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It was Brian Vitori’s first Test in 19 months, and his selection had caused a few raised eyebrows, but a five-for underlined his value

Firdose Moonda12-Sep-2013Zimbabwe’s victory in their comeback Test against Bangladesh unveiled two men who on whose shoulders the future of the country’s attack was thought to rest. Kyle Jarvis and Brian Vitori shared ten wickets between them and brought to the national team an intent they lacked in the past. Only one of them is still delivering on that promise.Jarvis’ premature retirement from the international game in the aftermath of the long-running payments issue, left Zimbabwean fans reeling. Jarvis played in all eight Tests Zimbabwe competed in over the last two years and his gradual improvement led to him being regarded as the spearhead of the attack.Many wondered how they would cope without him.Instead of his absence being a cause for despair, it proved the catalyst for others to step out of the shadows. In the first Test, Tinashe Panyangara repaid the persistence the selectors showed in him, Tendai Chatara built on the expectation he had set for himself in the West Indies and Shingi Masakadza was the workhorse, tirelessly maintaining the line outside off stump and giving little away.When Masakadza was replaced with Vitori for this match, there were some raised eyebrows. Masakadza had done little wrong with ball in hand and is a useful lower-order batsmen while Vitori had not played a Test in 19 months. But the gamble paid off handsomely as Vitori put in a performance even better than his memorable debut two years ago.Then, he was thought of as the ying to the Jarvis’ yang – Vitori had swing and Jarvis pace. They both attacked in a way Zimbabwean seamers had not done for a while. Jarvis seemed to be earmarked as a Test specialist while Vitori looked as though he could do it all. After his debut Test, he took two five-wicket hauls in his first two ODIs and Zimbabwe seemed to have found someone special.Talent, being such a valuable commodity, is often stretched to its limits and Vitori’s was used as much as it could be. He featured in as many matches as was possible without much attention paid to workload management and he soon broke down. Vitori could not play in Zimbabwe’s home series against New Zealand in November 2011 because of shin splints.He recovered in time to travel with them to New Zealand the following year. He played only one ODI and managed a single wicket in the Test, which was his last international appearance.The range of injuries Vitori picked up was typical of a young fast bowler. The shin niggle proved to be a stress fracture and he also battled a calf injury and a side strain. He returned to his home town of Masvingo for rehabilitation and those close to the quick believe he had to carry many of the medical expenses himself.Desperate to come back and prove himself, Vitori tried to rush his return as much as he could. The results were a lesson in why forcing a physique before it is ready is a bad idea. Last season, he played only four first-class matches and his List A performance read four wickets at 40.50. He was also dropped from the Southern Rocks team.What Vitori needed was a mentor but the resources were not always in place for him to a find a permanent one. Heath Streak, the bowling coach who nurtured him in the early days, was not re-contracted this year so Vitori had to find a way to make it largely on his own.Eventually, convinced he was fit again, ZC included him in their training squad to play Bangladesh this April. Many had not seen him since he first came up and were surprised by how much he had changed. He had obviously bulked up and seemed stronger than before. He also appeared to have picked up a bit of pace and was aggressive in net sessions.Importantly, he was managed with a little more caution. Vitori was eased back into the Bangladesh series in the third ODI, even though initial talk was that he may play a Test. He bowled nine overs for 43, took two wickets but was wayward, with five wides and a no-ball. In the Twenty20s which followed, he was the most economical bowler in the first match and led the attack well in the second.And after that, he just kept working. Commentator Mluleki Nkala said Vitori was one of those first in, last out types, who “trained very hard.” His team-mate Panyangara called him a “very fit guy.” He showed glimpses of what he was capable of against India and, satisfied that he was ready for longer spells, made a comeback in the second Test against Pakistan.When Vitori opened the bowling, he did so a little uncertainly, as could be expected of someone who had been out of the game for the length of time he had been. He was unsure which length to use, sometimes veering on too short. He learned quickly, as he had right at the beginning, and once he found a fuller length, the movement he was able to get could be used to his advantage.One thing Vitori has always been able to do is swing the ball. He got two of Pakistan’s biggest names, Mohammad Hafeez and Misbah-ul-Haq, with appreciable away movement. Adnan Akmal went in a similar fashion after Vitori had created a greater angle by coming from around the wicket.But the best part of his performance today was the way he finished things off. Armed with the new-ball in hand and a tail-ender at the other end, he smelled blood and went for it. Saeed Ajmal was dismissed driving the fuller ball and he should have Rahat Ali the same way but the catch was dropped. Then, he trapped Junaid Khan on the crease, gave him no room to work with and forced him to play on to one that was just short of a good length, as it should be to tail-enders. The resulting five-for was richly deserved.It was also an indication Vitori has grown up: from the youngster with potential who was too scared to say much ahead of the comeback Test in 2011 to the confident character he is now. All it needed was a little bit of time, the experience that comes with some disappointment and maybe even the nervousness with being pushed by equally capable compatriots.”When there is competition in the squad and things are not going your way, you may get a bit of rest and that’s happened to Brian,” Panyangara said. “But he has come back with such good energy, its great to see. Hopefully he can keep that up because we will need him in the second innings.” On a pitch that has not misbehaved as much as was predicted, Zimbabwe will need Vitori at his best if they are to pull off a memorable coup.

