All posts by h716a5.icu

Our correspondent displays horrific ignorance about the finer things in life, and begs for a lift to McDonald’s

Andrew Fidel Fernando15-Mar-2015February 11
The stereotype goes that Cantabrians are people of strong opinions. Occasionally the word “myopic” is used to describe them, usually by Aucklanders. But two days out from the World Cup, Christchurch’s World Cup expectations are restrained and nuanced. “We look good, but I wonder if Brendon McCullum can play as aggressively as he does against some of the better attacks,” says a man in a café. “I also worry that Trent Boult won’t swing the white ball as much as we expect,” replies his companion.February 12
Tens of thousands turn out for the World Cup opening ceremony, which is more community carnival than global showpiece. It is refreshing, uplifting, and typically for New Zealand, understated. The only high-octane moments of the evening are when the biggest fireworks display Christchurch has seen light up the sky, a little while after mayor Lianne Dalziel stormed the stage and bellowed, “We are back”, like some 1980s hip-hop hype-woman. All she needed was a clock around her neck.February 13
Colleague Andrew McGlashan and I return to our lodgings starving, late in the night. No restaurants save the 24-hour McDonald’s down the road are open. I volunteer to go fetch the food, but to my dismay, only the drive-through is in operation. Too hungry to go back empty-handed, I approach the latest car to pull into the queue and ask if I can climb into the back seat and order and pay from there, since they only allow vehicles into the drive-through. Not only do the couple in the car agree, they end up dropping me back to our apartment. Gnasher is in stitches when I tell him the story. He describes it as the perfect combination of Sri Lankan informal ingenuity and Kiwi friendliness. I reflect I probably shouldn’t try this again outside of those two countries.The opening ceremony in Christchurch•Andrew Fidel Fernando/ESPNcricinfo LtdFebruary 19
Dimuth Karunaratne sees me near the Sri Lanka nets and comes to say hello. He’s trying out a heavier bat. He smiles when another journalist and I tell him that Aravinda de Silva had switched to a much heavier bat during his epic 1996 World Cup as well. Dinesh Chandimal comes over for a chat a little later. Mahela Jayawardene exchanges a few words walking past. A lot of people want to know what the Sri Lanka players are like in person. I can almost never say a bad word. There are no airs, for most of them. They are normal to the point of being a little boring.February 26
Meet a Bangladesh fan in the lobby of the apartment building I’m staying in in Melbourne. She and her husband have flown from Sydney to watch the following day’s game. “My perfect match would be for Sanga to score a hundred, then for the Tigers to win,” she says. She will get half her wish. They have also booked tickets to the Melbourne quarter-final. “I just have a feeling we will get to the quarters this time.”February 28
Arrive at the departure gate to find I’m on the same flight as the Sri Lanka team. I board and find myself sitting next to selector-on-tour Sanath Jayasuriya. He laughs to himself when he sees me. “This is going to be my quietest flight ever, otherwise tomorrow everything will be on Cricinfo.” I retort with: “I’ll just be happy if none of the players try to open the plane door at 35,000 feet” (as a Sri Lanka A cricketer had done last year). He laughs again.ESPNcricinfo’s Match Point set overlooking the Sydney Harbour bridge•Andrew Fidel Fernando/ESPNcricinfo LtdIn the end Jayasuriya is quite chatty, speaking knowledgably about the story of two young Australians currently facing execution in Indonesia for drug smuggling. I fall asleep, hoping earnestly I don’t wake up nestled in his shoulder, a stream of drool on his shirt.March 3
I know nothing about wine. But that does not stop me, or two other wine-ignoramuses from attending a tasting at a Hawke’s Bay winery. As we begin to glug down the samples, we offer questions of profound obtuseness to the young lady hosting us. “Do you chill white wine before you drink it?” And “why is some wine white and others red, when they are made from the same grape?” We pause for a few seconds, as if to aerate the tannins of our own daftness, then let fly with: “What’s the difference in taste between Shiraz and Syrah?” (They’re the same thing, apparently.)There is a moment when I am personally impressed with the apparent grasp of viticulture that underlies one of our queries. This is a delusion. Our hostess is visibly more and more dismayed with the quality of each fresh probe. “Yes, Merlot does actually improve over time,” went one of her particularly downbeat responses. In between these rounds of inane q&a, she leaves us and goes into her office for a few minutes, presumably to weep.March 6
Within 24 hours of being in Sydney, I have already seen enough male cleavage to last me a lifetime. There seems to be a council law that skin-tight plunging v-neck shirts are all men are allowed to wear. I hope I don’t get pulled up and fined. I guess if you’re putting in the work for those muscles, you may as well show them off. The Mardi Gras gay pride parade is in town too. Lots of noise. Lots of exposed skin.Nibble or chomp – there are many ways to enjoy Tasman produce•Andrew Fidel Fernando/ESPNcricinfo LtdMarch 9
Sydney has never been my favourite Australian city, but boy, that harbour is something else. Colleague and liker-of-own-voice Raunak Kapoor shows me around the Match Point set, overlooking the grand Harbour Bridge and Opera House. He was about to go for a run when I turn up, but we end up drinking milkshakes, eating ice cream and having a heavy lunch instead. His plans to exercise apparently pan out much the same way as mine.March 13
I am even more ignorant about cheese than I am about wine, yet here I am again, attending a cheese tasting on Bruny Island, just off Tasmania, with Jarrod Kimber for company. To break the silence as we taste, I offer: “Mmm, yes, that one had quite a cheesy quality to it, don’t you think? I was definitely getting flavours of cheese.” He furrows his brow, tucks his chin in, nods his head and makes an observation whose insight stuns me. “I like that last one better because it was softer than the one before it.”He buys some cheese, hopefully as a gift for people who know more about it than him, and we spend a few hours just driving around Bruny Island, taking in its many dramatic landscapes, gorgeous beaches and imposing eucalypt forests.

