Graham Onions’ lack of form has larger implications for England’s fast-bowling reserves

Andrew McGlashan in Queenstown02-Mar-2013Few people leave Queenstown with bad memories – unless you are involved in the England rugby squad – but Graham Onions has not had a time to remember in the shadow of the Remarkables mountain range.It was a chastening outing for him against the New Zealand XI as he ended with match figures of 1 for 213 from 38 overs. That included a two-over period in the first innings which cost 33, and another two-over spell that went for 23 in the second.As the game wore on, during the final day, his shoulders slumped further and it was not nice viewing to see a bowler, who had worked so hard to give himself another England opportunity, visibly lose confidence. A significant part of his problem came from his delivery stride as he sent down 11 no-balls.While it would be foolish, and premature, to write off the possibility of Onions having a sustained second chance at the international level, it is by no means certain that he will add to his nine caps – the most recent of which came against West Indies, at Edgbaston, last year. He had earned every right to be regarded as the next in line after a 2012 domestic season where he took 72 wickets at 14.73. Figures like those demanded attention.It is not Onions’ fault that there is only the one warm-up match in New Zealand, but he certainly did not grasp his opportunity to put pressure on Stuart Broad for the final bowling place. It was a similar tale for him in India, where his warm-up form was disappointing: if you add together his last two appearances in an England shirt (Queenstown and Ahmedabad against Haryana), his combined figures are 2 for 313.It has been suggested on the domestic circuit in England that Onions has lost some pace since his serious back injury. That would be no disgrace at all – it was career-threatening, and to see him just back on the field was a terrific story. Yet, at some stage, it may have to be acknowledged that a decline has occurred.There was a good chance that if Onions had performed well against the New Zealand XI, he would have kept Broad out of the Test side for longer. He could, of course, just be out of form but watching his bowling first hand, it did appear a little more than that. This is an occasion where the England backroom staff will have to come into their own. Right now, if there was a late injury before Dunedin, it would be very difficult to pick Onions.Which raises the question: there is an accepted stance at the moment that England’s pace bowling stocks are well resourced, but does the evidence really support that? James Anderson and Steven Finn lead the line, but the latter has had some injury concerns. Broad is trying to resume a stalled Test career with no guarantee he will be able to string matches together with his troublesome heel and then what comes next is a little more uncertain, especially if Onions’ problems are a sign of something more than just a dip in form.Tim Bresnan is currently recuperating from a second elbow operation with an aim to being fit for the Champions Trophy. A continuation of his one-day career does not seem in too much doubt, but that cannot be said for Test cricket.

England have made a big play of the fact that there are a number of immediately interchangeable options for the full side. That does not necessarily ring true. Those names are ranked high on promise and low on experience, which is another reason Onions’ faltering is an issue.

Chris Woakes was steady against the New Zealand XI, but does not yet appear a Test bowler and none of the quicks on the Lions tour of Australia (albeit on a trip consisting of solely 50-over cricket) have enjoyed a standout trip. Stuart Meaker and Toby Roland-Jones have plenty of time to forge international careers, while Reece Topley, Tymal Mills and the Overtons – Craig and Jamie – are worth watching this year. James Harris has been around the one-day squad, but England have made a big play of the fact that there are a number of immediately interchangeable options for the full side. That does not necessarily ring true. Those names are ranked high on promise, low on experience which is another reason Onions’ faltering is an issue.Much interest is being given to the recovery of Chris Tremlett from the knee and back injuries which restricted him to one Championship match last season. He has recently returned from a training camp in Potchefstroom and is on course to be ready for the start of the English summer. If all goes well, and he can play the majority of the season, then England would dearly like to have him for the Ashes in Australia. That, however, does not scream strength and depth.It is the one area Australia are edging ahead. Their rotation policy is causing much angst, but they are creating a collection of fast bowlers to call on. Injuries notwithstanding, it can read: Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Jackson Bird, Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and, perhaps still, Ryan Harris.Before the tour to India, the main concern for England was in the batting. Kevin Pietersen’s return and Joe Root’s emergence mean that someone as talented as Jonny Bairstow is on the sidelines, while James Taylor, who was in the middle order against South Africa, is back with the Lions. Now, in a year where fast-bowling resources, the experience of them and the durability, will play a key role there is just a sense that England’s options are not quite as fulsome as 12 months ago.

