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Somerset’s players skedaddled away from the Riverside before lunch on Wednesday with a draw in their results column and eight points gained from the match

Paul Edwards at Chester-le-Street13-Apr-2016
ScorecardChris Rushworth could have been a threat to Somerset had there been any play on the final day•Getty ImagesThe point about fire alarms is that they go off while the fire can still be put out. Somerset’s players skedaddled away from the Riverside before lunch on Wednesday with a draw in their results column and eight points gained from the match. Durham received ten points for their efforts. At which point even the most passionate former inhabitant of the Stragglers’ Bar might offer a polite cough and a wry smile. The reassuring thing for Somerset supporters was that Chris Rogers would understand that reaction only too well.Heavy overnight rain and a mid-morning shower put paid to any chance of play on the final day of this match. Somerset’s skipper admitted that, on balance, his relief at not having to face Chris Rushworth and Graham Onions outweighed his disappointment at losing two days’ cricket.”We want to challenge ourselves and we want to get better but it was probably a relief to us in many respects because we were behind in the game and it was going to be hard work, particularly against Rushworth and Onions in that last innings,” said Rogers. “On the other hand, it would have been a useful opportunity to see where we’re at.”The more caustic West Country critics might be quick to tell Rogers where they think his team is “at” but they might be wisely advised to listen to what else he had to say. For example, here is his assessment of Somerset’s performance in a game in which they were bowled out for 179 and in which Durham were 53 for 1 after ten overs in their first innings and – the real horror show – 72 for 0 after 11 overs in their second.”Our fielding was top class and our attitude was top class but we disappointed with the new ball and that’s pretty unforgivable at Durham in the first game of the season. But the guys who had that ball in their hands will know that and they will get better. We found it hard with the bat and lost wickets in groups. Then we were shown that it was possible to stick around by our Nos. 7 and 9.”Given the limitations placed on Rogers by the fact that his comments were for public consumption, there is not too much skipper-speak in them. If he described the new-ball bowling as “unforgivable” outside the dressing room one wonders what adjectives he attached to it in private.Rogers is a fighter and he wants to lead a team of players with similar dispositions. He will be delighted to welcome the Overtons back for the game against Surrey at The Oval a week on Sunday. This is him on the challenge of facing Durham’s seamers on the first evening and second morning of this game.”I loved being back in the fight. To be up at Durham against Rushworth and Onions is probably as tough as it gets and I thought I was coming out at the other end of it when I was run out. These things happen. There were a couple of glances at Peter as I was walking off but I’ve done it to other people too, so you just have to cop that on the chin.”And so he did. But he will not be deceived by that return of eight points. One imagines there are some things Rogers will take on the chin and others which he will refuse to accept.”I’ve learned a lot about the guys and there is plenty to work on,” he said. “There is a lot of talent in the squad but how they put that into practice out in the middle is going to be our challenge. Every game’s going to be tough but it comes down to us. We didn’t get it right in this match but it’s a long season.”

Derbyshire have signed one of cricket’s most renowned yorker bowlers, the Melbourne Renegade Nathan Rimmington, for the 2015 NatWest Blast

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2015Derbyshire have signed one of the doughtiest T20 death bowlers, Nathan Rimmington, for the entire 2015 NatWest T20 Blast. The signing puts effectiveness ahead of glamour with Derbyshire convinced they have secured one of the most parsimonious bowlers in the closing overs in the T20 game.Rimmington will variously combine with two international batsmen – New Zealand international Martin Guptill and Sri Lanka’s veteran Tillakaratne Dilshan – during the campaign.During his time with Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, Rimmington, 32, has built a renowned reputation for closing out an innings with his trademark perfect yorkers gaining much attention.In 59 Twenty20 fixtures since the Big Bash began in 2011, he has claimed 65 wickets at 21 apiece, with an economy rate of just above seven runs an over. He starred in the longer format, too, and was also named in Cricket Australia’s Sheffield Shield team of the year.Derbyshire’s elite performance director, Graeme Welch, said: “Nathan brings a wealth of experience bowling at the death which will be vital as we look to progress in the NatWest T20 Blast.”People will have watched him in the Big Bash and know the quality he will bring to the side. Not only will he be a valuable asset at the end of the innings, he will also provide us with a proven strike bowler with the new ball.Derbyshire are trying to get Rimmington to England early so that he can warm up with some league cricket ahead of the Blast and ensure those celebrated yorkers are inch perfect from the outset.

