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Mitchell Marsh almost single-handedly took Australia into the tri-series final, first by plundering 86 off 51 balls and then taking two wickets to dent South Africa’s chase

The Report by Firdose Moonda02-Sep-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details Mitchell Marsh almost single-handedly took Australia into the tri-series final, first by plundering 86 off 51 balls, including 21 off a single Dale Steyn over, and then with two wickets to dent South Africa’s chase. The bonus-point victory has guaranteed Australia spot in Saturday’s showdown but put South Africa’s in some danger. If they lose to Zimbabwe by a massive margin, so much so that the hosts gain a bonus point and improve the net run-rate, South Africa could be on an early flight home.Marsh’s blitz injected life into an Australian innings that was solid at the start but became stuck through the middle periods against a stranglehold of spin. He shared in a 71-run stand with Brad Haddin for the sixth wicket, which included taking 60 runs off five overs from the 44th over, as South Africa struggled for a death-bowling option. Those runs ultimately proved the difference between the two sides on a scruffy, sluggish surface on which run-scoring was laboured.Less than a week after they gunned down a target of 328 against Australia, South Africa stumbled in search of a significantly smaller target. Only Faf du Plessis had some measure of what was required and only he managed a score more than 24. Du Plessis’ second ODI century came six days after his first, but in much more trying circumstances because he lacked support.South Africa’s middle-order was untested thus far but in their first stern examination were exposed against pace and pressure, as they have been in the past. JP Duminy, David Miller and to a lesser extend Ryan McLaren left South Africa’s long tail with too much to do and threw the spotlight on whether they were a batsman light or whether their bowling was what them down.For nine-tenths of their time in the field, South Africa operated with discipline, from the opening passages where JP Duminy shared the new ball with Steyn, during the Phillip Hughes-Steven Smith stand of 85 for the second wicket and through the batting Powerplay in which they conceded only 20 runs and took two wickets.South Africa’s specialist spinners, Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso, gave away just 81 runs in 20 overs and contributed to a boundary drought that had the rope being breached just once in 10 overs. They limited Hughes and Smith to collecting runs judiciously rather than freely and only Hughes’ sprightly start ensured his half-century was achieved at almost a run a ball, off 51 deliveries. They also snaffled three wickets to leave Australia in danger of a posting a total below 250.Mitchell Marsh’s blitz injected life into an Australian innings that was solid at the start but became stuck through the middle periods•AFPBut Marsh changed that when he switched from spectator to instigator as the innings neared its end. He tested the water when he drove Steyn through the covers for four and charged Tahir for six. What followed had not been done in ODI cricket before today. Marsh hit Steyn back over his head for six three times off three deliveries.In a single over, Marsh’s took his own score went from 29 to 50, off just 37 balls, which forced de Villiers to look elsewhere for a death bowler. McLaren offered little better. He missed the yorker on too many occasions and then relied on a short ball. Marsh punished all of it to give Australia a score they would have thought defendable, especially after they removed both South African openers inside ten overs of the reply.Despite that, du Plessis stirred memories of last Wednesday’s effort when he flat-batted Marsh over his head twice but those would have dimmed somewhat when de Villiers swept Nathan Lyon to backward square leg. With Duminy and du Plessis at the crease, South Africa had their best chance at recovery but Australia squeezed, allowing them to score at only four runs to the over. Duminy soon pulled one straight to fine leg and David Miller’s defenses were shattered by a fiery Johnson short ball and his own lack of footwork to leave South Africa 101 for 5.Du Plessis found some assistance from McLaren, who stayed with him for 12.2 overs and contributed 24 runs in a stand of 73. Du Plessis was the senior partner, slamming Mitchell Starc for six twice and lofting Lyon inside-out over cover to reach touching distance of his century. McLaren holed out before du Plessis could get to the milestone, which he reached off 94 balls in the next over.By then South Africa’s challenge was all but over, barring any fireworks from Steyn. He was run out, du Plessis trod on his own stumps and Johnson and Maxwell shared last rites to bowl South Africa out in 44 overs and pick Australia up after their defeat to Zimbabwe in the best way possible.

