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Wade bids to play as a batsman

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Matthew Wade is earnestly hoping to follow David Warner’s lead under the noses of the national selectors in the tour match against Sussex

Daniel Brettig25-Jul-2013David Warner drastically improved his chances of taking part in the Investec Ashes over the course of a single innings for Australia A in South Africa. Now Matthew Wade is earnestly hoping to do the same, under the noses of the national selectors in the tour match against Sussex.Warner’s effort, a blistering 193, has provided inspiration for the rest of Australia’s bedraggled squad even if it was made 7,000 miles away. Until that innings the nation’s batting had been a laughing stock for the best part of four days, but Warner has at least provided some indication for the rest of what is possible with a little confidence.So far on tour, Wade has been less a member of the team than the answer to a trivia question: which man apart from Michael Clarke has made a Test century in 2013? Wade’s quite brilliant hundred against Sri Lanka at the SCG has since faded from view after he ceded his wicketkeeping position to the vice-captain Brad Haddin.Nonetheless, the travails of the batsmen at Trent Bridge and Lord’s have offered Wade a glimmer of opportunity and, like Warner, he is hoping to barge his way into calculations by rattling to a large score at Hove – not that he is thinking too far ahead of course.”Any batsman who goes out and dominates and gets 150 or 200 will have a chance to play,” Wade said. “But I haven’t spoken to anyone about a spot coming up. I’m just excited to have a game of cricket because I’ve been on the sidelines for a few weeks. To go into a game thinking those sort of things is wrong thing to do. If you go into a game thinking if I get runs I will play the Test match it won’t do you any good.”Wade’s keeping has been the cause for most concern over his brief Test match career, but his batting is highly regarded. On several occasions when he was still a selector, the captain Michael Clarke suggested Wade would contend for a place as a batsman alone, and it is one after-effect of Adam Gilchrist’s influential career that most wicketkeepers have almost had to consider themselves batsmen first.”Gilchrist ruined it for everyone,” Wade said with a laugh. “It’s like being an allrounder. I feel comfortable where I’m at with keeping and batting. When I got dropped I went up to the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane for six-eight weeks and worked really hard with Ian Healy. I was going up for a couple of days at a time and did a lot of work with him and Hadds was there as well. It felt like I came a long way in that period. I was here in England for the ODIs and felt my keeping was going pretty well. Fingers crossed things keep going in that direction.”Watching from the boundary’s edge, Wade has been greatly impressed by England’s bowling, the best he has seen around the world so far. But he harked back to memories of the home Tests against South Africa in late 2012 for a reminder that Australia can bat should conditions and confidence dovetail effectively.”It’s been terrific and world class bowling,” Wade said of England. “It’s the best I’ve seen in the 18 months I’ve been around Test cricket. We knew their bowlers would be hard work. I’d love to have an opportunity to have a crack at them. We played South Africa in Australia and didn’t find too many problems scoring 400-500 in an innings. Wickets were different and we have to adjust. We have to find a way. It’s not impossible. We have all scored runs against very good players before.”As for the wider questions about why Australia’s batting had deteriorated, Wade agreed with Usman Khawaja that the increase in the number of green Sheffield Shield pitches had been a significant factor. “First-class cricket has been hard work over past couple of years to score big runs. Pitches have not been ideal,” Wade said. “They have been greener than previously and that is an issue for batmen hitting big hundreds. It is not a technical issue that players have not been scoring big runs.”It has been great for bowlers. Batting wise it is harder but a good challenge. Everyone talks about batsmen getting big hundreds, 200s and 250s but that is a big ask in games that are only going two and a half or three days.”

Bresnan upbeat on Ashes fitness

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Tim Bresnan has become the third England player in quick succession to insist that he will recover from injury in time for the Ashes series

