After surviving a career-threatening illness, Michael Carberry wants to state his case for England once again

Andrew McGlashan at Northampton09-May-2012For any player, being selected for England Lions is a significant moment, marking them out as being in the selectors’ thoughts for higher honours. However, Michael Carberry could be forgiven for feeling more satisfied than most by his appearance against West Indies this week after recovering from an illness that threatened his cricket career.Shortly before he was due to depart for Australia with the Lions in November 2010, to be part of the squad shadowing the Ashes party, he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism – blood clots on his lungs – which left him in hospital for two weeks and then on strong medication to thin the blood that left his career in doubt. But he returned midway through last season and finished the 2011 campaign with 793 runs from nine Championship matches, including a triple century against Yorkshire, which made him Hampshire’s fourth-highest run-scorer, and is averaging 35 this summer.Now he is potentially one injury away from being able to add to the single Test cap he won against Bangladesh in Chittagong in early 2010, where he replaced the resting Andrew Strauss on the Alastair Cook’s first tour as captain. “It’s nice to be back playing and to be back in the fold. It’s been a long road,” he said, conceding that his thoughts had turned to life after cricket. “As years tick over it’s something I had in mind anyway, then with the illness it was something I had to look into. My club has been fantastic and my family, not to mention England as well. I’ve had a lot of support.”Future careers, though, can be put on hold again. It is by no means certain Carberry will ever increase his Test tally – at the age of 31, time is not really on his side – but to even be in the frame is a huge credit to his motivation and belief. “Where’s there’s a will there’s a way,” he said. “It’s about a state of mind. There are always fears but when you cross the rope they have to go to the back of your mind.”Beyond Carberry’s personal drive there is another factor in his favour. As an opening batsman by trade he fills one of the areas where England are not overrun with reserve options. When murmurings started in Sri Lanka about Strauss’s future (a story that could develop again this season) one of the significant factors was who is actually around to replace him should the need arise. Jonathan Trott could be a short-term option if injury struck, but the selectors would be reluctant to move him from No. 3. With a summer filled with fast bowlers awaiting Strauss and Cook a broken digit or two is not out of the question although Carberry does not want to be typecast into one role.”I’d like to think I can bat anywhere and have stressed that to the selectors,” he said. “During my career I’ve batted in various different positions because I’ve played in some strong elevens and you’ve had to slot in where you can. I’ve batted in the middle order for the Lions and got a hundred and I feel I can bat anywhere.”Carberry’s Test debut brought scores of 34 and 30 (and a superb run out as he displayed his brilliance in the field) before he was left out in Dhaka as England, on a rare occasion, opted for five bowlers. Strauss and Cook have not been separated since, so even without illness Carberry would most likely have been on the sidelines, but it was an experience he savoured.”I didn’t feel out of my depth, I played pretty well. I think everyone is allowed to be a little nervous, it was something I’d worked 13 years towards,” he said. “I think I gave a reasonable account of myself without setting the world alight. I’d like another taste of it. I’d like to think I’m better than I was, that was nearly two years ago. I’m two years older and two years wiser.”

Kent’s England U-19 opener Daniel Bell-Drummond showed his promise against South Africa but will seek success at his own pace

