Cricketers around the world congratulated James Anderson on becoming the first fast bowler to 600 Test wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Aug-2020Pacers sang praise.

Champion bowler James Anderson! Congrats on reaching the first-ever 600 wickets for a fast bowler.. hard work, passion and never-day-die approach have been the hallmark of your career.. doyen of fast bowlers, best wishes for the rest of your career @jimmy9

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) August 25, 2020

Just take a moment to appreciate how good Jimmy is
600! You’re amazing bro! @jimmy9 #600

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) August 25, 2020

Congratulations for your remarkable achievement @jimmy9! Your passion, fortitude and drive are exceptional, cheers and best wishes for the future. #600TestWickets

— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) August 25, 2020

Slow and steady gets the milestone?

Incredible 600 by @jimmy9 . What an amazing achievement. Playing 156 Test Matches for a medium fast bowler is no less achievement. Cheers mate. #JamesAnderson #600TestWickets #England pic.twitter.com/dVFMqPvuwA

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) August 25, 2020

Anil Kumble welcomes Anderson to the 600 club.

Congratulations @jimmy9 on your 600 wickets! Massive effort from a great fast bowler. Welcome to the club

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) August 25, 2020

Former batsmen spoke of Anderson’s longevity and perseverance. He’s bowled the most among pace bowlers in Test cricket.

Remarkable achievement to play 156 Tests as a Batsman .. To do it as a quick bowler & then achieve 600 wickets is nothing short of extraordinary .. Well done @jimmy9 .. England’s greatest ever bowler .. #TestCricket

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 25, 2020

What an incredible achievement @jimmy9! Many congratulations on your feat.

wickets in Test Cricket over a span of 17 years for a fast bowler is a testament to your grit, perseverance and accurate bowling. pic.twitter.com/nQok5bgbOG

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 25, 2020

Never thought I’d see in my lifetime a fast bowler take 600 test wickets! It’s not just the quantity but the quality with which he has bowled – be it slow or fast wickets, bounce or no bounce, seam or no seam, for him conditions never mattered! Sir @jimmy9 you are the #GOAT pic.twitter.com/ADrrW7m3zp

— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) August 25, 2020

Well done james Anderson @jimmy9 .. this milestone is just greatness ..156 test matches as fast bowler is just unthinkable..u will make every young fast bowler believe that greatness is achievable .@bcci @ECB_cricket

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) August 25, 2020

For a fast-bowler to play 156 test matches is an incredible achievement, a testament of his endurance. And becoming the first fast bowler to 600 test wickets is a just reward for the hard-work & the passion with which @jimmy9 has played his cricket. Many congratulations #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/RGOdReZXuL

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 25, 2020

Words of appreciation from current opposition batsmen followed.

Congratulations @jimmy9 for this outstanding achievement of 600 wickets. Definitely one of the best bowlers I've faced.

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) August 25, 2020

Congrats James Anderson @jimmy9
First fast bowler in history to take 600 Test wickets.
You are a nightmare for any openers in world cricket….. #ENGvPAK

— (@IamDimuth) August 25, 2020

A true ambassador of the game.

Congratulations @jimmy9 600 Test wickets1st Fast bowler to achieve this Milestone U r a Great Ambassador of this beautiful game of cricket Stay Blessed

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) August 25, 2020

#600JA Couldn’t be a greater ambassador for Test Cricket than James Anderson! He’s an excellent example to young kids that to win a Cricket Oscar be great in Test Cricket!

— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) August 25, 2020

Congratulations @jimmy9. What a splendid record to have. More power to you https://t.co/EmpxuBzdrL

— Sir Vivian Richards (@ivivianrichards) August 25, 2020

Vasoo Paranjape was a one-man operation of scouting, captaincy and coaching, whose influence spans cricket generations

Sidharth Monga01-Oct-2020That one word is enough to drive up the wall any cricket person not from Mumbai. It is a Hindi/Marathi term for the city’s cussed approach to cricket, especially with a bat in hand. For decades in independent India, Mumbai managed to dominate Indian cricket, both in terms of domestic competition and national representation. As a result, every little thing about Mumbai was glorified, with every second headline on the cricket pages hailing the virtues of cricket.As other states began to enjoy greater access to resources and knowledge, they started to compete in domestic cricket and their players began to represent India. Now everyone from former cricketers to coaches to journalists bemoans the death of this mythical creature, the cricketer.The authors of are due congratulations that they use the word “” only once in a book about someone whose playing career was built on club cricket in Mumbai and 29 first-class games for Mumbai and Baroda. And that use is to say that Rohit Sharma is not your typical Mumbai cricketer.Nor was Vasoo Paranjape, the subject of the book, a typical Mumbai cricket person. He was so far ahead of his time, he was run out backing up on his Harris Shield debut despite warnings from his captain and senior players. He took it on the chin – the price you risk paying when you try to steal an advantage. He was not cussed but aggressive, and by all accounts an attractive cricketer. His outlook was not hyperlocal but global, his views not archaic but modern.Which is why cricketers not only from Mumbai, and not only of a certain vintage or a certain style, have come together to write essays in tribute to a coach, colleague, captain, mentor, father figure and consultant. From Sunil Gavaskar in central Mumbai to Rohit Sharma in the northern suburbs, Rahul Dravid in Karnataka, Yuvraj Singh in Punjab and Ed Smith in Kent, Paranjape touched and enriched a large variety of cricketing lives.In an era of professionalism and the IPL, where scouts and consequent opportunities make sure talent is identified and exposed to high-level coaching, this is an important book. It recognises the time when this one-man operation of scouting, captaincy, coaching and playing helped shape many a career. All the contributors speak highly of Paranjape’s contribution to their careers, of his great cricketing acumen, of his eye for talent, of his sense of humour (part of which gets lost in translation). In response, Paranjape himself writes a brief piece on his memories of each of the players the first time he saw them.Penguin IndiaIt is a format that works for this book – letting great cricketers talk about Paranjape and then Paranjape talking about them – but it can also leave you frustrated at times because cricketers can find it difficult to explain things they understand easily. They can articulate his generosity, but it is difficult to figure out what exactly made Paranjape the cricket figure he was. Why, for instance, in the words of Darshak Mehta, a former Kanga league player and now chairman of the LBW Fund in New South Wales, for 25 years, if there was a rain delay in a Kanga league game, you just sat there playing cards or gossiping or “talking Vasoo”.It is not easy for every cricketer to tell you why. Until you get to the essays from Sharma and Singh. That’s when you realise Paranjape worked subtly. He made technical adjustments without players even realising it. Sharma knows Paranjape is always watching him. Whenever he meets Jatin Paranjape, Vasoo’s son and now a national selector, Sharma asks him, “Anything?” He is looking for any little piece of advice Vasoo might have asked Jatin to relay.There is no substitute for these faceless scouts who nurture cricketers from a beginners level, offering not only cricketing education but also life skills when required, or an invisible helping hand when life is tough. They do it not for recognition or money, but out of love for the game.Paranjape was always there wherever the cricket was, in his floppy hat, smoking a cigarette, watching from the background, rarely imposing himself but fine-tuning the talent he had spotted. The authors of the book – Jatin Paranjape and cricket writer Anand Vasu – have done a similar job. They haven’t imposed themselves on this book but have nurtured and directed it through the voices of the individuals Paranjape most enriched.

