All posts by n8rngtd.top

New Zealand allrounder hits fifty and takes three-for against old side to help edge low-scorer

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Jun-2025Jimmy Neesham starred with bat and ball to propel Durham to a 15-run Vitality Blast victory at Wantage Road and end Northamptonshire Steelbacks’ six-game winning streak.Making his first return to Northampton since his stint for the county in 2022, Neesham was largely to thank for Durham’s total of 157 for 8. The New Zealander made 50 off 34 balls after Durham slumped to 77 for 5 after 10 overs and 113 for 6 after 16. Skipper Alex Lees hit 29 at the top of the innings, while Will Rhodes made 27 in a sixth-wicket partnership of 36 with Neesham to begin the recovery.In the chase, Matt Breetzke made 41 off 36 balls, while Justin Broad made a valiant 30. But spinners Nathan Sowter (1 for 12) and Callum Parkinson (2 for 16) applied the screws, conceding just two boundaries in a decisive, miserly six-over spell together before Neesham nipped in to take three wickets for 29 in the closing overs, the Steelbacks finishing on 142 for 8.Against a tight Steelbacks bowling performance, Durham lost two wickets for 43 in the powerplay. Graham Clark was first to go, bowled by Ben Sanderson, before Luke Procter found some late movement to bowl Ollie Robinson first ball.Lees looked in good touch, playing a silky cover drive off Sanderson and powering Procter down the ground before Durham lost three wickets in the four overs after the powerplay. Paceman George Scrimshaw troubled Colin Ackermann with a bouncer before accounting for the Netherlands allrounder when he chopped onto his stumps.Justin Broad (2 for 22) kept up the pressure, conceding just five singles off his first over and getting the big wicket of Lees, caught behind off an attempted pull.Ben Raine targeted legspinner Lloyd Pope, hitting a huge six towards the Durham dug out at midwicket, but his stay ended three balls later when he was adjudged lbw to Broad, moving across his stumps.The Steelbacks kept boundaries to a minimum, backing up well in the field, as Neesham and Rhodes rebuilt, keeping busy by rotating the strike and running the ones and twos.Returning for his final over, David Willey found some prestigious reverse swing, a full ball hooping back in to bowl Rhodes. But Neesham upped the ante, smashing Scrimshaw for the first boundary in 26 balls and cracking him through midwicket before sweeping Procter over square leg for six.The returning Sanderson had Zak Foulkes caught at backward square-leg in the penultimate over, before Neesham deposited him down the ground for six more. In the final over, Procter removed Matt Potts, but Neesham responded with another maximum to take Durham past 150.Ricardo Vasconcelos started the chase briskly with an exhilarating cameo of 23 off 15 balls, with three boundaries off Potts and consecutive fours off Raine before he edged behind.Breetzke greeted Neesham with a big straight six before driving him square for four as the Steelbacks finished the powerplay on 56 for 1.Parkinson bowled a tight first over, conceding just four and had Willey caught at deep cover as the Steelbacks reached the 10-over mark on 77 for 2. Parkinson struck again when Breetzke was caught on the long-off boundary, Saif Zaib following 13 balls later, trapped lbw by Sowter, playing a reverse sweep.The Steelbacks were still in the hunt at the 15 over mark, needing 55 off the last five overs and when Ravi Bopara dismissively cracked Potts through extra cover and manoeuvred him through backward point, the momentum threatened to shift.However, Neesham soon had Bopara well caught on the leg-side boundary and removed Lewis McManus first ball through with a tame prod to short third man. Broad kept going, smashing Raine for an enormous six over midwicket before the bowler had him caught at mid-off. Finally, Neesham nipped in to remove Sanderson in the final over.

Charlie Allison’s 98 heads impressive collective effort while Michael Pepper remains 54 not out

