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Target too stiff for Australia as Ostwal, Sindhu and Ravi lead India’s bowling effort

Sreshth Shah02-Feb-2022For the fourth edition in a row, India are in an U-19 World Cup final. Yash Dhull’s team flattened Australia to complete a fifth straight comprehensive win, with the captain leading from the front with 110. He was assisted by his vice-captain Shaik Rasheed (94), and their 204-run partnership helped India recover from 37 for 2 to an eventual total of 290 for 5.It was then time for India’s spinners to steal the spotlight. Angkrish Raghuvanshi broke a promising second-wicket stand between Campbell Kellaway (30) and Corey Miller (38), and left-arm spinners Vicky Ostwal and Nishant Sindhu did the rest. The spinners knuckled Australia down from 71 for 1 to 125 for 7 in the chase, and despite some late resistance, the end was a mere formality. India knocked Australia out for the third U-19 World Cup in a row, and in the process, have confirmed their place alongside England in the final.But it was not all rosy for India, who lost both openers cheaply in the first innings. William Salzmann rattled Raghuvanshi’s stumps early, and soon Harnoor Singh followed when he gloved Jack Nisbet to the keeper. It was at 37 for 2 that Rasheed and Dhull, both playing only their third game of the competition, got together. And they were in no rush to get the runs.From the 13th over to the 28th, Rasheed and Dhull hit just three fours altogether, and made it clear early that they were setting anchor. They relied on picking the gaps and taking singles to get 4-5 runs per over, up until the team total reached 100.Dhull started the charge in the 29th over, and reached his 64-ball fifty in the 31st with a pull through midwicket for four. The boundaries lifted his strike-rate and India raced to 150 in the 36th over. Rasheed, though, was the one who looked to be playing the longer game while Dhull changed gears. He reached his fifty in 78 balls after surviving a run-out chance.After Rasheed’s fifty, though, he was a changed player. Runs started to flow from both ends when Rasheed hit two boundaries down the ground and a swivel to fine leg, matching Dhull shot for shot. Rasheed was particularly hard on Salzmann, hitting the seamer for a hat-trick of fours in the 41st over.With Rasheed getting into the nineties before him, Dhull again brought out the big shots. In one Tom Whitney over, he cut behind point twice in a row to move from 90 to 98, he then knocked a two to reach his century, and hit a six over his head to move to 108. However, he was run out on 110 in anti-climactic manner when a straight drive from Rasheed took something off bowler Nisbet’s hand, leaving Dhull stranded outside the crease. Rasheed’s agony multiplied the very next ball, when he was out on 94 after hitting to point, that also went to the TV umpire for a referral.The two wickets in two balls weren’t going to dampen India’s scoring though. Despite a maiden 47th over, the incoming batters smacked 48 in the last 18 balls to take India to 290. Dinesh Bana (four-ball 20*) and Sindhu hammered 27 off the last six balls.Australia’s in-form batter Teague Wyllie was out early in Australia’s chase, lbw after missing a Ravi Kumar delivery. Kellaway and Miller looked to rebuild, but they fell in quick succession after a 68-run stand for the second wicket. Raghuvanshi had Miller lbw in the 17th over and next over it was Kellaway who was out, a soft dismissal to short midwicket, off Ostwal.That was the start of the collapse. Sindhu – back into the XI after missing the quarter-final due to Covid-19 – and Ostwal quickly reduced Australia to 125 for 7. Their controlled left-arm spin offered few boundary shots, with Ostwal impressing once again with his variations in release speed and lines that earned him a three-for.Lachlan Shaw did offer a short-lived fightback, but with the target so far away, Australia needed more from him and the three remaining others. Kaushal Tambe then had Jack Sinfield stumped for 20, Shaw fell for 51, and Australia’s innings was over on 194 when Whitney was run out.India, unbeaten in all five games, will play Saturday’s final against England, who are also unbeaten. While India will be chasing their fifth title on Saturday, England will be aiming for their first title in 24 years.

