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ScorecardBangladesh’s fortunes continued to swing wildly on their tour of Europe, as they followed Tuesday’s big loss to Scotland with a comprehensive victory over Netherlands at The Hague. The eight-wicket win, in the first of two Twenty20s against Netherlands, was set up by unbeaten half-century from opener Tamim Iqbal.Pursuing 145, Bangladesh might have been in a bit more trouble had Tom Cooper held on to a regulation chance offered by Tamim early on: he came down the track to Tim Gruijters off the fifth ball of the chase and drove in the air straight to Cooper at extra cover, and the catch was grassed. From there on, Tamim grew rather cautious. He took only two fours off his first 31 deliveries.At 66 for 2 halfway through the chase, with 79 more required, Netherlands might have fancied their chances. But Tamim squashed those hopes by opening up with three hits down the ground, for two sixes and a four, off Pieter Seelaar in the 14th over. From the other end, Mushfiqur Rahim extended solid support with 37 off 24 – he ensured Bangladesh finished with a flourish, depositing sixes over long-on and midwicket off Mudassar Bukhari to end the game in the 18th over.Earlier Netherlands, after choosing to bat, could not quite get a partnership going. They were tottering at 14 for 3, with the two most effective bowlers in the game, Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan, both striking early blows. Michael Swart could not find adequate company, and despite his 57 off 41 balls and a few boundaries from the lower-middle order at the end, Netherlands could only manage 144 for 7.While this win might not have much of an impact on Bangladesh’s ranking – previous wins and losses on this tour have seen them go from nowhere on the Twenty20 table up to No. 4 and back down to No. 9 – it could help salvage some pride.

Matthew Mott, the Glamorgan head of elite performance, is no longer in contention for the New Zealand coaching job so will remain in county cricket.Earlier this week it was confirmed that Mott, 38, was on a three-man shortlist to take over from John Wright after Glamorgan gave him permission to chase the role and interviews took place this week.”I’m grateful to the Club for giving me the opportunity to speak to New Zealand Cricket,” Mott said. “Like all ambitious coaches, I have aspirations to work at the highest level. That said, I am 100% committed to Glamorgan – I recognise that there is a great deal of hard work to do, but I remain focussed on improving the team’s performances and on bringing success back to the club.”Alan Harmer, Glamorgan’s chief executive, said: “Although we gave Matthew our consent to speak to New Zealand, we publically stated that we didn’t want to lose him. We are therefore pleased to confirm that Matthew will be continuing in his role as the club’s head of elite performance and we can now focus on the remainder of the current season and our plans for next year.”Mott arrived at Glamorgan for the 2011 season having spent four years as head coach of New South Wales. He also spent two years working under Buchanan at Kolkata in the IPL.New Zealand and Delhi assistant coach Trent Woodhill and Mike Hesson, the New Zealander who resigned as Kenya’s head coach in May, are understood to be the other candidates on the shortlist for the role to replace Wright, who decided against signing a new contract in April after a disagreement with New Zealand director of cricket, John Buchanan. Wright will leave his role at the end of New Zealand’s tour of the Caribbean.Paddy Upton, the former India and current South Africa mental conditioning coach, was also on the shortlist but has pulled out.

ScorecardGlenn Maxwell produced another explosive innings to carry Hampshire to victory in the Twenty20 South group clash against Essex at Chelmsford. The 23-year-old Australian smashed an unbeaten 60 from only 24 balls as the visitors overhauled their opponents’ total of 176 for 4 with six wickets and 12 balls to spare.Thirty of those came in one over against left-arm spinner Tim Phillips, the 17th of the innings. Maxwell smashed him for three sixes, all of which went out of the ground, and he was to win the match with his fourth, a mighty blow over mid-wicket against Graham Napier.Keeping him company during the blitz which also included six fours, was Simon Katich. He stroked the ball around in a more orthodox manner while scoring 42 from 38 balls and taking part in an unbroken stand of 83 in six overs.Maxwell’s explosion of shots came a few days after he struck a match-winning 66 from 32 balls in the victory over Kent and leaves Hampshire well on course for a place in the quarter-finals.Essex had looked set for a much bigger total as openers James Franklin and Mark Pettini scored at around 10 an over during an opening stand of 83, brought to an end when slow left-armer Liam Dawson had Pettini caught in the deep for 38.Pettini’s effort off 26 balls contained three sixes but it was Franklin who went on to play the starring role with an innings full of quality. His 78 from a 49 deliveries included five sixes and he was looking set for a century when he drove Sean Ervine into the hands of James Vince at long-on.James Foster predictably added momentum late on with a quickfire unbeaten 30 from only 14 balls, striking two sixes in the final over of the innings sent down by Maxwell. But Maxwell was to have the final word.

