ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2015But Kaushal Silva’s woes at the top continued as he edged Kemar Roach to the wicketkeeper in the 18th over for 17•AFPLahiru Thirimanne was dropped by Darren Bravo in the 38th over, but fell two overs later to Bishoo•AFPThe hosts didn’t lose any more wickets during the day though as Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne slowly but steadily negated the spin on a low, slow Galle pitch•AFPA back-tracking Jerome Taylor parried an easy catch that could have seen the back of Chandimal•Associated PressIt proved costly, as Chandimal went of to make his fifth half-century of the year•Associated PressKarunaratne got to his century with a six over cow corner, as the duo upped the scoring rate towards in final session of the day to finish strongly on 250 for 2 by stumps•Associated Press

Stats highlights from the second ODI between Australia and India at the Gabba where the hosts recorded their 16th consecutive win at home.

Shiva Jayaraman15-Jan-201616 Number of consecutive ODIs won by Australia at home including this. This is the joint longest streak of win in ODIs at home by any team. West Indies had such a streak from 1986 to 1990 and Sri Lanka won 16 consecutive ODIs at home (excluding the walkovers against Australia and West Indies in the 1996 World Cup).301 The previous highest target chased in ODIs at the Gabba, which the hosts themselves did against England in 2014. This is also the fourth highest target to be successfully overhauled in ODIs in Australia and only the seventh in excess of 300.2 Instances before this match when a team failed to defend totals of 300 or more in back-to-back ODIs. West Indies had lost to India in two consecutive ODIs in 2002. In the first game though, India were declared winners on the basis of Duckworth-Lewis method by 83 runs while chasing a target of 301. The second instance came in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in 2007 when Australia failed to defend targets of 337 and 348 in the second and third game of the series. With this defeat India have failed to defend targets of 300 or more on ten occasions, which is second only to England’s 11 instances.2 Batsmen who have got five or more ODI hundreds against Australia before Rohit. Sachin Tendulkar made nine hundreds in 70 innings and Desmond Haynes made six in 64 innings. Rohit is the quickest among the three, having taken only 20 innings for the milestone. Tendulkar took 21 innings and Haynes 28. Rohit has made 1151 runs in ODIs against Australia at 71.93 including five hundreds and two fifties.2 Batsmen before Rohit Sharma with back-to-back ODI hundreds against Australia in Australia. Graeme Hick had done this with hundreds in Sydney and Adelaide in 1999. VVS Laxman had got hundreds in Brisbane and Sydney in 2004.0 Number of ODI totals by visiting teams at the Gabba higher than India’s 308 in this game. The previous highest was Sri Lanka’s 306 against the hosts in 2011-12, made while chasing a target of 322. India’s score is also the fourth highest ODI total by any team at this venue.295 Runs scored by Rohit between dismissals in his last two innings – he had made an unbeaten 171 in the previous ODI – which is the second highest score by a batsman between dismissals in ODIs against Australia. Haynes had made 375 runs – scores of 102*, 104*, 123* and 46 in four consecutive innings – the highest such aggregate by a batsman.95.85 George Bailey’s average in ODIs against India. His 76* in this innings was his sixth fifty-plus score against them in nine innings. In each of these innings he has scored more than 70 runs.1 Number of batsmen before Rohit who scored three ODI hundreds against Australia in Australia. Viv Richards got three hundreds in 38 innings against them. Apart from Rohit, Laxman is the only India batsman to get more than one hundred against the hosts in Australia.2000 The last time Australia had an opening stand in ODIs against India higher than the 145-run partnership between Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh. Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh had added 163 runs for the first wicket in Adelaide. The partnership in this match was Australia’s joint fifth-highest opening stand against India in ODIs. This was also the fourth-highest opening stand at the Gabba in ODIs.125 Partnership between Rohit and Virat Kohli – the third highest for any wicket by a visiting pair in ODIs at the Gabba against Australia. Rohit and Kohli have already added 332 runs in two innings in this series. This is already the third-highest runs added for the second wicket in any bilateral series against Australia. This was the ninth century stand between the two in ODIs. Click here for India pairs with most century stands in ODIs.124 Runs by Rohit in this match – the highest by an overseas batsman in ODIs against the hosts at the Gabba and the joint second-highest by an overseas batsman against any opposition at this venue. This is also the joint second-highest score by an opener in ODIs at this venue.2 Number of scores by India’s No. 4 higher than Ajinkya Rahane’s 89 in ODIs, against Australia. Ajay Jadeja is the only one to make a century against them – he had got an unbeaten 100 at the Oval in the 1999 World Cup. Mohammad Azharuddin had got 94 in Mohali. Rahane also completed 2000 runs in ODIs during his innings. He has 2041 runs at 33.45 in 63 innings including two hundreds and 14 fifties.38/5 India’s total in the last five overs of their innings. India lost four wickets in the last two overs and scored only 13 runs. India were well placed at 233 for 2 at the end of the 40th over before their innings derailed, with the last ten overs producing 75 runs for the loss of six wickets.

