All posts by h716a5.icu

MS Dhoni’s quips and one-liners

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2020If I tell everyone what it is, then they (CSK) won’t buy me at the auctions. It’s a trade secret.Dhoni tight-lipped on the secret behind CSK qualifying for the playoffs at will.I won’t count it as a bad performance. It was so bad that I can’t count it as a performance.
MS Dhoni usually didn’t mince his words after a poor display.You can convert 1.8 runs or 1.9 runs into twos, but not 1.75 or 1.7.
Some calculations from one of the best runners between wickets for when an outfield has dew.Personally I feel I use a bit too much of my brain in this format.
Has anyone summed up the Twenty20 format better?That’s why you should watch the game. What went wrong you would have realised.
There were times when journalists were at the receiving end of his one-liners.Another 20 days and you can apply for citizenship.
The feeling after India’s long tour of Australia in 2014-15.It’s like having 100kg put over you. After that even if you put a mountain, it will not make a difference.
What’s pressure? A matter of a few extra kilos.Whenever we have played with four fast bowlers, two things happen. One the captain gets banned, two we lose.
He often got straight to the point when discussing tactics.They actually feel it will be better off to put a bowling machine there.
When his bowlers didn’t like the new ODI rules introduced in 2013.God is not coming to save us.
The words of wisdom in the huddle before India’s successful defence of a below-par total in the 2013 Champions Trophy final.At the moment, we are not even using one, where will we bowl two?
The time he felt helpless when two-bouncer-an-over rule was introduced in ODIs, given how India’s fast bowlers were either injured or out of form.Frankly, I am quite bad at analysing technique; you have seen my technique.
But will we see him as an expert on the telly?We will be busy shopping. That’s something we can afford to do. There is nothing really in our hands.
What to do when your team’s fate lies in the hands of a match played by others.From Kishore Kumar, we have gone to Sean Paul.
Dhoni had to adapt to the old and the young during his stint as captain.You die, you die. You don’t see which is the better way to die.
His wit didn’t desert him during back-to-back whitewashes in England and Australia.I don’t mind repeating everything.
After he led India to the 2011 World Cup. A lot of Dhoni fans wouldn’t mind hearing those words now.The only person who can control Sreesanth is Sreesanth. It is beyond my control and I don’t think too much about.
Man-management MS Dhoni style.Till the full stop doesn’t come the sentence is not complete.
The time when he got metaphorical ahead of the 2011 World Cup final.One other guy won’t play.
It’s not easy remembering your XI, especially when it’s the first game of a World Cup campaign.The only thing that went well for us was the warm-up before the game.
The positives from a bad game.Frankly speaking I don’t understand Duckworth-Lewis. I just wait for the umpire’s decision.
He is like the rest of us.What happens inside a meeting, where the selectors, the captain and the coaches are there, when it comes out, it is disgusting and disrespectful.
The time when he got upset when discussions of the selection meeting were leaked to the media.If you are not 100 per cent fit and not at your best [and still play], it’s cheating.
When he made his stance on fitness clear after sitting out a Test series in Sri Lanka, in 2008.When you’ve played international cricket, you realise you never play 100 percent.When his stance on fitness evolved in a 2019 IPL match.I’ll just ask Mahela if he will lend Mendis for a couple of practice sessions.
That was a plan.You [media people] change my girlfriends every two days. Please let one continue for some time.
The days when Indian media loved speculating about all things Dhoni.We are told that Mumbai is a city which is always on the move. See, me and my boys have brought the entire city to a standstill today.
His reaction after crowds thronged to welcome the team at a parade following the World T20 win.Before I start I should say I read an article by you in Cricinfo. You’d said Australia were the favourites. Today I think me and the boys, we proved you wrong.
Speaking to Ravi Shastri after India’s victory over Australia in the semi-finals of the 2007 World Twenty20, MS Dhoni had revealed that he read our site.Now even PETA has said you can’t cosmetically remove the tail.
A woke answer from a woke captain – after many questions about India’s lower-order batting.You may put hybrid fuel in the car but the cylinder, the engine, everything, needs to be like that.
On whether India needs a fielding coach.I love to go back to Ranchi. I have three dogs at home. Even after losing a series or winning a series, they treat me the same way.
On the break from being India’s captain and under constant scrutiny.In countries like Australia or England, people speak English in such an accent that it is very hard to understand. So, at parties when locals come to us and start talking, even if we are not getting anything, we say ‘yeah’. Or if I have a drink in hand, I excuse myself by saying, ‘I’ll just get a drink’ but never show up in front of that person again
Early tours with the Indian team were challenging on many fronts.From 1929 hrs consider me as retired
Finally, Dhoni using his first Instagram post in six months to announce retirement in a way only he could

