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Mooney, Lanning, Gardner, Brown, Jonassen put in crucial contributions as India fall just short

Firdose Moonda23-Feb-2023Australia have reached a seventh successive T20 World Cup final but not without an almighty fight from India, who came five runs short in a thrilling semi-final in Cape Town. The margin of defeat is four runs smaller than it was at the Commonwealth Games final last year, but that will be little consolation for India, who came agonisingly close while chasing 173.They were clumsy in the field, conceded at least 15 runs through overthrows and misfields and dropped two crucial catches – of Meg Lanning on 1 and Beth Mooney on 32 – and were equally nervy between the wickets. Two crucial run-outs dented their chase including that of Harmanpreet Kaur, which led to India’s slide.The India captain was ill on the eve of the match and briefly hospitalised with a fever but fronted up to lead her side and almost took them home. After a poor start which left India on 28 for 3 in the fourth over, Harmanpreet shared in a 69-run fourth-wicket stand with Jemimah Rodrigues and then brought up her first fifty of the tournament. She had barely celebrated it when her bat got stuck in the ground while sliding it for a second run and Alyssa Healy was quick to break the stumps, leaving India’s middle and lower order to get 40 runs off the last 32 balls.

Shafali Verma fumbles, then flounders, then finally holds on

Shafali Verma was responsible for the first misfield on a messy day for India, when she dived over the top of a Healy drive to allow what should have been a single turn into two in the first over. India let at least two more ones get doubled up on before they got their first wicket when Healy charged against Radha Yadav and was stumped to give them some joy.Radha should have had another in her next over when Mooney lofted a drive to Shafali at long-on. The ball came to her at waist height and should have been easily taken but she let it slip through her hands and bounce over the boundary. Mooney went on to hit three more fours before trying to cut a Shikha Pandey ball that was too close to her body and found Shafali again. She was stationed at point and made no mistake this time for the simple catch. She was clearly relieved and celebrated by banging the ball into the turf. Mooney was dismissed on 54, which meant Shafali’s miss cost India 22 runs.

Ashleigh Gardner’s late attack

After Healy and Mooney’s opening stand of 52, and Mooney and Lanning’s 36-run stand off 27 balls, Ashleigh Gardner arrived to put the finishing touches on an innings that was well set up. She found her first boundary with a clip off Sneh Rana in an over that cost 14 runs and then upped the ante for high-octane entry into the last five overs. Gardner slog swept Radha over midwicket, then lofted her between long-off and cover and then took back-to-back boundaries off Renuka Singh. She had plundered 28 runs off her first 14 balls and put Australia in a position to push for a total above 170. She was bowled by a Deepti Sharma yorker in the 18th over, and Australia still managed 30 runs in the last two overs to reach 172.Ashleigh Gardner’s cameo pushed Australia forward•ICC/Getty Images

Mayhem in the middle

India’s chase started in the worst possible way when Shafali was given out lbw as she missed a flick off Megan Schutt. She was hit above the knee roll and reviewed, with both height and the prospect of the ball missing leg stump on the cards, but was confirmed out on umpire’s call. Five balls later, a Gardner arm ball trapped Smriti Mandhana in her crease as she tried to defend and Australia reviewed on suspicion of pad first. They were right and India had lost their openers.But the worst came in the over after that when Yastika Bhatia, included in the side after last playing in India’s tournament opener, flicked Darcie Brown to Grace Harris at short midwicket and set off for a run even though Rodrigues didn’t move. By the time Bhatia turned to get back, Harris’ throw had already reached Healy, who had the time to run in and break the stumps. India were 28 for 3 in the fourth over.Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur took India close•AFP/Getty Images

Rodrigues rides the wave and Harmanpreet falls short

Rodrigues and Harmanpreet were not rattled by the early wickets and took charge of the innings for the next 6.4 overs. Harmanpreet showed few signs of being under the weather and Rodrigues displayed the confidence she showed against Pakistan. Harmanpreet struck India’s first six with a strong swing over long-on and Rodrigues turned it on with two gorgeous lofted off drives off Georgia Wareham. India were 93 for 3 after 10 overs, with the required run rate at eight an over and the pair were going smoothly.Rodrigues started the second half of the innings with another classic drive and then tried to get cute against a Brown short ball. She shaped up to ramp it over Healy’s head but got a thin edge and was caught behind to leave her captain to complete the chase. Harmanpreet got to her fifty off 32 balls and took India to within 40 runs of victory before she was run-out for the first time in nearly five years in T20Is, and India’s lower order couldn’t take them over the line.