Following years of often bitter disputes, the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association have signed a new collective bargaining agreement and memorandum of understanding on Thursday

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2014Following years of often bitter disputes, the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association have signed a new collective bargaining agreement and memorandum of understanding on Thursday. Whycliffe Cameron, the WICB president, signed on behalf of the board, while Wavell Hinds, the WIPA president, signed on behalf of the association.Cameron hailed the signing as the most important thing done for West Indies cricket in the past two years. “What it means is that we are going to have 105 players engaged in cricket all year round,” Cameron said. “We are going to have 15 at the WICB level – which I will call the international team, while we will have 90 players at the regional franchise level – 15 players among the six teams.”This is a watershed moment for West Indies cricket as we are setting up our franchise and professional system to ensure that West Indies cricket can go back to its rightful place,” Cameron said. “West Indies cricket is not about the administrators, it is really about the players.”I am very happy that we have been able to negotiate over the last couple of months when it was very difficult but we have come to the point where we believe we have the making of a very good agreement that will ensure that we can take West Indies cricket to the top… The agreement is we do better as an organisation and the players do better.”Hinds said the agreement promoted meritocracy and involved an increased share of WICB revenue for domestic players, unlike the old structure where the majority share went to international players. “We have decided as a body, that we will take a chunk of that amount from the international pool and spread it across the regional group into the player pool on a meritocracy basis.”I think it is spread out nicely…This document covers everyone in full,” Hinds said. “It is important that we put the different categories in place from the start to the professional level. There is a pay-as-you-play or a minimum salary, retainer contracts up to the ‘A’ level that the WICB affords the international cricketers.”But we think that it must be a meritocracy basis and that you have to earn your keep to get into the different categories,” Hinds said. “As the players association, once that was understood from the membership and of course, we highlighted the fact that it is replicated and practised around the world, the players bought into it and the WICB had a similar vision, so it was easy to come to an agreement.”Hinds said that while the agreement was not “perfect”, it brought stability to the system and that the players were prepared to make “sacrifices” on their part. “It is not a perfect document. Of course, it is still a work in progress, so there will be trials and errors and we are all prepared for that as that’s the nature of life and business.”We know that for the long haul and legacy of West Indies cricket and where we came from as a region, fetching balls from cane fields to the point where we had 20 years of glory, led by Clive Lloyd and company, that to get back to those years, we needed to make sacrifices as players and make sure that we are prepared as players and not learning on the job.”Richard Pybus, the WICB director of cricket, said the agreement was “fantastic” for the players. “We will have structured support mechanisms for the players and will provide a competitive wage in a competitive marketplace which is going to be fantastic in terms of the product we put on the field.”

Western Australia eased past a winless South Australia at Bankstown Oval to all but secure a spot in the finals of the domestic limited-overs tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2014Western Australia 6 for 216 (Voges 55, Putland 3-49) beat South Australia 8 for 215 (Ferguson 82, Coulter-Nile 4-32) by 4 wickets
ScorecardWestern Australia eased past a winless South Australia at Bankstown Oval to all but secure a spot in the finals of the domestic limited-overs tournament. Callum Ferguson’s 82 guided the Redbacks to 8 for 215 on a slow pitch, but a series of cameos from WA’s batsmen always kept the target in hand.Nathan Coulter-Nile and Nathan Rimmington were the Warriors’ most adept bowlers against an SA line-up sapped of confidence and experience by a series of injuries, while Voges’ occasional left-arm spin shaded the more full-time variety of Ashton Agar.However Agar was on hand to accompany Ashton Turner to the target in spite of some challenging spells from Gary Putland and the former New South Welshman Adam Zampa.The result took WA temporarily to the top of the competition table, pending the outcome of the day-night fixture between New South Wales and Victoria at Blacktown.

With Corey Anderson sitting out the second T20, Jimmy Neesham said he had to assume greater responsibility, and that suited him fine

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Dec-2014We played a lot of dots – Afridi

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said, while New Zealand played well on Friday, his batsmen should have done better. “We won yesterday but today they really played well,” he said. “We guys did well in the first innings [to keep New Zealand to 144], but the batting I think after six overs we didn’t utilise [deliveries] properly and we played a lot of dot balls and that’s why I think [we lost].
“I was very positive [of winning the game while I was batting], but I think when there were 13 or 14 balls left and about 24-25 runs so needed, I unfortunately got out.”

