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The incoming chairman of the association says they support the 12-month bans imposed by Cricket Australia following the Newlands ball-tampering row

Daniel Brettig03-Sep-2018Any hope that Steven Smith and David Warner may have had of a commuted suspension from playing international and state cricket has seemingly been snuffed out by affirmation of their 12-month playing bans from the chairman and chief executive of their home association, Cricket New South Wales (NSW).In their addresses as part of the submission of the NSW annual report, the incoming chairman John Knox and the continuing chief executive Andrew Jones said that while the rehabilitation of Smith and Warner was paramount after their suspensions over the Newlands ball-tampering scandal, the harsh stance taken by Cricket Australia via its code of conduct was justified.”During the season, cricket throughout Australia and across the world was shocked by the ball-tampering incident in South Africa,” Knox said. “This was particularly upsetting for Cricket NSW with two of our finest players, national captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, subsequently suspended by the Cricket Australia Board for 12 months.”Cricket NSW supports the strong stance taken by Cricket Australia. Australia’s millions of passionate fans expect that their national team not only plays good, competitive cricket but plays it in the right spirit. Our players represent all of us on the world stage. However, having been dealt harsh penalties and shown true remorse for their mistakes, it is important that the NSW cricket family supports Steve and David through these tough times and welcomes them back when they return. We are all human.”There had been some speculation from NSW that there would be an effort made to reduce the length of the bans or to change their terms to allow Smith and Warner to play in the Sheffield Shield for the Blues. However Jones, a former head of strategy at CA, described the penalties as “proportionate” to public dissatisfaction with the national team.”The 12-month bans handed to Steve and David were heavy but proportionate to the public’s disappointment. Cricket Australia should be commended for its principled stance on a challenging issue,” Jones said. “That said, it was obvious from their press conferences that Steve and David truly regret the incident.”They have accepted their punishment and are working hard to restore public faith in themselves and the game. It is important that the NSW cricket family supports Steve and David through this difficult time. We look forward to welcoming them both back onto the cricket field when NSW Premier Cricket begins in late September.”Prior to being elected as NSW chairman, Knox’s major role in Australian cricket had been to work as a key consultant to CA in successive broadcast rights deals – he also serves as chief executive of the Australian wing of the investment bank Credit Suisse. As such, he held a key interest in ensuring that the AUD 1.18 billion deal signed in April with News Corporation and the Seven Network delivered as much cash as possible, the better to direct overdue strategic funding to the lower levels of cricket in NSW.CPL T20/Getty Images

“Despite the headlines generated by the Cape Town incident, and the challenging MoU negotiation between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association that preceded it, the game continues to grow in popularity,” Knox said. “Our game has never been played by more people – men and women, girls and boys of all ages – and has never been watched by more fans either at the ground or on television.”Indeed, a matter of weeks after the South African tour, Cricket Australia signed a record $1.2 billion television rights deal which will lead to more cricket, both men’s and women’s, being shown live on TV. This also allows cricket to invest in all parts of the game, especially grass roots. This will particularly benefit cricket in NSW. We have made the case that CA has under-invested in NSW relative to smaller states for many years. At last, we are receiving a favourable hearing.”We have already received enough additional funds from CA to employ an extra 12 Community Cricket Managers throughout NSW, increasing by a third the number directly serving schools, associations and clubs. There will be many more next year, when the media rights revenue begins to flow in earnest.”Jones lauded Knox for his part in the negotiations, while also pointing out the state’s role in driving strategic decisions such as the move of the Women’s Big Bash League to a standalone slot at the start of the summer from 2019 onwards. Jones said of Knox: “In his capacity as one of Australia’s leading investment bankers gave his time pro bono to conduct the landmark media rights auction for Cricket Australia. The final deal was comfortably a record, and the game will benefit from John’s efforts for years to come.”There were bigger headlines at times, but the media rights deal was the most important story of the year. It reflected years of strategic planning and execution across Australian Cricket, especially the launch and growth of the BBL/WBBL. Cricket NSW can be very proud of the part it has played in that process.”As for the Blues’ poor recent performances, Jones described the new coach Phil Jaques as being given a brief to develop talent after the apparent failure of the generation following Smith and Warner to reach similar heights. “It was obvious that changes were required on and off the field,” Jones said. “Former Blue Trent Johnston left as head coach with our thanks and best wishes with two Matador Cup titles to his credit in three seasons.”He was replaced by assistant Phil Jaques and there was a restructure of the coaching staff and programmes. Phil’s brief is to bring through the next generation of top-class NSW talent in partnership with our senior players and, while patience may be required, we are confident he will achieve sustained success in the coming seasons.”

