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Coach Mickey Arthur felt Kusal would be better served training for the white-ball formats at home

Andrew Fidel Fernando14-Jan-2020Suranga Lakmal returned to Sri Lanka’s Test squad after missing the tour of Pakistan due to dengue fever, while Kusal Perera has been dropped.Despite having lost 1-0 in Pakistan, Sri Lanka made no other changes to the 15 that toured Rawalpindi and Karachi in December. This means that Lahiru Thirimanne remains in the squad, despite seemingly having lost his place in the XI to Oshada Fernando, while offspinner Dilruwan Perera also retains his place after having gone wicketless during the Pakistan series.Young fast bowler Asitha Fernando, who was Lakmal’s replacement on the tour of Pakistan, could not find a place. Pathum Nissanka, the highly-rated domestic opener for Nondescripts Cricket Club, has been overlooked as well.Chief selector Asantha de Mel said his committee had dropped Kusal after consulting with new coach Mickey Arthur, who felt it was better for Kusal to remain in Sri Lanka and train for the white-ball series against West Indies in February, rather than tour Zimbabwe without getting a game.”Most probably we will go with the same batting lineup [as we did in Karachi], with Angelo Mathews at four, Dinesh Chandimal at five, Dhananjaya de Silva at six and Niroshan Dickwella keeping,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “Kusal has an issue with his hamstrings where he can’t run around the field as much. And because Dickwella is the main keeper, we thought there was no point taking another keeper.”Kusal had struck Sri Lanka’s innings of the year in 2019, his 153 not out in Durban earning global plaudits, but had had a poor series against New Zealand in August and September last year, in which he made 1, 23, 0 and 0. He was in the squad, but did not play a Test in Pakistan.”Yes, Kusal can make 150s, but we needed someone who can occupy the crease, which is why we chose Thirimanne,” de Mel said. “Thirimanne can also bat in the top order or as an opener.” Thirimanne’s batting average, however, is 22.64 after 68 innings.The selection of 37-year-old Dilruwan was also informed by conversations with coach Arthur, de Mel said. Dilruwan had gone wicketless during the tour of Pakistan, and averaged 112.80 in 2019, taking only five wickets in seven innings. He had been the equal-fastest Sri Lanka bowler to 150 Test wickets (taking 36 Tests to get there, the same as Muttiah Muralitharan), and this, essentially, is why the selectors are giving him another opportunity.”We have the England series at home coming up, and this Zimbabwe series is the test to see if he can still do the job,” de Mel said. “If we dropped him now, we can’t even look at him for the England series, so we’ll see how he does in this series. In terms of offspinners, there’s also no standout options aside from him.”Dilruwan will have left-arm orthodox spinner Lasith Embuldeniya and left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan to compete with in the squad. On the fast bowling front, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando have all been picked, in addition to Lakmal.The first Test is set to start on January 19, and the second on January 27. Both matches are scheduled to be played in Harare.Sri Lanka Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya De Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal

Jammu was supposed to host the game, but the rain there has been a major disruptive influence

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Feb-2020Gujarat, Odisha, and Andhra will host their respective quarter-final fixtures in the Ranji Trophy next week but the venue for the fourth match, between Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Karnataka is up for deliberation after the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) wrote to BCCI and JKCA, requesting to host the match in Bengaluru.

Ranji Trophy quarter-finals

Gujarat (H) v Goa (A)
Odisha(H) v Bengal (A)
Andhra (H) v Saurashtra (A)
Karnataka v Jammu&Kashmir

