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England put behind a terrible six months with success in the first ODI when they they dominated Sri Lanka’s attack. The visitors have the experience to recover, though

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando24-May-2014Match factsSunday, May 25, 2014
Start time 1030 local (0930 GMT)Big PictureGary Ballance displayed his aptitude for busy batting in the first ODI•PA PhotosThursday’s success has earned Alaistair Cook’s men respite from the cycle of defeat that had defined them for much of the past six months. It is just one win, and that in a rain-hit match, but England have proved to themselves they can topple Sri Lanka, and importantly, to dominate the visitors’ bowling. The upcoming matches may determine whether the Oval victory was the first ray of sunshine in a resurgent summer, or as their last win against Sri Lanka had been: a brief moment of warmth before howling winds lash again.Weather of the literal kind that threatens to shape Sunday’s encounter most. Rain is expected to arrive in the early afternoon, just as the first innings winds down. If a result is possible, dampness and cloud cover may suit England well. The hosts’ bowlers enjoyed the increased zip off the Oval surface after the second rain break, and are more capable of harnessing swing in colder climes in general.Sri Lanka’s death bowling fell apart in the first game, after it had carried them through the World T20, but there is enough experience in that attack to refocus and recover quickly. Encouragingly for Sri Lanka, Sachithra Senanayake’s variations were effective through the middle overs, and there’s plenty more where that came from, in Ajantha Mendis.It is the batsmen who ought to be more concerned, after they failed to mount a competitive riposte, albeit to an imposing total. Several of them failed to cover for bounce when the bowlers hit the deck, and others struggled to combat the swing, early on. There have not been pervasive technical issues among the batsmen in recent years, but the England bowlers will be spurred to dig balls in, after Thursday’s evidence. One loss in 11 does not make Sri Lanka a poor team, however, and they will back themselves to adapt quickly, and go on to claim the series.Form guideEngland: WWWWL (last five matches, most recent first)

Sri Lanka: LWWWW
In the spotlightHaving broken into England’s ranks with some good form, Gary Ballance’s aptitude for busy batting was evident in a 72-ball 64, which set England’s innings up on Thursday. Sri Lanka will have learned a little about him now, and would have a clearer plan on Sunday. If Ballance responds with more runs, he will further bolster his claim to a middle-order spot in the Tests.Sri Lanka batsmen take time to mature. Almost no one averages 30 in ODIs before their 50th match, and fewer still regularly play match-winning innings. Dinesh Chandimal did both when he first arrived, but his recent struggles are well-documented. England have sought to bounce him out so far on tour, and they have done it with enough success to suggest they will stick with the plan. Sri Lanka will want to give Chandimal more time to settle, but with Ashan Priyanjan waiting in reserve, Chandimal will hope for a good score soon.Teams newsEngland will probably be keen not to change a winning formula but the news that Alastair Cook has a groin problem means they may be forced into one. He will be assessed in the morning and Alex Hales has been drafted into the squad. Either he or Michael Carberry would replaced Cook.England (probable): 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Gary Ballance, 4 Eoin Morgan, 5 Joe Root, 6 Ravi Bopara, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Chris Jordan, 9 James Tredwell, 10 James Anderson, 11 Harry GurneySri Lanka will be tempted to bring in another spinner, but with cloud cover likely to be around, they may opt for four seamers again. Lahiru Thirimanne will likely stay as opener to allow Chandimal to remain in the side.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2 Lahiru Thirimanne, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene 5. Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Angelo Mathews (capt), 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Sachithra Senanayake, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Suranga Lakmal/Ajantha MendisPitch and conditionsChester-le-Street often offers plenty for the seamers, but hosted a high-scoring draw in the county championship early in the month.
Stats and trivia Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara have usually enjoyed batting in England, in ODIs, averaging 44.9 and 50.6 respectively. Jayawardene is by some distance Sri Lanka’s top scorer in the country, with 1123 runs Alastair Cook has been similarly impressive against Sri Lanka, averaging 46.4, but has had a rougher time in 2014, when his average has been 28.4 Sri Lanka won the only match the teams have ever played at Chester-le-Street – an eight-wicket victory in 2006Quotes”It has been amazing … to walk out on the pitch with the Three Lions on my chest It’s a dream come true – probably beyond my dreams, growing up … and I want to carry on doing it for as long as I can.”
“It’s difficult conditions for us, because it’s so cold. We can’t control those things. But we are confident of coming back in the games to come.”