The announcement was made ahead of Nidahas Trophy as the BCB is yet to narrow in on a replacement for Chandika Hathurusingha

Mohammad Isam26-Feb-2018Courtney Walsh has been named Bangladesh’s interim head coach for the Nidahas Trophy as the BCB is yet to narrow in on a replacement for Chandika Hathurusingha.Walsh joined the Bangladesh coaching group in September 2016 as a bowling coach on a three-year deal. He is currently the senior-most coach in the group and was an obvious candidate.Meanwhile, Khaled Mahmud will no longer be a part of the support staff. Formerly the technical director, he is now expected to return as team manager. The former Bangladesh captain made public his displeasure at the function of the team earlier this month, calling the environment “dirty.””Since I will be going to Sri Lanka, a lot of the directors also will come with me. I personally feel that [Khaled Mahmud] Sujon should go as team manager,” said BCB president Nazmul Hassan. “We still haven’t talked to him about it. We have finalized on the other roles like we have also decided to give the batting duties to someone which we will announce on Tuesday.”Hassan is also likely to have a more hands-on involvement in the team’s affair. “I didn’t bother about playing XI selection in the last series. I left it to everyone else, including players and management,” he said. “This time we have made a squad after considering who will play in the playing XI. So since there is a final decision being taken, there is obviously a direct involvement.”

Shahid Afridi picked up career-best T20 figures of 5 for 7, setting up a comprehensive eight-wicket win for Peshawar Zalmi against Quetta Gladiators in Sharjah

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShahid Afridi picked up a career-best 5 for 7 to derail Quetta’s innings•PSL

Shahid Afridi picked up career-best T20 figures of 5 for 7, setting up a comprehensive eight-wicket win for Peshawar Zalmi against Quetta Gladiators in Sharjah.Afridi, who will be retiring from international cricket following the World T20 in India next month, struck off just his second ball, accounting for Akbar-ur-Rehman in the sixth over. Quetta, who were at a promising 40 for 0 at one stage, soon began to slide, as Afridi struck at regular intervals to carve through the team’s middle and lower order. He trapped Mohammad Nawaz lbw and bowled the captain Sarfraz Ahmed in the 10th over, before proceeding to remove both Mohammad Nabi and Elton Chigumbura in the 12th.When the dust cleared, Afridi was left boasting figures of 4-1-7-5, and Quetta were tottering at 66 for 9, starting at the prospect of being bowled out inside 13 overs. However, Grant Elliott, on the back of two consecutive Man-of-the-Match performances, led a late rally, slamming a 29-ball 40 and adding a world record 63 for the final wicket with Zulfiqar Babar. Their efforts lifted the team to 129.Peshawar, though, had no troubles chasing down the small total. Their openers Mohammad Hafeez and Dawid Malan began brightly, putting up 60 runs off just 50 balls. Hafeez eventually fell for 36, but Malan carried on, adding a further 54 with Kamran Akmal. Malan went on to stroke his 12th half-century in T20 cricket, his 52-ball 60 taking the team home with eight balls to spare.

