Morgan stokes fires of imagination

The Edgbaston T20 reinforced Eoin Morgan's credentials as the fulcrum of England's limited-overs cricket. Approaching his peak, is it time they made him their World Cup captain as well?

Butcher: A difficult summer to assess

So was that it then? A fleeting sight of Eoin Morgan as the fulcrum of an England limited-overs side. An England captain basking in a Twenty20 win against India that he did so much to achieve. A batsman finally back at peace with his game. Now all to be forgotten as the sun goes back behind the clouds which have gathered around England's World Cup challenge.

Even allowing for the growing hold of T20, England's NatWest T20 against India at Edgbaston on Sunday was an irrelevance. But what an irrelevance: a final ball that MS Dhoni failed to hit for six to pull off a win for India, and instead delight for England and Morgan, whose 71 from 31 balls had made the difference.

Morgan has had a troubled summer. His attempt to force his way into the Test side was stillborn and his returns in 50-over cricket have been so mediocre that his place was briefly held to be in jeopardy. When discussions take place about an alternative England ODI captain to Alastair Cook, Joe Root has begun to gain just as much attention.

But finally this was Morgan at his finest, a batsman blessed with sharp tactical thinking, fast bat speed and unorthodoxy, who stated that England limited-overs batsmen can relish the need to play risk-free cricket. And predictably, overly influenced perhaps by that final over, his captaincy gained nods of approval.

And now, it is over. Fun while it lasted. But as an example of how low T20 is on everybody's list of priorities, George Bailey has just resigned as Australia's captain to concentrate on the World Cup. So well done, Eoin. You have just impressed in a match already consigned to the tray market Irrelevant.

But perhaps that pessimistic conclusion is a little premature. Even before this game there were signs that one or two England selectors were no longer slavishly wedded to Cook's presence in the one-day side, presumably recognising that for all his qualities he had not played one domineering innings all summer.

If a shift is to be made ahead of the World Cup, it has to happen now. But Peter Moores, England's coach, still sounds loyal to Cook's captaincy of both the Test and ODI sides and Paul Downton, England's managing director, whose "observer" status at selection meetings gives him a greater influence on selection than that held by his predecessor Hugh Morris, has wedded himself repeatedly to Cook's captaincy.

That leaves Morgan to rub along. You have to go back to Sydney in January to discover his last ODI fifty, 12 matches since then without a memorable contribution. The excuse that England's top-order caution had not left him with enough time to influence a game eventually gave way this summer to a recognition that he was simply out of form.

"I've worked incredibly hard this year on my game, and I have been light on runs," Morgan said. "I can't pinpoint exactly where it's going wrong."

Critics might wonder whether Morgan has become so wedded to T20 cricket that he is having to suppress a creeping disenchantment with ODIs, especially bilateral series. In that he would not be alone. But he might also be out of kilter with England's strategy for winning one-day matches, with all the talk of setting up the game with centuries in the top four before Morgan's batting elixir turns a moderate total into an unbeatable one.

For a clue as to what the England public thinks, an impromptu poll by Michael Vaughan on Twitter is worth recording. Vaughan invited his sizeable following to respond on whether they favoured a Morgan captaincy of England's ODI side. By an overwhelming majority, they did.

When it comes to limited-overs cricket, Morgan is in with the 'in' crowd, he knows the latest dance. But when he understandably lauded the positive influence of the IPL on his career, it again made him sound a bit of an outsider in a country where England's greatest IPL advocate, a certain Kevin Pietersen, just happens to have become an outcast.

"I thought wonders of my experience of the IPL," Morgan said, a response to Ian Botham's advocacy in his MCC Spirit of Cricket speech that it should cease to exist because it is damaging the game. "It made me a more skilful player both in Twenty20 and 50-over cricket. The experience of watching the very best go about their business is huge, so I'm a massive fan."

Morgan remarked after the Edgbaston victory that it had been good for England to experiment. He was referring to examples such as Jason Roy's debut as an opening batsman, the most irrepressible talent in domestic cricket given his chance.

But the experiment that mattered was the one he could not discuss. It was Eoin Morgan as an England cricket captain. A potential England World Cup captain, approaching his peak, a few days before his 28th birthday. When England's selection panel convenes to discuss a mediocre ODI summer, they must place loyalty to Cook against a gamble on Morgan. If Morgan's time does not come in this World Cup, perhaps it never will.