Tino Best has described himself as fit and ready to return to action for West Indies, three years after he last played Test cricket. The fast bowler was called into the touring party as a replacement for Shannon Gabriel, who has returned home after suffering a stress reaction in his back during defeat in the first Test against England.Best, 30, who had been named in the West Indies A team to face India A next month, was recently a member of the full squad for the limited-overs internationals against Australia but did not play. He left the Caribbean on Tuesday ahead of the second Test at Trent Bridge, which starts on Friday.”I’m very happy to be recalled for the Test squad for the series in England,” Best said. “I’ve been waiting for my opportunity to represent the West Indies again and this is another opportunity to wear the Baggy Maroon.””I’m fit and feeling quite ready. I’ve been training and working hard, looking forward to this. I was in the team earlier this year when we played against Australia and I gained a lot of knowledge from being in the group. I felt I fitted in quite well and I have a good idea of the work ethic and what will be required of me.”With Fidel Edwards, Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul all suffering niggles, Best could make an unexpected Test comeback, even if West Indies decide to pick the offspinner Shane Shillingford, as the tourists look to build on an encouraging but ultimately unsuccessful performance at Lord’s. Best is familiar with English conditions, having toured with the West Indies in 2004 and played for Yorkshire in 2010.”What I have to do, and what I am fully aware of, is how to put that knowledge to work,” he said. “I’m a hard worker and I’m really delighted to get this opportunity.”Edited by Alan Gardner

Chris Gayle’s return to the West Indies squad is likely to be delayed after fresh doubts emerged over his availability for the ODI leg of the upcoming England tour, pouring cold water over the hard-earned resolution reached between him and the West Indies Cricket Board by CARICOM (the Caribbean Community).Earlier this month Gayle had sent a request to Ernest Hilaire, the WICB chief executive, asking the board if he would be selected for the ODI leg of the England tour in June; this was to help him clarify his availability for Somerset, with whom he had signed as an overseas player for the summer. Hilaire, in his response, has accused Gayle of “reneging” on the undertaking the player had given in the presence of St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, stating he would make himself available to play for West Indies over Somerset.”I write to you with respect to the upcoming West Indies tour of England scheduled for May 2 – June 25, 2012. As previously indicated, I am willing to make myself available to play for West Indies for this tour after my obligations to my IPL team are fulfilled,” Gayle said in his e-mail, available to ESPNcricinfo, dated April 20.Gayle, who last played for West Indies in the 2011 World Cup, told Hilaire that having signed a contract with Somerset, the county required him to “give an undertaking” of his availability for the entire duration of the contract, which clashed with West Indies’ tour of England. Somerset have five Friends Life t20 games scheduled during the time West Indies play three ODIs and a T20I against England.”I would appreciate if I could be informed whether I will be contracted for the West Indies Team for England Tour before I give my commitment to Somerset,” Gayle said. “I only ask this so I would be in an informed position before I respond to Somerset, given the fact that I indicated my availability to the West Indies Team after the IPL,” Gayle said, requesting an immediate reply.In his response, sent on April 26, Hilaire said that “the Board has now considered your request and is extremely disappointed that, following the progress we had seemed to be making towards final agreement, you now seem unwilling to honour the commitment you made with respect to your Somerset contract.”According to Hilaire, Gayle had sent a “side letter” to Gonsalves on March 23, stating that he would “forego” his Somerset contract in order to make himself available to play for West Indies. “You reiterated this commitment in your April 1 letter, in response to WICB’s request for clarification,” Hilaire said. “Your most recent communication appears to suggest that you may be reneging on your availability as you now state that you are willing to make yourself available and not that you are making yourself available. A player cannot be considered for selection if he has not made himself available for selection.”According to Hilaire, during the meeting between Gonsalves, Gayle and the WICB, it was made clear to Gayle that selection matters did not come under the “purview” of the board. “The Board cannot give any commitment to any player with respect to his selection for a particular match or tour; but we will ask the Chairman of Selectors to have a discussion with you on issues relating to your selection at the earliest, in anticipation that you will meet all eligibility requirements,” Hilaire told Gayle.The ball is now once again in Gayle’s court with Hilaire asking the player to come up with an instant reply.