He is still “speechless”, unable to believe what he and his team-mates have accomplished in Australia

Nagraj Gollapudi21-Jan-20211:41

Moody: Siraj has responded to adversity in the most mature way

Shabana Begum could not stop crying as her second son returned home after nearly six months overseas. Not too long before, the son had laid flowers on the grave of his dad, who had passed away on November 20 last year while he was on duty in Australia.The first few hours of Mohammed Siraj’s homecoming on Thursday were poignant: full of emotions, a deep sense of loss, a sense of happiness, a sense of peace, of being in the embrace of your loved ones after months of living in lockdown on one the most arduous tours in cricket.Immediately upon landing in Hyderabad at 9 am from a triumphant Australia tour, where he made his Test debut and ended as India’s highest wicket-taker, Siraj went to the graveyard in Khairatabad to pay respect to his late father Mohammed Ghouse, a former auto rickshaw driver, who passed away at the young age of 53 due to lung ailment.According to Mohammed Shafi, Siraj’s childhood friend and his first captain in gully cricket at First Lancer Cricket Club, he threw up as he spent some quiet moments at his dad’s grave. It was around 11 in the morning when Siraj reached his home. “As soon as I reached home mom started crying, but I remained strong and kept her positive,” Siraj would tell the Hyderabad media later in the afternoon.Shafi illustrates the emotions vividly. “His mummy had not seen Siraj for six months, so she started crying. Siraj told his mummy: ‘ (I’m not crying so why are you crying)?’ So she calmed down. He gave her the (strength).” (I want to have Hyderabadi breakfast),” Shafi recounts Siraj asking his mom. Begum served him “nihari and paaya”, a traditional Mughlai delicacy of meat-based stews.Mohammed Siraj at his father Mohammed Ghouse’s grave; his father died on November 20, during India’s tour of Australia•Mohammed ShafiSiraj could barely put his feet up to relax thereafter as he patiently responded to multiple back-to-back media requests over the phone. By afternoon Shafi along with Siraj’s family erected a makeshift tent outside the house in Tolichowki, a densely populated suburb in western part of Hyderabad, for the local media.Related

