The only way is up after last season with a host of new overseas names key to their hopes

Alex Malcolm07-Dec-2020Captain Aaron FinchCoach Michael KlingerSquad Noor Ahmad (Afg), Cameron Boyce, Brody Couch, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Peter Hatzoglou, Jon Holland, Benny Howell (Eng), Josh Lalor, Shaun Marsh, Mohammad Nabi (Afg), James Pattinson, Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Rilee Rossouw (SA), Will Sutherland, Imran Tahir (SA), Imad Wasim (Pak), Beau WebsterIn Noor Ahmad, Josh Lalor (Heat), James Pattinson (Heat), Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge (Heat), Rilee Rossouw, Imran Tahir, Imad Wasim
Out Dan Christian (Sixers), Tom Cooper (Strikers), Jack Wildermuth (Heat)Overseas player availability Noor Ahmad (available from Dec 18), Mohammad Nabi (available from Dec to Jan 9), Rilee Rossouw (all season), Imran Tahir (available from Jan 9), Imad Wasim (available from Dec 26)Last season: 8thThe Renegades had a horror defence of their title in BBL09. They lost their first eight games under new coach Michael Klinger and never recovered, managing just three wins for the tournament. Their attack, which was the key to their title in 2018-19, really struggled to contain opponents and they simply couldn’t score enough runs to overcome that. They have gone on a very specific recruiting drive to bolster the attack for this season.Bubble impactJames Pattinson will be the only local player affected by the Australia Test squad bubble but they should have full availability for the rest of the local players although Marcus Harris will miss the opening two games due to Australia A duty. Their five overseas players will be in and out at various times. Rilee Rossouw is available all season but his compatriot Imran Tahir won’t be available until January 9. Noor Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi will miss the first two games because of delayed starts to quarantine, but will be fine until January 9 when Nabi is heading to the UAE for international duty. Ahmad will remain with the Renegades. Imad Wasim is due to head over after Pakistan’s series in New Zealand.Player to watchWill Sutherland has already had an impact as a bowling allrounder in Sheffield Shield and one-day cricket for Victoria but that has not yet translated to the BBL for the Renegades. He is only 21, so expectations do need to be tempered in what can be the toughest form to master for young players. However, with the way the Renegades have set up their squad, and the performance of their bowlers last season, Sutherland becomes an extremely important piece for the balance of their XI. If he can have an impact with bat and ball, it will give the Renegades a lot more flexibility with their line-up, even with the new sub-rule coming into effect.Key stat (Gaurav Sundararaman)The Renegades won the 2018-19 BBL by virtue of being the best bowling team. However, in 2019 they were the worst bowling team conceding runs at 8.55 per over and and average of 32.59. They also took only 69 wickets compared to the finalists Stars who took 114 wickets. The addition of Noor Ahmed and Imran Tahir could help in solving the problem.

Pandya was Player of the T20I Series against Australia but has not played a Test match since 2018

Varun Shetty08-Dec-20203:31

Kohli: Playing six games ‘in no time’ is something we all must ‘address’

Hardik Pandya will have to resume bowling before India consider him as a Test option again. This much was made clear when Virat Kohli was asked if the management would be tempted to retain the allrounder for the Test series, after a string of important performances in the limited-overs leg of the tour, where he played as a specialist batsman and ended up Man of the Series in the T20s.Apart from bowling an impromptu spell during the second ODI against Australia, Pandya has gone all season – including the IPL – playing only as a batsman, as he continues to build up to full fitness following a back surgery last year. The messaging around his non-bowling, from voices like Mumbai Indians’ Mahela Jayawardene and Zaheer Khan, had been one of caution – of not rushing him back into a bowling workload, and that seems to be the picture in the national team as well.ALSO WATCH: Match highlights: Wade and Maxwell set up win for Australia (Indian subcontinent only) “He’s been outstanding,” Kohli said in a press conference after the T20I series concluded. “He couldn’t bowl and we knew he’s not going to bowl. But what we saw of him in the IPL, and the headspace that he’s in, you know – you can just see in his game – that he’s wanting to make the team win. But Test cricket is a very different challenge altogether and we need him to bowl. We’ve spoken to him about it.”We need him to bowl. That’s when he becomes that one guy who brings a lot of balance for us. If you’ve seen our cricket overseas as well, in South Africa and England, we were able to compete for longer periods through Test matches because of the fact that he brought a lot of balance in terms of his bowling. We’ve communicated that to him.”After the second T20I, Pandya had been asked on air if he would like to stay back for the Tests, and showed brief interest in the idea. “It’s a different ball game I think I need to be…I mean, I don’t mind. But at the end of the day it is the call for the management and everyone (to make),” he had said. By the end of the third T20I on Tuesday, though, he said he was keen on spending time with his family and not thinking of a Test comeback at the moment.Hardik Pandya produced a stunning innings to win India the series•Getty Images

