Spinners restrict Scotland to 212

Kenya 11 for 1 trail Scotland 212 (Berrington 62, MacLeod 67, Ngoche 4-58) by 201 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

It was a slow day for runs in a sun-drenched Aberdeen as Kenya's spinners restricted Scotland to 212, with resistance coming from Richie Berrington and Calum MacLeod, who scored half-centuries.

Scotland captain Preston Mommsen won the toss and unsurprisingly chose to bat on a flat wicket. The squad had a different look from the ODI team, with Calvin Burnett, Ewan Chalmers and fast bowler Alasdair Evans - who had been out of the side for almost a year - replacing the players returning to county duty.

Kenya wicketkeeper Maurice Ouma, who has been nursing an injury, couldn't pull through a late fitness test and it was up to Irfan Karim to take over the gloves. Freddie Coleman opened the batting with Chalmers and looked good as he stroked a boundary off the first ball, and followed up with two more in the subsequent overs. However, he fell after making a start, edging to first slip. The first three wickets for Kenya came caught behind the wicket, including two to Karim.

Scotland got off to a poor start yet again in a four-day game, but Berrington was able to steady the top order by picking off the bad balls and adding 67 for the fourth wicket with Mommsen. Mommsen was later bowled by a Nehemiah Odhiambo yorker while Berrington was also bowled by the left-arm spinner Hiren Varaiya.

MacLeod, who hit an unbeaten 99 against Canada last summer and top scored in both innings against Australia A last month, again showed his class and patience. It took him around 40 deliveries to score his first ten runs. The scoring was slow as the tailenders could not pass double figures. MacLeod tried to accelerate towards the end, hitting the only six of the innings but was caught and bowled off a straight drive by the offspinner James Ngoche for 67.

With a few overs left before the end of play, Kenya lost Alex Obanda for a low score for the fourth time in as many matches on this tour. Kenya ended the day at 11 for 1.

The ground was remarkably different from the rain-hit ODIs earlier in the same week, with the forecast being good for all four days.

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Rossington blast deepens Kent gloom

Middlesex 142 for 1 (Rossington 74) beat Kent 140 for 6 by nine wickets
Scorecard

On a day when British thoughts were largely centred around Andy Murray's first Wimbledon title, Middlesex served up a demolition of Kent at Uxbridge. Adam Rossington's domineering 74, taking advantage of a scorching day, flat track and unthreatening bowling, exposed the inadequacy of Kent's 140.

Kent's day was rather summed up when Rossington was caught at midwicket by Sam Northeast, only for Northeast to touch the rope and concede a six. Rossington hardly required such assistance.

A few days ago, he was seen briefly on Sky TV strolling out with a broad grin on his face to face a couple of balls and win a last-over finish against Essex in front of 20,000 at Lord's. Not remotely as many witnessed a more extensive display of his powers.

On this occasion, It was an innings marked by powerful driving and a relish for hitting the ball in the air; at one stage Darren Stevens was lashed for four boundaries in five balls. Rossington described opening as "the best time to bat" but said that he expects to slip back down the order when Paul Stirling returns from Ireland duty.

But this was a victory set-up in Kent's innings - their total always felt at least 40 runs below par. It was little wonder that there were no shortage of iPads and smart phones on display during Kent's meandering effort, as spectators were understandably distracted by Murray's efforts at Wimbledon.

And even the 140 they recorded owed much to the generosity of Middlesex's fielders: four catches were spilled as players struggled to pick up the ball against the backdrop of the afternoon sun.

Kyle Mills, the Zealand seamer, alone had three catches spilled of his bowling, but, despite a couple of no balls, he was quick and canny in claiming 2-28, bowling at either end of the innings. His opening partner, Toby Roland-Jones, has struggled to replicate his outstanding first-class form in the shortest format. Not today: four parsimonious overs included the scalp of Rob Key to a crafty slower ball.

Much of Kent's batting had a harebrained feel. They are over-reliant on Darren Stevens. After he fell for a belligerent 25, the innings lacked a sense of impetus. Kent have the feeling of a side that badly needs renewal: Adam Blake and Sam Billings, who both hit enterprising cameos, need to become consistent scorers.

