Bowlers take Tallawahs to convincing win

Jamaica Tallawahs 97 for 2 (Walton 43*, Gayle 37) beat Antigua Hawksbills 96 (Vettori 3-14) by eight wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

The decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired in spectacular fashion for the Antigua Hawksbills as they stumbled their way to 96 all out before the Jamaica Tallawahs cantered to an eight-wicket victory at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. The Tallawahs move to 2-0 with the win and continue to look as sharp as their title-winning squad from a year ago. Meanwhile the Hawksbills, who missed the playoffs last year, remain winless and could be in for a rough season.

The Hawksbills suffered their first setback in the second over when opener Shacaya Thomas was trapped in front for 1 playing across the line to Jerome Taylor. Hawksbills captain Marlon Samuels looked unflustered by the early loss and hit Taylor for boundaries off three consecutive deliveries, a pair through fine leg followed by a lofted drive over cover, later in the over. The early burst was halted at the start of the third when Samuels was pinned on the back foot by a quicker ball from Daniel Vettori. The frame ended as a wicket maiden when Danza Hyatt played down the wrong line to Vettori for the third lbw decision of the innings to make it 15 for 3 and the Hawksbills struggles only got worse from there.

After brief resistance was offered by Ben Dunk and David Hussey, Rusty Theron came on and struck in the eighth over to bowl Hussey for 15 with a fullish length ball that kept a touch low. Vettori got back into the fray in the ninth while fielding at short fine leg as he seized on some confusion between Dunk and Devon Thomas between the wickets, firing a throw to Carlton Baugh over the stumps at the striker's end to remove Dunk for 12.

Two overs later, Thomas attempted to sweep left-arm spinner Nikita Miller but a top edge went straight to Owais Shah at short fine leg to make it 51 for 6. It was the only caught dismissal of the innings. Carlos Brathwaite missed a flick across the line to give Vettori his third wicket in the 14th before Sheldon Cottrell was bowled in the following over by a yorker from Andre Russell for an innings high score of 21. Russell was on a hat trick after gaining the Tallawahs fourth lbw decision of the match with a full and straight delivery that was too good for Ben Laughlin to make it 80 for 9.

Miguel Cummins and Brad Hogg managed to squeeze out 16 runs between them before another yorker from Taylor accounted for Cummins to wrap up the innings in just 18.3 overs. Vettori finished with 3 for 13 in his four-over spell and later received Man-of-the-Match honors for his efforts.

Chris Gayle and Chadwick Walton negotiated the swing provided by the new ball during the first three overs taking their side to 14 for 0. Gayle started to open up at the end of the fourth over smashing Samuels' offspin down the ground and into the sightscreen for his first six before the opening pair tore into Cummins in the fifth for 22 runs to take the score to 45 for 0. Gayle ended the over with back-to-back blasts for six over midwicket.

The Hawksbills had a glimmer of hope in the ninth when Gayle miscued a slower ball from Brathwaite to Samuels at short midwicket for 37. Jermaine Blackwood fell two balls later without scoring when a short ball was gloved to the keeper Thomas to make it 62 for 2. Hogg entered the attack two balls later to start the ninth with his left-arm wrist spin but his first ball was a half-tracker and was duly disposed over long-on for six by Walton. Hogg found his length for the start of the 12th, but it didn't matter for Walton, who shuffled down the track and lofted him over long-off for another six.

Walton and Adam Voges combined for an unbroken 35-run stand to end the match with Walton finishing the job by striking the winning runs with a pulled four over midwicket three balls into the 15th over. Voges finished 12 not out while Walton was unbeaten on 43 with two fours and three sixes.

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England squander golden opportunity

They wasted the new ball, they dropped chances and they reverted to the type of tactics that made little use of the sort of pitch of which England seamers should dream

#politeenquiries: England's tactics to tailenders?

Statistics are, very often, misleading. Just as the average person has one breast and one testicle, so scorecards can provide an inaccurate picture of a day's play.

A glance at the scorecard from the first day of the second Investec Test might lead you to conclude that England had bowled pretty well. You might conclude that James Anderson had been tight, that Stuart Broad had been probing and that Liam Plunkett and Ben Stokes had lent disciplined support.

But the truth is England squandered a golden opportunity. They wasted the new ball, they dropped chances and they reverted to the type of tactics that made little use of the sort of pitch of which England seamers should dream. They bowled substantially worse than they had at Trent Bridge.

They had, at last, a green pitch offering carry. They had, at last, an opportunity to test an Indian batting line-up who have questions to answer against the moving ball. And they had a muggy morning on which to bowl. They could - should - have seized this series by the neck and bowled out India for under 200. As it is, India have already recorded their highest first innings total in a Test at Lord's and built a challenging platform.

