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No jackets in the Long Room … the hottest day yet of an abnormally sweltering English summer has claimed a notable etiquette casualty

Andrew Miller26-Jul-2018The hottest day yet of an abnormally sweltering English summer claimed a notable etiquette casualty on Thursday evening, as Marylebone Cricket Club announced a relaxation of its strict dress code for members entering the Pavilion at Lord’s.Spectators attending Middlesex’s Vitality Blast match against Hampshire were informed prior to the start of the match, at 6.15pm, that there was no longer a requirement for them to wear jackets in the Long Room, due to the “abnormally warm” weather.Temperatures in London touched 34C on Thursday afternoon, with the possibility of an even hotter day to come on Friday – potentially threatening the hottest ever recorded in the country, 38.5C in August 2003.Ordinarily, Lord’s dress code for men states: “Gentlemen shall wear lounge suits or tailored jacket and trousers, shirt, tie or cravat and shoes with socks.” Women must wear: “dresses; or skirts or trousers (which may be cropped below the knee) or culottes, with blouses or smart tops, and formal shoes, boots or sandals.”However, a tweet from @homeofcricket, the official Lord’s Cricket Ground account, ahead of the match read: “Due to the abnormally warm temperatures, MCC has decided to dispense with requirement for gentlemen to wear jackets in the Pavilion and arrive wearing one. This applies to Members of MCC and Middlesex and their guests.”
It comes after India’s touring team short their ongoing warm-up match against Essex, from four days to three, for what was believed to be concerns about the parched outfield at Chelmsford, and the desire to more closely manage their workloads ahead of next week’s first Test at Edgbaston, starting on August 1.While Lord’s has long held a reputation for inflexibility when it comes to dress codes – and other codes, for that matter: it wasn’t until 1999 that women were finally admitted to the Long Room – in reality, MCC has relaxed many of its regulations in recent years.A loosening of the club’s famous egg-and-bacon tie – both literally and metaphorically – was first undertaken a decade ago by the club’s then-chief executive, the liberally minded Australian Keith Bradshaw, whose efforts to portray the club in a new light also included his championing, on MCC’s behalf, of pink-ball floodlit cricket. Further relaxations have been proposed ahead of the launch of the ECB’s new city-based competition in 2020, which, with its family-friendly remit, may involve permitting children into the pavilion.Certainly the club seems slightly less set in its ways than the other two big beasts of the British Social Season – Wimbledon, where in 2015 Lewis Hamilton was ejected from the Royal Box after an “unfortunate misunderstanding” with the dress code, and Royal Ascot, which actually beefed up its dress code this year in a bid to keep a tighter rein on spectator behaviour.”Additions to the official dress code in 2018 make socks a requirement for gentlemen,” according to the Royal Ascot style guide. “Our dress code is traditional, woven into the very fabric of our history.”There wasn’t a whole lot of tradition on display at Lord’s on Thursday night, where – as Hampshire wilted in the evening heat, losing their last nine wickets for 54 runs in a 22-run defeat – a “kiss-cam” was scouring the stands and zeroing in on amorous couples.And while they may have been unusually hot under the collar, it is not thought that the cameras lingered too long on the members at this stage of the club’s evolution.

From a tearaway fast bowler to motor racing, Mitchell Johnson can’t quite free himself from his addiction for speed

