New Zealand fast bowlers have dominated oppositions at the Wellington Regoinal Stadium in recent years

Shiva Jayaraman20-Mar-2015 4-6 New Zealand’s win-loss record against West Indies in their last 10 completed ODIs. However, four of those six defeats came abroad. New Zealand have a 3-2 win-loss record at home in their last five ODIs against West Indies. 3-3 New Zealand’s win-loss against West Indies in World Cups. The only time they met each other in a knockout scenario was in the 1975 semi-final when West Indies beat New Zealand by five wickets. 6 Times teams that batted first were bowled out by New Zealand in the last 10 day/night matches at Wellington Regional Stadium. Pakistan’s 210 was the highest among the six innings, the other five were wrapped up under 150 and New Zealand won all six matches. 20.00 The New Zealand fast bowlers’ bowling average in ODIs at Wellington Regional Stadium since 2010, their best for any ground on condition of two or more matches played. New Zealand have taken three four-wicket hauls and two five-fors in seven matches at this venue in the last four years.12.00 Tim Southee’s bowling average in ODIs at Wellington Regional Stadium – the third-best for anyone with at least 20 wickets. Southee has taken 21 in six ODIs, including two five-fors and one four-wicket haul. Southee took 7 for 33 against England during his last match here.29.16 New Zealand’s batting average in overs 11 to 35 in this World Cup; among the top teams only England have done worse. New Zealand have lost a wicket every 35 balls in these middle overs, which is the worst rate for any team in this World Cup after Scotland. Besides the match against Bangladesh when New Zealand made 135 for 1 between 11 and 35 overs, their scores in this period have been 71 for 5 against Scotland, 80 for 5 against Australia, 119 for 4 against Sri Lanka and 111 for 3 against Afghanistan.

New Zealand innings progression – World Cup 2015

	Runs	Run-rate	Wkt	Ave
First-10 overs	465	7.75	11	42.27
overs 11 to 35	525	4.98	18	29.16
Overs >=36	242	8.06	6	40.33

15 Wickets taken by West Indies in the mandatory Powerplay in this World Cup – the most by any team. Their bowlers have averaged 16.13 in the first 10 overs, nearly four points less than their closest rivals, New Zealand. West Indies’ economy of 4.03 is also among the best for any team for the period under consideration. They haven’t been as effective in the middle overs though (11.1 to 34.6) – 14 wickets at 58.85 – and their economy of 5.72 is the worst in this World Cup after Scotland’s 5.91.

West Indies bowling in this World Cup

Phase of innings	Wkt	Eco	Ave	SR
Mandatory Powerplay	15	4.03	16.13	24.00
Middle overs (11 to 40)	21	5.93	50.38	50.90
Last-10 overs	11	8.00	20.36	15.27

5.78 Daniel Vettori’s bowling average against batsmen in the current West Indies squad. He has taken nine wickets from 133 balls and has conceded just 52 runs, an economy of 2.35. He’s also dismissed West Indies’ openers five times in 71 balls.

Daniel Vettori v West Indies batsmen

Batsman	Wkts	Conc	Ave	Eco	SR
Denesh Ramdin	3	3	1.00	0.81	7.33
Dwayne Smith	3	11	3.66	3.66	6.00
Chris Gayle	2	27	13.50	3.05	26.50
Jerome Taylor	1	2	2.00	0.66	18.00

58.28 Ross Taylor’s strike rate in this World Cup; He has made109 runs in six innings at an average of 27.25 with one half-century. The last time a New Zealand batsman scored 100-plus runs in a World Cup at a lower strike rate was in 1999 and the culprits were Craig McMillan, Matt Horne and Chris Harris. Taylor has hit 441 runs against West Indies at an average of 44.10, though his last five innings against them have produced just 108.4 Times Jerome Taylor has taken three or more wickets in a match in this World Cup. He is one of the two bowlers to do so, the other being India’s Mohammed Shami, who has four such hauls in seven games. Taylor has taken 14 wickets at an average of 18.35.135 Runs scored by Chris Gayle the last time he played in an ODI against New Zealand in New Zealand, which was back in 2009. However, his nine innings before that had produced only 176 at an average of 22.00. Gayle is the top run-scorer for West indies against New Zealand with 852 runs at 38.72.100 Runs added by West Indies’ opening partnership in six matches in this World Cup. Their highest has been 33 by Johnson Charles and Dwayne Smith in their last match against UAE. In contrast, New Zealand’s first wicket has added 354 runs at 59.00 with two century partnerships in six innings. Smith hasn’t done well in this World Cup as an opener scoring only 93 runs in six innings. Charles – the other option at the top in West Indies’ squad – has scored only 71 runs in seven innings against New Zealand.

