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Piran Holloway and Richard Johnson rescued a modicum of pride for Somersetbefore they succumbed to an innings defeat by Lancashire at Taunton.Resuming their second innings on 106-6 after the third-day wash-out, the home side still required 68 runs to make Lancashire bat again. This time there was no assistance from the weather. And when Keith Dutch fell lbw to Peter Martin’s loosener without adding to his score of 12, a one-sided opening Championship fixture looked to be heading for a quick finish.But Holloway can be a gritty competitor in such circumstances. The littleleft-hander was soon in obdurate mood and found a willing eighth-wicket partner in Johnson as the pair added 55 in 21 overs. Johnson hit 4 fours in his 37 and can reflect on an encouraging Somerset debut, which saw him take five wickets in the Lancashire innings, despite the disappointing result.Just when it seemed the partnership might spare Somerset the indignity of defeat by an innings, Johnson attempted a forcing shot off Andy Flintoff’s first ball of the day and edged to wicketkeeper Warren Hegg. Steffan Jones was soon struck on the helmet by a Martin delivery and then played over the top of a fuller length ball to have his stumps shattered for four.The game ended with the opening delivery of Flintoff’s next over as Holloway lost his leg stump, having made 74 off 197 balls, with 6 fours and a five.Somerset had been bowled out for 170 to lose by an innings and four runs.Flintoff’s remodelled action brought him 2-7 from 5.1 overs, while Martin’stwo final day victims left him with 3-55 from 21 overs. Lancashire took 19 points and Somerset four.

David Warner ended a glittering Test career on Saturday at his home ground after 112 Tests with an eight-wicket win against Pakistan that culminated in a 3-0 series sweep. An emotional Warner spoke to the host broadcaster after the game in a farewell interview, on his Test career, watching the Australia Tests on the TV going ahead, the role his family played and how he would want to be remembered.Could you have ever dreamed it would finish like this – runs, 3-0 series victory, a Test win in front of your friends and family and an adoring SCG? They talk about fairytales, I can’t imagine it could get much better?
“It’s pretty much a dream come true. Win 3-0 and cap off what’s been a great 18 months to two years for the Australian cricket team. On the back of the World Test Championship win, Ashes series draw and then the World Cup and then to come here and finish 3-0 is an outstanding achievement and I’m just proud to be with a bunch of great cricketers here.”What do these guys mean to you? You’ve spent a lot of time with a lot of them, especially the bowlers, Starc and crew, it’s been a long journey.
“I think their ears are going to get a break in the change room which is great. These guys they work their backsides off. The engine room, the big three quicks plus Mitchell Marsh. They work tirelessly in the nets and in the gym and credit to them to stay in the park, the physios, the staff that are behind that is outstanding. Look at them, they’re amazing. And I don’t have to face them ever again in the nets. Which I don’t do anyway. So that helps.”Tell us about your own day. You woke up this morning. I’m sure your family was surrounding you. What were your thoughts at that stage, David?
“Just a casual walk up to the local cafe and get a cup of coffee with the young one. I just got into the car and packed a wine or two. Shouldn’t say that too loud, I’ll get in trouble. I felt happy and really, really proud. And just to come here in front of your home crowd with the support that they’ve shown me and the Australian cricket team over the my last decade or my career, I can’t thank them enough. Without you guys we aren’t able to do what we do and it’s really really much appreciated.The innings itself, talk us through the innings. You finished like the way you started, full of shots, through midwicket, reverse sweeps, pulled out every trick in the book and I can see you smiling about it.
“We’re in the entertainment business and I’m just happy to come out here and showcase what I try to do all the time. I started with T20 and tried to come out here and tried and emulate that but I tried to play my shots, go out the way that I have played. And yeah, managed to get a win on the board which is great.We saw your girls and your wife Candice up there in the stands, your mum and dad. What does family mean to you? Obviously, it’s an enormous part of your life, David.
“Massive part of your life and without their support you can’t do what you do. I owe credit to my parents for giving me a beautiful and great upbringing. My brother Steve, I followed in his footsteps. And then [my wife] Candice came along and sort of got me in line. We’ve had a beautiful family and I cherish every moment I get with them. I love them to death and I’m not going to keep carrying on because I’ll get too emotional. But thank you, Candice, for what you’ve done. You mean the world to me, and I appreciate it.These boys are up against the West Indies in a few weeks time. What do you think that will be like for you?
“I think it’d be quite emotional to watch the guys go out there and not play and knowing that I was able to come out here and do what I could do. But as I just mentioned you got a great bunch of cricketers here. We are all almost over 30 years of age. So as time goes by, we’re not getting younger, but this team, they’re energetic, they’re world class and they’re a great bunch of guys.How would you like to be remembered? David Warner was …
“[Would like to be remembered as] exciting, entertaining, and I hope I put a smile on everyone’s face with the way that I played and hopefully the young kids out there can follow in my footsteps. White-ball cricket to Test cricket. It’s the pinnacle of our sport. So keep working hard to play the red-ball game because it’s entertaining as well.”