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-2018Mitchell Johnson made his name as a tearaway fast bowler in cricket, but he’s gearing up for a different kind of speed now. Having retired from all forms of cricket in August this year, the 36-year old former Australia quick is set to make his motor racing debut this weekend at the Barbagello Raceway in a Formula 1000 series event.”I’ve always loved my cars, I’ve always had that passion,” Johnson told the . “For me it’s that release – it’s not quite the same as what I got with cricket but it’s a great adrenaline rush for me to get my mind off things. You’re going pretty quick, you’ve got so many technical things to think about – when you’re going to turn into the corner, braking, feeling the car. It’s been a great process – I’m starting to really enjoy it.”Johnson took a liking to motorsport following a charity event, and since then he underwent a training and development programme with Arise Racing, an outfit based in Perth that helped prepare him for the race he’ll be a part of this weekend. For Johnson, though, it’s not too different from the thrill of fast bowling, whether he’s bounding into his delivery stride, or at the other end facing it.”I faced Shoaib Akhtar when I was playing for Queensland,” he said. “He’s got this massive run-up – the first ball, I was sort of shaking there. His first ball, hit for four, it was a full toss and I ran past and said ‘please don’t hit me’. It was almost the same as the first time I was driving out here.”Johnson had retired from all international cricket following a Test series against New Zealand in 2015, finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker among Australia fast bowlers in Test cricket. With 313 wickets in 73 Tests, he’s behind only Glenn McGrath (563 wickets) and Dennis Lillee (355). He was a crucial part of the devastating 5-0 Ashes whitewash Australia inflicted on England in 2013-14, when he took 37 wickets at a stellar average of 13.97 and was named Player of the Series.It seems like his days in the fast lane aren’t quite done yet.

The batsman had incidentally opted out of England’s tour of Bangladesh in 2016, citing security reasons

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2018Alex Hales has signed up for BPL franchise Rangpur Riders for the 2018-19 season, their CEO Ishtiaque Sadeque has confirmed. Hales became Riders’ first of the two signings from outside the draft, apart from their four retained players Chris Gayle, Mashrafe Mortaza, Nazmul Islam and Mohammad Mithun.Hales’ deal with Riders is an interesting one given that he had pulled out of England’s 2016 tour of Bangladesh, citing security fear, alongside Eoin Morgan. There was some criticism of the duo especially as the tour passed off without any incidents.The BPL is scheduled to be held in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet from early January, clashing with the Big Bash League in Australia and the UAE T20x tournament.Hales, who played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in this year’s IPL, will be reunited with coach Tom Moody who took Riders to their maiden BPL title last year. Riders will fill the rest of their squad during the October 25 players’ draft.While Hales does face a hearing in front of the ECB’s Cricket Disciplinary Commission in December, over his part in the incident last year that saw Ben Stokes charged with affray, he would only not be available for the BPL if any suspension was extended beyond England involvement. England are due in the Caribbean in January, but will begin their tour playing Tests.Meanwhile, Chittagong Vikings owners DBL Group confirmed earlier this week of their participation in the BPL after they had reportedly threatened to pull out of the competition. But on October 4, they announced Luke Ronchi, Sikandar Raza, Najibullah Zadran and Sunzamul Islam as their four retained players.

Fazle, who is part of Bangladesh’s ODI squad against Zimbabwe, caught Bashar’s attention when he struck two fifties in three innings during their A-tour in Ireland in August

