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From Basab Majumdar, India
Christmas and the light winter chill (unfortunately absent in still muggy Mumbai) brings back pleasant nostalgia of adolescence in Kolkatta

Cricinfo25-Feb-2013Basab Majumdar, India
Christmas and the light winter chill (unfortunately absent in still muggy Mumbai) brings back pleasant nostalgia of adolescence in Kolkatta. Park Street resplendent by the festive illumination, cakes from Nahoum’s in New Market and egg nogs from Flury’s were special. But all these paled in comparison with the thrilling anticipation of the imminence of a Christmas/New Year’s Test match at Eden Gardens.The current rotation policy, another abomination designed by the BCCI in its relentless pursuit of profit, has put paid to the annual calender of Test matches in the traditional venues and a whole generation have been deprived of what was a high social occasion in Kolkatta. A day or two before the Test match my Dad would arrive with our Cricket Association of Bengal member tickets and that evening the planning would start. Several of his friends would arrive and over endless beer they would discuss logistics. One would assume from the level of detail that an invasion of Normandy was afoot but to the educated middle class Bengalee of the time, Test Matches were a serious affair. My father always positioned it to me as part of my education (as in by the time I was about 8 years old, I gathered that for my father and his close cronies, it was infinitely more essential that I understood the subtle difference between cover and extra cover and the angular difference between point and gully than knowing multiplication tables by heart). And if the Test match was on 1st January, then the discussions would be further complicated by the fact that the previous nights revelries would have to be calibrated suitably so that everyone was there in their seats by 8.20 am.For me, I cannot remember ever suffering from greater nervous anticipation than the night before the Test match. I rarely slept and waited for the clock to turn 6 am when I would get up with a spring and alacrity quite unbecoming of normal school days. No battles with breakfast that day which was consumed without complaint or delay. By 7.30 am I would have dressed and then would put on my new county cap ceremoniously in front of the mirror, imagining me leading out India as 80,000 would rise in unison to cheer. It was a routine every odd year, but what a delightful routine. There would be a party of usually 10-12 in a cavalcade of cars. Other from the locality would be leaving as well and the envious faces of those without the priceless tickets was a sight to behold. I along with another kid were the chosen two amongst the next generation by Dad and the usual suspects. (my obsession with obscure cricket statistics had obviously resulted in my passing muster in the civilisation Test). The lunch boxes would be readied by Mom with specific instructions (Rice and Chilli Chicken for lunch, oranges during drinks and cucumber sandwiches for tea). That itself was much part of the fun with the respective Moms competing to produce a more delectable lunch box than the other- the five days (if India lasted all five, that is!) were also a gastronomical delight with the smell of fresh food was billow as much across Eden as the sound of leather hitting willow.My greatest thrill would always be as we approached the ground as you gradually wound your way amongst the teeming millions. It was as if all humanity had descended on Red Road where the cars would be parked for the couple of kilometers walked to the ground. As you walked you met familiar faces – teachers from your school who had forewarned teachers about attending class int he first day of the Test match (one famous class teacher threatened to fail anyone in English if any unfortunate earnest soul would be present of the first day of the Test against Asif Iqbal’s Pakistan, fellow spectators whom you had met last during a Test Match and myriad others. The crowd was a mix from every social strata – from box wallahs in suits, and well heeled ladies in the latest chiffon, to the old clerk from writers building in their ubiquitous Dhoti – the lucky 100,000 on their annual pilgrimage to the greatest temple of cricket.As I would walk in I would hear the sound of bat hitting wall and a shiver would go up my spine at the realisation that the Gods were on the field at the nets. Remember this was a time before live television and this was the only chance to see the heroes int he flesh. And as I walked in to the stands I would turn around sometimes mesmerised in awe as I would see RGD Willis warming up, Bishen Bedi turning his arm a bit. IVA Richards swaggering around taking catches and women gasping as Imran Khan Niazi would stand at the pavilion doorstep about to walk into toss giving the plebeians a royal aristocratic wave. Right through childhood till early adulthood, Eden Gardens was my favourite place on earth, where for 5 days the problems of homeworks and board examinations seem a distant away. And a place where learning Physics was all about Kapil Dev using the breeze from the hooghly post 4 pm to produce a devastating old ball spell after tea. And the frenzied debate of whether Gavaskar should have added an extra slip which would have snapped David Gowers slash. And then the classic counterpoint- glad he didn’t, then how would we have seen Gower’s elegant cover drive of Doshi. Always respect and love for a great opponent.Post the toss the teams would be put up in the famous old score board (with Kolay biscuit advertising hoarding at the top). And then the Ranji block with the huge Boroline ad banner would erupt. This was the plebeian stand but very much the equivalent of the Sydney Hill. The crackers would start bursting and the conch shells would signal commencement of battle and then the good-natured barracking. Us from the members stand would be more reserved- not even a whisper during overs and necessary clapping for maiden overs and a well played forward defensive stroke! Fours through flowing drives were much appreciated. Sixes were sources of amusement but “tssk tssk…civilised batsmen (read Gavaskar and Vishwanath) did not hit balls over the ground”. I once shouted sixer when Gavaskar was batting, and I was told by my Dad and any such repeat would result in banishment from cricket grounds! I kept my silence and peace thereafter.I now shudder when I see the quality of the crowds at Eden or elsewhere. Test matches at non traditional centres are a disgrace and some real great matches off late has been played in front of empty stands (unlike in England and Australia where a great Test match brings in thousands through the turnstiles). The old faithful have all gone and opposition players are no longer applauded nor subtle nuances, like a great throw from the outfield applauded as much as a great straight drive. I still get goosebumps remembering the ovation Viv Richards received as he walked into bat in 1983. 90,000 rose to clap him fervently into the crease, a Roman salute to the greatest living gladiator in the planet. The King paused before taking guard, doffed his hat and raised his bat in acknowledgment, a brilliant cameo moment before rivalry was resumed. And the great Pakistani Asif Iqbal would remember his last test match with much joy – he mentioned later he would have taken Eden any day ahead of Lahore. He was run out in his last innings post which he was accorded a thunderous standing ovation with the members and the club house spectators all screaming in unison “three cheers Captain” as he walked up the stairs into the dressing room. This was the captain of Pakistan and in the midst of a seriously competitive series between the two traditional rivals.I have to say I had tears in my eyes that day.I have not seen Saurav Ganguly bat amongst the Eden faithful, but I’ve seen Gundappa Vishwanath, Eden’s favourite son throughout the 70’s and till Saurav arrived, there was no one whom Eden loved more than the diminutive Bangalorean. In the famous Yuletide week of 1974 when I fell in love with cricket, Eden and Alvin Kallicharran at the same time, Little Vishy (or “Bhishee” as the Eden faithful called him) charmed Kolkata off its feet. With the Test Match poised evenly on the 4th morning, Vishy unleased in his inimitable style a counter-attack on Roberts, Holder, Julien and Gibbs. In real life he looked like a villainous side kick from a South Indian film. But armed with a cricket willow he was transformed into a Michaelangelo. His square and late cuts and glances of his leg were delectable and that 31st December morning he was in his pomp. His 139 contained 24 fours and old Eden hands still talk of that as the greatest innings they ever say. Next morning, the tactical mastery of Tiger Pataudi in conjunction with the spin wizardry of Bedi and Chandra resulted in Kalli, Richards, Greenidge and Lloyd all succumbing and India earning a famous New Years day victory. It was a magical way to begin my association with Eden and till 1989 when I left Calcutta for education and job, I hadn’t missed a single ball bowled in that haloed ground. It was a privilege and pleasure that made my growing up years very special.