Dilara Akter, Jannatul Ferdus and Ishma Tanjim have been left out

Mohammad Isam23-Aug-2025Bangladesh have brought two teenagers into their squad for the Women’s World Cup, which the BCB announced on Saturday. They are Nishita Akter, the 17-year-old offspinner, and the 19-year-old batter Sumaiya Akter. Both were part of Bangladesh’s team at the Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia in February.Bangladesh have also picked the 28-year-old keeper-batter Rubya Haider, who has played six T20Is but is yet to make her ODI debut.Between them, these three relative new faces have played three ODIs and seven T20Is, and none of them has played for the senior Bangladesh side in 2025.Related

• WI's historic chase ends in heartbreak as Bangladesh seal World Cup spot

The selectors have offloaded Dilara Akter, Jannatul Ferdus and Ishma Tanjim from Bangladesh’s most recent squad, which played in the World Cup Qualifier in April. Bangladesh qualified from that tournament ahead of West Indies by a net-run-rate margin of just 0.013, but they haven’t played any international matches since then.Recently, the squad has played a number of matches against Bangladesh’s Under-15 boys side as preparation for the World Cup.Women’s chief selector Sajjad Ahmed was excited by the addition of the three young players. He said Rubya, who has played six T20Is, will be the squad’s back-up opener and wicketkeeper behind captain Nigar Sultana.”Rubya has earned her place through sheer hard work,” he said. “Her development over the last six months has been outstanding. We see her as a valuable option both as a reserve keeper and a back-up opener.”Nishita is still young, but she bowls with great maturity. She is consistent, calm under pressure and her ability to contain left-handers gave her an edge. We believe this experience will serve her well and add depth to our spin attack.”Sajjad added that Sumaiya’s patience would be an asset to the side, and her fielding a bonus. “Sumaiya has been knocking on the door for some time. She brings the ability to occupy the crease and accelerate when needed. With her skillset and fielding standards, she gives us an all-round option in the top order.”Apart from these three, the squad wears a familiar look with Nahida Akter as vice-captain to Nigar, and the likes of Fargana Hoque, Fahima Khatun and Marufa Akter bringing the experience that Bangladesh hope will cover for their recent lack of match practice.Bangladesh are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against Pakistan in Colombo on October 2. India are the hosts of the tournament, with Colombo hosting all of Pakistan’s matches.

Bangladesh squad for Women’s World Cup 2025

Nigar Sultana (capt), Nahida Akter, Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Fariha Trisna, Sanjida Akter, Nishita Akter, Sumaiya Akter.
IN: Rubya Haider, Nishita Akter, Sumaiya Akter
OUT: Dilara Akter (wk), Jannatul Ferdus, Ishma Tanjim

Second-seed Pakistan finish without a medal in Hangzhou

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-2023A last-ball four from Rakibul Hasan helped Bangladesh claim bronze at the Asian Games overcoming Pakistan’s challenge in Hangzhou.Bangladesh needed to score 65 in five overs in the rain-hit game after the target was adjusted by DLS. Earlier, Pakistan had made 48 for 1 after a delayed start but their innings was curtailed after five overs when rain arrived for a second time.Arshad Iqbal’s double-wicket jolt in the opening over of Bangladesh’s innings had given Pakistan the early advantage in the chase, but Afif Hossain’s 11-ball 20 and Yasir Ali’s 16-ball 38 brought Bangladesh back. Yasir very nearly took Bangladesh home himself, but his dismissal in the penultimate ball of the game made it a do-or-die final delivery for the incoming batter Rakibul. But Sufiyan Muqeem failed to defend 20 off the last over, with Yasir scoring 16 runs – including two sixes – off the first four balls, and Rakibul then finishing it off with a boundary.Pakistan’s innings was started off by a 47-run stand between Khushdil Shah and Mirza Baig after rain delayed the start. Their stand lasted 4.4 overs with Baig the aggressor, scoring 32 in 18. Left-arm spinner Rakibul was also the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with his two overs going for only 12 runs.

