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ScorecardFile photo: Jon Holland went to the top of the wicket-takers list with his 4 for 48•Getty Images

If Simon Katich channelled the ghost of Australian batting past with a staunch rearguard for Western Australia, then Jon Holland offered further hope for the nation’s spin bowling future by driving Victoria to their fourth victory in five domestic limited overs matches at a sun draped North Sydney Oval.Recalled to play his first match for WA in more than a decade, and set the task of inspiring the Warriors’ callow youth, Katich outperformed them all, striking 67 crisp runs that left more than a few observers wondering at the wisdom of the national selectors discarding him so brusquely in 2011. But it was Holland who played the game’s most pivotal role, winkling out four wickets on a batsmen’s pitch with his combination of flight, subtle pace variations and unwavering accuracy.As notable as Holland’s figures of 4-48 is, the fact is that he has put together a sequence of strong analyses in the competition, returning figures of 2-43, 1-39, 1-37 and 2-39 to become the tournament’s leading wicket-taker so far. Continued progress will not only press Victoria’s bid for an early trophy but also usher a call-up, if not for Australia then certainly for the Australia A team to face England in Hobart in early November.”It certainly helps that you get into a rhythm. You’re confident and it just keeps rolling on,” Holland said. “As a group we’ve gone well. We had a little hiccup last game, but we’ve had four wins now and playing well together, and looking forward to the next couple of games.”It’s a little bit nerve-wracking here, the short boundaries and not much spin in the wicket, but you expect to go for runs here and if you don’t it’s a bonus. We got 330 so I knew I was always going to be targeted, and they were always going to try to put me over the ropes, but today it went my way.”After making an Australia ODI tour of India in 2010, Holland battled injuries and indifferent form. He was at the forefront of the national selector John Inverarity’s thinking at the outset of last summer, before a serious shoulder injury made him wait again. At 26, his summer of plenty may finally be about to arrive.Holland had been given a sufficient tally to bowl at on North Sydney’s equable pitch, small circumference and quicksilver outfield by a trio of contrasting innings by Marcus Stoinis, the captain Matthew Wade and his in-form predecessor Cameron White. The Bushrangers did not quite enjoy the late innings spike they had been subjected to courtesy of Ben Cutting and Queensland on Sunday, but 331 turned out to be far too many for WA once Shaun Marsh had a promising innings curtailed by a debatable lbw verdict in Holland’s favour.Victoria had begun in slightly halting manner, with Ryan Duffield moving the ball in the morning air and beating the bat frequently. Rob Quiney grew in fluency, and glided to 37 before punching back a difficult chance that Andrew Tye held smartly in his follow-through. Stoinis had been more circumspect, but he stuck around in the company of the busy Wade to build the tally, and spread his wings as the innings progressed with a pair of straight hits from Tye.His departure allowed White to join Wade and the scoring rate picked up noticeably. White’s confidence is presently as high as it has been for some time, and he took a liking to the spin of the WA captain Michael Beer among others, clubbing six sixes and looking on course for a century before taking one swing too many at Jake Behrendorff.WA’s chase began on a sound enough note, but Cameron Bancroft’s exit, snicking Scott Boland behind, was to start a trend of partnerships that were more pesky than powerful. Marsh looked the man most likely to challenge the total as he begins his bid for a return to the Test team after his latest bout of hamstring trouble, but the second of two lbw appeals by Holland on the sweep drew the umpire’s raised finger, even if the ball did not appear headed for the stumps.Katich walked to the wicket with the target edging beyond the horizon, but played with characteristic grit and no little flair to keep the Warriors from subsiding by too wide a margin. His departure to Dan Christian effectively marked the end of the contest.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details0:00