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2015Holder reached his half-century from 48 balls•AFPJosh Hazlewood picked up the final two wickets to have West Indies dismissed for 220•Associated PressDavid Warner had the task of steering Australia to a big enough lead to allow a declaration•AFPShaun Marsh moved along to his best score of the series•Getty ImagesIt wasn’t always easy for Marsh and Warner•Getty ImagesBoth Marsh and Warner reached half-centuries during a 117-run opening stand•Associated PressKemar Roach had Warner caught behind for 62, before Marsh fell for 69•AFPSteven Smith continued his strong form with an unbeaten 54, before Michael Clarke declared and set West Indies 392 to win•Getty ImagesThe chase started disastrously for West Indies when Mitchell Starc removed both openers in the first over, and at stumps they were 16 for 2•Getty Images

South Africa have mastered the art of being better travellers than hosts and seem to have a plan to succeed in Bangladesh too

Firdose Moonda20-Jul-2015From the outside, it can seem pretty easy being a South African Test cricketer.Despite six months of inaction, the team remains top of the Test rankings. Even if South Africa’s nearest rivals, Australia, go on to win the Ashes 4-1 and Bangladesh beat them in both Tests, South Africa will still remain at the summit. Not so bad for an outfit their captain has described as “a team in transition, which people will see more now than ever.”In the last two years, South Africa have undergone an almost complete changing of the guard. They have a new captain, new openers, a new wicketkeeper and have rotated through four different spinners but they have enjoyed success in the midst of all that because they worked out how to be better travellers than hosts. They will hope the upcoming series against Bangladesh will be another example of that.South Africa last lost a series away from home nine years ago, in Sri Lanka in 2006. They have since played 14 away series, of which seven have been in the subcontinent, won 10 and drawn four. The four shared spoils came in India and the UAE; the victories everywhere from Australia to West Indies. The key has been their ability to adapt and that is what South Africa will want to instill into the younger crop on this outing, before the bigger challenges of touring India and hosting England come around.By then, South Africa will not want to be carrying the label of a new-look side, they will want to have found their look. That means they will want to know exactly who will open the batting, who is next in line for the middle-order spots, who the reserve seamers are and which spinner is the first-choice. All of that needs to be discovered in Bangladesh and Hashim Amla knows it.”To try and get the team together and grow for the next couple of years is important. We’ve got a lot of new faces, mixed with guys who have played a lot of Test cricket. I hope those guys will get to understand what Test cricket is about in Bangladesh and for some of us to put in some big performances to help them get used to Test cricket.”Amla has identified the batting line-up as the area undergoing the most change because it “takes five or six years before a batsman has gained experience in Test cricket.” South Africa’s senior opener, Dean Elgar, only has 15 Tests under his belt and whoever occupies the No. 5 spot in this series will have played fewer than that. Surprisingly, even the so-called experienced players like Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy have played only 20 and 27 Tests respectively.That leaves Amla, with 82 caps, as the most senior member of the batting group. He will have to anchor a line-up which could see Reeza Hendricks make his debut at the top and one of Stiaan van Zyl or Temba Bavuma slot in for AB de Villiers in the middle, where Quinton de Kock is need of some runs.Amla hopes the change in format will translate to a change of fortunes for his wicketkeeper. “Quinny is a wonderful talent who works very