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For much of the Premier League season, most prolifically during its winter period, Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has been boasting a new contract in the pipeline for Arsene Wenger, that will take the Frenchman’s tenure into an unprecedented third decade at the club.

Back in January, the South African businessman informed journalists; “Arsène will be extending with us and, at the right time, we will make that announcement. We have always supported Arsène, the board and Stan Kroenke have always been completely behind him. Arsène has always been committed to the club. He’s the right person to see us forward.”

But when that optimum occasion will actually be is still awaiting confirmation; recent reports in the tabloids, namely the Daily Mirror and The Metro, have claimed that the 18-year serving Gunners gaffer is getting cold feet, and could decide to ‘walk out’ at the end of the season.

Usually I tend to take speculation from the British press with a pinch of salt, but the £160k per-week contract, that would affirm Wenger’s position as one of the best-paid managers in world football, was agreed in principle over twelve months ago. At the same time, with this being by far the latest the Frenchman has ever left it to extend his contract since arriving in North London in 1996, one can safely assume that Le Prof is having some doubts.

In my opinion, quite rightly so. A few weeks ago, Arsenal were flying high at the summit of the Premier League table and comfortable contenders for the English crown for the first time in the best part of a decade.

But as they enter a final stretch of burdening league fixtures, that includes Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton in the coming weeks, whilst Liverpool’s form appears to have found a whole new gear, there’s now a greater likelihood that the North Londoners will finish the season in fourth place than at the top of the table.

Should that be the case come May-time, then Arsene Wenger owes it to the club to refuse his new contract and step down.

That may seem like a fairly radical view, but it would be rather disturbing to witness a Gunners side that lead the Premier League title-charge for four months end up in the same ultimate position they found themselves in last year. They may as well have not bothered debasing the club’s entire transfer policy by forking out a record-breaking £42million on Mesut Ozil in the summer.

Similarly, the sagas of Arsene Wenger’s January windows are becoming like Groundhog Day. Once again confronted with the task of adding a striker to his roster, the North London boss hesitated and dwindled, before telling the British press he wasn’t interested in any of the targets the club had been linked with in the tabloids.

Then, after trying to convince Schalke to sell him Julian Draxler for significantly less than his actual worth, Wenger brought in 31-year old, injury-stricken loan signing Kim Kallstrom – hardly what you’d call an ambitious acquisition – before remarking that he wouldn’t have launched a bid for the Sweden international if he had more time.

Preposterous. Wenger had a whole month to actively negotiate with other clubs – in addition to an  entire half-season to plan for the winter window – and although the likes of Dimitar Berbatov, Alexandre Pato, Mirko Vucinic or Sebastian Giovinco may not have been the most long-term signings, they could have provided the fire-power to get the Gunners over the finishing line this season. Berbatov for example – a two-time Premier League title-winner, which would have made him the only prior English title-winner on the Arsenal roster – left Fulham for Monaco on a free transfer. A rare flex of pragmatism, and Arsenal’s title charge could still be in full flow right now.

It’s not so much Arsene Wenger’s qualities as a manager; just glancing at the Gunners alumni that blossomed under his leadership tells you everything you need to know about the Emirates manager’s abilities to nurture, develop and transform talented youngsters into world-class players.

But rather, his ideology of persistently building from within; of viewing every acquisition in terms of cost-effectiveness rather than quality; of planning ahead in five, ten and twenty year cycles rather than committing himself to solely focusing on a single campaign; comes with disturbing limitations. Translated into successes and failures on the football pitch, that limit appears to be fourth in the Premier League table, and a continual malaise of silverware.

Don’t get me wrong, the Gunners have decisively improved from their hot-and-cold campaign last season, particularly becoming more consistent against the Premier League’s more rank-and-file opposition. But the worry is that, despite this obvious progress, the North London side have been left no better for it. It seems that the Wenger philosophy, as morally justified and commendable as it is, will always lack the ruthlessly cruel efficiency required to take the club to another level.

The coming summer window could parallel last season’s in terms of its importance to Arsenal’s cause. A new sponsorship deal with Puma worth £150million over its five-year duration will, according to the Telegraph, leave Wenger with autonomous control over an £80million transfer budget ahead of next season.

That money could be trusted in the hands of the current Arsenal boss, who will probably spend it on several players under the age of 24 who may or may not go on to great things in their later careers, in another five-year plan. Or it could be given to a new manager, with new ideas and with the confidence to take the club in a different direction. Most importantly, it could be given to a pragmatist that will view silverware, rather than the progression of young talent, as the club’s ultimate priority.

