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A slew of former international and first-class players have been enlisted as consultants to work with USA men’s, women’s and junior players at a specialist preparation camp from April 6-9 in Houston

Peter Della Penna05-Apr-2017A slew of former international and first-class players have been enlisted as consultants to work with USA men’s, women’s and junior players at a specialist preparation camp from April 6-9 in Houston, Texas in an effort to give them a leg up on other teams in preparation for their respective ICC qualification events later this year. Among the new arrivals expected this weekend are former Australian Test spinner Beau Casson, former Sheffield Shield wicketkeeper Peter Anderson and former West Indies fast bowler Mervyn Dillon.Casson, 34, has been an assistant coach with New South Wales and Sydney Thunder since 2015 after being forced into early retirement in 2011 due to a heart condition. Dillon, 42, played 38 Tests for West Indies and ended his first-class career with Trinidad & Tobago in 2008. He has made regular appearances around the USA playing in private T20 tournaments in recent years and began pursuing a Cricket Australia Level Three coaching badge in Florida in 2012.Anderson, 55, has forged a successful career at Associate level after a 56-match first-class career with Queensland and South Australia. He coached Papua New Guinea for two years culminating in a fourth place finish at the 2014 World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand that secured ODI status for PNG. From there, he became the head of Afghanistan’s national cricket academy for two years. Most recently, Anderson took over as Cayman Islands coach and technical director last summer, and helped them defeat Argentina in a regional qualifier this February to gain a place at ICC World Cricket League Division Five, scheduled for September in South Africa.Specialist fielding coach Trevor Penney, who worked with USA’s senior players at a camp in Indianapolis last September ahead of ICC WCL Division Four, has been brought back for another stint with the USA men’s team. Unlike the other three consultant coaches, who are being utilized for this weekend only, Penney is expected to stay with USA as a consultant assistant coach until the end of May as part of their staff for ICC WCL Division Three in Uganda, working alongside head coach Pubudu Dassanayake and assistant Anand Tummala.Former India international Thiru Kumaran, who coached the USA U-19 squad in 2015 at the U-19 Americas Qualifier in Bermuda and U-19 World Cup Qualifier in Malaysia, has been brought back to continue working with junior players. Kumaran, 41, is currently based in Dallas, Texas where he runs a youth academy.Aside from the men’s team, who are targeting a top two finish in Uganda next month to move a step closer to the 2018 World Cup Qualifier, key tournaments for the women’s and U-19 teams are also coming up in 2017. This weekend’s camp is being used as a launching pad for each team’s preparations with six players from each squad coming to the camp to train alongside the entire men’s national squad.The USA Women were given a wildcard spot into the 2017 ICC Europe Qualifier where they will play Scotland and Netherlands this August for a chance to advance into the 2018 Women’s World T20 Qualifier. The USA U-19 team will head to Toronto for the U-19 Americas Qualifier in July as they attempt to qualify for the U-19 World Cup for the first time since 2010.

Trisha Chetty and Dane van Niekerk both stroked half-centuries, paving the way for South Africa Women’s 35-run win against West Indies Women in East London

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Feb-2016
ScorecardFile photo: Dane van Niekerk slammed 55 off 48 deliveries•Getty Images

Trisha Chetty and Dane van Niekerk both stroked half-centuries, paving the way for South Africa Women’s 35-run win against West Indies Women in East London. Victory was not of much significance, though, as West Indies had already sealed the three-match series having won the first two ODIs.South Africa, opting to bat, compiled a score of 235 for 6, built on the back of two big partnerships. First, Chetty (55) and Mignon du Preez (43) added 72 for the second wicket, before Marizanne Kapp (39) and van Niekerk provided the innings late impetus by stringing together a 64-run fifth-wicket stand. Van Niekerk slammed 55 off 48 balls before being run out.West Indies, in reply, lost their opener Hayley Matthews early in the chase, but Shaquana Quintyne and Kyshona Knight led a recovery with a 57-run partnership for the second wicket. However, just when they seemed steady, the visitors lost wickets in a cluster to soon fall to 118 for 5. Merissa Aguilleira and Shemaine Campbelle offered the team some hope by adding 52 for the sixth wicket, but Aguilleira’s wicket in the 43rd over left the lower order with too much to do, as West Indies could only muster 200 for 8 from their 50 overs.Masabata Klaas and Sune Luus snared two wickets apiece, while Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka and van Niekerk chipped in with one each.”It was definitely a much better performance today,” du Preez said after the game. “We’re still not at 100%, maybe 80 or 90% there in terms of the way that we executed our skills. Something that we’ve been talking about is the fact that the top order needs to score more runs and I think everyone that went in (to bat), chipped in somehow and Trisha (Chetty) and Dané’s (van Niekerk) half-centuries really set up a nice total for our bowlers to defend.”