Chris Lynn has become the second Australian cricketer this week, after David Warner, to be fined for his remarks over Twitter

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2013Chris Lynn has become the second Australian cricketer in the last week, after David Warner, to be fined for his remarks over Twitter. Lynn, who plays for Queensland, pleaded guilty to breaching Rule 6 of Cricket Australia’s Code of Conduct, dealing with “Unbecoming Behaviour”. Lynn was fined A$2000 by Queensland-based Code of Behaviour Commissioner Glen Williams.Rule 6 states: “Without limiting any other rule, players and officials must not at any time engage in behaviour unbecoming to a representative player or official that could (a) bring them or the game of game into cricket or (b) be harmful to the interests of cricket.”Lynn used his Twitter account to comment on the assault allegations made against rugby player Ben Te’o by a Brisbane woman. Te’o vehemently denies the accusations of assault and police said on Wednesday they were no longer investigating the alleged incident. Lynn tweeted that “The girl accusing Ben Teo is bad news” and then agreed with another tweeter, who had said “She should serve 2 months in jail for her make up! #booyah”. Lynn replied that “She definately (sic) should!” and went on to tweet: “it does my head in …”The tweets have been since deleted, and Lynn apologised for his comments. “It was inappropriate to express my personal view on a forum like Twitter and I apologise whole-heartedly for that to the individual involved,” Lynn said. “Violence against women is not acceptable and I’m sorry that my words could been seen to condone that.”Warner was fined A$5750 for his angry tweets at two journalists last week.

Henry David’s 166 helped Titans beat Knights by five runs, with just two balls to spare in the Momentum One Day Cup played at the De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberly.

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2012Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsHenry Davids’ 166, which included five sixes and 15 fours, helped Titans beat Knights by five runs with just two balls to spare in a thriller played at the De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberly on Wednesday. Batting first, the Titans began aggressively with openers Davids and Heino Kuhn taking on the Knights bowlers. The pair, who eventually put on a 149-run stand, hurried to 50 off 8.5 overs and 100 in the 16th over.The partnership ended when Kuhn was run out in the 24th over. Martin Van Jaarsveld and Farhaan Behardien were the other batsmen who pushed the scoring along with Davids. But four wickets went down for six runs towards the end of the innings and that limited Titans to 322.Knights’ batsmen began well, with the top-six scoring freely. Openers, Michael Erlank and Rudi Second, put on a 66-run stand. Then Ryan Bailey and Werner Coetsee kept them in the hunt with a fifth-wicket stand of 95. With 73 runs required off the last 10 overs, Knights were ahead, but a double-wicket over by Roelof van der Merwe derailed the chase. Regular wickets continued to fall till the last over when Knights required 16 to win with just one wicket in hand.Consecutive boundaries by Dillon du Preez brought the equation down to 7 off 2 but the last man, Malusi Siboto was run out off the penultimate ball.Knights, who had just one wicket in hand in the last over, needed 15 to win, but Malusi Siboto was run out, costing his side the match.

Kent have encouraged hopes that they can rediscover their one-timw reputation as one of the forces of the county game by announcing profits of £658,000 for 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2015Kent have transformed their financial position, bringing hopes that they can escape years in the doldrums to once again become one of the leading clubs on England’s professional circuit. They have announced a post-tax profit of £658,000 for 2014, a turnaround from the loss of £98,000 a year earlier.The county has reported “dramatic positive progress” since 2009 and net assets of £6.3m.Jamie Clifford, Kent’s chief executive, said: “This is the result of a comprehensive and clear plan. Much effort has gone into improving the commercial base of the club and this has seen a nearly fivefold increase in returns since 2010.”We now all look forward to seeing Kent perform on the field in the next six months. It is very encouraging that 14 of our 23 man squad have come through the Club’s own cricket development programmes.”Kent are ambitious to develop the Old Dover Road side of their Canterbury ground and Clifford said that planning approval later this year “would result in greatly improved financial stability for the club.”A planning application for 60 retirement apartments was rejected by Canterbury Council’s planning committee in December despite a recommendation for approval by planning officers.

