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Lewis Goldsworthy may scarcely rest easier on 93 not out with Somerset nine down

Vithushan Ehantharajah26-Sep-2022Would you rather be waiting overnight on a hat-trick or a hundred?The answer here at Canterbury was surely the former. Because Nathan Gilchrist, previously of Somerset, already has five wickets against his old team. In doing so, he has helped reduce them to 195 for 9. In Kent’s battle against relegation, the three bowling points go some way to preserving their Division One status for 2023.Confirming that is more important than the feats of an individual, even if this was Gilchrist’s first five-wicket haul of the season – and second overall in a first-class career that only began after making the shift across the south in 2020. One imagines the 22-year-old won’t mind all that much if Jack Brooks keeps him out first thing on Tuesday morning provided he’s seen off sharpish.Lewis Goldsworthy, 93 not out, is the other side of this hypothetical coin. The standout piece of resistance in a Somerset line-up who were undone by a relentlessly straight approach, with all nine dismissals hitting stumps, front pads or hands behind the wicket. The 21-year-old was not totally immune, edging behind but surviving with just five to his name. But this was an innings of learning from that misstep rather than riding luck. On another surface he might have been tested with some short stuff, but he answered all further questions posed to him, and few would begrudge a second career century. The county’s young player of the year in 2021 has grown into a reliable presence with red and white ball in 2022.Somerset had guaranteed their safety with victory over Northamptonshire last week. Kent, even after their surprise victory over Hampshire, still had that little bit more to do. A 14-point gap between them and ninth-placed Warwickshire meant a degree of comfort coming into a fixture that a month ago looked like being a “48-pointer”. Kent were also reinforced by Zak Crawley, returning to competitive action following a match- and series-winning 69 not out against South Africa at the Oval, along with Joe Denly who missed the Hampshire win to attend the birth of his third child. A freak injury to Ben Compton, who fell at home fetching a glass of water and hurt his side, ruled him out and means his season ends on an impressive 1,193 runs, four hundreds and an average of 54.22.Overnight and early rain meant play only began at 12pm in Canterbury – an hour and a half late. It was greeted with more apathy than up at Edgbaston where the hosts, needing to force a full-points win, only began their day one at 2:15pm.The maths was straightforward: 11 points would guarantee safety even if Warwickshire managed the unlikely, which equates to a draw and three bonus points. The latter was achieved with what turned out to be the final ball of the day when Gilchrist removed Sajid Khan lbw. They had their first within 28 minutes of play.Skipper Jack Leaning, who lost the toss with counterpart Tom Abell choosing to bat first, was involved in the opening dismissals. Sharp catches at second slip helped dismiss Tom Lammonby from the fourth ball of the match – delivered by Matthew Quinn – and then Abell himself off Gilchrist. When Andrew Umeed, making his first class debut for Somerset after Pakistan international Imam-Ul-Haq returned home, was trapped in front by Quinn, Somerset were reeling on 9 for 3.A fourth should have come sooner, but Ollie Robinson, off to Durham at the end of the summer, shelled a tough low chance to give Goldsworthy his life. When it did arrive – George Bartlett, six balls after the lunch break – Robinson claimed a simpler chance to make it up to Gilchrist. By then, however, Barlett had given a bit back with an engaging 28 from 30 deliveries: proactive beyond four boundaries, walking at bowlers early on, including when pulling Joey Evison for a six into the light blue seats under one of the floodlights at midwicket.Goldsworthy, who was 12 off 24 at the time, was clearly roused by his partner’s pluck, driving imperiously in the middle session as further inroads were made at the other end. Connor McKerr, on loan from Surrey, had left-hander James Rew caught smartly by Daniel Bell-Drummond tumbling to his right at third slip before Quinn nipped one through Ben Green to make it 116 for 6.Then, finally, Goldsworthy had some meaningful support in the form of Craig Overton. Quite apart from the ball being older than 40 overs old – the point when this Dukes stops playing ball – their 112-ball partnership for the seventh wicket brought 79 runs with minimal fuss. There was diligence ensuring the score was ticking over without missing out on anything slightly awry, particularly as Goldsworthy’s area for driving expanded with his confidence.The half-century came from 97 deliveries and featured seven fours, and that boundary count doubled in the space of 38 before finishing with 149 balls to his name after playing out a maiden in the penultimate over of the day and watching the late carnage from the sanctity of the nonstriker’s end.Kasey Aldridge, who played out six dots from Gilchrist, was caught behind before Khan came and went for a first-ball duck. No. 11 Brooks did make the fateful walk out to the middle to face the hat-trick ball only to be spared any immediate blushes when drops of rain fell from those clouds that had created a gloom that would have brought out the light meters.Brooks will have to do the walk again tomorrow, with Goldsworthy at the other end perhaps focusing more on his partner seeing out the over than the seven runs he has left to get.

