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Quando Cícero chegou ao Botafogo, já com a temporada em andamento, o principal questionamento era: em qual posição o jogador de 34 anos será mais útil? Logo em sua apresentação, não se esquivou e respondeu que a sua preferência era atuar como segundo volante. E foi nesta função que, diante do Bahia, na última quinta-feira, foi o protagonista da vitória por 3 a 2, no Estádio Nilton Santos e de virada, pela segunda rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

Diferente do desenhado contra o São Paulo, na estreia, Eduardo Barroca mudou o esquema da equipe: com a volta de Diego Souza (a referência no ataque), jogou com dois extremos (Rodrigo Pimpão e Erik) e deixou Bochecha, João Paulo e Cícero se alternarem na saída de bola, sendo que os dois últimos tinham liberdade para se aproximarem da última linha ofensiva.

– Era um jogo que o Bahia começou com duas linhas de quatro e dois atacantes. Tentar fazer o 3 x 2 no meio em cima dos volantes deles seria interessante. Dai a movimentação de Bochecha, Cícero e João Paulo. Queríamos progredir com o controle da bola e funcionou muito bem no primeiro tempo – comentou Barroca, na entrevista coletiva.

RelacionadasBotafogoEduardo Barroca destaca força do Botafogo após vitória sobre o BahiaBotafogo02/05/2019BrasileirãoHomenagem à Madrinha: Botafogo vence o Bahia no Nilton SantosBrasileirão02/05/2019BotafogoATUAÇÕES: Cícero tem grande atuação e é o melhor do BotafogoBotafogo02/05/2019

Mais aberto pela direita, Cícero chegou ao seu segundo gol pelo Botafogo após uma surpreendente arrancada, fugindo de suas características. E, ao lado de Bochecha, o camisa 8 foi fundamental para que o Botafogo não perdesse a organização e construísse a virada com bola de pé em pé, como Barroca gosta.

Cícero chegou a custo zero, porém tem um dos salários mais altos do plantel, no qual é o segundo mais velho – só fica atrás de Diego Cavalieri, de 36 anos. É um investimento considerável do clube, que enfim pôde ver a melhor versão que o meio-campista tem a oferecer, na última noite, e alimentar uma esperança de mais protagonismo, sobretudo pela vasta experiência do atleta, ao longo das próximas rodadas.

Contra o Fortaleza, em mais um duelo caseiro, neste domingo, Cícero tende a ser fundamental novamente para que o Botafogo se imponha por mais três pontos. O confronto será realizado às 16h (de Brasília), pelo Brasileirão.

NÚMEROS DE CÍCERO CONTRA O BAHIA

Os números e mapa de calor de Cícero, o melhor em campo para mim, para a avaliação do LANCE! e a do @SofaScoreBR #lanceNILTAO pic.twitter.com/S3pI0reOlV

— Lazlo Dalfovo (@lazlodalfovo) 3 de maio de 2019

David Warner has offered his sympathy to Jonathan Trott and said he hopes the England batsman, who left the Ashes tour with a stress-related illness, recovers soon. Warner was criticised by Alastair Cook and Andy Flower for comments made about Trott during the first Test – although England were clear they did not contribute to Trott’s decision – and the Australia opener accepted that he “did go over the line a little bit”.Warner described Trott’s dismissal in the second innings at the Gabba as “pretty poor and pretty weak”, as Australia ramped up the aggression in pursuit of victory. A crushing, 381-run win was duly wrapped up and England suffered a further blow in their bid to retain the Ashes with the news the following day that they would be without No. 3-batsman Trott for the rest of the campaign.Several members of the Australia camp have subsequently declared that they plan to continue coming hard at England verbally but Warner took a step back from hostilities to voice support for Trott.”We didn’t know anything about an illness or what not,” Warner told the . “It’s sad to see anyone go through that tough period and obviously if he’s got an illness that’s there we hope he gets the right people to help him out.”We know the world-class kind of batter he is: he averages 50 in Test cricket and he has been a great player, a rock for England. I wish him all the best and I know our team wishes him all the best. I hope he gets well soon and [is back] playing the best cricket he can.”Flower said at a press conference on Monday that Trott had been managing his condition for as long as he had known him and Hugh Morris, England’s managing director, stressed the player’s return home was “not down to any particular incident over the last few days”. Flower did say, however, that Warner had “overstepped the line”, while Cook called the comments “disrespectful” after England’s defeat on the fourth day. Warner had previously acknowledged going too far, before the announcement about Trott’s departure, and he reiterated those sentiments.David Warner: “Going into public and saying what I did probably did go over the line a little bit”•Getty Images

