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“To the team, he brings so much more than runs, he brings AB de Villiers. The AB de Villiers factor, let’s put it that way,” Chris Morris said ahead of the pink ODI in Johannesburg

Sidharth Monga in Johannesburg09-Feb-2018Apart from the New Year’s Test, which was delayed this year, the pink ODI is the biggest occasion in South Africa’s cricket calendar. A sold-out Bullring turns up primarily in pink to increase awareness for a cause. For the six pink ODIs to date, someone from South Africa has stood up with a special performance. AB de Villiers did so against West Indies in 2015, scoring the fastest ODI century. He is finally back for South Africa after a three-match layoff because of injury. South Africa are banking on a mix of the return of a special player and a special occasion to galvanise them into giving a special performance to keep the series alive.”Jeepers, AB is AB,” Chris Morris said when asked of the implications of de Villiers’ return. “Apart from what he brings on the field, it’s what he brings off the field. He brings that calmness, he brings that experience. To have a world-class player come back and play for South Africa is a special, special occasion. It’s a special moment for me, for me I quite enjoy sharing the field with him. It’s a special occasion every time I walk on to the field with AB because to me he is – if not the best – one of the best players in the world and one of the best players to ever play for South Africa. But to the team, he brings so much more than runs, he brings AB de Villiers. The AB de Villiers factor, let’s put it that way.”South Africa’s big problem in the series has been their inability to play spin. India’s two wristspinners – Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal – have taken 21 wickets between them in three matches at an average of 9, an economy rate of 3.63 and a strike rate of a wicket every 15 balls.Getty Images

JP Duminy admitted after the loss in Cape Town that the batsmen are not picking the wristspinners out of the hand, and are also struggling against the pace and lengths they have been bowling. Morris hopes the batsmen will set it right with the video work they have been doing, but also believes the return of de Villiers will also bring knowledge on how to face them.”Look AB has always got inputs; doesn’t matter if it’s spin, seam, behind the back,” Morris said. “It doesn’t matter what inputs he’s got, it’s always good. I’m sure AB will have a few pointers for the guys on how to handle spin and how to play spin, maybe a few different attacking options but like I said, it doesn’t matter what advice because he’s got advice for everything and it’s always solid. When AB talks, you listen because it’s always helpful.”Coming back with such messiah-like expectations can be difficult for de Villiers. “At the moment we are all under pressure, put it that way,” Morris said when asked if there would be extra pressure on de Villiers. “We are 3-0 down in the series; what more pressure do you need? If AB is coming in, I don’t think he is feeling any added pressure. He is just going to come in and be AB de Villiers. I think AB de Villiers being AB de Villiers is a very dangerous player.”It’s exciting to see how he’s going to come out tomorrow but there’s no added pressure. Every single guy in the team is feeling pressure. We know we’ve under performed, we know the way we’ve lost hasn’t been good. I think we are all dying to put on a good performance tomorrow, and to show that we can really play this game and what we are capable of.”Like India took heart from their unbeaten record in Tests at Wanderers before they won the third Test, Morris looks at their pink-day record with optimism. “I keep harping on how special an occasion it is,” Morris said. “It’s really good. My first pink day, we saw I got some runs, won the game. Last year Dwaine Pretorious came in and got a four-fer and won the game for us as well. So you know it’s a special time, I think … I always joke about that … when people go and play at Lord’s, they put on special performances because you are playing at the home of cricket. Tomorrow is such a massive day for South Africa. People arrive for the occasion and they turn it on for the occasion. We have had a good run in the last couple of years for the pink day, and hopefully we can do the same tomorrow but would be quite nice to see a youngster put his hand up tomorrow and win the game for us tomorrow.”