New structure diminishes representation and power of Members’ Council, body made of provincial presidents who had resisted a majority independent board for almost a decade

Firdose Moonda17-Jun-2021CSA has ushered in a new, majority independent board to bring an end to the tenure of the ministerially appointed interim board, which has been in charge since November last year. The new board comprises eight independent directors and five non-independents – who were chosen from the provincial presidents that sit on the members’ council – but a chair has yet to be confirmed.The other independent directors are former CSA president Norman Arendse, former convener of selectors Andrew Hudson, advocate Steven Budlender SC, Lawson Naidoo, the executive secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution, Dugmore Lushaba, who has experience on several boards, marketing and communications expert Andisa Ntsubane, former Multichoice (sub-Saharan African video entertainment company) CEO Mark Rayner, and Muditambi Ravele, a sports administrator previously involved in boxing, netball and tennis. Daniel Govender of Kwa-Zulu Natal, John Mogodi of Limpopo Province, Craig Nel of the Mpumalanga Cricket Union, Tebogo Siko of Northerns and Simphiwe Ndzundzu of Border make up the non-independent directors. CSA’s acting CEO Pholetsi Moseki and acting CFO Christelle Janse van Rensburg make up the last two positions on the 14-member board, which will serve till September, when CSA is due to hold its scheduled AGM.The new structure diminishes the representation and power of the members’ council, the 14-member body made of provincial presidents who had resisted a majority independent board for almost a decade. However, the CSA president and vice-president, largely ceremonial roles and individuals who will not sit on the new board, were chosen from the members’ council. Rihan Richards, who has been acting president of the council throughout the interim board’s tenure, was elected president and Donovan May, from Eastern Province, his deputy.CSA also reported a loss of Rand 250 million (US$ 17.8 million) in the 2020-2021 financial year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and tour cancellations. England left South Africa last December after playing three T20Is but the three ODIs did not go ahead as scheduled after breaches of the bio-secure environment. Australia, who were scheduled to play two Tests in South Africa in March, did not tour at all. South Africa were also hopeful of hosting India for three T20Is last August, which did not happen. Those matches are due to take place in India in September this year, ahead of the T20 World Cup, but that might depend on the schedule for the resumption of the IPL. However, CSA is hopeful of a full summer schedule this year, which should see India visit for three Tests over the festive period.Perhaps more importantly, CSA can look forward to a more stable period of governance with the new board adopting a memorandum of incorporation, which guarantees the independent component of the board and chair.”It is highly appropriate that we have reached this historic moment in the transformation of our governance model as we prepared to celebrate the 30th birthday of Cricket South Africa (CSA) or the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) as it was originally known in just over two weeks’ time,” outgoing interim board chair Stavros Nicolaou said. “Our new Memorandum of Incorporation is a document we can all embrace with pride as it puts us in a position to execute the best governance practices that will make CSA able to stand comparison with any other sporting organisation around the globe. It is a world-class document.”Among the new board’s most pressing tasks will be to oversee the conclusion of former acting CEO Kugandrie Govender’s disciplinary proceedings and to advertise for and appoint a permanent CEO. CSA have not had a permanent CEO since Thabang Moroe was suspended in December 2019. They are on their third acting CEO since.

