Rajeev Shukla has said there has been a proposal to adopt the DRS minus the referrals for lbw decisions in IPL 2016

Arun Venugopal29-Jan-2016In what is a significant departure from its stubborn resistance to the Decision Review System, the BCCI has initiated discussions about the use of the system in IPL 2016. Rajeev Shukla, the chairman of the IPL governing council, said there has been a proposal to adopt the system minus the referrals for lbw decisions.A member of the IPL governing council, who present at the meeting in Mumbai on Friday, said the discussions were still at a preliminary stage. “This [discussion on introducing DRS] came up a few years ago as well, when the ICC insisted that we try it. But it met with a lot of opposition,” he said. “Now, we are looking at the option of using it again, without the lbw element. Of course, there needs to be a lot of technical discussion on this before we go forward. This will continued to be discussed in subsequent meetings.”The BCCI’s change of heart – it has come a long way since the time former president N Srinivasan labelled it a “faulty” system – appears to have been prompted by the recent softening of stance by the Indian team towards the system. While Test captain Virat Kohli said during the Bangladesh tour last year that he was open to discussing the matter with his team, R Ashwin said he wouldn’t mind a DRS without an umpire’s call.”Personally speaking, I don’t agree with the concept of umpire’s call,” Ashwin had told ESPNcricinfo. “Cricketers are not rocket scientists. Let’s keep it that simple. Do you think in 15 seconds the captain standing at mid-off will be able to say it is not umpire’s call? If you want to make the game a better place, either trust the technology completely or don’t.”MS Dhoni, the limited-overs captain, had briefly suggested during the Brisbane Test in late 2014 at a kinder view towards the DRS if it wasn’t used to justify the decision of the umpires. But, during the recent ODI series against Australia, India could have overturned the decision – had DRS been in place – to reprieve George Bailey, who went on to score a match-winning hundred in Perth.Dhoni reiterated his general mistrust of the DRS rule. “It could have [changed the course of the match] but at the same time we need to push the umpires to make the right decisions,” he had said. “You have to see how many 50-50 decisions don’t go in our favour. It always happens, then you have to take it. But I am still not convinced about DRS.”Dhoni also felt there were too many variables involved for the teams to factor in while using the system. “There are quite a few deviations,” he had observed. “Even the makers agree that can happen. Now you have to also take into account whether it was given not out or out. If it was given out it needs to touch the stump [for the decision to remain out]; if it was not out it needs to hit half the stump [to be given out]. That itself makes the variable too big. In cricket every inch, every millimetre, matters.”Dave Richardson, the ICC chief executive, had said in June last year that he was confident of getting the BCCI on board, with the technology being perfected over time.”Ideally we want to be uniform but we are not there yet. What Geoff [Allardice, ICC general manager] is arranging is the testing of the technology so that everyone believes and trusts what the technology is supposed to be delivering is accurate and reliable,” he said. “Once we get over that hurdle, the confidence in the DRS will grow and eventually we will end up with everybody accepting it.India have used DRS only twice in a bilateral series. The first of those was on the tour of Sri Lanka in 2008, where the team felt most of the 50-50 decisions went against them. Three years later, in England, the system was partially adopted with only the hot spot and audio technology being used.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka believes that beating England in the quarter-final gives his side the edge over India in the Under-19 World Cup’s semi-final on Tuesday