“I was always going to cop criticism, no matter what, from what I said,” Warner said. “As I said before, I probably stepped over that line and at the end of the day it’s cricket. We’ve got to go out there and play the best we can and as hard as we can without crossing that line.”Going into public and saying what I did probably did go over the line a little bit. Obviously it’s unfortunate that [Trott] has gone home now. I hope he gets well because we know the type of player he is and he will bounce back from it.”Warner’s attempt to smooth over the issue comes after former Australia captain Steve Waugh labelled him “out of order” for the attack on Trott. Interviewed on the Sydney Cricket Ground website, Waugh, a famously tough on-field competitor, said that Australia may need to temper their confrontational approach and let their cricket do the talking for them.”I think Dave Warner’s comments were out of order,” Waugh said. “I don’t believe you should comment on someone else personally on the opposition. He can make a generic comment, but I think when you get personal like that, you cross the line on how players treat each other, and the respect they should have.”So I didn’t agree with Dave’s comments, having said that, he probably did smell a bit of fear in the England opposition players. Unfortunately for Jonathan Trott, it was a personal issue, and you don’t want to keep going on about that. You just want him to get better and get well. So I think that hopefully has been put behind in that last Test match, and won’t be brought up again.”I think Australia probably need to be a little bit more clever about the way they’re going about things. They’re playing well, so they don’t need to do so much talking out there now.”

Zimbabwe’s players have taken the bold step of forming a players’ union in a bid to present a united front in salary negotiations. They have also boycotted training ahead of the series against Pakistan, which begins next week, until their demands are met.However, ESPNcricinfo has learned that at least three players have decided to resume training*.Wilfred Mukondiwa, the MD of Zimbabwe Cricket, confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that a players’ association was in the works for the last few months but he did not expect one to be formed this quickly. He said ZC have been in talks with the new body and expects a resolution over payment issues later today. Mukondiwa remained confident the series against Pakistan would take place “as planned.”The players, who could not be reached for comment, are speaking through five senior members of the squad – Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya and Vusi Sibanda – who have been in meetings with Mukondiwa and ZC “since Wednesday.” They are believed to be asking for match fees in addition to the salaries they receive on central contracts.Mukondiwa confirmed a report which said players want US$5,000 per Test, $3,000 per ODI and US$1,500 per T20. He did not reveal whether ZC had agreed to pay those amounts, but said the “door was open for negotiation.”

Zimbabwe Cricket’s financial woes

The board’s financial statement for 2012 revealed a debt of $15 million, some of them from the ICC, and confirmed that its liabilities exceeded its assets by $8.36 million. Although they made over $6 million from the India tour, they will incur a loss of at least $3 million from hosting Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka this year. Franchise disbursements were cut by 50% in 2012, which included payments to players and coaches.
Chairman Peter Chingoka explained that the situation is dire and there seems to be no easy way out. “Financially, we are not doing very well. The latest loss you will have seen from our report is that we’re down about $4.2 million from last year. We’re carrying serious bank loans which basically stagger us from one four-year cycle to the next. We could say, for us to avoid a problem at the bank, let’s do away with junior tours, but what does that do for those kids in terms of development?”

ZC have made the players an offer which they had taken to the union. Mukondiwa expected they would accept the offer and said the only issue which was yet to be agreed on was that of World Cup fees. reported that the players want 10% of the proceeds ZC receives from next year’s World T20.Mukondiwa also admitted that players have not been paid their July salaries due to a liquidity problem in ZC. While Mukondiwa said the five-ODI visit from India “brought in money”, ZC “has commitments” and was not able to meet all of them. He said the players were given an assurance they would be paid soon. Jason Gillespie, who has coached Midwest Rhinos in Zimbabwe, tweeted: Very pleasing to see the Zimbabwe cricketers form a players union. Hopefully ZC will realise this is a very positive move. #zimbabwecricketThis is not the first time salaries have caused problems in Zimbabwe cricket. The players threatened a boycott before their April series against Bangladesh in protest over what they considered an unsatisfactory daily allowance for non-centrally contracted players. Then, Craig Ervine, who was not on a central contract, chose to play club cricket in the UK, instead of accepting a winter contract in Zimbabwe which was believed to be worth US$100 a week.Now, the players are demanding compensation they believe is in line with what their counterparts in other countries are earning. While they wait for a decision to be made, they have not trained as a squad. Some have busied themselves with independent programmes but most have been involved with the formation of the union.Zimbabwean players have never had a successfully operational players association despite many attempts at one. The 2004 white-player walkout was one such aborted attempt but the major difference between that issue and the current one is that this time, the battle is not around race, and players across the colour divide are united in their attempts to confront the board.Mukondiwa said ZC will release a statement as soon as a resolution is reached. Zimbabwe host Pakistan for two T20s, three ODIs and two Tests, starting next Friday.* August 16, 2013 12.55 GMT: The story has been updated with the players’ decision to train

