India news India's South Africa tour

India news

Uncertainty over India's South Africa tour schedule

The status and make-up of India's tour of South Africa, scheduled to begin in late November, has been put in doubt after it was left out of a list of upcoming series announced by the BCCI on Sunday. BCCI president N Srinivasan said the series is "definitely on", though, and ESPNcricinfo understands the BCCI is on the verge of giving Cricket South Africa a pruned itinerary.

Srinivasan, speaking after the board's working commitee in Kolkata, told PTI: "I've not said that the South Africa series will be scrapped. It's definitely on. We have [merely] proposed a West Indies series in November. There were neither any discussions on the South Africa series, nor did any members raise any questions on it."

Despite the supposed lack of discussion on the subject at the meeting, it is understood that negotiations between the BCCI and CSA have been on for quite a while, and the BCCI is on the verge of giving the South African board a revised schedule cutting down what was originally scheduled to be a three-Test, seven-ODI and two-Twenty20 tour to two Tests, three ODIs and two T20s. The BCCI had already objected to the itinerary released in July, saying Cricket South Africa had announced the schedule without the Indian board's consent.

"Our priority is to look after the interests of our players and the board," a BCCI official said. "And such a long tour wasn't viable from either perspective. We need to space out tours so that cricketers get much-needed breaks between them."

A CSA official told ESPNcricinfo that the board had not been contacted by the BCCI on the schedule yet, and it would not respond till it receives "a formal proposal".

If CSA goes with the reduced series, the next bone of contention would be the Boxing Day Test. CSA had reintroduced the traditional Test while announcing the itinerary for India's tour in July. However, the BCCI may demand that the Tests be played before limited-overs' games, thus taking a Boxing Day Test out of equation.

The BCCI has had issues with CSA over the past year. The Indian board had "raised concerns" when it was known that Haroon Lorgat was in the running to take over as CSA chief; the BCCI and Lorgat are thought to have clashed over several issues, including the Future Tours Programme, the DRS and an ICC independent governance review, during the Lorgat's tenure as ICC chief executive officer.

CSA officials had travelled to India in February to meet with the BCCI to discuss their objections to Lorgat, and, after his appointment, Lorgat had said improving relations with the BCCI was a priority. "If I need to sit across a table, to go to India, whatever it takes to smooth things over... I have to put CSA first," Lorgat had said. "When the issues come out, if it means I have offended someone and I need to apologise, I will."

There is also a feeling in South Africa that the BCCI has been trying to isolate the board through the Champions League Twenty20. The BCCI owns a 50% stake in the tournament, the boards of Australia and South Africa share the rest equally. It is learnt that CSA was not consulted before the fixtures were announced for the 2013 tournament, which starts in India later this month, and South African staff due to attend it are now inclined to stay away.

 

India in England 2014

India in England 2014

England confirm India tour itinerary

England face one of their most condensed home Test series after next year's schedule for India's visit was confirmed with five Tests to be held over just 42 days. It will be the first time since 1959 that India will have played five Tests on an England tour while the trip, which runs from June 23 to September 8, also includes five ODIs and one T20.

The Test matches have been crammed into a period from July 9 to August 19 with no other tour matches scheduled between any of them. In comparison, this year's Ashes series was spread over 47 days with reasonable breaks between the second and third then fourth and fifth Tests.

India will begin their tour with two three-day matches against Leicestershire and Derbyshire. The first Test will be played at Trent Bridge from July 9, while Lord's will host the second Test, which begins on July 17. While the ECB has listed the Ageas Bowl (Southampton) as a venue for the third Test it still needs to pass a final facility inspection before being rubber-stamped.

The third Test is also slated to begin on Sunday, July 27, a break from conventional scheduling in England, where Tests are usually slotted to include a full weekend. The last two Tests will be played at Old Trafford and The Oval, from August 7 and August 15, respectively.

The five ODIs, scheduled between August 25 and September 5, will be held in Bristol, Cardiff, Trent Bridge, Headingley and Edgbaston. India are also scheduled to play a 50-over game against Middlesex between the Test and ODI series. The only T20 match on the tour will be played at Edgbaston on September 7.

