Category Uncategorized

Chris Martin believes Phillip Hughes will be under serious pressure when it comes time for Australia to begin their chase at Bellerive Oval

Brydon Coverdale at the Bellerive Oval10-Dec-2011Chris Martin turned 37 on the day two at Bellerive Oval. His birthday present was a second consecutive strong bowling effort against Australia. This time, his team-mates were just as good. And if they back it up in the second innings, victory over Australia will be theirs for the first time in a generation.To skittle Australia for 136 is the kind of performance Martin has dreamt of for a decade. Before this series, he had played ten Tests against Australia and had taken 15 wickets at 86.53. It was hard to say if he was more embarrassed about his bowling record against them or his batting figures.That started to change in Brisbane, where he took four wickets, and in Hobart he collected three, as did Doug Bracewell and the debutant Trent Boult, while Tim Southee picked up perhaps the most important victim, Ricky Ponting. At no point did they let the pressure drop significantly and as a result, Australia recorded their lowest total at home against New Zealand.The ball seamed and swung, and Australia’s batsmen struggled to handle the movement. After New Zealand were rolled for 150 in their first innings, there appeared every chance the match could be over in three days. The weather might not allow that, but all the same Martin said it had been a long while since he had seen a Test surface with so much in it for the bowlers.”In a Test match it has been a long time,” he said. “If you look around the world there’s not too much variety in pitches. A day’s Test cricket like that definitely makes people watch. It’s difficult. I’ve toured places like India and the subcontinent and it’s always a tough, long day with plenty of runs. But if you’re a connoisseur of swing bowling, seam bowling, then today is a really enjoyable day’s cricket.”By closing the second day with a lead of 153 and seven wickets in hand, New Zealand have given themselves their best chance in ten years of beating the Australians. And although the pitch is expected to become less difficult for the batsmen over the next two days, their advantage over Australia was already alarmingly large.”It’s a tough ask for any top-order batsmen out there today to feel comfortable, to feel in,” Martin said. “It’s one for the bowlers today. I suppose 150 on that pitch on the first day has turned out to be a reasonable score. It’s quite a tough picture to paint with the rest of the Test, with how it’s going to go. I know that sitting here at 150 runs in front we’re feeling good. I don’t know how many runs are needed. We’ll just see how we go tomorrow.”Martin believes Phillip Hughes will be under serious pressure when it comes time for Australia to begin their chase. Hughes will walk to the crease in the second innings playing for his Test future. Three times from three innings in this series he has been caught by Martin Guptill, either at gully or slip, off the bowling of Martin, the angle across him proving hard to handle. His best score in the series has been 10.”I feel like I’ve put the ball in a good spot to him,” Martin said. “He’s feeling for it a little bit and he’s nicked a couple. I suppose for a guy who’s struggling, this isn’t the sort of pitch that you want to feel for your next knock and where your runs are coming from. He’s under pressure, I suppose. We just have to keep bowling in the right spots.”I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. He’ll be feeling under pressure and that’s never a good place. I’ve felt under pressure for my spot in the past, so it’s always a difficult challenge and one if you get on top of you’re a lot stronger for it.”First though, Australia need to find a way through the rest of the New Zealand order. Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson were both well set at stumps, having judiciously left the ball and played wisely. At times, the Australian fast bowlers strayed startlingly down leg or with bouncers that easily sailed over the batsmen’s heads, and Peter Siddle said it was important to stick to what worked in the first innings.”It’s always nice to get a wicket that is a little bit bowler-friendly, but it’s not always that easy [because of that],” Siddle said. “There’s still a lot of work has to be done by us bowlers, we do have to bowl some good lines, good areas and be patient. Sometimes on these wickets you can tend to go searching a little bit and try too hard and end up with figures that you’re not very proud of.”When the sun does come out and you get a bit of heat on that wicket, to dry it out a little bit, it does quicken up a little bit and does seem a little bit easier to score. Hopefully tomorrow morning the clouds are out and it’s a little bit overcast for us in the first session.”

