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India’s Supreme Court has told the BCCI that it might be inclined to send a few of the recommendations proposed by the Lodha committee back to the three-member panel for review

Nagraj Gollapudi03-Mar-2016

India’s Supreme Court has told the BCCI that it might be inclined to send a few of the recommendations proposed by the Lodha committee back to the three-member panel for review. The two-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice Ibrahim Kalifullah, did not, specify, however, which recommendations it could ask the committee to review.The court made this observation on Thursday afternoon after hearing the arguments presented by BCCI counsel, KK Venugopal, who said that majority of the recommendations made by the Lodha committee ought to be reconsidered. The court set March 18 as the next date of hearing and has asked the BCCI and state associations to submit audited accounts of the expenses over the past five years through separate affidavits.As reported on Tuesday, the BCCI had expressed its reservations about the recommendations of the report. In an exhaustive affidavit, a copy of which was accessed by ESPNcricinfo, the BCCI listed it was against the following major recommendations proposed by the Lodha committee: one state one vote; drastic reduction on advertisements; inclusion of Comptroller & Auditor General of India’s nominee on managing committee and apex council; representatives of two franchises on the IPL governing council; prohibition on re-appointment for members of managing committee and cooling-off period; prohibition on association of ministers/government servants/persons holding posts in another sports body in honorary capacity; restriction of simultaneously holding office in a state association and the BCCI; age cap of 70 years for an office bearer; formation of players’ association funded by the BCCI; doing away with existing BCCI committees; bringing the board under the Right To Information Act; and legalising betting.The Supreme Court’s sharp retorts

BCCI: Yes Minister. Court: No Minister – The BCCI had also objected to the recommendation that barred ministers from holding a position in the board or in a state association. When the board’s counsel raised this point on Thursday, while pointing out the example of former BCCI president NKP Salve, who was also a government minister, Justic Thakur retorted: “So just because NKP Salve was there, you want every other minister also to be there? You are finding fault with having a nominee of the Comptroller and Auditor General on your governing council, but you don’t mind a minister?” Chief Justice Thakur said.

“At 70, sit at home, watch TV” – The BCCI had also stated in its affidavit that if an office bearer was elected in democratic fashion, then there should not be an age cap of 70 years imposed, as had been recommended by the Lodha committee. “Merely because a person has attained the age of 70 years it does not mean that he ceases to function efficiently,” the BCCI affidavit said. When the BCCI counsel KK Venugopal raised the point, the court told him, “Lawyers like you get better with age, is that so with cricketers too? I don’t know. We feel 70 is a good age for retirement. At 70, they should sit at home and watch cricket on TV.”

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, who signed the affidavit, said that although the Lodha panel had sent the board office bearers an exhaustive questionnaire, it had not consulted the top brass while finalising the recommendations. “During my interaction with the Lodha committee, the committee did not seek my views on the proposed recommendations which ultimately find place in the [Lodha] report,” Thakur wrote.Chief Justice Thakur, however, was unimpressed by that statement. “It was international news that we had formed the Justice Lodha committee to suggest reforms in cricket. The whole world knew it. Now you come to us and say the recommendations were a bolt from the blue for you and you were not consulted… What were you doing? Waiting at the fence for a written invitation?” the Chief Justice told the BCCI’s legal counsel, according to the .On the one-state-one-vote recommendation, the BCCI feared that some states could easily “abuse” their vote, which would encourage corruption. “For instance, the one-country-one-vote system followed by FIFA has resulted in the 2015 FIFA corruption scandal where countries where there is little or no football activity were allegedly bribed by FIFA officials to vote in a particular manner.” To this the bench said: “If this is the first scandal in 50 or 100 years, it is hardly a test on the workability of the policy.”When Venugopal argued that it would disrupt the voting process practised for decades by the BCCI, the court suggested that the state associations should vote by rotation.The BCCI also argued strongly against the presence of a nominee from the CAG’s office on the proposed apex council, saying it was “contrary to law”, since the BCCI constitution does not allow a non-member to sit on the managing committee of the society.Venugopal also said that the ICC rules did not allow government representatives to be part of the Full Member boards and the global body may take the appointment of a CAG representative as government interference and, hence, derecognise the BCCI.The BCCI counsel said the board would accept a CAG nominee in an advisory role without any voting rights. The court, however, did not relent. “You don’t even want the CAG nominee on the outside as your conscience keeper?” Chief Justice Thakur said. “Suppose we ask you to put this nominee on the board, you fear that the ICC will disenfranchise you for complying with an order of the Supreme Court of India to have a person who gives you good advice… surely you don’t grudge good advice, do you?”The BCCI also disagreed with the recommendation to restrict advertisements during a match telecast to drinks and session breaks, instead of advertisements between overs and at the fall of the wicket. The BCCI said such a move would “cripple” its income as the broadcasters would pay a “fraction” of the sum being paid for ODIs while paying nothing for a Test match.According to Anurag Thakur, Star India, the host broadcaster, had apparently sent an e-mail to the BCCI on February 21, seeking “renegotiation of the amounts currently payable by them under the existing contract if advertisements are restricted as recommended.”When Venugopal read out figures accrued as profits from broadcasting revenues that were later disbursed to state associations, the court asked the BCCI and the state associations to file individual accounts for the past five years. “The prominent spirit should be viewer enjoyment. Do you mean that your commerce should overtake the enjoyment of the game?” Chief Justice Thakur asked.In addition to the BCCI, various state units – Mumbai Cricket Association, Maharashtra Cricket Association, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, Baroda Cricket Association – filed their individual presentations objecting to the Lodha committee report.When prominent lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing the Baroda association, said that his client would want approach the Lodha committee directly to suggest “certain amendments”, Chief Justice Thakur brushed the suggestion aside.”There is no question of you wanting it. We, the Supreme Court, will decide whether we are inclined to send some restricted issues back to the committee for its decision, that too within a limited span of time… Lodha Committee costs a lot of money for BCCI. It is not an easy committee,” the Chief Justice said.