hard. I think its a matter of time before he makes a big play for us,” Amla said. If he doesn’t, Dane Vilas is lurking as a replacement.At least at the other end of the XI, matters are more certain. South Africa’s premier pace pack of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel will resume their regular positions, with Kagiso Rabada likely to be forced to watch and learn for now. “KG is a wonderful talent. The caution should be that you never want to rush players into the international environment and our bowling attack is pretty settled,” Amla said. “There is a possibility of some guys making their debut but that will only be a decision taken later.”That decision could also impact Aaron Phangiso, a surprise inclusion in the Test squad, who may have to wait while Simon Harmer is entrusted with the specialist spinner’s job. Harmer was preferred over Dane Piedt but with both new to the international game, he will know this is his opportunity to prove his worth.Harmer, who took seven wickets on debut against West Indies, prepared with club cricket in Manchester, which allowed him to “keep my engine running,” and has already sussed out what he will need to do to be successful in Bangladesh. “You need to be as patient as possible. It’s easy to get carried away because it does turn,” he said. “Variation is also key over here. The wickets do turn so you need to keep the batsmen thinking the whole time. You need to be able to vary your pace and bowl balls that don’t turn as much as the one before it.”His goal is to pick up “at least one five-for in the second innings,” to win a match for South Africa, which would help extend their lead at the top of the table. The most South Africa can gain is seven points, from a 2-0 series win, which will give them a decent cushion as the season unfolds. Even though that may not be foremost on the players minds, if it happens it could make life as a South African Test cricketer a little easier going in to a busy summer.

A round-up of the tributes for former England captain Brian Close, who died aged 84

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Sep-2015″He was also very brave as a fielder at forward short leg in the days before players were like Michelin men with all their protection. It takes them ten minutes to get ready nowadays but Closey just wore a box, if anything at all.”
“His toughness was legendary. The mere fact that England thought Close, 45 years old, was the right man to come back to face West Indies in 1976 with the four-man pace attack shows you what they thought of him. Not just the toughest batsman [I bowled to], one of the toughest people around in the game.”
“Vale Brian Close… my Somerset captain 1972… great guy… bravest short leg ever… drove me around England for two seasons… learnt so much.”
“Such a sad day. He was a true inspiration to all of us. Thanks Brian for helping me as a kid growing up at Yorkshire. I once had a lbw problem. Closey, aged 60, came into the nets and batted without pads. ‘Only way young man you will sort your problem.'”
“He led from the front, and I thought he was a magnificent captain. We have lost a true legend of the game.”
“The best captain a young player could ever have wished for “Brian Close”! Myself & IVA owe you so much! RIP Closey”
“Very sad the hear the passing of Brian Close. A cricket legend who’s fearless approach and bravery will always be remembered.”
“R.I.P to a Yorkshire great Brian Close. His toughness was legendary, his talents immense! Will always remember bowling to Closey in the indoor nets as he did his pre-season preparation to captain the YCC Academy at 65 years!”
“Sad to hear passing of Brian Close – fortunate to meet him many times, a true Yorkshire legend! Thoughts with his family and many friends.”
“Inspirational for us youngsters in the 1970’s. Hard as nails, great character #RIPClosey”
Was once in a Roller with Brian Close. Went over a speed bump too quick. His head went clean through the roof upholstery #hardman Closey RIP