Cricket Australia has shelved its plan to tighten the BBL schedule this summer, instead expanding the time-frame from the opening match until the final by two weeks

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jul-2013Cricket Australia has shelved its plan to tighten the BBL schedule this summer, instead expanding the time-frame from the opening match until the final by two weeks. The fixture for the 2013-14 tournament has been released and although the competition will start later in December, in order to allow Sheffield Shield cricket to be played until the end of the third Ashes Test, it has ballooned at the back end and will not finish until February 15.All the regular season matches will be played during the school holiday period, with the semi-finals and final to be contested across two weekends in early February. The tournament will last 58 days compared to last season’s 44 days, with the 32 regular season games played across 38 days.”The later start to the season means that families will have a greater opportunity to come to the BBL as part of their school holiday summer entertainment,” Mike McKenna, Cricket Australia’s executive general manager operations, said.In other BBL news on Monday, two widely-expected announcements were confirmed: the retirement of Melbourne Stars captain Shane Warne, and Michael Hussey’s decision to sign with Sydney Thunder. Hussey’s defection from Perth Scorchers is an attempt to revive the fortunes of the struggling Thunder outfit, which has won only two matches over the past two seasons.Hussey will captain the side in the absence of the nominal Thunder leader Michael Clarke, who is likely to miss most of the campaign due to national team commitments.”I’m extremely excited about joining the Sydney Thunder and having the opportunity to be part of a young, energetic side that will represent the west of Sydney with pride,” Hussey said. “The team and the area have enormous potential and I hope that I can bring my experience to help get the best out of the side and develop the talented playing group that we have.”It was not an easy decision to leave the Scorchers, but the challenge of helping a young team grow was one I couldn’t pass on. I look forward to working closely with coach Chandika [Hathurusinghe] and Michael Clarke to make sure that the squad are ready to go once the season starts.”Cameron White will again take up the captaincy of the Stars after Warne confirmed that he would not be back for another summer. Warne, 43, struggled for impact last season with the Stars and collected four wickets at 39.75.”I think the time is right for me to hang up my Big Bash boots – juggling business, family and commentary commitments across two continents is not easy,” Warne said. “I’ve always loved the game but now it’s time to observe. I wish Cameron and rest of the lads all the best for the BBL|03.”

Jesse Ryder, the New Zealand batsman, has said he will be available to play for Wellington during the 2012-13 domestic season

