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The Red Devils may be back in the hunt for Champions League qualification, but they still look like a team of individuals

"I think we can beat any opponent, away or at home," Erik ten Hag told reporters after Manchester United's crucial 2-1 victory at Aston Villa. "Sometimes away we have to believe it more, we deserved to win at Arsenal and could have won at Liverpool. It's about belief."

Sunday's three points could go a long way to ensuring United salvage a top-four finish, which seemed unthinkable just a few weeks ago. Ten Hag's side are now within five points of Villa, who are still sitting fifth, and six behind fourth-placed Tottenham, having won their last three games.

United have won four on the bounce in all competitions, their best run of the season so far, and it could continue with favourable fixtures against Luton Town and Fulham up next. On the surface, it appears the tide has turned.

But dig a little bit deeper, and it's obvious Ten Hag's side are still a mess. Villa will certainly be wondering how on earth they ended up empty-handed after a second-half barrage that saw Andre Onana finally justify his £48 million ($61m) transfer fee in the United goal.

Ten Hag may have saved his job by overseeing a mini-resurgence, but that does not mean United are back – or indeed anywhere near becoming a top side again.

Getty'Bit of an odd bunch'

"They’re better than they were, but they’re still not great," United legend Gary Neville told after the Villa game. "You still don’t see any patterns or combinations. They concede so many chances. They don’t control games. They don’t keep possession better than other teams. But they do have players who can win matches. They’re a bit of an odd bunch. They just play in moments during matches."

Rasmus Hojlund has transformed into United's main match-winner since opening his Premier League scoring account in the 3-2 win over Villa on Boxing Day, and the 21-year-old made it five goals in as many league appearances at the weekend – becoming the second-youngest player to achieve the feat in the Premier League after Nicolas Anelka.

The Red Devils also had super-sub Scott McTominay to thank for their latest win, as the Scotland midfielder stepped off the bench to head home his seventh Premier League goal of the season. But the fact McTominay is the club's top scorer in the competition despite only starting 12 games speaks volumes.

Neville is absolutely right, United are still relying on individual moments, with no clear identity to their play on or off the ball. They were overrun in midfield against Villa, which has become a theme against the top sides under Ten Hag, and it was far too easy for Unai Emery's men to get in behind the visitors' defence.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesDamning away record

The reaction to Ten Hag's "we can beat anyone" claim on social media was predictably strong. One account replied "Manchester United won’t go far with this manager if he actually believes this", while another pointed out that Arsenal had a 2.53 expected goals total compared to United's 0.98 when the hosts triumphed 3-1 at Emirates Stadium back in September.

In the 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield in December, United saw 34 shots reign down on their net, and only managed six themselves, while giving up 69 percent of the possession. Yes, the Red Devils had the better clear-cut chances, but Ten Hag once again set up not to lose rather than trying to go toe-to-toe.

Incredibly, Sunday's victory over Villa was actually the first game United have won on the road against a top-nine side since Ten Hag's appointment – at the 20th time of asking. It doesn't get more damning than that.

Getty Images'Problems are still there'

On another day, United could easily have trudged off the pitch at Villa Park bemoaning another dismal away defeat. Roy Keane certainly wasn't impressed, as he admitted to that his old club "got away with it" before insisting "the problems are still there for them".

One of those is Casemiro, who struggled to keep up with Villa's relentless energy in the middle of the park. The Brazilian has been a key player for United since returning from injury, but his 31-year-old legs are starting to let him down.

Neville recently called the board "crazy" for handing Casemiro a four-year contract after his £70m ($88m) move to Old Trafford from Real Madrid in 2022, and it's hard to disagree. It's a similar story for his former Madrid team-mate Raphael Varane, with the World Cup winner now lacking the speed and intensity that made him one of the best defenders in the world in his prime.