Team set to unleash both wristspinners – Wanindu Hasaranga and Lakshan Sandakan – on West Indies

Andrew Fidel Fernando21-Feb-2020On Wednesday, ahead of his first ODI series as Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur spoke about players being handed down well-defined roles within the team. On Friday, on the eve of the first one-dayer against West Indies, he went into a little more detail about what those roles were.Unsurprisingly, the two wristspinners in the squad – legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga and left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan – will be expected to make breakthroughs through the middle overs. Sri Lanka were one of the few teams without a reliable wristspinner during last year’s ODI World Cup. With a T20 World Cup later this year, the team is looking to fill that void.”The key to the wristspiners, and to playing both of them together, is genuine wicket-taking options for us through the middle,” Arthur said. “That is the key, and that’s what wins you white-ball cricket games now. We want to play that brand of cricket. We are looking to attack and looking to take wickets. I think that’s the future for this team. I think in terms of our preparation, that’s been the message. The message has been around attacking. We don’t want to play defensive cricket anymore. That will be reflected in our selection. If the two wristspinners can do the job for us tomorrow, that will be fantastic, because they will take wickets.”Wanindu is a fantastic cricketer. The way he bowls – the control of his length has been amazing. I’ve really marveled at watching him go about his business. That, coupled with his batting ability, and his fielding, he’s making a real name for himself. Sandakan, obviously, has been around the system a lot longer.”Wanindu Hasaranga is overjoyed after picking a wicket•BCCI

On the batting front, Sri Lanka have a clear idea who their top six is. Each of those players has a specific job.”The thing about our batting is that there is a license at the top of the order,” Arthur said. “You’ve got Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando at the top of the order – dynamic. Kusal Perera will bat three. Avishka will open with Dimuth Karunaratne. They will have a licence to get us away in that Powerplay period. And 4, 5, 6 is Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva. Those are the guys who we want to control those overs 11-40. And then hopefully, we’ll have the likes of one of them, a Thisara Perera and a Wanindu, to finish it. If we script the perfect game, that’s how it would work out. We know it doesn’t always happen.”Where fitness and fielding have been major areas of concern for Sri Lanka over the past two years, Arthur also suggested there has been substantial improvement on both fronts.”I was watching us go through our fielding yesterday. Our fielding has improved massively. That’s testimony to the players and their attitudes. They’ve bought into where we want to go. And the coaching from Shane McDermott around that has been fantastic. We’ve been big on the split step. We’ve been big on trigger movements on the field, just to trigger the guys into action. To see the whole field moving is a massive improvement on where we were when we went to India with that T20 side [in January].”If you are fitter you can field better and move better. Your ability and speed to get to the ball is much better.”

Hurricanes survived a late cameo from Ben Cutting to start their campaign in style

