All posts by csb10.top

Tom Latham will lead New Zealand for the first time in next month’s ODI tri-series against Ireland and Bangladesh. With ten players, including Kane Williamson, unavailable for selection due to IPL commitments, Latham will captain a new-look side that includes uncapped fast bowler Seth Rance and fast-bowling allrounder Scott Kuggeleijn.

New Zealand squad for Ireland tri-series

Tom Latham (capt), Hamish Bennett, Neil Broom, Scott Kuggeleijn, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Jeetan Patel*, Seth Rance, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, George Worker
*Patel will join the squad for the fourth ODI
NZ players in the IPL: Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan, Lockie Ferguson, Corey Anderson, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme

Neil Wagner, who was recently named NZC’s Test player of the year, could be in line for his ODI debut, five years after his first international appearance. New Zealand have also recalled fast bowler Hamish Bennett, batsmen Henry Nicholls and Colin Munro, and allrounder George Worker. Jeetan Patel, who is an overseas player for Warwickshire, will join the team for the fourth ODI.NZC has said that players involved in the IPL will join the squad in Ireland on a case-by-case basis, once their involvement in the league ends, while fast bowlers Ed Nuttall, Doug Bracewell and Ben Wheeler were not considered due to injuries.Both Rance and Kuggeleijn have been rewarded for consistent performances in white-ball cricket in the 2016-17 domestic season. Rance, who plays for Central Districts, was the joint highest wicket-taker in the Super Smash T20 tournament, with 15 wickets from 11 matches. Kuggeleijn, who represents Northern Districts, topped the charts in the Ford Trophy, taking 17 wickets in nine List A matches at an average of 25, in addition to a handy 242 runs in eight innings. Kuggeleijn had also been called up to the Test squad in the home series against South Africa last month as cover after injuries to Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson. Bennett, who last played for New Zealand in 2014, was the second-highest wicket-taker in the Ford Trophy with 16 wickets in nine games at an average of 20.18.Worker, too, has returned consistent performances in the Ford Trophy. He was the highest run-getter, striking two centuries and four fifties in a tally of 659 runs, nearly 200 more than the next highest. In addition, he also picked up 12 wickets with his left-arm spin, the most for Central Districts in the tournament.New Zealand selector Gavin Larsen said the absence of senior players was an opportunity to give new players a taste of international cricket.”This is a fantastic opportunity to give new players a taste of international cricket, as well as reward guys who have pushed their way back into contention,” Larsen said. “Neil is an example of someone whose bowling has gone from strength to strength. He’s performed well in the Ford Trophy when he’s had the chance and also brings considerable international experience to the side.”Scott and Seth have worked their way into the side following superb domestic form over an extended period of time, which is equally true for George and Hamish who have earned recalls.”Larsen also said the decision to appoint Latham as captain ahead of Ross Taylor was done with a view to give Latham a chance to develop as a leader.”Tom has been a leader within the side for a while now and this is a chance to continue his development in that area,” Larsen said. “At 25 years old Tom is still a youthful captain, but he’s performed the role well for Canterbury and New Zealand Under-19 in the past. With the likes of Ross and Luke in the squad, there also are some experienced players to help support him.”It’s a great learning opportunity for Tom and a chance for other squad members to take on a bigger leadership role too.”The tri-series begins on May 12, with New Zealand’s opening game scheduled on May 14 against Ireland.