The Bangladesh allrounder reaped the benefits of putting in the hard yards ahead of the tournament as he helped his team to the perfect start

Mohammad Isam at The Oval03-Jun-2019Shakib Al Hasan’s preparations for the World Cup kicked into high gear at this year’s IPL. Left out by Sunrisers Hyderabad for four weeks, Shakib used the time to get into shape through a strict fitness regime under trainer Jade Roberts. At one stage he flew in Mohammad Salahuddin, his mentor since childhood, to India to work on his batting and bowling.Shakib even changed his food habits and lost around six kilos. He looks slimmer, almost like the youngster he was during the 2007 World Cup. His work during the downtime which coincided with the run-up to the World Cup worked a treat. He played only three matches for Sunrisers before heading home for the World Cup camp in Dhaka. After creating a rumpus for not appearing in the team photo, Shakib did well in the Ireland tri-series, only to miss the final due to back spasm.After Bangladesh beat West Indies in their first game in Dublin, Shakib spoke about the extensive fitness work he had been putting in with his eyes on the World Cup.ALSO READ: How Soumya Sarkar shocked South Africa“With the World Cup coming up, like every other player I too have a goal,” he said in Ireland. “I can tell you that I have taken the best preparation for this tournament, something that I had not done for the past eight or nine years. I will keep my end of the bargain, while the rest is up to Allah and my effort.”I feel a lot fitter than before, and as a result I feel more confident. It is important to hold on to this fitness, because it is not always that you have this mentality. The body doesn’t respond in the same way all the time. I got a “kick” from somewhere, let’s not reveal it. It is not a big deal but it certainly woke me up.”Cut to the World Cup itself and Shakib begins the campaign in the best way possible with a composed 75 off 84 balls and 1 for 50 from his ten overs. It was his first Player-of-the-Match award in the World Cup, having now struck a fifty in each of the four editions he has been a part of. This innings – which formed part of a 142-run stand with Mushfiqur Rahim – ensured there was no slip after a terrific start provided by Soumya Sarkar’s bristling response to South Africa’s attempts to use the short ball.Shakib Al Hasan plays a shot as Quinton de Kock looks on•Getty Images

His bowling was also effective against a South Africa side that looked to be too conservative against his left-arm spin. The wicket he claimed, defeating a well-set Aiden Markram in his fifth over, was his 250th in ODIs. His initial spell of seven overs went for just 25 runs and was key in leaving South Africa significantly behind the required rate.”From a personal point of view, it was a really good day,” he said. “I could contribute to the team, and there were some personal achievements. It was an important partnership with Mushfiq bhai after we got a good start from the openers.WATCH on Hotstar – Shakib’s key innings (Available to viewers in India only)”I think it was a special day for Bangladesh cricket, to start so well against tough opponents in the World Cup. We had the belief but we had to portray it in our performance. Everyone had been confident, which helped us to execute our plan.”Shakib, who will play his 200th ODI against New Zealand on June 5, said the 21-run win will have put opposition on notice when they face Bangladesh although cautioned against getting carried away by one victory.”We still have eight matches to go, so a lot of difficulties await us. Other teams will now be careful against us. It is good because they may be a tensed facing us. But at the other hand, they would also be quite focused and we have to do well against them. We have to prepare better, and execute our plans better.Shakib added that Bangladesh, who reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup and the semi-finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy, still have a lot to prove but the tag that they are a dangerous side is something he wants other teams to focus on.”We have always tried to say it but others don’t really have time for us. I think we have a lot to prove. We have started well. I think that we are in a good place, mentally. I think if we can continue in this manner we can go a long way in the tournament.”But it is Shakib’s drive to do well, despite having been around for more than 13 years, and having earned plaudits for being arguably the best allrounder in the world, that stands out. Him performing at the top of his ability is nothing new but he has sometimes been associated with the sort of player who doesn’t need a lot of day-to-day training to perform well. However, ahead of this World Cup his extra effort shows how much doing well at the biggest stage matters to him.