Jarrod Kimber’s Ashes Report: Australia couldn’t be further ahead

Domineering hundreds by Michael Clarke and David Warner, a declaration with an impregnable position swiftly achieved and two England wickets in the final hour: things could not have gone much better for Australia as they pressed for the victory that would put them 1-0 up in the Ashes series.Australia stacked up a lead of 560 before declaring with slightly more than an hour remaining on the third day and they made excellent use of the 15 overs they reserved for a bowl against a weary and demoralised England side as Michael Carberry and Jonathan Trott both perished.That life could not be going more swimmingly for Australia was apparent when Carberry played on against Ryan Harris, his attempted block spinning off a thick inside edge between his legs. Trott’s difficulties against the pace of Mitchell Johnson also persisted: fortunate to survive on 7, when a miscued hook fell safely, he fell for 9 when he flicked Johnson off his hips straight to Nathan Lyon, stationed 20 yards in from the square leg boards. Against Johnson, he looks unbalanced both physically and mentally.It could have been worse for England as Alastair Cook dived desperately for the crease to avoid being run out for nought as Kevin Pietersen undertook a characteristically chancy single to get off the mark.Australia could not have envisaged such a dominant position when they were six down for 132 on the first day. No side has made more than 418 in the fourth innings to win a Test, a feat achieved by West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003. With two days remaining, they are perfectly placed to achieve the win to back up their confident pre-series chat.To draw, England would have to bat for more overs than in any Test in their history, the Timeless Test in Durban in 1939 apart. To win, they would have to break records by a huge margin. There was a storm in Brisbane a few hours after play, but the daytime forecast on Sunday was just for an occasional heavy shower.Their captain is also restored to full operational efficiency. Clarke fell for 113 from only 130 deliveries shortly before tea, his dismissal caused by perhaps his only ungainly moment as he came down the pitch to Graeme Swann and was bowled as he was drawn into an ugly leg-side slog.His 25th Test hundred, and his fifth at the Gabba, was one of his most heartfelt, coming as it did in the wake of a first-innings dismissal which encouraged a debate over whether his back ailment was causing him problems against short-pitched bowling. He survived a none-too-torrid examination against the short ball before restating his quality with an innings of polished, unfettered strokeplay.Warner’s 124 from 154 balls was equally brisk. He was just as assertive as Clarke, his footwork surely as crisp as it ever has been in his Test career as he attacked England’s limited attack with verve and selectivity. He brought up his hundred with runs off Joe Root, but unlike last summer, on this occasion he only punched the air.His most dismissive moment – planting Stuart Broad straight for six – was followed in the same over by his downfall. His dismissal, caught at the wicket, had an element of one-day cricket about it but it was a rare blemish by Warner, who has rarely played a more measured Test innings.Michael Clarke made his 25th Test hundred and his sixth against England to ram home the advantage•Getty Images