Alison Mitchell03-Apr-2013Tim Bresnan has become the third England player in quick succession to insist that he will recover from injury in time for the Ashes series. Bresnan’s optimism about his recovery from an elbow operation follows equally upbeat assurances from Graeme Swann and Kevin Pietersen with the first Test against Australia now less than 100 days away.Bresnan’s second operation on his right elbow caused him to miss the tour to New Zealand, but he is aiming to play in Yorkshire’s friendly against Lancashire, beginning on April 16, and proving his fitness in championship cricket ahead of the first Test of the summer against New Zealand in mid-May.The latest top international to chat at length on Alison’s Tea Break, soon to be published exclusively on ESPNcricinfo, Bresnan admits he knew that his elbow trouble had left him down on pace for much of the previous year but was reluctant to face the consequences of another operation.”I was lacking a little bit of pace for the last year, which was something I didn’t really want to admit to myself,” he said. “One day I’d bowl brisk, and the next day I’d just have nothing. I knew it was the elbow but you’re in that position ‘I’m still doing a job but am I doing it to the best of my ability?’ And the answer to that question was probably ‘no’.”I’m actually excited now about the future, whereas, because I was bowling in a little bit of pain, it’s always in the back of your mind that you’re not giving it the full beans because it might hurt you.”It took a heart to heart with Graham Gooch in India for Bresnan to realise he had to speak up about his elbow pain, in order to avoid his career flatlining.”You just can’t get away with it against India. Here against the West Indies, absolutely fine, because it’s swinging, bit of reverse, maybe a bit of nibble. In India: nothing. There’s no hiding.”I think the time during the first Test when Sehwag just picked me up off a good length and hit me for six, I just went: ‘Wow, I’m not bowling quick enough here’. I think it was Goochie in a way who just said: ‘Look mate, I can tell you’re not right. I don’t know what you’ve been saying to the medical staff but you should be at a place now where you’re approaching your peak but you’ve just levelled off a bit’.”Now that he’s looking to make a comeback in the England side, Bresnan explains what sort of bowler he wants to be, why he can be more than the dependable workhorse in the side, and what it is that is motivating him.”I’ve only got six or seven five-fors. You never put me down for a truck load of wickets but stick me down for three an innings, which in anyone’s money is solid going. But if I want to be remembered as a cricketer, I was erring towards the stage where I was like, I don’t really want it to be that, I want it to be like: ‘He can win you games’.”Bresnan also takes a tongue-in-cheek ‘Yorkshire Test’ to see just how close to his roots he has remained, despite the global jet-setting life of an international cricketer. The results may be a little surprising.

Australia seal series after Watson century

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Shane Watson could scarcely have made a better start to life as a non-bowling batsman with a century to set the platform for a total that proved beyond West Indies

The Report by Daniel Brettig06-Feb-2013
Live scorecard and ball by ball detailsShane Watson and Phillip Hughes prospered, though in contrasting styles•Getty Images

A Shane Watson century, an Australian victory. In the minds of the coach Mickey Arthur and the captain Michael Clarke, such a scenario should occur far more often, and Watson could scarcely have made a better start to life as a non-bowling batsman with a fluent innings to set the platform for a total that proved beyond West Indies in the third ODI at a resplendent Manuka Oval.The 39-run victory sealed the series for the hosts, but they were as satisfied by the fact that minus the distraction of allround duties Watson was able to sail to three figures on an amiable pitch. His free-scoring was followed up by a contrasting innings from Phillip Hughes, scratchy early but sublime later, while George Bailey clattered 44 from a mere 22 balls before leaving the field with a tight hamstring in the evening.Kieron Pollard had leapt outrageously to catch Glenn Maxwell, and the visiting batsmen were set a similarly high mark to win. Their pursuit threatened to amount to something when Darren and Dwayne Bravo joined forces in an attractive stand, but Mitchell Starc broke their union just when Clarke’s brow was beginning to furrow, having brought himself on to bowl after leaving out the specialist spin of Xavier Doherty.Chris Gayle batted down the order due to a side strain suffered in the field, and was to be the first of four victims for James Faulkner, who reprised his strong showing against the tourists on this ground for the Prime Minister’s XI to round up the remainder of the innings.

Smart stats

  • Australia’s score of 329 is their third-highest ODI total against West Indies, and their seventh 300-plus score against them. Australia have won each of these seven matches.

  • The match aggregate of 619 is the second-highest in ODIs between these two teams.

  • Shane Watson’s 122 is his second ODI century against West Indies, his seventh in ODIs, and his sixth as opener. In 73 innings as opener, Watson has averaged 48.26 at a strike rate of 92.74.

  • Australia’s top three batsmen added 246 runs, which is their highest in an ODI against West Indies.

