Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings were expected to go further than the first round of the Champions League, but they struggled to adjust to the conditions

Firdose Moonda21-Oct-2012The Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings squads were sitting in a hospitality suite in the top tier of the Wanderers Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It is one of the best places to watch cricket in the ground but it may not have been that pleasant for them that day.As they looked down on Lions’ Jean Symes mowing the ball through mid-on for four, both sides knew that no matter what they did, the rest of their time in South Africa would be inconsequential. With that one shot, Symes took Lions into the semi-finals and knocked out three other teams, including both IPL representatives in the group.Without much time for their elimination to sink in, Mumbai and Chennai took the field in what seemed like a daze. Faf du Plessis looked like he had been given a licence to go wild, then Lasith Malinga reined it all in. Chennai retained control though, until Dinesh Kartik began pulling away. He tugged and tugged and eventually the rope snapped and Mumbai were left holding the short end.The contest was one of the best of the tournament. The advantage shifted throughout, audacious shots were played, extraordinary catches taken and a healthy crowd had remained in the ground to see it. But it was difficult to get excited about any of that, as it will be when Chennai play Yorkshire and Mumbai take on the Syndey Sixers in their final acts of the event.Three of the four IPL teams will not participate in the knockouts, a surprise considering how loaded the format was in their favour. Their failure can be put down to an inability to adjust to early season South African pitches, bad weather (Mumbai and Kolkata had a rained-out encounter each) or as, Karthik said, simply being worked out by better opposition.”We should put it down to the fact that we haven’t played good cricket and that other teams have played better than us,” he said. “It’s been hard because we were looking pretty good in terms of batting in the one game [against Yorkshire] and then it was washed out. That’s how this tournament goes. We had a great start against the Lions but it was a game we could have played better.”Karthik denied there was any other explanation for their performances, and he thought there had been enough preparation time. “All the teams were here a week before and we acclimatised,” he said. “These days international cricketers travel around the world and it’s the domestic cricketers who don’t know a place like South Africa. The pitches are a little different to those in India but we even played practice games. They have been good wickets, and good teams could play well on them. One whole IPL was held here.”Ben Hilfenhaus, the Chennai Super Kings fast bowler, shared that sentiment. “With so many good players and so many good competitions around the world, when you get the best teams together, you’ve got to expect some good cricket. It doesn’t matter where those teams come from,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any extra pressure on IPL teams. It is 20-over cricket, and results don’t necessarily go to the favourite team.”As defending champions and the most successful franchise in the IPL, Mumbai and Chennai were two of the fancied bunch. Now, they have nothing but self-respect to salvage, and that kept them motivated when they played each other. “Both teams have a rich tradition. We’ve played each 12 times and it was six wins each, so there’s a bit of history there,” Karthik said. “Both the teams played with a lot of spirit and a lot of energy. We didn’t play thinking that it was okay if somebody loses. Both our teams came hard at it.”Whether they will have that same enthusiasm against non-IPL opposition in their final matches is doubtful. “The feeling was probably a little flat during the warm-ups,” Hilfenhaus admitted after the game against Mumbai, hinting that Chennai may have some feet on the plane already.For Karthik and Mumbai, the hope is that only remaining IPL representatives, Delhi Daredevils, can restore all of their reputations. “They are a team well suited to these conditions, and being an Indian team I would love to see them win,” Karthik, who was once a Delhi Daredevil, said. “If Delhi goes on to qualify, it will be a great thing for the CLT20 because you will definitely get a lot of viewers from India watching them pretty keenly, and I will be one of them. It will be great to see Delhi do well.”

ESPNcricinfo previews the second Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Colombo

The Preview by Andrew Fernando23-Nov-2012

Match facts

November 25-29, 2012
Start time 1000 local (0430 GMT)Doug Bracewell might find the bouncier P Sara pitch more suited to his kind of bowling•Associated Press

