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Legspinner James Muirhead and batsman Chris Lynn will be in line for international debuts after being named in Australia’s Twenty20 squad to take on England. Aaron Finch has been named vice-captain to George Bailey for the three-match T20 series that follows the ODIs, with Cameron White and Mitchell Starc both back in the reckoning along with Josh Hazlewood, Ben Cutting and Moises Henriques.The most surprising selection was that of Muirhead, 20, who has played only four Twenty20 matches in his career, including only two for the Melbourne Stars this summer for a return of one wicket. However, Muirhead did bowl well in the Prime Minister’s XI match against England in Canberra, where he took 3 for 52, and he also played against England in two other tour games earlier in the summer.”We’ll select the 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup in the middle of February and we’re looking at spin-bowling options,” John Inverarity, the national selector, said. “There are a number of spin-bowling options. Xavier Doherty of course has strong claims, Brad Hogg still has strong claims and we’re interested in a legspinner also.”So we’re having a look at James Muirhead this time. He’s a young man and he’s impressed this season when he’s played against England. He’s a young man who really puts a lot on the ball and his legbreak turns. He’s in the squad for the experience and if he plays I’m sure that he’ll be striving to make the most of the opportunity.”James Muirhead has impressed the selectors in tour matches against England this season•Getty Images

The inclusion of Lynn was less of a surprise as he has been one of state cricket’s most promising young batsmen for several seasons, and this summer has 197 BBL runs at 32.83. A clean striker of the ball for the Brisbane Heat and Queensland, Lynn also impressed the selectors with his 104 and 61 not out when he was drafted into the Western Australia Chairman’s XI that took on England before the first Ashes Test.”[He] had a difficult season last season and wasn’t included in Queensland’s first Sheffield Shield match,” Inverarity said of Lynn. “He came here to play against England for the Western Australia XI and made a century, and hasn’t looked back. He’s a fine striker of the ball.”James Faulkner is the only member of Australia’s Test squad to tour South Africa who will also be part of the T20s against England, with other senior T20 players such as David Warner and Shane Watson to focus on their Test preparations. Starc will be back for his first internationals since the Ashes tour of England, having missed the home Ashes with a back injury.”Mitchell Starc has a fine record in international T20 cricket and is an important player in our ICC World Twenty20 campaign,” Inverarity said. “It is anticipated that he will be ready to perform by the end of this month.”Twenty20 squad George Bailey (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Daniel Christian, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Cutting, James Faulkner, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, James Muirhead, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk), Cameron White.

The Supreme Court has adjourned to January 27 its hearing of a case during which it was expected to announce the results of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) election.The RCA election was held on December 19, with Lalit Modi, the former RCA president and IPL chairman, contesting the president’s post. It is understood that on January 15 Modi’s legal counsel approached the court seeking adjournment since one of their senior lawyers was not available to attend the hearing today.The delay in announcing the results is because the court is hearing a special leave petition (SLP) filed by former RCA president Kishore Rungta, Modi’s predecessor, regarding the association’s election procedure.During the last hearing on January 6, BCCI senior counsel CA Sundaram had requested the court that, before opening the sealed results, it hear the board’s argument on whether Modi disqualification ought to be considered. The court said it would consider that request, indirectly indicating that the BCCI would be allowed to raise their challenge.As soon as it was made public that Modi would contest the RCA polls, the BCCI warned the affiliate that it would take stringent action including possible expulsion. Modi challenged that order in the Rajasthan High Court through the Nagaur district cricket association. The stay order was initially granted but later vacated by the High Court, citing Modi had to challenge it personally and no third party could represent him.The RCA then, on behalf of Modi, challenged the BCCI order on January 3 through a civil suit in the district sessions court in Jaipur. In this petition, RCA counsel Kamlakar Sharma argued that the BCCI be restrained from taking any adverse actions with regards to the state’s affiliation. According to an RCA insider, Modi’s move was to “pre-empt the suspension.”But the BCCI counsel Rajesh Joshi contested strongly saying since the matter was sub-judice in the Supreme Court, the lower court defer its judgment. On Thursday the judge KP Saxena accepted the BCCI application, and postponed the decision, negating Modi’s gambit to get a status quo.