Mohammad Isam08-Feb-2016″I told [Dinesh] Chandimal that the present Under-19 side is better than the one he played in [2008].”Sri Lanka Under-19s coach Roger Wijesuriya had a big smile on his face as he explained the quality of the present team that will face India in the semi-finals of the Under-19 World Cup on Tuesday.Wijesuriya felt there’s no shortage of talent now, as was the case when he was coach in 2008. “To tell you frankly, from our junior level there are a lot of talented cricketers who may come up,” he said. “That’s how it has been always. When I coached the Under-19 team in the 2008 World Cup, that’s the lot is playing now – the Dinesh Chandimals and others. Out of 15 players, at least 11 players have played for Sri Lanka or Sri Lanka ‘A’.”Those who played international cricket are Sachith Pathirana, Ashan Priyanjan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Dilshan Munaweera, Angelo Perera and Chandimal.Wijesuriya said that before coming to Bangladesh, the Under-19s’ players were also given pep-talks by some of Sri Lanka’s most successful international stars. “Before we came here, we had a lot of sessions with a lot of senior players like Lasith Malinga, Kumar Dharmasena and Sanath Jayasuriya. In Sri Lanka, we are very close to each other. There is no boundary as such,” he said.The advice seems to have come handy for captain Charith Asalanka, as he has been one of the team’s leading players, scoring two fifties in his 194 runs at 48.50 so far.Shammu Ashan, Avishka Fernando, Vishad Randika, and Kaveen Bandara have all done a good job with the bat while legspinner Wanidu Hasaranga, left-arm spinners Thilan Nimesh and Damitha Silva and seamer Asitha Fernando have done it with the ball. Kamindu Mendis has had a fine all-round presence too.Asalanka felt beating England in the quarter-final meant they had the edge over India, who crushed Namibia at the same stage.”It is an advantage for us. India played Namibia in quarterfinals whereas we played England. They are such different teams. We know India’s strengths and weaknesses. It will be advantageous for us. Beating England was the best win for us. We did a good job with our bowling and fielding. We are in really good form.”He also said that India can expect to face a lot of spinners, which means the pace bowlers would have little to do but be economical. “There is not much of support for pacers in these subcontinent pitches. Spinners need to bowl a major part of the overs. I tell the pacers to give me the basics–bowl economically. I tell spinners to take wickets and put pressure on the batsman. There is support from the pitch,” he said.Asalanka added that he knows when Kamindu Mendis will switch to left-arm orthodox or right-arm off-spin, and sets the field for the ambidextrous spinner. “He decides [what he wants to bowl]. When right-hander comes he bowls left-arm and when left-hander comes he bowls right-arm. I know what fields to set for him,” he said.

Aaron Phangiso is set to make his first international appearance since remodelling his bowling action less than two weeks ago when South Africa face West Indies in Nagpur

Firdose Moonda22-Mar-2016Aaron Phangiso is set to make his first international appearance since remodelling his bowling action less than two weeks ago when South Africa face West Indies in Nagpur.Phangiso is one of only two specialist spinners in the squad and with JP Duminy, who performs the role of part offspinner, ruled out with a hamstring injury, South Africa’s coach Russell Domingo indicated the selectors would have no choice but to play Phangiso.”It’s definitely a wicket where you need to play two frontline spinners. Spin is going to be important here and we are fortunate that we have two quality spinners in Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso, I’m confident that both of them will get game time on Friday,” Domingo said.There was a rush to get Phangiso’s action cleared before the World T20 – he was only passed a couple of days before the squad left for India – but despite that, and his limited recent match time of just two warm-up games, Domingo remained confident of his readiness.”We have a good squad of players and whoever steps in knows that everyone supports and backs him 100%. Anyone of these 15 players in the squad are good enough to come in and do the job for us,” he said.Phangiso’s inclusion will likely mean that South Africa have to shorten their line-up which could become a concern in Duminy’s absence and on a pitch Domingo thinks will be difficult to score off.”JP is a big player for us. He is one of our main batters and is in good form, not having him is a big blow and does upset the balance of the side. We have some quality batsmen in our line-up who have played in these conditions before and have had success under these conditions. Whatever wicket they do prepare will be the same for both sides so it’s no major issue for us.”On the flip side, that means South Africa’s bowlers, who leaked runs in Mumbai, may enjoy something of a reprieve. “We have played on two great wickets in Mumbai, our batters were happy with that but I think our bowlers will be happy to play on this wicket where runs will be harder to come by,” Domingo said.

