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ESPNcricinfo previews the game between Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Hyderabad

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya13-Apr-2011

Match facts

Thursday, April 14
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Deccan Chargers’ middle order needs to step up•AFP

Big picture

A revamped Deccan Chargers have had a tough time in this early phase of the tournament with two defeats in two games. They were beaten comfortably by Rajasthan Royals and fell short by nine runs chasing 163 against Kolkata Knight Riders. On each occasion their batting has let them down – while batting first in their opening game, they managed a modest 137 while pressure got to them in a tight chase against Kolkata. Their opponents, Royal Challengers Bangalore, began the competition on a promising note but are reeling from a humbling defeat at the hands of Mumbai Indians.One team is desperate to clinch first points and ensure its campaign takes a turn for the better, the other is eager to prevent a slide after an encouraging beginning. Deccan need their foreign players, their captain Kumar Sangakkara, JP Duminy and big buy Daniel Christian to step up in the middle order, which has underachieved in each of their two games. The trio have got starts but the team has paid a price for their failure to push on.For Bangalore, AB de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan have kicked off well but the rest, particularly Virat Kohli, will aim for more runs. They lost Dirk Nannes early in the previous game and Mumbai Indians had no trouble chasing down 140; the rest of the bowling, including Zaheer Khan struggled, but against Deccan’s struggling batting line-up they have a chance to make amends.

Team talk

The end of the Australia-Bangladesh series means Cameron White will return to the Deccan Chargers squad but it is unlikely he will be part of the XI tomorrow. Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha bowled well in the previous game, but it’ll be interesting to see if they leave one out to accommodate someone like Harmeet Singh, who has a wonderfully deceptive slower ball, to bring some variation into their bowling.In the likely absence of Nannes, Bangalore might be prompted to rope in Nuwan Pradeep, the exciting fast-bowling prospect from Sri Lanka. Their lower order hasn’t had a chance to bat, with Cheteshwar Pujara waiting for his turn at No. 7. Could he receive a promotion ahead of Asad Pathan?Predict the playing XIs for this match. Play ESPNcricinfo Team selector.

In the spotlight

Shikhar Dhawan is an attractive strokemaker and Deccan bank on him to control proceedings from one end. But too often he can be flashy or concede his wicket playing a rash shot. He got a start in Deccan’s opening game, making 24 off 15, before throwing it away by holing out in the deep. He had an impressive opening IPL for Delhi in 2008, providing solidity at the top and Deccan would expect no less from him this time.Virat Kohli has scores of 24 and 12 in his two games thus far. He looked at ease in Bangalore’s opening game against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, striking some delightful fours before being trapped in front. Against Mumbai, he was kept quiet and eventually nicked one to the keeper. Along with AB, he forms the backbone of Bangalore’s batting line-up; one has stepped up, Kohli yet has to.

Prime numbers

• Pragyan Ojha is one of only two bowlers – the other being RP Singh – to pick up 50 wickets in the IPL. He’s played 46 games, averaging 22.62 though has been expensive, conceding 7.19 an over.
• Kumar Sangakkara effected 11 dismissals as wicketkeeper in the IPL last year, in 13 matches, third after Adam Gilchrist and Dinesh Karthik.
  

  The chatter

  “We need to bat smarter, make less mistakes.”

  “I think this competition is about momentum. In such a short period of time between games, if you can get on that (winning momentum), it’s going to make things a lot easier.”

Andy Blignaut is set to return to international cricket after a hiatus of almost five years after he was included in Zimbabwe’s squad for the World Twenty20 in West Indies.

