Ball-tampering scandal a tornado of hysteria: Warne

Ball-tampering scandal a tornado of hysteria: Warne

“We are all so hurt and angry and maybe we weren’t so sure how to react.” © Getty Images

Shane Warne branded reaction to the Australian ball-tampering scandal a “tornado of hysteria” on Wednesday (March 28) and said the punishments meted out to Steven Smith and David Warner do not fit the crime.

Smith and Warner have been banned from representing their country for a year over the cheating incident during the third Test in South Africa, while Cameron Bancroft has been suspended for nine months.

“We are all so hurt and angry and maybe we weren’t so sure how to react,” Warne wrote on Facebook. “We’d just never seen it before.

“But the jump to hysteria is something that has elevated the offence beyond what they actually did, and maybe we’re at a point where the punishment just might not fit the crime.”

The former legspinner — second on the overall list of Test wicket-takers — said Australia’s enemies had taken the opportunity to put the boot in.

“There are those countries that don’t like Australia, don’t like individuals in the team, and there has been a build-up of hate which has exploded and created this tornado of hysteria,” he wrote.

“But what are the players guilty of? Cheating via ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute.

“Their opposing captain in this series, South Africa’s Faf du Plessis, has been charged with the offence twice and opening bowler Vernon Philander once.

“The list of players who have been charged with ball-tampering is long and contains some of the biggest names in the game.”

Warne also questioned the idea of pre-meditated cheating.

“Are there levels of ball tampering, or is it just ball tampering? Is putting a mint in your pocket so you can shine a ball on the field pre-meditated cheating, or just ball-tampering? What about putting sunscreen on the ball? You either ball tamper or you don’t.”

Warne said Smith, the top-ranked Test batsman in the world, was guilty of a “severe error of judgement”.

“I am still trying to wrestle with what I think the punishment should be,” he said. “They have to be harsh, but if they are rubbed out for a year, the punishment does not fit the crime.”

Sutherland gives clean chit to Lehmann

Sutherland gives clean chit to Lehmann

© Getty Images

James Sutherland defended the Cricket Australia investigation team’s finding that Darren Lehmann, the head coach, had no role to play in the ball-tampering scandal – allegedly planned by Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft – in the Cape Town Test against South Africa.

Many from the cricket fraternity have found it hard to believe that Lehmann knew nothing about the ploy, especially after he was seen talking to Peter Handscomb, the substitute, over a walkie-talkie few seconds after the incident was shown on the big screen. Handscomb then went onto the field and said something to Bancroft, after which the opening batsman hid the sandpaper inside his trousers.

Sutherland, the CA chief executive, divulged on Wednesday (March 28), that Lehmann was as shocked as the entire community.

“I don’t want to get too involved in the specific comments or findings of the review, but I do, in Darren’s defence, want to clarify that specific matter,” he told reporters in Johannesburg.

“I want to say that he sent a message to say ‘What in the hell is going on?’ he didn’t use hell, he used another word. He brought everyone into the room when the next break was. He basically went through everyone and went ‘what is going on?’ That was found to be, through Iain Roy’s (the body’s head of integrity) investigation, a fact. I want to make that point very clearly that Darren made those comments and Iain was certainly satisfied that Darren wasn’t involved and didn’t know anything about the plan.”

While Smith and Warner were banned from playing domestic and international cricket for their country for 12 months, Bancroft too was handed over a nine-month suspension. Both Smith and Bancroft will now not be considered for leadership positions for two years, while Warner, who has been charged with developing the entire plan, will not be considered to lead Australia at all in the future.

Sutherland also revealed that the investigation team found no other evidence that proved this team has been involved in any similar incidents in the past. “I don’t think that there’s any evidence that we’ve seen or heard during the investigation,” he claimed.

“Clearly, the primary focus of his investigation was very much about the events of Cape Town, but also a part of his discussions and responsibilities was to ask questions more broadly. If there are credible allegations or suggestions to the contrary, we have a responsibility to instigate. It doesn’t necessarily stop here, but at the same time through the investigations that far that it does appear to be an isolated incident.”