On Thursday, the first delivery Jimmy Neesham sent down turned out to be his last – it was deposited over long-on by Umar Akmal to seal a seven-wicket win for Pakistan. Friday, though, was sea away from that for Neesham, as he claimed 3 for 25 to help New Zealand defend 144 for a series-levelling win.With Corey Anderson sitting out as a precautionary measure after he was hit on the helmet in the first T20, Neesham said he had to assume greater responsibility in the second, and that suited him fine. “In the last game, I didn’t bowl till the last over which was a wee bit disappointing I suppose,” he said. “But with Corey sitting out the game today, there was always going to be a little bit more responsibility on my shoulders with his overs missing. It was nice to have a little bit more responsibility.”Martin Guptill also missed the game with a tight hamstring and that meant Anton Devcich had to move up a spot in the batting order to open with Kane Williamson. He scored 21 off 20 in a 49-run stand at the top, before opening the bowling and claiming 2 for 16 with his part time left-arm spin. Neesham said Devcich’s contributions had made a big difference to the side: “Anton has obviously bowled pretty well in this game and is a talented left-arm spinner, does a really good job for us when he comes into the team. And obviously his batting at the top of the order is coming along as well.”Devcich took the big wickets of Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Hafeez within the first three overs, and fast bowler Matt Henry added the scalp of Haris Sohail before the fielding restrictions were lifted. Getting wickets in the Powerplay, Neesham said, helped. “I think we put up a slightly above-par score with the bat, which is always helpful. And then when we got a couple of wickets early, in the first six overs – it’s always a struggle for a chasing team to come back from that sort of start I suppose. And then obviously the Pakistan lads started to pull it back a bit towards the end, but then a couple of wickets killed it.”So in the Twenty20 format, I think when a team is chasing, especially a subcontinent team like Pakistan, it’s crucial to keep taking wickets through the innings.”The five-ODI series begins on Monday, and Neesham said he hoped New Zealand would start it better than they did the Tests and T20s, where they lost both their first games before coming back to level the series. “We’ve had a bit of a hiccup in the first match of both series so far, so hopefully we can come out in the first one-dayer and put up a stronger performance on the board.”

Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez will be sent to Chennai to undergo remedial work and tests on his bowling action, the PCB said on Wednesday

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2014Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez will be sent to Chennai to undergo remedial work and unofficial tests on his bowling action, the PCB said on Wednesday. Hafeez was suspended from bowling last week due to an illegal action and his elbow extension was found to be ‘well over 15 degrees’ according to an ICC report. Pakistan will withdraw Hafeez from the current ODI series against New Zealand and he is likely to leave from Sharjah after the second game on Friday.”We are sending Hafeez to a biomechanics lab in Chennai for unofficial testing and remodeling his action accordingly,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said. “He is being withdrawn from the ODI series and the replacement will be decided by the selectors.”Khan added that Hafeez and Pakistan’s other suspended offspinner, Saeed Ajmal, will “be sent for the ICC’s official testing by January 7”.Hafeez, 34, had been reported for a suspect action after the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi as the umpires were concerned about the legality of four of his deliveries. He had also run into trouble over his action during the Champions League T20, being reported by the umpires after Lahore Lions’ game against Dolphins in Bangalore.

Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins will join captain Michael Hussey in the Prime Minister’s XI to take on England in Canberra on Wednesday next week

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2015Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins will join captain Michael Hussey in the Prime Minister’s XI to take on England in Canberra on Wednesday next week. The side will also include Papua New Guinea batsman Lega Siaka, who scored a century in his country’s debut ODI series against Hong Kong in November, and has been signed by the Melbourne Renegades.Canberra-raised Jason Behrendorff will also have a chance to impress against an international side as he continues his strong season, as will his Western Australia team-mate Cameron Bancroft, who is third on the Sheffield Shield run tally this summer. Western Australia fast bowler Simon Mackin and Victoria batsman Peter Handscomb have also been named.The side also features some younger players still on the fringes of the domestic scene, including Western Australia rookie fast bowler David Moody, the nephew of former Test allrounder Tom Moody. Eighteen-year-old Jake Doran, who first faced England at age 16 on their last tour when he played for a Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI, will keep wicket.”This match is a special fixture on the Australian cricketing calendar and a magnificent tradition,” Australia’s chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said. “Mike Hussey will lead the team well and is a great drawcard, as is local boy Jason Behrendorff, who has been in fantastic form this summer across all three formats.”Fans will also be looking forward to seeing Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell in action. Pat has been in excellent form bowling fast for the Sydney Thunder this summer, while Glenn can electrify the crowd with his daring and aggressive stroke play.”Eighteen-year-old batsman Jake Doran is in the team, and he will also take the gloves. I think we all realise what a great talent Jake is, and his selection will provide another opportunity for him to continue his development.”We are also excited about 22-year-old batsman Lega Siaka, contracted to the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League. Lega scored a century for Papua New Guinea in their first ever one-day international series in November when they defeated Hong Kong, and he is a confident young batsman who will excite the fans. His selection highlights PNG’s growth as a cricketing nation.”Siaka has been playing for Essendon in Melbourne’s grade cricket this season, and was also signed last month as a community rookie by the Melbourne Renegades. ACT opening batsman Matt Condon is also in the Prime Minister’s XI, while local player Mac Wright will be 12th man.Prime Minister’s XI Michael Hussey (capt), Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Matt Condon, Pat Cummins, Jake Doran (wk), Peter Handscomb, Simon Mackin, Glenn Maxwell, David Moody, Lega Siaka, Mac Wright (12th man).

