Herath, Rathour join NZ Test team for short-term roles

They will join the support staff just before New Zealand’s six Tests in Asia over the next two months

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Sep-2024Rangana Herath and Vikram Rathour have linked up with the New Zealand Test squad, who are set to play six Tests in Asia over the next two months. Herath will be the spin-bowling coach for New Zealand’s next three Tests – one against Afghanistan and two in Sri Lanka – while Rathour will only be with the squad for the one-off Afghanistan Test in Greater Noida, India, starting September 9.”Both men are held in high regard in the world of cricket and I know our players are really looking forward to the opportunity to learn from them,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said.”For our three left-arm orthodox spinners in particular, Ajaz [Patel], Mitch [Santner] and Rachin [Ravindra], having the chance to work with Rangana across three Tests on the subcontinent will be hugely beneficial.Related

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“Rangana has taken over 100 Test wickets in Galle which is the venue of our two Tests against Sri Lanka and so his knowledge of that venue will be priceless.”After the Sri Lanka tour in the second half of this month, the New Zealand side will return to India for three Tests in Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai. Out of these six Tests, only the one against Afghanistan will not count for the World Test Championship (WTC).Apart from Ajaz, Santner and Ravindra, New Zealand will also have offbreak spin options in Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips for the Afghanistan and Sri Lanka Tests. They have not announced the squad for the India Tests yet.Herath, with 433 Test wickets to his name from 93 matches, replaces former Pakistan offspinner Saqlain Mushtaq who is now among the five mentors the PCB named to uplift their domestic cricket. Herath was a spin-bowling coach with the Bangladesh side until recently.Rathour, who played six Tests for India, was most recently India’s batting coach. His contract ended when India lifted the T20 World Cup in Barbados in June and he was also a national selector in 2012.

David Warner battles badly bruised hand for half-century

Batter to have injury reassessed after second Test but was never in doubt to play

Andrew McGlashan28-Jun-2023David Warner battled through the pain of a badly bruised hand at Lord’s and will have the injury reassessed after the match although was never in doubt to play this game.Warner has taken multiple blows on his hands in recent weeks, including from Mohammed Shami in the World Test Championship and more recently against throwdowns from batting coach Michael Di Venuto in the nets, while he is also carrying a bruised palm from catching.However, his 66 off 88 balls was vital in setting Australia a strong platform after being sent in at Lord’s on an overcast day although he did survive a chance to slip when Ollie Pope spilled him on 20 off Stuart Broad.Related

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“It’s copped a battering the last two games, and in the nets, so it’s little bit sore at the moment, bit of a bruise but I’ll just see how we go after the game and I think we’ll examine it then,” Warner said. “At the moment it’s quite tender.”[I was] never in doubt, [but] it was quite sore. Initially it was more in the palm, I’ve got a hotspot where my thumb is and every time the ball hits the bat it just jars. Then today I got hit back in the knuckle which I think Mohammed Shami hit me [on] in that World Test Championship.”I’ve had my hand in an ice bucket all afternoon, so we’ll play it by ear and assess it after the game.”Warner’s half-century continued an encouraging first half of the England tour for him even though a major score continues to prove elusive. He made 43 in the first innings against India and 36 in the second innings at Edgbaston last week.Barring his hand injury being more serious than thought he is now certain to see out the Ashes tour and looks likely to get the Sydney farewell against Pakistan early next year that he mapped out when he arrived in the UK.David Warner acknowledges his half-century•Getty Images

“I’ve felt in total control the last six to eight months with where my game is. I’m moving into the ball, my feet are moving, not just playing with my hands,” he said.”I felt like I was onto something special in the World Test Championship final. And then last game, same thing. I feel like everything I’m putting in in the nets is actually coming out there in the middle.”I’m excited by it and I think if I can keep getting myself in and keep that momentum going with my feet, a big one could be around the corner.”Warner even twice attempted to sweep Broad from outside off stump, something he has been working on in the nets. “With the white ball I play it quite a bit,” he said. “Always said in the back of my mind if they set a field where the guy was squarer and they try to hit their lengths then I’d play it. It is risky, but in the back of my mind I’m trying to put them off their line and length.”