Stats preview of the third quarter-final, between Australia and Pakistan in Adelaide

Shiva Jayaraman19-Mar-20154-4 Pakistan’s win-loss record against Australia in World Cups – only West Indies have a better record against the co-hosts. Pakistan are also the only team to have won three of their last five World Cup games against Australia. In World Cup knockout games, though, Australia beat Pakistan both times these two teams played each other, the last of them being the 1999 final.5-1 Australia’s record against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval. However, the last ten years have seen only one ODI between the two teams at this venue. Australia won that game, in 2010. Australia have won eight of the last 10 ODIs between the teams.2-4 Australia’s win-loss record at the Adelaide Oval in ODIs since 2011. This is the only venue in Australia where they have lost more matches than they have won.7 Number of consecutive ODIs Pakistan have lost when chasing targets of 250 or more. The last time they won chasing a 250-plus score was against Sri Lanka last year when they chased down 275. Apart from that, Pakistan have won only one other time chasing 250 or more in 18 attempts since the last World Cup. Their win-loss ratio of 0.13 in such chases is the worst among all teams except Canada, who have three losses from three chases.58.18 Michael Clarke’s batting average against Pakistan in ODIs. The last time Clarke got out to Pakistan in single digits was in 2009. Since then, he has only one score of less than 25 against them in 12 innings. Clarke has scored 931 with two hundreds and six fifties in 20 innings against Pakistan. Only two of the current Pakistan bowlers – Shahid Afridi and Wahab Riaz – have bowled to Clarke in ODIs. Afridi has conceded 188 runs to Clarke from 248 deliveries and has dismissed him only once.17.21 Runs per wicket Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc average together against the current Pakistan squad. Johnson has taken nine wickets against them at an average of 18.22, while Starc has taken five at an average of 15.40. Overall, Johnson has taken 15 wickets at 21.20 runs apiece and Starc has taken 10 wickets in just four matches including one five-for and one four-wicket haul.8.50 Mitchell Starc’s bowling average in this World Cup. Starc has taken 16 wickets at an economy of 3.67. No other bowler has taken 15 or more wickets in any World Cup at an average of less than 10.22.63 Runs the current Pakistan team averages per wicket against Australia in ODIs – the lowest they average against any team. Their strike rate of 76.92 is also their lowest against any team. There have been only 10 fifties scored collectively by Pakistan batsmen in 111 ODI innings against them at an average of 11.1 innings per fifty-plus score, which is the most they take, on an average, against any team to score a fifty.2 Number of spinners who have taken 50-plus wickets against two or more teams in ODIs. Muttiah Muralitharan has taken 50-plus wickets against five different teams, while Shane Warne has done this against two. Afridi needs just one more wicket against Australia to join the two spinners, and he has 67 wickets against Sri Lanka.15.77 Younis Khan’s average against Australia in 23 innings – the lowest anyone playing as a batsman (No. 1 to No. 7) has averaged against a team from 20 or more ODI innings. Younis has failed to reach a score of 20 in 17 out of these 23 innings. However, Younis’ last four Test innings against Australia have produced 468 runs including two centuries and one double-hundred. Unfortunately for Pakistan, Afridi also figures in this list. His average of 15.51 against Australia from 29 innings is worse than Younis’. While Younis has one fifty against them in 23 innings that came way back in 2002, Afridi’s highest against Australia is 48 from his 29 innings batting in the top seven.57 Highest opening partnership for Australia in this World Cup from five innings, which came against England in the first match. Since then Australia’s first wicket has added 30, 14, 19 and 30. Pakistan’s openers haven’t done well either, with 172 runs from six innings. Their 120-run stand against Ireland was their first fifty-plus partnership in the World Cup.49 Number of deliveries bowled by Australia in the last ten overs in this World Cup. In five innings, only two teams have survived to bat into the last ten overs against Australia. England survived only 11 balls after the 40th over, while Sri Lanka batted 38 balls and lost half their side. New Zealand were the only team not to be bowled out by Australia but they were nine down in the 24th over by the time they chased down the target.4.31 Pakistan’s economy in the batting Powerplays – the best in the tournament so far. Pakistan have taken eight wickets in the batting Powerplays, also the most by any team. Wahab has taken three of these wickets from 51 balls and has conceded 37 runs at an economy of 4.35.

