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Monty Panesar will not readily forget his debut for Essex. He was required to do so much bowling that he seemed to be on at both ends at once as Northamptonshire racked up 531

Ivo Tennant at Colchester21-Aug-2013
ScorecardMonty Panesar was made to toil on a difficult day for Essex•Getty Images

Monty Panesar will not readily forget his debut for Essex. It was another hot day with the pitch still sluggish and taking spin only on the rare occasions when he gave the ball some air, the batsmen still rapacious for runs. He bowled the day’s first over, spearing yorker length and flat deliveries in at the nimble feet of Andrew Hall and Steven Crook with limited success. He was required to do so much bowling that he seemed to be on at both ends at once. His figures, when Northamptonshire were finally dismissed for 531, read 54-18-133-2.Having taken his first wicket on the opening day, Panesar had Crook held at slip, attempting to cut. Would he benefit from bowling a little slower, here as elsewhere? Robin Hobbs, fine legspinner from a happy era of Essex cricket, does not believe he can. “He finds it difficult to do so. But then Derek Underwood could never flight the ball.” The more the batsmen milked him for runs, the more Panesar bowled at a speed akin to Underwood’s medium-pace cutters. Hobbs was not meaning to be disparaging: he knows that throwing the ball up above the batsman’s eyeline does not work for everybody.As to whether Panesar will still be an Essex cricketer next year, Nigel Hilliard, the Essex chairman, said that it would depend on how he fits into the dressing room. “His ability is unquestioned and the members will always be glad to see an England Test cricketer playing in front of them,” Hilliard said. “We can afford him, having taken on his pay structure from Sussex. At the end of the season Monty will be a free agent.” What also has to be resolved is the future for Tom Craddock, who will not play for the remainder of the season owing to personal reasons.Four of Northamptonshire’s remaining first innings wickets fell to spin – but three of them were taken by Greg Smith’s off breaks. Hall, like Crook, finished with 63, ten fours as opposed to eight. He was bowled as he made to force the ball away. The theory is that the square in mid-August always favours the Essex spinners, but Hilliard, who played club cricket here at Castle Park, recalled Peter Such toiling away, over after over with scant reward. So it was now for Panesar, who must hope that there will be more turn for him if and when he bowls again.Robert Keogh had been first to go, his middle stump uprooted by Graham Napier, and Smith concluded the innings by bowling Trent Copeland and having Azharullah taken at short leg. Essex then required 382 to avoid following-on. If the pitch was to take spin, best they made a solid start. Instead, Jaik Mickleburgh edged Copeland to the wicketkeeper; Gautam Gambhir, having driven Hall nicely through the cover ring, was bowled by Crook, back on his stumps; Ravi Bopara was leg before to Crook.Northamptonshire barely concerned themselves with spin, even if James Middlebrook, another in this match to be playing against a former county, was in their side. The medium pacers were rotated to good effect. But in the last hour James Foster, the very person to come in when the follow-on is looming, and Ryan ten Doeschate, who batted with similar resolve, ensured Northamptonshire still have much to do. Their unbroken partnership amounts to 84 and there was a freedom about their strokeplay in the closing overs which reflected poorly on the batsmen who had gone before. Essex are 344 runs in arrears.

South Africa’s Test opening batsman Alviro Petersen will be out of action for three weeks after breaking his left hand in a Sunfoil Series matchon Friday

Firdose Moonda22-Sep-2012South Africa’s Test opening batsman Alviro Petersen will be out of action for three weeks after breaking his left hand in a Sunfoil Series match on Friday. Petersen should recover in time for Lions’ first match of the Champions League T20, which will take place on October 14 against Mumbai Indians in Johannesburg.The injury occurred on the second day of the match while Petersen, who captains the franchise, was fielding as the only slip. Andrew Puttick offered a chance off Pumelela Matshikwe’s bowling and Petersen dived as he attempted to take the catch. All he had to show for it was a fracture and a spilt chance.He had x-rays done immediately and did not bat in Lions’ first innings. Petersen will not play any further part in the match and Neil McKenzie took over the captaincy. His injury only adds to Lions’ woes in their season opener. After conceding a massive 543, of which Puttick scored 194, they were forced to follow on.Petersen has not played competitive cricket since the third Test against England in August and spoke about wanting to spend time in the middle ahead of the November tour to Australia. He may not get that but should be fully healed by the time the South African selectors pick the squad for that tour.