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The first question at the media conference to Siraj concerned the demise of his dad. Siraj had travelled to the UAE last August to play the IPL for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. From there the Indian squads moved to Australia. Confronted with a difficult question of whether to return to India and risk quarantine, Siraj opted to stay back, after discussing the issue with his family and the Indian team management.”Firstly, it was very difficult for me about dad passing away,” Siraj said. “Mentally I was depressed. When I spoke with my family (in November) they also said that fulfil the dream of dad. And I have returned having fulfilled that dream.”Siraj had a lump in his throat talking about visiting the grave. “It was very emotional considering I was not even there at the time of his death.”Ghouse would no doubt have been a proud father, had he been alive to see his son make his Test debut at the historic MCG on Boxing Day. Siraj got the opportunity only because Mohammed Shami had broken his elbow in the defeat in the first Test. Having proved his red-ball skills during his stints with India A over the past few years, the team management was confident Siraj was ready for Test cricket. India drew level in the series with a memorable win in Melbourne, courtesy the century from their captain Ajinkya Rahane, but Siraj, too, played a big hand with five-wicket match haul.After every wicket he took, Mohammed Siraj would look skywards, “dedicating it” to his father•Getty ImagesIn Sydney, Siraj had to steel himself from crowd abuse on more than one day as India fought hard to deny Australia the series lead. Siraj did not lose his head. He showed courage. That forced Australian heads to bow in shame. Opposition players like Nathan Lyon acknowledged that Siraj had set an example in reporting racist abuse. “The abuse from some in the Australian crowd made me mentally strong,” Siraj said. “The fact that I did not allow that abuse to have an effect on my game was important.”By the start of the final Test at the Gabba, Siraj had inadvertently become the leader of a bowling attack comprising mainly debutants: Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan and Washington Sundar. “Everyone trusted me. They were telling me I was bowling well and I was the leading bowler. There was pressure. It was challenging to perform with such a responsibility, but I enjoyed taking it up. I focused on building pressure on the batsman and hit the same area on the pitch. I had to ensure I did not try too hard so that would help both the team and me.”One big-pressure moment for Siraj came on the fourth afternoon when he missed a high catch in the deep off Steven Smith. Australia’s best batsman was on 42 and the lead at that point was 202. Soon after, Siraj also failed to latch on to a return catch from Cameron Green as Australia were eyeing a big total.Once again Siraj did not lose his head. He surprised Smith with lifter that hit the bat handle and flew straight into the safe hands of Rahane at gully. “Smith’s wicket was crucial. It was helpful for the team and it reduced the pressure on me.”Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur take the victory lap with their team-mates•Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesSiraj had already surprised Marnus Labuschagne with an equally sharp rising delivery earlier in the day in an over where he also forced a nick off Mathew Wade. “My favorite wicket is Marnus Labuschagne because it was important for us to get a wicket at that point in the match. And for me to get two wickets in the same over was important.”He might be only three-Tests old, but Siraj’s fairy tale story of being fast-tracked from gully cricket to domestic cricket to India A to international cricket is a new chapter in the crucible of Indian cricket. He is now seen as an example of how heroes can emerge from unthinkable corners.Siraj’s advice to youngsters is simple. “In life if you have to achieve something do it from your heart. (You just need the obsession to achieve anything). In success you need the and hardwork. (Hardwork never goes in vain).”Before heading to the IPL Siraj had prepared himself bowling at a single wicket. In the UAE South African bowling legend Dale Steyn, Siraj’s team-mate at the Royal Challengers, shared some tricks to get command over the outswing which the young quick utilised well on the Australian tour. Siraj now intends to continue to improve during the home series against England,”Yes, I had a good tour,” he said, “But I should continue to perform going forward. I should ensure that I do not get carried away by this performance. It sets my future, but I don’t want to get relaxed.”Siraj finished the Gabba Test with his maiden five-for. He finished as India’s best bowler (13 wickets) on the Australian Test tour despite playing only three Tests. To make one’s debut in Australia, to win a series there and to emerge as the team’s best bowler is what emerging fast men dream about. Siraj ended up living up that dream. He is still “speechless”, unable to believe what he and his team-mates had accomplished. “I always think: did this really happen? It is like a dream.”After every wicket he took, Siraj would look skywards, searching for someone very special. “Every wicket I was taking I was dedicating it to dad,” he said.Ghouse, who Siraj dearly wants to talk to is not there anymore. “Each time I perform I miss him. There are so many times I think of calling him, but then realise he is no more there. I miss him very much. (May he rest in peace in heaven).”

“The thing that impressed me the most was the method that he used,” captain Morgan said of Rana’s knock

Sidharth Monga11-Apr-20212:11

Morgan: Rana’s aggressive method impressed the most

The level of care he would have got is of course beyond the imagination of most of the country right now, but the country could possibly take some heart at this bleak time that the Man of the Match in the third game of the IPL is someone who has just beaten Covid-19.Last month, Nitish Rana became the first player in this IPL to test positive for Covid-19 with a reported vacation in Goa after having successfully participated in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy becoming the talking point. In that light, the preparation could not have been anywhere close to ideal.However, the first ball Nitish Rana got on Sunday night was a juicy wide half-volley, and he took the approach that sets the Kolkata Knight Riders apart from others: attack if you can, there are others behind you if you fail. He smacked Bhuvneshwar Kumar away for four, and set the tone for the rest of the innings.Related

