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Pakistan made short work of Bangladesh on the fourth day in Mirpur, taking eight wickets inside two sessions for 148 runs, to seal a 328-run victory and win the Test series 1-0

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando09-May-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:10

Isam: A different Pakistan turned up for the Test

Bangladesh plummeted to a 328-run defeat in Mirpur, after several top-order batsmen showed little will to survive against a Pakistan attack making merry on a wearing track. Having arrived with effectively eight wickets in hand on day four – Shahadat Hossain unable to bat – Bangladesh were all out before tea, having lost six wickets for 57 either side of the lunch interval. A heavy defeat was always likely, after the hosts had given up a 354-run first-innings lead, but they will be disappointed at the limp finish to what has otherwise been a heartening tour.Yasir Shah was the primary threat in Pakistan’s attack, as he found bounce and turn from the footmarks to supplement his fine rhythm and variation. He took 4 for 73 and induced plenty more edges and mis-hits that fell into space. Imran Khan claimed two scalps, and Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Hafeez and Junaid Khan took one apiece. Misbah-ul-Haq sought to keep Yasir in action at one end, while he rotated bowlers at the other. The 1-0 Test series victory follows a whitewash defeat in the four limited-overs matches, for Pakistan.The fourth day’s slide began with Tamim Iqbal, who exercised more caution than he had done on the previous evening, yet was drawn into a loose shot in Imran’s first over of the morning. Tamim threw his bat at a wide full-length delivery and edged the ball behind, not having accounted for Imran’s extra bounce. He was out for 42.Mahmudullah’s tetchy 12-ball innings was defined by dangerous flirtations with Wahab’s bouncers, but it would be Imran who found his edge as well. Poking at a back-of-a-length delivery in the channel, Mahmudullah sent the ball to Younis Khan at second slip, who held the catch on second grasp.Shakib Al Hasan edged his second ball through the gully, but continued to play his strokes, slog-sweeping Yasir for four as Mominul Haque progressed briskly alongside him. Ambition was Shakib’s downfall too. He ran at Mohammad Hafeez’s third delivery of the day and attempted to put the ball into the sight screen, but mis-hit it and was caught at mid-off. Mushfiqur Rahim was more careful, playing out eight scoreless deliveries, before he misjudged a Yasir legbreak and played it onto his stumps 15 minutes out from the lunch break.Hopes of a Bangladesh resistance centred around Mominul as wickets tumbled at the other end. While other batsmen had been rushed by the bounce in the track, Mominul pulled and hooked Wahab with control, leaving alone the balls too high to drag down. He was quick-footed and decisive against the spinners as well, finding regular runs into the outfield off Yasir, who tested him with googlies in the morning. Mominul prospered behind the wicket in particular, all but one of his nine boundaries coming in that region. His fifty, which came off 83 balls, made him the fifth player after Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Viv Richards and AB de Villiers to hit half-centuries in 11 consecutive Tests.Soumya Sarkar was caught down the legside off Wahab soon after lunch, and Mominul got out next over. He dabbed a wider Yasir ball behind point for four, then expecting the bowler to pitch fuller, ran down the pitch and aimed a lofted inside-out drive. His mis-hit went only as far as Asad Shafiq at cover, who held a sharp, low chance to his right.That dismissal put Bangladesh at 143 for 7, and it was only a matter of time until two more batsmen faltered. Taijul Islam sent a top-edged sweep to short fine leg, before Shuvagata Hom threw his bat around for a 55-ball 39 with Mohammad Shahid for company. He eventually had a yorker sneak through his defences, to give Junaid his only scalp of the innings.

Tamim Iqbal has rated Bangladesh’s historic series win against Pakistan as “equally” big as any of their past ODI victories

