From Adam Wakefield, Australia

Cricinfo25-Feb-2013

Jacques Kallis has matched Graeme Pollock’s achievements© AFP
Cricket, as a sport, has a habit of indulging itself in its own legend. Players are elevated above mere mortal status to something divine, something Bradmanesque as it were, where their influence on the game goes way beyond the boundary ropes of their personal selves.South Africa is no stranger to such musings. One name especially stands out as the man who inspired those in South Africa as Tendulkar does today in India. Graeme Pollock is his name, a player recognised internationally as one of the best batsmen to ever play the game. He had the second highest Test average (of those who had scored more than 2000 Test runs). He used to hold the record for the highest score by a South African and is part of the Pollock dynasty that has given so much to the South African cause over the years.Today, South Africa has yet another cricketer who should be classed in Pollock’s elite company. Jacques Kallis has never felt the full affection of the South African public, for reasons ranging from being perceived as aloof at the crease to batting to slowly. For one reason or another, Kallis never received the praise that he deserved, and only now, as the twilight of his career approaches, are South Africans waking up to how good he really is, and how much a hole he is going to leave in their national side when he eventually hangs up his well worn boots.Kallis made his debut when Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock were still figuring out how best to work together, Hansie Cronje was captain and Dave Richardson wicketkeeper. He is a physical embodiment of South Africa’s cricket history after re-admission, just by being there most of the time in person. He, along with Mark Boucher, are the last of that generation of cricketers in the 1990s who were tasked with forging South Africa’s image in the world game.Greatness is always difficult if not near impossible to see at the passing moment. In the present, we lack the foresight which allows us to put an individual’s achievements in context. Once put in context however, and weighed against the deeds of his or her peers, only then is it plausible to label a player ‘a great’. Kallis’ achievements are so immense, and his way of playing the game so pure (technically speaking), that along with Tendulkar and Ponting, will be canonized as a saint of the modern game, a man who batted in a way which survived the Test of time.The reasons Kallis and Tendulkar have been able to continue excelling to a level even past most of their younger contemporaries is because their techniques allow them to do so. Even when they have struggled, as both have done at times in their distinguished careers, their technique has gotten them through. The fact Tendulkar and Kallis were the leading run getters in the recently concluded series between their two sides, in conditions toda in the most part, underlines this fact.Kallis has also disproved the old adage that he bats at too slow a pace. He recently scored his quickest Test century, and has upped his strike rate in the five-day format significantly. And being selfish? If it weren’t for his efforts in Cape Town, South Africa would have lost the series. Harbhajan Singh, known as a fiery character but not one to shy away from expressing himself, told media before the final day in Cape Town that he hadn’t seen many bat like Kallis did that day. King Kallis, as he is known at Newlands, put on a batting masterclass which will be seen as one of his better Test innings.He further sealed his reputation by scoring his maiden double-hundred at Centurion, an achievement which in some weird way finally ensures his transition from very good to great. When Jacques Kallis comes to the crease, South Africa breathes a sigh of relief. He has been the ultimate fire-fighter, assassin and strangler for them for 15 years, and he still has a couple more seasons in his body. But when he does eventually decide to go, at the moment he walks off Newlands (it will be there) for that final time, that is when we will feel his absence, a feeling as powerful as sadness, happiness and fear. By George we are going to miss him. He has earned our affections hundreds of times over, and is finally getting the admiration he deserves.Graeme Pollock and Jacques Kallis are the greatest cricketers South Africa has ever produced. It’s simple as that.

Plays of the day from the first day of the Delhi Test between India and Australia

