Pandya to join India squad in New Zealand, Rahul to play for India A

The CoA has lifted the suspensions on the two cricketers ‘with immediate effect’, pending the appointment and adjudication of the BCCI’s ombudsman

Nagraj Gollapudi24-Jan-2019

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were banned for their controversial comments in a TV programme•Getty Images

Hardik Pandya will join India’s limited-overs squad in New Zealand and KL Rahul the India A squad that is currently playing a 50-overs series against England Lions in Thiruvananthapuram, after the BCCI lifted their suspensions on Thursday.Pandya will fly out to New Zealand “at the earliest”, according to a BCCI release, while Rahul will join his India A team-mates for the last three matches of the series, on January 27, 29 and 31. Given that India play their second ODI against New Zealand on Saturday, the third ODI in Mount Maunganui on Monday, January 28, appears to be the earliest possible opportunity for Pandya to return to action.Rahul and Pandya had been suspended for their controversial comments on a TV show, but became available for selection as soon as the BCCI’s Committee of Administrators lifted the ban on the pair, pending the appointment and adjudication of the board’s ombudsman.The CoA banned Pandya and Rahul on January 11 for their controversial comments on a TV chat show. However, the fate of the two players since then had been in limbo because of the split in the two-member CoA over what the next step should be.CoA chairman Vinod Rai was in favour of placing a two-match suspension and allowing the players to return pending an inquiry by an ad-hoc ombudsman. However, former India woman’s captain Diana Edulji, the other half of the CoA, disagreed, saying either the office bearers and the COA carry out the inquiry or it be done by an ombudsman. Two of the three BCCI office bearers had then pointed out that the ombudsman could only be appointed by the BCCI.It was then decided that the CoA would wait for the Supreme Court to take call on the appointment of the ombudsman, considering the BCCI had failed to fill the position lying vacant since late 2016. At a hearing last week, the court deferred its decision saying it would have a say only after amicus curiae PS Narasimha took charge.It is understood that Edulji was not keen to change her stance, but Narasimha is learned to have intervened and said the interim suspensions over the players be lifted subject to the ombudsman’s adjudication, once appointed.Accordingly, the BCCI issued a statement, stating the CoA had lifted the “interim suspension” on both Pandya and Rahul with immediate effect. “The above matter and decision has been taken with the concurrence of the amicus curiae, Mr PS Narasimha. In view of the above, the suspension orders dated 11.01.2019 is immediately lifted pending appointment and adjudication of the allegations by the BCCI ombudsman,” the board said.

West Indies seek more convincing show in series decider

Big Picture

Both Test series between Bangladesh and West Indies this year panned out similarly, with the home team dominating. The ODI series, however, have been closer contests. After Bangladesh won the first ODI convincingly in Dhaka, West Indies bounced back with a tight win to level the series. The teams were in a similar situation in July this year, and it was Bangladesh who prevailed then, winning the final ODI to clinch the series 2-1. While hopes of an encore are alive for the hosts, the visitors, buoyed by the series-leveling win, would for their part hope to keep the trend of the away team winning the ODIs going.While West Indies were not entirely convincing in the second game, their first win on the tour sure was a much-needed boost. Shai Hope displayed guts to take them through in a difficult chase on a challenging pitch in Dhaka. He found little support at the other end but the starts that Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels got are little things the visitors can build on.Like many of them, stand-in captain Rovman Powell too is due runs, particularly quick ones, if West Indies are to impose themselves on the Bangladesh bowlers. Keemo Paul batted well in the first two games but his batting position suggests that his contributions are at this stage seen as a bonus. Overall, West Indies need all-round discipline in their bowling, and a bit more patience from their batsmen.Bangladesh would be wary of slip-ups in the decider. Losing wickets in clusters after a big partnership has been a long-term problem, and both seniors and newcomers have been afflicted with it. It might be slightly easier for batsmen to get going from the start in Sylhet, but guarding against a collapse has to be quite high on their priority list.Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan would all be disappointed with their fifties given how they were well set at the crease for bigger things. Mahmudullah would also not have been too pleased getting out in the 41st over, usually the time when he is at his destructive best.But Bangladesh also have to look beyond these four and Mashrafe Mortaza when looking for performers. Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar are due some runs, while Imrul Kayes may be fighting for his place in the side despite scoring 349 runs in Bangladesh’s previous ODI series, against Zimbabwe. If the trio can step up in this crunch game, it will ease the pressure off the big guns.