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-Sep-2025Essex 325 for 5 (Allison 98, Pepper 54*) vs WarwickshireCharlie Allison fell two runs shy of a century in an effective batting display by Essex on the second day of their Rothesay County Championship match with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.Advancing towards the draw that would secure their Division One status, Essex closed on 325 for 5 with Allison’s 98 off 175 balls heading an impressive collective effort. No batter scored fewer than 25 while Michael Pepper made 54 not out (94), Dean Elgar 48 (111) and Matt Critchley 47 (64).After a washout on the first day and, judging by the weather forecast, very little play likely on the third, this match appears nailed on for a draw which would send both teams into next week’s final games safely clear of the bottom two.In their last home match of the season, Warwickshire chose to bowl and were unlucky not to take more than one wicket in the morning session. Olly Hannon-Dalby in particular maintained high pressure, conceding just three runs from his first seven overs, but the ball frequently beat the bat rather than taking the edge.Elgar and Paul Walter added 41 in 14 overs before the latter was lured into driving at a wide ball from Nathan Gilchrist and edged to wicketkeeper Alex Davies.Elgar moved diligently to 48 in 144 minutes then perished in similar fashion to his opening partner. The left-hander edged Gilchrist to second slip where Rob Yates accepted his 15th Championship catch of the season.When Tom Westley drove around an Ethan Bamber yorker, Essex were 111 for 3 but Allison and Critchley ensured there was no collapse with a measured partnership of 98 in 25 overs. Critchley was closing in on his 33rd first-class half-century when he nicked an excellent ball from Michael Booth to Davies.Allison found another resolute partner in Pepper. Both scored Championship centuries against Warwickshire at Chelmsford in July and this time they added 77 in 20 overs.Allison, having spent quite some time in the 90s, then attacked the wrong ball from Bamber and Rob Yates accepted his 16th championship catch of the season. That proved to be the only wicket with the new ball.Again, Warwickshire’s seamers bowled well without much luck but Pepper completed his half-century in the day’s penultimate over and Essex can be well-satisfied with a strong day’s work by their batters.Without Shane Snater (calf injury) and Sam Cook, who sustained a broken thumb during the Hundred, Essex are giving a first class debut to seamer Charlie Bennett.

Australia opener hails “the toughest bowler I have ever faced”

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jan-20251:18

Manjrekar: ‘Bumrah, a bowler without a weakness’

Usman Khawaja came into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy not too worried about facing Jasprit Bumrah. In fact, Bumrah hadn’t been able to dismiss him across the seven Test innings they had faced each other previously, and the Australia opener reckoned the fast bowler gets easier to navigate as you play him more.But after six dismissals to the India fast bowler across eight innings where he faced him, Khawaja admitted he “was just getting Bumrah’ed”.Related

• The Ashes gave Khawaja a 'fairy tale' but can he write another chapter?

• Australia regain Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set up WTC final date with SA

• Bumrah frustrated after missing out 'on the spiciest wicket of the series'

• What did victory over India tell us about Australia's present and future?

“To be honest, I was just getting Bumrah-ed,” Khawaja told ABC Sport after Australia regained the BGT in Sydney. “It was friggin’ tough work. It was tough work. People were asking me ‘what’s going on?’ I’m being honest, I’m just getting Bumrah-ed.”Bumrah finished the series as the highest wicket-taker, with 32 scalps at an average of 13.06 and was duly named Player of the Series.He could bowl only nine innings though, and he couldn’t take the field during Australia’s chase at the SCG after experiencing back spasms during their first innings.In Bumrah’s absence, Australia sealed the win with six wickets to spare, and Khawaja admitted that Australia felt more confident on a spicy pitch when they saw that Bumrah wasn’t on the field.”You never want to see anyone injured and it’s a shame he was, but thank God for us. Because today would have been an absolute nightmare facing him on that wicket,” Khawaja said.”And you can see what a big part of their team he was. And everyone felt it. As soon as we didn’t see Bumrah out there, we had this sense of feeling that we’ve actually got a chance here.”Khawaja said Bumrah is “the toughest bowler I’ve ever faced” and hailed the fast bowler’s improvement from his first tour of Australia in 2018-19.”He was always good, he was a very good bowler [in 2018]. But he’s been something different this year,” Khawaja said. “It looked like he’s just got his tail up.”The wickets have definitely helped him, but he’s six years more mature, he’s a better bowler, he understands his skills. He understands who he’s bowling to and he has different plans for everyone.”I always feel like no matter how good a bowler is, they’ll always give me something to score off. I just never felt like I could score off him. It just felt so hard. I’ve never found someone so hard to score off and get off strike as Bumrah and you always feel like he’s got a wicket ball up his sleeve.”