There was a time when Rikki Clarke was more interested in the next night out than the next training session

George Dobell at Edgbaston11-May-2013
ScorecardRikki Clarke: ‘I was a bit lazy. Things hit home a bit late. It probably did take me a long time to mature’•PA PhotosThere was a time when Rikki Clarke was more interested in the next night out than the next training session. There was a time when he was known more for his unfulfilled talent than his match-defining contributions. There was a time when he was seen as something of a waster.Those days have gone, but the reputation lingers. Since joining Warwickshire towards the end of the 2008 season, he has at last started to fulfil the undoubted potential. He has developed into a reliable seamer of sharp pace and substantial skill, a stylish and consistent batsman and arguably the best fielder in the domestic game. Recalled to the outer fingers of the England set-up with a Lions tour to Australia this winter, he returned with an exemplary report for his attitude and commitment. It has taken a while, but Clarke has grown up.”It would harsh if anyone judged me on how I was 10 years ago,” Clarke said. “They call me ‘the enforcer’ at Edgbaston now because, when the wicket is flat, I have the job of doing most of the bowling. I enjoy bowling now. I have confidence in it and I’ve just had three good seasons in a row. I’d hope that my old reputation has been forgotten.”Certainly Warwickshire were, once again, grateful for Clarke’s contribution on the final day of their Championship match against Middlesex. Not only did he ensure Warwickshire averted the danger of the follow-on, but he accelerated smoothly to ensure they gained a fourth batting bonus point. It was not a bad effort for a man who failed a fitness test on the morning of the game but played anyway to help his side cope with the loss of players to injury and England Lions duty.It was no easy task, either. While Laurie Evans would, if necessary, have come out to bat despite a broken hand that is expected to keep him out of action for around a month, by the time that Tim Murtagh had taken three wickets – including two with successive deliveries – Warwickshire were still 12 runs short of the bonus point and only had 15 deliveries left of the qualifying period.But Clarke, who pulled Steve Finn for six from the third delivery of the day, farmed the strike until, in the 100th over, Boyd Rankin edged the deserving Murtagh for four through vacant third slip to pass 350. The match was abandoned as a draw due to persistent rain shortly afterwards.While Murtagh, whose five-wicket haul included that of Tom Allin, edging his first ball in first-class cricket to the slips, bowled nicely, Finn continued to strive for rhythm. Currently operating off a long run-up – in the previous game he utilised a short one – he at present looks like a young man with a great deal of potential rather than a regular Test bowler.Clarke, in comparison, is a player comfortable with his game. While he said he was “hopeful” of being picked in the Champions Trophy squad, he also admitted he “never really expected to be in it” as “13 or 14 of those places were nailed down.” Aged 31, time is running out for him to make an England recall, but his hopes are burning as brightly as ever.”I definitely think I have a chance of playing for England again,” he said. “And my passion to play is as great as it ever has been. Maybe more as, once you’ve had a taste, you know how sweet it is.”But the reason I am being considered is on the back of