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Chennai Super Kings and TNCA officials are confident of the side’s first home game in nearly three years going ahead uninterrupted and on time despite calls for political protests around the match. Arrests were made outside MA Chidambram stadium on Tuesday morning to prevent any interruptions.”The match will go on as planned. We do not expect any disruptions and all security measures are in place. We will ensure the match will go on as per schedule,” a CSK official told .Several local political parties and fringe groups have called for a boycott of the IPL matches in Chennai till the Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and neighbouring state Karnataka is resolved. Immensely popular actor Rajinikant, who has recently joined politics, has requested Super Kings players and fans to wear black armbands to show solidarity with the protests calling for the quick formation of a board to settle the water dispute.Many other Tamil film personalities, including another popular actor Kamal Haasan, have joined Rajinikant in the protest.According to a report in the , 10 members of a political party were arrested for attempting to enter the MA Chidambaram Stadium with black flags on Tuesday morning. The Chennai Police has taken them into custody, and have beefed up the security around the ground.Reportedly, on Monday, a group led by Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi chief released black balloons near the stadium and even threatened to picket the ground on the day of the match.In what should be a positive sign for those planning to attend the match, a TNCA official confirmed that mobile phones will be allowed inside the ground a day after the association had announced a phone ban on match day.During Super Kings’ practice session on Monday evening, there was a political protest opposite the Pattabiraman Gate in Wallajah Road, but that space is usually designated for protests in Chennai, much like Jantar Mantar in Delhi or Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Media crew were not allowed to enter the ground through the Pattabiraman gate on the eve of the match, but CSK officials said that the match will go on as per schedule.

It says something for Dom Bess’s impatience that, on the brink of a Test debut at the age of 20, he describes himself as “a late developer”.It says something for his drive, too, that aged just 14, he made the decision to leave the Sidmouth club with which his family had been associated for many years – his father, grandfather and cousins all play or played there – in search of first-team opportunities. It may not seem so now, but that was a somewhat controversial move at the time. A move that had some muttering their disapproval.And it says plenty about England’s desperation to find a Test-quality spinner that, if Bess plays on Thursday – and he surely will; England don’t need five seamers – he will be England’s third debutant specialist spinner within four Tests and the youngest specialist finger-spinner in their history. Yes, he owes it in part to injuries to both Mason Crane (who made his debut in Sydney) and Jack Leach (who made his debut in Christchurch), but the fact is England are taking a chance on a man not guaranteed a place in the Somerset side who has played only five first-class (and three Championship) games away from Taunton, and has never played at Lord’s. It’s a gamble.Or, as Bess prefers to look at, an opportunity. And, while you can never entirely tell, one that seems unlikely to over-awe him.Following on from his impressive first-class debut against Pakistan less than two years ago – he had the confidence to pick Younis Khan’s brains after play – he then claimed five-fors in his first two Championship matches (against Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire), another on debut for England Lions and making a maiden first-class century when selected for the MCC to play against the Champion county (Essex) in Barbados a few weeks ago.He has seven five-fors in his 16 first-class games, which is only two fewer than Moeen Ali in 179 first-class games. In between times, he impressed the England management with his athleticism and character when given the opportunity to train with the full squad.That character shone through when Bess was obliged to give his first press conferences to the international ‘pack’ at Lord’s on Tuesday.While some have wilted in that spotlight – and it really can be quite intimidating – Bess was open, engaging and witty. Having taken the call informing him of his selection in Ikea, he still hasn’t bought the sofa he was after – he left immediately to tell his mum and dad. However, he good-naturedly suggested he should have “a quiet word” with the store in light of the “bit of press” exposure his comments brought them.”Not yet,” he replied when asked if he was the new ‘face’ of Ikea. “But I hope so. My girlfriend would be happy.”His mum, he says, would prefer he is referred to as Dominic rather than Dom.Dom Bess was involved in his first England training session•Getty Images

