Jason Holder accepted that his team had to step up if they were to challenge Australia in the first Test at Dominica and he also felt that the pitch would get tougher to bat on as the match progressed

Daniel Brettig in Roseau 04-Jun-20152:08

‘Not an easy scoring ground’ – Holder

West Indies allrounder Jason Holder conceded the hosts had to summon more fighting performances than that dished up on day one in Dominica if they are to challenge Australia in the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy series.Holder made 21 and claimed the wicket of Shaun Marsh in the evening session, but it was telling that his middling day was deemed most noteworthy for speaking to the assembled press. Even if three Australian wickets were plucked in the final session, to be bowled out for 148 set the West Indians back considerably after the encouraging signs shown in a shared series against England.”We had a pretty decent series against England but that’s behind us, at this present time we’re playing Australia and they’re the No. 2 ranked side on the world, so we need to be better than we were in the England series,” Holder said. “We can’t forget what we did in the England series, we did a lot of good things there and it’s important we carry on in that same vein and not lapse and go back into a mode we don’t want to get back into.”We always expect a very good challenge from Australia. They’re in your face all the time and that’s the traditional Australian cricket. We just need to stand up and fight. We showed a lot of fight in the last series and we’ve shown fight in the past, it’s within each and every individual to show some fight. We didn’t show enough today, but I’m very confident we’ll rebound in this series.”Holder denied that the dropping of Shivnarine Chanderpaul had distracted the young team ahead of this match, amid talk that some of Roseau’s usual spectators had chosen not to attend in protest at the omission of the 40-year-old, plus the snub of the Windward Islands’ Tyron Theophile.”I wouldn’t say it changed the dynamics at all,” Holder insisted. “Obviously Shiv has had a very good career and it’s beyond me, the decision for him to be left out, I can’t really answer those questions, I just think we really need to pull together as a side. We have a very young side and we have some very good players.”We just need to work with what we have, and I have full confidence the team we have now is the best team. We just need to have that belief and keep going forward together.”In assessing the pitch, Holder said he had been impressed by Josh Hazlewood but also felt the surface was likely to get more challenging with each day as its variable pace and bounce became more exaggerated in addition to taking spin. “Watching from the pavilion I found it a little two-paced, I felt Josh Hazlewood bowled really well, put the ball in the right areas and got a little bit of movement as well,” Holder said.”When I went in to bat I found it a little bit slow and once you bowl straight wicket to wicket it became hard to score. If you can keep batsmen guessing and making them play on these types of wickets with the variable bounce, it’s in your favour as a bowler.”

Durham needed only 43 minutes to wrap up a six-wicket win over Worcestershire at New Road which takes them top of the Championship Division One table

ECB/PA27-May-2015
ScorecardMichael Richardson saw Durham home after Paul Collingwood’s 127 paved the way to victory•Getty Images

Durham needed only 43 minutes to wrap up a six-wicket win over Worcestershire at New Road which takes them top of the Championship Division One table. The result was largely influenced by Paul Collingwood’s highest Championship score for 10 years, and although the captain was out for 127 in the third over of the final day, Durham knocked off the remaining 48 runs with a minimum of fuss.Having been watched by his parents in reaching 111 not out on his 39th birthday, Collingwood was in celebratory mode when taking 13 runs off four balls from Joe Leach on the fourth morning. A cover drive for four completed a century partnership with Michael Richardson and this was followed by a six, which landed alongside the pavilion, and then another crisp off-side shot for three.However, Collingwood was caught behind in the next over from Charlie Morris, sparring at a lifting delivery outside the off stump.In a throwback to his best years, Collingwood brought authority and calmness to what could have become a tricky run-chase. In all he faced 183 balls, picking off 17 fours and two sixes while breaking the back of the task in stands of 108 with Keaton Jennings and 112 with Richardson.For Richardson, who took over the gloves from regular wicketkeeper Philip Mustard, it was a particularly good match, with seven catches and a third half-century of the summer after dropping one place in the order as a concession to the additional workload. Up until Collingwood’s departure he had not added even a single, but thereafter he comfortably assumed the leading role and moved up to an unbeaten 66 after scoring 25 of the last 32 runs with Gordon Muchall.Worcestershire’s fourth defeat in five games since winning promotion would have been a sobering experience and, not for the first time, they competed strongly for two-thirds of the match but failed to carry their performance through.Collingwood admitted Durham were looking “down and out” after losing nine wickets for 103 in the first innings, and to win from there made this one of the best victories of his time as captain. “We had to show a lot of spirit,” he said. “Full credit to Worcestershire, they pushed us really hard. I said in the dressing room that we needed some big performances. Thankfully the boys did that.”With his side now at the top of the table, having recovered from away defeats to Middlesex and Warwickshire, Collingwood added: “We are delighted with the position we are in but we need to continue improving. We are not really playing our best cricket but we are managing to get over the line.”Director of cricket Steve Rhodes was left to analyse another match that slipped away from Worcestershire. “Well, there have been a few this year,” he said. “Why is that? Is it because we are not recognising those key moments? I don’t think that is it because we talk about it a lot when we get chances in the breaks.”But ultimately some credit goes to Durham. That fightback for the 10th wicket [in the first innings] was crucial in that match. We missed a chance or two in that little period and then it became tough. This was possibly the best position we have been in to win a game apart from against Somerset.”

