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Monty Panesar is committed to a full programme of championship cricket in an attempt to bowl himself into form ahead of the three-Test series against New Zealand in May

David Hopps21-Mar-2013Monty Panesar is committed to a full programme of championship cricket in an attempt to bowl himself into form ahead of a two-Test series against New Zealand ijn May, which starts England’s international summer.Panesar’s spin partnership with Graeme Swann was a prime reason for England’s mastery over India on their home soil in the Test series before Christmas.But he has found rewards harder to find in New Zealand and, with Swann recuperating from an elbow operation and uncertain whether he will be fit to face New Zealand, Panesar’s well-being at the start of a packed England schedule is even more important than usual.Panesar has persuaded England’s management that, despite a heavy touring schedule, he has no need for the prolonged rest which has been drawn up for most other England players. He will be pitched straight into Sussex’s championship season, against Yorkshire at Headingley on April 10.Warwickshire, the defending county champions, will have to wait for the involvement of their England batsmen, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, until May under the player availability schedule drawn up by the England management.Bell and Trott will be available two Warwickshire championship matches – against Sussex and Middlesex – ahead of England’s three-Test series against New Zealand, which begins at Lord’s on May 16.Under a scrupulously balanced decision process, most England players are guaranteed to play two championship games ahead of the first Investec Test.Durham will benefit from Graham Onions’ inactive winter. Onions’ 64 wickets at 14.98 were instrumental in securing Durham’s Division One status, eventually achieved with ease under the inspirational captaincy of Paul Collingwood, and he will be running in again for the opening championship match of the season against Yorkshire in Chester-le-Street on April 10.Somerset are another winner with Nick Compton’s appetite for match practice meaning that he is scheduled to return against Surrey at The Oval on April 17.England player availability: James Anderson (Lancashire): Available for LV= County Championship games against Kent (24-27 April) and Glamorgan (1-4 May). Unavailable for Yorkshire Bank 40 game against Durham (6 May) and Derbyshire (12 May). Schedule to be reviewed after 4 May ahead of first Investec Test.Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire): Available for all cricket from the start of season.Ian Bell (Warwickshire): Available for championship games against Sussex (1-4 May) and Middlesex (8-11 May). Available for YB40 game against Kent (6 May). Unavailable for YB40 game against Sussex (12 May).Ravi Bopara (Essex): Available for all cricket.Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire): Availability to be determined following recovery from an elbow operation.Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire): Available for championship games against Derbyshire (24-27 April) and Durham (29-2 May). Schedule to be reviewed after 2 May ahead of first Test.Jos Buttler (Somerset): Available for all cricket.Alastair Cook (Essex): Available for championship games against Hampshire (29 April -2 May) and Lancashire (7-10 May). Unavailable for YB40 fixtures against Hampshire (3 May), Durham (5 May) and Scotland (12 May).Nick Compton (Somerset): Available for championship games against Surrey (17-20 April), Warwickshire (25-28 April) and Yorkshire (7-10 May). Available for YB40 fixture against Unicorns (5 May). Unavailable for YB40 fixture against Yorkshire (11 May).Jade Dernbach (Surrey): Available for all cricket.Steven Finn (Middlesex): Available for championship games against Derbyshire (17-20 April) and Surrey (2-5 May). Unavailable for game against Cambridge MCCU (24-26 April). Schedule to be reviewed after 5 May ahead of first Test.Eoin Morgan (Middlesex): Participating in the IPL. Available for all cricket on return.Graham Onions (Durham): Available for championship games against Somerset (10-13 April), Warwickshire (17-20 April), Yorkshire (24-27 April) and Nottinghamshire (29 April -2 May). Schedule to be reviewed after 2 May, ahead of first Test.Monty Panesar (Sussex): Available for all cricket from 10 April.Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire): Available for all cricket.Kevin Pietersen (Surrey): Availability to be determined following recovery from knee injury.Matt Prior (Sussex): Available for championship games against Surrey (24-27 April) and Warwickshire (1-4 May). Available for YB40 fixture against Worcestershire (5 May) and Northamptonshire (10 May). Unavailable for YB40 fixture against Warwickshire (12 May).Joe Root (Yorkshire): Available for game against Lancashire (16-18 April) and championship games against Durham (24-27 April), Derbyshire (29 April-2 May) and Somerset (7-10 May). Available for YB40 games against Glamorgan (5 May) and Somerset (11 May).Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire): Availability subject to recovery from elbow operation.James Tredwell (Kent): Available for all cricket.Chris Tremlett (Surrey): Available from start of season.Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire): Available for championship games against Sussex (1-4 May) and Middlesex (8-11 May). Available for YB40 game against Kent (6 May). Unavailable for YB40 game against Sussex (12 May).Chris Woakes (Warwickshire): Available for championship games against Derbyshire (10-13 April), Durham (17-20 April) and Sussex (1-4 May). Schedule to be reviewed after 4 May ahead of first Test.

