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The biggest names in Caribbean cricket could be about to return to the West Indies team after significant progress was made in negotiations between players and the board.Not only has a resolution been agreed to the Darren Bravo impasse, but the likes of Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle are also available for selection for the ODI side after an amnesty was proposed by WIPA, the players’ union.

Dave Cameron statement

“In early November 2016, I gave an interview to SportsMax TV during which I discussed player retainer contracts and the grades of contract that had been awarded to certain players. In the course of the interview I stated that Darren Bravo had previously been on an ‘A’ contract, which I have since been advised is not correct. I apologise for the misstatement, and wish to assure Mr. Bravo that there was no insult or offense intended towards him. Darren is a senior cricketer who has been a valuable part of the WINDIES set up for a long time, and I would hope to see his game continue to progress and mature, at both regional and international level.”

That means they could be available for the limited-overs section of the tour to England that starts in a few weeks.Gayle, who marked his international return after 15 months during the one-off Twenty20 International against India in Kingston last week, said during an event in Bengaluru on Thursday that “things have been steadily improving” and playing the 2019 World Cup, for which West Indies may have to qualify, is still a burning desire.”The fans were happy to see me back on the field representing West Indies. Hopefully, things can get better. Hopefully I can play a few more games. I definitely want to play the 2019 World Cup,” Gayle said. “Things are beginning to open up a little more now between players and the board. It’s looking good, and we’ve to try and build from this to get the best players out on the field.”The key to the resolution has been Cricket West Indies abandoning its contentious policy regarding player availability for regional cricket. Whereas, in recent years, CWI policy dictated that players would only be eligible for West Indies selection if they had played in the corresponding format in regional cricket, the board is now in the process of softening that hardline stance.It is anticipated it will be formally relaxed when the new round of central contracts are introduced in October, with a new range of white-ball contracts also adding to the players’ security and flexibility.Both Jimmy Adams, Director Of Cricket, and Johnny Grave, CWI CEO, have previously intimated their desire to change the policy, with Adams labelling it “unsustainable”.In the meantime, though, an amnesty has been proposed to those who have not been involved in regional cricket, giving them the chance to represent West Indies again. The likes of Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Darren Sammy and, once his WADA ban is served, Andre Russell could be other beneficiaries.While the amnesty has yet to be ratified by the board of CWI, ESPNcricinfo understands a conference call will take place before the end of the week where it is hoped the proposal will be accepted.

Darren Bravo statement

“On 11 November 2016, after viewing statements made about me by Mr. Dave Cameron, president of Cricket West Indies, on a television sports programme, I tweeted a response which referred to the president which was, in retrospect, inappropriate. As I have always tried to uphold the best traditions of West Indies cricket and its players, I now therefore wish to withdraw the comment made on my Twitter account and apologise to the president of CWI and to all WINDIES fans.”

Darren Bravo, who has been suspended since November 2016 when he was sent home from the tour of Zimbabwe following his Twitter condemnation of board president, Dave Cameron, is also set to return.Both parties have released statements of apology* and Bravo’s tweet will be deleted with no admission of liability and without prejudice to the pursuit of any claim for damages. That will not only allow Bravo to take a full part in the forthcoming CPL season but render him eligible for West Indies selection once more. Having not played much red ball cricket of late, he is not thought to be a realistic candidate for the Test tour of England. He could well feature in the ODI team, though.That method of solution had been suggested as far back as February. But Bravo instead pursued legal action against the board, claiming lost earnings. It seems that action is on-going despite the apparent thawing in relations, though it is understood no damages have been paid to date.A similar resolution is expected imminently in the case of Nicholas Pooran. The 21-year-old wicketkeeper batsman made his West Indies debut last September in the three-match T20 series against Pakistan in the UAE after excelling with Barbados Tridents in the 2016 Caribbean Premier League, but he has not appeared in domestic cricket since last year’s CPL. Pooran was drafted first overall by Leeward Islands in the 2016 Professional Cricket League draft, but had his Leewards contract canceled for both the four-day and 50-over squads when he took up an offer to play for Khulna Titans in the 2016 Bangladesh Premier League.Pooran subsequently appeared for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League, City Kaitak in the Hong Kong T20 Blitz and was part of the Mumbai Indians squad at this year’s IPL. He played for a WICB President’s XI that took on Afghanistan in a T20 tour match on May 30 in St Kitts and also retained his place with Barbados Tridents in the 2017 CPL for $70,000, which places him in the top 10 highest paid West Indians in the tournament. However, Pooran’s exile from four-day and 50-over domestic competitions seemed set to continue when he went unclaimed in the 2017 PCL draft that took place on July 7 in Jamaica, which would have precluded him from eligibility for West Indies selection in ODIs and Tests under the hardline selection policy.It all amounts to encouraging news for long-suffering West Indies supporters. With the side having slipped to 9th in the ODI rankings (they are 8th in the Test rankings and 5th in T20), it is almost impossible for them to qualify automatically for the 2019 World Cup ahead of the ODI rankings qualification cut-off date in September.The availability of some familiar faces is a significant step in the right direction.*1700 GMT – This story was updated with statements from Darren Bravo and Dave Cameron

