William Porterfield, the Ireland captain, has said his team need to put Wednesday’s victory over England behind them as they take on India in another high-profile match on Sunday

Sharda Ugra in Bangalore05-Mar-2011Like everyone in the world of work, William Porterfield is heading into a weekend and wants to forget about what the middle of the week was like. Unlike for everyone else, Sunday will not be a day of rest for him, and he thinks putting the past behind is mandatory. “First of all, we have to put Wednesday behind us,” the Ireland captain said, just over 24 hours from the time he will walk out with India captain MS Dhoni for the toss of the World Cup game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.Porterfield’s Wednesday was made up of the match that has put Ireland’s cricketers on the front pages of their newspapers back home and top of the mind of the cricketing public, particularly in the heated heart of the tournament’s biggest hosts. A match that should have been a regulation two points for one team has suddenly turned into a contest between a high-profile, high-coverage outfit regarded as among the biggest favourites to lift the World Cup and a squad who, from the tournament’s warm-up games up to Wednesday, have never left the field without a scrap. Victory over their historic and cultural rivals England on Wednesday has suddenly made Ireland genuine contenders for a quarter-final spot but Porterfield wants to brush all that under his team’s suddenly-airborne carpet.”We put in a good performance on Wednesday and created a wee bit of history there. Now we’ve got to start all over again,” Porterfield said. His voice carries the vocabulary and echo of Ireland’s strong, north-western ‘Derry’ accent that makes listeners from other parts of the cricket world lean forward, mouths open, in an attempt to both concentrate and comprehend. There is possibly no other cricket captain in the world who speaks in Porterfield’s quick bursts of rapid speech or can use the word ‘wee’ on the way to sounding tough and purposeful.He said, “We have a bigger challenge ahead of us, we’re playing India, we must take good things from the [Wednesday] game and the biggest things for ourselves is to go out fresh on the pitch and concentrate on what’s at hand.”Ireland’s captain William Porterfield said he uses his bowlers depending on who is performing on the day•AFP

The team, he said, wouldn’t be daunted by going out before a 39,000-strong crowd in Bangalore because their opening World Cup game in Dhaka had given them useful practice. “When we started the competition we knew we were playing two of the home nations in the group stage and they were going to be massive games.” Indian support in Bangalore he thought would be similar to the “pretty fanatical supporters” Ireland had encountered in Dhaka. “I don’t think that India’s going to be too different from that; there’s going to be a few more in tomorrow [Sunday] night than what there were in Bangladesh.” He paused for the briefest of seconds saying. “India in India is a pretty special occasion but it’s a challenge we are looking forward to.”What Ireland have braced themselves for is the possibility of a large 300-plus chase and Porterfield said it was why his team had chosen a long batting line-up, something facilitated by their many bowling options. The return of Andre Botha, their best death-overs bowler who was out of the England game due to an nth hour groin injury, would help the balance of the team but his absence now is not seen as critical as it may have been before the England match.”It didn’t really affect us because we’ve got so many options with the ball. Whoever comes up with the goods on the day, we just go with that. It could be that someone doesn’t bowl, but as long as the team is doing well players just have to deal with that.” He mentioned Paul Stirling’s ten overs versus England as an example of making the team’s options work. “He too pace off the ball, and bowled very well for us and it has kind of gone without mentioning. He took 1 for 45 off his ten through the middle overs which was crucial in helping restrict England.”Stirling is Porterfield’s opening partner, and was used as a bowler in the England match ahead of the team’s regular batting allrounder Kevin O’Brien, who went on to have what Porterfield would no doubt call a “wee” hand to play in the victory. With a poker face, Porterfield went on, “I don’t think Kevin was too upset with that [not bowling]. He would take 100 off 50 balls and not having to bowl any day.”Questioned several times about the pressure of the crowd, Porterfield was quick, bald and revealing in his summary of what he expected. “If you can’t go out there and get up for a game in front of 40-50,000 people, then I think there’s something wrong with you. Whether they are for you or against you, it doesn’t matter.”Win or lose on Sunday, Porterfield would want his team to hijack the name that the US’ University of Notre Dame gives all its sports teams. They call them the Fighting Irish.

