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Usman Khawaja has had two unsuccessful shots at Test cricket, and despite making the squad for the upcoming New Zealand matches, he knows he may not get a fourth chance

Brydon Coverdale in Brisbane04-Nov-20151:56

‘Disappointed I wasn’t picked for the World Cup’ – Khawaja

In his first incarnation as a Test cricketer, Usman Khawaja played six Tests, scored just one half-century, and was dropped. In his second coming, Khawaja played three Tests, made one half-century, and was dropped. In his third crack at Test cricket … who knows? The rest of that story is yet to be written. But Khawaja is 28, and knows there may not be a fourth chance.He is philosophical about his cricket – “Just because I’ve been picked a third time doesn’t mean I am somehow going to be Don Bradman” – but determined to give himself the best chance of succeeding at Test level. His desire for self-improvement led him to move from New South Wales to Queensland in 2012, a change that he believes has benefited his game greatly.Part of the reason for his move was a desire to work under the coach Darren Lehmann, who was then in charge of the Bulls and is now the national coach. Khawaja has certainly thrived at the Gabba, where he scored his maiden first-class century for New South Wales and where he now averages 67.46 in first-class cricket.”I have improved a lot since I’ve moved up to Queensland,” Khawaja said. “Boof was up here, I wanted a fresh start and I have loved every bit of Queensland. I have trained my backside off every time I have come here trying to improve as a cricketer. But every game is a new game. There is nothing set in stone, there is nothing to say that I will come here and blast 400, I have to do a lot of hard work.”My game always suited the Gabba. It’s a ground where you get a lot of rewards as a batsman. It’s tough work, it swings around, but at the same time it comes onto the bat really nicely. It’s like the WACA, if you get yourself in, you can really go on with it and make a big one. You have to do the hard work early on to get the rewards later on.”Khawaja is one of those fringe Test players for whom big things were expected due to the class of his strokeplay, but in nine Tests he has not managed a score greater than 65. He is realistic about the fact that his future now lies in his own hands, and his team-mates also hope that he can show at Test level the kind of skill that he has displayed for Queensland and New South Wales.”It’s time for him to step up and show what he really can do and what he’s capable of because we know what he’s capable of,” David Warner said. “But it’s about him now on this stage, the different class of Test cricket to show what he is capable of and I think he’s definitely got the game to do it. He’s got the patience. He leaves very well outside off and when he gets in he does cash in.”Khawaja’s first foray into Test cricket ended as the result of a lean home series against New Zealand, the last time the two teams met in 2011. Then in 2013, he missed out on a recall during the tour of India when he was one of the players suspended over the homework incident – which he plainly states he believes was unfair – and had a short stint in the side during the Ashes only to be cut again.With Steven Smith moving down to No.4, Khawaja will be Australia’s No.3 during this series, a position he has occupied in the Test side before. And while the squad has so far been chosen for at least the first two Tests against New Zealand in Brisbane and Perth, Khawaja has no idea how long he will be given to prove himself.”It’s hard to say, you don’t know what the selectors are thinking, that’s why you don’t want to leave it in the selectors hands, you want to go out and perform straight away,” Khawaja said. “No one had a magic eight ball on how I will go. Whether I’m playing club cricket, first-class cricket or Test cricket, there’s always pressure to perform. It’s sport and that’s what you love about it.”

Tim Paine scored an unbeaten century and Evan Gulbis claimed 4 for 12 as Tasmania cruised to a 93-run victory over South Australia at Blacktown