Questions over whether Marsh will retain his place in Adelaide or perhaps play as a specialist batter only have been floating around after he pulled up sore following the Perth Test

Andrew McGlashan04-Dec-20241:31

Lyon: ‘I’m very clear about my role within the team’

Nathan Lyon is confident Mitchell Marsh will be able to play a role with the ball in Adelaide but is ready to take up any extra workload that comes his way should that not be the case.Marsh’s fitness has been one of the key watching briefs around the Australia side after he pulled up sore following Perth. Uncapped allrounder Beau Webster is part of the squad but it appears likely that Marsh will retain his place regardless of how much he can bowl. Since returning to the side in last year’s Ashes, Marsh is the only incumbent batter to average over 40 which appears set to keep him in the side.”I honestly think we’ll see Mitch Marsh bowl,” Lyon said on Wednesday. “I’m not concerned about Bison’s fitness if I’m being honest. He’s been brilliant for us since he’s come back in. He came [back] in that game in Leeds during the Ashes and [has] really dominated so got full confidence in Bison. Happy to bowl his overs.”Related

• Cummins hopes for more proactive Labuschagne in pink-ball Test

• Marsh 'hopefully right and ready to go' but questions over bowling

• Webster bolsters Australia squad amid Marsh concerns

• Hazlewood ruled out of second Test; Abbott, Doggett in

• Perth report: India hand Australia 295-run thrashing

While in recent times Lyon has been part of an Australia attack that has featured either Marsh, Cameron Green or sometimes both, he has also featured in a considerable number of sides that have not had a genuine allrounder, instead using the four frontline bowlers with some part-time overs from members of the top order.Lyon’s ability to be both an attacking and defensive bowler means he can play a key role in balancing the bowling unit in the absence of a genuine fifth bowler where, if needed, he can look to control the run rate in the first innings before searching more for wickets as the game develops.”I’m very clear on my role within the team,” Lyon said. “Nothing really changes with me…if I can get the opportunity to bowl more overs, I’ll jump at it.”Lyon expects the Adelaide pitch – which will start with 6mm of grass – will take turn as the game develops. In day-night Tests at the ground, spinners average 24.72 on the third day and 22.91 on the fourth, compared to 113.25 on the first and 60.60 on the second.Lyon was economical in India’s hefty second innings in Perth although was largely nullified by the top order before having Rishabh Pant stumped when the lead was already considerable. This Test brings Lyon back to the ground where he has had most success in Test cricket with 63 wickets at 25.26 from 13 matches, seven of which have been day-night encounters.2:13

Clarke: Mitch Marsh needs to be bowling

“We understand that we didn’t play our best cricket in Perth and India totally outplayed us,” he said. “But with all the other stuff, it’s been quite humorous in a way looking at how much has been said and the reactions of so many different people after one loss.”The beauty of a five-match Test series…is you get the opportunity to turn that around and that’s the challenge of what we face right now. We are coming up against a world-class India side that played an exceptional game of cricket over in Perth but that’s been nine days or so ago now, so come Friday we go again which I’m excited about.”We are humans, we are going to make mistakes, but if we can go out there and try and learn along the journey then we are going to put ourselves in a better position come our next fixture. We’ve got a great record here, playing at one of the best venues in the world on a great wicket, so looking forward to that.”He expressed surprised that both R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were left out in Perth with India preferring Washington Sundar. “[It] more than surprises me,” he said. “That’s the quality of Indian cricketers they have in that squad. You’ve got Ashwin with 530-odd wickets [536] and then Jadeja over 300 wickets [319]. It’s pretty remarkable to see the quality of players sitting on the bench.”In an encouraging sign for Australia, Josh Hazlewood was doing some gentle run throughs of his action alongside the other bowlers during the evening training session on Wednesday after he was ruled out of the second Test with a mild side strain. Scott Boland is expected to be his replacement for this Test.

Apart from poor recent form, South Africa also have a slew of injured bowlers to deal with

Firdose Moonda23-Dec-2024South Africa will find a way to “pull together” for the Champions Trophy 2025 after suffering their first ODI whitewash at home and without any more match practice with a full-strength squad ahead of the tournament, according to white-ball coach Rob Walter.After overseeing the 3-0 defeat to Pakistan, Walter has been left with an ODI record of two series wins from six but does not think bilateral form accurately reflects what the team is capable of at major tournaments. “I know they’ll shine through when it comes to these world events, these marquee events. The guys tend to step up. They tend to bring their best cricket,” Walter said at the Wanderers. “We’ve seen that for two World Cups in a row.”In June, South Africa reached the T20 World Cup final with no bilateral series wins from four attempts under Walter and with the entire squad only convening two days before the event started, with players traveling from the IPL. And last November, South Africa reached the ODI World Cup semi-final, with limited ODI game time under their belt. They drew a series against West Indies in March 2023 and then came from 2-0 down to beat Australia 3-2 in September just before the tournament.Related

