Ridiculed roundly after the innings defeat in Edgbaston, the team sat down to recognise what was needed of each player and the youngest of XI delivered a truly special performance

Melinda Farrell at Headingley30-Aug-2017Shai Hope shrugged the monkey off his back with a maiden Test century and then brutally booted it from the room with a second as he led West Indies to a thrilling victory – their first in England since 2000 – fulfilling the promise that led Clive Lloyd to present him with his cap as a 21-year-old two years ago.Hope became the first batsman to score centuries in both innings of a first-class match at Headingley, and the first West Indies player to perform the feat in a Test in England since Gordon Greenidge in 1976, as he helped his side pull off the second-highest chase at the ground.It was Hope’s partnerships with Kraigg Brathwaite – the two Barbadians have batted together since their early teens – in both innings that provided the foundation for a West Indies victory that was made all the more remarkable in coming just a week after their innings defeat in three days at Edgbaston.But Hopes was as cool in victory as he had been at the crease, seemingly unaware of his record in his post-match interview on Sky and exuding cool during the following press conference.”It was just clear mind, clear game plan,” Hope said. “I knew what I wanted to do in the middle and I just executed as best I can.”It was mainly about winning the game, especially after the loss at Edgbaston. Knowing how much the fellas really wanted this win, you could see the fight and belief in the dressing room on the faces of the guys.”I feel elated. We’ve worked hard as a team and we’re pleased to get over the line. I am a professional cricketer for a reason so I always believe in myself. We fought hard throughout the game, so we needed to do well with the bat.”Hope and Brathwaite came to the crease in the first innings with West Indies at 35 for 3 and then in the second innings at 53 for 2, steadying their side on both occasions before steering them towards victory with partnerships of 246 and 144. But while Brathwaite has shown his stubbornness at the crease in previous Tests, Hope’s twin centuries, following a lean run in his first two years of Test cricket, encapsulated the dramatic turnaround by a side that was publicly derided by former England and West Indies greats after the first Test.”I said if he gets one (hundred), he’ll get plenty – well he got one and he’s got another,” West Indies coach Stuart Law. “He’s been going through the form dip but he’s looked in good nick.”The stinging criticism from former players such as Curtly Ambrose and Geoffrey Boycott, who described the current team as the worst West Indies Test side he had seen, clearly struck a nerve with Jason Holder’s men in a similar way to Colin Graves’ infamous dismissal of them as “mediocre” ahead of England’s 2015 tour to the Caribbean.”It did something,” Holder said. “We had plenty of time to reflect, being in Birmingham three days. Each and every member of the team felt it, we were really hard on ourselves but it wasn’t a situation where we had to panic, it was a time for us to find solutions.”We sat down as a team and we had a really, really good meeting after the Edgbaston Test match and felt from there I could see most of the guys understanding a lot more about what was required of them and where we needed to be in terms of coming into this Test match and performing.”West Indies now head to Lord’s for a decider few would have foreseen with a confidence borne out of a victory that came despite dropped catches that allowed England back into the game after conceding a 169-run deficit in the first innings.”We have to be confident,” Hope said. “We’re Test cricketers for a reason and we know we have the ability to perform. We’ve got to make sure we put that almost perfect performance together because it’s very unlikely you play that perfect game but just try to string as many good consistent performances as possible in one game to get that win.””For many of us it’s a childhood dream to play a Test match at Lord’s and to come into Lord’s with a chance of winning the series,” Holder said. “Remember the first press conference we had people asked what are our chances. I gave us the same chances that England probably give themselves to win the series and that’s what we set out to do. It doesn’t always happen that way but the main thing for us is to keep progressing as a side and I think we’re showing that.”

