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A round-up of the sixth round National Cricket League matches

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2012
ScorecardDhaka Division opened up the title race for the National Cricket League by beating leaders Khulna Division by five wickets in Rajshahi. The seven points from the game put them just four short of Khulna in the points table.Put into bat first, Khulna were bowled out for 171 runs in 59 overs with Mosharraf Hossain taking seven wickets with his left-arm spin. Only Nazmus Sadat stood firm with the bat, scoring 53 off 138 balls. Dhaka took a 58-run lead as Khulna hit back with four wickets coming through their left-arm spinner Murad Khan and three from seamer Robiul Islam.Imrul Kayes hit a century in the second innings but only Mithun Ali contributed with a half-century as the rest of the batsmen failed against Shahadat Hossain and Mosharraf, who took three wickets each. Dhaka were set a target of 211 runs on the final day, which they reached in 40.2 overs, despite Robiul’s four-wicket haul.
ScorecardLast four season’s winners Rajshahi Division have given themselves an outside chance of retaining the title with a 10-wicket win over Sylhet Division in Savar. The win put them on 26 points and if Khulna and Dhaka both fail to pick up points in the last round of matches and Rajshahi win with the maximum of nine points, they could win the title.Sylhet, after being put into bat, were stung by Farhad Reza’s four-wicket haul on the first day and were bowled out for 218 runs. Rajshahi replied handsomely, taking a 172-run lead. Sabbir Rahman top-scored with 136 and there were some useful contributions down the order that helped Rajshahi stretch the lead, despite Enamul Haque jnr’s six wickets.In the second innings, Rajshahi left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took the first five-for of his career as Sylhet were bowled out for 202 runs. Rajshahi picked up the 31 runs required early on the fourth morning.
ScorecardChittagong Division picked up their second win in the competition after they beat bottom-placed Barisal Division by eight wickets in Sylhet. Batting first, Barisal made 204 runs with Salman Hossain scoring 98.Chittagong replied with 296 runs, helped mainly by Faisal Hossain’s unbeaten 123 and 72 by Nazimuddin, who returned to form this season. Pace bowler Kamrul Islam Rabbi took five wickets for Barisal, while left-arm spinner Monir Hossain picked up four.Barisal replied poorly as they were bowled out for just 163 runs in 71 overs. Legspinner Noor Hossain took only his second five-for in his career, giving Chittagong a target of 72 runs, which they completed late on the fourth afternoon.

Mushfiqur Rahim has been retained as Bangladesh captain for the Asia Cup, starting March 11 in Mirpur. This comes a day after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 14-member squad for the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2012Bangladesh squad for Asia Cup

Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Mahmudullah (vice-capt), Imrul Kayes, Nazimuddin, Jahurul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Elias Sunny, Nazmul Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Anamul Haque
Reserves: Tamim Iqbal, Shuvagata Hom, Farhad Reza, Enamul Haque, Abul Hasan
In: Nazimuddin, Jahurul Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shahadat Hossain, Anamul Haque
Out: Alok Kapali, Naeem Islam, Rubel Hossain, Shahriar Nafees

Mushfiqur Rahim has been retained as Bangladesh captain for the Asia Cup, starting March 11 in Mirpur*. This comes a day after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 14-member squad for the tournament.The demotion of opening batsman Tamim Iqbal to the reserves and the inclusion of allrounder Mashrafe Mortaza are among a host of changes in the squad. Bangladesh’s selectors have dropped four of the 15 players who were part of the home ODI series against Pakistan in December 2011, demoted two to reserve status, and called up five. They also continued to not pick Mohammad Ashraful.The chief selector Akram Khan, however, said that dropping Tamim was not the panel’s decision but that of the Bangladesh Cricket Board president Mustafa Kamal. “Tamim Iqbal was dropped by Mustafa Kamal,” he told . “He was in the team that we submitted [for approval].”The selectors had received favourable fitness reports on both Mortaza and Tamim ahead of their meeting to pick the Asia Cup squad. Mortaza had led Dhaka Gladiators to victory in the inaugural season of the BPL, but Tamim played only two games for Chittagong Kings because of a groin injury.The five players called up to the squad were batsman Nazimuddin, wicketkeeper batsmen Jahurul Islam and Anamul Haque, Mortaza, and fast bowler Shahadat Hossain. Anamul, 19, is the only uncapped player in the squad.Alok Kapali and Shahriar Nafees, allrounder Naeem Islam and medium-pacer Rubel Hossain were dropped from the squad that played Pakistan. Tamim and medium-pace allrounder Farhad Reza, who were also part of the Pakistan series, were among the reserves for the Asia Cup.*March 6,14.30 GMT – This story was amended when the BCB announced that Mushfiqur had been named captain

