Category Uncategorized

ScorecardAround noon, during their lunch break, Railways came to know Saurashtra had won their match. That meant Railways would not qualify for the knockouts even if they won. Around that time, Sanjay Bangar, one of the most respected domestic workhorses, made up his mind it was time to end his 20-year first-class career.Bangar’s team-mates were stunned at the decision, but they delivered him and Railways a consolatory win. One for the road. Or track, in the case of the team made up for Indian Railways’ employees.Bangar himself took two important wickets, those of opener Arindam Saha and captain Wriddhiman Saha. It went into the final session, though, and towards the end Anureet Singh began Bengal’s final slide with the wicket of Debabrata Das, who scored 44 off 55.
ScorecardRajasthan had taken the lead on the third day, sending Hyderabad into relegation, and day four was pretty academic. However, Vineet Saxena used the day well to sign off the season with an unbeaten 146.
ScorecardAlong with the paucity of quality spinners in India, probably as big an issue could be the inadequacy of domestic batsmen against good spin bowling. Madhya Pradesh provided the latest example of that, losing eight wickets for 45 runs in 22.1 overs to hand the remaining quarter-final spot in Group A to hosts Saurashtra. And it wasn’t even an experienced slow bowler who did the damage. It was 22-year old debutant left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, bowling with a classical pivot, who ran through MP to finish with six wickets in the innings and nine in the match.Click here for the full report.
ScorecardMumbai aborted a chase of 135 off a minimum of 41 overs and instead settledfor three points for the first innings lead against Gujarat in their lastRanji Trophy Group A game at the Dr DY Patil Sports Stadium.Click here for the full report.

Sri Lanka may have lost three of the four most prolific batsmen in their side on the second evening, but Rangana Herath says Sri Lanka will give little thought to avoiding the follow on

Andrew Fernando at the P Sara26-Nov-2012

Sri Lanka may have lost three of the four most prolific batsmen in their side on the second evening at the P Sara, but Rangana Herath says Sri Lanka will give little thought to avoiding the follow on. New Zealand made 412 in their first innings, with Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson both making hundreds, but Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene could only manage nine among the three of them.Dilshan played around a straight ball that clattered into middle and off from Tim Southee, before Sangakkara failed to control a hook on zero, finding the only leg-side fielder in the deep. Mahela Jayawardene then flirted outside off stump repeatedly before edging a cover drive to gully off Trent Boult, who angled the ball across him.The loss of three wickets means Sri Lanka have to rebuild in the first session tomorrow to earn parity with their opponents, but Angelo Mathews batted positively towards the end of play for an unbeaten 20, giving Sri Lanka hope of salvaging a good first-innings score. Opener Tharanga Paranavitana remained unbeaten on nine alongside him.”We’re not looking at the follow-on target, because we know the capability of our batsmen and if we bat well, we can go past 400 and past their score,” Herath said. “We trust our batsmen to be able to do that. The first hour of tomorrow is very important for us. We have to make sure that we don’t give away a wicket in that period and score as many runs as we can.Mathews had contributed to a first-innings rescue in Galle, where Sri Lanka recovered from 50 for 5 to take a lead. Sri Lanka finished at a comparatively more comfortable 43 for 3 at the P Sara, but have a much steeper New Zealand total to overhaul than the visitors’ 221 of the first Test.”I think we can do it, like we did in Galle. This is a similar situation and Angelo and Para are batting really well for us.”Herath said that although Sri Lanka could have been more circumspect, New Zealand’s fast men bowled well with the new ball. “I think we should have been little more cautious in batting than we were today, but mistakes can be there in any match. The most important thing is not really what happened, but how we are going to recover from this situation.”The hosts are unlikely to be without Thilan Samaraweera in the first innings, despite a split webbing on his hand that required stitches. Samaraweera sustained the injury at slip, when he spilt a difficult chance off Daniel Flynn, and Mathews was sent out to bat to allow him time to recover.Herath also completed his third consecutive five-wicket haul on day two, taking 6 for 103 in the first innings. He became the highest wicket-taker in 2012 when he bagged 11 scalps in the first Test, but now trails Graeme Swann by one wicket after Swann took eight wickets against India. With Monty Panesar and Pragyan Ojha also taking five-wicket hauls in the Test in Mumbai, Herath said it had been a special few days for left-arm spinners.”I think patience plays a crucial role for spinners. I played first-class cricket for more than 15 years and that taught me patience. This is my 42nd Test match but I think I have played more than 170 first-class matches.”

