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A gritty 98 from Laurie Evans, coupled with a spirited lower-order onslaught from Jeetan Patel and Keith Barker, enabled Warwickshire to enjoy the better of another gloomy day at Lord’s

Andrew Miller at Lord's01-Jun-2015
ScorecardLaurie Evans fell two short of a century•PA PhotosA gritty 98 from Laurie Evans, coupled with a spirited lower-order onslaught from Jeetan Patel and Keith Barker, enabled Warwickshire to enjoy the better of another gloomy day at Lord’s. They converted their overnight 148 for 3 to a competitive 342 – not bad at all after being asked to bat first – before Chris Wright nipped in with the early wicket of Joe Burns as Middlesex weathered the new ball to reach 39 for 1 in reply.In what has so far been a stop-start contest, the true value of the runs that Warwickshire have put on the board will only be known when Middlesex’s own innings has developed further. However, the hostile reception that Wright and Barker doled out with the new ball suggests that life isn’t about to get too much easier for batting.”There’s a bit of variable bounce in places,” Evans said. “You don’t mind left to right [movement] so much but when it starts to go up and down, it’s a bit tricky and can get in your head. We realised it was tricky to score so we decided to be positive. I can’t see it getting any better to bat on, but we were looking at around 220 to 250 after being put in, so it’s a great effort by everyone on a scrap-hard wicket.”Both of Middlesex’s not-out batsmen, Sam Robson and Nick Compton, were rapped on the gloves by lifters from a good length in a final session that was twice interrupted by bad light before the weather closed in for good shortly after 5pm.Warwickshire had resumed in the morning with Evans and Jonathan Trott unbeaten in a 92-run stand for the fourth wicket. However, Trott managed to add just a single to his overnight 44, as he nibbled outside off to Toby Roland-Jones and feathered a thin edge to John Simpson behind the stumps.Tim Ambrose, the new batsman, had two moments of good fortune when he spliced a lifter from Roland-Jones over the slip cordon on 2 before edging inches short of Ollie Rayner at second slip on 10. But his luck ran out on 20 as Neil Dexter entered the attack for Rayner to hold on to an attempted uppercut over the cordon.However, Evans ground on undaunted, inching ever closer to what would have been his fifth first-class century with an innings that was never fluent but didn’t want for composure. He rode his luck outside off stump (or was it good judgement?) and seemed to have shrugged off his role in the run-out of Rikki Clarke for 15 when Steven Finn, returning from the Pavilion End, beat him with a nip-backer that flicked his pad and crashed into the stumps to leave him stranded two short of his hundred.”It was nice to spend a bit of time at a great ground. It was a shame not to get a couple of runs but I could have been out at any stage, it was that sort of wicket. I was just glad to get a score.”At 253 for 7, Middlesex sensed their chance to steal the ascendancy, but they reckoned without the obduracy of Barker and Patel, who saw off the seamers then took on the spin of Rayner, who was dumped over the leg side for four sixes in his first 13 balls before striking with his 15th to have Patel lbw for 37 and end a momentum-seizing eighth-wicket stand of 72.The end of Warwickshire’s innings came in a relative rush. Barker was trapped on the crease by Roland-Jones and bowled for 37 before Boyd Rankin departed in the same fashion five overs later, aiming a massive mow at Rayner.Robson, in reply, eased Barker through the covers for a second-ball four before Burns went one better with a spanking pull from Wright’s opening delivery. But Wright struck back in the same over, trapping Burns lbw for 4 to set up a testing evening session. Robson and Compton prevailed in the gloom, however, with Robson, in particular, finding some fluency to pick off five fours in his unbeaten 26 by the close.”There’s definitely enough still in the wicket,” Evans said. “We’ll be looking to pitch the ball up and get the slips in play.”

