Category Uncategorized

Australian cricket is on the “dance floor” of private ownership after Cricket Australia’s board opened the way for the part sale of two Twenty20 franchises to outside investors

Daniel Brettig13-May-2011Australian cricket is on the “dance floor” of private ownership after Cricket Australia’s board opened the way for the part sale of two Twenty20 franchises to outside investors. James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, confirmed the decision following a two-day board meeting at which the pressing issues of the 2011-12 Big Bash League loomed large.A stalemate between CA and its players over pay issues remains a major stumbling block, and Sutherland could not yet say which of the teams – one each in Sydney and Melbourne – would be put up for sale. Nonetheless, the formal decision to seek private investors, either in Australia or overseas, was highly significant for the game.There had been whispers of discontent among prospective buyers, some based in India, about financial and team modelling surrounding the sales, but Sutherland said administrators were now confident the move would meet with success. Money derived from the sales, with figures mentioned in the tens of millions, would come back to CA and then be distributed according to the wishes of board directors.”It’s fair to say we wouldn’t be making these decisions today if we didn’t have a level of comfort or anticipation about that,” Sutherland said of the 49% model. “We might be on the dance floor but there are things that need to be put in writing and signed off on in order for those deals to come to fruition and that’s really the stage that we’re at.”The board arrived at a decision this was an appropriate step to take bearing in mind the focus we need to have on the launch of the BBL, bearing in mind the levels of interest we are seeing from potential private investors, and just trying to balance all those things. We believe it’s appropriate to put our toe in the water.”That toe will be protected by plenty of terms and conditions, designed to prevent the kind of circus atmosphere that prevails in the Indian Premier League. Shane Warne’s revelations that he threatened to quit Rajasthan prior to the tournament’s first edition unless given full control of team selection will not be mirrored in Australia.”There’s no doubt CA and the state associations are very concious of ensuring control of the game and the teams rests with the respective state associations and that’s why the board’s resolved to sell to allow private investment of up to 49%,” Sutherland said. “That said ultimately it becomes an investment proposition we put to respective buyers, and there will ultimately be some sort of term sheet that a buyer needs to consider. We’ve got strong ideas on value, and not just in terms of dollars, but also other terms and conditions – there are some things that are not negotiable.”Negotiations on the MOU between the board and the players have proceeded even though neither party has shown an inclination to change its position, but Sutherland said the best chance of resolution lay in the healthy relationship that exists between CA and the Australian Cricketers Association. His optimism will be tempered by the shrinking amount of time left to reach agreements before player contracts expire on June 30.”My sense having spoken to Paul (Marsh, the ACA chief executive) a number of times over the last couple of weeks is that there is a sense of goodwill on both sides to try to find a way through things and certainly our board is of that mindset,” Sutherland said. “How those issues get resolved or unfold is really something that Paul and I and others from our respective teams need to work through, and we will I’m sure.”I don’t really have any firm timeframe, obviously the sooner the better, but I’m confident there’s enough goodwill on both sides to find a way through this. We both need each other, we know we need a positive outcome and resolution, we’d like to have Australian players, state players and BBL players contracted as soon as possible.”

The Bombay High Court has directed that Sharad Pawar be made party in a petition regarding the levy of entertainment tax by the Maharashtra government on IPL matches held in the state

Cricinfo staff05-May-2010The Bombay High Court has directed that Sharad Pawar, the federal agriculture minister and president of the Mumbai Cricket Association, Lalit Modi, the suspended IPL chairman, and Chirayu Amin, the interim chairman, be made party in a petition regarding the levy of entertainment tax by the Maharashtra government on IPL matches held in the state. While hearing arguments on Wednesday, it also raised the question of whether a minister being a member of a cricket body constituted a conflict of interest.The court’s direction and observations came on a public interest litigation that challenges the Maharashtra government’s decision to waive entertainment tax for the recent IPL season. The petitioner – Subhash Desai, a member of the Shiv Sena political party – claims that in January this year the state government, of which Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party is a member, decided to levy the entertainment tax on IPL but the decision was not implemented.The exemption is estimated to have cost the government several crore rupees.”If a minister holds a post in a cricket association, and the state cabinet is to decide on granting some exemption to the association…perhaps conflict of interest may arise,” the bench observed, while seeking the federal government’s view on whether any “conflict of interest” arose if a minister was a member of a cricket body.The BCCI’s counsel contended that Pawar currently had no connection with the BCCI or IPL, though he headed the apex cricketing body two years ago. However, the petitioner contended that since the finance portfolio in the Maharashtra government was with the NCP, the decision not to levy the tax was “politically motivated”.”This is a very important issue,” the bench said, seeking the assistance of the additional solicitor-general of India, who represents the Union – also impleaded in the case – on this.The court observed that “prima facie this activity (IPL matches) is covered under entertainment tax. If there is no exemption, then state has no option but to recover it”.The court adjourned the hearing till June 22.