Cricinfo staff26-Mar-2010Andy Blignaut is set to return to international cricket after a hiatus of almost five years after he was included in Zimbabwe’s squad for the World Twenty20 in West Indies.His inclusion completes a remarkable return by Blignaut, 31, who was one of the ‘rebel’ cricketers whose row with Zimbabwe’s cricket board resulted in the sacking of 15 senior white players in 2004. He subsequently returned to the side, and had been tipped as a potential national captain, but then walked out again in 2006 over after a disagreement about money owed to him by the board.Blignaut hinted at a possible comeback in January this year, and after his fitness had been assessed by the Matabeleland Tuskers franchise he returned to action in Zimbabwe’s domestic Twenty20 competition, striking 111 runs in four innings at an average of 37.00 and a strike rate of 133.73, including a matchwinning half century on his return to competitive cricket. He was then included in a provisional squad for Zimbabwe’s tour of the West Indies, but didn’t make the final touring party.The 15-man group also includes batsman Craig Ervine, the younger brother of former national player Sean Ervine, who has returned to Zimbabwe but is still tied to a contract with Hampshire. Shingi Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri, who were both members of the Zimbabwe side that toured the West Indies in March, have not been included in the squad.Masakadza played in only one international game on the tour, taking two wickets in the final over of the second ODI in Guyana to set up a tense two-run win on his international debut. Despite good returns in domestic cricket, Matsikenyeri was woefully out of form on the tour, scoring just 42 runs in six innings.Chamu Chibhabha also returns to the national set-up, being reward for his sparkling Twenty20 form for the Southern Rocks. He was the second-highest run scorer in this season’s Twenty20 tournament, racking up 230 runs at 57.50, including three fifties.With Zimbabwe seeking to bolster their sparse fast-bowling resources as they build towards a return to Test cricket, Tendai Chatara, the Zimbabwe Under-19 opening bowler, will travel with the team to the West Indies to gain some experience of cricket at higher levels, and will play in a four-day match against West Indies A, starting on April 16, before returning home.The World Twenty20 tournament, which begins on April 30, will also see new coach Alan Butcher take control of the side for the first time. Zimbabwe are grouped with Sri Lanka and New Zealand at the competition, and begin their campaign with a game against the Sri Lankans at the Providence stadium in Guyana on May 3.Zimbabwe squad Prosper Utseya (capt), Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, Andy Blignaut, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Greg Lamb, Elton Chigumbura, Vusi Sibanda, Ray Price, Graeme Cremer, Chamu Chibhabha, Chris Mpofu, Timycen Maruma, Craig Ervine

He will join the team during their ten-day preparatory camp in St Kitts and Nevis

ESPNcricinfo staff21-May-2024The Afghanistan Cricket Board has appointed former West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo as their bowling consultant for the 2024 T20 World Cup, to be held in the Caribbean and the USA. Afghanistan have already arrived in St Kitts and Nevis and are expected to begin a ten-day preparatory camp, during which Bravo will join the team.Bravo, part of the two-time T20 World Cup-winning West Indies side, called time on his international career after the 2021 T20 World Cup but continues to play in T20 leagues around the world. Earlier this year, he featured in the ILT20, where he played for the eventual champions MI Emirates. He is currently the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket with 625 scalps in 573 games.Apart from his playing experience, Bravo is also the bowling coach of five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings, a position he took over after retiring from the IPL in December 2022.Afghanistan play their first warm-up game against Oman on May 29 followed by the second one on May 31 against Scotland. At the World Cup, Afghanistan are placed in Group C alongside West Indies, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Uganda. They start their campaign against Uganda on June 5 in Providence.Kieron Pollard, another former West Indies player, will be at the England camp having been appointed their assistant coach for the tournament.

Playing his first Shield match since April 2021, Marsh helped lift WA to a first innings total of 336 and a lead of 157