Overton has a hand in ruining both batters’ days but Surrey falter in response to hosts’ 512

ECB Reporters Network27-Sep-2022Keaton Jennings and George Balderson both narrowly missed out on personal landmarks but Lancashire are sitting pretty at the end of a rain-effected day two of this final match of the County Championship against title winners Surrey.Jennings fell agonisingly short of double century after he was dismissed lbw by a brilliant Jamie Overton inswinger for 199 before Balderson was the last man out four runs away from his maiden first-class century.But after reaching 512 in their first innings, Lancashire took five Surrey wickets for 123 to put them firmly in the box seat at a damp Emirates Old Trafford.The day began full of anticipation for Jennings, who needed just 10 runs to reach 200 and become the first Lancashire player to hit three double tons in a season since Frank Watson in 1928. But Overton produced a vicious delivery which swung into Jennings’ pad to leave the opener out for 199 and Lancashire 430 for 6.Balderson, meanwhile, passed his personal-best first-class score of 77, but when Tom Hartley was bowled by an excellent turning delivery from Dan Moriarty for seven, it became clear holding on to partners might be a problem.Hartley was replaced by Tom Bailey whose free-scoring style was easy on the eye but probably not on Balderson’s nerves. When Bailey charged down the wicket and holed out to Kemar Roach at mid on off Moriarty for 22, Balderson was in the 90s with only Will Williams and Matt Parkinson left to help.In the end Williams lasted 15 balls for his seven before edging Cameron Steel to Rory Burns at slip leaving Balderson to decide he couldn’t trust Parkinson as the young allrounder opted instead to try and hit Moriarty out of the ground and succeeded only in finding Overton at deep midwicket for an excellent 97.Moriarty finished with 5 for 163 and Steel 3 for 65 but the spinners’ figures were the only real highlights in a lacklustre bowling display from the visiting champions who are perhaps suffering a little for motivation after last week’s celebrations.Batting for a solitary over before lunch, Surrey continued after the break with Burns and Ryan Patel instantly on the back foot when faced with Bailey’s accurate opening spell.Bailey would claim his 50th wicket of the season soon after when Patel edged to Jennings at second slip for 19 before Burns fell to Will Williams in the next over as the New Zealander got one to jag back and hit the skipper’s off stump.Surrey were 37 for 2 and that quickly became 38 for 3 after Jamie Smith was trapped in front by Bailey who was putting the seal on an excellent season with the ball.The prize dismissal of Hashim Amla came courtesy of Balderson who shrugged off his disappointment at missing out on a century by dismissing the South African for 29 with Jennings pouching another sharp chance at slip.A succession of showers and subsequent breaks late in the day made for an even harder session for Surrey’s batters and Williams struck again when he cleaned bowled Tom Curran for 11.It was left to former Lancashire player Jordan Clarke and Steel to see things through to the end as Surrey closed on 123 for 5 still trailing by 389.

Nottinghamshire looked a different side to that spoken of as pre-season title contenders as their struggle for survival continued at Scarborough