All set up for big finale

7pmHectic finish. Look at Cheteshwar Pujara’s strike-rate. He is 12 off 13. Just what he needed perhaps. England getting desperate for a wicket instead of bowling line and length, and he managed to get some runs there. And runs are at a premium. India end the day at 52 for 1 needing another 157 to win this Test. They will fancy themselves. And after the bluff by the weather forecast today, I am not even looking at what is in store tomorrow. Instead I will leave you with a teaser from the end-of-the-day report

Joe Root and Jasprit Bumrah combined on the fourth day to set up a grandstand finish for the Trent Bridge Test, the series opener. Having fallen behind by 95 in the first innings, England roared back on the back of a colossal 21st century from Root, but just when they were slipping out of India’s grasp, Bumrah put in an immense five-for to rise above a tiring bowling unit to keep the target down to 209. India knocked 52 of those off in the awkward 65 minutes they got at the end of the day for the loss of just one wicket.England began the day 70 behind with all their wickets in hand, but it was believed they needed rain or Root to rescue their fledgling batting unit. The promised rain never arrived, but in the best batting conditions of the Test, Root batted with assured positivity to make sure England never went into a shell and put the pressure of runs on India. However, Dom Sibley, Dan Lawrence and Jos Buttler gifted their wickets away to keep India in the contest by the time the new ball arrived. Bumrah blew them away with it.

Broad too good

6.43pmIt is Stuart Broad’s first wicket of the match, but it has come just when it was all looking too flat for them and India had put on 34 for the first wicket. And it is a beauty too. There is not much KL Rahul can do with this. On a length, on off, extra bounce, holds its line. Just too good. What an amazing Test for Rahul though: coming in at the last moment, he scored 84 in the first innings, and made them bowl the best they could to get him out in the second innings.What a stat from Sampath Bandarupalli: “Before KL Rahul’s dismissal, Stuart Broad had not taken a wicket vs India in 60.2 overs since Virat Kohli at The Oval in 2018.”India 34 for 1, Rahul gone for 26 off 38, Rohit unbeaten on 7 off 27. India need 175 more to win.

India need 209 to win

5.43pmGetty Images

A couple of balls after being hit in the helmet grille, Robinson swings hard at a length ball, and India have the fly slip in place. The new ball has brought India 31 or 4. Twice in a row India have run through the England lower order. And just look at what the new ball has done. England through careless batting have lost the chance of using the second new ball. Whatever they have to do they have to do with the old one.The man of the moment, though, is the immense immense Jasprit Bumrah, who finally got the wicket of Joe Root, and then Sam Curran and Stuart Broad in two balls.We have got 65 minutes of play today. Heavy roller will come out to settle the pitch down again. India failed to chase two sub-200 scores on the 2018 trip, but will fancy themselves now because the pitch has looked flat in the third innings and because there are Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja in the lower middle order to go with a similar top order.

Toes for Broad again

5.33pmBumrah. What a bowler. He has knocked back Stuart Broad’s wicket with a straight ball following Broad as he backs away, and it ricochets onto his wicket. First ball that too. Robinson in danger of not even getting a chance to farm the strike. One more ball left this over. Bumrah on a hat-trick.He attempts the yorker on the hat-trick, but it falls just short of it, and Anderson keeps it out. Oh it is a no-ball. Torture for Anderson. The newt ball is a 140kmph offbreak, and somehow misses the edge.What a huge spell from Bumrah. 3-0-9-3 when it looked like England could just nose ahead. That’s a five-for for him. A 10-for in sight.Now the field will spread for Robinson.5.28pm

Bumrah keeps India’s noses ahead

5.28pmSam Curran and Ollie Robinson have decided they won’t just stand there and provide Bumrah target practice. They have actually gone ahead and targeted Shami at the other end. The partnership is 20 off 21, but Bumrah has bowled another beauty to get rid of the dangerous Curran. This one comes from round the wicket, pitches and jags back in to cramp Curran up, who is on the lookout for the runs. Mid-on takes the catch. England 295 for 8 in 84.4 overs, Curran gone for 32 off 45, Robinson unbeaten on 13 off 7. England effectively 200 for 8. They would have dearly loved for Curran to have been there with Broad and Anderson, but Bumrah has bowled an excellent spell with the new ball here to keep India ahead.

Bumrah stands up

5.09pmIn the first over of the new ball, Jasprit Bumrah produces the ball to finally get the edge from Joe Root. A colossal innings, but a big moment in the Test. Bumrah has stood up with the Test in the balance. England still can’t feel comfortable. They are 274 for 7 in 81 overs, effectively 179 for 7. Root is gone for 109 off 172, Curran unbeaten on 24 off 30.It is just that angle from Bumrah that makes you play at balls you don’t want to play, and then at the last moment this length ball holds its line to take the edge. Huge reception for Root as he walks off.

New ball

5.05pmThe ball is taken as soon as it becomes available, and India turn to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami now. Thirty-seven runs in those 10 overs for the bonus wicket of Buttler. England 272 for 6 in 80 overs, Root 108 off 168, Curran 23 off 28. England effectively 177 for 6.Big spell coming up for Bumrah and Shami. If England don’t lose a wicket in these 10 overs, they could feel they are in control. India can still break this Test open right here, right now.

RoooooooooooooooooooT

PA Images via Getty Images

4.42pmJoe Root is carrying the Test side on his back, and this time he has done long enough to bring up his 21st Test century, his first in England in three years. Under fire from every corner, England began the day needing Rain or Root to come to their aid. The rain didn’t show up, but Root did. A fluent, aggressive, precise knock in the best batting conditions of the Test so far. He has been let down by three of his partners, at least one of whom should have been here with him to put India under pressure, but Sam Curran it is who gets the congratulatory hug.After missing out on two boundary balls earlier in the 75th over, he drives one straight down the ground, and raises his arms as the ball goes past the bowler for four. Whole of Trent Bridge stands with him. England 253 for 6 in 75 overs, Root 102 off 156, Curran 10 off 10. England effectively 158 for 6. New ball available in five overs.