Allrounder James Faulkner will receive “intensive treatment” over the next two weeks after scans revealed he suffered a side strain during Australia’s win over England in the tri-series final in Perth on Sunday

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Feb-2015Allrounder James Faulkner will receive “intensive treatment” over the next two weeks after scans revealed he suffered a side strain during Australia’s win over England in the tri-series final in Perth on Sunday.Faulkner remains in Australia’s World Cup squad and a decision on whether he can take any part in the tournament may not be made until Cricket Australia’s medical staff assesses his progress over the coming fortnight. He will travel with the World Cup squad to Adelaide on Friday to continue the treatment on his right side.”Scans on James Faulkner’s injured side have confirmed a moderate grade abdominal muscle strain which is consistent with a ‘typical’ fast-bowing side strain injury,” team physio Alex Kountouris said. “He will receive intensive treatment for the next two weeks before we can determine when he can return to batting and bowling.”Coach Darren Lehmann said that Faulkner would be out of the first game of the tournament at least, though he is not facing the deadline that Michael Clarke must make.”Not at the moment because we really don’t know the extent of the injury until it settles down,” Lehmann said. “It’s not a re-occurring injury like Michael’s, time will tell, we’ll wait and see.”I think that would rule him out of the first game, but I’m hoping he’ll then be right to go. Fingers crossed, he’s an important player. We need to make sure the next 10-12 days go well for him.”Australia’s World Cup campaign begins on February 14 when they meet England at the MCG and it is possible they will have only 13 fit players to choose from, if Faulkner and captain Michael Clarke retain their places in the squad but are initially unavailable. Their second match against Bangladesh on February 21 is Clarke’s deadline to have recovered from his hamstring injury.Faulkner suffered the injury while bowling in the win over England at the WACA and should he be ruled out of the World Cup it would be a significant blow, given his finishing ability with the bat. Faulkner was also Australia’s leading ODI wicket-taker in 2014 and has finished in the top three in their ODI Player of the Year award for the past two seasons.

Corey Anderson has said New Zealand will not be daunted by the visit of “their neighbours from across the ditch” for one of the most eagerly anticipated matches in the country’s cricket history

Andrew McGlashan in Auckland24-Feb-2015Corey Anderson has said New Zealand will not be daunted by the visit of “their neighbours from across the ditch” for one of the most eagerly anticipated matches in the country’s cricket history.A sell-out crowd will cram into Eden Park, the rugby stadium that masquerades as a cricket ground, and promises to create an atmosphere to rival that on show during New Zealand’s thrashing of England in Wellington. It has long been considered that these two matches in the middle of New Zealand’s group stage – England followed by Australia – would give a true indication of where the team stands after their prolific run of one-day results; 12 wins in their last 17 matches.The manner they dispatched England, led by Tim Southee’s 7 for 33 and Brendon McCullum’s 25-ball 77, means it has become increasingly difficult for even the most wary of New Zealand followers not to be embraced by the surge the team has put together.But there remains a sense of uncertainty about how the Trans-Tasman clash will unfold when New Zealand’s batting line-up is pitted against whichever combination of quicks Australia decide to field. However, Anderson insists the Australians will not have any unknown quantity for the home sides.”They’re not going to be foreign, they’re our neighbours from across the ditch,” he said. “They don’t have guys who come out the back of hand, anything like that. We just have to go about our work and stick by our blueprint.”Neither is Anderson perturbed by the comments from Aaron Finch that the pressure will all be on New Zealand, instead calling for the Eden Park crowd to get “stuck in” in response to any verbals the Australians decide to dish out.”That might be mind games. It’s the World Cup, every game is a pressure situation. It’s exciting for us and we look at is as a positive to come out in front of packed crowd at Eden Park who hopefully will get stuck into the Aussies. I’m sure the next few days it will sink in about how big it’s going to be at Eden Park.”Their sledging tactics are well known now and something we haven’t involved ourselves in. We’re fairly neutral on the field, stick to what we do. We’ll be expecting a bit of heat from them and I guess that’s part of their game plan and we’ll just deal with it as it comes.”Yet, while Anderson insists New Zealand will not be overwhelmed by the Australians, he concedes that there is one aspect of the game that takes a strong will to overcome – the incredibly short Eden Park boundaries, which are a mere flick for the current-day batsmen.”It’s a bit daunting when you walk back to your run-up and can almost touch the boundary,” he said. “It’s not the nicest feeling as bowler. As a batter it’s nice. It’s a different ground and we’re lucky we’ve played there a reasonable amount of times and it’s been a reasonable hunting ground. We’ll have the same plans from the last few times we’ve played there.”I think it’s a ground where you need to change it up a lot. If you miss slightly you can get taken to. Top edges don’t go for four, they go for six. It’s one of those things, just get on with it.”Regardless of the sledging, the short boundaries or the prospect of Australia’s fearsome pace attack, there is one overriding emotion for Anderson ahead of the match. To savour an occasion that could be unlike any other.”It’s a World Cup game and definitely the biggest in my career, and certainly for the other players as well. It’s the pinnacle to play Australia in our own backyard, and in the World Cup, so I know we’re all excited.”

