Shortly after winning his last game of the season at Chepauk and leading CSK into the IPL final, MS Dhoni was asked whether he’d be back in Chennai next year. He continued to be non-committal about the subject, saying he had another eight-nine months to decide, but acknowledged that it had taken a “heavy toll” on him.”I don’t know, I have eight to nine months to decide, the small auction may be around December, so why take that headache right now?” Dhoni said after CSK’s win against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. “I have ample time to decide.”Dhoni has had an issue with his knee all through the season and was seen wearing a brace after CSK’s final league game. While he hasn’t missed a match, he has had trouble running between wickets.”I will always be there for CSK, whether that is in the playing form or sitting somewhere outside…I don’t really know. Frankly, it takes a heavy toll. I have been out of home for literally four months. January 31 was when I got out of the house, finished my work, and started practicing from 2nd or 3rd of March. It takes a lot, but I have ample time to decide.”Related

• Belief, support and a long rope: how Chennai Super Kings have built a consistently odds-beating side

• Did Dhoni deliberately waste time to let Pathirana bowl against Titans?

• Jadeja finally gets his Chepauk (yel)love

• CSK do CSK things as Dhoni masterminds route to yet another IPL final

• CSK squeeze the Titans to enter their tenth IPL final

Dhoni and CSK now travel from Chennai to Ahmedabad for their tenth IPL final in 14 seasons. When asked whether an IPL final now felt like just another game, Dhoni said it did not.”IPL is too big to say that it is just another … and not to be forgetting that there used to be eight top teams, who used to compete with the best players available in the world and now it is tougher.”I won’t say it is just another final. It is hard work of more than two months because of which we are standing over here. Lot of character shown by the individuals, from where we started to where we are, and I feel everybody has contributed. Yes, the middle order has not got ample opportunity, but in between everybody has got a chance to chip in and they have done that.”CSK managed to score 172 after losing the toss in Qualifier 1 on a pitch that was tough for batting. During the defence, Dhoni was in his element, marshalling his bowlers and making field placements to stifle the Titans’ chase.MS Dhoni gets his fielders exactly where he wants them•BCCI

“You see the wicket, you see the conditions and according to that, you keep adjusting the field,” he said. “I can be a very annoying captain because I shift the fielder one or two feet here and there every time.”The fielder needs to keep an eye on me. Imagine you are fielding and every two balls or three balls, I am like, ‘Okay two feet to your right, three feet to your left.’ It can be annoying. I always say I believe in my gut feel, I see the wicket, the line, what is really happening and more often than not, it pays off. The only request I ask from the fielders is ‘keep an eye on me, if you drop a catch, there won’t be any reactions but just keep an eye on me.'”It hasn’t been an easy road to the final for CSK. They have grappled with several injuries, but have managed with the resources they have, especially in the pace department where Tushar Deshpande and Matheesha Pathirana have grown into their roles over the course of the season.”We try to create an environment. Other than that, we reiterate as to what is the strength of the fast bowler. Along with that, we make sure that they are improving in the areas where they need to be good at,” Dhoni said. “At the IPL, more often than not with the new ball, they know what needs to be done. The question is when it is not swinging, when it is not in your favour, then with the two fielders, where you can bowl to a particular batsman and what field you can keep. If a bowler knows that, more often than not, he will be successful.”We try to motivate them as much as possible. The support staff is there, they are always there. Now, [Dwayne] Bravo is there, Eric [Simons] is there. There are lot of people who can help them out. At the end of the day, when they are standing, they are there on their own. It is a very lonely place, but that’s where you can be brave and courageous.”Deepak Chahar took 2 for 29 in Qualifier 1•BCCI

Deepak Chahar: “Everything is okay”

CSK’s most experienced fast bowler Deepak Chahar has said that “everything is okay” despite appearing to pull up with some discomfort in his leg after taking the final catch of the game against the Titans.”Everything is okay, one more to go,” Chahar said after the match.Chahar has missed six games this season due to a hamstring injury he suffered in an earlier match after missing the whole of the 2022 season due to a back injury. In Qualifier 1, Chahar picked up 2 for 29, which included the wickets of the Titans openers, Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill.”The ball was doing something on the track and it was sticking to it [the pitch]. So, as a bowling unit, we decided to bowl more length,” Chahar said. “When you get support from the wicket, then you obviously don’t need to experiment too much – just bowl the basic ball and let them take the chances because we scored the runs and, when it comes to semi-finals, it’s all about handling the pressure. And scoring 170, chasing 170 in a semi-final when the crowd is against you, is very difficult.”

