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Ian Westwood’s willingness to graft for runs made this just about Warwickshire’s day, although there were satisfied expressions on the faces of the Yorkshire bowlers after restricting their opponents to 270 runs from 97 overs

Jon Culley at Headingley26-Apr-2015
ScorecardIan Westwood worked hard against a probing attack and on a slow pitch•Getty ImagesIan Westwood’s willingness to graft for runs made this just about Warwickshire’s day, although there were satisfied expressions on the faces of the Yorkshire bowlers after restricting their opponents to 270 runs from 97 overs after winning the toss and losing only four wickets.It was one of those days when we fall back on words such as ‘absorbing’ and ‘attritional’ and other trusted euphemisms when what we have watched has not exactly been thrilling. But there is a place for such days in county cricket, when you admire the professionals for sticking at it, for maintaining their concentration when rewards are not easily won.No two players fitted that description more than Westwood, the Warwickshire opener, and Tim Bresnan, the Yorkshire bowler, who were the principal protagonists in this gritty drama, between two sides who may well be slugging it out for the title again come September.Warwickshire finished second to Yorkshire last season, although they were thumped by an innings both at Headingley and Edgbaston. But these are different circumstances. Yorkshire, doubly hit by the combination of England call-ups and the injury to Ryan Sidebottom, have in their ranks a 17-year-old seamer making only his second first-class appearance and a 37-year-old offspinner summoned out of semi-retirement.Warwickshire will see a chance, therefore, to grab a few points at the expense of their rivals. With Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott away, and Tim Ambrose and Chris Woakes injured, they are not at full strength either, but Westwood did his best to provide Warwickshire’s bowlers with something to work with in their absence. He did them proud, batting through the day for an unbeaten 151, unflustered by the dismissal of Varun Chopra, his captain and opening partner, to the third ball of the day, building partnerships first with William Porterfield and then Sam Hain, who made an attractive half century.Westwood is a solid servant to his county. He was 11 when he first represented Warwickshire in age-group cricket and is the kind of player for whom benefits were designed, which is why he is so deserving of the one he has been granted this year. A former captain who struggled to combine leadership with consistent form, a player too who has suffered more than his fair share of injuries, he is keener perhaps now to take any opportunity that comes his way and this was one, on a pitch offering little help to the bowlers. It had no great pace, either, so he had to work for the runs.He took a blow on the hand on 71 and had one clear moment of good fortune, on 118, when Jack Brooks, running around from mid-on to field, made a direct hit with his throw to the bowler’s end with Westwood seemingly well short of his ground only for umpire Jeremy Lloyds to surprise the Yorkshire fielders by not giving him out.It was a moment of frustration for Yorkshire. But they kept commendably to their disciplines, too, in particular Bresnan, whose action has been tweaked in the hope that he succumbs to fewer injuries, so that he relies more on rhythm than muscular effort.So far he looks in good fettle and bowled the two best deliveries of the day, at the start of the first and second sessions, to remove Chopra and Porterfield, who were both drawn into playing the ball as it moved away and took the edge. Bresnan finished with 3 for 39, the pick of the bunch, although all of the frontline bowlers bowled good lines and offered few easy chances. Matthew Fisher, the 17-year-old playing in only his second first-class match, looked anything but a rookie.James Middlebrook, the 37-year-old offspinner who has returned to his first club as an emergency stand-in, let no one down either. With Adil Rashid away with England, Yorkshire have only the 19-year-old Karl Carver as a specialist spinner with senior experience, so Middlebrook has been registered for the season.He may been required rarely – and may not have time, given that he has been made captain of Bedfordshire and is working towards umpires’ qualifications – but having been released by Northamptonshire only at the end of last season he is hardly rusty, even though he imagined that his first-class career was over. Should he take a wicket, it will be his 50th in first-class matches for Yorkshire.