England must introspect on the shortcomings of their bowling attack and address their problem of refocusing after achieving Test goals

Andrew McGlashan in Auckland25-Mar-2013During the last over before lunch, James Anderson used every trick in the book to make sure it would be the final one of the session. He chatted with the captain, changed his field and aborted his run-up. It is something that any other team in England’s position – being flogged senseless – would have done. However, that moment highlighted the depth of England’s problems. It had come down to timewasting.Even if they bat out the final day and leave with a share of the series – and that is unlikely following the late loss of Alastair Cook to a shot that completes a difficult match for the captain – there needs to be a tough critique of how they have played. It is the second time in little more than 12 months where England’s Test credentials have taken a significant hit overseas.Last year it was Pakistan in the UAE, which ended with the 3-0 whitewash, and now they are facing their first series defeat in New Zealand since 1983-84. Perhaps it is coincidental, but both those situations have followed the team achieving notable success – the Pakistan defeat followed, albeit five months later, beating India 4-0 at home to reach No. 1 in the world and this series has followed their victory in India before Christmas. Refocusing after achieving a significant goal appears to a problem.England will have to be honest when they reflect on the series. They cannot hide behind clichés, previous glories or what the computers are telling them. To be fair, Graham Gooch spoke openly after the day, but the players also need to do the same. The performance in Auckland has, with a day left, been horrendously poor and it is not a one-off for the tour. In Dunedin, their second-day effort was as bad as it comes – 167 all out and New Zealand 131 without loss in reply – although that was put down to their poor starting overseas. Their finishing is not looking too flash, either, at the moment.The first session on the fourth day at Eden Park was awful. It was the sort of scene witnessed during a 1990s Ashes Test when Australia would secure a huge first-innings lead, then forge ahead before leaving a massive target. For the second hour until lunch, England completely lost control, the heads dropped and they were taken apart by a 34-year-old batsman who averaged 20.93 before this series started. Shortly before New Zealand declared, there were nine fielders posted on the boundary for Brendon McCullum. The frustrations were clear when Stuart Broad showed his displeasure at a skier not being caught even though the two fielders converging had little chance of reaching it.

‘Can’t be happy’ – Gooch

Graham Gooch, the England batting coach, fronted up after the fourth day’s play in Auckland with the type of attitude the team will need plenty of when they look back at this Test series.

“I think it’s a great reality check that you can’t take any team lightly, and you can’t play people on what it says in the rankings or what it says on a piece of paper,” he said. “Our performance is not up to the standard we’ve produced in the past, on a consistent basis – so we’ll have to look at that.”

After overseas trips that included the Test series victory India, plus Twenty20 and one-day success in New Zealand he admitted defeat here would leave a sour taste.

“It’s not the sort of conclusion to the winter tours we would have wanted, that’s for sure. We wanted to finish strongly going into our summer, build on the Test cricket we played in India towards the middle and end of that series.

“Here, we’ve not found that form. So we’ve got to be disappointed. You can’t be happy with the way we’ve played.”

For the England attack on this tour, it has been a sobering experience. They have not come close to taking 20 wickets once. The weather played a part in Wellington, true, but they had 68 overs at New Zealand in the second innings and claimed two scalps. Gripes about the surfaces have not gone down well and perhaps it showed preconceived ideas. Going to India, the expectation is that bowlers will be made to work hard and England adapted magnificently. On this tour they have not responded to the challenge as effectively.If England’s bowlers are not careful, they could become a bit of a myth. There has been the occasional burst of brilliance over the last 12 months – Steven Finn at Lord’s, Monty Panesar in Mumbai, James Anderson in Kolkata and Stuart Broad in Wellington – but they have been off-set by lengthy periods of struggle. The first day here, when New Zealand reached 250 for 1, was not a one-off. Last July, there was the small matter of 637 for 2 at The Oval and, in the following Test at Headingley, South Africa made more than 400 after being put into bat. Then there was New Zealand’s 460 in Dunedin.Broad has been the pick of the quicks in this series. Anderson has been grumpy with a creaking body and Finn has not had the same the rhythm that he did in the one-day series off his shorter run, when New Zealand found him a handful. They remain fine bowlers, but their lack of penetration at times is a concern. David Saker, the bowling coach, is often lauded with much praise, and rightly so, but in this series something has been missing from his charges.Then there is Panesar. He did not quite know what to do while McCullum and Peter Fulton were launching him into the stands. It was a tough role – the batsmen had free reign to attack – but Panesar has had precious little wicket-taking threat in the series. At times he has contained effectively, but it has only gone to reinforce, to a worrying level, the importance of Graeme Swann.Not that the batsmen go home flush with pride, although some still have a final chance. Despite four hundreds in the series (two by Nick Compton and one apiece for Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook) and the consistency of Matt Prior the bottom line is that they have slumped in two first innings – the time when a Test match is set up. Cook’s decision at the toss in Auckland can be debated all you want, but England should not have been bowled out for 204. His dismissal, with less than five overs of the day remaining, driving out of the rough against a part-time offspinner, was apt for a game he will want to the forget. That, though, cannot be allowed to happen.