Pandya has played 11 Tests for India since debuting in 2017, the last one in England in 2018. Recurring lower back niggles have since kept him away. He averages 31.29 with the bat, with five fifty-plus scores, and 31.05 with the ball with one five-for. The management’s requirement for him to be firing as a complete allrounder to be considered for Tests is something he is clear about.ALSO WATCH: Video highlights: Virat Kohli’s 85 (Indian subcontinent only)“He’s definitely in a zone where he wants to get stronger, figure out and iron out all these niggles, and he wants to be able to provide for India with all three disciplines – and that’s always been his X-factor and it will continue to be,” Kohli said. “In white-ball cricket, we’ve found someone who can finish games and consistently. But he himself wants to get back into the bowling space and be available as a pure allrounder in Tests, which becomes way more important. Over five days, you need a little extra from a player in that role. So he understands that and is working really hard to come back.”Shami, Bumrah were being kept fresh for first TestIndia were slated to play two multi-day tour games, one of which concluded on Tuesday without the involvement of senior fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, who were with the T20I team. Bumrah, however, didn’t participate in any of the three T20s and Shami only played in the first one at Canberra. Kohli said this was an attempt to beware the packed schedule and what it could do to fitness levels.”It’s very important to understand that you need guys fresh for the first Test,” Kohli said. “You need to take some calls along with playing so many games. The fact that we’ve played six games in absolutely no time is something that we all need to address and be wary of.”You don’t want guys starting the Test match feeling sore or feeling like their legs have had too many miles in them. So we keep constantly communicating with the bowlers, asking them how their bodies are feeling, and they’ve been pretty professional and pretty good in communicating back what they need. We need to show absolute trust and faith in their processes and make sure they’re in the right headspace heading into the first Test.”ALSO WATCH: Video highlights: Zampa gets rid of Pandya (Indian subcontinent only) In all, India have played six limited-overs matches since the tour began on November 27, and the constraints in the schedule meant one of their practice games overlapped with the last two T20 matches. The time available before the Test series begins is a useful pause, Kohli said, but the overall schedule meant workload management was inevitable for those involved in all formats.”I think before we go into the first Test, the feeling that we’ll want to have is that our games are at an acceptable level,” Kohli said. “But more important than that is that you’re physically fresh. We can’t afford the slightest of niggles or muscle strains. That is the biggest priority for us – to keep our main players physically fit. To start the Test series well, we will need our fittest eleven players on the field.”India’s final tour game starts on Friday, before the first Test in Adelaide from December 17. It will be the only Test Kohli plays before departing on paternity leave. Kohli said he was personally in a good headspace heading into the longer format, after what he called a scratchy start to the tour.”Tonight I felt particularly good. I think I’m in the right headspace now. I think it was a bit scratchy in the first ODI to begin with, but then I addressed a few things and worked on a few aspects of my game that I wanted to. Purely to get into the best headspace that I possibly can, not thinking too much technique. Because when I get into a good headspace is when I feel like I can play and switch between all formats, and adjust according to the conditions as well,” he said.

