Category Uncategorized

Wyatt-Hodge will get the same fee – INR 30 lakh – that she had been bought for by UPW at the last auction

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Oct-2024

Danni Wyatt-Hodge has been traded from UP Warriorz (UPW) to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the defending champions, ahead of the third season of the WPL, expected to be played in early 2025. A statement from WPL confirmed that Wyatt-Hodge will get the same fee – INR 30 lakh – that she had been bought by UPW for at the last auction, in December 2023.Wyatt-Hodge, 33, is the third-most capped player in T20Is around the world, with 164 appearances for England, behind only Harmanpreet Kaur (177) and Suzie Bates (171), and has 2979 runs at an average of 22.91 and strike rate of 127.85 with two centuries and 16 half-centuries. She was also in good form at the recent T20 World Cup, top-scoring for England with 151 runs at an average of 50.33 and strike rate of 124.79.She was not picked in the first WPL auction, when she had a base price of INR 50 lakh, and though she was acquired by UPW ahead of the second season, she didn’t get to play a game as UPW finished fourth on the table and failed to make the playoffs. She is currently playing for Hobart Hurricanes at the WBBL in Australia.”Danielle is a game-changer and a phenomenal athlete,” RCB captain Smriti Mandhana said. “Her skills and competitive spirit align perfectly with our team’s vision. We are excited to welcome her to the RCB and look forward to the energy she will bring to the squad.”Prior to WPL 2025, an auction is expected to take place, possibly in December, before which, sometime in early November, they are supposed to submit their list of retained players. Each team can have a maximum of 18 players, of which six can be overseas players. Last season, RCB had in their ranks Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Nadine de Klerk, Kate Cross, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham as the overseas contingent.

The BCB president says Salahuddin is the “ideal candidate” for the role

Mohammad Isam05-Nov-2024

The BCB has appointed Mohammad Salahuddin as the senior assistant coach of the Bangladesh men’s team. His contract will run until March 15 next year much like head coach Phil Simmons’. Salahuddin’s first assignment will likely be Bangladesh’s tour of the West Indies, which begins with a four-day warm-up match in Antigua.Salahuddin has previously served as Bangladesh’s assistant and fielding coach under Dav Whatmore and Jamie Siddons. He also worked as a specialist coach in the BCB’s national cricket academy from 2010 to 2011 before becoming Singapore’s head coach in 2014. He holds an ACC-Cricket Australia Level 3 accreditation.Regarded as one of the foremost cricketing voices in Bangladesh, Salahuddin has had a contentious relationship with the BCB in recent years. He was appointed as a batting consultant in 2017 only for them to change their decision at the last minute. He has often been critical of the board’s position with respect to pitches and selection.Salahuddin is also regarded highly by most players in Bangladesh, having started his coaching by developing the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal when they were young. He is also influential in the growth of the current crop of cricketers like Jaker Ali and Mahidul Islam Ankon.BCB president Faruque Ahmed said Salahuddin ticked a number of boxes for the role. In his first press conference as the board chief, Faruque had said that he was in favour of promoting Bangladeshi coaches.”When I took over as BCB president, I made a commitment to provide opportunities for deserving candidates to contribute to the national team set-up,” he said. “Salahuddin brings with him a wealth of experience, pedigree, and knowledge, making him the ideal candidate for this role. I firmly believe it is time to integrate more capable Bangladeshi coaches into the system.”

Alastair Cook hailed Joe Root as “a genius” after losing his record for the most England Test centuries to his former team-mate. Root made 103 in the second innings against Sri Lanka at Lord’s on Saturday, his second hundred of the match and his 34th overall in Test cricket, taking him clear of Cook’s former benchmark of 33.”He is quite simply England’s greatest, and it’s absolutely right that he should have this record, on his own,” Cook, who was England’s captain in each of Root’s first 53 Tests, said on commentary for the BBC’s “Take it in, Joe. We are watching a genius.”I don’t think there’s a batsman that I can remember watching play [who shares] the sense of inevitability about scoring runs that Joe Root gives off. I called it when he was on about 6 today, that he was going to get 100. I know he’s in great form, but it’s just a pleasure to watch a master, a craftsman at work.”Twin hundreds at Lord’s took Root’s career aggregate to 12,377 runs, and he needs 96 more runs at The Oval next week to overtake both Kumar Sangakkara and Cook. That would make him the fifth-highest run-scorer in Test history, and England’s highest. “He’s just got the final one to tick off next week,” Cook said. “In this kind of form, there’s no reason why he can’t.”Root milked Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya during his second hundred of the match, scoring 60 runs off the 59 balls he faced from him. “The spinner was bowling today, and quite honestly, he could have hit him wherever he wanted with absolutely no risk,” Cook said. “That is the art of batting: low-risk shots which score you runs.”Cook was in the opposition when a teenaged Root made his List A debut as an 18-year-old in 2009, making 63 off 95 balls for Yorkshire against Essex. “He couldn’t get the ball off the square,” Cook recalled. “Everyone said, ‘he’s a good player’, but I didn’t see that.”Related