More serious questions were dealt with equally comfortably. His relationship with the unfortunate Leach? “He’s a top man and we’re very good mates. I look up to him and he is delighted that it was me who replaced him although obviously absolutely gutted.”His approach? “To enjoy it!”His spin-bowling role-model? “Graeme Swann. He’d always attack the stumps which brought a lot of dismissals into play.”There may be some serious lessons to learn from Bess’s development, too. Certainly it is intriguing that the last time a pair of quality spinners developed at the same county – Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann – they did so, in part, through the spin-friendly surfaces created at their club, Northants.Now that history has repeated itself – Somerset’s Taunton pitch has been famously (some would say infamously) spin-friendly in recent years – it might well be worth reflecting on county cricket’s apparent aversion to such surfaces.Leach and Bess – having benefited from a high volume of overs through playing on a turning surface – could well be bowling in tandem for England by the end of year. Those who have moaned about the pitches at Taunton in recent years might well be myopically holding back the development of the national side.It is noticeable, too, that Bess and Leach have played very little white-ball cricket. Leach has never played a first-team T20 match (and has played only 16 List A games), while Bess has played only one T20 and six List A matches.The relevance? While white-ball spinners are inclined – obliged, even – to fire the ball in pretty fast and flat and very often on the legs, the red-ball spinner has more scope to bowl with flight and a more attacking line. Trying to learn such different trades at the same time is not easy.”I’ve only played one T20 and six List A games, so it’s interesting to think that maybe this opportunity has come around because I’ve just done red-ball,” he said. “And there’s a massive gap between white- and red-ball. In T20 people are just trying to haul you out of the park every ball. That’s when you go quite flat. That could potentially be why.”With Bess a fine fielder and improving batsman – if Chris Woakes misses out in this match, Bess could bat at No. 8 – there will, no doubt, be a temptation to play him in more white-ball games. Perhaps for both country and county. And, understandably, he is keen to play in all formats.But, if Test cricket really is the priority and pinnacle – as we are often told – might it make sense to delay Bess’s involvement for a few more months at least?Such matters can wait. Bess has a wonderful opportunity to impress in the coming days. And, while a pitch expected to offer him little and a line-up which traditionally plays spin well (or at least far better than the average county player) offers the prospect of a steep learning curve, he gives every indication that he will relish every moment of it.

ScorecardA hobbling Tom Moores, batting with a runner, launched a blitz of sixes in a whirlwind 87 that enabled Nottinghamshire to set a beleaguered Essex a near-impossible target of 441 in 131 overs. Notts had four Essex batsmen back in the pavilion by the close.Moores, the 21-year-old son of head coach Peter, took a particular shine to Essex spinner Simon Harmer, who he deposited all around Chelmsford in an over that went for 27. In all, Moores hit seven fours and seven sixes in an 80-ball knock, and was the only contributor to a last-wicket stand of 58 from 52 balls with Harry Gurney, who was not out nought from 13 balls.With a series of pulls, straight drives, many lofted, and unorthodox shots out of the one-day repertoire, Moores followed up his maiden century in the last Specsavers County Championship match, at Taunton. He recorded his second highest first-class score despite turning his right ankle during wicketkeeping drills before the start of the third day.Notts assistant head coach Paul Franks said: “We’re not sure at the moment how serious it is. But we could see that he was in a bit of discomfort and would not be able to run between the wickets. He is in a bit of pain but these things can settle down overnight. He’s had a fantastic season and really made his mark on the team. He’s had to follow in some big footsteps.”He has a good range of shots, and sometimes it looks like he doesn’t always use them. But his ball-striking was outstanding and he managed the situation really well. Sometimes when you have a runner, batting with tail-enders chaos can ensue. But he handled it well.”Essex had agreed at lunchtime that Moores could bat with a runner, and Jake Libby duly walked out alongside him at the fall of the seventh wicket on 143. His efforts almost doubled Notts’ score and put the game far beyond Essex’s reach. Moores did not appear behind the stumps later with Riki Wessels taking the gloves briefly before young 2nd XI player Tom Keast arrived from Trent Bridge.Essex’s chase got off to the worse possible start as their top-order folded again. Alastair Cook went lbw in the second over without scoring, playing back to a ball from Matt Milnes that kept low, and Varun Chopra’s middle stump was knocked out of the ground in Milnes’s next over. To compound that, stand-in captain Tom Westley was beaten by one from Luke Fletcher that nipped back and struck off-stump.It was Cook’s second duck in nine innings for the county this summer, Westley’s fifth single-figure score in 11, while Chopra has totalled just 92 from eight Championship outings.Dan Lawrence and Ravi Bopara set about trying to save the game in the early evening, and their patient partnership reached 55 in 20 overs when Lawrence was caught and bowled by Samit Patel.But the day belonged to Moores. At the start of his innings, he was struck firmly on the boot by Neil Wagner. It did not discomfort Moores in the least as he was soon pulling Harmer for four and sweep-swiping his first six from the following ball. He went down on one knee to cart Jamie Porter over midwicket for his second six.But it was the return of Harmer, who went for 78 from his 15 overs, that sparked the fireworks. The first ball was thumped over long-off for six to reach a 63-ball fifty. The next was driven for a one-bounce boundary, followed by a swept four. There were further sixes, one on to the press-box roof and another to long-leg, before the over was completed with a single into the deep.Moores’s sixth six brought up the fifty partnership for the last wicket, and he added a second in the only over of the match bowled by Ravi Bopara. Moores finally departed, edging Porter behind.The day had not started so promising for Notts when they lost nightwatchman Milnes without addition. Patel pushed forward to Coles and sent Adam Wheater tumbling to his right to take the catch low down. Ross Taylor, centurion in the first innings, lasted just seven balls second time around, bowled trying to cut.Libby perished on 51 as Wagner found some exaggerated movement off the pitch. Switching around the wicket, the New Zealand pace bowler slanted one in to remove leg-stump.Wagner added his second straight after lunch when he got one to climb and take the edge of Wessels’s bat. Billy Root had just reverse-swept Harmer for four to reach 29 when he popped the next ball into Cook’s hands at third slip. But the Tom Moores show was about to begin.