Brydon Coverdale22-Mar-2013Appeal of the day
When Pragyan Ojha bowled the first ball of the 26th over to Shane Watson, the Indians were confident they had a wicket. They just couldn’t decide whether it was caught behind or stumped. Watson pushed forward and got his bat near the ball, and when it was safely in Dhoni’s gloves, the wicketkeeper whipped the bails off for good measure. Dhoni ran towards the standing umpire Richard Kettleborough to appeal for caught behind, on the way sending a similar query to Aleem Dar at square leg to check on the stumping. Kettleborough turned him down, at which point Dhoni made the TV replay signal towards Dar, who promptly asked for the third official to rule on the stumping.Although Dhoni was probably only ensuring the appeal had registered with Dar, his action could bring him attention from the match referee Ranjan Madugalle. The ICC’s playing conditions state: “Players may not appeal to the umpire to use the replay system – breach of this provision would constitute dissent, and the player could be liable for discipline under the ICC Code of Conduct.” For the record, Watson was adjudged not out.Ball of the day
R Ashwin’s carrom ball has claimed a few Australian wickets during this series, but the trick never gets old. This time the victim was Mitchell Johnson, who had not been exposed to Ashwin on this tour as it was his first match of the series. With the offspinner Ashwin coming over the wicket, and angling a ball across to pitch on off-stump, the left-handed Johnson could have been forgiven for shouldering arms, and expecting the ball to move further away. Instead, he saw it turn back towards him and hit the off stump. Johnson stood there for a few seconds, baffled by what had just transpired. The answer was simple: it was another wonderful piece of deception, from a highly talented bowler.Over of the day, part one
Phillip Hughes made some impressive strides in the second innings in Mohali, and he wanted to ensure those gains weren’t wasted in Delhi. His best chance to score quick runs was against the fast men, as he enjoys using the pace of the bowler. In the seventh over of the day, Hughes dispatched Bhuvneshwar Kumar for three wonderful boundaries, his timing and confidence growing with every shot. There was a square drive, a back-foot drive in front of point, and a drive down the ground between the bowler and mid-off. All of a sudden, Hughes was scoring at better than a run-a-ball, and the cracking pitch suddenly didn’t look as ominous.Over of the day, part two
The pitch did, however, cause Hughes some concerns a little later when Ishant Sharma got a ball to zip nastily off the surface from a good length, and Hughes was unable to get out of the way. Hughes had both feet in the air in an ungainly attempt at evasion, when the ball struck his helmet. Perhaps it put some doubts in his mind regarding the slow nature of the pitch, because three balls later, Hughes was stuck on the crease while defending tentatively, subsequently playing on, and giving Ishant his reward.

Sohag Gazi has been thrown in at the deep end but has emerged shining after six months in international cricket

Mohammad Isam01-May-2013In only his first season of international cricket, Sohag Gazi has leapt ahead of any other specialist offspinner in Bangladesh history. His 26 Test wickets put him in a fair position to possibly kickstart an offspin revival in the country.He is two wickets short of Mahmudullah, primarily a batsman, who was used a fair bit before Gazi came along. Naimur Rahman and Fahim Muntasir are the only other frontline offspinners who have played for Bangladesh. They appeared in 11 Tests between them, the last of them in 2002. The near-complete dependence on left-arm spin since has descended all the way down to age-group cricket and to the lowest tiers of Dhaka’s league structure.It meant that Gazi was an anomaly as he rose through the ranks. First picked after a good showing for Bangladesh A and in domestic cricket, he was called upon to do duty against West Indies’ many top-order left-handers last November. As the wicket columns show, he was up to the task.Gazi has faced many challenges during these six months. The successes, big and small, and failures haven’t changed him too much, as those who have known him since his days as a first-class cricketer will attest. His knowledge of international batsmen, however, has come on in leaps and bounds, and he has developed a keen sense of what his captain wants from him in different situations.”I will say that the last six months have been a huge surprise for me,” Gazi said. “Nobody [in the media or BCB] talked about me. I was not groomed to play for Bangladesh, but here I am.Gazi is probably the least-coached cricketer in the team, given that he came out of Barisal Division and never actually come across specialised coaching until he met Saqlain Mushtaq, who is now Bangladesh’s bowling consultant on a tour-by-tour basis.In keeping with that, Gazi has also been something of a refreshing change of pace in the Bangladesh dressing room, temperament-wise. A few players have remarked on his phlegmatic attitude in tough situations and his tendency to be quietly confident at most times.”I have really enjoyed this surprising turn of events,” he said. “I can tell you that those who are built up as Bangladesh prospects have some more pressure on them. They have to do well. I didn’t have that baggage.”His temperament has been on trial from his first ball in Test cricket, which Chris Gayle smacked for six. Gazi went on to dismiss Gayle soon after that first over, and immersed himself in bowling long spells, eking out wickets, and enjoying the odd stint with the bat. In that series against West Indies, Gazi was asked to bowl at every juncture, and it continued against Sri Lanka, where he bowled from one end almost constantly., leading the attack in Shakib Al Hasan’s absence.A few weeks later in Zimbabwe, he was used differently, as captain Mushfiqur Rahim’s shock option. There were times he felt frustrated, often sending down the odd full toss when he was called on to bowl a few overs towards the end of a session.”I am trying to make the best of the opportunities in different conditions,” Gazi said. “The pace bowlers have been in the thick of things on these wickets, and as a spinner, you have to bide your time.”I just wanted to give my best shot in whatever capacity I was asked to bowl in.”He thinks there has been a genuine improvement in his bowling, having measured up to some good batsmen in his six Tests.”I can turn the ball a lot,” he said. “I think that shock of facing the biggest hitter in the game [Gayle] has helped me. I have bowled to Sangakkara and now [Brendan] Taylor, so it has helped me understand where my bowling stands.”He has the Bangladesh records for best bowling on debut in Tests and ODIs under his belt. Given how he has progressed, he will be keen to work on developing greater accuracy and the ability to cope with tough situations. It will be up to him to master these challenges, ones that have brought down many a talented cricketer in Bangladesh.

