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In his book, AB: The Autobiography, which launched in Johannesburg today, AB de Villers describes the 2015 World Cup semi-final defeat as the “greatest disappointment” of his cricket career

Firdose Moonda01-Sep-2016AB de Villiers regards the 2015 World Cup semi-final defeat to New Zealand as the “greatest disappointment” of his cricket career and believes there could have been “other considerations” in the selection of the XI that took the field for that match last March.The revelation that racial dynamics played a role in Vernon Philander being selected ahead of Kyle Abbott came in the aftermath of the tournament and was confirmed by CSA, who said transformation targets were part of pre-match discussions, but this is the first time any of the players involved in the match has spoken out.De Villers’ recollections of the events are published in his book, , which launched in Johannesburg today. The penultimate chapter, called “The Dream”, goes in-depth into the 2015 World Cup – revealing that South Africa kept a collective diary in which players made daily entries, and reiterating de Villiers’ conviction that South Africa could lift the trophy.Despite two losses in the group stage, South Africa advanced to the semi-final after achieving their first-ever win in a World Cup knockout match when they beat Sri Lanka in the quarterfinal in Sydney. De Villiers wrote that it was “generally assumed” the same team would play against New Zealand.That team included three players of colour in Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and Imran Tahir. Throughout the tournament South Africa had played between three and five players of colour in their matches and had not received instruction on any specific number. At 5:30pm on the night before the semi-final, half an hour before South Africa’s team meeting, de Villiers got a call – he does not say from whom – to tell him that Philander had passed a fitness test earlier and would play instead of Abbott.While considering the reasons for the change in selection, de Villiers explains how he knew that an incumbent player who is injured “will automatically go back into the team when he returned to fitness”. Philander had spent some of the tournament on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, so if he was fully fit, it would be the norm to recall him. De Villiers also “sensed the selectors thought Vernon would thrive in New Zealand conditions”, given his ability to move the ball off the seam on tacky surfaces. All the same, it seemed to de Villiers that “there could have been other considerations”.In contemplating the possbility that there was a quota at play, de Villiers recalls the team’s understanding of the situation at that stage. “We had been assured that Cricket South Africa was the only national governing body in the country that had declined to set a target for the number of players of colour to be included in the national team but there was a delicate balance to be struck and it was generally understood that, as they chose the side, the national selectors would be conscious of providing opportunities for at least four players of colour.”So what had happened? Had Vernon, who was officially classified as coloured, been selected ahead of Kyle, who was officially white, to ensure there were four players of colour in the semi-final? Or had the decision been made for purely cricketing reasons?”De Villiers does not answer those questions himself. Instead, in the book, he details the effect it had on him.”It depressed me to think of my team-mates in these outdated racial terms,” he writes. “‘Would anyone really mind if there were three or four players of colour in our side?”At the team meeting, de Villiers did not address the issue either. He delivered a stirring speech using a line from a One Republic song to inspire the team: “We owe it to each other to promise each other that ‘with every broken bone’ we’re going to leave it out there tomorrow.”That night, coach Russell Domingo sent de Villiers a text “telling me how much the team needed my leadership” and former coach Gary Kirsten “also made contact, urging me to be calm and positive.” De Villiers did not sleep well, admitted he was “emotional” and regarded the situation as “unnecessary and unfair on everybody”.His first thought in the morning was, “I hope Vern will be OK”, but he vowed not to overreact because “I still don’t know for certain what happened”. De Villiers convinced himself to treat it as “just another obstacle to be overcome”.South Africa lost the match on the final ball and de Villiers blamed the defeat on their failure to take “five clear opportunities … three possible run-outs and two catches”, and not on the selection saga. “We didn’t lose because of the decision to replace Kyle with Vernon,” he writes.In the aftermath, de Villiers was devastated. He chided himself to “lose properly” even as he cried on the field and later in the change room when he saw his family.In broader terms, de Villiers is supportive of transformation. “I was certainly not blind to the wider issues and I regard the process of transformation in South African cricket not as something imposed on the game but as something that was morally the right thing to do.”He also maintains that “winning an official World Cup with the South African team had become my burning ambition”, which suggest he may play a fourth edition of the tournament, in 2019.De Villiers has already been part of three failed campaigns. He put South Africa’s semi-final loss in 2007 down to “simply trying too hard”. He does not offer many reasons for the 2011 loss to New Zealand but reveals that then-captain Graeme Smith warned them that, when they got home, “daggers and stones will be thrown”. Smith did not make the trip back with the team.De Villiers has also competed in six World T20s and captained in two. The 2016 one left its biggest mark on him. South Africa exited in the first round and de Villiers said there was “nothing new to say and nothing new to think” with regards to that, except that facing the media in such situations was no fun. “It will never be much fun until a Proteas team finally goes out and wins one of these ICC limited-overs tournaments. That will happen one day.”