Experimentation was the order of the day in Ireland, but England are likely to have a far more familiar squad for the one-day internationals against India

Andrew McGlashan25-Aug-2011Experimentation was the order of the day in Ireland, but England are likely to have a far more familiar squad for the one-day internationals against India and there’s the possibility that none of the new faces tried in Clontarf will find a place. With Alastair Cook having won his first series as the full-time ODI captain against Sri Lanka it is unlikely that the selectors will make many changes for the 50-over format, although Stuart Broad’s Twenty20 side could see some of the new players feature.There will be no debate about James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann forming the core of the bowling attack. Broad was dropped for England’s last one-dayer against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford but has since stormed back to form with a Man-of-the-Series display in the Test series against India. Those four bowlers, along with Jade Dernbach, will comprise the first-choice attack unless conditions require two spinners, when Samit Patel will need to be accommodated.The bigger question marks surround the batting line-up. The recent form of Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell suggests they will walk into the side but for both Test success and one-day runs don’t always correlate. Pietersen’s 50-over record since losing the captaincy is poor with an average of 22.86, while Bell struggled to adapt to the No. 6 role against Sri Lanka. Pietersen was dropped this time last year for the Pakistan series and, although such drastic action is unlikely this time, he really needs to prove he has the hunger for the 50-over game.Bell, meanwhile, remains a conundrum because No. 6 is an unnatural fit for him but there is no room higher up the order. Ideally, given his wonderful form, he would be given a run at No. 3 but his Warwickshire team-mate Jonathan Trott has bedded into that position. Trott’s role remains highly debated, and his 69 off 104 balls against Ireland fuelled the fire. All the same, it’s hard to imagine England being World Cup contenders in Australia and New Zealand with him and Cook in the top three.”He’s an invaluable player to our team and has been for the couple of years he’s been involved,” Eoin Morgan said after the 11-run victory against Ireland. “Today he was crucial to our success and the majority of time he scores runs we win.”There is a clamour to get the likes of James Taylor and Ben Stokes involved in the side, but Geoff Miller and Andy Flower are not in the habit of shaking things up too much. Morgan and Richard Halsall, who stood in as coach for Flower against Ireland, will give feedback to the selectors about the match but it’s also hard to change a winning squad, even if it means fitting a few square pegs into round holes. However, if Stokes was fit to bowl he would challenge Ravi Bopara for a place in the squad.More room is available for something different in the Twenty20 side because the performance against Sri Lanka, at Bristol, was so poor and a couple of the players from that match – Michael Lumb and Luke Wright – are injured. Bell was a controversial omission in that game and now would be a good chance to give him a go in the opener’s slot, where he has a strike-rate of 127.27 and 140 runs from four innings, if the selectors don’t feel Alex Hales is ready. Taylor, although he only made 1 against Ireland, could also earn a chance to fight for a battling slot and Stokes’ hitting ability is worth investing in.Possible one-day squad: Alastair Cook (capt), Craig Kieswetter, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Ian Bell, Samit Patel, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Jade Dernbach, Steven FinnPossible Twenty20 squad: Stuart Broad (capt), Craig Kieswetter, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, James Taylor, Ben Stokes, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Jade Dernbach, Chris Woakes

New Zealand’s six major domestic associations have announced the names of players offered first-round contracts for the 2010-11 season

