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There’s an innings that Tamim Iqbal can’t seem to forget. When he spoke to ESPNcricinfo a few days ago, he used it to explain why he missed so many hundreds in the past and said he wanted to instil some restraint into his game. After throwing it away again on the second day of this Test match, Tamim remembered the moment he had a brain-freeze in the eighties against West Indies in the Dhaka Test last year.Regardless of the situation, Tamim’s approach rarely differs from his natural instinct. But the innings he keeps referring to also had a period when he batted out the last hour and a half of a crucial fourth day scoring very few. He had called it a breakthrough in his career at the time, and though he got restless and was dismissed early the next morning, it was understood he could grit it out in Test cricket.A year ago, an ability to change gears in Test cricket was hailed as progress, but now Tamim has suggested he is better off sticking to his attacking mind-set.”The last time I made around 80 at this ground, I played out 15-20 overs when I had made only 10 runs [against West Indies]. It is probably how one should bat in a Test match but everyone has an individual plan due to difference of mentality,” Tamim said at the end of the day’s play. “I wanted to bat long [in this game], so that it would help the team. I also wanted to keep my aggressive approach intact. I think I was thinking properly, but the shot was wrong.”I started well and I was playing as I normally do but I didn’t want to be bogged down. I was leaving the good balls when Sammy was bowling. I would say it was a bad shot. The open leg-side field played on my mind. It was a bad decision because it wasn’t the right ball to play that shot.”After West Indies had declared surprisingly at the stroke of tea, it was clear Tamim wanted to open up. The 16-run sixth over off Tino Best had a straight drive and a cover drive but Tamim was also brutal on the short deliveries. He played one towards midwicket, keeping the ball down, and then smashed the next through the same region. He also launched Sunil Narine for two sixes as he moved from 45 to 57.But just as Tamim took advantage of their lengths, West Indies began to take advantage of his hastiness and his reputation to be erratic after crossing the 50-mark. After two more boundaries off Ravi Rampaul, Tamim was strangled by Narine and Sammy, both by their lengths and the fields they had set.Tamim tried to explain why his approach is correct: “There are two types of batsmen. Some score runs and get set, and some spend time at the crease to get set. I am from the first group, I am settled quickly when I see runs on the scoreboard.”I don’t want to let go of my strength, but it is true I have got out at strange times and playing strange shots. It is natural for such things to happen because I am a stroke player. Still, it is not an excuse for getting out in this manner.”Shivnarine Chanderpaul, whose double-century pushed West Indies into a strong position, also backed Tamim’s belligerent approach. “That’s his style,” Chanderpaul said. “We can’t be surprised [at] how Christopher Gayle bats also. He bats one way, we can’t tell him how to bat. If Tamim has his style, he has to play his game.”

ScorecardUsman Khawaja played a breezy innings that saw Derbyshire home•Getty Images

