New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has two main objectives for the team’s upcoming tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa – to win both the ODI series, and to ensure his players evolve into “solid international cricketers”

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jul-2015New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has two main objectives for the team’s upcoming tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa – to win both the ODI series, and ensure his players evolve into “solid international cricketers”.Speaking ahead of New Zealand’s departure for Africa, Hesson admitted that New Zealand were still hurting from their 2-3 series defeat to England last month, but said the team’s young talents will be “better off” from the experience.”There were a couple of times when we had the game by the scruff of the neck and we let that slip,” Hesson said. “We were very disappointed with that. We also exposed some young guys at key times and they will be better off for that. In this group we have guys like George Worker and Ben Wheeler who are trying to make their way in international cricket.”If we are looking ahead to four years’ time and the next World Cup, this is the perfect opportunity to start that development. Two years ago we did the same with Corey Anderson, James Neesham and Mitch McClenaghan on their first tour.”With regular captain Brendon McCullum rested for the tour, Hesson felt the series offered Kane Williamson a great opportunity to display his mettle and leadership skills.”We can only make our judgement based on history and last year in the UAE, Kane scored a huge amount of runs and he evolved as a leader throughout the tour. This is another opportunity to continue his development.”Brendon and Kane are different characters, but Kane is a senior player that has a say in the way we play the game. We don’t all revolve around one person. Brendon obviously makes all of the decisions on the field but there are a number of players who play a part in that.”In addition to McCullum, New Zealand will also be without their frontline seamers Tim Southee and Trent Boult for the tour. In their absence, Hesson called for the likes of Mitchell McClenaghan, George Worker and Adam Milne, who had been sidelined since March with a heel injury, to step up.”Mitch is a senior player on this tour. He had a very good tour here last time, it was his first one and they didn’t know a lot about him,” Hesson said. “He has got some confidence from the county scene recently and I know he is really keen to get over there.”Anyone who bowls at 150km per hour puts a lot of stress on the body and is going to struggle to stay on the park all the time. We accept that and that is what we want to see from Adam. He has had some tough times with an injury that has lingered but he is feeling good. The key for us is to not go too hard too soon with him.”Everyone matures a little differently whether that be from a cricket point of view or a life point of view. Some guys peak early and then need a break. George has done the hard yards and deserves his opportunity through performance.”New Zealand are scheduled to play three ODIs and one T20I in Zimbabwe starting August 2, and three ODIs and two T20Is in South Africa.

A day after USA wicketkeeper Akeem Dodson questioned the motivation of his team-mates, they turned in a strong performance to bundle Jersey for 87 for their first win of the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jul-2015File photo – Akeem Dodson struck a run-a-ball 31 after effecting a record six dismissals behind the wicket•Peter Della Penna

A day after wicketkeeper Akeem Dodson questioned the motivation of the USA players, they turned in a strong performance to bundle Jersey for 87 for their first win of the tournament in Bready. Dodson himself set an example, effecting six dismissals behind the wicket, a record for any T20 involving international teams.The win, however, was set up by left-arm pacer Naseer Jamali and right-arm pacer Hammad Shahid who picked up three wickets each. Jamali punched the early holes, reducing Jersey to 36 for 4 in 6.1 overs before Shahid dismantled the middle order. Timil Patil then wrapped up the tail as Jersey folded for 87 inside 18 overs. Besides Anthony Kay and Charles Perchard who made identical scores of 18 off 17 balls, Ben Stevens was the only other batsman to manage double-figures.Fahad Babar and Dodson added 60 for the opening partnership to give USA a bright start in their chase. However, the wicket of Dodson sparked a wobble as USA lost four wickets in a space of 10 runs and two overs. Nicholas Standford then became Nat Watkins’ third victim but the Patels – Mrunal and Timil – got their side over the line with 26 balls to spare.