Another century from Andrew Gale gave the Yorkshire crowd some to cheer as Kevin Pietersen spent a full day in the field on his Surrey return

Jon Culley at Headingley21-Jun-2013
ScorecardAndrew Gale continued his run of heavy scoring with another century•PA Photos

Anyone who came to Headingley hoping to see Kevin Pietersen bat had to accept that such a pleasure would not be forthcoming after Surrey put Yorkshire in and failed to take a wicket in the first hour and a half. From England’s perspective, a day in the field as one of the key components of their plan to win the Ashes is nursed back to fitness was probably what they had hoped for.In any event, this was a Yorkshire crowd and another century from Andrew Gale gave the day a much more satisfactory feel than anything Pietersen might have achieved. The Yorkshire captain, whose early season form had appeared to be a scratchy continuation of a lean couple of years, suddenly seems unable to do anything but accumulate runs: 272 at Scarborough, 103 at Lord’s and now this; three hundreds in as many Championship games.”I changed a few things technically,” he said, after leaving the field on 114 not out. “I felt my balance was a little bit off early season. It’s just been about being ruthless. It probably is my best form. Three hundreds in a row speaks for itself.”Now that I’m in form, I just want to make sure I stay in form. I’ve been telling myself to be really greedy and don’t take it for granted. I’m taking each ball as it comes and pretending I’m nought not out.”Perversely, Gale will begin the second day under a little pressure. He shared a magnificent partnership of 204 with Gary Ballance that seemed to have guaranteed it would be Yorkshire’s day, but then Ballance – who will leave this match on Saturday evening to join England’s Twenty20 squad – was leg-before to Jon Lewis 10 runs short of his hundred and Adil Rashid, himself enjoying a golden run of form, edged the same bowler to second slip, where Vikram Solanki took a fine catch. It gives Surrey an opportunity to limit the damage still further if Gale can be prised out early on day two.If he is, it will not be through his own indiscretion. Only once did he lose his discipline and he was visibly cross with himself. It came when he had reached 95 and, by his own admission, he started to replay the six he had hit to complete his century against Nottinghamshire at Scarborough. He went after Gary Keedy but the timing was wrong and for a moment it looked as if he might be caught – by Pietersen, of all people – but the ball had just enough legs to evade his outstretched fingers as he ran back from mid-off.KP watch: how the comeback went

9am: First sighting. Has a gentle net on the outfield.

10.45am: More reporters here than for a normal county match but England’s date in Sunday’s Champions Trophy final keeps the majority engaged elsewhere. KP will doubtless have tweeted his thanks.

11am: Alas, Surrey have won the toss, so it’s fielding duty for our man. Although, as he tells Darren Gough on Talksport, that’s what he’s here for.

11.10am Goes to ground to field at mid-off and lands on knee, a grass stain on his trousers marking the spot. Happily, it’s not the knee he injured back in March.

2pm: Must seem like the longest day in more than just daylight hours with so little happening in the mid-off region that removing sweater is most energetic thing he does.

3.20pm: Captain Solanki relieves the tedium by asking KP to bowl: Four overs of offspin, one maiden, 13 runs conceded. Spell ends with tea.

4pm: Evening session. Sweater back on. Sensible move, that – wouldn’t want him to catch a chill.

5.01pm: Huge excitement. Andrew Gale, on 95, tries to reach his century by hitting Gary Keedy over mid-off. KP turns and gives chase, he dives (well, sort of) and gets a fingertip to the ball. He can’t hold it but at least he felt confident about trying. Hoorah.