After a lean series against New Zealand, Nick Compton needs to go back to county cricket and free his mind from recent stresses

David Hopps29-May-2013Nick Compton has up to 12 innings until early July to satisfy England that he should retain his opening place in the Ashes. Only last month he was acknowledging the applause in the Long Room at Lord’s as he was named as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year. Now he is faced by England cricket’s version of the Dirty Dozen.The suddenness with which the media has begun to question him must have taken him by surprise and contributed to his batting paralysis at Headingley. A rib injury also restricted him, but the negative vibes inhibited him even more as England’s new batting sensation, Joe Root, was widely advocated as a replacement for Compton to make room for Kevin Pietersen’s anticipated return from injury.Compton has Championship matches for Somerset against Durham and Derbyshire, an assortment of limited-overs matches and, most strikingly, the potential of a four-day match against the Australians at Taunton on June 26. Somerset, who can barely make a run and who are threatened by relegation under their new coach Dave Nosworthy, will be grateful for his presence.England have been supportive, but honest in their equivocation. Alastair Cook, the captain, whose opening stands with Compton average 57.93 – compare that with the 40.96 he averaged alongside Andrew Strauss – has agreed that dropping Compton and reshuffling the batting order would be “a risk” but the team director, Andy Flower, has said that Compton “has got to go away and get back into form, score some heavy runs for Somerset”.Flower meets up with the selectors on Thursday and although the meeting is primarily a lead-in to the Champions Trophy, as Flower hands over day-to-day running of England’s team to the one-day coach Ashley Giles, discussions about Cook’s opening partner in the Ashes will be on the agenda.”When I meet with the selectors we’ll discuss what make-up of the side will give us the best chance of winning the first Test against Australia,” he said. “Nick’s had a tough series against New Zealand. I think they’ve bowled really well at him; they’ve bowled really skilfully and they should be given credit for the pressure that they’ve applied on the England batsmen. They’ve enjoyed using the Dukes ball which has swung constantly for them.”They were testing constantly the front foot techniques of all our batsmen and it was nice to see our batsmen come through that. Nick’s had a hard time in this series but he’s got the opportunity to go away and play some cricket for Somerset. Hopefully he goes away and can get back in the runs as quickly as possible.”Four uncomfortable innings, bringing only 39 runs, have removed much of the good impression made by Compton with secure, if occasionally painstaking innings, in Test series in India and New Zealand. He is now averaging 31.93 and his hundreds in Dunedin and Wellington seem further away than the calendar will tell you.The batsman who forced his way into the England side through weight of runs in county cricket – a rarity these days – now has to reopen his county cricket production line to keep it. He will be aware that many feel there is too much tension in his game, that his desire to succeed for England is weighing too heavily upon him.Michael Atherton, a former England captain, in the Times has compared him to the most overstrung England batsman of recent times, Mark Ramprakash, and urged him to use Somerset to rediscover his pleasure in the game.The debate is sparked by Pietersen’s anticipated return, with Jonny Bairstow the likely omission if England keep faith with Compton.The England side with Compton at opener looks secure but may not carry the fight; the England side with Bairstow will be bolder but arguably more vulnerable. It is a decision not just about form but about the style of cricket England wish to play. Compton, if he scores big runs for Somerset, remains the favoured choice.

Back in the nets.. #boom instagram.com/p/Z0PGMXSy0M/

— Kevin Pietersen (@kevinpp24) May 27, 2013

England are making increasingly encouraging noises about Pietersen’s recovery from deep knee bruising, with Surrey – who like Somerset have relegation fears – anxiously awaiting the injection of some England batting talent into a flimsy line-up. Pietersen tweeted a picture of himself back in the nets for the first time as England closed in on victory in the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley.”I’ll also be seeing Kevin on Thursday and our medical staff are constantly monitoring how he’s getting on,” Flower said. “We’ll be making those types of decisions closer to the time. We can’t give a date or a timeline. He’ll be practising from now on.”Pietersen’s practice will be divorced from England’s Champions Trophy squad as they seek to become the first England side to win a global 50-over competition.”We are thinking optimistically about his injury improving and it’s nice that he’s pain free,” Flower said. “It is great news for him and for us. Kevin’s a really special player and we want him back as soon as he’s fit enough to be back. Hopefully his improvement graph will carry on in the same way.”Flower, who stood down as one-day coach late last year to achieve a better work-life balance, admits that he will miss the excitement of being centrally involved in a major one-day tournament.”I think I will. But you can’t have everything in life, you win some and you lose some. I really want to support Ashley properly, I think he’s an excellent coach and a good man and I want to be there to support him. But hopefully this is a really efficient use of our coaching resources and England cricket is better for it.”I think the Champions Trophy will generate its own excitement and I don’t think it will get lost in the weeks leading up to the Ashes. I obviously hope that England are playing some excellent cricket and the nation gets excited about their progress.”

Watch highlights from the second day of the Lord’s Test.

19-Jul-2013Watch highlights of the second day of the 2nd Investec Ashes Test from Lord’s here on ESPNcricinfo.To see higlights from the previous days, please click on the relevant day:
Day 1

1st session

2nd session

3rd session

After Rohit Sharma’s mature display, the India captain practically owned a day that dripped with Trinidadian flavour