England wasted their chance. With conditions at their most helpful, England's most experienced seamers bowled too short and too wide. Only one delivery in the first 10 overs would have hit the stumps and, though James Anderson's first five overs were maidens, not a single delivery in them would have bowled a batsman. The Indians were, on the whole, delighted to leave them and see the danger subside.

England's tactics were, at times, baffling. If the sight of Plunkett, on a green surface, banging in the ball with three men out for the hook was frustrating, the sight of Anderson, the man who has taken more Test wickets in England than anyone in history, the man who has the most Test wickets at Lord's, the man who had the second new ball, bowling to India's No. 10 with six - yes, six - men out on the boundary was utterly baffling.

In such helpful conditions - the conditions England have said they wanted for weeks - all the bowlers needed to do was pitch the ball up, bowl at the stumps and allow the swing and the tentative Indian batting to do the rest. But, perhaps through impatience, perhaps through a lack of confidence, perhaps unable to adapt to the conditions after a succession of slow, low surfaces, England bowled short and wide and failed to make the Indian batsmen play at enough deliveries.

There can be no excuses. England's attack leaders have more than 600 Test wickets and 150 Test caps between them. They have, in David Saker, an experienced bowling coach who must surely have suggested they target the stumps more frequently. They were brought up on pitches like this and have the experience to adapt. And, if weariness is a legitimate excuse in the final session, they might reflect that, had they bowled better in the first two hours, they might have had their feet up by tea.

The frustration was that, when they did pitch the ball up, the wickets soon followed. Virat Kohli was the victim of a fine delivery that forced a stroke but then left him to take the edge, while MS Dhoni pushed at a ball he could have left and Murali Vijay played across one. Indeed, when Stuart Binny was the unfortunate victim of an umpiring error, it reduced India to 145 for 7 and left England on the brink of a decent result despite their own modest performance.

	Evidence is mounting that Matt Prior is no longer able to do what he could before. His misses are no longer aberrations. They are occurring too often and costing England too much

But they failed to take advantage. Plunkett was inexplicably instructed to bowl around the wicket and test the batsmen with short bowling - deliveries that were later dismissed as "a little bit easy" by Ajinkya Rahane - and Broad, despite the trouble he caused when he hit a good length, also banged in far too many deliveries. Rahane, leaving well but brutal on anything short, responded with a masterful century that may yet prove the defining contribution in this game.

"There is a bit of frustration," Stokes admitted afterwards. "The last session has turned things around a bit. We were extremely unlucky.

"We were pretty happy with our lengths, but our lines could have been better. We talked about it and corrected it. And we had them 140 for 7. So, on the positive side, we keep knocking over their top order."

If such words seem somewhat delusional, the fault was not all England's bowlers. They also suffered, once again, from poor support from their wicketkeeper, Matt Prior, who put down two chances and conceded his 50th bye of the Test summer in the evening session. Such a number includes, inevitably, some deliveries speared down the leg side which no keeper could prevent, but that by no means accounts for all of them.

Prior has enjoyed an illustrious career. He was a key part of the team that rose to No. 1 in the Test rankings and nobody doubts his commitment to the cause. To see him struggling, through no lack of good intentions or hard work, to maintain the standards he once set brings no pleasure.

But cricket can be brutal. And the evidence is mounting that he is no longer able to do what he could before. His misses are no longer aberrations. They are occurring too often and costing England too much. If Jos Buttler is not ready for Test cricket - and it would be asking a lot of a man who has been a first choice wicketkeeper at his county for less than four months - England may well have to turn to James Foster or Chris Read as an interim.

The first chance Prior missed here - Murali Vijay before he had scored - was familiar: it was low and it was to his right. It was, by a generous assessment, the fifth such chance he has failed to take this summer (there have been two other chances which have been closer to his body), with the suspicion mounting that his creaking frame is unable to move quickly enough to low chances to sustain a career at this level.

It might seem that neither chance - the second one a straightforward outside edge offered by Kohli in Moeen Ali's first over - cost England. But in conditions that eased, reprieving Vijay and Kohli allowed Rahane and the lower order to come in against tiring bowlers and a softer ball.

England may also have squandered the best time to bat. By the close of play, a few balls appeared to be keeping low and, if the sun continues to bake this pitch, uneven bounce may become a serious impediment. If they find themselves chasing a challenging fourth innings target, they will only have themselves to blame.

