January 4, 2017 issue
Cricket
Down Under
Mitchell Starc had a day to remember on the fifth and final day of the Melbourne Test against Pakistan. With the bat, Starc blasted 84 off 92 balls and along with skipper Steven Smith, who smashed 165 not out, shared a 154-run stand for the seventh wicket to give Australia a 181-run lead.
With the ball, Starc produced a magnificent display of left-arm reverse swing pace bowling as he snapped up 4/36 to help Australia bowl Pakistan out for 163. This gave Australia an innings and 18-run win to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Mitchell Starc’s magnificent exploits with both bat and ball put him on an elite list and prolonged Pakistan’s nightmare in Australia. Misbah-ul-Haq’s team have lost 11 consecutive Tests Down Under and their wait for a series win in Australia continues.
The left-hander’s knock helped Australia create records on the final day. The left-hander blasted seven sixes, which is a record number at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Andrew Symonds held the previous mark of six sixes during the 2005 Test against South Africa. Starc’s 84 and his partnership with Smith helped Australia to 624/8 declared, their highest score against Pakistan in Tests and the highest at the MCG.
The previous highest score at the MCG was 604 against England in 1937 while their previous best against Pakistan was 617 in Faisalabad in 1980.
Mitchell Starc’s haul of 4/36 was a classic exhibition in reverse swing fast bowling. He cleaned up Sarfraz Ahmed for 43 and Wahab Riaz for 0. He rounded off the innings by having Yasir Shah (0) caught at mid-on.
Earlier in the day, he had Babar Azam (3) trapped LBW with a perfect inswinger with the new ball. Starc’s four wickets made him the leading wicket-taker among pace bowlers.
The Australian left-armer has had an unforgettable year with the ball. In the series against Sri Lanka in which Australia were whitewashed 3-0, Starc was the shining star as he picked up 24 wickets in three Tests at an average of 15.16.
On conditions that did not have much for the pacers, Starc shone through by striking in his first spell throughout the tour. His haul of 11/94 in Galle was his best haul in Tests. He continued his good form in the South Africa series before shining through in the first two Tests against Pakistan.
Before Starc, Stuart Broad of England was the leading wicket-taker in Tests in 2016. The Australian quick is the only pacer to take 50 wickets in the calendar year.
One glance at Pakistan’s number in Australia makes for a perfect horror story script. They have not achieved a win Down Under for 21 years. In their last three tours to Australia in 1999, 2004 and 2009, the scoreline has been 3-0. With this loss in Melbourne, they are in danger of being whitewashed 3-0 for the fourth consecutive time.
Pakistan’s defeat, after scoring 443/9 declared in the first innings, rekindled their similar collapse 44 years ago at this same venue.
In 1972, Australia had made 441/5 declared but Pakistan responded with 574/8 declared. The hosts piled on the runs in the second innings as they made 425, setting Pakistan 293 for a win. However, they collapsed to 200 all out to win the match by 92 runs.
Pakistan’s worst win/loss ratio in Tests is in Australia. They have won only four Tests out of 34 and their Win-Loss percentage of 0.173 is the lowest. They have also lost 23 Tests, which is the most in a single country, going past 22 which they have lost in England.
Their four wins have come only in Melbourne (twice) and Sydney (twice) while they have failed to win Tests in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart.
Pakistan’s recent woes are summed up by these numbers.
Since their win against West Indies in Abu Dhabi in October, they have now lost five consecutive Tests, with one to West Indies in Sharjah and two each against New Zealand and Australia.
Having started the year as No.1 in Tests, Misbah’s team have slipped to fifth in the rankings. With Misbah and Younis Khan, two senior players also in the twilight of their careers, Pakistan face a period of uncertainty in 2017.
Earlier in the day, he had Babar Azam (3) trapped LBW with a perfect inswinger with the new ball. Starc’s four wickets made him the leading wicket-taker among pace bowlers.
The Australian left-armer has had an unforgettable year with the ball. In the series against Sri Lanka in which Australia were whitewashed 3-0, Starc was the shining star as he picked up 24 wickets in three Tests at an average of 15.16.
On conditions that did not have much for the pacers, Starc shone through by striking in his first spell throughout the tour. His haul of 11/94 in Galle was his best haul in Tests. He continued his good form in the South Africa series before shining through in the first two Tests against Pakistan.