Smith, Warner barred from IPL 2018

Smith, Warner barred from IPL 2018

David Warner and Steven Smith were retained by their respective franchisees for 12.5 crores. © IPL

Even before Cricket Australia officially announced sanctions against Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft for their part in the ball-tampering episode in Cape Town last weekend, the Board of Control for Cricket in India moved swiftly by banning Smith and Warner from IPL 2018.

With CA set to hand out 12-month bans from international cricket for Smith, the captain, and Warner, his deputy, their participation in the IPL had always been in doubt. Those doubts were cleared initially by Rajeev Shukla, the chairman of the IPL who told reporters, “The players that they have banned, we are also barring those two players from this season. The franchises will get replacement for the players.”

A little while later, the BCCI sent out a press release which said the Committee of Administrators appointed by the Supreme Court arrived at this decision in consultation with top BCCI officials, adding that the CoA had taken congnisance of the developments in the incident involving the three Australians.

“The CoA, in consultation with BCCI Acting President Mr CK Khanna, IPL Chairman Mr Rajeev Shukla and BCCI Acting Hon. Secretary Mr Amitabh Choudhary, has decided to ban Mr Smith and Mr Warner with immediate effect from participation in IPL 2018,” the release said.

It added, “The BCCI hopes that the cricketers participating in the IPL hold the highest regard for the Spirit of Cricket and Code of Conduct for Players and Match Officials. The concerned IPL franchises will be allowed replacement players.”

Smith had stepped down as captain of Rajasthan Royals on Monday, following which the franchise named Ajinkya Rahane, the Indian Test vice-captain, as their leader for this year’s campaign. Warner quit as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain on Wednesday afternoon. The franchise is yet to name a replacement skipper, though it is learnt that Kane Williamson, the New Zealand skipper, has emerged the frontrunner. Others in the fray could be Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan.

Both Rajasthan and Hyderabad have a host of players from which to pick replacements for the two top-order batsmen. Among them are Martin Guptill, Joe Root, Alex Hales, Colin Ingram, Jonny Bairstow as well as Luke Ronchi, the player of the tournament in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League.

Smith and Warner were retained by the respective franchises for Rs 12 crore each ahead of the January IPL auctions.

Warner: From ‘reverend’ to ‘unwanted’

Warner: From ‘reverend’ to ‘unwanted’

David Warner was banned for a year by Cricket Australia for his part in the third Test scandal. © Getty Images

Damned as the chief plotter in the Australian ball-tampering scandal, David Warner has been sunk by sparking one controversy too many.

The man who made headlines in 2009 by becoming the first player in 130 years to represent Australia without having featured in a first-class match was heading home from South Africa in disgrace on Wednesday (March 28), friendless and with his reputation, already bruised by numerous run-ins, shattered.

Along with skipper Steven Smith, the 31-year-old Warner was banned for a year by Cricket Australia for his part in the third Test scandal in Cape Town that saw Cameron Bancroft use sandpaper to illegally scuff up the ball before a laughingly crude attempt to conceal the evidence down his trousers.

“He (Warner) spoke with Cameron (Bancroft) in the change room while Smith was otherwise engaged, seemingly with a lot on his mind,” a Cricket Australia source told AFP, recalling Saturday’s events at Newlands.

“I believe Smith knew something was going on, but did not try to find out exactly what.”

For many in the game, Warner’s involvement as the instigator of the lunchtime plot is hardly a surprise.

“David Warner is a hard man to keep quiet. If his bat isn’t doing the talking his mouth probably is, and either way you can expect an assertive approach,” is how ESPNcricinfo opens its biography of the opening batsman.

In June 2013, Warner was suspended and fined for punching England’s Joe Root in a Birmingham bar on the eve of the Ashes.

“I’m extremely remorseful. I have let my team-mates, Cricket Australia, the fans, myself and my family down,” said Warner at the time.

Two months earlier, he was similarly contrite after an ugly Twitter spat with two Australian journalists.

“I could have chosen my words better and I apologise for any offence that my language may have caused,” wrote Warner.

But his trademark combative nature never dimmed.

