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MS Dhoni has stepped down as captain of India’s limited-overs teams ahead of the ODIs and T20Is against England in January. He will still be available for selection as a wicketkeeper-batsman for the series, though, the BCCI said on Wednesday evening.The selectors are meeting to pick the ODI and T20I squads on January 6 in Mumbai. The BCCI did not immediately name a successor for the matches against England, though Virat Kohli, who leads India in Test cricket, is the frontrunner for the job.It is understood Dhoni, 35, communicated his decision to chairman of selectors MSK Prasad in Nagpur, where the Jharkhand side that is being mentored by Dhoni was playing Gujarat in the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy. Dhoni was seen having a long conversation with Prasad during the tea break. “We all know his sense of integrity and patriotism, and he has got high clarity in thinking,” Prasad told ESPNcricinfo. “Probably he felt that is the best decision, so let us respect it.”Dhoni’s manager Arun Pandey said the decision had not been impulsive. “You don’t take a decision like this overnight. It was well thought out. Dhoni thought this was the right time to step aside and continuing playing as wicketkeeper-batsman,” Pandey told PTI. “His thinking was that he has built the crux of the team now and it is the right time to give up captaincy. He is not someone who would cling on to something. For him, the team’s interests are first and foremost.”Dhoni had given up the Test captaincy in December 2014, when he retired from the format after the Melbourne Test. However, he stayed on as ODI and T20 international captain after having taken on those roles in 2007.

Tendulkar pays tribute

“Congratulations to MSD on a wonderful career as a captain, leading India to success in both T20 and ODI World Cups. Have seen him emerge from an aggressive player to a steady and decisive captain. It’s a day to celebrate his successful captaincy and respect his decision. Wish MSD the very best as he continues entertaining us on the field with his exploits.”

He was India’s most successful captain, leading the team to victory in the 2007 World T20 in South Africa, the 2011 World Cup in India, and the 2013 Champions Trophy in England. Dhoni captained India in 199 ODIs, of which he won 110 and lost 74. He was captain in 72 T20Is, of which India won 41 and lost 28. He was also India’s most successful Test captain, with 27 wins, 18 defeats and 15 draws.Dhoni is also the only captain to have led India to ODI and T20I series wins in Australia, and an ODI series win in New Zealand.He made 6633 ODI runs as captain at an average of 54 and a strike rate of 86. As captain in T20Is, Dhoni scored 1112 runs at a strike rate of 122.60. In Test cricket, he made 3454 runs at an average of 40.63.”On the behalf of every Indian cricket fan and the BCCI, I would like to thank MS Dhoni for his outstanding contribution as the captain of the Indian team across all formats,” BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri said. “Under his leadership, Indian team has touched new heights and his achievements will remain etched forever in the annals of Indian cricket.”

