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A contentious, fractious and ill-tempered Test series has claimed a final victim: Virat Kohli’s relationships with Australian players, the Indian captain said, have been irrevocably damaged. Tensions continued to simmer even after the conclusion in Dharamsala, with Steven Smith apologising for his behavior during the series, but also registering his disappointment at another bit of off-field sparring.Before the four-Test series began, Kohli had spoken warmly about his friendships with all of the Australian players but indicated that would not affect the upcoming series. When asked if he still felt the same way after India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1, Kohli was blunt in his reply.”No, it has changed,” he said. “I thought that was the case, but it has changed for sure. As I said, in the heat of the battle you want to be competitive but I’ve been proven wrong. The thing I said before the first Test, that has certainly changed and you won’t hear me say that ever again.”

Kohli’s pre-series comments

“I’m really good friends with all these guys off the field,” Kohli had said before the first Test in Pune. “I know them really well, but I know where to draw the line of friendship. “When you step onto the field, I could be playing against my big brother it wouldn’t matter.”

Smith, meanwhile, admitted his emotions had got the better of him at times during the series and offered an apology for his behaviour. He first apologised on the televised post-match presentation and then reiterated it in the following press conference.”I set myself high standards and I wanted to lead from the front with my performances” Smith said. “I have sort of been very intense in my own little bubble and at times I have let my emotions and actions just falter a little bit throughout this series and I apologise for that.”That’s a big stride for me moving forward and something I can really learn from and continue to grow as an individual and as a leader.”Smith, however, expressed disappointment with the BCCI for airing on-field exchanges between R Jadeja and Matthew Wade through a video clip on its website, in which umpire Ian Gould could be heard trying to intervene.”Yeah, I was a little bit disappointed that the BCCI sieved through the archive to find a conversation out on the field that was happening between Matty and Jadeja,” Smith said. “It’s happened between both sides throughout this series, so the fact they’ve done that to us is a little bit disappointing.”Usually what’s said on the field should stay on the field. It’s been a hard-fought series and guys are going to say things here and there, their emotions are going to be high. And so they should be in such a big series. So I was a little bit disappointed by the fact the BCCI did bring that out.Kohli also fired back at sections of the media who criticised his behaviour and form throughout an unusually lean series: he made only 46 runs in three Tests.”As I’ve said before, it’s not in my control,” said Kohli. “I’ve heard a very wise person tell me that when a person is down, the weak come out and speak about him. It takes courage to speak about someone when they are on top. It’s fine, I was targeted individually and I hadn’t done well in the series. So opportunities galore for everyone to come out and speak about me.”When I’ve done well in the past, people have spoken about me. When I haven’t done well I obviously expect them to come out and say all sorts of things. It’s obviously very easy to sit at home and write a blog or speak behind the mic. I think that’s easier than coming out and competing on the field.”That’s all I have to say about that.”

An XI with ten batsmen should have given South Africa enough resources to chase 290 but it may have done the opposite, according to AB de Villiers. The captain was irked by the top order leaving too much for their team-mates to do in Christchurch and allowing New Zealand to level the five-match series.”It was always the plan to play a lot of batters and bat nice and deep but the red flag was always that the top order would take it a bit easy and feel like it’s okay to get out a bit early, which unfortunately cost us the game today,” de Villiers said.South Africa made three changes to the team that snuck past New Zealand in Hamilton on Sunday by bringing in the fit-again David Miller to replace Farhaan Behardien and two seam-bowling allrounders, Dwaine Pretorius and Wayne Parnell, for Kagiso Rabada, who is nursing a knee niggle, and Tabraiz Shamsi. That meant only Imran Tahir would be considered a liability in terms of run-scoring and even though they had been set a tall target, it was not impossible to reach it, even with a few early losses.Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis were dismissed but Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy and de Villiers all got in but could not get South Africa ahead of the required run rate. South Africa needed to get more than six of an over in the early stages itself and then required more than seven from the end of the 31st over and more than eight runs an over after de Villiers was dismissed in the 39th over. He blamed himself, along with the other set batsmen – particularly de Kock – for not having more staying power.