• Joe Root ticks the boxes to make the unremarkable unmissable again

• Root 143 repels Sri Lanka before Atkinson 74* turns screw

• Clenched fist in a velvet glove as Joe Root comes good when it matters again

• Joe Root notches record 34th Test hundred as England close in

• Root breaks records with twin tons at Lord's

But three years later, Cook was England’s Test captain when Root made his international debut in the final match of their 2-1 series win in India. “I saw someone mentally ready to play Test cricket,” Cook said. “The only check was when he walked out to bat for the first time, how he would handle it.”The game was in the balance and he walked out to bat with his England cap on, looking 13, massive smile on his face. I watched his first few balls, and I was like, ‘This bloke is here to stay.’ I honestly said, ‘He’s scoring 10,000 runs.’ I don’t know who I said it to, but I know that I said it.”

Rashid reiterated they’re happy to play the team, but have no direct control of things that happen beyond cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-20242:53

Rashid Khan: ‘Cricket is the only source of happiness back home’

Rashid Khan wishes “we could do something and wish there was a solution for it” but can’t do much about “some things which is not under the control of anyone in cricket.” The Afghanistan T20I captain was responding to whether beating Australia at the T20 World Cup on Saturday night in St Vincent gave them extra satisfaction.The backdrop to the question was in relation to Cricket Australia’s decision to not play Afghanistan bilaterally due to “a marked deterioration in human rights for women and girls” in the country. Earlier this year, Cricket Australia postponed a scheduled three-match T20I series with Afghanistan. CA have also postponed the hosting of a one-off Test for the same reason.”Well, we are sportsmen, and we love sports,” Rashid said at the post-match press conference. “People back home love sports. And I mentioned earlier, cricket is the only source of happiness back home. That’s the only source left in Afghanistan where people could celebrate. And if we keep that source away from us, I don’t know where Afghanistan will remain.Related

No bilateral cricket with Afghanistan till there's 'a level of progress', says CA chief

Afghanistan women request ICC to help set up a refugee team in Australia

Khawaja: Australia 'should be playing Afghanistan'

'Basic human rights is not politics' – CA responds to criticism from Afghanistan

Rashid after Afghanistan's win: One of our greatest T20 performances

“We sportsmen only think about the cricket. Everyone is saying sports bring the nation together and bring everyone together. So, for me, we’re always happy to play against any side, and that’s the only way where our cricket can improve day by day. Some things which are not under the control of anyone in cricket, and that’s something we can’t do anything about it. Wish we could do something, and wish that was a kind of solution for it, we would have been happy, but I don’t know what’s the solution for that.”Rashid had threatened to withdraw from the Big Bash League in 2023 after CA decided to postpone their ODI series. Rashid’s public stance joined a chorus of protests from Afghanistan’s male cricketers soon after ACB had termed CA’s statement over refusing to play Afghanistan due to the human rights crisis as “pathetic”.Rashid Khan reiterated Afghanistan are happy to play Australia•ICC/Getty ImagesRashid eventually softened his stance and put his name up in the drafts but was forced to miss the tournament through injury. On Sunday, Rashid reiterated they’re happy to play the team, but have no direct control of things that happen beyond cricket.”We’re happy to play any side, but as I mentioned earlier, some things, government, and political things, I don’t know much about these things, and I don’t like it as well. So, I have no answer for this, but my only thing always in mind is I love to play against the big teams. I love to travel all around the world to play and I have received so much so much love from everyone.”Whenever I go to Australia for Big Bash, I think I have got so much love and support from the fans there. They have given me so much love. In 2022 T20 World Cup, when we were playing in Adelaide against Australia, I got more support than them. And that was so satisfying.”Rashid reminisced the love and support he received in the aftermath of his father’s passing during the BBL in 2019, and termed fans in Adelaide [he plays for Adelaide Strikers] as “family”, while maintaining “cricket isn’t the solution for politics.””Playing in Australia, I’ve got massive support in every city. The hospitality I got in Australia, especially during the tough days in 2019 when my dad passed away, that was the hardest time for me when I was in Australia. And the amount of love and support I got from everyone in the team, and also the fans [was immense], I think I call them a family.”But as I said, I love to play all around the world. And those things which are not under the control, and cricket is not the solution, I don’t think we can bring sports into that. If there is another solution, you can take that. But don’t think cricket is the solution of politics and things like that.”So, yeah, if we play in the World Cup, why don’t we play in bilateral series? I think we’re happy to play against the best side. We learn from them. We get better day by day. But that’s the only thing I can say.”