As far as inspiration for a young batsman on the cusp of an international Test career goes, Sachin Tendulkar isn’t a bad shout. After all, Tendulkar was just 16 years old when he made his Test debut against Pakistan at Karachi in 1989: Ollie Pope, at 20, could be seen as a seasoned old pro by comparison.Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Tendulkar maintained age should not be a criteria in selecting players such as Pope or England’s other 20-year-old tearaway, Sam Curran. Youth could, he claimed, be an asset because it often brings with it a certain fearlessness. If you haven’t experienced failure, you’re less likely to be afraid of it.When Pope, whose boyish demeanour somehow manages to make Joe Root look like a grizzled old campaigner, was told of Tendulkar’s words in his first press conference in an England shirt, he thoughtfully agreed.”I think so yeah. It’s almost that naivety in the whole thing,” said Pope. “I think I’m probably similar to him [Curran] – just ready to put the shirt on and just want to perform at my best. We’ve both played a fair bit of county cricket now and things have gone on an upward spiral.But yeah, completely – looking back on people like him [Sachin Tendulkar], what was he, 16, 17? He’s quite a good person to listen to in terms of that. I think it’s the fearlessness. Hopefully we can play and express ourselves the way we want to.”Everyone always says – if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. It’s nice hearing those stories. Just knowing I’m not one of the first ones to play when I’m young or after not a huge amount of games. Hearing those stories are pretty inspirational – they make you realise what you can do.”On Sunday morning Pope was on his way to Chelmsford, to play for Surrey in the Vitality Blast, when his phone rang. Looking down he saw Ed Smith’s name on the caller ID: it wasn’t necessarily expected, but it could hardly have been a complete surprise. His name was floating around Edgbaston with growing expectation as Dawid Malan’s struggles continued and Pope had seen media reports suggesting he was on the cusp of selection. But for a batsman with just 15 first-class games under his belt to potentially be in the frame to bat at No.4 against India at Lord’s is still a remarkably rapid rise.Ollie Pope and Sam Curran in the nets at Lord’s•Getty Images