“I thought something was broken”

AB de Villiers brushed off concerns of an injury – he had gone down early in the game when fielding. In the sixth over, de Villiers dived in an attempt to stop a single from Kane Williamson and needed some on-field treatment when he did not get back up. But, after continuing to take full part in the game, he has passed himself completely fit.
“It’s not an injury anymore,” he joked. “It was on my intercostals, lower ribs, on the right. My arm got stuck under my body and it was sore for a minute. Slowly but surely [the pain] started fading away which meant that there was nothing serious, not broken. The minute it happened I thought something was broken, but it was just a hard fall. I am getting old.”

“We bat to 10 but the top five and top six still have to take the responsibility to be there at the end and two of us got in – Quinton and myself – and not one of us took it through. If one of us was there at the end, it would have been a different result,” de Villiers said.De Kock was on 57 when he followed a Trent Boult delivery down the leg side and sent it to square leg while de Villiers under-edged a Boult bouncer when he was on 45 to leave South Africa on 199 for 6, needing 91 runs from eleven-and-a-half overs. Having pulled off a heist in Hamilton, and with their allrounders on hand, South Africa would still have believed anything was possible and as Pretorius’ innings developed, that hope strengthened. “We had hope until the last ball,” de Villiers said.Although South Africa lost Pretorius on the final ball of the penultimate over, they could still have won the match with 15 needed from six balls but it quickly became clear that was not going to happen. Andile Phehlukwayo, the hero from Hamilton, turned down singles, perhaps because he did not want to give Tahir the strike, but left the boundary hitting too late. But de Villiers defended Phehlukwayo’s tactics and said the 20-year-old played the situation as he should have.”I felt Andile had the ability to clear twice in that over. That was the plan. Southee bowled a fantastic over there so credit to him and to Boult for those last few overs. They landed their yorkers really well, they had good plans in place so credit to them but that was definitely the plan, for Andile to clear the boundary twice and to take all the strike. He played it perfectly,” de Villiers said.Ultimately, de Villiers could not be too unhappy with the way South Africa fought, especially because their newer players are starting to step up. In the first ODI, Phehlukwayo was on the right side of the plan, in this one, Pretorius’ half-century showed his promise. “It is great to see them play with confidence and with a bit of freedom. It tells a story about our culture within the team – the guys are really freed up and they feel they can just watch the ball and enjoy the cricket out there. They are fully backed by all the older guys and the management so the guys come in, they feel confident and free to do whatever they want and to express their talent,” de Villiers said. “I was pretty impressed with some of the younger guys today. I thought Dwaine also bowled really well for us. I think the depth looks really good and the future looks bright.”But for now, South Africa have been presented with their first proper setback since October last year, when their winning streak began. They racked up 12 ODI wins in a row before being beaten and although they will welcome being challenged ahead of the Champions Trophy, they will not enjoy the reason they were defeated. “They handled the pressure better than us and that’s why they won the game,” de Villiers said.

The match-up between Parthiv Patel and Wriddhiman Saha for a Test spot didn’t appear on the horizon until a couple of months ago. After MS Dhoni had retired at the end of 2014, Saha seemed to have finally sewed up his place in the side. His credentials as arguably India’s best specialist wicketkeeper remained unchallenged, but his back-to-the-wall hundred in St.Lucia and two unbeaten half-centuries on a tricky pitch in his hometown of Kolkata, against New Zealand, made him one of the more valuable members of the side.His captain Virat Kohli singled out Saha for praise, and said success couldn’t come to a nicer team-man.Nothing could go wrong now. Or could it? During the second Test against England, Saha strained his left thigh. Enter Parthiv for the third Test. It wasn’t an altogether surprising choice given Parthiv’s improved glove-work, and the fact that he has never averaged less than 45 in the Ranji Trophy since 2012-13.

Siraj replaces injured Shardul

Gujarat captain Parthiv Patel has said batsman Bhargav Merai has been dropped for the Irani Cup game. Seamer Mehul Patel will also miss out after sustaining a fracture in an accident back home. The pair will be replaced by 18-year-old batsman Het Patel, who was part of the victorious India Under-19 team in the Asia Cup, and Mohit Thadani.
Rest of India have called up Hyderabad seamer Mohammed Siraj in place of Shardul Thakur, who, it is understood, has an ankle niggle. With 41 wickets, Siraj was the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy. Siraj, 22, also picked up nine wickets in the quarter-final against Mumbai.