A day dominated by the two youngest men to represent Middlesex in first-class cricket ended with Derbyshire in the sort of parlous position that many would have predicted after they had lost the toss and were inserted

Alan Gardner at Lord's17-Apr-2013
ScorecardSteven Finn’s return to action was productive with four wickets•Getty ImagesA day dominated by the two youngest men to represent Middlesex in first-class cricket ended with Derbyshire in the sort of parlous position that many would have predicted after they had lost the toss and were inserted. Had it not been for Billy Godleman, who debuted as a 16-year-old for Middlesex in the same match as Steven Finn back in 2005 and made a stoic, 244-ball half-century for Derbyshire here, the situation could have been far worse.In taking 323 minutes, Godleman’s is a contender for the slowest-ever Championship fifty – though he was still half-an-hour quicker than “The Barnacle” Trevor Bailey with his 350-ball effort in the first Ashes Test of 1958-59. Godleman’s innings, assembled in the painstaking manner of a man constructing a model ship in a bottle, was ended six minutes shy of six hours, though it might have felt longer to the smattering of Middlesex members who attended the opening day of the season at Lord’s.”I just love batting,” Godleman said, “I don’t necessarily see it as grinding, although the spectators might have a different view.” When it was suggested he may have set a record, he replied with a grin: “It wouldn’t surprise me, because it was pretty slow.”Godleman is at his third county in Derbyshire, having been released by Essex last year. His first full season at Middlesex, in 2007, brought 832 runs at 38.27 but he has never bettered that return and left his native London at the end of 2009. His Camden twang is still distinct and, although their paths have diverged he refers to Finn – who took 4 for 36 in his first outing of the season – as his “dearest friend”.The innings will undoubtedly long live in the memory – whether those present want it to or not – though it did not provide Derbyshire the platform it might have. Still, Godleman was pleased to have acquitted himself back at HQ. “Lord’s is always a special place but for me specifically, having grown up here and Middlesex being my boyhood club and facing my best friend opening the bowling against me, yeah.”It was a burst of 3 for 11 in six overs from said friend that most severely undermined Godleman’s graft, as Derbyshire’s 132 for 3 at tea rapidly became 150 for 6. In , Laertes warns his sister Ophelia that the “best safety lies in fear” but, having countenanced the danger and avoided it well enough in morning, Derbyshire’s batsmen became comfortably complicit in their demise. Dan Redfern and Chesney Hughes both poked at Finn deliveries they could have left on length, though Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s departure before the interval, pulling loosely to midwicket, was the most surprising.If the morning session had been billed as a horror show, with Division One newcomers Derbyshire put in under cloudy skies against one of the most-vaunted pace attacks on the circuit, it was to prove disappointingly short on video nasties. Finn’s second delivery was a leg-side wide and his opening spell of 7-5-5-0 camouflaged what had been a mixture of the unplayable and the unreachable.Toby Roland-Jones – who took eight wickets in the win over Nottinghamshire last week – was also wayward, though Tim Murtagh should have seen Godleman on his way when he had made just 2 but a low chance to third slip wriggled out of Sam Robson’s grasp.There was one early breakthrough and Wayne Madsen’s eminently preventable run-out foreshadowed the eventual path of the Derbyshire innings. In digging out a Finn delivery, a pinball ricochet sent it via Godleman, the non-striker, towards Chris Rogers at mid-off who was unerring in throwing down the stumps as Madsen belatedly realised his mistake in trying to get off the mark.Wes Durston and Godleman added 83 for the second wicket, the former looking increasingly assured right up until the moment he pulled Finn confidently straight to deep fine-leg and gave the bowler his 300th first-class wicket. That the ensuing collapse unfolded in slow motion was appropriate, though Godleman’s grit may yet prove vital for Derbyshire.

