Franchise coaches taste national set-up

While the South African players did their warm-ups on the first morning of the Wanderers Test against Pakistan, someone not usually involved at national level was keeping an eye on them. The Titans' coach Matthew Maynard observed proceedings as part of a new program which aims to involve franchise officials in the national team.

All six local coaches will be invited to spend time with the national team during the series against Pakistan as part of an information sharing exercise. During their time the coaches will attend training sessions, go to team meetings and in Maynard's case, stay around for some of the first day's play.

With three of South Africa's franchise coaches - Paul Adams of the Cobras, Geoffrey Toyana of the Lions and Lance Klusener of the Dolphins - in their first season in the job, the national management is also hopeful that involving the domestic coaches will make the transition from franchise to international cricket smooth for players.

"We wanted to give our franchise coaches the opportunity to experience how things work at international level," Gary Kirsten said. "This is about creating synergy between the international and domestic platforms, and making sure information sharing happens continuously so that the move from domestic cricket for the players is as smooth as possible.

"It's also an opportunity for the coaches to see how things operate at this level. The coaching landscape is always changing and moving and it is important from our point of view to touch base with the next tier and to share information and ideas."

Maynard is not a stranger to the international coaching scene. He was the England assistant under Duncan Fletcher but has not been with a national team since 2007. He said he valued the time given to him by Kirsten and has learnt things to take back to the Titans.

"It was a great experience for me to see the environment that Gary and Graeme have created around the team. It makes it unsurprising that they have been so successful over a good period of time. I picked up a good number of things in the way they prepare and how the environment operates.

"It was great to see the intensity from the senior players during their practice sessions. Some of the drills are nice and simple, they aren't complicated but they are expected to be done with great precision and that is the attention to detail Gary brings to the set-up."

Kirsten's desire to expand the coaching set-up was also evident when he handed over reins of the Twenty20 squad to his assistant Russell Domingo. Although Kirsten remains in charge of the team and takes calls on selections, Domingo is the head coach in the shortest format.

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Sana Mir wants improvement in shot selection

After the uncertainty surrounding their participation in the tournament and the venue of their matches, Pakistan began their Women's World Cup campaign promisingly, but it did not last. They restricted Australia to 175 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, but their batsmen did not make it even halfway to the target.

Despite the World Cup being held in India, the favourites to win are defending champions England, New Zealand and Australia. While India have the underdog billing, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are rank outsiders. While Sri Lanka upset England to state they are not here to make up the numbers, Pakistan started positively but their challenge fizzled out against Australia's experience and tactics.

Neither captain expected a high-scoring affair on a low and slow wicket, and when Pakistan had reduced Australia to 99 for 6 in the 29th over, they would have been hoping for a win against the odds. The tail, however, came to Australia's rescue, as it does consistently. Sarah Coyte's unbeaten 35 at No. 9 ensured Australia made it past 170.

"Our team bats from 1 to 11. We are quite confident about that," Jodie Fields, Australia's captain, said. "As Sarah came out and had a partnership lower down the order, just proves that our batting depth is great. I knew that if we got closer to 175, we could bowl to it."

Once they got to the desired total, Australia's all-round bowling performance helped them win without much difficulty. While the Australian bowlers stuck to their plan of "bowling straight", Pakistan's batters played too many rash strokes.

"It was a case of poor shot selection from our batters," the Pakistan captain Sana Mir said. "After we lost early wickets, I would say when I got out, I think that was the turning point. We have to be more disciplined, we have to be responsible, because we couldn't capitalise on all the hard work done by the bowlers.

"The pitch was keeping low, no doubt about that. But there is no excuse for this kind of performance [with the bat]. I hold myself responsible."

Mir, however, took positives from her team's bowling and fielding effort, which produced in four run-outs. "I think this has been our best bowling performance till date against a top opponent like Australia," she said. "The performance we produced with the ball and in the field is really encouraging. If we can restrict Australia, we can restrict any team ... be it New Zealand or any other."

While Australia will need to improve their batting against South Africa at the DRIEMS Ground on Sunday, Pakistan will hope to challenge New Zealand at the Barabati. And it being a Sunday, the Odisha Cricket Association will hope the security personnel don't outnumber the spectators in the stands, like they did today.

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Eagles hold on for thrilling draw

Matabeleland Tuskers 268 (Williams 69, Shafayat 51, Price 4-62) and 269 for 6 dec (Shafayat 53) drew with Mashonaland Eagles 250 (Chakabva 79, Matsikenyeri 78, Meth 6-41, Querl 4-53) and 261 for 9 (Chibhabha 104, Chakabva 80*)
Scorecard

A fighting century from Chamu Chibhabha and an unbeaten knock of 80 from wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva helped Mashonaland Eagles secure a draw in a thrilling finish against Matabeleland Tuskers in Harare. Chasing 288, Chibhabha's wicket, which fell 14.2 overs before stumps on the final day, sparked a collapse and Eagles slipped from at 192 for 4 to 218 for 7. Tuskers picked two more wickets, the ninth in the last over of the match, but could not take the final one.

