All posts by n8rngtd.top

Limited-overs job would have been too “cushy” given strength of England’s white-ball teams

ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-2022The challenge of lifting England’s Test cricket from “rock bottom” instead of a “cushy” role with the limited-overs side is what attracted Brendon McCullum to his first red-ball coaching job.McCullum was confirmed as England’s Test head coach on Thursday and will take up the position in time for the series against New Zealand next month after he concludes the current IPL season with Kolkata Knight Riders.He admitted that initially it was not a job he had given much thought to but as the interview process progressed the opportunity “kind of smacked me in the head.””I looked at the two roles, the white-ball didn’t interest me as such because the team is flying, one of the best teams in the world, they’ve got Eoin Morgan who is a very good friend of mine and I know has built a structure and system which will continue well after he finishes playing,” he told radio station SENZ.Related

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• McCullum on his coaching philosophy

• Timeline: McCullum's journey from NZ captain to England coach

“I wasn’t really interested in a cushy kind of gig, for me if you are prepared to change your life for something then it’s got to be something a bit grunty, a bit meaty, and the challenge of trying to bring a team which is rock bottom at the moment, and try and build something long term that is sustainable and successful, that is more where the challenge lay.”McCullum added that it was vital for the health of Test cricket that England, who have won just one of their last 17 matches, were strong in the format. The four-year deal he has signed will take him up to the end of the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia.”For me, Test cricket is on a downward trend in terms of its popularity and where it sits and while I’m lucky enough to have a career in franchise cricket and white-ball cricket, Test cricket is my real love,” he said. “If anyone is going to be able to reinvigorate Test cricket and get it popular again then it’s going to be England.”If you can be at the forefront of that by playing an attractive brand of cricket, play with a smile on your face and try to entertain, then Test cricket has a chance. Once you strip that out it was like, crikey, I’ve got to give this a chance if they think I’m the right person.”McCullum was excited about striking up a partnership with new captain Ben Stokes – jokingly noting that it was now two New Zealanders in charge of the Test team – and called the opportunity given to him “humbling”.”The way Ben Stokes plays the game is pretty similar to how I play and how I love coaching, which is to play with a bit of freedom and try and put pressure back on the opposition,” he said.However, it did not pass him by that there may be some strange feelings on the opening day of the first Test at Lord’s on June 2. “That’s going to be a little interesting, I will say that, but at the same time there’s something kind of cool about it too.”

A round-up of the WICB Regional 4 Day Tournament games played between December 7-10, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Dec-2017An unbeaten half-century from Denesh Ramdin helped Trinidad and Tobago salvage a draw against Jamaica at Sabina Park after the visitors had been reduced to 123 for 6 on the back of a Reynard Leveridge three-for following Jamaica’s first-innings lead of 292.Ramdin stitched together an unbroken 40-run stand for the seventh wicket with Imran Khan (17*), playing out 26.3 overs to take T&T to 163 for 6 at the close of play on the final day, even as Odean Smith, Damion Jacobs and John Campbell abetted Leveridge’s strikes with one wicket apiece.That T&T found themselves staring at defeat on the fourth day was largely down to the twin centuries from John Campbell and the Jamaica captain Paul Palmer, whose 156 and 136 respectively, contributed to the hosts’ mammoth first-innings tally of 535. The duo pinched a combined 23 fours and eight sixes, and were aided by fifties from Brandon King (63), Smith (54) and wicketkeeper Aldane Thomas, who fell one short of his maiden first-class half-century. Despite a four-for from Daniel St Clair and Khan’s 3 for 180, the 157-run third-wicket stand between King and Campbell and three other fifty stands from the Jamaica batsmen ensured the home side had taken a lead more than double the total T&T had put on the board in their first dig.Having elected to bat, T&T had could only amass 243, despite a 71-run opening stand between Amir Jangoo (39) and Jeremy Solozano (62). A four-wicket haul each from medium-pacer Derval Green and allrounder Campbell meant T&T could put only one more fifty stand – worth 73, for the third wicket – before being bowled out inside 82.5 overs on the opening day.Rahkeem Cornwall took a five-for against the Indians•AFP