ECB chief executive David Collier said demand for the tickets is expected to be high: "We anticipate significant demand for tickets both for the Investec Test series, and for the One-Day International series which will be the first encounter between these two countries in the 50-Over format since India's triumph in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy competition at Edgbaston earlier this year."

India previously toured England in 2011 when they were whitewashed 4-0 in the Tests, during which England went to No. 1 in the world, and they also lost the one-dayers 3-0.

India in England 2014

• Tour match v Leicestershire - June 26-28, Leicester
• Tour match v Derbyshire - July 1-3, Derby
• 1st Test - July 9-13, Trent Bridge
• 2nd Test - July 17-21, Lord's
• 3rd Test - July 27-31, Ageas Bowl*
• 4th Test - August 7-11, Old Trafford
• 5th Test - August 15-19, The Oval
• 50-over match v Middlesex - August 22, Lord's
• 1st ODI - August 25, Bristol
• 2nd ODI - August 27, Sophia Gardens
• 3rd ODI - August 30, Trent Bridge
• 4th ODI - September 2, Edgbaston
• 5th ODI - September 5, Headingley
• Only T20I - September 7, Edgbaston
• *Venue to be confirmed after final facility inspection

 

New Zealand news

New Zealand news

India's NZ tour advanced to January

India will tour New Zealand for a month in mid-January for five ODIs and two Tests, with the first one-dayer to be played on January 19 and the second Test ending on February 18. New Zealand Cricket's release came a day after the BCCI's working committee approved the tour. The announcement increased the uncertainty surrounding India's South Africa tour in November, the itinerary of which is yet to be finalised.

The New Zealand tour was scheduled to begin in early February, according to the ICC Future Tours Programme, but will now start around two to three weeks earlier, eating into the time allotted for the South Africa tour. In fact, according to the itinerary announced by Cricket South Africa in July, and objected to by the BCCI, the third and final Test in Johannesburg was to end on January 19, the day on which India will now be thousands of miles away commencing their New Zealand sojourn.

The make-up of the South Africa trip had already been put in doubt after it was left out of a list of upcoming series announced by the BCCI a day ago, which included a freshly-planned home Test series against West Indies in November.

West Indies will then will travel to New Zealand after playing in the subcontinent, for a series that starts on December 3 and ends on January 15, four days before the home team's first game against India.

David White, New Zealand Cricket's chief executive, said he was unaware about the itinerary of India's tour of South Africa but added that NZC had finalised the dates only after discussions with the BCCI. White did not want to speculate on why the BCCI's release on Sunday had not included the dates but confirmed both boards had worked together on the final itinerary. "Those dates have been signed off with the BCCI. We had been in discussions just before the (BCCI) working committee meeting and worked through the dates and that was ratified at the meeting," White told ESPNcricinfo.

He was understandably pleased about the prospects of a tour that is likely to be a money-spinner for his board. "It's brilliant that the Black Caps will be playing five ODIs against the world's top one-day side given the proximity of the World Cup in 2015," White said. While the boards have stuck to the five ODIs as laid out in the FTP, the originally scheduled three Tests have been cut down to two, while the Twenty20 international has been done away with. The venues will be confirmed in a week or so, NZC said.

India last toured New Zealand from February to April 2009 for a longer trip consisting of two T20s followed by five ODIs and ending with three Tests. While New Zealand won both T20s, India took the ODIs 3-1 and the Tests 1-0.

India in New Zealand 2014

• 1st ODI - January 19
• 2nd ODI - January 22
• 3rd ODI - January 25
• 4th ODI - January 28
• 5th ODI - January 31
• Warm-up match - February 2-3
• 1st Test - February 6-10
• 2nd Test - February 14-18

 

Zimbabwe v Pakistan, 1st Test, Harare, 2nd day

Zimbabwe v Pakistan, 1st Test, Harare, 2nd day

Zimbabwe batsmen balance aggression with patience

Zimbabwe's batsmen have lacked staying power in the past. Their middle order reversed that trend and their handling of the spinners showed improvement

The first ball Malcolm Waller faced was a standard Saeed Ajmal offbreak. It turned, but not so much that he was surprised by it. In fact, Waller seemed perfectly prepared.