USA, who began the tournament on fire, haven’t won since their upset over Pakistan in the group stages

Danyal Rasool21-Jun-20243:08

Anatomy of West Indies’ dot-ball problems

Big picture: WI must avoid defeat

This isn’t a match the tournament expected, but one it deserves all the same. The co-hosts of this T20 World Cup found ways of getting through the group stages, in different fashion and to varying degrees of surprise. West Indies’ unblemished record in the group punctuated by a 104-run hammering of Afghanistan cemented their status as legitimate title contenders. The USA’s progress, meanwhile, depended on a dream of a performance against Pakistan that culminated in Super Over heroics, as well as inclement Florida weather that guaranteed Pakistan would not be offered the opportunity to get back up off the canvas.But the group stages are a distant memory all of a sudden, and both sides have experienced the cold, unforgiving reality of the Super Eight. West Indies’ hopes of a third title and first on home soil suddenly looks much shakier than it did one game ago, after a reprieved England rediscovered their best form in St Lucia to put them to the sword. Another defeat would put them on the brink of elimination.Related

• USA's Steven Taylor: 'I'm representing my parents, my Jamaican heritage'

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West Indies also have to assess how to replace top order batter Brandon King after he suffered a side strain and was forced to retire hurt against England. While runs have been scarce for him this tournament – just 63 in four games in the group stages – he looked at his most dangerous against England. He was unbeaten for 23 off just 13 as West Indies flew off the blocks, with his side briefly losing momentum when he was replaced by Nicolas Pooran.Above all, this is the first time West Indies find themselves under the pressure of their margin for error diminishing. The USA may not have won since that upset against Pakistan, but have shown no signs of fading away tamely, and briefly looked like running South Africa extremely close in their first Super Eight game before ultimately succumbing to an 18-run defeat.Aaron Jones’ side, too, need a win to retain realistic hopes of qualification, but they will be aware the weight of expectations remains on their opponents. The game against South Africa was the USA’s weakest bowling performance on a belting track, and still gave South Africa a few jitters. Against a West Indies side who weren’t really close to their best with either bat or ball against England, the USA will know an improved bowling performance on their part gives them a realistic shot at keeping their fairytale campaign alive and kicking.

Form guide

West Indies: LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
USA: LLWWL

In the spotlight – Russell and Taylor

He has been one of T20 cricket’s most valuable players for the best part of the last decade, but Andre Russell has been kept uncharacteristically quiet for the best part of this World Cup. A pair of unbeaten cameos against PNG and Uganda are about as good as it’s good for him with the bat, and though he continues to chip in with wickets, it is that explosiveness at the death West Indies really need him for. Part of it simply has to do with the batters higher up making sure he wasn’t required, but on the two occasions he was – against New Zealand and England – he fell cheaply. As a veteran of both of West Indies’ triumphant World Cup campaigns, he will know he’s expected to be a lot more influential for his side in the second half of this tournament if they are to go the distance again.Steven Taylor’s rise appeared to be proof that cricket in America was capable of attracting US-born athletes to this sport. A precocious rising star through his teenage years, he has been involved with American cricket for well over a decade. This World Cup should have been his crowning glory, but while Aaron Jones, Andries Gous and Saurabh Netravalkar have shone, Taylor has struggled to convert starts into substance at the top of the order. Born to Jamaican parents, he has history with the West Indies, and was once stripped of the US captaincy after he chose to play the CPL over a USA World Cup qualifier. He now comes up against the side he once declared an intention to play for, and the stakes could hardly be higher.It’s been a memorable tournament for USA and Saurabh Netravalkar thus far•ICC/Getty Images