Before Starc, Stuart Broad of England was the leading wicket-taker in Tests in 2016. The Australian quick is the only pacer to take 50 wickets in the calendar year.
One glance at Pakistan’s number in Australia makes for a perfect horror story script. They have not achieved a win Down Under for 21 years. In their last three tours to Australia in 1999, 2004 and 2009, the scoreline has been 3-0. With this loss in Melbourne, they are in danger of being whitewashed 3-0 for the fourth consecutive time.
Pakistan’s defeat, after scoring 443/9 declared in the first innings, rekindled their similar collapse 44 years ago at this same venue.
In 1972, Australia had made 441/5 declared but Pakistan responded with 574/8 declared. The hosts piled on the runs in the second innings as they made 425, setting Pakistan 293 for a win. However, they collapsed to 200 all out to win the match by 92 runs.
Pakistan’s worst win/loss ratio in Tests is in Australia. They have won only four Tests out of 34 and their Win-Loss percentage of 0.173 is the lowest. They have also lost 23 Tests, which is the most in a single country, going past 22 which they have lost in England.
Their four wins have come only in Melbourne (twice) and Sydney (twice) while they have failed to win Tests in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart.
Pakistan’s recent woes are summed up by these numbers.
Since their win against West Indies in Abu Dhabi in October, they have now lost five consecutive Tests, with one to West Indies in Sharjah and two each against New Zealand and Australia.
Having started the year as No.1 in Tests, Misbah’s team have slipped to fifth in the rankings. With Misbah and Younis Khan, two senior players also in the twilight of their careers, Pakistan face a period of uncertainty in 2017.
The Board of Governors of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday gave approval for adopting legal recourse against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for not honouring the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two boards in 2014 to play bilateral series.
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and Najam Sethi, who heads the executive committee, told the media in Karachi that the members had given approval for using legal channels to seek compensation for the financial losses suffered by the PCB due to India not honouring the MoU.
“We will start legal consultations soon over the matter as the BOG has today given approval. The fact is that the BCCI signed a MOU document with us to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2022,” Khan recalled.
“The International Cricket Council (ICC) is witness to this MOU. We will now be consulting our legal team to take up the matter of India not playing us under the MOU with the BCCI and at the ICC level,” Khan said.
Sethi made it clear that the PCB had until now been patient with the Indian board despite them disregarding the MOU.
“But now our patience has also run out because we were supposed to host two home series under the MOU from which we could have earned millions of estimated revenues. But since they are not honouring the MOU we have suffered losses,” Sethi, who signed the MOU when he was chairman of the board, said.
India has not played a bilateral series with Pakistan since 2007 when Pakistan toured India for a full Test series. The PCB claims that India owes it two home series which translates into millions of dollars for Pakistan cricket.
In January, the PCB even agreed to host a short one-day series in Sri Lanka as part of the MOU but the BCCI backed out by stating they had no clearance from their government for the series.
Khan said when the BCCI was so reliant on their government for playing Pakistan they should have thought about it before signing the MOU.
“We will now take up this matter with the ICC because the Indian board claims it has been stopped by its government from playing us. We have the MOU to back us and we want to see the instructions from their government in writing,” he added.
He said it was unfortunate that the BCCI had not honoured a written agreement.
Khan also announced that the board had decided to leave the decision of retirements to senior players Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi.
“We will not take any decision they will have to decide themselves when they feel it is the right time to retire. All three have given Yeoman service to Pakistan cricket and we respect this and want to ensure they are the ones taking this decision,” he said.
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and Najam Sethi, who heads the executive committee, told the media in Karachi that the members had given approval for using legal channels to seek compensation for the financial losses suffered by the PCB due to India not honouring the MoU.
“We will start legal consultations soon over the matter as the BOG has today given approval. The fact is that the BCCI signed a MOU document with us to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2022,” Khan recalled.
“The International Cricket Council (ICC) is witness to this MOU. We will now be consulting our legal team to take up the matter of India not playing us under the MOU with the BCCI and at the ICC level,” Khan said.
Sethi made it clear that the PCB had until now been patient with the Indian board despite them disregarding the MOU.
“But now our patience has also run out because we were supposed to host two home series under the MOU from which we could have earned millions of estimated revenues. But since they are not honouring the MOU we have suffered losses,” Sethi, who signed the MOU when he was chairman of the board, said.