Don Robson, the driving force behind Durham’s emergence as a first-class county, has died at the age of 82

David Hopps11-Mar-2016Don Robson, the driving force behind Durham’s emergence as a first-class county, has died at the age of 82.Durham became the 18th first-class county in 1992, the first since Glamorgan in 1921, defying the general assumption that county cricket was certain to decline rather than expand bravely into what became its most northerly outpost.After difficult beginnings, they went on to dominate the professional game, winning six trophies between 2007 and 2014, including three Championships, and also staging international cricket at their purpose-built Chester-le-Street ground.The death of the man who was chiefly responsible for delivering that dream comes at a challenging time when Durham are under considerable financial strain, inviting questions whether regular England cricket in the north-east is sustainable.Robson, immensely proud of the north-east, would have had no truck with such pessimism. As leader of Durham county council (the youngest ever when he was appointed in 1973) and an influential member of the regional assembly, he had political clout in the region and he put it to good use in a straightforward, immensely committed style.His ambition was to provide a home for the succession of cricketers developed in the north-east but who had previously had to leave the county to fulfil their ambitions to play professional cricket.Gordon Hollins, the ECB’s chief operating officer, knew Robson well from his time as commercial director at Durham.He said: “Don played a leading role in gaining first-class status for Durham prior to their inaugural season at the top table in 1992. The north-east was going through a really tough time economically and Don’s efforts therefore didn’t just help cricket, they also helped the region regain some pride.”The success of Durham on the field, the development of several England players and the staging of international cricket at the Emirates Riverside are all achievements that would not have been possible without Don’s contribution”Don was equally committed to the recreational game – I would often see him watching Greenside CC play in the Tyneside & Northumberland league on a Saturday afternoon.”Robson became Durham’s first chairman as a first-class county, but this was no political sop. He led the fundraising drive, lobbying extensively and continuing his involvement in cricket in the north-east.He was involved when Durham were England’s dominant minor county through the 1970s and ’80s – going 65 games unbeaten between 1976 and 1982 – managed the Under-19 team for a while and represented the county at several committees on the Test and County Cricket Board – the forerunner of the ECB.In April 1992 they played their first match as a first-class county – a Sunday League fixture against Lancashire at the Racecourse Ground in Durham. Ian Botham and Wayne Larkins, two high-profile signings, opened the batting and Durham won. It was a decade and more before winning became a habit.Most importantly, Durham secured land for a permanent headquarters on the outskirts of Chester-le-Street, adjoining the River Wear and with Lumley Castle providing a striking backdrop. A Chester-le-Street farmer had been willing to end his lease because the land was too wet. In May 1995, Durham played their inaugural game on the ground against Warwickshire and the pavilion was named in Robson’s honour and opened by the Queen in 1996.Geoff Cook, Durham’s director of cricket – the longest-serving county coach in the game – said on the their website: “You had to be involved at the time of Durham’s emergence from minor counties cricket to appreciate the enormity of Don’s involvement in the whole scheme.”To be the first new county for 70 or 80 years was a big thing in its own right, but the practicalities of getting the finance and the ground in place were vital to us having a realistic chance of succeeding.”A tremendous amount of balls were up in the air at the same time, but Don remained completely focused throughout the process and at the same time he progressed his business as well as his political career.”It was amazing to be on hand to witness his mental and physical energy and the way he was able to pull things together. He really was a remarkable man. He had a ferocious energy and a determination to satisfy his vision.”No matter the size of the hurdles that got in his way, he always felt he could surmount them. He was formidable, but he had a lot of warmth and he was a caring person.”Before awarding first-class status, Durham had to have at least £1m in the bank and guarantee to secure a permanent ground within five years.Robson used his political contacts to win major support from such companies as Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, but he was a politician who also had a strong connection with the public and they trusted him with a rush of small donations and offers of help in the belief that he would achieve his goal.He was awarded a CBE for services to local government in 1997 and received an honorary doctorate from Sunderland University in 2002 in recognition both of this and his role in securing Durham’s first-class status. He also played professional football as a centre-forward with Doncaster Rovers and Gateshead.