Gloucestershire have announced that their Australian quick Andrew Tye will not be joining them for this season’s NatWest T20 Blast.Tye signed to return for a second year but injured his left shoulder playing for the Gujarat Lions in the IPL and his recovery takes him beyond the timetable for the tournament, which starts in early July.Head coach Richard Dawson said “Andrew went home to Australia and had surgery and now he’s got to rehab his shoulder so that he can come back to full fitness. It’s disappointing for us because he performed well last year, and for him because he was doing well in the IPL. We obviously wish him a speedy recovery.”The Champions Trophy and the Caribbean Premier League complicate recruiting a replacement but we’ll get our heads together and put a plan in place. If we go for a bowler to replace Andrew it helps to manage our bowlers through a tough period, and if we register a batsman it changes the balance of the team. We’ll look at all the available options and do what is best for the squad.”Dawson also confirmed David Payne would not feature for the immediate future after having an operation to correct a niggle from a hernia.

Come to watch the Champions Trophy safe in the knowledge that you are well protected. That is the message from Ronnie Flanagan, the chairman of the ICC’s anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU), in the wake of the terrorist attack in Manchester this week.Flanagan said that cricket could not “yield” to the terrorists. “Basically come safe and secure knowledge that we will make this a safe and secure tournament,” Flanagan, who has experience on the police force, said at a media briefing in London. “Don’t let the terrorists have their way. In my experience sport can be a wonderfully positive influence in the face of adversity and in the face of terrorism. We have seen that in South Africa. I saw at first hand in Ireland.”Following the attack in Manchester, which took place at a music concert, the UK government raised the threat level from severe to critical – the highest level. Armed military personnel have been deployed across the country to assist the police in averting any further attacks.Flanagan’s past experience as a cop is highly relevant. Before arriving at the ICC, he was the Home Office chief inspector of constabulary for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and previously was the chief constable of the police service of Northern Ireland.According to Flanagan the ICC and ECB were working closely with the police to make sure the teams’ movements will not be affected.”I have every confidence that we cannot yield in any way to terrorists’ intentions,” he said. “I would ask the public to be vigilant and the old adage, if they see something, to say something. But come to our matches.”But, come expecting some additional inconvenience, expecting pat-down searches, vehicle searches etc. And searches of any equipment they bring with them. And there will be fast lanes for those not carrying equipment. So that might be an encouragement for people who might have normally brought picnics and all sorts of things. May be they want to reconsider that. Perhaps this tournament just might offer a little opportunity to break through the gloom in some small way.”Security was tight at the first England-South Africa ODI, at Headingley•Getty Images