A round-up of the third day of the first round of matches in the Ranji Trophy Elite 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Nov-2011

Group A

An unbeaten double-century from Suresh Raina put Uttar Pradesh in charge against Punjab, at the Punjab Cricket Association Ground. Raina’s effort was well-supported by Parvinder Singh, who equalled his best first-class score: 138. UP had begun day three on 221 for 3, with Raina and Parvinder at the crease. The pair both scored at a commendable rate and went on to add 241 for the fourth wicket. Parvinder was snagged by part-timer Karan Goel, and Manpreet Gony got Arish Alam to edge behind not long after with UP only 100 ahead, but another big stand followed.Piyush Chawla smacked 73 not out off 67 balls as his side looked for quick runs, and put on 146 at almost six an over with Raina. The declaration came soon after Raina went past 200 and his previous top score to finish with 204 at a rate of 71.32. Trailing by 246, Punjab lost two quick wickets ahead of stumps, to finish 26 for 2. Raina’s hundred will put pressure on Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli to perform against West Indies in the Test that begins tomorrow, should they be picked in the XI.Karnataka took control of their match against Rajasthan at the Field Club Ground, after their bowlers struck regularly to keep Rajasthan to 255. After Karnataka piled up a mammoth 623 for 6 in their first innings, Rajasthan needed their batsmen to build long innings after getting set. But none of them managed to do that – Ashok Menaria (who consistently churned out the big scores for Rajasthan during the knockout stages last season), Robin Bist and Rohit Jhalani all got to 45, but none of them could not manage more than Menaria’s 57.While new-ball bowlers Vinay Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun knocked over the top and middle order, taking five wickets between them, left-arm spinner K Appanna cleaned up the tail to finish with 4 for 35. With Rajasthan still trailing by 368, Vinay enforced the follow-on. The opening batsmen’s cautious approach – they scored at less than two runs an over – worked, as they safely saw off the 27 overs before stumps, finishing with 51 for 0.Orissa adopted a very cautious approach against Saurashtra at the Barabati Stadium, edging from 51 for no loss to 246 for 4 in a full-day’s play. Opener Natraj Behera scored most of the 195 runs they managed off 90 overs, carrying his bat through the day and completing his second first-class hundred in the process.Bikas Pati and Biplab Samantray afforded Natraj Behera some support, getting past 40, but neither could hang around long enough to threaten Saurashtra’s first-innings’ score of 545. In the final session, Natraj Behera found another reliable partner in Abhilash Mallick, who finished not out on 35. But Orissa will need both players to bat out as much of the final day as possible to have any chance of securing a draw. Natraj Behera is one short of his best first-class score, 113.File photo: Parthiv Patel led Gujarat’s solid reply at Eden Gardens•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Mumbai‘s spinners, Ramesh Powar and Ankeet Chavan combined to bowl out Railways for 256 at the Karnail Singh Stadium, after which Wasim Jaffer enforced the follow on. Railways had resumed on 66 for 3 and their captain, Sanjay Bangar, made a patient 89. But no one else could get a half-century, as Powar and Chavan picked up three wickets apiece. That meant Railways folded still 227 runs behind Mumbai.They began their second innings in better fashion though, going to stumps 121 for 2, trailing by 106. They lost Shreyas Khanolkar cheaply, but their other opener, Shivakant Shukla who is in his debut season with Railways after transferring from UP, held firm. He put on 89 with Faiz Fazal, before part-timer Suryakumar Yadav had Fazal edging behind just prior to stumps. Shukla finished unbeaten on 64.

