All posts by h716a5.icu

Once he overcame the early nervousness, Abdur Razzak got into the sort of groove he has become accustomed to in the domestic circuit off late and finished with 4 for 63 on his Test comeback

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur08-Feb-2018Abdur Razzak was understandably nervous before delivering his first ball on the first morning of the Dhaka Test against Sri Lanka, but it wasn’t as bad as his ODI or Test debut more than 10 years ago. Once he overcame the early nervousness, Razzak got into the sort of groove he has become accustomed to in the domestic circuit off late.Razzak removed Dimuth Karunaratne in his first spell of five overs before starting his second with two wickets off successive deliveries. Danushka Gunathilaka got out to a poor shot, giving a catch to mid-off before Razzak ripped a beautiful delivery past Dinesh Chandimal to hit the off stump. He soon removed Kusal Mendis with a similar delivery, as he made his comeback after missing 22 Bangladesh Tests a memorable one.”Obviously, international cricket is at a different level compared to domestic tournaments so there was a bit of nerve at the start but it slowly went away,” Razzak said. “The heart was beating quite fast but not like earlier in my career. There’s always excitement, from the time I got selected to marking my run-up. Since you are playing for your country, you think differently.”Razzak, who played only 12 Tests between 2006 and 2014, took 244 wickets in first-class matches since being dropped four years ago. During this period, the second-highest wicket-taker, Sunzamul Islam, was 93 wickets behind him. Razzak took four 10-wicket hauls and was the highest wicket-taker in the calendar years 2015, 2016 and 2017 in the Bangladesh first-class circuit.He said that the big haul of wickets in the last four years of domestic first-class cricket helped him transform into a better bowler in the format. Razzak also credited those who picked him at this stage of his career, which he said offered hope to many senior players like him.”The biggest thing is performance, at whichever level, your confidence starts to go up,” he said. “The more you play first-class cricket, you get into the habit of being in the longer-format game.”I definitely feel that in the current climate in our cricket, when fitness is so important, I must thank the BCB for giving me the chance now. It means that nobody should ever give up. Everyone’s chances remain alive.”

Natali Dodd and Hayley Jensen have returned to the T20I squad for the home series against West Indies while the legspinner Erin Bermingham, who has taken an indefinite break from cricket, was unavailable for selection

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Feb-2018New Zealand women squads

ODI squad: Suzie Bates (capt), Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Kate Ebrahim, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Katey Martin, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu.
T20I squad: Suzie Bates (capt), Sophie Devine, Natalie Dodd, Maddy Green, Kate Heffernan, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Katey Martin, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu.

New Zealand women have included the uncapped pair of Kate Heffernan and Lauren Down for the home series against West Indies in March. Heffernan, an 18-year-old left-arm seamer, has found a place in the 13-member T20I squad while Down, a 22-year-old batsman, is part of the ODI squad.”Both Kate and Lauren are impressive athletes in their own right and will definitely bring that dynamic edge that we’re looking for,” said Haidee Tiffen, New Zealand’s coach.”The fact that Kate is a left-armer was certainly a factor in her selection as she will bring that point of difference. We see an immense amount of potential in Kate, particularly as we look ahead a bit further to a World Cup in New Zealand in 2021.”Lauren’s been on our radar for a while in both formats and we also think she’s one for the future. She’s explosive with the bat and is a terrific fielder across the park.”Kate Ebrahim has returned to the ODI squad while Natalie Dodd and Hayley Jensen have come back into the T20I squad.Katie Perkins has missed out on selection, having had limited game-time since suffering a broken thumb in December, while the legspinner Erin Bermingham, who has taken an indefinite break from cricket, was unavailable for selection.”Erin’s been a terrific servant to the team for a long time and made important contributions on and off the field,” Tiffin said. “She’s a great team-player and we will miss having her around the group.”The three-match ODI series begins on March 4 in Christchurch. This will be followed by a five-match T20I series, which starts on March 14 in Tauranga.