Derbyshire had already started planning for life in Division One long before the Division Two title added a final shimmer of gloss to a season that ends after 12 years the longest exile of any county from the top tier of the County Championship.The chairman, Chris Grant, under whose leadership Derbyshire have made a determined bid to escape a past dominated by rows off the field and underachievement on it, announced immediately that steps would be taken to keep predatory hands off a promising group of young players and that head coach, Karl Krikken, would have the wherewithal to strengthen his squad in the hope that the work involved with in winning promotion would not be wasted.Derbyshire, who had a target of 196 from 77 overs after bowling Hampshire out for 198, became aware shortly before 2pm that Yorkshire had beaten Essex in Chelmsford, which meant that only a win of their own would cap the promotion of which they were already assured with the title.Two wickets down after openers Wayne Madsen and Paul Borrington had been dismissed just before lunch, they had still needed 101 more runs when the news of Yorkshire’s victiory came through, but Usman Khawaja and Wes Durston had already compiled a rapid half-century partnership by that point and if Hampshire’s thoughts had not been drifting towards their CB40 final Lord’s it would have been a surprise.Given Derbyshire’s history of heroic failures, a collapse was never out of the question but somehow, even though Durston and Dan Redfern were also out with 53 still to get, there never seemed any doubt they would pull it off.Khawaja, who has contributed significantly to almost every match since he replaced Martin Guptill as overseas player, was in confident, commanding form and found a new partner bristling with confidence in Ross Whiteley, who had hit an unbeaten half-century on Thursday, his 24th birthday, and added to it a couple of key moments as Derbyshire took the last four Hampshire wickets on Friday, running out Bilal Shafayat for 81 and holding a fine catch at cover to dismiss the last man, David Griffiths.Whiteley, one of the academy products to emerge under Krikken’s guidance, started as he meant to go on by getting off the mark with a straight six off Liam Dawson, rode his luck when he was dropped at slip next ball but then launched into Michael Carberry’s offspin with two more maximums in the next over, bringing the runs required down to 24. His fifth scoring shot, when he drove Dawson again high over long-off, brought his fourth six, and he went after the left-arm spinner again at the next opportunity, two overs later, finishing the job with a slog-sweep over the rope at square leg.”I haven’t got a lot of runs or a lot of wickets this season but I have managed to score crucial runs at the right time and to finish it off as I did today was pretty special for me,” he said.Whiteley more than most has benefited from Grant’s drive to build a side around a core of home-grown players. “It has been good for me,” he said. “I had a couple of tough seasons when I was at university when I did not know what the future held but I have had a breakthrough season, which was crucial for me.”With the club putting the emphasis on bringing on players from the academy it has created an atmosphere to give everyone confidence not to be worrying about whether they would have a job or not. It is a fantastic dressing room. There have been no arguments, everyone gets on. We’ve believed in ourselves right from the start of the season, really, with the way we beat Northants in the opening game and then went on to win down in Essex.”We knew towards the end that it would be tough and when we lost to Kent last week and our lead disappeared we were a bit nervous. But promotion was still in our hands if we could get a result in this match.”There was a certain irony, or perhaps just plain dim planning, in the ECB’s nomination of Peter Wright, the Nottinghamshire chairman, to present the Division Two trophy to Madsen, the captain, in front of a crowd that by then contained a fair number who had already enjoyed a celebratory drink or two. Wright, representing as he does one side of this region’s fiercest sporting rivalry, was booed when he was introduced.Grant, conducting interviews a few minutes later, insisted that all the county chairman shared “a camaraderie born from facing the same issues”. Yet he was clear enough which counties might be casting predatory glances towards the likes of Whiteley, Redfern and others who may emerge. If step one in the plan to drive Derbyshire away from their difficult past had been ticked off by winning promotion, the next was to provide the incentives necessary to keep Krikken’s burgeoning side together.”We will make sure that the pay differential between us and the county down the A52 is reduced and hope to fend off interest in our players,” he said. “If we get the pay and rations right this team can build and become a very combative unit.”Derbyshire have been well served by their bowlers this year. David Wainwright, the left-arm spinner signed from Yorkshire last winter, has joined seamer Tony Palladino in taking 50 first-class wickets and the other strike bowler, Tim Groenewald, was not far behind. The batsmen have been less consistent, however, and recruitment plans will focus on correcting the imbalance.”We topped the table in bowling bonus points, but were mid-table in batting, so you can see where the weaknesses lie,” Grant said. “But we might need an extra seamer because you can’t reply on Palladino and Groenewald all the time.”Krik will do things his way. We’ve had people telling us all week that we’ll need seasoned campaigners next year but I know Krik wants to build a team rather than buy one. He will want to bring in players who fit in with the spirit he has created in the dressing room.”Grant, aged only 43 but already with the wealth of a successful career in stockbroking to sustain him, could bankroll a team from his own pocket but would rather the club stood on its own feet.”The fact is that we don’t owe anyone a bean,” he said. “A lot of other counties are heavily indebted. We don’t owe anybody anything and yet we have made great strides in what we have tried to do with the ground. We have a very bright future.”For me personally to be champions is a great moment, a money-can’t-buy moment. I grew up in Derbyshire, I played village cricket here and I’ve been a supporter since I was a boy. You can have a nice car in the driveway but you can’t buy this. To be able to put something back is absolutely brilliant.”

