SA’s wicketkeeper has backed her team to bounce back after they folded for 69 against England

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Oct-20252:03

Jafta: ‘We were a bit rushed against England’

South Africa’s wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta has welcomed the change in venue – they have moved to Indore – after being skittled for 69 against England in Guwahati on Saturday. South Africa will meet New Zealand in Indore on Monday, nearly a year after the teams had faced each other in the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Dubai. New Zealand have already played a game in Indore in this World Cup.”We always knew coming into a tournament like this, games like this happen,” Jafta said. “Because it’s such a long tournament, we just have to accept what has happened. Laura [Wolvaardt] capped it off nicely and said, we don’t become a bad batting unit overnight. Obviously, homework was done, and now we’re just looking forward to the next one.”We had to leave the town [Guwahati] behind us. When you look and you’re coming into Indore, the people have been fantastic. For us, it’s like a fresh perspective. We saw the first game they had – it was a high-scoring day. For us as a batting unit, it’s just to knuckle down and bat. Don’t think too much about the outcome. Just take it one ball at a time.”Related

Wolvaardt: 'We are much, much better than 69 all out'

New Zealand and South Africa meet after a year with both teams needing a pick-me-up

While Jafta admitted that South Africa had erred with their approach against England, she said her team “won’t dwell’ on the batting collapse.”We were a bit rushed,” Jafta said. “We weren’t really present in that moment. When I went back, I realised I wasn’t really present in the delivery I went out. It wasn’t a good day, but we won’t dwell on it. We’ve got another opportunity.”That opportunity comes against a New Zealand side, which is also coming off a defeat, against Australia. Jafta said that South Africa will not underestimate New Zealand whom they have not faced in an ODI since October 2023.”You have the likes of Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine – players who’ve been playing for a really long time,” she said. “But also, you’re not underestimating your Georgia Plimmer, your [Maddy] Greens, your Izzy Gaze – she came off. For us as a bowling unit, it’s about being very disciplined in how we go about our things.”Laura Wolvaardt tunes up for the match against New Zealand in Indore•ICC via Getty Images

Execution, Jafta said, will be crucial, something the team has focused on during their recent tours of the subcontinent. South Africa won a T20I series 2-1 in Pakistan before the World Cup and took part in a tri-series involving India and Sri Lanka in Colombo, where they lost three out of four matches, in May.”We’ve been playing in these conditions – it’s nothing new,” she said. “I always make a joke, we’ve probably faced all of these deliveries in net sessions. Why can’t we just go into a game and execute? We had a blowout, but we’ve got New Zealand ahead of us.”We know that when it comes to being tactical, they [New Zealand] are probably high up there, so we have to bring in full intensity. Coach has said, ‘Leave everything behind. Tomorrow is another opportunity.’ A lot of different individuals will put up their hands in tomorrow’s game.”

Are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli still part of India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup? The ODI captaincy has passed from Rohit to Shubman Gill, and both Rohit and Kohli are now in their mid-30s and retired from Tests and T20Is. What does their selection for the ODI series in Australia later this month say about their future?India head coach Gautam Gambhir isn’t looking that far ahead.”Look, 50-over World Cup is still two-and-a-half years away, and I think it is very important to stay in the present,” he said in a press conference after India beat West Indies 2-0 in their Test series. “That is very important. Obviously, they are quality players, they are coming back, their experience is going to be a handful in Australia as well. Hopefully, those two guys will have a successful tour, and more importantly, as a team, we will have a successful series.”Related

• The wait for 'Ro-Ko' is over and it's okay to be a bit emotional about it

• Kohli finds rhythm, Rohit shakes off the rust in India's first training session