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and its players have agreed in principle to the central contracts for the next year

Tariq Engineer17-Jul-2012Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and its players have agreed in principle to the terms of the central contracts for the next year, bringing to an end almost five months of negotiations and avoiding a potential stand-off over Sri Lanka’s top players participating in the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL).The new contracts, which will run from March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2013, will bear the existing retainer and match fees, ESPNcricinfo understands.On Monday, Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka captain, had said the country’s cricketers might decide against taking part in the SLPL if the Sri Lankan board didn’t “settle” the players’ central contracts. The agreement between the two sides means the players no longer have any objections to taking part in the Twenty20 tournament.”Player contracts will be signed tomorrow or the day after,” Nishanta Ranatunga, the SLC secretary, told ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday. “It has been agreed upon by the players and the board.” Sri Lanka host India for five ODIs and one Twenty20 game from July 21, and Ranatunga was confident the contracts would be in place for the series.There was a discussion about requiring the players to seek prior permission from SLC before speaking to the media, but that clause did not make it in to the final version of the contract. However, if a player does make comments considered detrimental to SLC, he could face a disciplinary committee hearing.The contract issue follows a year in which SLC ran into financial problems after running up debts of close to $70 million to finance the building of two international stadiums in Hambantota and Pallekele, and to renovate the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, for the 2011 World Cup. As a result the players were not initially paid their salaries for eight months. In December 2011, 42.36% of the fees due to the players from the World Cup to September 30, 2011 were paid. The payment of US$2 million was made directly into the players’ bank accounts, instead of routing it through Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on December 16.SLC claimed to have paid the remaining dues in March 2012 after the state-owned Bank of Ceylon agreed to release 600 million rupees (approx US$5.07 million) to the board, following discussions with sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. However, the players have not been paid since the previous contracts expired, as the new contracts are yet to be signed.The SLPL starts on August 11, with the final to be played on August 31. SLC had released a list of 112 local players and 56 overseas players who will take part in the event. The tournament, which features seven franchises this year, will have two more the next year, covering all nine provinces.Jayawardene, who is the icon player for the Wayamba franchise, said the focus of the tournament should be on developing the game in Sri Lanka. “While we say all good things about the tournament, let me caution everyone … While we are making financial gains, the commitment of the people involved should be to harness the talent, develop the game in the outstations, get every possible youngster involved and let them realise their dream of playing for Sri Lanka one day.”

West Indies Women secured an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series against Sri Lanka Women by winning the rain-affected third Twenty20 international

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2012
ScorecardWest Indies Women secured an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series against Sri Lanka Women by winning the rain-affected third Twenty20 international in Trinidad.Persistent early morning showers led to a delayed start and the match was reduced to a 16-over contest. West Indies won the toss, bowled under overcast conditions and started strongly, reducing the visitors to 30 for 3 in the seventh over. Deepika Rasangika and Shashikala Siriwardene added 26 runs for the fourth wicket, but once Siriwardene was dismissed with the score on 56, Sri Lanka collapsed and only managed to reach 77 for 8.West Indies started shakily as Sripali Weerakkody ran through the top order, picking up three wickets, as the hosts were reduced to 25 for 5 in the seventh over. However Shemaine Campbelle (27*) held her nerve, putting on 18 runs for the seventh wicket with Anisa Mohammad and an unbeaten 24 runs off just 17 balls for the eighth wicket with Tremayne Smartt (12*), to help West Indies reach a hard-fought win.The fourth T20 will be played in Trinidad on May 7.