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“I just saw the ball was in my slot, and I went after it,” Rana said on Star Sports when receiving his Man-of-the-Match award. “I have only one thing in my mind when I bat: if the ball is in my half, I have to try to convert it into a boundary.”Rana converted 13 of those into boundaries in his 56-ball 80, impressing his captain Eoin Morgan, who along with coach Brendon McCullum have to be the most positive leadership group in a cricket set-up. When you impress such a champion of aggressive cricket with your approach – never mind the results – you must have done something right.”Delighted for Nitish,” Morgan said at the post-match press conference. “Obviously a match-winning innings. The thing that impressed me the most today was the method that he used. He played really aggressively, and always took a positive option, which really did set up our batting innings. Rahul [Tripathi] played extremely well, which allowed our lower middle order [to play with freedom], one of whom came off today in Dinesh Karthik, so I am delighted for Nitish.”Rana and Tripathi added 93 runs in 50 legal deliveries, all of them in the dreaded middle overs on a dry and slow track. Thanks to that onslaught, the blip in the end – just 42 runs in the last five overs – wasn’t enough to restrict the Knight Riders to a par total. It was only after they were dismissed that the difficult nature of the pitch became apparent.”Just catching up really,” Morgan said when asked what the conversations were like once Rana came out of isolation. “[He was] delighted to be out of quarantine and have a negative report. Then when he joined the squad, getting back to playing in the camp, netting and then batting in the practice match as well, his game [was] in really good touch. We witnessed it today on a wicket that wasn’t as good as he made it look to bat on. We are delighted for him.”What might have been a challenging pitch for the others possibly took out an aspect that challenges Rana. Teams have looked to go quick and short at him with impressive results, but the pitch didn’t have that kind of pace nor did the Sunrisers Hyderabad have that kind of bowlers. The Knight Riders’ next match is on the same square: Rana will be keen to end the pattern in his last six IPL innings: 0, 81, 0, 87, 0 and now 80.

All the numbers from India’s lower-order’s fightback in Colombo

Sampath Bandarupalli21-Jul-202169* Deepak Chahar’s score while batting at No.8 in the second ODI against Sri Lanka. Ravindra Jadeja’s 77 against New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in 2019 is the only higher ODI score by an Indian batting at No.8 or lower.9* Consecutive series wins for India against Sri Lanka in ODIs. Only Pakistan against Zimbabwe (11*) and India against West Indies (10*) have won more ODI series in succession against one opponent.ESPNcricinfo Ltd84 The partnership between Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, which is now the second-highest for the eighth wicket for India in ODIs, behind the 100* between MS Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar against Sri Lanka in 2017.123 Runs contributed by India’s Nos.7 and below in this match. Only once have they scored more runs in an India ODI win – 129 against Zimbabwe in 2002.2 Previous instances of India winning after needing to score 160 or more when five down in an ODI chase. They were 160 runs from their target on Tuesday at the fall of Hardik Pandya’s wicket. India had needed 180 when they were five down against England in the 2002 NatWest Trophy final, and 160 when they had lost half their side against Zimbabwe in 2005.93 ODI wins for India over Sri Lanka, the most for any team against an opponent in this format. Australia have won 92 ODIs against New Zealand, and Pakistan have also won 92 against Sri Lanka.ESPNcricinfo Ltd276 Target chased down by India in this match, their second-highest successful chase in an ODI in Sri Lanka. They chased down 287 against the hosts in 2012, also in Colombo under lights. India’s 276-run chase is also the third-highest by any team in day-night ODI matches in Sri Lanka.