AB de Villiers, South Africa’s Test captain, has voiced concerns over the day-night Test in Adelaide and has suggested that a few Australia players may also be reluctant about the match

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Apr-2016AB de Villiers, South Africa’s Test captain, has voiced concerns over the day-night match in Adelaide and has suggested that a few Australia players may also be reluctant to go ahead with the game.The third Test of the series between Australia and South Africa has been allotted to Adelaide between November 24 and 28, according to the 2016-17 summer fixtures released by Cricket Australia, but there is no confirmation yet on whether this will be a day-night game. With the possibility of a No. 1 Test ranking at stake in the match, de Villiers said that that a day-night game could be “fundamental change” to the itinerary.”At the moment, we are not too keen on playing in the proposed day-night Test match due to a few concerns that have come from a number of sources involved in the maiden Test played last year,” he told . “We had a meeting with Steven Smith and some of the Australian players when they toured here earlier this year, and the consensus from our talks were that there are just too many unknowns. Players from both teams were reluctant to go ahead with it.”South Africa and Australia have a great cricketing rivalry, and this is a series that we value. We could well be playing for an opportunity to regain the No.1 Test ranking, so playing a day-night match is a fundamental change to the itinerary.The first ever day-night Test, between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide last year, was dominated by quick bowlers and ended in three days with a three-wicket win for the hosts. De Villiers raised doubts about the durability of the pink-ball used in the format, and said that alterations to the pitch, to reduce wear and tear on the ball, were also a significant factor.”The pink ball has had some issues with how it responds to 80 overs of Test cricket and that is one of the key issues that we feel plays a big role in the success of the day-night Test,” De Villiers said. “The pitch also had to be ‘doctored’ to minimise the abrasive wear and tear to the pink ball, which seems to happen quicker than the red ball, and this is also an area we feel is a big factor in the run of play.”De Villiers did not believe that a practice match could help his side adjust to the pink ball: “I don’t think it (warm-up game) will. I don’t think it’s something that you acclimatize to in one match and the intensity of an international cricket match also brings in other factors which are hard to replicate in a warm-up match.”South Africa fast-bowler Dale Steyn, meanwhile, said he is keen to play a day-night Test in his career. “I don’t want to go through my whole career without playing a day-night game,” Steyn told in Rajkot where he is playing the IPL . “How cool are they? I thought it looked awesome when New Zealand and Australia played one. It looked entertaining, there was a big crowd. The ball is pink – it’s something different. You want to test your skills with that whole thing and it’s very exciting.”

ECB Reporters Network20-May-2016
ScorecardDaniel Bell-Drummond continued his excellent batting form•Getty Images

Kent Spitfires launched their NatWest T20 Blast campaign in style by romping to an eight-wicket win over Somerset in Canterbury.Last season’s quarter-finalists made light work of the run chase as they pursued Somerset’s spanking 197 for 7 to land victory with 16 balls to spare.The hosts were given a stunning start to their innings by in-form Daniel Bell-Drummond and Joe Denly, who posted 150 for the first wicket in 12.3 overs – a Kent record T20 partnership for any wicket against any county.Kent spinner Fabian Cowdrey, who finished with 3 for 18 including the vital scalp of Peter Trego, said the victory should send shockwaves through the group.”We didn’t have either of our overseas players tonight yet we knocked off 200 to win comfortably,” he said. “It was an incredible win and I hope people start to take us seriously now. Either way, we’ll keep playing without fear and putting results on the board.”In front of a 5,000 crowd at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Kent’s openers dismantled the Somerset attack with boundaries to all parts of the ground.Bell-Drummond, the England Lions’ batsman who is approaching 600 first-class runs for the season already, led the way with an unbeaten 83 off 47 balls. He hit 10 fours and a brace of sixes.Having taken 22 off one over from former Kent seamer Yasir Arafat, Bell-Drummond was dropped in the deep on 34, but never looked back thereafter, taking the man-of-the-match award after clubbing the winning boundary.Denly, fresh from a first-class, career-best 206* against Northamptonshire this week, holed out for an excellent 75 from 38 balls, then Kent skipper Sam Northeast (27) edged to short third man with the finishing line in sight, but Bell-Drummond saw Spitfires home.Batting first after winning the toss Somerset made a mixed start. They lost Johann Myburgh (5) to the seventh ball of the match when he tamely drove the first ball of the second over, from David Griffiths to Darren Stevens at mid-off.The dismissal bought together former Kent all-rounder Peter Trego and his skipper Jim Allenby, who combined to set the tempo for the visitor’s innings with a second-wicket stand of 134 inside 12 overs.Allenby took three successive boundaries off Matt Coles while Trego heaved a leg-side six off James Tredwell that pitched into the building site that by next summer will be retirement flats – Canterbury’s OAP’s may well be in the firing line come June 2017.Somerset reached 53 for 1 at the end of the six powerplay overs and by the first ball of the 11th over Allenby and Trego had raised a century stand with an Allenby six over long-on off Stevens.Allenby raised his 50 from 32 balls, while Trego reached the milestone off only 26 deliveries at which point the West Country County looked set fair for a score in excess of 220.It was the introduction of Cowdrey, the loopy left-arm spinner, that changed the course of the night. With his uncle Graham, the former Kent batsman and ECB cricket liaison officer watching from the stands, the 23-year-old produced a golden-arm spell.Cowdrey had Trego (57), Ryan Davies (5) and Jamie Overton (9) all caught in the deep while, at the other end, Coles accounted for Leask (8) to a catch at long-on.Kent’s attack bowled superbly at the death as Griffiths cleaned up Roelof van der Merwe (9) and Claydon denied Allenby (91) his ton by pegging back off stump with a full ball via the toe-end of the bat.The Somerset skipper faced 59 balls, hit 10 fours and three sixes, but his efforts proved inadequate and all in vain as Kent romped home.Kent’s team plans had been thrown into disarray at the start of the night when New Zealand top-order bat Tom Latham – who was also due to keep wicket – strained his ankle during the warm-ups and pulled out to be replaced by Adam Rouse.