Paul Edwards at Scarborough19-Aug-2019
The water is up to Nottinghamshire’s neck and very soon it will be little use their cricketers opposing the knock of the tide. So much was clear at tea on the second day of this game after Yorkshire’s openers had successfully extended their side’s 48-run first innings lead to 109 with a partnership that scarcely raised a ripple on the surface of the game.By close of play the advantage was 225 and Yorkshire should have wickets to spend in the search for quick runs sometime on the third afternoon. Having dismissed their hesitant visitors for 184 in the first half of the day, Steve Patterson’s team have now done the groundwork for the victory that will sustain their hopes of the title.And something like an hour after the cricketers had left the ground sleek, dark-suited figures were stalking across the outfield at North Marine Road as they made their way to the great marquee where a dinner celebrating this 133rd festival is being held. Scarborough has always been generous to Yorkshire cricket even in the relatively rare years when the White Rose did not prosper here. The talk this mellow evening will be of Fred and Brian, of Ray and Geoff, but perhaps there will also be a word for the current team who remain in the hunt for another pennant, even in a year when their performances have not forked lightning in the manner of their predecessors.So perhaps the diners will recall this day’s cricket, too. They might recall that while Duanne Olivier had bowled capably for his four wickets, Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance’s 108-run partnership had given them even more satisfaction in the perfect evening sunlight. Lyth’s cover-driving remains one of the joys of the English game and the only sorrow for neutrals was his dismissal for 81, caught at short fine leg off Liam Patterson-White, two overs before the close. Ballance, though, is unbeaten on 52 and one cannot be sanguine about the visitors’ prospects tomorrow afternoon.For already it seems clear that Nottinghamshire will have to score the biggest total of the match in order to win it. One’s mind went back to this second morning when Chris Nash’s batsmen had hopes of securing their own winning position. Those notions were all but destroyed in the first session when the visitors scored 90 runs but lost six wickets, some of them frittered on the sea air. It has been a theme of what is set to be a relegation season.And thoughts even returned to Cambridge in late March when Ben Duckett and Ben Slater put on 325 for their team’s first wicket. Yes, it was only the students, but the runs were far from given away. There was the heady scent of blossom in the city but hardly a tree was in the slightest leaf. Some folk were talking of Steven Mullaney’s team as title contenders. When did it become clear that four-day honours were not to be theirs? “Who turned the page?” asked the poet, Ian Hamilton. Perhaps things are never that clear in an English summer.Yet so much is right at Trent Bridge these days, apart from the cricket. The county boasts one of the finest yet most intimate grounds in the country and they are not short of money. Supporters pitch in, too. When officials decided not to continue with a yearbook the Nottingham Cricket Lovers’ Society stepped in and published the 2019 annual. It is a fine and modestly priced piece of work and one hopes it is continued but God knows what it will say about this year. One thinks of the lines Roy Campbell addressed to “Some South African Novelists”: “They use the snaffle and the curb all right, / But where’s the bloody horse?”There are Nottingham supporters at Scarborough, just as there were at Newclose and Tunbridge Wells this season. If they haven’t greatly enjoyed the cricket, they have at least visited some wonderful grounds. But such excursions are all the more pleasurable when your team is playing well and supporters from Caythorpe or Cuckney were right to be disappointed by the dismissals which smirched the morning. Slater can be excused; he was caught behind off Ben Coad’s first ball of the morning, a delivery which compelled the defensive push only to punish it with an edge to Jonny Tattersall.Others were culpable. Jake Libby’s ugly drive at a wideish ball from Olivier merely deflected the ball onto his off stump. Nash appeared in dominant form when hitting his seven fours but then played too soon at Olivier and was caught and bowled; he left after patting the pitch reproachfully. Joe Clarke prodded at a ball too far from his body and edged Coad to Tattersall; Duckett tried to cut a ball from Keshav Maharaj and was bowled off his pad. None of the errors glared at orthodoxy but they were enough. It is often the way when you are in the toils.There was respite for visiting supporters, though. It arrived in the combative form of Tom Moores, who hit Maharaj for a straight six before lunch and then twice more to the Popular Bank early in the afternoon session. Moores also took three fours off one Maharaj over and while he was batting there seemed a possibility that Nottinghamshire might achieve parity. But after making 48 off 49 balls he pushed jerkily at a ball from Olivier and nicked a catch to Tattersall. It had been an enjoyable innings but not one to change the shape of the game.For that we had to wait for Lyth and Ballance and their easeful strokes across a crystal evening.

Jos Buttler and Harry Brook lead way for England before hosts pull off record pursuit at Bloemfontein

