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Pataudi brought to Indian cricket a dash of hauteur and a touch of heroism

Mukul Kesavan21-Aug-2010When I was growing up in the sixties, the Nawab of Pataudi Jr was more than my favourite cricketer; he was my hero. He was the captain of India in 1963-64, when MCC toured with a second-rate team led by MJK Smith. That was the first cricket series that I actively followed with the help of running commentary on All India Radio and pictures published in . Pataudi did nothing noteworthy either as captain or player. All five Tests were drawn, and the Nawab’s contribution as a batsman was one double-century and not much more.But it didn’t matter. I knew about Pataudi before I began to follow Test cricket, in the way that I knew of Dara Singh and Milkha Singh. India was a brand-new country in 1957, the year I was born, and in its enthusiasm for mascots it fashioned heroes out of some pretty eccentric material. I knew, for example, that Dara Singh was India’s first world champion and that he had got there by wrestling King Kong to the ground. This was a fact; the older boys I played gully cricket with had told me. Just as they had told me that Pataudi had only one eye.Looking back, it’s hard to believe the hours we spent debating the state of Pataudi’s eye. There was a colour picture of him in the souvenir album that Esso published in 1964 to mark the MCC tour. It was a spiral-bound album and each player had a page to himself, with space for a picture and a short biography on the right. You bought the album from the petrol pump and each time your parents filled up, you collected some photos and stuck them in the marked spaces. As a marketing ploy, it was brilliant: no Burmah Shell pump sold my parents a drop of petrol till I had filled in the whole album.As a result, I knew more about Jim Parks and Phil Sharpe than anyone needed to know, but Pataudi’s bio was frustrating because it didn’t settle the matter of his eye. Was it a glass eye, or a normal one that didn’t work? It was hard to tell from the photo. Still, it was a dashing picture, with Pataudi looking vaguely rakish, as a Nawab should. The bio let you know that he had captained Oxford and played for Sussex, which didn’t hurt the image. Forty years ago these things mattered.

Pataudi was the best expert commentator I’ve ever heard: sharp, sardonic and rude, but I’m glad he didn’t make it a living because it left my memories of him intact. I didn’t have to watch him age into a professional hack

A part of his mystique was the romance of him being a Nawab, multiplied by the improbable fact that he was the son of another Nawab of Pataudi, who had also captained India. To complete the fairy tale for seven-year-old fans like me, just about two years before the MCC tour, he had become, at 21, the youngest captain in the world, when he was given the job in the West Indies after Charlie Griffith broke Nari Contractor’s head. And there was more: he wasn’t just the Nawab of Pataudi – he was Tiger. For us it wasn’t just a name, it was an attitude. I remember him fielding in the covers against the New Zealanders at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi, chasing balls down, well, tigerishly. I think the reason we worshipped him was that at a time when Indian Test teams ranged from mediocre to terrible, he still managed to lead them boldly, with panache and without deference. It didn’t hurt that he was born and raised in privilege; ironically, the citizens of republican India were delighted to be led by a debonair prince.So did his batting matter? Of course it did. There were the two fifties he made against Bob Simpson’s Australians that helped us win the Bombay Test in the three-Test series played immediately after the MCC tour. There was the fifty and the hundred in a losing cause at Headingley in 1967. India lost every Test in that series, but listening to on the BBC’s World Service I was content that my hero had top-scored in India’s first innings and then hit a wonderful 148 out of a total of 510 to avoid a follow-on (India lost respectably, by six wickets).Listening to John Arlott and Brian Johnston speculate about the batting heights Pataudi might have scaled with two good eyes, I forgave him all the innings when he scored nothing and hadn’t seemed to care. Best of all, there were the two fifties he hit against the Australians in the Melbourne Test of 1967-68, where, literally hamstrung, he hit 75 and 85, “with one good eye and on one good leg… ” (Mihir Bose, ). We still lost by an innings, but I was used to finding individual consolation in collective failure and the thought of Pataudi, hobbled but heroic, hooking and pulling his way to gallant defeat, was enough.I didn’t actually see him play that many innings. There was his top score of 203 not out in Delhi in that dull dead rubber against Smith’s MCC, and the hundred, also in Delhi, against the New Zealanders the following year, which, for once, was in a winning cause. But I can’t really remember his strokeplay in the way I can for Gavaskar or Azhar or Laxman, or any batsman made familiar by live telecasts. I saw more of Pataudi after he retired and turned up on television as an expert than I did when he was a player. He was the best expert commentator I’ve ever heard: sharp, sardonic and rude, but I’m glad he didn’t make it a living because it left my memories of him intact. I didn’t have to watch him age into a professional hack. Listening at Richie Benaud on Channel Nine, it’s impossible to believe he ever played cricket. Pataudi was my hero from a time before television, through a childhood where I followed cricket by hearing it described; in a golden age where I didn’t have to see to believe.