Tristan Lavalette03-Mar-2023Captain Mitchell Marsh smashed a belligerent century in his first Sheffield Shield match in almost two years to power Western Australia into a commanding position over Tasmania at the WACA.Marsh, playing as a specialist batter, returned to his best with an unbeaten 108 from 111 balls to lift WA to a first innings total of 336 and a lead of 157.Tasmania reached stumps on day two at 1 for 27 with Caleb Jewell on 21 and Jake Doran on 1.Opener Tim Ward, who top-scored with 44 in the first innings, fell lbw to left-arm quick Joel Paris for five to leave Tasmania facing an uphill battle to keep their final’s hopes alive.Having recently returned from a three-month layoff after ankle surgery, Marsh was in commanding form and hit nine fours and four sixes. He combined with Charlie Stobo in a last-wicket partnership of 113 to thwart Tasmania’s attempts at a comeback.After a subpar opening day, where they were bowled out for 179 in their first innings, Tasmania had clawed back into the contest with regular wickets through the opening two sessions.Offspinner Jarrod Freeman, who had claimed in-form Cameron Bancroft late on day one, dismissed opener Sam Whiteman for 64 to leave WA wobbling at 4 for 132 at lunch.Freeman added another after the long break when allrounder Aaron Hardie smashed a long-hop straight to midwicket with WA still 25 runs behind.Marsh, playing his first Shield match since April 2021, came to the crease looking to step up his preparations ahead of the upcoming ODI series in India.He was run out for a duck in his return against Tasmania in the 50-over Marsh Cup, but Marsh showed little rust as he navigated a short-pitched assault from speedster Riley Meredith who is arguably the fastest quick in the country.After a searing Meredith bouncer sailed over his head for byes, Marsh then counterattacked with a beautiful drive to the boundary followed by a six over midwicket.But Marsh was running out of partners with WA slumping to 9 for 223 with a lead of only 44 runs. He was on 38 when Stobo joined him and then hogged the strike by resisting singles.Marsh quickly sped past his half-century as he targeted Freeman straight down the ground while taking on Meredith’s sustained short-ball line.Tasmania had taken the extra 30 minutes before tea in a bid to claim the final wicket but their flagging attack was left frustrated as Marsh closed in on his century.He smashed a six off Freeman to move to 94 before reaching his ton moments later much to the delight of the smattering of fans in the terraces.Marsh received strong support from Stobo, who made a first-class career-best score of 38 off 84 balls to prove his worth having batted in the top-order for his local club in Perth grade cricket.Stobo finally fell as the shadows crept onto the WACA turf as WA moved closer to securing a home Shield final.

The Australia captain does not expect many players to withdraw but will support anyone who does

AAP13-Jan-2022Pat Cummins believes the vast majority of Australia’s Test squad will travel to Pakistan but the skipper fully understands if any team-mates opt out of the tour.Cricket Australia is yet to press players for a final decision regarding the multi-format series in Pakistan, which is slated to begin on March 3 with a Test in Karachi.But selectors have started to thrash out plans for a busy couple of months, when Australia’s white-ball series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka will be quickly followed by the Pakistan tour then the IPL.Players and staff have been given a preliminary briefing about security measures in Pakistan before Australia’s first tour of the nation since 1998.Related

• Ramiz Raja to propose Pakistan involvement in annual four-team series including India

• Need to be 'kind and patient' with Australia players who opt out of Pakistan tour

“Still a bit to work through…but at this stage it’s all looking really positive,” Cummins said. “The amount of work the PCB has put into it is fantastic.”It’s shaping up as, I think just about everyone – if not all – will go. If some players need to make a choice, it’s absolutely fine that they won’t be there. Still got a bit of water to go under the bridge, a bit more info to gather and get around to everyone.”In February, Australia’s best players will likely be split into a white-ball squad at home and a Test touring party in Pakistan. Cummins is concerned about bubble fatigue, knowing freedoms for players will likely continue to be restricted because of Covid-19.”We’re two years in, so we’ve learned a lot,” he said. “But it also means probably some players are further along their tether. It’s unprecedented times, we just have to make sure we look after each other. Conversations are happening. The selectors have been great along with the coaching staff.”This summer marks the first time Cummins has donned the baggy green since losing to India a year ago, while it is the first five-Test series during the Covid-19 era.Cummins said he doubted whether the rivals would get through five Tests, especially after Travis Head contracted coronavirus.”And just about everyone I know in Sydney has Covid,” Cummins said. “We’ve been tested just about every day for the last 20 days. It’s just been fantastic that we’ve got through the series.”