One man who does at least still have age on his side is Marcus Rashford, but the 26-year-old has looked equally ineffective this term, and was hooked after 73 minutes at Villa after consistently giving the ball away in the final third. Rashford may have been United's talisman in Ten Hag's debut season, but he's clearly in decline now, and serious questions will be asked over his future in the summer – especially if Paris Saint-Germain do indeed reignite their interest in the England international.

On the right-flank, meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho's failure to track back left Diogo Dalot exposed time and time again at Villa Park. The talented teenager has arguably been United's standout player in 2023-24, but if he doesn't learn to be more disciplined defensively, opposing teams will continue to get a lot of joy on that side of the pitch.

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Getty ImagesHas the story changed?

In the first half of the season, as United wrestled with an unprecedented injury crisis, Ten Hag repeatedly claimed he would "change the story" as soon as he was able to call upon a full-strength side again. The Dutchman has so far been proven right, with their recent upturn in form coinciding with the return of players like Casemiro, Varane, Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo.

Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw have also played their part, though the former has suffered a fresh injury setback that could keep him sidelined until April, and the latter came off at half-time against Villa due to a fitness scare. United definitely rode their luck in the second half without Shaw, which does not bode well if he faces another spell out.

Even though results have improved due to increased strength in depth, United scraped past Villa and Wolves in unimpressive fashion, the 3-0 scoreline against West Ham at Old Trafford flattered them, and they were outplayed by Tottenham in a 2-2 draw on home turf.

The fact Ten Hag is finally enjoying some continuity with his starting XI doesn't hide the fact United are still lacking quality across the pitch.

Sri Lanka Cricket has taken strides towards wiping out chucking in domestic and school cricket

Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Jun-2015Sri Lanka Cricket has taken strides towards wiping out chucking in domestic and school cricket. The ICC’s clampdown on suspect actions at the international level spurred a renewed effort to curb throwing domestically, last year. The board had empowered coaches and umpires to root out bad actions, and also bolstered the remedial process for bowlers believed to bowl with a bent elbow.”During the 2014/15 local cricket season as many as 170 bowlers (spin & fast) were reported for suspect bowling actions from club & school cricket,” an SLC release said. “The umpires must be commended for their efforts in this case as 90% of the reported bowlers were clearly identified as to having faulty bowling actions.”Overall a total of 42 bowlers were cleared to bowl after following an intensive remedial bowling program which was tailor-made to suit the individual bowler. Periodical assessments were carried out during the remedial period and bowlers’ progress was monitored. The assessor had to be convinced that the remodeled bowling action was within the legal limitations of the game before clearance was given.”The board said another 128 bowlers remain suspended from bowling in competition cricket, as they have not satisfactorily remodeled their actions. Sachithra Senanayake was among those whose action was successfully remedied in the past year.

USWNT star and 2023 NWSL Cup finalist Rose Lavelle sent a good luck video on social media to FC Cincinnati ahead of their MLS Playoff match.

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FCC set to play Conference semifinal SaturdayUSWNT star in attendanceNo. 1 seed has high expectations in playoffsWHAT HAPPENED?

The official FC Cincy account posted the clip on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, highlighting that the superstar footballer would be in attendance Saturday evening. Lavell herself just played in NWSL final – unfortunately just coming up short in an OL Reign loss to Gotham FC – but maybe she'll bring some good luck to her hometown team on the evening.

AdvertisementWHAT LAVELLE SAID

Speaking while wearing an FC Cincinnati hat and jersey with a winter coat on, Lavelle said: "Hey guys, it's Rose – I'm so excited to be at the game tonight and I'm so excited to cheer on the Orange and Blue. Let's get the win, VAMOS FCC!"

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The expectations are beyond the ceiling this postseason for Cincy; they're the No. 1 overall seed and sport the 2023 MVP favorite on their roster in midfielder Lucho Acosta. On top of that, they won the MLS regular season award by finishing top of the table, being handed the Supporters' Shield as a result. Now, Pat Noonan's side are set to take one 2022 MLS Cup finalists, Philadelphia Union, in their biggest test yet. However, with Lavelle – a World Cup champion – in the stands, cheering them on, they might just get over the line.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR FC CINCINNATI?