England’s aggressive tactics against Clarke, not short of initial verbals, even extended to allowing Warner singles to get him back on strike – quite an insult for a world-class batsman with a Test average the top side of 50 and an excellent record at the Gabba. During his innings, he joined Ricky Ponting and Greg Chappell as the only batsmen to have made more than 1000 Test runs at the ground and his average there hovers around 100. Rarely has such an accomplished batsman been tactically manoeuvred on to strike in such a fashion.Clarke had decided to take on the pull shot from the outset and he did so with equanimity. England soon abandoned the policy – only Broad looked capable of enforcing it anyway – and they were unable to make much of an impression on a pitch that remained in excellent order for batsmen.Broad never quite revved up the short-ball challenge to maximum, James Anderson, whose approach in any case tends to be more cerebral, did not get much of a look at him, and Chris Tremlett, for all his impressive build, trundled along at barely 130kph. Australia’s markedly enterprising approach to Swann’s offspin, encouraged by their head coach, Darren Lehmann, has also put England’s four-strong attack under strain. His first three overs after lunch, in two spells, cost 38, England’s sense of control destroyed. Swann needs to find an answer – and on Australian pitches he will not find it easy.England took two wickets in the morning session as Australia, 65 for 0 overnight, resumed with a lead of 224. Chris Rogers made a hash of Broad’s morning loosener, recognising the gift of a short and wide delivery but only managing to punt it to point where Carberry accepted a simple catch. Shane Watson also made little impact, making 6 in 27 balls before an attempted pull malfunctioned against Tremlett.England’s desperation was evident in the last over before lunch when they reviewed Swann’s lbw appeal against Warner only for replays to confirm that he had played the ball with his bat and the review was little better than wishful thinking. A second review against Bailey late in the afternoon session failed marginally. There was further frustration for England when for the second time in the match they were timed out as they discussed whether to review. This tougher approach seems set for the series as the umpires, refreshingly, implement the regulations.Clarke was the last of three Australia wickets to fall in an afternoon session which brought Australia 154 runs at a rate of nearly five runs an over. Steven Smith fell for 0 when Tremlett, finding bounce and away seam, summoned one of England’s best deliveries of the day. George Bailey, on Test debut, was dropped on 17 at short leg by Ian Bell, off the offspin of Joe Root, but he did not make best use of his reprieve as Swann floated a ball past his defensive push to strike off stump.Australia hastened to a declaration after tea in freewheeling fashion, adding a further 102 at a run a ball as Brad Haddin and Johnson hit about them to the delight of a jubilant Brisbane crowd. Australia’s long unbeaten record at the Gabba looks set to continue in the most emphatic fashion.

ScorecardFile photo: Gareth Berg’s 67 was in vain as Uganda squeaked through by one wicket•ICC/Getty

Uganda pulled off a surprise victory over Italy to register their first win of the qualifiers in Abu Dhabi. Italy batted first, with the openers putting on a decent stand of 35. Wicketkeeper Andy Northcote was the first to go in the fifth over when he was trapped in front by offspinner Frank Nsubuga. Peter Petricola joined opener Gareth Berg to put on a further 39 runs by the 11th over. A couple of more small partnerships later, Italy were able to reach 148 for 4, with Berg top-scoring with 62 off 34 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes. This continued his good run of form, where he had scored 90 off 47 balls in the previous match against USA.In reply, Uganda started rather abjectly, with opener Roger Mukasa falling off just the second ball of the innings. Abram Mutyagaba and Hamza Saleh then put on 33, before Saleh was bowled by Vince Pennazza. Arthur Kyobe came in next and smashed a 15-ball 36, which comprised five sixes, to help Uganda stay on par with the required rate.But they also lost wickets at regular intervals. At 97 for 8 in the 14th over, there was still another 52 required for victory, with about six overs to go. Cameos from Richard Okia (33*) and Charles Waiswa (21) took them close, and Uganda were able to hold their nerve and score the winning runs with just one wicket in hand, and one ball to spare.
ScorecardAn Irfan Ahmed century, combined with Munir Dar’s 4 for 17, helped Hong Kong make it three out of three as they defeated Canada by 53 runs in Abu Dhabi. Canada won the toss and put Hong Kong in to bat, which proved a significant miscalculation as Ahmed and Waqas Barkat flayed Canada’s rather insipid bowling attack to the tune of 102 runs inside of 12 overs. After Barkat fell for 31, wickets began to fall more regularly, with Irfan plundering on to reach a maiden century in any format, finishing with 100 off 53 balls which included four fours and eight sixes. Hong King finished their quota of overs on 168 for 5.Canada’s innings did not start promisingly as their top three were gone with just 44 on the board in the 10th over. None of the batsmen were able to capitalise on their starts, with Jimmy Hansra (26) and Raza-ur-Rehman (23) being the only ones to cross into the twenties. Dar put on a splendid show with the ball, taking 4 for 17, as Canada stumbled to 115 for 8. This now means that Canada has lost both their opening matches, making qualification an uphill battle from here on.

