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Mahela Jayawardene wasn’t perturbed that Sri Lanka will most likely have to win tomorrow against Pakistan

Siddarth Ravindran in Mirpur14-Mar-2012Sri Lanka’s previous engagement before landing in Dhaka was the Commonwealth Bank tri-series, the longest ODI tournament outside the World Cup and the Champions Trophy. With eight matches per team in the league phase, Sri Lanka had to wait almost a month to find out if they would make the final. In the Asia Cup, they could be eliminated three days after their first game – a loss to Pakistan tomorrow, and an India victory on Friday would end both Bangladesh’s and Sri Lanka’s chances.Mahela Jayawardene wasn’t perturbed that Sri Lanka will most likely have to win tomorrow against Pakistan. “It is (a do-or-die match), but we are used to that. In Australia we had quite a few of those. It’s still in our control so we don’t have to depend on anybody else,” he said. “I quite like that situation. We know how important the match is going to be tomorrow, so looking forward to that.”Pakistan took on Sri Lanka last November and comfortably won the one-day series, as the spin of Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal proved too good. “Ajmal has improved tremendously in the last year and it shows in his record. In Dubai when we played against him, we had good and bad times,” Jayawardene said. “Hopefully we’ll have to handle him better tomorrow because it’s a one-off game for us. Umar Gul is also one of the top fast bowlers and Afridi can be a handful.”Sri Lanka’s own bowling would get a lot more teeth if their pace spearhead is deemed fit enough to play tomorrow. Lasith Malinga was rested from the first game as he was recovering from an injury which he carried in the finals of the CB series. He didn’t seem to be in too much discomfort as he bowled and batted during Sri Lanka’s practice session in the afternoon, and they will be tempted to pick him, considering their final league match is against relative lightweights Bangladesh.One of Malinga’s biggest weapons is reverse swing, which he uses devastatingly to slow down teams at the death. Brett Lee has complained about how the use of two new balls was reducing the amount of reverse swing available, and as a result reducing the effectiveness of fast bowlers.Jayawardene, though, said that was not the case in the subcontinent. “Probably in conditions in Australia and England to a certain extent, but even yesterday we saw after about 30 overs, our guys managed to start getting reverse back,” he said. “Surfaces are much more dry here and the balls do get older. You still can reverse the ball. I thought that [Suranga] Lakmal, Kula [Nuwan Kulasekara] and even [Farveez] Maharoof, to a certain extent, did reverse the ball.”In other countries like England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, you don’t need reverse swing. With the two new balls and the wicket helping you (fast bowlers), it’s quite a handful (for the batsmen).”Edited by Abhishek Purohit

Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, is targetting a strong finish to the ODI series after his team won the fourth match by five wickets in Kimberley