Marcus Trescothick hit a 129-ball century as he and James Hildreth put Somerset in command before a major last-session collapse halted their momentum

Alex Winter at Taunton26-Apr-2015
ScorecardStill going strong: Marcus Trescothick brought out his full range during a flamboyant century•Getty ImagesA true sporting legend retired after over two decades on Saturday with AP McCoy completing a remarkable career. Cricket has a similar veteran held in such high esteem also with over 20 years of service, just without as many tangible achievements. An ambulance does not follow Marcus Trescothick around either but on the opening day in Taunton, as Trescothick made his 42nd first-class century for Somerset, it was being considered whether this century was the start of the glorious goodbye.He was as good as ever, slamming a 129-ball century and sharing a stand of 261 in 290 balls with James Hildreth for the third wicket – a Somerset record for any wicket against Middlesex. Hildreth made his own flowing century, his highest score since 2012, but Trescothick was still the main attraction as Middlesex were left to ponder their decision to bowl first before a notable fightback with a 79-over old ball.Harris heading in the right direction

“I haven’t bowled my best,” Harris said. “It’s a bit annoying that my spells have been dragging it back rather than at the top of the day. I felt I’ve gone okay but I’d prefer to bowl well. I’m taking wickets, which is nice but I’m bowling better too.
“We got balls past the bat all day and bowled good balls, just some of them seemed to be cracked into the fence. James Hildreth was cutting balls off a good line to most players. But there was a bit in it all day and it probably did more when the sun came out.”

Somerset lost 7 for 31 to squander their dominance. James Harris took four wickets in 11 balls against Nottinghamshire at Lord’s on the first day of the season and here came up with four more in 18 deliveries, having changed to the pavilion end, to check Somerset’s raging progress which had been five-an-over for most of the day. It was mostly with the old ball, Harris finishing with his best figures for Middlesex and Somerset flopped alarmingly from 377 for 3 to 408 all out. It followed two slips in defeat against Durham.Harris has said this is a huge season for him, in the final year of his three-year contract – although discussions were had last week about a new deal – after struggling since his move to Middlesex to find the form that saw him selected for an England squad after impressing for Glamorgan. He has changed his action back to its original form and 5 for 83 here followed 4 for 75 in the first innings against Nottinghamshire as Lord’s. Harris also claimed a stunning diving catch, running back from mid-on to remove Trescothick. But all seemed well for the hosts at the time.”We could probably have batted longer but at the same time it’s good to see if you get the ball in the right place there’s something there,” Trescothick said. “There’s a bit more pace in this wicket than normal.”The collapse changed the conversation from Trescothick’s future. He made his Somerset debut a year after McCoy rode his first winner and turning 40 this year – the same age as AP – and in the final year of his current contract, going out at the top of his game must surely be a consideration. McCoy was riding as well as ever this season but thought it the right time to bow out, might Trescothick draw the same conclusion?More of this form may provide a fine send off. Here, he shrugged off making 11 and 0 against Durham in the opening round with a blaze of bludgeoned boundaries – 24 of them. Sixteen came before lunch as a first-session century looked plausible. But it was shortly into the afternoon, having been dropped on 95 by Neil Dexter at slip off Ollie Rayner – a very sharp chance from a sliced cut – when a paddle sweep for two brought up Trescothick’s hundred.The long room diners even stood up from their carveries to acclaim a masterful innings. Trescothick himself celebrated unusually exuberantly – a big fist pump in the direction of the dressing room. There was little time to consider the significance before Rayner was swept for four more.The crowd purred with admiration for a vintage knock. Anything slightly off line was typically guided away – 10 of Trescothick’s boundaries came behind square on the off side, including a delicate lift over the slips off Steven Finn. But the pick of the strokes was a drive from a Harris length ball through cover – encapsulating the domination Trescothick exerted. But for how long will it continue?Hildreth is also a Somerset batting legend. More stylish than Trescothick he is more inconsistent, too. And significantly more frustrating given his talent. Hildreth managed just one Championship century last season but has opened up 2015 with a fifty against Durham and now this elegant innings.His second and third scoring strokes were a driven four off Harris and a pull from the same bowler over midwicket for six. His control of the bowling was also best demonstrated against Harris as he returned after lunch. He pulled a ball only slightly short of a length through midwicket. Harris wasn’t far out with his length but felt the need for an adjustment – his next delivery was driven with élan past cover.Hildreth should not have made it that far. Somehow he was dropped by Nick Gubbins on 49. Hildreth popped up a miscued pull to square leg, Gubbins moved two steps to his right and simply took his eye off the catch. A truly astonishing miss. Had it been taken Middlesex’s decision at the toss would have been considered a shrewd move. But it took until after tea to make a series of inroads.

