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BCB president Nazmul Hasan has said that he has received a message from coach Chandika Hathurusingha that Shakib Al Hasan has threatened to quit playing Tests and ODIs for Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jul-2014BCB president Nazmul Hasan has said that he has received a message from coach Chandika Hathurusingha that Shakib Al Hasan has threatened to quit playing Tests and ODIs for Bangladesh. Two days ago, the board had asked Shakib to return to the country immediately while he was on his way to Barbados to participate in the Caribbean Premier League.Shakib apparently made the threat after Hathurusingha had recently asked him to return to Bangladesh’s training camp on August 1, which would have ended his CPL campaign earlier than he would have wanted. The CPL runs from July 11 to August 16.”I have received a letter in this regard,” Nazmul told the Bengali daily . “I don’t understand how he [Shakib] can say such a thing. I want to speak to them in person. If this is indeed true, nobody will be spared. There will be no compromise on discipline.”This is not the first time that Bangladesh players have expressed dissatisfaction. In 2013, Bangladesh’s tour of Zimbabwe clashed with the IPL, which meant that Shakib and Tamim Iqbal would miss the lucrative T20 tournament.Shakib is likely to join the camp, which began on July 1, from Sunday but Nazmul said that the allrounder may not be allowed to play in the CPL for breaking discipline.”There is very little possibility to give the NOC [No-Objection Certificate]. He has broken the discipline. We are very strict in this regard. The board will take a decision on giving him the NOC in the July 7 meeting.”Apart from earlier disciplinary breaches during his international career, Shakib has had several run-ins with authority this year too. His infamous lewd gesture towards the camera during the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka ODI series earned him a three-match ban, and at the moment, a BCB disciplinary committee is investigating his alleged brawl with a spectator during a Bangladesh-India game last month.Shakib’s threat is the first time that a Bangladesh player has openly spoken about leaving international cricket.

VVS Laxman has been named batting consultant by the Cricket Association of Bengal as part of its Vision 2020 project, which aims to help Bengal players progress to the national team

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2014VVS Laxman has been named batting consultant by the Cricket Association of Bengal as part of its Vision 2020 project, which aims to help Bengal players progress to the national team. In March, Muttiah Muralitharan had been named as Bengal’s spin bowling consultant.”Over the period of next year, I’ll be coming here for at least 30 days. We’ll work out what’s best for myself as well as the youngsters,” Laxman told reporters at the Eden Gardens. “The ultimate aim for a batsman is to score runs. Run making is also a technique along with the skill. I’m looking forward to contribute.”Laxman said he was working with Bengal mainly due to Sourav Ganguly, who is currently joint secretary of the CAB. “It’s because of him that I’m here. He persuaded me to take up this role. Really excited to see the young talents on display.”Ganguly said that Laxman will be working with Bengal players at all levels. “He’s here for the Vision 2020 not for the senior (Ranji) side,” Ganguly said. “Ashok Malhotra is there for the senior team. Everybody who’s there with the senior team are also associated with Vision 2020. Laxman is for the development of players of Bengal.”

As the ex-ManchesterCity man turns 29, we remember six Nigerian strikers who never realised their potential

DepophotosOlarenwaju Kayode

Currently featuring with Sivasspor in the Turkish top flight—on loan from Ukraine giants Shakhtar Donetsk—it doesn’t seem that long ago that Kayode was signing for English giants ManchesterCity.

It was an odd move at the time, with Kayode then approaching his mid-20s and not the kind of youth prospect with time to develop on his side.

He had enjoyed an excellent scoring record with Austria Vienna before that move, but has struggled to score consistently since—barring a decent scoring run on loan at Gaziantep.

The Nigeria caps have dried up after he featured four times for the national side in 2017.

AdvertisementGettyIsaac Success

Watford’s record signing when he signed for the Hornets from Granada for a fee estimated to be around £12.5 million in 2016, it’s fair to see that deal never truly worked out for player nor club.

The striker’s time in Hertfordshire was mired by injury, loss of form and off-field controversies, and he ended his spell at the club with a miserable three goals in 63 league games across the Premier League and the Championship.

This season, on loan at Udinese, he’s registered his career best tally for goal contributions, although don’t expect him to add to his two Nigeria caps any time soon.

Getty ImagesJulius Aghahowa

Broke onto the scene at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was the tournament’s joint top scorer and caught the eye with his somersaulting celebrations.