Manchester City could be set to lose another first-team star, with a new report claiming that he’s being targeted by the same club who are also looking to sign Bernardo Silva.

What's the latest transfer news at Man City?

Over the summer, Pep Guardiola signed four fresh faces in the form of RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol, Wolves’ Matheus Nunes, Rennes' Jeremy Doku and Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic, strengthening his defensive, midfield and attacking ranks, but there were also a big number of outgoings.

Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte, Ilkay Gundogan and Cole Palmer were the four big players to leave the club on a permanent basis, whilst the hierarchy also sanctioned loan moves for the likes of Joao Cancelo and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, as per Transfermarkt.

At the Etihad Stadium, Silva has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona despite recently signing a contract extension, and another integral member of the squad that the Camp Nou outfit have now brought onto their future transfer radar is apparently Erling Haaland.

The Norway international has undoubtedly been the boss’ standout performer since putting pen to paper from Borussia Dortmund last summer, and therefore, the striker has emerged as a target and could be following in his teammate’s footsteps by swapping the Premier League for La Liga if the latest update is to be believed.

Is Erling Haaland leaving Man City?

According to 90min, Barcelona are “manoeuvring themselves to be a contender” in the race for Haaland.

Real Madrid have always appeared the most likely to secure his services should he leave the Etihad, but Xavi’s side are now “preparing to make their own move” for the talisman who they view as a “viable option” to succeed the 35-year-old Robert Lewandowski.

Guardiola’s star has a €200m (£172m) release clause included in his contract, and whilst this can only be activated from 2025 onwards, that hasn’t stopped his admirers from plotting a future swoop.

The M11 outfit are working to get a new long-term deal in place, but as it stands, there is “little motivation” from the player’s side to remove the current clause in his terms, hinting that his camp would be open to an exit in the coming years.

How many goals has Erling Haaland scored?

Following his arrival at Man City, Haaland has clocked up an unbelievable 68 contributions (58 goals and ten assists) in just 59 appearances, with this extremely prolific form having seen him dubbed a “monster” in the final third by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Sponsored by Nike, the left-footed machine has also recorded a total of 18 shots so far over the course of the current campaign which is more than any of his fellow teammates, via FBRef, with his positive impact having made a huge difference when it comes to securing silverware.

The Rafaela Pimenta client, who has the versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline if needed, has helped the club to secure four group trophies since joining in July 2022, and there’s no doubt that should he stay, that number is only set to increase in the seasons to come.

Meticulous and clinical, the Adelaide Strikers turned a precarious position against the Sydney Thunder into a 25-run win to reach the top of the Big Bash League table

