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Ten-man Bayern Munich suffered a second-straight upset as they were beaten by Lazio in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

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Quiet night for striker KaneBayern lose 1-0 to Lazio in RomeUpamecano sees red & concedes penaltyGettyTELL ME MORE

After being overpowered and outclassed by Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend, Kane and his team-mates had another frustrating evening when they paid a visit to Rome to face Maurizio Sarri's team on Wednesday night.

They found themselves up against a well-structured Lazio team that gave very little away. Bayern were simply not creative enough for all their possession as Kane, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane and Joshua Kimmich all failed to test goalkeeper Ivan Provedel. The wasteful German giants were eventually punished when Ciro Immobile lashed home from the penalty spot in the second half.

Lazio were the only team to have a shot on target – they managed four – in the entire game and should have taken the lead when Gustav Isaksen was sent through on goal and unleashed a shot from close range, but Manuel Neuer did well to block it and send it out for a corner.

The Italian team sat deep and defended well, keeping Thomas Tuchel's team at arm's length as they went in search of a way through their well-structured hosts. The visitors turned to long balls as Dayot Upamecano smashed it out wide for Thomas Muller to send into the box, where Kane was able to meet with a header that went well over the bar.

It was Lazio who brought some excitement in the 67th minute when they were given a penalty and Upamecano was sent off. Immobile picked up the ball in a dangerous area and drove through but could not get his shot away. It fell to Isaksen, but he missed the target and, as he shot, Upamecano came lunging in and the referee pointed to the spot. The Frenchman was dismissed for the foul and Immobile stepped up to smash in the winner.

AdvertisementGettyTHE MVP

Lazio striker Immobile had a fairly quiet game overall, as it was team-mates Isaksen and Luis Alberto who acted as more direct threats. But the Italian forward played a crucial role in the match's decisive moment, holding off the Bayern defence in a counterattack before it fell to Isaksen for Upamecano to give away the penalty. Immobile then did his duty by converting the spot-kick.

GettyTHE BIG LOSER

Bayern centre-back Upamecano will go down as the main culprit in his team's defeat. His late challenge saw his studs come down on the leg of Isaksen just as the attacker missed the target with a shot. Conceding a penalty and seeing his team go down to 10 men was a significant blow alone, but it gave Lazio the chance to take the lead.

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WHAT COMES NEXT?

After falling five points behind shock leaders Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern will hope to prevent the gap at the top of the Bundesliga from growing when they take on Bochum this weekend. They also take on RB Leipzig and Freiburg in the German top flight before hosting Lazio for the second leg.

James Harris and Steven Finn, two seam bowlers who have laboured so long under the burden of “promise”, combined to haul Middlesex into the ascendancy on a day of hard graft at Lord’s