You cannot beat experience. Although 22-year-old James Harris tried to stand alone on centre stage, it was two thirty-somethings, Brendan Nash and Darren Stevens, who ended up sharing the honours by scoring unbeaten centuries

David Lloyd at Canterbury19-Jul-2012
ScorecardDarren Stevens played a stand-and-deliver innings•Getty ImagesYou cannot beat experience. Well, not always at any rate. And although 22-year-old James Harris tried with all his might to stand alone on centre stage, it was two thirty-somethings, Brendan Nash and Darren Stevens, who ended up sharing the honours by scoring unbeaten centuries to mastermind a spectacular Kent fightback.Harris still deserved plenty of praise for an encouraging performance that, at its peak, saw the young fast bowler boasting figures of 4 for 33 from 12 overs – a burst that gave Glamorgan real hope of following Tuesday’s win against Northants with a commanding start to this game.But, by close of play, even he looked battle-worn as century-makers Nash and Stevens took their well deserved applause for innings of contrasting style but equal worth. Their unbroken stand of exactly 200, in 46 overs, left Kent in command and ready to push for a victory that would underpin their promotion challenge. For both batsmen, this was a second championship hundred of the season. And by joining forces so effectively they not only lifted the hosts away from the early difficulty of 110 for 4 but also quashed at least some of Glamorgan’s enthusiasm.Harris, who missed the first half of the campaign while recovering from a groin operation, produced a beauty with the new ball to remove Rob Key and then needed something a little less menacing to find the edge of Ben Harmison’s bat.But it was two wickets in two balls from Harris soon after an hour’s stoppage for rain that really threatened Kent- and left Glamorgan believing they could quickly follow Tuesday’s first win of the season with a second four-day success. Sam Northeast’s attractive half-century ended when he played across the line while Mike Powell – up against the county who bade him farewell after last summer – snicked fatally to fall for a painful golden duck.Enter 36-year-old Stevens to face the hat-trick delivery. He blunted that threat with a forward defensive but, within minutes, boundaries were flying off his bat. Three came off Huw Waters, three more flowed in quick succession when John Glover took up the attack and for a time it looked as though Stevens would reach three figures before Nash – even though Nash had a 30-run start.Nash is not the sort of batsman to be easily ruffled by a friend or foe, however. The 34-year-old former West Indies Test batsman carried on in his unhurried way, punishing the bad ball when it came and happy to admire Stevens’ stand and deliver style at the other end.In fact, having rushed to 50 from 42 balls, Stevens slowed a touch while Nash accelerated – duly completing his century from 158 deliveries with 14 fours and celebrating the landmark with a rocking-the-cradle salute to his new-born son. As for Stevens, there was a rare scare on 92 when he almost ran himself out. But the hundred arrived, safely enough, from 125 balls with 18 fours and, like Nash, he looked hungry for more at the close.During the course of his innings, Stevens passed 10,000 first-class runs. On top of that, the power of his hitting damaged Marcus North – who needed ice treatment on his left ankle after stopping a shell of a drive at short extra cover – and almost removed umpire David Millns, who was struck, but not harmed, by a fierce pull while standing at square leg.For Glamorgan – who also had Waters off the field at one stage with a stomach upset – some good news was needed. It came at tea with the announcement that head coach Matthew Mott is staying with the county, despite having been interviewed for the head coach job at New Zealand.

South Africa put in a clinical all-round performance in the third-place play-off of the Under-19 World Cup, thrashing New Zealand by eight wickets in Townsville

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Aug-2012
ScorecardDavid Rhoda (left) ran through the lower half of New Zealand’s line-up•ICC/GettySouth Africa put in a clinical all-round performance in the third-place play-off of the Under-19 World Cup, thrashing New Zealand by eight wickets in Townsville. First, after New Zealand chose to bat, South Africa routed them for 90, and then chased down the target in less than 15 overs.New Zealand were in trouble straightaway, with left-arm quick Jan Frylinck picking up two in two balls in the second over of the match. And they never recovered. Calvin Savage ran through the rest of the top order, finishing with three wickets in four overs, while David Rhoda scythed through the tail. The innings’ top scorer was No. 7 Connor Neynens with just 21, and five batsmen were dismissed for ducks.South Africa opener Quinton de Kock scored a rapid fifty to all but seal the chase, and after he was dismissed – for 50 off 43 balls with nine fours – Theunis de Bruyn knocked off 19 of nine to finish the game with all of 212 deliveries to spare.