Chris Taylor has been confirmed as Somerset’s new fielding coach only 24 hours after reaching an out-of-court settlement with Gloucestershire over the release from his playing contract.Brian Rose, Somerset’s director of cricket, said: “Fielding has become extraordinarily important in all forms of cricket and it can be the make or break of any game so to bring in Chris, who has had many years of first-class experience and has become a specialist in what he is doing, is highly exciting.”As pre-season has progressed it has become obvious what a difference a specialist coach like Chris can make. I am delighted with the work that has already been done and he will be a major contributor to our cricket this summer.”Taylor has worked as a fielding coach for the ECB during the off-season for the past five years and joined England’s Performance Programme and Lions squads over the winter.His future as a player at Gloucestershire depended on the club being granted planning permission to develop Nevil Road but the application was rejected by Bristol City Council in January, prompting Taylor’s contract to be cancelled. Gloucestershire have since submitted revised plans.Taylor was released with his form on a high. A former captain, he was Gloucestershire’s leading run-scorer in 2011, making 1,139 runs at 40.67, as the county finished fourth in Division Two of the Championship.

Beau Casson, the former Australia spin bowler, has spoken for the first time about the heart condition relapse that forced his retirement from cricket.Honoured by New South Wales at the Steve Waugh Medal presentation in Sydney last month, Casson told ESPNcricinfo of his traumatic exit from the game after he was forced from the field during a Sheffield Shield match against South Australia at Adelaide Oval in October 2011.That day Casson had felt distressed on the field and fared little better in the dressing room, before being taken to hospital by the Blues chairman of selectors David Freedman. There were echoes in the case of the footballer Fabrice Muamba, who suffered a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup tie between Bolton and Tottenham and has since fought an almighty battle for his life in hospital.Casson now works as an ambassador for Heart Kids NSW, intent on keeping both sporting participants and their coaches and support staff aware of the many complex permutations surrounding the heart. While not wanting to speak much of the Muamba incident, he said its public nature had provided a reminder of how delicate life can be.”What happened [to Muamba] was absolutely terrible, but it makes people realise you’re not invincible,” Casson said. “When it first happened [to Casson in Adelaide] it was incredibly frightening, quite a traumatic event. Personally I found it really hard because naturally I hadn’t played my part in the game and the boys were one down, so that’s what I struggled a fair bit with.”It wasn’t an ideal time and I’m incredibly happy with the way I’ve got through it. It was incredibly frustrating, frightening, things were pretty chaotic around that sort of event, but New South Wales I much appreciate their support through it all, and for them to make sure I looked after myself. It wasn’t easy that’s for sure.”Casson has managed the condition, which makes it difficult for him to lower his heart-rate after it has risen, since his teens. He battled back from a collapse during a Sydney grade game in the 2010-11 season to earn a recall to the Blues’ team last summer, however the Adelaide episode forced the closure of his playing days at the age of 29.”It’s always been a challenge for me through my whole career with a congenital heart condition. It’s always something I’ve been incredibly diligent about,” Casson said. “I had an episode early last season in club cricket, which once again was incredibly frightening and we sorted out what needed to be.”But it’s an incredibly complex issue and hence the reason why things have happened the way they have. I don’t think anyone could foresee the way things would happen. There’s obviously been a fair bit written of late in the media about certain people in other sports, and it’s just the nature of the condition.”Following his forced absence from the remainder of the Adelaide match, Casson flew home to Sydney where he underwent further tests and spoke with medical experts including his long-time heart specialist. Their decision was for Casson to retire, ending a career that had once shone brightly enough to merit a baggy