Mohammad Isam13-Oct-2018Fazle Mahmud’s evolved batting was the main reason behind his selection in Bangladesh’s ODI squad for the three-match series against Zimbabwe, according to selector Habibul Bashar. Bashar said that Mahmud has become a far more stable batsman in the last three years, having begun as a big-hitter many years ago.Mahmud struck two fifties in three innings for Bangladesh A in Ireland in August, catching the attention of Bashar, who was the selector on tour. He also made 708 runs at an average of 47.20 in this year’s Dhaka Premier League List-A tournament, to top off a good run in the last three years in domestic cricket. Bashar said that Mahmud offers the “complete package” with his left-arm spin, fitness and fielding, apart from his batting.”He’s had an interesting career,” Bashar said. “[Fazle Mahmud] Rabbi was in the high-performance squad about five or six years ago as a promising player. But then he lost his form. He has been in the runs again in the last three years, and there is a noticeable change in his overall game. He batted well in the A team tours. He is slightly on the older side, which we see less of when players get their first call-up. But he is a fit cricketer. We needed a batsman and although he is not like Shakib, he bowls a bit.”He started as a flamboyant, aggressive batsman in his early days, but I have noticed in the Ireland tour that he can bat according to the team’s needs. He rotates the strike, but he still has the big shots. He is now a complete batsman, which had a big influence in his selection. He is also a good fielder and bowls spin, a complete package.”Mohammad Saifuddin, the other new inclusion in the ODI side was a slightly more experimental pick, according to Bashar, as the Bangladesh thinktank wanted a bowling allrounder lower down the order. Despite the presence of Ariful Haque in the current side, Saifuddin is more likely to get the spot because of his bowling ability.”We have been looking for a bowling allrounder at No. 7 in the Zimbabwe ODI series,” Bashar said. “[Soumya Sarkar and Ariful] are batting allrounders. We expect batting first from them, and then bowling. We picked Saifuddin because he is a bowler who can contribute with the bat.”Over the years Ariful focused on batting although he came on to the scene as a bowling allrounder. Currently, we can’t expect him to bowl 10 overs. He has played as a batting allrounder, but we want someone who can bowl 10 overs and bat well too.”Bashar also said that Mominul Haque, one of three batsmen to be dropped after the Asia Cup, should not let thoughts of a permanent ODI place affect his Test batting. Mominul and Soumya made 14 and 33 runs in two matches respectively, while Mosaddek Hossain could muster only 39 runs in three outings. Mosaddek had replaced Sabbir Rahman at No. 7 while Soumya – and Imrul Kayes – were included midway through the Asia Cup by BCB president Nazmul Hassan after openers Liton Das and Nazmul Hossain Shanto failed on three occasions.Mominul, who earlier this year became the first Bangladeshi batsman to score hundreds in both innings of a Test match, earned his place in the Asia Cup squad through his 182 in a List-A game against Ireland A in August. Bashar feels Mominul is shifting his mindset towards the shorter format.”It would have been great had Mominul been in the runs,” Bashar said. “I have noticed that his batting has changed quite a lot recently. I am not sure whether his ODI-minded batting will affect him in Tests. If it happens, it certainly wouldn’t be desirable. We haven’t seen him do well in Tests in recent months, although he is one of our most important Test players. We need him in that format more than we need him in ODIs.”Bashar stated said that Mominul was still “unlucky” to miss out on the ODI squad where the focus was also on seeing how some of the fringe players fared at the highest level. “I feel bad for Mominul who was unlucky to miss out on selection,” Bashar said. “His ODI career is far from over. We basically had to see some other cricketers, and this is our best opportunity ahead of series against West Indies and New Zealand and the World Cup.”He had two knocks in the Asia Cup, which I feel isn’t enough for a batsman. It would have been beneficial for him had he made runs but since he couldn’t and we needed to see some new players, we had to drop him.”Bashar, however, was far less sympathetic towards Mosaddek. “We are not happy with Mosaddek’s form. He hasn’t been able to bat functionally. We are giving him a break, and we hope he returns among runs in domestic cricket.”

The opener stayed unbeaten through the chase, notching a career-best 79* to lift his side off the bottom of the table