Plays of the day from Bangladesh’s must-win Group B clash with Netherlands

Sidharth Monga in Chittagong14-Mar-2011The run-out
Bowlers’ deflection onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end seemed to be the favourite mode of run-out today. In the 15th over of the Netherlands innings, when Eric Szwarczynski pushed Abdur Razzak back down the ground, the bowler got a finger on it, only to find that Tom Cooper, the non-striker was already home. In the 23rd over, though, when Cooper returned Szwarczynski the favour, the latter could not make it back.The amend
Mushfiqur Rahim dropped Cooper’s sitter off Rubel Hossain, and considering the free-flowing start Cooper made to his innings, it seemed it might cost Bangladesh as much as the Eoin Morgan reprieve did the other day. Today, though, Mushfiqur got a second chance when Cooper was short by a mile, but Shakib threw a wild return from point. He was down on his knees and around the good-length area on the pitch when he collected the throw, but from there he flicked it on to catch Cooper short.The appeal
In the 46th over, Razzak got so immersed in appealing for an lbw that Ryan ten Doeschate stole a leg-bye by the time the appeal finished. When Razzak finished the appeal, he looked up to find the ball at his feet. To make a point, he even implored Shakib into going for a review, only to find the ball kissing the outside of the leg stump.The misfortune
Shafiul Islam kept moving the ball consistently in his first spell, mixed in the yorkers, and the bouncers of both varieties. Still he couldn’t get a wicket: he often missed the edge; when he hit the pad, it would be too high. The first spell made for impressive reading, 6-3-7-0, but the wickets column remained blank. When he came back at the death, Shafiul would have thought he had finally got his wicket when ten Doeschate hit him straight to deep square leg. Razzak, however, dropped it. Some things are not meant to be.The indecision
When ten Doeschate was dropped in the above-mentioned instance, he was batting with the No. 11, and that being the first ball of the over, he wanted to retain the strike. So he called Adeel Raja back when he was about to touch down at the other end. The strike was successfully retained. ten Doeschate drove the next ball towards extra cover, and instinctively set off to run, expecting the ball to get through the inner ring. Then he saw the ball stopped at the edge of the circle, and realised all he could manage was a single, and decided to call Raja back. Then he realised it was too late. Then he thought maybe it wasn’t. Finally they decided to go back to their original ends, but it was too late even despite the slow throw.