Firdose Moonda in Kimberley21-Jan-2012

What if Tillakaratne Dilshan had come good more than just once in the Tests and in the four ODIs so far? What if Sri Lanka’s bowlers had been able to take 4 for 47 in one of the previous matches as well? What if their fielders had shown the commitment they did in Kimberley throughout?Then, according to Dilshan, “the last match could have been a final.” Instead, the corpse of the series will travel to Johannesburg. However, Sri Lanka’s steady improvement in each game promises a contest worthy of more than dead-rubber status, and if they can further redeem their reputation at the Wanderers it will take some pressure off the team, which will return home to face the possibility of a change of regime.”We need to finish strongly,” Dilshan said after his team chased 300 with five wickets in hand and eight balls to spare. “A 3-2 result will be a fantastic effort, but we have to play well. We can’t relax because South Africa are a good team and they are playing well. We know we are capable, and knew we could do much better than the first game.”Dilshan probably has the most at stake. Whispers are becoming louder that his term as captain, which runs until the end of the tour of South Africa, will not be extended and that he may be dropped from the team after a string of poor performances and badly judged dismissals. Through the tour, however, the Sri Lankan camp has used the same excuse when asked about Dilshan’s poor form – that when he fires, the fireworks are worth the wait.In Kimberley, Dilshan showed why people were willing to wait. He recorded his highest score of the ODI series – a run-a-ball 87 – and looked good for many more. After two ducks and an uncharacteristically watchful 33 in the first three games, Dilshan was himself again.”It feels good to score some runs, but it’s a bit late,” Dilshan said, unable to hide his regret. “The pitch was really good and when Upul [Tharanga] got out, I took a few chances because we were chasing 300. I just played my own game. After the Dilscoop went for six, I got more confident.”Dilshan brought out his signature shot off Vernon Philander’s second ball. It sailed over the fine-leg boundary and the ease with which Dilshan conducted the rest of his innings was noticeable.He took the bullishness of his innings to the press conference as well and, for the first time, defended his leadership with some aggression. “I am not listening to the news, anyone can write anything,” he said. “I want to finish this series because they [the selectors] appointed me for the South Africa tour. It’s up to them if I carry on. I am waiting for their call. I’m still enjoying my captaincy.”Although Dilshan has not led Sri Lanka to a single Test or ODI series win during his tenure since the World Cup, he said he had achieved other goals for the country, among them blooding the next generation at enormous self-sacrifice.”The main thing is that I want to see youngsters performing for Sri Lanka. I have done everything for my country. When they wanted me to keep wicket, I did it. When they wanted me to bat at No. 1, I did it. When they want me to bat at No. 6, I do it. These are the last few years of my international career and I want to finish strongly. After another few years I can sit and watch these youngsters do these things for Sri Lanka.”One of the most promising youngsters to have emerged under Dilshan’s captaincy is Dinesh Chandimal, who has been the shining light of Sri Lanka’s ODI series. Dilshan has talked up the 22-year old and, after Chandimal scored 59 in Kimberley, had more praise for the young man. “He is improving in every single game and learning in every game. He will have a long career and I think he will become one of the best cricketers in the world.”Sri Lanka’s Man of the Match in the fourth ODI was Thisara Perera, another youngster who has started to flourish. Dilshan sent him in at No. 6, ahead of Angelo Mathews, and Perera responded with a match-winning 69 off 44 balls, hitting a flurry of sixes to take Sri Lanka past the target.”We thought we would give him an opportunity because he hits the ball hard,” Dilshan said. “Even his mis-hits can clear the boundary easily. He grabbed the opportunity well.”Sri Lanka’s last opportunities will present themselves in Johannesburg. What if Sri Lanka are able to take every one of them?

South Australia’s batsmen made a firm start to their opening Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales, though it might have been better than a stumps score of 4 for 309

Daniel Brettig at Adelaide Oval17-Oct-2011
ScorecardSimon Katich found himself cast in the role of lead spinner in the absence of Beau Casson•Getty ImagesSouth Australia’s batsmen made a firm start to their opening Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales, though it might have been better than a stumps score of 4 for 309.The Redbacks began soundly on a dry surface after winning the toss, Daniel Harris adding 164 with the captain Michael Klinger in good time before they were separated by the left-arm wrist spin of Simon Katich.The rest of the day was a more balanced affair, as NSW took regular wickets to prevent the formation of another major partnership, preventing the strokemakers Callum Ferguson and Tom Cooper from exploiting the strong start they were given.Lacking the spin of Beau Casson due to the unfortunate return of a heart condition, the visitors bowled with some precision despite the lack of help from the surface. Casson’s absence was sadder still in the prevailing conditions, for Katich extracted turn from the pitch that will interest the Australian off spinner Nathan Lyon, playing his first Shield game for SA since a successful Test debut in Sri Lanka.Another recent Test debutant, Trent Copeland, did not claim a wicket but was his usual stingy self, moving the ball a little in each direction. Mitchell Starc and Moises Henriques also bowled the odd decent spell, while Sean Abbott claimed first-class victim No. 1 when Klinger fenced to slip.Klinger had been the more reserved of SA’s batsmen in the morning session, absorbing the force of the new ball while Harris played his shots. As befits one of the more capable Twenty20 openers in the country, Harris drove, cut and pinged the ball crisply off his pads to take SA to 0 for 90 at lunch.The serene progress was maintained until the 51st over. Harris had reached the outskirts of a century but Katich turned a ball back to strike the opener marginally in line with the off stump and win an lbw verdict. Katich celebrated with vigour, but there was better to come when Ferguson, lately a curious omission from national squads, pushed firmly at a delivery angled across him and was pouched at slip by Copeland.Cooper was quickly into his stride, driving sweetly either side of tea, but Klinger’s occupation was ended by Abbott, and soon after Cooper tried to force through the offside and was held in the slips by the ever-involved Katich, who had also caught Klinger.Aiden Blizzard and Daniel Christian played with greater circumspection but the odd attractive stroke to keep SA in a healthy position at the close.