Brendan Taylor’s international exit will take up much of the spotlight in an otherwise inconsequential match between India, who are assured of first place in their group, and Zimbabwe, who are already out of the tournament

The Preview by Abhishek Purohit in Auckland13-Mar-2015Match factsMarch 14, 2015
Start time 1400 local (0100GMT)Big PictureTwo teams at opposite ends of the Full-Member spectrum will finish their group-stage engagements tomorrow. As far as the World Cup is concerned, there is next to nothing riding on this match. India will top their group even if they lose to Zimbabwe, who are already out of the tournament.Zimbabwe have not come to India for a bilateral series since 2002, and the big boys oblige them by sending a second-string side every few years to play a few one-dayers. It is only in ICC tournaments that Zimbabwe get the opportunity to face a full-strength India outfit.They have chased in all their five matches so far, three times by their own choice. The chases have been spirited, but Zimbabwe have one win to show despite coming close a few times. As Brendan Taylor has said, they have played well 80% of the time, but have failed to keep it up in the remaining 20%.Their opponents were able to move into high gear right at the start of their campaign, and have maintained that tempo since. They have stepped up their game against strong opponents and not let the intensity slip against lesser ones. It has been a near-perfect run for the Indians so far, and six in six before the knockouts is well within their sights.Form guide(last five matches, most recent first)
India WWWWW
Zimbabwe LLLWLIn the spotlightMany international careers have ended at World Cups, but none are supposed to do so at 29, an age where a batsmen are around their peak. Brendan Taylor will be taking the field for the 216th and final time for Zimbabwe, against the defending world champions. Taylor has been one of Zimbabwe’s finest batsmen and his numerous fighting knocks have shown the pride with which he has represented his country. As he said, it is a “great stage” to finish on Saturday, hopefully with a memorable innings.India’s batsmen reached 300 against the attacks of Pakistan and South Africa on much bigger outfields at the Adelaide Oval and the MCG. Their bowlers have left them chasing low to moderate totals three times after that. Line-ups such as Australia, South Africa and West Indies have plundered massive totals in the tournament. India could join them on the smaller Eden Park if they bat first against Zimbabwe.Zimbabwe will want to give Brendan Taylor a happy farewell•AFPTeams newsUnless they are forced by injury to dip into their bench strength, India have stated they will stick to playing the same XI.India (probable) 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Ajinkya Rahane, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Mohit Sharma, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Umesh YadavElton Chigumbura has been ruled out again with the leg muscle injury he suffered against Pakistan. Zimbabwe have the legspinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi but playing him on a small ground against the Indian batsmen could be a risk.Zimbabwe (probable) 1 Chamu Chibhabha, 2 Sikandar Raza, 3 Hamilton Masakadza, 4 Brendan Taylor (capt & wk), 5 Sean Williams, 6 Craig Ervine, 7 Solomon Mire, 8 Regis Chakabva, 9 Tinashe Panyangara, 10 Tawanda Mupariwa, 11 Tendai ChataraPitch and conditionsEden Park’s kid-size straight boundaries may be rugby’s joke on cricket but a look at the scores will tell you there is more to the ground than that. Nineteen wickets fell for 303 runs between Australia and New Zealand, and Pakistan defended 222 against South Africa. It is a quicker surface than Hamilton, the venue of India’s previous game, and effort from the fast bowlers is rewarded with bounce. Moderate winds and a high of 25C are expected on match day.Stats and trivia India’s highest total in this tournament has been 307. Eleven other teams have surpassed that. Only UAE and Afghanistan have not. India and Zimbabwe have met only once in New Zealand, in the 1992 World Cup, in Hamilton Brendan Taylor needs 16 runs to overtake Dave Houghton as the second-highest run-getter for Zimbabwe in World Cups. He needs 66 to go past Alistair Campbell and end as the third-highest run-getter for his country overall.Quotes”The new-ball bowlers have struck early, where they possibly haven’t done that in the past, and they’re bowling with some good pace too. That’s certainly good for Indian cricket, and it’ll be very challenging for us tomorrow, not just the pace but the swing they’re producing at the moment.”
is impressed by the performance of the India attack”Since the grounds in Australia are bigger you have more options. You can pitch the ball up and use more variations. In smaller grounds you cannot make mistakes and you cannot give the batsmen chances.”
on adapting to smaller grounds in New Zealand