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur19-Apr-2015If the 132 in the first ODI was his answer to the doubters, Tamim Iqbal simply lapped up the three hours he took to score an unbeaten 116 in the second. In the process, he helped Bangladesh to their first-ever ODI series win over Pakistan. He called it “equally” as good as any Bangladesh win from the past, but said it was more important having come just after a World Cup where they reached the quarter-finals.”As a team this was a very important series because we didn’t beat them after 1999,” Tamim said. “We were close in the last few matches as a team. This is an important series for us after the World Cup performance. I will rate it equally (with other defeats) because if you see their bowling attack, they can match the best in the world.”They may be a little inexperienced with regards to the batting, but the best thing is that we managed to win. Somehow in the past we often found a way to lose but to win against them is a different feeling. So I will equally rate them all. We just played a good World Cup and if we weren’t able to play well here, then there would have been doubts with regards to our performance.”This was as important because had we not played well here, people would have talked again. But this proves that we are improving and we are ready to take another step. So I am really happy from the aspect of a team.”Tamim felt he was due such a performance, as he managed for only the third time in his ODI career to score more than 200 runs in a series. The last such instance was when he made 253 runs in the 2012 Asia Cup. In the World Cup, he averaged 25.66 with a top-score of 95 against Scotland.Tamim said that the criticism aimed at him following a run of low scores just after the Scotland innings was acceptable, until the jibes were directed towards his family. He said that it had affected his mental state on the field.”Personally this was a very important series. I was due. Thanks to God that all came well. There will always be criticism. This is not in my hands. I can’t stop people but yesterday I said in an interview that I am ready for criticism. I am a professional cricketer but it should not be personal. For me my family suffered a lot. I played badly. I am at fault. But because of me if my family suffers this is not fair.”I won’t get that mental strength to come and play well. It was difficult for me and more so for my family in the last two months. I know that I may play badly again, This won’t be in my hands. Cricket career is like a circle where you will play good and bad and bad and good. So I would request you to keep it to me and not to my family.”Tamim became the third Bangladeshi batsman after Shahriar Nafees (in 2006) and Mahmudullah (in 2015) to score back-to-back ODI hundreds, though he had already done this twice in Test cricket, in 2010 and 2014.He said approaching 80 during Sunday’s innings was when he first felt like reaching a second successive hundred. Before that, it was all about enjoying the innings. It was also only the second time in his career that Tamim remained not out at the end of an ODI innings, something he said was :a lot more important”.”When I went to bat first, only one thing was in my head. I want to enjoy as much as I can. I couldn’t score as much runs before the last century. I was telling myself that I want to enjoy as much as I can. I will play my shots.”When I reached 80 maybe at that point of time I thought of a century. Mushfiqur reminded me about my century earlier but it was only after I reached 80 did I want a century. A lot more important is the fact that I was not out after scoring a century.”

Ahmed Shehzad and Shan Masood have been included in Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the Test series in Sri Lanka in June while offspinner Saeed Ajmal has been left out

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jun-2015Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood and Ehsan Adil have been included in Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the Test series in Sri Lanka in June.Offspinner Saeed Ajmal, who was part of the squad in the two-Test series against Bangladesh, was left out because of his lack of impact with the remodelled bowling action. Ajmal picked up a solitary wicket in the tour game before the start of Bangladesh Tests, but couldn’t make it to the Test XI with Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah pipping him for spinners’ spots. He played two ODIs and one T20 on the tour, but managed just one more wicket.Babar Azam, Bilawal Bhatti, Sami Aslam were also excluded, while Rahat Ali, Sohaib Maqsood and Sohail Khan continued to be unavailable due to their respective injuries.Shehzad was dropped from both Test and ODI squads after the 2015 World Cup on disciplinary grounds. He was recalled for the Zimbabwe ODIs but remained on the bench throughout the three-match series. Shehzad is one of three openers – Mohammad Hafeez and Masood, being the other two – in the squad.Interestingly, the selectors said they had considered the performance of Pakistan A players on their tour to Sri Lanka recently but both Umar Amin, the top-scorer in longer format, and Fawad Alam, leading run-getter in the limited-over games, were ignored. For Aslam, his 47 runs from three innings in Bangladesh, went against him.”While selecting the squad, the selection committee considered the following key areas: suitability to play in varied playing conditions, potential to perform at international level, current form and fitness, performance in the previous tours of Bangladesh and recently concluded Pakistan A team’s tour of Sri Lanka, and feedback from the team management on the performance of players on Bangladesh tour,” PCB chief selector Haroon Rashid said.”Fawad Alam, Sami Aslam and some other players were also under consideration but could not be included but they remain on the selectors radar. Rahat Ali (hamstring), Sohail Khan (back) and Sohaib Maqsood (wrist) are still on rehab after sustaining injuries and it is hoped that they would be available for selection in the near future. Selection committee has also kept its options open in case of need for the 16th member keeping in mind the extreme weather conditions in Sri Lanka.”Pakistan squad: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (vc), Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil.