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Shastri backs Fletcher's skills as coach

Ravi Shastri, who was appointed India's team director in the wake of the 3-1 defeat in the Test series in England, said he was proud of how the team bounced back to claim the ODIs by the same margin.

Reviewing his role and India's limited-overs performance, Shastri also credited the support staff, including head coach Duncan Fletcher, whose future has been hotly debated in light of India suffering a second successive Test series loss in England under his watch.

"I got more than I would have expected," Shastri said. "I say that only because England's record at home, not many sides have thrashed them 3-1 in a four-match ODI series. It is a big achievement, from what they were mentally after the Test series defeat, and then, to respond in that fashion made me feel proud."

Despite his abrupt appointment, senior players like MS Dhoni, the India captain, and Suresh Raina said Shastri's positive mind-set played a crucial role in keeping the dressing room upbeat during the ODI series.

Shastri was quite visible during the training sessions as he ran around the ground overseeing the players' drills and would pass on his observations during private chats. "I had a plenty of one-on-one chats," he said. "Not sessions. I was not afraid to speak to a guy individually. Ground, bus, bar, dressing room, while eating, we were talking cricket."

Shastri had made it clear that he would oversee everything during the ODI series and everyone would report to him, including Fletcher and Dhoni. That had raised further questions on Fletcher's future but Sanjay Patel, the BCCI secretary, had told ESPNcricinfo that nothing had been decided on the matter. Some board officials, though, believed Fletcher's job was hanging in the balance and Shastri's report on the ODI series might prove the difference.

"Fletcher is the coach," Shastri said. "He looks over the handling of various things including little, little stuff. He is tremendous. He would have done over a 100 Tests as a coach, which is massive. He is very good. He is technically very sound. He is a solid character. He is respected. He is a fatherly figure. Let the media say what they want. I have told you what I thought of Fletcher. I will go back and speak with the BCCI."

Shastri was also impressed by the trio of Sanjay Bangar, B Arun and R Sridhar, who were brought in as part of the coaching staff at his request. "All three of them have done an excellent job in the short period they have been given. I have to go back and sit with the BCCI to discuss what will happen in the long term."

Shastri, however, was non-committal when asked if he would be open to a similar role in a tournament like the World Cup. "My job was to be with the team for the ODI series. They have won it. I want to let that sink. I will return to India and then think about the future."

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Young's debut five-for sets up victory

Ireland 173 for 3 (O'Brien 56*) beat Scotland 172 (Leask 50, Young 5-46) by seven wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

The fine margins between success and failure in sport, and cricket in particular, are often defined by the tenacity to grasp an opportunity when one comes about. Certainly Craig Young, the fast bowler released by Sussex twelve months ago, chose a good moment to become just the ninth player to take a five-wicket haul on ODI debut as he stole a march in the race to make the plane for Australia and New Zealand.

Young's growth into a new-ball bowler with an uncomplicated action is timely for Phil Simmons and the Ireland selectors, five months out from the start of the World Cup. Boyd Rankin's decision to decamp and the retirement of Trent Johnston had left Ireland's fast-bowling ranks drained, the latter's shoes, in particular, proving too big to fill. Now, Ireland have a genuine heir apparent.

A spate of injuries and fluctuating form had threatened Young's undoubted potential - Sussex certainly thought so - but when it would have been easy to lose heart, the 24-year-old went away and returned to basics. An intense winter spent in Australia under the tutelage of Craig McDermott is reaping dividends. Figures of 5 for 46 were the eighth best return for a debutant in ODIs.

A hostile spell, during which he extracted considerable movement and bounce, broke the back of Scotland as the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals despite run-scoring proving easier than the mid-September conditions may have suggested. Michael Leask's maiden fifty apart, none of Grant Bradburn's top order were able to show the application required to build a foundation upon which their bowlers could mount an attack; the absence of Kyle Coetzer and Matt Machan was certainly felt.

Yet, this was by no means Ireland's strongest hand either. George Dockrell would have hoped to get some overs under his belt after falling out of favour at Somerset but was forced to fulfil 12th man duties because of a niggling shoulder injury. The difference between the sides lies in the strength in depth. Andy McBrine, deployed as the frontline spinner, belied his relative inexperience to apply a stranglehold in the middle overs and did his chances of World Cup inclusion no harm with two wickets.