Tournament rules stipulate that, since Karnataka hosted the last fixture between the two teams, J&K should host this one. However, the KSCA has asked for a change of venue “considering various aspects and the logistics.”Two out of the three matches played in Jammu this season were severely affected due to rain – the teams could only finish one innings each both times. The other game was the recently concluded last-round tie which Haryana won by two wickets. That J&K still made it to the knockouts is on the back of their excellent away form and it is for that reason the JKCA is also understood to be in favour of moving the quarter-final.The BCCI has directed all host associations to pick grounds that can provide broadcast facilities, with all four matches set to be streamed either digitally or on TV. This could also be a factor in taking the game away from Jammu.Gujarat topped the Elite Group cross pool and will take on Goa, who finished with 50 points to top the Plate Group and will be playing their first Ranji quarter-final ever. Odisha, who were eliminated from their only previous quarter-final appearance by Gujarat in 2016, are hosting Bengal, who made it to the semi-final round in 2017. That was also the last time they reached the knockout stages. Andhra will likely host Saurashtra in Ongole, for their first quarter-final fixture since 2015. J&K will be playing their first quarter-final since 2014.All four matches will be five-day fixtures and will not feature the use of the Decision Review System (DRS). It is understood the DRS will only come into effect in the semi-final round and will be “limited DRS with existing technology.”

‘If I feel he is one of your best players, why wouldn’t I want to have a conversation with him?’

Firdose Moonda14-Dec-2019Mark Boucher, South Africa’s new head coach, would welcome the availability of Kolpak players and recent retirees, including AB de Villiers, as he plots the national team’s way forward.Having worked in the franchise system for the last four seasons, Boucher has first-hand knowledge of the calibre of players available to the national side and acknowledged that the country’s talent pool could do with deepening. Asked whether he would like to be able to select players based abroad, Boucher said: “If I can answer from a coach’s perspective, absolutely. If you look at rugby, the way the Springboks won the World Cup, the experience they got from players playing overseas was invaluable. From a coach’s perspective, I’d love to have the opportunity to deepen and strengthen the squad. It will keep everyone on their toes and will bring more excellence into the game in this country.”While Boucher is not in control of the regulations around Kolpak, he may be able to have a say among recent retirees, especially those whom he has a close relationship with. Boucher played with de Villiers and currently coaches him at the Tshwane Spartans, who will play in the Mzansi Super League final on Monday. De Villiers is fourth on the tournament run-charts and has demonstrated strong strokeplay and innovation throughout the tournament. His white-ball form remains consistent and his ability unmatched.De Villiers retired from all formats of international cricket in May 2018, citing a heavy workload, but with a T20 World Cup 10 months away, Boucher was not averse to trying to convince de Villiers to come back. “When you go to a World Cup, you want your best players playing for you,” Boucher said. “If I feel he is one of your best players, why wouldn’t I want to have a conversation with him? I’ve only just got into the job, I might have conversations with quite a few players and see where they are.”He also indicated players may be allowed greater flexibility if they can add value to South Africa cricket. “You want your best players playing in the World Cup and if there’s a couple of issues you need to iron out, with media, with team-mates, and if it’s for the good of South Africa, why not, let’s do it.”

The Vijay Mallya-owned UB Group has decided to withdraw the controversial commercial featuring MS Dhoni that allegedly mocked Harbhajan Singh according to a legal notice sent by his mother Avtar Kaur

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jul-2011The Vijay Mallya-owned UB Group has decided to withdraw the controversial commercial featuring MS Dhoni that allegedly mocked Harbhajan Singh according to a legal notice sent by Avtar Kaur, the offspinner’s mother. The UB Group said in a statement from its lawyer that Mallya had “graciously chosen to replace the commercial based on larger national cricketing interests, particularly at a time when the Indian team is engaged in a crucial test series”.Saying that the UB Group and Mallya had a significant stake in cricket, the statement claimed the notice had been instigated by vested interests and that there was no case against the commercial according to the group management and “clear-cut legal opinion”.The notice had demanded that the UB Group publicly apologise and remove the advertisement failing which legal action would be taken. The UB Group, however, said the commercial sent a message that Harbhajan, having “made it large,” should now “change his goal post to be first among equals”, and that there was no one better to send that message than MS Dhoni, “a close friend of Mr Harbhajan”.

