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After a breakout year with his cricket and his charity , the NSW and Sydney Sixers batsman wants to raise the bar on both fronts

Daniel Brettig12-Jan-2015While shooting a video for his charity , Ryan Carters made a discovery about the art of film production. As the likes of Steven Smith, Brad Haddin, Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe offered a line each about Carters’ cause, the Sydney Sixers ‘keeper/batsman and amateur director found out which take was invariably best.”For the most part I found the second shot is usually the winner,” Carters said. “Often the first is a bit hesitant and then you get a bit more energy and they nail it, then if you get them to repeat it too many times things tend to drop off a little bit.”An improved second take is what Carters has been looking for in a few ways this summer. Not only is in its second season, with a higher cash target – $66,666 rather than last season’s $30,000 – but Carters himself has found himself playing innings of higher stakes following a breakout first Sheffield Shield season with New South Wales in 2013-14.The effort required to expand , which in its first edition funded the construction of three new classrooms at the Heartland School in Kathmandu, was emphasised by the hours spent shooting the promotional video on a grey, moody day at the SCG.”I guess you’d call me the director,” he said. “The cinematographer and editor was a good friend of mine from Melbourne who generously flew up and did the whole thing free of charge for us. It’s great to have people like that throwing their energy behind the cause. The video came together beautifully, really communicates the message in a short period of time and hopefully holds extra power with those well-known Sixers and Australian cricketers speaking the words and getting people on board.”The fact of his wicket becoming more sought after following a season aggregate of 995 runs in the Blues’ Shield-winning team was shown by increasing pressure at the crease. Just as it took a few takes with each cricketer on the video, Carters took time to adjust, but a stout 198 against Queensland in the final Shield game before the states downed red ball tools for the Big Bash League was a sign of progress.”I was really pleased with my innings in the last game leading into the BBL,” Carters said. “It was a very important match for us coming back from the break from cricket [after the death of Phillip Hughes] and getting back onto the field it was great to be part of a team win there.”I’m pleased with how the Matador [One Day] Cup started, then Shield cricket it’s just about trying to do what I can every single innings. We know as a batsman you’re not going to make runs every single time, the trick is to cash in when you do get an opportunity and you’re set.”The opportunity to take up a charitable cause has driven Carters for some time, following his travels to various parts of the world not commonly glimpsed by cricketers. This year, the Batting for Change format is the same – supporters pledge an amount of money for every six struck – but Carters’ team has changed from the Thunder to the Sixers, and the object of the charity is not in Nepal but India.Thanks to a partnership with the LBW Trust, funds raised will go towards assisting women from poorer areas of Mumbai to get a tertiary education after completing high school. The very six-oriented funding target would be enough to support the education of 500 women in Mumbai, through the SPRJ Kanyashala Trust in Ghatkopar.As was the case last year, Carters started by building enthusiasm among his teammates and casting further afield from there. “Last year the Thunder players were really generous in their personal pledges and a lot of people said they were really inspired by it,” he said. “This year at the Sixers I’ve had a lot of enthusiastic support. Steve O’Keefe has been very helpful in particular and made a personal pledge of $100 per six. On top of that a lot of the other Sixers players are making individual pledges as well.”It certainly feels like we’re gaining momentum in a number of ways. The fellow players getting involved has escalated, we’re receiving more publicity through the media, more people are visiting the website and checking us out on social media, and also this year a way of trying to boost our fundraising has seen us engage some corporate partners. That’s a way of topping up some very generous donations from the public.”I hope that Batting For Change can be a way of demonstrating to cricketers and other sportsmen that if we provide a fun and exciting way for people to get involved in combining their love of cricket whether as a player or supporter with wanting to try and help out people in the world who need it the most, then the lesson I’ve learned is people are happy to get involved.”So far, the combination of pledges and sixes has raised $47,725, though some work remains to achieve the desired target. Carters has found reason to keep pressing on via updates from Kathmandu, where the construction of the classrooms funded last summer is nearing completion.In April, many of the world’s Twenty20 cricketers will be journeying to India for the IPL. Carters will maintain his own path less traveled by using that time to visit Kathmandu and Mumbai, to witness the progress of the work Batting For Change has made possible. That visit might well be cause for another video.