The Report by Tristan Lavalette22-Dec-2018Thanks to a disciplined bowling effort, Hobart Hurricanes survived late heroics from Ben Cutting to start their campaign in style against winless Brisbane Heat in the first-ever BBL match at Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast. Earlier, D’Arcy Short smashed a 52-ball 67, laden with four fours and four sixes, to take Hurricanes to 159 for 6.In a rain-abbreviated 19 overs-a-side contest, last year’s runners-up overcame a flurry from Cutting, who smashed a 32-ball 58 to almost single-handedly deliver Heat’s first victory after their opening loss to Adelaide Strikers. But James Faulkner and Jofra Archer’s tight bowling in the last two overs – where four Heat wickets fell – made sure Short’s efforts didn’t go in vain.Chasing 160, Heat lost Brendon McCullum early to a run-out, and were 5 for 93 when Chris Lynn fell for 29, before Cutting counterattacked to ensure a tight finish.It was a disappointing result for Heat after offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman endorsed Lynn’s decision to bowl with early wickets of Matthew Wade and Alex Doolan, but Short’s heroics ensured Hurricanes recovered with a competitive total.Inclement weather strikes Gold Coast againA hailstorm lashed the ground just an hour before play and there were fears of a washout. Wise locals, however, predicted it would pass over and that proved accurate with the match starting only 15 minutes past schedule, as the ground’s lauded draining system ensured the outfield dried sufficiently.There was much excitement when it was announced Gold Coast would host elite cricket this season, but it has been a rain-marred initiation with the T20I between Australia and South Africa last month reduced to a 10 overs-a-side encounter.It has been a contrast to Gold Coast’s sunny connotations, but perhaps a more accurate snapshot of Queensland’s fickle pre-Christmas weather.Mysterious Mujeeb showcases his bag of tricks There has been much intrigue over 17-year-old offspinner Mujeeb, who has already played all three formats for Afghanistan and showcased his precocious talent in the Indian Premier League.In his BBL debut against Strikers, Mujeeb surprisingly dazzled with the bat but was wicketless with the ball. Against Hurricanes, Mujeeb quickly found the mark after coming into bowl in the second over and immediately troubled Wade with quick deliveries zipping off the pitch.He got his man in the fourth over with a carrom ball that cramped Wade to pick up his first BBL wicket. Mujeeb did not have to wait long for his second with a cracker of a delivery to snare Doolan in the sixth over.After being hit for a boundary, Mujeeb impressively struck back with a slower delivery to bamboozle Doolan with a wrong ‘un that crashed into the stumps. He finished with figures of 2 for 23 – including 13 dot balls – from 4 overs, and possessed the variety and control befitting a veteran.Big-hitting Short’s controlled aggression Much of Hurricanes’ success last season was attributed to Short, who was the deserved Player-of-the-Tournament with 572 runs to leapfrog into Australia’s limited-overs teams. He continued his BBL love affair with a knock that included trademark belligerence but in a notably more measured manner.On a sluggish pitch, Short was watchful early and endured the ignominy of being struck in the groin area by a sharp Josh Lalor delivery. Shortly after, he came alive by crunching a Lalor slower ball over mid-on for six, elegantly holding his shape, followed by smashing a boundary through the leg-side.His most visceral blow was a baseball-style club over mid-on and into the crowd off Mark Steketee to make the most of Powerplay by scoring 30 runs off 19 runs. Short took a liking to legspinner Mitchell Swepson with consecutive sixes in the 13th over but it was his controlled aggression that spoke of a more mature approach, which should please the national selectors.His brisk 59-run partnership with Ben McDermott dominated Hurricanes’ innings, with late hitting from George Bailey and Simon Milenko giving them a boost after Short’s dismissal in the 15th over.Cutting’s heroics in vainThere has been much hype over Heat’s firepower but once again the batting order failed to deliver. They endured a disastrous start when McCullum and Max Bryant were involved in a mix-up resulting in the former captain being run-out in the first ball of the second over.Bryant shrugged off the calamity by smashing 18 runs off the next five balls with an array of clean striking to underline his innate power. His brisk 15-ball 30 ended through a spectacular diving catch from Riley Meredith leaving the pressure on Lynn and Cutting.Lynn played against type in a determined bid to bat through the innings but was unable to get going against accurate Hurricanes bowling. He fell for a sedate 29 off 37 balls in the 14th over to effectively crash the home side’s hopes despite the best efforts of Cutting, who posted his first BBL half-century.