Former ICC umpire says “hypocrisy and lack of consistency from some people and groups is quite interesting”

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jul-20232:08

Has the Bairstow dismissal been blown out of proportion?

Simon Taufel, the former ICC elite umpire who is presently a member of the MCC laws sub-committee, has suggested Australia had not breached the Spirit of Cricket when Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow on the fifth day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.”Was Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal at Lords a breach of the Spirit of Cricket?” Taufel wrote in a post on LinkedIn. “This is a question I have been inundated with, so I thought it best to share my thoughts publicly by asking everyone a question or eight to consider …

• “Have you seen any umpire tell a fielding side that the keeper standing back is not allowed to attempt a stumping?
• “Was there a complaint from anyone when Bairstow tried to stump Marnus exactly the same way in the first innings?
• “What has Jonny Bairstow said about his dismissal? He has been very quiet. Why?
• “My experience is when people don’t like a dismissal under the Laws of Cricket, they cite the Spirit of Cricket to support their view.
• “Which part of the codified Preamble (the Spirit of Cricket) was breached by the fielding side?
• “What did the fielding side do in effecting a legitimate dismissal that unfairly impacted the ability of the batter in their attempt not to be dismissed? (Did they run into him or distract him or prevent him making good his ground?)
• “Should a batter be immune from dismissal as per the Laws by simply being negligent (and leaving his ground too early)?
• “Did England retire Ben Duckett when they disagreed with the Starc catch decision as per the Laws and umpires’ decision?

“The hypocrisy and lack of consistency from some people and groups is quite interesting and concerning for the future of our game. Maybe I am the odd one out here? The good news is that we are actively engaged with Test cricket, the best form of the game,” he ended.

Preamble to the Laws: Spirit of Cricket

Cricket owes much of its appeal and enjoyment to the fact that it should be played not only according to the Laws, but also within the Spirit of Cricket. The major responsibility for ensuring fair play rests with the captains, but extends to all players, match officials and, especially in junior cricket, teachers, coaches and parents.
Respect is central to the Spirit of Cricket.
Respect your captain, team-mates, opponents and the authority of the umpires.
Play hard and play fair.
Accept the umpire’s decision.
Create a positive atmosphere by your own conduct, and encourage others to do likewise.
Show self-discipline, even when things go against you.
Congratulate the opposition on their successes, and enjoy those of your own team.
Thank the officials and your opposition at the end of the match, whatever the result.
Cricket is an exciting game that encourages leadership, friendship and teamwork, which brings together people from different nationalities, cultures and religions, especially when played within the Spirit of Cricket.

Bairstow’s dismissal took place when England were five down and needed a further 178 runs to win at Lord’s. He ducked underneath a short ball from Cameron Green, scratched the crease with his boot and walked down the pitch towards his partner Ben Stokes at the non-striker’s end.Before Bairstow had begun to leave his ground, wicketkeeper Carey had gathered the ball on the bounce and, in one motion, under-armed a throw at stumps at the striker’s end. The on-field umpires referred the decision to TV umpire Marais Erasmus, who gave the batter out – and the dismissal was recorded as stumped. Bairstow glared at the Australian huddle as he walked off and boos rang out around Lord’s. The crowd – who were largely subdued throughout the first four days of this Test – then chanted repeatedly: “Same old Aussies, always cheating.” And as the Australian players walked through the Lord’s Long Room at the lunch interval, they were booed and abused by some MCC members.Australia went on to win the Lord’s Test by 43 runs and took a 2-0 lead in the Ashes, but the furore over Bairstow’s dismissal has only snowballed as the series moves to Headingley on Thursday.While Australia captain Pat Cummins defended his decision to appeal for the wicket, his England counterpart Ben Stokes said he wouldn’t want to win that way. England’s coach Brendon McCullum said the teams wouldn’t be sharing a beer any time soon, and that the nature of the dismissal would galvanise England for the rest of the series.The prime ministers of the two countries – Rishi Sunak and Anthony Albanese – have also got involved, taking their teams’ sides.

