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Madhya Pradesh wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha, who finished the Ranji season with 645 runs including four successive fifty-plus score in the knockouts, has been named as the captain of the 15-man Rest of India squad

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-2016Madhya Pradesh wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha, who finished the Ranji Trophy season with 645 runs including four successive fifty-plus scores in the knockouts, has been named as the captain of the 15-man Rest of India squad. They will play 41-time Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai in the Irani Cup at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, starting March 6.The squad, which was announced shortly after the Ranji final, featured two Saurashtra players – Sheldon Jackson and Jaydev Unadkat. Jackson tallied 538 runs in 10 matches at 57.41, while Unadkat had a breakthrough season after injury, taking 40 wickets at 20.12.The squad also included the top two wicket-takers of the season – Jharkhand left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and Assam pacer Krishna Das. Punjab pacer Barinder Sran, who recently made his international debut in Australia, and Vidarbha offspinner Akshay Wakhare were also in the bowling mix.Karun Nair, who scored 500 runs this season compared to last time’s 709, was one of the two Karnataka players in this year’s Irani Cup squad, along with Stuart Binny. Vidarbha’s Faiz Fazal and Jammu and Kashmir’s Ian Dev Singh add more weight to the batting line-up. Andhra’s Srikar Bharat was the other wicketkeeper in the squad apart from Ojha. Assam’s Arun Karthik, who was the third highest run-getter this season behind Shreyas Iyer and Akhil Herwadkar, and allrounder Jalaj Saxena, who piled up 588 runs and 49 wickets, didn’t find a place in the squad.Rest of India squad: KS Bharat, Faiz Fazal, Karun Nair, Sheldon Jackson, Naman Ojha (captain), Stuart Binny, Shahbaz Nadeem, Jayant Yadav, Nathu Singh, Jaydev Unadkat, Barinder Sran, Krishna Das, Sudip Chatterjee, Ian Dev Singh, Akshay Wakhare.

Bayern Munich earned another memorable victory over Barcelona, this time beating the Spanish club 2-0 on Tuesday.

Barcelona took Bayern Munich's star this summer, but the German club continue to torment the Blaugrana with or without Robert Lewandowski.

Talk of a new era, spurred on by the Lewandowski signing, will be put on hold, even if the Catalans were much better this time around than they have been in recent meetings. They were actually in control for much of the first half, but were far too wasteful in front of the net.

From the famous 8-2 to a pair of 3-0 results last season, Bayern Munich have humbled Barcelona in recent years, and Xavi's team were quieted once again at the Allianz Arena.

Lucas Hernandez seized the momentum with a header early in the second half, while an absolutely dazzling finish from Leroy Sane sealed Barcelona's fate.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Dayot Upamecano:

A wall. An absolute wall.

What a performance from the French defender, who was handed the start over Matthijs de Ligt. He paid back Julian Nagelsmann in a big way.

Upamecano was virtually faultless, going toe-to-toe with his former team-mate Lewandowski all day. He snuffed out several clear-cut chances, essentially saving the game several times before Bayern Munich's attack turned on.

He was often criticised in his first season with Bayern Munich, but he's a key man now.

Leroy Sane:

What can you say about that goal?

It's moments of magic like Sane's that get fans out of their seats, and boy did they rise at the Allianz. Sane can do things that few in the world can match.

There's something special about seeing him in full stride, although Barcelona won't feel as happy to have witnessed it. As he ran straight through Barcelona's new-look defence, all they could do was chase what must have felt like a shadow.

And as Sane tapped his shot past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and into the back of the net, the game was effectively over.

The Bayern Munich way:

The players and coaches change, but the results sure don't. Bayern are Bayern, no matter who wears the shirt.

Lewandowski was on the other side, but it didn't matter. Bayern Munich had others pick up the slack.

As Gary Lineker once famously said, "Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win."

No one better exemplifies that than Bayern Munich – when you come to their home, you know what you're in for. It may not have been as dominant in as years past, but it was equally effective.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Robert Lewandowski:

This wasn't the homecoming he dreamed about.

Lewandowski was all smiles before the match, greeting his former team-mates in the tunnel. He embraced Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich, players who stood alongside him as he became arguably the best in the world.

But, playing in his former home, Lewandowski didn't look like the best in the world. Instead, he looked oddly human.

Lewandowski was uncharacteristically wasteful, even if he was as dominant as usual when it came to chance creation.