The New Zealand legspinner talks Brisbane Heat, bubble life and the players she admires

Shashank Kishore03-Nov-2020What is the most challenging part about playing in the WBBL?For me, in a way, I always focus on how I can contribute to the team. But there’s probably a bit of expectation because they’re paying you as an overseas player to perform well. So it’s about doing well. I guess you just have to back yourself. They’ve picked you because you’re good enough, so it’s important for me to take out the external pressures. Sometimes you can put too much pressure on yourself rather than what other people put on you. There’s probably more expectation on me in these overseas leagues, so you have to strip it back. If I enjoy my cricket, it’s when I’m playing at my best.Did the WBBL [in 2019] come at the right time?The WBBL came at a perfect time for me. It was my first year out of school, and so I felt I was ready to play. It worked well because it was in October-November rather than in the summer holidays, where you’re away from family for Christmas. The timing was perfect. I’d had a bit more experience in international cricket and then the Brisbane Heat contacted me. It’s always been a club I’ve liked, because of the New Zealand connection, and because Brendon McCullum was such a huge part of it. I was honoured that they thought of me. I can remember watching pretty much every single game that was played early on. Then later on with the WBBL, having some interest in watching some of the White Fern girls and wanting them to do well was great.Almost a hat-trick on debut. That must’ve been special?That was a special day, my debut. Being able to pick up a few wickets was awesome. But probably the most special memory for me was winning the tournament with Brisbane Heat. We played well all year, we had such great balance and belief that stemmed from the support staff to the captain to every player in the team. It topped off an amazing experience. I love playing Australia, it’s so competitive. Then you come over to tournaments like these where some of the Australian players become your team-mates. At the end of the day, we’re people who share a common interest in the sport we love. It’s cool being able to compete, create friendships and learn. And then when you go back and play against them, you’re competing with them. That is the beauty of sport.Amelia Kerr came close to a hat-trick on her WBBL debut•Getty ImagesWhich batter has challenged you the most?I think the last series against Australia, Rachael Haynes batted extremely well. She is a good player of spin, she had a clear game plan of how she was going to play me, so I enjoyed the battle of bowling with her. The opportunity to work out her game plan and outfox her made it very competitive for me.How has the bio-bubble life been?They’ve set it up pretty well. There is plenty to do. There’s table tennis, basketball hoops and all of that. It can be overwhelming too, because there are eight teams staying here and a lot of people walking around at all times. But I guess we feel fortunate that we’re able to still play during these times. It does make it harder with travel restrictions that you can’t see your family and that you’re away for a lot longer than usual because of quarantine at the start and end of your trip. So it is different, but we feel lucky.Can it get draining on you mentally?I’m pursuing BA in Education and Sociology, so I’ve got all my course work resources with me here in the bubble, and it gives me the balance to fit in some academics between the cricket and training. It gives me a bit of a release. I’ve been big on balance. If it was just cricket, it could consume your life and you’d ride the waves of professional life a lot more. In that sense, this a nice way to escape, I enjoy what I’m studying. The bubble life can give you more time, there’s definitely a lot more down time, time for yourself. So having things to do helps. It’s a good chance.What did you do during this lockdown period, when the world came to a standstill?I was at home with family. We were lucky to go out on runs, so I was still able to train. I have few weights in my garage at home, so could do some strength work. For me, it was about finding a routine, a pattern. I’m studying, so I had some university course work to do. I played the guitar, my sister plays the piano, so there was a lot of music at home. It was nice to spend time with family.Amelia Kerr: ‘It’s cool being able to compete, create friendships and learn. And then when you go back and play against them, you’re competing with them’•Getty ImagesYou come across like a cricket obsessive, who is always in the thick of things. Has it always been this way?I loved cricket growing up. I tried to watch the game as much as I could. I’m a bit of a nuffy. I love the fact that each person goes about it differently. For me, in the men’s game, I love watching Kane Williamson bat. How he goes about his innings, how technically correct he is. The ability he has to score all around the wicket is something I admire. Then when I was younger, being able to watch the White Ferns, especially from when they started playing on TV, had a big influence on me. I always looked up to Sophie Devine because she comes from Tawa, the place I come from. These days, there are certain others I enjoy watching. I’ve done a bit of work with Ish Sodhi. He’s an awesome guy and I’ve loved a few training sessions we’ve had together. I just love watching legspinners bowl, the likes of Rashid Khan. So, yeah, I watch as much cricket as I can and there are a few people who have had a big influence on me.How much of an influence has Sophie Devine had on you as a person?My dad coached her when I was probably two years old! That was when Sophie started for Wellington. Seeing how successful she has been and now to playing alongside her is awesome. She captains the White Ferns now, and seeing the belief she has in her team-mates, the confidence she gives us, it makes you feel awesome. She is someone you can learn so much from.You’re just 20 but already a veteran of sorts, having played international cricket for five years. It must be surreal?Yeah, it does. It was my dream from when I was nine or ten to represent New Zealand in cricket. To get the call-up after my 16th birthday was special. I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. For me, the main thing is the enjoyment factor. I’ve been fortunate with the environments I’ve been involved with. That has helped me back myself and go out there and play with no fear. It’s been a dream that I’m living from such a young age.What is your biggest ambition in cricket?Personally, I just want to be the best that I can be. Every game, every training session, I’m very competitive. So it’s about bringing the best version of me. The dream is to win a World Cup, and we’ll have an opportunity to do it in front of our home fans in 2022. It’s very exciting to have one at home. If selected, I’m looking forward to that. Nothing beats playing in front of your home fans, family, friends and the grounds you grew up playing on and wanting to emulate your heroes. It’s nice to have a bit of time with it being pushed back by a year, it gives us time to put in more work to be successful. Cricket-wise, I want to be remembered as a great allrounder, but also as a great team person. That helps get the best out of other people too.

Also, Rabada has failed to take a single wicket in the powerplay this season. Why is that?

Matt Roller27-Oct-20203:37

Warner or Saha – who made the bigger impression?