Zimbabwe Cricket has approached Afghanistan, Ireland and Scotland in an attempt to fill the gap in its fixtures list over the next six months. Zimbabwe last played during a tri-series with Sri Lanka and West Indies in November last year and they do not have anything else scheduled until a trip to Sri Lanka in June.With the qualifying tournament for the 2019 World Cup little more than a year away, Zimbabwe have concluded that taking on the leading Associate nations may be the best way to give players significant game time. The domestic schedule in Zimbabwe continues to be disrupted by disputes over player payments, which puts another obstacle in the way of Heath Streak, who was appointed head coach in October with a goal of World Cup qualification.Tatenda Taibu, the former Zimbabwe captain and team-mate of Streak who took over as convener of selectors last year, said they had made it a priority to arrange fixtures on the grounds that “some cricket is better than no cricket”. Zimbabwe have featured at every World Cup since 1983 but are currently 11th in the ICC ODI rankings, above only Ireland. The top eight teams will qualify automatically for the 2019 tournament in England, with two further places to be contested in the ICC Qualifier.Afghanistan, who have beaten Zimbabwe in four of the five ODI and T20 series the two countries have played, are expected to accept an invitation to tour in February. The ACB has already confirmed a visit by the Afghanistan A team to play five one-day games at the end of January.”When Streak and I realised there wasn’t another game until six months from now, we had to meet up and come up with a plan,” Taibu said. “We have since approached Afghanistan and they are sending their A side this month, and the month after they are sending their national team. We have started talking to Ireland and Scotland, at least to be playing – it’s harder to get the bigger teams, they are involved in other matches according to the FTP. But we thought some cricket is better than no cricket.”All the upcoming Associate teams, they have been playing good cricket and that is better – as much as we know that it’s good to have the players playing first-class cricket, it’s better for them to play this type of [international] cricket. So we have started speaking to Ireland, we have started speaking to Scotland, to make sure we play those matches before the matches against Sri Lanka. Beyond that we have spoken to West Indies and Bangladesh, and those matches will come after. And those are almost all confirmed.”With the shrinking of the 2019 World Cup from 16 teams to ten, all of the Associate nations have been pressing for more fixtures against Full Members.Last year, Scotland captain Preston Mommsen retired aged 29 in part due to his frustration at limited opportunities, while at the 2012 World T20, Ireland’s Trent Johnston singled out Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, in particular, as being “scared” to play them and trying to protect their rankings.Heath Streak (left) was appointed Zimbabwe coach in October 2016 with a goal of World Cup qualification•Zimbabwe Cricket

Zimbabwe have only twice played bilateral series against Ireland, in 2010-11 and 2015-16; they have never played an ODI against Scotland, with their only competitive meeting coming at the 2016 World T20. But Taibu said the new Zimbabwe set-up would be taking a different view.”I don’t know why they were not playing before but when I started getting involved, we thought playing some cricket is better than no cricket and we should play whoever is available,” Taibu said. “If that was the case, I don’t know why that would be the decision but, for me, playing is way better than not.”One aspect of Zimbabwe’s slim fixture list has been a lack of finances. At the domestic level, that has led to players going on strike during the first-class Logan Cup, the start of which was postponed last month, along with the 40-over Zimbabwe Premier League, due to “logistical challenges”.The second round of Logan Cup matches, due to have begun on Thursday, has also been put back after some players only received part-payment for December and some were not paid at all. The competition is expected to re-start on January 17.Six months after returning to work with Zimbabwe Cricket, Taibu has been steadily getting to grips with his role – he is currently the board’s only selector, oversees player development and is planning to set up an academy in England, where he is based – and he suggested that some of the problems were as much to do with improving the levels of administration and communication as down to funding.”Part of the reason that we are in the situation we are in is because some things are not really done professionally at times,” Taibu said. “You hear that players don’t know if a game is still on on this date, and accommodation has not been sorted, and things like that – petty, minor issues.”I don’t want to be seen as a person who comes in and overrides people. But those are the things I’ve noticed, that some of the things are not done on time. Bar the financial issues, there are certain things you need to plan ahead … If there’s money to come from ICC, there’s ample time for it to happen. So those are just the minor things I feel that, if we’re able to tweak them, then half the issues we are talking about – players not being paid on time and things like that – those will be settled.”