Manchester United remain interested in making a move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice this summer despite reports to the contrary, according to a fresh transfer update.

The Lowdown: Rice rumours swirling

The England international will be a wanted man at the end of this season, with his current Hammers deal expiring in 2024 and no sign of him extending his stay at the club.

Rice has continued to be a vital player for West Ham this season, starting all 24 of their Premier League matches and averaging 2.1 tackles per game.

United had been linked with a move for the 24-year-old a number of times but a recent report from GiveMeSport claimed Erik ten Hag isn’t keen on signing him.

However, the saga seems to have taken another twist with this latest news…

The Latest: United still keen

According to Football Insider, the Red Devils are in fact ‘still hopeful’ of acquiring Rice’s services this summer, even though he would prefer to ‘stay in London’.

United believe they ‘can still convince’ the West Ham star to join them, with the midfielder described in the report as ‘one of the most sought-after players in world football’.

The Glazers apparently want to blow rival suitors Arsenal away with a monster move – Rice is expected to cost upwards of £100m.

The Verdict: Could be a sensational signing

Rice has already become such a dominant and influential player for England across two major tournaments, winning 39 caps to date, and he could be a fantastic signing for United.

The £60,000-a-week midfielder could complement Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes beautifully, possessing the box-to-box energy that someone like Christian Eriksen can’t provide week in week out.

Not only that, but Rice is someone who has the potential to become world-class in the coming years, with 24 still such a young age in a footballing sense, so United could be signing a future captain and real rising star in the middle of the park.

The price tag is likely to be eye-watering, which isn’t ideal, but with Ten Hag looking to turn his side into an even stronger outfit moving forward, it is hard not to see Rice improving them further, having been described as ‘magnificent’ by journalist Joe Chapman during the 2022 World Cup.

Matt Prior became only the third wicketkeeper to score a hundred on debut, and the fifth batsman to do so at Lord’s

S Rajesh and HR Gopalakrishna18-May-2007Four batsmen managed three-figure scores against a hapless West Indian attack, but the man of the moment was undoubtedly Matt Prior, the 25-year-old debutant wicketkeeper. While the rest of the batsmen scored at a strike rate of less than 60, Prior blasted 126 off a mere 128 balls, a scoring rate of 98.43 per 100 balls.As the table below shows, Prior’s most productive stroke was the pull – he played it 12 times for 36 runs, including eight fours. The drives on either side of the wicket fetched him plenty of runs too.

Prior had little problems in dealing with the good-length stuff – West Indies’ bowlers sent down 93 deliveries around that length, and he scored at more than a run a ball, including 14 fours.