Group B

Hundreds from Parthiv Patel and Priyank Panchal carried Gujarat to 315 for 2 in response to Bengal‘s 560 at Eden Gardens. The pair began the day with the score on 10 for no loss, and went on to string together a 284-run partnership. Parthiv Patel’s runs came at a good clip: he hit 143 at 70.79 with 18 fours. Panchal’s 139 was his best first-class score and, though a bit slower, included 19 boundaries – 16 fours and three sixes.However, Bengal’s spinners – Iresh Saxena and Saurasish Lahiri – removed the pair in the final session, as Gujarat went to stumps 245 runs in the deficit. The hundred could boost Parthiv’s chances of a Test comeback, as the reserve opener, during the much-anticipated Australia tour that kicks off at the end of the year.Debutant Milind Kumar and Rajat Bhatia went on to complete centuries on the third day at Roshanara Club Ground, to give Delhi the first-innings’ lead against Haryana, despite a collapse. Milind fell for 119 soon after the partnership had crossed the 150-run mark. Puneet Bisht could not get going, but Pawan Negi settled in. His 41-run stand with Bhatia looked promising when Bhatia was cleaned up by Amit Vashisht for 107.That triggered a collapse in which Delhi went from 318 for 5 to 352 all out, with a 59-run lead. The bowlers shared the wickets around. Haryana lost their captain Rahul Dewan early, before a half-century stand between Nitin Saini and Sunny Singh helped wipe out the deficit. However, Bhatia struck late in the day, effectively reducing Haryana to 35 for 2.There was no play possible in the Tamil Nadu v Baroda match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium due to rain, for the third day running.

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.

An already depleted West Indies are waiting to learn whether their star allrounder Dwayne Bravo will participate in the upcoming limited-overs series against Australia

Cricinfo staff03-Feb-2010An already depleted West Indies are waiting to learn whether their star allrounder Dwayne Bravo will participate in the upcoming limited-overs series against Australia. Bravo, who has been in the country representing Victoria in the Twenty20 Big Bash, broke his right thumb while batting against Tasmania on January 15 and the injury could turn out to be more serious than anticipated.A West Indies spokesperson told Cricinfo the management was waiting to hear back on test results on Bravo’s finger, and should know tonight or tomorrow morning if he will remain with the squad in Australia or return home.Bravo has been ruled out of the tourists’ warm-up fixture against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra on Thursday.West Indies have returned to Australia for five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals after losing a three-Test series in November-December last year. They have arrived without the likes of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan as well as Sulieman Benn, who was suspended for two ODIs for an incident in the Perth Test.West Indies will use the series to prepare for a home series against Zimbabwe and the World Twenty20 tournament in the Caribbean in April and May.