Monty Panesar must rediscover his core values if he is to resurrect his Test career after his embarrassing early-morning escapade in Brighton

David Hopps21-Aug-2013How down in the mouth does Monty Panesar feel now? While he begins his rehabilitation at the Colchester Festival, England are playing two spinners in a home Test for the first time since Cardiff four years ago, the scene of his defiant last-wicket stand against Australia. This should have been Panesar’s Test. Instead, Simon Kerrigan begins an England career he might not easily relinquish.Alastair Cook, England’s captain, has revealed that Panesar rang him full of regrets after 50 stones of bouncer fell upon him in a Brighton pizza restaurant. It is to be hoped that these apologies were based on reality because Panesar has never been too far away from a fantasy world and the qualities that have made him so endearing now threaten, at 31, to end his England career.When the Yorkshire left-arm spinner Bobby Peel famously urinated on the sightscreen at Bramall Lane, such was the wrath of Lord Hawke, one of cricket’s greatest autocrats, that he never played county cricket again. More than a century later, Panesar has been more fortunate. Released by Sussex after treating nightclub bouncers to his own version of the Sprinkler dance in the early hours of the morning, Essex have given him an immediate chance to recover.To see Panesar back in action so quickly, in the delightful setting of Castle Park, was heartwarming, even if he found no immediate rewards. For Essex, who need something special in the last month of the season to win promotion from the Second Division of the LV= Championship, it is a worthwhile gamble, but that does not disguise the fact that he has many challenges ahead.The mobile phone video doing the rounds could hardly be sadder. Panesar’s pleas for help as the bouncers catch up with him are pitiful and it should not pass unnoticed that the calls for help are aimed at Rory Hamilton-Brown, erstwhile Surrey captain, who departed for Sussex to get his life in order. Presumably he just fell upon Panesar while out for an early-morning jog to the Health Food store.Panesar has suggested that the breakup of his marriage has been a contributory factor in his drink-fuelled excesses. To admit, as he now has, to personal pressures, offers potential for recovery, although that break-up actually began two years ago. At least once, he has been heard to deny that his marriage ever existed and, while everybody must deal with such emotional upheaval in their own way, it does reveal his almost childlike reluctance at times to enter the real world.Nearly eight years ago now, Panesar chatted contentedly to this reporter about an India guru who he used to visit at Nanaksar farm near Edmonton in Canada, helping with the harvest and finding inspiration in a sense of community. He called it the defining moment of his life, saying: “I have always believed in my master. He is my guru. He is my maharaji. We did voluntary work on the land, harvesting the wheat and the canola and all united together. There was a feeling of togetherness and passion. There were strong binds and a sense of love.”A few years later, when he had made his England debut and was prematurely involved in a ghosted autobiography, his reluctance to talk about his guru could not have been more apparent. He was an England cricketer now. There was to be no talk of gurus. In fact, the guru did not really exist. His life had moved on.