Somerset’s Tom Abell also named for ODIs and T20Is, amid clash with PSL, Tests

Matt Roller02-Feb-2023Rehan Ahmed is set to make his England white-ball debut in Bangladesh next month.Rehan, the 18-year-old legspinner who took seven wickets on Test debut in Karachi in December – including a second-innings five-for – has been named in the ODI and T20I squads for the tour, England’s first to Bangladesh since 2016.Saqib Mahmood returns for the ODI series, nearly a year after his most recent international appearance. He missed the entirety of England’s 2022 home summer with a lower-back stress fracture. Mark Wood also returns after an extended break at the start of the year.Tom Abell, the inventive middle-order batter who captains Somerset, has also been named in both squads and could win his first England cap. Abell will captain England Lions in Sri Lanka this month and has benefited from the absence of several more established players due to a clash with the Pakistan Super League, including Alex Hales and Sam Billings. ESPNcricinfo understands that David Willey also opted out of the tour, in order to spend time with his family between the end of the SA20 and the start of his stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.The tour starts in Dhaka on March 1, the day after England’s second Test against New Zealand is due to end. As a result, there are no players involved in both the New Zealand tour and the ODI series – though ESPNcricinfo understands Will Jacks could be considered for the ODIs if he is left out of the second New Zealand Test.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Jacks and Ben Duckett will arrive from New Zealand ahead of the T20I series, while Chris Jordan will also fly out for the T20I leg of the tour. They replace Jason Roy, James Vince and Mahmood, who will leave the tour after the ODI series.Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone remain unavailable due to injury. Bairstow, speaking at the MCC’s Cowdrey Lecture on Wednesday night, said “things are tracking in the right direction” after his freakish golfing injury in September, which ruled him out of England’s winter. He is due to see a surgeon later this month and has no set return date. Like Livingstone, his Punjab Kings team-mate, he will hope to be fit enough to play in IPL 2023.Rehan’s inclusion gives him the opportunity to confirm his status as England’s long-term replacement for Adil Rashid, and to press his case for inclusion in squads for the ODI and T20 World Cups in 2023 and 2024. He has only played seven List A games but has played 50-over cricket for England Under-19s and England Lions, and already has extensive short-form experience with Leicestershire (in the Blast), Southern Brave (the Hundred) and Gulf Giants (ILT20).ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The ODI leg of the tour is part of the ICC’s Super League, the qualification process for the 2023 World Cup, though both teams have already confirmed their spots. More pertinently, it is England’s final away series before the World Cup, and offers preparation in subcontinental conditions against a Bangladesh side who are unbeaten in their last seven home ODI series.ODI squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Tom Abell, Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark WoodT20I squad: Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan replace Saqib Mahmood, Jason Roy and James VinceFixtures: 1st ODI – March 1 (Dhaka), 2nd ODI – March 3 (Dhaka), 3rd ODI – March 6 (Chattogram), 1st T20I – March 9 (Chattogram), 2nd T20I – March 12 (Dhaka), 3rd T20I – March 14 (Dhaka).

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has hailed captain Bruno Fernandes and claimed that he 'deserves' to win titles.

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• Fernandes scores hat-trick against Sociedad
• Amorim claims he deserves titles
• Urges Red Devils to help him win silverware

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Fernandes has been one of the best players in the Premier League over the last decade, with the Manchester United star consistently delivering the goods for the Red Devils since his move to Old Trafford from Sporting CP. The Portuguese has scored 94 goals and provided 79 assists in 276 appearances, but with the team struggling for form, major titles have been a distant dream.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fernandes has been in superb form this season as well, despite United's abysmal results. He scored a hat-trick in their 4-1 thrashing of Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday, after which Amorim claimed Fernandes 'deserves' to win titles and urged the Red Devils to help him lift silverware.