Pair post half-centuries as Worcs trail by 44 runs on first innings with eight wickets in hand

ECB Reporters Network02-Aug-2020Worcestershire 223 for 2 (Mitchell 80, Libby 77) trail Gloucestershire 267 (Dent 92, van Buuren 60, Morris 4-52) by 44 runsWorcestershire openers Jake Libby and Daryl Mitchell dominated proceedings on the second day of the Bob Willis Trophy match against Central Group rivals Gloucestershire at the Bristol County Ground.Playing together for the first time, the pair staged a superb stand of 152, veteran campaigner Mitchell top-scoring with 80 and Libby making an impressive 77 on debut as Worcestershire reached the close on 223 for 2, just 44 behind with eight first-innings wickets in hand.On a day when they might easily have wilted, Gloucestershire’s bowlers stuck to their task admirably, Tom Price and David Payne making crucial interventions either side of the tea interval to remove Mitchell and Libby respectively.Tom Fell and Jack Haynes reached the close unbeaten on 32 and 20 respectively and Worcestershire will have 38 overs more in which to build a lead on day three.At one point in mid-afternoon, it looked as though Worcestershire’s new opening pair would both go on to register hundreds on an increasingly docile surface. An authoritative presence, Mitchell was first to 50, reaching that landmark via 101 balls with nine fours.Making up for lost time after waiting nine months to make his debut following his switch from Nottinghamshire, Libby adopted a supporting role until plundering three boundaries in one Ryan Higgins over to pass 50 in a flurry.Their partnership realised three figures in 37 overs and, when Gloucestershire skipper Chris Dent turned to spin, Graeme van Buuren was hit out of the attack.Instead, it was Academy product Price who made the much-needed breakthrough, Mitchell dragging a bottom edge onto his stumps in the act of pulling to provide the youngster with his maiden first class wicket on debut. Having faced 161 balls and accrued 13 fours to move to within sight of what would have been a fifth hundred made in matches against Gloucestershire, Worcestershire’s most experienced batsman was understandably frustrated at the manner of his dismissal.Cornishman Libby scored a hundred on debut for Nottinghamshire against Sussex at Trent Bridge in 2014 and was intent upon becoming only the twelfth player to do so for Worcestershire when he became becalmed in the face of tight bowling after tea. Losing vital momentum, he was caught in the slips when pushing at a slanting delivery from David Payne as the visitors slipped to 180 for 2.He may have missed out on a coveted hundred, but Libby showed why Worcestershire were so keen to recruit him last winter in a well-organised innings which spanned 181 balls and included 10 fours.Gloucestershire’s quintet of seamers mustered a disciplined line and length in a final session which yielded a mere 62 runs in 29 overs.Required to rebuild the innings and set a base for the big hitters to come, Fell and Haynes survived without ever really kicking on.Resuming on 246 for 8, Gloucestershire’s tail-end resistance lasted just 30 minutes in the morning. Josh Shaw departed to the fifth ball of the day, Josh Tongue locating his outside edge and wicketkeeper Ben Cox taking an excellent tumbling catch low down in front of first slip.Determined to make a good impression against Worcestershire, the county he has agreed to join next year, Gareth Roderick mustered lower-order resistance, plundering three boundaries off one Morris over to secure a second batting bonus point and hasten the advent of the new ball.Morris removed Matt Taylor shortly afterwards, leaving the home side to reflect upon a dramatic decline which saw their last eight wickets go down for the addition of 62 runs inside 27 overs.Of Gloucestershire’s middle and lower order batsmen, only Roderick emerged with distinction, finishing unbeaten on 25, his resistance spanning 41 balls.