The Portuguese has agreed a €112 million move to Juventus and here, Goal takes a look at some of the big names who could be brought in by Los Blancos

Getty ImagesNeymarA long-time obsession of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, Neymar moved last summer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for €222m and his signing would be not easy after a sole season at the Parc des Princes. The Brazilian, who has the same birthday as Cristiano Ronaldo, is seven years younger than the 33-year-old Portuguese and could slot into the same position on the left.AdvertisementGetty ImagesKylian MbappeNeymar's club colleague Kylian Mbappe is the world's most exciting young player. Still just 19, the France forward moved a year ago from Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain, but is very much in Real Madrid's thoughts and his age makes him the ideal replacement for his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, although his signing could cost up to €300m.Getty ImagesEden HazardThe Belgium attacker has admitted he would be tempted by a move to Real Madrid, even though his idol Zinedine Zidane has left the Spanish side. Hazard has spent six seasons at Chelsea and at 27, this may be the last chance he has of a dream transfer to the Spanish side. And starring at the World Cup will not have done his chances any harm at all.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesRobert LewandowskiThe striker has long been on the agenda at Real Madrid and wants to leave Bayern Munich, but talk of a summer switch to the Spanish side has already been played down by his agent and in any case, the Poland forward turns 30 in August. So while a move appeared a real possibility in the past, it now looks unlikely at this stage of his career.

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has revealed that Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Josko Gvardiol could be set for spells in the treatment room.

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Guardiola confirms triple injury blow for Man CityGrealish suffers muscular problem in CopenhagenSilva & Gvardiol sustain ankle injuriesWHAT HAPPENED?

City breezed to a 3-1 win in their Champions League last-16 first leg against Copenhagen on Tuesday but the result was marred by Grealish suffering a suspected groin injury midway through the first half. Guardiola confirmed that the midfielder had suffered a muscular problem and also revealed that Bernardo Silva, who also had to be taken off in the second half, had hurt his ankle. He also disclosed that Josko Gvardiol will be out for up to three weeks after injuring ligaments in his ankle.

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"Bernardo has a big knock. Looks like a muscular [injury] for Jack Grealish," Guardiola told. "It is a pity. He helped us to play at the right tempo. He felt it when he rolled on the grass. They know."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

City were just approaching full strength again after suffering numerous injury setbacks throughout the season. They were without Kevin De Bruyne for five months, Erling Haaland for two months while John Stones has missed large parts of the campaign with separate issues. They all started at Parken Stadium on Tuesday night but now City have fresh injury concerns in midfield due to the likely absences of Silva and Grealish, while Gvardiol, who was not in the matchday squad against Copenhagen, leaves them with just one option at left-back.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CITY?

The injuries come at a key moment in the season for City and ahead of a daunting run of fixtures. Guardiola's side face an improving Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday before hosting Brentford the following Tuesday. They then travel to Bournemouth and Luton before facing Manchester United in the derby and visiting Liverpool in a potential title showdown.

Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman delighted Wrexham fans as he told his own player to give the ball back after disagreeing with a decision.

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Gesture from Accrington boss received standing ovationJohn Coleman ordered his own player to give ball backDisagreed with decision made by linesman & refereeWHAT HAPPENED?

As the ball ran out of play for a throw-in during Saturday's League Two clash, referee Ben Atkinson awarded the decision to Accrington Stanley, around the halfway line and in front to of the managers in the dugout. Coleman proceeded to jump out of his seat and tell his player to give the ball straight back to Wrexham, as he clearly disagreed with the decision and felt that the hosts deserved to have possession back.

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It was a hugely bizarre moment that's very rarely seen in football. Indeed, the Wrexham fans acknowledged Coleman's gesture, standing to their feet to give the Accrington manager an ovation. It might not have been the best idea, though, with the visitors then already 3-0 down, courtesy of a Paul Mullin hat-trick, and chasing the game against the promotion hopefuls. Indeed, they would fall 4-0 behind just before the half-time whistle blew, and it's unlikely Coleman will want do any more favours for Phil Parkinson's men.