The Report by Tim Wigmore07-Jan-2018Adelaide Strikers 7 for 158 (Ingram 48, Carey 34, Fawad 3-31) beat Sydney Thunder 9 for 133 (Nesser 3-29, Siddle 2-13, Rashid 2-21) by 25 runsMeticulous and clinical, the Adelaide Strikers turned a precarious position against the Sydney Thunder into a 25-run win to reach the top of the Big Bash League table.Yet again, the Strikers’ success was underpinned by Rashid Khan, the outstanding player in the tournament so far. In five matches, he has recorded figures of 2-22, 2-22, 2-19, 2-18 and now 2-21, bowling with control and penetration that has allowed the Strikers to triumph when batting first, while their opponents favour chasing. To boot, he even heaved a couple of sixes in the final over of Adelaide’s innings.The margin of the Strikers’ victory defied their struggles for much of the night. Colin Ingram’s six-ridden 48 hauled them to 158 for 7; then, with the Thunder on 42 for no loss after five overs, Peter Siddle delivered a crucial maiden before combining with Rashid to throttle the home team. Even Ben Rohrer’s three late sixes were not enough to give the Thunder real hope of avenging their defeat at the Adelaide Oval before Christmas.Adelaide steady as she goesThe Strikers are unusual in their penchant for batting first when they win the toss – something they have done more than the other seven teams combined this BBL season. It is a reflection of how, with a strong bowling attack that includes Rashid, who is especially proficient in the second innings, they feel comfortable defending totals. Travis Head won the toss, batted first and won against the Sydney Thunder at Adelaide a fortnight ago, and aimed to do the same on Sunday evening. Perhaps the scorching heat in Sydney – it was the hottest day in the city for 80 years – played a role too, making it attractive for the Strikers to field when it was cooler later in the night. The Strikers began their innings smoothly enough, just a little slowly: after eight overs, they had only lost one wicket, yet had a run rate of under seven.Getty ImagesFawad pulls them backLegspinners have been the most successful type of bowlers in this season of the Big Bash. And for all the attention on the overseas stars – Rashid, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah – Fawad Ahmed has been almost as effective. In the ninth over of the Strikers innings, he changed the complexion of the game by snaring both set batsmen. First, Travis Head spliced a shot to long-on. Then, after striking a couple of slog-swept boundaries – the second was caught on the long-on boundary, but Kurtis Patterson was touching the rope while initially taking the catch – Alex Carey was flummoxed by a googly and clean bowled. Fawad cleaned up Jonathan Wells with a delivery that went straight on in his final over, to end with 3 for 31 and take his BBL season haul to eight wickets at 18.50 apiece, to go with an economy rate of 6.16. In all, the Thunder delivered 12 overs of spin, with Chris Green taking 1 for 22 from his allocation.ESPNcricinfo LtdIngram’s late dashAt 4 for 104 with one ball of the 16th over left, the Strikers weren’t going anywhere quickly. Then, Colin Ingram did as overseas batsmen are supposed to do. With beautiful timing, he creamed three sixes – a heave over long-on from Arjun Nair, a crisp strike over long-off off Green, and a pull over square leg off Gurinder Sandhu – to haul Adelaide into a position from which they could amass a working total. As Ingram walked off, slashing a full and wide delivery from Sandhu to the keeper, the suspicion remained that the total would not be quite enough. But Rashid harrumphed two sixes in the final three balls of the Strikers innings to shore them up to 7 for 158; 54 of those runs having come off the final 25 balls.Thunder’s flying startAt 32 without loss in four overs, the Thunder appeared to be cruising towards their target. Head entrusted Rashid to bowl the fifth over, but Patterson scythed two fours through the covers to leave the home team requiring only 117 from 15 overs with ten wickets still in hand. It should have been a cruise.The squeezeThe Strikers’ comeback began with that rarest of T20 commodities: the maiden. Siddle produced six deliveries of subtle variation and immaculate precision to Jos Buttler. In the following over, Rashid’s googly had Buttler clean bowled, and suddenly the Thunder were stifled. In four overs together, Siddle and Rashid conceded only 13 runs – the prelude to a stretch of 42 balls without a boundary. In the process, as if sleepwalking, the Thunder’s position of overwhelming domination first became uncertain, and then increasingly precarious. Both Patterson and Shane Watson scored at a strike-rate of well under 100.The endgameBy the time Watson was out, heaving a catch to long-on, the Thunder needed 84 from only 41 balls, though they still had seven wickets in hand. Yet, once again, Rashid proved far too good – and even caught Green at long-on to effectively seal the Strikers’ victory. Rohrer struck some admirable blows late, but it always seemed futile.

Southampton have submitted a late bid for Sunderland forward Patrick Roberts, and a fresh report has detailed his club’s stance on a move to St. Mary’s.

What age is Patrick Roberts?

Roberts is 26 years of age and has been playing his football in the northeast since January 2022 having moved there from Manchester City where he’s gone on to make a total of 68 senior appearances, but there’s a strong possibility that he could be on the move before tonight’s transfer deadline.

The Black Cats’ right-winger will be out of contract in less than a year meaning that now may well be seen as the perfect opportunity for Tony Mowbray's side to cash in, should he not want to risk losing his prized asset for free, and having emerged as the manager's top-performing offensive player last season according to WhoScored, he’s caught the eye of Russell Martin on the south coast.