Why did Sunrisers Hyderabad drop Jonny Bairstow?Jonny Bairstow has been a revelation for Sunrisers in the IPL: he scored 445 runs in 10 innings while striking at 157.24 in his debut season in 2019, and while this year had been slightly less productive (345 runs in 11 matches, 126.83 strike rate) he was still their second-highest run-scorer coming into this game. But with Rashid Khan an automatic pick, and the management keen to pick a fifth frontline bowler in Jason Holder, “one of the top three batters had to miss out,” explained head coach Trevor Bayliss. “Jonny was the odd one out on this occasion.”The logic was that leaving Bairstow out allowed Wriddhiman Saha to bat at the top of the order. The move worked on this occasion, with Saha’s blistering start setting the platform for a convincing win. Kane Williamson, included at Bairstow’s expense to bolster the middle order, made only 11 not out off 10 balls, on his return from injury, but it hardly mattered with 170 on the board when he walked in during the 15th over.David Warner and Wriddhiman Saha started strongly•BCCIShould Ajinkya Rahane have opened for Delhi Capitals?In a chase of 220, it seemed an odd choice for the Capitals to send Ajinkya Rahane – a man with an IPL career strike rate below 120 – out to open the batting alongside Shikhar Dhawan. Perhaps their logic was that he would be most useful in the powerplay, with the opportunity to loft the ball over the infield, but their batting order looked particularly strange: Shreyas Iyer, a significantly faster-scoring player than Rahane, and no doubt a more complete T20 batsman, ended up walking out at 55 for 4 with the required run rate comfortably above 12.Either way, there could be little doubt that Sunrisers were significantly happier to see Rahane walk out to the middle than they would have been if Prithvi Shaw had been selected in his place. Despite his poor run of form in the second half of the season, Shaw’s ceiling as a T20 opener is much higher, and he could well be picked for their next fixture against Mumbai Indians.Does Marcus Stoinis have a problem against spin?The short answer to this question appears to be yes: he has scored at a strike rate of 129.16 against spinners this season, compared to 173.49 against seamers, and struggles against spin have dogged him throughout his IPL career. Stoinis has been watchful this year, generally opting to rotate the strike against spin early in his innings and doing so relatively successfully, but when he came in at No. 3, he had no choice but to attack in the powerplay.David Warner saw an opportunity to bowl left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem to two right-handers, and the move paid off: Stoinis looked to give himself room, Nadeem followed him, and he slapped a length ball straight to Warner at mid-off. In all T20s since the start of 2018, Stoinis has scored at a strike rate of just 92.94 against left-arm orthodox spin.Did the Capitals underestimate Saha?While few would have expected Saha to be quite so explosive on his return to the side, he has regularly been a fast-scoring opener; coming into this season, he had the fifth-best powerplay strike rate in the history of the IPL.ESPNcricinfo LtdOut of the 45 balls he faced, 24 arrived either in line with the stumps or down the leg side, allowing him to score heavily on the leg side. In all, 52 of his 87 runs came between fine leg and midwicket, and it seemed that Capitals didn’t have a specific plan against him.What is Rabada doing wrong in the powerplay?Despite holding the Purple Cap, Kagiso Rabada has failed to take a single wicket in the powerplay this season. That is not because he has not bowled with the new ball – in fact, he has now bowled 16 wicketless powerplay overs in 2020, overtaking Jasprit Bumrah for the most in a single IPL season. He also ended a 25-match streak that saw him take a wicket every time he bowled, dating back to 2017.ESPNcricinfo LtdDigging deeper into his record suggests that is largely due to the fact batsmen have attacked him only rarely. According to ESPNcricinfo’s shot-type data, 17.7% of the balls he has bowled in the powerplay have been attacked, compared to the overall figure of 20.0% across all bowlers.His economy rate is the first six overs has been only 7.62, despite conceding 37 in his only two overs tonight. He has largely bowled on a length, with 63.5% of his balls on a length or back-of-a-length, and has only landed two yorkers in the powerplay. Either way, it provides a further illustration of the fact that wickets alone do not always tell the full story.How has Rashid turned it round against Pant?Coming into this season, Rashid Khan’s head-to-head match-up with Rishabh Pant was not good, from his perspective: he had bowled 37 balls to him while conceding 54 runs, and dismissed him only once. But in 2020, he has completely turned it around, bowling 20 balls to him, getting him out once, and conceding only seven runs.While that record has been emblematic of Pant’s wider struggles across this season, it also illustrates Rashid’s ability to work players out and adapt as a bowler. He has generally bowled fast, flat length balls to Pant this season – 15 of the 20 balls he has bowled to him have been a good length, according to ESPNcricinfo’s data – and has used his googly regularly to keep him guessing.Today, he conceded four runs from 11 balls against Pant, despite coming on when the required rate was 11.85. Rashid’s spell was the most economical four-over return this IPL season, and he has two other entries among the six cheapest four-over spells of the tournament.

The likes of Krunal, Krishna, Kishan, and Gill have given India a level of depth few other sides can match right now

Sreshth Shah24-Mar-2021

Shubman Gill (Test debut: 2nd Test vs Australia)

In his nascent Test career, Shubman Gill has displayed supreme match-readiness against the world’s best•BCCIHe walked into his debut Test when the Indian openers were considered walking wickets in New Zealand and Australia. Against a full-strength Australia attack and thereafter on tricky Indian surfaces against England, he averaged 34.36 with three half-centuries in seven matches. Unlike some other names on this list, who made their mark due to opportunities courtesy injuries, Gill’s entry into the XI was to make up for the poor form of Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal.Why his success is not surprising: He overcame English conditions as a 17-year-old to dominate a white-ball series against England Under-19. That started a run of overseas tours that culminated in a Player-of-the-Tournament performance at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup. In India A tours, he has hit double-hundreds in New Zealand and the West Indies. Before his Test debut, Gill had hit seven centuries and 11 half-centuries in 23 first-class games on three different continents at an average of 68.78. Throw in facing the best bowlers as an opener in the IPL, playing Pat Cummins, Sunil Narine, and Lockie Ferguson at the Kolkata Knight Riders nets and spending invaluable time with India players during the tour of New Zealand in 2020, and that explains his supreme match-readiness against the world’s best.

Mohammed Siraj (Test debut: 2nd Test vs Australia)

Siraj picked a number of big wickets in Australia•Getty Images and Cricket AustraliaFrom his father’s death to facing racial abuse on the boundary line in Australia, whatever life has thrown at Siraj over the last six months, he has converted them into positive energy. He made his debut in the second Test against Australia and, by the end of the tour, was leading the pace attack, taking a five-for in Brisbane. After five Tests, he averages 28.25, taking 16 wickets so far. Siraj’s standout quality was leading the attack with his consistency and guile with the red ball when India had no senior fast bowlers fit to play.Related

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Why his success is not surprising: Although casual fans would know Siraj from his IPL stints with the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Royal Challengers Bangalore and an outing in a T20I in Rajkot in 2017, Siraj has been one of the best Indian red-ball fast bowlers for a few seasons. His ability to swing the ball and bowl a mean bouncer made him stand out but it’s his 38 first-class games before his Test debut that played a major role in sharpening his skills. Over the last three seasons before his Test debut, Siraj had been a regular for India A, touring England, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies, and had 152 first-class wickets to his name.

T Natarajan (ODI debut: 3rd ODI vs Australia, T20I debut: 1st T20I vs Australia, Test debut: 4th Test vs Australia)

Before September 2020, Natarajan was nowhere in the vicinity of the Indian team. But a good IPL 2020 season thrust him into national reckoning in the limited-overs formats. Dismissing some of the best T20 batsmen in the death overs helped Natarajan’s stocks rise in white-ball cricket and earned him debuts in the Australia ODIs and T20Is, where he picked eight wickets in four games. Bio-bubble restrictions and injuries to fast bowlers handed him a Test cap as well, and he delivered with three wickets in the historic win in Brisbane.Marnus Labuschagne was Natarajan’s maiden ODI wicket•Getty Images and Cricket AustraliaWhy his success is not surprising: According to his former coaches, discipline has been key to Natarajan’s growth from playing tennis-ball cricket to internationals. Unlike Siraj – who was bought at IPL 2017 by the Sunrisers alongside him – Natarajan focused mostly on one format, T20s. That helped him dominate the TNPL and develop a cool head to bowl in high-pressure situations. He once bowled six yorkers in the last over of a TNPL final and played key roles in Tamil Nadu winning the 2019 Vijay Hazare Trophy and the 2020 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Natarajan’s ability to consistently deliver yorkers and tinker with his pace has also made him a potent weapon. Being a left-arm seamer in international cricket helps, too.

Ishan Kishan (T20I debut: 2nd T20I vs England)

Ishan Kishan scored a half-century on T20I debut•BCCIWith Rohit Sharma rested and Shikhar Dhawan dropped, Kishan was given the chance to open for India in the second T20I against England, and he ended up with a Player-of-the-Match performance. He hit five fours and four sixes in a 32-ball blitzkrieg of 56 when the pressure was high, given India had lost the series opener and his opening partner KL Rahul was out for a duck in the first over. He failed in his second game and then got injured. But given his T20 exploits, Kishan is here to stay and is being seen as one of India’s X-factors for the upcoming T20 World Cup at home later this year.Why his success is not surprising: The switch from the Gujarat Lions to the Mumbai Indians before IPL 2018 has been pivotal to changing Kishan’s career. No longer a regular wicketkeeper at the Mumbai Indians and batting higher than he previously did, Kishan married his explosive shot-making with better choice of strokes to become a regular in one of the world’s best T20 franchises. Kishan has always been fearless, but he has added a dash of experience to it. It helps when you spend large periods with the likes of Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Mahela Jayawardene and face Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult in the nets. He has also gained experience playing white-ball games for India A.

