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He is at the peak of his powers, and brings to the World Cup a well-rounded squad full of the players he has fought for and trusts. Can he lead them to a legacy-sealing triumph?

Nagraj Gollapudi04-Jun-20191:27

Kohli on Rabada’s jibe: ‘He can discuss with me man-to-man’

World Cups define the legacy of leaders. Some of the greatest have tasted success at the biggest tournament in cricket: Lloyd, Border, Imran, Waugh, Ponting and Dhoni.Like those giants, Virat Kohli is his own man. He has set an example first, and then asked others to follow him. His men swear by him. yet there remains a perception that Kohli’s success as a captain owes a lot to MS Dhoni, who has been the guiding force in terms of tactics and controlling the pace of the game. This World Cup offers Kohli the opportunity to walk out of Dhoni’s shadows.And he’s been working on it.Kohli sowed the seeds of change at The Oval, the day India lost the Champions Trophy final in 2017. The key issues he identified included fitness and fielding, and, significantly, an inability to take wickets in the middle overs.To this end India left out the experience of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, and brought in a pair of wristspinners in Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who have become integral to India’s success.MS Dhoni has some tactics to discuss with Virat Kohli while Rishabh Pant looks on•Associated PressKohli has always had a vision as captain. While Dhoni might take charge at different points during a live game, Kohli is in control of the team, and has shaped it in his image. This World Cup will be his ultimate challenge. The squad is full of the men he wanted, fought for, and kept his faith in. He got all the resources he wanted and asked for. He even got the latest start of all teams, with India’s first match coming against a team playing its third game in a week. Now it’s for him to put all this to use, smartly.The long format of the tournament, where every match is important, will no doubt test Kohli’s mettle as a leader – not just his man-management skills, but also how flexible he is in his thought processes, how quickly he can conjure up plans in tight situations, which will pile up fast as the tournament moves towards its business end.A day before India’s World Cup opener, Kohli seemed at ease. He addressed a 22-minute-long media briefing without getting restless. Wearing his prescription glasses and white team T-shirt Kohli looked relaxed, and sounded confident and clear.Asked whether tomorrow, his first day as India’s captain in a World Cup, would be any different to all his other days on the cricket field, Kohli said no. “Honestly for me I have this feeling before every game I play. I can’t differentiate,” he said. “Obviously if you just say the word “World Cup” it brings a different kind of feeling to your mind and heart. Apart from that when you step onto the field as a cricketer you really think like you are stepping into a World Cup game.”Eventually you go and play the game of cricket. And that excitement and anticipation and bit of nerves is the right combination I have always had before every game that I play. 2011, 2015, similar kind of butterflies in your stomach. Even when you walk in to play in a Test match and you walk in at 10 for 2 you have the same kind of butterflies in your stomach. So that is a very consistent factor. I am just glad and it is going on.”Kuldeep Yadav and Virat Kohli celebrate a wicket•Associated PressIndia are favourites to win the tournament along with hosts England. Yet Kohli knows India can easily come second. Take the recent home series against Australia where his team led 2-0, and yet were surprised 3-2. Reviewing the series Kohli said the reason Australia won was because they played like one unit, poured more passion and energy in every situation, and showed the belief that they could win in any situation. India did not.Like any upcoming captain Kohli has made his own mistakes. Six months before the World Cup he said, with an air of certainty, that Ambati Rayudu would be his No.4. Against Australia, Rayudu was dropped eventually, and then the selectors left him out of the World Cup 15. Immediately after KL Rahul scored a century in the warm-up game against Bangladesh last week, Kohli said he would be the No. 4.Kohli can get excited. He admitted that leading at the World up is going to be his most challenging assignment. “Looking at the length and format of the tournament, yes, it will be tough for any captain including me, playing nine games. It is a long tournament. You are playing every side once.”And you have to think on your feet, you have to adapt very quickly. It is not a bilateral [series] or you are not playing a team twice where you can play them once and plan again and come back and play again. So you have to be precise, on that day make good decisions, stay ahead of the 8-ball. So from that point of view, yes, it will be a very, very challenging tournament.”To his advantage Kohli has a group of proven matchwinners. In Jasprit Bumrah he has possibly the best bowler in cricket today. In Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, he has two openers who can score big, blazing centuries. In Dhoni, he has the best glovesman in the tournament and a master strategist. In Hardik Pandya, he has an instinctive and ruthless batsman, who can turn the game in matter of a dozen deliveries. Then there are the two “pillars”, Kuldeep and Chahal, who can choke teams in the middle overs.KL Rahul goes for a sweep•IDI via Getty ImagesBut it is on days when these men are struggling that Kohli will need to bring to the fore more than just his intensity. He is only 30, but Kohli has a wealth of experience to fall back upon. “It is very gradual,” Kohli said on his growth as a captain. “The errors you would make when you are not that aware of game situations, they will slowly start to taper off as you play more and more cricket. What happens also is, when you have experienced people in your team, who have also grown with you as cricketers, eventually you all start making good decisions, you have discussions, you think of the right things.”Sometimes instinctively I would want to do something, which I will stick to, sometimes you go and discuss. It is important to find the right balance. It is important to try and make the right decision, but own up to your mistakes and accept the errors as well. Gradually, with time, everyone sort of understands that process well, which is happening to me slowly.”On every occasion he has spoken in the past month, Kohli has acknowledged the pressure every match in a World Cup will bring. The only way India can stay ahead, Kohli has repeatedly stressed, is by working as one and staying composed.In the past week India have managed to blend training with recreation – they have had team-bonding sessions involving paintball. Some might scoff at it, ask what adults are doing playing a child’s game. But sport is best enjoyed while invoking the inner child. Kohli understands this.Remember the unforgettable line Kohli delivered moments after Dhoni sealed the 2011 World Cup with a six? As he and his team-mates lifted Sachin Tendulkar onto their shoulders, Kohli said it was only fitting since Tendulkar had carried the burden of a billion dreams on his shoulders for more than two decades. Today that burden has moved to his shoulders.