For a long-standing rivalry reputedly fraught with neighbourly hostility, there has been much friction between the two sides of late. Scotland have now lost all four of their ODIs on Irish soil and 11 of their last 12 limited-overs meetings. While a humbling seven-wicket reversal did little to instil confidence ahead of a busy period of World Cup preliminaries, Ireland were, as is so often the case, ruthlessly efficient.

An unbeaten half-century from Kevin O'Brien underpinned a leisurely chase as the Irish batsmen negated the early movement to quash any hope Scotland had of exposing an inexperienced middle order. O'Brien passed the landmark of 2000 ODI runs with an innings of consummate quality that underlined his importance to Ireland's cause come February. In putting on an undefeated stand of 80 with Stuart Thompson, he ensured Ireland coasted to victory with 14 overs to spare.

The limelight was not to be taken away from Young though. A nervy start was punished by Calum MacLeod, who hinted at the form that has seen him make an impression at Durham this summer with a couple of crisp strokes through the off side, but Young returned a couple of overs later to settle into his rhythm.

Tall and well-built, he approaches the crease with a sense of purpose and seemed to catch both Hamish Gardiner and Preston Mommsen unaware with deliveries that got on to them a lot quicker than expected. Mommsen was left particularly bemused as a sharp delivery that pitched on middle, swung and then nipped away, managed to pierce his defences and clip the top of off stump.

Leask provided some temporary resistance. On just his fourth ODI appearance, the 23-year-old showed maturity beyond his years to add a sense of stability to an otherwise abject Scottish batting display that was on the brink of submersion at 101 for 7 when Freddie Coleman was strangled down the leg side by Thompson's first delivery. A 54-run partnership between Leask and Safyaan Sharif halted Ireland's charge and added a semblance of respectability to Scotland's effort. It was too little, too late though. It was fitting that Young returned to round off proceedings and complete his five-wicket haul to cap a performance that will surely see his name pencilled into Simmons' World Cup squad.

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BCCI mulls using observers in home series

The BCCI is set to extend the practice of intermittently appointing observers with the Indian team on overseas tours, for home series as well.

The role of the observer is not defined with reference to its function and its difference from the role of the manager on tour, who is also a representative of the board. This development also comes when the BCCI has kept national selectors from touring with the team.

When asked if the proposed move of appointing an observer for home series was aimed at pleasing voters, a top BCCI official replied in the negative and added that the board believed the "suggestions and presence" of the observers had helped the team management on the tour of England.

The board had sent three member representatives as observers - Vishal Marwaha, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association secretary, Kapil Malhotra, Cricket Club of India's vice-president and Ravi Jain, Delhi and District Cricket Association's media cell chief - with the team at various stages of the tour.

The BCCI has managed to push for more home games in the next eight-year FTP cycle, which will start after the 2015 World Cup. Over the last decade, the BCCI has preferred not to have a team manager for home games, except from July 2010 to the 2011 World Cup when Ranjib Biswal was appointed. Usually the liaison manager and the logistics manager take care of administrative functions for the team.

The appointment of an observer for overseas tours was only selectively used by various BCCI heads, starting with the Sahara Cup in Toronto in 1997. And the appointment of three observers in England, "all of whom are from demanding or influential members," according to a former BCCI office bearer, came with board elections around the corner.

The HPCA is headed by Anurag Thakur, the BCCI joint secretary and also a leader of the youth wing of India's ruling political party. Jain is a close ally of Arun Jaitley, a union minister who also controls the DDCA. And the CCI is widely believed to be the lone supporter, among the West Zone members, of sidelined BCCI president N Srinivasan who hopes to be re-elected.

Along with the observers staying in the team hotel, it is understood they were also being paid the same daily allowance as the cricketers.

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Moeen abuse shows cricket's dark side

The booing of Moeen Ali at Edgbaston revealed the ugly side of sporting rivalry and suggested intolerance remains in the UK. It should not be ignored

Dobell: Moeen boos detract from spectacle

It should have been the perfect end to an absorbing summer of international cricket. We had beautiful weather. We had a sell-out crowd. We had a run-soaked T20 that contained outrageous skills and an exciting finish.

We should have gone home talking about MS Dhoni's decision to turn down singles in the final over. His self-confidence and his preparedness to take responsibility for the team. Or, perhaps, his lack of confidence in his team-mates.