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  WHAT AMORIM SAID

  Speaking to the media, Amorim said: "We know that sometimes he is frustrated. We know he wants to win so bad so when things are not going well, he is changing position going after the ball.

  "Sometimes he needs to trust his teammate but when we need it, he is always there. He can bring the ball forward, he can score goals, he can defend. It is a perfect captain for our team and we need to help him win titles because he deserves all that."

• WHAT NEXT FOR FERNANDES?

  The United captain won his second trophy with the Red Devils last season in the form of the FA Cup, though his only hope of adding a winners' medal to his collection this term comes in the form of the Europa League. United have been pitted against Lyon in the quarter-finals.

England have been forced by the schedule to select a new-look side to face Ireland but the horror World Cup show would have demanded change in any event. ESPNcricinfo introduces those who aim to be part of the future

Andrew McGlashan07-May-2015James Vince (24, Hampshire, right-hand batsman)Though only 24, Vince has long-been tipped as an England batsman, with a cover drive and pull likened to Michael Vaughan. In his last two seasons he has averaged over 60 in the County Championship although he only has three List A hundreds from 80 matches. Captained England Lions in the one-day series against South Africa A, which the Lions won 3-1, and made 99 in the second match during a stand of 198 with Jason Roy. Is also Hampshire’s limited-overs captain for the 2015 season and could be an outside bet for the England job before the 2019 World Cup.Zafar Ansari (23, Surrey, left-hand batsman, left-arm spinner)Anyone who bowls passable spin has a chance of getting a look-in for England at the moment. Ansari’s left-armers are better than that and he was close to earning a spot in the Test squad to tour West Indies. He has spent considerable time on ECB spin-bowling programmes in recent winters but his first-class record in 2014 was five wickets at 47.50 – and he took just five wickets in four Royal London Cup matches – although did pass 1000 first-class runs. May struggle to get a game in damp Dublin conditions, especially now Adil Rashid has been drafted into the squad.Sam Billings (23, Kent, right-hand batsman, wicketkeeper)The most exciting of the uncapped players in the squad, the Kent wicketkeeper batsman has spoken about wanting to become England’s AB de Villiers. Confidence is no bad thing. He took the Royal London Cup by storm in 2014 with 458 runs at 114.50 and a strike-rate of 154.20. Those returns included a phenomenal unbeaten 135 off 58 balls against Somerset coming in at No. 7. Was promoted to England’s World Cup 30 when Craig Kieswetter withdrew and made two fifties in the one-day series against South Africa A. Will compete for a space in the ODI squads as a batsman alone.David Willey (25, Northamptonshire, left-hand batsman, left-arm fast-medium)A combative allrounder who has inherited the steely, competitive genes of his father, the former England allrounder Peter Willey, David would surely have already made his international debut if it had not been for a back injury which disrupted his 2014 season. He carried Northamptonshire to the T20 title in 2013 when he struck 60 off 27 balls then followed that with 4 for 9, which included a hat-trick. With England desperate to find a left-arm seamer who can justify a place Willey has the chance to tick a major box.Lewis Gregory (22, Somerset, right-hand batsman, right-arm fast-medium)Brought a new level of consistency in 2014 having been promoted to the new-ball role in the Championship, although was limited to nine matches by a hamstring injury, and also struck a maiden List A hundred with an unbeaten 105. Has made an impressive start to the 2015 season with 15 wickets in three Championship matches. Success on Taunton pitches as a seamer also gives a bowler kudos.Mark Wood (25, Durham, right-hand batsman, right-arm fast-medium)Has spent the last month in West Indies as part of the Test squad but could not force his way through the safety-first selection policy. Has a reputation as one of the quickest bowlers on the domestic circuit and also one of the better exponents of reverse swing – probably not a factor against Ireland if Friday’s weather forecast is any guide. Has previously revealed that he has an imaginary horse he brings out when bored in the field.Jason Roy (24, Surrey, right-hand batsman)Not uncapped at international level, Roy made his England debut in the T20 against India, at Edgbaston, last season but if selected against Ireland it will be his first ODI. There is a clamour for him and Alex Hales to be England’s full-time opener pair, given time to build a partnership together without fear of being dropped with each failure along the way. Was England Lions’ leading run-scorer in the win over South Africa A which included an innings of 141 – a List A career-best.

