Nothing gets the heart pumping like an an evocative celebration. Of all the iconic ones currently on show in cricket, which is your favourite?
Dustin Silgardo and Ishita Mazumder07-May-2020Nothing gets the heart pumping like an an evocative celebration. Of all the iconic ones currently on show in cricket, which is your favourite?Illustrations by Ishita Mazumder
The answer lies in whether the format even needs the sort of role he plays in the batting order
Karthik Krishnaswamy11-Sep-2020Come to Think of itIn a week when his place in England’s T20I line-up has come under intense debate, Dawid Malan has become the world’s top-ranked batsman in the format. It shouldn’t make sense but it does, sort of, encapsulating the contradiction between two views of T20 batting.Proponents of the first view (who presumably include the designers of the ICC’s rankings system) would point to Malan’s basic numbers – the third-highest international average among batsmen with at least 500 runs, and a strike rate of 146.66 – and suggest that he scores runs both quickly and consistently. Why, they would ask, is this even a debate?The dissenters would reply: look at he builds his innings, and point to his strike rates over his first five, ten, 15, and 20 balls. He starts too slowly, they would say.Getting your eye in before accelerating is a tried and tested way of building an ODI innings. Scoring slowly over 20 balls isn’t that big a deal since 20 balls only make up 6.67% of a batting team’s total quota of deliveries in an ODI.
No one with any understanding of T20 would suggest Kohli is twice as good as Russell. But does Kohli even belong on the same level as Russell or AB de Villiers or Kieron Pollard?
In T20, 20 balls make up a sixth of a team’s innings. To proponents of the second view, those 20 balls would be better utilised by a more explosive batsman. Malan – or someone in his mould – might catch up later, but later might not happen at all, given the increased risk of dismissal inherent to the format. Even if that batsman does catch up, will it be enough to make up for that slow start?It’s the risk built into the role of the T20 anchor, and given the distribution of resources in a T20 innings – ten wickets over 20 overs – it’s valid to ask if teams need one at all, even if that anchor is the best who has ever anchored.You’ve seen the headline, you know where this is going.ALSO READ: Who are the greatest T20 players of them all?It isn’t just the armchair fan who believes Virat Kohli is a great T20 batsman. Former players say it all the time too, and pick him in their all-time XIs. He’s spent large swathes of his career at or near the top of the ICC T20I rankings, and he’s the highest paid player in the most lucrative franchise tournament in the world. His IPL earnings are particularly notable since the tournament enforces a spending cap, giving each team a purse of Rs 85 crore (approximately US$11.5 million) to assemble their entire playing squad. The Royal Challengers Bangalore spent a fifth of their purse at this year’s auction just to retain Kohli’s services. Oh, and he earns twice as much as Andre Russell does at the Kolkata Knight Riders.Is Kohli good?No one with any understanding of T20 would suggest Kohli is twice as good as Russell, so that isn’t the debate here. But does Kohli even belong on the same level as Russell or AB de Villiers or Kieron Pollard or Jos Buttler or peak Chris Gayle?To those who believe in the value of the anchor, the answer would probably be yes. As in Malan’s case, but over a larger sample size, the basic numbers are elite. If a career strike rate in the 130s doesn’t look too flash, look at his numbers since the start of 2016.
But, as with Malan, Kohli is a slow starter. The graphic below charts how T20’s top run getters (minimum 3000 runs) since the start of 2016 have gone about building their innings. You’re doing pretty well to be among the light-blue dots (overall strike rate in the 140-150 range), but Kohli sits at the extreme left of that band, with a strike rate of 130.92 over his first 30 balls.
Let’s split this by innings. The way batsmen approach chases is usually dictated by the target in front of them, and you could argue that Kohli’s place in the chart below is influenced by the fact that he has had to chase 179 or less (below nine an over) in 29 of his 45 chases in this period, and 159 or less (below eight an over) in 19 of them.
Runs made while batting first (minimum 1500 since the start of 2016) present a clearer picture of a batsman’s natural approach. Kohli’s strike rate undergoes a stark jump here, from 129.90 at the 30-ball mark to an eventual figure of 144.77. The batting-first graph, in general, shows more batsmen diverting sharply from the trend line. Malan makes the biggest jump in strike rate (from 118.90 at the 30-ball mark to 138.54 overall) followed by Kohli (from 129.90 to 144.77).
Kohli, in fact, ends up with a better strike rate than Buttler (142.69), but the latter has a 30-ball strike rate of 142.30.The 30-ball strike rate is an important number because 30 balls make up a quarter of a T20 innings. While batting first, a Buttler innings that lasts 30 balls would bring his team roughly 43 runs on average. A Kohli innings of 30 balls would bring his team 39 runs. Malan scores 36 off his first 30 balls, typically, and Russell, who has a 30-ball strike rate of 166.90, scores 50.Kohli, of course, begins his innings with the expectation of spending more time at the crease than a late-overs hitter like Russell would. This is why early on he plays fewer shots that would be construed as risky in the longer formats. But how often does he get past the 30-ball mark?Kohli is without equal when it comes to getting past the 30-ball mark in chases, doing so in nearly 58% of his innings. Of the 22 other batsmen who have made at least 1500 runs while chasing since the start of 2016, KL Rahul is a distant second at 43.59%. You can ask whether Kohli could score significantly quicker if he batted with less certainty, and whether scoring quicker would be more beneficial to his teams, but you can’t doubt his efficiency in executing his game plan.
While batting first, however, Kohli only gets past the 30-ball mark around 39% of the time, not significantly more frequently than de Villiers or Aaron Finch, who score significantly more quickly in those first 30 balls.
When Kohli does stay in, however, the payoff can be spectacular. In all T20 cricket since the start of 2016, 20 batsmen have scored at least 500 runs in the death overs (16-20) while batting first. It’s worth reproducing the entire list here, because it paints the full picture of how quickly Kohli scores at the death – quicker than Russell, Pollard, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni.
