Sussex have signed New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor as their overseas player for the first half of the 2016 season, a move made possible by Steve Magoffin’s application for a UK passport.Magoffin has taken 267 first-class wickets in four seasons at Sussex, although he could not prevent them from being relegated to Division Two of the Championship this year. The Australian seamer has an English wife and, after fulfilling residency criteria, is in the final stages of a passport being issued.Taylor’s arrival will add international class to Sussex’s batting line-up as they seek an immediate return to Division One. Taylor, 31, averages 45.99 in Test cricket and last month made his highest score, 290 against Australia in Perth.He is currently playing his 69th Test, against Sri Lanka in Hamilton, and has been capped a further 166 times in ODIs and in 64 T20 internationals. He will play in all three formats for Sussex from April until late July, when New Zealand are scheduled to tour Zimbabwe and South Africa.”I am delighted to be joining Sussex in 2016,” Taylor said. “I’ve heard nothing but positive words said about the set up at Hove and I look forward to contributing across all three forms.”Hopefully I can play my part in helping Sussex bounce straight back from the disappointment of relegation last season. I look forward to linking up with Luke Wright, who I have been speaking to regularly, Mark Davis and my new team-mates in April.”Wright was made Sussex’s captain after Ed Joyce relinquished the role at the end of the season and has been putting the contacts made during various stints in T20 competitions around the world to good use.Only Wright and wicketkeeper Ben Brown managed to pass 1000 Championship runs in 2015 and the retirement of Michael Yardy is likely to leave a hole in the middle order. Taylor, who played T20 cricket for Durham in 2010, is Sussex’s first signing since Davis was appointed head coach, following Mark Robinson’s departure to take charge of England women.”We are thrilled to have acquired the services of Ross Taylor for a large part of the 2016 season,” Davis said. “He is a brilliant all-round player with high skill in all formats of the game. To have secured one of the best batsmen in world cricket is testament to the ambition that we have at Sussex Cricket Limited.”I am sure the Taylor family will have a fantastic time with us in Hove and we look forward to establishing a great relationship with them.”