Firdose Moonda16-Jul-2012It only took 18-year-old Daniel Bell-Drummond 14 deliveries to realise he could drive against the South Africa Test attack. He drove, not with the hesitation of someone whose foot was unsure of the relative positions of the accelerator and brake but with the confidence of an experienced hand behind the wheel. He drove straight, he drove square, he drove through the covers and when he was done driving, he pulled.In two innings, Bell-Drummond scored 90 runs and faced almost a third of the total overs bowled by the South Africans. With Sam Northeast, who is not much older at 22, he made it look easy to deny one of the most feared bowling outfits in world cricket. For 107 minutes in the first innings and almost the same amount in the second, neither showed signs of vulnerability – but Bell-Drummond said every second was close to terrifying.”I watched these bowlers against New Zealand [on South Africa’s last tour] and they just destroyed those batsmen so I was really nervous going in,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “They are really quick, especially Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn. In the first innings when there was a little bit more in the wicket, I found it really tough and testing. But the second was nice, the wicket was really flat and slow and I think I came through quite nicely.”Self-assured on the crease but bashful off it, Bell-Drummond was careful not to talk himself up too much, especially with Steyn hovering nearby. He chose his words carefully, particularly those that were about his approach to his craft. “I decided to be quite attacking because the bowlers are quite quick and there was more sense in driving than trying to pull Morkel,” he said. “I like the pace coming on to the bat as well.”On overhearing that statement, Steyn could not stop himself from interrupting. “And I gave him a lot of shit out there too, especially in the first innings,” he said, before patting Bell-Drummond on the arm. “But well batted, bud. I’ll be gone now so you can carry on.”Bell-Drummond’s expression melted. He went from a cricketer in his own right to nothing more than a star-star-struck youngster. The world’s No. 1 Test bowler had paid him a massive compliment but instead of gobbling it up greedily, he savoured it and allowed it to sink in slowly.The ability to stop himself from rushing emerged as one of Bell-Drummond’s best qualities in the match, as a cricketer and as a person. He is not overly anxious about his absence from Kent’s Championship XI, for example. “I’ve just got to carry on, keep doing what I’m doing and scoring runs and when that place comes up for grabs hopefully I will be in a position to take it,” he said.For most of the summer, he has played for the second team, where he has done well. The tour match against the South Africans was his only first-class game of the season. Kent had to ask special permission from England’s Under-19 management to field him and he repaid them handsomely.It must have been similar maturity and composure that led to Bell-Drummond being spotted by Kent as a seven-year old at Catford Wanderers CC. They immediately made him a part of their junior systems, an experience he describes as his biggest break and a great reward for his cricket-mad family.Born to Jamaican parents, Bell-Drummond grew up with Brian Lara as his hero. “My dad brought me up playing cricket,” he said. “He was quite good at it himself. He didn’t play at a very high level but he definitely knows what he is talking about. And Lara was in prime then, we loved watching him on television. I’ve never seen him live, though.”Playing at a “very Caribbean” club allowed West Indian influences to shape Bell-Drummond’s early years and he hopes those will remain as he gets older. He also credits Mark Davis, coach at Millfield School where Bell-Drummond completed his education just a few weeks ago, with teaching him more about his own style and helping him improve in areas of weakness, such as playing against spin. “I didn’t face a lot of spin because I was an opening batsmen and when I was younger, I was quite small and I couldn’t hit it very far. But I am improving on that,” he said.He hopes that development will be on display at next month’s Under-19 World Cup in Australia, which Bell-Drummond believes England are in prime position to triumph in. “The last England team to win it was the one Robert Key was in in 1998,” Bell-Drummond said, referring to his Kent captain. “He is always telling how we’re not going to win it as a joke. But we’ve worked hard for three years, we’ve played a lot of the teams already and we’ve beaten them. Hopefully we can turn up and win the competition.”While Bell-Drummond admits his main objective is to “stick to my individual game plan to and get the team off to a good start,” he also said he wants to show he is capable of shouldering responsibility. “I want to try and help some of the other batsmen and let them know what’s happening out there because, as an opening batsman, I can assess what each bowler is trying to do.” After the way he fronted up to the South Africans, there is evidence that he is capable of doing that, and much more.

Ask a Mumbai fan. He’ll tell you

Lloyd Mascarenhas07-May-2012Choice of game
Two of the biggest teams playing at a stadium I hadn’t seen before, on a Sunday evening in Mumbai, were enough reasons to book tickets as soon as they were available online. As May 6 arrived, I set out to the stadium with my fiancée, who is a die-hard Chennai Super Kings fan. As much as there was a match in the stadium, there was one between us, wearing our respective jerseys and chanting our team names.Team supported
I was born and brought up in Mumbai, hence the loyalties lie there. And since Sachin Tendulkar plays for the Mumbai Indians, it simply affirmed my choice. Last year Mumbai nearly* made it to the IPL final and won the Champions League, so winning the 2012 IPL would be a dream for die-hard fans like me who travel from one end of the city to another to watch them in action.Key performer
In a star-studded game, a relatively unknown player called Dwayne Smith took Mumbai over the line. The 14 runs of final three balls threw the crowd into a frenzy, and I think every Mumbai supporter will be hitting Google to know some more about this new sensation.One thing I’d have changed
On a hot Mumbai afternoon, a 4pm start only adds to the misery of the spectators and players. Such games are best played at night, starting at 8pm.Face-off I relished
Tendulkar v the Chennai bowlers and Malinga v Dhoni.Wow moment
A toss-up between the spectacular catch taken by Francois du Plessis to dismiss Tendulkar and the runs scored off the final three balls by Smith.Accessories
When in Mumbai and supporting Mumbai, get the Mumbai jersey and feel at home with 34,000 other supporters. I blew the horn and waved the Mumbai flag too. It was quite a sight to see over 30,000 flags being waved when Tendulkar got to his half-century.Crowd meter
The atmosphere was electric. The “Malingaaa” chant rose across the stadium when he’d run in to bowl, and the roars when Tendulkar walked out on to the field to bat would have turned a few people deaf for the next ten minutes. The Mexican waves also made the occasion feel special.Close encounter
Malinga can be titled the “Son of Mumbai” because every time he walked close to the midwicket boundary, and waved and smiled, the crowd would begin chanting “Malingaaa…. Malingaaa…. Malingaaa”.Shot of the day
Rohit Sharma’s straight six that hit the sight-screen was magnificent to watch.Entertainment
DJ Clement the official DJ for the Mumbai team kept the crowd dancing and swaying to foot-tapping house music prior to the match. Once the match began they switched to popular Bollywood tracks. In between overs, the stadium looked like a venue for a live concert. During the strategic time-out 15 young lads did an amazing b-boying act which drew applause from every soul in the stadium.Twenty20s v ODIs
T20s are convenient, compact and appeal to everyone. A good percentage of the stadium was made up by women and children, and that’s the diversity T20 has brought to cricket. I hope to watch another IPL match with my mom and sister because I am sure they’ll love it.Banner of the day
A five-year-old girl was holding up a “Raina will you marry me” poster. It had everyone in our stand in splits, and goes to show the fascination for our Indian cricketers starts early.TV v stadium
Watching a live match, and especially an IPL match, has to be on your list of “Ten things to do before you die”.Overall
It has to be a thrilling experience when you get to watch nearly 350 runs scored, 17 wickets fall, and a four off the last ball to win. Add to that some great shots, great catches and an exciting atmosphere.Marks out of ten
9, for a great show, a fantastic stadium under lights, and a last-ball. An 8pm start would have made it 10.*May 7, 2012, 0830GMT: It was incorrectly stated that Mumbai made it to the IPL final in 2011. This has been changed