• Tough but fair: Selectors have prioritised future over sentiment

• Gill inherits the wealth of India's Rohit-Kohli era

As Test and ODI captain and T20I vice-captain, Gill can expect a packed schedule with little scope for taking breaks between series. Gambhir felt he was in a good space to do this.”First and foremost, I need one,” Gambhir joked when asked if Gill could benefit from having a mental-conditioning coach. “I think he is scoring runs, so he does not need any bit of it. So probably I think he is in a good space. I think all of us are in a good space.”I think when you get the results, you are always in a good space. But if you don’t get the results, I think it is my responsibility to keep him and the entire group in a good space. That is my job. Sometimes it is not only about skills, but it is also about the mental aspect of the game as well. Especially guys who are playing all the three formats. It is not only about Shubman, it is about everyone in that dressing room. I have equal responsibility towards everyone.”Kris Srikkanth had alleged that Harshit Rana is in the national team because he is close to Gautam Gambhir•AFP/Getty Images

Gambhir calls Harshit Rana criticism’ shameful’

One of the selections for the Australia tour that has attracted comment from ex-players in the media is that of Harshit Rana, with the fast bowler part of both the ODI and T20I squads. Among those who have commented on the selection is former India captain and chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth, who alleged in his YouTube channel that Rana was only part of the squad because he was Gambhir’s yes-man.”Look, it’s a bit shameful. And I will be very honest with you. If you do not spare even a 23-year-old boy to run your YouTube channel, it’s unfair,” Gambhir said. “Because ultimately [Rana’s] father is not an ex-chairman [of selectors] or an ex-cricketer or an NRI. He plays cricket on his own merit. And he will continue to play on his own merit.”Targeting someone individually is not fair. You can target people’s performance. And there are coaches and selectors who target people’s performance. But if you say such things to a 23-year-old kid, then social media amplifies it more, and in social media, you are told things in such a way, imagine [what it does to] the mindset [of the player]. In the future, your child can also play cricket, anyone’s child can play cricket.”At least you can realise that he is a 23-year-old kid. He is not 33. Criticise me, I can still handle it. But a 23-year-old boy is a 23-year-old boy. I think that is why we need to be careful. What you say is only to run your YouTube channel. Every one of us has moral responsibility towards Indian cricket. Indian cricket doesn’t belong to me, it doesn’t belong to people sitting in the dressing room, it belongs to all of you as well. It belongs to every Indian who genuinely wants Indian cricket to do well. Criticise, but do it on performance. Don’t do it because you want to target an individual.”

Stats highlights from a historic day in Ahmedabad for Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Sampath Bandarupalli03-Jun-20251:27

Moody: Krunal Pandya screams character to me

6255 – Days since Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) played their first IPL match – on April 18, 2008 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Tuesday marks the end of their wait for a trophy, after playing 286 games across the IPL and the CLT20.RCB had played four T20 finals before this season – three in the IPL and one in the CLT20, losing all of them while chasing a target. Delhi Capitals (DC) now hold the record for playing the most men’s T20 matches (274) without winning a title.8 – Teams to win the IPL trophy, including RCB. They leave Punjab Kings (PBKS) and DC as the only IPL franchises from 2008 not to have won the trophy. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are the only other active franchise not to have won the title.1 – Krunal Pandya became the first player to win the Player-of-the-Match award twice in IPL finals. He had won the award in the 2017 final against Rising Pune Supergiant/s.Related

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Kohli and RCB are finally IPL champions

Virat Kohli: I've given this team my youth, my prime, my experience

4 – Players who have won the IPL title in their maiden season as captain, including Rajat Patidar. Shane Warne won the inaugural edition in 2008 for Rajasthan Royals (RR), Rohit Sharma won with Mumbai Indians (MI) after taking over captaincy mid-season in 2013, and Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans (GT) to the title in their debut season in 2022.Patidar had played only four international matches before his IPL captaincy debut, the second-fewest for any captain in the IPL behind Nitish Rana (three).4-0 – Krunal’s win-loss record as a player in IPL finals. Krunal won all three IPL finals he played for MI – in 2017, 2019 and 2020. Only Rohit has a better record than Krunal in finals, having won each of the six he has played. Overall, Krunal is one of eight players to be part of four or more IPL final wins.10 – Different players to either score 20-plus runs or take a wicket for RCB on Tuesday. The only exceptions were Phil Salt, who scored 16 runs and took a catch, while Suyash Sharma, who came in as the Impact Player, bowled two wicketless overs.Only one team before RCB had ten players with 20-plus runs or a wicket in a men’s T20 final – Delhi against Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2017-18.771 – Fours hit by Virat Kohli in the IPL, the most by any batter, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan’s tally of 768.