Michael Clarke has grown up and is ready to seize his chance, writes Peter English

Peter English22-Nov-2006

In the winter Michael Clarke added a smart tattoo to his left forearm. Don’t be concerned, he’s not going through a mid-life crisis. There’s no new fast car or a plan to copy Michael Slater’s reckless batting. The message , scrawled thickly but neatly on his skin, is not to show his love of Latin but acts instead as an unwashable reminder. All he needs now is an Ashes day to seize.During Clarke’s Test introduction his exuberant grip clenched around the game with spectacular home-and-away debut centuries. He knew his control would loosen and the form slump would arrive, but he did not expect the highs to be such striking peaks and the lows to be so deep. An Allan Border Medallist on one starry night, he was dropped for failing against England and West Indies in the same year. Since then he’s been starved of first-class action and submerged in the one-day order.Lack of opportunities combined with the rise of Shane Watson to oust Clarke from the original Test unit, which he had re-entered in Bangladesh in April. Rather than getting bitter, he remained upbeat and arrived in the team through the backdoor on Tuesday when Watson was ruled out with a hamstring injury.At the squad’s first training session on Monday he was still on standby. He said he hadn’t scored enough runs and didn’t deserve a spot. The tempo of his voice was calm. He even cracked a joke about his lack of results. The situation might not have been ideal, but he wasn’t weighed down by it. It showed Clarke had grown up. Australia’s golden child has entered cricketing middle age.Off the field Clarke has shown impressive maturity and the sensible head that is missing when he considers an aggressive downswing to a ball requiring non-negotiable defence. While he struggled to turn starts into something significant in England in 2005, Clarke was also sitting at Shane Warne’s side and offering support. The 24-year-old novice was listening and counselling the worldly 36-year-old as he dissected the breakdown of the long-term marriage.

In Cardiff it was Clarke who woke Andrew Symonds by pouring water over his head and dragging him into the shower after his pre-Bangladesh bender. Less than a year later in a Cape Town nightclub, Clarke was again the sound reason as Symonds was threatening his career by being caught in a heated argument with a Cheetahs Super 14 rugby player. Seize the friend, save the day. Clarke’s a valuable man to have in Australia’s corner.Of course good extra-curricular deeds don’t translate into steady run-scoring. They don’t guarantee places in squads and it was Watson’s injury that allowed Clarke an opening. As he waited for news on Watson, Clarke considered the past 18 months. “With age and with time you learn about your own game,” he says. “My preparation is much better than it was. I’ve just got to bide my time and when I get a chance I have to grab it.”At the beginning of his career everything happened in a hurry. Now he has learned to adjust to a slower pace. “Whether I’m scoring runs or not, I accept things now,” he says. “Before it was real highs and real lows, now I realise it’s just a game. I’ve got to expect there will be times when you fail. When you’re doing well you have to make the most of it.”Slight technical alterations were achieved during the off-season and he has a genuine desire to play straight early in the innings rather than to think about it and then submit to his aggressive instincts. He has worked on balance to avoid his head leading his body towards the off-side and some unplanned knee flexes have been added to his bat tapping.In Australia’s first training session of the week he launched a string of straight sixes off a batch of junior slow men before refocussing. They are not shots that will regain the Ashes.”It’s always in the back of my mind that I lost my first Ashes series and I’d love another chance to be part of winning the series,” he said. “It’s Australia’s biggest series for a long time. The guys just want to get out and play. Given the chance it would be very special.”Clarke first learned of when watching Robin Williams lecture his school students in the movie Dead Poet’s Society. A sweatband will cover most of the tattoo when he bats, but the message is already inscribed in his mind. He’s just waiting for a chance to follow the advice.