Kohli, of course, is almost always well set if he’s at the crease at the start of the 16th over, whereas most of the others on that list usually begin their innings around that point. But Kohli, unlike most T20 batsmen of his kind, has that extra gear. You might watch Ajinkya Rahane – a similarly slow starter – and occasionally wonder why T20 teams never retire batsmen out. You wouldn’t do that with Kohli.But as much of an outlier as Kohli may be among the larger group of anchors in T20, he remains an anchor, and the value of that role remains up for debate.If India have a weirdly skewed T20I record since the start of 2016 – they have 29 wins and seven losses while chasing, and 23-13 while batting first – it probably has something to do with the fact that they often play three anchors (Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli) at the top of their order, and that their quicker starters (Rahul, Rishabh Pant) have either been shunted up and down the order or in and out of the side, or have not had the chance to bat often enough – Pandya has only batted 25 times in 40 T20Is.ALSO READ: How do the 2020 IPL captains stack up?In the wider philosophical debate over the role of the anchor, India currently sit in opposition to England, who have no place for Joe Root in T20Is, and will probably have no place for Malan when Jason Roy and Ben Stokes return to the side.Over its history, football has gradually moved towards a universalisation of skills, and teams at the elite level of the sport now seldom have room for defenders with a limited passing range, goalkeepers who are pure shot-stoppers – recall Joe Hart’s experience when Pep Guardiola took over at Manchester City – or forwards with a poor defensive work rate.Test cricket rewards specialist skills, but batting in T20 is probably destined to evolve towards universalisation. The vast majority of cricketers currently play at least two of its three formats, but the experience of West Indian players – for whom the politics and economics of the sport opened up a wider schism between T20 and the other formats – has given us a glimpse into the future. The likes of Gayle, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran, Pollard, Russell and Dwayne Bravo either only play T20 or only white-ball cricket, and train year-round to be elite T20 hitters. West Indies’ line-up at the World T20 in 2016 had room for one anchor – Marlon Samuels – but there’s unlikely to be room for any such when they line up to defend their title next year.Elite teams of the future are likelier to conform to the model followed by West Indies and England, with more players specialising in one format or another, and a greater universalisation of roles among the T20 specialists. The best teams already have fairly fluid batting orders, with batsmen sent out to target specific opposition bowlers, but they will only grow more fluid with less room for an anchor.The likes of Kohli, Babar Azam and Kane Williamson are top-rung Test batsmen, and their only T20-specific training takes place around major T20 events. They can only be so good at T20, and becoming better at it will probably take something away from their longer-format game; the Test-match skills of Kohli, Azam or Williamson, you’d agree, are far too precious to lose. And so, given all the restrictions placed on him by his circumstances and priorities, Kohli is absurdly good at the specific role he plays in T20 cricket. But is he one of the world’s best in the format? Probably not, and in years to come, perhaps we’ll view him as the best of a dying breed.Come to Think of it
Qalandars’ icon player showed little signs of rust as he took 2 for 16 to set up a big win against Team Abu Dhabi.
Barny Read31-Jan-2021Day three of the Abu Dhabi T10 League saw its full quota of stars finally arrive in the UAE capital, with former Pakistan allrounder and Qalandars icon player Shahid Afridi the last man out of quarantine to star on Saturday night.Afridi had been held up by an expired UAE residency visa which forced him to briefly return to Pakistan before re-entering the country. But just hours out of mandatory isolation, he had taken 2 for 16 as Qalandars reduced Team Abu Dhabi to 100 for 5 in the second match of the day.Related
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That bowling display teed up the Qalandars batsmen to see their side home with nine wickets and nine balls to spare. Understandably, Afridi was pleased to be out of the makeshift gym of his hotel room and making his mark on the pitch.”Quarantine wasn’t bad because I was missing cricket but I tried to keep myself fit in the hotel room doing some different activities,” he said. “The good thing is that I’m still enjoying my cricket and I’m still passionate about it and my fans, they want to see me playing cricket so because of my fans I love to play and love to continue for maybe one or two years.”Despite the short turnaround moving from quarantine to playing, Afridi didn’t appear to have any rustiness to shake off with the ball. He said it is essential for him to stay razor sharp if he’s to continue performing at the highest level.”If you want to play cricket, you should be 100% and you should stay fit because cricket is full of skill. I’m trying my level best to not disappoint my fans.”Afridi’s instant impact was in contrast to Team Abu Dhabi’s own star man Chris Gayle, who followed up his 4 in the opening game with 5 this time around. It represents a sluggish start with the bat for Gayle but one his captain Luke Wright is certain will soon be addressed.”It’s only been two innings and you obviously have to have a good go at it early,” Wright said after his team’s second loss in as many days. “Hopefully he gets going in the comp, he obviously needs to start doing it soon but it’s not just about Chris, we’ve got other players that can do it as well. Chris is obviously world class so fingers crossed he gets going and we get some wins because we need to.”Seeing both players in action will have been a fillip for the league where Shoaib Malik also played his first game of the tournament, although he neither bowled nor batted as his Maratha Arabians side were comprehensively dismissed in a six-wicket Bangla Tigers victory.A thought must be spared for South Africa’s Colin Ingram who patiently waited for almost a week in Dubai before being told he couldn’t take part due to the local travel ban placed on his home country. However, the involvement of the likes of Gayle, Afridi and Malik are box office, and Wright is delighted with the quality of players on show, believing it raises the game of all the players in the tournament.”It’s great, isn’t it? I think for everyone, they want to play with the best players and they’re the best players that have probably ever played T20 so we’re all very lucky that we get to learn from them,” Wright said.In the final game of day three, Northern Warriors captain Nicholas Pooran became the eighth of nine captains to be put into bat first, but the first to win setting a target. Pooran hit a brutal 54 from 21 balls before Rovman Powell (24*) and Fabian Allen (28*) between them contributed 52 runs from just 18 deliveries as the Warriors hit the highest total of the competition.Their 137 for 3 was ultimately too great for Delhi Bulls, especially when Wayne Parnell (3 for 15) – their icon player who replaced Andre Russell at short notice ahead of the competition – took the third hat-trick in the T10 League’s now four-season history.”To even get wickets in T10 cricket is difficult, to get a hat-trick is fabulous,” Pooran said of Parnell’s contribution. “He’s been working hard and planning a lot, so I’m really happy for him.”
What did you make of the performance of the eight franchises at the IPL 2021 auction?