Washington Sundar (Test debut: 4th Test vs Australia)

Washington Sundar has consistently impressed with the bat•Getty ImagesAnother beneficiary of the injuries on the Australia tour and the large squads teams carry in bio-bubbles these days, Sundar was asked to stay back for the Tests after the ODIs and T20Is. It wasn’t long before he was thrown in at the deep end with a Test debut for the final match – with the series on the line – with R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja injured. It was the first time he was playing a red-ball game since November 2017. And yet, he contributed with four wickets and a half-century to play a key role in India ending Australia’s ‘Gabbatoir’ dominance. He then played three Tests against England, scoring an unbeaten 85 on a tricky Chennai surface and then an unbeaten 96 in the final Ahmedabad Test. In six innings, he averages 66.25 with the bat.Why his success is not surprising: Simply put, Sundar is prodigiously talented. Before making his India debut in T20Is as a teenager, he was opening with the bat in the TNPL and opening with the ball at the IPL. Over time, he was given more responsibility at the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Tamil Nadu, and India, which allowed him to strengthen his game to evolve into a true allrounder. That he doesn’t bat much for India in T20Is or for the Royal Challengers has never been a reflection of his skill but of the talent those teams’ batting line-ups have. His batting technique is rock solid, his stroke-making fluent and, his temperament of a seasoned player.

Navdeep Saini (Test debut: 3rd Test vs Australia)

Navdeep Saini has been one of the main bowlers for Delhi in the domestic circuit•Getty ImagesHaving had an initiation into international cricket with the white ball in 2019, a promotion to Test cricket was always on the cards for the fast bowler. Injuries to India’s first-choice bowlers in Australia meant he played in the last two Tests. Although an average of 43 – with four wickets in two Tests – isn’t very flattering, it is important to remember Saini suffered a groin strain on the first morning of his second Test. It was a commendable start to his Test career considering there was no Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, or Bhuvneshwar Kumar to offer him advice on the field.Why his success is not surprising: Saini has been a dominant force in red-ball cricket for Delhi since 2014. Alongside Ishant Sharma, he took Delhi to the Ranji Trophy final in 2017 and since 2018 has been rubbing shoulders with the big boys of Indian cricket as part of the Deodhar Trophy, India A and senior squads. Playing for India A, he has troubled visiting teams and in 2019 got a taste of high-stage when he was part of the stand-bys during India’s ODI World Cup campaign. In the IPL, the responsibility of leading an inexperienced Royal Challengers attack also helped his growth. Before his Test debut, he had played 46 first-class games.

Axar Patel (Test debut: 2nd Test vs England)

Axar Patel took 11 wickets in the third Test against England•BCCIWith 27 wickets in his first three Tests at an average of 10.59, Patel has made one of the best starts by any bowler in the longest format. Over eight years on from making his first-class debut, Patel got injured on the eve of what would have been his Test debut in the series opener against England, but he then made full use of his opportunity through Tests two to four. His performance was so superlative that Jadeja’s absence was barely felt.Why his success is not surprising: The pitches against England were helpful to spinners but Patel is an experienced campaigner, having represented Gujarat, a side that consistently does well in the Ranji Trophy. Besides, he has played a lot of red-ball cricket when he hasn’t been part of India’s white-ball squads. He isn’t a big turner of the ball, relying instead on consistency and subtle changes. That Patel is a special cricketer was on display when he was the only player retained by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) ahead of IPL 2018. He has also played first-class cricket in England, for Durham. If Jadeja was not around, chances are we might have seen Patel much earlier in Tests.

Krunal Pandya (ODI debut: 1st ODI vs England)

Krunal Pandya looks skywards as he walks off after a debut innings most memorable•Getty ImagesOn an emotional ODI debut, he came in to bat in the 41st over of the first innings and went on to pummel the reigning world champions around for an unbeaten 31-ball 58. That helped India post a par first-innings total, after which he took 1 for 59. With the bat, Krunal did what is typically expected of his younger brother Hardik Pandya or even Rishabh Pant. With the ball, he took on a role similar to Jadeja’s.Why his success is not surprising: The Mumbai Indians’ scouts picked Krunal and Hardik up from Baroda when they were relatively unheralded and invested time and energy in the pair to turn them into the match-winners over the years. Krunal was always known to possess the smarts, particularly with the ball, and he gradually added finesse to his batting. Three IPL titles, with crucial contributions in each of them, is testament to his mental strength too. In fact, he has even been Player of the Series for India in T20Is previously. Questions, however, hovered for a long time over his aptitude for 50-over cricket. But his 388 runs in five games at an average of 129.33 in the latest edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy quelled those doubts.

Suryakumar Yadav (T20I debut: 2nd T20I vs England)

Suryakumar Yadav hits his first ball in international cricket for a six•BCCIAlthough he did not get to bat on his T20I debut, his next two outings for India resulted in victories where Yadav played important roles. On his maiden batting innings, he hammered a 31-ball 57 when Sharma, Rahul, and Virat Kohli failed and took home the Player-of-the-Match award. In the series decider, he showed a lot of clarity in his choice of shots while scoring a 17-ball 32.Why his success is not surprising: Yadav is known to possess a match-winner’s mentality, having honed his skills on the domestic circuit in Mumbai, Indian cricket’s perennial powerhouse. However, his focus wavered for a while a few years ago due to a combination of poor batting form and being a hothead. But that all changed when, in the IPL, he moved back from the Knight Riders to the Mumbai Indians some years ago. There he bloomed once again as the fluent top-order batsman he was always known to be, and a boost in his self-confidence along with maturity on the personal front has made him one of the most exciting Indian batsmen in the shortest format.

Prasidh Krishna (ODI debut: 1st ODI vs England)

2:04

Manjrekar: Prasidh Krishna is a talented bowler who has his basics right

Krishna took 4 for 54 to hand India a come-from-behind victory on his ODI debut. At 135 for 0 in the 15th over, England were cruising in a 318 chase but Krishna removed Jason Roy to get his maiden scalp. He then dismissed Ben Stokes, Sam Billings and Tom Curran to derail England’s chase and was a contender to bag the Man-of-the-Match award in his first international. Krishna came back after a terrible first three overs, where he had an economy rate of over 12, to finish with the best figures by an India debutant in ODIs.Why his success is not surprising: Krishna believes “consistency is the best weapon” a bowler can have, and he has shown that in plenty in domestic cricket. In his first two Vijay Hazare Trophy competitions (2016-17 and 2017-18), he took 30 wickets, the most for Karnataka. Time with the Knight Riders has helped him become the side’s best domestic pace bowler and develop a knack for delivering match-winning performances – most notably a 3 for 37 in the 2017-2018 domestic 50-over tournament’s final – in vital games for Karnataka. Nicknamed ‘Skiddy’ due to his ability to bowl quicker than what appears, Krishna has also added muscle to his body, which has made him stronger in the last two years. He was one of the standout pace bowlers in the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy.