Ryan Harris has been deemed fit to return to Australia’s squad, but Shane Watson’s prospects for the remainder of the Test summer look increasingly cloudy

Daniel Brettig30-Dec-2011

Ryan Harris has been deemed fit to return to Australia’s squad and will be considered for a recall in the New Year’s Test match against India in Sydney. However Shane Watson’s prospects for the remainder of the Test summer look increasingly cloudy.Watson was unable to be considered due to the calf injury that reduced him to spectator status during the team’s batting camp ahead of the Melbourne Test.It was better news for Harris, whose recovery from a hip complaint and adherence to a strict training schedule to get his body up to the rigours of a Test match means he is now in contention for a place in the SCG team. His inclusion came at the expense of Mitchell Starc and Daniel Christian, the 12th and 13th men in Melbourne omitted for the SCG.Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting shored up their spots with vital runs at the MCG, while Brad Haddin was also retained as wicketkeeper and vice-captain despite a difficult match with the bat and an inconsistent one with the gloves.Australia’s captain Michael Clarke is an avowed fan of Harris’ bustling seam and swing bowling, which proved highly successful in Sri Lanka and South Africa before he complained of a hip problem in the second innings in Cape Town.Given a recent history of missing matches due to frequent injury complaints, Harris was put through a miniature pre-season training program between then and the end of 2011, designed to build up his endurance and resilience for the five days of a Test.”It all starts again on 3 January and we’ll go into the game with confidence and momentum,” the national selector John Inverarity said. “Ryan Harris has been added to the XI that played in the first Test in Melbourne. Ryan has had carefully monitored preparation, which has gone to plan. Mitchell Starc and Daniel Christian, who were both in squad for the first Test have been omitted but remain very much in our thinking.”Watson’s calf troubles remain a source of frustration and conjecture for the selectors, after the vice-captain essentially ruled himself out of both Melbourne and Sydney. The matter of whether or not Watson is to be recalled purely as a batsman is still in debate, with team management now committed to the selection of fully-fit players, as evidenced by Harris’ lengthy rehab before Sydney.”Shane has not fully recovered from his right calf injury and is therefore not available for the Sydney Test,” Australian team physio Alex Kountouris said. “He will continue his rehabilitation and hopefully be available for one of the remaining Test matches.”

Shane Watson, the Australia opening batsmen, is likely to make a comeback for the second ODI against South Africa in Port Elizabeth on Sunday. Watson sustained a hip injury before the second Twenty20 match last week and missed out on that game in Johannesburg and the first one-day international on Wednesday. He was not seriously hurt though, and was left out of the starting XI as a precaution, for fear of aggravating the niggle ahead of the Test series.”I’m confident with how Shane trained yesterday and that he’ll be fine to go,” Michael Clarke, Australia captain said. Shaun Marsh, Australia’s other injured player, took part in a session for the first time on Saturday since picking up a shoulder injury after playing in the first T20 in Cape Town ten days ago. Clarke said team management would give the pair “as long as possible” to see whether they are fit for Sunday’s match and will only announce their starting XI at the eleventh hour.If both Watson and Marsh are deemed fit, Australia will have four men capable of opening the batting and Clarke will have some decisions to make. David Warner, who was in ominous form at the Champions League T20 for New South Wales, but has only amassed 20 runs from three innings on this tour, and Ricky Ponting, who scored 63 in the first ODI, opened the batting on Wednesday. “It’s not a bad problem to have,” Clarke said. “We will wait and see what happens with Shaun today and with Shane. We’ll see how he pulls up and we will work out what the best XI is in these conditions. We need to make sure we assess them correctly.”St George’s Park’s much slower pitch, with lower bounce, will be vastly different to the pacy wicket the two sides played on in Centurion. A westerly wind is predicted, which should bring in moisture from the sea and offer something to the bowlers and although the pitch is likely to be flat, run-scoring can be more difficult here.That will not come as good news to former South African captain Graeme Smith, who has been under fire for his lack of form. Smith managed just four runs in the last ODI, which were overthrows and has looked increasingly uncomfortable at the crease. Clarke said Australia are not taking his lean patch for granted and they expect the Smith that stood up to them in the 2008-9 series to be back soon. “There’s certainly going to be a time in this series when Graeme will make run. He is a good player and his statistics certainly show that.”Clarke also sympathised with Smith, saying his public pasting is somewhat unwarranted. “He has been a very good captain and a very good player so I don’t know why he copped so much criticism,” he said. “In regards to playing against him, I respect him.”With Australia’s two left-arm pace bowlers, Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson, things are not set to get any easier for Smith, who has been hesitant against left-armers. Clarke thinks it’s not necessarily the arm the bowler uses, but the ability to swing the ball that is causing Smith problems. “Anytime the ball is swinging, whether you are right or left-handed, it’s tough batting,” he said. I think that was the case the other night, there was a bit of rain in the air and our bowlers did a very good job in good bowling conditions.”Australia’s attack is earning them high praise, with the blend of old hands and young talent proving successful. “We’ve got a couple left-handers and if the ball is swinging, they play a big part in bowling to left-handers, swinging the ball away. And, it’s no different with [Pat] Cummins or [James] Pattinson to right-handers, they take the ball away from the right-hander so it’s a good place to be with our fast bowlers at the moment.”Cummins has claimed the bulk of the spotlight, with his evident maturity at his young age constantly pointed out as exceptional. He was included in Australia’s Test squad at the expense of Pattinson, who was included in the squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. Pattinson has faded a little but Clarke is convinced that he will make an appearance again soon. “He is a young guy and he is trying to improve every time he walks into the nets,” he said. “I’m confident you will see more of him, whether it’s in this series or in the Australian summer. He has got an opportunity to perform for Victoria while we are playing the Tests. I wouldn’t be surprised if you see him playing in these one-dayers either.”The Port Elizabeth pitch may not be the place for Pattinson but the venue of the third ODI, Durban, may give him his chance. By then, Australia hope to have wrapped up the series and Clarke said even if they have, they will go for the kill and look to sweep South Africa. For now, their focus is on the second ODI and they have a reason other than a trophy to want to emerge victorious. Wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin, turns 34 on Sunday and Clarke said, “I’d love nothing more than to win the series for him to celebrate his birthday.”

