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Somerset were bundled out for 103 before Derbyshire raced into a handy lead, despite the spin and bounce afforded Piyush Chawla on a first-day pitch

David Lloyd at Taunton03-Sep-2013
ScorecardTim Groenewald’s five wickets helped skittle Somerset•Getty Images

These are deeply worrying times for Somerset. They are in serious bother on the field after the first day of this relegation dogfight – and they could yet be in big trouble off it because of official concern over a dry pitch that turned and bounced significantly from the moment the home spinners set to work.”It is being monitored,” umpire David Millns confirmed, adding that ECB pitch inspector Bill Hughes had been in attendance throughout three spell-binding sessions. Presumably, Hughes wants to see more on Wednesday but even the hint of a points deduction will alarm home supporters.Not that Somerset’s followers are sitting anything like comfortably anyway after Derbyshire had deservedly earned a handy advantage through their diligent seamers and determined batsmen. If momentum means anything (and events here suggest that idea is overrated) then the hosts should have been on a high from the outset after their terrific win against Middlesex last week, while the visitors were surely downcast following a defeat by Surrey that dumped them to the foot of the table.Forget all that, though. Revitalised by the return of leading pace bowler Tim Groenewald, who missed the Surrey match because of paternity leave, and strengthened further by the arguably overdue recall of Tony Palladino, Derbyshire’s pacemen feasted on some all-too-familiar frailties in the Somerset batting department to claim nine wickets between them.New dad Groenewald picked up his third five-for during another super-consistent season while Palladino – who has battled side and abdominal injuries this year but was then left out during the second half of August when fit – removed three of Somerset’s top four in his 4 for 34.From scoring 449 last week, Somerset were bundled out for barely 100 just after lunch. When Derbyshire then laboured to 127 for 5, and both Piyush Chawla and fellow spinner Jack Leach were causing big problems with turn and bounce, Somerset’s total did not look quite so feeble. Richard Johnson and Tom Poynton broke free from the shackles, though, to earn their team an already significant advantage with a splendid unbeaten stand of 93 for the sixth wicket.Marcus Trescothick has had a nightmare or two with the toss this summer, most obviously when he chose to bat first at Horsham and his team were bowled out for 76. But although this pitch is green-tinged for most of its length, there was no reason for the home captain not to take first use – especially as both ends are dry and made for spinners.Trouble was, Somerset failed horribly to build the big first innings they had set their sights on. The new ball appeared to do next to nothing for eight overs. Then, as morning cloud rolled in, it did start to move around a little off the seam but, even so, there were too many gifts going Derbyshire’s way.Trescothick, edging a back of a length delivery to third slip, Nick Compton – nicking one that left him late – and Chris Jones, well taken low down by keeper Poynton, could be said to have been ‘got out’ to a greater or lesser extent. But, thereafter, good judgement was in short supply.Craig Kieswetter inexplicably drove flamboyantly to mid-off, having just sliced a boundary and offered a sharp return catch off the previous two balls. Alex Barrow did not offer a shot of any kind to lose his off stump and James Hildreth went lbw, trying to work to leg when he should have been playing straight.Despite those bloopers, and a couple more than soon followed, it would be wrong not to give Groenewald and Palladino – aided and abetted by Mark Footitt – huge credit for keeping foot firmly on throat. Their only tiny disappointment was in not limiting Somerset to two figures, but Chawla takes a bit of containing and Groenewald did the trick before much damage was done.In what may yet be a low-scoring game, an opening stand of 52 between Ben Slater and Paul Borrington looks good from a Derbyshire perspective – and depressing for Somerset, given that Borrington offered a difficult, high chance to keeper Kieswetter before there was a run on the board.It did not appear too costly, however, once Chawla began to make the ball turn and bounce – something both he and Leach did from the moment they were set loose. Whether the assistance they gained was excessive for the first afternoon of a Championship match, the officials must decide. But, in any event, Johnson and Poynton started to take matters into their own hands with increasingly aggressive innings.Their fightback started, really, once Johnson hoisted Chawla for a straight six – a shot which put the ball out of the ground and meant that a replacement had to be summoned. From then on, the spinners seemed to lose their magic and both batsmen celebrated half-centuries before the close.

Michael Hussey has said his team is ready to face Harbhajan Singh, who has had confrontations with Australians in the past, when they take on India in the Super Eights in Colombo