Gareth Berg put up spirited resistance but it should not deflect from the relegation worries surrounding Hampshire after Craig Overton spearheaded a convincing Somerset victory

Freddie Wilde at the Ageas Bowl23-Jun-2015
ScorecardCraig Overton returned from England squad duty to take 8 wickets in the match•Getty ImagesIt was strange really; the longer Hampshire’s lower-order fought and the more runs they eked out; the more time there was for the realisation to grow that their top-order had failed yet again and that they are likely to be facing a tough struggle for their Division One survival this season.It was a paradox of cricketing time in which their late resistance accentuated their earlier submission. The scorecard shows that Hampshire scored 262 in their second innings, but it also shows that their original top five batsmen scored just 93 of those runs, having managed just 44 in the first innings.For Somerset this win, their second win in as many matches, will alleviate their immediate fears that they, too, might be dragged into a relegation scrap. Hampshire will no doubt look on enviously as they pull further away into the middle of the table.Adam Wheater and Gareth Berg both played sprightly and defiantly in the second innings to delay what Hampshire’s collapse to 69 for 5 in the first 75 minutes of play made an inevitable Somerset victory, but their resistance should not mask a match of dismal failure for the top-order and prevent analysis as to quite why Hampshire are stuck near the foot of the table.If anything the innings played by Wheater and Berg should emphasise what could have been for Hampshire. This was a pitch difficult to bat on but not impossible, and those with patience and the ability to seize upon loose balls could score runs. That none of Hampshire’s top-order displayed either of those qualities should be of great concern.Having frustrated Somerset for 45 minutes, nightwatchman James Tomlinson was the first man to fall, caught behind off the bowling of Craig Overton for 5. As was so often the case in this match one wicket brought two, which in turn brought a third.The next man to go was Michael Carberry. Having fought hard for an hour against some testing Somerset bowling, Carberry gave it all away in a moment of carelessness in which he slashed hard, but perhaps not quite hard enough, at a wide ball from Peter Trego and was caught well by Lewis Gregory at gully for 28. It was a loose shot, the kind of shot unbefitting of the circumstances that Hampshire and Carberry will look back upon with disgust.Liam Dawson will look back on his dismissal with disgust too, but for very different reasons. With the county on a suspended points penalty for disciplinary breaches Dawson was visibly furious as he was adjudged lbw to a ball that he appeared certain that he hit and lingered for a long few seconds before he dragged himself off the pitch. It will be a while until we know whether Hampshire will be punished for Dawson’s behaviour but it would add the final ignominy to a disastrous few days if they are.Dawson’s demise brought Will Smith and Wheater together and Wheater fed off the desperation of the situation, counter-attacking with remarkable bravado and, it must be said, remarkable luck, to go into lunch with 48 to his name at more than a run a ball, but with Hampshire still trailing by 57.Wheater’s luck ran out immediately after lunch when he dragged on a ball that he perhaps thought was shorter than it was. If Wheater’s innings was breathless, then Berg’s was, for the most part nigh-on faultless. Although he was eventually dropped on 75, Berg’s innings was arguably the most fluent of the match and completed an excellent few days for the all-rounder in which he top-scored in the first innings and took 4-64 with the ball. He was the lone bright light in a miserable three days for Hampshire.It was indicative of Hampshire’s desperation that Sean Ervine, advised not to bat having received a fractured finger in the first innings, strode out to bat at No 11 with Hampshire only leading by 45. Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams confirmed that he expects Ervine to be out for several weeks.Berg was the last man to fall, caught behind off the bowling of Overton to give him his fourth wicket of the innings, his eighth of the match and give Michael Bates his fourth catch of the innings on a triumphant return to Southampton for the Somerset keeper.Somerset completed their deeply impressive nine wicket victory when Marcus Trescothick and Tom Abell knocked off the 64 runs with consummate ease.