The match, over the course of four days, had been evenly contested, with no team scoring more than 269 or less than 250 in any innings. After scoring 268 in the first innings, led by half-centuries from Sean Williams and Bilal Shafayat, Tuskers had reduced Eagles to 55 for 5. Seamer Glen Querl had done most of the damage, taking four of the five wickets. The captain Stuart Matsikenyeri and Chakabva rescued Eagles with a 148-run stand, scoring 78 and 79 respectively. The Eagles were eventually bowled out 18 runs short of their opponents' score, with seamer Keegan Meth taking six wickets.

Tuskers put on a commanding batting performance in their second dig, with another fifty from Shafayat, and decent contributions of 44, 44, 38 and 31 from four of their other top-order batsmen. They declared on 269 for 6 on the final day, before a spirited chase from Eagles looked likely to achieve the target. But left-arm spinner Williams turned the game around with three quick wickets, and the match ended with Tuskers one wicket short of achieving a win.

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Taylor leads Chittagong to easy win

Chittagong Kings 137 for 2 (Taylor 65*, ten Doeschate 41*) beat Khulna Royal Bengals 136 for 5 (Wessels 35, Enamul 3-28) by eight wickets
Scorecard

Chittagong Kings gave their boisterous home supporters some joy with an eight-wicket victory against Khulna Royal Bengals. It was their first win at the MA Aziz Stadium, and only their second in the tournament.

The packed stadium witnessed a battle of attrition as the Kings overcame a poor start to reach their target of 137. The pitch offered low bounce as the game progressed, and Brendan Taylor worked the ball around the bumpy outfield when it became difficult to loft it. Taylor, who steered the Kings' chase with a half-century, captained team after Mahmudullah had asked the team management for a break from the role.

Taylor hit seven fours and a six in his knock of 69 off 49 deliveries. Ryan ten Doeschate gave Taylor valuable support with a 34-ball 41, and adding 93 runs for the third wicket. Legspinner Samuel Badree and left-arm spinner Sanjamul Islam had taken a wicket each by the seventh over, before the big partnership finished the game and gave the home supporters, who had patiently waited for a win, a result to be happy with.

The Royal Bengals suffered their fifth defeat in seven games and have been without a win since they left their home ground last week. Their openers Lou Vincent and Shahriar Nafees got out for 9 each, and they limped to 47 for 3 in the tenth over. Travis Birt and Riki Wessels added 41 for the fourth wicket before Wessels, who top scored 35 off 32 balls, added another 33 with Daniel Harris.

The Royal Bengals' batsmen managed only nine boundaries in 20 overs, as the Kings bowled tighter than they had in their last two matches. Enamul Haque jnr took three wickets after Rubel Hossain and Shaun Tait had given the side a solid base with reasonable spells. The bowling performance also masked the Kings' fielding errors: Kevon Cooper and Mehrab Hossain jnr dropped a catch each.

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Counties take advantage of ECB loans

Thirteen English counties have taken advantage of £1million loans offered by the ECB to help boost the domestic game.

In total, £18million is available between the counties who show evidence of a suitable business plan and the counties are required to meet certain targets relating to stadia and facilities, customer relations, community programmes and business operations.

Only five counties - Derbyshire, Durham, Essex, Nottinghamshire and Sussex - have yet to take advantage of the scheme but are expected to send business plans later in the year.

The loans will supplement the annual fee payments made to all 18 counties each year. Last year total expenditure on the domestic game was £49.1million, £42.6 million being fee payments to the counties.

ECB chairman Giles Clarke said: "With all sports facing increased competition for resources in a tougher economic climate, it is imperative that our first-class county clubs are financially robust, boast modern, spectator-friendly facilities and can continue to act as centres of sporting excellence within their local communities.

"The increased investment will help the First Class Counties plan for the future with greater confidence and implement a programme of change which will help make our domestic game even more attractive to spectators, broadcasters and sponsors alike."

There was also a further boost for community clubs badly hit by last year's wet weather with the ECB board allocating an extra $420,000 to the worst hit grounds.

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Kamini ends long break in style

Thirush Kamini, who became the first Indian to make a hundred in a Women's World Cup, said she had "too many things running" in her mind when she walked out to open in her first international match in nearly three years. Despite a slow start, she went on to add 175 for the first wicket with Poonam Raut, setting up a match-winning total of 284 for 6 against West Indies.

Kamini's previous match for India was in February 2010, but she calmed whatever nerves there may have been at the start to allow Raut to take charge, before opening up to overtake her opening partner. Mithali Raj, the India captain, had spoken about India's strong opening combination going into this World Cup, unlike previous editions.