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind,” said Pope. “If someone told me I’d be in the squad for the second Test at Lord’s at the start of the season, I wouldn’t have really believed them. Likewise last year: if someone told me I was going to make my Championship debut last year, I wouldn’t have believed them. Same too that I was going to be playing all the T20s. It’s just one of those sports where things happen so quickly. It’s nice to do it with Sam in the same team. When I made my Surrey debut, there were four 19-year-olds in there at the same time. Things happen quickly. It’s exciting.”Pope has been in outstanding form for Surrey in the County Championship this year, scoring 684 runs at an average of 85.50. He credits his early season form to his decision to spend the English winter playing grade cricket in Australia where he joined up with Camden-Campbelltown Cricket Club in southwest Sydney.”I didn’t really have a coach, I just had to ask people to throw balls at me mid-week,” said Pope. “Playing week in, week out, Saturday and Sunday, getting to know my game a bit better. The wickets were flat, so I got time in the middle that I needed. That’s a massive thing for a young lad to do, especially when you’re just finding your way in the game. Just being on your own two feet and getting to know your strengths and weaknesses, learning from your dismissals and the games you play well in and score runs in.”That helped me kick off the season quickly, I didn’t feel like it was the first game of the year, I didn’t feel like I had been in the nets all winter. I was game-ready in the first one against Hampshire. That was a step ahead, helped me kick off the season how I wanted, found a bit of form and my method for now. I need to just keep riding the wave.”It is somewhat ironic considering Pope’s improvement over the winter, that just last month, after a review of funding, the ECB confirmed it was cutting the Overseas Placement programme that allowed him to play in Australia.”I’m surprised but hopefully counties will still keep doing it,” said Pope. “I know we’ve got a lad, Will Jacks, in the year below, he’s off to Perth so hopefully the counties will still keep supporting it because it was a top drawer thing for me to do.”If Pope is selected in the playing XI, it presents England with the choice of shuffling the batting order or slotting him in at No.4 as a direct swap with Malan. Pope bats at No. 6 for Surrey and came in at 5 for England Lions against India A last month but he says he would be comfortable batting higher up the order.”If required, yes,” said Pope. “Especially against this Indian side. They bowl a lot of spin, so I don’t think there’s a massive difference. When I bat at 6 I can be in in the 10th over or for the second new ball. Four to six region, I don’t think there’s a massive difference in the way you play.”Being a right-hander has undoubtedly played in Pope’s favour with selectors, particularly given R Ashwin’s success rate against left-handers. The prospect of facing one of the world’s best spinners isn’t one that seems to faze him.”He’s not your regular off-spin,” said Pope. “He bowls a ball that swings away and one that swings back in. You play him like a normal off-spinner, you’ve just got to watch him a bit closer out of the hand. You need to know what ball’s coming down at you – you can’t just premeditate an off-spinner with him. That’s probably the main difference. I’ll have a closer look before the game, if picked, and I’ll have my game-plan before. Not a massive difference, just got to look a bit closer I think.”Whatever style of bowling he is asked to confront first-up, Pope said that he doesn’t suffer “massively” from nerves and this week he will practise his customary use of visualisation as a technique to overcome them.’I have been since I had the call really. It’s quite a useful thing to do. I was watching a documentary called In the Zone and that was pretty useful. A lot of the players like to stand in the middle and imagine this bowler is running up to you and I’ll be doing the same thing tomorrow and before the game if picked.”His swift quip when asked where his first ball would be going? “It depends where they bowl it!”Fearless of reputation, at the prospect of batting at No.4 when the opposition incumbent is Virat Kohli, of the idea of walking out at the Home of Cricket on the first day of a Test match against India. England will be hoping Tendulkar is right and Pope’s callowness bears fruit.

Pakistan’s international players are set for a significant earnings rise after a fresh three-year remuneration agreement saw salary increases between 25% and 30% for players across the central contract spectrum. The earnings ratio will apply to centrally-contracted players in each of the four traditional categories, A to D. Players’ match fees will also go up by 20%.In addition, a new category ‘E’ has also been introduced, which a PCB media release said was to “recognise performers on the domestic circuit as well as to encourage the continuing development of emerging cricketers from the junior cricket level”.