Jomel Warrican’s 6 for 89 nearly snared a win for Barbados at St Kitts, but Devon Thomas’ fourth first-class century and some plucky lower-order resistance from Gavin Tonge and Jeremiah Louis ensured Leeward Islands scrambled to a draw in the closing hours of the final day.Barbados’ decision to declare on 163 for 4 – having set Leeward a target of 312 – on the final day found validation as Warrican and Kenroy Williams removed the openers inside 11 overs with only 57 on the scoreboard. Subsequent strikes from Warrican and Hayden Walsh reduced their opponents to 133 for 4, before Thomas’ 103 steered a 108-run fifth-wicket stand with Akeem Saunders (64), to put Leeward 71 runs away from victory. Saunders’ dismissal, however, led to Leewards losing 4 for 47 in the space of 11.5 overs but Tonge and Louis played out 32 balls for their unbroken eight-run stand to stave off any possibilities of a defeat.Earlier, despite having dealt the first blow through Rahkeem Cornwall in the 12th over of the match, Leeward struggled to follow up with regular strikes as Sheyne Moseley anchored a 133-run second-wicket stand with captain Shamarh Brooks (79) with his 303-ball 117. Moseley added another 52 with Jonathan Carter for the third wicket, to take his side to 221 for 2, before Barbados lost five wickets for 36. Justin Greaves’ unbeaten 79 helped lift Barbados from 257 for 7 to 394 as Cornwall completed his 13th first-class five-for 116 runs.Leeward’s response was headlined by a solitary half-century from Montcin Hodge (82) as Hayden Walsh and Kevin Stoute cleaned up the opposition line-up with a six-for and a four-wicket haul respectively. Leeward could only manage 246, with Hodge barely finding any support from the other batsmen – none of whom could notch up a score beyond 31 – and ended up conceding a 148-run first-innings lead.

Spinner backs up first-innings five-for as on-loan teen Jacob Bethell impresses in Gloucestershire’s second innings

ECB Reporters Network14-May-2022Somerset steamrollered Gloucestershire’s patched-up team to complete a record-breaking LV= County Championship victory by an innings and 246 runs inside three days at Bristol.It was the Cider county’s biggest ever margin of victory over their arch-rivals, which was previously by an innings and 170 at Taunton back in 1893, a match in which WG Grace featured for the visitors.Gloucestershire, without injured skipper Graeme van Buuren, were bowled out for 186 in their first innings from an overnight 119 for 4, Jack Leach finishing with 5 for 49 from 25.4 overs.There was no respite for a home side including three new loan signings when they followed on 405 behind beneath cloudless skies. Leach completed match figures of 8 for 90, while teenager Jacob Bethell hit 61 in a total of 159.Somerset took 23 points to Gloucestershire’s one and have now reeled off successive victories after losing their first three Championship fixtures.With van Burren nursing a shoulder injury sustained in the field on day two, Somerset needed only five wickets at the start of the day to wrap up their opponents’ first innings.Bethell, on a one-match loan to Gloucestershire from Warwickshire, began with a sweet on-drive for four off Craig Overton and followed up with another boundary in the same over.There was concern for Somerset when Overton was forced off by a twinge in his left knee, but the England all-rounder was able to return to bowl at the end of the innings.Josh Davey made the breakthrough for Somerset with the total on 144, rapping Ryan Higgins on the back pad and pinning him lbw for 31, before quickly having Zafar Gofar taken at slip.Lewis Gregory uprooted Zak Chappell’s middle stump and the impressive Bethell fell leg-before on the back foot to Leach for 37 as Gloucestershire lurched to 152 for 8.Last pair Matt Taylor and Brad Wheal offered some resistance, taking the total to 186 for 8 at lunch. Taylor finished 24 not out when Wheal fell lbw to a ball from Leach that appeared to keep low.Gloucestershire’s second innings had reached 24 in the ninth over when George Scott edged Peter Siddle straight to James Hildreth at second slip.Marcus Harris fell on the same total, miscuing a pull shot off Overton and skying a catch to Tom Lammonby at mid-on. It was 28 for 3 when Miles Hammond nicked a ball from Davey through to wicketkeeper Steve Davies.Higgins was caught behind for 16 trying to force Gregory off the back foot and by tea Gloucestershire were in disarray at 74 for 4.Bethell had again given a lesson in technique to more experienced colleagues. But any hopes of a recovery disappeared in the over after the interval when James Bracey swept Leach and Tom Abell took an outstanding catch, one-handed above his head at backward square leg.Luck continued to desert injury-plagued Gloucestershire as Bethell slipped when called for a quick single off Leach by Zafar Gohar, who was forced to turn back and failed to beat Abell’s throw to the bowler’s end.Chappell was bowled off an inside edge for 20 by Overton, who then took a low catch at second slip off Leach to remove Taylor.Bethell’s mature batting in a crisis brought him a deserved half-century off 84 balls, with eight fours. But when he swept Leach into the hands of Lammonby at deep square, Somerset celebrated an overwhelming success.