The Sun’s Alan Nixon reported last month that the Saints had earmarked the 26-year-old as an ideal summer target, with his former side Celtic also credited with an interest, and the journalist stated that the Championship outfit were soon set to make a decision regarding the future of England’s ex-youth international.

Are Southampton signing Patrick Roberts?

According to Sky Sports’ Transfer Centre, Sunderland have “received an offer” from Southampton for Roberts, which is believed to be in the region of £5m, an initial £3m up front with £2m guaranteed in add-ons. The Black Cats are reportedly “considering” the proposal, with no full decision on whether to accept or reject having yet been made.

Martin’s side have already agreed a £10m package for his teammate Ross Stewart, but the two deals are “separate”, hence why it’s taking slightly longer than usual.

How many goals has Patrick Roberts scored?

In the Championship last season, Roberts racked up 12 goal contributions (seven assists and five goals) for Sunderland, form which saw him receive four man-of-the-match awards from WhoScored, but regardless of whether the ball hits the back of the net or not, he always poses a constant threat.

The CAA Base Ltd client, who is naturally left-footed, ranks in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons, showing that he loves to dribble past his marker and produce moments of quality where he averaged 4.77 shot-creating actions per second-tier game during the previous campaign, which was more than any other of his fellow teammates, via FBRef.

Sponsored by Adidas, the attacker has also been deployed in a remarkable nine various positions over the grass since first bursting onto the scene, including everywhere across the frontline, four roles in the midfield and even at right-back, so he could provide the boss with some welcome versatility.

Finally, Roberts has been hailed a “magic” player on the ball by journalist Josh Bunting for the exciting talent and creativity that he brings to the pitch, so if the hierarchy are able to get a double deal over the line for him and Stewart, it could be a massive coup for Southampton as they look to return to the top-flight at the first time of asking.

Half-centuries from Jeet Raval and Colin de Grandhomme put New Zealand in a comfortable position at 286 for 7, but West Indies broke through to the tail late in the day to boost their chances

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Dec-2017A measured 84 from Jeet Raval, and a Colin de Grandhomme blitz bookended New Zealand’s day, but it was West Indies’ quicks who made the best of it, starting off slowly, then working themselves into a fine rhythm by stumps. The hosts are still nicely placed, at 286 for 7, with the pitch expected to get quicker on days two and three. However, in breaking through to the tail with the second new ball, West Indies have given themselves a chance in this match – which is more than what could have been said at a similar stage of the game in Wellington.It was Shannon Gabriel who, having leaked boundaries with the first new ball, inflicted important blows with the second, dismissing de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner after the pair had put on 76 for the sixth wicket.AFPHe had also claimed the wicket of Raval during West Indies’ resurgent period in the middle of the day. New Zealand had had 154 runs for the loss of just one wicket, before Gabriel, Kemar Roach, Miguel Cummins and Raymon Reifer combined to claim four wickets either side of the tea break. Where Gabriel bowled both good spells and poor ones through the course of the day, Cummins, Roach and debutant left-armer Reifer were much more consistent, delivering tight lines and muzzling New Zealand’s batsmen when they threatened to attack. Between the three of them, they claimed four wickets and conceded only 118 runs from 53 combined overs.That West Indies ended in a creditable position is testament to the attack’s fortitude, for their day had not begun well. Gabriel was driven for two boundaries by Raval in the first over, and had been guilty of pitching too full -perhaps in search of swing or seam movement, which did not eventuate. Raval was assured through that first session, pulling with authority and rotating the strike with ease, as he had Tom Latham built an opening partnership of 65. The scoring did slow down soon after lunch, however. Kane Williamson, who replaced Latham at the crease after the opener had gloved a pull shot off Cummins, was left scoreless for the first 17 balls he faced in the second session, 12 of which were delivered by Reifer. That period of tight bowling from West Indies helped produce the wickets that came later in the session – Williamson caught behind down the leg side off Cummins, before Gabriel drew an outside edge from Raval with a length ball that seamed across the batsman.When, soon after tea, Roach and Reifer also struck in quick succession to remove Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls, New Zealand had lost four wickets for 45 runs, and were reduced to 189 for 5.It was at this stage that de Grandhomme reclaimed some ground for his side. Having taken 11 balls to make his first run, and having perhaps been dropped by the wicketkeeper off the offspin of Roston Chase for 8, de Grandhomme walloped 42 runs – including three sixes and a four off Chase – off 25 balls, to register a half-century. He used Seddon Park’s small boundaries to his advantage, as even some good deliveries were muscled to the fence. He had threatened to reassert New Zealand’s control over the match when West Indies took the second new ball, and Gabriel struck immediately. Mitchell Santner lost his off stump to a ball that pitched on leg and nipped slightly back, beating his booming drive. De Grandhomme was himself dismissed in similar fashion, though for him the ball seamed in the other direction.Tom Blundell, New Zealand’s debutant centurion from the last match, remained not out alongside Neil Wagner at stumps.Though West Indies will be pleased with the manner in which they closed out the day, there will be some consternation about their over rate. They were three overs short of the target of 90, even though the extra half-hour was used. That regular captain Jason Holder is suspended for this match is of course down to West Indies having been too slow to complete their overs in the first Test. This time, it is stand-in captain Kraigg Brathwaite who is at risk of being penalised.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have endured a transfer window to forget, with the club yet to spend on new arrivals due to the financial difficulties in place at Molineux.