Another away Test series brings another fresh pace-bowling group in the Bangladesh line-up. Taskin Ahmed, 21, is likely to make his Test debut and lead an attack that, for the past eight years, has been the least-experienced department in the team.As at Wellington’s Basin Reserve where Taskin, Rubel Hossain, Subashis Roy and Kamrul Islam Rabbi gleefully bowled on a green surface next to the first Test pitch, they have regularly encountered friendly conditions in West Indies, Zimbabwe, England and on the previous tour of New Zealand. But apart from Robiul Islam in Zimbabwe in 2013, none could match their skills to the conditions on offer.Rubel has played the most during this period but never been penetrative enough, while Kamrul – who made his debut in the home series against England last year – and the uncapped Subashis have never played a Test abroad.The trend has been to pick rookies, who don’t get many opportunities in home Tests but offer promise in a season or two of first-class cricket. Once someone does well in challenging conditions at home, they are quickly brought up to the highest level and given the responsibility to use their skills in helpful conditions overseas.After spending much of Tuesday bowling on the centre pitches rather than the nets, Taskin could not help but smile when asked about his excitement at bowling on such a pitch on his Test debut.”The bowlers are very happy seeing the wicket,” Taskin said. “It is a rather green and hard surface. I am gearing up to bowl there. We have some good fast bowlers, and we have shown in the recent past that we can bowl well. If we can bowl to our potential, it will be a good game.”While Taskin’s excitement is reasonable, his inexperience in the longer format is a major concern, especially for someone who has broken down twice in the last three years. Only a few months ago, in October, Bangladesh’s coach, Chandika Hathurusingha , warned the selectors not to pick him in Tests.After chief selector Minhajul Abedin said that Taskin would be fast-tracked into the Test team in England, Hathurusingha responded: “Has he played any four-day cricket? So you think people can do magic straight away? No. They are humans. If you haven’t played four-day cricket in your entire life, standing four days on the field and bowling 15 overs is entirely new for him. I don’t want to destroy somebody’s career.”Khaled Mahmud, Bangladesh’s manager at the time and since inducted into the selection committee after it was revamped last year, had also backed Minhajul’s strategy. While Taskin’s pace has been more than useful for Bangladesh since his international debut in 2014, he played the last of his 10 first-class matches in 2013.But Taskin was not focusing on his lack of bowling volume, which he believes can be covered by the work he does in the nets, while preparing himself to play in the longer format.”I have had to work hard to come to the Test side,” he said. “The support staff and coaches at the BCB really helped me get to this stage. I trained in a specific programme, which included building my bowling workload in the last 18-24 months. I am in the Test squad because I have become fitter, and I don’t want to stop after just one game. I want to make a regular place in the team.”I am not too worried about bowling volume. I don’t think my lack of first-class matches will be a factor. I am only thinking of taking care of myself off the field, so that I can give my all on it. I have bowled 12-15 overs in the nets on many days, with the new and old ball. I am learning how to swing the red ball. I believe that I will become a better Test player with every game I play.”As a regular in shorter formats and given Rubel’s poor numbers despite being the most experienced pace bowler – he averages 75.90 and his last Test came in 2015 – Taskin would automatically be elevated as the leader of the bowling attack if he does play in Wellington. That too on his Test debut, and his first long-form game in nearly four years.

Virat Kohli has expressed displeasure at the Christmas break England’s players will have between the Tests and the limited-overs series in India. Kohli also asked for an eight-day gap between Tests on India’s away tours in the future, and did not sound happy that England, under pressure, were getting time to recuperate between the third and fourth Tests.”We didn’t ask for the gap, it was part of the schedule,” Kohli said, when asked if the eight-day gap had helped the team after three back-to-back Tests. “Make sure when we go there, we also have eight days’ gap after three Tests and a 25-day gap between ODIs and Tests. We didn’t ask for it, but seeing the long season ahead, it did us no harm. It actually helped us rest a bit, reflect on what we have done in the two games that we have won, and visualise again and come back even more fresh compared to the last two Test matches.On India’s previous tour of England, they had a five-day gap between the second and third Test, and six days between the third and fourth. The first two and the last two Tests were back-to-back, though a three-day finish in the fourth Test gave them a bigger break before the fifth.Kohli’s larger objection, though, was to the 25-day gap between the last Test and the first ODI on England’s tour of India. It has been a practice for England to go home for Christmas and return for shorter formats when touring India. Kohli felt it gave them an advantage, one India did not have during their tours.”Absolutely [England should not go home for the break],” Kohli said. “Or we should come back for a month as well from England. No point we play there for three-and-a-half months and everything we do is in the media’s eyes, even our off time is scanned. I don’t have any news of them enjoying their holiday in Dubai at all. I would like to see the same thing happen. Either they stay the whole tour or we come back for 25 days as well.”India’s tour of England in 2014 spanned 74 days from their first tour game to the only Twenty20 international. India were away for four months in 2014-15, when they toured Australia for Tests, a tri-nation ODI tournament and the World Cup. Due to Phillip Hughes’ death just before the Tests, the schedule had to be rearranged. India were accommodating in those circumstances: they played practically four back-to-back Tests, and got about a week off between the tri-series and the World Cup.No schedule is drawn up without the agreement of the BCCI, so this might be one for the bosses in Indian cricket.Kohli saw the merit of a break. “Very important, even when you go home during the break,” he said. “Honestly, between series, you can’t completely switch off because it will always be there on your mind as to what you have to do in a match. As a captain, you will keep thinking about the combinations you can play, how will be the wicket … But not too much also. It’s important that you enjoy life beyond your profession.”A lot of times in our country, we look at these things differently, that you have to keep thinking about cricket. But it’s up to you as an individual to weigh how much stress you can take, how much time you want away from cricket, and when do I have to refocus on the game.”