Queensland swept to victory over Western Australia on the final day at the WACA ground to clinch a place in the Sheffield Shield final, where they have the chance to defend last year’s title

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Mar-2013
ScorecardQueensland swept to victory over Western Australia on the final day at the WACA ground to clinch a place in the Sheffield Shield final, where they have the chance to defend last year’s title.James Hopes, Ryan Harris and Nathan Hauritz were the chief wicket-takers for the Bulls as WA never threatened their fourth innings target of 273. Both sides needed an outright win to clamber across a tightly packed Shield table and reach the final, and it was the visitors who were rewarded for fighting hard and well after a poor start to the match.Still catching up from their first innings dismissal for 164, the Bulls began the day with a narrow lead and only four wickets in hand, but half centuries from Michael Neser and Ryan Harris stretched the advantage so effectively that Hopes was granted the luxury of declaring at lunch.The Warriors quickly slipped to 5 for 71 and this time there were to be no late order heroics from the hosts, who had pushed themselves into contention for a spot in the final with a trio of remarkable comeback wins in the three rounds prior to this one.

Inter Miami have officially set their first preseason friendly on the calendar, with a match against the national team of El Salvador on the books.

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Inter Miami schedule preseason friendlySet to take on El Salvador national teamRumors of River Plate friendly followWHAT HAPPENED?

January 19 will see the Herons return to the pitch for the first time in 2024, with Messi and co. taking on Los Cuscatlecos. The match will be played on the road in San Salvador at the Estadio Cuscatlán, one day before the USMNT take on Slovenia in Texas in an international friendly. In addition to the El Salvador friendly, the Herons have also been linked with a match against Argentine powerhouse River Plate Thursday, that comes on top of previous rumors of matches against Al-Hilal and Newells Old Boys.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

With the match being played one day before the USMNT take the pitch, both Gregg Berhalter and Tata Martino will have to make a decision on where Benjamin Cremaschi and Deandre Yedlin go. The young attacker made his international debut in a friendly in September against Oman, but is not yet cap-tied due to not competing in an official competitive match. Yedlin, meanwhile, has been on the outskirts of the program of late, but could feature in January due to it not being an official FIFA window.

WHAT INTER MIAMI SAID

“We’re excited to start announcing our preseason plans and preparations ahead of a thrilling 2024 campaign. We look forward to facing the El Salvador national team in what will be a good first test for our squad against the best players from the country,” said Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI

The Herons will make their official return to the pitch on January 19, but in terms of build up until then, Inter Miami are in offseason mode. They'll go about planning roster additions, contracts and preparation for the 2024 MLS Draft, but more than anything, it's a small break from a congested schedule.

ESPNcricinfo previews the first CB series ODI between Australia and India in Melbourne

The Preview by Daniel Brettig04-Feb-2012Match factsFebruary 5, Melbourne
Start time 1420 (0320 GMT)Sachin Tendulkar is back in blue for the first time since the World Cup final•AFPBig PictureFive summers ago India regained some pride after an unhappy Test series by claiming the triangular ODI trophy. It was the start of their road to lifting the World Cup in 2011. This time around the tourists are again seeking a new start, having been bullied and battered to a 4-0 hiding by Australia in the Tests. There was little of the acrimony that shrouded 2007-08, partly because India were never really close enough to Australia for the two combatants to trade blows, and the tourists will enjoy the chance to return to a format they are well versed in.Despite a mediocre showing at the World Cup, Australia retained their No. 1 ODI ranking, and under Michael Clarke have won series in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Africa to maintain the position. The team is in a state of some transition, as injuries and form have resulted in the inclusion of several new faces in the squad for the first three matches, Peter Forrest among them. Ricky Ponting, Clarke and Michael Hussey remain critical contributors to the batting order, while Brett Lee’s speed and experience has again been called upon.India have been bolstered by the return of Sachin Tendulkar for his first ODI assignment since the World Cup, while a victory in the second Twenty20 international at the MCG on Friday night gave the visitors their first win of any kind on the tour. MS Dhoni leads a side that is growing gradually younger, with the batting trio of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma all expected to score heavily across the series, as well as providing plenty of energy in the field.Form guideAustralia WLWLW (Most recent first)
India WWLWWIn the spotlightRyan Harris built up a formidable ODI record in 17 matches up to July 2010, scooping 41 wickets at 16.12, his strike-rate an eye-popping 20.60. However injuries and cautious selection limited him strictly to Test match duty in the 18 months since, preventing Harris from attempting to maintain his enviable record. It will be a difficult task for Harris to keep nabbing wickets with such regularity against India and Sri Lanka, while also maintaining his fitness to be sound for the West Indies tour that follows this series.Sachin Tendulkar has not donned the blue shirt for India since the World Cup final, concentrating on Test matches instead. However the pursuit of his 100th international century has now gone on far longer than Tendulkar or any of his team-mates would have liked, hastening his return for the triangular series. Given the decent if not altogether imperious form displayed by the ODI team in his absence, Tendulkar will need to demonstrate his value quickly, for unless he intends to go on to another World Cup, the time for regeneration is at hand.Team newsHaving omitted Shaun Marsh due to his dismal Test form, the national selectors must choose who should partner David Warner at the top of the order. Matthew Wade excelled at the top in the first T20 in Sydney, while Ponting, Clarke and Hussey have all taken the role in the past. Daniel Christian should slip into the allrounder’s spot while Mitchell Marsh is absent for a Sheffield Shield fixture. Brett Lee has been ruled out of the series with a broken toe.Australia (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Matthew Wade (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 David Hussey, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Daniel Christian, 8 Ryan Harris, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Xavier Doherty, 11 Clint McKay.The question of where to include Tendulkar hangs over India’s selections, and a decision must also be made about whether to leave out a batsman to make room for Ravindra Jadeja. The likes of Irfan Pathan, Umesh Yadav and Vinay Kumar are in a duel for the final pace berth.India (possible) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Gautam Gambhir, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 Rohit Sharma, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 Irfan Pathan, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Praveen Kumar, 11 Zaheer Khan.Pitch and conditionsThe MCG surface should be sound for batting while offering little for the bowlers, though rain and cloud is forecast for the afternoon.Stats and trivia The match marks the return of the triangular series in Australia for the first time since India’s last visit in 2007-08 Australia’s last ODI meeting with India was the World Cup quarter-final, won by the hosts by five wickets in AhmedabadQuotes”Our success in the Test series against India is now irrelevant. We know from recent experience that if we’re not switched on both teams can hurt us.”

