Erik ten Hag has been criticised for his treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, with Arturo Vidal saying “bald guys are complicated”.
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Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladesh captain, said his team retained the belief they could win the second Test when England reached 100 without loss at tea
ESPNcricinfo staff30-Oct-2016Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladesh captain, said his team retained the belief they could win the second Test, even when England reached 100 without loss at tea. What followed was an extraordinary final session in which England lost all ten wickets for 64, offspinner Mehedi Hasan taking 6 for 77 to finish with the best match figures by a Bangladesh bowler, as they secured their most famous Test victory.Bangladesh responded immediately after the interval when Ben Duckett, who had played aggressively for a maiden Test fifty, was beaten on the back foot by Mehedi and just 22 overs later the same bowler trapped Steven Finn lbw to spark wild celebrations.”It’s a great moment for Bangladesh cricket, the Test was up and down, you didn’t know which team was going to win but the boys the really showed their character at 100 for none,” Mushfiqur said. “We believed if we got one wicket in those conditions it’s very tough for the new batsman.”The coach was a bit fired up, we didn’t bowl that well before tea, but after that they realised if they bowled in good areas rather than chasing wickets it would be better. The wicket also behaved a bit differently after the new ball.”Mehedi came into the series with a big reputation after copious success at Under-19 level, but Mushfiqur admitted his Man-of-the-Series performance exceeded all expectations “We knew he was going to shine but not like this, he’s also a good batsman but didn’t show that and hopefully he’ll be a great allrounder for Bangladesh.”Bangladesh’s next cricket is the tour of New Zealand which starts in December and includes two Test matches in the New Year. Mushfiqur acknowledged that the next stage in Bangladesh’s development is to bring the improvements seen at home over the last two years to challenges in foreign climes.”In the last two years we’ve played well at home, but our next challenge is overseas,” he said. “We have to adapt really well. You can’t get home conditions everywhere. We are getting there, hopefully if we play more Tests there will be more good results. Hopefully the ICC and other boards will send us series against the big boys. I also want to say thanks to the ECB for coming and the security teams. Now it’s party time.”While Alastair Cook was still trying to take stock of the size of England’s collapse, he was able to reflect on the bigger picture of Bangladesh’s success. “People need to come here and play cricket,” he said. “You can see their development. At home they will be a tough side to beat. They have a lot of good spinners. It’s not easy for me to say, but it’s a good win for Bangladesh cricket. Maybe some things are bigger than one game.”
The ECB’s proposal for a new city-based T20 competition, which had originally been slated for a launch season in 2018, may now be postponed until 2020 to coincide with a new broadcasting deal.The go-ahead to further explore the eight-team proposal was given by a 16-3 vote at the ECB board meeting at Lord’s in September, following discussions between the 18 first-class counties, the Professional Cricketers’ Association, and MCC.The ECB hierarchy, led by chairman Colin Graves and chief executive Tom Harrison, have been keen to push through a new T20 league to rival the success generated by the Indian Premier League and Australia’s Big Bash, despite fears from many counties that it would undermine their raison d’etre.
A round of Championship matches will be played under floodlights in 2017 – possibly in late June, the brightest time of the year.
The matches will be played using pink Dukes balls, so keeping faith with the make of ball used in the county game. Dukes have yet to be tested under lights with all previous experiments using a Kookaburra.
Surrey, Kent and Sussex were reportedly the three counties who opposed the proposal, although several have since expressed reservations about the lack of detail.The original plan had been for the competition to be shown on Sky Sports for at least the first two seasons, with few England players likely to be involved due to an overlap with international commitments. However, the delayed start may now encourage a terrestrial broadcaster to come forward, in line with the ECB’s desire to use the competition as a vehicle to attract new audiences to the game.In a separate development, the ECB board today ratified a recommendation from the Cricket Committee that the option of allowing the visiting team to bowl first in County Championship fixtures should be retained for the 2017 season.The proposal caused some controversy when it was brought in for the start of the 2016 season. However, the stated aim of encouraging home counties to produce better four-day pitches – and improving the conditions for spin bowlers – were broadly considered to have been a success.The Cricket Committee – which included Yorkshire’s director of cricket Martyn Moxon, Leicestershire’s chief executive Wasim Khan and David Leatherdale, the chief executive of the PCA – studied a range of data that showed, among other factors, that a total of 10,094 overs of spin had been bowled across the season, compared to 8,643 in 2015 – the highest since 2011.Peter Wright, the chairman of the Cricket Committee, told ECB.co.uk: “In many ways the statistics merely reinforced the feeling we had been picking up around the game throughout the summer, that the experiment was working in beginning to rebalance the game.”As we stressed when we introduced the new options for visiting captains, this was not all about spin. We wanted matches to last longer, and to become more thorough preparation for international cricket.”That meant better, four-day pitches, which would mean bowlers had to work harder to take wickets, and would encourage a greater variety of bowling, whether spin in its various forms, genuine pace or reverse swing from more abrasive pitches.