India has not played a bilateral series with Pakistan since 2007 when Pakistan toured India for a full Test series. The PCB claims that India owes it two home series which translates into millions of dollars for Pakistan cricket.
In January, the PCB even agreed to host a short one-day series in Sri Lanka as part of the MOU but the BCCI backed out by stating they had no clearance from their government for the series.
Khan said when the BCCI was so reliant on their government for playing Pakistan they should have thought about it before signing the MOU.
“We will now take up this matter with the ICC because the Indian board claims it has been stopped by its government from playing us. We have the MOU to back us and we want to see the instructions from their government in writing,” he added.
He said it was unfortunate that the BCCI had not honoured a written agreement.
Khan also announced that the board had decided to leave the decision of retirements to senior players Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi.
“We will not take any decision they will have to decide themselves when they feel it is the right time to retire. All three have given Yeoman service to Pakistan cricket and we respect this and want to ensure they are the ones taking this decision,” he said.
After a crushing Test defeat against Australia on Friday, Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq said he is contemplating his options on the back of a less-than-stellar performance by the Pakistani side in Melbourne.
Speaking to the press after the match, Misbah said he would need to think about his future and make a decision "quickly".
The skipper was asked whether he thought the end is coming for him. He replied, "I always believe that if I can't contribute anything to the team then there's no point in staying there."
"This is the point where I just need to think about that, even before the next game and after the series. In the next couple of days, I will think about that and decide what to do because there is no point in just hanging around and doing nothing."
"For myself, I have to decide what the situation is. I've never thought I'd continue playing as a weakling on the team... If I can contribute something to the team, then it's fine. Otherwise, it's better to play someone else if I can't contribute as a batsman."
In November, Misbah made history by becoming the first Pakistani to play 50 matches as Test captain during a Test series against New Zealand.
The 42-year-old was named Test captain after the ICC banned then-captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir following a spot-fixing scandal in England in 2010.
Misbah famously blogged about being offered captaincy during a secret meeting in a clerk's office at the Pakistan Cricket Board headquarters in Lahore in the aftermath of the scandal.
Subsequently he captained the team against South Africa in 2011 and has become one of Pakistan's most successful captains since, with 24 wins, 14 losses and 11 draws under his belt.
Under Misbah's captaincy, Pakistan achieved the number-one Test ranking for the first time since the current rankings system was introduced in 2003.
Earlier this year, Misbah became the oldest Test centurion in 82 years at the 'home of cricket' Lords when he reached three figures during a four-Test series against England.
Misbah also erased a 49-year-old Pakistan record at Lord’s by improving upon 76 made by Asif Iqbal in his maiden Test knock, while batting at No 9 in 1967.
He has hit more centuries as captain for Pakistan, with 10 centuries, and 36 half centuries in the bag, overtaking current chairman of selectors Inzamam-ul-Haq’s seven centuries, and Imran Khan and Javed Miandad's records, each of whom have five centuries apiece.
Remarkably, no one in the long history of Test match cricket has managed more centuries than Misbah beyond the age of 40.
Speaking to the press after the match, Misbah said he would need to think about his future and make a decision "quickly".
The skipper was asked whether he thought the end is coming for him. He replied, "I always believe that if I can't contribute anything to the team then there's no point in staying there."
"This is the point where I just need to think about that, even before the next game and after the series. In the next couple of days, I will think about that and decide what to do because there is no point in just hanging around and doing nothing."
"For myself, I have to decide what the situation is. I've never thought I'd continue playing as a weakling on the team... If I can contribute something to the team, then it's fine. Otherwise, it's better to play someone else if I can't contribute as a batsman."
In November, Misbah made history by becoming the first Pakistani to play 50 matches as Test captain during a Test series against New Zealand.
The 42-year-old was named Test captain after the ICC banned then-captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir following a spot-fixing scandal in England in 2010.
Misbah famously blogged about being offered captaincy during a secret meeting in a clerk's office at the Pakistan Cricket Board headquarters in Lahore in the aftermath of the scandal.
Subsequently he captained the team against South Africa in 2011 and has become one of Pakistan's most successful captains since, with 24 wins, 14 losses and 11 draws under his belt.
Under Misbah's captaincy, Pakistan achieved the number-one Test ranking for the first time since the current rankings system was introduced in 2003.