Cricinfo staff09-Aug-2010New Zealand’s six major domestic associations have announced the names of players offered first-round contracts for the 2010-11 season.The contracting process involves two rounds for the first time. Each association can offer 9-11 contracts at their discretion in the first round, and the remaining contracts in the second round on August 24 to complete their contingent of 12 players.The contracts commence on October 1 but will come into effect only after ongoing negotiations between the parties are completed.List of contracted players
Auckland Aces: Michael Bates, Andrew De Boorder, Colin De Grandhomme, Roneel Hira, Anaru Kitchen, Johann Myburgh, Jimmy Neesham, Jeet Raval, Lance Shaw, Bhupinder Singh, Greg ToddCanterbury Wizards: Corey Anderson, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Dean Brownlie, Andrew Ellis, Peter Fulton, Rob Nicol, Michael Papps, Richard Sherlock, Shanan Stewart, Reece YoungCentral Stags: Doug Bracewell, Brendon Diamanti, Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Michael Mason, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tarun Nethula, Brad Patton, Mathew Sinclair, Kruger van Wyk, Tim WestonNorthern Knights: Graeme Aldridge, Jono Boult, Trent Boult, Anton Devcich, Daniel Flynn, James Marshall, Peter McGlashan, Michael Parlane, Bradley Scott, Brad Wilson, Joseph YovichWellington Firebirds: Josh Brodie, Dewayne Bowden, Matthew Bell, Leighton Burtt, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Cameron Merchant, Neal Parlane, Joe Austin-Smellie, Luke WoodcockOtago Volts: Nick Beard, Neil Broom, Anthony Bullick, Ian Butler, Craig Cumming, Derek De Boorder,
Shaun Haig, Warren McSkimming, Aaron Redmond, Neil Wagner, Sam Wells

Smith insisted he had not requested a move back down the order but rather just told Andrew McDonald his preference

Alex Malcolm21-Oct-20241:36

What’s the logic of moving Smith back down the order?

Steven Smith has said Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne “hated” him opening the batting in the Test team, and believes it was a key driver behind his return to No. 4, but has insisted he did not request the move and would have continued to open if asked to.Australia’s chair selectors George Bailey confirmed last week that Smith would not be opening against India saying Smith “had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position” and that captain Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald had made the decision.McDonald stated on ABC Radio at the weekend that he and Cummins were the key decision-makers in the move, playing down Smith’s influence.Related

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Smith wanted it on the record that he had not explicitly requested to move back to No. 4 but had rather been asked by McDonald what his preferred batting spot was. He also added that Khawaja and Labuschagne had both expressed their discontent at him opening.”I got asked where I’d prefer to bat, and I said four. I didn’t ask [to move] though,” Smith said. “I also said I’m happy batting wherever. I’m not really too fussed. I got asked where my preference would be, and I said four. I saw a few things last week saying that I’ve requested to bat at four. That wasn’t the case. I said I’m happy to bat wherever you’d like me to bat but, yeah, four would be my ideal position.”Asked what had changed since earlier this year, he said: “Obviously there’s a spot there now with Greeny [Cameron Green] out. And I think just conversations we had after New Zealand with particularly Marnus and Uzzie, they hated me up top, to be honest. They wanted me behind them.”They just like the…they call it security behind them, in a way. They were pretty strong on me not batting there. So that was a big part of it. And then obviously, I’ve got a decent record at four.”It was good fun having a crack at something new, batting up top. I still feel like I could do a job there for sure. It was a pretty small sample size. But I’ve done pretty well at four for a number of years now. I feel like it’s probably where I can have my best input for this team at the moment.”Smith was set to move regardless of Green’s injury as the conversations had taken place prior to the limited-overs tour of England.He was asked whether he felt like he could have continued in the role longer term given his average of 28.50 in the four Tests in the job was not that bad as no opener averaged more than 32 across those four Tests.In his own style: Steven Smith leaves the ball alone•Getty Images

“Honestly, I’m not that fussed,” Smith said. “I said it when I took that job, I’m not really fussed where I bat. The conversations I had with the other guys, they didn’t like it at all. They wanted some security, I suppose, behind them, where I’ve done really well for a number of years, and I can understand that as well. So it is what it is and I’m not going to be opening this summer. That’s it.”Smith made 3 off 29 balls for New South Wales against Victoria in his first red-ball innings since the New Zealand Test series in March and his first Sheffield Shield match since 2021.On a day when 15 wickets fell at the MCG in difficult batting conditions, Smith was upbeat about the innings despite being caught down the leg side off Fergus O’Neill.”I actually felt pretty good out there, to be honest, for the three that I scored strangely enough,” Smith said. “I felt like I was moving well. I was leaving well, and got a little bit unlucky with the one that sort of took off a little bit down the leg side. And that can happen. But I actually felt like I was getting in nice positions. My bat path was good and felt pretty good. So happy with that.”Meanwhile, Smith has been impressed with his limited time watching 19-year-old Sam Konstas who was lbw after 10 balls on the second day at the MCG”He got a bit unlucky there I reckon,” Smith said. “It looked like it might have been just darting down leg a little bit. I haven’t seen a lot of him. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of him out here in the middle for sure. But from what I have seen in the nets, he’s got a lot of time.Steven Smith threw in Nic Maddinson’s name as a potential opening option•Getty Images