It is understood that so far none of the eight participating teams have raised any concerns to the ICC. Training sessions have carried on as per schedule. There has been no restriction on player movements, but the team managements have been briefed by the ICC security officials. Captains of various teams including India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka confirmed that, saying the players remained confident and secure.”What happened here few days back was really saddening and very disturbing for everyone who saw it, especially a place like England has not had many of these incidents happen in the past,” Virat Kohli, the India captain, said. “Yeah, for a few people it can be sort of a nervous time, but I don’t think as a squad you have time to focus on those factors because eventually you understand you are here for a sporting tournament.”That for us remains paramount in our thought patterns. I personally don’t feel any nervousness as such. I saw life resume pretty normally and that is always a healthy sign. There wasn’t anything disturbing to see on the streets to say the least, nothing different from what I have seen in the past. I am actually excited to play the tournament.”India landed in London on Thursday morning, and Kohli said the team had already been briefed about dos and don’ts. “With the security information coming in it is be very helpful for the players – what are the areas we can access, what times we can access them, what are the areas we need to avoid… All those sort of those things come into play when you have a situation like this, which the players need to respect. There is a lot at stake for everyone here: the cricketers, the ICC, ECB. Everyone is worried about everyone’s security.”

Lasith Malinga, who last played an ODI in November 2015, has been named in Sri Lanka’s 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy in June. Long-standing injuries had put his availability in doubt, but Sri Lanka’s selectors have been satisfied he can be fit enough to deliver 10 overs and field for 50 by the time the tournament starts on June 1.Also in the squad are batsman Chamara Kapugedera, who has not played ODIs since January 2016, and fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep, who has been only a sporadic presence in Sri Lanka’s ODI squads over the past year. Omitted, however, are batsman Danushka Gunathilaka, allrounders Dhananjaya de Silva and Milinda Siriwardana, and quicks Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera.The team will be led by Angelo Mathews, who returns after a hamstring injury kept him out of ODI series against South Africa and Bangladesh.Malinga made his return to T20 internationals in February, following a 12-month layoff from all competitive cricket due to a knee injury. Though his form has been somewhat indifferent in the IPL, he has been largely impressive in his international matches this year, even picking up a first T20I hat-trick in his most recent game, against Bangladesh.”Malinga has got his medical clearance to bowl 10 overs, since about two weeks ago,” SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said. “We need to build him up to bowl 10 overs now. He’s playing in the IPL, which is to our advantage, because he’s in a top-class cricketing environment and he’s practising. Right now we are getting reports that he’s going into eight overs in a spell. We have to make sure he’s fit to bowl 10 by about the 10th of May.”This is the third successive ICC tournament in which Sri Lanka are sweating over Malinga’s fitness, however. He had missed last year’s World T20, from which he withdrew in the week before Sri Lanka departed for the tournament. He had also been injured in the approach to the 2015 World Cup.”Match fitness is what he’s lacking now – his physical fitness is superb,” Sumathipala said of Malinga. “We are looking for Malinga to be fit to play the practice games before the tournament – it’s very important for him to play those games.”Elsewhere on the seam-bowling front, Mathews himself is expected to be fit to bowl at the Champions Trophy – he has begun bowling in the IPL. Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera and Pradeep are the other seam options in the squad. Peculiarly, Sri Lanka have not picked a specialist finger spinner – legbreak bowler Seekkuge Prasanna, and left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan have been chosen instead.Upul Tharanga – who led the team in Mathews’ absence – is one of three potential openers in the squad, with Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Perera there as well. Kapugedera’s inclusion is likely thanks to good performances in the ongoing provincial one-day tournament, in which he has scored two hundreds in four innings.Among the standby players for the tournament are Gunathilaka and offspinner Dilruwan Perera – both of whom will be traveling with the squad – and Siriwardana, Kumara and seam bowler Vikum Sanjaya, who SLC said would be undergoing “continuous training” in Colombo.The Sri Lanka squad – including Malinga – is expected to assemble in Sri Lanka on around the 10th of May, before they leave to Kandy for a six-day training camp. Sumathipala said the board chose the Pallekele Stadium for the camp, in order to better replicate conditions Sri Lanka may face in England. The team leaves the island on May 18, and has two ODIs against Scotland scheduled before they are due to play further practice matches – against Australia and New Zealand.On-tour standbys: Dilruwan Perera, Dhanushka Gunathilaka; Standbys on training in Colombo: Vikum Sanjaya, Lahiru Kumara, Sachith Pathirana, Milinda Siriwardana, Akila Dananjaya