India will replace bowling coach Eric Simons with former Queensland fast bowler Joe Dawes at the end of the tour of Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2012India will replace their bowling coach Eric Simons with former Queensland fast bowler Joe Dawes at the end of the tour of Australia. Simons’ contract expires after the tour, ending his two-year tenure with the Indian team.The topic of Simons’ contract was brought up at the BCCI working committee meeting in Chennai on Monday. Replacing him is the first change India will make to their support staff after losing their last eight away Tests.Simons said he did not want to continue with the Indian team beyond the Australia tour. “The full story is that after the World Cup, Duncan Fletcher asked me to stay on. I agreed to stay on until after the England tour. I was then asked to continue to Australia and told them that I would not be able to extend beyond that,” he said. “During the West Indies series in India, I was asked if I would reconsider and said that I could not, as I had effectively been away from home for two years. I was never going to continue beyond the Australia series.”MS Dhoni, the India captain, was full of praise for Simons. “Eric has been brilliant,” he said. “He has been with us for quite some time. He knows our culture, how we work, and he understands each and every bowler. What’s also important is what we speak and what we mean [they can be different]. Sometimes the bowlers say something, but they mean something else. That only comes in once the bowling coach has spent some time with the youngsters and the bowlers who are set in the side. Had a good experience with him, and hopefully the new bowling coach, whoever comes, does a good job.”Simons, who joined India as a bowling consultant in 2010, was named coach of the Delhi Daredevils for the 2012 IPL season. A former South Africa allrounder, Simons was initially part of Gary Kirsten’s coaching staff, but remained with the squad when Kirsten did not renew his contract after the 2011 World Cup.India’s new bowling coach, Dawes, played 76 first-class matches for Queensland between 1997 and 2005, often having to wait his turn behind Australia bowlers Michael Kasprowicz and Andy Bichel. His career was cut short by a knee injury following which he became involved in coaching. He started with Queensland and also worked part-time for Middlesex and the Marylebone Cricket Club. He became bowling coach of South Australia in June 2011 and was also bowling coach of the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League 2011-12.”Joe has made a big impact in a short time,” South Australian Cricket Association’s director of cricket Jamie Cox said, “and while we are sad to see him go, we are very happy that one of our coaching staff has made the move into the international arena.”Joe has made a great contribution with our young bowling group, known colloquially as the ‘Wolf Pack’. Working alongside Darren Berry, he has helped instill some real toughness and integrity into the group.”Dawes worked well with the young bowlers at South Australia and has helped them reach the top of the table in the ongoing Ryobi Cup. He said he was optimistic about the abilities of young India bowlers. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Darren Berry and being part of the culture he has fostered with the Redbacks and the Strikers,” Dawes said. “To be able to take that knowledge and apply it in the international arena was too great an opportunity to miss.”I can also see lots of emerging talent within the Indian group and it is very exciting to be able to move into a strong system within the BCCI.”

Luke Wright, the England allrounder, has undergone knee surgery in Sweden on the injury that curtailed his 2011 season

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Aug-2011Luke Wright, the England allrounder, has undergone knee surgery in Sweden on the injury that curtailed his 2011 season and his recovery will take until Christmas.He had been out of action since mid-July and after trying various methods, including injections, to recover it was decided that surgery was the only option. “He’s been around the ground, watching, but is missing cricket and is a bit bored and a bit frustrated,” Mark Robinson, the Sussex coach, told local radio.Wright played in England’s Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka, at Bristol, earlier in the season but had drifted out of the ODI side following the World Cup and it is unlikely he would have figured against India even if he’d been available.Meanwhile, Wright’s team-mate Monty Panesar has signed for Sydney grade team Randwick-Petersham who he will join in early October. The move will ensure Panesar continues to play cricket ahead of England’s winter tours of UAE and Sri Lanka where he will hope to be the second spinner selected.Panesar has had a solid season in the Championship with 56 wickets at 28.98 and has also been a regular in Sussex’s one-day side. He last played for England against Australia, at Cardiff, in 2009 when he helped secure the famous draw alongside James Anderson but was part of the Ashes tour last winter.

