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Pakistan’s tortured top order will have to find new levels of resolve if they want to extend this Test beyond the third day after England built a lead of 179 at Edgbaston despite a late collapse

The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan07-Aug-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSaeed Ajmal bagged the best figures of his short Test career as England collapsed to 251 all out•PA PhotosPakistan’s tortured top order will have to find new levels of resolve if they want to extend this Test beyond the third day after England built a lead of 179 at Edgbaston despite a late collapse. Saeed Ajmal took a career-best 5 for 82 as the hosts’ last five wickets fell for eight runs after Kevin Pietersen made a charmed 80, but James Anderson then struck early as Pakistan edged to 19 for 1.The visiting batsmen found life no easier in their second innings and Salman Butt fell to an almost unplayable delivery which seamed away late and took the outside via his pad to first slip. Azhar Ali extended his run-less streak in this game to 44 deliveries before he finally scampered a desperate single from his 13th ball to escape his pair.England thought they had removed Azhar moments before with an inside edge to the keeper but, after failing to review his caught-behind in the first innings at Trent Bridge, he was saved by the UDRS which clearly showed the ball had flicked the pad. Still, though, Azhar’s mind often looked frazzled, as when he tried to advance at Broad. Such was the stranglehold applied by the attack.Somehow, Imran Farhat survived until bad light hastened the close with five overs remaining after a severe working over from the pacemen. Anderson moved the ball both ways while Broad pitched the ball a touch fuller than usual and regularly beat the edgeEngland’s late collapse and the continued dominance of the ball increased the value of Pietersen’s battling innings and his 133-run stand with Jonathan Trott. It will go down as the ugliest effort of his career, and his 17-month wait for a hundred goes on, but he ensured the chance of a commanding lead wasn’t squandered.Having already been given two clear-cut chances yesterday Pietersen was dropped again without adding to his overnight score and it was the most embarrassing of all Pakistan’s lapses – which says something. He got an inside edge into his pad which ballooned towards gully, but Umar Amin was more interested in joining the appeal for lbw and dropped the easiest of chances.Pietersen’s innings, not for the first time, also included a dose of controversy as he left everyone diving for a copy of the Laws. The incident occurred as Mohammad Asif ran in for the fifth ball of his 12th over and he was well into his delivery stride when Pietersen began walking towards square leg. The batsman is allowed to back away if he is distracted, but Pietersen then continued to play a shot and lobbed a gentle catch to mid-off. The umpire Marais Erasmus called dead ball moments before the ball was struck, but Butt protested that it was too late.Law 23.3.b (v) states: “Either umpire shall call “dead ball” when he is satisfied that for an adequate reason the striker is not ready for the delivery of the ball and, if the ball is delivered, makes no attempt to play it.” It is that final part which raises questions about the decision although Pietersen later suggested he only played the ball because it followed him. Thankfully, though, given the heated history of England-Pakistan contests, the sting was taken out of the moment by a rain break.Pietersen tried to combat the threat of the swing from Asif and Mohammad Amir by using his feet and after lunch began to locate the middle of the bat with more frequency. He went to fifty with a well-timed flick through midwicket off Amir then took the attack to Ajmal.However, Ajmal also caused Pietersen problems and watched as an outside thudded into Zulqarnain Haider’s leg and ran away to the boundary. It was a huge deflection and a wicketkeeper isn’t expected to hold such edges, but it summed up Pietersen’s fortune. He was lucky again a short while later when a beautiful delivery from Ajmal gripped and spun between bat and pad and somehow missed the stumps.Compared to Pietersen’s rather manic display, Trott was a picture of total calmness as he went about his work in typically unfussy manner. With a better throw he could have been run out on 47, but went to a fifty on his home ground off 105 balls. Apart from a few issues picking Ajmal he was untroubled until he cut a short ball from Umar Amin to the substitute Yasir Hameed in the gully who showed how to take a catch.Amin was only in operation because Umar Gul had limped off after pulling up with a hamstring strain at the start of his 10th over which left Butt having to juggle a weakened bowling unit. He was therefore grateful for Ajmal’s spirited showing as his doosra confused the middle order. It began when Pietersen got a leading edge back to the bowler and, while it’s probably come too late to save this match, he has given Pakistan something to cling to for The Oval – which is a venue that can take turn.But despite the renewed vigour of the bowling effort, Pakistan produced further howlers in the field as Graeme Swann was twice dropped during his brief innings – firstly by Hameed at slip then by the captain himself at mid-off. Ajmal, though, didn’t miss the chance of his first five-wicket haul, but wasn’t going to risk leaving the final catch to anyone else as he safely pouched Swann’s top edge.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman has been having quite a week after celebrating his 20th birthday as well as signing a new contract with West Brom on the same day.