Trying to live a life to which you are not naturally suited is often a quick route to unhappiness. We can assume that the message from his friends and family in Luton will be that his clubbing days are over.

As abstention from alcohol was one of his guru’s tenets, perhaps Panesar might have been wise to maintain the link. Many of us have succumbed to excessive drinking on long tours, away from family and friends, so if Panesar really did develop such an affinity for whisky on England’s tour of India last year he would not be the first.But it is no surprise to find that alcohol and Panesar do not mix, or that prowling around nightclubs is not a natural place for such an ingénue. He is a private individual, whose occasional bursts of eccentricity and exuberance disguise the fact that he is can be an uneasy socialiser. Trying to live a life to which you are not naturally suited is often a quick route to unhappiness. We can assume that the message from his friends and family in Luton will be that his clubbing days are over.At Essex, too, he will have the invaluable friendship of Ravi Bopara, another England cricketer whose career took a downturn after the break up of a relationship and the second Sikh, after Panesar himself, to play for England. The resumption of his relationship with Neil Burns, a long-standing cricketing mentor whose influence had receded, is another indication of his return to core values.There was something typically tragic-comic about Panesar’s downfall at Sussex. On the field, his bowling talent has often been accompanied by moments of batting or fielding incompetence and this natural clownishness has largely contributed to his popularity. Off the field, though, the disconnect has no sense of comedy but indicates issues that need to be addressed. The image of the sad clown could hardly be more appropriate.Sussex rightly have gained a reputation as a caring county and their release of Panesar should be seen positively, not a punishment as much as a mutual understanding that Panesar now needs his support network of old.They had fretted about his moody behaviour for much of the season. At times, he stopped the ball in the outfield with his foot and threw in underam. He responded aggressively at least once to senior players who questioned his attitude. But Sussex were not entirely sure if his disenchantment arose from something as simple as a shoulder niggle which had affected his form or from some deeper malaise. Eventually they dropped him, a fate also suffered, incidentally, by Hamilton-Brown.As one Sussex insider said about his release: “It was the right and proper thing to do.” He can commute to and from Chelmsford in little more than an hour and, if his Essex loan does not work out, then a substantial salary cut and a return to his first county, Northamptonshire, cannot be discounted.If he needs more support then the PCA, who have been aware of his struggles for some time, are also as willing as ever to play a role. “Our dealings with any cricketer must necessarily remain confidential, but we offer a wide range of support and counselling services to any cricketer who feels they need them,” said Angus Porter, the chief executive. Life is certainly different than in Bobby Peel’s day. After Lord Hawke had sent him on his way, Peel became a pub landlord in Leeds.Panesar might have developed a destructive fondness for whisky, but unlike Peel it is not easily available on his own optics.It would be misleading to depict this as the latest example of a cricketer of Asian extraction failing to reach full potential in the England side. This is a story of individual vulnerability not structural failures, even if the complexities of integration has never been entirely addressed.There is an uneasy sense, all the same, that English cricket has not intercepted Panesar’s problems as quickly as they might or been pro-active enough in explaining how they are seeking to address them. Successive England coaches, Duncan Fletcher, Peter Moores and Andy Flower, have been more comfortable working with conventional, disciplined players far removed from Panesar’s unpredictability.Merely to suggest that Panesar is Sussex’s responsibility is not good enough. England’s tour of India became his greatest triumph as he combined with Graeme Swann last November to take 19 wickets and win the Mumbai Test in one of the finest spin-bowling double acts in England’s history.But without Swann, in New Zealand, as the sole spinner, he had a difficult tour. He sets his own fields these days – he is past 30, he should do – but observing some of Cook’s bewildered responses was like observing a father fearing the worst reluctantly handing over the steering wheel to a son for the first time.And then back to England. Only one spinner needed. Back to the county circuit. Not quite forgotten, but certainly unwanted. Omitted at Old Trafford, where he had hoped to play, he went back to Brighton and hit the town. His dejection is easy to understand. How long his punishment for that lasts now lies in the hands of Simon Kerrigan.

