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ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-2015Shai Hope was positive from the very outset and added 60 with Bravo before the opener was stumped off Milinda Siriwardana•AFPRangana Herath then dismissed Denesh Ramdin and Bravo in a space of five balls and went on to extend his series tally to 15 scalps•AFPWest Indies, still searching for their first Test win in Sri Lanka, collapsed to 171. Siriwardana, who took five wickets and scored 110 runs, was named Man of the Match•AFPHerath was adjudged the Man of the Series•AFP

There were nerves in the stands at the Harare Sports Club, there was also dancing and laughter, and for once it ended in a historic win for Zimbabwe, and not in tears

Liam Brickhill in Harare31-Aug-2014They had been beaten, bruised and pushed aside by the South Africans and Australians in the games leading up to today’s encounter. More than once they had put themselves in dominant positions, only to succumb to performance anxiety when the going got too hot. When they slipped to 156 for 7 in pursuit of Australia’s less-than-modest 209, it appeared that the gathered spectators were going to have to witness the drudgery of yet another defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. Not this time.As Elton Chigumbura and Prosper Utseya’s 55-run stand pulled Zimbabwe out of the mire, the buzz of excitement that rippled through the ground filled the atmosphere with almost tangible electricity that snapped and popped with every run added. It’s something that just doesn’t fully translate when viewed via a television screen. You had to be here. Mexican waves circled the ground as a thousands-strong orchestra of voices cycled through all the usual war cries and a rendition of the national anthem that would have given you goosebumps no matter where you are from.With 11 needed from the last four overs, Michael Clarke brought himself on – gammy hamstring and all – for an over-my-dead-body six deliveries, captain to captain. Shuffling in gingerly, Clarke fizzed two balls past the edge of Chigumbura’s bat before the Zimbabwe captain slapped a long-hop through extra cover to take his team past 200 – and to the brink of victory. By the time the equation came down to single figures needed from the final 15 deliveries, there was barely a bum on a seat in the stadium (press box included). There hasn’t been a crowd of this size here since the T20 finals day back in 2010. Every voice willed Zimbabwe closer, and amid the good-willed excitement there were Australians and Zimbabweans dancing arm in arm at Castle Corner.The crowd’s fervour spurred the batsmen on. Utseya has never in his life played such a bolshy innings, easily outscoring his captain and allowing himself a freeze-framed moment in time as he held his shape for the photographers after smiting the winning runs onto the grass beyond deep midwicket.

Crowd getting into it as Zimbabwe edge closer to victory! Thrilling finish coming up… #ZIMvAUS https://t.co/FWzWCq1OAv

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) August 31, 2014

Utseya doesn’t hit many sixes. He’s only managed 16 in 158 ODIs before this one. If he never hits another one, his winning stroke today – crisp, clean and cutting through a hazy spring afternoon – will seal his place in Zimbabwean cricketing folklore. As he played the stroke, a crowd that had been in full voice went totally silent for a split second, perhaps struggling to suspend their disbelief, before roaring their approval in unison. Yes, this is really happening.Before the ball had hit the ground, the Zimbabwean team was already sprinting onto the field to embrace their comrades. Even Steve Mangongo, a man known for his taciturn manner and sometimes abrasive coaching methods, managed a beaming smile and a bear hug for his captain. Utseya insisted he’d be celebrating tonight, while Chigumbura thought it wise to run such an idea past his coach first. One feels that, for all his bluster, Mangongo will allow his players the luxury of a victory beer, though with this tri-series still very much alive they won’t be cutting loose just yet. They could still make the final.The defining image, though, came after the result had been sealed and the beaming cricketers were strolling across the outfield, soaking in elation and relief. Chigumbura’s four-year old son Elroy also wobbled out onto the outfield, throwing his arms around his father’s legs before Hamilton Masakadza jogged to his captain’s side and lifted the young boy up into the blood-orange light of the setting sun, the barrel-chested batsman and the joyful little boy giggling at each other in the glow. Moments such as these are what sportsmen and women play for. For all their disappointments, the distractions of off-field shenanigans, and the frustration of unfulfilled potential, no-one does against-the-odds wins quite like Zimbabwe. After all they’ve been through, they earned this one.Trent Bridge, 1983. Newlands, 2007. Harare Sports Club, 2014. Each of Zimbabwe’s three international victories over Australia has added something unique to the narrative of this quintessential underdog cricketing nation.Peter Rawson was their hero 31 years ago, his pinpoint last over sealing a 13-run win in a match that was all mullets, moustaches and flared flannels. Zimbabwe’s next success against the Australians, at the World T20, also came down to the wire with Brendan Taylor flicking the second last ball of the match to the fine-leg boundary as the heavens opened over a floodlit Newlands.This afternoon’s three-wicket victory never got quite that close, and the match was sealed with two overs remaining, but it is arguably the most remarkable of all given the circumstances in which it came about. There’s something even more rare than Zimbabwe’s uncommon victories against cricket’s more fancied sides: a Zimbabwean fightback.