The years of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene making millions happy together were more fulfilling than a final piece of silverware could ever have been

Andrew Fidel Fernando at the SCG18-Mar-2015The 10 balls that preceded Kumar Sangakkara’s final ODI innings were ugly. Promoted to open in the latest of Sri Lanka’s surprise moves before this quarter-final, Kusal Perera went after the South Africa quicks like a man with an axe. His innings, replete with violent swipes, a near run-out and three streaky runs, ended predictably, via an edge to the keeper. It was a horror start – a gory chainsaw killing.And so Sangakkara arrived inside the first five overs of the innings for the first time since he began his run of centuries – no visible nerves, just the regular swivel of hips with the bat horizontal in front of his chest, and the double-windmill warm-up for each arm.The last time Sri Lanka played a World Cup quarter-final, Sangakkara didn’t need to bat at all, so dominant were they in Colombo. But here, at 3 for 1, the most fluent batsman of the tournament till then had reason to be cautious. When Dale Steyn delivered a maiden to a scratchy Tillakaratne Dilshan, he had another reason. Then Kyle Abbott, the bowler Sri Lanka would have feared least, sent down the strongest reason so far. A good length ball, pitching just outside off, jagged away off the pitch like the slips had a magnet for it. Sangakkara drove and missed. He looked down at the surface, then back up at the bowler.All through his innings, Sangakkara had reason after reason to shelve the attacking cricket that has made him the world’s darling at this tournament. His outside edge was beaten again, he mishit a few, and then when he nailed one – really slammed it out of the middle of the bat – South African fielders seemed to materialise out of thin air to stop the ball inside the ring.There was no fairytale finish but their careers gave Sri Lankan fans plenty of joy over the years•ESPNcricinfo LtdUsually Sangakkara is a nervy runner at the start of his innings. In this game, he didn’t even have time to take those few characteristic steps down the pitch before being sent back, so quickly were his shots being shut down. Each failed stroke, each dismissal at the other end, was like a line of twine being thrown over him. Pretty soon he was caught in a web. His first run came off his 16th ball. The boundary that took him to 10 was hit off his 43rd.”I walked in to bat and I was trying to hit the ball into the gaps,” he said of his innings. “But sometimes you time one and it still wouldn’t penetrate the field, so it becomes frustrating. But you just make the best of that situation and keep fighting, keep working, and get to a stage where you can really launch. With the new rules, you can always catch up. You can be three and a half or four runs an over for the first 30, and the next 20 you can get 200 runs. But to do that, you have to have wickets in hand.”But as each promising partnership was cut short, as he was abandoned at the crease one by one by men who pride themselves on their big-match bottle, Sangakkara found himself cornered. Here was a batsman who had in recent years mastered the science of ODI risk-taking, made meek beyond recognition by circumstance. He hit Sri Lanka’s fastest World Cup hundred, off 70 balls, 18 days ago. Off 70 balls on Wednesday, he had only 24.Only when the web grew so dense that just slivers of light trickled through, did Sangakkara finally strike out. His ten runs off the 36th over raised the mildest hope. But for him, his team, and for Mahela Jayawardene, who will never play internationals again, a fourth World Cup semi-final on the trot was a step too far.It will seem like a sad end to a great cricketing partnership, that Sangakkara and Jayawardene were last seen on a cricket field complaining to each other at keeper and slip, than thrilling a nation at either end of the pitch. It will seem unfair, that these two, who have so deftly traversed administrative waters to keep their team afloat amid chaos, will become the first Sri Lankan greats to retire without a World Cup. Saddest of all, their last stand was a limp, inconsequential 24-ball affair, when so often their associations have been so energetic, so muscular.Against South Africa, Sangakkara’s innings was the antithesis of his dynamic latter-day avatar, but both men played innings they don’t deserve to be remembered by. But even through the obvious disappointment, there were smiles at the end of it all. Perhaps the pair will reflect in days to come that the years of making millions happy together was more fulfilling than this final piece of silverware could have been. Maybe they will know that it is the lifetime of grace and excellence they have given the game and their country that is their legacy, and not this short, stinging night.

Plays of the day from the match between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab in Chennai

George Binoy25-Apr-2015The failed footwork
Brendon McCullum charged at Anureet Singh’s first delivery and aimed for six over long-off. He hit it high, but not far. Mitchell Johnson was pedaling back from mid-off, trying to get under the catch. He got into an awkward side-on position as the ball dropped into his hands, before popping out again. The rebound was too far away for Johnson to get to it with his hands, and so he flicked his foot out to try and pop the ball up for another go. He made contact with his boot, but the ball lobbed and fell out of his reach. Johnson later dropped a more straightforward chance off Suresh Raina at deep square leg.The improvisation
McCullum had premeditated to play the scoop down leg side against Sandeep Sharma and so he moved across his stumps and squared up his stance. Sharma, however, bowled full outside off stump, not giving McCullum the line he wanted. He improvised. McCullum’s body remained positioned for the scoop down leg but he now opened the face of his bat towards point and shoveled the ball past the wicketkeeper to the third-man boundary.The lapses
Some of Kings XI’s senior players were an embarrassment in the field. Virender Sehwag charged in from short third man to attack a ball that was coming at him off Raina’s outside edge. He ran at it without anticipating the ball would spin away from him and then looked silly as it eluded him comfortably. He turned slowly and gave chase but it was in vain. Later in the piece, Shaun Marsh was slow in bending down to his right at point and let a cut shot from Ravindra Jadeja speed to the boundary.The catch
Suresh Raina’s catch to dismiss David Miller was everything Kings XI’s fielding wasn’t. Stationed at leg slip, Raina saw Miller shaping to leg glance Ravindra Jadeja and moved a couple of steps to his left just in case. Sure enough, Miller glanced and the ball flew flow and fast towards Raina. Had he not moved, the ball would have passed by his right hand, but now all he had to do was stoop low and grab the ball inches from the turf.