Chelsea chiefs are now internally debating a potential deal for another rising star, according to a report out of Stamford Bridge this week.

Chelsea continue transfer policy of signing high-potential starlets

Since the start of 2025, despite Enzo Maresca strongly suggesting that Chelsea need to bring in more experienced players, BlueCo have shown no sign of slowing down when it comes to their transfer policy of signing world football’s brightest up-and-coming talents.

£172k-per-week striker is waiting for Chelsea to contact him about joining

Chelsea are set for a big summer after qualifying for the Champions League.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

May 26, 2025

Earlier this year, the west Londoners agreed a double-deal with Sporting CP to sign their rising star duo, Geovany Quenda (18) and Dario Essugo (20), for a total fee of around £62.5 million, with the former set to fully join them in 2026 and the latter this summer.

It is now also being reported by reliable media sources that Chelsea are planning a pre-2026 deal for 22-year-old Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.

Since Romano’s initial report, French media sources have claimed that Chelsea have moved in with a six-year contract offer to Emegha, and an agreement for the Ligue 1 sensation is merely a “matter of time”.

“Chelsea have offered Emanuel Emegha a six-year contract valid until June 2031,” wrote Foot Mercato reporter Santi Aouna on X.

“The intention is for him to stay in Strasbourg for another year and then go to Chelsea. A full agreement is just a matter of time.”

As Maresca’s side carry on planning for the long-term, Brighton starlet Valentin Barco, who spent the 2024/2025 on loan at Strasbourg, has now entered their radar.

Chelsea hold internal talks over signing Valentin Barco from Brighton

The Argentine midfielder can play in a variety of roles on the left, and he was the “most signed wonderkid” on popular PC game Football Manager last year.

According to CaughtOffside, while no formal approach has been made yet, Chelsea are holding internal talks over a potential move for Barco, and Maresca is believed to be a personal admirer of the 20-year-old.

“(He’s a) left back but he’s not going to be playing there, I don’t think,” said South American football expert Tim Vickery.

“He’s a left-sided attacking midfielder. Very good running with the ball. Amazing power that he generates from his left foot. Good from set-pieces.

“He can combine well. He had a sweet little thing going with Edison Cavani at Boca Juniors.”

Barco is fresh off a productive campaign at Strasbourg, finishing 24/25 as one of their best-performing players in Ligue 1 by average match rating per 90 – starting 14 Ligue 1 matches and bagging two assists (WhoScored).

It is little surprise Chelsea have taken note of his displays, possibly while keeping tabs on Andrey Santos’ progress in France and scouting Emanuel Emegha. In any case, the Blues’ relationship with their sister club may end up paying dividends again.

Man City were once linked with a move for Barco in 2023 as well, indicating he’s a player of real promise.

Manchester United have contacted the representatives of an “elite” player ahead of a potential move to Old Trafford this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Man Utd must replace under-fire players

Ruben Amorim will be targeting lots of new signings in various areas of the pitch ahead of next season, bringing in players who can perfectly suit his style of play. There are individuals who simply need to be improved upon if United are to make a big jump up the Premier League table, with an upgrade on Andre Onana required in goal. The Cameroonian has enjoyed good moments in a Red Devils shirt, but he makes too many mistakes to be the long-term option between the sticks.

Similarly, changes are needed down the middle of United’s attack, with neither Rasmus Hojlund nor Joshua Zirkzee looking like they will lead the line competently enough for years to come. Both remain relatively young, in fairness, but a world-class striker would make a huge difference.