Vernon Philander has made Sussex his fifth county on a short-term deal in 2017

David Hopps09-Dec-2016Sussex have signed South Africa international Vernon Philander for the first half of the county season, advancing his reputation as one of the overseas nomads of the county circuit.Philander, who remains an integral part of South Africa’s bowling attack and has played 37 Test matches for his country, will be available for Sussex’s first six Specsavers County Championship matches, and the entire group stage of the Royal London One-Day Cup tournament.Philander will use the spell at Sussex as a useful warm-up ahead of South Africa’s Test series against England next summer. He has not played ODIs for South Africa for more than a year but he has not retired from the format and a call up for South Africa in the Champions Trophy cannot be entirely ruled out, which, if it occurred, would disrupt Sussex’s plans.Sussex represent Philander’s fifth county after other short-term deals at Middlesex in 2008, Somerset in 2012, Kent in 2013 and Nottinghamshire in 2015. His emphasis has very much been on using the county circuit in short-term bursts to build form and fitness, and earn revenue, without seeking any long-term loyalty.In those four stints, he has taken only 49 first-class wickets at 26.98, his most lasting contribution being the 23 wickets he took for Somerset in 2012 and his most ephemeral appearance a two-game stint at Kent when he failed to take a wicket.Most recently, he helped South Africa to an impressive 2-1 Test series victory in Australia, having decimated the hosts’ top-order in the second Test with figures of 5 for 21 in the first innings, as Australia were bowled out for 85.Sussex’s head coach Mark Davis said, “I am thrilled to have Vernon joining us for the first two months of the season. He is one of the leading bowlers in world cricket and to have him bowling in English conditions is a very exciting prospect from the club.Philander said of his upcoming stint at Hove: “I’m really looking forward to getting to Hove and playing for Sussex for the first couple of months of the English season. Although I haven’t come up against Sussex much in my time playing in England, I’ve always heard good things about the club and set-up.”Mark Davis, the coaching team and Luke Wright are building an exciting squad and I’m excited to be a part of that in 2017.”

A round-up of Pro50 Championship matches on November 23, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2015Opener Regis Chakabva and Tinotenda Mutombodzi struck 61 each to help Masholand Eagles chase down a revised target of 225 in 48 overs against Matabeleland Tuskers with 12 balls and four wickets to spare by Duckworth-Lewis method in Harare.Chamu Chibhabha was dismissed cheaply but Chakabva kept the scorecard ticking as Eagles reached 52 for 1 before the rain arrived. Cephas Zhuwao was bowled by Tiwanda Mupariwa off the first ball after resumption but Chakabva and Mutombodzi added 36 together, after which Ryal Burl applied the finishing touches to the chase.Earlier a collective bowling effort saw Eagles restrict Tuskers to 227. Seven batsmen passed double figures but none managed to make a big score. Mbekezeli Mabuza hit 39 off 47 balls with the next best score being Mupariwa’s 31-ball 37. He clubbed two fours and two sixes but the total of 227 was not adequate in the end.Mountaineers beat Midwest Rhinos by 18 runs in the Pro50 Championship fixture at the Kwekwe Sports Club in Harare. Mountaineers made 242 for 4 on the back of half-centuries from Timycen Maruma (69) and Hamilton Masakadza (65). Donald Tiripano, the pacer, then recorded figures of 5 for 47 off 10 overs, his best List-A performance, as Rhinos were bowled out for 242 in the penultimate over.Rhinos’ top order floundered as they were reduced to 53 for 4, before Prince Masvaure (91) and Remembrance Nyathi (46) came up with the rescue act. The pair added 125 for the fifth wicket before falling in successive overs. Nevill Madziva made an unbeaten 27 to keep their hopes alive, but that was scant consolation as the last four batsmen could manage just nine runs between them.

Chris Rogers and Sam Robson set a new record for the highest ever first-wicket stand for Middlesex against Surrey

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Lord's04-May-2013
ScorecardSam Robson’s impressive start to the season continued•Getty Images