Alana King awarded Cricket Australia contract, Sophie Molineux misses out

Injured duo Georgia Wareham and Tayla Vlaeminck have been retained in the 15-strong list

Andrew McGlashan07-Apr-2022Legspinner Alana King has been awarded her first Cricket Australia contract after being an integral part of the ODI World Cup triumph with left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux dropping off the list after an injury-hit season.King made her international debut at the beginning of the multi-format Ashes having come in as a replacement for the injured Georgia Wareham. She has since featured in every match – earning an upgrade to a contract during that time – and was Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker at the World Cup with 12 scalps at 24.50 including 3 for 64 in the final against England.Allrounder Molineux, who has been capped 38 times across formats, is the player to make way for King’s inclusion after she missed the Ashes and World Cup due a stress fracture of her foot. Wareham (ACL) and fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck (foot), who were also both ruled out of the World Cup, have retained their contracts although are not set to return before the next Australian summer.Related

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“Sophie Molineux is unfortunate to miss out on a contract, she’s been an important part of the side over the last couple of years,” national selector Shawn Flegler said. “Unfortunately, she’s missed a large amount of cricket due to various injuries, but we feel she can continue to play an important role with a more consistent run of matches. We’ll continue to work with Sophie and have full confidence in her finding her way back into the squad.”Georgia Wareham and Tayla Vlaeminck retain their contracts which enables us to continue to support them on their return to play after suffering long-term injuries. Both are progressing well in their rehab, and we look forward to seeing them in action at some stage during the summer.”King’s arrival on the international stage on the back of two successful WBBL tournaments, firstly for Melbourne Stars then for Perth Scorchers, highlighted the depth on offer in Australian cricket. The selectors ended up naming two legspinners in their World Cup squad with Amanda-Jade Wellington being recalled.”Alana King came into the side during the Ashes and hasn’t missed a beat, she produced match-winning performances across all three formats and thoroughly deserves her spot on the list,” Flegler said.”We’ve had a core group of players performing well over the last 12 months which means some talented players have missed out, it’s certainly made selection tough but we’re in a fortunate position to have such depth across Australian cricket.”Players such as Stella Campbell, Amanda-Jade Wellington and Grace Harris have all played for Australia and contributed to the team’s success recently, and along with Sophie, have the chance to earn upgrades with consistent performances.”The stability of the contract list suggests that the World Cup-winning squad will remain together for at least another year. Captain Meg Lanning and coach Matthew Mott had previously said they did not foresee any players retiring in the near future.Players not awarded contracts as part of the initial squad can earn upgrades throughout the year by accruing 12 points. Female players receive four points for a Test match, two for an ODI and two for a T20I.Australia will return to action in July with a tri-nations T20I series in Ireland that will also feature Pakistan ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. While the next home summer has yet to be confirmed it is set to include a visit by Pakistan before Australia defend their T20 World Cup title in South Africa in early 2023.A number of the centrally-contracted players will remain in the UK after the Commonwealth Games to feature in the Hundred.Contract list Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Raza Hasan 'expelled' from Quaid-e-Azam trophy after Covid-19 protocol breach

PCB’s High Performance Director calls spinner’s actions “irresponsible and damaging”

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2020Pakistan left-arm spinner Raza Hasan, who once played a pivotal role in a win against Australia in the 2012 World T20, has seen his career set back sharply once more after being expelled from the Quaid-e-Azam trophy for breaching Covid-19 protocols. According to a PCB release, the 28-year old left the bio-secure hotel where his team, the Northerns 2nd XI, was based. Nadeem Khan, the PCB’s High Performance Director, called his actions “irresponsible and damaging”.The PCB has set up bio-secure hotels for both the Quaid-e-Azam trophy teams as well as the second XI sides, with players forbidden from leaving the premises without seeking express permission from the medical staff as well as the High Performance department. Hasan, it appears, did not attempt to obtain clearance from either, which has landed him an effective ban for the rest of the season.”It is sad and unfortunate that despite several reminders and educational programmes on the significance and importance of respecting and following Covid-19 protocols, Raza Hasan decided to take matters in his hand and overstepped the line,” Nadeem Khan said. “As such, he has been expelled from the tournament and will not be allowed for the remaining season.”The PCB has a zero-tolerance approach towards Covid-19 breaches as these are designed to not only ensure health and safety of all participants but to also demonstrate to the world that we can successfully organise and deliver domestic competitions.”I sincerely hope Raza Hasan will use this time to reflect on his irresponsible actions and the potential damage his breach could have caused to the event in general and Pakistan cricket in particular.”This is the latest incident in a career that began promising so much, but has so far too long appeared on a path of self-destruction. After making his debut as a 19-year old in T20 cricket in 2012, Hasan was picked for the T20 World Cup, where he memorably returned figures of 4-0-14-2, against Australia removing both Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell in a Man-of-the-Match performance. Consistency, as well as discipline, however, eluded him, and in 2015, he was banned for two years for testing positive for a prohibited substance.He was given an opportunity to return when Lahore Qalandars snapped him up in a draft ahead of the 2018 PSL. He played two games without making an impact, or indeed taking a wicket. He was let go after the season, and has been a regular in the Northerns 2nd XI side this season, without quite delivering the standout performances that might hint at a career anywhere near as promising as the one he looked set to have in 2012.