  • Darren Bravo’s 86 equals his highest ODI score – he had also scored 86 against India in Kingston in 2011. It’s his eighth half-century in 45 ODI innings, but his sixth in a defeat.

  • West Indies’ total of 290 is their second-best against Australia in Australia, and their fourth-best against any side in that country.

  • West Indies haven’t won a single international match against Australia in Australia since 2000, losing 27 out of 30 international matches (15 defeats in ODIs, ten in Tests and two in Twenty20 internationals). One Test was drawn, and two ODIs were rained out.

Seeking a record chase for their region, Devon Thomas and Kieran Powell were conservative to begin with but played some handsome strokes to reach 50 inside nine overs, Starc not gaining much swing and becoming a far more hittable bowler as a result. However Thomas’ stay was ended when he miscued Clint McKay.Powell threatened a more lasting stay before he too failed to find the middle of the bat, top edging a sweep at Glenn Maxwell that was held in agile fashion by Matthew Wade, running around from behind the stumps. The Bravo brothers were soon looking comfortable however, and Clarke looked short of options on a slow surface as Maxwell’s overs dried up and the visitors engineered a realistic Twenty20 scenario.Starc’s strike was critical, coaxing Dwayne Bravo to play down the wrong line the ball after a wide, and following a drinks break Faulkner disturbed the stumps of Gayle and Darren Bravo with deliveries moving first from the off, then from the leg. Faulkner’s send-off for Gayle drew a word from the umpires, and there was to be little need for histrionics as the innings petered out.Manuka’s turf had provided Watson with a chance to play himself into form at the top of the Australian batting order ahead of the Test tour of India, and he was soon in firm touch, punching down the ground and through cover with comfort and also cutting profitably. While the pitch and the opposition were not of the kinds to be faced on the subcontinent, Watson’s clarity suggested he may not be seeking a return to the international bowling crease any time soon.Aaron Finch was similarly crisp, flicking neatly to the midwicket fence more than once, and the runs arrived at pace without either batsman taking many risks. Having made a halting start to his ODI career, Finch looked capable of a major score, but soon after Watson passed 50 he gave his innings away with a dainty dab from Sammy into the gloves of Thomas standing up to the stumps.The wicket brought a downturn in the run-rate – despite a duo of Darren Sammy no-balls, the first of which was called rather harshly by the umpire Asad Rauf – as Hughes battled to settle in. A little circumspect as he neared his century, Watson reached it confidently then accelerated, swinging lustily for a pair of sixes before he was pouched at deep backward square leg.Hughes’ innings grew steadily in fluency and speed, mirroring Bailey’s Perth effort in terms of the skill of building a score from a shaky base. Clarke fell cheaply, but it was a surprise when Hughes edged Sunil Narine behind short of a century, the catch completed by Thomas via thigh as well as glove after the wicketkeeper had earlier been struck a painful blow on the thumb.Bailey’s late hitting ensured the total would go comfortably past 300, and ultimately the West Indies would leave Manuka with only Pollard’s catch to console them.

Khawaja and George put Australia A in control

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Usman Khawaja found some form ahead of his maiden Test tour as Australia A earned a six-run lead over Sri Lanka A on the first day in Townsville

Cricinfo staff25-Jun-2010Australia A 1 for 84 (Khawaja 47*) lead Sri Lanka A 78 (Nawela 27, George 4-13) by 6 runs

ScorecardPeter George caused more problems for Sri Lanka A while taking 4 for 13•Getty Images

Usman Khawaja found some form ahead of his maiden Test tour as Australia A earned a six-run lead over Sri Lanka A on the first day in Townsville. Khawaja, who was picked in the national squad on Tuesday, finished unbeaten on 47 in an impressive display after the visitors were knocked over before tea for 78.Peter George, the South Australia fast man, was again the main problem for Sri Lanka A, who were unable to get going in the second four-day match of the tour. George collected five wickets to help wrap up the first game in Brisbane and backed up with 4 for 13 off 9.3 overs.Sri Lanka were 3 for 28 after George’s opening breakthroughs and Ben Hilfenhaus, who is going to England with Khawaja on Friday, then chipped in with the wicket of the captain Kaushal Silva for 6. Andrew McDonald (3 for 17) and James Pattinson (2 for 17) then stepped in to cause more damage before George returned to finish off the innings.The hosts suffered an early setback when Michael Klinger was undone by Nuwan Pradeep in the third over, but Khawaja and Ed Cowan guided them safely to stumps. Cowan was not out on 34 as they reached the comfort of 1 for 84.