Richie Richardson, the former West Indies captain, is currently a part of the ICC’s Elite Panel of match referees

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Aug-2017Former West Indies captain Richie Richardson has been appointed match referee by the ICC for the three-match T20 Independence Cup between Pakistan and the World XI side – the first instance since 2009 of an ICC match official overseeing cricket in Pakistan.Richardson has been a member of the ICC’s Elite Panel of match referees since January 2016 and has officiated in 11 Tests, 19 ODIs and 18 T20Is till date. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the ICC’s decision in a press release on Tuesday. “The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced that the International Cricket Council has appointed Sir Richie Richardson as match referee for the Independence Cup to be played between the World XI and Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium on 12, 13 and 15 September.”The ICC has thrown its weight behind this series, working closely with the PCB to tackle security which satisfied the standards of the players’ body, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA).Zimbabwe’s tour in 2015 – the only international tour by a Test-playing team since the terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009 – had gone ahead with local umpires and match officials. Prior to Zimbabwe’s tour, several countries had refused to play in Pakistan, in the aftermath of the attack in Lahore. The PCB, however, has been gradually pursuing more matches in the country. Earlier this year, a few international players turned out in Lahore for the final of the Pakistan Super League.

The left-arm spinner has been replaced by Fawad Ahmed in Victoria’s JLT One-Day Cup squad

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2017Jon Holland, the left-arm spinner, has been ruled out of Victoria’s JLT One-Day Cup opener because of a precautionary knee surgery due to “wear and tear.”He will be sidelined for up to a month. The vacancy created by Holland’s injury will be filled by Fawad Ahmed, the legspinner.Holland, who played two Tests on the tour of Sri Lanka last year, reported discomfort in his right knee more than a week ago. The injury flared up in Perth during Victoria’s first net session, leading to a “minor surgery” on Wednesday.”Jon reported some discomfort in his right knee following training last week. Initial scans proved inconclusive but Jon continued to feel some discomfort while bowling in Perth and we decided surgery would be the best option ahead of the season,” said Nick Adcock, Cricket Victoria’s Sports Science and Sports Medicine manager.”The surgery on his right knee was successful, and we’re hopeful Jon can return to training after two-four weeks recovery.”Ahmed is the second injury replacement for Victoria in this tournament. Earlier in the week, Xavier Crone was called in to the squad after fast bowler John Hastings injured his back at training.

Head coach Hemantha Devapriya is optimistic about Sri Lanka’s batting prowess after a demonstrable improvement in the Women’s World Cup earlier this year

Madushka Balasuriya 05-Oct-2017Sri Lanka women have left for their tour of the West Indies, beginning from October 11, in high spirits, boosted by a positive showing with the bat in this year’s Women’s World Cup in England.Despite losing six of their seven World Cup matches, the team crossed the 200-mark four times – one of which was a winning total of 221 for 7 against Pakistan in their final game – and came close in two other losing causes, with the only real blemish being their drubbing at the hands of South Africa when they were bowled out for 101.”[Prior to the tournament] a concern was that we were not getting close to 200. The team used to average 130, which was not good enough. But in the seven matches in the World Cup, we averaged 190 [195],” said head coach Hemantha Devapriya.This drastic improvement was in part down to the fine form of Chamari Atapattu, who was responsible for one the highlights of the tournament when she bludgeoned an unbeaten 178 in 143 balls against Australia. The rest of the team more than held their own though, thanks to a new-found focus on rotating the strike.”We developed a range of shots to increase the number of singles. We were therefore able to increase from an average of 40 runs, to 80 at the World Cup through singles,” Devapriya explained.The inclusion of wicketkeeper-batsman Rebeca Vandort in the 15-player squad travelling to the West Indies highlights the team’s intent of doubling down on their batting strength. Seven specialist batsmen in total have been included in the squad, while the likes of Shashikala Siriwardene, Atapattu and Sripali Weerakkody offer options with both bat and ball.The team will face the West Indies in three ODIs and three T20s.Sri Lanka squad: Inoka Ranaweera (capt), Sripali Weerakkody, Rebeca Vandort (wk), Prasadani Weerakkody, Chamari Atapattu, Dilani Manodara, Nipuni Hansika, Hasini Perera, Yashoda Mendis, Chandima Gunaratne, Hansima Karunaratne, Shashikala Siriwardene, Ama Kanchana, Achini Kulasuriya, Udeshika Prabodhani