Statistical highlights from the first day’s play in the second Test between West Indies and Australia at Kingston

Bishen Jeswant12-Jun-20151 Number of players who have scored 2000-plus Test runs over the last two years – Steven Smith, with 2049 runs from 21 Tests at an average of 64.032 Number of 50-plus scores for Michael Clarke in his last 20 Test innings. He was dismissed for 47 in the first innings. Clarke has scored only 557 runs in his last 20 innings at an average of 32.7619 Number of overs bowled by Kraigg Brathwaite on the first day. He had only bowled 13.4 overs in his previous 21 Tests, and picked up a solitary wicket (v India, 2011)31.5 Jerome Taylor’s bowling strike-rate at Sabina Park, Jamaica, the best for any bowler who has taken at least 20 wickets at this venue. His bowling average of 13.1 is the second-best. He returned figures of 3 for 18 on the first day5 Taylor’s first spell in this match read 5-5-0-2. This is only the third time since 2002 that a bowler has started a Test with five straight maidens and all three of them have happened in the last couple of years. James Anderson did it against India in the Lord’s Test last year. Al-Amin Hossain did this against West Indies in Kingstown.5 Number of centuries Smith has made in his last-six Tests. He has made 934 runs at an average of 133.42 in these matches. He has now scored nine Test centuries, going past Graham Yallop, Victor Trumper and Ian Redpath, on the list of Australians with most Test hundreds24 David Warner’s batting average in his last five Tests; Warner has scored 216 runs in nine innings in these Tests and has been dismissed for two of his four career ducks. His previous seven Tests had produced 1061 runs at an average of 75.78 including six hundreds and three fifties

The cricket world pays tribute to former South Africa captain and Nottinghamshire allrounder Clive Rice, who died in Cape Town at the age of 66

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2015″Clive Rice was a giant of the game, not just in South Africa, but across the cricketing world. Though his international appearances for the Proteas were limited to just three ODIs, Clive was a hugely inspirational figure for those of us who had the privilege to represent our country.”
“Clive will always be remembered for captaining the Proteas on our historic first tour to India in 1991 and, as one of the great all-rounders and captains of the game.”
“Whether it be Test cricket, whether it be one-day cricket, I can sit here and comfortably say that he would have competed with the best.”
Radio Sport”Such a caring person. That’s the kind of stuff I’ll always remember, how caring he was. Yes, the cricket is one thing but I moved to England as a young little kid of 19, 20 years of age with no family, no friends. But he would invite me to his house all the time for dinner and we’d just sit in the lounge and talk about anything and everything”
EWN Sport”Clive was a fighter like you can’t believe and he proved that on the cricket field and he’s proved it over the past few months. He’s just got a heart the size of Africa. He’s a remarkable man.”
Sport24

Devastating news on the death of Clive Rice. He was an inspiration to me as a young player and a fantastic example. Rest in peace Ricey!!!!

— Gary Kirsten (@Gary_Kirsten) July 28, 2015

Devastated…a great friend and wonderful man…Clive Rice has passed away. The world is a poorer place…

— Pat Symcox (@PatSymcox77) July 28, 2015

Sorry to hear about the passing of Clive Rice "ricey"..astute captain and a man that played the game hard!! Rip #CliveRice

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) July 28, 2015

“The idea of working with someone like Ricey, who was such a legend, was one of the big reasons why I wanted to come and play at Trent Bridge. He was an incredibly strong man who didn’t tolerate fools easily and he demanded the best out of you every day.”

Terribly sad to hear of Clive Rice's death. Tough, combative in the middle, but very gentle man. Led SA out of wilderness and told me…..

— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) July 28, 2015

…."Now l know how Neil Armstrong felt when he walked on the moon." Sad day

— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) July 28, 2015

Sad to hear that Clive Rice has passed away …terrific all rounder …great competitor …and a real good bloke

— David 'Bumble' Lloyd (@BumbleCricket) July 28, 2015

So sad to hear of the passing of our first National Cricket Captain since isolation – was an honor RIP Ricey

— Craig Matthews (@craigmatth) July 28, 2015

My sincere condolences to the loved ones of Clive Rice, who passed away today. True SA cricket legend. #RIPCliveRice

— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) July 28, 2015

So sorry to hear of the passing of the great Clive Rice. Terrific cricketer and even better person! #greatAllrounder #SouthAfricangreat

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) July 28, 2015

RIP Clive Rice. A superb captain whose career was blighted by politics. Thankfully times have changed. #cricketfamily

— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) July 28, 2015

Clive Rice was one of the tough guys….what chance the rest of us?! RIP Ricey #goodguytoo

— Alan Butcher (@abutch58) July 28, 2015

England’s frail batting and over-reliance on Joe Root will have been watched with interest by their next opponents, Pakistan and South Africa

George Dobell21-Aug-2015Short of bursting into a wedding late, tripping over the cake and accusing the bride of being a man, it is hard to think how England could have ruined their own party more effectively than they have at the Kia Oval over the last couple of days.What should have been a celebration instead became a reminder that, for all the satisfaction of winning the Investec Ashes, England are a long way from the finished article.Perhaps such a view is harsh. Not on England – who have been poor – but on Australia who have batted with discipline and bowled with skill. While the pitch is flat, the ball has swung pretty consistently in this game and Australia have shown they can adapt to flourish in such conditions. After the disappointment of Trent Bridge, they deserve a lot of praise for that.And this may not be the worst thing to happen to England, either. Had England won this Test – still a possibility, of course, but a mighty distant one – they might have been tempted to overlook some of the flaws that can now not be ignored. If they expect Pakistan and South Africa to implode as spectacularly as Australia have at times this summer, they are in for a winter of disappointment.The truth is, England have won the Ashes despite – not because – of their frail batting. They are over-reliant on Joe Root – England’s only centurion in the series, the top scorer in all three first innings of the Tests they won and the only man in their top seven to average more than 31 in the series – and a line-up that attempts to compensate for its modesty with its depth. It is a method that works fitfully but the record suggests that, if Root fails, England lose.Prime concern is the opening partnership. Adam Lyth and Alastair Cook have averaged 16 for the first wicket in this series with a highest stand of 32. It means that England’s middle-order is not receiving the protection they may require and that Australia’s bowlers are often offered early encouragement. It means, in essence, that they are not fulfilling the duty they were picked to perform.Cook’s record in the series is maddening. He looks in fine touch, he is timing the ball nicely and appears to be leaving the ball with assurance. But one half-century is a poor return for such gifts and, coming to the end of his sixth Ashes series, he has the odd record of averaging 127.22 in one of them (the 2010-11 tour) and a best of 30.62 in the remaining five. While nobody is seriously suggesting dropping him, he does need to stop being so like Mike Brearley – with the bat at least – if he is to serve England to the best of his ability.Lyth’s position is far less secure. Seven Tests into his international career, he has reached 40 only once and, in this series, is averaging 13.12. Not only are there concerns over his technique and his propensity to edge balls that might be left, but there are concerns over his temperament at this level. His dismissal here, attempting to pull Peter Siddle’s second ball, was his third in the series (after a horrid slash at Lord’s and an expansive drive at Edgbaston) that might be considered rash or even reckless for an opening batsman.The frustration for Lyth will be that he has not done himself justice. He is a better player than this. But he goes into the second innings of this match in the knowledge that he needs a substantial score to retain his place. He may well be good enough to come again, but several generations of former England batsmen will envy the seven Tests he has played as ample time to stake his claim.England may well still be paying for their inflexible – arrogant, even – treatment of Nick Compton. He was, after all, the first through what has become a revolving door of opening partners for Cook since the retirement of Andrew Strauss and he made a pretty decent fist of the job, too. Somehow, though, the face didn’t fit in a dressing room that was just a little cliquey and a minor misunderstanding about the extent of an injury was blown into a major incident. He could have spent the summer blunting Australia’s new-ball attack; instead he has fought it combating disillusionment and considering retirement. It is a fearsome waste, though it is not too late to rethink his exclusion.Had Alex Hales – who made 189 against a decent Warwickshire attack on Friday – kicked down the selectors’ doors and written ‘Pick Me!’ in blood on their kitchen walls, he could not have made his case more eloquently. He is not without some issues – it will have done him no harm to miss facing this Australian attack and their ability to exploit any potential weakness against the short ball – but he has talent in abundance and, under the carefree exterior, a hunger to improve.Gary Ballance, who finished the day 98 not out for Yorkshire, might also be considered as an opening candidate for the UAE, too, though the decision to bat him at No. 5 for the county surely suggests that is not a realistic option at present.Jos Buttler’s form is also causing concern. He has averaged 11.42 in the series and has now been dismissed by Nathan Lyon’s offspin four times in 21 balls. Bearing in mind that England’s next series is in the UAE, where they can expect a huge amount of spin bowling, his dismissal here – bowled through a gate so wide that a truck driver could have reversed through it – is a real concern.We knew, however, that Buttler was not the finished article when he was called into the Test team ahead of schedule following Matt Prior’s untimely decline. We knew that he was still learning his trade as a first-class batsman. We knew he was still learning to build an innings. A first-class average of 33.51 with just four centuries should have told us nothing else.But we also knew he had potential. He is improving as a keeper – his catch down the leg-side to dismiss Peter Nevill off the bowling of Moeen Ali was excellent – and we have seen from his white-ball exploits that he has the raw ability to shine against international bowling. There is no guarantee that he will fulfil that potential and England cannot afford to persist with him forever if the runs do not start to flow but, aged 24 (three years younger than Lyth), he is likely to earn more patience. There was bound to be a learning period.There are other options, though. While Buttler may well have benefited from the retirement of Craig Kieswetter and Steven Davies’ slightly puzzling decision to relinquish the gloves, the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Ben Cox and Sam Billings, will be watching with interest.