This match is set up for what could be an exciting finishtomorrow morning, as Manicaland, set the highest total of thematch for victory, 210, finished the day more than halfway there,on 117 with three wickets down. On the first day both inningshad been dominated by one player; a third and less experiencedplayer was to stand out in the Matabeleland second innings.Development player Wisdom Sibiza, making his first-class debut,held the batting together by carrying his bat throughout thecompleted innings.The day’s play began in sunshine, with Matabeleland having a59-run advantage on first innings which looked likely to provedecisive unless they made a major hash of their second innings.Charles Coventry and Sibiza gave their team no immediate causefor alarm with the first double-figure opening stand of thematch.Gary Brent, though, struck back for Manicaland with three wicketsin the morning session. Although still bowling the occasionalloose ball, he found much more control, holding the ball down theseam for most of the time, and found good movement and occasionallift. Coventry (24), the more enterprising of the two batsmen,gradually found his confidence and was feeling quite comfortable,by his own admission, when he fended off a lifter from Brent tobe caught by Steve Lawson in the slips with the total on 34.Captain Mark Vermeulen came in but had only two to his name whenhe played forward to Brent and was adjudged lbw, possibly outsidethe line of off stump. Dion Ebrahim quickly received a flierfrom Brent and gave a low chance in the gully that was put down.Almost immediately a light shower of rain drove the players fromthe field.Ebrahim was not to last long, though, turning a ball from Brentfirmly but straight to short leg Stuart Matsikenyeri, out for 3with the score on 46 for three. Neil van Rensburg came in butthen came more rain; a total of 35 minutes was lost before lunch.Play resumed with 14 minutes before lunch, and van Rensburg wasdropped at the wicket slashing outside off stump at Patrick Gada.At the interval the score was 50 for three (Sibiza 16, vanRensburg 2), and the light rain started again almost immediately.Only a few minutes were lost before play started againafterwards. Van Rensburg played a handsome cover drive but then,on 10, padded up to a ball from Soma that came back in and wasgiven out lbw. Brent was more erratic after lunch, but took afourth wicket with a bad ball, a short one down the leg side atwhich the new batsman Warren Gilmour (0) swung and walked for atickle to the keeper. At 63 for five, Matabeleland were indanger of throwing it away.Sibiza was still there, driving and missing occasionally butkeeping his head down the rest of the time and batting soundly.He had sound support for a while from Shaun Commerford (14) andIan Engelbrecht (13), both out to Mark Burmester, to take thescore to 110 for seven. Then Matthew Townshend, son of formernational player and current Matabeleland manager Derrick, decidedto take the long handle and hit out powerfully, strikingBurmester for 4, 6 and 6 off successive balls, the sixestravelling over midwicket and long-on. He was given out for 22,caught at slip by Dion Yatras off off-spinner Steve Lawson,although it appeared the ball came off his pad, and there was ageneral feeling that the umpires were rather too trigger-happy,as there were several dubious decisions in the innings.At tea the score was 148 for eight (Siziba 38, Brown 10), thelatter having scooped Lawson for two successive fours over mid-onjust before tea. The innings was to fold meekly soon afterwardsfor just two more runs, though, both to Lawson, Brown beingsmartly stumped by Neil Ferreira and Hitz, doubtless hindered bynerves, driving loosely and lobbing a catch to Brent at coverwithout scoring. Sibiza carried his bat through the innings fora determined, if somewhat fortunate at times, 40. Brent, despitehis post-lunch wildness, finished with the commendable ifslightly flattering figures of 16-5-16-4.Manicaland were left to score 210 to win, the highest total ofthe match – which seemed unlikely in the context of this matchbut they had scored 357 against Midlands the previous weekend.They made a positive start, with Ferreira and the promoted Brentmoving the score along with some enterprising strokes. Bothsides appeared more fired up than at any stage in the match,especially when the score reached the thirties and it was clearthat Manicaland were not going to roll over.Matters changed immediately the spinners were brought on. In hisfirst over Engelbrecht yorked Ferreira (16), beating him inflight, and the wicket-keeper left the field during play for thefirst time in the match. Then in the next over Brown had Brentcaught by van Rensburg at slip, both wickets falling at 50.Burmester’s policy seemed to be to wait for the wide ball andhammer it for four, and for a long time it worked. His firstfive scoring shots were all boundaries, although one was a thininside edge that just missed the stumps. He had a couple ofother narrow escapes, but fortune favoured the brave for quite awhile. At the other end Gada played a valuable supporting role,playing the occasional good attacking stroke but generallyfinding the fielder.Burmester was just past fifty when an attempted pull lobbed theball just over slip, but he did not enjoy his escape for long.Moving down the pitch to Engelbrecht, he played over a ball to bebowled. His 53 came off 69 balls and included 8 fours; it wasscored out of a stand of 59 with Gada. With the lightdeteriorating rapidly, the umpires refused to come off until tenminutes to six, and Gada (12) and night-watchman Terry Denyer (0)fought successfully for survival and will carry on the fight inthe morning. Manicaland’s last seven batsmen need another 93runs to win, and with their best men gone they will have to dowell to get them.

The venue was Nagpur and the South Africans were playing India A on their last tour to India. One youngster cover drove medium pacer Dodda Ganesh in a copybook manner and the ball landed right into the stands. That one shot was ample proof that he had come to stay. The batsman was none other than Herschell Gibbs who showed what attacking batting was all about at Kochi. Gibbs effortlessly smashed Agarkar into the stands over covers in the early stages, which was an indication of the things to follow.Kirsten and Gibbs made their intentions clear from the very first over and Ganguly was made to realise that captaincy is not a bed of roses. The medium pacers Agarkar and Kumaran were hit out of the attack and the spinners were in action much earlier than they would have wanted. Such was the domination of Gibbs and Kirsten that Ganguly sought the counsel of his predecessors when hardly ten overs were bowled. Runs were freely scored on either side of the wicket though the ball beat the outside edge on a couple of occasions.The way Kirsten and Gibbs complemented each other was simply superb. At one stage, Kirsten overtook his partner, without any apparent effort. Gibbs carried on braving exhaustion and was definitely helped by Sameer Dighe’s shoddy work behind the stumps. Gibbs and Kirsten went on to complete centuries and provided a platform for a score of about 350 to 370. The Indians on their part did well despite things not going their way to restrict the score to around the 300 mark. Rahul Dravid’s success as a bowler should either reflect on the bowling strength or should be hailed as a great discovery by the new captain.”Collective effort” was the theme Ganguly wanted to emphasise to his teammates. The chase was always going to be difficult and it was imperative that the Indians were positive collectively. Ganguly led by example starting off with panache and Tendulkar for once was left to watch the proceedings from the other end. The partnership between Jadeja and Azharuddin proved to the crucial one as they collected runs without taking any chances. The big shots were unleashed with precision and at the right time before Kallis dismissed Azharuddin. Robin Singh, the quiet and effective performer joined Jadeja and they relish batting in the one-dayers. The singles were taken at will and they put the pressure on the fielders in the deep by running hard. Jadeja in the meanwhile clouted a couple of sixes off Crookes but a magnificent innings came to an end just eight runs short of a well deserved hundred. Robin Singh, in the company of Kumble, ensured that the Indians won amidst high drama in the end.The scriptwriters for the drama were the umpires and the lead star was the third umpire. One fails to understand how such silly mistakes can be made considering the available technological assistance. The players came back onto the field and the Indians got the required solitary run to achieve a fantastic victory. They have the psychological advantage and it is upto them to keep it going. This victory has come at the right time and hopefully it may as well prove to be the turning point.