Valuable five-for comes before Keaton Jennings, Luke Wells and Josh Bohannon fill their boots

Paul Edwards21-Apr-2023

You cannot tell quite how pancake-flat a pitch is until you have seen both sides try to fill their boots on it. The truth of this apophthegm was made very plain during the final two sessions of this day’s cricket when Lancashire’s batters, having seen Somerset compile a respectable 441 in 122.4 overs, produced every article of footwear they could find and try to cram them with runs.The advance guard of this brutal assault was led by Luke Wells, whose 109-ball 82 was merely the latest example of this batting all-rounder’s renaissance at Emirates Old Trafford. But the onslaught was continued in the evening session by Keaton Jennings, who reached his first century of the season off 158 balls, having sprinted to his second fifty runs off 53.Close of play came early when Richard Illingworth and Russell Warren stopped the fight with ten overs still to be bowled. At that point Jennings and Josh Bohannon had added 148 runs in 22.5 overs of the evening session and the opener seemed well placed to follow his 318 against Somerset last July with another colossal score on Saturday.For once, these statistics and these alarming prospects matter. If Jennings and his colleagues continue to score at this rate, they will have a considerable lead by say, teatime on Saturday and might then be able to loose James Anderson on Somerset’s still rather frail top-order. And on today’s evidence, any comments about the bowler-unfriendly nature of this Taunton wicket should make a special exemption for a bowler of Anderson’s quality. As to Lancashire’s final total, well to borrow the helpful prediction of the association football pundit, it could be anything.But there was a purpose to this savagery and this curiously modern cricket beyond that of building a first-innings lead and possibly embarrassing Somerset on the final day. Five batting points will only be awarded this season if sides score 450 runs inside their 110 overs and teams will receive only five points for the draw, rather than the generous eight they were awarded last year. So given that most games played on wickets like this one at Taunton will be drawn, it becomes even more vital for batters to make the most of them.Wells was the first Lancashire batsman to fulfil this injunction on Friday and the chief sufferer was Jack Leach, for whom this was a bloody afternoon. Having quietly played out a maiden, the opener reverse swept the first three balls of Leach’s second over for two fours and a six. That was dismissive enough but when England’s premier spinner tightened his line he was merely driven straight and high and often. Nor did Wells’ dismissal end the torture; two of Bohannon’s first three scoring shots were sixes off Leach, whose figures at the day’s end were 17-1-103-0. One can only wish him a peaceful night’s rest.Then again, if the weather forecast had been accurate, we all might have enjoyed a little more repose today. But the rain that had been promised for two o’clock did not arrive until after the close and that gave Lancashire an opportunity they have seized with almost frightening relish. Nevertheless, the prospect of rain closing in from the east and the fact that first-class cricket was taking place nowhere else in the land at eleven o’clock made one determined to appreciate every good thing at Taunton this morning. We were presented with a varied box of delights, too, ranging from the expected discipline of Anderson, who completed a five-wicket return for the 54th time in his career to the unexpected mayhem of a 48-run partnership for the last wicket between the two Jacks, Brooks and Leach.Indeed, the second day began much as the first had, with Anderson taking two wickets inside the opening 45 minutes of play. Having played one of the most important innings of his young life, James Rew drove rather loosely but only edged a catch to George Bell, and Lewis Gregory was leg before for six when he missed a very straight ball. Meanwhile, the Quantocks faded into the mist and predictions about the afternoon became increasingly dire.We ignored them. Kasey Aldridge edged Anderson to Wells at first slip, thus giving the bowler his five-fer and Tom Abell, having beaten his previous career-best by one run, shaped to push George Balderson for a single but instead fell lbw for 151.Peter Siddle whacked two fours and a six but then became Saqib Mahmood’s first wicket in four-day cricket for three days short of an injury-wrecked year. The Australian’s innings, though, was merely the prelude to six overs of anarchy as Leach and Brooks’ bats described increasingly exotic arcs and the ball regularly disappeared to or over the boundary rope. The fun ended when Brooks hoicked Tom Bailey to long leg where Tom Hartley took a fine diving catch. Leach went off to tiffin, where he might have lamented the lot of the class batsman who runs out of partners. Unbeaten 40s do that to a chap. He little knew what was in store for him.The wind acquired an extra edge after lunch and the County Ground followed suit. The Thatchers Terrace, so often thronged with cider and opinions, resembled the . The ice-cream man, who on Thursday had been doling out scoops like an IPL addict, fell asleep in his van. The cricket slumbered, too, for half an hour or so but pardonably as Lancashire’s openers went about their business a trifle cautiously against Brooks and Gregory.Then Wells stroked Gregory through the covers on the back foot and the loud encouragements of the home fielders pierced the cool air. Four overs later, though, the same batter lifted Gregory into the Somerset Stand and Lancashire’s reply was infused with fresh purpose. Within a few overs Wells was running amok and Abell’s bowlers were powerless to prevent him.

Wayne Rooney has told Manchester United how many transfers they need to complete before the summer deadline in 2025 passes.