Anil Kumble, India’s coach, has put their first-Test defeat down to a failure to adapt to the challenging conditions in Pune rather than anything their opponents did.”Australia are a quality side. All the other touring sides were quality sides too,” Kumble said, when asked if Australia tested India in a way their other oppositions during this home season – New Zealand, England and Bangladesh – didn’t. “I don’t think we played to our potential. And that’s what we’d like to do [in the second Test in Bengaluru].”We’d like to come back into this Test match and play to our potential and not really worry about [the opposition]. I think I did mention in the previous presser, or probably against Bangladesh, someone asked me about the opposition. We only look at what we need to tick. If we keep ticking those boxes, results go our way. And that’s what we’d like to do here.”We didn’t tick those boxes in the last game, and we didn’t win. So we need to tick all those boxes – be it partnerships as a batting unit, partnerships as a bowling unit or taking those catches – all those things are important to win Test matches. That’s what we’ll focus on.”India’s defeat in Pune ended an unbeaten run stretching to 19 Test matches.”You can’t keep winning every game,” Kumble said. “It has to come to an end at some point of time. But as I said, 20 games in the current scenario of Test cricket – it’s quite challenging for any international side to go out there and keep winning. And that’s what this team has been able to do. Across conditions, be it Sri Lanka, India, West Indies. And against quality sides, we’ve won from difficult situations.”We have adapted to various conditions and also various situations. That’s what we didn’t do in the last game. That’s why the result didn’t go our way. That’s why we are looking forward to this game to again start on a winning note.”Ajinkya Rahane has managed just one fifty-plus score in his last nine innings•AFP

In Pune, India played their regular combination of five batsmen, a keeper, and five bowlers. Asked if the magnitude of their defeat there – they were bowled out for 105 and 107 – would necessitate playing an extra batsman, Kumble said India wouldn’t change their thinking based on one result.”No I don’t think so,” he said. “It all depends on what we believe is the right combination to win a Test match. And that’s all we do. If we believe that four bowlers are enough or five bowlers are needed, which five bowlers or which four bowlers, all that depends on what we look at. Our aim is to win every game. That’s the combination we’ll put out there.”Kumble brushed aside suggestions that India might think of leaving out Ajinkya Rahane – who has only passed 50 once in his last nine completed Test innings – for Karun Nair, whose last Test innings was a triple-hundred in Chennai.”I think there’s no question of looking at dropping Rahane,” Kumble said. “He’s scored really well, he’s been extremely successful over the last couple of years. There’s absolutely no question about that. In terms of the team composition, we still haven’t discussed on that. All 16 are available.’We have adapted to various conditions and also various situations. That’s what we didn’t do in the last game’ – Anil Kumble•AFP

“It’s unfortunate that Karun has missed out after he scored that triple-hundred. That’s the way the composition of the team has been where we’ve looked to play five bowlers and you know it’s unfortunate. He came in as a replacement [for the injured Rahane during the series against England]. It’s really nice to have those kind of choices in the team where people have been successful in a group.”And this group has been, like I mentioned before the first Test or even against Bangladesh where Karun couldn’t make it, that’s the beauty about this group where whoever comes in has done really well. Yes, they’ve been left out, there have been times where people have had to be left out because of combinations that we go with. But everyone is available. It’s unfortunate for Karun but he’s one class act and you’ve seen that in the short international opportunities that he’s got.”Kumble grew tetchy when the talk moved to the Pune pitch – which was rated ‘poor’ in match referee Chris Broad’s report. “Can we move on?” he asked. “It’s only 22 yards, it won’t be different here.”When asked if there was any one kind of pitch he did not like to come up against, Kumble said he never dwelled on such questions.”There’s nothing like that,” he said. “I never looked at the pitch. People wrote a lot about my bowling with regard to pitch. Unfortunately as a bowler, or as a captain or as a coach, it never bothered me. Yes, you go there, you look at the pitch, and then come up with what you need to do, what kind of strategies you need with regards to what you read looking at the pitch. That’s about it.”There was a lot of talk during my playing career that he can bowl on one particular pitch. That didn’t really bother me. Nor does it bother me now.”