The BCCI’s state units are expected to give their views on the Lodha panel’s report at the board’s special general meeting in Mumbai on Friday

Arun Venugopal18-Feb-2016The BCCI’s special general meeting in Mumbai on Friday will discuss the views of its member associations on the Lodha committee’s recommendations, after the Supreme Court gave the board a deadline of March 3 to inform if the recommendations will be implemented. According to a source, the BCCI might consider forming a panel to study the inputs provided by the member units and firm up a response to the Supreme Court.While the Delhi & District Cricket Association [DDCA] has rejected a number of recommendations, other state associations have expressed reservations about some aspects of the report. ESPNcricinfo understands that many state associations are either opposed to or seek modifications to the following recommendations:One state, one vote
The panel’s recommendation that only one association from a state should be given a vote has, predictably, drawn strong opposition from the western units, which comprise three associations each from Gujarat and Maharashtra. If the recommendation comes into effect, four of the six associations would be stripped of voting rights and reduced to the status of an associate member. All the associations, however, will be allowed to field teams and will remain eligible for grants.ICC Board meetings also likely on the agenda

The BCCI will also hold an emergent meeting of its working committee before the SGM. The Lodha Committee’s recommendations are expected to be the key theme in this meeting as well. A discussion on the recent ICC Board and committee meetings, which reviewed the world body’s constitution and governance structures, is also expected to take place in the SGM, although the primary focus is expected to be on the Lodha report.

“State boundaries shouldn’t be confused with cricketing boundaries,” a president of one of the associations said. “How can you take away the legacy and contributions of many of these associations which have been in existence from even before independence?” The western associations are understood to have already conveyed their objections to this recommendation to the BCCI.Bringing BCCI under the RTI ambit
The proposal to bring the board under the purview of the Right to Information Act has been met with near-unanimous opposition from the BCCI’s units. The implementation of this recommendation would require the BCCI to make public details of its activities.While a board official pointed out that the issue of the BCCI being amenable to the RTI is sub judice, another said it was a blow to its autonomy. “The BCCI generates its own funds and so it can’t be compared to other sports bodies,” the official said. “When you bring the BCCI under the ambit of the RTI some of the questions that we would eventually end up getting are about why ‘A’ wasn’t selected and why ‘B’ was. How can we disclose aspects of selection in public?”Age limit and cooling-off period
The Lodha report disqualifies a person over the age of 70 from holding office or contesting elections in the BCCI. The panel also recommended that an office-bearer should not serve two consecutive terms – each must be broken by a “cooling-off” period. The first recommendation would make it untenable for the likes of Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan and Niranjan Shah to continue as heads of their respective state bodies. “When the Indian political system doesn’t prescribe any age-limit for those who can contest elections why target the BCCI alone?” a board official asked. Another official said that a cooling-off period would hamper continuity in administration.No ministers or bureaucrats as office bearers
This recommendation, according to a few officials, would add to the difficulties of administering state associations. “It is not right to paint all politicians with the same brush,” the president of a state association said. He said that the presence of a minister or a bureaucrat helped overcome administrative roadblocks. “When you try to organise a match, there are many issues to handle that involve the police, corporation, commercial taxes and other aspects of state machinery,” he said. “You need somebody to shield you, and also a politician or a bureacrat’s administrative abilities cannot be discounted.”No ad breaks between overs
Although this recommendation isn’t a direct challenge to any of the state associations many officials have raised concerns over the consequent shrinking of revenue to the board. An official said that if the revenue earned from the sale of broadcast rights falls it would have a direct impact on the state associations. “The BCCI has managed to create state-of-the-art facilities in many places with the revenue earned from TV rights,” the official said. “This would slow down all work related to infrastructure development.”

Stuart Meaker, the Surrey fast bowler, has suffered a freak groin injury that looks likely to keep him out of action for the first few weeks of the season.

George Dobell29-Mar-2016Stuart Meaker, the Surrey fast bowler, has suffered a freak groin injury that looks likely to keep him out of action for the first few weeks of the season.Meaker was hurt while batting in the nets on Easter Monday when he inside edged a delivery on to his groin. He subsequently underwent a minor operation.While it is too early to predict how long Meaker will be absent, it seems highly unlikely that he will be fit for selection before May and it is possible he will not play before until June.The news is another setback to a Surrey side preparing for their first season back in Division One. While Meaker hardly featured last year, he has been bowling with impressive pace at Loughborough – well into the 90s, according to coaches – and looked likely to feature in a team already hit by injuries.The club are also without Jade Dernbach, who has a back injury and Freddie van Den Bergh and Zafar Ansari, who both have thumb injuries. Dernbach may have chance of being fit for the start of the T20 season – Surrey’s first game is on May 26 – while Ansari has a chance of being ready for Surrey’s second Championship match, which starts on April 24.Surrey have also announced that Vikram Solanki, who retired as a player at the end of the last season, will return to the club as a part-time 2nd XI captain. He will not be registered as a professional player, but will provide some on-field experience and leadership to a young second XI side in the Championship in particular and support Ali Brown, the second XI coach, off the pitch.In the 2nd XI Championship, players are allowed to name 12-man teams with 11 batting and fielding. It is, therefore, entirely possible that Solanki will not bat in many games.The Surrey management may well feel vindicated by news of Meaker’s injury. The club has been criticised in recent weeks after signing Ravi Rampaul and South African born seamers Conor McKerr and Mathew Pillans. But, as injury to Meaker shows, teams probably require depth in their seam-bowling resources if they are to sustain a challenge throughout a season. The club were also looking to ease the burden on young seamers such as the Curran brothers.