He may not be part of South Africa’s plans anymore but the Lions batsman remains an integral part of the country’s domestic scene

Firdose Moonda22-Oct-2012If you go down to the Wanderers on any day in the South African summer you’ll find one player staying back after the usual training sessions and team meetings: Neil McKenzie.You might find him gathering the equipment after the Lions squad has left the nets, or arranging the sweets the way he likes them best in the dressing room, or going into the office to say hello to the people who have worked there for as many years as McKenzie has been alive. “Like Eddie, who rolls the wickets, and Phil, who does the outfield – both of them were here when my dad was playing,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “You just need to look around. This is a nice place to be.”The Wanderers was McKenzie’s playground when he was a young boy. He and his brother Gavin played on the grass banks and in later years shared drinks with the Pollock brothers while their fathers were out in the middle. Three decades later, it is still his home. Apart from a small stint at Northerns in Centurion, which he refers to as a “holiday”, McKenzie has played all his domestic cricket in South Africa for Gauteng.He is a local legend and still one of the Lions’ most reliable run scorers. He was second on last season’s first-class batting charts and has already scored two fifties this season, one of which was instrumental in the Lions’ opening victory in the Champions League Twenty20 and proof that McKenzie has still got it, no matter what the format.The administrators at Corlett Drive always knew McKenzie had it. Weeks after he finished school, he was contracted by Gauteng, along with Zander de Bruyn and David Terbrugge, and seemed destined to follow his father’s lead. He had expectations to fulfil, and McKenzie said he had nothing but support from his family.”My dad tried to give us the opportunity to play as many sports as possible. His only stipulation was that we had to play a team sport while we were growing up. There was no real pressure from his side in terms of what we wanted to do after that, but he did say I had to try and get a degree behind me. Being a cricketer, he knew how the sports industry is and how everything can be taken away from you in an instant. I’m glad he pushed me in that direction.”While playing, McKenzie applied for a degree in commerce at the University of Johannesburg, although cricket remained a priority. For five seasons, he racked up the runs before being picked in the national one-day squad. He remembered batting in the middle order with Hansie Cronje in that time. But it was in the longer form of the game that McKenzie made his name.He became a regular member of South Africa’s Test side, playing 41 matches between July 2000 and March 2004. He scored only two hundreds in that time, against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, both made before February 2001. In the latter stages of the first part of his Test career, he became better known for his odd superstitions, which included strapping his bat to the ceiling, stipulating a seating arrangement for his team-mates in the dressing room, and making sure all the toilet seats were down when he went in to bat.McKenzie now has an explanation for his unusual behaviour. “Us cricketers, we can be funny people. We try and control the uncontrollable. In the game, things can be unpredictable so I tried to make them predictable. I think that’s why I did it.”After going 33 matches without reaching three figures, he was dropped from the national side. McKenzie returned home to the Wanderers and was asked to captain them in the new franchise system. “Obviously I still wanted to play for South Africa but I also had me a different focus because of that,” he said. “We had a lot of young players that had come through our ranks, and we wanted to develop them. So I worked on that.”His personal life also changed when he married South Africa’s original Wonderbra girl, Kerry McGregor, in 2007, and the couple became the Posh and Becks of the cricket scene. With love came sensational form. Two seasons of averaging around 50 in the first-class scene spelt McKenzie’s Test comeback as Graeme Smith’s opening partner.He lasted 14 months in the role, played 17 matches, averaged 47.11 and scored three hundreds, including one at Lord’s during South Africa’s first series win in England since readmission. “That was the best time in my cricketing life in terms of results,” he said. “We won in England and Australia, and the team vibe was amazing.”It was nice to be part of the side when they started making such good progress. If you look at them now, there have been only one or two personnel changes from that time. That is the key to a winning side and to creating a legacy.”But when South Africa could not continue upward after they defeated Australia Down Under in 2008-09, McKenzie was the one to take the fall. In their home series against Australia the same season, South Africa lost 2-1. McKenzie was one of the worst performers; he scored 102 runs in four innings, with a top score of 36, and by then had gone ten matches without a century. He was dropped and, by his own admission, his international career was over.He was disappointed but not angry. “I don’t think too many guys get a second chance but I got a second chance. Everyone wants to do more, so of course, I would like to have got a lot more runs, I would like to have been in the side more than I was, but I am not bitter about anything. That’s the thing about sportsmen. Because we are so highly driven, we get bitter when things don’t go our way. I would like to have played more but I’m happy to have done what I did.”McKenzie’s weirdest superstition

“I always liked to get into bed in the same way every night – same side, everything neat – that’s how my day ended. I used to room with Lance Klusener and he would always play a trick on me during that routine. I’d get in and be ready to switch off and he would flick my ankle. Then I would have to start all over again. He used it quite a few times and it would really irritate me. When I saw him here a few weeks ago, we laughed about that and I told him that now I jump into bed as quickly as I can.”