Plays of the day from the seventh ODI between India and Australia in Bangalore

George Binoy02-Nov-2013The unsavoury moment
Shane Watson had gone off the field after bowling five overs because of a hamstring injury, and came out to bat at No. 8 instead of No. 3, when Australia were 138 for 6. Running between the wickets was a problem for him. Watson punched his first ball into the covers, where Dhawan fielded it, and then displayed an astonishing and disappointing lack of respect for an injured sportsman by hobbling exaggeratedly and mocking Watson. It was an ugly moment devoid of grace and an example of the sort of behaviour that needs to be stamped out of the game.The coincidence
The only time Virat Kohli had been run out for a duck in ODIs – in Bulawayo in 2010 – Rohit Sharma* went on to make 114 in that game. Today, when Kohli drove a ball straight and set off for a run, Rohit first turned around to make his ground in case the bowler fielded it, then he set off for a single after the ball went towards mid-on, and then he decided it was too risky and turned back again. Kohli had kept running and by the time he stopped to sprint back to his crease, the throw had gone to the wicketkeeper who broke the stumps to run him out for a duck. It had been Kohli’s call and he made sure Rohit knew that before he walked off. Rohit did better than go on to make a century this time. He made a double.The brainfade
On commercial aircrafts, the safety instructions tell passengers to place oxygen masks on themselves first in case of low cabin pressure, before assisting the person next to them. George Bailey learned cricket’s equivalent of that lesson at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. He had played the ball to deep midwicket and returned for the second run as Yuvraj Singh threw to the bowler’s end. Bailey, seeing that the throw was not to the end he was running to, turned around in the middle of the pitch to check if his partner Brad Haddin was okay. Incredibly, he even stopped running. Haddin was okay, because the throw to the bowler was a little wide, but Vinay Kumar collected and fired the ball to Dhoni, catching the onlooking Bailey by surprise and completely out of his crease. Bailey smashed his bat on the ground in anger as he stormed off the ground.The helicopter

“It’s the chinook, it’s the blackhawk and it has come loaded with ammunition,” said ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary for the fifth delivery off the 48th over of India’s innings. James Faulkner had delivered a length ball, Dhoni got under it and with a whip-like whirl of his wrists he helicoptered it out of the Chinnaswamy, clearing the roof at long-on.The contribution
When Clint McKay pushed his tenth delivery, off R Ashwin, through midwicket to get off the mark, it was the first run he had contributed to a ninth-wicket partnership that was already worth 58. Faulkner had blitzed most of the rest, on his way to scoring the fastest ODI century for Australia. When McKay was eventually dismissed in the 45th over, he had contributed 18 to a stand of 115.*November 2, 7.30pm GMT Rohit Sharma was not the batsman involved when Kohli was run-out for a duck in Bulawayo. This article has been updated to reflect that

India might have been winless in New Zealand but their young side created several winning positions. They have too much talent for results not to go their way sooner rather than later