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Feb-2021Which teams do you think had a good IPL auction? And which teams have a better squad than in IPL 2020? Take a look and decide.Chennai Super KingsWhat they needed: Top-order overseas batsman, batting allrounder, fingerspinner
Who they targeted: CSK got into an intense bidding with RCB for Glenn Maxwell, but backed out when RCB bid INR 14.25 crore. Their big buys ended up being two allrounders who bowl offspin as well: Moeen Ali and K Gowtham
The players they got: K Gowtham, Moeen Ali, Cheteshwar Pujara, K Bhagath Varma, C Hari Nishaanth, M Harisankar Reddy
Gaps filled: They got allrounders who bowl fingerspin. An overseas top-order batsman wasn’t picked, though Moeen Ali doubles up as a potential opener. They also added in C Hari Nishanth, who partnered N Jagadeesan at the top of the order for Tamil Nadu in their victorious 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign.More on CSK’s IPL 2021 squad.
Delhi CapitalsWhat they needed: A second wicketkeeper and a batting allrounderWho they targeted: Steven Smith was surprisingly Delhi Capitals’ first buy at the auction. They got Umesh Yadav for INR 1 crore and spent the most on Tom Curran, who was bought for INR 5.25 crore. Sam Billings was their other overseas pick.
The players they got: Tom Curran, Steven Smith, Sam Billings, Umesh Yadav, Ripal Patel, Vishnu Vinod, Lukman Meriwala, M Siddharth
Gaps filled: They got wicketkeeping options as cover for Rishabh Pant, in Sam Billings and Vishnu Vinod. Umesh Yadav and Tom Curran add to their pace-bowling stocks but they didn’t get a batting allrounder as a back-up for Marcus Stoinis.More on DC’s IPL 2021 squad.
Kolkata Knight RidersWhat they needed: Back-ups for Sunil Narine and Andre RussellWho they targeted: Due to their small purse, KKR couldn’t out-bid other franchises on the allrounders they were going for. They tried getting Glenn Maxwell, K Gowtham and Daniel Christian but failed in those attempts. They did manage to buy Shakib Al Hasan early on in the auction and also bought Ben Cutting. The experienced Harbhajan Singh joins their spin contingent.
The players they got: Shakib Al Hasan, Harbhajan Singh, Ben Cutting, Karun Nair, Pawan Negi, Sheldon Jackson, Venkatesh Iyer, Vaibhav Arora
Gaps filled: While KKR may not have got their first-choice picks in the auction, they have decent all-round options in Shakib Al Hasan and Ben Cutting as cover for Narine and Russell.More on KKR’s IPL 2021 squad.
Mumbai IndiansWhat they needed: Overseas fast bowlers and a back-up legspinnerWho they targeted: Chris Morris was Mumbai’s main target. He would have doubled up as a death-overs batsmen and bowler. Their most expensive buy at INR 5 crore (2020 price: 8 crore) was Nathan Coulter-Nile, who they had released before the auction.
The players they got: Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Milne, Piyush Chawla, James Neesham, Yudhvir Charak, Marco Jansen, Arjun Tendulkar
Gaps filled: They got overseas fast bowlers in Coulter-Nile, Milne and young Jansen, an allrounder in Neesham, and Chawla as a back-up legspinner.More on MI’s IPL 2021 squad.
Punjab KingsWhat they needed: Overseas allrounders and overseas fast bowlersWho they targeted: Punjab went after what they needed. They lost out on Chris Morris to the Rajasthan Royals, having made a final bid of INR 16 crore. They spent big on Australian fast bowlers Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith, and were also active in the bidding for Kyle Jamieson and Moeen Ali. In Shahrukh Khan, they added an Indian finisher to their batting line-up. They also picked up overseas allrounders Moises Henriques and Fabian Allen, along with the domestic veteran Jalaj Saxena.
The players they got: Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith, Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Dawid Malan, Fabian Allen, Jalaj Saxena, Saurabh Kumar, Utkarsh Singh
Gaps filled: Punjab added allrounders and fast bowlers as required, with Dawid Malan and Khan being additions to their batting line-up.More on PK’s IPL 2021 squad.
Rajasthan RoyalsWhat they needed: Death-bowling options and back-up for overseas starsWho they targeted: They went all out for Chris Morris and got him at a huge price of INR 16.25 crore. They also got an Indian allrounder in Shivam Dube, and another pace-bowling option in Mustafizur Rahman.
The players they got: Chris Morris, Shivam Dube, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman, Liam Livingstone, Akash Singh, KC Cariappa, Kuldip Yadav
Gaps filled: Morris’ addition gives the Royals the combination of a finisher and a fast bowler who can bowl at the death. His pairing with Jofra Archer would be one to watch out for in IPL 2021. In Shivam Dube, they have another option to feature in their XI, while Mustafizur could be a back-up for Archer and Morris.More on RR’s IPL 2021 squad.
Royal Challengers BangaloreWhat they needed: Overseas allrounders and middle-order batsmenWho they targeted: RCB were among the active bidders at this auction and were involved in the bidding on Glenn Maxwell, Chris Morris, Jhye Richardson and Kyle Jamieson, managing to get two of them. They wanted an Indian middle-order bat in Shahrukh Khan but lost out to the Punjab Kings. They also got Dan Christian towards the end, and a couple of Indian keeper-batsmen.
The players they got: Kyle Jamieson, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Christian, Sachin Baby, Rajat Patidar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Suyash Prabhudesai, KS Bharat
Gaps filled: RCB have filled gaps but a lot would be waiting to see how Maxwell and Jamieson perform in IPL 2021. They would still have to rely on their uncapped Indian batsmen to step up and deliver.More on RCB’s IPL 2021 squad.
Sunrisers HyderabadWhat they needed: An overseas fast bowler and an Indian domestic allrounderWho they targeted: Shivam Dube and K Gowtham were their main targets. SRH went up to INR 9 crore for K Gowtham, which showed their eagerness for an Indian allrounder. However they lost out to CSK.
The players they got: Jagadeesh Suchith, Kedhar Jadhav and Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Gaps filled: They picked up an overseas spinner instead of an overseas quick due to their riches of domestic fast-bowling talent, and have an experienced Indian batsman in Kedar Jadhav, but didn’t get a proper all-round option.More on SRH’s IPL 2021 squad.