Firdose Moonda29-Jan-2023Temba Bavuma scored a defiant hundred as South Africa completed the highest successful chase in Bloemfontein and their third-highest in the format to win the series against England. Crucially, they also gained 10 World Cup Super League points and move into ninth place on the table, just outside of the automatic qualification zone, with three matches left to play.Bavuma’s knock, his third ton in ODIs, came at a significant time in his career. His white-ball captaincy was in the spotlight after South Africa’s T20 World Cup exit, he had gone 33 international innings without a three-figure score and he is the only member of the current squad who is not part of the ongoing SA20, South Africa’s new marquee franchise competition, with his scoring rate under scrutiny. He put all that aside to set the tone for a statement win and leave England much-vaunted line-up, who had half-centuries from Harry Brook, Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali (for the first time since 2017) in his wake.But he did not do it alone. South Africa paced their chase to perfection and never let the required rate run away from them. They were 64 without loss after 10 overs, 164 for 1 at the halfway stage and needed 156 runs from their last 20, with seven wickets in hand. Even when wickets fell, their scoring rate kept up and they needed 70 runs off the last 10 overs and only 24 from the last five. David Miller’s unbeaten 58 and Marco Jansen’s 32 took South Africa over the line with five balls to spare.South Africa’s chase got underway with Quinton de Kock, who left the field after 15 overs in the England innings when he was hit on the right thumb off a Brook under-edge, cleared to bat. He was taken for an X-ray, which did not pick up a fracture, but he did not appear entirely comfortable. He was overshadowed by a determined Bavuma, who dominated their 77-run stand and had even scored twice as many runs as de Kock at one point in the chase. De Kock was tied down by Olly Stone, whom he eventually hit to midwicket to end his knock.That went almost unnoticed by Bavuma, who batted with intent and scored quickly. In particular, he peppered the on side, where 70 of his total runs came. He was also the senior partner in the 97-run second-wicket partnership with Rassie van der Dussen, who was at the other end when Bavuma, struggling with cramp, drilled Adil Rashid through the covers to bring up his hundred. He celebrated in emphatic style, pointed to his name on his back and thudded his hand on his heart and the Protea badge. And then he was spent.Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali both made fifty to drive England’s innings•AFP/Getty Images

Bavuma scooped Sam Curran onto his own stumps three overs later to give England an opening. In the next over, van der Dussen hit Rashid straight to backward point and South Africa seemed to be in some trouble. But their depth came good.Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen scored 55 runs in 39 balls before Klaasen edged Stone and Buttler took a good catch; Markram went on to score 49 but was bowled by a Rashid googly, leaving it to Miller and Jansen to finish off. They put on 65 in 46 balls, with Miller enhancing his status as a finisher and Jansen his as an allrounder.Earlier, South Africa made three changes to the attack that won them Friday’s series opener and left out Kagiso Rabada, Sisanda Magala and Tabraiz Shamsi for Jansen, Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj. The bowlers were on top initially, after Bavuma opted to field. Ngidi found early seam movement and made the first incision when he bowled Jason Roy with a delivery that nipped back. At the other end Wayne Parnell pinned Dawid Malan on the back pad to leave England 33 for 2 in the seventh over, and 42 or 2 after 10.England only began to build some momentum when the change bowlers came on. Brook, who was dismissed for a duck on debut on Friday, showed his class with a high-quality 80 made up of clean-hitting and clever footwork. The highlights of his innings were his ramp off Jansen over the slips for six and the way he took on Maharaj. He scored 19 runs off the 13 balls he faced from Maharaj, including the single that brought him his fifty.Ben Duckett was largely a spectator and holed out to Maharaj, which brought Buttler to the crease in the 17th over. The England captain played second fiddle to Brook at first, but upped the ante once Brook was out, and England had a platform. They were 161 for 4 after 30 overs, but began to raise the tempo as Moeen got to his first fifty in 64 matches in an over where he hit Anrich Nortje for 14 runs. Nortje got his own back when Moeen dragged him onto his stumps and South Africa could apply the brakes.They gave away just 21 runs in the next five overs and were squeezing England until Buttler got hold of Ngidi. He hit 22 runs off Ngidi’s eighth over, including three sixes, while Curran played the perfect cameo with a 28-ball 17 to give England impetus at the end. In total, England scored 181 runs in their last 20 overs, including 60 in the last four but it was not enough to avert a fifth consecutive defeat in ODIs.