The 2012 World Twenty20 will be held between September 18 and October 12, 2012 in Sri Lanka the ICC have confirmed

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2011The 2012 World Twenty20 will be held between September 18 and October 12, 2012 in Sri Lanka the ICC have confirmed. Colombo, Pallekele and Hambantota will be venues for the men’s tournament, while the women’s group games will be played in Galle.The format will see four groups of three in a preliminary round. England, the defending champions, and India are in Group A and will be joined by one of the Associate or Affiliate teams that qualify. The other qualifying team will be in Group B with West Indies and Australia. Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe make up Group C, and Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh are in Group D.The top two teams in each group will make it through the preliminary round, after which there will be a Super Eight stage, featuring two groups. The format is essentially the same as the last edition in 2010, though there are four fewer teams this time.The tournament will include two teams qualifying from the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012, which will be staged in the United Arab Emirates from March 13-14 2012.Hosts Sri Lanka will play the tournament’s opening fixture against Zimbabwe in Hambantota. England begin their defence against a qualifying team on September 21 and will then play India in Colombo on September 23.The women’s tournament has Australia, India and England in one group with a qualifying team, and New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka with the other qualifying team in the other. The men’s and women’s semi-finals and finals will be played on the same day, in Colombo. The semi-finals are on October 4 and October 5 with the finals on October 7.Tickets for the tournament are planned to go on sale to the public from March 1, 2012 and will be available via website and box-office sales in Sri Lanka. The ICC’s chief executive Haroon Lorgat assured they would be reasonably priced.”We all know how passionate and loyal the Sri Lankan public is towards our sport and we will ensure the tickets are affordable so that they can enjoy the event,” he said at the launch of the tournament in Colombo. “Following the success of the recent ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, I am confident that the hosts, Sri Lanka, will deliver a world-class event.”Lorgat also said the tournament was another opportunity to promote women’s cricket. “I am happy that the men’s and women’s semi-finals and finals will once again be played on the same days at the same venues. We remain committed to showcase women’s cricket in this way, which is unique in the world of team sports.”

Australia A surged to a 90-run win over Zimbabwe XI in the opening match of the A Team Tri-Series on a bright, sunny day at Harare Sports Club

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jun-2011
Scorecard
Australia A surged to a 90-run win over Zimbabwe XI in the opening match of the A Team Tri-Series on a bright, sunny day at Harare Sports Club. Half-centuries from Nic Maddinson and Callum Ferguson carried the Australians to 232 for 8 and Zimbabwe XI reached 94 for 1 in reply before offspinner Nathan Lyon’s introduction prompted a dramatic collapse. John Hastings scythed through the lower order and Zimbabwe XI slumped to 142 all out with 11 overs remaining, much to the disappointment of the spectators who had been tempted in by the prospect of free entrance to the game.The Zimbabweans had put in a far more spirited performance with the ball than they did with the bat, seamer Chris Mpofu leading the way in a tight seven-over opening spell that yielded the wickets of openers David Warner and Aaron Finch. Australia A were 33 for 2 with Finch’s dismissal, but recovered through a 98-run stand – the highest of the match – between Maddinson and Ferguson as Zimbabwe’s spinners uncharacteristically failed to exert any pressure.Zimbabwe got the breakthrough when Maddinson was tempted out of his crease by Prosper Utseya’s flight and stumped for 63, and Mpofu then returned the attack to have Ferguson caught behind shortly after bringing up his fifty for this third wicket. The Zimbabweans continued to chip away at the lower order, and with runs not easy to come by on a spongy, early-season wicket Australia A were thankful for captain Tim Paine’s unbeaten 37, which ensured a competitive total.In the event, it was more than enough. Brendan Taylor started well but chipped a return catch back to Luke Butterworth to be out for 17 in his first match as captain. It still looked as though Zimbabwe XI would make a fist of their chase in the course of Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza’s patient 62-run partnership for the second wicket, but Lyon struck in his first over, removing Sibanda for 37, and from then on Australia A never lost their grip.Lyon took the heart out of the middle order with the wickets of Regis Chakabva, for an eight-ball duck, and Craig Ervine, and Hastings then put paid to Zimbabwe XI’s hopes of salvaging the innings in the space of four deliveries. After a frugal first spell, Hastings was brought back on and removed former national captain Elton Chigumbura and Forster Mutizwa with consecutive deliveries.Utseya survived the hat-trick ball but was pinned in front of his stumps immediately afterwards to give Hastings his third wicket of the over and reduce Zimbabwe XI to 122 for 7. Masakadza brought up a fighting half-century but Lyon returned to get rid of allrounder Keegan Meth for his fourth wicket, and the win was quickly wrapped up thereafter.Australia A, who face South Africa A at the same venue on Thursday, picked up a bonus point to take their tally for the match to 5, while Zimbabwe XI remain pointless.