ScorecardIn a seesaw contest, Netherlands’ Peter Borren and Pieter Seelar held their nerve during a crucial 42-run partnership for the eighth wicket to edge out UAE in Deventer and win the two-match series 2-0. Chasing 222, Netherlands were comfortably placed at 162 for 3 in the 36th over, but four wickets went down for 18 runs and UAE held the advantage. However, Borren and Seelar stayed ahead of the required rate without hitting any boundaries until Seelar smashed Khurram Khan for a six to take Netherlands past UAE’s score. The chase was set up by Michael Swart’s 48, which included three sixes, at the top of the order and Tom Cooper’s 46.After being put into bat, UAE lost their first wicket without a run on the board to bring back memories of the first game, when they were shot out for 96. However, their captain Khurram scored 71 off 85 balls and Haroon Iftikhar made 41 off 77, adding 119 runs for the second wicket. However, Seelar (3-44) and Swart (2-36) kept taking frequent wickets to restrict UAE to 221.

Match Facts

Friday, June 29, 2012
Start time 1045 (0945 GMT)

The Big Picture

The fact that this series is taking place at all speaks volumes for England’s new priorities. Having won the World Twenty20 and moved to the top of the Test rankings, they are now targeting a global ODI trophy as one of their top priorities. While there is no diminution in their Test ambitions in particular, so deep is their desire to win the 2015 World Cup (or, to a slightly lesser extent, the 2013 Champions Trophy) that the ECB scheduled this five-match ODI series ahead of adding another Test to the much-anticipated series between England and South Africa. In return, the ECB secured a five-match ODI series in Australia right before the 2015 World Cup, to be staged in Australia and New Zealand.England are an improving ODI team. Despite the humbling 5-0 reverse in India, England have won their last six ODI series at home and, despite the recent retirement of Kevin Pietersen, are building a solid side that, while lacking in explosive batsmen, possesses good quality players well capable of dealing with the introduction of two new balls. They also have an outstanding bowling attack and good depth in both batting and bowling.Australia, too, are in something of a transition in ODI cricket. Still ranked No. 1 in the world, they are introducing young players into the side – the likes of Matthew Wade and Pat Cummins – as they look to the future and 2015 in particular. This tour will provide several of their players with the opportunity of familiarising themselves with English conditions ahead of next year’s Ashes tour, while Australia A will also arrive in the UK shortly on a tour of their own.Despite some expressing a concern that this series and an over-familiarity between the sides could dilute the special atmosphere of an Ashes series, Lord’s is anticipating a full house. While there is no great prize for victory, it will provide some indication of the strengths and weaknesses of each side.

Form guide

England WWWWW (Most recent first, abandonments excluded)
Australia WLTLW

Players to watch

Prospects are looking up for Ian Bell. Dropped from the ODI side over the winter, Bell won a reprieve when Kevin Pietersen retired and enjoyed an excellent start in his new role as opening batsman against West Indies. This series provides tougher opposition but, if Bell bats with the class and positivity he displayed against West Indies, he will have cemented his position alongside Alastair Cook at the top of the order.For most in England, this game will offer a first opportunity to see Pat Cummins in action. Just 19 years old, Cummins may be short of experience, but he has immense promise. Blessed with natural pace and an ability to swing the ball away from right-handers, he also appears to have remarkable control and maturity for one so young. Both captains have been at pains to insist that this series has no relevance to next year’s Ashes encounters, but it does seem safe to assume that Cummins will be making his first of many appearances at Lord’s. He has a bright future.

Team news

England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Craig Kieswetter, 7 Tim Bresnan, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steve Finn.Australia (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 David Warner, 3 George Bailey, 4 Michael Clarke, 5 David Hussey, 6 Steven Smith, 7 Matthew Wade, 8 Brett Lee, 9 Clint McKay, 10 Pat Cummins, 11 Xavier Doherty.

Pitch and conditions

The forecast is not wonderful, with a 60% chance of rain and a noticeable drop in temperature anticipated. But Lord’s is remarkably fast draining and looks as immaculate as ever. The pitch is expected to be good, though totals of 300 or more have been achieved only four times in 52 ODIs on the ground. One of those came when Australia defeated Zimbabwe in 1999, another came in 1975, when England scored 334 in 60 overs against India and the two other occasions both occurred in the same match, when the batsmen of India and England enjoyed a fine pitch in 2002.

