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Somerset wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter stated his case for an England one-day international recall with an accomplished hundred as the Cidermen defeated Notts Outlaws by 47 runs

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Apr-2011
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Somerset wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter stated his case for an England one-day international recall with an accomplished hundred as the Cidermen defeated Notts Outlaws by 47 runs.
The 23-year-old hit eight fours and two sixes in a 111-ball innings before being caught at midwicket for 100.Kieswetter played second fiddle to Jos Buttler in their fifth-wicket stand of 104 as 20-year-old Buttler displayed astonishing power to blast an unbeaten 94 from just 56 balls, including two sixes and 13 fours. Needing 271 to win, Notts never threatened to reach their target, as Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis picked up 4 for 35 to help bowl out the hosts for 223.Notts got the game off to the perfect start after winning the toss and choosing to field as Luke Fletcher removed Somerset skipper Marcus Trescothick lbw for a duck with the third ball of the match. But that was about as good as the game got for the home side, who handed former
Somerset seamer Ben Phillips his debut after his move to Trent Bridge in the winter and saw the 36-year-old smashed for 66 off his seven overs.Kieswetter put on 100 for the second wicket with Peter Trego, who made 47 from 40 balls before he was bowled by Samit Patel in the 16th over, with Nick Compton and James Hildreth following in quick succession. That only brought the prodigiously talented Buttler to the crease and the
former England Under-19 international demonstrated formidably quick hands and feet as he hit boundaries all around the wicket.Notts captain Chris Read rotated his bowlers frequently in an attempt to disrupt the batting momentum but they missed one opportunity to remove Buttler on 54, when the batsman mistimed a drive to wide extra cover off left-arm spinner Patel only to see the chance dropped.The Outlaws needed their own young star Alex Hales to shine if they were to successfully chase their target but after the elegant right-hander hit five fours off the first four overs, he was late on a pull shot off Gemaal Hussain and was caught at mid-on for 23. And the pressure quickly mounted from there, with Patel driving Mendis to long-on to spark a run of three wickets in consecutive overs, with Neil Edwards and Read also sent back to the pavilion.Adam Voges and Steven Mullaney put on 70 for the fifth wicket but once they were out the game was effectively over, Mendis sealing the win with four overs left when Fletcher swept to deep midwicket.

Pakistan’s captain for the Asia Cup and the tour of England, has stepped up efforts to convince Mohammad Yousuf to come out of retirement

Cricinfo staff27-May-2010Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s captain for the Asia Cup and the tour of England, has stepped up efforts to convince Mohammad Yousuf to come out of retirement and bolster the side’s potentially tough Test assignment in England, where they face off against the hosts and Australia.”I’ve talked to Yousuf and I’ve also talked to a few elders, who can influence him to come out of retirement for the sake of Pakistan,” Afridi told the . “I am sure that he would listen to them and change his mind about retiring from international cricket. We will certainly need his services in England.”Yousuf announced his retirement from the game following the ban issued by the PCB after Pakistan’s unsuccessful tour of Australia. Of the seven punished players, he was the only one to not file a formal appeal against the punishments imposed. On Tuesday, Pakistan announced the 35-member list of probables for the two upcoming tours. Five of the punished players, including Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik who are currently serving bans that are due to be reviewed, were included in the long list, but Yousuf was not considered.The England tour begins in end-June, and Afridi is confident that there is enough time for Yousuf to prepare for the tour even if he is included in the eleventh hour. “Yousuf is a great batsman and I’m sure that even if he just plays in a couple of warm-up matches before the Test series, he will be ready for the tough assignment. He won’t need much time to get ready for the tour.”Yousuf confirmed that Afridi has been in discussions with him over a possible comeback. “Yes Afridi called me up and we spoke at length about the cricket scenario. I told him I took the decision to retire after seeking advice from my elders and I can only take back the retirement decision if my elders give me permission to do this,” Yousuf said.Since embracing Islam, Yousuf has sought out religious elders during his trips to Raiwind and on preaching missions. He is known to follow their advice before making important decisions.

