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Australia allrounder Mitchell Marsh said that time out of the Test side, during the home series against South Africa last year helped him work on a few aspects of his game, which he feels will be beneficial

Melinda Farrell in Bengaluru02-Mar-20171:16

‘Want to continue our winning ways at this ground’ – Marsh

It’s an odd anachronism that 21 is still considered such an important age.In Australia, for example, 21st birthdays are widely celebrated much the same as 18th birthdays, even though minors legally become adults once they turn 18. Cards are adorned with keys, cakes are baked in the shape of them, symbolizing the bestowing of the keys of adulthood to people who have been adults for three years.For whatever reason, turning 21 remains a mystical moment. The coming of age.If Mitchell Marsh plays in Bengaluru, his Test career will turn 21. But it feels as though he’s been coming of age for a very long time.Consider Marsh when he first hit adulthood. After captaining Australia to victory in the U19s World Cup, he was playing for Deccan Chargers in the IPL as an 18-year-old alongside Adam Gilchrist in a team coached by Darren Lehmann, a fact that seems almost ridiculous in its generational incongruity.Seven years and 20 Tests down the track, Marsh has a batting average of 22.79 and 29 wickets at an average of 37.27. That he is blessed with an abundance of talent is undeniable; that talent comes with expectations his critics feel have not been met.Marsh-bashing is a frequent occurrence on social media and the selection of brothers Mitchell or Shaun is guaranteed to spark a new round. The younger brother has the added burden of being an Australian allrounder, a position that attracts more scrutiny and criticism than most.Just ask Shane Watson.In fact, Marsh does just that. Heralded as the natural replacement for Watson at the end of his Test career, Marsh now seeks him out for advice.”I’ve spoken to Watto,” Marsh said. “Since he’s retired he’s been fantastic. He’s always been open to me giving him a call or a text. I could use him a little bit more, he’s always open for a conversation which is great.”Watson could no doubt give just as much advice on how to cope with flak off the field as he could on how to perform on it. When he passed the allrounder’s mantle on to Marsh it came with a target attached, something that unsettled Marsh to the extent he stopped reading comments about himself on social media altogether.”I try not to look too much into it,” said Marsh. “I wouldn’t have too much confidence if I read all the comments on Facebook. That’s part and parcel of playing cricket for Australia at the top level. People are always entitled to their opinion, that’s fine by me. It doesn’t stress me out. I used to read a lot of it then I had 10 innings where I didn’t get over 30, I didn’t have much to read so I stopped reading it.When the selectors cut a swathe through the Australian squad in the wake of the humiliating loss to South Africa in Hobart they didn’t miss Marsh. He had played only the Perth Test and was left out of the Hobart match in favour of Callum Ferguson. With no opportunities available to play first-class cricket, he returned home to join up with the Perth Scorchers.”In a way it was probably a good thing because I just went back to the Big Bash and enjoyed myself, tried to slog a few and managed to get a few out of the middle,” said Marsh. “But away from the game I worked on a few things that I feel will hold me in good stead if I can play in Australia again or play in other conditions. Sometimes it’s nice to get out of the spotlight. I was obviously under a lot of pressure for a while so in a way it was nice to get back to play with the Scorchers and here I am.”Marsh wasn’t required for bowling duties in the first Test but he applied himself for a watchful 31 runs on the crumbling pitch. For a powerful, attacking batsman, it was a commendable show of restraint in such conditions. It was followed by dressing-room celebrations that Marsh described as the best four hours of his life.”It was good, it gave me a lot of confidence,” said Marsh. “Even though I made only 30, being out in the middle for 80 balls certainly gave me a lot of confidence. Hopefully this wicket is a little better and I can turn it into a big score for us.””I think it’s just about adapting. That’s something we always speak about, Steven (Smith) always talks to us about it. In these conditions you’ve got to earn the right to attack and that’s by having a solid defence. That’s what I’ve been working on.”Marsh has also been working on gaining the trust of his brother. Shaun’s nine-month old son, Austin, is on the tour and Uncle Mitch is being allowed to babysit his nephew for the first time.”You earn your trust,” said Marsh, while conceding he wasn’t very confident on nappy-changing.”It’s taken me a while but I’ve got there now.”If he can produce his best in India, that’s a statement he may make for many Tests beyond his 21st.