Australia’s chances of victory faded with the light around Pallekele on the fourth afternoon, as Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene settled in on a pitch offering little for the bowlers

The Report by Brydon Coverdale11-Sep-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKumar Sangakkara made a fighting half-century•Associated Press

Australia’s chances of victory faded with the light around Pallekele on the fourth afternoon, as Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene settled in on a pitch offering little for the bowlers. On a day that began with a pre-play declaration from Michael Clarke, when Australia led by 237, the Sri Lanka batsmen put up their firmest resistance of the series, and went to stumps with a deficit of just 14.Most importantly, they also had eight wickets in hand when bad light forced another early finish in a match dogged by rain and gloom. It meant that Australia needed a string of wickets on the fifth morning to give themselves a chance of taking a 2-0 series lead, while Sri Lanka’s goal was to overtake Australia and bat themselves into an unbeatable position.They could hardly have had two better men at the crease. Sangakkara and Jayawardene hold the record for the highest partnership in Test history, a phenomenal 624 set in Colombo against South Africa five years ago. A double-century stand would just about be enough for Sri Lanka in this game, and they had made a fine start, their 95-run partnership taking the total to 223 for 2.Sangakkara was on 69 and Jayawardene had 38, and both had played sensibly, with their first object crease occupation and runs their secondary goal. Their only real moment of danger came when Jayawardene swept the offspinner Nathan Lyon and his top-edge lobbed just out of the reach of Brad Haddin and Clarke, who ran from slip to leg slip to try a diving take.Otherwise, Australia barely got the sniff of a wicket during the partnership. Sangakkara brought up his half-century with a clip off his pads for a boundary off Mitchell Johnson, from his 128th delivery. He struck eight boundaries, generally waiting for the bad balls, like when he pulled consecutive boundaries off Clarke’s long-hops, but he also drove well against Ryan Harris.It was real Test cricket, a test for the fielding side as well as the batsmen. Clarke juggled his bowlers and generally the results were the same, except for another inspired introduction of Michael Hussey, who had broken through in his first over in the first innings. Hussey entered the match with two Test wickets, and has doubled that tally, after again picking up a wicket as soon as he was used in the second innings.He came on for the last over before a drinks break, and his right-arm partnership breakers accounted for Tharanga Paranavitana, who had showed impressive resolve in his 55. It was a strange dismissal; the batsman drove at the ball outside off and Brad Haddin, keeping up to the stumps, was vociferous in his appeal for caught-behind, although Hussey was barely interested.The umpire Tony Hill was unmoved, but so convinced was Haddin that Clarke asked for a review, and the third official Shavir Tarapore overturned the not-out decision. There was a faint noise as the ball passed the bat, but there was no obvious movement off the bat, and Paranavitana could have considered himself unlucky not to be given the benefit of the doubt.He had already survived a confident caught-behind review on 26 when the Australia players felt certain he had gloved the ball down the leg side off Mitchell Johnson. Replays suggested the ball may have brushed the glove, but on that occasion Tarapore did give Paranavitana the benefit of the doubt. It was one of a few nervy moments for the Sri Lanka openers in the first session as they almost made their way through to lunch unscathed, stumbling just before the break when Tillakaratne Dilshan departed for 36.The breakthrough came after the players returned to the field for a ten-minute period before lunch, after a short rain delay, and the break might have affected Dilshan’s concentration. He flashed at a Ryan Harris delivery and was caught at first slip by Shane Watson, not a surprising dismissal after two earlier edges from Dilshan off Watson fell short of men in the cordon.It ended the opening partnership at 81, a vast improvement on Sri Lanka’s first-wicket stands so far in the series: 4 and 0 in Galle and 2 in the first innings of this game. Dilshan drove well when the fast men bowled too full, while Paranavitana played some punchy drives down the ground and through cover, after he played and missed quite a few times against the new ball.Australia could also have had Paranavitana run out, but a terrible throw from Phillip Hughes at midwicket wasted the opportunity, with the batsman struggling to make his ground at the striker’s end. Australia knew they had to take their chances in the field with the possibility that bad weather would stand in their way as they aimed to take a 2-0 series lead.The time lost to rain and bad light, and the potential for further breaks, was the main reason Clarke declared overnight, with Australia at 411 for 7. He’ll be hoping for a perfect day on Monday, but even that won’t be enough for Australia if Sangakkara and Jayawardene keep up their fighting attitude.