Nerveless bowling from Shahid Afridi kick-started Hampshire’s hopes of a seventh successive Natwest T20 Blast Finals Day

ECB Reporters Network02-Jun-2016
ScorecardShahid Afridi’s spell was key in Hampshire’s victory•Getty Images

Nerveless bowling from Shahid Afridi kick-started Hampshire’s hopes of a seventh successive Natwest T20 Blast Finals Day. Afridi’s of 3 for 33, including the key wicket of Daniel Bell-Drummond, and a rapid 21 helped his new county to a nine-run victory over Kent.After being put in by Kent captain Sam Northeast, Michael Carberry got Hampshire going with a firm cut to the boundary before hooking Matt Coles fine for another four.Skipper James Vince, released by England to play in both this game and against Glamorgan on Friday, beautifully drove former academy pal David Griffiths to the point ropes. But the fast bowler had the last laugh as Vince tamely cut to Blake at cover.Jimmy Adams carted the first Ageas Bowl maximum of the season, pinged way over midwicket. Carberry joined the six hitting party with a huge slog sweep as the hosts reached 47 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay, and Griffiths boasting impressive two over figures of 1 for 5.The end of the fielding restrictions slowed Hampshire up, as Adams was caught on the deep-square leg boundary by Fabian Cowdrey – only 11 more runs coming before the halfway point.After being on the receiving end of a Coles beamer, Adam Wheater was caught at third man – a full 180 degrees from where he aimed the shot. The wicket gave the Ageas Bowl fans their first viewing of Afridi, and he did not disappoint as he carved a four through the off side before skipping down the track to boom one to the fence.The Pakistan allrounder upped the run rate to reignite hopes of setting a defendable score, putting on 40 with Carberry before being bowled by Cowdrey swinging wildly. Carberry had gone about his work quietly reaching a solid fifty from 49 balls – but the glue of the innings departed after firing to the long-on boundary.Sean Ervine scooped behind first ball before Darren Sammy, on his first appearance since captaining the West Indies to the World T20, skewed a six off his legs. Sammy and Liam Dawson accelerated Hampshire to 158 for 8, although both found fielders in the final over.Bell-Drummond rode his luck in the early stages of the chase: firstly Gareth Andrew thought he had him caught behind but the umpire adjust the leg-side ball to have flicked the hip. Then Ervine dropped a chance running in from the rope, before Bell-Drummond survived a close run out chance.But that only encouraged Bell-Drummond as he confidently took himself to a half-century from 43 deliveries – which included a sumptuous straight drive off Tino Best.Around him, Dawson bowled Denly for 31 just before the 10-over point, and then Afridi stood arms and legs stretched as he knocked over Northeast.Sam Billings, on his IPL return, was lbw to Gareth Berg but Darren Stevens entered the fray and slogged Dawson for a six and then a four. Sammy got his first scalp of the campaign having the veteran Stevens leg before, before Alex Blake chipped a slower ball back to him next ball.Bell-Drummond, who had done an identical role to Carberry, was finally stumped by a sharp piece of keeping by Wheater as Afridi came alive; the next ball Coles slogged straight into the hands of Dawson.Andrew had Cowdrey pinned down lbw and Best knocked over James Tredwell’s middle stump. Griffith smashed a six but Berg had the last laugh as he forced an edge and a stunning catch behind the stumps made sure Hampshire were the victors.

