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England were given no chance at redemption with the ball after wet outfield and bad light combined to end the day’s play

Alex Malcolm08-Dec-2021The Ashes’ past have been defined by the first ball of the series at the Gabba. Think Michael Slater clattering Phil DeFreitas for four in 1994-95 or Steve Harmison bowling the first ball to second slip in 2006-07.The 2021-22 Ashes series may well be defined by Rory Burns being bowled around his legs first ball from Mitchell Starc as England collapsed to be all out for 147 at tea on the opening day of the first Test, with Australia captain Pat Cummins claiming 5 for 38 after Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat.Related

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A thunderstorm then washed out the early part of the final session to pour salt into a gaping wound, as England were given no chance at redemption with the ball. A wet outfield and bad light combined to end the day’s play.Root won’t be lambasted for life for the decision at the toss in the manner that Len Hutton and Nasser Hussain have in Ashes Tests of the past at the Gabba. Cummins admitted he might have batted too despite a distinct green tinge to the surface and some moisture both in the pitch and in the atmosphere.But he would have been regretting it after he joined Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Strauss as England captains to make first-innings ducks in Ashes Tests at the Gabba. Root fell victim to a superb piece of bowling from Josh Hazlewood, who now has a stranglehold on the England skipper having claimed him eight times in Test cricket.He also may regret leaving both James Anderson and Stuart Broad out of the side for the first time in five years and the first time in an Ashes Test since 2006, as England’s top order capitulated on a surface that gave the bowlers plenty of assistance. But some played their own part in the procession of wickets that fell in the first hour after slumping to 26 for 4.Burns lost all bearings of where his stumps were stepping way outside off to expose leg stump to Starc who did shape the ball back down the line after it looked to be veering down leg. But Burns will rue the day as his error could be replayed for decades to come. He also claimed two regrettable records, becoming the second man in history to fall first ball of an Ashes series while registering his sixth duck of the calendar year, the most of any Test opener.Hazlewood then went to work testing the defence of England’s top order and they were found wanting. Dawid Malan nicked a ball he could have easily left alone on length handing Alex Carey his first Test catch, while Root wasn’t allowed to breathe for eight unwavering deliveries before one straightened off the seam to catch his outside edge.Joe Root fell to leave England three down inside half an hour•Getty Images

Ben Stokes entered at 3 for 11 needing to produce another Ashes miracle. He was undone after the drinks break by Cummins from around the wicket, squared up by a ball that climbed from a length and Marnus Labuschagne held a very sharp chance diving to his left at third slip.Haseeb Hameed fought impressively in the face of some outstanding fast bowling. Hameed and Ollie Pope steadied the ship momentarily prior to lunch to prevent any further loss. Hameed was obdurate in defence while Pope was busy, pushing balls into the off side with positive footwork and weight transfer to rotate the strike well.But neither could lay a glove on Hazlewood who bowled seven overs in the first session and conceded just three singles while collecting the scalps of Malan and Root.The lunch break did Hameed no favours as Cummins struck again. He went wide of the crease and angled into off stump forcing Hameed to play, a hint of seam movement away caught the edge and again it was well held at slip, this time by vice-captain Steven Smith.England’s only moment of joy for the day came with the arrival of Jos Buttler. Having pledged pre-series to play fearless cricket he followed through on his promise and counter-attacked in typical fashion. While England could barely defend Hazlewood before lunch, Buttler took the long handle to him launching him through and over the offside with control. Buttler and Pope’s positivity changed the atmosphere briefly as Australia turned Nathan Lyon for containment.The pair shared a 52-run stand and Pope passed 1000 Test runs in the process becoming the sixth-youngest English player to do so.But Starc returned and dismissed Buttler with a superb delivery that threatened to shape in but left him off the seam to catch the outside edge. Cameron Green then claimed his first Test wicket to raucous celebrations after going wicketless all last summer. Pope failed to control a hook shot and Hazlewood ran in from fine leg to complete an outstanding diving catch. It was the first of two for him in the deep as he took another to help Cummins complete his five-wicket haul. Cummins returned to take the last three wickets of the innings as England lost their last five for just 32 runs.Cummins became the first Australian captain to take a five-wicket haul in an Ashes Test since Richie Benaud in 1962 and the first captain of either nation to do so since Bob Willis at the Gabba in 1982. It was a day he could not have dreamt up if he tried, as England added another chapter to their horror history at the Gabba.