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Rahane quietly bedding in as India's No. 6

Tough enough to score crucial runs, prepared for innings that don't have proper structure, content with not cashing in on flat ones, Ajinkya Rahane could be just the man for India

Highlights: Rahane century keeps second Test even on Day 1 at Lord's

When little Ajinkya Rahane used to lug his cricket kit in crowded Bombay local trains, from Dombivli to Victoria Terminus, an hour in fast services, longer in the slow one that stops at every station, it is highly unlikely he wanted to become a No. 6 batsman.

Fathers don't tell their kids, "Son, my only dream is to see you bat at No. 6." No. 6 is not sexy. You don't face the bowlers at their freshest, you don't get to set the tone, you are just reacting to the stage that has been set for you, sometimes really tough conditions even settle down by the time you come in to bat. When the pitch is easy you hardly get to bat; when the pitch is difficult, you get the tail for company. Your No. 6 has to be tough enough to score crucial runs, prepared for innings that don't have proper structure, content with not cashing in on flat ones, and happy with the opener or the No. 4 being the man.

Rahane, although an opener by training, might just be that man for India. He scored this Lord's hundred - special because everybody he knew built Lord's up massively by Wednesday night - from No. 5, but he is a No. 6 for all practical purposes: MS Dhoni comes in immediately after him. That century scored, rescuing India from 145 for 7, Rahane sought to sit back and deflect attention onto others. He kept repeating the innings was thanks to the top-order batsmen who had seen off the most difficult conditions. He thanked Bhuvneshwar Kumar for sticking around with him.

But if you looked up at the players' balcony when he brought up the hundred, with a push for four off James Anderson, England's best bowler and the bowler whose behaviour India have complained officially against, the sight of every member of the squad applauding that hundred told you he was the man. He had weathered the storm, shown enough discipline to score just one run behind square on the off side, played some gorgeous push-drives before lofting Anderson for a delightful six over long-on.

On Wednesday night Rahane had been nervous. Everyone kept reminding him how special a Lord's century could be. He had himself played a nervous shot to get out in the second innings of the last Test, just a nervous poke at a delivery he could have left alone. Rahane is prone to that. He is a nervous starter. He needs to watch for that push lacking intent early in the innings. This was Lord's, the ball was swinging and seaming, and wickets were tumbling at the other end.

Rahane did show signs of those nerves at the start; his first three balls: an edge that fell short of the cordon, beaten outside off, a single off the inside edge. But in the 37th over things clicked. He had faced nine balls by then. Now he began to get a solid forward stride in, and drove at a wide half-volley with an open face. Later in that over, he pushed one down the ground for four. The innings was underway, except that by the time he had faced 38 balls, Rahane had lost Cheteshwar Pujara and Dhoni. Now he would need to change his game.

Rahane didn't change. With every new batsman he had a chat. Were they comfortable if he took the single early in the over? It took you back to that endearing conversation he had with Ishant Sharma in Durban, with the latter saying he didn't want to face Dale Steyn. There, Rahane fell two short of what would have been a maiden century. He says he has made an attempt to not think of the hundred after that.

Ravindra Jadeja and Stuart Binny could not keep him company for long, but Rahane found an ally in Bhuvneshwar, who nearly scored a third fifty of this series. Like VVS Laxman before him, Rahane trusts tailenders, and doesn't try to hog the strike unless they ask him to. He also says he has been watching videos of Michael Hussey to learn how to bat with the tail. One of the important skills while batting with the tail is to be able to play big shots. You never know if the next over will leave you stranded.

Rahane has made that addition to his game of late. About three years ago, some domestic stalwarts used to fear Rahane would not make it because he did not have the bottle or the big shots. In this innings he showed he had both. Bottle in surviving the early spell, big shots when England were waiting for the new ball. His fifty came in the 71st over of the innings with the new ball almost certain to inflict damage. But by the time the new ball came, Rahane had raced along to 74, cutting Liam Plunkett in front of square repeatedly to avoid the third man trap, and pulling him emphatically.

When the new ball arrived, Rahane went after Anderson. Four, six, and he is 88. Four, four, and 98. Discipline, timing, placement, power, aggression had all been on display. When he reached the hundred, Rahane didn't make a big deal out of it. He showed more emotion when Bhuvneshwar got out, to a bit of a shooter. Bhuvneshwar was half way off the ground when Rahane caught up with him, patted his back, a little thank you there, and a big thank you in the press conference. This No. 6 is quietly bedding in.

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Sammy signs with Hobart Hurricanes

Darren Sammy, the West Indies Twenty20 captain, will make his BBL debut this coming summer after signing with the Hobart Hurricanes. Sammy is expected to be available for the first six matches of the tournament before joining West Indies for their training camp ahead of the 2015 World Cup.