A comparison of the key numbers in Mumbai and Chennai in the 10 matches they hosted in IPL 2021

Sampath Bandarupalli26-Apr-2021Run-rates and average scores
The conditions at Wankhede Stadium in IPL 2021 were tilted towards the batters, where the average first-innings score was 177. In Chepauk, it was only 155. The average batting strike-rate in Mumbai was 138.01, also far superior to Chennai’s 120.33.
There have been only two totals above 180 at the Chepauk, 187 for 6 by Kolkata Knight Riders against Sunrisers Hyderabad and 204 for 4 by Royal Challengers Bangalore against Knight Riders. Eleven out of 20 team innings at Wankhede went over 180, including four 200-plus totals.ESPNcricinfo LtdChasing the preferred option in Mumbai
Chasing was a tricky trade at Chepauk. The highest successful one this season was only 160, and only four times did a chasing team cross the finish line. The highest target chased down at Wankhede was 196, and the 200-run mark was hit twice while chasing. Teams winning the toss preferred chasing nine out of ten times at Wankhede, with the Super Kings on Sunday being the exception in a day fixture.Spin dominance in Chennai
The slow pitches in Chennai did give an advantage to spinners, who came out in flying colours almost every game. As many as 50 wickets fell to the spin bowlers at the venue at an average of 26.34 but in Mumbai they could only strike 21 times at 41.33. The pacers had assistance early on at the Wankhede as they claimed 91 wickets at 27.27 across the ten games.Wankhede’s death-overs scoring-rate trumps Chepauk
Lack of movement with the new ball helped the batters score at a decent run-rate during the powerplay at Chepauk. The powerplay run-rate in Chennai (7.64) was marginally higher than in Mumbai (7.63).ESPNcricinfo LtdBatting was easy in the post-powerplay period at Wankhede, where the run-rate was 9.34 while at Chepauk it was only 7.66. The run-rate at Chepauk was 7.29 during the middle overs (7-16) and 8.64 at the death (16-20), both below the corresponding numbers recorded at Wankhede (8.83 in middle overs and 10.86 at the death).Best strikers at Chepauk
While not many batters were successful in getting the better of the tricky conditions at Chepauk, the Royal Challengers’ overseas stars AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell outclassed the rest. De Villiers scored 125 runs at a whopping strike rate of 189.39, while Maxwell amassed 176 runs at 149.15. Their success with the bat was the reason behind Royal Challengers’ 100% win record at Chepauk this season. Though the Sunrisers managed to win only one of the five outings in Chennai, their top-order batter, Jonny Bairstow, scored more runs than the rest. Bairstow smashed 14 sixes, five more than anyone else and scored 211 runs in total while striking at 141.61, with two half-centuries.Five of the 11 batters to score 100 or more runs in Mumbai had a strike rate of 150-plus, while only one of the eight batters in Chennai with 100 or more runs struck at 150-plus.

The Sri Lanka allrounder looks back at the high points and fondest memories from his 12-year career, and maps the way forward

Interview by Andrew Fidel Fernando04-May-2021Thisara Perera announced his retirement from all international cricket yesterday, calling time on his 12-year career. He spoke to ESPNcricinfo about his reasons for announcing his retirement before the T20 World Cup, his most memorable innings, and his plans for franchise tournaments in the near future.You’re still only 32. Why have you decided to retire now?
I’ve played cricket for Sri Lanka for 12 years now. I think it’s time to give a chance to the youngsters. There has to be some lead-up time before a World Cup for a young player to prepare himself. You can’t do that in a rush. In 2023 there’s an ODI World Cup, and there are only a few months left before the T20 World Cup. Rather than retiring too close to those events, I thought it was better to give someone else the chance now.Related

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It’s likely that you were part of Sri Lanka’s plans for this year’s T20 World Cup. Why are you retiring from that format as well?
They haven’t let me know much about their plans. All I knew was that they were dropping several seniors from the ODI team, so I thought it’s better that the young player who replaces me in ODIs gets that same chance in the T20I side. He then has the time to get settled and be stable in the side. If he plays a few one-dayers as well, there’s more than enough time for him to get set and play the World Cup.You’ve been a World Cup winner. Did you not have dreams of doing it again?
I definitely did. I’d been thinking for a while that before I quit I’d like to bring another World Cup home. One of the greatest highlights of my life was being able to finish the 2014 World T20 [final] with a six. I was seven when Arjuna Ranatunga won the 1996 World Cup with a four, and that’s really where my life in cricket started. From very early on, I wanted to hit that winning run, and I was overjoyed at having been able to do that.But with the situation at the moment – this is a time when they are looking closely at youngsters – I thought it’s better not to make anyone lose out on a place.Perera sealed Sri Lanka’s victory in the 2014 World T20 final with a six•ICCYou haven’t been consistently picked over the last five years, although you also had a spell as the limited-overs captain between 2017 and 2018. Were there frustrations for you during this period?
Failure happens to everyone. There are times you are right at the top of the staircase, and times when you’re right at the bottom. That’s a normal part of life. When I was low, I did my best to become free from what was holding me down. Sometimes those things have worked perfectly. I think I did a lot for the country. There are plenty of records that I’ve set.You took four wickets in an innings and also hit 75 in your last Test for Sri Lanka, in 2012. Do you feel you should have had more opportunities?
Yes, I didn’t get any opportunity in the Test format since then despite my performance in that match. I didn’t go to ask too much about it also. I watched for a few years, then retired from Tests. I just didn’t get a chance.What are some of your fondest memories playing for Sri Lanka?
Early on in my career, I loved the 2011 World Cup final, because I was able to end our innings with a six. Then there’s the 2014 World T20 and that winning six. I’ll never forget that. I became the first Asian cricketer to take hat-tricks in both ODIs and T20Is, and the first Sri Lankan player to hit six sixes in over in first-class cricket. I also hit the biggest six by a Sri Lankan – 123 metres in Perth.Any innings or spells that meant a lot to you?
Yes, the 140 that I hit against New Zealand [in Mount Maunganui in 2019]. I came in at No. 7 after a few wickets had fallen cheaply and we were out of the game [Sri Lanka were 121 for 5 after 25 overs, chasing 320]. But through my innings, I was able to get us close [they lost by 21 runs eventually]. I hit the most sixes struck by any Sri Lanka player during that innings – 13. I was batting with the tail for most of the innings. Nuwan Pradeep was batting at the other end and I remember telling him to hang in there somehow, because I was doing my best to get us to a win. We fell short narrowly. It’s very rare that someone in the losing team gets a Man-of-the-Match award. But I did for that game.Perera led the Jaffna Stallions to a title win in the inaugural Lanka Premier League in 2020•Jaffna StallionsWas there something that you wanted to achieve but couldn’t?
I did as much as I could. We won a T20 World Cup; to win a 50-over World Cup was another goal. Of the seven World Cups I played, 2011 was the one in which we came so close and still didn’t win, despite the fact that we gave it our everything. That was just our fate. But I did what I could for Sri Lankan cricket, and I’m retiring happy.You were a penetrative bowler in your early years. Were you disappointed at how it fell away later in your career?
I was bowling really well when I started, but then I suffered a major side-strain injury late in 2012, and I focused more on my batting after that. I used to bowl 140kph, but anyone who gets a side strain is worried about bowling from then on, because of the pain. But although my pace decreased, I still got a lot of wickets. I had 175 ODI wickets, and I think I was balancing that and my batting well. My heart tells me that I gave everything I could with the ball as well.What are your plans for retirement?
I’m still a professional cricketer. There are franchise tournaments, and I haven’t stopped that, and I’ll play for a while. I play domestic cricket for Sri Lanka Army, and I’m an Army officer. I can give that my full attention now. I can also focus more on my family.You’re the captain of the Jaffna Stallions LPL team. How important is that franchise to you?
I recently spoke to the owner, Anandan Arnold. We did extremely well in the last tournament, winning the tournament. And I think we’ll continue to do well this year. Based on the discussions we’ve had, I want to keep playing for Jaffna Stallions.Anything else you’d like to add?
I’ve got a few people I’d like to thank. Harsha de Silva was my coach at St Joseph’s College, and that’s the place that changed my life the most. I used to play as an opening batter, and it’s only later that I started batting at No. 6 and had the chance to play as an allrounder. I made my international debut in 2009, and I remember Kumar Sangakkara with a lot of affection, because he was the one that brought me into the team and was my first captain. I want to thank my parents, my brothers and sisters, and my wife, Sherami Perera, all of whom sacrificed a lot during my 12 years with the national team. Sherami would sometimes be without me for months while I was touring. I am very grateful to my family.