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2012Jesse Ryder, the New Zealand batsman, has said he will be available to play for Wellington during the 2012-13 domestic season. His manager, Aaron Klee, informed Wellington officials of Ryder’s decision on Saturday.”I’ve thought long and hard about playing cricket this summer and I think I’m going to be totally refreshed and ready to hit the summer firing on all cylinders,” Ryder told . “I’m not asking for anything different than any other player – I just want to be back playing with the Wellington boys and helping them win titles next season.”I’m setting myself some big goals for the season – I’m going to come back stronger than ever and make an impact for Wellington. This is the first step in the next stage of my career and I’m going hard out. As I said, I’m just focusing on one job at a time. I don’t have any expectations of being selected for the Black Caps [New Zealand team] this summer – if I score heaps of runs and do the right stuff, that might happen in time.”It’s all about Wellington for me at the moment – whatever happens in the future will happen. I want to play for New Zealand again, but I’m taking one step at a time.”Klee said he was proud of the progress Ryder had made since he was dropped from the New Zealand squad in March for breaking team protocol.”We’ve been through some rough times, but this is what it’s all about – Jess making the right decisions and getting the job done,” Klee said. “Jesse made the call to not sign up for the Sri Lankan Premier League. That was an easy way to earn some cash for three weeks work, but it was going to interfere with what he’s privately working away at in terms of personal goals. I think he’ll smash some records this domestic season.”Ryder had said he felt like he was “hung out to dry” in the aftermath of the incident at the Napier hotel during the ODIs against South Africa earlier this year. He said he had not done anything wrong and the whole episode, which in his opinion was blown out of proportion, diminished his love for cricket. Ryder revealed he went on an alcohol binge after he left the team and returned to Wellington.Since then, Ryder said he was taking an indefinite break from cricket but played the IPL with a support structure in place. He and the New Zealand board agreed he wouldn’t get a central contract as well until he was ready.

Duncan Fletcher has said that India have got the potential and the ingredients to be a great side, and he has been impressed by the way they have thrown themselves on the field in the heat

Sriram Veera in Antigua12-Jun-2011One of the important events of this series for India, apart from the opportunities for the youngsters to prove their worth without the guiding presence of the seniors, is the debut of Duncan Fletcher as coach. He came heavily recommended by Gary Kirsten and his approach to coaching is slowly filtering through the anonymity that he cherishes. In the training sessions, he rarely addresses the players in a group. He will pick out a player or wait for him to walk up and have a chat. Even inside the secrecy of the team hotels, he says he prefers one-on-one conversations.”If someone comes and chats to me, we just have a quiet chat,” Fletcher said. “But that’s just been the way that I have always operated and I will continue to operate like that. I have always liked one-on-one situations. People tend to be more free and comfortable in that situation. They are freer to ask questions so if they get it wrong they are not embarrassed. It’s between me and the player. Why should I get it out in the media and help them get onto the bandwagon? That’s why I go one-on-one because I think there is a lot of confidentiality required.”At the end of the third ODI, Fletcher went to Rohit Sharma and told him that he had rarely seen someone finish a game in such style and with such ease, and lavished more praise at the press conference.He also talked about his coaching philosophy. “It’s important that I come here to first observe and understand them, to gain each other’s respect, I mean that’s the first thing. Get to understand how they think. People accept messages in different ways. So it’s crucial how they communicate with other people. Sometimes if you rush in, it’s very easy to destroy a cricketer and far harder to help a cricketer. I just have to be patient.”This tour doesn’t have many Indian reporters and so far Fletcher hasn’t been hounded by the media. He did get a sneak peek, though, before the third ODI. Suddenly, a reporter asked him, “Geoffrey Boycott has said that even his mom can coach this Indian team. What do you have to say?” Fletcher didn’t show any anger, nor even slight irritation. He just said calmly, “I don’t want to comment on that.”As you would expect this is the warm-up tour for him as a coach. The time to get to know the players, settle in and be accepted and respected. Respect is a constant theme in his vocabulary. Even in his first media conference in Chennai after he was named as a coach, he said, “You have to gain their [players’] respect and they have to gain my respect. And that’s what this is about. Once you have that then it makes your job easier.”It must be hard not to come with any perceptions about players, especially in a team like India, but Fletcher says that was the most important thing that he had to do before he took up the job. “A lot of people have a lot of things to say about the players and other people involved in the set-up, but it’s very important that you go in with a very clear mind about the players and make up your own mind about them. That’s why I have stood back and observed and see how they react to things. It’s important for me that this procedure takes place.”He has liked what he has seen so far from this Indian team. “This [third ODI] was a game where we struggled but we won. It shows two things: the character of the team, which is very very important, and that we can win from those situations. That’s not easy. Most sides would crumble under that sort of pressure and so it’s good to win so that you know how to win from those situations. By winning the series three-nil already they have shown great capability with bat and ball. What has impressed me is the way they have thrown themselves on the field in this heat. They have got the potential and the ingredients to be a great side.”