With this hundred, Prior has become only the third wicketkeeper to score a hundred on debut, after two Sri Lankan glovemen – Brendon Kuruppu (201 not out against New Zealand in 1986-87) and Romesh Kaluwitharana (132 not out against Australia in 1992). He also became the fifth batsman to score a hundred on debut at Lord’s – after Harry Graham, John Hampshire, Sourav Ganguly and Andrew Strauss – and needs only five more runs to become the highest scorer on debut here. The record is currently held by Ganguly, who scored 131 in 1996.West Indies, on the other hand, didn’t have much to celebrate in the field. Four of their bowlers conceded more than 100 runs – it’s only the second time this has happened to the West Indians in a Test against England: the only earlier occasion was in Jamaica in 1930, when England amassed 849. The only consolation for West Indies is that with two days of play already done, it’s highly unlikely England will attempt to get anywhere near that total.

Chelsea defender Reece James has been a subject of interest for one of Europe's top clubs, and a report has now revealed whether he is likely to leave in the near future…

Which Chelsea players could leave in January?

Having spent over €1bn (£862m) in the three transfer windows since Todd Boehly took over the club, Chelsea may need to balance the books with some sales in the January transfer window, and there are several players who could be shown the exit door.

Tottenham Hotspur are planning a January swoop for Conor Gallagher's services, although the midfielder is currently happy at Stamford Bridge, and is planning to prove his worth to Mauricio Pochettino and secure a new deal, despite the signings of Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and Lesley Ugochukwu.

The Blues accepted offers for Ian Maatsen and Trevoh Chalobah in the summer transfer window, and while the duo turned down moves elsewhere and plan to fight for their futures at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino's willingness to let them leave indicates they could still depart in January.

Bayern Munich are plotting a new approach for Chalobah, having held a strong interest in the summer transfer window, with Football Insider reporting the 24-year-old may find game time difficult to come by at Chelsea this season.

As reported by Football Insider, there have been fresh links touting James for a move to Real Madrid in recent days, with the Spanish giants said to be long-term admirers of the defender, but the Blues are desperate to keep hold of him.

Club chiefs are hoping the right-back can steer clear of his injury problems and become a key player under Pochettino, off the back of being named club captain earlier in the summer, and they are under no pressure to let him leave anytime soon.

The Englishman signed a fresh six-year contract last year, so he is committed to Chelsea for the long-term future, and the club should be in a strong negotiating position, if Real Madrid's interest materialises.

In the meantime, the 23-year-old remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained in the draw against Liverpool on the opening day of the season.

When is Reece James back from injury?

Pochettino has confirmed the club captain is "recovering well", with the manager hopeful that he will play some part before the next international break in October, and his return could be a real boost for the Blues.

The England international could be a perfect fit in Pochettino's 3-4-2-1 system, which has been implemented in every game so far this season, given that he poses a real threat going forward, as highlighted by his performances in the 2021-22 season.

During that campaign, the "unreal" defender weighed in with five goals and nine assists in 26 Premier League appearances, averaging over one goal contribution every other game, showcasing his attacking talent.

Chelsea will be hoping that James can put his injury woes behind him after he recovers from his latest issue, but until then Malo Gusto is likely to remain the first-choice option, having made five appearances in all competitions this season.

Arsenal are reported to be close to cashing in on the sale of Hale End graduate Folarin Balogun, leaving questions over whether Mikel Arteta will eye another striker.

The Spaniard has already signed versatile forward Kai Havertz this summer in attack, however with Gabriel Jesus only just nearing his return from injury, the Gunners have had to rely on Eddie Nketiah to lead the line so far this campaign.

Arteta has utilised Havertz in midfield at the Emirates, which is a plus for the German who excelled in such areas while at Bayer Leverkusen, however theoretically leaves Arsenal short in the depth of their strike department.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

Considering the injury blow to Jurrien Timber, it’s highly unlikely that the north Londoners will prioritise anything above signing a defender in the time remaining in the transfer window.

However, a swoop in January could come at the perfect time for one player that has been rumoured to be of interest to the Gunners.

A report from the Times has revealed that Brentford are braced for bids in the attempt to sign striker Ivan Toney in January, with Arsenal named as one of the ‘interested parties’.

The Englishman will be able to return to action in January 2024 from his eight-month ban from football due to betting breaches of the FA’s rulings, setting up a potentially exciting swoop for the north Londoners in the winter window.

It’s said that the forward is valued at £80m by the Bees, who will be reluctant to let the 27-year-old leave when he returns.

What could Ivan Toney offer to Arsenal?

Most clubs in the Premier League would be honoured to have a marksman as potent as Toney in their squad, not many more than Arsenal who are arguably a reliable goalscorer away from being in the same calibre as Manchester City.