Darren Sammy, the St Lucia Zouks captain, has been ruled for four weeks and will miss the remainder of the Caribbean Premier League after he fractured his left hand while batting in the match against Jamaica Tallawahs

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jul-2015Darren Sammy, the St Lucia Zouks captain, has been ruled out for four weeks and will miss the remainder of the Caribbean Premier League after he fractured his left hand while batting in the match against Jamaica Tallawahs. Sammy took a blow from a delivery by Andre Russell, and had to retire hurt.Kevin Pietersen will replace him as Zouks captain and Keron Cottoy, who has played just three T20s, has been called up to the squad as a replacement.”It’s a real shame for Darren, he’s one of the biggest names in the CPL and a great leader for the Zouks,” Tom Moody, CPL director of cricket, said. “We wish him a speedy recovery, and knowing the kind of guy he is, I’m sure he’ll continue to be an inspirational part of the squad for the rest of the tournament even though he won’t actually be out in the middle.”Sammy, who led Zouks to three wins this season, scored 81 runs in six innings at a strike-rate of 124.61 and also picked up six wickets at an economy-rate of 8.5.

Two one-sided matches, with the teams batting first folding for identical scores and losing by big margins, have given the third ODI at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium the status of a final

The Preview by Mohammad Isam in Chittagong14-Jul-2015

Match facts

Wednesday, July 15
Start time 1500 local (0900 GMT)1:51

Are South Africa missing AB de Villiers?

Big picture

Two one-sided matches, with the teams batting first folding for similar scores and losing by big margins, have given the third ODI at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium the status of a final. After their seven-wicket win in the second game, Bangladesh could not have found a better time to discover a way to beat South Africa.Sunday at the Shere Bangla National Stadium was only the second time Bangladesh defeated South Africa at the international stage. It was a clinical performance from the home bowlers, who teamed up well under Mashrafe Mortaza to bowl out South Africa under 200. The visitors had dished out a similar meal in the first ODI when Kagiso Rabada took a hat-trick in his six-for on ODI debut.With both teams getting bowled out in the 160s in the first two games, the pitch in Mirpur was questioned. Some players said it was two-paced, but it was actually not any different from how it usually is. In Chittagong, however, the wicket is likely to be flatter and better for batting, which would mean a lot of the onus will be on the side batting first.South Africa chased well in the first game but looked slightly directionless in the second, partly due to AB de Villiers’ absence. The visitors had eight partnerships between 16 and 29 on Sunday, but none of them kicked on to define the innings. Three batsmen – Faf du Plessis, David Miller and JP Duminy – got out softly in their attempt to chip the bowler.Bangladesh had their own batting troubles, but Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah calmly guiding them to the win that gave Mashrafe and Chandika Hathurusingha momentary relief. The decider could go either way as the visitors have lost some of the momentum and lustre from the first three games on this tour.

Form guide

Bangladesh: WLLWW
South Africa: LWLWW

Players to watch

Soumya Sarkar batted with ease after battling an initial rough period in the second ODI. With constant talk about his irregularity in converting good starts, he will have a big role to play in the decider.Hashim Amla has not had a longer fifty-less streak in ODIs in the last seven years than his current run of six games. Wednesday could be the occasion to break the streak.