Sriram Veera explains some Twenty20 tactics, lifts the veil on some common misconceptions, raises some questions – and sticks his neck out answering them

Sriram Veera18-Apr-2009Sriram Veera explains some Twenty20 tactics, lifts the veil on some common misconceptions, raises some questions – and sticks his neck out answering themShane Watson took an off-stump guard and repeatedly hit to the on side, which proved very effective•Getty ImagesThe toss-upLast year, 28 out of 58 games (one was washed out) were won by the team calling correctly at the toss. The captains realised that chasing a target was the better option, with teams often unsure of what a competitive target could be when batting first. This could be a key factor this year – Stephen Fleming has already gone on record saying that in South Africa batting first in the night games could be the way to go.The runaroundThe two finalists, Rajasthan and Chennai, ran the most singles, twos, and threes (750 and 748 runs respectively) in the tournament and their boundary percentage (as a factor of total runs) was almost identical – 59.28 and 59.23. Interestingly, they had a lower boundary percentage compared to the other teams – showing that Twenty20 is not about slogging.The brain in the brawnThe successful batsmen had a different technique – and it wasn’t slogging. Instead, there was some sound scientific rationale – and lots of practice – behind it. Shane Watson’s was perhaps the most obvious technical change: he took an off-stump guard and repeatedly hit to the on side. Others like Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma chose to stay beside the line and drive through or over the covers. Shaun Marsh stayed very still with a leg stump guard and drove hard in the V. The successful batsmen weren’t too keen to get behind the line. Martin Crowe famously said, “In Twenty20, you have to forget the stumps.” What innovations will this edition on South African pitches throw up? It’s not all runfestsThere were seven 200-plus totals in April but only one in May in the first year. There were several reasons: the pitches slowed down, the bowlers adapted, a few of the big-hitting batsmen left midway and, interestingly, the pressure increased on the batsmen as the tournament moved closer to the semi-final stage.Will the pitches have more zip under lights in South Africa, as Fleming predicted? This could affect the totals. Even during the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa, the totals steadily decreased as the tournament progressed.Powerplays and end gameLogic suggests that teams have to make the Powerplays count in this format. But, if the first year was any indication, that wasn’t the case across the board. Mumbai Indians revelled here, taking 26 wickets while losing just 16 and scoring more runs than they conceded. The winners, Rajasthan, were steady in the Powerplays but really controlled the game in the middle and end overs. Rajasthan scored at 8.7 runs per over during the middle phase (6-14 overs) and really tightened the noose in the last six overs – they took 48 wickets. You might see the trend continue in South Africa. The team that controls the middle and end overs might be the ones going all the way.A Cricinfo study at the end of 36 games last season showed that yorkers constituted approximately a little over 2% of the total balls bowled•AFPPace vs spinBoth performed superbly in the first edition. Fast bowlers averaged 28.54 per wicket while the spinners averaged 30.38 for theirs and the economy-rate was pretty much the same; a little over 8. Under lights, in South Africa, logic dictates that the pace bowlers might hold the key but one has to wait and watch how the pitches play. During the recent Australia-South Africa ODI series, the pitches were a tad slow and offered turn.York ’em out?Not really. A Cricinfo study at the end of 36 games last season showed that yorkers constituted approximately a little over 2% of the total balls bowled while a majority – around 61% – were on a good length and nearly 18% of the deliveries were short of length. The trick was the change of pace. Not the really obvious slower ones but there were the cutters, little changes of pace, the slower bouncers and the ball held across the seam. Those were perfectly suited to the slower pitches in India – South Africa could be a whole new ball game.The new starsFinally, it’s down to the players. Who will be this year’s Shane Watson? Tyron Henderson, Jesse Ryder and Albie Morkel are all in the running. Which Indian local cricketer will take the leap from the unknown to stardom? Will it be the fast bowlers Kamran Khan, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Amit Singh? All should thrive on South African conditions. There’s been much talk that Indian domestic cricketers would struggle in South African conditions but the fact is that those in contention for their team’s playing XI are mainly seamers and they should revel.

Leeds recorded the second-highest spend of any team in the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League last summer, with only Leicester (£38m) eclipsing their outlay of (£31m). The Whites brought new nine new faces into Elland Road, but there was also an inevitable exodus that recouped £27m, meaning the club's net spend was slight at £4m.

It's been a quiet January for Daniel Farke's side so far, with the big story Djed Spence's early return to Tottenham Hotspur midway through his loan spell. Sonny Perkins has been recalled to Yorkshire from Oxford United, but aside from that there's been nothing to report.

Farke has previously played down the chances of a busy window at the club, while stressing that Leeds will be alert to opportunities. "I expect a much more quiet and calm January to the last transfer period for example," he said. "We wish for a quiet January, but won’t fall asleep and when there are decisions to make, we will also make decisions and you never know what happens."

Mepham a target in "ambitious" window

Speaking to GiveMeSport, talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook offered a markedly different insight into Leeds' transfer plans based on what he's been hearing behind the scenes. He's told Whites supporters that the the 49ers will be "ambitious" in the market as they try to make an instant return to the Premier League.

Farke will want a new full-back after Spence left, wide player David Brooks is a known target, and Crook says Bournemouth teammate Chris Mepham is also on Leeds' radar.