Omission from first two India Tests leaves recalled batsman in limbo after Sri Lanka success

Andrew Miller21-Jan-2021Ed Smith, England’s national selector, has defended the timing of Jonny Bairstow’s rotation out of England’s Test squad for the first leg of the forthcoming tour of India, despite it coming only days after he marked his first Test appearance in over a year with a match-winning role in last week’s first Test against Sri Lanka.Recalled to the team at No. 3 in the absence of a number of first-choice picks, including Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope, Bairstow responded with 47 in the first innings and a crucial 35 not out in the second, as he overcame a scoreline of 14 for 3 on the penultimate evening of the match to ease his side to a seven-wicket victory on the fifth morning.However, with the T20 World Cup in India looming towards the end of the year, Bairstow’s importance to England’s white-ball squad has been cited as the reason to give him a break from Test action so soon after his recall.England are set to play five T20Is and three ODIs against India in March, where they will hope to hone their strategies on surfaces similar to those they will face at the World Cup in October and November, and Smith said Bairstow’s omission was consistent with the ECB’s policy of giving their multi-format specialists a break from the team’s bio-secure environment at different stages of their winter campaign.”I spoke at length to Jonny yesterday, as well as at Loughborough before the Sri Lankan tour,” Smith said. “[I said you have] a fantastic opportunity coming up in Sri Lanka, where we expect you to get game time. But at some point, as is the case with the other multi-format players, you’re going to need your rest too, and he completely understands that and endorses it.”Nevertheless, Bairstow’s impending absence in India means that – no matter how he fares in Friday’s second Test in Galle – he will have featured in just three of England’s last 15 Tests, dating back to the end of the Ashes in August 2019, by the time he returns to the squad ahead of the third Test in Ahmedabad at the end of February.What’s more, Jos Buttler’s impending absence for the final three Tests of the India tour means that Bairstow could yet be competing with Ben Foakes for the wicketkeeper’s role when he returns to the squad, having been picked as a specialist No. 3 in Sri Lanka.”It was great to see Jonny looking very focused and clear in Test cricket,” Smith said. “He was given lots of visibility ahead of time that he would be likely to bat three, playing as a batsman. But over the long term, as I’ve said many times, I think Jonny is a highly talented player, and we know he brings a lot to the party and can play a number of different roles. That remains the case.”Bairstow will be departing the squad alongside Sam Curran and Mark Wood – two other players who can expect to feature heavily in England’s World Cup build-up – with Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer returning in their stead, alongside Rory Burns, who has missed the Sri Lanka tour following the birth of his first child.Related

• Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood and Sam Curran rested for first two India Tests

• Root backs Crawley, Sibley to grow from tough initiation

• Anderson recalled in place of Broad for second Test

• Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan among names in latest Hundred player retentions list

“Whenever you take rest there’s always a downside,” Smith said. “These guys, Jonny included, love playing for England, but they also understand that they need their rest, so there’s always two sides to it. But it felt right for Jonny to take his break now, because obviously he’s a key part of the white-ball set-up, so that he can continue on with that when he comes back into the Test squad, as we build towards a very important cycle in the T20s, with the World Cup in the autumn.”Bairstow currently averages 69.00 in his two Tests in Sri Lanka, following a matchwinning hundred in his previous appearance in the country on the 2018-19 tour. However, when asked if there would be room for “pragmatism” in the event of him continuing that impressive vein of form this week, Smith insisted that the pragmatic approach was the one that England have already adopted.”We are being pragmatic,” he said. “If you keep people in a bubble unchanged for three months – January, February, March – and expect them to play every game in every format, they will not be able to perform at their best and England will be damaged as a result.”So, it is absolutely a pragmatic point that we wish to give people breaks. We’ve discussed it with the players and we’ve had their understanding – they see that it’s for the players’ benefit as well as England’s benefit.”The concept of a tour needs to be modernised,” he added. “We’re not travelling by boat anymore, you don’t go away for five months at a time. We need to be more nimble. We want to have a selection policy which is adapting to the world we live in today, which is [bio-secure] bubbles [and] which is an incredibly congested fixture list.”We need to have the flexibility to do what’s best for them, and best for England, and that’s what we always do. Of course, if we believe we need to revisit a decision, we’ll revisit it absolutely, but the principle is anchored in flexibility and pragmatism. It’s about doing the right thing for the player and right thing for the team.”

“That’s one thing I need to take into this tour, just to enjoy playing cricket.”

