England warm up for the forthcoming Twenty20 series against Pakistan with the ICC chief executive, Dave Richardson, playing down reports of match fixing in the recent final one-day international between the sides.
“Even Pakistan players themselves these days are reporting every approach that seems to come their way and I wouldn't be too suspicious,” he said. “I am pretty positive about where cricket is at the moment in the battle of keeping clean, the level of education that the international players go through now.”
As for today's warm-up game against the UAE in Abu Dhabi, Reece Topley is likely to lead England's attack after a fast-track introduction to the national team. The first of three T20s against Pakistan is on Thursday, with a place in the squad for the World Twenty20 in March up for grabs. Topley, who made his international debut less than three months ago, took 3 for 26 in England's opening ODI defeat to Pakistan, plus another three wickets as the tourists won the series 3-1.
And one reason for his easy acclimatisation has been the welcoming atmosphere of the limited-overs regime under coach Trevor Bayliss and captain Eoin Morgan. “The dressing-room environment is second to none,” Topley said. “We know we're not the finished article but it's amazing what we could achieve if we fulfil our potential.”
As for bowling, he added: “England have been asking for left-armers for a while now. I saw an opportunity, [and] realised I could take it.”
Having just made the switch from Essex to Hampshire in search of First Division cricket, Topley, 21, is also eyeing a Test place.
Possible England team (v UAE): EJG Morgan (C), JJ Roy, AD Hales, MM Ali, JM Vince, J Buttler (wk), SW Billings, DJWilley, CJ Jordan, LE Plunkett, RJW Topley. – The Independent