“We are determined to pull out all stops to ensure that healing takes place for those who have been wronged”

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jul-2020CSA has made public its plans to tackle alleged racism in cricket in the country, its Transformation Committee announcing a sustainable response strategy project called Cricket for Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN).”The national outcry by cricket fans, the greater South African public and broad stakeholder groups could not be ignored,” CSA said in a statement while talking about the project.The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement became a part of cricket after Daren Sammy spoke of a “degrading” nickname he had been given in the Sunrisers Hyderabad dressing room, and then moved up a notch when Lungi Ngidi, in response to a question in a press interaction, called for the cricket community in South Africa to “make a stand”. Soon after this, 36 prominent South African players and coaches of colour expressed their support for Ngidi, followed by the likes of Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis speaking out. It all culminated in South Africa’s elite cricketers – as well as support staffers, CSA officials, and members of the commentary team – taking a knee at Centurion’s SuperSport Park ahead of the 3TC match last Saturday.ALSO READ: Bal – It’s time we South Asians understood that colourism is racismCSA will set up a Transformation Ombudsman responsible for managing complaints while also ensuring that players and fans unite. CSA aims to appoint the ombudsman by August, with Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw, the independent director and transformation chair, tasked with ensuring that the process flows smoothly.”Transformation needs to happen in our lifetime and as the Board we need to fully deliver on that mandate. Having heard what our ex-players shared, my focus as the Transformation Chair was to come up with a solution, hence the Cricket SJN concept,” Kula-Ameyaw said. “I am grateful that the Board supports this initiative. The office of the Transformation Ombudsman is a solid brick that we can use as a foundation to deal with racism and discrimination in cricket.””We are sorry that our cricket players had to endure the emotional hardships that they did; subjugated by their peers along racial lines under our new democracy that enjoined us to embrace reconciliation and inclusivity,” CSA Board chair Chris Nenzani said. “SJN is the first-of-its-kind project meant to rid cricket of apartheid racial discrimination. This is the very important project that all stakeholders must make sure it succeeds for the future sustainability of cricket.”The fortunes of cricket, its players, stakeholders, and fans are not going to be held to ransom by the wayward few who definitely have no place within our ranks,” he added. “We are determined to pull out all stops to ensure that healing takes place for those who have been wronged, and that perpetrators are exposed, sanctioned, and isolated.”The SJN also aims to form a Restoration Fund in order to deal with the opportunity cost due to discrimination as well as “promote and intensify” the diversity, belonging and inclusivity programme implementation.Dr Jacques Faul, the CSA’s acting chief executive, said, “It has been a very challenging time for Cricket South Africa, and we have to acknowledge that what we have heard was not easy to digest. However, I am also encouraged by our plan to address this. We will need the buy-in from all our stakeholders to ensure a racism free future at Cricket South Africa.”We commit that never again shall we be found wanting and will consolidate our efforts to assure an inclusive cricket environment, free of any discrimination, racism or any other ill that negate the gains of the democracy that we fought so hard for.”

Bravo: Gayle makes up for lack of mobility with power and charisma

George Dobell24-Feb-2019Darren Bravo has hailed Chris Gayle as “a legend” and “priceless” in terms of the experience he provides for the West Indies team.While Bravo, who is scheduled to play his 100th ODI in Grenada on Monday, admits there are times when Gayle’s lack of mobility can be frustrating, he believes he more than compensates with his destructive power and charisma.”He’s definitely a hero to the young players,” Bravo said. “Not even a hero; he’s a legend.”The experience of having Chris in the dressing room is priceless. He puts a smile on each and every player’s face. And, as you can see when we go out there, we really enjoy our cricket.”If you look at the stats, he’s achieved a lot at international level. He’s a special player. We’re really happy to have him.”He’s getting on a bit in age but he’s still striking the ball nicely so that is the most important thing. And in the dressing room he’s always giving information. He’s helping all the youngsters.”I think over the last few years he’s changed the game a little bit. He’s not going so hard as before. He understands his game pretty well. As long as it all goes well, as long as his approach is concerned, I don’t see any reason we can’t consistently cross the 300 mark.”At times [it can be frustrating batting with him]. There are obvious singles that he may not take as he’s probably getting a little slow. But having him at the other end… he can make up. He can hit two sixes in the next over and make up for the single that was deprived from the other batter.Chris Gayle cracked 12 sixes in his 135•Getty Images