South Australian openers Shane Deitz (10*) and David Fitzgerald (1*) have survived a dangerous three-over spell before stumps on day one of their Pura Cup clash against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.After bowling the Bushrangers out for 231, South Australia is twelve without loss at the end of the day. The team trails by 219 runs, with ten wickets still in hand. Deitz, who struck a four to open the Redbacks’ innings, survived two chances (a loud lbw appeal and a dropped catch in the slips) in the first over off Paul Reiffel.Fortunately for the visitors, he will be there at the resumption of their innings tomorrow in their bid to open their account in this season’s Pura Cup competition. After two matches each, Victoria and South Australia remain the only sides without a single point to their names.The underlying story of today’s play was this: in the injury-enforced absence of opener Matthew Elliott, Victoria’s unhealthy dependence on one batsman continues. This time, it was Brad Hodge (104) who was responsible for holding together his team while others collapsed around him.Notching up his third successive first-class century, Hodge was in fine form today. He struck ten boundaries (including six off spinner Peter McIntyre) and one six on his way to his ton, taking him to a mark of 470 runs for the season. He now averages 112 runs for the Pura Cup competition, making him a serious contender to play in the Australia ‘A’ side to take on West Indies in Hobart next month.Not for the first time this season, Hodge found himself making most of the runs as Victoria suffered yet another batting slump. After going to tea at a satisfactory 4/127, the Bushrangers lost six wickets for the addition of 104 runs in the final session, including a second-new ball burst of 4/9 in just twenty-seven balls.After being sent in to bat by Redback captain Darren Lehmann, the Bushrangers found the going tough, scoring only two runs per over in the first session. However, the openers did manage to build a partnership of forty-one before Jason Arnberger (19) fell to Paul Wilson. The veteran also claimed the other opener, having Shawn Craig (30) caught behind by wicketkeeper Graham Manou five overs before lunch.Although Victoria’s run rate did not improve much in the second session, Hodge set about building a respectable total, first with the aid of Matthew Mott (12), then Michael Kilnger (8). After Mott was given out caught at mid wicket in a dubious bat-pad decision off Mark Harrity and Klinger was caught by Greg Blewett off McIntyre, Hodge finally found someone capable of sticking around.Together with Ian Harvey (31), he compiled a fifty-six run partnership for the fifth wicket off eighty-five balls at a rate of better than a run a minute. Harvey struck five fours, including three off Harrity, in his stay of fifty-four minutes. His dismissal was one of three suspect decisions given today. Harvey was adjudged lbw to McIntyre even though he was well forward.Vice-captain Darren Berry (2) and captain Paul Reiffel (0) were the next to go, marking the beginning of another Victorian batting collapse. The new ball, taken after Harvey’s dismissal, claimed four Bushranger wickets in twenty-seven balls, while just nine runs were added. Reiffel was followed by Hodge (caught from a thick edge by Deitz at first slip off Wilson), Colin Miller (3) and later Damien Fleming (15), ending the home team’s innings at 231.Veteran Wilson was highest wicket taker for South Australia, with 4/49 off 22.1 overs. Brett Swain (3/33 off twenty-one overs), McIntyre (2/64 off twenty overs) and Harrity (1/44 off fifteen overs) were the other successful bowlers.

