Afghanistan’s coach is a teacher par excellence. “Coaching is educating,” he says

Jarrod Kimber11-Mar-2015Andy Moles was discarded by New Zealand. And Scotland. Kenyan cricket collapsed while he was there. And he has been overlooked by England. Moved on from county cricket. There are reasons, there are stories. But Moles hadn’t coached at international level in four years before Afghanistan brought him in.Moles is a product of the day-in, day-out county machine. He is a born and bred Warwickshire trophy winner. He’s played in more matches than most people will ever see. He probably knows which services on the M1 have the best pastries. There isn’t a surface type he hasn’t played on, a bowling trick he hasn’t encountered or a match situation he hasn’t lived through. His brain is an encyclopedia of cricket experiences. He is a direct disciple of Bob Woolmer.Moles is the man the English and international games moved on from, and so he went to one of the most dangerous places on earth to take his last chance, and now he has a team dangerous enough to beat the dispirited team of his birth.It is quite a change for Moles. The life of an international sporting coach doesn’t come with strict guidelines about only eating in your hotel and watching out for kidnapping threats. But for Moles, much like this team, this is seen as a last chance to prove that he belongs at this level. Both are fighting for their future. A win over England, even this England, will help with that.”Out bullied” is the phrase Andy Moles used when Afghanistan lost to Australia. This was not an accidental phrase. He had used bully many times in the lead-up to the match. “Afghanistan have been a bit of a bully in Associate cricket. They are bigger, stronger and they hit harder. Now we’re playing the bigger teams and they’re going to try bully us. This is an opportunity to show character and heart.”Moles is a teacher, bullying was his lesson from the WACA.”Boys, are you okay? Have you done your stretches, are you rotating amongst yourselves? Don’t kill yourself. Look after each other. It’s a hot day.” That is Andy Moles. To the net bowlers. Not his team. Not young men he has met before. But this is Andy Moles. A teacher. A coach. A parental force. The net bowlers, most in their teens or their early 20s, wait for Moles to move away and then chat about how they should rotate.”They’re responsible for their game, I’m just here to give them a benefit of my experience of playing and coaching around the world,” says Moles.There is so much talent in the Afghanistan team. Even when they collapsed against New Zealand to 59 for 6, they still made 186 against one of the best bowling attacks in this World Cup.Their talent has not even been fully squeezed out in the matches yet. His players are capable of almost anything. You see it in the nets every time they play. Their batsmen have the ability to take almost any ball and just destroy it. Net bowlers across Australia and New Zealand have stood at the back of the nets, yelling “shot” on a seemingly continuous loop. The only time their batting has been tested in the nets is when their bowlers come on. “What do we do, we play straight,” is Moles’ much-repeated phrase.Moles doesn’t over-coach his players. “They’re responsible for their game. I’m just here to give them a benefit of my experience of playing and coaching around the world.” A bowler wants to have a rest, he tells Moles he is too tired to go on. Moles asks him if he wants to bowl another over, just so he knows he can bowl even when he’s that tired. His bowler agrees. “That is your area, never leave there.” The bowler is Dawlat Zadran. He listens intently as Moles talks to him, and then jokes to Hassan out of earshot. The next day, against Australia, Zadran bowls an extended spell in the WACA heat where he stays in the right area.

“Here they’ve not played much cricket, they’re naïve at times to the technical and tactical parts of games. So I’m trying to expose them to a different way of thinking, a different train of thought. It is an education”

At times you would think that Moles’ job is nets supervisor. Unlike other coaches, he doesn’t stand at the back of the nets or have long talks with people. He puts up the coaching aids. “We need a spinner over here. How are you feeling? Good, well go into the last net.” He places the shoes down for yorker practice. He gets the balls out for each net. He makes sure the right bowlers are tackling the right batsmen. He moves from place to place, a few quick words, “15 minutes”.There are times when it’s as if he’s organising a school fete and not coaching an international cricket team.When the umpires come into the nets to do their umpiring sighters the day before the game, Moles chats to them all like old friends. He introduces his bowlers and his captain to them as well. When Hassan is waiting for a hit, he yells out that if he doesn’t get in now, he won’t get a hit. “Five minutes boys, and then we’re done.”Then Moles goes on to the interviews. Moles gives more interviews than other coaches. If you stop him, he’ll give you five minutes. He knows part of his job is to promote this team. He knows that this might be the last job he has where people want to ask him things.Moles is in the Perth sun talking to another journalist about “the story of his boys”. Moles is asked this a lot. Moles gives the reporter what he needs. He talks about their personal toughness and their toughness as cricketers. He talks about what they have overcome and their new challenges. “I promote them to ask questions. Why are we doing this? I want them to challenge me as I’m trying to challenge them. And that is the learning environment.”Around him, someone jokes that they heard a story that the Afghan players were asked about what they liked in Australia and they replied, “the women”. Yet, in this environment, it is the cricketers who are the attraction. Their stories, their pace, their hair, their headbands. They are at times cricket fetish items. Objects of lust and cricket satisfaction. Their lives have never been more different to the old stories told about them.The refugee-camp days are their memories. Now they have to stop for selfies, tell stories about their childhood, meet politicians, learn what representing their country means, and deal with celebrity. And play cricket.”The last job I did before here, I worked with an NGO in Cape Town with disadvantaged people. That was about building people. And I see this as the exact same challenge. If we build human beings to get them to understand the need to take responsibility, to know their role in the side – don’t blame others, don’t make excuses – if we bring all that alongside play straight, watch your grip, keep your balance when batting…”As Moles chats to another reporter, a player walks by. He is flanked by a no-nonsense WACA security officer. But the player is smiling. He sees that Moles is trying to give a detailed answer, so he stamps his studs on the ground as loud as he can, while walking in a funny manner. He also makes funny faces as he walks past. Moles doesn’t react at all. He ignores the silliness and focuses on talking about cricket. The player is the captain, Mohammad Nabi.”I want them to challenge me as I’m trying to challenge them. And that is the learning environment”•Associated PressAfghanistan’s cricket is not as good as it could be. Some of the players turned up nearly 10kg heavier for their pre-World Cup camp than they should be as professional athletes. They still have too many fielders who don’t seem to know how to dive. They lost a bowler from running on the pitch after seven balls. They follow up perfect yorkers with a bucket of full tosses. Their batsmen stroke the ball with ease, before bludgeoning their own innings to death.”Every coaching job has it’s own challenges. Here they’ve not played much cricket, they’re naïve at times to the technical and tactical parts of games. So I’m trying to expose them to a different way of thinking, a different train of thought. It is an education.”Education is never far away. You get the feeling that at times Moles is trying to educate the press as to the difference between his players and a player from England, or even a player from Scotland. “We were here in September and four of our guys were caught pushing at the ball by the second slip. Other people who come here have a knowledge and an understanding. Whereas these guys don’t really have that knowledge of history, of what happens at the WACA. Their backgrounds sometimes mean they don’t even have TVs.”There have been times in the nets when you are watching international-quality cricket, and at others it seems that you are watching a bunch of kids learning the game. Shapoor was bowling no-balls in the nets. Moles went over and asked him if he was sure he had measured his run-up correctly. Shapoor then measured his run again, changed it slightly, and stopped bowling no-balls. The word “responsibility” was used by Moles. Shapoor had learnt his lesson.Moles often sits the team down and takes them through a new cricket skill. Something they should already know but don’t. “A lot of the basic things that most 19-20-year-olds have from watching TV, from being exposed to quality coaching, these guys haven’t got that. It’s about dropping teardrops of ideas every now and again. When you think they’re ready for it, you drop another idea. If two or three of them think it’s good and one doesn’t, fine, I’ve got no issue with that, but later I’ll drop another piece of information. It’s their game, it’s not my game. Coaching is about trust, and if I give them information that they buy into and they change their bowling action and have a loss of form, they could lose their place in the side”.Moles is training his boys differently from the other 13 teams. It is more classroom than cricket net. As he says, “Coaching is educating.”