The Report by Liam Brickhill28-Nov-2018Tshwane Spartans have the leading six-hitter and the most effective bowler of the Mzansi Super League in their ranks, but before today they had lost three of their four matches. AB de Villiers added to his sixes tally, while Jeevan Mendis took his 11th wicket, but it was Dean Elgar who made the most telling contribution against Jozi Stars, carrying his bat for a career-best 79 not out from 52 deliveries to deliver a vital win with three balls to spare. Elgar cracked five fours and four sixes as Spartans chased down Stars’ 186 for 5 to win the Gauteng derby by four wickets, completing a record T20 run chase at SuperSport Park.Opening the batting, Elgar set the pace in Spartans’ chase with three fours and two sixes inside the Powerplay. Elgar had to weather a bristling opening spell from Kagiso Rabada, while at the other end Simon Harmer struck repeatedly to dent Spartans’ line-up. Harmer removed the pinch-hitting Corbin Bosch and Theunis de Bruyn with consecutive deliveries, but Elgar found the boundary whenever it was needed and alongside de Villiers, added 68 for the fourth wicket in quick time to push the innings forward.As Elgar brought up a 30-ball fifty in the 11th over, de Villiers gave an all too brief exhibition of astonishing T20 strokeplay, flicking seamer Dwaine Pretorius over fine leg with a paddle sweep for six as he started to hit his straps. De Villiers then launched an assault in Eddie Leie’s second over, reverse sweeping to third man and then sending the ball sailing twice over midwicket with a pair of powerful slog sweeps.Pretorius soon wrought revenge, however, de Villiers slicing a full ball straight to Ryan Rickelton at long off to depart for 39. But vitally, Elgar remained, and he took Spartans closer with a 41-run stand with Tony de Zorzi, the 150 coming up in the 16th over. Spartans were left needing 41 from the last five overs, which was par for the course, but the quick dismissals of de Zorzi and Robbie Frylinck in consecutive overs set up a tight finish.Still, Elgar batted on and as long as he remained, the advantage was always with Spartans. Sean Williams, batting as low as no. 8, tipped the balance with a top-edged pull for four off Rabada in the penultimate over, and then hit the winning runs by slicing a full toss from Beuran Hendricks to the third man boundary.While Elgar had kept Spartans ticking over throughout their chase, Jozi’s innings had been bookended by contrasting knocks from Reeza Hendricks and Pite van Biljon. Rickelton, who narrowly missed out on a hundred against Paarl Rocks a week ago, was very much the secondary partner in an opening stand of 54 as Hendricks repeatedly pierced the cover boundary with an exhibition of classical shots.Hendricks’ first boundary was gifted to him via overthrows, but he hit five more fours off the next 10 balls he faced with rather more authority. With Hendricks particularly fluent through the off side, Eldred Hawken leaked 10 runs from his first over, Bosch 15 from his second, and Stars took 53 from the Powerplay.Once de Villiers turned to his spinners, however, the scoring rate immediately dipped. Mendis added to his wickets tally almost straight away when Rickelton gloved a sweep to be well caught by a diving Gihahn Cloete behind the stumps.Between the sixth and the 14th overs, Stars managed just one boundary off the bat, with Williams flighting the ball more than usual and collecting a miserly 0 for 14 from his four overs. Hendricks went to a 48-ball fifty, but he became Mendis’ second victim when he was caught in the deep for 55.The re-introduction of seam changed the momentum of the innings, van Biljon and Dane Vilas pillaging 19 runs off the 17th over of the innings, bowled by Frylinck, and 20 off the penultimate over of the innings, bowled by Lutho Sipamla, as 67 runs flowed from the last four overs. But that wasn’t quite enough to make up for the middle order dip, and Elgar’s efforts meant that Spartans moved up from the bottom of the points table to third, while Stars slipped to fourth.

Life’s been good with the extra family time, says Australian batsman ahead of his first game as captain of the Sylhet Sixers

Mohammad Isam03-Jan-2019David Warner entered the press conference room several minutes before the scheduled start. He chatted with the journalists in the front row, sharing his knowledge about Aminul Islam, the former Bangladesh captain who resides in Australia, whom he knows by his nickname Bulbul.Warner is one of several big names in this season’s BPL, here because of his ban from Australian cricket till March this year. The BPL is his third T20 franchise tournament since he picked up the ban after Global T20 Canada and the CPL, while he has also spent time playing grade cricket back home.”Life has been good for me,” Warner said about his forced break from the international arena. “I have been spending time with the family. I wouldn’t be able to do that if I was sitting in the sidelines. It is about getting the best out of myself and growing as a human being. The most important thing was being a father and husband at home. Now it is down to playing cricket again and making sure I get Sylhet Sixers on top of the table.”Warner said that he has been in good form in Sydney grade cricket, which will help him build towards a comeback in a couple of months when he completes serving the ban.”I was having a conversation with Waqar [Younis, Sylhet coach] today about playing club cricket in Australia at the moment. The wickets are quite low and slow. It has been tough to adapt to those conditions but I have had a very good run of form at home and having played here in Dhaka and Chattogram before, I know what the wicket is going to be like. So for me it is about getting into a routine and rhythm and making sure I can lead from the front, from the top. So it makes it easy for the guys coming in,” he said.Leading Sylhet will also be an interesting opportunity for Warner. He is in charge of the likes of Liton Das, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Afif Hossain, all of whom are regarded as some of the most talented cricketers in Bangladesh, often distracted by off-field factors.”I am extremely grateful to be leading the side. For me it is about making sure that we as a whole, including the support staff and management, can get the best out of the players. We have to establish our best XI when we get into the park and make sure we do the right things in training. I have to make sure I am doing my job right, which is scoring runs and leading the guys on the park,” he said.He, however, played down the duel with Steven Smith, who will be on opposite side for Comilla Victorians on Sunday.”I will just treat it as another game. It is not just taking on one player but taking on a team of eleven players. It is about making sure that our bowlers know how to get Smith out, and then tackle the rest of the guys,” he said.Warner said that his own form in the BPL could play a part in his return for Australia. “It is up to the selectors whether or not they want to pick me. At the end of the day, all I can do is score runs in this tournament and the IPL, keep putting my hand up and making sure that I am the best person I can be,” he said.Younis said that he is depending on Warner, apart from overseas fast bowlers Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan and Pat Brown, and legspinners Imran Tahir and Sandeep Lamichhane.”I think we picked a pretty balanced team. We have all bases covered. We have a good bowling line-up with couple of really good overseas fast bowlers and legspinners. Sandeep Lamichhane and Imran Tahir are both world-class. Warner will lead the team from the front. I have worked with him in the past and we get on really well. Hopefully we will challenge other teams in this tournament and play really well,” he said.

