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A misfiring middle order, a slightly below-par death-overs specialist, and a captain batting out of position may have all contributed to the defending champions’ horror start to the season

Vishal Dikshit27-Apr-2018A few days ago, you could sympathise with Mumbai Indians because they were putting in the performances but narrowly missing out on results. Before their last match, they had lost four out of five games; all four in the last over while defending targets, and two by one wicket.On Tuesday against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai had no one to blame but themselves. Chasing 119, they collapsed to their lowest-ever IPL total of 87 on a fresh Wankhede pitch against an attack that was without Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Billy Stanlake.What has gone wrong for them? Here are a few factors that have combined to put Mumbai Indians at the bottom of the table.ESPNcricinfo LtdMiddle-order woesMumbai’s strength during last year’s winning campaign has turned into their weakness. The personnel has remained similar, after an auction in which they attempted to retain the core of the Pandya brothers and Kieron Pollard, but that core has not fired.Mumbai’s think-tank also decided to open with Suryakumar Yadav after their first two losses, so that Rohit Sharma could add stability to the middle order. Even though Suryakumar has adapted well, the lack of runs from the Pandyas and Pollard has hurt Mumbai.In each of their six matches so far, at least one of their top-order batsmen – Evin Lewis, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar – has given them a start. The hole in the middle order was exposed the most against Delhi Daredevils, when all of their top fired to power Mumbai to 141 for 2 in 13 overs. From there, they unravelled in the attempt to accelerate and ended on 194 when they were on course for 220.Hardik Pandya’s case is unusual. He started off well in the opening match at No. 5 but has moved down to No. 7 since then, below Krunal Pandya and Pollard. Apart from two unbeaten innings of 22 and 17, he has scored nine runs across three innings while coming out to bat in the last three overs. It could be that bowlers have found out Hardik’s weakness and don’t deliver the ball in his arc anymore. When Mumbai head coach Mahela Jayawardene was asked about this, he didn’t dismiss the possibility.”We knew that there will be people bowling at a different level because we analyse other opposition, we do analyse our guys and we give them information that this is something you look forward to and this is something that we need to work on,” he said. “Every year you can’t bat the same way. If people don’t evolve and improve, there is no progress. Young guys like Hardik will learn that and need to work harder, the talent alone will not get you there. Reading the game and thinking about the game, that’s the part they need to keep learning and especially with international bowlers coming and doing various things, you have to evolve, otherwise you won’t be able to be consistent.”ESPNcricinfo LtdWhere is Pollard?Pollard’s transition from a fixed asset to a non-performing one seems to be happening rapidly this season. He doesn’t bowl in the IPL anymore, he hasn’t won his side a match in times of crisis, and he takes one of the four overseas spots. Apart from the lack of runs, it is also his position that is under scrutiny now. He has been coming out to bat with not much time left in the innings and is striking at 88.23 in his first 10 balls, the fourth-worst of all batsmen to have faced a minimum of 30 balls this season. Will Mumbai now look to move him up the order or will they drop him altogether?ESPNcricinfo LtdBumrah’s 19th-over horrorsJasprit Bumrah has made such a reputation for himself in the death overs that even a small drop-off in his performance leads you to wonder what’s wrong with him. He has bowled well mostly – his Smart Economy Rate this season is 6.36 – but a couple of poor 19th overs have cost Mumbai games they might otherwise have won.The first time was when Chennai Super Kings needed 27 from 12 balls and Bumrah started the penultimate over. He attempted to bowl the yorker four times in the first five balls and got only one of them right. The other three went for sixes off Dwayne Bravo’s bat. Bumrah got him out off the sixth ball, but only after his over had gone for 20.That being the tournament opener, it is possible his confidence took a hit. Against Rajasthan Royals, Bumrah bowled a superb 17th over, varying his pace beautifully to pick up two wickets, and only conceding one run. When the 19th over began, Royals needed 28. Bumrah bowled short and wide twice, to Jofra Archer and K Gowtham, who both slapped him for four, overstepped on one occasion, and failed to nail his yorker even once. He leaked 18 in the over and Mumbai suffered close defeat.ESPNcricinfo LtdIs Rohit batting in the right position?Rohit Sharma clarified after his 94 against Royal Challengers Bangalore that he would continue in the middle order to allow Suryakumar and Kishan to flourish at the top. Rohit may have been batting at No. 4 on that particular day, but he walked out in the first over, with Mumbai 0 for 2, effectively opening the innings – which is where he bats for India.Opening works for Rohit because he is at his best when he has time to get his eye in, and time is a luxury in T20 cricket. In all T20s since 2015, he has a first-10-balls strike rate of 117.6, with a dot-ball percentage of nearly 50 in that time. If he opens for Mumbai, he can afford to go slow early on, since he will have Lewis or Kishan to do the early hitting at the other end. Once he’s set, Rohit is capable of murderous acceleration: once he has faced 30 balls, he strikes at 177.3. That was exactly the case against Royal Challengers; he was on 40 off 30 after 14 overs, and then launched into the quick bowlers to score 54 runs off his next 22 balls.As captain, Rohit might be thinking long-term by promoting Suryakumar and Kishan up the order. But given the situation Mumbai are in, he will have to prioritise immediate results over developing younger players. And for that, moving back up to open might not be a bad idea.