In Mohali, Parthiv was safe with the big gloves, but by no means electrifying. He made an impression with the bat, though, playing two spunky knocks of 42 and 67*, the half-century in India’s chase of 103. With Saha still recovering, Parthiv held down his spot for the next two Tests and smashed a useful 71 in the final Test in Chennai. Parthiv then went back to the Ranji Trophy and smashed 90 and 143 in the final against Mumbai to drive Gujarat to their maiden title.Ahead of the Mohali Test, India coach Anil Kumble had said Saha was India’s first-choice wicketkeeper. After Parthiv’s returns in the England series, it might not be such a straightforward decision after all. With national selector Sarandeep Singh doubling up as Rest of India coach, the Irani Cup match could be a crucial audition ahead of the five home Tests this season. While Parthiv will lead Gujarat, Saha will feature in his first competitive fixture since the Vizag Test.On the eve of the match, Saha is almost through with his wicket-keeping drills at the Brabourne Stadium. He has taken a few catches towards the end of the session, and wears a smile as Cheteshwar Pujara, the Rest of India captain, and a few other team-mates appear to be joking around. Most of Rest of India’s players have headed back to the dressing room, but Saha calmly walks back to the middle and takes a seat under an umbrella near the practice net. A couple of net bowlers seek him out for a chat.Wriddhiman Saha has been India’s No. 1 choice behind the stumps, but a thigh-strain saw him out of action for the last three Tests against England•Associated Press

On the other side, Parthiv, having just completed a meeting, briskly bounds in to chat with the media. Like with any Parthiv interaction, there is plenty of political correctness, a pleasant smile, and overall optimism. Immediately after the presser, he scoots off to the nets for a hit.Stillness is not something you associate with Parthiv – he is either chirping behind the stumps or cutting, pulling and doing the dab-and-run routine with the bat. Meanwhile, Saha, normally a man of few words, is still talking. A few other boys seem to have approached him for cricketing advice and he appears to be more than generous with it.Watching Parthiv, 31, and Saha, 32, is a fascinating exercise not least for the contrasts they offer. While it is tempting to speculate what’s going on in their minds, you can be sure that neither of them is going to reveal much. When asked about them competing for the same slot, Parthiv expectedly took the diplomatic route. “It’s just a game between Gujarat and Rest of India, so we will stick to that,” he said. “I think it’s not a game between two players. We all know he [Saha] is a very talented player. There is a game to be won and we will be focusing on that.”From a neutral standpoint, Pujara could see the benefits of such competition. He felt having back-up players in every department was essential for a strong India side. “If we want to be No. 1 in the world we need to have some back-up players not just wicketkeepers but even other departments,” he said. “We need a bunch of players who are always ready and when they come in to the Indian team they perform. I always believe that if you have a healthy competition it is very good for the Indian team.”Someone like Karun Nair is a prime example. He was doing well in the India A team and when he got the opportunity he scored a triple-hundred. Both [Parthiv and Saha] are hard-working players and have performed well for India and at the domestic level. I wish them luck.”

Jamaica jumped from fourth to second place on the Group B table with a 67-run win (Duckworth-Lewis method) in a rain-affected match against ICC Americas on Wednesday. With the game reduced to 46 overs a side, Jamaica recovered from a shaky 53 for 3 to post 251 for 5, after fifties from Andre McCarthy (63 off 87 balls), John Campbell (66 not out off 42 balls) and Rovman Powell (52 not out off 38 balls). Campbell and Powell put together an unbroken 101-run partnership for the sixth wicket, which came at a scoring rate of 9.04. This was Powell’s second successive fifty in the tournament.Set a revised target of 254, ICC Americas were anchored by opener Kamau Leverock, who struck 75 off 83 balls. The rest of the batting, however, failed. ICC Americas lost seven wickets for 57 runs, folding for 187 in the 45th over. Legspinner Damion Jacobs took 5 for 24, his second five-for in List A cricket, to aid his side’s bonus-point victory.Barbados steamrolled Combined Campuses and Colleges by 200 runs for their fourth consecutive win in the tournament. Having compiled 294 after opting to bat, Barbados bowled CCC out for a mere 94 runs in an innings that lasted 36.2 overs. CCC gave up their last seven wickets for 50 runs, with the only notable contributions coming from Vikash Mohan (29) and Amir Jangoo (23). Sulieman Benn was the best bowler for Barbados with 3 for 25, while Jason Holder and Ashley Nurse took two wickets each.Earlier, strong performances from the batsmen took Barbados to a strong total, despite a late slump that saw them lose six for 36 in three overs. Of the top six batsmen, only one failed to score more than 30, with the top score coming from Roston Chase, who struck a 55-ball 76.