The Goa Cricket Association has decided to drop its interim captain Swapnil Asnodkar for two Ranji Trophy matches because he decided to call off an achievable chase against Maharashtra

Nagraj Gollapudi08-Nov-2011The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) has decided to drop its interim captain Swapnil Asnodkar for two Ranji Trophy matches because he decided to call off an achievable chase against Maharashtra in the first round of the Plate group. The fixture in Povorim ended in a draw, giving the visitors three points because of their first-innings lead and Goa only one.Ganeshraj Narvekar, son of current GCA president Dayanand Narvekar, took 5 for 48 on Ranji debut to restrict Maharashtra to 91 in their second innings, which left Goa with a target of 130 in about 20 overs. However, Asnodkar, who was leading Goa in the absence of the injured Shadab Jakati, decided to abort the chase after six overs. The hosts were on 18 for 1 at the time, with Asnodkar on 5 and Abhishek Raut on 8.Asnodkar’s decision had gone against what was decided at the team meeting during the innings break – that Goa would attempt to reach the target – and left the team management and the GCA selectors confused. Amit Yadav, a hard-hitting batsman, had also replaced Vaibhav Naik, Asnodkar’s regular opening partner, to help kickstart the chase.”The decision was taken with the coach in the team meeting that we are chasing it,” said Prasad Phaterpekar, the GCA secretary. “Accordingly we changed the opening combination. Abhishek Raut came one down. Both [Raut and Asnodkar] were Twenty20 specialists. After six overs, he [Asnodkar] just called off the match on his own as captain.”Patharpekar, who had rushed to the ground after hearing about Narvekar’s bowling exploits, was astonished by Asnodkar’s decision, as was the Goa selection panel comprising Prashant Kakode, Chandra Tendulkar and Prakash Mayekar. Phaterpekar consulted Goa coach Vivke Kolambkar, who had failed to get a response from Asnodkar. The decision to drop Asnodkar for the games against Assam and Jammu & Kashmir was unanimous.”We wanted to send a message that this was not in the interests of the team,” Phaterpekar said. If Asnodkar does not face further disciplinary action he will be eligible for selection for the home game against Hyderabad starting on November 29. Asnodkar remained unavailable for a comment.Asnodkar had become popular during the first IPL in 2008, when Shane Warne called him ‘the Goa Cannon’ because of the aggressive starts he gave Rajasthan Royals. In the team document designed at the beginning of the season, Warne’s note to Asnodkar read, “set up the innings with clever stroke play and use your strong wrists. Run like a rabbit between the wickets. Must be one of the shining lights in the field.”