The upstart US Youth Cricket Association is designating March 24, 2011, as America’s first ever National Youth Cricket Day

Peter Della Penna24-Mar-2011The upstart US Youth Cricket Association is designating March 24, 2011, as America’s first ever National Youth Cricket Day. USYCA President Jamie Harrison is hoping that the date will spur more awareness for cricket at the grassroots level.”We’re having a photo contest where we’re giving away a cricket set to the school or teacher who submits the photo that best exemplifies the ideals of US Youth Cricket’s Schools Program,” Harrison said. “We’re just encouraging our affiliates and our volunteers to just make an extra effort to do something for National Youth Cricket Day.”We understand this is the first National Youth Cricket Day ever so people aren’t used to planning an event to coincide with it, but we have to begin somewhere. Sometimes it’s good just to have a place to start and this year is the place to start.”The ICC recently honored the USYCA with an ICC Americas Development Program award for the ‘Best Junior Participation Initiative’ for its Schools Program. It’s an impressive achievement for an organization that has been in existence for less than a year. The USYCA has been responsible for donating hundreds of start-up cricket kits to physical education teachers for use in schools across America.”The USA Cricket Association applauds the role the USYCA is playing in focusing on the grassroots enthusiasm of youth cricket through the designation of ‘National Youth Cricket Day,'” USACA Secretary John Aaron said via email. “As a largely volunteer organization, USA Cricket is appreciative of the enormous potential for the growth of cricket at the youth levels, and through the efforts of such organizations as the USYCA.”

WIPA has questioned the decision to exclude Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the West Indies squad for the first two one-day internationals against Pakistan

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Apr-2011The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) has questioned the decision to exclude Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the West Indies squad for the first two one-day internationals against Pakistan. The association suggested there were factors other than “performance, potential, playing conditions and preparedness” that were behind the decision, and that these reasons were not explained to the players.WIPA filed a notice of dispute, claiming that the selection process was not “fair and transparent”, and was in breach of the memorandum of understanding between WIPA and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)The WICB’s explanation for axing the three experienced players was that it was in keeping with their policy to expose young players to international cricket. The WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire also added that none of the senior players had been axed permanently, and that the selectors would explain to every player how they fit into the long-term plan.The exclusion of Gayle, Sarwan and Chanderpaul comes after a disappointing World Cup campaign for West Indies in which none of the three batsmen scored a half-century against a Test-playing nation.WIPA and the WICB have been at loggerheads over several issues in the past, the most significant stand-off between the two bodies being the one over player contracts that resulted in WIPA boycotting the Bangladesh home series in 2009. The player association had also slammed WICB’s decision not to give Sarwan a central retainer in 2010.In its press release issued on Saturday, WIPA said that after their exclusion from the national squad, Gayle, Sarwan and Chanderpaul should not be stopped from trying to earn money by playing cricket outside the Caribbean.

Cricket Kenya has announced new 20 and 50-over domestic competitions aimed at bolstering the standard of cricket in the country

Martin Williamson03-May-2011Cricket Kenya has announced new 20 and 50-over domestic competitions aimed at bolstering the standard of cricket in the country. The inclusion of two Ugandan sides in the six-team set-up will also provide a valuable boost to their up-and-coming neighbours.The gulf between the NPCA league, Kenya’s premier competition, and the national side has been a worry for a long time. In 2009 an attempt was made to establish a four-team elite event in both three-day and limited-over formats, but it floundered because of a lack of finance and poor support from players.The latest initiative will feature four Kenyan sides – two from Nairobi, one each from Coast and Rift Valley – as well as two Ugandan teams. Each side will play ten games over weekends, with a Twenty20 match on a Saturday followed a day later by a 50-over contest. The leading four teams in each event would then progress to play-offs and a final.Nationally contracted players will be split between sides to ensure a fair balance between the competitors, and Tom Sears, Cricket Kenya’s chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo there were also plans to bring in overseas players from the subcontinent. “I believe by bringing in players from abroad we have the best chance of our players improving their game,” he said.Original plans had been for all six sides to come from within Kenya, but Sears admitted that “the level of competition was such that we could not offer enough strength in depth to provide strong enough cricket”. He added that as Africa’s leading Associate, it was Kenya’s responsibility to help the progress of Uganda. “They have good players,” he said. “That’s why we opted to give them a chance to take part.”It was also revealed that a media deal had been agreed with Supersport for them to cover the semi-finals and finals of each competition.