Team news

The win on Sunday could keep Bangladesh unchanged, but a more positive mentality could bring the discussion of an extra bowler into the fray.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Litton Das, 4 Mahmudullah, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Sabbir Rahman, 8 Nasir Hossain, 9 Mashrafe Mortaza 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Mustafizur RahmanSouth Africa do not have a spare batsman, so their current top seven will have to make amends for Sunday’s failure. They are likely to trust the same bowling attack.South Africa (possible): 1 Hashim Amla (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Rilee Rossouw, 5 David Miller, 6 JP Duminy 7 Farhaan Behardien, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Kyle Abbott, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Imran Tahir

Pitch and conditions

There is not much a difference between the pitches across Bangladesh, so the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium will be expected to favour batsmen and spinners. The average score batting first is 260-plus. There is a 50% chance of shower on match day.

Stats and trivia

• Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and bowling coach Charl Langeveldt played South Africa’s only game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
• Hometown boy Tamim Iqbal has the most runs (391) at this ground, while Shakib Al Hasan has the most wickets (27).

Quotes

“This (decider) is big no doubt because we haven’t achieved such things before. Whenever you go to achieve something you haven’t then it will obviously seem big. We haven’t beaten South Africa in a series before so this is a big deal.”

Rob Key has summoned some late-season batting form as he shows no inclination of stepping back as a confident young Kent side gathers momentum

ECB/PA09-Sep-2015
ScorecardRob Key is still going strong•PA Photos

Kent had the edge after the first day of their LV= County Championship match against Glamorgan in Cardiff produced 14 wickets and 374 runs.The visitors totalled 309 after winning the toss and choosing to bat in the Division Two contest, before restricting the hosts to 65 for 4 in reply.Kent were given a rousing start by Rob Key and Sean Dickson, who put on 122 for the second wicket, after Michael Hogan had dismissed Daniel Bell-Drummond with the eighth ball of the morning.Dickson, who was born in South Africa but has an English mother, was offered a contract by Kent after some impressive performances for the second team – and he scored 56 with an array of attacking strokes before being dismissed in the final over before lunch.Key, who made a career-best unbeaten 270 in Cardiff six years ago, was in sight of a second century in successive games, but was out for 94 when he edged David Lloyd to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace.Key and Sam Northeast strengthened Kent’s position with a stand of 85 for the third wicket, before Northeast, who had previously been dropped twice in an over, edged Hogan to Wallace.The visitors were in a commanding position at 212 for 2 – but they then lost their last eight wickets for 97.Most of those runs were scored by Darren Stevens, who struck a six and 10 fours in a belligerent innings of 64 off 61 balls but received little support – four of the last five batsmen failed to score.Hogan started the Kent collapse after tea when he took a wicket in his first three overs, part of a spell of 3 for 5 in 14 balls.After their strong start Kent would have been disappointed with their total of 309 – but their bowlers soon made inroads by dismissing Glamorgan’s openers in the first two overs.With Jacques Rudolph in South Africa on paternity leave, and Will Bragg dropped, Glamorgan opened the innings with James Kettleborough, who has not played championship cricket since May, and Jeremy Lawlor – making his championship debut.Matt Coles squared up Kettleborough with his fourth ball, then Lawlor was bowled by Matthew Hunn playing down the wrong line.When Colin Ingram and Lloyd were dismissed in the closing overs, Glamorgan had slumped to 65 for 4.It left Kent satisfied with their day’s work on a good pitch prepared by assistant groundsman Robin Saxton, who is now temporarily in charge after Keith Exton left the club last month.

In the aftermath of the comical controversy, in which Ishant Sharma was left out of Delhi’s Ranji Trophy squad as he didn’t respond to phone calls and text messages, coach Ajay Jadeja has admitted there is a need to “communicate better with the media.”