No official complaint over Broad footwork

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South Africa will not lay an official complaint over England’s treatment of the ball during the third day’s play at Cape Town

Andrew McGlashan in Cape Town05-Jan-2010South Africa will not make an official complaint over England’s treatment of the ball during the third day’s play at Cape Town and the ICC will not take any further action. The hosts “raised concerns” with ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama on Tuesday evening following TV footage that showed Stuart Broad standing on the ball as he fielded it in his followthrough.A South Africa team spokesman said that the matter was now in the hands of Mahanama and an ICC statement confirmed, after the umpires viewed TV footage, that the matter was closed. South Africa had until the start of play on the fourth day to raise the issue as an official complaint, which would have forced Mahanama to launch an investigation.”The International Cricket Council confirms that it has received no official lodgment from South Africa team management laying a charge against any England player following reports of alleged breaches of Law 42.3 (changing the condition of the ball) on day three of the third Test between the two teams in Cape Town,” the statement read.”With play on day four of the match having resumed, the deadline for submission of such notification has now passed. In addition, having reviewed relevant television footage, the umpires decided not to bring a charge against any player for a breach of Law 42.3. As such, the ICC now considers this specific matter to be closed. “The incident which sparked the controversy occurred in the 15th over of South Africa’s innings when Broad fielded a defensive shot from Hashim Amla by stopping the ball with his boot. Then the TV pictures appeared to show Broad applying pressure with the studs. James Anderson was also believed to have been part of the concerns raised by the home side.”There have been several queries from the media about various video footage shown today, and certain allegations being made about the ball,” the South Africa spokesman said on Tuesday evening. “We have raised our concerns with the match referee about it and we’ve left it to him to decide if any further action or investigation is necessary.”However, the England coach Andy Flower said he wasn’t aware of South Africa’s issues. “The umpires or match referee haven’t said anything to us about that,” he said. “That’s the first I’ve heard of it so I can’t really comment.”When asked about the specific incident of Broad stepping on the ball, Flower said: “I think over the years we have seen a lot of tall fast bowlers stop balls with their feet so I don’t see anything sinister in it all.”When play resumed after lunch on the third day the umpires, Daryl Harper and Tony Hill, appeared to have a word with Andrew Strauss, but Flower said he was unaware of any conversation. “It could be all manner of things and I’m not aware of anything. I think it would be wrong to speculate about what they were talking about before we actually know.”England have managed to reverse-swing the ball throughout the series, with the most dramatic spell coming on the fourth afternoon at Durban where South Africa fell to 50 for 6, and Flower was adamant it was all down to the bowler’s skill. “Without a doubt, I thought they were very skilful in the way they reverse-swung the ball,” he said. “We did it a bit at Centurion as well, I think both sides know how to get the ball to reverse-swing and then use it. It’s a very well documented skill.”This isn’t the first time that Broad has been at the centre of controversy during this series. On the third day of the first Test at Centurion he approached the on-field umpires to complain about the length of time South Africa took to ask for a review.He escaped any censure on that occasion but Broad’s on-field behaviour has come into focus of late. Sunil Gavaskar claimed in his newspaper column that he avoids punishment because his father, Chris, is an ICC match referee.

Kohli: India ready to take on the world for the next eight years

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India batter backs the next generation to carry forward the strong performances in ICC tournaments

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Mar-2025Virat Kohli believes India have a squad “ready to take on the world” for the next eight years, following their victory in the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai.”When you leave, you want to leave the team in a better place, I feel we’ve a squad that’s ready to take on the world for the next eight years,” Kohli said on the broadcast after the game. “Shubman [Gill] has been outstanding, Shreyas [Iyer] beautiful, KL [Rahul] has finished games, and Hardik [Pandya] has been superb with the bat.”Kohli said the Champions Trophy triumph somewhat made up for India’s Test series loss in Australia. “It’s been amazing. We wanted to bounce back after a tough Australian tour, and wanted to win a big tournament, and we ended up doing that. So it’s an amazing feeling.”Related