Andrew Miller03-May-2015
ScorecardJames Harris and Steven Finn, two seam bowlers who have laboured so long under the burden of “promise”, combined to haul Middlesex into the ascendancy on a day of hard graft at Lord’s.After Sam Robson’s first-day 178 had hinted at the sort of toil that might be in prospect on a typically unforgiving surface, Middlesex’s challenge was compounded after two balls of Durham’s reply when Tim Murtagh, their Ireland seamer, limped out of the attack with an injury to his left hamstring.But in his absence, Harris led the line with aplomb, claiming two of the first three wickets to fall, before Finn, with his penultimate ball of a frustrating 14-over workload, extracted some extra lift outside off stump to bowl Callum McLeod off his arm for 13.With James Franklin removing Scott Borthwick for 26 to claim his first wicket in Middlesex colours, Durham were indebted to a composed unbeaten 61 from their South Africa-born opener, Keaton Jennings, son of Ray, who was joined at the close by the nightwatchman, Chris Rushworth.At 157 for 4 overnight, Durham are one good partnership from restoring a measure of parity to the contest, but they failed to capitalise on some of the best batting conditions of the match so far. They regularly shipping wickets when well set, with all four dismissed batsmen making between 13 and 26. Geoffrey Boycott would have a fit, if he wasn’t pre-occupied with an even more slipshod effort in Barbados.To a degree, Durham missed their opportunity with the ball as well. After overnight rain had caused a 50-minute delay, their seamers briefly thrived in the damp morning conditions and capitalised on the void in Middlesex’s batting left by the late extraction of Robson on the first evening.John Hastings, their one-Test Australian allrounder, produced a bullish spell to extract both overnight batsmen for the addition of 12 runs. First to go was Franklin, who was trapped on the crease from round the wicket as Hastings shaped the ball back down the slope to pluck out his middle stump for 18. Then Harris had a loose waft outside off, and snicked a simple chance through to Phil Mustard behind the stumps for 9.But from the relative nadir of 341 for 6, Middlesex consolidated through the efforts of Simpson and Neil Dexter, who took their partnership to 58 before – with the sun breaking through after lunch and batting looking comparatively effortless – Dexter was late onto a Hastings bouncer and picked out Usman Arshad on the fine leg boundary for 33.But Simpson ground on, reaching his half-century from 89 balls with nine fours, and adding 41 for the eighth wicket with Rayner, who made 16 before Rushworth rapped him on the pad to claim his second victim of the innings.In a prelude to his efforts with the ball, Murtagh came and went in a hurry as he got himself into a tangle against the legspin of Scott Borthwick and was bowled on the heave for 11. And then, with only the No.11, Steven Finn, for company, Simpson took one chance too many against the persevering Hastings, and flapped an attempted glide to mid-off.Durham’s reply seemed solid from the outset, with Stoneman making the early running in his opening stand with Jennings, with two fours including a well-timed on-drive against Harris. But the bowler had his revenge when Stoneman pushed too firmly outside off and edged a simple catch at a comfortable height to Ollie Rayner at second slip. It was due reward for Middlesex’s perseverance. After their triumph at Taunton, they are enjoying their cricket at the moment.

A lacklustre display by England in Alice Springs has added to the impression of an Ashes tour veering off course

George Dobell in Alice Springs30-Nov-2013
Scorecard0:00

‘Finn and Rankin unlikely to play in Adelaide’

It says much for England’s lacklustre performance in Alice Springs that there were times when it was hard to tell which team was the No. 3-ranked Test side and which was populated with players as green as the lush outfield at Traeger Park.Perhaps it was natural that England produced such a performance lacking intensity in this match. This two-day game was, in reality, little more than a practice session and some of England’s players might have been understandably reluctant to fully extend themselves a few days ahead of the second Test.But there were several players for whom this game presented an opportunity. The fringe batsmen were fighting to earn the final place in the top six; the fast bowlers were fighting for the position of third seamer. Even Monty Panesar might have felt he had a chance of staking a claim for a place in the side.Yet few players made persuasive cases for their advancement and, as England head into the second Test on Thursday, they do so with an uncomfortable number of awkward questions to answer. Thrashed in Brisbane and shocked by the departure of Jonathan Trott, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that England’s tour is veering alarmingly off course.Whereas in 2010-11 they had a settled team – Steven Finn was the only man dropped during that series – this time they have doubts about two of the top three, their No. 6 and their third seamer. For a side that prides itself on planning and preparation, that is an uncomfortable place to be.A couple of issues were resolved, though. On the evidence of this game, it seems most unlikely that Finn or Boyd Rankin – both of whom were out-bowled by 21-year-old Simon Mackin, a man without a first-class appearance – will be considered for Adelaide.Tim Bresnan will be assessed by England’s medical staff on Sunday and, unless his readiness is thought to be beyond reasonable doubt, Chris Tremlett will surely remain the third seamer in the second Test. Both Rankin and Finn bowled themselves out of contention in Alice Springs. Finn, a shadow of the menacing fast bowler that he has shown glimpses he can be, may well have bowled himself out of contention for the series.Boyd Rankin picked up one wicket but failed to stake a convincing claim for inclusion in the second Test•Getty ImagesHaving wasted the new ball through a surfeit of short balls – the Chairman XI’s openers were hardly required to play a shot in the first 40 minutes of play – the pair were thrashed around the ground by 20-year-old tailender, James Muirhead. On a brutally hot day, England looked weary and fed-up some time before the Chairman’s XI earned a 42-run first innings lead.It would be a huge risk to pick Panesar, too. While his bowling improved after a rusty start – his first delivery for England since the Auckland Test in March was a full toss – he looked nervous and fallible in the field. By the time he bowled Steven Cazzulino with a beauty through the gate, Ian Bell rated his bowling “back to his best” but, after Panesar’s experiences in recent months and Trott’s in recent days, to plunge him into the unforgiving atmosphere of an Ashes Test would verge on the reckless.At least Graeme Swann enjoyed a decent day. Against batsmen determined to attack him from the start, he claimed three wickets to failed attempts to hit him over the top and then had 16-year-old Jake Doran, who had earlier pulled Panesar to the boundary, taken at short-leg.A couple of the Chairman’s XI players will have done their reputations no harm. Steven Cazzulino and Ashton Turner were patient, Josh Lalor – a player of Aboriginal descent – attacked effectively, while Marcus Harris, who punished Rankin and Finn with a series of cuts and pulls, looked a fine player who could go on to enjoy a decent career.But Mackin is the one to watch. He dismissed Joe Root with a brute of a ball that reared from just back of a length and took the glove on its way to the keeper. It was a wicket that exposed not just the poor length of England’s bowlers, but the trouble Root has in dealing with the pace and bounce of these wickets. Gary Ballance was also beaten outside off stump by Mackin and looked relieved to reach stumps, though Michael Carberry acquitted himself pretty well.This match was never just about the result. And, in terms of spreading the reach of the game, it should probably be deemed a success: nearly 3,500 spectators attended and the England players took the time to coach groups of local kids. In terms of preparation for the second Test, however, England found little to reassure them.