Sri Lanka’s hero of the day, Lasith Malinga, said team batting under natural light had a definite advantage

Siddarth Ravindran in Dambulla16-Jun-2010The Asia Cup got off to just the sort of cracking start the organisers would have wanted – a tight, topsy-turvy match littered with classy batting and bowling efforts, and ending with victory for the home side. One cause for concern, though, is the quality of the floodlights at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, which held its first day-night match in nearly three years.Eight floodlight towers were installed in 2003, but Sri Lanka’s hero of the day, Lasith Malinga, said team batting under natural light had a definite advantage. “The lights are not good enough by international standards, it is a handicap for the side batting second,” he said after the match. “However, Sri Lanka are used to it as we have played number of matches under this condition. We faced only problems when fielding, the fielders found it a little difficult to pick up the ball at times.”The lights would have only made it harder for the Pakistan batsmen to pick the distinctive low, round-arm action of Malinga, who collected his first ODI five-wicket haul. That included the final three scalps of a see-saw game, but he felt the deciding factor was Shahid Afridi.Afridi, already charged with the task of uniting a squad notorious for infighting, had hauled Pakistan from a hopeless 32 for 4 to a position of control with one of the finest innings of his career. He dismantled Muttiah Muralitharan and overcame severe cramps to make his first one-day century since 2005, leaving Pakistan only 47 to get off the final ten overs with Afridi and Abdul Razzaq still at the crease.”I didn’t feel much pressure because we always felt Afridi had to finish off the match for Pakistan and it was solely in his hands,” Malinga said. “It was a matter of trying to contain him and putting pressure on Afridi, we felt that if we got Afridi at any stage, we would win the match.” Afridi fell in the 41st over to a blinder from Kumar Sangakkara, much to the delight of the flag-waving Sri Lankan faithful who had turned up, and the Pakistan tail was clueless against Malinga.The defeat adds to the pressure on Pakistan ahead of their high-profile clash against India on Sunday, but coach Waqar Younis remained optimistic of reaching the finals. “We are still not out of the tournament, if we win against India we are back in business,” Waqar said. “After a long time, we will be playing against India, which is good to see.”As with the batting, Pakistan’s bowlers didn’t finish off the job after reaching a strong position. “I think the way we got them down to 160-odd for 7 and then let them off the hook to reach 242,” he said. “We should have done a lot better in the field, we gave away a few too many runs.”Pakistan’s cause was also not helped by their cumbersome start to the chase, with debutants Umar Amin and Shahzaib Hasan struggling against the Sri Lankan new-ball attack. Waqar, however, was confident they would fare better in the matches coming up. “We are in a re-building process, we brought three youngsters in on the tour, and we are looking to bring in some more for the next England tour,” he said. “We’ve got to give them a chance, it’s tough out there, but that’s how you play top cricket, it was their first game, few nerves around.”The Pakistan batting wears a new look because of the absence of middle-order stalwarts, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, and the decision to push regular opener Kamran Akmal down the order made the top-order lighter on experience.