Also: what’s the highest score by a batter in a final first-class game?

Steven Lynch22-Jun-2021Heather Knight and Shafali Verma both missed out on centuries on debut in the recent women’s Test. How many people has this happened to? asked Jonathon White from Australia

Both of them did narrowly miss centuries in Bristol last week, but England’s captain Heather Knight was actually playing her seventh Test match – she made 157 in her second, against Australia at Wormsley in 2013. But India’s Shafali Verma, who made an attractive 96, just missed becoming the 13th woman – and, at 17, the youngest – to score a century on Test debut. For that list, click here.Verma was the eighth woman to make a score in the nineties on her Test debut (one of them was not out). The unluckiest was probably Australia’s Jess Jonassen, who was dismissed for 99 against England in Canterbury in 2015.I know that Seymour Nurse has the highest score by someone in their last Test. But is it also the record for someone’s last first-class match? asked Jamie Kettle from England

Actually, the highest score by a player in his final Test was Andy Sandham’s 325, for England against West Indies in Kingston in 1929-30; Seymour Nurse’s 258 for West Indies against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1968-69 is the record for a final Test innings. Both both Sandham and Nurse played more first-class cricket after their last Test.As I write, there are some 20 men who scored a double-century in their last first-class match, although half of those are current players who will presumably appear again. Only one man has scored a triple-hundred in what turned out to be his final first-class appearance: Sam Agarwal hit 313 not out for Oxford University against Cambridge University in the Varsity Match at Fenner’s in 2013.Other notable farewells included Fred Bakewell’s unbeaten 241 to ensure Northamptonshire drew with eventual champions Derbyshire in Chesterfield in August 1936. On the way home after the match, the car Bakewell was travelling in was involved in a serious road accident: his team-mate Reggie Northway was killed and Bakewell suffered an arm injury that prevented him playing first-class cricket again.The entertaining Sri Lankan batter Aravinda de Silva did end his first-class career in a Test match – and signed off with 206 against Bangladesh in Colombo in 2002.One sad entry on this list is Norman Callaway, who was only 18 when he hit 207 at close to a run a minute during his first-class debut, for New South Wales against Queensland in Sydney in February 1915 – but little more than two years later he was killed in France during the Great War, so that remained his one and only first-class innings.Faisal Iqbal’s 139 was the only century among the 50-plus scores by the top seven batters in Pakistan’s second innings against India in Karachi in January 2006•Asif Hassan/AFP/Getty ImagesKiran More once stumped six batsmen in a Test. Has anyone else done this, and what’s the first-class record? asked Chetan Sarwate from India

The Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More made six stumpings in the match against West Indies in Madras (now Chennai) in 1987-88. Five of them came off the bowling of legspinner Narendra Hirwani, who was on the way to record Test-debut figures of 16 for 136.More’s haul remains the record for Tests – another Indian keeper, Khokhan Sen, made five against England, also in Madras, in 1951-52 – but that mark has been exceeded a few times in first-class cricket. The overall record is nine stumpings in a match, by Kent’s Fred Huish against Surrey at The Oval in 1911. The controversial Ted Pooley made eight, also at The Oval, for Surrey against Kent in 1878.In Pakistan’s second innings at Karachi in 2005-06, all seven batsmen reached 50. Was this unique in Tests? asked Muralidhar from India

The top seven batters in Pakistan’s second innings in Karachi in 2005-06 all made at least 50 (Faisal Iqbal went on to 139). The only man who reached the crease who didn’t make 50 was Kamran Akmal, who faced only one ball before Younis Khan declared at 599 for 7. Pakistan went on to win by 341 runs – a result that looked unlikely when the Indian left-armer Irfan Pathan started the match with a hat-trick in the first over.The top seven all reaching 50 is indeed unique but there are two other Test innings that contained seven scores of 50 or more: England’s 627 for 9 against Australia at Old Trafford in 1934, and Sri Lanka’s defiant 537 for 9 to save the match at Lord’s in 2006.I heard that a first-class cricketer played Euro Cup football for Scotland. Is this true? asked Debapriya Chakraborty from India

I think the man you’re talking about is the Scotland goalkeeper Andy Goram, who won 43 international caps at football and also played cricket for the Scottish national team, in the days before they had official ODI status. He defied the Hibernian FC manager’s instructions and turned out against the Australian tourists in Glasgow in 1989 – and was promptly fined on his return to his football club.Goram later had several successful seasons with Rangers, one of Scotland’s premier football clubs. He played in the European Championships in 1992 and 1996, and was also part of Scotland’s squads for the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, although he did not make it on to the field.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Southampton groundsman Simon Lee says spin could potentially become a factor too, later in the game, if conditions remain mostly dry

Nagraj Gollapudi13-Jun-2021Not for the first time has he become the centre of attention instantly. Striding alongside his master Simon Lee, who is the head groundsman at Hampshire, he even attracted whistles from some in the Indian contingent, who were holed up in their rooms overlooking the ground for the first few days upon arrival in England on June 3.As Lee lapped the ground which will host the inaugural World Test Championship final from June 18, India head coach Ravi Shastri asked him who it was running alongside him. His name is Winston, Lee told Shastri. Winston is a redhead cocker spaniel, under three years old and, as Lee says, “a people dog”.Watch cricket on ESPN+

The WTC final is available in the US on ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the match.

“Me and Winston normally do a lap of the main ground before work, so I can check on everything before we start the day, and the India team saw him from their hotel room balconies while they were in quarantine on arrival to the UK,” Lee tells ESPNcricinfo. “He was getting whistles from some of them and Ravi Shastri called down and asked what his name was. Over the next couple of mornings you could hear ‘Winston’ being called out, which was pretty cool.”Winston can be a happy distraction, but the pitch that Lee prepares will be the centrepiece for the marquee event that will pit the top two teams in Test cricket – New Zealand and India – against each other. Lee admits it is a big challenge, but he is up for it.Related