Suryakumar Yadav has been asked by the Mumbai Cricket Association to show cause for retweeting a post on Twitter that questioned his omission from the team for the Inter-state T20 tournament. The Mumbai batsman has also been asked to appear before the MCA’s managing committee on Tuesday. As a result, Suryakumar’s selection in the Mumbai squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy inter-state one-day tournament has been withheld pending the committee’s decision”Players are not allowed to comment on selection on social media,” MCA joint-secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar told ESPNcricinfo. “We have a managing committee meeting tomorrow where we will discuss what to do. We have called him [to appear before the committee] and have also sought a written explanation. Yesterday, I told him to give the written explanation within 24 hours so he can do that today. The committee will review his written explanation and then we will think what is to be done.”Khanvilkar pointed out that Suryakumar, 26, was let off with a verbal warning last year when he had tweeted expressing his displeasure at opener Jay Bista being dropped for Mumbai’s semi-final game against Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. “There are only 14 players we have picked [so far],” Khanvilkar said. “Cricket-wise, there is no problem. He is a good player. Just because of the disciplinary issue, we have withheld his selection, so whatever decision is taken in the managing committee, accordingly we will choose the 15.”Suryakumar has been involved in a few controversies over the last few years. He quit as Mumbai captain midway through an underwhelming 2014-15 season. He was also at that point reprimanded by MCA officials after some players complained against him for using abusive language on the field and in the dressing room.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:50

Isam: Bangladesh looked prepared for the landmark

Sri Lanka fought back in the final 75 minutes of play in Colombo through an obdurate eighth-wicket partnership between Dinesh Chandimal and Rangana Herath, but Bangladesh won the day, making a fine start to their landmark 100th Test. When bad light stopped play at 5.16pm, they had taken seven wickets and given away only 238 runs.

Chandimal’s favourite opposition

• 131.50 Dinesh Chandimal’s average against Bangladesh, the fifth-highest among all batsman with at least 500 runs. He has made three centuries and two fifties in eight innings.

• 64 Runs scored by Chandimal in his first five Test innings at the P Sara Oval, at an average of 12.80. His scores were 1, 11, 15, 25 and 12. Now he has made 86.

• 23 Total runs accumulated by Sri Lanka’s top-three batsmen, their lowest ever against Bangladesh, eclipsing the 29 runs they had put on at same venue in 2005.

• 3 Successful reviews by Sri Lanka’s batsmen – Upul Tharanga and Rangana Herath overturned lbw calls while Chandimal survived an appeal for a catch at slip. The visitors appealed for DRS only once and were unsuccessful.

• 293 Sri Lanka’s lowest innings total against Bangladesh in Tests – Dhaka 2008. They are seven down and 55 runs short of that mark.

Chandimal was unbeaten on 86 off 210 balls with four fours, in a great display of solidity against a Bangladesh attack that consistently threatened. Mustafizur Rahman and Mehedi Hasan took two wickets each, while Subashis Roy, Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam backed them up with controlled spells taking one wicket apiece.Bangladesh overcame some of the disadvantage of losing the toss with Mustafizur and Mehedi making crucial early strikes. Mustafizur tempted opener Dimuth Karunaratne to play away from his body and had him caught at gully by Mehedi, who then took over and took out not one but both centurions from the Galle Test – Kusal Mendis and Upul Tharanga.Mendis ran past a drifter and was stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim, who took over the gloves with Liton Das injured, and Tharanga was caught at slip after jabbing at a classic offspinner’s delivery. Roy then claimed the morning session for Bangladesh when he trapped Asela Gunaratne lbw for 13, which left Sri Lanka on 70 for 4 at lunch.Things changed in the afternoon though. Chandimal, recognising the importance of batting through the innings, did not hit a single boundary in the session as he helped Sri Lanka up their score by 79 runs for the loss of only one wicket. That wicket came in the 48th over when a fluent Dhananjaya de Silva tried to pull Taijul Islam’s left-arm spin and was instead bowled. Sri Lanka’s largest partnership of the innings – 66 runs in 19.4 overs – had been broken. It might have ended a lot sooner if not for DRS. In the 39th over, Shakib had got the on-field umpire’s approval for a catch off the inside edge at slip, but with Chandimal opting for the review, replays showing no conclusive evidence of bat being involved.Sri Lanka began the third session positively, taking four fours off Subashis, but Shakib made up for it from the other end when he removed Niroshan Dickwella, who had struck three of those boundaries, for 34. Mustafizur followed that up by having Dilruwan Perera caught at second slip to reinforce Bangladesh’s dominance.Sri Lanka’s hopes now rest with their captain Herath, who successfully challenged Aleem Dar ruling him lbw, and Chandimal. They had put on 43 runs in 18.3 overs, before dark clouds descended over the P Sara Oval, forcing early stumps.