He proceeded to win a trio of Ukrainian titles with Shakhtar Donetsk, although Aghahowa’s career took a wrong turn in his mid-20s when he signed for Wigan Athletic.

He failed to net in the Premier League, wouldn’t represent Nigeria again after 2007, and even a return to Shakhtar—wither another domestic title—couldn’t quite reignite his career.

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Getty.Josh Maja

Contrary to others on this list, Maja still has time on his side to realise his potential and fulfil the hype that accompanied the early stages of his career.

However, he is running out of time and it increasingly appears as though we won’t live up to the immense expectations that accompanied him at Sunderland.

Currently with StokeCity in the Championship, he’s scored just once on loan this season, struggling to impress in the second tier, and in fact, has netted just 13 goals with Girondins de Bordeaux, Fulham and the Potters since leaving Sunderland in 2018.

Nonetheless, the 23-year-old is skilful, impresses in the build-up play, and can still be a hit—he just needs the right move this summer.

ESPNcricinfo previews the South Group of the NatWest T20 Blast

Vithushan Ehantharajah16-May-2014Essex Eagles
Overseas player: Jesse RyderThe perfect blend of youth and experience just added mercurial brutality in the form of Jesse Ryder. Disconsolate after last year’s semi-final defeat to Surrey – they were away from Edgbaston barely an hour after their loss – fortress Chelmsford might rock off its foundations with these Friday night fixtures. The loss of Owais Shah’s know-how and wrists means someone, perhaps Ravi Bopara, will need to bat higher and longer.Glamorgan
Overseas player: Jacques RudolphThat there isn’t more made about Chris Cooke is no slight on him or Glamorgan. But, at 27, the onus is on him to take a competition by the scruff of its neck and showcase his destructive capacity. He is surrounded by more than capable team-mates – Jim Allenby, in particular – but it is the amazing that gets you ahead in T20 cricket. Cooke is capable of enhancing his stature by doing just that.Gloucestershire
Overseas player: Michael Klinger”A good honest club” usually translates as “don’t expect much” and, while they are the former, it would be foolish to assume the latter despite beginning the tournament with a two-point penalty. Michael Klinger is a manufactured yet very effective short-form batsman – fifth highest run-scorer in last years’ tournament. Tavaré is a name associated with long days of batting but how will Will take to a short dash?Hampshire
Overseas player: Kyle Abbott, Glenn MaxwellA strong bet for the final four given they have appeared in the last four Finals Days, winning in 2010 and 2012. But they now have to begin life without Dimitiri Mascharenas, who masterminded so much of that success. Neil McKenzie has said goodbye too. New leader James Vince has plenty to live up to but expect his captaincy to bear all the hallmarks of Hampshire’s long-successful brains trust. He has the finest game-changer around in Glenn Maxwell, giving Hampshire the look of a perfect side.Kent Spitfires
Overseas player: Doug BollingerRob Key’s return as captain has given Canterbury a lift and performances so far have reflected as much. Doug Bollinger, both as a bowler and a character, has instilled a new sense of belief at the club. Mitch Claydon, having impressed during a handful of T20 games last year while on loan, will make a bigger impact this time around. And with Darren Stevens, anything is possible.Middlesex Panthers
Overseas player: Dan ChristianOnly a fool would attempt to pin down what Middlesex are about with the bat. The skill is there but the application, in all forms, is flaky. Dan Christian disappointed for Gloucestershire last year, but the Australian summer saw him earn a recall to the national side thanks to 543 runs and 19 wickets for Brisbane Heat. Eoin Morgan captains the side. Steven Finn will relish a shortened workload and a license to tear in.Somerset
Overseas player: Alviro Petersen, Dirk NannesDespite talk of decline and tossing out the old, Somerset have enjoyed a good start to the season. No one symbolises that more than Marcus Trescothick, who has rediscovered his mojo. While Craig Kieswetter’s international career is far from over, it is likely he will not be called upon during the summer, allowing him to build on his emphatic 517-run campaign last year. Dirk Nannes comes in having proved he has a handle on his injuries with eight matches and an economy rate of just above seven in the recent edition of the BBL. Peter Trego, as ever, is a showstopper.Surrey
Overseas player: Graeme Smith, Robin PetersonA young team finding their feet but perfectly capable of holding their own, and then some. Box office and effectiveness come in the form of Kevin Pietersen and Kevin O’Brien, both of whom have their availability limited by the Caribbean Premier League. The kids are alright, but here is an opportunity to improve on last year’s finish as defeated finalists and be the best.Sussex Sharks
Overseas player: Steve Magoffin, Yasir ArafatThe return of Yasir Arafat, the leading wicket taker in English domestic T20 cricket, will have Sussex dreaming of replicating former glories. With him, they won the competition in 2009, qualifying for the Champions League in the process. Now based in Kent, he will be available for the entirety of the group stages. Surround him with Ed Joyce, Luke Wright and maybe even a bit of Matt Prior and Chris Jordan, and you have one heck of a side.