Chances were missed and moments were wasted, as Lewandowski and Barcelona were never able to seize control of the game, even if they should have.

Marcos Alonso:

For 45 minutes, Alonso demonstrated exactly why Barcelona signed him from Chelsea. He looked like the stopgap everyone expected to be, an exceptional left-back to bridge the gap from Jordi Alba to the next generation.

One moment of negligence doesn't lose him that status, but it did contribute to Barcelona losing the game.

It was a mental lapse that those that follow Chelsea would be familiar with. With the game still scoreless after a strong Barcelona first half, Alonso completely turned off for a set piece.

Lucas Hernandez dashed in, and Alonso was left defending no one. Completely free with his header, it was an easy finish for the French World Cup winner.

Ousmane Dembele:

Dembele has played himself into a different stratosphere this year, becoming one of the most dangerous wingers in the world. Becuse of that, the expectations are now higher.

World-class wingers aren't allowed to be as wasteful as Dembele was because, wow, was he wasteful. Dembele gave the ball away time and time again as Barcelona's attack lacked the needed edge in the final third.

Raphinha, Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres… Barcelona can survive a day when they aren't at their best. But, at this point, they can't win these big games unless Dembele is an absolute killer, and he simply wasn't on Tuesday night.

Getty ImagesBarcelona Ratings: Defence

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (5/10):

Absolutely undone by Sane, but so was the entire Barcelona defence.

Marcos Alonso (5/10):

Solid, except for one moment, but it was the one moment that counted.

Andreas Christensen (7/10):

Didn't do much wrong and won every duel he was a part of.

Ronald Araujo (6/10):

Nothing spectacular.

Jules Kounde (6/10):

Played at right-back. Not much offensively, but was okay in defence.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Pedri (7/10):

What a player he is. Deserved at least one or two goal contributions. Arguably Barcelona's best man – though he should have finished better.

Sergio Busquets (6/10):

Started over Kessie, was good on the ball, but did have a few scary moments as Bayern Munich overran the midfield.

Gavi (7/10):

All intensity as a new contract nears. Fantastic on the ball, but was sacrificed after the goals.

Former Portugal and Barcelona star Deco has revealed the unique skill set possessed by Cristiano Ronaldo that left him stunned.

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Article continues below

All-time great started out as a tricky wingerMorphed into a record-breaking frontmanHas risen to the very top of the world gameWHAT HAPPENED?

Deco, who is now sporting director at Camp Nou, took in 57 international appearances alongside CR7 during his playing days. They only suffered 10 defeats when lining up together, with both men making their senior debuts for the Selecao in 2003.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo has gone on to become a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and all-time great, but that potential was always clear to see. He used to leave team-mates amazed in training and on match days, with Deco spotting one particular trait that he had never seen in anybody else.

WHAT DECO SAID ABOUT RONALDO

Deco has told of what makes Ronaldo so special: “Simply being around someone who was obviously different, on and off the pitch. I was struck by his ability, his speed and the way he played. His game had a lot of intensity. He tired out the opposition – he didn’t let the opposing full-back breathe. That was something I hadn’t seen in any player up to that point. He always had great technical ability, too. It was amazing to watch him.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Ronaldo started out as a tricky winger, as he danced around opposition full-backs with quick feet, but quickly morphed into a fearsome frontman and is now the proud owner of countless goalscoring records. He is still going strong at 39 years of age, with there no sign of the evergreen icon slowing down at Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr or with the Portuguese national team as they ready themselves for Euro 2024.

Former batsman Basit Ali has been named chief of Pakistan’s junior national selection committee and will head a four-member panel

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Apr-2014Former batsman Basit Ali has been named chief of Pakistan’s junior national selection committee and will head a four-member panel, the PCB has announced.The committee also includes former Test cricketers Ali Naqvi and Farrukh Zaman, and Ali Zia, general manager (cricket development) at the National Cricket Academy. Basit and Zaman had earlier served as junior selectors in 2008.Compared to Javed Miandad in his early years, Basit played 19 Tests in a two-year span between 1993 and 1995, while his 50-match ODI career stretched until 1996.Naqvi, a right-hand batsman, scored a Test century on debut against South Africa in October 1997 but played the last of his five Tests just a few months later in March 1998. Zaman, a left-arm spinner, played just one Test in 1976. Zia, who bowled medium-pace and legspin, has extensive first-class experience – having played 165 first-class games and 62 one-dayers between 1974 and 1993.