my performances for Warwickshire. So I have to keep doing the things I have been and keep performing for the club. I’m very comfortable with my game these days. I feel I know my role in the side and I’m back and supported to do it. I feel settled and happy.”Maybe success had come too easily. After a century on first-class debut, he was fast-tracked into the England side aged just 21, claimed a wicket with his first ball in international cricket – he was the first Englishman to do so in 31 years – and was soon promoted to the Test side for the tour of Bangladesh.But his progress stalled. The 2006 season – when he was dropped by England for the last time aged only 25 – remains the only summer he has reached 1,000 first-class runs and, until his move to Warwickshire, he never took more than 22 first-class wickets in a season. He lost his Surrey place in 2007 and, reasoning that a new challenge was required, moved to Derbyshire as captain in 2008. It ended in tears in August.”I think I was a bit complacent,” Clarke said. “I was a bit lazy. Things hit home a bit late. It probably did take me a long time to mature. And yes, it’s true, I probably did have a reputation for not always working the hardest or concentrating on the game.”In retrospect, I was picked for England far too early. I had played nine first-class games and I was averaging 57 with the bat. It seemed easy. But I didn’t really know my game and. There were times when I was with the England squad when I would travel around the country with them but, because I wasn’t in the XI, I wouldn’t play a game for weeks on end. You just lose form and confidence when that happens and, when your chance comes, you’re not in a position to take it. Things are much better now and, if you’re not in the team, they get you playing for your county.”I suppose I matured a bit later than some players and it has taken a long time to prove to people that the reputation I had is no longer relevant. I can’t be judged on how I was 10 years ago and the fact that I was selected for the Lions shows how the England management know that. We’ve all moved on and I know, having spoken to Andy Flower and Ashley Giles, that they are not worried about the past any more.”He credits the turn-around in his career to coming to Warwickshire and being proscribed a regime of tough-love by Giles and the club’s bowling coach, Graeme Welch.”Coming to Warwickshire changed everything for me,” he said. “I’d lost my way a bit before that. What Ashley Giles and Graeme Welch were so good at doing was showing a lot of belief in me, while also getting me to work harder than ever before. They pushed me to become as good a player as I can be and that has made a huge difference. The truth is pretty simple: the harder you work, the better you play. It is a bit embarrassing that it took me so long to realise that, but it’s true and it’s the reason I’m producing the best cricket of my career now.”He is, too. Since the start of 2009 he has claimed 126 first-class wickets at an average of 27.52 and scored 2,963 first-class runs at an average of 36.13. Those are the figures of a true allrounder.”I don’t think I realised how good I could be,” Clarke continued. “It was only when I came to Warwickshire that Ashley and Graeme helped me realise what a good bowler I could be. They basically said to me ‘This is what you need to do if you want to be successful’ and then worked with me to help me achieve it. They’ve both played massive parts in my career.”If England don’t want him, Warwickshire will remain grateful.