Considering Balogun’s transfer status, it could be the ideal time for Arteta to consider a potential move for Toney, who revealed on the Diary of a CEO podcast his admiration for the Gunners.

In Balogun, the north Londoners could have had more potent goalscorer than the likes of Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus, with the American netting 21 times in Ligue 1 last season during his loan at Rennes.

On his return, it never seemed as though the 22-year-old’s future would be within Arteta’s squad, making the opportunity to cash in on him an attractive prospect for both parties.

While the Hale End graduates’ scoring streak was impressive, it was the first time he had consistently found the net at senior level, with his three goals scored on loan at Middlesbrough the season prior far from impressive.

In Toney, Arsenal could have the definition of an “extremely prolific” striker, as he was once lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Scoring 24 goals in his final campaign in League One at Peterborough before joining Brentford, where he then scored 31 goals in the Championship to fire the Bees to promotion, via Transfermarkt, there were naturally questions over whether he could do it in the top-flight.

During the two campaigns since Brentford’s promotion, the Englishman has scored on 32 occasions in the Premier League, including 20 goals last term, seeing him dubbed a “lion” by manager Thomas Frank in 2021.

Arsenal could ease the woes of Balogun’s departure by making a swift move for Toney in January, in a purchase that could make Arteta’s side forget all about the Hale End product and close the gap on City.

The Dutch defender got the crucial touch to finally bring City's long drought away to Spurs to an end and keep dreams of another treble alive.

Manchester City had to wait 538 minutes to score at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and it was the scrappiest goal they could have imagined, but they won't care. Nathan Ake bundled the ball in from a corner with just minutes to spare in a game high on physicality but low on quality and even lower on excitement.

Oscar Bobb thought he had scored within the opening minutes but his strike was fractionally offside. City bossed the first half but their domination was sterile.

Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku were introduced to add some flair but in the end it was a centre-back who got the all important touch, sparing City a replay and keeping their dream of repeating last season's treble alive.

GOAL rates Man City's players from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium..

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Stefan Ortega (6/10):

  Did well to deny Brennan Johnson on a one-on-one, the only notable chance Spurs created. His passing was slick although one was intercepted.

  Kyle Walker (6/10):

  Had a compelling battle on the right flank with Timo Werner and came out on top. Shy when it came to joining the attack.

  Ruben Dias (7/10):

  Stood firm and faced down Spurs when they were at their strongest in the second half.

  Nathan Ake (7/10):

  Physical and stylish and capped his solid performance by winning the match.

  Josko Gvardiol (5/10):

  Another average display. Posed no threat in attack but imposed himself in defence. When will Guardiola see sense and play him in the centre again?

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  Midfield

  Bernardo Silva (6/10):

  Made lots of slick passes and inventive runs but couldn't weave his usual magic.

  Mateo Kovacic (8/10):

  City's best player. Outstanding on the ball and put himself about when needed to halt Spurs' counters.

  Rodri (6/10):

  Focused more on keeping City's shape in midfield rather than creating.

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  Attack

  Julian Alvarez (6/10):

  Good movement and skills but couldn't make the final pass or killer touch. Taken off for De Bruyne.

  Oscar Bobb (5/10):

  Denied an early goal by a wafer-thin offside. Struggled to prise Tottenham's physical defence open.

  Phil Foden (6/10):

  Orchestrated City's attacking play until De Bruyne came on but was pushed around a lot by Spurs.

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  Subs & Manager

  Kevin De Bruyne (6/10):

  Didn't have the same impact as in his previous cameos although it was his corner which led to Ake scoring.

  Jeremy Doku (7/10):

  Added some excitement and unpredictability to City's attack and nearly got a winner, just failing to beat Guglielmo Vicario.

  Pep Guardiola (6/10):

  It was a scrappy game but his side were in control for most of it and going through was all that mattered.

Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo parted ways controversially to say the least in 2022, yet there was no doubting his ruthless nature in front of goal.

During his second stint at Old Trafford, the mercurial Portuguese forward netted 27 goals, with his 24 efforts during the 2021/22 campaign enabling him to finish as United’s top scorer.

Marcus Rashford stepped up to the plate following Ronaldo’s departure in November last season, going on to score 30 goals across all competitions, yet he was mainly deployed out wide.

Erik ten Hag has signed Rasmus Hojlund already this summer, but he is eyeing a move for Marcos Leonardo, who could turn into a perfect heir to Ronaldo.

Could Manchester United sign Marcos Leonardo?

According to Calciomercato.it, United have shown interest in the Brazilian striker, although they face stiff competition from Serie A side AS Roma.