We should have gone home talking about Virat Kohli's only half-century of the tour in international cricket - the same number as James Anderson - or Eoin Morgan's brilliant innings. The England captain, so short of runs in international cricket this summer, helped England thrash 81 from the final five overs of their innings and scored 56 in the 15 balls before his dismissal. We might even have witnessed the birth of a new-look England side for both forms of the limited-overs game.

Either way, this should have been a brilliant advert for cricket. But instead there was a sour end to the summer. An unsettling end. An end that suggested, for all the progress we think we have made in creating a multicultural society in the UK, we have a long way to go.

Because, in the middle of Birmingham on a bright afternoon in 2014, we saw at least one player subjected to abuse from a far from insubstantial section of the crowd on the basis of either his religion or his national or ethnic origin.

Moeen Ali was booed when he came out to bat. He was booed when he came on to bowl. He was booed most times he touched the ball. And he was booed either because he is a player of Asian origin playing for England - Ravi Bopara also attracted some boos, though far fewer - because he is Muslim or, perhaps most pertinently, because he is of Pakistani origin and the vast majority of the crowd were India supporters.

On the back of every ticket and inside every match programme it states: "Spectators shall not engage in any conduct, act towards or speak to any player, umpire, referee or other official or other spectators in a manner which offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies that other person on the basis of that other person's race, religion, colour, national or ethnic origin."

By such a definition, it is impossible to justify these boos. It is inappropriate to dismiss them as "banter" - an invidious description used to excuse sexism, homophobia, bullying and racism in many walks of life - and it is inappropriate to dismiss them as a symptom of any rivalry that exists between Pakistan and India.

Nor should we link this with the booing experienced by Stuart Broad in Australia and James Anderson and Ravi Jadeja this summer. Those jeers, unappealing though they were, do not stem from a dislike of origin or religion. They reflected specific issues.

Nor should we fool ourselves that these are pantomime boos. Just as the monkey chants that used to shame football grounds in the UK were unacceptable, so it must be unacceptable to hear a player derided for their religion or origin. It is not funny.

And let us not mistake this issue with any pretence that this is simply a manifestation of support for India. Spectators are free to support whichever side they like and the passion for cricket from spectators of Asian origin in the UK is of huge benefit to the game. But there is a chasm between supporting one side and denigrating the players of the opposition. It would be irresponsible to link the two.

What, it might be asked, would be the reaction if an all-white crowd booed a player of Asian origin? What would be the implications if a black player was booed each time he touched the ball? If such behaviours are deemed unacceptable - and, thankfully, in this day and age, they are - why should the booing of a man on the basis of his religion or origin be any different?

Moeen was born in Birmingham and he graduated through Warwickshire's youth system. He has a mixed-heritage family with a white grandmother from the Birmingham area. His religion or ethnicity should not be issues and he has previously said that such behaviour does not affect him.

But there is an irony that Moeen has spoken of being a role model. He has spoken of showing that it is possible to be British, Muslim and proud of both. He has spoken of encouraging other Asian cricketers into mainstream league and club cricket in the UK. He has, despite his relative youth and inexperience, spoken only of inclusivity and unity. He makes an unlikely villain.

The episode proved difficult for the ground authorities to handle. Had the stewards started to eject those involved, the situation could have deteriorated. Had Morgan, who denied any knowledge of the booing, led his team from the pitch, the situation could have deteriorated.

But just because a situation is difficult, it does not mean it should be avoided. This sort of episode should not happen. It must not happen. And if we find it unacceptable - and we really should - we must not ignore it. Whatever the many mistakes of the past, 21st century Britain cannot be accepting of intolerance based around race, religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or any other such issue.

Cricket can unite. In Afghanistan and the Caribbean and LA and Ireland, it has been shown to bring people from differing backgrounds together. It does it in league teams around the country every week. Here it provided a peek behind the façade of multicultural Britain. It was an ugly, depressing sight. And it should not be ignored.

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Finch named Australia's T20 captain

Aaron Finch has been named as Australia's new Twenty20 captain, succeeding George Bailey, who stepped down from the role on Sunday. Finch, 27, will become the seventh man to lead Australia's T20 team when they take on Pakistan in a one-off match in Dubai on October 5.

As captain of the Melbourne Renegades for the past two Big Bash League campaigns, Finch has acquired plenty of T20 captaincy experience, and he has also led the Pune Warriors in the IPL. The No.1-ranked T20 international batsman in the world, Finch also led Australia A against the England Lions last year and the selectors were pleased with his performance.