Three-wicket star Mitchell Santner praises hosts’ all-round improvement

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2019New Zealand plan to carry the momentum of a 21-run victory over England into their third T20I after a tough run for the host nation’s sporting teams.Questions about the All Blacks’ semi-final defeat to England in Japan last weekend come heavily laden with apology in recognition of the fact that New Zealanders live and breathe rugby like nothing else. But Mitchell Santner, the star of Sunday’s triumph in Wellington, offered a reminder that his country’s World Cup defeat was still smarting as he reflected on the Black Cap’s first win over England in any format since their innings victory in the rain-affected day-night Test in Auckland in March 2018.”Before or after the World Cup final?” Santner laughed when asked what kind of relationship New Zealand had with the England side. “Nah, pretty good. They’re nice guys off the field, and on, I guess. It’s obviously a younger team they’ve got there for the T20s but also a dangerous team so we’ve got to not take that for granted but they’ve got some superstars in their team as well so it was nice to get the win today.””They’ve had the rub of the green on us a little bit lately but I think after the last performance, we were a little bit off, it was nice to get that win today. As a unit we just wanted to be a little bit better in all three aspects and I think today we were so I guess that’s the pleasing thing. You can take that momentum into the next game as well.”Also read: Santner leads NZ bowlers to defend 176Santner’s 3 for 25 was pivotal in an improved all-round New Zealand performance compared to their seven-wicket loss in the first match of the series and included the wicket of Chris Jordan, whose 36 off 19 balls formed a rearguard that gave England some hope of overhauling the target of 177.The old adage “catches win matches” was rightfully applied as England put down four crucial chances while their opponents held theirs.”Our fielding was pretty key, some good catches there, and as a bowler if the fielding group is up it’s a good feeling,” Santner said. “We did pretty well to get to 170 on a pretty good surface and bowled pretty well to defend it.”With the five-match series level at 1-1, Santner said New Zealand would look to replicate their Wellington performance when the sides meet again in Nelson on Tuesday.”We adjusted pretty well coming from Hagley where it’s a big ground all-round to here,” he said. “We’ve got to adapt again. It’s a slightly different ground that can be short depending on where the wicket is but it’s more a ground like Hagley where boundaries are pretty even all the way round and the pitch in the past has been a little bit slow so we’ve probably got to adjust again.”But I think that’s a credit to what happened today, we adapted pretty quickly to the surface and the dimensions. The team that can adapt the fastest usually comes out on top.”England captain Eoin Morgan said the visitors must learn form their errors ahead of the next match.”We didn’t bat or field anywhere near what we did the other day,” Morgan told Sky Sports. “On this ground in particular, you probably take a little more risk than usual because of the dimensions, but I thought New Zealand bowled well and made us hit to the longer side.”We need to continue a positive, aggressive mindset. It’s important to make mistakes – the most important part is to learn from them. If young lads can continue to do that early in their international career, they’ll do well.”

A round-up of the matches from the second match-day of the Faysal Bank One Day National Cup Division One