Daniel Brettig09-Feb-2021Jhye Richardson’s friends noticed there was something not quite right about him during the latter phases of the same Big Bash League in which he was feted as its leading wicket-taker.Related

• Jhye Richardson admits Australia missed their lengths at death

• Australia seek middle-order answers during T20 mission in New Zealand

• Aaron Finch: New Zealand T20Is a fact-finding mission

• BBL beats season of uncertainty: 'There are moments when you hold your breath'

• Ashton Agar itching to put injury frustrations behind him on New Zealand tour

Though an overall return of 29 wickets at 16.31 made Richardson, 24, the BBL’s standout pace bowler, his figures at the pointy end were less flattering. Five wickets at 48.75 while conceding 10.26 per over across his final five games of the BBL for the Perth Scorchers meant that Richardson found himself getting visibly frustrated that the fruitful earlier days of the competition did not stretch into the finals, where he rounded things off by conceding 45 runs at the SCG as James Vince, Jordan Silk and Carlos Brathwaite all found their range.The raw figures were not themselves unexpected in a format as fickle as T20, but Richardson’s harried reactions to them were. Speaking from New Zealand, Richardson said that those close to him had pointed out how emotional he was getting, and he has resolved to be kinder to himself during his next assignment. This lesson will be one that Richardson doubtless returns to in coming years, as he looms among the most likely candidates to bring younger legs and a challenging, skiddy trajectory to the Test team.”I definitely did – I think one of the main ones being that T20 is such a fickle game that you can’t be so hard on yourself,” Richardson said when asked whether he took anything from those final five games. “I probably felt a little bit of pressure having such a good tournament to then not performing so well, I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit and put myself under pressure to perform. I wouldn’t say I was trying too hard, I was still trying to go about it the same way I normally would. I probably just got a little bit more emotional.”That was visible as well from people watching, I certainly got a few messages after games saying ‘haven’t really seen you that emotional in a while’, and that’s a really good thing to get pulled up on as well, something I worked really hard on earlier in my career, just to stay a little bit more level-headed and I think I felt that personal pressure a little bit. But learning from that and having a few conversations especially with our bowling coach Matt Mason, he just said ‘mate you need to go about it the way you normally do, you need to enjoy your cricket, because when you’re enjoying it you play really well’.”That’s one thing I need to take into this tour, just to enjoy playing cricket and not be too hard on myself, because T20 is such a hard game. It’s more of an internal emotion, just getting frustrated with myself, getting annoyed with myself about things not going the way I’ve planned before the game. It’s getting annoyed at execution, it’s getting frustrated at the way the ball’s coming out. If I concentrate on having fun, then all that washes away because I’m enjoying myself regardless of the result and things become a bit easier.”While Richardson’s reconstructed shoulder is still a source of wariness, as he is yet to be able to throw from the outfield and must “check himself” in terms of diving around in the field, the shoulder is more than up to the rigours of bowling. How much Richardson will bowl in long-form cricket is open to question, given that after this tour he has made himself available for the IPL, which will now clash with parts of the conclusion of the Australian domestic season.Richardson – “It’s more of an internal emotion, just getting frustrated with myself, getting annoyed with myself about things not going the way I’ve planned”•Getty Images