Amid the hype about the start of the Ashes at Trent Bridge, Geraint Jones, who made 85 in 2005 there, hit a sparkly 22 to provide a little nostalgia. It was his first T20 game of the season, and seemingly an appearance he had not expected: on Thursday Jones had used his Twitter account to say that "The only positive to come out of not playing the T20's is I can now enjoy guilt free beer day before game!"

Vernon Philander's pace was Kent's last chance of making a contest of the game. Rossington ensured otherwise, driving with panache on both side of the wicket.

Implausible as it sounds of a 37-ball 74, Rossington didn't thrash from ball one, taking nine deliveries over his first two runs. The game was over long before he was bowled attempting to swing a fifth six. It was a deserved scalp for Tredwell, parsimonious amid the pandemonium unleashed at the other end.

That left just enough time for a final flourish from Tredwell's former teammate. Joe Denly's six off Philander - launching him over mid-wicket after shimmying down the wicket - was a reminder of the qualities that briefly seduced England's limited overs selectors. He is a way off an England recall, but how Kent would love him back. They have now lost their first four Twenty20 games: the shortest format is proving no relief in their grim season.

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Kervezee ends lean run to lift Worcestershire

Worcestershire 120-5 (Kervezee 42*) beat Gloucestershire 119-8 (Mitchell 3-21) by five wickets

Worcestershire overpowered Gloucestershire to register their first Friends Life t20 win of the season by five wickets at New Road.

Gloucestershire's dismal batting performance on a slow, dry pitch mustered only 119 for nine and that proved to be plain sailing for Worcestershire, who won with five overs to spare thanks to a flash of form for Alexei Kervezee, who has had a difficult summer since he retired from international cricket with the Netherlands.

Kervezee went into the match with one half-century in 26 previous innings in all formats - that arriving in a Yorkshire Bank 40 meeting with his former Dutch team-mates - but he held his focus in cruising to an unbeaten 42 from 32 balls.

Worcestershire dominated the game from the outset but created some pressure in the way they lost wickets at key times.

Moeen Ali, following a successful spell of 2 for 14 with his off-breaks, was going well on 22 when he swept Tom Smith to deep square leg.

But there was no more careless dismissal that that of Andre Russell, who hit a rapid 18 before he was run out in mind-numbing fashion, ambling towards the bowlers' end with his bat off the ground when looking for a single off a no ball from Dan Christian and beaten by a trundling direct hit.

When Gareth Andrew chipped Smith to mid-wicket, giving the left-arm spinner two for 22, the home side were on 93 for five but Ben Cox completed the job with a straight six off Benny Howell.

Comprehensively beaten in their first two group games, Worcestershire selected three spinners in an attempt to take advantage of a dry, sparsely-grassed surface.

The slow surface meant there was scant entertainment for the New Road crowd as Gloucestershire foundered but the plan worked to perfection in the case of Moeen, who delivered 14 dot balls in four overs. Daryl Mitchell later turned in a spell of three for 21.

Six batsmen got into double figures but no one could break free as Worcestershire backed up their bowlers with slick catching, none better than Kervezee's overhead take from Howell in front of the rope at mid-wicket.

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New Zealand shake up contract list

New Zealand's contract list has undergone a significant shake-up for 2013-14, with eight changes from last year's group. Tom Latham, Corey Anderson, Bruce Martin, Mitchell McClenaghan, Colin Munro and Hamish Rutherford have all been contracted for the first time, while Peter Fulton and Grant Elliott have returned to the list after missing out for the past couple of seasons.

James Franklin, Daniel Flynn, Andrew Ellis, Tarun Nathula, Rob Nicol and Kruger van Wyk have all missed out from last year's group of contracted players, along with Jacob Oram, who was replaced during the year by Neil Wagner. Also gone from the list are the newly-retired Chris Martin and the veteran Daniel Vettori, who turned down a contract due to uncertainty over his recovery from surgery on his Achilles tendon.

There was no room for Andrew Ellis, Luke Ronchi, Adam Milne, Ian Butler or Jeetan Patel. Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, said the 20 players who received deals were those most likely to feature for the team over the next 12 months, which includes tours of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and West Indies, along with home series against India and West Indies.

"There's still a strong core of experienced players who have been a part of the team's progression over recent months," Hesson said. "Some of the younger players such as Corey Anderson and Hamish Rutherford have also demanded a spot, after making strong starts to their international careers.