Captain’s cool 64 not out sees Sunrisers home against Diamonds

ECB Reporters Network02-Jun-2024Grace Scrivens played a captain’s knock of 64 not out to power Sunrisers to a final-ball victory over Northern Diamonds in this Charlotte Edwards Cup clash at Wantage Road.Chasing just 124 to win on a slow surface, Sunrisers were behind the run rate from the start, losing six wickets along the way, leaving Scrivens to play a lone hand.She went into the final over, bowled by Erin Burns, needing 11 to win and took two boundaries off the first five deliveries, one a reverse sweep and the other a heave through backward square leg. It left Sunrisers needing two off the last ball to win which Scrivens cooly smashed down the ground for four.Diamonds skipper Hollie Armitage had struck 39 to give her team a platform in a second-wicket stand of 39 in 5.2 overs with former England opener Lauren Winfield-Hill (26).But the visitors found it increasingly difficult to accelerate on a slow pitch against some disciplined bowling and fielding from Sunrisers, they collapsed in the final 5.2 overs, losing six wickets for 34 to finish on 123 for 8. Mady Villiers and Australian overseas Nicola Hancock shared two wickets a piece.Armitage was also Diamond’s most successful bowler with three late wickets for 16.This was Diamond’s fifth straight defeat in five games in this tournament so far this season, while Sunrisers chalked up their second victory.Earlier, Winfield Hill took two fours off a wayward opening over from Villiers but Sunrisers almost made an early breakthrough when Leah Dobson top-edged to short third where Lissy Macleod put down an easy chance. But with Dobson becalmed, she tried to force the pace by coming down the pitch to Hancock and was bowled soon after.Winfield-Hill swung Eva Gray over midwicket for four, but Diamonds finished the powerplay on a disappointing 27 for 1.Incoming batter Armitage attempted to accelerate, sweeping Jo Gardner for four and dispatching Sophie Munro in the same area next over in a busy stand with Winfield-Hill.The former England opener’s downfall came when she made room to drive Jodi Grewcock and picked out Scrivens at mid-off.Burns (11) was next to go when she attempted to sweep Villiers and was caught by Flo Miller running in from deep midwicket with Diamonds 89 for 3 in the 15th over.Diamonds lost Armitage in the next over when she played on, attempting to ramp Hancock.With Diamonds’ innings stalling, Bess Heath forced the pace, slashing Hancock through cover for four and then top-edging a pull shot for six off the next delivery.Wickets continued to fall as Villiers and keeper Amara Carr combined to run out Sterre Kalis after the batter ended up as the same end as Heath. Emma Marlow then moved outside off stump to sweep Villiers and was caught behind square by MacLeod. In the final over, Gray bowled a brilliant inswinging yorker to bowl Katherine Fraser before Heath was run out by Carr off the final ball for 18.When Sunrisers batted, Scrivens pulled Rachel Slater over long-off for four and Jo Gardner also went the aerial route hitting the same bowler over long-on to the ropes, but Sunrisers’ pace was even more pedestrian than their opponents, reaching just 22 without loss at the end of the powerplay.The dangerous, in-form Gardner struck Grace Hall down the pitch for a huge six to try to regain the momentum, but the bowler made the crucial breakthrough when she had her caught at wide mid-off by Marlow with the score 41 for 1 at the end of the ninth over. Marlow then took a second catch as MacLeod fell to Fraser.With the required run rate escalating rapidly past nine an over, Villiers pulled Armitage hard to deep midwicket where Heath took a good juggling catch. Sunrisers lost a further wicket in the next over when Burns tossed one up, deceiving Cordelia Griffiths as she came down the pitch and was bowled.Scrivens pushed on striking the scoreboard as she hit Slater down the ground for six, before Grewcock ended the 15th over by sweeping for four.Armitage was on a hat-trick when Grewcock chipped her back for an easy caught and bowled with the score 99 for 5 in the 18th over before Hancock was bowled without scoring.Scrivens then smashed Katie Levick through the covers for four to set up an exciting final over.