With Brendon McCullum set to exit international cricket, readers recall their favourite BMac memory

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Dec-2015Sam Harrison
His 20/20 innings against Aussie in Christchurch when continuously scooped Shaun Tait over keeper’s head for 6 when he was bowling 150km plusDon Walker
His 302 to save that Test match against india, silencing his critics that said he could only bat one way. Thanks for the memories BMac.Siddharth Viswanathan
His knock of 302 against India at the Basin Reserve in 2014. Given the moment, given the situation, the enormity of his knock, along with the milestones he achieved, were fabulous. In short, my favorite McCullum moment was his batting in 2014. Be it his 224, 202 or 195, that was McCullum’s zenith.Michael Scofield
For me the 158 that he scored for KKR against RCB in the very first IPL match really stands out. That record stood for many years before Gayle broke it. He had such amazing bat speed that even his outside edge carried all the way for a six in that match. Thanks for the memories!Swapnil Mohgaonkar
Soumya Sarkar plays a shot to deep extra cover which most certainly looked like will go to the boundary and out of nowhere we see Baz running and catching up and then he attempts an exceptional flying dive which almost saved the boundary. To be honest that is one of the best dives I’ve seen in cricket, many won’t even dare to attempt! And this just shows his commitment towards the game.Fans would surely miss him.Zeeshan Mahmud
So many to choose from. His 158 in IPL. His 123 in T20 against Bangladesh. BAZ going berserk to chase Bangladesh’s 93 for a 28-ball 80. But his 195 against Sri Lanka would always be a vintage and sparkling one.Yasa Kalum Bagyawantha
Refusing a single in the T20 world cup match with SL because the bowler Akila Dananjaya got injured by hitting the ball. Then ultimately the match was tied and SL won in super over.Chamath Herath
In the WT20 2012 league match vs Sri Lanka BMac was at the non striker’s end when Akila Dananjaya got hit on the face by the batsman. BMac refused to take the single, checked the youngster and immediately called for help. If that single had been taken NZ would have won the match, bit instead it ended in a draw and SL won the one over eliminator. One moment where sportsmanship came before the win. Respect.Sandeep John Linda
The recent one of the Australia vs New Zealand Test series, when BMac ran out Shaun Marsh with a super athletic save at mid-off first and then mind-blowing accurate & quick release of the ball, all in one go. Superhuman efforts like these from super duper BMac keeps my faith alive in life beyond logic & practicality.Prasad Patane
First of all his name struck me. You know sometimes reading a name excites you, his did that. Then came that mammoth chases of 346 & 350 against Aussies in 2006. In both the innings, he was aggressive and he was undefeated. And then off course came first night of IPL.Bang bang and IPL was off in most spectacular fashion. Later in his career I will remember him for his acrobatic fielding efforts. Well played Baz. You will be missed.Lakhi Rohira
My favourite Baz moment was the 72 he scored in just 25 odd balls against England in CWC15. Tim Southee had already broken the back of England by taking 7-30 and Baz’s innings just devastated England he was using his feet to fastbowlers! Yes you heard it right!I also think that he and his New Zealand were responsible for the resurgence of the new England.Justin Nicholas
His 3 ball innings in the 2015 World Cup final. Absolutely hilarious, still makes me laugh.