The Albion academy graduate secured a four-and-a-half year deal with the club after making a great impression on Valerien Ismael and the West Brom fans.

Speaking after signing his contract, Gardner-Hickman said: “I’m absolutely delighted. This is my boyhood club. I’ve been here since I was seven and to finally achieve a long-term contract is a dream come true.

“I’ve been working really hard and I was hoping that one day my chance would come. Thankfully it came and I’ve been fortunate enough to be around the squad for a while now.”

The youngster has displayed some impressive performances for the Baggies’ first team this season, especially in the game against Reading a few weeks ago, where SofaScore gave him the highest player rating (8.3) of anyone in Ismael’s side.

According to the website, in that match alone, Gardner-Hickman recorded an 89% pass accuracy, with more touches on the ball than any other midfielder, and won 11 out of his 17 duels.

Ismael has been one of the first to sing the youngster’s praises, calling him “fearless” after his outstanding contribution whilst stepping up to the first team as he said: “He represents exactly what we want to see from young players. He’s hungry, he has desire, he’s fearless. He also has a lot of quality.

“After Dara O’Shea, I think he is the second one with the same profile and I’m delighted to be able to work with him in the years to come.”

Albion will take on their first fixture of 2022 tomorrow against Cardiff City at The Hawthorns, and we’re sure the homegrown talent will be eager to come in for his first start since that impressive outing against Reading three weeks ago.

It could be the perfect opportunity for Gardner-Hickman to get stuck into the second half of the season, and if he gets his chance this weekend, he could be a game-changer from full-back with his all-action play. Indeed, Albion have failed to win or even score since his last start for the club.

The club believe he has what it takes to succeed by offering him a new contract in recent days; now it’s over to Ismael to place his trust in the 20-year-old and back up the aforementioned glowing praise.

In other news: Carlton Palmer weighs in on one potential January signing for Albion

The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has dropped his latest update on Newcastle United’s transfer plans for this January window, and it doesn’t make for exciting reading for Magpies fans…

What’s the story?

Writing initially on Twitter, he said: “Newcastle transfer news: Four attacking players under consideration as recruitment plans take shape. EXCL four names, all domestic based, some more obtainable than others. Foreign forwards also been looked at but preference is for those with Premier League experience understandably.”

Then, in a follow-up article for The Telegraph, he added that the likes of Divock Origi, Todd Cantwell and Dominic Solanke are among the names being considered by the Newcastle board as they look to make some new signings this month.

Fans will be fuming

While Edwards’ claim that the Magpies are targeting attacking players, and those with Premier League experience, is at first glance agreeable, the names he has suggested Eddie Howe’s side are looking at is underwhelming to say the least.

Two of the three mentioned by Edwards are not regular starters at their respective clubs, and none of them have they pulled up any trees in the Premier League.

Origi is perhaps the most household name given his previous exploits in the Champions League with Liverpool, but has hardly even featured for Jurgen Klopp’s side this season, managing just ten appearances in all competitions – his goal record for the club? A measly 40 in 167, albeit with a number of those coming off the bench.

Cantwell meanwhile find himself in a similar situation of not being able to find regular game-time with Norwich, but while Origi’s case is understandable given the sheer quality of options in front of him and the fact Liverpool are challenging for titles both domestically and abroad, the same cannot be said of the Canaries ace.

Solanke on the other hand has been in fine form in the Championship with 19 goals in 26 games in all competitions, but his previous stints in the Premier League have been disappointing – just four goals and three assists in a whopping 63 games in the top-flight.

It would be no surprise then if Magpies fans are left fuming by the thought of their club targeting these three players in particular and seeing them as their potential saviours from relegation.

It’s a transfer shortlist that leaves little room for excitement.