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Gazidis and co. will shudder at the thought of Arsene Wenger walking out of the Emirates after the disaster campaign David Moyes has endured in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement at Manchester United.

But that’s why it’s down to the Frenchman to make the decision for his employers; like Ferguson at Old Trafford, Arsenal as a club has institutionalised around Wenger’s personality and philosophy, and resultantly, the fear of losing him will always outweigh the optimism of finding an adequate successor.

A near-decade out of the title race and almost nine years without a trophy however, should Arsenal’s season end as fruitless at the last, Wenger owes it to himself and the club to admit that wholesale change is necessary by refusing a new contract.

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League leaders Chelsea welcome struggling Norwich City to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

The two teams have endured contrasting seasons, with Chelsea picking up three points at the Emirates last time out, before firing another four goals in midweek.

Norwich endured a miserable afternoon at home to Liverpool last time out, losing 2-5 and looking extremely vulnerable at the back.

The blues have no new injury concerns, with Daniel Sturridge still unavailable through a hamstring injury. This means Fernando Torres is set to continue leading the line, hoping to add to the brilliant finish he produced at the Emirates last weekend.

Norwich could have defender Sebastian Bassong and forward Anthony Pilkington available, despite both struggling with injuries.

Grant Holt is likely to start as the lone forward, after coming on to score a consolation against Liverpool last weekend.

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Midfielder Simon Lappin is out with an ankle problem, whilst full back Steven Whittaker is also unavailable.

Prediction: Chelsea 4-0 Norwich 

Rangpur were propelled to 185 by Jimmy Neesham’s 97* after they were 66 for 4, but their bowling faltered in the defense

Mohammad Isam26-Feb-2024Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy launched Comilla Victorians into the BPL final through a six-wicket win against Rangpur Riders in Qualifier 1 in Dhaka. The pair struck attractive fifties as the defending and four-time champions chased down 186 with nine balls to spare.James Neesham’s T20 career-best of an unbeaten 97 from 49 balls had propelled Rangpur after they were 66 for 4, but their bowling faltered in the defense.Neesham, Litton and Hridoy’s innings seemed to be a just reward for a 25,000-plus crowd at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, which had witnessed a relatively one-sided Eliminator match earlier in the day.Hridoy struck 64 off 43 balls with five fours and four sixes, while Litton smacked nine fours and four sixes in an innings of 83 from 57 deliveries. The pair added 143 for the second wicket after Sunil Narine’s first-ball dismissal.Hridoy and Litton got Comilla’s steep chase going almost immediately, the former hammering Hasan Mahmud for 22 runs in the fifth over. Litton then went after Neesham, hitting him for a four and a six, to end the powerplay. Hridoy hit two more sixes, while Litton also got a six in the next four overs.Hridoy struck the ball strongly through the leg side, while Litton kept up the pace with three fours off Neesham in the 13th over. The partnership ended in the 15th over when Shakib Al Hasan held on to Hridoy’s swipe down the ground.But Litton continued to keep the chase on track with more boundaries before falling with 13 runs required to win, which were knocked off in the next four legal deliveries.Earlier, Rangpur’s innings had changed its course when Neesham walked in to bat in the fifth over. Rangpur had already lost Shakib, Shamim Hossain and Rony Talukdar before Neesham and Mahedi Hasan added 39 for the fourth wicket.Mahedi fell in the ninth over, before Neesham added another useful 38 with Nicholas Pooran for the fifth wicket. Pooran, who arrived in Dhaka only on Monday morning, made 14 off nine balls, before Neesham was joined by captain Nurul Hasan to stabilise Rangpur’s innings.That is when Neesham opened up, as he and Nurul added 53, with Neesham climbing into the Comilla bowlers. He struck most of his seven sixes over midwicket, at times shuffling to the off side to fetch the ball and hit the bowlers on the leg side.Neesham struck three sixes and two fours in the last over of Rangpur’s innings as Comilla’s youngster Musfik Hasan conceded 27 – the other run was from a bye – with the total of 28 being the most in an over in this season’s BPL. Musfik’s four overs cost 72, and turned out to be the most expensive spell in BPL history.But it didn’t cost Comilla, although Rangpur now have a second shot at the final as they take on Fortune Barishal in Qualifier 2 in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Women’s team captain calls for more support from the public: ‘Cries of Bangladesh, Bangladesh always gives me motivation’