If there was any doubt that New Zealand would keep attacking, their captain’s first ball made the answer clear and the spirit of adventure was addictive

David Hopps at Headingley29-May-20151:01

‘I can’t complain, I got 88’ – Ronchi

There are critics back in New Zealand who suspect that Brendon McCullum’s commitment to enterprising cricket is as much driven by his desire to perpetuate his reputation as a “media darling” as a meaningful plan to lead New Zealand to a better Test future. It is the most mean-spirited of conclusions, but even the unadulterated happiness of the Lord’s Test, it seems, has not brought universal delight.As Headingley relished the Lord’s aftershocks – witnessing another enthralling and unstable day of Test cricket – such carping seemed entirely out of kilter with the prevailing mood. This ground might be Test cricket’s version of the now largely-departed northern Working Men’s Clubs where the pitches and the audience can be notoriously demanding and happy-go-lucky is not to be tolerated, but times are changing: they know value for money when they see it, even if some will have been left so disorientated by the experience of 297 for 8 at more than 4.5 an over that they might have caught the wrong bus home.As for McCullum, he had an immediate riposte to those who view his attacking approach as a sign of weakness. His first ball, from Stuart Broad, was full and inviting and so he planted it into the crowd at cover. One ball faced, six runs scored. In one hearty thwack, he had pronounced there would be no let-up in the attitude which in a single Lord’s Test has arguably made these New Zealand tourists the most popular ever to set foot in England. New Zealand cricketers with attitude: why ever not?Unfortunately for McCullum, there was not just one retort but two. The second did not go awfully well. His first ball after tea, from Ben Stokes, was also full and inviting and this time he deposited it into the grateful hands of Mark Wood at mid-off. Cue more talk no doubt of the baleful influence of Twenty20 on New Zealand’s captain, or of how a side that reached the World Cup final no longer has patience for the longer form of the game.”The next guy in can get a bit twitchy when they see Baz hit the first ball for six,” was the assessment of Luke Ronchi, a one-day slugger on Test debut at 34, and whose 88 from 70 balls could not have come under a captain whose philosophy suited him more than McCullum. It was the sort of debut that might have left him stricken by nerves. Instead he struck the fastest Test fifty Headingley has ever seen.”It is the way he is doing it and you can’t stop him. He plays some amazing shots and sometimes he plays some other sort of shots. He is telling people to play freely and enjoy what they are doing. He is certainly doing that. I can’t see it changing anytime soon.”When McCullum departed, with 41 from 28 balls to his name, and wearing a black armband to mark the death of his grandfather, his exasperation will have been solely over a legitimate shot, badly executed. First ball of a session? Traditionally, a time to reassess, reacquaint, settle in. But you could have said the same thing about the first ball of an innings. Both deliveries were there to be hit. It was just that he made a mess of the second one.’Happy little court jesters’ was one scathing assessment of New Zealand’s Lord’s display, their status as the No. 3 ranked side in Test cricket conveniently turned against them. But these are two sides naturally designed for attacking cricket: both Wood and Stokes, two members of England’s pace attack, bowl attacking lengths. As James Anderson, an old fox who must have looked on with wonder as he passed 400 Test wickets, said: “It all depends on the players you have in the team: there are guys on both sides who naturally play attacking cricket. You can’t help but admire the way they play.”Considering that they had lost a dangerous toss, New Zealand’s progress seemed unreal. They certainly came out rather well compared to their last appearance on this ground two years ago when they were dismissed for 174 and 220 and attracted only limited interest along the way. Then, it is fair to say, the Test did not dominate conversation in Leeds bars. But if things continue like this it might get a mention or two. Everybody likes a good scrap.McCullum spoke after that Test about the self-doubt that has characterised much of New Zealand’s thinking as a Test nation. They made 669 runs in four innings in England, routed for 68 at Lord’s, and were eighth in the Test rankings. In their last eight Tests in England, they had rescued a draw amid seven defeats. For most of their Test history, they have been in the doldrums.Since then, they are unbeaten in their last six series, during which time they have found unity and conviction. Enterprise has paid off. Interest has been stirred, wins have been logged. An underlying sense of their own inadequacy has been banished.Under McCullum, they dare to look the opposition in the eye as equals. At 264 for 5, with Ronchi and Tom Latham assembling a chaotic stand of 120 in 24 overs, and opportunities going begging by the minute, their ambition had come close to running England ragged. At 1-0 down in a two-Test series, with rain about, circumstances also justified their approach. Even now, England will be grateful for a good Saturday forecast and expectations of the best batting conditions of the match.Ambition can quicken the development of young New Zealand players, batsmen with the promise of Latham, who warmed up his cut shot against some early dross from Wood, England’s sprinter-bowler, and played pretty responsibly after that until his innings deteriorated quite spectacularly with five let-offs in the 70s, four of them against Moeen Ali, two lbw appeals refused on review and dropped catches in successive balls by Wood at square leg and Gary Ballance at leg slip. As he left, there was the sense that you wanted to watch him again.That has not always been the case with New Zealand openers. Peter Fulton once made two hundreds in the same Auckland Test against England, so he deserves respect, but other than a work through mid-on, no other shot lived in the memory. Trevor Franklin occasionally produced a straight drive, or so people claimed. Mark Richardson could spirit a ball through point in a manner to irritate the most equable temperament. But not one of them did much to change the impression of a New Zealand cricket side surviving on meagre resources.McCullum’s commitment to attack also recognises the hand he has been delivered and makes the best of it. Ronchi likes to hit the ball, and Test debut or not, he did just that. He tore into Moeen with gusto, taking 37 in all from 19 deliveries, including three fours and three sixes. Down in Bashley, in the Southern Premier League, memories stirred of a batsman who from the moment he flew in from Perth as a skinny teenager about 15 years ago made a habit of losing cricket balls and denting passing cars.”It was people just doing natural things,” Ronchi said. “My first ball I was pretty lucky to get it over the slips, but after that it was a matter of trying not to worry about what I was doing. Some of them I played OK, some of them I didn’t play well, but it is also the nature of the beast. If I see it and think I can hit it then I prefer to try and do that. I am 34 in my first Test and may never play another. I was just trying to enjoy the ride really.”There was nothing two-faced, nor patronising, in England’s praise for New Zealand’s display at Lord’s. They played a full part in one of the most engaging Tests in England for years and, by doing so, helped to shake English cricket out of a slough of despond. In Leeds, too, they have reminded everybody of the fun to be had. They have briefly put cricket at the centre of English life again. Such things matter.These were the New Zealand tourists who had arrived in dribs and drabs, with nobody outside those with tickets for Lord’s much caring whether they had or not. They have come out even from a remarkable first day at Headingley. A crowd is turning up with optimism about the entertainment ahead. They have suddenly become everybody’s darling buds of May.

In over four years of substantially increased investment in the team, results away from home have declined rather than improved, most notably against subcontinental opposition