Gaurav Kalra26-Sep-201510:19

‘We are here to win Ranji trophy’ – Jadeja

In the aftermath of the comical controversy, in which Ishant Sharma was left out of Delhi’s Ranji Trophy squad as he didn’t respond to phone calls and text messages, the team’s newly appointed coach Ajay Jadeja has admitted there is a need to “communicate better with the media.” After the issue generated headlines, Ishant was included in the squad though he only made himself available from the second game of the season, leading to another round of embarrassing headlines for the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA).”I think we need to get better at communicating with the media and putting out clearer statements and making life easier for the media, so that they can have the right story and have one person talk about it,” Jadeja told ESPNcricinfo. “For the players, there should not be pressure on them to reply to the media or even for the selectors. We need to get better at communication, but every story that I have read says the same thing. The headlines keep changing, the stories say the same thing – that when he is ready, he will walk in. I don’t think anyone who has played the game or been around the game would question that. Which team in India would not like Ishant to play for them if he is available?”Jadeja, 44, comes into the role of head coach at a tricky time for Delhi cricket. Reports of rampant factionalism have dogged the early part of the season. Veteran players, such as Virender Sehwag and Mithun Manhas, have moved on to other associations, while some, like Rajat Bhatia, have been dropped altogether. Jadeja, who came through age-group cricket in Delhi and has played for the state in the past, recognises the challenges that await him.”Since it (Delhi) is the capital, it is always in the news, mostly not for the right reasons but fortunately till now I was given an offer to work with the team a few days ago,” he said. “I must confess that I haven’t faced a problem till now. The team has been picked by three selectors who are chosen by the government. I have been gratified by the association. I heard that there were three teams that were first put out but at the moment, things are looking good and that is what we hope.”File photo – In the absence of senior players like Virender Sehwag, Delhi’s responsibilities will rest on their captain Gautam Gambhir•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

In the absence of this core group of senior players, Delhi have named a young squad. Jadeja, who has been a player-coach in his stints at Haryana and Rajasthan, is excited about the opportunity to shape young careers.”For any coach, when you have young players coming in, their mindset or game plans are not set. It is easier to mould someone who is young and does not have set ideas,” he said. “I think it becomes easier for a coach when you have someone who is 18, 19 or 20, and not too experienced. It is easier to chat and talk to them because they are open to ideas whereas all of us who get old and are coming towards the end of our careers, have made up our mind that this is our limit, this is the way I play and I don’t want to tread a new path and I know what I am doing.”Jadeja also expects to forge a strong working relationship with captain Gautam Gambhir, the only player of international pedigree available for Delhi at the start of the season. While conceding that they have few shared interests outside cricket, Jadeja insisted having two individuals not afraid to “voice their opinion” at the helm will be a positive for the team.”He has always been the man who leads the team and he will be the man who leads this Delhi team as well because, whether it be KKR [Kolkata Knight Riders] or the time he led India, he likes to lead from the front,” Jadeja said. “I would be sitting on the backseat with a hat on top and, if needed, I’ll guide him, but he is the man in charge.”Whether we win the Ranji Trophy at the end of the season remains to be seen but the only aim of anybody who walks into that dressing room is to win the Ranji Trophy because we are not here to participate, we are here to win. That is what I, my captain and each of us believe and that is why we are going to the ground every morning and trying to do the best we can.”

Former West Indies batsman Brian Lara has come out in support of Jason Holder as captain of the Test team, calling the decision an “excellent choice”

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2015Former West Indies batsman Brian Lara has come out in support of Jason Holder as captain of the Test team, welcoming his appointment as an “excellent choice”.Holder, 23, is West Indies’ second-youngest Test captain, and has played just eight Tests. He also took over the ODI captaincy last December at a similarly inexperienced stage in his 50-over career, with only 21 matches behind him, but Lara believed that if backed properly by the WICB, Holder could thrive in the role for years to come.”I saw the young man while working during the World Cup in Australia, and the pressure that he came under, personally with his bowling and even as a captain, and the way he handled it,” Lara told . “He is very eloquent and big in stature and he reminds me of another version of a Clive Lloyd.”I have a lot of belief in the fact that he can do well if he gets the support from the players but more importantly from his employers, the West Indies Cricket Board.”West Indies endured a difficult World Cup, which they exited at the quarter-final stage, but Holder showed evidence of his leadership skills during the tournament, shouldering the responsibility of bowling in difficult situations – such as the final over against a rampaging AB de Villiers – and batting with maturity.In the home Tests that followed, the same qualities came to the fore, particularly with the bat, as shown by a match-saving century against England in Antigua, and an unbeaten 82 against Australia in Jamaica.Lara, who himself led West Indies in 47 Tests, felt that Holder had already showed his mettle through such tests, and that having several young players in the team could only bode well for the future.”I still believe we are still in the same mind-set as we were 10, 15, 20 years ago which is not good for West Indies cricket,” Lara said. “I hope they can change that a bit, and the likes of [chief selector] Lloyd being around and some younger faces being around, lends to the fact that there might be something on the horizon.”