New Zealand quick has had extraordinary start to his career … because he is extraordinary
Jarrod Kimber20-Jun-20214:15
Match Day Masterclass: Swing vs seam – Dale Steyn explains
Batters wait patiently for tall bowlers to deliver full balls. They talk about the floatiness of these deliveries. When the ball is over-pitched, they go into attack mode.Because of this, tall bowlers rarely pitch the ball up. Instead, they stay on their best length and keep the batter stuck on the crease. The problem is that to get a lot of swing, you need to bowl fuller. So throughout the history of cricket, you don’t see a lot of tall bowlers in Test cricket over 80 miles per hour consistently swinging the ball.Today, Kyle Jamieson bowled very full, swung the ball massively, touched 87mph/140kph, while delivering it from 2.3 metres which is 30cm higher than a standard seam bowler. His Test bowling average is 14.13. This is a scary collection of skills in one person. If you were designing a creature in a lab to be a perfect seamer, this is pretty close to what you’d choose.
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There have been many changes to bowling styles over the years. After the war, the most common form of delivery was the outswinger. It dominated cricket until the West Indies method of seam bowling took over.And while West Indies had quite varied bowlers, their fundamental skill was pretty simple: fast bowlers, who were tall, and who got something off the surface, not through the air. The thought process was that swing is fickle and can disappear. Fast and tall will last you through the day.Kyle Jamieson pinned Virat Kohli lbw with a near-unplayable full-length seamer•Getty ImagesThe need for speed has changed what we look for in bowlers. Speed and seam can go together, as Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada, among others, have shown us. But few bowlers have swung the ball at speed. And those who do tend to be left-armed, which is an advantage already, as it generally allows them to over-pitch more. Or short and fast guys with a full natural length.It’s not that the tallest bowlers can’t swing the ball. Rather, it’s because their fuller balls are the easiest to handle, and they have so many other advantages naturally, so they rarely develop the skills. Joel Garner, Glenn McGrath, Curtly Ambrose, Steven Finn, and Morne Morkel could occasionally swing the ball, but their strength is hitting the track on a length.Watch cricket on ESPN+
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When you have tall bowlers swinging the ball, it’s either only for short periods or from bowling more slowly. Jason Holder is an example of that in modern cricket. His speeds are significantly less than the traditional six-foot-plus quick, and so he gets consistent swing.But Kyle Jamieson is quicker than Holder, and he’s certainly more than a bowler who can just swing it occasionally. He’s a proper tall fast-medium consistent swing bowler. Test cricket really hasn’t seen many of those ever. And he can move it both ways, and also perform his craft from around the wicket. He’s got a magic toolbox. For someone who came late into bowling, either Jamieson is an excellent mimic, or a natural for seam positions.And facing someone like Jamieson is already an extra challenge. He is a faster bowler than most players his height, but any bowler of his size is tougher to pick up. Australia used to call Morkel a monster because of his release point.After just seven appearances, Jamieson is an automatic pick in New Zealand’s world-beating Test team•ICC via GettyTest match batting is something you get good at by consistently practising the same skills until you can filter information quickly enough to face someone at 80 miles per hour. Jamieson’s so tall that his release point is way higher than average. There is an adjustment that needs to be made for that which isn’t easy to make at his speed.But that’s only the first problem with his height; the second is the bounce. Bowlers have, at that height, a near-permanent tennis-ball bounce. If you’ve ever played cricket with both a tennis ball and a proper ball, you’ll understand the difference in facing both. Those kinds of balls need different shots. So this means that, in a way, shots played to a tall bowler have to be different to others. His height makes the game different.Now, add swing.
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Kyle Jamieson has the third-best Test bowling average of any player with 40 wickets. If you discount the bowlers before 1900 who had no assistance from the days before liquid manure was used in pitch preparation, he’s No.1.Now we know he won’t keep this average up. Quite apart from the very helpful people on social media who keep pointing out that he hasn’t played in Asia yet, Jamieson is not seven runs a wicket better than Malcolm Marshall, the bowler with the lowest average of anyone with 200 wickets. For fun, the next two bowlers on this list are Garner and Ambrose, two other tall men.Jason Holder lacks the extreme speed of many tall bowlers, so relies more on swing than seam•RANDY BROOKS/AFP/Getty ImagesJamieson’s first-class bowling average when not playing Tests is 24.21 from 28 matches. There will be a regression to the mean. People will get more used to him; he’s not bowled that much in his career to date, so with IPL and Test duties, he’s about to get a workload that will chip away at him.But this is an incredible start; and that’s before you even glance at his batting, in which he currently averages 47, towering over his first-class record of 21.This has been a remarkable run of eight Tests. If it happened in the middle of someone’s career, it would be a highlight, the fact it’s occurred at the start is even more amazing.
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So what does all this make when you combine it? Jamieson’s only obvious weakness is that he’s not a 90mph bowler. He’s accurate, swings it both ways, and delivers it from a comical height. If he was regularly over 90mph/145kph, he’d have achieved seam bowling’s singularity.So far in this Test, he’s averaged more swing than everyone except Tim Southee, at height. This is such a weird thing to play against.Look at his wickets in this match. Rohit Sharma’s was a simple outswinger that swung early and then travelled a long away, taking the edge. Rishabh Pant’s was a rare poor ball, and an even more poorly executed shot – but one that was also induced by the extra bounce. Ishant Sharma faced a ball angling into the stumps that swung before landing, and then hit a trampoline when it pitched. To follow that up, Jamieson started a yorker to Bumrah that tailed in from well outside off stump, as if it had a homing beacon on it.And then there was Virat Kohli’s delivery. This pitched outside off stump, went very straight, and then seamed back sharply. It was essentially an offspinner bowled from 230 centimetres at 85mph / 138kph. I am not sure how you play that. And apparently, neither is Kohli.