Mohammad Isam13-Jul-2023A mindset change, where Bangladesh are relishing the idea of going toe-to-toe with bigger, more established teams, played a big part in their beating India in the third women’s T20I in Mirpur on Thursday, said captain Nigar Sultana. Although it was only a consolation win after the visitors took a 2-0 lead, it was still a step in the right direction. Bangladesh beat India for the first time in five years, the last two wins coming in the 2018 Asia Cup, which they went on to win.After restricting India to a below-par score for the second game in a row, this time Bangladesh did what they could not two days ago – chase it down.”We are really happy today,” Nigar said. “We have won here after a long time. We have always had close matches against India. We felt that if we played a little better, this series would have been ours. We also have a lot of cricket [three ODIs] left. That’s why we didn’t celebrate in that way. I keep telling everyone that only when you allow your brain to tell yourself that we can beat India, we can definitely beat them. I think I am successful in that way but there’s a lot left to do as a team. I think we could beat a team like India due to our change of mentality.”Nigar also explained the way Bangladesh went about the chase and highlighted Shamima Sultana’s performance. The opening batter made a valuable 42 to help steer a chase of 103.”A run chase becomes easier when one of the top-order batters stays till the 14th or 15th over,” Nigar said. “Shamima did it well. I was telling her to stay till the end. I am handling my end. ‘You play your shots. If we can take 5-6 singles per over, then that 8 or 10-run over is around the corner.’ I didn’t think the equation was too complicated. Taking singles made the chase easy for us.”The ball wasn’t coming on to the bat in this wicket. An aggressive shot could have been costly. I told her to carry on playing shots. If she carried the innings deep, it will make the equation easy for us.Shamima Sultana steered the chase with her 42•BCB

“She also plays the sweep well although she got out playing the sweep in the last two matches. But I told her that you should play the shot that you’re good at. I told her not to stop it, but make sure she plays the sweep properly. Sweep is the best shot on slow and low wickets.”The win was a little bit more special for the women’s team who were playing at the Shere Bangla National Stadium after eleven years. They won an ODI and a T20I at this ground in 2012, but have had to wait a long time for the BCB to give them games at the country’s No. 1 cricket stadium.”Mirpur is a special ground,” Nigar said. “We have won after playing here after a long time. It is a huge achievement for the team. I hope we get to play more matches here in the future. Whenever the men’s team play here, people watch those matches on TV or they pack the galleries here.”I have been playing for Bangladesh for a long time but never played in this ground. I think all our families had this regret about not playing in Mirpur.”Nigar has urged for more support at the ground though, as all three matches in Mirpur lacked a big crowd. “I would appeal to the public to come to our matches. It always gives us positive energy. When I am batting in the middle, cries of “Bangladesh, Bangladesh!” always gives me motivation. I am playing [for] the country, let me fight a bit more. The energy is a bit different. I thank those who came today. It is their support that has taken us this far.”Meanwhile, India assistant coach Apoorva Desai said that there’s no regret at the scoreline being 2-1. They hope to make it 3-0 in the ODIs starting on July 16.”I think we are also trying a lot of players,” Desai said. “Almost four people have debuted. We’re also doing some changes. And yeah, we would have loved to win today. We were 20 runs short on that wicket. Last three-four overs, if they would have batted sensibly, it was [possible to push to] 120-125 [which] was [the] par score. So, I think, yeah, we’ll come hard in the one dayers. Take the learnings there and, and push for a 3-0 series.”

Uncapped left-armer Ben Dwarshuis has been added to a squad already missing a host of first-choice names