Form guide

Bangladesh LWWWW (Last five completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies WLLLW

In the spotlight

Analysts have already started to discuss Oshane Thomas‘ pace, which despite being wayward at times, has had somewhat of an impact on the Bangladesh batting. He has so far taken four wickets at an average of 22.00 in the series.Mustafizur Rahman has the best economy rate, 5.30, among bowlers who have bowled in the last five overs of an ODI on at least ten occasions since his debut. Therefore, he should treat his 16-run penultimate over in the second ODI as a one-off.

Team news

As it usually does after one or two low scores, a question mark will hang over Imrul Kayes’ place in the top order with Mohammad Mithun a likely replacement; in that case, Soumya Sarkar will bat at No 3. Rubel Hossain may well have staved off the vultures too, after a decent showing in the second game.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Liton Das, 3 Imrul Kayes, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Soumya Sarkar, 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Mustafizur RahmanWest Indies may not want to tinker with their winning combination, which means Chandrapaul Hemraj gets another go.West Indies (probable): 1 Chandrapaul Hemraj, 2 Shai Hope (wk), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Rovman Powell (capt), 8 Keemo Paul, 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Oshane Thomas

Pitch and conditions

Sylhet offers an altogether different pitch than Dhaka, with hope for truer bounce and a bit more pace on the ball. There’s usually dew around early evening. Weather is set to be clear.

Stats and trivia

  • Shimron Hetmyer has scored three ODI hundreds this year – joint fourth in the world, closely followed by Shai Hope who has scored two.
  • Mustafizur Rahman is Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs this year with 29 scalps at an average of 20.58. Mashrafe Mortaza has taken 24 wickets, while Rubel Hossain has 23.

Quotes

“We have come here to win the games. We came here to fight and make sure we finish the series 2-1.”

Shreyas Iyer shreds jetlag with bruising 178

Pandya returns to action, Milind Kumar breaches 1000-run mark, Dhapola continues to sizzle and more

Shashank Kishore14-Dec-2018Shreyas Iyer shreds jetlag in style

Less than 24 hours after landing from New Zealand, Shreyas Iyer showed what Mumbai missed for the first half of a dismal campaign – they’re at the bottom of Group A, with only Chhattisgarh below them. Iyer struck his 12th first-class century – a bruising 139-ball 178 – courtesy 17 fours and 11 sixes against Baroda at Wankhede Stadium. His 283-run third-wicket stand with Siddesh Lad, the captain, came off just 271 balls. Mumbai blasted 439 for 8 by stumps. Lad helped himself to a slightly mellow, but no-less effective 130.How did comeback man Hardik Pandya do?

Among those made to toil was Hardik Pandya. Returning to top-flight cricket for the first time since injuring his lower back at the Asia Cup in September, Pandya, given the new ball, removed openers Aditya Tare and Vikrant Auti in his first spell. He returned later in the day to dismiss the dangerous Shivam Dube. In all, his figures read a respectable 15-0-74-3.What about the other India A boys?

India A’s highest run-getter during the 3-0 one-day series win in New Zealand, Vijay Shankar’s journey to Mohali was more eventful. His route read something like this: Mount Maunganui-Auckland-Singapore-Mumbai-Delhi and then a six-hour road trip to Chandigarh. This meant he reached the venue close to midnight on Thursday and was amid the thick of things in the second session, reviving a floundering Tamil Nadu innings. Walking in at 73 for 4, he struck a 122-ball 71 to take them to 213 for 9 at stumps against Punjab. Vijay was the seventh batsman dismissed, after which TN lost two more.ALSO READ: Record-breaking Rohera relives magical debutIshan Kishan, meanwhile, struck a counter-attacking 42-ball 54 to put Jharkhand back on track after they were reduced to 59 for 4 in the first session by a fired up Uttar Pradesh attack. That they finished at a relatively strong 278 for 6 was courtesy Kishan’s Jharkhand mentor and senior batsman Ishank Jaggi, who was 76 not out at stumps. Jaggi battled for 176 deliveries, hitting eight fours. His unbroken seventh-wicket stand with Shahbaz Nadeem, who was also with India A for the four-day fixtures in New Zealand not too long ago, was worth 121. Nadeem was unbeaten on 70, possibly eyeing a maiden first-class century on Saturday.AFP