McKenzie has continued to lead the Lions’ batting line-up and decided to extend his career by spending time in England during the South African winter. Hampshire, where old friend and former team-mate Nic Pothas was stationed, became his second home.McGregor and their two children, Luke and Riley, went with him and the family began living across two countries. “It’s a different challenge. I think it’s easier when you are on your own [where if you have] a one-bedroom apartment with no garden, you’re fine. But when you’ve got the kids that I’ve got, you need wide open spaces,” he said. “But I have loved every minute of the playing side of things on different wickets in England.”They have spent three years travelling back and forth, and McKenzie thinks he has one more left. “When my knee was giving me some problems a couple of years ago, I thought if I get to 37, I’ll stop. I will be 37 next month but I think I’ll do another year overseas and then finish my career here with the Lions. It’s about choosing the right time. As long as I am making runs and contributing, that’s fine. But the main thing is that I am not keeping guys out who should be playing. I still want to do well for Geoffrey Toyana, the Lions and my team-mates.”Toyana, who played with McKenzie and now coaches him, has lauded his senior role. “He is a sounding board for me and for the captain,” Toyana said. Alviro Petersen, Lions captain, has also praised McKenzie’s dedication to the squad.McKenzie remains a team man but bizarre habits don’t dictate his dressing-room ethic anymore. “There are times that I keep my rituals the same but the OCD has toned down since I’ve had kids,” he said. “There is not as much time and I am too exhausted to be checking on things like the toilet seats. Thank goodness.”He also offers advice to some of the younger batsmen like Quinton de Kock. “I don’t mentor, I just offer advice,” McKenzie clarified. It may be an indication of what McKenzie’s life after playing cricket could be like. He said coaching is an option, especially because he has “always liked the nuances of batting”. Finishing the degree he began studying for 15 years ago is another possibility. “I am three half-subjects away but I stopped so long ago I hope the university can still find my records.”

ESPNcricinfo’s George Binoy picks his team of the Under-19 World Cup

George Binoy in Townsville27-Aug-2012
1. Unmukt Chand (India)
After one half-century and a couple of starts on difficult pitches, Unmukt’s performances had been average during India’s progress to the final. However, on the grandest stage an Under-19 player can have, he delivered a breath-taking innings, his century helping India pull off the highest successful chase at Tony Ireland Stadium to become World Champions.2. Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Began the tournament with 75 against Afghanistan and a century against Scotland to help his team top their group. Made the curious decision of batting first on a tricky pitch in the quarter-final but was good enough to score a half-century against India as his team-mates collapsed around him. Was Pakistan’s top-scorer in a play-off semi-final against West Indies as well.3. Quinton de Kock (wk) (South Africa)
Blitzed 95 and a century against Namibia and Bangladesh to finish top of the run-charts in the group stages, but had consecutive failures in the quarter and semi-finals. Finished the World Cup with a half-century against New Zealand as South Africa won the third-place play-off. Made the best XI because, with 18 dismissals, de Kock was the best wicketkeeper-batsman on show in Queensland.4. Anamul Haque (Bangladesh)
The highest run-scorer in the World Cup, Anamul began with a hundred that would relegate Sri Lanka to the plate competition and ended with another hundred, against Pakistan, which helped Bangladesh finish seventh out of 16 teams. He scored a half-century against England’s potent attack as well, and had starts in two other innings. Wasn’t tested on the tough pitches at Tony Ireland Stadium, but received praise from his former coach Stuart Law.5. William Bosisto (capt) (Australia)
Player of the Tournament. Unbeaten in five out of six innings, his only dismissal was a run-out against South Africa. Made important contributions in chases against England, Ireland, Bangladesh and South Africa, often shoring up a top-order wobble. Saved his best for the final, his 87 taking Australia to a competitive total. Had the coolest head in the competition. Bosisto’s only slip-up was dropping Unmukt in the last ten overs of a tense chase in the final.6. Kyle Mayers (West Indies)
One of three players to have scored over 100 runs and taken more than ten wickets in the tournament, Mayers batted at No. 6 and bowled second change for West Indies. He was their highest wicket-taker and conceded fewer than four runs an over, hitting the bats hard with his pace and bounce. As a batsman, he had the ability to play in several gears, showing patience against India and attacking against Zimbabwe.7. Ashton Turner (Australia)
Finished as Australia’s leading wicket-taker by bowling an attacking brand of offspin. Turner got the ball to bounce and spin from an aggressive line just outside off stump. A useful batsman at No. 7 as well, contributing valuable runs in the quarter-final against Bangladesh and in the final against India.England’s Reece Topley was the most complete bowler at the World Cup•ICC/Getty8. George Dockrell (Ireland)
The left-arm spinner who could not be attacked is the only player from the plate competition in the XI. Dockrell’s tournament figures were 60-22-122-10. He had astonishingly economical figures against strong opposition as well – 0 for 22 and 1 for 10 in full spells against England and Australia. Against Namibia, he had 10-5-8-1. His economy-rate of 2.05 made him impossible to not pick.9. Ronsford Beaton (West Indies)
His stats may not be the best but Beaton was a tough quick to face. He hit speeds of 145 kph and was a constant threat with his lines and length. Began with a match-winning 3 for 33 against India and also took 3 for 47 in the quarter-final against New Zealand. In that match, Beaton conceded only four in the penultimate over of the chase, leaving Justin Greaves 18 to defend in the 50th, which he failed to do.10. Sandeep Sharma (India)
Had supreme command over the new ball and could swing it prodigiously in both directions with exceptional control. His inswingers with a right-hander’s nightmare and, for the left-hand batsmen, the same deliveries were un-leaveable. They would begin around leg and finish just outside off. Could be relied on to provide an early breakthrough nearly as regularly as the sun rises.11. Reece Topley (England)
The most complete bowler at the World Cup. Tall, fast and skilled, Topley was dangerous with both new and old ball. His attacking lengths – good length and straight – made it difficult to score off him and he had an economy-rate of 3.17. Finished as the top wicket-taker and provided one of the most memorable moments of the tournament with his second ball – breaking Jimmy Peirson’s middle stump in half.

