Robson rues missed opportunities

Robson proud of first England summer

Sam Robson admitted there had been a few "missed opportunities" for him to silence all the debate about whether he is the long-term solution as a Test opener for England, but was content with how he had handled his first spell at international level and will take plenty of "special" memories with him into the winter.

As England fought back comprehensively to take the Test series against India 3-1 - capped with a three-day, innings-and-244-run trouncing at The Oval - after being 1-0 down following an horrendous performance at Lord's, Robson arguably headed the list of players who finished the Test campaign with a question mark, rather than a tick next to their name as England enter their lengthy absence from the five-day game before the Caribbean tour in April.

His tally against India was 165 runs at 23.57 and for the seven Tests in the season it read 336 at 30.54 that included his maiden hundred against Sri Lanka at Headingley. But after reaching three figures in just his third innings and following that with 71 at Trent Bridge he started to struggle against India's seamers.

When he negotiated the first evening at The Oval, alongside Alastair Cook, to walk off with a solid 33 to his name he appeared to have set himself the base to put a more definitive stamp on his season. But five balls in the second day he was bowled by Varun Aaron and England's subsequent demolition job meant he did not get another chance.

"I got myself in a position where I could have gone on with it - in Southampton and then at The Oval, getting through that first evening - so I suppose there were a few missed opportunities but you look back and a lot went our way so it was a pretty positive feeling," Robson told ESPNcricinfo.

"It was such a special couple months. I didn't play as well I would have liked in my first Test against Sri Lanka but put it right in the next Test with 120-odd and then to back that up at Trent Bridge, I was pretty happy with that.

"I would have liked a big score in there towards the end of the series to back up a decent start, but it wasn't to be. Having said that to walk away from your first Test summer with a hundred and a series win, and a convincing one, was pretty special. The hundred gave me the belief I could perform but you have to score runs week in, week out so that's my next challenge."

As the runs dried up towards the end of the Test series, there was the technical analysis of Robson's game with issues dissected ranging from a weakness around off stump to a tendency to be trapped on the crease but it was also often said how intense he appeared at the crease.

But Robson said he played no differently for England than he had done for Middlesex during the time when he was scoring the volume of runs to force the selectors' hand and he insisted he will continue to play in the same way.

"I don't think I'm the most intense character off the field, but that's the way I play on the field," he said, speaking at the Investec Inner City World Cup at Lord's. "I've got my own idiosyncrasies but it's been the way I've played for Middlesex and has worked for me. At the top level people will have their views, but that's the beauty of it and why we want to play Test cricket in the spotlight. I'll just be sticking with what's worked for me."

As one of few Test-only players within the England set-up, Robson will now finish the 2014 season in the Championship for Middlesex that will provide the chance to end with a flourish. He will then face a lengthy wait - likely to be interspersed with a Lions tour of South Africa in the New Year - before finding out whether his own confidence in the summer is reflected by the selectors when they pick the squad to tour West Indies. But before then he is looking for to some time off.

"It has been a big couple of years for me, a massive summer and there's still an important month left with Middlesex," he said. "The Test matches have been draining so I think this will be a good chance, once the season is done, to take a couple of months away from the game, recharge my batteries and go from there."


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England face dilemma in fine tuning attack

With Chris Jordan blowing more cold than hot, England could turn to Steven Finn or Harry Gurney at Trent Bridge but both present their own issues

Hope Cook and I feed off each other - Hales

The ability to play tunes on your teeth, which occasionally found its way onto the bottom of the bill in the old Music Halls, is now most commonly seen from bored teenagers on YouTube. England's bowling coach, David Saker, has so far only been seen scratching his, but he might well be playing a tune or two by the end of the Royal London one-day series if England's pace bowlers give him any more cause for angst.

If Saker does rap out a tune on his molars then Elvis Presley's Trouble might be a good place to start. "If you are looking for trouble, you came to the right place" is a suitable warning as England consider the attributes of the three pace bowlers thought to be contesting the final place in the third Royal London ODI against India at Trent Bridge.

Saker's teeth scratching on the England balcony was caught by the TV cameras during India's trouncing of England at Cardiff as Chris Jordan purveyed an over including five leg-side wides. He bowled 12 in all, treating his loss of line firstly with smiles and then with baffled shakes of the head.

That Jordan blows hot and cold is something England might have to get used to. The question is how hot and how cold. His technical oddity in which he often places an additional finger behind the ball has always been with him and has been blamed for occasional forays down the leg side. One or two can be forgiven as long as his hot spells continue, but 12 wides is more than England would want their entire attack to bowl in a series.

The defence for Jordan is that to some extent MS Dhoni was old-manning him by moving across to the off side as he prepared to release, but if that sometimes made his line look more exaggerated, it did not make the calls of wide any less justifiable. Jordan lost his line at a critical time and was wayward enough, in normal circumstances, for his place to be jeopardised as a result.

The issue for England is that the potential replacements, Harry Gurney and Steven Finn, have had issues of their own. Finn's have been well chronicled - the collapse of his action in Australia last winter which meant that he did not play a single Test and left the tour early for remedial work on his action back at Middlesex.

Finn's progress throughout the county summer has been solid, if unspectacular. By mid-July, he was able to discuss it for the first time, telling ESPNcricinfo that he began to over-analyse every aspect of his action and that Saker, who is generally regarded as a tactical rather than a technical coach, was unable to find a solution.

At some point in this series, England surely must play Finn. There has been so much emphasis upon stable planning, particularly when the subject turns to the one-day captaincy of Alastair Cook, that it has been overlooked that the build-up to the World Cup offers England not just the chance to plan, but the chance to discover.

If there is a limited appetite for discovery when it comes to England's batsmen, such a policy is essential for Finn. England's next one-day series is against Sri Lanka in November and December and that is hardly the easiest place for an out-and-out fast bowler to make an impression. To take Finn to Australia - the scene of his technical torment - in January for the tri-series against Australia and India still not road-tested would be a failure of planning and, if his problems recurred, would throw England's plans into disarray a few weeks before the World Cup. Only by thrusting Finn into the pressure of international cricket can England measure the extent of his recovery.

That leaves Harry Gurney, who would add variety to England's attack by virtue of being a left-armer and who would also be a natural call-up on his home ground at Trent Bridge. Gurney played in England's Spring ODIs, making his debut against Scotland in Aberdeen, playing five ODIs against Sri Lanka and returning nine wickets at 22.55. He hit his yorkers more reliably, but there is a lot that could go wrong in such an idiosyncratic action.

But Gurney's form has not been short of concerns. He was unimpressive during Nottinghamshire's Royal London domestic campaign and in his last outing disappeared at eight an over against Warwickshire, a match Nottinghamshire won thanks to one of four recent one-day hundreds for Alex Hales. His net sessions have not made an irresistible case for his recall.

It is a tough choice for England. That Jordan has displayed star quality is incontestable. Finn must be given a chance to prove himself. Gurney has logical hopes of a recall in front of his home crowd. Outside the squad, Northants' allrounder David Willey has not entirely given up hope of making a late push. Which one to recommend? Even now. Saker's teeth must be beginning to grind.


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WI name 13-man squad for first Bangladesh Test

The new WICB selection panel led by Clive Lloyd has named a 13-man Test squad for the West Indies ahead of the first of two Test matches against Bangladesh beginning on September 5 in St Vincent. The only change to the squad from the West Indies' previous Test assignment against New Zealand in June was dropping reserve batsman Leon Johnson while all other players have been retained.

In the release announcing the squad, the WICB noted that two other players were considered for selection but instead opted to play in the Champions League Twenty20 competition which begins September 13 in Raipur, India. Since the tournament is in an ICC-approved window on the international schedule, the WICB said the decision of the players will not have any impact on future selection.

Aside from representatives in the Caribbean Premier League champion Barbados Tridents squad, seven other West Indies players are participating in the Champions League Twenty20. Among those possibly in line for Test selection out of that group are Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo.

Narine was not considered for selection for all three Tests against New Zealand in June after opting to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL Final on June 1. It caused him to miss the start of a West Indies training camp ahead of the first Test starting on June 8. It paved the way for both Shane Shillingford and Sulieman Benn to make their returns to Test cricket during the series.

Earlier this summer, Bravo expressed his desire to return to the Test cricket following recovery from a shoulder injury suffered at the start of this year's IPL. The West Indies ODI captain has not played Test cricket since 2010 on tour in Sri Lanka.