"As always, some difficult decisions had to be made and a number of last year's contracted players will be disappointed to have missed out. However, there's nothing to say that they can't force their way back into the team in the future through strong domestic performances."

Contracted players Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Grant Elliott, Peter Fulton, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Bruce Martin, Mitchell McClenaghan, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Colin Munro, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.

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Ireland aim for safe World Cup passage

Ireland will attempt to secure qualification for their third consecutive World Cup by beating Netherlands in two ICC WCL Championship fixtures over the next three days and their captain, William Porterfield, has emphasised how important the achievement would be in the continuing development of Irish cricket.

The top two teams in the WCL Championship will qualify automatically for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Ireland currently head the table, two points ahead of Scotland with two games in hand and three clear of Netherlands, who are themselves eyeing a direct route to the tournament.

The two fixtures will take place in Amstelveen, with Ireland unbeaten in their last six ODIs against Netherlands. Both matches will be streamed live on the ICC website.

"These matches mean everything for both sides as both of us must win," Porterfield said. "The Dutch have got to win to keep things in their hands while we know that two wins will get us to Australia and New Zealand.

"Cricket Ireland has set out a strategic plan to be playing Test cricket by 2020 and that involves a lot of hard yards. One of the boxes we have got to tick is winning events like this. Doing that is very important for Irish cricket as it will give us the profile to help bring more people to the game and that will hopefully bring in funding that will keep the game growing."

Ed Joyce spoke to ESPNcricinfo earlier in the week about the difficulties Ireland continue to face in securing matches against the Full Member nations. Exposure during global ICC tournaments - they have been at the last four, including World Twenty20s - has been vital, with memorable victories over Pakistan and England at the last two World Cups.

Cricket Ireland has been very transparent in its aims to develop the game, setting out a blueprint to achieve Test status by 2020. For Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland's chief executive, it is all about "being first through the gate" and he said that failure to win the WCL Championship would be "a backward step". Qualification would help Ireland's forward planning in the next 18 months, as well as bring a $1 million preparation grant from the ICC.

Should Ireland lose either or both of the two games against Netherlands, they will have to beat Scotland when the two teams meet in the final round of matches in September. The six countries who do not warrant automatic World Cup spots will take part in a qualifying event in New Zealand next year for two remaining places.

"It would be an advantage to go through now, or even in September rather than through the Qualifier because it gives [coach] Phil Simmons a chance to identify his squad as far out from 2015 as possible," Deutrom said. "We can set up Full Member opponents and get planning in place from 18 months out rather than 12 months out and it is all part of the way we are thinking.

"We do not just want to qualify though. We do not just want to do that and think 'we've qualified, now let's sit back and rest on our laurels'. We want to do it as winners of the World Cricket League Championship, as to do that would be matching our expectations and those of our government backers, our sponsors and our fans.

"Everyone has invested in us and continues to do so, and so, for us, it is all about being first through the gate and cementing our place as the top Associate, something we have been for the last four or five years. Anything less would be regarded as a disappointment and a backward step."

Netherlands have competed in four World Cups, including the last three, and will be aiming to record their first victory over Ireland in 50-over cricket since 2006. Their captain, Peter Borren, played in that game and knows that another victory would take them above Scotland and substantially improve their chances of finishing in the top two.

"We have got four games left, two of them against Ireland and two against Canada, and if we win three of them then that should be enough," he said.

"For any country, the World Cup is the ultimate stage and for Associate teams like us it is our chance to get exposure and to compete with the big boys. For Dutch cricket it is huge because in order to expand the game we have got to be on the global stage as often as possible."

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Notts roll on thanks to Lumb

Nottinghamshire 156 for 2 (Lumb 96) beat Durham 154 for 4 (Stoneman 51) by eight wickets
Scorecard

Michael Lumb made the highest T20 score by a Nottinghamshire player to help his side to an eight-wicket win over Durham at Chester-le-Street. Lumb fell just four runs short of a deserved century as the Outlaws made it four wins from four by chasing down 154 for 4 with 4.3 overs to spare.