Gloucestershire all out for 76 in first innings, in trouble in second

ECB Reporters Network23-Aug-2020Tom Abell and Tom Lammonby hit unbeaten centuries as Somerset set Gloucestershire an unlikely victory target of 385 on the second day of the Bob Willis Trophy match at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.A day totally dominated by the home side saw Gloucestershire bowled out for 76 from an overnight 13 for four, Craig Overton claiming 4 for 25 and Josh Davey 3 for 21.That gave Somerset a first innings lead of 161. Skipper Abell and Lammonby then both finished 101 not out after an unbroken second-wicket stand of 211 had guided their side to 223 for one when Abell declared, aware of the forecast of rain on the final two days.It was 20-year-old Lammonby’s maiden first class century to follow his maiden first class wicket in Gloucestershire’s first innings. The visitors were left with a tricky eight overs to negotiate, losing Ben Charlesworth, Chris Dent and Tom Lace before closing on 14 for three.Gloucestershire were under pressure from the opening delivery of the day, having already lost four first innings wickets. Davey made the first breakthrough with the total on 29 when nightwatchman Matt Taylor was caught at point for 12.The heat of battle between the two West country rivals was turned up when Jamie Overton thought he had George Hankins caught behind for six with the score 48 for five.Umpire Paul Baldwin disagreed and Overton showed his displeasure, first by crouching with head in hands and then unleashing three successive bouncers at the Gloucestershire batsman.The final ball of the over saw Hankins edge a low catch to Craig Overton at second slip and Somerset felt justice had been done.Lace, who showed better technique than a number of team-mates, was bowled by Jack Brooks for 21, attempting to drive, with the scoreboard showing 56 for seven.Gareth Roderick fell lbw to Craig Overton and Gordon Scott was caught behind off Lammonby’s left-arm seam before Ryan Higgins was last man out for 15.With a commanding lead, Somerset were able to approach their second innings positively. They suffered an early setback when Eddie Byrom chipped a catch to mid-wicket off a leg-side delivery from David Payne.But from then on Lammonby and Abell took control, looking increasingly assured in a partnership that had added 81 by tea, which was taken at 93 for one. Suddenly, batting appeared straightforward on a pitch that had never looked to have any demons in it.The final session saw Abell score more fluently to begin with, producing some textbook drives. Left-hander Lammonby, who had never scored even a half-century in first class cricket, moved cautiously to that landmark, having faced 122 balls and hit five fours.Abell was first to his ton, with two to third man off Ben Charlesworth. It was his second hundred of the competition and was made off 153 balls, with 17 boundaries.Lammonby was forced to hit out in a bid to reach three figures before the declaration and did so to great effect. Twice he cleared the ropes and a pulled four to fine leg off Scott took him to his century off 160 balls.After one more delivery Abell called a halt and soon his seamers were cutting through Gloucestershire’s batting as they had done in the first innings.Davey had Charlesworth caught behind with a ball that lifted and bowled Lace with the first ball of the final over after Craig Overton had pinned Dent lbw. Only the weather would now appear to stand between Somerset and a third win from four Bob Willis Trophy games.

Taylor and Nation put together a 128-run stand as West Indies romped to a six-wicket win