Australia and New Zealand meet in the inaugural final of the Trans-Tasman T20 tri-series at Eden Park

The Preview by Andrew Miller20-Feb-2018

Big Picture

England’s coach Trevor Bayliss may be of the opinion that there’s no place for T20 internationals in a crowded calendar, but try telling that to the combatants in Wednesday’s final of the inaugural T20 tri-series in Auckland. Or indeed to the Eden Park crowd, who were treated last Friday to an astonishingly run-laden exhibition from the same two teams. Short boundaries, big hits, finely crafted specialist teams. Not to mention the prospect of NZD50,000 bounties if anyone clings on to a one-handed stunner in the stands. What’s not to like?It’s all a far cry from the permed hair and Frank Zappa moustaches that greeted Australia and New Zealand’s maiden T20 encounter at Auckland 13 years ago. Like the format as a whole, the world’s first T20 international may have been treated as a gimmick by its participants, but the game has got rather more serious in recent times.Australia, rightly, go into the final as favourites, but in the course of a dominant group stage, they have settled upon an astonishingly power-packed line-up. A key priority going into the tournament was to rest the likes of Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and other bankers of the 50-over and Test teams, but with this year’s Big Bash cementing several specialist reputations, the men at Australia’s disposal could hardly be more perfectly crafted to their roles.After a subdued Ashes and a struggle in the opening games, David Warner rediscovered his joie de vivre at Auckland with 59 from 24 balls, where D’Arcy Short’s free-spirited walloping alongside him no doubt reminded him of his own T20 origins. Glenn Maxwell’s Big Show has been in full flow throughout the tournament, not least in his one-man obliteration of England at Hobart, and with Andrew Tye’s illegible slower balls and Billy Stanlake’s cloud-snagging seamers leading the line with the ball, their opponents have often found no place to hide.That said, New Zealand are fully capable of some fireworks of their own. Colin Munro and Martin Guptill will probably still be wondering how they failed to set their side up for victory at Auckland last week, after plundering 132 runs in a 10.3-over opening stand, with Guptill going on to complete a national-record 49-ball hundred.Even so, they come into the match with a record of four defeats in their last five T20Is, after being pipped to the post by a subdued England in their final group game on Sunday. It mattered not in the bigger picture – England had already been edged out of qualification on net run rate by the time Tom Curran closed out the final over. But it sums up the challenge, even on a favoured home ground, of stopping the Australian juggernaut.

Form guide

New Zealand LLWLL(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia WWWWW

In the spotlight

David Warner has deferred the obvious question to his ranking officer, Steve Smith. But nevertheless, his leadership in Smith’s absence of a dynamic T20 outfit has been eye-catching, and were he to lift the Trans-Tasman Trophy with a perfect five-out-of-five record, it would heighten the suspicion that, for all his stellar achievements in the Test arena this year, Smith’s time in the shortest format has expired. Both as a batsman and a captain, Warner has already been planning for the unique angular challenge of Eden Park’s short boundaries. How he clears them himself, and places his own fielders in turn, will be critical to the outcome.It’s been a feast-and-famine fortnight for Warner’s New Zealand counterpart, Kane Williamson. One stunning performance, 72 from 46 balls against England in their Wellington victory, and three single-figure scores in his remaining games, including a grand total of nine runs from 23 balls for twice out against Australia. Williamson’s class cannot be disputed. But if New Zealand are to post the sort of total that can be defended against Australia’s rampant line-up, he’ll need to find his top gear from the outset.

Teams news

No changes anticipated to the New Zealand side that lost by two runs in their final group game against England. Mitchell Santner, who missed the last Auckland run-fest, will be back in the reckoning ahead of the hapless Ben Wheeler, who was spanked for 64 runs in 3.1 overs against Australia.New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Mark Chapman, 6 Colin de Grandhomme, 7 Tim Seifert (wk), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Trent BoultA settled and explosive line-up. It says something for Australia’s current depth that a player of the pedigree of Aaron Finch has had to find a niche at No.5 since his return from injury. It also says something that he has pounded 56 not out from 19 balls across his two innings to date.Australia (probable) 1 David Warner (capt), 2 D’Arcy Short, 3 Chris Lynn, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Aaron Finch, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Ashton Agar, 9 Andrew Tye, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Billy Stanlake

Pitch and conditions

It’s been damp in Auckland recently, but the on-field fireworks haven’t exactly fizzled. Another run-laden batting track is anticipated, while the ground’s short straight boundaries will guarantee more runs – even from top-edges – than might be expected at more conventional venues. “You just have to suck it up a bit,” says Williamson. Not half.