ScorecardFile photo – Ned Eckersley added another half-century•Getty Images

An unbeaten 70 from Ned Eckersley, his third half-century in his last four innings, means Leicestershire’s acting captain could have a difficult decision to make on the fourth day of the Championship match against Glamorgan at the Fischer County Ground.Eckersley’s unbroken partnership of 91 in 19 overs with Mark Pettini for the fourth wicket in Leicestershire’s second innings helped his side close day three leading the visitors by 194, with seven wickets remaining.It is a strong position, but the pitch is flat, the outfield fast, and with Zak Chappell, a key member of his bowling attack, unable to bowl after being hit on the right shoulder while batting in the nets before the start of the second day, Eckersley will have much to ponder should it come to setting a target.Even so, it was an impressively positive response from Leicestershire after Colin Ingram had become the second centurion of Glamorgan’s first innings. The South African was slightly fortunate to survive a caught-and-bowled opportunity given to Charlie Shreck on 92, but reached his century, from 178 balls, by hooking a Neil Dexter delivery to the midwicket boundary.It looked as though Glamorgan would go on to build a substantial first-innings lead, but they lost their last five wickets for just 42 runs, beginning with Ingram’s dismissal for 137 – his best for Glamorgan – bowled off an inside edge by Clint McKay in the over before lunch.McKay removed Kiran Carlson immediately after the break, Harry Dearden holding a fine catch at second slip, as he did when Marchant De Lange edged the same bowler soon afterwards. Lukas Carey’s attempt to hook Raine gave Dexter the simplest of catches at third slip, the ball looping off the back of the bat, and Dexter was again the grateful catcher when Michael Hogan chipped Raine gently in to the covers.Leicestershire did lose opener Dearden early, smartly caught by Nick Selman low to his right at second slip when the opener edged an attempted drive at Hogan.Dexter was run out after a poor call from Paul Horton, and Horton himself leg before wicket to a de Lange yorker that knocked the batsman off his feet, but Eckersley – dropped by David Lloyd on 48 – and Pettini scored quickly in the final hour.