Few batsmen get past 500 runs in an IPL season, which makes Virat Kohli’s 2016 aggregate all the more incredible

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Mar-201710. Shaun Marsh, 616 runs in 11 matches for Kings XI Punjab at 68.44, IPL 2008The IPL 2008 witnessed a phenomenal run-glut for the elder Marsh brother, after an Australian domestic first-class season in which he averaged 60.27. In just 11 games, he announced himself on the big stage with consistent displays of clean hitting at the top of the Kings XI order. He wasn’t one for cheeky scoops or ramp shots, as he put together five fifties and a hundred during his side’s run to the semi-final. A national call up to the ODI squad followed, and he has been a regular fixture since.9. Sachin Tendulkar, 618 runs in 15 matches at 47.53 for Mumbai Indians, IPL 2010In what was his most productive IPL season, Sachin Tendulkar extended his purple patch from his exploits in international cricket, after having become the first man to score a double hundred in an ODI. Some of his innings were a throwback to the ’90s, as he went about plundering bowling attacks consistently at a strike rate of over 150. Among the most memorable innings was an unbeaten 89 against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, where he went after Shane Warne, smashing him for three boundaries in an over.8. Virat Kohli, 634 runs in 16 matches at 45.28 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2013For all his success in international cricket, Virat Kohli was yet to have an outstanding run through an IPL season. While he had shown glimpses of consistency in his side’s run to the final in 2011, it was 2013 when he truly set the stage alight. In his first season as captain of the side, Kohli often rescued Royal Challengers when Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers had lean patches early in the season. When either of them succeeded, Kohli played second fiddle to perfection.7. Robin Uthappa, 660 runs in 16 matches at 44.00 for Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2014After a disastrous start in the league phase, Knight Riders won eight consecutive games, including the final, to clinch their second IPL title. Through this period, Uthappa went about setting an IPL record, with ten consecutive 40-plus scores at the top of the order. His outstanding season earned him a call up to India’s ODI tour to Bangladesh that year.AB de Villiers was in sublime form throughout IPL 2016•BCCI6. AB de Villiers, 687 runs in 16 matches at 52.84 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2016De Villiers’ otherworldly season with the bat, despite ticking almost every T20 batting box there is, was still second only to his captain Virat Kohli’s. Both batsmen set new standards in batting consistency in the shortest format. De Villiers struck one hundred and six fifties, as he and Kohli became the first ever T20 pair to hold two different 200-plus run partnerships. It is another matter that none of this was enough to hand them their first IPL title.5. Chris Gayle, 708 runs in 16 matches at 59.00 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2013Gayle’s standard in the IPL continued to improve with every season, and 2013 was another case in point. He scored 708 runs in the season, 175 of which came in game against Pune Warriors, and his 108 boundaries remain his personal best in nine seasons.4. Michael Hussey, 733 runs in 17 matches at 52.35 for Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2013By this point, Michael Hussey was a proven match-winner for Chennai Super Kings – a reliable presence who showed there is a place for the composed, steady run accumulator in this format. His longest and most productive season came in 2013, as he put on game-changing partnerships with M Vijay and Suresh Raina. All this, while playing perfectly proper shots.3. Chris Gayle, 733 runs in 15 matches at 61.08 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2012The Gayle of 2013 was no match for the Gayle of 2012, and his season strike rate of 160.74 after facing 456 balls explains why. The usual Gayle traits were there – monstrous sixes, punishing fours that felt like they deserved more for the effort, and the blistering starts at the top of the order. The only other thing worth mentioning, as a testament to his consistency, is the fact that neither of his two highest run-getting seasons were enough to win him the Man-of-the-Tournament award. The Gayle of 2011 was the winner on that front.David Warner was the most important contributor in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s march to their first IPL title•BCCI2. David Warner, 848 runs in 17 matches at 60.57 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2016It is fair to say that Sunrisers may not have won their first IPL title, if not for Warner’s single-handed match-winning performances. One of those came in the second qualifier, where his 93 not out was the difference in a tight chase against Gujarat Lions. Unlike his previous efforts, Warner hung around till deep in the innings, ready at hand to guide his side home.1. Virat Kohli, 973 runs in 16 matches at 81.08 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2016None of 2016’s batting stars came close to replicating one of the best batting seasons by an individual player in T20 history. In the process of breaking many records, Kohli also went past Suresh Raina’s run aggregate, making him the highest ever run-getter in IPL history. It was just another milestone in an incredible year for the India captain, having already been named the Player of the Tournament at the World T20 earlier in 2016.

The late Cricket Australia board director was passionate about politics and history, and his contribution to Australian sport extended beyond cricket

Daniel Brettig16-Dec-2015A friend tells a story about a conversation with John Bannon, in which the topic turned to running. This friend had endured a few Sydney “City2Surf” fun runs and was relating his struggles to cover the 14km distance. After listening patiently to these lamentations, Bannon said simply, “Yes, I used to do a bit of running myself.”Try 28 Adelaide Marathons, 11 in which he completed the journey in less than three hours, most of these while he was also occupied by the all-consuming job as premier treasurer of South Australia. In building a new and meaningful life after politics, Bannon would often surprise and delight with self-deprecating references to his former career. As Mark Kenny has written: “Bannon was actually a giant in Australian politics… It’s just he never said so.”Cricket had always been a major passion of Bannon’s, and his legbreaks are remembered fondly by fellow members of the St Peter’s Old Collegians cricket club in the Adelaide Turf Competition. But it was in his later years – even after a cancer diagnosis in 2007 – that Bannon made his greatest mark on the game.All those years in politics, and the traumatic experiences of his final term as premier amid the collapse of the State Bank, were brought to the service of Australian cricket via the boards of Cricket Australia and the South Australian Cricket Association. Bannon knew a thing or two, and while he would never impose his opinions, he added greatly to the knowledge and expertise of other administrators around him.