FCC are headed to the Eastern Conference finals, and have a date with the Columbus Crew. Lavelle's attendance proved to be lucky after all, with Pat Noonan's side now set to host their intra-state rivals on December 2.

Australia’s captain Michael Clarke has given a decidedly strong indication he wants David Warner in his first Test team, despite the left-hander’s lack of match preparation

Daniel Brettig at New Road05-Jul-2013Australia’s captain Michael Clarke has given a decidedly strong indication he wants David Warner in his first Test team, despite the left-hander’s lack of match preparation. It will now be a matter of whether or not the selectors agree with reinstating Warner immediately after his suspension for punching Joe Root, or demure for reasons of Test match readiness.Speaking for the first time since the day of Mickey Arthur’s replacement as the national team coach by Darren Lehmann and his resignation as a selector, Clarke expressed the staunch view that Warner has now served his punishment for events at the Walkabout in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy, and that the left-hander is not the kind of player to need matches behind him in order to feel confident.Should Warner be chosen it will be in a middle order role, after Lehmann confirmed Shane Watson and Chris Rogers had been inked in as opening batsmen for the series. The concept of a powerful counter-puncher at No. 6 has grown on the tourists, though his selection would not only run contrary to Warner’s lack of preparation but his form before that. Scores of 0, 0 and 9 in his three innings so far in Britain followed on from an indifferent IPL and a poor Test series against India.”He’s certainly served his punishment,” Clarke said, echoing Lehmann’s words about Warner having a “clean slate” under the new regime. “His punishment was no cricket up until the first Test match and now it’s about working out what our best team is. I don’t believe David won’t be selected because of punishment. I think that’s been dealt with. It’ll be about working out our best team.”Certainly the selectors are going to take into consideration that he hasn’t played much cricket over the past couple of weeks but on the other side of that the type of player Davey is it’s more about his mind being clear and playing with that intent. I don’t think Dave is the type of player that needs two four day games to make some runs to feel confident.”If he’s in the right place batting well in the nets I’m confident if the selectors do decide to pick him he can walk straight out onto the first Test to make a hundred.”I pick the batting order – Clarke

Though he is happy to no longer be a selector, Michael Clarke has stressed his authority over the composition of the Australian batting order, after the coach Darren Lehmann confirmed the selection of Shane Watson and Chris Rogers as the team’s openers to face England.

Lehmann’s confident declaration of first Watson and then Rogers as openers was a departure from the natural order of things, and Clarke politely refused to acknowledge the finality of the decision. However he did indicate that Watson and Rogers were discussed as a likely opening pair well before Lehmann’s arrival.

“I haven’t picked the batting order yet but I will do at some stage,” Clarke said. “Chris and Shane have certainly put their hand up as opening batters in the tour games but in regards to the batting order it hasn’t been selected. I haven’t got an 11 player team to pick the batting order at this stage.

“There has certainly been some communication over the last few months since coming back from India with Shane about where he wants to bat, where I see him most suited to the team. Then obviously once Chris was selected on this tour there was some communication there from both Mickey Arthur and myself. We will wait and see.”