Russell Domingo is still unsure of whether he will reapply for his job as South Africa’s head coach, with the 42-year-old awaiting clarity on the process as he maintains the stance he took on the topic prior to the start of the New Zealand tour.Domingo’s contract, which has been extended three times from when he was originally appointed mid-2013, runs until the end of the England series in August. Cricket South Africa will advertise for the post and open applications in May, with the aim to appoint a coach before the Bangladesh series in September.News that Domingo’s position was not secure was met with some surprise in South African circles – particularly because of recent results – but several sources have explained it is part of a corporate governance requirement. CSA confirmed Domingo can reapply if he chooses to, although the board has not said whether it has asked him if he is interested in continuing and Domingo has not given away too much either.”I don’t know what the process is. I’m still waiting to find out what I need to do, or if I need to do anything. Once we’ve got clarity on that I’ll make some decisions,” Domingo said, after South Africa’s Test series win over New Zealand. “At the moment I’m going fishing for a couple of weeks. So it’s the last of my worries at the moment.”It’s out of my control – what happens, happens. When I get back home I’ll select a squad for England, prepare the side well for when we get to England, play in England, and take it from there and see what happens.”Domingo took a similar stance in February, after South Africa completed a 5-0 ODI whitewash over Sri Lanka, when he explained that he needed time to think about his personal situation before he made any commitments. Asked whether he thinks still wants to continue as national coach, Domingo was non-committal.”I don’t know. I suppose everybody wants to coach the national side,” Domingo said. “That’s where you want to coach, I suppose. I’ve loved my four years but if my four years are up, so be it. I’ve had some wonderful results, I’ve had some disappointments. But that’s part of international sport. I haven’t looked that far ahead. All my focus is on England and the Champions Trophy. What happens after that is not in my control.”Under Domingo, South Africa slipped from No. 1 on the Test rankings to No. 7, following twin series defeats to India and England but have since moved back up to No. 2, winning four series in succession. In total, Domingo has been in charge for 159 games across all formats accumulating a record of 91 wins, 55 losses and 10 draws as well as three no results.Domingo is also the only South African coach to win a World Cup knockout game. Although no names have been linked to the job yet, it is understood Lions’ coach Geoffrey Toyana is among the frontrunners to take South Africa to the 2019 World Cup.

The ECB could be about to lose one of the key architects of their new T20 competition more than two years before it is launched.ESPNcricinfo understands that Gordon Hollins, the ECB’s chief operating officer, has been shortlisted for the role of chief executive at MCC. Derek Brewer, the current MCC chief executive, has already announced his intention to retire at the start of 2018.Hollins has been with the ECB since 2007. In that time, he has performed the role of Head of Venue Partnerships (2007-2012), Managing Director – Professional Game (2012-14) and, since 2014, the COO role which gives him responsibility for professional and recreational cricket in England and Wales.In those roles, he has been heavily involved in the major match allocation process as well as the Morgan Report (2011-12), which saw the revival of 50-over cricket, the re-scheduling of T20 cricket on an ‘appointment to view’ basis and recommended a cut to the County Championship programme. Before joining the ECB, he was commercial director at Durham CCC.Often acting as the bridge between the ECB executive and the counties, it was noticeable that the relationship between them deteriorated sharply during a period when Hollins was absent due to ill health. Now fully recovered, he has been heavily involved in thrashing out something approaching an agreement between the ECB executive and the counties over the introduction of the new T20 competition in 2020.With his experience across the game and his relationships with those in power at the ECB, the attraction of Hollins to MCC is not surprising. Concerned at the prospect of losing one of the two Tests they currently host most years, MCC seem increasingly keen on being at the forefront of the new domestic T20 competition.Others favoured for the MCC role are understood to be John Stephenson, who is currently head of cricket at the MCC, and Guy Lavender, who is currently chief executive at Somerset CCC.