• Champions Trophy 2025: Dubai to host all India matches, including the knockouts if India qualify

• Ayub hundred condemns SA to maiden home ODI whitewash

This time, they also have fixtures on the eve of the Champions Trophy – a tri-series in Pakistan – but will not be able to have all their first-choice players available as some will be competing in the final stages of the SA20. Walter understands that could pose a challenge.”The reality is the lead up into the Champions Trophy won’t be anything, like the lead up to the World Cup. That’s the reality of the way the schedule is stacked up. But at the end of the day, I’ve just got to trust in the quality of the players,” he said. “Obviously, the switching in codes will potentially pose a little bit of a challenge to us. But again, it’s not like the guys have not played 50-over cricket. So I trust that when the time comes, we’ll be there.”Mindset and sense of occasion aside, South Africa also have personnel questions as they deal with a slew of injured bowlers. Seven of their seamers – Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams are currently injured – and though all but Burger, who has lower back stress fractures, are expected to return this season, there is no telling how many will make it to the Champions Trophy. The problem is compounded by a niggle to Keshav Maharaj, who missed the recent ODI series after picking up a groin strain ahead of the first game, but could return for the Tests. For Walter, the number of players unavailable also means he was hamstrung in selection, which may ease the criticism of his results.But there is no softener in the batting department, where South Africa have struggled to find someone to fill Quinton de Kock’s role at the top of the order, and collectively underperformed. Heinrich Klaasen was their only batter to score a half-century in the series – and he did it three times – but no-one else scored more than 100 runs across the three matches or got an individual score over 40 which Walter recognised as a concern.”As a batting unit, we’ve spoken about someone taking pride in getting in and getting a big hundred and to be fair, we just haven’t been able to convert anything into really substantial knocks or partnerships in this series,” he said. “It’s not like we’re unaware. Some of it is down to batting error and others down to bowling quality and we also have to acknowledge that.”He appeared to back Tony de Zorzi as Temba Bavuma’s opening partner, though there is also the option of Ryan Rickelton.”If you look at Tony de Zorzi’s knock today (at the Wanderers, where he made 26), he was batting beautifully and then he got a brute of a ball that got him out at the end of the day. How do you assess that and what conversations do you have? I just want him to continue to play like he was playing because he was putting our noses in front up until that point,” Walter said. “These things do happen and ultimately I think it’s important to know that the players themselves want to be better. They want to convert. They want to get big hundreds. It’s not through any lack of want. And again, I have to trust that that conversion will start happening and hopefully sooner rather than later.”Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram’s form at Nos. 3 and 4 could also come under the microscope. Van der Dussen has not scored a half-century in 10 innings while Markram has one 50-plus score in his last 11 completed outings. South Africa’s over-reliance on Klaasen and David Miller (whose wife Camila is expecting their first child in February which could affect his availability) is clear. But Walter, despite whispers of pressure, does not look too perturbed with current results. He understands white-ball cricket has had to juggle selection with the needs of the Test side, who are one win away from securing a place in the World Test Championship final, and then will shift attention to the SA20, which takes precedence over everything else in the South African summer because of the profits it makes.By then, Walter is hopeful there will be enough good memories, vibes and form to carry the ODI side through the Champions Trophy where they are grouped with Afghanistan, Australia and England. “As a Proteas family, we’ll focus on these Test matches and getting ourselves to that World Test Championship final. And then obviously all the lads will pretty much be involved in the SA20, which will be highly competitive cricket, albeit in a different format,” he said. “I’m optimistic that when the time comes, we’ll pull together.”