With 20-year-old Kusal Mendis likely to debut, the top order will be light on experience, but captain Angelo Mathews said Sri Lanka had little choice but to take the risk

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Colombo21-Oct-20151:51

‘Looking to improve in all departments’ – Mathews

Little more than a week after moving Lahiru Thirimanne to no. 3 in the hope he will end his lean trot, Sri Lanka seem set to replace him in the side with 20-year-old Kusal Mendis. Thirimanne’s contribution to Sri Lanka’s 484 in Galle was 16 from 62 balls, and captain Angelo Mathews suggested that both Thirimanne and the team could benefit from his exclusion from the XI for the second Test.Thirimanne has been a consistent top-order batsman in ODIs, but has not reproduced that form in Tests, where he averages 24.84 after 45 innings. His form in 2015’s home season has been particularly worrying. In seven Tests since June, Thirimanne has hit 248 runs at an average of 20.66.With Kusal Perera playing his third Test, and Milinda Siriwardene playing his second, Mendis’ likely inclusion does leave Sri Lanka’s top order light on experience. Mathews said Sri Lanka had little choice but to take the risk.”We’re looking at Kusal Mendis tomorrow for no. 3, so if he plays it will be a straight swap,” Mathews said. “We are in a position where we have to make changes. Sometimes a change is refreshing on those players failing quite a lot in the recent past. When you hit a rough patch you need a break. They are good players. They will always come back hard. I am pretty sure that Thirimanne will bounce back really hard. At the moment we haven’t got any choices we just have to make that call. We had lots of debate about it, but sometimes you just have to give things a go.”Mendis, a recipient of the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award, and last year’s Sri Lanka under-19 captain is largely untested, in senior cricket. He was picked in the squad on potential, after he hit 255 runs from three innings in the Moin-ud-Dowlah three-day tournament in Hyderabad, in September.”Kusal Mendis has earned his place and hopefully he’ll grab his opportunity,” Mathews said. “We can’t put a lot of pressure on him and we can’t expect him to do wonders. There will be nervous times for him but we’re there to help him out as a team and as a captain. He’s got the talent. We’re hopeful that he’ll come out good.”Sri Lanka are also set to retain Kusal Perera as wicketkeeper batsman. He has been impressive with the bat so far, with two fifties from three Test innings, but has not been as convincing behind the stumps. However, Mathews suggested his role would not change in the short-term, particularly as Perera’s keeping wickets allows Dinesh Chandimal to move to no. 4.”Kusal Perera is the ideal no. 7 for us because his game is more suited to that position. He plays a lot of shots and we need someone who can bat with the tailenders and go for big shots. Kusal Perera plays his normal game any given time, whether it’s a T20 or ODI or Test. We don’t want him to change. We are trying to slot him in a position where he bats normally.”Mathews said Rangana Herath would take over the vice-captaincy role if Thirimanne is dropped for the second Test.

A round-up of the Ranji Trophy Group C matches on November 8, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-2015
ScorecardFile photo – Paras Dogra raised his third double-hundred in five matches•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Paras Dogra struck 227, equalling Ajay Sharma’s record for most double centuries (7) in Ranji Trophy history, to propel Himachal Pradesh to 531, but Railways began positively in their reply. They shaved 105 runs off the deficit in 39 overs, with all ten wickets in the bag, by stumps on the second day in Dharamsala.Soumik Chatterjee was the more dominant partner in the strong opening stand, hitting eight fours during his 57.Earlier in the day, Nikhil Gangta added only five runs to his overnight tally before he was dismissed for 98. However, Dogra kicked on, and No.8 Bipul Sharma hit a 103-ball 74, before he was the last man out. Seamer Diwesh Pathania finished with three wickets but was among three bowlers to have conceded over 100 runs.
ScorecardRohan Prem’s third century in four games formed the backbone of Kerala’s 347 but Tripura hit back, reaching 119 for 2 with opener Udiyan Bose making 52 before he was forced to retire hurt in the 28th over.Tripura, though, had suffered an early dent, when Sandeep Warrier had Arindam Das nicking behind for a 12-ball duck. Bose and Nirupam Sen Chowdhary then took their side past the 100-mark before the latter was run out for 36. Tripura had another scare when Bose retired hurt but Parvinder Singh (11*) and Manisankar Murasingh (17*) guided the visitors to stumps in Mallapuram without any further damage.Earlier, Prem was firm for Kerala and helpful knocks from Robert Fernandez (37), Akshay Chandran (41*), and MD Nidheesh (34) pushed Kerala past 300. Rana Dutta was the chief wicket-taker for Tripura, claiming figures of 5 for 50 in 21.5 overs.
ScorecardSaurashtra suffered a middle-order meltdown but their opening stand of 59 and handy lower-order contributions left Goa’s chances of a first-innings lead in the balance.Mohsin Dodia and Avi Barot gave Saurashtra a solid base only for the middle order to toss it away. From 94 for 1, Saurashtra slipped to 116 for 4, before Sheldon Jackson and Arpit Vasavada made 38 each to help their team recover despite a four-wicket haul from pacer Rituraj Singh.Kamlesh Makvana pitched in with an unbeaten 27 and No.10 Jaydev Unadkat hung on as Saurashtra inched closer to first-innings points.
ScorecardJharkhand continued to pile on the runs in Jamshedpur with five of their batsman whipping up fifty-plus scores. While Ishan Kishan and Anand Singh made hundreds on the first day, Ishank Jaggi looked set to become the third centurion of the innings on the second day until he was dismissed by left-arm spinner Waseem Raza for 93.Saurabh Tiwary and No.7 Kaushal Singh also hit fifties to lead Jharkand to 551. At the fall of Kaushal’s wicket, captain Shahbaz Nadeem declared the innings, after which he nipped out Jammu & Kashmir opener Shubham Khajuria for 6.