Barry Parasram12-Jul-2013Choice of game
A tri-nation final in this part of the world is always going to be an interesting one – especially with the culture and heritage that the Indians have here in the Caribbean, and more so Trinidad and Tobago. My prediction for this game was a clear Indian win because of their recent success, and Sri Lanka’s tendency to lose finals of late.Team supported
I was a clear neutral because my team was already out of the competition. To me it was just about enjoying a great game of cricket at the Queens Park Oval and watching the young and upcoming stars of the game.Key performer
Most people would say Mr. Cool MS Dhoni, but I would go with Rohit Sharma. He played a crucial innings today. He is a talent for the future, and his display today showed what a mature and responsible innings is all about. He put his hand up, battled the demons in the pitch and ensured he could be counted upon.One thing I’d have changed
I’d have loved to see West Indies in the final, thus ensuring the stands were packed, but that is just my bias. In the game itself, I would have held back Lasith Malinga for that final over and deployed Shaminda Eranga in the 48th. Who knows how things might have turned out then.Face-off I relished
There was one that went on for overs where the senior players from both sides were disputing whether Mr. Cool obstructed the fielders or not. This showed that everyone was aware of how critical he was to the outcome of the game.Wow moment
Undoubtedly the Dhoni factor in the final over where he slapped three balls for 16 runs. That first six went sailing over the media box, and from then on Eranga had no chance whatsoever. This moment was made even better by the dancing ladies in the Trini Posse stand.Close encounter
Eranga fielded close to the stands and was continuously heckled in a fun-loving manner by the Trinidadian supporters. They were even encouraging him to marry a young Trini lady. What fun.Shot of the day
Ms Dhoni changes his bat and – the second ball of the final over sails away for a mighty six.Entertainment
Entertainment is omnipresent at the Queens Park Oval for any and every game. This is provided mainly by DJs, and live entertainment at the Trini Posse featuring Soca music.Accessories
When going to watch cricket, I usually carry my food , horns and a park of cards which ensures that if there is rain, that there is something that can be done to pass the time. The Trini favourite card game is All Fours, but there was no need for that today.Overall
I would rate this game very highly because of the quality of cricket played by both teams, and the atmosphere. The quality of the pitch may not have been to the liking of the spectators but the real lovers of cricket would have enjoyed this battle. Eight marks out of ten.Any game involving the Indian team in the Caribbean would always have a high following, especially in Trinidad and Guyana due to the Indian origin population. This game was a clear indication of the talent in Asia and how they are maturing to become good cricketers. I mention this because West Indies cricket is my all-time favorite, and I am yet to see young players step forward and show the sort of maturity Rohit displayed today. Hats off to those who are in charge of cricket in India. It is indeed in wonderful hands.

At sunny Newlands watching a nail-biter, while being entertained by heckling drunks

Samantha Smith25-Nov-2013Choice of game
It was an indolent Sunday. The weather proved incomparably beautiful. And international cricket was being played at one of the most scenic grounds in the world. My attendance? An unequivocal “yes”. In truth, I’d probably have gone even if Bangladesh were playing Kenya.Team supported
South Africa. Before Friday’s T20, I had hoped for a more competitive Pakistan than the side we saw in the UAE. As it turned out, a more competitive Pakistan proved too good for the home team. Today was no different as the visiting bowlers defended a lowly 218, converting what was expected to be an easy and predictably calculated chase into a nail-biter. Any cricket supporter can appreciate a thrilling contest, but consecutive losses at South Africa’s premier ground is not something Proteas fans have become accustomed to.Key performer
Anwar Ali may have been adjudged Man of the Match, but in my opinion, fellow debutant Bilawal Bhatti was equally responsible for Pakistan’s success. Both players excelled with bat and ball, and their 74-run partnership proved decisive in sinking any chances of a South Africa win, leaving the Newlands faithful demonstrably disappointed.One thing I’d have changed about the match
In the 44th over, JP Duminy unforgivably gloved one to the keeper off the bowling of Saeed Ajmal. In hindsight, I would have quietly advised him to not play the reverse sweep. I respect the innovation but even Stevie Wonder could see that delivery was not full enough to execute the sweep. His departure practically signaled the end for South Africa and left the bowlers with too much to do.Face-off I relished