Mohammad Hafeez joins Middlesex as AB de Villiers' replacement

Pakistan batsman signs for five Vitality Blast group games

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Aug-2019Mohammad Hafeez has signed for Middlesex as AB de Villiers’ replacement for five Vitality Blast games.De Villiers’ initial stint finished with a victory against Surrey last week, but he will return to the club for the final two games of the group stage, and the knockouts if Middlesex qualify.Hafeez will also be available for those two games, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman, the club’s other overseas signing, set to return to Afghanistan after being recalled by his board.Hafeez has been playing in the Global T20 Canada – he hit 85 runs in five innings for Edmonton Royals – and is expected to be available for Wednesday’s game at Essex.This will be Hafeez’s first stint in county cricket, though he did play club cricket in the Liverpool League in 2004 and 2005.Hafeez retired from Test cricket in December, but remains available for white-ball internationals.He was part of Pakistan’s World Cup squad, making 253 runs including a vital 84 against England at Trent Bridge, but was left off their central contracts list last week.After reaching the knockouts once in the last ten seasons, Middlesex have had an impressive campaign, and sit second in the South Group with five games to play.De Villiers’ shoes will be difficult to fill: in five innings for the club, he made 253 runs, striking at 191.66, including two scores of 88 not out and a 40-ball 64 to sign off against Surrey.1600 BST, August 13 – This story was updated to include news of Mujeeb’s availability

Stanlake and Finch lead rout of Pakistan

Australia bounced back from a terrible tour of England with a resounding victory in Harare

The Report by Daniel Brettig02-Jul-2018
Billy Stanlake is mobbed by his team-mates•AFP

One centimetre taller than Joel Garner’s lofty 203, Billy Stanlake towered over Pakistan’s top order at the Harare Sports Club in a spell that delivered Australia their first international victory in any format since the Newlands ball-tampering scandal, by nine wickets with a gaping 55 balls to spare.Making the most of what early-morning life existed in a dry surface, Stanlake blasted out the top-four Pakistani batsmen in a spell of 4 for 8, helped by three fine catches from his captain Aaron Finch, who had granted his young spearhead the chance to bowl first by winning the toss and kept him going for four consecutive overs.The game was more or less decided by Stanlake’s burst, with all four wickets falling to catches behind the wicket. If Fakhar Zaman seemed nonplussed by his dismissal, adjudged caught down the leg side when attempting a hook shot at another high bouncing Stanlake projectile, then there was no broadcasting budget room for DRS to determine whether or not he was right to quibble. A pair of lbw appeals, by Jhye Richardson and Usman Khan, might also have attracted referrals.Chasing a mere 117, Finch, D’Arcy Short and Travis Head galloped home, for a win so emphatic as to belie the fact Australia had lost eight matches in a row in all formats since Cameron Bancroft, David Warner and Steven Smith were mixed up in a ball-tampering plot against South Africa in Cape Town a little more than three months ago. With a 10am local time start, the victors were able to celebrate their result over lunch.Stanlake’s impact was further evidence of his potential to become a major handful for all international opponents, following a similarly eye-catching display against England in the fifth ODI at Old Trafford in Manchester. Such was his steep trajectory that he made the Harare surface seem more reminiscent of the WACA Ground more than two decades ago – certainly Garner would have approved of the different game he compelled Pakistan’s batsmen to play.Having trounced hosts Zimbabwe in the tournament opener on Sunday, Sarfraz Ahmed named an unchanged team to tackle the Australians. Finch’s XI featured the left-hander Nic Maddinson, who was included in the squad despite losing his state contract with New South Wales. Maddinson relocated to Victoria and will play for the Melbourne Stars in this summer’s Big Bash League.Taking the new ball, Stanlake had to wait for only three balls before Mohammed Hafeez flirted fatally with a bouncing ball outside the off stump, sending a comfortable edge through to Finch at slip. In his next over, Hussain Talat was unable to ride the lift of another steepler, which took the shoulder of the bat and hung in the air just long enough for Finch to run across from slip and take a neat one- hander nearer to where gully might have been.Zaman’s dissmisal in Stanlake’s third over will remain a matter for debate, as Alex Carey’s appeal from behind the stumps was met with an affirmative answer from the umpire Jeremiah Matibiri, but there was no doubt about the exit of Sarfraz, offering a slightly open defensive blade and edging in the vicinity of Finch for another alert snaffle.The remainder of the innings was always going to be a faltering salvage operation, not helped by a horrid run-out when Shoaib Malik loafed the first run and was then stranded when he realised too late that a more industrious Asif Ali was eager for a second. Asif’s innings then ended when he completely misread the length of a Marcus Stoinis delivery, and though some late punishment was handed out to Andrew Tye, the West Australian still finished with a trio of mop-up wickets.Finch and D’Arcy Short set out after their modest target as though eager for an early lunch, punching gaps in the field with something like impunity before the left-hander miscued to midwicket.Head came in to provide all the support required as Finch closed in on the win with a succession of meaty blows, raising a half century from just 27 balls in the process. Zimbabwe, who already looked the third best of these sides by a distance, have been warned.