“I don’t want to get too negative: so far he’s been our highest run-scorer. He’s been tremendous and I want to wish him all the best.”Bravo will become the 30th West Indies player to reach 100 ODI caps if he plays on Monday. Having had an extended break from the side after a public fall-out with CWI President, Dave Cameron, he now says he is enjoying his cricket – and an environment which allows players to appear in T20 tournaments without compromising their international aspirations – more than ever.He also had praise for interim coach Richard Pybus, who was seen by some as a controversial appointment.”I’m happy; the guys are smiling,” he said. “It’s always good to have the best of both worlds. It’s a good feeling. There’s a nice gel of experience and young guys. The fans are enjoying our style of play, which is the most important thing.”Pybus is doing a fantastic job. So far so good. I wish him all the best.”West Indies are likely to be unchanged for the third ODI. But with Andre Russell expecting to join the squad on Tuesday and available for selection in the fourth and fifth ODIs, Carlos Brathwaite, in particular, may be under pressure to retain his place.

Khulna posted the season’s highest total courtesy fifties from Afif and Pooran, after which Abu Jayed and Shafiul ran through the Rajshahi batting

The Report by Mohammad Isam27-Nov-2017
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAfif Hossain brought up his maiden T20 fifty with a six•Raton Gomes/BCB

Khulna Titans overtook Dhaka Dynamites to go clear on top of the BPL, after crushing Rajshahi Kings by 68 runs. Shafiul Islam’s maiden five-for in T20s helped shut down Rajshahi despite having to tackle Chittagong’s heavy evening dew.Khulna’s 213 for 5 – the season’s highest score – was built around contributions from Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Nicholas Pooran and Carlos Brathwaite, who ensured their run-rate never went down. Afif and Pooran got fifties as they very nearly toppled the BPL’s all-time highest team score, which is still held by Dhaka Gladiators’ 217 for 4 since 2013.Shanto punishes lacklustre RajshahiZakir Hasan gave Rajshahi a good start with his direct hit that got rid of Rilee Rossouw in the fourth over but soon afterwards, Shanto hit couple of sixes off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, both high over long-off. Shanto and Afif added 45 for the second wicket, during which the latter struck two sixes off Kesrick Williams and Mustafizur Rahman.Pooran’s big bashThe wickets of Shanto and Mahmudullah came in quick succession but Afif and Pooran transitioned very well, adding 88 runs for the fourth wicket.Pooran hammered James Franklin for two successive sixes over long off in the 14th over before adding a third in the 16th, also off Franklin, over long-on. Pooran ended up as Franklin’s third wicket, but it was after he made 57 off 26 balls with six fours and three sixes. This was his first fifty in the BPL, in his 14th game.Afif earns his rewardWhile Shanto and Pooran had been attacking, Afif remained the backbone. He picked up singles quite easily and also got three more sixes, the last of which brought up his maiden BPL fifty.Afif also fed the strike to Carlos Brathwaite, who hammered three sixes and as many fours in his 14-ball 34, but couldn’t quite add any more sixes in the last over in which Mohammad Sami conceded just five runs.Shafiul strikes earlyMominul Haque got a four off the first ball but he didn’t last too long, getting bowled by Shafiul Islam in the third over. Luke Wright was Shafiul’s second wicket later in the over, when his hit towards long-on was intercepted by Jofra Archer, who stretched fully to complete the catch.Jayed breaks Rajshahi’s resistanceRony Talukdar and Zakir Hasan raised their game in their 55-run third wicket stand. Rony struck five fours and a six in his 36 off 23 balls. His only six came when he pulled Jayed over midwicket. Zakir also got into the groove by hitting Shafiul for three successive fours in the seventh over – twice through point and once past mid-off.But Jayed struck back, removing Rony and Zakir off consecutive deliveries in the ninth over, both caught in the deep. Zakir had made 19 off 12 balls.Shafiul removes two danger menBrought back into the attack in the 11th over, Shafiul cramped Darren Sammy for room as he tried to swing him to the leg-side. Mahmudullah took the simple catch at mid-on before Mushfiqur Rahim fell next ball, cleaned up by a full ball. At 81 for 6, Rajshahi were running out of time.Mehidy and Franklin added 40 runs in 4.2 overs for the seventh wicket but the required run-rate went over and beyond as Khulna ambled towards a comfortable win. Shafiul took the last wicket to fall, finishing with 5 for 26 from his four overs.