Earlier this year, Misbah became the oldest Test centurion in 82 years at the 'home of cricket' Lords when he reached three figures during a four-Test series against England.
Misbah also erased a 49-year-old Pakistan record at Lord’s by improving upon 76 made by Asif Iqbal in his maiden Test knock, while batting at No 9 in 1967.
He has hit more centuries as captain for Pakistan, with 10 centuries, and 36 half centuries in the bag, overtaking current chairman of selectors Inzamam-ul-Haq’s seven centuries, and Imran Khan and Javed Miandad's records, each of whom have five centuries apiece.
Remarkably, no one in the long history of Test match cricket has managed more centuries than Misbah beyond the age of 40.
Kyle Abbott struck twice in the first seven overs to set up a 206-run win for South Africa on the fifth day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at St George’s Park on Friday.
It took South Africa just 70 minutes and 13.3 overs to claim the remaining five Sri Lankan wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 281. They added 41 runs on Friday.
Abbott broke through with the 16th ball of the final morning when Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews went across his stumps, trying to work the ball to leg, and was leg before wicket.
Mathews was out for 59, made off 120 balls with seven fours. He had added only one run to his score on Friday.
It left Dhananjaya de Silva as the last recognised batsman but he only last for another four overs before he too was leg before to Abbott. He made 22.
Rangana Herath, who was struck on the index finger of his left, bowling hand by the first ball he received from Abbott, made three before he was caught and bowled by Vernon Philander, who dived to his left to hold the ball which looped up from a leading edge.
Suranga Lakmal made a quick 19 not out but Dushmantha Chameera was caught behind off Kagiso Rabada and last man Nuwan Pradeep was bowled by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.
Rabada finished with three for 77 and Maharaj took three for 86, while Abbott’s spell of two for seven in five overs on Friday enabled him to finish with two for 38.
It took South Africa just 70 minutes and 13.3 overs to claim the remaining five Sri Lankan wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 281. They added 41 runs on Friday.
Abbott broke through with the 16th ball of the final morning when Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews went across his stumps, trying to work the ball to leg, and was leg before wicket.
Mathews was out for 59, made off 120 balls with seven fours. He had added only one run to his score on Friday.
It left Dhananjaya de Silva as the last recognised batsman but he only last for another four overs before he too was leg before to Abbott. He made 22.
Rangana Herath, who was struck on the index finger of his left, bowling hand by the first ball he received from Abbott, made three before he was caught and bowled by Vernon Philander, who dived to his left to hold the ball which looped up from a leading edge.
Suranga Lakmal made a quick 19 not out but Dushmantha Chameera was caught behind off Kagiso Rabada and last man Nuwan Pradeep was bowled by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.
Rabada finished with three for 77 and Maharaj took three for 86, while Abbott’s spell of two for seven in five overs on Friday enabled him to finish with two for 38.
Kane Williamson timed his unbeaten 73 beautifully to help New Zealand to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first T20 in Napier. Along with Colin de Grandhomme, he rode out an early wobble as Bangladesh took three wickets in seven overs while defending 141.
Williamson struck five fours and two sixes in his 55-ball knock, surviving two chances on the boundary that were down to errors in judgment by Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes who stood too far inside the rope at deep midwicket and long-off respectively.
Until 10.1 overs, Bangladesh were threatening New Zealand with a heist. Shakib Al Hasan had taken a stunning catch running from deep square leg to midwicket in the third over to get rid of Neil Broom. Mustafizur Rahman removed Colin Munro for a duck in the next over and Shakib had Corey Anderson caught at long-off. When Sarkar and Mashrafe Mortaza combined to run the debutant Tom Bruce out at the start of the 11th over, the visitors might have felt on top.
But de Grandhomme slammed a big six over midwicket in the same Mashrafe over before Williamson struck Shakib for a four and six. He reached his sixth fifty in T20Is before de Grandhomme thumped two more sixes, the last one over cover to seal the game with 12 balls to spare. The pair added 81 runs for the fifth wicket with de Grandhomme unbeaten on 41 off 22 balls.
Apart from Mahmudullah, who reached his third T20 fifty, the rest of the Bangladeshis responded poorly. Kayes edged Matt Henry in the second over and things didn't get much better after that as Bangladesh lost three wickets in five balls towards the end of the Powerplay.