“He’s very organised. He plays fast bowling and spin well from what I’ve seen in the brief couple of times I’ve seen him bat, it’s looked really good. He’s a bright prospect. We’ve got to remember he’s only 19 as well so you he’s got plenty of time. But what I’ve seen so far, it looks promising”He’s got all the makings to definitely be a really good Test player. That’s for sure. Whether it’s now or in the future, time will tell.”Smith also threw Nic Maddinson’s name in the mix as a possible candidate to open the batting for Australia against India given he is a similar type of player to David Warner.”There’s a few really good candidates, guys that have, done really well the last few years,” Smith said. “[Cameron] Bancroft and the usual suspects that have been talked about. Maddo I think is also another really good candidate. He’s had a good couple of years. If you’re looking for someone similar to a Davey replacement, he gets after the ball and can score really quickly.”So he’s someone who probably hasn’t been spoken about a great deal from all you guys in the last little bit, but I think he’s someone that could definitely play test cricket and have a similar impact to what Davey sort of had at the top, the way he plays. So plenty of options. We’ll wait and see.”

After watching a hat-trick from the non-striker’s end, he told Shoriful to run whether he hit the next ball or not

Mohammad Isam15-Jul-2023Despite playing the match-defining knock in the first T20I against Afghanistan which Bangladesh won in the last over, Towhid Hridoy was nervous as he watched the dramatic win unfold from the non-striker’s end. Bangladesh made a meal out of a cakewalk when, with two needed off five balls, Karim Janat took a hat-trick in the final over in Sylhet. Ghosts of the Bengaluru 2016 meltdown were however banished when Shoriful Islam unfurled a cut that got them the winning runs.At the presentation ceremony, Hridoy said that he was nervous while watching Janat’s hat-trick at the other end. Shortly afterwards in the press conference, he further said that he felt each of the dismissed batters could have hit the winning runs in the last over, and when it came down to two off two balls, he told Shoriful to run regardless of hitting the ball.”I had confidence in everyone,” Hridoy said. “Taskin [Ahmed] , Nasum [Ahmed] and Shoriful all bat well. Taskin won us a game like this with two boundaries against England. I believed Shoriful could do the job. We have played Under-19s together. I was confident till the last ball. I told him that, ‘we are running whether you hit it or not. You will win us the game’.”I felt okay. We needed just two runs. We could score one or two runs if ball hit the bat somehow. I always try to stay calm.”I tried to tell my batting partners what the bowler could do.”Hridoy said that when Shamim Hossain joined him at 64 for 4 and they needed 91 off 59 balls, he felt that two big overs could give them the rhythm. The first of those came swiftly, when they took 21 off the 13th over, bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai, which included five wides after Hridoy slammed two fours, and the asking rate of 9.50 came down to under eight an over.The match could have still swung either way as Bangladesh needed 35 from 24, but they collected 16 runs off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the 17th over to turn the game.”I told Shamim that we have won matches from this situation in domestic cricket,” Hridoy said. “We are middle-order batters so if we can get the momentum in the next two overs, the course of the match will change. That’s what happened. The rhythm changed in those two overs.”We stuck to a plan. We tried to bat with calculative risks. We were focused on execution. International opponents are challenging. Everyone has a strong side. We tried to be positive.”We reacted to the demand of the situation. Regardless of the opposition, this type of win always gives the players a lot of confidence. I am happy to have walked off with the win. These opportunities don’t come always.”But Shamim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz getting out, followed by Janat’s hat-trick underlined the risk Bangladesh are taking by playing six bowlers. This strategy strengthens the bowling, but puts a lot of onus on Nos. 6 and 7 to finish off games. Taskin Ahmed is the most capable of the batters from Nos. 8 to 11. Among the others, Shoriful, Nasum and Taijul Islam can hold their own but Ebadot Hossain and Hasan Mahmud are genuine No. 11s.How the batting coaches shape and improve the last four batting spots will go a long way in Bangladesh’s quest for glory in the two big white-ball tournaments later this year.