For so long unwanted when it comes to Australia’s limited overs plans, Nathan Lyon can take his latest omission from the ODI team as a sign he is actually closer than ever to a start at the next major ICC tournament

Daniel Brettig04-Jan-2016A paradox, a paradox, a most ingenious paradox. For so long unwanted when it comes to Australia’s limited overs plans, Nathan Lyon can take his latest omission from the ODI team as a sign he is actually closer than ever to a start at the next major ICC tournament.The World Twenty20 in India in March looms as the event in which Lyon will belatedly make his mark as a bowler in Australian gold rather than Test match cream. His exclusion from the squad to face India in five 50-over matches at the start of a new World Cup cycle means that Lyon can play out the remainder of the Big Bash League, honing his T20 skills ahead of 20-over series against India and South Africa that precede the ICC event.The selector Trevor Hohns said this year’s calendar had been a factor in the decision to use only Glenn Maxwell’s part-time off spin in the ODIs against India, allowing Lyon to play T20 for the Sydney Sixers ahead of the more pivotal tournament in India. Hohns said that the event on the subcontinent would require more than one spin bowler, meaning Lyon is firming as the man to make the trip.”Nathan is not far out of the picture … for one-day cricket, and of course with the [World] T20 coming up it’s probably ideal for him to go back and play some of those games,” Hohns said. “Also, if we look where we’re playing the first few games – you’ve got Brisbane, you’ve got Perth – normally you play with your faster bowlers there.”Glenn Maxwell has done a pretty good job in the spinning role when we’re only playing that one type of spinner-cum-allrounder, plus the quicks. I think we’ll find that, for the T20 World Cup in particular in those conditions over there, we’ll probably need a couple of spinners in our squad. I can’t see why [Lyon and Maxwell can’t play together] – depending on conditions, of course.”There was a contrasting verdict from Hohns on the young fast man James Pattinson, who has made promising progress in his first Test series back from injury since early 2014. At some times Pattinson has been irresistible, at others eminently hittable, as shown when Carlos Brathwaite went after him on the rain-hit second day of the SCG Test before he responded with a pearler to bowl the allrounder.Hohns said the panel had been happy with Pattinson’s progress, but doubted he would be a limited-overs prospect in the medium term as he build back towards his very best rhythm and speed. “With Patto as we know he’s just coming back from pretty extensive injury,” Hohns said.”He’s now played a few Test matches on the trot, so we’re thinking more about the future for him, rather than just clogging him up immediately and bringing up his workloads as they say. It’s more about management for him in particular. One-day cricket there’s probably a question mark there I must say, but certainly Test cricket we want him back flying how he was a couple of years ago and he’s not quite there yet, but gradually getting there.”As for Australia’s batting, Hohns noted positively that there was now an emerging sense of depth that has not been evident for some time. The likes of Chris Lynn, Travis Head and the indefatigable Michael Klinger are keeping pressure on the players being picked in the Test ODI and T20 teams, something the selectors view as vital to the success of the national side across all formats.”There’s quite a few on the fringes there and the back half of the one day series might give us an opportunity to have a look at a couple of those players,” Hohns said. “What we’re finding now with your Lynns, Khawajas, Travis Head another one, it’s really starting to build our depth back up again, and those are the players we want to have keeping the pressure on the blokes in the side. It’s all about depth and we’re starting to get there in the batting line-up.”