Abhishek Purohit19-Feb-2014India go back from New Zealand with a 40-run loss in Auckland and a disappointing draw in Wellington. While MS Dhoni spoke at length about the improvements he had seen in his side – and there were plenty of positives – with a bit more application and luck India could have taken the series 2-0.Being optimistic is the way to go, but you were also left with the feeling that the management’s expectations from the young side might not have been sky high. However, considering the positions they built for themselves, India should feel disappointed for not winning at all, especially when they won the toss each time on pitches that lost bite after the first couple of sessions.India needed 185 to win with eight wickets remaining in Auckland. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli had stunned New Zealand with an aggressive century partnership. Then Kohli went after Neil Wagner, lost his wicket and India eventually fell short by not too many. In Wellington, Kohli dropped Brendon McCullum on 9, and India could do nothing as the New Zealand captain converted a 246-run deficit into a 434-run lead.The world can debate whether Dhoni should have had one or many slips, or placed Kohli five inches back at short mid-on, where he put McCullum down. McCullum himself had just one slip for large parts of India’s second innings, and had no intention of pushing for a win given his belated declaration, but that will not matter to a world that concluded long ago that Dhoni is defensive and McCullum is aggressive.In time, when the rush for finding causes subsides, history will record that McCullum played one of the great innings in Test cricket, with worthy support acts from BJ Watling and Jimmy Neesham. However, the fact remains, as Dhoni admitted, that India were unable to close out the match. More so in Wellington, and to a lesser extent in Auckland.Through the series, Dhoni spoke about the need for his batsmen to capitalise when they were in. Barring the first-innings meltdown in Auckland, India posted 421, 438 and 166 for 3. There has never been any doubt about the potential of this top six, and in South Africa that potential had been evident in difficult conditions. In New Zealand, they showed that the potential is more likely to be fulfilled than wasted.Dhawan’s successive knocks of 98 and 115 have to be India’s biggest individual gains from this series. He has shown the willingness and the ability to respect the conditions and the bowlers. Among the top six, only Rohit Sharma is without a big innings on either of these tours, although he did help Kohli bat time for the draw in Wellington. Before South Africa, India would have gladly taken five out of six.It was refreshing to see Dhoni make crucial contributions with the bat in both Tests. He played on for 39 after rattling New Zealand in Auckland, but the 68 in Wellington once again showed how much he can hurt sides in Tests. Ajinkya Rahane’s maiden hundred was almost flawless but it was Dhoni’s assault on Wagner that turned the momentum India’s way.India’s fast bowlers are not usually recipients of praise, but how quickly they came back from the poor display in the first innings in Auckland. Their intensity was a sight to watch as they rolled New Zealand for 105 in the second innings.They did the job for Dhoni on a helpful day-one surface in Wellington too, but their second innings effort was gargantuan. It is perhaps possible to forget in this modern age that bowlers are still humans. For a 35-year old to have to deliver 51 overs in one innings must border on physical and mental torture. And for them to be full of purpose, and for him to zoom in with the third new ball as if he was starting a fresh innings was incredible. After the highs and lows of South Africa, and the surprising ineptness of the first innings at Eden Park, Zaheer Khan told us he is not just an on-field bowling coach yet.For once, Ishant Sharma bowled like a man who has played 50-plus Tests, barring large parts of the Auckland first innings. In time Mohammed Shami will hopefully realise it pays to use some discretion while going flat out. And India already know they cannot keep dropping top opposition batsmen. Kane Williamson made them pay in Auckland, and McCullum in Wellington.On the whole, it was the first innings with ball and bat in Auckland that cost India the series. They had more than their share of chances and sooner rather than later they are bound to take their share of the spoils as well. They have too much collective and individual promise not to. But New Zealand 2014 is the one that got away.

Stats highlights from the fourth day’s play of the Durban Test between South Africa and India

Shiva Jayaraman29-Dec-2013

• Jacques Kallis made his 45th Test hundred and became the fourth South Africa batsman to score a century in his final Test.
• Kallis’ 115 took his career aggregate to 13,289 runs, the third highest in Tests. He was dismissed just after passing Rahul Dravid’s 13,288 and fell 89 short of Ricky Ponting’s 13,378. Kallis’ average of 55.37 is the second highest after Kumar Sangakkara’s 56.98, among batsmen with at least 10,000 Test runs.
• Kallis also passed 9000 runs batting at No. 4. Only Sachin Tendulkar, with 13,492 runs, has scored more at No. 4. Kallis’ average of 61.86 at this position is the best among batsmen who have at least 4000 runs at No. 4.
• Ravindra Jadeja’s figures of 6 for 138 – his second five-for – are his best in Tests. It was also the first five-wicket haul by an India left-arm spinner outside the subcontinent in over 30 years, since Dilip Doshi’s 6 for 102 against England at Old Trafford in 1982.
• Jadeja’s haul is the first five-for by a spinner in the first innings in Durban since 2000, when Muttiah Muralitharan took 5 for 122. Before that, a spinner took five wickets in the first innings at this venue in 1964, when England’s David Allen took 5 for 41.
• Jadeja’s 58.2 overs in South Africa’s innings is the most an India spinner has bowled in Tests outside the subcontinent since Narendra Hirwani bowled 59 overs at The Oval in 1990.
• The partnership between Faf du Plessis and Robin Peterson gave South Africa’s innings much-needed impetus. They scored at 6.11 runs an over – the fastest 100-plus partnership in Tests at Kingsmead (for which balls-recorded data exists). The last time South Africa added 100 or more for the eighth wicket against India was in Johannesburg in 1997, when Daryll Cullinan and Lance Klusener were involved in a match-saving 127-run stand.
• Peterson’s 61 is the second half-century by a South Africa No. 9 since Nicky Boje’s 76 against England in Cape Town in 2005. The other fifty was by Kallis in the first innings of the famous draw at the Adelaide Oval last year, when he was batting lower down because of a hamstring injury.
• South Africa scored 500 or more at this venue for the first time in over five years. The last time they scored 500-plus at Kingsmead was against West Indies in 2008. There have been only six scores of 500 or more by them in 71 innings at this venue.
• Dale Steyn, du Plessis and Peterson collectively scored 148 runs in the first innings – the most South Africa’s No. 7, 8 and 9 have scored in an innings against India.