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jan-2016Dawlat Zadran struck in the next over, having Chamu Chibhabha caught behind for a duck•Chris WhiteoakZimbabwe continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Elton Chigumbura’s stumps were rattled by Mirwais Ashraf•Chris WhiteoakAshraf dismissed Sikandar Raza in similar fashion, and Zimbabwe were soon tottering at 49 for 7•Chris WhiteoakHamilton Masakadza, though, stayed firm, his gritty 83 leading a recovery•Chris WhiteoakMasakadza added 104 for the eighth wicket with Graeme Cremer, who stroked 58, as Zimbabwe eventually mustered 175•Chris WhiteoakThe start of Afghanistan’s chase was marked by the intrusion of a feline visitor•Chris WhiteoakThe cat left the field, and Afghanistan did not last too long either, as wickets tumbled freely. Mohammad Shahzad was the only batsman to reach double figures, but was dismissed for 31 by Tendai Chisoro•Chris WhiteoakLuke Jongwe collected career-best figures of 5 for 6 to run through Afghanistan’s line-up in 16.1 overs•Chris WhiteoakJongwe and Neville Madziva took eight wickets between them, as Zimbabwe bowled Afghanistan out for 58 to pull one back in the five-match series•Chris Whiteoak

Stats highlights from the 3rd T20I between India and Sri Lanka in Vishakapatnam, where India won the series 2-1

Bharath Seervi14-Feb-20160 Bilateral series wins for Sri Lanka in India, across all formats. This was their 18th bilateral series in India – India have won 14 and four were drawn. This was only Sri Lanka’s second bilateral T20I series in India. The first was drawn 1-1.82 Sri Lanka’s total in this match – their lowest in T20Is. Their previous lowest total was 87 against Australia in Bridgetown in the 2010 World T20. This is the second-lowest total by any team against India in T20Is; the lowest is 80 by England in Colombo in the 2012 World T20.1 Bilateral T20 series, where there were two instances of teams getting all-out in the first innings in T20Is: this is the first such series. India were bowled out for 101 in the first match and Sri Lanka 82 in the third match.9 Wickets by R Ashwin in this series – the joint second highest in a bilateral T20I series. Only Ahsan Malik had taken more – 11 for Netherlands against Nepal in 2015 in four matches. David Wiese also took nine wickets for South Africa against West Indies in 2014-15. Ashwin took 2 for 13 in the first match, 3 for 14 in the second and 4 for 8 in the third. His economy rate of 3.18 is the best by any bowler, bowling 10 or more overs in any series or tournament.0 Instances of India winning a T20I by nine wickets. This was their first such win in T20Is. They had won by eight wickets four times in the past. This is Sri Lanka’s third defeat by nine wickets in T20Is.4 for 8 Ashwin’s figures in this innings – best for India in T20Is. The previous best were also by Ashwin – 4 for 11 against Australia in Dhaka in the 2014 World T20. These are the best figures against Sri Lanka as well. These are also the second-best figures by a spinner in the first innings. Benn had taken 4 for 6 against Zimbabwe in Port of Spain in 2009-10.3 Man-of-the-Match awards for Ashwin in T20Is. Only Yuvraj Singh (7) and Virat Kohli (5) have more for India. He also got his first Man-of-the-Series award in T20Is.4 Wickets taken by Ashwin in the Powerplays – the joint highest by a spinner in a T20I. Suleiman Benn had taken 4 for 3 in the Powerplay against Zimbabwe in Port of Spain in 2009-10. Ashwin took 4 for 5 in this match. Both bowled three overs each.6 Wickets lost by Sri Lanka in the first ten overs of the innings – their second-most in T20Is. They had lost seven wickets against Australia in Cape Town in the 2007 World T20. They were all-out for 101 in that match after being 43 for 7 at the end of 10 overs.0 Instances of Sri Lanka losing two wickets in the first over in T20Is, before this match. Ashwin dismissed Niroshan Dickwella and Tillakaratne Dilshan in the first over. Ashwin is only the second spinner to take two wickets in the first over in T20Is. The first was Zulfiqar Babar against Australia in Dhaka in the 2014 World T20.20 Dot balls bowled by Ravindra Jadeja in this innings, the most for India in aT20I innings. The previous highest was 19, by two bowlers: RP Singh against South Africa in Durban in the 2007 World T20, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar against Pakistan in Bangalore in 2012-13. Only two others have bowled more than 20 dot balls in a T20I innings – 21 by Christopher Mpofu for Zimbabwe against Canada in King City in 2008-09, and Mudassar Bukhari for Netherlands against UAE in Dubai (ICCA) February 2016.