ScorecardEllyse Perry gave Australia the impetus in the end overs•Getty Images

Ellyse Perry’s fifth successive fifty and a three-wicket haul helped Australia women successfully defend 260 in the fifth and final ODI against South Africa women in Coffs Harbour. They won by 43 runs to seal a 4-0 series win.South Africa, reasonably well placed at 133 for 3, were bowled out for 217 in 48.3 overs. Opener Lizelle Lee’s 44 was the highest of the innings. Four other batsmen crossed 25, but threw away starts. Perry was complemented by medium pacer Grace Harris, who took 2 for 31.South Africa’s decision to bowl first was somewhat negated by a strong start as Nicole Bolton (43) and captain Meg Lanning (42) set the platform. Sune Luus, the legspinner, then made an impact, both with her legspin and with her on-field exploits. She first sent back Lanning, effected a run-out to dismiss Alex Blackwell and then returned to dismiss Jess Jonassen (39).But it was in between the run out and Jonassen’s dismissal that Australia drove ahead, courtesy Perry’s run-a-ball 56 in which she hit seven boundaries. The 78-run stand helped Australia claw back from a precarious situation as they smashed 109 off the last 15 overs.South Africa started well courtesy openers Lee and Luus (31), who put together 66 before three wickets in the space of eight overs turned the game around. Mignon du Preez made 31, but consumed 61 deliveries as the asking rate spiraled.Dinesha Devnarain made 26, but by the time she was dismissed, the required rate had climbed to more than seven an over. Chloe Tryon smashed six fours in her 28-ball 32 to briefly keep South Africa in the hunt before Jonassen dismissed her to effectively kill the chase.

Ben Stokes can inspire with words and deeds. With the opening one-day international in Mirpur quickly running away from England, Stokes took advantage of a break in play to remind his team-mates that they had to fight to the end.That end was a Bangladesh collapse of 6 for 17 in 39 balls, started by Jake Ball’s two wickets in two deliveries, as England went from near defeat to a 21-run victory.Stokes, whose leadership qualities have been admired by Trevor Bayliss since he became coach, was named vice-captain for this series after Jos Buttler’s elevation to the captaincy in place of Eoin Morgan.He has been given the freedom to intervene on the field when he feels it is required, partly because of the workload on Buttler as a wicketkeeper-captain, and took it upon himself to rally the team when the Bangladesh batsmen needed treatment for cramp in brutal conditions.”It’s something I would always do. I felt like the situation needed it to happen,” Stokes said. “I said to Jos about two overs before, rather than hoping the result can go our way and waiting for our wicket before we can all get together, is it worth calling everyone in for a quick two-minute chat?

Stokes tries to lift Durham’s mood

Ben Stokes’ rallying calls are not restricted to on the field in Bangladesh. He has been a key figure in lifting the mood back at Durham after their relegation and points deduction following an ECB financial bail-out.
He said the ECB’s intervention had saved Durham from going under and though it’s the players who will suffer most they can also lead the revival.
“The best thing is that we are still a first-class county and it’s looking very unlikely that we will get back into Division One next year, but as soon as the news broke, Colly and myself were trying to be the driving points for everyone. This is what’s happened, let’s deal with it.
“The senior guys have been really good. They said, we’ve been for this long, we’ve grown up together, and obviously it’s a clean slate for Durham, so let’s try to get us back to where we belong.”