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Oct-2016Dhananjaya de Silva got three boundaries away, but he could not kick on; he was out for 25, caught off Graeme Cremer•Associated PressAsela Gunaratne, batting on Test debut, hung around longer•AFPHe managed to mark his maiden Test innings with a fifty•Associated PressTharanga, holding firm at the other end, got to a second Test hundred just after tea•AFPCarl Mumba dismissed Rangana Herath with a short ball for his maiden Test wicket•AFPEventually, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 537 in the final session. The Captain Cremer topped the bowling figures for Zimbabwe, taking 4 for 142•Associated PressIn reply, Zimbabwe lost opener Brian Chari early but Tino Mawoyo and Hamilton Masakadza went to stumps unscathed as the hosts ended at 88 for 1•AFP

ESPNcricinfo staff10-May-2015Brendon McCullum kept his calm and played out a few quiet overs before stepping on the throttle•BCCIThough McCullum was clearly feeling the heat and humidity of Chennai, he didn’t hold back on his favourite shot – the paddle sweep – to bring up his fifty off 44 deliveries•PTI Faf du Plessis and McCullum put on 101 for the third wicket as Super Kings eyed a late surge•PTI The partnership ended with du Plessis being run out for 29 by Shane Watson in the 17th over•BCCIMS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo added 28 in 15 balls to help Super Kings finish on 157 for 5•PTI Chris Morris was the pick of the Rajasthan Royals’ bowlers with figures of 4-0-19-3•BCCIRoyals’ lost Ajinkya Rahane in the sixth over while Watson kept dealing in singles and doubles•BCCIBut just when he looked to up the ante and lined up a straight six…•BCCIBravo plucked the ball out of mid-air and sent the fans at the MA Chidambaram stadium into delirium•BCCISuper Kings applied the squeeze through the middle overs via their left-arm spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Pawan Negi. Jadeja ended with figures of 4-0-11-4•PTI The incoming Royals batsmen perished trying to play the big shots and eventually ended up 12 runs short•PTI

Plays of the day from the first day of the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Abu Dhabi