Unbeaten 92 condemns Kent to one-wicket loss off penultimate ball at Canterbury

ECB Reporters Network17-Aug-2023

Matt Montgomery hit a sensational unbeaten 92 as the Notts Outlaws beat the Kent Spitfires by one wicket in a Metro Bank Cup thriller at Canterbury.The visitors overhauled Kent’s 259 for nine with one ball to spare to close on 263 for nine, after a gritty last-wicket stand by Montgomery and his final partner Dane Paterson, having still needed 35 when they came together with five overs remaining.Hamid Qadri took four for 47 but the hosts were left to rue their failure to build on a first-wicket stand of 138. Lyndon James took four for 45, as Kent fell away after openers Daniel Bell-Drummond and Ben Compton made over half their total, with 79 and 59 respectively.Montgomery, fittingly, scored the winning runs when he reverse-swept Grant Stewart for four to conclude a stomach-clenchingly tense run chase.It was a “four-pointer” at the Spitfire Ground, with Kent third in Group A and Notts needing to win both their remaining fixtures to stand any chance of qualifying, having lost their previous three.The Spitfires chose to bat in front of a crowd of over 3000 on the club’s Community Day and their openers were untroubled during a stand of 138, but for a second consecutive game they failed to really push on once that partnership was broken.Compton was the first man to go, victim of a sharp caught-and-bowled by Liam Patterson-White in the 27th over. Bell-Drummond soon followed, caught behind off Tom Loten.It wasn’t technically a collapse as the next pair of Jack Leaning and Alex Blake put on 33, but the flow of boundaries dried up and the latter was out for 11 when he cut James to Ben Martindale.James then bowled Leaning for 24 and Harry Finch was run out for nine by Haseeb Hameed chasing a non-existent single after being sent back by his partner Jaydn Denly. Denly at least broke a spell of exactly ten overs without a boundary, but he in turn was stumped for 11 after he came down the wicket to Calvin Harrison.The first six of the match didn’t arrive till the 46th over, when Grant Stewart creamed Loten over cow corner and as Kent tried a late charge James Bazley was caught and bowled by James for 15.By the time Stewart was lbw for 25 to Paterson any hopes of a 300 plus score had long since been abandoned. Qadri was caught by King for three after skying James and it was left to the last wicket pair to milk what they could off the last two overs.Scoring didn’t seem any easier when Notts were chasing. They were 66 without loss in the 16th when Ben Slater was bowled by Qadri, during a spell when they went 11.5 overs without finding the rope.In Qadri’s next over he bowled James for eight and Martindale was then run out for 38. He seemed to flinch while anticipating Compton’s throw and couldn’t ground his bat before Nathan Gilchrist broke his wicket.After a campaign dogged by injury, Gilchrist roared with joy when he bowled Hameed’s middle stump for 27 for only his second wicket of the season, in any format, and his first at Canterbury.Patterson-White was out for six after he thick-edged Qadri to Blake for six and Sam King was stumped off Parkinson for 12.When Denly bowled Dane Schadendorf for nine Notts were seven down with 79 needed butHarrison and Montgomery eroded the target with some clever running, only for the former to cut Qadri straight to Compton at backward point.Loten was then caught behind off Parkinson but Paterson played sensibly and with an over to go the target was down to seven off Stewart’s 50th over.Montgomery just blocked the first for a single and Paterson drove the second for four. A single off the third tied the scores. The fourth was a dot and Montgomery then executed a classy reverse-swept four to clinch the win.