Daniel Brettig in Roseau03-Jun-2015During the final four years of Ricky Ponting’s captaincy, a time characterised by bumbling, defeat and the commissioning of the Argus review, Australia played 19 Tests overseas and won seven. In the four years since under Michael Clarke, a time of unprecedented investment in the national team and its assignments, Australia’s 21 overseas Tests have returned just six wins.Those saying “hold on a minute, they won in South Africa in 2014” are correct, but it must be said that Ponting’s team also did that in 2009 by the same margin of 2-1, and went on to go within a single Test match of retaining the Ashes in England that same year. Clarke, accompanied by a new coach in Darren Lehmann, did not get anywhere near that close in 2013, though later returned to win the urn back down under.This stark reality demonstrates that success is often perceived as much as achieved. The glow of the Ashes and World Cup trophies won at home have obscured still glaring issues keeping the team from being regarded as genuinely great. For evidence of this, note that in 19 Tests each as coach of the Australian team, Mickey Arthur presided over ten wins, and Lehmann has overseen nine.It also shows that over four years of substantially increased investment in the team, results away from home have declined rather than improved, most notably against subcontinental opposition.Put bluntly, Australia’s cricketers have less excuses for performing poorly overseas now than at just about any time in their history. They are handsomely paid, lavishly resourced and, thanks to the oversight of the team performance manager Pat Howard, seldom asked to perform backflips according to their schedule – England are one team who must at times envy Cricket Australia’s programming.When the coach Lehmann wants an outside consultant or the support staffer of his choice, the man is invariably on hand. When the players want pitches prepared to certain specifications at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, they only need to make a phone call. Indeed, the NCC has recently played host to specially prepared hybrid “spin pitches” designed to replicate the turn and variable pace and bounce likely to be found in India, Sri Lanka, the UAE or Dominica this week. There are plans to install these pitches for training at every major Australian ground.Nevertheless, recent history suggests that they are no closer to cracking the code of overseas success than at any time in the past eight years. Australia’s tour of the UAE last October was a chastening experience for players, coaches and selectors who had all thought that a Pakistan minus Saeed Ajmal would not be too much trouble. If this was a (slightly) happier tour off-field than India in 2013, it was measurably worse on it.Reminded of this experience ahead of the West Indies series, Clarke pointed out numerous lessons that were taken from it. If he didn’t mention the Glenn Maxwell at No. 3 brainstorm it may have been through forgetfulness, but otherwise Clarke provided a sound outline of the areas the team must improve in to ensure they provide solid evidence of the rankings disparity between his team and Denesh Ramdin’s.”We have to learn from that in regards to intent as a team with both bat and ball in  conditions like that,” Clarke said. “Cashing in if you get in, go on and make a big score. Same if you’re bowling well, you’ve got to be the one to put your hand up. And just working out what our best XI is and playing to our strengths are probably another couple of areas we can do much better here than we did in Dubai.”Intent to win is critical to all athletes, but its manifestation on slow, turning pitches is often different in practice to the more obviously chest-thumping play so loved by Australia on home surfaces. Ponting pointed this out himself in an ESPNcricinfo column following the UAE series, talking about an Asian cricket tempo that revolved around ensuring you don’t lose the game too early so you can seize it at the finish. Clarke agreed.Selection conundrums: The best XI or the best for the conditions?•Getty Images”You always need positive intent,” he said. “My mindset has been sometimes the better the bowling the more aggressive you’ve got to be. We’ve got to use our aggression at the right times in the game. And there’s going to be other times when you’ve got to find a way to survive. Subcontinental conditions, and I see the West Indies a little bit like that, starting your innings is the hardest part so you’ve got to use that to your advantage, have discipline with your defence early but then still show intent to score with the bat.”Then with the ball you’ve got to attack early to a new batter and when you get one try to get two, get three, get that roll on. A lot of it comes down to execution, and I think as a group we’ve got more confidence in our ability in these conditions now than what we had the past few years, and that’s from playing in them a lot more. It’s going to be tough but I think the boys are excited by that.”The notion of cashing in, and finding the sort of comfortable zone in which to bat for long periods, is one that the Australia batsmen have struggled with enormously in such conditions. Similarly, the bowlers have battled to find the sort of rhythm with which they are familiar at home, invariably leaking runs through impatience.In India in 2013 and the UAE last year, only Clarke in Chennai and David Warner in Dubai have made hundreds, as opposed to 15 (including two doubles) by their opponents in those matches. Steven Smith’s promotion to No. 3 promises more command of this discipline, as he has seemingly found the keys to sustained occupation over two years of exponential improvement.Finally the issue of team composition