Contributions from Nat Sciver-Brunt, Ecclestone and Knight not enough as England fall short

Valkerie Baynes24-Feb-2023South Africa staged their best performance of the tournament – with bat, ball and in the field – to upset England and secure a place in a World Cup final for the first time in any form of international cricket – men’s or women’s.Their victory was built on a 96-run opening stand between Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt as both racked up half-centuries for the second consecutive time in this tournament before Marizanne Kapp’s cameo of 27 from 13 balls took the hosts to 164 for 4. That left England needing their joint third-highest successful T20I run chase and joint-highest at a World Cup, matching their 2009 semi-final effort against Australia.Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail then claimed seven wickets between them – and Brits took a Women’s T20I record-equalling four catches to put the task beyond England and set up a clash for the trophy with defending champions Australia on Sunday. All of this had seemed so far away a fortnight ago.The hosts had lost the opening match of the tournament to Sri Lanka by three runs at Newlands, setting back their campaign and were also beaten by Australia in Gqeberha. But they defeated Bangladesh in their final group game to squeeze into the knockout stages at the expense of New Zealand. Back in Cape Town on Friday, they held their nerve superbly to pull off a stunning victory before 7,507 fans.Heather Knight and England came so close•AFP/Getty Images

Ismail, Khaka the destroyers

Ismail bowled with pace and guile in the powerplay – including some aggressive bouncers, one of which was clocked at 128kph. She claimed two wickets in that time, although England had 55 runs on the board compared to South Africa’s 37 without loss. Sophia Dunkley first miscued to midwicket, where Brits took a simple catch but it was Brits’ absolute blinder from the same position to remove Alice Capsey for a second-ball duck that set the innings alight. Cramped by the short ball, Capsey steered the ball to the right of the fielder, who ran towards it and dived, clutching the ball just above the turf as her team-mates steamed in to congratulate her – none more so than Ismail, who leapt into Brits’ arms.Brits took another sharp catch to remove Danni Wyatt and give Khaka her first after Wyatt had been put down by Wolvaardt off Khaka’s bowling earlier in the innings. It looked like it would fall to Nat Sciver-Brunt, England’s in-form batter, to rescue her side, particularly when Chloe Tryon missed a caught-and-bowled chance, but Brits came to the fore again with a catch at long-on off a Nadine de Klerk slower ball.Having also had Amy Jones caught by Anneke Bosch, two wickets in two balls from Khaka to remove Sophie Ecclestone and Katherine Sciver-Brunt in the 18th over left England needing 25 runs off the remaining two overs. Heather Knight’s six off Kapp helped make it 13 off the last, but then Ismail pegged back Knight’s leg stump with three balls remaining and 12 still needed. Sarah Glenn and Charlie Dean managed just five between them before Glenn dropped to her haunches in anguish and the pair trudged off arm-in-arm as the South Africans celebrated wildly.

The Brits and Wolvaardt show: Part 2

After a sluggish start – South Africa scored just 14 off the first four overs after winning the toss – they started to raise the tempo led by Wolvaardt’s heave a long way over the fence at wide long-off. After the powerplay, they looked more in control as she and Brits followed up their unbroken stand worth 117 runs against Bangladesh with another key partnership.Tazmin Brits produced a second successive fifty in a must-win match for South Africa•Getty Images

Wolvaardt brought up her sixth T20I fifty with a four through cover off Ecclestone but fell three balls later to a leading edge gobbled up by Dean at cover. But that prompted Brits to flick the switch as she danced down the pitch twice in three balls to power Glenn over deep midwicket and long-on for two sixes. She brought up her half-century next ball with a four through the covers, helping herself to 17 runs off a pivotal 15th over. Brits eventually fell to a solid catch by Katherine but not before she had propelled her side towards a competitive total.

Ecclestone keeps England in it

England hadn’t helped themselves with a scrappy performance in the field, but Ecclestone’s two wickets in three balls – she snared the potentially explosive Tryon, caught attempting to pull but picking out Nat at deep midwicket for just 3 and de Klerk, bowled for a second-ball duck – momentarily derailed South Africa’s final push in the penultimate over.But then Kapp, the beneficiary of a misfield while on 2, cashed in first off a high full toss by Katherine in the final over which she pulled for a one-bounce four through deep backward square leg. Then she hammered back-to-back fours off the last two balls piercing the gap between cover and mid-off and high over deep midwicket to give the hosts the late lift they needed.