India have not been at their best

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

4.30pmThe thing about the Buttler wicket is that we were just discussing how India have presented boundary balls today a little more easily than on their good days. That should irk England more than they have not made India pay for it. Here is some findings from Shiva Jayaraman:

India bowlers have been guilty of bowling boundary balls to England batters fresh at the crease in this innings. Jos Buttler, who didn’t get off the mark in his first dig in this match, hit three fours in the first-ten he faced in this innings. England batters collectively hit as many as 11 boundaries (from shots that they were in full control of) in the first 20 balls faced by them in their second innings. In comparison, the England top order had hit only four boundaries in the first innings.

England gift another wicket

4.17pmJust back from tea, and it is Jos Buttler’s turn to giftwrap his wicket with a tiny bow on the top. Before tea also he survived a close lbw shout when padding up to a reversing ball. He leaves one again, and this time the gently paced Thakur gets full access to the top of off. England’s collapse in the first innings featured a few soft wickets, but you might have been okay with it given the conditions. But in flat conditions, against tiring bowlers, England have thrown away three wickets, and that is a bigger problem. This is the sixth time in Test cricket that Buttler has got out leaving the ball, four of them bowled. England 237 for 6, effectively 142 for 6.

Tea on day four

3.56pmA slightly longer middle session comes to an end. In flatter conditions, with Joe Root batting beautifully, India will be glad with the two gifts they have been given by Sibley and Lawrence. England will be disappointed because they really had a chance to bat India out of this Test in this session. Old ball, tired bowlers, Root looking immovable, freebies finally arriving, but Sibley played a poor shot and Lawrence was dozy to reverse swing. England scored 116 for 3 in that session in 30 overs. Nearly four an over tells you the pitch has eased out. And that the pitch has eased out tells you that England won’t be happy with the 180-190 targets they won with in 2018.New ball available in 10 overs. So that is another turning point to watch out for in the next session. England 235 for 5 in 70 overs, Root 96 off 138, Buttler 15 off 20. England effectively 140 for 5. See you soon.

Dozy Lawrence

3.32pmThakur was looking ordinary in this over giving leg-side offerings, not bowling high pace, but to the fifth legal ball of the over, Lawrence played for the straight ball when the ball is clearly reversing. This is just the window India needed, just the moment of dozy cricket that could cost England the Test just when it looked like England had access to tired bowlers. You just don’t plant your front foot across to the reversing ball. Lawrence is out plumb lbw for 25 off 32. England 211 for 5 in 64.5 overs, effectively 116 for 5. Root unbeaten on 90 off 125. In comes Jos Buittler, on a pair.And India sense something and have gone back to Jasprit Bumrah. Big 20 minutes to tea coming up.

Reverse swing

3.25pmIn the 64th over of the third innings, for the first time we saw signs of reverse swing in this Test. Dan Lawrence saw the shiny side outside, set himself up to play to leg, and the ball moved away to beat his edge. The next ball, with the shiny side out, took his outside edge, but it fell short. And then Mohammed Shami flipped the shine to try the inswinger, and it went, but went down the leg side, and Lawrence got a tickle for four to fine leg.England 202 for 4 in 64 overs, Root 90 off 124, Lawrence 17 off 26. England effectively 107 for 4.Good news for India; Shardul Thakur is bowling, but he has started with a no-ball. Only his eighth over in this innings. Jadeja has bowled more.

Is Shardul Thakur fine?

3.10pmIn the 60th over of the England innings, Shardul Thakur gave chase at deep third man, and he looked slow. Nagraj Gollapudi tells me he was pointing to the inside of his knee sometime ago. He also spent some time off in this session. He was also seen talking to the physio. And he hasn’t bowled at all in this session. In case he is injured, it is an illustration why you play five bowlers.England 188 for 4 in 60 overs, Root 87 off 120, Lawrence 6 off 7, effectively 93 for 4.

Bairstow finds the sweeper

3pmThis is a pull shot nailed off the absolute meat of the bat, but Bairstow has not bothered to keep it down, and Siraj has had a man back just in front of square for him all the while. And they have chosen the right man too, Ravindra Jadeja. Bairstow just can’t believe he has found the man. This looks like a wicket that has an element of fortune to it, and it is because this short ball is not even an effort ball, but India have also been looking to bowl short to Bairstow with a field for it, and the best fielder in place. Siraj is shushing Bairstow with a finger on the lip. England 177 for 4 in 57.3 overs, Bairstow gone for 30 off 50, Root unbeaten on 83 off 112. Effectively 82 for 4.

Afternoon drinks

2.47pmJonny Bairstow has come in and counterattacked even under overcast skies. The partnership between him and Root is 36 in 9.1 overs, but Bairstow has scored 26 of those. It has helped that Shami and Siraj started their current spells with looseners on which he pounced, hitting two of his four bundaries. It has allowed Root to go a little easy here. England 171 for 3 in 55 overs, effectively 76 for 3, Root 81 off 107, Bairstow 24 off 40.In case you are wondering about the weather, it is drizzling somewhere in Nottingham, but it seems it is going to miss the Trent Bridge ground. It is dark and overcast at the ground so it should help India.