Lancashire have outside chance of victory after enterprising counterattack

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay31-Jul-2025Lancashire 137 and 226 for 5 (Wells 102) need another 247 runs to beat Glamorgan 261 and 348 for 7 dec (Northeast 132, Carlson 108) Two sessions of dominance by promotion-chasing Glamorgan will see them go into the final day of this Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash with Lancashire as favourites despite the hosts giving themselves a sniff of an unlikely victory with a thrilling counterattack.Both skipper Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson scored centuries as the visitors took their overnight score from 95 for 2 to 348 for 7 by the time they declared just before tea with a lead of 472 and a minimum of 147 overs in which to dismiss Lancashire.In contrast to the first two days, where spin dominated, the Red Rose bowlers toiled, with Northeast and Carlson able to build a huge third-wicket partnership of 215.Although Chris Green finished with three wickets and match figures of nine for 175 the writing looked to be on the wall by the time Northeast stuck Lancashire in, only for Luke Wells to score a century of his own and leave the home side requiring 247 runs with five wickets in hand.Glamorgan set about things at a measured pace with Carlson reaching his second half-century of the game in the third over of the day.When captain James Anderson turned to Green, Northeast and Carlson ensured the Australian did not repeat his first-innings heroics by attacking both him and the left arm spin of Tom Hartley.Carlson progressed to his century off 120 balls and it took the introduction of Wells’ leg-spin to break the third wicket partnership when he trapped the Welshman in front for 106.The incoming Colin Ingram joined Northeast and immediately attacked, hitting 34 off 29 balls before he was stumped by Salt to give Wells his second wicket.Meanwhile, the experienced skipper was playing the sort of innings he has been for years with the 35-year-old bringing up his 35th first-class century off 183 balls before Ingram’s dismissal.Northeast eventually departed for 132 caught on the leg side boundary by sub Jack Blatherwick off Green prompting Glamorgan to have a dash in the pursuit of quick runs resulting in the wickets of Ben Kellaway (19) lbw to Green and Crane by the same bowler for one.Tea was followed by Lancashire beginning their reply with the attack-minded Salt joining Wells in the middle and soon returning to the dressing room after he edged James Harris to Ingram at first slip for one.Nevertheless Salt’s introduction showed some intent and that’s exactly what Lancashire displayed from then on with Wells leading the way.The former Sussex man and Keaton Jennings put on 72 for the second wicket before Lancashire’s ex-captain was caught smartly by Asa Tribe at short leg off a big turner from Crane for 33.Josh Bohannon then joined Wells and the third wicket pair began to give the hosts a glimmer of hope as they targeted Crane and injected some energy into the innings.82 runs were hit off 10.2 overs with extravagant shots combining with frantic running to suddenly put Glamorgan on the back foot for virtually the first time in the match.Order was restored when Bohannon edged Asitha Fernando behind for 29 but with Wells reaching his century with a booming six off Kellaway before he was brilliantly caught and bowled by James Harris for 102, leaving the dangerous Marcus Harris and the in-form Matty Hurst at the crease, hope still sprung eternal for the watching home crowd.Some of that hope dissipated when Hurst was bowled by a sharply turning delivery from Kellaway for 11 but with the likes of George Balderson, Green and Hartley still to come after Tom Bailey’s elevation to nightwatchman, an unlikely and record breaking run chase could still be on the cards.

The England captain will have a scan on Wednesday morning after missing the final day’s play in Hamilton

Vithushan Ehantharajah17-Dec-20242:05

Stokes: We came here to beat New Zealand and we did it

“I ain’t holding back,” England captain Ben Stokes said when asked if scaling back his workloads as an allrounder was necessary after suffering a recurrence of a left hamstring injury during the third Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park.Stokes pulled up on day three as New Zealand racked up 453 in their second innings, setting England a target of 658. The 33-year-old will have a scan on Wednesday morning in Hamilton and had his left thigh heavily strapped as he sat out the final day’s play, in which England were dismissed for 234, handing the hosts victory by 423 runs.It was a consolation win, as England claimed the Crowe-Thorpe trophy 2-1. Stokes was able to take part in the post-series formalities, walking with a limp but relatively pain free between his various media duties. He confirmed it feels less serious than the torn hamstring sustained in August while batting in the men’s Hundred, which forced him to miss four Tests (a three-match series against Sri Lanka and the first of a tour of Pakistan). He had to be helped off the field then, but this time walked off without assistance.Related