Fourth-wicket partnership of 127 seals 20-run win over Central Sparks

ECB Reporters Network04-Sep-2024South East Stars advanced to the brink of a place in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy semi-finals by beating Central Sparks by 20 runs in a fluctuating encounter at Moseley.Put in, Stars totalled 270 all out from 49.5 overs, an imposing score built around a fourth-wicket partnership of 127 in 20 overs between Kira Chathli (80) and Alice Davidson-Richards (70). Katie George took 4 for 47 for Sparks and Charis Pavely 3 for 37.Sparks’ chase of the demanding target was then set back by the loss of early wickets and though they recovered boldly through Davina Perrin (50), Chloe Brewer (54) and Bethan Ellis (57), they fell short at 250 for 9.The victory means Stars will qualify for the semis if they win their last game, away to Northern Diamonds at Chester-le-Street on Saturday. Defeat there could still see them edged out of the top four if Sunrisers record a bonus-point win over Southern Vipers at Southampton.Asked to bat first, Stars lost a wicket to the 12th ball of the innings when George bowled Cloe Hill through an airy waft. Alexa Stonehouse and Phoebe Franklin added 70 in 14 overs but then fell in quick succession. Franklin, in pursuit of her seventh four, lifted Ellis to extra cover. Four balls later, Stonehouse was beaten in the flight and bowled by Pavely.Chathli and Davidson-Richards rebuilt first carefully then stylishly. The latter hit two straight sixes and the pair shared 14 fours to put their side in command before George slowed the Stars’ momentum with three quick wickets. The left-armer had Davidson-Richards caught at mid-wicket from a full toss then struck twice in four balls when Aylish Cranstone fell lbw and Emma Jones diverted an attempted pull on to her middle stump. Chathli’s polished innings ended when she hoisted Grace Potts to deep mid-wicket but Priyanaz Chatterji provided a useful late cameo of 17 off 18 balls.Sparks’ top order, without captain Eve Jones, who has joined Thunder on loan for the rest of the season, lost four wickets in the first 13 overs. Seventeen-year-old slow left-armer Tilly Corteen-Coleman dismissed openers Ami Campbell and Meg Austin, caught in the deep, in an opening spell of 5-0-14-2. Abi Freeborn edged a wide ball from Franklin to wicketkeeper Chathli. George chipped Chatterji to midwicket.Perrin reached a run-a-ball half-century but perished next ball when she lifted a shot ball from Danielle Gregory to deep midwicket. That was 104 for 5 but Brewer and Ellis rebuilt to send their side into the last ten overs needing 75 with five wickets still intact.Brewer reached her maiden half-century for Sparks from 75 balls and, after she top-edged Stonehouse to deep mid-wicket, Pavely lent Ellis further good support so that they needed 32 from the last three overs. But Paveley was run out by calm work from Chathli and when Ellis gave Stonehouse the charge and was bowled, Sparks’ gallant chase was over.

Mumbai must win, RCB have the advantage of playing last, and Royals can only wait in hope

Shiva Jayaraman20-May-2023With Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants advancing to the playoffs with wins in their last league matches, only one spot remains to be taken. Three teams have a chance to grab that final place in the playoffs. Here’s what the result in the remaining two games of the league will mean for the teams who are still in the fray.Matches to be played
Mumbai Indians v Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai, 3:30pm
Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Gujarat Titans, Bengaluru, 7:30pm

Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore both win

Both Mumbai and RCB will move to 16 points, but this scenario will be stacked in favour of RCB who have the better NRR of the two. Even if RCB win by the barest margin of one run, Mumbai are required to thrash Sunrisers by at least 79 runs to finish ahead of Royal Challengers. Even if Mumbai win by a margin bigger than 79 runs, RCB will have the advantage of knowing exactly what they would need to qualify because they are playing the last game.

Only one of Mumbai or Royal Challengers win

Whichever team wins, moves to 16 points and makes it to the playoffs. RCB losing to Titans is the best case scenario for Mumbai to qualify with a win.

Both MI and RCB lose

This is the outcome Rajasthan Royals will be hoping for, for it would give them a realistic chance of qualifying. If this happens, all three teams – Mumbai, RCB and Royals – will be tied on 14 points. Mumbai will be knocked out on account of their poor NRR.It will come down to NRR between RCB and Royals and here’s what Royals would need from Titans. If RCB bat first and score 180, Royals need Titans to chase down the target in 19.3 overs or before. If RCB field first and concede 180, Royals need Titans to restrict RCB to 174 or less.If the margins of RCB’s loss are tighter than that, then they will go through with a better NRR.

No result in the Mumbai-SRH game

In this event RCB will qualify if they win, otherwise Mumbai will go through to the playoffs.

No result in the RCB-Titans game

In this event Mumbai will qualify if they win, otherwise RCB will go through to the playoffs.