Bangladesh are going into the ODI series against West Indies without Shakib Al Hasan for the first two games

The Preview by Mohammad Isam in Khulna01-Dec-2012

Match facts

December 2, Khulna
Start time 0900 (0300 GMT)Darren Sammy will have a point to prove for himself and his team•AFP

Big Picture

It was up to Bangladesh to inject life into the five-match ODI series by challenging West Indies, and with their win in the first game, they have done exactly that. The 1-0 lead has already ensured a rise in the ODI rankings and there will be motivation for more.The hosts’ gamble with four debutants clicked for the selectors and the team management. Sohag Gazi became the first Bangladesh player to take the man-of-the-match award on debut, while Anamul Haque first scratched around and then batted more confidently for his 41. They will also be heartened by putting in a positive showing though they were minus Shakib Al Hasan. Tamim Iqbal was brilliant with the bat while Abdur Razzak took three wickets.West Indies have a lot to play for – and correct – in the second ODI. The visitors gave Bangladesh a fine start with the ball, committing to some reckless shots that had them caught on the boundary or on the 30-yard circle. Some tried cutting at deliveries on middle-stump and there was also the odd run-out. The fielding too disintegrated as soon as the likes of Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul and Sunil Narine failed to dominate Bangladesh.

Form guide

Bangladesh WLWWL (Most recent first)
West Indies LWWLW

In the spotlight

There was only one wicket for Mashrafe Mortaza in the first game but he used all his experience to counter the swishes of Lendl Simmons and the advances of Chris Gayle. He withstood the early pressure and though there were boundaries, ultimately he was rewarded with the wicket of Simmons, a wicket that was more important than it appears given the mayhem the openers could have created. Bangladesh would be needing exactly the same performance, if not better, on Sunday, from the man who grew up a hundred or so kilometers from the stadium.It would be interesting to see how Darren Sammy reacts after an ordinary performance in the first game. After holing out on the long-on boundary, the West Indies captain bowled an insipid spell. His position in the team could again be called into question if there is another poor performance.

Team news

It is unlikely that Bangladesh will change a winning combination, especially after three of the four debutants were heavily involved in the contest. Mominul Haque will bat in the middle-order and it is likely that he will bat without much pressure of expectations. He would have to deliver immediately though, especially after the way Anamul Haque fought a lot of mental barriers during his short innings in the first ODI.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Naeem Islam, 4 Nasir Hossain, 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 7 Mominul Haque, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza, 9 Sohag Gazi, 10 Abdur Razzak, 11 Rubel HossainWest Indies are also likely to go with the same team but slotting in Dwayne Smith might be an option. Kieran Powell could also be included, more due to the form he has shown during the Test series against Bangladesh.West Indies (possible): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Lendl Simmons, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Darren Sammy, 7 Devon Thomas, 8 Andre Russell, 9 Ravi Rampaul, 10 Sunil Narine, 11 Kemar Roach

Pitch and conditions

Mushfiqur Rahim would want more of the same from curator Zahid Reza after the Bangladesh seamers held the West Indies openers with some early movement in the first game, before the spinners held sway on the slow turner. The batsmen too thrived later on, but patience will be the key.

Stats and trivia

• Bangladesh have won the first match of a bilateral series 11 times, two times of which have been against West Indies including in this series
• Chris Gayle hasn’t scored a half-century against Bangladesh since October 2006

Quotes

“We have to take the field for the second game with the same mentality [as in the first] and try our best to play as well as possible.”

“There’s no panic. We admitted that probably we got a little complacent and Bangladesh seized on the opportunity. It was one day in a five-match series. Tomorrow we have to make things right.”