Waller moved to the ball, as though he had waited for it the whole day. He drove it through the covers with the placement and timing of someone who had replayed doing that in their mind multiple times. It pierced the gap and sailed to the boundary as though traveling on a silk sheet while Waller admired it from the crease. There weren't many others at the ground but those who were would have agreed: that was a superb stroke.

Zimbabwean batsmen have been known to bring out similar stunners in the past, some of which made an appearance in this innings. Vusi Sibanda's pull, which he managed to keep under wraps until a Rahat Ali delivery was short enough, and his off-drive were two examples. Tino Mawoyo's pushes down the ground which appear effortless as they beat the non-striker were another.

Even Hamilton Masakadza's block was beautiful because it was strong. But that shot from Waller was different. It symbolised something other than the ability to produce an eye-catching stroke on occasion. Because he did it again and again as the day went on, it illustrated progress.

Zimbabwe's batsmen have lacked staying power in the past, especially in their middle order, so to have a fourth-wicket stand worth 127 and No.4 and 5 in the batting line-up end the day as the top-scorers showed improvement. To have them handle spinners with such ease demonstrated their development even further.

Just six months ago, albeit in more spinner-friendly conditions, Shane Shillingford and Marlon Samuels reduced their batting to what can only be called the remains of an international line-up. Today, they dealt with Ajmal and Abdur Rehman with confidence and poise, enough to be able to have stacked two good days of Test cricket together.

The resistance began much earlier, when Zimbabwe's openers stood firm against an assault from Pakistan's openers. Junaid Khan and Rahat produced exceptional first spells. They both found movement - Junaid swinging it away from the right-handers and Rahat curling it in - and both kept Zimbabwe on their toes.

Mawoyo had an lbw appeal against him with the first delivery of the innings but it had pitched outside leg. Rahat cut through Sibanda with one that hit the top of the pad and went over the stumps in the second over. Every ball seemed to do something, whether it bounced or swung.

After a few tense deliveries, one of them would overpitch and runs would come. Then, it was back to the uncertainty. Sibanda had a few inner battles to fight as he contemplated whether to play the ball or not. Both had to judge the extra bounce, take a gamble on whether the swing would become too dangerous and then decide to leave or not. If they got bat on ball, then they could begin hoping there was enough time to complete a quick run.

Having not played competitive cricket for six months, it did not take too long for Mawoyo to judge one incorrectly, but the 40 minutes he spent at the crease used up time, which was important for those who followed. Masakadza did a similar thing. He demonstrated patience and temperament Zimbabwe have lacked in the recent past and began to see off the first of the spinners with Sibanda.

Rehman did not pose much of a threat. When he tossed it up, the batsmen responded but they were willing to bide their time against anything else. The same applied to Ajmal when he came on, although Masakadza gave him a sign that it was not going to be hard work for him when he launched him over the clubhouse for six in his first over.

With little assistance from the surface, Ajmal had to rely purely on his own skill. He turned a few and he remained deceptive - Masakadza was out playing for a doosra when it was in fact the offbreak - and that was where it could have gone wrong for Zimbabwe. The two old hands, Sibanda and Masakdaza were out off consecutive deliveries and the stage for a collapse was set. Waller's push for four showed Zimbabwe's intent to reverse that trend and the rest of his innings and his partnership with Sikandar Raza rubber-stamped that.

After that shot, they went 12 balls without scoring. Patience, they knew, would be important. But when Junaid went too wide or bowled a full toss, Waller punished him because some show of aggression was important too.

Finding the balance between the two was what Waller indicated was Zimbabwe's biggest challenge. "Previously when we've gone out there and maybe because we don't play a lot of Test cricket, guys are in a hurry," Waller said. "But in this match, most guys are very clear about what they need to do and they know their roles. We've got simple plans and we're trying to stick to them. We're also not as attacking as we used to be."

Waller and Raza took the risk out of their game by only playing shots they were confident of pulling off. The sweep was one of them and Waller used it at will. He was able to play it so often and so successfully, he said, because he had learned to read Ajmal, despite him remaining difficult to face. "I tried to concentrate and watch the ball as closely as I could. I found that I was playing it a lot off the pitch and not from the hand but he was tricky, as he has been most of the other times I have faced him," Waller said.