“The two guys were in and they were going to win it unless we got them out. A talk like that switches everyone back on rather than thinking ‘oh this game is going to go unless we get a wicket’. After that, everyone went away and thought, right, let’s get two and try to kill the game off.”Stokes is more than happy for the ‘big calls’ to stay with Buttler but believes he has the experience to help make a difference.”Jos is the one who makes the big calls, so you don’t want to be stepping too far out of your box, but if I feel the time is right and it’s needed then I will do it,” he said. “He’s the man in command, so I’m leaving the big calls down to him.””Farby [Paul Farbrace] mentioned to me how much Jos has on his plate as keeper and captain. He gave me the freedom, if I think of something, rather than going to Jos, if I think that it’s necessary then I’ll go and talk it through with the bowler, or if there are any field placings.”The first act of Stokes’ day was to inspire with the bat, compiling his maiden ODI century after striding to crease with England tottering on 63 for 3 in front of a crowd baying for more Bangladesh success. Alongside debutant Ben Duckett he added 153, moving to his century from 98 deliveries to tick off one of his major aims for the year.He has previously spoken about how he believed he had under-delivered with the bat in one-day cricket – although in his earlier days he was shunted around the order to his detriment – and his hundred meant it was twice in two ODIs he had improved his career-best and his last three ODI innings now read 69, 75 and 101.”It’s one of the things that I wanted to do when I got back from injury and was able to play the one-day series against Pakistan, was to put in some more consistent performances and it’s nice to back the words up by going out and doing it.”I said to myself I wanted to try to get this first ODI [century] before 2016 finished and I have managed to do it, but now I have done that I won’t just be happy with one, I want a couple more in the games we have coming up.”

Shaun Marsh and Ashton Agar have been named in Western Australia’s squad for next month’s Matador Cup, despite both carrying injuries that will likely prevent them from being available for the start of the tournament. Fast bowler Jason Behrendorff has also been included and will make his return from a lengthy lay-off, having not played since the BBL in January due to a stress fracture of the lower back.Western Australia have named a near full-strength group for the one-day tournament, with only Mitchell Marsh unavailable due to Australian duties and Nathan Coulter-Nile injured. However, Shaun Marsh’s broken finger and Agar’s shoulder injury will likely mean they are unavailable until later in the tournament, in which case WA can apply to Cricket Australia for injury replacement players.”It’s great to see Jason [Behrendorff] back in the squad after a long time out,” coach Justin Langer said. “He’s a consummate professional with his rehab and has been diligent throughout so we’re confident he can return to his best during the Matador Cup.”It’s great to have Adam Voges here to lead the side, while we’ve got good experience with players like Michael Klinger and Nathan Rimmington around him.”Western Australia squad Adam Voges (capt), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Michael Klinger, Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Joel Paris, Nathan Rimmington, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Jonathan Wells, Sam Whiteman.

ScorecardMahela Jayawardene made a classy century•Getty Images

Moeen Ali couldn’t wait. In fact, he was gagging for it, thirsting for it, so hungry that it was almost unbearable. According to Worcestershire’s pre-match publicity, there was barely a bodily reaction that was not conveying Moeen’s desire to return from England duty and take them closer to a Lord’s final. He proved as much, carrying his form in the final Test at The Oval into county cricket, but sadly for Worcestershire, bodily functions elsewhere were markedly below par.While Mooen was at the crease at Taunton, his 81 from 76 balls possessing appropriate grace for such a wearing, humid day, Worcestershire implied that the 280 they needed to make this quarter-final an even game was well within their compass. Then, at 155 for 3 in the 30th over, Moeen got out, a swivel-pull against Peter Trego falling to Max Waller at deep midwicket. Worcestershire made only 210.They got what they deserved: a nine-wicket spanking with more than 13 overs to spare. The day was unbearably close; the match, almost as unbearably, was not.Worcestershire’s season is therefore as good as over. Defeat against Glamorgan at New Road as good as ended their Division Two promotion hopes, especially with only one side going up this year, they flattered to deceive in the NatWest T20 Blast and now their Royal London Cup challenge has ended at the quarter-final stage. They have lacked middle-order runs all season and that again proved to be their downfall.Daryl Mitchell, Worcestershire’s captain, did not flinch from criticism. “We have been inconsistent with the bat all season,” he said. “We are relatively inexperienced but these are guys with England aspirations and we have to be able to turn potential in results and do it in front of the TV cameras when the pressure is on.”There was another silky innings to relish at Taunton but Mahela Jayawardene, after making a delightful unbeaten 117 in 111 balls, would be the first to admit that he was not extended by the target. He has had a largely unproductive spell at Somerset this season – his previous best since joining the county for the NatWest T20 Blast being 55 – but a selection of easeful glides and a couple of gentle straight sixes against the spinners were a reminder of his class. Presented with a chance to depart with smiles all round, he took it. It would have been rude not to.Somerset now face an away tie against Warwickshire in the semi-final, but it looks as if they will have to manage without Jayawardene. “I think the semi is going to be tight,” he said. “I have already moved a few things around to play today, but prior commitments at home mean I have to go back now. Even this match was a bit of an extension but I have had a great time here and if they get to the final I might be able to make the trip.”Somerset posted an opening stand of 188 in 33.1 overs as Jim Allenby, 81 from 96 balls, also produced one of his crispest innings in a Somerset shirt before sweeping Moeen to deep square. It was Somerset’s seventh win in the competition this season after waltzing through their group. A challenging season is turning in his favour and he is now only one match away from skippering Somerset in a Lord’s final.Moeen Ali carried Worcestershire’s fight•Getty Images

