Match facts

Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Start time 10.45 local (0945 GMT)1:17

‘Good to get back into ODI cricket’ – Henry

Big Picture

New Zealand, on account of winning their first three games of the tri-series, have already won the tournament but will look to keep their perfect record in Ireland intact as they play their last game against Bangladesh. In the context of the tournament, the game is a dead rubber, but both teams will look to finish strongly before they move to England for the Champions Trophy.New Zealand have some of their IPL stars back, having already made their presence felt in the last game against Ireland where Corey Anderson, Matt Henry and Adam Milne all took part in dismantling Ireland by 190 runs. Tom Latham, Luke Ronchi, Ross Taylor and Colin Munro are also in form, having made runs during this tri-series.Jeetan Patel’s addition to their squad means that looking ahead to the Champions Trophy from this point, New Zealand will have an additional spin option. Patel has taken 10 wickets at an average of 35.30 for Warwickshire in the Royal London One-Day Cup.Bangladesh will want to get one back at New Zealand, having lost to them in all four ODIs they’ve played since December last year. The two sides also meet in the final group match in the Champions Trophy, and a win would certainly boost their morale.Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar have shown good form but Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan are yet to play a significant innings in Ireland. Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain would also have to find a way to get more runs in the slog overs.Bangladesh’s bowling too must prove, especially going into the Champions Trophy, that it doesn’t entirely rely on Mustafizur Rahman for the wickets and Shakib Al Hasan for control. Mashrafe Mortaza, Rubel Hossain, Sunzamul Islam and Mehedi Hasan all have to find a way to deal with a higher-ranked opposition in these conditions.Soumya Sarkar has struck 61 and 87 not out in the tournament, scoring his first fifty in nearly two years•Sportsfile via Getty Images

Form guide

New Zealand WWWLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh WLLWL

In the spotlight

Colin Munro blazed 44 off 15 balls against Ireland in their last game, finding his groove with his slogs and switch-hits quite quickly. New Zealand didn’t pick him for the Champions Trophy, which means Munro has another chance to make his exclusion look silly.After being without an ODI fifty for nearly two years, Soumya Sarkar now has scores of 61 and 87 not out in the tri-series. It bodes well for the left-hand opener who has been an iffy selection in ODIs since last year. Another big score would get him best prepared for the Champions Trophy.

Team news

New Zealand included Matt Henry, Adam Milne and Corey Anderson in the XI in their last game, and they are unlikely to make any changes after their 190-run win against Ireland.New Zealand: (probable) 1 Luke Ronchi (wk), 2 Tom Latham (capt), 3 Neil Broom, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Corey Anderson, 6 Mitchell Santner, 7 Colin Munro, 8 Adam Milne, 9 Scott Kuggeleijn, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Matt HenryTaskin Ahmed, Shafiul Islam and Subashis Roy are options available as replacements for Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain. Imrul Kayes and Nasir Hossain, too, are up for selection if the team management wants to give their batsmen a break.Bangladesh: (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Sunzamul Islam, 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

It promises to be a clear day in Dublin with no rain. The side batting first has averaged around 227 in the last five ODIs at the venue, though Bangladesh’s 257 for 9 wasn’t safe in the last game here, also against New Zealand. So bowling first may be the better choice for the side that wins the toss.

Stats and trivia

• In 16 attempts, Bangladesh have never defeated New Zealand in an ODI outside home
• In New Zealand-Bangladesh ODIs, Ross Taylor has the most runs (663) and most centuries (2)
• Shakib Al Hasan has a chance to lead the wicket-takers’ list in New Zealand-Bangladesh ODIs, as he is now tied with Kyle Mills on 33 wickets. The next highest among active players is Rubel Hossain’s 19 wickets

Quotes

“Hopefully we can finish off strong. They boys have had a lot of success. It is the last game, so hopefully we can sign off with another good win.”

Manor Solomon will undertake his medical with Tottenham Hotspur "this week" as the Lilywhites look to secure the signature of the highly rated attacker as soon as possible, claims Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news – What's the latest on Manor Solomon?

It has been a brilliant start to the transfer window for Spurs this summer. The club have brought in two new first-team players in the guise of James Maddison from Leicester City and Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Serie A side Empoli.

It looks like Daniel Levy isn't done there, however, as he looks to give new manager Ange Postecoglou the tools he needs to rebuild the teams and get them fighting for European places once again.