Reggie Duff was the first No. 10 batsman to score a century on Test debut, but the rest of his career and his life didn’t quite match that glittering start

Steven Lynch02-Dec-2012The unlikely achievement of the Bangladesh fast bowler Abul Hasan, who hit a stunning century on debut from No. 10 in the batting order against West Indies in Khulna last week, set off a landslide of enquiries. How many No. 10s had scored a century in a Test? And surely none of them could have done so on debut?The answer is that three men had previously made Test tons from No. 10. The Surrey allrounder Walter Read was the first, with 117 against Australia at The Oval in 1884, “a superb display of hard and rapid hitting”, according to Wisden. The genial South African offspinner Pat Symcox was the last, scoring 108 against Pakistan in Johannesburg in 1997-98. And in between, the New South Welshman Reggie Duff made 104 for Australia in Melbourne in the second Ashes Test of 1901-02 – on his debut.Duff remains a mysterious figure, little written about despite this fine start. The main reason for this is his early death, in December 1911 (just as another Ashes series was about to get under way). Less than four years later, Duff’s long-time opening partner Victor Trumper also died: he was widely mourned, and the crowd at his funeral stretched halfway across Sydney. Duff, however, was laid to rest rather more quietly, some of his former team-mates and colleagues from the Sydney Harbour Trust among the few in attendance.The main reason was that, while Trumper succumbed to kidney disease, Duff’s illness was self-inflicted – he was too fond of a drink. The Australian newspaper the Referee tiptoed carefully around the unmentionable in a style typical of the period: “Some few years back, he did not take that care of his health necessary for one wishing to live a normal life in years and in vigour.”Duff’s Test debut was indeed sensational, although it should be stressed that he was really a batsman – he usually went in first – but found himself at No. 10 after the Australian batting order was reshuffled in a successful attempt to avoid the worst of a pitch soaked by torrential rain on New Year’s Eve (the match itself started on January 1). Duff had already top-scored with 32 (from No. 7) while Australia made 112, but they had to go in again after England – hitting out wildly – were skittled for 61. In all, 25 wickets tumbled for 221 runs on that madcap first day, but conditions were much more suitable for batting on the second. Duff went in at 167 for 8, but helped add 186 more runs, including a last-wicket stand of 120 with Warwick Armstrong – another debutant, and another proper batsman. The lead stretched to 404, which proved far beyond England.Duff’s start, then, was romantic – but he had been a surprise choice for the match in the first place, after only one century in his 13 first-class matches. Gideon Haigh, in his forensic autobiography of Armstrong, unearthed an evocative account of Duff’s selection, written by the former Australian captain Tom Horan, whose regular newspaper cricket column appeared under the pen name “Felix”:

“Bob McLeod, Syd Gregory and Reg Duff were walking down Collins Street near the Town Hall. ‘I wonder,’ said Syd, ‘am I in the team?’ ‘I’ll go up to the Argus office and see,’ said Bob. Up he went, got the information, and was himself staggered that Duff was in. Turning to Syd, he said: ‘You’re in, Syd.’ Then turning to Duff: ‘And so are you, Duff.’ Duff looked fixedly at Bob and replied with the most forceful contradiction he could frame. But he was in.”