With a Test squad that has a 12-point lead at the top of the ICC rankings, South Africa’s selectors are choosing to stick with a good thing. They named an unchanged 15-member squad for the two Tests against India from the one that played against Pakistan in the UAE.South Africa have won nine and lost only one of their last 13 matches in the 18 month period convener of selectors Andrew Hudson told ESPNcricinfo that was under consideration when deliberating the current squad. "If you look at that context and over that period, the team has been settled and has done exceptionally well. It’s not really a time to start changing anything,” he said.Graeme Smith, who was part of the one-day squad, but didn’t play in any of the two ODIs, will return to lead the side in the Tests.South Africa lost the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi by seven wickets, but bounced back in Dubai with an innings and 92-run win. “We were very happy with the performance of the Proteas in the second Test match at Dubai," Andrew Hudson, the selection convenor, said. "We see no need to change something that is operating well."There are four fast bowlers in the squad in Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Rory Kleinveldt, and two spinners in Robin Peterson and Imran Tahir. The squad includes Thami Tsolekile as the reserve wicketkeeper.The two-Test series kicks off on December 18 at the Wanderers while the second match will be played in Durban, from December 26.South Africa Test squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers (wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile (wk)

Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, wants his side to put in extra effort to win the final Test against Sri Lanka in Sharjah. Pakistan are down 0-1 and are hoping to square the series before going into a nine-month Test drought. This is Pakistan’s fifth series since trouncing England 3-0 almost two years ago, but they are yet to record another series win.”It’s a do or die situation for us,” said Misbah. “We have to put some effort and get the result we want to level the series and there is no other option for us. We really need to be proactive and really need to put a good show.”The pitches have been a concern for Pakistan during the series as Misbah and spinner Saeed Ajmal rued the lack of home advantage. The surface at Sharjah looked flat and once again became the focal point. Though Misbah was reluctant to comment on pitch, he did tip the surface to be result-oriented. A fair assessment considering there has been only one draw in the five matches played here. Pakistan have won two of their three games at Sharjah.”In my opinion this looks a good pitch and I think you get spin on the pitches here and the team which plays better and shows patience will have more chance,” he said. “We get some strange results here but you really need to apply yourself more effectively and play better disciplined cricket. Whatever we need to do in terms of strategies and in terms of our abilities, we have to apply hard.”Pakistan have persisted with the same combination in the first two games despite Rahat Ali’s place under serious question before the Dubai Test. He has bowled more than 100 overs in the series for just two wickets with limited impact.”Nothing can be done if we let pressure take over, if we feel worried and panic, then it will not help,” Misbah said. “We will try to improve in areas where we didn’t do well and we should improve on areas where we struggled so we have worked on them and will try to improve them”Pakistan are struggling for stability in their top order, which has been a major concern. Their line-up is heavily reliant on Misbah along with Younis Khan but the Pakistan captain backed his batsmen to perform. “It happens in Test cricket, if you look at the previous Test, it was a seaming pitch in Abu Dhabi and our top order did well,” he said. “But it happens and you can’t say after one match that there are so many problems, two innings can go bad for anyone and the new ball is always difficult to face. So we are not worried about that very much.””I think they [Sri Lanka] bowled really well, they bowled within their limits and the conditions were like they used to play in Sri Lanka, a bit of movement was there but full credit to them, they bowled good lines and lengths and that was the key for them.”

Wayne Parnell is expected to make it into South Africa’s XI after Jacques Kallis’ retirement•Getty Images

SA squad for Australia Tests

Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile
In: Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell
Out: Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis

Allrounders Wayne Parnell and Ryan McLaren were both recalled to South Africa’s Test squad ahead of the upcoming series against Australia. The pair will be in direct competition to fill the allrounders’ spot in the XI, left empty by Jacques Kallis’ recent retirement.For the first time in 18 years South Africa have compiled a squad without Kallis and coach Russell Domingo admitted it will require a slight rethink of South Africa’s strategies. “The mental shift is going to be just as important as the statistical shift,” Domingo said. “We’re not looking for another Jacques Kallis, we’re looking for someone to step up to the plate.”With that in mind, South Africa’s selectors left their options open by naming a squad that includes the pair of allrounders, an extra batsman in Dean Elgar, a bowler with batting ability, Rory Kleinveldt, and reserve wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile. The only choice they did not leave themselves was that of the attacking spinner. Legspinner Imran Tahir was left out of the group, with Robin Peterson the sole specialist tweaker.”We’ve got guys in the squad that are replacement batsmen and replacement seamers,” Andrew Hudson, South Africa’s convener of selectors said. “Our formula has worked so we don’t need to make any left-field selections. We felt Robbie P is our spin option for the series. It fits in with the style of cricket that we want to play. We haven’t gone past Imran. As an attacking legspinner he is a huge option for us when we play in the subcontinent.”That has also meant no room for any new faces. The likes of left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks and offspinner Simon Harmer were in the mix and the pair will bowl in the nets ahead of the first Test. Their presence in the setup is a sign they are earmarked for bigger things in future, and a plan to provide South Africa with extra practice ahead of their dates with Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Lyon.Meticulous preparation is a must for South Africa because they have had no first-class cricket since the Boxing Day Test against India and five injury concerns in the lead-up to this series. All the walking wounded are expected to be fully fit with AB de Villiers, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Faf du Plessis and Vernon Philander on the mend from hand, ankle, rib, shoulder and lower-back niggles respectively.They will have an opportunity to test their fitness in what Domingo called a “shadow Test side” against a Rest of South Africa XI – which will be made up of the next best players in the three franchises who do not qualify for the domestic 20-over playoffs. That will also be the game in which a final decision is made over the exact make up of South Africa’s XI.Domingo all but confirmed du Plessis will move up to bat in Kallis’ No. 4 spot, so the change will be made lower down. “Faf is the guy we are earmarking to bat at No. 4,” Domingo said. “He got a big hundred batting there against India to save a Test and he has scored runs for the Titans batting there.”Parnell seems the likeliest option to slot into the XI, because of the extra pace he offers. “He has done really well for the Warriors. He has improved his consistency and the big plus is that he is a guy who can bowl 140,” Domingo said. “He is also more than capable with the bat. He is still young and there are going to be inconsistencies in his performance but he can become a major player for SA in all formats.”But Domingo indicated South Africa may tinker with the balance of the side. “It’s not going to be a set strategy like we had in the past. Something got to give. Either we will have four seamers, no spinner or only six batters,” he said, although he indicated an all-pace attack is not his preferred choice and he would not like to burden JP Duminy with the spinning role. “I like going into matches with a spin bowler. If we are expecting JP to pick up five wickets that’s going to be a big ask for him. He is still a long way away from being a frontline spinner in Test cricket.”Another player whose workload has come under scrutiny is de Villiers and with his hand still healing from surgery, there was talk he may not keep wickets in this series. Public opinion has called for Quinton de Kock’s inclusion but Domingo explained that could only happen against a lesser opposition.”Quinny is a massively talented player but a series against Australia is such a tough environment to come into for your first Test series,” Domingo said. “We play lower profile Test series later in the year and maybe then we can look to blood someone like Quinton. He has got a lot of development to do as a person and a cricketer and I don’t want to do him a disservice by rushing him in.”The Australia Test series will be South Africa’s last until at least July, when they are scheduled to play Zimbabwe, and has been spoken of as the highlight of 2014. Later in the year, South Africa host West Indies in what is a barren Test year for the No. 1 ranked team. That’s why they are hoping to be at their best for this contest and are putting every effort into making sure they are well prepared.Unusually, they have 10 days worth of lead-up time, starting on Monday. “That will be a big plus for us,” Domingo said. “When we went to Dubai there was no cricket but now everybody has been playing. We will be doing analysis in a less rushed environment, which will also be good. Australia will always be a formidable outfit and we want to focus hard on our strategies.”The first Test gets underway on February 12 in Centurion.