Chris Lewis has been released from prison in Surrey after serving six years of a 13-year sentence for drug smuggling

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jun-20159:25

‘I made the wrong choices’ – Lewis

Chris Lewis, the former England allrounder, has been released from prison after serving six years for drug smuggling.Lewis, 47, was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment in May 2009 for smuggling liquid cocaine valued at more than £140,000 into Britain hidden in fruit juice tins in his cricket bag. He was stopped at Gatwick airport after a flight from St Lucia the previous December.A former basketball player, Chad Kirnon, was also found guilty.”On a physical level jail has not been hard,” Lewis said after his release from High Down Prison in Surrey. “It’s a hard mental exercise to stop yourself from thinking negatively. For 24 hours a day you’re a prisoner. It’s nice to be back – and I don’t mean being outside – I mean back being me.”Far from excluding Lewis from its midst, English cricket – in the guise of the Professional Cricketers Association – plans to work with him to educate young players. Lewis will speak to first year county professionals at next year’s PCA Rookie Camp and also join the PCA team on the Association’s programme of pre-season county visits.This is the latest example of the PCA’s willingness to rehabilitate former cricketers who have committed a crime by involving them in education processes. Mervyn Westfield, who was found guilty of spot fixing, has also addressed young professionals about the dangers.Lewis, born in Guyana, retired from county cricket in 2000 after playing 32 Tests and 53 ODIs. Widely regarded as a talented maverick. He last played first-class cricket the summer before his arrest when he attempted a Twenty20 comeback with Surrey.He worked for Nottingham City Council and was also involved with coaching in Slough when he retired in 2000 but admitted he became afraid of what the future held and he ended up making poor decisions that led to him being jailed.

“I became afraid of what the future held and at that point the thinking actually went awry. I made choices that I shouldn’t have made and that were the wrong choices”

“You are playing cricket, perhaps even hoping to get back into the England team, and within the space of a few months it’s actually all over,” he said. “There wasn’t a great deal of information around then for young players about what they should be doing or trying to do.”Yes, you heard the stories about having to plan for your future because cricket doesn’t last forever but what does that mean?”At the time I thought that planning was taking out a pension or taking out a life insurance which are things that I actually did. Standing here now you know planning is a lot more and it takes a lot more time and effort.”You try different things to try to generate cash. You are not talking about the same level of cash as when you played. You are talking about a level of cash that, now you are living a normal life – to sort that out. Coming back to play T20 for Surrey, that didn’t work and at the same time the old hips played up.”I had spent a bit of money. I had been away to Australia to train to try to get fit to come back to do the Twenty20 so money had been spent and nothing had been earned. I became afraid of what the future held and at that point the thinking actually went awry.Chris Lewis will work with the PCA educating young players after his release from prison•Getty Images”I made choices that I shouldn’t have made and that were the wrong choices and that, in the end. I should say sorry for because they were the wrong choices, and I do say sorry for.”Jason Ratcliffe, assistant chief executive of the PCA, has remained in contact with Lewis throughout his time in prison and hopes that Lewis’s willingness to speak about his experiences will help current county players.”Whilst we can’t ever condone the trouble Chris got himself into, it’s our duty to help our members wherever we can,” Ratcliffe said. “It’s time to move forward and his story will prove to be a strong message for all current and future professional cricketers.”Lewis has been quick to express his gratitude. “The PCA has been extremely supportive right from the beginning of this situation,” he said. “Going ahead, I would like to become a part of that, whether it’s giving advice or whether it’s just tugging on the grey matter to find out what happened at this particular time.”If any of that can help any young player going ahead I am in. I am in 100 per cent.”As his career drew to a close, Lewis made revelations in the News of the World about spot-fixing within the England Test team, also claiming that he been offered money on behalf of Indian bookmakers to help fix an England vs New Zealand match at Old Trafford. He was not in the side at the time.