West Indies squad: Denesh Ramdin (capt), Chris Gayle, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jermaine Blackwood, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor, Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel, Sulieman Benn, Shane Shillingford.


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Billings lights up Kent's big night

Kent 242 (Northeast 78, Billings 61, Payne 5-44) beat Gloucestershire 218 (Roderick 43, Harmison 3-40) by 24 runs
Scorecard

Highlights: Kent seal tight win to advance to semis

Kent were not to be denied. As Gloucestershire added 93 for the last four wickets, nerves were stretched tight and the crowd shouted themselves hoarse. With 32 required from 23 balls, Ben Harmison could not hold a diving, one-handed catch a long-off. Benny Howell was the batsman to survive but he was bowled off the final delivery of Mitch Claydon's over, leaving Gloucestershire nine down.

When Rob Key stooped to take a catch off Craig Miles from the first ball of the 48th over, cheers rang around the ground, only for the third umpire to rule that he could not be sure it was cleanly taken. Two balls later, David Griffiths broke the bails of last man David Payne and victory was sealed.

The plight of the British seaside town has been brought into focus this week by confirmation that Ukip leader Nigel Farage will stand for parliamentary election in South Thanet, the constituency adjacent to Canterbury and Whistable. It is tempting to see this decline as in some ways mirroring county cricket's struggle for relevancy - both are pleasures from simpler times - but at the St Lawrence Ground, just a few miles from Farage's prospective Ramsgate base, it was possible to witness something resembling hope.

Kent were one-day kings during the '70s, which was about when it was last cool to spend your holidays messing about with a bucket and spade. They have not won a lot since but reached the semi-finals of the inaugural Royal London Cup with a 24-run win. Farage was spotted at the Tunbridge Wells festival earlier this season, though it is unknown whether the association is mutual. It seems unlikely that real ale and the fight against EU bureaucracy are central to the philosophy of Jimmy Adams' side.

The whirlwind batting of Sam Billings certainly is and his rambunctious 61 made Kent's wicketkeeper the third-highest scorer in this season's competition. It was the most fluent innings of the night by a comfortable majority, as both sides battled on a treacle surface that did not benefit from a cloudburst before the start of play.

Gloucestershire began with a flurry of boundaries from Chris Dent but, in their haste to make a statement, got ahead of themselves. With the assorted mysteries of Ben Harmison, Darren Stevens and Fabian Cowdrey - as well as the more classical merits of Adam Riley's offspin - ranged against them, the visitors slipped to 125 for 6 at just past the halfway point of their chase.

A stand of 53 between Will Gidman, the folk hero who is set to leave Gloucestershire for the bright lights of Nottingham next season, and Howell ensured home nerves remained taught but Griffiths followed a run of three successive wides by yorking Gidman. Without Michael Klinger, their overseas player and captain who broke an arm in last week's final group game, this was a chase too far for the last side remaining from Group A.

Billings has thrived on the return of 50-over cricket, averaging over 100 at a frankly indecent strike rate of 162.64. With a golden blond quiff and schoolboy grin, he radiates energy. Billings is from Pembury, near Tunbridge Wells, but played the sort of shots that would put creases in the locals' freshly starched linen.

His half-century came from 29 balls, with Dent's left-arm spin twice crunched over the midwicket boundary. He was lucky not to drag the ball on to his stumps in the following over, bowled by Jack Taylor; he proceeded to launch a six like a mortar round over long-on, followed by a rubber-wristed reverse-sweep for four. Billings is packing heat, that much is clear, though England do not want for an explosive keeper-batsman right now.

For both these sides, the Royal London Cup represented an opportunity to gloss another season of bobbing along in the quieter reaches of the county circuit. Kent are the only Division Two Championship side left in the competition. The prospect of a first knockout semi-final in five years and, potentially, a trip to Lord's thereafter should add frisson to the final few weeks.

Kent were without Doug Bollinger, who has returned to Australia ahead of the Champions League, and James Tredwell, on England duty. Suggestions that Tredwell has asked to be released from his contract and allowed to join Sussex, where he has been on loan for Championship cricket, were rebuffed by the club.

In preparation for this match, Kent had fielded a strong XI against New Zealand A earlier in the week. They were dismissed for 67, their second-lowest score in List A cricket, to lose by 172 runs. Nevertheless, Key chose to bat on winning the toss, only to become the first of two wickets in two balls for Payne. A score of 11 for 2 in the fifth over did not augur well for the chances of Kent posting something more substantial.

Key was back in the side after missing most of the campaign with a hamstring problem, replacing Daniel Bell-Drummond. After his brief return, it was left to vice-captain Sam Northeast and 21-year-old Cowdrey - the name of whose grandfather, Colin, looks down from the stands - to repair the early damage. Northeast is developing into an increasingly proficient limited-overs cricketer and played tidily for 78 but, perhaps inflamed by Billings' bloodlust, missed a straight ball attempting an ungainly swipe as Kent lost their last six wickets for 27 runs.

Will Gidman was treated disdainfully by Northeast and Cowdrey but he removed the latter when a ball stopped in the pitch, after a stand worth 106. Alex Gidman took the catch, a moment for the brothers to savour. There will not be many more.


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Bailey defends Lyon exclusion

George Bailey, Australia's stand-in captain, defended his team's decision to leave Nathan Lyon out of their playing XI against South Africa, insisting that the offspinner's absence "did not turn the match".

Without Lyon, the part-time spin of Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell leaked 40 runs in five overs and the seam attack fared little better as centuries from AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis helped South Africa to a seven-wicket win.

"I certainly think 327 could have been enough, but knowing that it's a pretty good wicket and only having four out and two new balls, it's always going to be a challenge," Bailey said. "You've got to keep trying to find a way to take wickets, and unfortunately we couldn't do that. I could have probably bowled our part timers a little more, or got them into the game a little earlier, but you can only have XI unfortunately."

The Harare Sports Club pitch played slow and low in the Test featuring South Africa and Zimbabwe earlier this month, and though it has quickened up a touch since then, it remains a track where the toss as well as the quick bowlers' variations once the shine comes off, remain important.

Australia were not helped by losing the toss and being sent in this morning, but Bailey admitted that their attempts to use bowling variations to temper du Plessis and de Villiers had fallen short.

"We tried taking the pace off the ball a little bit and it didn't seem to have too much effect at different times," he said. "There's no doubt that variation is going to be a key, and that's down to mixing up your pace and lengths, and how you bowl at different stages. But we've got to give a little bit of credit to Faf and AB, I thought they batted beautifully."

One thing Bailey and Australia will be pleased about is the performance of their top order in the series so far. Three batsmen passed fifty against Zimbabwe, while Phil Hughes complemented Aaron Finch in an opening stand of 92 before Finch went on to a century today.

"Hughesy batted really well, and particularly once we were sent in I thought that was a really important start for us. It was a little bit challenging at the start and I thought those guys got us off and running.

"They've been pretty consistent. Hughesy has had limited opportunities but keeps putting his hand up. Finchy seems to be getting better and better, and it was great to see him go on and turn that into a hundred today. That's something that we've spoken about, and he'd be pretty satisfied with that. I think that's the challenge for all of our top order players: to get hundreds. As you saw in the chase, it makes it so much easier when you get someone you can bat around for the majority of the innings."


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Kent blown away after Brownlie ton

New Zealand A 239 (Brownlie 112, Rutherford 56, Griffiths 3-49) beat Kent 67 (Craig 3-6) by 172 runs
Scorecard

Kent were bowled out for 67, their second-lowest score in List A cricket, as they lost to New Zealand A by 172 runs. The innings lasted for less than half the allotted overs and only two players, openers Daniel Bell-Drummond and Rob Key, made double-figures.

The 50-over match had replaced the scheduled three-day fixture, after the first two days were washed out. Kent chose to deploy something approaching a full-strength side, in preparation for their Royal London Cup quarter-final on Friday, but Brendan Nash was unable to bat due to injury and the ten other batsmen failed to make much more of an impact on the scorecard.

New Zealand offspinner Mark Craig picked up three wickets in his three overs to finish the innings, after the pace trio of Hamish Bennett, Doug Bracewell and Matt Henry and shared the first six. At 56 for 7, Kent were in danger of being dismissed for less than the 60 they made against Somerset at Taunton in 1979.