Apart from their fitness and persistence, Clarke and the selectors gained little in the way of relevant knowledge about their bowlers on the final day at New Road. It was a fitting name for the ground given the way the pitch behaved, steadfastly refusing to break up or offer anything but the most minimal assistance. There has been some speculation about Peter Siddle’s place given a lack of wickets, but Clarke spoke generously of the most experienced fast bowler at his disposal.”Form certainly helps but Sidds has been a strike weapon for us over the last couple of years,” Clarke said. “The selectors will pick the best attack, you don’t necessarily have to be one of the best bowlers, it will be a complementary attack that helps us have success in the conditions we’re about to face. I think it’s one of his strengths. But they will need to pick an attack, not an individual bowler.”While admittedly close to Arthur, Clarke said the team had settled quickly following Lehmann’s appointment, and spoke happily of the displays put on against Somerset and Worcestershire, which suggested a team growing in confidence, unity and belief in their skills. For this he joined the rest of the squad in praising Lehmann, recalling their earlier time in the Test team together.”We’re talking more about old times, that’s for sure,” Clarke said. “I was lucky enough to play a fair bit of cricket with Darren so it’s nice to be back talking cricket with him. He’s got an amazing amount of knowledge about the game. I guess we’ve got a lot of similarities in the way we want to play. I had a great relationship with Mickey and I still do. The people who know Darren and know me know we were very close when we were playing as well.”There’s no doubt the boys have handled what’s happened over the past month as well as they possibly could I think our momentum is slowly building. I think our performance in both four-dayers, there are a lot of positives to take out of both games. We’re just about ready to play this first Test.”

Andy Flower, the England team director, could miss the ODI tour of India in January as the ECB looksto ease his workload

George Dobell20-Nov-2012Andy Flower, the England team director, could miss the ODI leg of England’s tour of India in January as the ECB looks to ease his workload.Ashley Giles, Warwickshire’s director of cricket who is currently in India as England’s selector on tour, is in contention to deputise for Flower along with his long-regarded natural heir, England assistant coach Richard Halsall.Flower’s relentless schedule has been a concern to the ECB for some time. Few players are required for all three formats of the game but Flower is intimately involved in the planning, selection and management of the ODI, Test and T20 teams. While individual players have enjoyed rest periods, Flower has been granted only an occasional, brief absence. It is understood there is a particular concern that the Kevin Pietersen saga left Flower drained.The ECB has, therefore, urged Flower to take a break. It believes that investing in a period of rest will help retain Flower’s services for several more years and ensure he remains enthused and motivated.Halsall has deputised for Flower in the past. He stood in for two days of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane in November 2010 when Flower required surgery to remove a melanoma from below his right eye and also when Flower was given a break for the ODI in Dublin in August 2011.But it is understood that Giles is seen as a more suitable long-term substitute. Giles, a former England player and current national selector, recently led Warwickshire to the County Championship title and is emerging as the obvious natural successor to Flower. There could be an element of succession planning in his temporary appointment.No final decision has been made and other options are being considered. Flower could also skip the ODI or the Test section of the New Zealand tour in February. But, with the next World Cup to be played in New Zealand and Australia in 2015, Flower will be reluctant to miss an opportunity to see players in those conditions.

Surrey made it two wins from three Friends Life t20 South Group matches by beating Kent by 31 runs at Canterbury with a second brilliant bowling performance inside three days