No result in both matches

RCB will qualify on account of superior NRR.

Coach praises team spirit after battling for the upper hand in Antigua and Barbados

Cameron Ponsonby21-Mar-2022Ollie Robinson and Craig Overton will be available for the third and final Test against West Indies in Grenada, as England look to force a 1-0 victory against a side that has held on for a draw in the opening two matches of the series.Robinson missed the first Test after suffering a back spasm in the warm-up fixture and despite bowling regularly and at full intensity leading up to the second match was not risked. Overton was due to play in Barbados, but was withdrawn from the team on the morning of the match through illness.The availability of the two could lead to a rejigged starting XI as England ponder the make-up of an attack which has toiled on two flat and lifeless surfaces in the Caribbean over the past two weeks.The most likely option appears to be Robinson and Overton returning to the starting XI in place of Chris Woakes, who has struggled in the opening two Tests, and Matt Fisher, who impressed on debut but was playing only as Overton’s late replacement.The more radical option, and one that England may contemplate given the nature of the surfaces that they have so far encountered in the Caribbean, is to play two spinners and give a long-awaited debut to wrist spinner Matt Parkinson.”We’ll have to gauge it over the next couple of days”, Paul Collingwood, the interim head coach, said. “Ollie Robinson has not played in the first two Tests but looks as though he is ready and available and Overton has overcome illness. We will look at the wicket in Grenada
and see what make-up of the team is suited to take 20 wickets.”Ollie Robinson missed the first two Tests after suffering a back spasm•Getty Images

Parkinson has been a regular in England’s squads over the past two years, including last year’s tours of Sri Lanka and India, in which he did not play a single competitive fixture. He was part of the Lions squad in Australia before Christmas, but flew home before he could be drafted into the main Ashes squad, having been overlooked for the unofficial Test against Australia A in Brisbane – a match that featured four of the team that took the field in Barbados, in Fisher, Mahmood, Alex Lees and Ben Foakes.”[Parkinson] is as ready as he can be,” Collingwood said. “The simple fact is, in Covid times, you don’t get matches between. They are back to back, it is putting a lot of stress on the players and the downside is we don’t have matches in between to have preparation time for guys who are not playing. We’ve just got to make sure they get time on their feet, get their steps in fitness-wise and the overs under their belt.”In all, Collingwood was full of praise for his England side after they finished a second successive Test match on the front foot as West Indies batted 65 overs on day five for the loss of just five wickets to hold out for a draw. While it was not a win for the touring side, it was another sign of progress for a team that has won just one of their last 16 Test matches.Related

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“I think the way we’ve gone about it the first two Tests has been very impressive. We are getting closer,” Collingwood said. “We gave ourselves a little chance today. Going into the fifth day people were expecting a high-scoring draw and I thought the way we went about it in that morning session proves what sort of mindset we’ve got. We want to go and win the game.”It is hard work, three back-to-back Test matches takes a lot out of you as players, but you can’t fault the attitude they’ve shown in both matches. I think this has been more impressive, to back up last week’s performance with some high-class individual performances and as a team we never gave up.”Collingwood reserved praise in particular for Ben Stokes, whose 11th Test century was an impressive innings of 120 off 128 balls, with strokeplay reminiscent of his career-best 258 at Cape Town in 2016.The innings was played out in front of more than one set of TV cameras, as Stokes is currently the subject of a TV documentary with a film crew out in the Caribbean filming his movements. It’s a detail that Collingwood isn’t convinced is helpful for the Durham all-rounder, although he can’t deny Stokes’ suitability for playing the starring role.”He’s box office. Everyone was watching. You didn’t want to miss a ball he was facing. In many ways it shows where we are as a team that guys can go out and express themselves. They want to put on a show, get a win under their belts, and we have a great attitude at the moment.”You can tell he wants to make a difference in the dressing room as a leader,” Collingwood added. “When he’s preparing himself like he is at the moment, he certainly leads. He wants to go out in the middle and put in big performances. He wants the ball in hand and to score the runs. He’s doing just that at the moment. It’s amazing when he’s got this kind of attitude, as we all know he’s one of the best. Long may it continue.”