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Think about this New Zealand attack. They have three of their best bowlers ever, 827 wickets between them. Three completely different styles of bowling that complement each other well. They’ve travelled the world, carried New Zealand to No.1 in the rankings, and into the World Test Championship final. And coming into this match, had New Zealand chosen a spinner, most probably one of Trent Boult or Neil Wagner would have missed out.Related
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And while the others are more experienced and tested, given the combination of all Jamieson’s skills and his recent record, his spot was clearly safe.This is a great era for seam bowlers. Guys like Suranga Lakmal and Sharma have pulled in ridiculous numbers after years of huge bowling averages. Since the start of 2018, there isn’t a Test seamer with 50 wickets who has taken them at more than 30. Yet there are two, Ishant and Holder, under 20. All these things have to be taken into consideration, as do Jamieson’s eight Tests being split between New Zealand and England.But he’s averaging under 15 and taking a wicket every 36 balls. This isn’t normal, no matter what the conditions are.And, this isn’t just about natural talent and an incredibly handy combination of skills. There are plenty of bowlers who arrive with a natural talent that their opponents work out over time. That process slows them down, after which it’s about how they adapt. Jamieson’s end-of-play chat with the ICC crew showed that he recognised what he done wrong (relatively speaking) on Saturday and corrected it on Sunday by bowling fuller.This is someone in his 36th first-class match, who began bowling only a few years back, adjusting his length to bowl unnaturally full. This adjustment lead to him taking his fifth five-wicket haul in seven and a half Tests.Kyle Jamieson has height, some speed, swing, seam, control and the ability to change his plans. He’s not perfect, but if you’re standing at the other end when the ball is swinging, it may just feel as though he is.
Only after a cold, clinical, devastating first spell did Anderson let his emotions flow
George Dobell25-Aug-2021It’s hard to say what the most impressive aspect of James Anderson’s career is. The longevity is incredible, of course. The range of skills is remarkable. But perhaps the most outstanding aspect of Anderson’s career is his ability to keep learning.We saw that in action on the first morning in Leeds. Anderson’s first spell – a spell of 8-5-6-3 – was a masterclass in controlled swing bowling. He not only removed the cream of India’s batting within the space of 31 balls, but demonstrated a greatest-hits package of skills picked up over almost two decades in the game. This is what it must have been like to watch Picasso paint or Hemingway write. This was a master at work.At the heart of this spell was Anderson’s outswinger. It’s his primary skill, really. It was picked up in his early days as a teenager at Lancashire from Mike Watkinson. It remains a key part of his armoury; he bowled 21 of them in this spell. But it became far more potent once he was able to combine it with the inswinger – a skill which he has said took “years” to master and which he delivered 20 times here – and more dangerous still when allied to the wobble-seam delivery, which he picked up having watched Mohammad Asif and Stuart Clark in action, and which he bowled only once or twice in this spell. In combination, they are devastating.But there was another aspect to this spell beyond the technical. It was that Anderson delivered his skills with cold, clinical precision. He didn’t just bowl fine deliveries, he set batters up like a poacher laying traps. He kept his cool. He stuck to his plans. He was relentless.It has not always been this way. Ahead of the third Test, Anderson admitted England had allowed their emotions to get the better of them at Lord’s. They had been upset by Jasprit Bumrah’s spell against Anderson – an excellent spell that interspersed a fair few short deliveries with some well-directed full ones – and then appeared set on revenge rather than Bumrah’s wicket when he came out to bat. The resultant partnership with Mohammed Shami changed the game. Anderson had learned his lesson.Related
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In isolation, some of these dismissals look as if they’re the result of loose strokes. A replay of KL Rahul’s wicket, for example, will show the batter drawn into pushing at one outside off stump. Cheteshwar Pujara, too, may reflect he could have left the one he edged. But just as the knock-out punch often doesn’t tell the full story of a boxing bout, the delivery that takes a wicket doesn’t paint the entire picture of a dismissal.Anderson only bowled four balls at Rahul. But the first three all swung back into him. And while the wicket-taking delivery did require Rahul to reach for it a little, it was also fuller and inviting the drive. That it left him just enough to take the edge was a plan perfectly executed. Sure, Rahul didn’t have to play. But a rabbit doesn’t have to wander into a snare, either.It was similar with Pujara. Anderson bowled eight deliveries at him in total. Four of them swung in to the batter, three of them left him and one went straight on. And remember: Anderson long-ago mastered the ability – a skill he picked-up after watching Zaheer Khan – to hide the ball with his left hand until the moment of release so batters are unable to pick-up any clues as to his plans.The result was a delivery to Pujara that was bowled from slightly wider on the crease, pitched in line and swung away wickedly late to take the edge. Yes, we now know the ball wouldn’t have hit the stumps (only six balls in the spell would have done) and might have been left. But there’s little way Pujara could have known that from the information he had before committing to a decision.The big wicket – whatever his recent struggles might suggest – remains that of Virat Kohli. While there is, no doubt, much respect between these two proud and magnificent cricketers, they sometimes give every impression of loathing one another on the pitch. Maybe that’s unfair: perhaps they just recognise in one another a dangerous opponent and know the outcome of their personal encounter could go a long way towards defining the result of the match. Either way, each time they face one another at present presents compelling viewing.At the start of the series Kohli had looked keen to assert his authority. He seemed determined to make a statement about his fearlessness in the face of England’s premier swing bowler. That led him into pushing at his first ball in Nottingham and an outside edge to the keeper.There was no room for such statements here. India were already two down, after all, with only four runs on the board. Instead, Kohli was determined to reassert himself as a batter and rebuild for his team. So, he left his first five balls – all of them outswingers from Anderson – before pushing his sixth (another Anderson outswinger) through mid-off for three.Anderson’s 11th ball to him was different. Instead of the traditional, swinging delivery, this one was bowled with a slightly scrambled seam. So while Kohli may have noted the seam angled into to him and thought the direction of the ball would follow, it instead pitched and left him. It was fuller, too, and inviting the drive. Kohli, having batted more than half an hour for his seven runs, fell for the bait.Then the emotion flowed. Then Anderson roared and leapt and allowed himself the uninhibited smile which spoke volumes for his joy and relief. He knew he had allowed the moment to get the better of him at Lord’s. He put it right here.