The game was dead when the overnight batsmen came out to bat on the final day

Siddhartha Talya in Mumbai10-Feb-2013The Irani Cup this season was supposed to be different from some years past. The players welcomed the switch to play the Irani Cup as the last game of the first-class season, with Rest of India taking on the domestic champions just days after the Ranji Trophy final. The administrators talked it up, and that this game was the final first-class match ahead of the Australia Tests added to the build-up. As events unfolded, there were big smiles, some of those in contention for selection having made an impression, but the game itself, comprising some of the best players in the country, was the same dispiriting, high-scoring, enthusiasm-sapping draw that has been the bane of first-class cricket in India.The quality of pitches on offer over the years in Indian first-class cricket have rightly been criticised, but players haven’t done much either to change things. This Irani Cup game is a prime example. Once Mumbai conceded the first-innings lead, they had every reason to be more aggressive in the second innings, try their best to give themselves a chance of fighting back to win a title they haven’t won since 1997-98. Instead, despite picking up three wickets relatively early, it seemed they had given up hope after lunch on the fourth day.Abhishek Nayar, leading Mumbai for the first time, took himself out of the attack at a time when he had the wood over Manoj Tiwary, and consigned Mumbai to their fate with 52 overs of harmless spin. Dhawal Kulkarni, whose name has figured as a possible Indian pace option, didn’t bowl an over after lunch.
Tiwary, Ambati Rayudu, and Suresh Raina smashed Ankeet Chavan and Vishal Dabholkar for 10 sixes, erased any pressure and all but ensured the title for their team. During the Ranji Trophy, such lack of intent, as Mumbai showed, is partly understandable, given the short window between matches, and the need to retain fast bowlers. But not in a one-off game having conceded a lead, with no fear of fatigue.”At that point, I had already bowled eight overs into the spell and sometimes it takes a toll on your body,” Nayar said after the game. “The bulk of the bowling was done by the fast bowlers [in the first innings]. So at some point the spinners had to put their hand up and bowl for us. At that point, the ball was swinging a lot and I thought I should have come on to bowl but I felt then that the spinners should have done the job for us.” Fifty-two out of 60 overs after lunch, a span that just produced one wicket, on the fourth day was really pushing it.Rest of India did what most teams in the Ranji Trophy would have done. Having gained a lead of 117, they batted out Mumbai, and sealed an eighth straight Irani Cup title. They gave Mumbai 63 overs – the game was eventually called off with nine overs still remaining – to bat, hardly enough time to bowl them out with the batting team under no pressure to score, thereby reducing any serious chance of getting wickets. You would have been tempted to think the Irani Cup this year should prompt a different approach. Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth, Ishwar Pandey, and Abhimanyu Mithun, all in contention for Test spots, should have been doing their best to impress the selectors, particularly after a first-innings performance during which they rarely troubled the batsmen, who dug their own hole for the most part.Sporting declarations are a rarity in Indian cricket, but there was a compelling case for one in this match, not just to press for selections but win the title outright. The game, though, was dead when overnight batsmen Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina came out to bat on the final morning. Harbhajan defended the decision, saying the pitch was a difficult one on which to bowl a side out. “This is the kind of a match, where you know that if you take the first innings lead, you will win the game.”The malaise is a result of a trend that’s led to second-innings runs on the domestic circuit being increasingly devalued, with a first-innings lead reducing the remainder of the game to a virtual non-event. The Irani Cup, much as the first Ranji game this season between Mumbai and Railways, had plenty of star value and was happening at a time when selectors were about to pick India’s squad for a major series. Here, the incentive to deliver was greater for bowlers competing for a place in an India attack that is an open field, with the Test 12 days away, and the teams generally in what was a one-off game. But Mumbai and Rest of India each played their part in undermining its significance.