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“Having the WTC final here at the Ageas Bowl is pretty massive, obviously without the current world situation with the pandemic, it wouldn’t have been here, so I feel lucky to have the chance to produce a pitch for potentially the biggest game of Test cricket ever staged. It’s a huge opportunity.”Lee spent nearly two decades at Somerset, till late 2019, where he climbed the ranks from an apprentice to the head groundsman. During his time there, Lee won the ECB’s Groundsman of the Year for one-day cricket three times. Attracted by the challenge of making pitches for international cricket, he accepted the Hampshire opportunity.Lee was immediately presented with a lot of work. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the ECB had endeavoured to host West Indies, Pakistan and Australia during the 2020 summer and Southampton, which has an on-site hotel, hosted three Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. While the last two Tests of the Pakistan series ended in a draw, the first one the ground hosted was a thriller clinched by West Indies on the fifth afternoon, after the first day was rained out.”That first Test pitch for England vs West Indies last July was my first real pitch I prepared on the square here, it was a complete leap into the unknown, as I simply didn’t know how the square would react to my preparation methods,” Lee says. While Taunton was like, in his own words, the “back of my hand”, Lee was working out the little quirks at the Ageas Bowl during the winter before he and his deputy Tom Cowley started talking about making pitches for the 2020 season.Lee says one advantage was both the loam (ground soil) as well as the climate in Taunton and Southampton – both are in southern England – are similar. But he had to learn to make these pitches and adapt to the new conditions during the international series.”Throughout last summer I was learning so much in a really intense period, all in the public eye on TV with all the pressures that can bring, and no room for errors. That first Test was a little nervous in the build-up, but once it started, I loved it, and it quickly becomes a very normal thing to do.”Lee says that it was late last year when both he and Cowley “privately” spoke about the potential of Southampton hosting the WTC final. But it was only at the end of May that the pair started to roll out practice pitches in the nursery ground outside of the main ground.”You can’t rush anything when it comes to the work of pitch preparation – that didn’t start until the end of May, after some very wet weather moved away from the UK, when we started getting the practice pitches rolled out on the nursey ground for India. And the Test pitch has been started a little time after that as you like to not over-prepare it, getting it ready just in time would be ideal.”While India have lost both the Tests they have played at the venue (2014 and 2018), New Zealand will be playing their maiden Test in Southampton.”Pitch preparation for this Test is a little simpler as we are a neutral venue, we are guided by the ICC, but we all want is a good pitch that offers an even contest between the teams.”Winston, who belongs to Ageas Bowl head groundsman Simon Lee, at the venue•Getty ImagesLee doesn’t deal with cliches when asked about the kind of pitch he desires for the final. “For me personally I just want to get something out that has some pace, bounce and carry in the pitch. It can be a hard thing to do in England as the weather doesn’t help us most of the time, but the forecast in the build-up is good with a lot of sun, so we are hopeful that we’ll get some pace and a hard pitch without over-rolling it and killing it.”Pace just makes red-ball cricket exciting, I’m a cricket fan and I want to produce a pitch where the cricket lovers have to watch every ball in case they miss something, be that some class batting or an amazing spell of bowling. A maiden over can be quite exciting if it’s a battle of skill between both bowler and batter. So, yeah, if we can get some pace and bounce in the pitch, but not too one-sided towards seam movement, we’ll be happy.”Currently, the forecast for match days of the final is predicted to be around 20 degrees Celsius with faint showers. Lee believes spin has the potential to become a key factor too, if the conditions remain mostly dry and the match extends to the final two days.”As I said, the forecast is looking okay, the pitches dry out very quickly here as we do have some sand mixed into our cricket loam, which helped it hold together when the pitches were re-laid some 10 years ago, but it can help it spin as well. To get to that point we’ll need the seamers to bowl, some runs scored, and make some rough along the way. The pitch will always get talked about a lot, but you need the players to play their part to make a good game, so if we produce a pitch that allows the players to show their skills at the top level and we have an entertaining game for the fans, we will be more than satisfied.”And what about Winston? Does he have ICC accreditation too? “Haha! Winston is so famous after last year’s international games in the bubble that he doesn’t need a pass now, everyone knows who he is and they always ask where or how he is here at work before any real work happens,” Lee says. “He is very much a people dog, always looking for a cuddle or a ball thrown for him to run after, so he is loving seeing more people about the ground as we get busier in the build-up to the WTC final. With the Covid-19 protocols around for these games, you can’t get too close, so seeing a wiggly bouncy cocker spaniel from a hotel room is a nice tonic to those strict rules I’d say.”

The team’s assistant coach on the significance of reaching the Super 12s, key players like Wiese, Smit and Erasmus, and much else

Interview by Deivarayan Muthu30-Oct-20213:50

Albie Morkel: ‘Namibia have exceeded expectations at T20 World Cup; players have become national heroes’

Namibia have had a great start to their first T20 World Cup. How special was it to progress to the Super 12s and start that stage with a win over Scotland?
I think it has exceeded all expectations. The way we entered the Super 12s after being well beaten by Sri Lanka, really blown away on that night, and to come back the way we did…Good game against Netherlands, where we were under pressure once again, where David Wiese played a fantastic knock. And then against Ireland on a tough surface, Gerhard Erasmus played a fantastic innings. It was amazing to see you know… Both were high-pressure matches and obviously on a small nation like Namibia, there will always been pressure to perform. The guys stood up to the test and, yes, we qualified to the Super 12s.The game against Scotland in our eyes was another big one. If you want to look at Associate cricket, Scotland, Ireland (they became a Full Member in 2017, alongside Afghanistan) and Netherlands – they are probably the big three if you want to call them that. And to win against them [Scotland] in the Super 12s is another fantastic effort by the boys.Related

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The celebrations were quite big in the team bus after Namibia qualified for the Super 12s. Can you recall the mood in the camp?
We had our team song. We sing it after every win and it’s become the sort of song the guys really enjoy it to participate in. It’s all about just building a little bit of team spirit and honouring and celebrating the good times. As we know in professional sport, there are a lot of bad times as well. So, whenever we get the opportunity to celebrate, we must do it fully.What would this World Cup run mean to the next generation of Namibia cricketers?
If I just look at some of the videos we’ve received back in Namibia, there’s massive support for the team. Guys are really going out and supporting the live matches at certain venues in Windhoek and around Namibia and that’s great to see. But you must remember that cricket was sort of a dying sport for the last 18 years in Namibia after the last time they featured in a World Cup in 2003.So, in the last three years people started watching cricket again, talking about it because the team really did well and it started with getting their ODI status in 2019 again and then having a good qualifiers in Dubai for this tournament. And we sort of kept that momentum going and I think it’s massive inspiration in Namibia again. As a young kid, you want to associate yourself with a national hero and that’s what these guys have achieved in the last three years. They’ve become national heroes and I’m sure it’s going to stand Cricket Namibia in good stead for the future.Towards the end of your playing career, you were performing a lot of leadership and mentorship roles. How did you transition from player to coach?
It’s a role that I really enjoyed. When I retired from all cricket in 2019, I probably still had a year or two in me to play, but obviously Covid stopped that. I retired before Covid happened, but I wouldn’t have played any games that season because of Covid. Looking back at it, it was probably the right decision to stop playing. But I’ve always felt that it’s important for any sportsman to have a sort of a transition into something else. So that was a perfect role for me to sort of not play cricket anymore but still be involved in cricket.I got the opportunity with Namibia and I grabbed it with both hands because I knew there would be a lot of opportunities for me to share my experience and build something from scratch. Yes, some structures in place, but to get where we are today required a lot of hard work and a lot of thinking. Pierre de Bruyn, the head coach, and the vision he had – it doesn’t happen overnight. It involved a lot of hard work, but something that I really enjoyed and something that I possibly would like to enjoy in the future as well.

“The opportunity to bring David [Wiese] and Ruben [Trumpelmann] in came through discussions… Post Brexit, his [Wiese’s] other option was to go and play for South Africa again in domestic structures, but playing for Namibia gives him access to international cricket once again.