Chris Rogers and Sam Robson set a new record for the highest ever first-wicket stand for Middlesex against Surrey on a day that saw the home side wrestle back the initiative from their south of the river rivals. It was in the 69th over that the record set by Pelham Warner and James Douglas in 1907 at The Oval was passed, and owed as much to the openers’ pro-active start as it did to a pitch that became much easier to bat on.In an elongated afternoon session, Rogers and Robson compiled 161 runs in 48 overs, in a determined yet comfortable manner. They continued on their merry way in the evening with such nonchalance that the passing of Surrey’s total was met with nothing more than a cursory glance at the scorecard from the spectators. While their hundreds were reached at the same pace – both took 185 balls – the nature of their innings bore the imprint of their respective personalities.Robson displayed his aptitude for driving before bringing out his dabs behind square on both sides of the wicket. If you’ll allow the typecasting, he is the evolving opener; growing into his innings through a well-rounded attacking game rather than bitty accumulation. Obviously that comes with its own pitfalls – his conversion rate of fifties to hundreds may never get above the one-third it stands at now – but he is an exciting prospect who should be encouraged to play his game. His decision to try and hook Zander de Bruyn cost him his wicket, but he had played a fine hand.”Been there – done that – did it again” would be the pithy 1990s subtext to Rogers’ first century for Middlesex against Surrey. The majority of his runs against the seamers came through third-man with a deliberateness that Jade Dernbach couldn’t quite believe; anything on his legs was greatly received. Even when he was driving crisply yet straight to the fielders at the end of the day, he would wryly walk away from his crease, before returning to push the next ball around the corner for a couple. It was his career in a nutshell; trial and error – hold the error.The day started with Surrey taking the one remaining wicket before Tim Murtagh and Corey Collymore could add the 28 runs needed to avoid the follow-on. Unsurprisingly, with his bowlers well rested and rain predicted for Sunday, Graeme Smith put Middlesex back in. There was rain in the air; a light drizzle greeted spectators upon their arrival before the start of play and a bigger, longer downpour came with Middlesex 29 without loss.A 40-minute delay and an early lunch later, in muggier conditions, Dernbach drew the first false shot with Rogers edging a difficult chance to Wilson at second slip, which had the Irishman diving to his right and slightly forward, but failing to hold on.At the other end, Chris Tremlett looked strong and quick, bringing his length forward and hitting the bat hard. Watching him the previous day from square of the wicket, the 6ft 7 inch bowler had a notable stop after delivery; an unusual hop, seemingly dissipating any kind of forward momentum. Today he bustled through the crease with greater fluency – the hop making way for a couple of ferocious strides. However, Rogers used this extra pace to slap a couple of fours behind point as he and Robson took Middlesex past fifty with minimal fuss.The springiness of the surface on the opening was a faint memory as the pitch played with more conventional bounce which Robson in particular thrived on. He didn’t have to force the issue, instead timing the ball well on the front foot and, as he moved into the 30s, working the ball through cover-point and in front of square leg off Tim Linley and Dernbach.He moved past fifty for the fourth time this season with his ninth boundary and Rogers soon joined him in the fifties, though not before a little scare when he edged again to second slip, this time well short, off the bowling of Linley. Save that moment, Linley was ineffectual and at times looked like he was returning a favour to Robson.As both players motored on in the evening session, Smith got creative in the field. When Robson was startled by a short-ball from Dernbach, Smith encouraged his bowler to persist and supported him with five men on the leg-side; a wide mid-on, midwicket, deep square leg and two behind square – one of whom was a leg-slip.Considering the circumstances and the protagonists – an Australian batsman in the process of qualifying for England and a South African-born English bowler obeying the orders of his pugnacious yet affable skipper – it was very much Bodyline-lite, and when Dernbach was slightly wide with his short-ball, Robson gleefully moved to 96, and past 3,000 first-class runs.Rogers was not keen to play the short ball, choosing to duck and dive, which only infuriated Dernbach further; he thought he might have had Robson caught off an inside edge but it wasn’t given. The 200 partnership came up with both batsmen on 98 and the only question was who would get there first. In the end it was Rogers with a punch through cover, before Robson followed with a scampered single to midwicket.With an overnight lead of 111, Middlesex’s middle order have the chance to make amends for their earlier misdemeanours and give their bowlers enough runs and – importantly – time to push for a win. The corresponding fixture, albeit on a less accommodating pitch, produced a thrilling finish in Middlesex’s favour, and history suggests it may not just dribble to a draw.If the Sunday of a long weekend has you at a loose end, look no further than Lord’s – where adult tickets £5 and it’s free for over-65s and under-16s – for the finale of what has been a compelling encounter.

NKP Salve, who had been the president of the BCCI when India won the World Cup in 1983, has died aged 91 in New Delhi

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-2012NKP Salve, who had been the president of the BCCI when India won the World Cup in 1983, has died aged 91 in New Delhi. He is credited with helping India and Pakistan win rights to hosting the 1987 World Cup.The Indian board hailed Salve’s services to Indian cricket. “His contribution to Indian cricket, as President of the BCCI, can never be forgotten,” N Srinivasan, the current BCCI president, said. “It was during his tenure that we won the World Cup for the first time, in 1983. It was also due to his initiative that the World Cup was co-hosted by India and Pakistan, in 1987. Thus, he was responsible for the World Cup becoming the ‘global’ event that it is today.”Srinivasan extended his condolences to Salve’s family and said Indian cricket “has lost one of its pillars.” In recognition of Salve’s contribution to Indian cricket, the Challenger Trophy was named after him.Kapil Dev, the captain of India’s 1983 World Cup winning team, also expressed sadness over the death of Salve. Kapil said Salve was like a father figure to the World Cup winning team. “He enjoyed an excellent relationship with the players and also ensured that there was a sense of camaraderie within the team at all times,” he told the . “Back in those days, the BCCI didn’t have lots of money. But that didn’t stop Salve from inquiring with us if we needed anything to become better players.”After India won the title, Salve announced a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh for each member of the team. Singer Lata Mangeshkar, who shared a close bond with Salve, was requested to sing in a concert to raise money for the cash awards. “He made a special request to me to do a special programme for the victorious 1983 World Cup team and I could not say no to him. I could not resist his request and many members of the Indian team were on dais for the specially-composed song for the team,” Mangeshkar was quoted as saying in .”Thanks to Salve’s enterprise, Rs 17-18 lakh were raised from the concert for the cash awards” BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty told the same newspaper. “Salve’s passion for the game was unbelievable and he took great interest in the players’ welfare,” Mohinder Amarnath, former India allrounder, told the .Salve was also a senior political leader of the Congress party, and had been a former union minister. He is survived by his son Harish Salve who is a prominent lawyer, and daughter Arundhati.