Stats highlights from the fifth ODI between West Indies and South Africa in Centurion

Bishen Jeswant29-Jan-2015247 Partnership runs between Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw for the third wicket, a South African record for any wicket. Amla and Rossouw had posted exactly 247 for the first wicket earlier this series as well, in Johannesburg.361 Runs scored by South Africa in their quota of 42 overs – the second highest total scored in the first 42 overs of an ODI innings since 2001, prior to which ball-by-ball data is unavailable. New Zealand scored 374 runs in 42 overs against Zimbabwe in 2005.19 Number of ODI hundreds scored by Amla, the second most by a South African, equalling AB de Villiers. Only Herschelle Gibbs has more (21). Amla is 11th on the overall list, with Brian Lara and de Villiers.5.5 Number of innings per century for Amla, the best for any batsman who has scored at least ten ODI centuries.

PlayerInnsRunsAveSR100sInns/100HM Amla104535956.4189.61195.47V Kohli141622451.8690.30216.71AB de Villiers172745952.1697.16199.05SR Tendulkar4521842644.8386.23499.22ME Trescothick122433537.3785.211210.174 Number of 200-plus ODI partnerships Amla has been involved in for South Africa. AB de Villiers has also been part of four such stands, while Rossouw and Gary Kirsten have been involved in two each.10 Number of pairs involved in two stands of 200-plus runs. The list includes two South African pairs – Amla-Rossouw and Amla-de Villiers. There are three other pairs who have been involved in three 200-plus stands.6 Number of golden ducks scored by Chris Gayle in ODIs, the most by a West Indies batsman (Nos. 1 to 7). Desmond Haynes, Keith Arthurton and Lara had five first-ball ducks each. Also, this was Gayle’s 23rd duck in ODIs, putting him fourth on the list of batsmen with the most ducks in ODIs, after Sanath Jayasuriya (33), Shahid Afridi (26) and Mahela Jayawardene (25).3 Number of ducks scored by West Indian batsmen in this match, the joint highest for them in an ODI against South Africa. There have been three previous instances where three West Indian batsmen have scored three ducks in the same innings against South Africa.

In what most are calling a game of no consequences, Bangladesh would not like to let go of their recently-acquired momentum and the record they have against New Zealand

Mohammad Isam12-Mar-2015New Zealand and Bangladesh have progressed in opposite directions since their last meeting in November 2013 but, ahead of their World Cup encounter in Hamilton on Friday, their recent history will give at least one team some takeaway. Bangladesh boast of a 7-0 record from their last two series and, though that statistic is undermined by New Zealand’s current form that has made them among the favourites for the World Cup,  there is no denying the confidence Bangladesh derive from it and the role that winning sequence played in their subsequent performances.The topic did come up on the eve of what will be the last league match for both sides. New Zealand captain McCullum ruled out any revenge plots and said that they are treating Bangladesh as just another opponent ahead of bigger games in the tournament.”It’s not about payback time,” McCullum said, “We are in the middle of a very important tournament and Bangladesh is our next challenge. We have been playing some good cricket and we have got some big tests coming up and tomorrow is no different. In our own conditions I’m confident we’ll put up a good showing and I’m sure Bangladesh are confident as well.”Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha had even less time to dwell on 7-0, saying New Zealand’s current form means Bangladesh have no psychological advantages as such. “It would have been a psychological advantage if we played back home. But here, they are the form team and we have to play our best cricket,” he said.Bangladesh won both those series on the usual slow and low pitches in Mirpur and one slightly quicker surface in Fatullah. Though the Seddon Park pitch doesn’t have a reputation for spin, the manner in which R Ashwin and Suresh Raina bowled against Ireland should encourage Bangladesh in this game. Plus, New Zealand’s middle order is yet to bat for a period long enough to deem challenging for them and the opposition bowling attack.Nonetheless, those victories have injected some strengths into the Bangladesh team’s make-up that was previously unknown. Shakib Al Hasan’s rise as a bowler came against these same opponents in 2008, but it was during the 2010 ODI series that he added consistency to his all-round abilities. Shakib had done well in a tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe the previous year with some good batting and bowling performances, but separately in Tests and ODIs. Against New Zealand in October 2010, it all came together for him: he scored a fifty and took four wickets in the first match, a hundred and three wickets in the series-winning fourth game and top-scored with 36 and 2 for 35 in the fifth.It was also a series that taught Bangladesh how to win regularly without two of their main players – Tamim Iqbal and Mashrafe Mortaza. Three years later, Bangladesh played without Shakib, who suffered from dengue fever, and went on to win 3-0. Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain and Naeem Islam starred with the bat while Rubel Hossain turned up with more pace and movement to get a hat-trick in a six-wicket haul.The most important lessons were of winning from different situations and positions in an ODI. Before the 2010 series, they had a breakthrough campaign in the 2007 World Cup but they lost their progress and needed to change captains twice within three years. Under Shakib, however, they won games defending low totals, chased down small targets relatively easily and turned matches in their favour with players stretching the extra inch whether through direct hits, running catches or accurate yorkers.These little things didn’t add up for Bangladesh before 2010 against New Zealand as they still relied on one or two big performances rather than a collective effort. Shakib was still the straw that stirred the drink but someone like Nazmul Hossain would bowl a brilliant last over, Suhrawadi Shuvo would bowl ten frugal overs or Naeem Islam and Raqibul Hasan would chase high catches from the boundary. Shafiul Islam’s catch in the fifth ODI is still regarded as one of the best by a Bangladeshi fielder at any level.Three years later it would be Rubel in the first game, Sohag Gazi in the second and a combination of Shamsur Rahman, Naeem Islam and Nasir Hossain in the third, which turned out to be Bangladesh’s first and only successful 300-plus chase against a top-eight team.They didn’t follow up the 2013 series win with even a half-decent 2014 but those characteristics have remained in players like Shakib, Mushfiqur, Rubel and Nasir. As they displayed against Afghanistan, Scotland and England, they can defend moderate totals, chase 300-plus targets as well as bring their A game on big occasions. Shakib remains the best cricketer while Mushfiqur is the batting leader. Nasir had his last good series against New Zealand while Rubel has gone through many ups and downs before the four-wicket haul against England.In what most are calling a game of no consequences, Bangladesh would not like to let go of their recently-acquired momentum. Bangladesh don’t lead a higher-ranked side 7-0 every day, so they could be expected not to give this away too easily.