Tafadzwa Tsiga, Newman Nyamhuri, and Vincent Masekesa are the three uncapped players in the squad

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2025Left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava has made a return from injury to Zimbabwe’s T20I squad for the upcoming triseries at home against South Africa and New Zealand.Three uncapped players – wicketkeeper-batter Tafadzwa Tsiga, left-arm seamer Newman Nyamhuri, and legspinner Vincent Masekesa – were also included in the squad of 16. Vincent and Tsiga have played Tests for Zimbabwe, while 19-year-old Nyamhuri has played three Tests and four ODIs.The triseries is scheduled to take place at the Harare Sports Club from July 14 to 26. Each team will face the others twice before the top two sides contest the final.Ngarava recovered from a lower-back injury that had ruled him out of Zimbabwe’s recent fixtures; his last competitive match was the one-off Test in England in May. Allrounder Brian Bennett was also been cleared to play following a concussion suffered during the recent Test series against South Africa.Zimbabwe open their campaign against South Africa on July 14, followed by matches against New Zealand on July 18, South Africa again on July 20, and New Zealand on July 24. All the matches of the tri-series will begin at 1300 local time.Zimbabwe squad for tri-series: Sikandar Raza (capt), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Tafadzwa Tsiga

The Pakistan batter was arrested on suspicion of rape by the Greater Manchester Police in the UK last month

Danyal Rasool04-Sep-2025The investigation into Pakistan cricketer Haider Ali, who was arrested on suspicion of rape by the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in the UK last month, has been closed, with all charges against the player dropped. Haider, who had been released on bail following his arrest, is now free to leave the UK.”We always take allegations of this nature very seriously and will assess each incident thoroughly,” the GMP told ESPNcricinfo. “Following a comprehensive review of all available evidence, the investigation has been closed at this time. Should any further information come to light, we would review the material and case again appropriately.”Related

• Haider Ali under criminal investigation in the UK, suspended by the PCB

• Haider Ali arrested and granted bail after report of alleged rape

Haider, 24, was part of a tour by the Shaheens – effectively a Pakistan A side – to the UK, playing matches against a select XI in Beckenham and Hove. During a game on August 3, GMP officers arrived at the ground in Beckenham, where Haider was arrested during the game. According to a GMP statement at the time, the alleged offence leading to the arrest had occurred in Manchester on July 23, the day after the Shaheens’ first tour game, which Haider played. Haider was bailed at the time and the alleged victim was being “supported by officers”.The PCB confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that charges against Haider had been dropped. At the time of his arrest, the PCB had put out a statement saying it “reserve[d] the right to take appropriate action under its Code of Conduct, if necessary”.ESPNcricinfo understands a decision on whether to take action against Haider has not been made yet, with the PCB waiting on the player to return to Pakistan before it takes a decision.Haider has played two ODIs and 35 T20Is for Pakistan. Initially feted as a destructive hitter, he burnished his reputation with standout performances in the PSL with Peshawar Zalmi in 2020, when he scored 239 runs at a strike rate of 157.23. He was called up to the national side later that year, his international debut coming in a T20I game in Manchester, where he scored a 33-ball 54 as Pakistan won by five runs.Inconsistency has dogged him since, and he has repeatedly found himself in and out of the Pakistan side. However, his talent and explosiveness have kept him in international contention, and the current Shaheens tour was widely viewed as an opportunity to reintegrate a player whose batting approach aligns with the aggressive style Pakistan’s current T20 set-up has made no secret it wants to pursue.

A round-up of the second day’s action – or lack of due to rain – at the President’s Cup

Cricinfo staff31-Oct-2009

Narsingh Deonarine: To Guyana’s rescue•The Nation

Narsingh Deonarine’s unbeaten century boosted Guyana into the semi-finals of the WICB President’s Cup with a seven-wicket success over Barbados at Albion. Chasing 232, Guyana were indebted to Deonarine’s 102 which sealed the win with 6.5 overs remaining out of an allotted 49.Deonarine put on 133 off 114 balls for the third wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (38*), the pair having come together in the 24th over when the captain Ramnaresh Sarwan chipped a return catch to Dwayne Smith. There were no further hiccups, however, as Deonarine and Chanderpaul battered the bowlers and move Guyana to eight points following their first-round victory over the Leeward Islands on Wednesday.Barbados had began drastically after Ryan Hinds opted to bat. Martin Nurse went second ball of the innings, nicking Esuan Crandon behind for 0. Hinds (31) and Kirk Edwards (32) added 68 for the second wicket to restore order but Hinds’ dismissal, bowled by Crandon in the 16th over, opened the sluice gates. Barbados proceeded to lose six wickets for 52 runs to crash to 120 for 7 in the 32nd over. Suliemann Benn, the West Indies left-arm spinner, swung his way to 39 from 40 balls in an 82-run stand with Khalid Springer (45 from 37) that got Barbados past 200. The pair were dismissed within nine balls of each other and the tail went cheaply.Barbados, on four points, will face Leewards in their final preliminary round match on Saturday in an attempt to claim one of the three remaining semi-final berths.In a rain-hit match at the Providence Stadium, the two bottom-placed teams were hit with another road block. Leeward Islands were 37 for 0 after six overs against West Indies Under-19, out of which 31 came off Kieron Powell’s bat, when rain stopped play. The showers continued and play was called off at 2:00pm. The game was abandoned as a no-result. The Leewards and West Indies U-19s were already coming off losses in Wednesday’s opening matches and remain stuck at the bottom of the points tables with one point each.