Panchal’s form continues, Milind breaches 1000 barrier

Leading Gujarat, champions of 2016-17 in Parthiv Patel’s absence, opener Priyank Panchal struck his eighth score of fifty or more this season – he’s converted three of those into hundreds – but Gujarat failed to capitalise. Smarting from a defeat to Saurashtra on a rank turner, Karnataka roared back to dismiss Gujarat for 216, and finished on 45 for the loss of Mayank Agarwal and D Nischal in reply.Panchal’s 741 runs, including Friday’s 74, is the most by a batsman from the Elite group so far. Overall, it’s second-best to Milind Kumar’s 1017. The Delhi-based Sikkim professional breached the 1000-run barrier during the course of his fourth century of the season – two of those have been double tons. He struck 139 to put Sikkim in a commanding position at 321 for 9 against Mizoram in the Plate Group where bowlers dominated proceedings elsewhere.There also seems to be no stopping Deepak Dhapola, the Uttarakhand fast bowler, who picked up his sixth five-wicket haul of the season to take his wicket tally to 42 in his sixth game, the most in the season so far. It helped bowl Nagaland out for 207, before Uttarakhand finished on 73 for 2. With five wins in five matches, they’re all but through to the knockouts.Meanwhile in Goalpara, as many as 22 wickets fell on a manic day where Puducherry took control despite being shot out for 136 in the first innings. Fabid Ahmed picked 6 for 29 to shoot Arunachal out for 82. At stumps, Puducherry lost two more in the second innings, but had extended their lead to 82.Brief scores:
Groups A & B
Group C
Plate Group

Virat Kohli defends no-spinner attack, and Umesh Yadav over Bhuvneshwar Kumar

India’s captain said he might have played four quicks in the Perth Test even if R Ashwin had been fit

Sidharth Monga in Perth18-Dec-20184:09

‘We were totally convinced about this combination’ – Kohli

India might have gone into the Perth Test without a spinner even if R Ashwin had been fit, their captain Virat Kohli has said.Ashwin was ruled out of the game with a side strain, and India, rather than replacing him with Ravindra Jadeja, the other spinner in their 13-man squad for the Test, went ahead with a four-man pace attack. Australia stuck with their 3-1 combination and their spinner Nathan Lyon won the Man-of-the-Match award for his eight wickets.These events were somewhat similar to those of the Adelaide Test on the 2014-15 tour – Kohli’s first Test as captain – when India had played the rookie legspinner Karn Sharma, who leaked runs with little success, and Lyon had taken 12 wickets.India’s selection came in for sharp criticism, but Kohli defended it, saying the pitch had played exactly how the team management had expected it to.”Yes, we could have considered that (playing four quicks),” Kohli said, when asked if Ashwin would have played had he been fit. “If you see, the rough didn’t have much assistance. It was just the pace on the ball that Lyon bowled that he got the wickets that he got.”We as a team didn’t want to think that we definitely wanted to consider a spinning option on this pitch, especially having a look at the pitch on day one and how we thought it would play on the first three days, and exactly played out that way. We thought a fast bowler is going to be more productive and more helpful for us as a team.”The choice of the fourth fast bowler was also contentious, with Umesh Yadav getting a go ahead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is usually considered an automatic pick on well-grassed pitches. Kohli said Bhuvneshwar lost out because he had not played much four-day cricket of late.”Bhuvi hasn’t played a lot of four-day cricket recently, and Umesh took 10 wickets in his last Test (against West Indies in Hyderabad), and was in good bowling rhythm. So that was the reason behind picking Umesh over Bhuvi.”Bhuvneshwar’s last first-class match was in Johannesburg, nearly 11 months ago. In England, he aggravated a lower-back injury during the ODI series, and was ruled out of the Test series in the same country, where conditions are considered to be ideal for him to bowl in. He was then rested for the home Tests against West Indies.Umesh Yadav gets to his run up•Associated PressOne of the reasons Bhuvneshwar was missed was his batting. Even in Johannesburg, on a pitch that just escaped being labelled dangerous, he scored 30 and 33 out of India’s totals of 187 and 247. India have often spoken of lower-order runs as one of the major contributing factors to their Test success, and this was the case just last week in Adelaide, where Ashwin scored 25 in a crucial 62-run stand for the seventh wicket. In Perth, India’s Nos. 8 to 11 only contributed 11 runs between them across both innings.”You obviously have two situations that you can think of,” Kohli said. “When you pick another fast bowler, obviously Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja have more ability with the bat, we all know that. It’s a very tricky decision to make, what kind of a bowling option you want to go with or you want to think that that guy can contribute with the bat as well.”So eventually you come to one decision, and we back that decision and went ahead with it. Whether it comes off or not, that’s a different thing, but we were totally convinced in the team that that was our best combination to go with, and the batsmen have to take responsibility. There are lots of variables that can happen during the course of a cricket match but before that, you need to have clarity as to what you want to do. And as a side, we were totally clear that this was the combination we wanted to go with.”The preferred option, Umesh, ended the match with figures of 2 for 139 from 37 overs and consolidated his reputation as a bowler much better suited to Indian conditions where he has reverse-swing to work with. Umesh’s economy rate of 3.75 had two knock-on effects: the part-time spinners bowled 29 overs, and the other three quicks had to keep coming back for spells when they may not have been at their freshest.Kohli was, however, happy with the fast bowlers’ performance overall.”Especially yesterday, the first session, giving away only 56-odd runs without getting a wicket,” Kohli said, when asked if he was satisfied with the control he had on the game, in the absence of a spinner. “I think it was outstanding bowling, and obviously [Mohammed] Shami did what he did in the next session with the ball (he took six wickets in the second innings), which was again wonderful to see. So, yeah. I think they executed their plans to 95% of what we expected.”I think you definitely can be happy with that. In the past when we have played four quicks, we definitely haven’t been as consistent as we were in this game. So, I think they were pretty accurate, pretty consistent, and as I said we were pretty convinced about going in with four fast bowlers looking at the conditions. I think they did pretty well.”