"It's interesting because the manager said they're not going to do much to this window because he's happy with his squad," he said. "But I've been told by people actually they're going to be quite ambitious. They think they've got a great chance of getting in the Premier League, so they're going to go for it. You mentioned David Brooks, Chris Mepham of Bournemouth is someone else I think they admire.

"Having sent Djed Spence back, you'd have thought they've got a full-back lined up. So I think Leeds might be a lot more active than Daniel Farke is laying on."

Mepham faces uncertain future

Within Crook's update, it's Mepham's name that will catch the eye of the Leeds faithful, and this would be an astute signing for the club's promotion push. Having originally been part of the Chelsea academy, Mepham then spent seven years with Brentford before joining Bournemouth for around £12m in 2019. He signed a contract extension in the autumn of 2022 but his deal only runs until the summer of 2025, so he's now entered the final 18 months, and his slide down the pecking order will surely render his future uncertain.

After starting 24 top-flight games last year following Bournemouth's promotion, Mepham has only made the XI for two of the first 20 this term under new manager Andoni Iraola. Tellingly, he's actually started more games (three) in the two domestic cup competitions.

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Rather than being a limited defender, he may be absent from the line-up simply because Iraola stylistically prefers other options. The stats suggest that Mepham excels at the fundamentals – he ranks in the 92nd percentile or better for shots blocked (1.13), interceptions (1.82) and clearances (6.17) per 90 minutes, which speaks to his appetite for the dirty side of the game as well as his smart positioning. His aerial duel success rate of 65.9% is also well above average for his position (73rd percentile).

A 34-cap Welsh international who's played all but one game for his country at the last two major tournaments, Mepham would be an experienced and solid addition to the Leeds backline. A loan until the end of the season makes sense for all parties.

Arsenal are back in action this afternoon following the international break, as Mikel Arteta’s side travel to west London to face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Gunners will hope to get their away form back on track after picking up just one point from their previous two trips away from home in the Premier League, with the Bees expected to be far from easy to overcome.

Following the two week pause in play for the international festivities, Arteta’s side is anticipated to look far different from the team that beat Burnley 3-1 at the Emirates last time out, with a number of faces set to re-enter the fold.

Arsenal team news vs Brentford

Away from injury, first choice shot-stopper David Raya will be unavailable for the fixture due to being ineligible to play against his parent club, as his deal at Arsenal is still a loan from Brentford.

Reports have surfaced to unsurprisingly relay that the Gunners wish to activate a permanent contract for the Spaniard, meaning more bad news for Aaron Ramsdale, who will get a rare chance between the posts this afternoon.

Against the Clarets, Martin Odegaard, Ben White and Gabriel Jesus were unavailable due to injury and illness.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta admitted that White and Odegaard will “hopefully” return to the fold against Brentford, but couldn't confirm the status of the two players for certain.

The talk of the international break was the emergence of Jesus, who had missed Arsenal’s previous five fixtures due to injury, however was called up to represent Brazil and played 90 minutes for his country whilst on duty.

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Despite returning after recording some impressive performances prior to his injury, there is some debate as to whether the four-time Premier League winner should automatically reclaim his number nine spot, as his replacement has been in terrific form in his absence.

The stats that suggest Leandro Trossard should keep his place in the XI

Predominantly fielded as a left-winger, Leandro Trossard has been Arteta’s guiding light when leading the line this season, recording a higher conversion rate than both Jesus and Eddie Nketiah when playing centrally, as per Sofascore.

Lauded for his “lively” presence in the final third by Arteta, Jesus’ energy and positivity has been missed, although the Belgian has provided a more clinical streak than the Brazilian, who admitted that scoring goals is not his “strong point” while on international duty.

Once dubbed “absolutely clinical” by journalist Phil Costa, the Belgium international has contributed to three goals in his previous two appearances for Arsenal, scoring two and assisting once, playing central on both occasions.

Trossard’s emergence as the Gunners’ most prolific striker must be celebrated, with the chance for Arteta to raise the level of performance of both Jesus and Nketiah to reach the form of the former Brighton whiz, who has made a stellar impact since arriving in January.

In Brentford, Arsenal face a task of keeping near to the top of the table while trying to overcome the Bees, who have won three of their previous five in the league.

Fielding Trossard over Jesus would benefit the north Londoners with reference to the challenge ahead, with the need to take their chances pivotal in a game that will be highly contested.

The complimentary-tickets issue remains a worry for the BCCI, however, with Sourav Ganguly, the CAB president, saying he would not compromise even if the first T20I were to be shifted away from Eden Gardens