Sibley loses his patience

2.05pmAnd with that his wicket. A really poor shot given how he has batted. After 132 balls of watchful batting for just 28 runs he has wafted at a wide length ball. It might even have been just short of a length. And it is overcast with floodlights on. The ball nips back in after pitching, takes the inside edge and Pant takes the catch diving to his left. This is inexplicable from Sibley. even if this ball doesn’t seam, Sibley is not going to make a good connection with this one because it is so far away from him. The partnership ends at 89, and India have a new batter in with the ball just beginning to move around.England 135 for 3, effectively 40 for 3, Sibley gone for 28 off 133, Root unbeaten on 71 off 92.

Root looks to score

The difference in Root’s intent as captured by our scorers. Second innings updated till lunch•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The above image is self-explanatory. In the second innings, Joe Root has cut out the leave and looked to score off those deliveries. He has still respected the good balls as he has defended the same amount in a much shorter period, but he has attacked more and looked for the ones and twos more.1.47pmJadeja has been taken off after just one over, and Mohammed Siraj is now joining Bumrah in the attack.

We are back

1.40pmAnd India have surprisingly chosen to start with Ravindra Jadeja. Wonder if they have decided they need to block one end up and have their fresh quicks at the other end? I can tell you that clouds have rolled in so if the ball does something for Jasprit Bumrah at the other end, we will have two quicks on.

Root, Sibley hold India off

1pmAFP/Getty Images

England were 49 behind when these two came together, but going into lunch they lead by 24 runs. Contrasting styles there. Root looking to score of every opportunity he gets, Sibley looking to survive. Root 56 off 74, Sibley 27 off 116.The interesting thing is that England’s control percentage has gone down during this partnership. That’s cricket, though: Root feels the conditions are slightly easier and he can get away with mistakes. And he has. India will come back hard at the start of the next session. At this moment, you’d still want to be in the Indian camp, but they wouldn’t want this partnership to keep growing. Back after the break

Fifty for Root

12.55pmIt was rain or Root for England at the start of the innings. The rain hasn’t arrived, but Joe Root is keeping them alive with an unbeaten 51 off 68 balls. This has been a slightly streaky hand as he has looked intent on playing for the runs and not just time. He has been in control only of three balls in four. He has taken his chances, and has been excellent on the cover-drive and the late-cut. That is why England are in the lead. India can’t just attack here. They have to think about the runs too. England effectively 19 for 2.

India will bat again

12.35pmJoe Root and Dom Sibley have gone through a nervous period and have added 49 for the third wicket to level the scores. England have already lost two wickets in the process. Now England will hope to convert this into some pressure for England. There’s five-and-a-half sessions left in the Test now. England effectively 0 for 2 in the third innings.

India have a third man for Root

12.30pmGetty Images

The image there is the reason why. four of Root’s 11 boundaries in the first innings came through third man. And now, with England getting close to making India bat again, runs are at a premium. So India don’t want to give away any cheap boundaries to third man. England 91 for 2 in 31 overs, still trail by 4 runs.

India’s hour

NoonTime for the first drinks break of the day, and India have made vital inroads. Wickets of Rory Burns and Zak Crawley for the addition of 46 runs in conditions that have probably been the best for batting all Test. Joe Root has already edged twice, once wide of slips and once short of them. Another inside edge has travelled safely. England still trail by 24 runs.India have induced 28 mistakes in 25 overs of bowling this innings: a mistake ever six balls or so. In the first two innings, it was happening once every four balls.

India on their way

11.30amJasprit Bumrah makes it a double breakthrough by teasing Zak Crawley in the channel, bowling one he has to play at. It holds its line and takes the edge. The only way he surrives this is if Crawley strides forward. England down at 46 for 2. They still trail by 49.When this innings began, there was a remark made: only Root and rain stand in India’s way. The rain has disappeared. And Root is here. India will be very intense in this spell of play.

First break for India

11.20amGetty Images

Mohammed Siraj’s coaches will tell you his biggest threat is how often he can make left-hand batters play at the away-going delivery. He can just keep pitching it in the blind spot again and again, and make them push at it. There is also the threat of the odd ball that holds its line. This time, in conditions that look more settled than in the first innings, he makes Rory Burns play at one leaving him. The edge is taken, and India are on the board.And the first ball that Zak Crawley gets tells you possibly why people keep playing at him. This one holds its line against the angle to the right-hand batter Zak Crawley, and the edge flies of the slips.Also Shiva Jayaraman comes up with the numbers for Siraj to left-hand batters: “Early days in his career, but Mohammed Siraj seems to have done better against left-handed batters in comparison with right handers. At the fall of Rory Burns’ wicket, Siraj averaged 18.28 against them (7 wickets, strike rate of 38) as opposed to 34.18 against right handers (11 wickets, strike rate of 74).’England 37 for 1 in 15.1 overs, Burns gone for 18 off 49, SIbley unbeaten on 13 off 47. England still trail by 58.