Nick Compton’s good week continued when he was named the NatWest PCA Player of the Year

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2012Nick Compton’s good week continued when he was named the NatWest PCA Player of the Year while Joe Root, who was also called into the Test squad for the tour to India, was named the Young Player of the Year.Compton scored 1494 first-class runs for Somerset during the 2012 season and Root was close to a thousand including a career-best 222 against Hampshire.The overall England player of the year went to Ian Bell while Alastair Cook took the one-day award, a mark of his rise in the format, and Stuart Broad was named Test player.Back on the domestic scene, Warwickshire’s dominance of the County Championship was highlight by five of their players being included in the team of the year. Varun Chopra and Bell were part of the batting line-up while Jeetan Patel, Keith Barker and Chris Wright all made the bowling line-up. NatWest PCA Player of the Year Nick Compton (Somerset)
NatWest PCA Young Player of the Year Joe Root (Yorkshire)
ECB Special Award Bill Gordon
England FTI MVP of the summer Ian Bell
Friends Life t20 Player of the Year Dimitri Mascarenhas (Hampshire)
Clydesdale Bank 40 Player of the Year Phil Mustard (Durham)
NatWest ODI Player of the Summer Alastair Cook
Investec Test Player of the Summer Stuart Broad
Sky Sports Sixes League Winner Gary Ballance (Yorkshire)
FTI Team of the Year Varun Chopra (Warwickshire), Chris Nash (Sussex), Ian Bell (Warwickshire & England), Steven Croft (Lancashire), Darren Stevens (Kent), Peter Trego (Somerset), Phil Mustard (Durham), Jeetan Patel (Warwickshire), Keith Barker (Warwickshire), Chris Wright (Warwickshire), Graham Onions (Durham)

After a six-for with the ball, Deepti scored 39* with the bat with India in choppy waters at that stage

Shashank Kishore27-Dec-2024Deepti Sharma turned in a superb all-round performance to help India seal the ODI series 3-0 in Vadodara. She first took 6 for 31 as West Indies folded for 162. Then with India in choppy waters, Deepti provided a calming influence with an unbeaten 39 to the team home by five wickets.While Deepti dug in for the hard grind, aided with luck when she was dropped by Hayley Matthews at slip on 21, Richa Ghosh lent the finishing touches. Having walked in to bat with India 129 for 5, Ghosh allayed fears of a collapse by hitting one four and three sixes in her brisk 11-ball 23. This included back-to-back sixes off legspinner Afy Fletcher to see off India’s chase.Under leaden skies, and on a surface that got progressively tougher to bat on with the odd ball keeping low and turning big, West Indies were left to rue another poor batting performance. Barring Chinelle Henry and Shemaine Campbelle, who put together 91 for the fourth wicket, there was little else of note from the batting unit.The collapse began in the very first over when Renuka Singh removed Qiana Joseph, with a faint tickle down leg, and the in-form Matthews with a superb in-ducker four balls later. When Deandra Dottin was bowled attempting a hack into the leg side to Renuka, the visitors were 9 for 3 in the fifth over. Renuka with finish with a four-for eventually, coming back later to clean up the lower order amid the Deepti show.Under the shadow of a collapse, Henry, playing her first ODI of the series, rebuilt the innings. She struggled to get bat to ball early on, pottering to 3 off 17. Then from nowhere, she brought out a release shot for six off debutant left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar to get going.Renuka Singh picked up four wickets•BCCI

During the course of her third half-century, Henry played some neat little cuts and glides. At the other end, Campbelle showed positivity against spin. She took the attack early to legspinner Priya Mishra, hitting her for three boundaries in her second over. After using her feet to launch into two stunning drives – one down the ground and the other through cover – she rocked back to pull Mishra for a third as she dropped short.This 91-run stand for the fourth wicket appeared to have revived the visitors as much as it frustrated India. This is when Deepti came into the game and made a telling contribution.Campbell was consumed by a rush of blood as she was lulled into the big shot by Deepti, only for Pratika Rawal to take a comfortable catch at long-on. In the following over, Zaida James was caught superbly at slip by Harmanpreet as Deepti had her driving from the rough.It could’ve been a triple-strike for India but for Renuka dropping the simplest of return catches via a leading edge to reprieve Aaliya Alleyne on 0. Alleyne would make only 21, though, falling to a tame chip to short midwicket. Alleyne’s wicket came hot on the heels of Henry’s dismissal for a third ODI half-century when she was out bowled by a straighter one. West Indies went on to lose their last 5 wickets for 21.India’s reply began in nervous fashion as they lost Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol early in the power play against the moving ball. Pratika Rawal too missed out on a great opportunity to build on a solid foundation from her first two ODIs when she holed out to mid-on in an attempt to hit out against Matthews’ offspin.India captain Harmanpreet then picked the pieces up and put together a fantastic exhibition of cover driving. Having begun with two fours off her first five deliveries, she went on to pierce a packed off-side ring to hit Dottin for three fours in the ninth over to quickly take to 23 off 13.Harmanpreet looked in rip-roaring form when she played back to be bowled by a skidder from Afy Fletcher. The wicket briefly galvanised the visitors, but India weren’t to be denied as Deepti, Jemimah Rodrigues and Ghosh all played neat hands to see them home.