Nagraj Gollapudi03-Oct-2018A dispute over the allocation of complimentary tickets has resulted in Indore losing out on hosting the the second ODI between India and West Indies. Visakhapatnam will now host the match, which is scheduled for October 24.The matter came to a boil after the simmering dispute over complimentary tickets, between the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) and the BCCI, came to light last week. Under the new constitution of the BCCI, which has been approved by the Supreme Court, only 10% of tickets for each category can be distributed as complimentary. The MPCA argued that the BCCI’s request for complimentary seats in the pavilion block for sponsors and official partners exceeding the 10% entitlement.Unable to get a convincing response in time from the BCCI, whose “decision making” it called “unilateral, arbitrary, mysterious and leisurely”, the MPCA refused to signed the mandatory venue agreement and also told the board it was in no position to host the match.ESPNcricinfo understands former BCCI and MPCA secretary Sanjay Jagdale attempted to play the mediator’s role this week, asking Milind Kanmadikar, the MPCA secretary, to meet BCCI CEO Rahul Johri to sort out the issue. But Kanmadikar remained unconvinced and opted to wait for the BCCI’s final decision.According to an MPCA official, the BCCI, in its last communication to the state association on September 29, stated that the venue needed to adhere to the 10% entitlement for each category while making the remaining 90% of the tickets available for the public.While the MPCA has blamed the BCCI for asking for more tickets than the 10% limit, the state body does not want any cap on the distribution of complimentary tickets, because it needs to cater to the demands of its own patrons, members and government officials.Although shifting the match out of Indore may have temporarily resolved the dispute, the BCCI’s troubles are far from over. The MPCA is not the only association to cry foul over the allocation of complimentary tickets. Even the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), which is headed by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, has stated that the 10% limit on complimentary tickets is arbitrary. The CAB owns Eden Gardens, which is scheduled to host the first T20I of the West Indies series on November 4.Ganguly warned that the CAB would not “compromise” on the distribution of the complimentary tickets, even if the BCCI wanted to shift the match away from Eden Gardens. “We will have to give the complimentary tickets which we have been giving. We cannot compromise on that,” Ganguly told the .Ganguly said that the MPCA grouse was “legitimate” and pointed out that the CAB distributes almost 30,000 tickets, which is nearly half the capacity of Eden Gardens, as complimentary tickets to various government agencies that play a part in organising an international match. “I cannot go and ask the government agencies, bureaucrats – people who make the match happen – to collect tickets and pay,” he said.Asked if the CAB would be willing to forsake the game if a solution could not be found, Ganguly said he was keeping an open mind. “I don’t know what they (the BCCI) will do. If they want [to take the game away], they can. But we are not going to compromise.”It is understood that the CAB has not sent any communication to the BCCI, but one board official pointed out that state associations ought to understand it is not the board but the staging units that earn the gate receipts.The BCCI is not surprised by Ganguly’s comments, but has said the state associations should have raised the issue of complimentary-ticket allocation in front of the court, when the matter was being heard, if they were so concerned by it. The BCCI, which is currently being overseen by the two-member Committee of Administrators (CoA), has sent a communication to all the state associations recently, pointing out that staging venues would need to make public the distribution of tickets, including the complimentary quota, on their websites.

Morne Morkel claimed match figures of 9 for 120 as Surrey wrapped up a win that extended their lead at the top of Division One

Jon Culley at Trent Bridge24-Jul-20182:07

Morkel stars as Surrey smash Notts

Surrey 592 (Burns 153, Clarke 111, Stoneman 86, S Curran 70) beat Nottinghamshire 210 (Morkel 4-60) and 199 (Patel 55, Morkel 5-60) by an innings and 183 runs
ScorecardRealistically, this match was only ever going to end one way with Nottinghamshire one down overnight and still 325 runs short of requiring Surrey’s openers to pad up again. Yet the supporters who turned out anyway might have expected to be entertained a little beyond 1.58pm, which was scarcely long enough to digest lunch.This is a Surrey side, though, that takes no prisoners, as their opponents in their last five matches have discovered. That sequence includes Hampshire and Somerset as well as Nottinghamshire, all beaten by an innings by the middle session of the third day. Yorkshire, beaten by and innings at the Kia Oval and seven wickets at Scarborough, at least managed to detain them until the final morning.Rory Burns and Ollie Pope are the leading scorers in a powerful batting unit, Ben Foakes is a very useful wicketkeeper-batsman and Surrey can assemble a seam quartet as formidable anyone’s. Nottinghamshire think there’s is none too dusty but Morne Morkel, Sam Curran, Jade Dernbach and Rikki Clarke outbowled them comprehensively here. Add to their capabilities the fresh potency of Amar Virdi’s offspin and Surrey are a side with no obvious shortcomings.Your crazy ideas for The Hundred