Sammy was captain of West Indies in all formats until last year, when Dwayne Bravo was handed control of the ODI side, and Denesh Ramdin became Test captain earlier this year. However, Sammy remains in charge of the West Indies T20 outfit. He will join England's Alex Hales as the two international signings for the Hurricanes in 2014-15.

"With players like George Bailey, Alex Hales and Ben Dunk, there is a lot of exciting talent in the team already," Sammy said. "I am really looking forward to coming to Tasmania and taking part in the Big Bash League.

"I have heard so much about coach [Damien] Wright, he seems like a West Indian, very cool and an amazing fellow. A few of my [West Indian] team-mates might also be playing in the Big Bash League so I'm looking forward to the contest with them."

Sammy's lower-order striking has made him a dangerous batsman in the shorter formats and his canny bowling has allowed him to take 99 T20 wickets at 25.18 with an economy rate of 7.37. Wright said Sammy would be a fine addition to the Hurricanes' line-up.

"He's a really talented cricketer who can do a little bit of everything," Wright said. "He's a great leader as well and he's been captain of the West Indies for a number of years now also captaining the team for the T20 World Cup in 2012. Sammy will give us that lower-order hitting too which is something we didn't quite have last season."

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Pietersen cameo keeps up Surrey hopes

Surrey 137 for 7 (Pietersen 39, Waller 2-24) beat Somerset 136 for 9 (Trego 30, Dunn 3-8) by three wickets
Scorecard

The scrimmage for the quarter-final berths in the ultra-competitive South Group is becoming increasingly fraught. Having coasted into a position of influence, Surrey's hopes of advancing had suffered a setback of late but Kevin Pietersen played his most significant hand to date with an assured cameo to ensure his side were on the right side of the fine margins this time around. They are now within touching distance of the knock-out stages.

If things had been different, Pietersen would have been across the other side of the capital resting up on the eve of a Test match. As it was, he - for the first time this season - showed why many regard the ECB's decision to discard him as risible. Two trademark cover drives had the crowd purring and Surrey motoring in pursuit of Somerset's 136 for 9.

But his dismissal, succumbing to spin on a surface conducive to slow, take-all-the-pace-off bowling for 39, opened a window of opportunity for the visitors. But, unlike Surrey's astute operators, Somerset weren't able to apply the stranglehold to induce a middle-order wobble.

Pietersen powerfully cut Max Waller to the boundary first ball of the tenth over but fell next delivery, attempting to replicate the stroke. When Robin Peterson haphazardly ran himself out in comical circumstances after a mix-up with Azhar Mahmood, a tense silence engulfed a sold-out Oval as another edgy finale loomed.

But, with the equation set at ten required off two overs, Somerset were up against it and a couple of lusty blows from Chris Tremlett was enough. Had Marcus Trescothick - playing as a makeshift wicketkeeper in the absence of Craig Kieswetter - been able to throw down middle stump or Colin Ingram manage to scamper around from long-on to snaffle Mahmood in the final overs, things may have finished differently - but such are the fine margins in the shortest format.

A two-wicket victory with a couple of deliveries to spare all but ends Somerset's hopes of finishing in the top four but ensures there is a realistic chance of another sell-out crowd at The Oval this season. True, there was no Jason Roy fireworks - he fell for just 4 in the first over - and a two-paced surface didn't allow flamboyant strokeplay but that suited the hosts.

Gary Wilson hardly had to affirm the inevitable when the coin landed in his favour but that alone doesn't guarantee his bowlers will execute the gameplan. Successive defeats hinted that their dependable strategy was unravelling.

Glamorgan's thrilling victory here five days ago apart, the team chasing at The Oval in the last ten domestic Twenty20 games had come away with the points and the hosts ensured Friday's blip in the trend was just that. True, they were aided by a surface fabricated to suit their strengths but isn't that what home advantage is about?

While it would be easy for Wilson to turn to his slower bowlers to roll their fingers over the ball on a two-paced surface for all 20 overs, he placed just as much faith in his battery of seamers. Matthew Dunn is another promising cab off the Surrey ranks and highlights that there is more to the club that meets the eye of many. An inspired spell of 3 for 8 proved decisive and enough for him to earn the plaudits.

Having being crashed to the fence first ball by Nick Compton, he stuck to his guns, bowling fast and full and was duly rewarded. Just as the visitors were beginning to motor, Compton played an atypically ugly heave to be caught at point. It was a needless shot as Somerset raced along at close to ten an over during the Powerplay.