ScorecardColin Ingram spoiled James Vince’s record-making day•Getty Images

James Vince masterfully scored Hampshire’s highest ever one-day score but Glamorgan heroes Colin Ingram and Chris Cooke pulled off a stunning run chase to steal victory at the Ageas Bowl.Captain Vince beat Gordon Greenidge’s previous best of 177 in 1975 – as he struck an outrageous 178 – which also marked his best career score.But Ingram crashed a brutal century before Cooke got the hosts over the line with a matchwinning unbeaten 59 from 27 balls, with the visitors chasing 332 with a three wicket victory.After losing 30 minutes to rain, with the match dropping to 49 overs a side, Glamorgan won the toss and inserted their hosts on a lovely looking batting track.Rilee Rossouw, hot on the heels of a swashbuckling 156 against Somerset on Wednesday, blasted early boundaries to the fence.But after a rapid start, where Rossouw scored 35 in 27 balls, Hampshire faltered from 41 without loss to 54 for 3.Marchant de Lange had Tom Alsop caught behind, Rossouw was bowled with a beautiful ball which clipped the top of off-stump before George Bailey jabbed to point two balls later.That saw homegrown stars Vince and Dawson aligned in the middle and they rebuilt the innings in textbook style – slowly building up the foundations as they dropped down to almost three runs an over.Vince flashed into life as they settled and reached fifty in 59-balls, while Dawson passed his 3000th List A run.Vince continued to crack deliveries to the boundary at will, with 18 fours eventually hit, and moved past a fifth career century – brought up in a speedy 98 balls.Dawson, after clocking an anchoring 74, was bowled by Michael Hogan, ending a record-breaking fourth wicket stand for Hampshire and started a second mini-collapse.Vince, after dispatching five maximums, was dropped on the fine-leg boundary but finally fell when he was bowled by de Lange as he tried to give himself room – getting out for 178 from 138 balls.Sean Ervine was the next to go when he slapped to mid-on to hand de Lange his maiden one-day five-wicket haul – ending with figures of 5 for 59.Ian Holland and Lewis McManus scampered quick runs at the death to give the hosts a handsome 332.Glamorgan struggled to get going and lost David Lloyd caught behind to Kyle Abbott in the fifth over. Vince continued his fine match by plucking a stunning one-handed catch over his head to catch Will Bragg, before Andrew Salter was stumped off a wide to hand Mason Crane his first scalp of the match.It all pointed towards a Hampshire win, but Kiran Carlson and Ingram put on 73 for the fourth wicket before the former was tempted down the tack by Crane to be stumped.South African big hitter Ingram clattered six sixes on his way to a 70-ball century – which saw him pass 7000 List A runs – and set up a thrilling finale.The Crane and McManus stumping union combined again to see Jacques Rudolph depart for 26 – with the required run-rate still at 12 an over.Chris Cooke smashed 21 from the 47th over to set up a nail-biting final three overs with 39 still needed.Ingram edged thickly to backward point to fall for a thrilling 115 but successive maximums from Cooke made it 22 from the last two overs.Craig Meschede handed Dawson a simple catch at long on, with nine needed from the final six balls, but Cooke chipped a six off Topley to pull off a remarkable win with a ball to spare.

Gary Ballance is to have an X-ray on his left index finger after sustaining a blow on it when batting on the fourth day of the Trent Bridge Test.Ballance was hit by a delivery from Morne Morkel as England slid to a 340-run defeat at the hands of South Africa. It is, in terms of runs, the second-largest defeat South Africa have inflicted upon England.Any break would render Ballance a severe doubt for the third Investec Test which starts at The Oval on July 27.With only 85 runs in the series at an average of 21.15, Ballance has not made a compelling case for his continued selection. While recent policy would suggest the selectors would allow him until the end of the series to prove himself, it is not impossible they could be swayed by any injury doubt.Mark Wood’s bruised left heel will also be monitored over the coming days, with an England spokesman suggesting “he might have a scan” if it was deemed necessary. Wood returned to Test cricket at Lord’s for the first time since October 2015 and has undergone three bouts of surgery on his left ankle.The England selectors are expected to meet over the next couple of days to name their squad for the third Test.Speaking after the game, England’s new captain Joe Root kept his options open in terms of selection, but hinted that he favoured no dramatic changes.”We will sit down over the next couple of days,” he said. “The top six are talented players and they will be desperate to make their chances count when they come along.””It’s important at The Oval we try to get off to a really strong start especially in the first innings and those guys are more than capable of doing it. The way they’ve gone about things in practice and the runs they’ve scored in county cricket have been outstanding and now it’s just about doing it in international cricket.”

Vernon Philander has been passed fit for South Africa’s opening Test against England at Lord’s. Philander sat out the warm-up match in Worcester last week as he recovered from an ankle injury, sustained while on a county stint with Sussex, but has made a full recovery.That means South Africa will have a full-strength attack including Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel, while back-up allrounders Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo will likely have to wait their turns.South Africa are still waiting to confirm Faf du Plessis’ availability for the match after he returned home of the birth of his first child. A difficult birth may keep the captain from joining the camp immediately. A decision is expected to be taken on Monday.Should du Plessis miss the match, Dean Elgar will stand in as captain with one of Theunis de Bruyn or Aiden Markram coming in in du Plessis’ place.