Stats and trivia

• Despite it being their favoured T20 venue, New Zealand haven’t enjoyed their recent visits to Eden Park. They have lost each of their last four T20s in Auckland, with last week’s Australia victory following wins for South Africa and Pakistan (twice).
• Their group-stage clash in Auckland featured a world-record run-chase from Australia, but not a world-record aggregate. That accolade, by one run (489 to 488) remains with West Indies’ victory over India in Lauderhill in 2016.

Quotes

“There was nothing you could do. We tried to execute our yorkers, we did, they still went for four. A short-pitched ball went for six off a top edge. Those sorts of things, you’ve just got to stand there and laugh and smile, because it’s challenging when you’re at these small venues.”
“If we look back at that last game, the difference of half an over – or each ball – can be the deciding moment in a game.”
Kane Williamson takes his own lessons from the same game.

Royal Challengers will be without Harshal in the game against captain du Plessis’ former side

S Sudarshanan11-Apr-20222:35

How do RCB cope with Harshal’s absence? Who should be CSK’s overseas four?

Big Picture

One has to go way back to 2010 to find the last time Chennai Super Kings lost four IPL matches on the trot. And they’ve never lost four at the start of the season. In this ten-team tournament, they are already in a situation where another defeat could all but end their season. Their opponents, Royal Challengers Bangalore, are being led by one of their own in Faf du Plessis and are in the top half of the table with three wins in four outings.Super Kings are indeed missing the du Plessis touch at the top with the bat. A struggling Ruturaj Gaikwad has taken sheen off the quick, fiery starts Robin Uthappa has been getting off to, which has hampered the side. That head coach Stephen Fleming lamented the batting, bowling and fielding after the loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad indicates that the self-belief of the four-time champions is on shaky grounds.But Gaikwad takes a liking to Mohammed Siraj’s pace, having a strike rate of 147 against the fast bowler without being dismissed. He also enjoyed playing Wanindu Hasaranga with a strike rate of 162 in three innings.Related

• Fleming admits CSK's self-belief is shaken

• Who is Anuj Rawat, and why did RCB pay big for him?

• Harshal Patel leaves RCB bubble after sister's death

Super Kings have a run rate of just over seven in the middle overs – between the seventh and the 16th overs – just a shade better than that of the low-ranked Mumbai Indians. Royal Challengers, on the other hand, have been accelerating in the same phase, as evident from their run rate of 9.13, which is the second-best.But throw in a Siraj and a Siddarth Kaul, who could make his way in for a bereaved Harshal Patel, against MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu, the picture could be a touch different. Rayudu’s strike rates against Siraj and Kaul are 158 and 174, with Dhoni’s corresponding numbers reading 182 and 172.Even though both teams haven’t picked up wickets in clusters in the powerplay – Super Kings have one while Royal Challengers have four to show – the latter have managed to keep the run-scoring under eight while the former have conceded runs at 8.62 an over. Eight sixes have been hit against the Super Kings bowlers in the first six overs, which is the joint second-most in the season so far.With Anuj Rawat also showing his six-hitting prowess in the game against Mumbai Indians, Super Kings have another top-order left-hander to contend with after Abhishek Sharma pummeled them into submission. With Dinesh Karthik striking at over 200 – the most by anybody to have batted at least in three innings – Royal Challengers seem to have their batting sorted, with all of du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Shahbaz Ahmed having contributed in one game or the other. Karthik also strikes in excess of 155 against Chris Jordan, Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja.While the Super Kings have had the upper hand over their southern neighbours winning 18 off the 28 encounters, the time seems opportune for Royal Challengers to better that record.Shivam Dube muscles one over the leg side•BCCI

In the news

Royal Challengers will be without Harshal Patel, who has left the bubble due to the demise of his sister. It is not known yet when he would return. In order to re-enter the IPL bubble, he will have to undergo a three-day quarantine. Australia quick Josh Hazlewood is available for the game.