The central contracts list

• Category A: Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir
  Category B: Fakhar Zaman, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Hafeez, Hasan Ali

• Category C: Wahab Riaz, Shan Masood, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Shinwari, Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Abbas

• Category D: Rumman Raees, Asif Ali, Usman Salahuddin, Hussain Talat, Rahat Ali
  Category E: Bilal Asif, Saad Ali, Mir Hamza, Umaid Asif, Mohammad Rizwan, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi
  Big demotions: Mohammad Hafeez (A to B), Rahat Ali (C to D), Imad Wasim (B to C), Ahmed Shehzad (omitted)
  Big promotions: Babar Azam (B to A), Faheem Ashraf (D to B), Fakhar Zaman (C to B), Shadab Khan, (C to B), Imam-ul-Haq (D to C)

The PCB also announced the list of 33 players who had been awarded central contracts – down from 35 last year. It sees very little change in terms of personnel from 2017’s list of the players with category A contracts. Babar Azam, who was in category B last year, has been promoted to the top bracket, while Mohammad Hafeez, who didn’t feature in any of Pakistan’s five ODIs against Zimbabwe despite being part of a much-rotated squad, drops down to category B. Azhar Ali, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah and Mohammad Amir retain their places as category A players.Most of Pakistan’s young crop of players, arguably pivotal to their resurgence in the shorter formats over the past year or so, find themselves in category B. Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan were both promoted from category C, while Faheem Ashraf jumped two places, getting into category B after being in the category D list last year. Hasan Ali retained his category B slot, with Asad Shafiq and Hafeez rounding off the category for 2018.Three players who were in category C the previous year were omitted from the centrally-contracted list of players altogether. The biggest casualty was Ahmed Shehzad, who is currently suspended for a doping violation and awaits a hearing. Sami Aslam, who found his Test place usurped by Imam-ul-Haq in Ireland and England earlier this year, is also out of a central contract. The same fate befell Sohail Khan, who has dropped significantly down the pecking order over the past year or so.Mohammad Rizwan, who was named in category D last year as Sarfraz’s deputy behind the stumps, drops down to the newly-introduced category E. He is the only wicketkeeper in the list of 33 players besides the captain. It serves to reinforce Pakistan’s lack of options in that department; Sarfraz has played every single Pakistan game in all formats since being rested for the limited-overs leg of Pakistan’s tour of Australia over 18 months ago.

ScorecardThe suspicion is growing that the Championship season is turning sour for Yorkshire and it will take a redoubtable display on the final day at Headingley to challenge the notion. Somerset, playing with a verve that identifies them as Championship contenders, have set them 418 – a victory target they have never achieved – and Lewis Gregory who can currently do no wrong, has already accounted for the openers Harry Brook and Adam Lyth in an eight-over foray before the close.Brook was bowled cheaply by Gregory for the second time in the match – his promotion to opener, at 19, has not brought immediate rewards – and Lyth was caught at the wicket playing defensively in an uplifting finale for Somerset as they attempt to keep Surrey within binocular range.As for Yorkshire, Lancashire’s win at Southport has left then in the bottom two for the moment (that much is clear, although as usual every table is different while the matches are in progress and frankly life’s too short). Next week they go to Trent Bridge to face a Nottinghamshire side expected to give a debut to Ben Duckett, a batsman Yorkshire had also harboured hopes of signing. Such little coincidences don’t always turn out well.Somerset’s declaration at 338 for 7 centred upon a first Championship hundred of the season for Tom Abell, who played with poise throughout, and increasingly with dash for 132 not out from 168 balls, in an innings that culminated in 150 runs in 20.1 overs after tea.Abell’s modesty shines through. His growing confidence means he can reflect back on his struggles last season without embarrassment. His average is top side of 40 this season but it is centuries that really put bristles on your cheeks. “I’m quite happy with my season,” he said. “I’ve been contributing in places, but scoring hundreds for Somerset is what I wanted to do as a kid.”Yorkshire’s attack was flayed as Somerset rushed towards the declaration despite the unexpected presence of Matt Fisher, who had been suggested as unlikely to bowl in the second innings because of the recurrence of a toe injury that needed stitches during an England Lions series a month ago.For Fisher, far from fit, to bowl more overs than the fourth seamer, Josh Shaw, questioned the selection of Shaw ahead of either of Yorkshire’s two new signings, seamer Mathew Pillans and legspinner Josh Poysden. Pillans has a sound first-class record, despite limited opportunities at Surrey, and, as far as spin is concerned, it would be a surprise if Jack Leach did not find purchase on the final day.Abell has had a productive time against the Pennines counties this season, taking 82 off Yorkshire earlier this season, making 99 at Old Trafford when he became becalmed in sight of his goal before being pinned in front by Joe Mennie and now a fourth first-class hundred, only three short of his career-best.There were many good things for Abell to reflect upon, but he might be best advised to remain silent about the two fives he took off David Willey courtesy of overthrows as Yorkshire’s fielding deteriorated under pressure in the afternoon. Willey, who removed both Somerset openers, was the most disciplined of Yorkshire’s attack, but many more overthrows off his bowling and he could make Medusa just resemble an innocent young thing with a jazzy hairstyle.Gregory, who shared a stand of 93 in 13 overs, has had an extraordinary week where just about every delivery has felt like a ball he can hit for four. The dynamism that began with his 60 from 24 balls against Nottinghamshire in the Vitality Blast quarter-final at Taunton on Monday has spilled into his Championship season.Gregory came to Headingley with a grim Championship average around 15 but form can cross formats. Against Yorkshire, in two post-tea sessions, he has punished the old ball so successfully that 122 runs have come from 87 balls, vital in keeping enough time in the game for their rewarding third-evening declaration.He began with a stunning on drive against Jack Brooks, pulled Fisher with such certainty that he might have played the shot in slow motion and reached his fifty with a six over point. He fell at deep mid-on, another uninhibited blow against Willey. “I’ve not been in the game very long but never seen anyone striking it as well and as consistently as he is,” said Abell. Nice enthusiasm from a captain who knows that the history of the game is not written in a week.Abell’s partner for most of the afternoon had been James Hildreth in a fourth-wicket stand of 135 which recovered Somerset from 29 for 3, a tottering start to their second innings which threatened to destabilise their first-innings lead of 79. Hildreth, who posted 81 first time around, fell for 72, dabbing at a nondescript delivery from the fill-in offspinner Lyth.Earlier, Somerset’s Scotland seamer, Josh Davey, returned a career-best five wickets, but there was no farewell hundred (if indeed it is a farewell) for Andrew Hodd, who added only a single to his overnight 84. Presumably he is saving that for the final day?