Were it not for an England captain registering a second consecutive hundred, there would have been little to cheer as Essex and Surrey played out an inevitable draw

Vithushan Ehantharajah at The Oval23-Apr-2014
ScorecardAlastair Cook made his second consecutive hundred in Essex colours•Getty ImagesAn inevitable draw to what could have been a compelling encounter came to pass at The Oval. Were it not for an England captain registering a second consecutive hundred, having been battered from pillar to post in the winter and since, there would have been little to cheer but the afternoon sunshine and pre-rush hour finish.Alastair Cook’s was an entertaining century – 127 coming off 202 balls in more than four hours at the crease – not least because it gave us an indication of what kind of form he was in. His biggest tell is the drive; out of nick, he seems almost allergic to it. Here, he was getting his nose to the ball, breathing it in before thrashing it to the boundary. “To me, it indicates I’ve got good balance,” he said afterwards.Another comfort for Cook was the ECB announcement confirming Paul Farbrace’s role as England’s new assistant coach. Cook, who was coached by Farbrace at England age-group level, is currently satisfied with his own game. Work away from the limelight has benefitted him greatly.”The most important thing for me personally is I’ve gone back to hitting the ball nicely,” he said. “I had a good month-and-a-half away from playing in the public eye, working in the nets with Paul Grayson.”You never turn a corner as such but to get two hundreds at the start of the season, especially in April, is pleasing. I’m genuinely quite chuffed with how things have gone in the past few weeks.”Cook will meet Peter Moores and, presumably, Farbrace on Friday, before Essex’s game against Gloucestershire. That might be his last county appearance for a while, with an England training camp being planned for the first week of May, ahead of the ODI with Scotland on May 9, which clashes with Essex’s game at Leicestershire.He looked relieved – a word he corrected himself from using – even taking time to talk shop with young Surrey opener Dom Sibley. Elbows were raised, in the batting, not the football sense, as they discussed technique and Sibley hung on every word. At the end, they shook hands and Cook wished Sibley good luck. Whatever you think of his leadership, Cook has his moments of excelling as a statesman.Essex made light work of finishing off Surrey’s first innings in the morning. While Jason Roy was able to take 14 off David Masters’ second over of the day, a sharp over from Mills saw Chris Tremlett’s stumps splattered and Jade Dernbach caught on the off side, going for a wild hack to leg. Graham Napier’s first ball was full and straight to trap Roy in front and, with Zahar Ansari not batting, Essex took a lead of 69 into the second innings.While Jaik Mickleburgh took some time to get used to the pace of the pitch, which was also displaying some variable bounce, Cook was in his element. He was troubled once by a ball that died a touch and hit him in front but the vociferous appeals were turned down; it looked to have pitched outside leg stump.Everything else that strayed on to his pads was dispatched accordingly. Full balls were defended or driven; balls there to cut were, well, you know the rest. Matt Dunn was unable to get the better of him this time around, but the young Surrey quick had his sixth victim of the match when Mickleburgh, who had started to look settled, edged behind.That the afternoon resembled square practice to Cook is no fault of the home attack. Assistance off the pitch declined with each over and the England captain was more committed with his footwork than at any point. In the 44th over, he hit Dernbach through extra cover and signed off the shot with an outlandish flourish that had his bat finishing parallel to his back.It was a cathartic moment, a release through flamboyancy – a trait he is not associated with. He was almost apologetic after, playing out the rest of the over in dot balls, before returning to manoeuvring the ball from his back-foot base. A guide behind point, follow by a cut in front of it took him to 96, before a procession of singles, culminating in a squirt into the leg side, got him to three figures.Those that remained in the ground awoke 20 minutes before the close when Dom Sibley let out a dull shriek for his maiden first-class wicket, as Ravi Bopara attempted to guide a ball on off stump down to third man, but missed. If both had the opportunity to do it all again, you hope they would decline.

Shaun Marsh hit his eighth first-class century – an unbeaten 127- to take Western Australia to a mammoth 581, before three wickets apiece from the seamers Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Coulter-Nile left Victoria precariously placed at 158 for 7

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2013
ScorecardFile photo: Shaun Marsh struck 16 fours and two sixes during his unbeaten 127•Associated PressShaun Marsh hit his eighth first-class century – an unbeaten 127- to take Western Australia to a mammoth 581, before three wickets apiece from the seamers Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Coulter-Nile left Victoria precariously placed at 158 for 7 heading into day three in Perth.Western Australia’s captain Adam Voges departed early on day two for 69, but Marsh kept going and struck 16 fours and two sixes during his knock. He was well-supported at the other end by Sam Whiteman, as the pair put up 177 runs for the sixth wicket to take the team beyond the 500-run mark.Whiteman eventually fell for 87 in the 135th over having hit 10 fours and two sixes, but Marsh still carried on, adding a further 63 runs with the tail, Western Australia eventually declaring at 8 for 581.Victoria began poorly, as Rob Quiney was trapped lbw by Behrendorff off the fifth ball of the innings. They were dealt two more blows in the fourth over, as Coulter-Nile dismissed Aaron Finch and Cameron White off successive deliveries, before removing Peter Handscomb for 7 in the eighth, leaving Victoria wobbling at 4 for 25.Glenn Maxwell tried to stablise the innings, scoring 38, but Behrendorff once again struck, removing both Maxwell and Daniel Christian in quick succession as Western Australia took firm control.David Hussey put up the sole resistance, scoring an unbeaten 76 and adding 54 for the seventh wicket with John Hastings, who contributed just six runs during the partnership. The pair batted out 13.4 overs, but Hastings fell in the 39th, as Victoria ended the day trailing by 423 runs.