Firdose Moonda in Abu Dhabi14-Oct-2013The birthday gift
Shan Masood received a present anyone would want on their birthday – a first Test cap. As the more junior of Pakistan’s two debutants – Masood is a decade younger than Zulfiqur Babar – he was stationed at short leg. He, however, was soon called into action soon when Alviro Petersen was surprised by the extra bounce generated by Mohammad Irfan. Masood juggled the offering initially before holding on to a second take. It look a lengthy referral to adjudge whether the catch had been taken clearly, and once that was confirmed, Petersen was sent on his way. It provided a birthday gift the youngster would not forget in a hurry.The no-ball
A man the size of Irfan is bound to be too big for some things, and his oversized feet are occasionally guilty of creeping over the line. After lunch, the frequency of the error became greater, but umpire Paul Reiffel did not seem to take notice. Television cameras caught Irfan overstepping at least three times before Reiffel spotted one himself. As he held his arm out to signal the no-ball, Graeme Smith stood up to applaud sarcastically, a display the broadcasters were quick to capture.The blunder
The searing heat in the post-lunch session may have made some people dozy, but not Younis Khan and Adnan Akmal. AB de Villiers strode forward to defend a Babar delivery but inside-edged on to his pad, and the ball ended up rolling to first slip. He thought that was the end of things for the moment and held his pose, leaving his back foot on the crease. Akmal, however, was quick to notice the indiscretion and signalled to Younis to return the ball to him. Younis did, and Akmal stealthily took off the bails. Replays showed de Villiers’ foot was on the line, and he was sent packing to give Pakistan a timely breakthrough.The catch that wasn’t
Dale Steyn may not have fancied a bowl late in the day, but he also did not want to hang around without contributing with the bat. He took a liking to Babar, and after defending one ball that was tossed up, waltzed down the pitch to loft the next inside-out and down the ground. When Steyn hit it, he seemed to have top-edged it to long-off, but the ball went high and long, just carrying over the rope for six. He tried it again three balls later, and this time Khurram Manzoor got his hands to it, but when he realised the shot would carry the ball over the boundary with his momentum, Manzoor was able to release the ball back onto the field in the nick of time.

Plays of the Day from the third day of the Galle Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan

Kanishkaa Balachandran in Galle24-Jun-2012Akmal lashes out
Pakistan might have been at the wrong end of an umpiring error or two in the morning session, but there was one wicket they couldn’t blame on external factors. Adnan Akmal swept to fine leg, ran hard for the first run and then called for the second and set off, but his partner Mohammad Ayub wasn’t so sure. Ayub obliged rather late but hesitated and then headed back to his crease. By then it was too late for Akmal to head back as he was already more than halfway down. A peeved Akmal gestured to Ayub and gave him an earful as he walked back. The stump microphones picked up: My call, my call, I said ‘yes’. Not the warmest welcome to Test cricket for Ayub.No-DRS moment of the day I
If Pakistan thought they had seen the worst of the umpiring on the second evening, they were mistaken. A struggling Younis Khan was trying to play himself into form and resurrect the innings. His knock was cut short when he faced Rangana Herath. The flighted delivery drew him forward, the ball went straight through but Younis played for the turn, and the umpire failed to notice an inside edge onto the pads and gave him lbw. A stunned Younis stood his ground for a few seconds, but the decision was made. Pakistan had lost their most experienced batsman. Just another argument in favour of the DRS.No-DRS moment of the day II
This one went against Pakistan in the field. With Tillakaratne Dilshan racing away at nearly a run-a-ball, and the lead swelling, Pakistan were finding it hard to contain the hosts. Saeed Ajmal tossed one up from round the wicket, down the leg side and Dilshan, attemping to sweep fine, got a glove to it. Akmal and Ajmal knew they had had him, but the umpire wasn’t so sure. The following ball, Dilshan added further insult to injury by glancing it to third man for four. The coach Dav Whatmore took off his cap in frustration, Ajmal kicked the turf in disgust and Mohammad Hafeez came over and put an arm on his shoulder.Akmal rides piggyback
It was a day of contrasting moods for Akmal. When Thilan Samaraweera slashed Junaid Khan towards slip, the ball dipped to Younis’ left, where he took a sharp low catch. Akmal too could have gone for it but he wisely left it for the experienced Younis. Akmal went out of his way to extend his gratitude by clambering onto the prone Younis’ back – he refused to budge even after Younis had got to his feet and started walking. His mood a world apart from the morning then, when he lashed out at Ayub.