Super Over
ScorecardStafanie Taylor struck her first fifty of the season•Getty Images

In the end, not even a Super Over could separate the Sydney Smash.Having elected to bat, the Sydney Sixers made 138. In reply, the Sydney Thunder managed the same. In the Super Over, the Thunder made eight, then the Sixers did too.Confusion reigned, but the Thunder had won – on the basis that they had hit more boundaries in the 40 overs (16) than the Sixers (14). So, in a game normally won by a number of runs or wickets, the Sydney Thunder had beaten the Sydney Sixers by two boundaries. Eh?The first 40 overs had been an undulating, exciting advert for the Women’s BBL, and the Super Over had the national news on Channel Ten delayed – who knows how many new fans will have stumbled across the game as a result – and as many as 17,000 people watching at the ground.The main event
The 40 overs that were unable to separate the two sides were dominated by fine innings from two top-order batsmen, and the timing of their wickets decided the outcome.First came Ashleigh Gardner, whose stellar competition continued. She came to the crease in the first over with Alyssa Healy gone, and scored a fine 54 from 41 balls, including sixes down the ground and to cow corner. She shared a stand of 65 with Sara McGlashan, who was scratchy early on but grew into her innings. When McGlashan was caught and bowled by Erin Osborne, though, they lost five for 30 from the final 21 balls. Gardner was stumped by Alex Blackwell – making a rare appearance as a wicketkeeper – off Stafanie Taylor (who had earlier taken another key wicket, Elysse Perry), and Sixers hopes of making 150 were over.Ashleigh Gardner continued her fine form•Getty Images

Taylor’s excellent game continued as she made 68, he first half-century of the season, to dominate the chase. Blackwell, who fell to the excellent Kim Garth, then Harmanpreet Kaur chipped in, but Taylor rode her luck (she was dropped three times) to keep her team in it and looked to be guiding them to victory. The late introduction of Lisa Sthalekar in the 15th over put the brakes on the Thunder as she picked up two wickets, then Taylor fell slogging Sarah Aley in the penultimate over. Naomi Stalenberg and Osborne could only manage seven of the eight they needed from the final over; Super Over it was.Super finishSo, how did that Super Over pan out, then? The Thunder batted first. Garth, an Associate rookie and replacement for the absent South African duo Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk, limited Taylor – who earlier made an excellent 68 before falling in the final over – and Rachael Haynes, who was run out off the last ball, to just eight. Garth, continuing the beautiful line and length she had bowled when taking 17 for 1 earlier) had denied them any boundaries, which was a superb effort.Knowing that they had fewer boundaries in regular tim, the Sixers knew they needed nine to win, but the Thunder knew eight would work for them. Healy smote Rene Farrell down the ground for four, but was then carelessly run out. Perry found two through cover, then was caught at long-on. Needing three off the last two, Angela Reakes was run out turning for a second. Gardner, so brilliant earlier, could only scramble her first ball for a single. No one really understood why, but it was not enough.What it all meansBefore the Sydney Smash, the Sixers had won three games (in a run of seven straight victories). The Sixers still sit four points clear at the top of the table, and need to win one of their two remaining fixtures to qualify for a semi-final. The Thunder are sixth, and their hopes of defending their title remain alive.

Match facts

January 13, 2017
Start time 1320 local (0320 GMT)1:12

Pakistan face an upward challenge in ODIs

Big Picture

After Pakistan’s losing streak last week extended to 12 consecutive Tests in Australia, they must be hoping that a change of format will bring a change of fortunes. Perhaps it will, though much remains stacked against them as they begin a series of five ODIs with the opener at the Gabba on Friday. Their record in ODIs against Australia in Australia isn’t a whole lot better than their Test history, having lost their last eight. In fact, across all formats, Pakistan have lost their last 15 games against Australia in Australia, their last win having come in an ODI at the WACA in 2005.Adding to the challenge for Pakistan, they are facing the No.1-ranked ODI side in the world, and are themselves ranked eighth. It is a precarious position for Pakistan, who are at serious risk of failing to qualify directly for the 2019 World Cup. The eight highest-ranked sides as at September 30 this year will earn automatic qualification, while the remainder will be forced to take part in the World Cup Qualifier in Bangladesh in 2018. Every ODI win in the next nine months is therefore critical for Pakistan.And they will begin this series with a weakened squad, having lost both Mohammad Irfan and Sarfraz Ahmed, who have both flown home to Pakistan for family reasons. But Australia also enter this series with a new-look side, which might give Pakistan a glimmer of hope. The tall and very raw fast bowler Billy Stanlake will make his debut at the Gabba, along with middle-order batsman Chris Lynn. And David Warner will have a new opening partner – Travis Head – after Aaron Finch was dropped. George Bailey has also been axed, and it means that for the first time since June 2012, Australia will play an ODI with neither Bailey nor Finch. Josh Hazlewood is also out of this first game, being rested after a heavy workload in the Tests.