Chelsea make surprise decision on contracts for big-money buys Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk

Chelsea have extended the contracts of Enzo Fernandez and Mukhailo Mudryk that will keep them at the club into their thirties.

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  • Chelsea extend stay of Fernandez and Mudryk
  • Blues stars set to stay at Stamford Bridge for a long time
  • Lewis Hall could leave Chelsea permanently
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    According to , the FA recently released data on the Chelsea stars as part of their annual agent payments report last week. The data suggests that the Blues have extended the contracts of Fernandez and Mudryk until 2032 and 2031 respectively.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    If both the players stay at Stamford Bridge until the end of the current deals, the Argentine will be aged 31 while the Ukraine international will be 30. As per their current contracts, Fernandez earns £180,000-a-week and Mudryk pockets a wage of £97,000-a-week.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Teenage English defender Lewis Hall also signed a new contract last year but he is currently on loan at Newcastle United. The player's move is expected to be made permanent if certain conditions in his contact are met, with Newcastle £24m ($30m) to sign Hall outright.

  • (C)Getty images

    WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

    Mauricio Pochettino's side will be next seen in action on Monday as they take on Everton in an important Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge.

USMNT star Weston McKennie powerless to prevent Juventus stuttering again as drab Torino draw is latest chapter of their hopeless Serie A campaign

Juventus' Serie A struggles continued on Saturday as Weston McKennie and his teammates were unable to get the better of Torino.

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McKennie starts and plays full 90 minutesJuve held by Torino as forwards misfireSerie A title is way out of reach for Allegri's menGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

It was another frustrating day for Juventus, who squandered several opportunities to take the lead in the first half.

Dusan Vlahovic was the main culprit, with the striker unable to find the back of the net. The Serbian blasted a point-blank chance off the post in just the seventh minute and was also thwarted several times by Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, with one particularly fine save in the 31st minute.

Kenan Yildiz had Juve's best chance of the second half, but Torino had the clearest opportunity to win the game late. Valentino Lazaro's header in stoppage time went just over the bar, sparing Juventus from what would have been an embarrassing defeat against their rivals as the game ended 0-0.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The draw continues a frustrating run of form for Juventus, who have been struggling for some time. The Old Lady have won just two matches in the league since January 27, claiming 11 points from as many games during that period.

As a result, Juve remain in third, with the club continuing to fall further away from the top two. McKennie and his teammates are now five points behind second-placed Milan, who have a game in hand. They're also just five points ahead of fourth-placed Bologna, who also have one more game to play.

GettyUSMNT IMPACT

It was a solid but not spectacular performance from McKennie, who was unable to prevent Juve from continuing their slide. That's no fault of his, though, as the visitors would have won this match easily if anyone on the team could finish.

Statistically, McKennie's passing was a bit poor and there were several moments where he could have done better on the ball. Off the ball, he was effective, contributing defensively in the moments Torino got forward.