Nigeria captain Endurance Ofem has said he is pleased with his side’s form ahead of the World Cricket League Division 7 tournament, which begins on May 1 in Gaborone, Botswana. Ofem, 28, is confident that the hard work the team has put in will show during the tournament, especially with the pitches in Botswana resembling those in Nigeria.”We have been working hard as a unit, we’ve been in South Africa since April 14 and have had the opportunity to train at the indoor facilities in Benoni,” he said. “I’m happy the guys are hitting good form ahead of the tournament in Botswana.”In Botswana we will be playing on hard surfaces, similar to the conditions back home in Nigeria. I feel we have a chance and the team should be able get going in those conditions.”Ofem is also pleased that the side is made up of a number of players who have come through the development system put in place by the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF). “The NCF, over the last 15 years, has taken grassroots development as a key objective. If we look back at the Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in 2001, when we first participated as West Africa, Nigeria provided nine of the 13 players that represented West Africa.”Later, when we played as Nigeria in 2003 and onwards, you will see names such as myself, Adekunle Adegbola, Tope Olayinka, Akabogu Okwudili and Saheed Akolade, among others, coming through,” he said. This, he added, shows the board’s belief in developing young talent. “Most of the players in the current side have been around from a young age.”Ofem singled out in-form batsmen Okwudili and Adegbola, as well as Oluseye Olympio, as players to watch out for. “Every member of this team has the ability to take games away from the opponent. Some of the countries in this tournament should be aware of in the form of Oluseye Olympio, Adekunle Adegbola and Emmanuel Okwudili.” Nigeria’s goal, he said, is to win their first game – the tournament opener against Norway – and move forward from there.

By finishing top of Group B, South Africa have set up a quarter-final clash with the fourth-placed team in Group A: New Zealand, a team who came into the World Cup having lost 11 out of the 12 games they had played in the subcontinent over the last year. South Africa, however, are not paying too much attention to who their opposition is, according to their allrounder Faf du Plessis.”We specifically said we don’t want to focus on who we are playing and have our minds distracted by our opposition,” du Plessis said at the team hotel in Dhaka. “If we prepare well and we are ready for the game and we play to our full ability, we are confident that we will win the quarter-final.”After winning five out of their six group-stage matches, South Africa have earned recognition as one of the strongest sides in the tournament, perhaps even the favourites now, a tag they did not have coming in to the competition. They’ve approached each game as an individual entity, not a stepping stone, or a rung on a ladder, but as unit on its own. Even though they have now reached the do-or-die stage of the tournament, du Plessis said their approach won’t change.”My experience of knockouts is not to do anything different. That will take all the pressure off. When you do the opposite and it gets more tense and there is more pressure, you don’t play to your full potential.”South Africa have played as a unit, with wickets spread among the seamers and the spinners, and runs coming from everyone in the line-up. It has meant that, on a day when one doesn’t perform, they are safe in knowing someone else will. du Plessis said the win against India played an important part in the team reaching this point. “The win against India gave us a lot of confidence because everyone chipped in.”It also served as a morale booster, after a demoralising loss to England in Chennai where the batting collapsed and South Africa were accused of crumbling under pressure. “We should have won the game against England,” du Plessis said. “But it gave us a sense of what to do when we are in that situation again.”Some called it getting the choke over and done with early, and while du Plessis didn’t say so in so many words, he indicated that the team had learnt their lesson from that outing. It also allowed them to focus on moving forward and remaining positive.”If you think about making mistakes, you’re not going to play your best game. Even when we were in tough situations, guys played with freedom and got us out of the hole,” he said, perhaps referring to the chase against India or the way the batting came back from being 117 for 5 against Ireland.South Africa put in a complete performance against Bangladesh, both with bat and ball and beat them by 206 runs in Mirpur. They will play New Zealand at the same venue, and du Plessis thinks the experience on the pitch at the Shere Bangla National Stadium will serve them in good stead.The pitch is a typical subcontinent wicket, although it doesn’t look that way. du Plessis admitted that the team were surprised by the colour of the surface. “I haven’t played on a wicket that looks charcoalish. It gets a bit slower the later you bat.” du Plessis doesn’t expect the toss to play a big role in the match, even though it is a day/night game.The conditions won’t be a concern because South Africa have played in them before, and the opposition is not an issue, because, as du Plessis reiterated, South Africa refuse to make them one. “We’ve seen them play a lot of cricket on television. They are a dangerous side, similar to West Indies in that they’ve got match winners as well. But we are not too worried about that.”