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2015
ScorecardTim Paine made an unbeaten 109•Getty ImagesTim Paine scored an unbeaten century and Evan Gulbis claimed 4 for 12 as Tasmania cruised to a 93-run victory over South Australia at Blacktown. Paine batted throughout the Tasmania innings to finish unbeaten on 109 from 141 deliveries in Tasmania’s 4 for 234, and despite a strong opening partnership the Redbacks were unable to get near the target.Travis Head (39) and Tim Ludeman (21) put on 57 for the opening wicket but both men fell to Gulbis, who also claimed the final two wickets of the South Australian innings and effected a run-out to get rid of Sam Raphael for 20. South Australia struggled to gain any momentum through the middle overs as the spin of Clive Rose (2 for 26) and Xavier Doherty chipped in with wickets.In the end, the South Australia innings ended in the 41st over when they were bowled out for 141. They only just managed to score more for their whole innings than Tasmania’s opening pair, Paine and Ben Dunk, who combined for 134 before Dunk was caught off the bowling of Head for 67 from 99 deliveries.Scoring wasn’t easy on a slow surface and Paine paced his innings well, striking four fours and one six along the way. James Faulkner added an important 32 from 38 balls, including one six; he also claimed the wicket of Callum Ferguson later in the day.

Scorecard File photo: Richmond Mutumbami scored fifties in both innings to drive the Tuskers home•AFP

Matebeleland Tuskers consolidated their position at the top of the table with a six-wicket win over Mountaineers in Bulawayo. Tuskers have 38 points from eight games, ten points clear of the second-placed Mid-West Rhinos. Mountaineers, though, continue to remain at the bottom.After being asked to bat, the Mountaineers lost captain Tino Mawoyo for a duck, but Kevin Kasuza and Charles Kunje added 60 to steady the innings briefly. The wicket of Kunje, however, triggered a collapse and they were scuttled for 150, courtesy Brian Vitori and Luke Jongwe, who took nine wickets between them.In response, the Tuskers were reduced to 27 for 3, but fifties from Richmond Mutumbami and Jongwe, assisted by useful contributions from Godwill Mamhiyo and John Nyumbu, helped them gain a first-innings lead of 139.The Mountaineers’ batsmen gave a better account of themselves in their second innings, with Kunje’s steady 93 steering them to 275. John Nyumbu played a major hand in restricting them to the total, taking 6 for 96. The target of 137 hardly challenged the Tuskers despite a top-order wobble.Mutumbami cracked an unbeaten 72 off 68 balls and extended his match tally to 127, ensuring that his team chased down the target inside 37 overs.

Tim Ludeman went on to score a hundred on day two for South Australia, and help them get into a comfortable enough position to declare, but their advantage was quickly diminished by Victoria’s openers

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Nov-2014
ScorecardFile photo: Chris Rogers got the 71st first-class ton of his career•Getty Images

Tim Ludeman went on to score a hundred on day two for South Australia, and help them get into a comfortable enough position to declare, but their advantage was quickly diminished by Victoria’s openers. Rob Quiney did not kick on from the start he had – 52 in a partnership of 130 – but Chris Rogers did. Rogers completed his 71st first-class century by stumps, getting Victoria almost halfway to South Australia’s 431 for the loss of just one wicket.He got good support from Marcus Stoinis, who finished the day unbeaten on 37.Ludeman had begun the day two short of three figures, and though he got there, he could not add considerably to his overnight score – he was out for 106. The same can be said of the other centurion, Callum Ferguson, who added only three to his overnight 137. But quick cameos from Johan Botha, Joe Mennie and Adam Zampa – his 33 came off just 12 balls with two fours and three sixes – ensured they could go ahead and declare.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India’s top bowler in the ongoing Test series against England with 11 wickets, has said his good form with the bat has been a major factor in helping him perform well with the ball