Having threatened to pull off a win over a big team in their first three matches of the Super 10 stage, Afghanistan finally went ahead and did it against the group-topping West Indies in Nagpur

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Nagpur27-Mar-2016Having threatened to pull off a win over a big team in their first three matches of the Super 10 stage, Afghanistan finally went ahead and did it against the group-topping West Indies in Nagpur. Inzamam-ul-Haq, Afghanistan’s batting coach, praised his team’s self-belief, and reiterated the call for more opportunities to play against the Full Members.”All our previous matches have been close,” Inzamam said. “There haven’t been one-sided matches, it’s not like a team makes 200 against us and we are all out for 100 or 150. The team has been fighting, and the belief was always there.”But Afghanistan haven’t had that exposure of winning against big teams. The finishing point has not been seen yet. But now that we have won this, it will definitely help. And we had a strong belief that if we can come so close, we can win too. Today it has happened. We could have won against England, there was a close game against Sri Lanka too. So we knew we had the potential to win, but you still need that win. The more we play against big teams, the more we’ll learn, and can perform even better.”One of the players who displayed strong self-belief was the left-arm spinner Amir Hamza. Having been hit for 25 runs in one over in his last match, against England, he took the new ball, bowled three of his four overs in the Powerplay, and finished with figures of 4-0-9-1.”He’s one of our main bowlers,” Inzamam said. “Sometimes we need to make changes in the XI as per the conditions, and as per the player’s form. But he is a seasoned player and a terrific bowler. In the last match, he conceded 25 runs in one over, but he didn’t let it affect his confidence. Today, at a crucial point, he bowled well.”Sent in to bat, Afghanistan posted 123 for 7. Inzamam felt the total was perhaps 15 or 20 runs below par given the conditions, but said the team made it up with their bowling and fielding.”If you see, chases have been difficult on this ground,” he said. “Even in the last game, West Indies could chase 123 against South Africa only in the last over. India also played earlier and were all out for 79 [against New Zealand]. So it’s not easy to get runs in the second innings on this ground.”And we knew that, so it’s not like we had started out thinking we should get 160-170. Our target was 140 to 150, we thought we could put pressure [on West Indies] if we had that total. So we thought we fell maybe 15-20 runs short, but I think the boys fielded excellently. They caught well and saved 10-15 runs on the field. That covered the runs we couldn’t make while batting.”West Indies were playing their second match of the tournament in Nagpur, while Afghanistan – who had won three out of three first-round matches at the venue – were playing their fourth. Inzamam said Afghanistan’s knowledge of the conditions gave them an edge on the day.”We thought we knew this ground better than West Indies, we had already played three matches here, practised a lot here. We had an idea about the pitch and the ground, and that helped us mentally as well as on the ground. The bowlers knew how to bowl on the pitch, the batsmen had an idea, and we spoke about this in our team meeting yesterday also – that we definitely know these conditions better than West Indies.”Inzamam has been part of the Afghanistan backroom since October 2015. Asked how long he intended to stay on in the role, he said he would sit with the Afghanistan Cricket Board at the end of his current term and take a mutual decision.”I am with them for a year now, so I’m looking at [finishing] that first. After a year is up, we have to decide whether they want to keep me or not too. It has to be both ways. I have five-six months left and, inshallah, they will go well.”