Between the foreword, written by pets, and the afterword, written by a two-year-old, lies an honest, funny and fascinating account of life as England cricketer

Andrew Miller20-Jun-2009

Mark my words, Matthew Hoggard will never play for England again. He will no doubt be mentioned in dispatches when the Ashes injuries begin to stack up this summer, and the Barmy Army will sing hymns of praise if his gurning mug appears on the giant screen midway through the Headingley Test. But England’s sixth most successful wicket-taker of all time is already ancient history, thanks in no small part to this wonderful, honest and characteristically unhinged autobiography.”A suicide note to rank alongside Labour’s 1983 manifesto” was how Mike Atherton described , which is some achievement for a book that opens with a foreword (actually a paw-word) from Hoggard’s dogs, Billy and Mollie, and closes with a postscript from his two-year- old son, Ernie. But in between the doodles and digressions, and cutting through an (at times contrived) air of silliness, this is a painful but laugh-out-loud sign-off from one of the most popular England cricketers of recent times.The book’s style is utterly puerile at times, littered with block capitals, quadruple exclamation marks and all manner of devices to make his detractors harrumph, and by referring to the press pack as a “cunch of bunts” he has probably diddled himself out of several favourable reviews. But Hoggard has come up with an autobiography in the fullest and frankest sense. It is often felt that he cultivated an air of mild lunacy to mask his insecurities, but he clearly missed nothing in his near-decade as an England player. To the delight of his fans but the chagrin of his former employers he has collected a massive pile of dirty laundry and is happy to parade it just as his Yorkshire team-mates used to do with the Y-fronts of the second-team coach.The grubbiest underpants on show are those belonging to the England and Wales Cricket Board, whose methods and man-management are held up for ridicule in almost every chapter. In many ways Hoggard’s gripes are ungracious, considering he was one of the earliest beneficiaries of the central contract system that transformed the livelihoods of England’s players. Then again, the brutality of his axing in Wellington and subsequent banishment from the national set-up, coming at a time of intense personal stress, makes his indignation entirely righteous.No doubt emboldened by Marcus Trescothick’s candour in his own book last summer, Hoggard is not afraid to tackle the dark side of England life. The chapters co-written with his wife Sarah, addressing their struggles to conceive and the descent into post-natal depression that turned that last tour of New Zealand into a living nightmare, are poignant and brave. But whereas Trescothick’s tale was groundbreaking yet bleak, humour remains Hoggard’s default setting. His book is the more readable thanks to that essential levity.At any rate those newsworthy chapters come late in the proceedings, by which stage the tale has all but written itself thanks to a single relationship that creates enough friction to carry the entire narrative. Perhaps uniquely among those players who thrived in the England “bubble” Hoggard’s relationship with Duncan Fletcher was never better than suspicious: he felt, with some justification, that the coach never rated him, and as he dryly notes in his chapter on the 2005 Ashes, it could so easily have been James Kirtley making up the famous “Awesome Foursome”.Without such a powerful figure in his corner it is little wonder that Hoggard could not be persuaded to buy into the wider team ethic. But conformity’s loss is literature’s gain. From first chapter to last he goes triumphantly off message, not least on the subject of diet and fitness, in which he sounds like the reincarnation of Fred Trueman as he concludes a rollicking diatribe with the declaration: “Fast bowlers do not eat salad!” (although even Trueman might have stopped short of advocating Roast Chicken Monster Munch as the ideal energy food).If at times it feels as if he is playing to the gallery, clowning around for the Barmy Army on a tedious final day in Galle, then the only response is “Hoggy is a monkey, tra-la-la-la!” This book will surely prove to be the vehicle that has whisked him into the sporting afterlife, but at least he has chosen to travel in style.Hoggy: Welcome to My World
by Matthew Hoggard
HarperSport, hb, 352pp,
£18.99