To that point, he had crunched and punched four boundaries in quick succession as he took Tillakartne Dilshan for 13 in the first over; that was the last we saw of the Sri Lankan with the ball. But, Somerset were unable to attune themselves to the pitch and Surrey's astute methods. Their innings became stagnant fairly quickly after a brisk start.

By the time Dunn returned to bowl the penultimate over, the wheels had come off the innings. He The quashed any hopes of a late burst as James Hildreth was caught by Zafar Ansari and next delivery, he exhibited his unerringly accurate yorker - it was far too good for Tim Groenewald. Alas, the hat trick ball was safely negotiated by Waller. but Dunn had already inflicted the damage.

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England hit Jadeja with Level 2 charge

ECB to lodge Jadeja counter claim

India allrounder Ravindra Jadeja has been charged with a Level 2 offence under the ICC Code of Conduct for his alleged role in the incident involving England fast bowler James Anderson on the second day of the Trent Bridge Test. The charge against Jadeja was brought by England team manager Phil Neale, in response to India charging Anderson with a Level 3 offence.

"It is alleged that after the players left the public area and entered the pavilion [for lunch], Jadeja turned suddenly and took steps towards Anderson in an aggressive and threatening manner," the ICC said. Anderson is alleged to have abused and pushed Jadeja.

All Level 2 breaches carry a fine of between 50-100% of the match fee and/or up to two suspension points and come under the match referee's purview. Two suspension points equates to a ban of one Test, or two ODIs.

Jadeja was reported under Article 2.2.11, which states: "Where the facts of the alleged incident are not adequately or clearly covered by any of the above offences, conduct that either: (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute."

Echoing the initial ECB response to India's reaction to the incident, England captain Alastair Cook expressed surprise that the exchange had generated such a serious response, describing it as "a big mountain out of a molehill." The India captain MS Dhoni, however, suggested there had been physical contact and appreciated how Jadeja had handled the incident by not losing his cool.

The Indian team's complaint against Anderson was brought to the ICC's notice on Friday, July 11, around 24 hours after the incident. Before formal charges were laid against Anderson, it is understood an ICC lawyer flew to England on Friday and spoke to both sides to see if the issue could be resolved. Anderson faces a ban of at least two Tests if he is found guilty as the minimum sanction for a Level 3 violation is four suspension points and two points equates to missing one Test.

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Dhoni implacable on Anderson

James Anderson has riled many opponents in an illustrious Test career, but when it came to his disagreement with Ravindra Jadeja, India's captain MS Dhoni saw a chance to make a stand

ECB to lodge Jadeja counter claim

It is usually the other way around. MS Dhoni likes to keep his India team in a bubble, he does not acknowledge the grandness of things because he believes such an approach keeps them from performing at their best. WACA, Wankhede; Test, Twenty20 - they are all the same, or at least he tries to keep it that way until the games begin.

Yet in the middle of his press conference a day before the second Test of this series, Dhoni reminded the journalists: "Let's talk about Lord's. We all know the importance of Lord's." What irony.

This is, of course, Lord's. This is, of course, an important Test match, the second of a series that refused to take off in the first because of a drab pitch. But there was a reason Dhoni wanted to talk about Lord's.

This also involves two players who could be banned by the time the third Test starts. James Anderson could miss two to four, Ravindra Jadeja could miss one. They might not miss any. They might someday play for the same IPL team. They might even get into exhibition bouts once they are retired. One thing that will not emerge, however, is a boastful spat with two different versions such as in the altercation between Ian Chappell and Ian Botham.

The sketchiness of the legal language as the information emerges is quite laughable yet this is a serious matter that has potential of becoming messy. This is the first time an international player has been charged with a level 3 offence since 2007-08 when Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds collided. There is no video evidence here, which could make this one team's word against the other.

No one is talking facts right now, but what we know is this. On day two of the Trent Bridge Test, walking back for lunch, between the playing field and changing rooms, Anderson allegedly pushed Jadeja who had allegedly turned around suddenly in an aggressive manner. There had been continuous sledging in the last over before lunch when Jadeja survived an lbw shout. The ICC will now go through its process of appointing a commissioner to rule on the matter.

	Alastair Cook told BBC he will be surprised if Anderson is banned, an India squad member said off the record that Anderson toh ghus gaya. In essence: he is a goner.

The players and BCCI and ICC are giving out precious little, but what ESPNcricinfo has been able to establish is this. Dhoni initiated the process the next day, which was Friday. There was pressure from both respective boards, now part of the exclusive clique of three that runs international cricket, to resolve the issue without an official complaint, but Dhoni put his foot down.