Plays of the day from the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in Bangalore

Karthik Krishnaswamy02-May-2015Starc’s nifty footworkIt was the third ball of the match, and Mitchell Starc delivered it on a driving length. Robin Uthappa drilled it back, hard and straight. Too straight. Starc stuck his left boot out to slow it down and stop it from going to the boundary, nearly doing the splits as he did so. It was an excellent display of reflexes and agility, and Gautam Gambhir was mindful of this when he came on strike to face him. Starc’s first ball to Gambhir was a wide, but his next one was in the slot to drive, and Gambhir drilled it back, but away from the bowler and towards the non-striker, who skipped away smartly to let it race through for four.Bare-knuckle DKHarshal Patel was bowling a lot of slower balls in the penultimate over of Kolkata Knight Riders’ innings, and Dinesh Karthik knew, behind the stumps, that if the batsmen played and missed the ball would roll gently to him. Given the likelihood of an attempted bye, Karthik took his right glove off and stuck it in his pocket. Just as expected, Ryan ten Doeschate swung and missed at one of Harshal’s slower offcutters and set off for a bye. Karthik swooped on the ball, wasting no time to pull his glove off, and fired in a flat throw that caught Andre Russell inches short of the crease.The waist-land, part oneStarc came back to bowl the final over, and his fourth ball was a full-toss that Yusuf Pathan scooped straight into Virat Kohli’s hands at long-on. Kohli had seen even before he settled under the ball that the umpire had signaled no-ball, and his face was a mask of rage as he caught it and threw it back towards the bowler. Kohli didn’t think it was a no-ball, and replays proved him right. The ball was just below waist-height, and that with Yusuf on the front foot and in a low-ish position.The waist-land, part twoKohli was on strike to face the first ball of the third over of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s innings, and Pat Cummins sent down a leg-stump full-toss. Kohli whipped it away to the fine leg boundary, and immediately turned to the square-leg umpire, shrugging his shoulders questioningly. This was a fairly high full-toss too, and he seemed to be asking why this wasn’t a no-ball. Replays showed it was just below waist-height.

The failure of anyone other than Chris Rogers to cope with the conditions at Edgbaston was another worrying sign of Australian fallibility abroad