A Celtic exit in the summer of 2025 is “not out of the question at all”, according to a fresh update from a “superb” 24-year-old Hoops player.

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The January transfer window isn’t a million miles away now, so it is no surprise to see Celtic being linked with plenty of potential new signings. Highly-rated teenage Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller has emerged as an exciting target for the Scottish Premiership champions, but rivals Rangers are thought to be providing competition.

There are players who could head the other way in January, however, with Alexandro Bernabei one such figure, with the left-back reportedly playing his final game for Celtic, following a loan move to Internacional.

In terms of current injuries, Adam Idah was ruled out of the international break because of injury, with his involvement with the Republic of Ireland ending before their UEFA Nations League matches got underway. The hope is that he will be back in the fold sooner rather than later, though, with his withdrawal more precautionary than anything.

"Superb" Celtic ace hints at exit

Speaking to Fotbollskanalen [via The Daily Record], Gustaf Lagerbielke admitted that he may leave Celtic for FC Twente permanently next summer, having moved there on loan earlier this year: “It is a straight loan until the summer. Then there is always the possibility that I will be bought. So far it’s felt very good there so we’ll see how it goes forward.

“There is always that [chance of going back to Celtic]. I still have a contract there. It’s not out of the question at all. Then I’ll have to see closer to the end of the season what happens with everything. But it’s a fantastic club.”

The fact that Lagerbielke was even allowed to leave Celtic on loan during the summer window suggests that Brendan Rodgers doesn’t see him as a future part of his plans. This is despite him being admired by his manager, who said of him last December after a winning goal against Feyenoord: “It was a great moment for him because he hasn’t been involved in squads, other guys have been in front of him.

“But his attitude in training in the main has been superb and he has always been ready. The irony of him being sent off and then getting the goal was great, a really nice moment for him.”

Lagerbielke has generally done well in a Celtic shirt, winning the league title and Scottish Cup last season, but he was limited to only seven appearances in the former and may feel that a move away next year is best for his development.

Celtic man just got embarrassed by an £88m sensation for his country

The Celtic defender had a howler on Sunday evening with a poor performance against England.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 18, 2024

His admiration for the Hoops is clear, but he is also seemingly happy at Twente and likes the idea of his temporary switch being turned into a permanent one at the end of the season.

Leading Bengal in Abhimanyu Easwaran’s absence, Tiwary wants his team to take their game to “the next level” to try and win the Ranji Trophy

Rajan Raj16-Dec-2022Manoj Tiwary has hinted that the ongoing 2022-23 season of the Ranji Trophy could be his last in first-class cricket, but he wants to make sure “to give Bengal a Ranji Trophy title on my way out”.Tiwary, who is in charge of Bengal because regular captain Abhimanyu Easwaran is away on national duty, led the from the front as the side, chasing 257 for victory against Uttar Pradesh at Eden Gardens, got to the target for the loss of four wickets in their Elite Group A game. Tiwary got in at 156 for 3 and ended with an unbeaten 60.Related

• Ranji Trophy: Abhimanyu Easwaran to play at Abhimanyu Cricket Academy Stadium

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• Everything you need to know about Ranji Trophy 2022-23