Chris Nash has signed a three-year deal with Nottinghamshire after begin released by Sussex last week

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Nov-2017Chris Nash has signed for Nottinghamshire after begin released from his contract by Sussex last week. The 34-year-old has agreed a three-year deal to play at Trent Bridge.Nash’s departure at Sussex was followed by that of the head coach, Mark Davis, after a difficult season in which the south-coast county failed to achieve promotion. Nash will be playing in Division One next year, however, with Notts bouncing back after relegation in 2016. The club also won the Royal London Cup and NatWest Blast.The veteran batsman, who can also bowl useful offspin, will be reunited with former Sussex coach Peter Moores, who took over at Notts a year ago. Nash’s arrival will help offset the loss of Michael Lumb, who retired through injury midway through the season.”Once Notts came in after I’d had my request for release granted by Sussex – with my former coach Peter Moores here, at such a great ground and with what the club achieved last season – it was an easy decision for me,” Nash said.”It’s great to get the chance to work again with Peter, who gave me my first contract at Sussex, and I’m really looking forward to the next three years. To look out over Trent Bridge and realise that it’s going to be my home ground is pretty special.”It’s going to be amazing to be part of helping the club defend their two white ball trophies in front of big crowds. The Outlaws were sensational last season in white-ball cricket and I’m looking forward to joining in with that.”Nash had a stop-start campaign in 2017, averaging 27.52 and scoring just a single Championship hundred after moving down to bat in the middle order. His tally of 578 first-class runs was his worst since 2006 but he is vastly experienced and passed 1000 runs four times between 2009 and 2016, usually as an opener.He was also Sussex’s leading run-scorer in the Blast last season but, having been overlooked for the captaincy, asked to leave – a request which was granted as Rob Andrew, the chief executive, decided rebuilding was in order at Hove.Nottinghamshire have also been active in recruiting. They missed out on England opener Keaton Jennings, who opted to join Lancashire, but did sign Paul Coughlin, another highly rated Durham prospect. With the retirement of captain Chris Read, Moores was pleased to bring in another senior player in Nash.Moores said: “You don’t expect a player to suddenly become available who’s such a good fit for us. It’s really exciting to have Chris join us, and I know he’s excited to come here too.”We were in the market for a senior batsman and he plays across all three formats with a good record in four-day cricket, as well as in T20 and 50-over cricket. Chris also adds some significant experience to the squad. Trent Bridge is a great place for him to showcase his skills and I think he will enjoy it.”

As Bangladesh find themselves scrambling to avoid a series loss to Afghanistan, captain Mashrafe Mortaza said that one bad day should not overshadow the side’s progress in recent months

Mohammad Isam30-Sep-2016Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said that the side’s improved performance since the 2015 World Cup should not be forgotten even as they find themselves scrambling to avoid an embarrassing series loss to Afghanistan ahead of the third ODI in Mirpur on Saturday.”We definitely have the confidence and belief to win the series,” Mashrafe said. “I don’t think that one defeat will end all the work that we have done and all our achievements so far. We were all obviously disappointed but that doesn’t mean that we have forgotten all the good work that we have done. It was a bad day. If we think about that when we get on the field it will be difficult for us, so we are trying to get on the field with a free mentality.”He said that Afghanistan would deserve the ODI series win if they go on to beat Bangladesh in the third game, and added that they never took their opponents lightly at any point.”[If they win the series] I will feel that they are deserving winners. In the past, we won many matches and people called them upsets, but we didn’t accept them as upsets. It is not right. They should definitely get the credit.”We never took them as an easy opponent, which was clear after the first game. In the second match our batting collapsed. At one point we recovered, but still we kept losing wickets. We couldn’t play our best game.”Bangladesh’s batsmen have been guilty of throwing their wickets away after spending some time in the middle. While they reached 265 in the first game, Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah got out at the wrong time and Shakib Al Hasan was unable to press on from his 48. In the second game, it was their entire top five – Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib – who failed to convert starts to big scores.Perhaps treating a bowling attack from a lower-ranked team with disregard was a contributing factor, especially given how Tamim and Soumya got out in the second ODI. Mashrafe said that his batsmen could learn from the way someone like Kumar Sangakkara played Bangladesh in the past, and apply those lessons when facing Afghanistan.Sangakkara is the highest run-getter against Bangladesh in Tests and ODIs, including a triple-hundred and two double-hundreds in Tests and another nine 100-plus scores across both formats.”We have all discussed this in the dressing room. If someone can score a 150, then it becomes a big deal for his career. Kumar Sangakkara has scored so many 150s and 200s against us. I am sure that our batsmen aren’t taking them lightly. Maybe there was a bit of a break in concentration.”We are all mature individuals. If you see the top five batsmen in our line-up, at least one of them scored big in each game in the last 18 months. But when they don’t, we will always get a low score.”