Battles with Financial Fair Play (FFP) have consumed any hope that the Old Gold will be able to bolster their squad for the 2023/24 season, with restrictions proving too much for former boss Julen Lopetegui.

Just five days prior to their Premier League opener, the Spaniard parted ways with Molineux, making way for new manager Gary O’Neil to battle the storm.

The Englishman may have the chance to welcome a new addition before the end of the window if latest reports are to be believed, however the player in question could be a questionable asset.

Who could Wolves sign this summer?

After welcoming Matt Doherty and Tom King on free-transfers earlier in the window, there was little promise that any further arrivals would prevail before the end of the transfer period.

There has however been some light shed on the situation, with Burnley’s Josh Brownhill linked with a potential move, as well as latest reports speculating that Barcelona’s Marcos Alonso could be eyed by Fosun.

Journalist Gerard Romero took to social media his week to relay that the Spanish champions could offload the defender this summer, with the former Chelsea man said to be ‘evaluating’ a proposal from the Premier League.

While Wolves were not explicitly named by Romero, some reports in Spain have named the Midlands side as potentially being the side interested in the 32-year-old’s services.

Should Wolves sign Marcos Alonso?

With 179 Premier League appearances under his belt already, theoretically, Alonso’s experience in the top-flight would make him a valuable addition for Wolves, however, his on-field performances tell a different story.

Deployable at both left-back and left-midfield, the Spaniard had a hand in 52 goals in all competitions for the Blues, scoring 29 and assisting 23, but was criticised frequently over his lack of defensive balance.

Having once been described as being “awful defensively” by BBC Sport contributor Raj Chohan during his time at Stamford Bridge, signing Alonso could be a disaster for Wolves, especially when considering their financial climate.

The lack of economic stability has hindered the club’s opportunity to endeavour into the market, making a move for an ageing and questioned defender a risky piece of business.

Added to that, the Old Gold have sufficient cover in such areas, with both Rayan Ait-Nouri and Hugo Bueno being impressive youthful talents to call upon at left-back.

If there is a chance that Wolves could sanction a move for Alonso, the Fosun should consider looking for reinforcements elsewhere, with a potential move having the ability to slow the progression of the likes of Bueno, who is currently second-choice to Ait-Nouri.

The 32-year-old was slammed during his time in England by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, who shunned the Spaniard as a figure that “cost Chelsea” during a defeat to West Ham United back in 2020.