Napoli ace Victor Osimhen has been mentioned as an option for Amorim, with the Nigerian expected to leave permanently having spent this season on loan at Galatasaray, while Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui has been backed to come in as an alternative choice.

Man Utd make contact with agents of Joan Garcia

According to Cope [via Sport Witness], Manchester United have made contact with Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia’s entourage over a summer move to the club, as they look to nail an upgrade on Onana.

The 23-year-old is described as a standout player for his side this season, and there is hope that the Red Devils could sign him for as little as £21m, triggering his release clause in the process. That figure will rise to £25.5m in the final 15 days of the summer transfer window, though.

Meanwhile, Espanyol sporting director Fran Garagarza has admitted that a move away isn’t out of the question, saying: “There’s a lot of noise, but nothing is happening. There’s no firm movement like there was in the previous [summer] window. There may be movements because he’s a top-level goalkeeper, but we’re calm, and most importantly, the kid is very calm.”

Garcia could be just what United are looking for this summer, with the Spaniard an impressive young ‘keeper already proving himself is one of Europe’s top leagues. He has started 32 games in La Liga for Espanyol this season, winning five Man of the Match awards from WhoScored in the process, and analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as “elite”.

Their new McTominay: Man Utd plot surprise move for "special" PL talent

Manchester United appear to be preparing a shock move for a star who could replicate one player’s success at Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 25, 2025

His coach, Manolo Gonzalez, has even compared him to Lionel Messi: “Joan Garcia is going to be a global reference, no doubt about it. I really hope so, because he deserves it, both for his ability and for who he is. It’s like when Barcelona had Messi. There were tough matches, and Messi would resolve them. Well, we have that in goal with Joan Garcia.”

All this points towards Garcia being a fantastic addition for United ahead of the 2025/26 season, and given his age, he could be a regular for the next decade if the move is a successful one.

Manchester United are still yet to determine their fate ahead of next season, but may now have a surprise proposal to consider at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim, per reports.

Man Utd's transfer business hinges on Europa League outcome

Nerves are slowly starting to kick in as the Red Devils prepare for their two-legged Europa League semi-final against Athletic Club, a competition that remains their only viable route to Champions League qualification.

Ruben Amorim wasn’t dealt the best hand at Old Trafford after replacing Erik ten Hag and will be given an extended grace period to piece together a squad of his own making. Still, Manchester United have hardly been convincing on Premier League duty.

Ultimately, the importance of the Portuguese boss bringing Europa League silverware back to English shores cannot be understated, especially considering the finances involved.

As a reward for such an achievement, Manchester United could launch a significant bid to sign Southampton’s Tyler Dibling to offer a new dimension between midfield and attack.

However, without the £85.8 million prize pot on offer for winning the Europa League and subsequently qualifying for the Champions League, there may be limited scope for big-money deals to take place.

6 players Manchester United should sign this summer

United are in need of a revamp in the summer.

2 ByBarney Lane Feb 4, 2025

Taking PSR regulations into account, selling one or two star assets could be a scenario the Red Devils will have to consider to ensure their books remain in check.

Manchester United could sell Rasmus Hojlund to kickstart a chain of movement in both directions, though he is unlikely to be the only one at risk of being let go to breathe new life into the club.

Now, Amorim may have another proposal to consider once the summer window opens for business, per recent developments.

Andre Onana in major talks to leave Man Utd for Saudi Arabia

According to Foot Mercato, Saudi club Neom SC have started major discussions over a move for Andre Onana and the Cameroon international is open to leaving Old Trafford for a new challenge in the Gulf region.

Earning over £6 million a year at Old Trafford, the former Inter Milan stopper is said to be ‘unsettled’ in his current surroundings, which isn’t a major surprise when taking into account his patchy form this term.

Andre Onana’s patchy Man Utd form this season – Premier League (26/04/25)

Save percentage

67.7%

Goals conceded

42

Clean sheets

9

Penalty saves

1

Pass accuracy

70.2%

High claims

21

In turn, Manchester United are close to signing Freddie Woodman on a free transfer from Preston North End to populate their goalkeeping pool of talent.

Admittedly, the former England Under-21 international is likely to be brought in to strengthen their homegrown quota, but it may be a sign of changes to come between the sticks as Amorim searches for added security.