Somerset regained the leadership of Group C with a comfortable six-wicketvictory over the Unicorns in the Clydesdale Bank 40 match at Taunton

21-Aug-2011
ScorecardSomerset regained the leadership of Group C with a comfortable six-wicketvictory over the Unicorns in the Clydesdale Bank 40 match at Taunton.The visitors posted 208 for 5 after winning the toss, Michael Thornelybecoming the first Unicorns player to score a century in the competition thisseason. The opener was unbeaten on 105 at the end of the 40 overs, while captain KeithParsons contributed 38. George Dockrell was the pick of the Somerset bowlerswith one wicket for 24 runs from his eight overs.The total was never likely to test Somerset’s strong batting line-up. MarcusTrescothick (53) and Craig Kieswetter (45) put on 99 in 14 overs and after bothdeparted James Hildreth (50 not out) ensured victory with more than five oversto spare.Spinners Bradley Wadlan (two for 39) and Luke Beaven, who conceded only 34 fromhis eight overs, did their best to tie the home side down, but the Unicorns were50 runs short of a competitive total. That was despite a tremendous effort from Thornely, who hit 11 fours in facing 115 balls. He gave one chance in the final over when he was dropped by JosButtler at deep midwicket off Alfonso Thomas.By then Thornely was on 104, having paced his innings well. Former Somersetfavourite Parsons leant good support in a fourth wicket stand of 53 and willhave been disappointed to sky a catch to deep midwicket with his team 115 forthree in the 26th over. Dockrell, who opened the bowling with his left arm spin, showed excellentcontrol and variation to go for just three an over.Trescothick and Kieswetter looked set to make light work of their target. But,on 45, Kieswetter drove a catch to cover off Luis Reece and it sparked a blip inthe Somerset innings.Trescothick soon followed, having hit seven fours in his 42-ball innings,bowled trying to reverse sweep Wadlan. And when Peter Trego was caught at coverto give Wadlan another wicket it was 116 for three. Nick Compton celebrated the award of his county cap at the interval with a steadying 25 off 43 balls, allowing Hildreth to go for his shots as he moved to a half-century off 50 deliveries.When Compton was bowled by Andy McGarry with 27 runs still needed, Jos Buttlermarched out to hit 23 of them off just eight balls, ending the game with a bigsix over midwicket off Glen Querl. A victory in one of their two remaining games should now be enough to put Somerset in the semi-finals.