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness is convinced Jurgen Klopp will not remain in Red Bull’s boardrooms for long, arguing the former Liverpool manager is “made for the touchline” and destined to return to coaching. Klopp, now Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull, continues to dismiss immediate rumours of a comeback, but speculation grows as pressure mounts on top jobs in Europe.

• Hoeness believes Klopp will make a return to management

  Klopp has been Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer for nearly a year, a role that takes him far from the touchline and closer to strategic executive duties. Yet Hoeness believes the fit is temporary. “I could never imagine him as an official travelling around the country, to New York, looking after the various teams,” he said on the OMR podcast. “And I don’t think that will be a good model in the long run. I also don’t think he’ll do that forever, I can’t imagine it.”

  For Hoeness, Klopp’s identity is tied to coaching. He recalled how Bayern themselves considered appointing Klopp in 2008 after his departure from Mainz. Instead, they opted for Jurgen Klinsmann. It is a memory that still shapes Hoeness’s admiration for the coach he never signed.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Klopp’s role as Red Bull's Global Soccer Head

  If Hoeness sees Klopp as a coach above all else, Klopp’s current role represents a marked departure. When he stepped down from Liverpool after nearly 25 years on the touchline, his decision surprised many. Instead of seeking another dugout, he started with Red Bull in January.

  The job removes him from matchdays, tactics boards and training pitches. Instead, Klopp oversees the long-term direction of a multi-club network including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls and clubs across Brazil and the United States. His responsibilities include supporting sporting directors, shaping Red Bull’s philosophy, strengthening worldwide scouting systems and mentoring coaches.

  Klopp himself has been vocal about embracing the change. “After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” he said when the role was confirmed. “The role may have changed but my passion for soccer and the people who make the game what it is has not.”

  He said his mission is to “develop football” across the entire Red Bull ecosystem. “Somebody has to take care of that. Helping football and being successful with Red Bull in the long term is super appealing to me,”  Klopp added.

• Klopp responds to managerial return rumours

  Klopp’s name never disappears from managerial shortlists and the speculation accelerated through 2025. The loudest whispers link him back to Liverpool, where his successor Arne Slot is under increasing pressure amid poor results. Some bookmakers have already made Klopp the favourite to replace him should the club make a change.

  Beyond Liverpool, Klopp has been repeatedly mentioned in connection with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Roma, Al-Ittihad and even a future return to the Bundesliga. The biggest rumour surrounds the German national team, where he reportedly has an exit clause allowing him to leave Red Bull should the DFB make an offer.

  Klopp has addressed these rumours directly and with typical clarity. “I love what I do right now,” he said. “I don’t miss coaching; I don’t miss standing in the rain for three hours; I don’t miss doing 10–12 interviews a week.”

  On coaching in England again, he was even more direct: “I said I will never coach another team in England. So that means if then it's Liverpool, yeah – theoretically it’s possible.”

  He has repeatedly urged people to ignore claims about an imminent return. “If you come across any rumours suggesting that I will take a coaching job in the next few years, it’s bull.”

  But despite his words, much of the football world remains unconvinced that Klopp’s coaching chapter is over.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Will Klopp return to the touchline?

  Hoeness’ argument is simple as he claims Klopp’s energy, presence and charisma belong in the dugout. “I have always admired Jurgen Klopp as a coach who is on the pitch, who develops a team, who moves a team forward with his personality. I see Jürgen Klopp on the pitch and nowhere else,” he said.

  To him, Klopp’s current role is a pause, not a destination. And in truth, even Klopp himself has not closed the door. “I could make the decision in a few years, I don’t know… I can just see what the future brings.”

  Hoeness may not speak for Klopp. Yet his prediction resonates because it is rooted in an undeniable truth, football feels different when Klopp is on the touchline. And whether it happens in one year or five, few believe his final game as a manager has already been played.

