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An act of annoyance after being run out for a diamond duck in the BBL final – his second offence in the last 12 months – has earned the wicketkeeper-batsman an A$6000 fine

Daniel Brettig08-Feb-2018Matthew Wade’s moment of frustration after being run out for a diamond duck – without facing a ball – during the Hobart Hurricanes’ loss to the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League final has been sanctioned by Cricket Australia with an A$6000 fine.After he was run out by a direct hit from Strikers wicketkeeper Alex Carey in the closing overs of the Hurricanes’ failed chase, Wade was caught on camera hitting his viewing-area seat with his bat before walking towards the dressing room.Charged with abusing ground equipment under the CA code of conduct, Wade contested the offence and faced the match referee Peter Marshall in a hearing, where the offence and the proposed penalty were both upheld. Marshall proposed the harsher penalty as it was Wade’s second offence within 12 months – he was reprimanded for sending off the Sydney Thunder’s Jos Buttler earlier in the BBL.”The offence occurred during the Hurricanes’ batting innings, when Wade was dismissed,” a CA spokesman said. “As per the CA Code of Conduct procedure, Match Referee Peter Marshall reviewed the umpires’ report and – as a higher range of sanctions was applicable given it was Wade’s second Level 1 offence in the last 18 months – a sanction of $6,000 was proposed, should the player accept the umpire’s version of events.”Wade denied the offence and opted to contest the charge at a hearing before the Match Referee, however he was found guilty and the proposed sanction was upheld.”Having played a critical innings in the BBL semi-final win over the Perth Scorchers at the top of the order, Wade was demoted to make room for his regular opening partner D’Arcy Short. Tim Paine, who had claimed Wade’s place in the Australian Test team this summer, opened with Short instead.”Just a little bit about left-right [combination], there’s a short boundary here,” Hurricanes captain George Bailey had said. “So if D’Arcy had been the first out, Wadey would have gone in and had that impact he has had in the last couple games in the first six. But D’Arcy batted well, which meant we could try and use Wade at the back end to try and target the short boundary. But the damage was done by that stage.”CA have come down heavily on players during the BBL this season, fining a succession of captains and teams for over rate offences in particular.

Trevor Bayliss has said he would have “no problems at all” selecting Mason Crane as England’s spinner during the Ashes series

George Dobell in Adelaide07-Nov-2017England might have sent for a replacement fast bowler, but they will not be calling up another spinner.Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, was so impressed by Mason Crane in last week’s two-day warm-up game in Perth that he would have “no problems at all” selecting him during the Ashes series. And while Bayliss admitted that Crane, the 20-year-old legspinner, was “inexperienced”, England are so impressed with his character and potential that they now view him as the natural understudy to Moeen Ali.”I wouldn’t have any problems at all playing Crane in the Test match,” Bayliss said as England trained under lights in Adelaide. “He’s young, but he’s feisty and likes to get into the contest.

Bayliss on Steven Smith

“He was always a talent. At Sydney Sixers we made him captain and won the Big Bash. He was always captaincy material – the natural leader in the group – and we won it that first year under him. He was always a batter that bowled a bit. He didn’t necessarily have the most pure technique, but he knows how to score runs. He is living proof that you don’t have to have a perfect technique to do that. Both he and Joe Root have their little quirks, but both are magnificent players. It’ll be an interesting battle this year.”