An ICC lawyer travelled to England on Friday, but could not broker peace, and on Tuesday this charge became official. On Wednesday England responded with a level 2 charge against Jadeja. With video evidence lacking, India's witnesses have been Gautam Gambhir and R Ashwin. Both the sides are claiming off the record to have at least one clinching neutral witness on their side.

Alastair Cook told BBC he will be surprised if Anderson is banned, an India squad member said off the record that Anderson toh ghus gaya. In essence: he is a goner.

What we are getting from the two teams is inferences. Cook is saying this is India's way of eliminating England's best bowler, also the Man of the Match at Trent Bridge. There might be merit to this, what with India being the most powerful board and with Duncan Fletcher, who does not mind a bit of gamesmanship, as their coach. After all, aren't they trying to get the ODI playing conditions changed just before the World Cup because the new ones are hampering their slower bowlers?

Then again Dhoni's India are not known to playing cricket in this confrontational manner. At Trent Bridge, three years ago, he called back Ian Bell, who was well and fairly run out. In an ODI in Brisbane in 2011-12, they retracted a mankading appeal against Lahiru Thirimanne, who continued to back up too far in the same match, and whose team-mates incidentally mankaded an England batsman earlier this English summer.

When Dhoni was told of this Cook allegation, it was the first time he became expressive in an otherwise cool and collected press conference. He suggested Jadeja was the victim here, not Anderson. He also spoke of how at times in the past his team-mates have been goaded into ill-advised actions by the opposition's sledging. India are indignant in an enough-is-enough way. Another member of their touring party said: "This is like being blamed for coming to police when your house has been burgled."

This is not as ugly as the last time a level 3 offence was registered - and that could be because nobody has seen this - but it has similarities. Back then Anil Kumble went to the Australian dressing room, but Ricky Ponting would not have any of it. It is England this time who are aggrieved that this has become a big official issue.

Just like the two protagonists of Sydney 2007-08, the two individuals involved here have a history of rubbing opponents the wrong way, although this should in no way establish anyone's guilt or innocence.

Anderson is known to be a gentle person off the field, which comes across in his press conferences, but moody and confrontational on it. For some reason he ends up riling the opposition more than, say, Stuart Broad, who is far from mealy-mouthed on the field too. It was Anderson whose "f****** elbow" Michael Clarke wanted broken.

In Modern Masters, an ESPNcricinfo series on the 14 best bowlers he has faced, Rahul Dravid also said Anderson, verbally, the nastiest. Anderson has also bowled more Test overs - 996 - over the last two years than anyone in the world has; Broad is next with 826. He might have been near the edge.

Jadeja, he who turned around suddenly, is ironically not known for turning - he turns only the odd ball in a spell. He is ridiculed for having scored three first-class triple-centuries on flat pitches in India; he is not much of a batsman as we have seen. Yet India have insisted on him, and his bowling has shown merit enough to become a Test spinner.

He has a fat IPL contract with Dhoni's team, and is managed by Dhoni's best friend and manager. Cricket players are a small world, they notice these things, and they are not known for liking Jadeja much. If Anderson is the habitual sledger, Jadeja is that annoying successful and rich man who not many believe should be.

There is one dissimilarity from Sydney, though. No one is going to threaten to take his bat and ball and go home. These two are part of the Big Three. The cricketing world is not big enough to be able to have just one friend. This will end much more amicably.

The only positive to have come out of this is that two boards have left the cricketing issue to the cricketers, and have not pulled any punches. There have been some efforts to keep this down, but eventually the bosses have trusted the judgement of Dhoni and Cook in a cricketing matter that has the potential of souring their financial ties. One can always hope.

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Australia call on uncapped Beams

Legspinner Kristen Beams will be hoping to make her one-day international debut after being named in Australia's squad to take on Pakistan next month. Australia are hosting Pakistan for four ODIs and four Twenty20 internationals in Brisbane and the Gold Coast from August 21, and 13-player squads for the two series have now been named.

Beams was the leading wicket-taker in last summer's Women's National Cricket League with 14 victims at 13.21 and also impressed the selectors during tour matches against England last season.

The only inclusion from outside the T20 squad from the group that took out the World T20 title in Bangladesh in April was seamer Megan Schutt to replace Holly Ferling, who is recovering from a back injury. Nicole Bolton and Beth Mooney, who were in the World T20 squad, missed out on selection.

"This series against Pakistan will be a great challenge for our players and an opportunity to perform strongly in front of our home crowds which continue to support the development of the women's game," Julie Savage, the women's national selection panel chair, said.

"It is also the first series we have contested that will count towards qualification for the next ICC Women's World Cup. As the current title-holders, we are determined to ensure we qualify well for this event, so it is imperative our squad performs in this series and continues to play an exciting and entertaining style of cricket.