Liverpool are looking to make tweaks to their successful squad this summer following a disappointing season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Pau Torres?

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool are one of the many clubs who have been admiring Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres.

As per the report, Aston Villa are working hard to get a cut-price deal done for the talented defender, whilst Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and the Reds are named as admirers of the player.

Would Pau Torres be a good fit for Liverpool?

Indeed, Jurgen Klopp's top priority this summer has been a midfield rebuild, however, the Reds are also seemingly on the hunt for a left-footed centre-back who can offer balance in the back-line as the current crop of central defenders at Anfield are all right-footed.

Liverpool have been linked with VfL Stuttgart ace Micky van de Ven and RB Leipzig titan Joska Gvardiol, both of whom are dominant on their left foot with the latter now reportedly agreeing on personal terms for a potential €100m (£86m) deal to join treble-winning Manchester City.

As a result, the signing of Torres could be an opportunity for Klopp to secure a centre-back with an extremely similar profile as Gvardiol but also would be much cheaper than his Croatian positional peer, with Villarreal possibly considering a fee as low as €40m (£34m), per some reports.

According to FBref, Gvardiol is named as the third most comparable player to Torres over the last 12 months, and it's not hard to see why when you consider their vast similarities.

When comparing the defensive duo, the pair shared resemblances in many key attributes last season including aerial duels won (55.1% v 55.8%), ball recoveries (195 v 167), blocks (36 v 34), shot-creating actions (1.21 v 1.20) per 90, tackles and interceptions won (56 v 57) and pass accuracy (85.1% v 85.9%).

Not only that, Torres – once hailed as an "extraordinary talent" by former Villarreal star Javi Calleja – is one of the most progressive defenders in the top five European leagues, ranking in the top 7% of his positional peers for progressive passes, progressive carries and shot-creating actions per 90, demonstrating unrivalled ability in his ball-playing role in Villarreal's defensive set up.

With that being said, if Liverpool could table an attractive offer to rival their competitors for Torres this summer he could be a fantastic signing for the club and provide Klopp with the profile of centre-back that he clearly desires to acquire ahead of next season.

Liverpool will continue to monitor the market as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to rebuild after a challenging campaign, and Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch is one young talent who they are 'pushing' to sign.

What's the latest on Ryan Gravenberch to Liverpool?

That's according to the Mirror, who state that Klopp has received the green light to complete a move for the Dutchman, who has endured a frustrating maiden term in the German Bundesliga with the formidable champions.

The player is said to be 'keen' on a move to Anfield and, while in an ideal world he would remain at the club he chose to kickstart his career one year ago, a lack of minutes and the offer of prominence at Liverpool could result in a transfer, with a fee of around £25m enough to prise him away.

Especially considering that James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all left the club; Alexis Mac Allister has been signed for £35m but the robust Gravenberch could be new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke's masterstroke this summer.

Should Liverpool sign Ryan Gravenberch?

Gravenberch forged 103 appearances for Ajax and was a key component of an outfit that gleaned the Eredivisie thrice and the KNVB Cup twice across three campaigns, catching the eye of many an outfit across Europe and subsequently earning a €24m (£20m) transfer to Bavaria.

However, five starts from 33 matches across all competitions in Germany this season will do little to convince the precocious talent of committing his future to the club despite winning the title this year, with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka unlikely to fall out of favour any time soon.

Previously hailed as the Netherlands' "greatest talent" by ex-Ajax ace Wim Kieft, the £152k-per-week machine ranks among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 23% for progressive passes, the top 19% for successful take-ons and the top 27% for tackles per 90, as per FBref, which emphasises the dynamism of his trade and hints at a future as one of Europe's most destructive conductors.