“He’s inexperienced and still has a fair bit to learn. One of those reasons he’s on this tour is that we think he’ll be a very good bowler in years to come. He’s got to start somewhere and if it’s here during the Ashes then so be it.”Central to Crane’s emergence is his character. While the England management have decided that Adil Rashid could be a little diffident – and a little expensive – they feel that Crane, as Bayliss put it, likes to “get in the battle”.While there might be some eyebrows raised at the idea of Crane as an especially economical bowler – he conceded five fours in seven deliveries at one stage during the tour game at Perth – the quicker pace at which he bowls and the potential for improvement he still offers have clearly moved him ahead of Rashid.”We have spoken to Rashid,” Bayliss said. “The captain was looking for someone in Test cricket that could get in the battle.”Rashid is an attacking-style bowler, like Moeen. So the captain wanted someone who could maybe keep it tight at one end as well. In Test cricket, you have to try to keep a lid on it at time and not give one or two bad balls an over. Rashid has struggled with that a bit.”He’s not been forgotten about. He’s certainly in the one-day team and we spoke to him when we conducted the player reviews a couple of weeks ago. He is in contention if he is bowling well and deserves a spot.”Rashid might also have stiffened the England tail. In the absence of Ben Stokes, England could well go into the Test series with Stuart Broad, Jake Ball – who Bayliss praised as “the one who kept it tight” in Perth – and James Anderson batting at Nos. 9-11. But while that isn’t ideal, Bayliss feels it might be the shape of the side in the future and foresees a scenario where Stokes returns at No. 5 to allow room for another bowler.”That’s one of the things we have had to compromise on with Stokes not being here,” Bayliss said. “It puts more emphasis on the batters doing their job.”But it’s a combination I’ve liked for a while. Obviously I’d have liked Stokes in there, but with Moeen Ali at No. 7 and Chris Woakes at No. 8, it gives the option of another pace bowler or a second spinner.”Meanwhile Bayliss dismissed any suggestion that England might be unhappy with the opposition or conditions they are likely to face ahead of the first Test in Brisbane. While Nathan Coulter-Nile played against them in Perth, it seems England are unlikely to face much pace bowling or many quick pitches – by Australian standards, at least – ahead of the Test series.”We get our county second teams to play them when they come over,” Bayliss said. “So we can’t complain.”

Chris Tremain and Jon Holland took five wickets between them to leave New South Wales at 5 for 125 after Glenn Maxwell’s 278 had pushed Victoria to a mammoth 9 for 562

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2017Getty Images

With a mammoth first-innings score behind them, Victoria seamer Chris Tremain and left-arm spinner Jon Holland took five wickets between them to leave New South Wales reeling at 5 for 125 on the second day of the Sheffield Shield match in Sydney. Victoria ended the day with a lead of 437 after Glenn Maxwell, batting overnight on 213, pushed his score to 278 and propelled Victoria to 9 for 562.Batting in the same aggressive manner as he had done on the opening day, Maxwell went about compiling the eighth highest knock by a Victoria batsman in the Sheffield Shield. He added nine fours and a six to his overnight tally of boundaries, before falling to Steve O’Keefe for 278 off 318 balls, having batted for nearly eight hours.”He probably just understands it’s a bit more than flashy periods of brilliance and actual runs are far more important,” Maxwell’s team-mate Cameron White said. “It’s great to see that he’s churning them out consistently. Throw that big knock in, it’s what selectors want to see and we as Victoria need him to do. It’s good to see.”Maxwell was Victoria’s fourth wicket, with the score on 478. New South Wales pushed back with a few quick wickets but Tremain’s handy 45 not out ensured Victoria surged past 550.Tremain then returned with the ball to undo a good start by the New South Wales openers, Daniel Hughes and Nic Maddinson. The pair had added 75 before Tremain dismissed them in consecutive overs and Holland capitalised on this opening to dismiss the next three batsmen cheaply. New South Wales lost five wickets for 50, and need another 288 runs to avoid the possibility of a follow-on.

An update has emerged on Southampton and their plans to bolster the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 Championship campaign…

What's the latest Southampton transfer news?

According to iNews, the Saints are one of a number of clubs keen on a deal to sign Manchester United winger Amad Diallo during the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Russell Martin's side have registered an interest in the Ivory Coast international, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland.

It states that Everton and Leeds, along with other unnamed Premier League teams, are also looking into the possibility of landing him on a season-long loan before September's deadline.

How good is Amad Diallo?

The 21-year-old wizard is a proven Championship performer who has the quality to arrive at St. Mary's with the expectation of him making an immediate impact for the club on the pitch.

Diallo could be Martin's own version of Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez – a player the United youngster has been compared to by teammates Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire due to his skilful nature on the ball.

The 32-year-old magician has been a terrific player over the years for the Cityzens. He has racked up 78 goals in 236 appearances in all competitions for Pep Guardiola's team, which works out as a strike every 3.03 matches on average.

Like Mahrez, the Red Devils prospect is a left-footed right winger who is capable of cutting inside onto his favoured foot to offer a significant goal threat at the top end of the pitch.

During his time on loan with Sunderland last term, the former Atalanta prodigy plundered 14 goals in 39 matches – an average of one every 2.79 outings, which suggests that he has the scope to score at a similar rate to the Algeria international from the flank.

No Southampton ace managed to hit double figures for top-flight goals throughout the 2022/23 campaign and no winger was able to find the back of the net on more than two occasions. This highlights the stark lack of attacking quality within Martin's roster as it stands and why this signing could be a terrific piece of business.