West Indies A were on top for most of the third game too but found Joy hard to dismiss

Mohammad Isam02-Jun-2023Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s unbeaten century and Yasir Ali’s half-century helped Bangladesh A hang on to a draw on the final day of the third unofficial Test in Sylhet. As a result, West Indies A clinched the three-match series 1-0, having won the second game by three wickets after the first match, too, was drawn.West Indies A were on top for most of the third game as well but found Mahmudul Hasan Joy hard to dismiss, as he scored 114 – the only century of the series – to save the game for the home side.Joy’s 114 included 14 boundaries, as he stuck around for seven hours and two minutes of Bangladesh A second innings. He added 93 for the opening stand with Zakir Hasan, another 53 with captain Saif Hassan for the third wicket before the match-saving 117-run fourth-wicket stand with Yasir, who made 67 with six fours and four sixes, lasting 85 balls.Offspinner Kevin Sinclair took three wickets in the fourth innings, but the rest of the West Indies attack couldn’t replicate their earlier exploits. They had bowled out the home side for 205 in the first innings with left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul taking three wickets while Anderson Philip and Sinclair took two each. Akeem Jordan and Raymon Reifer also took a wicket each.West Indies A put up a formidable 445 in the first innings, with five batters getting fifties. Tagenarine Chanderpaul made 83, while Alick Athanze (59), captain Joshua Da Silva (82), Reifer (56) and Sinclair (60) kept the visitors going. Chanderpaul also made an unbeaten 83 in their second innings.Nasum Ahmed took five wickets, while Musfik Hasan and Shoriful Islam shared two wickets each in the first innings.

Mir’s four-for proved too much for Superchargers after Overton smacked an unbeaten 83 off just 30 balls

ECB Reporters Network13-Aug-2023Jamie Overton smashed a superb 83 to lead the Manchester Originals to a dominant 40-run victory against the Northern Superchargers at Headingley.Overton’s maiden T20 fifty, which included nine fours and six sixes, was assisted by some fantastic spin bowling by Pakistan international Usama Mir, who took four for 19.Originals struggled with the new ball as they lost captain Jos Buttler and fellow opener Phil Salt in Reece Topley’s first 10 deliveries, with the England left-armer finishing with figures of three for 29. However, their progress with the ball was stemmed by brutal hitting from Overton.Superchargers did offer periods of resistance in their chase through Matthew Short and Saif Zaib, but Originals’ total of 182 proved far too much for the Leeds-based team.It was a second home defeat in three days for the Superchargers, who remained second on the table, while the Originals jumped from seventh to fourth.Having elected to bat at the toss, Originals had a nightmare start after Topley removed Salt, who had mistimed his shot which found Zaib at point, after only three balls. He then removed Originals captain Buttler for two, who edged a delivery into the gloves of Tom Banton.Originals then recovered with some powerful hitting from Laurie Evans, which included a delightful scoop shot for six off the bowling of David Wiese.After a rain delay, which meant the contest was reduced to 90 balls per side, Superchargers struck back with two wickets in two balls.Usama Mir jumps in celebration after dismissing Tom Banton•Stu Forster/Getty Images

First, Paul Walter departed for 22 after he skied a Brydon Carse delivery to a running Callum Parkinson at deep third, before Adil Rashid struck with his first ball to remove the dangerous Evans for 41 off 19 deliveries.Coming in at six, Overton smashed a Rashid delivery over the long-on boundary for six before Originals lost the wickets of overseas pair, Ashton Turner and Mir to Parkinson and Topley respectively.Then the Overton massacre began, in a partnership worth 72 with Tom Hartley, 62 of them came from the blade of the Surrey man, including a magnificent six from a Carse short ball, which sailed into the Western Terrace.Overton then hit the impressive Topley’s final set for 20, which included two fours and two sixes, to dent the figures of the tournament’s top wicket-taker. He then smashed 16 off the final set of the Originals’ innings to lead them to a total of 182 for six, with the all-rounder finishing not out on 83 from 30 balls.In their reply, Superchargers got off to a slow start, with just 18 runs coming from the first 15 balls.Australian Short hit the first six of the innings when he pulled a short ball from former Superchargers man Ben Raine over the ropes. The opener then hit a picture perfect cover drive for six before being bowled by the magical Mir for 37 off 16 balls.Two balls later, Mir took the wicket of the in-form Banton, who was bowled for 12 and then removed Adam Hose, after he tried to find the boundary with a reverse sweep, but could only find Walter at backward point.England’s Harry Brook looked good for 20, which included a six over the Rugby stand akin to Liam Livingstone’s one against Pakistan in 2021, but he became Mir’s fourth victim after he holed out to long-off.Superchargers’ hopes of victory then faltered, with only Zaib and Wayne Parnell putting up some resistance. The rest of the batting line-up departed cheaply to leave the Superchargers 141 for nine, resulting in a 40 run victory for Originals.