Likely XIs

Chennai Super Kings: 1 Robin Uthappa, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Shivam Dube 6 Ravindra Jadeja (capt), 7 MS Dhoni (wk), 8 Dwayne Bravo, 9 Dwaine Pretorius 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Mukesh Choudhary/Tushar DeshpandeRoyal Challengers Bangalore: 1 Faf du Plessis (capt), 2 Anuj Rawat, 3 Virat Kohli 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Shahbaz Ahmed, 7 David Willey, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Siddarth Kaul, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Akash Deep

Strategy Punt

Out of Wanindu Hasaranga’s eight wickets thus far, seven have been against right-handers. He has an economy over nine against left-handers and Super Kings have three in Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube, who can pose problems. In the two matches where Dube got a score of note – 57 versus Punjab Kings and 49 against Lucknow Super Giants – he had come in to bat in the sixth and eighth over respectively. Super Kings need to back Dube to bat more overs by having him enter around the seventh or eighth over mark. That could help them minimise the Hasaranga threat as the legspinner is not quite at home against left-handers. Moreover, Dube’s strike-rate against spin since IPL 2021 is 135 and he has been dismissed by spinners just three times in 12 innings.

Stats that matter

• Moeen has been out to Glenn Maxwell twice in four innings and averages just 5.5 against him with a strike rate of 73.
• Dhoni has scored 51 off the 28 balls he has faced against Mohammed Siraj and is yet to be dismissed by the pacer.
• Although Dinesh Karthik has a strike rate of 155 and 159 against Dwayne Bravo and Jadeja, he has been dismissed three times each by them.
• Super Kings will be the sixth team to play 200 IPL matches after Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings.

The Pakistan coach feels his batsmen did not stick to their roles, and his bowlers abandoned good plans too quickly against India

Shashank Kishore in Dubai20-Sep-20181:05

We were soft, and batted outside our roles – Mickey Arthur

If the Pakistan players were looking for some consolation from their coach Mickey Arthur after an eight-wicket pounding from India on Wednesday, they found none. There was no sugar coating, just an honest appraisal of what went wrong.The first glaring mistake was deviating from set plans. In nine ODIs coming into the India game, never mind that five of them were against a second-string Zimbabwe team, Imam-ul-Haq had been the grafter who looked to bat through. While he has four hundreds in these games, sceptics have felt his batting style is out-dated.On Wednesday, after facing seven deliveries for two runs, he had a Shahid Afridi moment though – advancing down the pitch to heave Bhuvneshwar Kumar after Jasprit Bumrah had bowled a maiden over to Fakhar Zaman. Imam isn’t the adventurous kind, even if he steps out. The result was a thin edge leading edge through to MS Dhoni, and Pakistan had lost a wicket in the third over.”I think the pressure told on Imam,” Arthur said. “That’s not in his area. If he comes down, he’s going to be going extra cover, not midwicket, so yes I do think there was a little bit of pressure.”Arthur wasn’t against the idea of hitting over the top, but said the team management had worked overtime to drill into each player their role. Fakhar, for example, has been empowered to biff the bowling without worrying about repercussions, because anything else would be tweaking his natural ability.”We’ve got guys, X-factor guys whose role it is to do that [hit out],” Arthur said. “If Fakhar gets out playing that way, then it’s okay, because that’s what he needs to do. If Asif Ali gets out like that it’s okay because that’s his role. But the other four batsmen certainly need to take responsibility. And I just thought we were soft – 158 dot balls out of 258 played is not good enough.”With the middle order exposed early, Pakistan’s experienced batsmen had time to forge a recovery, and while crease occupation was important, they had to be mindful of runs too. It was in trying to step out and loft Kedar Jadhav over long-on that Sarfraz Ahmed was caught brilliantly on the boundary by Manish Pandey. Babar Azam had looked compact, but was out stepping out to Kuldeep Yadav. Then a mix-up with Asif Ali cost Shoaib Malik his wicket. In the end, a tame 162 all out in 43.1 overs was all they had.The deviation from plans wasn’t just restricted to their batting. After giving away just 15 runs off the first six overs with the ball, Pakistan could have looked to build pressure by continuing to bowl full and swing the ball. Strangely enough, Usman Khan decided to adopt a short-ball strategy from around the stumps to Rohit Sharma, and saw the plan spectacularly backfire as Rohit played the hook to perfection.”On a wicket like that you need to strike really if you’re going to defend it. We didn’t strike early enough,” Arthur said. “We went away from our plans too quickly. We said that our batters batted outside our roles and that wasn’t acceptable. With our bowling, we went outside our plans far too quickly. We wanted to bowl hard lengths, hit the top of off stump.”It was tough to score then. We did that in the first six, and then [Usman Khan] Shinwari decided to come around the wicket and bowl a bouncer with fine leg up. And from there it just tumbled. We’re going to sit down and talk about that. It’s not good enough. We went outside our plans. That’s not acceptable. I think there was a bit of panic when they didn’t strike early.”It wasn’t just Usman’s poor outing that concerned Arthur. He was also mindful of the growing pressure on Mohammad Amir, whose struggle for wickets since last year’s Champions Trophy is becoming an Achilles heel, but was encouraged by what he saw in the six overs Amir bowled.”I’d be lying if I sat here and said there wasn’t [any concern about Amir],” he said. “I had a really good, long hard chat with him last night and I thought he came out and bowled really well. He hit the crease really hard. He ran in well. He’s been decelerating to the crease, but he didn’t do that today. Today he seemed more fluent, there was a little bit more pace there. And I was comfortable [with what he did], he bowled well tonight. There is pressure on him, of course there is.”With the assessment of his team done, Arthur was asked how an attack that almost failed to defend 286 against Hong Kong just the previous day transformed itself. Arthur put this down to the Bumrah factor.”You see what a difference Bumrah makes to their attack,” he said. “I thought their spinners bowled better, their lengths were far better than they were last night [v Hong Kong]. So I think they were better for the hit out. As far us, whenever we go head-to-head with India, I am comfortable that we’ve got a dressing room of players who can stand up to it. I am comfortable we’ve got a dressing room of players who, on any given day, can win. So I still think it’s a 50-50. Lucky this game was inconsequential in the tournament.”