Sam Curran’s unbeaten 55 off 24 had given Kings XI a competitive total but KKR’s top order make short work of it

The Report by Danyal Rasool03-May-2019
The most pleasing thing about this game were the cameos – the half-century on either side, one score in the high 40s apiece, and – for good measure – an eye-catching cameo from Andre Russell. In a game brimming with high-class batting, Kings XI Punjab set Kolkata Knight Riders what looked a challenging target of 184. Nicholas Pooran’s 27-ball 48 – half of it coming in sixes – saw Kings XI on top early on, before a sumptuously intelligent 24-ball 55 not out from Sam Curran helped his side power to 183. Sunil Narine and Sandeep Warrier had stifled the innings through the Powerplay, but Kings XI’s success at building partnerships following the early dismissals of Chris Gayle and KL Rahul ensured they remained on track to post a competitive total.It was then something of a pity the bowlers couldn’t back that up and deliver the result Kings XI so desperately needed to keep realistic hopes of qualification alive. Chris Lynn has found himself in a run of form his side had desperately needed after losing their way through the group stages, with four half-centuries in the last seven innings. He fell four short of that mark today, but in 28 destructive balls, he had helped Knight Riders to 62 in the Powerplay. From thereon, Shubman Gill took over.Ensuring Lynn’s wicket did not result in a slump of the run rate, Gill worked the field expertly for the next six overs or so, with the occasional risk paying off. Handy contributions from Robin Uthappa and Russell helped, but it was Gill’s unbeaten 65 that saw Knight Riders all the way through, and while the game ended two overs early, the outcome – seven-wicket Knight Riders win – had been clear for the best part of the final hour.Shubman’s teenage kicksIt’s fair to say Shubnam came into this year’s IPL with something of a reputation to defend, having already made his international debut a few weeks ago. The way the tournament panned out hadn’t quite matched the hype though, with a pair of half-centuries interspersed with a string of underwhelming scores. Tonight, he allowed Chris Lynn to do the early damage while biding his time at the other end, and by the end of the 12th over, Gill had accumulated just 34 off 31.It was only then that he saw fit to launch, with no less than R Ashwin the chosen target for the teenager’s aggression. He charged Ashwin’s first ball to loft it in the air over long-on. A second six went over backward square leg two balls later, and the half-century was brought up with a late cut that would have had the MCC members purring on the first morning of a Test match. Even as the wickets fell at the other end, Knight Riders’ youngest team member had assumed the role of senior player, and eventually saw them through to the end.Curran’s cerebral knockTwenty-year-old Sam Curran’s fresh-faced demeanour and slight build aren’t exactly redolent of a typical power hitter, but in conjuring up that absorbing unbeaten 24-ball 55, he managed the best strike rate across an innings for Kings XI all season. Each ball was like a chess move, and Curran was one step ahead most of the way. He used his feet to scoop over fine leg, took the pace of the bowler in his strike to whack him over the top, and found angles to manoeuvre the ball into gaps Ashwin might have thought were impossible to pierce.The final over from Harry Gurney was such an astonishing display of mental dominance over the bowler it became impossible to tell whether Gurney was bowling badly or Curran playing the innings of the season. The last six balls yielded 22 as a discombobulated Gurney knew not which variation to try, and in the moment, it appeared to have powered Kings XI to a total that looked slightly above par.Gayle gone earlyPerhaps the most telling blow struck all evening was executed in the first 15 minutes. In a game that would see several players produce vital knocks, a half hour at the crease for Chris Gayle might have been enough to see Kings XI home. Instead, a pair of boundaries in the first over was his lot as Gayle struggles with Gurney’s varied pace and Narine’s guile, with the big man getting frustrated at his failure to find the middle of his bat more regularly. Sandeep Warrier, who had a couple of overs ago sent KL Rahul back to the pavilion, pitched one short of a length to Gayle.It was perhaps shorter than intended, and Gayle would have backed himself to clear the ropes. But with what had happened in the first three overs, Gayle jabbed at the ball early, eager to get himself going. The fielder at deep-backward square had been positioned exactly for that scenario, and it was the first of a number of plans that came together for a Knight Riders’ side that suddenly appear up and running in the tournament again.