James Middlebrook took two wickets in an over but an unbeaten 86 from Nick Compton ensured Middlesex would not be beaten inside two days

Tim Wigmore at Lord's10-Sep-2015
ScorecardJames Middlebrook struck twice in an over•Getty Images

Of the 21 players involved in Yorkshire’s Championship success, none is more unlikely than James Middlebrook. His summer began playing club cricket in the Bradford League, planning for a second career as an umpire. It has ended with him playing a quietly critical part in the first Yorkshire side to retain the title since 1968.There is no more heartwarming tale in the county game this year than that of Middlebrook. Unwanted by the worst county in Division One in 2014, he has made a triumphant return to Yorkshire after 14 years away. He is the accidental Championship winner.”If you’d said to me 12 months ago you’re going to win the Championship with your beloved Yorkshire I’d have taken that every time,” he said, revelling even more in the accolade coming at Lord’s. “I never thought I’d play at this ground ever again. To play with a few old mates, and some young mates, is a dream come true for any cricketer never mind winning the Championship.”Despite playing every game in 2014, Middlebrook was released by Northamptonshire last season. “It was disappointing. I thought I’d done enough.” A phone call after Adil Rashid was called up to England’s Test tour of the Caribbean set Middlebrook on a remarkable journey towards helping Yorkshire retain the Championship.”Andrew Gale gave me a ring and asked if I was interested in playing a one-off game for Yorkshire. Since Adil’s obviously done very well in the ODI series they’ve kept making me come out of retirement,” Middlebrook said.With good reason. Into his fifth Championship game of 2015, Middlebrook now has 14 wickets at 20.42 apiece. That his success has come at his home county makes it even sweeter. Middlebrook has a deep connection with the club: his father, a renowned local coach, worked with a young Geoff Boycott. Middlebrook is fully aware of what a privilege it is to represent Yorkshire.”I’ve grown up with Ryan Sidebottom since I was six years old so to play back with him is a special moment. Just to play for Yorkshire and put on the White Rose is very special. You can’t really describe playing for your home county,” he said. While Middlebrook served both Essex and Northants with distinction, “you are under more pressure because you are playing for Yorkshire”.When Yorkshire ended their 33-year wait for the County Championship in 2001, the experience was tinged with disappointment for Middlebrook. In four first-class games he mustered just five wickets at 53.00, and was released after the end of the season. Even though he has not been a full-time cricketer, playing on a game-by-game basis until June and then on a retainer that permits him to work towards being a professional umpire, Middlebrook’s contribution has been rather more significant this time.”As long as I was ticking over with my fitness and my cricket Yorkshire were pretty good. I’ve been busy this summer – umpiring, [minor counties cricket with] Bedfordshire, travelling and being in and out of the Yorkshire dressing room. I’ve had a cracking summer.”There is nothing demonstrative about Middlebrook the man or bowler. He is a classical orthodox offspinner but his qualities – subtle changes of pace, ease bowling over or around the wicket and his consistency of length – go far in the county game.He proved as much by taking two wickets in an over to ensure that Yorkshire remain favourites to extend their unbeaten run to 27 matches. A conventional delivery slid through the gap between Paul Stirling’s bat and pad, and then Dawid Malan was snared third ball. “I just thought I’d try a quicker one and it hit him flush outside offstump,” Middlebrook said.Here was proof of why his team-mates are imploring Middlebrook to play on for another season, a possibility he did not discount. “Who knows, who knows?”Facing an imposing deficit of 193, Middlesex threatened to subside to a two-day defeat, especially after Neil Dexter’s final innings at Lord’s as a home player was abruptly ended by an athletic caught-and-bowled by Jack Brooks to leave them 143 for 5.It fell to Nick Compton to push the game into a third day. In adding an unbroken 131 with James Franklin, he has opened the prospect of Middlesex beating Yorkshire at Lord’s for a second consecutive summer providing the second new ball, due after one over in the morning, can be withstood.At times this season Compton’s frustrations have been palpable, both at the England selectors’ reluctance to recognise his talent and his infuriating penchant for squandering starts that had been painstakingly built. In 17 of his 29 innings, Compton has reached 28, but only on eight occasions has he passed 50. Just once has he reached three figures.The third day of this match holds out the promise of his season’s tally of centuries doubling. Compton closed on 86 not out, runs made with trademark care and application on a baking September’s day. If uncertainty characterised the early stages of his innings, by the close Compton felt rather unmovable at the crease.In the process he surpassed 1000 runs, testament to his consistency even in an underwhelming season. While all his adhesiveness was on display, his innings was marked by a growing assertiveness that manifested itself in some exquisite late cutting against spin. “He played like a Test player,” Middlebrook said, approvingly. “He bided his time against the new ball and then took advantage of anything loose.”