After being asked to bat, the New Zealand A effort was founded on a stand of 124 in 20 overs for the second wicket between Hamish Rutherford and Dean Brownlie. Three wickets then fell for seven runs, during a typically miserly spell from Darren Stevens, but Brownlie went on to reach his second century of the tour before becoming a third victim for David Griffiths.

New Zealand A were dismissed with ten balls unbowled but their score of 239 was to prove more than enough. Kent will hope for a better performance when they take on Gloucestershire at home on Friday.


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Aftab Ahmed announces retirement

Bangladesh batsman Aftab Ahmed has announced he will retire at the end of the 2014-15 season. He said that his focus will turn to coaching and setting up an academy in his hometown of Chittagong.

He will play the upcoming season's Dhaka Premier League for Brothers Union after switching over from Gazi Tank Cricketers on the first day of player transfers being held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

The decision comes as a surprise, since Aftab is a few months short of his 29th birthday and still fit. But he said that the state of his playing career was what prompted the decision. Last season he averaged 23.81 for Gazi Tank and 18.20 in three first-class games.

"This is my last Premier League, I don't wish to play any longer," Aftab said. "It wasn't based on any emotional factors. It is completely a personal decision. This is my last year. You all please pray that I can leave on a high."

"Cricket has become tough. Club officials think in a different way. I got a very low offer this year. So by putting everything into consideration, I thought this is the right time. If I had taken a bit longer, it wouldn't be good for me. This is how I came to this decision."

He is yet to gain higher level coaching credits, but wants to help Chittagong get out of the mire in cricket development. Not since Nazimuddin, who debuted in 2007, has Bangladesh's second-largest city produced an international cricketer.

"I am setting up a cricket academy in Chittagong, which will be opened in the near future," he said. "I want to take my coaching career to a very good level. Currently cricket in Chittagong is in bad shape, so I wish to take it to a better place."

Aftab played just 11 Tests for Bangladesh but he was more of an ODI player, winning 85 caps. He famously hit Jason Gillespie for a six in the last over of Bangladesh's miraculous win over Australia in Cardiff in 2005.

But three years later, he would join the rebel Indian Cricket League and be shunned by the BCB. He did make it back to the Bangladesh team in 2010, only to play two more Tests, averaging 17.00, and making just 80 runs in five ODIs. His last international match was in the World T20 that year.

"The start of my career doesn't really reflect what I eventually became as a player," he said. "The ICL had a profound effect on my career at a crucial time. I mean, I couldn't really end my career as I would have wanted. Still, I think people loved me for the way I played the game."


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Bangladesh bat, Mashrafe injured

Toss Bangladesh chose to bat v West Indies
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim chose to bat first against West Indies in the only T20 at Warner Park. It was the logical thing to do, and will be some respite as they would now look to post a big total.

Shamsur Rahman and Mohammad Mithun have been included in the team at the cost of Imrul Kayes and Mominul Haque who played in the third ODI. Mashrafe Mortaza has been sidelined with a groin injury while Sohag Gazi has been dropped. Abdur Razzak, thought to be out of Bangladesh's T20 plans, remains in the side.

West Indies have four medium-pace bowling allrounders filling up the spots from No. 5 onwards. Andre Russell who was one of the standout players in the recent Caribbean Premier League has been picked, while Sulieman Benn and Andre Fletcher have been benched. They will have two left-arm pace bowlers - Krishmar Santokie and Sheldon Cottrell - in the playing XI while Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo are back in the T20 side.

West Indies: 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Dwayne Smith, 3 Lendl Simmons, 4 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Darren Sammy (capt), 8 Andre Russell, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Krishmar Santokie, 11 Sheldon Cottrell

Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Shamsur Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 5 Mohammad Mithun, 6 Nasir Hossain, 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Abdur Razzak, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Al-Amin Hossain, 11 Rubel Hossain


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Tait one-day comeback on the cards

Fast bowler Shaun Tait could come out of one-day retirement this summer, having declared himself available for South Australia's 50-over campaign for the first time since 2010-11. Tait retired from one-day cricket after the 2011 World Cup and for the past three seasons has focused exclusively on Twenty20, but he wants to help his state win more silverware before his career ends for good.

The physicality of Tait's bowling action made first-class cricket a challenge to sustain and he retired from the longer format in 2007-08, but continued as a one-day player for another three years. Now aged 31 and having stayed active in T20 with the Adelaide Strikers and other teams around the world, Tait said he would be available for up to four matches of this year's Matador BBQ's One-Day Cup in October.

"I was playing T20 cricket and I thought in a couple of years if I'm retired, would I regret anything?" Tait told the Advertiser. "The only thing I could think of was not having some success with South Australia.

"It's been a while since I've been really determined to do something in cricket and this is one of them. I'm determined to play for South Australia and be successful, because I think the state needs it as well."

Tait was a key part of Australia's successful 2007 World Cup campaign in the West Indies, where he collected 23 wickets and was third on the overall tally, and he also took part in the 2011 World Cup. And while Australia's coach Darren Lehmann wants his fast bowlers to have genuine pace, a call-up for next year's home World Cup is not likely to be on the horizon for Tait.

"I suppose if everything is going well, if my body is going well and I'm bowling 155kph and taking wickets, why not? But it might not go that way," Tait said. "Cricket Australia have got their group of players who are pretty good at the moment, the attack against Zimbabwe on Monday night was very good, Johnson, Starc, Richardson and there's probably five other blokes in the wings.

"So they might go down a completely different path even if I am doing well. But if everything was going well, and they came to me and said 'We've got a couple of injuries, come and play' -- brilliant, I'd love to."


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'I want to play all three formats' - Lyon

Before Monday, offspinner Nathan Lyon had played 33 Tests and two ODIs for Australia. On Monday, 29 months after his previous ODI, he did not have the most effective of comebacks in the Zimbabwe triangular series, conceding 42 runs in seven overs while the hosts bowled out for just 152. His one-day bowling, Lyon explained on the eve of Australia's match against South Africa, was a "work in progress", and he said that he still wants to play all three formats for Australia.

"I was pretty nervous and excited, playing again after two years. The main aim was to try and help Australia to victory, and the challenge now is to back it up against South Africa tomorrow," Lyon said. "I want to play all three formats for Australia. I'm just always looking forward to the next opportunity. The main message I have received from the coaches is to work on my consistency. I have also been working on different variations, so it's currently a work in progress."

In his 33 Tests, Lyon has 112 wickets at 32.99, and that experience he said is a plus for him as he tries to showcase his ODIs skills to the selectors ahead of the 2015 World Cup. "I've had a few different challenges at Test level. In ODIs, things are a lot more compact and things happen a lot quicker. But I feel I've grown as a player and my experiences in Tests have definitely helped me."

It has also helped him having Muttiah Muralitharan around, he said. Murali, who has been signed on as Australia's coaching consultant for this year's Test series against Pakistan in the UAE, had worked with Lyon in Sri Lanka a couple of months ago, reportedly helping him develop a carrom ball. "Listening to Murali provides you with confidence," Lyon said. "He backed me up by saying that my skill set was heading in the right way. Getting such a compliment from him is very special."

Lyon said he expects South Africa to try and go after him, and he is prepared. "South Africa are a world class side, so it's going to be a great challenge. We need to put our best foot forward," he said. "There's no doubt they're going to target me, but I'm ready for it. It's a good opportunity for me to take some wickets."


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Mathews - 0 hundreds, 22 fifties

0 Number of times that that a 300-plus total has been successfully chased down in an ODI in Sri Lanka. The highest total that has been chased down successfully in Sri Lanka is the 288 that Pakistan had set Sri Lanka at Dambulla in 2009. There have been two instances of teams, India and Sri Lanka, scoring 300-plus runs during an ODI chase in Sri Lanka, but both came in close losses.

6 Number of Pakistan wicketkeepers to have effected 50 ODI dismissals. Umar Akmal became the latest addition on the list when he took a catch to dismiss Upul Tharanga off the bowling of Wahab Riaz. Moin Khan leads the list with 287 ODI dismissals.

22 Number of fifties that Angelo Mathews has now scored in ODI cricket. This is the most fifties scored by a Sri Lankan batsman who does not have an ODI hundred. Chamara Kapugedera with eight fifties is a distant second. Across countries, Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record, with 37 fifties and no hundred. Mathews is also one of only five batsmen to have made 3000-plus ODI runs without scoring a century.