If Klopp succeeds in signing the 21-year-old, he will strengthen the Dutch spine Anfield currently boasts, with Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo occupying prominent roles either side of the centre of the park, where Gravenberch could pull the strings and inject the unrelenting intensity to send the Kop into rapture.

He could forge a distinctively slick partnership with Gakpo, who has impressed since signing from PSV for an initial £35m last winter and scored seven goals and three assists as he ostensibly slots into the departing and iconic Roberto Firmino's all-encompassing frontal role.

Adept and weaving the threads of Klopp's hundred-hued tapestry together with his creative ingenuity, Gakpo ranks among the top 10% of forwards for rate of assists, the top 17% for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 1% for tackles per 90.

Such metrics play into Gravenberch's favour – and indeed vice versa – because of his role in tethering the midfield to the attack, opening space for the inversions of wide forwards such as Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, and keeping the robustness intact with his multi-faceted approach.

Lauded for his "dominant" demeanour on the pitch by his former youth coach Brian Tevreden, the confidence that exudes from Gravenberch's tenacity in the middle will keep the system ticking, and the countrymen could play significant roles in the next phase of Klopp's dynasty in Liverpool.

Vinod Rai, the chairman of the court-appointed committee that will oversee the BCCI till fresh elections are held, said the panel will have the role of a “nightwatchman”

Nagraj Gollapudi30-Jan-2017Vinod Rai, the chairman of the court-appointed committee of administrators that will supervise the BCCI till fresh elections are held, has said that the panel will be serve as “very short and interim” body. Along with Rai, the Supreme Court of India appointed senior banker Vikram Limaye, former Indian women’s captain Diana Edulji and social historian Ramachandra Guha on the committee of administrators, which will run the BCCI through its chief executive officer Rahul Johri.Rai summarised the role the committee as that of a “nightwatchman” with the aim of putting in place the pillars of transparency and accountability in order to make the BCCI a professional organisation.”I look at it as a role of a nightwatchman, in the sense that [the committee’s job is] to enable a smooth transition from the BCCI as it is today into the BCCI being run by an elected body,” Rai told ESPNcricinfo. “And to put in place structures, systems which will ensure that BCCI is run with transparency and accountability. It is going to be a very short and interim body.”Although the court had assembled an “eminent” panel of administrators, Rai stressed that “we are not long-term administrators” of the game. “It needs to put in hands of the people of merit, people with competence, professionals,” he said.A civil servant from the 1972 batch of the Kerala cadre, Rai originally comes from Lucknow. He has been a civil servant for close to four decades, having worked for the federal government in various capacities. Between 2008 and 2013 May, Rai was the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Since his retirement, he has served in various facilitating roles with the government-run organisation. He is currently also chairman of the Banks’ Board Bureau, which is working on bringing in reforms in the banking sector.Rai said he was “biting his nails” on Sunday evening while watching Jasprit Bumrah help India edge out England in Nagpur to level the three-match T20 series. Rai played club cricket, but has never dealt with sports administration. Incidentally, this was not the first time the court has appointed Rai in an important advisory role.In 2014, the court asked Rai to prepare an audit report into the Sri Padmanabha Temple controversy in Thiruvananthapuram. In his findings, Rai noted financial irregularities and corruption among the temple authorities.In May 2016, Rai was part of the three-man committee appointed by the court to oversee the operations of the Medical Council of India. The brief for that committee was to arrest the corruption and decay prevalent in medical education and the profession in India. That committee was led by RM Lodha, the former Chief Justice of India, who is also chairman of the Lodha Committee.Rai said that since the court had already “entrusted” him previously with such responsibilities, he was confident about the handling this next challenge. He said the first task was to get acquainted with his panel members. He has already worked with Limaye, the banker on the four-member panel. “We will familiarise ourselves on the team firstly,” he said. “We will see what the BCCI administration is all about. We will study very closely the Lodha Committee’s recommendations. Then having sensitsed with all this, we will go about the tasks.”