Trevor Bayliss has hinted he would recommend splitting the England coaching job in the future

George Dobell in Barbados19-Jan-2019Trevor Bayliss has hinted he would recommend splitting the England coaching job in the future. Bayliss’ contract as head coach expires at the end of September and he has made it clear he has no intention of seeking an extension. Instead, he is likely to pursue a future as a freelance coach on short-term deals offered by competitions such as the Big Bash League and The Hundred.After four years in the England job, however, he is well-placed to advise on the pitfalls of the role. In that time, he has missed just one tour; a short, limited-overs trip to the Caribbean that was instead overseen by Paul Farbrace. And, having held a meeting with Ashley Giles, the new managing director of England men’s cricket, shortly before departing, it seems Bayliss stressed the difficulties of a role that entails the best part of 300 days a year in hotel rooms.As a result, it seems he would recommend either splitting the role into two, with a limited-overs coach and a Test coach both answering to Giles, or appointing one head coach with several deputies who could take charge of some series.”It’s very difficult,” Bayliss said. “I said to Giles the other day that if they go with one coach then it might help to have two or three assistants underneath. It could be that they take charge in some more series. Then the head coach gets a break and it gives experience to two or three homegrown coaches.”Part of the issue with the role as it stands at present is that it may deter some of the better candidates from applying. While it is a prestigious, well-paid job, it has also become so all-encompassing that it could take the incumbent away from their family for longer than they feel is acceptable. In the winter of 2019-20, for example, England face tours to New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka, which could see those involved on the road for around five months.Whatever happens next, Bayliss knows he faces an action-packed final nine months in the job. With a World Cup starting in June and an Ashes series to follow, he also knows his legacy as England coach will be decided by it.”It probably couldn’t get any bigger,” he said. “Especially happening at home and within a few months. That brings pressure, but one thing we have been working towards is playing under some pressure. When we get to the big stage it is out of our hands, it’s down to the guys to perform on the day. I don’t think we could have done too much more.”Some of the results and the way they have begun to play suggests we are heading in the right direction. There’s no secret we’ve been looking to fill a few spots in the Test side permanently and hopefully some are close to being filled.”While much of England’s strategy over the last few years has been geared towards success in the World Cup – a tournament they have never won and which is seen as vital in engaging a new audience – Bayliss is reluctant to view it as any greater a priority than the Ashes.”I’m not sure winning the World Cup would be more special,” he said. “There’s nothing like beating Australia in the Ashes, like we did in 2015. And having lost in Australia 12 months ago… it’s hard to pick between the Ashes and the World Cup. Hopefully we walk away with both trophies.”