ESPNcricinfo assesses Warwickshire’s prospects for 2015

David Hopps08-Apr-2015Last season
IN:
OUT: Paul Best, Jim Troughton (both retired)
OVERSEAS: Jeetan Patel, Brendon McCullum
2014 in a nutshell
Warwickshire impressed in all three competitions, winning the NatWest Blast, finishing runners-up in Championship to Yorkshire and going to Lord’s for the Royal London Cup final only to succumb as Durham made good use of an excellent bowl-first morning. In Jeetan Patel, the New Zealand born offspinner, they had the most unsung overseas player on the circuit; outstanding in short game and long, his worth was at least recognised by the PCA’s Most Valuable Player award. Sam Hain lived up to his reputation as one of the best young batsmen in the country by averaging 50-plus in Division One in his debut season at 19 and six bowlers took their Championship wickets under 30s. Warwickshire could not claim to be the most exciting or glamorous side in the land but there was something immensely grown-up about them.2015 prospects
Their form in 2014 suggests that if any county is well placed to benefit from England’s debilitating summons for half-a-dozen members of the Yorkshire squad, and win the Championship, it is Warwickshire. A stable squad is unchanged apart from the retirements of Jim Troughton and Paul Best because of injury. The arrival of Brendon McCullum for the NatWest Blast will not only lift their hopes of retaining the trophy, but will surely persuade the city of Birmingham about the attractions of Twenty20. Ian Bell can still expect to be involved with England but the signing of a three-year contract has neatly voiced his commitment to his home county.Power brokers
Dougie Brown had an uncertain start in 2013 when he was promoted from within and replaced Ashley Giles as Warwickshire’s director of cricket, but that emphasis on continuity looked a good decision last year when Warwickshire played consistent, hard-to-beat cricket. Varun Chopra, a highly reliable opening batsman who has never quite turned England’s head, deputised as captain for the injured Troughton for much of last season and was given the job full-time a couple of days before their late-season defeat in the Royal London Cup final.Key player
It sounds odd to parade Brendon McCullum as a key player when his NatWest Blast contract only amounts to seven games at the end of New Zealand’s tour of England. But McCullum’s presence in three home matches is an attempt to awaken the Birmingham public into turning out in force at Edgbaston. If McCullum pulls ’em in the benefits could be long-lasting. He is the leading run-scorer in the history of international T20s, with 2105 runs at an average of 35.67, including two centuries and was one of the leading IPL run-getters in 2014, hitting 405 runs for Chennai Super Kings.Bright young thing
Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time at which the souls of the dead were meant to return home: a forerunner of the modern Halloween. Sam Hain is a less frightening prospect altogether. At 19, he is very much alive, a contender as the most promising teenaged batsman in the country and with a double hundred in the Championship to his name already, duly taken from last season’s bottom club Northants.ESPNcricinfo verdict
Defending NatWest Blast champions they may be, but not everybody is convinced of the Birmingham Bears’ pedigree: Bet365 made them 10-1 sixth favourites before the signing of Brendon McCullum clipped that price in slightly. Surprisingly, Warwickshire are second favourites to Yorkshire for the Championship – a team of battle-hardened professionals at more generous odds than a county that thanks to England calls will be asking a lot of some of its younger players. Interesting.Bet365 odds: Championship Div 1: 4-1; NatWest Blast: 8-1; Royal London Cup: 10-1