90 Number of 50-plus scores that Mahela Jayawardene has made in ODI cricket. There are only nine players who have made 90 or more such scores, an elite list led by Sachin Tendulkar (145) and Ricky Ponting (112). The only others with 100 or more 50-plus scores are Kumar Sangakkara (105) and Jacques Kallis (103).

2 Number of times that Seekkuge Prasanna has got to double digits in his 11 ODI innings. Prasanna batted at No. 6 today and was dismissed lbw for 1 by Mohammad Hafeez. Apart from his scores of 42 and 22, both versus Pakistan, Prasanna's highest ODI score is 8*.

19 Number of balls that Sri Lanka needed to go from 250 to 300. The breakup of Sri Lanka's 50s throughout the innings was erratic and makes for interesting reading - the first fifty came off 46 balls, the next off 70, the third off 42, the fourth off 75 and the penultimate fifty came off only 40 balls.

30 Number of times that Hafeez has taken two or more wickets in an ODI innings, without ever taking a four-for. He returned figures of 3-39 in this game. The only player to have two or more wickets on more occasions, without ever taking four wickets, is R Ashwin, who has done this 37 times in ODIs.

75 Number of balls (or 12.3 overs) in which Pakistan got their first 100 runs. This is Pakistan's fourth fastest 100 since 2001. Their fastest 100 in this period was in 10.4 overs against India at Kanpur in 2005. Earlier in the innings, Pakistan had got to 50 off 40 balls - their fastest in the last seven years, since another game against India at Kanpur in 2007.

45 Hafeez's ODI average in the 33 innings when he has batted at No. 3 for Pakistan. He batted at No. 3 today and scored a brisk 62 off 49 balls. In the 110 innings that he has opened the innings, his average is only 28.2. Only four of Hafeez's nine ODI hundreds have come when he has opened the innings, with the remaining five coming at No. 3.

15 Number of times that a Sri Lankan player has made a 50-plus score and taken three wickets in the same ODI, Thisara Perera becoming the latest. Sanath Jayasurya has done this on six occasions, with no other Sri Lankan having done it more than thrice. In all ODI cricket, this has been done 174 times.


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Taylor's best earns Nottinghamshire semi-final

Nottinghamshire 313 for 5 (Taylor 146*, Patel 55) beat Derbyshire 228 (North 67, Patel 4-49, Shahza 3-33) by 85 runs
Scorecard

Highlights: Nottinghamshire thrash Derbyshire

James Taylor would be quite justified in asking what more he must do to be given the chance to relaunch his England career. As Nottinghamshire advanced to the semi-finals of the Royal London Cup, it was their captain who made it possible, marking his 100th appearance in List A matches with his third century in five outings, his 11th in the format overall, going on to finish with a career-best 146 not out.

The first of the aforementioned three in five was for England Lions, whom he also captained, in the 50-over tri-series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand's A teams earlier this month, which would seem to be as good a place as any for him to advertise his form.

Given that they have lost both Alex Hales and Harry Gurney at a key point in their season, his Nottinghamshire team-mates would have been seriously inconvenienced if England had wanted Taylor for the one-day matches against India as well, yet they must wonder why he was overlooked. Interestingly, his average in one-day cricket is 52.33, compared with 36.55 for Hales.

On a slow pitch, this was a wonderful, beautifully paced innings, sensibly cautious at the start, when the bowlers were getting some movement under heavy cloud cover following Monday's deluge, nicely measured thereafter as Samit Patel, Riki Wessels and James Franklin played the key supporting roles, and with an explosion at the end.

He and Patel added 136 for the third wicket despite the best efforts of the latter to bring about his demise, calling for a single not once but twice and sending his captain back when halfway down the pitch. Thus, on 26 and then 71, Taylor had to propel himself through the dirt and hope his bat was grounded at the critical moment. Patel did at least make some runs of his own, passing fifty for the first time this year in 50-over cricket.

This followed a double calamity in the fourth over after Taylor had won the toss and elected to bat first. Michael Lumb, looking in good touch as he hit the erratic Mark Footitt for four boundaries in the third, was run out at the non-striker's end as Ben Cotton deflected a firm drive by Steven Mullaney into the stumps. Two balls later, Mullaney pushed at one outside off stump and edged to Wayne Madsen at first slip.

Patel fell, hooking Footitt into the hands of Bill Godleman on the square-leg boundary, during a batting Powerplay that added 40 between the 33rd over and the 38th, advancing Nottinghamshire's total to 198 for 3. Wessels hit 28 off 19 balls before he was caught at midwicket off a mistimed sweep, Franklin 27 off 26 before he was run out, and Taylor, once he had completed his hundred off 134 balls, let rip to add 46 more from 20 deliveries, including three sixes off Cotton and another off Tony Palladino.

David Wainwright, the left-arm spinner, bowled nicely, conceding only 35 runs from his 10 overs, but the frontline bowlers leaked runs at more than seven an over, with Footitt a particular disappointment after enjoying a good season in general, his county's leading wicket-taker in this competition and the Championship.

Derbyshire would have needed to make the highest total in their history to win a one-day match batting second and though they kept pace with Nottinghamshire's scoring rate for the first 20 overs or so they fell away steadily thereafter, despite Marcus North's 67. Patel denied North the chance to inflict any further damage and was supported to greatest effect by Ajmal Shahzad, who took 3 for 33.

Shahzad, having bowled Godleman off an inside edge for 25, struck an important blow when Madsen drove a slower ball in the air to Sam Wood at cover. Patel bowled Alex Hughes and had Scott Elstone caught behind thanks to the still extraordinary reflexes of wicketkeeper Chris Read before Derbyshire's chance diminished to the point of mere academic possibility during the batting Powerplay, when North went down the pitch to be stumped off Patel and Gareth Cross, who had threatened briefly by smiting 23 off 14 balls before a miscue that Taylor took very well over his shoulder at cover gave the left-arm spinner his fourth success in the space of 22 deliveries.

Wainwright gamely gathered 41 off 30 balls coming in at nine as Nottinghamshire allowed the last two wickets to add 65 but it was labour in vain.


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Decision on Rajasthan's domestic participation likely within a week

The decision over whether Rajasthan teams will feature in the upcoming domestic season is likely to be made within a week. ESPNcricinfo understands the BCCI omitted Rajasthan teams from the fixtures of all domestic tournaments across age groups, including the Ranji Trophy, since the deadlock between the Rajsathan state government, the Rajasthan Cricket Association and the Indian board continues and time was running out for distributing the season's schedule.

The BCCI top brass is likely to take a call based on a report by the ad-hoc committee, which was appointed by the Indian board to oversee the running of the game in disputed members' territories. The committee had recently got the cold shoulder by Rajasthan government officials, but the Brijesh Patel-led committee is likely to make another attempt to sort out the impending issues and have the RCA's cricketing affairs managed by itself in conjunction with the state government.

Since the BCCI has to allow for enough time for the selection process and logistical arrangements to be put in place, the ad-hoc committee has been advised to submit its report by the end of the week. On Saturday, BCCI interim president Shivlal Yadav told ESPNcricinfo the decision will have to be taken before the inter-state junior cricket tournaments start in early October.

Meanwhile, the RCA executive board will meet on Tuesday to decide its future course of action.

While a theory had been floated that Rajasthan players may be allowed to field a team under a different title, it has been clarified that that is impractical, as the BCCI rules allow only full member teams to participate in inter-state tournaments.

Rajasthan's omission from the domestic programme has expectedly raised concerns among the players. Some senior Rajasthan players confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that they hadn't heard from the RCA or the BCCI, and were hoping that both sides will not let the players suffer.

The RCA conducted a pre-season fitness camp in July. During the camp, it was hinted that Rajasthan, which had heavily relied on signing professionals in the last five years, would not hire any professional players this season. Since then, the players have been waiting to hear details on the team's training camp ahead of the domestic season.

The RCA is headed by former IPL chairman Lalit Modi, who was announced as elected president in May. However, since Modi has been expelled from the BCCI, the BCCI suspended RCA on May 6. Modi could enter the RCA polls through the door that was made open to him by the Rajasthan Sports Act, which governs the RCA's constitution.