Australia’s preparations for the World T20 could by hampered by an infected toe suffered by Mitchell Johnson. Although he returned home to rest after the Test series win in South Africa and did not stay on for the ongoing T20 series, Johnson may not travel to Bangladesh with the rest of the side ahead of the world T20.Johnson suffered a cut to the toe during the third Test in South Africa and that has led to an infection, which could mean a late arrival for the tournament. Australia begin their campaign in a week and a half, with their first match against Pakistan in Dhaka on March 23.”Mitch has been home in Perth recovering from the Test series against South Africa but has developed an infection as a result of a cut he had on his right big toe after the third Test,” Justin Paolini, Cricket Australia’s chief medical officer, said.”He is receiving treatment but his departure to Bangladesh for the World T20 may be delayed until we are happy that the infection has resolved and his toe fully recovered.”Johnson is not the only player under a fitness cloud leading in to the tournament, with allrounder James Faulkner still on the recovery trail after suffering a knee injury in the ODI series against England in January. Faulkner is with the squad in South Africa but is not expected to play until the World T20.

Fifties from Shadman Islam and Litton Das, and a four-wicket haul from Mosaddek Hossain helped Bangladesh Under-19s lift the Plate Championship against New Zealand Under-19s in Abu Dhabi. Bangladesh were all out for 223 in 47 overs but they restricted New Zealand to 147 as only one of their batsmen scored more than 25.Put in to bat, Shadman and Das put on 124 for the second wicket in 20.4 overs before Das was caught behind for a 75-ball 79. That started the fall of wickets for Bangladesh even though Shadman neared a hundred but fell short by three runs, and their middle and lower order could not capitalise on the strong start. They lost their last six wickets for 24 runs as only one more batsman reached double figures.The Bangladesh bowlers did not allow the New Zealand batsmen to score freely, with their first three bowlers conceding 73 runs in 21 overs together. New Zealand lost early wickets and could not get any partnerships going. Mosaddek’s four wickets added to their agony as they were brought down to 66 for 5 in the 22nd over, and then 112 for 9 in the 44th. An unbeaten fifty from No. 9 Brett Randell took them close to 150 but it only delayed their heavy loss.India Under-19s ended the tournament on a high, winning the fifth place playoff against West Indies Under-19s by 46 runs in Sharjah. The victory was built on the back of a strong batting display, which included fifties from Ankush Bains, Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer, before the bowlers fought off an impressive century from Tagenarine Chanderpaul in the second innings.India, having won the toss, made early inroads as Bains and Akhil Herwadkar put up 70 for the opening wicket before Herwadkar eventually fell for 27- caught off a top edge trying to sweep. West Indies fought back with two more quick wickets- Vijay Zol for 30 and Bains for 74, but Iyer and Samson helped India claw back the advantage by putting up 124 for the fourth wicket.Iyer was the more aggressive of the two and bought up his fifty with a big six over long-on that landed in the second tier. He ultimately fell for a 45-ball 66 in the 41st over, and exactly one over later, Samson was dismissed for 67 having whacked two fours and fives sixes. West Indies would’ve hoped for a reprieve, but Deepak Hooda added a late surge by blasting 42 off just 30 balls with two fours and sixes each, including a dilscoop and a giant hit that nearly landed out of the stadium. India finished at 340 for 8, meaning that West Indies had to hit at nearly seven an over right from the get go.West Indies lost Shimron Hetmyer early in the chase, but Chanderpaul put up fifty-plus stands with Tristan Coleman and Nicolas Pooran to engineer a recovery. However, they could never really manage to score beyond the asking rate, as wickets at regular intervals dented their momentum. Chanderpaul scored 112 with eight fours and a six, but was trapped lbw by Zol in the final over of the innings. Chama Milind effected two dismissals while five other bowlers notched a scalp each, ensuring that West Indies were restricted to 294 for 8 from their 50 overs.An incisive performance from Afghanistan Under-19s‘ bowlers, spearheaded by Sayed Shirzad and Usman Ghani, helped the team seal a five-wicket win against Sri Lanka Under-19s in the seventh place playoff in Dubai.Shirzad and Ghani picked up three wickets each to run through a Sri Lanka line up that offered no resistance barring a 30 from Priyamal Perera and bundled the team out for 114 in 34.3 overs. Afghanistan lost three quick wickets during the chase, but Ihsanullah and Hashmatullah Shaidi steadied the innings with a 71-run association for the fourth wicket. Shaidi fell for 34, while Ihsanullah remained unbeaten on 37 to take Afghanistan home in 21.2 overs.Luke Jongwe’s half-century helped Zimbabwe Under-19s defeat United Arab Emirates Under-19s by 84 runs in the 11th place playoff in Abu Dhabi.Zimbabwe, batting first, lost five wickets inside 20 overs, but Jongwe counterattacked by blasting seven fours and a six during his 84, and combined with Shoun Handirisi for a fifth-wicket association that yielded 77 runs, eventually taking the team to 205.The hosts never really got going in their chase, as Herbert Chikomba and Kieran Geyle shared six wickets between them to wreck UAE’s top and middle order. Only Rohit Singh (30) and Shivank Vijayakumar (24) offered some resistance, as the team could only make 121 for 9 from their 50 overs.