New Zealand”s James Pamment, the former Northern Districts coach, has been announced as Rhodes’ replacement for the three-time IPL champions

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Dec-2017Jonty Rhodes has been replaced as Mumbai Indians’ fielding coach, thus ending his nine-season relationship with the three-time IPL champions. New Zealand’s James Pamment replaces Rhodes as Mumbai’s new fielding coach, after the former South Africa international expressed his desire to move on from his role with the team and focus on other ‘personal business ventures.’Rhodes joined the current IPL champions in 2009, and has been an integral member of the franchise’s support staff ever since. Team owner Akash Ambani praised Rhodes’ efforts with Mumbai Indians and said that his contributions would remain invaluable to the team.”Jonty has been a pillar of strength and energy in Mumbai Indians,” Ambani said. “His contribution cannot be valued in words. We respect his decision and wish him the best for the future.”Pamment has worked with the New Zealand national team as fielding specialist and was also Northern Districts’ head coach before this. Pamment, however, isn’t a new face for Mumbai Indians. He was the Northern Districts coach when the team faced Mumbai at the Champions League T20 three years ago.”What impressed us was the way James had coached Northern Districts in [the] Champions League T20 in 2014,” Ambani said. “And to be honest, his side’s fielding unit was one of the best Mumbai Indians had ever faced.”Pamment said he was excited for his new role with Mumbai, but said it was a big task to fill the shoes left behind by Rhodes.”It will be a great challenge and at the same time a privilege to fulfill the duties of a role that was held by someone like Jonty,” he said. “Jonty has instilled a brilliant work culture among the players, on and off the field, and the results are out there for everyone to see. Mumbai Indians is a champion outfit and I am grateful to the team’s ownership on giving me this opportunity.”

Mason Crane thinks English spinners are short of game time in first-class cricket, although a Test debut in Melbourne might change all that

George Dobell in Melbourne22-Dec-20171:37

Can England avoid a whitewash?

The scheduling of the county season is making it “tough” for young spinners to develop, according to Mason Crane.A day after Dawid Malan warned against overbowling fast bowlers, Crane has suggested there is “more opportunity” for young spinners in Australia.While Crane, the second spinner in the England squad, is grateful for the support he’s received from the ECB as a young player, he gently suggested that playing more Championship games “in the height of summer” and using the Kookaburra ball in county cricket might assist the development of spinners further.His own example makes for an interesting case study. Having impressed in Grade cricket last year (he claimed four five-fors and three seven-fors on the way to becoming the leading wicket-taker in New South Wales premier cricket), he was selected for New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield side. That made him their first overseas player since Imran Khan in 1984-85, and their first English player since William Caffyn in the 1960s. He performed admirably, too, with five wickets in the match.But on arriving back in England, he had to sit out several early season matches for Hampshire as they reasoned that, in such seam-friendly conditions, their spin-bowling duties could be fulfilled by the allrounder Liam Dawson. As a result, Crane found himself playing 2nd XI cricket for the first part of the season and didn’t feature in the Championship until May 19.”It is tough at the moment,” Crane said. “Half the games are in either September or April. In September, for example, they start the games a bit earlier so there’s still some dew around. It’s difficult to play another spinner. They played another seamer instead.”Even if you get a wicket where you think you might be playing, the weather suggests otherwise. And if it is going to be a two-and-a-half day game because of the rain, you probably want an extra seamer or batter. So it’s tough.”There’s more opportunity out here. We play a lot of white-ball cricket during the height of summer in England. Getting as many games in the height of summer as we can would be ideal for spinners.”Mason Crane is overjoyed at claiming AB de Villiers as his maiden international wicket•Getty Images