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Mar-2022Kane Richardson has been ruled out of Australia’s limited-overs tour of Pakistan due a hamstring injury and will be replaced by New South Wales left-armer Ben Dwarshuis.Richardson, who was the most experienced pace bowler in an already depleted squad, aggravated the injury during training in Melbourne ahead of the team’s departure to Lahore.”Although the injury is considered minor it was decided the long trip to Pakistan along with four games in eight days and short turnarounds it was in Richardson’s best interests to remain home,” a Cricket Australia statement said.Dwarshuis, who also plays for Sydney Sixers, is uncapped at international level but was previously part of Australia’s T20 squad during a tri-series in 2017-18 and has been part of the IPL. If he features in the ODI side during the three-match series, it would come after just nine List A matches for New South Wales.Richardson’s absence leaves the pace attack to be led by Jason Behrendorff and Sean Abbott alongside Nathan Ellis, supplemented by allrounders Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis.Multi-format quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have been rested for the white-ball portion of the tour. Hazlewood and Cummins are both part of the upcoming IPL.Captain Aaron Finch was confident the squad still had the depth to compete in Pakistan.”One thing that will help is the guys have played a lot of T20 cricket,” he said. “They’re quite inexperienced for Australia but I think playing T20 cricket will help them in that regard. There’s a lot of skill in the group and guys that have been around one-day cricket for a long time domestically as well.”Having a lot of a lot of faith in their own ability is really important. When you have got guys like Abbott, he’s been around for a long time [and] Behrendorff. They’ve played a lot of state cricket, so I think it’ll be fine.”Australia only played three ODIs last year – on the tour of West Indies – with home matches this season against New Zealand postponed due to Covid-19 border restrictions. They have won all three of their series in the ODI Super League with 2-1 victories over England (away) and India (home) alongside the West Indies success.

Rhodes, Yates tons heap woe on Lancashire as conference system phase-out looms

George Dobell29-Sep-2021The LV= Insurance County Championship is set to remain a conference-based competition in 2022. But that will be the final season of the arrangement before a return to two divisions in 2023.That is the basis of an ECB recommendation sent to the counties on Wednesday. The counties will then be required to vote on whether they accept the proposal in the next few days. It currently seems they are likely to do so.While there had been an increased desire from the counties to return to two divisions with promotion and relegation for the 2022 season, it is understood that a meeting of the county chairs at Lord’s on Wednesday accepted there were decent reasons for waiting an extra 12 months. In particular, there is a concern that a further spike in Covid – which appears to be anticipated for the winter of 2021-22 – might render a move to two-division cricket more challenging and encourage the regionalised conference schedule which has been used this year.Finishing positions in the 2022 season would, in such a scenario, define the make-up of the divisions in 2023. That means the finishing positions achieved at the end of 2019, when Gloucestershire and Northants were among those who achieved promotion, would be void. It is anticipated that there would be 10 teams in division one and eight in division two.It is understood there was no mention of the Bob Willis Trophy during the meeting, but it seems unlikely it will be played in 2022.Related

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• Bob Willis Trophy: Crowning moment or anticlimax?

That maybe something of a relief to Lancashire. We are yet to reach the halfway stage of their Bob Willis Trophy match this year, but it has already been a chastening experience for them. Having been bowled out for 78 on day one – even that represented something of a recovery from 12 for 6 – they have spent the best part of five sessions since chasing leather around St John’s Wood. By the end of the second day, Warwickshire had extended their lead to 386. It has been brutal.From a Warwickshire perspective, of course, it has been perfect. Not only have they recorded the highest score at Lord’s this season – in county cricket, a side had only reached 300 once in 2021 – but they have reached 400 themselves for the first time this year.Their total has been built upon centuries from Will Rhodes and Rob Yates. While Rhodes, the captain, went on to record the bigger score, it may prove to be Yates’ contribution which is more relevant. Paul Farbrace, the Warwickshire director of cricket, has long argued that Yates has the game – in particular, the temperament – to play at a higher level and has ensured the England scouts (notably, James Taylor) have been kept abreast of his development. Farbrace, at least, believes Yates should go to Australia on either the full England tour or as part of the Lions side.On the evidence of this performance, it is hard to disagree. Compact, calm and capable of putting away anything overpitched or short, Yates recorded his fifth first-class century of the summer during this innings; nobody else has more than four. For a young man who doesn’t finish university until June and who only celebrated his 22nd birthday a week ago, it is an outstanding start to his career.It was a big day for his captain, too. While Rhodes has, with bat, ball and in the field, contributed throughout the Championship campaign, he prides himself on his ability with the bat and was more than a little frustrated not to have previously reached a century. To do so here, with the TV cameras present, will send him into the winter feeling substantially more contented with the world. For a Warwickshire side who have already decided not to sign an overseas batter for the Championship programme next year – their logic is that conditions in early-season England are so different and demanding that few if any overseas batters will be able to cope – it will also have been reassuring.Sam Hain also impressed briefly for Warwickshire. But, despite having passed 50 eight times in first-class cricket this season, he has only recorded one century. His dismissal here, bowled by one which appeared to hold its own despite the slope, was no doubt the result of a fine delivery. But a straight bat might well have avoided it.Matt Parkinson was, by some distance, the pick of the Lancashire bowlers. Despite little assistance from the conditions, he finished the day with three wickets and, in conceding 2.36 runs per-over, gave his captain a measure of control. The wicket of Michael Burgess, neatly stumped by Alex Davies having been drawn down the pitch and beaten by turn, was his 100th in first-class cricket.Burgess, it might be noted, will retain the gloves for Warwickshire at the start of the 2022 Championship, despite the arrival of Davies, who has just signed from Lancashire. But Davies is keen take them from him. You suspect, therefore, he rather enjoyed this dismissal. Warwickshire’s other targets were Phil Salt, who subsequently signed for Lancashire, and Dan Worrall, who subsequently signed for Surrey.In between times, Yates was brilliantly caught by Luke Wells, at slip, off Parkinson as he attempted to up the pace, while the same pair also accounted for Tim Bresnan, who edged a leg-break. Matt Lamb was beaten by a nice one from Wells, the second leggie in the side, which clipped his off bail, while Danny Briggs edged his attempted force. Warwickshire lost three wickets for 17 runs in that little wobble. But when you have a lead in excess of 300 and three days to play, you can probably cope with such issues.