The BCB’s bowling action review committee will assess the suspected bowling actions of at least 13 bowlers who were reported during this season’s Dhaka Premier League

Mohammad Isam25-Jun-2016The BCB’s bowling action review committee will assess the suspected bowling actions of at least 13 bowlers who were reported during this season’s Dhaka Premier League. The committee’s head, Jalal Yunus, said that they will also bring an expert from Cardiff Metropolitan University, which is one of ICC’s accredited testing centres for suspect bowling actions.The committee was formed during last Sunday’s board meeting, three months after BCB president Nazmul Hassan had said that they will weed out illegal bowling actions from domestic cricket in wake of the suspensions of Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny, during the World T20 in March.

Bowlers to be sent for re-modelling actions

• Mustafizur Rahman – right-arm offspinner

• Moinul Islam – left-arm spinner

• Amit Kumar – left-arm spinner

• Rejaul Karim – left-arm spinner

• Sharifullah – right-arm offspinner

• Asif Ahmed – right-arm offspinner

• Naeem Islam jnr – left-arm spinner

• Faisal Hossain – left-arm spinner

• Sanjit Saha – right-arm offpinner

• Mohammad Saifuddin – right-arm seamer

In the first week of the DPL, six bowlers were reported by the umpires – Naeem Islam jnr, Faisal Hossain, Moinul Islam, Rejaul Karim, Amit Kumar, and offspinner Mustafizur Rahman, who was reported twice. They, along with several others, will be tested next month, after the Eid vacations.”We have a meeting on Tuesday to decide the committee’s modus operandi,” Yunus said. “At least 13 to 14 bowlers have been reported during this Dhaka Premier League. We will start working with them after Eid. We will assess their bowling actions in the nets. Omar Khaled was a former spinner and Dipu Roy Chowdhury and Golam Faruk are former pace bowlers who will work according to their areas. If we find deviation in their bowling through the naked eye and cameras, we will have to rectify them.”Afterwards, if we see the correction is consistent, they can play in next year’s league. If they are reported again, they will be banned for a year. We will work with bowlers in the NCL, BCL, BPL, the Dhaka Premier League, Dhaka First Division and Second Division and age-group.”Yunus said they are in touch with the ICC for technological assistance and have also contacted the Cardiff centre for personnel to be sent to Dhaka to guide the committee, which will also invite local bowling coaches to help out with the process. He, however, said that the BCB doesn’t plan to build a testing centre of its own just yet.”We are not experienced at reviewing a bowling action, so we will bring an outside expert. We will need a dedicated space because this process also requires technological assistance. We have a long gap now and we are now well-equipped to tackle this issue.”Building a lab within ICC’s protocol is going to be very expensive. We want to start with minimum costs. We have written to the ICC for technical assistance. We are also hoping to bring experts from Cardiff on a temporary basis,” he said.Meanwhile, the second bowing action tests of Sunny and Taskin will be completed before Bangladesh’s international commitments begin in October, against England at home. Yunus said that the actions of both bowlers were video-taped during the DPL, and will now be assessed by the Bangladesh’s coaching staff.”Arafat Sunny and Taskin Ahmed are not within our jurisdiction. The national team’s management is working with them. Their rehab is ongoing,” Yunus said. “Their videos from the Dhaka Premier League will be assessed soon, and if it is satisfactory and we are fully confirmed, they will go for a second bowling action test and it will be before the next international assignment.”