"In the one-day international area, it's exciting for Australian cricket to have a legspinner included in the squad. Kristen Beams performed extremely well at domestic level last season and thoroughly deserves this opportunity.

"Megan [Schutt] has been a consistent performer at domestic level for South Australia but hasn't been able to cement a spot in the starting XI for the Southern Stars so she will be itching for an opportunity and that pressure for positions is encouraging."

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Gurney's cover drive brings Read relief

Nottinghamshire 261 (Mullaney 82, Chapple 4-73, Smith 3-44) and 170 for 9 (Read 40*, Smith 3-38, Chapple 3-59) beat Lancashire 225 (Buttler 52, Adams 4-45) and 205 (Khawaja 53, Gurney 4-22, Fletcher 3-33) by one wicket
Scorecard

It was an astonishing afternoon when Lancashire found they had supporters in Leeds, a teatime when Nottinghamshire discovered temporary fans in Newcastle. Such are the transient fealties produced in the second half of the County Championship season when one team's result affects everyone else's fortunes.

When all was done, it was the Novocastrians who were celebrating on Tuesday evening after a tremendous cricket match had ended with Chris Read's team securing a nerve-shattering one-wicket victory which will live in everyone's memory utterly regardless of their loyalties.

Any relief on Tyneside or the banks of the Wear will be felt because Lancashire's defeat leaves the Old Trafford side 11 points adrift of seventh-placed Durham having played a game more. Yet the keenest joy will, of course, be felt in Nottinghamshire's cricketing heartlands like Caythorpe and Cuckney, for their county had completed a win which puts them 11 points clear of Somerset after 12 games and 16 ahead of Yorkshire, albeit that Andrew Gale's men have a game in hand.

Yet great matches also need great finishes and this contest filled that box with more ticks than one. Such matches also need a hero: this game provided many, but none more worthy of the laurels than the teak-tough Read. Needing 170 to win, Nottinghamshire were 119 for 7 when Luke Fletcher joined his skipper. The only time issue was whether the match would end on the third evening or not.

Coolly, the Nottinghamshire pair added 44 runs in 18 overs, Fletcher blocking capably and nudging singles where possible, Read batting with all the skill and nous Trent Bridge supporters know well and love greatly.

A three-wicket victory seemed very probable when Kabir Ali had Fletcher well-caught at third slip by Tom Smith. Enter Andre Adams, who can really only play in one uncomplicated way. A whacked four wide of mid-on and a skied two over Jos Buttler's head followed. Then Adams pulled his fifth ball from Ali to deep-backward square-leg, where Stephen Parry sprinted round and held a fine catch low down: 169 for 9. "When was the last tie in the Championship?" someone asked

That, though, was also the end of the over and the batsmen had crossed. Step forward Harry Gurney, who cover drove Chapple's first ball as stylishly as you like for a single. The Nottinghamshire players on the balcony of the Aigburth pavilion erupted in untrammelled joy. Who know what this win might mean in mellow September? Lancashire's players trooped off, although they may also have been contemplating the eventual results of defeat.

Read was unbeaten on 40, his runs accumulated over 117 minutes off 66 balls. "It was relief in the end," said the captain when queried as to his feelings after the game. "It should have been excitement needing only seven runs with three wickets still in the shed but in the end when Harry Gurney hit those runs I was flapping.

"Harry shouldn't have been on strike and I was not particularly happy with losing two wickets in that penultimate over. It was relief but that's the best shot I have ever seen Harry Gurney play. I'll remember that for the rest of my life."

In that respect, the Nottinghamshire skipper will be joined by the vast majority of the spectators at Liverpool, where Chapple's men have fought out so many tight finishes in recent years. Throughout the day, supporters had sat enthralled by the drama unfolding before them. Newspapers were cast aside, their crosswords barely started.

The second-hand bookstall resorted to a major sale at teatime but no one wanted to read about cricket when there was so much of it to watch. October will come soon enough. The ice-cream van did progressively less business despite the fine warm weather which had replaced Monday's tent-tugging winds. At the tensest moments a frenetic calm settled on the ground.

Yet perhaps we should not be surprised that a game between these two sides should have produced an extraordinary finish. Nottinghamshire secured their 2010 title in dramatic circumstances when they secured a bowling bonus point against Lancashire, and Chapple's men only lost April's opening match of the season at Trent Bridge by 45 runs after a noble run-chase. The teams have a history of producing toughly-contested matches and this result will have pleased nobody more than Steven Mullaney who has represented both counties.

The absorbing dénouement to this game had been set up by morning and early afternoon sessions in which Lancashire had extended their overnight 55 for 2 to 205 at the cost of their eight remaining wickets, Usman Khawaja making 53.