His greatest partnerships had been for NSW and Australia with Trumper. Duff knew his place in their liaisons, once joking that “Victor is taking me out for a run again”… but he often went shot for shot with Trumper

And Duff remained in for the next three series, scoring consistently – although the only other century to go with his debut one came in what turned out to be his final Test, at The Oval in 1905, when his 146 set up a draw. “He played a great innings, his driving a marvel of power and cleanness,” enthused Wisden.But that was it. Duff never scored another century, and in fact played only eight more matches after that tour: although he was 12th man for the first Test of the 1907-08 Ashes series Down Under, he did not feature, and faded out after that season as his problems with alcohol hit home. Around this time, the future Test legspinner Arthur Mailey (then in his early twenties) spotted him in the street: “I saw one of my heroes, Reg Duff, meandering down the Chinese quarters in Haymarket, Sydney, shabbily dressed and with his hair poking through his straw hat.” When Duff died, penniless, the Australian team had a whip-round to cover his funeral expenses, while the NSW cricket association paid for his headstone.His greatest partnerships had been for NSW and Australia with Trumper, who is even now remembered (while Duff is all but forgotten) as one of the great classical batsmen. Duff knew his place in their liaisons, once joking that “Victor is taking me out for a run again” as they embarked on another Test innings. But he was being rather modest, as he often went shot for shot with Trumper.Duff was on the short side, but a fine cutter and driver on the up. During the 1902 tour of England, the Australians posed for a series of action photographs for the Middlesex amateur George Beldam. The shots of Trumper, especially the iconic one of him jumping down the pitch to drive, have become legendary: but the Australian writer Jack Pollard suggested that the images of Duff from the same series “show a similar audacity and mastery of technique”.Other photographs reveal Duff as a man of saturnine countenance, with the obligatory moustache of the day (“turned up at the ends, Kaiser-like,” according to Mailey). CB Fry described him characteristically colourfully: “Reggie Duff had a face like a good-looking brown trout, and was full of Australian sunshine.” Sadly, he was also too often full of Australian liquor, which did for him in the end.10:54:34 GMT, December 2, 2012: The subheadline originally said Duff was the first batsman to score a century on debut

Bangladesh’s victory in the final ODI was a sum of having come out on top in six crucial situations

Mohammad Isam09-Dec-2012Bangladesh had to win six mini-battles in the deciding game against West Indies. These small victories added up to deliver a special night for Abdur Razzak and captain Mushfiqur Rahim. These moments also made a hero out of Nasir Hossain, who wanted to be a hero since the time he was having lunch with Saqlain Mushtaq, the Bangladesh bowling consultant. Above all these individual triumphs lies a team performance that is perhaps Bangladesh’s finest to date because it was also their hardest-fought.The 3-2 win in the ODI series has come against a side whose captain had stated, before the series, his intention to win 5-0. When West Indies manager, and former captain, Richie Richardson said matter-of-factly that they would like to win everything in Bangladesh, it didn’t sound unrealistic. West Indies’ last assignment prior to the tour was the World Twenty20 which they had won in grand style, and never has a reigning champion side come to Bangladesh and not won something.West Indies won the Test series 2-0, and as the ODI series neared Bangladesh hardly featured when the talk was about winning. What a 5-0 win would mean for the West Indies’ ODI rankings was everyone’s concern. The absence of Shakib Al Hasan was seen as the major blow that the home team could never recover from, so much so that ideas of 400-plus scores were also thrown around.Instead, Bangladesh fought, and fought till the very end. Even the winning runs had to be hit twice, as Elias Sunny forgot to complete the run when Nasir had first struck the ball into the gap. The batsman had to redo the winning shot the next ball, carving the ball over point, which was Bangladesh’s sixth comeback. The five earlier ones made sure it got to this stage.The first obstacle was Chris Gayle. Despite the lack of runs this series, he remained a threat until he chopped the ball to Nasir at point, who took a low catch in the eighth over. The wicket came about in the only way Bangladesh could have dismissed Gayle, by building pressure through dot balls; his ODI series with an aggregate that is his third-lowest in a five-match series.From 17 for 3, West Indies recovered significantly. Kieron Pollard settled into the crease by hitting sixes and the spinners strayed. Mominul Haque finally slipped one through Pollard, giving Bangladesh their second win of the afternoon.That dismissal, however, was not going to end Bangladesh’s woes. But they denied West Indies a second chance, as Mahmudullah and Shafiul Islam picked up two wickets each, helping restrict the opposition to 217.Bangladesh winning battles with their bowling was not unexpected, given their current form. The turnaround they forced after Pollard had decimated the spinners was worth watching. They had to use new angles and a lot of variations to keep the West Indies tail from wagging.When it came to batting, Bangladesh suffered their second top-order collapse in as many games. Their mindset seemed muddled, and it was evident in their footwork. Tamim Iqbal got away with a couple of boundaries before he was cleaned up by Kemar Roach. Roach also beat Anamul Haque and Jahurul Islam with pace. Recovery from these early blows would be Bangladesh’s biggest struggle of the series.Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah decided to counter-attack, like Pollard had, and bring up the run-rate to a point from which picking up wickets in a clutter was the only way out for West Indies. The pair added 91 runs at 7.18 per over, Bangladesh using the advantage of having an in-form Mahmudullah promoted to No. 5 for only the second time in his career.Both the captain and vice-captain, however, fell within 20 balls of each other, leaving three youngsters the task of seeing Bangladesh home. Nasir, Mominul and Sohag Gazi then won Bangladesh yet another mini-battle, adding 53 for the sixth wicket and a further 28 for the seventh to take them just one hit away from victory.In a way, this was Bangladesh’s third final of 2012, after the Asia Cup final and the final day of the Dhaka Test. Having lost the previous two, questions were raised throughout the year about their ability to go all the way. The win against West Indies is a reward for the battles they fought, the small wins, even the two defeats. It is for now their most cherished trophy.