Dom Bess, Somerset’s 19-year-old offspinner, took another five-wicket haul to bundle out Nottinghamshire and edge his side closer to a first-ever Championship title

Paul Edwards at Taunton21-Sep-2016
ScorecardDom Bess celebrates one of his five wickets•Getty Images

If you hope to make history, it is probably helpful not to be encumbered by the past.Dom Bess is too young to recall the years when Somerset nearly won things. That pain is for old cricketers. Fresh-faced and engaging, the offspinner only left Blundell’s School last year and does not even have a professional contract as yet. All he has is the present and it is glorious. For Bess is 19-years-old and he may be in the first Somerset team to win the County ChampionshipBowling with a high action and getting plenty of bounce albeit not much turn from this Taunton pitch, Bess took 5 for 43 as Chris Rogers’ team dismissed Nottinghamshire for 138. That gave them a first-innings lead of 227 runs, which they had extended to 332 by the close. It would now be a major surprise if they do not complete their sixth four-day win of the season and thereby earn the 23 points that would throw down a challenge to Middlesex and Yorkshire at Lord’s.For if Somerset win this game, they will, indeed, be the County Champions if Middlesex do not beat Yorkshire or if Yorkshire do not beat Middlesex and score 350 runs in their first innings. The prose of the issue may be strangled by conditionals and connectives but for Somerset votaries the poetry has often come first. This could be a wonderful autumn in the West Country.On this second evening, though, home supporters can look back with fondness on a day when the ball had only to hit the pad for all Somerset to appeal for justice. As Bess and Jack Leach probed Nottinghamshire’s batsmen like tyro barristers, they were joined in their merciless inquisition by most of the spectators in the County Ground. Those mighty entreaties could be heard by drinkers in The Ring of Bells and the good news was passed on to the stylish cafés in Bath Place. Cricket matters so much in this town.

Bess’ dream sequence

Dom Bess, Somerset spinner: “The last couple of weeks have been like a dream for me. To suddenly be involved in a team with a real chance of winning the County Championship has been fantastic. I really enjoy bowling in tandem with Jack Leach and he is always talking to me and offering advice.
“Our director of cricket Matt Maynard made it clear our batting collapse at the end of day one was unacceptable, but we remained positive because we were still in a good position in the game. Today my main focus while batting was to not nick off against Jake Ball and to try to spot Imran Tahir’s googly. I think it was a really important stand with Jack and it gave us a real lift
“With the ball it was a case of putting it in the right place as often as possible and I am looking forward to bowling again in the second innings.”