Patrick Cummins, the promising New South Wales pace bowler, has been ruled out of the Australia A tour of Zimbabwe due to a back injury. Though Cummins has avoided the more lasting problems of stress fractures, it is a further blow to Australian pace bowling stocks that have taken hit after hit over the past 18 months as a succession of young bowlers succumbed to ailments.The injury adds Cummins to a list that has included Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris, Ben Cutting, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Burt Cockley, Doug Bollinger, Mitchell Starc and Clint McKay. Following a debut season for the Blues in which he startled many batsmen with his sustained speed, bounce and movement, 18-year-old Cummins complained of discomfort in his lower back, and examinations showed up a strain.Greg Chappell, the national selector, said Cummins was still “two or three” years away from maturity as a bowler and a man, but did not rule out Australian duty for him in the intervening years.”We know that young bowlers are vulnerable until their bones mature. We’ll have to be very careful with him,” Chappell told . “The advice we were given was that it would probably be too early for him to go to Zimbabwe and give it another couple of months it gives him a chance to recover from the soreness and also start building that body up.”He’s going to need two or three really good pre-seasons in him before we could expect him to be at his full strength and fitness, but we also see him as someone we could possibly use in that intervening period, so we’ve got to give him the best opportunity to be right for the critical moments. Zimbabwe it wasn’t important that we try to rush him to get him for that.”We know he’s right there, he’s performed in first-class cricket, he’s done well at that higher level so he has the potential to go the whole distance. But as with Hazlewood, [James] Pattinson, Starc, we’re just going to have to be really conscious of that management process, albeit wanting to get as much bowling into them as they can so they gain experience and gain knowledge to help get them there faster.”Players and observers had marvelled at Cummins’ ability at such a young age to keep hurling the ball down in lengthier spells than the brief bursts he was permitted in Twenty20 cricket, impressing particularly in the last two Sheffield Shield matches of the season.Against Western Australia at the SCG he delivered one spell from around the wicket that seriously threatened the health of the two Warriors batsmen at the crease, while in the Shield final against Tasmania his fiery bursts were maintained over the course of a marathon bowling stint. Cummins’ tally of overs for the match was a gargantuan 65, 48 of those in the first innings when he returned the figures of 3 for 118.Brett Lee, who fought a lengthy battle with an elbow problem to be fit in time for this year’s World Cup, has said that fast bowlers should expect to get injured in their early years as part of learning how to manage their body.”It is about making sure that guys are looked after and understand too that it is such an unnatural action, and not be put in a class where they think you’ve got to be rested and can only bowl a certain amount of balls,” Lee said during the Indian Premier League. “Because you’ve got to be hardened as well for a fast bowler, you can’t be put in the nets and be told you can only bowl 30 balls for that week and then see you next week type of thing.”Your body and your bones have got to get used to that stress going through it. The old saying goes that through all the impact of bowling you get bone on bone and it creates a stronger platform to leverage off. If you haven’t got that, your bones are soft and you haven’t done the work, you can’t expect to go bowling in the SCG nets at 130kph twice a week, then go into a Test match and try to bowl 150 clicks for five days straight – the jump is massive.”It’s a massive catch-22 [situation] because you’ve got to do the work but you’ve also got to be fresh somehow. I don’t really know what the answer is but I think it comes down to the individual. As bowlers get older they definitely got to know their body a lot better. I certainly know now the stiffness that might be my legs, might be my elbow, might be my back, I just know its stiffness because I haven’t bowled for a week or because I’ve bowled for 10 overs flat-out, it’s been hot, it’s been humid, you’re dehydrated.”Cummins is on a modified training program as he recovers from the strain and hopes to join other scholars at Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Brisbane later in the year. George Bailey, the Tasmania captain and leader of Australia A last winter, is also missing the tour due to his rehabilitation from surgery on his right shoulder

Liverpool are having a phenomenal season already winning the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, with the chance to win both the Premier League title and Champions League over the next few weeks too, so it will surely be an exciting time to be a player or a supporter of the club.

With that being said, to stay on top you must keep strengthening, improving and developing the squad and with many of Liverpool’s side already in or entering their 30s this year, it would be a good idea for Jurgen Klopp to start considering the next generation of talent he can develop into superstars.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

Roberto Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane all have contracts ending in just over 12 months, with the Egyptian winger’s contract, in particular, being a highly speculated subject ahead of the summer transfer window.