The newest name linked to the north London side is Shakhtar Donetsk star Solomon, who impressed on loan at fellow Premier League side Fulham last season.

The 23-year-old still has six months left on his current deal with the Ukrainian side, but a FIFA ruling from last year that allowed foreign players to run down their contracts at clubs outside the country due to the Russian invasion, has been extended.

Despite significant interest from the Cottagers to keep their loan player for another season, it now appears that the Lilywhites are the firm favourites to secure his signature, per Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

McAdam explained the situation on Sky Sports News (via Football Daily):

"We understand that Fulham are keen on him however, it's Tottenham that are showing the biggest signs of interest.

"He has got the opportunity to join there, we are expecting a medical to be completed this week. He impressed Tottenham Hotspur with his performances at Fulham last season despite only starting four Premier League matches, they were impressed by what they saw.

"He's an Israeli international as well, so he brings that pedigree, and it's our understanding there could be some big movement on this one for the 23-year-old this week."

How good was Manor Solomon last season?

Despite starting just four Premier League games for Fulham last season, the Israeli dynamo made quite the impression on the cottagers and enjoyed a great spell in West London.

According to WhoScored, he averaged an impressive rating of 6.52 across his 19 appearances and even scored four league goals in those four starts.

His underlying numbers look promising as well with FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, placing the attacker in the top 1% for non-penalty goals and tackles, the top 4% for pass completion, the top 6% successful take-ons and the top 18% for interceptions, all per 90.

His ability to cause problems for opposing defenders was something that Fulham boss Marco Silva was particularly pleased with, saying: "He can take players on one-on-one, and he is showing he can score."

If Levy and Co can agree on personal terms with the "incredible" Solomon, as described by journalist Niv Dovrat, and get him for free, it would be a spectacular move for the club.

Luis Suarez has been cleared to take in a reunion with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, with Gremio confirming the striker’s imminent departure.

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• Veteran frontman has impressed in Brazil
• Set to be released from his contract
• Free to join ex-Barca team-mates in Florida

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The veteran frontman will be bidding farewell to Brazilian football at the end of the calendar year, with an early termination of his contract being agreed. Suarez will then be free to head to the United States and link up with former Barcelona team-mates Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at MLS side Inter Miami.

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  WHAT RENATO SAID ABOUT SUAREZ

  Renato Gaucho has told reporters when asked about bidding farewell to Suarez – who has hit 26 goals through 51 appearances for Gremio: “Are we going to miss him? Certainly, without a doubt, he is very loved by everyone. I had the pleasure of working with a great professional, one of the best in the world, fourth highest scorer in the world. This void will remain for the next year, because it's not easy to find someone of his talent and ability. When you find someone else, it's unfeasible to bring him in financially. Unfortunately, as I said before, it was very difficult for him to stay. Everyone wanted it, but only he could reverse this decision. Unfortunately, he will leave and there will be this vacuum in Gremio's attack. Then it's up to the board and president to try and find another striker. It was a great pleasure, not only for me but for the whole club. A guy who always gave himself, an exemplary professional.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Renato added on the impact that Suarez has made during his time in Brazil, with the 36-year-old still boasting boundless energy and a desire to win at all costs: “It's a great sadness for everyone. He arrived at the beginning of the year, he has helped us a lot, the fans were enchanted with him. He is an extraordinary professional on and off the field. He arrived quietly, he was letting go, playing, accepting the games. I often wanted to take him out of training or a game, but he wanted to continue. He wants to play every game and it doesn't hurt."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SUAREZ?

  Suarez will take in his final home game as a Gremio player on Sunday, against Vasco da Gama. His last outing will be away at Fluminense on December 7, with a path then being cleared for him to take in a short break before potentially joining up with Messi and Inter Miami for pre-season training ahead of the 2024 MLS campaign.

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed Marquinhos' injury, which will rule the defender out of next week's Champions League clash with Newcastle.

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Marquinhos injured with BrazilHas a "small" hamstring issueWill be out for close to 10 daysWHAT HAPPENED?

The centre-back had to be replaced by Nino at half-time after he complained of muscle discomfort during Brazil's recent 1-0 defeat to Argentina in an ill-tempered 2026 World Cup qualifier. Marquinhos had admitted after the match that he felt a "strain on his hamstring" which forced him to come off. The defender returned to Paris on Thursday and after undergoing further tests the extent of the injury was ascertained.