has been a recurring problem. Arguments over selection seem often to rear their heads overseas, and the desire to barge through an opponent with the best 11 players rather than choosing a team better-suited to the conditions is never far from the surface. Even in Dominica, the fading of Fawad Ahmed’s hopes provided another example, even if the inclusion of Mitchell Starc would be hard to query. At least in Adam Voges the selectors have chosen a batsman with vast experience in a wide range of conditions.Australia should win in the Caribbean of course. They have not lost a series to the West Indies under any circumstances since 1993, so long ago that Shivnarine Chanderpaul was yet to debut. But it is vital that they demonstrate evidence of improvement overseas these next two weeks. To stumble through these Tests would be to give hope to England, who have not lost a home Ashes series since 2001, and strengthen the global notion that Australia can still be easy prey on the road. Clarke, at least, is not taking this assignment lightly.”I haven’t thought about England once,” he said. “I don’t care too much about England right now, as a team our goal is to have success away from home as well as at home and I think we’ve performed really well in our own backyard over the last couple of years. Where we need to become more consistent is away from home. So we need to be really focused on this trip right now, and play our best cricket.”Do that, and Clarke’s Australian may actually be on the way to becoming a properly successful team, rather than simply being perceived as such.

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur has been in office for less than six months but it has been an eventful term so far. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, he elaborated on a range of issues and the challenges facing the board.

Gaurav Kalra27-Jul-201519:10

Full interview with BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur

What is your assessment about how the BCCI is perceived by the public at large?
Anurag Thakur: We have taken over when there is a great challenge, but I see a lot of opportunity. In the last few years, certain decisions have been taken for which the board has had to pay a price and the image of the board has been tarnished. We will try our best to implement certain things, which can take the game forward.The perception generally is that while the people change, the BCCI and its ways do not – do you agree with that?
AT Most of the members today are on the same page. Recently, we have sent a note to all the members to sign and send an undertaking of conflict of interest. This clearly shows we are working on the right path. After selection committee meetings, we are holding a press conference. We are informing the media about decisions taken by BCCI from time to time. We are trying to be more transparent and accountable in our working.Have you set any kind of deadline for a response from the state associations on the letter you have sent them asking to declare any conflict of interest? What about the conflicts that some players are said to have in their business dealings?
AT This is the first draft we have sent to the associations. If there are any observations, they can come back to us. Few may have some queries, the moment we clarify that; all the members will sign this document in a short span. As far as the players are concerned, we will go through everyone who is involved in the game, whether selectors, players or administrators to sign this conflict of interest document. I will be the first person to do so and my association will be the first to sign and hand over to BCCI.With regard to the recent discharge of the case against Sreesanth, Ankit Chavan and Ajit Chandila, the BCCI has made it clear that the ban stays. But one argument says that when a court has cleared the players, why should the BCCI continue to impose these sanctions?
AT Criminal proceedings are entirely different to the disciplinary proceedings. The decision has been taken by the BCCI’s disciplinary committee, not by a court of law. Action has been taken against the players on the report of our anti-corruption unit. As per the BCCI rules and regulations, the ban on these players will stay.Could there be a potential situation where these players approach a court against BCCI? The Kerala association has demanded that Sreesanth be reinstated. Are you willing to counter all those scenarios?
AT Any Indian citizen can go to a court of law if they are not happy with any decision. Delhi police will go to the higher court to challenge the lower court verdict.Yes, but from BCCI’s point of view, it’s clear that there’s no way back for Sreesanth and others?
AT I haven’t received any representations from these players, so as of now the ban stays.The Prevention of Sporting Fraud bill was launched with a lot of fanfare. As an MP of the ruling dispensation, why is it that you and the BCCI are not pushing for this bill to come through?
AT I think that’s the job of the government, not BCCI.Would you like to see it come through?
AT I think it is very important to clean sport, not only in one field but all. Whatever decisions we have to take, we must take.Do you believe the time has come for BCCI to accept that it performs a public function and must come under the provisions of RTI?
AT This question has been raised in the past and BCCI has given a very detailed reply. As per the current law, we do not fall under RTI. It has been raised many times whether media, corporate houses, sports bodies and NGOs should come under RTI or not. It is not up to you or me to decide. It is up to the government to decide on that.As a member of parliament and a senior board official, you must have a view on it. What is your view?