In a drawn series that was almost completely dominated by the ball, the Pakistan spinners’ performance stole the limelight

Madhusudhan Ramakrishnan25-May-2011After a dismal batting performance in the low-scoring first Test, Pakistan regrouped in the second innings of the second Test and produced an excellent batting display to inflict a 196-run defeat on West Indies. Although they could not win their maiden series in the West Indies, Pakistan managed to draw their second consecutive series in the Caribbean. The highlight of the series was the inability of the West Indies batsmen to play spin. Pakistan’s spinners captured 32 wickets of the 40 to fall, with Saeed Ajmal picking up 17 wickets in the two Tests. West Indies were clearly missing the services of Chris Gayle, who has been their top batsman for the last three years. The failure of their top order to contribute anything substantial in any of the four innings was the major difference in the end.In what proved to be a contest between two average sides, Pakistan emerged as the team with the better batting and bowling stats. Their batsmen scored two centuries and five half-centuries while West Indies batsmen managed just two half-centuries. West Indies could not string together any partnerships of note in the two matches and managed just three fifty-plus stands. The lower-order batsmen hung around in both innings of the first Test and figured in small but highly crucial stands which ultimately set up the victory. In the second Test however, West Indies’ bowlers could not strike regularly in the second innings and were not helped by some very poor fielding lapses. Pakistan’s spinners had bamboozled West Indie’s batsmen in the first Test and nothing much changed in the second game. Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s absence meant that West Indies had lost one of their better players of spin and as a result, 15 wickets out of 20 fell to the spinners giving Pakistan a comfortable win.

Overall performance of Pakistan and West Indies

TeamMatches wonAverage100/5050+ standsWickets taken5WI/10WMPakistan127.412/511402/1West Indies120.770/23361/0The series was almost completely dominated by the bowlers. Batsmen struggled to get starts and even when they did, very few went on to contribute anything meaningful. In the first Test, the top-order batsmen (1-6) from both teams were completely exposed. While Pakistan were in trouble against West Indies’ pace bowlers and Devendra Bishoo, the host’s batsmen were all at sea against the Pakistan spinners, in particular Ajmal. Devon Smith fell to Mohammad Hafeez in both the innings of the first Test making it the sixth consecutive time he had fallen to the same bowler in Tests and ODIs. The first Test was very much a case of West Indies’ top order being only slightly better than their Pakistan counterparts.The second Test seemed to be heading the same way as the first as both teams collapsed for scores less than 300 in their first innings. After a a few reprieves in the second innings though, Taufeeq Umar and Misbah-ul-Haq scored centuries and shared a vital 129-run partnership for the fourth wicket. In contrast with Pakistan, who managed six fifty-plus stands in the match, West Indies, managed only two fifty-plus stands in the game, giving them no chance of chasing down the huge target of 427.

Partnership stats for teams in each Test (Runs,dismissals,50+)

TeamTest number1st Wicket2nd wicket3rd wicket4th wicket5th wicket6th wicketPakistan17, 2, 052, 2, 13, 2, 083, 2, 156, 2, 114, 2, 0West Indies118, 2, 076, 2, 168, 2, 021, 2, 018, 2, 032, 2, 0Pakistan299, 2 , 181, 2, 111, 2, 0179, 2, 2155, 2, 218, 2, 0West Indies25, 2, 076, 2, 136, 2, 054, 2, 044, 2, 027, 2, 0Spin had proved to be a huge factor when Pakistan played West Indies in the World Cup. On that occasion, Pakistan had bowled West Indies out for a paltry 112 to secure a ten-wicket win. The strategy of employing spinners far more regularly against the lead-footed West Indies batsmen was a masterstroke. Of the 32 wickets that fell to Pakistan’s spinners, 12 of them were out leg before. Ajmal was easily the pick of the bowlers with a haul of 11 for 111 in the first Test followed by 6 for 135 in the second Test. Although Bishoo was impressive in the first Test, picking up four wickets in the first innings in Providence, it was the West Indies pace attack that created problems for Pakistan. Darren Sammy and Ravi Rampaul shared 14 wickets between them in the first Test and seven in the next game.