Daniel Brettig at Edgbaston29-Jul-2015Having batted for all but 32 balls of Australia’s woebegone innings, Chris Rogers walked out to the middle of Edgbaston and donned his helmet once more. Amazingly, after a week in which he had been a doubtful starter due to the aftereffects of a blow to the head at Lord’s, he was fielding at short leg. As is his way, Rogers did it uncomplainingly, but it left the impression that he was the only man in the Australia XI prepared to do the grunt work, whether it be with the bat or in the field.This had been a day for scrapping and fighting, doing the hard things to ensure the performance put in at Lord’s was followed up. What Australia produced, Rogers aside, was an artless display that has placed their bid for the Ashes at the gravest risk of failure. It will leave many to wonder what is to become of this team on foreign shores once Rogers retires, for a cricketer with his range of overseas experience is as rare in Australian ranks back home as his performance was when lined up against those of his team-mates today.It is not as though the prevailing conditions in Birmingham were a surprise. Both England’s captain and coach had pleaded for a seamer redolent of county cricket, and the Edgbaston ground staff obliged. It was not as though the pitch was considered overly dicey nor dangerous, as Michael Clarke had little hesitation in choosing to bat first. And it was not as though James Anderson and Stuart Broad did anything other than they could be expected to do, moving the ball subtly and accurately at decent but not express pace.Steven Finn’s inclusion did alter the dynamics of things somewhat, offering bounce and seam where Mark Wood had provided a more skidding trajectory and greater pace. His excellent first-up spell after replacing Broad accounted for Steven Smith and the out-of-sorts Clarke, leaving the Australians precariously placed at 34 for 3 in the first hour of the match.But this was a scenario that the touring batsmen had to be prepared for, given how common it is for early wickets to be lost in English conditions. While he has not enjoyed the sort of series Rogers has so far put together, David Warner had done a decent enough job of blunting the new ball, and Smith had made starts at Cardiff even before he coshed 215 at Lord’s. The Australia middle order had not yet seen the Dukes when traces of its logo were still visible, and needed to be ready for the event.Twice in the past two decades Australia performances have hinged on the strength of the batsmen at Nos. 5 and 6. In the late 1990s it was Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting who retrieved many a precarious situation in those positions, offering a combination of grit and glitz that confounded England and others more than once. More recently it was Clarke and Michael Hussey who counterattacked brilliantly against numerous attacks who had snipped off the top of the order. Ian Healy, Adam Gilchrist and Brad Haddin all provided further ballast at seven.Australia’s middle order succumbed to James Anderson on a typically English surface•Getty ImagesWhat Australia would have given for any of these players in the middle to help Rogers mount a bulwark against England’s probing but not unplayable bowling. Instead they could only offer Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh and Peter Nevill to match their wits against the moving ball. Ten Tests between this trio was not a lot of experience to call on, even if the dire form of Shane Watson and Haddin had made it impossible – in the minds of the selectors – to lean on their more seasoned bats.In the West Indies, Voges had offered evidence that his years in first-class cricket and recent glut of domestic runs had imbued him with the sort of composure required to succeed. A debut Test century of high quality had been made in more or less the same scenario, albeit when the challenged was posed by spin rather than swing or seam. But in the more rarified air of an Ashes contest he has yet to get past 31 in four innings, as England plough a furrow around off stump that tests his patience more demandingly than others have.In the company of Rogers, Voges had looked momentarily capable of backing up Rod Marsh’s assertion that “you could just see Test player written all over him”. He was positive but not overassertive, assured in defence, and rotating the strike handily. But the lunch break, a slightly brighter sky and the persistent Anderson conspired to have Voges fishing uncertainly at a delivery he might have left alone. The thin edge from an indeterminate stroke will haunt Voges in later years, for it was the end of Australia’s tilt at any kind of reasonable score.What followed was instructive, for Marsh and Nevill are more recent products of the Australian system. Marsh is an athlete, a talent and a player of confident strokes. His first ball from Anderson drew one such shot, a square drive that fairly raced to backward point. But two balls later he stretched out to drive the sort of ball laced with poison on such surfaces, and the edge sailed through to Jos Buttler. Marsh had wanted to play county cricket in 2014 but not managed to secure a contract. He must now wish he had.It is arguable that Nevill was actually the most accomplished batsman in the Sheffield Shield last season, and his busy contribution at Lord’s had helped sway the selectors to choose him ahead of Haddin. But his lack of familiarity with a swing bowler as accomplished as Anderson was clear in his decision to leave a delivery that seamed back to take the top of off stump. Nevill’s judgment will doubtless improve with time, but there is precious little in this series if further pitches of this kind are prepared. Back in Australia, a few future IPL contracts may be reconsidered.Observing the wreckage after England had rattled to within three runs of Australia’s meagre tally by the close, as so often happens, Rogers agreed that this was a day to expose the gaps in his team’s experience. “I don’t think the focus is wrong, I think everyone’s desperate to do well,” he said. “Finding a way is possibly a concern, particularly in these conditions, which are a little bit foreign to guys. You’ve got to find a method and we’ve got to find it quickly, because I wouldn’t be surprised if we got a few more of these kinds of conditions.”After arguably their worst single Ashes day since Boxing Day in 2010, it is exceedingly difficult to see Australia getting out of Birmingham with anything other than a defeat. It is equally difficult to see Clarke’s team rebounding successfully to claim the Ashes if they leave as much for Rogers to do, for as well-versed as he is in England, Test matches are won through partnerships. Once there was Waugh and Ponting, then Clarke and Hussey. Something else of substance has to emerge in Australia’s middle order, and fast.