Stats and trivia

• If England win the series 5-0, they will move to the top of the ODI rankings. That would make them the first team to top the rankings in all three formats of the game.
• England have won their last six ODIs and their last six home ODI series. The last two sides to tour England – India and West Indies – failed to win an international match on the trip.
• The last time these two sides played an ODI series, however, following the 2010-11 Ashes, Australia won 6-1.
• This is the last men’s game at Lord’s (there is a women’s T20I between England and India at the ground on Sunday) before the MCC hand over control of the ground to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) on Monday. They will not officially reclaim control of the ground until July 18, the day before the first Test against South Africa.

Quotes

“Our goal as an Australian cricket team is to be number one in the world in all three formats of the game.”
“If someone said do you want to be number one in the world or win the World Cup, I would take the World Cup.”

Former Sri Lanka coach Geoff Marsh has sent a letter of demand to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) after he was sacked just three months into his two-year contract. Sri Lanka Cricket, reacting to Marsh’s letter, said it had taken the appropriate steps prior to terminating his services.Confirming it had received Marsh’s letter, Sri Lanka Cricket president Upali Dharmadasa stated, “We terminated his services and paid him whatever that was due to him.”It is now a legal matter and we have referred it to our legal department to check it and deal with it.”Marsh was appointed coach in September last year and his contract was terminated after the tour to South Africa where Sri Lanka recorded their maiden Test win. But they lost the three-Test series 2-1.Marsh’s sacking was criticised, with former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga calling the move “disgraceful” and “unprofessional”.Marsh was replaced by South African Graham Ford, who became Sri Lanka’s fourth coach since Trevor Bayliss quit after the World Cup final in April 2011.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsHashim Amla made his highest Twenty20 score•AFP

Results sometimes don’t tell the whole story, and this one should not be read into too deeply, if only for the reason that South Africa and Bangladesh were not playing against each other. Instead, they were playing against themselves. South Africa’s goals – to accumulate runs quickly and ensure their opposition was never in a position to do the same – were in stark contrast to Bangladesh’s, whose main task was to see out their 20 overs after being obliterated when they were bowling.If looked at from that perspective, both teams won and lost. South Africa made a score in excess of 200 and kept Bangladesh 39 runs away but were unimpressive and lazy with the ball. Bangladesh scored 170 and their captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, weighed in with a half-century. The one thing the teams had in common was butterfingers. South Africa dropped three catches and Bangladesh two as both teams showed signs of rustiness.South Africa played the opening combination that was used in New Zealand – Richard Levi and Hashim Amla – and the duo immediately sank their teeth in. They posted 70 runs in a little over six overs, making Mushfiqur’s hope of keeping South Africa below 160 seem nothing more than wishful thinking.While Levi scored his runs through force, Amla, who hit his highest Twenty20 score, did it through finesse. Bangladesh had no answers. Ziaur Rahman gave them some respite when he removed Levi with a slower ball for 37 off 21 deliveries. Amla would have gone shortly after, but Mortaza put down a tough chance at short cover. Amla brought up his half-century with his first six of the innings, arguably the shot of the day, using his wrists to hit high over extra cover.Albie Morkel was moved up to No. 4 but did not produce the expected fireworks. That Morkel did not deliver did not matter, because Amla continued to pepper the boundary. JP Duminy joined the plunder, pulling at will in the last over. Young Abul Hasan had little composure and sent down short ball after short ball to end a tough 20 overs for Bangladesh.Bangladesh never looked up to chasing at a rate of 10.50 runs per over but did not disgrace themselves either. Mohammad Ashraful showed early intent against the short balls from Tsotsobe, cutting and pulling powerfully. Anamul Haque, who replaced the injured Tamim Iqbal, could not provide suitable company, getting caught at fine leg off a Marchant de Lange short ball.Ashraful almost lost a second partner when Jahurul Islam edged a full ball from Morkel but the wicketkeeper Dane Vilas could not hold on as he dived to his right. After a 29-run stand in five overs, Ashraful eventually looked to force the pace but spliced a Tsotsobe short ball to a diving Amla at mid-on.Bangladesh suffered a mini-collapse in the next over, when Jahurul tried to take on Robin Peterson but holed out to long-on, and Nasir Hossain top-edged to Morkel at third man. Peterson’s double-wicket maiden contributed to his figures of 2 for 16.At 49 for 4, it could have unravelled for Bangladesh but Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah did not allow that to happen. They had the luxury of facing the weakest bowler in South Africa’s arsenal, Wayne Parnell, who bowled too short. The pair put on 61 runs before a Morkel slower ball accounted for Mahmudullah.Mushfiqur hung around until the end as South Africa’s bowlers seemed to interest and gave away runs, failing to control their lengths. He further irritated South Africa when he offered Tsotsobe a catch that the fielder let through for four. Mushfiqur reached 50 off the last ball of the innings, a full one from Parnell, which was driven for four. Bangladesh had seen out 20 overs, but it was a mismatch.