From Brendan Layton, Australia I’m taking time out to lament to decline of the Pakistan cricket team, which has fallen from world beaters to chugging along side the West Indies in a struggle to catch up.

Cricinfo25-Feb-2013Brendan Layton, Australia
I’m taking time out to lament to decline of the Pakistan cricket team, which has fallen from world beaters to chugging along side the West Indies in a struggle to catch up.Pakistan once boasted one of the most formidable line ups in the world. In the 90’s, they had players of the calibre of Wasim Akram, arguably the greatest left arm quick of all time; Waqar Younis, his incomparable (And injury ravaged) sidekick; Inzamam-Ul-Haq; the chubby and dominant batsman as well as class acts such as Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mohammad Yousuf. Pakistan has not won a series since 2006, and that was against the West Indies. The last series they played was against India, in which they lost 1-0, and they haven’t played since. Nor are they slated to play anyone within the next 9 months.What happened to Pakistan cricket to bring it down the notches it had scaled to reach amongst the top three in world cricket?As much as we would like to say cricket and politics don’t mix, it is unrealistic to believe it. Pakistan’s unstable political climate and unfortunate status as terrorism target is not conducive to attracting cricket teams, sponsors, or fans. To further my point about politics, South Africa was isolated from world sports for decades due to its apartheid policy, a purely political reason for isolating it. A similar issue is going on in Zimbabwe, yet I have already raised my annoyance at the lack of initiative on that problem.Their cricketers have battled controversies which have tagged along like dead weights. The match fixing accusations, ball tampering, Shoaib Ahktar’s histrionics, the drug disgrace surrounding Shoaib and Mohammad Asif, and the forfeited test have all contributed to Pakistan’s state of mind. Their bizarre selection policies have also contributed, with players who have made successful forays overseas such Yasir Arafat all but ignored (Arafat did manage one test, in their previous series against India). Mushtaq Ahmed churned out hundreds of wickets for Sussex and helped the county to its first championships, but was not picked again.Cricket wants a strong Pakistan team. While the board has become something of a little brother to the powerful BCCI, the health of cricket needs more competitiveness and what better time with plenty of money in the game to encourage it? There is going to be another Wasim there, another Imran, another Javed. Pakistan needs to go and find them, not only for its own sake, but for crickets.

Why Australia may as well not bother showing up next year

Andy Zaltzman25-Feb-2013BREAKING… England were last night celebrating victory in the 2013 Ashes in their Nagpur hotel, after a panel of international historians declared that their triumph over Australia next summer is now an immutable certainty.The UN Sporting Precedent Committee in New York has ruled that there are sufficient parallels between England’s 1984-85 series win in India, which presaged a 3-1 Ashes win for David Gower’s men in the ensuing summer, and this current tour, that “they might as well start the post-mortems in Melbourne now”.Professor BS Kalhuke, the committee’s chair, explained: “England crashed to a heavy defeat in the first Test after being scuttled by Sivaramakrishnan, a spinner who became progressively less effective the longer the series went on. They bounced back with a thumping second-Test victory after dismissing the home team for just over 300, scoring just over 400 themselves, before chasing down a small target with loads of wickets in hand.”High-fiving himself enthusiastically, Kalhuke, emeritus professor of sporting coincidence at the Nantucket Institute of Unarguable Facts, continued: “England then won the penultimate Test of the series to go 2-1 up, after again dismissing the Indians relatively cheaply, then posting a big lead with all of their top four passing 50, exactly as they have just done at Eden Gardens. They won that penultimate Test 28 years ago by knocking off a target of less than 50. So all things considered, you can start booking the open-topped buses for 26th August, the day after England clinch the urn at The Oval once more with a left-handed batsman as captain.”Pressed by journalists about aspects of the 1984-85 series that do not provide exact parallels to the 2012-13 version, and the potential for all these parallels to be rendered invalid by the final Test not ending in a draw, Prof Kalhuke pointed out that the last match of the mid-eighties rubber was played in a city ending in the letters p-u-r ‒ Kanpur then, Nagpur this time. “If that game is not a draw, then I will have a tattoo on my face of the words ‘Ravi Shastri was the most exciting cricketer of all time.'”He then stuck his fingers in his ears and pretended he was deaf to avoid answering further queries, before running away at high speed, shouting something about Alastair Cook being a left-handed opener making big scores in India, making him the new Graeme Fowler. “Cook will never play for England again after this series, mark my words,” screamed Kalhuke as he bundled himself into the boot of his car.England captain Alastair Cook was unavailable for comment, but, had he been available for comment, and commented, he would have commented: “Yes, yes, yes. A third successive Ashes win for the first time since the 1970s – that’s an awesome achievement. I’m not fussed about being the new Graeme Fowler. This is about the team, not me.”Cook continued: “Our whole strategy on this tour of India was geared towards mirroring the 1984-85 series here as closely as possible, so we are delighted with how things have gone. Leaving Monty out of the first Test in Ahmedabad was a masterstroke, as we knew the Indians were very vulnerable with bat, ball and in the field after their results and performances last year, so had to make sure we got the result we needed to set up the entire pattern of the series. It worked a treat.”Australian skipper Michael Clarke tearfully acknowledged that England would be the better side in next summer’s showdown. “Ah, look,” he wept to a press conference in Sydney, Baggygreenland, “I will not discuss my position as Australian captain now, eight months before we lose the series. There’s no disgrace in losing to a team that will have just secured a come-from-behind 2-1 win in India, particularly when that defeat is made inevitable by a few historical coincidences. We’ll head to England having just lost a home series to the world’s top-ranked team, just as we did in 1985, so frankly we might as well just accept what’s coming to us. Well played, England. Enjoy your moment. But remember, you’re going to get whitewashed in West Indies early next year and you will not win a single Ashes series from 2017 to 2033.”