Bannon also served as Master of St Mark’s residential college, where young students and older dinner guests alike discovered his gifts as an orator, comedian and mimic

One such lesson was about the importance of personal relationships in making and keeping deals for major events. Bannon was the man who brought the Formula One Grand Prix to Australia when he reacted most favourably to the entreaties of the F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone in the early 1980s. Labor premiers John Cain in Victoria and Nevill Wran in New South Wales had hesitated, and it was the young first-termer Bannon who built a rapport with Ecclestone that intertwined the race’s status with his premiership.Ecclestone met Bannon at the Star Pub in Chessington, Surrey, where they mapped out a deal. Back then, Adelaide was a major beneficiary, being opened up to the world without paying anything like the race fees F1 now demands of host cities. Ecclestone, at the time recently installed as F1 chief after having worked as the team principal for Brabham, was grateful to form the alliance in a part of the world new to the sport.”John Bannon saw the advantage of advertising Adelaide to the rest of the world and took advantage of it,” Ron Walker, the former Australian Grand Prix chairman told Fairfax Media earlier this year. “They had it for ten good years. But Bernie had always said to him, ‘You can have this race for as long as you stay in office. The moment you lose an election or you retire, the race goes somewhere else.'”So it was that a change in government brought a change in the race venue, from Adelaide to Melbourne. Ecclestone tried to have Bannon sign a new contract for the race to extend its South Australian tenure, but by then Bannon was occupied by the weightier and messier business of the State Bank.This throws up another Bannon learning that SACA and CA board directors benefited from – the importance of personal responsibility and accountability.Bannon (far right) with former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke (far left) and fellow state premiers in 1989•Getty ImagesBannon paid a heavy price, taking the blame for the failure of the bank upon himself at a time when many others in positions of more direct import to the bank’s fortunes chose to sidestep the brickbats. In a heated moment on ABC radio in Adelaide during the worst of the fallout, Bannon’s former university colleague Keith Conlon exclaimed, “Some bastard’s got to wear this.” Bannon replied, “I am the bastard… and I am wearing it!” His departure from politics was unhappy but also honourable.Later, in an interview with the Adelaide University magazine , a publication he had once edited himself, he thought aloud about what was next: “Just how I fit in. I don’t know at this stage. I’ve just got to let that work through.” During his period of reflection, Bannon took in the 1994 Australian Test tour of South Africa, the first visit of the national team to that part of the world since the end of apartheid. In addition to never missing the Adelaide Test, he was a frequent attendee at overseas matches.Bannon chose to pivot into academia, penning a biography of former South Australia premier Sir John Downer, called , and devoting much of his time to the service of history. He also served as Master of St Mark’s residential college in North Adelaide, where young students and older dinner guests alike discovered his gifts as an orator, comedian and even a mimic: Churchill and Hitler were two particularly memorable turns.Wooed by the patrician Ian McLachlan to join the SACA board in 2001, Bannon was soon adding his intellect to cricket board discussion. Perhaps because he found himself playing a central role in so much of it, he was enduringly committed to ensuring the lessons of history were not allowed to fade away. During the CA governance debate, Bannon’s position was staunchly federalist but not without room to manoeuvre. He related later that he had always been in favour of the board’s reduction from 14 directors to nine, and that SA’s “undue” representation was fair game to be cut back.

Cricket had always been a major passion of Bannon’s, and his legbreaks are remembered fondly by fellow members of the St Peter’s Old Collegians cricket club in the Adelaide Turf Competition

But he baulked at the total separation of board members from states, out of the well-founded fear that it would cause the interests of the largest centres to be heard most frequently to the exclusion of others, and out of scepticism that the board would become a tool of CA management, not the other way around. He was gratified when a compromise was brokered to ensure the board had to include at least one director from each state: proudly, he was South Australia’s.The former chairman Wally Edwards said of Bannon: “He was a great contributor to the board. He had a sense of history and a great love of cricket. He kept us fellow board directors honest to the traditions of the game and the administration of the game.”I first met Bannon at the ITC Gardenia Hotel in Bangalore during Australia’s 2010 Test tour. His expression broadened into a grin when I mentioned my South Australian heritage, though it became a little wrier when I added that I had started my journalism career at the . We crossed paths regularly over the next few years; it was a happy coincidence that a first invitation to the LBW Trust chairman Darshak Mehta’s SCG Test dinner coincided with his delivery of its keynote address. His passion that night was palpable.Partly due to his words about the importance of history at that gathering, I contacted him directly with a problem I had heard about, to do with CA’s archives. Following the publication in 2007 of the board history , written by Gideon Haigh and David Frith, requests by others to peruse certain records had been declined on the basis they could not be located. Further investigations suggested that, after the book’s publication, many had been marked “D” for destroyed.Bannon was instrumental in bringing the Formula One Grand Prix to Australia. It kicked off in the 1980s in Adelaide, before moving to Melbourne•Getty ImagesTo Bannon, such a loss of history was anathema, and after we discussed it over coffee at the Art Gallery of South Australia in January last year, he promised to do all he could. The result was a board paper put together by Bannon and the former head of public affairs Peter Young that raised the issue and suggested means by which the collective memory of CA and the states might be organised and preserved.Later in the year he travelled to Scotland as a constitutional historian to observe and write about the independence referendum. At the same time he was also working on the SACA’s collection of artefacts and plans for a museum.”The aim is for the creation of a dedicated building or space for the SACA museum, perhaps combined with a cricket library or clubroom,” he said earlier this year. “It’s a big project and involves a lot of work, but it is very important it is done correctly. It must be located where members and the public can have easy access to it, and have enough space to do justice to our ever-growing collection. It is something I want to devote more time and energy to in my remaining term on the board.”We stayed in touch, and when I had the misfortune of being mugged in Dominica, he was prompt in writing an email to convey his hope that I was on the mend, adding: “There IS action on the archives matters we discussed – I haven’t stopped prodding…” As a result of the said prodding, a search of Melbourne located the CA archival material at several off-site locations dotted around the city, and they are now the subject of work by Young and Haigh that will ensure they are not allowed to fall into obscurity, disrepair and destruction.At that stage Bannon was still hopeful of making the trip to England for an Ashes Test or two. When I asked a few weeks later about his movements, I got a typically understated indication of the health issues that had been his near constant companions since 2007: he would be unable to make the trip. He did, however, offer a prescient observation ahead of Edgbaston. “Third Test will be the indicator of what are the strengths of the teams; forget about ‘doctored’ wickets, each side plays on the same strip and should be able to adapt.”That would turn out to be the story of the 2015 Ashes in a nutshell.Without fanfare, Bannon had offered his wisdom freely and well in advance of events, an experience shared by many whose lives he enriched.Australian cricket is immeasurably poorer for his loss, and it is up to those who knew him to ensure his many learnings about history, cricket and life are not forgotten.