DID YOU KNOW?

This sort of intervention usually only happens when a team has unjustly scored a goal that the opponent, and ultimately their manager, feels should be corrected, allowing them to score straight from the kick-off. This exact scenario happened in the Championship in 2019, when Leeds allowed Aston Villa to score the equaliser unopposed immediately after they had found the net while Jonathan Kodjia was down with an injury. That gesture saw head coach Marcelo Bielsa win the FIFA Fair Play award, much to the annoyance of Frank Lampard!

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ACCRINGTON?

After being ripped apart in the first half by Wrexham, Accrington Stanley will be looking to get out of SToK Racecourse as soon as possible. The League Two side face Bradford City on March 9 and will be looking to recover from a woeful recent run of results. As for Coleman, he's unlikely to be recognised by FIFA for his gesture, but Wrexham fans present at the game won't forget it in a hurry.

The match had almost all the ingredients of an absorbing Twenty20 match

The Report by Kanishkaa Balachandran27-Apr-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShane Watson gathered pace towards the end to finish unbeaten on 98•BCCIThe match had almost all the ingredients of an absorbing Twenty20 contest. Sunrisers Hyderabad lost their top order in a cycle-stand collapse, before Darren Sammy led a lower-order revival to push the score to 144. On a pitch assisting the seamers, Rajasthan Royals had to deal with a testing opening period of swing and seam, which the experienced duo of Rahul Dravid and Shane Watson negotiated. Watson, coming off a century in Chennai, paced his innings and powered Royals home with a blistering unbeaten 98.Watson wasn’t the only Australian making waves at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. James Faulkner demolished the Sunrisers’ top order during a five-wicket haul, the first of IPL 2013. Faulkner and the innocuous Ajit Chandila reduced Sunrisers to 29 for 6, raising expectations of early finish. The top six registered scores of 2,0,4,4,6,4 – leaving much responsibility on Sammy.Kumar Sangakkara had dropped himself for three games owing to his indifferent form, but his return made no difference as he joined the early procession of wickets. After Akshath Reddy fell off a leading edge against Chandila, Sangakkara chased a wide delivery from Faulkner and edged to second slip for 4.Though the pitch gave a lot of assistance to the seamers in terms of movement and bounce, the shot selection by the Sunrisers was poor. Shikhar Dhawan slashed straight to backward point and Karan Sharma, walking in unexpectedly at No.5 – just as Amit Mishra did in Chennai – succumbed to the pressure of needing quick runs by top edging Faulkner to fine leg. Thisara Perera perished to a one-handed slog down to long-on before Hanuma Vihari gloved Kevon Cooper down the leg side. It was the first time Royals had managed so many wickets in the Powerplay.Sammy and Amit Mishra scripted Sunrisers’ recovery with a stand of 58. Sammy made room against the seamers to clear cover and shoveled the ball over midwicket to give the innings some impetus. He hit the first six of the innings in the 13th, a pull off Siddharth Trivedi over deep midwicket. He celebrated his fifty – his first in T20s – in unique style, pulling out a baby pacifier tied around his neck sucking at it, for his baby daughter.The seventh, eighth and ninth wickets added 115, giving the Sunrisers bowlers a fighting total to try and defend.Watson and Dravid, however, used their experience to counter the swing and prevent the loss of early wickets. Several deliveries came back into the right-hander, but Watson ensured he played the ball late, dabbing it down to third man and behind point. He did offer some chances, though. On 16, an outside edge off Perera just beat a diving Sangakkara, and another just dropped short of Sammy at slip.Royals had progressed to 53 for 1 after ten overs, with the asking rate passing nine. The partnership gathered pace in the second half of the innings, Dravid launching Royals’ march with a six over long-on. A costly Ishant Sharma over, which leaked 20, included three fours and a six by Watson. The next, off Perera, went for 15 and hastened Royals’ march to the target. Three powerful blows to deep midwicket, by Watson off Karan Sharma, sealed a clinical win.