• 'Bionic Man' Ben Stokes embarks on rehabilitation after hamstring surgery

• Ben Stokes ruled out for three months with recurrence of hamstring tear

• Santner four-for sends England tumbling to 423-run defeat

• Stokes leaves field with recurrence of hamstring injury

• Stats – New Zealand pay England back in kind

Having built himself back up over the last month in New Zealand, Stokes bowled 23 overs on day one of the third Test – the most in a single day across his career – with the 36.2 overs he eventually managed the most in a Test in over two years.This latest setback means yet more rehabilitation for Stokes, who underwent knee surgery in November 2023 in a bid to return to the bowler he once was. Putting his body on the line is nothing new for him, but as captain he acknowledged the importance of offering more as an allrounder to give the team another dynamic.His returns on paper this series – averaging 52.66 with the bat and seven dismissals at 36.85 with the ball – suggested he was trending in the right direction. It is why he was crestfallen as he left the field on Monday two balls into his third over of the day.Stokes, though, is in no mood to tailor his approach going forward. Having got over the initial disappointment, he is confident a full return should come quicker second time around.”I worked really hard to get myself into position to play the role that I did this game,” he said. “And it’s just one of those unfortunate things. But nah, I ain’t holding back.”Every time you walk out to field as an athlete, you’re putting yourself at risk of getting injury. Whether you feel great or you don’t feel great. I worked my arse off to get to where I was in this game in particularly with my body. It’s just sod’s law – the first time in a while I feel like I’m young again, something happens.”Obviously, [I was] incredibly disappointed walking off yesterday, very emotional about the whole thing.Ben Stokes was all smiles with the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy•Getty Images

“You’re always asking yourself, ‘Could I have done more? Should have done this, should have done that?’ But you know, when you sleep in it, and you take the emotion out of it, you realise that when you’re walking out there, you’re always putting yourself at risk of an injury.”Tuesday also marked the end of England’s joint-busiest calendar year of 17 Tests, finishing with nine victories and eight defeats. Though the team ended with a loss, Stokes was satisfied with their third series win of 2024, especially given it was England’s first in New Zealand since 2008.”We came here to beat New Zealand,” he said, “a team who wherever they go in the world are very competitive and knew they were going to be full of confidence after their historic win in India.”To play the cricket that we did in the first two games was very, very pleasing. We came here this week with the same attitude, same mindset, that we always do in the first two games out here. We just didn’t play anywhere near our capabilities.”It’s obviously disappointing to end the tour and the year with a loss. But what we came here to acheive, we managed to achieve. It’s no mean feat coming to New Zealand and beating them becease they’re a very very strong team in their home conditions.”

Who has moved where on the domestic scene ahead of next summer

ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-2022 • Updated on 20-May-2022CA – Cricket Australia contract, R – Rookie contract

ACT

Women Angela Reakes, Katie Mack, Kayla Burton, Gabrielle Sutcliffe, Chloe Rafferty, Carly Leeson, Matilda Lugg, Olivia Porter, Rebecca Carter, Amy Yates, Zoe Cooke, Holly Ferling, Alisha Bates, Angelina Genford, Annie WikmanIn Holly Ferling (Queensland), Alisha Bates, Annie Wikman, Angelina Genford | Out Erin Osborne (retired), Madeline Penna (South Australia), Nicola Hancock, Erica Kershaw

New South Wales

Men Sean Abbott, Trent Copeland, Pat Cummins (CA), Oliver Davies, Liam Doddrell (R), Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Ryan Hackney, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood (CA), Lachlan Hearne, Moises Henriques, Baxter Holt, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon (CA), Blake Nikitaras (R), Jack Nisbet (R), Kurtis Patterson, Will Salzmann (R), Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan Shaw (R), Steven Smith (CA), Mitchell Starc (CA), Chris Tremain, Hunar Verma (R), David Warner (CA), Adam Zampa (CA)In Liam Doddrell, Ryan Hadley, Hayden Kerr, Blake Nikitaras, Lachlan Shaw, Will Salzmann | Out Josh Baraba, Harry Conway (SA), Peter Nevill (retired)Women Jade Allen, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner (CA), Rachael Haynes (CA), Alyssa Healy (CA), Saskia Horley, Emma Hughes, Sammy Jo-Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Lauren Smith, Tahlia WilsonIn Saskia Horley | Out Rachel Trenaman (Tasmania)