The last time Anil Kumble was part of an India camp was at his home ground, M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, in 2008. Two men were under immense pressure to keep their places in the side: Captain Kumble and former captain Sourav Ganguly. Just before the series both had struggled in Sri Lanka: Ganguly had scored 96 runs in six innings, and Kumble had taken eight wickets for 400 runs in three Tests. Just before the home series against Australia, Kumble answered in the negative when asked about retirements. A few days later, Ganguly announced this series was to be his last, and an injured Kumble ended his career even before Ganguly.Eight years later, Kumble and Ganguly have emerged as an unlikely duo shepherding the Indian team from the management perspective. Unlike Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, Ganguly has turned out to be pretty hands-on as a state association president and a member of the cricket advisory committee. Kumble, too, has had a stint as a state association president, actually winning an election, willing to put his reputation on the line by entering the contest. Now Ganguly is believed to have played a key role in getting Kumble as the coach of Indian team.Sitting in the same spot that Ganguly had been in when he uttered words that still resonate – “just one last thing lads, before I leave, I just want to say that this is going to be my last series,” Kumble was asked for his opinion on the way Shastri had been overlooked. Shastri had alleged Ganguly was not even present to interview him when he made his presentation. The underlying suggestion being that the decision had already been made before the interview process.Kumble was a relentless bowler, always at the batsman, but here he did a good impression of leaving this swinging ball alone outside off. “I was the first one to call Ravi after I was chosen as head coach,” Kumble said. “He did a wonderful job with the Indian team. It is not about Anil or Ravi, it is not about the head coach. It is about the players, it is about the team. And from my point of view, whether it is me or Ravi or any Indian, we all want the Indian team to do well. We all want the Indian team to perform at its best. We all believe that there is potential for the Indian team to be the best in all three formats.”And If I’m part of the journey, that’s all I have to say. He congratulated me. I told him it’s a fantastic team, a young team that we have. It could be someone else tomorrow [in place of me]. I’m not permanent in this role. I have an opportunity to make a difference. I have an opportunity to be part of the journey and if I can be part of the journey where we see Indian cricket rise to where we all want it to be, then I think it’s wonderful. I feel privileged, like I already mentioned. And an honour again to be a part of the team.”Kumble was more comfortable and open talking about his own role. At the outset he repeated that he and his support staff were going to be in the background, that his legendary status as a cricketer himself was not going to overpower his team. About his preferred support staff – Sanjay Bangar and Abhay Sharma as batting and fielding coach are temporary appointments for the upcoming West Indies tour – Kumble didn’t reveal much except that he was keen to work with the bowlers himself. A fast-bowling coach couldn’t be ruled out, though.”At this point in time, I thought I can get close to the bowlers, for a start,” Kumble said. “Yes, we are considering options, I don’t want to say what because this is my first trip as coach with the team and I’d like to observe and try and see how the team is shaping up. At this point in time, I thought that with the bowlers, it is the strategy that I can certainly play a part of and that’s something which I am looking at, trying to get closer to the bowlers, understanding what their needs are and then looking at probably bringing in, if you are looking at a fast bowling coach I think is what you are trying to say. There are considerations that I am thinking of but at this point, I don’t know if it will be possible to take someone to the West Indies. If that doesn’t happen, then certainly I am keen to look at the bowlers. I feel that that is certainly an area where I can contribute a lot more.”Kumble was asked what he, as a player, used to look for in a coach. The answer to this was the most definitive in his 20-minute press conference. “As a coach, all I sought was organised preparations for the team and informed inputs to the captain and the team to strategise better. Inclusive of every player. You have to include every player. It’s not about just the 11 who are to play. Also abut the six or seven who are not going to play.”That’s something I sought as a player because it was not always that I played in every team that played for India during my time. I was dropped, I was not chosen for tours. So I understand [what it means to] be the most important member in the team to being dropped. I understand all of that, I understand that communication at such times is very critical. For the coach to pick up the phone and send the message, ‘Don’t worry you are still part of the team.’ That’s what I will look to do. Hopefully I will be able to succeed in telling people who are part of the system that they will always be part of it.”Kumble had earlier remarked it felt a little odd being interviewed by three of his long-time team-mates. Having stepped into the team atmosphere, though, Kumble doesn’t feel odd at all. “Obviously you know the roles and boundaries as a coach,” Kumble said. “Other than that it’s no different. All of us want Indian cricket to be doing really well, and these are exciting times. I feel privileged to be a part of that journey, and in whatever way I can help Indian cricket achieve that. It was no different walking into a meeting room with the entire team, although the faces were different. I’ve played with some of them; I’ve mentored a couple of them in various capacities. To be back in the changing room is always special.”