He is set to join the team ahead of Yorkshire’s game against Somerset starting September 8

Shashank Kishore04-Sep-2025India opener Mayank Agarwal is set to join Yorkshire on a short-term deal for the remainder of the County Championship.Agarwal, who is expected to link up with the squad ahead of their match against Somerset on Taunton starting September 8, will play three matches in all before returning to India in time for the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season. This will be Agarwal’s first county stint.He was most-recently in action at the Maharaja T20 Trophy, Karnataka’s flagship T20 tournament. Prior to that, he was part of an IPL-title winning campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, after being signed as a late replacement for the injured Devdutt Padikkal.Agarwal, 34, is no stranger to England, having been on two tours previously with the Test side – in 2021-22 and for the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023.He had been in line to open during the 2021-22 tour, which India drew 2-2, but was ruled out prior to the series opener due to concussion. He has also been on two tours with the India A team.Agarwal, currently Karnataka’s all-format captain, comes with rich first-class experience. He has 8050 runs in 190 innings at an average of 43.98 with 18 hundreds and 44 half-centuries.In all, Agarwal has hit 1488 Test runs in 36 innings at an average of 41.33, with four Test centuries, including a best of 243 against South Africa. He played the most recent of his 21 Tests in March 2022 against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.Other prominent Indians to feature in the UK domestic season this year are Khaleel Ahmed (Essex), Tilak Varma (Hampshire), Yuzvendra Chahal (Northants), Ishan Kishan (Notts) and Sai Kishore (Surrey). Jaydev Unadkat is set to join Sussex this month.

The league clashes with the English summer but players on white-ball-only county deals might be given permission to play

Matt Roller21-Mar-2023Alex Hales remains hopeful of featuring in the inaugural season of Major League Cricket (MLC) despite concerns that English cricketers might not be given No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to play in the new US league.ESPNcricinfo understands that Hales has been in talks with MLC franchises about his availability for the tournament, but several teams are worried that the ECB could block NOCs since the new league takes place during the English summer.While centrally contracted England players appear unlikely to be granted NOCs, players on white-ball-only deals with their respective counties – like Hales – are expected to be given permission to play in the US if they sign contracts.Related

• What is a local cricketer in the MLC?

• Fleming to coach Texas Super Kings in USA's Major League Cricket

• Owners of Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals to own teams in MLC

• Harmeet Singh goes first in MLC Draft to Seattle Orcas; Ali Khan and Unmukt Chand snapped by LA Knight Riders

• Finch first overseas signing at MLC draft, named San Francisco Unicorns captain

MLC is due to be played from July 13 to 30 and mainly clashes with the County Championship. The Vitality Blast’s Finals Day – which involves only four counties – takes place on July 15, and players involved would miss the start of the competition.For players without central contracts, NOCs are granted by counties in the first instance, with ECB providing formal sign-off. These have previously been granted to white-ball specialists looking to play overseas leagues during the English season, for both the IPL and the CPL.The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) believes MLC should be treated in the same manner as other leagues that take place during the English summer, “via the principle established in county and ECB central contracts,” a spokesperson said. “Ultimately, it is up to the employers’ discretion in-season, unless the player is on a specific white-ball version of the standard contract.”Hales’ contract with his county, Nottinghamshire, runs until the end of their season in this year’s T20 Blast. His only other existing contract within the English game is with Trent Rockets in the Hundred, which starts on August 1 – two days after the MLC final – and if signed, he would return to the UK the day before the Rockets’ opening fixture.Other English white-ball specialists without central contracts who could make themselves available for MLC include Richard Gleeson, Tymal Mills and Will Smeed. At this stage, it appears unlikely that players on all-format deals would request to miss County Championship fixtures in order to play in the US.Some players are waiting to see whether their counties reach the knockout stages of the Blast, and will only make themselves available for MLC – potentially as replacement signings – if they are not involved in Finals Day.If the length of MLC seasons expands in future years, as anticipated, some players could make themselves unavailable for some or all of the Blast season in order to sign more lucrative contracts in the US than counties can offer.Overseas players are signed directly by MLC franchises, rather than through a draft system, and top salaries are believed to be in the region of $150,000 (USD). Quinton de Kock, Aaron Finch, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mitchell Marsh, Anrich Nortje and Marcus Stoinis have all been announced as direct signings.And MLC has already had a direct impact on the Hundred. ESPNcricinfo understands that Nortje has pulled out of Thursday’s draft since his contract in the US is worth more, pro rata, than the most lucrative £125,000 (GBP) deals on offer in the Hundred.