After having watched his bowlers take wickets off no-balls and his fielders drop sitters, Virender Sehwag took his frustration out on the Deccan Chargers with a blistering century, his first in Twenty20s, that blew the home side away

The Bulletin by Abhishek Purohit05-May-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsTake that, Deccan Chargers•AFP

For a large part of his career, it was tough being Sachin Tendulkar. In the IPL, it’s tougher being Virender Sehwag. After having watched his bowlers take wickets off no-balls and his fielders drop sitters, the Delhi Daredevils captain took his frustration out on the Deccan Chargers with a blistering century, his first in Twenty20s. The assault bettered his masterpiece against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, and stunned Deccan into offering him two chances. Unmindful of the complete lack of support from his team-mates, Sehwag cashed in and drowned Deccan in a flood of boundaries that took the bite out of a challenging total. The next highest score was James Hopes’ 17.Delhi’s bowlers had been profligate in letting Deccan surge to 175, and their top order, barring Sehwag, let the pressure get to them. Aaron Finch, Naman Ojha and Venugopal Rao combusted against seam as Sehwag watched bemused from his end. From 25 for 3 in the sixth over, only Sehwag could have taken Delhi home, and he did it in some style, moving from 8 off 13 balls to 119 off 56, pushing Deccan to the brink of elimination.Sehwag has made a career out of sticking to his guns regardless of the situation, and his approach today was no different. Two balls after Venugopal Rao top-edged a pull off Ishant Sharma, Sehwag shuffled across and glanced a boundary from the middle-stump line to fine leg. In the next over, Travis Birt struggled against Daniel Christian, getting beaten three times in four balls, as the asking-rate crossed eleven at by the end of seven overs.Sehwag broke free in the next over, bowled by IPL debutant Ishan Malhotra. The first ball disappeared over deep square leg, the next over deep midwicket. Two more boundaries followed, as Sehwag looted 23 off the over. As if to dispel the notion that he had targeted just the newcomer, Sehwag plundered 13 off the next over, from Christian.Sangakkara brought on spin, so often Sehwag’s strength as well as weakness. Sehwag displayed his strength first ball, dancing down and launching Amit Mishra over the straight boundary. The weakness was on display next ball, as he rushed out again but ended up slicing to sweeper cover. That is when Deccan decided to return the earlier favours, substitute Ankit Sharma clanging a simple chance. Sehwag gladly guided the third ball through third man for four.Birt departed in the 11th over, having contributed four runs to a partnership of 61 off 28 balls. Sehwag continued to ignore the procession at the other end, dispatching Mishra for three consecutive fours. The second of those boundaries slipped into the boundary from Ravi Teja’s grasp, after he had managed to get both hands to the chance.With 69 needed off 48, Sangakkara brought Dale Steyn back. Steyn dug one in short, Sehwag got on top of it, and flashed it past backward point. A desperate Sangakkara turned to Bharat Chipli’s gentle medium pacers. Mistake. Sehwag brought up his hundred off the first ball, and then creamed the next two for sixes. Twenty-seven needed off 30. Game over. Though Steyn had Sehwag caught behind in the 17th over, the remaining batsmen managed to complete the heist.Victory was looking far away for Delhi when they had allowed Deccan to run amok on a bouncy pitch. Sangakkara and Shikhar Dhawan had chances grassed, and JP Duminy and Christian would have been dismissed within the space of three balls, had Yogesh Nagar not over-stepped twice in the 15th over.Two of the four reprieved batsmen made Delhi pay dearly. Sangakkara doubled his score to make 44, and Duminy went better, clattering four sixes on his way to converting 23 off 18 deliveries into 55 from 31. The no-balls meant what should have been 114 for 5 in the 15th over turned into 175 for 5 in 20 overs.Sangakkara’s partnership with Duminy was a stop-start affair, with punchy and edged boundaries alternating with swings-and-misses. More luck was to come Deccan’s way when Morkel dropped Sangakkara at short fine leg off Ajit Agarkar, and then failed to get near the ball when Dhawan top-edged a pull off the next delivery.After Dhawan fell, Sangakkara’s aggression allowed Duminy to play himself in before launching into an onslaught. Duminy, who had made 77 runs in five previous games, hardly looking like the batsman who had been struggling for runs. He added 71 in 33 deliveries with Christian, as Deccan made 108 in the last ten overs. It counted for little in the end.