Bangladesh found themselves in a familiar position, struggling to put a total on the board after Douglas Hondo ripped through the batting to claim 6 for 45. Where other medium-fast bowlers struggled, he found swing. This, as well as the slightly low bounce, surprised the batsmen. But Bangladesh, through Mohammad Rafique, fought back and ended the day at 169 for 8, still 129 behind Zimbabwe’s total.This was an unexpected turn of events, because Bangladesh had dominated Zimbabwe comprehensively in the first Test, and this morning’s events suggested continuity in the proceedings. Enamul Haque jr foxed three batsmen to end with 7 for 95 to improve his own mark for the best bowling by a Bangladeshi in Tests. He also became the youngest, at 18 years and 41 days, to take a seven-for in a Test innings, to go with his own record for youngest player with a six-for, which he achieved at Chittagong. There was some Zimbabwean resistance – mainly from Tatenda Taibu, who advanced to 85 before running out of partners – but Bangladesh kept up the pressure to dismiss them for 298.Bangladesh’s openers then started brightly, putting on 58 in quickly. Javed Omar (34), who was severe on the frequent loose offerings, contributed most of the 58, while Nafis Iqbal was cautious initially after surviving two extremely close leg-before shouts. Gradually Iqbal grew in confidence and matched Omar’s strokeplay.But the Hondo threat was never far away. He dismissed both openers in quick succession. Omar nicked one that kept low as he shaped to cut, and Iqbal flicked off his hips to the wicketkeeper. Mohammad Ashraful’s stay was short, as he was trapped in front by a Hondo delivery that swung in marginally (84 for 3). It was yet another disappointing innings from Ashraful. His spectacular 158 against India had showcased his capabilities, but the efforts that have followed have highlighted his inconsistency.
Hondo continued to wreck the innings, knocking over Habibul Bashar’s stumps, and then removing Aftab Ahmed – via an exemplary catch by Stuart Matsikenyeri, who flung himself full-stretch at midwicket and plucked the ball out of the air – and Khalid Mashud with an in-swinging yorker (107 for 6).But Mohammad Rafique played with rebellious abandon and swung his bat at just about anything that came his way. Most of the time the ball was struck cleanly and went where it was intended. He raced to 56 with seven fours and a six, and his effort was all the more special as he was troubled by a foot injury for much of his innings. Rafique was dismissed towards the end of the day, which meant that only the tail remained. But if they need inspiration, they only need to look at the Zimbabwean tail. Men of lesser ability stood by Taibu as he steadily, fortuitously, and sometimes cheekily gathered runs.Taibu’s first run of the morning, which brought up his half-century, came off an inside edge that missed the stumps narrowly. But slowly he found his feet and played the reassuring role that Zimbabwe needed. He pounced on anything loose, twice cover-driving picture-perfectly for four, and kept his bat well away when the ball moved.Enamul landed the ball on a length and spun it away from the right-handed batsmen. This way, he turned Graeme Cremer and Hondo inside out and bowled them. He then ended the innings by finding the edge of Christopher Mpofu’s bat. This was his second five-wicket haul on the trot, and added to his reputation as a man to watch out for.Bangladesh have fought harder against tougher teams, while this new-look Zimbabwe have caused a flutter or two among their opponents by taking quick wickets. The result is that two countries whose cricketing existence is questioned most often might well provide a hard-fought Test, something that does not happen all that often even with more accomplished teams.
Rain forced an early end to the second day’s play at Eden Park’s Outer Oval as Otago set sail for Auckland’s commanding 424. Unfortunately for Otago, they lost Mohammad Wasim, their opener, when he edged a ball from Kyle Mills to Reece Young, the wicketkeeper, to leave Otago at 15 for 1.The day had been dominated by another outstanding display of batsmanship by one of the country’s brightest young prospects, Tim McIntosh. He scored 146, his seventh first-class century. It was an innings glistening with the quality of his strokeplay.However, the gloss was not completely taken off the Otago bowling as Jeff Wilson continued his triumphant return to first-class cricket with his second five-wicket bag of the competition, at a cost of 72 runs. More wickets were denied to him only by a hamstring strain which forced him to leave the field. It is unlikely that he will bowl again in the match. Bradley Scott, the left-arm medium-fast bowler, finished with 3 for 91.Northern Districts took advantage of a bright and sunny day at Gisborne to bat all day and add 297 to their overnight score, with most of their batsmen, right down to the tailenders, getting among the runs. None scored a century, though, the highest being Scott Styris’s 80. Grant Robinson made 62, while James Marshall and Joseph Yovich scored 59 each. At close of play Graeme Aldridge, batting at No. 9, was unbeaten on 40, with Ian Butler on 36, both having achieved their highest first-class scores.Styris and Robinson shared a fine 102-run stand for the sixth wicket while Robinson and Yovich added 108 for the seventh. Aldridge and Butler then put together 69 for the unfinished ninth-wicket partnership. It was tough going for the Central Districts bowlers and the spinners, Regan West and Glen Sulzberger, did most of the bowling. West took 3 for 80 and Sulzberger 2 for 117.