Sixty-six players were put through a full day of skills and fitness tests at Indianapolis World Sports Park in the initial evaluation process to compete for a spot in an ICC Americas Combined squad

Peter Della Penna20-Sep-20151:30

‘These kids want it so bad’ – Young

Sixty-six players were put through a full day of skills and fitness tests at Indianapolis World Sports Park in the initial evaluation process to compete for a spot in an ICC Americas Combined squad for January’s WICB Regional 50-over competition. ICC Americas High Performance Consultant Tom Evans was impressed by the way the candidates responded to some of the obstacles on the day.”I thought it was a really good day,” Evans told ESPNcricinfo. “It was a pretty long day. With a little bit of weather around, it made it extra challenging from a logistical standpoint but I thought the coaches and the players were able to adapt to that really well. To go to the indoor centre and do the fitness testing there and using St. Vincent Sport Performance (SVSP), who were excellent doing the testing, I think they showed that level of professionalism that we’re keen for these guys to strive towards.”The ICC brought four strength and conditioning coaches from SVSP, renowned for their training and testing methods to improve speed and agility in NFL, NBA and track athletes, to test all participants. Due to morning rain in Indianapolis, the players were brought to an indoor training facility and measured on a broad jump, a 20-metre sprint and a modified shuttle run to simulate three runs between the wickets.”When we look at this group today of cricket players, what impresses me is that when you challenge people to be athletic and they respond,” said Ralph Reiff, executive director of SVSP. “They were very attentive, they were ready to go, no one was an outlier on the backside of the bell curve so no one demonstrated that they don’t belong here so I was impressed by that. There was a very high level of athleticism within this group.”Rain cleared by the afternoon to allow the trial to shift back to the Indianapolis World Sports Park. The players were divided into seven groups, with one coach specifically assigned to track each group. Separately, the four specialist evaluators – Mike Young for fielding, Courtney Walsh for pace bowling, Venkatapathy Raju for spin bowling and Evans for batting – each ran a station checking on specific skills.”The love that these guys are showing in wanting to be here, the pride, it’s kind of blown me away a little bit,” Young said. “I didn’t know what to expect but they made me more excited as well. I was pumped up to start with but I’m like, man these kids want it so bad. Talking to Courtney and all the other coaches, they all agree. They’ve just been fantastic.”Though 83 players were invited to come to Indianapolis, 17 were absent from Saturday. Among those were four Canada players – Hiral Patel, Jeremy Gordon, Shaheed Keshvani and Srimantha Wijeratne – and two USA players, Japen Patel and Mrunal Patel, who were part of their country’s respective squads at July’s World T20 Qualifier. Evans said some withdrew due to injury and others might show up by Monday but may find it more difficult to make it into next weekend’s second phase.”There were a variety of issues why people didn’t come and we expected that when you ask people to get themselves here,” Evans said. “We really respect the fact that 66 did and even more wanted to but just couldn’t do it. But we were really pleased that people were willing to make that investment. In terms of the guys who might be late arrivals, they’ll be putting themselves under more pressure because they’re going to get seen less so they’ll probably have to do something outstanding when they get here.”Players will compete in trial matches on Sunday in the next step of the phase one evaluation process before more trial matches are scheduled for Monday.