Young allrounder Cooper Connolly’s 79 pushed WA, even as Test aspirant Matt Renshaw fell cheaply

Tristan Lavalette09-Oct-2024Test aspirant Matt Renshaw fell cheaply, but captain Marnus Labuschagne led Queensland’s recovery with a half-century against Western Australia at the WACA. Labuschagne was in superb touch, as he hit 77 off 96 balls and looked in total command until falling lbw to offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli late on day two. It was a major blow in Queensland’s rally, but No. 4 Jack Clayton held firm and finished unbeaten on 52.After toiling in the field for 124.2 overs, openers Renshaw and Usman Khawaja were challenged by accurate new-ball bowling from quicks Matt Kelly and Cameron Gannon. The pitch flattened considerably amid sunny conditions, and represented a golden opportunity for Renshaw, who might be in the frame for a Test recall given the uncertainty over Cameron Green’s back injury.Renshaw started with a gorgeous drive down the ground off Kelly in the first over, but was worked over by Gannon, and edged to third slip. He made just 6 off 24 balls.Labuschagne, with his father watching on in the terraces, was cautious early, before counterattacking Rocchiccioli with quick footwork down the pitch. He combined well with Khawaja, who also pounced on an unusually ragged effort from Rocchiccioli.Gannon, playing against his former team, was the standout of WA’s shorthanded attack missing speedsters Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson, with allrounder Mitchell Marsh playing as a specialist batter. Having starred in WA’s Shield triumph against Tasmania last season, Gannon was relentless, and knocked over Khawaja, who on 31, played a short ball on to his stumps.WA debutant Brody Couch, recruited from Victoria and who has played in Major League Cricket, impressed and bowled a lively first spell before tea. He was the fastest out of WA’s trio of quicks, reaching speeds of 140kph while also bowling the occasional fiery short-pitched delivery. Couch tired late in the day, but did deliver a stinging delivery that hit Labuschagne in the stomach and had him on his haunches.Queensland still have considerable work ahead to close in on WA’s massive first-innings total of 465. WA’s recovery continued on day two when allrounder Cooper Connolly and Gannon batted for almost the entire first session. Connolly powered to his half-century off 64 balls, and was matched by Gannon, a useful middle-order batter for his local club team. Labuschagne reverted to funky fields for Queensland, but to no avail, as Gannon notched his second half-century in first-class cricket.After making his international debut during Australia’s tour of the UK, Connolly has been earmarked for a big summer, and might be a smokey for the Test tour of Sri Lanka early next year.Justifying his selection ahead of veteran Ashton Turner, Connolly unleashed powerful strokes to reach lunch on 79 not out. Having made 90 in his first-class debut in last season’s Shield final, Connolly’s bid for a maiden ton was cut short when he holed out to Renshaw in the first over after the interval.After a standout performance on day one, fringe Test quick Michael Neser only bowled three overs on day two. He finished with 5 for 68 from 25 overs, and completed a stunning athletic catch on the boundary to wrap WA’s innings up. Part-timers Labuschagne and Renshaw claimed two wickets apiece before having contrasting fortunes with the bat.