Onana is evidently a talented stopper and has enjoyed plenty of highs alongside the lows he has experienced at Old Trafford. Still, it feels like a clean break could be best for all parties.

He has played just 12 Tests for South Africa in all these years, but away from the limelight, Simon Harmer has put together a truly remarkable body of work

Sampath Bandarupalli23-Oct-20254 – Harmer is only the fourth South Africa player to claim 1000 wickets in first-class cricket. Charlie Llewellyn (1013), Mike Procter (1417) and Allan Donald (1216) were the ones to get there before him.2 – Only two players who made their first-class debuts in the 21st century have taken 1000 wickets in the format. Harmer, whose first-class debut was in November 2009, and James Anderson, who had made his debut in May 2002. His milestone 1000th wicket came in July 2021. Anderson was also the last of the 216 bowlers to reach 1000 first-class wickets before Harmer.Related

South Africa prove they can win with spin on the subcontinent

How Babar got Harmered in Rawalpindi

Babar's century drought grows longer; SA end a long wait

Harmer's six-for helps South Africa ease to series-levelling win

South Africa's tail wags and Pakistan's plans unravel

Harmer is the only bowler in the world with over 900 wickets since his first-class debut, with Malinda Pushpakumara’s 874 being the next best.514 – Wickets for Harmer in first-class cricket in England. Of those, 513 have come for Essex, all since 2017, and one for South Africa in a Test in 2022. Harmer is the only bowler with 500-plus first-class wickets in England since 2017, with Kyle Abbott’s 442 being the next highest.Harmer’s 35 five-fors and ten ten-wicket match hauls are also the most by any bowler in England in this period.Not to forget, Harmer has 453 wickets at home in South Africa, the second-highest since his first-class debut, behind only Shaun von Berg (522).Simon Harmer is an Essex legend, with 513 wickets for them in first-class cricket•Getty Images58 – Five-wicket hauls for Harmer in first-class cricket. Only Pushpakumara (80) and Gayan Sirisoma (61) have more five-fors than Harmer since his first-class debut in November 2009. R Ashwin (51) is the only other bowler with 50-plus five-fors in this period.Harmer’s effort in the Rawalpindi Test was his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket outside of England and South Africa, where he has 35 and 22 respectively. Harmer, however, has played only 11 first-class matches outside those two countries.331 – Wickets for Harmer in Chelmsford, the home ground of his county team, Essex. Only one bowler has taken more first-class wickets at a ground in the last 20 years – 374 by Tim Murtagh at Lord’s.Harmer has 27 five-wicket hauls across the 58 matches he played in Chelmsford, the most by a bowler at a venue in the last 20 years. Harmer has taken ten-plus wickets in a game on ten occasions at the venue, which is also the most.20 – Right-arm offspinners with 1000-plus wickets in first-class cricket before Harmer. Robert Croft was the last offspinner to reach 1000 wickets, having got there in 2007. (Twenty other players with 1000 FC wickets had multiple bowling styles throughout their careers, with right-arm off-break being one of them)55,618 – Balls that Harmer has bowled in his first-class career so far. Only one other player has bowled over 50,000 balls in the format since his debut – Nathan Lyon (55,790).

There was no Shakib Al Hasan, but Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nayeem Hasan managed to tie New Zealand down in knots

Mohammad Isam01-Dec-2023The scene is all too familiar. The Bangladesh spinner rips his fingers to snap out the ball. An umbrella of close-in fielders are waiting to pounce. The overseas batter picks the ball from the hand but can’t fully judge how much the ball will turn. Whether to play forward or back, he wonders. Crucially, the overseas batters doubt whether it will keep low or kick up. Except for that last part about the bounce, it was all standard stuff in Sylhet in the last four days.Bangladesh’s spinners have taken 15 wickets in this game so far. They have left their side on the verge of beating New Zealand at home for the first time with this big effort. Taijul Islam has stepped up as the attack leader in Shakib Al Hasan’s absence, although he told the reporter who asked him about it not to make him into a (old man). Mehidy Hasan Miraz is Taijul’s second fiddle, mainly playing as the team’s allrounder in this game. Nayeem Hasan only ever plays home Tests. He has never bowled abroad.Related

• Southee admits NZ bowlers 'did not apply pressure long enough'