Ramiz says, “Faisal will be a perfect fit as he can utilise his vast experience and knowledge to help us achieve our commercial and financial objectives”

Umar Farooq13-Dec-2021Former ICC Chief Finance Officer Faisal Hasnain has been appointed the new Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO for three years. He will be taking over next month to fill the position left vacant by Wasim Khan, who resigned four months before his contract ended.”I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Faisal Hasnain as the PCB’s Chief Executive and welcome him to Pakistan cricket family,” PCB chief Ramiz Raja said in a statement. “Faisal is a familiar figure in world cricket and is highly regarded, respected and trusted for his excellence in corporate governance, financial management and commercial acumen. With the plans I have for the PCB, Faisal will be a perfect fit as he can utilise his vast experience and knowledge to help us achieve our commercial and financial objectives of making Pakistan cricket bigger and stronger.”This is the first major appointment by Ramiz, who has seen off several big names since taking over as the PCB chairman. Other than Wasim, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis were the first ones to leave after Ramiz’s formal appointment in September. The board’s commercial head Babar Hamid was also sacked recently. Another change in the PSL set-up is the impending departure of GM commercial Imran Ahmed Khan who has handed in his resignation and is due to move on in a fortnight.Sixty-two-year-old Hasnain’s credentials are based on 35 years spent in finance and sports administration roles, and his last job was with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) as managing director until 2018. He had two stints with the ICC as CFO – 2002 to 2008 and 2010 to 2017. He has been actively involved in uplifting the ICC’s financial health and was part of the sales of the ICC commercial rights cycles 2007 to 2015 and 2016 to 2023. His role with Zimbabwe Cricket was broadly to mitigate the crisis in the board to bring them back on the map by refinancing their commercial debts and finding a node from the ICC on getting financial support.He managed to secure hosting rights for ZC for the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers, he helped upgrade and refurbish stadiums, and he helped bring back marquee players such as Brendan Taylor, Kyle Jarvis and Solomon Mire. But the word was unable to fully claw its way out of a financial crisis that has haunted the country for the last decade-and-a-half. He resigned only a year later, citing the failure to qualify for the 2019 World Cup as the major factor.Born in Karachi, Hasnain is a UK-qualified Chartered Accountant and made his career largely in the UK and the Middle-East.”I feel honoured and privileged to have been awarded with this once in a lifetime opportunity to serve Pakistan cricket and thank the PCB Chairman and the Board of Governors for having the confidence in my capabilities,” he said. “I am fully committed to playing my part in delivering the PCB Chairman’s vision for Pakistan cricket, fulfilling the expectations and dreams of millions of passionate Pakistan cricket fans and strengthening the relationships with our existing commercial partners, the ICC and other Cricket Boards and developing new partnerships as we move forward.”These are highly exciting times in Pakistan cricket and I look forward to working very closely with my colleagues at the PCB so that we can collectively further enhance the image, reputation and profile of this great institution.”

Ireland batsman dents own pride in matchwinning 82 from 37 balls

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Aug-2020Kevin O’Brien left himself a hefty bill for repairs in a hard-hitting onslaught for Leinster Lightning against North West Warriors in Dublin, after smashing his own car windscreen while hitting a six.In a match reduced to 12 overs a side due to rain interruptions, O’Brien’s bruising innings of 82 from 37 balls was more than enough to secure a 24-run DLS win.However, it later transpired that one of his eight sixes had sailed into the car park at Pembroke Cricket Club, and wrecked the rear window of his Toyota.Kevin O’Brien smashed his own windscreen while hitting a six•Cricket Ireland

It had been a typically belligerent onslaught from the 36-year-old O’Brien, whose greatest claim to fame was the 50-ball hundred against England at the 2011 World Cup in Bengaluru, but who was also at the crease at the Ageas Bowl last month while Ireland once again chased down 329 to beat England.For Leinster, O’Brien struck his second ball for six and didn’t let up, despite the risk of his momentum being interrupted by a mid-innings rain break.Leinster finished with 124 for 4 from 12 overs, leaving the visiting Warriors a near-impossible task of chasing down the massive target in dull, damp conditions.They lost wickets early in the response, and apart from William Porterfield’s 50 from 30 balls, never looked like coming close.