All but one of the wickets had been claimed by Gurney, who took 4 for 13 in 29 balls during a high-quality spell of left-arm seam bowling, and by the Brobdingnagian figure of Fletcher, who removed three batsmen in five balls immediately after lunch. A valuable last-wicket stand of 36 between Parry and Ali probably gave disproportionate encouragement to Chapple's attack but even the most imaginative and experienced cricket-watchers could not envisage the stomach-clutching tension to come.

Initially wickets were almost traded for runs in the visitors' second innings. Four of the top six batsmen reached double figures but no one made more than Riki Wessels. On a wicket which had always rewarded good cricket, Smith removed Mullaney, Michael Lumb and James Taylor to become Division One's leading wicket-taker. Nottinghamshire stumbled to 79 for 5 but had recovered to 116 for 6 when Wessels drove Hogg to Ashwell Prince at cover. The crowd tried to settle, wondering how things would turn out. They little knew.

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Madsen, Slater lead strong Derbyshire reply

Derbyshire 216 for 2 (Madsen 79*, Slater 70, Chanderpaul 50*) trail Gloucestershire 356 (Tavare 135, W Gidman 125, Taylor 5-58) by 140 runs
Scorecard

Skipper Wayne Madsen led from the front as Derbyshire hit back strongly on the second day against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

Having bowled out their hosts for 356 from an overnight position of 304 for 6, the visitors replied with 216 for 2, Madsen ending the day unbeaten on 79, having faced 147 balls and hit nine fours.

Opener Ben Slater made 70, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul was dangerously poised on 50 not out, with his side trailing by only 140 at stumps.

Gloucestershire had earlier been indebted to Will Gidman for his second century in successive Championship games. Unbeaten on 88 overnight, the allrounder was last man out for 125, having faced 216 balls and hit 19 fours.

Tom Taylor finished with 5 for 58, his first five-wicket haul in Championship cricket. It will not be the last judging by some penetrating spells from the 19-year-old seamer, who hails from Stoke-on-Trent.

The home side's hopes of a fourth batting point hinged on scoring 46 runs from 14 overs at the start of the day. They were dealt an early blow when Adam Rouse was bowled by Tony Palladino shouldering arms without adding to his overnight score of 2.

Gidman suffered some anxious moments moving from 88 to three figures, none greater than the edge to third man off Palladino, which brought up his century off 178 balls, with 16 fours. It followed the 119 he scored against Hampshire at Southampton last week.

Taylor helped Palladino keep a tight rein on the scoring rate and was rewarded with the total on 319 when Tom Smith, on 2, edged to first slip where Madsen parried the ball for second slip Wes Durston to take the catch.

It was 329 for 9 when the impressive Taylor found the edge of namesake Jack Taylor's bat and this time Madsen took the catch himself. Liam Norwell then helped to add a useful 27 with Gidman, who was finally bowled by Mark Footitt to end the innings. Both teams collected three bonus points.

Derbyshire had to negotiate four overs before lunch, which saw them score eight runs. The total had progressed to 30 in the afternoon session when Gidman broke through with the ball, pinning Billy Godleman lbw for 11, having just switched to the College Lawn End.

Slater played positively to reach a half-century off 85 balls, with six fours, with Madsen settling in to add 81 for the second wicket. Their partnership was ended by Hamish Marshall's medium-pace as he had Slater caught behind by Rouse, standing up to the stumps, for 70.

It was 115 for 2 at tea and Gloucestershire should have claimed Chanderpaul's prized wicket soon after the break when Rouse failed to stump him on 14 as he advanced well down the pitch to left-arm spinner Smith.

Home supporters must have feared that the error would be costly. By stumps Chanderpaul and Madsen had put on 105 for the third wicket, with power to add on Wednesday morning.

Madsen reached a fluid half-century off 101 balls, with seven fours, and looked in prime form, despite a pitch that was offering occasional turn for Gloucestershire's two spinners. Chanderpaul played with increasing freedom and followed his partner to 50 off 103 deliveries, with five fours.

At the close Gidman said: "I've struck a bit of form with the bat and I'm feeling confident at the crease. It was difficult facing the second new ball, but other than that I went in at a good time on a decent pitch.

"We're disappointed with how we have bowled this afternoon because the new ball was doing a bit and there were signs of turn. Now two dangerous players are well set."

Derbyshire's Slater, who is still waiting for his first Derbyshire hundred, said: "I thought today might be my day, but it wasn't to be. The pitch is not as good as the scores suggest. It's okay when you get in, but it's tricky getting in."

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