Durham's acting captain Mark Stoneman made his first Twenty20 half-century but his innings was overshadowed by Lumb who hit 14 fours and three sixes in his imperious 53-ball stay. Lumb would have been run out on 14 had Ben Stokes hit the stumps from cover, and on 72 he was dropped by Scott Borthwick when he appeared to be dazzled by the sun running in from deep cover.

Lumb took 30 balls to reach his half-century and was cantering towards three figures, driving Borthwick for his third six, when he went down the track and was stumped. That was off the last ball of the 15th over when only eight were needed to win.

Lumb scored 39 of the first 47 runs before his England opening partner Alex Hales also got going. He made room to hit two fours through the covers in offspinner Ryan Pringle's first over then hit two fours and a six over square leg off Mark Wood's first four balls.

The stand was worth 91 in nine overs when Hales pushed forward and was bowled by off spinner Gareth Breese's first ball.

Skipper David Hussey put Durham in and came on to bowl when they were 81 for one after 11 overs. By the time he had bagged 2 for 23 in four overs of his occasional offspin the hosts had no chance of posting a competitive total.

They had also been throttled by Samit Patel conceding only 16 in his first three overs of left-arm spin, but when he returned for the 19th over Breese got after him. The first ball was lofted over extra cover for six and the Jamaican also found the boundary with a lofted reverse sweep and a straight drive as 18 came off the over.

Stoneman reached 50 off 40 balls but appeared to be bamboozled by Hussey firing the ball in at leg stump from around the wicket. Only three came off his first over and in his second he yorked Stoneman for 51. A similar ball accounted for Borthwick, who made 44 off 37 balls, while the other two wickets both went to Jake Ball. It was only in the 19th over that Durham found any real momentum and their total never looked like being enough.

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Warks try Rugby but still lose

Glamorgan 132 for 2 (Wallace 69*) beat Warwickshire 126 for 8 (Hogan 3-11) by eight wickets
Scorecard

If there is an air of old money about Rugby School it is hardly surprising. It was founded in the 16th century in accordance with the will of Lawrence Sheriff, who was Queen Elizabeth's grocer and was keen to do something worthwhile with his fortune for the boys of his home town. Its playing field, The Close, is better known for the legend of William Webb Ellis and the original rules of Rugby Football, but there is evidence that cricket has been played there for at least two centuries. But not like this.

The first FLt20 fixture on the ground was also the first match between county sides above 2nd XI level (Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire have all used the rather fine square with its circle of lime trees). Warwickshire rather hoped the change of scenery would somehow spark a change of luck in what is becoming a woeful season but only found a new place in which to lose to Glamorgan. They were beaten in Cardiff on Wednesday and at Edgbaston in their final T20 of last summer; in fact, they have lost their last four T20 matches, three of them to the Welshmen.

It did not help that they were without two of their regular top-order, with William Porterfield away with Ireland and Jim Troughton injured, but despite a bright enough opening, with 11 runs off the second over, they managed only 29 in the Powerplay and lost three wickets in the process, a position from which a recovery was always going to be difficult.

Only Chris Woakes and Rikki Clarke threatened to dominate Glamorgan's bowlers but Woakes, after hitting 25 in as many balls, fell to a clever piece of bowling from Jim Allenby, who held one back a little to draw a return catch, and Clarke brought about his own downfall, turning back after attempting a ludicrously risky single to short extra cover. Steffan Piolet's 20 off 12 balls ended with a catch at long-on off Michael Hogan, who delivered a miserly spell that brought him three wickets for 11 off four overs.

One or two batsmen departed looking ruefully at the pitch, which aside from being a little on the slow side was blameless. It is a good square, in essence, and were Warwickshire of a mind to take a Championship game away from Edgbaston, you could imagine this being a wonderful festival venue.

Glamorgan's mood was decidedly festive after they had completed an eight-wicket win with 14 balls to spare, the highlight of which was Mark Wallace's unbeaten 69 off 52 balls. Given a flying start when Allenby took three boundaries off Clarke's opening over, the second of the innings, Glamorgan were 50 for 1 after six overs and cruising thereafter. The irrepressible Murray Goodwin wrapped things up with a six off Laurie Evans and the tiny pavilion soon had a small choir of Welsh supporters, already in good voice from cheering on the Lions, gathering by the steps. Glamorgan's players, to their credit, emerged to accept handshakes and even a friendly dousing with beer.