Mashrafe Mortaza described Bangladesh’s fielding as ‘lethargic’ after their 77-run loss to New Zealand

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Dec-2016Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza described his team’s fielding as “lethargic” after their 77-run loss to New Zealand in the first ODI in Christchurch. New Zealand’s innings included three dropped catches but what stood out even more was the Bangladesh fielders’ lack of intensity in running towards the ball, coupled with misfields throughout the game.New Zealand ran a whopping 27 twos and three threes when they batted, with Tom Latham, who scored his second ODI ton, ensuring that the scoring did not stagnate even if boundaries were hard to come by. The Bangladesh captain reckoned that his team gave away at least 20 extra runs while fielding.”I thought we were lethargic in our fielding,” Mashrafe said. “It was pretty disappointing. It would have motivated the bowlers had we fielded a little better. They took a lot of twos and threes, which we could have checked. We wanted to restrict them within 280 to 300, and, even if we had lost early wickets, we could have made a game out of that sort of target.”On Mushfiqur’s fitness…

Mashrafe Mortaza said that Mushfiqur Rahim will have a scan on his left hamstring on Tuesday, after 48 hours of observation, before determining the next course of action. Mushfiqur pulled his hamstring while diving to complete a single off Mitchell Santner. He later retired hurt on 42.

Mashrafe said his bowlers also bowled too short, particularly at New Zealand’s top scorer Latham and Colin Munro, who made 87 off 61 balls. Both batsmen hit four sixes each, most of them pulled towards midwicket and square leg.”Latham and Munro took the game away from us. They handled the bowlers really well, and all the credit goes to these two batsmen. But I think we bowled too many short balls to him.”New Zealand’s short balls were head height, while we could bowl up to chest height which was easier for them to play shots. I think we should have adjusted it earlier, but we still have two matches left.”Despite so many errors in the field and a poor start with the bat, Mashrafe said that he still hoped for a tighter chase, banking on Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman and Mushfiqur Rahim.”The dismissals of Shakib and Sabbir set us back on a good batting track,” Mashrafe said. “At one stage we needed a T20-type chase, but Mushfiqur got injured. We could have pushed them further in the latter overs.”

Arsenal are reportedly interested in an Eredivisie ace, as the Gunners prepare for a busy summer in a bid to bolster their squad.

Mikel Arteta and Edu will aim to equip the title-challenging side with depth as another hectic season beckons in August, with Champions League involvement returning to the Emirates.

What’s the latest on Jurrien Timber to Arsenal?

As reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein late on Monday night, Arsenal are interested in Ajax defender Jurrien Timber.

The report claims that the Gunners are ‘working on a deal’ to sign the Dutchman, with an opening offer in the region of £30m made.

It’s stated that Ajax want a figure closer to £50m for the 22-year-old however Arsenal remain optimistic a compromise will be reached, with personal terms claimed to have already been agreed.

What could Jurrien Timber offer to Arsenal?

Hailed as “exceptional” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Gunners could land themselves one of the continent's best young defensive talents this summer.

Deployed primarily as a centre-back, the 22-year-old is a competent right-back with an army of skills in defence and progressive play.

His exploits in moving the ball have seen him likened to Arsenal ace Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has transformed the club’s defence by acting as a free-roaming player with innate technical ability on the ball.

Journalist Sam Dean described the Dutchman as a ‘Zinchenko-type player’, adding that the club have been ‘planning’ to add an inverted right-back on the opposing side to nourish the defence with the expertise of the two players.

The role of both Zinchenko and the transformation of Ben White to explore the role of being an inverted full-back has played out to be integral additions to Arteta’s favoured 11.

Having players on the flanks to release and support the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka in the advanced wide positions has installed a new form of threat to his side, which could be bolstered with the introduction of Timber.

When it comes to the Ajax whizz, the numbers don’t lie with his talents in progressive play placing him as one of the best in leagues comparable to the Eredivisie, and a player with strengths mirrored to Arsenal’s Ukrainian.

As per FBref, the defender averages 8.62 progressive passes per 90 minutes, as well as maintaining an outstanding pass completion rate of 91.6% per 90, showing his ability in dispersing play.