The captain credits the camaraderie among the pace pack for the side’s phenomenal success

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2019Virat Kohli’s India have blown away oppositions at home – just ask South Africa and Bangladesh who were at the receiving end recently. And armed with an incredible bowling attack, they’ve also established themselves as a serious team overseas, including winning a historic Test series in Australia in January earlier this year. So, are India the best team in the world now?India have been perched at No. 1 on the ICC’s Test rankings for a few years now, and Kohli also believes that they’re one of best teams overall.”If you look at teams across formats now, I would say we’re in the top-two teams in the world,” Kohli told . “And we’re very proud of that because we started off with a young bunch and transition is never easy but the guys have slowly understood the importance of belief and understanding their role in taking Indian cricket forward. So, insecurity about their own game has vanished. If you see we enjoy each other’s success and company and everyone is just wanting to help one way or the other for the betterment of Indian cricket team and in return the betterment of Indian cricket as a whole.”India have chalked up consistent performances across formats, but Kohli is yet to lift a global trophy as captain. India have not won an ICC global tournament since 2013, when MS Dhoni’s team clinched the Champions Trophy. Incidentally, that was Kohli’s second global title after being part of Dhoni’s 2011 World Cup-winning team.The missing global title was something that the newly-appointed BCCI president Sourav Ganguly also pinpointed in October.Kohli conceded that winning an ICC title was “like an obsession” with the public, but prioritised processes over results and numbers. He also said that his side relished being under pressure and finding a way past it.”You could say winning an ICC tournament is like an obsession or like a wish that people have, which is a beautiful thing to wish for because it’s seen at a global level and every cricketer would want to win that,” he said. “But if you ask me, honestly I didn’t ever think I would be part of the winning World Cup team in my first World Cup or two years down the line we will win the Champions Trophy as well. I never thought of these things but it happened. So, it was meant to happen for us.”But, in hindsight, you can look at a lot of things. We obviously have the desire to win big tournaments and big series and we want to give our best effort possible. But, if you focus on things which are only based on success and numbers and results, you don’t enjoy the process. We play well as a team because we enjoy the process.”Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Umesh Yadav are all smiles•BCCI

Kohli has been the central figure behind India’s bumper run ever since he took charge as captain in all formats in 2016. In his quest to make India the best team in the world, he has been very particular not to compromise on his fitness. Working on his diet and monitoring his sleeping habits, Kohli said, has helped him be more energetic on the field. But how does he maintain peak intensity at all times?”Basically, I hate losing in anything,” he said. “That’s how a sportsman is made up. That’s the make-up of any sportsman competing at the highest level. So, that’s a given. No one is fine with losing or failing. You accept it, you process it – that’s different. But, the most important thing for me to do anything on the field is I don’t want’ any maybes or what-ifs.”One of the key ingredients behind India’s unprecedented success in recent years is the depth in their attack, especially the well-rounded fast bowling contingent. In the recently-concluded home Test season, both Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were unavailable, but Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav fired collectively, helping the team notch up four successive innings victories.Kohli said that while there is “healthy competition” among the pace pack, it is the camaraderie they share with each other that makes the attack special.”No one is wanting to outdo someone else,” he said. “They’re like a bunch of friends wanting to help each other. [There’s] healthy competition but the trust they’ve on each other, I’ve never seen them have an argument… a serious one. No jealously. Zero. That’s their biggest strength. They don’t care whether a Shami is at No. 7 now, Jassi [Jasprit Bumrah] is at whatever ranking he is or Ishant is not. Ishant is happy , he has played 90 Tests and he understands he’s a very important part of team India – of inspiring the next lot of fast bowlers. That to him is more special than a ranking of ten players in the world and so on and so forth. So, full credit to these guys for being able to create this aura around them because of that friendship, belief and the intent being in the right place.”Earlier this week, Rahul Dravid, the head of cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), reckoned that India’s fast-bowling renaissance at the international level has inspired the next generation of quicks too.”Every year now in Under-19 cricket, we’ve had some very good fast bowlers. Last time, we had three of them in Kamlesh [Nagarkoti], Shivam [Mavi] and Ishan [Porel]. This year also you will see some good fast bowlers in the team,” Dravid had said.”When you have role models and you have heroes like the senior team… I think what Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Bumrah are doing, is they are actually in a way becoming role models for a lot of younger generation of boys who believe now they can be fast bowlers. They can bowl fast and be successful in India. It’s great to see that. Obviously we had people like Kapil [Dev], Sri [Javagal Srinath], Zaheer [Khan] and all in the past. But as a group, this is probably one of the best fast-bowling attacks we have ever had. I think that’s a great inspiration for a lot of these young boys.”