Meanwhile, Craig Hope has delivered an update on Callum Wilson…

Kamran Akmal has defended his shoddy performance in the Sydney Test, during Pakistan’s disastrous tour of Australia, following speculation that there may have been more to his misses than just cricketing errors

Cricinfo staff21-May-2010Kamran Akmal, the Pakistan wicketkeeper, has defended his shoddy performance in the Sydney Test during Pakistan’s disastrous tour of Australia, following speculation that there may have been more to his misses than just cricketing errors.”I don’t even think about these things, I just concentrate on my performances,” Akmal said. “For me not being able to win the Twenty20 World Cup despite the team playing well is heartbreaking enough.”I have always played for my country and I have already told the PCB about my performances in Australia. Whoever is now making allegations is free to do so but must also prove them.”Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said there was no evidence of any match-fixing and the issue was closed. “The Australian tour chapter is now closed and we have finished our inquiry. We have found no evidence of any match-fixing during the tour.”Akmal was one of seven players punished by the PCB following the tour of Australia. He dropped three catches and missed a run out as Pakistan lost the Sydney Test despite being in a position of dominance after the first innings. In a recent video leak, Intikhab Alam and Aaqib Javed, coach and assistant coach during the tour, expressed doubt over Akmal’s performance in that match. The ICC’s ACSU is currently investigating the tour to establish whether Pakistan’s performance was the result of what it called a “dysfunctional” team or “something more serious”.

Virgil van Dijk thought he had broken the deadlock for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, only for a hugely controversial VAR call to rule it out.

Article continues below

Article continues below

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Dutch defender powered home headerWild celebrations among Reds at WembleyEffort eventually chalked off after reviewWHAT HAPPENED?

The Netherlands international defender had the ball in the back of the net at Wembley, with wild celebrations sparked among those of a Reds persuasion. Van Dijk outmuscled Chelsea skipper Ben Chilwell before guiding a powerful effort beyond Djordje Petrovic.

AdvertisementGettyTHE EXPLANATION

Van Dijk’s joy was short-lived as it quickly emerged that a VAR review was taking place. Those at Stockley Park noticed that Wataru Endo was stood in an offside position when the free-kick from Andy Robertson was floated in. As he ended up blocking Levi Colwill, the Japanese midfielder was interfering with play.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Chelsea also had an effort chalked off in the first half of a keenly-contested cup final, with Nicolas Jackson straying narrowly offside when racing away from the Liverpool backline and squaring for Raheem Sterling to fire home.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Questions have been asked of whether the right call was made with Van Dijk, as forward players act as blockers at just about every set-piece. Colwill was unlikely to get near the Liverpool centre-half as he nodded in, but there is no doubting that his path was blocked by Endo and that he was prevented from making any kind of play for the ball.

David Houghton believes Zimbabwe should be back on the Test scene by the end of the year after improvements on and off the field in recent times

Cricinfo staff24-Feb-2010David Houghton, the former Zimbabwe captain who is now a consultant with the team, believes the side should be back on the Test scene by the end of the year after improvements on and off the field in recent times.Zimbabwe Cricket has laid out an 18-month plan for a return to the top flight – after Zimbabwe took a self-imposed exile in 2005 when it became clear they couldn’t field a competitive team – but as the squad arrived in Trinidad for their short tour of West Indies, Houghton said the comeback could happen more quickly.”I personally think that we should be playing Test cricket again by the end of the year,” said Houghton. “We have been playing one-day cricket, but you cannot judge a team on one-day cricket.”Since I returned to Zimbabwe four-and-a-half months ago, things have improved with their cricket. They have a very good franchise system going in their domestic tournament, and it is helping the game back home.”Zimbabwe recently appointed Alan Butcher as their new coach but Houghton will oversee the early part of the tour before Butcher joins up with the squad midway through the tour. Houghton isn’t expecting miracles from the team, despite West Indies’ winless tour of Australia, but knows how important it is that they are competitive to show a Test-match return should be considered.”We have a young team that is talented, and we are hoping to win, but more importantly we want to be competitive with West Indies,” he said. “We have some very talented players in the Zimbabwe team and they are ready for a good battle.”West Indies were blasted out by really quick bowling in Australia. We offer them a different attack, so West Indies losing in Australia is not really that important to this series.”Alongside Butcher the new coaching structure will be made up of former players Heath Streak and Grant Flower. “This is an important tour for us and the world is looking at Zimbabwe cricket in terms of our progress,” said Streak. “We have got to start winning matches and our goal is to get back into Test cricket in a year-and-a-half. The guys are working very hard at this, and this tour is very important in this regard.”Zimbabwe open the tour with a 50-over match against a University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s XI on Friday before the Twenty20 international on Sunday. The one-day series then begins in Guyana next Thursday.