Ian Bell made some easy runs against Haryana but appreciated the time in the middle and facing some quality spin at last

George Dobell in Ahmedabad08-Nov-2012When Ian Bell is an old man, reflecting on his career, it is unlikely he will recall his runs in this match against Haryana with particular pleasure. On a flat pitch and against a limited attack, England’s batsmen were rarely troubled. This was a case not so much stealing candy from a baby, as allowing the baby to pop the candy in your pocket to save you the bother. Batting is rarely more straightforward.England amassed 408 for the loss of just three wickets on the first day of the game, with all of their batsmen enjoying valuable time at the crease. While Kevin Pietersen will dominate the headlines after an imperious innings of 110, Alastair Cook, Nick Compton and Bell also recorded half-centuries, while Jonathan Trott fell only four short. None of them will have enjoyed many softer innings at first-class level.But even if this was not the most meaningful encounter, Bell, at least, faced a couple of challenges. Not only was he required to face the bulk of the bowling from Amit Mishra, the one quality spinner to have confronted England on the tour to date, but Bell was obliged to start his innings against him. Mishra did not come on until the 51st over and then claimed two wickets in his first six overs, dismissing both Compton and Trott leg before. But Bell dealt with him comfortably. Although his innings started with a mis-hit lofted shot over mid-on, Bell was soon skipping down the pitch to lift Mishra for two sixes and barely played a false stroke. He resumes on day two unbeaten on 57.”That was exactly what I needed going into the Test,” Bell said afterwards. “He’s a quality spinner. He’s played a lot of Test cricket. I know he didn’t bowl for quite a period of time, but it was nice for me to start against quality spin. That is pretty much what is going to happen in the Tests.”I feel confident coming down the wicket. It was a super wicket – it skidded on quite nicely – and I just want to be busy. We’ve talked a lot about using our feet – forwards and backwards – and it’s getting as much good footwork going as possible.”India’s tactic – and it does appear to be a deliberate tactic – of presenting England with little meaningful warm-up cricket may yet backfire. While it is true that England will go into the Test series having enjoyed little opportunity to bat against good quality spin bowling – or quality bowling of any type, really – they will have benefitted from time at the crease and with the confidence of runs under their belt. Sometimes clever tactics can prove too clever by half.Certainly that was the view taken by Bell. “We’ve faced a lot of seam on this trip so far,” he said. “But we can’t control that. We play what we come up against. Mishra bowled a few overs in the end which was great for me and KP to spend a bit of time against him. And there’s the new ball in the morning which is good for me and Samit Patel. The second new ball is going to be crucial over here as well as playing spin, so it’s going to be a good challenge for us in the morning.”England are also trying to see the bright side in the unavailability of three first choice bowlers for this game. While it seems most unlikely that Steven Finn, who has a thigh injury, will be fit to play in the first Test, England are hopeful that Graeme Swann, who has returned home due to family illness, and Stuart Broad, who has a heel injury, will both be available. Neither will, perhaps, have enjoyed the warm-up they may have desired, but Bell expressed a belief that the experience given to England’s second-string bowlers may prove valuable later in the series. England also rested James Anderson from this game.”If one of our main bowlers get injured in the first Test, we need backup,” Bell said. “These guys have overs under their belt which can only be a good thing for us. When we were in Australia, the reserve guys got an opportunity when we played Australia A in Tasmania and that helped us win the Ashes.”Pietersen is not injured. While the scoreboard may show that he retired hurt, it was only with a view to providing his colleagues with an opportunity to bat. It speaks volumes, however, that even after a commanding century, Pietersen was either not willing or not trusted to speak to the media. The last time he did so freely – the infamous “it’s not easy being me” press conference following the Headingley Test in August – precipitated chaos in English cricket and it seems there is some caution being extended to ensure there is no repeat.In his absence, it was left to Bell to describe Pietersen’s feeling upon completing a century. “Kevin is a guy who likes to get bat on ball so I think he’ll be happy to go into the Test with that innings under his belt,” Bell said. “Everything has gone pretty well. He’s trained well. He’s hit the ball well. I’m sure he’ll be a lot happier having scored a hundred, but he’ll be even happier if he scores a hundred in the next Test.”We don’t want to put too much pressure on him to be the main reason why we win a series. It would be great if he could come out and play some innings like he has in recent times, but as a batting unit if we all have a good series we give our bowlers the opportunity to take wickets. We know if he gets in, we know he can change a Test so we want him in the best nick he can be.”