As always, it was the most criticised component coming into the tournament. And not as always, India’s bowling has clicked so well in their first two World T20 matches, they have even been able to let a misfiring batsman get some practice in the middle.As surprises go, it could not have come more pleasantly for the Indians. Three of the frontline bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra and R Ashwin, have gone at less than a run a ball against two dangerous opponents in Pakistan and West Indies.The conditions have been a huge help to the spinners, of course. But they have also stuck to their strengths – Ashwin using his carrom balls and bowling largely fuller lengths and tight lines, barring overdoing it into the pads at times.Mishra has been a revelation. When you use so much flight in a T20, you often get carted for six, but Mishra has used it the old-fashioned way – to get wickets. There has been turn available, but Mishra has made the most of it by fooling batsmen in the air.About an hour earlier, even Saeed Ajmal was finding it hard against Australia and Glenn Maxwell and before that, Pakistan had roughed up Brad Hogg. What were the Indian slow bowlers doing differently? Darren Sammy said they had been able to, and also been allowed to, settle down enough to bowl what they wanted to.”They bowl wicket to wicket,” Sammy said. “Normally if you let a spinner settle he will get his line and length and pace and variation at which he wants to bowl. In both games they have settled into a nice rhythm. They controlled the pace of the innings from there.”That they did so against a side that boasted explosive batsmen of the calibre of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels was what pleased MS Dhoni.”I am really happy to see how the spinners are bowling,” Dhoni said. “Yes, there is a bit of help for them but at the same time you have to execute your plans well, especially in this format. You have got some of the big hitters in the opposition that you will have to carefully plan for and innovate at times. So I was really happy that our spinners so far, along with the part-timers and the fast bowlers, have done really well.”With the limelight on the spinners, Bhuvneshwar has quietly gone about his job at the start of the innings. For a while now, the swing had more or less gone missing for him, and Bhuvneshwar without much movement in the air is not even half the bowler with it. But he has been making it dart around in Dhaka and the way he toyed with Dwayne Smith is not a sight one usually sees in T20s, where batsmen usually fall on their own because they play too many shots. In this case, to put bat to ball against Bhuvneshwar was proving difficult for Smith, as he took several away before bringing the odd one back in. A spell of 3-0-3-0 in a T20 is pure gold for a captain.Sammy praised Bhuvneshwar when asked about West Indies’ crawl of a start. “I think credit must go to the opening bowlers,” Sammy said. “Kumar swung the ball both in and out and he bowled good areas. We know they were bowling to the two most dangerous openers in this format of the game. They kept them quiet.”Bhuvneshwar was unfortunate not to pick up a wicket, because he seemed to be on the verge of breaking through almost every ball. His role is to make good use of the new ball, Dhoni said, and that is exactly what he did, bowling some big away swingers.”Make sure he does not give too many loose deliveries,” Dhoni said. “The batsmen have to go after him to play the big shot. That will be like a winner for him and today there was a bit of help and he made sure he was bowling in the right areas. That is how he will contribute throughout. Especially in this game I thought he bowled brilliantly. His length was very crucial and he was able to swing the ball.”