When suspending the RCA, the BCCI had said it would not let the Rajasthan players suffer.


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Ramdin, Bravo centuries flay Bangladesh

West Indies 338 for 7 (Ramdin 169, Bravo 124) beat Banglandesh 247 for 8 (Mushfiqur 72, Tamim 55) by 91 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Denesh Ramdin wouldn't have had as much fun on a cricket field as on Monday afternoon at Warner Park. His malevolent 169 was part of the highest third wicket partnership in ODIs with Darren Bravo, who also accumulated a century, and ensured West Indies completed a 3-0 whitewash by 91 runs.

The hosts were catapulted to 338 for 7 in 50 overs, a score that was well out of Bangladesh's reach especially at a time when their batsmen are scraping the bottom of the confidence barrel. But they are due some for bouncing back after such a hiding, making 247 for 8, having lasted their full quota.

Bangladesh were 2 for 2 in the second over and were threatening to sink further, but Tamim Iqbal struck his first international fifty in more than nine months and 18 innings. Mushfiqur Rahim top scored with 72, but since he holed out in the deep the last hopes his team had faded away.

West Indies' bowlers could bide their time thanks to Ramdin and Bravo. The duo clattered 19 sixes, the most by West Indies in an ODI en route to amassing 258 runs for the third wicket, beating the previous record held by Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers by 20 runs. For most of their union, it was hard to see past their bats as they dined on a bowling attack that was at times perfect for big hitting.

Mashrafe Mortaza and Al-Amin Hossain, despite the early promise, barely clocked above 130 kmph while Abdur Razzak, Sohag Gazi and Mahmudullah persisted with shortish darts. With a moderate-sized ground, a flat surface and with a bit of wind behind them, West Indies simply took off.

The early losses of Lendl Simmons and Chris Gayle were forgotten with Ramdin and Bravo using singles to ease the pressure. But there was a change is tactics in the 19th over - 10 runs were taken off it, 19 was smacked in the 22nd over, with Ramdin peppering the crowd behind midwicket and Bravo opting to go straight.

Ramdin razed three sixes off Mortaza in the 38th over and hurtled to his second century in four ODIs. Bravo reached his hundred soon after, a knock that was a long time coming as he has struggled to convert fifties into three-figure marks in ODIs.

Ramdin struck 11 sixes while Bravo contributed eight and while they made merry, although none of it would have happened if Bangladesh had held onto their chances

Mushfiqur missed a stumping off Bravo, batting on 10, when Abdur Razzak beat him in length. The ball was so poorly fumbled that the wicketkeeper flailed at air when he tried for a second time. Razzak had his own gaffe when he didn't get under a looping ball in mid-on after Ramdin skied Mashrafe on 35.

Razzak lost his form, bowling much too short and far too quickly. Gazi's struggles might be understandable, considering the scrutiny surrounding his bowling actions. He hardly found a rhythm, and was perhaps wrongly entrusted with the first over of the match with all the focus on him. Al-Amin was the only saving grace, ending up with his second four-wicket haul in ODIs, both coming in this series. But he could rein in the West Indies batsmen.

West Indies also faced difficulty with Bangladesh's third-wicket stand. Mushfiqur and Tamim added 99 runs with a bit of style, but the bluster was obviously missing. Anamul Haque and Imrul Kayes were gone by the first eleven balls, the latter to Kemar Roach's stunning one-handed catch at mid-on. Mahmudullah offered some more resistance through a 55-run fifth wicket stand with his captain. The contest faded away in the 22nd over when Tamim got out, and the rest of the game couldn't have ended sooner.

The abiding memory from the first-ever day-night match at Warner Park, though, would be what happened during day time. Ramdin and Bravo slamming one six after another made to keep the fans singing and dancing.


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Marsh looks to build on 'special' knock

A lot has been said in local circles about the length of time between Australia's visits to Zimbabwe, with the last full side having toured just over a decade ago. Darren Lehmann was the grizzled, nuggety centre of Australia's middle order on their last trip here. Michael Clarke was young and nubile enough to justify the nickname 'Pup', and cracked his first international hundred in the third ODI of that series. Now they are coach and captain - but they are not the only Australians with significant experience of Zimbabwean conditions.

Geoff Marsh was Zimbabwe's coach back in 2004, and his son Mitchell spent a couple of his formative years in this country as a child. "Yeah, I've got a few good memories!" he said after Australia's 198-run win against Zimbabwe. "I've also been here the last couple of years with the Australia A team, so it's almost my second home now. I've almost played more cricket here than the WACA so it's great to be back here. It's a beautiful country and we've all said that if we can get a couple of days off and get out and see it, it would be great for the guys who haven't been here before."

Nostalgia aside, Marsh was even more ebullient over his experience of batting at No. 3 for Australia and racing to his first international fifty, particularly given the growing pains he has experienced as a cricketer and a young man over the last five years. At 17, Marsh was the youngest man ever to play in Australia's domestic one-day competition, and was Western Australia's youngest debutant for more than 70 years, having made a name for himself breaking batting records for Fremantle. But questions remained over his ability to make good on that potential, and a taste for the wild side of life - forgivable for most youngsters but seemingly not so for a professional sportsman - did not help.

"I don't think 'turned a corner' is the right way of putting it, but we all know that I've had a few ups and downs," he admitted. "My biggest focus over the last 12 months has been progressing both as a person and staying on the park. It's been a great few months.

"So it was special [bringing up my first international fifty]. I just had the role to get us as deep as I could, and obviously if we had wickets in hand at the end, with the batting we have we could apply some pressure to their bowlers. I thought Maxi [Glenn Maxwell] and all the other guys at the end batted really well to get us to a great total. It was certainly good fun to watch. I was very happy being at the other end. He's a special player and that was a great innings from him."

Marsh and Maxwell added 109 for the fourth wicket at more than 12-an-over, with Marsh also having contributed to partnerships of 47 and 33 with Aaron Finch and George Bailey, respectively. He departed to a mis-hit to long-on in sight of his hundred, for 89, but still had enough energy to bowl five nippy overs and pick up the wicket of Sean Williams. There was no hint that Marsh's batting effort sapped his will to bowl - that he'd 'lost a yard'.

"I don't really have too many yards to work with to be honest, but I don't see that. I've got my body at the stage now where it's hopefully going to be able to handle the rigours of international cricket and if I stay on the park hopefully I can continue progressing."

It remains to be seen whether Marsh's top-order promotion will continue in the long term and he can emulate his cricketing hero, Jacques Kallis. But his productive start in the position will not have hurt his efforts. "In the practice game in Brisbane when I batted at three, Pup sort of said 'you've got an opportunity there now', so fingers crossed I can stick around. They've certainly shown a lot of faith in me, and hopefully I can repay that. I certainly feel like I'm ready to take up that challenge."

His job will become rather more daunting when Australia take on South Africa on Wednesday, with Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel returning to the fray. "It'll be a tough contest," Marsh said. "I'm certainly not scared or anything, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to face those guys. Hopefully I can play a role for the team."


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Namibia to host ICC WCL Division Two

The ICC has announced that Namibia has been selected to host ICC World Cricket League Division Two from January 17-24. The host side will be joined by Canada, Kenya, Netherlands and the top two teams promoted from Division Three in the six-team round-robin event. The ICC also reconfirmed that Uganda will remain host of Division Three, which is scheduled to be held from October 26-November 2, despite security concerns raised by the USA Cricket Association.

Division Two represents a major opportunity for Associates to improve their status as the first and second place teams at the event will qualify to take part in the next edition of the World Cricket League Championship 50-over competition for Associates as well as the four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup. Both competitions will begin later in 2015 and continue through 2017.

In addition to the top two teams from Division Two, the other teams that will feature in the next edition of the WCL Championship and Intercontinental Cup are Ireland, Afghanistan, Scotland, UAE, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea. Ireland and Afghanistan secured qualification to the 2015 World Cup by virtue of finishing first and second in the last edition of the WCL Championship.

Namibia and Kenya were the only two countries to submit bids to host Division Two with Canada and Netherlands unable to host during the northern hemisphere winter. Namibia previously hosted the inaugural WCL Division Two tournament in December 2007, which was won by Oman.