The World T20, it is hoped, is just the start of international exposure for Hong Kong, as they came close to qualifying for the 2015 World Cup too

Mohammad Isam15-Mar-2014Overview
Hong Kong will hope Najeeb Amar’s comeback from retirement will bolster their chances in the World T20•Travis Pittman/HKCA/Travis PittmanHong Kong’s jubilation at their first major international tournament was seen when they stunned Zimbabwe in their first warm-up game in Chittagong. Their last-ball win amped up their confidence.This particular Hong Kong squad is much younger than the usual sides of the past. The change came through coach Charlie Burke who has brought in a group of youngsters to blend in with the experienced lot.Mark Chapman, Irfan Ahmed and Tanwir Afzal have already shown what they have to offer, but much can be expected from the 23-year-old captain Jamie Atkinson.It will be interesting to see how the older lot performs. Particularly Munir Dar, 42, who played in the Dhaka Premier League in 2007-08 for Old DOHS, will be expected to make sure the batting line-up retains balance. He won’t be allowed to bowl, after being banned by the ICC, but Hong Kong will hope comeback man Najeeb Amar will cover for him.This tournament, it is hoped, is just the start of international exposure for Hong Kong, as they came close to qualifying for the 2015 World Cup too. They have already connected themselves with the Hong Kong Sports Institute, which will keep several players trained throughout the year.In order to justify their progress, they would want to spring a surprise or two in the World T20.Key players
Irfan Ahmed took three wickets against Zimbabwe, and will be expected to bowl well in the main tournament too. He is a medium-fast bowler and has the reputation of being more than just a big-hitting allrounder. He has a Twenty20 century and averages 28.16 with the bat in the format.Surprise package
Just like Asif Karim made a comeback from retirement for Kenya’s 2003 World Cup campaign, so has Najeeb Amar. He is a left-arm spinner, but on the other side of 40, and his return after three years has already started well. He will be expected to keep things in check from his end.Weakness
Like any first-timer, Hong Kong will have a tough time against any side more experienced against them. Playing against the spin of Afghanistan and Bangladesh will be a challenge, so will be expressing themselves in front of large crowds.World T20 history
This is their first appearance, having been the last team to complete the qualification in the UAE last November.Recent form
Before beating Zimbabwe in Chittagong, they played six matches in Sri Lanka and the UAE as part of preparations for this tournament. They won two of the three games in Sri Lanka, and fared similarly in the UAE where they beat Ireland and Netherlands.

Clifford EB Severn, a former US player and longtime member of the California cricket community, passed away in Los Angeles on Wednesday at age 88