Sophia Dunkley helps seal last-over win after stuttering batting display by reigning champions

ECB Reporters Network20-Apr-2024Tash Farrant made a fairytale return to cricket as South East Stars beat reigning champions Southern Vipers by four wickets in a thriller on the opening day of the 2024 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Beckenham.England star Farrant, after missing almost two years of cricket with stress fractures of the back, struck a career-best 94, sharing a stand of 165 with skipper Bryony Smith – a record for any wicket for Stars – as the hosts got home with three balls to spare.Australian Charli Knott kept Vipers in it until the final over with a tidy spell of 2 for 35, but England batter Sophia Dunkley’s composed unbeaten 48 saw Stars home amid rising tension.Earlier, Freya Kemp, a day short of her 19th birthday made a maiden List A 50 with Georgia Elwiss 44 and Knott 41 propelling the visitors to a competitive total, Ryana MacDonald-Gay returning figures of 3 for 46.Ella McCaughan and Knott survived some early fishing outside off stump to post an 80-run opening stand after Vipers were put in. Knott impressively drove MacDonald-Gay for successive fours, one square of the wicket and another straight. However, Macdonald-Gay would have her revenge, thanks to a stunning catch by Phoebe Franklin, diving full length to grab a ball dropping over her shoulder.McCaughan soon followed, trapped lbw by Danielle Gregory, but it proved the high point for the Stars spinner, later banished from the attack for a second head-high full toss, the first despatched by Vipers’ skipper Georgia Adams for the day’s first six.Adams became the first of two lbw victims for slow left-armer Bethan Miles just as she looked set to dominate but the visitors were well placed at 190 for 3 with 13 overs remaining. Miles though struck again, ending Elwiss’ polished innings after which wickets fell at regular intervals, Dunkley picking up two with her legbreaks.That Vipers posted 273 was down to Kemp, mixing aggression with good running to reach 50 at better than a run a ball. Alice Monaghan also hoisted MacDonald-Gay for a huge six before falling to another wonderful catch from wicketkeeper Chloe Hill.Farrant was promoted to open with skipper Smith and gave the hosts early impetus with five boundaries in the powerplay. Smith then clicked through the gears, taking two fours in an over off Mary Taylor.Farrant won the race to 50 from 56 balls while Smith took 13 balls longer, before upping the pace, drilling Linsey Smith for two fours in an over to take Stars to 131 for 0 at the halfway mark.History was made when the stand reached 156, eclipsing the 154 posted by Dunkley and Alice-Davidson Richards against Western Storm at The Oval in 2021 before the fun ended when Linsey Smith struck Adams into the hands of Monaghan at cover.Knott quickly removed Paige Scholfield, but Farrant responded by lifting Freya Davies for a straight six as she moved into the 90s. But there would though be no maiden hundred as the excellent Knott struck again to pin the allrounder in front for 94 with 78 needed.As the tension mounted, Adam damaged her left hand failing to cling onto a caught-and-bowled chance offered by Alice Davidson-Richards, but the drop wasn’t costly as the England allrounder was castled by Linsey Smith for just 8.Franklin struck three fours in a rapid 19 before being run out with 14 needed from 15 but Stars got home with a scrambled leg bye in the last over.

Ben Duckett says England “could have easily had five or six [wickets] tonight”

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2023

Ben Stokes made the second-earliest first-innings declaration in Test history on the first day in Mount Maunganui, a decision vindicated when England reduced New Zealand to 37 for 3 under floodlights.England were 325 for 9 after only 58.2 overs when Stokes called time on their innings, a move that his team-mates explained owed to the challenge of facing a new pink ball under lights in a day-night Test.The move was not without precedent: South Africa have twice declared nine-down on the first day of a day-night Test to enable them to bowl under floodlights, against Australia in 2016 and against Zimbabwe in 2017.Related