“We have to play like champions. We won today, but it’s not like we played exceptional cricket,” Tiwary, also a member of the legislative assembly in West Bengal, told reporters after the match. “If we look session-by-session, there were phases when we bowled badly. And our opening batters must score runs. If we want to win the Ranji Trophy, we must take our game to the next level.”Bengal have won the Ranji Trophy only twice in all these years, once way back in 1938-39 and then in 1989-90. Tiwary, who started playing first-class cricket in the 2004-05 season, has played the Ranji final thrice: in 2005-06, 2006-07 and, more recently, in 2019-20.”I am quite relaxed about leading the team,” the 37-year-old Tiwary said. “When I stepped down as the first-class captain of Bengal [during the 2018-19 season], I was told to continue as captain of the one-day and T20 sides, but I had refused, telling them that we need to groom a younger player as captain. But [in Abhimanyu’s absence], I realised I have to take this responsibility because decision-making is such a crucial part of the game.”Though he did ask for more from the bowling unit – which was missing Mukesh Kumar, who was out in Bangladesh with India A – Tiwary had words of praise for his pace spearhead Ishan Porel, who hasn’t played a lot of cricket of late but earned the Player-of-the-Match award against Uttar Pradesh for his match haul of seven wickets, including a five-for in the first innings.”Porel’s comeback has been quite good,” Tiwary said. “He wasn’t available for the Vijay Hazare [50-over] Trophy tournament, but he proved his worth here. I have spoken to him: we are playing at a level where we must forget what has happened in the past; every minute, every second, we must tell the world why I am Ishan Porel, or why I am Manoj Tiwary. That is the mentality that will help him become a champion.”Bengal’s next game is against Himachal Pradesh, also at home at Eden Gardens, from December 20.

Mikel Arteta believes that Arsenal have the resources to win the Champions League this season ahead of their last-16 tie against PSV.

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• Arteta believes Arsenal can win Champions League
• Gunners 13 points behind Liverpool in Premier League
• Arsenal face PSV on Tuesday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners faltered at City Ground last week as Nottingham Forest held them to a goalless draw in a crucial Premier League fixture. With them dropping two important points and Liverpool beating Newcastle United 2-0, Arsenal further drifted away from the top position, leaving them 13 points behind the Reds.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With the north London side's hopes of winning the Premier League title slowly fading away, Arteta is now eyeing success in Europe as he claimed that his team has the resources to win the Champions League this year. Arsenal qualified for the round of 16 after finishing third in the league stage, having conceded just three goals in eight outings – the second lowest tally, after Inter.

• WHAT MIKEL ARTETA SAID

  Speaking to reporters in his pre-match press conference, the Spanish coach said: "We cannot change it, we have to learn from it and take that into the next game. There are a lot of things we have learned this season in the Champions League about ourselves. We have played very differently home and away the last year, especially in Europe.

  "This year, we have been much more consistent. We have scored a lot of goals and not conceded almost anything. We have only conceded three goals and the lowest Expected Goals in the competition, which is great. That's a big platform."

  He added: "We have those resources, that's what the team has already done. Now we have to continue to do it. When you look at the teams that have been very successful, the defensive record is critical. Then we have shown the capacity to score a lot of goals in the competition. Now the team is different, but this team still has a lot of resources to do that."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Arteta's men are all set to lock horns in the first leg of the round of 16 fixture in Netherlands on Tuesday before facing rivals Manchester United in the Premier League next Sunday.

It’s been a whirlwind few years for Ipswich Town, as Kieran McKenna has led them from the depths of League One to the heights of the Premier League in the blink of an eye.

The Tractor Boys have made a good account of themselves in the top flight so far, as while they are without a win, they have picked up five points.

Moreover, a few of the club’s summer signings have quickly established themselves as key players for McKenna and look like brilliant buys.

However, that cannot be said of all of them, including one who simply cannot be trusted to play for the first team again this season.

McKenna's brilliant buys

So, before we get to the offending player in question, let’s look at a couple of the club’s more successful signings this season, starting with the best of the lot: Liam Delap.

The Tractor Boys agreed to pay Manchester City up to £20m for the up-and-coming striker in mid-July, and while there was some excitement around the potential so many believed him to possess, few would have expected him to play as well as he has for the Suffolk side.

In just 11 appearances, the Winchester-born poacher has scored five goals, including a brace against Aston Villa, and if the club are to beat the drop this season, it’ll undoubtedly be largely down to his impressive output.

Now, another star that McKenna welcomed to Portman Road this summer is Sammie Szmodics, and while he hasn’t been able to quite replicate the ludicrous form that saw him rack up 33 goals and four assists in 48 games last season, he’s shown glimpses of quality here and there.