A stats preview of the five-match ODI series between India and Australia

Bharath Seervi11-Jan-20160 Number of bilateral ODI series between India and Australia in Australia. All the ODIs played by India in Australia have been part of series or tournaments of three or more teams only.10-31 India’s win-loss record in ODIs against Australia in Australia, which includes a streak of 11 consecutive losses against the hosts ending in 2004. In their last 11 complete ODIs, India have won four matches which include the two finals of the Commonwealth Bank Series of 2007-08. India’s win-loss ratio of 0.363 against Australia in Australia in ODIs since 2000 is their second worst against host countries.14 Consecutive ODIs without defeat for Australia at home since November 2014. Their last defeat was to South Africa at the WACA on November 16, 2014.3 Bilateral ODI series defeats for Australia at home in 17 series’ since 2000. Their losses came against: Pakistan (1-2) in 2002, South Africa (1-4) in 2008-09 and Sri Lanka (1-2) in 2010-11.They have won ten series’ and four have been drawn.1 Centuries by India batsmen against Australia in Australia in the last eight ODIs, since 2008. The only hundred was by Rohit Sharma, who made 138 at the MCG in January 2015. However, there were three hundreds in six matches by India batsmen in the 2015 World Cup at Australian venues.57.06 Rohit Sharma’s average against Australia in ODIs, his best against any Test-playing team. He has scored three centuries against them: 209, 141* and 138. Sri Lanka are the only other team against whom he has made two centuries in ODIs.169 Runs required by Virat Kohli to complete 7000 ODI runs. If he gets there in this five-match series, he will become the quickest to the landmark beating AB de Villiers who did it in 166 innings. Kohli has 6831 runs in 158 innings.135 Runs needed by Aaron Finch in two innings to become the joint-fastest Australia batsman to 2000 ODI runs. He has 1865 runs in 50 innings. Currently, the fastest Australia batsman to 2000 ODI runs is David Boon, who took 52 innings to reach the mark. Finch averages 45.87 against India in eight innings with four half-centuries and a best of 96.

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2016A patient Joe Burns kept Australia ticking and brought up his fifty•Getty ImagesBurns and Steven Smith ensured that the hosts couldn’t cash in on the early blow, and took Australia to 151 for 2 at lunch•Marty Melville/AFP/Getty ImagesBurns reached his third Test hundred, and his first overseas, in the post-lunch session•Getty ImagesSmith brought up his fifty at the other end, as Australia marched towards a wicketless session•Marty Melville/AFP/Getty ImagesIn last over of the session, Smith was hit on the helmet by a Neil Wagner bouncer. After receiving medical attention he continued to bat and helped his side reach 241 for 2 at tea•Getty ImagesSoon after play resumed for the final session, Smith got to his 14th Test hundred•AFPSmith and Burns took their stand past 250, and just as it seemed that they would take Australia to stumps…•Getty Images… Neil Wagner removed both batsmen in successive overs. The visitors ended the day at 363 for 4, with Adam Voges and Nathan Lyon at the crease•Getty Images

They are fan favourites the world over. Some of them have previously played key roles in the IPL. But 2016 wasn’t their year