And as ever with Somerset the local pride was mixed with glorious eccentricity. Dom Bess, a Devonian, sounds more like a character out of than the skilful spinner and useful batsman whose 41 runs secured a fourth bonus point for his side in the first hour of the second day. Leach looks more like a Professor of Palaeography than the high-class left-arm spinner whose 3 for 42 left him with 61 Division One wickets this year.If Leach’s skills were not sufficient to earn him a place on England’s tour to Bangladesh – perhaps the selectors thought the trip would clash with the autumn term at Cambridge – they certainly offered too severe a test for Chris Read’s batsmen.Nottinghamshire’s trials had begun in mid-morning when Steven Mullaney drove Lewis Gregory straight to Tom Abell at backward point. Although Jake Libby and Tom Moores negotiated the remaining overs of the session, Bess’s excellent rhythm – he began with five maidens – boded well for Rogers, whose skilful handling of his attack never allowed the batsmen to settle.Five wickets fell in the afternoon session and the balance of the match shifted, probably for good. Moores was caught at slip by Gregory when driving at Bess and the spinner then had Libby caught off bat and pad by Abell at short leg for 42. None of the other Notts batsmen could match the opener’s concentration.Michael Lumb gave Bess a one-handed return catch off the leading edge and Samit Patel was smartly stumped by Ryan Davies off Leach for 12. By now Nottinghamshire’s resistance was crumbling and that process was accelerated when their skipper, Read, was run out for 4, by Max Waller’s smart throw from point. It might have been a tight call but this has been a month in which those such calls have gone Somerset’s way.Having gone into tea on a grim 120 for 6, the visitors lost their last four wickets in a little more than three overs after the resumption. In the modern fashion Somerset chose not to enforce the follow-on but it will now be a major surprise if that tactic does anything but postpone their victory.The significance of such a win may not become clear until perhaps Friday but the excellence of Somerset’s cricket and the memory of James Hildreth’s hundred on the first day will stay with their supporters far longer.One also knows that it will be a disappointment – yes, another one – if they do not win the title now. For even as Bess took his wickets, news from Lord’s was being passed round Taunton and its significance digested and analysed. “I wouldn’t mind but we’ve got to get through three more days of this stuff,” said a Somerset supporter, his addiction both helpless and endearing.And, in any case, he was only reflecting a widely held loyalty. On Friday evening, maybe sooner, the 2016 table will emerge in full clarity rather like the patchwork of the Quantocks emerging from the morning mist. And if Somerset are still best placed to win the title, you may expect the corpses in St James’s churchyard to be rattling their coffins in excitement.

A broken thumb has ruled David Warner out of the remainder of Australia’s five-match ODI series against England

Daniel Brettig05-Sep-2015Australia’s vice-captain David Warner is facing the tightest of schedules to make the October Test tour of Bangladesh after x-rays revealed he had suffered a fractured left thumb when struck by his first ball from Steven Finn in the second ODI against England at Lord’s.Warner’s injury is expected to keep him out of action for up to six weeks, meaning he will struggle to be available for at least the first of the two Tests on the subcontinent, leaving the Australian selectors needing to consider an all-new opening combination for the assignment following the retirement of Chris Rogers.Joe Burns and Cameron Bancroft are leading contenders to go to Bangladesh. Warner will be eager to tour as part of a new leadership combination alongside the recently-appointed captain, Steven Smith.”I’m not 100% sure if he’s out of the first Test yet, but he’s got a little fracture in his thumb,” Smith said of Warner. “It was disappointing to lose him in that fashion today, but I thought the boys stood up really well and got the job done. That was the most important thing at present, and I think looking forward got to find someone else to potentially fill the role that he won’t be able to do.”I’m really looking forward to it [Bangladesh] to be honest. I can’t wait to captain Australia in Test cricket, and hopefully I’ll be able to have a few senior players around to lean on.”Aaron Finch, who missed initial selection for this squad as a result of a broken foot sustained while playing for Yorkshire, is now fit again and has been called into the squad to replace Warner for the England ODIs. “It’s very exciting to be back,” Finch said. “It’s unfortunate for David Warner for me to come in under these circumstances, that’s not ideal, but these things happen in cricket and it’s great for me to be back.”Upon being struck by Finn in the day’s first over, Warner immediately retired hurt and did not bat again in the innings, though he did briefly test out the injury in the Nursery End nets after taking painkillers. Warner has played every Test for Australia – 24 in all – since his recall to the team for the third Test of the previous Ashes tour.Shane Watson also spent time off the field in the afternoon, having suffered what a Cricket Australia spokesperson described as a “minor right calf strain”. He will undergo scans once the team arrives in Manchester on Sunday to determine his availability for the rest of this series.