I had hoped to see Imran Tahir facing off against Shahid Afridi and later claiming his wicket. Afridi is convinced he can dispatch every ball for six and Tahir would probably jump into the stands if he were to dismiss the Pakistan allrounder. But alas, it was not to be. Afridi did keep Duminy very busy, though. After picking up the wicket of AB de Villiers in the 18th over, he utilised a change in length and varied pace to good effect in deceiving Duminy and increasing the required run rate. However, Duminy appeared to have won the battle when he cut a short ball for four and executed a well-timed cover drive in the 24th over. That is until Afridi returned to help tighten the screws in the 33rd over.Wow moment
Duminy’s exit generated raucous applause from the Pakistan supporters and a wave of despondency among Proteas fans. I contemplated defeat, but when Morne Morkel arrived at the crease, faced up to Ajmal and dispatched his first ball for six, all those heroic innings by lanky bowlers came flooding to mind. Unfortunately, those images did not materialise and, in the 49th over, Bhatti ended Morkel’s effort with a yorker even Lasith Malinga would have been proud of.Close encounter
An insanely drunk woman vociferously cheered for South Africa, screaming players’ names at least twice an over. The problem was she yelled “Kallis!” when Amla and Smith were batting and later resorted to shouting “JP!” when everyone but Duminy was batting. After noticing a few of Pakistan’s reserve players sitting along the boundary line, she belted out “Hi India!” with great repetition. A few yards away, to the left of the sight screen, several patrons constructed a beer snake consisting solely of plastic beer cups. I’m pretty sure the bulk of those cups came from that lady.Shot of the day
I must have been the last person to have stopped applauding when Jacques Kallis slapped Junaid Khan through midwicket for four in the seventh over. Precision, timing, balance and pure class. Welcome back, King Kallis!Crowd meter
The thermostat hit 35 degrees by lunchtime. As such, crowd capacity was at its peak only when South Africa commenced batting. The shaded areas were chock-a-block, and the security guards had a field day checking everyone’s seat numbers. Those in the sun took refuge under umbrellas, wet towels, makeshift sarongs and giant flags. Even the players sought shelter under a portable umbrella during the drinks break. Once again, both sides were well-supported and no one received a louder applause than the son of Newlands himself, Jacques Kallis.Fancy dress index
Looking around, it seemed that war paint was the order of the day. I encountered a number of painted torsos bearing the South African flag and several Pakistan supporters’ faces were dotted with white stars over a green background. A couple of guys adorned “Boom Boom Pakistan” T-shirts and a group of Proteas supporters were decked out in neon green jumpsuits. I noticed a pale, shirtless man had plastered “SA” in sunscreen all over his body. Apparently he fell asleep on a grass embankment in the blazing heat. Bad move.Entertainment
Selena Gomez’s “Come and Get It” blared from the PA system at the fall of Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez’s wickets. Coincidentally, both batsmen were dismissed by Dale Steyn. Perhaps it was the DJ’s not-so-subtle way of reminding the incoming Pakistan batsmen of the ferocity of the world’s premier fast bowler. Aside from the music, one brazen Pakistan fan started bleating at a couple of Proteas players fielding near the boundary line. Clearly trying to imitate a sheep, his sounds were met with a few ironic laughs. He must have thought he was in Australia. Sorry, mate.Accessories
In an attempt to absorb possible boredom (those middle overs tend to languish), I brought along a portable speaker. All was well until I started playing Justin Bieber. Apparently that’s not very cool. A Pakistan fan sitting in front of me was particularly disturbed. However, I can’t say I took offence as he was carrying around a stuffed animal. Yes, a stuffed animal.Banner of the day
“Steyn Alive” was a fairly corny yet catchy poster. Indeed the PA system also noticed the placard-holder and proceeded to play “Stayin’ Alive” when Steyn walked out to bat. Unfortunately, that inspiration was short-lived as he was clean-bowled by Bhatti in the 47th over. Apart from that, a very persistent supporter regularly held up an “Inzamam for Coach” placard. He appeared to be pointing it in the direction of the Pakistan change room. After this weekend’s winning streak, I doubt anyone will be heeding that advice.Marks out of 10
8.5. Perhaps 9 had my team emerged victorious. It was an absorbing game in which the ball dominated the bat and the outstanding weather made the contest that much more enjoyable. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

ESPNcricinfo picks out the five most likely candidates to replace the retiring Tillakaratne Dilshan in Tests

Andrew Fidel Fernando11-Oct-2013In a year in which regeneration has already been Sri Lanka’s focus, Tillakaratne Dilshan’s Test retirement clears the way for yet another young batsman to try his hand at the top level. Sri Lanka begin a sequence of 10 away Tests in December, and Dilshan’s timely exit will allow his replacement the opportunity to cut his teeth against Pakistan and Bangladesh, before the team travels to the UK in the next English summer.The Test opening position has been a source of some consternation for Sri Lanka in recent years, however, and even Dimuth Karunaratne, who occupies the other opening spot, is yet to turn his potential into sustained results. There are several contenders for Dilshan’s place in the domestic sphere, but given the current selection panel’s track record of replacing the old with the young and promising, ESPNcricinfo has picked out the five likeliest candidates.Kaushal Silva
The current frontrunner is not an opener by trade, but Sri Lanka has manufactured top-order men out of middle-order performers before, and selectors sent out a hint that they are already thinking of Kaushal in that role when they asked him to open for the Board XI in the first four-day match of the 2013-14 season. What Kaushal has going for him is extraordinary domestic form. He was the top-scorer in the first-class competition last year, and has been unstoppable for Sri Lanka A since then, hitting four hundreds in as many first-class matches to average 80.33 for the year. He is the oldest of the candidates, and having been consistent over several first-class seasons, he is also the most stable choice.Kusal Perera
Something of a wildcard, but if there was any selector to whom the prospect of pairing two aggressive left-handers at the top of the order seemed tempting, it is Sanath Jayasuriya. There is no doubting the enormous talent that Kusal possesses, but although he took international limited-overs cricket by storm in the first few months of 2013, his weaknesses were soon worked out and he had a paltry run through the middle of the year. He is coming into form again in first-class cricket however, and has proven he can play the big innings in long-form cricket as well, when he hit Sri Lanka’s first-ever domestic triple hundred earlier this year.Shehan Jayasuriya
Yet another bruising left-handed batsman, but although he doesn’t have the weight of runs some of the other candidates have accumulated, he possesses a valuable second suit. In addition to creating huge domestic buzz with his batting, Jayasuriya bowls canny offspin, having taken 41 wickets at an average of less than 30 apiece – making him something of a like-for-like replacement for Dilshan. He is unlikely to be on the selectors’ minds when they choose the squads for tours of the UAE or Bangladesh, but if Jayasuriya can improve on an already formidable first-class record in the Premier League Tournament next year, he will put significant pressure on the incumbents.Lahiru Thirimanne
Thirimanne began his Test career as an opener before being moved to the middle order, but if Sri Lanka cannot unearth a consistent opening batsman in the next few months, the selectors may ask him to reclaim his old spot. Possessed of a thoughtful approach to the game, he is being groomed to inherit Kumar Sangakkara’s No. 3 spot, but a tight defensive technique and calmness under fire could make him a good opening foil for Karunaratne as well.Udara Jayasundera
Jayasundera is perhaps the furthest from a Test spot at present, but Sanath Jayasuriya has repeatedly talked about him as a future prospect, and he also has the potential to put significant pressure on whoever replaces Dilshan in the short term. Another left-hander, but one who is not as well-geared for attack, Jayasundera has played for Sri Lanka’s Under-19s team and scored heavily for the Under-23s side as well.