Uncapped left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando has been named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the three-Test series against India, while Shaminda Eranga and Suranga Lakmal are unavailable due to injury

Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Aug-2015Uncapped left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando has been named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the three-Test series against India, while Shaminda Eranga and Suranga Lakmal miss out due to injury.Fernando had featured in the Test squads to the UAE and Bangladesh in 2014, but had not been picked to play. He has won his way back to the side largely through his excellent 2015 first class season. He was the most penetrative pace bowler in the Premier League Tournament, with 40 wickets at 21.97. Fernando is part of the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI that is playing the ongoing tour game against the Indians in Colombo and took the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha on the second day.Eranga had been sidelined by a back complaint during the home Tests against Pakistan, and though he had recovered from that injury, he picked up another injury, chief selector Kapila Wijegunawardene said. “He was bowling well in the nets, but there is now an issue with his groin. It’s too early to tell whether he is out of the whole series. We’re waiting on the physiotherapist’s report.”Lakmal played against Pakistan, but has been ruled out because of a side strain. He and Eranga had been Sri Lanka’s top pace bowlers in 2014, featuring heavily in wins in Dubai and Dhaka. Eranga had also played a pivotal role in the victory at Headingley against England last year.Dhammika Prasad now leads the pace options in the current squad, with Nuwan Pradeep and Fernando in support. Dushmantha Chameera – who was impressive in his debut against Pakistan – has been named in the squad subject to fitness, however Wijegunawardene said he was “confident Chameera would be ok for the Galle Test”, though “whether we will risk him in that match or not is a decision that’s yet to be made”.The batting and spin departments feature no major surprises. Lahiru Thirimanne has been retained despite a slim run of Test scores and a score of 5 in the first innings of the practice match in Khettarama. Kithuruwan Vithanage, who played in the first two Tests against Pakistan, has been dropped from the squad. Kusal Perera has been named again, as have Jehan Mubarak and Upul Tharanga, who both played in the third Test in Pallekele.Spinners Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera and Tharindu Kaushal all find places in the squad. Dinesh Chandimal is the frontline wicket keeper, though Kusal is also an option behind the stumps, if he can find a place in the XI.The series will be Kumar Sangakkara’s final Test foray. Sri Lanka Cricket has granted free entrance to the Galle Test for school children.The first Test begins on August 12.Squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak, Kusal Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera (subject to fitness)

Chittagong Kings blazed to their fourth win in a row as they trounced Sylhet Royals by a whopping 119 runs

Mohammad Isam08-Feb-2013
ScorecardNaeem Islam and Brendan Taylor laid the foundation for the big win•Chittagong Kings

Chittagong Kings blazed to their fourth win in a row as they trounced Sylhet Royals by a whopping 119 runs. Their opening batsmen and new-ball bowlers set up the win, their fifth overall, in the most dominant fashion this season.After trouncing Dhaka by 88 runs the previous day, they bettered the highest victory margin in the competition with this big win.Naeem Islam and Brendan Taylor began the game with a fiery 118-run opening stand with the Bangladesh batsman taking over his Zimbabwean team-mate when it was time to attack. Naeem struck six boundaries and two sixes in his 43-ball 58 and Taylor matched his score.After both were dismissed within ten balls of each other, Ryan ten Doeschate and Mahmudullah quickly added 56 for the fourth wicket. Ten Doeschate, the Netherlands allrounder, made 37 off 18 balls with three sixes while Mahmudullah was unbeaten on a 13-ball 24 with a couple of sixes.Only Mohammad Nabi made any in-roads into Kings picking up three cheap wickets with his offspin, while the rest of the attack floundered badly.But Royals were always facing an uphill task as they chased 194 runs to win. They were without captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the duo whose fifties helped them chase a big total against Rangpur Riders the previous day.Shaun Tait removed the openers and big-hitter Nazmul Hossain Milon with his pace, before Rubel Hossain worked out the middle-order. After both pace bowlers took three wickets each, Arafat Sunny removed Mohammad Nabi who was Royals’ only substantial contributor with 35 runs. Enamul Haque jnr completed the rout with three more wickets.