We scoured the internet for some of the best tests of skill in cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2015Eyes on the ball? Not for Kevin Pietersen as he tries his hand at batting blindfolded.Virat Kohli tells his former Royal Challengers Bangalore team-mate – I am not far behind.How does Ian Bell get his placement so precise?
(Suggested by )The best fielders hit the stumps often, but how about hitting a moving target? Some of the Natwest T20 Blast’s players decided to test themselves.The stakes may seem low for the 50p challenge, but the challenge is pretty tough even for the best in the world. Muttiah Muralitharan and Graeme Swann go head to head.The Lord’s catching challenge: check out the smart strategy of the winner.It’s Pietersen again, this time he takes on Chris Gayle to see who can hit the biggest six.Know a video that belongs here? Alert us at

While teams batting first have won more often than not in the last ten Tests at the WACA, the matches are largely decided on their performances in the second innings

Shiva Jayaraman12-Nov-20154-1 Australia’s win-loss record at the WACA in the last five Tests here. They had lost to South Africa in 2012. In their last ten Tests at this venue, Australia have drawn only one game – against South Africa in 2005 – and won six. Two of their three defeats have been to South Africa and the other to India.1985 The last and only time Australia lost a Test to New Zealand in Perth. After that loss, the hosts have played New Zealand in four Tests here and have won one and drawn three. The first Test between the two at this venue, in 1980, ended in a victory for the hosts. Australia have a 2-1 record here against New Zealand in Tests.7-2 Win-loss record of teams batting first in the last ten Tests in Perth. India had lost to Australia after batting first in 2012 and the hosts themselves had lost to South Africa in 2008-09. Teams taking a lead of 250 or more at the end of the third innings have lost only twice in 20 matches: South Africa won chasing the second-highest target ever in Tests, in 2008 and India had lost to the hosts after setting a target of 339 in 1977. In the last ten Tests here at the WACA, teams have averaged 42.82 per wicket in the third innings, much higher than their average of 32.44, 24.65, and 32.70 in the first, second and third innings respectively. The percentage difference of 44.20 in averages between the third innings and the other three innings put together at the WACA is the highest such difference among venues to host at least five Tests since 2004.

Top venues – highest %age difference between ave in 3rd inns and others (min 5 Tests since 2004)