The £29k-per-week forward, who was described as a "wizard" by journalist James Copley, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 in the Championship, which is a score that would have placed him third within the Saints squad, albeit at Premier League level.

Diallo also showcased his creativity with an average of 1.1 key passes per game for Sunderland. Meanwhile, James Ward-Prowse (1.9) was the only Southampton player with more than one chance created per match.

Martin could, therefore, improve his wide options by securing a deal to sign the United youngster as his form for the Black Cats indicates that the quality is there for him to be an outstanding Championship performer.

The Scottish head coach could unearth his own version of Mahrez by setting his team up in a way that would allow Diallo to thrive off the right flank, which would open up the space for him to be able to cut in on his left foot to cause havoc in the final third week-in-week-out.

However, it remains to be seen if the Saints can beat off Premier League competition to land the "electric" – as dubbed by The Athletic's Peter Rutzler – dynamo this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have remained strong in their position concerning Harry Kane's future, insisting that the forward will not be sold.

Daniel Levy is clearly hoping that the England captain's desire to break the all-time Premier League scoring record will outweigh his desperation for silverware, of which he boasts none from his time in north London.

The 29-year-old has given everything to this football club, and with Bayern Munich remaining undaunted by this stance, they continue to test the resolve of a club desperate to keep ahold of a gem with just one year left on his deal.

Ange Postecoglou would likely hope to see this saga cleared up soon, so he can start to plan a brighter future at the club with or without their star man.

Given how active they have already been in the window, far more free-spending than in past years, it seems that their new coach will receive full backing to usher in a new age. Should Kane depart, as devastating as it would be, at the very least the former Celtic boss would get his pick of the new man set to spearhead his side.

As per journalist Ben Jacobs, who noted on Sunday, they have already sounded out Jonathan David as such a replacement.

It is within that report that a fresh bid for Kane is expected, suggesting that the mere presence of a contingency plan in case of his departure suggests there is a reality where he leaves this summer.

How many goals has Jonathan David scored?

In the Canadian, the Lilywhites would gain an all-action forward to replace their technically-exceptional number nine.

The 23-year-old boasts pace, physicality and frightening finishing prowess, which he has shown with regularity during his time at LOSC Lille.

His youth proves no barrier, as last season he managed to notch 24 league goals for the French outfit despite their struggles. It marked his best scoring season thus far for this club, having notched 15 the year prior, and 13 as they momentarily ended Paris Saint-Germain's monopoly against all the odds.

Podcaster Tony Marinaro, who was enamoured with the form of his compatriot went as far as to claim: "He is a student of the game. He does everything right. Simply put, he’s a phenom. One of the best strikers in the world is Canadian".

This title-winning mentality, plus an added emphasis on his physicality, arguably makes him an even better fit for a Postecoglou side that often forces the striker to do plenty of running.

Whilst in Scotland, the 57-year-old deployed Kyogo Furuhashi as a lone striker, with his role focused on leading the press. Although his main marksman would still notch 34 goals across all competitions in his final year in charge, he forged many other chances due to the sacrifices he made for the team.

For all his outstanding qualities, Kane is unlikely to do that.

It would be near-impossible to find a like-for-like replacement for the man who scored 30 Premier League goals last term amidst all the turmoil, as few strikers in the modern game could be so prolific yet so creative too. He would record 1.5 key passes per match too (fourth best in the squad), to supplement that claim.

However, for the betterment of the club, his big-money exit could pave the way for a brighter future where they are not reliant upon just one man.

Redistributing funds to bolster the general squad would provoke long-term success in north London, with David a fine focal point to underpin such revolutionary change.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a move for Benfica star Goncalo Ramos, as Eddie Howe prepares for the thrilling 2023/24 campaign at St James’ Park.

The Magpies enjoyed a blockbuster season to lead them into an expectedly busy summer, finishing in fourth with confirmation that they will play in the Champions League for the first time since 2002/03.

Despite accelerating up the rankings, Howe is hungry for further success in the North East, which he could achieve by swiftly signing the clubs’ latest target.

What’s the latest on Goncalo Ramos to Newcastle?

As reported yesterday by Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha – relayed by Sport Witness – Benfica are expecting Newcastle to ‘attack’ in their bid to sign the 22-year-old.