Charlie Dean became Southern Vipers’ all-time leading wicket-taker as Vipers began Champions Day at the Ageas Bowl with a crushing victory over Western Storm.England offspinner Dean overtook Tara Norris as her 2 for 15 catapulted her to 52 wickets for the side across the Kia Super League, Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, and Charlotte Edwards Cup.Lauren Bell’s two wickets in the first over meant sure Storm never truly got going, as they only set holders Vipers 106. Maia Bouchier ensured it wasn’t a stressful chase with a measured 45 to bring home the seven-wicket bonus point victory with 35 balls to spare.Storm chose to bat first on a dry wicket under clear blue skies but were 4 for 3 before the end of the second over.Nat Wraith chipped Bell to cover third ball before Dani Gibson edged behind a hooping in-swinging delivery. Anya Shrubsole then had her former England captain Heather Knight stumped off a wide to continue the procession of wickets.Vipers had walked out past the Charlotte Edwards Cup trophy, with Hampshire’s Vitality Blast trophy also on show, as the two sides celebrated their 2022 triumphs.Fran Wilson attempted to settle things down and carved Bell for boundaries through point either side of being dropped at first slip. She was soon stumped off Dean before Orla Prendergast failed to take her life – having been put down by Bouchier – as she stepped across her stumps and was lbw. Alex Griffith didn’t fare much better as she picked out long-on.Around all the wickets, captain Sophie Luff was using her textbook running to good effect, while almost single-handily taking Storm to some sort of respectability with five fours. She fell for 44 when slapping a returning Bell to point – the fast bowler returning 3 for 19. Niamh Holland was the last to depart when she was castled by Linsey Smith as Storm limped to 105 for 8.Danni Wyatt got the reply off to a flyer with a trio of powerfully struck boundaries off the first over before Bouchier took over with some brutal striking down the ground.Wyatt was yorked by Prendergast and Nicole Faltum was bowled through the gate by Lauren Filer. But Bouchier’s effortless run making made sure there was no wobble as she put on 47 with Georgia Adams to take them within 11 runs.Having struck eight fours, Bouchier attempted to reach a half-century with a six over midwicket but was caught on the boundary edge. But Georgia Elwiss clubbed the winning runs after her swing to the leg side was dropped on the ropes and pushed for four to make sure Vipers remain unbeaten since the 2021 Eliminator in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.

Real Madrid have intensified their pursuit of Dean Huijsen this summer, with a move for Arsenal's William Saliba likely to be ruled out.

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Madrid back in race for HuijsenJoin Chelsea, Liverpool & Bayern for centre-back's signingSaliba considered too expensive by Los BlancosFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report from , Madrid have stepped up their efforts in pursuit of Bournemouth sensation Huijsen, who is also being pursued by Premier League giants Chelsea and Liverpool. The report further adds that the reigning Spanish champions could consider cooling their interest in Arsenal centre-back Saliba, with his €100 million (£85m/$113m) price tag deemed to expensive for a transfer this summer.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

In recent meetings, the higher-ups at Madrid reached the conclusion that they need a new centre-back for the upcoming Club World Cup and beyond. The name that has been talked about the most was that of Huijsen. Recently, it was reported that Los Blancos sent scouts to watch the Spain international during Bournemouth's clash against Arsenal. Internally, the club believe that the level of performance shown by the 20-year-old – in a competition as demanding as the Premier League – cannot be overlooked. His release clause of £50m ($66m) is considered affordable in comparison to the fee Arsenal are demanding for Saliba.

DID YOU KNOW?

Apparently, Madrid's aim is to not sign Saliba this summer. Instead, they are willing to play the long game and wait for the Frenchman's contract to run down, with two years left to run on it. The plan is to make an approach next summer for a significantly lower fee, or swoop him up for free in 2027. In response to Madrid's tactics, Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has reportedly intensified his efforts to tie the French centre-back down to a new deal.

WHAT NEXT FOR DEAN HUIJSEN?