Venue Tests Ave in 3rd inns Ave (other inns) %age diffWACA, Perth 10 42.82 29.69 44.20Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy 5 34.27 24.46 40.06National Stadium, Karachi 5 51.77 38.04 36.07University Oval, Dunedin 6 42.18 32.54 29.64Dubai International Cricket Stadium 9 39.33 31.72 24.016 Australia players in the current squad who have played in Tests at the WACA before. David Warner is the leading run-scorer among them with 394 runs at an average of 78.80 with two hundreds – one of which was in the last Ashes Test here – and one fifty. Australia’s captain Steven Smith too got a hundred in the last Ashes Test at this venue and has made 169 runs at 47.33.117.33 Adam Voges’ batting average in his last 15 innings at the WACA, his home ground in first-class cricket. Voges has made 1056 runs with five hundreds and three fifties in his last 15 innings at this venue, including a double-hundred against Queensland in the 2013-14 Sheffield Shield. His last five scores at this venue have been 101, 139*, 101, 22* and 83. Overall, Voges has made 3442 first-class runs at the WACA – the highest he has at any venue – at 43.02 including 12 hundreds and 11 fifties.42 Wickets taken by Mitchell Johnson at the WACA – the most he has at any venue in Tests. His last five-wicket haul at this venue was in the 2010 Ashes Test against England when he took 6 for 38 in England’s first innings. Johnson averages 20.19 at this venue and has two five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul for the match. Mitchell Starc’s best figures in Tests have also come at the WACA, the last and the only time he played here against South Africa. Starc took 6 for 154 in South Africa’s second innings. Overall, Australia’s fast bowlers in their current squad have taken 66 wickets at an average of 22.36 at the WACA.310 Wicket taken by Johnson in Tests; he is level with Brett Lee who also took 310 Test wickets. With at least one more wicket at the WACA, Johnson will move ahead of Lee to become the fast bowler with the third-most wickets for Australia in Tests. Only Glenn McGrath (563 wickets) and Dennis Lillee (355) will be ahead of him. Johnson has taken 310 Test wickets at an average of 28.10 for Australia.0 Number of New Zealand players who have played in Tests at the WACA before. This will be the first Test for even their captain Brendon McCullum who has played seven Tests in Australia but not one at this venue. McCullum has made 338 runs in Tests in Australia at 26.00. New Zealand’s top five together have made 1037 runs in Australia at 27.28.96.42 Kane Williamson’s average in Tests this year. He has made three hundreds and two fifties in just eight innings this year. No other batsman has got at least 500 Test runs in 2015 at a better average. Among New Zealand batsman, Andrew Jones is the only one to get 500 or more Test runs in a year at a better average than Williamson’s this year. Jones got 513 runs at an average of 102.60 in 1991.7 Century stands by Australia’s openers in Tests this year, the most they have had in a year. Australia’s first wicket has made 1341 runs this year at an average of 78.88 – their best in any year in Tests when they have added at least 800 runs.

After years of putting his own career first, Kevin Pietersen has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative that uses cricket to help disadvantaged kids get their own leg-up

George Dobell23-Nov-20155:56

#PoliteEnquiries: Kevin Pietersen special

There was a time, not so long ago, when talking to Kevin Pietersen on the day of an England squad announcement would reopen old wounds and rouse sleeping dogs to bark once more.But those days have gone. Right or wrong, Pietersen’s international career is over and he knows it. Clinging to the past does nobody any good. While there was still the odd outburst of anger and frustration last Thursday – during this conversation, one coach was branded “a clown” and one non-selection “insane” – they are less frequent now. He has, just about, moved on.That has allowed room for new pursuits in his life. He plays golf, he sees more of his family, and he is able to approach cricket with the mental and physical rest periods for which he – and the likes of Eoin Morgan – have long argued. Indeed, the irony of Andrew Strauss adopting several of Pietersen’s opinions – embracing the IPL, sacking Peter Moores and attempting to cut the domestic schedule – is not lost on him. “If I didn’t laugh, I’d cry,” Pietersen says. “I told Strauss all this about six years ago and I was portrayed as the bad guy.”Most of all, though, he has a new motivation. After years (a lifetime, really) of thinking mainly about himself – his batting, his fitness, his career – he is driven by a more selfless desire. He is, after all those years pursuing personal ambitions, inspired to help other people.That is not meant to sound critical. Whatever the reputation – and there are as many former team-mates who talk warmly of Pietersen’s support as those who decry him – he is the first to admit that he was, as an international sportsman, single-minded in his focus. He was, like the vast majority of top athletes, hugely driven by personal ambition and pride. And they are, in many ways, admirable qualities. But they don’t always allow much time for thinking outside the bubble.At the launch of the Sprite 24/7 project. Pietersen plans to start a similar scheme in the UK•KP24 FoundationHe is the first to admit this. “I’ve been incredibly lucky to travel the world,” he says. “Playing international sport has given me a privileged life. I’ve been to amazing places and had some incredible experiences. But the truth is, when you are focusing on your career in international sport, you have to be quite….”Selfish?”Yes, you do. Selfish is right. You do have to be, if not selfish, then single-minded. That’s maybe a better way to put it.”I always worked very hard. I always took my training seriously and was focused on being as good as I could be. You have to be to enjoy that level of success. It is a job, and to be good at your job you have to spend a lot of time on it. It means you probably don’t give the time you should to other things.”And while I always noticed the world around me – the net bowlers who would do anything for us but went home without shoes; the kids running along beside the team bus; the poor areas we drove through – it passed me by a little bit. I’m not proud of that, but it’s true. And if I had allowed myself to think too much of that, I probably wouldn’t have had the success I have had. I wouldn’t have the profile I now have, which allows me to give something back.”But it was all about me in the past. It was all about my ambitions. My runs. So to do something now that is all about helping people is incredibly satisfying.”Pietersen is not the only cricketer to attempt to give something back at the end of a fine career. Maybe there is some irony in the fact that two of his former team-mates, team-mates with whom he is no longer close, have recently made generous gestures of their own. James Anderson is the executive producer of the film Warriors, a really quite beautiful documentary that shows how cricket has been used as a tool to educate and improve a Maasai community in Kenya, while Graeme Swann was so moved by a Chance to Shine visit to a school that he made a substantial donation to ensure they have the facilities they require.Sharing dressing rooms and hotels with a dozen other highly ambitious, driven young men for months at a time is liable to cause friction. Maybe, as they grow older, the members of England’s finest team for many years will realise they have far more that unites them than divides them.