Chris Nash finally converted a half-century into three figures to put Sussex on course for victory over Somerset in their County Championship Division One clash at Hove

20-May-2011ScorecardChris Nash finally converted a half-century into three figures to put Sussex on course for victory over Somerset in their County Championship Division One clash at Hove. Nash enjoyed a belated present a day after his 28th birthday with an unbeaten 111, made off 165 balls with 15 fours, as Sussex ended the third day on 218 for 1 and needing just 54 runs to complete their third win of the season.Nash has passed 50 six times already this season but finally converted one into what was the 10th hundred of his career. Somerset’s seam attack, who had taken seven wickets for 38 in Sussex’s first innings on the second day, struggled to repeat that performance as Nash and
opening partner Ed Joyce put together a partnership of 201, their sixth century stand of the season.Their punishing partnership in 48 overs, 104 of which were scored in boundaries, looked as if it might pave the way for a three-day win for their side. But the in-form Joyce was leg before to Lewis Gregory for a stylish 84 shortly after Nash had reached his hundred with successive boundaries off Arul Suppiah.Neither looked troubled by a wayward attack apart from when Nash suffered a stinging blow to the thigh from a ball by Steve Kirby on 60. Earlier Somerset had collapsed for the second time in the match, losing their last seven wickets for 38 in 18 overs either side of lunch to be bowled out for 235.There was little hint of the drama to come as skipper Marcus Trescothick and Nick Compton batted positively at the start of the day before Trescothick, who had struck 12 fours and a six, was caught behind pushing forward to Naved-ul-Hasan for 79, the first of five wickets for the Pakistani quick bowler.Jos Buttler was dropped at slip off the next ball then James Anyon continued his superb start to the season by picking up three wickets in five overs during a fiery spell. Alex Barrow edged a good length ball behind and Anyon then switched ends to take two wickets with in three balls. Compton, who had played well for his 44, was surprised by Anyon’s extra pace and gloved a lifter to wicketkeeper Matt Prior and Peter Trego was beaten for pace and lost his middle stump.Rana then stepped up to finish things off after lunch with a spell of 4 for 12 in 32 balls. Buttler was bowled by an inswinging yorker and Gregory fell leg before to another delivery which was well pitched up.Rana also had a hand in the run out of Gemaal Hussain who hesitated in coming back for a second run and was beaten by Naved’s direct hit from the non-striker’s end. Naved finished things off in successive balls. Kirby was leg before to a yorker that struck him on the toe and Charl Willoughby was bowled for his second duck of the match.He finished with match figures of 10 for 161, the second time he has taken 10 wickets in a match during five years with Sussex.

In another demonstration of their improving record overseas, a weakened India closed in on what will only be their fifth Test win in the Caribbean

The Bulletin by Siddarth Ravindran23-Jun-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outPraveen Kumar’s two strikes on the fourth morning put India on course for a win•Associated Press

In another demonstration of their improving record overseas, a weakened India eased to only their fifth Test win in the Caribbean. The resistance from West Indies was disappointingly limp at Sabina Park as they lost six of the seven remaining wickets in the morning session. Praveen Kumar, sporting a buzz cut, snapped the home side’s resolve by removing both overnight batsmen, Darren Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, in the first half hour. There were some big hits from Darren Sammy and Ravi Rampaul, but they merely delayed an Indian victory.

Smart stats

• India’s 63-run win is their second in Jamaica and their fifth Test victory in the West Indies. The number of wins in West Indies (5) brings it level with their number of wins in Australia, England and New Zealand.

• Praveen Kumar’s match figures of 6 for 80 is the third-best by an Indian bowler in a Test win in West Indies. BS Chandrasekhar’s 8 for 208 in the six-wicket win in Trinidad in 1976 is the best bowling performance by an Indian bowler in a win in the West Indies.

• Ishant Sharma’s match haul of 6 for 110 is third on the list of his best bowling performances in a match in Tests. His finest is 7 for 58 against New Zealand in Nagpur in 2010.

• Among captains who have led in at least 25 Tests, MS Dhoni has the best win-loss ratio (5.00). He is followed by Steve Waugh (4.55) and Mike Brearley (4.50). Dhoni has now led in five away-Test wins bringing him joint-second on the list of Indian captains with most wins in away Tests.