The focus in the last round of league matches in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-I National Cricket Championship will be on Peshawar’s Arbab Niaz Stadium from Monday.For both Peshawar and Sheikhupura it’s a do-or-die affair to qualify for next month’s all-important final from Group-II. With 60 points apiece under their belts, these two evenly-matched teams will be desperate to get the better of the other.Peshawar, of course, have the huge advantage of playing at home. But Sheikhupura, the only side in the 18-team competition to maintain an unblemished record, are no easy pushovers.Meanwhile, Karachi Whites, already through to the March 1-5 final from Group-I after a comprehensive win over Faisalabad Friday, are keen to gain some useful match practice against Sargodha at KCCA Stadium.At the other end of the table relegation battle rages on. Hyderabad are certain to be demoted into Grade-II next season irrespective of the result of their Group-I fixture against Rest of Sindh but the picture in Group-II is still not clear.The Pakistan Cricket Board, in their endeavour to promote the game in the remote areas of the country, will continue the experiment of fielding Rest XIs in Grade-I tournament next season.Islamabad, lying at bottom of Group-II, are the other side in danger of being relegated. They will be anxious to beat Sialkot in the match at Rawalpindi’s KRL Stadium and at the same time expect Rest of NWFP to complete an improbable double over Lahore’s other team.Lahore Whites, therefore, will be taking nothing for granted against NWFP, who caused the biggest upset when they scored a sensational one wicket victory over last season’s champions Lahore Blues last Sunday.Ninth round schedule (Feb 18-21):*Karachi Whites v Sargodha at KCCA Stadium, Karachi (Umpires: Zamir Haider and Iftikhar Malik. Match referee: Fahimuddin Alvi).*Karachi Blues v Bahawalpur at National Stadium, Karachi (Umpires: Waqar A. Mughal and Iqbal Butt. Match referee: Munawwar Agha).*Gujranwala v Faisalabad at Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala (Umpires: Siddique Khan and Athar Zaidi. Match referee: Sultan Rana).*Hyderabad v Rest of Sindh at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad (Umpires: Afzaal Ahmed and Islam Khan. Match referee: Taslim Arif).*Peshawar v Sheikhupura at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar (Umpires: M. Nazir Junior and Sadiq Mohammad. Match referee: Ali Zia).*Lahore Blues v Rawalpindi at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (Umpires: Ehtesham-ul-Haq and Riazuddin. Match referee: Shafiq Ahmed).*Lahore Whites v Rest of NWFP at LCCA Ground, Lahore (Umpires: Shakeel Khan and Z.I.Pasha. Match referee: Azhar Khan).*Islamabad v Sialkot at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi (Umpires: Mian Aslam and Rasheed Bhatti. Match referee: Javed Akhtar).