It wasn't a vintage performance by any stretch, and McKennie has had a few this season. It was decent enough to help Juve control the midfield, though, and the American midfielder remains virtually irreplaceable in this team, even if he alone wasn't able to make the difference.

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Weston McKennie (6/10):

A special day as he made his 100th Serie A appearance. It wasn't a memorable game, though, as McKennie and Juve struggled. His passing will need to be better, but the draw was far from his fault.

Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney set ‘got to improve’ transfer challenge as Phil Parkinson draws up summer recruitment plans at Wrexham

Co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been set a transfer challenge as manager Phil Parkinson draws up recruitment plans at Wrexham.

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  • Back-to-back promotions for Dragons
  • Preparing for life in League One
  • Owners to make more funds available
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The Red Dragons are readying themselves for a step up to League One, with back-to-back promotions carrying them from the National League and into the third tier of English football. Hollywood co-owners Reynolds and McElhenney have helped to make that meteoric rise possible.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    More funds will be required in the next window, with Wrexham aware that they are no longer in a position to outspend EFL rivals. There is plenty of quality on their books, but movement in and out of SToK Racecourse is expected over the coming weeks.

  • WHAT PARKINSON SAID

    Parkinson admits as much, telling of his hopes for the summer: “How can we go? I think League One is a bigger jump than going from National League to League Two, so we’ve got a big test in this summer, we really have. We’ve got to recruit well, we’ve got to maintain the spirit we’ve built over the last two years, but whilst always being honest – you’ve got to improve each time you go up, so that’s the challenge for us and it’s one I’m really excited about taking on.”

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    WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

    The Welsh outfit are about to see a number of contracts expire, with big decisions to be made there, while top targets need to be identified – with on-loan goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo said to be among those – as they look to provide even more drama for the popular ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series.

'She still has so much to give' – Chelsea star Millie Bright reveals Lionesses' shock at Rachel Daly's England retirement & admits she feels like she's 'lost half' of herself

Chelsea star Millie Bright says the Lionesses were so shocked by Rachel Daly's sudden international retirement as she still has "so much to give".

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Daly retires from England duty at 32Bright and Lionesses shocked by newsSays Daly still has 'so much to give'WHAT HAPPENED?

Aston Villa ace Daly decided to hang up her England boots earlier this month, sending shockwaves across the sport. Tributes flooded in from her team-mates and fans following the news, with the forward now focusing solely on her club career and her "loved ones". A week on from that announcement, fellow England international Bright has reflected on the 32-year-old's decision.

AdvertisementWHAT MILLIE BRIGHT SAID

She said on: "I feel like I've lost half of me, half of me has gone. Moreso than anyone I knew it was coming but even though you know something's coming it's still hard to take. But I think the biggest thing is everyone was so shocked because she has so much to give still, but as we know football is more than just the physical side, it's the mental side as well. I could be selfish and say, 'stay another year, fight for the Euros', but that would be selfish and I would never do that."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Daly's England career spanned eight years and 84 caps, scoring 16 goals along the way. She helped the Lionesses win the European Championship in 2022 and reach the World Cup final in 2023. After struggling for game time in recent England internationals, Daly took the decision to start a new chapter in her career – despite likely having several good years of playing ahead of her – and she leaves behind her an impressive legacy.

GettyWHAT NEXT?

Daly, who will be absent for next year's Euros as England try to defend their title, will next be in action for Aston Villa away to Chelsea on Wednesday night in the Women's Super League.

Joe Denly out to prove doubters wrong in pursuit of Ashes 'dream'

Joe Denly has admitted the prospect of earning a spot in England’s Ashes team is hard to ignore.Denly made his Test debut in Antigua becoming, aged 32, England’s oldest debutant since Alan Wells in 1995. While he didn’t enjoy the best of games, scoring 6 and 17 as England succumbed to a 10-wicket defeat inside three days, he seems certain to play in St Lucia, giving him another chance to show he can prosper at this level.While the Ashes does not start for six months, there is only one Test between this tour and that series – a four-day match against Ireland – and any success achieved now could establish him as the incumbent. So while Denly knows his focus has to be on the next game, he conceded the lure of the Ashes is pretty irresistible for a man who had all but given up any Test ambitions not so long ago.”Playing in an Ashes series is an absolute dream and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about it a little bit,” Denly said. “I hope the selectors see a future in me opening the batting in Test cricket.”These two Tests are a great opportunity for me to try and make that position mine. There’s a lot of time before the next Test in England but this Test coming up is a great chance to get a score and make myself a realistic option for them going into the summer.”But my focus has to be on the next game. It’s important not to think about it [the Ashes] as much as possible and have a real focus on trying to get a score in this next Test. I have to prove to those guys who think I am a stopgap or makeshift opener that I have got a future as an opener in Test cricket.”Joe Denly was not afraid to take on the short ball•Getty Images