“You have to give a guy a chance to play a couple of games and then if he hasn’t proved his worth, you can make changes”

Mohammad Isam in Hamilton04-Mar-2019Another new-look pace attack, another big total conceded. This has been the case for Bangladesh in Test cricket, especially when they have travelled outside the subcontinent over the past three years.Since March 2016, they have been to South Africa, the West Indies and New Zealand, and in each of those countries, they have given up a 400-plus total, with their rookie fast bowlers getting battered to all parts of the ground.Taskin Ahmed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Subashis Roy had a terrible time in New Zealand in 2017. Bangladesh then went to South Africa and, even with Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain available, there was very little improvement. Abu Jayed did decently in the West Indies in 2018 but he got very little support. Meanwhile, Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach and Jason Holder just kept blowing the Bangladesh batsmen away.0:50

By The Numbers: New Zealand scale the 700-run mountain

In much the same way this Sunday, the Trent Boult-Tim Southee-Neil Wagner combination bowled New Zealand to victory, while Jayed, Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed conceded 369 runs in 87 overs for one solitary wicket. Bangladesh’s inability to keep the runs down or take wickets meant New Zealand had little to worry about as they piled on 715 for 6, their highest-ever Test score.Despite that, fast-bowing coach Courtney Walsh has backed his young bowlers, saying the only way they will get better is by playing more matches together.”If you’re going to invest in them, and train them in the right conditions – they would have to improve as well – I’d like to see them play a couple of Test matches together,” Walsh said. “Five or ten. Not as individuals, but as a group. But we can rotate them as well, play a couple together, where they get a good feel, a good understanding of what’s happening. Especially in conditions away from home. In Bangladesh, sometimes, none might play or one might play, but when you’re away from home, they need to play.Courtney Walsh oversees Bangladesh’s training session•Getty Images

“So it’ll be nice for them to get a good run so they get a good feel of what’s happening, and you can then judge to see how much they have learnt. We invested in Ebadot. If you remember, two years ago, he came as a developmental player. And that investment has sort of worked in terms of how he made his Test debut here. That’s a good sign. If we can get that to continue, for him to play a couple of Test matches, and to keep improving.”Walsh repeated that those picking squads and XIs have to be careful with bowlers like Jayed, Khaled and Ebadot, and not throw them under the bus after a failure. “I think the decision-makers have to be patient. It’s something I have always advocated for. You have to give a guy a chance to play a couple of games and then if he hasn’t proved his worth, you can make changes.”If you’re going to play one Test match here and one Test match there, you’re never going to get a chance to learn the trade or improve your game. One Test match or two Test matches are not good enough. Obviously, when we’re in Bangladesh, we know it’s more spin-friendly, so when you’re overseas you want to get a good run. Last tour, we had new fast bowlers. This one, the same thing. South Africa, the same thing. There’s no continuity and consistency. We have to look at three-four guys that we think can make it, especially for overseas, and invest in them.”As a sign of how Jayed, Ebadot and Khaled were already showing progress, Walsh pointed to events from Bangladesh’s post-match team talk. “During the review meeting, they accepted where things went wrong and where it went well. Once the players admit and accept the discussions, to me it is a big plus. We look at where they did well, and where they need to improve, and that’s my responsibility.”Bangladesh and their fast bowlers have a few more days of self-reflection before the second Test begins on March 8.

Priya Punia and D Hemalatha were left out in favour of Harleen Deol and Bharati Fulmali

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-2019Smriti Mandhana is in line to make her international captaincy debut when India host England for three T20Is that follow the ongoing series of ICC Women’s Championship ODIs. The elevation came after Harmanpreet Kaur, the designated T20I captain, was ruled out of the series because of the ankle injury that has kept her out of the ODIs as well.

India women’s T20I squad

Smriti Mandhana (captain), Mithali Raj, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Bharti Fulmali, Anuja Patil, Shikha Pandey, Komal Zanzad, Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Radha Yadav, Veda Krishnamurty, Harleen Deol