Lasith Malinga sat out Galle’s game against Colombo, and is expected to fly out to join Mumbai Indians before returning for the one-day tournament final

Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Apr-2019Dimuth Karunaratne was finally able to produce the kind of substantial ODI score Sri Lanka’s selectors were looking for, but it was offspinner Akila Dananjaya who impressed the most in the final round of group games in the Super Four Provincial Limited-Over Tournament, taking 5 for 53 for Colombo against a Galle side that had won both their previous matches.In addition to Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga also made half-centuries on the day. Neither of those players seem to be serious contenders for the World Cup squad, however.Akila had been Sri Lanka’s first-choice spinner last year, until he failed a biomechanics test and had his offbreak banned. When he remedied his action and returned to the fray, he looked a diminished bowler in the one-dayers against South Africa, taking only two wickets in four games.Angelo Mathews top-scored for Dambulla against Kandy•Sri Lanka Cricket

This showing against Galle, however, may persuade the selectors to pick him in their World Cup squad, perhaps alongside legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who is also having a good tournament. Akila’s wickets in this match were important ones – he dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva, Milinda Siriwardana and Minodh Bhanuka, all of whom had been in decent form. Hasaranga was one of his victims as well.Karunaratne’s 86 off 74, meanwhile, propelled him to the top of the tournament run-scorers’ list after three matches, which is a strong suggestion to the selectors that he is ready to play ODI cricket again.His innings helped Kandy ease to a seven-wicket win over Dambulla, who had earlier been dismissed for 198 thanks in part to Thisara Perera’s 4 for 25. Karunaratne will have one more chance of strengthening his World Cup case when Kandy play Dambulla again on Wednesday.A notable absence from the Galle XI for this match was captain Lasith Malinga, who is expected to fly back to India in order to be available for Mumbai Indians’ match against Kings XI Punjab at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. He is, however, expected to catch another overnight flight back to Sri Lanka that same evening, in order to make it to Dambulla in time for the Galle v Colombo tournament final.

Yorkshire’s ground will also be one of the host venues for the new eight-team T20 competition, along with Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl, which missed out on an Ashes Test

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2018Headingley has been awarded the lucrative double of an India and an Ashes Test during the ECB’s major match allocation for 2020-2024. Yorkshire’s ground will also be one of the host venues for the new eight-team T20 competition, along with Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl – which missed out on an Ashes Test – Lord’s, The Oval, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Cardiff.Lord’s is also a notable victor from the process, retaining the right to host two Tests a year despite a reduction in the overall programme. Like Headingley, Old Trafford was awarded Tests featuring India and Australia.Trent Bridge, a stronghold for England, is an absentee from the list of the venues for the 2023 Ashes, but the ground will become the home of the 50-over competition final from 2020, instead of Lord’s. Edgbaston will continue to host T20 Finals Day, while both grounds were handed four Tests in the five-year cycle.The ECB announcement sees Test cricket in England return exclusively to its six traditional venues, after more than a decade in which grounds around the country were encouraged to bid for matches, often to the detriment of their finances.

Who has what? ECB men’s internationals 2020-2024

2020Tests Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord’s (two matches), Old Trafford, Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord’s, Riverside, Trent Bridge
T20s Ageas Bowl (two matches), Headingley (two matches), Old Trafford, Cardiff2021Tests Headingley, The Oval, Lord’s (two matches), Old Trafford, Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord’s, Riverside, Cardiff
T20s Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston, Headingley, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent Bridge2022Tests Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Lord’s (two matches), Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord’s, Old Trafford, Riverside
T20s Ageas Bowl (two matches), Headingley, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent Bridge2023Tests Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Lord’s (two matches), Old Trafford
ODIs Ageas Bowl, Bristol, Lord’s, Riverside, Cardiff, Trent Bridge
T20s Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent Bridge2024Tests Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord’s (two matches), Old Trafford, Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Headingley, Lord’s, Riverside, Cardiff
T20s Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Old Trafford, CardiffEight host venues for new T20 Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Lord’s, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent BridgeT20 Blast finals day 2020-24 EdgbastonOne-day final 2020-24 Trent BridgeA view across the Ageas Bowl•Getty Images