• Taijul leaves Bangladesh three wickets away from victory on last day

• Calm and clinical Shanto brings back Bangladesh's smile

• Southee expects spin to play a big role in 'hard-fought' series

The band obviously is missing the lead man, but even without Shakib, Bangladesh’s spinners were lethal against New Zealand. Shakib’s absence usually leaves a big hole in both the batting order and the bowling attack. Now that it happens so often, especially in Tests, the rest of the team is getting used to it. Bangladesh have done well getting back to the basics, and doing what they do best, this point especially applying for the spinners. Taijul said that he only focuses on bowling in his one spot, and then trying his variations from that point.It was expected of the new captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to keep Taijul bowling continuously from one end. Generally an energetic personality, Shanto, however, kept things moving from both ends. He gave Taijul 20 overs but ensured the left-arm spinner kept bowling attacking lines. He allowed Shoriful to bowl six overs at the top, which Bangladeshi captains like Shakib and Mominul Haque have usually tended not to do in such situations. Shoriful picked up one wicket, keeping things tight as well.Shanto took off Mehidy after his first over, but later gave him two spells. Mehidy took a wicket early in his second spell, removing Henry Nicholls. Taijul bowled 15 on either side of the tea break, but with always a more concentrated off-stump line, as opposed to his defensive outside off-stump line when Shakib is around.Taijul did the job too for his captain, picking up three wickets in his first spell. After a short break, he took a wicket in his second spell. Shanto brought on Nayeem quite late on the day, but gave him an eight-over spell first, and then two more in the end. Shanto used Mominul for just two overs on the fourth day, maybe by popular choice after the part-time left-armer took three wickets in the first innings.Taijul said that Bangladesh have a job to do even without Shakib in the team. The players know their specific roles, but it also changes according to the shape of the game. He said that when they get on top of big teams, it suggests that Bangladesh are changing from within.”I can’t do what someone else is doing, and someone else can’t do what I do,” Taijul said about bowling without Shakib in the attack. “I stick to my plan. Whether we have Shakib or not, we have other spinners in the team. Plans change from game to game – someone takes the wickets, someone defends the runs. If I stopped the runs, Miraz or Nayeem would have taken the wickets. The main thing is, if the team is doing well.”It is a truly different feeling to beat big teams. We haven’t won the game yet but we are trying our hardest to win this game. Confidence goes up so that we can use this for the rest of the year. It suggests a change in the team. I don’t know how many matches we will win but I want to do something good for the Bangladesh team.”Bangladesh’s bowlers were all over New Zealand on the fourth day•AFP/Getty ImagesThere’s so much belief in Taijul that when he came into the attack to bowl at Kane Williamson, one of the Bangladesh fielders commented that Williamson was his wicket. Taijul said that it speaks of the confidence that the team has on him, but also that he is quite strong in his own belief of his line and length.”I guess they have faith in me that I can set (Williamson) up to take his wicket. I have been playing for nine years, you know.”I don’t really prepare in that particular way. I have only one preparation: my spot. I try to bowl in that spot, and try my variations from there,” he said.But what Taijul does, is quite difficult without the likes of Mehidy and Nayeem. Both are orthodox offspinners without any mystery deliveries but they keep batters honest on offstump. It is what they do well for long periods in a match. Of course, they have had their ups and downs, but Taijul and Mehidy have generally stepped up well when Shakib isn’t around.

“The fans will surely want the three remaining New Zealand wickets to fall quickly on the fifth morning. If it all goes to the spinners, it will be just reward for a band of bowlers who have done most of the running in this game”

Mehidy, in particular, had an interesting time in the World Cup recently, when his batting was more in the limelight. He batted in several spots, which is now being discussed as one of the reasons for Bangladesh’s failure in the tournament. It wasn’t Mehidy’s fault by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, he kept getting the runs in any position he was sent out. It probably affected his bowling a bit, but it is quite hard to knock Mehidy off his bowling spot in the last few years.Nayeem, meanwhile, has had to rely heavily on domestic cricket for much of his international career. He has only played a handful of home Tests since his debut five years ago. It is hard to motivate oneself plugging away in the domestic grind, but he seems to enjoy it. He took 36 wickets for Chattogram Division in this season’s NCL.The spin trio had to bring their A-game in this game as this is a difficult time in Bangladesh cricket. There’s lack of belief among their fans, which is reflected in the near-empty stands in all four days of the Test in Sylhet. There’s likely to be a few more coming to the stadium on the fifth morning. They will surely want the three remaining New Zealand wickets to fall quickly. If it all goes to the spinners, it will be just reward for a band of bowlers who have done most of the running in this game.