It’s stated that the Premier League side are aware that Benfica would only accept offers in the region of €80m (£69m), with the club reportedly ready to ‘present an offer’.

The in-demand forward who is also mentioned to be of interest to Manchester United has a bumper release clause of €120m (£103m) in a contract valid until 2025.

What could Goncalo Ramos offer to Newcastle?

Speaking back in January, Howe admitted his desire to replace the presence of Chris Wood with a player that is ‘ready to play’ for the club, via the Chronicle.

The 31-year-old traded St James’ Park for the City Ground in the winter transfer window, leaving the Magpies with just Callum Wilson as the only identifiable out-and-out centre-forward.

With 18 goals in the Premier League, the Englishman has done a stellar job at leading the line, however in signing another forward the North East club could bolster their chances of challenging for the title.

Hailed as “outrageous” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Portuguese sensation Goncalo Ramos could be the perfect individual to ease some pressure from Wilson.

In 30 Liga Portugal appearances last season, the 22-year-old found the net 19 times averaging a monstrous 0.75 non-penalty goals per 90 via FBref, a stat that placed him in the top 3% of forwards in the division.

The young star could be the figure to lead Newcastle to further heights, as well as being the perfect candidate to act as Wilson’s heir with the 31-year-old theoretically nearing the latter stages of his playing career.

Ramos took to the spotlight at the World Cup when he was chosen ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo to lead the line for his country, in which he wrote his name in the stars with a Round-of-16 hat-trick to send Portugal to the quarter-finals.

The 22-year-old could undoubtedly flourish in Howe’s free-flowing attacking side, based upon the fact that his numbers prove he’s a natural goal scorer with a talent difficult to find.

As per FBref, the live wire averaged an impressive 3.87 total shots per 90, with an average of 1.46 being on target, similar to Wilson who averaged a total of 3.36 shots per 90 in the Premier League.

Identified by Kulig as having strengths in his pace and off-the-ball movement, the young gem could be the perfect fit for Newcastle, and a statement signing should the Magpies claim his signature over the likes of Manchester United.

What is certain is Howe’s requirement to recruit a forward this summer, and with finances not expected to be an issue, Ramos could be the perfect suitor for the thrilling times to come at St James’ Park.

Mauricio Pochettino's appointment during the off-season ensures the Chelsea head coach has a chance to run the rule over his players – of which there are many – before the Premier League season kicks off in early August.

It is set to be another busy window at Stamford Bridge, with numerous players linked with moves away and others being touted as possible replacements or indeed upgrades.

While it is true Chelsea are in need of a prolific goalscorer, the club cannot continue to throw large sums of money around in the hope of landing the perfect fit.

With Christopher Nkunku set to officially arrive from RB Leipzig this month in a deal worth over £50m, it looks increasingly likely that the Blues will splash out a further £30m to sign Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.

But the Blues may already have a new signing of sorts in their ranks ready to step up and play alongside Nkunku when needed.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Pochettino is ready to give Armando Broja a chance to shine during pre-season, amid previous suggestions the striker could be used in part-exchange to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Is Armando Broja good enough for Chelsea?

Broja has spent 14 years on Chelsea's books, but with his 22nd birthday fast approaching, he has made just 13 Premier League appearances for the Blues.

After catching the eye on loan with Southampton in 2021-22 courtesy of a nine goal haul, Broja was finally given a run in the Chelsea side last season, only to sustain a knee injury during the winter break that curtailed his season after just 12 league games.

On the basis of those appearances, though, Broja showed he deserves another shot. He scored at a rate of 0.30 goals per 90 minutes, as per FBref, which was bettered last season by only Joao Felix (0.38) among Chelsea players.

Rather tellingly, though, Broja's figure of 0.30 came from an expected goals (xG) value of 0.24, compared to 0.47 for Joao Felix, suggesting he converted more times than expected based on the quality of his chances, whereas the opposite was true for the latter.

That is further reflected in the shots on target metric, with Broja – on as little as £40k-a-week, according to Capology – doing so from 83.3% of his attempts. The next-best Chelsea player in that regard was Noni Madueke with 50%.

When you also factor in the Albania international's team-high 0.61 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, which considers passes, take-ons and fouls directly prior to a goal, plus his 2.73 aerial duels won per 90 – only two others fared better – it is hard to argue against Pochettino not using Broja.

As Albanian coach Sergio Porrini said last season: "With the necessary comparisons, he's somewhat reminiscent of [Rafael] Leao in how unstoppable he becomes if he stretches the ball into space On the other hand, he is less good with his back to goal, in the construction of the action, but in the spaces he is devastating."