A cool hand from Ajantha Mendis clinched a sensational one-wicket victory for Sri Lanka, in a rain-reduced, 26-over-a-side match that featured several sharp turns, and riveting twists of fortune

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando01-Nov-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:03

‘Russell injury cost us’ – Holder

A cool hand from Ajantha Mendis clinched a sensational one-wicket victory for Sri Lanka, in a rain-reduced, 26-over-a-side match that featured several sharp turns, and riveting twists of fortune. Mendis’ high, handsome six over long-on sealed the result in the penultimate over, after Sunil Narine, in his first international match in 14 months, had brought the chase to its knees with a triple-wicket over. Earlier in the chase of 163, Tillakaratne Dilshan had seemingly set his team on an inevitable course to victory, with the fastest half-century of his 320-match ODI career.Narine led West Indies’ charge back into the match, after Sri Lanka had been 104 for 2 in the 13th over. Dilshan and Angelo Mathews’ dismissals had exposed a green middle order, and Narine dismissed nos. 5, 6 and 7 in the 19th over, to bring the tail-enders to the crease with 30 runs still to get. Milinda Siriwardana’s mis-timed hoick to the leg side finished in the hands of mid-on, and both debutants Shehan Jayasuriya and Danushka Gunathilaka misread the turn of Narine’s offbreaks, and found their stumps rattled.Mendis and Senanayake survived Narine’s next over, but only just – Mendis was found to be millimetres inside his crease after he had set off for a non-existent run. They put on 19 together before Jonathan Carter made a double-breakthrough in the 24th over to leave Sri Lanka still needing 11 with only a wicket in hand. No. 11 Suranga Lakmal survived Carter’s two remaining balls, and Mendis hit the winning runs off Johnson Charles in the following over. West Indies captain Jason Holder had been forced to rely on his part-timers at the close, after Andre Russell earlier limped off the field having delivered only five balls.Sri Lanka’s tail-enders had been given the leeway to play themselves in at the crease by Dilshan’s arresting 59 from 32 deliveries. He began his blitz in the third over, clipping a wayward Jason Holder delivery to the fine-leg fence before cracking a short ball towards deep square-leg next ball. That arc behind square on the leg side would be a productive zone for him; in the fifth over, off three consecutive balls, he collected a top-edge four, an over-the shoulder scoop that carried over the rope, and a cracking hook for six, all in that direction.Kusal Perera was run out for 14 by Carter’s direct hit from point, but Dilshan did not let the dismissal dent his own pace. He struck Jerome Taylor for consecutive fours on the leg side in the ninth over, and crossed 50 off his 25th delivery with another withering hook shot – this one off Holder.His caught-behind dismissal brought a sharp decline in the scoring rate, and led to Sri Lanka’s eventual falter. West Indies’ seamers built pressure through a short-pitched barrage in the following overs, and Mathews was the first victim of their efforts, advancing to slice a Taylor short ball to third man in the 16th over. With no Dinesh Chandimal in the middle order thanks to his suspension, the hosts’ nos. 5, 6 and 7 had seven ODI caps between them.Earlier Russell shellacked 41 from 24 balls and Jason Holder crashed 36 from 13, to lift West Indies to 159 for 8 – a total that was slightly enlarged by the Duckworth-Lewis equation. Russell slammed three sixes – all in the arc between midwicket and cover – and hit three fours, after coming to the crease with less than 11 overs remaining in the innings. Holder’s surge was briefer, but more manic. He came to the crease with 20 balls remaining, hit his first ball for six down the ground, and continued to strike cleanly, memorably launching Mendis flat over long-off in the penultimate over. Darren Bravo, who had resisted the Sri Lanka seamers’ advances early in the innings, finished with 38 from 58 balls.Before the rains came, and while a full 50-over match was still being played, Suranga Lakmal had reduced West Indies to 29 for 3 with five disciplined overs, envenomed by seam and swing. He had Charles lbw third ball, straightening a delivery he had bowled from wide of the crease, to hit the batsman’s back pad in front of middle stump. Next over, having squared up Andre Fletcher with a zippy away-seamer, he had the batsman slap a wide delivery into the hands of point. Marlon Samuels, who had won West Indies the 2012 World T20 in his last outing at Khettarama, was Lakmal’s third new-ball victim. He received a series of away-seamers, then fell prey to the ball that came in with the angle, to hit him in front of the stumps.Lakmal’s new-ball partner Lasith Malinga gleaned less movement off the surface, but nevertheless displayed signs of a return to form. His speeds were consistently in the high 130kph range, and his accuracy had returned. Malinga bowled a maiden to begin the innings, then applied pressure as Lakmal took wickets from the other end, skidding the ball into batsmen’s pads to raise two lbw appeals – one of which Sri Lanka reviewed unsuccessfully.The rains came after 14.2 overs and, upon resumption, West Indies traded in their survivalist approach for all-out aggression. Russell hoicked three sixes and two fours in his first 12 balls to kickstart West Indies’ surge. He and Bravo put on a 58-run stand, but the wickets did eventually begin to flow again for Sri Lanka. Holder’s batting explosion gave West Indies a chance of taking a lead in the series, but ultimately, the injury to Russell perhaps prevented their victory.

