Australia have been 'bullied' – Arthur

Shocked by the margin of Australia’s ODI series defeat to England, the coach Mickey Arthur has challenged the tourists to stand up to the bullying they have received so far in the final match at Old Trafford on Tuesday. In a stinging assessment of the one-day side, Arthur said there had been “something missing” for Australia in the 50-over format since he took over as coach last November, and stated the team had been too submissive in allowing England to sail to a decisive 3-0 series lead – inflicting the first loss of the captain Michael Clarke’s 15 months in charge – for the cost of just 11 wickets.Arthur gave the touring team a stern post-match address following the eight-wicket hiding suffered at Chester-le-Street, and followed it up by airing his concerns in public. While he did not question his players’ work-rate or desire to succeed, he was worried about the vast gap that had emerged between training displays and what they were then capable of in the middle. Arthur was at a loss to explain why the ODI team had battled over a period in which the Test side has gathered strength.”I think our Test team is really good, it’s really settled, it’s got that hard edge. The Twenty20 team, we haven’t really had that much time together, but the one-day team there’s just that something missing,” Arthur said. “I’ve said it all through our home summer, there’s just something missing. I’m not sure what it is. Is it character, is it ambition? I’m not sure – there’s just something clearly missing. I’ve challenged the players, I’ll always be honest and I’ll say it how it is. I’m really looking for a response.”I want to see a bit of mongrel come Tuesday, I really do. I think we’ve been a bit submissive this whole series. We’ve allowed [ourselves] to be bullied, and we’re better than that. I don’t think we’ve had a presence this series. I’m talking absolute presence when batters are out there, like the presence our Test team had against India – when we walked on that field there was body language, we were strong, we were decisive, there was that presence.”But we haven’t had that presence in our one-day side. We didn’t really get that presence in our one-day side through the international summer at home as well, and that’s something we’ve been fiddling with, trying to get. We just don’t seem to have the answers at the moment.”Since losing despite having the better of the conditions in the series opener at Lord’s, Australia have laboured under the weight of their own expectations. With each match the margin of defeat has only grown, making many of the tourists’ pre-series boasts look empty in the extreme. The most pointed of these was the prediction that England’s batting was on the thin side due to the selection of five bowlers. Having highlighted Tim Bresnan’s presence at No. 7 as a possible weakness, the tourists are yet to bowl at him.”When we won the toss in favourable conditions at Lord’s, I thought we bowled well. I’m certainly not having a go at any of the bowlers. I thought we bowled well,” Arthur said. “England just seemed to find a way though, you looked at the scoreboard and they were 0 for 60, it was bizarre. We felt as though we’d beaten the bat and were well on top, but you looked at the scoreboard and they were 0 for 60 in about the 18th over.”I guess in both disciplines we haven’t found that way, and that’s disappointing and worrying me a bit to be honest. I’m searching, I’m looking for those answers, I’m looking for that mongrel, looking for that guy who’s going to stand up and change the game. We’re looking for the guy who’s going to take responsibility and say ‘I’m the champ’, I want to change momentum in a game. We seem to be a little bit submissive – we haven’t stood up and we haven’t grasped an opportunity like England have.”We’ve spoken at length that if we can get them three down we’re towards Craig Kieswetter then we’re into Bresnan. Well, we’ve seen Kieswetter bat once at Lord’s and we haven’t seen Bresnan bat yet. And yet our batters, who are world class, seem to be getting out and put under the pump. Again, hats off to England, they’re outstanding, but they’re only doing the basics well. Cricket’s about basics – we’ve got to do the basics better, we’ve got to be nailing those basics. I want to see them nail the basics like we do in training. We don’t do it in the middle, and that’s my worry, that’s what I’m looking for.”A fourth defeat at Old Trafford would all but guarantee Australia’s loss of the world No. 1 ranking in the ODI format to the winner of the subsequent series between England and South Africa. The ceding of top spot would confirm the slide of the one-day team from the group of solid practitioners who held on to top spot through the years of decline experienced by the Test side, to the muddled team swept away by England in this series.”We’re a changing team as world No.1, and I’m not having a character assassination of our team at all,” Arthur said. “I’m looking for answers that are going to strengthen our team and lift our team again. It’s certainly not a character assassination of them. I know those guys are bursting a gut to go out and do well. For us as management it’s about finding that balance between their talent and performance, but somehow they are just not transforming that. That is what is perplexing me.”