The 22-year-old Mandhana has made 106 appearances for India, including 55 in the shortest format. Her captaincy stints in the domestic circuit include leading her state side Maharashtra, West Zone, and India Blue to the Challenger Trophy title in January 2018. Most recently, she led the Board President’s XI against a full-strength England squad in a warm-up game at Wankhede Stadium.ALSO READ: Pandey and Goswami serve up perfect fast-bowling cocktailVeda Krishnamurthy, the middle-order batsman who missed the tour of New Zealand after poor returns at the World T20, returned to the side in the absence of Harmanpreet. Left-arm fast bowler Komal Zanzad was named in place of Mansi Joshi, while the batting pair of Priya Punia and D Hemalatha were left out in favour of Harleen Deol and Bharati Fulmali.Punia’s ouster came on the back of a poor debut series in New Zealand, where she managed just nine runs in three innings. Hemalatha too had a forgettable tour, making a 32-ball 13 in her only outing with the bat.This is a maiden national call-up for Zanzad, who took 3 for 14 for Board President’s XI against England last week. Zanzad, from Vidarbha, had previously impressed at the Challenger Trophy.Mithali Raj’s presence, meanwhile, adds the much-needed depth to the middle order in Harmanpreet’s absence. Raj’s T20I future has been the subject of much debate in recent times. While she was left out of the first two T20Is in New Zealand, Raj’s cameo in the middle order kept India in line for a last-over win in the final game in Hamilton.Shikha Pandey will lead the pace attack, with Zanzad and Arundhati Reddy for company. As expected, India have gone in with as many as five frontline spinners – Ekta Bisht, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav, Anuja Patil and Deepti Sharma.With the T20 World Cup set to be played in Australia in the first half of 2020, the series is yet another opportunity for the new head coach WV Raman to finalise his core group of players. Since losing the last World T20 semi-final to England, India have been blanked 3-0 in the shortest format in New Zealand despite being in winning positions on all three occasions.

Against Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi might field Chris Morris, while Sandeep Lamichhane could well join Amit Mishra to make it a two-pronged legspin attack

The Preview by Sidharth Monga in Delhi29-Mar-20193:22

Dasgupta: Chawla, Narine, Kuldeep key to KKR’s chances

Big Picture

This is a match between a side that is looking to establish roles for its players – and thus achieve success and establish itself in a city that has been cold to the home team for 11 years – and a team that doesn’t want established roles. Kolkata Knight Riders come to Delhi with the most fluid and flexible batting line-up among IPL sides, and an unbeaten record this year. The hosts, Delhi Capitals, soared magnificently in the first match against Mumbai Indians, but were laid low partly by their own home conditions and partly by their failure to adjust to the dry pitch that offered natural variations to bowlers.Knight Riders will provide Delhi as big a challenge as Chennai Super Kings did. They have three spinners of varying quality and mode of operation, and they are not short of quicks who can hit the deck. As Ricky Ponting said after the defeat to Super Kings, Delhi will have to find a way to bat smarter.Chris Morris is back for Delhi, and will give them a hit-the-deck bowler and a big-hitting allrounder possibly at the expense of Keemo Paul. Morris pointed out that the square doesn’t look like it did last year where they averaged around 190 batting first. In fact they scored 219 when they last faced Knight Riders at home. If they continue with their strategy of batting first – there hasn’t been much dew to speak of – they might set their sights on around 170 and then try to get to Andre Russell early and then past him.Amit Mishra celebrates a wicket with Rishabh Pant•BCCI

Likely XIs

Delhi Capitals 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Prithvi Shaw, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Colin Ingram, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Chris Morris, 7 Axar Patel/Sandeep Lamichhane, 8 Rahul Tewatia, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Amit Mishra, 11 Ishant SharmaKolkata Knight Riders 1 Chris Lynn, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Shubman Gill, 6 Dinesh Karthik (capt & wk), 7 Andre Russell, 8 Piyush Chawla, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Prasidh Krishna

Strategy punt

If they open with spin, Knight Riders prefer to do it with Piyush Chawla, but his record against Shikhar Dhawan is not great. Will either Sunil Narine or Kuldeep Yadav be used with the new ball then? In all likelihood, they will not use a spinner to open the bowling, and will wait for the ball to get slightly older.There has been a clamour for Sandeep Lamichhane to play, but Amit Mishra holds a good record against Russell. In fact, that probably makes a case for more legspin at Russell. They will play at least two anyway.

Stats that matter

• Knight Riders lead the head-to-head record 13-8.
• Last season, spinners averaged 31.5 and conceded 7.8 per over in Delhi, while the quicks managed corresponding figures of 34.6 and 9.4.
• Among players who have faced at least 100 balls at the death in the IPL, Rishabh Pant has the best strike rate at 233.33 and Russell the fourth-best at 198.83.