Test cricket is a fascinating affair and this test match is ample proof. Pakistan players must have made some serious pledges last night but within 45 minutes of this morning’s play, they looked in a sorry state. It’s easy to talk a good game but damn difficult when you come to execute it. Plan must have been to restrict English batsmen’s free scoring for the first 18 overs and then declare an all out war with the second new ball.Saqlain sent down only three overs in the morning and fell well short of requirements. Waqar too, was unsuccessful from the other end even though the ball was reverse swinging. In forty-five minutes Pakistan used up five bowlers and the plan by this time was in tatters.

In the meantime, Thorpe and Vaughan had completed their well-deserved centuries. Thorpe in rich vein of form was at times almost making fun of Pakistan bowlers and Vaughan once again was composed and ready to pounce on any gift the Pakistani’s offered him. Despite all of this, Pakistan was given a tremendous reprieve. Thorpe blocked a ball from Wasim and set-off for a run which was insane. Wasim pounced on the ball in his follow-through and threw down the stumps in an instant. From then onwards it was an inspired performance from Pakistan bowlers.Wasim and Waqar remained aggressive throughout the day. They bowled their hearts out for the Pakistan team. Five years ago, with this kind of effort, they would have sentenced any team in the world to the dungeons.Post lunch session was always going to be crucial. Stewart is at his best on a pitch like this. Waqar had earlier out-thought Vaughan with a cleverly disguised bouncer and after only fifteen overs the ‘new’ ball had started to reverse swing. Wasim looked at his most offensive in this series and deserved much better figures in the end. Anyway, his spell must have inspired Razzaq who at last, bowled a tight and searching line.

They say, ‘never run on a misfield’! Ian Ward did just that, paying no heed to this saying and was run out by an alert Azhar Mahmood. At this time, England was surely destined for a total of above 500 runs. You can say Razzaq’s spell was commendable. But Stewart played a leading hand in conceding a first innings lead to Pakistan. Inexplicably, he kept exposing his lower order batsmen to the rampant Pakistan bowlers who gleefully accepted such gentle offerings. Pakistan was thus able to bowl England out with considerable ease.

Saeed and Razzaq started off the Pakistan innings at a brisk pace but the left-hander was decidedly uneasy against Darren Gough and the tough demand confronting him as the senior opener. I’d admit anytime, I was a player of limited ability but with plenty of resolution and often wish I had the natural ability of players like Saeed Anwar. It really irks me when they concede to the opposition so tamely. Gough peppered Saeed with a few rising deliveries which was nothing out of the ordinary. Saeed coped with this barrage miserably and did not seem to be on the same planet as rest of his team. At the end, his demise though expected was degrading. He guided a simple catch to Thorpe at about fifth slip and walked off the pitch mighty relieved. Pakistan players and Caddick had been at loggerheads this entire match and more words were exchanged when he got in to bat earlier. Perhaps upset or unnerved by it when he came on to bowl in the second innings, he was hit around by Razzaq and taken off quickly. Darren Gough, I am afraid is made of other stuff. He came charging in and relaying a message that we are not down and out in this game. I simply admire his spirit.Razzaq buoyed up by his productive bowling spell was eager to get on top of the England bowling. His on drives off Caddick were immaculate and a six over mid-wicket was of some caliber. He is predominantly a front foot player and must learn to deal with or avoid a short-pitched ball. You are playing with fire if you decide to hook and pull and your feet are not in perfect position to execute this most difficult stroke. Hoggard, aided by his senior bowlers, preyed on Razzaq’s lack of understanding.Faisal, I am afraid was incessantly peppered with short balls. He was full of resolution but at international level this is not enough. By persisting with this formula Caddick was able to send Faisal packing to the pavilion. This boy does need to learn how to cope with short balls as well if he wants to bat high in the order.Inzamam & Youhana played for the end of the third day’s play. Although they were intact at the end but with two days remaining, there is a lot left to play for in this test match. While England are striving hard to gain firm footing, Waqar and his men have to play very poorly to lose this initiative. Let us hope they don’t lose any ground and resolve to go for a win.

Ed:Mudassar Nazar is a veteran of 76 tests and 122 ODIs. He is currently the chief coach of Pakistan’s National and Regional Cricket Academies. In view of the overwhelming interest of users in CricInfo’s articles, we have invited him to write for us.