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2011

Group A

Imran Farhat blasted 150, his highest List A score•AFP

Karachi Dolphins‘ lower order held their nerve in a thrilling one-wicket win over Rawalpindi Rams at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium as Naved Malik’s unbeaten century was in vain. When Karachi slid to 208 for 8 chasing Rawalpindi’s 260, it seemed all over for the visitors. But No 9 Misbah Khan had no intentions of giving up, and his unbeaten 37 took Karachi home with seven deliveries remaining. He was well supported by Rumman Raees, and the duo had taken their side to 245 when Raees was dismissed for 19. But last man Tabish Khan survived four deliveries, and together with Misbah, saw Karachi through. Naved’s maiden List A century had earlier rescued Rawalpindi from 132 for 5 along with wicketkeeper Jamal Anwar, who made an unbeaten 65 off 45 balls. Karachi were tottering at 134 for 6 in reply despite opener Adnan Baig’s half-century, but the lower order rose to the occasion.Imran Farhat slammed 150, his highest List A score, as Habib Bank surged to a 130-run victory against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited in Islamabad. Farhat and Taufeeq Umar put on 74 runs for the opening stand, and the middle order built on the solid platform. Shan Masood added 147 for the third wicket with Imran who fell with Habib Bank eight short of 300. Humayun Farhat, Imran’s brother, ensured Habib Bank finished on a high, cracking seven boundaries in his unbeaten 36 off 13. The target of 339 was always going to prove tough, but when medium-pacer Fahad Masood reduced SNGPL to 70 for 5, they surrendered any remaining chance they had. Saleem Mughal (70) was the only batsman to cross 30, as SNGPL caved in for 208.Sheharyar Ghani led Pakistan International Airlines to an eight-wicket win over Islamabad Leopards at the Diamond Club Ground as PIA chased down 250 comfortably. Ghani came in after the opening partnership had yielded 48, and remained unbeaten on 105, his maiden List A century. Faisal Iqbal cantered to an unbeaten half-century as well, as PIA eased to victory with 40 deliveries to spare. PIA’s bowlers led by Anwar Ali (3 for 51) had earlier dismissed Islamabad for 250 despite Zeeshan Mushtaq’s 75. Mazhar Abbasi (39) and Imad Wasim (45) could not carry on after getting starts and Islamabad fell short of a competitive total.

Group B

Multan Tigers notched up their second win, thumping Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited by 166 runs at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. It was a one-sided affair from the start: Multan were put in to bat and their openers put together an opening stand of 118; contributions from the middle-order and some late hitting took them to 325; and ZTBL’s chase never got going as they were bowled out for 159 in 34.1 overs. Zain Abbas played the anchor role for Multan, scoring 96, while Imranullah Aslam and Kashif Naved hit quick half-centuries. Imran Nazir and Shahid Yousuf scored half-centuries for ZTBL, but only one other batsman got into double figures as they were bowled out well inside the 50 overs.It was another one-sided affair at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, where Faisalabad Wolves chased down Sialkot Stallions’ 207 for the loss of just two wickets, with 39 balls to spare. Sialkot chose to bat but were greeted by a devastating spell from Naseer Akram, playing in only his second List A match. Naseer took four wickets and Sialkot were soon 61 for 5. Mohammad Ayub and Shehzad Malik staged a recovery with a 104-run partnership, but legspinner Zaheer Maqsood wiped out Sialkot’s tail and they couldn’t last the 50 overs. Faisalabad were always comfortable in their chase. The openers put together 75, and then Shahid Siddiq and Hasan Mahmood scored half-centuries to take Faisalabad home.National Bank of Pakistan also completed their chase with time to spare, beating Water and Power Development Authority by six wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. NBP bowled WAPDA out for 213 and then got to the total in 40.3 overs thanks to Fawad Alam’s 78 off 60 balls and Hammad Azam’s 58 off 61. NBP had lost two early wickets in their chase, but once Alam and Azam got going, they were in control of the match. WAPDA had needed a recovery from the lower order to get past 200. Their top order had been toppled by seamers Mohammad Talha and Uzair-ul-Haq, and they slumped to 80 for 6. Wicketkeeper Ahmed Said and Nawaz Sardar put together 101 for the seventh wicket to add some respectability to WAPDA’s score. Talha finished with figures of 6 for 38, while Uzair took 4 for 52.

Warwickshire quickly took a first step towards making up for a points deduction imposed by the England and Wales Cricket Board when they beat Worcestershire by 218 runs in the County Championship at Edgbaston

George Dobell at Edgbaston14-May-2011
Scorecard
Vikram Solanki was struck on the back of the head after ducking into a bouncer from Boyd Rankin•PA Photos