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Standing beside Gill during the celebrations, Kohli was asked for his thoughts on leaving the dressing room a better place when he eventually finishes up. “There’s so much talent in the dressing room,” he said. “They’re trying to take their game further and we [seniors] are just happy to be of help, sharing our experience and that’s what makes this Indian team so strong.”These are the things you want to play for [titles], playing under pressure and putting your hand up. The whole team, everyone has put their hands up sometimes or other during the course of the tournament. Everyone has put up impactful performances, we’ve been part of an amazing team, the amount of work we’ve done in the practice sessions, it feels great.”Kohli had words of appreciation for New Zealand. “Amazing, we’ve always been in awe with what they can do with the limited number of players they have had over the years, and just maximise their talent,” he said. “Every time we played against them in big games, we knew they were going to come with a set plan. No team in world cricket executes plans as well as they do.”Every fielder knows where the bowler is going to bowl, you can sense it, they’re all attacking the ball, they know the bowler is going to be accurate. Credit to them for being the most consistent team in the last few tournaments. The reason for that is the immense belief in their skills, and the amount of talent they have they utilise that to the maximum.”They’re easily the best fielding side in the world, a huge shout-out to them. They continue to display why they are one of the top teams in the world. Again, a great campaign. It’s sad to see a very good friend [Kane Williamson] on the losing side, but I’ve been on the losing side a couple of times when he has been on the winning side, so only love between us.”

Gambhir flies back to rejoin India Test squad in Australia

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Finalising the playing XI for the second Test will be on Gambhir’s agenda once he is back with the touring party

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2024Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, will rejoin the touring party in Australia on Tuesday, having flown out of India after having returned home because of “personal reasons”.Gambhir missed India’s two-day tour game – which was later reduced to a limited-overs contest following rain on the first day – against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, having flown back home at the conclusion of the first Test in Perth on November 25. Gambhir left on November 26, the scheduled final day of that Test.The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a day-nighter in Adelaide, will start on December 6.Related

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In Gambhir’s absence, the support staff of Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel had overseen the team’s training, and were part of the Canberra fixture, which the Indians won by six wickets, with Harshit Rana (4 for 44) and Shubman Gill (50 in 62 balls) playing key roles.Now, Gambhir will have to be part of the tricky discussions around India’s playing XI, with Rohit Sharma, the full-time Test captain, having linked up with the team after skipping the first Test to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. Jasprit Bumrah had led India to the comprehensive 295-run win in the Perth Test in Rohit’s absence.Gill, who had also missed that Test after fracturing his right thumb during a training session, is also back in the reckoning.Even if India bring in Rohit and Gill for Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, who were part of the XI in Perth, there is the question of the opening combination, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul having put on a double-century first-wicket stand in India’s second innings in Perth. Indications from the pink-ball tour game, though it wasn’t a full-fledged contest, are that Jaiswal and Rahul will continue to open with Gill replacing Padikkal at No. 3, and Rohit possibly going in the middle order behind Virat Kohli. Rishabh Pant is the other certain starter in the middle order.

'Want to play again and have fun' – Dane van Niekerk signs for Western Province

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She holds a long-term view about returning to the South Africa national team, but as it stands, is not in consideration for the upcoming T20 World Cup

Firdose Moonda30-Jul-2024Former South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk will make her return to professional cricket this summer after signing for provincial side Western Province.While she has long-term hopes of making a return to international cricket, she told ESPNcricinfo she has “no timeline”. For now, she just wants to “play again and have fun.”That means van Niekerk is unlikely to be in consideration for South Africa’s squad, led by Laura Wolvaardt, at the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. Van Niekerk’s wife, Marizanne Kapp, will play a key role in that tournament which van Niekerk is unlikely to be at, as she participates in domestic games at home.She confirmed she will play “all the fixtures, if I am able,” and hopes to get back into contention for higher honours. “My No.1 priority is to play again,” she said. “I have no expectations other than that. What will be, will be. I miss representing my country and playing at the highest level. It has nothing to do with anything other than that.”Van Niekerk has not played any cricket since The Hundred in August last year, which she was forced to leave early after fracturing her right thumb. Before that, she captained Sunrisers in the Rachel Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, where they finished fourth, and had a stint in the first edition of the WPL, where she was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru outfit. She has not played for South Africa since 2021 and retired from international cricket in March last year, shortly after she missed out on South Africa’s T20 World Cup 2023 squad because she was unable to meet Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) standards.At the time, South Africa required women’s national players to run a two-kilometre time trial in 9:30 and van Niekerk, who had recovered from a broken ankle, missed the mark by 18 seconds. CSA have since abandoned the rigid application of the time trial and skinfolds tests and left national selection to the coach’s discretion.Currently, South Africa do not have a confirmed permanent coach after Dillon du Preez took over in an interim capacity for the tour to India. Du Preez replaced Hilton Moreeng, who was in the role for almost 12 years. CSA are expected to announce a succession plan for the women’s coaching role ahead of October’s T20 World Cup but with no fixtures between now and then, and only two months, it is likely du Preez will continue, with a permanent appointment to be made ahead of the home season. South Africa host England this summer for an all-format tour including the first home Test in 22 years.