• Red Devils have already spent big
• Stumbled out of the blocks in 2025-26
• Window closes on September 1

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils have spent big on four new arrivals at Old Trafford. Premier League pedigree has been acquired in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, while potential has been snapped up in Diego Leon and Benjamin Sesko.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ruben Amorim is still waiting on his fresh faces to deliver a much-needed spark, with one point being picked up from meetings with Arsenal and Fulham at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

• WHAT ROONEY SAID

  Rooney is of the opinion that United’s squad still looks a little light, saying on his when asked if Amorim remains the right man to take the Red Devils forward: “It’s difficult. Obviously, to sit here and say, ‘Yeah 100 per cent’, I don’t think anyone could do that and I don’t think Ruben Amorim would say that himself with what we’ve seen since he’s been at the club.

  “I think the recruitment has been good in the summer, but I still want to see two or three more players brought in, I’d like to see that. But yeah, it’s difficult to say that this is going to be our manager for the next four or five years on what we’ve seen.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  United’s all-time leading goalscorer went on to say of the same mistakes being repeated at Old Trafford: “We’d love to see him turn it around and sometimes we might be going too quick on this because Manchester United brings a lot more attention and it’s only two games into the season.

  “But the worrying sign is that we’re seeing things we saw last season and that’s a concern. I’d have liked to have hoped that all those mistakes, players walking and being easy to play against at times would have been gone, but today that was a bit of a worry.”

After completely opposite runs to the playoffs, the momentum is very much on RCB’s side as they take on an out-of-sorts Royals

George Binoy21-May-20242:06

Moody: Class of Boult will be crucial against du Plessis and Kohli

Match detailsRajasthan Royals (RR) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Eliminator
Ahmedabad, 1930 IST (1400 GMT)
Big picture: No second chancesOn April 21, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lost a 200-plus chase to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by one run, their seventh defeat in eight games, leaving them last in the league. As a familiar feeling of despondency shrouded their season, ESPNcricinfo outlined how they still had a chance, improbable though it was.Since then, RCB have had a resurrection, the kind of turnaround that has been prime material for inspirational screenplays about sports teams coming back from the abyss. RCB didn’t just win six in a row; they won by massive margins of 35 runs, 24 balls to spare, 38 balls to spare, 60 runs, 47 runs, and by 27 runs to improve their net run-rate and rise above three other teams on the same points as them, to make a dramatic last-minute dash into the playoffs.Related

The RCB catharsis and the need to go again

Swapnil – from almost calling it quits to going on a dream run

What RCB did right after it began so horribly wrong

How T20 has changed cricket forever

A couple of days after RCB had begun their revival, Rajasthan Royals (RR) cruised to their eighth win in nine games. They had owned No. 1 for weeks and were favourites to finish there. There was absolutely no sign of what was to come.The fall began insidiously, a one-run defeat in a 200-plus chase, a 20-run defeat in another 200-plus chase, both results so easily attributed to the vagaries of T20 cricket. Even when their batters were muzzled on a slow pitch in Chennai, their captain Sanju Samson didn’t think they were playing bad cricket. But when it happened again in Guwahati, there was no denying their “failures”. Despite losing four in a row, though, and having their final league game washed out, RR would have still finished No. 2 had Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) not won their last game. That’s how strong a safety net they had built with all those early wins. It wasn’t strong enough, however, to give them a second chance of making the final.The value of confidence and momentum in sport is impossible to measure. RCB and RR’s unexpected rise and fall are examples of how unpredictable T20 cricket can be. But in addition to intangibles like confidence and momentum, there’s also experience. RR go into the Eliminator with no experience of playing a high-pressure, knockout game this season. RCB, on the other hand, have qualified for the Eliminator having played, and won, six eliminators already.Form guideRajasthan Royals LLLLW
Royal Challengers Bengaluru WWWWWIt’s been kind of subdued at the Rajasthan Royals camp of late•BCCIPrevious meeting: Buttler’s ton trumps Kohli’s tonIt was RR’s fourth win in four games, and RCB’s fourth defeat in five games. Virat Kohli scored 113 off 72 balls in Jaipur – equalling the record for the slowest IPL century – though he has sped up enormously since. The rest of RCB’s batters didn’t do much – that’s also changed since – and they finished with 183 for 3. Jos Buttler led RR’s successful chase with a hundred, but they don’t have him anymore, while Samson made 69 off 42 balls. He’s passed 20 only once in his last four innings.Team news and Impact Player strategyRoyal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB brought Glenn Maxwell back into the XI for their previous game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after Will Jacks returned to England, and he scored 16 off 5 balls and took a wicket with the first delivery of the defence on his way to figures of 1 for 25 in four overs. Expect them to be unchanged, with one of Rajat Patidar and left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh starting in the XI and the other coming in as Impact Player depending on whether they bat or bowl first.Likely XII: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 , 4 Cameron Green, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Mahipal Lomror, 8 , 9 Karn Sharma, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Yash Dayal, 12 Mohammed Siraj2:27