While Waller scored quickly, Raza hung on and he only quickened up once he was more comfortable. He was rewarded with a fifty on Test debut and when he was dismissed, Zimbabwe were only 37 behind the Pakistan total. So weak has their middle-order been in the recent past that even in that situation, it remained a possibility that Zimbabwe would be bowled out without passing Pakistan's score. That they managed to take a lead represented a different mindset from Zimbabwe. They need to show more such commitment to grow in the elite form of the game.

India news

India news

Gambhir returns to India from Essex

Gautam Gambhir has cut short his maiden stint in English county cricket with Essex to return to India for "family reasons", according to a statement released by Essex Cricket. Ignored by the national selectors for a while, Gambhir had signed up with the county in August.

"Gautam Gambhir returned to his native India on Sunday for family reasons," the Essex statement said. "At this stage Essex Cricket and Gautam are unable to make any further comment. Essex Cricket is fully supportive of Gautam and very much hope that he will return to Essex before the end of the 2013 English domestic season."

Gambhir had an underwhelming start with Essex but followed up scores of 31, 21, 2 and 0 with a second-innings hundred on August 30 against Gloucestershirein a drawn match in Bristol.

The short stint with Essex was Gambhir's first outing since the IPL in May. He was not part of the India side for the Champions Trophy, the tri-series in the West Indies and the ODI tour of Zimbabwe. His last game for his country was the final ODI against England at home in Dharamsala in January. He was recalled to the national side for the final Test against Australia in Delhi in March, before missing out after coming down with jaundice.

 

Statistics Cricket

Statistics

Number Crunching

2Ajantha Mendis and Umar Gul have taken two five-wicket hauls, the most by bowlers in T20 Internationals. Umar Gul, and Saeed Ajmal, have taken four four-wicket hauls in T20I, which is also the most by a bowler. Click here for a list of bowlers who have taken five-wicket hauls in T20Is.

 

September 5 down the years

September 5 down the years

First-class giant, Test Lilliputian

Ramps is born, Sir Garry makes a duck

 

1969
Birth of Mark Ramprakash, whose 133 against Australia at The Oval in 2001 suggested that he might be about to translate his talent into figures. But sadly it didn't happen and he was dropped yet again after the tour to New Zealand. His first "breakthrough" innings - a brilliant 154 in Bridgetown in 1997-98 - also proved to be a false dawn. He seemed to be made of the right stuff in his debut series, against West Indies in 1991. He flourished on the county circuit, averaging over 100 in both the 2006 and 2007 seasons, and joined the exclusive club of players to have scored a hundred hundreds, in 2008. He retired in 2012, after 25 years of first-class cricket.

1973
The great Garry Sobers scored 8032 runs in Tests - 8032 more than he made in one-day internationals. In his only match of that type - West Indies' first ODI - at Headingley in 1973, he was caught at the wicket off Chris Old for a duck. Sobers did manage one ODI victim, but West Indies lost by one wicket.

1826
Birth of a small but decidedly dangerous round-arm bowler. Playing for the North against the South in 1850, he bowled all 10 batsmen in an innings. That would have been enough of a claim to fame for anyone, but in 1864 he published a book that went on to become cricket's most famous annual. John Wisden'sAlmanack has appeared every year since 1864.

1909
A brilliant batsman was born; one who died young. Archie Jackson was only 19 when scored 164 on his debut for Australia, against England in Adelaide in 1928-29. It was his only Test hundred but he averaged 47.40 in his eight matches before tuberculosis took hold. He was still only 23 when he died in 1933, on the day Australia lost the Ashes to Jardine's Bodyline team.

1976
The most exciting day in Sunday League history. On the last day of the season, five counties were in with a shout of winning the title. The leaders, Somerset, who had yet to win a major trophy, chased Glamorgan's 191 for 7 in Cardiff. Needing three runs off the last ball to tie and lift the trophy, Somerset fell agonisingly short. Colin Dredge was run out by inches and Kent took the title. Somerset consoled themselves by winning it two years later.

