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.

The league stage of the 2015 IPL has just crossed the half way mark, which makes it a good time to analyse what teams have been doing differently this season

Bishen Jeswant30-Apr-2015Sunrisers Hyderabad – A two-man team
Sunrisers batsmen have made six fifties this season. However, only two batsmen have scored fifties for them: four by David Warner and two by Shikhar Dhawan. Only two batsmen have scored 200-plus runs for them this season: Warner (317) and Dhawan (201). Warner and Dhawan have cumulatively scored 518 runs, which is almost 50% of the runs scored by Sunrisers (1042). All of Sunrisers’ other batsmen combined average 20.96 at a strike rate of 115.16.Mumbai Indians – Best in the slog overs, worst otherwise
Mumbai Indians have a run-rate of 12.19 during the last six overs of an innings this IPL, by far the best for any team, with the next-best being 10.83 for Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, their run-rate of 6.94 in the first 14 overs of the innings is the worst for any team. Every other team has scored at more than seven runs per over. Mumbai Indians are responsible for the four highest scores in the last six overs this IPL, and also for the two lowest scores in the first 14.Rajasthan Royals – Best start to a season
Rajasthan Royals started the season with five consecutive wins. This is the best start to an IPL season for any team. Kings XI Punjab started the 2014 IPL with five consecutive wins as well, and eventually finished runners-up in that edition. Royals’ currently have 12 points, the joint-most with Super Kings, and are therefore still reaping the rewards of those wins at the start of season despite not achieving a win in their next four games, two of which were washed out.Chennai Super Kings – Stable playing XI
Super Kings have used only 11 players in the 2015 IPL so far, which means they have played the first seven league matches with an unchanged XI. Interestingly, Super Kings also played the last seven league matches of the 2014 IPL with an unchanged eleven. On the other end of the spectrum are Mumbai Indians, who have already used 19 players this season. Super Kings have been known for their stable squads, having used only 57 players over eight IPL seasons, the fewest for any team that has played in every edition. Royal Challengers Bangalore have used 90 players.The World Cup heroes have continued piling it on for Royal Challengers Bangalore•BCCIKings XI Punjab – Misfiring top three
Kings XI Punjab have already tried six different players in their top three this IPL. Only one of those six batsmen have scored 100-plus runs over their seven games this season – M Vijay, and even he averages only 22.57, at a strike-rate of 106.04. In five of the seven matches this season, the first wicket has fallen for ten runs or less. In fact, their opening batsman Virender Sehwag holds the IPL record for being dismissed in the Powerplay most often: 56 times. Kings XI’s top three average only 19.14, easily the worst for any team this IPL, at a strike-rate of 119.64, the second-worst.Royal Challengers Bangalore – World Cup stars to the rescue
Chris Gayle became the first double centurion in a World Cup, AB de Villiers scored three fifties and hundred at an average of 96.40, Virat Kohli averaged more than 50 and scored a century against Pakistan, while Mitchell Starc was the Man of the Tournament. Each of the Royal Challengers’ three wins in the 2015 IPL have come with significant contributions from these players – Gayle scoring fifties in two of those games and Kohli in the other, while Starc picked up a three-for. De Villiers is their top run-scorer this IPL with 233 runs, at an average of 46.6 and a strike-rate of 165.24. Starc has twice bowled the 20th over of the innings and conceded only three runs per over.Delhi Daredevils – Lots of losing streaks
Delhi Daredevils have made some unwanted records their own this season. They lost their first two games of the 2015 IPL, which meant they had lost 11 consecutive IPL games, the longest-ever losing streak in IPL history. They won the next two games, before having to return to their home venue in Delhi, where they lost to the Kolkata Knight Riders. It was their ninth straight loss at the Kotla, the longest ever home-losing streak in IPL history. Just as they thought their ‘streaks’ were ending, Daredevils lost their seventh match of the season to Royal Challengers Bangalore, their eighth consecutive loss against the Bangalore team!Kolkata Knight Riders – Middle-order prowess
Kolkata Knight Riders’ middle order batsmen (Nos 3 to 7) average 30.58 in the 2015 IPL, the highest for any team. Their strike-rate of 142.46 is only marginally second to Royal Challengers’ (143.32), whose batsmen benefit from playing in the relatively small Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Knight Riders are the only team who have four middle-order batsmen each scoring 100 runs or more this IPL: Andre Russell (130), Manish Pandey (123), Suryakumar Yadav (122) and Yusuf Pathan (104).