Daniel Brettig26-Sep-2012No Australian Twenty20 team has been as aggressive in word or deed as the one about to face India in a critical Super Eights match at the World T20. So there is understandable anticipation about the rejoining of an old battle with Harbhajan Singh, famously provocative in the past but so far this tournament doing more with the ball than with his choice of words.Australia showed plenty of intent in the field in their opening match against Ireland, David Warner and Shane Watson particularly active in their efforts to rile the opposition. Watson later said this was part of how the team “gets up” for a serious contest. Any attempts at a similar approach against the West Indies were momentarily silenced by the blazing bats of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels before George Bailey’s team notched a rain-assisted victory.Harbhajan’s recall was always likely to tempt another encounter with Australia, a team with which he has a history of confrontation and controversy, not least the 2008 Sydney Test match and its aftermath. While his striking display against England suggested a Harbhajan more focused on his bowling than anything else, the sight of the green and gold may stir that old familiar feeling.Michael Hussey, a witness to much of the aforementioned history, said he expected Harbhajan to resume his famously provocative ways, and counselled his younger teammates to remain true to themselves in dealing with any verbal confrontations.”I prefer to walk away and not worry about it,” Hussey said. “If he [Harbhajan] wants to use his energy up sledging and carrying on, that’s fine. Some other guys really thrive on it. Davey Warner, he likes a little bit of interaction out there and it gets him going.”So I don’t think there is a right way or wrong way to handle it but I think it’s up to the individual to know he’s going to try these tactics so you’ve got to be ready for it, and be sure it doesn’t affect your concentration but handle it in your own way. I just think let him [Warner] go, let him play his way. That’s what has given him success so far.”The match against India is the first of a testy trio that also features South Africa and Pakistan, leaving Hussey to reason that a first-up victory would ease a great deal of pressure from the team’s shoulders.”If we can win that first one in the Super Eights, it does give you that confidence and that little buffer that you know you just need one out of the last two to get through,” Hussey said. “It’s pretty much an early grand final really in the context of the tournament. But that relaxed attitude is important as well. We need to make sure we’re not too tense.”All the [batsmen] are playing well in the nets and they’ve got a lot of confidence, and that’s a big part of Twenty20. You need to have no doubts in your mind or fears, you’ve got to trust yourself and let your instincts take over.”The coach Mickey Arthur treated Australia’s player to two days off after their qualification for the next phase, though he then extracted a measure of recompense by pushing the players through a decidedly rigorous Tuesday training session.”We have had a few relaxing days but I expect that’s all about to end,” Hussey said. “Training yesterday [Tuesday] was very long and pretty intense and a welcome back to reality really. The pressure and tension are only going to rise as we get closer to that India match because it’s a huge game.”

Andy Flower will miss his first match since taking over as England team director when he sits out the one-day international against Ireland in Dublin

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2011Andy Flower will miss his first match since taking over as England team director when he sits out the one-day international against Ireland in Dublin. The match takes place three days after the final Test against India, at The Oval, and Richard Halsall, the fielding coach, will be in charge of the team.When Flower signed his new deal with the ECB in May it was widely believed that the subject of him taking a break from the demands of the job was considered although nothing was written into the contract. In many ways Flower’s role is more intense than the players’ because he has to plot and plan for the next challenge and is involved with all three formats.The only time Flower has missed any of England’s cricket since taking the top job were the second and third days of the first Test against Australia, at Brisbane, when he underwent surgery to remove a melanoma from below his right eye. Halsall took charge of the team in Flower’s absence which gave a clear indication of the contingency plans in place.Flower will rejoin the squad ahead of the Twenty20 international against India, at Old Trafford, on August 31 which is then followed by five one-day internationals. Two additional Twenty20s have now been added to the end of the season against West Indies, to help fulfil contractual obligations following the loss of the Stanford games, before the team fly to India for a one-day series in early October.England then have their longest break of recent times before Christmas when they aren’t in action during November and December. However, after the festive season the demands increase again with a full tour against Pakistan in UAE followed by a short series in Sri Lanka. It remains to be seen whether Flower fits in any further breaks before the start of another full summer in 2012.

The six major associations in New Zealand have announced their list of 12 contracted players for the 2010-11 season

Cricinfo staff24-Aug-2010The six major associations in New Zealand have announced their list of 12 contracted players for the 2010-11 season.Auckland: Michael Bates, Andrew De Boorder, Colin De Grandhomme, Dusan Hakaraia, Roneel Hira, Anaru Kitchen, Jimmy Neesham, Jeet Raval, Gareth Shaw, Lance Shaw, Bhupinder Singh, Greg ToddNote – Johann Myburgh was included in the original 11 contracts offered by Auckland Cricket but subsequently declined the offer to pursue a playing career in England.Canterbury: Corey Anderson, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Dean Brownlie, Andrew Ellis, Carl Frauenstein, Peter Fulton, Rob Nicol, Michael Papps, Richard Sherlock, Shanan Stewart, Reece YoungCentral Districts: Doug Bracewell, Brendon Diamanti, Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Michael Mason, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tarun Nethula, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Brad Patton, Mathew Sinclair, Kruger van Wyk, Tim WestonNorthern Districts: Graeme Aldridge, Jono Boult, Trent Boult, Anton Devcich, Daniel Flynn, James Marshall, Peter McGlashan, Michael Parlane, Bradley Scott, Anurag Verma, Brad Wilson, Joseph YovichWellington: Harry Boam, Josh Brodie, Dewayne Bowden, Matthew Bell, Leighton Burtt, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Cameron Merchant, Neal Parlane, Joe Austin-Smellie, Malaesaili Tugaga, Luke WoodcockOtago: Nick Beard, Darren Broom, Neil Broom, Anthony Bullick, Ian Butler, Craig Cumming, Derek de Boorder, Shaun Haig, Warren McSkimming, Aaron Redmond, Neil Wagner, Sam Wells