Prolonging both its miserable early season run of form and an horrific record in Brisbane, Victoria has slumped to a crushing ten wicket loss at the hands of Queensland today in the teams’ Pura Cup clash at the Allan Border Field. The win, which came on the final afternoon, catapults the Bulls into a clear lead on the Pura Cup table and leaves the Bushrangers firmly entrenched at the very opposite end of the standings.Openers Matthew Hayden (118*) and Jimmy Maher (103*) and paceman Joe Dawes (6/98) were the heroes of the Bulls’ win. With a first-class career best, it was the redoubtable Dawes who played a major role in limiting the Victorians to a second innings score of 326 through the first part of the final day. Around another fine early-season innings from the rejuvenated Brad Hodge (101*) and a hard-hitting century from Ian Harvey (100), the hulking right armer joined with Adam Dale (3/87) to trigger a crucial late collapse from the Victorians for the second time in three days. Of particular significance was the eleven over burst shortly before lunch that produced the loss of the wickets of Darren Berry (13), Paul Reiffel (7), Colin Miller (5) and Michael Lewis (1).As for Hayden and Maher, they could barely have made the Bulls’ progression to their victory target of 229 from a possible fifty-nine overs appear any more comfortable. Hayden was at his domineering best, all but sealing a spot in the Test team to play West Indies in a fortnight with his second major contribution for the match. Continuing his rich vein of form, the busy Maher was also in command, albeit against an attack which seemed overawed by the placid nature of the pitch.”We are such a strong side,” said a beaming Hayden after the match. “To win two games on this kind of wicket, a southern type of wicket is great and I just can’t wait to get back to the ‘Gabba … where we have a huge home ground advantage.””We’re always trying to get out of our comfort zone and create chances that will make us champions.”Champions they are a long way from becoming yet, but the Bulls’ start to the season is certainly reminiscent of the record-breaking run that started them on their way to the first-class title last summer. From their opening three games, they have already plundered fourteen points and their depth of resources will serve them well again when each of the states is affected by the loss of its international representatives shortly.For Victoria, on the other hand, a season which promised so much is rapidly starting to become unglued. No side in recent memory has been as badly hit by injury but, save for Hodge, it is hard to identify too many players in their line-up at present who are playing at close to optimum potential.
Pundit Noel Whelan has labelled a pending new deal for Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes as ‘incredible’, as per Football Insider.
The Lowdown: Romano’s reveal
The Red Devils appear to be making a head start on their summer business and have already spoken with Erik ten Hag over the possibility of replacing Ralf Rangnick as manager.
A number of United players are also out of contract at the end of June, including club-record signing Paul Pogba.
Fernandes’ contract doesn’t expire until 2025, although Fabrizio Romano has revealed that there has been a ‘breakthrough’ in talks and a new five-year agreement has been ‘accepted’ by the 27-year-old.
The Latest: Whelan reacts to Fernandes latest
Whelan, who previously contributed for BBC Radio Leeds, was asked by Football Insider if a new deal for Fernandes was a coup.
This is what he had to say in reply, describing the attacking midfielder as a ‘huge player’ and labelling a pending new deal as ‘incredible’:
“Yeah, that’s a really important bit of business.
“He’s been a huge player for them since he’s come in, and his goal and assist record has proved that as well.
“He’s such a talented player, and they really need him in that side. Man United need that creativity and that goal threat from midfield.
“No, it hasn’t been the best season for him – but it’s been a very poor season from everyone at Old Trafford.
“To get him tied down, knowing they probably won’t be in the Champions League next season – that’s incredible.”
The Verdict: Smart move by Man United
Fernandes has contributed to 23 goals in 37 games this season, so a new and improved deal appears to be a shrewd decision by the club as they look to build for the future under a new manager.
He has also been the club’s best-rated performer in the Premier League among players who have made two or more appearances and has made more key passes per game than any other United player, as per WhoScored, so keeping your best players happy is obviously ideal.
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You’d also expect that Fernandes, who is the Red Devils’ ninth-best paid player at the moment on £180,000 per week, may well be in line for a pay rise, with all eyes now on an official announcement from the club.