Queensland

Men Usman Khawaja (CA), Marnus Labuschagne (CA), Mitchell Swepson (CA),Joe Burns, Michael Neser, Sam Heazlett, Jack Wildermuth, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Jimmy Peirson, Xavier Bartlett, Bryce Street, James Bazley, Gurinder Sandhu, Matthew Kuhnemann, Jack Clayton, Kane Richardson, Max Bryant, Liam Guthrie, Sam Truloff, Connor Sully, Blake Edwards, Hugo Burdon (R), William Prestwidge (R), Jackson Sinfield (R), Matthew Willans (R)In Kane Richardson (SA), Liam Guthrie (WA), Hugo Burdon, Jackson Sinfield | Out Billy Stanlake (Tas), Jack Wood, Lachlan PfefferWomen Jess Jonassen (CA), Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Ruth Johnston, Charli Knott, Caitlin Mair, Grace Parsons, Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll

South Australia

Men Wes Agar, Jordan Buckingham, Kyle Brazell (R), Aiden Cahill (R), Alex Carey (CA), Bailey Capel (R), Jake Carder, Harry Conway, Brendan Doggett, Daniel Drew, David Grant, Travis Head (CA), Isaac Higgins (R), Henry Hunt, Spencer Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Ryan King (R), Jake Lehmann, Nathan McAndrew, Nathan McSweeney, Ben Manenti, Harry Mathias (R), Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald, Nick WinterIn Harry Conway (NSW), Spencer Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Ben Manenti, Henry Thornton | Out Ryan Gibson, Corey Kelly, Sam Kerber, Joe Mennie, Kane Richardson (Queensland), Daniel Worrall (Surrey).Women Jemma Barsby, Sam Betts, Darcie Brown (CA), Emma de Broughe, Josie Dooley, Ellie Falconer, Paris Hall, Brooke Harris, Tahlia McGrath (CA), Annie O’Neil, Bridget Patterson, Madeline Penna, Kate Peterson, Megan Schutt (CA), Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Ella WilsonIn Madeline Penna, Ella Wilson, Paris Hall | Out Tegan McPharlin (retired), Alex Price, Eliza Doddridge

Tasmania

Men Tom Andrews, Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Sam Rainbird, Peter Siddle, Jordan Silk, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Beau Webster, Mac Wright, Nick Davis (R), Jarrod Freeman (R), Mitch Owen (R), Nivethan Radhakrishnan (R)In Nick Davis, Billy Stanlake | Out Tim PaineWomen Nicola Carey (CA), Julia Cavanough, Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham, Emma Manix-Geeves, Sasha Moloney, Clare Scott, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Molly Strano, Emma Thompson, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse Villani, Callie WilsonIn Rachel Trenaman (New South Wales), Clare Scott, Callie Wilson, Julia Cavanough | Out Corinne Hall (retired), Chloe Abel, Rachel Priest, Emily Smith, Belinda Vakarewa.

Victoria

Men Peter Handscomb, Scott Boland (CA), Travis Dean, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch (CA), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Holland, Nic Maddinson, Cameron McClure, Glenn Maxwell (CA), Jono Merlo, Todd Murphy, Tom O’Connell, Wil Parker, James Pattinson, Mitchell Perry, Will Pucovski, Matt Short, Will Sutherland, Ashley Chandrasinghe (R), Brody Couch (R), Sam Elliott (R), Campbell Kellaway (R), Fergus O’Neill (R)In Ashley Chandrasinghe, Campbell Kellaway | Out Xavier Crone, Seb Gotch (retired), James Seymour, Tom JacksonWomen Tiana Atkinson, Sam Bates, Makinley Blows, Lucy Cripps, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Ella Hayward, Olivia Henry, Meg Lanning (CA), Rhys McKenna, Sophie Molineux, Rhiann O’Donnell, Ellyse Perry (CA), Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland (CA), Tayla Vlaeminck (CA), Georgia Wareham (CA)In Olivia Henry, Sophie Reid | Out Anna Lanning, Lara Shannon, Amy Vine