After their near-perfect performance in the first Test in Jamaica and West Indies’ recent hapless showings, New Zealand start the second Test in Port-of-Spain as favourites

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran15-Jun-20142:12

Jamaica was a tough test for me- Kemar Roach

Match factsJune 16-20, 2014, Port of Spain
Start time 1000 (1400 GMT)Mark Craig will have to prove that his performance in the Kingston Test was not a one-off•Associated PressBig PictureIt’s not often that New Zealand find themselves starting away Tests as favourites. But their near-perfect performance in Jamaica, and West Indies’ hapless recent showings confer Brendon McCullum’s men that unfamiliar status. Nearly everything they hoped for happened at Sabina Park – they got to bat first on a benign surface and racked up a score above the 450 they usually target, their inexperienced spinners thrived and there were significant contributions from a wide range of players as they remained on top right through the Test.One of their biggest problems during the superb recent run in Test matches has been a serious shortage of runs from their openers, but even that changed in Jamaica as Tom Latham put together two battling half-centuries in what was only his second Test. Their talented pace attack has been their biggest strength in the past couple of years, and with the middle-order regularly churning out centuries and even the spinners chipping in with wickets, New Zealand will fancy their chances of winning their first away Test series against a top-eight opposition since 2002.Two years ago when these teams faced off in the Caribbean, West Indies had swept aside New Zealand on their way to a six-Test winning run that lifted them to No. 5 in the rankings. Since that run, though, West Indies have lost three Tests by an innings, one by eight wickets, another by 186 runs and averted defeat in the remaining match only due to an over-my-dead-body double-century from Darren Bravo and rain.Before the series began, West Indies made the big change of bringing in a new captain, dispensing with Darren Sammy. Then they revamped the bowling for the first Test, with Sulieman Benn, Kemar Roach and Jerome Taylor making their comeback. For this game, it is the batting that is getting an overhaul, with Marlon Samuels and Kieran Powell left out and Kirk Edwards battling for his place. Will the large-scale changes bring about a turn in their fortunes?Form guide(Most recent first)
West Indies LLLDL
New Zealand WDWWWWatch out forMark Craig was a little-known offspinner with a middling record when New Zealand’s selectors punted on him for the Caribbean tour. He responded with four-wicket hauls in each innings of his debut Test at Sabina Park to win the Man-of-the-Match award and set up a famous victory. “I know Mark’s a good bowler, but I didn’t quite think he’d quite be as calm as he was from ball one,” New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said. “I thought it would take him a bit of time to settle, but he settled in right from the start and bowled a great first over and he was away.” Now the job for Craig is to prove that Jamaica wasn’t a one-off performance.It’s not very often that New Zealand’s spinners outbowl their counterparts in a Test. Sulieman Benn had complained about the flat nature of the Sabina Park track after the second day, only for West Indies to lose 20 wickets over the next two days. West Indies’ spinners need to turn in an improved performance in the second Test, despite facing bigger challenges; Shane Shillingford was nursing a niggle on the eve of the game and racing to get fit, and the track is expected to be more pacer-friendly. Still, whoever does play needs to do more against a line-up that is not traditionally known for its prowess against the turning ball.Team newsNew Zealand have already made one change to their side – dropping the woefully out of form Peter Fulton, and bringing in Hamish Rutherford. Depending on the nature of the track, they will also take a call on whether to pick an extra quick for the spinner Ish Sodhi.New Zealand: (probable) 1 Tom Latham, 2 Hamish Rutherford, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Brendon McCullum (capt), 6 Jimmy Neesham, 7 BJ Watling (wk), 8 Neil Wagner/Ish Sodhi, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Mark Craig , 11 Trent BoultShane Shillingford has a niggle, Ramdin said on the eve of the Test, so the team would have to wait on his fitness.* Either way, he said, he is mulling playing the extra quick. With Darren Sammy retired, and Dwayne Bravo injured, they are struggling to find an allrounder for the Test side. West Indies’ batting will have at least two changes as a result of the changes to their squad; Ramdin said he might play one of the two batsmen who were brought in after doing well for the Sagicor High Performance Centre, Jermaine Blackwood and Leon Johnson.West Indies: (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Kirk Edwards, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Leon Johnson, 7 Denesh Ramdin (capt & wk), 8 Sulieman Benn, 9 Jerome Taylor, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shane Shillingford/Shannon GabrielPitch and conditionsOn Sunday, Kane Williamson suggested that there might be a bit more in it for the quicks than Kingston. Kemar Roach also said the pitch would aid the seamers, while Denesh Ramdin said he expected good carry for the bowlers on this track. “A bit more grass than Jamaica. The ball will edge and go to the slips area,” Ramdin said. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 30s, and rain is predicted over the next week.Stats and trivia Shivnarine Chanderpaul is tied with Steve Waugh on 46 unbeaten Test innings, the most by a specialist batsman. There are six others ahead of him in the overall list, but all of them are tailenders, including quintessential ones like Chris Martin, Muttiah Muralitharan and Courtney Walsh. The only person to score hundreds in his first three Tests is former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin. Jimmy Neesham can emulate him if he makes a century in Port-of-Spain. The player to have bowled the most overs in Test cricket in the current West Indies squad is Chris Gayle, with 1154.5 overs.Quotes”Adapting to the conditions was a focus and something we did very well in the first Test, something we want to continue doing well in this series.”
*3.45GMT, June 16: The team news was updated after Denesh Ramdin spoke on the eve of the game