"When George indicated that he was stepping down from the position, we thought Aaron was the obvious choice to succeed him," Rod Marsh, the national selector, said. "We know he will relish the opportunity to lead his country.

"He has a task ahead of him. He is taking on a young side that is currently ranked fifth in the world. His first challenge will be building consistent performances as they head towards the ICC World Twenty20 in 2016."

On Sunday, Bailey endorsed Finch as a potential successor, describing him as the kind of player who thrives on the leadership. Finch said he was looking forward to leading his country for the first time.

"Having the honour to captain your country in any form of the game is something that all young cricketers dream about," Finch said. "It came as a big surprise but it was a very nice phone call to receive from Rod Marsh. I never imagined when captaining in the past that it would lead to national responsibilities.

"I've just set out to be the best player that I can and luckily an opportunity like this has come my way. I have been fortunate enough to play under some fantastic captains, including Michael Clarke and George Bailey and I have learnt a lot from them. It goes without saying that I will do my utmost in this role as we lead into the ICC World T20 in about eighteen months' time. It's going to be very exciting."

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O'Keefe named in Australia's Test squad

Spinner Steve O'Keefe could finally be given a chance at Test cricket after being named in Australia's squad to play Pakistan in the UAE in October. O'Keefe was named as part of a 15-man Test squad that also includes allrounder Mitchell Marsh, who is yet to make his Test debut, while Phillip Hughes was included as the backup batsman and Glenn Maxwell as a spin-bowling allrounder.

However, Australia's major selection issue could be yet to come, with captain Michael Clarke still recovering from the hamstring injury that forced him home from the one-day series in Zimbabwe. Clarke has been named in the squad and with six weeks until the first Test in Dubai, he has time on his side, but the increasing frequency of his hamstring injuries makes him far from a certainty.

The incumbent No.3 Alex Doolan retained his place in the squad despite not fully making the position his own during the tour of South Africa earlier this year. His main rival for a place in the side will be Hughes, who is in strong form after a winter spent mostly with Australia A but will travel to the UAE early to work on his batting against spin with coaching consultant Muttiah Muralitharan.

There is also the possibility that Australia could choose Marsh as a second all-round option alongside Shane Watson, although including both in the XI would risk unbalancing the side. Marsh will also depart for the UAE with strong recent form behind him, and not just from the one-day series in Zimbabwe; he and Hughes both made first-class double-centuries for Australia A this winter.

Marsh's chances of playing alongside Watson might increase if the selectors wanted two spinners on the turning pitches in the UAE, in which case debutant O'Keefe could join Nathan Lyon. O'Keefe, 29, has long been overlooked by Australia's selectors despite his strong statistical record at domestic level, but he was the only logical selection for this trip after topping the Sheffield Shield wicket tally last summer with 41 victims at 20.43.

A left-arm orthodox bowler and useful lower-order batsman, O'Keefe would be the 14th spinner to play Test cricket for Australia since Shane Warne if he makes his debut in the UAE. He could be considered unfortunate to have been that far down the list given his first-class record of 128 wickets at 24.72, which is superior to several of his predecessors including fellow left-armers Xavier Doherty, Michael Beer and Ashton Agar.

O'Keefe's only previous international experience has come in the Twenty20 side, when he played seven matches from 2010 to 2011. However, he will have to compete with Maxwell for the position as second spinner behind Lyon after Maxwell was included having not played Test cricket since Australia's ill-fated tour of India early last year.

"We have picked Steve O'Keefe as the extra spinner for the Test tour," national selector Rod Marsh said. "We are unsure what pitch conditions we will encounter in the UAE but we need to be prepared to play two spinners. Steve was the highest wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield last season and we are confident he can perform at the next level.

"Glenn [Maxwell] is a talented allrounder who enjoys playing on dry pitches. Phil [Hughes] has been in excellent form and has been rewarded with a place in the Test squad. His attitude to his game has been first rate and he thoroughly deserves this opportunity.

"Mitch Marsh is a player of immense talent and is a bright prospect for the future of Australian cricket. His form with Australia A has been fantastic and he carried that through to the recent Zimbabwe tour. If he gets his opportunity, we know he will make the most of it."