For only the second time in T20s, a team went with four left-arm seamers in their XI, but the strategy worked wonders for Namibia

Deivarayan Muthu28-Oct-20212:43

Borren: Bit of technical frailty at the start from Scotland

The Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi is cut off from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. However, there was an air of excitement around the first match of Wednesday’s double-header, with Bangladesh facing pre-tournament favourites and holders of the 50-over world title England. The food joints were buzzing, as were the merchandise stalls, on a hot afternoon. Bangladesh fans even broke into jigs at the little picket fence enclosures on the grass banks when opener Liton Das cracked back-to-back fours.Once England smashed Bangladesh, though, a huge chunk of the crowd dispersed, missing a rip-roaring opening sequence from Namibia left-arm quick Ruben Trumpelmann later in the evening. The 23-year-old struck three times against Scotland in the first over, thrilling a handful of Namibia supporters who had stayed back to watch their side keep their World Cup dream alive.Related

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It all started when Trumpelmann swerved one in sharply from over the wicket, tucked up George Munsey and had him chopping on for a first-ball duck. Trumpelmann let out a primeval roar, with his team-mates and the Namibia fans rallying around him.Trumpelmann then thumped out a hard length and angled it away from the right-handed Callum McLeod, having him feathering behind for a duck as well. Richie Berrington, who was captaining Scotland in the injury-enforced absence of Kyle Coetzer, was then pinned lbw by a full, fast inswinger. Bang. Bang. Bang. Trumpelmann roared once again and moments later wicketkeeper Zane Green jumped onto his back.This was only the fourth time in 1371 T20Is that a bowler had taken three wickets in the first over of a men’s T20I innings. Sure, Trumpelmann has a big inswinger, but it is his high-arm action and ability to skid the ball off the pitch that makes life more difficult for batters in these UAE conditions.ESPNcricinfo LtdTrumpelmann’s 3-0-11-3 helped Namibia restrict Scotland to 22 for 4 by the end of the powerplay. The damage proved irreparable despite Michael Leask’s 27-ball 44 from No.6. When Trumpelmann came back for the 15th over, he showed his range: bowling from wide of the crease, bowling cutters into the pitch and capping his spell with a wide yorker that squeezed underneath Chris Greaves’ bat.Scotland’s attack struck back to run Namibia close in a slim chance of 110, but it was Trumpelmann’s tone-setting spell that headlined the evening. It couldn’t have been any better and JJ Smit, who sealed victory with an unbeaten 32 off 23 balls, agreed with it at the post-match press conference.”That was something special – to take three wickets in the opening over,” Smit said. “We had them on the back foot from the first over. We can’t ask for more and we enjoyed that (laughs).”Watch cricket live on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the US. Match highlights of Namibia vs Scotland is available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).

Trumpelmann was born in Durban, grew up in Pretoria, and worked his way up age-group cricket at the Northerns. Albie Morkel, the former South Africa allrounder and current Namibia assistant coach, then convinced him to make a career for himself at Namibia. Trumpelmann’s father was born in Windhoek, which makes him eligible to play for Namibia, but that shift amid Covid-19 was tricky.”Yeah, I think it’s his father that is from Namibia. He actually took a while to get his Namibian passport,” Smit said. “Rocking up and down, he came to Namibia to get his passport and Covid happened and he was stuck there for eight months. So, yeah, but he finally got it and he can play for us. So, we enjoy it and we enjoy having him in the team.”Smit also spoke highly of Morkel’s contribution towards Namibia’s progress. “Albie’s contribution has been massive and brings that calmness to the team,” he said. “Our coach [Pierre de Bruyn] is a bit fiery and spicy. Albie is cool and calm like you can remember from the IPL and South African days. He’s experienced and just his calmness… I keep saying calm, but he’s really calm. He makes a lot of jokes and keeps us all involved.”When Smit was applying the finishing touches to the chase, every run drew cheers from the Namibian fans in the crowd. What’s the team’s message to them?”We’re so thankful for them. It cost them a lot of money to be here,” Smit said. “So, we are thankful and they mean the world to us and even the support back home. All the messages everyday… my phone doesn’t stop, so I don’t want to be in Ruben’s shoes tonight (laughs).”Namibia are playing their first-ever major tournament, but they are not here to make up the numbers, Smit insisted. Having won three successive matches against Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland, they believe that they can go deep into the tournament. They will next run into Afghanistan at the same venue on October 31.”I think if we qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup, there’s going to be a massive uproar in the cricket world,” Smit said. ” Like we know we can, it’s possible; we’re here at the Super 12s, and we’re enjoying it. We all believe we’re going to be here. For the next game, it’s just playing their spin well and their seamers. I don’t think we should just focus on their spinners – obviously they have three of the best spinners in the world – but the seamers are also highly ranked and come with a bit of pace.”Smit had also done his bit with the ball, as did fellow left-armers Jan Frylink and Bernard Scholtz. Michael van Lingen also pitched in with one over. It’s very rare that a team has four left-arm seamers in their XI at any level of cricket. So rare that only once before Wednesday has a team had four left-arm seamers bowling in a T20 innings – Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Shinwari, Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz for Northern vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2020. Were Scotland caught napping by the pack of left-armers?”Look, I think they bowled extremely well upfront, ” Berrington said. “A first over like that makes it pretty hard to recover. Showed a lot of faith in the middle overs there, just unfortunate we couldn’t get enough runs on the board to give a chance in the second innings.”Left turned out to be perfectly right for Trumpelmann and co.