This was the first day of one of the premier global cricket tournaments, but you wouldn’t have guessed it in Nagpur

Jarrod Kimber in Nagpur08-Mar-2016

A grand opening? Not quite•International Cricket Council

Facebook said to me, “The ICC World Twenty20 starts today. Let your friends know if you’re excited to watch”. Facebook’s excitement at the tournament didn’t quite make it to the ground.There is very little exciting about Nagpur. Starting a tournament on a Nagpur pitch is like inviting your friends to your wedding at the tax office. Nagpur’s wicket has a reputation as a poor wicket. Recently it was so bad the ICC sent a letter to the VCA about it. Now it is hosting the opening game of the World T20. And it did so, exactly as you would expect it too. With a slow, painful, yawn.How could you be excited watching the first ball? In came Tanwir Afzal to bowl his accurate slow medium-pace. The ball was short of a length, and four minutes later it arrived to Hamilton Masakadza below stump height. It hit the toe of the bat and plonked a few feet in front of him. That ball was a visual representation of the entire match.Were the crowd excited? Was there any crowd? The three Afghanistan guys out at deep cover seemed excited. And they were the only ones, excited, or present. Had you told someone there was a billion-dollar sporting event watched around the world, they would have mistaken this for a training day, or that they had gone on the wrong day. There were more people at the ground who were paid to be there, than had paid to be there. Even the security guards couldn’t muster the energy to man the metal detectors. Police officers clutched at their brand new with no one here to use them on.How excited were the ICC? So excited about Ryan Campbell making his Hong Kong debut at 44 that they tweeted a picture of Jamie Atkinson by accident. They were maybe a bit upset that the BCCI ticketing system seemed to be actively discouraging people from coming out to the game. Although they seemed ambivalent to the fact their opening match had people paid more for commentating it than playing in it. And probably a bit worried that people found out they were only using their special magic bails for the “real” tournament, and not this opening round irritant.Was the cricket exciting? The contest was ended in Zimbabwe’s innings when Elton Chigumbura started hitting sixes, which was unfortunate with still more than an innings to play. Hong Kong’s innings started with the handbrake on, the car in the garage and the wheels off. Masakadza’s running between wickets was the only thing worse, he had the energy to reach his crease, but he couldn’t actually be bothered to ground his bat. There was also a ball that started midway down the pitch, was wide, was bowled very slowly, reacted slower off the pitch, and still resulted in a wicket.

Starting a tournament on a Nagpur pitch is like inviting your friends to your wedding at the tax office

Was the cricket public excited? How could they be? They weren’t watching the opening of a tournament, they were watching the post-qualifying qualifiers. The ICC can pretend, mislead or dress up this as much as they want, but this wasn’t a grand opening to a tournament. No one believes the tournament has started. And this match wasn’t going to change their minds, it was the cricket equivalent of a fart in a bottle.It was drab, nonsensical requalifying to empty stands on a slow low pitch. It wasn’t exciting, it was sad.The last ball of Zimbabwe’s innings was a short ball that didn’t bounce that was pulled onto the pad and dribbled apologetically a few metres past the umpire. Haseeb Amjad, the unathletic Hong Kong bowler, slowly turned around and realised, to his horror, that he would have to chase the ball himself. Such was his and the ball’s speed, that for a time, it was as if time was actually trying to stand still, but was unable to come to a complete stop. It inched forward, because it had too.This wasn’t the game that stopped the world, this was the game that the world wanted to stop, but it happened regardless.It wasn’t the opening of the tournament; it was an elongated cricket yawn live-streamed globally. The cricket world, it would seem, has let the ICC know that it was not excited.