Form guide

Australia: WWWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Pakistan: WWWWL
After a difficult summer, Glenn Maxwell has finally broken into the playing XI•Getty Images

In the spotlight

It has been a difficult summer for Glenn Maxwell, who was named in the squad for the Chappell-Hadlee Series in December but was left out of all three games. Before the series, Maxwell had caused controversy with comments about batting behind Matthew Wade in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield side, and was fined by Australia’s team leadership group. But perhaps it’s a case of new year, new beginnings. Finally, he is back in Australia’s XI, and will play his first ODI since the tri-series in the West Indies last June. And expect him to be ahead of Wade in the batting order.Nearly two years have passed since Umar Akmal has played an ODI. His most recent appearance was in the World Cup quarter-final between Pakistan and Australia at Adelaide Oval in March 2015, a match best remembered for Wahab Riaz’s fiery battle with Shane Watson. But Umar is back in favour, and is coming off an innings of 54 from 39 balls in the tour match against a Cricket Australia XI at Allan Border Field on Tuesday. Having spent so long out of the ODI setup, he may just have something to prove.

Team news

Steven Smith confirmed Australia’s XI on the eve of the match, with Head named to open alongside Warner, and Lynn and Stanlake set to debut. Legspinner Adam Zampa and batsman Usman Khawaja miss out.Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Travis Head, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Chris Lynn, 5 Mitchell Marsh, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 James Faulkner, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Billy Stanlake.Mohammad Hafeez was a late addition to the squad and could be rushed in for the first game. With Sarfraz unavailable, Mohammad Rizwan is expected to take the gloves. The make-up of Pakistan’s attack is uncertain, though it is likely only one of Imad Wasim and Mohammad Nawaz will play.Pakistan (possible) 1 Azhar Ali (capt), 2 Sharjeel Khan, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Babar Azam, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Mohammad Amir/Junaid Khan, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Hasan Ali.

Pitch and conditions

High scoring is possible at the Gabba – in the two most recent ODIs there, targets of 300-plus were successfully chased down. However, if the conditions suit, the ball can also swing around a lot – in 2013, Australia were rolled for 74 by Nuwan Kulasekara and the Sri Lankans in a Brisbane ODI. The forecast for Friday is for a hot day and a top of 34C.

Stats and trivia

• Australia have dominated recent encounters between these sides, winning 16 of their past 20 ODIs against Pakistan
• It may not quite match Australia’s Test record at the so-called Gabbatoir, but of their past nine completed ODIs at the ground, Australia have lost only one
• Pakistan would need to win the series in order to move ahead of Bangladesh and into seventh position on the ODI rankings

Quotes

“It’s nice to have three guys who can get it up around 150kph – it’s never nice to face.”

Virat Kohli has said he would love to play county cricket in the lead-up to the tour of England in 2018, but only a short stint might be possible with current schedules. Kohli wanted at least a month’s time to get used to conditions, but the IPL ends in the last week of May, and India tours to the UK generally start in the last week of June.”If I have a chance, I would love to do that; love to be there, say a month or a month and a half and get used to playing in those conditions, understand how the wickets behave in that particular phase of the year,” Kohli said. “I think those things matter a lot. Preparation time is something, which is very crucial for any side. So yeah, if I have the opportunity to go there a few days before the start that will be great. I have actually been thinking about it, trying to work out how I can make it happen. Most definitely, if I have the time I’ll go and play there.”This was a great sign from the captain of a side that had become blasé about the lack of preparation time before Test tours in the recent years. If Kohli manages to squeeze in even a couple of county games before the first Test in 2018 – as opposed to nothing – he would be better equipped to handle the swing and seam prevalent in English grounds. In the 2014 tour, Kohli scored 134 runs at 13.4 in India’s 3-1 defeat.India have bounced back from that crisis with five successive series wins, but Kohli knew the regrouping won’t be complete, that his side won’t match his ambition, until it did well in certain conditions.”We still understand we have to play a lot of cricket everywhere in the world,” he said. “It’s not only about this one period we are going through. It looks really good because we have come out of transition and immediately started winning games. But I wouldn’t take it as overconfidence. It’s an on-going process, which needs to be sustained for the next five to seven or eight years for us to become a top-quality side and leave a mark on world cricket; maybe be known as one of the best teams to have assembled on the field.”We want to do it across formats and make that mark for Indian cricket on the world stage. But it requires a lot of persistence and skill, a lot of hard work on your fitness, and those are the key factors that will decide where we go as a unit and as a team. We don’t feel invincible, to be honest. We respect every opposition, we admit it every time we are put under pressure, and we know teams are going to put us under pressure. We appreciate that, we accept that and we try to find a way out of it. I think that’s been key for us, and it’s a process that should go on for another seven or eight years.”Virat Kohli enjoyed the rivalry he has with Joe Root, Steven Smith and Kane Williamson•AFP