Big Picture

The second Test at the P Sara Oval finds the two teams heading in seemingly opposite directions. Sri Lanka had not won a Test series in three years until they defeated Pakistan at home in July, and if a manful recovery with the bat and ruthlessness with the ball in the Galle Test are any indication, they are a side who have reclaimed the fight they had misplaced following the 2011 World Cup and have begun to make winning a habit again.Sri Lanka’s pace bowlers were effective on a dry surface, landing heavy blows on New Zealand’s top order before Rangana Herath arrived to deliver the coup de grace. Herath himself continues to progress, having become the top wicket-taker in 2012 with his 11 wickets in Galle. Sri Lanka may also have uncovered a fast bowler with enough command of pace, seam and reverse swing to become a potential long-term spearhead in Shaminda Eranga. Their batting also seems less prone to the sporadic collapses that plagued them in the 12 months before the Pakistan series.New Zealand meanwhile, have slid to their worst losing streak since 1955. Their batsmen have been working on their technique against spin in the nets since their three-day loss, but even the two extra days may not be enough to rebound from a performance as woeful as their 118 all out in their second innings in Galle. Though they are short on time to vastly improve their techniques, they must acquire the psychological steel to survive at the crease for long periods against fine bowling. Their plight may not be as hopeless as it seems, as the bouncier P Sara pitch will assist their seam bowlers in the same way it assisted England’s in March, when they squared their two-match series with Sri Lanka, after also losing the first match in Galle.For Sri Lanka, this Test shapes as a doubly crucial fixture, as it may be their only real test before their first Test against Australia in Hobart. The considerable talent in New Zealand’s fast bowling unit was evident in Galle, and with the Canberra pitch on which Sri Lanka are scheduled to play their only warm-up match having a reputation for being on the slow side, the bouncy Colombo venue might serve as an opportunity for the team to pre-tune their techniques before they land in Australia. It may also give the hosts the opportunity to settle on a first-choice seam-bowling unit for the Tests to come, or at least, a chance to gauge how effective Nuwan Kulasekara’s new ball partnership with Eranga might be Down Under.

Form guide

Sri Lanka: WDDWL (Most recent first)
New Zealand: LLLLL

Player to watch

Doug Bracewell has been one of New Zealand’s most consistent performers since making his debut just over a year ago, but he was unable to find the right length in Galle and went wicketless while his teammates prospered. But unlike Galle, the P Sara pitch often rewards hit-the-deck bowling and Bracewell’s back-of-a-length seamers may be more effective this time round.Suraj Randiv was put under some pressure by chief selector Ashantha de Mel, who said his place in the XI might be under threat if he does not have a good first Test. He too was less successful than his teammates in the first Test, despite bowling some tight spells, but the selectors seem to have backed him in the end, naming him in the squad to Australia as the second spinner. Sri Lanka are unlikely to leave him out in Colombo unless the pitch is uncharacteristically green, and a bagful of wickets there will do his confidence some good.

Teams news

Tillakaratne Dilshan has been passed fit and Dimuth Karunaratne will make way for him. Karunaratne’s second innings 60 in Galle has put some pressure on Tharanga Paranavitana though and Paranavitana will be keen to embed himself in that second opener’s spot, which is the only position in the Sri Lanka batting order that isn’t nailed down at present.Kulasekara and Eranga are the likely new-ball pair, and Chanaka Welegedara will only play if a third seamer is deemed necessary.Sri Lanka (probable): 1. Tillakaratne Dilshan/Dimuth Karunaratne, 2. Tharanga Paranavitana, 3. Kumar Sangakkara, 4. Mahela Jayawardene (c), 5. Thilan Samaraweera, 6. Angelo Mathews, 7. Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 8. Nuwan Kulasekara, 9. Suraj Randiv, 10. Rangana Herath, 11. Shaminda Eranga.Tim Southee, whose terrific second-day spell breathed life into the first Test, is also doubtful for the second. New Zealand have two more seam bowlers in their ranks, but have said legspinner Todd Astle might get a debut – particularly if Southee cannot play.James Franklin had a woeful first Test with the bat, as epitomised by his 44-ball 3 in the first innings, and New Zealand may consider dropping him to play five bowlers.New Zealand (probable): 1. Martin Guptill, 2. Brendon McCullum, 3. Kane Williamson, 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Daniel Flynn, 6. James Franklin/ Todd Astle, 7. Kruger van Wyk, 8. Doug Bracewell, 9. Tim Southee/Todd Astle, 10. Jeetan Patel, 11. Trent Boult

Pitch and conditions

The Colombo weather has largely held over the past week or so, and the only showers have been in the evening. A little more rain is forecast for the coming week, but if it follows the recent pattern, it may not have a major effect on the cricket. However, being November, there is always the chance of a front moving in and bedding down.