Half-centuries from Mohammad Hafeez and Shahzaib Hasan helped Pakistan A beat Pakistan by seven wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium

Cricinfo staff23-Mar-2010A disciplined bowling performance, followed by half-centuries from Mohammad Hafeez and Shahzaib Hasan, helped Pakistan A beat Pakistan by seven wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium to win the Pakistan Day Twenty20 Challenge.Hours after securing victory against the Under-19 side, Pakistan A’s bowlers made inroads into the senior team’s line-up, hampering their momentum after they had chosen to bat. A 65-run association for the second wicket was Pakistan’s best partnership and they slid from 83 for 1 after 11 overs to 151 for 6. Abdur Rehman was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 for 18 in four overs, while Mohammad Sami claimed 1 for 23. Khalid Latif, who was Hafeez’s solitary wicket, was the innings’ top scorer with 41.Pakistan A lost Imran Farat, who had scored a century in the first game, cheaply during the chase but were steadied by a 90-run partnership for the second wicket between Hafeez and Shahzaib Hasan. Hafeez was dismissed for 55 and Hasan Raza fell shortly after, with the score on 118 for 3, but Shahzaib Hasan remained unbeaten on 67 to see his side through to the target.Imran Farhat blitzed his way to a 56-ball 103 that lifted Pakistan A to 194, a score that proved 33 runs too many for Pakistan Under-19s, in the opening game of the Pakistan Day challenge trophy, in Lahore. Pakistan A were unstoppable after winning the toss, with Farhat and his captain Mohammad Hafeez putting the Under-19 attack to the sword. They added a mammoth 159 in 15.5 overs, before Ahmed Shahzad finally managed to dislodge Hafeez for a 45-ball 59. Three late wickets ensured that Pakistan A could not reach 200, but thanks to Farhat they already had a monumental score. He spanked 14 fours and 3 sixes, and Usman Qadir who went for 43 in three overs was the main sufferer.Shehzad ensured that the youngsters gave the A side a fight, with a 51-ball 88 that included half-a-dozen sixes and fours each. But, Mohammad Sami returned commendable figures of 3 for 26 to ensure that Shehzad did not have any support from the other end. The Under-19s eventually finished at 161 for 6.

Northern Districts joined Auckland at the top of the points table after they comprehensively beat Canterbury by eight wickets at in Hamilton

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Dec-2010Northern Districts joined Auckland at the top of the points table after they comprehensively beat Canterbury by eight wickets at Seddon Park in Hamilton.Northern Districts won the toss and chose to field, after rain delayed the start of play and the match was reduced to 18 overs. It looked like James Marshall had made the correct decision when Robi Nicol, coming off a match-winning half-century against Otago, was dismissed by Graeme Aldrige in the second over. Canterbury were 37 for 3 at the end of six overs and looked in danger of collapsing cheaply. However, Ryan ten Doeschate combined with Shannan Stewart and Carl Anderson for handy partnerships of 44 and 38 to steady the innings. But once ten Doeschate was dismissed on 119, the Canterbury innings fell away and they could only reach 138 for 8.Opener Daniel Flynn blasted 45 off 19 balls to get Northern Districts’ chase off to a cracking start. Flynn and David Warner added 54 runs before Flynn was dismissed. South African import Herschelle Gibbs at No. 3, together with Warner, cemented Northern Districts’ win with a 79-run partnership. Warner was unbeaten on 52 as Northern Districts completed an easy victory in just under 14 overs.

Has Bangladesh’s cricket matured to that level? That one is still asking the question means it hasn’t, but they aren’t far away