“It was a poor shot,” Gale said. “I was reminiscing the Scarborough moment. I should have just kept knocking it around.”Gale and Ballance could take credit for steering Yorkshire through a potentially decisive phase as Surrey’s bowlers, who had been ineffective with the new ball, slipped into a better groove all round after lunch. Chris Tremlett, still bowling primarily in short, sharp spells, made one climb on Adam Lyth that the opener had to play and which edged to second slip, then Zander de Bruyn found some inswing to trap Alex Lees in front. Joe Sayers, out of form but in the side because Phil Jaques is injured, scratched around before an indecisive prod had him caught at first slip, at which point Yorkshire were 77 for 3.Pietersen had a gentle few overs himself just before tea, to supplement his work in the field. Alec Stewart, in charge for the moment after the sacking of Chris Adams, spoke on Pietersen’s behalf, in effect, with the England player keeping his thoughts to himself.”With Kevin, it was never about coming here and getting runs, it was about doing the hard yards,” Stewart said. “You do all your rehab, your gym work, your shuttles and everything but standing in the field for six and a half hours is part of cricket.”He is in an ice bath now. He will be sore but on the first day of your season if you are 100 percent fit, you are still sore. The good thing is that he has got six hours in his legs and that can only hold him in good stead for the second innings and when the Ashes start.”Yet how Surrey would welcome some runs from Pietersen, not least because having lost one overseas player with the promise of big scores when Graeme Smith’s ankle gave out, they have now lost Ricky Ponting with a hand injury sustained in fielding practice on Wednesday, although the hope is that it is a less serious blow.”He has had scans and it does not look like there is anything seriously wrong,” Stewart said. “But when he woke this morning his hand was just locked up. We are hoping he will be fit for our Twenty20 match on Wednesday but we are in the hands of the medical people.”

Clive Rose, the left-arm spinner who made his first-class debut for Victoria in February, has joined Tasmania on a one-year contract

Brydon Coverdale19-Apr-2013

Clive Rose, the left-arm spinner who made his first-class debut for Victoria in February, has joined Tasmania on a one-year contract. The Tigers have confirmed their full squad for the 2013-14 season and Rose is the only addition from interstate, while the rookies Jordan Silk and Harry Allanby have been upgraded to full contracts.Tasmania had already confirmed that the offspinner Jason Krejza and the allrounder Matt Johnston would not be signed up for next season, while Ricky Ponting was not given a deal at his own request. After being part of the state’s Sheffield Shield triumph last month, Ponting told Tasmania he was keen to play on next summer but asked them not to contract him at this stage in case he was to change his mind during the off-season.Rose, 23, is an impressive bowler but has had scant opportunities for the Bushrangers and his appearances next summer were likely to be even more limited, with the legspinner Fawad Ahmed having joined Jon Holland as the state’s two main spinners. The axing of Krejza means the Tigers have three specialist slow bowlers in their squad and all three bowl left-arm orthodox: Rose, Allanby and Xavier Doherty.”It was something we certainly thought about before we went ahead with it but I guess we felt Clive was the next best available spinner,” the new Tasmania coach Daniel Marsh told the . “We see it as really good, healthy competition, for Harry Allanby in particular. Obviously [Doherty] is our main man and we hope he plays for Australia for as long as he possibly can.”The Tigers have also added three new rookies to their list: Gabe Bell, a 17-year-old fast bowler; batsman Sean Willis, 18; and the 19-year-old fast bowler Ryan Lees, who grew up on Flinders Island.Tasmania squad Harry Allanby, George Bailey (Cricket Australia contract), Jackson Bird, Aiden Blizzard, Luke Butterworth, Steve Cazzulino, Mark Cosgrove, Ed Cowan (CA), Xavier Doherty (CA), Alex Doolan, Ben Dunk, James Faulkner (CA), Andrew Fekete, Evan Gulbis, Ben Hilfenhaus (CA), Ben Laughlin, Adam Maher, Tim Paine, Clive Rose, Jordan Silk, Timm van der Gugten, Jonathan Wells. Rookies Gabe Bell, Ryan Lees, Sam Rainbird, Beau Webster, Sean Willis.

Batsman Mominul Haque has been picked in Bangladesh’s Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka

Mohammad Isam24-Feb-2013

Left-arm spinner Enamul Haque jnr has returned to the Bangladesh Test squad after more than three years following his selection in the 15-man squad to tour Sri Lanka next month. Seamer Robiul Islam and batsman Jahurul Islam have also been recalled, while Mominul Haque has made it to the Test squad for the first time.The major name that is missing is Shakib Al Hasan, out injured and about to undergo surgery to correct a shin injury. Elias Sunny was not included while Junaid Siddique and Nazimuddin were not in the 25-man preliminary squad, which was announced on February 18.Enamul and Mominul have been taken to replace Shakib, according to chief selector Akram Khan who opted for prior international experience when replacing the allrounder.Enamul has taken 105 first-class wickets in the last two seasons, the highest in the National Cricket League this season. His last Test appearance was in a Bangladesh win, and where he took six wickets. But he made way for a three-man pace attack against India thereafter, though he was in the Test squad, and indifferent ODI form had him excluded for the next three years. This time he was picked ahead of Mosharraf Hossain and Saqlain Sajib, left-arm spinners who have also done well this season.In the case of Mominul, it was his recent ODI experience against West Indies which won him a place for a possible middle-order spot. He pushed aside Marshall Ayub, the season’s most prolific batsman in first-class cricket, Akram saying it was a “50-50 call”.”This was a tough selection, because we had to pick two players to replace Shakib,” Akram said. “Enamul won the left-arm spinner’s position ahead of Mosharraf Hossain and Saqlain Sajib. He is in form and has Test experience. Mominul was also a tough call but we need a left-hander in the middle order, so Marshall Ayub, despite his two double-hundreds, misses out.””I have spoken to Marshall on the phone, told him why he wasn’t taken this time. But the door is still open for him, he should continue to perform as he has been. It is unfortunate that we had to leave him out.”Jahurul returns to the squad after playing three Tests in 2010, but he has played ODI cricket recently. Both he and Robiul have been kept as additional options, although the former has a good chance for a place in the top order, said Akram. “He [Jahurul] could be one of the top three with Tamim [Iqbal] and [Shahriar] Nafees.”Robiul has trained in the National Cricket Academy during the BPL and he has played in the BCL. But we are not sure about Shafiul Islam, and in general we are facing a challenge to form a pace attack,” he said.The two-Test series in Sri Lanka will be Mushfiqur Rahim’s first away Tests as captain after he took over in October, 2011. He will lead the middle order, which will include Naeem Islam, Mahmudullah and Nasir Hossain while it is now likely that Anamul and Jahurul will battle for the position of the other opener with Tamim Iqbal. Shahriar Nafees’ BPL performance saved him a place in the squad after an indifferent showing in the Tests against West Indies.Offspinner Sohag Gazi is also going to be a part of the first overseas Test series, and will be an automatic choice after an impressive start to his career late last year, but the pace attack will have to be assembled in Sri Lanka as only Rubel Hossain looks like a first-choice.Bangladesh will begin the series with a three-day match against Sri Lanka Development Emerging Team at Matara from March 3 to 5, before the Test series, which begins in Galle on March 8. The second Test will be played in Colombo from March 16.Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Mahmudullah (vice-capt), Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Anamul Haque, Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Abul Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Enamul Haque, Jahurul Islam, Mominul Haque, Shahadat Hossain, Robiul Islam.

MS Dhoni, India’s under-fire captain, has said this is the time for the team to show character. India are 2-1 down against England and could lose their first Test series at home since 2004 if they don’t win the Nagpur Test. In all they have now lost 10 of their 11 Tests against England and Australia, and almost every player in the side has had his place questioned in recent times.”Not only as a captain, but as an individual too you rarely get these situations,” Dhoni said. “Against South Africa [in 2008], we were in a similar situation, when we were down in the series, going into Kanpur. I won’t say this is a very good situation to be in, but you get to know the character of a team or a person only in tough times. In a way it’s a good situation to be in where we have nowhere to go. We have to do well in this game.”Dhoni said the team has been in good spirits despite the reverses over the last few weeks. “The spirit is really good,” he said. “We have maintained that really well. In tough times the only people who will support you are team members, and the support staff. We have kept it really close, and the good thing is we are enjoying our cricket, which at times you don’t tend to do when you go through a rough patch. When it comes to the dressing-room atmosphere, it’s looking great.”Dhoni said his team is used to being under such pressure. “If you are part of Indian cricket, everything is under the microscope, and everybody has an opinion about cricket,” he said. “Everybody asks the questions we also ask, but nobody comes with a solution, which is the brilliant part. That’s how it goes in India. Cricket is a sport followed in a big way. Everybody has an opinion about everything that goes on.”People who have covered cricket for a long time, once you wait for the result you have plenty more questions you can ask – ‘Why that guy was not picked’, ‘why this guy was not given the new ball.’ It’s not like soccer where players play from a specific area. The midfielder plays from there, you alter it very rarely. Cricket is a sport where you can ask a lot of questions. That’s a big part of our life. We are under the microscope throughout.”Asked if many cricketing futures relied on the coming game, Dhoni said there was no need to be that dramatic. “That’s getting very critical,” Dhoni said. “A series or two or a rough patch…everybody was talking of this phase in Indian cricket where the big cricketers will move on and the pressure will come on young players. Everybody was expecting a rough patch.”Of course we have struggled in the last two Test matches. If you ask big questions depending on two Test matches, it may come in the future too when we lose two Test matches that youngsters should go out and somebody else should come in. You have to be consistent. You have to keep faith in the players. People who have done a lot for Indian cricket over the years, just on the basis of one series or two Test matches or half a season, it will be difficult if you are asking questions.”Dhoni defended two of his batsmen under-fire from the critics. About Sachin Tendulkar, he said: “He is the best man to have in the side in a game like this. The experience he has, the kind of performances he has given under pressure over the years is something we all look up to. When it comes to Sachin, the best thing to do is to not speculate. He has proved everybody wrong throughout his career. There is nothing really to speculate. Let him enjoy his cricket. That’s important.”Gautam Gambhir got Dhoni’s vote of confidence too. “About Gautam, the best thing I like about him is he is an aggressive character,” Dhoni said. “I always talk about it. I have played with him a lot. If you see the last few games, he has batted really well, he has taken time. There is a lot of improvement in his batting. I feel whenever he is aggressive – by aggressive I don’t mean stepping out and hitting the ball, it’s more about positively defending a ball, because that can be an aggressive mindset. He has been batting well in the last few games. It’s an ideal setup, this is a big game, he is a big-game player. He can transform starts into a big innings.”About the pressure on himself, Dhoni said he can handle these situations well. “That’s one thing I have done really good,” he said. “Whether it was the 2007 World Cup or when it was the 2011 World Cup, when people appreciate me, I don’t go to seventh heaven and go outside my way. When people criticise me, it’s the same.”In India we have extreme opinions. We praise someone very highly, and in a few games we start pulling the same individual down. I always say it’s important to be in the middle path. That’s how you will enjoy the sport. I have been quite good at maintaining that. Whether you win a game or lose it, the basics remain the same. It hasn’t been difficult not watching TV or reading newspapers. I have not been doing it for quite some time now.”