Just like previous seasons, Royal Challengers Bangalore look to have a very balanced squad, even though they have failed to win a single edition

Shashank Kishore07-Apr-20165:07

Agarkar: RCB still trying to address their bowling

2015 formRoyal Challengers Bangalore were ousted in the second Qualifier by Chennai Super Kings in a last-over finish in Ranchi.Big PictureHow a team with all the T20 riches in the world doesn’t have a single IPL trophy after eight seasons can perhaps make for a good case study. While it underlines the unpredictability of the shortest format, Royal Challengers haven’t helped their cause by being over-reliant on Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to cover for the vacuum in the middle.RCB squad

Virat Kohli (capt), AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, David Wiese, Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, S Aravind, Varun Aaron, Shane Watson, Adam Milne, Stuart Binny, Travis Head, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sachin Baby, Iqbal Abdulla, Praveen Dubey, Akshay Karnewar, Kane Richardson, Abu Nechim, Harshal Patel, Kedar Jadhav, Samuel Badree, Vikramjeet Malik, Vikas Tokas, KL Rahul, Parvez Rasool

If there is a lesson in how to not run a marathon, Royal Challengers offer the best example. They’ve often begun like it is a 100 meter dash, only to lose momentum before making a desperate bid for the qualifiers. The end result: runners-up in 2009 and 2011, and vast stretches of inconsistency in between.They head into the new season, like they do most times, with a well-balanced team. They will welcome into their ranks the recently-retired Shane Watson and Stuart Binny, who offer the all-round depth they have often missed in the middle, although the bowling unit isn’t entirely settled. They will miss Mitchell Starc, the team’s second-highest wicket-taker last season, because of a foot injury, while there is an injury cloud over Samuel Badree, who hurt his shoulder in the World T20 final.That means the bowling will largely depend on their local talent – the pace duo of Varun Aaron, S Aravind and legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Starc’s absence could give the injury-prone Adam Milne an opportunity to build on his gains from the World T20 – where he picked up three wickets in four matches at an economy rate of 7.43. Should the surfaces aid slow bowlers, they could consider including David Wiese, the South Africa allrounder who offers batting muscle lower down along with his handy medium-pace and offcutters.There has been some turmoil off the field, with Vijay Mallya – chairman of the franchise until recently – no longer part of the management. But it is unlikely those matters would affect on-field performances. Now to prove the team is not just about their ‘Big Three.’Burning questionsWhile batting is their stronger suit, an abundance of riches has left them with more questions. With Dinesh Karthik released before the auction, the team needs to decide if they go back to de Villiers. If he is freed of the responsibility, do they turn to KL Rahul, Travis Head or Kedar Jadhav?Rahul’s IPL numbers aren’t impressive. While he is best suited in the top three, would the team risk having him open with Gayle or prefer the lower-order hitting ability of Jadhav?Where does that leave Shane Watson? Do they slot him in the middle to shore up the batting or have him as a floater? And how will they manage Mandeep Singh and Sarfaraz Khan, who delivered last year at crunch moments, in a robust batting line-up?The go-to menKohli’s appetite for runs continues to get bigger. He scored 273 in five matches at the World T20, and was adjudged Player of the Tournament. He single-handedly carried India’s batting hopes, and would be expected to do more of the same, even though Gayle, de Villiers and Watson offer him some support in what is largely a blink-and-miss format. Kohli contributes more than just as a batsman. His fitness and freshness will go a long way in dictating Royal Challengers’ campaign.Bargain buyTravis Head, who set himself a base price of INR 30 lakhs, was bought for INR 50 lakhs. The Adelaide Strikers batsman, who was released by Delhi Daredevils, has since made his Australia debut in the home series against India. His form in the BBL, where he finished as the fifth-highest run-scorer with 299 runs at a strike rate of 155, makes him a like-for-like replacement for Gayle, who has been plagued with a number of injuries in the recent past.AvailabilityThe team is yet to announce a replacement for Starc, while they are waiting for a medical update from Badree, who has flown back to Trinidad to see a shoulder specialist.CoachesHead coach – Daniel Vettori, assistant coach – B Arun, batting coach – Trent Woodhill, bowling coach – Allan Donald, physiotherapist – Evan Speechley, strength and conditioning coach – Shankar BasuQuotes”We will miss Starc. It’s difficult bowling at the Chinnaswamy and so whenever we had him in the team we knew we had those four overs up our sleeve. That’s a loss but it’s an opportunity for the likes of Adam Milne and Kane Richardson to step up and fill in that slot. We are also hoping Badree recovers from his shoulder injury and gets back to the team as soon as possible.”