Kamini said she had worked on her strokes during her time away from the national team. She had made an unbeaten 95 during the domestic Challenger Trophy in December 2012. "I was coming back from an injury. I had focused a lot on knocking," Kamini said. "Today, I decided to take it ball by ball. I made a slow start but I knew I could make up later, which I was able to."

It was a perfect start to the tournament for the hosts as they piled on an imposing total after being asked to bat by West Indies, before defending it comfortably. Raj said she was "surprised" at being put in, and would have batted on the flat pitch had she won the toss.

Raj believed chasing such a big total was a difficult task but West Indies captain Merissa Aguillera felt it was her batsmen, and not the bowlers who let the side down. Aguillera said with batsmen such as Stefanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin and Shanel Daley, West Indies should have batted much better than being dismissed for 179. Batting seemed to get slightly difficult in the evening as India's seam bowlers got the ball to move around through the chase, but Aguillera refused to give much weight to that, saying her side should have been able to adapt to the conditions.

Dottin gave India a brief scare as she cracked four powerful sixes on her way to 39 off just 16 deliveries. Her cameo lasted a little more than four overs but it was a "dangerous period", according to Raj. "I am glad she didn't continue further," a relieved Raj said.

The promoted Jhulan Goswami and Harmanpreet Kaur had earlier played cameos of their own as India kicked on to take 109 off the final 13 overs after the big opening stand. Raj said the team had worked on having a slog and decided to send the two batsmen before her so that they could go after the bowling.

With India's bowlers constantly keeping West Indies under pressure, Raj did not feel the fielding had been tested much and warned that tougher contests lay ahead against sides such as England.

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Taylor recalled to New Zealand squad

Ross Taylor will make his return to New Zealand colours in the Twenty20 series against England having been named in the squads for both that and the one-day internationals which follow.

Taylor, who took a self-imposed break from the international scene following his controversial removal as captain after the Sri Lanka tour, recently returned to action in the Plunket Shield and has also been included in the New Zealand XI squad to face England in two warm-up matches next week.

The other notable inclusion comes in the Twenty20 squad where Hamish Rutherford, the son of former New Zealand captain Ken, has been handed his first international call-up. Rutherford, 23, has been in consistent form for Otago this season.

There is a recall to both squads for allrounder Andrew Ellis after he missed the South Africa tour through injury. Ian Butler, the pace bowler, has also been recalled to the New Zealand set-up for the first time since December 2010 when he played the last of his 15 T20 internationals.

Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, said: "Andrew proved his worth with the team last summer while Ross is a world-class batsman who is a key part of this Blackcaps side. Hamish has shown he is an explosive batsman and we hope he can bring that form to the Blackcaps."

Tim Southee remains sidelined with his thumb injury while Corey Anderson, who was on the South Africa tour, has not recovered from the broken thumb he picked up earlier this month. Martin Guptill, who had a poor one-day series against South Africa, retains his place in the 50-over side.

Kim Littlejohn, the general manager national selection, said: "There are a couple of changes that have been forced through injury but essentially we want to be seen to provide continuity from one series to the next."

"We are however looking at developing talented youngsters and finding a new crop of allrounders in our build-up to the Champions Trophy in June and the 2015 World Cup."

The three-match Twenty20 series against England begins in Auckland on February 9.

Twenty20 squad Brendon McCullum (capt), Trent Boult, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, Andrew Ellis, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Roneel Hira, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Colin Munro, Hamish Rutherford, Ross Taylor

One-day squad Brendon McCullum (capt), Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Andrew Ellis, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson

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County pro Di Venuto to mentor batsmen

A county career that ended only last year will provide Michael Di Venuto with a wealth of relevant experience to pass on to Australia's batsmen about England after he was named the national team's fulltime batting coach.

Di Venuto, 39, will start his role on this month's tour of India, but his value to Ashes preparations figured prominently in his election, after more than a decade of first-class matches for Sussex, Derbyshire and Durham, with whom he retired as senior pro in July 2012.

The appointment follows a period in which Australia tried several batting mentors in the wake of Justin Langer's decision to become head coach of Western Australia, including the former Test batsmen Stuart Law and Dean Jones. It is also a further endorsement of Tasmania as a source of coaching and playing talent, as Di Venuto joins the man he replaced as the Tigers' assistant coach, Ali De Winter.

"We are delighted to have Michael on board," Australia's coach Mickey Arthur said. "We wanted a batting coach who was working within Australian cricket and who had also represented Australia as a player and Michael certainly brings those two aspects to the table, as well as a wealth of experience in first-class cricket.

"We felt it was important that the appointed person had demonstrated coaching experience. This aligns with our coaching pathway plans which is an Argus review recommendation. Michael spent some time around the Test squad while we were in Hobart ... we were impressed with the way he went about his work and we look forward to him joining us on a full-time basis."