Stats and trivia

• The victory in Galle was Sri Lanka’s fourth Test win since Muttiah Muralitharan retired in July 2010
• Before the Mumbai Test between England and India began, Rangana Herath was leading Graeme Swann by one wicket in 2012, with 46 victims. Herath had played four fewer Tests
• Tim Southee’s has an average of 26.23 for 2012, while his career average is 37.85. He has more wickets (17) and a better economy rate (3.16) this year than in any preceding calendar year
• The P Sara Oval has had only one draw since 1993, but New Zealand were involved in that occasion in 2003, when Stephen Fleming hit an unbeaten 274.

Quotes

“We’re not thinking we can’t compete with them. We think we can win this Test match and that’s what we’re going out to do. Everyone needs to step up, learn from what happened in Galle and move forward.”


” We will definitely look to keeping the Kiwis under pressure as they have the firepower with both bat and ball so there’s no room for any complacency.”



Steven Finn has been ruled out of the first Test against India in Ahmedabad due to the thigh strain that limited his warm-up participation to four overs in the first match in Mumbai

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2012Steven Finn has been ruled out of the first Test against India in Ahmedabad due to the thigh strain that limited his warm-up participation to four overs in the first match in Mumbai.England captain Alastair Cook confirmed that Finn would not be considered for the opening match of the series as it would be a significant risk. England are still likely to field one fast bowler under an injury cloud with Stuart Broad set to play after recovering from the bruised heel that meant he has bowled just 10 warm-up overs on tour.While Finn and Broad bowled with impressive pace at practice on Sunday, it was always unlikely that the England management would two risk two bowlers in the same Test. Finn barely participated in fielding practice and did not bowl a single delivery in the nets. While he is not thought to have suffered any injury setback, it seems the England management are keen not to risk his recovery; particularly in a Test that will be played in hot, arduous conditions.The problem for Finn now is that there are no further matches on the tour outside of the Tests so he will have to regain form and fitness in the nets.The most likely replacement for Finn appears to be Tim Bresnan who bowled well in the second innings of the final warm-up match against Haryana where he found useful reverse swing. Graham Onions, Stuart Meaker or a second frontline spinner in Monty Panesar are the other options and Cook is happy with the depth available.”I wouldn’t call them back-up bowlers, they’re all vying for a place to play in this XI, to be lucky enough to play for England,” Cook said. “They’ve all worked hard to get used to these conditions and as selectors we’ve got a tough decision to make.”

Darren Lehmann, the Brisbane Heat coach, has been reprimanded and fined US$3,000 suspended for two years after being found guilty of breaching Cricket Australia’s Code of Behaviour

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Dec-2012Darren Lehmann, the Brisbane Heat coach, has been reprimanded and fined US$3,000 suspended for two years after being found guilty of breaching Cricket Australia’s Code of Behaviour. Lehmann had questioned the legitimacy of Marlon Samuels’ bowling action after his team’s loss against Melbourne Renegades on Saturday.The decision was announced following a hearing on Thursday, where Commissioner John Price found Lehmann guilty of breaching Rule 9 (Detrimental Public Comment).Samuels delivered four overs for just 18 runs in the Renegades win. “I’ve spoken to the umpires about it,” Lehmann had said after the game. “I just want something done. He couldn’t bowl in the IPL (Indian Premier League) last year, yet he can bowl in the BBL.”We’ve got to seriously look at what we’re doing. Are we here to play cricket properly or what? If he’s deemed legal, I’m totally understanding of that. But from my point of view from 20 years’ of cricket, I’ve got a problem with 120km/h off no steps.”It is not the first time Lehmann has found himself in trouble with cricket authorities. While playing for Australia in January 2003 he was suspended for five ODIs for breaching the ICC’s racial vilification code.

Chris Rogers anchored Victoria’s innings before a Chadd Sayers burst with the second new ball pulled South Australia back into the contest

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2013
Scorecard
Chris Rogers anchored Victoria’s innings with his 57th first-class century before a Chadd Sayers burst with the second new ball pulled South Australia back into the contest on day one of the Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval.Rogers’ innings provided another reminder of the technique and poise available to the national selectors should they wish to add an experienced batsman to their party for the Ashes later this year. But it was a less auspicious day for the potential India tourists David Hussey, bowled for one after flying to Adelaide on match morning from ODI duty in Hobart the night before.The Bushrangers lost Rob Quiney cheaply upon winning the toss and batting, but Rogers formed fruitful stands with Michael Hill and Peter Handscomb to seemingly blunt SA’s bowlers. The Test spinner Nathan Lyon had a barren day, as did the former Victorian club swing bowler Daniel Worrell.However Sayers pinned Rogers LBW with his first delivery after taking the new ball, and added the wickets of Hussey and Handscomb. Joe Mennie chimed in to dismiss John Hastings shortly before the close.