There are close to 40 Australians in the IPL bubble comprising players, coaching staff and commentators

Daniel Brettig04-May-2021A mass exodus of Australian players, coaches and support staff to the Maldives is the expected remedy to a dilemma created by the postponement of the 2021 IPL and the current closure of the Australian border to citizens currently in India during its rampant Covid-19 outbreak. There are close to 40 Australians in the IPL bubble comprising players, coaching staff and commentators.The likes of Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Ricky Ponting, Simon Katich and company are expected to join the commentator Michael Slater, who had already headed to the Maldives as a temporary post in the wake of blanket bans on entry to Australian citizens who have recently been in India, a state of play that will exist until at least May 15.The exceptions will be the likes of allrounder Dan Christian, who has a deal to play in the UK later this year. But the UK is currently allowing only its citizens and residents to fly in from India, so it remains to be seen what route he will take as Dubai – often a stopover between India and the UK – is not allowing flights from India either.Related

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“Once we flew out of Australia we knew we’d signed up for 14 days quarantine coming home so you feel a bit further from getting home, but when the hard border shut no one has ever experienced that before,” Cummins told on Fox Sports. “[It has] added a bit of anxiety for the Aussies over here but we signed up to play the tournament until the start of June so hopefully it all reopens on May 15 and we can get back.”Think we are all hoping we can get home like we would normally plan and the borders open on May 15, whether it’s [a] private [flight] or not we wouldn’t be allowed back in [at the moment]. Cricket Australia have been brilliant along with the ACA, they are working closely with the government to get the latest information, if we can’t get home it won’t be for lack of trying from all those involved.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley, team performance chief Ben Oliver and the Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO Todd Greenberg were all in urgent meetings on Tuesday night aimed at clarifying the situation for the freelancing players.”Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association understand the decision of the BCCI to indefinitely postpone the 2021 Indian Premier League for the safety and wellbeing of all participants,” a joint statement from CA and ACA said. “CA is in direct contact with the BCCI as they work through plans to ensure the safe accommodation and repatriation of Australian players, coaches, match officials and commentators back home to Australia. CA and the ACA respect the decision of the Australian Government to pause travel from India until at least May 15 and will not seek exemptions.
CA and the ACA thank the BCCI for their efforts and cooperation for the safe repatriation of all participants at the IPL.”On April 27, Hemang Amin, the interim chief executive officer of the BCCI, had sent an email to all eight franchises saying the IPL understood players and support staff would be “apprehensive” about returning home. But he reassured them saying: “the BCCI will do everything to ensure that you reach your respective destinations seamlessly. Be rest assured that the tournament is not over for BCCI till each one of you has reached your home, safe and sound.”On Tuesday the BCCI was busy working out with franchises what was the best and safest way for players to reach home. On Monday, Hockley had stated that there had been “no suggestion at the moment” of a charter flight for the Australians in the IPL.On Monday Slater had condemned the Australian government’s decision to bar all travelers from India, including its own citizens until May 15. “If our government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home,” an indignant Slater wrote on Twitter, addressing the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. “It’s a disgrace!! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out [the] quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect.”And for those who think this is a money exercise, well, forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It’s called empathy. If only our government had some.”Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye had been among the Australian cricketers who had managed to exit India before the IPL was paused and the Australian border shut. Morrison called for patience from citizens currently locked outside their own country on a television interview with Nine on Tuesday morning.”I thank all of those who are in this difficult situation for their patience and their understanding,” Morrison said. “I am working to bring them home safely. I am going to take decisions that I believe will protect Australia from a third wave and help me to be able to reach out and bring more Australians safely home from places where they are in difficult situations.””I’d just ask them [the cricketers], like the many Australians that are in India at present, to be patient and understanding. This is a two-week pause. It’s not a permanent pause, it’s not a four-month lockdown.”New Zealand players at the IPL
New Zealand recently lifted its travel ban for India but there are limited flights between the two countries, and the New Zealand players will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine whenever they get home. NZC issued a statement saying it was liaising with different authorities to find a solution.”NZC remains in contact with the New Zealand contingent in the Indian Premier League. The players are in a relatively safe environment and those within affected teams are in isolation,” the statement said. “We’ll continue to liaise with the BCCI, the ECB and New Zealand government authorities in terms of managing their situation – but at this juncture it’s too early to discuss potential options.”