That is not to say Jackson is not a great striker himself – 12 goals in 26 LaLiga appearances last season tells you all you need to know – but Chelsea may well have an answer to their problems already raring to go without the need to waste more money.

A round-up of the Group B matches from the Vijay Hazare Trophy played on March 4, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2017Akshdeep Nath’s 109, his second List A hundred in three matches, carried Uttar Pradesh to a six-wicket win over Himachal Pradesh in Bhubaneswar. Nath struck 17 fours and two sixes during his 90-ball 109 as Uttar Pradesh chased down 256 in 40.4 overs. Nath’s 119-run partnership with opener Shivam Chaudhary, who hit 75 off 74 balls, formed the crux of the chase. Nath went onto bring up his century, then fell with his team 31 away from the target. Rinku Singh and Sarfaraz Khan, however, sealed a handsome victory.Having opted to bat, Himachal Pradesh fell to 68 for 4 in 19 overs. Debutant Ekant Sen and Ankit Kaushik then rallied their team with a 78-run stand. Both batsmen went onto score fifties and Mayank Dagar contributed with a 33-ball 46 to lift Himachal Pradesh to 255. Seamer Mohd Israr returned 4 for 33 while his senior partner Praveen Kumar claimed 2 for 40.Maharashtra limited Tripura to 188 and completed the chase with four wickets and nearly 100 balls to spare in Cuttack. This meant Maharashtra consolidated their position at the top of the Group B table with their fifth win in six matches. It was set up by new-ball bowlers Nikit Dhumal and Shrikant Mundhe who took a combined 7 for 58. They carved up the top and middle order, reducing Tripura to 30 for 5 in 12.2 overs. Gurinder Singh, coming in at No.7, lent some respectability to the score with 91 off 121 balls, including six fours and five sixes. His contribution accounted for nearly half of Tripura’s total of 188.Maharashtra lost Ankit Bawne and Naushad Shaikh early to Ajoy Sarkar but Ruturaj Gaikwad and captain Kedar Jadhav propped up their team with forty-somethings each. Wicketkeeper Nikhil Naik also made a forty – 46 not out off 34 balls – as Maharashtra got home in the 35th over.Batsman Unmukt Chand and left-arm seamer Pawan Suyal – belated additions to the Delhi squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy – helped the team to a consolation win over Kerala in Tangi. After Suyal took took wickets, Chand steered Delhi’s chase of 232 with 64 off 85 balls, including five fours and a six. Shikhar Dhawan and Gautam Gambhir had laid the platform for Chand with a 60-run opening stand. Milind Kumar complemented Chand with 40 off 37 balls and hastened Delhi’s win.Earlier, Kerala put up 231, thanks largely to Salman Nizar’s 59 and Sanju Samson’s 41 after twenty-somethings from the top three. Navdeep Saini too picked up two wickets while Milind chipped in with one.

Josh Hazlewood has been rested for the first of five ODIs against Pakistan at the Gabba on Friday to help “freshen” him up after a long haul playing Test cricket.Hazlewood has bowled more than 40 overs in five out of six matches since the Australian summer began. Only three weeks ago, in Brisbane, he got through 42 overs in a single innings, the heaviest workload for an Australian quick in over a decade. His ability to maintain a strict line and length around the off stump has been vital to the success of his team, and has also resulted in tangible personal gains as well. On Sunday, Hazlewood became the top-ranked fast bowler in Test cricket. He has a week off to celebrate.Australia’s head coach Darren Lehmann said Hazlewood would be linking up with the squad in Melbourne for the second ODI on Sunday and “if one of our other fast bowlers picks up an injury in the run-up to Friday’s first game at The Gabba then he could be called up to slot in.”With one of the first-choice quicks on the bench, Billy Stanlake, the 22-year old fast bowler, might contemplate an ODI debut having played only four 50-over matches in domestic cricket. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, he confessed “shock” at how quickly he has broken into the national squad and even admitted to a little gaffe.”I got a phone call, I think, Friday morning. I actually missed the first one so I had to give him a call back,” Stanlake said. “I saw it was Trevor Hohns, the head of selectors, but I wasn’t too sure what he’d be calling about so I gave him a quick call back and he told me the news which was very nice news. It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I think it’ll sink in more when we get into the camp on Tuesday.”Billy Stanlake felt his height could make him an X-factor player•Getty Images