green cap in 2008.”I left it to the people a lot brighter than me,” Casson said. “I had a series of tests and I was waiting to see what they came back with, and that was that. When you get told both sides of the story when an event like that happens, you have to weigh up exactly where you’re at. Their advice was the best thing for me was to stop playing and that’s the way it happened.”Studying teaching and also doing some coaching in addition to his ambassadorial role, Casson said the whole experience had given him valuable perspective on life as well as cricket, and he valued its lessons even as he came to terms with the sudden end to his days as a cricketer.”It was only the other day I was talking to a few younger cricketers about what this great game offers and you learn so much about yourself,” he said. “You might have some setbacks in cricket, that you can take out into your university degree or whatever it is, employment.”You learn a hell of a lot about yourself and how to deal with certain situations, and I’ve had a few situations I’ve been able to deal with and it’s given me a lot of insight and strength for the future to be even tempered and be able to take the good day with the bad days. Like any cricketer, that’s probably the most challenging aspect of the game.”

Malaysia slipped to a two-wicket defeat at the hands of Bahrain at the Indian Association Ground in Singapore but they managed to gain a promotion to Division Four of the World Cricket League after winning their first four matches in the round-robin stage. Bahrain, despite the win, were relegated to Division Six. They finished with the same number of points as Cayman Islands, but with a lower net run-rate.Malaysia, who chose to bat, were bowled out for 195, collapsing from 129 for 2. Suhan Alagaratnam and Anwar Arudin, who hit half-centuries, took Malaysia to a strong position at one stage but the medium-pace of Rizwan Baig – he picked up four wickets – restricted them.Adil Hanif led the way for Bahrain in the chase, making 65 off 80 balls, including two sixes and received support from the middle order. Ashraf Yaqoob, Baig and Tahir Dar chipped in with useful contributions and helped Bahrain seal victory in 41 overs after losing eight wickets.”We are disappointed, today we played the cricket we should have played all week and we knew we could win this match,” Bahrain captain Yaser Sadeq said. “We had hoped for promotion to help us to improve even further as a side and help us to push the youth through this team since it’s now in need of some fresh faces.”We’ll go back to Bahrain, regroup and hopefully we can improve and come back stronger next time we compete and regain promotion.”Malaysia play Singapore in the final on Saturday for the title. “We’ve won promotion out of this division which is what we ultimately wanted to do. We’re excited to be facing up to sides like Nepal, Tanzania, Denmark and USA – some of whom we haven’t played at all or in quite some time,” Suresh Navaratnam, the Malaysia captain, said.”Tomorrow’s game is going to be a big one no matter what for us – we may play Singapore five or six times a year, but we want to come out the winners of this event and walk away with the trophy.”Guernsey beat Cayman Islands by six wickets at the Kallang Ground, and both teams kept their place in the division. After opting to bat, Cayman Islands were bowled out for 164, the only respectable contribution coming from opener Steve Gordon. GH Smit picked up three wickets, and Gary Rich and Jamie Nussbaumer bagged two wickets each. The score was chased down with ease. Openers Smit and Tim Ravenscroft struck half-centuries and added 107. And Jeremy Frith made an unbeaten 33 to guide his team home in the 44th over.”I am happy that we have maintained our position in Division 5, however I did come here with the belief we could have won promotion back to Division 4. Now it is about regrouping as a team and looking to the younger players and seeing how we can develop and improve the game further in the Cayman Islands,” Cayman Islands coach Theo Cuffy said.”The whole side is disappointed that we have lost out on promotion from the event but we are content that we have cemented our position in the league,” Guernsey coach Andy Cornford said. “We came here to be promoted but we haven’t played out best cricket this week and it has showed.”The two teams will play each other again for the third place play-off on Saturday.The round-robin stage ended in disappointment for Argentina and elation