ScorecardFile photo – Suryakumar Yadav’s 73 helped Mumbai bounce back after the early wicket of Prithvi Shaw•PTI

For three-fourths of the day, Tamil Nadu were run ragged and faced the risk of being dispirited, but a burst of energy in the early part of the final session, led by Vijay Shankar and Aushik Srinivas, produced three wickets to leave Mumbai on 171 for 4 at stumps. Tamil Nadu have at best achieved only a semblance of parity considering they haven’t posted a big total themselves – they added only 44 runs to their overnight score of 261 for 6.However, with Suryakumar Yadav (73) and Praful Waghela (48) counter-punching their way to 121 runs after the fall of debutant opener Prithvi Shaw in the first over, it’s an outcome Tamil Nadu won’t mind.That Mumbai didn’t slip any further was thanks to an unbroken 41-run partnership between captain Aditya Tare and Shreyas Iyer, who came into bat at the fall of the fourth wicket instead of his customary position at No.3. But before their sensible approach and the team’s wobble, it was Suryakumar and Waghela who ensured Tamil Nadu couldn’t exploit the advantage of the early wicket.Both batsmen were unforgiving when the seamers bowled full, and Suryakumar, in particular, wasn’t afraid of hitting the ball in the air. When Aswin Crist banged one in short, Suryakumar simply swivelled around and swatted it over fine leg for six. Mumbai hit high gear and stayed there – they were 39 for 1 in 10 overs, 60 for 1 in 15 and 81 for 1 after 20 – but not once did they attempt to over-reach. Suryakumar, though, had a lucky break in the ninth over when B Indrajith couldn’t time his jump well to pluck a forceful slash at first slip off Crist’s bowling. He then survived a close shout for lbw off the next ball. Suryakumar had volunteered to bat at No.3 and realised the need for him to dominate the bowling.”I told the coach I would take responsibility at No.3 and play the way he does rather than just look to stay out there,” he said. “That’s what I did because runs were important. I didn’t do anything extra, but got an opportunity to bat at No.3 so I had to try to emulate him.”Tamil Nadu’s seamers were being carted around, which prompted R Ashwin to tweet that the “seam on the ball is not standing up, the wrist position or the ball is surely not right.” Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu had introduced left-arm spinner Aushik Srinivas in the 19th over, and it proved to be a defining change. He bowled eight overs for 11 runs in an uninterrupted spell before tea before switching ends after the break when Shankar was given the ball.Suddenly there was a conspicuous buzz in the field, especially with Shankar was getting the ball to reverse, like how Mumbai’s seamers had done in the final session on Sunday. This time Ashwin tweeted that the “seam is sitting up when Vijay Shankar is bowling and things are happening.” With runs being dried up – only 14 runs had come in eight overs after tea – something had to give and Suryakumar went for an expansive drive outside off and was caught behind. In the next over, Waghle responded to Tare’s call for a run, but despite a dive and a mediocre throw from Abhinav Mukund, he found himself short by inches. Two balls later, Siddesh Lad drove Aushik uppishly only for Abhinav to complete the catch at short extra cover.Suryakumar rued his shot selection, but credited Tamil Nadu’s disciplined bowling. “They were planning to bowl on one side and I had to play out that half-an-hour period,” he said. “Vijay Shankar was bowling well at that time. He was bowling around 120-125. On such wickets, bowlers who move the ball at that pace trouble the batsmen.We were trying the same thing yesterday and they were probably trying the same thing. During that 40-45-minute period they showed very good energy and intensity after my wicket.”Much of the energy Suryakumar referred to came through some colourful chatter from Dinesh Karthik which was almost exclusively in Tamil. When someone bowled at a good pace, for instance, he would refrain from saying as much in English and instead use “azhagana vegam (that’s the right pace), a phrase that is hardly used in casual conversation. Shankar admitted that sometimes the team stuck to Tamil to ensure the opposition didn’t understand what they were discussing. “It is mostly just to get everyone together,” he said. “Most of the time we speak in Tamil. It’s a great opportunity for everyone playing semifinals, so we just want to enjoy it.”Shankar played a key role with the bat as well in the morning, but he was out chasing a ball outside off soon after his fifty. His dismissal led to the lower order unravelling quickly. “I was really disappointed with the way I got out,” he said. “My intention as to build partnerships with the tail-enders and it was my mistake. Maybe I played a bad shot.”

Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann has guaranteed the places of just four members of the Hobart Test XI.On a day South Africa completed a dominant series victory, the Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland and high performance chief Pat Howard joined former players for introspective talks on the state of the team in the Bellerive Oval dressing room.Lehmann, who has been told to “reinvent himself” by Howard, stated that only the captain Steven Smith, his deputy David Warner and the pacemen Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are safe from the axe ahead of next week’s day-night Test in Adelaide. All members of the team apart from Starc, Hazlewood and the seamer Joe Mennie are to play in the Sheffield Shield round starting on Thursday, in a departure from previous plans.”We’ve got to stop the rot, we’ve got to work out what the best XI is,” Lehmann said. “Guys playing this Test match, some were disappointed in their performances and they get the chance to play the Shield game to put their hand up. I thought Hazlewood was great, Starc’s getting back to his best and then you’ve got Smith and Warner.”Outside of that everyone’s got to make some runs and take some wickets. It’s a really important four days of Shield cricket. The lads are really keen to get out of here and get ready to play that game and prepare the best they can. Spots, performances are going to count, but you’ve got to have an eye to the future as well, it’s that juggling act.”These words mean that numerous medium-term members of the team are under enormous pressure to keep their places, including the spin bowler Nathan Lyon, the most experienced player in the side and the custodian of the team victory song – not sung since February in New Zealand. Adam Voges, who is averaging less than 15 over his past 10 Test innings, and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill also seem to be in the firing line.”Like everyone else, down,” Lehmann said when asked about Voges’ mood. “Adam’s been a very good player for us for 20-odd Test matches, end of the day he’s got to go back and make runs like everyone else. We’d love someone to stand up and bat big, I think we’ve had two hundreds in the last five Test matches and they were both in one innings. So we haven’t had big runs from anyone.”Sutherland and Howard flew into Hobart on Tuesday in time to address the team after their innings defeat, the first at home since the summer of 2010-11. Former players Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Shane Warne, Michael Slater and Tom Moody also spent time with the team. “We’ve had James and Pat talk to us, and that’s about going forward and sticking together,” Lehmann said.Coach Darren Lehmann has admitted Steven Smith and David Warner are the only batsmen safe from the axe for the day-night Test•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

“I know there’s a lot of criticism out there and that’s deserved because we haven’t been winning. We have to cop that and live with that. For us it’s about stopping that, turning it around. They’re all great kids, great staff members, they work hard. We just haven’t had results go our way.”Young batsmen expected to be considered for selection include the elegant NSW left-hander Kurtis Patterson, the South Australia captain Travis Head, and another Redback in Jake Lehmann – the coach’s son. Darren Lehmann indicated he would sit out of any selection discussion involving Jake Lehmann.”I don’t sit in on anything when they [the selectors] talk about Jake, and I don’t know what they’re saying about Jake,” Lehmann said. “Not involved, and I’d be that nervous anyway I probably wouldn’t be coach. I’d probably just go to the bar.”The Test squad will be named on Sunday after the Shield round is complete, meaning the team will assemble in Adelaide on Monday, a day later than previously scheduled.Possible Test squad for Adelaide: Steven Smith (capt), David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Kurtis Patterson, Callum Ferguson, Matthew Wade, Steve O’Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers

RM Lodha, the chairman of the Lodha Committee, has said the BCCI has “misinterpreted” the committee’s email to two banks on Monday, asking them to not disburse funds from the board’s account to its state associations regarding two specific transactions.”This is a misinterpretation or misconstruing of the email that was sent to the BCCI yesterday,” Lodha told ANI on Tuesday. “We have not frozen any of the accounts… routine expenses for matches, cricket activities and administrative matters are not restrained.”