The 23-year-old left-arm quick bests Capitals’ captain with a clever change in length

Nagraj Gollapudi01-May-20222:13

What’s Mohsin Khan getting right? Ben Cutting explains

In just four deliveries on Sunday, Mohsin Khan created the turning point which paved the way for Lucknow Super Giants disrupting Delhi Capitals’ surge towards their target of 196. In those four deliveries, which unfolded in the 13th over of the Capitals innings, Mohsin bowled with intellect and showed why he has been one of the stories of this IPL.Capitals needed 83 runs from 48 balls when Mohsin returned to the attack. Rishabh Pant was on strike. At the other end was Rovman Powell. Two of the hardest hitters of the ball. Pant had started mercilessly attacking all bowlers: he had raced to a 9-ball 27 to help Capitals recover from 13 for 2 after three overs to 66 for 2 at the end of the powerplay. Powell, too, had started aggressively, scoring an 11-ball 22.When Mohsin was recalled for the one-over second spell, he also had to factor in the shorter boundary, which was to Pant’s off side and the leg side for Powell. Pant had already used the short boundary to cut ruthlessly while Powell has shown this IPL that no boundary is too long for his power-hitting. Mohsin could not afford any margin for error.The four deliveries we are talking about were all to Pant. The first ball was pitched short of length, on the fourth-stump line, which Pant tried to pull but missed. The next ball was on length, slower, but wider of off stump and called wide. Next ball Mohsin once again banged on the hard length, sticking to a similar wide line. It was a dot ball again. Pant was getting impatient. He had been charging at the bowlers but failed to find the boundary, which was the only thing he wanted to deal in, despite the inherent risk involved. His dot-ball percentage increased. Mohsin grasped that quickly. The next delivery, too, was just short of length, on the off stump which Pant picked a single off. Against Powell, Mohsin attempted a short-pitched delivery, but the ball did not rise above the hips, allowing the Capitals’ batter to pull an easy four. Two balls later, Pant was back on strike.Mohsin Khan celebrates the wicket of Shardul Thakur•BCCIExpecting another length ball Pant skipped out of the crease. His intention might have been to slog over the midwicket. Except Mohsin had a totally different plan to the first part of the over. Mohsin pushed the length fuller. And pushed the accelerator to nearly 145kph on that delivery, the last ball of the over. As Pant charged out, the ball seamed in upon pitching and rushed through to break the stumps. An embarrassed Pant jogged past Mohsin, who was on his follow through, back to the Capitals dugout.Pant had played out just two dots in the powerplay. But in the middle overs, where he played 21 balls, he managed to score just 17 runs ,including 11 dots. Mohsin, thus knew, that he had the advantage to impose the pressure on Pant and dry up the runs. One key factor to do was to cut down on the speed, forcing to batter to go hard instead. And if he was successful in doing that, then he could go for the kill. He did that exactly by improvising his lengths and then surprising Pant. Mohsin later revealed that the plan to pitch the ball fuller to Pant was suggested by Super Giants’ captain KL Rahul. Pant was one of the four wickets Mohsin took, but he said the Capitals’ captain was his favorite wicket only because of the “set-up”.This is the second match in a row where Mohsin has picked up the big opposition wicket. If it was Pant on Sunday, Mohsin had outfoxed Liam Livingstone in the previous match against Punjab Kings.Rahul explained why Mohsin is a dangerous bowler. “[I] played him in the nets for the first time a month ago. Didn’t want to face him,” Rahul said during the post-match briefing with the host broadcaster. “Seriously. He was sharp. He is scary at times in nets. It’s not just the pace. He has good brains, has a bit of skill as well. Has a great slower one and knows when to use it. Eager to learn. Eager to play. He has been a confident guy even under pressure. He has bowled some really big overs for us.”By choice and instinct, Mohsin said he is a pure fast bowler. But he is also becoming a good listener.