ESPNcricinfo understands CSA was not intending to stop Lee from participating in the Hundred, but was concerned with a perceived lack of discipline

Firdose Moonda17-Jul-2022Lizelle Lee has accused Cricket South Africa of threatening to deny her an NOC to participate in the Hundred and said national coach Hilton Moreeng was aware of the organisation’s actions, which contributed to her retirement. Both Moreeng and CSA have rejected Lee’s assertions.The opening batter stepped away from international cricket on July 8, saying she was “ready for the next phase of my career”, and would continue playing franchise T20 cricket but provided no other reasons for quitting until today. After Moreeng was asked at a press conference whether CSA’s alleged refusal to let Lee play in the Hundred led to her premature retirement, he said, “No comment, I was not aware of that.” Lee, however, tweeted that Moreeng “was definitely aware”. She also said, “I told him in person and it was said in a meeting with CSA”, but clarified that Moreeng “was not in that meeting.”Lee later reiterated to ESPNcricinfo that Moreeng was aware of the development.ESPNcricinfo understands that CSA was not intending to prevent Lee from participating in the Hundred, but was concerned with a perceived lack of discipline, including not being on time for the team schedule and having a disrupting influence on others. Efforts to bring Lee in line with her team-mates were attempted but failed, leading to her retirement. Sources confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that CSA is willing to provide NOCs to all its players contracted to teams in the Hundred, as usual. The tournament does not clash with any of South Africa’s other engagements.Related

• Marizanne Kapp: Lizelle Lee's retirement has been 'mentally tough' for South Africa

• Lizelle Lee, leading woman cricketer in the world in 2021

• Lizelle Lee retires from international cricket

Lee, who missed South Africa’s recently completed series in Ireland as she recovered from Covid-19, travelled to England and played in the one-off Test. She also played in the warm-up match against England A on July 4. Four days later, she announced her retirement, which blindsided everyone from Marizanne Kapp to Moreeng. “The retirement came as a shock for everyone. It’s not anything anyone expected to happen, especially on a tour that we were looking forward to,” Moreeng said. “It caught everyone by surprise.”Moreeng went on to praise Lee’s contribution over the last nine years, which included two Tests, 100 ODIs and 82 T20Is and, at one stage saw her ranked No.1 in the world among batters in ODI cricket.”Like she highlighted in her statement, she has given her all for the country, she’s enjoyed it and we also enjoyed having her as a player, the players have enjoyed having her as a team-mate and she had an incredible career,” Moreeng said. “At the end of the day, we need to respect the player’s decision although it is tough on everyone, because we didn’t foresee it was going to happen so quickly. We knew that one of these days it’s going to happen and now it’s for us to respect it and just give her some space. She’s made her decision. We thank her for the time she has given to the Proteas and she will always be remembered as one of those that played incredible cricket for the country.”Lee’s absence has affected South Africa’s batting and headspace, as Kapp confirmed after their loss on Friday night. South Africa have been bowled out for under 225 in both matches and their line-up has appeared listless. Moreeng recognised their shortcomings but stressed that it would be difficult to find someone in Lee’s mould immediately.”To try and replace Lizelle is not something that can happen overnight. There are players that are capable and they can still take the game forward but they need to be scoring consistently,” he said. “Lizelle is not a player you can replace overnight because of how explosive and dynamic she was. In the future hopefully we will find a similar player who can go out and be as explosive as her.”