Comparable to Zinchenko, Timber averages 81.65 attempted passes every 90, with the Gunners ace averaging 81.12 to show his desire to be on the ball and a heavy influence on play.

Their efforts going forward are similar too, with the Dutchman averaging 2.38 progressive carries to the 26-year-old’s 2.67 playing as a centre-back at Ajax with the Arsenal man deployed as a free-roaming left-back.

Winning an average of 51% of his total duels in Eredivisie, the 22-year-old has been praised as a “tenacious” defender, supported by his average of 1.4 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game this campaign, via Sofascore.

Arteta could equip his side with a top talent this summer by signing Timber, who could fit the requirements of the Spaniard’s backline perfectly, but only time will tell if the Gunners can get the deal over the line.

Everton are “informed” on the situation of Lyon striker Moussa Dembele ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Moussa Dembele leaving Lyon?

The Frenchman first arrived at the Groupama Stadium from Celtic back in 2018 and since joining, he’s gone on to make a total of 172 appearances under Laurent Blanc, but he’s now on the lookout for his next destination after it was confirmed that he would be leaving upon the expiration of his contract at the end of this month.

The Ligue 1 centre-forward is no stranger to the English top-flight having carried out a spell at Fulham between 2012-2016, and after making himself available on the market, there’s a chance that he could be set to return having caught the eye of Sean Dyche, but not for the first time.

Back in January, The Mirror (via Goodison News) reported that the Toffees were in talks to sign the 26-year-old but a deal failed to come to fruition, though with him now set to cost nothing to recruit, the boss has been put on alert once again as he weighs up whether to make a second attempt at bringing him to Merseyside.

Are Everton signing Dembele?

Taking to Twitter, Romano name-checked Everton as one of the clubs interested in striking a deal for Dembele following his departure from Lyon. He wrote:

“Moussa Dembele has been approached by several clubs after leaving OL as free agent. Understand Everton and Galatasaray are both informed on conditions of the deal, while Saudi clubs are also keeping tabs on Moussa's situation.”

Should Dyche make another move for Dembele?

Everton are clearly serious about signing Dembele to be considering another approach and it’s no surprise given Dyche's penchant for playing with a classic number nine. Dembele was previously dubbed the “New Didier Drogba” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, so with the centre-forward being free, it would be an absolute bargain of a deal and one that Dyche should 100% revisit.

The Adidas-sponsored star, who pockets £51k-per-week, clocked up 89 goal contributions (70 goals and 19 assists) in 172 Lyon appearances and standing at 6 foot tall, makes an ideal target man, averaging 1.3 aerial wins per league game last season, a number that rises to 3 if you take it per 90 minutes.

Finally, Dembele, who has the versatility to operate as a second striker alongside his natural role up top, already knows what it takes to compete and be successful having secured ten trophies at club level throughout his career, so would be able to instill a much-need positive mindset and winning mentality to the squad at Goodison Park.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer as new manager Ange Postecoglou looks to revitalise the north London outfit.

What's the latest on Jadon Sancho to Tottenham?

According to the Daily Star, Spurs are indeed lining up a £50m bid to sign the England international after falling by the wayside this season, with Sancho failing to live up to expectations at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old signed for the Red Devils from Borussia Dortmund for £73m in 2021 after captivating supporters in the German Bundesliga but has not found the same level of prolific success in the Premier League after two campaigns.

The report claims that United manager Erik ten Hag would not let Sancho depart for less than £60m, and it remains to be seen whether he would acquiesce to a move outside of European competition next season.

Should Tottenham sign Jadon Sancho?

Spurs supporters will be desperate to forge a more fruitful seasonal path next year after pipping Arsenal to Champions League qualification last term, now facing a first season without European football since 2009/10.

While the leaky defence will need reinforcing forthwith, Postecoglou will surely be hoping to provide extra firepower across multiple facets, and Sancho could be the perfect addition to the frontline.

Once hailed a "menace" by Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller, Sancho plundered 16 goals and 20 assists from just 38 appearances in his final season with the Yellow Wall before returning to his homeland, where he has only scored 12 goals and six assists from 79 outings for United.