Bangladesh’s fans’ love seems unconditional. Despair is always quickly shelved to give their ‘Tigers’ all support their can muster. The question is, can the team show they deserve that adoring public?

Abhishek Purohit in Mirpur31-Mar-2014This has been the routine during each Bangladesh match in the World T20 in Mirpur: people start assembling on the roads outside the Shere Bangla Stadium hours before the game. Several of them do not have a ticket, they have no hope of getting in, but they just stand there patiently, on the pavement, on the road divider.Those who get in shout “Bangladesh, Bangladesh” in unison as soon as they get the first glimpse of their “Tigers” running onto the field. It is a long word – Bangladesh. You need to say it with intensity and fervour to get it all out in one, powerful shout. The crowd is never lacking in both.Then the names of the Bangladesh players are announced, slowly, one by one, giving the crowd enough time to react to each one. The big stars – Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim – get the loudest cheers. ‘Cheer’ is actually an understatement. These are full-blooded, deep-throated roars. You have to have unshakeable faith in something down to your deepest core to be able to let out this roar.To the outsider, it is like someone has stuck you, without warning, with a high-dose injection of adrenaline. Otherwise, it is difficult to explain in words how they sound. It is also difficult to find a parallel elsewhere. Cricketers are widely adored in India and Pakistan too. But this feels different. These roars are like blank cheques with lifetime validity. Signed by the fans, for the players. Maybe the combination of Eden Gardens and Sourav Ganguly comes close. Maybe it is a Bengali thing.The match starts. Bangladesh threaten to make it a contest for the first couple of overs or so. Tamim Iqbal thumps a boundary. The crowd is delirious. He gets out. Deafening delirium turns into deafening silence, but only momentarily. Shakib has to be welcomed to the middle, and again, no effort is spared in making him know how loved he is. Shakib is soon bowled. The same pattern is repeated. It is the captain who has to be ushered in with a verbal shower of rose petals this time. Mushfiqur smacks a few boundaries. If there exists a state beyond delirium, the stadium has reached it after these blows. Then even Mushfiqur falls, bringing back that momentary disappointment.This state of delirium is a constant, parallel narrative at every Bangladesh match. It only pauses very briefly to register the fall of a Bangladesh wicket, or an opposition boundary. It ends with their defeat, and it resumes just before the start of their next match. It plays out in loop. Delirium. Pause. Delirium. Pause. Delirium. Defeat. Repeat.Love is blind, they say. They must have had Bangladesh cricket fans in mind when they said it. In fact, this love goes further than mere blindness. It is only one side that is being blind to the other’s faults here. For how much this love takes out of Bangladesh fans – time, money, emotion, their voices, with so much cheering – what they get in return can charitably be only called crumbs.You are the host team of a world tournament. This is your home. These are your conditions. You have grown up playing on these grounds. Yet, your captain says early into the main round of the tournament that his team has nothing to lose. This is what Mushfiqur had said during the previous World T20 too, which was also played on the subcontinent. He also added this time that Bangladesh’s major aim would be to compete with other teams in their group. Imagine MS Dhoni saying this at the start of the 2011 World Cup. Nothing to lose. Compete, as opposed to win. If you can imagine the impossible, now imagine the reaction of Indian fans.Bangladesh cricketers are an incalculably fortunate lot to be blessed by such a loyal following. It is incredible that your three biggest stars can make 5, 6 and 16, 0, 1 and 38, and 22, 24 and 2 in a global tournament at home, and the fans’ affection for them does not even as much as wobble. That you can lose three successive T20s in a world tournament by the heavy margins of 73 runs, eight wickets and 50 runs, and the fans’ affection for the team does not even as much as wobble.For once, can Bangladesh actually play like they have nothing to lose in this World T20? Can they actually compete? They have one final opportunity, against Australia. It won’t make their relationship with their fans any less one-sided, but it will be some sort of a surprise parting gift for the Bangladesh cheering party that will doubtless, and regardless, happen in the Mirpur stands.

Also, highest run-getters in England-India Tests, and memorable South African debuts

Steven Lynch19-Aug-2014Rangana Herath took nine wickets in Pakistan’s first innings at the SSC. How many other left-armers have done this in a Test? asked Mahindra Perera from Sri Lanka

The short answer is none: Rangana Herath’s 9 for 127 in the second Test against Pakistan in Colombo was the first Test nine-for by any left-arm bowler. The previous-best was 8 for 11, by the Lancashire and England spinner Johnny Briggs against South Africa in Cape Town in 1888-89. Briggs had taken 7 for 17 in the first innings, so had record match-figures for a left-armer of 15 for 28. Next on the innings list is Hedley Verity’s 8 for 34 in 1934, which set up England’s only victory against Australia at Lord’s in the 20th century.I noticed that 29 of the wickets in the second Test in Colombo were taken by left-arm bowlers. What’s the Test record? asked Chris Morrison from Australia