The Aussies are finally batting, umpires are making howlers, and Trott’s temper is given a work out. Ah to be at Old Trafford…

Andy Bloxham02-Aug-2013Choice of game
With the Aussies returning to the shores from whence they came, and no Test scheduled for my local venue, Edgbaston (scandalous, I might add), I opted for the curtain-raiser of the pivotal third Ashes Test at an extensively redeveloped Old Trafford.
It’s the first occasion on which I’ve attended the opening day of an Ashes Test match, and nothing quite compares to that spine-tingling first airing of “Jerusalem” as the players take the field. Against the Old Enemy, it’s especially poignant.Key performer
Michael Clarke. Chris Rogers can consider himself rather unfortunate to have missed out here – it was his uncharacteristically fluent and aggressive innings at the top of the order that set the tone for a fine Australian batting performance – but the tourists, as is so often the case, owe much of their early success in this Test match to their brilliant captain.Clarke’s unbeaten century was not his most authoritative, nor was it bursting with the effortless elegance that we’ve become accustomed to, but it steered his team in to what could prove to be a match defining position of strength come the end of a scorching hot day in Manchester. After a tentative start in which he groped at a probing James Anderson like a promiscuous teen, Clarke found his dancing shoes and combined fleet-footed, crisp footwork with nothing short of Rolex timing. He knows a thing or two about making it a big one, too, so expect plenty more to be added on day two.One thing I’d have changed about the day
Well, England winning the toss would have been nice, wouldn’t it? On a magnificent English summer’s day which, when combined with a largely unresponsive surface, provided about as much assistance to England’s seam bowlers as a 16-year-old work experience employee would to MI6, it was just about the perfect day for batting.Oh, and the minor issue of howling third-umpire decisions as part of the DRS process could do with some remedying, couldn’t it?The interplay I enjoyed
Anderson to Clarke. James Anderson possesses a fine record against Australia’s captain, and for 30 minutes or so at the beginning of the latter’s innings it had looked a trend comfortably set to continue. Clarke offered the look of a man batting knee-deep in treacle, but somehow managed to survive the inquisition to see England’s conjuror off and set himself for what was to become his 26th Test century. Only Shane Watson, who served up the batting equivalent of Quasimodo, had looked more out of kilter before reaching double figures.Wow moment
Usman Khawaja’s dismissal being upheld. Then Steve Smith surviving after England were utterly convinced that he had edged a James Anderson delivery through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. Without seeing replays any clearer than those displayed on the big screen inside the ground, they appear on the face of things to have been a) clearly incorrect and b) another nail in the coffin of a review system that has already had a 300ft deep grave dug by India’s cricketing hierarchy.Filling the gaps
Thwaite’s finest. A roast pork and stuffing bap. Spiced potato wedges. The varied cuisine that filled the gaps between the cricket (and the one in my stomach) had the simultaneous effect of emptying my wallet at a pace swifter than Mike Gatting going up for thirds at an all-you-can-eat buffet.Crowd meter
Pretty quiet, actually. Whether I’m just accustomed to the gladiatorial atmosphere of an England Test at Edgbaston, or whether the English contingent had been shocked in to silence by the sight of an Australian batting unit showing some application and looking like actual cricketers, it was a largely subdued affair.
A word for the large gathering of Aussie “Fanatics” sat behind me, though. They were naturally stunned and delighted in equal measure by the close of play scoreboard, but provided great value throughout the day and took banter as liberally as they dished it out. It is one of the great joys of being a cricket spectator that you can share a beer with someone from the other side of the world and have a good chat, regardless of what is taking place on the field.Close encounter
Jonathan Trott spent a short period of the afternoon session out on the boundary in front of where we were sat, and soon copped some abuse from a well-oiled Aussie. Trott is a batsman renowned for his ability to exist untroubled within his own bubble when out in the middle, but Trott the fielder is clearly a different proposition. Whatever had been said angered the England No. 3, and his Australian assailant was quick to ignore an offer to come down and say it to his face. The Australian bowlers should ask the spectator in question for a few tips.Overall
DRS gaffes aside, that was what Test cricket is all about. Blazing sunshine, unrelenting cricket from both sides and a full house. Australia are in a commanding position, but the beauty of Test cricket is that, come lunch tomorrow, that outlook could have dramatically changed.Marks out of 10
8. Painfully prolonged third-umpire referrals took plenty of the spontaneity out of the game, and the fact that they were then incorrect added a farcical edge that didn’t sit well. Thankfully, the weather and the majority of the cricket made for a tremendous day out.