1971
Birth of Surrey's captain when they won the County Championship in 1999 and 2000. When Adam Hollioakeplayed in his first Test for England, against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1997, his younger brother Ben was also making his debut. They were the first brothers to bowl in the same Test for England (at one point they were bowling at the Waugh twins). Although Adam averaged only 10.83 in his four Tests, he captained England when they won the Champions Trophy in Sharjah in 1997-98, and might have led them in the 1999 World Cup if Alec Stewart hadn't been picked.

1970
Birth of the first Bangladesh bowler to take 100 Test wickets. Mohammad Rafique, a left-arm spinner, was also the first from his country to achieve the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in both Tests and ODIs, and he played in their inaugural Test too. In 2003 he took his best figures of 6 for 77, against South Africa. He played in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups - taking three wickets in the famous win over India in Port-of-Spain, and reluctantly announced his retirement in 2008 after he was not picked in the one-day side.

1986
Birth of another subcontinental left-arm spinner, this time from India. Pragyan Ojha's one-day career began haltingly, but in Tests he soon established himself as the team's second spinner - first pairing up with Harbhajan Singh and then with R Ashwin. Ojha took nine wickets in his debut series, against Sri Lanka in 2009-10, and nine more when Australia toured next year. Though Ashwin stole the spotlight against West Indies in Delhi in 2011, with nine wickets, Ojha wasn't far behind with seven.

1972
Birth of Zimbabwe allrounder Guy Whittall, who made a number of big not-out scores in Test cricket, including 113 against Pakistan in Harare in 1994-95, and two against New Zealand: 203 in Bulawayo in 1997-98 and 188 in Harare in 2000-01. In another Test of that 1997-98 series, Zimbabwe created a Test first by fielding three sets of brothers (Andy and Grant Flower, Gavin and John Rennie, and Bryan and Paul Strang). Whittall also played - and his cousin Andy was 12th man.

1947
Birth of that rare breed, an Australian offspinner who took 100 Test wickets. Bruce Yardley finished with 126 wickets in 33 matches and was particularly successful in the early 1980s, especially at home. In 1981-82 he took seven-fors against West Indies and Pakistan, including his Test-best 7 for 98 against West Indies inSydney. He and Bruce Reid are the only two bowlers to take 100 wickets for Australia without playing a Test in England.

1974
One of the most ineffective bowlers in Test history was born. In his first three Tests for West Indies, legspinner Rawl Lewis bowled 97.3 overs. Of those 585 balls, only one brought him a wicket, of South Africa's wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, caught by Brian Lara in Johannesburg in 1998-99. At that point in his career Lewis averaged 318 for his solitary wicket, but he managed to reduce that figure to 114 after two more chances at the highest level.

1927
Birth of South African batsman Colin "Tich" Wesley, who didn't have a particularly distinguished first-class career, scoring only two centuries in his nine seasons. His international career was even worse: in his only Test series, in England in 1960, his highest score was 35 and he averaged only 9.80. He gets in the record books (and on this page) for the rare feat of suffering a king pair in a Test match. Brian Statham dismissed him twice for 0 for at Trent Bridge.

1966
A century comes to an end. Edward Aspey English was once the longest-lived first-class cricketer. He played 18 matches for Hampshire from 1898 to 1901 and died today at the age of 102 years and 247 days.

Other birthdays
1867 John Cottam (Australia)
1910 Phiroze Palia (India) 
1912 Derrick de Saram (Sri Lanka)
1923 Ken Meuleman (Australia) 
1931 William Bell (New Zealand) 
1954 Richard Austin (West Indies) 
1967 Saibh Young (Ireland)
1978 Sylvester Joseph (West Indies)

 

India in South Africa 2013-14

India in South Africa 2013-14

'Would be nice if Lorgat apologises' - Dalmiya

 

More than six weeks after Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat offered to "apologise" to anyone who he had offended in the BCCI, Jagmohan Dalmiya, the interim BCCI chief, has welcomed Lorgat's offer.

"Lorgat is a nice gentleman but it would be nice of him if he apologises," Dalmiya said in Kolkata, when asked about his reaction to Lorgat's offer that was made immediately after he was appointed the CSA chief executive despite the BCCI raising its objections.