Those doubts are understandable, though. Denly has not opened in Championship cricket for three-and-a-half years and, while most of the West Indies seam attack has experience in England, the step up from batting at No. 3 in Division Two of the County Championship to opening on a tricky surface was demanding.It wasn’t the most convincing performance, either. He was dropped on nought in the second innings and admits he was fortunate to survive a leg-before decision before he had scored in the first. He was ultimately caught behind off a wide long-hop in the first and bowled leaving in the second.”Umpire Chris Gaffaney did me a favour there,” he said. “When it hit me I thought it was quite close and was happy not to be given. Even when they reviewed I said to Jonny Bairstow ‘that’s close, probably hitting, hopefully umpire’s call’.”So, yes, I got away with one there. I got a duck on my first-class debut so to do it on my Test debut, that would have been not ideal.”This is a very hostile attack. They’ve certainly got a lot of pace. It was a tricky opening spell. It was like an early season first-class wicket in England. So it was challenging and to get through the first half-hour unscathed [was an achievement]. But then Alzarri Joseph bowled a rank long-hop… It was probably too wide to go at but, on that wicket, I felt I should latch on to any width. Unfortunately, I latched on with the toe-end of my bat.”It was a wicket where there was probably one with your name on, but to get out leaving [in the second innings] was very frustrating. That’s the only disappointing thing looking back on my debut: a rank long-hop and then not playing a shot. That’s pretty frustrating. I’d done the hard work.”Despite the disappointment, Denly said he enjoyed the experience hugely and has no regrets about missing out on some lucrative T20 cricket having spent much of the winter carrying drinks for England. He put his relatively relaxed temperament down to the experience of playing for England as a much younger man – he made his limited-overs debut in 2009 – and then coming to terms with the disappointment of it not working out.”It was actually pretty relaxed,” he said. “There was a flurry of emotions telling the family, but the whole build-up I felt very relaxed. That comes from having a taste of it before, it not going to plan, going back to first-class cricket and through some rough patches, before coming out the other end. Sometimes you build things up to be something they are not. I was very aware of that going into the Test, so I felt very relaxed.”This is absolutely the ultimate. I’d take this all day long. I think those T20 gigs in the last few years have played a part in me reaching this place now: they taught me about playing pressure situations against top players. But I’d give it all up to be here, that’s for sure.”

Hamstring injury puts 'devastated' Daniel Worrall out of action

The South Australia fast bowler was on the radar of the national selectors for the upcoming Ashes series

Alex Malcolm07-Mar-2019

Daniel Worrall played for Gloucestershire in the last county season•Getty Images

Ashes hopeful Daniel Worrall has been left devastated after a hamstring injury all but ended his Sheffield Shield season with South Australia.The lively 27-year-old right-arm swing bowler has been on the radar of Australia’s national selection panel as a possible England tourist after he took 17 wickets in two Shield matches in November before succumbing to a back injury.He returned to action late in the Big Bash League, helping Melbourne Stars reach the final. He was rested from the first Shield game after the BBL in order to try and prevent a recurrence of his back injury. But after taking 3 for 60 from 15.4 overs in the first innings against Western Australia at the WACA earlier this week, Worrall injured his hamstring in the first over of the second innings and will miss South Australia’s next game.”(Worrall’s) really disappointed, he’s devastated,” South Australia coach Jamie Siddons said. “He knows it’s a critical time for him. He bowled beautifully in the first innings and was set to the job for us in the second.”He was looking for Australia A (opportunities), or the Ashes, and to win games for us, which is probably more disappointing for him.”We’ll do everything we can to get him back for the last game of the year to give him a chance to push his claims, but he’s pretty shattered at the moment.”Worrall has experience of playing in England. He played four games with Gloucestershire in the last County Championship season, taking 16 wickets at 21.75, but suffered a stress fracture in the foot that saw him miss the first part of the Australian domestic summer.He has already represented Australia in three ODIs in South Africa in 2016, having played two first-class matches for Australia A several months earlier against South Africa A and India A in Brisbane.

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