PTI20-Jul-2014

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India’s top bowler in the ongoing Test series against England with 11 wickets, has said his good form with the bat has been a major factor in helping him perform well with the ball. Bhuvneshwar, who struck two half-centuries in the drawn opening Test in Nottingham, picked up six wickets in the second Test at Lord’s to be the pick of the Indian bowlers.”If you think like a batsman, you have an upper-hand over the man you’re bowling to,” Bhuvneshwar told . “All the runs that I have scored here have played a huge role in the way I have bowled. Having batted there for long hours, I know where the batsman will find it difficult to play the ball.”I can anticipate what is going on in his mind and plan the next ball accordingly. The runs also give you confidence, which gets transformed into courage of conviction when you come on to bowl,” he said.Bhuvneshwar said it felt good to make his mark with the ball at Lord’s. “Luckily it has turned out like that. I am happy I was able to keep that little tradition going. It will be good to see my name up on the honours board with my two state mates, RP Singh and Praveen Kumar,” he said referring to the two other Indians who picked up five-wicket hauls on their Lord’s debut.Bhuvneshwar said his bowling style is similar to Praveen, who handed him useful tips ahead of the tour. He said, “…he [Praveen] just told me, ‘you know what you have to do’. He was very helpful in terms of giving me information about the different groundsand their peculiarities. For instance, of Lord’s he told me about the slope.”He said you’ll feel a bit awkward at times bowling there but be mentally prepared. Honestly, when you look at the ground, you can see the slope but once you start bowling, you don’t feel much difference. It’s not as peculiar as people have made it out to be,” he added.Asked about his equation with skipper MS Dhoni, Bhuvneshwar heaped praise on the captain, saying that he gave him a free run when it came to setting up fields.”MS has always been a bowler’s captain. Even in my debut match he told me, ‘set your own fields and make your own plans. If I feel the need to change anything, I will tell you’. Since then it has worked that way and he is very open to suggestions if I want something different from what he does,” he said.”We discuss the plans and strategies and that has helped us build good understanding between us. So far my plan in this series has been to get the batsman out behind him. For that you have to bowl a tight line and length. At times MS also stands up to me. That’s for when the batsman is trying to get forward to cut the swing.”If the keeper is standing up, in the fear of getting stumped, the batsman will not try to walk down the wicket to negate the swing. We have figured out when to use that ploy and against which batsmen. Sometimes, he moves back and forth in a single over. That is the kind of planning that I do with MS,” he added.Speaking about his experience of bowling on the Trent Bridge track in the opening Test, Bhuvneshwar said the pitch was quite similar to the ones in India.”The conditions and the wicket at Trent Bridge were very similar to those in India. But the difference was that in India, because the ball starts to turn very early, the spinners do most of the bowling and my role is much different,” he said.”I mostly bowl with the new ball while it is swinging and get some wickets upfront. Here I have bowled a lot of overs and have had a role to play throughout the day.”

Leeds United are thought to be looking at extending Luke Ayling’s contract at Elland Road beyond the summer.  

The Lowdown: Back as first choice…

Ayling missed the opening five Premier League games through injury, with summer signing Rasmus Kristensen featuring heavily under Jesse Marsch.

However, the 31-year-old appears to be first choice once again, starting the last four top-flight fixtures for the Whites, helping keep two clean sheets against Newcastle and Brentford. His contract is set to expire in the summer, however it looks as if Leeds officials are keen to finalise new terms.

The Latest: Contract update

MOT Leeds News provided an update regarding Ayling on Wednesday, saying that talks are ongoing with the defender’s representatives.

Leeds are apparently looking at a new deal until at least the end of the 2023/24 season, with the new terms proposed financially similar to his current package.

The Verdict: Alongside Harrison?

It looks as if Victor Orta could be a busy man over the coming weeks and months regarding new contracts, with talks also expected soon with Jack Harrison.

Ayling, who Marsch hailed for playing an ‘incredible part’ during his tenure, is clearly another player on the club’s radar, and an extension would be a wise move, although the club need to be aware of Cody Drameh’s rise after his fine spell on loan with Cardiff City last season.

The youngster is now out on loan with Luton Town and could soon be wanting regular game time in the top flight, but having Ayling, who can also provide cover at centre-back, in and around the squad for the foreseeable future appears to be a wise idea.

Glasgow Rangers appear to be in a much better position now than they were before the World Cup hiatus.

Under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the club had slipped nine points behind their Glasgow arch-rivals in the Premiership title race, while losing all six of their Champions League group matches.

The Dutchman was duly sacked and former Ibrox first-team coach Michael Beale was appointed as manager in the 47-year-old’s stead.

Despite winning five matches from six since the resumption of the campaign in December, defensive issues remain, especially considering that Rangers have conceded six goals in those matches.

The Light Blues have been linked with a summer move for Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook.

Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin have conceded a staggering 47 goals between them this season, and a move for Begovic would surely make sense during this month’s transfer window rather than in the summer.

McGregor’s contract expires at the end of the season and this will almost certainly be his last campaign at the club as he turns 41 later this month, so Beale will surely be looking at bringing in another shot-stopper.

The Bosnian certainly fits the bill, especially with his experience in the Premier League. The 35-year-old has made 256 appearances in the English top flight, keeping 65 clean sheets while also winning one league title and an FA Cup during his time in England.

While mainly a backup option at Everton, he impressed during a loan spell at Bournemouth in 2020/21, playing 45 league matches for the club while making 2.7 saves per game and keeping 15 clean sheets, but he hasn’t had many chances to shine over the previous 18 months.

In his only Premier League appearance this term, he was in stunning form, saving all four of the shots that he faced while keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win against West Ham United. This shows that, even though he is a backup to Jordan Pickford on Merseyside, he can still produce at the highest level.

It’s no wonder that the £45k-per-week veteran was dubbed the “ultimate professional” by his former manager Eddie Howe, and if Beale is looking for an experienced player who will be available for free in the summer, Begovic could be his ideal signing to solve his glaring goalkeeping problem at Rangers.

Tottenham Hotspur have the approval of Nicolo Zaniolo over a potential move to north London this month but still need to convince Roma of their proposal.

What’s the latest?

With just days remaining of the January transfer window, the Lilywhites are yet to bring any new faces through the doors at Hotspur Way.

This comes amid growing pressure on whether their manager, Antonio Conte, will see out the remainder of his contract, never mind put pen to paper on a new deal.

However, Fabrizio Romano has suggested the Liywhites have reignited their interest in Zaniolo from the summer and have made an approach to Roma.

But speaking on his YouTube channel, the journalist has claimed the two clubs are still apart over the terms of a possible deal despite the player being keen on a move to Spurs:

“Roma are prepared to let him leave in January but Roma, at the moment, want around €35-40m for Zaniolo and a permanent transfer, not a loan. But Tottenham have decided in a very clear way that they will only sign Nicolo Zaniolo on loan, then, of course, this loan could include a buy option.”

“Tottenham are speaking to them about Zaniolo; I’m told the player would be really keen on the move, so the player would be happy to join Premier League in general and Tottenham in this case.”

First signing soon?

It has been a disappointing couple of months for Spurs with the results not going their way and the speculation surrounding the future of their manager not making positive reading.

However, last January saw the Lilywhites handed a new lease of life with the additions of Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur on the last day of the window.

The pair both arrived from Juventus and provided Spurs with a huge boost which, ultimately, helped them to land a spot in the top four.

And we do wonder whether this is what they are hoping for with the potential signing of Zaniolo who is a player they have been linked with for a while now.

The Italian has – like Bentancur and Kulusevski – had his difficulties in Serie A making this a potential risk of a signing.

However, he is clearly someone who Spurs have had their eyes on for a period of time now with links going back to last summer’s transfer window.

The 23-year-old has shown some promise in Serie A with the Roma legend, Daniele De Rossi, speaking incredibly highly of him back in 2019:

“He has an incredible natural physique for someone who is only 19 and also has great technical quality. In my opinion, as perhaps with everyone now, he is already a very good player – and can become a great one,” he said.

But there will likely be some concerns among the Spurs fans of his low goals and assists return for Roma over the years with his highest return of six goals and two assists in a league campaign (via Transfermarkt)