Michael Hussey has not given up hope of making it to the World Cup after recovering from his hamstring injury, although he’s unlikely to be named as a shock replacement for the injured Doug Bollinger

Brydon Coverdale26-Feb-2011Michael Hussey has not given up hope of making it to the World Cup after recovering from his hamstring injury, although he’s unlikely to be named as a shock replacement for the injured Doug Bollinger. Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting said he was expecting a bowler to take the place of Bollinger, who is heading home due to an ankle problem, although “not necessarily” a fast man.The Victoria seamers, Peter Siddle and James Pattinson, are possible candidates, although the Australians could look to James Hopes as an all-round option, or the spinner Xavier Doherty, who has now recovered from a minor back injury. Whatever the selectors decide, the allrounder John Hastings looms as the likely man to come in for Australia’s next match, against Sri Lanka on March 5.”Doug’s a big loss for us,” Ponting said. “At his best he’s as good a bowler as probably anyone taking part in this tournament, which is backed up by the fact he was in the one-day and Test teams of the year last year. He’s a big loss for us but I’m sure whoever comes in will do a good job if required.”[Hastings] has been particularly good in every training session and a couple of practice games that he played at the start of the tournament. I thought even in Australia the games he played there were particularly good. He’ll be well suited to these conditions.”We had a bit of a chat last night and I’ll have a chat with the selectors and coach and see who the most adequate replacement is. We have a lot of fast bowlers around the country who are on the sidelines so we’ll have a good chat, but I’d be surprised if it wasn’t a bowler.”That means Hussey will only get a chance to join the squad if another batsman is injured during the tournament, but at least he is pleased to have been told he is not out of the mix. There had been some confusion about whether an injured player, once withdrawn, could later return to the squad to replace another injured man, and after initially suggesting it was out of the question the ICC has said such a move would be allowed.”Initially I thought that you were in the initial 15 and if you were injured then you were pretty much out for the tournament and you can’t be replaced,” Hussey said on Fox Sports on Friday. “But I had a call from Cricket Australia saying that’s not actually the case. If there was another injury, then, because I’m now fit again, I could be considered as the replacement player. You don’t wish an injury upon anyone, but I guess there is a glimmer of hope now.”Hussey and Shaun Marsh, who has also recovered from a hamstring injury, are likely to play club cricket in Perth this weekend. Both men should return for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland starting at the WACA on Thursday.

Tottenham Hostpur have been dealt a potential setback in their bid to bring Denzel Dumfries to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that Bayern Munich are growing increasingly keen on the idea of a move for the Inter Milan wing-back this summer, with the Bundesliga side known to be looking for a player in the 26-year-old’s position, and said to be impressed by the Netherlands international’s growth and dedication as well as his technique and athletics.

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However, the report goes on to state that Tottenham are also extremely keen on the versatile defender, with Antonio Conte’s side thought to be leading the race of Premier League clubs interested in a move for the former PSV Eindhoven starlet this summer.