Gloucestershire seamer Josh Shaw joins exodus after agreeing Somerset switch

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2025Northamptonshire have re-signed Indian legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal and Australian seamer Harry Conway as overseas players for next season.Conway, who took 20 wickets in four Championship appearances earlier this year, will return for the start of the 2026 campaign. The 33-year-old is expected to be available for the first block of seven games in April and May.Chahal, meanwhile, has agreed to return for a third consecutive summer at Northants, joining for the second half of the season to play in the County Championship and Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Overall, he has taken 44 first-class wickets and seven in List A for the club.”Yuzi is a magnificent asset to this squad,” Northamptonshire’s head coach, Darren Lehmann, said. “His record across his career speaks for itself and he brings so much class and experience to the group. I loved working with him this year and am excited to go again in 2026.””For young spinners in the group like Nirvan Ramesh and Stuart van der Merwe, having Yuzi around to guide them will be a huge plus for their game.”On Conway, Lehmann added: “Harry is an excellent addition for 2026. His form last year was fantastic, and I am excited to work with him for a longer period. His ability to take wickets on all surfaces and presence around the team makes him an invaluable player.”Northants have also signed batter Louis Kimber on a two-year deal from Leicestershire. Largely known as a white-ball hitter and occasional offspinner, Kimber made headlines in 2023 after scoring 243 off 127 balls in the County Championship at Hove.”Louis brings with him a huge amount of knowledge and experience around county cricket as well as boosting our batting firepower,” Lehmann said. “He will no doubt attract people to Wantage Road with his explosive batting and I can’t wait to start working with him.”Josh Shaw joins SomersetJosh Shaw spent six years at Gloucestershire•Dan Istitene/Getty ImagesGloucestershire have seen another member of their seam-bowling group depart, after Josh Shaw signed for Somerset earlier this week.Shaw, 29, had been under contract at Bristol since 2019, having previously played on loan from Yorkshire. He follows Ajeet Singh Dale (Lancashire), Zaman Akhter (Essex), Archie Bailey (Durham), Tom Price and Dom Goodman (both Sussex) in leaving over the close season.”We have seen first-hand how impactful Josh can be,” Somerset’s director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said. “He has the ability to swing and seam the ball, and he is an excellent addition to our bowling unit.”We are fully aware of Josh’s strong character traits and his willingness to be the best version of himself, which will add real value to the dressing room as well as on the pitch. These attributes will be vital for us as we continue to compete across all competitions.”

One of the biggest concerns about the Dodgers heading into the 2025 MLB postseason was the inconsistency and general lack of strength of their bullpen. So far in the NLCS against the Brewers, they've made any worries about their bullpen a moot point almost entirely.

Los Angeles jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the series, thanks to back-to-back superb performances from star pitchers Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The pair combined to pitch 17 innings over the last two games and surrendered just one run between the two.

GO DEEPER: How Yoshinobu Yamamoto Delivered the Best Pitched Playoff Game in Years

Snell pitched 8.0 innings on Monday night, and Yamamoto followed that up by going for a complete game in a 5–1 win on Tuesday.

The Dodgers' duo of starters joined some elite company in MLB history as a result of their stellar outings. Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Snell and Yamamoto are the first teammates to pitch back-to-back starts of eight-plus innings in the same postseason series since Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner did it for the Giants in 2010. Lincecum and Bumgarner achieved the feat in Games 4 and 5 of the '10 World Series against the Rangers.

With two wins already under their belt, the Dodgers will turn the ball to Tyler Glasnow on Thursday for Game 3, and they'll have plenty of fresh arms available behind him, as the bullpen has pitched just one inning so far in the series. Shohei Ohtani is expected to be on the mound for Game 4.

تحدث مروان حمدي مهاجم منتخب مصر الثاني، على تعادل المنتخب أمام الإمارات، في إطار منافسات بطولة كأس العرب. 

وتعادل منتخب مصر مع الإمارات بهدف لكل فريق في الجولة الثانية من دور مجموعات بطولة كأس العرب. 