Wolves need points on the board, with the last thing required at Molineux being a previously slandered defender who could take up significant finances with Alonso currently earning £100k-per-week in Catalonia.

O’Neil could make his first big blunder in charge of the Old Gold by integrating the former Chelsea dud into his side this summer, should the Wolves hierarchy secure a move for him before the deadline on September 1st.

Aston Villa have backed Unai Emery in the summer window so far as they have brought in three new signings and smashed the club's transfer record.

Who have Aston Villa signed this summer?

The Villans brought in Belgium international Youri Tielemans on a free transfer from Leicester City, who were relegated to the Championship, as their first piece of incoming business.

Monchi then worked his magic to secure a £35m deal to sign central defender Pau Torres from Spanish side Villarreal before the club splashed out a record £51.9m to sign Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

They looked set to bring in a fourth in the form of Jack Harrison on Sunday night as Fabrizio Romano reported that they hijacked Everton's deal for the then-Leeds United forward.

However, the Villans opted against a move for the former Manchester City man as he is due to be out injured for a number of weeks and the 26-year-old dynamo completed a switch to the Toffees on Monday morning.

Emery and Monchi could now forget all about Harrison by pursuing a deal for reported transfer target Joao Felix, who the club are considering a swoop for.

How good is Joao Felix?

The Portugal international is a terrific forward who can play in a multitude of roles across the frontline, which would make him a versatile option for the head coach.

Like now-Everton gem Harrison, Felix is capable of being deployed on either flank or through the middle as a supporting striker or as a centre-forward.

This suggests that he has the adaptability and skillset to be used in the positions that Emery was eyeing the English magician for before his move to Goodison Park.

Felix, who scored four goals in 11 Premier League starts on loan at Chelsea during the second half of last season, could offer more to the Villans than the ex-Whites at the top end of the pitch.

The talented maestro has produced 25 goals and 13 assists in 55 LaLiga starts for Atletico Madrid to date, which works out as a goal contribution every 1.45 starts on average.

Meanwhile, Harrison managed 21 goals and 16 assists in 100 Premier League starts for Leeds, which is a direct involvement every 2.7 starts on average.

These statistics suggest that Felix, who scout Jacek Kulig described as a "nightmare" for defenders, could make a greater impact than the English attacker in the final third due to his ability to score and assist goals at a more impressive rate.

The Portuguese maestro's underlying numbers also back up his superiority. Over the last 365 days, the 5 foot 11 ace ranks within the top 6% of his positional peers among the Men's Big Five League and European competitions for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90 respectively.

Meanwhile, Harrison does not rank higher than the top 39% in either statistic and is in the bottom half of players in his position for progressive passes per 90 over the last 365 days.

Therefore, Felix could provide more quality in deep possession by driving the team up the pitch, either by carrying the ball forward or finding teammates between the line.

This is why Emery could forget all about Harrison by securing a deal for the Atletico Madrid forward as he has the potential to be a sublime signing for Villa as an alternative to the new Everton wide man.

Australian legend Matthew Hayden called England “no-hopers” and insisted he didn’t know who James Vince was. You learn something new every day