For example, he’s found the back of the net twice in ten appearances from an expected goals figure of 2.01 and, given that he’s missed three big chances on top of that, he could see his tally balloon when he’s fully acclimated to life with the Blues.

However, alongside some of their excellent to middling transfers, the club also made what is now looking like a poor decision to sign another vastly experienced star on loan, a star who might not play for the club again.

Ipswich's transfer mistake

So, the player in question is Manchester City ace Kalvin Phillips, who put pen to paper on a season-long loan deal in mid-August.

The first thing to say is that even though he has had a rough few years, the former Leeds United star showed just how talented he was when playing with the Peacocks, and only last year John Stones commented on his “outrageous” passing abilities.

However, in the last few years, we have not seen the player who starred for the Whites.

The 28-year-old seriously struggled on loan with West Ham United last season, playing just 320 minutes across 14 poor performances that saw him pick up a red card in just his fourth game before ending the season out of the squad entirely.

Unfortunately, his form has not improved much this season, and despite making just eight appearances for the club, he has already picked up a red car, which completely turned the tide of the game against Leicester City on Saturday.

Moreover, reports have now revealed that discussions are being held at the club over potentially cancelling his loan deal due to serious concerns over his conditioning, with some at the club supposedly “amazed” at his ‘lack of mobility and running power.’

Ultimately, Phillips has shown in the past that he is a Premier League-level footballer, but so far this season, he has looked way off the pace, and after costing the club what should have been their first win of the season, he shouldn’t be trusted to play in the league again.

Left for £0m: Ex-Ipswich star is outperforming Hutchinson & Szmodics

The proven goalscorer enjoyed a long stint with Ipswich Town.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 1, 2024

What this game showed us is that Scotland have the talent to compete with England. They were not blown away; they were defeated by their lack of exposure to the circumstances

George Dobell in Christchurch23-Feb-2015Perhaps, if Freddie Coleman had been a foot closer at cover when Moeen Ali, on 7, drove uppishly, things might have been different.Or perhaps, if Rod Tucker’s finger had gone up when Ian Bell, also on 7, was rapped on the pad by a delivery from Alasdair Evans, Scotland may have exposed England’s fragile middle order.But such moments apart, this game rarely looked as if it would spark into life. A sublime century from Moeen killed off Scotland’s hopes before the bacon sandwiches had been devoured. For most of the day, in this charming parkland setting, as two relatively modest teams completed a result that seemed all but inevitable about an hour in, this game seemed as far away from the cut and thrust of the World Cup as Christchurch to London. Neither of these sides will be in Melbourne on March 29.It is traditional after such encounters to praise the plucky loser; the little Associate taking on the giant Full Member.But such a view is patronising. This is a global tournament and if Scotland really do want to be regarded as a fully professional elite team, they must accept the slings and arrows that come with the territory.The truth is that Scotland should be disappointed with this performance. They will know, on reflection, that they are better than the 15 wides they conceded here. And they will know, on reflection, that several of their batsmen paid for a lack of composure with soft dismissals. What did Richie Berrington, flicking to midwicket, or Preston Mommsen, sweeping to deep backward square, think would happen when they hit the ball in the air? All 10 of their wickets fell to catches; several were simple sucker punches.

‘Better side than what we showed’ – Mommsen

Preston Mommsen, the Scotland captain, admitted he was “very disappointed” with his side’s performance following their 119-run loss to England in Christchurch.
“We’re very disappointed with the start we had with the ball,” Mommsen said. “And then, with the bat, obviously some of the dismissals were slightly disappointing. We had a bit more time than we thought in that chase.
“I think we’re a better side than what we showed today. We couldn’t quite put in the full package, and that’s quite regrettable.”
While Mommsen admitted that the absence of a fifth specialist bowler might have been a mistake, he celebrated the performances of Alasdair Evans, who conceded only 46 from his 10 overs, and Kyle Coetzer, who made 71.
“Kyle batted beautifully, but did not get enough support,” he said. “And Ali [Evans] did a fantastic job with the ball. But that fifth bowling option probably was a little bit expensive. That’s something we’ll go away and reflect on. Sometimes it’s worth thinking about that fifth bowler being a specialist bowler.”