West Indies allrounder sets out personal aim for successful tour of England

Alan Gardner20-Jun-2020Roston Chase has played as much of a part as any of his team-mates in West Indies’ recent improvements as a Test side. He has scored five hundreds since his debut in 2016, including a six-hour rearguard against India in his second Test, and another in his last encounter with England. Two Tests before that, his eight-wicket haul condemned England to defeat in Barbados and set Jason Holder’s side on their way to reclaiming the Wisden Trophy.Chase also did his bit when West Indies won at Headingley in 2017, although that was an underwhelming tour generally as he averaged 13.33 with the bat. Perhaps that is why he has set his sights on scoring “at least one century” this time around. “Once you do well in England, I think your stock as a cricketer goes up on the international scene,” he said.”I’ve always wanted to score a century in England. I scored a century against England in the Caribbean, but I would love to get one in England. As I said, when you score hundreds in England, I think, as a batsman people take you more serious and rate you a bit higher. I’m looking to have a good series with the bat, score as many runs as possible. I will not be happy if I don’t get at least one century.”ALSO READ: Root sledge ‘blown way out of proportion’ – GabrielThe onus on Chase to provide a sturdy bulwark at No. 5 or 6 has only increased in the absence of Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer, who batted either side of him against England in 2018-19. Certainly runs in the forthcoming three-match series would bolster Chase’s overall record, which has seen him enjoy the majority of his success at home, with only one century – in India in 2018 – and an average of 24.75 in away Tests.Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope led the way in Leeds three years ago, while both Chase and Jermaine Blackwood have experience of English conditions, and the ability of a reshaped West Indies batting line-up to put up fighting totals will likely go a long way to determining their chances of success.”It’s fair to say that we haven’t had the best time as a top order,” Chase said. “But I think some of the guys have played 30 or more Test matches, so the guys are experienced and know how to get runs at that level – so we are ever improving. It’s just for us to get that confidence and belief back in our batting in the top order and I think that will be fine because the guys know they have the ability.”While Chase was England’s destroyer with the ball at the Kensington Oval 18 months ago – his second-innings 8 for 60 perhaps aided by some “complacent” batting – he is happy to stand in the not-inconsiderable shadow of Rakheem Cornwall when it comes to spin-bowling duties on tour. Depending on whether West Indies choose to deploy a four-man pace attack or not, Chase will fill in as required and aim to keep England on their toes.Rahkeem Cornwall celebrates a wicket with captain Jason Holder•Getty Images