George Dobell in Brisbane23-Nov-2017The desire to prove his doubters wrong helped inspire James Vince on the first day of the Ashes.Vince, recalled to bat at No. 3 despite a modest season in county cricket, stroked an elegant 83 to ensure England gained a foothold in the first Test. And while he missed out on a maiden Test century, Vince hoped he had earned some respect from those who dismissed him ahead of the series.Matthew Hayden, in particular, should have sat up and taken notice, according to Vince. Hayden, the former Australia batsman, dismissed England as “no hopers” and “a rabble” ahead of the series and insisted he didn’t know who half the team – including Vince – were.It was a remarkable comment bearing in mind that Vince has played seven Tests previously – enough, you would think, for a cricket pundit to have taken notice before passing judgement – and it clearly irritated the England camp.Ben Stokes, the England all-rounder who is currently in England awaiting the outcome of a police investigation, had already called into question Hayden’s quality as a pundit as a result of the comments, while Vince has now revealed he was inspired by such doubters.”If he didn’t know who we were before the game, he probably does now,” Vince said of Hayden after sharing a stand of 125 with fellow “unknown” Mark Stoneman. It was more than England managed in any stand during the Ashes series of 2013-14.”Reading comments like that gives you the motivation to go out there and make a statement,” he said.”A few comments I’ve read said that I’m not ready for Test cricket, so hopefully I’ve proved a few people wrong. It all gives you more inspiration to prove people wrong.”While Vince admitted he was disappointed to miss out on a century – he was run-out by Nathan Lyon after attempting an unwise single – he was able to appreciate it was a good start on his return to Test cricket.”No matter what score you get you always want more,” he said. “It would have been nice to be there at the end of the day, but stuff like that happens in cricket.”It’s great to get off to a good start. If I could have my first go at Test cricket again, I would, but that’s in the past now. I’ve been focused on capitalising on this opportunity and nailing a place in the team. I felt reasonably calm considering the occasion. I tried to enjoy it and maintain focus. I didn’t want them to get on top of me and I thought I got the balance just about right.”I’m sure lying in bed I’ll have a few thoughts about missing out on a century, but if you’d offered me 80-odd before play, I’d have taken it. And we had spoken about getting overs in the bowlers’ legs – what with them only having three seamers – and if we can get through the new ball in the morning, we can built to 300, 350 even 400. The first hour in the morning will dictate how things go.”It was a disappointing way to go. It was a great piece of fielding, but in retrospect I wouldn’t take the run.”Vince defended England’s scoring rate – they scored at 2.43 runs per over – by explaining the pitch was slow and Australia bowled well throughout the day.”The lack of pace made scoring hard,” he said. “Conditions weren’t what we expected – there wasn’t much pace in the wicket, though the ball came on a bit better as the day wore on – and they bowled pretty well.”They would have wanted some more pace in the pitch. But they kept coming all day and the lack of pace made it hard to score runs when they hit their areas. We’ll see how they respond in the morning after all those overs in their legs today.”

Having worked on the mental aspects of the game during his recovery phase, the India opener is looking forward to replicating his overseas performances again

Gaurav Kalra in Mumbai24-Oct-20176:33

‘Mentally and physically ready to return’ – Vijay

Having earned a recall to the Indian Test squad for the series against Sri Lanka in November following after recovering from a wrist injury, opener M Vijay says he is “prepared mentally and physically” for the sterner tours to South Africa, England and Australia over the next year and beyond. Vijay notched up hundreds in England and Australia and 97 in second Test of the 2013 tour to South Africa in Durban.”I am prepared for them [overseas tours] rather than thinking about it,” Vijay told ESPNcricinfo in Mumbai on Monday. “I am looking forward for the tours coming ahead. I am a person who takes one match at a time. I have a domestic tournament now, so I have to contribute here and take the form and momentum to the Sri Lankan series.”Definitely opening becomes very crucial when you play abroad. A good start will make a whole lot of difference in a side’s mindset. We are aware of it. We have been giving good starts. It is just a matter of time when we collectively go about it, first innings or second innings. We create our own situation rather than succumbing to the situation. I feel you have got to be ahead of what’s happening and be a little smarter overseas. We are working on that and hopefully we can win this time.”Vijay was originally included in the Indian squad for the series in Sri Lanka in July-August before deciding to pull out after experiencing pain during a preparatory match. After an underwhelming series against Australia earlier in the year – he made 113 runs in three Tests at 22.60 – he opted out of the IPL and underwent surgery in England.Recovery took longer than expected. Since returning, Vijay has featured in a Duleep Trophy game, few matches in the Tamil Nadu Premier League and the state side’s Ranji Trophy opener. Though he hasn’t produced a substantial score yet since his return, the national selectors have decided to stay invested in him as one of their three choices for the opening position, besides KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan.”Actually, I could not get much cricket before calling myself fit,” Vijay said. “I was pushing myself to play against Sri Lanka. That was my first choice to get ready when we went to England to get the operation done. Unfortunately, I did not get a lot of games before that. I wasn’t 100% mentally because I didn’t find myself in a comfortable position to pick my bat. So, I thought I should be honest there and put it across to the management so that a fit player goes for the tour. I was pretty sure that if I wasn’t going to be giving the team 100% then I shouldn’t be playing.