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Hales in as England attempt subtle evolution

England's selectors have given Alastair Cook their backing and he will have a new opening partner as the focus turns to a marathon of one-day cricket culminating in the World Cup

Hales celebrates England selection call with ton for Nottinghamshire

How many times in one summer should a captain be expected to save his job? In the eyes of England's selectors, probably only once. Alastair Cook re-established his authority as England's Test captain during their 3-1 defeat of India in the Investec Test series. His resilience could not have been clearer. It would be immensely wearying for him to imagine that he might have to do it all again.

In these days of split captaincy, securing a position as Test captain, however redoubtable the effort, is not automatically useful now England face seven months of unbroken ODI cricket, climaxed by the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Cook's Test career has always been his strongest suit. His place in the one-day side has been debated regularly. The debate will continue, even if only at a low level, but all the signs are that it is an irrelevant one.

He might have built a castle in the mountains only to find the next campaign is on the coast. But he has benefited from the examination of his captaincy credentials. His leadership is no longer an inheritance, it is now a thing of substance.

That England's selectors are intent on Cook leading England in the World Cup is apparent. Barring disasters, any debate is superfluous. The chance to make a change was now, ahead of a Royal London ODI series against India - the first of them in Bristol on Monday - more 50-over cricket in Sri Lanka before Christmas and a triangular series in Australia, with India the third participants, in the New Year.

But they had little heart for it, especially when one of the strongest candidates, Eoin Morgan, was having such a dismal time in charge of Middlesex. Instead they are calculating that signs of a new England Test side coming together will feed positively into the 50-over side.

The decision taken, the time has come for consistent planning. England can now commit time to addressing their long-perceived cricketing weaknesses in the 50-over format. No longer will they have to do this as an afterthought. It is what this run of one-day series was designed for.

"We haven't had this period ever - certainly not since I started - where you have had just one-day cricket for seven months," Cook said. "There's time to dedicate to practicing those skills that are needed for one-day cricket, especially the extra skills you need like in the Powerplay overs, both with bat and ball, and death bowling. And that is what we will need to do if we are to have a chance of winning the World Cup in what will be good conditions for us."

Changes are subtle ones. Cook will have a new opening partner in Alex Hales, who he suggested would be given the entire series to prove himself. Ian Bell is also scheduled to bat at No. 3. Hales gives England more energy at the top of the order, but it is his ability to make hundreds - four of them in 50-over cricket in the wink of an eye - which has finally persuaded England's selectors to turn to him.

 
 
"He is a different batter to the other guys - he hits the ball incredibly hard, in different areas, with an unorthodox technique" Alastair Cook on Alex Hales
 

Cook will benefit from the change, but he knows he cannot regard Hales' presence as permission to potter on at whatever rate he chooses. A captain with a career strike rate in ODIs of 78 runs per 100 balls has been paired with a young buck with a List A strike rate of 100. But Cook is keen to point out that since his return to England's ODI side, his strike rate is above 80 runs per 100 balls. He knows that cannot be allowed to diminish.

"I don't think it changes my role," he said, of Hales' inclusion. "The job of the top four or five is to try and score a hundred and win the game, by setting up the game. You have to try and do it in your way. What's pleasing about Alex over the last month or so is that he has scored four centuries for Nottinghamshire and at a good rate too.

"He is a different batter to the other guys - he hits the ball incredibly hard, in different areas, with an unorthodox technique. He's done really well in T20 cricket and he's got the opportunity over these five games to show us what he can do in 50-over cricket."

Suggestions of a major overhaul of the ODI squad were wide of the mark. The only obvious victim is Ravi Bopara and because of his all-round ability with bat and ball, his absence causes England immediate selection problems.

The exclusion of Bopara essentially commits England to a five-bowler strategy for the World Cup, believing that a phalanx of high-quality seamers is their strongest chance of belying their outsiders status in Australia and New Zealand with a strong challenge.

Hales' inclusion must therefore impact on a batsman. As unlikely as it seems, with Bell earmarked for No. 3, Gary Ballance or Joe Root could be in contention for the No. 4 spot, followed by Eoin Morgan, either Moeen Ali or Ben Stokes as an allrounder, and the wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Bristol has had a welcome makeover, so becoming the latest England ground to make definite advances in the past decade or so, but for all that it remains England's most rudimentary international venue. It does not immediately strike you as a place where successful World Cup campaigns are first bedded in, and England do not strike many as potential World Cup winners. It is time for them to try to change that perception.


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CPL committee rubberstamps result of disputed final

The Caribbean Premier League's (CPL) cricket tournament committee has ruled that match referee Denavon Hayles properly applied the relevant rules in the rain-hit CPL final on August 16, which Barbados Tridents won by 8 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method. In a release announcing the committee's finding, the CPL also confirmed that Guyana Amazon Warriors had indeed filed a complaint - as was widely speculated in the media following the match - "with regard to the outcome of the final".

It is understood that Amazon Warriors had issues with the officials' application of the rules regarding the time allotted for the match in the face of several rain delays. The committee had decided on the matter after reviewing the match referee's report and "the arguments raised by the Guyana Amazon Warriors in their several written representations". It could now be escalated to the ICC, though, if the "contending parties" wanted as much, the CPL release said.

"Having carefully considered the report of the match referee and the arguments raised by the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the [committee] has concluded that there are no grounds for the result of the final to be reversed or nullified," chairman of the cricket tournament committee, PJ Patterson, said, adding that the image of the tournament should not be muddied. "The CPL has succeeded in reinvigorating the passion for cricket across the region and has in two short years established its own distinctive brand and earned exciting market appeal. Nothing must be done to impair its image or erode its credibility."

In the rain-marred match, Tridents got to 152 for 6. Amazon Warriors had batted out 15.5 overs in the chase when the rain came down again, and play was eventually ended there.


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'We're building towards the World Cup' - Bravo

West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo has already shifted focus to the 2015 World Cup after having the ODI series against Bangladesh in the bag with a match to spare. They have been ruthless at beating the visitors so far, crushing them by 177 runs in the previous game.

Before the World Cup next year, West Indies have two more five-match ODI series against India and South Africa but Bravo is urging his team to start looking forward with him from now.

"We just want to focus on one game at a time," Bravo said. "We won the series but we want to improve on our last performance and improve as a team. If we win the next game, it is a whitewash but that is not the only reason we are playing tomorrow.

"We are building towards the 2015 World Cup so we are trying to play as much cricket as a group and win as many games as possible. We want to be the best ODI team as we can be. We will keep encouraging the guys to achieve greatness."

The home side have added Andre Russell as the 14th member of the ODI squad, on the back of his impressive all-round performance in the CPL where he batted ten innings at a 200-plus strike-rate with two fifties. He also took 11 wickets at a 22.81 bowling average.

"It is a decision by the selectors to add Andre Russell in the squad," Bravo said. "We all know his all-round abilities and I personally feel he is one of the best allrounders in the region.

"I am always happy to have someone like Andre among the squad. It is good, gives us a lot of competition as well in the unit. His off-the-field attitude is good as well. Guys know they have to perform to stay in the team. Happy to see him around and the best XI will play tomorrow."

Bravo himself has had a lean time with the bat, scoring just 5 and 6 in the two matches. His bowling has been good, taking a four-wicket haul in the first game.

He said that the wicket at Warner Park, despite a reputation of being a batting paradise, could be weary after the CPL.

"Having played there in the CPL, I think the wicket might be a bit tired now," he said. "But at the same time, it is always a good cricket wicket here."


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Hughes left out despite Clarke injury

Phillip Hughes has been surprisingly left out of Australia's side for their first one-day international against Zimbabwe despite captain Michael Clarke being ruled out with a hamstring injury. Australia have instead chosen a team very heavy on all-round options and bowlers, with eight men a chance of bowling at some stage during the first match.

When Clarke was ruled out, Hughes had appeared the logical inclusion from a squad light on specialist batsmen, especially given his outstanding recent form for Australia A. But Brad Haddin now seems the likely opening partner for Aaron Finch with George Bailey, Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell expected to fill out the remaining places in the top five.

Mitchell Marsh will most likely come in at No.6, with James Faulkner and Mitchell Johnson providing further all-round options lower down. And while men such as Marsh and Faulkner have strong batting records in domestic one-day matches, it does not augur well for Hughes' World Cup hopes that he has not managed to squeeze in to Australia's side under these circumstances.