Mithali Raj hailed Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 171 as the “greatest knock by an India women player” and underlined her example as the “big performance” that was needed to oust a “champion side like Australia.” She pointed to Harmanpreet’s knowledge of Australia’s bowlers, courtesy her stint at the Women’s Big Bash League, for helping them plan for the semi-final.”I think the transformation [has come] after she played in the WBBL,” she said after India’s 36-run win in Derby. “That exposure she and Smriti (Mandhana) got by interacting with other players has been massive. As I mentioned in the last press meet, against Australia it was they who were giving us more inputs about these players.””If more players are a part of these leagues, where they exchange ideas and follow the routine of other players, being part of the meetings, it will only help improve the standard of women’s cricket, as well as it’s very beneficial for youngsters and players from Indian team.”Harmanpreet’s knock covered up for a sluggish start. Not for the first time in the tournament did the openers struggle. Mandhana, who opened the tournament with 90 and 106 not out, recorded her sixth straight failure. Even in victory, the holes India needed to plug ahead of the grand finale wasn’t lost on Raj.”Ideally, I would have wanted the openers to have more runs,” she said. “But I think it is okay as long as the team looks very confident, inspired by the performances in the last two games because I personally feel that this team has changed the momentum of coming back into games.”As I have said earlier, it is important to know how to comeback to beat good sides, which we have done here. Today, I can proudly say as a captain that this team has really made a comeback. We posted a total that we haven’t done in 50-over cricket. All of them – batsmen and fast bowlers – looked in sync.”Raj attributed Harmanpreet’s turnaround to her 90-ball 60 – her first half-century of the tournament – that was key in the middle overs against New Zealand in a must-win game. For a long time, it looked like India would huff and puff to 220 there, until Veda Krishnamurthy’s blitzkrieg – an unbeaten 45-ball 70 – lifted India to 265. Her partnership with Harmanpreet gave them the momentum.”The game against New Zealand, she had runs as well as Veda had runs. They backed themselves to make fifty and those runs gave them confidence,” Raj said. “Had they not scored those runs, it would have been a different picture today. All said and done, everything happens for a reason and good. It was needed, and this knock will give her confidence tomorrow when she is in a position to take more responsibility as a batter. She will be in better shape and experience to take along.”She was equally effusive in her praise for Jhulan Goswami, who, she felt, had improved steadily after a slow start to the campaign. On Thursday, she sent back Meg Lanning with a peach that left her late to hit top of off. She finished with 2 for 35. “Well she has definitely worked on her bowling. From the first game to the Sri Lanka game and New Zealand game she was getting better in the nets,” Raj said. “It was just a matter of time. You get a couple of good spells and you get the confidence.”Raj said the win against Australia also helped break barriers on how the team would approach finals going forward. “As a team we are very excited to be a part of the World Cup final,” she said. “We knew that this tournament will not be easy but again the way the girls have turned up at every situation when the team needed, whether it be batters or bowlers, has been brilliant.”In fact the fielding, in patches, has been exceptionally good. This win has definitely changed the scenario in terms of how the girls will look at World Cup finals. It won’t be easy [to beat England] but beating Australia has given the girls a high.”Today has been our day but England have also peaked after being beaten by us in the first game. They have performed well throughout the tournament in the run-up to the finals. Playing the hosts is going to be a challenge but, having said that, this unit is up for it.”Raj equated the team’s qualification to the final as a completion of a full circle that started in 2005, when the side last had a shot at cricket’s ultimate prize. Raj and Goswami are the only two members of the current squad who were part of the side that lost to Australia in the final in 2005.”I am speechless because for me and Jhulan it is very special because we are two players from 2005 who have been with the team,” she said. “It seems like it’s going back to 2005, and I am just too happy that the girls have given us an opportunity to be a part of World Cup finals again.”