The Santos youngster wouldn’t exactly break the bank either, with the South American outfit looking at a fee of around €15m (£13m) and Ten Hag will be hoping that the allure of playing for one of the finest teams in the world, along with Champions League football, will convince him to move to Manchester.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

For a player who has the world at his feet, this low fee represents a perfect opportunity for the Dutchman to invest in someone who could potentially generate a massive profit in the coming years.

How many goals has Marcos Leonardo scored?

Like Ronaldo, Leonardo has made a splash for his first club side at a tender age. He made his debut for Santos aged just 17 back in 2020, and it didn’t take him long to showcase his clinical nature in front of goal.

He netted 12 times during his first two seasons before turning into a player they could depend on during the 2022 campaign as he scored 21 goals across all competitions.

Leonardo has carried on this form into the 2023 season, scoring 15 times already and he ranks first across the squad in the league for goals (seven), shots on target per game (1.1) and second for big chances created (two) and this suggests he is already among one of the most influential players in the team, despite being in the embryonic stages of his career.

The 20-year-old has also made a mark at international level, emerging as arguably Brazil’s brightest spark during the recent U20 World Cup.

Not only did he score five goals during the tournament which showcases the best young talent across the globe, but his performances ranked him highly across a variety of metrics.

Not only did Leonardo rank sixth for overall Sofascore rating, but he also finished third in the competition for goals and assists, fourth for big chances per game and for penalties won, suggesting that his game revolves around more than just scoring goals.

Lauded as a “special talent” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, there is no doubt a move to Europe is the next stage in his development.

Across his fledgling career to date, Leonardo has netted 48 goals in 150 matches, which works out as a goal nearly every three matches, ensuring he could potentially sparkle if handed the chance to impress at Old Trafford.

As United saw in the case of Ronaldo – who Leonardo could help replace this summer – taking a gamble on a promising attacking talent can prove particularly beneficial, with the Portuguese ace winning three league titles and the Champions League during his first stint at the club, after signing from Sporting CP at the age of just 18 back in 2003.

With Ten Hag in need of a new attacking figurehead following the veteran's exit back in November, the young Santos forward could prove to be the dream successor to Ronaldo next season as another potentially prolific asset.

Glasgow Rangers appear to have finally closed a deal for long-term Ibrox Jose Cifuentes this summer, with Football Insider reporting that they are set to confirm his signing in the early stages of next week.

How many games has Jose Cifuentes played?

The midfielder has played 19 times for his current club Los Angeles FC in the MLS this year and has already picked up where he left off last time around, with one goal and three assists to boot. It's helped to drag his side up to sixth in the standings, with the club finishing in second last year as well.

It was 2022 that proved to be his real standout year in the league, with the 24-year-old seemingly getting better as each campaign passes. Last year, he produced his best-ever goal contribution numbers, as he managed 13 in just 26 starts (seven goals, six assists). It meant that he ended the season with a rate of 0.50 goal contributions per 90 – one every other game.

He broke into double-digit figures in 2020 too, showing that it certainly wasn't just a one-off or a campaign where everything went right. His numbers have grown every year since he made his debut in 2016 at the tender age of just 16, and he has shown no signs of slowing down.

It's led to Rangers eagerly trying to sign him up for most of this summer, with the Gers trying desperately to sort out a deal that will bring him to the Scottish Premiership. Most recently, it seemed like a transfer was close and would be potentially completed this week.

Have Rangers signed Jose Cifuentes?

Now, according to Football Insider, things have advanced even more for Cifuentes. It now seems as though a full agreement have been reached and he will officially sign for Michael Beale's side – and be announced as a Rangers player – at the very beginning of next week.

It states that visas have been sorted and that a deal is now finally ready to go ahead – and it means that, come this time next week, he could be in Gers colours after a summer of long discussions over a deal for the midfielder.

It could be an excellent bit of business for the club too. LAFC general manager John Thorrington has spoken very highly of Cifuentes during his time with the club too, insisting that if he isn't "the most talented midfielder in the league" then he's certainly cutting it up there amongst them.

It shows that he is viewed as arguably one of the best in his area in the entire division – which is high praise considering just how many other central players there are in the MLS. Considering that he is only 24 years of age, it shows that he is already playing at the peak of his abilities with a career-high €12m Transfermarkt valuation – and you'd like to think there is room to get even better. If he can seal this move to Rangers and keep getting game time, then he could perhaps achieve the same feat in the Scottish Premiership.