Dominance of Pakistan spinners

TeamType of bowlerWicketsAverageERPakistanPace636.003.40West IndiesPace2524.032.56PakistanSpin3217.542.31West IndiesSpin936.203.09Not a single West Indies batsman enjoyed a period of dominance over the opposition spinners. Carlton Baugh and the experienced Ramnaresh Sarwan fell to the spinners four times while scoring just 13 runs off them. Sarwan, who has been a consistent batsman and an excellent player of spin in the last few years, never looked settled in his stay at the crease and managed to aggregate just 54 runs in four innings. Darren Bravo and Lendl Simmons, despite falling twice each to the spinners, looked far more assured than the rest of the batsmen. Chanderpaul, whose rearguard effort in the first Test gave West Indies a chance to win, was never dominant, but was dismissed only once in scoring 37 runs.

West Indian batsmen against Pakistani spinners

BatsmanRunsSRDismissalsAverageRamnaresh Sarwan130.8843.25Carlton Baugh131.2543.25Brendan Nash412.36313.66Darren Bravo821.83241.00Lendl Simmons632.58231.50Shivnarine Chanderpaul371.53137.00Ajmal, who made his debut in 2009, picked up 18 wickets at over 42 that year. But since then, he has picked up his next 32 wickets at an average under 25. He has been at his best in the second and third innings of matches with 30 wickets at an average of 21.43. For Ajmal’s career stats, click here.Here are a few other statistical highlights from the series:The 20 lbw dismissals in the first Test is a record, going past the previous highest of 17, also between the same two teams in Trinidad in 1993. The centuries by Taufeeq and Misbah in the second innings of the second Test make it the first time that two Pakistan batsmen have scored centuries in an innings against West Indies in the West Indies. There have been ten instances of Pakistan batsmen scoring a century in the team second innings against West Indies in the Caribbean. Hanif Mohammad’s 337 is the highest and also remains the only triple-century to be scored in the team second innings in Tests.Misbah’s century was the third instance of a Pakistan captain scoring a century against West Indies. Ajmal’s figures of 11 for 111 in the first Test is the second-best bowling figures for a Pakistan bowler in a Test defeat, behind Wasim Akram’s 11 for 110 against West Indies in 1990.

On the eve of the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa, Cricinfo provides a statistical preview

Faras Ghani and Mathew Varghese30-Sep-2007Opening acts
Both sides have struggled with their opening batsmen in recent years and both will have another combination taking guard in the middle. In the last 15 Tests, Pakistan have tried eight different pairs (and many more in Tests before that) and will have, in the absence of Imran Farhat and return of Salman Butt, another new one. South Africa have opened with six different pairs in the same number of Tests. Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs are likely to re-unite once again here and Smith thinks it could work. He said, “Herschelle and I had a top start when we began with several 300-plus partnerships. He is experienced and I have been around for a while so I am hopeful we’ll do well.”

Opening partnerships (last 15 Tests)

Team Innings Runs Average Highest 100s/50s

Pakistan 29 923 32.96 1091/4 South Africa 29 835 28.79 1651/4

The fast men
Whatever the nature of the wicket, fast bowlers are likely to feature heavily in this battle, as befits two countries traditionally rich in fast bowling talent. Here are the men expected to feature in Karachi.Mohammad Asif is an anomaly in Pakistan’s recent fast-bowling lineage. Where Asif compromises on pace, he more than compensates with intelligence, accuracy, swing and seam, and stamina. After a spell of limited-overs games, he will relish most the longer format of the game in which he is most at home and where he’s picked wickets by the bagful.Makhaya Ntini will be hoping a return to the five-day game can rekindle a fire that has lost its glow recently. His last Test series was against Pakistan, at home, where he picked up 19 wickets in three Tests, including two five-fors and became the third South African bowler to take 300 Test wickets. But the slide started with the World Cup in the Caribbean, since when he’s managed 11 wickets in 14 ODIs at 46.54. He fared little better in the Twenty20 format, going at over nine an over.Umar Gul was impossible to get away during the ICC World Twenty20; bowling at the death he delivered unplayable yorkers while varying his length to good effect. His Test performances improved through 2006, though Pakistan missed him in South Africa last year, when he was out with an ankle injury. He has bulked up, increased his pace and will be looking to consolidate his role as the enforcer in the pace attack in Tests. His yorker at this ground last year to Ramnaresh Sarwan is a classic example of the damage he can cause.Dale Steyn, on this tour, has a chance his cement his place in the Test side. A quick bowler who has the ability to swing the ball away from the right-hander, Steyn has picked up 178 wickets from 49 first-class matches, including a stint with Warwickshire this season, where he bagged 23 wickets at under 26 runs apiece in seven first-class games. South Africa want him, and Morne Morkel, to take over from Shaun Pollock, a challenge only slightly more arduous than playing on the flat decks in the subcontinent.