Cricket South Africa will interview three candidates, including former ICC chief Haroon Lorgat, for the chief executive’s job next week

Firdose Moonda10-Jul-2013Former ICC boss Haroon Lorgat is one of three candidates who will be interviewed by CSA for the position of CEO next week. The body has been without a permanent replacement for Gerald Majola since he was sacked last October although its leadership position has been fluid for the last 16 months, since Majola was suspended in March 2012.CSA has been through one acting boss, Jacques Faul, who is now in charge of the Titans franchise and are currently on their second. Naasei Appiah, the organisation’s CFO has been heading it since March this year as the timeline for appointing a CEO continues to shift.Initial talk out of CSA’s offices was that it would appoint its new CEO by April this year. In May, it announced that the process was still “running on schedule,” and the seat would be filled by the beginning of July. This has now been moved a third time.ESPNcricinfo understands one of the reasons for the delay was caused by difficulties in drawing up a shortlist. Despite receiving over 200 applications, CSA’s board was not satisfied with the overall calibre of the people who expressed interest in the job and extended the process to see if they could attract other candidates.Some of the contenders who are up against Lorgat are believed to be Bheki Shongwe, MD of Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa’s current football champions, university professor Denver Hendricks and head of Kagiso media Murphy Morobe. Previously Lorgat was understood to be competing with CSA’s cricket operations manager Mike Gajjar, Border Cricket CEO Thema Lupuwana and CSA’s transformation manager Max Jordaan and the concern was that the majority of candidates lacked significant business experience.Now, Lorgat remains the favourite but for a different reason: he could be the only one with extensive cricketing knowledge. Lorgat has been involved with South African cricket in the past, as convenor of selectors, ran the ICC for four years and has been involved at consultancy levels with Sri Lanka and Pakistan in recent months.The biggest obstacle to his challenge for the job appears to be from another cricketing country – India. The BCCI has made clear its preference that CSA does not appoint Lorgat because of the Indian board’s acrimonious history with him. Lorgat is believed to have irked the BCCI in his time at the ICC. As a result, India threatened to pull out of the upcoming tour to South Africa if Lorgat was given the job, according to CSA’s lead independent director Norman Arendse, who revealed the BCCI’s stance in March.CSA has since made public the fixtures for India’s tour to South Africa between November and January, which includes seven ODIs, two T20s and three Tests. India have objected to the itinerary, saying CSA released the schedule without the BCCI’s consent and that they would prefer fewer ODIs to give their players time off before they head to New Zealand.While the BCCI claim to have notified CSA of its grievances, CSA say it has not received any formal complaint. The already tense relationship between the two boards, who were previously on excellent terms, may only escalate as Lorgat moves closer to the top job.