Bresnan stats rival England greats

Tim Bresnan collected his first man-of-the-match award in Test cricket after England’s series-clinching victory at Trent Bridge extended his 100 per cent record in Tests to 13 and drew attention to a statistical record that bears comparison with the most distinguished allrounders in England’s Test history.As he took the award, he made light of the fact that, for all his unblemished Test record, he remains one of England’s most unsung performers. Even while he assembled a match return of 8 for 141 against West Indies, and added a stalwart 39 with the bat at a vital stage of the game for good measure, his selection ahead of Steve Finn was being openly debated.”Every time you play you always have someone over your shoulder,” Bresnan said on Sky TV. “I just want to continue to improve and to make a difference on the field. We have a fantastic crop of seam bowlers and it is great that the competition helps you perform.”One of the most startling facts about Bresnan is that his allround record is now markedly superior – albeit in a much shorter period of time – to England’s most celebrated allrounder of the past 25 years, Andrew Flintoff.Bresnan’s Test bowling average is 25.46 compared to Flintoff’s 32.78 and his batting average is now 40.22, well above Flintoff’s 32.78.He even measures up statistically against no lesser figure than Ian Botham, who returned a batting average of 33.54 and bowling average of 28.40.David Saker, England’s bowling coach, said: “I have always been really impressed by him every time he plays for us. He always contributes in some way. He is a great person for our group. He is a likeable lad and you know what you are going to get.”Saker acknowledged that England will give serious consideration to resting a pace bowler, most probably James Anderson in the final Test at Edgbaston, which begins next Thursday.”If there is an opportunity that comes up we may do it,” he said. “We are very mindful of it but they are very proud cricketers and they don’t want to give up a spot to someone else. It is a massive luxury to have two great bowlers such as Steve Finn and Graham Onions on the sidelines and we also have Chris Tremlett coming back from injury.”Andrew Strauss, who like Marlon Samuels must have been in contention for the man-of-the-match award, also has a 100 per cent record – he has won every home series as England captain.”We are going to have to take stock and see how the bowlers are feeling, how fresh they are, and then make a decision what the best side is,” he said. “There is obviously some benefit in having a look at some other bowlers but that doesn’t mean we are going to do it. It depends on how our other bowlers are feeling. Firsts and foremost we want to win the Test match”Darren Sammy, West Indies’ captain, was left to lament the usual failings. “We have to be more focused and put a higher price on our wickets. We did really well to get ourselves back in the game. The bowlers fought back and we have to appreciate what they do.”It has been affecting us in the past year. We still managed to keep ourselves in the game but we are playing like this and we are not learning. Something has to be done. Coach Gibson has only been here for less than three years. We have been like this for 15 years. The supporters have been patient for a long time.”

Richard Pybus to interview for Bangladesh coach

Richard Pybus, the former Pakistan coach, has been shortlisted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as a candidate to coach the national team and will be interviewed on Friday. The board is also set to interview two other candidates later – Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell and former New Zealand batsman and coach Mark Greatbatch.Pybus arrived in Dhaka on Thursday night with the interview expected to take place the following day. Newell’s lack of international exposure and Greatbatch’s coaching record might work against them. Pybus hasn’t coached an international side since 2003 but his early arrival is a sign of the BCB’s intentions. ESPNcricinfo understands he has a better chance of getting the job.The selection process is different this time with the BCB deciding to interview foreign candidates, unlike Dav Whatmore, Jamie Siddons and Stuart Law, who were not interviewed.”We have made a shortlist of three to four candidates. We will be calling them shortly for interviews and if we like the coach, we will finalise him,” BCB media committee chairman Jalal Yunus told ESPNcricinfo. “We will only decide after speaking to the coaches.”Pybus, who took up coaching in his mid-twenties, was appointed Pakistan coach for their 1999 World Cup campaign while at Border, before returning to the South African provincial side. He coached Pakistan again until the 2003 World Cup and had stints with Titans and Cape Cobras (South Africa), and Middlesex. He was with Cobras until March 2012 and was also linked to the South Africa job last year.Newell also remained in the picture after emerging as the first candidate last week. It was learned the BCB were still in talks with him.Greatbatch, a former opening batsman who played 41 Tests for New Zealand, has a mixed record as coach after retiring in 1998. He had stints at home (Central Districts) and with Warwickshire, and was also the New Zealand coach when they were beaten 4-0 by Bangladesh in 2010. John Wright replaced him the same year.Edited by Kanishkaa Balachandran