AT I will keep my view reserved, as far as our functioning is concerned we are very transparent and accountable since the day we have taken over.You are part of the panel set up within BCCI to examine the Lodha committee verdict. Is it your view that CSK and RR should be terminated?
AT We have made it clear that we will implement the verdict in Toto. The working group has been formed so we can take a well informed, well thought decision, for the well being of cricket. The Mudgal commission took a year to come out with their report, Lodha committee took six months, we have sought only six weeks to speak to various stakeholders before implementing the report.Is it your view that enough has been established against the owners, and as a result there should be a move towards termination?
AT The Lodha committee has looked into each and every aspect of the situation. They have suspended the teams for two years. At the same time BCCI working group is looking into the details of how to implement it so that our players, especially the domestic players, should not suffer because of this verdict.Do you believe the IPL faces a lot of questions and one of the questions the BCCI must handle is about how to change this perception that something is rotten in IPL?
AT I think the media just looks at one side of the IPL, but there are many good things that the IPL has given. In the last eight seasons, hundreds of players have participated in the tournament, have benefited financially and from the cricket point of view. Our domestic players have had the opportunity to play with international stars. 900 cricketers get the benefit of monthly gratis to the tune of INR 50,000 every month from the income of the IPL. Former cricketers have got 75 lakh to 1.5 crore rupees. The state associations have got money to create better infrastructure to make India a cricket hub. The IPL has given a lot not just to players and associations, but also to the overall economy of the country.The Lodha panel also has a brief to suggest structural reforms in BCCI. As secretary of the board, does that concern you? The panel could recommend large-scale radical changes?
AT If you see the BCCI’s working in the last few years, you must appreciate that it is recognised all over the world. In 1983, BCCI did not have enough funds to honour its World Cup champion team. Today, we are one of the richest bodies in the world; we have one of the most successful domestic tournaments in the world and the most robust domestic season.The reality though is that in five months time some changes may be recommended that may alter the way you function completely?

AT We look forward to the recommendations of the Lodha committee, we are open about it, let the report come, we can look into the details and I can say on record that BCCI will be more than open.You had a very public spat with Mr. Srinivasan after you took over as secretary. Is it to be safely assumed that in September the board will move to remove him as BCCI’s nominee as ICC chairman?
AT Let me assure you that no decision will be taken on any personal rivalry. Let me also say I have no rivalry against anyone. Every interest will be taken in the interest of BCCI and Indian cricket.However, you did make a pointed observation in that letter you wrote to him which you released publicly, where you did say he needs to give certain advice to family members who have been caught betting. So, it is clear that you do not believe he is the right man to be leading the ICC?
AT All I wanted to make clear was that I worked with him for three years as joint secretary, I was not aware of any such list and it was never shared with me. At the same time, I am a politician as well who is clicked every day with hundreds of people. I don’t ask every one what they do in their lives. At the same time, if he has any such list with him, he should share it with me, other officials, and his family members as well.There is already talk of what your ambitions are. Are you already thinking on the lines of becoming BCCI president in the future?
AT I have two and a half years to prove myself as a good administrator. I would love to live up to the expectations of the responsibility that has been given to me. I was the youngest president of any state cricket association; in 2000 I was offered the post of BCCI vice-president. I did not take any position in BCCI till 2011-12. As the president of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, we have created one of the best stadiums in the world; at the same time we have created five-six new stadiums in the district.There has been some media reporting that Mr. Dalmiya is not keeping very good health. What is the status there? Is it reasonable to expect that he can see out his term?
AT We work very closely; we take most of the decisions together. Let me just say, there are many rumours in the air, but the facts are different. We have a person like Mr. Dalmiya, who has a long experience in cricket administration. Him being the president of the board is helping me as well as BCCI to implement certain things on day-to-day basis.One of the committees you established was with Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly- you have been criticised that the committee is really a PR stunt and no real work has come out?
AT On one hand you say cricketers are not involved, if we involve them on a cricket advisory committee, then what is wrong. All of them said they were available for any role BCCI wants them to play. We must applaud that all of them have agreed and want to contribute.But where is the coach, the hunt has been going on since Duncan Fletcher left at the end of the World Cup?
AT If you want to hire someone for next 2-3 years, you have to look into details about who could be best in the interest of Indian cricket. We don’t want to take any decision in haste. After this series against Sri Lanka we still have a couple of months to go to take the final call on that.What about the proposed series against Pakistan? Have you seen movement in your circles that suggests this series is on the cards?
AT If I speak just as an Indian, I will say there is cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. Even today there is a terrorist attack, in Gurdaspur district in Punjab. On one hand there is a rise in terrorist activity from Pakistan, on the other you can’t expect to play a cricket series with Pakistan. For me the safety and security of my countrymen is more important than a cricket series.So you are saying on record now that this series is unlikely?
AT This is not the way to go ahead. I was never against the dialogue process. At the same time, if you do not have good relations, you can’t have good cricket.The BCCI has been seen as a bully in the world of cricket. Would you like to see this impression of the board changed?
AT We try to take everyone along. At the same time, try and understand that BCCI contributes 70% of total revenue. India plays a very important role, every Indian tour is important. We don’t believe in bullying, we believe in taking along people with us. I think you can check with other boards that things have changed. We are getting along, and taking them along, at the same time, we are not compromising with the position of Indian cricket board.One of the failings of the team has been the lack of success overseas. Is that one of your key agendas, to make sure that processes are in place to change that?
AT I would love to see my team winning every single game in India and abroad. Our strength used to be our spin attack, which is not the same now. We had great batsmen like Sachin, Sourav, VVS and Rahul, which is not the case now. We have a very talented young side that can be built into world champions and we’ll take every step in that direction to have the best fitness standards, best skills, who can perform and give us the best resultsIn three years, where would you like to see BCCI and Indian cricket?
AT I would like to see Team India in the top position in T20, ODI and Test cricket.Sometimes the BCCI is described as a cosy club where those on the opposite ends of the political spectrum work together, it is said, for selfish reasons?
AT In any body, when elections are over, you don’t see who belongs to which group or party. You have to take everyone on board, you have to win their confidence, you have to take decisions unanimously, take every decision in the interest of the board and cricket.