AdvertisementWHAT PSG SAID ABOUT MARQUINHOS

PSG put out a statement that read: "Victim of a small injury to his right hamstring, Marquinhos will remain in treatment for 10 days."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

PSG find themselves in a spot of bother as they face Monaco at Parc des Princes on Friday night before hosting Newcastle on Tuesday evening. They will also miss Warren Zaire-Emery with an ankle injury and the midfielder is not expected to be back until 2024. However, Presnel Kimpembe has been training with the group and is nearing recovery which should relieve manager Luis Enrique.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR PSG?

PSG can hardly afford to drop their guard against Monaco as Adi Hutter's men are just three points behind the league leaders and have the potential to cause an upset in Paris. Whereas, the Magpies will be out to get a win to revive their European fortunes after two consecutive defeats. Eddie Howe knows that another loss could virtually put them out of contention for a spot in the knockouts and will be eager to repeat their heroics on foreign soil after they beat the Parisians 4-1 at St. James Park earlier in the season.

In his strongest message yet in the pay war between CA and the ACA, Steven Smith declared that the leaders of the men’s and women’s national teams were unanimous in fighting for a fair share for all players, directly linked to the game’s overall financial

Daniel Brettig09-Jul-2017

Australia’s captain Steven Smith insists that the players will not back down from their demand to retain the fixed revenue percentage share they have enjoyed for two decades.In his strongest message yet in the pay war between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA), Smith declared that the leaders of the men’s and women’s national teams – himself, David Warner, Meg Lanning and Alex Blackwell – were unanimous in fighting for a fair share for all players, directly linked to the game’s overall financial fortunes.Some have questioned Smith’s relative lack of involvement in the public debate over MoU talks, which have now extended more than a week beyond the June 30 expiry of the previous deal, leaving more than 230 players unemployed. However, his words on Sunday could not be more unequivocal in pressing for CA to retreat from its attempt to breakup revenue sharing.Echoing the ACA’s own position, Smith said the players were prepared to be flexible about the details of the deal, including which revenue streams are included in the model and also reducing the percentage. The association’s pay proposal suggested players would accept 22.5% rather than the 2012 agreement’s share of between 24.5% and 27% of Australian Cricket Revenue depending on the performance of the national team.”I’ll say what we as players have been saying for some time now: we are not giving up the revenue sharing model for all players,” Smith wrote on Instagram. “But, through the ACA we are willing to make important changes to modernise the existing model for the good of the game. We are and have always been willing to make those changes.”Changes for how the model can be adapted for the even greater benefit of grass roots cricket, which is after all where we all started. We are determined to keep revenue sharing for all because we must take care of domestic players in Australia. As leaders that’s what David [Warner], Meg [Lanning], Alex [Blackwell] and I have been fighting for: a fair share for state players who are also partners in cricket.”Smith reflected on his own career, pointing out that when he was dropped from the Australian side in 2011, it was the strength of the Sheffield Shield competition that enabled him to evolve his game and return two years later as a much improved player. Recalled in 2013, Smith quickly asserted himself as one of the game’s outstanding batsmen, and was formally appointed captain in 2015.”I know from my career that when I was dropped in 2011 if I didn’t have a strong domestic competition to go back to, I certainly wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in today,” he wrote. “State players need to be taken care of financially so the domestic competition will always be strong which in turn keeps us strong at the International level.”Also as Women’s cricket gets bigger and bigger in Australia women players must also be able to share in what they will be earning. They must have the same chances and incentives to grow the game as the men have had since revenue sharing started.”And I know I speak for all of the men that we want women cricketers in the one deal with the men as well. It’s time to get a deal done. It should be and can be an exciting time for the game.”Talks between CA and the ACA are continuing, though neither party has yet shown any sign of compromising on the fundamental difference between their respective positions on revenue sharing.

The Bangladesh batsman broke into the top ten, only the second player from the country to do so

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jun-2017Bangladesh batsman Sabbir Rahman has broken into the ICC’s top 10 rankings for T20I batsmen for the first time. He is currently tenth with 627 points, after the rankings were updated following the T20I series between England and South Africa.Sabbir, 25, rose in the rankings despite scoring only 117 runs in five innings this year.Sabbir is the only Bangladesh player after Shakib Al Hasan to break into the top ten rankings for T20I batsmen. Shakib, who is leading the allrounders rankings across all formats at present, achieved the feat in 2012. Mahmudullah, at No. 6, is the only other Bangladesh player among the top ten T20I allrounders.In the T20I bowling rankings, Mustafizur Rahman is at No. 6, while Shakib is ranked ninth.