Shashank Kishore30-May-20167:08

WATCH – We’d like to see more of … in 2017

Dale SteynDale Steyn’s only wicket in this IPL season, as his Instagram feed proudly proclaimed, came in a street cricket game in Mumbai. From exploring India’s concrete jungles to hitching autorickshaw rides and from playing golf to taking selfies by the Ganges, Steyn had a blast off the field. On it, Gujarat Lions found it difficult to accommodate him, especially with Dwayne Smith and Aaron Finch performing the way they were. Steyn bowled all of two overs in his only game.Albie MorkelAlbie Morkel took a wicket with his first ball for Rising Pune Supergiants, but only played two matches•BCCIA go-to man for MS Dhoni during his Chennai Super Kings days, Albie Morkel, acquired in the transfer window from Delhi Daredevils, was expected to play a similar role at Rising Pune Supergiants. But not even injuries to their first-choice foreign players Kevin Pietersen, Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh and Faf du Plessis could translate into opportunities. Thisara Perera assumed the role of finisher and medium-pace option, limiting Morkel’s opportunities considerably.Corey AndersonYes, kids. Corey Anderson actually for Mumbai Indians, back in the day•BCCICorey Anderson’s continued absence from the Mumbai Indians XI wasn’t entirely surprising, given the number of overseas options available to them and the rousing form of Krunal Pandya, another left-handed allrounder, albeit a spinner. Anderson’s bench-warming led to debates over the possibility of a mid-season loan system. Surely Kings XI Punjab would have benefitted? Having arrived with the hope of being a game-changer, Anderson spent two frustrating months stuck on the bench.Trent BoultTrent Boult only played one match for Sunrisers Hyderabad this season•AFPTrent Boult is shown uprooting middle stump in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s theme song. With more match time – he played just one game – he could have replicated it on the field too. Instead, with Mustafizur Rahman taking his place and making it his own, Boult was usually carrying drinks, ensuring his team-mates stayed well hydrated in a harsh summer that saw temperatures reach 45 degrees in Hyderabad.Martin GuptillMartin Guptill’s brief IPL 2016 highlights reel included this blow to the helmet courtesy a Zaheer Khan bouncer•BCCIThere was disbelief within cricket circles when Martin Guptill went unsold at the IPL auction despite looking like a steal with a base price of INR 50 lakhs. There emerged a ray of hope when a slew of Supergiants players were forced out with injuries, but it was Mumbai who finally called him up, when they lost Lendl Simmons to a lower back problem. Guptill only played three games, two of which came at the end of the league phase with Mumbai fighting to stay alive.

Jonny Bairstow has gloriously fast hands when it comes to being one of the world’s most in-form batsmen. But they deserted him in his wicketkeeping duties, and it’s not entirely his fault

Jarrod Kimber at Lord's10-Jun-2016Jonny Bairstow is on his knees, clutching for the ball. Instead he clutches in vain as it bounces off his glove. It’s not an edge, but a throw from Stuart Broad. It’s low and bounces in front of Bairstow, but far enough away that it sits up well. But Bairstow never looks like collecting it. The next ball is a single to fine leg, the soft throw comes in on the half volley. Bairstow puts down one hand to grab it, but he fumbles it again. Two balls later, a ball is under-armed above his head. Somehow he fumbles again.In the three balls that have come to him, he’s taken a hat-trick of fumbles.Lord’s is a bad ground for wicketkeeping. The ball swings late. It dips. It isn’t easy. Then there is a slope as well. The world’s best wicketkeepers have often looked untidy here. But they have worked it out.Prior to today, Jonny Bairstow’s professional experience of wicketkeeping at Lord’s amounted to 78 overs. His most recent stint had come in a Pro40 contest in 2011. He dropped a catch today. Jonny Bairstow is not one of the world’s best wicketkeepers.That game in which Bairstow last kept at Lord’s, he made 114. That is why he is here now. Them runs. Lots of runs. His technique might still worry some, there might be a question as to how much luck he has, but no one can question his runs.His wicketkeeping, you can question that.Although when it was questioned at Headingley, after he dropped a catch off the low-in confidence-Steven Finn he said, with the air of a man trying his very best: “If you’d like to give me an explanation of what you think that was, I’d love to know about it because there’s a lot of things that people talk about that. I’d love to know about it, because obviously they’ve kept wicket for however many years and know all the technicalities of it. If people want to go into the intricacies of keeping wicket, I think it would be quite interesting.”Bairstow is right. People know very little about wicketkeeping. Books about how to bat or bowl are printed every year. If it is a complete book about coaching, there will be a section on wicketkeeping. But how many wicketkeeping specialist coaching books are there? Chances are, you don’t own CrickiTeacher: The Art of Wicket-keeping by Stephen Pope, or Major Ronald Thomas Staynforth’s seminal classic, Wicket-Keeping. And if you don’t own them, chances are you don’t own a book devoted to one of cricket’s most important skills, as they seem to be two of a very, very, rare breed.