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2021
Stafanie Taylor’s 117-ball 102 not out took West Indies to a 3-0 series sweep against Pakistan. Chasing 226 in the third ODI in Karachi, Taylor and Chedean Nation put together a 128-run fifth-wicket stand as West Indies romped to a six-wicket win.Put in to bat, Pakistan were off to a good start, with openers Muneeba Ali and Ayesha Zafar stitching together a 49-run stand. Aaliyah Alleyne drew first blood, dismissing Zafar for 13. Muneeba, though, stuck around, bringing up her half-century off 75 balls.Pakistan then lost three wickets in the space of 16 balls, following which Iram Javed and Aliya Riaz resurrected the innings with a 44-run stand for the fifth wicket. Riaz hit an unbeaten 57-ball 44 to take Pakistan to 225.In reply, West Indies got off to a shaky start, Anam Amin and Diana Baig reducing them to 15 for 3. But Taylor and Hayley Matthews lifted them with an 83-run stand off 104 balls. Sadia Iqbal provided the breakthrough by removing Matthews for 49, but Taylor kept the runs flowing, bringing up her half-century off 72 balls.Nation joined Taylor at the crease in the 22nd over and the two kept the scoreboard moving. Taylor got to her seventh ODI century in 113 balls, and on her way, she also brought up 5000 runs in ODIs, becoming just the third woman to the milestone. Nation also brought up a fifty of her own as the duo finished things off quickly, sealing the match in 44 overs.”I love scoring runs and I love batting and once the team wins I’m really happy about that,” Taylor said after the match. “It’s never happened before… and I’m hoping I get a hundred against one of the (higher-ranked) teams. It’s really nice to reach such a milestone and I hope I continue to do that for West Indies.”I think this is huge. seeing that we were coming off a (series) defeat to South Africa and to come here and win 3-0, we haven’t done that in a while and it’s really nice that we can do that and get ourselves match ready.”

Already, South Africa are 40 overs away from a trophy. India will want to make sure they get to Kolkata with the possibility of claiming the series. Consistency will also be on their mind – they have lost four of their last five T20s

The Preview by Firdose Moonda04-Oct-2015

Match facts

Monday, October 5, 2015
Start time 19:00 local (13:30GMT)4:00

Agarkar: India might be tempted to try three spinners

Big picture

The balloon often pops after a big build-up but that did not happen in the series opener between these two teams. A competitive curtain raiser set the tone for what should continue to be a fiercely contested series, and if all the fixtures play out like the first one, fans are in for a fun two months.Already, one side could scoop early honours with South Africa 40 overs away from a trophy. India will want to make sure they get to Kolkata with the possibility of claiming the series. The hosts’ major concern will be the way their batsmen slunk away after a strong start against a South Africa attack that did not seem to get a measure of the conditions. Their bowlers did not find the going easier either, and may want to consider both tactical and team changes.The visitors are likely still basking in satisfaction over the way they coped with pressure, especially as it was some of their lesser lights who shone in Dharamsala. A firmer middle order and a more determined grip on key moments mean South Africa are shaping up well as they prepare for the World T20. Consistency will also be on India’s mind – they have lost four of their last five T20s and will want to turn the tide on what could become a real problem ahead of the challenges in the next two months.

Form guide

(last five completed games, most recent first)India LLWLL
South Africa WLWWW

In the spotlight

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis had hailed R Ashwin as the best spin bowler in the world and after Friday few can argue with that assessment. Ashwin was the only bowler to concede less than seven runs an over and the only one to demonstrate real guile. He was particularly astute in removing AB de Villiers, who he drew forward and then deceived with a change of pace. Ashwin will want to have similarly smart plans for the rest of the South Africa line-up in the second game.David Miller did not have the opportunity to do anything in the first match and that may be exactly what will worry him as the series draws on. Farhaan Behardien was promoted ahead of him to see South Africa through a tricky period and he ended up providing the perfect foil to JP Duminy, who finished the game in the way Miller may have wanted to do. Miller has not scored an international fifty in fifteen innings and although chances don’t come often in the middle order, he is at risk of being crowded out and will want to stake a proper claim soon.

Team news

India are unlikely to fiddle with their batting department. They may consider playing another spinner though – they have Amit Mishra and Harbhajan Singh – instead of one of their seamers.India (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Ambati Rayudu, 7 Axar Patel/Stuart Binny, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 S Aravind/Harbhajan SinghThe success of the de Villiers-Hashim Amla opening combination could mean more time on the bench for Quinton de Kock, especially as the rest of South Africa’s top order looks settled. They may consider making a change to the allrounder’s spot, bringing in Albie Morkel for Chris Morris, who struggled in Dharamsala, but other changes are unlikely unless South Africa opt to play both specialist spinners.South Africa (probable) 1 AB de Villiers (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 JP Duminy, 5 David Miller, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 Chris Morris/Albie Morkel, 8 Kagiso Rabada, 9 Kyle Abbott, 10 Marchant de Lange/Eddie Leie, 11 Imran Tahir

Pitch and conditions

Bounce and carry is possibly a thing of the past as South Africa inch into the cauldron of spin that India will likely stir throughout the series. A slow pitch will not be the main concern for either team though. The pitch and square were under cover from the persistent rain on Saturday and the met office predicted more rain over the following 48 hours. All the tickets for the fixture have been sold out.