How Jadeja’s season has (not) shaped up with bat, ball and in the field, even as his team’s hopes of defending their title hang by a thread
Sampath Bandarupalli30-Apr-2022Ravindra Jadeja’s Chennai Super Kings kicked off their title defence against Shreyas Iyer’s Kolkata Knight Riders•BCCIMatch 1, vs KKR, March 26
KKR won by six wickets
In his debut match as captain, Jadeja laboured to an unbeaten 26 off 28 balls (strike rate 92.8). His lone boundary was a six off Andre Russell on the last ball of the innings. His 70-run partnership with MS Dhoni helped Chennai Super Kings to 131 from being five down for 61 in the 11th over. During his stay at the crease, the batters at the other end scored 54 off 46 (strike rate 117.4). Though Jadeja could not take a wicket, he conceded only 25 runs in the four overs he bowled.Lucknow Super Giants’ Evin Lewis and Ayush Badoni sealed Chennai Super Kings’ fate in a high-scorer•BCCIMatch 2, vs Super Giants, March 31
Super Giants won by six wickets
Scored 17 off nine balls with three fours towards the end of Super Kings’ innings, as they piled up a big total of 210. Went wicketless again, and his two overs cost 21 runs as Lucknow Super Giants chased down the target with three balls to spare.Ravindra Jadeja and Ambati Rayudu combined to send back Punjab Kings’ Liam Livingstone, but he had already done enough damage to Super Kings•BCCIMatch 3, vs Kings, April 3
Kings won by 54 runs
Got his first wicket of the season when he dismissed Liam Livingstone (via an attempted cut off a faster one that was caught at short-third man), who scored a 32-ball 60 to lead his side to 180. Bagged a 3-ball duck, chopping on off Arshdeep Singh in the sixth over, as Super Kings quickly fell out of contention in the chase.Abhishek Sharma, who drove Sunrisers Hyderabad’s chase with 75 off 50, got a life via a Jadeja drop•BCCIMatch 4, vs Sunrisers, April 9
Sunrisers won by eight wickets
Hit two fours and a six in his 15-ball 23, giving his team a strong finish – and a total of 154 to defend. Super Kings had added 37 runs in the last three overs against a quality Sunrisers death-bowling line-up. Went wicketless for the third time in four games, giving away 21 runs in the three overs bowled. Dropped Abhishek Sharma – who was on 63 off 39 at the time – off Dwayne Bravo in the 14th over when Sunrisers needed 48 off 37 balls.Maheesh Theekshana, who took a four-for to derail Royal Challengers Bangalore’s chase, finally gave Jadeja and his team reasons to smile•BCCIMatch 5, vs RCB, April 12
Super Kings won by 23 runs
Was out for a first-ball duck, trying to add quick runs at the end after Robin Uthappa and Shivam Dube got them past the 200-run mark. Took three wickets – including Glenn Maxwell, bowled by an arm ball that rushed him – for 39 runs, as Super Kings tasted success for the first time this season.David Miller dished out a dose of heartbreak to Jadeja and his team, timing a tricky chase to perfection•BCCIMatch 6, vs Titans, April 17
Titans won by three wickets
Scored 22 off 12 balls towards the end to lift Super Kings to 169. He struck successive sixes off Lockie Ferguson in the final over of the innings. His three overs went for 25 runs and got the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha, caught at deep square leg. Titans were in trouble in the chase, needing 83 off 42, before David Miller and Rashid Khan teed off to take them home.Ravindra Jadeja had a day to forget against Mumbai Indians, but his team came out on top•BCCIMatch 7, vs Mumbai, April 21
Super Kings won by three wickets
His four overs cost 30 runs, and he failed to pick up a wicket. Dropped two catches, both off Mitchell Santner – Dewald Brevis in the second over, and Hrithik Shokeen in the 12th. Scored three runs off eight balls and got out in the 16th over, with his side needing 50 runs off 26 balls. MS Dhoni, with help from Dwaine Pretorius, eventually got the job done.Dhoni and Jadeja could not get Super Kings over the line in a chase of 188 against Kings•BCCIMatch 8, vs Kings, April 25
Kings won by 11 runs
Bowled only two overs – for 18 runs – as Kings had two well-set left-handers in Shikhar Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa batting through the middle overs. Finished unbeaten on 21 off 16 balls in the unsuccessful chase. He had scored only seven runs off his first ten balls and was 14 off 14 balls by the end of the 19th over, with the team needing 27 from the last six balls. He hit a six in the 20th over, but by then the equation was out of reach.
****
The big dip in Jadeja’s batting form
Overall this season, Jadeja has scored 112 runs, averaging 22.4 at a strike rate of 121.7; in the last two IPL seasons he had scored 459 runs at an average of 57.3 and a strike rate of 157.7.Related
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In the middle overs (7-16), his strike rate this season has fallen to 63.1, from 93.2 in 2020 and 2021.At the death (17-20), too, his strike rate has come down from 204.8, but is still healthy at 172.5.His bowling numbers haven’t changed as much. In the previous two seasons he picked up 19 wickets at 34.9, and an economy rate of 7.7; this season, he has five wickets at 42.6 and an economy rate of 8.1.
Reactions on social media to the devastating news of Andrew Symonds’ death
ESPNcricinfo staff15-May-20222:52
‘When times were tough, Roy made it easier on his team-mates’
If Roy shook your hand you had his word, that’s the sort of bloke he was and that's why I always wanted him on my team. An extraordinary player and even better human being. Can’t believe he’s gone. Thoughts are with his family at this time. pic.twitter.com/7r7FiK1CzK
— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) May 15, 2022
We exchanged messages just hours ago… what’s really going on? Baffled and heartbroken! How could we lose another iconic figure in our sport so soon RIP Roy
Condolences to Andrew’s family and close friends.#unfair— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) May 15, 2022
Andrew Symond’s demise is shocking news for all of us to absorb. Not only was he a brilliant all-rounder, but also a live-wire on the field. I have fond memories of the time we spent together in Mumbai Indians.
May his soul rest in peace, condolences to his family & friends. pic.twitter.com/QnUTEZBbsD
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 15, 2022
Have had the privilege to work with some “big names” in the IPL,as well as a couple of “big characters “. Andrew Symmonds was a fierce competitor and generous teammate. Arguably the greatest all-round fielder ever, on top of his contribution with both bat n ball. #RIPRoy pic.twitter.com/fhDDDIRWD1
— Jonty Rhodes (@JontyRhodes8) May 15, 2022
Look after yourself up there great man, I am, loved him so much and our thoughts are with the family at this time. Hug your loved ones xx #RIPRoy pic.twitter.com/1nWupFBqOK
— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) May 15, 2022
What is happening in the world….I can’t believe it. Wake up to find another amazing cricketer Andrew Symonds has been lost too soon. for his family and friends. Not sure Australian cricket fraternity can take much more #RIPRoy
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) May 15, 2022
This really hurts. #roy #rip
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) May 14, 2022
Think of your most loyal, fun, loving friend who would do anything for you. That’s Roy.