A 14-man one-day international squad was also chosen for the three matches against Pakistan, with uncapped New South Wales allrounder Sean Abbott the most notable inclusion. Abbott, 22, topped the Ryobi Cup wicket tally last summer with 16 victims at 20.93 and after a solid Sheffield Shield season as well, he won the Steve Waugh Medal as his state's best player for 2013-14.

Abbott and David Warner, who had missed the recent tri-series for paternity leave, were the only inclusions from outside the group who toured Zimbabwe, along with Watson, who was originally named but was forced out through an ankle injury. Hughes was left out of the ODI squad despite his solid form in the tri-series, while Ben Cutting and Kane Richardson were also dropped.

Abbott has also been included in the squad for the one-off T20 in Dubai that opens the tour. Australia's first T20 squad under new captain Aaron Finch features the uncapped legspinner Cameron Boyce, while fast bowler Pat Cummins has also been named and could play his first international for two years.

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Taijul bursts out of obscurity

Taijul Islam is unlike most Bangladeshi left-arm spinners in that he picks his wickets by turning the ball and not just relying on the straighter one, a skill apparent in his five-for on Test debut

Taijul Islam is no stranger to making a great start. He took six wickets on first-class debut to help Rajshahi Division to victory in April 2011. Between that game and his five-for on Test debut in St Vincent, the left-arm spinner has gone through several hurdles to reach international cricket, much of it under the radar.

He only recently came to prominence after after a fruitful Bangladesh Cricket League, when he was top wicket-taker. He took 55 wickets in the 2013-14 first-class season, and was picked to tour West Indies for the A side. Nine wickets from two four-day games kept him on the selectors' radar. With Shakib Al Hasan suspended and Bangladesh in need of a left-arm spinner, Taijul became the first cab off the rank.

Part of a three-man bowling attack in his first Test, Taijul was never going to be Mushfiqur Rahim's go-to bowler. However, he changed his captain's mind with a steady build-up of dot balls and used his flight cleverly. West Indies might not have known of him and he hasn't carried the scars of his team's weak form. That freshness helped.

His first wicket was Kirk Edwards, a result of his attacking mindset even when the opposition was strongly poised. Taijul was making the ball dip on Chris Gayle as well, giving the bowler enough encouragement to toss the ball up and give it enough time to turn. Edwards played across the line and was caught at silly mid-off.

The next four wickets, one might say, came cheaply as the batsmen got out trying to slog. But Darren Bravo was foxed by his change of angle. Taijul was swatted for two fours before he moved around the wicket and tempted the batsman again. Bravo, going for the hat-trick, was caught at mid-off. Kraigg Brathwaite had to place the need for quick runs above his natural game. Denesh Ramdin and Jerome Taylor also fell in service to a four-plus run-rate, but Taijul was not tempted to bowl flatter and ended up with the wickets.

Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud, the man who gave Taijul his first-class break, was not surprised by the debutant's success. Mashud said that Taijul was different from other left-arm spinners in the domestic circuit because he could make the ball do more than just slide on. Perhaps that is why the 22-year old, with only three seasons' first-class experience was selected ahead of more accomplished bowlers of his variety.

"He knows that giving the ball a bit of air and letting it turn is not a bad thing," Mashud said. "He is one of the rare bowlers in Bangladesh now who doesn't just bowl the arm ball. I don't think it was surprising to get a five-wicket haul on Test debut but Taijul has been in good form this season so that has helped him too."

Taijul was in the shadow of the more established left-arm spinners like Saqlain Sajib, Suhrawadi Shuvo and Sanjamul Islam. But after Taijul had taken 14 wickets in his first three games for Rajshahi, Mashud ensured he had a place in the squad for the next three seasons. The split of the Rajshahi team to create Rangpur Division two seasons ago meant that Shuvo moved away and Taijul became a regular member of the country's most successful first-class team.

There were a spate of left-arm spinners snapping up five-fors and Taijul was part of the support-act with Rajshahi, which has contributed to him slipping under the radar. Mashud believes that Taijul got recognition from the two BPLs in 2012 and 2013, though his wicket-taking ability wasn't coming through. His only had two from three matches in 2012 and nine from as many games in 2013. But he did display maturity in certain matches where his team needed someone to bowl tightly.

"In the first season, he just played three games but his economy rate was enough to suggest he was strong enough to handle the pressure. He was a regular for the Rajshahi side last year," Mashud said.

