a small but fervent crowd of staff and supporters, the newly crowned County Champions were not quite at full quota. One or two, including Alastair Cook, had made their own way home, while a few others had stayed on in Birmingham – where Essex claimed the victory that secured the title – to celebrate a success that few beyond confines of the club thought likely six months ago.There were pre-emptive drinks at Edgbaston, followed by a night out for some members of the squad – though the captain, Ryan ten Doeschate, was in bed by 9.45pm with a Lemsip for a nightcap – as they awaited the result from Taunton, which duly followed on Friday, confirming Essex could no longer be caught by Lancashire. When that moment came, on the motorway heading back from the Midlands, one or two hangovers may have suddenly eased.At the county ground, there were cheers and champagne once the players had disembarked, blinking into the sunlight of a world where Essex are Division One winners. Chris Silverwood, Essex’s head coach, had challenged them at the start of the season to go out and upset the established order and, with eight wins out of 12, they have embodied that ambition. “One team, one dream,” as it says on the side of the bus.”It was a weird sensation knowing it was done yesterday,” ten Doeschate said. “The bus was a little subdued today with some of the lads staying up in Birmingham but coming here and seeing guys like Keith Fletcher and the staff coming to receive us is what it’s all about. It will take a few days to realise the scale of what we’ve achieved.”It’s without doubt the proudest moment of my career and you look at someone like James Foster who’s been here even longer. This makes up for all the years of struggle and all the years of nearly-beens.”The numbers tell a story and Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer deserve so much credit for the way they’ve run through teams and I also think the amount of match-winners we’ve had is different to other years. On a more tangible level Chris Silverwood has brought a far more relaxed environment and has squeezed every inch out of the squad we’ve had. That’s probably the reason why we’ve won so many games.”While many supposed Essex would be in a fight to avoid relegation, as had been their fate on three previous trips up to Division One, there was much greater confidence among the team management – to the extent that written in the three-year plan, among short-term goals, was “win Division One”. To do it in the season after being promoted is about as short-term as you can get.Essex continue the party after arriving back at Chelmsford with the Championship title confirmed•Getty Images

Silverwood’s calm, cheery presence has been at the heart of two hugely successful years in Championship cricket, something the chief executive, Derek Bowden, set down as their main goal when looking to appoint Paul Grayson’s successor in 2015. Such has been his transformative effect at a club which had been treading water for several years that Silverwood is now a candidate to step up to international level with England.Having stopped for every request from fans – including a few impromptu hugs – and wiped the fizz from his hair, Silverwood was keen to divert the credit to his players. “The result we’ve got is borne of all the hard work we’ve put in,” he said. “You do hope, at the start of every campaign, you want to win trophies. We start with the philosophy of every game’s a must-win game and we wanted to make our presence felt. It keeps you in the present, keeps your feet on the floor.”The guys have been absolutely fantastic, they’ve believed in the plan, believed in each other. As a team they’ve grown, you could see the confidence growing all season. Any given point, people have put their hands up. It’s not the same few, yes, we’ve had two run-away wicket-takers in Ports and Harmer but we’ve also had 12 centuries by eight different people, so it just shows everybody has put their hand up.”This has been a success that will be celebrated beyond the county borders, from the urban outskirts of London right across the vast swathe of East Anglia, from where Essex draw their talent. Glasses will be raised at clubs such as Maldon, where Cook started out, and in Tom Westley’s part of Cambridge; at Wanstead & Snaresbrook and Ilford and South Woodford, where the likes of Foster, the long-serving wicketkeeper, Varun Chopra and Nick Browne learned the game.So closely bound is the Essex first-team squad that, as was noted in the earlier this week, four of them were born in the same maternity ward in Whipps Cross, including Porter, the leading wicket-taker in Division One and, perhaps, another homegrown England prospect.Keith Fletcher, who masterminded Essex’s success during the late 1970s and ’80s as they started out on a run of six titles in 13 years, wore a crinkled smile as he greeted the current lot, while ten Doeschate was awaiting a phone call from Graham Gooch. Both Fletcher and Gooch sit on the cricket committee (which is now an advisory body), along with Ronnie Irani, David Acfield and Bowden. Essex is a club that sets much store by its history and tradition and the only sadness on a day of joy was that the likes of Brian “Tonker” Taylor and Doug Insole, both of whom passed away this year, could not be there, too.There is still a fortnight of the season to go, with Essex set to receive the trophy during their final fixture at home to Yorkshire, but the historians can start preparing their scrolls. Ravi Bopara was already thinking about future deeds – starting with going through the campaign unbeaten – before summing up what success means to those parochially passionate supporters for whom the boxy, hemmed-in old ground of “Chelms Fort” is cricket itself.”The boys have done really well, I’m really happy for them, and maybe it’s time to recreate the glory days,” he said, “but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We respect all those guys and this is a little bit for them, those boys have done so much for the club, the likes of Graham Gooch, the Fletches, if weren’t for them we wouldn’t be here now, so a big mention to those guys.”Essex is my home, this is where I’ve enjoyed my cricket, this is where all my best mates are. Tendo, he’s my best mate. This is the best… This is what I’ve dreamed of, to win trophies with Essex. I’m really happy with the fans, as well. They come here week in, week out. We have one of the best supports around the country – 50-over games, T20, we have good crowds for four-day games. I’m really happy for them. They deserve it as well. It’s been a special year.”