ScorecardGloucestershire ground it out on the final day to make sure their County Championship Division Two match at Derbyshire finished in the dullest of draws.Although the spectacle offered no warmth to the few souls who braved the weather, Gloucestershire did all they needed to do by seeing out the remainder of a game in which they struggled from the start.With New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson (128) and his compatriot Hamish Marshall (90) taking their third-wicket partnership to 166 in the morning, there was little chance of Derbyshire being able to press for victory on a flat wicket.Gloucestershire, who were made to follow on after trailing by 182 in the first innings, finished on 408 for 4 in their second innings.They began the day with a small lead of 37 and Derbyshire needed to make early progress if they were to wrestle back control of the contest.The second new ball, available after only eight overs of the morning session, offered them their best chance and Derbyshire thought they had made their breakthrough in the third over with it when they appealed for a catch behind the wicket with Marshall on 53 and were crestfallen when umpire David Willey was unmoved.They were made to wait until shortly before lunch for their first wicket, which came when Jon Clare beat the defensive push of Williamson and wicketkeeper Tom Poynton took the catch. Williamson, a rising New Zealand batsman, at 21, faced 272 balls and hit 16 fours.The main focus of the afternoon was whether or not Marshall would get his first century for the county in almost three years but he fell 10 runs short when Tim Groenewald had him lbw. Ian Cockbain (63 not out) and Will Gidman (33 not out) comfortably batted out the remainder of the game.Derbyshire’s wicketkeeper, Tom Poynton, was the only Derbyshire not to have a go at bowling before a Gloucestershire declaration 10 minutes before the start of the final hour signalled the end of the match.

ScorecardMark Ramprakash was bogged down on the second afternoon and fell before the close•PA Photos

For most of the second afternoon at Lord’s Middlesex would have felt exceptionally aggrieved that their efforts with the ball had not produced the desired results. Over 80 times batsman played and missed and Surrey nearly escaped the day in a strong position. Three wickets for five runs late in the day ensured a more even scenario ensued.Two of the late strikes came from Neil Dexter’s patient seam bowling – much to the eye rolling of the remainder of the attack who produced consistent movement and a fine command of line to make run scoring exceptionally difficult. Indeed, Mark Ramprakash was obliged to play one of his more forgetful innings – being made to wait 66 balls before moving into double figures, which was greeted with ironic applause.He was eventually lbw after making 17 in a shade over two hours. Dexter introduced himself and sneaked one past his inside edge. Toby Roland-Jones trapped Zander de Bruyn in the following over as Middlesex finally saw their endeavour bringing reward.But for most of the day the attack was luckless. The scoring ground to a halt in the face of the admirably disciplined bowling – 52 runs were scored in 32 overs after tea.”We can say we were unlucky but if we hadn’t had our luck yesterday we would have been bowled out for a lot less,” said Dawid Malan, who added 26 to his overnight total against the second new ball to guide Middlesex to another batting point.”The new ball has actually been the easiest to face, it came onto the bat a bit more and didn’t go with the swing as much.”Tim Murtagh was the most unfortunate of the bowlers. He opened from the Nursery End, switched to the Pavilion End after tea and operated almost without fail around off stump on a length for 20 overs. He conceded only 31 runs but remained wicketless.Corey Collymore suffered much the same fate but at least got one to hold its line to Steven Davies who edged low to John Simpson. Davies thought he had navigated through the storm, bringing up a 122-ball half-century, after surviving an hour after lunch where the score limped to 50 in 25 overs.Davies isn’t the most graceful left-hander and there is rarely a sense of flow to his batting. But he showed an earnest attitude that is perhaps lacking in large portions of this Surrey line-up. He plays most of his strokes in a short-jabbing manner. Through the off side he became stronger as the innings went on; a straight drive in Collymore’s second over after tea a sign of his growing confidence. When he fell, the innings stalled.Ramprakash and de Bruyn were forced to play very carefully. Ramprakash, in particular, was given little get-out, save a pulled four off Gareth Berg. De Bruyn was prepared to play to the leg side off the front foot and picked up two flicked boundaries through mid on.But the pair’s failure to move the score along saw Surrey lose their advantage once both were dismissed in consecutive overs. That and Middlesex’s late order rally.Resuming nine down, Malan and Colleymore played for an hour largely untroubled. Malan controlled the strike and Collymore was often trusted with two balls an over and resisted stoutly, allowing Malan to bring up an extra batting point. The last three wickets added 127 after the first seven chalked up 129.