Liverpool’s top goal-scorer has been one of the side’s best players over the years but it seems that his contract is at a stalemate, with Caught Offside reporting two weeks ago that a source has told them the negotiations have not progressed any further and the Reds are not interested in budging when it comes to their strict wage structure.

If the powers at Anfield and Salah can’t come to an agreement it could see the player leave the club, whether that means he will be sold for a profit this summer or allowed to see out his last 12 months at the club and leave on a free transfer next summer.

Regardless of the outcome, Klopp must start preparing for the worst-case scenario and could be eyeing up his replacement who already plays in the Premier League with Bukayo Saka heavily linked with Liverpool for a while now.

The £150m ace who was hailed a “wonderkid” by journalist James Benge has been impressing for Arsenal and England over the last 12 months, playing his part in the Euro 2020 final last summer and being part of Arsenal’s impressive season that has kept them in the top four race for months.

Saka has scored 11 goals and contributed six assists for the Gunners in 37 Premier League appearances, creating eight big chances, making 1.8 key passes and 1.1 tackles, proving how effective and creative he can be in attacking play.

Podcaster Ian McGarry even claimed back in January that the youngster fits into Liverpool’s system in an interview with talkSPORT:

“Saka is someone who is a player who suits Liverpool’s style.

“Liverpool would provide the opportunity and platform for him to play and compete at the highest level. And that would certainly be something that I’m told he and his representatives are very interested in.”

Ultimately, Saka will likely want to continue to play first-team football and get regular game time whether he stays at Arsenal or moves on, so if FSG are seriously interested in the young talent they will need to sacrifice a position in the attacking rotation to provide him with a regular spot in the team.

Perhaps they ought to wait until Salah really has had enough of Merseyside before making a move.

AND in other news: Huge boost: James Pearce delivers four-word injury update that’ll delight supporters

Shane Watson’s brilliant match-winning century at the MCG suggested a mind focused firmly on the job, but his thoughts have been far from the cricket world over the past few days. While Watson plundered an unbeaten 161 against England, the fifth-best individual score in Australia’s ODI history, the residents of his hometown, Ipswich, were starting the clean-up after devastating floods, and by Monday, he’ll be there too.Shortly after Watson brought up victory with a six in the 50th over, he was already casting his mind to Queensland and a two-day trip back home before Australia’s next ODI, which is in Hobart on Friday. Watson has organised a sausage sizzle at a Bunning’s hardware store in the Ipswich suburb of Booval, and he’ll be doing what he can to raise funds and lift spirits.”I haven’t really been thinking about cricket too much,” Watson said. “It has been all about what’s been going on back home and also trying to organise things that I can do after this game to be able to help out in any way I can. It’s going to be great to be able to get up to Ipswich tomorrow morning and to be able to help out. My mind has been there.”I’m really looking forward to being able to get up there and feeling like I can have some input in some way. My family was lucky enough not to be affected, but I know some of my friends who live close to the river, and also my primary school, the grounds close to it were all flooded. It’s going to be heart-wrenching to see the devastation that’s there.”It will be a far cry from the MCG, where Watson thrilled the crowd with a fluent and powerful innings that featured four sixes. Right from the start, the ball fizzed off his bat with impeccable timing, and in pursuit of 295, he and his opening partner Brad Haddin ensured that Australia got to 110 in the 20th over before they lost a wicket.By the closing stages, things became a little tighter but Cameron White helped to close things out with an unbeaten 25, which included a couple of important boundaries to long-on when Watson was tiring. But Watson had enough left in his tank to bring the fans to their feet with the first ball of the last over, when four runs were needed and he lifted Ajmal Shahzad over long-on for six.”Cameron White was great to keep me thinking about exactly what was required and how we were going to do it,” Watson said. “I was a little bit tired at that stage so for him to process it well with me, it worked out nicely in the end. To be able to get through and get a hundred, it’s going to continue to build my confidence if I get close to there in Test matches.”Watson has a habit of failing to capitalise on his starts in Test cricket, where he has made 15 scores from 50 to 99, but only two centuries. However, in ODIs, he has now managed five hundreds. And none of it means as much to him as the trip he’ll make to Ipswich this week.