Team news

King’s unavailability means West Indies need a replacement at the top of the order. Shimron Hetmyer is likely to get the call-up.West Indies: 1 Shimron Hetmyer 2 Johnson Charles 3 Nicolas Pooran (wk) 4 Rovman Powell (capt) 5 Roston Chase 6 Andre Russell 7 Sherfane Rutherford 8 Romaria Shepherd 9 Akeal Hosein 10 Alzarri Joseph 11 Gudakesh MotieUSA captain Monank Patel has not played since the game against Pakistan due to a shoulder injury, and remains a doubt for this contest. Jasdeep Singh, meanwhile, endured a horror game that saw him concede 28 off his first five balls, which could bring Shadley van Schalkwyk back into the frameUSA: 1 Steven Taylor 2 Andries Gous (wk) 3 Nitish Kumar 4 Aaron Jones (capt) 5 Corey Anderson 6 Shayan Jahangir 7 Harmeet Singh 8 Nosthush Kenjinge 9 Shadley van Schalkwyk 10 Ali Khan 11 Saurabh NetravalkarBrandon King retired hurt in the fifth over of West Indies’ innings during the game against England•AFP/Getty Images

Pitch and conditions

Bridgetown has seen relatively high scores in comparison to the rest of the tournament, though it did play host to the low-scoring tie between Namibia and Oman at the start of the tournament. It will be a humid evening, with chances of rain low.

Stats and trivia

Rachin Ravindra has replaced Bracewell in New Zealand’s squad for the upcoming ODIs against Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2023Michael Bracewell, the New Zealand spin-bowling allrounder, has been signed up by Royal Challengers Bangalore as replacement for Will Jacks, who has been forced to give IPL 2023 a miss after picking up an injury while on tour for England in Bangladesh.Jacks, one of Royal Challengers’ big buys at the last auction, had been acquired for a price of INR 3.2 crore (US$ 390,000 approx. at the time). Bracewell, though, will join Royal Challengers for his auction base price of INR 1 crore, the BCCI said in a press statement.Rachin Ravindra, meanwhile, has been called up as Bracewell’s replacement for New Zealand’s three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, which will follow the ongoing Test series.Related

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“Michael’s been a key contributor to our white-ball teams since making his debut last year. It’s exciting he’ll get a chance to take up the learning opportunities the IPL provides – particularly as a spin bowling all-rounder,” Gary Stead, the New Zealand head coach, said in a statement. “With a World Cup in India this year it’s great to have players getting more experience in those conditions.”Bracewell, 32, is equally handy with bat and ball, and has played seven Tests, 19 ODIs and 16 T20Is for New Zealand. In a T20 career of 117 matches, he has 2284 runs at a strike rate of 133.48, and 40 wickets with an economy rate of 6.52. He joins captain Faf du Plessis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Reece Topley, David Willey and countrymate Finn Allen as the overseas players at Royal Challengers.Jacks, who, like Bracewell, has never played in the IPL, sustained a muscle injury while fielding in England’s victory in their second ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka. After scans earlier this week and consultation with a specialist, he had to opt out of the IPL.The injury came as a significant blow for Jacks, who had hoped to use the IPL as an opportunity to familiarise himself with Indian conditions and push his case for selection in England’s squad for the 50-over World Cup later this year. He had tweeted “Gutted. I’ll be back,” after news of his exit from the IPL came out on March 15.Royal Challengers play their first game of the season against Mumbai Indians on April 2. It will be their first fixture at their home ground, Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, since May 2019, after which Covid-19 had forced IPL matches to be held in limited centres, even in the UAE.