Hamish Bennett, the New Zealand fast bowler, will miss next month’s tour of Zimbabwe due to a sore back

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2011Hamish Bennett, the New Zealand fast bowler, will miss next month’s tour of Zimbabwe due to a sore back.A lower back soreness has put Bennett out of contention. “It seems like the trouble is muscular, the scans show nothing. I’ve just got to stop bowling for a few weeks and become pain-free, then I can resume gradually again,” Bennett was quoted as saying in the . “It’s really frustrating obviously but could be a lot worse, I guess. Things should settle down fairly quickly, I’m told.””Unfortunately injuries are just part and parcel of being a fast bowler. I’m just due for a better run and hope I can get that over the remainder of the season.”Bennett, 24, has had a string of injuries since his surprise elevation to the national side last year. He suffered a groin strain on the opening day of his Test debut in India, ruling him out of the series. Earlier this year, an ankle injury put him out of the second half of New Zealand’s run to the semi-finals in the World Cup.

The ICC has confirmed that an error was made by the host broadcaster while deciding whether the delivery on which MS Dhoni was dismissed

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jun-2011MS Dhoni was wrongly dismissed off a no-ball in the first innings of the second Test between West Indies and India, as the incorrect replay was shown to the third umpire. The ICC has confirmed the error by the host broadcaster, IMG Media, which the match referee Chris Broad said was an “honest” mistake.Dhoni had chipped a catch to mid-on off Fidel Edwards in the 59th over. After Dhoni completed the stroke, the on-field umpire Ian Gould signalled that the bowler had overstepped and then asked the third umpire Gregory Brathwaite to verify the decision. The replays showed that Edwards had a good portion of his foot behind the crease, prompting Brathwaite to deem it a legitimate delivery, and Dhoni was ruled out.It later emerged that Brathwaite had been shown the wrong replay and that the delivery that led to Dhoni’s dismissal should have been called a no-ball.”The host broadcaster for this series, IMG Media, acknowledged the mistake and has apologised,” Broad said. “Having looked into the situation, I am satisfied it was an unfortunate but honest mistake in what is a tense and live environment.”Broad also said there was no scope for redressing the mistake. “Seeing as the game has continued, clearly there is no opportunity to reverse the decision. We are forced now put it behind us and move on with the remainder of the match.”IMG acknowledged the error and tried to explain how it occurred. “IMG Media takes its responsibilities on this matter very seriously,” their spokesman said. “This was a case of human error, compounded by a senior replay operative having to return home at very short notice.”Dhoni had the misfortune of being dismissed off a no-ball in the second innings of the first Test as well, when the umpires missed the bowler Devendra Bishoo cutting the return crease with his back leg.In its release, the ICC pointed out that if this series had the Decision Review System, an ICC official would have been present to monitor the broadcast.

Nigel Harrison, the former Barbados first-class umpire, has died aged 77 after a brief illness

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Dec-2011Nigel Harrison, the former Barbados first-class umpire, has died aged 77 after a brief illness. He stood in Shell Shield and Red Stripe Cup matches through the 1980s. His last first-class game was a tour match during England’s tour of the West Indies in 1990.He also served as the president and treasurer of the Barbados Cricket Umpires Association (BCUA). He was also a former managing director of Corbin Compton, a leading local advertising company.”He was a good umpire. I don’t think he ever had a bad report,” Lloyd Barker, a former international umpire, told the Barbados Cricket Association website. “He knew the game and was always very involved in the training of new umpires.”Joel Garner, the former West Indies bowler and current president of the Barbados Cricket Association, said in a West Indies Cricket Board release that Harrison had enjoyed the confidence of the players he worked with. “As a player I came into contact with Mr Harrison on many occasions while playing at the club level and in regional cricket and he was always a strong, firm umpire.”He was a good communicator and won the confidence of all the players. He made a huge contribution to the game at the club level in Barbados and also helped with the development of regional cricket as well.”WICB president, Julian Hunte, praised Harrison’s contribution to umpiring in the Caribbean. “It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Nigel Harrison, who was one of the leading umpires in Barbados and West Indies cricket. He carried himself with dignity and made a significant contribution to the game he loved. He helped to lift the standard of umpiring across the region and was a standard-bearer.”Harrison also played club cricket for the Spartan Cricket Club, where he played alongside former West Indies players Wes Hall, David Holford, Cammie Smith, Tony Howard and Peter Lashley.