Gus Atkinson four-for, Mark Stoneman 73* seal Surrey's Scarborough stroll

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Yorkshire stumble to 165 all out after being inserted on bouncy surface

ECB Reporters' Network22-Jul-2021Gus Atkinson’s four-wicket List A debut helped Surrey make a winning start to their Royal London Cup campaign as they eased past Yorkshire by five wickets at Scarborough.Atkinson, 23, prospered with the new ball on a fast and bouncy North Marine Road pitch, claiming 4 for 43 to bowl the Vikings out for 165 in only 35 overs.Hashim Amla elected to bowl at the start of this Group B fixture, and the South African batting great later went beyond 10,000 career runs in this format with 29 to begin a successful chase. But Mark Stoneman played the match-clinching innings, an unbeaten 73 off 110 balls, having only just returned to Surrey following a four-game T20 loan spell with Yorkshire.Stoneman and co survived 4 for 57 for South African overseas quick Mat Pillans, who moved from Surrey to Yorkshire in late 2018.This fixture included eight players – four on each side – making their List A debuts.Atkinson made the initial breakthrough by bowling Will Fraine in the second over before getting George Hill caught at square leg and Jonny Tattersall caught behind as the hosts slipped to 40 for 4 in the 10th.Matthew Revis, another List A debutant, top-scored for Yorkshire with 43 off as many balls, while Gary Ballance made 39. They shared 81 inside 13 overs for the fifth wicket. But wickets fell quickly once more.The Vikings tumbled from 121 for 4 in the 22nd, losing their last six for 44 as most of the damage was done from the Trafalgar Square End.Opener Harry Duke, Hill, Ballance and Pillans were all undone by extra bounce, while Revis and Dom Bess will reflect on loose dismissals.This certainly wasn’t the way Yorkshire captain Bess would have wanted to celebrate his 24th birthday, with him skewing Dan Moriarty’s left-arm spin to long-off.Hill and Pillans fell caught off top-edged pulls against Atkinson, the latter courtesy of a stunning diving catch on the run towards backward square-leg from wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. Ballance fended a short ball from Conor McKerr to gully, sparking the clatter of wickets.Amla and opening partner Stoneman then steadily shared 59 inside the first 13 overs of the chase. Stoneman hit two fours and slog-swept Bess for six as 14 came off the 12th, only for Pillans to claim two wickets in three balls in the 13th. He had Amla caught at wide mid-on pulling before bowling Ben Geddes, leaving Surrey 59 for 2.That forced Stoneman back into his shell, but he shared an important 54 with Smith. Pillans then struck twice in an over again, getting Smith caught at midwicket for 25 and Ryan Patel superbly caught one-handed in the gully by Tattersall – 116 for 4 in the 29th.Bess also bowled debutant Nico Reifer for an eye-catching 26, but Surrey’s victory was secured with 10.5 overs remaining.

Stiaan van Zyl, Tom Haines fifties prevent Sussex fortunes from clouding over

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Regular wickets keep Lancashire in the hunt on close-fought opening day

Valkerie Baynes29-Apr-2021April cricket is usually played in changeable conditions and the fine balance between a stubborn winter and a willing spring reflected the evenly poised contest between Sussex and Lancashire on an engrossing first day.It snowed when these sides met in the opening round at Old Trafford – the fixtures reversed after a bug infestation damaged the Hove outfield – and while temperatures were by no means that extreme, the briskness in the air was the one constant.As the players warmed up, the ground was bathed in glorious sunshine but neither that nor the gulls’ cries were convincing anyone to remove their winter coats – in some cases two winter coats – and dip themselves in the sea as a chill wind arrived and dense cloud cover set in, giving way to varying shades of white and grey for the rest of the day.Related