Heather Knight says preparations have been “pretty average” less than a week out from T20Is

Alan Gardner14-Jan-2022England captain Heather Knight has admitted to “concerns and anxieties” among the touring party in Australia after news of a support staff member testing positive for Covid-19, the latest disruption to their preparations ahead of the Women’s Ashes.The unidentified individual received a positive result in the second round of PCR tests conducted since England’s arrival in Australia. They are now in isolation and will remain in Canberra while the group moves on to Adelaide ahead of the T20I leg of the Ashes, which starts on Thursday. No other positives have been reported, with a further round of testing to be carried out before the team flies by charter on Monday.England have been in Australia for less than a week and were already having to rejig their plans after the schedule was changed in the run-up to departure – the T20Is were brought forward, ahead of the one-off Test, due to quarantine requirements for the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.Related

• Knight vows to 'fight fire with fire' during Women's Ashes

• Ashes schedule adjusted to allow for World Cup quarantine

• Women's Ashes walks Covid tightrope ahead of World Cup

They then saw their first outdoor training session affected by torrential rain, with Knight describing England’s build-up so far as “pretty average”.The discovery of a positive Covid case in the camp has added to the restrictions England are under – although two scheduled intra-squad warm-up games in Canberra this weekend will still take place – amid an atmosphere of extreme caution before the World Cup.”We were prepared for this,” Knight said, “I think it would be pretty naive to think we wouldn’t be affected by it [Covid-19] but there’s concern and anxieties from the group. We’ve had to live under pretty strict protocols since we’ve arrived, we’ve only been allowed to socialise outdoors for exactly this reason, to try and limit the spread.”It’s going to be a nervous 24-48 hours, but the PCR tests we’ve done already have all come back negative. Fingers crossed. It was always going to be affected by Covid. We’ve had to ‘safe live’ for two weeks in the UK, from Christmas pretty much, just in order to get out here. It’s been a colossal effort.”With Covid numbers in England having surged during December after the arrival of the Omicron variant, players were told to limit contacts to those within their household ahead of departure for Australia – leading to some unusual training routines. Alongside the changes to the Ashes itinerary, Knight said it been “quite hard to focus on the cricket”.”It’s not been ideal, that’s for sure,” she said. “The lead-up has been pretty average, but that’s all out of our control. For those two weeks before we left England we could only train as individuals, with our households, so we’ve had mums feeding bowling machines, boyfriends slinging, girlfriends slinging, dads batting, and supporting our training. As you can imagine it’s been pretty comical, but also not ideal preparation for a series of this magnitude.”We found out that with that quarantine in New Zealand, our preparation’s going to be a bit shorter. Getting our heads around that and trying to find ways to get ourselves ready, physically and mentally, has been a little bit hard, and then you throw Covid in there and shifting goalposts with the World Cup as well, as you can imagine it’s been quite hard to focus on the cricket.”It didn’t help that the first training session it rained cats and dogs. We haven’t had the best preparation but what we’ve got to do is try and make the most of it.”Changes to regulations while the squad was in the air mean players are currently unable to eat together at restaurants outdoors, although Knight was hopeful of that being relaxed at some stage.”Restrictions are in place to try and protect the integrity of the series, but we also need to make sure that we look after players and staff and everyone who’s out here as well,” she said. “We need to find that balance between trying to keep the integrity of the series and staying as safe as possible but also feeling like you can live within the restrictions with a tiny bit of freedom, which I think is important.”The switch to beginning the series with three T20Is has meant changes to planning – in particular how to get overs into the bowlers ahead of the Test – but Knight also suggested that T20 was her side’s “strongest format” and represented an opportunity to start the series well. She also said the disruption may help to “take the pressure off” against the No. 1-ranked Australians.”Of course there’s a frustration but it’s the times we’re living in at the moment,” she said. “It’s very challenging to tour with Covid around. The restrictions we’ve been under have changed as well, so just being adaptable to that has been quite tricky. As soon as you get your head around something, something else changes.”But we’ve got no other option but to try and make the most of it and do the best we can. Maybe it will take the pressure off, we’ve just got to find a way to free up, go out there and throw caution to the wind a bit. Mentally it’s going to be tough but we’re doing everything we can to try and get ourselves prepped and ready for the first game.”England are looking to reclaim the Ashes for the first time since 2015, with three T20Is, three ODIs and a Test to be played under the multi-format points system. The touring party includes an England A squad, who will provide warm-up opposition before playing their own fixtures against Australia A.

