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Jaffer has become the third Uttarakhand coach to resign after a short stint in recent years

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2021Wasim Jaffer, the former India opening batsman and domestic giant, has resigned as Uttarakhand’s head coach citing “interference in team selection” days before they were to compete in the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day tournament, starting February 20.”I feel really sad for the players as I genuinely think that they have lots of potential and can learn so much from me but are denied this opportunity because of so much interference and bias of selectors and secretary in the selection matters for non-deserving players,” Jaffer wrote in an e-mail to the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU).The 42-year-old Jaffer further wrote, “If the honorary secretary of CAU would want to inculcate such kind of work environment while not letting me take certain decisions pertaining to the team’s welfare and performance… then I don’t think there’s any valid reason for me to continue as head coach of men’s senior team of CAU.”Mahim Verma, the CAU secretary, rejected Jaffer’s allegations, countering that the coach had been given everything he had asked for since being appointed as the state team’s coach last June. “We gave him whatever he asked for, had a pre-season camp for a month, let him choose his outstation players, trainer and bowling coach, but his interference in selection matters was getting too much,” Verma told PTI.Uttarakhand had a poor run in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament, winning just one game and losing four in the group stage, and that didn’t go down well with the association either.”After the result in Mushtaq Ali did not meet our expectations, the selectors wanted to try out a few other players but he kept insisting on picking his own team, which is not right as selectors are there, too, to do their job,” Verma said.Jaffer has become the third Uttarakhand coach to resign after a short stint in recent years – KP Bhaskar in 2019 and Gursharan Singh in 2020 had stepped down before Jaffer took charge.

Kettleborough wore the device on the first morning of the second England-Pakistan Test

George Dobell at the Ageas Bowl14-Aug-2020Richard Kettleborough, one of the on-field umpires in the ongoing second Test between England and Pakistan, has been spoken to by the ICC’s anti-corruption unit (ACU) after taking to the field wearing a smartwatch.Kettleborough was seen wearing the watch during the first session of the match. ESPNcricinfo understands he soon realised his error, took off the watch and reported the incident to the ACU. He has not been seen wearing it after lunch on the first day.ESPNcricinfo further understands that the ACU consider the incident a minor violation of the regulations. They spoke to Kettleborough and reminded him of his obligations under the Player and Match Officials Area Regulations (PMOA). They are unlikely to take further action.In an effort to combat corruption in cricket over the last few years, players and officials have been obliged to hand over their phones (and any other transmitting devices) to anti-corruption officials ahead of the start of play. They are then locked away and returned to them shortly after stumps. The ICC also has the power to confiscate devices and download all material from them in order to monitor recent activity, but have chosen not to do so on this occasion.Kettleborough is not the first to make such an error. Pakistan’s players were spoken to by officials after taking the field wearing smartwatches during the Lord’s Test of 2018. While it was accepted the devices were disabled – they can be used, when disabled, to track fitness among other things – the players were reminded the regulations prohibited them being worn at all. Again, it was not considered anything more than a minor violation.Earlier this year, the ECB tightened up its anti-corruption guidelines by banning players from wearing smartwatches on the field of play in all fixtures, on account of the growth of live-streaming services in county cricket.The incident will cause some embarrassment for Kettleborough and the ACU. Usually such devices are surrendered to the anti-corruption manager upon arrival at the ground on match days, and it is not clear why that did not happen on this occasion.