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) May 15, 2022
Heartbroken!! RIP Roypic.twitter.com/0WVlkuhI38
— Ashleigh Gardner (@akgardner97) May 14, 2022
Can’t believe what I’ve just woken up to
Thinking of his family, his teammates and everyone in the cricket community. We’ve lost another one of our hero’s #RIPRoy— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) May 15, 2022
Horrendous news to wake up to.
Utterly devastated. We are all gonna miss you mate.#RIPRoy— Jason Gillespie (@dizzy259) May 14, 2022
This is so devastating
Roy was So much fun to be around
Our Thoughts are with Symonds family #RIPRoy— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) May 14, 2022
Shocked to hear about the sudden demise of Andrew Symonds. Gone too soon. Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends. Prayers for the departed soul#RIPSymonds
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 15, 2022
Heartbreaking. Aussie cricket losing another hero.
Stunned. Co-team members 2003 World Cup. Amazing talent.
RIP SIMMO
— Michael Bevan (@mbevan12) May 15, 2022
Today I have lost my closest man.
You were just not a colleague
My family, my man
My symonds uncle I will miss you terribly
RIP pic.twitter.com/5BvliutC8f— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) May 15, 2022
View this post on Instagram
Shocking news to wake up to here in India. Rest in peace my dear friend. Such tragic news pic.twitter.com/pBWEqVO6IY
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) May 15, 2022
View this post on Instagram
Unbelievable. #RIPRoy
Have a nice cold one with Warnie up there mate!!— Anthony Ireland (@antireland88) May 15, 2022
To my good friend and teammate, we have so many memories together. As a young player, I learnt a fair bit alongside you. You were always so great to be around, In shock and gutted. RIP Symmo pic.twitter.com/kaYOufOH2J
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) May 15, 2022
Always a magnanimous presence in the field. Never imagined you'd go so early. Sad beyond words on hearing about Andrew Symonds passing away in a car accident. World cricket will always remember you. #AndrewSymonds pic.twitter.com/9Eczy9M1F4
— Ahmad Shahzad (@iamAhmadshahzad) May 15, 2022
Oh no #Roy such a pure man,so genuine,so earthy,LUVED t land, fishing,so humble!G, another brother leaves us #rip,t world is poorer with your passing mate.I always felt better for being in your company, a rare gift that u had,it was always abt others,not u luv & respect mate
— Greg Matthews (@GregMomatthews) May 15, 2022
Horrible way to wake up on a Sunday morning!! One powerful player i played against! Gone way to soon You’ll be missed by the entire cricket fraternity. Rest In Peace legend #RIPRoy pic.twitter.com/VhOJkxTV6w
— Farveez Maharoof (@farveezmaharoof) May 15, 2022
They now have the experience of putting up a total at this ground, to add to their know-how of chasing one from the Pakistan game
Alex Malcolm06-Nov-20225:02
Dravid: ‘It’s not easy to be consistent with the kind of strike rate Suryakumar has’
If, and it is a big if for no other reason than this World Cup has been unpredictable, India do make it to the final at the MCG on Sunday, then they might have a significant advantage.Melbourne’s inclement weather has allowed just two completed games at the MCG in this tournament, and India have played and won both. There has been only one other game where a ball was bowled when England lost to Ireland via rain, Duckworth, Lewis and Stern.Related
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More than that, India have been able to experience both sides of the conditions at the MCG, part by luck and part by design. Rohit Sharma won both tosses. They bowled first and chased against Pakistan. Against Zimbabwe, they opted to bat first and defend.”We just wanted to experience what it was to set a score in these kinds of conditions,” India coach Rahul Dravid said after the match. “Also, we felt that if we batted first, it would give us an opportunity to play 20 overs and just get into that ability of still trying to get a par or par-plus score batting first.”They did just that. On a fresh MCG pitch, with the experience of seeing both top orders collapse in the India-Pakistan epic, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli negotiated the nipping new ball and paced the first ten overs superbly to set up an assault in the last ten.Thanks to Suryakumar Yadav’s special, India plundered 107 runs off the last ten overs to post an above-par total of 186 for 5.They preyed too on Zimbabwe’s inexperience at the ground. Rahul’s excellent half-century might have been cut short on 30 had Wellington Masakadza known where to stand at deep midwicket.India’s bowlers got an invaluable outing, defending late into the evening as batting got easier•Associated PressThe MCG is so big square of the wicket that easy twos can be picked off to the sweepers in the deep, but fielders must hedge their bets to protect the boundary as well. The threat of two had Masakadza in too close, and he committed the cardinal sin of allowing a catchable ball go over his head and land inside the rope. It was a harsh lesson to learn for Zimbabwe, whose only previous experience of the ground in a practice game had not prepared them adequately.”We played a warm-up game here against Sri Lanka before the World Cup actually started and the MCG was a very different picture than what it was tonight,” Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine said.”Such an electric atmosphere… It’s quite difficult when you’re on the field because you can’t even shout to anybody [even if they are] close to you, because they’re just not going to hear you.”One of the things we learned was you’ve got to keep your eye on the keeper obviously, and me at all times, to understand where to go. I think it’s very easy to get caught up in all the noise.”And that’s another advantage India have. It has been their noise and their cauldron in this World Cup so far. Should they reach the final, they will be the only team to have experienced it twice, with Pakistan having experienced it once.Pant got his first game of the World Cup, while Ashwin found his groove picking up 3 for 22•Getty ImagesIndia’s bowlers also got another invaluable outing, this time defending late into the evening as batting got easier. Spin is usually a great weapon at the MCG on the drier January pitches in the BBL. But in October and November, it has been hard graft. Axar Patel had another expensive night, but R Ashwin found his groove picking up 3 for 22.”For the spinners, I think you needed to understand the pace and how you can’t bowl at one pace or one length,” Ashwin said after the match, “and you need to be able to change it up and keep bowling and keep staying in a fight. Because there are going to be good shots being played on this pitch because batters do know once they get off to such a start that they have to attack the spinner.”India also got the chance to experiment with their side having already locked up their semi-final spot pre-game thanks to South Africa’s collapse against Netherlands. They selected Rishabh Pant instead of Dinesh Karthik and he batted at No. 5.It’s obvious India are aware of the spin threats remaining in the tournament. From Adil Rashid to Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan, they all turn the ball away from the hitting arc of India’s right-hand batters. Axar was promoted against Pakistan at the MCG with no success. Pant missed out against Zimbabwe because of a brilliant catch from Ryan Burl at long-on. But it was a worthwhile exercise to see what it looked like.Dravid, though, was quick to point out it was not an indicator of anything to come. “Everyone is available for selection,” he said. “Just because somebody missed out in this game doesn’t mean that we can’t go back to him.”There are still a lot of ifs, buts and maybes before it is decided who will grace the MCG for next Sunday’s final. But India have banked some knowledge. And in a tournament of complete unknowns, it’s worth something.