Ernest Hilaire has written to Chris Gayle saying he could not ask for unconditional no-objection certificates (NOCs) and simultaneously make himself available for West Indies selection

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2012WICB responds to Jamaica Prime Minister

The WICB has said it regrets the comments made by Jamaica prime minister Portia Simpson-Miller that Chris Gayle had been treated unjustly by the board and kept out of the West Indies team. The WICB said Simpson-Miller was not privy to all the information when she made her statement at the Jamaica Cricket Association Awards dinner.
“Had the Honourable Prime Minister been briefed she would have been informed that Mr. Chris Gayle has been written to by the WICB, clearly outlining the full details of what is required of him,” the board said. “The WICB is awaiting a response from Mr. Gayle.”
The WICB requested Simpson-Miller to ask Gayle to respond quickly to the board and end the dispute. “The WICB implores the Prime Minister to use her good office to urge Mr. Gayle to respond favourably in an effort to put this issue in the past,” the WICB statement said.
Simpson-Miller had said “justice delayed is justice denied” and demanded that “a resolution be found as quickly as possible” regarding the Gayle issue. The WICB, however, said it would not select Gayle until he retracted the comments he made criticising the board and the coach Ottis Gibson, and responded to their previous letter about NOCs.

The WICB has asked Chris Gayle to make up his mind about his future with the West Indies team. In an email to the batsman, the WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire wrote that Gayle could not ask for unconditional no-objection certificates (NOCs) to play domestic Twenty20 tournaments around the world and simultaneously make himself available for West Indies selection.The email was dated January 30 but made public in the past 24 hours.Hilaire said the WICB rules conformed to the ICC’s operating manual and that a player would be granted an NOC to play a domestic tournament in another country on the condition that he be available for selection if an international series clashed with the tournament.”So, Chris, it is your choice, whether you receive a conditional or unconditional NOC. But you cannot have an unconditional NOC and be considered for selection to play for the West Indies,” Hilaire wrote in the email dated January 30. “Either you wish to make yourself available to play for the West Indies, in which case you must accept that NOCs will be granted to you on the same conditional terms as other international players, or you do not, in which case you can have your unconditional NOC. All that is required from you is a clear statement, one way or the other.””If a player has no contractual obligation to WICB, and does not wish to make himself available to play in international matches for which he may be selected, then he has the option of ceasing to be a FTS (first team squad) Player, by retiring from international cricket, or otherwise declaring himself ineligible and/or unavailable for selection for the foreseeable future. In that event, WICB would not consider it necessary or appropriate to issue a player with anything but anunconditional NOC.”Gayle has not played for West Indies since the 2011 World Cup because of comments he made against the board and the coach Ottis Gibson during a radio interview. The WICB asked Gayle to retract his comments and the batsman has refused to do so. Gayle has just arrived in South Africa to be part of Dolphins’ domestic Twenty20 campaign after playing for Barisal Burners in the Bangladesh Premier League.In his email, Hilaire told Gayle he was “ineligible for selection pending resolution of certain matters.””The Board requires you to provide a general public retraction of the comments made in the interview in question and the effect it has had on the team, Coach, Captain and Management and to express a commitment to team and management. If the terms of that retraction can be agreed, WICB will be happy to consider you eligible once again for selection.”Edited by George Binoy