Teenager Tess Flintoff smashed the fastest WBBL half-century off 16 balls before Sasha Moloney picked up 4 for 24 to help Stars beat Adelaide Strikers

AAP02-Nov-2022Teenager Tess Flintoff has smashed the WBBL record for the fastest half-century in the competition’s history to power Melbourne Stars to a 22-run win over Adelaide Strikers.The allrounder blasted an unbeaten 51 from only 16 balls at North Sydney Oval on Wednesday. Flintoff broke the previous mark – 22 balls – by smashing a six off the final ball of the innings to push Stars to 5 for 186 after Strikers elected to field first.The 19-year-old’s blistering career-best knock consisted of six fours and three sixes. Flintoff had not been required to bat in Stars’ past three matches, but her most recent innings was an unbeaten 40 against the Perth Scorchers on October 20.Australia allrounder Ashleigh Gardner and South African Lizelle Lee shared the previous record for fastest WBBL half-century, with both reaching the mark in the same game back in 2017.England batters Alice Capsey and Lauren Winfield-Hill also played important roles in the Stars’ big total sharing an 81-run stand for the second wicket.Flintoff’s match-winning knock proved too much for Adelaide to overcome, with Strikers finishing their 20 overs on 8 for 164. Australia star Tahlia McGrath’s troubled run with the bat continued, with Strikers’ captain out for just 1 following two ducks in as many games.Adelaide had solid contributions from Katie Mack, Bridget Patterson and Laura Wolvaardt as Sasha Moloney was the pick of Stars bowlers claiming 4 for 24.It was just Stars’ second win of the tournament, with Adelaide remaining in third on the table with four victories.

Boucher will still face a disciplinary hearing in May over charges of gross misconduct

Firdose Moonda08-Feb-2022Cricket South Africa are unlikely to take further action on the manner in which Director of Cricket (DOC) Graeme Smith and men’s head coach Mark Boucher were appointed despite the Social Justice and Nation-Building report citing irregularities in their hiring. Speaking to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, CSA board chair Lawson Naidoo explained that because Smith and Boucher’s appointments were rubber-stamped by the previous board, no further investigation will be undertaken.Boucher will still face a disciplinary hearing in May over charges of gross misconduct, while Smith is in arbitration with CSA over other matters raised at the SJN.”The DOC and head coach were appointed in December 2019 under the previous board. It is clear from the (SJN) report that there were irregularities in those processes. Those appointments were subsequently endorsed and ratified by the then board. Our hands are tied in terms of those processes,” Naidoo said.Smith was approached for the job of DOC in August 2019, by former CSA CEO Thabang Moroe, who has since been dismissed. He was interviewed in November that year but withdrew his interest in the job five days later, citing lack of confidence in CSA’s administration. When Moroe was suspended in December 2019, Smith was appointed in interim capacity for three months before signing on as an independent contractor over the last two years. His contract expires at the end of March. The SJN found that the process of headhunting Smith despite other candidates being interviewed was flawed, but CSA’s previous board approved this process so no further action can be taken.Part of Smith’s remit was to appoint South Africa’s head coach and support staff. All the candidates were headhunted with Boucher contracted until 2023 alongside Charl Langeveldt (bowling coach) and Justin Ontong (fielding coach). Enoch Nkwe, who was interim team director at the time, was named assistant coach and resigned last year. CSA’s previous board approved all these appointments. The SJN report has found fault with Boucher being preferred to Nkwe and called it unfair discrimination, but no mention was made of Langeveldt or Ontong. It appears that none of these processes will be further investigated.Key men: [L to R] Graeme Smith, Enoch Nkwe, Mark Boucher and Linda Zondi•AFP via Getty Images