Western Australia

Men Ashton Agar (CA), Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly (R), Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin (R), Cameron Green (CA), Sam Greer (R), Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis (CA), Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Hamish Mckenzie (R), Mitchell Marsh (CA), Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, D’Arcy Short, Charlie Stobo, Marcus Stoinis (CA), Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman, Teague Wyllie.In Sam Fanning, Bryce Jackson, Sam Greer, Hamish Mckenzie, Teague Wyllie | Out Liam Guthrie (Queensland)Women Charis Bekker, Zoe Britcliffe, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Sheldyn Cooper, Maddy Darke, Ashley Day, Amy Edgar, Lisa Griffith, Alana King (CA), Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney (CA), Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo, Poppy Stockwell, Georgia WyllieIn Beth Mooney (Queensland), Lilly Mills (Queensland), Piepa Cleary

On a pitch that offered substantial assistance, Sri Lanka’s spin-bowling coach felt his bowlers were somewhat overeager

Andrew Fidel Fernando23-Nov-2021Sri Lanka’s young trio of frontline spinners has taken seven wickets between them and seemingly put the team in a strong position in the opening Test against West Indies. But spin-bowling coach Piyal Wijetunge thinks they could have done much better.Offspinner Ramesh Mendis (26 years old), and left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama (23), took three wickets apiece, and Lasith Embuldeniya (25) took one, to help reduce West Indies to 224 for 9 before rain washed out much of day three’s play.But on a pitch that offered substantial assistance, Wijetunge thought his bowlers were somewhat overeager.”I’m not 100% happy – we could have done much better. We have been missing lines and lengths very frequently,” Wijetunge said of the performance. “We’ve got three young spinners, and on this pitch, which turns a lot, I think we were trying too hard to get wickets. We need to have patience, because the pitch does help us.”Instead of bowling the ball in one spot and waiting for the pitch to do the work, we went hunting for wickets. We tried too many things. But of these three spinners, Lasith Embuldeniya has played 12 [11] Tests, Praveen Jayawickrama has played two [one], and Ramesh Mendis three [two]. They need to keep building on their consistency.”However, Wijetunge did believe that Sri Lanka’s spin bowling was generally in a good place, with these three spinners around for the Test format, and others coming through the system. Sri Lanka are fielding two frontline left-arm spinners for the first time since the retirement of Rangana Herath (he had occasionally played alongside Malinda Pushpakumara late in his career). Wijetunge outlined Embuldeniya and Jayawickrama’s contrasting strengths.”Lasith Embuldeniya is a conventional type left-arm spinner, and of the three who are playing this game, he’s the most consistent in terms of his skill.”Praveen took 11 wickets on debut, and on this Galle pitch we would anyway consider him. He’s got natural variation, with the seam angles he uses. The ball straightens and when it hits the seam, it spins more than [it does] for the others. When they have exposure and experience, they are definitely going to be matchwinners.”Where Jayawickrama, in particular, has a decent straighter ball, but Embuldeniya has not yet developed a good version of that variation – something that was obvious during England’s tour of Sri Lanka in January. Where Emuldeniya and Wijetunge might have ordinarily worked on developing a straighter delivery through the course of the year, this has not been possible in 2021.”The one that comes in [to the right-hander] is definitely one that we have to work on with Embuldeniya. But with Covid-19 and the protocols around it, it has been difficult to work in new skills. We get bubbled a maximum of two weeks before the series, and the only thing we can do as coaches then is to get the players game-ready.”Before this, we had off-season training at the high performance centre, where we could have developed variations, or worked on consistency. But we haven’t had that chance, and there are only five or six skill-training sessions per series.”

Australia put in an impressive performance at the SCG and could wrap up their first ODI series victory in two years with a win in Adelaide

The Preview by Andrew McGlashan14-Jan-20195:10

Dasgupta: Difficult for India to accommodate two wristspinners

Big Picture

That was largely unexpected. Australia produced arguably their best ODI performance in two years to convincingly take the honours at the SCG and, as in the T20 series which began the tour, leave India needing to find a response.Australia’s batting was efficient rather than electric and the question remains whether the current line-up, with Glenn Maxwell at No. 7, has the firepower to push 350 when required but in Sydney they scored enough runs and defended them impressively. It was the new-ball attack of Jason Behrendorff and Jhye Richardson that stood out, taking six wickets between them, and providing a reminder that pace bowling is where Australia’s depth is at its greatest.India’s performance reinforced the issues they need to resolve before the World Cup later this year. MS Dhoni’s innings fuelled the debate about whether he can still do the role needed at this level – although he entered at a very difficult time – with Rohit Sharma later saying he’d like Dhoni at No. 4. That discussion is likely to remain throughout this series and the rest of India’s matches before the tournament.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia WLWLL
India LWWLT

