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Ashley Giles, Warwickshire’s director of cricket, has been appointed the head coach of England’s ODI and T20 teams

David Hopps28-Nov-2012Ashley Giles, Warwickshire’s director of cricket, has been appointed the head coach of England’s ODI and T20 teams, paving the way for Andy Flower to take significant breaks from touring.Flower, who took over as England team director in April 2009, will continue to be have overall accountability for England cricket and tour with the England Test side but he will no longer be responsible for the day to day leadership of the ODI and T20 teams, with Giles assuming that role and being accountable to Flower. Giles will also remain as an England selector.Hugh Morris, managing director of England cricket, said that Flower’s abandonment of his one-day role was necessary to achieve “a realistic and sustainable work-life balance”.It remains to be seen whether the Professional Cricketers’ Association will now argue in impending negotiations on the small print of England’s new central contracts that this work-life balance should apply to players as well as coaches, a certain Kevin Pietersen being an easy point of reference.Giles travelled to India as England’s selector on tour and is regarded within the ECB as a natural successor to Flower. His appointment sees him leave his post at Warwickshire, whom he guided to the County Championship last season.His first task will be to halt England’s dreadful run of ODI results in India. They have lost 12 and tied one of the last 13 matches, with the previous victory coming back in 2006.Giles, back at his beloved Edgbaston, where he has served both as player and coach for the past 20 years, said that he had first been approached about a potential coaching role in India three weeks ago.”There was a possibility of me taking the one-day squad to India after Christmas. Then it developed to if there was a restructuring would I be interested and the answer was ‘yes’. I have never hidden the ambition to coach internationally.”There was obviously a concern about the workload for the head coach and, if they split the roles and there was restructuring, what the roles and responsibilities would look like. There were things that could come up – selection, the rest and rotation policy and results. It was about getting your head around what it would look like as a split role.”Giles captured a prevailing mood among coaches when he predicted that the high level of international cricket makes shared coaching roles inevitable.”It’s started with captains, we are now seeing it with players – the rest and rotation of players is going to be important for keeping them fit and fresh for the really big tournaments – and now it’s coaches.”Andy has been a brilliant coach and rather than burning out your best people and then get rid of them you need to keep them as long as you can and this structure allows you to do that.”This could be the new edge that we need. It’s important that we and Andy work closely together. Andy ultimately is the boss and I will report to him, but we will work closely on strategy and selection.”It definitely allows you much more time to plan properly for series, to spend time with the analysts and some of the one-day players and watch one-day cricket domestically and see young guys coming through as well as the importance of the work-life balance for the head coach.””There will be times when we have disagreements but we have disagreements in a room and we get over then very quickly.”Giles has long been identified within the ECB as a candidate for a leading coaching role. As a player he was highly valued by one captain, Michael Vaughan, in particular, and his reputation for even-handedness ensured that his dual role of selector and Warwickshire coach never brought the qualms which it might have done in different hands.”I hope I’m a better coach and a lot of that is through experience: consistently talking about cricket, working with people, managing different individuals, managing your management team, working with your boss, budgets and committees,” he said. “I hope I have been a decent sponge. I like to suck all that stuff up.”I’m pretty well-structured, I think I’m fair, I’m straight with people if I think they are out of line I tell them.”He is not unduly perturbed by the fact that he has been a team mate of several players in the England side. “There are still people I have played with, but I have been retired six years now. I hope people don’t think I am going to take it easy on them because I have played with them.”I suppose when I first came to Warwickshire as coach because I was an old player some people tried to take the mick a bit or steal a yard but if you are consistently clear with what the message is there is only one way to go.”A Championship title for Warwickshire will do no harm to his authority. Giles’ four-day sides have played consistent, pragmatic, disciplined cricket. They lost the title to Lancashire only in the last hour of the season in 2011 and won handsomely a year later. “I guess it’s good for the CV and good the confidence,” he said. But it is in the shorter game where he must now make an impact.”