However, CSA will continue with the disciplinary action against Boucher, whose dismissal they are seeking over current and historical handling of issues of race. Boucher faces charges over his role in singing a song with the words “brown s***” in fines’ meetings to team-mate Paul Adams in the late 1990s and early 2000s, his handling of the Black Lives Matter movement with the current squad in 2020 and 2021 and his relationship with Nkwe. Boucher’s hearing will take place from May 16 to 20 and he intends to call players involved in the national set-up to testify on his behalf. There has been no announcement on any disciplinary process involving Smith.Related

• Focus on rebuilding trust in CSA, says Pholetsi Moseki after becoming CEO on five-year term

• Boucher's former assistant Nkwe joins Lions as strategic cricket consultant

• SJN report: CSA discriminated against players on basis of race

• Smith's lawyer claims 'fundamental flaws' in SJN process

• CSA to launch formal inquiry into conduct of Smith and Boucher

Asked by MPs why Boucher and Smith have not been suspended, Naidoo explained that CSA acted on legal advice. “It’s important to state, and this applies to all the legal processes we are involved in, we will follow due process. I can assure the portfolio committee that the board took legal advice on whether that (suspension) was possible and we received the legal opinion from two senior lawyers,” Naidoo said. “They advised us that there was no legal basis to suspend Mark Boucher and Graeme Smith. The board took a unanimous decision not to suspend because it would open us up to unnecessary litigation.”Already, CSA have spent R50 million (US$3.2 million) in legal fees over the last two years. A significant portion of that could have gone into sorting out disciplinary matters. CSA have dismissed former CEO Moroe, former acting CEO Kugandrie Govender, former company secretary Welsh Gwaza, former head of commercial Clive Eksteen and former chief operating officer Naasei Appiah. Most of those cases went to appeals, resulting in a more drawn out process, Eksteen winning against CSA before parting ways and Appiah settling. The sports ministry criticised the costs of ongoing litigation at the organisation. “The department takes a dim view of the money directed away from programs for legal fees,” Vusumuzi Mkhize, the director general of the department of sport said. “We prefer settling outside of court.”Mkize was also asked about the department’s view of the Boucher situation, especially because Boucher is continuing in his role as head coach. “That is not a ministerial responsibility. The minister may not deal with employees of the board unless there has been a clear breakdown of governance,” he said. “We encourage them to move with speed.”The same applies to the CSA’s inability to appoint a permanent CEO, which has dragged on for months. The new board, who were put in place in June, have said it is their “priority,” to fill the role currently occupied by Pholetsi Moseki, but are yet to find a suitable candidate.”In August last year we placed a public advertisement for the CEO and engaged the services of a recruitment company. We received a shortlist of candidates and interviewed them but we were unable to conclude an agreement to appoint anyone at that stage,” Naidoo said. “We have since embarked on a further process with the services of a separate recruitment company. We hope to make an announcement in the next few weeks. We are cognisant that this is the priority of the board. It is a process the board is giving due attention to.”