Kohli spoke of his own batting with similar modesty. He has scored three double-centuries this year, has 640 runs in this series, has played scarcely believable knocks in limited-overs internationals too, and broke every record in the IPL. But he considered Joe Root, Kane Williamson and Steven Smith as better batsmen in Test cricket. Kohli, who was No. 2 on the ICC Test rankings, felt the four of them raising the bar for each other enriched the sport.”They [the fans] put us in a group of young players coming up in world cricket,” Kohli said. “That healthy competition is great for the game. People like talking about it. It is a great topic of debate. I see people enjoy talking about it a lot and they mention it to me as well. “You four-five players are exciting to watch” and those sort of things. You feel good you are in a bunch of batsmen that is taking world cricket forward, not just having that healthy rivalry between us.”As an individual, I don’t focus on those things. It is a massive distraction. When you are going through a good phase, you want see the rankings, you want to see what people are talking about, ‘am I in the race,’ and stuff like that. But you get so addicted to it that when you are not doing well, and saying things backfires and it can really put you down. To me all these are world-class players, and I have always rated each one of them higher than me, in Test cricket especially, because of the way they have performed in the last two or three years.”I understood my limitations and never tried to outdo them in the longest format of the game. In shorter formats, yes, I have been doing very well. I understood what I needed to do in the longest format for me to be able to contribute the maximum for my team. That’s been my aim. My aim was never to go about Joe or Steve or Kane. I respect them equally and I think there is equal amount of respect between all of us, David [Warner] included. All of us understand and like our games.”Kohli has scored runs in Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies. If he doesn’t rate himself as highly as the other three in Tests, his performance in England must be the only reason behind it. County cricket could go a long way in correcting it.

Match facts

November 6-10, 2016, Harare
Start time 10.00 am (0800 GMT)Sean Williams’ dismissal for 40 on the final day of the first Test hastened Zimbabwe’s loss•Associated Press

Big Picture

In July, Zimbabwe hosted New Zealand for two Tests in Bulawayo. Considering this is only the third time in 11 years that they’re playing four Tests in a season at home, Sri Lanka’s tour ought to have provided continuity. Instead, the players were involved, not for the first time, in a protest with Zimbabwe Cricket over non-payment of match fees. When matters were temporarily resolved in September, the board was grappling with issues surrounding their annual audit which was yet to be submitted to the ICC more than three months after it was due.That delayed the appointment of a new head coach. When Heath Streak finally took over from Makhaya Ntini, who briefly held the role after Dav Whatmore’s sacking, he had a little over three weeks to prepare a side that that was once again short on cricket in the lead-up to a major series, with the domestic season yet to be finalised. Considering all this, Zimbabwe’s performance in the first Test, also their 100th overall, in Harare was seen as a massive improvement even though they eventually lost by 225 runs.They batted close to 200 overs in the Test – something they’ve done just twice in the last five years – and took it into the final hour before Sri Lanka dug deep into their reserves to eke out a win. The resistance in both innings was led by Graeme Cremer, the captain, who followed-up his maiden Test century with a gritty 43 in the second dig. It somewhat made up for the top order’s inability to build on starts, something the team management would have taken note of.The one aspect that has always been encouraging – even in Zimbabwe’s cricketing decline over the last decade-and-a-half – has been the fielding. That came a cropper in Harare – as many as seven catches were dropped in the first innings. Their bowling effort, typically restrictive, was led by debutant medium-pacer Carl Mumba, who took four wickets in the second innings. The other bowlers were largely ineffective. Therefore, a shot at equalling the series seems far-fetched for Zimbabwe, although walking away with a draw is possible, like they showed last week.For Sri Lanka, time spent in the middle here will take them a step closer to narrowing down on their combination for the bigger battles in South Africa next month. Strong performances from Kusal Perera and Upul Tharanga will add to a healthy selection dilemma once Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews, the designated captain, return from injuries.Rangana Herath’s delayed declaration in the second innings may have been scrutinised had Zimbabwe managed to hold on. For now, it’s a decision that can be firmly put on the back-burner as Sri Lanka aim for a clean sweep to cap Herath’s first – and possibly last – series as captain.The implementation of DRS, for the first time in Zimbabwe, will add an element of intrigue. Zimbabwe have been at the centre of a number of poor umpiring decisions in recent times.