A look back on some of Graeme Smith’s best innings in Test cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2014The first salvo
South Africa were still recovering from a humiliating error in the 2003 World Cup. A 22-year-old was thrust the captaincy, so that the team could make a fresh start, and one of the first entries on his docket was a five-Test tour of England. Doubters circled thinking Graeme Smith was ripe prey, but they could only gawk as he laced a stunning 277 – an innings during which he became youngest captain to hit a Test ton – in Edgbaston. He reiterated his boundless appetite for runs with 259 at Lord’s to set up an innings victory. And he did this with an injured finger, which was bashed further by Andrew Flintoff.Second-innings special
Smith’s penchant for muting his detractors was just as rampant in his early career, and this time they had sufficient ammunition. He had become the first South Africa captain to drop a series against New Zealand in a 5-1 drubbing during the ODIs. Further ignominy waited as South Africa lost the second Test to go 0-1 down but in Wellington, Smith resurrected himself and his team with his maiden fourth-innings century to overcome a tricky chase and square the series with a day to spare – the first step in sealing his acclaim as a second-innings colossus. With 1198 runs at an average of 63, Smith was named one of Wisdens Cricketers of the Year in 2004.Beating Lara
Every left-hand batsman would dream of, perhaps at best, emulating Brian Lara but Smith buried the West Indies legend on their tour to the Caribbean in 2005. The captain was faced with questions after two poor tours of Sri Lanka and India, and his answer was three centuries in four innings to singlehandedly seal a 2-0 series win, and beat Lara’s tally by over 200 runs (though he did play one extra Test). All of his tons – 148, 104 and 126 – epitomised Smith: a striking ability to set his side up at the top, an unrelenting thirst for three-figure scores and heaps of determination.Overcoming form
A patch that purple usually comes with consequences and Smith languished without a century for over two years until he dug in and, through sheer will, conquered his subcontinent bogey. An average of 34 in nine Tests was remedied by another second-innings marvel that cemented South Africa’s ascendancy in the Lahore Test of 2007. He fought his way through 296 balls, a vast majority of which was against Danish Kaneria and Abdur Rehman’s canny spinners that were gaining teeth on a wearing surface. Were it not for a century by Younis Khan – another second-innings expert – South Africa may well have gained a victory from Smith’s toil.Rescue at Lord’s
Smith’s rise to the top began in England, but things did not start off well when he returned in 2008. A decision to insert the hosts at Lord’s backfired and Kevin Pietersen (152) and Ian Bell (199) walloped South Africa. After his captaincy was exposed for a lion’s share of two days, he became one of seven players to register single-figures in the first innings that was not good enough to evade the follow-on. With everything stacked against him, Smith essayed one of his best rearguards – a 207-ball 107 – that not only helped South Africa escape with a draw but underlined Smith’s remarkable skill to raise his game when most needed. There was little he hit across the line, and against Monty Panesar and his ploy to attack the rough, he positioned himself outside off and took the lbw out of the equation. One mistake could have lost South Africa the game, but it never came.Smith’s ‘best’
South Africa were chasing their first series victory in England in 43 years and Smith produced another second-innings century to ensure they left with accolade. It had been barely two weeks since he pulled off the Lord’s rescue and once again Smith plumbed into his seemingly limitless reserves of defiance and was so successful that his 154 off 246 balls in Edgbaston accounted for 54% of the target. He blunted Panesar, again, smashed James Anderson and frustrated Flintoff to orchestrate one of South Africa’s landmark wins. For further context of Smith’s steel, the next best score was 45. “Ever since readmission, we have really strived for victory in England and have always been disappointed,” he said after the game. “It’s bigger than just us, this victory, and so I have to say it’s my best.”Graeme Smith was always up for a fight•AFPPacing it perfectly
His brutal 183 in Cape Town in 2010 was denied match-winning status by a dogged Ian Bell, but in Johannesburg Smith would not be denied. The requisite slice of luck came when he survived a caught-behind and that wake-up call was more than enough. His 105 off 187 balls, combined with Dale Steyn’s menace, spearheaded South Africa to a comfortable innings win in under four days. In his first 69 balls Smith struck two fours in 24 runs, but when he brought up his hundred it was with his 16th. You can say his batting is not pretty, you can say he is not a purist, but you can never say Smith lacks the stomach for a fight; South Africa came from behind to square the series.Reversing public opinion
November 2011. You display no spine in the first innings, concede a lead of 188 and then roar back to wrap the game up in three days. The bulk of the credit for that victory belongs to Vernon Philander, who picked up four wickets in his first five overs to snuff out Australia for 47, but there was still 236 to chase against an Australia attack that was no pushover. South Africa had to come out with a statement and they turned to their captain once again. Smith did not have as many happy recent memories to draw from, after leading another failed South Africa World Cup campaign and then drawing criticism for going to Ireland instead of returning home with the team. The cobwebs of surgery also hung fresh. The perfect recipe for another Smith classic and his fourth century in Cape Town sealed an eight-wicket victory to kick off the series and restore the fans’ faith in him. He also became the highest run-scorer in successful fourth-innings chases.The great Adelaide save
Questions had been asked of Smith’s commitment to South Africa after he signed a three-year deal with Surrey. Michael Clarke, his opposite number, had enriched his Adelaide tally by 230. On this tour to Australia, in late 2012, South Africa were in dire need for a long and solid effort and Smith looked no further than himself to produce it. Melding patience and careful shot selection, he produced a vital century. For all of Faf du Plessis’ heroics to save the game, the equation might have been unforgivingly stiffer without Smith, who has never scored a century and tasted defeat.A roaring comeback
Six months out with a sore ankle and in his first series back, Smith reiterated his eagerness for a fight with his fifth double-century in Tests. As ever, it was sorely needed with South Africa folding tamely against Pakistan, in the previous Test, in Dubai. Smith does not like his side being outplayed. In Abu Dhabi he showed just how much he wanted them to come back strongly. He tackled the in-form left-arm quicks Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan, hardly wilted in the searing heat of the Middle East and also completed the small matter of scoring 9000 runs in Tests, 8428 of which came as captain.