Rossington revival secures thrilling tie

Northamptonshire and Worcestershire played out a thrilling tie at Wantage Road in the Royal London Cup with Adam Rossington narrowly failing to score the 14 runs required from the final over.

ECB Reporters Network03-May-2017
ScorecardAdam Rossington couldn’t quite haul Northants to victory in the final over•Getty Images

Northamptonshire and Worcestershire played out a thrilling tie at Wantage Road in the Royal London Cup with Adam Rossington narrowly failing to score the 14 runs required from the final over.Rossington paddle-swept two boundaries off Joe Leach to leave two required from the final delivery, but he couldn’t connect with the last ball and Leach’s full delivery escaped wicketkeeper Ben Cox for a bye that tied the scores and left each side with a point each from a wonderful game in bitterly cold conditions.Northants were in control of their chase of 278 with Rob Newton making a maiden List A century in 109 balls – opening the batting in one-day cricket for the first time since 2013. He shared a stand of 106 with Alex Wakely to steer Northants to 198 for 3 in the 39th over.But Newton dragged a lofted drive to long-on, Wakely was run out attempting a sharp single to short third man and Steven Crook edged a cut to Cox for a golden duck as Northants slid to 219 for 6.Rossington only had the bowlers for company but cut and drove with his usual excellent timing to keep Northants in touch. Thirty-nine runs were needed from 30 balls before Rossington pulled and then drove Leach for boundaries but couldn’t find a big over to take complete control of the situation. When only five runs came from the penultimate over, 14 were needed from the final six deliveries and Rossington couldn’t quite deliver, ending 63 not out from 45 balls.Newton’s innings looked to have handed Northants a much-needed victory, after losing their opening two matches in the competition. He drove and cut well in an opening stand of 55 with Josh Cobb before Cobb, having lifted Leach almost onto the upper tier of the Spencer Pavilion, dragged Jack Shantry into his stumps. Richard Levi then pulled Ed Barnard with perfect timing straight to deep square and when Rob Keogh tamely chipped a return catch back to Brett D’Oliveria Northants were in a sticky spot at 92 for 3. Newton and Wakely’s subsequent fine recovery was almost wasted.Worcestershire needed two recoveries of their own to post 277 for 9. From 118 for 5 after Daryl Mitchell made a season’s best 75, Cox made his List A best score. Dropped on 5 by Sanderson running around from long-on, he made a second successful attempt at the stroke and lifted Cobb for six. Another lofted drive cleared mid-off and he cut another boundary to take 17 from Cobb’s sixth over and drove some momentum back into the innings.He went past fifty for the first time in List A cricket in 54 balls with three fours and two sixes – the second over long-on off White.When he fell – caught at third man attempting to paddle sweep Richard Gleeson – Worcestershire were 199 for 8 and in danger of being bowled out well inside the allocation. But Barnard played a gem of an innings from No. 10 to rally the innings for a second time. He struck the ball cleanly down the ground, taking Azharullah for four, then six in an unbeaten 42 from 27 balls. It proved a decisive knock.Northants centurion Rob Newton said: “We feel we’ve outplayed them for 85 overs and a couple of patches have let us down in a big way. We should have nailed them for 230 or 240 and looking back we probably didn’t mix up the bowling enough against the final partnership.”We felt with 12 overs to go that was the time to nail the chase, I unfortunately got out, Alex went when he was just getting into his stride and that put us on the back foot. Adam played an unbelievable knock to almost get us over the line but we feel this is a game we should have won.”Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: “It’s been a really exciting enthralling game, just a shame the weather prevented too many coming along.”We did really we to get the score we did, we thought we were a little above par and at one stage Northants should have won comfortably but we kept going and managed to take something from the game and maintained our unbeaten record.”