BCCI and WICB officials are confident of securing US visas in time for their respective squads to go ahead with the proposed T20 series in Florida next month

Peter Della Penna29-Jul-2016BCCI and WICB officials are confident of securing US visas in time for their respective squads to go ahead with the proposed T20 series in Florida next month. A source with knowledge of the negotiations between the two boards, which took place at the Central Broward Regional Park (CBRP) on Thursday, said that the series is “98% on”.The tentative plan, it is understood, is to hold two T20s on August 27 and 28, following the negotiations in Florida that involved BCCI general manager MV Shridar and WICB commercial manager Nelecia Yeates. Discussions are also believed to involve staging a return visit by both sides in 2017.For now, the 2% hold-up on finalising the August series is based on multiple factors, including the visa status of players. However, multiple sources have confirmed that the BCCI has already submitted names, photographs and documents for their intended T20 squad to the US Embassy in Jamaica, where the second Test is due to start on Saturday.There is a sense of urgency to get expedited visas approved for India’s dual Test and T20 players at the US Embassy in Jamaica because there is no US Embassy in St Lucia, the venue of the third Test. All US consular affairs in St Lucia are handled by the US Embassy in Barbados. By waiting to file the visa applications until the team gets to Trinidad for the fourth Test, it would leave just a over a week to finalise other logistical aspects with no guarantee that the players’ visas will be approved.Aside from the visas, the WICB also needs to get approval from the ICC to host matches in the USA, though that is a formality with the ICC eager to facilitate as much cricket as possible within the country. ICC chief operating officer Iain Higgins is currently in Florida for the CPL matches and is expected to rubber stamp approval once an application is submitted.A contract will also need to be arranged with the CBRP and Broward County for stadium rental fees. That may also include paying a fee to accommodate the shifting of an event previously scheduled for August 28 at the stadium. The BCCI is determined to play the matches on a Saturday and Sunday to capitalise on the US expat market, enabling fans to fly into Florida for the weekend.The start times may also shift at the behest of the BCCI. The CPL matches taking place at the CBRP this week include local start times of 7 pm on the two week nights, and 12 pm and 4 pm doubleheaders for the weekend. The BCCI is pushing for the two T20Is to have a 10 am local start in Florida, which is 7.30 pm in India, allowing a prime-time audience and maximising TV revenue.One more piece in the puzzle is the ground capacity. The capacity for the CPL has been capped at 10,000, but the CBRP is capable of bringing in more temporary bleachers to hold as many as 20,000 people. The BCCI is angling for the capacity to be maxed out, confident that they can generate two sellouts and maximise gate revenue.Among the other details to be ironed out are the ticket-pricing policy as well as broadcast rights. Pending the approval of the players’ visas along with the other logistical details, the two proposed matches may not be finalised until sometime next week.