He is the sixth Bangladeshi bowler to have taken a five-for on debut. The last man to do that was Sohag Gazi, who is out of the team for issues with his action. But Gazi's slump in form recently has shown that you need a lot more than a sparkling debut performance to survive in top-level cricket.

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Shami offers Dhoni hope for the future

Despite a heavy defeat, India had Mohammed Shami at his yorker-firing best at the death at Headingley, pointing the way for the rest of the Indian attack

Highlights: Shami takes two in late innings burst

India lost their first and only ODI of the series. They fell short by more than a few. Most of it was down to conceding 143 runs in the last 15 overs. Most of their bowlers struggled once they were put under pressure by Jos Buttler and Joe Root. It might sound ridiculous, and will be easy to miss, that those final few overs involved some of the best death bowling by an Indian fast bowler in a long time.

Mohammed Shami, who had an ordinary Test series, ran in hard and speared in yorker after yorker to bowl five overs, from the 42nd on, for just 34 runs and took two wickets. In that spell he went for five boundaries, one of which was the direct result of a horrible bounce for Shikhar Dhawan at the 30-yard circle at midwicket.

The best part about Shami's spell was it was classic, simple old-fashioned death bowling, which relied on the principle that if you bowl straight yorkers, batsmen can neither get under them nor have the space to open the face on them. The only aspect missing was that these were not the deadly yorkers of the Pakistani variety, but then again it is difficult to reverse-swing them with a ball that is going to get no older than 25 overs. While not the mean possessed toe-crushers, these weren't the soft wide-outside-off ones either.

Dhoni could give Shami mid-off and mid-on back for most of his spell so he had cover of some sort if he erred in length when striving for that yorker. And once you start getting them right with the regularity of Shami today, the only real option you leave the batsman is the ramp over short fine leg. It was tried three times against Shami in that spell. One brought him Root's wicket, one nearly bowled Ben Stokes, and the third went for four.

Once you get into this bowling rhythm, the only errors you make are by bowling too full, but once you have the batsman on the leash these low full tosses are hard to hit, and you have cover at long-on and long-off. Shami began the spell with a low full toss, which was driven for a single. Another similar delivery later in the spell went for four, but it took a special effort from Stokes to whip it past midwicket. These are less demoralising than length balls, slower or otherwise, which are deposited rows back into the stands.

Shami was at his best in the 48th over, bowling to Chris Woakes. The first ball was a yorker just outside off. Woakes had no room to play. He tried a drive, and missed. Next ball tailed in a little, at the same length. Woakes was lucky to survive this one. You could feel the leash tightening. You feel this with many bowlers and many batsmen in modern cricket, but then the bowler tries a cute slower ball for some reason. But there was no respite from Shami. The third ball was even straighter, and cleaned Woakes up.

In contrast, at the other end, Umesh Yadav tried too many things, and went for a plenty. Some of it could be put down to the confidence of the two bowlers. Yadav was making a comeback and had only this game whereas Shami has had a good ODI series, and he is also Dhoni's trusted man in the last 10 overs. Since the start of India's overseas tours with South Africa last year, Shami has bowled more balls in the last 10 overs than any other India bowler. Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 128 is a distant second to Shami's 245. And you would have thought from his first two overs that Bhuvneshwar had played one match too many on a creditable tour for him. Dhoni just bowled him eight at the top, and didn't bother him with another spell.

"His execution was great, which I feel is lacking in some of our other fast bowlers," Dhoni said of Shami. "Definitely he bowled really well today, especially those yorkers. Whenever I needed him or asked him to bowl, he bowled really well."

Dhoni would ideally have bowlers who can keep it simple by just going for those yorkers and not wander into the cute variations, but he knows how difficult it is. "The yorker is keeping things simple, but it is very difficult to execute," he said. "It takes a lot out of you, to bowl a yorker at a good pace. Especially with third man and fine leg inside, people look to use the ramp shot. You have to be aware of what is happening. To play that shot a lot of the batsmen get down very early, so you have to be aware of the field and at the same time be aware of what the batsman is trying to do. Still I feel most of the successful slog-over bowlers today are the ones who bowl the yorkers well."

After India had won the series with another facile win at Edgbaston, Dhoni said the series had been a complete performance, except that their bowlers had not yet been tested at the death. His bowlers as a unit might have taken some pasting at Headingley, but if more of them can be like Shami, and if Shami can replicate what he did here, Dhoni can be hopeful in the future.