Steadiness and stars continue to steer Tasmanian cricket into a bright future

Mike Bingham04-Nov-2014For a place that was founded in 1803 as a penal colony for thousands of British convicts, Hobart has come a long way. The Tasmanian capital is the nation’s second oldest city and is home to 220,000 people.The journey since 1803 has often been a struggle, given its isolation from the Australian mainland and lack of investment, but in recent times the gloom has given way to optimism and pride as Hobart and the entire island benefit from a clean, green image. The city’s small population is increasingly diverse, thanks largely to the century-old University of Tasmania, which is home to thousands of international students, including Chinese, Indians, Malaysians and Thais.The lifestyle is relaxed and the people are welcoming to visitors and have time to talk. No surprise in a city in which peak hour lasts all of 15 minutes. Australia’s smallest capital has a lot to offer, including an amazing and diverse range of restaurants, and a thriving arts scene.The inner city itself has escaped most of the modern development that swept away much of the colonial heritage architecture in places like Sydney and Melbourne. Instead, whole streetscapes retain touches of Georgian grandeur.With Mt Wellington (1271 metres) at its back and the broad Derwent river estuary creating a deep water harbour – rated by many as second only to Sydney – Hobart’s setting is spectacular. Each summer, the port hosts at least 40 cruise-ship visits.The mountain is a marvellous vantage point from which to look over Hobart and its surrounds. It is also a platform offering dramatic views of the vast south-western wilderness. The drive from the CBD takes about 30 minutes, but be prepared for the weather. Snow sometimes falls in summer.Some 45% of the state’s 26,000 square miles is set aside as reserves, national parks and World Heritage areas. The sky is pollution-free; the air is reckoned to be the cleanest and freshest in the world. The first thing most Hobartians do when returning to Hobart airport after travelling interstate or overseas is to take a deep breath and announce how happy they are to be home.

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One of the city’s showpieces is Blundstone Arena, formerly Bellerive Oval. It is the venue for three World Cup games – Zimbabwe v Ireland, Scotland v Sri Lanka, and Australia v Scotland.Less than 30 years ago, it was a dusty suburban ground. Today it is one of the world’s finest boutique stadiums, accommodating 20,000 spectators in a beautiful riverside setting on the city’s eastern shore.Its transformation was triggered by the cricket’s administrators’ decision in 1987-88 to transfer from the TCA (Tasmanian Cricket Association) ground on the Queens Domain, which had been its headquarters for more than 100 years. The ground is on a hill on the outskirts of the CBD and was notorious for chilly winds blasting down from the nearby Mt Wellington. Bails were often blown off and, during one game, a sightscreen was toppled.

Less than 30 years ago, Blundstone Arena was a dusty suburban ground. Today it is one of the world’s finest boutique stadiums, accommodating 20,000 spectators in a beautiful riverside setting on the city’s eastern shore

Cricket has a long and quirky history in Hobart. One of the earliest references to it is contained in the 1813 diary by a colonial clergyman, who mentioned he had seen gentlemen playing the game. It is thought that some early games were played in June and July, thus matching the English seasons. Presumably the players soon woke up to the fact that mid-winter in Hobart was a far cry from a glorious summer day at Lord’s.It was not until 1977 that Tasmania was admitted to the nationwide Sheffield Shield competition. Until then, the state’s first-class cricket options had been a few annual matches against some of the other states, and an occasional game against touring international teams. A bid to gain admission to the Shield competition in 1964 was rejected. The message became clear: cricket in Tasmania had been held back by regional rivalries on the island. At times, representative selections were split between the south (Hobart), north (Launceston) and north-west. Improved administration and a growing realisation of the need for change gradually overcame that obstacle.In 1969, Tasmania was included in the inaugural national one-day competition and, three years later, Lancashire allrounder Jack Simmons was recruited as captain. His tough and inspiring leadership shaped the emergence of Tasmania on the national stage. Between 1974 and 1979, Simmons lifted his players to two semi-finals and two finals, culminating in victory in 1978-79. Along the way, he identified a brilliant young talent in Launceston: David Boon. The emergence of the gritty and gifted opening batsman in the early 1980s put the state on the international map. A statue at Blundstone Arena honours the great man who scored a century against New Zealand at the venue in 1993.Simmons was followed by another experienced English county cricketer, Brian Davison, formerly of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), who continued to develop the professional approach. In more recent times, Launceston has also produced Ricky Ponting, Australia’s best batsman of the modern era and a fierce competitor. Add to that list George Bailey, the current state captain. The impact of the performances and leadership by those three players cannot be over-estimated.The recruitment of the likes of Dennis Lillee, Richard Hadlee, Shane Watson and Michael Holding added strength to the team and glamour to the game itself. Modern cricket is now established as the premier summer sport on the island.These days, recruiting concentrates on the other Sheffield Shield teams. Opening batsman Ed Cowan, from NSW, was starved of opportunities at home but has blossomed as a Test player in Tasmania. The traffic hasn’t been one-way. Former Tasmania keeper-batsman Matthew Wade is now captain of Victoria, having played second fiddle to Tim Paine.In recent years, Tasmanian cricket has continued to punch well above its weight, having won the Sheffield Shield three times, plus a string of national one-day competitions. And Hobart Hurricanes excelled in the 2014 Champions League, helped by the fact that numerous state players are regulars in the IPL.Australian players have the reputation of being take-no-prisoners competitors, and Tasmanians adopt the same approach. For the administrators, the role of the Sheffield Shield competition is to develop players for the Test team. For the Tasmanian players, it’s a chance to take on the best and win. They say Test matches are tough gigs. Take your place in a stand at Blundstone Arena during a Shield game and you will see where the preparation for that challenge begins.The 2015 World Cup matches in Hobart will provide another huge boost to cricket and carry the beauty of the city to an international audience.