NZC chief David White on the cancellation claim

“We’re just waiting to hear back from the BCCI, seeking clarification from them. We haven’t heard from them as yet. As far as we are concerned we are planning to get on a plane tomorrow to travel to Indore to prepare for the third Test,” White told . “The article in the newspaper, that’s how I found out earlier this morning from our people in New Zealand. But it’s speculation, we’re just waiting to get clarification from the BCCI.
“I’m not quite sure of the process here with the Supreme Court and what the BCCI are going through at the moment. There’s been a lot going on obviously and it’s a tense situation I’d imagine, we’re just here to play cricket and get ready for the third Test.”

An unnamed BCCI official had been quoted by Indian media as saying that the board was considering cancelling the remainder of the ongoing home series against New Zealand. His reasoning was that with the accounts frozen it was impossible for the board to function.”Really unfortunate that all BCCI accounts have been frozen, there can’t be any tournament without money,” Thakur was later quoted as saying by the . “Cricket cannot run without money. We don’t take money from the government. We are not allowed to make payments. I can’t say anything about the India – New Zealand series. Team India is No. 1 today, when we are financing state boards, questions are being raised.”Lodha said that interpretation of the committee’s directive was inaccurate. “It is so clear,” he said of the email. “It doesn’t require any clarification.”There is no question of cancellation of any game or series. The directive which we issued to BCCI yesterday in our email is confined to disbursement of large funds to state association and banks have been directed to ensure compliance of that. Nothing beyond that,” Lodha said. “Routine expenses for matches, games, cricketing activities and other administrative matters, they are not at all restrained. There is absolutely no prohibition. There is no constraint.  The accounts of BCCI have not been frozen. This is not correct reading of our email rather I would say this is misinterpreting or misconstruing the email.”Lodha said no one from the BCCI contacted him or the committee for a clarification. “Had they contacted we would have clarified then and there. We find there is no ambiguity in our email. It is unequivocal. It is absolutely clear.”Some media outlets referenced a letter from a Bank of Maharashtra official to the BCCI on Monday, saying the bank was likely to stop transactions from the board’s account because of a court directive. Lodha said the banks might have failed to understand the committee’s email and that a clarification had been sent to them.”The banks, it appears, out of their sheer anxiety or I don’t know for what reason, they have not read the email fairly and passed an order for freezing the accounts,” Lodha said. “But that was absolutely wrong and in the morning, as soon as we came to know, I have already clarified. Even an email has been sent to both the banks to de-freeze the account and BCCI is free to operate. I am told that it has already been done.”Responding to the directive from the Lodha Committee to halt the two payments, various BCCI officials said the decision to disburse additional funds to states under the infrastructure subsidy, and the distribution of the claims received from discontinuing the Champions League T20, had been discussed in the past by the board’s finance committee, and only a formal approval from working committee was pending. The approval was given at the emergent working committee last Friday.Lodha said, however, that the BCCI had failed to follow the timelines set by the Committee. “Had they seen our timelines properly, we had asked them to formulate (a) disbursement policy by September 30. That was not done and some additional, huge funds was going to be disbursed to the members.”