Kemar Roach has been ruled out of the first Test against India in Rajkot starting Thursday. The 30-year old fast bowler had left the West Indies squad following the death of his grandmother and will only make it back from Barbados midway through the Rajkot game.The head coach Stuart Law accepted that losing a new-ball bowler for the opening Test of a series against the No. 1 side in the world was tough, but he was confident the rest of the attack could thrive in subcontinent conditions. And he talked up a couple of new faces in the squad: Keemo Paul, the vice-captain of the Under-19 World-Cup winning team in 2016, and Sherman Lewis, who picked up eight wickets against India A in a four-dayer in July.”Missing Kemar is a big hole but we’ve got some bright talent coming through as well – fast-bowling talent. We’ve unearthed a couple of young kids which you’ll hopefully see through the ODI and T20I series as well. And we’ve got two more here, Keemo Paul, who’s played a big part in our recent successes and a young kid called Sherman Lewis. They’ve got some pace, they swing the ball, they’re young, they’re keen to learn. Sometimes better the unknown; going in with the unknown, the opposition don’t really understand what they’re about and hopefully they can come in, nick a few out early, put India under pressure and we can bat well.”Paul has 57 first-class wickets at an average of 17.47, and can also be a handy batsman in the lower order – his highest score is 107. In June, he was named Cricket West Indies’ emerging player of the year. In July, he was representing them in a Test match. Lewis, who is much less experienced, was brought in as a like-for-like replacement for the injured Alzarri Joseph and the 22-year old made an immediate impression in the tour game that ended on Sunday, giving away only 13 runs in 10 overs while picking up the wicket of Hanuma Vihari, who is part of India’s Test squad.Getty Images