Vernon Philander took career-best innings figures of 6 for 42 as the hosts comfortably defended a target of 208 at Newlands

The Report by Alagappan Muthu08-Jan-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details (Viewers in the Indian subcontinent can watch highlights of the Test here)For a half hour or so, the South African pace attack looked… unremarkable. Without Dale Steyn – out of the series with a heel injury – the other three had a difficult task summoning their usual menace. Then came an inswinger. It only decided to be one after travelling three-fourth the distance down the pitch. It fooled Virat Kohli. And it broke India.Newlands was once again a reminder that Test-match conditions tilted in favour of the bowlers foster compelling cricket. In fact, footage of the fast bowling from both teams can probably replace adrenaline in hospitals. The fourth day alone featured 18 wickets and six of them went to Vernon Philander as his career-best sealed victory for his team, on his home ground, by 72 runs.In the end, the result highlighted the difference between the two sides, namely that South Africa’s bowlers allowed 48 boundaries in the entire Test and India’s offered 41 in the first innings alone.BCCI

Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah did try their best to make amends. Like a heavy metal song that begins in the guise of a gentle melody, they simply blew batsmen away in the morning.Faf du Plessis was the worst affected. He did not do much wrong in deciding to press forward to a delivery that under normal circumstances would have come up about waist-high. But in Cape Town, on a surface that spent an entire day under the covers, something crazy happened. The ball banged into the deck, it trampolined up to take the top glove even as the batsman recoiled from the line of fire, and settled in the wicketkeeper’s waiting gloves. Wriddhiman Saha finished with 10 catches, a new national record.A target of 208 seemed imminently achievable and India did start rather well, cruising to 28 for 0 in seven overs and in that time, M Vijay had already bested two jaffas, ruled out on both of them, but using DRS to continue his innings. Philander made sure the opener wasn’t third time lucky.Given the new ball from the other end, Morne Morkel bounced out Shikhar Dhawan and then had Cheteshwar Pujara caught behind with a snorter that the batsman had no choice but to play. India were in the mire and in walked their captain.Kohli’s stay at the crease was purposeful. He half seemed in one-day mode, turning dots into ones and ones into twos. He knew India wouldn’t get too many opportunities to score and so he tried to give himself a leg up – literally. In the hour that he was out there, he made a conscious effort to thrust his front foot down the pitch and in his eagerness to do so, it often slid too far across on off stump. One of his leg glances was played right around his pad. South Africa sensed an opportunity. Philander converted it brilliantly.The game changed from that moment on. Kagiso Rabada came charging in next over and roughed up Rohit Sharma with a ferocious bouncer. The batsman was beaten for pace and would have been out if not for a bit of casual fielding at long leg by Keshav Maharaj – he did not have his shades on and the sun blinded him from even putting a hand on the catch. If India read anything into that moment of fortune, Philander got rid of Rohit five balls later, a loose push away from the body forced an inside edge to crash into his stumps. Hardik Pandya was caught at gully – the same position he was dropped at in the first innings – for 1 with AB de Villiers diving low to his left and rising up to issue a send-off.In the pre-match presser, South Africa made no pretense that they have a score to settle with India. Come the time to back it up, they were absolutely relentless. De Villiers batted at a level beyond the rest to take the lead above 200. There was a flick through midwicket for four that bowlers might petition to be taken out of the game. Then, a man who was meant to be in a moon boot walked out to bat. Steyn may not be able to play the sport he loves for four weeks, but when his team was nine down and needed him, he shrugged off the pain and put on the pads. South Africa are highly invested in winning this series and they’ve made a near-perfect start to it.

The Bangladesh coach delivered some tough words during the tea interval on the third day in Mirpur and the players responded with an astonishing display