Huijsen is reportedly the subject of serious interest from fellow Premier League clubs Chelsea and Liverpool, as well as Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. What's more, the Blues and the Reds perhaps hold the edge over Madrid, given their willingness to offer a bigger package to the former Roma and Juventus star. However, Huijsen has often expressed how grateful he feels to be linked with Madrid.

Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is not going to be making a switch to Como in Serie A when his contract expires at the end of the season.

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• De Bruyne to leave City at end of season
• Move to Como ruled out
• Belgian offered deal by Chicago Fire

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Italian club have enjoyed a strong first season since returning to the top flight for the first time in over two decades. Como, led by Cesc Fabregas, had been linked with a move for the departing Belgian midfielder and could have added De Bruyne to their midfield alongside Dele Alli. However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Como have not made contact with the player.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The future of De Bruyne remains in the air. A number of clubs, including Aston Villa and Chelsea, have been linked with an approach for the Premier League legend, but aside from a proposal from MLS outfit Chicago Fire, he is yet to be given any formal offers. Other MLS clubs, including Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, are also eyeing up a blockbuster move for the 33-year-old.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  De Bruyne did not choose to leave City this summer, rather it was the club's choice to not offer the ageing midfielder fresh terms. In the past couple of seasons, the midfielder has struggled for consistency and fitness and it is perhaps unsurprising that City did not want to stump up the salary the Belgian would command.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR DE BRUYNE?

  There remains a long time before De Bruyne's future is resolved. The Belgian will have no shortage of suitors and could move outside of Europe for the first time in his career. A move to Italy with Como however, now seems unlikely.

MatériaMais Notícias

da supremo： Alan Ferreira foi contratado pelo Corinthians em 2020,para jogar no Sub-23. Em novembro de 2021 foi emprestado para o Oeste – equipe de Barueri que disputa a série A-2 do Campeonato Paulista – com vínculo de empréstimo até o fim deste ano. Mas ao que tudo indica, deve permanecer no time do interior paulista.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansAtletas do Corinthians eFootball são destaque na Liga das NaçõesCorinthians07/12/2022CorinthiansCorinthians desiste de contratar auxiliar técnico Rodrigo SantanaCorinthians06/12/2022CorinthiansPerto de Romero, Corinthians está no limite da cota de estrangeirosCorinthians06/12/2022

da 888casino： O próprio atleta projetou a temporada 2023 pela equipe atual. De acordo com o zagueiro, a intenção é disputar o Campeonato Paulista e buscar o acesso do Oeste para a série A-1 do estadual.

Artilheiros da Copa do Mundo 2022: veja lista de jogadores que marcaram

Veja tabela da Copa do Mundo e simule os próximos jogos

– Assim como eu, todo grupo espera conseguir acesso ao Paulistão, que não veio nesta temporada. Vendo a formação da equipe e do trabalho, é impossível não ficar otimista – disse Alan Ferreira.

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O contrato do defensor com o Corinthians vai até julho de 2023. Quando chegou ao clube, em 2020, assinou um contrato de três anos. Inclusive, foi agenciado pela mesma empresa que ajudou a negociar nomes comoLéo Natel, Cantillo e André Luis ao Timão.

Ainda não se sabe se o Oeste procurará adquirir o jogador em definitivo durante este primeiro semestre ou se estenderá o vínculo de empréstimo por estes seis meses. Neste ano, atuou em 19 partidas.

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Bangladesh meanwhile will need to change their tactics as they look to recover from their heavy defeat against England

Mohammad Isam12-Oct-20231:16

Does a turner at Chepauk give Bangladesh a bigger chance?

Big picture: Can Bangladesh bounce back?

The New Zealand juggernaut rolled into Chennai but in typical Kiwi fashion, it was a quiet entrance. New Zealand comfortably knocked over England and Netherlands, and will now take on a Bangladesh side smarting from a big loss against England. The only saving grace for Bangladesh is a Chennai pitch that is likely to help the spinners, but many of the New Zealand players have IPL experience to count on, so they will know what to expect at this venue.The big news for New Zealand is the return of their regular captain, Kane Williamson, who is returning after a seven-month injury break. There was a time this year when it looked unlikely that Williamson will play the World Cup but a proper recovery now means that he can make a smooth return to the line-up, with his side already having four points on the board.Related