Stats and trivia

• This will be the first T20 international played in Cuttack. It has hosted two Tests and 17 ODIs, none featuring South Africa
• JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien’s unbeaten 105-run stand on Friday equalled the highest fourth-wicket partnership in T20Is in 2015, between Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman against Pakistan in Mirpur

Quotes

“We have to play to the South African weakness. We know they are not so good against spinners. We have got some learning done against their batters.”
“We are not as high up from an altitude point so the ball won’t travel as far. We may have to run a lot more ones and twos. From a bowler’s view we may need to protect certain pockets of the field because of the bigger dimensions. It is a lot warmer here so we will have to be smart with the way we manage our energy.”

Is it a “ridiculous” idea or is it necessary “for this day and age”? Listen to the players’ opinions and decide for yourself

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jan-2020The ICC is exploring the idea of regular four-day Test cricket, to the point of possibly making it part of the 2023 Test championship. The argument for the move is that it could free up a calendar that is currently clogged with too many fixtures. But there is also a worry that without the fifth day, chances of a definitive result might reduce. Here’s what the players think.Joe Root, England captain: I think here’s a place for it in the game.”I do,” he told . “Whether that’s across the board or can it be flexible – we’ve obviously played one against Ireland. I’m sure that pitch would’ve been fit for a three-day game. I think it’s worth trialing. I do think it’s worth trialing and it might not always make sense for England to play especially if its against Australia or some of the bigger sides but it might draw a bit more interest with some of the countries who struggle to get people in the ground.”ALSO READ: ECB gives ‘cautious’ backing to four-day proposalFormer England captain Nasser Hussain prompted Root about the possibility of spin going out of the game if there isn’t enough time for a pitch to deteriorate, especially outside Asia. “If you don’t try it you don’t know,” Root replied. “You should be open minded enough to at least try it and see how it goes. I think the most important thing is not making a definitive decision. I love playing five days of cricket personally. I think it’s the best format. The extra day, like you say, it really does make [sure], majority of the time, 99% of the time, the best team’s won the game.Joe Root rallies his team before the start of play•Getty Images

Nathan Lyon, Australia offspinner: I hope ICC aren’t even considering it“Ridiculous. I’m not a fan of four-day Test matches,” he told “I believe you’ll get so many more draws and day five is crucial.”One, there’s the weather element. But the wickets these days are probably a lot flatter than they have been in the past, so it allows teams to bat longer and to put pressure on sides. You need time for the pitch to deteriorate and bring spinners in more on day five as well.ALSO READ: One day too many? Early finishes point to new possibilities for Test cricket“It’s a challenge You’re challenging yourself in different ways – physically and mentally. It’s not just a walk in the park. Five-day Test matches, they are hard work especially if the conditions aren’t in your favour. You want to challenge yourself. I’m all against four-day Test matches.”Nathan Lyon holds the ball up after his five-wicket haul•AFP

David White, New Zealand Cricket Chief executive: It demands serious attention“Given the congested schedule, four-day Tests demand serious consideration in order for us to accommodate an increasingly packed calendar – ICC world events, bilateral arrangements, and domestic leagues,” he told .Glenn McGrath, former Australia fast bowler: Hate to see it get shorter“I’m very much a traditionalist I like the game the way it is. To me five days is very special and I’d hate to see it get any shorter. The introduction of pink Tests, day-night Tests is a great way to continue keeping our game fresh and moving forward. In respects to changing how many days its played, I’m actually against it. I like the way it is.”Jos Buttler, England wicketkeeper: In this day and age, we have to consider it“Test cricket is the pinnacle but you have to be open to change,” Buttler said. “I think the game has changed and if four-day Test cricket could preserve and potentially improve Test cricket I think it has to be looked at. I think we all love a five-day finish with all three results possible on the last day but can four-day cricket be a success? I think if it’s done properly it can be. In this day and age we have to consider all the opportunities to see how we can do what’s best for Test cricket.”The scoreboard reflects Glenn McGrath’s best Ashes figures•Hardy’s