However, perhaps the bigger concern should be surrounding his injury record with the Italian carrying an unwanted history already at the age of just 23.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailThe first qualifier of the inaugural Pakistan Super League was a nail-biting affair and came down to the last ball, with Quetta Gladiators holding their nerve to clinch a one-run win and leave their opponents Peshawar Zalmi heartbroken. Victory for Quetta secured their berth in Tuesday’s final in Dubai, while Peshawar will have a chance to make amends for their close defeat in the third and last qualifier, against either Karachi Kings or Islamabad United.After 39 overs of entertaining cricket at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Peshawar were left needing eight runs from six balls; Quetta required three wickets. Darren Sammy, who had blown new life into Peshawar’s chase, had just been dismissed and the edge – albeit a slight one – was with Quetta.A dot off the first ball of the over, bowled by Aizaz Cheema, titled the contest further Quetta’s way. However, Wahab Riaz seemed to emerge an unlikely hero for Peshawar, slamming the second ball – a low full toss outside off – over cow corner for four. He then proceeded to take a single. Three needed off three, and it was anybody’s game.Cheema, though, drastically turned the fate of the match with his next two deliveries. First, Hasan Ali was out caught and bowled. Then, Wahab swung wildly in an attempt to finish the game, but ended up skying the ball straight to Ahmed Shehzad at point. Cheema was on a hat-trick, and Mohammad Asghar, the new man in, had the unenviable task of striking the last ball for at least three. Cheema did not get his hat-trick, but more importantly, Asghar was unable to put the bowler’s rising short ball away. Quetta, led by their mentor Viv Richards broke into wild celebrations, while the Peshawar players struggled to hide their disappointment.That the game had even gotten so close was courtesy Darren Sammy’s 38-run blast, which lifted Peshawar from a precarious position of 84 for 6 in the 15th over. Quetta, who had only 133 to defend with, were led by three-wicket hauls from both Grant Elliott (3 for 19) and Man of the Match Mohammad Nawaz (3 for 27). Nawaz accounted for the key scalps of Brad Hodge, Mohammad Hafeez and Sammy, before Cheema’s heroics at the end completed the memorable victory.Quetta had earlier made a horror start after being inserted, losing their opener Bismillah Khan off the second ball. Ahmed Shehzad fell soon after, but Kumar Sangakkara and Kevin Pietersen strung together a 79-run partnership to lead a recovery. Pietersen blasted 53 off 38 balls with five fours and two sixes, while Nawaz also pitched in with what eventually proved to be a very handy 20 runs. Wahab Riaz was the pick of Peshawar’s bowlers, taking 3 for 17 to bundle Quetta out for what at the time seemed like a below-par 133. Nawaz and Cheema, though, ensured that the total was enough, just.

David Balcombe, the Surrey and former Hampshire pace bowler, has retired from professional cricket to take up a full-time role with the Kevin Pietersen foundation

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2016David Balcombe, the Surrey and former Hampshire pace bowler, has retired from professional cricket to take up a full-time role with the Kevin Pietersen Foundation.Balcombe, 31, joined Surrey from Hampshire in 2015. Although he did not make a first-team appearance during the season, Balcombe was preparing for the new summer before making his decision.”To play professional cricket was a dream come true and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute,” Balcombe said. “Hampshire gave me my first opportunity in the professional game and it is the club I will always hold close to my heart.”I have made lifelong friends, experienced some wonderful career moments and it provided me with 10 seasons of immense enjoyment.”Balcombe made his first-class debut for Durham UCCE against Somerset in 2005 – and he made special mention of the role Graeme Fowler, the former head coach at the university, played for his early mentoring role – before his County Championship debut came in 2007 for Hampshire against Kent.Overall, Balcombe took 196 first-class wickets at 32.83 with a career-best 8 for 71 against Gloucestershire in 2012. He enjoyed a productive two-year period which began with a loan spell for Kent in 2011 where he claimed 33 wickets at 17.81 before following that in 2012 with 64 first-class wickets at 26.10 back with Hampshire.”I will forever remain indebted to Kent for the tremendous support I received when I went on loan to them for a short time,” he said. “They helped me immensely with my cricket and also as an individual. Every time I think of the St Lawrence Ground it will be with a huge smile.”As a boy I had always dreamed of playing for Surrey, my home county. When, in 2015, I was given the chance to go back to where I began my cricket career it was too big an opportunity to turn down.”I am very grateful to Surrey for all their support this year and for their help and understanding in my decision to retire.”

So after 10 yrs & 11 seasons of professional cricket its time to call time. Thank you for all the wonderful memories pic.twitter.com/ghIyGrIsZy

— David Balcombe (@DavidBalcombe1) February 16, 2016