The omission of Southampton for an Ashes Test is something of a surprise. One of the packages of matches offered by the ECB – featuring only one Test in the cycle – looked to be designed with the ground in mind. Durham, meanwhile, failed in their attempt to argue they should provide one of the homes for the new T20 sides.Cardiff was understood not to have bid for Tests but remains a regular venue for ODIs and T20 internationals. The Riverside and Bristol have been awarded an ODI in each summer from 2020 but Taunton, which hosted an England men’s T20 in 2017, is not on the list.Work began over the winter at Headingley to rebuild the old Rugby Stand. The threat of a withdrawal of funding for the project last year had led to concerns about the future of the ground as an international venue.The identity of the eight grounds given host status for the new T20 competition was largely as expected, although there remains the possibility that grounds such as the Riverside and Taunton could be offered individual games.”Today’s discussion and decision followed a rigorous, comprehensive and detailed process by the independent Host Venue Panel, in which they assessed a range of high quality submissions and presentations,” Ian Lovett, deputy chairman of the ECB and chair of the panel, said.”With a five-year period of international and domestic cricket in prospect, as well as our New Competition being developed, there was very strong interest in hosting these events and the overall standard of submissions was excellent.”From the start of the process we had clear objectives, set a strong methodology and made best use of all relevant data and insight. To help to assess the submissions a balanced scorecard was used, with key aspects up-weighted to meet the needs of each specific set of matches.”It’s right that there should be thorough, independent scrutiny of such a significant process and I would like to thank John Crowther, Karen Earl and Mick Hogan for their contributions, knowledge and expertise. The ECB board recognised the quality and integrity of the process and has endorsed the recommendations, with the next stage the detailed discussion and agreement with each of these selected venues.”

Misbah-ul-Haq will play the third and final Test against Australia and will do so as captain

Osman Samiuddin01-Jan-20174:10

Samiuddin: Once Misbah realises he is not worth his place in the side as a batsman, it’s time for him to call it a day

Misbah-ul-Haq will play the third and final Test against Australia and will do so as captain.After the final-day loss in Melbourne, in which a second-ball duck prolonged a run of low scores for him, Misbah had spoken of the possibility of retirement from Test cricket and had not ruled out the likelihood of doing so before Sydney.But Pakistan’s management confirmed today he will lead the side out at the SCG on January 3.”Misbah will play at Sydney and he will be captain,” the PCB’s director (media), Amjad Hussain, said.Pakistan traveled to Sydney on New Year’s Eve and cancelled training on the first day of the year.What happens after Sydney is unclear. Pakistan do not play another Test until a series in the Caribbean in April-May 2017.Misbah’s comments post-Melbourne were the strongest indication that he will step down but he has fallen short of confirming it.It could be that he waits to arrive back in Pakistan before he announces his decision and it could also be that the result in Sydney, a dead rubber now, could have a role to play in his decision.Misbah has scored 20 runs in four innings on the tour of Australia so far and the duck in Melbourne brought concerns over his lack of form into the spotlight again. Six innings across Pakistan’s tours of New Zealand and Australia have brought Misbah only 64 runs, at an average of 10.67. After the match he said there was no point staying in the team if he couldn’t contribute the runs.”I always believed that if I couldn’t contribute to the team then it’s no point staying there,” Misbah said after Melbourne. “This is a point where I need to think about that, even before the next game [in Sydney] and after the series. Next couple of days I will think about it and decide what to do. There is no point in hanging around and doing nothing.”Misbah had conceded that he was contemplating retirement during the series against England in the winter of 2015. The prospect of leading the team against India kept him from making that decision but when that series did not materialise, Misbah chose to continue in his role and lead the team in difficult away series.”I was thinking about my retirement long ago, even when I was playing against England in Dubai,” he said. “I was thinking then that we had possibly Tests against India, so I would play that and that’s it.”But then we had difficult tours like England, New Zealand and Australia, I thought that is not right time. I’ve been there for last six-seven years, developing this team. I have to face these difficult series. That is why I hung around. Even at that stage my plan was not to play for another two-three years. I have to think about that, haven’t finalised it.”