BCB doctor on finger injury: “We will review the injury after one week, and then determine what to do next”

Mohammad Isam22-Jun-2021Mushfiqur Rahim has picked up a hairline fracture on his left index finger, which he sustained during Abahani Limited’s Dhaka Premier League T20 match against Gazi Group Cricketers on Monday. The scan took place on Tuesday morning, confirming the extent of the injury, which might hurt the Bangladesh national team too, as they get ready for a tour of Zimbabwe.”We did a CT scan on Mushfiq’s hand, which has come up with a hairline fracture on his left index finger,” Dr Debashish Chowdhury, BCB’s chief physician, said. “We have asked him to take a break of one week, but we are hopeful that the recovery won’t take too long. Since it is a hairline fracture. We will review the injury after one week, and then we can determine what to do next.”Related

• Returning Shakib Al Hasan key as Bangladesh look for winning formula

• Nurul Hasan hopes to lock finisher's role for Bangladesh on recall after three years

• Shakib Al Hasan returns to Test and T20I squads for tour of Zimbabwe

• BCB launches Tigers programme for out-of-favour cricketers

• DPL: Shakib and Sabbir incidents overshadow on-field action

Bangladesh are scheduled to leave for Zimbabwe on June 29 to play a one-off Test, three ODIs and three T20Is. There is, however, some uncertainty around the tour after authorities in Zimbabwe stopped sporting activities in the country last week because of the Covid-19 pandemic.The Bangladesh authorities have expressed confidence, though, that the tour would go ahead on schedule, with BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury saying that the board has received positive feedback from Zimbabwe Cricket.Rahim has led Abahani Limited to to the Super League phase of the Dhaka Premier League – they are currently equal on top of the points table on 20 points with Prime Bank Cricket Club. He has been in decent batting form too, having scored 267 runs in 12 innings, with an average of 38.14 and a strike rate of 130.24. They have three more matches to play, so Rahim’s absence could affect their chances.Rahim had earlier informed the BCB that he would be unavailable for the T20I leg of the tour of Zimbabwe, as Bangladesh start a long build-up for the T20 World Cup in October. He has been involved in all formats for Bangladesh since October last year when the BCB held two white-ball tournaments to kick off cricket after the pandemic.

Hosts lead by 91 with two wickets standing after fifties from Dent, Bracey and Lace

ECB Reporters' Network09-Apr-2021Chris Dent has, at times, carried Gloucestershire’s batting in the past years and it was the captain who again led his side’s effort as they built a solid response to Surrey’s 220 at Bristol, though it was far from a lone hand as the hosts reached 311 for 8 at the end of day two.Dent’s bright 78 was followed by 54 from James Bracey and Tom Lace’s 65. None of them could turn their positions into a potentially match-defining innings but they still helped give Gloucestershire a significant lead and three batting points.After Surrey were polished off within three balls of day two, Dent and Bracey immediately put the home side on the front foot with a rattling opening stand of 139 in 28 overs. Dent survived a chance to second slip on 28, where Jamie Overton couldn’t claim the catch leaping at full stretch over his head, and went on to pull Overton for six over midwicket to raise fifty in just 55 balls.Another maximum was hoisted down the ground from Amar Virdi’s offspin but just after lunch he couldn’t get out of the way in time trying to leave Reece Topley and edged into his stumps – the first of four wickets for the England left-armer.It was a bonus for Surrey, who were much relieved to break the opening partnership on the stroke of lunch when Virdi skidded one into Bracey playing back. The wicketkeeper had impressed, punishing three wide deliveries from Gus Atkinson for four before skipping down to lift Virdi for another boundary. A calm single in front of cover brought him fifty in 81 balls.The third half-centurion was Lace, in his first innings since signing permanently from Middlesex. It should have ended before it began as he chopped Topley to second slip on 0 only for the catch to bounce out of Overton’s hands at shoulder height. He also edged Overton just wide of fourth slip but clipped two pleasant boundaries through midwicket in his 101-ball half-century before sweeping at Virdi, missing, and falling lbw.Lace was one of five afternoon wickets for Surrey as they kept Gloucestershire in sight and when they took two wickets in 15 deliveries with the second new ball, the hosts were eight down leading by 62.But Jack Taylor, who at one stage was 1 from 41 balls, and his brother Matt, nudged their side beyond 300 to regain momentum before rain again curtailed play.