Powell or Hetmyer? Royals face selection dilemma

Rajasthan Royals
RR won the toss in both their previous full games but lost after making sub-par totals. Are they batting first to make the most of their Impact Player strategy: six batters and five bowlers in a batting first XI gives them the option of a sixth specialist bowler for the chase if they don’t need to bring in an extra batter in the first innings. If they choose to field with six specialist bowlers in the starting XI, they leave themselves with only six specialist batters for the chase. In Chennai, they swapped out Dhruv Jurel for fast bowler Nandre Burger after the first innings. Against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Guwahati, however, they brought in Donovan Ferreira as an extra batter in the first innings because of a collapse.While Shimron Hetmyer, who hasn’t played since May 2 because of injury, was reported to be fit for RR’s last league fixture, he was not named in the starting XI or the subs’ bench for the seven-over contest that was eventually washed out before a ball was bowled. If he is fit for the Eliminator, he could come in for either Rovman Powell or Ferreira.Likely XII: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Tom Kohler-Cadmore, 3 Sanju Samson (capt & wk), 4 Riyan Parag, 5 , 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Trent Boult, 9 Avesh Khan, 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal, 12 Rovman Powell/Donovan Ferreira/Nandre BurgerRajat Patidar’s takedown of spin in the middle overs has been a big factor in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s revival•Associated PressIn the spotlight: The difference between RCB and RRThe upshot of Kohli and Faf du Plessis’ fast starts, Patidar’s demolition of spin through the middle overs, and Cameron Green and Dinesh Karthik’s finishing, is that RCB’s run rate has jumped from 9.54 in the first half of the season to 11.03 in the second half, the best in that period. During their six-match winning streak, RCB have been scoring at a strike rate of 170 in the powerplay, 174 in the middle overs, and 199 at the death, and go into the Eliminator with nearly all of their batters in prime form.Their bowlers have complemented this surge in batting form by improving their collective economy rate from 10.70 (the worst in the league) in the first half of the season to 9.22 (second best) in the second half.RR, on the other hand, have scored at a run rate of 9.07 in the second half of the season, which is the lowest among the ten teams. Their top four batters, who had a collective average of 50 and a strike rate of 153 in the first nine games, aren’t as prolific anymore either. In their four successive defeats, that average has dropped to 31.66 and the strike rate is down to 133.42. Yashasvi Jaiswal has 32 runs in his last three innings, Samson 33 off 34 balls in his last two, and Buttler’s replacement opener Tom Kohler-Cadmore made 18 off 23 in his only match ahead of the Eliminator. Only Riyan Parag has remained in form, and RR will hope he gets support above and below him in the batting order.Stats that matter Sandeep Sharma was injured and did not play the only RR-RCB fixture this season, where Kohli made that unbeaten hundred. He’s got Kohli out seven times in 15 T20s while conceding only 87 off 67 balls. Kohli has a powerplay strike rate of 187 in his last eight innings, which has raised his overall strike rate in the first six overs to 162 this season, his best in any IPL. Yash Dayal had been playing a crucial part in RCB’s revival long before he denied CSK in that thrilling final over in Bengaluru. He’s taken eight wickets in their six successive wins with an economy of only 7.78, which is sensational considering he bowls at the death. Dayal has a good match up against Jaiswal in T20s: 11 runs off 12 balls for two dismissals.Yashasvi Jaiswal’s poor run has coincided with Rajasthan Royals’ downturn in fortunes•BCCIPitch and conditionsThe pitch for the Eliminator is the strip on which Gujarat Titans scored 231 for 3 against CSK and won by 35 runs on May 10. There is no rain forecast in Ahmedabad on Wednesday and it’s likely to be extremely hot, with day time temperatures of 40-45°C reducing to only between 30-35°C in the evening. Whether there is dew or not will depend on the gulf between the day and night temperatures.The range of scores also vary significantly depending on the surface. There was only one match with 175-plus scores in the first four league matches in Ahmedabad, but the last two league games had scores of 200 for 3, 206 for 1 (RCB), 231 for 3 and 196 for 8. RR have not played a game in Ahmedabad this season.Quotes”When you are getting to the business end of the season, you need someone to raise their finger up and say, ‘I am going to win the game for the team’. Yes, this is a team sport, but we have a lot of match-winners in the side, and we need individuals to step up.”
“When we get on that flight to Ahmedabad, we have a job to do. We have it within our grasp to do something that people will remember us for many decades. It will be a journey where people will say, ‘wow, that RCB team was special.'”