Test records of the fast bowlers likely to feature at Karachi

Format Matches Wickets Average Economy rate SR

Mohammad Asif 9 49 20.12 3.0939.06 Makhaya Ntini7530827.483.2051.38 Umar Gul 14 61 30.62 3.5651.49 Dale Steyn 11 42 31.54 3.8948.57

Clash of the titans
Given the frailties of both teams’ opening combinations, don’t be surprised if it boils down to the middle-order.For Pakistan, the return of Mohammad Yousuf could not have been come at a better time. Inzamam-ul-Haq has been omitted and Yousuf is now expected to fill that considerable hole. His performances against South Africa are not as impressive as his Test record: an aggregate of 269 in six Tests, no centuries and an average just over 24 is a wrong he will be keen to right.Jacques Kallis’ resignation from the vice-captaincy should give him even more time to concentrate on his batting, which spells danger for Pakistan. Nearly 8,500 runs from 107 Tests, Kallis has for long been the of backbone of South Africa’s batting. In conditions generally better for batting and stifling for bowlers, Kallis will want to improve his record against Pakistan: a solitary hundred in 11 Tests and an average (42.82), well below his career average (55.09).

Head to head
South Africa enjoy a comfortable upper hand in Tests between the two, winning seven of the 14 they have played. South Africa won 2-1 the last time they played in South Africa but Pakistan won their last series in Pakistan 1-0. If nothing else, a close battle is expected.

Pakistan v South Africa head-to-head in Tests

Record Matches Pakistan won South Africa won Drawn

Overall14374In Pakistan5113

Wrexham are keen to add Premier League experience to their squad by signing Danny Ings and Aaron Cresswell, who will leave West Ham as free agents.

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• Wrexham targeting Premier League experience
• Ings and Cresswell available on free transfers
• Red Dragons promoted from League One

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wrexham are weighing up moves for Ings and Cresswell, who are both available on free transfers this summer as they prepare to leave West Ham. claims the two veterans are wanted by the Red Dragons for their Premier League experience as they approach their first season in the second tier in English football since 1981-82.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have shown a keenness to bring in players with former top-flight experience to help Wrexham rise through the divisions. The likes of Ben Foster, James McClean, Jay Rodriguez and Steven Fletcher have all turned out at the Racecourse Ground in recent years.

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  Wrexham have been linked with plenty of recognisable names since their promotion to the Championship was confirmed. Wales international Ben Davies, who could leave Tottenham as a free agent, is another who is reportedly of interest.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Wrexham celebrated their third promotion in three years with another trip to Las Vegas and aren't due to play again until their pre-season starts. They are due to tour Australia and New Zealand in July, with their first match coming against Melbourne Victory.

MatériaMais Notícias

Lucas Fernandes chegou ao Botafogo em abril do ano passado e rapidamente se tornou um dos protagonistas da equipe alvinegra. A sequência do meia, no entanto, não durou muito tempo. Já na reta final da última temporada, ele sofreu uma lesão na panturrilha e vinha sendo desfalque nos primeiros jogos de 2023.

Por conta da contusão do jogador, Luís Castro precisou encontrar alternativas no time. Nomes como Gabriel Pires, Patrick de Paula e Marlon Freitas ganharam oportunidades, mas não conseguiram protagonizar atuações que convencessem e justificassem uma titularidade.

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O atleta retornou aos gramados no clássico polêmico entre Botafogo e Flamengo, no Mané Garrincha, no dia 25 de fevereiro, pela Taça Guanabara. O meia entrou no decorrer do segundo tempo, mas não conseguiu impedir a vitória dos rubro-negros por 1 a 0 em Brasília.