South Africa pressed for victory in the final Test at Lord’s which would seal their No.1 ranking after claiming both England openers on the fourth evening

The Report by David Hopps19-Aug-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAndrew Strauss made a horrid judgement to shoulder arms against Vernon Philander•Getty Images

The plotting has been going on for years, the final campaign got underway at The Oval a month ago, but the phase when South Africa truly believed that they were about to go top of the Test rankings, and displace England in the process, lasted a matter of 13 overs in the polite atmosphere of a Lord’s Test Sunday evening.In that time, England, faced by what for them would be a record fourth-innings run chase of 346 to win the final Test at Lord’s and level the series, lost Alastair Cook and their captain Andrew Strauss to limp to the close of the fourth day at 15 for 2.Vernon Philander found inswing with the new ball to dismiss both England openers lbw, leaving Cook motionless and Strauss strokeless. Any captain can be forgiven an error of judgment after spending much of the past month wondering how England would ever bowl South Africa out, but his passive exit felt like the official concession of a series.England need another 329 runs at about 3.6 runs an over on a fifth-day pitch when the average score in this Test has been below three. They must also do it against a South Africa pace attack which has proved itself the best in the world, marshalled by a captain, Graeme Smith, whose fortitude is surely about to be rewarded. They must also do it without the potential for the extraordinary that Kevin Pietersen occasionally brings. It is a big ask for team spirit and unity.England’s bowlers must feel mentally and physically battered, relieved perhaps that this was not a five-Test series. In the opening scene of the Coen brothers’ movie, , a chain gang in 1930s Mississipi is seen breaking rocks while singing Po Lazarus, a negro spiritual song. Bowling at South Africa throughout this series has left England’s badly in need of a melody or two as they have repeatedly foundered on the array of boulders that constitute South Africa’s batting line-up.Hashim Amla’s unyielding 121 in South Africa’s second-innings 351 condemned England on what began as London’s hottest day of the year to a disheartening experience on a sedate and comparatively reliable pitch of chipping away against rock with the sensation that balls and chains were around their feet.No team has chased down 345 to win a Test at Lord’s – although the 1984 West Indians did rampage to 344 for 1 thanks to a double century by Gordon Greenidge, a man who as the Negro spiritual observes about Po Lazarus, took some arresting.Amla was 57 overnight and when he back-cut Jonathan Trott to reach his hundred in the first full over of the afternoon – Trott bowling because the second new ball was only two overs away – it was his first boundary of the day. He dealt in placement, a batsman of immense certainty and subtlety.That England could retain any hope of victory as the day progressed owed much to Steven Finn. Just when it looked as if South Africa were bound for safety at 259 for 4, a lead of 253, he produced a pre-tea spell of 3 for 19 in seven overs, including the vital wicket of Amla for 121, to keep depression at bay.Smart stats

The highest fourth-innings target successfully chased so far at Lord’s is 342, by West Indies in 1984. They did so losing just one wicket. There have been only two other successful chases of 200-plus targets.