For former Australia batsman played seven seasons for the state

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Aug-2020Chris Rogers, the former Australia batsman, has been named head coach of the Victoria men’s team.Rogers, who scored over 25,000 first-class runs and appeared in 25 Tests, played seven seasons for Victoria and won two Sheffield Shield titles with the state.He fills the role vacated by Andrew McDonald’s move into the Australia set-up as Justin Langer’s assistant coach. His deal runs until the end of the 2022 season.Rogers was appointed to Cricket Australia’s high performance team in early 2018 where he undertook had a variety of roles including head coach of the Australian Under-19 team for the World Cup earlier this year.”I’m really excited about the job and I’d like to thank Cricket Victoria for the opportunity. It feels a bit like I’ve come full circle in playing for Victoria for seven years and now coming back into the fold as the senior coach,” Rogers said.”I’m looking forward to working with this talented squad of players and coaches. I’ve been lucky enough to work with many of the Victorian players in recent years and I look forward to working with them to achieve individual and team success.””Due to the impact of coronavirus, we know this season will come with some very new challenges for us, but we’ll continue to prepare as best we can and come ready to play when the time is right.”Rogers was preferred ahead of Brad Hodge in the final running for the position. The recruitment process included Cricket Victoria’s general manager of Cricket Shaun Graf, Victoria captains Peter Handscomb and Meg Lanning, Cricket Victoria CEO Andrew Ingleton and former Victoria coach Greg Shipperd.”I’ve known Chris a long time now having been involved with his initial recruitment from WA,” Graf said. “His desire to get the best out of the talent he was given will hold him in good stead as he prepares our young talented squad for the challenging season ahead.”He’s worked extensively with elite talent throughout the CA pathway system and has shown an ability to improve and develop players for the long-term. On the field he was an extremely gritty competitor, we know he’ll bring that determination and resilience into the squad.”

Super Kings and Royal Challengers missed their talisman players in their last game and their returns could make their rematch in Bengaluru all the more spicy

The Preview by Sruthi Ravindranath20-Apr-20198:24

Dasgupta: It’s too late for RCB, they should look at next season

Big picture

Had Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers met before their respective previous matches this season, this contest would have had just one familiar favourite. Take these stats into consideration: The last time Royal Challengers won against Super Kings was in 2014, and right now, they are a full 10 points behind the table toppers. CSK fans have enough to put any debate to rest against the supporters of the team in red.Yet they were left bruised by Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday and Royal Challengers overcame an Andre Russell-special on Friday. All that sets this clash up beautifully.

Form guide

Royal Challengers: Beat Knight Riders by 10 runs, lost to Mumbai by five wickets, beat Kings XI by eight wickets
Super Kings: Lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets, beat Knight Riders by five wickets, beat Royals by four wickets

Super Kings’ batting has been largely dependent on MS Dhoni this year, and his absence from the side on Tuesday showed that. He’s bailed them out of danger in at least three instances this season and is also the side’s highest run-getter so far. And without him, the middle order (No. 4 to 7) could add only 37 runs to the total against Sunrisers.Royal Challengers were also missing a key player in their last game – AB de Villiers – but their captain ensured his absence was never really felt. Kohli’s century made sure RCB posted a par-plus total at Eden Gardens while Super Kings – without their talisman – fell below this year’s average first-innings score at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium. Should the weather at home co-operate, RCB might just have a good chance to break their losing streak against CSK.MS Dhoni flexes his muscles•BCCI

Team news

Super Kings’ coach Stephen Fleming said on the eve of the match that Dhoni (back spasm) and Bravo’s (hamstring) availability will depend on “how they scrub up” at the end of the training on Saturday. The CSK captain was, however, seen practising his big hits for nearly an hour.De Villiers is understood to still be recovering from taking a bouncer to the head from Jasprit Bumrah and his availability will be subject to a return to full fitness.

Previous meeting

The highly-anticipated season opener where these two teams met ended up being one-sided with Super Kings routing the Royal Challengers for 70 on a slow surface at the MA Chidambaram. The hosts had chased it down with 14 balls to spare.