On a day when Quinton de Kock joined elite company with a third successive century, one of those who had managed the feat before him, Herschelle Gibbs, applauded the young batsman for his carefree method of play

Firdose Moonda in Centurion11-Dec-2013When Quinton de Kock was on 99, he decided he was in a hurry. He charged down the track to Mohammad Shami and swung hard. Luckily for him, it didn’t take the edge but ended up being mistimed down the track. There was a collective gulp at SuperSport Park from all but one man. Herschelle Gibbs was beaming.”Look – he’s not even interested in stats,” Gibbs, who was part of one of the commentary teams, told ESPNcricinfo. “Others would have played a more conservative shot. But at least he wants to do something different.”A delivery later, de Kock tucked one away on the leg side to bring up his third consecutive century. Only Saeed Anwar, Zaheer Abbas, AB de Villiers and Herschelle Gibbs had managed that feat before him.The man on air, Mluleki Ntsabo, reeled off the elite list de Kock had joined and when he got to Gibbs’ name, Sunil Gavaskar fist bumped the South African, interrupting his soft applause. “It’s out with the old and in with the new,” Gibbs bellowed. For the first time since he last turned out for South Africa in May 2010, it sounded like he actually believed those words.Gibbs has not retired from international cricket and he doesn’t let people forget that. Just last month, in an interview with the local press agency, Gibbs reiterated his desire to play at top level. “I’d still like to play for South Africa… I know what I can offer and what I am capable of,” he said then.Fearless cricket is what Gibbs has always advocated and is the thing he believed he could to contribute to an outfit he has often criticised for being too formulaic. Gibbs held that up as the primary reason South Africa have failed to win a World Cup so far, and what he has repeatedly said they need to change if they are to be successful in future events. He usually put himself forward as the man who could lead that strategy but today, he handed the baton to someone else. Someone who reminds him a little bit of himself.”He also doesn’t think a lot,” Gibbs joked. “He is more of an instinctive player. Which is what a lot of 20-year-olds are. I haven’t seen a lot of him but I know he has got all the shots. Now he’s putting the pieces together.”What impresses Gibbs about de Kock is his carefreeness at the crease, something South Africa are trying to keep under some control. That’s why a senior player reminds him to “take it easy” at the end of most overs. De Kock has mostly heeded the advice and reined in the urge to whack everything that comes his way into next week.That was on display today more than usual when he saw off a controlled opening spell of swing from Shami and more discipline from the other two Indian pacers than they have shown in the series so far. “We saw him bat uncharacteristically for the first 40 runs,” Gibbs said. “He kept the big shots in the bag, which was a good thing to see at his age. And then he rode his luck.”De Kock was dropped twice – on 37 and 43 – but did not let that affect the way he played. He had AB de Villiers to run singles with and was allowed some aggression, particularly off Virat Kohli.Once he passed the fifty mark, de Kock converted the knock into a triple-digit score again to keep his record at 100%. He played the drive and pull that he is making his name on, but also continued to charge all the bowlers and punish half volleys.”His shot selection is really good,” Gibbs said. “But his power play is as good as his touch play, which is what you need to score hundreds. He likes the game going forward and is not shy to hit boundaries even in the middle period. He has got all the shots and all the understanding. The more he plays, the more he will learn.”Gibbs predicted de Kock will continue to keep Graeme Smith out of the side and will be one the key players in South Africa’s 2015 World Cup campaign. Gibbs hopes de Kock does not focus that far ahead just yet, however, but concentrates on more immediate matters instead.”Who is the next one-day series against?” Gibbs asked. When he was informed South Africa are not scheduled to play any 50-overs cricket before taking on Zimbabwe next July, he only had one thing on his mind. “He could make it four in four,” he said, referring to hundreds.”I almost did it,” he remembered. Gibbs’ three consecutive hundreds started at the 2002 Champions Trophy when he raised his bat against Kenya and India. In the home series which followed against Bangladesh he scored 153 off 131 balls and saw an opportunity to do it again in Benoni but with South Africa chasing just 155, he ended unbeaten on 97. “We ran out of runs,” he said, with a tinge of regret that soon gave way to smile.So does Gibbs have any advice for de Kock if he finds himself in a similar situation? “No, I don’t really know him that well. I just chatted with him briefly on the plane from Johannesburg to Cape Town after the first Twenty20 against Pakistan. We didn’t speak about too much,” Gibbs confessed. “He didn’t ask my advice. He doesn’t need it.”