Another initiative Crane suggests is using the Kookaburra ball. The Duke’s ball, which is currently used in the County Championship, tends to offer prolonged assistance to seam and swing bowlers which can negate the need for spinners. The Dukes ball is also, Crane feels, tougher to grip when new for a spinner.”Maybe we could use Kookaburra ball in England,” he said. “They use the Duke’s here sometimes. I reckon you can bowl with these Kookaburras straightaway, new out of the packet. Duke’s are a bit slimier when they are new but I don’t really mind.”While Crane is grateful for the opportunities afforded him – notably the early promotion by Hampshire and England, the opportunity to work with Saqlain Mushtaq and the England age-group tours – he feels the trip to play Grade cricket and work with Stuart McGill was especially useful. And, while he has not currently had a chance to work with Shane Warne – they hoped to do so on the last day in Perth but the rain intervened – he hopes that will be arranged soon.”I’ve had great experience playing with Hampshire,” he said. “I’ve played with some international players and I was lucky in the summer to be around the Test side for three games against West Indies. I’ve been to Australia and played a lot of Under-19 stuff. Warne’s the best ever so I want to pick his brains. I’ve had a couple of chats with him, but he’s not said anything about bowling yet.”But as a young player, playing Grade cricket was one of the best things I could do. I was away from home for six months on my own. I had to learn all sorts of stuff and it’s brilliant to play with different players. I’d encourage any young player to come out.”Crane dismissed the perception that English cricket is short of spin-bowling stocks, intimating that several other players in the early stages of their career have the potential to develop if given sufficient game time.”There are exciting spinners in England. I think we are all reasonably similar ages as well. It is exciting to see because there are some very good bowlers out there. A lot of people say there are no spin bowlers but they are out there, they just need the time to play.”It remains possible that Crane could gain that playing time in the Boxing Day Test. With Craig Overton unlikely to be considered having been diagnosed with a cracked rib, England could turn to either Crane or one of the seamers (probably Tom Curran or Mark Wood) with a final decision to be made only after a look at the pitch.”I’ll be ready to play,” he said with confidence. “Even if it was a series decider I’d be confident I could do a job. We’ve done all the analysis. I’ve got plans for each of their batsmen.”He has a plan for Smith? “Give him a single!” he replied with a smile.Crane’s inclusion would, however, leave England with a No. 9 – his likely spot in the batting order – with a top first-class score of just 29. He has worked hard on his batting and it has clearly improved. But asking him to hang around against this attack is probably unreasonable at this stage.While it remains possible that Wood or Curran could come in for Stuart Broad, the England management have played down the extent of Broad’s knee problem and it would be a major decision to drop such an experienced player. He has bowled better than his series average suggests, too.England did not train on Friday. Reasoning that, at this stage of the series, their aches and pains – psychological as much as physical – might be better treated by rest, they were given another day to spend with their friends and families. Training resumes on Saturday.

The centurion was assisted by Jake Weatherald’s 65, as together they added 171 for the first wicket, the second-highest partnership in the tournament’s seven-season history

The Report by Geoff Lemon17-Jan-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAlex Carey and Jake Weatherald put up a 171-run first-wicket partnership•Getty Images