As Australia’s cricketers lament the imminent demise of the WACA Ground as a major international venue, a paltry crowd for the second Test against New Zealand is expected to underline why this is so

Daniel Brettig at the WACA12-Nov-2015As Australia’s cricketers lament the imminent demise of the WACA Ground as a major international venue, a paltry crowd for the second Test against New Zealand is expected to underline why this is so.A gathering of around 10,000 spectators is in prospect for day one of the match, with attendances depreciating further from there. Searing temperatures will not help to sell the experience, and some of the ground’s temporary seating has not even been put in place for this week – raised concrete terraces next to the Prindiville Stand will radiate heat rather than noise.There are other factors apart from the unforgiving nature of the ground itself. Promotion of the Test series does not appear to have stuck in the minds of prospective ticket-buyers. Meanwhile the WACA’s odd tradition of not suspending local club cricket on the Saturday of the Test has continued in spite of a yearning by many a local player to attend Steven Smith’s first Perth match as captain.All this is viewed with considerable pain by the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Adam Voges, two players steeped in the story of the WACA Ground who have also enjoyed great personal success in the middle. Johnson’s increasingly world-weary visage was writ large across his thoughts about the looming move of most major fixtures to the Burswood Stadium, potentially as early as the next Ashes summer in 2017-18.”It’s sad, I think it is a great ground to play at,” Johnson said. “Most teams would say the same thing, it’s a great place to play cricket. It will be sad for it to go, there’s not much we can do as players about it except go out there and try to enjoy the games that we do have out there. It’s disappointing but at the same time there’s a new stadium that’s being built and that is going to hopefully bring more people to the games.”It’s a difficult one because it’s a ground that I have had success at, probably my most success at. I remember playing my first shield game here in the early 2000s playing against Joey Angel and Brad Williams and remembering how quick and bouncy it was then and the cracks and how that played, and you just aren’t going to get that anywhere else.”Everyone’s different, I do like that you get a bit of a breeze here with the openings, you’ve got the grassed area, but I think all sports around the world are played in bigger stadiums generally. That’s just the way it is. They are built for getting spectators in and watching us play and perform and I guess to try and excite the crowds. There’s two ways to look at it, but I prefer it like this.”Voges accepted that the WACA quirks loved by the players also contributed to the discomfort of the fans, from the motley assortment of seating arrangements to amenities like toilets, bars and food outlets – none of which are the sorts of issues immediately evident from the cloisters of the players’ dressing rooms and viewing area. He has also spoken to the WACA curator Matthew Page about the ground staff’s ambitions to find a way of preparing fast and bouncy drop-in pitches at the new stadium.”It’s exciting for Western Australia to have a brand new facility,” he said. “It just means that Test cricket here is – not coming to an end, but we’re not going to see as much Test cricket here at the WACA. A little part of me is saddened by that, but obviously it’s a very exciting future as well.”We play on a lot of drop-in wickets now and soon enough we’re going to be playing on another one. It is what it is. We understand that we need that in order for the future of the game to continue and that’s the most important thing. Pagey’s working his guts out to prepare a drop-in that has similar characteristics to the WACA. Whether that’s possible, we’ll wait and see,” Voges said.Page spoke unabashedly this week about trying to replicate “the olden days” at the ground, and it is in a fast and bouncy track that Australia’s players find most of their love for playing here. Value for shots but also value for bowlers, and value for the home side, too. “I really enjoy playing here at the WACA, we generally get a good crowd here and good support,” Smith said. “Hopefully they roll out this week and really back us up to get us over the line in this series.”As for the future move across the Swan River to Burswood, it will be up to the players of Smith’s generation and younger to adjust to whatever vagaries it throws up. For the likes of Johnson and Voges, the prospect of losing the WACA will hurt, but that of spectating at a swish new stadium sits rather better. “I see myself,” Voges said, “watching a bit of cricket there.”