Perhaps it was fitting that, as Steve Rhodes put it, there should be a “farcical end to quite a farcical game”?Worcestershire, with two batsmen retired hurt and another ‘absent injured’, were forced to accept defeat by Warwickshire by a margin 218 runs even though they had lost only seven second-innings wickets. Memories of India’s defeat at the hands of the West Indies at Sabina Park in 1976 spring to mind.In truth, there was an element of protest in Worcestershire’s decision not to send their remaining batsmen into the line of fire. Had the team had even a chance of victory, both Vikram Solanki and Alan Richardson would have batted. As it was, they decided it was better not to risk them.It was a sensible decision. With the pitch every more unpredictable, the batsmen were taking blow after blow and Ben Scott, after sustaining a third hit on the gloves in a gutsy innings, was forced to retire hurt. There was no hope of resisting for long. The game was up.Some might rebuke Worcestershire for a lack of fight. They will point to examples such as Brian Close and suggest players from the past might have battled a little harder. Maybe.Generally, however, such criticism is facile. It is easy to sit the other side of the boundary and chastise players for a lack of fight. But spectators would do well to remember that these players are expected to play many more games in the coming days, weeks and months and that any injury sustained here could have damaging effects on their team’s season and, perhaps, even their own careers. This pitch, by the end, was simply dangerous and it is a blessing that no-one has been seriously hurt during the game. It is, by some distance, the worst pitch I’ve seen for a Championship match.Certainly Rhodes was scathing in his criticism at the end of the game. Reacting to news that Warwickshire had been penalised eight points for a track deemed ‘poor’ by the pitch panel, Rhodes, Worcestershire’s director of cricket, suggested a 24-point penalty for an ‘unfit’ wicket would have been more appropriate.”I can safely say that is probably the worst pitch I’ve seen in professional cricket in England,” Rhodes said. “I would have voted it as unfit.”If you ask the question: is that fit for first-class cricket?’ then the answer has to be ‘no.’ It had extravagant bounce. I don’t feel it was fit for first-class cricket.”Rhodes has a point, of course. But he and Worcestershire supporters baying for blood may do well to remember the sympathetic response Worcestershire received when they unsuccessfully tried to host a Championship game against Kent at a recently-flooded New Road in 2007. Groundsmen, like chief executive, players and journalists, sometimes make mistakes. The ECB judgement in this game, the result of three highly-experienced individuals’ lengthy analysis, looks about right.Despite all this, however, Warwickshire have decided to appeal the Pitch Panel’s decision to dock them eight points for a track deemed to be ‘poor.’Warwickshire continue to play their cards quite close to their chest on the issue, but it seems their appeal will focus on the procedure used by the ECB to come to the decision. That is because the ECB were not alerted to concerns about the pitch by the match umpires, but by a member of the media. Oddly, the phone call made by the newspaper journalist to the ECB was not even answered or returned.That having been said, Warwickshire are not claiming that the pitch was acceptable. They just feel there were extenuating circumstances relating to the new stands, outfield and drainage system and that the ECB’s own procedure was not followed. On that basis, they may have a point, though it seems a shame they couldn’t have accepted the penalty with some grace and moved on.ECB rules on the issue are not absolutely clear, but it does not appear as if Warwickshire’s points penalty can be increased. Instead, however, it seems that the ECB can charge them £5,000 (to be deducted from their next fee payment) should the appeal be unsuccessful. A new pitch panel will be convened within the week and they will review video footage of the match and interview relevant officials as required.The ‘pitch battle’ should not disguise the fact that this was Worcestershire’s fifth loss in five Championship games. Whatever the challenges, they were second best in every department in this match. Their support bowling was poor and their support batting flimsy. They’ve played some decent cricket without reward this season, but here they looked second best from the start.At least Scott showed some fight in this game. The Middlesex keeper, with Worcestershire on loan, showed excellent skills with the gloves and bravery with the bat. He’s a fine addition. Matt Pardoe and Moeen Ali batted nicely, too. And, if one or two of their colleagues are playing as if relegation is inevitable, they will find their coach will intolerant of such a view.”We have to learn to fight a little harder,” Rhodes admitted. “We’ve given too many wickets away to spin. We had a chance to win the game if we had we played better. Both teams played on the same wicket, after all.”Worcestershire lost three wickets in 14 balls on the final day. After Shaaiq Choudhry, surely batting too high at six in the order, missed one that may have kept a little low, Gareth Andrew edged one that took off from a length and Moeen Ali clipped to square-leg. Damien Wright then helped Scott add 44 for the seventh-wicket, before the former slogged to mid-off. Shortly afterwards, Scott was struck on the hand by a lifter from Boyd Rankin and the match was over.The big difference between the sides was simply the batting of Mohammad Yousuf. Warwickshire supporters have taken some time to warm to the Pakistani and, in his early matches, there have been times, in the field in particular, when he hadn’t appeared overly anxious about the match situation.Such reservations have evaporated now. Yousuf played two magnificent, match-shaping innings in this game and the chances of him winning a longer-term contract at the club have increased significantly. Ashley Giles also admitted some interest in Dale Steyn, who is available in July. Tim Ambrose, back to his best with bat and gloves and Rikki Clarke also enjoyed good games, while Ian Bell, who sustained a very minor muscle strain, will now miss the CB40 match against Leicestershire having initially asked the ECB for special permission to play.Giles, meanwhile, insisted that the poor wicket was purely accidental. “We want to play on the best possible wickets,” Giles said. “I think we were the stronger side and providing a wicket like that usually just brings the weaker side into the game more. No-one wants to see anyone get hurt and none of us have said it was a great wicket.”But the guys were brilliant as a collective. They didn’t moan if they got an unplayable ball. They just got on with it.”[Hosting] International cricket is very important to us, so the groundstaff have to learn very quickly. It [the redeveloped ground and re-laid outfield] is a bit of an unknown quality for everyone.”It may also be worth noting that the umpires rated the behaviour of both sets of players as exemplary. Despite the treacherous conditions, there was no moaning, no arguing and no dissent. Indeed, they showed considerable bravery. Whatever other issues there may have been with this match, the players of both sides have emerged with great credit.