“I am competitive about improving my game, about going about my cricket in a stronger manner than where I left. These are the things that are more of a kick for me rather than thinking about fighting for spots.”

“I feel every sportsperson would have faced an injury problem at some point in their careers. I have been facing injuries for a couple of years, but I have been managing it. It is more of a mental thing than physical. I am pretty sure everybody can push themselves to any limit, but once it’s in your thought process that’s when as a sportsperson you have to think, ‘what am I going to do about my cricket.’ Being a batsman, it is very important to have my game plans right, so if something is hampering on that it is going to be a tough call. So, I was battling with that, rather than physical pain.”Nobody can trust their body fully if you are a sportsperson but yes, I am charged up. I have thought about my game. It is a good opportunity for me to start from where I stopped and be more consistent. So, there are a lot of things to look forward to.”Associated PressIn Vijay’s absence, Dhawan, his replacement in Sri Lanka, and Rahul have made strong cases to retain their spots at the top. Dhawan made two hundreds in Sri Lanka and Rahul has constructed a sequence of seven consecutive half-centuries in Tests. Vijay, however, is undaunted at the prospect of having to convince the team management to restore him to his spot. He insists watching his replacements make the most of their opportunity while he had to sit out with injury wasn’t frustrating in the least.”When I was 23, I really gave this issue a lot of thought, because I wasn’t enjoying my cricket so much,” he said. “Once I got to play for India I thought, whoever plays for India it is going to be difficult. When I got the call for the Indian team, from that day I started believing that everybody who puts in the effort should perform. One day their turn will come. I know whoever is performing out there, I know what difficulties they would have gone through and I know what it takes to perform at that level.”I started enjoying it and take some good things about what they are doing right rather than feel bad that it’s my turn and somebody has picked up my spot. It happens in any sport, so I channelise myself in such a way that to ensure I see the right things.”I was just wishing them (the other openers) luck. I am sure that’s how I will go for the rest of my phase in cricket. It was a great learning for me. I have to search what is happening inside me rather than think about what is happening to others and their performance. I can only wish them luck. I don’t have time to sort my issues, I am more in that mode rather than thinking about who is performing or not.”I want everybody to perform because it is a good thing for Indian cricket. I am like that. I like to have fun if it comes to me. I should be in the best place possible to go and perform. I am competitive about improving my game, about going about my cricket in a stronger manner than where I left. These are the things that are more of a kick for me rather than thinking about fighting for spots.”With the first Test against Sri Lanka still nearly three weeks away, Vijay intends to use his time on the domestic circuit to notch up consistent scores. The troublesome wrist wasn’t permitting him to manoeuver the ball into gaps on the field like he wanted to. That will be one of his focus areas before he fronts up against Sri Lanka.With his confidence fully restored, Vijay is now eager to make up for lost time and is also convinced he can shut up doubters who have bracketed him as a one-format player by earning a recall to India’s limited overs teams.”I have a lot of dreams, few have come true, and few are there for me to go and achieve, so I am looking forward to those,” he said. “I am pretty confident about how I am going to go about it. I am a person who relishes challenges and likes to tell in advance and go and achieve it but with my injuries at the moment, I have to be a little silent and conservative. But once I start getting into the groove, it will be much more fun for me.”I am in the mode to play all three formats and I am working on every aspect possible that I possess. So, these are the things that give me a good kick rather than my competition. It is about how ready I am going to be when the call comes up. These are the things I am waiting for and I think I will make it happen.”