It may be old hat to some counties, the novelty may have worn off elsewhere, but at Hampshire a sell out crowd is expected to pack the new Hampshire Rose Bowl as the county venture into new territory with their first home floodlit (day/night) match on Wednesday at home to Sussex 4:10pm start.The ECB Event Management team will take over the event and Musco the American company hired by that team to install the floodlights have come to town. Like Billy Smart’s Circus of old, the ground will look resplendent for Hampshire’s most lucrative one-day match ever.Mike Taylor, Hampshire’s Marketing Manager will be welcoming 40 companies who have taken up corporate hospitality for the evening, with the caterers ready to feed 800-900 meals to them alone.”Various catering outlets will be on hand, to feed the spectators also” said Taylor. “We are keeping fingers, in fact everything crossed, that the weather holds good”.There will be music before the event, music selected by individual players to greet them out to bat, noisy when a four or six is hit, or a wicket falls.The Hampshire side are not unknown to this treatment as they have played in a number of day/night matches over the past couple of years, but only so far away from home. And the circus will also have its famous Rollerball competition during the interval, with the winners going on to represent the county in the grand final at the end of the season.Sky TV will also be covering the event.Hampshire captain Robin Smith expects it to be a super night out, but he is also aware that the events off the field will not distract the main event and that is to keep their push for promotion on track with a victory over Sussex. “We must instil into the players, and particularly the youngsters, what is happening on the cricket field is the prime aim for the team”. Smith remarks.Shuttle buses will run both before the match from Hedge End and Southampton Parkway railway stations from 2:30pm to 4:30pm, and returning immediately after the match. A coach has also been booked for travellers returning to Southampton City centre and in particular timed to catch the 11pm sailing to East Cowes. The buses will leave promptly at 10:30pm from the bus shelter on Marshall’s Way near the main entrance to the ground.There are still tickets available during the probably last day of the Derbyshire match on Sunday, or from the County Office on 023 8047 2002.

Somerset Coach Kevin Shine said he was “looking forward to another good day on Monday”.He said: “The bowlers have stuck well to their task out there today, but it’s been hard work. We didn’t bat as well as we ought to have in the first innings apart from Sohail, Woody and Noddy. Let’s hope we can learn from our mistakes and put together a decent effort in the second innings.”The coach spoke highly of Matthew Wood and Jamie Grove and said: “Woody played really well in the first innings. It was a great catch to get him out. Jamie Grove has worked hard out there on a flat track. He’s got a great heart.”

The Indian cricket selectors would meet in Mumbai on August 2 to pickthe Test squad for the three Test matches against Sri Lanka fromAugust 14.The Indian Cricket Board executive secretary, Sharad Diwadkar, toldPTI in Mumbai on Thursday that four to five changes are likely fromthe squad which is playing in the on-going triangular series with NewZealand as the third team.The three Test matches would be played at Galle (from August 14 to18), Kandy (from August 22-26) and at the SSC in Colombo (from August29 to September 2).

Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore threw his support behind fast bowlingallrounder Suresh Perera, who was reported for having a suspect action inthe Galle Test, after Sri Lanka’s final practice before the second Test inKandy.

“We feel that Suresh (Perera) has a very bright future,” he said. “It’s alittle bit disturbing, but we are confident that his action will be of noconcern in the very near future.”He admitted though that Steve Bucknor’s decision to report Perera had causedconcern: “It’s a little bit worrying because he is a young player who hasonly played in two Test matches and is thought of very highly by theselectors and the captain.”He now needs to go through a process set up the ICC and we will fall intoline with our duties, as laid down by the controlling body,” he said.”We are not sure what specific delivery prompted the report, but anoccasional delivery has caused a concern for an international umpire, whichis fine, as he has duties as well,” he said. “We will learn more in time asto the specific nature of the concerns.”Perera is still in contention for a place in the Kandy Test: “The rules arequite clear,” said Whatmore. “Suresh (Perera) can still participate ininternational cricket for the six weeks and as a result it will be up theselectors to decide whether he plays in this game.”This is not the first time that Perera’s action has been questioned by anumpire. In 1999 umpire Asoka de Silva reported Perera to the Sri Lankancricket board after a domestic game.