Peter Borren, the Netherlands captain, has said his team now has the belief they can become the best of the Associates and will surprise opposition with their improvement

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2012Peter Borren, the Netherlands captain, has said his team now has the belief they can become the best of the Associates and will surprise opposition with their improvement, at the World Twenty20 qualifier in the UAE. Borren said Netherlands’ aim for the tournament was not just to qualify for the World T20 in Sri Lanka in September but to actually win the qualifier.”I believe we now have a side capable of becoming the best of the rest,” Borren said. “In the past, maybe we didn’t quite have that belief but this is a new team and I think other sides will be surprised to see our improvement.”Our results over the last year in all competitions have been encouraging, particularly our season in the Clydesdale Bank 40 [England’s domestic 40-over competition] where we won five matches. We have learned how to win games.”We have a varied and disciplined attack with plenty of options available. We have a dangerous batting line-up which is nicely balanced between guys who have the ability to rotate the strike effectively and guys who can find the boundary.”Netherlands are looking for a return to the World T20 after failing to make it to the 2010 edition. They competed for the first time in the 2009 tournament in England, and caused the surprise of the tournament by beating the hosts. Their quest to qualify for the 2011 event is hampered by the absence of Ryan ten Doeschate, who has won the ICC Associate player of the year award three times in the last four years, and scored 214 runs at 42.80 for Netherlands in T20s. ten Doeschate will remain in South Africa playing for Impi in the MiWAY T20 Challenge.”Any team in world cricket would love to have a player of Ryan’s class in its side. So, he will naturally be missed,” Borren admitted. “Given his commitments around the world, we are very used to playing without him. If you look at our top five batsmen there should be enough runs there to cover in Ryan’s absence.”The chief threat to Borren’s side in group A of the T20 qualifiers will be Afghanistan – ranked two places below them in the ICC ODI rankings. Netherlands also find Canada, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Denmark and Nepal in their path to the knockout stage of the 16-team competition.”We have played reasonably regularly over the years against Afghanistan, Canada and Denmark and used to play a bit against Bermuda,” Borren said. “We have a good record against these four sides. I am confident that we have the game to beat them.”As for PNG, Hong Kong and Nepal, we do not know so much about them. We are going to have to do some early scouting at the tournament and learn how they play. I know that PNG has improved an awful lot and has some very dangerous players.”Netherlands will prepare for the tournament with a week in Cape Town and get their campaign underway on March 13 against Canada in Dubai.Edited by Alex Winter