Misbah-ul-Haq has led an impassioned defence of his captaincy and urged the media not to destabilise Pakistan cricket by pursuing “their own agendas”.What should have been a moment of celebration for Misbah and his team was soured when Pakistan’s captain was asked about his own position in the press conference following victory over England in the first of three Twenty20 internationals.It is not hard to understand why Misbah might have been irritated. He assumed the captaincy of Pakistan in late 2010 with the team disgraced and defeated. Not only that, but he was denied some of the nation’s best players due to their involvement in the spot-fixing controversy.He responded better than most could have dreamed possible. Not only did Misbah restore the good reputation of Pakistan cricket on the pitch, he has done so off it, too.He has led Pakistan to five Test series victories out of seven – the other two series were drawn – including the recent 3-0 whitewash of England, the No. 1-ranked Test team. On Thursday he led Pakistan to victory over the No.1-rated T20 team in world cricket and afterwards vented his frustration at the media – and the Pakistan media in particular – who seem to want Shahid Afridi restored as captain.”Even after when we won the Test matches, I continuously told the media we should be patient and consider the realities,” Misbah said. “We go on to discuss things that don’t need to be discussed – when we perform badly we should talk about that, we should talk about weak areas in the team. People in the media make comments based on furthering their own agendas, not ground realities. This needs to stop; the media should think positively.”I won’t comment on any specific individuals, but you can hear it yourself when you listen to the reports in the media. I also say even after winning we shouldn’t go overboard – we should base such discussions on facts. Appreciate the attributes in the team which are to be admired – even after winning, pinpoint specific mistakes – if a player isn’t making centuries, or a bowler is not taking wickets, then discuss those points.”What we shouldn’t do is start speaking ill of individuals. As a team we lost the ODI series: don’t blame one player or just the captain. The dramatic changes highlighted are unnecessary. It is these players that have won you six series. If we made mistakes and lost a series against a top team, then we should be backed. If the proposed changes highlighted by the media were implemented, we would have six captains and six different teams up to the World Cup in 2015.”We cannot improve if we continuously ask for captains and teams to be replaced after losing one series. You have to back your players at a certain level.”Misbah’s real problem – and it is a problem without a solution – is that he is not Afridi. The populist adoration for Afridi – for his charisma, his talent and his aura – is boundless. Misbah, with his more prosaic qualities of reliability, calm and consistency, is overshadowed by comparison. While logic might back Misbah, emotions are with Afridi.When Afridi drops a batting glove a nation stoops to pick it up. When Afridi fails with the bat – and, unpalatable though it will be to Pakistan supporters, he fails with the bat rather too often – a nation mourns his ill fortune. When Misbah scores 50, a nation frowns upon the slow pace at which he scored it. Misbah could invent a cure for cancer and someone will claim that Afridi would have done it with more panache.Afridi is a cricketer – a man, even – of immense charm. He is a magnificent limited-overs bowler, a courageous fielder and a batsman who has, upon occasions, dazzled. But he was fired as limited-overs skipper in May 2011 after returning early from the tour of the Caribbean and following the disintegration of his relationship with Waqar Younis, the coach at the time.His record as captain is also modest: Afridi has captained Pakistan in one Test, 34 ODIs and 19 T20Is. The Test was lost, as were 11 of the T20Is, though he led his side to 18 wins in ODI cricket.Compare that with Misbah’s record as captain. He has led in 15 Tests (nine wins, five draws and just that one loss against the West Indies), 19 ODIs (14 wins and five losses) and six T20Is (all of which have been won). In the light of such figures, it is somewhat bewildering that Misbah is obliged to continually defend his position.Misbah was frank about Pakistan’s greatest weakness: the fielding of his side remains poor. He warned there will be no short-term solutions, but suggested with the bowling attack he has at his disposal, Pakistan will always be capable of success. Afridi, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal are the top three wicket-takers in the history of T20Is and Misbah felt it was Gul’s bowling that made the difference on Thursday.”It’s a natural phenomenon,” he said. “We don’t focus on fitness and fielding at grass roots level. Our fielding is much improved from before, but we have to put in a lot of effort to improve. It’s not a problem that can be solved overnight.”When you have Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi, three of the top bowlers in T20 cricket, top wicket takers, you always have a chance. They bowled well and kept the pressure on. When a bowler is at his best it’s difficult to play him. Gul bowled well. There was no answer to his bowling.”The win was important considering the situation in which we were in. The senior players had to perform and Umar Gul’s return to form was necessary. Shoaib Malik showing form was also important. It was a much-needed win to bring our confidence back.”