Last year, he was the team’s unofficial shop steward as Australian players and governing body Cricket Australia found themselves at loggerheads over a pay dispute.

The row, played out in the public arena, even briefly put the Ashes in doubt.

Warner defended his style, which even then hinted at an ability to shout louder than the boyish-looking Smith, who preferred quiet diplomacy.

“The way he (Smith) went about it (talks between the players and CA) was how he wanted to play it and I was always going to come out and be vocal and sticking up for the players,” Warner told Australian media.

Hardly surprising then that Warner, who was vice-captain to Smith with the national team, has been nicknamed ‘The Reverend’.

Not that there was any indication of anything holy about him as he led Australia’s assault on the current, doomed South African tour.

In the opening Test in Durban, he and home wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock squared up.

Warner claimed De Kock had made “vile and disgusting” remarks about his wife Candice.

Warner was fined 75 percent of his match fee and De Kock 25 percent.

The Cape Town scandal has already brought Warner financial misery, his $1.8 million deal with Hyderabad Sunrisers in the IPL cancelled.

When his ban ends, his dream of captaining Australia will also have died.

Whether or not he will be considered too toxic to add to his 74 Test appearances and 6,000-plus runs will be a factor weighed against him.

‘The Reverend’, it appears, has become ‘The Unwanted’.

Ball-tampering incident a reality check: Amla

Ball-tampering incident a reality check: Amla

Hashim Amla said his side’s focus was firmly on the fourth Test. © AFP

Hashim Amla, the South African batsman, said Wednesday (March 28) that the controversy over ball-tampering in the third Test against Australia “gives every team in the world a reality check”.

Amla was responding to the bans imposed on Australia’s Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

He said that the events of Cape Town should lead cricketers to ask:

“What kind of cricket do you want to play? It has probably given the ICC a lot more headaches and the opportunity now is for the governing bodies to show us, where is this line?”

He was referring to frequent comments by Australian cricketers about the limits of acceptable behaviour and “not crossing the line”.

Amla said South Africa’s focus, ahead of Friday’s fourth and final Test, was on preparing to clinch a Test series which they lead 2-1.

“With all the distractions, there is not much we can do from our perspective,” he said.

“I am grateful that we are sitting in the South African change room without the shadows hanging over us. For us it is about the cricket. You’ve got to keep your focus as professional sportsmen.”

Mob rule – pandering to the gallery

Mob rule – pandering to the gallery

Steven Smith and David Warner have been banned from playing domestic and international cricket for their country for 12 months. © Getty Images

The three men were ushered into the public square, black hoods covering their faces. Their hands and feet had been chained, as befitting the perpetrators of great crimes. The mob that had gathered some time before and grown steadily angrier. It fed on its own anger to become even more furious.

“Punish them.”

“Hurt them.”

“We want vengeance.”

The authorities knew this was their chance to look good. The three had transgressed under their watch. How better to deflect any criticism of those doing the managing than by serving up those caught for public justice? Let the vultures of shrill outrage feed on the carcass of immediate action, fairness be damned. And protect the money coming in, at all costs. The bottom line was… the bottom line.

Three men had been determined guilty, their crime angered the public, there was fear that this anger could have negative consequences for the overall brand, once the public was angry it fed on its own fury to demand blood, authorities the world over were only too happy to satiate that demand. Pile on the punishment until the outrage is satisfied, the crime be damned, and the penalty matching the crime be doubly damned.

Today was to be the day of the sentencing. There was the blonde one, the stocky one, and the rookie.

The rookie had done the deed, the stocky one had planned it, the blonde one had allowed it to happen. Their crime was trying to cheat to win an unfair advantage in a game. Their punishment had nothing to do with the crime. The punishment was for how people reacted to them being caught doing it.

The three men looked like they had been space-rocketed to an alien civilisation because their lives suddenly didn’t seem to make sense anymore. They played a sport that had wink-wink-nudge-nudge allowed the sort of cheating they attempted for decades. They just did it very ineptly, and got caught. A significant part of the backlash they faced was because they had come to be regarded as ‘bullies’. But not just bullies, sanctimonious bullies who were happy to lecture other teams on appropriate behaviour. That backlash was understandable, and even to be expected.