Calf injury could force out designated captain; Upul Tharanga likely to take over

Andrew Fidel Fernando31-May-2017Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews is likely to miss his team’s Champions Trophy opener against South Africa on Saturday due to a calf injury. Vice-captain Upul Tharanga is the likeliest candidate to lead the team in Mathews’ stead.Mathews has not played internationals since January because of a hamstring complaint, and had also missed a tri-series in Zimbabwe late last year because of “multiple injuries” in his legs.”Mathews had complained of stiffness and pain, prompting the team management to conduct radiographic investigations, which revealed a strain on the muscle,” an SLC release said. “He will engage in supervised recovery over the next few days but will most likely sit out the first group stage match.”Mathews’ absence would be a substantial blow to Sri Lanka, who rely on him to bring balance to the XI – he often delivers 10 overs in ODIs in addition to batting at No. 5. Mathews had also appeared to be in good batting form, having struck 95 off 106 deliveries against Australia in Sri Lanka’s first warm-up encounter. He didn’t play the second practice match against New Zealand.

The final day of this game began with Hampshire’s batsmen hoping that the weather might save them only to find the Mancunian climate contributing to their slow doom.

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford22-Jun-2017
ScorecardThe final day of this game began with Hampshire’s batsmen hoping that the weather might save them only to find the Mancunian climate contributing to their slow doom. Overcast conditions and James Anderson with a fairly new cricket ball in his hand rarely make pleasant viewing for batsmen, let alone those aspiring to engineer a miraculous escape.That contention was made evident to Matt Salisbury as early as the fifth ball of the day when the nightwatchman prodded forward to Anderson but only edged to Dane Vilas at first slip. The tone of the day had been set and although it was not until 3.02 that Lancashire completed their innings-and-30-run victory there was really little doubt they would win this game at some stage.There was rain for almost an hour soon after Anderson took his only wicket of the day but in the pavilion terrace settled down to their knitting secure in the knowledge that the guillotine had been sharpened. The next neck upon which it descended belonged to Sean Ervine, who attempted to drive Kyle Jarvis but only inside-edged the ball onto his leg stump. Hampshire lunched with their score on 81 for 7 and their chances of making Lancashire bat again were slim at best; nothing to disturb the Château Lynch‑Bages and ripe reblochon in the 1864 suite at any rate.It was an indication of Lancashire’s comfort in the afternoon session that Anderson was not needed. Figures of 15-5-20-4 had offered clear proof of his form and on Sunday evening he will practise with a pink ball for the first time in his life. Next week he may be bowling under the Edgbaston floodlights and quite possibly in the early twilight of an English summer evening. One imagines that the Warwickshire batsmen cannot wait for the fun to start.In a week or two Anderson will probably be required by England. For the present he is clearly enjoying being part of a Lancashire team whose performance in this game mocked the pre-season pessimists. Steven Croft’s team are now second in the table after seven games; some folk thought they would be seventh or even cut adrift by now.”Not many people would have expected Essex and Lancashire to be first and second after seven games but we’re in a really strong position and we have a lot of competition for places,” said Anderson. “But we’re not going to get carried away. We have a big game against Warwickshire and if we get a result there it will put us in a great position before the back end of the summer.”Hampshire batted perfectly respectably in the afternoon session, albeit that they had not a hope in hell of saving the game. Lewis McManus, never one to give his wicket away, defended stoutly for 79 minutes before umpire Paul Baldwin finally acquiesced to Ryan McLaren’s fourth lbw shout in about two overs. A callow observer might imagine that he simply tired of being shouted at.The last two batsmen fell to leg-side catches by Alex Davies, whose century in Lancashire’s only innings is in danger of being overlooked amid the blitz from Vilas and McLaren which followed it. But it was McLaren who engineered the authentic dismissal of Kyle Abbott by bowling around the wicket and digging the ball in. The ex-Hampshire allrounder thus ended this game against his former employers with a catch, five wickets and a century to his credit. One hopes that chivalrous fellow Daniel Gidney has sent Rod Bransgrove a thank-you card.The game ended when Gareth Berg, having batted well for his 49 runs, was strangled down the leg side off Jarvis. Within ten minutes or so a net was put up on the square and Glen Chapple was conducting a pink-ball practice session. Soon after that, a group of happy Lancastrians were playing football on the boundary edge; contented, professional men, they were enjoying deserved relaxation at the end of one busy week and before the start of another.