for hosts Singapore at The Padang. Argentina lost their fifth game in a row and Singapore won their fourth game, taking the top spot in the points table and securing their promotion to Division Four. They’ll play Malaysia in the Division Five final on Saturday.Thanks to half-centuries from opener Chaminda Ruwan and Kshitij Shinde and useful contributions from the middle order, Singapore reached a competitive 239 for 8 and it proved more than adequate. The medium-pace of Shoaib Razzak was too hot to handle for Argentina, who were skittled out for 93. Razzak took four wickets and the highest score for Argentina was 20. The game was over in the 31st over of the chase.”We are disappointed at being relegated out of Division 5, however we knew this week was going to be tough for us and it’s shown us where we are struggling,” Argentina captain Esteban MacDermott said. “We need to go back to Argentina, to look at our cricket and see how we can improve and bring new faces and youth into the game and continue to develop and grow as a side.”Singapore captain Saad Janjua said: “Firstly, I’m pleased we have secured promotion to Division 4 which was our main goal of this tournament.”I was pleased with our bowling today, I think Shoib once again showed how important he is in the Singapore bowling line-up. Shinde and Chaminda scored runs today but we all need to pull together ahead of tomorrow when we face Malaysia. It would be a great end to the tournament if we were to win at home and to beat Malaysia, especially having lost to them in the league stage of the tournament.”Argentina play Bahrain for the fifth-place play-off on Saturday. Argentina allrounder Matias Paterlini will not be available for the match, having been suspended for showing “serious dissent” at the umpire’s decision.

Mahela Jayawardene is pleased Sri Lanka’s turnaround in the triangular series has begun with youngsters stepping up. Thisara Perera, the promising allrounder who is slowly becoming a key member of the side, and Farveez Maharoof, who made yet another comeback in an in-and-out career, took four wickets for 47 runs between them, and broke the back of the Australian innings.”These are the guys who are going to take Sri Lanka cricket into the future,” Jayawardene said. “Hopefully we can build on that.”I am a big fan of his [Maharoof’s]. He has been playing some good cricket back home. Especially with two new balls, he is one of the guys who can give us something extra with the bat and the ball in different conditions. It’s good to have him back. He felt really confident. He is an experienced player, he played in the 2007 World Cup as a 20-year-old.”Perera, a more regular member of the side than Maharoof, had earlier been dropped in Sri Lanka’s second match of the tournament. In their big win against Australia, he contributed to two run-outs apart from taking two wickets. “Brilliant,” Jayawardene said. “These are young guys who are coming through. They believe they belong here, which is great. The energy level they bring to the team is fantastic.”He [Perera] is a fast-bowler-allrounder, who can field at any position, he is a good slip fielder as well. It’s good to have this group of players we can work with for the future. Got other youngsters who are coming back from injury. We will get a bigger pool going forward. Exciting times as long as we keep working hard.”Apart from youngsters, Jayawardene was pleased Sri Lanka finally got a decent start to their innings. Jayawardene moved back to the opening role, dropping Upul Tharanga, and the captain and former captain put on 74 for the first wicket. “We needed a tactical change,” Jayawardene said. “We were not getting starts upfront. Upul is a very good player. But unfortunately he is going through a bit of a period. We felt giving him a break will do him justice, freshen him up. I just jumped in straightaway.”Lahiru is a middle-over batsman, he can fit anywhere. We just need to settle things upfront, make sure we get a good start, which we did today.”Jayawardene has seen good signs from Tillakaratne Dilshan. “Dilly plays his own game,” Jayawardene said. “We never restricted him. He goes out there and plays naturally. He is a fantastic player to have. On the field he saves 20 runs. Even on a good wicket he can bowl five-six overs for you. A complete package. The way he batted today was beautiful. We just want to make him a free player so he can win matches for us. He has got three good starts now, hopefully he will get a big one next game.”