Netherlands secure second victory

ScorecardA hard-hitting 74 by Stephan Myburgh helped blast Netherlands to a nine-wicket win under the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-ravaged Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Worcestershire at Kidderminster.Opener Myburgh smacked four sixes and seven fours to power his side to a revised victory target of 139 off 19 overs with 13 balls to spare.In a Group A clash which was switched to Kidderminster because of flooding at New Road, on-song Myburgh was Netherlands’ hero for the second successive match. The previous day he hammered 77 when they won a thriller by one run against Gloucestershire at Bristol.He confidently took centre stage for a second time after Vikram Solanki had top-scored with 63 for Worcestershire in a game that began as a 27 overs-a-side affair. Solanki’s knock enabled the Royals to score 172 for 4, but further rain reduced Netherlands’ target to 139 off 19 overs.It was a target the visitors safely reached thanks to Myburgh and Cameron Borgas, who was unbeaten on 55 which contained three sixes and five fours. They put on an unbroken 132 which spanned 14 overs.Play finally got under way at 3.45pm in front of a sparse crowd with Worcestershire, having been put in, soon losing Moeen Ali when he offered a high two handed catch to Tim Gruijters at mid-on off paceman Mudassar Bukari, who finished with 3 for 29.Michael Klinger only lasted for nine balls before he moved up to a Tommy Heggelman ball and was comfortably caught at mid-off by Tom Cooper. It reduced Worcestershire to 32 for 2 in the eighth over and left Solanki and James Cameron to lift their side past the 50 mark in the 12th over.The darker rain clouds began to gather again, however, as both batsmen battled to keep the scoreboard ticking along. But despite the steady drizzle they went on to complete a well earned half-century partnership in 10 overs before taking Worcestershire into three figures in 20 overs.Solanki completed his 50, containing one six and two fours, off 69 balls before Cameron, attempting to force the pace, was snapped up at deep mid-wicket by Heggelman off Bukarhi for 38. He had put on 78 in 15 overs with Solanki, who was joined by his skipper Daryl Mitchell who rapidly moved on to 20 before being put down by Heggelman at deep cover.He capitalised by adding 41 in 23 balls with Solanki, who was finally caught on the boundary by Michael Swart off Bukhari after hitting one six and four fours off 80 balls. Mitchell ended unbeaten on 31 off 15 deliveries.After a delay because of further rain, Holland launched their reply in far from ideal conditions and soon lost Michael Swart to seamer Jack Shantry. A heavier downpour soon forced the players to head for shelter before the visitors initial revised target of 152 off 22 overs changed for the final time following the loss of three overs.

Essex bid for Olympic Stadium

Essex have applied for the right to become tenants of the Olympic Stadium after London 2012. The club, based in Chelmsford, have made a joint bid with the University of East London to use what will become a 60,000 seater venue after the games.While the club would rarely utilise the venue for first-class games – it is most unlikely a division two championship clash with Derbyshire would attract 60,000 – Essex do have an excellent record of generating T20 audiences and regularly sell-out their Chelmsford ground, which has a capacity of 6,500. The Olympic Stadium’s situation in heavily populated east London therefore makes it an attractive proposition.A statement from Essex read: “We can confirm that the University of East London and Essex County Cricket Club have jointly put in a bid to the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) to utilise space in the Olympic Stadium.”We cannot provide any further detail at this stage, as we are bound by a legal confidentiality agreement. We see this as a fantastic opportunity and are committed to supporting the achievement of the best possible outcomes from the legacy operation of the Olympic Stadium.”Essex have confirmed, however, that they have no intentions of moving from their home at the Ford County Ground in Chelmsford.”It is very important we make it clear to people that we have no intention of moving from Chelmsford,” Essex’s chief executive, David East told ESPNcricinfo. “This is our home and we are actively pursuing the redevelopment of the ground.”We also have a responsibility to develop the game in east London. We look after five boroughs – including Newham, the location of the stadium – and we have coaching and scouting programmes in place there already. Strategically this would be a very good move for us.”West Ham United were awarded the stadium in a partnership with Newham Council in October, but the deal collapsed after complaints from rival football clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient.As a result, OPLC decided the venue would remain in public ownership and retain its athletic capabilities. They subsequently opened a new bidding process to find a tenant – or tenants – which closed on March 23. It is understood that there were four bids.West Ham, should they win the bid, are not thought to be hostile to any application from Essex to use the stadium for a limited number of cricket fixtures.