30-Jun-2013
ScorecardLuke Wright continued his recent good form with 81 off 49 balls•Getty ImagesLuke Wright smashed 81 off 49 balls as Sussex posted an impressive 202 for 3 on their way to a 24-run victory over Middlesex in the Friends Life t20 South Group clash at Lord’s.Dawid Malan hit back with 61 in 43 deliveries but even before he fell, heaving across the line in the 14th over, Middlesex had begun to lose their way. Neil Dexter blasted 27 off just 10 balls but it was too little too late for the hosts who finished on 178 for 8 – which included six penalty runs for Sussex’s slow over rate – with Michael Yardy taking 3 for 30.After winning the toss, Chris Nash got the visitors up and running with a swept six off Tim Murtagh in the third over. Murtagh suffered further punishment a couple of overs later when Wright hit four successive boundaries including a straight six.Sussex were pegged back briefly when Nash, who made 45 off 30 balls, dragged an attempted drive off Adam Voges on to his stumps to make it 84 for 1 in the 10th. But two overs later Rory Hamilton-Brown brought the hundred up for the Sharks with a sweetly timed four through extra cover off Voges.Wright then posted a 37-ball half-century in almost identical manner, off the bowling of Dexter, before flat-batting Josh Davey back over his head for six. Wright, whose impressive month had already brought him a first-class best 187 against the same opposition here at Lord’s, a YB40 century against Kent and a half-century in a Twenty20 international, was eventually caught at long-on off Murtagh for 81 but Hamilton-Brown, supported by Dwayne Smith, ensured there was no let-up.Hamilton-Brown scored 47 in 29 deliveries, including a straight six off Gareth Berg, before giving a steepling return catch to Kyle Mills in the final over. Smith, who had swatted the 34-year-old New Zealander over square leg for a maximum, finished with an unbeaten 21 off 12 balls to leave Middlesex needing to better the second-highest total at Lord’s in domestic Twenty20 cricket.Paul Stirling got the hosts off to a decent start by cover driving Chris Liddle for six in the third over of the Panthers’ reply and the Irishman was given a life on 28, when he was dropped at extra cover off the bowling of Yardy. Yardy had his revenge when Stirling (33) was caught a wide long-on and Joe Gatting then pulled off a superb one-handed catch, low to his right, off Will Beer to account for Joe Denly.Malan celebrated a 37-ball fifty by lifting Beer over long-on for a maximum but the pressure of needing to score at 10 an over eventually told and he was bowled by Nash for 61 before Voges reverse-swept Yardy to short third man. Adam Rossington fell to another good catch, this time by Chris Jordan running in from the midwicket boundary, though not before Dexter had lifted Yardy for a maximum.The Middlesex captain followed it up with two successive sixes off Liddle in the 17th over to leave his side needing an improbable 56 off 18 deliveries. The departure of Dexter, caught in the deep off Jordan, ended the Panthers’ hopes.

Mohammad Amir has appeared in an educational video on behalf of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit

Umar Farooq05-Apr-2012Mohammad Amir, the Pakistan fast-bowler banned from competitive cricket for five years for his part in the spot-fixing scandal of the 2010 Lord’s Test, has appeared in an educational video on behalf of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).In the five-minute video, Amir speaks about his life after being trapped by the illegal betting mafia, his embarrassment at lying to the ICC during its Qatar hearings and his three months in a British prison. Amir recounts his career, coming into the Pakistan team, and the Lord’s Test, of which he says, “I took six wickets but I did something very bad… after a couple of hours, my life is changed, my life is ruined because of two no balls.” It is understood the Amir video has also been shown to players from the various IPL teams in the lead-up to the event, which began on Wednesday.Amir said he had wanted to confess to the ICC anti-corruption tribunal during their hearings in Qatar last January, but had been unable to do so. In the video, he says, “I always knew this was cheating cricket but I was under pressure. But I accept my mistake. When I was in the ICC hearing, I knew I was totally embarrassed because I knew I am lying. I wanted to tell the truth but I didn’t have courage.”He said had bowled the no-balls at Lord’s because, “some senior players put me under pressure. I didn’t want to. One day I was on the top and the next day everyone was calling me cheater and fixer. You don’t have words to explain that.” The spot-fixing episode, he said, had been an act of entrapment but accepted his mistake of becoming a part of it. He said he was tricked into spot-fixing and he was not aware of the the player-agent Mazhar Majeed’s intentions.When he found himself facing a criminal trial, Amir said he had decided to tell the truth. The spot-fixing exercise was exposed by a sting operation arranged by the now defunct UK Sunday tabloid, the . Amir who will turn 20 on April 13, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat at gambling and did not stand trial in London. He was sentenced to six months in jail and in the video says, “When the police put me in handcuffs I was literally crying and I was thinking I am not going to play cricket ever again.”His parting message in the video is, “Prison is a bad place for everyone. Don’t make the mistakes which I did. I was stupid I didn’t tell anybody because I didn’t have coverage…If someone comes to you and asks you to do those kind of things, go straight to ICC team and team management they can help you.”Since his release after serving half of his six-month custodial sentence in England, Amir has been in contact with the ICC and PCB for an educational and rehabilitation program, which “remains confidential”.Speaking to ESPNcricinfo last month, the ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat had suggested the idea of Amir featuring in videos to point out the perils of corruption as part of educating young cricketers. “If Mohammad Amir stands up and delivers a message of caution about this murky world, people are going to sit up and listen. That is one example of rehabilitation,’ Lorgat said.In a televised interview with former England captain Michael Atherton last month, Aamer said his friendship with former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt was betrayed as it was Butt who had lured him into spot-fixing. Amir is currently living in Lahore, and serving his five-year ban which will run till 2015. There is no suggestion that Amir’s appearance in the ACSU video will lead to a reduction of his ban.There has been a lot of sympathy for Amir largely due to his age. Former captain Ramiz Raja met the bowler last week said, “the lad is obviously shaken badly by the gravity of events.” The PCB at the moment is keen to take care of the bowler but is yet to launch any rehabilitation program officially; it is understood the ICC is supporting the PCB in the process. An ICC spokesman told ESPNcricinfo: “The ICC has been in contact with Amir and the PCB about appropriate education and rehabilitation at an appropriate time, the details of which remain confidential.”