Leading up to Royal Challengers Bangalore’s chase at Eden Gardens the out-of-form Chris Gayle announced he would do better, and he did not disappoint

Nagraj Gollapudi16-May-20161:37

‘De Villiers and Kohli are playing like Batman and Superman’ – Gayle

Being the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle had already announced on air that he was going to be different tonight. After failing to get into double digits in eight consecutive innings, he to do something different.”I wasn’t really putting pressure on myself,” Gayle said during a chat with the commentators while fielding, much before he went out to bat. “I have done it so many times over the years, so I am allowed maybe to have 10 failures in a row. You can’t kill a Universe Boss for that. I’m looking forward to bigger, better things. Hopefully this is just the start of Chris Gayle coming back.”The first sign of a different Gayle was immediate: the Jamaican went to bat wearing a half-sleeve jersey. He might have been making a fashion statement or not, but his well-toned biceps and arms that have decimated the best bowlers over the years could not be missed.Gayle has never been shy about talking up his intentions. And he has never bothered when he has failed. But whenever he has succeeded, the world has watched in awe. So when Morne Morkel offered him length and speed in the middle of his first over, Gayle scored consecutive boundaries, one over mid-on and the next – against a 140 kph delivery – over midwicket. It didn’t matter to Gayle that he slogged wildly at the next ball, a 122 kph slower delivery, and ended up missing and falling over to the off side. That might have been unsettling to watch, but Gayle was composed against the short delivery outside off stump from fellow Jamaican Andre Russell, which was shot back over the straight boundary for the first six. Russell quickly asked Piyush Chawla to move back to long-on.Russell went for a short-of-a-length ball outside the off stump as a follow-up. Gayle did not bat an eyelid against the 137 kph delivery while pulling Russell high over the deep square-leg boundary for his second six. If that wasn’t painful enough, Russell had lost his footing in his follow-through and fell flat on his back heaving, his big hands covering his sweat-stained face. Russell might be a heavyweight in his own right, but when you are felled by another, in front of a home crowd screaming “aar cee bee, aaar cee bee”, the pain, the pressure, the embarrassment can be unbearable.Considering Gayle had not been in form, Russell and Morkel opted for the short-ball attack in the hope that Gayle would mis-time. However, Gayle was actually rooted to his crease and dispatching balls with ease – a sign he was back to normal. When Morkel returned for his second over and banged another ball short but at a slower speed, Gayle just opened the face of the bat and ramped it over backward point for another four.What helped Gayle was the presence of Virat Kohli, the IPL Boss. Ultra-confident and reading bowlers, pitches and situations effortlessly, Kohli has been the catalyst that has kept Royal Challengers alive in the tournament.When Sunil Narine came on to bowl in the fifth over, Kohli urged Gayle to keep playing boldly. Gayle did just that as he hit Narine for consecutive boundaries – two of his best shots of the evening. The first was a powerful sweep and the next a drive through cover along the ground.When Chawla came on, Kohli signalled to Gayle to hit straight over the bowler’s head. Gayle nodded. The penultimate delivery of the over went past Gayle’s outside edge. He sent the next delivery, a floating legbreak, over long-on for six. Such was his confidence that Gayle did not even raise his head in the follow-through.When Narine came back, Gayle launched into the offspinner and clubbed him over the off side for another six. But off the next delivery, Narine pushed the arm-ball – about 92 kph – right into Gayle’s back leg to trap him plumb in front. Gayle was one short of his first half-century this season.Gayle might missed the milestone, but he reinforced his credentials as the chief tormentor of the Knight Riders, his former franchise. No other batsman has dominated Gambhir’s team as Gayle has: he has 339 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 162.20, including two centuries and two half-centuries. Last IPL, Gayle fell four runs sort of another ton, but single-handedly helped Royal Challengers chase a stiff target after all the specialist batsmen had failed, barring AB de Villiers.The way Kohli and de Villiers have been batting this IPL, and given the convincing manner in which they nailed the chase after Gayle’s exit, Royal Challengers might have won even without Gayle. But Kohli and de Villiers would be the first to admit that Gayle made the difference today.In the end, the Universe Boss kept his word.