There’s a 60% chance of thunderstorms in Brisbane on Tuesday

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-2021The weather in Brisbane on Tuesday could be the deciding factor in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. There’s a 60% chance of thunderstorms – probably in the afternoon for an hour – and a 51% chance of precipitation, according to the Accuweather website. The BBC predicts heavy rain overnight too, which could lead to a delayed start. The Gabba does, however, have good drainage so that needs to be factored in too.To recap: India need 324 runs to win the match or bat out the day to save it, Australia need ten wickets to win the match and the trophy. There will be a maximum of 98 overs bowled from the planned early start. But the weather will hold the key.Weather forecast, Brisbane•Accuweather

Monday’s play saw approximately 40 minutes lost in two stoppages because of the rain; the last shower started at 5.07pm local time and play eventually had to be called off 23 minutes early.In that time, Mohammed Siraj led the way in dismissing Australia for 294 in the second innings, as his 5 for 73 ensured India had to chase not more than 328. Shardul Thakur snared 4 for 61 himself, as the hosts counterattacked through Steven Smith’s 55. Cameron Green, Tim Paine and Pat Cummins also made crucial contributions for Australia, before rain ended the day with India on 4 without loss in the chase.

The Renegades folded for 60 after the defending champions had taken 130 off their last 10 overs

Andrew McGlashan13-Dec-2020Sydney Sixers 4 for 205 (Philippe 95, Silk 45*) beat Melbourne Renegades 60 (Dwarshuis 4-13) by 145 runsJosh Philippe is still waiting for his first Australia cap, but it can’t be far away. He fell five runs short of a maiden T20 hundred as his superbly-paced 95 set up defending champions Sydney Sixers for their first win of the season, before the Melbourne Renegades put in an embarrassing batting display to slump to the heaviest defeat in the BBL.Philippe, who struggled to get into top gear and was dropped on 24, formed stands of 78 with stand-in captain Daniel Hughes and a destructive 70 in five overs with Jordan Silk who finished with 45 off 19 deliveries. Despite losing a wicket to the first ball of the Power Surge, the Sixers took 32 off the two overs – the best so far in the tournament.The Renegades only avoided beating their own record for the lowest total in BBL history (57) when Kane Richardson connected with a late six but two balls later he was cleaned up by Ben Dwarshuis who finished with 4 for 13.A hug from the coachThe maturing nature of Philippe’s batting stood out last season when he was a central figure in the Sixers’ title – including the match-winning innings in the rain-reduced final – and it was on display again here. He wasn’t slow at any point but things weren’t quite flowing as he sat on 27 off 24 balls after eight overs. By then the Sixers had lost two wickets, including the in-form James Vince who edged a sharp delivery from Richardson, and Philippe had been given his life when Beau Webster spilled a caught-and-bowled chance in the seventh over.But as the innings approached the halfway mark, Philippe found his touch, ending the 10th over with a six and a four against Jon Holland. During drinks, and the tactical chat, he got a hug from coach Greg Shipperd which suggested things had gone to plan. Two overs later he had a half-century off 36 balls.A proper surgeThe Power Surge has been a mixed bag so far with wickets often falling in the quest to make the most of those two valuable overs. The Sixers were building nicely when they called it at the start of the 15th over but, first ball, Hughes cut a short delivery from Peter Hatzoglou to backward point and you wondered if it would pay off for them. Well, it most certainly did. Hatzoglou’s over went for a useful 12, but it was the next one, from the experienced Richardson, that really did the damage as Silk, who had struggled to 13 off 12 in the opening match against the Hurricanes, struck five fours in six deliveries. The Sixers were charging into the death overs.Philippe short, but others go longSilk continued to locate the middle of the bat including a leg-side six that registered 95 metres just as he was talking to the TV commentators. Philippe had the strike for the final over, needing five for his century, and though he middled his drive off Josh Lalor, he picked out Aaron Finch at short cover. Dan Christian sent his first delivery into the stands as Lalor struggled to land his yorker and another Silk boundary brought up the 200 from the penultimate ball of the innings. In all, the last 10 overs had cost 130 runs.Renegades nowhereIt was a tough chase, but a forgettable attempt. From the moment Finch picked out mid-off in the second over things came off the rails. A standout feature was the Sixers’ fielding: Steve O’Keefe (third man), Carlos Brathwaite (third man) and Silk (deep square) all made brilliant outfield takes which typified a team on song. After his first two overs, Dwarshuis had figures of 3 for 6 and Brathwaite helped himself to a brace in his opening over. At one stage five wickets fell in 13 deliveries with the Renegades appearing set for a new low before they at least avoided that.