• The 74 runs added by West Indies for the last two wickets is the second-highest aggregate for wickets nine and ten in Tests in Jamaica. Their highest is 98 against Australia in 1990-91.

The resolve the West Indian batsmen showed on the third evening didn’t make an appearance on Thursday. The Indian bowlers weren’t particularly threatening early on, regularly providing harmless leg-side deliveries. One of those broke the stand that had frustrated India for nearly two hours, with Bravo losing his leg stump after walking across to try and guide the ball to fine leg. In Praveen’s next over, he had Chanderpaul chipping a catch to cover as the ball, after causing a cloud of dust on pitching, came on slower than the batsman expected.West Indies’ chances evaporated with those two strikes, and Harbhajan Singh made it worse, removing birthday boy Carlton Baugh for a duck. Sammy wasn’t going to give up, though. He was struck on the forearm by a kicker from Harbhajan, which prompted him to attack. Some blacksmith-swings sent the final three deliveries of the over for leg-side sixes, with the last two flying into the second tier at least. The entertainment ended with Amit Mishra’s first delivery, a tossed-up, over-pitched ball that Sammy wanted to send out of the ground but sent only as far as extra cover.Brendan Nash, the vice-captain who has been desperately short of runs over the home summer, restricted himself to defensive nudges. When he attempted one of his first enterprising strokes, a pull off a short ball from Mishra, he was horrified to see the ball scoot through impossibly low to be trapped plumb lbw.Ravi Rampaul gave the few fans that turned up something to cheer about with a series of swept and driven boundaries, the highlight of which was an inside-out six over extra cover off Harbhajan. Like Nash, he too was done in by a ball of unpredictable bounce, from Ishant: it took off from a length and had him gloving it to MS Dhoni, who leapt acrobatically to take a one-handed catch over his head.The last pair kept out the final seven deliveries before lunch, and then kept India waiting for half an hour after the break. With the specialists unable to finish things off, Dhoni turned to the part-time offspin of Suresh Raina, who needed only two deliveries to bowl Bishoo and secure a 1-0 series lead.

Australia A took full control over a wilting Zimbabwe XI on the second day at Harare Sports Club, openers David Warner and Aaron Finch piling on a massive, unbroken 282-run stand

The Report by Liam Brickhill22-Jul-2011
Scorecard
Australia A took full control over a wilting Zimbabwe XI on the second day at Harare Sports Club, openers David Warner and Aaron Finch piling on a massive, unbroken 282-run stand. Their partnership took Australia A to within 20 runs of Zimbabwe’s first innings total, which had been restricted to just 300 after Peter Siddle tore through the lower order with four quick wickets in the morning.Zimbabwe welcomed back several senior players for the second of two four-day games against the Australians, and the returning Brendan Taylor had appeared to give them a base to work from as they reached 250 for 5 at stumps on the first day. Siddle laid waste to the lower order, however, using a ball that was still reasonably new to see off nightwatchman Ray Price and allrounder Elton Chigumbura in the space of an over.He removed Regis Chakabva, the last remaining recognised batsman, four overs later and soon got past Brian Vitori for his fourth wicket. Trent Copeland had Chris Mpofu caught by Luke Butterworth in the 107th over to complete the collapse, the Zimbabweans having lost 5 for 27 since Price’s dismissal.Things didn’t get much better for the hosts with the ball. Vitori and Kyle Jarvis took the new pill but neither man could break through and Jarvis leaked runs at an alarming rate. Australia A’s fifty was brought up in just the eighth over, and though Warner and Finch slowed as the ball got older they could not be prised from the wicket.Warner reached a 146-ball century shortly before tea and Finch followed him to the mark an hour or so into the final session, from 150 deliveries. Both men rattled on untroubled to the close, and Australia A will expect to build a hefty lead on day three.