Since winning the Under-19 World Cup in 1998, England had made it to the semi-finals in 2004 and 2006 but their performances in the next three World Cups were underwhelming

Kanishkaa Balachandran in Dubai25-Feb-2014Since winning the Under-19 World Cup in 1998, England had made it to the semi-finals in 2004 and 2006 but their performances in the next three World Cups were underwhelming. That they actually made it to the final four in 2014 and were within touching distance of entering the summit clash has come as a surprise to the players themselves, starting with their captain Will Rhodes.A look at England’s performances in the build-up to the World Cup could explain why expectations back home may have been low. They had failed to win any of their three series, including getting thrashed 5-0 by South Africa and losing two tri-series finals to Pakistan, back at home and again in the UAE late last year. In contrast, India had won all four series they had played and ironically, England will finish the World Cup with a higher position.”I think we have bettered them (expectations),” Rhodes said after losing a tense semi-final to Pakistan. “Every team comes here to win the tournament and we genuinely thought we could win it – but we didn’t think we would play such good cricket as we have.”We knew we could play good cricket but we have never really strung it together in previous tours. To do that was fantastic.”England recorded comprehensive wins against UAE and New Zealand, but their matches against Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan went down to the wire. They beat the defending champions India in the quarter-finals and made Pakistan sweat after posting a modest 204.”We haven’t been in that situation before in an England shirt, a few of us have done it for our counties, but to experience it at a ground like this on such a big stage, was nerve-racking,” Rhodes said. “It was the first time a few of us had fielded under the lights as well, which never helps but it was something we can learn from and take into the summer.”Pakistan had recovered from a wobbly 57 for 4 via a fifth-wicket stand of 74 but once England broke through, there was a heated exchange between a few of their players and Zafar Gohar. Both teams later played down the incident, and Rhodes said that what happens on the field stays on the field.”It was just the heat of the moment. We have played against Pakistan so many times and have got to know their lads well,” Rhodes said. “A few words never hurt anyone. I don’t know what was said, it is all past now and there are no regrets.”The defining period of the match was the 63-run eighth-wicket stand between Gohar and Amad Butt which sealed the game for Pakistan. Rhodes said previous series between the two sides had enough evidence of Pakistan’s ability to bounce back.”The two lads at the end batted really well and unfortunately we couldn’t get one of them out,” he said. “We were expecting that but we always believed we could get through them and take the wickets. Unfortunately we couldn’t do that, but we can learn from it about bowling to tailenders more efficiently. It is something we can improve on.”Rhodes singled out the 16-year old Matthew Fisher for being able to take the lead, with figures of 2 for 21 off ten. “I thought the bowlers were outstanding. Young Matthew Fisher was unbelievable again, to bowl 10 overs for 20 in the semi-final of a World Cup when he is only 16 is magnificent.”The allrounder Rhodes too led from the front with 76 off 79 balls, coming in when his side was limping at 69 for 4 in 22 overs. His knock ensured that England salvaged whatever they could in the 50 overs.”I owed the lads a score today. I have got to 30 numerous times in the past six months and only really gone on once,” he said. “Today I said it was going to be my day. The mood at the half-time interval was that we really thought we could bowl Pakistan out or defend the total within 50 overs.”It’s been a rewarding journey for Rhodes, who hails from the small Yorkshire village of Cottingham. He says getting into the cricket system was tough, with the county ground “being so far away.” Having already played limited-overs games for Yorkshire, the expectations on him may only get bigger.