“Yeah, he’s definitely the No. 1 spinner, but I have no problem with that,” Chase said of Cornwall, who made his Test debut last year. “I’m always willing to do whatever it takes for the team, if I have to back him up or if I have to be the main spinner, it doesn’t really matter to me. Once we’re going in the right direction and winning games and series, that’s all that really matters to me. Doesn’t matter if I’m No. 1 or No. 2 or No. 3, just want to go out there and do well for the country and for myself.”I’m comfortable with my role, batting in the middle order and bowling some overs when need be. The unit it a very close unit, all the guys are friends, we came up playing cricket from youth cricket days. We’re comfortable and just like to enjoy our company and enjoy the cricket and look to be successful.”In the first game [in Barbados last year], my lines and lengths and variation were spot on. And I guess the England batsmen – I wouldn’t want to say they underestimated me, but they were a bit complacent playing me. As the series went on they got a bit tighter. Having lost that first game, I thought they really tried to knuckle down and cope with my bowling and they did a good job.”One significant change from the previous meetings between these two sides is the addition of Jofra Archer to England’s bowling ranks. Like several of West Indies’ strong Bajan contingent, Chase came up against Archer during the young quick’s formative years – but their most-recent meeting came when the two appeared on opposing sides in the Sussex Premier League in 2015.”I do remember the game we played against Jofra,” Chase said. “This was before he even played for Sussex or anything like that. He actually got five wickets, he got me out as well. He pulled up after he got the five wickets and batting became a lot easier for us.”He was always a good talent but he wasn’t as rapid as he is now.”

Billy Godleman’s second half-century of this season’s NatWest T20 Blast helped Derbyshire to the top of the North Group with a five-wicket win over Yorkshire at Headingley

ECB Reporters Network03-Aug-2017Derbyshire skipper Billy Godleman is closing on the last eight•Getty Images

Billy Godleman’s second half-century of this season’s NatWest T20 Blast helped Derbyshire to the top of the North Group with a five-wicket win over Yorkshire at Headingley.Godleman led the pursuit of 181 as the Falcons secured the double over Yorkshire, winning with two balls to spare.The opener hit 67 off 48 balls after Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed scored 42 of Yorkshire’s 180 for 5 on his debut.Derbyshire, who have never reached Finals Day, leapfrogged Birmingham due to a better net run-rate, while Yorkshire are still on course for qualification despite a first Blast defeat in 11 matches at Headingley.Yorkshire’s innings lacked the fireworks of previous efforts, with them posting over 220 three times this season. They reached 54 for 1 after six overs having elected to bat, losing Tom Kohler-Cadmore for a brisk 29 with two leg-side sixes.David Willey and Adam Lyth, who hit 34, fell in the space of four balls in the ninth and 10 overs to spinners Wayne Madsen and Imran Tahir, leaving the score at 81 for 3.Madsen was the pick of the Falcons bowlers with 1 for 29 from his four overs and later hit a crucial 47 with the bat.Sarfraz and Shaun Marsh shared 67 inside nine overs for the fourth wicket before Hardus Viljoen struck twice in four balls, bowling Sarfraz as he looked to give himself room to slash over cover and Jack Leaning to leave the score 154 for 5.Marsh later did not field due to concussion having been hit by a Matt Henry slower ball bouncer whilst batting. He complained of dizziness when warming up before Derbyshire’s chase and Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, said he would probably be out for at least a week, missing the next T20 against Durham and the Championship match against Essex.Derbyshire debutant Tom Wood skied Bresnan to midwicket in the fourth over of the chase before Luis Reece was caught at short third-man trying to scoop Steve Patterson as the score fell to 46 for 2 in the sixth.With rain coming and going, all eyes were on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern, but the visitors kept their noses in front thanks to Godleman.He reached his latest half-century off 33 balls in the 10th over, by which stage the score had reached 83 for 2.Godleman found an aide in in-form Madsen. They shared 77 inside eight overs for the third wicket before former was caught behind off Willey as the score fell to 123 for three in the 14th.Steven Patterson and Adil Rashid tightened things up as the target became 49 off five overs and 33 off three.Madsen and Henry fell to Patterson in the 19th before Alex Hughes, with 10 needed off the last, smashed the first ball from Bresnan for six before captain Gary Wilson hit the winning runs.

A stalwart effort from Nick Gubbins kept Middlesex in contention at Trent Bridge as they faced a stiff challenge from a Nottinghamshire side fighting for their first division lives

George Dobell at Trent Bridge07-Sep-2016
ScorecardNick Gubbins resists for Middlesex at Trent Bridge•Getty Images