Australia’s wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin, has conceded his confidence took a blow when he dropped Gautam Gambhir in India’s second innings at the SCG last week

Brydon Coverdale09-Jan-2012Australia’s wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin, has conceded his confidence took a blow when he dropped Gautam Gambhir in India’s second innings at the SCG last week. The edge off James Pattinson sailed between Haddin’s arms as he dived to his left, the ball closer to his original position than he anticipated.It was the second time in the series Haddin had misjudged his movement and gone too far. In the first innings at the MCG, Virender Sehwag edged the ball off Pattinson and Haddin dived to his right, only to see the ball bounce off his wrists as he moved further than necessary.Neither mistake proved match-turning but Haddin, Australia’s vice-captain in the absence of Shane Watson, has struggled to show his best with either bat or with the gloves during the India series. He said it was important not to get too concerned about the missed opportunities.”It’s obviously disappointing to miss chances,” Haddin said on the Sydney radio station 2KY. “We’d just gone up an extra metre to make sure the ball was going to carry and it [the Gambhir chance] flew up and it was one of those things that happens in cricket. It obviously dents your confidence a bit but from my point of view it happens in cricket, you’ve got to get back on the horse and show what sort of person you are and keep throwing punches.”The biggest thing is you don’t over analyse it. It happens as a wicketkeeper you just don’t want to make a habit of it. It was just one of those things in the game. I actually saw it pretty early and probably moved too fast. The train goes onto Perth and let’s hope it’s a better performance there.”While Haddin’s spot in the side appears to be safe in the immediate future, the Victoria wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is building a case for selection. Tasmania’s Tim Paine is likely to be considered when he returns from a long-term finger injury, but his return to cricket remains uncertain.Haddin, 34, has also had a difficult time with the bat in the past few months, throwing his wicket away with poor shots in both innings of Australia’s defeats in Cape Town and Hobart. He was one of Australia’s better performers during the Ashes last summer but since then has averaged 21.35 with the bat.

Sean Ervine will leave Hampshire to resume his international career with Zimbabwe.

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jan-2011Sean Ervine will leave Hampshire to resume his international career with Zimbabwe.Ervine, 28, is expected to receive a call-up to Zimbabwe’s World Cup squad later this month, after being named in their preliminary 20-man group, and will revert to overseas status in order to play.”International cricket is my ultimate goal,” Ervine told BBC Radio Solent. “It’s tough to leave Hampshire, which I hold as family. They’ve looked after me and I give them every praise possible.”Ervine, has played 42 ODIs for his country but was one of the rebel cricketers in dispute with the ZCU, and in May 2004 he left Zimbabwe to start a new life in Australia. After struggling to break into the Western Australia side he moved to England making his Hampshire debut in 2005.He will sign off his career with the county in the ongoing Caribbean T20 tournament. His return to the Zimbabwe set-up represents yet another step forward for cricket in the country, with a number of players returning either to the side of the coaching staff.Hampshire, meanwhile, still have an overseas player in legspinner Imran Tahir, but he was recently named in South Africa’s 14-man squad to play India in their five-match one-day international series. Although the call-up will not affect his overseas status at Hampshire, he could miss their pre-season if selected in South Africa’s World Cup squad in February. The 2011 World Cup is due to start on 19 February and the final 15-man national squad will be selected later this month.