Barisal named fourth semi-finalist after much confusion

Match Facts

February 28, Mirpur
Start time 1400 local (0800 GMT)

Big Picture

The first semi-final of the BPL will have the team that finished first in the league playing the team that finished fourth. Duronto Rajshahi finished first, with 14 points, but until 2.00 am on the morning of the semi-final, it wasn’t clear who finished fourth.Initially, on Sunday, it was announced that Barisal Burners were through to the semis, after their victory against Chittagong Kings, on the basis of net run-rate. At that point, the other two spots were going to be contested between Chittagong, Khulna Royal Bengals and Dhaka Gladiators.On Monday, after Dhaka lost narrowly to Rajshahi and Khulna beat Sylhet Royals, Khulna went to second place with 12 points, leaving Dhaka, Barisal and Chittagong tied on 10 points at the end of the league phase.In the head-to-head results between the teams level on 10 points, Dhaka had beaten Barisal twice and Chittagong once and had a superior net-run rate and qualified for the semi-finals in third place. That now left Chittagong and Barisal in contention for the fourth spot.Chittagong had two wins, against Barisal and Dhaka, while Barisal had only one, against Chittagong. Barisal’s net run-rate, however, was better than that of Chittagong. It was initially announced that Chittagong were in the semi-finals, presumably on the basis of a better head-to-head record in the three-way tie on 10 points, which included Dhaka. At 2.45 am this morning, however, the BPL issued a release which said that Barisal was the fourth semi-finalist, presumably because their head-to-head record with Chittagong – not including Dhaka who had already qualified – was tied and they had a better net run-rate.The upshot of all this confusion was that Rajshahi had ample time to prepare mentally for their knockout clash, while their opponents were left in limbo until the wee hours of the morning.

In the spotlight

The hard-hitting Jamaican, Marlon Samuels, will be eager to finish his stint with Rajshahi on a high note as he prepares for his maiden foray into the IPL in April.Barisal will rely heavily on their captain Brad Hodge, who came good in the crucial game against Chittagong with a scintillating 67. He called the tournament fun but will have to take it seriously in the semifinals.

Form guide (most recent first)

Barisal Burners WLWWL
Duronto Rajshahi WWLWW

Head to head

Barisal won the first game by 22 runs, while Rajshahi came back with a nine-wicket win in the return leg.

Chatter

“If we can play well tomorrow and win the semi-final, then I can take stock of how well we played. Our first target was to reach the semi-finals, and our second target now is playing the finals and winning the trophy.”
Edited by George Binoy

Leicestershire sign Sarwan for 2012 season

Ramnaresh Sarwan, the former West Indies captain, has signed as Leicestershire’s overseas player for the 2012 season. He will join the county for the entire season, subject to gaining clearance from the West Indian Cricket Board and a UK work permit. He will be a part of Leicestershire’s pre-season tour of Barbados in mid-March, before flying to the UK.Sarwan has not been a part of the West Indies setup since the home series against India in June 2011, and has not played any cricket since then due to confusion over his fitness. The Guyana Cricket Board left Sarwan out of their squad for the Caribbean T20, saying they were unsure of his fitness, but Sarwan criticised the board, saying he was fit and had informed the board of that. Sarwan has also had his differences with the WICB in the past.Leicestershire have had Australia allrounder Andrew McDonald as their overseas player in the Championship at various stages of the past two seasons, but McDonald has not played for Australia since 2009 and hence cannot get a work permit to play in England. Sarwan, who has previously played for Gloucestershire, will be his replacement.”We are delighted to have completed the signing of Ramnaresh Sarwan,” Leicestershire chief-executive Mike Siddall said. “He has an impressive Test record and his availability to play all forms of the game for us during the 2012 season is an added bonus. We wanted to sign an experienced overseas batsman and Ronnie certainly fits the bill.”Sarwan has played 87 Tests and has scored 5842 runs at 40.01.