Peter Moor will lead Zimbabwe in the four home ODIs against UAE

Liam Brickhill08-Apr-2019Zimbabwe will be without the services of captain Hamilton Masakadza and premier batsman Brendan Taylor for the four-match ODI series at home against UAE, starting April 10. Both the players were ruled out because of injuries: Masakadza has a problem in his left thumb, while Taylor is recovering from a right-calf muscle tear. Peter Moor will lead Zimbabwe in Masakadza’s absence.

Zimbabwe squad

Peter Moor (capt), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura

Masakadza picked up his injury during a domestic game in February, while Taylor sustained tore his muscle during a stint with Lahore Qalandars in the PSL 2019. Both had been named in the training squad of 27, but Zimbabwe Cricket said the two had “not recovered in time to play a part at least in the first two matches of the series”.Taylor told ESPNcricinfo that he was focused on recovering in time for the tours of Ireland and the Netherlands.”The calf injury is coming on well. It was a grade-two tear, but it’s been about seven weeks so I might have another one or two (weeks) to go,” Taylor said. “I haven’t put much strain on it. These things, I’m told, you don’t want to rush them because if it does happen again then it’s ten to 12 weeks.”The goal was to be ready for Afghanistan, but that didn’t happen and now there’s not a lot of pressure to be ready for this series. I’m probably going to be more focused on the Ireland and Netherlands series leading up to the (2020 T20 World Cup) qualifiers. So that’s it. Obviously I’d like to play, but I’ve been advised not to play. It’s a bit frustrating, but it is what it is.”Zimbabwe’s squad for their first international series since November 2018 includes uncapped left-arm spinner Ainsley Ndlovu and offspinner Tony Munyonga. Also in the squad are Regis Chakabva and Timycen Maruma, who have not played ODIs since November 2015 and June 2016 respectively.All matches in the series will be played at Harare Sports Club with ticket proceeds from the third match, on April 14, going towards Cyclone Idai disaster relief efforts.

An unbeaten half-century from 20-year-old Pant helped guide India A to victory in the tri-series final

Alan Gardner at The Oval02-Jul-20183:03

Centurion Hain ‘frustrated’ by final loss

ScorecardThe shape of the English summer is set to be defined over the next ten weeks by Virat Kohli’s India. A day out from that tour beginning in earnest, India lifted their first silverware, thanks to the A team’s five-wicket victory over England Lions at The Oval. An unbeaten half-century from 20-year-old Rishabh Pant guided them to the tri-series title, though it was an accomplished collective performance from a team bristling with IPL talent.Having been put into bat, the Lions were indebted to the series’ leading run-scorer, Sam Hain, maintaining his prolific white-ball form, as well as a colourful 83 from Liam Livingstone, who showed power and finesse to score swiftly on a slowish surface. The next-highest contribution was Steven Mullaney’s 17, as the India A bowlers bided their time and struck at opportune moments: twice during the initial Powerplay, as the Lions reached 41 for 2, and repeatedly at the back end of the innings.Deepak Chahar, two days after being called into India’s full squad for the T20 series beginning on Tuesday, picked up three wickets, while slow left-armer Axar Patel – also now in the ODI squad – was their most economical bowler as well as also claiming a trio of catches, two of them exceptional efforts.Rishabh Pant puts away a square drive•Getty Images