South African fast bowler Kyle Abbott brags about his angling skills, and confesses to bullying Australians in the Kings XI dressing room

Interview by Arun Venugopal21-May-2016You didn’t answer the phone when you were being called to inform you of your maiden Test call-up, and instead went back to sleep. Do people still rib you about that?
Not as often anymore, but I do think about it quite often. It’s something I just wasn’t expecting at that time. It was something I will never forget. I suppose the situation got funny. Still, will be a good story to tell, I think.Taking 7 for 29 in your first Test innings is obviously the stuff of dreams. What else stands out for you from that match?
Just having the privilege of playing for South Africa at the time when we were obviously the Test No. 1 team in the world. Playing in that environment was pretty special.Do you still have the ball from the Test? Where do you keep your souvenirs?
I have got every other ball that I have taken five wickets [with]. Just small pieces of memorabilia I always keep. I usually hand it all down to my parents. My parents have got a little bit of a display cabinet going on, so they have got most of the stuff at their house. When I am around there, I go in and have a look.What do you like best about fellow Zululander Lance Klusener?
You know, when he came in and first started coaching me [at Dolphins], he challenged me and got me out of my comfort zone. He has always been very honest with me – that’s been the most important thing. Probably when I slacked off, that’s what was needed. So cricket and fishing advice – he is a very good man for me.

“I have got every other ball that I have taken five wickets [with]. My parents have got a little bit of a display cabinet going on, so they have got most of the stuff at their house”

What did he do to push you out of your comfort zone?
He just kept presenting new challenges and new goals and helped me work towards that, because I was pretty clueless at that time. So yeah, I have got a lot to pay him back.Who is the fastest bowler you have ever come across?
Definitely Mitchell Johnson. It’s been good having him around [at Kings XI Punjab]. I have gone well with him and we are sharing a few stories from international cricket, which has been great.What is the funniest thing you have seen on a cricket field?
There have been a lot. In one of our recent T20s against Australia in Cape Town, for like 20 overs there was a squirrel running around across the pitch. The game had to be stopped, and then the squirrel went off. It was pretty funny.Who is your role model outside cricket?
I suppose Nelson Mandela. He obviously had a huge impact on our country and the way we are now. I never got to meet him, unfortunately. I think one of the most important things that he said is that sport unites people. And I suppose that’s what I am doing – playing for the country, and I am lucky to do that. We have got a very diverse country, so I think that was one of the most important things he ever said, and that’s pretty cool to follow.Abbott and Steyn: Animal Planet time•AFPWhat are the most memorable conversations you have had with Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel?
I think we share similar interests. Our fishing chat on tour has been the most interesting away from cricket. We spend a long time on the road and we are always talking about home. Also, they are keen wildlife people, so a lot of the conversations revolve around that.Who is better at fishing – Morne or Dale?
Oh, that’s a tough one. I am not sure, actually. I think I am a better fisherman than all of them put together ().Are you the funniest guy in the South African dressing room as well?
Definitely not. Morne Morkel is the funniest man.In the Kings XI dressing room, you have a 4-3 advantage with respect to the number of South African players vis-a-vis Australian. Do you guys bully them?
We do remind them that they are outnumbered, so they need to be careful (). But we have got on pretty well. We have played a lot of international cricket against each other, so the respect is there between all the overseas players, which is nice. We have played golf and got together.What are the things you have enjoyed doing in your downtime in the IPL?
Getting to know some of those young local guys. You see them on TV and you don’t know their stories. There are lots of examples, especially the local Punjabi guys. It is always nice being around guys and learning, no matter who it is. I tried to pick up a bit of Punjabi, but it’s a little confusing.