For the first time in television history, South African domestic cricket will be commentated on in a local, African language

Firdose Moonda14-Feb-2013For the first time in television history, South African domestic cricket will be commentated on in a local, African language. The Twenty20 competition will feature Xhosa commentary on all broadcasts with 17 of the 32 matches shown live, including the playoff for the final and the final itself.SuperSport, the country’s satellite provider, has contracted former internationals Mfuneko Ngam and Monde Zondeki along with veteran media man and former selector Peter Bacela and umpire Zed Ndamane in a four-person team. They will be joined by former SA schools rugby captain and cricket enthusiast Kaunda Ntunja, who works on the channels’ rugby broadcasts.The move is part of an initiative to grow cricket, particularly in black African areas. Xhosa is one of 11 official languages in South Africa and is spoken by about 18% of the population, mostly in the Eastern Cape. That is the region that is considered the hotbed of black African cricket and rugby. SuperSport already offer Xhosa commentary for rugby and now see the time to extend that to cricket as right.”We’ve spent a lot of time preparing as this is something that can’t just be slapped together when the idea comes up. We will work hard to ensure the language is conveyed in the correct and proper manner,” Louwrens Rensburg, SuperSport’s senior cricket producer said.Terminology is one of the areas which had to be studied closely before making the commitment to Xhosa commentary. Bacela, who commentated on radio in Xhosa, has been one of the pioneers for coining cricket terms in Xhosa.”This is an important day,” Bacela said. “Xhosa people love to hear commentary in their own tongue. Cricket may be an English game, but Xhosas love to hear it in their words.” He explained how a few of the words have developed such as silly point, which directly translates to “fielding under the nose,” and short leg that becomes “behind the cow’s tail.”With cricketing vocabulary set to expand, Zondeki is excited about the possibilities this will be present. “It has never been done before and we hope to get to get more people to watch cricket for longer,” he told ESPNCricinfo. “We want to raise the profile of black African cricket and it will be interesting to see the numbers of people that tune in.”

Murray Coetzee and Clyde Fortuin blazed South Africa to a series whitewash-clinching nine-wicket victory in the final match of the England tour.

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2013
ScorecardMurray Coetzee and Clyde Fortuin blazed South Africa to a series whitewash-clinching nine-wicket victory in the final match of the England tour. Their stand of 199 – the third highest for South Africa in Youth ODIs – made a mockery of the target and the pace at which the chase was completed, 6.29 an over, saw a one-sided series finished with a rout.Coetzee completed his hundred, his second of the season, with a swept four and then scored the winning runs with a loft over mid-off two balls later. He took the applause but was overshadowed by 17-year-old Clyde Fortuin who struck 16 fours in reaching 99 from 79 balls before pulling to midwicket in search of a century. The pair deserved to complete the win together but Fortuin’s dismissal afforded Coetzee enough remaining runs to reach his landmark.The solitary success was no more than a delay in leaving the field for England who competed well in the Youth Test series but have been exposed in the one-day leg. Again they scored too slowly despite a solid base. Opener Dominic Sibley compiled 84 in 142 balls and shared 136 with Ed Barnard who made 53. But England’s middle order failed to find any other contributions and the final 10 overs of the innings saw little acceleration and wickets fallings too regularly.