Handicapped by poor scheduling from the BCCI and India’s ordinary bowling, Virat Kohli was left to defend his fellow batsmen against statements from the opposition that some of them might have been frightened in the first ODI, which India lost by 141 runs. Kohli admitted they were outplayed by South Africa, but said there was no way they were frightened.When told of Dale Steyn’s comment that South Africa’s bowlers might have inflicted scars that run deeper than just the one match, that the Indian batsmen might have been frightened, Kohli smirked a little, and said: “I don’t think so. On a personal level, I don’t think so. As I said, I was down the wicket to the fourth ball I faced. It is not about getting frightened or anything like that. He is a quality bowler and we all know that, and we should be good enough to tackle that and come up with the goods when we face him.”I don’t think anyone in this Indian team is frightened of anything. Regardless of the loss the other day, you didn’t see anyone sort of closing their eyes to bouncers or getting out throwing their bats around. We were trying hard to counter the bowling they came up with, and they were bowling in great areas, but you didn’t see anyone sort of moving away from stumps and trying rash shots or anything like that. We were all trying to get into positions to play correct shots, but they pitched it in the right areas and were getting enough help to trouble us.”Kohli’s stepping out to Steyn happened because the Indian bowlers had conceded 358, and the batsmen couldn’t afford to take any time to get used to the conditions. As it is they were not given any time to adjust to them before the match. After MS Dhoni, Kohli became the second Indian to mention the poor scheduling, but said they didn’t have a choice but to accept it. “The unfortunate part is that we didn’t get that too many practice sessions or practice games,” Kohli said. “Our schedule has been such. It is unfortunate that we have to sort of play games and then get to know the conditions, rather than be prepared a week or 10 days before. That’s all part of the busy schedule we have. We have got to go along with that, and be mentally strong to come back in the next game and perform better.”The same went for the bowling, too, Kohli said. “Bowlers are so used to bowling back home for the last few months that the lengths can’t be changed at such a short notice,” he said. “I think the bowlers do get excited with a bit of pace and bounce. It tends to happen every time. You see when there is bounce and pace in the wicket, the bowlers do tend to go a bit short because they feel they can bowl that length.”We have understood, we have learned from the first game, and you will see a much better performance from the bowlers and the batsmen combined. It is all about learning. As I said, we don’t have much time to prepare before the game so we would rather learn from the games, and move forward and improve our performances. I hope we pitch the ball in right areas and bat well tomorrow.”Kohli admitted it was tough to face Steyn, especially when chasing 359. “He was quite brilliant the other day,” Kohli said. “He is a world-class bowler, and we all know that. To see him swing the ball from middle stump, and get it past the off stump, actually the fifth stump, it was tough to face. It was something very rare because not many can swing the ball like he does, and he was just in great rhythm and pitching the ball in the right areas.”All you can do as a batsman is to try and upset his length, and that is why when I stepped out and I wanted to hit him over the infield to disturb the length he was bowling. Otherwise if you keep defending, you kept getting beaten, so you have to come up with something.”We always knew that we will get bounce and pace in South Africa, and we had that in mind. We have plans as batsmen, but when you are chasing 359 there is not much you can do. You may have a set plan, you might tell yourself you don’t want to play too many flashy shots in the beginning, but when you are chasing 360 you have to play those shots.”Conceding 358 might not have to do just with errant lengths. Steyn suggested India needed more pace on these pitches to trouble good batsmen. Kohli said the team will definitely consider more pace than that of Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Mohit Sharma. India will need all that and more if they are to come out of this hole.

Big spenders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club failed to make it to the second phase of the Dhaka Premier Division after losing to Brothers Union by six wickets. It was their last game of the first phase and it confirmed their position in the competition.Batting first at the BKSP-2 ground, Dhanmondi Club were restricted to 150 for 8 in 50 overs. Junaid Siddique top-scored with 45 off 78 balls while Tanveer Haider made 36. Suhrawadi Shuvo took three wickets and Sanjamul Islam picked up two.Brothers Union reached the target in 36.1 overs, with Nafees Iqbal top scoring with 44 and Mehrab Hossain jnr making 42 off 54 balls.Defending champions Victoria Sporting Club also failed to make it to the second phase after they were beaten by 114 runs by Gazi Tank Cricketers in Mirpur.Gazi Tank made 251 for 8 in after losing the toss, thanks to a late charge from Jacob Oram. The former New Zealand allrounder hammered five sixes and four fours in his 21-ball 54 at No 7. Imrul Kayes and Raqibul Hasan had made 47 each, but like most of the other batsmen, couldn’t push on to a big score.Victoria made a mess of their reply, getting bowled out for 137 runs in 41 overs. Arafat Sunny took four wickets while Ashar Zaidi picked up three.Abahani fortified their position in the points table with a six-wicket win against Kalabagan Krira Chakra at the BKSP-3 ground.After winning the toss, Kalabagan were boosted by fifties from Naeem Islam and Tasamul Haque and put up 240 for 8 in 50 overs. Naeem made an unbeaten 86 off 98 balls, his fourth List A half-century in the last five matches, which include the two fifties against New Zealand in the just-concluded ODI series.It still wasn’t enough, however, as Greg Smith struck 89 off 94 balls with nine fours and three sixes. Mosaddek Hossain’s unbeaten 53 finished the chase for Abahani as they completed their fourth win in the competition.There was no joy for Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity, who are in a precarious eleventh position having collected just two points from ten games. They lost to Prime Bank Cricket Club by 59 runs, and although they will be in a play-off with Kalabagan Krira Chakra, they have no chance of remaining in the Dhaka Premier Division because points are carried over to the play-off match. Kalabagan have five points, and even if they lose the play-off, they won’t go down because Khelaghar will have four points.Prime Bank made 225 for 8 in their 50 overs with Taibur Rahman scoring 64 off 85 balls. Khelaghar started the chase brightly with Shuvagata Hom holding one end up with a steadfast half-century. However, they suffered a middle-order collapse and were bowled out for 166 in 43.1 overs. Ravi Bopara, opening the attack, took three wickets while Ziaur Rahman and Taibur took two each.