After being pummelled in the Tests, Bangladesh turned things around by winning the ODIs, and would hope to carry the same form into the T20Is

The Preview by Mohammad Isam31-Jul-2018

Big Picture

After a chastening defeat in the ODIs, West Indies would look to bounce back in the three-match T20I series, a format in which they are known to play with more flamboyance. Bangladesh would be at the other end of the confidence spectrum, having just won an ODI series away from home for the first time since 2009.West Indies have plenty of firepower to call upon. Despite the absence of Chris Gayle, who was rested, West Indies have Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher in the top order, alongside Marlon Samuels, Carlos Brathwaite, an in-form Rovman Powell, and the returning Andre Russell, to bat through the 20 overs. Chadwick Walton and Denesh Ramdin can provide big hits of their own, too.The bowling attack, comprising Samuel Badree, Sheldon Cottrell, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul and Kesrick Williams would be further bolstered with the availability of Russell and Brathwaite. Although Cottrell’s patchy performance in the third ODI might concern them.Bangladesh have plenty of batting experience in their ranks. Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah were among the runs in the ODI series. But that only underscores Bangladesh’s overdependence on the senior pros, especially given Sabbir Rahman and Mosaddek Hossain’s parched run in the ODIs. Liton Das, who sat out the ODIs, is likely to get some game-time, alongside allrounders Soumya Sarkar and Ariful Haque, who are also part of the T20I squad.Mustafizur Rahman will once again lead the bowling attack, with Rubel Hossain, Abu Hider and Abu Jayed for company in the pace department. Mehidy Hassan Miraz, who has been in good form, and left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam, considered a T20 specialist, could both be in contention for a place in the XI.

Form guide

West Indies WLLLL (completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLLW

In the spotlight

Rovman Powell‘s unbeaten 41-ball 74 in the third ODI came after a contrasting but decisive 44 in the previous game. In the T20Is, however, it will be his big-hitting ability, which will be required in the slog overs.Mahmudullah will be Bangladesh’s go-to batsman when it comes to slogging in the death overs. He possesses the unique ability of being able to hit cleanly from the outset in pressure situations.

Team news

With Chris Gayle rested, Andre Fletcher and Evin Lewis are expected to open. Rovman Powell’s big-hitting in the third ODI should be enough to win him a place in the XI as well.West Indies (probable): 1 Evin Lewis, 2 Andre Fletcher, 3 Marlon Samuels, 4 Denesh Ramdin, 5 Andre Russell, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Carlos Brathwaite (capt), 8 Keemo Paul, 9 Ashley Nurse, 10 Samuel Badree, 11 Kesrick WilliamsFrom the XI Bangladesh fielded against Afghanistan in June, Abu Hider is likely to make way for Mustafizur Rahman, while Ariful Haque could retain his place at No. 7, ahead of Sabbir Rahman. Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das are likely to bat in the top order with Tamim Iqbal.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Liton Das, 2 Tamim Iqbal, 3 Soumya Sarkar, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Ariful Haque, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Mustafizur Rahman, 10 Nazmul Islam, 11 Abu Jayed

Pitch and conditions

West Indies beat Afghanistan in all three T20Is at Warner Park last year. The ground offers no obvious advantage to teams batting first or second. The weather in Basseterre is likely to be dry.

Stats and trivia

• Sabbir Rahman is 94 runs away from becoming the fifth Bangladeshi to reach 1,000 T20I runs.
• Bangladesh have only once won a three-match T20I series, beating Ireland in 2012.

Quotes

“Majority of the boys have come from the Canada T20 and have been doing very well there. Traditionally we’ve been powerhouses and it’s a matter every time we get together. We will continue to exert that dominance.”
“T20 is West Indies’ most favoured format. T20s are our most difficult format. But I feel if we play to the best of our ability, it is possible to win the series.”