Netherlands pulled off one of the best chases in Twenty20 cricket, chasing 190 in 13.5 overs to break the hearts of their opponents Ireland and Group B rivals Zimbabwe and progress to the Super 10 of the World T20

The Report by Kanishkaa Balachandran21-Mar-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:07

Wasn’t thinking about merely winning – Myburgh

Netherlands pulled off one of the best chases in Twenty20 cricket, chasing 190 in 13.5 overs to break the hearts of their opponents Ireland and Group B rivals Zimbabwe, who were watching with bated breath, to progress to the Super 10 of the World T20. Netherlands needed to achieve the formidable target in 14.2 overs to vault from No. 3 to No. 1 in the group on net run-rate, which meant they had to bat in high gear throughout.Stephan Myburgh gave Netherlands belief that they could pull it off with an electric fifty; Tom Cooper proved the team had the back-up after Myburgh departed, and the final flourish was delivered by Wesley Barresi, who ensured qualification with a massive six over midwicket with three balls left.After Cooper blazed six sixes in his 45, he pulled a short one from Tim Murtagh to Kevin O’Brien at deep square leg, giving Ireland a lifeline when they desperately needed one. Netherlands were anyway coasting towards the target, needing 29 off 52 balls but merely attaining it wasn’t going to bring a smile to their faces. What mattered was if they could attain it in the next 18 balls. Only three more runs were scored when that Murtagh over ended, piling on the anxiety for Netherlands.The first three balls in the next over were uneventful for Netherlands but it all changed when Barresi edged O’Brien to the third-man boundary. Two balls later, Ben Cooper siphoned off six more from the runs required with a blow over deep midwicket. Ireland needed to keep them under control for the next eight deliveries but Murtagh and Ireland hadn’t yet seen all of the carnage.Netherlands left more than one team stunned on the night•ICCBarresi made room and smashed the second ball of the over over the sightscreen, making the equation a more manageable seven off six balls. He then clobbered a four over extra cover, bringing it down to less than a run a ball for the first time. A length ball was then biffed over deep midwicket and Netherlands had pulled off the improbable, leading to wild celebrations, having jumped from third place to first in the group.Netherlands signaled their intent from the first ball of the chase, when the captain Peter Borren went on his knee and swept to the fine-leg boundary. The real carnage began in the second over when Myburgh took on the offspinner Andy McBrine with four sixes, in an over that wnt for a soul-destroying 25. Myburgh targeted the on side, sending the first miles over long-on and the next three over deep midwicket, each longer and higher than the other.If McBrine needed a shoulder to cry on, he could have picked any one of the five other bowlers who had the misfortune of bowling to Netherlands’ determined batsmen. Alex Cusack was the next to be on the receiving end of Myburgh’s blows with three consecutive sixes, bringing up the fifty in just 3.1 overs. The manic opening stand between Borren and Myburgh came to an end when George Dockrell took a stunning catch running backwards, sending back Borren. Netherlands’ 91 at the end of six overs was the world record for the highest Powerplay score. It wasn’t the only record they broke though.Myburgh’s fifty off 17 balls equaled the second-fastest in T20s, but he fell not too long after that, when he pulled Dockrell straight to deep midwicket. In the following over, Ireland got another breakthrough thanks to another impressive running-backwards catch under pressure by the captain William Porterfield, sending back Logan van Beek. The edge was suddenly with the Irish but the relief was only temporary.Ironically, just moments after those two brilliant bits of catching, Ed Joyce put down a sitter in the deep. A powerful reverse sweep from Tom Cooper went straight to deep cover and Joyce fluffed it running forward.That drop didn’t just burn a hole in their pockets – it set their pants on fire.Two balls later, Tom Cooper hit the helpless bowler Dockrell over deep midwicket and in his following over, suffered further humiliation, giving away the third hat-trick of sixes in the innings. Tom Cooper, who was controversially rushed to the squad from Australia shortly before the first match, showed why he’s considered their best batsman. He launched four sixes in the over, mostly over the on side. Dockrell tossed it up but it didn’t induce the false shot as Tom Cooper middled them all.After that over, the equation came down to 33 needed off 20 to qualify and the Zimbabweans, who had kept their qualification hopes alive with a hurried victory against UAE, would have begun to twitch on their seats. Had Netherlands taken longer than 14.2 overs, the Zimbabweans’ effort would have been worth it.The pressure began to tell on the fielders when the cover fielder made a schoolboy error, conceding a boundary. Murtagh finally had some success when he bowled a short one on seeing Tom Cooper advance and got him to pull to deep square leg. There were no boundaries scored off the next seven balls, but when Barresi edged O’Brien to third man, Netherlands were feeling good again and there was no looking back. By the end of the game, Netherlands had hit 19 sixes in the innings, a world record – the combined 30 sixes in the game was another record.All the Ireland bowlers were made to look like helpless schoolboys whose lunch money was snatched by bullies. They might have felt that the match and qualification was rightfully theirs when they posted 189. Porterfield led the early assault with a 32-ball 47, skipping down the track and chipping the ball over the infield. Netherlands had used as many as seven bowlers in the first ten overs as Porterfield and Joyce set the platform for a big score. The fireworks came from Andrew Poynter and O’Brien as Ireland hit 118 from the last ten overs. Poynter was dropped by Michael Swart early in the innings but he went on to compile his own hat-trick of sixes, off Swart, on his way to a fifty off just 27 balls. O’Brien cleared the ropes with ease, with lofted drives down the ground.At the end of the innings, Poynter was asked if 189 was enough and he replied, “I’ll tell you after the game.” On paper, Ireland were the favourites to qualify. Only few would have expected the first innings to be reduced to a side-show.