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad says his half-century “may be something for experts to talk about, with my strike rate”, but he is happy to get the job done on “slightly tricky” track

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Apr-2024Chennai Super Kings got back to winning ways after two away defeats and handed Kolkata Knight Riders their first loss of IPL 2024 by slowing them down with spin on a tacky Chepauk surface. Unlike the last two matches where none of the home spinners accounted for a wicket at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, on Monday, Ravindra Jadeja and Co were the architects of the seven-wicket victory on a typical Chepauk track that remained slow, assisted spinners and made it difficult for batters to score.KKR captain Shreyas Iyer deconstructed the loss, saying his team couldn’t assess the conditions quickly enough as they changed “tremendously” after the first six overs.”I personally feel we fell short in terms of assessing the wicket,” Iyer said after the match. “We were phenomenal in the powerplay but after that, we couldn’t capitalise, we lost consecutive wickets. We weren’t able to assess the conditions as quickly as possible. It completely changed after the powerplay and scoring runs off this wicket wasn’t easy.”Obviously, they know conditions pretty well and they bowled according to their plan. It was a bit tacky, especially even when the hard-hitters came in, it wasn’t easy for them to go [big] right from the first ball. It changed tremendously after the powerplay. We were trying to construct our innings, didn’t go to plan. We take those learnings and move forward.”After leaking 56 runs in the powerplay, CSK pulled things back thanks to Jadeja’s 3 for 18. Add Maheesh Theekshana and Rachin Ravindra into the mix, and the spinners combined to bowl nine overs for just 50 runs and four wickets to restrict KKR to a below-par 137 for 9.”We were in a comfortable place at the beginning, we thought 160-170 would be a great score on this wicket. Even when they played against RCB, the conditions were fairly similar. So that was our plan but when you lose consecutive wickets, it’s difficult to carry forward momentum,” Iyer said.CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who led the chase with an unbeaten 67 off 58, felt it was a “slightly tricky” wicket and that the onus was on him to bat through to take the team home after the No. 3 Ajinkya Rahane strained his calf. It was also an important knock for Gaikwad personally, who finally contributed definitively after scores of 15, 46, 1, 26 in the previous four games.”Bit of nostalgia for me,” Gaikwad said of batting with MS Dhoni in the final part of the chase. “My first IPL fifty, Mahi was there with me to finish the match. Pretty much the same situation today. I feel with Jinx [Rahane] slightly injured, it was my role to stay till the end on a wicket which was slightly tricky. I didn’t want to put the youngsters in a pressure situation. Overall, a good game for us.”I would still say it was a 150-160 wicket. Didn’t think it was a six-hitting pitch but definitely 160.”I wouldn’t say mine is a slow start [he was on 9 off 11 at one stage], in T20s there are times you nick off one or two balls, sometimes you need a bit of luck to get going. Today it was perfect I could take some time a bit, maybe something for experts to talk about, with my strike rate, but still good to get a win.”With this win, CSK have six points from five games and occupy fourth spot on the points table, while KKR are second with six points from four games. CSK will be on the road for the next couple of games before returning home for the match against Lucknow Super Giants on April 23. KKR, meanwhile, will head back to Eden Gardens for five home games in a row.

Dhoni had told Gaikwad to “be ready, it shouldn’t be a surprise to you”

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Mar-20244:52

Is this the right time for Gaikwad the captain?