Aaron Finch, the 26-year-old Victorian, ransacked England’s bowling with an eye-popping world record 156 as Australia secured their first victory in any format for 200 days.

The Report by Andrew McGlashan at the Ageas Bowl29-Aug-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAaron Finch blazed a trail from ball one•AFPWhether Australia can produce young batsmen who are able to occupy the crease in Test cricket remains up for debate. That they can produce batsmen who give it an almighty thump there is no doubt. Aaron Finch, the 26-year-old Victorian, ransacked England’s bowling with an eye-popping world record 156 as Australia secured their first victory in any format for 200 days.It was a ferocious display of hitting from Finch, who had six previous T20 caps, as he tore England’s attack to shreds with a brutal display, in the process going well past Brendon McCullum’s 123 as the highest score in an international Twenty20. Australia’s eventual 248 for 6 was the second-highest total in a T20 international – and the highest in a match involving two Test nations – only Sri Lanka’s 260 against Kenya was out of reach and for a while it appeared they may cross that landmark too.A couple of weeks ago in the Friends Life t20 quarter-final there was 200-plays-200 match and the consistency of the one-day pitches at the Ageas Bowl deserves much praise – 457 runs in 40 overs is value for money, even if to watch such a boundary-fest all the time would dull the senses. But to chase 249 would have bordered on miracle territory. England, not surprisingly, could not get close – although did pass 200 for only the fourth time in a T20 – despite Joe Root’s entertaining 90 off 49 balls. Tellingly, perhaps, England could only manage five sixes to Australia’s 18.Fourteen of those came off Finch’s bat, another of the records that he broke during the onslaught. He began with a six first ball, picked up effortlessly off Steven Finn, and it was a theme that would continue throughout. Each of Finch’s landmarks came up with a six; his half-century, from 26 balls; his hundred, off 47, beating McCullum’s record, and his 150.He was on track to beat Richard Levi’s 45-ball hundred against New Zealand, in Hamilton, as the fastest on the international stage but after reducing himself to a couple of singles had to settle for second spot when he launched his 47th delivery, from Stuart Broad, for another six. He was the first Australian to make a Twenty20 international hundred and it took him just 13 more deliveries to power past 150. By then, it had long since stopped being an even contest.The bowlers had no answers, although not for the first time there was an absence of yorkers – anything fractionally off target was dispatched over the boundaries with strength, timing and, occasionally, some finesse; although this was not an innings of deft touch and placement. Finch’s sixes over the off side, one struck as he slid outside leg stump, were perhaps the most breathtaking.Picking through the wreckage of England’s figures may seem a rather pointless task, but there are a couple of overs that stand out. Root’s only over cost 27 – he made the mistake of conceding a single to Shaun Marsh first ball – and Danny Briggs, on his home ground, was taken for 23 in his last, all by Finch. Following on from Martin Guptill’s huge innings in the one-day international here earlier in the season, this is not a favourite ground for England at the moment.The only England bowler to have an economy rate in single figures was Jade Dernbach, which itself will bring surprise from many. He finally removed Finch and also dumbfounded Shane Watson with a back-of-the-hand slower ball after his 37 off 16 balls, in a stand of 99 in seven overs, had gone almost unnoticed.Finch and Marsh had added 114 in nine overs for the second wicket having come together early following David Warner’s bizarre dismissal. Swinging with all his power, he top edged Broad’s second ball and, in the process, lost his bat which flew towards short fine-leg while Jos Buttler settled under the catch. Warner then had to walk back to collect his bat from an obliging England player who had picked it up. It was the high point of the innings for England.But the crowd had another moment to savour. The opening over of the chase, bowled by the much-missed (at least by the England supporters) Mitchell Johnson, cost 17 and included two wides and three boundaries. Johnson, though, recovered from those early problems by trapping Michael Lumb lbw and then having Eoin Morgan caught at point while he touched 93mph on the speed gun.But Josh Hazlewood created the most physical damage. Root needed treatment for a cut lip after a short ball from Hazlewood squeezed between his peak and grille. Warner, who had come close to inflicting something similar earlier in the tour, was the first Australian to go up to Root who, after a few minutes, did not seem overly troubled by the blow as he notched a 29-ball fifty and he later took 16 off Johnson’s last over much to the joy of the fans who stayed on to the bitter end.In the seventh over there was also a significant moment. Fawad Ahmed, the legspinner, delivered his first international over. It went for 10 and his four overs ended up costing 43. It was not really an evening to be a spinner. His story remains a remarkable one but, for one night at least, it was trumped.