A round-up of the Georgie Pie Super Smash matches on November 26

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-2015A four-wicket haul from Andrew Ellis and a 43-ball 76 from Peter Fulton were the headlining performances in Canterbury’s six-wicket victory with 21 balls to spare against Auckland in Christchurch.Auckland had made a steady, if not rapid, start after choosing to bat. Riding on Brad Cachopa’s 49, they had progressed to 115 for 2 in 15.4 overs, with plenty of wickets in hand for the final surge. Then they collapsed to a spate of run-outs and Ellis, who finished with 4 for 17 in four overs. Auckland lost seven wickets for 18 runs and ended with 133 for 9.Fulton ensured that Canterbury did not struggle for momentum in the chase. Coming in at 18 for 2 in 2.1 overs, Fulton hit seven sixes in his innings, making more than half the runs in the chase of 134. He was unbeaten when the winning runs were scored in the 17th over. Auckland fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan took three out of the four wickets that Canterbury lost.Northern Districts chased down a target of 171 with two wickets and four balls to spare, handing Central Districts their fourth loss in their six completed games in the Georgie Pie Super Smash. Northern Districts were steered by 70 off 47 balls from opener Anton Devcich, before No. 7 Nick Kelly exploded with 36 off 16 to power the team home.Devcich had strung together handy partnerships with his top-order partners, putting Northern Districts on course at 126 for 3 in the 14th over. But three quick strikes – including that of Devcich – reduced them to 135 for 6 by the end of the 16th, and it was nervous times in their change room. Kelly hit away those nerves, though, slamming four sixes even as he lost two lower-order partners for ducks to get the side across the line.Central Districts’ innings was built around an anchoring 76 off 52 by their overseas opener, Mahela Jayawardene, after they had lost George Worker off the first ball of the match. Worker was taken out by Scott Kuggeleijn, who, with 3 for 24, ended with the best figures on either side.

Test aspirant Cameron Bancroft fell cheaply for the second time in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG, where the Warriors were set a chase of 390 for victory

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Nov-2015
ScorecardFawad Ahmed took five wickets in the first innings and added another early in the second (file photo)•Getty Images

Test aspirant Cameron Bancroft fell cheaply for the second time in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG, where the Warriors were set a chase of 390 for victory. At stumps on the third day they still needed a further 365 with opener Will Bosisto at the crease on 15 alongside nightwatchman David Moody on 0, with the total at 1 for 25.They had already lost Bancroft, who was lbw to Fawad Ahmed for 6 to add to his 4 from the first innings, hardly the kind of audition he was hoping for after Usman Khawaja’s hamstring injury opened up a place in the Test side. His team-mates and fellow Test contenders, Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger, had scored fifties in the first innings and will likely bat on day four.The day had started with the Warriors on 7 for 217 in their first innings, and they added 55 for the loss of their final three wickets. Ashton Agar scored 54 and Fawad finished with 5 for 105 after claiming two of the last three wickets in the innings.Victoria extended their healthy lead through opener Rob Quiney, who top scored in the second innings with 79. Peter Handscomb (36), Glenn Maxwell (38) and debutant wicketkeeper Aaron Ayre (36) all made contributions before the declaration came at 7 for 238.