Tamim Iqbal was the first to go, giving debutants Ben Wheeler and Tom Bruce their first wicket and catch respectively. Then Lockie Ferguson became only the second bowler ever to take wickets off his first two balls in T20Is. Sabbir Rahman popped a full toss to mid-on rather tamely but Sarkar was undone by a sharp outswinger that took the edge to gully.
After the worst ODI series of his career with scores of 0, 1 and 3, Mahmudullah bounced back with 52 off 47 balls that included three fours and three sixes over midwicket, long-on and long-off. He added 37 and 32 for the fifth and sixth wicket partnerships with Shakib Al Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain, who struck two sixes in his 17-ball 20. New Zealand had to wait until the final over to get rid of Mahmudullah. Ferguson was the successful bowler again, finishing with 3 for 32.
Wheeler also made an impressive debut with his two wickets while de Grandhomme, Santner and Henry picked up one each.
Williamson struck five fours and two sixes in his 55-ball knock, surviving two chances on the boundary that were down to errors in judgment by Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes who stood too far inside the rope at deep midwicket and long-off respectively.
Until 10.1 overs, Bangladesh were threatening New Zealand with a heist. Shakib Al Hasan had taken a stunning catch running from deep square leg to midwicket in the third over to get rid of Neil Broom. Mustafizur Rahman removed Colin Munro for a duck in the next over and Shakib had Corey Anderson caught at long-off. When Sarkar and Mashrafe Mortaza combined to run the debutant Tom Bruce out at the start of the 11th over, the visitors might have felt on top.
But de Grandhomme slammed a big six over midwicket in the same Mashrafe over before Williamson struck Shakib for a four and six. He reached his sixth fifty in T20Is before de Grandhomme thumped two more sixes, the last one over cover to seal the game with 12 balls to spare. The pair added 81 runs for the fifth wicket with de Grandhomme unbeaten on 41 off 22 balls.
Apart from Mahmudullah, who reached his third T20 fifty, the rest of the Bangladeshis responded poorly. Kayes edged Matt Henry in the second over and things didn't get much better after that as Bangladesh lost three wickets in five balls towards the end of the Powerplay.
Tamim Iqbal was the first to go, giving debutants Ben Wheeler and Tom Bruce their first wicket and catch respectively. Then Lockie Ferguson became only the second bowler ever to take wickets off his first two balls in T20Is. Sabbir Rahman popped a full toss to mid-on rather tamely but Sarkar was undone by a sharp outswinger that took the edge to gully.
After the worst ODI series of his career with scores of 0, 1 and 3, Mahmudullah bounced back with 52 off 47 balls that included three fours and three sixes over midwicket, long-on and long-off. He added 37 and 32 for the fifth and sixth wicket partnerships with Shakib Al Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain, who struck two sixes in his 17-ball 20. New Zealand had to wait until the final over to get rid of Mahmudullah. Ferguson was the successful bowler again, finishing with 3 for 32.
Wheeler also made an impressive debut with his two wickets while de Grandhomme, Santner and Henry picked up one each.
BCCI presidency
The Indian Supreme Court on Monday ordered the removal of Anurag Thakur as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Ajay Shirke as the BCCI secretary for failing to reform the country's cricket body as suggested by a court-appointed committee.
The court also issued a showcause notice to Thakur and Shirke pertaining to charges of perjury and contempt of court.
The court-appointed committee, headed by a retired judge, suggested in December 2015 that each of the country's states get just one vote in the BCCI and in state cricket bodies, that the age limit of cricket administrators be capped at 70, and that government ministers and bureaucrats be kept out of the cricket authorities.
Thakur and Shirke have until Jan 19 to reply to the Indian apex court's charges.
With India's growing economy, and billions of dollars flowing in from sponsorships, India's top cricket board has seen its power over international cricket grow sharply.
The court also issued a showcause notice to Thakur and Shirke pertaining to charges of perjury and contempt of court.
The court-appointed committee, headed by a retired judge, suggested in December 2015 that each of the country's states get just one vote in the BCCI and in state cricket bodies, that the age limit of cricket administrators be capped at 70, and that government ministers and bureaucrats be kept out of the cricket authorities.
Thakur and Shirke have until Jan 19 to reply to the Indian apex court's charges.
With India's growing economy, and billions of dollars flowing in from sponsorships, India's top cricket board has seen its power over international cricket grow sharply.