In other news: ‘Absolutely shocking’ – Source reveals Man Utd star now wants to quit even if Ten Hag arrives
On the third day of the sixth round, Saurashtra closed in on a semi-final spot by beating Maharashtra outright. Saurashtra now have 20 points, three more than Delhi and five more than Mumbai, whose matches are yet to be completed.In Group B, Uttar Pradesh made a late charge towards the semi-finals as they beat Bengal by an innings and 152 runs and moved to 14 points with one match to play. Punjab turned the game against Orissa on its head after bowling them out for 76 in the second innings. They look good to chase the 175 runs easily on the fourth day, a result which will give them an excellent chance to avoid relegation. They don’t play a match in the last round, having already completed their fixtures, and will have to await other results.Scorecard
Saurashtra sailed to the top of Group A after completing an eight-wicket win over Maharashtra in Nagothane. The hosts, trailing by 117 on the first innings, resumed at 34 for 1, and were bundled out for 182, with left-arm spinner Rakesh Dhurv picking up career-best figures of 5 for 37 in 13.4 overs. Allrounder Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with three wickets, as Maharashtra once again failed to go beyond 200. Hrishikesh Kanitkar top-scored with 62, with only three other batsmen going past single figures.Needing 66 for the win, Saurashtra lost two wickets to Sairaj Bahutule before sealing the win and gaining five crucial points in the process. Scorecard Uttar Pradesh stretched their overnight score of 437 for 7 to 494 before bowling out Bengal for 193 to win by an innings and 152 runs at Eden Gardens. UP gained the bonus point and are now placed second behind Baroda in Group B.For Bengal, SS Paul bagged 7 for 113. Bengal’s openers put up a spirited reply in their second innings, putting up a 100-run partnership, but Praveen Gupta and Sudeep Tyagi then ran through their batting line-up as the rest folded meekly. Anustup Majumdar top-scored with 60. While it was Tyagi who broke the resistance with the first four wickets, Gupta ended with exceptional figures of 9.3-6-11-5. ScorecardMumbai managed to take a healthy first-innings lead in Dharamsala and enforced a follow-on, but an 81-run sixth-wicket partnership between Paras Dogra (50*) and Ajay Mannu (42*) kept the game alive for Himachal Pradesh.Himachal, resuming on 180 for 7 in the first innings, were bowled out for 214. Murtaza Hussain, playing his third first-class game, finished with 6 for 57, his maiden five-wicket haul. In the second innings, Himachal’s openers Manish Gupta and Hemant Dogra led a dogged reply with an opening stand of 76.The spinners – Ramesh Powar and Iqbal Abdullah – then struck for Mumbai, as Himachal slumped to 155 for 5 before Paras and Mannu propped them to 236 at stumps. Scorecard VRV Singh’s hat-trick rattled Orissa in the second innings to put Punjab on the threshold of a stunning win after they had conceded a 98-run first-innings lead. Orissa were bowled out for 76, while Punjab had scored 117 of the 175 runs required for the loss of two wickets by stumps. VRV took 5 for 25 to trigger a collapse after a solid start, while Gagandeep Singh took 3 for 25. The last nine entries on the Orissa scorecard read: 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4, 6, 0, 0*. VRV Singh became the third bowled to take a hat-trick in two rounds of the Ranji Trophy, after Kerala’s Sony Cheruvethur and Delhi’s Parvinder Awana.Earlier Punjab, resuming at 207 for 8, managed only 225, with Basanth Mohanty taking his second five-for in as many matches at the first-class level.Ravi Inder, with an unbeaten 47, had taken Punjab close to what will be their first win this season. More importantly, it will take them off the bottom of the table. ScorecardAfter two days of grinding out the opposition, Andhra declared their first innings at 469 for 9, with former India wicketkeeper MSK Prasad remaining unbeaten on 121, but met an even more dour reply from Baroda who recovered well from two early blows.If Andhra’s run-rate of 2.53 during their innings was slow, Baroda outdid them, scoring 136 for 2 in 77 overs. Connor Williams was resolute during his 256-ball 75, and put on 133 runs for the unbroken third-wicket partnership with Rakesh Solanki, after D Kalyankrishna had struck twice to leave Baroda reeling at 3 for 2.Karnataka 0 for 0 trail Delhi 538 by 538 runs Scorecard Continual rain dampened Delhi’s hopes of a semi-final spot as play was washed out on the third day in Bangalore. This means that Delhi have one day left to dismiss Karnataka to gain the points for a first-innings lead. They currently have 17 points, three less than Saurashtra’s 20, while Mumbai, too, have high chances of reaching 20 points at least by the end of the round. ScorecardRain continued to play spoilsport in Chennai, as only 8.2 overs were possible on day three after day two was washed out. Rajasthan struck once in that period, with Gajendra Singh removing overnight centurion M Vijay for 123.