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Root satisfies Headingley craving

Neither Boycott nor Vaughan were able to satisfy their local crowd in one-day cricket but Root finally broke the 41-year duck

Joe Root finally gave the Headingley faithful a local boy to saviour in an ODI

On a day when the complexities of British Indians' cricketing allegiances had been much to the fore, Headingley offered a scene of old-time simplicity. For once, Indian support was in a minority. In front of an expectant crowd, Joe Root assembled the first ODI hundred ever made by a Yorkshire batsman at Headingley. Loyalties do not run much deeper than that.

Level the charge of parochialism if you must, but that was the statistic that mattered most of those who were present to bear witness. Forty-one years have passed since Headingley staged its first ODI between England and the West Indies, a close-fought, suitably suspicious affair with scores under 200. Finally in a limited-overs game a Yorkshire crowd was able to hail one of its own.

It was an achievement denied to Geoffrey Boycott, who just after Root was dismissed, popped into the media box to check if his favourite Green Tea was sorted, or Michael Vaughan, resplendent in turned-up Ted Baker cuffs, Root's champion from the outset, the two of them so responsible for keeping cricket interest high in the south of the county. Two men, too, who dare to speak truths to those in charge: truths that connect with the majority of the England cricketing public, that Alastair Cook is not the best choice to lead England into a World Cup challenge.

There are no such doubts about Root. When a Yorkshire crowd applauds a Yorkshire hundred, or a five-wicket haul, it is as if every coach, every tea lady, every person who has washed the clothes left crumpled in a kit bag, or entered a raffle, or boasted loudly in the pub, claims a share of it. When Root is applauded, he is hailed as One Of Us. Chests expand, secret tears are brushed away. It is a deep connection, and it is how it should be.

Lucky is the man content in his obsession. MS Dhoni looks like a street fighter at the crease; Jos Buttler has a bashful originality. Root exudes happiness. When he brought up his hundred with a fulsome slog-swept six off Ravindra Jadeja, and the PA played Pharrell Williams' "Happy", for once the summer's unavoidable, tediously upbeat song sounded wholly appropriate.

The fact that Root also provided England's first hundred of the series was merely an afterthought. "Aye, that as well," would be the reaction of some Yorkshire diehards. But, in England terms, this was a hundred to soothe festering wounds, a hundred to prevent an India clean sweep.

There will be claims that it lifts the pressures from Cook, and it probably will, but on a Headingley surface fit for kings, Cook's innings stalled on 46, his departure to a top-edged sweep finishing a sequence which brought only 23 runs from his last 40 balls. He had got a flyer with two driven boundaries in Bhuvneshwar Kumar's first over. Twice he edged safely through the slips. We wondered if it was his day. But it was the young adventurer, Root, who relished the opportunity.

When God created Joe Root, he saw fit to give him stooping shoulders. He will need them. When this slender figure gazes out over the cricketing fields of England, and nowhere more so than his beloved Yorkshire, it is as if he has been designed to bear the weight of expectation. Most pressingly, he is charged with the delivery of the finest Yorkshire dream sequence since Game of Thrones gave everybody in Winterfell Yorkshire accents. The difference is that nobody in Yorkshire cricket fears that winter is coming. Quite the opposite.

Virtually everybody who applauded this perkiest of hundreds is awaiting confirmation that next week, only two days after England's international season is completed by a NatWest T20 at Edgbaston, Root will take on the role of emergency captain against Nottinghamshire, a match that could bring Yorkshire their first Championship win since 2001.

It is inconceivable that England will deny Yorkshire access to Root - and Gary Ballance, omitted for this game - in what is one of the most keenly-awaited Championship matches for years. The Yorkshire captain, Andrew Gale, has been suspended for two matches after a burst of temper against Ashwell Price for persistent timewasting in the Roses match. The failure of umpires to manage the game in a disciplined fashion is a burning topic in these parts, and so it should be.

England's 294 for 6 did not bring complacency. Eight years ago on this ground, England made 321 for 7 but Sri Lanka waltzed past it with more than 12 overs to spare. "The day that Fred died," somebody remarked. For the Yorkshire Greats, a surname is often superfluous. One day, Root might simply be known as Joe. It is not quite that time yet. But he is heading that way. Skippering Yorkshire to the Championship would get him a little bit closer.

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