What threw the three men off was the unrelenting nature of the hostility and its scale. It didn’t stop, and it wouldn’t stop. Its volume meant somebody had to not just do something, but be seen to be doing something. And that something had to be aimed at satisfying those who were going to fork out money, now and in the near future.

Among the baying public who each wanted their pound of flesh, there were two people who stood a little apart. One had a bored look on his face, the other had a puzzled one. The Cynic, for it was he who had the uninterested look, was merely watching dispassionately to record the event since it was of historic significance. The Cricketer was the one who looked confused.

“This is how it is,” the Cynic offered, trying to enlighten the Cricketer. “It’s not pretty and it’s not nice. It might not even seem fair. But when the proverbial waste hits the fan, it sticks more to some than others.”

The Cricketer was grateful for the wisdom, and decided to ask the Cynic about some more incongruous bits about the case that were troubling him. “This is a case of ball-tampering, yes? And all of these three men are batsmen?”

Cameron Bancroft was caught tampering with the ball. © AFP

The Cynic nodded.

“Then how is that only these three were found guilty? Were they tampering the ball without the knowledge of the bowlers? If so, wouldn’t the bowlers have realised immediately that something was off when trying to bowl?”

The Cynic allowed himself a smile. “My boy, when there is a train rushing at full speed and you spot some people on the tracks, you have to make a split-second decision on whether you can save everyone or not. If you can’t, you best get those who you can extricate most easily out. The train will hit those left, but their chances of survival were slim anyway.”

“Just my luck,” thought the Cricketer. “I get one guy who looks like he could clear stuff up for me and he likes to use philosophical metaphors to explain things.”

Nevertheless, he persevered. “Alright, so even though it stretches belief that the bowlers didn’t know what was going on, they haven’t been caught or implicated in any manner and can thus escape. So why not do that. I get that. What about the coach?”

The Cynic almost laughed this time. “What about him?”

“Well, he was shown speaking on a walkie-talkie to the twelfth man immediately after the ball tampering footage was shown on screen, and the twelfth man then went into the field and had a word with the Rookie, who panicked and stuffed sandpaper down his trousers. So it looks like the coach had a say in the matter. How is he not punished?

“I know what you’ll say,” the Cricketer went on. “Maybe he didn’t know and after seeing the footage his natural response was to ask those in the dugout just what was going on. That is possible. But then it would mean the coach’s finger is so far off the pulse of his team that he could as well stick his fingers in his ears. If he knew about it, he needs the same punishment. If he didn’t know about it, is he really the coach you want?”

The Cynic did laugh then. “I will be very interested in what the suits offer as explanation for that one. If there is an explanation.”

The Cricketer seemed disturbed. “But that’s not fair then is it. Is this an exercise aimed at finding out the truth and setting an example so that no one cheats, or is it an exercise in ‘let’s mark down the culprits who couldn’t get away and throw the kitchen sink at them? People have tampered with the ball from grade cricket upwards since the game has been played. I know these guys got caught with their hands down their pants as it were, but they could have still barefaced their way out of this with lies. At least they owned up, which some legends of the game never did.”

The Cynic was amused. “It would seem to have been better for them if they had not owned up wouldn’t it? They might have saved themselves a lot of public pain. And certainly, if the public reaction had been more muted, there is no way the authorities would have come down as hard on them as they have.”

The Cricketer looked despondent. “I thought it was about cleaning the game up. I thought this was about making cricket a better sport. I thought it was about proving that the adage ‘it’s just not cricket’ still holds good.”

The Cynic turned. There was genuine bafflement on his face as he addressed the Cricketer. “What’s cricket got to do with a mob lynching?”

Smith, Warner banned for 12 months

Smith, Warner banned for 12 months

David Warner and Steven Smith have been Australia’s best batsmen apart from their leadership roles. © Getty Images

Steven Smith and David Warner have been banned from playing domestic and international cricket for their country for 12 months as a result of an investigation into a damaging ball-tampering scandal, Cricket Australia announced on Wednesday (March 28).

Cameron Bancroft, the player who was caught actually tampering with the ball, has been banned from domestic and international cricket for nine months.