Jayawardene set the tone in the field with a slick catch high to his left at first slip when Tom Kohler-Cadmore tried to advance down the pitch to Craig Overton while Josh Davey struck twice in one over, Tom Fell cutting weakly to point and Joe Clarke chipping just as tamely to midwicket.Moeen and Mitchell repaired matters in an untroubled stand of 113 in 20 overs, only for Worcestershire to falter a second time. Every Trego intervention is cause for contentment at Taunton and the ground was almost full to see him follow up the wicket of Moeen by dismissing Daryl Mitchell for 64 – a failed hit over mid-off – and adding Ross Whiteley for nought, an outside edge against one that rose a little. His 3 for 8 in 12 balls as good as settled the contest.Moeen and Mitchell apart, nine Worcestershire batsmen mustered 63 between them on a benign surface. The run out of Joe Leach by several yards after his heavy-footed plod failed to match the desire of his batting partner, Ed Barnard, for a quick second, summed it all up. When Jack Shantry was last out in the next over, seven overs remained unused.

The MCC University (MCCU) scheme has received a significant boost with news that a sponsor has been found to cover previous cuts in funding.The MCC announced earlier this year that they were to cut their funding of the programme by around 50% (from over £550,000 a year to around £275,000 a year) from the start of 2017. With the ECB unwilling to make-up the shortfall, the long-term viability of the scheme had been in doubt.But now Deloitte, the accountancy and consultancy firm, have been secured on a two-year deal. While the search for more sponsors and longer term deals goes on, the centres can expect higher levels of funding than anticipated this year and less of a shortfall than feared next.Around 23% of current England-qualified cricketers involved in the first-class game developed in part through the MCCU scheme which has six centres in Oxford, Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, Loughborough and Leeds-Bradford. Among the players to have graduated through the system are director of cricket for the England team, Andrew Strauss, Ireland captain William Porterfield, Surrey’s Zafar Ansari, former England spinner Monty Panesar, Kent’s Sam Billings and England Women’s captain, Heather Knight.Set-up by former England opener Graeme Fowler in 1996, the aim was to ensure young people did not have to choose between education and cricket. By providing them with good quality coaching and playing opportunities at the same time as allowing them to gain a further education, the scheme not only encourages some into sport who might otherwise be lost, but prepares those who do break into the professional for the life after their sporting retirement.Fowler has long argued that the ECB have a “duty of care” to fund the scheme, suggesting it helps avoid some of the pitfalls encountered by players as they look for opportunities once their on-field careers come to an end.”Not only does this scheme encourage more of the best and brightest players to pursue a career in the game,” Fowler told ESPNcricinfo in March, “but it honours the duty of care we should have to them at both ends of their career.”While the programme perhaps does not generate the coverage it deserves – it sometimes suffers for being judged on its short-term, on-field results rather than its long-term, off-field impact – a strong case could be mounted to suggest it offers, alongside the PCA’s personal development programme, one of the most positive developments in player welfare since the introduction of pensions and insurance policies. It receives no direct funding from the ECB.It easily represents the biggest outlay of funds made each year by the MCC on cricket projects. The MCC has, over the last decade, spent more than £6.5m on the project and, in addition to the six MCCU centres, includes the funding of the MCC Combined Universities side (which consists of cricketers unsigned by the first-class counties and has just enjoyed its best season in the 2nd XI Championship) and the Loughborough Women side.Fowler stood down from his post at Durham MCCU in 2015. He was concerned by changes to the programme which he saw as an emphasis shift away from the development of excellence and more towards community based initiatives.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMisbah-ul-Haq salutes on reaching three figures•Getty Images