Thami Tsolekile, the Lions wicketkeeper, will replace Mark Boucher in South Africa’s squad for the Test series in England

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jul-2012Thami Tsolekile, the Lions wicketkeeper, will replace Mark Boucher in South Africa’s squad for the Test series in England. Tsolekile, however, is unlikely to play the first Test from July 19, with South Africa coach Gary Kirsten saying AB de Villiers will keep wicket at The Oval.”Thami has done very well [for] both the Lions and South Africa A for a couple of seasons, culminating in his South African record [of] eight catches in an innings this past week,” Andrew Hudson, Cricket South Africa’s convener of selectors, said. “With AB de Villiers also able to fill the role of wicketkeeper in the Test series it gives the tour selectors options in this important position.”Tsolekile’s inclusion was necessary because of Boucher’s retirement from cricket, following a severe eye injury sustained during the tour match against Somerset in Taunton. Boucher was struck by a bail and had to undergo surgery for a lacerated eyeball.Tsolekile, 31, played three Tests for South Africa in 2004, when Boucher was left out of the team. He scored only 47 runs in five innings and was dropped when Boucher made a comeback. Tsolekile has vast domestic experience, having played 132 first-class matches over a 13-year career that began in 1999. He has been second in line to the national team for years but did not get an opportunity because of Boucher’s permanence in South Africa’s plans.Tsolekile was given a central contract in February, the first time CSA had contracted a second wicketkeeper in 13 years since contracts were first awarded in 1998.During a recent game between South Africa A and Sri Lanka A in Durban, Tsolekile took eight catches in the first innings, a South African record.

The opener will be available for the County Championship and one-day tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2021Leicestershire have signed Australia opener Marcus Harris for their County Championship and Royal London Cup campaigns.Harris returned to the Australia side in January when he partnered David Warner in the final match of the series against India in Brisbane, his first Test since being dropped during the 2019 Ashes.In the Sheffield Shield this season he has scored 516 runs at 64.50 including 239 when he formed a record partnership of 486 with Will Pucovski. Harris will join Leicestershire when Victoria’s season finishes.Related

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“I am delighted to have signed for Leicestershire and cannot wait to get up and running within English domestic cricket,” Harris said. “To play domestic cricket in England has always been an ambition of mine.”Leicestershire coach Paul Nixon said: “Marcus is a high-class opening batsman and will add both quality experience to the top of our batting order. He has an excellent first-class record in the Sheffield Shield.”He has represented Australia at the highest level in the test match arena and will also add a high-class option to our 50-over side, which also fits the bill with Colin Ackermann winning selection for Manchester Originals in the Hundred.”The club previously announced that South Africa allrounder Wiaan Mulder would not be taking up his contract due to uncertainty around the international schedule.Harris is the latest in a long list of Australian players securing county clubs, either new ones or deals delayed from last season due to the pandemic, including Billy Stanlake joining Derbyshire and Cameron Bancroft returning to Durham.

Kieran Powell, who reached his maiden Test century, on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand in Antigua, has said his focus was on playing the way he “knew it”