Likely XIs

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1 Parthiv Patel (wk), 2 Virat Kohli (capt), 3 AB de Villiers/Heinrich Klaasen, 4 Moeen Ali, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Akshdeep Nath/Shivam Dube, 7 Pawan Negi, 8 Yuzvendra Chahal, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Navdeep Saini, 11 Mohammed SirajChennai Super Kings: 1 Shane Watson, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Scott Kuggeleijn/Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Shardul Thakur, 11 Imran TahirVirat Kohli paced his fifth IPL century to perfection•BCCI

Strategy Punt

• De Villiers scored a cracking 30-ball 68 last year against Super Kings in Bengaluru. He had also scored a crucial 14-ball 28 in Royal Challengers’ last win against Super Kings, in 2014. There’s no doubt he’ll slot right back in if he’s fit. So, how can Super Kings stop him? Since IPL 2015, he’s lost his wicket 12 times in 31 games to legspinners. He’s also been having trouble picking the wrong’un, as he was exposed by Rajasthan Royals’ Shreyas Gopal earlier this month. Super Kings could use Tahir, who’s been their highest wicket-taker this season, against him. De Villiers has lost his wicket twice in three IPL games to his South African team-mate, and averages just 19.5 against him.
• Dhoni boasts an average of 75.8 in IPLs at the M Chinnaswamy. His unbeaten 34-ball 70 had helped Super Kings chase 205 here last year. Royal Challengers could use Dale Steyn to weaken the Dhoni threat, considering the fast bowler has dismissed him twice in seven IPL innings.

Stats that matter

• Super Kings need one more win to claim the joint-highest consecutive wins against a team. They have seven against Royal Challengers.
• Kohli has the most runs (738) by any player against Super Kings, but he has not made a 30-plus score against them since their return last year and has averaged just 10.66.
• In the last three games, Deepak Chahar has leaked 78 runs during Powerplay, bowling a total of eight overs. In the first six matches, he had conceded at an economy rate of just 5.6 in this phase.

Plunkett made his return against New Zealand in Wellington earlier this week but aggravated the problem he first suffered in the ODI in Sydney last month

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2018Liam Plunkett has been ruled out of the end of the T20 tri-series and the five ODIs against New Zealand with a recurrence of the hamstring injury he picked up in Australia.Plunkett made his return against New Zealand in Wellington earlier this week but aggravated the problem he first suffered in the ODI in Sydney last month. He has been diagnosed with a grade one tear and unlike when he stayed with the squad after the injury in Australia he will now be heading home.”An MRI scan today confirmed a minor hamstring strain and this will not recover in time to take part in the ODI series,” the ECB said. “A replacement for the ODI squad will be announced in the upcoming days.”Although England have been bolstered by the arrival of Ben Stokes the ECB said a replacement for Plunkett would be named in the coming days. One possible route is to retain Sam Curran, the Surrey allrounder, who was added to the T20 squad but is not in the one-day party.Captain Eoin Morgan has sat out the last two T20s due to injury with Jos Buttler leading the side.Australia’s record chase against New Zealand at Eden Park gave England a lifeline in the T20 series although they will still need to beat the hosts by a significant margin at Seddon Park to progress to the final in Auckland on February 21.

The Pakistan fast bowlers completed the demolition job they had begun on the first night, dismissing Cricket Australia XI for 114, but their batsmen stumbled once again

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2016
ScorecardRahat Ali finished with three wickets•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

The Pakistan fast bowlers completed the demolition job they had begun on the first night, dismissing Cricket Australia XI for 114, but their batsmen stumbled once again against the pink ball under lights in Cairns. The visitors ended the day on 5 for 124 in their second innings, ahead by 218 runs.CA XI had begun the second day on 4 for 3, and had little respite from a three-pronged pace attack. Mohammad Amir did not add to the three wickets he took on the first day, but Rahat Ali picked up two more to finish with three as well, as did Wahab Riaz who razed the lower order. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz bowled only five overs and did not take a wicket. CA XI were shot out in 39.1 overs, having conceded a first-innings lead of 94.In their last competitive innings before the day-night Test against Australia in Brisbane from December 15, Pakistan lost Sami Aslam and Babar Azam cheaply once again. They were out for 12 and 22, falling to fast bowler Mark Steketee. Opener Azhar Ali held one end up with an unbeaten 44 off 153 balls, but Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq made fleeting visits to the crease.Azhar added 45 for the fifth wicket with Shafiq, who was dismissed late in the day.Wahab said at the end of the day that he deemed this pitch was on the slower side. “It’s summer here, which is why I feel the wicket is on the slower side. I had to see how the pitch was behaving [at the start of my spell]. It wasn’t doing much and was on the slower side. There wasn’t much bounce and carry, but I managed to do what I do and bowl fast. But the ball travels well under lights. There’s swing and seam and carry through to the keeper.”He played down questions about Pakistan’s scoring rate by saying that it was a welcome sign that the batsmen were spending time in the middle.”It’s good that the batsmen are taking their time. This is what we’ve lacked in the last two-three Tests. Our batsmen have not been staying in for a long time. They’re getting starts but no one has been converting them to big scores. So I think it’s good that they’re taking time and have confidence before going into the Test series. Run rate doesn’t matter as much as the confidence they’re getting.”