A grueling – but successful – winter across formats has not dented Bairstow’s appetite

Matt Roller30-May-2022There is a vibe to England’s new teal training tracksuits, a fitting resemblance since their schedule has left multi-format players resembling competitors in a survival drama. Jonny Bairstow has been cast in many different roles over his decade-long Test career but his latest is that of the Korean TV series’ protagonist, Seong Gi-hun – the only man left standing after a brutal winter of varying challenges.Bairstow was the only England player to tour all three of the UAE, Australia and the Caribbean between October and March and emerge with both reputation and fitness intact, and in keeping with his general restlessness he travelled straight (or as straight as possible for a journey with at least two layovers) from Grenada to Mumbai.He arrived at home last Monday night after two more months in a strict biosecure environment and left for St George’s Park – England’s football training base – the following morning for two days of training and fitness testing. On Sunday night, he travelled to Lord’s ahead of the first Test against New Zealand on Thursday, where he is due to play as a specialist batter.Related

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It is a schedule that is exhausting to think about let alone undertake, and one which underlines why Rob Key was so determined to split the coaching roles along format lines when he was appointed as England’s managing director of men’s cricket. The itinerary does not get any easier over the next 12 months, either.A separate squad will travel to Amsterdam to play three ODIs against the Netherlands between the second and third New Zealand Tests, while there are a dozen more limited-overs internationals in three-and-a-half weeks between the one-off India Test and the end of July. Over the 2021-22 winter, there are tours to Pakistan (twice), New Zealand, Bangladesh and South Africa, as well as a T20 World Cup (and a series either side for good measure) in Australia.It is a daunting prospect, and one which will stretch players’ mental and physical wellbeing to the limits. Perhaps Bairstow might have been wise to skip the IPL in the circumstances but turning down an INR 6.75 crore (£690,000 approx.) contract from Punjab Kings would not have been easy; after a slow start to the tournament at No. 4, his form after moving up to open should ensure he is offered a retention for 2022.”I feel good, to be honest,” Bairstow said on Monday, speaking in the drizzle on the Lord’s outfield after training. “I’m happy with where my body’s at physically, and hopefully that is now the end of bubbles which is an excitement as well because that gives you an added amount of freshness – to be able to do some more normal things and to be able to leave your hotel.”He described the possibility of missing the first Test for some time off as “not something I’ve thought about,” adding: “You know my desire to play for England, my desire to play Test cricket. That hadn’t even come into my mind. I’ve never been one for resting when there’s opportunities to play for England: it’s extremely special.With injury concerns hanging over all of England’s cross-format seamers, Joe Root a peripheral figure in the T20I set-up and Ben Stokes openly prioritising Test cricket – “Ben won’t play white-ball this summer,” Eoin Morgan confirmed in a newspaper interview last week – Bairstow is the only member of the Test squad who can realistically be considered a first-choice pick in all three sides as things stand.”There hasn’t been a specific sit-down discussion as yet [about workloads] but obviously I want to be playing Test cricket,” Bairstow said. “That is something that I really want to be doing. I’m sure that conversation will be happening over the next period of time, because if you are playing in all three formats, there are things you are potentially going to have to miss out on.”