Surrey’s go-slow at Taunton backfires as lead closes to eight points

ECB Reporters Network12-Sep-2024Spinners Archie Vaughan and Jack Leach sparked a dramatic late Surrey collapse as Somerset boosted hopes of a first ever Vitality County Championship title with a thrilling 111-run win over the Division One leaders at Taunton.Chasing 221 to win on a turning pitch, Surrey were bowled out for 109 with less than five minutes left in the game, 18-year-old Vaughan claiming five for 38 and match figures of 11 for 140, while Leach finished with five for 37. Only Dom Sibley (56) and Ben Foakes (20) offered prolonged resistance, but their fourth-wicket stand of 49 in 29 overs looked to have secured a draw before seven wickets fell for 14 runs at the end.Somerset had extended their second innings score from an overnight 194 for fine to 224 all out, thanks to more heroics from the injured Tom Banton, last man out for 46, and Craig Overton, unbeaten on 49 after an unlikely stand of 71, which gave their side genuine hope of victory.They claimed 21 points from the game to Surrey’s five and closed the gap at the top of the table to just eight points with two matches to play.The final day began with the sight of Banton limping slowly out to bat with a runner, as he had done the previous evening. After two balls, he had to drag his damaged ankle back to the pavilion again as rain interrupted play.A resumption at 11.05am, with eight overs lost, saw Overton and Banton bring up a half-century partnership off 61 balls. The most extraordinary of Banton’s six fours came when he reverse swept Shakib Al Hasan, despite severely limited foot movement.The memorable 65-ball innings ended when Shakib found a way through Banton’s defence and bowled him, leaving Overton one short of a deserved fifty, after facing 78 balls and occupying the crease for two hours and 16 minutes.
Surrey were left with a tricky 13 overs to bat before lunch, but Rory Burns and Sibley negotiated it with skill and calmness. The pattern continued after another shower had delayed the restart until 1.20pm, with three more overs lost.But as the effects of the roller began to wear off, the ball began to turn sharply and Vaughan struck a double blow in the 22nd over, having Burns caught behind for 15 and then bowling Ryan Patel for a third-ball duck. At the other end, Leach beat Ben Geddes with three successive deliveries in the 29th over.Geddes’ luck ran out in Leach’s next over when he was pinned lbw and at 46 for three, Surrey were in a deepening hole. Sibley and Foakes abandoned any attacking intent and met the nagging accuracy of Somerset’s spinners with a spell of solid defence, bringing 50 up in the 38th over.Both were quick to make for the pavilion when rain started falling again at 2.45pm with the score 63 for three. Tea was taken with Sibley unbeaten on 38.The final session began at 3.20pm with another three overs lost. Leach continued to probe and beat the outside edge, but after 44 consecutive overs of spin, teenager Vaughan took a break and was replaced by Craig Overton.
Brett Randell then replaced Leach, who had sent down 14 maidens in 24 overs. After a few overs of seam, the spinners changed ends in a final Somerset throw of the dice, Leach switching to the River End.A swept single off Vaughan took Sibley to a 165-ball half-century that perfectly suited the situation. But then Foakes edged Leach to Lewis Gregory at first slip and when Sibley’s defiance ended in similar fashion in the left-armer’s next over, panic set in for the visitors.Gregory claimed a third slip catch to send back Shakib and give Vaughan his ninth wicket of the match. It became ten when Tom Curran aimed to cut the 18-year-old and got an inside edge onto his stumps.Cameron Steel fell lbw to Vaughan and Surrey were eight down with a minimum of nine overs remaining. Jordan Clark and Kemar Roach ran down the overs with an obdurate partnership before Clark was bowled by Vaughan for a 47-ball duck.Last man Dan Worrall came out to be surrounded by close fielders and lasted just two balls before Leach dismissed him leg before to spark wild celebrations among team-mates and supporters.

The West Indies legspinner was struck in the face while training

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2023West Indies legspinner Yannic Cariah has undergone a surgery to repair a fracture in his nose. He suffered the injury when he was struck in the face during a training session on Saturday on the eve of West Indies’ first game of the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe.The surgery took place in Harare yesterday, and Cariah will remain with the squad under the care of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) medical team, the board said in a statement.CWI said that a decision on when he will be available to play again will be made in the next few days based on how he recovers.Related

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West Indies assistant coach Floyd Reifer was also struck in the face during training on Wednesday and underwent a similar procedure. He will continue his coaching duties while under the supervision of the medical team, the board said.Led by Shai Hope, West Indies have started their World Cup qualifying campaign with two wins and are all but in the Super Sixes stage.In their first game, West Indies successfully defended 297 against USA.Then, against Nepal, centuries from Hope and Nicholas Pooran laid the platform for a 101-run thrashing.They take on Zimbabwe in their next game, tomorrow, and then face Netherlands in their last game of the group stage on Monday.