If Stanlake felt stunned, the rest of the world was even more so. He made his Queensland debut as recently as October 2015, but injuries have meant he has managed only two first-class and four List A matches since then. A back complaint had ruled him out of last year’s Matador Cup but he has been putting in impressive performances – six wickets at 17.83 – for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.”It’s funny how quickly things can happen,” Stanlake said. “It was only a couple of months ago that I was returning from injury in club cricket.” He hoped to make the best use of his opportunity to spend time with the likes of Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc and work on becoming a better bowler. “I feel I’d like to feed off of everyone as best I can. They’ve all got a wealth of knowledge and being a young guy, I’ll probably get around to most of them and learn as much as I can.”The selectors felt Stanlake’s height, which helps him extract disconcerting bounce, coupled with the ability to bowl at 140 kph could be assets and he agreed. “I think that’s probably what makes me a bit of an X-factor and probably a little bit of an unknown for the Pakistan side, they probably wouldn’t have seen me at all so that’s an upside as well.”Chris Lynn is another man who has found his way into international cricket via the BBL. Two shoulder injuries in 2014 and 2015 forced him out of the Matador Cup both times and has therefore not played a 50-over domestic game in three years. He has represented Australia A in List A matches during this period and has been in excellent form for Brisbane Heat, with 309 runs in five matches including a top-score of 98 not out. He came into the Australian set-up with a slight issue with his neck that might hamper him while throwing the ball, but was looking forward to giving it his all.”Just relying on my body to get me through a 50-over game and the selectors are happy where I’m at. I’m over the moon and hopefully if I get the chance to debut in my hometown at the Gabba, it would be a pretty special moment,” Lynn said, “It’s my neck that’s giving me a bit of grief. It’s more of a nerve issue, but it won’t stop me putting on the green and gold, that’s for sure.””It’s not giving me an issue while batting, that’s probably the most important thing. In cricket, you can always hide one or two blokes on the field, even though that’s a bit of baggage. I do feel a little bit uncomfortable with that but they’re happy to carry me around. Push comes to shove, I’ll be diving, throwing my body around and doing everything I can to contribute for Australia.”

The outfields at Kingsmead and Queen’s Park Oval have been rated poor by the ICC match referees who oversaw the washed out Tests between South Africa and New Zealand in Durban, and West Indies and India in Trinidad.The ICC said the officials – Andy Pycroft in Durban and Ranjan Madugalle in Trinidad – had expressed concerns in accordance with clause three of the Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process. The match referees’ reports have been forwarded to the concerned home boards, the WICB and Cricket South Africa, which now have 14 days to respond. CSA’s response, the ICC said, will be reviewed by ICC general manager, cricket, Geoff Allardice, while match referee David Boon will assess the WICB’s reply.Then, as per the rules, the grounds will either receive a warning or a fine not exceeding USD 15,000, along with “a directive for appropriate corrective action”. A repeat offence over the next five years would draw a fine not exceeding USD 30,000.In all, 11 sessions out of 15 were lost to a wet and soft outfield at Kingsmead, while in Port of Spain West Indies and India were able to play only one session across five days.It was the first Test played in Trinidad in August, which is the wet season there, and rain had hampered preparations in the days leading up to the match but during the game itself there was largely sunshine. However, with there not being enough covers at the ground to protect the bowlers’ run-ups or the outfield, and no super sopper available either, the outfield did not recover enough to allow play. The draw meant that India, who needed to win the Test to retain their No. 1 Test ranking, lost the top spot to Pakistan. The Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board had already said it would investigate the reasons behind the washout.The Durban Test was also scheduled in what is traditionally the off season in South Africa, during the winter. Rain forced the players off the field around lunch on day two, and the big damage was done to the outfield that night, when the ground took 65mm of water. Here, too, the covers did not protect large parts of the field, and the super sopper was made to stop operating for fear it would do further damage to the soft patches that persisted into day five despite no more rain falling.There were concerns over the Kingsmead outfield being underprepared even before the match began, as it had been relaid in June following complaints from South Africa and New Zealand that the surface was too hard during the limited-overs games played there last year. Similar comments were levelled at Centurion, the venue of the upcoming second Test, but the SuperSport Park outfield was relaid in April once the season ended; work could not get underway at Kingsmead till the Comrades Marathon – for which it is the ending point – was completed on May 29.