Andy Flower, the England team director, has praised Alastair Cook for the way he has handled the dual challenges of batting and captaincy

Andrew McGlashan10-Jul-2011Andy Flower, the England team director, has praised Alastair Cook for the way he has handled the dual challenges of proving himself as a one-day batsman and captain in the 3-2 series win against Sri Lanka. The silverware was secured with a tight 16-run win at Old Trafford where Cook also took his personal contribution to 298 runs.Apart from the volume of runs, which included a career-best 119 at Lord’s, the impressive feature was the strike-rate of 96.75. That number was boosted by his 75-ball 95 at Trent Bridge as Cook provided evidence that he is making strides towards evolving into a effective one-day batsman to supplement his record-breaking Test credentials.Cook had to face some strong criticism both before and during the series but refused to be drawn into any war of words and constantly said performance on the field was the most important factor. The five matches helped Cook build on the positive impression he made as captain last year when he filled in for Andrew Strauss.”He had some tricky decisions to make throughout the series, and he was under pressure from a number of quarters,” Flower said. “I thought he handled that pressure really well, and made some really good decisions out there today.”He had to be very flexible, and he was. We saw him handle pressure well out in Bangladesh too, which isn’t an easy tour. He grew there as a leader, and without doubt this series will have helped him grow too.”Cook showed hints of innovation in his batting, with some dabs and scoops against the spinners, but on the whole relied on the strong shots that have brought him success in Test cricket. A comparison has been made about how Cook needs to perform a similar role to Mahela Jayawardene in the Sri Lanka team and Flower believes he has shown he can do that.”Graham Gooch has worked very closely with him on his batting for a long time – because obviously one-day cricket is very different to Test cricket,” he said. “I think he’s adapted well. It might not look as pretty as a Jayawardene, but it’s been even more effective in this series. He should feel very proud of his contribution with the bat, and how he’s handled some of the pressure he’s been under.”However, not all England’s batsmen enjoyed such a productive series. Kevin Pietersen’s lean time in ODIs since 2008 continued with 85 runs in four innings, while Ian Bell didn’t look at home at No. 6 where he made 81 runs at a strike of under 70. In an column during the series Bell admitted it was a role he was uncomfortable with, but Flower hinted it’s one he will have to get used to.”Ian Bell’s job, or anyone else’s job when they’re picked for England, is to perform,” Flower said. “Whether they’re happy or not is by the by. They are given a job, and they have got to do it. He’s had a tough series. He wasn’t the only one – not everyone can succeed at the same time.”Flower, though, will hope that Bell’s problems in the one-day arena don’t impacted his prolific Test form of 2011 when he has averaged over 300. Thoughts now turn to the four-match series against India which starts on July 21 and the one-day success means England remain buoyant.”It’s always important to win, and we’re always under pressure to do so when representing England,” Flower said. “The bottom line is we did it, we didn’t lose the series. It’s a good confidence-builder for those guys that they held themselves so well under pressure.”

Cricket South Africa has resolved to improve its corporate governance and review the process for awarding bonuses as their months-long internal strife appears to be reaching its end

Firdose Moonda20-Aug-2011Cricket South Africa (CSA) has resolved to improve its corporate governance and review the process for awarding bonuses as their months-long internal strife appears to be reaching its end. The board took the decision at their annual general meeting in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, where they deliberated the legal advice of advocate Azhar Bham, who was appointed to investigate possible breaches of the Companies’ Act committed by chief executive Gerald Majola.Accounting firm KPMG, who were tasked with investigating CSA’s financial affairs, produced a report which stated that Majola could have violated the act four times in relation to bonus payments made after the hosting of the 2009 IPL and Champions Trophy. CSA decided to seek legal opinion on the possible breaches at a special board meeting held three weeks ago in Johannesburg.At the time, it was expected that Majola would not be fired and that the importance of governance procedures would be stressed on CSA. The core issue appears to be the methods used to pay bonuses to staff who work on non-CSA events that are hosted by the organisation, such as the IPL. Insiders confirmed that traditionally these bonuses are awarded without going through CSA’s remunerations committee (REMCO), leaving the door open for possible indiscretion. It was this type of misconduct that CSA President Mtutuzeli Nyoka said he wanted to prevent and expose.With the findings of KPMG and subsequent legal advice, CSA have admitted that they were not vigilant enough and did not employ strict enough methods of procedure. Majola was reported to have been severely reprimanded for this at the meeting and CSA have vowed to embark on a crash course in governance in order to improve their processes.”As far as CSA is concerned this matter is now closed,” AK Khan, vice-president of CSA, who chaired the meeting in Nyoka’s absence, said. Nyoka did not attend the meeting for personal reasons and has not yet responded to the resolution.If he mounts a challenge, it would further draw out the spat between him and Majola, which started when R4.7 million (US$ 671,428) was paid in bonuses to 40 staff members after the 2009 events. The payments were picked up as an irregularity by CSA’s auditors Deloitte and the body announced that they would have an external investigation to look into the matter.Instead, they chose to hold an internal inquiry first, chaired by vice-president AK Khan. In November, the Khan Commission cleared Majola of any wrongdoing but cautioned him against making “errors of judgment.” These mistakes referred to the payments not being declared to Remco.Nyoka’s outspoken views on holding an external investigation resulted in him being ousted by a vote of no confidence in February, but he challenged the decision in the South Gauteng High Court and was reinstated in April Nyoka’s demands for an audit were also met and KPMG were chosen to conduct the investigation which, once completed, did not put an end to the matter but lengthened in with the call for legal advice.