Nottinghamshire, already assured of a home quarter-final, suffer only second defeat of season

ECB Reporters Network16-Jul-2021Nottinghamshire Outlaws, already assured of a home quarter-final, suffered only a second defeat of the season in the Vitality Blast as bottom-of-the-table Leicestershire Foxes won by two wickets with two balls to spare.Josh Inglis and Arron Lilley were joint top-scorers with 42 and though the Foxes suffered some jitters after needing 35 from 25 balls and six off the last over, Naveen-ul-Haq hit back-to-back fours off former Leicestershire fast bowler Zak Chappell to get them over line after Steven Mullaney had taken 3 for 33 and Calvin Harrison 2 for 21.The Foxes had dismissed Nottinghamshire for 173 in 19.2 overs, Naveen picking up 3 for 33 and Colin Ackermann 3 for 35. Joe Clarke hit 57 in 27 balls and Ben Duckett 45 off 27 but the Outlaws lost their last six wickets for 22 runs, Lilley holding four outfield catches.Ackermann claimed an early blow for the Foxes after winning the toss when Alex Hales hit a full toss straight to deep midwicket but Clarke launched Gavin Griffiths for back-to-back sixes and Naveen for three consecutive fours as the Outlaws ended the Powerplay on 62 for 1.Clarke struck two more sixes off Ben Mike as he reached fifty from 24 balls and cleared long-on for a fifth six as Ackermann returned, only to follow Hales in finding Lilley at deep midwicket. Three fours in a row by Duckett off Ackermann advanced the total to 110 for 2 at halfway.Lilley then applied the brakes with the ball, conceding only 20 in his four overs of off-spin and dismissing Mullaney as the Outlaws innings fell apart. The demise of Duckett, leg before sweeping, sparked the loss of their last six wickets for 22 in 23 deliveries, Naveen taking three wickets in seven balls.The Foxes lost Rishi Patel early but with Inglis hitting sixes off Dane Paterson, Chappell and Matt Carter and Lilley another off Samit Patel, the home side were ahead of what was needed at 75 for 1 after six.Inglis and Lilley fell in turn to Harrison, both perhaps guilty of taking liberties with the young leg-spinner, Inglis hitting straight to long-on, Lilley comfortably stumped, yet at 107 for 3 after 10 overs, the game was there to be won.Scares followed for the home crowds as Harry Swindells was caught behind off a bottom edge, Ackermann sliced to short third man, Lewis Hill ramped straight to short fine leg, Louis Kimber was caught at midwicket and Callum Parkinson at cover but Naveen picked up four off the edge before pulling Chappell for the winning boundary.

The offspinner, who was left out of the India squad for the limited-overs matches against Sri Lanka and Australia, said he hasn’t done much wrong to remain on the sidelines

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-20174:17

Exclusive: Want to make a difference in 2019 World Cup – Ashwin

Since the 2015 World Cup, R Ashwin has played only 15 of India’s 47 ODIs, taking 17 wickets at an average of 40.58. During the same period, left-arm spinners Axar Patel (23) and Ravindra Jadeja (17) played more ODIs than Ashwin. More recently, when Ashwin was dropped for the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka and the ongoing series at home against Australia, wristspinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal impressed and offered a fresh edge to the attack.Ashwin, however, has said he had not done much wrong to remain on the sidelines of India’s limited-overs team.”I am not desperate at all,” Ashwin, who is currently playing the Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu, said .”One day, the opportunity will come knocking on my door because I haven’t done too much wrong. So when I get the opportunity and when I am put in an occasion, I will probably try and raise my game to the best of my ability.”While naming the squad for the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka, chairman of selectors, MSK Prasad stressed that fitness would be a key parameter while picking the 2019 World Cup squad. Later in August, India’s coach Ravi Shastri echoed Prasad’s comments and wanted his side to have the “best fielding XI” at the World Cup.”I am a man for systems and any system put in place, I would strive my level best to try and match up to it,” Ashwin said, when asked about fitness. “Every leader has his own vision of how to bring the team about. This is the vision of the current leadership group and it’s important to respect it.”I have been in great conditioning ever since I missed the IPL. I have trained madly. You have to take the (Yo-Yo test) and decide how it goes. But I am completely in compliance with it.”Since the start of India’s 13-Test home season last year, Ashwin has bagged 99 wickets in 16 Tests, including eight five-wicket hauls at 25.38. With India set to tour South Africa at the end of this year, and later England and Australia – where pitches tend to offer less assistance to spin – Ashwin recognised the need to shift from an attacking role to a supporting role.”For me, its all about bowling well and trying to get into top rhythm,” he said. “It is about constantly revisiting my best. Maybe, I will not be the type of attacking bowler when we tour abroad. I need to do a good holding role.”