MS Dhoni has hit back at his critics, saying the captaincy was a responsibility he was given and not something he craved or clung to

Sidharth Monga21-Jun-20155:02

MS Dhoni – “If I am the reason for all the bad that is happening to Indian cricket, definitely I would love to step away and play as a player”

MS Dhoni has hit back at his critics, saying the captaincy was a responsibility he was given and not something he craved or clung to. In the aftermath of India’s successive ODI defeats and subsequent series loss to Bangladesh, Dhoni said he would love to give up the captaincy if that guaranteed a change of fortunes for India.”I am really enjoying my cricket,” Dhoni said when asked of his captaincy plans, before making plain his annoyance at the media scrutiny. “I know this question was coming. I know the media loves me. These are the questions that will keep popping up.”Yes, if it is a justifiable thing that if you remove me and the Indian cricket will start doing really well, and if I am the reason for all the bad that is happening to Indian cricket, definitely I would love to step away and play as a player. Ultimately you want India to win. It doesn’t matter who is the captain. I was never really in line to become a captain. It was a job or responsibility for me. I have taken that responsibility. It was given to me, I took it. If they want to take it away, I am happy to give it away.”What is more important is to play for the country and contribute to the team and try to keep the dressing-room atmosphere good. So that whenever youngsters are coming in, they can come and perform. That will be the ultimate achievement for me. Also, it is slightly different. Indian cricket had been used to players coming in toned, ready for international cricket. Now it has changed. You have to grind it through. Cricket has changed and all that. We have had tough times. That’s what cricket is all about. You can’t win every series you play.”It was interesting that Dhoni said he would love to step aside as captain and play just as a player. For as a pure batsman, Dhoni has not been in great form. His last match-winning performance with the bat came in July 2013, when he won India a triangular-series final in the West Indies. Until that match, he used to win a Man-of-the-Match award once every 13 games. He is currently 38 matches without a match-winning innings.One of the reasons for that is Dhoni has chosen to take the extra responsibility of batting at No. 6. In the second ODI, though, he came in to bat at No. 4. He showed glimpses of the old Dhoni in scoring 47, but as India kept losing wickets at the other end, he kept getting slower and failed to kick on in the end. He hinted that this could be a long-term shift, and that it was perhaps time a good batsman took that responsibility of batting at No. 6.”The whole idea was for me to go up and play more freely,” Dhoni said. “The last four-five years, I have batted at 6, and there is always some kind of pressure other so I have not been able to bat freely. I wanted to get set and bat freely, but when I got set we lost wickets. Then we had to build some kind of partnership before we could go after the bowlers, then again we lost a couple of wickets. It was not really possible.”I feel it is very difficult for someone like Jadeja to justify his selection because more often than not they don’t get to bat. To always come in an international game and expect an individual to score a fifty is not really possible”•Associated Press”I would like to bat slightly up in the order so I can play a bit more freely. Yes I have adapted to what the team needed of me since 2006, but for the longer run it is important for us to see who is a good batter at No. 6, at 7 or even maybe 5. That is why I dropped (Suresh) Raina (down the order). He has been successful at that slot.”If I move up there, it should be someone experienced at that slot. It is a difficult slot. You can’t just go out there and play the big shot. You don’t really have as many big batsmen behind you. If an opener plays a big shot. he thinks twice, but if you are No. 6 or 7 you have to think three times or you don’t think at all because you are not worried about anything else.”One of the occupants of that lower-middle-order slot has been Ravindra Jadeja. Now Dhoni has always backed Jadeja, playing an important part in using him as a match-winning bowler in Tests when nobody rated him in the longer formats. Since his shoulder injury, though, Jadeja has struggled a bit in international cricket.