طالع.. فيديو | منتخب مصر يخطف تعادلًا مثيرًا من الإمارات في كأس العرب

وقال مروان حمدي في تصريحات لقناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “مباراة صعبة والبطولة أيضًا صعبة والمنتخبات كلها قريبة من بعض، بطولة مهمة وفيها تنافسية شديدة جدًا”.

وأضاف: “المباراة المقبلة أمام الأردن صعبة، ولكن قادرين على الفوز والتأهل للدور المقبل من بطولة كأس العرب”.

وتابع: “معظم اللاعبين حضرت معهم معسكرات من قبل، وجزئية الانسجام متواجدة لدي مع اللاعبين”. 

وواصل: “كنت نستحق أن نتعادل ولا نخرج من البطولة، ويوجد أمل أن نفوز ونتأهل، وهناك اتفاق أن أي 11 لاعبًا سيكونون متواجدين في الملعب ستكون لهم كل المساندة والدعم”.

واختتم: “الأمر كان صعبًا لحلمي طولان، لم يكن هناك وقت كافي، ولكن نحاول في التدريبات والمباريات أن يكون هناك انسجام وننفذ تعليمات المدير الفني”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians chegou contestado para a semifinal da Copa do Brasil, carregando quatro jogos sem vitória e após terminar o Brasileirão na 13ª colocação. Mesmo pressionado, o time surpreendeu: venceu o Cruzeiro por 1 a 0, nesta quarta-feira (10), no Mineirão, e abriu vantagem na briga por uma vaga na decisão. Para Dorival Júnior, o resultado representa a confirmação de um trabalho em construção.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCruzeiroLeonardo Jardim analisa falhas do Cruzeiro, mas vê superioridade no segundo tempo contra o CorinthiansCruzeiro11/12/2025CorinthiansGustavo Henrique valoriza feito defensivo do Corinthians na Copa do BrasilCorinthians11/12/2025CruzeiroLucas Silva vê momento de desatenção do Cruzeiro em ‘jogo equilibrado’ contra o CorinthiansCruzeiro11/12/2025

O treinador subiu o tom ao comparar a oscilação no Brasileirão e a campanha sólida na Copa do Brasil. Dorival Júnior contestou as críticas ao time, apontou que o Corinthians vive um período de reconstrução, e que isso é muitas vezes menosprezado nas análises.

– Não tem diferença. Nós tivemos um campeonato de longevidade, perdendo muitos elementos durante a competição. As pessoas não se dão conta: nós não tínhamos um elenco montado, a nossa equipe foi montada há um ano, ela está em um processo de aprendizagem, em desenvolvimento, e ninguém entende isso. Nós que estamos no futebol vivemos isso em todos os clubes quando iniciamos um trabalho. Eu estou pegando um trabalho na sequência de outro profissional que aqui estava, tentando dar o melhor. Tivemos muitas dificuldades, tentei explicar, muitos fingem entender, outros menosprezam. Então, para mim, tanto faz. O que me preocupo é em gerar resultados para o Corinthians – disse o treinador em entrevista coletiva no Mineirão.

continua após a publicidade

Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

Trabalho no Corinthians

Dorival Júnior assumiu o Corinthians em abril, após a saída de Ramón Díaz. Desde então, comandou a equipe em 39 partidas, somando 17 vitórias, 11 empates e 12 derrotas. O treinador acumula aproveitamento de 52% no comando do Timão.

– É um trabalho sendo construído com dedicação, carinho e entrega. Resultados você não controla, nós controlamos o desenvolvimento de uma equipe. Você pega um time que terminou o Brasileiro na 13ª colocação, sendo a segunda equipe com mais posse de bola, é porque tem muita coisa boa. Não é qualquer equipe que consegue um percentual desse tipo, e olha que competimos com equipes que estão muito bem reforçadas, muito bem estruturadas, e mesmo assim a nossa equipe deu uma resposta positiva. Eu fico satisfeito com o que está acontecendo no Corinthians. Infelizmente, não aparece porque não condiz com os resultados, mas, de forma geral, tenho certeza que a equipe pode evoluir, crescer – falou o treinador.

continua após a publicidadePróximo jogo

Corinthians e Cruzeiro voltam a se enfrentar no domingo (14), às 18h (de Brasília), na Neo Química Arena. Com a vitória no Mineirão, o Timão joga pelo empate para chegar à final da Copa do Brasil. O rival da decisão será definido entre Fluminense e Vasco.