The 25-year old fast bowler offers his team a different mode of attack

Shashank Kishore09-Feb-20221:10

Prasidh: I was hitting similar lengths last game too but today there was more help from pitch

At six feet, three inches, Prasidh Krishna can generate bounce even on the most docile tracks. It helps that his stock ball is mostly back of a length. He trusts that length to such an extent that it’s become muscle memory.Not only does Prasidh bowl this length consistently, he does so at 140 clicks or more. That’s why West Indies had no answers against him. His opening burst of 4-2-3-2 stung them and what appeared to be a low-pressure chase was turned upside down.Prasidh didn’t bowl a single full delivery in his first four overs. Sixteen out of 24 balls reared up from short of length. Five of them nipped away off a length. The batters tried to weather this barrage but it was no use. West Indies were being made painfully aware that this wasn’t going to be a stroll.If the South Africa ODIs and these two against West Indies are any indication, India appear to be leaning towards hit-the-deck seamers, and in particular those capable of bossing the middle overs.When Prasidh first burst onto the big stage at the IPL in 2018, he wasn’t able to tell which way the ball would move. Only when he became a first-class regular in 2019 did he start to really understand his own action and release.Working with S Aravind, the current Karnataka bowling coach, has helped Prasidh develop a strong wrist position that enables him to control the sideways movement. In his playing days, Aravind was a master of making the ball move subtly off the pitch. It’s a trait he had to develop because he wasn’t blessed with raw pace. That actually went against him when Kolkata Knight Riders were looking for a replacement for the injured Kamlesh Nagarkoti at IPL 2018.Prasidh was preferred to Aravind and his life has never been the same since. More than the financial windfall, the IPL opened a window of unbelievable opportunities to a player who, until then, had only played a handful of first-class games in four full seasons.The (unintentional) wobble seam has given way to a more pronounced one. Proof that he knows exactly what he’s doing right now. Prasidh struck with his third delivery. A routine length ball kicked up from a spot outside off as Brandon King’s slash resulted in a thin edge through to Rishabh Pant. It was a poor bit of decision-making from the batter. The ball wasn’t full enough to drive, nor was it short enough to cut. An in-between shot to an in-between delivery got India an early breakthrough.Prasidh Krishna was too hot to handle•BCCINow, it was Darren Bravo’s turn to face the music. This wasn’t chin music. It wasn’t visceral pace or big banana swing. It was simple wicket-to-wicket bowling on what they call a “”. Slang for good-length spot. Except when a bowler well over 6′ hits that spot, the cricket ball jumps up at you. Bravo was caught in two minds. Should he get out of the way or get behind the line? This indecision nearly cost him. By the time he dropped his wrists to leave, he had worn a stinging blow on the shoulder.It’s entirely possible the effect of that delivery had a hand in Bravo’s eventual downfall. Once again, Prasidh landed one short of a length. Bravo pushed at it, anticipating the ball to deck back in. But this one moved away off the seam to take the faintest of edges through to Pant. Not given initially, the decision was overturned upon India’s review. This was Prasidh’s subtle mastery at play.Shamarh Brooks was next in the firing line. He was beaten on the inside edge, beaten on the outside edge, popped one off a leading edge and only just survived another vicious short ball. The Indians couldn’t help but have a chuckle. By the time Prasidh’s first spell ended, Brooks had limped to 2 off 20 deliveries.Cut to the 20th over and West Indies were 66 for 3. Not completely off track but you got the sense that they still needed Nicholas Pooran to bat through the innings. Guess who snuffed out that plan?Once again Prasidh had a batter in two minds. Caught between a block and a pull shot, Pooran only managed to nick off into the slips. This gangly 25-year-old offers a different mode of attack for India. He has widened their fast-bowling pool and in the process helped ensure their best talents can stay fresh and protected from bubble fatigue.But really, his work in the powerplay is the clincher. In 24 games between the end of the 2019 World Cup and the start of the ongoing ODI series against West Indies, India averaged 130.80 with the ball in the first 10 overs. That’s almost twice as bad as No. 2 on the list: Zimbabwe (76.85). Shami and Bumrah have played just six of those games together. Bhuvneshwar Kumar isn’t the force he once was. India were crying out for another wicket-taker and here he is. All six-feet-plus of him.