Both series will also include three ODIs and three T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jan-2024

Afghanistan will be topping up their Test-match experience in double quick time by facing Sri Lanka and Ireland in February 2024.With most of the focus on the two limited-overs formats, Afghanistan ended up playing just one Test match over a better part of the last three years. Now, however, they’ve found space in the calendar and have announced two separate all-format series taking place between February 2 and March 18.The busy period begins with their first-ever Test match against Sri Lanka in Colombo, which will then be followed by three ODIs and three T20Is. Seven days after the end of their tour of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan will be in the UAE hosting Ireland for a one-off Test match between February 28 and March 3. This series also includes a limited-overs leg as Afghanistan build towards the next T20 World Cup due to take place in the West Indies and the USA in June.Afghanistan’s tour of Sri Lanka was always going to feature a Test match and three T20Is. “The addition of these three ODIs,” ACB chief Mirwais Ashraf said, “is a significant move to ensure a complete and comprehensive tour which not only provides good exposure to Afghanistan Cricket but will also foster stronger relations between the two nations. Playing Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka is always tricky but is a challenge that Afghan Atalan can easily embrace.”Prior to all this, Afghanistan will play their first-ever bilateral series against India this month and their chief executive Naseeb Khan was hopeful that all these games would set the team up for the challenges ahead. “The upcoming tours of India, Sri Lanka, and then the home series against Ireland will help us to prepare the team for the much-important T20 World Cup. Eagerly looking for the multiple series upfront.”Along with announcing schedules for these tours, the ACB also modified the sanctions that they placed on Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi for wanting to forego their national contracts. All three players were initially barred from playing in any T20 leagues for the next two years but now the board has had a change of heart.Afghanistan tour of Sri LankaFebruary 2-6, 2024 One-Off Test, Colombo
February 9, 2024, 1st ODI, Colombo
February 11, 2024, 2nd ODI, Colombo
February 14, 2024, 3rd ODI, Colombo
February 17, 2024, 1st T20I, Dambulla
February 19, 2024, 2nd T20I, Dambulla
February 21, 2024, 3rd T20I, DambullaAfghanistan vs Ireland in the UAEFebruary 28-March 3, 2024 One-Off Test, Abu Dhabi
March 7, 2024, 1st ODI, Sharjah
March 9, 2024, 2nd ODI, Sharjah
March 12, 2024, 3rd ODI, Sharjah
March 15, 2024, 1st T20I, Sharjah
March 17, 2024 2nd T20I, Sharjah
March 18, 2024, 3rd T20I Sharjah

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras nem precisou entrar em campo para ter o título do Brasileirão confirmado na última quarta-feira. Mas isso não impediu que o time fosse para o Allianz Parque para mostrar que a conquista não foi por acaso e tratou de golear o Fortaleza, que não viu a cor da bola. A partida foi um exemplo do quanto essa taça é incontestável.

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> Maior do Brasil! Relembre todos os títulos nacionais do Palmeiras
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Se o Flamengo é o elenco mais estrelado e com mais valores individuais, o Verdão talvez seja o melhor e mais bem treinado time do Brasil. Com um trabalho de dois anos de Abel Ferreira, a equipe atingiu sua maturidade depois de todo esse tempo, tanto é que conquistou o mais difícil campeonato do país, que é o Brasileiro.

Uma competição por pontos corridos premia o time mais consistente, mais regular e que dificilmente perde. Parece que estamos falando justamente desse Palmeiras de Abel, não é? E a versão 2022 dessa equipe apresentou tudo isso desde o início do ano. São apenas seis derrotas para quatro adversários diferentes: Chelsea, São Paulo (duas vezes), Ceará e Athletico-PR (duas vezes). Somente duas no Brasileiro.

Não dá para contestar uma campanha como essa, que abriu 13 pontos para o vice-líder, e que há muito tempo já indicava que terminaria como campeã. A verdade é que há algumas rodadas não havia mais adversário para o Alviverde. Mesmo que a confirmação da conquista tenha sido “no sofá”, como disse Abel Ferreira, os méritos não diminuíram, e se ficou alguma dúvida, a equipe tratou de sanar.

E isso aconteceu no duelo com o Fortaleza, um adversário muito bem treinado, que vinha há oito jogos sem perder e contra quem o Palmeiras havia vencido apenas um dos últimos cinco confrontos. Mas uma atuação “de gala”, segundo Abel Ferreira, tratou de coroar o título brasileiro. O placar de 4 a 0, sem tomar conhecimento, foi pouco perto do que foi feito nessa noite histórica no Allianz Parque.

Se havia alguma desconfiança do que esse time poderia fazer ou se iria “tirar o pé” com o título na mão, ela foi esclarecida. Rony, Dudu, Endrick, Gustavo Scarpa, Gustavo Gómez e companhia fizeram um “partidaço”, que comprovou que esse título foi incontestável, com méritos e que premiou, de fato, a melhor equipe da competição.