“It doesn’t matter who is the captain. I was never really in line to become a captain. It was a job or responsibility for me. If they want to take it away, I am happy to give it away.”

That Jadeja plays for Dhoni’s IPL team and that he is managed by Dhoni’s friend’s management agency has always been brought up, and once again, Dhoni was asked about his persistence with and “preservation” of Jadeja. An unflustered Dhoni came up with a cricketing assessment.”We use every bowler according to his potential,” Dhoni said. “I don’t like to bowl him in the first 10, but after that he has bowled for us consistently, in the second Powerplay and even in the slog. I have used him late in the innings, and he has bowled three decent overs in the Powerplay. I feel it is very difficult for someone like him to justify his selection because more often than not they don’t get to bat. In the last one year even I have not got a decent chance to bat. The only decent chance you get is when you are four-five down in 20 overs.”To always come in an international game and expect an individual to score a fifty is not really possible, so it is a difficult one. Also, our top order has done really well so we haven’t tested the bottom order. You can say these two matches our lower order was tested so it is difficult for him to justify his batting. From bowling point of view, in between he was up and down, but later on, during the World Cup he bowled well and after that here he is bowling well.”Dhoni hinted that he might be bat at No.4 more often in the future to “play a bit more freely”•AFPAnother issue with India in the transition since the World Cup has been to identify a coach and proper supporting staff. When he was asked if there was a correlation between the uncertainty there and the results in Bangladesh, Dhoni did not lose the opportunity to praise the former coach Duncan Fletcher.”At least indirectly you are saying you are missing Duncan Fletcher,” Dhoni said. “I felt he was one guy who was never really appreciated by the media. He did all the hard work. He was with the team for a long time. He went on really tough tours but I don’t think we should blame the support staff. Ultimately it is the individuals that go out and adapt and do what is required. I don’t think it is the support staff.”If you are indirectly hinting that we need a coach and all that, we have enough people in the support staff to take care of us. And even if the position of the coach is vacant for some time, it is okay. Don’t put just anybody there just because the post is vacant. Then it will have a bad impact in the long run. It takes time to make these decisions, and our team generally doesn’t have that time because we keep playing non-stop.”As with the support staff, Dhoni said no big changes were expected in the personnel of the actual squad. “This is the best lot of players we have,” Dhoni said. “What we have to think about is, if we are playing in the subcontinent whether we want to go in with the extra spinner, whether we really want fast bowlers who bowl quick but are not good with line and length. At times we have seen they can really go for runs.”If you see Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar), he is not exceptionally quick but even when the batsmen are scoring fast he gets away with it. The only problem is, if he doesn’t take wickets the other bowlers are not smart enough to get away with the kind of bowling they do. Overall you have to see what is the best balance and accordingly you move forward.”

Two female umpires will officiate at the Women’s World T20 for the first time in the tournament’s history next month, after Kathy Cross and Claire Polosak were named in a 31-person list of officials

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-2016Two female umpires will officiate at the Women’s World T20 for the first time in the tournament’s history next month, after Kathy Cross and Claire Polosak were named in a 31-person list of officials for the concurrent men’s and women’s events in India.Cross, from New Zealand, has prior experience of an ICC event, having officiated at three Women’s World Cups in 2000, 2009 and 2013. She will be the first of the two to officiate in the forthcoming tournament, when she takes charge of Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh at Chennai on March 16.Polosak, however, will be making her first appearance in a global tournament, having overseen the women’s World Cup qualifiers in Thailand recently. At 27, will be the youngest official on duty in India, with her first match coming at Mohali on March 18, when New Zealand take on Ireland.A Sydney-based schoolteacher by profession, Polosak made another slice of history last year when she became the first woman to officiate in Australia’s Matador Cup, standing as third umpire for Queensland v Cricket Australia XI in October 2015.”When I started umpiring at 15, I really didn’t think I’d have the opportunities that have already been presented to me at 27,” Polosak said.Her ultimate ambition is join the ICC Elite Panel and officiate in a Test match. “It’s ultimately about working your way through the pathway but at the moment I’m just concentrating on being the best I am for the game that’s in front of me. If I continue to work hard the opportunities will come,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.”There is a really good statistic that there has been more astronauts than there has been Test umpires. So it’s a very tight tunnel to get through. But like the players you always want to go to the next level if possible.”