Tudo sobre

Copa do BrasilCorinthiansDorivalDorival JúniorFutebol Nacional

“We are doing all the practical prep stuff, guys bowling with wet balls,” the India assistant coach said on measures being taken to tackle dew

Alagappan Muthu05-Dec-20253:38

ten Doeschate: A different start time could bring down dew effect

India have been fighting the elements all the way through this three-match ODI series against South Africa, which sits at 1-1 ahead of the final game in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. Their bad luck with tosses has left them batting when conditions are better for bowling and bowling when conditions are better for batting.”The dew factor is, we’re actually trying to put a number on it and it varies between 10 and 20% [in terms of] what a big difference it makes [to the result],” India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said. “I think we’re one in a million statistically at the moment [the probability of losing 20 straight tosses], so if we can go two million tomorrow, that’ll be pretty impressive.”But again, it’s a bit of a joke, but the responsibility or the preparation is to beat whatever is put in front of us and eventually we’re going to win a toss anyway.”Related

Rahul: Toss plays a 'huge part' and 'making a huge difference' with dew

When South Africa and India went off the scale

Toss, dew in focus as South Africa eye rare double

Ten Doeschate highlighted all that the team is doing behind the scenes to cope with the dew. “We are doing all the practical prep stuff, guys bowling with wet balls. Again, you know, like setting up our store to get a premium score, figuring out how to defend, what is best to bowl with the wet ball when there is dew on the grass.”An unexpected complication is the way ODIs function now. Previously, there was a new ball at each end. But it seemed like that had skewed the balance of the game in favour of the batters, with the ball staying harder for longer and being easier to hit even late in the innings. The ICC took note of this and from this July, bowling teams have been choosing one out of those two balls to carry on for the last 16 overs.”The two balls,” ten Doeschate said, “if I just think about it logically, the whole point of going to one ball after 34 overs is that the ball does get a chance to wear and to get a bit softer. But the flip side is that [when there is dew] you have got one ball that is getting more wet essentially. I think the umpires have been very good in allowing ball changes, but then of course you end up getting a slightly harder ball which negates the whole point of going down to the one ball.”But like I said, the thing that has impressed me about this group this week is that we know the challenges, I haven’t heard anyone complain and the main thing is all about, you know, it is our responsibility to find ways around these challenges and that is just another one we have got to find a solution for.”Harshit Rana and KL Rahul enjoy a small chat•BCCI

India’s batters are also trying to do their bit by reassessing the totals they’re aiming for.”At the start of the first game, we thought 320 sort of par, and then we put a premium at 350 and we thought that the game in Raipur was the same. We thought 360, even given the dew coming, it was a good effort to get that score,” ten Doeschate said. “You always want more runs and again the conversations have been around how can we maximise. What we said about guys starting in slightly later on, what are the better options, we just had a good chat around that.”Ten Doeschate was asked if an earlier start time might help even things out. “I think it is, you know, the fact that the dew kind of falls as the second inning starts, it means the dew is there for the whole time.”So a different start time could bring that effect down a little bit if you started two hours early. That is a solution but obviously there are so many moving parts at play in terms of broadcasting etc. So I guess it is a futile conversation.”Over the course of this tour by South Africa, India have gone to their allrounders when they play Test matches and specialists when they’ve been playing the ODIs.”I guess that is a bit of an anomaly,” ten Doeschate said. “You know, you would think Test Cricket, you would have more specialists but it is just where we are at the moment in the cycle and the guys we think at the moment are the best guys to represent the team. Ideally, in Test cricket, you have a more solid base of batters and bowlers but we feel at the moment the guys who are doing the job for us just happen to be allrounders. I just think it is picking your best XI and that is just the way it is all in the world.”The ODIs being 1-1 right after India lost the Tests 2-0 has left the dressing room a bit wired.”It is a very different personnel of players, but the guys are very aware of the responsibility of what they are representing,” ten Doeschate said. “We always want to win, but certainly when a few losses do start stacking up and performances are below what we expect from ourselves. I think there is a slight aspiration to win the series tomorrow.”