Peter Della Penna05-Jun-2014Cliff Severn, a former USA national team player and pioneer in Southern California cricket, died on Wednesday at the age of 88. Severn was a longtime member of the Los Angeles cricket community and many players and supporters have taken to social media to mourn his passing.”A US Cricket legend, true lover and devotee of cricket,” wrote Madhukar “Mark” Sood, a member of the Southern California Cricket Association board of directors. “God bless and RIP. There will be cricket in heaven now.”Clifford EB Severn was born in London on September 21, 1925, and was the second-oldest of eight children to Dr Clifford B Severn, of South Africa, and mother Rachel, an Afrikaner. Dr Severn moved the family back to South Africa and then Los Angeles in 1933, where all eight of the children went on to have varying degrees of success in the Hollywood film industry. Clifford EB Severn is listed on IMDB for having roles in 18 movies including 1938’s , a starring role in 1940’s alongside famous American cowboy movie star Gene Autry, and a small part in legendary director John Ford’s 1941 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, .Severn played cricket for Hollywood CC in his youth alongside former England Test cricketer and actor Sir Aubrey Smith. At age 18, he quit his acting career to join the British Army in South Africa during World War II. Upon his return to Los Angeles, he became increasingly active in the local cricket community. His father left Hollywood CC and, together with Cliff, created Britamer Cricket Club in 1947, one of the oldest clubs in the SCCA. Severn remained loyal to Britamer CC as a player and administrator for 50 years. Along with Cliff, two other brothers also wound up playing for the USA – Winston and Raymond.”He was colourblind in the sense that he really wanted to bring anyone and all people to this game of cricket,” Severn’s son Cliff told ESPNcricinfo. “When he went on a trip, he would always bring a cricket bat and would always try to take one on a plane with him. If he ran into someone from a cricket country, whether it was India, Australia, Bangladesh, he would approach them and start talking cricket. If they lived in California, he would try to get them to join because a lot of people come to this country not realising cricket is played here. He brought a lot of people into Southern California cricket.”Severn made his USA debut as a 39-year-old alongside 22-year-old brother Winston in 1965, against Canada, at Calgary’s Riley Park as part of the longest running international rivalry in international cricket now known as the Auty Cup. He batted at six making 26 and 4 in the drawn two-day match. A year later in the return contest at The Sir C Aubrey Smith Field in Los Angeles, Severn opened the batting for USA while making 24 and 8 in USA’s 54-run win.The Sir C Aubrey Smith Field had opened in 1933 and was part of Griffith Park in Los Angeles where cricket was played from 1898 until 1978 when the property was seized and turned into an equestrian facility for the 1984 Summer Olympics. The SCCA acquired three grounds at Woodley Park in the nearby suburb of Van Nuys as a substitute for the space lost at Griffith Park. The fourth and final ground at Woodley’s Leo Magnus Cricket Complex was acquired in the mid 1990s and is named the Severn Ground after the patriarch of the family, “Doc” Severn.Aside from his involvement with Britamer CC and Hollywood CC, Severn also helped establish University Cricket Club initially as a vehicle for students at UCLA, where he went to college, before membership opened up to the broader cricket community. Outside of Los Angeles, he also co-founded Stanford Cricket Club in the Northern California Cricket Association and remained an active player in social cricket matches around the Los Angeles area until he suffered a stroke at the age of 85 in October 2010. Severn also battled through a series of smaller strokes to keep playing for another year into 2011. Despite the complications, he continued to turn out at Woodley to watch and stay involved in the camaraderie of the game.”One of the nicest gentlemen I have ever met my entire life,” wrote USA offspinner Abhimanyu Rajp. “He did more for cricket in USA, SCCA, than one could ever know. ‘I wish I had your spin,’ he claimed to me once. That was an honour in itself. There is a field named after his family here at the Leo Magnus Cricket Complex. But I bet a lot of people don’t know why. It’s a great loss to the cricket community. His legacy will live on long after him.”Severn is survived by his wife of 46 years, Percy, his brothers Winston and Christopher, as well as son Clifford and daughter Catherine.

A round-up of the day’s play from Group C Ranji Trophy matches played on December 1, 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Dec-2013
ScorecardFile photo: Robin Bist scored 51 on the final day•Sivaraman KittaThe match between Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur ended in a draw, with Uttar Pradesh consolidating their position on the points table at third place. Rajasthan began the day with the openers having put on 15 overnight. Within three overs the first wicket went down when Siddharth Saraf was caught behind off the bowling of RP Singh.Vineet Saxena and Ashok Menaria enjoyed a brief stand of 38 before Imtiaz Ahmed had Saxena bowled. Menaria went on to hit 40 before he too suffered the same fate. Robin Bist, Rajesh Bishnoi and Chetan Bist hung around long enough to register fifties and force the draw.Rajasthan finished the final day with 253 for 6, with Chetan Bist not out on 61. Imtiaz had best figures of 3 for 58.
ScorecardIt took exactly 19.5 overs for Bengal to wrap up the Services first innings for 304 and ensure three points by virtue of 127-run first innings lead from their fifth round group B encounter played at the Airforce ground in Palam today. Saurasish Lahiri was the most successful bowler for Bengal with 3 for 69, while Ashoke Dinda took 3 for 97. They both should be credited for slogging it out on a 22-yard track which is probably one of the flattest this season.Read the full report here.
ScorecardBy the end of the opening session on the third day, the result, or rather the lack of one, seemed a foregone conclusion. Neither side had the bowling to force an outright win, so it was down to a shootout for first-innings points between two strong batting line-ups. Saurashtra salvaged three points in a stalemate at the MA Chidambaram Stadium while the hosts, Tamil Nadu, had to live with just one point despite putting on 565. That only 14 wickets fell across four days with neither team taking all ten wickets in an innings, showed the imbalance between bat and ball.Read the full report here.