Here we go

10.45amWelcome to the Live Report of Day 4. Great news for India: it is nice and sunny as we speak, and we are starting on time. We have a maximum of 196 overs left in this Test. England have all their 10 second-wickets in hand, but they are still trailing by 70 runs. If there is no further rain, you’d assume England will need to bat close to four sessions to save this Test. India will back themselves here should there not be any more rain.In the 11.1 overs bowled in the second innings on the third day, the ball moved less than it did in the first two innings. It showed in how India deployed only two slips and a gully. Is that a sign of things to come? Or will the conditions change again?India’s wish: Clouds but no rain.England’s wish: Either rain or a sunny day.

Heather Knight has hailed the one-off Test between England and India as a prime advertisement for the game, saying she would welcome five-day contests for women.Having lost a significant amount of play to rain on the third day in Bristol, England were unable to take the nine remaining wickets they needed on the fourth and final day, despite threatening to do so, thanks largely to an impenetrable ninth-wicket stand between India Test debutants Sneh Rana and Taniya Bhatia.Rana and Bahatia, who were among five debutants for India and six in the match, put on an unbroken partnership of 104. Rana, at No. 8, was unbeaten on 80 and Bhatia was 44 not out when the sides agreed to a draw late in the final session with India 344 for 8 in their second innings following on, a lead of 179.”What a brilliant game of cricket,” Knight, the England captain, said. “It was unfortunate it didn’t have the dramatic and exciting finish that it could have done but what a game of cricket.”I think it’s almost a shame that today it fizzled out a little bit. It was set up to be very good and very exciting, but I think it’s been a brilliant advert. We’ve had some great skill on show, some youngsters come in from both sides and play outstandingly.Related

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“It’s been a great advert and shows that women’s Test cricket has a place in the game.”Sophie Ecclestone took four wickets in each of India’s innings and Nat Sciver bowled with superb economy for her 2 for 21 from 16 overs, which included nine maidens. But on a slow pitch offering very little for the seamers and Ecclestone – England’s only frontline spinner – having bowled 64 overs in the match, the hosts were left wanting for two more wickets that would allow them to mount a run-chase.When the draw was agreed, there were still 12 overs scheduled but, even if the wickets had come then, there was no time left to overhaul India’s lead.”We believed throughout the day that we were massively in the game,” Knight said. “We knew we had to try and force those wickets a little bit and probably tried a little bit too hard in the end to try and force it because we there wasn’t a huge amount [of time] left in the game.”It just proved a little bit too hard to take those wickets. Credit to the bowlers. Soph bowling 60-odd overs and the seamers on what was a very dour surface, not much in it for them. They were able to run in and try and force things but unfortunately weren’t able to. India held on.”Asked whether she would be open to women playing five-day Tests, Knight wholeheartedly agreed.”I would definitely be open to it,” she said. “There’s obviously been a lot of draws in women’s cricket, in previous games, so yeah, it’s definitely something I think that should be looked at.Sophie Ecclestone took eight wickets in the match but couldn’t quite force victory•PA Images via Getty Images

“We lost a little bit of time through the weather, etc. throughout this match and we weren’t able to force it. Generally over rates are pretty good in women’s cricket and obviously we didn’t quite get all the overs that we should have done in in this match but I think if there was another day what a great finish it would have been.”[We were] almost robbed of that finish because there wasn’t an extra day and we didn’t have the time in the game. So, yes, something I’d definitely be open to.”Mithali Raj, Knight’s opposite number, said: “It’s a good idea to have a five-day Test but [first] we actually have to start [having] Test matches regularly.”Having a Test match featuring in a series is important and then take it to five days… I understand from where she [Knight] comes. I’m okay with five-day Tests also, but I would prefer having a Test match first in a series and then take it from there.”India had not played a Test since 2014 heading into this one, which kicked off a multi-format series with England that also includes thee ODIs and three T20Is. England’s most recent Test had been in the middle of the 2019 multi-format Ashes series.As far as the prospect of multi-Test series for women, Knight was not against the idea although she recognised the importance of the upcoming white-ball matches with India, particularly ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup.”We’ve got a really important ODI and T20 series with the schedule we’ve got coming up next year,” she said. “I’d always love to play more Test cricket but that’s the schedule we’ve got and we’ll prepare well for that ODI series.”The sides next meet in the first ODI, back in Bristol on June 27.

Western Storm clinched a nine-wicket win over Thunder in their rain-disrupted Charlotte Edwards Cup clash at Chester Boughton Hall.The heavens opened one over into Storm’s chase, with the visitors 2 for 0, after Thunder had posted 110 for 8 from their 20 overs. Once the rain cleared almost two hours later, Storm were set an adjusted target of 33 after five overs – meaning they required 31 from 24 balls.Fi Morris broke the back of it by striking four boundaries off Sophia Turner’s first over to take Storm to 21 without loss. Emma Lamb’s first ball dismissed Morris for 19, stumped by Ellie Threlkeld, but Georgia Hennessey and Danielle Gibson comfortably guided Storm to their reduced target with 11 balls to spare.Lamb had looked set to continue her fine form with the bat as she made a quick-fire 21 to lead Thunder’s recovery after the early loss of Georgie Boyce to a brilliant catch from Gibson. But Lamb fell to Lauren Parfitt from the final ball of the Powerplay to leave Thunder 40 for 2.Piepa Cleary and Threlkeld looked well set but Storm took control thanks to a double-wicket maiden from Morris. Gibson took her third catch to dismiss Cleary for 13, with Threlkeld clean bowled for 12.Thunder then slipped to 61 for 5 when Daisy Mullan was bowled by Gibson and the hosts were struggling to post a competitive total.Laura Marshall and Laura Jackson counter-attacked with a brisk 26-run stand, punctuated by a number of well-timed shots down the ground. But Storm keeper Nat Wraith produced an excellent catch to dismiss Jackson for 12 off Lauren Filer and then stump Danielle Collins for 3 from the bowling of Nicole Harvey.Marshall fell in the final over to give Gibson a second wicket, but her 19 had helped Thunder reach their total of 110, before the rain came and brought about a routine victory target.