While they may not have faced a batting line-up like India’s just yet, Law felt the two young quicks – along with the whole team – were “looking forward to the challenge.” West Indies had trained in Dubai before arriving in India to prepare for the conditions they’d face here; conditions they seem to like. “We’d rather be in the hot than the cold, put it that way,” Law said and then talked about their resources in the spin department.”Moeen Ali really took it to India bowling into a foothole,” he said. “Roston Chase is a bit taller than Moeen Ali, bowls at a similar pace, gets good bounce and can spin it. Along with [Devendra] Bishoo and [Jomel] Warrican, you’ve got some really good control as well.”Law’s tenure as head coach of West Indies will come to an end after this trip to the subcontinent – they play in Bangladesh next month – and although he admitted a few more wins would have been nicer, he was content with how everything has turned out.”It’s been a fantastic two years. Working with the players has made it what it is,” he said. “They’re a great bunch of guys. They really work hard. I consider them my sons if you like. They don’t shy away from hard work which we’ve been trying to instill in them. Obviously, we would have liked far more positive results (West Indies won six out of 15 Tests under Law and are ranked No. 8 by the ICC) but I think the result that I’m seeing is that each game we’re preparing better, we’re understanding what we need to do to perform at this level and we’re going out and we’re actually executing our plans than what we did at the start.”

Matthew Short and Seb Gotch produced an unbroken century stand to maintain Victoria’s unbeaten start to the Sheffield Shield season as they chased down 276 after a brief wobble in the afternoon.Jackson Bird had given Tasmania early hope when he bowled Travis Dean and had Peter Handscomb, a player on the fringes of the Test side, caught on the leg side but Marcus Harris and Cameron White then added 85 to settle the chase.Harris, who became just the fourth batsman to cross 400 runs for the Shield season, ensured talk of a potential Test call didn’t fade with 67 before falling lbw to Gabe Bell and when White went in the next over Victoria were 4 for 145 with Tasmania sniffing a chance.But that was the last of the success for the home attack on a surface that refused to break up, as evidenced by how Tasmania battled back into the match with 476 in their second innings after being skittled for 81 on the opening day.Short and Gotch forge a matchwinning stand of 131, Gotch striking 11 boundaries in his 66 and Short finishing the match with a six off Bird.

Big Picture

This is a Test between a team ranked No. 6 that has just been walloped 3-0 at home, and a No. 4 side that has just returned from a 2-1 triumph overseas. That the series takes place in the the higher-ranked outfit’s own conditions further underlines who the favourites here are.There is stability for New Zealand. There is a highly-rated captain who has been in the job for almost three years. There is a well-heeled and confident attack. A solid top order. A reliable backroom. They’ve travelled across continents since their last Test, and arrived at the Basin Reserve where, by Kane Williamson’s own estimation, the conditions they will encounter are the “polar opposite” to those last week in Abu Dhabi, and yet, they have made only one change to the XI, switching out the offspinner William Somerville for the fast bowler Neil Wagner. You get the feeling there is a plan at work here. That they are building to something. Perhaps something special.The visitors, meanwhile, are scrambling. The poor returns against England first cost the selectors their jobs. The fielding coach and batting coach have also since been told they will be replaced. In truth, Sri Lanka’s Test record over the past 18 months is not all that awful – they’ve won series against South Africa, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and drawn a series in the West Indies. But being whitewashed at home by England last month has stung. The whole system suddenly seems a little shaken. Now, they are in a country where they last won a Test 12 years ago, and where they have been more-or-less thumped in four matches this decade.There is, however, a glimmer of hope for Sri Lanka, and that is their young, exciting seam-bowling battery. The last time Sri Lanka fielded three frontline quicks in a match, as they are almost certain to do in Wellington, they blasted out West Indies for 93 in Barbados, overturning a first-innings deficit, and setting up a win. Lahiru Kumara, the quickest in Sri Lanka’s ranks, took 17 wickets at less than 20 apiece in that series. Kasun Rajitha seamed the ball viciously in his first two matches. Dushmantha Chameera, meanwhile, has already had one good tour of New Zealand, back in 2015-16.But so infrequently do Sri Lanka play on seam-friendly tracks, it is difficult to gauge how good these bowlers actually are. Will they really be menacing and dynamic? Or will Williamson and co. wear them down, then exploit their inexperience? Sri Lanka have to hope they have some special young talents in their side. Form and proven quality are decidedly with New Zealand. All that remains to the visitors is surprise.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LLLWW (last five Tests, most recent first)
New Zealand WLWDWHenry Nicholls shows off his leg-side game•Getty Images