Spinner admits he thought he would be watching series at home – but now keen to prove his worth as a bowler

Matt Roller26-Aug-2019Vishwa Fernando’s 6, Monty Panesar’s 7, Clive Eksteen’s 4… and now Jack Leach’s 1.The list of the greatest unbeaten single-figure innings in Test history is not a prestigious one, but its members all share cult-hero status. In no other sport are players so prominently exposed for their inability in one facet of the game – Neymar wouldn’t make much of a centre-back, but he doesn’t ever have to spend 30 minutes trying to rescue a point there – and while those who fail are mocked, success as a tailender can turn an unremarkable player into a legend.ALSO READ: From Vishwa to Panesar – six great single-figure inningsLeach’s 60-minute, 17-ball epic in a remarkable last-wicket stand of 76 with Ben Stokes to haul England across the line at Headingley could so easily have been forgotten. Stokes offered a difficult catch to Marcus Harris at third man, repeatedly cleared fielders on the rope by the finest of margins, and would have been lbw but for the absence of DRS; if any of those had turned out differently, Leach’s efforts would have been an irrelevance.Instead, he found himself exalted.”I don’t know what it is,” he said. “It’s probably because I look like a village cricketer out there in my glasses, the bald head – maybe people think ‘that could be me!’ All the others look pretty professional.”The support’s been amazing, the support today for all of us was incredible. The noise was insane, and I’m just enjoying playing for England.”While wiping his glasses before facing each ball made him a subject of amusement, Somerset’s former strength and conditioning coach Daz Veness paid tribute to his “outstanding mental strength”.”Bat down, gloves off, helmet off, glasses off, glasses cleaned, everything back on in reverse order,” he tweeted. “You’ll bowl when I’m ready and my mate has caught his breath. And not before.” In the manner that county team-mate Marcus Trescothick has done in the final years of his career, Leach – who cannot wear contact lenses because he suffers from astigmatism – managed to dictate the pace of the game throughout his stay at the crease.”I just have to make sure they are clean every time they were facing up because I would really regret it if it had been smudged,” he said, “and then they zoom in on the glasses and say ‘he didn’t clean his glasses’.”I just had to stay calm and do the job at hand. I felt good out there, I was really focused on what I needed to do.”Generally left to face a ball or two at the end of an over, Leach left, ducked, weaved and defended his way out of trouble. “I got on with it,” he said, “and it [the target] quite quickly seemed to go down. Suddenly it’s eight to win, and you’re like ‘oh my God’.”It is all a bit of a blur to be honest. I didn’t want to get in Stokesy’s bubble when he was doing really well, hitting those sixes. I didn’t want to say too much but I also wanted him to just focus on the next ball, especially when we got close.”He said in the changing room that he got nervous when it was down to eight. It seemed so close but the way we were playing it was still quite far away. I just wanted him to focus on every ball, and if it was there he would hit it for six.”Jack Leach wipes the sweat from his glasses during his innings of one not out•Getty Images