The Test record is … 29, in the match which has just finished in Colombo. Fourteen of them went to Rangana Herath, six to Wahab Riaz, five to Junaid Khan, three to Abdur Rehman and one to Chanaka Welegedara. The previous record was 28, set more than 125 years ago in the second Test between South Africa and England in Cape Town 1888-89, in the match mentioned above in which Johnny Briggs took 15 wickets. There were 26 dismissals by left-arm bowlers in the final Test between India and Pakistan in Bangalore in 1986-87 (Sunil Gavaskar’s final Test), including ten from Maninder Singh and nine by Iqbal Qasim.How many people have captained, kept wicket and opened the batting in the same Test? asked Dhanushka Edussuriya from Sri Lanka

This arduous treble has been performed by only three people in Test cricket. Between 1907 and 1911 South Africa’s Percy Sherwell did it in seven Tests, scoring 115 in one of them, against England at Lord’s in 1907. West Indies’ Gerry Alexander did it in two Tests in Pakistan in 1958-59 (he didn’t open in both innings of either game), and Pakistan’s Imtiaz Ahmed followed suit, opening in five innings in four Tests in which he captained and kept wicket. He scored 54 against Australia in Lahore in 1959-60. Imtiaz opened and kept wicket in the match in Dacca in 1959-60 when Alexander opened, but wasn’t captain in that one.Gary Ballance scored 503 runs in the series against India. Was this a record for England? asked Scott McCallum from England

Gary Ballance was the eighth batsman to reach 500 runs in a Test series for England against India; he was soon joined (and just surpassed) by Joe Root, who finished with 518 in the 2014 series. The list is headed by Graham Gooch, with 752 runs in just three Tests in 1990 – a series he started with 333 and 123 at Lord’s. Next comes Michael Vaughan, with 615 runs in four Tests in 2002. England’s other 500-run men are Ken Barrington (594 in India in 1961-62), Mike Gatting (575 in 1984-85), Alastair Cook (562 in 2012-13), Kevin Pietersen (533 in 2011) and Ian Bell (504 in 2011). The Indian record-holder in a series against England is Rahul Dravid, with 602 runs in four Tests in 2002. Vijay Manjrekar (586 in 1961-62), Sunil Gavaskar (542 in 1979 and 500 in 1981-82) and Budhi Kunderan (525 in 1963-64) also reached 500 runs in a series against England. For the full list, click here.Was Dane Piedt the first South African to take eight wickets on Test debut? asked Daan Koorneef from Austria

Offspinner Dane Piedt, who took 8 for 152 against Zimbabwe in Harare last week, was the seventh South African to take eight wickets on his Test debut (among the others are Vernon Philander, Marchant de Lange and Lance Klusener). Five men have bettered this: James “Bonnor” Middleton took 9 for 130 against England in Port Elizabeth in 1895-96, Peter Pollock 9 for 99 against New Zealand in Durban in 1961-62, Kyle Abbott 9 for 68 against Pakistan in Centurion in 2012-13, Syd Burke 11 for 196 against New Zealand in Cape Town in 1961-62, and Alf Hall 11 for 112 against England in Cape Town in 1922-23. Piedt took a wicket (Mark Vermeulen) with his first ball in Test cricket: the only other South African to do this was Ernie Vogler, who dismissed England’s Ernie Hayes with his first ball at the old Wanderers ground in Johannesburg in 1905-06. In a unique double, later in the same game Vogler himself fell to Jack Crawford’s first delivery in a Test. For the full list, click here.How do I find a list of the people who have scored the most double-centuries in Tests? asked Amit Kumar from India

That is one of the tables on ESPNCricinfo’s records pages: to see it, click here. Don Bradman, with 12 double-centuries from just 52 Tests, still leads the way – but Kumar Sangakkara is closing in. He currently has ten, although he has needed almost two- and-a-half times as many Tests as the Don to get that close. Brian Lara comes next, with nine scores of 200 or more, ahead of Wally Hammond and Mahela Jayawardene with seven, then five batsmen on six: Marvan Atapattu, Javed Miandad, Ricky Ponting, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar.

There will be plenty of debate between now and February 14, but for now, here are 10 talking points to ponder

Peter Della Penna05-Nov-2014

West Indies: Implosion versus explosion

The world of West Indies cricket has recently been dominated by off-the-field headlines, which is never a good sign. The squad abandoned its tour of India in a pay dispute over a new collective-bargaining agreement signed by the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) that players say they never saw or approved. The dispute fueled speculation that West Indies wouldn’t make it to the World Cup, but both sides now appear close to a resolution.

Many fans will be watching intently to see if the controversy galvanizes this immensely talented squad, which needs to sharpen its focus if it wants to reach its first World Cup final since 1983.

Afghanistan’s Cup debut

In the past two World Cups, Ireland have been the darling underdog for most neutral fans. In 2015, Afghanistan will be that feel-good story. The first-time entrants already have three World Twenty20 appearances under their belt, but qualifying for cricket’s 50-over showpiece event holds even greater significance.