Given Afghanistan’s blazing start in the tri-series, this is a match the other two sides will want to win to stay in the race

The Preview by Mohammad Isam17-Sep-2019

Big Picture

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have been no match for Afghanistan in the T20I tri-series so far, so the game on Wednesday is one neither side can afford to slip up in. Both teams have failed to produce noteworthy moments so far, and both sets of senior players have gone through a rough time, though Bangladesh hold the advantage after having won the first encounter between the two.The hosts’ problems against Afghanistan have resulted in quite a few changes to their squad for the remaining league matches, although only Soumya Sarkar’s axing was as a result of his poor performances; Mahedi Hasan, Abu Hider and Yeasin Arafat were all dropped without playing a game.Bangladesh must arrest the top-order slides that marred their chances in the first two matches. Seniors Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah have not made significant contributions yet, and the likes of Liton Das and Sabbir Rahman haven’t pulled the team out of crises either. Among the bowlers, only Mohammad Saifuddin has stood out with wickets.Zimbabwe have plenty to gain if they can manage to beat the under-fire home side. Much like in the case of Bangladesh, their senior batsmen – Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine – must be desperate for runs. On the bowling front, Neville Madziva has at times impressed with his slower bouncers, and Kyle Jarvis has occasionally tested batsmen with pace and bounce, but Masakadza will probably rely on his spinners in the main to keep things tight.It will be interesting to see if the two team managements feel some of their younger players can be tried out in their top orders. For Zimbabwe, that could mean breaking up the Taylor-Masakadza pairing, but one of them can add a bit of meat and experience down the order. As for Bangladesh, Mohammad Naim, the second-highest scorer in the last edition of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, could get in at the top of the order.

Form guide

Bangladesh: LWLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe: LLWLT

In the spotlight

Since his breakthrough 94 against West Indies in the World Cup, Liton Das hasn’t crossed 33 in eight innings across formats, his last outing a duck against Afghanistan in the previous game. Some of Bangladesh’s batting woes will go away if he finds form.Ryan Burl has been something of a surprise package for Zimbabwe in this tri-series, having made a rapid, unbeaten fifty against Bangladesh in the first game, and a run-a-ball 25 against Afghanistan. His side would hope for consistency from him in the rest of the series.

Team news

With Soumya axed from the squad, Bangladesh may look to hand a T20I debut to Mohammad Naim, the lanky opener who has impressed recently in domestic cricket. If they are willing to be a little adventurous, legspin-bowling allrounder Aminul Islam could be a possible replacement for Sabbir Rahman.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Mohammad Naim, 2 Liton Das, 3 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Sabbir Rahman, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Afif Hossain, 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Taijul Islam, 11 Mustafizur RahmanZimbabwe can try out Chris Mpofu and Richmond Mutumbami, who are yet to play on this tour. Tony Munyonga, the 20-year-old allrounder, should get another opportunity as he neither batted nor bowled in his debut against Bangladesh on September 13.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Brendan Taylor (wk), 2 Hamilton Masakadza (capt), 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Sean Williams, 5 Tinotenda Mutombodzi, 6 Ryan Burl, 7 Regis Chakabva, 8 Neville Madziva, 9 Kyle Jarvis, 10 Ainsley Ndlovu, Tendai Chatara

Pitch and conditions

Sides batting first have averaged 138 runs in night games at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, but the totals vary wildly: from Netherlands’ 39 all out to South Africa’s 196 for 5.There is a slight possibility of a shower in the evening.

Stats and trivia

• Asghar Afghan is now the second Afghanistan player to appear in 50 consecutive T20Is for his country. Mohammad Shahzad tops the overall list with 58.
• Mustafizur Rahman is one wicket short of becoming the second Bangladesh bowler to take 50 T20I wickets. Shakib is the overall leader with 90 wickets.
• Sabbir is 55 short of becoming the fifth batsman to reach 1000 T20I runs for Bangladesh.

Quotes

“We know they [Bangladesh] are under pressure, but we have to get the basics right.”