Michael Neser and Xavier Bartlett bowled with trademark accuracy on a day where Australia’s fringe quicks were in the spotlight. But wickets were hard to produce on a relatively sedate WACA surface as Cameron Green batted fluently to keep Western Australia afloat against Queensland.On a dramatic day in Australian cricket, Sean Abbott was withdrawn from the Ashes squad after scans on his left hamstring confirmed a moderate grade strain. If a replacement for Abbott is needed for the first Test squad, Neser would likely head the queue while Bartlett might also come under consideration.Neser probed away outside the off stump and was finally rewarded when he had Hilton Cartwright plumb lbw for 37. He finished with 1 for 37 from 15 overs. Even though he was wicketless, Bartlett similarly nagged away in his Shield season debut having played in the white-ball series against India.”You can’t look at those things too much,” Bartlett said about a potential Ashes squad call-up. “Hopefully perform for Queensland over the next couple of days and that’s all you can really do.”Related

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WA were held together by opener Cameron Bancroft’s 76 and then Green, who finished 49 not out, until losing three late wickets.Josh Inglis, the reserve wicketkeeper in the Ashes squad, fell for 4 just before stumps after edging quick Gurinder Sandhu to second slip in a reckless dismissal having slashed hard at a delivery well outside off stump. It was a disappointment for Inglis in his first red-ball match since the West Indies Test series.Queensland’s late rally has them slightly in the ascendancy in a match that has see-sawed over two days.After a hard-fought opening day, Queensland resumed on 323 for 6 and faced a WA attack without the services of Green, who bowled two four-over spells on day one in his return to bowling following a side injury that ruled him out of the India ODI series.With a target of bowling 15-20 overs across the match, Green kept the powder dry until Queensland’s second innings but he was in the action after holding on to a stinging blow from Bartlett at midwicket.It was a relief for Green, who had uncharacteristically dropped a relatively straightforward chance in the gully late on day one. It was a desperately needed wicket for WA after Bartlett and Lachlan Hearne counterattacked to great effect to lift Queensland to a solid first-innings total.A cavalier Hearne appeared to be powering to a second century in as many Shield matches until being the last batter to fall for 87 off 134 balls.Michael Neser trapped Hilton Cartwright lbw for 37•Getty Images

Bancroft and skipper Sam Whiteman had to survive a testing period before lunch as Neser and Bartlett bowled an unnerving length outside the off stump. A confidence-boosting century against South Australia in the last match has rejuvenated Bancroft, who was again proactive and cleverly rotated the strike with quick singles.The openers were again under pressure after lunch, but Neser and Bartlett were left frustrated and could not create any clear cut opportunities as Whiteman and Bancroft notched a half-century stand.Skipper Marnus Labuschagne needed a spark and he turned to emerging quick Tom Whitney, playing in his fourth first-class match, who responded by trapping Whiteman for 26.Whitney on the next delivery had a big lbw shout against Cartwright turned down, but Bancroft steadied WA with calm batting punctuated by the occasional sweet drive through the off side.Bancroft had started the season slowly with just 21 runs from his first four innings, falling out of the Ashes selection race. But he has turned back the clock since and soon lifted his bat after notching a classy half-century.Neser’s luck changed after tea when he dismissed Cartwright before Bancroft uncharacteristically threw his wicket away after smashing a full toss from legspinner Mitchell Swepson straight to a jubilant Labuschagne at midwicket.But Green rattled along at swift pace. He was ruthless against Swepson, smashing a rank long hop that landed on the vacant grassbanks.Disaster struck for WA late in the day when Cooper Connolly was run-out at the bowler’s end after a mix-up with Green. Connolly had turned for the second run only to be sent back as a hustling Labuschagne fired a quick throw to Sandhu who effected the run-out.