Twenty-year-old legspinner Ish Sodhi’s progress has impressed New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, and he has earmarked the bowler as one for the future. However, the team was still missing the services of Daniel Vettori, who has not played Test cricket for over a year due to an Achilles tendon injury, Hesson admitted.Sodhi and left-arm spinner Bruce Martin combined to take only five wickets in the first Test against Bangladesh, in Chittagong, while part-timer offspinner Kane Williamson picked up one wicket. Williamson was introduced before the two specialist spinners in the second innings, but that was mostly down to having the left-handed Tamim Iqbal at the crease. Sodhi later picked up the wicket of Marshall Ayub to a delivery which he tried to play from deep inside the crease but missed it to be adjudged leg-before.He had conceded 112 runs at 3.88 per over in the first innings, where he looked innocuous at times. In the second innings he was more attacking, and gave away 57 runs at 5.51 per over. Hesson believed there is something about Sodhi that is exciting. “I thought he got better as the Test went on,” Hesson said. “Ish is 20, a young man. He was nervous. He learned a lot. He created a number of opportunities.”On a surface that didn’t have a lot of bounce, he hit the gloves a couple of times. He is a good prospect for us. He is not a finished product yet, but he is worth investing in for the future.”Sodhi was also highly recommended by Vettori himself ahead of the Bangladesh series. It was Vettori who invited Sodhi to bowl at a trial in Auckland, after which they became team-mates.Vettori is in another class, though, Hesson said. “He is a fine performer. Any side that New Zealand puts out without Dan Vettori is a weaker side. That’s just the fact.”Vettori’s record against Bangladesh provides several reasons to miss him. He has taken 51 wickets in nine Tests against them, 34 of which have come in four Tests in Bangladesh. His batting average is 40.62 against them, with three fifties. “Any side would miss Dan Vettori, and we have been without Dan for a little while now,” Hesson said.Hesson was pleased with his side’s batting effort in both innings. New Zealand posted a competitive 469 in the first innings, with Williamson showing his ability to dictate against spin in the subcontinent. He made 114 and 74, top scores in both innings. Wicketkeeper BJ Watling too scored a century, the second of his Test career.”I am really pleased with Kane Williamson. He got a great hundred in P Sara last year. He plays spin well,” Hesson said. “He timed the ball nicely on a wicket where scoring three an over was tough. He looked at ease.”After a bit of fortune early on, BJ [Watling] also played very well. He trained a lot in the winter. We are all delighted for him. He showed his skills in these conditions.”Both teams will now go into a three-day break as there are two major religious festivals on in Bangladesh: the Durga Puja will be ending this week, with Eid-ul-Adha starting on October 16. New Zealand will not be training for three days, until Friday.”We have plenty of things planned for the next few days,” Hesson said. “We have a chance to freshen up, get some physical work done in the gym.”We will also do a bit of scouting. Our guys enjoy the travelling side of international cricket. We want to get to know different cultures as much as we can. I think we won’t be spending three days in the hotel.”