Michael Hogan claimed four wickets to give Glamorgan a victory opportunity on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship match with Gloucestershire in Bristol

ECB Reporters Network17-May-2016
ScorecardMichael Hogan spearheaded Glamorgan’s challenge•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesMichael Hogan claimed four wickets to give Glamorgan a victory opportunity on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship match with Gloucestershire at the Brightside Ground, Bristol.The 34-year-old seamer dismissed Cameron Bancroft (70) and Hamish Marshall (58) before striking two more blows with the second new ball, sending back Gareth Roderick (67) and Kieran Noema-Barnett for figures of 4 for 68.Having begun the day on 60 for 1 in their second innings, eight runs behind, the hosts were reduced to 271 for eight, a lead of 203, before some tail-end resistance from Craig Miles and David Payne guided them to 302 for 8. That meant a lead of 234 and all results are possible tomorrow, although the weather forecast is not good.Timm van der Gugten struck the first blow of the day for Glamorgan early on, pinning Graeme van Buuren lbw for 22 with a ball that nipped back.Bancroft was unbeaten on 35 at the start of play and the Australian opener moved to his first half-century for Gloucestershire on the day Michael Klinger, the player he has stood in for as overseas signing, returned to the club.Roderick had helped take the score to 109 for 2 when rain forced an early lunch. Soon after the interval it became 117 for three as Hogan speared a ball into Bancroft’s pads and had him caught at short mid-wicket, having faced 158 balls and hit 10 fours.Hamish Marshall continued his fine early season form, going past 50 for the fifth time in as many games, with 7 fours and a six. But on 58 he misjudged a drive off Hogan and was caught in the gully.It was 232 for 4 at tea, Roderick having reached a painstaking half-century off 144 balls. The new ball was taken immediately after the break and Glamorgan used it well.George Hankins was deceived by a quick ball from van der Gugten in the second over and bowled for 18, while Hogan quickly followed up with a leg-before verdict against Roderick as he looked to work a straight ball through the leg-side.Roderick had battled away for nearly four and a half hours and was clearly frustrated with himself for not going on to a really significant score.Gloucestershire then lost two more quick wickets. Noema-Barnett played a poor shot to Hogan and was caught by substitute fielder Nick Selman above his head at extra cover, while Jack Taylor was guilty of an equally rash stroke as he was caught at mid-on off Harry Podmore for 17.The hosts looked in a hole at 271 for 8 on a still true pitch. But Miles and Payne stopped the rot and by the time bad light ended play for the day their stand was worth a precious 31 runs.

The Frenchman is under pressure following his side's recent poor form and here is a look at some of the men who could succeed him in the summer

Getty ImagesJoachim Low

Real Madrid have long admired the Germany boss and he has been considered on a number of occasions in the past few seasons to coach Los Blancos.

His commitment to the national team has dashed those hopes up until now and his current contract runs until 2020, but he could consider a move to Real if the position becomes available this summer, after he has led Germany in the defence of the World Cup crown they won in 2014.

AdvertisementAntonio Conte

The Chelsea manager is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2019, but admitted just this week that "anything is possible" and it looks increasingly likely the former Italy and Juventus boss could be moving on in the summer.

Having led the Blues to the Premier League title in his first season in charge and won Serie A three times as Juve coach, his stock is high in Spain and he will certainly be one of the names on Madrid's shortlist if Zidane ends up leaving at the end of this season.

Getty ImagesMauricio Pochettino

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has been a fan of the current Tottenham manager since his spell in charge at Espanyol and the Argentine's impressive work at Spurs has not gone unnoticed by the 10-time European champions.

Pochettino will be among Madrid's top targets when Zidane leaves the club, be it this summer or further down the line, although the one concern at Real is the fact that the 45-year-old is yet to win a trophy in his coaching career.

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GettyimagesUnai Emery

The last-16 Champions League tie between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain could have a big bearing on the futures of both Zidane and PSG boss Unai Emery.

Failure to make his mark in Europe this season is likely to see Emery replaced at the Parc des Princes in the summer and Madrid could make a move for the Basque, who was considered before Zidane took over in 2016 and is well regarded at the Santiago Bernabeu after winning the Europa League three times in a row with Sevilla.