With the likes of Michael Hussey, David Hussey and Ponting getting old, Australia team is losing players who scored in bulk. They have inexperienced batsmen who are not yet ready to fill their predecessors’ shoes

Jack Mendel25-Feb-2013Before the first ODI at Lords between England and Australia, Shane Watson, Australia’s opening batsmen and allrounder, had said England didn’t have enough batting depth and that their line-up with five specialist bowlers (including Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann who can all bat) was too bowler heavy. The comment seemed a little out of place because it is clearly the Australian batting line-up that has some serious issues relating to depth.Watson and Warner get them off to a solid start, but besides them, only Michael Clarke offers any substantial resistance. In the absence of Michael Hussey, who skipped the tour due to personal reasons, Australia sent Steven Smith, a leg-spinning allrounder who led Sydney Sixers to the Big Bash League title last season, at No. 6. He can bat in an unorthodox fashion at that position, but having not bowled, he is essentially reduced to a batsman, who has performed poorly with the bat.Australia need some more batsmen. With the likes of Michael Hussey, now 37, David Hussey (not picked for Test matches anyway) and Ponting getting old, Australia team is losing players who scored in bulk. They have inexperienced batsmen who are not yet ready to fill their predecessors’ shoes. Even Watson and Warner, the supposedly more solid players, are not doing well. Watson has a large number of half-centuries (28) in 154 ODIs, but only six hundreds. In Tests, he has scored only two centuries. Warner, likewise, has only got two tons each in Test and ODI cricket. I think it would be more valuable to score a fifty at No. 5 or No. 6 instead of one at the top of the batting order. Watson bragging about depth should drop down the order to give his side some depth. Phil Hughes should come in. Clarke has 52 fifties and just seven tons in 217 games. Despite this he is now ranked eighth in the ODIs and as the leading batsman he is the only genuine solid option. I feel he should be at No. 3, but he is not converting enough starts to hundreds.Let’s look at some other domestic cricketers. Phil Hughes has been dominant in England. On the other hand he failed to make a century during the last Australian domestic season and seemed to have been worked out. Although, he wasn’t incredible in the Ashes but his domestic first-class record is too good to ignore. The amount of runs he has scored is simply staggering. At just 23, he has 17 hundreds and 5810 runs. How can Australia possibly ignore this run machine? Get him in the side, straighten out his flaws and make him a master of his art.Chris Rogers, who has been in the form of his life playing for Middlesex in all forms of cricket, is a little older and is still waiting, like David Hussey, for a proper chance to play Tests. He has been churning out runs for a long time. In Sheffield Shield trophy this season, he hit 781 runs including three centuries to be among the top run-getters.Likewise, there is Marcus North who despite already having had a shot at Test cricket was chucked for not being good enough. He is a stylish attacking batsman who can bowl.Also, seasoned professionals like 32-year old Adam Voges, Michael Klinger and Phil Jacques have all been on the fringes for a long time. Klinger, who was the fourth-highest run scorer in the 2011-12 season, has not been able to break into the side. He scored one century in 19 innings, which isn’t breathtaking for one of the top scorers in the domestic league.Phil Jacques has become so fed up with Australia selection that he has now said he wants to play for English counties. Rob Quiney and Liam Davis have both scored profusely and but have gone unnoticed. Perhaps Davis’s long-term record is not outstanding, but having scored three of his four centuries in the 2011-12 season including a triple-century, credit should be given where it is due. If a player is successful then he should get some acknowledgement, bearing in mind the alternatives – Smith, Forrest and George Bailey, and no one else really.The top century makers in Australia’s domestic league were Ed Cowan, Quiney, David Hussey, Forrest, Bailey, Davis and Rogers with three centuries apiece.The likes of Usman Khawaja, Bailey and Forrest are all decent players or they wouldn’t get in the Test side, but they haven’t set the world alight and are clearly not ready for international cricket. Who are the fringe players pushing for a spot in the side?I can’t see anyone, which is really worrying, as those in the Test, ODI and T20 side are simply not performing to a high standard. I hope Australia soon find a new Ponting or Michael Hussey because at the moment they are an inexperienced side. I am sure in three to four years there will be good players worthy of international cricket, but until then, Australia need some serious runs from some experienced batsmen.