Mitchell McClenaghan’s primary duty is go all out for wickets and, like he showed in Napier, he has the knack of doing the job for his team at key times

Abhishek Purohit in Napier20-Jan-2014India needed 69 more off 46 deliveries to beat New Zealand in the Napier ODI. They had six wickets remaining, and Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni had already put on 95 in just 14 overs. A couple of overs more and the duo could have run away with the game. Brendon Mccullum handed the ball to his strike bowler.Mitchell McClenaghan delivered yet again, getting Dhoni caught behind on the hook with a sharp bouncer. Three balls later, McClenaghan had Ravindra Jadeja edging a lifter to the wicketkeeper. Facing an asking-rate of ten now, Kohli had no choice but to try and attack McClenaghan in the fast bowler’s next over; he ended up placing a full toss straight into the hands of short cover.Dhoni said that was where the game turned, and India lost a match they had seemed like winning at that point. McClenaghan ended with 4 for 68, the sixth time he had taken four or more in an ODI. He has played only 19 one-dayers, which means that almost every third match, he picks up a four-for. McClenaghan, with 47 wickets to his name, is set to become the second-fastest to 50 ODI scalps behind Ajantha Mendis, who got there in 19 matches. This ability to strike, and strike repeatedly, has given him the best strike-rate ever for bowlers who have taken at least as many wickets as he has.McClenaghan strikes at 20.4, which puts him way ahead of number two on the list – Junaid Khan with 27.1. Only 12 bowlers on the list have a strike-rate under 30.It is revealing to see that McClenaghan has the highest economy-rate of 5.80 among those 12. He has already developed a reputation of going all out for wickets without worrying too much about how many he concedes. His first-class average is nearly 40 compared to a List A one of 23.88, which also suggests that he is appreciably more effective with the white ball than with the red.Before the series, Brendon McCullum had said that New Zealand would target wickets rather than trying to contain India and would not hesitate to play both McClenaghan and Adam Milne, who can also be expensive as he strives for extreme pace. While Milne was unfortunate to go off the field with a side strain in Napier, he did work up hostile speeds consistently. But it was McClenaghan who did the job for his captain once more.”He does keep producing at key times for us and I can’t stress the importance of it,” McCullum said. “He is going to travel at times but as long as he is trying to perform in the manner that we have picked him for, then we are happy and he has to ride that wave because he has the handy knack of picking up wickets at key times.”He is not always going to do that but as long as he is always trying to do that, that’s the message we keep telling them. As long as he’s doing the right thing in terms of attacking and trying to take the wickets for us, then we know what we are going to get when he comes in to bowl. He did it again and he is certainly proving to have a pretty good knock out.”With the new fielding restrictions allowing only four men in the deep, containment is increasingly becoming difficult for captains. Bowlers such as McClenaghan, who combine accuracy and good pace, might become even more valuable assets as sides rebuild their strategies to suit the changed regulations. Of course, they will also need more attacking captains such as McCullum to back them.