The 91-run defeat hurts Capitals’ net run-rate and puts their playoff chances in doubt

Sreshth Shah08-May-20224:10

Where are Delhi Capitals going wrong?

Devon Conway continued his purple patch with a third fifty-plus score, and Moeen Ali took three wickets in a miserly spell to help Chennai Super Kings complete a 91-run demolition job over Delhi Capitals. With Capitals trying to stay in contention of a top-four finish, RIshabh Pant’s side conceded 208 runs in the first innings, after which they lost their last eight wickets for only 45 runs in the chase.For Capitals, it was the seven single-digit scores that hurt their chase. A target of 209 was always going to be steep, but it proved even more difficult in the absence of Prithvi Shaw and a premature end to David Warner’s innings. Every Super Kings bowler enjoyed success on the night, with two-fors for uncapped seamers Mukesh Choudhary, Simarjeet Singh and allrounder Dwayne Bravo, and a 1 for 29 for mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana.Super Kings’ win took them out of the bottom two for the first time in over a month, and keeps them alive for playoff contention, even though their road to the final-four remains dependent on a huge slice of luck. Capitals are now in danger of slipping from fifth to seventh over the next few days with Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad both on 10 points after 11 games.Moeen Ali all but ended the contest after striking three times in his first two overs•BCCI

The collapseThe Capitals chase offered promise early on, despite the dismissal of KS Bharat – playing instead of Shaw as opener – as he fell to the slip cordon trying to pull Simarjeet. Warner was then out lbw to Theekshana even though he was convinced he got some bat en route to the pad, but then Mitchell Marsh and Pant looked to rebuild. Between the two, the seven fours and the lone six kept Capitals in contention of the net run-rate as they moved into the seventies by the eight over.But then came the fall. Moeen tempted Marsh to slog to a wide-ish ball, only to get caught on 25. The offspinner then returned next over to pick off Pant with a chopped-on bowled dismissal and soon picked up Ripal Patel. A recovery from 81 for 5 was still possible, but a double-wicket over from the other end in the next over made the result a formality. Choudhary picked off Axar Patel and Rovman Powell in the space of five balls in the 11th over, and at 85 for 7, the target for Capitals was to finish respectably, helped in part by Shardul Thakur’s 24. However, all they could reach was 117 before Bravo picked up wickets nine and ten off back-to-back deliveries in the 18th over.Moeen’s day outAfter the game, Moeen said that his primary job as offspinner is to spin the ball, and on Sunday’s used wicket, he found that. It helped Moeen that he picked up Marsh’s wicket three balls into his spell, and used that momentum to remain on top of the batters. Moeen enjoyed a bit of luck with Pant’s dismissal onto his stumps, but earned Ripal’s wicket by ensuring he did not go full after being hit for a six. Instead, his flatter, length ball left the batter trying for a big leg-side swipe even though the ball was not in his arc.Moeen also enjoyed the advantage of the pressure being applied by the bowler from the other end, as his third over came following the two Choudhary wickets. That allowed him to eke out five dots against Kuldeep Yadav – who was still trying to find his feet in the crease – and finished his spell of 3 for 13 with 16 dot balls.Conway shines (again)The left-hander from New Zealand is scoring fifties for fun now, his hat-trick of fifties corresponding to big Super Kings totals, too. Quite early on, Conway made it clear in fellow opener Ruturaj Gaikwad’s company that he preferred spin inside the powerplay, and when it was offered to the batters by Pant, Gaikwad rotated the strike often enough to let Conway face the slow bowlers.That proved to be brutal as Axar was welcomed inside the powerplay with two sixes over his head by the charging Conway, and when Kuldeep came on for the first time in the eighth over, the batter lofted him for six, swept him for another six and drove him for four. The two big overs helped Conway race away to a 28-ball fifty, following up from scores of 56 and 85 not out in his last two outings.Pant continued to trust Kuldeep after an 18-run opening over, and when Conway faced him again, the batter hit him for a hat-trick of fours through the covers. By the time the partnership broke – with Gaikwad falling for 41 to an Anrich Nortje short ball – Super Kings were 110 for 1 after 11 overs.Dube, returning to the side following Ravindra Jadeja’s absence from the XI due to injury, entered at No. 3 and chose to be the one taking the risky batting options as Conway entered his 80s. And he did by hammering Shardul for 6, 6 and 4 in the space of four balls to end the 16th over.But Conway’s prolonged period at the non-striker’s, starved of strike, did have some impact. When he got back on strike on 87 in the 17th over, he failed to get the desired connection off a ramp and fell 13 short of what could’ve been high first IPL century. Nonetheless, he finished on his highest tournament score.At the point of his dismissal, Super Kings were going at over 10 runs per over, and the remaining batters ensured they didn’t let the momentum die after the set batters’ dismissal. MS Dhoni walked in and got off the mark with a six and four, Ambati Rayudu and Moeen swung the bat around for useful boundaries, and despite a tidy nine-run 20th over from Nortje that also included two wickets, Super Kings could not be stopped from posting their fourth 200-plus total.