Plays from the first ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Hambantota

Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Nov-2013The scoop shot junkie
On a day when Tillakaratne Dilshan appeared to be short of fluency, he seemed addicted to trying one of the most difficult shots in the game – even if it is one of his own devisement. Dilshan scooped one over his shoulder as early as the seventh over, and when Corey Anderson came on to bowl during the batting Powerplay, he appeared intent on playing no other stroke. He sent Anderson’s second ball of the 38th over above the keeper, then tried it again next ball, but missed. He played the scoop again successfully on the penultimate ball, but eventually, Anderson got wise. The last ball of the over was slightly slower and Dilshan was early into the shot, sending it straight up for the advancing wicketkeeper to pouch.The adaptive advance
Angelo Mathews says he loves to play the hook and pull and, although he got himself into an awful position for the shot in the 36th over, a good eye and quick hands ensured he executed it superbly. Having already hit a four in the over, Mathews ran down the track to Mitchell McClenaghan who dug the ball in very short, maybe having seen Mathews charging. The wise thing at this point would perhaps have been to duck but Mathews, with his Plan A foiled, was still keen to be aggressive. Judging the length quickly, Mathews hooked the ball, which was above head height when it reached him, and he connected so well the ball pierced the gap on the leg-side boundary, well in front of square.The sense of déjà vu
Almost a year ago, against the same team, Dimuth Karunaratne had been lbw for a duck on Test debut, to a ball that pitched around off stump and swung back into him. Though he hit a torrent of List A and first-class runs in the past three months, he suffered almost exactly the same fate in his first ODI in two years. Kyle Mills pitched the first ball of the innings on middle stump, angled across the left-hander, and got it to straighten off the seam. Karunaratne could not get his feet moving and was struck in front of the stumps on the crease, leaving the umpire with an easy decision.The yorker
Lasith Malinga has an excellent record against New Zealand, having terrorised many of the visitors’ batsmen before. Chasing a tall total, newbie Anton Devcich became Malinga’s latest victim, falling prey to his trademark yorker in the first over. Malinga had swung a couple of deliveries onto the batsman’s legs, and bowled a wide down the leg side, but on the penultimate ball of the over, he got the ball to move in towards the batsman from outside the off stump. Devcich misjudged both the line and the length of the ball, and it continued unimpeded to strike the base of middle and off stump.

Plays of the day from the first T20 between Australia and England in Hobart

Andrew McGlashan29-Jan-2014Omission of the day
There are sound reasons for keeping faith with players that have served you well but when it means leaving out one of your in-form stars, it has to be questioned. Ben Stokes was a rare shining light during the Ashes and recent one-dayers but he was nowhere to be seen when England’s XI was named on Wednesday evening. Instead, they went with two players – Jade Dernbach and Danny Briggs – who have played no cricket of late.No-ball of the day
When Cameron White hoicked at a full toss from Luke Wright, the umpire was already calling no-ball for height by the time it was caught at short fine leg. Then, however, the game ground to a halt as queries were made about the call and eventually the third umpire was called in. It was a borderline call, and the TV official took his time before sticking with his on-field colleague. After all that, however, it barely mattered because White was out to the next ball he faced.Nerveless start of the day
Chris Lynn is one of the players to benefit from Australia having a number of first-choice names unavailable. When he came in during the 16th over he did not have much opportunity to make a mark, and there was no time to worry about playing himself in. Maybe that helped, because facing just his fourth ball in international cricket he slotted Tim Bresnan straight down the ground for six.Over of the day
Moises Henriques’ Twenty20 series has been cut short by a call to South Africa but he still had time to make an impression during an opening over that seriously dented England’s chase. First he bowled Wright, who under-edged a slower ball as he aimed leg side, then trapped Alex Hales lbw when the opener shuffled across the crease. Unless there are injuries in South Africa, it could well be the last bowl he has in the middle for a few weeks.