Ian Bell will receive some stick for his patient half-century. But his innings – an uncharacteristically ugly innings by his standards – was one of the key differences between these teams. While he had the wisdom to understand that his side, bowled out in 13 of their previous 19 ODIs, could be exposed if he fell early on a two-paced pitch, and the patience and humility to build a partnership with the far more fluent Moeen, Scotland’s batsmen were flustered and fooled. They played as a young Bell might have done. Bell with 150 fewer ODI caps.Instead of allowing themselves time to build innings, they sought release shots that brought their downfall. Instead of Coleman remaining on the midwicket boundary, as he was surely asked to, he allowed himself to be sucked in by the excitement of the encounter and then saw the ball pass agonisingly over his head and land on the boundary rope. And picking an XI with only four bowlers? Well, it’s an accident waiting to happen.So Scotland did not do themselves justice. And for many years to come, the players involved may look back and rue something of a missed opportunity.But this World Cup appearance must not be the destination for Scotland. It must be another step on their journey.They have passed this way before and failed to take the opportunity. Not just in failing to win any games – they are still without a World Cup win – but in failing to build the structures required back home to ensure progress.In their recently published – and highly recommended – book by Tim Wigmore and Peter Miller, we are reminded of May 1999, when Scotland and Bangladesh met in a World Cup match at The Grange in Edinburgh.It was an eagerly anticipated encounter. The two were seen as the best Associates sides in the world at the time and both were pushing for more international recognition.For a while it seemed Scotland would win. They reduced Bangladesh to 26 for 5 and then, when chasing 186 to win later in the day, were poised on 138 for 6 when disaster struck. Gavin Hamilton, batting fluently on 63, was run out backing up as Manjural Islam laid a finger on Alec Davies’ drive and the ball deflected onto the stumps. Bangladesh went on to win and, about a year later, were awarded Test status.Scotland took a different journey. From that high point, their team fell apart. As an amateur organisation, they had few of the systems to scout or develop players, few of the systems to arrange meaningful games and few of the systems to source the finance required to grow. They meandered for a while. In attempting a short-cut to success, they at one stage sent out a faintly embarrassing letter to all county cricketers (including William Porterfield, the Ireland captain) asking if they might qualify for Scotland through an ancestor.But that has all changed. Twice in the last five years, Scotland have won the Best Overall Development Programme at the ICC’s awards. There are around 50,000 cricketers in the country – more than Ireland – and plans to build a centre of excellence at Stirling which will be the home of Scotland cricket.Like England, they are challenged by a lack of cricket in schools and little cricket on free-to-air TV. But participation numbers are growing, the number of schools playing the game is growing, the investment in the game has grown and the days when they looked to source their players from South Africa or Australia have gone. Nine of this team have played county cricket. Six of them are currently connected with counties and one more – Iain Wardlaw – has chosen not to pursue county opportunities.What this game showed us is that Scotland have the talent to compete with England. They were not blown away; they were defeated by their lack of exposure to the circumstances. They were defeated, as much by Moeen’s batting, as the failure of any Full Member nation – other than England – to play them since the start of 2014. With more opportunity to play such matches, they could gain the assurance and composure required to win. Experience is the missing ingredient.

Former cricketer discusses his antiracism fight on special episode of the Switch Hit podcast

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2022Azeem Rafiq says he will continue to confront racist attitudes within English cricket, even though he can see no end in sight to the ECB’s investigation into allegations he made more than two years ago, because he believes “the cost of not speaking up was too much”.It was confirmed on Thursday that the Cricket Disciplinary Committee hearing into charges levelled against seven former Yorkshire players, and the club itself, will be pushed back until the new year to allow for appeals against the process taking place in public.Speaking to Osman Samiuddin on ESPNcricinfo’s Switch Hit podcast before the delay was announced, Rafiq revealed the extent of the backlash he has suffered since accusing Yorkshire of being institutionally racist during his time as a player. Rafiq, who is due to appear in parliament again next month for another hearing of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport select committee, has decided to relocate his family to Pakistan after “fearing for his life” in the UK.