Trio are asymptomatic but medical staff will continue to monitor their health, CSA says

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2020A South African player has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the upcoming limited-overs series against England.The player and two others considered to be close contacts by South African team medical staff have all been placed in isolation in Cape Town. All are asymptomatic but doctors will continue to monitor them, Cricket South Africa said in a statement on Wednesday.CSA said about 50 tests were carried out on players and support staff before entering their biosecure base in Cape Town ahead of back-to-back series against England, due to start on November 27 with the first of three T20Is, followed by three ODIs. All matches will be played between Newlands and Paarl.”One player has returned a positive test result and two players were considered close contacts based on the risk assessment undertaken by the medical team,” the statement said. “All three players have been placed in immediate isolation in Cape Town as part of the COVID-19 protocols. While all players are asymptomatic, CSA’s medical team will monitor them to ensure their health and well-being.”At this stage, none of these players will be replaced for the tour, but two replacement players will be included into the squad for the purposes of the inter-squad practice matches that will be played on Saturday, 21 November.”England’s squad have arrived in South Africa to begin their preparations and will play a 50-over warm-up on Saturday in Cape Town. An ECB spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that all Covid-19 tests carried out on the England squad members had returned negative results.

Steven Smith makes 23 from 38 balls before heading to nets for extended session

Daniel Brettig at Derby30-Aug-2019Steven Smith batted in a match for the first time since his concussion diagnosis during the Lord’s Test with the air of a cricketer impatient for the Ashes to resume or, at least, to face better bowling than the modest spin being twirled down at him by Derbyshire on a low-key second day of the tour game.He indicated as much by following a brief, 38-ball innings of 23 that ended in a skewed slog to cover by immediately taking up a far longer stint in the nets. There, still in his creams, he faced up to speedier deliveries with newish balls being sidearmed at him by the assistant coach Sridharan Sriram and the resting David Warner – his habitual throw-downer Graeme Hick being spelled from coaching duties this week.Perhaps Smith was still getting used to dealing with the hemmed-in feelings he has complained about when wearing a protective stem guard on the back of his neck – the place where Jofra Archer struck him at Lord’s. “I just feel claustrophobic,” Smith has said of the stem guards. “I compare it to being stuck in an MRI scan machine.”But certainly this sequence indicated that for Smith at least, the Derbyshire attack was far from his preferred way of preparing for a Test match; not that other team-mates of his took the same view with rather less open-and-shut cases for selection at Old Trafford.Steve Smith returned to the middle for the first time since his concussion•Getty Images