A young team will have to put the contracts crisis behind it and look to secure Sri Lanka’s future

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Galle07-Mar-2013When Angelo Mathews accepted the Test and ODI captaincy three weeks ago, he spoke of the joy he felt at his appointment and the exciting possibilities he envisioned for a team attempting regeneration. If there was any naivety in Mathews’ reckoning of what it would be like to captain Sri Lanka then, it will have been slammed out of him by what transpired in the past week. Before he has even had one Test at the helm, he has been put through the fire of a board lock-out, and had his tact and loyalties examined thoroughly.It would be a difficult episode for even the most seasoned leader to see his side through, but for Mathews it is a monumental task. Less than a week after essentially having their status as national cricketers stripped from them and being cornered into signing away a chunk of their earnings, his men now must to gird themselves and begin a full tour.Among several compounding factors for Mathews is the inexperience of his team. A new selection panel has brought a fervent focus on youth, and as a result, Sri Lanka’s top seven will have to field at least four batsmen who have played fewer than ten Tests. Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan may have developed the ability to empty their heads of events even as disruptive as the contracts crisis when they are at the crease, but the younger crop is more likely to be psychologically susceptible. Sri Lanka are lucky it is not one of the more verbal teams in cricket who are touring, because as far as sledging goes, there is plenty of powder to pack into cannons at present. Mathews will miss the wisdom of Mahela Jayawardene too, who is not with the squad, as he navigates his first assignment.There is also less room for error now in this series. For months forces within SLC had worked to portray the players as pampered and indisciplined, and last weekend’s events have only helped to advance those sentiments among many in the public. Lasith Malinga’s impolite interactions with media have not helped endear players to fans either. Mathews must know now that his side is only one loss to Bangladesh away from the scathing criticism from some turning into widespread vitriol. It is not difficult to see that what once shaped as a straightforward series for the hosts has now become a minefield with consequences both in and away from the cricket itself.It is a pity that the pay dispute has overshadowed the build-up to the tour, because in many ways, this series is a new dawn for Sri Lanka. Not only has a new leadership group been identified and appointed, for first time in years the hype does not revolve around the senior players in the side. In the team’s last Test in Sydney, the three batsmen under 25 played excellent innings, and as a result, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne are all set for long stints in the top Test XI, as long as they can score heavily enough to justify their places.More talent waits beyond the youngsters who have already tasted international cricket. Kithuruwan Vithanage has given himself a chance of being picked for the Tests with his 168 not out from 165 balls against a full-strength Bangladesh attack in the Matara tour match. Tharindu Kaushal is the latest outrageous spin talent in the country, having reaped six five-wicket hauls in five first-class matches in his debut season so far. The selectors have already suggested that others like middle-order batsman Angelo Perera, who has scored quickly and heavily for several seasons now, may be in line to earn a place during the limited-overs leg.Though uncertainty might define the approach to the series for Mathews, he still has potential trump cards in hand as well. Sangakkara is returning from injury, but after a dismal series against New Zealand and a frustratingly brief one against Australia, he is unlikely to want anything less than thorough success, and if his monstrous home record against Bangladesh is anything to go by, the visitors may be in for wearisome stints in the field. Bangladesh batsmen may have been weaned on left-arm spin at home, but playing Rangana Herath in Galle has been a test few batsmen have convincingly passed in recent years, and even in their current state, Sri Lanka will be distraught if they do not walk out of their favourite venue with a handy win.Before the contracts crisis broke open, Mathews had reiterated in the press that Bangladesh is not an opponent his team can take lightly. There is suddenly much more on the line now, and for a bold, new Sri Lanka, it is a series through which they must assure themselves, and the public, that all is well, and the future is secure.