Jamaica’s shot at sealing a place in the semi-finals look slim after their match against Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) was washed out at Georgetown. Persistent rain forced an abandonment just 12.1 overs into CCC’s innings after they opted to bat. With the score 41 for 2, the players were hurried into shelter and the rain continued through the afternoon, leaving the umpires Clyde Duncan and Dalton Holder to call off play at 1:45 pm. Jerome Taylor’s two wickets in the first over had boosted Jamaica but a 37-run partnership between Romel Currency and Nekoli Perris put matters back on course before the deluge.Both teams received a point for the abandonment, leaving CCC with four points following win over the Windward Islands on Wednesday, and Jamaica with a single point after they were beaten by Trinidad & Tobago in their opening match.Rain played spoilsport at West Demerara as well, where no play was possible for Trinidad & Tobago and the Windward Islands.

SL set aggressive fields to tempt him to play the reverse sweep, and he played them almost flawlessly, 76 of his runs coming square of wicket

Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Feb-2025In 2022, in the match that Australia lost at this same venue, Alex Carey played a reverse sweep on 28, holed out in the deep, and a collapse ensued. The last five Australia wickets – Carey’s included – fell for 35 runs. Sri Lanka breezed past Australia’s total, established a 190-run lead, and won by an innings.In this Test, after Sri Lanka had put up what seemed a competitive total on a dry pitch, Carey has helped propel Australia to a 73-run lead, and has possibly played the innings of the series so far, making 139 not out off 156 deliveries. He and Smith have put on 239 runs for the fourth wicket so far.”I think I stuck to a plan and a process and kept it pretty simple,” Carey said of his innings. “I went to reverse sweeps at times. I played it on the straight plane as well, when I thought there was an opportunity to do so.”Related

• Sri Lanka hit as Kamindu Mendis' runs dry up

• Smith and Carey dominate with hundreds in double-century stand

• A batting cyborg: Smith's personal electricity brings Galle alive

The sweeps and reverse-sweeps were especially notable aspects of this Carey innings, as Sri Lanka set aggressive fields to tempt Carey to play the reverse sweep in particular. Carey played them almost flawlessly all day however, 76 of his runs coming square of the wicket.”The sweeps and reverses have always been my game, but I think it’s about staying patient for longer,” Carey said. “I think I’m probably playing those shots at a time when the field allows for it. I’m just being a little bit smarter, and understanding risk versus reward, and the potential field changes sweeping might bring. I think I’m playing it with a bit more intent to do other things, and just get down the other end.”Carey has been on the field almost the entire Test so far. With Josh Inglis off the field for a substantial stretch of day one, and early on day two, Carey was promoted up to No. 5, which meant he was batting less than 25 overs into Australia’s innings, after keeping wicket for more than a day. But he let only four byes slip through, and has now made an outstanding hundred to help set up a victory push. His keeping will likely be tested again in the second innings, when this surface is even drier.”Backing up the bowlers who are creating opportunities – my job in the side is first and foremost to do it behind the stumps,” he said. “I thought that first innings was pretty solid. And that last game, where the boys were creating chances, that was quite satisfying.”