The trio has been charged with a breach of Article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct.

Both Smith and Bancroft will not be considered for leadership positions until a minimum of 12 months after the conclusion of their respective suspensions, while Warner, who has been charged with developing the entire plan, will not be considered to lead Australia at all in the future.

Charges against Smith:
(a) knowledge of a potential plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball;
(b) failure to take steps to seek to prevent the development and implementation of that plan;
(c) directing that evidence of attempted tampering be concealed on the field of play;
(d) seeking to mislead Match Officials and others regarding Bancroft’s attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball; and
(e) misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent and participants of the plan

The trio will be permitted to play club cricket and “will be encouraged to do so to maintain links with the cricket community,” stated the CA release. In addition, they will also have to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket.

“These are significant penalties for professional players and the Board does not impose them lightly,” said David Peever, Cricket Australia chairman. ”It is hoped that following a period of suspension, the players will be able to return to playing the game they love and eventually rebuild their careers.”

James Sutherland, the CA CEO, said the sanctions “are significant for the individuals involved.”

Charges against Warner:
(a) development of a plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball;
(b) instruction to a junior player to carry out a plan to take steps to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper;
(c) provision of advice to a junior player regarding how a ball could be artificially altered including demonstrating how it could be done;
(d) failure to take steps to seek to prevent the development and/or implementation of the plan;
(e) failure to report his knowledge of the plan at any time prior to or during the match;
(f) misleading Match Officials through the concealment of his knowledge of and involvement in the plan; and
(g) failure to voluntarily report his knowledge of the plan after the match

“That is why the process has had to be thorough to ensure that all relevant issues have been examined,” he said. “I am satisfied that the sanctions in this case properly reflect a balance between the need to protect the integrity and reputation of the game and the need to maintain the possibility of redemption for the individuals involved, all of whom have learned difficult lessons through these events.

“As indicated, Cricket Australia will provide more details of an independent review into the conduct and culture of our Australian men’s team in due course.” Sutherland concluded.

Over in India, the BCCI announced that neither Smith nor Warner would be eligible to play in Season 11 of the Indian Premier League, starting in 10 days’ time. Rajiv Shukla, the chairman of the IPL, said the two players had been banned for the season.

Charges against Bancroft:
(a) knowledge of the existence of, and being party to, the plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper;
(b) carrying out instructions to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball;
(c) seeking to conceal evidence of his attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball;
(d) seeking to mislead Match Officials and others regarding his attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball; and
(e) misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent, implementation and participants of the plan

Darren Lehmann, the coach, has been allowed to stay in his role because, CA said, he had no knowledge of the plot to alter the condition of the ball to produce more swing for bowlers.

If the player(s) accept the proposed sanctions, the matter will be deemed completed under the CA’s Code of Conduct process. If even one of the players disputes the charge of the sanction(s), there will be a hearing before a CA Commissioner. The player(s) can appeal the outcome of that hearing too, which will then come up before an Appeals Commissioner who is selected from the remaining CA Commissioners.

Kohli’s evolution through Vettori’s glasses

Kohli’s evolution through Vettori’s glasses

The coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Daniel Vettori, has witnessed the meteoric rise of Virat Kohli from a brash and talented youngster to a mature and responsible captain. © BCCI

Virat Kohli had already spent three seasons with Royal Challengers Bangalore when Daniel Vettori arrived from Delhi Daredevils before the start of season four of the Indian Premier League, in 2011. The New Zealand left-arm spinner marshalled the Bangalore franchise’s fortunes for two seasons before handing over the captaincy responsibilities to Kohli and taking over as the head coach.

The one-time Kiwi skipper has had a first-hand view of the growth of Kohli the batsman, the athlete and the captain/leader, and is clearly beyond impressed with what he has seen. In many ways, Kohli is the exact antithesis of what Vettori the cricketer was. The bespectacled Kiwi was a quiet, calm, unflappable presence on the cricket field, in direct contrast to India’s mercurial, aggressive, in-your-face captain. But Vettori identifies with the inner Kohli spark, his relentless quest to become the best in the business, and to lead by example in every way imaginable.