Virat Kohli made an unbeaten 82 off 51 balls, which helped India progress to the semi-final, against West Indies, and ended Australia World T20 campaign, and the international career of Shane Watson

The Report by Brydon Coverdale27-Mar-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsVirat Kohli made a sublime 82 not out off 51 balls to lead India’s chase•AFPIs there a finer chaser in world cricket than Virat Kohli? MS Dhoni perhaps? It was a good thing for India the two of them were together in the dying stages of their quasi quarter-final against Australia in Mohali. Dhoni’s men progressed to a semi-final, against West Indies, and ended Australia’s World T20 campaign, and the international career of Shane Watson, with a chase of impeccable timing led by Kohli.Set 161 for victory, India saw their required run-rate balloon up past 10 an over, up towards 12 an over, but Kohli was always poised to prick the balloon. He did so with such perfect timing – 19 runs coming off the 18th over from James Faulkner and then 16 off the next from Nathan Coulter-Nile – that you felt he never doubted himself. In the end, India got home with five balls to spare, madness when you consider they needed 47 off 24.The win came with a boundary clubbed through long-on by Dhoni from the first ball of the 20th over. Faulkner by then was in the unenviable position of having to keep India to three or less in the final over, such was the devastation that had just occurred. Dhoni had played an important role with 18 not out off 10, but it was Kohli who fell to his knees to celebrate. This was on him. Him and his unbeaten 82 from 51 deliveries.It was an innings of sheer class, his nine fours and two sixes just fine, clean cricket shots, placed where the fielders were not. Watson, in his final match for Australia, had been their best bowler, and when he finished his fourth over with figures of 2 for 23, Kohli decided the time had come to lift India home. His half-century had come from 39 deliveries, and his next 12 balls brought 32 runs and the victory.The chase appeared to be stuttering while Kohli was accompanied by Yuvraj Singh at the crease. Yuvraj had rolled his left ankle during the innings and was hobbling through slowly for runs, trying to rely on his ability to hit boundaries. But there was little doubt he was a handbrake on India’s innings, and Watson’s remarkable running and diving catch at cover to get rid of Yuvraj for 21 off 18 probably played into India’s hands.Watson certainly tried his best to extend his career by another match, bowling Rohit Sharma for 12 and having Suresh Raina caught behind off a bouncer for 10, and by that stage India were 49 for 3 and in some trouble. Shikhar Dhawan had also fallen for 13, top-edging a pull to short fine leg off Nathan Coulter-Nile, but while Kohli remained at the crease Australia knew they were far from safe.His chasing ability is world class, and that was the gamble Steven Smith took when he won the toss and chose to bat on a surface that offered some pace. Australia’s 160 seemed slightly below-par, which might be good in golf but not in a high-pressure knock-out cricket match. Their top order made a fast start by racking up 59 for 1 in the Powerplay, but after that they struggled for momentum.Khawaja especially looked ominous and 24 of his 26 runs came in boundaries, although Ashish Nehra had also induced a number of plays and misses. Nehra was outstanding throughout his initial three-over spell and when he returned in the dying overs, and finished with 1 for 20 from his four overs. His one wicket was that of Khawaja, who edged behind in the fifth over.India’s bowlers showed that there was spin as well as pace in the pitch. R Ashwin’s first over leaked 22 as Aaron Finch launched a pair of sixes over long-on, but in his next over Ashwin had David Warner stumped, the ball turning past his bat as he danced down the pitch. It was an ominous sign for Australia, who have struggled to handle spin in India.Glenn Maxwell was scratchy in his 31 from 28 balls, and Faulkner too struggled to score at better than a run a ball. Watson struck a late 18 not out and Peter Nevill, not renowned for his power hitting, picked up a four and a six off his only two balls, the last two of the innings, and he and Watson were all smiles as they left the field. Only the Indians were smiling about two hours later.