Shamsur Rahman and Imrul Kayes are products of a first-class system that, despite its flaws, is beginning to produce results

Mohammad Isam in Chittagong06-Feb-2014The centuries scored by Shamsur Rahman and Imrul Kayes in the second Test against Sri Lanka showed signs that Bangladesh’s long-derided domestic first-class structure is finally yielding results. But as their dismissals showed, it still breeds a culture of instant gratification, negligence towards fitness, and competence only while batting on featherbeads, all dangerous aspects in international cricket.The two batsmen’s mindsets are a product of the cricket they have grown up playing. They are part of a culture where it is a norm for batsmen to break the shackles as soon as they reach milestones. The staple cricket in the country is of the one-day variety, where becoming more aggressive after reaching a hundred is quite normal.Since 2006, there have been 266 centuries in domestic first-class cricket in Bangladesh. Only 55 of those innings produced 150-plus scores – including seven double-centuries and one triple – while 87 ended short of 110. These numbers indicate a lack of inclination among batsmen to stretch their innings. Shamsur’s slog showed this fulfillment factor. Kayes pulling his hamstring was just another instance of a Bangladesh batsman running out of breath soon after reaching a major milestone.Later, both batsmen regretted playing the shots that got them out. They had laid a solid foundation with their 232-run stand but fell when their team needed more solidity. Bangladesh were well short of the follow-on mark when Kayes followed Shamsur back to the dressing room.”I shouldn’t have played the shot,” Kayes said. “It was a mistake. I tried to cut out the risks before that, but these things creep in. A lot of different things happen, which leads to such shots.”Shamsur spoke in the same tune: “I played a bad shot. There wasn’t much turn in the wicket, so I tried to stay positive. I took a chance but it was a bad decision on my part. We both had thought of lengthening our time at the crease after reaching hundreds, but my dismissal happened suddenly.”Keeping the dismissals aside, recent improvements in domestic cricket can take some credit for the two batsmen’s innings.Till three years ago the National Cricket League, the first-class tournament played between divisional sides, was popularly known as “picnic cricket”. The match fees were laughable to the players who took the lucrative Dhaka Premier League, the club-based one-day competition, more seriously. As the nickname suggests, most of the players would just turn up for their teams, without any intention to force the issue. The BCB took two steps last season that changed the perception considerably: they brought more than a hundred cricketers under their payroll, and they started the Bangladesh Cricket League, a second tournament, akin to the Duleep Trophy in India.The longer version suddenly had more credence, and players took more interest in playing the format rather than just going through the motions. Still, drastic improvements remain to be made in the divisional sides’ management and development, but it is a start, and it has helped two cricketers gain a footing.Shamsur and Kayes have had to take winding paths, but both have scored heavily in the NCL, BCL and the DPL, to give the selectors enough reason to pick them in the Test team. Shamsur’s 267 last month is seen as the catapult that shot him into the senior side, but he has never been out of contention since he got out of BKSP, the national sports institute, in 2007.This was his second call-up to the Test team, after he had gone to England as a back-up for the injured Tamim Iqbal in 2010, and as it had been back then, this time too he was selected on the basis of his dominance over domestic bowling attacks. His desire to stay longer at the crease is an addition to his game, and it has helped him in domestic cricket over the last three years.”In the past, I used to be happy with very little and play bad shots,” Shamsur said. “I have reduced that to an extent. I could score today because of scoring runs in domestic cricket, as well as better mental ability.”Test cricket is obviously much different to the domestic game. I have always wanted to bat in a manner that brings out the positive side in a team, not the negative ones. I hope to score more centuries at this level, play better than I did today.”Kayes partnered him in a 233-run second wicket stand, his third century stand for Bangladesh. He opened the batting from 2008 to 2011, when he was one half of Bangladesh’s most successful opening partnership. But loss of form and lack of big scores after starting well took him out of the reckoning for the next two years. Being dumped out of the Bangladesh team is often the end of international careers, but his reappearance is a tribute to his perseverance amid limited facilities and the value of first-class runs.”First-class cricket is very useful in Test cricket,” Kayes said. “My confidence from BCL really helped me today, because I scored there and that carried over with me. I really needed this hundred, coming back to the side after two years.”During the tea break yesterday, the coach told me that I might open, so I was prepared with that mindset. I had a very clear mindset, and I planned to play exactly as I did in the BCL. If the result is positive, then good, otherwise, so be it.”The final factor, the comfort of batting on too many featherbeds, will come into play in the second innings. Shamsur and Kayes will be asked to bat at a slower pace because the last two days will be all about survival for the home side. If they can control their strokes and emotions and remain the same batsmen out of their comfort zones, it will take them to a different level, and help them return to domestic cricket with a far more progressive outlook.