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2012On a day when Chris Gayle marked his comeback to Test cricket with his 14th century, Kieran Powell, one of several openers West Indies trialled during Gayle’s 19-month absence, scored his first. Powell’s 134 was a patient innings and it contributed to the fourth-highest opening stand for West Indies – 254.”I started slowly and I just supported Chris and watched on as he played his natural game,” Powell said after the third day, with West Indies leading by 91. “I told myself all I had to do is play it the way I know it and just try to build the lead of the team.”Powell had scored 97 off 241 balls before he pulled Neil Wagner to the square-leg boundary. He’d sustained his concentration for 74 overs to reach the landmark. “I felt I played really well and when I saw the ball going to the boundary I couldn’t help but jump for joy,” Powell said. “It felt really good and it’s a moment to cherish.”I knew I was hitting the ball very well. I have worked on my shot selection and I was happy with the way my bat was coming down and my ability to hit the ball down the ground. I hit three fours in the over I got out … I won’t say I was carried away, I think I chose the wrong ball to hit at that stage.”The hundred was Powell’s third first-class century in the last three months – following his 108 for West Indies against England Lions in early May and 139 for West Indies A against India A in June. Powell, who had made his debut in the third Test against India in Dominica in 2011, said his stint at the Sagicor High Performance Centre in Barbados had been a “massive boost” to his game.”The time at the Sagicor HPC has totally changed my game,” he said. “It has helped me with both the technical side and mental side of my game. It has helped to refine my game and overall I am now a calmer person. A lot of things I developed there I put into place, and I was able to assess the situation and go about the business of building an innings.”There was a time I used to go in and look to play all the shots and see how many I could get. All that has changed now. I’m more settled and aware of my role.”

After three straight defeats, New Zealand Women finally claimed their first win, coasting home by six wickets in a low-scoring game in Sydney’s Stadium Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-2012
ScorecardSuzie Bates led New Zealand’s chase with an unbeaten 40•Getty Images

After three straight defeats, New Zealand Women finally claimed their first win, coasting home by six wickets in a low-scoring curtain-raiser to the men’s Twenty20 international (between Australia and India) in Sydney’s Stadium Australia.In front of a sparse crowd, expected to fill up for the bigger draw in the evening, Australia Women were restricted to 7 for 92 in a match reduced to 18 overs due to rain before the start of play. Kate Broadmore, the right-arm seamer, took 3 for 9 in four tight overs to restrict the Australians. The hosts were limping at 5 for 30 before Jodie Fields and Lisa Sthalekar added 43 for the sixth wicket. Fields remained unbeaten on 37, hitting two fours and a six. She tried to get innovative towards the end of the innings, fetching her only six by moving across to wide of the off stump and scooping Amy Satterthwaite over the fine leg boundary. Sthalekar made 23.Suzie Bates led New Zealand’s chase with an unbeaten 40. The teams will play the fifth and final game in Melbourne in two days.

Tony de Zorzi has been named captain of the South Africa team that will look to defend its crown at the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in January-February 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Dec-2015Tony de Zorzi has been named captain of the South Africa team that will look to defend its crown at the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in January-February 2016.The announcement was made during the gala dinner organised by Cricket South Africa in Port Elizabeth. “Well done to all the players selected into the U-19 World Cup squad. This is a formative start to what can turn out to be a memorable tournament as defending champions and ultimately a career as a professional cricketer.” Haroon Lorgat, CSA’s chief executive, said.”It is worth recalling that Kagiso Rabada was the bowling spearhead of our previous campaign and we all know the impressive strides he has made since then to represent the Proteas with distinction. The opportunity is there for you all to begin to live your dreams and to travel in the knowledge that you not only have the CSA Family right behind you but indeed the entire nation.”Lawrence Mahatlane, the former assistant coach of Lions who took over the coaching duties of the Under-19 national team from Ray Jennings last year, was confident that he had the right squad to defend their title.”It has been a very exciting process,” he said. “We have a lot of players that we have tried out and given a lot of international exposure to. I think the fact that majority of the team has been to Bangladesh already can only serve us in good stead. It’s been tough at times, there are a few young men who will be very disappointed that they will not be going to the World Cup, but I believe that we have picked a really good side, a very well-balanced side that will represent our country well.”The squad will assemble in Stellenbosch for a four-day preparatory tournament from January 4, before flying out to Bangladesh later in the month. South Africa are grouped alongside Bangladesh, Scotland and Namibia, and will open their campaign against the hosts in Chittagong on January 27.Squad: Tony de Zorzi (capt), Ziyaad Abrahams, Dean Foxcroft, Dayyaan Galiem, Willie Ludick, Wandile Makwethu, Conner McKerr, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Wiaan Mulder, Luke Philander, Farhaan Sayanvala, Lutho Sipamla, Liam Smith, Kyle Verreynne and Sean Whitehead.