Ryan Harris will miss the Gabba Test with a slight strain to his quadriceps and Peter Siddle has been dropped

Brydon Coverdale16-Dec-20142:41

MacGill: Siddle might never play for Australia again

Ryan Harris will miss the Gabba Test with a slight strain to his quadriceps and Peter Siddle has been dropped from the attack that bowled Australia to victory in the Adelaide Test. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will make his long-awaited Test debut on Wednesday and left-armer Mitchell Starc has been recalled after last playing in the loss to Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.The stand-in captain Steven Smith announced the team at the Gabba on the day before the Test, also confirming that he would move up to No.4 in the batting order with Shaun Marsh to slot in at No.5. Smith said he was hopeful that Harris would be fit for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne but the selectors could not risk him given the short turnaround since Adelaide.”Ryan Harris pulled up a little bit stiff and sore from Adelaide,” Smith said. “He’s got a slight quad strain. Darren Lehmann has always said if our bowlers aren’t 100% fit going into the match we won’t be playing them. It’s very unfortunate for Ryan but hopefully he gets his body right soon.”I think he’ll be okay in a couple of days. It’s just going into a Test match if you’re not 100% fit that’s the way it goes with this team. Hopefully he gets a bit of work done with the physios in the next couple of days and can start running and hopefully he’ll be fine for Melbourne.”The extra bounce on offer at the Gabba played some role in swaying the selectors towards choosing the tall Hazlewood and Starc. Siddle picked up only two wickets in the Adelaide Test and had a difficult tour of the UAE, and now faces the prospect of slipping below the younger members of the pace attack in the pecking order.”In regards to the inclusion of Mitchell Starc, I think we just wanted to play a bowler with a bit of extra pace and bounce,” Smith said. “Mitchell went back and bowled really well for New South Wales in the last couple of Shield games and deserves his spot.”It’s obviously very disappointing for Peter Siddle, who’s been a terrific bowler over a long period of time. He’s certainly not out of the loop. He’s still in and around the team and hopefully he’ll get another game soon.”Hazlewood, 23, will finally earn his first baggy green after being part of the Test squad on a number of occasions. Smith has played plenty of state cricket for New South Wales with Hazlewood and is impressed with the way he has developed.”It’s very exciting, I’ve watched Josh very closely over the last couple of years at New South Wales and he impresses me every time,” Smith said. “He’s only getting better and better. This pitch out here is going to suit him perfectly. He’s very skilful for his age, and I’m just looking forward to seeing him zing a few through and bowl with that extra pace and get that extra bit of bounce as well.”I think that’s part of the reason Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have been included in the team. It’s traditionally quite a fast and bouncy wicket and it looks no different out there for this Test match. Hopefully after the wickets we’ve played on recently in Test cricket, the Adelaide Oval and the two in the UAE, it’s exciting for our fast bowlers to finally have something that’s going to have a bit of liveliness to it.”The three changes to the team also involve Shaun Marsh coming in for his first Test since the tour of South Africa earlier this year. He will move into the No.5 spot, his typical batting position recently for Western Australia, and Smith said he was happy to moved up the order and take on extra responsibility in his first Test as captain.”I’ve had a chat to a couple of the senior players and the coach about it,” Smith said. “I just thought taking over the captaincy and a bit of extra responsibility that I’d step up to No.4 and get the job done there. I don’t think there’s a big difference between batting 4 and 5, so that’s just the way I’ve gone with it.”Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Chris Rogers, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Shaun Marsh, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood.

Adam Wheater won the game with a six as Hampshire saw off Surrey in emphatic fashion on the opening night of the Friends Life t20