The streak had to end somewhere for Hobart Hurricanes and their star batsman D’Arcy Short, but it took the second-highest partnership in the history of the Big Bash League to do it. The Hurricanes had won five in a row thanks to Short’s blazing run of form, but an Adelaide Strikers total of 187 proved too tall at Adelaide Oval after Hobart’s star man was dismissed for 28.Adelaide’s innings was built on an opening stand worth 171 between Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald, falling one run short of the BBL’s all-time record partnership between Rob Quiney and Luke Wright for the Melbourne Stars back in 2012. The union threatened to push Adelaide onto a far more imposing total, but no one reckoned with Jofra Archer’s late intervention. The Bajan fast bowler collected three wickets and a run-out in the 18th and 20th overs in a brilliant individual display.But it was enough in the end, with Hobart held to 176 for 4 to lose by 11 runs. With two games left for both teams, it was a significant result: second on the table versus third, with a home final spot in the offing. Advantage Adelaide.A near-record opening standA couple of months ago, South Australian opener Weatherald and wicketkeeper Carey were plying their trade in the Sheffield Shield, both outside chances for a spot in the Ashes. Carey couldn’t make enough runs to force the selectors’ hand, while Weatherald made a pile but didn’t make the cut.They produced a very different kind of partnership across the course of 17.4 overs on Wednesday, equalling the unbeaten 171 between Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger for the Perth Scorchers in 2015, while falling just short of the all-time record.It didn’t look likely from the first three overs of spin, as neither batsman could find range against Clive Rose and Short. Adelaide had 11 off 18 balls before Carey got lucky off Archer with two top-edged boundaries.That was enough to kickstart the innings, as each batsman rained four sixes, Carey flying to his century in 54 balls while Weatherald played a T20 anchor role with 65 from 52. When Dan Christian was sacked for 22 runs in the 16th over, things looked very grim for Hurricanes, but that was about to change.Archer hits the bullseye: once, twice, three times, fourAlmost as exciting as Short for Hobart this season has been Archer, who bowls fast, nails yorkers, and is athletic in the field. He displayed all of those traits as he dragged Hobart back from the brink. At 170 without loss and three overs remaining, a total well in excess of 200 was on the cards. Archer hauled it back.He started with a couple of seemingly impossible dot balls, pure pace getting them through Weatherald without contact. Then a leg bye as he targeted the pad. By now the batsmen wanted to run for anything, and tried as Carey bunted back another fast full ball. Archer took off to his left, snared the rebound several metres off the pitch, tumbled, switched the ball to his other hand, then threw down one stump from short mid-on while sitting on his backside.If that wasn’t enough, he sent a screaming yorker through Carey the next ball, dismissing him for an even 100. He followed up in the final over by nailing Jono Wells lbw, then ripping another yorker so comprehensively through Jake Lehmann that the batsman ended up flat on his face. Two overs, eight runs, four dismissals, and a display of pure skill that few could match.Shorting the market doesn’t always workIf there’s one thing that Christian Bale’s character taught us in , it’s that you back it. The Hurricanes have been confident doing this, as their main man has rattled off 97, 96, 42, 122*, and 59 to win his team’s last five games.There’s genuine excitement about the all-rounder, who has seemingly come from nowhere, though he’s been working his way through Australian cricket’s tiers for several years. Hope for a Hurricanes win seemed to rest with him. For a time, things flowed his way. His first four of the night from Michael Neser was effortless, a pull floating to the boundary, then his first six clanged over square leg. On 20, he was dropped by Wells off Neser from a tricky running attempted catch at cover.But with his 500th run of the season looming, Short was dragged down by a climbing required run-rate, aiming a booming drive that took the edge to Carey. Neser won through in the end, and while it was 45 for 1 after seven overs, few sides will have felt closer to victory at the fall of the first wicket.Doolan can’t find the wheelsOne of the peculiarities of the Big Bash League is seeing sedate first-class players trying to find a way in the most frenetic format. Some, like Joe Burns for the Brisbane Heat, have been able. Others, like Alex Doolan for Hurricanes, have been less successful.Observers of Australian Test cricket would remember Doolan for his cameo in the baggy green in 2014. Selected for his ability to occupy the crease rather than unfurl lavish strokes, he has made an odd partnership with Short this season.Doolan’s slow start may well have been a factor in Short’s dismissal, having made 14 from 18 balls by the time his opening partner fell. In the end, Doolan batted through the innings, but a final mark of 70 from 55 balls wasn’t speedy enough to have kept his side in the game. Entering the last over with 22 needed, there wasn’t the sense that he could find the big shots required. Eventually, so it proved.