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jun-2016David Willey was the man with the opening breakthrough•AFPBut Kusal Mendis was quickly into his stride•Getty ImagesChris Woakes couldn’t cling onto a sharp return chance•AFPKusal Perera was frustrated during his innings of 9 from 25 balls•AFPDinesh Chandimal anchored Sri Lanka’s mid-innings recovery…•AFP… adding 80 for the fourth wicket with Angelo Mathews•AFPChandimal top-scored with 62•AFPIt was his second half-century of the series•AFPWoakes, however, finally removed Chandimal …•AFP… before Liam Plunkett removed the dangerous Seekkuge Prasanna•Getty Images… thanks to a steepling catch at deep midwicket from Jonny Bairstow•Getty ImagesChris Jordan had Mathews caught behind for 56•Getty Images… while Dasun Shanaka ran himself out off the bowling of Adil Rashid•Getty ImagesIn reply, Suranga Lakmal bagged Alex Hales for a golden duck•Getty Images… but rain drove the teams from the field after four overs of England’s innings•Getty Images

The implementation of the new system comprising a selection panel and a selection committee could increase the influence the board has on the players chosen for the national team

Mohammad Isam08-Jun-2016The BCB’s unprecedented decision to split the national team’s selection into two steps raises the question about whether the process will remain independent under the new system.The proposal layers a new selection committee comprising coach Chandika Hathurusingha, team manager Khaled Mahmud and cricket operations chairman Akram Khan on top of the BCB’s existing three-man selection panel. The changes were finalised by BCB president Nazmul Hassan after a discussion with with Hathurusingha and some directors, and will be ratified at the next board meeting.There have been some disagreements over selection – in public on a few occasions – between chief selector Faruque Ahmed and Hathurusingha, and the coach’s inclusion in the committee was made with the view of reducing such incidents.The reasoning behind appointing the cricket operations chairman and the team manager to the committee, however, is less clear.Khan’s cricket operations committee maintains Bangladesh’s international and domestic calendar, appoints coaching staff, and draws up contracts of players and coaches. It also compiles tournament bylaws and playing conditions among other duties.Mahmud wears many hats in Bangladesh cricket – that of BCB director, chairman of the board’s game development committee, coach of BPL and Dhaka Premier League sides, and vice-president of Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh. His new role in the selection committee will add to his considerable workload.After initially stating the team manager would not be part of the selection committee, Hassan said he was included to voice the opinion of the captain at selection meetings. With different captains for different formats, Hassan explained, the manager would be a unifying factor. However, Bangladesh’s captains Mashrafe Mortaza and Mushfiqur Rahim have been offering their opinions regularly, so the need for an envoy is a surprise.Khan and Mahmud are both BCB directors and their inclusion is perhaps the board’s indirect way of increasing control over the selection process, a longstanding matter of interest among some officials. When questioned whether the changes would be beneficial in the long term, or were designed for some individuals, the board’s response was that the decisions had been taken after studying selection processes of other countries.A quick survey revealed that while coaches have been part of the selection process in most countries, the team manager has not. At present, only Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam has some say on tours while selecting the XI, no one else does.There is history when it comes to the BCB’s apparent unease with an independent selection body. In 2015, the board’s directors led by president Nazmul Hassan sat the selectors for a two-hour grilling about the World Cup squad. In 2011, BCB chief AHM Mustafa Kamal did the same thing with the Rafiqul Alam-led selection panel before the World Cup squad announcement. In 1999 and 2000, Minhajul Abedin and Habibul Bashar were added to the squads for the World Cup and Bangladesh’s inaugural Test by the board, despite the selectors not picking them.When the BCB’s working committee chairman Enayet Hossain Siraj revealed the new proposals, the chief selector Faruque said the next day that he may resign because the independence of the selection panel would be compromised. That same night, Siraj called up the three selectors to soothe any problems.Faruque has earned a reputation for being strongly opinionated in his first term as selector, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he did resign over the changes to his work environment. The other BCB selectors are Bashar and Minhajul, who as players were affected by selection discrepancies. Minhajul, for example, never played a Test despite being Bangladesh’s best batsman when they got Test status. Then there is Khan, who resigned as chief selector when Kamal cut Tamim Iqbal from the 2012 Asia Cup squad. In his playing days, Mahmud was often on the wrong side of the establishment for being a firebrand.Faruque, Minhajul, Bashar, Mahmud and Khan have been the front line of Bangladesh cricket for decades and are best positioned to resist such a change. Instead, the inclusion of Khan and Mahmud is being seen as one with ulterior motives.Hathurusingha is new to Bangladesh, and has developed a winning culture within the team. Players appreciate his work and so does the BCB, which has started to rely on him regarding matters apart from coaching the national team. Foreign coaches who have brought success to Bangladesh have been given such importance, but they have also had the rug pulled from beneath their feet when results have been poor. Hathurusingha must be wary of extra duties.Ultimately, the influence enjoyed by this group of former players charged with significant responsibility in Bangladesh cricket falls short of the power held by the BCB chief Hassan and his directors. And Hassan’s administration has also done good work.After patiently untangling the troubled BPL payment issues between 2012 and 2014, Hassan has seen the board’s flagship tournament improve. His disciplinary methods are also often praised for bringing control to player behaviour, which has at times caused problems.But this change to the selection process is likely to bring Hassan’s leadership under scrutiny for the first time since Shakib Al Hasan’s banning in 2014. Such a fundamental change could have a lasting impact on the senior team. There is still time for the BCB to run it by their directors one final time, examine it for holes, and see if it will actually benefit Bangladesh cricket in the long run.