Macgill is the board’s “No. 1 choice” for spin-bowling coach, while Ramanayake is discussing a role as bowling coach in the High Performance Center

Mohammad Isam30-Jul-2017Stuart MacGill, the former Australia legspinner, is the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s “No. 1 choice” for spin-bowling coach, while Champaka Ramanayake, the former Sri Lanka fast bowler, is in talks with the board for the role of bowling coach at the High Performance Center.”We are in discussion with Champaka Ramanayake for the HP unit on a long-term contract,” Nazmul Hasan, the BCB president said after a board meeting in Dhaka on Sunday. “Our first choice for the spin-bowling coach is Stuart MacGill, initially for three months.”We had spoken to 10-12 coaches for the spin-bowling role, almost all of whom responded and are interested. We have shortlisted two coaches for bowling coach positions. We haven’t had an agreement with either.”The position of spin coach has been left vacant since Ruwan Kalpage’s resignation last year. Venkatapathy Raju, the former India spinner, has, however, worked as a consultant. Earlier this year, talks between Sunil Joshi and the BCB didn’t materialise.Mark O’Neill, meanwhile, joined the Bangladesh team as batting consultant on Sunday on a one-month contract. “Mark O’Neill has come for just a month. We are looking at improving our lower-order batsmen, which we struggled with during the Champions Trophy,” Hasan said. “We heard he is quite good at working with the bowling machine. We might extend his contract with mutual consent.”Contracts of the national selectors were also extended by a year, although at least one selector may be sent to the junior panel soon.

Spinner Keshav Maharaj expects to play more of a holding role in the coming Tests against Australia after picking up four wickets in Perth

Firdose Moonda in Hobart09-Nov-2016While Australians have agonised over umpiring decisions, including the one Aleem Dar made against Steven Smith in the first innings of the Perth Test, South Africa’s new spinner Keshav Maharaj can’t complain. He claimed his first Test wicket as a result of that lbw call that sent Smith on his way for a duck.Smith, who had advanced down the track, missed his flick and was struck on the pad, and reviewed the on-field decision immediately after Dar raised the finger. Replays showed that even though he had come 2.8 metres down the track, the ball was hitting the edge of leg stump. Under DRS rules, both old and new, Smith was doomed, for an on-field “out” decision would only have been overturned had the ball been missing completely.Steve Waugh called it a “brave decision,” but Shane Warne labelled it a “bad decision,” given how tight it was. Maharaj himself did not comment on the quality of Dar’s call, but was pleased it went his way. “It looked pretty straight to me and obviously any bowler that hits the pads is going to appeal if he thinks there is half a positive that’s going to come out of it,” Maharaj said. “Fortunately it went in my favour.”Asked whether he thought the new DRS laws were good for the game, Maharaj gave the answer most bowlers would under the circumstances. “Bowlers also need a chance,” he said. “Bats are getting bigger. Fields are getting smaller. It’s nice to have something swing your way.”That Smith was the man dismissed only made the ‘something’ a little sweeter for Maharaj. “My first Test wicket is a critical moment in my career,” he said. “Having someone of his calibre as my scalp is very special to me.”Wicket-taking is not necessarily something Maharaj can get used to because he understands his role to be more in the Paul Harris holding mould, especially in current conditions. “I did have a chat with ‘Harro’ before I got here and he had a few thoughts about bowling in Australian conditions,” Maharaj said. “I’m trying to replicate what he did because he was one of the most successful spinners for South Africa.”He said your job here is to rest the fast bowlers because conditions are in their favour rather than yours, and you will pick up a few wickets along the way. So try and stop the game from one end and let them strike.”That is the way Maharaj operated in Perth, despite the inevitable first-match butterflies, which he were well hidden. “I was very nervous on the first day,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect. It’s very intense. For five days you’re focused on every ball. The only breaks you get is lunch and tea. It’s a proper gentleman’s game and a proper man’s game and a test of character.”Bigger tests are sure to come but Maharaj is expecting them, and preparing to meet them as he did in his first Test. “I’m a spinner. I’m allowed to get hit now and then,” he joked. “I’m just fortunate that my first Test worked out in my favour. Australia’s not known as a country where the ball turns a lot so I’m just going to stick to my game plan and hopefully that’s more than enough to help the team.”