Victory gave Glamorgan four T20 wins in a row for the first time, including that win at Edgbaston last year, and they top the group. Warwickshire, bottom of their YB40 section and next to bottom in Division One of the Championship, look a forlorn group at present. "We are putting ourselves out of games before we even get into them," Dougie Brown, their director of cricket, lamented. "In the three T20 games we have played, we have lost the Powerplay massively and from there you are always going to struggle."

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'England better with Pietersen' - Anderson

James Anderson has praised Kevin Pietersen as "an extraordinary player" and a "vital" part of the England dressing room.

At the height of the unrest in the England dressing room in 2012, Anderson was believed to be one of those opposed to the manner in which Pietersen conducted himself. While there was never any doubting Pietersen's ability with the bat - he scored a century of rare class and skill in the Headingley Test before England dropped him - there had been persistent murmurs of discontent behind the scenes and the suggestion that the disruption he caused within the team compromised his worth as a batsman.

But whatever issues there may have been, Anderson confirmed they have been consigned to the past and provided an unmitigated show of team unity as England head into the Investec Ashes series.

"We're definitely a better team for Kevin's inclusion," Anderson said. "He's just an extraordinary player. There's not really any down side at the minute.

"We saw it this week in the match at Chelmsford. I know he only got 49, but it just seemed far too easy for him. He seemed in great form. An in-form Kevin Pietersen is vital to our team going forward.

"We had a really good week at Essex. The dressing room was relaxed when it could be and switched on when it needed to be. On the field I thought we were very professional. But generally there is a really relaxed feel in the camp and real excitement of what is about to come."

Perhaps due to issues in the dressing room, England failed to do themselves justice in the key series against South Africa last year. That manifested itself, among other things, with some poor catching in the slips. They were errors which were severely punished by South Africa's batsmen.

While Anderson accepted that England had produced a disappointing display against South Africa and, more recently, in New Zealand, he hoped that such memories would spur them on to do better this year.

"I don't think we played as well as we could have done against South Africa," Anderson said. "Actually, we didn't play anywhere near to the level that we know we can. If you do that against the top team in the world then you're going to struggle. And we struggled.

"We're aware of what that slip in form did to our standing in the rankings and that's something we're going to try and put right. We showed determination when we got there a couple of years ago, a lot of determination, hard work and a lot of skill and quality, and that's what we're trying to get back to is get our standards back up to where we know we can get them. And I think we've come a long way in doing that the last 12 months.

"Slip catching has not really been an issue for us. We are generally pretty good there. It might just have been one of those series where we were not quite on the ball. We've tried to constantly improve. We had a great result in India and a good result at home against New Zealand, so we feel like we're in good shape."

Anderson agreed that Michael Clarke, the Australia captain, was a daunting opponent, but suggested that Jonathan Trott, not Clarke, was currently the world's leading batsman in Test cricket. Both men have scored two centuries and three half-centuries in their last 10 Test innings and both have Test averages in excess of 50. Clarke, however, scored successive double-centuries against South Africa in 2012, while Trott failed to register a century in England's series against the same opposition.

"Clarke is right up there among the best," Anderson said. "He's been in great form and scored lots of hundreds over the last year. But the best in the world? That's a bit harsh on Jonathan Trott. I'd say Trotty is at the minute.

"But Shane Watson is as good an opening batter as I've bowled at in international cricket and Chris Rogers is an extremely experienced cricketer. So we'll have to try and figure out some plans to and execute them well. If we don't play well there's a very good chance we'll lose."

Hundreds of local cricket clubs will #RISE for England by holding open days over the five Investec Ashes series weekends. Find out about your local club and their event at ecb.co.uk/clubopendays

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Pakistan hold nerve for historic win

Pakistan 116 for 8 (Abidi 45) beat England 115 (Brindle 39, Yousuf 3-22) by one run
Scorecard

Pakistan claimed their first victory over England in any form of the women's game with a nerve-jangling one-run win in the second T20 at Loughborough. Having been comprehensively beaten earlier in the day, Pakistan fought tenaciously to defend what seemed a below-par total as Arran Brindle narrowly failed to steer England home when 13 runs were required off the last six balls.