You and de Bruyn go back a long way. How has your partnership with him been like, this time at the backroom?
Look, we played professional cricket together for many years – first at Easterns and later on at the Titans. We were always good cricket team-mates, we sort of played the same brand of cricket as well. I think we really complement each other. Our personalities are a little bit different, but we definitely complement each other. So, it has really been good and you can only enjoy something if you are really successful and like I said earlier it was a long process, but for the last three years Cricket Namibia kept on raising the bar and they kept on winning more games. And as backroom staff that’s what you look for and get your satisfaction out. So, it has been a great journey for me.Speaking of your personality, JJ Smit came out to the presser after the win over Scotland and said you’re the ice to de Bryun’s fire
When I played my cricket, I tried to stay really calm in all situations. I felt that helped me and got the best out of me. Not lose control of my emotions and I still take it into the coaching that I do. I try to portray a calm approach and I feel like you can make better decisions when you are calm and that’s why I said I and Pierre complement each other. You also need the other side you know. You need that fire from one side, but as long as you have someone who can calm the storm, I think that’s a good combination.What do you think is your strength as a coach?
Look, it’s definitely a learning experience for me. I went into coaching without having any experience. All I went with is the experience that I picked up as a player. So, I still try and instill that in the way that I coach. Stuff that I never enjoyed playing cricket…I’m not going to all of a sudden enforce on other people or players. So that’s my philosophy. I try to stay up with the trends, I try to be okay with things changing and adapting to that. So, like I said, I try to create an environment where cricketers can grow on and off the field. I don’t believe in the way of treating players where they are not allowed to develop as human beings. And it’s important for me to sort of keep that across the board.Namibia celebrate after they sealed a spot in the Super 12s•ICC via GettyNamibia’s players and staff have been in a bubble for several weeks. Has the management addressed the mental health and well-being of the side?
I think that is very challenging for not only players but for management and coaching staff as well. That was something I experienced for the first time in my life and I must admit I don’t think it’s sustainable, especially these long bubbles. You must keep in mind that we flew out to Dubai on the 25th of September, so by the end of the tournament, we will be spending about 48 days in a bubble. So, it’s pretty tough and it’s certainly not natural.As a cricketer, there’s so much pressure on you anyway, if there’s no way to release that away from the game, then it just keeps building up and building up. So, I think it’s something that hopefully we will see the end of very soon and like I said, I don’t think it’s sustainable in the long run – just talking to the players who have really struggled. The element of play and go away from the game is not there anymore and it’s tough to deal with.We don’t have many options. Lucky the hotel we stay at the moment in Abu Dhabi – they’ve got a small private beach here, so we’ve got access to it. The guys mostly spend some time in the water, throwing a ball or bouncing a ball across the water and we’ve also done a few quiz nights, which was quite good. Other than that, not much time; we try and watch some of the games together as a team in our team room. A few other guys have got table-tennis tables. You could still keep yourself busy but on a long tour you sort of run out of ideas.You played your last match for the Titans – a friendly T20 fixture – against Namibia. Was there a bit of friendly banter during that match?
I was actually part of the Namibia coaching staff already when I had to play for the Titans. That was sort of a deal I made. Once I retired, our CEO asked me to play one last game because there was always going to be a tour to Namibia and I agreed to that. So, at the time I was really out of touch with playing. I hadn’t played cricket for a couple of months then and I got out bowled cheaply by young [Jan] Frylink with an absolute pie (laughs). So, it didn’t end well for me, but it was good fun and good banter on the day.JJ Smit and Karl Birkenstock greet each other after Namibia beat Scotland•ICC via GettyHow did you and de Bryun put this team together despite having only a limited pool of players?
That’s the thing. You only have so much to work with. We’ve got 18 contracted players, if I’m not wrong. A lot of credit must go to Pierre like I said for the vision that he had, upskilling the guys, and I think that was the most important part of building this team. The players worked really hard to upskill their games, to get to that level to be able to perform in a World Cup and that doesn’t happen overnight. Three years of work in progress. We had limited playing opportunities during the Covid times, so it was tough to keep the guys’ morale and their love for the game up. I’m sure it’s tough for all teams, but like I said we’ve got a very small pool to pick from and to keep these guys interested and keep upskilling them was a massive challenge.The opportunity to bring David [Wiese] and Ruben [Trumpelmann] in came through discussions. We realised that they had family in Namibia and they can qualify for passports. It’s not an easy process, though, in Namibia. So, it took a good eight-nine months for them to get their papers and passports ready. They are two high-performance players. One is a strike bowler and one is an amazing allrounder – two key ingredients you need in a team. So, hopefully we can see more performances from them against the bigger sides.The pandemic must’ve delayed the passport formalities further. Were you anxious during that time?
It was a big worry because everything got postponed. The biggest plus, however, was the World Cup also got moved back by a year. That gave us time to get those stuff in order. I think if the World Cup had happened last year, we would have been without David and Ruben. They definitely fill key roles in our side. Playing opportunities are limited, but we did have a good stint before the World Cup, playing against Uganda, Zimbabwe Emerging side, South African Emerging side and then we played against Titans from South Africa and the Knights. We did have some good opportunity leading into the World Cup. We got our options and combinations right and got some form of cricket in before the World Cup.How did you manage to convince Wiese to come and play for Namibia?
Post-Brexit, his other option was to go and play for South Africa again in domestic structures, but playing for Namibia gives him access to international cricket once again. He now has access to playing in a World Cup. He has a chance to be in the eyeballs of a billion people and the performances he has put in at the World Cup so far have definitely upped his brand again. That’s the advantage of playing international cricket. If he decided to go and play domestic cricket in South Africa, that would’ve never happened for him.Erasmus, the captain, broke his finger during the warm-ups, but has soldiered on. What do you make of his resolve?
He’s a massive player for us. He’s the leader and a well-respected player. When he injured his finger during the warm-up games, it was a massive blow for us. The initial report from the specialist was for him to return home for an operation. And he will still get that when he’s back but but he has decided to stay on and our medical staff is managing that finger as best as we can. So far, his decision to stay on has really paid off. He’s an inspirational leader and he’s put together a few great performances and hopefully that finger can stay intact for another few games. Then, he’ll probably head home to the [operation] theatre and a long recovery period.Smit is another player who has added all-round value to the side. What are your impressions of him?
The world hasn’t seen what JJ Smit can do. He’s also struggled with a knee injury in the last couple of years. He’s bowling nicely at the moment, but definitely he has something in the tank. He has played two small finishing roles with the bat – 12* [14*] and 30* [32*] – but he’s actually a guy that can get 80 off 40 balls when he gets going. He’s one of those allrounders that you want in your team and the game is not finished until you get JJ out. He’s certainly not a slogger, if you call him that, he can properly hit balls with a lot of power.Albie Morkel, Pierre de Bruyn and David Wiese get together•ICC via GettySmit is also part of a rare four-man left-arm seam attack. Does that give your bowling line-up a point of difference?
We have four left-armers because we don’t have any other right-arm seamer (laughs). Seems like all bowlers in Namibia are left-arm fast bowlers, so yeah David [Wiese] brings that right-arm aspect. We’ve got another bowler who’s not playing at the moment Ben Shikongo; he’s a right-hander. It’s not really a match-up or something – that’s just how our team is set up.Match-ups, however, have become a massive part of T20 cricket. You need to find that perfect match-up between bat and ball. If you don’t do that homework before that time, it could cost you.How has the Ricelieu franchise T20 tournament in Namibia helped the players?
They are trying to spread out the level of strength a little bit. The players are mixed between the teams; so I think it’s still in the early stages. The one challenge that we still have in Namibia is our club cricket’s standard is not what we need to improve our players because we must remember there is nothing in between. It’s a good initiative and hopefully we can get a stronger pool and maybe we can get a few fringe players from South Africa to really up the level of competition in the tournament. Then, I think it will be even better.Mickey Arthur got the best out of you when you were playing for South Africa. Then you forged a strong relationship with Stephen Fleming at CSK in the IPL. What have you learnt from them?
Yes, I’ve connected with them, especially Stephen, but more around the conditions that they faced during the IPL. For us, it’s very important to do your homework and I briefly spoke to Mickey the other day when we played against them [Sri Lanka]. What I can take from those two guys and why I rate them highly as coach is one of things they did well was treat every player differently. But in saying that, they make you feel important in the role that you have to play for the team. I think that’s very important as a coach; as a player if you know that your coach backs you through thick and thin in your role, then that definitely helps in your own confidence.You’re on a part-time role with Namibia now. Do you see yourself stepping into a full-time role in the near future?
Yes, but the role at the moment is perfect for me. I came and became a coach without any coaching experience, so I still see myself in that learning phase. You can always learn new things every day. So, I started speaking to a lot of people to upskill myself and it’s something that I enjoy. I’m a big fan of cricket and a big cricket-watcher. I now enjoyed being involved behind the scenes and hopefully in the future, I can lead a team into the tournament.