A change of England management has brought Michael Carberry’s international career in from the cold and he now has his sights on a summer for England across all formats. Carberry criticised his treatment by England having not being selected for any one-day cricket this year but has been recalled for the Sri Lanka series.Carberry emerged with more credit than most during England’s disastrous Ashes campaign but was left out of the following one-day series, which England lost 4-1. Carberry subsequently gave a newspaper interview where he reproached Ashley Giles and his backroom staff and said he doubted things would change much in the England camp even with a new coach.But Carberry’s fears were unfounded and quickly after Peter Moores was installed as England’s new head coach, he was quickly in touch with encouraging news.”It wasn’t looking great but I had a chat with Peter Moores and the new selectors and they’ve made it clear to me that I’m still very much a part of things, which is good to know,” Carberry said. “I’ve not been cast aside. So I’m really looking forward to what lies ahead.”Pete’s been open and honest with me and where he sees me and has make it clear to me that I’ve not been put on the scrap heap and that I’ve still got a big future with England. I’d worked with him before at England A level so I’m used to him and I know the type of guy he is. He made it clear to me that I’m very much a part of things going forward.”Carberry struck out at his omission from any one-day cricket post-Ashes, despite an outstanding 2013 in both 40- and 20-over cricket that earned him an initial England call-up. Of his non-selection Carberry told , “I don’t think it’s a cricket reason” and said he received more constructive feedback from the Australian players than England management.Six weeks on from the interview and with Carberry recalled, England’s new chairman of selectors James Whittaker described the issue as “water under the bridge” and Carberry holds no regrets over the frank comments.”I’m a man’s man,” he said. “I stand by what I believe rightly or wrongly. Thankfully it wasn’t taken personally by England because it wasn’t meant as a personal dig at them. We’re in a business where we all have to take criticism as players and as an establishment.”So as James Whittaker rightly said, we’ve had a chat about it and they’ve put it as water under the bridge and so have I. They know where I’m coming from and I know where they’re coming from and they’ve expressed to me that they still see me as part of their plans so hopefully we can all move forward.”I guess I’m just good at speaking from the heart. I’ve been through a lot in this game and I’ve never been one to hide what I really say. If you want to move forward as a player and as a team sometimes you have to be honest, not only with yourself but with your team, and I’m sure the England team want to move forward from a difficult winter and I’m sure there would have been a lot of other things said as well, honestly, from other players. Players are allowed to express their opinion.”Carberry could now have five ODIs and a T20 to prove his international limited-overs credentials, with England sounding out a squad for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in less than 12 months’ time. He will be keen to improve on his showing against Australia last summer, where he only managed one half-century in four innings, and hopes it can serve as platform to retaining his Test spot.”I’m still hopeful of playing Test cricket, definitely,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoyed this winter, not the result, but it was a great challenge against a great Australian bowling attack, I don’t think you’ll get that too many times in your career, to challenge your technique and temperament in six weeks of intense cricket was an unbelievable experience and one that I look back very fondly on.”I competed very well and would have liked a different result and obviously a few more runs. But I hung in there well and that gives me confidence moving forward in my Test career if I’m to play any more.”