A round-up of the fourth day of the final round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division One 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Dec-2011Water and Power Development Authority’s third defeat of the season – by 82 runs to National Bank of Pakistan – cost them a place in the Quaid-e-Azam Division One final. Set to chase 304 on the final day at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, a win would have given WAPDA six points and taken them to first place in the table. After losing opener Asif Khan for a duck, Rafatullah Mohmand and Imranullah Aslam set about building their chase. They scored briskly, taking WAPDA to 93 for 1 before left-arm spinner Raza Hasan had Aslam caught behind for 38. After Bilal Khilji fell quickly, Hasan struck again, bowling Mohmand for 51, to reduce WAPDA to 102 for 4.Ammer Sajjid and Ali Azmat attemped to revive their side’s fortunes, adding 57 before Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz bowled Azmat for 33. Hasan’s fellow left-arm spinner, Qaiser Abbas, took over from that point, taking four of the final five wickets to fall – Hasan grabbing the other – as WAPDA capitulated for 221 from 63.1 overs. Abbas ended up with 4 for 57, and 8 for 111 in the match.The result means the QEA final will take place between Pakistan International Airlines and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited at the National Stadium from December 20 to 24. The final will be a day-night game, and will be played using pink balls.Mohammad Imran and Prince Abbas took eight wickets between them to set up Sialkot’s 185-run win over Faisalabad at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot. Needing to make 380 on the final day for victory, Faisalabad were never in with a realistic chance of winning the game but instead of their batsmen settling in for the long haul, most of them chose to attack the bowling. Zeeshan Butt made 50 from 59 balls and Shoaib Shah a more patient 44 from 79, but given the approach of the majority – nine of the 11 batsmen had strike-rates over 60 – Faisalabad succumbed in 50.3 overs. Abbas ripped through the lower order to finish with 4 for 95, while Imran finished with 4 for 77.Battling half-centuries from Faraz Patel and Javed Mansoor helped Karachi Blues secure a draw with Islamabad at the National Stadium in Karachi. Having begun the day still trailing by five runs, Karachi needed a strong batting effort to save the game. Yasir Mushtaq fell early on the final morning but Patel and Mansoor were up for the fight, scraping together 98 runs before Mansoor fell leg-before to Nasrullah Khan for 56. At that point, the lead was only 93 but Patel fought on, batting for four hours and five minutes for his 77 as Karachi posted 303 and set Islamabad 170 to win. The openers added 78 in 25 overs as the game meandered to the close.

Kevin Pietersen has pressed England to investigate his suspicion that his England team mates Graeme Swann and James Anderson were feeding information to the parody Twitter account that ridiculed him

George Dobell08-Sep-2012Kevin Pietersen has pressed England to carry out a serious investigation into his suspicion that his England team-mates Graeme Swann and James Anderson were feeding information to the KP Genius parody Twitter account in a prolonged stalemate that continues to dog attempts to reintegrate him into the England team.Pietersen has made an England investigation a central part of any rapprochement. Initial meetings with the England coach, Andy Flower, a week ago failed to find immediate common ground for a resumption of his international career.The England selectors are due to announce in the next few days the Test squad to tour India. Pietersen was also not named in England’s list of central contracts for 2012-13 although it was indicated that other names could be added.The account, which suggested Pietersen was vainglorious and obsessed by money, was followed by several members of the team and, at times, even elicited a good-humoured response from Pietersen before his attitude abruptly changed as his relationships with the ECB and his England team-mates deteriorated.Richard Bailey, a cricket lover who shares a house with a couple of members of the Nottinghamshire team and is a friend of England’s T20 captain Stuart Broad, has admitted he was behind the account and insists no one else was involved.Broad has denied any involvement or knowledge of the account and it has subsequently been discontinued. An ESPNcricinfo investigation also exonerated Broad and suggested that Bailey was the only person responsible.But Pietersen remains convinced that other England players were involved – and he has made his feelings clear. If he is to reach what he views as a fair compromise with his reputation intact and with an admission of faults on both sides then it seems that he is not prepared to let this matter rest. Whether a dressing room could knit together again after such a lengthy dispute is questionable.Specifically he feels that the contents of private conversations between him, Anderson and Swann were referenced in various tweets. As a consequence, Pietersen feels he has been the victim of double standards after being disciplined for sending private messages to members of the South Africa touring party that contained derogatory comments about recently retired England Test captain Andrew Strauss.ESPNcricinfo is not aware that Pietersen has provided definite proof that either Swann or Anderson were directly involved.The episode is a headache that will not go away for Flower. Coming days before England depart for Sri Lanka in an attempt to defend their World T20 title and ahead of the naming of the Test squad for India, it is a distraction that he and the players could well do without. If Pietersen has hard evidence to support his views – and it is hard to see how he does – then the results could be devastating.With both sides apparently too entrenched in their views to accept an amnesty, it is also hard to see a happy ending to a saga that continues to damage the individuals and the England team.