In some ways, New Zealand’s last few months can be personified in the journey of one of their new fast bowlers, 21-year-old Doug Bracewell. In four months, Bracewell has won all but one of the matches he has played in, including three Tests, and is part of what is becoming a braver, bolder New Zealand side.”I couldn’t ask for more. I may as well hang the boots up,” Bracewell joked. “It’s been good, it’s been awesome. Hopefully we can continue the form and can continue the momentum into the ODIs and Twenty20s.”An outsider without a central contract a short while ago, Bracewell is now part of all three international squads and has been a significant part of the continuity in the country’s cricket. “I like to play all forms,” he said. “I enjoy the T20s and the one-dayers. I’ve been going alright in T20s for Central Districts and hopefully I can take that form onto the international stage.” Bracewell took nine wickets and scored 181 runs in the T20 HRV Cup recently and if his domestic form in that format mirrors his performance in first-class compared to Test cricket, New Zealand should ready themselves for a another star.They play Zimbabwe in three ODIs and two T20s and Bracewell said they expect a more competitive limited-overs leg of the series. “They [Zimbabwe] are probably more of a shorter-form team so we won’t be taking them lightly and we’ll want to back up this performance.”Validating one performance with an equal or better showing the next time is something that has become a mantra for New Zealand. After their victory against Australia in Hobart, which was engineered by Bracewell, New Zealand have concentrated on making sure they build on that. “We talked about backing up that Hobart performance and not taking Zimbabwe lightly,” Bracewell said. “Finishing a Test match in three days is unreal and the boys are feeling pretty confident. We’ll take a few days to let it sink in and our next target is to win these one-dayers.”Having been part of the touring party to visit Zimbabwe in November last year, Bracewell has first-hand knowledge of Zimbabwe’s potential. He was not part of the XI that were put to the sword by Zimbabwe’s batsmen in their record chase in the third ODI in Bulawayo but watched from the change room and made this observation. “They’ve got a few guys in the top order that can strike it pretty clean and if they get away, they can be hard to stop,” Bracewell said, alluding to the likes of Brendan Taylor and Malcolm Waller. ‘We don’t give them anything; we have to keep going hard.”While being careful not to show the smaller Southern African side less respect than the bigger one, Bracewell acknowledged that some part of New Zealand’s vision is trained on the series against South Africa. “Zimbabwe coming out here is a good test for us before South Africa,” he said. “Hopefully our batters can get into some form before they come out and our bowlers can do the same.”The bowling group has come under particular scrutiny, after New Zealand opted for a four-seam attack in their last two Tests. A clutch of young pacemen consisting of Bracewell, Tim Southee and Trent Boult are being lead by the veteran Chris Martin and the growing relationship between the four is adding to New Zealand’s strength. “Chris just does his own thing. He doesn’t get too wound up and he just backs himself,” Bracewell said. “He has been pretty good with me and Boultie [Boult]. He is a great bowler and he has a few decent words to say and I respect the way he goes about his game.”