Australia’s Test team convened without Ricky Ponting in Hobart on Monday evening

Daniel Brettig10-Dec-2012Australia’s Test team convened without Ricky Ponting in Hobart on Monday evening. Barring reasons of injury or personal leave, this is the first time such a state of affairs has existed since 1999.The space left by Ponting will be felt as much in the dressing room as out in the middle, for while his run-making trailed off badly towards the end, his contribution to the team’s development as a mentor and example was seldom stronger.Phillip Hughes occupies Ponting’s place on the team sheet, but all will be expected to take up the considerable hole left by his presence. Apart from the captain Michael Clarke, the most senior members of the squad to play at Bellerive are Michael Hussey, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson.Their insights and examples will be critical to younger team-mates, and so too will the personal experience of Ed Cowan. Having benefited greatly from the time he spent around Ponting both before and after his elevation to the national team, Cowan will now be expected to show that example.”It’s an odd situation in that one of the guys that has been inked into the top order, but more so inked into the culture of the change room, will be missing,” Cowan told ESPNcricinfo. “So there are two ways to look at it. One is to reminisce and think what a hole he’s going to leave. The other side of the coin is that it’s an opportunity for guys to step up, not only as players but as leaders around the change room, and that’s an opportunity for a number of guys to combine together and try to fill the void of his presence.”I think cultures evolve, and the culture of this team has evolved since Michael’s taken the captaincy, so it’s a question of guys being willing like Ricky was to give of themselves to the team like no other. Put the team first, play to win, and make sure the change rooms are a better place when the next person steps into it. A massive loss off the field, but the identity of this team has been growing since Michael took over the captaincy, and that growth’s been pretty evident in the results.”That those results did not culminate in a series victory over South Africa was down to a major malfunction at Nos. 3 and 4 in the batting order – of which Ponting was of course a part – the toll of three Tests on the hosts’ bowlers, and the resilience of the seasoned visitors. Cowan enjoyed a productive series personally, making his first Test century and looking comfortable at other times, but the most resounding lessons of the series were of the five-day game’s unremitting nature.”From a team point of view it was a great lesson that Test series are exactly that,” Cowan said. “It’s not one or two days of really decent cricket, to beat the best you have to be consistent for 15 days. As a group we felt as though we dominated them for eight or nine days of the series, maybe had points decisions on two or three days and only lost two or three days to them, and you end up losing the series. So it was a great lesson for us that the great teams soak up pressure when they have to and have an ability to really nail you when they have that momentum.”They were due to have a good day. That was in the back of everyone’s mind that they’d been pounded and pounded and pounded and yet it showed 0-0, and it took a toll on our bowlers a bit more with both quicks sitting out [Perth]. So we were up against it when our top three quicks were all unavailable for what was a grand final, so it was always going to be hard work. We had our opportunity after day one with the bat to really nail them and we didn’t take it, then with the ball we let things slip, and in a matter of hours the series was prettymuch gone.”Having said that, deep down we knew we gave it a massive shake. The best team in the world had come here with the intention of proving how good they were, and we flexed a few muscles and showed how good we were over the course of the series, but didn’t come away with the biscuits.”Ponting’s retirement and its associated melancholy appeared to add a mental toll to the physical strain evident after the sapping conclusion to the Adelaide Test. Cowan said the start of a new series would allow the start of a new and fresh chapter, without anything like the pathos that enveloped Australia at the WACA ground – there will certainly be fewer tears shed this week, both in private and in public.”It was tough mentally, and physically because it was a back-to-back Test,” Cowan said. “Now we’ve had a chance to refresh, take stock and move forward. Phil Hughes is coming into the side off a lot of runs and we’re pretty confident that everyone can contribute to the team moving forward. We’re now missing Australia’s greatest modern batsmen, but it’s an opportunity for guys to step up. It puts expectation on other guys to fill the void. That’s the only way.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Nico Gonzalez this summer, according to a report from Spanish outlet Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Rising star

A graduate of the famous La Masia academy in Catalonia, Gonzalez has amassed 78 appearances across all levels for the Spanish giants.

Following a La Liga debut under Ronald Koeman in a 4-2 victory over Real Sociedad, the 20-year-old has made 37 outings for the senior side and has quickly become a regular feature under club legend Xavi.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-from-wolves-6/” title=”All the latest from Wolves!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

However, despite an apparent emergence into the big time, the Spanish sensation could be set to depart the Camp Nou already…

The latest: Wanderers ‘very interested’

As per Sport, translated by SW, Wolves are believed to be ‘very interested’ in the three-cap Spanish Under 21 starlet.

It’s claimed that there is uncertainty about Gonzalez’s future in Spain as the club holds an ‘internal debate’ on whether or not to cash in this summer.

The report states that super-agent Jorge Mendes, who has close connections with Molineux, is involved in the dealings for the midfielder hailed by Barcelona icon Andres Iniesta as possessing ‘brutal talent’.

The verdict: Star signing

So far this season, Gonzalez has scored twice and provided two assists in 37 appearances across all competitions for Barca, earning a stylistic comparison to the likes of Borussia Dortmund superstar Jude Bellingham, Manchester City ace Bernado Silva and highly-rated Barcelona teammate Pedri (FBref).

Predominantly operating as a box-to-box central midfielder, the Spaniard can also play in a deeper-lying role as well as in wide positions, levels of versatility that would be a welcome addition to Bruno Lage’s squad.