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson is pleased to have the team’s batting strengthened by the return of Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle, as they bid to extend their winning run in Test cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2013West Indies coach Ottis Gibson is pleased to have the team’s batting strengthened by the return of Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle, as they bid to extend their winning run in Test cricket. West Indies will take on Zimbabwe in the first of two Tests in Barbados from Tuesday, and if they win the match they would have won five Tests in a row for the first time since 1988-89.”Having Marlon back is great news for us. The injury was unfortunate, but he has been a big player for us in the last 12 months or so, the main batsman in all formats,” Gibson said. “Chris is a quality player, we have no doubt he will perform for us. He has done it many times before and we know he will be confident going into this series.”Samuels is returning to competitive cricket for the first time in two months, after suffering a facial injury in Australia’s Big Bash League, while Gayle had asked for a break during the limited-overs leg of the Zimbabwe series.Talking about the make-up of the squad, Gibson pointed out that since the batting line-up is a “settled” one, there is no place for veteran batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan at the moment despite the form he showed in the second ODI against Zimbabwe. He is being given time to prove – through his domestic form – that he deserves a spot in the Test line-up, Gibson said. “If you look at the batting at the moment, the line up seems to be settled. We played five batsmen in Bangladesh and made a lot of runs. It’s hard to fit him in but at the same time we know his quality.”At the moment, for him, it’s just about getting back and getting confident, and once he gets used to getting runs again in regional cricket … I would like to think that once there is a spot available, he would find himself in that spot.”Sarwan made a comeback for West Indies in February, on the limited-overs tour of Australia, after 18 months away due to issues with the team management.Offspinner Sunil Narine – who had poor returns on West Indies’ previous Test assignment, with three wickets in two matches against Bangladesh at 114.33 – was rested rather than dropped from the Test squad, according to Gibson. Narine still had a part to play across formats, he said. “I think he [Narine] was [considered for selection]. The selectors, from my understanding, thought that since he has come into international cricket, he has played every format and they wanted to give him a break more from the intensity of cricket, to let him get back and start to enjoy his cricket a little bit more.”He is playing for Trinidad and obviously enjoying it, getting wickets and stuff like that. He is young to international cricket and I’m sure he is somebody that has a huge part to play for us in all formats.”Captain Darren Sammy said he was confident his team had the “upper hand” going into this Test series. “We’re ready, our preparations have been spot on,” he said. “We have been very professional and disciplined in all we have done so far.”The guys are coming in from playing [domestic] four-day cricket so everyone should be settled and ready to take on the Zimbabweans. Kemar [Roach] and Marlon [Samuels] did not play in the last round of the Regional Four-Day tournament, but they played for the Sagicor High Performance Centre over the weekend [in Zimbabwe’s warm-up game] so they got in their preparation as well.”

Jordan Silk’s hard-fought century, followed by a counter-attack from Luke Butterworth and James Faulkner, helped Tasmania post a stiff total

The Report by Daniel Brettig23-Mar-2013
ScorecardLuke Butterworth’s counterattacking 86 helped Tasmania post a strong total against Queensland on the second day•Getty Images

Over a seven-year career for Tasmania, in which he has consistently shown himself to be an apt performer on the big occasions, Luke Butterworth’s most notable reward has been a solitary Australia A tour to Zimbabwe in 2011. As he compiled 86 on day two of the Sheffield Shield final against Queensland, his third major score in four competition deciders, it was difficult not to wonder whether Butterworth deserved better.Until Butterworth walked to the wicket at the fall of the seventh wicket for a mere 269,
Tasmania’s first innings was marked more by the inert than the expansive. His fluent counterattack, in the company of James Faulkner, gave the Tigers a healthy total, and enough time before the close for Ben Hilfenhaus to surge through Greg Moller’s crooked defence with the first ball of the Bulls’ innings.Jordan Silk had reached a stolid 108 in the morning, and George Bailey managed 42, but it was not until Butterworth joined Faulkner that the Tigers were able to wriggle free of a Queensland attack that maintained a disciplined line throughout. Butterworth has enjoyed the most fruitful bowling season of his career, and his languid batting has always seemed to find traction at key moments for the Tigers. Anything short of a berth on the Australia A tour to England that precedes the Ashes this year would be an injustice.Ponting and Silk resumed with intent to press on from the funereal progress that had typified the first day. However Ponting’s contribution was to extend no further than a couple more crisp strokes, as James Hopes’ stumps-seeking swinger had the 38-year-old Tasmanian overbalancing and lbw.Silk punched and prodded to his century, a 341-ball triumph of application over adventure that maintained a decidedly promising start to his first-class career. There was to be some irony to Silk’s exit eight runs later, for he perished caught in the deep to a top-edged pull shot. Both the aggression and the error on his most reliable source of runs, were uncharacteristic of his innings.Bailey was playing neatly in search of only his second half-century in a personally dire Shield season, but he was to lose another two partners soon after lunch. Jon Wells could do little with an outswinger from the persevering Harris, touching it through for Chris Hartley to claim a low catch. In the bowler’s next over Tim Paine did less well, as a ball angled back and skidded through, with umpire Simon Fry judging it would have hit leg stump.These wobbles became more pronounced when Bailey himself departed, pinned in front by Cameron Gannon’s inswing for another lbw. Faulkner and Butterworth were thus charged with sustaining an innings that was in serious danger of petering out in mediocre fashion.So well did they take to this task that the stand reaped 125 in good time, tiring Queensland’s bowlers, and lifting Tasmania’s total into territory more commensurate with the time that its accumulation had occupied. Usually a more extroverted batsman, Faulkner played within himself, leaving Butterworth the stage on which to demonstrate his now commonplace ease in a final.Demonstrating a vast array of shots and an elegant approach, Butterworth lit up the afternoon. There were drives, cuts, pull shots and glances, while he had no qualms about advancing to strike Nathan Hauritz boldly down the ground. A century beckoned, but Faulkner was undone by a Hopes delivery that stayed low. Butterworth then touched a ball angled across him to caught behind by Hartley.Hopes claimed a fourth for the innings when Hilfenhaus was ruled lbw, but the wickets succeeded mainly in leaving the Bulls an awkward session up to stumps that was to prove almost as damaging as Butterworth’s batting had been.