Kraigg Brathwaite’s 101 off 146 balls helped hosts Barbados off to a winning start in the 2017 WICB Regional Super50 as they trounced Guyana by 145 runs at Kensington Oval. Brathwaite’s maiden List A hundred in his 31st match anchored the Barbados innings as they eventually finished on 302 for 7.The bulk of the runs came during a 122-run third-wicket stand between Brathwaite and Jonathan Carter, who dominated their partnership while making a brisk 75 off 63 balls. Jason Holder took two wickets with the new ball to make early inroads in Guyana’s chase before the twin spin tandem of Ashley Nurse and Sulieman Benn did the rest of the damage. Offspinner Nurse claimed 4 for 42 while left-arm spinner Benn finished with 4 for 35 as Guyana were bowled out for 157 in just 32 overs.Combined Campuses and Colleges caused a stir at Three Ws Oval earlier in the day as they upset Jamaica by 75 runs. Amir Jangoo top-scored with 64 off 114 balls in CCC’s battling total of 215 for 8, which turned out to be more than enough in the end.Keon Harding wiped out Jamaica’s top three inside the first seven overs before Mark Deyal took three more to wreck the Jamaica middle order. Jamaica were still in with a reasonable chance of chasing down the total at 103 for 5 after 24 overs with Brandon King on 48, but left-arm spinner Larry Edwards struck with the first ball of the 25th to remove King, sparking a collapse of 4 for 20 over the next six overs and Jamaica ultimately subsided for 140 in 35 overs.

The most satisfying aspect of the 2-0 series lead for India will be that they haven’t always had their best XI available. They have played only one of the three Tests with first-choice openers. They lost their No. 1 wicketkeeper after the second Test, and the leading fast bowler has been fighting a niggle through the series. When they went into a week-long break, thanks to an early finish to the Mohali Test, India had a dodgy M Vijay added back to the catalogue.Two days before the Mumbai Test, though, India took to training with fewer doubts than they had in Mohali. KL Rahul, who took a blow on the arm when fielding in Visakhapatnam, was back in the nets, taking the first hit. Vijay looked in a better space as he had a long net session too. While Mohammed Shami didn’t train on Tuesday, India don’t have a major concern over him right now.

Kumble rejects Vengsarkar’s gym comment

A newspaper report quoting Dilip Vengsarkar as saying too much time in the gym is the reason behind the spate of injuries India are having to deal with has not left Anil Kumble impressed. Kumble invited Vengsarkar to have a chat with the support staff rather than make an uninformed assessment, and also pointed out that some of the injuries have come through impact of the hard cricket ball.
“The fitness parameters of the current Indian team is the best that it has ever been,” Kumble said. “I have played in the ’90s where fitness and strength conditioning was a personal choice and not a team choice. In the 2000s, the culture changed and you could see the difference. Now it is part and parcel of modern cricket. I am sure it is a personal opinion but as a coach, and also the current Indian coaching staff and the strength and conditioning coach, plus the physio, we are happy to sit and clarify because Dilip is someone whom we really respect and he also holds a very responsible position as the director of the National Cricket Academy.
“The injuries that we had are hamstring injuries, which are very common in any sport, not only cricket. Unfortunately, Hardik [Pandya] got injured in the nets when he got hit by a ball. Rahul got hit fielding at short leg, Vijay got hit when he was batting and so did Shikhar [Dhawan]. It is something that we have got to live with.”

India’s coach Anil Kumble addressed a press conference before the start of their training session at Wankhede Stadium, but he was confident about Rahul’s fitness. “I am sure Rahul will have a hit today and will be fine, let’s see how it goes,” Kumble said.Kumble did speak about managing Shami’s workload, though. “Workload is something that we monitor, especially Shami, because he came back after 18 months after being away from the game,” Kumble said. “It is not easy for any cricketer so that is something we are constantly monitoring. It is quite a challenge when you only have a three-to-four day gap between Test matches. And this series has gone till the last day so it is important that these guys are given enough breaks”Credit to the way Shami and Umesh [Yadav] have bowled, not just with the new ball but also the way they have been able to come back and bowl in the last hour of the day. Coming back in the third spell or probably sometimes the fourth spell, and rattling the batsmen and picking up wickets is something I am pleased about.”If Shami is indeed rested, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took a five-for in his last Test, is not a bad replacement to be waiting in the wings. “It is not just the two of them [Shami and Umesh] but Bhuvi, Ishant [Sharma], all of them have contributed significantly,” Kumble said. “To have someone like Bhuvi and Ishant sitting out is a credit to the way Umesh and Shami have bowled.”Ishant won’t be available for this Test because he is getting married on December 9. A sign of India’s confidence in Shami’s fitness could be that they have not asked for a replacement for Ishant. In Mohali, India had four quicks in the squad because Shami was not a certain starter.The one compromise India will have to make is to go in without the first-choice wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, but his replacement Parthiv Patel more than made up for Saha’s absence, especially by volunteering to open when Rahul aggravated his injury from Visakhapatnam. Kumble was all praise for his wicketkeeper for the Mumbai Test.”He came in as a 16 or 17-year-old and now – when he still looks 16 without the beard – he has showed a lot of maturity,” Kumble said. “He saved the [Trent Bridge] Test match for India. It certainly shows that if you are really putting in the hard yards in domestic cricket, never losing your faith and believing that you can come back into the Indian team, then it is possible.”I was really pleased that he could walk into the match and not just keep wicket and bat at six or seven but when he was asked to open, he put his hand up and did that really well. That goes to show not just the individual but the character of the player and to say – team comes above self. He was not worried about failing. When you are coming into the team, making a comeback after eight years, you always want to do well for yourself but here was Parthiv who was willing to put his hand up and said ‘I don’t mind opening’. And he did that really well.”If all goes to plan, India are set to make just the one change to the side that won in Mohali: Rahul coming in, Parthiv dropping down in the order, and Karun Nair being asked to wait for a longer run. India should continue with five bowlers because the pitch at Wankhede Stadium didn’t look exceptionally dry although it is expected to turn eventually, as Indian pitches are.