Stephen Moore, the top-order batsman released by Lancashire at the end of last season, has found an opportunity to continue his county career by signing a two-year deal with Derbyshire.

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Dec-2013Stephen Moore, the top-order batsman released by Lancashire at the end of last season, has found an opportunity to continue his county career by signing a two-year deal with Derbyshire.Moore, 33, is an experienced campaigner having begun his career with Worcestershire in 2003 before moving to Old Trafford in 2010. He was a key member of the Championship winning side in 2011, scoring over 1,000 first-class runs.That was the fourth time Moore has past 1,000 first-class runs in a season but his form nosedived in 2012 with an average of just 16.50 in 13 matches. Last season he played in only two red-ball matches, prompting his release.For Derbyshire, Moore will add experience to a batting line up that failed on too many occasions last season and severely hindered their chance of staying in Division One of the County Championship.”We are delighted to have secured Stephen for the next two seasons,” Derbyshire captain Wayne Madsen, who was instrumental in discussions with Moore, said. “He’s an experienced batsman who can have an impact in all formats and will give us valuable options as we push for success in all three domestic competitions.”We have a number of talented young cricketers at the club already and working with a player of Stephen’s quality and experience will help both their batting and their general approach to the game.”Moore said he was impressed with Derbyshire’s plans under their new elite cricket performance model: “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity of being part of the set-up at Derbyshire.”The elite cricket performance model shows the ambitions of the club and I’m keen to play my part in Derbyshire’s future success. As well as contributing with the bat, I’m looking forward to making a positive contribution as a senior player in the dressing room.”

Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond will quit as the national team’s bowling coach at the end of the 2015 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jan-2015Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond will quit as the national team’s bowling coach at the end of the 2015 World Cup. Lindsay Crocker, NZC’s head of cricket, said Bond had not wanted the extension offered to him.Bond will be taking up a role of a coach of the Mumbai Indians franchise during IPL 2015, joining a support staff that includes Ricky Ponting, Jonty Rhodes and Robin Singh. Bond had played one season of the IPL – in 2010 with Kolkata Knight Riders.”Make no bones about this – we’re very disappointed to be losing Shane,” Crocker said. “He’s given great value to the Blackcaps programme and we were hopeful of having the benefit of his input over the next few seasons. However, we respect his decision and his reasons for making that decision, and wish him well in his endeavours post-world cup.”Bond said family considerations had played a part in his decision. “The [Mumbai Indians] offer came out of the blue, it was something I wasn’t expecting. I weighed everything up and it was an offer I had to take,” Bond told NewstalkZB. “It’s sad in one sense to be leaving a great group of guys, but as a family we’re rapt.”It can be pretty draining and tough on families at home [for people in this industry] when you have to up and leave from particular roles and move countries or cities every year. This way I get to spend a lot more time based at home in Christchurch. It’s a chance that was too good to turn down.””When you’re away 200-250 days a year, it’s certainly demanding. That’s not to say I don’t love the role but now I’ve got a gig where I can still do the job I love and get that time at home. I’m still hoping to have some role helping bowlers out in New Zealand.”Bond had taken the role of New Zealand bowling coach in October 2012, two years after ending a promising career that was blighted by a spate of injuries.

A round-up of matches in the Under-19 Asia Cup that took place on Thursday, January 2

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jan-2014
ScorecardFile photo: Sami Aslam struck eight fours and two sixes during his 75•Getty ImagesA hat-trick from the legspinner Karamat Ali, followed by Sami Aslam’s 75, powered Pakistan Under-19s into the final of the Under-19s Asia Cup after they edged Afghanistan Under-19s by two wickets in Sharjah.Karamat dismissed Mohammad Mujtaba, Hashmatullah Shaidi and Sayed Shirzad off successive deliveries in the 46th over to finish with 5 for 33 and bundle Afghanistan out for 196. Afghanistan, choosing to bat, had made a solid start as the openers Shahidullah and Ihsanullah hit 43 inside nine overs, but four wickets in the space of 10 overs left them stranded at 70 for 4.Shaidi and Waheedullah Shafaq led the recovery with a fifth-wicket stand of 87, but once Shafaq was removed for 48, the team again crumbled. Afghanistan entered the 46th over at 182 for 6 and with Mujtaba and Shaidi at the crease, they would have looked to push on towards a competitive total.However, Mujtaba’s attempt to clear the infield off the third ball of the over could only find Saud Shakeel at the midwicket fence. Shaidi had crossed over during the wicket to take the strike, but he too failed to go the distance, hitting Karamat straight to Imam-ul-Haq at the deep square leg boundary. Karamat then completed his hat-trick with a googly to bowl Shirzad out for a duck.Set a paltry target, Pakistan lost Shayan Jahangir in the second over, but Aslam marshaled the innings by striking eight fours and two sixes, and adding 107 for the second wicket with Imam. However, Aslam’s wicket in the 24th over led to Pakistan slipping from 111 for 1 to 133 for 4. Hasan Raza and Hussain Talat chipped in with crucial contributions to stop the slide, but both of them were dismissed in the 45th over and Pakistan were soon left precariously placed at 195 for 8 with 13 balls remaining.Kamran Ghulam, however, held his nerve and took the team over the line with a backfoot punch through the covers for four.
ScorecardIndia Under-19s overcame a tense chase thanks to a half-century from Ankush Bains to beat Sri Lanka Under 19s by three wickets and progress to the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup.Bains had retired hurt in the first over but walked out to bat in the 34th with India still 97 runs adrift with five wickets in hand. He struck his first ball back for a four and continued finding the boundary with the regularity needed to tackle a required rate which had reached 5.75. India’s tail was exposed, with none of the top-order batsmen able to convert their starts, but Bains balanced run-scoring along with shielding the lesser batsmen, ensuring the asking rate did not rise past seven.No. 9 Kuldeep Yadav, who had been instrumental in keeping Sri Lanka to a modest 223, gave Bains company in a 58-run, seventh-wicket stand which took India to the threshold of victory. Bains fell to a run-out, but Yadav struck the winning runs in the final over and remained unbeaten on 22 off 26 balls, with three fours.Sri Lanka’s batting effort revolved around half-centuries from Hashan Dumindu and Kusal Mendis. Their 94-run, second-wicket stand, accumulated at a sedate pace, promised a better total but the middle order failed to capitalise. Five of their batsmen could not get past single figures as left-arm chinaman Yadav picked up three wickets and Deepak Hooda and Sarfaraz Khan chipped in two each. Anuk Fernando ushered Sri Lanka to the full quota of overs with an unbeaten cameo, but the target proved just a touch too little.