"Looking at the wicket today, we've opted to go with the spin option of Nathan Lyon along with the extra allrounder to add further depth to our batting line-up which means that Phil Hughes has unfortunately missed out on selection," the coach Darren Lehmann said.

Australia will have five pace options for Monday's match, which will also be the first ODI in nearly two and a half years for Lyon, who has generally been considered a Test specialist. However, with the conditions in Harare likely to provide some turn, Lehmann expects that Maxwell and Smith will both play a role at the bowling crease during the tournament.

"Very much so, Ww want them bowling at a higher level - they know that and they've been working really hard," Lehmann said. "Nathan's in the squad because he's an attacking spinning option which is important for us as well. The wickets look pretty good, I played here years ago and it was a good track.

"It probably spun a bit more in the mornings and then flattened out in the afternoon a bit. I think it will be a case that as the tournament goes on, spin will play more of a part."


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Woakes denies Flintoff as Birmingham win Blast

Warwickshire 181 for 5 (Evans 53) beat Lancashire 177 for 8 (Brown 55, Hannon-Dalby 3-31) by four runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Highlights: Birmingham clings on late to hold off Lancashire by four runs in NatWest T20 Blast Final

In the end, it came down to a battle between the past and the future. With the bat we had Andrew Flintoff, an England allrounder with an illustrious past, on the ground where he had produced some of his most memorable displays. With the ball we had Chris Woakes, an England allrounder at the start of his international career, on his home ground. Fourteen were required from the final over.

They are very different characters. While Flintoff appears to enjoy the spotlight, Woakes is modest and soft spoken. While Flintoff's reputation is all extravagant sixes and spells of blistering pace, Woakes' is about maintaining pressure and contributing to partnerships. While Flintoff gained the biggest cheers of the night, Woakes was quietly appreciated by supporters who have come to trust his ability to perform, with bat and ball, under pressure. You might even say that Flintoff is the showman and Woakes the diligent clerk.

It seemed fate had already decreed this was to be Flintoff's night. He had already taken a key wicket, Ian Bell, with his first ball of the match having only been drafted into the game as a late replacement when Kabir Ali suffered a recurrence of a shoulder problem. And he had just heaved the final two balls he had faced in the previous owner for six. Once he got himself back on strike by rushing through for a bye from the first ball of the final over it seemed destiny might be calling.

But Woakes, bowling with good pace and nailing his yorker time and again, was not to be denied. Perhaps Flintoff, in his prime, might have managed to find the boundary from one of the next three balls. Perhaps Flintoff, before the knee trouble and the five years away from the game, might have been able to turn for a second run from the fourth ball of the final over to get back on strike.

Instead, it was the younger man who prevailed. Woakes, holding his nerve and a ball becoming more slippery in the evening dew, hardly gave the older man a chance. He conceded only nine from the over - eight from the bat - and Birmingham won the NatWest T20 Blast for the first time.

It will be little consolation to Lancashire right now but, one day in the future, they will reflect on their part on a wonderfully entertaining day of T20 cricket. We saw powerful, inventive batting, we saw skilful, clever bowling, we saw - one or two dropped chances aside - some committed, athletic fielding. And all in front of a good-humoured, full house. If T20 is the shop window to the sport, this must be considered a thoroughly successful day.

In the shorter term, this result will hurt. They have now lost three finals and 11 semi-finals since 1998 and may feel that they enjoyed little fortune. Certainly Paul Horton might consider himself unfortunate to have been given out caught behind, though that is no excuse for his unusually sustained act of dissent towards the umpire that followed. Disciplinary action in the form of a Level Two charge is inevitable. "I was out of order," Horton admitted afterwards. "Sometimes these things happen in the heat of the moment, but it's no excuse. I showed dissent and I've accepted my penalty."

The evening started well for Lancashire, after an accomplished performance in the semi-final. Flintoff dismissed Bell early and Steven Croft delivered four of the most frugal overs of the evening with his mix of offspin and floaters. Birmingham thrashed 63 from the Powerplay overs, as an out-of-sorts James Anderson took particular punishment, but could then add only 60 in 10 overs in mid-innings as Lancashire's spinners gradually took control .

But 58 runs from the final four overs of the Birmingham innings changed everything. Man of the Match was Birmingham's Laurie Evans who, after a slow start, contributed a brilliant half-century. Having laboured for 16 balls over his first 11 runs, his next 13 brought 42 as he demonstrated his power, his fast hands and his excellent eye in hitting four sixes in 10 balls at one stage. An England T20 call-up in the coming days should notbe ruled out.

It is remarkable how fortunes can fluctuate. Only a couple of weeks ago, Evans was close to leaving the club for a fresh start at Nottinghamshire. And, when he dropped a relatively straightforward chance off Karl Brown when the batsman had scored just one, he feared, in his words "I was going to be the villain of the day, the man who dropped the T20 trophy."

But there were several heroes in the Birmingham performance. There was the captain, Varun Chopra, who remained cool throughout the Flintoff barrage and contributed 30 brisk runs of his own. There was Rikki Clarke, the great England allrounder than never was, contributing solid performances with bat and ball. There was Boyd Rankin, who bowled with pace and hostility on a sluggish surface to put the squeeze on the opposition. There was Woakes who, apart from his nerveless final over, dismissed the dangerous Brown with a yorker

And there was the gentle-paced giant Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who might not have played had Birmingham had a full-strength side to pick from and, until he conceded 12 from his final two balls, had bowled with admirable calm and control.

This victory is notable, even for a club of Warwickshire's size and history. Not only do they have a modest record in the format, and had not reached Finals Day since the first year of the competition in 2003, but they were without two of their leading seamers (Chris Wright and Keith Barker) and were unsettled by the news earlier this week that the club captain, Jim Troughton, had been forced to retire due to a long-standing back injury. They also took the brave and somewhat controversial decision to drop Jonathan Trott from their side.

Furthermore, it seemed they were destined to be knocked out in the early stages. Had Nottinghamshire not beaten Yorkshire in the final group game, Warwickshire's late run of good results in winning their final three group games would have been irrelevant. As it was, they have now won six T20 games in succession and, for the first time, are domestic T20 champions.

It is 20 years since a Warwickshire side coached by Bob Woolmer and including Brian Lara and Dermot Reeve won three major trophies in the season. While it is probably premature to talk of a repeat this season, it is worth noting that Warwickshire remain in contention in both of the other competitions.


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Derbyshire win race for Pujara

Derbyshire have agreed terms with Cheteshwar Pujara that will see the Indian Test batsman further his education in English conditions by playing the last three Championship fixtures of the season. Pujara's signing remains subject to final approval from the BCCI and successful registration.

Pujara has already returned to India after the Test series while awaiting the prospect of a few late-season matches. Derbyshire's announcement will frustrate Leicestershire, the Second Division's bottom club, who had been fancied to win his signature.

Marcus North, the former Australia batsman, will remain with Derbyshire and play in the List A competition, while Pujara will play in the four remaining four-day first-class games that Derbyshire have this season.

Pujara already has happy memories of the Derby ground. He made 81 against Derbyshire in July during a three-day tour match. He would have little clue of the problems which would follow as he hit 222 runs with a highest score of 55 in a five-Test series taken 3-1 by England.

Graeme Welch, Derbyshire's elite performance director, said: "Pujara will give a welcome boost to the dressing room in the Championship run-in. We're an ambitious club with a developing group of players and we know that joining our dynamic squad will give Pujara exactly the experience he is looking for."

"Dynamic" has not been a word readily associated with Derbyshire this season as they have struggled to put together impressive form after their relegation last season.

Derbyshire's chief executive, Simon Storey said: "We've been focused on delivering a long-term legacy from the visit of the Indian tourist side in July. Our newly-formed Cricket Derbyshire India Club has been instrumental in supporting our efforts to secure Pujara and we hope the opportunity to watch such an accomplished India Test performer play county cricket here will inspire even more local cricket fans to join us."


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Flintoff almost relives the glory

Freddie Flintoff will always be a cricketing hero. As close as he came to conjuring up the NatWest Blast title for Lancashire, he was just a hero no longer in his time

Freddie runs around to his right, he picks up the ball, he aims his throw, and then he holds the ball. There is no magic run out chance. There is no need for the hero pose. This isn't his time. This isn't that Freddie.