It will come a year later than anticipated, but Zafar Ansari looks set to make his Test debut in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Friday.But for a badly-broken left thumb, Ansari would almost certainly have played his maiden Test in the UAE 12 months ago. But, just hours after he was picked for the tour, he sustained the injury in the field, and was subsequently obliged to undergo two operations. Samit Patel was recalled, instead, and he played the Sharjah Test.While Ansari enjoyed a decent rather than spectacular season for Surrey in the County Championship – he averaged 27.43 with the bat and claimed 22 wickets at 31.40 – the England management admires his calm temperament almost as much as his all-round abilities. While they were reluctant to thrust Jack Leach, the Somerset spinner, who enjoyed a more remarkable season – he claimed 68 wickets in the first-class season at an average of 22.58 – into international cricket, they seem to have no qualms about Ansari.The case of Simon Kerrigan continues to influence selectors in such cases. Kerrigan, drafted in for his debut in the final Ashes Test of the 2013 summer, was mauled by Australia’s batsmen, and appears to have never fully recovered from the experience. Even Leach’s captain at Somerset, Chris Rogers, remarked that “emotionally, he still has a bit of a way to go” before he would consider him suitable for selection. He will instead be given an opportunity to familiarise himself with the England environment as part of the Lions programme.Ansari, though slightly younger, is seen as more worldly and experienced. He gained a first from Cambridge University, and, having graduated through the England age-group system – he played for England at the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels – made his international debut in the rain-ruined ODI in Ireland in May 2015. He bowls at a relatively sharp pace, and, as a left-arm spinner whose turn will take the ball away from the right-handers, could prove more useful than a second spinner when England face an Indian top-order heavily stocked with right-handers.Ansari fits the mould of this team, too, in that he can bat, bowl and field to a decent standard. Generally patient and compact in red-ball cricket, he has opened the batting for Surrey. But, after a modest County season – his highest score was 53 – it seems Ansari will bat at No. 8 for England. That will move Chris Woakes to No. 9, and Adil Rashid, a man with 10 first-class centuries, down to No. 10. It seems Gareth Batty will be the unfortunate one to make way.There might have been a good case for resting Rashid instead. The pitch looks remarkably dry and cracked already, and, while the weather forecast for Dhaka is not wonderful – the city is braced for cyclonic storm Kyant – it seems likely that Bangladesh may take a bit of a risk in preparing a result-surface in the hope that they can square the series. On such turning surfaces, the control of Batty might prove more useful than the turn of Rashid, though Rashid did look as though he would benefit from anther long bowl ahead of the India series.England are also set to recall Steven Finn. He has been bowling with good pace in the nets and will probably replace Stuart Broad, who will have to wait until the India Tests before gaining his 100th Test cap. While there will be a temptation to give Jake Ball a game and rest Chris Woakes, the team management may be wary of making too many changes against an improving Bangladesh side that went within an ace of achieving their first Test victory against England in Chittagong.That means little opportunity for Jos Buttler. While he continues to hit the ball well in the nets – as one of the local net bowlers discovered on Wednesday when he received a black eye after being unable to get out of the way of a straight drive – Jonny Bairstow took another step towards cementing his place with the gloves with an impressive performance standing up to the stumps in Chittagong. And Trevor Bayliss has already indicated that he is keen to stick with the top-six in the batting line-up for the Dhaka Test.