Cricket data is naked when it comes to wicketkeeping. Missed chances are barely recorded around the world, and counting byes has never truly worked when working out the class of a wicketkeeper

Before play, the cricket charity Chance to Shine were handing out copies of a cricket “bucket list”, including such must-do-at-least-once gems as “take a crowd catch” and “go to a Test in fancy dress”. One of the list items was, “fill in as a last-minute wicketkeeper”. That is not quite how modern cricket works, but it is the direction it does seem to be heading.Michael Bates, the former Hampshire wicketkeeper, is only 24 years old. But he is now a wicketkeeping coach, according to his Twitter profile, rather than a player, because while Bates can wicket-keep to a highlight-reel level, his batting isn’t up to the modern standard. Don Tallon, perhaps the greatest wicketkeeper of all time, only ever batted as high as seven in one innings in his career, and averaged 17.13 in 21 Tests. Since the war, according to Lookatthedata.blogspot.co.uk, the amount of runs produced by wicketkeepers in Tests has risen from 6% to 10%. Wicketkeepers have slowly and surely been turned into batsmen. We all know that. And the actual skill of wicketkeeping is struggling as a consequence.Modern wicketkeeping involves batsmen with fast hands, all of them tremendous athletes, diving and hoping. They are point fielders with gloves. Some don’t run up to the stumps when the ball is played into the field, thus missing the chance to complete run outs. Others don’t expect the ball to be missed, and are caught looking silly when it is. And almost none of them use their feet.It is not Bairstow’s fault his keeping is not better than it is. There is no doubt he works hard, he consults experts, and he works with the ECB keeping coach, Bruce French, a lot. He is fit, hungry, and he wants to be a success. And because of that, he might be. But he isn’t right now, and that isn’t his fault, that is the selectors’ fault.It is the England selectors, and selectors the world over, who have turned wicketkeepers into fast heavy handed allrounders. The wicketkeeper usually touches the ball more than anyone else, they take around 20% of the total dismissals in modern Test cricket. That is four wickets a game, the same as a top-class Test bowler.Yet teams rarely pick a batting allrounder as a frontline bowler, unless they have back-up in another couple of batting allrounders. There is no back-up for the keeper (unless you’re the Sri Lanka team), you are on your own, in a position in which you don’t create many chances so you have to accept the ones that come your way. So we have, as a sport, given away one of the most important positions in a cricket side to point fielders. Why? Because cricket doesn’t rate wicketkeeping, it rates runs.Jonny Bairstow dropped an chance early in Sri Lanka’s innings•AFPCricket data is naked when it comes to wicketkeeping. Missed chances are barely recorded around the world, and counting byes has never truly worked when working out the class of a wicketkeeper. And chances created by wicketkeepers isn’t even a conversation yet. Cricket’s lack of data means runs win.The scenario wasn’t so different when Matt Prior was picked for England. No one would say Prior was James Foster, but he was a top-class batsman who could make a Gilly-esque impact. Early on the second day, Prior was up on the balcony with his old team, watching the man who has inherited his job make 167 not out. The highest score by an English keeper in a Test match in England.In 2013-14 at Sydney, Prior watched Bairstow again. This time it was during a wicketkeeping drill he took him through before his second Test with the gloves. Prior had Bairstow on the mat that keepers use to practise against spinners. The balls hit his hands, they had the softness of a tank filled with anvils, and the balls ricocheted accordingly. As he ran off to collect the many balls he had missed, Prior shook his head.It was the same kind of shake the bowlers gave in South Africa, especially at Centurion where Bairstow missed chances from Stephen Cook and then Hashim Amla as the pair compiled a matchwinning partnership on the first day.Today it was Woakes who was shaking his head. Well he would have, but he was so put off by what he had just seen he didn’t know whether to perform a tea pot, point and shout, or kick the air and swear like he had in Centurion. Woakes has 13 Test wickets to date. He has also had five dropped chances, three of them from Bairstow.Bairstow has missed four chances this series. Three catches and one stumping. According to CricViz England are -153 in the field. Bairstow is -109 on his own. If the average batsman makes 32 runs, he’s -128 by that measure. All this after he had adopted goalkeeping practice that he said had improved his keeping.If it has improved it, perhaps that is because he was starting from such a low base. In 2013 Bairstow was keeping for Yorkshire at The Oval, but his glovework was so poor it seemed his job wasn’t to stop the ball, but to parry it and then run off to collect it.Today, people fumbled for excuses much as Bairstow had fumbled for the ball. Lord’s is a bad ground for wicketkeeping, you know. The ball swings late, you know. It dips, you know. It isn’t easy, you know. Then there is a slope as well, you know.Not to mention he is still learning. The last time he played a first-class game at Lord’s, Andrew Hodd was keeping for Yorkshire, and he is still early in his career. You know.But that catch, you know.When Woakes hit that area just short of a length at a good pace, when the ball bounced well and took the finest of edges, and went through to Bairstow, it just didn’t seem like there was an excuse. It didn’t seem like it was possible for a Test keeper to drop such an offering.If you were in a catching competition, and you had to take ten catches to win 100 dollars, and you dropped this catch, even as a fat amateur who hadn’t put the gloves on for years, you’d never forgive yourself.And not only did Bairstow not take it with those glorious fast batting hands, those 167 not out hands, they barely got near it.Bairstow didn’t shake his head, he had a nervous smile, and then buried his head in his arms. Had his head been a chance, he might have dropped it.