New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the ongoing ODI series in Bangladesh and the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka because of a fractured thumb

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Oct-2013New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the ongoing ODI series in Bangladesh and the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka because of a fractured thumb. Williamson will return to New Zealand today and Luke Ronchi will join the squad as a replacement for the remaining Bangladesh ODIs.The injury, which will require up to six weeks recovery time, makes him doubtful for the opening Test against West Indies, in Dunedin, which begins on December 3.In the absence of Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor, Williamson was supposed to lead New Zealand in the three ODIs and two Twenty20s in Sri Lanka. New Zealand’s selectors are yet to announce the replacement captain and player for that tour.Williamson was struck on the thumb while fielding at point in the 35th over of Bangladesh’s innings in the first ODI in Mirpur and immediately left the field. His left thumb was dislocated and an x-ray confirmed a small fracture.”This kind of injury unfortunately means Kane cannot take part in the rest of the tour and he will return to New Zealand to begin his rehabilitation,” New Zealand physiotherapist Paul Close said. “Kane is about six weeks away from playing again at this stage.”

Thisara Perera’s three-wicket burst derailed the India innings and put Sri Lanka on course for their thumping nine-wicket win in Hambantota

The Report by George Binoy24-Jul-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsThisara Perera took three wickets before conceding a run•AFPFor the first three overs on a blustery afternoon in Hambantota, Sri Lanka looked thrown. Running in through strong winds, their opening bowlers found rhythm elusive and lines hard to control. Lasith Malinga got no movement; the debutant Isuru Udana’s first over comprised 11 balls and contained 16 runs; there were careless overthrows and misfields; and India scored 31 for 0 with barely a risk. And then Thisara Perera, in the midst of his best home summer, changed everything and turned Sri Lanka’s quest to draw level in the series into a cruise.Perera made the ball swing in the air and seam off the surface. He did not bowl grenades, but he did not need to. Against accurate lengths and stingy lines, India’s batsmen weren’t far from playing an impatient shot. Perera took a wicket in each of his first three overs without conceding a run, and he could have had a fourth had Angelo Mathews not dropped MS Dhoni at first slip. His spell of 3-3-0-3 left India on 41 for 4 after eight overs, a slide that did not subside.As India collapsed like an undercooked cake at one end, Gautam Gambhir held the other up. He’d begun with a crisp square drive and a flick off the pads as early as Malinga’s second over, but his steadiness was swamped by the ineptness of his team-mates. He nearly became the first India player to carry his bat in a one-day international but was the last man out, for 65.Having dismissed India for 138 in the 34th over, Sri Lanka had nine overs to bat before the dinner break. The wind was still blowing in Hambantota, and Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan capitalised on several loose deliveries to score 64 before the interval. The remaining 75 was added without much alarm as well, though Dilshan’s dismissal prevented Sri Lanka from achieving their first ten-wicket victory against India in ODIs.Smart stats