While this may appear as softening of the BCCI's stand with Lorgat, the deadlock over the BCCI going to trim what was till a few days ago a tour of three Tests, seven ODIs and two Twenty20s, prevailed for another day.

While Dalmiya reiterated what the BCCI president N Srinivasan had said three days ago that "the tour is on", there was no formal exchange between representatives of the two boards. Even though Srinivasan, board secretary Sanjay Patel and treasurer Ravi Savant were together for most of the day along with other key executives at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, it was understood that the South Africa tour itinerary "wasn't even mentioned" in their discussions.

"The sole purpose of the meeting was to proof read and sign the annual report before it goes for printing ahead of the AGM," said an insider who was a part of the proceedings.

Across the continent, CSA indicated it would send out a release on Wednesday afternoon to reassure the fans and thank them for their support, but later said they would "try for tomorrow". Officials contacted at various franchises said they had no knowledge of any progress on the BCCI-CSA issue and were awaiting further instructions, although many of them expressed concern over a curtailed tour. 

It appears that unless CSA accedes to the cricket bosses in India, the situation is unlikely to change. At least till the BCCI AGM on September 29.

Zimbabwe v Pakistan, 1st Test, Harare, 2nd day

Zimbabwe v Pakistan, 1st Test, Harare, 2nd day

Ajmal strikes but Zimbabwe take lead

 

Even after the strong showing of their bowlers on the first day in Harare, doubts persisted over whether Zimbabwe would pose a challenge, given the fragility of their Test batting, especially in the absence of Brendan Taylor, and the quality Pakistan's attack. Those concerns were heightened soon after lunch, when both the set batsmen Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza were dismissed off consecutive deliveries.

However Malcolm Waller, who found form over the past week after a miserable series against India, and the debutant Sikandar Raza underlined Zimbabwe's ability to stand up to the bigger teams with a 127-run partnership for the fourth wicket that put the hosts on course for the lead. They were ahead by 32 at stumps, and will probably need a few more considering they have to bat last in the game, when Saeed Ajmal's bag of tricks will prove a handful.

For the second day in a row, Ajmal did his bit to keep Pakistan from falling too far back in the game. On Tuesday, his unbeaten 49 had rescued Pakistan from 182 for 8, and today, after being dismissed first ball in the morning, he snared four wickets to keep Zimbabwe's lead from getting out of hand. Still, there can be no doubts over which of the two sides will be happier at this stage of the Test - Zimbabwe's stand-in captain Masakadza sported a huge grin and even tried out a couple of dance moves as he watched the final overs of the day.

The only time Pakistan looked like they could take control of the game was early in the second session, when Zimbabwe slipped to 68 for 3. Junaid Khan, the pace spearhead, was rewarded for a probing over in which he tweaked his line and length till he got it perfect on the final delivery, inducing Sibanda to nick to the keeper. Off the next ball, Ajmal fired in a straighter one and Masakadza was bowled as he played for the offspin.

Raza was playing his first Test and Waller hadn't scored a half-century in any format since his 55 at the start of the Bangladesh series in April. With the wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami not being a recognised batsman, the lower order didn't inspire too much confidence.

Waller, though, wasn't cowed by the situation, showing his confidence by hitting his first ball for four, a cover drive off Ajmal. That shot made a frequent appearance as Waller sprinted to 33 off 30 balls, with seven boundaries. In what had been a low-scoring game, that burst of run making shifted the pressure back on Pakistan, and made it easier for Raza to settle. Waller batted with an open stance and regularly cashed in on the width offered, slapping the ball past point, bringing up his half-century with one of those shots.

Raza was more cautious early on, but swiftly grew in confidence. He was assured while using his feet against the spinners, and after having spent an hour in the middle, he was bold enough to charge out and launch Abdur Rehman over his head for four. He also employed the sweep shot, and Pakistan's challenge began to fade around tea. In 10 overs either side of the session, Waller and Raza picked off 54 runs, and Zimbabwe were clearly on top.