The Lions would rue a chance that wasn’t held, off Pant on 35, when Reece Topley failed to get his hands under the ball running in from long-on. With India A having just lost Hanuma Vihari to a needless run-out, the Lions needed to seize the moment; instead, Pant and Krunal Pandya added an unbroken 71 to seal the chase.There were perhaps a couple of hundred spectators in south London’s grand old ground, though the Indian tricolours were visible as Pant brought up his fifty moments after lashing Matt Parkinson – the bowler who might have had him caught – twice down the ground for six and four. A congregation had mustered near the changing rooms for the chance of a selfie with Rahul Dravid, the India A coach, and the visitors seemed to enjoy the conditions brought about by the UK’s recent heatwave, as the Lions sweated in the sunshine.Although Prithvi Shaw fell to the first ball of the seventh over, India A already had 39 runs on the board. A double-strike from Liam Dawson – who drew level with Sajid Mahmood as the leading List A wicket-taker for the Lions, or England A/B, with 33 – checked the innings at 83 for 3 in the 16th over, but further inroads were delayed by a fourth-wicket stand of 67 in good time.India A’s captain, Shreyas Iyer, cracked the first six of the innings – possibly the biggest of the day – off the bowling of Parkinson, though Iyer appeared unhappy to be given out caught behind down the leg side off Mullaney; wicketkeeper Ben Foakes also whipped off the bails, for good measure. Mullaney then dropped a return catch off Vihari on 25, though Topley’s miss of Pant was to prove more costly.Trevor Bayliss, England’s head coach, and Ed Smith, the national selector, were both in attendance and although the Lions came up short, there were several positive contributions in a hard-fought contest – most notably from Hain.Sam Hain drives during his century•Getty Images

Trying to force a way into England’s white-ball sides at the moment is a bit like getting hold of tickets, or looking for a quick route to MCC membership. Be prepared for a wait, basically.Nevertheless, Hain is making a compelling case. Following his second hundred of the series, he averages 68.81 in List A cricket; that rises to 115.00 from eight innings for the Lions and he has already joined James Taylor (who made four) and Dawid Malan as the only players to score three one-day hundreds for England’s second XI. Both of those went on to play for the senior teams although Malan, somewhat curiously, has been capped in T20 and Tests but not – thus far – ODIs.Hain has been likened to Jonathan Trott, with his extended routine for taking guard and penchant for leg-side nudges, and he certainly seems a tad more circumspect than some of England’s new generation of dashers. That approach was well-attuned to the conditions at The Oval, however, where India A won a useful toss and made life difficult for the Lions throughout.Only during a partnership of 152 in 26 overs between Hain and Livingstone did India A appear under pressure in the field. Livingstone hooked the first of his five sixes off Khaleel Ahmed in the 17th over, having taken some time to find his feet, and he became increasingly fluent as the innings progressed. Having reached his first fifty of the series, from 63 balls, Livingstone began to cruise up through the gears, but fell one over after hitting Chahar for consecutives sixes when Axar took an excellent diving catch running in off the boundary.Hain’s innings was a more nuggety affair, although he did deposit Krunal into the seats at deep midwicket. His hundred came from 113 deliveries, but he was unable to carry on right to the end, edging Chahar behind as the Lions lost 6 for 79 over the course of their last 16.2 overs.

Usman Khawaja’s maiden Ashes ton was backed up by the Marsh brothers – with Shaun going to the close on 98 not out – as Australia built a commanding 133-run lead

The Report by Brydon Coverdale06-Jan-20180:53

Khawaja and Shaun Marsh keep Australia in control

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIf the new year is about fresh starts, then Usman Khawaja has nailed the brief. Having failed to score a Test century in 2017, Khawaja used his first innings of 2018 not only to raise his sixth Test hundred, but to bat, and bat, and bat some more, spending 381 balls at the crease in the longest innings of his decade-long first-class career. Khawaja’s 171 was the centrepiece of a day of Australian dominance at the SCG, where Shaun Marsh was also approaching triple-figures by stumps, and Australia, hoping not to have to bat again in the match, had built a 133-run lead.For England, it was a long, hot, demoralising six hours in the field. They managed only two wickets all day, and the best that could be said of their results was that they prevented Steven Smith from making yet another century. And frustrating? Was it ever frustrating for England. Mason Crane missed a maiden Test wicket due to a no-ball, and both Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell, were given out only to be reprieved on review. Both were still there at stumps, Shaun on 98 and Mitchell on 63, with Australia’s total on 4 for 479.