Stats highlights from Bangladesh’s historic victory against South Africa in Chittagong

Bishen Jeswant15-Jul-20159 Wickets by which Bangladesh won the third ODI, their joint-biggest margin of victory in ODIs. It was also the first time they beat a Test nation other than Zimbabwe by a margin of nine wickets.4 Consecutive bilateral ODI series that Bangladesh have won. They won 5-0 against Zimbabwe, 3-0 against Pakistan, 2-1 against India, and now 2-1 against South Africa.6 Times both Bangladesh openers have made a 50-plus score against a Test nation other than Zimbabwe. They have done this twice each against India and Pakistan, and once each against New Zealand, and now South Africa.154 Bangladesh’s opening partnership in this game, their highest against South Africa for any wicket. Their opening pair had never posted a half-century stand in 16 previous innings against South Africa. This was Bangladesh’s highest opening stand in ODIs against a Test nation other than Zimbabwe.49.4 Soumya Sarkar’s batting average, the highest for any Bangladesh batsman in their ODI history. Soumya has scored 692 runs from 16 ODIs, including one hundred and four fifties, at a strike rate of 102.5.1 Bangladesh players who have completed the all-round double of 4000 runs and 200 wickets – Shakib Al Hasan became the first during this ODI. Overall, he is the seventh player to do this. This list does not include a single player from Australia, India, England, West Indies or Zimbabwe.200 ODI wickets taken by Mashrafe Mortaza, making him the third Bangladesh bowler to take 200 ODI wickets. He and Shakib Al Hasan both reached the 200-wicket mark during this ODI. However, Mortaza has taken only 199 wickets when playing for Bangladesh. He took the other wicket when representing Asia XI against Africa XI in 2007.37 Fifty-plus scores for Tamim Iqbal in ODIs, the most for any Bangladesh batsman. He went past Shakib Al Hasan in this ODI, who has 36 such scores.7 Consecutive ODI innings for Hashim Amla without a 50-plus score, the longest such streak of his ODI career. His second-longest streak is six matches, right at the start of his career.3 ODIs played in Chittagong since 2012. During the same period, the Shere Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur has hosted 35 ODIs while the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium at Fatullah has hosted six.8.2 Average number of overs per match bowled by Mortaza while not captaining Bangladesh. Since being made captain of Bangladesh, he has only bowled 7.4 overs per ODI.123 Wickets taken by Shakib Al Hasan in Bangladesh, the most for any bowler. During this ODI, he went past Abdur Razzak who took 122 wickets in Bangladesh.17.5 Quinton de Kock’s batting average in 2015. De Kock made his debut in 2013 and averaged 46.3 that year, and 41.2 in 2014. He made 10 fifty-plus scores in those two years (including six hundreds), but only one such score this year. Click here to see his batting career summary.150 ODIs played by Tamim Iqbal, making him the sixth Bangladesh player to play 150-plus ODIs. Mohammad Ashraful played 175 ODIs for Bangladesh, the most.

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Sep-2015Joe Burns had a promising start before he was bowled through the gate by Finn for 22•Getty ImagesSteven Smith and George Bailey got together, adding 99 to drive the visitors ahead•Associated PressThe steady partnership came to an end in the 29th over when Moeen Ali bowled Bailey•Getty ImagesFive overs later, Smith was undone by Adil Rashid•Getty ImagesGlenn Maxwell played an enterprising innings, his 38-ball 49 setting up a strong platform for a late onslaught•Getty ImagesMitchell Marsh provided the much-needed thrust for the visitors as 96 runs were scored in the last 10 overs to set England a target of 310•Getty ImagesEngland made a bright start in a stiff chase, striking plenty of boundaries in the first 10 overs. In spite of Alex Hales’ dismissal, the hosts scored 57 in the first 10•Getty ImagesJames Taylor kept England on course with a gritty 57-ball 43•Getty ImagesHowever, Australia’s bowlers chipped away with regular wickets, keeping the run-rate in check•Getty ImagesControversy descended upon Lord’s as Ben Stokes was given out by the third umpire for obstructing the field in the 26th over•Getty ImagesEoin Morgan kept England afloat as wickets tumbled around him•Getty ImagesMorgan and Liam Plunkett added 55 for the ninth wicket in 21 balls but Starc removed Plunkett in the 42nd over, effectively killing the chase•Getty ImagesMorgan holed out to long-off in the 42nd over as Australia completed a 64-run victory to go 2-0 up in the series•Getty Images