Andrew McGlashan09-Aug-2016Alex Hales has realised he must remain his own man as he tries to cement his position at the top of England’s batting order rather than trying to copy anyone else.Earlier in the series at Old Trafford, the television coverage picked up that Hales had made an adjustment to his technique between the first and second innings. Hales revealed that had come from watching Joe Root during his double century, but he said that the tweaks, which involved trying to replicate Root’s trigger movements at the crease, did not feel natural to him.Instead, he went and worked with Peter Moores, the former England coach who is now a batting consultant with Nottinghamshire, and returned to trusting his own methods.Hales made 54 in the game-changing opening stand of 126 with Alastair Cook in the second innings at Edgbaston, which was his first significant contribution of the series, but he is still waiting for the maiden Test century which would make him the first Englishman to make hundreds in all three formats.”Watching Rooty bat in the first innings [at Old Trafford], the way he moves his feet around the crease, got me thinking about little adjustments in my game. Second innings, I tried to give it a go and it wasn’t something I was comfortable with,” Hales said.”In between Tests I did a lot of work with Peter Moores. Trying to copy other players isn’t being true to yourself. I made some improvements after South Africa and just because you get a couple of good balls doesn’t mean you should go away from what you have done well in the past.”So I did a bit of alignment work, sticking to the basics of trigger and head movements, some adjustments to the left-armers, but sticking to what has brought me success in the past.”Despite four half-centuries this season, Hales has not quite done enough to end the debate about Alastair Cook’s opening partner. After ten Tests he has 555 runs at 29.21, a difficult start in South Africa being followed by an encouraging display against Sri Lanka where he came close to a maiden hundred on three occasions.Against Pakistan’s higher-class of pace bowlers, however, he has again looked a little vulnerable. He has been caught behind or in the slips in five of his six innings in the series, while in the other was cleaned up by a classy Mohammad Amir inswinger in the first innings at Old Trafford.”The results I have had this series have not been what I’ve wanted, having got a couple of good balls and played a couple of rash shots, but the exciting thing for me is that I’m developing and learning. Keep doing that and enjoying myself and I will give myself the best chance,” he said. “I think the second innings at Edgbaston showed that, but at the same time it’s about scoring runs and getting results and I know I need to score more, particularly in this Test coming up.”It’s important in anyone’s career to get a century. I have given myself five opportunities with five half centuries but not gone on. I am learning and improving so hopefully the best is to come.”One of the curious dynamics of this series has been that Hales, perceived as more of a dashing batsman, has a strike-rate of 47.56 while Alastair Cook is blazing away at 76.20 (Cook’s ODI strike-rate was 77.13). The notion that Hales could be England’s David Warner was always ill-conceived and Hales is happy with how he is adjusting his game.”Something I’ve learnt is not to go out and bat with any preconceived ideas,” he said. “I don’t want to be a guy who is known for blocking it nor hitting it to all parts. You have to be adaptable to each situation. If they bowl well I want to be good enough to see it off and if they bowl poorly still have the intention to hit the bad balls. Just play the situation.”Another contrast between Hales and his opening partner is their sweating. Cook is famous for barely dropping a bead while Hales can barely keep his hands dry. It means the bowlers are desperate to keep the ball away from him when it starts to reverse, as it did so crucially on the final day at Edgbaston.”I stay well clear of it – if I know it’s coming my way I rub them on the floor to try and dry them out,” he said.Hales’ sweating is out of his hands. His chance to finish the Test season in convincing style is certainly not.

Mashrafe Mortaza produced a matchwinning all-round display, and Taskin Ahmed took three quick wickets, as Bangladesh squared the series by 34 runs

The Report by David Hopps09-Oct-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAll the major cricketing nations to visit Bangladesh in the past three years, with the exception of Sri Lanka, have discovered to their cost that they are far from the pushovers they once were. That truth is now painfully evident to England after a 34-run defeat in Mirpur in the second ODI that sets up a decider to the series in Chittagong on Wednesday.When Bangladesh set England 239 for victory, they knew they had a vaguely competitive, if unprepossessing, score, but surely even they could not have imagined that it would provide such a substantial winning margin. England’s 204 – bolstered by a last-wicket stand of 45 – could have been much lower.England’s cause was all but lost when Jos Buttler, their captain, became the seventh batsman out at 123, his serene resistance ended when he walked across his stumps against Taskin Ahmed and was given out lbw on review. After Bangladesh celebrated uproariously and Buttler took a drink of water before departing, something that was said riled him. He swung back in fury and was ushered away by the umpires. There were more words at end-of-match handshakes, England’s fury unabated. The match referee could well take an interest.That flare-up should not deflect attention from Mashrafe Mortaza’s rousing display. There have been many times in his long career when Mashrafe has seemed almost mashed-up, an allrounder of passion held together by desire and bandages, his follow-through often taking place in his mind only. But he was a potent force here, firstly to drag Bangladesh’s score to respectability with a rumbustious 44 from 29 balls at the death, roared in to take three top-order wickets and finally sealed victory by deceiving Jake Ball with a slower ball just as England dared to hope for a miracle.James Vince’s penchant for pretty off drives was again his undoing as Mashrafe nibbled one away to have him caught at backward point, Jason Roy played across a straight one and Ben Stokes was unhinged by a full inswinger which bowled him off his pads.Add Ben Duckett, who was bowled as Shakib Al Hasan turned one through the gate, and England ended the first Powerplay at 31 for 4 – their lowest 10-over score since they reinvented their 50-over cricket after a disastrous World Cup. Stokes, a century-maker in the first game, and Duckett, who had made a fifty on debut, had both fallen without scoring.Buttler was at his most serene. He cruised to his half-century at better than a run a ball, repeatedly advancing to the seamers, yet doing so with such smoothness that when he played the shot he appeared perfectly still and balanced. When he forced them to drop short, he preyed on the opportunity venomously.But what Mashrafe began, Taskin completed. His action was ruled illegal during the early stages of World T20 in India in March but he was cleared earlier this month and looks eager to make up for lost time.His first two overs leaked 19, but when he switched ends he found extra bounce and movement. Before Buttler’s dismissal, he dismissed the craggily-bearded Bairstow for 35, his drive flying through to Mushfiqur Rahim, a settling stand of 79 in 14 overs with Buttler ended. Afterwards, he had Chris Woakes caught at the wicket, trying to run one to third man. A spell of 3 for 11 in 11 balls turned the game. At 21, he looks a decent addition to Bangladesh’s pace stocks.Taskin Ahmed removed Jonny Bairstow in a three-wicket burst which changed the game•Getty Images