“Look, I can’t change the world. But if I can change the world of one or two kids? Well, that would be great”

Certainly Pietersen feels he has changed. Shocked by the death of a close friend and enlightened by parenthood, Pietersen has matured. While his new book, On Cricket, isn’t exactly a mea culpa, it does contain a lot more reflection and self-criticism than many would expect. The anger, the ego, the hurt, have subsided. They have been replaced by something more positive.”This only started a year or so ago,” Pietersen says. “For the first time, I had time to reflect. I had time to think about what I wanted to do next. And I came up with two clear goals.”The first was to raise awareness of a rare form of cancer – ocular melanoma – that took my great friend, my other brother, really, Jon Cole-Edwardes, from us far, far too soon.”And the other was to give something back. I wanted to repay all those people from all round the world who have always been so supportive. I wanted to use some of the good fortune I have had to help those who haven’t had any fortune.”To that end, his charity, the KP24 Foundation, has set up the Sprite 24/7 project which launches this week. It sees teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, Bangladesh, Kenya and the UAE assemble in Dubai – the foundation covers all the costs and that of chaperones – for ten days of training, activities and a T20 tournament that is expected to attract thousands of spectators. Each squad contains 12 players between the ages of 16 and 18 from underprivileged backgrounds. Pietersen will be among the coaches, and one player from each team will be given a scholarship to support their cricketing development.”I enjoy life more now. I see old friends and they say ‘How much calmer are you now?'”•Getty ImagesHe has plans to launch a similar scheme in the UK. He hopes it will “mirror the franchise teams” he likes to think will replace the county structure in T20 cricket.It is easy to be cynical about celebrities involving themselves in charitable causes. Often it is justified, too. Commitment sometimes extends to little beyond a photo opportunity and some positive PR.Time will tell, but this doesn’t feel like that. Pietersen talks of the project with such passion, with such fervour, that even when it seems impossible to imagine his claim that he will one day be known more for his charitable work than his cricket, you suspect he believes it. He has put his own money into the foundation – the whole of his Surrey wages in 2014, for a start – and insists this is just the beginning.”I would love this to be my legacy,” he says. “Of course I’m incredibly proud of the runs I’ve scored and the success we’ve had, but improving the lives of these disadvantaged kids would be something else entirely. It will be about giving people some of the incredible opportunities I’ve had.”I know some people will be surprised I’m doing this. But hopefully I’ll win some people over and other people will accept that I’m just trying to help. Why wouldn’t I want to?”Look, I can’t change the world. I know that. But if I can change the world of one or two kids? Well, that would be great, wouldn’t it?”Pietersen knows that his profile, and therefore his public reach, is much greater while he remains a player. He therefore intends to continue on the T20 stage for a few years to come, though it seems audiences in England may see little of him. There seems every chance he has already played his last first-class game.”I scored a triple-hundred last summer and the England selectors still ignored me,” he says. “What’s the point of me turning up at the start of April to be nicked off by some 60mph seamer?”If I play for anyone, it will be Surrey. But I don’t like the NatWest Blast as a competition, as playing once a week doesn’t really work for my batting. Besides, my schedule is already very busy. I intend to play cricket for a few more years, but I don’t know how much of it will be in England.”That seems a shame. But maybe there is too much baggage, too much pain involved in going back.”I enjoy life more now,” he says. “I see old friends and they say ‘How much calmer are you now?’ The stuff that happened a couple of years ago… it took a lot out of me.”I’m cool with my life now. I like what we’re trying to do. It excites more than anything I’ve ever done before. It seems more important. I want to help create a legacy beyond the world of cricket.”And I don’t have any stress now. I see my family. I play golf. And I can do things like this – the foundation – which is more important to me now. I feel I’m a happier person now. A better person.”For more information visit www.kp24foundation.com