The captain is all about spreading “positive vibes” as he strongly believes his team will go all the way this time
Shashank Kishore30-Jan-2023Manoj Tiwary has played through a broken finger, damaged cartilages in his right knee and a troublesome back all because he’s forever dreaming of winning the Ranji Trophy.It’s his only reason to continue playing domestic cricket at 37. It’s the only reason he readily accepted the Bengal captaincy for a third time, when it was known Abhimanyu Easwaran wasn’t going to be available for the initial part of the group stages because of national commitments.”Three years ago, I didn’t want to leave captaincy, because I believed I’d given so much time to it and we were at a stage where all the youngsters who were given opportunities were starting to come up,” Tiwary told ESPNcricinfo ahead of the quarter-final against Jharkhand at Eden Gardens starting Tuesday.Related
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“I thought it would’ve been nice to continue. But because the selectors told me we they want a younger captain for Ranji, I thought it was best I step away from white-ball formats too, because I didn’t want a new captain coming in and not having complete command or control of the team. And that can happen in domestic cricket with split-captaincy.”So, I stepped aside to give Abhimanyu a free rein. But when he wasn’t available initially this season and I was asked, I wasn’t expecting it, but I agreed to do the job because Ranji Trophy means a lot to me and it’s one thing I’ve been after. The very reason I’m playing is because of lifting that coveted trophy.”Bengal came close two years ago but were pipped by Saurashtra in the final. Last year, they lost to eventual champions Madhya Pradesh in the semi-final. This time around, Tiwary believes they have the squad and personnel to go all the way. Especially now that Shahbaz Ahmed is back from India duties and is certain to make the XI.
“I don’t want negative energy, I’ve suffered from lack of communication in my career. I didn’t want players to experience the same. In a team if someone isn’t happy, it affects the entire group. Positive vibes is important for a team to do well.”Manoj Tiwary
“In terms of squad strength, we have quality from top to bottom,” Tiwary said. “Players are aware of their roles; they’ve gained an understanding of their game and there’s a sense of freedom that you can see. We weren’t known to be intimidating earlier with our performances, but now the guys have brought in that attitude to the field which is refreshing to see.”There are a couple of concerns though. Middle-order batter Anustup Majumdar suffered a finger injury while fielding in their final league game against Odisha and fast bowler Akash Deep is recovering from a concussion he sustained in the same match. Bengal will hope both of them pull up well in time for the quarter-final. Mukesh Kumar, who wasn’t named in the Bengal squad for the quarter-final, is expected to join them in time for the match after being released from the India T20I squad that’s currently playing New Zealand.Among the things Tiwary has focused on personally is to help create a spirit of togetherness, which he believes wasn’t always there even if there wasn’t any friction within the group.”I used to see a lot of other teams and wonder what it is that they have that we don’t, and I figured we didn’t have the same camaraderie,” Tiwary said. “So, when I took over as captain, this is something I worked on building and improving. Without that you can’t turn around games like we did against Uttar Pradesh [they were 55 for 6 in their first innings] and against Baroda [who they bundled out for 98 after conceding a potentially decisive lead before winning].”Shahbaz Ahmed (middle) will be available to play the quarter-final for Bengal•Cricket Association of BengalWherever they’ve gone this season, Tiwary has ensured a huge cut out of the Ranji Trophy is pasted on all the walls of their dressing room. He’s ensured the Bengal flag flies behind the team at practice and at matches.”Like what Pakistan introduced, I loved the idea of carrying our flag onto the practice facility, and place it firmly behind us,” Tiwary said. “Then we’ve ensured we’re seeing the Ranji Trophy and big cut-outs and posters in our dressing room every day, so that the players see it the first thing they enter the dressing room. It’s there, staring at them.”When we’ve been down in a session and suddenly you see it staring at you, that motivation is there to give a little extra. It’s small things like these that could make a difference. We say verbally representing Bengal is a big thing, but visibly if you have something, a goal in front of your eyes, that pushes you to give a lot more. These things have been helpful.”Another aspect Tiwary has been mindful of along with new coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla is communication. Players who are not part of the XI are told well in advance what the thinking is. Others are backed, age being the least of their criteria. It explains why Majumdar at 38 continues to be a pillar of their batting along with Tiwary. It’s why Pritam Chakraborty, the offspinner, made a comeback after eight years in the wilderness.”Communication with players is clear, they understand what needs to be done,” Tiwary said. “This season, if we have left out someone, we’ve told them of the plan. I don’t want negative energy, I’ve suffered from lack of communication in my career. I didn’t want players to experience the same. If you tell them early, then there’s clarity. They may be sad, but I expect them to come fresh to the ground. In a team, if someone isn’t happy, it affects the entire group. Positive vibes is important for a team to do well.”It has helped that there has been an excellent working relationship between Tiwary and the coach Shukla. “The partnership has been really good,” Tiwary said. “He completely trusts my decision-making and has left the on-field cricketing matters to me. We’ve been able to back on-field decision with results so that helps. I have a like-minded wavelength. When I’m here in the team, I love to take responsibility and work with the youngsters. And he’s been welcoming of that.”We both think alike in that sense. What bowlers or batters should do – the rapport has been good. So, we have that understanding. During Arun Lal’s time [as Bengal coach], I was around but I felt my experience wasn’t tapped into, I can’t remember times when my opinion was sought or inputs towards players, so I took a step back and started working on my game. Everyone has their methods, and I understood that. But LRS [Shukla] has utilised my experience. That’s been really nice this time around.”