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.

The brunt of USACA’s maladministration has often been borne by the players, especially after previous suspensions. It is far better for them to have the ICC’s active assistance than the passive disinterest they have been used to from USACA

Peter Della Penna28-Jun-20156:17

Chance to take US cricket in new direction – Nadkarni

After the ICC’s announcement that USACA had been suspended for a third time since 2005, there was a groundswell of joy on social media through the US cricket community. Administration across the country is hampered by disparate factions from clubs and leagues all the way up to national level. The one thing that unites the majority of stakeholders though is their mutual distaste for USACA, spoken as if it were a dirty four-letter word instead of a five-letter acronym.The knee-jerk reaction from many around the USA is to shout loudly for the rival American Cricket Federation to take control, if only because it isn’t named USACA. In a wider context, not much is known about the ACF, making its bid to take charge of cricket in the USA in USACA’s stead a long and difficult challenge. In announcing USACA’s suspension, the ICC made it clear it still considers USACA its member and will do what it can to resolve its governance and administrative issues. The approach seems to be that the ICC would rather deal with the devil it knows than the one it does not.No matter how appealing ACF may be compared to USACA, ACF still does not meet much of the criteria laid out by the ICC be welcomed into the Associate fold, regardless of whether USACA’s suspension is lifted or they are expelled in 2016.Though the standard of play has been up and down due to funding issues and varying levels of player commitment, the ACF’s national interleague competition meets the ICC Associate application standard of organizing a men’s competition with at least 16 teams. Other than that, they are deficient in several areas.The ACF currently has no full-time paid chief executive or other full-time administrators, no junior development program, no women’s program.It is also unclear whether they meet the threshold of raising their own funds exceeding 10% of the ICC’s annual disbursement to an Associate, currently in the neighborhood of $400,000. According to sources, ACF had revenue of $32,000 last year, $8,000 short of the requirement.USACA may also fall short of several of these criteria, particularly since they have not had a full-time chief executive since Darren Beazley’s resignation last year, but it is far harder to be kicked out of the fold when you’ve had 50 years of Associate membership than to gain it from scratch.While the politicians draw most of the ire for their poor decision-making, the brunt of the maladministration has often been borne by USA’s players. This was especially true in 2005 and 2007, when the USA men’s teams felt the brunt of the ICC punishment.The current edition of the Intercontinental Cup has been spruced up with the promise of a pathway to playing Test matches for elite Associates. When the competition first started in 2004, USA was in the mix as one of the original participants.But a month before the 2005 competition began, USACA was in a heated squabble with the rival group known as the Council of League Presidents. After USA finished 11th out of 12 teams in the ICC Trophy held in Ireland that June and July, the two warring factions submitted separate teams to the ICC for the start of the Intercontinental Cup in August. Despite pleas from then ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed to come to a joint resolution, neither group budged. USA was kicked out of the competition, replaced by Cayman Islands, and has never rejoined. In the process, their players have lost out on countless opportunities to develop their overall skills by honing them through the rigors of multi-day cricket.Just as debilitating for the players was the 2007 suspension. On the eve of the inaugural World Cricket League Division Three, USACA had stalled attempts to ratify a new constitution and a second suspension was handed down. Once again, the men’s team was yanked out of the competition by the ICC and replaced by another member of the Americas region, this time Argentina. Traditionally the doormat of Americas regional tournaments, Argentina finished second and gained promotion to Division Two, a painful reminder of the consequences of that particular suspension for USACA.When USA’s suspension was finally lifted in 2008, they had been dropped all the way down to Division Five. On talent alone, they have always been good enough to be in Division One or Two. But their preparation is habitually poor, leaving them vulnerable to upsets. The fact that USA currently sit in Division Four, and have never been able to get past Division Three in three attempts, underscores how costly the ICC’s penalty was on the players.The ICC has, however, decided to take mercy on USA’s players this time. USA’s on-field struggles since the ICC dumped USA into Division Five in 2008 and told them to work their way up from scratch have been difficult to overcome. It must have been a factor in allowing USA to still compete at the World T20 Qualifier in Ireland, as well as the U-19 team’s participation at the Americas Qualifier in Bermuda.Logistically, things won’t be too much different for the players. Though USACA had routinely lacked funds to make preparation camps possible, the ICC pays for plane tickets and hotel accommodation for every team at its tournaments. With or without suspension, the ICC would have footed the bill for USA in Ireland.The ICC has also said it plans on offering caretaker support in place of USACA by announcing a regional selection trial in Indianapolis this September as part of an ICC Americas team scheduled to take part in the WICB domestic 50-over tournament. The news received an overwhelming response as players had spirits lifted over the prospect of an open selection process they expect to be fair, neutral, with professional talent evaluators unencumbered by dirty politics and favoritism that players have consistently accused USACA administration of engaging in.Beyond the current World T20 qualification cycle, it is unknown how long the ICC will continue to devote resources as a benevolent foster parent to US players. However, players will take whatever the ICC is willing to offer them so long as they are still given opportunities to compete. It is far better to have the ICC’s active assistance than the passive disinterest they have become accustomed to with USACA.