Hashim Amla finished the series with an aggregate of 482. It’s the third-highest for South Africa in a series of three or fewer Tests, behind Jacques Kallis’ 498 versus India in 2010-11, and Amla’s 490 in two Tests versus the same team in 2010.

AB de Villiers failed to get a half-century in a three-Test series for the first time since 2007, when he scored 48 in six innings against Pakistan. He has averaged 30.33 in the six Tests when he has kept wicket, and 50.42 when he hasn’t.

De Villiers, though, scored 161 runs in the series, which is the second-highest by a South African batsman without a 50-plus score in a three-Test series. Gary Kirsten, the current coach, scored 162 against Australia in 1993-94 with a highest score of 47.

In his last 14 first-class matches at Lord’s, going back to 2010, Steven Finn has taken 71 wickets at 20.10. His Test record here is equally impressive: 25 wickets in four Tests at an average of 21.44.

Finn does not strike you as a man much given to spiritual songs – he does not even look as if he would make much of a fist of karaoke – but once Stuart Broad and James Anderson had taken that new ball to no avail, he was introduced into the attack and plotted England’s last, desperate attempt to escape.In the first innings, he cut one back to bowl Amla through the gate, this time he straightened one to bowl him past the outside edge. AB de Villiers was unhinged by a ball that bounced and left him, giving Strauss, at first slip, his 121st catch, a record for an England outfielder, taking him beyond Ian Botham and Colin Cowdrey. Jacques Rudolph, a left-hander attacked from around the wicket, edged another ball that held its line and edged to the wicketkeeper.Finn had taken four wickets in the first innings, but he had struggled for rhythm, just as he had in the second Test at Headingley, his habit of nudging the stumps with his knees at the bowler’s end not helping his state of mind.At Lord’s, his home ground, his presence returned, as did his ability to leave the righthander. He bowled well from the start of the day, as if he recognised that this was England’s final opportunity, and a slim opportunity at that, and the urgency of the situation made him remember what he was: a fast bowler.But Philander struck out successfully for the second time in the match, impressing on England that Amla’s century had all but settled the series. Amla had been missed on 2 down the leg side by Matt Prior the previous day, his first drop standing back for two years, and he made England suffer. His consummate response to all that England’s offspinner, Graeme Swann, could throw at him, was a major indication of South Africa’s authority.England made their task more difficult with another blemish in the field. Anderson’s fumble, diving forward to intercept a simple catch at short midwicket off Swann left the batsman, de Villiers, on 8, looking on in wonder. Strauss also missed a very difficult chance at slip, also off Swann, when Duminy, on 4, carved at the offspinner and the ball struck Strauss on the wrist at pace. England needed to accept every opportunity going.It took England another 17.2 overs after tea to remove South Africa’s last three wickets. Philander’s dismissal for a spirited 35 owed much to good fortune as Anderson overbalanced slightly in footholes that have troubled him periodically throughout the match and delivered a wide long hop which Philander carved to Jonny Bairstow at backward point.Morne Morkel fell to a smart piece of wicketkeeping from Prior who waited for his back foot to lift in the air momentarily before removing the bails. Anderson cleaned up Imran Tahir to the roars of the Lord’s crowd, the fourth successive full house, for whom hope sprang eternal.Before lunch, South Africa lost only the nightwatchman Steyn – not much more than a pebble as South African batting rocks go. Treated to a barrage of short balls, he had been struck on the top hand the previous evening and suffered another blow in the same spot from Finn.He clung on gamely for nearly nine overs until Broad produced a rearing delivery which he could only lob gently to James Taylor at short leg. And, as for the injury, it was not even his bowling hand.

Pakistan has asked Australia to play three ODIs and three Twenty20s in the UAE in August and September, despite being granted ICC permission to change the series to six T20s