Sriram Veera in Chittagong19-Jan-2010It’s on days like this that you are unsure about Bangladesh. Was the talking point the brave fightback from 98 for 6 or why they slipped into the hole in the first place? And, again, how did they lose out on a great chance to seize the game at 206 for 6? It’s the area where the new and the old Bangladesh are still co-habiting. While talking about the positives from the day, the congratulatory tone may mask a feeling of condescension. On the other hand, the criticism may well be unfair for a nation which is still in it first decade of Test cricket.To make it more clear, if it were India who batted the way Bangladesh did today, there wouldn’t have been any confusion in slamming them for their batting failures. But has Bangladesh’s cricket matured to that level? That one is still asking the question means it hasn’t, but you hope they aren’t far away.Shakib Al Hasan said something very interesting the other evening. “Losing hurts, but there is no use hanging on to it [emotion]. We want to keep improving and learning from our mistakes. Look, the first generation of cricketers had an average of 15 to 20, the next had 25 to 30, this lot is pushing 35 and the next generation will go over 40.” It wasn’t a wish, nor an ideal vision statement, just a sensible and matured appraisal.If today’s play was viewed in that context, it’s easy to know what to do. You congratulate the partnership between Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, and learn from the mistakes of what happened before and what transpired later.In turn, that could also be seen as the difference between Mahmudullah and Mohammad Ashraful. It’s where the new and old Bangladesh overlap. That Ashraful has played an incredible 51 Tests with an average of just 23 surely tells a story. Some one commented the other day, “Ashraful is like Id, lots of fun twice a year.” The same thing could be said about Bangladesh cricket till recently, but it’s something they want to break away from.Mahmudullah offers a glimpse of the future. Today, like he did in the tri-series, he batted with a sense of responsibility and a willingness to look ugly, something that Ashraful seemingly lacks. It wasn’t an exciting knock, there were no ‘on-the-up’ shots like an Ashraful innings but it was well-composed, sensible and one crafted with great care.It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly, but there is something of Hansie Cronje in the way Mahmudullah bats. It does not mean that he is as good as Cronje, not yet at least, but Cronje’s imprint is there in his style – the forward defense, the off drive and the general movements. The shot of his innings was an inside-out drive against Amit Mishra. It brought to your mind an even better shot that he played against the same bowler in the ODI. He moved down the track, got to the pitch of the ball on the leg and middle line and drove it through covers with the turn.Today, like back then, he didn’t get ahead of himself after such a shot. There was no extravagance and he played according to the situation. “I have discussed with Shakib a lot about my batting; we just want to bat positively and a good frame of mind,” he said. “When I went in to bat, I told Rahim, just bat positively.”It was a very fine innings but something of Bangladesh’s past lurked in the way it ended. It was the penultimate ball of the over and he was batting with a freshly-in No. 9 batsman. He cleared mid-off and should have settled for a single and stayed in the other end, but he came back for the second. The clarity of thought was missing and under pressure to retain the strike, he tried to run down the last ball to third man for a single but got an edge. Mushfiqur Rahim too, fell to a rash shot. It was the beginning of the collapse and Mahmudullah’s exit was the termination.In two brief instances from the past, in two brain explosions, in two moments of madness, Bangladesh lost a great opportunity to swing the pressure back on India. “If we can bowl well and if we can restrict them to 270-280, we can get a positive result,” Mahmudullah said. “I am 100% hopeful.” It’s a brave thought but perhaps the moment has already passed. India, it appears, are out of the jail.

The Pakistan allrounder believes Pakistan have a far better chance of succeeding in the limited-overs matches because their players are better suited to the format

Cricinfo staff16-Jan-2010Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi has said Pakistan have a far better chance of succeeding in the limited-overs matches in Australia because their players are better suited to the shorter format of the game. Pakistan have underperformed in the three-Test series so far, losing the first game, throwing away the second after maintaining a firm grip, and are struggling to snatch a consolation in the ongoing Hobart game, let alone saving it.”The problem is that in this [Test] team, most of them are one-day players,” Afridi told the . “There is no doubt in my mind that we are a very good one-day team.”I’m confident that we will do much better in the ODIs and the Twenty20 game. I won’t say that we are going to win the one-day series but our team definitely has the potential to do that. We will definitely be playing good cricket in the series.”Afridi is currently in Australia as an overseas player for South Australia for the Twenty20 Big Bash tournament. He is not in the frame for the Test side but is an integral part of the limited-overs side. He captains the Twenty20 side and deputises under Mohammad Yousuf for the ODIs.He agreed with Yousuf that senior players will have to be persisted with and not dropped at the expense of younger players. “We are the ones who have to lead by example. It’s always important for the senior players to perform their roles but against top teams like Australia, it’s just vital,” Afridi said. “You can’t beat them without the senior players doing their job.”Afridi will join the team on January 19, ahead of the first ODI at the Gabba three days later. He will take part in South Australia’s preliminary final against New South Wales on Sunday but will miss the tournament final on January 23.