A statistical analysis of the trends across the four 500-Test periods

Madhusudhan Ramakrishnan20-Jul-2011Exponential increase in the number of matches
The most noticeable trend has been the proliferation of Test matches in recent times. While the 1000th match was played only as far back as 1984, nearly 107 years after the first match in 1877, the next 1000 matches have been played in 27 years at a rate of nearly 37 Tests per year. The first 500-Test period was spread across 83 years (10 years lost due to war) with an average of just over six Tests per year, while the second and third set of 500 Tests were played in 24 and 16 years respectively. However, the rate of Tests per year in the second (20) and third periods (31) is much lower than the extraordinary rate of nearly 45 Tests per year in the last 11 years.Better batting conditions
In the early phase of Test cricket, a number of matches were played on uncovered pitches, and hence the period witnessed a number of low-scoring games. In 408 completed team innings before the first World War (1877-1913), there were 53 scores below 100 (13% of total completed innings). In contrast, in the last phase of 500 Tests (2000-2011), teams have been bowled out for less than 100 on only 43 occasions out of 1265 completed innings (3.3%). Till the turn of the 19th century, teams were scoring at just over 22 runs per wicket, a figure that gradually rose to over 33 in the 1920s. Except for the 1950s, the runs-per-wicket figure has generally remained above 30 in every decade after the 1920s. In matches before the first World War (1877-1913), the average rate of hundreds was one every 36 innings, whereas in the second phase of the first 500-Test period (1914-1960), centuries were scored at a much quicker rate of one every 20 innings. As batting got a lot easier in the subsequent decades, centuries were scored at a rate of one every 20 innings in the second and third 500-Test periods. In the fourth one, the innings-per-century figure is the lowest (17.02), a rate nearly 20% quicker than the overall average (20.39).The other major change has been the scoring rate. What used to hover around the 2.50 mark till the mid-1980s has soared to more than 3.20 runs per over, thanks largely to the advent of limited-overs cricket.

• Don Bradman scored 29 centuries in 80 Tests (innings-per-century figure of 2.75). Among batsmen who have scored at least 15 centuries, Clyde Walcott (4.93), Herbert Sutcliffe (5.25) and Everton Weekes (5.40) follow Bradman. Tendulkar is fifth, with a century every 5.68 innings.
• Bradman also has the best conversion rate of fifties to centuries (hundreds to fifties ratio of 2.23 ) followed by Walcott (1.07) and Mohammad Azharuddin (1.04).
• Charles Bannerman’s innings of 165 out of a team total of 245 in the first Test constituted 67.34% of the completed team total. This still remains a record for the highest percentage of runs in a completed team innings.
• In the second 500-Test period, 12 batsmen scored 2000-plus runs against a particular opposition. Among these batsmen, Sunil Gavaskar has the best average (65.45 against West Indies) followed by Ken Barrington and Garry Sobers, who have averages of 63.96 and 61.28 against Australia and England respectively.

*Result percentage on the rise
The reduction in the number of drawn Tests has been one of the biggest changes in Test cricket over the last decade. In the 499 Tests that have been played since June 16, 2000, only 128 have been drawn, which is a percentage of 25.65. That’s easily the lowest among the four periods. In particular, the percentages have been very low for matches played in Australia and South Africa – in both cases they’re well under 20%. Steve Waugh, who led Australia in 57 Tests, won 41 and drew just seven (12%).Only eight of the 129 Tests played in Australia between 1877 and 1960 were drawn, but this was mainly to do with the fact that most Tests played in Australia in the years before the second World War were Timeless Tests. A few matches in England, West Indies and South Africa were also played to the finish, but these do not significantly affect the draw percentages in those countries. The runs-per-wicket figure was highest in the West Indies and India in this period, which also corresponds with fairly high draw percentages in these countries (54% and 46%).Even after the Timeless Test concept was abandoned, the draw percentage in Australia continued to stay much lower than in other countries. In the second 500-Test period, India and Pakistan had the highest averages and draw percentages. West Indies’ top-class bowling attack meant that the draw percentage in the Caribbean fell rapidly in the 1980s and early 1990s, but over the last decade it has gone up again.

• Clive Lloyd led West Indies to 23 away wins in Tests, the most by an individual captain. Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh are joint second, with 19 wins each.
• Among head-to-head contests that have featured at least 20 matches, the lowest draw percentage is 21.29% in Australia-West Indies Tests followed by Australia-South Africa (21.68%).
• There have been eight occasions when teams have reversed a lead of 200 runs or more at the end of the second innings and gone on to win the match. Apart from the 2006 Oval Test which was forfeited, the highest deficits overcome have been 291 by Australia against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1992 and 274 by India against Australia in Kolkata in 2001.

** The low draw percentage in Australia in the first period is predominantly due to the Timeless Tests.
* In the second period (1960-1984), only ten Tests were played in Sri Lanka, of which two were draws.Australia’s dominance and West Indies’ sharp fall

In the initial years when Australia and England were the dominant sides, matches against the other weaker sides, including South Africa, India and West Indies, were hardly challenging. While England dominated the head-to-head contests before the first World War, Australia were the better side between the wars predominantly due to the extraordinary batting achievements of Bradman, who scored 15 centuries at an average of 91.42 against England in the same period. In the years after the second World War, West Indies became a force to contend with and set the precedent for a highly-successful period by contesting a closely fought series in Australia in 1960-61. West Indies completely dominated the second half of the 1970s, and the 1980s. They won two consecutive series against England by 5-0 margins in 1984 and 1985-86 and did not lose a single Test series between 1980 and 1995. Following their historic series win in the Caribbean in 1995, Australia embarked on a remarkable run. They maintained a win-loss ratio of 3.37 in matches played since 2000, and set a record for winning 16 consecutive Tests on two different occasions.Until Sourav Ganguly took over the captaincy, India were a dominant side in home Tests, but a very poor team in away matches. Following their return from the ban, South Africa dominated every team except Australia before finally winning their first ever Test series in Australia in 2008-09. On the other hand, West Indies endured a torrid time in the 2000s with their win-loss ratio of 0.23 among the worst in cricket history. Australia, by far, have been the most successful team across the four periods and their high average difference (difference between batting and bowling averages) and excellent win-loss ratio shows how strong they have been.

• Between 1980 and 1995, West Indies played in 29 series without a single series defeat, a record for most consecutive Test series played without a single series defeat. Australia are second with 16 consecutive series between 2001 and 2005 without defeat.
• Among teams that have played at least 20 matches at a particular venue, Pakistan have the best win-loss ratio of 10.50 in Karachi (21 wins and two losses). Australia are next, with a win-loss ratio of 4.00 in Brisbane (32 wins and eight losses).
• Australia have successfully chased 300-plus targets on eight occasions, the most by any team. West Indies are second, having achieved the feat on five occasions.