The number of balls remaining for Sri Lanka at the end of their successful chase (181) is the second-highest for them in an ODI against India. The highest is 209 in Dambulla in 2010. It is also the second-biggest defeat for India against any team in terms of balls remaining.

The nine-wicket win equals Sri Lanka’s best ever victory margin in a chase against India. The previous nine-wicket win came in Colombo in 1996.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga were involved in their ninth century stand. This takes them joint-third on the list of Sri Lankan pairs with most century stands. The pair now has the most century stands (9) for Sri Lanka for the opening wicket.

This is the 18th time that India have been bowled out in an innings lasting less than 35 overs. It is also the fourth such occurrence for India in ODIs in Sri Lanka (third against Sri Lanka) in ODIs since 2008.

The number of deliveries bowled in the game (320) is the fifth-lowest in an India-Sri Lanka ODI. Three of the top four, however, were rain-affected games.

Gautam Gambhir, who was the last man dismissed, closely missed out on becoming the only Indian batsman to carry his bat through a completed innings (team all out).

Thisara Perera won his sixth player-of-the-match award in just his 41st match. His rate of an award every seven matches is better than any Sri Lankan player with six-plus match awards.

The momentum shift after Dhoni won his second toss in two games, and chose to bat in favourable conditions, had been sudden. It occurred when Perera lunged to his right, throwing his large frame against the momentum of his follow through, to catch with both hands a loose push from Virender Sehwag. In his second over, Perera got rid of the bogeyman by inducing a thick edge from Virat Kohli, who had hundreds in his previous three innings against Sri Lanka. He made 1 today after failing to execute a steer to third man.Perera hurt India further in his third over. Suresh Raina hung his bat outside off stump, reaching for the ball angling across him without fluent footwork, and played on. A ball later, he found another edge, off Dhoni’s bat, but it was put down at first slip.Mathews, who had extended Rohit Sharma’s wretched run by bowling him off the inside edge for a duck, soon made amends for his gaffe. He got the ball to bounce off a good length, cramp Dhoni for room on the cut and take the edge to Sangakkara. Between those edges, Dhoni had played two fluent off drives against Perera for boundaries.After Irfan Pathan holed out to Perera at mid-off, Gambhir and R Ashwin put on 28 for the seventh wicket before a comical run-out ended the partnership. Having cut the ball towards third man, Ashwin wanted a third but was sent back. His turning radius was so large and his movement so slow that he failed to cover the short distance even though he dived. Gambhir looked on in despair. Sri Lanka ended the India innings well before dinner; the only pity was there were so few people to watch their clinical performance.The crowd was bigger when Sri Lanka began their chase and the sound of celebratory trumpets was ever-present. The hosts could have lost Dilshan on 1 but Sehwag grassed the edge off the attempted booming drive against Irfan. India barely had another opportunity. Dilshan scored at more than a run-a-ball despite hitting only four boundaries. Tharanga, in contrast, hit fours more frequently, freeing his arms to play the drive and the cut when given room outside off stump.Both India’s left-arm bowlers – Zaheer Khan and Irfan – bowled wayward lines in the wind. Between them, they conceded 14 runs through wides. There were 24 extras in all. India were a beaten side before the dinner break and Dilshan flicked the first ball after resumption to the midwicket boundary, continuing Sri Lanka’s inexorable march towards victory, which was achieved with 30.1 overs to spare.