Chelsea may target a surprise pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane this summer to solve their striking problems, according to journalist Dean Jones.
What's the latest transfer news involving Harry Kane?
LondonWorld have claimed that Kane is a wanted man this summer amid uncertainty over his long-term Tottenham future, with Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Chelsea said to be keeping tabs on his situation.
All three interested suitors are looking to add more firepower to their respective frontlines, though Chelsea could well hold an advantage in the race for Kane's signature due to the impending arrival of former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who is close to taking the reins at Stamford Bridge as manager.
The Telegraph have revealed that Manchester United have launched 'initial moves' to try and scope out the possibility of bringing the England international to Old Trafford; however, it is said that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will seek at least £100 million before weighing up whether to sell his prize asset.
The Sun have signalled that the Red Devils could be set to offer Kane £300,000 per week to swap north London for Manchester, which would be a £100,000 increase on his current £200,000 salary he earns per week at his current employers.
Kane has yet to win a major honour at Tottenham, though Spurs chairman Levy recently suggested in an interview that he can achieve that feat if he stays in N17.
As per The Athletic, the 61-year-old stated: “He can absolutely win a trophy at Spurs. But being a legend is also important. The fact that he’s top scorer of Tottenham Hotspur, he’s making history. I hope one day that there is a statue of Harry Kane outside our stadium.”
What has Dean Jones said about Harry Kane?
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones believes that Chelsea could have a decent chance of signing Kane this summer and thinks he would 'prefer to stay in the Premier League' rather than move to a club abroad.
Jones told FFC: "Chelsea need a centre forward; if they are going to go and spend any money in the transfer window, that is probably where they would invest. Kane is absolutely proven and able to provide goals at this level. He would prefer to stay in the Premier League, if he was to make a transfer away from Tottenham."
What are Harry Kane's stats like this season?
Kane has been in brilliant form for Tottenham this season despite their struggles on the pitch, netting 26 goals and claiming four assists in 43 matches across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt. Compared to Romelu Lukaku, who has just nine goals and three assists, there would be little competition.
Unsurprisingly, the 29-year-old also ranks as Spurs' best-performing player this term, gaining a match rating of 7.45/10 for his exploits on the pitch, according to WhoScored.
His ability to be more than just a focal point in attack cannot be questioned. FBRef shows that Kane has successfully performed 111 shot-creating actions in 2022/23, demonstrating his ability to be a reliable creator of chances well as possessing a killer instinct in front of goal.
With his contract set to expire in 2024, it will soon be decision time for Kane as he ponders whether his future will lie at Tottenham or indeed elsewhere. Interest is likely to be vast for his services, which promises to make for an exciting summer as the talismanic figure prepares to finalise his next steps.
And with Pochettino potentially set to take on the job at Stamford Bridge, could this be an opportunity for Kane to reunite with his former boss who previously called him "special"?
Everton have found themselves yet again struggling to retain their Premier League status this season and Sean Dyche has been tasked with the challenge of damage control at Goodison Park by securing survival over the remaining fixtures.
The Toffees are currently teetering on the edge of the relegation zone as only goal difference is saving them from being in the bottom three and with just eight games left to play, there is no room for error going forward until the end of the season.
Indeed, if the former Burnley boss can save the Merseysiders this season, there is no doubt that he will be keen to make his own mark on the squad to prompt improvement and resolve the disastrous decisions of those who preceded him.
One player who has been sparking media attention for all the wrong reasons yet again this week is Frank Lampard's signing Dele Alli, with the player banished from his loan club Besiktas this season and now suffering an injury that has left him unavailable to play for the remainder of the campaign.
Will Everton cut ties with Dele Alli?