Ashwell Prince has been South Africa’s batting star in the first two Tests against India, scoring 97 in a lost cause at the Wanderers before coming up with a matchwinning 121 at Kingsmead. A player capable of playing most shots in the book, Prince has reinvented himself as a Test player, opting for an attritional approach that’s been mighty effective even if it hasn’t always been easy on the eye. And on the eve of a Test match on home turf, he made it clear that that was how it would be for the foreseeable future.”Over the last few years, I’ve more or less sorted out the game plan that I need to take into the Test arena,” he said. “I try and be a little bit more tight, especially in the first hour or so. Later on, I can play a bit more freely. A lot has been said about my style recently, but I’m happy to play the way that I am.”In 2006, that new style fetched him 905 runs at 47.63, and three centuries. “Sometimes you feel like you want to play more freely,” he admitted. “But you the open yourself up to play a few more rash shots.” Prince has worked with Paddy Upton on his mental conditioning, and his approach is based on the very basic – “I try and play one ball at a time. I try not to get myself out to a loose shot.”Prince filled in as captain in Sri Lanka when Smith was out injured, and it was clear that he relishes responsibility. “If the team is under pressure, it takes a couple of partnerships to get out of it,” he said. “We have a thing in the team where if it’s your day, you have to take responsibility. That’s what I’ve been trying to do. When I feel good, and the wickets are falling around me, I take responsibility because I know that the next time, it will be somebody else.”He went for a duck in the second innings at Durban, a beautiful delivery from Sreesanth that angled away and took the edge to slip. “If anything, I prefer to get nought with a delivery like that,” said Prince, expanding on his batting philosophy. “Like I said, if I’m not playing a loose shot or throwing my bat outside off stump, then I don’t mind. Getting out to a good delivery when I haven’t settled at the crease, if I’m going to get outin any way, that must be it.”No team has made more than 328 in the two Tests, with South Africa’s batsmen troubled by an inexperienced Indian pace attack where only Zaheer Khan has played more than 10 Tests. “Sreesanth has been bowling quite well,” he said. “For the right-handers, with the ball swinging away, he’s been very dangerous. But he’s also got a few lefties out with the ball swinging in to get lbws. Every now and then, one has held its line or gone away.”Zaheer Khan has also been bowling well. He’s been getting the ball to swing. Those two guys have been the in-form bowlers. Having said that, the pitches at the Wanderers and Durban didn’t suit the spinners much. I think Anil [Kumble] might play a bit more of a role in this game.”For the moment, Prince is an integral part of the Test side, and a fringe player in the one-day scheme of things. And with a trip to the Caribbean mere months away, Prince admitted that it wasn’t always easy to stop thinking ahead. “At the moment, I’m not focussing much on one-day cricket,” he said. “This match is vital for the series, and then we have three against Pakistan.”At this stage, I’m not looking too far ahead. Obviously, every guy’s probably got one eye on the World Cup, but I’m trying to focus on one game at a time.”That attitude has served him well in recent times, and if India are to breach South African defences at Newlands, they’ll first have to get through a man whose batting now has a reassuringly solid Wall-like feel to it.
Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, has pulled out of the opening one-day international against Sri Lanka to be with his wife Kelly in Wellington as the couple prepare for the birth of their first child.He has been replaced by Nathan Astle, the out of form opener who was originally dropped from the Sri Lanka series after a disappointing time during New Zealand’s recent series against Australia.According to Lindsay Crocker, New Zealand manager, Daniel Vettori will captain the team and Astle will join them after a provincial match on Friday. Fleming will return later in the series.Fleming joins Andre Adams on the absent list, the latter already out having broken a bone in his right hand. James Franklin, who like Astle had been dropped after a poor showing in Australia, has been drafted in as a replacement for Adams.An earlier version of this story with information from NZPA said Fleming’s wife had given birth already. She has not.John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach, meanwhile played down the effect of key absences in his side. He was quoted by www.stuff.co.nz as saying, “It’s something you have to get used to. I think over the last two years we have got used to guys coming in and out. We lost Shane (Bond) almost on the morning of the (first) match (against Australia), and lost Stephen. All sorts of little things happen and we have to get used to it and react to it. Especially when we’re as far away as the West Indies in the (2007) World Cup. We can’t just fly somebody in. We have to become an adaptable squad.”Bracewell also spoke about the inconsistency that has dogged the team recently. “We seem to get one part of our game right and have two fall away. We need to pick up some rhythm from what we did in the last series. We started to grow as a team. That’s really the main focus for me over these next four games is trying to continue some sort of rhythm.”
The announcement of West Indies’ final squad for the VB Series has been delayed pending the findings of the arbiter who has stepped in to settle the contract dispute between the players and the board. According to the Barbados-based Nation newspaper, there was a 14-player squad, but an additional four players were put on standby in case four of those selected initially do not sign the proposed contracts.Although it is not apparent what is causing the current delay, Dinanath Ramnarine, the president of the West Indies Players’ Association, indicated that some concerns still remained. “We agreed to attend the training camp. We also agreed to wear the Digicel clothing during the camp,” he said. “But the players are entitled to be compensated for this, and while they won’t be paid during the camp, we will negotiate their fees with the board ahead of the Australia tour and include it in the tour payments.”Adrian Saunders, who is Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, is the arbitrator of the dispute. His conclusions are expected to be released at the weekend.