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They stretched their lead over Nottinghamshire to 43 points from one game fewer and even if Somerset overtake the Trent Bridge side and go second by completing a win over Worcestershire at New Road they will still have a daunting gap to close with only six fixtures remaining. It is hard to see any destination for the title now other than The Oval, but then it has looked that way for a while.Surrey are reaping the benefits, too, of having players, such as Burns, Pope and Foakes, who are on the radar of the England selectors but are not imminent picks; others, such as Curran, Scott Borthwick and Mark Stoneman, who have been considered worthy of a look but are not currently needed; and a third category, into which Dernbach and Clarke fall, who have substantial experience at international level but are not likely to add to it.Burns again reinforced his candidacy here with the keystone innings of the Surrey innings, in which the patience, stoicism and astute judgment his supporters have been talking up for at least the last 12 months were his most reliable assets. He is growing nicely into the role of captain, too.It was one of those days when, with the outcome almost guaranteed, it would have been easy to go through the motions, let things drift. Instead, he kept thinking, trying different things to make sure the batsmen did not settle and to keep his bowlers on their toes.Morne Morkel has been an influential Surrey signing•Getty ImagesIt worked handsomely. Will Fraine, the 22-year-old debutant in a Nottinghamshire team that is in transition, did himself no harm at all, extending his stay to almost 90 minutes against bowling, from Morkel in particular, that was as challenging as anything he has faced so far and though he was disappointed to be out on 30, well caught by the diving Foakes off a decent delivery by Clarke, he had many reasons to feel pleased with himself.Otherwise, only Samit Patel threatened to be an obstacle in Surrey’s path and his half-century was a breezy affair rather than anything with a stubborn quality. He was undone easily enough by Morkel, who tempted him into a loose drive that saw him comfortably caught at second slip by Borthwick.Patel’s wicket prompted the final collapse, the last seven Nottinghamshire batsmen disappearing for 46 runs in eight-and-a-half overs as Surrey applied the boot to the throat. Morkel, who bowled with a controlled hostility throughout that only Luke Fletcher on the Nottinghamshire side was anywhere near matching, finished with 5 for 60 and 9 for 120 in the match. Five Surrey bowlers now have between 24 and 30 wickets each, which is a factor as important as any in where they are.”To bowl them out in under two sessions today was really outstanding,” Burns said afterwards. “Morne Morkel takes the plaudits with a five-for today but the way the bowling unit went about it to bowl out a very good Notts side for 200 twice shows the way we are going about our business.”We are winning our games in a dominant fashion and it makes it easy for me as captain but we have to keep on going about our processes the right way and doing what we have done well so far.”Peter Moores, the Nottinghamshire head coach, believes the title is Surrey’s to lose. “They look a good side so credit to them,” he said. “They’re in a great position and if they keep playing this cricket they’ve got a great chance. Morkel is key. He opens things up for them.”If we win our last five games we can create a bit of pressure but in this game we have to accept that we didn’t bat, bowl or field well enough.”

Stumps Shane Dowrich leaps to celebrate his second Test hundred•AFP

For 325 balls, Shane Dowrich resisted. It wasn’t pretty work. Most of it was defence, seeing out the swinging new ball in the morning, then deadbatting the turning deliveries from the spinners in the afternooon. But for West Indies, Dowrich’s fight, and the 70-plus partnerships he forged with Devendra Bishoo and Kemar Roach were invaluable. From 145 for 5, the hosts dragged themselves to 414 for 8 – a score Jason Holder felt comfortable enough to declare on. Then their quicks brought the fire. In the 10 overs they had at Sri Lanka before stumps, they had the batsmen jiving and jerking – Shannon Gabriel consistently breaching the 140kph mark. They were rewarded with three wickets, and consequently, a firm grip on this match.Sri Lanka, remember, are playing with only six specialist batsmen. Dinesh Chandimal survived the 31 balls he faced before stumps. He had Roshen Silva for company at the end of the day. If Sri Lanka are to get close to West Indies’ score in this innings, these two batsmen, along with Niroshan Dickwella who is to come next, will have to produce substantial scores.But it was to Dowrich that the day belonged. Having resumed on 46 in a rain-curtailed first session, he reached his half-century with a boundary off the third ball of the day, but then continued batting with caution, as he had late on day one. Largely, he waited for the shorter balls to venture his more aggressive strokes, the majority of his runs coming on the legside. Meanwhile, at the other end, Bishoo scored a few early runs off the outside edge, and eventually settled into a rhythm himself.Theirs was not hair-raising batting, but it ground Sri Lanka down. Suranga Lakmal was the best of the visitor’s bowlers, consistently beating the bat in the early overs, before later preventing runs and building pressure. The others, though, could not maintain the standard. The spinners were comfortably negotiated, partly because this pitch had not begun to take turn yet. Lahiru Kumara bowled a threatening delivery occasionally, but Lahiru Gamage was at times a little wayward, even on the occasions when he found some movement off the pitch.Dowrich had been in no hurry to reach triple figures, spending 42 balls in the nineties. But after he crossed over to triple figures on the stroke of tea, West Indies’ scoring rate began to improve. Roach hit the spinners down the ground, and found plenty of singles into the outfield, as he progressed to 39 before drilling Kumara aerially to mid off. By the time they declared, with just under an hour left to play, West Indies’ sixth, seventh and eighth wicket parnterships had yielded 90, 102 and 75 respectively – Bishoo the best among the lower order batsmen, seeing out 160 deliveries while hitting 40 runs. Sri Lanka had once been hopeful of knocking the hosts over for less than 200 at one stage. They would instead have to reply to a formidable score.And they could not have begun worse. Spotting a wide ball from Roach, Kusal Perera threw his bat first ball, and because he had not accounted for the away movement, managed to only toe-end that delivery to backward point. Kusal Mendis, the other opener would not last much longer, edging Gabriel to Holder at third slip in the fourth over. Angelo Mathews should have been dismissed next ball, but Holder spilled a much simpler chance than the one he had just snaffled. No matter. Gabriel peppered Mathews with bouncers, once hitting him on the back of the helmet as he nce attempted to duck. Clearly rattled by this barrage, Mathews failed to last until stumps, eventually edging holder himself to the slips. There was a little contention over that dismissal, as to whether Holder had overstepped, but the replays did not discern definitively either way.