“Bowling is pretty good, earlier in the tournament when we were down in Hobart and a few of the earlier games I was pulling up quite sore, but I think a lot of that had to do with external conditions,” he said. “The weather being so cold and one game was the Melbourne Stars game that got rained off, incredibly cold and having to warmup and cool down and warmup and cool down again was a little bit taxing on my shoulder from a pain perspective.”But as the tournament went on that improved significantly, being able to go back-to-back became easier, and now at the latter end of the tournament was completely fine. The only ball I’ve really lost is the back of the hand slower ball, which I haven’t actually felt like I’ve needed as much as I would in the past.”I have put my hand up for the IPL, but I have confidence in myself to be able to play red-ball cricket. I think a really good test of that was our back-to-back games, albeit only four overs a game, but I think from a back-to-back perspective trying to get up and go again and test how my shoulder was, it was completely fine. Test cricket is always the dream, that would always be the ideal, and I’d love to get back and play Shield cricket for WA as well, that would be really exciting.”As for the difficult journey of the past two years, where Richardson recovered from a serious shoulder dislocation that cost him the chance to take part in the 2019 World Cup and Ashes double only to require major surgery and a second period of rehab in 2020, he said the reward of an international tour to New Zealand made the rougher days worthwhile.”It’s been a little bit tough, but the reassurance there is that I’ve been there once, there’s no reason for me to no try and get back there again,” Richardson said. “That’s the way I think about it anyway, the opportunity is still going to be there, I’m still only 24 years old so there’s plenty of time, it’s just about concentrating on what’s happening at that particular moment, whether I’m playing for WA or the Scorchers and then whatever happens after that, if I get picked for Australia that’s a bonus.”For me it comes back to enjoying playing cricket, because if I’m not enjoying it then I’m obviously doing something wrong. It’s been difficult dealing with such a big injury as well, but the positive now is I’m back on an Australian tour, which I’m really excited for and that positive out of all of it makes the whole road to recovery worth it. All of it’s been difficult. The initial injury that happened in the UAE probably didn’t hit me as soon as I thought it would.”I was optimistic with the World Cup not too long after that and the discussion being trying to get up for that, things stayed relatively positive. Something that’s helped is there was always something around the corner to aim for, and then every time you get shut down from that or not make that [goal], it sort of chips away at you that little bit more. It’s been tough at times, but to be able to come back and play this BBL and have such a good tournament, to then get picked in the Australian team, it makes everything worth it. So super happy to be back.”

New names aplenty in both teams who haven’t played Test cricket in over a year

Firdose Moonda01-Mar-2021

Big picture

The A-Z of Test cricket will be on full display this week when, in Ahmedabad, India and England enter into the final tussle to decide the World Test Championship finalists and in Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan host Zimbabwe for a series that has no bearing on the points table at all.In fact, it is only Afghanistan’s fifth Test, and their first since November 2019, while Zimbabwe have not worn whites in just over a year, since February 2020. In that time, India have played nine Tests and England 11; these two teams also have another five-Test series to look forward to in this year’s northern hemisphere summer. The issue of unequal distribution of fixtures, which South Africa have raised among their concerns with the ICC following the indefinite postponement of their series against Australia (who also pushed back series against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe) that was also due to kick off this week, means Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have to content themselves with what they can get. For now, it is each other.Related

• Sean Williams: Playing in Covid-19 times 'not for the faint-hearted'

• Rashid Khan: Afghanistan need 'more than three to four Tests a year' to become a stronger team

• Rashid Khan in squad for Zimbabwe Tests, to miss large part of PSL season

• No Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine in Zimbabwe squad for Afghanistan Tests

It’s something of a restart for both sides with Afghanistan’s squad containing eight uncapped players and two teenagers in opening batsman Ibrahim Zadran and fast bowler Mohammed Saleem. They have given the captaincy back to Asghar Afghan, who was in charge for their first two Tests but then handed over to Rashid Khan, who has since been unburdened. The change has come at an opportune time because Khan will miss the first Test after picking up a finger injury in the PSL.Zimbabwe have also included some new names, largely necessitated by injuries and illness to some of the key players. Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine and Kyle Jarvis are all out of the tour for health-related reasons while Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha and PJ Moor have upper-arm, thigh and hamstrings niggles respectively. Former under-19 star Wesley Madhevere headlines the newcomers which includes left-arm pace bowler Richard Ngarava, while there are also returns for two-metre tall quick Blessing Muzarabani, batsman Tarisai Musakanda and batting allrounder Ryan Burl.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan LWWL
Zimbabwe LDLLW

In the spotlight

Afghanistan are still in the foundational phase of creating Test milestones and their No.3 Rahmat Shah has, so far, led the way. Shah is their first (and to date only) Test centurion and is two away from completing 300 runs in this format. He has established himself as reliable and responsible No.3 and will be key to their ability to post challenging totals in this series. Though there hasn’t been much cricket for Afghanistan to gauge form, Shah notched up his fifth ODI century in a series against Ireland in January.The Emirates may not be the ideal place for Blessing Muzarabani to make his Test comeback but conditions aside, this is the most eagerly anticipated return for the visiting team. Muzarabani has only played one Test, and it was a pink-ball game in South Africa which lasted barely a day-and-a-half, so this series might as well be regarded as his first proper introduction to international cricket’s longest format and he will be keen to show what he can do. Since opting out of his Kolpak deal, Muzarabani has been a stand-out performer in white-ball cricket and his captain Sean Williams hopes that his height, the bounce he can extract and the pace at which he bowls will prove a strong secret weapon for Zimbabwe.