ScorecardSimon Kerrigan derailed Middlesex with six wickets•Getty Images

And so it will not be settled – or anything like settled – for another week. A season in which Middlesex have led, Yorkshire have loomed and Somerset have scarcely been mentioned will end with the three counties covered by ten points. The world’s most famous cricket ground and one of the best in the land will together stage the final dramas of this late, late summer. What have we done to deserve this? Clearly, something good.Any thoughts this game might end with a victory for either side were extinguished by the strength of both sides’ batting and the understandable conservatism of skippers who were content to take five points for the draw. Such a return leaves Middlesex nine points ahead of Yorkshire and ten clear of Somerset.All the points permutations can wait for the back of an envelope and a double espresso. It is enough for the moment to say that if the leaders avoid losing to Yorkshire at Lord’s and Somerset fail to beat Nottinghamshire at Taunton, Middlesex will be champions and worthy ones. Their evisceration of Yorkshire on the last day at Scarborough proclaimed their quality. But the destination of the pennant far from settled.The cricket on this final day of the season at Old Trafford was only briefly exciting but always absorbing. Some shots, some moments will be remembered fondly by spectators watching their final first-class overs of the year. Dawid Malan and John Simpson batted with great certainty throughout the morning and had extended their partnership to 151 when Malan played a half-hearted cut at Simon Kerrigan and was caught by Jos Buttler for 87.That wicket was the prelude to three more in five overs as Middlesex established a lead of 308 before declaring. Simpson was the last of these but he had made a fine 74 before he swayed like a drunk avoiding a bicycle and lost his leg stump to Luke Procter. Kerrigan finished the innings with 6 for 86 – and ten in the match – which is something to encourage him before Lancashire’s final game at Edgbaston next week.Indeed, this was the first morning of autumnal haze at Old Trafford. It was burned off quite quickly, of course, but there was still a September note of gentle closure. And very briefly, we wondered if the finale to the season was to be accompanied with drums and yells as Lancashire responded to the stern challenge of scoring 309 in 44 overs by opening with Buttler.Three fours and a scooped six heightened the frisson of excitement but a leading edge off Steven Finn looped a dolly to Nick Compton at cover and Buttler was gone for 26. Hameed replaced him and Lancashire’s dash for victory was run. Spectators settled into their last cricket of the summer and some of them will have stored images away as one might with sustenance for the winter.The game ended with Hameed tucking Rayner to long leg and scampering two runs. It was only right that he should score the last first-class runs on the ground this season. The match ended with handshakes at half past four in the poignant elegies of departure. There is a week to go but Lancashire are 14 points clear of Hampshire near the bottom of Division One. Should they secure a draw against Warwickshire next week, they have as great a chance of staying up as the new hotel does. Given their recent record and the youth of their side, they will class survival as something of an achievement.For we are at the stage of the season when accomplishment comes in many guises. Middlesex, Yorkshire and Somerset will be happy with only the title; Lancashire Warwickshire and Hampshire must hope to retain their status although Ian Bell’s team will want to preface that subdued success by lifting the Royal London Cup. We have eight days left in the season and some fine hurrahs before the drawing down of blinds.

James Anderson has admitted he may need to sit out some Tests this winter if he is to cope with England’s demanding schedule.England are to play seven Tests in two months in Bangladesh and India. While Anderson, England’s record Test wicket-taker, insists he would like to be involved in every one, he accepts that, aged 34 and with many miles on the clock, he may to miss the occasional game to ensure he retains his effectiveness.Anderson was a key performer when England last played a Test series in India. While he claimed a modest-looking 12 wickets in the four Tests, MS Dhoni rated him the difference between the sides as England came from behind to win 2-1. No other seamer claimed more than four wickets.But Anderson has warned that, with so many Tests in such a short period, he will have to be “a bit sensible” in terms of managing his workload. He has endured a few absences due to injury in recent times, missing almost half of the 2015 Ashes due to a side strain, the start of the South Africa series with a calf injury and part of the Pakistan series with a shoulder injury. The signs that his heavy workload – among seamers, only Courtney Walsh, Glenn McGrath and Kapil Dev have bowled more deliveries in Test cricket – are beginning to tell.”It’s a tough one because as a player if you’re fit you want to play, simple as that, no matter what the format you’re desperate to play,” Anderson told Press Association Sport.”But there may well come a time when it will get managed. At 34 I probably have to manage myself, or be managed, quite well. You want, if possible, to play every Test but India is going to be five back to back and that’s a huge ask for any bowler.”We’re in constant discussion with the captain, coach and medical staff about the best scenario. We’ve got good backroom staff who are very switched on and it will be managed well.”You take it game by game. You can’t say now ‘I’ll miss the second Test of five’, because you might bowl 15 overs in the first game. So you be a bit sensible and there will probably come a point where we try to look and maybe I’ve got to sit out.”Anderson carried a heavy burden with the seam bowling in 2012 – Stuart Broad did not take a wicket in the series and was dropped after two Tests – but he expects greater assistance this time. The England team may well contain two seam-bowling allrounders – Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes – while Moeen Ali’s ability to bat in the top six provides the opportunity to play an extra bowler if required.But while Anderson welcomes the assistance, he still expects to have an important role to play in India and Bangladesh.”We’re fortunate now, with Stokesy and Mo, it looks after the seamers,” he said. “That’s a real bonus for us because it has been difficult in India when we’ve had just two seamers and two spinners.”But there’s a danger to go over there and expect spinners to take the wickets. There are still opportunities as a seamer, the ball swings out there and reverse swings later in the innings. You have to look at the positives and think how you can make an impact.”