England captain insists reversal of ODI retirement was ‘Ben’s call’

Vithushan Ehantharajah18-Aug-2023

England limited-overs captain Jos Buttler left it to Ben Stokes to come out of ODI retirement and said “badgering” the allrounder would have been counter-productive to getting him back onboard for the upcoming 50-over World Cup.Stokes, the hero of the 2019 World Cup and last year’s T20 success, was officially drafted back into the 50-over set-up on Wednesday ahead of England’s title defence in India this autumn. He had originally retired from the format last summer due to what he perceived as an “unsustainable” workload because of his commitments as Test captain and a relentless international schedule.The 32-year-old had since waved away suggestions he would return to the format. He even highlighted the period between the end of the men’s Ashes and the beginning of a five-match Test series against India in January 2024 as the ideal window to sort out the chronic issue in his left knee that has hampered his ability to bowl in recent campaigns.Speaking on Wednesday after Stokes’ return was confirmed after missing 11 ODIs – including nine over a winter for which he would probably have been rested – national selector Luke Wright stated it was not a case of “needing to beg”. That sentiment was echoed by Buttler, who had been the selectors’ sole point of contact given his close friendship with Stokes.Having had the seed planted long before, Stokes reached out “a week or 10 days” after the Ashes concluded at the end of July to inform Buttler he wanted to return.”To be honest, it was Ben’s call,” Buttler said. “You all know Ben pretty well by now – I don’t think anyone talking to him would persuade him.Related

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“We had some conversations quite a while ago about it and just left it to him to come to me, basically, if he wanted to come back. We’re delighted that he feels ready to come back and any time you can welcome him back into the team is great.”Ben is very much his own man, he makes his own decisions. I’ve played with him for a very long time, I’m good friends with him. Me badgering him and saying ‘come back, come back’ is not really the way things work with Ben. He very much makes up his own mind and decides.”We had some conversations around it and just left it in his court. I’m sure the lure of playing in a World Cup is quite big for someone as competitive and as driven as he is to play in an England shirt. I’m delighted he felt up to it and could come back.”Stokes’ one-day record is arguably his best of the three formats, scoring 2,924 runs at an average of 38.98 across 105 caps and 74 wickets at 42.39. The latter figure, however, was not a consideration with Buttler reiterating Stokes will play solely as a batter.Moreover, his big-game prowess is invaluable as England look to make it three ICC limited-overs trophies out of four, having missed out on 2021’s T20 World Cup. Stokes was player of the match in the 2019 ODI final, when his 84 not out took England to a Super Over in which he batted alongside Buttler, with the hosts eventually winning on boundary count after the scores were tied. Last November, he marshalled a chase of 138 at the MCG against Pakistan with 52 not out as England became the first team to hold both men’s World Cups simultaneously.”I don’t think you need me to tell you what Ben Stokes brings to a team,” Buttler said. “It’s fantastic to have Ben back available. Any time a player of his quality is available again is fantastic. We’re delighted to welcome him back.”

Claude Makelele believes Chelsea can emulate Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League triumph even with a young squad.

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• Chelsea have qualified for UCL after a brief hiatus
• They have one of the youngest squads in the PL
• Makelele wants further reinforcements at Stamford Bridge

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea wrapped up their 2024–25 campaign with a flurry of positive results, including Champions League qualification secured with a dramatic victory over Nottingham Forest on the final day. Just days later, the Blues capped their season by lifting the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy following an emphatic 4-1 triumph over Real Betis.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Remarkably, Chelsea achieved these feats while fielding the youngest average starting XI in Premier League history – a clear indicator of their long-term vision under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital regime. With a roster full of emerging stars and a revamped backroom structure, the club has embarked on a new chapter of strategic rebuilding, with Maresaca masterminding their progress.

• WHAT MAKELELE SAID

  Reflecting on Chelsea’s recent progress, Makelele expressed that the managerial turnover and sweeping changes at the club initially raised concerns, but he now sees signs of growing stability under new head coach Maresca.

  "I think Chelsea are doing well. They are starting at the beginning [of their project], very slowly," he said to .

  "In the beginning, they changed a lot of players and managers. The new manager [Enzo Maresca] made sure Chelsea finished the season in a good way. They qualified for the Champions League and won a trophy. I think this new Chelsea can be successful now."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Makelele emphasised the importance of allowing Maresca the time to implement his ideas. Drawing parallels with PSG’s decision to back Luis Enrique, the Frenchman suggested Chelsea should follow suit by giving Maresca the room to grow and lead.

  "We need to wait for Chelsea to win the Premier League again, and they are starting to build a strategy and some stability," he said. "But, for me, the most important thing is they need to leave Maresca working in a good way, like Paris St-Germain did with Luis Enrique.

  "They need stability if they are to fight for a title. I am a Chelsea fan, and I was worried when I saw Chelsea struggling in the beginning [under new owners Clearlake-Boehly], but now they are on a positive path and can return to the Chelsea of the past, which was at a high level."