MS Dhoni had given feelers to Ruturaj Gaikwad about a possible captaincy switch during IPL 2023 itself. Those feelers came alive on the eve of Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, when Dhoni officially relinquished his captaincy to Gaikwad.”Last year itself, Mahi bhai had hinted about captaincy at some point of time,” Gaikwad told IPLT20.com. “He just hinted that, ‘be ready, it shouldn’t be a surprise to you’. When we came into the camp, he involved me in some of the match simulation.”Prior to the season, Dhoni stoked fan-sentiment on social media by hinting about a “new role”. At the time, it was believed to be promotional campaign towards a broadcast sponsor. But on Thursday evening, it became evident that may have not been the case entirely.Related

• MS Dhoni hands over CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad

• Dhoni stepping down as captain opens up tactical possibilities for CSK

• Dhoni's new role, Kohli's comeback in focus in IPL 2024 season opener

• Fleming on CSK captaincy change: 'We weren't ready for Dhoni to move aside in 2022, but the timing is right now'

• A season begins, an era ends, and life goes on for MS Dhoni

“I remember him posting about a new role on social media and everybody was pointing towards me and asking me, ‘are you the next captain?’. I was like, ‘maybe it meant something else for social media’. But back of the mind, it was there. He came and said, ‘I’ve decided this and this’, but definitely now that I’m here, I’m looking forward to this.”Gaikwad was first signed at base price [INR 20 lakh] prior to the 2019 season, where he didn’t get a game. In IPL 2020, Gaikwad had a tough initiation as he began with three ducks in a season where he also contracted covid. He returned towards the back end of the season and became the first uncapped Indian to hit three back-to-back half-centuries.Since then, he’s been an integral part of the group. In 2021, he formed a superb opening combination with Faf du Plessis as Super Kings won their fourth title. He ended the tournament with the Orange Cap for most runs [635 in 16 games], with du Plessis second on the list. After that tournament, Gaikwad had glowingly talked about the backing and encouragement he’d received from du Plessis.MS Dhoni with new CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad at a training session•PTI

“I just met Faf at the [captains’] meeting and said, ‘who would’ve thought a few years down the line, you are playing and leading RCB and me sharing the stage with you at the toss’,” Gaikwad said. “A lot to look forward to. It [opening game] is one of the most exciting first-day games to look forward to.”Dhoni had done something similar in 2022, when he handed the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja prior to the start of the season. The move backfired, and after Super Kings lost six of their first eight games, Dhoni took over the reins again. Super Kings finished ninth that season.The question of succession planning at Super Kings has been a hot topic of debate ever since, which even head coach Stephen Fleming touched upon at his pre-match press conference. This time around, he felt, the change will be a lot “smoother.””It feels great for two reasons,” Gaikwad said of his new role. “To be part of this wonderful franchise right from when my IPL journey started and then to be trusted by MS Dhoni for a leadership role speaks a lot. The challenge lies ahead and I’m looking forward to it.”I’ve got to know how the franchise works throughout the year, got to know their mantra, the reasons behind their success, what kind of things the franchise goes through, what Mahi bhai or the support staff do. I wouldn’t like to change a single bit of it.”He’s a great backbone to have on the field. I also have Ajju [Ajinkya Rahane] and Jaddu as well, a lot of options to look around. I don’t think I’ll need to change anything. Just give the kind of freedom the players want and everything will be fine.”

Spin was the way to go on the night, and the visitors got it right

Sidharth Monga27-Jan-20231:27

Mitchell: ‘Santner is one of the best white-ball spinners at the moment’

New Zealand were put in on a pitch that turned, and were then expected to bowl in the dew, but they managed to score what turned out to be enough off India’s fast bowlers. Half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Devon Conway and an early burst from Finn Allen took New Zealand to 176 after which they went to spin straightaway unlike India who didn’t have the headstart of knowing it was turning.While New Zealand got only 56 off the 10 overs bowled by the spinners, they managed 119 off the 10 overs of pace. The sharply cut grass perhaps did the trick for New Zealand as the ball didn’t quite become a bar of soap and kept gripping for their spinners.Captain Mitchell Santner displayed his guile and skill, taking a wicket first ball, bowling a maiden in the powerplay and then coming back to take Deepak Hooda in the 16th over to seal the game. The one big difference in two sides was that pacer Jacob Duffy bowled his first two overs for 10 and a wicket, and once the asking rate started creeping up, this pitch just proved too difficult for Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya.