+Com chegada de Di Plácido, Daniel Borges perde espaço no Botafogo

Desde que voltou de lesão, Lucas Fernandes não vem conseguindo obter uma sequência de jogos positivas no Glorioso. Prova disso é que nas últimas seis partidas, ele atuou apenas duas vezes como titular.

+Luís Castro aposta na evolução do Botafogo: ‘Temos capacidade’

Para dar uma maior sustentação defensiva para equipe, Luís Castro colocou Danilo Barbosa para formar uma dupla de volantes ao lado de Tchê Tchê. O retorno de Eduardo também deu mais uma opção ao meio-campo. Gabriel Pires e Marlon Freitas são outros que disputam vagas no setor.

Lucas Fernandes foi um dos destaques da última temporada e luta para reconquistar seu status de titular nos próximos jogos. O contrato do meia no clube alvinegro é válido até dezembro deste ano.

Half-centuries from Tom Haines, Tom Alsop and James Coles help put visitors in driving seat

ECB Reporters Network04-May-2024Sussex 357 for 5 (Pujara 104*, Coles 72, Alsop 64, Haines 58) lead Derbyshire 246 (Tickner 47) by 111 runsA century from Cheteshwar Pujara led a dominant Sussex batting display on the second day of the Vitality County Championship Division Two match with against Derbyshire at Derby.The Indian maestro scored an unbeaten 104 – his ninth hundred in three seasons with Sussex – with Tom Haines, Tom Alsop and James Coles all making half-centuries as the visitors closed on 357 for 5, a lead of 111. Sussex’s position would have been even better but for two late wickets for Luis Reece to keep Derbyshire in the game.The home side had earlier taken their first innings to 246 thanks to a career-best 47 from Blair Tickner who shared a ninth wicket stand of 68 with Jack Morley before Coles took 2 for 6 with his left-arm spin to finish off the innings.The cloud cover of the first day was replaced by patches of blue sky, making batting a more comfortable proposition and Tickner and Morley took advantage.Tickner pulled an Ollie Robinson no-ball to the ropes and there was more frustration for the pace bowler when Tom Clark put down a difficult low chance at second slip with Morley on 6.The pair completed a 50 stand from 75 balls and Tickner was in sight of a maiden first-class half-century when he made room to force Coles and was bowled by a quicker ball.Morley had played the supporting role, displaying sound defence, but with Tickner gone, he became more expansive and came down the pitch to dispatch Jack Carson over long-on for six. Derbyshire were closing in on a batting point when Morley used his feet again to try and force Coles through the off side but missed the ball and was stumped.Although their score was higher than had looked likely when the eighth wicket went down at 163, early wickets were needed to put Sussex under pressure and Daryn Dupavillon obliged in his second over. The South African fast bowler moved one back in from outside off to bowl Clark but the bowling was too inconsistent and Haines pounced on anything that was slightly offline.He reached his 50 which came from only 38 balls in the first over after lunch and the stand with Alsop was worth 90 when he played on aiming to cut a ball that was too close to him for the stroke.The sight of Pujara walking out to bat on a ground where he made a double-century two years ago was an ominous one from a Derbyshire point of view and he was soon working the ball around with a quiet assurance.Alsop reached his 50 with consecutive fours off Reece but two overs before tea, he aimed to work Anuj Dal through midwicket and was lbw.At the interval, Sussex were trailing by 50 and with Coles playing positively from the start, they began to take a grip on the match in the evening session. Coles launched Morley over long-on for six before Pujara reached 50 from 74 balls, the same number Coles needed to complete his when he pulled Zak Chappell to the fine leg boundary.The partnership was worth 141 when Coles drove Reece low to mid-off and after Pujara punched David Lloyd to the cover boundary for his 10th four to complete a century off 158 balls, Reece bowled John Simpson with one that straightened.Derbyshire claimed the new ball before the close but Pujara and Carson stood firm to ensure it was the visitors day.