Brindle, coming in at No. 8, put on 39 in 34 deliveries - England's biggest partnership of the match - with Jenny Gunn, before Bismah Maroof struck. Gunn's departure brought in the England captain, Charlotte Edwards, batting well down the order, but she could only make 2 before being dismissed off the final ball of the penultimate over.

Anya Shrubsole was caught off next delivery, as Maroof took responsibility for the final over, but they succeeded in getting Brindle on strike. She halved the deficit with a blow for six but, with three needed to win off the last ball, Brindle was run out attempting to come back for a second. The damage had been done earlier by Sumaiya Siddiqi and Sadia Yousuf, as England slid disastrously from 28 for 0 to 52 for 6 in 6.1 overs.

Pakistan could only muster 75 from their 20 overs in the morning and they looked in trouble again, when falling to 40 for 4. Nain Abidi and Sana Mir combined for 55 at almost a run-a-ball but Abidi fell five runs short of a half-century at the start of the 18th over. Mir continued to work the ball into gaps, running all but four of her unbeaten 31, and Pakistan's total of 116 was just about enough come the final reckoning.

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Clarke encourages Warner return

Australia's captain Michael Clarke has given a decidedly strong indication he wants David Warner in his first Test team, despite the left-hander's lack of match preparation. It will now be a matter of whether or not the selectors agree with reinstating Warner immediately after his suspension for punching Joe Root, or demure for reasons of Test match readiness.

Speaking for the first time since the day of Mickey Arthur's replacement as the national team coach by Darren Lehmann and his resignation as a selector, Clarke expressed the staunch view that Warner has now served his punishment for events at the Walkabout in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy, and that the left-hander is not the kind of player to need matches behind him in order to feel confident.

Should Warner be chosen it will be in a middle order role, after Lehmann confirmed Shane Watson and Chris Rogers had been inked in as opening batsmen for the series. The concept of a powerful counter-puncher at No. 6 has grown on the tourists, though his selection would not only run contrary to Warner's lack of preparation but his form before that. Scores of 0, 0 and 9 in his three innings so far in Britain followed on from an indifferent IPL and a poor Test series against India.

"He's certainly served his punishment," Clarke said, echoing Lehmann's words about Warner having a "clean slate" under the new regime. "His punishment was no cricket up until the first Test match and now it's about working out what our best team is. I don't believe David won't be selected because of punishment. I think that's been dealt with. It'll be about working out our best team.

"Certainly the selectors are going to take into consideration that he hasn't played much cricket over the past couple of weeks but on the other side of that the type of player Davey is it's more about his mind being clear and playing with that intent. I don't think Dave is the type of player that needs two four day games to make some runs to feel confident.

"If he's in the right place batting well in the nets I'm confident if the selectors do decide to pick him he can walk straight out onto the first Test to make a hundred."

Apart from their fitness and persistence, Clarke and the selectors gained little in the way of relevant knowledge about their bowlers on the final day at New Road. It was a fitting name for the ground given the way the pitch behaved, steadfastly refusing to break up or offer anything but the most minimal assistance. There has been some speculation about Peter Siddle's place given a lack of wickets, but Clarke spoke generously of the most experienced fast bowler at his disposal.

"Form certainly helps but Sidds has been a strike weapon for us over the last couple of years," Clarke said. "The selectors will pick the best attack, you don't necessarily have to be one of the best bowlers, it will be a complementary attack that helps us have success in the conditions we're about to face. I think it's one of his strengths. But they will need to pick an attack, not an individual bowler."

While admittedly close to Arthur, Clarke said the team had settled quickly following Lehmann's appointment, and spoke happily of the displays put on against Somerset and Worcestershire, which suggested a team growing in confidence, unity and belief in their skills. For this he joined the rest of the squad in praising Lehmann, recalling their earlier time in the Test team together.

"We're talking more about old times, that's for sure," Clarke said. "I was lucky enough to play a fair bit of cricket with Darren so it's nice to be back talking cricket with him. He's got an amazing amount of knowledge about the game. I guess we've got a lot of similarities in the way we want to play. I had a great relationship with Mickey and I still do. The people who know Darren and know me know we were very close when we were playing as well.

"There's no doubt the boys have handled what's happened over the past month as well as they possibly could I think our momentum is slowly building. I think our performance in both four-dayers, there are a lot of positives to take out of both games. We're just about ready to play this first Test."

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