Everton will submit their official appeal against the 10-point deduction they were handed after being found guilty of breaching financial rules.

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Everton hit with 10-point sanctionToffees admitted to financial rule breachClub to appeal against decision this weekWHAT HAPPENED?

Everton have until Friday to lodge their appeal to the independent commission which decided the punishment and are set to present their case before the deadline passes, reports. Everton admitted to the breach of the rules but were disappointed by the extent of the punishment.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Toffees were handed the biggest ever points sanction in Premier League history and they feel the sporting punishment is unjust given the offence was a financial one. The club's fans have demonstrated their outrage, holding a protest during their 3-0 loss to Manchester United on Saturday.

DID YOU KNOW?

The deduction saw them drop to 19th in the Premier League table, leaving them in danger of being relegated. Many believe the punishment sets a precedent that could affect Manchester City, who have been accused of 115 counts of breaching financial rules.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR EVERTON?

Everton have four points following the sanction and are now five points from Premier League safety after 13 matches. Sean Dyche's team can boost their hopes of crawling out of the relegation zone by getting a positive result against Nottingham Forest, who have won just one of their last nine matches.

Chris Martin, the New Zealand fast bowler, has announced retirement from all forms of cricket

Brydon Coverdale02-Jul-2013Chris Martin, the New Zealand fast bowler, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at the age of 38. Martin will leave the game with 233 Test wickets at 33.81, making him New Zealand’s third-highest Test wicket taker, behind only Richard Hadlee and Daniel Vettori.Martin played 71 Tests, 20 ODIs and six Twenty20s for his country in an international career that began in November 2000 when he made his Test debut against South Africa in Bloemfontein. It was also in South Africa that Martin played his final Test, at Newlands in January this year, when he finished with 3 for 63, the best figures from the New Zealand attack in an innings defeat.Although Martin has had ups and downs over the course of his career and has been in and out of the side – he has missed 32 of the Tests New Zealand have played since his debut – he had picked up 23 wickets at 27.86 over the past 18 months. However, he leaves at a time when New Zealand have found some talented young fast bowlers, with Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell all having made their mark over the past couple of years.”It feels like the right time to step down,” Martin said. “I have loved every second and given it everything when playing for the Black Caps, but after 15 years of professional cricket, it’s time to pursue a new challenge. Representing the Black Caps has been a massive privilege, and playing with a group of guys who’re so passionate about doing well for their country has been very special. I wish [captain] Brendon [McCullum] and the team all the best for the future.”Although Martin was rarely the centre of attention in the New Zealand side, he was a reliable performer who in swinging conditions could become a major threat. When Martin passed 200 Test wickets in late 2011, he was described by Vettori as “an under-rated bowler” who “deserves to be regarded as one of New Zealand’s best-ever Test bowlers”.Twice he was Man of the Match in Tests, first with a tally of 11 for 180 in New Zealand’s nine-wicket win over South Africa in Auckland in 2003-04, and then eight years later in Napier, where he collected match figures of 8 for 31 in a crushing innings victory over Zimbabwe. Martin picked up five-wicket hauls on ten occasions in Tests and he saved his best work for South Africa, against whom he claimed 55 wickets at 26.72.The batsmen he dismissed most often in Test cricket tell of his talent: he removed Graeme Smith eight times and Jacques Kallis on six occasions. No bowler from any country has dismissed Smith as often in Tests as Martin. New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said that Martin was one of the most respected players in the New Zealand dressing room and his experience would be missed.”The way Chris goes about his business both on and off the field has made him one of the most respected players in the changing room,” Hesson said. “He’s been a great role model for younger team mates and will be sorely missed. We wish him all the best for the future.”David White, the New Zealand Cricket chief executive, also paid tribute to Martin, saying his work ethic helped him become one of New Zealand’s most successful bowlers in Tests.”During his career Chris has formed a reputation as one of the most consistent performers in world cricket, something which can be put down to his relentless work ethic,” White said. “He’s shown all the qualities required to perform on the international scene – fight, determination and a huge passion for the game. It’s his attitude which has led Chris to becoming one of New Zealand’s most successful Test bowlers.”However, as impressive as his bowling was over 13 years in international cricket, Martin became as well known for his comical batting exploits at No.11, which endeared him to cricket fans the world over. In 104 Test innings, Martin managed only 123 runs at an average of 2.36, and the only time he reached double-figures was with 12 not out against Bangladesh in Dunedin in 2007-08.Only Courtney Walsh (43) made more ducks in Test cricket than Martin’s 36, although he can comfortably claim the record for the most Test pairs. On seven occasions, Martin was dismissed for 0 in both innings of a Test – Walsh, Mervyn Dillon, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, Muttiah Muralitharan and Marvan Atapattu are all equal second with four pairs each.