West Brom have suffered a blow in their efforts to land Omari Hutchinson this summer, with Ipswich now in talks over a move according to The Athletic.

How many games has Omari Hutchinson played?

The 19-year-old currently plays for Chelsea but has struggled to assert himself on the first-team picture and has therefore been unable to get regular gametime under his belt. He managed to make his debut for the Blues in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign, but that outing lasted for just 23 minutes.

Instead, he's spent the majority of his time either on the bench, out of the squad entirely or playing for their reserve team. It's with the reserves though that he has showcased his ability, bagging seven goals and eight assists last season in just 21 starts. That led to a rate of 0.75 goals or assists per 90 – nearly one or the other per game.

Prior to that, he had done a similarly impressive job with Arsenal's backup team. He bagged six goals and seven assists for them in 17 games and his goal contribution rate per 90 was even more impressive, standing at 0.79 in the 2021/22 season. Despite all these incredible showings for the reserve sides though, he has yet to break into the regular first-team picture with either team and has never been out on loan to an EFL club either.

That could all be about to change though. It was reported that Hutchinson had been left out of the Chelsea pre-season squad in order to bag a short-term deal elsewhere for 2023/24. West Brom are one of the sides who have been linked with the 19-year-old, but they also faced competition for his signature from fellow Championship outfit Ipswich.

Are West Brom signing Omari Hutchinson?

Now, according to a report from The Athletic, the Baggies will be disappointed to hear that it looks as if he could be on his way to the Tractor Boys. It states that the EFL side are already in talks over a potential loan switch for the player and that his future could be decided by the end of this week.

It looks as if he will link-up with them on a full season-long loan deal, with the chance for him to return to Stamford Bridge in January. It will be a blow for West Brom to see him head to a rival and to miss out on the youngster.

Hutchinson has already impressed despite his age and lack of gametime. When he was able to get onto the field for Chelsea – albeit during a friendly match against Aston Villa last year – he did stand out to then-boss Graham Potter. The former Seagulls manager stated that the youngster was "dangerous" and "showed his quality" as a player during the fixture.

It shows that he does have top level talent in his locker when he is able to get onto the field – and regular gametime with Ipswich could get it out of him. If he does thrive with the Tractor Boys, then West Brom fans will no doubt have to watch on with gritted teeth next season.

The allrounder, who is set to play his first Test against Australia, is looking forward to complete a set of five-wicket hauls against all nine other Test countries

Mohammad Isam24-Aug-2017

Bangladesh’s spin attack is better than Australia’s at home, according to Shakib Al Hasan. He has backed left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and offspinning allrounder Mehidy Hasan, with whom he combined for 38 wickets in the two-Test series against England last year, to deliver against Australia as well.”I think our spin attack is better than theirs,” Shakib said. “Not in all conditions but in Bangladesh, we are better than them. Taijul and Miraz [Mehidy] have been bowling well for some time now. I believe they will do something fantastic in this series.”Shakib is the most experienced spinner in the Bangladesh side with 176 wickets at an average of 33.04. Taijul is two short of 50 wickets while Mehidy has 35 wickets in seven Tests.The tourists also have an experienced spinner in Nathan Lyon, who will be supported by two rookies – left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who has played only two Tests so far, and legspinner Mitchell Swepson, who is uncapped in international cricket. Agar, set to play his first Test in more than four years, is likely to partner Lyon in the first Test ahead of Swepson.With the pitches in Bangladesh becoming more responsive to spin now, and more quality spinners coming through the ranks, Shakib feels his workload has lessened. He may not have to bowl as many overs as he used to get wickets.”Taijul and Miraz are bowling well. Spinners like Raj [Abdur Razzak] and [Mohammad] Rafique were around in my early days,” Shakib said. “But there weren’t pitches that helped wicket-taking, because we didn’t really think about winning Test matches. Since now we are focused on winning, the pitches have also become more helpful for spinners.”Shakib, who is set to play his first Test against Australia, is looking forward to complete a set of five-wicket hauls against all nine other Test countries. He would become the fourth player after Muttiah Muralitharan, Dale Steyn, and Rangana Herath to achieve the feat.”I have that in mind. I have four innings to do it so let’s see, Shakib said. “It is more important to contribute, so if someone else takes a five-wicket haul it is good for the team. Taking wickets isn’t really up to me.”There are times when I don’t get a single wicket despite bowling very well. And then there are times when I got wickets by not bowling well. Bowling [in] partnerships is also essential, so we have to keep that in mind too.”