ScorecardThe Scarborough Festival is assured of a third day•Getty Images

The second day of this match was probably not one on which any Yorkshire supporter was well-advised to stay at home and cut his hedge. On the other hand, it may have been wise for Nottinghamshire loyalists in Scarborough to turn off their phones and head instead for the Howardian Hills.Unless more rains falls than is forecast, Chris Read’s team will need to bat for around 150 overs to save a game they actually need to win. Wednesday’s evidence suggests they are ill-equipped to get halfway towards this objective.Nottinghamshire’s decline on a day containing one collapse and the odd longueur gathered pace at 11.20 when Ryan Sidebottom ran in to bowl from the Peasholm Park End. Unkempt locks flopping in the breeze, the Yorkshire bowler looked uncommonly like a 17th century Puritan, an Anabaptist perhaps. It had already been a productive session for Sidebottom, who had dismissed Michael Lumb in his second over when the batsman groped at an away-swinger and edged a catch to Andy Hodd.Now Steven Mullaney played a shot almost at right angles to a very straight ball which whacked into his pad. Sidebottom swivelled and demanded that divine judgement be visited upon the unrighteous. Neil Mallender, who might be flattered by such a notion, obliged. The moving finger was raised and Mullaney moved on.Nottinghamshire were 48 for 4 when their opener was out and they had added only four more when Samit Patel attempted a brainless uppercut to a ball that was too close and too low for the shot. First slip Tim Bresnan took a two-handed head-high catch and Read’s men were 230 runs behind with half their batting gone. Sidebottom had taken three wickets for five runs in 12 balls.All this was greeted with cheers by the stallholders on the North Marine Road side until they contemplated the effects on their profits of a two-day finish. The Scarborough Festival is a celebration of all things Yorkshire but it’s about making a bit of brass, too: there is the Yorkshire Foundation, a Yorkshire Bread stall and the whole affair is sponsored by – you guessed it – Welcome to Yorkshire. Even Jack Russell, that artist among wicketkeepers turned the real McCoy with brushes, makes sure there are pictures of the ground under his strawberry gazebo.Sadly for those wearing green and yellow, the morning was no sort of celebration of all things Notts. Chris Read, their very present help at all times of trouble, was caught at cover by Alex Lees when attempting to pull a ball from Jack Brooks. Brendan Taylor, who risked cricketing vertigo by reaching double figures, inside-edged Steve Patterson onto his off pole and Bresnan cleaned up the tail. Notts lost their last eight wickets for 53 runs in 23 overs, their deficit was 188 and no member of Yorkshire’s attack had bowled more than seven overs. We waited for the follow-on to be enforced and Scarborough’s landladies held a summit meeting to consider the impact of a mass checkout.But, dear reader, they batted on. Instead of going for the quick kill, Yorkshire’s stand-in skipper, Gary Ballance, chose to hunt the stag to exhaustion. “We thought with a lead of 188, we didn’t want to bat last on this wicket,” he said. “We thought it better to get a big lead, rest the bowlers up and come out with a refreshed attack. We’ll look to get a lead of 500 or so, depending on the weather, and then our bowlers will be ready to go.”All the same, with rain forecast, Ballance’s decision surprised many, including some former first-class cricketers. Curiously, though, batting on was entirely in keeping with the spirit of the old-style Festival, when sides like TN Pearce’s XI, MCC and the tourists played first-class matches in which winning certainly mattered but had to be incorporated into the overarching aim of making sure games went the distance.So in the afternoon session, Yorkshire scored 113 runs off 35 overs. Lees levied a quartet of successive off-side fours off Mullaney before he was lbw to Brett Hutton for 30 and Adam Lyth had made a pleasant enough 41 when his leading edge was caught by the bowler, Luke Wood. In the evening session the lead was extended to 388 with Jake Lehmann and Jack Leaning passing up chances to make substantial scores but Ballance progressing ruthlessly to 75 not out.It all made fine watching for most of the spectators on a summer afternoon plucked from an Enid Blyton story in which everyone is safe and the children go home for macaroons and ginger beer. Certainly the spectators were not complaining: cricket is the true faith here and watching Yorkshire grinding opponents down is how they enjoy spending their days.And there was even talk of a pleasant epilogue to the cricket. It is rumoured that Ballance has been made a KGD (Knight of the Golden Dustpan) by Scarborough’s relieved landladies. He would be the first Old Harrovian to receive the honour.