Reaction from around the world after Graeme Smith announced his retirement

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2014″He has been a mighty warrior, a leader of men and an exceptional part of our international cricket. Following the recent retirement of Jacques Kallis from Test cricket, there is no doubt that we are now ready to move into a new era and it is our job to build on the solid foundations that these great players leave behind.””He’s a guy who has always played under a lot of pressure … he has always found the inner strength to make sure he concentrates on his own performances, and he leads the team irrespective of what perceptions of him are, his presence alone will be sorely missed.””I thought he had a year or two, look everyone’s situation is different, maybe it is a good time for him to move on, he’s obviously got his reasons, his personal reasons. I’d rather look back to a superb career, and just say congrats on what he has achieved over many years.””He’s been the spearhead of our team for a number of years, leading the team from age 22, he’s been the heartbeat of the team ever since, he will be sorely missed.”
“@GraemeSmith49 biff,a career to be proud of and a leader who lead from the front!! Our 3 triple century partnerships,my highlight! Congrats.””Hearing huge news out of SA. @GraemeSmith49 is retiring! For what he has done for SA cricket – the man is a legend! Congrats my Surrey BFF!””What a magnificent career @GraemeSmith49 has had as captain and batsman.He can retire knowing he achieved great things in his time.””Congrats @GraemeSmith49 on a wonderful career. Still chuckle at him calling me Peter Schmeichel on tour of 04. #bettergoaliethangloveman””An immense contribution to SA cricket and the game at large. Wonderful career. Congrats and all the very best @GraemeSmith49, #CheersBiff””Huge congrats @GraemeSmith49 on an outstanding career for SA. Great leader and player. SA will miss him @surreycricket welcome him back.””Another great leaves the international circuit @GraemeSmith49 what a legend. Huge loss for SA”

Plays of the Day from the third ODI between New Zealand and India, in Auckland

Abhishek Purohit in Auckland25-Jan-2014The double grab
New Zealand had the chance to shut the game in the 43rd over but let it slip when they reprieved Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin off successive deliveries from Nathan McCullum. Ashwin was in the mood to capitalise and swung McCullum’s first ball of the next over for a straight six. The fifth was carted at deep midwicket, and it seemed to be heading over Martin Guptill, but he stuck a hand out and grabbed it at the edge of the rope. However, realising the momentum was taking him over, he let go of the ball just before his foot popped over the rope. Guptill made sure to lob it high enough to have enough time to step back and stand in expectation as it came down into his hands for the second time.The running roulette
This was straight out of Confusion Central. Kane Williamson hooked a bouncer from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and nervously saw it sail to deep backward square, but it fell comfortably short of Varun Aaron running across from fine leg. Aaron overran the ball and the batsmen were contemplating a second run as he steadied himself to pick it up. Except their thoughts were not in sync. When Williamson wanted it, Guptill hesitated, and when Guptill trotted out, Williamson stopped. Guptill went back, but he suddenly ran out again, only to realise that the ball was on its way. Fortunately for New Zealand, Guptill made it back and comedy was the only outcome.The intrusion
Soon after the game started, a large, inflated ball bobbed onto the field. Virat Kohli strode in the direction of the intruder, took it by the scruff and tried to deflate it on his way to the umpire. But as boos rang around the ground, Kohli changed his mind. He turned and walked towards the straight boundary now and dismissively threw the still-intact ball over the advertising boards.The reception
As soon as Kohli walked in after the fall of the first India wicket, the stand next to the dressing room gave him a standing ovation. As his name was announced over the PA system, a huge roar rose from all corners of the ground. Only Kohli wasn’t on strike; the batsmen had crossed when Shikhar Dhawan’s catch was taken. But a chant of “Kohli, Kohli” rang out and continued for quite some time. He is the new star all right.