Despite paying no transfer fee to sign him, there is no doubt that Alli has been one of the worst signings secured on the blue side of Merseyside in a while which is some achievement considering the club is renowned for their transfer disasters over the years.
The former Tottenham Hotspur playmaker made the move to Goodison Park on the same day that Lampard became the new permanent manager, back in January 2022.
After tallying up just 13 appearances over six months and averaging just 27 minutes per game with only three yellow cards to show for it, talkSPORT's Simon Jordan blasted Everton for signing Alli last summer:
"An awful transfer! This was how it was always going to end," he began. “Dele Alli’s career is going one way and I don’t think he can get it back.”
At first, a season-long loan move to Turkey for the troubled £100k-per-week talent looked promising with three goals scored in 17 appearances, however, it wasn't long before the Besiktas boss Senol Gunes became the latest manager to grow frustrated with him and delivered a scathing assessment on the player:
"Dele Alli has had a good career. But he doesn't deserve to play at the moment. The current situation has not met our expectations as a team,
"We expect him to contribute to the team, but we think he cannot contribute at the moment. We will evaluate it with him and the club."
Since then, the England international has seemingly not returned to Turkey after coming back to the UK with a knee injury and it has been reported in the last few days that Everton are considering their options to cut ties with the player once and for all.
With that being said, considering Everton's financial concerns, it would be wise for them to finally end Lampard's transfer disaster by letting go of the 27-year-old as soon as possible, in order to eliminate one of their many problems heading into the summer.
Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be keeping tabs on teenage sensation, Adama Bojang, albeit with the Lilywhites set to face competition for the striker’s signature.
What’s the latest on Bojang to Spurs?
According to the Daily Mail, the north London outfit – as well as fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest – are among the clubs who are ‘monitoring’ the Gambian gem at present, with the 18-year-old having caught the eye of late as a result of his displays at the AFCON U20 Championship in Egypt.
The report suggests that both Spurs and Forest have made ‘enquiries’ regarding a potential deal for the 6 foot 3 starlet, with the youngster said to be hoping to put himself in the ‘shop window’ by starring for his country.
The emerging ace currently plies his trade for Steve Biko FC in his homeland, although it does appear that a switch to Europe could be on the cards sooner rather than later.
Who could be the heir to Harry Kane?
Those at N17 are likely to be plotting to find a long-term centre-forward solution amid the uncertainty surrounding the future of record goalscorer, Harry Kane, with the England international having been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United with just 15 months left to run on his existing deal.
Even if the 29-year-old is to stay put in the capital and sign a new long-term contract, there will be a sense that an heir to the long-serving, academy graduate will need to be found in the coming years, hence the need to find a youthful candidate.
There has been much talk that youth star Dane Scarlett could be the next “Kane in waiting” – as per fan pundit Rory Brown – although the 18-year-old has hardly pulled up any trees on loan at Portsmouth this season, scoring just four times for the League One fit.
According to Pompey supporter, Brown, the 18-year-old has been a rather underwhelming addition for the club since his summer, temporary switch, with the insider providing a rather damning assessment of the previously highly-rated marksman:
“I know he’s only 18 but he doesn’t have the physicality that Kane does, he doesn’t have anywhere near the clinicality.
“He squanders too many chances, he doesn’t look bothered a lot of the time, which maybe points towards an attitude problem or maybe he wasn’t working under [Danny] Cowley’s system.
“But for me, I expected so much from him and I’ve just not seen it so far, so unfortunately I don’t really see him having a future at Pompey next season if he was ours, let alone a future at Spurs.”
With that in mind, it could well prove to be Bojang that emerges as the successor to Kane if the exciting talent is to be signed in the coming months, with the gifted “gem” – as described by journalist Bence Bocsak – having been “catching the eye” in his homeland of late.
Lauded as “dynamic and quick” by Bocsak, the youth star may seemingly have the ‘physicality’ that Scarlett is not able to offer, having been described as ‘quick, brave and direct’ – as per the Mail report – while also earning the nickname of the ‘Gambian Hurricane’.
Like Kane – who has netted 268 goals for Tottenham to date – Bojang has showcased his finishing prowess with three goals and one assist in just four appearances at AFCON in recent times, ensuring that he is certainly “one to keep an eye on”, as per Bocsak.
While there may be other clubs sniffing around in the hope of landing the promising striker, Spurs must do all they can to land the potential dream Kane heir sooner rather than later.