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

In the seven ODIs so far against New Zealand and Australia this season, England’s pace attack has struggled to take wickets up front

Andrew McGlashan06-Sep-2015The cry of ‘handball’ might have been expected when England played on Saturday. But in San Marino rather than at Lord’s. Instead, it happened during the second ODI, not even in the pre-match game of football that the cricketers now enjoy so much. The hand in question belonged to Ben Stokes, who, in the judgement of the third umpire, wilfully blocked the path of Mitchell Starc’s throw towards the stumps.For the rest of match Stokes sat on the balcony wearing the stern face of someone who had just been the victim of a harsh red card. Yet while those on either side of the debate threatened to tie themselves in knots over the rights, wrongs, maybes and, heaven forbid, the spirit of cricket, there was one fact that should be under no dispute: it was another convincing win for Australia, leaving England a distant second best.Amid his frustration over the Stokes incident, Eoin Morgan did manage to say, “I don’t think it was the winning and losing of the game.” But when Glenn Maxwell removed Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali shortly after there was no doubt England were done.Barring three wins in a row now for England (or two and some rain) they will end an Ashes summer with an ODI series defeat as they did in 2009 and 2013. Trevor Bayliss watched from Sydney as England went toe-to-toe with New Zealand earlier this season and arrived in the country to read glowing reports of the revival of the team’s one-day fortunes.He was unlikely to have been drawn in by the hype beyond, perhaps, being buoyed by the fact that England were willing to embrace new ideals. Yet as he sat huddled in a thick jacket on a chilly, early-autumn day, he will have been reminded that this will be a significant challenge of his white-ball pedigree.Barring his own thoughts on obstruction, he will not have had to make too many additional notes, either, to those taken at the Ageas Bowl. Australia’s innings followed a similar pattern: a solid base at the top (albeit with David Warner’s injury) and a power-packed innings, this time by Mitchell Marsh, to lead a final-ten surge. England did not manage as many middle-over wickets as in Southampton, although they exercised reasonable control: Australia scored 74 from the 20th to the 35th over.And that brings us to the crux. One-day batting orders – particularly for the two sides on show in the series – are threateningly deep: Mitchell Starc and Liam Plunkett are impressive No. 10s. But in turn that puts the onus on wicket-taking rather than defending. It is why Brendon McCullum endorsed attack – sometimes to the level of four slips – for such long portions of an innings.Adil Rashid’s four-wicket haul in Southampton was an encouraging display – and he nabbed Steven Smith for a second time at Lord’s – but he, and England’s other change-bowling options – are having to operate on the back of very little damage inflicted at the top. Steven Finn’s dismissal of Joe Burns was the only reasonably early wicket, when he was bowled in the ninth over, which Morgan acknowledged was a disappointing return given conditions.It continued a trend. In the seven ODIs against New Zealand and Australia so far this season, on only one occasion have England had the opposition more than two wickets down at the 25-over mark. That was at Edgbaston when New Zealand were flinging the bat chasing over 