Brendan Taylor has given Zimbabwean Test cricket a pass mark after their drawn series against Bangladesh

Firdose Moonda in Harare29-Apr-2013Brendan Taylor has given Zimbabwean Test cricket a pass mark after their drawn series against Bangladesh. Although their dominance in the first game put the hosts in position to claim a series victory and set them up to win consecutive Tests for the first time in 12 years, Taylor regarded it as achievement enough that they shared honours overall.”We’ve gone forward, especially considering the way it went for us in West Indies,” Taylor said. “It does take character to win Test matches and we leveled it. It’s not the end of the world that we didn’t win. There’s still plenty of cricket to play and hopefully we will keep getting better.”Zimbabwe were blanked across all formats in West Indies a month ago but it was their Test defeats which stung hardest. Their batsmen were outspun by Shane Shillingford and Marlon Samuels and made to look like amateurs.Zimbabwe were desperate to overturn that and do some damage control to their reputations. Twin centuries from Taylor and a hundred from Hamilton Masakadza went some way to doing that but overall, Zimbabwe’s batting was what let them down. Their top order proved fragile and dented their hopes of saving the second Test, which Taylor said were still alive overnight.”We thought batting out the day was the more realistic goal. We felt if we could bat around Hamilton and take it hour by hour then we could get there,” he said. “But there were too many soft dismissals.”Taylor put Zimbabwe’s batting inconsistencies down to mindset rather than inability. “It’s our mental process. We practice really hard and technically we are ok but guys do work for a good solid hour and then find ways to get out. If we can all dig deep and find our ways to be a little sharper that will be good.”Despite the rest of the line-up making similar mistakes, Taylor was pleased with the progress they made overall. “Our middle order is looking strong again,” he said. Malcolm Waller scored a half-century, Graeme Cremer notched up his highest Test score and Keegan Meth and Shingi Masakadza are proving handy lower-order all-rounders.Taylor was particularly impressed with the showing of Shingi, the younger brother of Hamilton. He was Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker with 10 at an average of 16.80, accepted the job of nightwatchman and performed it well and contributed with the bat in his regular position as well. “I am very pleased with the way he bowled. He is one hell of a trier,” Taylor said. “He has got such a big heart and he never stops giving his best. If we had eleven of him, we’d have a pretty good side.”But not even Shingi could bowl as well as Zimbabwe hoped when they put Bangladesh in to bat on what they thought was a lively surface. It turned out to be a far tamer strip than the one on which the first Test was played on the same ground and the Bangladesh batsmen settled on it quickly.Taylor stood by his decision to try and make first use of it. “There was definitely enough for the fast bowlers. We didn’t hit the right areas consistently enough and we allowed them to score freely. It’s hard to come back from that. We didn’t back up anyone. Keegan Meth contained nicely from one end but Kyle Jarvis was trying too hard and we let the pressure go from the other end. Kyle still has a long to go as a bowler and I’m sure he will bounce back stronger.”Taylor thought the same of his whole team, who will have a healthy dose of Test cricket to measure themselves against this year, with incoming tours against Sri Lanka and Pakistan scheduled. “We knew we didn’t help ourselves in this match but we are growing,” Taylor said. “Bangladesh probably won two-thirds of the match and we had too many bad sessions. We were just outplayed but we will get better.”