Vernon Philander, South Africa fast bowler: I am a purist“I hope five-day Test cricket doesn’t come to an end,” he said. “There is only one format and that’s Test cricket. T20 cricketers come and go and the names come and go, Test cricket is the ultimate. Hopefully we can still see five-day Test matches. I know there has been a lot of talk about having four-day Test matches but I am a purist when it comes to cricket and I would like to see Test matches survive for five days.”Tim Paine, Australia captain: Merit in trying it out for the odd Test“I think it should be taken into consideration,” he said. “I dare say going back six or seven years if you let the players decide on pink ball that probably wouldn’t have happened. There is always going to be some give and take. I think there is some merit on it being in the odd Test like we did with England and Ireland. But I think the big marquee Test series, the Test championship stuff has to stay five days.”Vernon Philander celebrates the wicket of Joe Root•Getty Images

Rassie van der Dussen, South Africa batsman: Pitches will change to force results“I’ve never played a five-day match in my life,” he said. “It’s difficult to say. In terms of over rate, we were a bit slow [in Centurion], England were also a bit slow, so there is definitely scope to fit in more overs in the day. We were coming off at 5.30 and there was bright sunshine on most days and you can definitely squeeze in half an over there and make up another eight overs. In the calendar these days, it’s definitely something that you have to consider. The pitch does deteriorate enough in four days to get a result and I think that will also make groundsmen prepare pitches that will force results in four days, like we had at Centurion. We’ll also probably have it at Wanderers where the cracks open up. It’s something to consider.”Keshav Maharaj, South Africa left-arm spinner: I just want to play“I just want to play Test cricket, whether its five days, four days, two days,” he said. “I just want to bowl and hopefully get some runs when I bat. I’ve got no issues with the duration of the Test match, I just want to play Test cricket.”

South Africa dismantled West Indies for the second-lowest total in their history and sixth lowest in the tournament’s en route a crushing 10-wicket win, their second in three games

The Report by Firdose Moonda02-Jul-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDane van Niekerk capped off a spectacular bowling display for South Africa•Getty Images

South Africa dismantled West Indies for the second-lowest total in their history and sixth lowest in the tournament’s en route a crushing 10-wicket win, their second in three games, in 140 minutes. Less than a third of the overs in the game were bowled as South Africa completed their chase of 50 in 6.2 overs. A third successive loss left West Indies, runners-up of the 2013 edition, closer to elimination.Dane van Niekerk, the South Africa captain, became the only bowler in cricket history to take four wickets in an international without conceding a run, but the damage was done earlier. Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail reduced West Indies to 5 for 16, with only one batsman – Chedean Nation – getting into double digits.South Africa had warned of something like this in the warm-up match against West Indies ten days ago. Then, South Africa plucked their opposition for 63 and neither Ismail nor Kapp was among the wicket-takers. Here in Leicester, on a green-tinged top, they made up for that.Ismail made two breakthroughs. She got the ball to nip back into the right-hand batsmen at pace, trapped Hayley Matthews lbw and took out Stafanie Taylor’s off stump. She should have had debutant Reniece Boyce caught at third man in her next over but the chance was put down. Instead, it was Kapp who got rid of the newcomer in an over of mayhem, which effectively ended the contest.In the eighth over, Boyce popped a leading edge back to Kapp off the first ball, Kyshona Knight was struck on the front pad in line with middle stump off the second delivery, and Deandra Dottin’s leg stump went cartwheeling off the fifth. West Indies had half their batsmen back in the changeroom without even 20 runs on the board.South Africa’s change bowlers Ayabonga Khaka and Moseline Daniels kept the pressure on and conceded only 14 runs in the nine overs they bowled, which included four maiden overs before Dane van Niekerk brought herself on for a first taste of spin. Melissa Aguilliera, who had battled 37 balls for just three, tried to take her on but missed the sweep and was bowled. Shanel Daley also mistimed her aggression and top-edged a swing off van Niekerk to short-fine leg before Kapp was brought back on to finish things off.She added a fourth to her haul when she bowled Afy Fletcher to finish with career-best figures but van Niekerk put the icing on the performance. Nation, who had managed to find the boundary five times in her innings, ran out of patience and chipped a catch to short midwicket before young Qiana Joseph, just 16 years old and in her first game, missed a sweep. Kapp and van Niekerk finished with the two best bowling figures by South African women in a World Cup game.It did not seem things could get any worse for West Indies but they did in the field. In the third over of the South African innings, they dropped both openers off successive balls. Lizelle Lee was put down by Taylor and Laura Wolvaardt by Anisa Mohammed and both made full use of their lifelines. South Africa raced home in 38 balls to completely demoralise a West Indian side who have lost all three of their matches so far.