India’s coach Anil Kumble has once again thrown his weight firmly behind Cheteshwar Pujara. Speaking strongly two days after Virat Kohli had verified former selector Sandeep Patil’s revelation that the team management had spoken to Pujara about his strike rate, Kumble said strike rate was relevant for bowlers in Test cricket, not batsmen. He went to the extent of saying he was satisfied with Pujara’s performance in the West Indies even though he was dropped for Rohit Sharma in the third Test.On slow pitches against a pretty defensive West Indies attack and field-sets Pujara scored 16 off 67 in Antigua and was run-out for 46 off 159 balls in Kingston before he was dropped. A top-order collapse resulted in his return to the side for the fourth Test, and India have played both Pujara and Rohit in the two Tests since then.”Even I’m a bit old-fashioned,” Kumble said when a journalist asked him about strike rates in Tests. “I know there is a lot of strike rate in the last eight years after the advent of T20. As far as I was playing, in Test cricket strike rates were mostly talked about for bowlers and not for batsmen. That’s how I like to look at it. In a team you need different characters, different quality players. Players whose skill sets are suited to different challenges that happen in a Test match. Because we’ve seen that that’s what happens in a Test match. That’s the beauty about Test cricket. From my point of view, as far as I am concerned, strike rates are relevant only for bowlers in Test matches.”Kumble complimented Pujara for seeing out a tough period of play in the first session of the series in the West Indies after Shannon Gabriel had removed M Vijay early with a bouncer that also injured his hand. By the time Pujara got out in the 28th over, the sting had been taken out of a limited West Indies attack.”I think you need to bat based on situations,” Kumble said. “Yes, Virat is right that someone like Pujara in the West Indies, probably on one occasion…and he only played two innings. And both those innings were relevant. Even in the first Test match, Vijay got out cheaply and then he and Shikhar [Dhawan] had a good partnership till lunch. That was crucial for the team, because we went into lunch losing only one wicket. And we all know the importance of the first session of a match that is the first Test of a series.”So the relevance of Pujara is extreme there. But I’m really surprised and a bit disappointed that this talk keeps coming up. As long as someone reads the situation and plays according to the situation, that’s what is expected of the team. And he is a very important cog in our team and in our plans. And he’s been successful and I know that he will continue to be successful.”Even in a different context Kumble continued to defend Pujara. With the inclusion of Gautam Gambhir in the Test squad as back-up opener, Kumble was asked if Pujara could breathe easy and not be asked to open in an emergency scenario. “I don’t think Pujara has ever breathed easily, from all you guys’ perspective and some people who are constantly watching him. At least from the team management and the team’s perspective, there is absolutely no pressure on Pujara.”And we’ve seen over the years his contribution. Even in the last Test match, we saw the importance of his contribution to the team’s cause. So I don’t see pressure on anyone in this team. The beauty about this squad is that there’s hardly any pressure on anyone, yes there is roles and responsibilities but there’s no pressure put on any player.”Even after coming back from the West Indies, where Pujara seemed under pressure to keep his place and lost it eventually, Kumble had reassured that Pujara was a vital part of the team. Since then, Pujara has scored a double-century and a century in Duleep Trophy, and two half-centuries on a difficult pitch in the Kanpur Test.

Mitchell Starc was to be rested, and is now injured. Josh Hazlewood is being rested. James Faulkner is injured. Nathan Coulter-Nile is injured. Pat Cummins and James Pattinson are recovering from long-term injuries. John Hastings and Scott Boland are, remarkably, the senior frontline fast bowlers, such is the dearth of experience in Australia’s one-day attack in South Africa.The squad has arrived for their tour of five ODIs against South Africa and one against Ireland, but the locals could be forgiven for wondering if this was an Australia A tour. The presence of Steven Smith, David Warner, George Bailey and Aaron Finch at least provides Australia with an experienced batting order, but when it comes their turn in the field, Smith’s men could hardly be greener.Hastings, with 33 ODI wickets, and Scott Boland, with nine, are the only specialist fast men in this squad who have so much as a one-day cap, although allrounder Mitchell Marsh will also feature in the attack. The rest of the pace group is made up of Victoria’s Chris Tremain and the South Australia pair of Daniel Worrall and Joe Mennie, all of whom will debut over the next few weeks.But Australia’s selectors and team management are already looking ahead to the first Test of their home summer in Perth, also against South Africa, which is just six weeks away, and keeping Hazlewood and Starc fresh was a priority – until Starc gashed his leg at training. Coach Darren Lehmann said the absences provided wonderful opportunities for new men to shine.”We do turnover a bit in our one-day set-up because you’ve got to give the Test players a break somewhere,” Lehmann told reporters in Johannesburg upon the squad’s arrival. “So we get our one-day players to chop and change a little bit. They handle it very well.”The great thing is it gives them a chance at this next level, so we’ve had someone like Travis Head come in and do really well for us, and the bowlers chop and change a bit. Steve knows he’s got a lot of depth of bowlers in this format.”We’ve done that since the World Cup final, you can really chop and change, and making sure we’re giving everyone enough game time looking ahead to major tournaments – we’ve got the Champions Trophy next year and then looking ahead to 2019 [World Cup]. We’re always looking ahead. The players adapt really well when we do that.”There’s obviously good reasons we don’t bring Starc and Hazlewood here. We’re playing you in a Test series and we want to give them a break. It’s a great challenge for our young guys … They’re good young players and they’ll go well.”Remarkably, Hastings is the only specialist bowler in Australia’s attack who had so much as made his ODI debut when this year began. Boland first appeared against India in January and legspinner Adam Zampa debuted in New Zealand in February. At least one of Worrall, Mennie and Tremain – and potentially all three – will debut in the opening ODI against Ireland in Benoni next Tuesday.”We’ve got some good young fast bowlers,” Lehmann said. “We’ll only know that at the end of a series against a quality side. We’re hoping they step up and I’m sure they will. They’ve got some pace, they swing the ball and we’ve got some variations.”We’ve also got some good quality there with Hastings who has played really well for us, Boland did well last series [in Sri Lanka] and then you’ve got the three debutants who will play at some stage during the tournament.”