After a quiet post World Cup period, the upcoming season will be a test of Russell Domingo’s progress with the South Africa squad over the past two years

Firdose Moonda26-Sep-2015A maiden voyage is made up of equal measure of expectation and excitement, even if you are not the captain or any of the crew but just the coach. South Africa’s coach Russell Domingo has been involved in cricket for more than two decades but this will be his first visit to cricket’s nerve centre.”I have never been to India and I can’t wait. I am really looking forward to it, it’s a new adventure for me. Talking about team building, I might lead an expedition up the Himalayas after the first T20,” Domingo said at the team’s departure.Domingo has the right idea with South Africa’s first T20 being in Dharamsala, but he may not have enough time to take a hike. Two days later, South Africa play a second match in Cuttack and a third in Kolkata soon after. In total, they will visit 12 cities in 72 days – their longest-ever trip to India – and the focus is on making themselves part of the furniture.”It’s going to be different. It’s an extra month from what we are used to in terms of a tour, normal tours last 42 or 43 days. This one is 72 days,” Domingo said. ” The other side to that is to play some good cricket. We haven’t played a sustained period of cricket for a long period of time now.”Since the end of the World Cup, South Africa have had the least cricket compared to any team, with just two short series. Their trip to Bangladesh went wrong when they lost their first ODI series against Bangladesh, which was then followed by two washed-out Tests. The brief dalliance with New Zealand in limited-overs matches, which came after a month off, lacked competitiveness and context but now the real battle starts.This series is the first of two iconic contests that will make up an eight-Test 2015-16 summer, the second being hosting England after returning from India. For Domingo, it will be a chance to underline his status as a coach, something he has not really had the chance to do since taking over.When Domingo succeeded Gary Kirsten in June 2013, he took over a team on top. The senior men were still involved and the change in coach was relatively seamless. After a few months, that was no longer the case. The retirements of Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith left Domingo in charge of a team in transition and it was difficult to judge his impact in those circumstances. Now, Domingo’s days have reached a point where the side has stabilised enough to assess him, and that is what this summer will shine a spotlight on. It will look beyond Domingo’s statistical sensibilities – a well-known strength of his – and search for his skills in man-management, regarded as the secret to any good coach’s success.Over the past few weeks, Domingo’s style has been to stay away from his players and give them the space to enjoy their time off before getting stuck in. “When guys are away from the game, I try not to talk too much to players because they are going to be tired of talking to me over the next couple of weeks,” he said. “I’d hate to be talking spin to them three weeks before we get there, and we get there and guys are already mentally blown before we’ve seen a ball being bowled.”But now that they are officially on the tour, Domingo will deal intricately with the main challenge which he expects to be India’s spin threat, which he thinks South Africa can overcome. “We anticipate a lot of spin over the next couple of weeks,” he said. “Their spinners are only going to be effective, I suppose, if the seamers make some early inroads. If we can nullify their seam attack, it puts our batting in a much better position to deal with their spinners. If we expose our middle order to the spinners early, we will be be under pressure.”That may hold true in the Tests which come at the end of the tour, but at the beginning, Domingo expects pressure to come from India’s pace pack. “India, at the moment, have got a few good fast bowlers like Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma. In the World Cup fifty-over game, they bowled a lot more short balls than we would bowl and their seamers outbowled us.They were very aggressive in their lengths and their body language,” he said.But Domingo expects South Africa to respond strongly, especially because the limited-overs clashes come when it is most important for them to make a statement. “The start of the tour is very important because if we don’t start the tour well, it can become a long tour,” Domingo said. “South Africa’s strength has always been that our group of players get on really well, they are enjoying the challenges in different countries. We’ve got a proud record playing in different countries. We’ve got a bunch of guys who enjoy going out, seeing different things, experiencing different things.”And they have a coach who will be doing all those things for the first time in India and will be hoping it’s everything it’s hyped up to be.