Umar Farooq27-Jun-2012Pakistan has asked Australia to play three ODIs and three Twenty20s in the UAE in August and September, despite being granted ICC permission to change the series to six T20s. Cricket Australia is believed to have agreed in principle to the proposal, but is not expected to sign off on the deal until discussing it with its players, after the Australian Cricketers’ Association expressed “significant concerns” about the extreme heat in the UAE at that time of year.The PCB was open to the idea of only T20 games but ESPNcricinfo understands the broadcaster had objected for commercial reasons. The PCB’s request for the ICC to allow a six-match T20 series due to the weather conditions was approved this week, but Pakistan considered it only a backup plan in case the ODI portion of the series could not go ahead.The chairmen and chief executives of both sides met during the ICC’s annual conference in Kuala Lumpur and agreed in principle on a series of three ODIs and three T20s in the UAE. The PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf, said the matches would start in the evening in order to avoid the worst of the heat.”We had a decision with Cricket Australia officials that we’ll play [three ODIs and three T20s] in the UAE in the evening,” Ashraf told ESPNcricinfo. “Cricket Australia is looking at the weather as well and our broadcaster objected to the omission of ODIs. However the decision will be taken this week.”The Australian Cricketers’ Association has already expressed its concerns about playing ODIs in such hot weather, whereas T20s would lessen the problem due to a later start time and shorter games. However, Pakistan insists that the conditions can be handled by starting the 50-over matches in the evening.Cricket Australia confirmed that positive discussions had taken place in Kuala Lumpur, between Cricket Australia’s chief executive James Sutherland and chairman Wally Edwards and their Pakistan counterparts. However, a spokesman said further details of the series, including the mix of matches, grounds and start times were yet to be finalised.”They [Australian officials] have agreed in principle to a proposal that the PCB has put to us, subject to us seeing the final detail,” a Cricket Australia spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. “We’re expecting the final detail within the next 24 hours. Once we sign off on the final detail we’re expecting a formal announcement from the PCB within the next two or three days.”

ScorecardGeorge Bailey was Man of the Match for his 101 but he was devastated not to see Tasmania home•Getty Images

South Australia’s 25-year drought without a one-day title ended with a thrilling tie that delivered them the Ryobi Cup in the final in Adelaide. In a remarkable last over, Tasmania needed five runs for victory but managed only four as Gary Putland held his nerve to take the key wicket of the centurion George Bailey and then denied the new batsman James Faulkner the runs he required.Faulkner needed two from the last ball and South Australia knew that as the team that finished on top of the table, a tie was enough for them to take the title. Faulkner couldn’t lay bat on ball and although he and his partner Ricky Ponting ran through for a bye, there was no way Tasmania could conjure the extra run to overhaul South Australia’s 285.The South Australia celebrations were fitting for a side that has won so little silverware in the past couple of decades. The coach Darren Berry raced on to the field and embraced Putland, a bowler he mentioned before the match as a key to the side’s chances, and the captain Michael Klinger was also in among the hugs after he helped set up the win with 81 and then some calm leadership at the end.Tasmania were without question the favourites during the last few overs of the game as Bailey, the Tasmania captain, and Ponting, the champion dropped from Australia’s ODI side, compiled a 174-run partnership that looked certain to take the Tigers to victory. But the loss of Bailey for 101 from the second ball of the last over, lbw to a low full toss when he tried to paddle sweep Putland, was the key moment.He had brought up his century in the second-last over with a similar lap sweep off the spin of Aaron O’Brien from his 103rd delivery. Bailey had constructed his innings well, starting off slowly and gradually lifting his tempo, and Ponting had played a similar way after they came together with the score at 3 for 108 in the 23rd over.Ponting was scratchy early in his innings, miscuing several balls and having the good fortune to see some lob just wide of fielders. He was put down on 36 by the eventual hero for the Redbacks, Putland, who ran around at long-on and failed to clasp a chance from a slog-sweep off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.Ponting had another life on 58 when Tom Cooper at long-off ran in and couldn’t complete a low catch, and Cooper had also put down Bailey on 6. The failures in the field looked like they would cost South Australia the title as the two batsmen stuck around and both cleared the boundary with slog-sweeps off the spinners in the final few overs.They had come together after Mark Cosgrove departed for 69, one of three top-order wickets for Lyon, who seemed to be keeping his side on track in the early stages after they were bowled out for 285 in the final over of their innings. Klinger had chosen to bat and together with Daniel Harris (60) put on 133 for the opening wicket to give the Redbacks an excellent start.Klinger finished as comfortably the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 498 at 55.33 but none were more valuable than the 81 he scored in this decider. He drove well through the off side and had good support from Harris, who backed himself and scored at nearly a run a ball, and later in the innings Theo Doropoulos also chipped in with an important cameo of 40 from 34.Faulkner picked up 4 for 75 and his wickets through the middle overs helped to drag Tasmania back into the match, while Jackson Bird took 3 for 39. But in the end the Tigers needed to find a way to get Ponting on strike in that final over when Faulkner faced the last four balls. Putland didn’t let that happen, and South Australia’s first one-day title since 1986-87 was complete.