In the spotlight

Henry Nicholls had skated by on a modest average for the first 16 Tests of his career, but 2018 might just be the making of the man. He made 145 not out against England, in Auckland, to begin the year, but it was in the UAE last month that he truly blossomed, making scores of 55 and 77 before his outstanding match-turning second-innings 126 not out in the company of Williamson, in Abu Dhabi. A good series at home to follow an excellent one overseas would help cement a burgeoning reputation as a reliable middle-order batsman.Of Sri Lanka’s batsmen, only opener Dimuth Karunaratne has a hundred in New Zealand – his 152 in Christchurch at the end of 2014. He also comes into the series with a little batting form, having made 256 runs at 42.66 against England, after having dominated the home series against South Africa earlier in the year. Now the team’s vice-captain, Sri Lanka will look to him for some serious stability against the new ball, because it is a shaky middle order that he is protecting.

Team news

New Zealand have named their XI. They will go with the tried-and-tested pace trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, with Ajaz Patel as the sole specialist spinner.New Zealand: 1 Jeet Raval, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Neil Wagner, 10 Ajaz Patel, 11 Trent BoultSri Lanka’s line-up is a little tougher to predict. Danushka Gunathilaka probably played himself into an opening spot with a second-innings 83 in the practice match. Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara are likely to be the first seamers chosen, with Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera fighting for the third seamer’s spot.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Danushka Gunathilaka , 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Dinesh Chandimal (capt), 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Lahiru Kumara

Pitch and conditions

The pitch was barely distinguishable from the outfield on the eve of the match, but the general trend for Basin Reserve surfaces is that they dry out after day two and become very good for batting on days three and four.

Stats and trivia

• Kane Williamson averages 91.88 after 12 innings against Sri Lanka. This is his highest average against any Test nation. After his ton in the second innings in Abu Dhabi, he also only needs one more century to become the first New Zealand batsman to make 20 tons.
• Sri Lanka have lost each of their last five Tests against New Zealand – four of them in New Zealand, and one in Sri Lanka.
• Sri Lanka’s most recent win in New Zealand came at the Basin Reserve, back in 2006.
• New Zealand will become the No. 2 ranked team in the world if they win the series 2-0.

Quotes

“You do as much homework as you can, but there’s some bowlers some guys haven’t seen. That’s the beauty of international cricket, in that you do see other countries’ depth. We know that by all accounts there is a really talented fast bowling group in the Sri Lankan side. I’m sure they’re really excited to get into the Test tomorrow. .”New Zealand captain Kane Williamson on Sri Lanka’s pace battery
“Straight after the series finished against Englnad we had three or four practice sessions. We knew that when we came to New Zealand we’d definitely get grassy pitches. We kept grass on our pitches and had really good preparation.”Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal

Haris Sohail has been ruled out of the remainder of the South Africa tour with knee injury. The middle-order batsman had missed the Boxing Day Test in Centurion, where Shan Masood was named his replacement in the playing XI just 90 minutes ahead of the scheduled start.”Left-handed middle-order batsman Haris Sohail has been ruled out of the on-going tour of South Africa due to a right knee injury,” a PCB statement said. “Haris was not available for selection for the Boxing Day Test in Centurion while he is also out of contention for the remainder of the tour due to the same injury.”PCB will setup Haris’ appointment (if needed) with the best orthopaedic surgeon recommended by the National Cricket Academy’s panel of doctors for further assessment, analysis and treatment. The batsman will return home shortly while a replacement, if any, will be announced later.”This is the second time injury has struck Haris on a tour of South Africa. When Pakistan toured here in 2013, an ankle injury ruled him out of making what would have been his international debut. He has played just 10 Tests, 26 ODIs and nine T20Is since his international debut in 2013.Haris, who has had knee troubles for much of his career, first picked up the injury ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2015. The career-threatening injury forced him onto the sidelines for nearly two years, as he underwent an extensive rehabilitation program at the NCA following surgery in Dubai, which was reportedly unsuccessful.The PCB took over his case and sent him to England for yet another rehabilitation program, allowing him to make a comeback. He replaced Umar Akmal in the 2017 Champions Trophy squad, and was eventually handed a Test cap later that year.ALSO READ: Haris Sohail breaks through with innings of unhurried intelligenceHe was one of the players in good form across the 2018 home summer, scoring two centuries against Australia and New Zealand, accompanied by a string of medium-sized scores.