Mohammad Nabi is to join Leicestershire as an overseas player for their 2018 T20 campaign

George Dobell07-Mar-2018Mohammad Nabi is to join Leicestershire as an overseas player for their 2018 T20 campaign.Nabi, the veteran Afghanistan allrounder, is a vastly experienced white-ball cricketer with more than 150 international appearances behind him. He is currently placed at No. 11 in the ICC ODI bowling rankings and 22nd in the T20I rankings. He is third in both the ODI and T20I allrounder ratings.As well as his experience in international cricket, Nabi features regularly in T20 leagues around the world. He recently represented Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash and will play for Sunrisers Hyderabad in this year’s IPL. He has previously played club cricket in England.Leicestershire had already announced the signing of Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas as their other overseas player in the T20 competition.”I know all about Mohammad Nabi’s qualities in the game,” Paul Nixon, Leicestershire head coach, said. “He can make a huge impact in our middle order and is an offbreak bowler who operates with great control and skill.”Nabi has a brilliant white-ball record for Afghanistan and in T20 competitions around the world. He is exactly the type of player that we were looking for and is somebody who will fit in beautifully here.”Underlining the development of Afghan cricket, Nabi will be joined on the county circuit by team-mate Rashid Khan who has signed to play for Sussex in the Blast.

Henry Nicholls’ unbeaten 145 set up New Zealand’s declaration with a 369-run lead, but Mark Stoneman and Joe Root led England’s fight late on the fourth day

The Report by Nikhil Kalro25-Mar-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsGetty Images

It took England three-and-a-half days of gloom to show New Zealand their gritty side and yet by stumps they still had much work to do, having lost captain Joe Root off what turned out to be the last ball of the day. They trail by 237 runs in the second innings, with seven wickets in hand.Root and Mark Stoneman had defied New Zealand with an 88-run second-wicket partnership, both making spirited half-centuries. But just as England might have contemplated a good day’s work, their captain was dismissed by a brute of a bouncer from Trent Boult. Their battle in the dying stages of play was incredibly compelling, with the left-arm quick even engaging in a few verbals, and also striking a painful blow on Root right hand. One ball later, he took Root out, caught down the leg side.New Zealand’s declaration, determined strategically by time and not runs, to bowl with the newer ball under lights, came an hour into the second session, with a lead of 369. Henry Nicholls led their batting performance with his highest first-class score, an unbeaten 145.Faced with a massive deficit, Boult made a significant dent to England’s hopes of salvaging a draw by having Alastair Cook strangled down the leg side prior to the dinner break.Stoneman, having earned his place in the Test side after a county season in which he scored 1156 runs in 12 matches for Surrey last year, hadn’t really had the chance to showcase the fluency with which he scored all those runs in England. However, with attacking fields and the ball not moving much, he capitalised, freely driving and flicking through the line.Neil Wagner, who didn’t have much to do for the first three days, made his first significant contribution to the Test by having Stoneman caught at deep square leg with a short ball.At the other end, Root wasn’t short of confidence, waiting patiently for the shorter length, accumulating 29 of his 51 runs behind square on both sides of the wicket.Earlier on the fourth day, in entirely different overhead conditions, Nicholls displayed the same admirable patience and diligence to reach his second Test century. The leg side was particularly productive for Nicholls, as he forced the bowlers to err in his areas by repeatedly leaving balls outside his off stump. He scored 67 of his first 100 runs in the leg side, 30 of which came in the midwicket region.Against James Anderson and Stuart Broad, generating significant lateral movement, Nicholls and BJ Watling began cautiously. Watling had added 13 to his overnight score, before wafting at a wide delivery from Broad in an attempt to increase the rate of scoring. A thin edge was easily accepted by the keeper.Colin de Grandhomme helped New Zealand propel their scoring rate with a lively 39-ball 29, an innings that featured five fours and a six. There were the usual spanking drives, the disdainful pulls and the discernibly late cuts, both sides of point. He added 49 with Nicholls as New Zealand’s lead crossed 250, but the partnership could have been broken a lot sooner. In the 111th over, de Grandhomme inside-edged Chris Woakes into Jonny Bairstow’s gloves but umpire Bruce Oxenford ruled it not out and England did not have any reviews to challenge the on-field decision.Todd Astle scored 18 runs, with three fours, before he chopped on off Broad. Tim Southee chipped in with 25 in an eighth-wicket partnership worth 72. In total, New Zealand added 204 runs off 46 overs to set up their declaration.