Finn Allen blazes away

Coming off successive ducks in an ordinary ODI series, Allen enjoyed the freedom this format affords batters. He started off with a mis-hit, but then began smacking the ball around with only two fielders out. In 4.1 overs, New Zealand were 43 for 0 thanks to his 35 off 22.

Washington Sundar applies the brakes

Among those four overs was one bowled by Washington Sundar. The ball gripped for him, and he refused to give the batters anything full. Only three came off that over, and even though Allen managed to slog-sweep him for a six at the start of the next, he ended up dragging the next slog-sweep to deep midwicket, which was placed squarer than usual.

Watch Ind vs NZ on ESPN

You can watch the first T20I between India and New Zealand on ESPN Player in the UK and on ESPN+ in English and in Hindi in the USA.

In the same over, Washington played around with Mark Chapman before taking a spectacular one-handed return-catch diving full length to his right. India quickly went to more spin, bringing on Deepak Hooda even if it meant bowling inside the powerplay. It now became 54 for 2 in seven overs.1:29

Is Devon Conway New Zealand’s best all-format batter?

Devon Conway carries on

Somebody needed to bat well for New Zealand during the middle overs because they were still going to need a big score because of the dew expected. Conway, who hardly got any strike during the Allen fireworks, was just the man. He got going with the reintroduction of pace, taking 16 off the eighth over, bowled by Umran Malik.Conway’s strong wrists and a whole array of sweeps helped him find placement against the spinners. Even as Glenn Phillips, and later Mitchell, struggled to go at a run a ball, Conway kept scoring the runs in the middle overs. In the end, he and Mitchell chose to play out Kuldeep Yadav and Washington to set themselves up for the death overs.

Two good overs, two ordinary ones

That description above will remain the definition no matter which side’s point of view you take. Mitchell took a decent 17th over from Pandya for 16 by hitting the first and the last balls for sixes for down the ground. Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Mavi made excellent comebacks in overs 18 and 19, conceding just ten runs for the wickets of Conway, Michael Bracewell and Santner.In the 20th, though, Arshdeep missed his yorker and even overstepped once. Mitchell took full toll: 23 runs off the first three legal balls. Arshdeep came back with three yorkers, but still New Zealand had got to a good total provided the dew didn’t prove to be a big handicap. Mitchell, 17 off 16 at one stage, ended with 59 off just 30.

India lose early wickets

Bowling in the second innings, the plan was clear: get spinners on early before it becomes difficult with the dew. Bracewell bowled Ishan Kishan with a beauty with the new ball, but Duffy proved to be the bonus. He was difficult to get away, and also took out Rahul Tripathi.When Santner brought himself on, India were 15 for 2 in three overs. India possibly recognised this wasn’t quite a match they could take deep and then rein in the asking rate and finish it off. Shubman Gill didn’t give himself a sighter of Santner. He saw the first ball pitch short of a length, set himself up for the pull, but was defeated by massive turn which resulted in an easy catch off the top edge.Santner’s control of his craft, aided by the gripping pitch, was on full display when he bowled a maiden . India, 33 for 3 after six.

Mitchell Santner swings middle-overs tussle NZ’s way

An array of sweeps from Suryakumar, and Pandya’s hits down the ground, kept India in the hunt. They even took 41 off the nest four overs, but they still needed 103 from the back ten. Santner once again pulled India back with a one-run over. He had conceded just five off 12 to Suryakumar.That over meant risks needed to be taken against Ish Sodhi in the next over. One came off, but then Suryakumar just timed a chip shot too well, sending it too straight for a catch to long-on. With 89 required off the last eight, Pandya tried a big hit off Bracewell, but the ball didn’t turn, took the edge, and India were left needing a miracle.The towel started making more frequent appearances, Hooda and Washington managed to score just enough to keep India alive in the game. With 67 required off the last five, though, Santner played around with Hooda with changes of pace and trajectory before getting him stumped.Washington was defiant in his 50 off 28, but he had too little support left and too much to do.