David Warner is hopeful that he will able to helicopter in for Sydney Thunder’s BBL derby against Sydney Sixers on Friday so that he can play after attending his brother’s wedding.Exact plans are still being worked through, but flying to the SCG will be Warner’s only option if he is to make the game with the wedding taking place in the Hunter Valley north of Sydney.”I’ve got a couple of aircrafts booked, pending weather,” Warner said after his final Test in Sydney. “It’s a fine line. I might be tight but I’m trying my best to make it work for that day.”Related

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Thunder are hopeful that Warner will be available for their final three regular-season matches, with games against Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades to follow the Sydney Smash.Warner’s current two-year deal with Thunder concludes this season, but prior to his final Test he said he was keen to continue in the tournament next season if it can fit around his new commentary role.”I definitely am keen to pursue playing Big Bash next year,” he said. “There’s going to be conversations behind the scenes to allow me to do that. Obviously, I’ve joined the Fox commentary team next year during the Test series against India, which I’m looking forward to.”There’s a BBL window that we’re able to play…so I would like to play that in and around the commentary stuff. I’ve just got to make sure that I’m, one, playing to the best of my ability and, two, not hindering the team’s performances or upsetting the balance of the team.”Thunder are currently seventh in the table with a solitary win in six games and unlikely to make this season’s finals, although Warner would probably have been unavailable for them as he is expected to be granted a No Objection Certificate [NOC] to play in the ILT20 for Dubai Capitals.That tournament will mean Warner will also miss the T20I series against West Indies early next month, but the current expectation is that he will be available for the three-match series in New Zealand.Warner added that the T20 World Cup in June would “definitely” mark the end of his international career, although when announcing his ODI retirement last week he kept the door ajar for a comeback at the 2025 Champions Trophy if Australia needed him.”That [the T20 World Cup] was my finishing goal if I wasn’t getting to here [to Sydney],” he said. “That was my last hurrah, the Twenty20s. I started my career in Twenty20 cricket and will finish my career in Twenty20 cricket. Think it’s fitting. I really enjoy the game but most importantly I want to win another World Cup for Australia.”

Nathan Lyon’s hunger for Test cricket has never been greater as he prepares for his return after the Ashes-ending calf injury earlier this year and he is particularly excited about the challenge of bowling against “superstar” Babar Azam.Lyon has put together three Sheffield Shield outings over the past month after lengthy rehab from the first major injury of his Test career and will resume in match number 101 against Pakistan as a critical part of Australia’s attack.Optus Stadium in Perth, the venue for the opening Test of the season, is a happy hunting ground for Lyon where he has taken 22 wickets in three matches but he is expecting a tough challenge from Pakistan, and inparticular Babar who he rates extremely highly.Related

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Babar, who recently resigned the Pakistan captaincy, averages 44.38 in 10 Tests against Australia and made a magnificent 196 in Karachi last year to save the match before Lyon removed him at a crucial stage of the decider in Lahore. He was also one of the few positives from their last visit to Australia in 2019-2020 when he made scores of 97 and 101.”Babar, firstly, has been a pleasure to play against but he’s also been a massive challenge,” Lyon told ESPNcricinfo. “He’s one of the best batters in the world in my eyes, especially against spin. He’s a class player. But think he’s a class player against all types of bowling.”They’ve got some superstars in the side, and if I’m talking superstars he’s the No. 1 in the Pakistan side in my eyes. He played reasonably well out here last time so it’s going to be a big challenge for us for sure.”Following his aborted Ashes series, Lyon will begin the home summer on 496 Test wickets and given his record in Perth there is every chance he can become the eighth bowler, and third Australia, to reach five hundred during the match.”The hunger level for playing Test matches is probably higher than ever, if I’m being honest,” he said. “I’m proper excited about it. Love playing in Perth at Optus Stadium. It’s going to be a challenge against Pakistan, so it’s going to be an exciting battle.”Lyon took four wickets in his three Shield outings for New South Wales and did not have a massive workload in the last match at the SCG which was pace-bowler dominated. But he has been putting in plenty of spells in the nets, including a three-hour stint with mentor John Davison, and is very comfortable with his build-up.”My rehab has been exceptional,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of good people in my corner helping me out, making sure I was ticking every box and making sure I was doing everything required. If I wasn’t coming off cricket I’d been questioning it, but three Shield games, a one-day game a grade game, and a lot of training, [leaves me] feeling really happy with way things are.”There is one more domestic outing in Lyon’s schedule before flying to Perth, and it will be a slightly unusual one as he suits up for his new BBL side Melbourne Renegades for a game against Sydney Sixers, who will feature Steven Smith, at the SCG.”It’s going to be a little bit different coming to the SCG and sitting in the away rooms. I’ve never actually done that,” he said. “But not going to lie, one eye’s on Test cricket.”