That was the cue for Ajmal to produce another of his moments of magic, getting Waller to edge to slips. Raza then slammed a catch to midwicket, leaving Pakistan with an outside chance of taking the lead. Elton Chigumbura, however, has been a regular source of runs lower down the order, and once again he delivered, ending the day unbeaten on 40 to put Zimbabwe well ahead.

The lower-order resistance mirrored the resolve shown by the top order before lunch. Pakistan's quicks, Junaid and Rahat Ali, produced a number of testing deliveries but couldn't maintain a consistent line, though Junaid ended Tino Mawoyo's comeback innings ended on 13.

The other opener, Sibanda, had a difficult time early on, particularly against Rahat, and was struck on the forearm and later just above the waist. He played some graceful strokes as well when the bowlers erred, the highlights being effortless off-drives down the ground. When Rahat lost his line and length in the 19th over, Sibanda took him for three fours. Keeping him company was Masakadza, who launched a six onto the sightscreen in Ajmal's first over.

Zimbabwe then had their post-lunch wobble but showed enough spine to finish the day as frontrunners.

Pakistan in Zimbabwe 2013

Pakistan in Zimbabwe 2013

Cost-saving forces change of venue for second Test

 

Zimbabwe Cricket have implemented drastic cost-saving measures, including playing the second Test against Pakistan in Harare instead of travelling to Bulawayo, to ensure the remainder of the series goes ahead as planned. Other measures could include ensuring the players are paid this week, as agreed, but it will likely be at the expense of administration staff.

Sources revealed the second Test, due to start next Tuesday, was "99% confirmed," for Harare Sports Club on Tuesday evening and that the groundstaff and match referee all agreed to that. But the switch was announced over the loudspeaker at Harare Sports Club, where the first Test was being played, to loud cheers. The official reason given was that Queens Club was "not in a condition to host the Test". That means the entire Pakistan series, consisting of two Twenty20s, three ODIs and two Tests will be staged on the same ground and ZC would save close to US$50,000 on travel costs and hotel fees in the process.

Most of the Zimbabwe players are based in Harare, which would mean they could continue to stay at home, rather than in paid accommodation in Bulawayo. The money required to drive them and the television crew down would also be saved.

"We enjoy playing here in Harare. The conditions are good for both the batsmen and the bowlers. It's a good move and the guys are happy," batsman Malcolm Waller said after the second day's play of the first Test.

The only loser in such a situation would be Bulawayo's Queens Club, which has not seen a Test match since 2011, when New Zealand beat Zimbabwe there. The country has hosted three Tests since then, including the current one against Pakistan, all at the Harare Sports Club. Bulawayo has recently made attempts to create a more lively pitch, relaying the clay on three surfaces on the square but they will have to wait, perhaps until next year to try them out.

Zimbabwe's other proposed incoming tour was the one by Sri Lanka next month, comprising two Tests, three ODIs and two Twenty20s, but ZC have requested this be postponed. Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed they received an email from ZC citing "unavoidable circumstances" have led to them seeking alternative dates for the series. ESPNcricinfo has since learned ZC are considering proposing a shortened tour of only five T20s to Sri Lanka but the SLC have not had communication to that effect.

Zimbabwe's ability to host more international cricket in 2013 will depend heavily on the cost of organisation. A severe cash-flow problem has affected the union through the year and it seems unlikely to be solved soon. In April, players threatened to strike during the series against Bangladesh because those who were not on central contracts were offered allowances which they deemed unsatisfactory. Since then, the threats have intensified.

Before the Pakistan series, the players formed a union - the first of its kind in a decade - and did not train in protest after not being paid. They gave ZC various ultimatums which put the possibility of the whole tour, then the third ODI and then the Test series at risk. Each time, they agreed to play after ZC promised payment.

Monies have still not been transferred and the players have set another deadline of Friday this week. They are adamant they will boycott the second Test if they do not receive their outstanding dues, which include salaries from July and August and match fees. While ZC have stated publicly that they are in talks with their banker, it has since been established they will struggle to meet the demand.

Their only solution has been to inform staff, apparently in an email, that they will not be paid salaries from August. Any available funds will then be paid to the players. ZC staff contracts expired at the end of August and the body is in negotiations to renew them but has not done so to date. Staff are still working, though, despite the uncertainty.