A story about the return of one Pakistan player to Lord’s became a tale about the maiden appearance at the ground of another, as Misbah-ul-Haq’s unbeaten century on his first Test in England led his side into a strong position on the opening day. Misbah’s correct call at the toss delayed the much-anticipated return to the fray of Mohammad Amir but his efforts ensured this would be still be an occasion for Pakistan – and cricket romantics of every persuasion – to remember.Alastair Cook had also wanted to bat first on a pitch that has had to withstand regular unseasonal soakings over recent weeks and on what turned out to be a fine summer’s day it was easy to see why. Still, four wickets for Chris Woakes – including bowling nightwatchman Rahat Ali with the last ball of the day – and an impressive showing from the debutant, Jake Ball, meant England’s attack was not entirely quelled by a commanding, 148-run stand between Misbah and Asad Shafiq as an occasionally cloudy afternoon melted into a sunlit evening.At the age of 42 years and 47 days, Misbah became the sixth-oldest man to make a century in Tests. After jogging the single to take him to three figures shortly before 6pm, he gestured to his team-mates on the pavilion balcony before getting down to do a series of push-ups – further proof, if any were needed, of his supreme levels of fitness. He has been the pillar that held up Pakistan cricket in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal that erupted on this ground back in 2010 and it was symbolically apt that he played the same role on the field in their first match back in England since those dark days.There are many threads to the tapestry of this tour beyond the redemptive element of Amir’s return, not least Pakistan’s qualities as a team. The first day of the series immediately flagged that they would provide stiffer opposition than Sri Lanka, the visitors to England earlier in the summer, and while Mohammad Hafeez and Younis Khan would have been disappointed not to build on useful starts, Misbah and Shafiq were not so profligate.Misbah had never before batted in a Test in England, never played more than a few T20 innings at Lord’s, but he was not going to overawed by his first outing. Eight months ago, after leading his side to a 2-0 win over England in the UAE, he was contemplating retirement but he eventually decided to carry on in the belief that Pakistan would need him on this tour. It was clear to see why when he strode out with his side 77 for 3, bearded and resolute, a grizzled captain leading his men into uncharted waters and ready to repel all boarders.”Let’s go to work,” was the slogan from Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 film and in Misbah and Younis, Pakistan have a couple of experienced wiseguys capable of doing a number on England. You have to go back to the 1990s for the last time Pakistan won a Test at Lord’s and their chances here relied on an experienced batting order being able to give a much-vaunted attack something to bowl at. England managed to chisel out Younis but, in the shape of Shafiq, there was another, equally determined Mr Green ready to step in and do business.England had resorted to subcontinental bowling plans, with short extra cover and short midwicket, by the time Stuart Broad coaxed a thick edge from Shafiq, on 34, but with only one slip in place the ball flew wide of Cook’s despairing dive. A clubbed square cut for four off Moeen Ali – who Pakistan never allowed to settle and conceded 46 runs from his seven overs – took him to a fifth 50-plus score against England but, with the shadows lengthening a feathered edge off Woakes finally broke the stand. Rahat then dragged on to give the persevering Woakes his best Test figures.Misbah and Shafiq might have been separated sooner, when a mix up left both batsmen running to the same end. Gary Ballance, making his own comeback after a year out of the side, threw hastily at the striker’s stumps when a lob to the bowler would have done the trick. Pakistan were on 184 for 4 at the time and still going about their recovery from being three down shortly after lunch.Ball nearly claimed a maiden Test wicket with his second ball but eventually removed Azhar Ali, to follow an early brace for Woakes in the morning session. Never mind devil, there was nothing so much as a mischievous imp in the pitch but Ball took that out of the equation with a yorker that knocked Azhar off his feet, though the No. 3 left the field shaking his head after utilising the DRS only for the Hawk-Eye to back-up Kumar Dharmasena’s decision that the ball was hitting leg stump by the finest of margins.Misbah began cautiously and he had made 2 from 19 balls when he gloved a Broad bouncer high and wide of wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow for his first boundary. A thin inside edge saved him from being lbw to Ball walking across his stumps on 11 and he might have been taken at second slip on 16, when the wayward Steven Finn found his outside edge only for Joe Root to shell a low chance, but he remained unperturbed.He unfurled some more aggressive strokes during Moeen’s exploratory overs, as well as taking easy runs off Finn. Later in the day, in struck four fours in five balls off Moeen – two sweeps, two reverse-sweeps – to move into the 90s and emphasise his mastery over England’s spinner.Despite Finn’s struggle, the bowlers did have some success. Memories had begun to drift back to England’s toil in the UAE following another fifty stand between Misbah and Younis when the latter, batting out of his crease such was the docility of the pitch, flicked a Broad delivery straight to midwicket to depart for 33.They had earlier pegged Pakistan back after a 38-run opening stand that involved a little bit of luck alongside some proactive batting from Hafeez. Anticipation of Amir’s first involvement had given way to a moment for Ball to savour and he nearly struck in his opening Test spell, Cook generously deigning to review an lbw decision against Shan Masood only for the replays to confirm Dharmasena’s suspicion the ball had pitched outside leg.Ball acquitted himself well as the stand-in for James Anderson, pushing the speed gun up towards 89mph and troubling both of the Pakistan openers. Hafeez could have been taken on 11, when a drive at Broad resulted in a thick edge low to the left of James Vince at third slip but he could not hold on one-handed. The same batsman flashed wide of the slips off Ball in the 10th over and Masood followed suit, off Woakes, moments after.Woakes, though, found success shortly before the drinks break, inducing a thin edge from Masood with a delivery than bounced a touch more than expected. He had his second four overs later when Hafeez, who had gambolled his way to 40, finally fell in lackadaisical fashion, trying to flip across the line only to offer a straightforward catch to Bairstow running across towards square leg.