When play began at the Gabba, question marks hung over Australia’s inexperienced batting line-up. By stumps, any hopes New Zealand had of exploiting that had long evaporated

Brydon Coverdale at the Gabba05-Nov-2015Usman Khawaja was the 419th man to play Test cricket for Australia, David Warner the 426th. You wouldn’t know it from their tally of Test centuries. On the day that Khawaja scored his first, Warner compiled his 13th. That it happened against New Zealand seemed fitting; the last Test between the teams was four years ago, and was the making of Warner and the undoing of Khawaja.In 2011, they were considered the future stars of Australia’s batting order. Now the team will have them both for the foreseeable future. Plus Joe Burns, whose 71 contributed greatly to this being a near-perfect day for Australia. A day on which Australia finished with their highest ever first-day total in a Gabba Test, and went to stumps at 2 for 389.From the moment Steven Smith won the toss and chose to bat, this day was tantalisingly poised. No Chris Rogers. No Michael Clarke. A top seven in which only Smith and Warner had more than 10 Tests to their name. Muggy conditions, a green tinge to the pitch, a New Zealand swing attack among the best in the world. It could have been a dark day indeed for Australia.Instead, it was a day on which everything went right. Burns rewarded the selectors for making him Warner’s new opening partner. Khawaja repaid the faith of those who chose him for a third crack at Test cricket. New Zealand’s bowlers huffed and puffed like they were from Hufflepuff, the team of hard work, fair play, and few rewards.Perhaps it would have been different had Brendon McCullum hit the stumps with his throw from cover in the tenth over. Burns had pushed, made a nervy call and taken off, and he would have been out for 4. Khawaja comes in early, with the ball still swinging, and who knows? Instead, Khawaja walked out at 1 for 161, comfortable with himself and with the match situation.It meant he could play with freedom, and a few loose balls from the spin of Mark Craig helped him get away. Khawaja pulled, drove, cut, swept, lofted a couple of sixes dismissively off Craig. His fifty came from 60 balls, his hundred from just 123. It came with a pull for four off Trent Boult, and it came with great emotion, nearly five years after his Test debut.

New Zealand’s bowlers huffed and puffed like they were from Hufflepuff, the team of hard work, fair play, and few rewards

Khawaja later joked that he had dreamt of making a Test century – literally. “I physically actually dreamt about it once, then I woke up and it was a horrible day,” he said. He must have doubted that the reality would ever come, having twice been dropped from the Test team and having suffered a serious knee injury last year that he feared might end his career.Khawaja was first axed after the Hobart Test against New Zealand four years ago, when he prodded and edged in both innings. He was tentative, not like today. In that match Warner scored a 145-ball century that established his Test credentials; here his hundred came from almost the same number of deliveries – 141 – but such a slow Warner innings is no longer a novelty.Here, it was Warner who provided the heart of the innings, helping Burns through his first experience as a Test opener. Warner was watchful early, leaving and defending, knowing the shine would disappear off the ball and scoring would become easier. That Australia had 0 for 8 after seven overs did not bother him in the slightest. This was a day to lead by example.For some time, Warner has been Australia’s unofficial captain of vice. Sledging, baiting, punching, online trolling. The man can do it all. How about when the words are reversed? Warner is now his country’s official vice-captain and on his first day in the role he lived up to the honour, knuckling down for his longest Test innings, a 224-ball effort that may just set up Australia’s summer.Four years ago Warner made his Test debut at this same ground against this same opposition. It was a match that would test a Twenty20 specialist, and fittingly it was Test No. 2020. It took until his second game in that series to make his mark, when he carried his bat for 123 in Hobart. On that occasion Warner had little support; here he had ample, from Burns and then Khawaja.The Australians had a little bit of luck. Burns narrowly missed edging a couple of peachy outswingers from Tim Southee early, but no chances were created, no catches missed or taken. New Zealand’s discipline started to wane. The bowlers tried too hard instead of concentrating on line and length. The captain tried too hard instead of trusting consistency.Warner had called McCullum immature during the week; he is far from immature as a man, but there was a hint in his captaincy of a kid setting fields in the old Test Match board game. In the 11th over of the innings, he set an 8-1 off-side field for Southee to Warner. In the space of one ball that changed to 4-5; fielders fled the off side as if a right-hander was suddenly on strike.If McCullum hoped such moves would throw Warner and Burns off their game, he was mistaken. All it really brought was confusion from his bowlers, who had to chop and change their lines from ball to ball. In the first hour of a Gabba Test, such adventurousness is not required. No chances came until Burns edged behind on 71, in the 39th over.By then the damage was done. Warner’s 13th Test century soon arrived, and then Khawaja’s first late in the day. The chance to put pressure on Australia’s new top order had evaporated. For New Zealand and Khawaja, this was no Hobart. Australia were pleased that for Warner it was.