Twenty20 cricket is often presented as a way to close the disparity between uneven teams and open the door for more upsets because the games are shorter; but Afghanistan have shown it can compete at 50-over level, so if it knocks off some of the big boys Down Under, it won’t be any fluke.

Where there’s an Aussie cricket crowd, a beer snake isn’t too far behind.•AFP

Crowds, crowds, crowds … oi, oi, oi!

India’s run to the 2011 title was cheered on vociferously by home fans who were desperate to see the hosts win their first World Cup since 1983 and deliver a first crown to cricket’s greatest modern batting icon, Sachin Tendulkar.

There may not be such a sentimental connection for home fans in Australia this time around (the Aussies won three straight Cups in 1999, 2003 and 2007), but that doesn’t mean there won’t be fun in the stands.

Along with cheering on the home team, Aussies know how to get creative during dull passages of play and boost the crowd atmosphere. That includes making beer snakes, when fans stack all of their empty plastic beer cups together to make a long chain between sections. It’s an amusing sight.

Oh, the format

When it comes to the Cricket World Cup-unique format, there is too much emphasis on the final destination than the journey. The format, which gives each country a minimum of six matches to play regardless of whether they advance out of the group stage, discourages the excitement of the early upset, like we saw with India losing to Bangladesh and Pakistan being stunned by Ireland in 2007. Instead, we are given 42 group-stage matches, which may appease TV rights-holders, but it also makes the tournament too predictable.

To give some perspective, in the month it takes the FIFA World Cup to determine a winner, the ICC World Cup is still working through the group stage. The event is a marathon, not just for the players, but also for fans and viewers. It takes a committed soul to stick around for six weeks and still have enough energy to enjoy the final.

Sangakkara’s swan song?

One of cricket’s modern greats, Kumar Sangakkara is beloved by Sri Lankans and non-Sri Lankans alike. This will likely be the 37-year-old’s last ride on the World Cup merry-go-round, along with teammates Tillakaratne Dilshan, 38, and Mahela Jayawardene, 37.

Sangakkara is fourth all-time in runs scored in ODI cricket with 12,857. If he maintains his current average through the World Cup, he will likely pass countryman Sanath Jayasuriya (third overall, 13,430) and Australia’s Ricky Ponting (second, 13,704).

Sri Lanka have played the role of bridesmaids on the big stages, runner-ups at the World Twenty20 in 2009 and 2012 and the World Cup in 2007 and 2011. After finally winning the World Twenty20 crown in April, will the third time be the charm again for Sangakkara at the Cup?

The return of Christchurch

It is no coincidence that the Cricket World Cup kicks off on Feb. 14 in Christchurch, New Zealand. The country’s second-largest city was decimated by a major earthquake in February 2011, killing 185 people. The New Zealand-Sri Lanka opener at the newly certified Hagley Oval will represent a cathartic comeback for Christchurch and its people.

On January 1, 2014, Corey Anderson beat the record for the fastest ODI hundred previously held by Shahid Afridi.•AFP

“God Defend New Zealand”

Aside from the joy in seeing cricket come back to Christchurch, hearing New Zealand’s national anthem on a loop during the course of the tournament is something that will be pleasing, Kiwi or not. It’s a lovely blend of melody and lyrics, the first verse sung in Maori and the second in English.

Remember these names: Aaron Finch and Corey Anderson

Two of the tournament’s breakout stars are poised to come from the host countries. Australian opener Aaron Finch burst onto the international scene by setting a Twenty20 international record of 156 runs off 63 balls in 2013 against England and has since followed with four centuries at the top of the order in ODI cricket. Keeping a red-hot bat will do wonders for Australia’s World Cup chances.

Corey Anderson, meanwhile, showed he is a box-office performer in New Zealand’s last home summer. On New Year’s Day, he broke Shahid Afridi’s 18-year-old record for fastest ODI century by notching his first 100 runs in just 36 balls against West Indies. With the ball, he has a knack for taking wickets and is an athletic fielder, making him one of the must-watch players of the Cup.

Not your grandpa’s uniforms

One of the many clichéd knocks on cricket from casual sports fans is that the game literally looks too dull — players dressed in all whites (including sweaters), giving the appearance of grandpa at bingo night.

But for those who may be getting into cricket for the first time, the World Cup will be different, featuring players in colored uniforms that would fit into any other modern-day sport. If anything, some of the kits will be more brash than conservative. Just check out the iconic West Indies uniforms.

Dale Steyn

Another cricket misnomer is the old adage of the sport being a “gentlemen’s game.” When a fast bowler is roaring in, bouncing the ball at a batsman’s head at 95 mph, nothing could be further from the truth.