24-Aug-2016Tillakaratne Dilshan exposed his leg stump inadvertently and allowed a Nathan Lyon delivery to bowl him off his thigh pad•Associated PressSri Lanka, however, fought back through Kusal Mendis, who struck a run-a-ball 69•AFPDinesh Chandimal kept Mendis company for 21 overs and they added 125 for the third wicket•Associated PressThe stand was broken when Chandimal perished attempting to play against the turn and was trapped lbw by Adam Zampa•AFPZampa struck two more times, removing Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva to help Australia regain control•Associated PressBut Kusal Perera provided the innings with a late thrust during his half-century•Associated PressHe was supported by Angelo Mathews who scored 57 off 60 balls. They added 103 for the sixth wicket in 94 balls•Associated PressSri Lanka’s hopes of a strong finish were thwarted by James Faulkner’s hat-trick. They were bowled out for 288 with seven deliveries remaining•AFPThisara Perera struck first ball, shaping on away from David Warner who nicked to the wicketkeeper•Associated PressAaron Finch inside-edged a slog to his stumps in the bowler’s next over as Australia were reduced to 16 for 2•Associated PressSteven Smith tried to get the innings back on track, but gave a simple catch to mid-on. When he fell, he had scored 30 out of his team’s total of 41•Associated PressGeorge Bailey struggled to get going and plonked around for 46 balls for his 27•Associated PressWhen Moises Henriques was stumped off Seekkuge Prasanna, Australia were struggling at 118 for 5•AFPWade, however, held firm and struck a gritty half-century. He added 64 for the sixth wicket with Travis Head before sweeping a full toss to the hands of deep mid wicket•Associated PressSri Lanka, however, surged closer to a win as Wade and Head fell in successive overs, the latter dismissed by Mathews•AFPAmila Aponso quickly wrapped up Australia’s last two wickets to finish with returns of 4 for 18 in only his second ODI, sealing Sri Lanka’s 82-run win•AFP