Stats preview to the third Test between South Africa and West Indies in Durban
Cricinfo staff09-Jan-2008With the series level at 1-1 and everything to play for, South Africa will be pleased with the venue for the decider. Of the 31 Tests they have played here, the South Africans have won 12 and lost nine, but it’s their recent record which will give them more confidence: seven victories and two defeats since their readmission into international cricket in 1992. The last time they lost to a side other than Australia in a Test here was almost ten years ago, when Pakistan beat them by 29 runs in February 1998.West Indies’ two trips here have hardly been memorable. In the Boxing Day Test in 1998 they went down by nine wickets, while five years later the hammering was even more severe, by an innings and 65 runs.
| Tests | Wins | Losses | Draws | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 32 | 12 | 9 | 12 |
| Since 1992 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| versus West Indies | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Jacques Kallis has, as usual, been the leading batsman for South Africa at this ground: he needs just 143 more to get to 1000 runs here, but for the rest it’s been a mixed bag. Shaun Pollock has enjoyed himself with the bat, with three half-centuries in 11 Tests, but some of the bigger names have struggled. It hasn’t been a happy venue for the captain, but for Hashim Amla Durban will conjure up miserable memories: in four innings he has scores of 1, 0, 1, 0.
| Batsman | Tests | Runs | Average | 100s/ 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacques Kallis | 10 | 857 | 57.13 | 4/ 2 |
| AB de Villiers | 3 | 218 | 43.60 | 0/ 2 |
| Shaun Pollock | 11 | 491 | 40.91 | 0/ 3 |
| Herschelle Gibbs | 9 | 619 | 38.68 | 2/ 2 |
| Ashwell Prince | 3 | 209 | 34.83 | 1/ 0 |
| Mark Boucher | 9 | 395 | 30.38 | 1/ 4 |
| Graeme Smith | 6 | 203 | 20.30 | 0/ 1 |
| Hashim Amla | 2 | 2 | 0.50 | 0/ 0 |
Graeme Smith got some form back with his 85 in the second innings in Cape Town, but in ten innings in Durban, he has only scored one half-century. His average of 20.30 is his worst among home venues where he has played at least three Tests.
| Venue | Tests | Runs | Average | 100s/ 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town | 10 | 904 | 53.17 | 2/ 6 |
| Johannesburg | 6 | 501 | 50.10 | 1/ 4 |
| Centurion | 7 | 332 | 30.18 | 1/ 0 |
| Port Elizabeth | 3 | 132 | 22.00 | 0/ 1 |
| Durban | 6 | 203 | 20.30 | 0/ 1 |
The absence of Chris Gayle will seriously weaken the West Indian batting. Among the batsmen in their squad, only two have played at this ground before. Shivnarine Chanderpaul has a healthy average here, but Daren Ganga, who will take the mantle of senior opener in the absence of Gayle, has struggled, scoring just 51 in four innings.
| Batsman | Tests | Runs | Average | 100s/ 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shivnarine Chanderpaul | 2 | 188 | 47.00 | 1/ 1 |
| Daren Ganga | 2 | 51 | 12.75 | 0/ 0 |
Not only has Pollock enjoyed batting here, he has also been among the wickets, taking 39 at an average of less than 23. Makhaya Ntini has averaged more than five wickets per Test here, but in his only Test he played here, against England in 2004, Dale Steyn only managed match figures 3 for 148.
| Bowler | Tests | Wickets | Average | 5WI/ 10WM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaun Pollock | 11 | 39 | 22.41 | 2/ 0 |
| Makhaya Ntini | 7 | 37 | 23.24 | 2/ 0 |
| Andre Nel | 3 | 14 | 26.35 | 0/ 0 |
| Jacques Kallis | 10 | 15 | 36.60 | 0/ 0 |
| Dale Steyn | 1 | 3 | 49.33 | 0/ 0 |
تحدث أوناي إيمري، المدير الفني لفريق أستون فيلا، عن مباراة مانشستر سيتي المرتقبة غدًا، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
ويستضيف ملعب “فيلا بارك” مباراة الفريقين في إطار منافسات الجولة السابعة عشر من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي، 2024/25.
ويخوض مانشستر سيتي تلك المباراة وهو في أسوأ حالاته حيث لم يفز إلا في مباراة واحدة في آخر 11 لقاءً في مختلف المسابقات.
ويحتل مانشستر سيتي المركز الخامس برصيد 27 نقطة، في حين أن أستون فيلا لديه 25 نقطة في المركز السابع.