Form guide

ZimbabweLLLLL (completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka WWWWDDilruwan Perera’s utility could be tested on surfaces that don’t turn as much as the ones in Sri Lanka•Associated Press

In the spotlight

Malcolm Waller came into the fray for selection for the first Test on the back of 37 and 87 for Zimbabwe A in a four-day fixture against Pakistan A. Prior to that, he recorded three successive half-centuries in the 50-over format. He made scores of 22 and 0 in the first Test; the timing of his dismissal in the second innings even as Zimbabwe fought to save the Test was crucial. With Tarisai Musakanda, who also made runs against Pakistan A, breathing down his neck, there could be pressure on Waller to make a significant score here.Dilruwan Perera‘s utility in this Sri Lankan line-up, especially at home, can’t be understated. He’s a more-than-capable lower-order batsman, and a tidy offspinner. But on surfaces that aid swing and seam movement, like Sri Lanka could encounter in South Africa, it remains to be seen how effective he would be. Perhaps another solid performance in the second Test could go a long way in convincing the team management that he could be a contender for a spot even if Sri Lanka decide to play an extra fast bowler.

Team news

Streak and Tatenda Taibu, the selection convenor, have spoken of the need for continuity, which means Zimbabwe are likely to field the same XI despite their top-order batsmen failing to convert starts. That could mean Musakanda, who made 87 against Pakistan A to earn his selection in the Test squad, may have to wait longer for his first Test cap.Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Tino Mawoyo, 2 Brian Chari, 3 Hamilton Masakadza, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Peter Moor, 7 Malcolm Waller, 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Donald Tiripano, 10 Carl Mumba, 11 Chris MpofuSri Lanka picked up 20 wickets, but were stretched a fair bit. With the top order among the runs in both innings, there could be a temptation to bring in left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan to boost their bowling stocks. That could mean Asela Gunaratne, who made 53 and 16 not out, may have to make way.Sri Lanka: (probable) 1 Kaushal Silva, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Upul Tharanga, 6 Dananjaya de Silva, 7 Dilruwan Perera, 8 Rangana Herath, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lakshan Sandakan/Asela Gunaratne 11 Lahiru Kumara

Pitch and conditions

A similar pitch to the one last week is expected, which points to another workout for the bowlers. There is solace, though, in the fact that conditions are expected to be a lot cooler following intermittent spells of summer rain since the conclusion of the first Test. There could be brief rain interruptions from time-to-time in this Test.

Stats and trivia

• Herath will surpass Anil Kumble and have the second-most number of wickets by a spinner in his first 75 Tests if he takes nine wickets in the match. Kumble had 346; Herath, after 74 games, is on 338. Muttiah Muralitharan tops the list with 420 wickets after 75
• Cremer aggregated more than half of his career runs (258 runs in 26 innings) in the first Test alone through scores of 102* and 43

Quotes

“We know that we can’t control what decisions go our way, but as long as we’re playing that positive brand of cricket then hopefully a few things will go our way. We’ve just got to do the best we can with bat or ball.”
when asked about his team being rather luckless with umpiring decisions in the first Test”From the beginning it was a different challenge and a different experience but I’ve enjoyed every moment. I’ve had a lot of confidence from my playing career, so that has helped as well.”