Whilst the future of Ruben Neves remains in the balance amidst interest from Barcelona and beyond, Wolves should certainly remain attentive to the possibility of signing Gonzalez regardless.

In other news, Wolves have been backed to sign a Premier League attacker this summer. Find out who it is here.

England’s captain, Graeme Swann, admitted that a bit of pressure, a bit of inexperience and a bit of ineptitude all added up to a horror show

Andrew Miller at The Oval25-Sep-2011England’s captain, Graeme Swann, admitted that a “bit of pressure, a bit of inexperience and a bit of ineptitude all added up to a horror show”, as an entirely unfancied West Indian team rallied round in defence of a below-par target of 114, and pulled off an impressive 25-run victory thanks to a Man-of-the-Match spell of 3 for 9 in four overs from the debutant left-arm spinner, Garey Mathurin.Needing less than a run-a-ball from the outset, and with the memory of their ten-wicket cruise in the first Twenty20 on Friday night, England began their run-chase fully expecting to seal a 2-0 series win and conclude their international summer on another upbeat note. But Mathurin’s nerveless spell, in his very first appearance in any form of cricket in England, choked their ambition from the Powerplay onwards, and left the lower-order with too much momentum to claw back.”God works in mysterious ways,” said Mathurin, a childhood friend of the captain, and fellow St Lucian, Darren Sammy. “Everybody has their turn and it’s just that my turn came at the age of 28. The English people hadn’t seen me before so I knew I could go out and get the job done. We have a good team unity going on and the cohesiveness just worked.”The result left Swann feeling a touch humbled at the end of what has been a remarkable season for England, but even after being bowled out for 88, he felt that his side had been “exceptional” in the first half of the contest, and believed they would probably learn more from this setback than could ever have been learnt in victory.”For half the game we were exceptional and we put ourselves in a position where we should never ever lose a game of cricket,” said Swann. “Let’s face it, to not chase 113 in international cricket is unacceptable. West Indies bowled and fielded well, but not well enough to bowl a team out for 88. It was good fielding mixed with a bit of panic, and four run-outs is crazy chasing such a small total on such a big field.”After a short end-of-season break, England head off to the subcontinent next week to embark on a five-ODI tour of India, where their failure to deal with a turning surface will doubtless impact on the type of wickets they can expect to face when they arrive. Further down the line, England will be defending their World Twenty20 crown on the spin-friendly surfaces of Sri Lanka next year, and on this evidence, they need to work on their manipulation of the field as much as their boundary-clearing ability.”For all the positives of Friday night, there were quite a few negatives that need to be ironed out of our game before we play on pretty similar tracks over the next 12 months,” said Swann. “We are going to face spin in the first six overs again, and if we can take one good thing out of the way we batted, it’s that it’s completely unacceptable, and won’t be allowed to happen again.”It’s a harsh environment in international cricket and you find out a few things about people when they are under the pump,” he added. “Today, one or two guys didn’t respond that well, but I’m sure, knowing this team as I do and the way they have trained, it’s a mere blip. I wouldn’t write off any of this XI who have played tonight, or indeed any of the 14 in the squad, because they are all superb cricketers.”In England’s defence, their side was missing several of its most experienced campaigners, not least Eoin Morgan, whose deft use of the angles would have been ideal for keeping the run-rate moving. But Swann believed the chosen team should still have performed much, much better. “I’d love to find an excuse for them and say they’re inexperienced, but they’re not inexperienced in Twenty20 cricket,” he said. “I’m not just blaming the top six, I’m blaming the 11 players with the bat because we were pretty appalling.”The left-arm spinner, you can’t argue with 3 for 9, but the three guys who got out to him will probably look at the shots they played and be pretty horrified,” he added. “We allowed him to get exceptional figures and he did catch us on the hop. But I’d hope each batsman who got out will look at it and think ‘I won’t do that again’. We were still in the game at six-seven down at a run-a-ball, but of the wickets that fell, very few were caused by the ball deviating. It was poor shots and poor execution of those shots.”For Mathurin and his team-mates, however, the result was the ideal tonic for their defeat on Friday night, and went a long way towards answering their many critics – in the Caribbean and worldwide. “Yeah, we had a point to prove,” said Mathurin. “England played really, really well on Friday, so we were playing for some pride, and then we were coming back hard at them. We knew we could do it. Hopefully this shows everyone the energy and enthusiasm we have got, and hopefully everyone sees what we can do.”