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  • Clarke and Clark fit seamers' roles to give Hants a shoeing

  • Gubbins, White give Middlesex the edge on solid first day

Things began gloomily enough for Sussex when they lost Aaron Thomason for a duck on the 17th ball of the match, an excellent delivery from Tom Bailey that tore through the batter’s defences and clattered into middle and off.Stiaan van Zyl’s arrival at the crease brought the hosts numerous bright moments however, as he and Tom Haines drove – literally in van Zyl’s case – the Sussex recovery from 6 for 1 to 110 for 1 by lunch.van Zyl’s prowess through the off-side, namely his sublime driving through extra cover, accounted for the majority of his 12 fours, including two through the region off consecutive Danny Lamb deliveries.Having survived a chance early in his innings when Steven Croft failed to grab what would have been a stunning catch at second slip, van Zyl settled into a rhythm that looked set to deliver his second century of the season, following his 113 at Glamorgan during round two.Matt Parkinson entered the attack in the 21st over after his match-winning 7 for 126 among his nine wickets at Kent last week. But van Zyl lofted his sixth ball over the fence at long-on and, in Parkinson’s next over, helped himself to two fours, one swept and the second thumped through his favoured extra cover zone to move within one of his half-century, which he brought up with a single off Parkinson.Haines followed van Zyl in passing fifty a short time later – the fourth time Haines has done so this season – and the pair walked off for lunch with their side holding a much sunnier outlook than at the start of the day.Lancashire emerged from the break with a spring in their step and a chirp in their collective voice as they sought a breakthrough. They achieved it before their facade became forced through a probing Saqib Mahmood delivery that angled slightly across left-hander Haines and found an outside edge that went through to Dane Vilas behind the stumps in place of Alex Davies, who was fielding but couldn’t take the gloves after suffering a knock to his finger during the week.So ended Haines’ innings on 58 and a fruitful second-wicket stand with van Zyl worth 133. It continued a run of early form this season for Haines, who followed his 155 in the first match against Lancashire with scores in the 80s against Glamorgan and Yorkshire and he now has 455 runs from seven innings.”I’ve worked really hard for this,” said Haines, who put his form down to increasing his volume of practice during the off-season. “I’m loving my cricket this year.”I spoke to Alastair Cook at the end of the Essex game last year and he said, ‘all the best players in the world hit the most balls and that’s just how it is.’ I’ve just tried to do that really, it’s not hitting balls for the sake of it but hitting as much as you need to feel good.”van Zyl followed Haines out when, on 79, he slashed at a ball well outside off stump from Liam Livingstone – back in Lancashire’s side after leaving the IPL citing bubble fatigue – and found Luke Wells at backward point.Tom Clark and Ben Brown managed to steady Sussex again, although it wasn’t all smooth for Clark, despite the silkiest straight drive he produced to deposit Livingstone effortlessly over the fence.Dropped on nought, another of four chances missed by Lancashire, Clark copped a blow from Lamb that sent pieces of his helmet flying. Having passed an on-field concussion test, he was pinned lbw by Bailey shortly before tea and Sussex faced another period of reconstruction as the sky darkened and the floodlights came on.They did manage to rebuild once more through captain Ben Brown and Delray Rawlins, the latter reaching 42 off 64 balls, including straight sixes off Parkinson – which cleared the sightscreen and landed in the nets where Jofra Archer had been continuing his rehab from hand and elbow injuries – and Livingstone.But, with the new ball about to be taken, Rawlins slapped Parkinson straight to Wells at extra cover.Brown followed, trapped by a pin-point accurate ball from Lamb, returning to the attack having bowled six maidens among his 15 overs and conceded just 35 runs to that point.When Stuart Meaker fell to Bailey, Sussex were 292 for 7 having been 197 for 3 after winning the toss, suggesting that the failure of any of their batters to convert starts into big scores might leave them exposed.But their 318 for 7 at the close was hardly poor and left them within reach of a fourth batting bonus point with George Garton, who fell three shy of a century at Glamorgan, unbeaten on 30. It also highlighted the closeness of the tussle and set up another enthralling day.