Mohammad Isam31-Oct-2016Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha said that at tea time during on third day of the Mirpur Test there was apprehension that another winning position was slipping from their grasp after England had moved to 100 without loss chasing 273.Hathurusingha, who has been influential in Bangladesh’s rise in the last two years, praised the role of the players who stood up to his challenge to turn the situation around, particularly the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mehedi Hasan. Tamim, Mushfiqur Rahim’s deputy, took an active role in setting fields while Shakib and Mehedi shared the ten wickets that fell in the third session, handing Bangladesh their maiden Test win over England.”The best thing I can tell you is that the big players stood up,” Hathurusingha told ESPNcricinfo. “I was disappointed and upset that we are nearly wasting another opportunity which we had in our hands. I had a chat with the boys. I challenged them to stand up. I told them that this opportunity will never come again. I am glad that a few people stood up and decided to do something different.”Bangladesh had previous frozen when near to a winning position on a number of occasions during England’s tour this year – particularly the first one-day international and at key moments of the opening Test – but Hathurusingha said that the team will become more successful if they keep getting out of difficult situations in matches.”This group is still learning. They have a long way to go. Otherwise we would have had more success. I hope that after this win, they will have better memories if they get into such winning positions in the future, to do on their own. They can find the ways on their own in the middle. There’s a lot of idea sharing and making sure we create the environment that they get challenged.”Hathurusingha, who has now overseen four Test wins for Bangladesh, said that he is more interested in getting the job done rather than pleasing those around him. He said that the players and the BCB were supportive of him.”I got lot of support from the players, who are open for ideas, and the board members which is all you want. You don’t need everyone to like you. In that way, you’re pleasing people. The more people criticise you, it means you are challenging what is happening. Results on top of that, give you a positive sign.”

Saeed Ajmal is facing disciplinary action after launching a scathing assessment of the ICC’s attitude towards illegal bowling actions

George Dobell05-Nov-2015Saeed Ajmal is facing disciplinary action after launching a scathing assessment of the ICC’s attitude towards illegal bowling actions.Ajmal, the Pakistan spinner, was forced to re-model his bowling action after testing in September 2014 suggested he exceeded the legal limits by some distance.While he was cleared to return to the professional game in February, his new action appears to provide him with little of the devil his bowling had previously. He has not played international cricket since April and missed his country’s 2-0 series victory over England in the UAE, opponents against whom he claimed 24 wickets at 14.70 on their previous visit in 2012.Now Ajmal has accused the ICC of double-standards, claiming that off-spinners have been unfairly targeted in the purge of illegal bowling actions and suggesting that the players of some countries – notably Pakistan – are more likely to be reported than those from some others. In particular, he delivered an unflattering – and perhaps slanderous – assessment of Harbhajan Singh’s bowling action.The PCB quickly responded by issuing Ajmal with a show notice, while it is possible that legal action could also follow from Harbhajan, whose success in remodelling his bowling action having twice been reported was recently hailed as “fantastic” by ICC chief executive, Dave Richardson.”Why just target the off-spinners?”Ajmal asked in interviews with Zainab Abbas on Dunya News and with Geo Super. “Why not the left-arm spinners, legspinners or fast bowlers?”I can tell you that I have been through this bowling assessment process so many times and have watched and studied this issue so closely that I can vouch that if tests were carried out, there would be many other bowlers whose bowling actions would exceed the 15 degrees extension limit.”I don’t want to take names but there are still bowlers, including fast bowlers, who are violating the new rules but no one is looking at them.”If they put Harbhajan Singh through a proper bowling assessment test now, I can safely tell you he will exceed the 15 degrees limit.”Richardson, speaking at a launch event for the World Cup about 12 months ago, said of Harbhajan: “now there is no question mark about the way he bowls”.Ajmal also questioned the timing of the reports, hinting that he felt it was motivated by a desire to destabilise the Pakistan team.”Just before the World Cup they ruled me and Hafeez out,” he said.”I find it strange that Bilal Asif plays his first two ODIs and doesn’t take many wickets, so no one reports his action. As soon as he takes five wickets, his action is reported by the umpires. They find fault with just two deliveries. I find this a joke.An ICC spokesman, however, insisted that bowlers of all types and of all nationalities were treated equally.”We have a robust and transparent process to test bowlers,” the spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. “It is consistent to all countries and all types of bowlers. Indeed, a fast bowler has been reported and players from various nations have been reported.”We have five ICC accredited testing centres around the world in which members of ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists conduct tests using the ICC Standard Analysis Protocols. These protocols are the same for anyone who undergoes assessment of his bowling action. As a result, following assessments, some bowlers have been cleared to continue bowling; some have needed to re-model their actions.””Furthermore, a player can within seven days after receiving the independent assessment report seek a review of any procedural aspect of his case, but no player has done so.”