Jerome Jayaratne, the SLC head of coaching, has been appointed interim head coach of the Sri Lanka team for the upcoming home series against West Indies

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2015Jerome Jayaratne, Sri Lanka Cricket’s head of coaching, has been appointed interim head coach of the Sri Lanka team for the upcoming home series against West Indies. Jayaratne’s appointment came four days after Marvan Atapattu had resigned as the national team coach.Jayaratne was appointed SLC’s head of coaching in 2008, a role that did not extend to the national team coached at the time by Trevor Bayliss. Jayaratne has coaching certificates from Cricket Australia and the ECB, and previously held the posts of manager-coaching as well as coach of the SLC academy squad. He also played 22 first-class matches between 1990-91 and 1995-96.Atapattu had quit after Sri Lanka lost Test series to Pakistan and India, only the second time they have lost two home series in a year. He had officially held the position since September last year, but had effectively been head coach since April 2014, after Paul Farbrace’s departure. Before that, Atapattu had worked as batting coach of the team since 2011.

Nick Compton was dismissed for 166 but failed to pick up the tempo on day two at Taunton as Somerset missed out on maximum batting points. But a wicket with the last ball of the day put them in a very strong position against Durham.

07-Jun-2013
ScorecardNick Compton added only 27 on day two•Getty Images

Nick Compton was dismissed for 166 but failed to pick up the tempo on day two at Taunton as Somerset missed out on maximum batting points. But a wicket with the last ball of the day put them in a very strong position against Durham.Resuming on 139, Compton had batted for seven hours when he edged a catch behind off young offspinner Ryan Buckley, who finished with 3 for 128. Peter Trego with 42, George Dockrell’s 31 and 24 from Jamie Overton provided valuable support.By the close Durham had replied with 163 for 3, Scott Borthwick making 56 and Mark Stoneman an unbeaten 78.Somerset began the day on 336 for 5 off 98 overs, with 12 more to get to the 400 mark and claim maximum batting bonus points. They only managed to reach 379 by the end of the 110th over, paying the price for a lack of acceleration as Compton, in particular, declined to change the pace of his innings from the first day.He had faced 324 balls and hit 18 fours and a six when he was surprised by a bit of lift from Buckley and wicketkeeper Phil Mustard took the catch, the ball sticking between his legs.That was 390 for 6 and with only five more added, Trego, unbeaten on 14 overnight, became another victim for Buckley, well caught by Paul Collingwood at full stretch at slip after edging the ball over Mustard’s head.Craig Meschede made only 12 before being caught behind off Mark Wood, who showed a lot of heart in the conditions to claim two for 89 from 29 overs.It was 432 for 8 at lunch after which Overton was caught at point off Borthwick, who followed up next ball by dismissing Dockrell for his highest score for Somerset. He faced 50 balls and hit three fours and a six.The promising Overton made the breakthrough when Durham replied, having Keaton Jennings picked up by James Hildreth in the slips for 15 with the total on 38.But Stoneman breezed to his half-century off just 53 balls, with 11 fours, and found an equally aggressive partner in Borthwick. He followed Stoneman to fifty off 57 deliveries and it was a surprise when he was caught at short cover off Dockrell to reward the left-arm spinner for changing to the Old Pavilion End.There was a bonus for Somerset off the last ball of the day as Will Smith, on 7, drove Overton carelessly straight to Gemaal Hussain at mid-off, who held a waist-high catch.

Chris Doig, the former New Zealand Cricket CEO, has died in Christchurch

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2011Chris Doig, the former New Zealand Cricket CEO, has died in Christchurch at the age of 62. Doig had struggled with cancer for some time before his death. He had headed the New Zealand board for six years, before Martin Snedden took over in 2001.Doig had also previously worked on the New Zealand Rugby Union board, was active with New Zealand Rowing and was a prominent opera singer who founded Southern Opera. He was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in June.Paying tribute to Doig, New Zealand prime minister John Key said this was a loss to the country’s sports and art fields. “Chris has had a remarkable career in the arts and in sport,” Key said. “His commitment to cricket and to rugby, and to the city of Christchurch, has been truly breathtaking.”NZC’s current chief executive Justin Vaughan praised Doig’s contribution to cricket in New Zealand. “It was an honour and a privilege to have known Chris, ” he said . “He was a great servant of New Zealand Cricket and an insightful and astute administrator. He will be fondly remembered for his contributions not only to cricket but his service to other sports, the arts and the community.”