Stats highlights

• 171 Usman Khawaja’s second highest score and sixth century in Tests. During his 171, Khawaja also crossed 2000 Test runs. This was his first century against England in 15 innings. Khawaja now has one century in each of the five major grounds in Australia. The 381 balls faced in the innings was also his longest knock in terms of balls faced, surpassing the 301-ball effort against South Africa at Adelaide.

• 73.88 Partnership average for Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja – the highest for any pair with a minimum of 15 innings. Since April 2014, the two have added six century stands – the most for Australia. In 18 innings, the two have added 12 fifty-plus stands. Five of the six century stands have come at home.

• 1993 The only other instance for Australia in which the third, fourth and fifth wicket added 100 runs or more each in an innings, against England at Leeds in the fourth Test of the 1993 Ashes.

• 5 Instances of batsmen No. 2 to No. 6 each scoring half-centuries for Australia. The previous instance was also at Sydney in 2015 against India. All the five occasions have been at home.

Crane’s bowling was one of the stories of the day. He turned some big legbreaks, and googlies, and induced the odd false stroke, but made even more false starts himself. The sight of Crane walking to his crease, entering his delivery stride, and then holding on to the ball became about as ubiquitous on day three at the SCG as pink clothing. Perhaps he was worried about no-balling, for he often landed close to or over the crease, and had missed out on the wicket of Khawaja in the final over before lunch due to a no-ball.Coming around the wicket, Crane turned a big legbreak in to Khawaja, who thrust his pad out without playing the ball, and England asked for a review of the not-out lbw decision. Replays showed that, by a small margin, Crane had failed to land his foot behind the crease. Ball-tracking went on to show that Khawaja would have otherwise been out. An exasperated Crane appeared to argue the point, pointlessly, with umpire Kumar Dharmasena. Quite how a spinner can so consistently be close to no-balling is a matter for Crane to rectify.At length, he did manage his maiden Test wicket, and it was Khawaja. But by the time Crane beat the advancing Khawaja and had him stumped by Jonny Bairstow, the batsman had 171 runs, and had been at the crease for nearly nine hours. It was a patient innings from Khawaja, who brought up his hundred – his first in Ashes cricket, and his first at the SCG – from his 222nd delivery, and his 150 from his 334th. Until this Test, the best Khawaja had to show for this Ashes was a pair of fifties; this innings alone buys him a lengthy stay in the side.His dismissal, shortly after tea, was the last breakthrough England would make all day. The Marsh brothers made it three consecutive century partnerships for Australia in this innings – Khawaja and Smith had put on 188, Khawaja and Shaun Marsh 101, and by stumps Shaun and Mitchell Marsh had compiled an unbeaten 104.England thought they had Mitchell Marsh late in the day when he was given out lbw off the bowling of Tom Curran, and asked for a review. The third umpire, S Ravi, overturned the decision on the basis of Marsh having nicked the ball, though the Hot Spot and Snicko evidence appeared far from conclusive. At least the ball was shown to be missing the stumps in any case, so Marsh would have been let off even without the supposed edge.Usman Khawaja celebrates his first Ashes century•Getty Images

On 22, Shaun Marsh had been given out caught behind off the part-time offspin of Joe Root, and after consulting with Khawaja, he called for a review. It was hard to work out why Marsh had not reviewed immediately, for the replays showed between bat and ball a gap big enough that Cameron Bancroft could almost have been bowled through it. Marsh went on to register his fifty from 121 balls, and by stumps was eyeing off a sixth Test century.He had come to the crease after the dismissal of Smith in the penultimate over before lunch. Smith appeared destined for his fourth hundred of the series when on 83 he chipped a return catch to Moeen Ali, who was bowling around the wicket. It was Moeen’s fourth wicket of the series, and the first time he had dismissed a right-hander in this campaign. And given Smith’s recent dominance, England could have hoped that wicket turned the tide. One wicket and 205 runs later, it was clearly anything but the case.