Team news

Khan’s absence presents Afghanistan with their biggest selection dilemma and they will have to lean on the limited bowling experience of Shah for legspin. Amir Hamza will provide left-arm spin while the No.8 spot could be occupied by a debutant. Hasmatullah Shahidi, who missed out on Afghanistan’s last Test against West Indies, will slot back into the top four.Afghanistan (possible): 1 Ibrahim Zadran, 2 Javed Ahmadi, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi, 5 Asghar Afghan (capt), 6 Nasir Jamal, 7 Afsar Zazai (wk)/Munir Ahmad, 8 Fazalhaq Farooqi/Mohammed Saleem, 9 Amir Hamza 10 Yamin Ahmadzai 11 Sayed ShirzadThe absence of Ervine, Taylor and Moor has opened the door for Madhevere to earn his first Test cap and Burl to return in the top five. Muzarabani will lead the pace attack, which includes Victor Nyauchi and Donald Tiripano while Brandon Mavuta’s legspin and Sikandar Raza’s offspin will ensure Zimbabwe have a varied attack.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Prince Masvaure, 2 Kevin Kasuza, 3 Wesley Madhevere 4 Ryan Burl, 5 Sean Williams (capt), 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Regis Chakabva (wk) 8 Donald Tiripano 9 Brandon Mavuta 10 Blessing Muzarabani 11 Victor NyauchiAfghanistan haven’t had any Test practice since November 2019, when they played against West Indies, in Lucknow•AFP

Pitch and conditions

Less than 24 hours before the Test, Williams had yet to see the playing surface but on previous evidence, surfaces in the UAE tend to be placid for the first few days before taking turn as the match wears on. Though Williams was keen to unleash his quicks on Afghanistan, it will probably be hard work for the pace bowlers, who will need to be at their quickest to get anything out of the track. Winter may be the most pleasant time to play in this part of the world, but temperatures are still set to get up into the 30s, with clear skies and no wind expected throughout. The series will be played behind closed doors.

Stats and trivia

• This is the first Test between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe but they have a storied white-ball history against each other in which Afghanistan hold the upper hand. They have played in 25 ODIs, of which Afghanistan have won 15, and nine T20Is, of which Afghanistan have won eight.
• Zimbabwe’s 15-man squad has more than double the number of first-class caps as Afghanistan’s 19-man group. Between them, Zimbabwe’s players have featured in 747 first-class matches while Afghanistan have played in 356.
  

  Quotes

  “Our country is watching, all the way down to grassroots level. It might be the first time in more than 10 years since we’ve had our games live on ZBC. It’s a huge thing for us, and it gives us purpose.” on the importance of an away series being shown on free-to-air television for the first time in at least a decade in Zimbabwe

The debate is whether de Kock was trying to deceive the batsman or signalling to his team-mates

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Apr-20212:23

Fakhar Zaman on his run-out: ‘Fault was mine as I was busy looking out for Haris Rauf’

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has weighed in on Fakhar Zaman’s contentious run-out on Sunday night in the second ODI against South Africa, saying it was “up to the umpires to decide” if Quinton de Kock had attempted to distract or deceive the batsman.The run-out, with Zaman on 193, took place in the final over of Pakistan’s chase of 342, when they needed 31 from six balls. The batsmen – Zaman and Haris Rauf – were trying to complete a second run, which seemed on, and wicketkeeper de Kock gestured towards the bowler’s end even as Zaman neared the batting end. Zaman appeared to slow down, and a direct hit from Aiden Markram at long-off caught him short.Later on, the MCC Twitter handle posted the law related to the dismissal – about a fielder wilfully attempting to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsman – but without really saying if de Kock was guilty or not.