Stats highlights from a runfest of a first ODI between India and Australia at the WACA

Bharath Seervi12-Jan-2016171* Rohit Sharma’s score – the highest by a visiting batsman against Australia in Australia, and the fifth-highest by any batsman in the country. The previous top score against Australia in Australia was Viv Richards’ 153 not out at the MCG in 1979-80. Rohit’s is also the third-highest score by an Indian batsman outside Asia.19 Innings that Rohit needed to complete 1000 ODI runs against Australia – the fastest by any batsman. He bettered Tendulkar and Brian Lara, both of whom got to the mark in 20 innings. His average of 68.46 is the best by any batsman with 500 or more runs against Australia.77.37 Runs per wicket in this match – the fourth-highest in an ODI in Australia. The highest is 220.50, set in 1991-92, by Pakistan and West Indies at the MCG.1 Today was the first ever instance of more than one double-century partnership in a single ODI. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli added 207 for India, while Steven Smith and George Bailey supplied Australia with 242 runs.2 Centuries by Smith in two successive ODIs against India. He had made 105 when the teams met in the semi-final of the 2015 World Cup, and now has 283 runs from three innings versus India.85 Bailey’s average against India in ODIs – the best for any batsman with 500 or more runs against them.3 Partnerships higher than the 242 between Smith and Bailey for Australia in ODIs. The highest also involves Smith – 260 with David Warner against Afghanistan, at the WACA again, in the 2015 World Cup.Australia’s 310 is the third-highest successful run-chase in ODIs in Australia, and the highest in Perth•ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 There have only been two higher targets than the 310 today that have been chased successfully in Australia – 334 by the hosts against England at SCG in 2010-11 and 321 by India against Sri Lanka in Hobart in 2011-12. This was the sixth time a target of 300 or more was successfully chased in ODIs in Australia.2 Instances of Australia’s Nos. 3 and 4 scoring a century in the same ODI, with Bailey and India involved in both of them. Prior to today’s batting display, Shane Watson had struck 102 and Bailey 156 against India in Nagpur in 2013-14.1 ODI at the WACA which has had a higher match aggregate than the 619 struck today – Australia and New Zealand piled on 678 runs in 2006-07.149 Smith’s score in this match – the third-highest for an Australia captain in ODIs, also the third-highest in chases for Australia and his own personal best.176 Runs added by Australia between overs 16 and 40. In the same phase, India added only 138. This made Australia’s job a lot easier at the death, they needed 61 runs in the last ten overs, whereas India scored 93.3 ODI centuries for Rohit in Australia – the joint-highest by an Indian, along with VVS Laxman. This was Rohit’s fourth century against Australia; only Sachin Tendulkar (9) and Desmond Haynes (6) have hit more ODI tons against Australia.4 Scores of 150 or more for Rohit in ODIs, only Tendulkar is ahead of him with five such scores. Sanath Jayasuriya and Chris Gayle also have four scores of 150 or more.4 Centuries for Rohit in ODI defeats. Among Indian batsmen, only Tendulkar (14) has more hundreds in lost causes. Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly also have four each that went in vain.7.36 Economy rate of India’s spinners in this match. There has only been five occasions have they been costlier in ODIs, under condition of bowling at least 15 overs. Their worst, of 9.05, was also against Australia in Australia at the MCG in 2011-12, though that was a rain-affected 32-overs-a-side game.207 The partnership between Rohit and Kohli for the second wicket – the highest second-wicket partnership against Australia in Australia, beating the 205 added by Haynes and Richards at the MCG in 1978-79.7 Times that Kohli has been involved in double-century partnerships in ODIs – the joint-highest along with Ricky Ponting and Upul Tharanga. Kohli went past Tendulkar and Ganguly, who had been part of six 200-plus stands.3 Wickets lost by India in their innings, equalling the fewest any team has given away in a completed, 50-over ODI innings against Australia. West Indies and South Africa are the others to manage this feat, but India are the first to do it in Australia. This was also India’s highest ODI total against Australia in Australia, and their second 300-plus score.4 India bowlers who, on their debut, dismissed both openers of the opposition, before Barinder Sran: Avishkar Salvi, Tinu Yohannnan, M Venkataramana and Eknath Solkar. None of them went on to play 10 ODIs though. Also Sran is the fifth India bowler to take three or more wickets opening the bowling in his first ODI.