Spin back in favour
A combination of uncovered pitches and quality spinners meant that spin contributed significantly to the wickets tally in the first 500-Test period. Nearly 34% of the total wickets fell to spinners, and almost 14% to bowlers who bowled a mix of pace and spin. The classification of bowlers was much more distinct and acccurate in later years, and hence the low percentage of wickets contributed by the bowlers in the ‘mixed/unknown’ category. From the second 500-Test period onwards, pace bowlers dominated the wickets tally and picked up over 60% of the total wickets to fall. In the period between 1984 to 2000 (Tests 1001-1500), pitches were more pace-friendly, and there was a dearth of quality spinners. As a result, the role of spin was drastically reduced and fast bowlers picked up more than twice as many wickets as spinners in that period. However, the presence of Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Muttiah Muralitharan ensured that the contribution of spinners rose again to nearly 33% in the last 500-Test period.

After the first period of 500 Tests (1877-1960), most grounds in Australia and England offered little support for spinners. In the years before the first World War, five of the top ten bowlers were spinners, and the success for spinners continued in the years between the two World Wars. Between 1914 and 1939, Clarrie Grimmett and Bill O’Reilly formed a highly potent spin combination for Australia. They picked up over 65% (169 out of 259) wickets to fall in the 15 matches they played together between the wars. Hedley Verity, a victim of the Second World War, was another outstanding spinner in the same period. He dismissed Don Bradman eight times in 17 Tests, the most times that Bradman has been dismissed by a bowler. However, spinners lost the hold in the second 500-Test period. Their percentage contribution fell under 30 in Australia and just over 21 in England. Pace bowlers dominated the wickets tally in New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies too in the same period. India and Pakistan, however, remained the best for spin, with spinners picking up over 47% of the total wickets in these two countries. The spin quartet from India picked up 853 wickets, contributing over 18% of the total wickets picked up by spinners in the same period.Even as spinners’ contribution fell in England and South Africa in the subsequent phase (1984-2000), the corresponding number rose to nearly 55% in India. The rise of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in the late 1980s meant that pace once again dominated the scene in Pakistan. Warne, who made his debut in 1992, picked up nearly half the total number of wickets that fell to spinners in Australia in Tests between 1992 and 2000. Muralitharan, Test cricket’s highest wicket-taker, was utterly dominant in home Tests. He picked up 364 wickets in 48 Tests at an average just over 18 in the fourth 500-Test period. In the 1970s and 1980s, West Indies relied almost exclusively on pace, as only 16% of wickets fell to spin. But with the quality of their pace attack declining and the pitches becoming more docile, spinners were much more effective on West Indian tracks in later years and picked up close to 30% of the total wickets.

• Muralitharan is the only bowler to pick up 100-plus wickets at a single venue. Remarkably, he has achieved the feat at three different venues (SSC, Kandy and Galle).
• Shane Warne has picked up 195 wickets against England, the most by a bowler against an opponent. Dennis Lillee and Curtly Ambrose are next, with 167 and 154 wickets respectively against England.
• Javagal Srinath holds the record for the best match bowling performance in a defeat with 13 for 132 against Pakistan in Kolkata in 1999.

Praveen Kumar’s tidy performance against Sri Lanka showed up the misery of Munaf Patel

Dileep Premachandran26-Feb-2008
Praveen Kumar’s tidy performance contrasted with another miserable day for Munaf Patel © Getty Images
Watching Munaf Patel bowl in his first Test match at Mohali was a bit like reading the first page of a novel that hinted at greatness. It wasn’t thatIndia hadn’t produced fast bowlers before him, but here was a young man taking his first steps on the big stage as though he belonged there.After his retirement, Javagal Srinath admitted that it had taken him years to learn the right length to bowl. Munaf, by contrast, seemed to have an instinctive feel for which length to bowl to which batsman. He took seven English wickets in the game, and showed off many skills along the way.Seeing an Indian bowler nudge the speedometer past 145 kph was rare enough, but in Munaf’s case, it was accompanied by movement with the new ball, reverse-swing, lethal yorkers and even a clever slower ball. With a wiry frame and an easy rhythmic action, India appeared to have stumbled on the man who could lead their attack for the best part of a decade.Watch him bowl less than two years on, and you find it hard to believe you’re not watching an impostor. The pace is gone, the yorkers are nowhere to be seen, and the only movement on view is the swing of the batsman’s bat before the ball disappears. Apart from one over where he had Kumar Sangakkara edging over slip and then inside-edging just short of the ‘keeper, Munaf’s spell was an exercise in listlessness.Even when he returned to the fray with only Chamara Kapugedera and the tail to bowl at, he was ineffectual, merely bowling length and getting hit for his troubles. At times, the pace dropped to 120 kph, sad when you consider that it wasn’t even an attempted slower ball.It’s hard to put a finger on where things have gone wrong for Munaf. After that superb debut, he went on to excel during a tour of the Caribbean. Since then though, he has seldom been anything more than a passenger. The headlines he’s made have been for poor fitness and dismal fielding, and a whole assortment of pace bowlers had gone past him in the pecking order.Munaf’s travails at the Bellerive Oval were in stark contrast to the success enjoyed by Praveen Kumar. A star at domestic level, Praveen might have been lost to international cricket if he hadn’t been selected in the squad for the Pakistan series last November. At the time, he had an offerfrom the Indian Cricket League, and he would most likely have said yes if the door had been shut on him yet again.Born into a family of wrestlers, Praveen has had to grapple for every chance that’s come his way. He’s no Brett Lee and his batting skills are rudimentary at best, but he’s made the most of whatever ability he has. Asked to open the batting for Uttar Pradesh when they won the Ranji Trophy two seasons ago, he often produced telling cameos, before returning topick up key wickets with the ball.This season, he played a huge part in the team’s run to the final, picking up eight wickets against Delhi, albeit in a lost cause. It was that performance, against a team that included Gautam Gambhir, that probably clinched his seat on the plane to Australia.He hadn’t taken a wicket in his previous two one-day outings, and there was certainly an element of complacency in Sangakkara’s leisurely charge down the wicket. It wasn’t a great ball, but his opponent’s impetuousness gave Praveen the breakthrough that he must have dreamt about for two seasons at least.After that, he bowled like a man with belief. Mahela Jayawardene’s wicket arrived gift-wrapped thanks to a wonderful low catch from Rohit Sharma at point, and was followed by a magnificent delivery to Chamara Silva. From just short of a length, it kicked like a mule and moved away a touch to take the outside edge. A splendid catch from Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the last act, and Praveen had his first three-wicket haul at this level.What it also did was set the game up for India. From 1 for 72, Sri Lanka lost 6 for 21, and only Kapugedera’s defiance saved them from abject humiliation. And while Praveen took the wickets, it was Irfan Pathan that tightened the noose, giving nothing away in a tremendous spell that alsosnared Sanath Jayasuriya.With Ishant Sharma and Praveen going on to pick up four-fors, Munaf’s woes were even more painful to behold. There was the customary misfield too, and the cruel barb from the commentary team, and watching him, you couldn’t help but think of an explorer without a map.India’s pace stocks may be in rude health right now, but it simply cannot afford to let Munaf slip through the net. When he takes charge in a few days time, Gary Kirsten, along with Venkatesh Prasad, the bowling coach, must make his rehabilitation top priority. The eyes certainly weren’tplaying tricks on that March morning in Mohali two years ago, and such special talent must be allowed to find its way.

Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne is set to link up with Scott McTominay in Serie A after agreeing a two-year deal with champions Napoli.

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Belgian star agrees transfer to NapoliLeaving Man City on free transferWill sign two-year deal with Serie A championsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Belgium international has now given the green light to a move to Italy and is set to jet out for a medical with Napoli, according to. De Bruyne will sign a two-year deal, with an option for an extra year, following his departure from Manchester City.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

De Bruyne had attracted interest from teams in MLS but has opted to continue his career in Europe with Napoli. His arrival will be a big boost to the club following their stunning Serie A title win last season and he will link up with former Manchester United midfielder McTominay at the Italian side. The Scot enjoyed a brilliant campaign in 2024-25 and played a key role in Napoli's title success, scoring 12 league goals.

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During his time at Manchester City, De Bruyne provided the most assists in Europe's top five leagues across all competitions: 170 in 422 appearances.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR DE BRUYNE

De Bruyne is said to have already bought a house in Naples and will now complete his free transfer to Antonio Conte's side. The 33-year-old will enjoy a summer break before linking up with his new team-mates for the start of their Serie A title defence.

MatériaMais Notícias

Leonel Di Plácido desembarcou na manhã desta quinta-feira no Rio de Janeiro para realizar exames médicos e assinar contrato com Botafogo. O lateral-direito chega por empréstimo junto ao Lanús até dezembro deste ano com opção de compra fixada no término do vínculo.

Caso seja aprovado nos exames médicos, Di Plácido será a quarta contratação do Glorioso para a temporada. O lateral estava previsto para chegar no Rio no último domingo, mas por questão de logística, acabou desembarcando somente nesta quinta.

+Copa do Brasil começou! Saiba as premiações fase a fase até o título

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+Conheça Leonel Di Plácido, lateral que está na mira do Botafogo

– Já estou aqui no Aeroporto do Rio e estou muito feliz de poder jogar no Botafogo. É um clube muito grande e de muita história, estou entusiasmado para jogar aqui e conhecer meus companheiros – afirmou Di Plácido diretamente do aeroporto em entrevista ao “ge”.

O jogador tem 29 anos e disputou as últimas seis temporadas pelo Lanús.O argentino iniciou a carreira no All Boys e também teve passagem pelo Atlético Tucumán. A velocidade e força ofensiva são as principais características do atleta.

MatériaMais Notícias

Os planos do gestor da SAF do Botafogo, John Textor, são ambiciosos. Em entrevista ao portal “Gigante Glorioso” nesta quarta-feira, ele assegurou que o Alvinegro terá um nível de investimento alto para a atual temporada. Segundo Textor, as críticas não o intimidam.

– Não vou passar mais um ano preocupado com medos. Minha mente não funciona assim. Não cedi quando queriam que eu demitisse um bom treinador e não me importo com cenários de medo que não sejam precisos. Acredito que a grande maioria dos torcedores confia no processo, e há uma parte significativa do nosso torcedor base que nunca ficará satisfeita. Só posso aparecer e fazer o bom trabalho – disse.

RelacionadasBotafogoDestaque na estreia na Copinha, lateral Jefinho exige Botafogo atento para manter boa sequênciaBotafogo04/01/2023BotafogoBotafogo tem interesse na contratação do lateral-direito que joga no Mallorca, da EspanhaBotafogo04/01/2023

O gestor ainda fez uma promessa em relação ao planejamento do clube.

– Nosso nível de investimento será top-6 novamente este ano. Vamos nos fortalecer com atletas mais jovens. E vamos melhorar – garantiu.

O fato do Botafogo ter de cancelar a pré-temporada no exterior devido a exigências do regulamento do Carioca foi minimizado por John Textor. O gestor alvinegro foi veemente.

-Não vou começar uma briga pública com a diretoria do futebol carioca. Regras são regras. A Ferj é nosso corpo diretivo, gostemos ou não – assegurou.