Despite a prolific record as an aggressive first-class and limited overs batsman, Di Venuto's international career was limited to nine ODIs in the late 1990s, and was ended by Adam Gilchrist's rise to prominence as an opener in one-day matches.

More recently he represented Italy, the nation of his ancestry, in World Twenty20 qualifiers.

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India begin against dangerous West Indies

India are playing the tenth Women's World Cup, this one in home conditions, but apart from the weather their captain Mithali Raj does not believe being hosts grants them any particular advantage. India, who finished third in the 2009 edition, play their opening game against West Indies under lights at the Cricket Club of India on Wednesday.

West Indies finished fifth in 2009 in Australia "as underdogs", but have gained plenty of experience since then and are here to win this time, said their captain Merissa Aguilleira. West Indies have played 38 ODIs since the previous World Cup, only one behind England, who have played the most.

India have been restricted to 26 one-dayers in the same period and their previous ODI was as far back as July 2012. Raj said she would have liked to play more games, but was nevertheless satisfied with the side's preparation and their showing in the two practice matches.

"It depends on the board completely to give us a number of matches," Raj said. "As players, whatever amount of games we get to play before the World Cup, we try and make the best of it. As a player, I would definitely want to have more tournaments, more international games to play.

"We had the domestic season and after that we had two camps, one in NCA and the other one in Mumbai. We have prepared really hard and we get into the tournament will full preparation. But again we will take it one match at a time. I personally would not emphasise more on the results, I'd rather go with the process. If everything goes well, then … we might … do it."

Raj was expecting flat pitches which she felt would restrict India's home advantage to their experience of the weather. "It is going to be the humid conditions. During the practice games, we have had very flat wickets, and scores have been generally high. Basically, the ICC has provided batting tracks so that a lot of runs are scored in the tournament. We have had a camp in Mumbai so our players are used to the conditions. We are also used to slightly slower wickets.

"If it is a flat track, it is definitely not an advantage. In an ICC tournament everybody would want to see 300 on the board rather than 89 all out. I guess that is the reason, everybody around the world wants to prepare a batting track.

"I feel when it is a flat track, it could be anybody's game. There will be a lot of runs. The bowling needs to be tightened up. The crucial thing would be the fielding because the wicket will not change over both the innings."

Compared to previous World Cups, Raj felt India had a strong opening combination going into the tournament. "One thing I have always felt is that India never had a very good opening pair. That was a concern. This time we have Thirush Kamini who has made a comeback. In both the [practice] games, the openers [Kamini and Poonam Raut] have given us a good start.

"We do have the senior players Jhulan Goswami and Amita Sharma. We have the vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur. We have two comeback players, Kamini and Karu Jain. I hope with this kind of combination we will do very well."

India lost the ODI series 2-1 on their Caribbean tour in early 2012. Raj said West Indies were a constantly developing side. "They have very talented players and some hard-hitters too. With Indian conditions, and I guess some of their players not keeping well, they are still to get acclimatized to the conditions, that might help us and also the kind of form we are in, I am sure the girls will put up a good show."

The experienced offspinner Anisa Mohammed had troubled the Indians in West Indies and Aguillera said her spinners would play a key role in India. "We are an all-round team. We have five spinners in the side and that has worked really well for us," Aguilleira said. "We'll make an impact with the compact side that we are.

"We went into the last World Cup as underdogs and lacked experience. But we've gained a lot of experience in the past four years and are not just taking part but competing this time."

West Indies were so tired after their trip from the Caribbean that they cancelled their second warm-up fixture following a heavy defeat to Australia Women in their first practice match. However, they are coming off a tied ODI series against South Africa at home and should not feel short of time in the middle. Aguilleira said the South Africa games had helped the side adapt to the new ODI rules which mandate a maximum of four fielders in the deep.

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Brown tipped to get top Warwickshire job

Warwickshire are expected to confirm Dougie Brown, their assistant coach and Academy director, on Thursday morning as the successor to Ashley Giles as their new director of cricket.

Brown has fought off other leading candidates for the job such as Graeme Welch, his former Warwickshire team-mate and the county's bowling coach, and the West Indies coach Ottis Gibson, who has also been discussing the details of a promised new contract with the national side.

Brown, who worked in close association with Giles as Warwickshire won the Championship last summer, and also reached the final of the CB40, is a former England and Scotland allrounder who can be sure to bring a passionate approach to the role. He is also a former PCA chairman.

Other candidates for the Warwickshire role included David Parsons, the ECB performance director, David Hemp, former Glamorgan and Bermuda captain and now coaching at Solihull School and Andy Moles, the former Scotland, Kenya and New Zealand coach, who was discounted before the interview stage.

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