Plays of the day from the fourth ODI as South Africa levelled the series in dramatic style

George Dobell and Firdose Moonda12-Feb-2016Wicket of the day
Alex Hales had just reached his fourth half-century of the series and England seemed to be progressing nicely at 87 for 1 in the 18th over. But, such was the sense that this pitch required a total in excess of 350 and so keen was Hales to push on, that he attempted a slog-sweep off Imran Tahir despite a man on the midwicket fence and it being the long boundary. The ball flew directly to the fielder and precipitated a collapse that saw England lose five wickets for 21 runs in seven overs. Despite Joe Root’s excellence, England were never able to fully recoverRunaway bowler of the day
Tahir had actually not had reason to celebrate much in the series before this match, in which he more than doubled his wicket tally, but the final scalp brought out the Tahir of old. Ben Stokes did not read the googly and got forward to defend but edged. Hashim Amla, who is not known as the most agile in the field, was at slip and reached almost behind himself to take the catch one-handed, to his right. Tahir was so delighted that he took off towards the Centenary Stand and only stopped when he realised the only people he had to celebrate with were the crowd. Tahir eventually made his way back to his team-mates where Kyle Abbott was the first to congratulate him.Review of the day
Root fully deserved his century. In helping England rebuild, yet still scoring relatively freely, he almost single-handedly kept them in the game. But, on 95, he was adjudged to have been trapped leg before by Tahir. He reviewed immediately, with replays showing a thick inside edge on to his pad that allowed him the chance to go on and achieve the eighth ODI century of his career. Now only Kevin Pietersen (with nine) and Marcus Trescothick (with 12) of England players have scored moreDrop of the day
Stuart Broad, back for his first limited-overs appearance since the World Cup, was about to repeat the success he had over AB de Villiers in the Test series with the first ball he bowled to him in the ODIs but Jason Roy let him down. Broad bowled it full and lured de Villiers into a drive, which he played uppishly to send the ball towards backward point. Roy had to dive to his right but he did so perfectly and went for the catch with both hands. He had the ball in his grasp but it bounced out as he tumbled and de Villiers, who was on 9 at the time, survived. He responded by taking back-to-back boundaries off Broad to show him he would pay.Fielding of the day
South Africa made several superb stops and took a few good grabs and it seemed their fielding was going to give them the edge after England put down two catches but then Chris Woakes struck. JP Duminy called for a single after dabbing a ball off his ribs to shortish mid-wicket. Woakes had to go to his left in his follow through, swoop on the ball and underarm it on to the stumps at the striker’s end and he managed all of that in one movement. De Villiers was a well short and knew it, walking off the field even as the replays went to the third umpire.Reactions of the day
England failed to hold on to several chances but Reece Topley showed how it should be done when he took a low, one-handed catch in his follow through to end Farhaan Behardien’s innings. Behardien was the only recognised batsman left and had taken it on himself to get South Africa close. He tried to chip a full Topley delivery straight down the ground but the bowler stuck out his arm, squatted a touch and claimed the catch that looked to have made England favourites.Shot of the day
Chris Morris struck three fours and four sixes but none of them were as important as the four that came off Tahir’s bat to end the match. With scores tied, the only team with something to lose was South Africa, who needed to win to keep the series alive. Morris took them to the brink but was bowled by a googly from Adil Rashid to leave Tahir with one run to score. Tahir received a legbreak, a delivery he would have recognised immediately and mowed it through the covers for four to ensure the series would go to a decider. Tahir had already enjoyed himself with ball in hand but that shot brought out his biggest celebration – bat swivelling, pitch dancing and an almighty roar.

24-Apr-2016AB de Villiers got going with a couple of cover-driven fours•BCCIHis promising innings ended when Pravin Tambe had him caught at short cover•BCCIVirat Kohli continued to pierce the gaps with ease…•BCCI…despite an ankle sprain•BCCIKL Rahul, a last-minute replacement for the injured Mandeep Singh, contributed 51 in an 121-run stand with Kohli•BCCIKohli shifted gears and scored his maiden T20 century off 63 balls. Royal Challengers finished with 180 for 2•AFPDwayne Smith, opening in place of the injured Aaron Finch, got Lions’ chase to a flier•BCCIBrendon McCullum also found his bearings right away•AFPThe 47-run partnership ended when Kane Richardson dismissed Smith for 32. Three overs later, South African chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi removed McCullum for 42•BCCISuresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik kept Lions on course with a third-wicket stand of 53•BCCIRaina fell for 28 in the 16th over, but Dinesh Karthik held his own and brought up his first T20 half-century after 21 innings•BCCIWith three needed off four balls, Dwayne Bravo struck a four to seal Lions’ fourth win. He celebrated the victory with the dance•BCCI