Javagal Srinath discusses his time in the Indian team with Zaheer Khan, and his former team-mate’s natural flair for coaching

Javagal Srinath15-Oct-2015When I saw Zaheer Khan in 2000, I thought he was the best bowler around, in terms of hunger, in terms of wanting to do well. We played a match – he played for MRF – in one of the local tournaments in Bangalore, and I found him the best bowler. He looked better than me at that point of time, I would say.So, when it was very clear that I could not go to the Champions Trophy [ICC knockout], which was held in Kenya, I spoke to Chandu Borde [chairman of selectors] to pick him up straight away because he was that good. So that’s how Zaheer Khan came into the system.It was nice to see a good left-arm seamer bowl at 140 [kph]. He was rapid, which was good for international cricket. He had a good line, and more than anything else he had the ability to bring the ball back in. That’s what I saw in him.I always thought that the more fast bowlers you have in your side – Ashish [Nehra] was also up and coming then – then your longevity will also be better. I never thought that Zaheer was my competitor. I thought he always complemented me in many games.I think that was the time when we saw a lot of fast bowlers come in. Ashish had come earlier than Zaheer, but he was marred with a lot of injuries. Ajit [Agarkar] also came in around the same time. Others also started waking up to the possibility of fast bowlers coming in. In the ODIs and Tests played by India, we didn’t like going in with one symbolic fast bowler and going in with two fast bowlers made a lot of sense. I think One-Day [Internationals] gave birth to many fast bowlers then.The World Cup in 2003 was the first time as a bowling group we started to watch videos, we had technology at our disposal and started to strategise after looking at a batsman’s strength and weakness. Ashish, Zaheer and I worked on the batsmen for the first time and technology was completely used to enhance our efficiency. The three of us got together and that understanding made us a good combination. Especially in the World Cup we knew what we were doing up until the final.As far as Zaheer’s injuries go, I thought he should have managed it a little better. I certainly feel that injuries cost him a lot of wickets. I must say that the body is the biggest weapon you possess and you have got to take care of it. I believe if Zaheer had taken care of his body he would have had another 100 Test match wickets.I didn’t see a lot of the mentor in him because I retired in 2003 when he was still very young. But these are things you pick up over a point of time, and I think he is a good human being more importantly. So, these things come naturally to him.All cricketers have to fall back on cricket for something or the other. It all depends on where his interest lies. He is a successful businessman already. Mentoring and bowling coaching comes naturally to most of the bowlers. That is one aspect he will always do well in with his natural flair for coaching.As told to Arun Venugopal

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Sep-2015Roy was the more fluent of England’s openers during a stand of 52 and Pat Cummins ended Alex Hales’ stay in his first over•Getty ImagesAshton Agar, bowling on debut, then had Roy caught in the covers for 63 out of 86•Getty ImagesEoin Morgan endured some difficult moments against Cummins’ pace but soon got into his stride•Getty ImagesJames Taylor was adept at running ones and twos, going to a half-century off 59 balls with just one boundary•Getty ImagesMorgan had made 62 at more than a run a ball when he sliced Glenn Maxwell’s offspin to long-off•Getty ImagesEngland had been 205 for 2 but things began to unravel, Ben Stokes struggling over 14…•Getty Images…and Jonny Bairstow run out by a direct hit, with the run rate beginning to fall•Getty ImagesWith wickets falling at the other end, Taylor got closer and closer to his maiden ODI ton. When he did finally get there it was with a desperate dive•Getty ImagesTaylor was dismissed for 101 in the final over but England managed to get up to 300 despite losing a lot of their momentum•Getty ImagesWith Australia chasing a record score on the ground, they lost Joe Burns early on…•Getty Images…although Morgan was almost wiped out by Roy when taking the catch•Getty ImagesSteven Finn then pulled a brilliant diving grab out of the bag to remove Steven Smith•Getty ImagesAaron Finch was looking in good form, progressing to a half-century from 53 balls…•Getty Images…but he became Adil Rashid’s second wicket during a demanding spell from the legspinner•Getty ImagesMoeen Ali picked up three wickets as Australia’s chase crumbled against spin•Getty ImagesLiam Plunkett also claimed three-for as England’s bowlers closed out a big victory that kept them alive in the series•Getty Images

Stats highlights from the first day’s play of the Test between Pakistan and England in Abu Dhabi