Plays of the day from the third match of the ODI tri-series, between Australia and South Africa at Providence

Firdose Moonda07-Jun-2016Technology not needed and not usedAustralia had the opportunity to make first use of the Decision Review System when Josh Hazlewood had an appeal against Hashim Amla in the first over. Hazlewood delivered a full fourth ball of the over, which moved in as the others had, and struck the opener in front of leg stump. Umpire Joel Wilson probably thought it was going down leg and gave it not out. Had he thought it was clipping and given it out, he would have been just as correct. Replays showed that a major chunk of the ball would have gone on to hit leg stump and that Wilson’s on-field call – whatever it was – would have stood. Luckily for Amla it was not out. Luckily for Australia, they did not ask for the review.Technology needed and used Four overs later, Hazlewood was asking questions around the pads with a full length. He got one to curl into Quinton de Kock, who missed the flick and subsequently ran a leg bye. Umpire Wilson gave it as runs, even as Hazlewood appealed. Steven Smith decided to ask for the third umpire to have another look. Several replays revealed two noises but with no evidence of an inside edge, they seemed to come from the ball hitting the front pad and then the back one. Ball tracking showed it would have gone on to hit the stumps. Still, the evidence was scant and the South African dressing room thought so as they crowded around to peer at a television screen. When Wilson’s call was overturned, all of them, including coach Russell Domingo, demonstrated their disbelief but de Kock had to go.Technology not needed but used South Africa were in early trouble and their top-scorer from the opening match, Rilee Rossouw, was given out to a Nathan Lyon delivery by Umpire Richard Illingworth. Rossouw called for a review even though he looked out, with the ball straightening and striking him in front of off stump as he pushed forward and missed. The tracker revealed he was as out and Illingworth was vindicated.Forget technology – out is out In the second over of the chase, another batsman’s pads were rapped. Wayne Parnell, making his return after 11 months out of the national team, delivered a full, straight ball that jagged back and hit David Warner in front of leg. It was given out and Warner decided it would stay out. He walked off without even considering the review – which would likely have been umpire’s call – to give South Africa an early breakthrough, setting the tone for the rest of the innings.Beginner’s (bad) luck In his first appearance for South Africa, chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi got the biggest endorsement a new player could ask for when AB de Villiers decided to review his first appeal. Shamsi believed the second ball he bowled, to Aaron Finch – a flat, ripping legbreak which pitched outside off and struck him in front of off – would have gone on to hit the stumps and de Villiers agreed. The ball was turning so much that initially it seemed it would miss leg stump, but replays showed the ball to be clipping. It was South Africa’s most convincing review of the game, even though it was unsuccessful. Beginner’s good luck Shamsi did not have to wait long to get his first wicket. Three balls later, Shamsi delivered another leg break, around middle stump, to Glenn Maxwell and it seemed to be missing leg but Umpire Wilson did not think so. He sent Maxwell on his way and Shamsi into celebration. A review would only have spoilt his mood as replays showed the ball was missing leg stump.