400. Batsmen are allowed to play well, and England have bowled against some in-form players, but a picture is emerging of a one-day pace attack that lacks a cutting edge.England shuffled the pack at Lord’s, bringing in Plunkett for the rested Mark Wood, but the end result was not vastly different. The pacemen were four right-armers. Plunkett nudged the speedgun over 90mph, but when he found the edge of Maxwell’s bat before he had scored there was no one at slip to try for the catch (what would Brendon say?) Plunkett’s pace is about the fastest an England bowler achieves at the moment, but 90mph is the exception rather than, for example, Pat Cummins who is regularly over the mark.It is not that Australia have plucked out huge numbers of the early wickets – at 25 overs England were two down at the Ageas Bowl and three down at Lord’s – but with Cummins’ speed, Starc’s yorkers and Nathan Coulter-Nile’s splice-jarring aggression, Steven Smith has clear wicket-taking options to turn to. And that does not mention the golden arms of Marsh or Maxwell or those on the sidelines: Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner.It is a reminder, as was the World Cup final, that Australia are a notch above. On days when they are off target the ball can fly, but Australia have long put a high value on outright pace. For example, in 2009 and 2010 England felt the full force of blistering spells by Brett Lee and Shaun Tait at Lord’s.The two pitches so far in the series were flat, although not without decent pace and carry. That is how it should be in one-day cricket. While, ideally, the ball should hold the edge over the bat in Tests, in one-day cricket there is no problem with it being the other way – not that the occasional low-scoring scrap would not be enjoyable. It means a tough life for the bowlers, but they need to find a way.However, for England there is no point trying to match something you do not have – or at least not in abundance. You have to work with what is on offer. They have some variety sat on the bench. The combative David Willey has no great pace – even his dad, Peter, said that in an engaging feature shown during T20 finals day – but he is a left-armer who swings it.Reece Topley, the Essex but soon-to-be Hampshire left-armer, has also been added to the squad. Again, he won’t push the speed much past the low 80s but he can bowl a good yorker and, as he showed in the T20, is shrewd with the slower ball. While it would not frighten the Australians, it might make them think. Failing that, they could hope for a helping hand.

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.

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-2015Kyle Abbott found early success as he had M Vijay caught at second slip. However, replays showed he had overstepped•BCCIShikhar Dhawan and Vijay started cautiously before Vijay edged to slip for the second time in his tentative innings•BCCIKyle Abbott then brought one back in to disturb Cheteshwar Pujara’s stumps•BCCIKohli and Ajinkya Rahane revived India with a solid 70-run stand before Kohli was done in by a freak dismissal, with the ball hitting Temba Bavuma at short leg and popping up to give Dane Vilas a catch•BCCISouth Africa finished the second session by removing Wriddhiman Saha, leaving the hosts at 139 for 6 at the tea break•BCCIRavindra Jadeja then pitched in with 24…•BCCI… but Rahane was the main man, his maiden half-century at home guiding India to 231 for 7 before bad light curbed the day•Associated Press

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.