Ahead of Season 11 of the world’s most dynamic Twenty20 league, Vettori oversaw a brief conditioning and skills camp enveloping Indian representatives of the franchise currently not involved in international or domestic cricket. Having recovered from the ‘most intense auction I have been involved in’, Vettori took time off to speak to Wisden India on the phenomenon called Kohli, and his unmistakable influence on the RCB dressing-room and beyond.

“I am excited that he is having a rest at the moment!” Vettori began, clearly thrilled that his key man was finally listening to the demands, if not the complaints, of his body. After a high-intensity tour of South Africa, Kohli was rested from the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka which India won under Rohit Sharma on Sunday (March 18). “He can have a little bit of a break (from time to time), though I am not sure he knows how to rest.”

Vettori has travelled alongside Kohli in the latter’s journey of self-discovery, and his sustained quest for excellence. “I am lucky enough to have seen Virat at all stages of his career,” the man with 362 Test wickets, 305 One-Day International scalps and nearly 7000 international runs observed. “He was here when I was the captain of the (RCB) team, he was young and trying to be successful, trying to find his way. To develop himself into obviously a fantastic batsman, and he is also one of the fittest people in world cricket… Those two things have set an example for all of Indian cricket. Everyone tries to train in a similar manner, it has taken the Indian team forward dramatically and I think that has been a testament to him, how a leader should be showing the way. That has built into his leadership as a captain.

According to Vettori, Kohli’s success is simply down to an innate passion for the game that keeps the Indian captain going. © BCCI

“The thing I have found with Virat in particular as a captain – and obviously there’s two sides to it… There is the passion – to do whatever he can to win on game day on the field. He is very keen to win on the field on game day. And then off the field, he is very receptive to information, he is very receptive to listening and wanting to learn. He wants to get better as well as having his own thoughts on everything that is going on in the game of cricket. None of us can really appreciate the magnitude of his role and the pressure that is on him and how exhausting some of the schedule is. But he manages it better than anyone I have ever seen.”

There is no let-up in Kohli’s intensity at any stage of the game or at any level, but that isn’t something that comes as a surprise to Vettori. “There is a passion for cricket,” he said, matter-of-factly, as if to say that there was no need for further explanation. Then, acknowledging the unasked follow-up, he continued, “If you sit down with Virat, you are talking cricket most of the time. He loves the game and that’s the thing that keeps the passion going. Also, his personal success and his team’s success. But if you have an innate love for the game, it gets you through everything. I think that’s the point where he is at. He obviously wants to be the best in the world, he’s got the talent to do it but he has backed it up with intensity and also the desire to keep improving. That comes from a genuine love of the game.”

Kohli has set the benchmark that others strive to emulate, but what works for him need not necessarily be the best for the rest. Admitting that there was no set template that would work for all individuals, Vettori allayed fears that in trying to emulate the example-setting captain, there was a danger that other players might sell themselves short.

“The main thing is that they are all trying it (the Kohli way), seeing if it works for them,” he pointed out. “That’s professional sports across the world, athletes at their absolute peak. I think the example is great and a lot of the guys are following that example. They just have to find what their own levels are but I don’t think you’d ever want to deny them trying to get to that level.”

Preview: India v Bangladesh, Final

Preview: India v Bangladesh, Final

Washington Sundar has been among the wickets in the tournament. © AFP

Match date: March 18

Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Have Bangladesh calmed down after the highly intense virtual semifinal against Sri Lanka on Friday? Or will the momentum they gained through the tense, thrilling win actually aid them going into the big game on Sunday?

That’s the key factor as they take on India in the final of the tri-nation Nidahas Trophy 2018. Bangladesh are clearly on a high, while India, despite being a second-string side, have the aura of a been-there-done-that outfit.

The two times India and Bangladesh met in the initial stage, it was India who came out on top. Bangladesh did manage to stretch Rohit Sharma’s men in parts, but weren’t able to do much beyond that. However, they’d believe they are a different side especially after the stunning win in their last game. The manner of their victories in both their matches against Sri Lanka should give them confidence – and the opposition worry – that they can beat any side on their day.