CSA have appointed retired Judge Bernard M Ngeope as head of their Anti-Corruption and Security Unit

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-2016Cricket South Africa has appointed a former Judge to head its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit. Retired Judge Bernard M Ngoepe has accepted the role of independent non-executive chairperson with immediate effect.”This position is similar to that of Sir Ronnie Flanagan, who heads the ICC’s ACSU. It includes being the lead person responsible for providing strategic guidance to both the Board of CSA and to the (Anti-Corruption and Security) Unit in the execution of its duties and responsibilities,” Haroon Lorgat, CSA CEO, said.Ngoepe’s most pressing task will be to tackle the ongoing match-fixing investigation. Former ICC head of legal David Becker, who successfully prosecuted Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and has also acted as a legal advisor to CSA, is heading the investigation. He is assisted by CSA’s anti-corruption officer Louis Cole and an anti-corruption officer at the ICC, Arri de Beer. All three men will now report to Judge Ngoepe.In January, CSA banned Gulam Bodi for 20 years for contriving or attempting to fix matches during the 2015-16 Ram Slam tournament but since then, no further information has been made public. Alviro Petersen admitted to reporting approaches but denied any involvement.ESPNcricinfo understands at least two former Test cricketers and one other international player are among those who have been questioned and at least one them has admitted to failing to report an approach. The player met with CSA’s ACSU in the second half of January and has yet to find out the outcome of his case.

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeals of the Mumbai Cricket Association and the Maharashtra Cricket Association against the Bombay High Court order that had ruled all IPL 2016 matches to be played in Maharashtra in May to be moved out

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Apr-2016The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeals of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and the Maharashtra Cricket Association against the Bombay High Court order that had ruled all IPL 2016 matches to be played in Maharashtra in May to be moved out of the state.”It is better to move out the matches in wake of the drought,” the Supreme Court order stated.The MCA and Maharashtra Cricket Associations had filed separate pleas in the Supreme Court last week, stating they would use only treated sewage water for the matches. “[Our contention] is that there is loss of revenue and diminishing of job opportunities,” MCA joint-secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar had told ESPNcricinfo. “We are challenging it on that [ground] only because we are ready to use [treated] sewage water for the matches. Even without the IPL, we use the water to maintain the grass.”The Bombay High Court’s ruling had come earlier this month after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) questioned the hosting of IPL matches in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur while severe drought persisted in Maharashtra. The court had sought an explanation from the BCCI and the state associations on why water should be “wasted” on hosting the games when the state faced one of its worst ever droughts.The court later allowed the opening match to be held as scheduled in Mumbai on April 9, and asked the Maharashtra state government and Mumbai’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, to spell out their plans to tackle the problem of water shortage.The board had, in its response, stated its intention to use treated sewage water for ground preparation in Mumbai and Pune. Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants, the franchises based in Maharashtra, had proposed to contribute INR 5 crore to the Maharashtra chief minister’s drought relief fund and supply 40 lakh litres of water to drought-hit areas at their own cost. The High Court, however, ruled that matches be shifted out. The verdict originally affected 13 matches, including the final which was to be held in Mumbai on May 29.The court later granted permission to conduct the match between Supergiants and Mumbai in Pune on May 1, after the BCCI had sought permission for the same citing logistical difficulties, due to a short turnaround time from the match between Supergiants and Gujarat Lions on April 29 at the same venue. Pune will miss out on five matches, including the Eliminator and the second Qualifier, while no games will be held in Nagpur.Mumbai had opted for Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium as their alternative home venue, while Supergiants had listed Visakhapatnam as their alternative ground. Mumbai will play their last game at the Wankhede Stadium for IPL 2016 on April 28 against Kolkata Knight Riders, while Supergiants’ last match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium will be on May 1, against Mumbai.