There was, of course, the run-out-that-wasn’t. If Nathan Lyon had managed to gather the ball as Leach found himself stranded halfway down the pitch, the narrative around his innings would be starkly different.”That was not a nice moment,” Leach said. “There were two balls left so I thought [Stokes] might squeeze a single so that I could face one and he’d have the next over. But it’s all good. I don’t want to focus on that moment – I want to focus on running down to Stokes when he hit the winning runs.”And so he might. If his team-mates’ hardships rarely seem to extend beyond a bad run of form, it is worth reflecting on the multiple setbacks that Leach has overcome on his ascent to the Test side.He suffers from Crohn’s disease, a bowel condition that is often triggered by stress. In 2015, he fractured his skull after fainting on his way to the toilet in the middle of the night. The next summer, his hopes of an international call-up were twice set back; first by comments from his county captain Chris Rogers that he was not “emotionally” ready, then by the news that routine tests at Loughborough had revealed an illegal kink in his bowling action.Last summer, he found out he had broken his thumb the day before he was set to be announced in the Test squad to play Pakistan. A concussion suffered after being hit by a Morne Morkel bouncer then cost him the chance to prove his form ahead of the India series, and he was again left out.Perhaps it is no surprise, then, that Leach revealed he thought he would “be watching at home” during this series.Childhood friends Jos Buttler and Jack Leach celebrate England’s win•Getty Images

“I wanted to be ready to play and not presume anything,” he said. “It’s been a tough lead-in because obviously the county cricket has been all T20 stuff, my last long bowl was the Australia A game [for the England Lions in July] which was quite a while ago. That’s been a challenge but I’ve tried to stay ready through training, and my opportunity has come about so I’m trying to make the most of it.”If those comments are damning on the suitability of the county fixture list, they also serve to add to Leach’s status as a normal bloke. To stay match-fit between the Ireland Test and his Ashes debut at Lord’s, he went home to play for his club side, Taunton Deane. Once part of the Cardiff MCCU production line under Mark O’Leary, he is an example to every club, university, and county cricketer as to what can be achieved with sheer dedication.It is important, too, to remember that Leach has bowled well in his two opportunities this series. Since Graeme Swann’s retirement, England have longed for a spinner who can tie down an end at home; for all Moeen Ali’s mercurial talents, he has generally been a wicket-taker rather than a defensive option.So Leach’s economy rate of 2.64 in this series has been just as important as his five wickets. Moving into the final two Tests, at the traditionally more spin-friendly venues in the country, he will be expected to play a role of increasing importance.”I think I have more to offer with the ball,” he said, “and hopefully I’m able to show that over the next couple of games. Obviously the last couple of times I’ve been doing media stuff at the end of games it’s been for my batting, which is mad! I want to be helping the team out with the ball primarily, and I’m looking to bring my best to Old Trafford.”

At one point, it seemed destined for Burnley to go down this season. However, Sean Dyche’s side’s resurgence following Christmas has been palpable. After being pitted at the bottom for a prolonged period, Burnley now find themselves two points clear of the relegation zone.

The Clarets are unbeaten in six, having taken full points against West Ham United as well as relegation rivals Fulham and Huddersfield Town. The courageous draw at Old Trafford, in which they displayed some exemplary stubborn defending, proved Burnley had regained last season’s form, exemplified in them having kept two clean sheets and conceded only five in last six games.