The perfect example? South Africa’s Dale Steyn, the world’s preeminent pace bowler who currently sits at No. 1 on the ICC’s ODI top bowler rankings. Speed merchants like Steyn are worth their weight in gold, especially with their ability to swing the ball as opposed to bowling dead straight. Intense wicket celebrations only add to Steyn’s spectacle.

Having let go of half their team, Delhi Daredevils have Rs. 40 crore to spend, and are likely to make the biggest splash at the player auction

Nagraj Gollapudi13-Feb-2015It is unlike the IPL to play second fiddle to international cricket. Yet, the World Cup has overshadowed this year’s IPL player auction, in Bangalore on February 16, a day after what is being touted as the biggest game of the World Cup – India v Pakistan. Still, this auction will be significant at least for a few teams such as Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad who decided to dismantle more than half the squads they only assembled last year.Topping the marquee list this time are three players who have attracted the maximum base price of Rs. 2 crore (approx $0.33 million): India allrounder Yuvraj Singh, former England batsman and captain Kevin Pietersen, South Africa Test captain Hashim Amla and India wicket-keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik.Still the supply with regards to top-quality Indian participation remains limited. Officials are predicting the most viable buys among the 22 capped Indians will be Yuvraj, Karthik, M Vijay, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha.Franchise officials ESPNcricinfo spoke to agree that Yuvraj, who was the most expensive buy at Rs. 14 crore (approx $2.33 million) last year when he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore, could get the biggest billing once again, because he doubles up as an allrounder as well as a captaincy contender.Daredevils have a clear vacancy, having dropped Pietersen who was at the helm last year. Having shed 13 players, Daredevils, who are left with 11 players, are likely to be one of the biggest buyers – if not the biggest – this time. They also have the highest auction purse with a balance of Rs. 40 crore (approx $ 6.67 million).Last year Daredevils finished bottom of the points table with only two wins. Hemant Dua, the Daredevils CEO, said there was no lesson to learn as such from last year’s debacle. He felt that the squad had not clicked. “We are going to go ahead and spend to build a team to give us a good squad that can go out and perform and deliver. I am very confident we have a very good core in place. It is just about strengthening it further.”In addition to Pietersen once again, other candidates Daredevils could consider for captaincy include West Indies T20 captain Darren Sammy, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, and current England ODI captain Eoin Morgan.One senior player Daredevils could think about is Amla, considering their coach Gary Kirsten has always fancied a player with a good work ethic. Amla could, according to an official who has attended every IPL auction, play the same role as former Australian batsman Michael Hussey carried out at Chennai Super Kings: an effective batsman-cum-mentor. “Amla can be what Michael Hussey was at Chennai. Never regarded as a Twenty20 player but his basics and preparation are so good that he can do a good job.”Another team that will be looking to make significant purchases are Sunrisers, who cut out 12 players. They have the second-biggest auction purse of Rs. 20.85 crore (approx $3.47 million). The players they released include Sammy, India legspinner Amit Mishra, India allrounder Irfan Pathan, Australia batsman Aaron Finch and West Indies fast bowler and ODI captain Jason Holder.Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals have Rs. 13 crore (approx $2.17 million) each in their purse. Kings XI Punjab, whose coach Sanjay Bangar focused on quality Indian domestic talents who played a crucial role in the franchise making their first final, are left with Rs. 11.8 crore (approx $1.97 million). Mumbai Indians have Rs. 10 crore (approx $1.67 million) to spend while Chennai Super Kings only have Rs. 4.8 crore (approx $0.80 million).It will be interesting to see what kind of moves Mumbai make this auction. Mumbai are still smarting from the dismantling of what was a formidable squad put together in 2013. Then, in a surprising move before last year’s auction, they released quality players including the Australian pair of Mitchell Johnson and Glenn Maxwell, and did not retain the homegrown Suryakumar Yadav. At the auction they opted for legspinner Shreyas Gopal ahead of the chinaman bowler Kuldip Yadav. Each of those players they let go played a pivotal role in Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders reaching the tournament final.Mumbai put their money on Hussey and New Zealand allrounder Corey Anderson, who had then just broken the record for the fastest ODI hundred. Hussey failed to provide the stability expected of him in the top order, and featured in only nine of Mumbai’s 14 matches, scoring 209 runs at 23.22 with two fifties. Poor returns for a batsman of his stature.Anderson was ineffective in his role as explosive finisher, scoring 265 runs at 29.44 in 12 matches, in which he managed only four wickets. Mumbai spent Rs. 5 crore (approx $0.83 million) on Hussey and Rs 4.5 crore (approx $0.75 million) on Anderson. Pit those against Maxwell’s returns – 552 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 187.75 – and you sense the extent of Mumbai’s anguish. Kings XI paid Rs. 6 crore (approx $1 million) to bag Maxwell.Mumbai have always spent lavishly but a fourth-place finish was clearly not satisfactory, as the move to overhaul the team management suggests. John Wright, who was the head coach for two seasons, was moved to grassroot development projects while former India captain and legspinner Anil Kumble, who used to have a greater say in cricketing matters, has reportedly paved way for Ricky Ponting.The former Australia captain, who played a season for the franchise and was a consultant last year, has been appointed head coach and will call the shots at the auction. Rivals are not surprised. “For the first time last year Mumbai faced a level playing field in terms of money after the uncapped players were brought into the auction fold. And look what happened,” a rival franchise official said.Overall, one plausible difference compared to previous auctions this time could be that player costs might be less inflated. On crucial factor, franchise officials say, is that prices in the market are depressed in terms of sponsorship. Even successful franchises like Knight Riders, the defending champions, are yet to sell the space on their shirt reserved for a title sponsor. So even if the IPL is anxious for franchises to break their bank vaults, it is highly unlikely to happen, considering owners might be happier playing safe. “The only controllable is player costs,” the franchise official said.