The Bangladesh and New Zealand camps were in slightly contrasting positions at the end of the first day’s play. The visitors were bemused at having lost three wickets in the last hour which spoiled the top-order’s fine work, particularly Kane Williamson’s fourth Test century. The home side was justifiably pleased to have a final burst of wickets, but didn’t particularly like how the pitch had turned out.The 23-year-old’s composed 114 was as much a test of patience for the bowlers as it was for Williamson himself. He had batted for four-and-a-half hours, enough time for the Bangladesh bowling unit to get constricted.They did start bowling a one-day line, but Williamson didn’t chase too many wide ones or miss out on anything offered short of length. He started off his innings with two impossibly difficult shots that were daintily executed. But then he stopped looking for those gaps, and only reacted to anything that was wide and short.In the process, he added 126 for the second wicket with Peter Fulton, who batted out nearly four hours for his 73.”He’s a very good player of spin bowling,” Fulton said. “He made it look pretty easy out there at times. Over here with the heat and humidity, you start to get tired and maybe reign yourself in a little bit. You have to be happy to just be out there in the middle. When the bad ball comes along, he is good enough to put them away.”Williamson’s innings was given more value by the surface on which he batted. The discussion throughout the day centered around the pitch, particularly because of the brand new playing square at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.The fielding side’s spokesman for the day, Nasir Hossain, was critical of the track.”We hoped the wicket would turn. But it didn’t do as much as we would have liked. There was some turn towards the end of the day. I hope it would turn as much tomorrow.”If the ball spun, we would have batted today. We knew for almost a year that New Zealand would be here during this time. The wicket wasn’t what I had wished for. It is a new surface, so we have scant idea of which way it would go in the rest of the game. But we have to adjust ourselves and get them out quickly tomorrow.”Fulton, on the other hand, hadn’t expected the pitch to behave any differently. In the remaining days of the match, he understands that it will break and the ball will start to turn.”It was probably the wicket that we expected,” Fulton said. “It was pretty low and slow, not a lot of bounce. As the day went on, it started to take turn. It was pretty much what we planned for.”I wouldn’t expect the bounce to improve. I would expect it to get lower and slower. When you win the toss and bowl, you hope the wicket will deteriorate and get even tough to bat on.”The New Zealand opener believed that the side’s batsmen had mostly handled Shakib Al Hasan and Abdur Razzak well, as left-arm spinners are considered the biggest threat for the visitors. “They’ve got two good left-arm spinners in the team. If they’re going to be bowling the majority of the overs, they’d get the wickets. At times today, we played them very well,” Fulton said.The lack of turn is likely to abate in the next day or two as cracks start to appear. But the low bounce and the sluggishness is not a new phenomenon in Bangladeshi playing surfaces, regardless of how old or new they are. The curator here tried to produce as sporting a wicket as possible, despite his limitations and the methods used in this part of the sub-continent.The basic idea of producing wickets in Bangladesh is to avoid using grassroots when they are building up the layers of soil. The roots hold the water and retain moisture for an extended period. It helps bind the wicket better, making it a harder surface eventually. It also slows the process of wearing down.The Chittagong pitch, like any other in the country, is devoid of grass and as a result is likely to have lower bounce. The pace, too, wouldn’t be encouraging.One wonders how Williamson produced those two beautiful shots straight down the ground and through mid-wicket so early in his innings. As the match wears on, such natural ability will have to be curbed and batting out of one’s comfort zone is likely to take precedence.

With their visa trouble firmly behind them Faisalabad Wolves, only the second Pakistan team to participate in the Champions League, are upbeat about their chances in the tournament after two weeks of “thorough” preparation.”We have been practising since two weeks. For a week we prepared at the local ground in Faisalabad, before moving to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore where we spent another week,” said vice-captain Mohammad Salman. “So, we have been thoroughly preparing for this tournament. We were very confident of participating in this tournament.”Faisalabad aren’t shy of international experience, with Misbah-ul-Haq and Saeed Ajmal in their ranks, but Salman voiced faith that in the youngsters making a mark as well. Two of them, Asad Ali and Ehsan Adil had made their Pakistan debuts this year.”Barring Misbah and Ajmal, we mainly have young and upcoming cricketers in our squad,” he said. “The teams that we beat at the domestic level had many superstars and still we managed to become the [Pakistan domestic T20] champions. It only shows how much potential our young players have and I am confident they are ready for the big stage.”Their opponents, Otago Volts, are the only team in the qualifiers who are not from the subcontinent and in hopes of minimising the unfamiliarity of overseas conditions, they had undergone training in Sri Lanka.”We had a preparation camp in Sri Lanka where we got used to the conditions and it was great, especially for the guys who hadn’t been in the subcontinent before,” their captain Brendon McCullum said. Their coach Vaughn Johnson seconded him by saying, “We played four full matches in Sri Lanka and the guys did a pretty good job of handling the heat and humidity there. We played on some spin-friendly wickets and our batsmen seemed to stand up to the challenges reasonably well.”Otago lost all their matches in their only previous outing in the CLT20, back in 2009, but McCullum was hopeful of an improved showing this time around. The side has nine players with international experience, including Hamish Rutherford, who made 171 on Test debut earlier this year, offspinner Nathan McCullum and Netherlands allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate.”I think if we’re playing outside of Chandigarh, we’ll probably be underdogs,” McCullum said. “But since here the wicket is slightly faster and bouncier than the normal Indian tracks, we can be confident that we have the right team to exploit the conditions.”