Lehmann 'rocket' helped Pattinson bounce back – Voges

James Pattinson copped a “rocket” from coach Darren Lehmann for his costly no-ball transgression on the first day in Christchurch, but bounced back to snare three important wickets on day three

Brydon Coverdale in Christchurch22-Feb-20163:05

‘We will be comfortable chasing anything’ – Voges

James Pattinson copped a “rocket” from coach Darren Lehmann for his costly no-ball transgression on the first day in Christchurch, but bounced back to snare three important wickets on day three. Pattinson had Brendon McCullum caught for 39 on day one but replays confirmed he had overstepped and McCullum was reprieved; he went on to blast the fastest century in Test history as New Zealand raced to 370.It was far from the first such mistake from Pattinson this summer, after he twice thought he had the wicket of West Indian Carlos Brathwaite during the Boxing Day Test only to have no-balls retrospectively called. Before this Test, Pattinson said he “done a fair bit of work” on his tendency to overstep, which made it all the more frustrating for the Australians to see him err on what might have been a wicket-taking ball.”The coach didn’t miss him after play on day one, and that’s probably putting it nicely,” Australia batsman Adam Voges said. “Look, he got a rocket and he’s come out and responded the way he did. So he probably didn’t disagree with anything the coach said after play that night but full credit to Patto for the way he’s bounced back and he was excellent today.”It’s fantastic, he ran in really hard today, bowled aggressively and with good pace. He’s taken three wickets, he’s got great reward and he’s put us in a great spot. To come back from the disappointment of the no-ball in the first innings and to be able to produce that today is a terrific effort.”That response consisted of 12 overs, five maidens and 3 for 29 (and no no-balls) on the third day at Hagley Oval, where he found enough pace and movement to trouble the New Zealand top order. New Zealand had started their second innings with a deficit of 135 and by stumps they were four wickets down and still 14 runs behind, meaning a huge partnership or two would be needed for them to fight back into the Test.”We’ve definitely got a few players in the shed left to try and get a total for us,” New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling said. “It’s great that Kane [Williamson] is still out there and Corey [Anderson] is coming off a good first innings. We’re definitely backing what we’ve got to put a total on the board and however many that is, we’re just going to have to come out with the ball and try to win it.”To do so, though, New Zealand will need to find some sort of weapon with the ball, be it conventional swing, reverse swing or seam movement, given they have no specialist spinner in this XI. So far in the Test they have struggled to move the ball as much as the Australians, and it took a remarkable display of sustained short-pitched bowling from Neil Wagner to eventually run through Australia’s batting order on day three.Wagner picked up 6 for 106 and four of those batsmen – Joe Burns, Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh and Voges himself – were out to pull shots caught from square leg to midwicket. Another short delivery accounted for Peter Nevill, who tried to ramp one over the slips, and Josh Hazlewood rounded out the tally with a more regulation edge to slip.”It was a pretty special bowling performance by him [Wagner],” Watling said. “I think it was about 25 overs of good fast short-pitched bowling. He got us right back into a position where we can hopefully try and get ourselves into a position to win the game.”He almost gets faster the deeper he goes into his spells. He’s done it for us on many occasions. Today he got his rewards. It was just a fantastic effort by him to do that for so long. For a fast bowler to do that for about 25 overs is a pretty special effort.”Voges said it was frustrating to see wicket after wicket fall in such a way – including his own – but that it was a lesson learnt for the Australians.”There’s six blokes there on the pull shot so it’s not smart cricket really for … four of us to play pull shots to those guys,” Voges said. “It wasn’t any secret about what he was trying to do and we need to be better at combating that. We just found fielders. It’s not like we hit the ball badly. We just found the fielders. So we need to be a little bit smarter with the way we do it but I think it’s a good lesson learnt.”Still, the Australians were able to pass 500 for the second time in consecutive innings on this tour – not since they visited the Caribbean in 2003 have Australia made 500-plus totals twice in a Test series away from home. The centuries to Burns and Smith set them on the path to overhauling New Zealand’s 370, and Voges said it was pleasing to gain the upper hand after the hosts were in the stronger position.”It’s probably the first time that we’ve been behind on day one and been able to fight our way back into the contest and then get some ascendancy,” he said. “From that point of view I think it’s really pleasing. Most of that credit needs to go to Joe and Steve. They were outstanding yesterday and the rest of us have been able to build on that.”