With defenders Ben Mee, James Tarkowski and captain Tom Heaton in inspired form and striking duo Wood and Barnes scoring again, Burnley’s survival hopes have been strengthened. Dyche’s brilliant turnaround might’ve earned him a Premier League manager of the month nomination, but he needs to keep strengthening his side’s resolve.

In this final stretch, Burnley host top six sides in Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal while travelling to Merseyside twice. While the victories against relegation rivals were vital, the Clarets need to keep gaining maximum points to assure safety. In a league like the Premier League, this unpredictable relegation battle could soon turn on their heads.

The Clarets have to dig their heels in and bully opponents into surrendering points. While tough times lay await, Burnley’s recent resurgence indicates that they should live to fight another season in the English top-flight.

Dyche has largely turned it around but he’ll know more than anyone not to get too comfortable if those at Turf Moor are going to stay in the Premier League, considering the run in they have.

Steve Bruce should allow Norwich City to sign Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer, after Daniel Farke’s Premier League-bound Canaries joined the emerging race for Newcastle United’s summer target.

What’s the word?

According to CaughtOffside, Norwich have informed Celtic of their desire to secure a deal for Ajer as the Premiership giants prepare to cash in.

The Hoops have warmed to allowing the Norway international to leave Parkhead at the end of the season as he will enter the final year of his current Hoops contract in June.

His situation is thought to also be of interest to Newcastle, after the Toon approached Celtic to discuss Ajer’s situation recently.

Both Newcastle and Norwich are claimed to have a keen interest in securing Ajer’s signature in the off-season, with the 23-year-old able to operate in central defence as well as at right-back and in a holding midfield role.

The Magpies were previously linked with preparing an £8m assault on Glasgow for Ajer, who Celtic believe is worth closer to £35m but are in a weakened position due to the limited time remaining on his £14,000-per-week terms.

Newcastle anticipated competition would arrive for Ajer and are aware that having Premier League status will be key in any negotiations, which Norwich secured last week and will now contend with Watford for the Championship title.

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A clutch of unnamed clubs are also said to have approached Celtic to enquire over Ajer’s availability, and it remains to be seen if AC Milan revisit the 21-cap defender’s situation after Technical Director Paolo Maldini confirmed the Serie A side’s interest last summer.

Should Newcastle sign Celtic’s Ajer?

Newcastle may struggle to secure Ajer’s services for the previously reported fee that Bruce’s side were preparing to submit if Norwich and fellow suitors arrive on the scene, especially with interest from Italy noted and prior links with Arsenal and Leicester City.

But United missing out on the 6 ft 5 man mountain may not be the end of the world for Bruce, as Ajer has been highly criticised for his efforts in Celtic’s ill-fated attempt at winning a 10th Premiership title in a row.

Ajer has been a fixture of the Hoops backline this season, with the 23-year-old starting 30 of his 31 appearances and only missing two fixtures after being forced to go into quarantine, but was unable to prevent results going astray and Rangers winning the title.

Even still, the Daily Record quoted Ajer as claiming last month: “If I am only to look at my performances, it may have been my best season at the club.”

His comment left former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie irate, telling Football Insider: “He flung his teammates under the bus.”

He added: “The manager will want rid of him; he hasn’t done anything. Ajer doesn’t even want to head the ball, so he has to go and play in Italy or Germany where they play with it at the back. Celtic need someone who can go and win the ball and he’s not the man to do that.”

Newcastle will likely need to sign a defender capable of winning the ball frequently in the summer, with Bruce’s side ranking 18th of the 20 Premier League clubs for the least shots allowed per game (14.6) and 15th for successful tackles (13.8) this season, per WhoScored.

Clearly, it remains to be seen if Ajer is that man, meaning Bruce can avoid a summer swoop and allow Norwich to seal a deal if the newly promoted Canaries persist with their interest.

AND in other news, Newcastle have been backed to bring a £2.5m-rated beast who “really impressed” back to St. James this summer…