England Test captain Andrew Strauss failed again with the bat, leaving Chris Rogers fighting almost single-handedly to save Middlesex from following on against Gloucestershire

29-Jun-2011
ScorecardEngland Test captain Andrew Strauss failed again with the bat, leaving Chris Rogers fighting almost single-handedly to save Middlesex from following on in their County Championship Second Division match against Gloucestershire at Uxbridge. Rogers, capped once by Australia, hit an unbeaten 125 as Middlesex, replying to Gloucestershire’s imposing 459 for 9 declared, struggled to 283 for 7 – still 27 runs away from making the visitors bat again.Strauss, who has only one more game – a guest appearance for Somerset in next week’s tour match – to rediscover his form before the Test series against India starts, had to wait until an hour before lunch on the third day to get to the crease. He got off the mark first ball with a thick edge behind point for two but faced only six more balls before Jon Lewis trapped him leg before with a delivery that swung into him. He has now scored 20, 4, 0, 3 and 2 in his last five innings.It was a clever piece of bowling by Lewis, who has dismissed Strauss cheaply in six of his last eight innings for Middlesex against Gloucestershire, and completed a good morning for the fast-medium bowler who won a solitary England cap in 2006. Lewis had earlier reached his 13th first-class 50 and gone on to a career-best 71, beating his previous highest score of 62, made against Worcestershire at Cheltenham 12 years ago.He had joined Ian Cockbain in an eighth-wicket stand of 97 which ended when Cockbain was caught behind off Corey Collymore for 127, scored off 233 balls and containing 16 fours and a six. Collymore also spread-eagled Lewis’ stumps but not before he had struck his
swashbuckling 71 off 79 balls with six fours and three sixes.There was to be no more joy for Lewis as Rogers, whose innings featured 15 fours and two sixes in 230 balls, shared successive partnerships of 71, 50 and 86 with Sam Robson, Scott Newman and Neil Dexter. But Middlesex ran into trouble after all three of them got out to poor shots.Robson was caught behind for 38, carving at a short ball from Ian Saxelby, Newman (23) slapped Jack Taylor to mid-off and Dexter (41) pulled Saxelby to deep square leg. Three more wickets went down for seven runs in 19 balls late on, but Tim Murtagh held out with Rogers until the close.

The first day was washed out in Canberra

Alagappan Muthu30-Nov-2024The first day of the two-day pink ball game between India and the Prime Minister’s XI was washed out due to persistent rain.Chances of play were remote with a steady drizzle bedding in from almost 10am right through to about 5.30pm during which time the covers stayed firmly on. The Indian team did come over to the ground but there wasn’t much reason for them to stick around.The rain did stop, briefly, late in the day, and there was a flurry of activity, with the covers being peeled off and members of both teams’ support staff being briefed by the two umpires. But when the groundstaff restored the covers, packed up and left at 6.30pm, it was clear that there would be no cricket. Much heavier rain came through at 7pm.The game is expected to resume as a 50-over affair starting from 2.40pm on Sunday. Tickets for Saturday’s play will be refunded.The day-night match was going to be India’s only chance of getting any game time with the pink ball under lights, especially or India captain Rohit Sharma who joined the squad after missing the first Test in Perth, which India won by 295 runs. Sunday could also be the return for Shubman Gill, who missed the first game because of a thumb injury and had returned to the nets in Canberra on Friday.The second Test is a day-night game from December 6 in Adelaide, where India were bowled out for 36 in their last outing there.