In their own words, they are playing a ‘Bangladesh’ brand of T20 cricket – which has produced mixed results so far. That brand nearly cost them dear in other ways too, with Shakib Al Hasan, their captain, perhaps lucky to escape a suspension despite some ill-advised behaviour in the game against Sri Lanka.

The good news for them is that he is still there, and they’ll definitely need his experience on the big day. India began the tournament with a loss to Sri Lanka but have put that behind, winning their next three to get this far. They’ve looked the most all-round team in the tournament, and will be keen to have one final good game.

IN-FORM PLAYER:

India:
Washington Sundar: 4-0-28-2, 4-0-23-0, 4-0-21-2 and 4-0-22-3. These are young Washington’s figures in the four games in the tournament, saying everything about his form. He has shared the new ball in each of the four games, making his achievements even better!

Bangladesh:
Mahmudullah: That last-ball six against Sri Lanka will remain in Bangladesh fans’ memories forever. His unbeaten 43 off just 18 balls has got Bangladesh this far, and he’ll be the man to watch out for on the big day against India.

TEAM NEWS
Mohammed Siraj conceded 50 runs from four overs in India’s last game, and the team management would be tempted to drop him for Jaydev Unadkat.

Bangladesh are unlikely to tinker with a winning combination.

QUOTES
“The first thing that Rohit said is that even though we had a few of our players missing, we are looking to play exactly the kind of cricket we’ve played over the past one year. We are looking to win every match that we play, and till now we’ve been pretty successful in this tournament. We’re looking forward to one more good game.” – Dinesh Karthik.

“The new brand of T20 cricket, we need to continue playing aggressively and fearlessly. That is our code word.” – Sunil Joshi, Bangladesh spin consultant.

Teams (from):
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Rishabh Pant (wk).

Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah Riyad, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Hider, Abu Jayed, Ariful Haque, Nazmul Islam, Nurul Hasan, Mehedi Hasan.

“Ciao cricket” – Pietersen announces retirement

“Ciao cricket” – Pietersen announces retirement

England’s second-highest run scorer across all three forms of the game, Pietersen, drops a strong hint that he has retired. © Getty Images

Kevin Pietersen dropped a strong hint that he has retired after the polarising former England star decided not to join Quetta Gladiators in Lahore for their Pakistan Super League play-off.

Pietersen helped Quetta qualify from the group stages in the Twenty20 tournament, but with the event now moving from the UAE to Pakistan, he appears to have opted to bring down the curtain on his controversial playing career.

The 37-year-old batsman hinted at his long-expected retirement with a Tweet which simply read “Boots Up! Thank you” before expanding on his situation on Saturday (March 17).

“Someone just tweeted to tell me that I scored 30000+ runs including 152 fifty’s & 68 hundreds in my pro career,” he wrote on Instagram.

“4 Ashes wins. Home & away! T20 WC win. Beaten India in India. Home & away 100’s in all major Test nations apart from Bangladesh.

“All dedicated to my family who have just been the most unreal supporters through thick & thin! I’m super proud of everything!

“Thank you for all the quite lovely msgs! I loved entertaining you all! Ciao, cricket! I love this game!”

A post on Quetta’s Twitter feed read: “You will be missed @KP24 Great career!! Thank you for everything. Wish you could stayed with us till PSL final but we respect your decision.”

South Africa-born Pietersen is believed to be ready to move on from cricket as he devotes more time to his conservation work with rhinos.

England’s second-highest run scorer across all three forms of the game, Pietersen won four Ashes series and hit 8,181 runs in 104 Tests.

He has been away from the sport’s top level since his England exile started in 2014 when he was a high-profile casualty of an Ashes thrashing in Australia.

The flamboyant Pietersen’s attitude on the tour was criticised by some within the England camp.

He tried to revive his Test career, hitting an unbeaten 355 for Surrey, but it was not enough to convince the England and Wales Cricket Board to take him back.

He embarked on a nomadic T20 career after that, taking in all corners of the globe.