The first two editions of the IPL made heroes out of players without reputations – Yusuf Pathan, Manish Pandey and Swapnil Asnodkar to name a few. Cricinfo looks at the dark horses to bet on during IPL 3

Nitin Sundar11-Mar-2010Thissara PereraThissara Perera is fresh to international cricket, but is already looked upon as Sri Lanka’s batting Powerplay specialist. In his third ODI, against India in January, Perera showed exactly why he is held in high regard by the Sri Lanka think-tank. Walking into a tight chase that needed a further 54 off 39 balls to reach fruition, Perera’s 15-ball 36 sealed the match with two overs to spare.That is the kind of explosive impact that Chennai Super Kings could do with in their middle order, which in past seasons has struggled to capitalize on the momentum provided at the top, by Mathew Hayden and Suresh Raina. Perera’s handy seamers, which wreaked havoc in the recent Inter-Provincial Twenty20 tournament where he picked 9 wickets at 13.11, provide MS Dhoni the option of a strike bowler in the middle of the innings. Given Albie Morkel’s poor form, Andrew Flintoff’s absence and Jacob Oram’s injury woes, Perera could well emerge the key allrounder for Chennai this season.Mitchell MarshHis IPL captain Adam Gilchrist has been raving about him recently. Many in Australia hold him as the best young player in the country. Mitchell Marsh, brother of Shaun, is a powerful batsman and a medium pacer who recently led Australia U-19 to victory in the World Cup.In 2008-09, at the age of 17, he became the youngest ever player to feature in Australian domestic one-day competition and was also the youngest debutant for Western Australia in 70 years. He announced himself the following summer with a a 29-ball 60 against NSW in an FR Cup game. Expect sparks to fly in this IPL.Michael LumbShane Warne has the knack of unearthing heroes from the most unexpected quarters and Michael Lumb could be his next surprise discovery. A hard-hitting batsman from South Africa, Lumb made his way through the junior ranks in Transvaal before moving to England. After an initial high, his abilities seemed to have plateaued and he was dropped by Yorkshire in 2005.A couple of uneventful seasons later, Lumb moved to Hampshire in 2007, and thereafter the stars aligned perfectly. He found his calling in the youngest format of the game, and peaked in 2009 with 442 runs in 11 games, a performance that caught the eyes of Warne as well as the national selectors. An England Lions call-up followed, but Lumb’s biggest break yet could be the Rajasthan Royals’ contract. After the heroics of Yusuf Pathan and Kamran Khan in past seasons, Lumb may well emerge as the new poster boy for a side that regularly punches above its weight.R SatishAt the age of 29, R Satish’s journey to prominence has been one full of dead-ends, detours and determination. Hailing from a modest background, from the town of Trichy in Tamil Nadu, Satish had to cycle 20 km everyday during his formative years just to have a chance to play the game. Despite breaking into the Tamil Nadu team in 2000-01, he was unable to become a permanent fixture in the side and migrated to Assam in 2003. Playing for a relatively weaker side, he averaged over fifty through two strong seasons, the highlight being an unbeaten 204 against his earlier team. He later broke away from the mainstream and joined the Indian Cricket League where he made waves with the Chennai-based franchise, and as the captain of the ICL India XI.He returned to the Tamil Nadu side after BCCI’s offer of amnesty to the ICL players and his second wind has been pivotal in the state’s ascendancy in the domestic scene. A hard-hitting batsman who can hold his own with the ball, Satish is also a livewire in the field. He shone in all three facets of the game, as Tamil Nadu clinched the recently-concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, and goes into the IPL in the middle of a purple patch.Eoin MorganMichael Lumb smashed 442 runs in 11 games last year•Getty ImagesPurchased by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for $220,000, Morgan is undoubtedly the biggest steal of the 2010 auction. An Irish import to England colours, he brings to the table the rare ability to play innovative, yet risk-free, shots under pressure. He announced himself on the international stage with a breathtaking 67 off 34 balls that eliminated South Africa from the Champions Trophy in 2009, followed by a mauling of the same attack in a Twenty20 fixture in Johannesburg.While those knocks proved that he could come up trumps against the best bowlers in the world, his contrastingly calm and collected century in an ODI chase against Bangladesh epitomised his ability to adapt to the situation. The stand-out feature of his innings was the ability to manufacture shots, such as the powerful, yet carpet-bound, reverse-sweeps in front of square, through packed off-side fields. Such innovation will come in handy for Bangalore, who have their share of correct batsmen in Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid.Mohnish MishraMohnish Mishra is a hard-hitting batsman who made a name for himself as a T20 opener while playing in the ICL. He rejoined the BCCI fold last year to play first-class cricket for Madhya Pradesh. In six T20 games for Madhya Pradesh, he averages 41.80 at a strike rate of 155.97 and from 16 List A games, he averages over 50 at a strike rate of 97.Gilchrist, his IPL captain, has already said he is really impressed with Mishra’s batting prowess but it’s to be seen whether Mishra gets a chance to make a name for himself in this IPL.R AshwinIn 2009, R Ashwin’s role in the IPL was limited to one excellent spell against Punjab, but circumstances suggest he could be crucial to Chennai’s campaign this year. While his bowling has crossed the barrier that separates adequate from effective, he has improved immeasurably with the bat. The highlight of his domestic season was the Duleep Trophy semi-final where he struck two fighting half-centuries apart from contributing six vital second-innings scalps.While Ashwin is at the peak of his powers, it helps his cause that there may be a slow-bowling vacancy in the Chennai ranks with their first-choice spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan, not in the best of form. Shadab Jakati stepped up well last season with his incisive left-arm spin, which could be complemented by Ashwin’s off-breaks delivered from a high trajectory. If Ashwin is included ahead of Murali, it will also open up an overseas slot for Chennai.