McCullum felt the Knight Riders batsmen had ceded control of the game to Siraj by not being proactive enough

Saurabh Somani21-Oct-20202:17

KKR coach McCullum praises RCB’s bowling

Brendon McCullum, the Kolkata Knight Riders coach, has said the team “just wasn’t good enough” with the bat and had shown a “timid” approach in their eight-wicket loss to the Royal Challengers Bangalore.The Knight Riders were undone by Mohammed Siraj’s 3 for 8 in four overs and made only 84 for 8 after choosing to bat, with the Royal Challengers cruising to victory in 13.3 overs. The result kept the Knight Riders in fourth place on the IPL 2020 points table, but with a significant hit on their net run rate, which now stands at a negative -0.828.”In all honesty, I didn’t think there was a lot in the wicket. Siraj obviously bowled well and [Chris] Morris at times also. But if anything, we were just a little timid in our approach,” McCullum said at the press conference. “That’s a bit frustrating because we spoke at length before the game about trying to be positive and show some strong intent. So that’s something we’ll have to address in the next few days.”Before the game we talked about wanting to show some strong intent with the batting at the top of the order. Unfortunately tonight, if anything we probably lacked intent. So that’s something we’re going to have to address. I think RCB were very good tonight and we were very poor with bat in hand. You’re not going to win too many games from 40 for 6. It was a poor night with the bat but we’ve got to bounce back because we’ve got another game in a few days. That could be the nature of this tournament as well, with the conditions being slightly challenging at times. You’ve got to find a way to still pick yourself up and try and get a result next game, even after a poor one.”McCullum felt the Knight Riders batsmen had ceded control of the game to Siraj by not being proactive enough. Siraj varied his lines, kept the ball on a length or just short of it often, and found movement too. No batsman was able to get into any rhythm against him.”I think Mohammed Siraj bowled excellent lines and lengths. He was out to present the seam and asked a few questions of us, questions which in the past we would have probably answered better than we did tonight,” McCullum said.”There’s many things you can do [to counter good bowling]. You can use your crease: go laterally, advance, or go deeper in your crease. You can try and apply a little bit of pressure somehow, but we weren’t able to do any of those tonight. That’s something we’ll discuss, how as batsmen you’re able to enter the game, show strong presence and try to turn the pressure a little bit back on the opposition, particularly in slightly helpful conditions for the seamers.”McCullum contrasted his own batsmen’s performance with the approach shown by Aaron Finch for the Royal Challengers. While Finch made only 16 off 21, he was walking down the pitch constantly, not only forcing bowlers to bowl alternate lengths but also minimising the risk of an lbw.”None of our top order batsmen were able to get anything going,” McCullum said. “If we flip that over and look at how even Aaron Finch – I know he didn’t set the world on fire tonight but he still showed intent. He was walking down the wicket, he was asking some different questions of us as bowlers and trying to take out a mode of dismissal. Sometimes that’s what you have to do, you’ve got to be a little bit creative to be able to get yourself into the game. It wasn’t to be tonight, but there’ll be some good lessons for some of our guys. We’re going to have to find a way to be able to actually enter the game because you can’t be in a situation like you were at 40 for 6 and expect to win games of cricket.”The Knight Riders still have four games in hand, and with 10 points on the board they are still in the thick of the qualifying race.”We’re still fourth in the tournament, which is very fortunate for us. Destiny is still very much in our own hands,” McCullum said. “We’ve just got to tidy up those areas where we were deficient tonight and make sure we improve on our performance.”I’ve said all the way along, as long as our morale stays high and our belief within the dressing room stays high, then we have the talent within our set-up, and the intelligence and the quality of players, to be able to go deep in the tournament. This is going to affect a little bit in terms of our confidence and [we need to] work hard on ensuring our morale doesn’t drop. At the same time, having those honest conversations around how we improve. But I still firmly believe we have a side which can be there come finals time. We just need to improve slightly.”