England frustrated by lower-order rally

Scorecard
Stuart Broad took three wickets in his first three overs but ICC XI fought back on day one in Dubai•Getty Images

England were given a good workout in the field on the opening day of their first warm-up match of the tour as the tail wagged for a ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate XI. First-class best innings from Christi Viljoen and Boyd Rankin revived the innings after England made a rampant start.Stuart Broad claimed three wickets in his first three overs as England took command at lunch but Namibian allrounder Viljoen and Warwickshire bowler Rankin rallied in the lower order with a partnership of 96 to give England a testing final session.Viljoen’s 98 from 189 balls prevented the ICC XI from being blown away. Broad’s wickets were followed by two for Graeme Swann and a wicket for Steven Finn – playing because of Chris Tremlett’s eye infection and an elbow injury to Tim Bresnan.At 91 for 6 at lunch, it was a gentle introduction to the tour for England. But Viljoen added 32 with Afghanistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad, whose half century was the first resistance for the ICC XI. His counter-attacking innings came from 55 balls and included seven fours.The second act of resistance came through Viljoen after James Anderson had Shahzad caught behind after lunch. Viljoen struck 13 fours and a six to take his side to tea on 182 for 8. But Warwickshire’s Rankin also made a useful score after tea to provide another partnership for ICC XI.Broad returned to wrap up the innings by having Viljoen caught by James Anderson two short of a maiden first-class hundred. He finished with 4 for 46 before Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook safely negotiated four overs to close on 16 for 0.The day had begun with Strauss winning the toss after which England used the new ball to good effect. Broad enjoyed his return to an England shirt for the first time since September by removing the ICC XI top three. William Porterfield tried to flick a full ball to leg and edged behind for one before Paul Stirling played on trying to pull. Kyle Coetzer also fell for single figures as he tried to force off the back foot and edged to Steve Davies – keeping wicket in place of Matt Prior who injured a finger in training yesterday.Finn produced an edge from Majid Haq’s loose drive outside off stump, pouched by Swann low at second slip. Swann was introduced into the attack and was struck down the ground for six by Craig Williams before he pushed forward and edged behind to Davies. Swann then lured Mohammad Nabi out of his crease and he missed with a wild hack to be bowled for a second-ball duck.The fightback arrived before Anderson claimed his second wicket having Rankin caught by Finn at point to break the main stand of the innings. Broad then took his fourth as ICC XI were bowled out for a far higher score than might have been expected.

Television ratings slump in India

Indian viewers have been turned off by their team’s abject capitulation to Australia in the Test series, with television ratings down substantially in comparison to India’s last tour four years ago. The TRPs (one TRP represents 1% of viewers in the surveyed area in a given minute) for the first two Tests were 0.89 and 0.70 compared to 1.07 and 1.30 in 2007-08, according to TAM Sports, a division of TAM Media Research, the leading television ratings agency in India.Prior to the first Test, India were thought to have their best chance of winning a first series in Australia. The prospect of Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th international hundred added to the build-up and the series was eagerly anticipated. Instead the tour has turned out to be a mismatch so far, with India losing the first three Tests, the previous two by an innings.”I think the primary factor [for the low ratings] is the performance of the team itself,” Ravi Rao, the South Asia leader for Mindshare, told ESPNcricinfo. “People expected India to rebound in the second Test. Typically, the Indian team’s first match is a bad performance. [But] this has been a desperate performance so the channel is going to be affected in terms of getting revenues.”Sridhar Ramanujam, who heads brand consulting firm Brand-Comm, said “People want to see their teams win. That’s probably why the ratings are low.”In contrast, the reports that Australian ratings are up by more than 30% over last year’s Ashes series, which Australia lost 1-3. Host broadcaster Channel Nine has pulled in an average of 1.49 million viewers during the two Tests, while last summer 1.14 million tuned in to see England humble the home side.However, India’s abject run – they have now lost seven consecutive away Tests – is not expected to affect the appetite of viewers or advertisers for the upcoming tri-series that will also feature Sri Lanka. “Cricket has no other competition, especially for the male market,” Patrick Gomes, the vice-president of Lintas Media Group, said. According to Gomes, there was no shortage of advertisers wanting to a piece of the one-day series pie, though he also suggested that some of them were hoping that rates would come down given India’s recent poor run.One of the reasons for optimism about the one-day series is the high profile nature of the participants. Joining the home team Australia are India, the current 50-over world champions, and Sri Lanka, the losing finalists. Sanjay Kailash, EVP & head of sales, ESPN-Star Sports, said that the channel has already sold 70% of its inventory and does not expect to have a hard time selling the remaining 30%. He sees the Test series as distinct from the one-day tournament. “For us, no two things are attached to each other.”Rao said that one-days are typically a better bet than Test matches because “even if India does not do well, in the initial phase I would still get more eyeballs. Crowds still want to know how the games are going to go.”Ramanujam also expected fans to tune back in for the tri-series. “I think people will watch and hope. The Indian cricket fan is a die-hard optimist.”India will also play two Twenty20 internationals before the tri-series. In 2007-08, the Twenty20 international between the teams drew a TRP of 4.46, while the tri-series featuring Sri Lanka had an average rating of 3.24.ESPN STAR Sports is a 50:50 joint venture between Walt Disney (ESPN, Inc.), the parent company of ESPNcricinfo, and News Corporation Limited (STAR)