Paratici must move

With Conte’s desire to sign a new right wing-back this summer being well documented, it is easy to see why the Italian has taken a particular shine to the Inter Milan defender, as Dumfries has been in magnificent form for the Nerazzurri ever since his €15m (£12.5m) move to the San Siro last August.

Indeed, over his 30 Serie A appearances this season, the £34m-rated Dutchman has proven a constant threat on Simone Inzaghi’s right flank, scoring five goals, registering five assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of one shot, making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.5 dribbles per game.

The £51k-per-week 26-year-old has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 0.2 interceptions, 0.9 tackles, 0.6 clearances, 0.4 crosses and winning 3.9 duels – at a success rate of 53% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the player who Fuad Alakbarov dubbed an “exciting” talent average a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.86 – playing a key role in the Nerazzurri’s push to retain their Serie A title this season.

As such, it is clear for all to see just how well Dumfries would be suited to Conte’s right wing-back role at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, leading us to believe that Paratici simply must do everything he can to beat Bayern Munich to the €30m (£25m) signing of the player who Siavoush Fallahi dubbed a “difference maker” this summer.

AND in other news: Sources: Spurs can now seal cut-price deal for £116k-p/w “monster”, Paratici must move

The head of a Pakistan parliamentary committee on sports has resigned in frustration over the state of affairs in Pakistan cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2010The head of a Pakistan parliamentary committee on sports has resigned in frustration over the state of affairs in Pakistan cricket. Iqbal Muhammad Ali, who was chief of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports, was critical of the government for not taking adequate steps to arrest the current decline.”The state of cricket affairs is before everyone, it is in poor shape and yet nothing is being done to change the tide,” Ali told reporters in Karachi. “I am resigning because the government has not bothered to implement any of the recommendations by this committee for improvement and betterment of sports in the country.”The committee’s previous chairman was Jamshed Dasti, who had repeatedly called for the sacking of the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt in the aftermath of the 2009 attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, and even suggested that Younis Khan and his team-mates had deliberately underperformed in the Champions Trophy the same year. He was eventually asked to step down by the Supreme Court of Pakistan when it was discovered that the Masters degree he held was, in fact, fake.

Leeds United will target a new centre-back this summer, according to fresh claims…

What’s the word?

The Yorkshire giants appear to have narrowly avoided the drop this campaign after they replaced the iconic Marcelo Bielsa with Jesse Marsch back in February but their defensive problems still remain as one of the Premier League’s leakiest backlines.

However, come the off-season, it appears that a new central option will sit high on the agenda, as per journalist Pete O’Rourke, who told GIVEMESPORT:

“It’s definitely a position Leeds will be looking to strengthen this summer. We all know how many goals they’ve conceded this season, it’s been way too many.

“That’s not just down to injuries, they’ve been way too open as well, so they’ll be looking to bolster their defensive options in the summer transfer window.”

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Good news for Marsch

Indeed, the Whites’ struggles defensively this campaign have been no secret.

With four games left to play, Leeds sit five points clear of the relegation zone and prior to the weekend’s games, no team had conceded more goals (68) than Marsch’s side.

Even rock-bottom Norwich City had kept out more goals before their defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.

Things have started to improve recently, coinciding with the return of club captain Liam Cooper, who had missed the bulk of their matches from November through to March.

Diego Llorente’s form has also somewhat transformed in recent outings, whilst the American’s only other options in the role are Pascal Struijk and Robin Koch – the latter has been something of a sicknote ever since his arrival.

At times, their injury list has been so severe that vice-skipper Luke Ayling has gone into the middle to help out the team.

Therefore, it is certainly great news to see the Yorkshire side mooted with a move for a new option as Marsch is certainly going to need further quality in the area heading into next season, where they absolutely cannot flirt with the drop once again.

Leeds have already been linked with some interesting names, including the manager’s former Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol and fellow Bundesliga colossus Timo Hubers.

It’s a sign of encouragement heading into what should be a busy summer of business for Victor Orta and co.

AND in other news, Orta must launch Leeds bid for “complete” £72k-p/w gem, he could be their Luis Suarez…