The top-order batsman said that T20 is not played with only power shots, and that his role was to “play the anchor while the team plays around me”

Umar Farooq in Karachi03-Apr-2018Babar Azam has made a name for himself in the last couple of years with his strokeplay and consistent scores. A batting average of 53.15 in T20Is is compelling. He endured an underwhelming start to his career in 2015 but is now seen as a level-headed batsman in Pakistan’s top order. Even though his strike rate in T20s has been a talking point in recent times, he scored an unbeaten 97 off 58 balls against West Indies in the second T20I in Karachi, but regretted missing out on a century in front of a home crowd.Azam was on strike on 89 when Pakistan’s last over started, but he managed only eight runs off the five balls he faced from Kesrick Williams.”I went with a hundred in sight. That’s why I took a chance, but I wasn’t able to utilise a couple of balls, which is why I missed it,” he said after the match. “I had an experienced man – Shoaib Malik – at the other end, and was coordinating with him if I should take a chance or go for a single or double. I think that is where I lapsed, and I didn’t read a few balls that slowed things down. This is unfortunate for me, but only I am responsible for it. But I have another game tomorrow, and hopefully I can score a century this time.”Azam recently scored 402 runs in the Pakistan Super League, with the help of five half-centuries, and was the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament. He was promoted in this series to open in place of Ahmed Shehzad, and he pounced on it by smacking 13 fours and a six on Monday night, after scoring 17 in the opening T20. He was often criticised for his slowness and inability to shift gears with the pace of the match, as his strike rate of 122.18 showed in the PSL.”Runs are runs, even if they are coming off playing cut shots or in front, but it’s not like T20 can only be played with big shots,” he said. “It is not my role to go out and do the power hitting, my job is to play my natural game. There is always a plan, and that is very simple – to lead the game till the end, and my role is to play the anchor while the team plays around me. I know I shift gears, and when power hitting is required, I do it, but mostly, I just try to be myself and play my natural game.”Azam made it sound simple, but his innings during the second PSL eliminator, against Peshawar Zalmi in Lahore last month, was a major talking point. He had the composure but lacked the acceleration in the end overs. His knock of 63 off 45 balls at No. 3 for Karachi Kings went in vain as they fell short in their chase of 171 by 13 runs despite having eight wickets in hand.”I do not pay any heed to the negative thoughts, I just go with the plan my team gives me,” he said. “People do talk, but my job is to play cricket with 100% commitment. I also have no concern if I play as an opener or one-down, it’s all about what my team requires and I go with that. There is no pressure as such on me because I have a very strong belief in myself. I know if I have to play all three formats, I have to be fully fit with a positive mindset. Being a batsman, runs are always on my mind, otherwise the tension starts to mount. Playing all three formats is very demanding, and I know I can only do this by keeping myself fit.”Karachi is hosting international cricket after nine years, and even though Pakistan have clinched the T20I series with a 2-0 lead against a depleted West Indies side, Azam said winning was still important to boost their confidence.”Wining the series is always very important because it brings a lot confidence in you for the next tour,” he said. “We don’t consider them a weak opponent. They are the world champions, but we are given our plans, and we are just sticking to it and executing them accordingly.”No doubt, when you play in front of home crowd, it gives you immense confidence. You understand the home conditions very well and have the knowledge about playing at home in domestic cricket which helps you a lot for international games.”