New Zealand will be buoyed by the return of Guptill from injury and the 2-1 T20I series win over India

The Preview by Mohammad Isam in Napier12-Feb-20190:57

We have a point to prove against Bangladesh – Astle

Big picture

Bangladesh have never lost to New Zealand in ODIs at home since 2010 while New Zealand have never lost to Bangladesh at their backyard. In their previous ODI, at a neutral venue in Cardiff in 2017, Bangladesh stunned New Zealand with an epic come-from-behind win.

Watch NZ v Ban live

Followers in the United States can watch New Zealand v Bangladesh live on ESPN+

Ahead of the ODI series opener in Napier, many felt that this was Bangladesh’s best chance to win games in New Zealand. However, Shakib Al Hasan’s injury has created a gaping hole in the line-up.But nonetheless, it promises to be an exciting contest. New Zealand themselves have a few holes to plug after their 4-1 series defeat against India. The only game they won was when they bowled out India for 92 in Hamilton, but in the other four games they couldn’t sustain the pressure for longer periods.Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham were among the runs while Trent Boult and Matt Henry had one good outing each during the ODI series against India. The home side will also be buoyed by the 2-1 T20I series win over them.Tim Southee hasn’t found much swing in white-ball cricket, but New Zealand can fall back on the extra pace of Lockie Ferguson. How Bangladesh tackle New Zealand’s pace attack could have a big say in which way the series swings. If Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das can complement Tamim Iqbal, it will ease the pressure on Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah in the middle overs. Can Sabbir Rahman then fulfill his potential and finish the innings?Bangladesh pace attack, too, will have to step up. Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin will all have to play key roles, particularly in the slog overs. In the absence of Shakib, there is extra pressure on the inexperienced spinners Mehidy Hasan and Nayeem Hasan.

Form guide

New Zealand: LWLLL (Last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh: WLWWW

In the spotlight

Matt Henry‘s four-wicket haul in the last ODI against India could help him retain his spot for the series opener against Bangladesh, who haven’t been comfortable against rapid pace away from home.Soumya Sarkar‘s unbeaten 80 against West Indies, in Bangladesh’s last ODI in Sylhet, ensured that they won the series in style. Now, he has to adapt to quite different conditions as he looks to put behind a tough BPL campaign

Team news

Martin Guptill is fit again, and is set to open with Henry Nicholls. Colin Munro has been left out of the squad for the first two matches.New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Henry Nicholls, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 James Neesham, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Todd Astle, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Trent BoultBangladesh may be tempted to bring in Mohammad Saifuddin instead of Rubel Hossain, particularly in Shakib’s absence.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Liton Das, 3 Soumya Sarkar, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mohammad Mithun, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Sabbir Rahman, 8 Mohammad Saifuddin, 9 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 10 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

The home side will be wary of the Napier pitch, having been bowled out for 157 by India, in the previous game here last month. Weather-wise, it is likely to be a pleasant day in McLean Park.

Stats and Trivia

• Bangladesh have lost both their previous ODIs in Napier, by big margins, during the 2007 and 2010 tours.
• Ross Taylor is 109 runs short of becoming the second New Zealander to 8,000 ODI runs.

Quotes

“We know it is going to be difficult in New Zealand but we like being the underdog. I think New Zealand know they have to play very good cricket to beat us.”
“Bangladesh are a quality side and they showed it in the Champions Trophy when they beat us in that last game.”
New Zealand opener Martin Guptill

Josh Cobb and Jack Taylor both hope to be picked as ‘wildcards’ next summer

Matt Roller22-Oct-2019Leading county players have been left frustrated after missing out in Sunday’s inaugural draft for the Hundred, amid concerns that their case for selection may have been weakened because they do not play for a county based at one of the host venues for the new competition.Josh Cobb, one of the T20 Blast’s more consistent performers over the past few seasons, told ESPNcricinfo that the draft was “a tough watch” and “very disappointing”, but said he remained hopeful of finding a route into the tournament before it starts in July next year.Each of the eight teams will pick a ‘wildcard’ player after the conclusion of the Blast group stages next summer, while players can also put themselves forward to be replacement players in the event of an injury or an international call-up.ALSO READ: The Hundred – full squad listsOther high-profile omissions at the draft included Jordan Clark, Samit Patel, Steven Finn, Olly Stone and Steven Croft, while several players with limited T20 experience were picked up based on potential as much as due to consistency of performance.