Mitchell Johnson said that Williamson’s combination of superior technique and even temperament had surprised him

Daniel Brettig at the WACA11-Nov-2015Australia’s fast bowlers underestimated Kane Williamson during the Gabba Test and have resolved not to make the same mistake a second time on what looks already to be a parched white WACA pitch.Lack of Tests between Australia and New Zealand over the past four years had one obvious drawback for the hosts, as they appeared to have missed Williamson’s emergence as one of the game’s best and brightest young batting talents.Mitchell Johnson said that Williamson’s combination of superior technique and even temperament had surprised him; a fact borne out by the freedom with which New Zealand’s No. 3 batsman was able to take Australia’s pace spearhead for runs. With the backing of what appears likely to be a decidedly rapid WACA surface, Johnson said the Australians would be keener hunters for Williamson’s wicket this time around.”It is a bit of a surprise to me the way he played – I hadn’t seen a lot of him,” Johnson said. “I knew about him [but] I didn’t realise what a good player he is. He can play all of the shots. He looked good in defence and I am really looking forward to playing him out here on a ground that I really enjoy bowling on and really test myself against him.”He is obviously in very good form and he is going to go into this game with a lot of confidence. We can bowl better to him. If we put some good balls on him and use our short ball, then I think we are going to be in the game a bit more. I think we have got a lot to improve on with our bowling. I thought we got better and better as the game went on. We didn’t start as well as we would have liked to in that first innings but I think we just got better and better.”He is definitely one who we will talk about in our team meeting today after training. He is very difficult to bowl to. If we build up enough good balls on him, he is going to be like any other player and nick off. I think it is just being a bit more patient. I think we played into his game a little bit. He is really good off the back foot as we saw and he scored some easy runs through that point region and backward point.”Another inattentive element of Australia’s Brisbane performance was a substandard fielding display. They dropped catches, including one that cost Johnson the chance to overtake Brett Lee on the list of Test wicket-takers. This will be an area for considerable work in the lead-up to Friday, as evidenced by a one-to-one session between the fielding coach Greg Blewett and Joe Burns, who dropped two chances at short-leg.”It’s disappointing at the time, especially when you’ve worked so hard on a plan, and you’re in your 30th or 40th over and you’re absolutely stuffed and a catch goes down,” Johnson said. “But look, we all drop them. I’ve dropped some simple ones and it’s not the nicest thing when you’re on the other end of it.”Something we pride ourselves on very much is our fielding, and I don’t think we fielded as well as we could have. New Zealand really did show us how it was done, just the way that they went about it, but I can’t sit here and worry about those things, otherwise I’d probably be bald.”Of less concern to Johnson and Australia was the bowling performance put in by Trent Boult, the left-armer, who was expected to do so much in the series. After recovering from back stress hot spots that afflicted him at the end of the tour of England earlier in the year, Boult looked short of rhythm and accuracy at the Gabba. Having prepared to face a more fluent Boult in Brisbane, Johnson was mindful of not relaxing against him here.”I was surprised with the way he bowled, full stop,” Johnson said. “We talked about him in our team meeting. He generally gets the ball nice and full and he has got good pace. I think in one- dayers you know you have got 10 overs and you can really go for it. He has probably been a bit underdone. He has come back from injury and he hasn’t had a lot of cricket. That was good for us that he has played the way he has.”From his point of view he wouldn’t have liked that. There was pressure on their two opening bowlers really; they are the two spearheads that they rely on so much, [Tim] Southee and Boult. Hopefully we can put that pressure on them here if Southee plays as well. He wold have been disappointed. It was certainly a surprise to us that he didn’t bowl the way he normally does so we are expecting him to bounce back and bowl well out here.”