وعندما سُئل عن رأيه تجاه المستوى الحالي لـ مانشستر سيتي، قال أوناي إيمري في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي لـ أستون فيلا: “مندهش بعض الشيء، لكن هذه هي كرة القدم، إنه (بيب جوارديولا) الأفضل”.
وأضاف: “نخوض كل مباراة على حدة، إنها أصعب بطولة في العالم، كل فريق يقدم لنا الكثير من المعلومات حول وضعنا وكيفية مواجهتنا لهم”.
اقرأ أيضًا | ضربة جديدة.. جوارديولا يعلن إصابة لاعب مانشستر سيتي وغيابه لمدة شهر
وواصل: “غدًا سنواجه أفضل فريق في السنوات القليلة الماضية في الدوري الإنجليزي، ربما لا يكونون ثابتين بسبب ظروف مختلفة، لكنهم الأفضل ومدربهم هو الأفضل”.
واسترسل: “لقد وصلت إلى هنا منذ عامين وكنت هنا من قبل، كان الأمر صعبًا للغاية دائمًا، أن تكون ثابتًا، كما هم عادةً، هو الأصعب”.
وأوضح: “لقد حققوا نجاحًا على مدار السنوات القليلة الماضية، وكانوا ثابتين في كل شيء، سيقدمون أداءً جيدًا مرة أخرى، لديهم الوقت ليكونوا فائزين مرة أخرى في هذه البطولة”.
واختتم: “سنواجه مانشستر سيتي غدًا والأهم من ذلك هو كيف سنواجههم، كيف سنرد، كيف سنختبرهم، هذا هو أهم شيء بالنسبة لي”.
ScorecardCricket’s changing landscape was there for all to see at Headingley. Behind the arm at the rugby end of the ground, the clanking and hammering told of a new stand rapidly taking shape. And, as spectators soaked up the sunshine on an entertaining, helter-skelter day, conversation often turned to the ECB’s controversial plans for 100-ball cricket. Praise for that in this hotbed of traditionalism is not easy to find.The two things are linked, of course. Without the revenue gained by successful short-form cricket, such stands as the one that will secure Headingley’s future would be impossible to finance. But this? Sun-creamed heads shook not with shock, but with deepening sadness.Many feel the game is being stolen from them. Championship diehards begin to grow old, lose friends and family and the game they love is gradually pilfered. Having become used to Twenty20, they are now told that even Twenty20 is not enough. If there was a unanimous plea here it would probably be to say: “Just leave us something worth caring for.”At such times, traditionalists take their pleasures one day at a time. There was plenty to be had with Yorkshire, up against it for much of the day, finding resilience down the order in the form of Andrew Hodd, who made 62 from 116 balls, and then picking up four cheap Nottinghamshire wickets by the close.There was zest, too, from Jack Brooks, who is no fall-guy with the bat. Last season he scored a Roses Championship century at Old Trafford and added another during an intra-squad friendly on Yorkshire’s pre-season tour of South Africa last month. His stand of 44 for the tenth wicket with Ben Coad gave Yorkshire the edge and his 30 included another clanking of the new stand with a six off Samit Patel.Three top-order wickets then quickened Yorkshire’s rally. Steven Mullaney dragged on and Chris Nash’s furtive dab flew to slip – two for Brooks in his first two overs. Patel fell lbw, that one met by a throaty Headingley roar, 100-ball cricket temporarily forgotten. If Nottinghamshire’s batting line-up is to survive the rigours of Division One, one senses that Patel needs a big season.Yorkshire made much play before the start of the season on batting time in the Championship. Twenty20 shot-making was to be frowned upon. Lines were drawn in indoor schools, sessions arranged with psychologists, meaningful conversations held.Yet before the ball had lost its sheen Alex Lees fended at a wide one from Jake Ball and Gary Ballance, the skipper, yet to score, slapped his ninth ball to point. Conditions were testing, but there were grumbles that nothing had changed. Still, if they were accused of a T20 mindset, they could always have suggested that nobody had warned them not to play 100-ball.It was grand to see Luke Fletcher among the wickets – four of them – after his horrendous head injury in a Blast tie against Warwickshire last season. Such career-threatening blows, if things turn out well, can encourage players to return with fresh resolve, determined to make the most of their good fortune.For 18 overs, Fletcher allowed few gifts. His quartet included the Indian Test No 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, a valid lbw decision which Pujara dwelt upon before leaving, as if he was still hanging around for his luggage at the airport carousel.