The next time people start talking about New Zealand as favourites, Daniel Vettori might just want to tell them to shut up

Andrew McGlashan at Old Trafford26-May-2008
Daniel Vettori watched as the second Test slipped away from New Zealand.’It’s a pretty disappointing feeling in our dressing room at the moment’ © Getty Images
The next time people start talking about New Zealand as favourites, Daniel Vettori might just want to tell them to shut up. It certainly doesn’t seem to suit his troops to have their chances built up, even when they have secured a first-innings of 179 on a turning pitch. Vettori admitted that the six-wicket defeat at Old Trafford was “a tough pill to swallow”, as the dynamic, incisive cricket of the opening two-and-half-days was replaced by a horrendous batting collapse and ragged fielding display.Even with England 76 for 1 overnight there were positive vibes from the New Zealand camp that the pitch would offer them enough to force victory. However, the surface was far more placid and New Zealand’s bowlers couldn’t maintain their disciplines. “When you turn up on the fourth day and have high expectations of winning, to see the game dragged away from you it’s a pretty disappointing feeling in our dressing room at the moment,” Vettori said.This isn’t the first time in recent history that New Zealand put England on the ropes. It happened twice in the preceding series after the home side had taken a 1-0 lead in Hamilton. England were rocking on 136 for 5 in Wellington, before Paul Collingwood and Tim Ambrose turned the match around. Then, in Napier, New Zealand lost 9 for 65 against an inspired Ryan Sidebottom.After their equally rapid demise of 7 for 29 at Old Trafford, it is becoming apparent that they don’t know how to nail the opposition while they are down. The same charge has been laid at England’s door, too, but they have just been able to find that little extra, in three out of the last four Tests, when it has mattered.”Our third innings has let us down for a period of time, whether it’s with bat or ball, and unfortunately in this game it was with the bat,” Vettori said. “I’m not sure if you can put it down to being bad frontrunners. I think it’s down to not assessing situations. We talk quite hard about staying calm and not worrying about outcomes, just realising the more runs we put on the board the more pressure goes on England. Unfortunately we got caught up in losing a couple of wickets and tried to hit our way out of it.”The disappointment was clear in Vettori’s voice. This was a gilt-edged chance for an unfancied New Zealand team to cause a major upset. It was when that realisation dawned on them that the panic began to set it. Although 294 should have been a tough chase, England had already received a vital boost by rolling the visitors for such a small total second time around.”You always lose a little bit of momentum when your batting folds the way it did,” Vettori said. “To be bowled out for 114 hurts, but when we set out we thought with 294, if we could get through their top three or four, we knew there were some guys who hadn’t had runs in a while, and a tail we were confident of getting out. You sit back and think you can do it. But a couple of their guys stepped up and played really well.”Vettori claimed 5 for 66 in the first innings, ripping and fizzing the ball throughout his spell. However, there was far less joy for him second time around after England’s use of the heavy roller, while Vettori also didn’t seem to have quite the same spark. The captain knew New Zealand’s chances of success rested on his shoulders. “Yesterday’s conditions were almost perfect for bowling spin, it had sharp turn,” he said. “Today only towards the end of the second session did it start to liven up a bit. I think we have all acknowledged that was down to the heavy roller and England’s assessment of conditions. So you have to give Michael Vaughan credit for that.”I think we got a little carried away with the fact that the wicket was doing as much so we went searching. That’s not our strength, which is to bowl maidens, build up pressure and see what happens. We perhaps got a little frustrated that the wicket wasn’t doing as much today.”New Zealand weren’t helped by two untimely injuries during the match, the first sending Daniel Flynn off to hospital after a nasty blow in his mouth from James Anderson, and the second when Jacob Oram hurt his shoulder before the third day’s play. The batting order was altered for the second innings, but Vettori refused to make excuses. “It’s all on us, not the injuries.”Vettori now faces the task of motivating his players ahead of the final Test at Trent Bridge. They have a warm-up match against Northamptonshire first, and Vettori is grateful there is time to regroup. “I think if we rolled around into a Test three days later there would be some guys who are still reeling from this loss,” he said. “Hopefully that game will be a chance to get a few things out of the system and work on a few things. Then we can come to Trent Bridge and hopefully square the series. We still know that if we square the series it’s been a good result for us.”For the first half of this match New Zealand were in control, which is what makes the final outcome even harder to accept. Ross Taylor’s 154 was a thrilling innings and the captain himself showed what a craftsman he is with the ball. However, those thoughts were a long way from Vettori’s mind as he was left pondering what might have been. “We lost a game we should have won. Taylor was magnificent and the way Iain O’Brien bowled into the wind stood out, but I don’t think they matter to anyone at the moment.”