ScorecardThis series of games was meant to be about the future but, at Edgbaston at least, it was a couple of faces from the past that made the greatest impression.Shiv Chanderpaul, who seems to have been scoring runs since the invention of electricity, dominated the first day of pink-ball Championship cricket here with the 76th century of a remarkable first-class career.Lancashire were 55 for 4 not long after he reached the crease. Haseeb Hameed, a year younger than Chanderpaul’s son, Tagenarine, had already fallen – a torturous innings ended by an uppish drive to a short, straight mid-of – and Jos Buttler had gone, too, a 20-ball 2 ended by an attempted pull against a delivery too full for the stroke.But Chanderpaul reacted with the same imperturbable calm that has characterised so much of his career. It wasn’t especially pretty – of course it wasn’t – but it wasn’t slow (his century took only 129 balls) and it was, in its way, a masterful demonstration of how to compile runs on a slow wicket against an accurate attack. This was his third Championship century of the season and, aged 42 and averaging 76.42, he has proved himself a successful short-term signing.He survived, perhaps, one chance to Tim Ambrose off Jeetan Patel on 47. But while others poked and prodded (Steven Croft poked at Boyd Rankin’s first ball and was outstandingly well caught by Rikki Clarke in the slips), Chanderpaul was compact but severe on anything short or over-pitched and showed more patience than Buttler and co. could manage. Liam Livingstone, who is due to join the Lions on Wednesday, was given a couple of days off.A glance at the scoreboard might convince the casual observer that the pink ball provided copious assistance, but it isn’t really so. The new pink ball moved for Keith Barker, but so does the new red one. The older ball moved for him a little, too. But so does the red one. The rest of the Warwickshire bowlers found it harder to gain any lateral assistance and most of the wickets that fell owed more to admirable control from the bowlers and a little lack of patience from the batsmen.There was little sign that the experiment with day-night cricket attracted more spectators. Quite the opposite, really. While about 1,300 attended during the day, most had departed long before stumps at 9.30pm. Sales for the Test here are very strong, though, with a sell-out predicted for the first three days. Without the novelty of the day-night factor, it is hard to imagine that would have been replicated.There was another familiar face at Edgbaston on Monday. Dermot Reeve, not so long ago captain of a side here that won six trophies in little more than 24 months, was also back. He was invited to work with the Warwickshire squad on Sunday and (to address the club’s members on Monday) made a strong impression on the squad with a presentation on the benefits of a positive mental approach. He returns to Australia and Grade coaching duties later this week, but he may well be back next year. He declined the club’s offer to buy his personalised copy of Wisden, instead preferring to take his chance on the open market.One man who was not at Edgbaston was Ian Westwood. He had been due to play (William Porterfield was the man to come into the side in his place; Andy Umeed is being given a chance to establish himself), but went to see Ashley Giles a day or so ahead of the game and said there was simply nothing left in the tank. Years of forcing himself through the uneven battle against the new ball have taken their toll and he decided he simply didn’t have the requisite hunger to force himself through it once more.Good enough to have played a part in two Championship-winning sides, selfless enough to have captained Warwickshire through some tough years and to have dropped himself before a Lord’s final, he was also good enough to have scored more than 8,000 first-class runs against some fine attacks, including memorable centuries against Surrey and Yorkshire. He has served Warwickshire well.There will be another new face at Warwickshire shortly. A batting allrounder who is currently struggling for first team opportunities at his strong county, had his medical on Monday. His signing is likely to be announced on Tuesday.Warwickshire supporters might also be encouraged by the first-team debut of 19-year-old George Panayi. A seam bowling allrounder, Panayi developed through Shrewsbury School and has played for England U19. While he didn’t gain a lot of movement, he bowled at a decent pace – just above 80 mph, you’d think – and was admirably tight in his lines and lengths.Having helped earn the wicket of Hameed – fortunate to survive a leg before appeal on 0 and perilously close to being bowled by two deliveries he left – who struggled over 63 balls for his 17 (he now averages 19.10 for the campaign), Panayi was rewarded with the second new ball and claimed the wickets of Tom Bailey and James Anderson with successive, full deliveries.Dane Villas helped Chanderpaul add 96 for the fifth-wicket but, once he was caught off the shoulder of the bat as he attempted to turn one into the leg side – reward for Rankin’s bounce – Barker swung his way through the middle-order. Lancashire’s total is probably some way short of par on a true surface which also saw action in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final.In reply, Anderson bowled immaculately. He produced a beauty that swung in late to account for Porterfield and later hit Jonathan Trott a crashing blow on the helmet with a fine short ball. But there was no extreme movement or obvious vision problems. Indeed, for most of the day, as Chanderpaul manoeuvred the ball around the field, it was as if nothing had changed.