Tymal Mills, the Sussex left-arm fast bowler capable of topping 90mph, could earn an England call-up for next month’s T20I against Sri Lanka when the limited-overs squads are named on Monday.Mills, who was forced to retire from first-class cricket last year after being diagnosed with a congenital back condition, is limited to the four-over workloads of T20 cricket. Prior to his diagnosis he was already on England’s radar because of his extreme pace – he was used as a net bowler during the 2013-14 Ashes tour – and has continued to be involved in the fast bowling programme during last winter.In a recent televised T20 Blast match against Somerset he was clocked at 93mph, when he gave Chris Gayle a working over before shattering his stumps, and also showed his variety of slower balls he often uses at the death. On Friday he claimed 3 for 15 from his four overs against Kent.Earlier this month he told ESPNcricinfo about his ambitions to be a T20 specialist for England. “In a perfect world I could make a career doing this for a long time. I’ve just got to stay fit,” he said. “Everything I do is aimed at being a top T20 player. I want to play for England even if it’s just in T20 cricket.”England’s squads for the five ODIs and lone T20 against Sri Lanka have a few spaces to fill due to James Taylor’s enforced retirement (he was the spare batsman in South Africa when England last played ODIs) as well as injuries to Ben Stokes and Reece Topley. David Willey has recently resumed bowling for Yorkshire after his abdominal injury so is on course to be available.Jonny Bairstow is expected to be the man to challenge for a middle-order role after his stellar Test form, while Jos Buttler resumes behind the stumps, although the selectors may ponder returning Bairstow to county cricket so he can continue to refine his keeping in the Championship for Yorkshire. England also need to decide the balance of the final XI in the absence of Stokes, who has been around the squad during the third Test against Sri Lanka continuing his rehab from knee surgery.Stuart Broad was recalled to the one-day side in South Africa after Steven Finn was ruled out through injury but may again be left out ahead of the Test series against Pakistan. James Anderson, who has not played an ODI since the World Cup, is not expected to earn a recall. Nottinghamshire’s Jake Ball, who has been in all three Test squads so far this season, is a contender for one of the pace-bowling slots.Possible squad Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Steven Finn, James Vince, Chris Jordan, Sam Billings, Jake Ball, Tymal Mills (T20 only)