Preview of the Twenty20 series between New Zealand and West Indies in Florida

The Preview by Sidharth Monga29-Jun-2012Match FactsSaturday, June 30, Start time 1500 (1900 GMT)
Sunday, July 1, Start time 1400 (1800 GMT)
Will the slow -and-low pitches handcuff Chris Gayle?•PA PhotosThe Big PictureAmericans have previously claimed PG Wodehouse is American. Over the next two days, the claim they’ll lay to a sport Wodehouse wrote extensively and endearingly on will be of a slightly different nature. It will mostly come from those who have moved to America from cricketing nations, and the Caribbean people have a big presence in Florida. Which is why it makes more sense to have New Zealand – a team committed to development of cricket in US – play West Indies, unlike the last time when Sri Lanka and New Zealand failed to draw big crowds in 2010.Also, unlike the last time, the organisers will hope for more encouragement from the conditions. New Zealand Cricket did send one of their best groundsmen to inject some life into the slow and low pitches that made for dull cricket the first time around. Jacob Oram, though, is of the view the pitch hasn’t changed much. It will obviously take them time to get pitch preparation right in Florida, but it is arguable how much dull contests – with stroke-making difficult and little help for bowlers – will help spread the game there.New Zealand won’t complain about the slow and low conditions, though, because they should level the playing field a little. West Indies are the clear favourites on paper, with Chris Gayle and the many allrounders in their squad. New Zealand, on the other hand, are without Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and James Franklin. A slow and low pitch can help neuter the big hitters to an extent, and those saved and scampered singles will become more important if the T20s there from two years ago are any indication.This will also be one of the final chances for the two sides to identify their combinations for the World Twenty20 to be held in Sri Lanka.Form guide (most recent first)West Indies LWLLW
New Zealand LLWWWWatch out for…Sunil Narine didn’t have the best of Test debuts when English conditions and the absence of pressure to score eight-nine runs off his each over got the better of him. Batsmen also kept watching for the thumb sticking out as he entered the delivery stride, which was a clear sign he would bowl an offbreak. Twenty20 on slow and low pitches might be a different story yet again.Nathan McCullum is another man who’ll cherish these conditions. He has been adept at opening the bowling in both forms of limited-overs cricket. In his last Twenty20 in Lauderhill, McCullum bowled four overs for 15 runs and Kumar Sangakkara’s wicket. He is now the 10th-highest wicket-taker in all T20Is.Team newsGiven the conditions, legspinner Samuel Badree should make his international debut to give West Indies an extra spinning option. If he does get the nod, Fidel Edwards is the likelier man to miss outWest Indies (possible): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Dwayne Smith, 3 Lendl Simmons, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt.), 9 Ravi Rampual, 10 Sunil Narine, and 11 Samuel BadreeNew Zealand will have to rely on atypical T20 batsmen like Kane Williamson and Dean Brownlie. Nor will these games feature sides that will start out in the World Twenty20 because McCullum, Daniel Vettori and Franklin will walk into that team. Tom Latham won the wicketkeeper race, and was ready to debut.New Zealand (possible): 1 Rob Nicol, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor (capt.), 5 Dean Brownlie/Daniel Flynn, 6 Jacob Oram, 7 Tom Latham (wk), 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Doug Bracewell, 10 Tim Southee, and 11 Ronnie Hira.Stats and trivia Statistical evidence points to a close match. Two of these sides’ three encounters have been ties and one won by New Zealand. The tiebreakers were split. This is the first time these times are playing a T20I against each other outside New Zealand.Martin Guptill is now the 10th-highest run-getter in T20Is, with 788 at an average of 35.81. Only six players have hit more sixes than his 67.Ross Taylor, with 29 catches, is the most prolific in T20Is.Quotes”I don’t think it’s going out there and trying to play any differently or showcase it just because it’s an American audience. First and foremost we’ve got to win. But I’d hope to say that we play a good brand of cricket anyway and we don’t need to worry about that. “

“It’s been a big change. It was a very cold and damp summer in England. We barely had four or five nice hot days in two months so to come here is a big change but for most of the West Indians I think they’re at home in this.”