A magnificently enterprising 191-run eighth wicket partnership between Adam Wheater and Matt Coles kept Lancashire waiting until mid-afternoon for victory

Paul Edwards at Southport31-Aug-2013
ScorecardAdam Wheater scored his first Championship hundred for Hampshire•Getty ImagesRather like Charles II, Hampshire’s batsmen took an unconscionable time a-dying on the last day of this game and rarely has a death been so entertaining. The 550 spectators who took advantage of the free admission on Saturday morning and trooped into the Trafalgar Road ground can scarcely have imagined that they would get such good value for their money.The main cause of the fans’ pleasure – and the 6,500 who attended this game over four days were not slow to applaud both sides – was a magnificently enterprising 191-run eighth wicket partnership between Adam Wheater and Matt Coles. This pair defied Lancashire’s seven-man attack until an hour into the afternoon session when Wheater pushed forward to Simon Kerrigan and was caught by Gareth Cross for 140.By then Hampshire’s wicketkeeper-batsman, whose signing had so perturbed the supporters of former gloveman Michael Bates, had helped Coles break the eighth-wicket record for matches between these counties. He had also caused a number of spectators to revise their plans for Saturday afternoon as they opted to stay at the cricket in preference to trips to Tesco or journeys to the planet Ikea. You could see their point. Talk about something for nothing.Until Wheater departed there was still some hope of a really spectacular switch of fortunes in a game which Lancashire had dominated for three days. He and Coles had put the hammer down on an attack which was lacking Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple over the course of a morning session in which 38 overs yielded 145 runs. Wheater reached his hundred in 182 balls having hit 19 fours, many of them being the shots of a pedigree batsman; a few moments later Coles’s comparative restraint had helped him stroke a 101-ball fifty.After the game Chapple talked about his team failing to keep their eye on the ball on Saturday and you could see his point: it’s tough to keep a cricket ball in view when it is disappearing so rapidly in all directions. None of the Lancashire bowlers performed dreadfully but by the same token none of them looked like taking a wicket apart from Kerrigan who apparently had Coles caught off the glove when he was 15 only for Neil Bainton to turn down the appeal.Ultimately Coles departed two balls after Wheater when his rather uncharacteristic cross-batted swipe at Luis Reece resulted in the loss of his middle stump when he had made 68. Even then, though, the vaudeville was not over for Lancashire could not celebrate the win that takes them 33 points clear of Northamptonshire at the top of the Division Two table until James Tomlinson and 16-year-old debutant Brad Taylor had added 53 runs for the last wicket in a mere seven overs.Only when Taylor was stumped off Kerrigan for 20 could Chapple’s players savour their win and by then there must have been a measure of anti-climax moderating their joy. If Lancashire bowl as anaemically and inaccurately in Division One, there are a few tough days ahead of them next summer.Kerrigan, however, will not be worrying too much about that; he took seven wickets in this match and seemed to have got something of his old feel and rhythm back when he bowled on Saturday. Life must seem sweeter and less fraught to him than it did at The Oval just seven days ago.At the conclusion of the game Hampshire’s top order batsmen were surely regretting the spinelessness which had seen them start the fourth day on 133 for 7 with, we all thought, little for which to play. For their part, Lancashire’s players will have been pleased, relieved and dissatisfied in equal measure.But neither team’s feelings nor their desire to get home on a busy Saturday prevented them thanking the Southport and Birkdale club for staging this match with such professionalism and panache. If all outgrounds did things as well as this, counties might visit them more frequently and the Test grounds might be rather emptier than they are already when four-day games attract a couple of hundred paying customers who rattle around mighty stands like midgets lost in a labyrinth.

Vivianne Miedema posted an emotional message on her Instagram story after making her Emirates Stadium return for the first time since her ACL injury.

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Miedema makes return to Emirates StadiumInjured ACL in very same groundArsenal thump United 3-1 in WSLWHAT HAPPENED?

Miedema injured her ACL at the Emirates Stadium in a Champions League clash with Lyon which forced the Dutch superstar to miss the rest of the Gunners' season and the 2023 World Cup. Arsenal comfortably beat Manchester United 3-1 in front of a record-breaking sell-out crowd and, with the score at 3-0, Miedema was substituted on to raucous celebration.