Taufeeq Umar, the Pakistan opening batsman, has said that the upcoming Test series against World No. 1 England will be a tough one for his side despite their impressive recent run. Pakistan lost only one Test in 2011, and went through the year without a series loss, but Taufeeq admits that England will test their new-found resolve to the hilt.”England have been performing very well and their team combination is a very strong one with all of their players in good form,” Taufeeq told . “We saw last summer in England, when India was touring there, just what a powerful team England are. The series will undoubtedly be a very competitive and tough one for Pakistan. I think that in order for Pakistan to defeat England we will have to play above our level of ability.”Taufeeq made just 18 runs in his only Test against England, in 2006, and was dropped for four years following that failure. He, however, insists that things will be different this time. “I’ve played just the one Test match against England at Headingley, which was not a memorable occasion, but I feel that I am in good form, and I’m really looking forward to playing against England and will look to perform well.”Taufeeq expects the bowlers to hold the key in the series, which will be played on flat tracks in the UAE, in conditions that England aren’t very used to. “My cricketing experience over the years has taught me that a world-class bowler will perform well on any surface,” Taufeeq said. “The England bowling line-up is a world-class one and they know how to bowl in the conditions they will encounter in the UAE. They will be fully prepared and totally aware of what adjustments they need to make to counter the conditions. Their bowling attack has played in the subcontinent previously so it’s not as if they are going out there for the first time. However, we played really well against South Africa and Sri Lanka in the UAE and if we play to our potential we can give England a hard time.”Taufeeq has been integral to Pakistan’s resurgence after the team had a controversy-marred 2010. He returned to the side in November that year, and went on to forge a highly successful opening partnership with Mohammad Hafeez. Since his return, Taufeeq has made 968 runs in 12 Tests with three centuries, including a maiden double-ton against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi – an innings he terms the best of his career.”There was a lot of pressure on me in November 2010 when I made my comeback,” Taufeeq said. “I think you feel more pressure when you are making a comeback than you do when you are making your international debut. I’m really satisfied with the way things have gone for me since my comeback and it was really pleasing to be Pakistan’s top-scorer in Tests in 2011. I’m really proud of this achievement but most importantly it meant that my performance helped the team perform well through the year.”Taufeeq’s advent and Hafeez’s sparkling run have given Pakistan a stable opening pair – a luxury they have not enjoyed since the days of Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail. “The right- and left-handed opening combination isn’t always easy for the opposition bowling attack and we enjoy batting with each other,” Taufeeq said. “The fact that we get on very well off the field also helps, and that friendship and relationship carries onto the field when we bat together. We are both really proud that we have created a Pakistan record of opening the innings on 23 consecutive occasions and I firmly believe that when you are given an extended run in the team that builds one’s confidence.”Taufeeq lauded Pakistan’s selectors for sticking with the core of their Test line-up through the year. “Consistency in selection is absolutely imperative; in order to fully assess a cricketer you have to give that individual a proper and decent chance to establish himself and perform. Give the team a run of matches, let the combination settle and then see if the personnel is right. I feel that the selectors deserve credit for their approach at the moment.”Taufeeq’s style fits well with captain Misbah-ul-Haq’s measured approach to batting, a philosophy also evident in the way Younis Khan, Azhar Ali and Misbah himself go about their innings. Taufeeq was full of praise for Misbah’ leadership after being handed the reins following the spot-fixing scandal.”Misbah sets the example for the rest of us to follow and the team’s recent success is largely down to his efforts. Misbah’s attitude with all of his team-mates, on and off the field, is very professional and very friendly, and all the boys feel very comfortable with him. The atmosphere off the field is one of friendship between the players and Misbah, which is very important as I feel it helps matters on the field.”The Pakistan team will have a training camp from January 4 in Lahore before leaving for the UAE. The first Test against England will begin on January 17 in Dubai.