Wicketkeeper says he had originally planned to retire before the start of this season

Shashank Kishore06-Nov-2024Wriddhiman Saha had already made up his mind to retire from cricket when he casually went to the Eden Gardens this June. But after he returned from a meeting meant to amicably resolve differences with certain factions within the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), which had led to his departure to Tripura for two seasons, Saha had a change of mind.The reason: Sourav Ganguly. The former India captain had convinced Saha to stay on so that he could end his career with Bengal. And so, Saha, who has had plenty of taping around his fingers and strapping around his hamstring and pain-relief patches on his back, decided to continue with the team’s physio on speed dial to be able to help him fight through another season.”You can say it was because of emotional attachment,” he says as he sits down for a chat on the opening day of Bengal’s fourth-round Ranji fixture against Karnataka in Bengaluru. “I wasn’t going to play this year but Sourav Ganguly and my wife pushed me to play and finish with Bengal after two seasons with Tripura.”When he gave his nod to play, Saha made it clear he won’t be available for the white-ball leg of the domestic season. He knew he wouldn’t last the rigours of another full season. It was also partly influenced by his desire to have his spot taken by someone else, because he’d already informed his previous IPL franchise, Gujarat Titans, he wasn’t going to play in the tournament anymore.As it turns out, one of the direct beneficiaries of Saha’s exit (from when he moved to Tripura) has been Abishek Porel, who has flourished so much over the past year across formats that Delhi Capitals considered him worthy of being retained. For Saha, a mentor to the young group of wicketkeepers across the country, there couldn’t have been a better validation.”I’ve been pushing myself for the last year. But because of my body condition and injuries, I won’t be able to play for the full season,” he says. “That’s why I chose the most vital format – Ranji Trophy. It will be tough [to carry on] but I will play and hopefully we qualify. If we do, I will play till the end of the season, else I’ll finish off at Eden Gardens.”Related

• Captain Jaydev Unadkat wants Saurashtra's transition 'to be smooth'

• Saha returns to Bengal for upcoming season

• Saha looks to wipe slate clean with Bengal

• Saha to retire from cricket after Ranji Trophy season

Saha laughs when asked if the decision to contemplate retirement was tough. “It was very easy,” he replies spontaneously. “I was already prepared that I won’t play this year. But when my wife and Sourav Ganguly pushed me, I couldn’t refuse.”Still considered among the best wicketkeepers in India, perhaps even around the world, Saha seems at peace with his decision. He’s fully happy with the way his career has panned out, even though his career coincided at different times with two mavericks: MS Dhoni in the early years and Rishabh Pant in the later. Has he ever considered himself unlucky?”No, I don’t think so,” he says. “There are so many of them who didn’t play despite toiling so hard. Amol Muzumdar, Padmakar Shivalkar sir. I feel fortunate and proud to have played 40 Tests for India.”Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps: acrobatic and safe•BCCI

As he looks ahead, Saha is open to opportunities in coaching and mentoring. He’s clear the first rights will be with Bengal. “Not yet [thought of the immediate future], but if I get an offer from another state or Bengal, I will think about it,” he laughs. “If not, family life (laughs). I have been playing cricket since childhood. I haven’t done anything else. I want to share as much knowledge as I have in cricket. I’ve already started doing that at a couple of academies back home.”Saha ended his Test career with 1353 runs in 56 innings at an average of 29.41, with three centuries and six half-centuries. Arguably, his finest moment on home turf when he hit unbeaten half-centuries in both innings to help India beat New Zealand in 2016. Saha admits “maybe I could’ve done more” with the bat, but insists his career graph was largely a reflection of his emphasis on being a wicketkeeper first and a batter next.”When I started, I was a wicketkeeper. I knew I could never be as good as Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman and Virat Kohli,” he says. “I wanted to earn a name in what I did from childhood – that’s why I put more emphasis on wicketkeeping.”He grew up working with Kiran More, Saba Karim and Deep Dasgupta. Chats with Dhoni over the years, and occasional interactions with Adam Gilchrist and Ian Healy fueled his pursuits of being his best version. As a seasoned professional, Saha says he’s happy to chat with young keepers and help them.”I’ve spoken to keepers from the women’s team, we keep talking to each other,” he says. “Last IPL, Dhruv Jurel spoke to me. Rishabh [Pant] has done it all along when we played together. The understanding was good, he used to share his experiences, I used to give him as much input as possible.”As Saha reflects on his career, he’s happy he continued to play for three more years despite being told in late 2021 by then coach Rahul Dravid that the Indian team were moving on from him.”That door got closed, but I knew domestic, and IPL was still there,” he says. “It wasn’t like I got demoralised because of that. I’ve played now for three-four years since that. Why did I start playing? Because I like it. Last year, I’d stopped liking the game and planned to leave. After this season, I’m moving on.”Hopefully we can make the final. If not, I’ll finish off at Eden Gardens.”