Brisbane Heat and Trinidad & Tobago are faced with similar problems at the start of their CL T20 campaign: they have lost the nucleus of their squad to IPL franchises

Vishal Dikshit21-Sep-2013Match factsSeptember 22, 2013
Start time 1600 (1030GMT)Dan Christian will have to do a lot of work with both bat and ball in the absence of Brisbane Heat’s star players•Getty ImagesBig PictureBrisbane Heat and Trinidad & Tobago, the T20 champions of Australia and West Indies, are faced with similar problems at the start of their CLT20 campaign: they have lost the nucleus of their squad to IPL franchises. Both teams have lost three players each. Heat are without Shane Watson (Rajasthan Royals), Mitchell Johnson (Mumbai Indians) and Thisara Perera (Sunrisers Hyderabad), while T&T have lost Kieron Pollard (Mumbai), Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings) and Kevon Cooper (Royals).The difference between the sides, however, lies in the other players Heat are missing. Luke Pomersbach is unavailable due to family reasons, and Daniel Vettori and Ryan Harris are out with injuries.T&T have been consistent over the years, qualifying for the CLT20 for the fourth time. They performed best in 2009, when they had Bravo and Pollard and made the final, but even without the pair T&T have six players who were part of the West Indies squad that won the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.Without Watson and Pomersbach, however, Heat will face a strong T&T bowling attack, and they might struggle to counter the spin of Samuel Badree, Sunil Narine and Sherwin Ganga on Indian surfaces. Heat’s solitary specialist spinner is Nathan Hauritz, who had the backing of his captain James Hopes.”I am pretty sure that Hauritz can have a good impact in the four overs that he is going to bowl,” Hopes said. “He is an experienced bowler. We have more than one spinner.”T&T’s squad looks stronger too, with batsmen Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, the captain Denesh Ramdin and fast bowlers Ravi Rampaul, Shannon Gabriel and Rayad Emrit. Rampaul will mark his return to competitive cricket after spending three months recovering from an ankle injury.”We have experience of Rampaul, Narine and [Darren] Bravo and we can give a good account of ourselves,” Ramdin said. “Hopefully, we can have a good tournament.”Players to watchWith his international experience and sheer pace, Kemar Roach will need to give Heat the impetus with the new ball. He has the ability to dismantle batting line-ups with his speed, and his knowledge of bowling on Indian pitches could make him Heat’s trump card.Sunil Narine will be bowling to Australian batsmen on Indian pitches, where he has had tremendous success during the IPL. Not only did he take wickets but he also kept the scoring down. With a T20 economy rate of 5.42, Heat will need to find ways to score against Narine.