The £350k-per-week phenom could emerge as Tottenham's answer to their north London rivals' star boy in Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, with Sancho's countryman boasting a similar profile according to FBref's 'Similar Players' model, and if he can harness his attacking flair he could yet emulate his blistering success in the Premier League.

While the Gunners came up short in their title bid this season, they have still returned to prominence unseen since the days of Arsene Wenger and qualified for next year's Champions League after six seasons away, and Saka has been the nucleus of much of the success.

The 21-year-old scored 14 goals and supplied 11 assists from 38 matches in the top flight this term and has been hailed as "phenomenal" by his manager Mikel Arteta.

He also ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 5% for touches in the attacking box per 90, as per FBref, which illustrates his forward-surging presence that Sancho could replicate.

This is evidenced by the "immaculate" Sancho – as dubbed by journalist Rhys Jones – ranking among the top 5% of positional peers for pass completion, the top 13% for progressive carries and the top 8% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

Sancho demonstrated his prolific touch before his move to Manchester, and given he boasts a remarkable similarity to Arsenal's prodigy, he could forge a deadly career to get the Lilywhites back to prominence.

With both Sri Lanka and West Indies gaining bonus points from their opening wins, Zimbabwe have their work cut out if they are to stop this tri-series becoming a two-horse race

The Preview by Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo18-Nov-2016Match factsNovember 19, 2016
Start time 0930 local (0730 GMT)Big PictureIf off-field distractions have followed West Indies to Zimbabwe, their performance in their first game of the tri-series did not show it. They brought a largely young, inexperienced squad here but their win on Wednesday suggested depth and quality nonetheless, and they will arrive in Bulawayo a confident group.West Indies’ three debutants in the first match helped to shape their win, with Shai Hope and Rovman Powell both making 40s before offspinner Ashley Nurse chipped in with three wickets. Nurse has insisted that rankings are not foremost in West Indies’ game plans, but their current position of ninth in the ICC rankings suggests a serious malaise that needs tackling.With a forward-looking squad and the necessity for general improvement in one-day cricket, it’s hard to dismiss the feeling that West Indies are focussed on their future. They have already missed out on qualification for the Champions Trophy next year, and if they are to avoid the ignominy of having to play in a qualifying tournament for the 2019 World Cup, they will have to continue to build on performances such as those in their tour opener. This game offers their next opportunity to do just that.The increased pace and menace with which West Indies’ quicks will operate brings with it myriad dangers for Zimbabwe’s batsmen. Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder will not only gain extra lift from a traditionally dull surface, but Bulawayo’s drier pitches and outfields will also likely bring reverse-swing into the equation, as they did last year when Afghanistan’s Dawlat Zadran picked up nine wickets at 16.66 in five ODIs at Queens.Dawlat’s pace and swing meant he was able to strike upfront with the new ball, and then again with the old to help Afghanistan win the series 3-2. The bowling stats from that series offer further clues as to which bowlers might prosper in Bulawayo: Wellington Masakadza, Tendai Chisoro and Amir Hamza – all spinners – were the other leading wicket-takers. Genuine pace, accompanied by spin, will form a potent attack.With both Sri Lanka and West Indies gaining bonus points from their opening wins, Zimbabwe have their work cut out if they are to stop this tri-series becoming a two-horse race.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe: LLLLL
West Indies: WLLLL