Joe Root admitted England had let a ‘golden opportunity’ to claim a first global one-day title slip away when they slumped to defeat against Pakistan

Andrew McGlashan15-Jun-20172:35

Agarkar: Pakistan bowlers’ lengths made the difference

Joe Root admitted England had let a huge opportunity to claim a first global one-day title slip away when they slumped to defeat against Pakistan, but coach Trevor Bayliss believes that finishing in the semi-finals reflected where the team currently stands.Having completed the group stage as the only unbeaten side, England were brought crashing to earth by a superlative Pakistan bowling performance on a pitch which pushed their batting order out of their comfort zone. From the moment of Root’s dismissal in the 28th over, they lost 8 for 83 in 22 overs, hitting just three boundaries after the 30-over mark.For Root, this was the third near-miss of his career, following the 2013 Champions Trophy final against India and last year’s World T20 final against West Indies, leaving England to focus on the 2019 World Cup – also on home soil – to break their duck in 50-over tournaments.”It was a golden chance for us to win something and all we can do now is keep looking towards that World Cup and use this as a really good platform,” Root said. “Throughout the whole time, Morgs [Eoin Morgan] and the rest of the guys know that we’re not the finished article but we have made huge steps and huge strides.”We’ve got to continue to do that and we’ve got to work out ways where we can get on the right side of these results and in scenarios when things aren’t favourable to us. It is a good learning curve for us but we’ve got to keep the same drive that we’ve had over the last 18 months to keep getting better so that, when that World Cup does come round, we’re in the best shape possible and give ourselves the best chance of really contending that final.”Bayliss, who took charge in the summer of 2015, following England’s embarrassing group stage exit at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, was more sanguine about the exit despite his team’s most laboured effort with the bat since they threw caution to the wind two years ago.”I know you guys had us down as the favourites here, but that certainly wasn’t out of the team or from my point of view. Where we finished, third or fourth, is probably about right at the moment, we’ve still got a lot of work to do and we know that, but it is what we’re building towards.”I’m still very disappointed we didn’t win against Pakistan, I thought we’d been playing well enough to win, but we came up against a good side that played well.”The issue of whether England had lost their home advantage due to the abrasive nature of the used pitch at Cardiff did not come into the players’ minds, according to Bayliss. Though he did cite conditions as one of the key factors in the match, he also credited the way Pakistan’s bowlers hit the correct lengths for the pitch.”It is just the way it is, you’ve got to play on different wickets wherever, sometimes at home and sometimes away,” he said. “It is just one of those areas where we’ve got to improve at.”I think the conditions did have a part to play and I thought the Pakistanis used them extremely well. I thought the lengths they bowled were what most teams try to achieve, there was very few half-volleys and very few long-hops, and that is something that we’ve spoken about.”Bayliss backed his team to brush off their disappointment over the next few days and focus on the second half of the season. There are three T20s against South Africa next week – the squad featuring a new of new names – leading into a four-Test series. Then, in August, West Indies arrive for a multi-format tour.”One of the good things with this team is that we have played worse than this over the last couple of years, been knocked over easily in games and it doesn’t seem to affect them,” he said. “That is one of the reasons why we will keep competing at this level because they can put it to the back of their minds and go out and play their natural way the next time.”For Root, there is an immediate challenge to focus his mind as he prepares to begin his England Test captaincy. He was handed the job in February, but with the focus on one-day cricket, it has taken a back seat until now. Root is rested from the T20s against South Africa so the next time he pulls on an England shirt it will be the Lord’s Test against South Africa.”That is exciting, but I haven’t really thought about it too much over the last week or so,” Root said. “Certainly over the next couple of weeks I’ll get my head around that and all the challenges it will bring. More importantly the opportunities it will bring as well. There is plenty to look forward to and plenty to play for.”