• Bangladesh hoping to bat with 'courage, open-mindedness and freedom'

• 'Just great to be sitting here now' – Kane Williamson all set to go against Bangladesh

• The New Zealand prodigy who had to wait his turn

• Stats – The World Cup of centuries

• Williamson 'looking good' for comeback, Southee available for selection against Bangladesh

New Zealand have a number of standout performers from these matches, particularly Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, who made superb hundreds against England. Will Young and Tom Latham made important runs against the Netherlands while Mitchell Santner had a great all-round showing too.They have other aces up their sleeves against Bangladesh. Ish Sodhi could enter the playing XI on the back of his six-wicket haul against Bangladesh a couple of weeks back in Dhaka. In any case, both sides will be looking at their spin stocks.Bangladesh’s big defeat against England undid a lot of their good work against Afghanistan in the first match. The pitch certainly differed between the two games in Dharamsala, but Bangladesh didn’t really adapt to the conditions. Their insistence on bowling outside off stump hurt them as they went wicketless going for that bowling line. Taskin Ahmed bowling just six overs, Shakib Al Hasan finishing his ten early and the overuse of offspin against left-handers were the sort of rigid tactics that Bangladesh will not want to repeat.They also have to sort out their batting line-up, and specifically answer questions about the opening pair and the lower middle order. Tanzid Hasan hasn’t made runs in the two innings so far, but it is still a small sample size to judge a new opener. Still, a World Cup campaign has its own challenges for Bangladesh so it won’t be a huge surprise if they send Mehidy Hasan Miraz to open with Litton Das. In that case, Mahmudullah and Nasum Ahmed are candidates to return in the lower middle-order. Left-arm spinner Nasum would ensure more depth in the spin department while Mahmudullah can add batting experience on a tricky Chepauk pitch.Bangladesh have great memories against New Zealand in subcontinent conditions, having beaten them 4-0 and 3-0 at home in the last 13 years. But on current form and especially in the World Cup, New Zealand are favourites.

Form guide

New Zealand WWWWL (last five ODIs, most recent first)
Bangladesh LWLLWNew Zealand have the chance to win their first three matches of a World Cup for the third consecutive edition•ICC/Getty Images

In the spotlight

What would Williamson’s return mean for Rachin Ravindra? Not much, it is hoped. Ravindra’s great form with bat and usefulness with the ball makes him an automatic pick against Bangladesh. Ravindra made a monumental century in the World Cup opener against England, before following it up with a fifty against Netherlands. His intent suited New Zealand’s plans, as he played a variety of shots while keeping shape. Williamson confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Ravindra is part of their plans but it is unlikely that he will bat at No. 3.Litton Das‘ sparkling 76 was the only positive for Bangladesh in their big defeat to England in Dharamshala. It included the usual Litton fare of beautifully timed shots and angled-bat shots that many batters dream to play. But frustratingly it is this free-flowing shot-making that often ends his innings prematurely. Litton’s ODI form this year pales in comparison to last year’s 52.45 average in 13 innings. Bangladesh will gain greatly from his form if Litton kicks on from his half-century against England

Team news: Who will make way for Williamson?

The toss-up could be between Glenn Philips and Mark Chapman now that Williamson is back in the New Zealand line-up after nine months. Sodhi comes into the picture too on a Chepauk pitch helpful for spinners.New Zealand (probable): 1 Devon Conway, 2 Will Young, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Daryl Mitchell, 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Mark Henry, 10 Lockie Ferguson/Ish Sodhi, 11 Trent BoultA brave team management will pick Tanzid despite his low scores. Otherwise, Mehidy is queued as the opener. New Zealand’s left-handers could keep Mahedi Hasan in the line-up too.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan, 8 Mahedi Hasan, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman/Nasum AhmedBangladesh had little to cheer for in Dharamsala against England•AFP/Getty Images

Pitch and conditions: Spin to win in Chepauk

India’s spin trio took 6 for 104 against Australia in the previous match at Chepauk. Both sides will look to mount a spin attack regardless of when they bat in this game. India showed the ease of chase against Australia but teams have to be careful of bowlers who can move the ball. The weather is likely to be mostly dry, with a low chance of rain.

Stats and trivia: NZ hold World Cup edge over Bangladesh