Freddie is still big. You can't confuse him with any of the other Lancashire players in the warm up. That tree trunk body, that off kilter stance, the massive shoulders, the blonde hair, the rocking shoulder movement, the John Wayne run up and the heavy ball. Although, the heavy ball seems lighter in the warm up.

Freddie is warming up in full reds. He's shadow boxing with Adam Hollioake, hugging Charlie Dagnall, and giggling with Luke Wright. If he's nervous, there is no sign of it. In the batting warm ups he's playing straight drives, but misses the net by several metres on one. In the fielding practice he puts in the least effort he can without annoying the fielding coach.

Freddie heads off for the final preparation of the game. HE stops to chat to more friends. Everyone gets a chat and a soul brother handshake. As he hits the steps he signs autographs and poses for photos.

Freddie is only playing because Kabir Ali, who was preferred in the semifinal, is injured. Kabir Ali was born injured. Kabir Ali will be injured after he's dead. But this injury has given one last Hero chance for Freddie. It is, for the occasion, a perfect injury.

Freddie retired exactly five years ago today. He still gets a bigger cheer than Jimmy Anderson when his name is read out. His cheer is even bigger than the boos KP got. He might be old, he might be a semi-successful Reality TV show host, he might be a media whore, but he's still Freddie. It's only a few kids under 10 who seem confused why this bloke who's played two matches this season seems so popular.

Freddie starts off in the slips. Where he did some of his best work. He walks up to the crease to do his run up in between balls. He does it gingerly with a tip-toeing pigeon step. As the ball is delivered, he jumps into a sumo wrestler pose waiting for the edge. Looking for that one-handed glory. So he can look nonchalant about it seconds later.

Freddie only looks nervous when he's about to bowl. Paul Horton talks to him about the field, but Freddie looks distracted. Varun Chopra tries to move some of the crowd, and Freddie just wants to bowl. Just get that first one under the belt.

Freddie finally bowls. It is a slow ball on a decent length. Ian Bell hits it straight up in the air. Karl Brown races back at mid on. Freddie watches on. Brown has a lot of time to cover a lot of ground. He gets there. Freddie's arms go straight into his saviour pose. But there is no certainty to them; it's just muscle memory. Instead of looking nonchalant, he looks surprised at how he's ended with a wicket from such a slow length ball.

Freddie completes the over well, allowing only three runs from what is one of the slowest and most innocuous overs of the day. Freddie waves at the crowd, he plays with his cap over his face for someone. He's enjoying himself. He's no longer nervous.

Freddie chats to Jimmy about strategy before the next over. But his first ball is horror. It's the ball Freddie was worried about bowling before his first over. A slow waist-high full toss no ball that floats beautifully onto the bat and way over the rope. The next five balls only give up three runs. There are giggles and smiles between balls. It's still slow, and his trademark heavy balls are very light but it's good canny old guy bowling.

Freddie then ends with a half volley on off stump. Porterfield puts it into the crowd.

Freddie then travels from short fine to short fine. The old man position. He's not consulted on team strategy. He's just going from end to end. Picking up the odd ball off the thigh pad. Just a player that's not needed often.

Freddie does dive. He dives suddenly and athletically to his left. The ball has been flicked fast from outside offstump from Rikki Clarke, who did well to find Freddie's short-fine hiding spot. It hits his hand. It would have been tough in his prime. The ball dribbles off behind him. He's furious with himself. The next ball Clarke is bowled. Freddie shows more happiness at that than his wicket of Bell.

Freddie warms up. But Paul Horton doesn't respond. His bowling has looked hittable and medium. It doesn't seem like a plan, they just don't think he's the best option. The most movement he has after the drop is moving from short fine to long leg for one delivery.

Freddie will bat at nine. Freddie has batted six for England in Tests. He has more sixes than any other English batsman in Tests. He has made a run-a-ball 142 against South Africa. He has made two better than run-a-ball hundreds in ODI cricket. When Brad Hogg made his comeback, he gave up any pretention of being an all rounder. But he was really old, not just old in the ankles and knees like Freddie.

Freddie has a cameraman in front of him for most of the innings. This time it's not for a one liner, TV stunt or boxing match, he is actually expected to be able to do this. This is why he is famous. The problem with being a hero is that people expect you to be the hero. His bat rests on his shoulder, it's not his famous Woodworm. He looks nervous. He's shaking. But it is cold. Very cold. He shakes as Karl Brown gets Lancs close.

Freddie picks up his helmet before the bails hit the ground. It's all business. There is no show. No put on. He holds the bat by the base, like a club. His helmet has tape over the logo. He just wants to get out there and face. He pokes at the pitch, briefly, barely takes guard, and then awkwardly nudges for one. There are other singles as well. He now runs like an old man.

Freddie is three off three when Hannon-Dalby bowls a slow ball in the slot. Freddie times it. It jumps off his bat. It sails over the bowler. Over the long off. Over the rope. Over the photographers. Over the fence. Over three rows. Row 4. Six runs. Next ball it's a full toss, it's slapped low and hard to deep midwicket. Through the hand of a fielder, and into the shoulder of a security guard. He chats to Hannon-Dalby after the six. He's looking fired up now.

Freddie now doesn't look like a guy who has spent the last two weeks in the back of a fish and chip van. Freddie looks like a hero.

Freddie steals a bye from the non striker's end. He doesn't run quickly, he doesn't dive well, but he manages to make it over the line. Woakes laughs at him as he struggles to get up from the dirt. They need 13 runs off five balls. Freddie mishits twice. Both get him twos. Nine runs off three balls.

Freddie times the ball. But it's along the carpet and straight at a fielder. There is no six, four or even two. He's now off strike. But he stops Woakes from bowling and chats to the umpire. He then relays the information to Croft. It could have been important, but it looks like he is trying to put as much pressure on Woakes as he can without actually facing. Woakes bowls two good balls, Birmingham win.

Freddie completes the single and shakes the hands of the umpire. For a man of his talent, it's a modest bits-and-pieces game. And yet still, Freddie has almost won the game. He almost sucked the victory into his orbit. Just by being there.

Freddie is a marvel, even when he isn't. It was finals day, he wasn't even supposed to play, and even on the losing side at the non-striker's end, he is the story.

Freddie is besieged by Birmingham players straight after their initial celebration. They're not shaking the hand of an opposition player. They are shaking the hand of their hero. Freddie has almost won a game after five years out of the game against a bunch of kids who grew up watching him on TV. Every handshake confirms this more.

Freddie doesn't stand with his arms out as teammates drape themselves across him, he stands to the side and claps the winning side off the ground.

Freddie is still the hero. But it's not his time.


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Clarke could become a solo traveller

Michael Clarke has said he might need to consider arriving for future overseas tours ahead of his team-mates to allow himself extra time to ensure he is at full fitness. Clarke hurt his left hamstring on Friday at Australia's first training session in Zimbabwe and he believes he is vulnerable to injuries immediately after long-haul flights.

Last year, Clarke was ruled out of Australia's Champions Trophy campaign when his chronic back injury caused him problems upon arriving in England. He said that while Australia's next tour to the UAE should not be an issue - the series starts with a T20 that he would not play in any case, giving him extra preparation time - future tours could require him to travel ahead of his team-mates.

"It's only taken 12 years to work it out," Clarke told reporters in Harare. "What I've learned through my career is that I probably need more time than most in regards to the gap between getting off a plane and training at full intensity. If it means I have to fly a couple of days earlier than the boys on the long trips then that's what I've got to do.

"It's hard because I'm a big believer in travelling with the team. Generally when I travel to the UK there aren't too many times that I haven't got injured at the start of the series and I'm normally at my most vulnerable at the start of a series. I think I've got to be smarter with that, or at least try and work out how I can travel with the team but also do what's best to make sure I can play that first game."

Next year could be particularly gruelling for Clarke, with Australia set for a Test tour of the West Indies, followed by another Ashes tour of England, before heading to Bangladesh for Tests in October. With such a heavy schedule over the next 18 months, the Australians appear unlikely to take any risks with Clarke, which could mean he misses Monday's tri-series opener against Zimbabwe.

Coach Darren Lehmann said he considered Clarke a 50-50 prospect to take the field on Monday.

"He's desperate to play," Lehmann said. "We're obviously desperate for our captain to play full-stop so hopefully he'll get through [today's] session and we'll make a decision from there."


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