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Posting on her Instagram story, Miedema said: "First time being back on the pitch as the Emirates. Pretty decent game as well. Thank you for filling up the stadium, again. ❤️"

Vivianne Miedema InstagramGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

It has been a long road to recovery for Miedema who must have felt emotional making her return to the very same pitch where she was struck down by the crippling injury. The greatest-scoring WSL player in history will have felt bittersweet watching on from the sidelines as her team-mates played in front of record crowds over the past 12 months. Having returned to playing earlier this year, including scoring a spectacular goal against Liverpool, Miedema has had to wait for her chance to play at the Emirates. But, finally, Miedema was able to get her first taste of playing in a sold-out Emirates stadium and the recognition her recovery deserves.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MIEDEMA?

Miedema will keep aiming to get more minutes in the tank as the road back to being at the top of her game continues. With the Gunners possessing one of the best attacking units in the world, she may have to be patient but it will surely only be a matter of time before Miedema is back among the goals and records.

Hemant Kanitkar, the former India batsman, succumbed to a prolonged illness on Tuesday night at his residence in Pune

Amol Karhadkar10-Jun-2015Hemant Kanitkar, the former India batsman, died after a prolonged illness on Tuesday night at his residence in Pune. Kanitkar, 72, is survived by his wife and sons Hrishikesh, also a former India batsman, and Aditya.Kanitkar played two Tests but was a stalwart of domestic cricket. He scored a century on his first-class debut for Maharashtra against Saurashtra in 1963-64 at the Poona Club, his home ground. After topping the Ranji Trophy run-charts twice, including in 1970-71 when Maharashtra made it to the final, Kanitkar earned the India call-up for the home series against West Indies.Facing the West Indies attack lead by Andy Roberts, Kanitkar top-scored with 65 in his debut Test innings in Bangalore. He was dropped following scores of 18, 8 and 20 in his next three innings.Chandu Borde, who was the captain at both Poona Club and Maharashtra, recollects Kanitkar, his deputy, always maintaining a down-to-earth personality. According to Borde, Kanitkar could never understand why he was dropped just after two Test matches despite making a good start against West Indies.”He was a solid batsman and a tough wicketkeeper,” Borde told ESPNcricinfo. “In fact, he was picked solely as a batsman when he made his Test debut against West Indies. Unfortunately he was not given any opportunity after that (two Tests). He was one of those people, even if he got runs or not he was the same. Cricket never went to his head. He remained grounded.”A makeshift wicketkeeper as well, Kanitkar was renowned for two strokes. “He used to play the late cut extremely well. Also, he could hit a six over extra cover on demand,” said Milind Gunjal, former Maharashtra captain who was Kanitkar’s junior at the Poona Club. “Few batsmen could play the inside-out lofted drive over extra cover, but it was his trademark stroke. I can never forget the ease with which he executed that stroke.”When I was first selected as a reserve in Maharashtra’s Ranji squad, he was the captain. His calmness was a big influence on me as a cricketer.”After retiring from first-class cricket in 1977-78, Kanitkar served as a coach and selector for Maharashtra, and also chaired the national junior selection panel from 1996-97 to 1998-99. Hrishikesh, who learnt the basics of the game from his father, had said that Kanitkar senior never exerted pressure on him to perform.”Not once has he ever – whatever match I played – said ‘this match is crucial’ or ‘you have to score runs’. Whether it was school cricket or Ranji, if I had a bad patch, he was the same, if I scored runs, he was the same,” Hrishikesh had said in an interview.”Very sad loss for Maharashtra cricket fraternity,” said Surendra Bhave, former Maharashtra captain and national selector. “One of Maharashtra’s two greats – besides Chandu Borde. He will not only be remembered as an exceptional batsman but a selector as well. It was an honour knowing him and learning the nuances of the game. He had a sharp analytical mind. Hrishikesh continues that legacy.””Hemant Kanitkar was a versatile cricketer. He was an outstanding batsman for Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy for a decade-and-a-half,” said Anurag Thakur, the BCCI secretary. “He was also an excellent wicketkeeper. His second innings, as selector and guide to youngsters, was equally noteworthy.”