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Apr-2015Dhawal Kulkarni took the first wicket by dismissing Parthiv Patel for 16 in the next over•BCCIAnd Stuart Binny handed Rohit Sharma his second consecutive duck by having him caught at first slip•BCCIMumbai were 45 for 3, effectively 45 for 4, when Pravin Tambe removed Unmukt Chand’s middle stump and the visitors were headed for a collapse•BCCIKieron Pollard sparked Mumbai’s counterattack, hitting Chris Morris for two fours and James Faulkner for two sixes within 11 balls•BCCIHe got ample support from Corey Anderson at the other end…•BCCI…And the duo put on 104 runs in 9.1 overs to put the pressure back on Royals•BCCIPollard’s belligerent 34-ball 70, and Anderson’s 50, helped Mumbai put on a respectable 164 for 5•BCCIIn reply, Royals opening partnership put on 28 runs before Sanju Samson was dismissed for 17•BCCIAjinkya Rahane played another stable innings, 46 off 39, to keep Royals on course•BCCIShreyas Gopal got rid of Rahane in the 14th over, with Royals’ required run rate was already over ten-per-over•BCCIEver-so-cool Steven Smith took charge of the chase from there, piercing gaps and striking boundaries with ease•BCCILasith Malinga tried to get Mumbai back in the game with the wicket of Deepak Hooda, but…•BCCI…Smith’s unbeaten 79 off 53 took Royals home with five balls to spare, for their third consecutive win•BCCI

Stats highlights from a magnificent day of batting by England at Lord’s

S Rajesh24-May-201585 Balls taken by Ben Stokes for his second Test hundred. It is the fastest in a Lord’s Test, beating Mohammad Azharuddin’s record of 87 balls in 1990. It’s also the second-fastest ever for England in Tests (in matches where balls-faced data was recorded). The only quicker hundred was by Gilbert Jessop in 1902, who scored one off 76 balls against Australia at The Oval.7 The number of times Cook has faced more than 300 deliveries in a Test innings. The last of those instances, before today, was in December 2012, when he scored 190 off 377 balls against India in Kolkata. This is also his eighth score of 150 or more; only three England batsmen – Wally Hammond, Len Hutton and Kevin Pietersen – have got more 150-plus scores in Tests.25 Number of Test hundreds that Cook has scored as opener. He is fourth in the all-time list, after Sunil Gavaskar (33), Matthew Hayden (30) and Graeme Smith (27). Cook’s overall tally of 27 Test hundreds is already the highest among England batsmen.24 Runs scored by Cook during his 132-run partnership with Stokes. Cook scored 24 off 67, while Stokes made 101 off 92 at the other end.67 The number of balls left alone by Cook during his innings. Of the 92 balls that Stokes faced, he left alone 18 deliveries.91 Runs scored by England in the first 13 overs against the second new ball. Stokes made 71 of those, from 49 balls, while Cook made 13 from 29.5 Instances of No. 6 batsmen who’ve made a century in the second innings of a Lord’s Test. The last one to do so, before Stokes, was Garry Sobers in 1966.94.07 Joe Root’s batting average since the beginning of 2014, the highest among batsmen who’ve played at least ten innings during this period. Steven Smith is next with an average of 83.37, while Kane Williamson averages 80.70 in these 17 months.85.88 Root’s Test average at Lord’s: he has two hundreds and four fifties in ten innings. His average is the highest among batsmen who’ve played at least ten Test innings at Lord’s.16 Cook’s average in his 11 most recent Test innings at Lord’s, before this one. His highest during this period was 32, against New Zealand at Lord’s in 2013.1 Number of century partnerships in Tests between Cook and Root – this was their first in 16 innings. Their previous best was 99, against India at the Ageas Bowl last year.35 The number of times teams have been set a fourth-innings target of 300 or more in a Test at Lord’s. Only once has a team won – when West Indies made 344 for 1 in 1984 – while they’ve lost 21 times and drawn 13 times.