Aggressive, unbeaten innings of 95 from 71 sets up strong Somerset reply

ECB Reporters Network05-May-2023Tom Kohler-Cadmore blasted a thrilling first half-century for Somerset to bat them into a promising position on the second day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match with Northamptonshire at TauntonThe visitors began by extending their overnight first innings score of 137 for 4 to 255 all out, James Sales contributing 57, while Jack Leach (3 for 15) and Lewis Gregory (3 for 66) were the most successful bowlers. In reply, Somerset slipped to 61 for 3 before Cameron Bancroft helped Kohler-Cadmore add 53. The former Yorkshire player went on to finish unbeaten on 95, off just 71 balls, having smote 16 fours and a six, with his side 199 for 4, trailing by 56.Play started at 11.30pm following heavy showers, with Northamptonshire looking to claim a first batting point of the season. Sales, on 5, survived a shoulder-high chance to Bancroft at second slip off Craig Overton and it was Gregory who made the first breakthrough with the score on 164 when Rob Keogh, on 19, fell lbw looking to on-drive a fullish delivery.Somerset’s seamers went past the bat on numerous occasions. But their luck changed when Harry Gouldstone followed a short, leg-side delivery from Peter Siddle and feathered a catch to wicketkeeper James Rew.At 181 for 6, Northants were in danger of missing out on batting points again. But Sales and Tom Taylor added 46 for the seventh wicket, forcing Somerset skipper Tom Abell to turn to the left-arm spin of Leach with the total on 203.Taylor pulled fours off successive deliveries from Overton. But, on 28, he carelessly drove Leach in the air to mid-off where Overton took a throat-high catch without having to move.It was 232 for 6 at lunch, with Sales unbeaten on 44. He reached a valuable 96-ball half-century, but began to run out of partners as Jordan Buckingham advanced down the pitch to Leach and was comfortably stumped by Rew. A Sales single off Siddle took his side to 250 and that elusive batting point, but five runs later Ben Sanderson was bowled by a quicker ball from Leach.Sales had to go on the offensive, but chose the wrong shot and was bowled by Siddle attempting a scoop to end the innings.Following a rain break at 8 for 0 in their reply, the home side’s top-order frailty was evident again as Tom Lammonby was trapped on the crease and fell lbw to White for 5.Sean Dickson’s Somerset struggles continued when, having reached 17, he drove at a wide ball from Sanderson and was caught behind. It left the former Durham opener with an average of 7.85 in seven innings for his new county.Abell walked to the crease with his side 25 for 2. He helped Bancroft take the score to 61, but then drove at Buckingham and edged a sharp catch to Ricardo Vasconcelos at first slip, giving the young Australian seamer his first Northants wicket.Kohler-Cadmore, also short of runs at the start of his Somerset career, nervously flashed at Buckingham’s next delivery, well wide of off stump, and was relieved to see the ball fly over the slips for four. He and Bancroft then set about showing Somerset supporters their true capabilities. Boundaries began to flow, with Bancroft particularly strong off the back foot and Kohler-Cadmore looking to be aggressive from the outset.Bancroft brought the 100 up with a sweet clip off his legs for four off White, while his partner appeared intent on hitting his way into form, taking two fours off an over from Sanderson. At 113 for 3, Northants successfully requested a change of ball. It worked immediately as Bancroft got a thick edge to White and wicketkeeper Gouldstone took a low diving catch.Undeterred, Kohler-Cadmore remained in one-day mode and reached a sparkling fifty off just 37 balls, with 11 fours. The bowlers began to bowl shorter to him and he took up the challenge with some meaty pull shots.A straight six off Buckingham brought up another half-century stand, to which the patient Rew contributed seven runs. Kohler-Cadmore was dropped at mid-off on 86 by a backpedalling White off Buckingham, but by then had announced his Somerset arrival in style.

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Hemant Brar04-Feb-2020