Marcus Harris glided to an attractive 64 before he was run out when Usman Khawaja, who went on to 72, declined his call for a quick single. While Khawaja initially set off and so may be seen to be at fault for changing his mind, the speed with which Dustin Melton’s throw from cover was fired back to hit the stumps direct was a good indicator that the senior man’s judgment was the soundest of the two.That wicket cleared the way for Mitchell Marsh to play decently on his way to 74, equal parts watchful and powerful, though only likely to take part in this series if one of the two remaining pitches is prepared to be a flat surface requiring the Australians to consider a fifth bowler. Marsh has flagged that after spending the past two years or more prioritising Test cricket, he is now growing impatient to return to the Twenty20 circuit with all its attendant riches.Another brief and distracted-looking innings was played by Matthew Wade, granting Cameron Bancroft and Marnus Labuschagne the chance to add an unbeaten 76 together, speckled with boundaries against the second new ball. Khawaja’s declaration left the Australians with about 80 minutes in which to bowl, enough time for Mitchel Starc to send down an encouraging new-ball spell in his last chance to press for selection at Old Trafford.Clean bowling Billy Godleman with a ball of full length, he went on to pin Anuj Dal lbw. Peter Siddle followed up by coaxing an edge from Luis Reece that was pouched by Wade in the slips, and beat the bat several more times in the closing 20 minutes to underline that he, too, is eager for Manchester and all that will unfold there.

Former West Indies star forced to return to Barbados while applying for a visa to live in the UK alongside his British wife

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2018Colin Graves, the chairman of the ECB, has offered to help Collis King in his immigration fight, after it emerged the West Indian has been forced to return to Barbados while applying for a visa to live in the UK alongside his British wife.King, who starred in West Indies’ 1979 World Cup final victory, has spent more than 40 years living and working in the UK, alongside his native Barbados. But now, aged 67, he has been left in limbo after being told he could not submit an application for a spousal visa while still in the country, and given 14 days to return to the Caribbean.King’s story has emerged following a controversial crackdown by the UK Home Office, although it is distinct from the issues affecting members of the Windrush generation who came to live and work in Britain after the Second World War. According to the , King said he had been “treated like a criminal”.Graves was previously chairman of Dunnington CC in Yorkshire, where King has played and coached for 20 years, becoming a popular figure on the club scene. He has offered to act as a referee for King and write a letter of support.”I was staggered that his application was thrown out without any further investigation,” Graves told the newspaper. “Someone just looked at it and said, ‘On your bike’ and he was out. Nobody seemed to bother to look at it. It was cold and that is what upset me. They did not look at the individual, it was just another number on a file.”From a cricket point of view in Yorkshire he has been a colossus. He is known around all the clubs and we will do everything we can from a cricket point of view because he is helping with what we are trying to achieve in the recreational game.”King has been unable to play for Dunnington this summer, and has spent the last four months waiting to hear about his status. Having been told he had to return to Barbados, he also suffered the indignity of having his passport taken away at the airport, and only returned when his flight landed in Bridgetown.”I felt like I was treated like a criminal,” he told the . “It has really shaken me that after all that time that I can’t stay. It really hit me for six.”An attacking batsman who played nine Tests and 18 ODIs, King hit 86 from just 66 balls as he and Viv Richards demolished England in the 1979 World Cup final. Although World Series Cricket and a rebel tour of South Africa ended his international career, he became a much-loved performer in the northern leagues of England, as well as turning out in county cricket for Glamorgan and Worcestershire.Having previously travelled regularly to the UK on a visitor visa, King fell foul of the “hostile environment” cultivated by immigration officials after submitting his application for a spousal visa last year.”We tried to get some help at the embassy in Barbados but it is all done online – there is hardly anybody in Barbados to give you any help,” he said. “I have given all the information they asked for and more. I have waited and waited and nothing has happened.”I have been playing cricket in the UK for many years but I have always come back when my visa stated. I have never stayed longer than I was due to stay. If I had six months to play in the leagues, I would always come back on time. Never once in 44 years have I overstayed my time.”I was not born a British citizen but I have been going to Britain long enough to feel part of the English set-up. You cannot come to a country for so many years without loving the place. I have been coming and going, loving the country and that is the sad thing, really. When I tell people what’s going on, they say: ‘That can’t be right.’ But it is right because here I am, stuck in Barbados not knowing when this will end.”Another West Indies-born former cricketer, Richard Stewart, who played for Middlesex in the 1960s, has faced a similar struggle in his attempts to receive a British passport. Stewart arrived in England in 1955, aged 10, and has lived there ever since, but was only told this week that he had been granted citizenship.