Tom Huelin27-Jun-2013Hampshire 144-5 (Carberry 60, McKenzie 37*) beat Surrey 139-6 (Briggs 2-20, Griffiths 2-23) by five wickets
ScorecardMichael Carberry’s explosive 60 from 45 balls set up Hampshire’s victory•PA PhotosIt’s every kid’s dream, isn’t it? Winning a Twenty20 match with a huge six in the final over.Adam Wheater did just that to ensure that Hampshire, the most formidable Twenty20 side in England in recent years, saw off Surrey in emphatic fashion on the opening night of Friends Life t20.In truth this felt like a straightforward victory for Hampshire, the Twenty20 holders, even though they passed Surrey’s total with only four balls to spare.Michael Carberry’s explosive 60 from 45 balls set up their victory, before the artistry of Neil McKenzie saw them home. Skipper for the night in place of the injured Dimitri Mascarenhas, McKenzie caressed the ball around, proving once again his considerable class with bat in hand.A healthy crowd of 6,491 soaked up the sunshine at the Ageas Bowl, with some ‘lucky’ youngsters enjoying the game from a pitch-side hot-tub – their patience sorely tested as the TV cameras zoomed in on them with breathtaking impertinence.Surrey’s captain Gareth Batty had won the toss and elected to bat, his side getting off to a good start as Jason Roy and Rory Burns accelerated at seven an over. Hampshire rotated their bowlers as they looked for a breakthrough, before the impressively rapid David Griffiths beat Roy for pace, Surrey 31 for 1.Danny Briggs, released by England, made the drive down from the T20 squad in London to play in this match, and the locals were glad he did as his second over brought about a double breakthrough. First Solanki was bowled trying to guide the ball down to third man, before Burns stepped across his stumps and was bowled behind his legs.That brought Glenn Maxwell, a former Hampshire player, to the crease. Luck did not favour his return: he managed 15 before top-edging David Griffiths onto his own helmet, the ball lolloping into the air to be caught by McKenzie at gully.Wilson and Ansari then put on 49 taking Surrey to 139 for 6 – probably 20 runs short of a par score – with Isle of Wight pair Briggs (2-20) and Griffiths (2-23) the pick of the Hampshire bowlers. Maxwell clearly felt the urge to impress his former employers, bowling the first over of Hampshire’s riposte. It took Carberry just four balls to get the measure of his old team-mate however, driving him for four with ominous intent.McKenzie joined Carberry in the eighth over, and it was a contrast in styles as the South African worked the ball into gaps that you couldn’t close up with Polyfilla, whilst Carberry powered onto his 12th Twenty20 fifty in the 13th over. He fell next over as he was trapped in front playing across the line to Zander De Bruyn but, by then, the damage had been done.Surrey threatened to peg back Hampshire in the 16th over when first Dunn dived at full stretch to deny Sean Ervine a certain four along the boundary rope, before bowler de Bruyn – who finished with impressive figures of 3 for 14 – took a sharp return catch from the same batsman next ball. But Hampshire pressed on, and Wheater’s maximum – or was it, as the ball looked to bounce short of the boundary rope from the press box – sealed an important first win for the holders in this competitive South Division.

Lord’s was not the first time in recent memory that New Zealand’s batting line-up has crumbled but it was the toughest to take because they had pushed England to their limits for more than three days

Andrew McGlashan20-May-2013Lord’s was not the first time in recent memory that New Zealand’s batting line-up has crumbled but it was the toughest to take because they had pushed England to their limits for more than three days. The morning after it was still raw, as the coach Mike Hesson reflected on the fourth-innings collapse which had left him in shock.He and Brendon McCullum have four days to pick up the pieces and repair fragile confidence but Hesson does not believe the rapid demise, which evoked memories of the South Africa tour at the beginning of the year, will undo the improvement New Zealand have shown over the last couple of months.”Absolute disappointment, stunned is another word,” Hesson said when asked to sum up his feelings. “Having played so well for three of the days and had parity, to perform the way did was very much out of character so it’s frustrating.”South Africa was different, it was the first innings of a series and dictated the way that game went, during this game we had three days of parity, if not being ahead. We are a developing side, we haven’t nailed everything, and occasionally we will have a performance which lets us down.”He also suggested that the enormity of what had been possible for New Zealand, just their second Test victory at Lord’s, overwhelmed the batting line-up although he was also quick to praise England’s performances.”There could be a number of factors – the location, the occasion, the chance to win a Test at Lord’s,” he said. “Throughout the second innings and the fourth innings we got a bid timid with the bat and I think the occasion, and probably the quality of the England bowlers, got to us.”However, Hesson remained determined to ensure that a “shocking” hour would not have to define the rest of the tour after the side had gone toe-to-toe with England, most notably through Tim Southee’s 10-wicket match haul.”We’ve got a lot of good memories to draw on. We played very poorly for that hour before lunch, which determined the outcome of the game, and it’s frustrating that a short period of time could dictate the game.”We are all thoroughly disappointed by that hour, but there were some amazing performances. We caught very well throughout the Test and the bowling was outstanding. Put Tim to one side, who grew another leg in that spell on the third evening, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Bruce Martin in the first innings set the tone.”It’s an experience we need to grow from. But like I said we’ve strung together lots of good days of cricket, we can’t just dwell on the fact we had a shocking hour.”