Pietersen, who had a brief and ill-fated spell as England captain, will be best remembered for his sublime innings of 158 in the fifth Test against Australia at The Oval in 2005.

That heroic effort ensured England got the draw they needed to finally reclaim the Ashes. He also produced epic knocks of 227 against Australia in Adelaide in 2010 and a brilliant 186 against India in Mumbai in 2012.

Given his often divisive nature, it was fitting that Michael Vaughan, a former England captain, admitted his old international team-mate was a tremendous talent, even if he wasn’t always easy to deal with.

“Well done KP on an fantastic career. Not everyone’s Cup of Tea but you will do for me. Best Batsman I had the pleasure to play with. 1st England batsman that put fear into the Aussies,” Vaughan tweeted.

Vidarbha leave Rest of India with mountain to climb

Vidarbha leave Rest of India with mountain to climb

Rajneesh Gurbani picked up four wickets to reduce Rest of India to 236 for 6 in 77 overs on day four. © VCA

Rajneesh Gurbani plotted a swift end to Rest of India’s first essay, and he picked up four wickets to make his intentions known, but Hanuma Vihari and Jayant Yadav kept Vidarbha at bay on the fourth day of their Irani Cup clash at the VCA stadium in Jamtha on Saturday (March 17).

While the unbeaten 138-alliance had all the makings of a defiance worth speaking of, the day still very much belonged to Vidarbha. Rest of India’s score of 236 for 6 in 77 overs at stumps didn’t hold a candle to Vidarbha’s daunting 800 for 7 declared in 226.3 overs. 

Vidarbha’s innings included one double centurion in Wasim Jaffer, a 120 from Ganesh Satish, and the latest was a swashbuckling 157 not out from Apoorv Wankhede. 

Once the batsmen set the tempo and pretty much had the game by the horns, the bowlers went in for the kill. They head-butted the tepid opponents with their pace, reducing them to 98 for 6 in 28 overs.

Rest of India could well have rolled out the white flag, but Vihari and Jayant kept Karun Nair, the Rest of India skipper, and his men from losing all semblance of hope. Vihari, who has had a great domestic season with a string of notable scores, let Vidarbha’s bowlers come at him and soaked in the pressure with a typical workmanlike knock of 81 not out from 171 balls with 10 boundaries. 

Jayant Yadav, who has a double-century to his name in first-class cricket, showed once again that he’s no slouch when it comes to batting, accumulating 62 unconquered runs batting at No. 8.

Rest of India are far from out of trouble, but should they show this sort of resistance on the final day, even if only in the second innings, they should push the contest towards a draw. 

A stalemate would be quite the shame, given just how ruthless Vidarbha have been with the bat, but had they declared earlier, they may have had more of a shot at coming away with a win. 

When Vidarbha started the fourth day on 702 for 5 in 208 overs, the guess was they would bat on till Wankhede, overnight 99, brought up his century. Wankhede didn’t let the break in rhythm affect him as he brought up his second first-class ton, but it was befuddling that he batted on for so long, though his knock was a fiery one, comprising 16 fours and six sixes.

As expected, the bowling card of Rest of India’s bowlers was appalling. Jayant went for 202 runs in 48 overs, while Shahbaz Nadeem gave away 160 in 46 and R Ashwin went for 129 in 43.3. 

Clearly, the pitch had little in terms of a hurdle, but Rest of India’s batsmen dug themselves a trench inside the first 30 overs. 

Gurbani, the paceman who decimated Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy semifinals, clearly liked having a go at the boys from Karnataka and he picked up R Samarth for nought and Karun Nair for 21.

Prithvi Shaw offered some resistance at the top with a quick fire half-century from 64 balls but he needed to stick around longer than that to give Rest of India hope. 

Rest of India would have known the soup they were in once Mayank Agarwal, who had probably one of the finest domestic seasons by an Indian batsman, was back in the hut after scoring 11.

Agarwal was Yadav’s only scalp and Akshay Thakare picked off Shaw, the rest was Gurbani’s doing.   

Vihari and Jayant kept Vidarbha from picking at the wounds any further, but Rest of India found out first-hand why and how Faiz Fazal’s men came away with the Ranji Trophy title this season.