The new Premier League season kicks off on Friday August 15 as Liverpool welcome Bournemouth to Anfield, and as always the eyes of Fantasy Premier League players will be on Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian King has been a near permanent fixture in FPL teams since his Reds debut, but has faced more competition for the top scorer crown in recent years, with the likes of Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer challenging his dominance.

AI predicts the 2025/26 Premier League table

Who are the winners and losers from AI’s table?

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 7, 2025

To help you select your teams for opening night, we’ve asked AI tool ‘Grok’ to predict the ten best FPL assets for the 2025/26 season based on total points.

10 James Maddison (Midfielder, Tottenham) Estimated FPL Points: 130–160

Grok believes a breakout season is on the horizon for England and Spurs star Maddison, expecting an uptick on his end product to around ten goals and 12 assists, with plenty of potential for bonus points due to his chance creation and dribbling ability.

The former Leicester City star has the added bonus of taking several of Spurs’ set pieces, and will hope to take centre stage in Thomas Frank’s new look attack.

9 Eberechi Eze (Midfielder, Crystal Palace) Estimated FPL Points: 140–170

Eze managed 161 points in 2024/2025 and if he stays put under Oliver Glasner at Selhurst Park there is no reason he can’t replicate that feat at the bare minimum.

The FA Cup hero has been linked with a move to Arsenal however, which could reduce his ceiling if he is forced to rotate with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

8 Bryan Mbeumo (Midfielder, Brentford) Estimated FPL Points: 140–180

Grok predicts the Brentford star’s move to Manchester United will go through in the coming weeks, but after ranking as the second-highest FPL scorer in 2024/2025 this is actually expected to reduce his points potential.

Indeed, a reduction in role and no penalty taking duties at his new club leads to a prediction of 10–15 goals and 8–12 assists.

7 Bruno Fernandes (Midfielder, Manchester United) Estimated FPL Points: 150–190

Fernandes has a stunning 62 goals and 51 assists in 195 Premier League appearances, proving himself as one of the most potent midfielders in FPL.

His creativity and penalty taking duties make him a must-own asset whenever Manchester United hit a good run of form or some appetising fixtures.

6 Alexander Isak (Forward, Newcastle United) Estimated FPL Points: 160–200

Isak had his finest season yet in 2024/25, scoring 23 times and recording six assists despite missing a few games through injury.

The Sweden international has now improved his goal tally in each year of his Newcastle career, and his sure fire status as the penalty taker and head of the Magpies’ attack makes him a very safe FPL pick.

Starts

17

27

34

Goals

10

21

23

Assists

1

2

6

Shots per game

2.3

2.6

2.9

Dribbles per game

1.5

1.4

1.2

5 Bukayo Saka (Midfielder, Arsenal) Estimated FPL Points: 170–210

“Saka’s assists and consistent performances in 2024/2025 made him a key FPL asset,” writes Grok, predicting further success on the creative front due to the arrival of a clinical number nine, such as Viktor Gyokeres.

The England star takes Arsenal’s penalties and has a good record from the spot in the top flight, with just one of his four career misses coming in the league.

4 Florian Wirtz (Midfielder, Liverpool) Estimated FPL Points: 180–220

It may be a surprise to see Liverpool’s record signing crack the top five, but Grok believes he will reach a minimum of 15–20 goal involvements in his debut Premier League campaign, due in large part to a thriving relationship with Salah.

The Germany superstar may have to compete for minutes however, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s running from the number ten position an important part of Arne Slot’s system.

3 Erling Haaland (Forward, Manchester City) Estimated FPL Points: 200–240

Grok expects a bounce back season for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City after a miserable 2024/25 campaign by their own lofty standards.

Haaland is predicted to score a minimum of 22 goals, but will rack up fewer bonus points than Salah due to his role as a pure number nine.

2 Cole Palmer (Midfielder, Chelsea) Estimated FPL Points: 220–260

Palmer led all players in 2023/2024 with 244 points and followed that up with 214 last season, proving he has the consistency to be one of the best assets in FPL.

As the “creative hub” in Enzo Maresca’s system Grok sees another fruitful campaign for the Blues’ new number ten.

1 Mohamed Salah (Midfielder, Liverpool) Estimated FPL Points: 300–350

No surprises here, as the AI tool predicts Liverpool’s Salah to continue his dominance as the go to captain choice most weeks in FPL.

Salah registered 344 points last season, and will now have even more weapons at his disposal with the addition of Wirtz.