Shiva Jayaraman13-Oct-20151985 The last time before today Pakistan’s record for their top run-maker in Tests changed hands. Javed Miandad had gone past Zaheer Abbas’s tally of 5058 runs with a double-hundred against Sri Lanka in Faislabad. Miandad went on to finish on 8832 runs from 189 innings, scoring at an average of 52.57. Younis Khan has taken eight fewer innings to go past Miandad. Younis now has 8852 runs at an average of 53.97. Click here for Pakistan’s top run-scorers in Tests.9 Number of batsmen before Shoaib Malik to make a century in their first innings of a Test they had played after a gap of five or more years. The last such batsman was Hamilton Masakadza, who made a hundred against Bangladesh in Harare in 2011 on his first appearance after a gap of almost six years. The only other Pakistan batsman to do this is Ijaz Faqih, who had hit a century in the Ahmedabad Test in 1987 after missing Test cricket since 1981.18.11 Malik’s average against England in nine Test innings before this one. He had scored 163 runs with a highest of 39. His 124* in this innings was only his third Test hundred in 54 innings. Malik scored 1606 runs at an average of 33.45 and had scored eight fifties besides his two centuries against Sri Lanka.415 Wickets James Anderson now has in Tests; he went past Wasim Akram to sixth place in the list of pace bowlers with most wickets. Shaun Pollock, who took 421 wickets, is the next fast bowler within striking distance of Anderson. Among all bowlers, Anderson is just three wickets away from going past Harbhajan Singh, who has 417 Test wickets.Shoaib Malik made a century on his first appearance in Test cricket in over five years.•Getty Images1996 The last time Pakistan’s second wicket made a century stand in Tests against England before this one. On that occasion, Ijaz Ahmed and Saeed Anwar had added 133 runs for the second wicket at The Oval. The partnership between Hafeez and Malik is the second highest for Pakistan for the second wicket against England. The highest came way back in 1971 between Mushtaq Mohammad and Zaheer Abbas, who added 261 runs in the first innings of the EdgbastonTest.2 Number of times before this innings two or more of Pakistan’s top-three batsmen had scored 90 or more in an innings against England. The previous instance had come in the infamous Test at the Oval in 2006. On that occasion both Pakistan openers – Hafeez and Imran Farhat – had got out in the nineties. The other such instance had also come at the Oval in 1974.2 Number of times in Tests Mohammad Hafeez had got out in the nineties before this innings. His last such innings had also come in Abu Dhabi last year against New Zealand, when Hafeez got out on 96. Hafeez now joins Majid Khan as the Pakistan opener with the most scores in the nineties. Hafeez’s 98 in this innings was his highest against England beating his previous best of 95 at the Oval in 2006. Hafeez has made 383 runs against England at an average of 54.71.61.00 Hafeez’s batting average at the Sheik Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. He has made 610 runs in seven Tests and has hit one hundred and four fifties, including two scores in the nineties.7 Test hundreds by Pakistan’s No. 3 against England before Malik’s in this innings. The last one to do it was Azhar Ali who made 157 in the 2012 Dubai Test.1996 The last time before Malik a Pakistan batsman got a hundred in the first innings of a series against England. Inzaman-ul-Haq had made 148 in the Lord’s Test. The last and the only other No. 3 to do it was Zaheer Abbas, who got 274 at Edgbaston in 1971. Two other batsmen – Mushtaq Mohammad and Asif Iqbal – had also got centuries in that innings.5 Pakistan’s score when Malik joined Hafeez at the wicket. The enusing stand of 168 between the two batsmen is the third highest for the second wicket for Pakistan when they had lost their first wicket for less than 10.2000 The last time before Adil Rashid – who made his debut in this Test – that an England legspinner bowled at least 15 overs in a Test. Ian Salisbury had sent down 21 overs in the Karachi Test in 2000. Rashid is only the second legspinner since 2000 to make his debut for England. Scott Borthwick had made his debut in the Ashes Test at the SCG last year. Rashid bowled 17 overs in the day without taking a wicket and conceded 76 runs.

How India and Pakistan’s cricketing ties have panned out over the decades, on and off the field

Jayaditya Gupta, Alagappan Muthu & Shashank Kishore10-Dec-2015Politics and cricket have often mixed freely when it comes to India v Pakistan•AFPFirst series
Took place in India in 1952, with Lala Amarnath as the home captain and Abdul Kardar leading Pakistan. Pakistan’s introduction to Tests was not a happy one: they lost by an innings and 70 runs in Delhi. They did hit back in Lucknow, though. Two subsequent series, in 1954-55 and 1960-61, with the hosts alternating.Break
From 1961-1978, as the countries engaged in two wars, in 1965 and 1971.Resumption
In 1978-79 in Pakistan, with both countries being run by parties or individuals not in charge during previous conflicts. There were several subsequent series in both countries, and ODIs staged in Sharjah, right up till 1999. Pakistan were off the blocks in a blink, sealing a 2-0 Test win with a chase of 164 in 24.5 overs in Karachi. India bounced back, with Kapil Dev’s emergence, fashioning a 2-0 victory in 1979-80. The baton was exchanged again in 1982-83, Pakistan unstoppable Imran Khan’s leadership.On the one-day front, India followed up being crowned World Champions with a 2-0 series win at home. The assassination of India’s prime minister, Indira Gandhi, led to the 1984-85 tour being called off with an ODI and a Test to spare.In 1986-87, Pakistan secured their first Test series win in India. On to 1989-90, and the debut of two greats of the game: Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis. Rising political tension meant India would not tour Pakistan for the next eight years, though the sides met in two World Cups and at neutral venues for bilateral series. The deadlock finally broke in 1997-98, when India toured and played a short ODI series which served as an opener to their Golden Jubilee celebrations.In 1998-99, in Pakistan’s first Test series with India in nine years, following some ugly incidents, Anil Kumble made history with his 10 for 74 in Delhi.The highlights of India-Pakistan cricket include Anil Kumble’s ten-for•Hamish Blair/Getty ImagesBreak
From 1999, when political ties were disrupted by the Kargil conflict, till early 2004. They did, however, play each other in the 2003 World Cup and a couple of other multi-team tournaments.Resumption
March 2004 in Pakistan, after the two governments initiated peace talks. India landed in Pakistan for five ODIs and three Tests, with India’s then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee charging Sourav Ganguly and his team to “don’t just win matches, win hearts too”. India won in both formats, and India’s cricketers and fans, who were granted special visas for the series, later raved about the Pakistani hospitality. Three Test series followed, alternating between the two countries.Break
From 2008 to 2012. The Mumbai terror attacks of 2008 led to a deterioration in political ties between the two countries, and the Lahore attack in March 2009 brought an end to international cricket in Pakistan.Resumption, and another break
In 2012-13, in India, with Pakistan touring for a brief limited-overs series. On either side of that series, they met in a few multi-team tournaments including the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, but no further bilateral series have taken place, with the Indian board saying it would defer to the government’s wishes.