'We showed a lot of ticker today' – Taylor

New Zealand sides defeat Australia at rugby. Or netball. They don’t beat Australia in Test cricket. And they definitely don’t do it on Australian soil. At least, that was the way New Zealand were viewed until a quiet Monday afternoon in Hobart, when Doug Bracewell curled the ball through Australia’s middle and lower order. A seven-run win ended 18 years of hidings and draws.Before this day, New Zealand had only won in Australia when Richard Hadlee was at his peak. They hadn’t even managed it in New Zealand since March 1993. To put that in perspective, Bracewell, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee and Trent Boult had not yet started school. The New Zealand captain who ended the drought, Ross Taylor, was eight years old.”When did we win?” Taylor said after the Hobart victory. “Oh, 1993. Can I remember it? Vaguely. Not well.”A generation of young New Zealand players and fans now know what it’s like to beat Australia. It can be done. And after Taylor’s team stayed with Australia for two days in the first Test in Brisbane, only to lose their way as the match wore on, he had one simple message for his men. Show some ticker and never give up. As a result, Taylor has the enviable record of two wins from three Tests in charge.”I’m not a very good speaker, as you can tell by now, but the only thing I try to instil in the players is fight and be proud in playing for your country,” Taylor said. “We didn’t show much fight in Brisbane but we showed a lot of guts and determination out there today. That was for the New Zealand public, an early Christmas present.”[I have] over 50 text messages on my phone – I think that’s pretty big. Rugby is our No.1 sport but any sport against Australia, winning in Australia, the New Zealand public enjoys. The New Zealand public knows that the New Zealand cricket team, when playing against Australia, is always the underdogs, but they don’t like it when we don’t show much fight. That’s what we didn’t do in Brisbane. We showed a lot of ticker today.”They needed it. On the second afternoon, when Taylor and Kane Williamson were batting with discipline, New Zealand deserved to be favourites. By the fourth morning, when David Warner was on his way to a century with a composed Usman Khawaja also in the middle, Australia were 119 runs from victory with nine wickets in hand.”We believed in ourselves, that we could win this match,” Taylor said. “We knew we had to fight. We knew we had to play a lot better than we did in Brisbane. We talked a lot about the way we bowled in Zimbabwe [during the Bulawayo Test] in the last session; about just fighting, taking our catches and bowling in the right areas, and we’ll get reward. That’s what happened.”Not that it was smooth sailing, even when Bracewell and Tim Southee started to torment the Australian batsmen with hooping swing. With 42 runs still required, Warner was joined by the No. 11, Nathan Lyon, and the pair nearly steered Australia home.New Zealand thought they had won when Lyon was given out lbw but Australia’s review indicated the ball had pitched outside the leg stump, even though the right-armer Southee was coming over the wicket. To the naked eye, it was hard to believe the Eagle-Eye verdict, as the ball appeared to strike Lyon in line. It nearly cost New Zealand the game.”It’s a G-rated programme isn’t it?” Taylor said when asked about how he felt at the time of the reviews. “There were a lot of things going through my mind. There must be something wrong with my eyes. For me personally, some of them which I thought were not out were out and vice-versa. But at the end of the day, we won the match. The emotions going through? My goal was to show a calmness, but inside I was churning.”They fought the whole way. We would have won by 40 runs out there against some teams. But the way Lyon and Warner played, I nearly had a heart attack. Warner was outstanding. To come in in only his second match and control the game the way he did … we’ll be on the wrong side of a few hidings so I can’t feel too sorry for him, but he deserves a lot of credit for the way he batted.”As it turned out, Warner was Man of the Match, ahead of the more deserving Bracewell. The award was voted for by the Australian public, watching the telecast. But it’s the New Zealand public who will have the last laugh. For the first time in a generation, they can celebrate a Test victory over Australia.

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