The Premier League pair meet at Wembley on Sunday evening looking to secure the first piece of silverware of the 2017-18 season, but who makes our XI?

1Combined XIAnd here's how they line up…AdvertisementGetty Images2SERGIO AGUERO | STAguero's consistency in front of goal is frightening – he has reached at least 20 Premier League goals in his past three seasons, and already has 21 to his name this season in just 1788 minutes of football, an average of a goal every 85 minutes.Getty Images3PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG | STThough Aubameyang drew a blank in the north London derby against Tottenham last time out, his scoring record in the Bundesliga speaks for itself and he opened his Arsenal account in his debut, a 5-1 victory over Everton.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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4LEROY SANE | AMLAs with Sterling on the other side, Sane's explosive displays in the attacking areas for City this season directly correlates with their current standing as Premier League leaders. The 22-year-old already has 10 league assists this season, only team-mate De Bruyne has more.

Higuain is the latest striker to be handed the number nine shirt at Stamford Bridge – but will he be as unsuccessful as his predecessors?

Gonzalo Higuain recently completed a loan move to Chelsea from AC Milan replacing the hugely disappointing Alvaro Morata, who has departed for Atletico Madrid.

The Argentina international will succeed Morata as the club's new number nine, but that shirt number has not brought much fortune in recent years – with the likes of Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao and Morata himself all failing to live up to expectations. Will Higuain follow in their footsteps?

Alvaro Morata | £60m | 2017-

Things were looking bright for Alvaro Morata at Stamford Bridge when he signed for a reported club-record fee of £60 million. He got off to a good start initially, scoring eight goals and bagging four assists in his first 11 Premier League appearances.

Things turned pear-shaped, however, as he struggled with various injuries. His poor fitness and low confidence contributed to his bad form, which cost him a place with the Spain national team for the 2018 World Cup.

Underwhelming performances with Chelsea led him to re-sign for Atletico Madrid in January 2019 on an 18-month deal after 12 years away from the club.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRadamel Falcao | Loan | 2015-16

A disastrous loan spell with Manchester United in which Radamel Falcao scored just four goals in 26 appearances didn't stop him from joining Chelsea in 2015.

He managed to be even worse at Stamford Bridge, netting just once in 12 appearances and spending much of the season on the bench as his former Atletico Madrid team-mate Diego Costa starred on the pitch.

Falcao returned to Monaco after his loan spell with the Blues and he is still there today.

Getty ImagesFernando Torres | £50m | 2011-15

After the Spaniard made a £50m move from Liverpool to Chelsea in January 2011 – then a British transfer fee record – Torres struggled to recapture his lethal scoring form from Anfield. Indeed, it took him 903 minutes to score his first goal for the Blues.

'El Nino' developed a reputation for being one of the most dangerous strikers in Europe during his time with Liverpool but declined by the time he moved to Chelsea, managing to score just 11 times in his first full season with the club.

Torres did have some memorable moments in London, playing a part in their 2012 Champions League win, but returned to hometown club Atletico Madrid in 2016 after a loan stint at AC Milan.

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GettyFranco Di Santo | £3.4m | 2008-10

Following a promising start to his career at Chilean side Audax Italiano, Chelsea signed Franco Di Santo for £3.4m in 2008 and he was immediately integrated into the first-team squad.

The Argentine striker made 16 appearances in the 2008-09 season – though they mostly came from the bench – and he failed to score a single goal.

Di Santo was then loaned out to Blackburn Rovers, where he managed to score just once in 24 appearances, and eventually signed permanently for Wigan with whom he won the FA Cup in 2013 against Manchester City, though he did not play in the final.