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“I haven’t played many pink-ball games, but by the looks of it, it’s the hardest time to bat when it’s under lights, and obviously we had the new ball as well,” Harry Brook told talkSPORT. “I think it was a great declaration. To get three wickets there is vital and hopefully we can force a few more early tomorrow.”Speaking at the end-of-day press conference, Brook added: “The best time to bowl is under these lights. You can extract the most amount of swing and seam so why not try and expose their top order to that? It’s the hardest time to bat and we’ve got three of the best bowlers to ever play the game. And thankfully we got three wickets.”It just happened like that, to be honest. There was no plan at dinner to declare. Me and Foakesy [Ben Foakes] were still batting together and if I hadn’t got out, the plan would’ve been the same. But because I got out the plan changed, and Stokesy said if there’re two bowlers in at the same time, give them a couple of overs and we’ll try and utilise the lights.”Ben Duckett, England’s other half-centurion, told talkSPORT: “We knew the conditions under lights tonight were going to suit us with the ball and that was the reason for the declaration.”We could have easily had five or six [wickets] tonight. Stick two on that in the morning and suddenly they’re a long way behind the game and we’re in a very good position.”Wagner – New Zealand ‘expected’ declarationNeil Wagner, who took 4 for 82 and then saw out the day as nightwatch, said that New Zealand had “sort of expected” England to declare.”After that dinner break we thought they might come out a little harder, get to the point where they were really trying to up the ante, score as quick as they can and just get us in there,” he said.”We tried to stem the run rate a little bit and eliminate them getting too far ahead of us. We kept trying to take wickets, which brought it back for us at the back end.”

Federico Chiesa dedicated his dramatic goal in Liverpool's 4-2 victory over Bournemouth on the opening day of the Premier League season to the late Diogo Jota.

Chiesa scores late goal for LiverpoolItaly international pays tribute to JotaLiverpool fans form mosaics before matchFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Powerful tributes were paid before, during and after the game to Jota, 28, who tragically died alongside his brother Andre Silva, 25, in a car accident in the province of Zamora in July.

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With Jota's family in attendance on Friday evening, fans in both the Kop and the Sir Kenny Dalglish stands came together to form huge mosaics which read 'DJ20' and 'AS30'.

WHAT CHIESA SAID

And speaking after scoring Liverpool's third goal on the night he described as "Diogo's day", Chiesa told BBC Sport: "[The goal] was a great moment for me, but my thoughts go to Diogo. I think for what we have seen, it was his day.

"The feeling the fans gave me, chanting his song all the way through the match, it was very emotional, very emotional for me. I have to say that after the goal my thoughts went to his family, his brother Andre. That's the only thing I could say."

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Liverpool, who were initially 2-0 up thanks to efforts from Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo, had their lead snuffed out with a second-half double from Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, before late goals from Chiesa and Mohamed Salah ensured the three points went to Arne Slot's men.

Real Madrid superstar Arda Guler has showed off his insane accuracy as he sunk a cross-court basket with an impressive trick-shot. Los Blancos are yet to properly begin their pre-season training for the upcoming season, and the midfielder has been enjoying some time away in Turkey with his girlfriend Duru Nayman, who is a professional basketball player.

• Guler sinks insane basketball trick shot
• Currently holidaying in Turkey with girlfriend
• Real Madrid return to pre-season this week

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Guler showed Nayman that she is not the only one who knows her way on the basketball court, as the Turkey international sunk a bouncing ball into the net without hitting the backboard. He is known for his precise passing on the football pitch, and he showed that his technique is good enough for any kind of ball.

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  Guler's future at Real Madrid was in doubt heading into the summer, as he had not been receiving much playing time. However, following Luka Modric's departure, it has been reported that Xabi Alonso may stick with Guler as the Croat's replacement.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GULER?

  Real Madrid will begin their pre-season training on Monday, August 4, and will have just 15 days to prepare for the start of the upcoming campaign. They begin their La Liga season at home to Osasuna on August 19, despite their protestations to have the match postponed.