While the majority of the nationals’ sports pages were filled with reports of an unconvincing win for England against Samoa in the rugby World Cup, the same story applied for the cricketers. Even though they beat Bangladesh by a comfortable seven wickets in the end, all the papers whistled to a similar tune: credit to the seamers, but concern for the spinners, and Ashley Giles in particular.In the , Simon Wilde pointed out that, “England have suffered some gross humiliations on foreign soil, but defeat to Bangladesh would have invited total ridicule. Even Canada have beaten Bangladesh.” Well, they managed to avoid the embarrassment of losing, but the fact that they now “move on to Chittagong having in the end sustained no more than superficial grazes is largely down to their new-ball bowlers.”England’s new-ball pair, Matthew Hoggard and Stephen Harmison, received all the plaudits. In the , Angus Fraser said that although “the performance was nowhere near as convincing as the seven-wicket margin suggests …Harmison’s match figures of 9 for 79 in 46.5 overs rightly won him the man-of-the-match award.” And Gus added that “the steadying influence of Hoggard cannot be underestimated. On a pitch which was supposed to favour spin bowling, the pair took 16 for 182 in 96.5 overs. The remainder of England’s attack took 4 for 256.”Simon Briggs, in the , agreed that Hoggy and Harmo almost single-handedly spared England’s blushes: “If Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard had not bowled with such stamina and perseverance in this Test, these tourists would now be firmly installed in the sporting Chamber of Horrors, nestling somewhere between Tyson-Douglas and Devon Loch’s last furlong.”But that’s where the praise ends. “Tourists are spinning out of control” roared the headline on David Gower’s column in the . “With Ashley Giles and Gareth Batty talked of in not particularly flattering terms by the commentators out in Bangladesh, already there is talk that one of them might not play at Chittagong.” And he pointed out that although “It’s easy to malign English spin bowling, probably too easy,” Gower added that England have not had “a top international spinner in the fullest sense of the term” since Derek Underwood. And then there’s the lack of legspinners. “We don’t have a leggie. We haven’t had one since, er, well, you tell me!”And the ineffectiveness of the spinners did not go unmissed elsewhere. As Fraser wrote, “A first-rate display from England’s opening bowlers was undermined by the worrying lack of penetration shown by Ashley Giles and Gareth Batty on a surface which offered the Bangladesh spinners a lot of assistance.” Indeed, Richard Hobson in said: “England head south to Chittagong today with the embarrassment of defeat averted, but with a principal decision over selection waiting to be addressed. The second and final Test begins on Wednesday and there is no guarantee that Ashley Giles will be involved. They need help and if that means England changing the strategy devised back home of playing two spin bowlers, so be it.”So what should England do now? Well, Briggs was convinced that “the management team must decide which of the two slow bowlers should be dropped to accommodate an extra seamer.” He continued, “But the question is which spinner remains. Giles is a key figure in this squad, but should he be working on his new approach in the nets or the middle?”Fraser insisted that the extra seamer should be his old Middlesex team-mate Richard Johnson, but Ian Ridley, in , thought otherwise. “England have to give Giles and Batty a chance to improve. If England wish to play an extra seamer in Chittagong, it would be better to replace Rikki Clarke, but the English management, chastened by their experiences during this match, will be reluctant to weaken their batting.” But Ridley is largely outvoted. Hobson was another in favour of dropping Giles: “It would be doing Giles a favour to remove him from the spotlight while he takes a step backwards to go forward in the longer term.”Poor old Ashley was also the hot topic in in Bangladesh. “Giles’s gamble may backfire,” read the headline. Referring to the reworking of his bowling action, a sports reporter said: “Giles has opted to make those changes now by working with bowling coach Mike Watkinson despite the risks of disrupting his current action and possibly losing his place. Fletcher was happy with Giles’s contribution in stages at Dhaka. But both he and Watkinson are attempting to restore his rhythm and confidence so he can return to the form which enabled him to be such a key player during England’s victories in Pakistan and Sri Lanka three winters ago.”And the unnamed reporter noted that: “Attempting to change this is all well and good but it is dangerous in the middle of a Test series. Marcus Trescothick tinkered with his technique during last winter’s tour of Australia with disastrous effects.”So problems for England then, but at least Ridley was still upbeat: “Under Whatmore’s guidance, Bangladesh are improving. They will beat someone soon, but it is more likely to be Zimbabwe in Harare in February than England in Chittagong this week.” It seems that not everyone is quite so sure.