Mtutuzeli Nyoka, the Cricket South Africa (CSA) president, faces a second no-confidence vote after the board tabled the motion at a special general meeting on September 8

Firdose Moonda09-Sep-2011Mtutuzeli Nyoka, the Cricket South Africa (CSA) president, faces a second no-confidence vote after the board tabled the motion at a special general meeting on September 8. The meeting to vote on whether Nyoka will be removed as president will be held on October 15.CSA confirmed the notice had been sent to Nyoka’s office and to his lawyer, but Nyoka declined to comment when ESPNcricinfo inquired whether he had received the documentation.This is the second time in the space of eight months that CSA have attempted to oust their president. They first removed him in February but Nyoka challenged that decision in the South Gauteng High Court. It was found that the axing was unlawful and he was reinstated.The latest effort came after CSA’s annual conference, where Nyoka walked out of a board meeting, claiming there were issues on the agenda that he was not informed of. Nyoka’s lawyer, Bernard Matheson, said the items included a complaint against Nyoka for breaching media protocol, objections about the way he dealt with press releases, and an allegation that the national team was concerned that he had set a poor example.Nyoka informed the board he would lay criminal charges. “He did not say who those charges were against or what the charges were,” AJ Sooklal, head of CSA’s legal and governance committee, said.CSA hit back, claiming Nyoka had “brought the organisation into disrepute” and “treated the board in a contemptuous manner.” They also accused him of contravening the Companies Act by receiving his annual honorarium in advance without the consent of the board.The latest developments were part of the year-long spat between Nyoka and CSA chief executive Gerald Majola, which started when 4.7 million Rand ($671,428) were paid in bonuses after South Africa hosted the 2009 IPL and the Champions Trophy. The payments were not processed through CSA’s remunerations committee (Remco) – although they were taxed – and were picked up as irregularities by CSA’s auditors Deloitte. An external investigation was set up to look into the matter.Eight weeks later, CSA moved the inquiry in-house because board members felt they had not exhausted their own procedures. A committee of inquiry was appointed under vice-president AK Khan. In November, the Khan Commission cleared Majola of any wrongdoing save for making “an error of judgment” by not declaring the payments through Remco.The first attempt to remove Nyoka came three months later, but when Nyoka returned to office in May, the matter was reopened. As part of his court battle, Nyoka asked that CSA undergo a forensic audit and KPMG were tasked with conducting it.The audit results were presented to the board on July 30. KPMG found that Majola could have breached the Companies’ Act in four instances and had to pass the matter on to a lawyer in order for CSA to take a decision. With the help of the South African Sports Council and Olympic Committee, Azhra Bham was appointed as the legal advisor.Bham delivered his findings orally to CSA the day before their AGM on August 20. The board issued Majola with a severe reprimand for his role in the bonus payments and resolved to institute better corporate governance measures. Nyoka did not attend the AGM for personal reasons and tried to get a copy of Bham’s report, which has not been released.The matter may end up in court again, further denting CSA’s reputation, and it has had consequences that directly affect cricket. With less than a month to go before the 2011-12 season starts, CSA is yet to announce sponsors for two of the three domestic competitions, the international Twenty20 team and all three international formats – Tests, ODIs and T20s. CSA’s commercial manager, Richard Glover, said the scandal had taken its toll because “the new sponsors want us to draw a line under the bonus saga before we make any announcements.” CSA’s only confirmed international sponsor is Castle Lager, who renewed and expanded their contract to include the Test and ODI teams in August.