The pitch was a little slower and grippier than Friday’s surface, on which England made 309 and won by 21 runs. Nevertheless, Mashrafe faced a fading Bangladesh innings when he came to the crease at 169 for 7 with 8.2 overs remaining, the loss of Mahmudullah for 75 from 88 balls severely compromising their chances of putting England under pressure. His innings brought Bangladesh another 69 in a stand with Nasir Hossain until he was run out one ball from the end and cheered the outlook for a crowd that until then had watched events unfold with trepidation.Mahmudullah had been their only solace until then. He manoeuvred the ball skilfully in making 75 from 88 balls when he tried to paddle Adil Rashid and was lbw. His walk-off was arrested as he responded to calls to review the decision, but his initial suspicions proved well founded. Rashid’s ability to dismiss top-order batsmen is a source of debate, but he took the vital wicket here.England had chosen to bat in the first ODI, but Buttler, had indicated after the match that he felt he had made the wrong decision. Presented with an opportunity after winning the toss to switch tactics, he had a bowl. But by the end of the night, as the pitch became more uneven, it was tempting to contend that he had made the wrong decision twice.England’s pace attack responded to bowling in the heat of the day with a combative, disciplined display. The short ball soon dispensed with the openers. Imrul Kayes, after two hundreds in a week against the tourists, hauled a cutter from Woakes to Willey at deep square leg, just repositioned for the catch. Tamim Iqbal spliced Woakes into the ring.More than six years ago, Tamim announced himself to England with a century in an ODI in Dhaka. More runs followed in the Test series and when Bangladesh visited England that same year his reputation grew further with Test centuries at Lord’s and Old Trafford. Tamim was the representative, to England eyes, of all that was good about Bangladesh cricket, but that success has not been maintained and in his last eight matches against England in all formats he has failed to reach 50.Ball, fresh from five wickets on debut on Friday, struck in his first over as Sabbir Rahman, after making 3 from 21 balls, chopped on. Another pull shot, another wicket: Mushfiqur’s swivel well held by Moeen Ali, plunging forward at long leg. Shakib had a charmed life, almost chopping Ball onto his stumps, escaping a run out courtesy of Sam Billings’ inaccurate throw and then falling to Stokes when his glance off the hips was pouched by Buttler.Mahmudullah’s lone hand was staving off calamity, but it did not promise a competitive score. When he fell lbw to Rashid, who then ended Mosaddek Hossain’s innings with a long hop which was hauled to cow corner, Mashrafe, had little choice but to swing heartily and hope that luck fell his way.Two straight sixes off Moeen – the first of the innings – indicated his approach and prodigious strength, and minimal technique, came into play when he bludgeoned Willey over the ropes at long-on. “I just slog man,” he said later. But add his first four-wicket haul for eight years and it won the man-of-the-match award.Bilateral series are about as trendy these days as a Val Doonican CD, but the two matches in this series have been excellent, fought out with skill and fervour. England studied security advice and chose to tour Bangladesh and, with the entertainment at its height, the cricketing value of that decision was self-evident.