Canada take honours in Auty Cup double-header

Canada won both their matches in Sunday’s Auty Cup double-header against the United States of America

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jul-2013In the Sunday double-header, Canada prevailed on both occasions, with a disciplined bowling effort from Canada‘s bowlers helping them to a five-wicket win over United States of America in the first T20 match in King City. USA chose to bat, but lost regular wickets through the course of their innings. Only four batsmen were able to get into double digits as all of Canada’s bowlers struck at least once. Henry Osinde picked up figures of 2 for 23, as USA reached 106 for 9 in their 20 overs.Canada’s innings started in a similar fashion, with Rizwan Cheema out for 9 with the score on 18. However, Ruvindu Gunasekera and Usman Limbada put together a 41-run partnership to steady the innings. Gunasekera, who has been in prolific form, top-scored for Canada once again with 58 off 50 balls, as Canada reached their target inside of 17 overs.In their second match, Canada once again had the better of USA with a 78-run victory. Canada batted first, with openers Gunasekera and Cheema putting on 63 in just over five overs. Once Cheema fell, Nitish Kumar and Gunasekera put on a further 56 runs to put Canada in the ascendancy. Each of Canada’s batsmen got into double digits as they posted 189 for 5. Timil Patel had best figures of 3 for 40.Facing a steep target, USA’s chase came undone in the first couple of overs itself as they struggled to maintain the required rate while safeguarding their wickets. Only wicketkeeper Akeem Dodson played an innings of note, with his 44 off 36 balls. Salman Nazar’s 3 for 27, Harvir Baidwan’s 2 for 25 and Junaid Siddiqui’s 2 for 32 ensured USA were unable to make a decent fist of the chase.

'This one's definitely for Jamaica' – Samuels

Marlon Samuels, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence, dedicated the victory, during which he scored 123 and 52, to his country

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-2012″Nothing difficult right now as I had two years of runs put down,” said Marlon Samuels after his Man-of-the-Match winning performance in the second Test in his country Jamaica, which also sealed a 2-0 series win for West Indies. Samuels was alluding to his two-year absence from cricket as a result of a ban for alleged links to an Indian bookmaker.Samuels, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence, dedicated the victory, during which he scored 123 and 52, to his country. “Most definitely, this is for Jamaica, the die-hard fans.”West Indies secured their first series win against a team other than Bangladesh or Zimbabwe in the last three years. They conceded a 51-run lead in the first innings, when Samuels took them closer to the New Zealand score with a century, but bowled out their opponents for 154 in the second and completed a chase of 206 on the fourth day. “It’s a feeling we are getting used to, and it feels quite good,” West Indies captain Darren Sammy said. “The way Marlon held the innings together in both innings, that spell from Narsingh [Deonarine, who picked up four wickets in the second innings] yesterday, the performances are coming from different players at different times, that’s the hallmark of a good team.”We have bowled them out every time we have played them this series, the efforts of Tino [Best, who took two wickets in the first hour of play] yesterday morning set the tone for us. Last year or two has been tough for us, we are going to celebrate this day, but it is about continuous hard work.”Kemar Roach was named the Man of the Series for his 12 wickets at 18.25. He picked up seven wickets in the first Test, five in the second and made an attacking 41 in West Indies’ chase in Jamaica as nightwatchman. “Of course as a fast bowler I’d like faster, bouncier wickets,” he said. Roach, despite his success, has had problems with the no-ball. “I have a couple of weeks off, will spend it with the coach (working on the no-ball problems).”

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