Sean Williams seems to relish batting against West Indies – in two World Cup matches against them he averages 146•AFPIn the spotlightZimbabwe coach Heath Streak called for more energy and aggression from his team after their defeat to Sri Lanka, and one player who normally has both in spades is Sean Williams. This is a player who spanked Zimbabwe’s fastest Test hundred while seriously ill with the flu earlier this year: he has clearly got the sort of fight Streak is looking for. Williams made starts in both Tests against Sri Lanka, so he’s in some nick, and he averages 40 at Queens Sports Club – his home ground. Williams also seems to enjoy batting against West Indies – in two World Cup matches against them he averages 146, with a pair of 70s in 2007 and 2015.Given the advantages of his height and long fingers, Sulieman Benn’s one-day bowling average of 46.38 is surprisingly high. Benn was part of the squad that lost to Pakistan last month, taking 2 for 158 in the series, and West Indies will want him to improve on those returns in Zimbabwe. Benn, 35, is of an age where consistency in performance is vital to continued selection. He should find Bulawayo’s pitches to his liking, and if he hits rhythm he will help West Indies retain control of the middle overs.Teams newsZimbabwe will probably look to bring in an extra spinner in these conditions. A debut for Tarisai Musakanda would offer an injection of youthful hunger into the batting, though that would also necessitate a re-shuffle in the batting order.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Chamu Chibhabha, 2 Brian Chari, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Sikandar Raza, 5 Sean Williams, 6 PJ Moor(wk), 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Graeme Cremer (c), 9 Tendai Chisoro, 10 Carl Mumba, 11 Tinashe Panyangara.With two spinners already in their line-up on Wednesday, and momentum with them following their win, West Indies may well go into this match unchanged.West Indies (possible): 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Evin Lewis, 4 Shai Hope(wk), 5 Jonathan Carter, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Carlos Brathwaite, 8 Jason Holder (c), 9 Ashley Nurse, 10 Sulieman Benn, 11 Shannon Gabriel.Pitch and conditionsSituated in the drier south of the country, Bulawayo tends to produce flatter pitches with less grass than Harare. Spin will be an important factor in the game, while inclement weather is less likely to feature – though when thunderstorms do brew they can be cataclysmic. Fortunately, Saturday should be sunny and dry.Stats and trivia West Indies’ last tour of Zimbabwe was nine years ago, and none of West Indies’ squad have played at Queens Sports Club before. Zimbabwe have played 45 ODIs against West Indies, losing 35 of those. Their last win against West Indies was in Guyana in 2010, when Zimbabwe clung on to defend 254 and win by two runs. The first List A game to be played at Queens Sports Club in the independent Zimbabwe was between West Indies and Zimbabwe in October 1981. Zimbabwe overcame a young West Indies side containing Desmond Haynes, Faoud Bacchus, Gus Logie, Jeff Dujon, Malcolm Marshall and Wayne Daniel by 53 runs, with Dennis Streak – current coach Heath Streak’s father – taking 4 for 45 with his medium pace. Quotes”I had a chat with Marlon Samuels [who has been to Zimbabwe before], but apart from that we’re just pulling out all the data we can possibly find from the analysts in terms of the ground stats and the opposition. But cricket is cricket at the end of the day, you just have to play as you see it, and assess the conditions as quickly as possible.”
“We know their batsmen are pretty fearless. We know they like to hit boundaries. We’ll try and stop that, and starve them of the boundary option to put them under pressure.”

Tasmania fast bowler Cameron Stevenson picked up five wickets on debut at Hurstville Oval to prevent South Australia from reaching the Matador Cup finals

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Oct-2016
ScorecardCameron Stevenson picked up 5 for 32 on debut•Getty ImagesTasmania fast bowler Cameron Stevenson picked up five wickets on debut at Hurstville Oval to prevent South Australia from reaching the Matador Cup finals. Needing to win with a bonus point in order to reach the elimination final, the Redbacks were set a tall order with a target of 296 that would need to be reached inside 40 overs.South Australia did their best to ensure their tempo was up to standard, opener and captain Travis Head racing to 35 from 18 balls and Tom Cooper making 63 off 65, and gave themselves a chance if they could keep enough wickets in hand.But Stevenson claimed the wickets of Jake Weatherald and Jake Lehmann and then ran through the tail as the Redbacks were bowled out for 267 in the 39th over.Earlier, contributions from Alex Doolan (79), Dom Michael (57), Tim Paine (44) and Ben McDermott (44) pushed the Tigers to 7 for 295 from their 50 overs.Tasmania finished fifth on the tournament table and South Australia sixth, and the elimination final will now be played between New South Wales and Victoria for a place in the decider against Queensland.