It was more constrictor than cobra, more glacier than waterfall but, if Middlesex do go on to win the County Championship title this season, they may look back on Nick Gubbins’ innings here as a key contribution.With Yorkshire passing 400 at Leeds and Middlesex reeling at 81 for 5, this could have been the day their title challenge fell away. But through Gubbins’ skill and determination, they will resume on day three with the match in the balance and their first Championship title since 1993 still attainable.Gubbins has already contributed heavily this season. With 1122 Championship runs at an average of almost 60, he is not only his club’s highest run-scorer, but the fourth highest in the top division. He has played three fewer innings than all above him.But many of those runs have been scored on the slow and flat – the painfully slow and flat – surface at Lord’s. And while Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s director of cricket, reasons that such surfaces may benefit his team in the long-term (“they give batsmen confidence and teach bowlers the value of control,” he suggests), they can also inflate the records of some of those playing there.Here, though, in conditions where the ball moved all day for the seamers and on a slow, used surface that provided assistance to two spinners with international wickets to their name, he was forced to prove his quality in far less benign circumstances. And, after an opening over hat-trick on the first evening, he did it under the pressure of knowing his team needed him more than ever.It was, as he admitted himself, “a bit of a grind” at times. He went, at one stage, 38 overs without a boundary and 80 deliveries over the accumulation of five runs. His share of the stand of 42 with Stevie Eskinazi was just five and his half-century took 187 balls.But it was, in its way, compelling viewing. Forced to play straight and wait for the poor ball – and Nottinghamshire made him wait a long time – he refused to be drawn into playing away from his body and refused to let his impatience or frustration change his approach. For a 22-year-old, it was an impressively disciplined, selfless effort. Without it, Middlesex would have been in deep trouble.Gubbins is a batsman with far more to him than grim defence and crease occupation. He made his breakthrough as a List A batsman (he averaged 56.50 in that format in 2015) and has scored his Championship runs at a rate of 53.27 this season. He has a a trademark force off the hips – a stroke he can play on the ground or in the air off a good length ball on off stump – that can make a bowler wonder why he bothers.But reasoning that he is in this game for the long-haul, he has decided that such strokes are, for now, low-percentage. He has decided, like many top-order players before him, to play within himself (“that shot forces my head too far over to the off side,” he explains) and concentrate on a tight defence before worrying himself about domination. In conditions like this such a method will serve him – and, one day perhaps, England – well.There were still some elegant shots. When Brett Hutton dropped short he was cut, when Jake Ball – a little off colour, despite the five-wicket haul – he was driven. Imran Tahir’s odd loose balls were similarly punished. As Gubbins put it: “I never really felt I had dropped anchor, but they bowled very well, had in out fields and we had to battle hard to reach parity.”It was no surprise to hear that he has been spending time with Nick Compton. There were times here when this was much like watching Compton of 2012 vintage: a watertight defence and love for batting slowly breaking down the bowlers and feeding off their mistakes. It’s old school but it works.Such feats of concentration and mental and physical endurance can wear any player. It may be that both Compton and Jonathan Trott one day look back on their careers and reflect that they simply exhausted themselves. But, for now at least, Gubbins has the energy and the talent to relish the battle. If he can sustain it, he will be prove of great service to country as well as club.Notts looked far better than a bottom of the table team. Hutton produced a beauty to account for John Simpson – the ball swung in, pitched and moved just enough to beat what appeared to be a perfectly respectable forward defensive stroke and hit the top of off stump – while Harry Gurney bowled impressively dry and delivered four maidens in succession at one stage.If Dawid Malan felt himself unfortunate to be given out leg before – he held his head in his hands with disappointment – James Franklin felt to a loose upper cut to deep backward point and Eskinazi was well beaten by Imran. Gubbins’ fine innings was eventually ended by Hutton’s first over with the second new ball, when he was forced to play another beauty that swung in, held in the pitch and took the edge.Notts are not out of this game. With a potent leg-spinner to call upon, Middlesex face a tough challenge in the fourth innings on a used pitch. If Notts can just bat a little better in their second innings – and they started brightly – the great escape remains a distant possibility.Meanwhile Mick Newell, who is soon to be director of cricket at Nottinghamshire, hinted that a place could be found for James Taylor on the club’s coaching staff. Taylor, who was forced to retire with immediate effect in April after being diagnosed with a serious heart condition, has made no secret of his desire to try his hand at coaching.Notts have missed not just his runs, but his experience and spirit this season. While a role as a full time coach seems unlikely, it seems a part-time position mentoring young batsmen – especially in white ball cricket – could be created.”He’s interested and there’s scope for him to work with us,” Newell said. “I think he can work with young batters like Tom Moores. We lost a lot of mental toughness when he went. It was a big loss.”