In the spotlight

It is shaping as a season he’ll want to forget for captain Aaron Finch who collected another low score in the opening match when Bhuvneshwar Kumar nipped one back between bat and pad. Despite their victory, Australia have enough issues to think about in their side without the form of the captain heading into a World Cup year being one of them. He has plenty of time to turn it around, but starting in Adelaide would be handy.The Sydney ODI was Ambati Rayudu‘s first competitive match for more than two months and it showed. He was caught in the crease, beaten for pace by Richardson, to be trapped lbw and then used up India’s review which could later have been used to save Dhoni. He has the backing of Virat Kohli which counts for a lot and scored heavily against West Indies last year but will need to get himself back up to speed swiftly. The less said about his bowling, which has been reported for a suspect action, the better.Australia’s players get together to celebrate a wicket•Getty Images

Team news

Australia did not confirm their XI but vice-captain Alex Carey said that Mitchell Marsh was available for selection following the stomach illness that put him in hospital for two days. However, given that the middle order all made runs they may not tinker with the team.Australia (probable) 1 Aaron Finch (capt), 2 Alex Carey, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Shaun Marsh, 5 Peter Handscomb, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Peter Siddle, 9 Jhye Richardson, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Jason BehrendorffBalance is the big question for India. Kedar Jadhav will come back into the reckoning to provide some stop-gap overs and could replace Dinesh Karthik. Khaleel Ahmed struggled a little at the SCG but may be given another chance.India (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav/Dinesh Karthik, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Khaleel Ahmed, 11 Mohammed Shami

Pitch and conditions

The last couple of ODIs in Adelaide have been reasonably low scoring – earlier this season Australia defended 231 against South Africa – with pace bowlers enjoying considerable success. The forecast is for a very hot day.

Stats and trivia

• The three runs contributed by India’s Nos. 2-4 at the SCG was the second-lowest for that combination in their history, behind the two runs scored between the three against Sri Lanka in Dhaka in 2009-10
• Dhoni’s 51 off 96 balls finishes as his second slowest 50-plus score in ODIs behind the 54 off 114 balls against West Indies at North Sound in 2017
• Australia lead 4-1 in ODIs played between the teams in Adelaide although the last match, in 2012, India won by four wickets

Quotes

“I think the other night was a really big step forward and we can improve from that, definitely. If you look across the list, there are so many opportunities for guys to put their hand up and really make a spot their own.”
Alex Carey, Australia’s vice-captain“It’s more of a batting wicket. I am not sure about reverse swing, it should hardly reverse swing here. But the boundaries are a bit short, so it’s going to be more of a batting wicket.”

The Zimbabwe captain feels four-day Tests could give lower-ranked teams more of a chance of competing against top sides like South Africa

Firdose Moonda19-Dec-2017One of cricket’s most over-used adages is that shorter formats reduce the quality gap between teams, and though it may not always be true, Zimbabwe are hoping it will be apply to them when they take on South Africa in the four-day Test starting on Boxing Day. Though elite cricketers, including two of South Africa’s own, Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar, have largely turned their noses up at the idea of shorter Test matches, Graeme Cremer believes it could give his team, ranked No. 10, a greater chance to compete with their opponents, ranked No. 2.”I think it’s a good thing, especially when the two teams aren’t ranked that close together,” Cremer said at Zimbabwe’s arrival press conference in Paarl on Tuesday. “The game will move that much quicker because it’s only four days. It will be good to watch and good for the crowd.”Cremer expects the “bigger” teams to aim to bat once and bat quickly. “What a lot of the so-called bigger teams will do is bat the other team right out of the game and they can bat as long as they want, knowing they’ve got the bowlers to bowl a team out twice,” he said. “The bigger teams will have to probably score a bit quicker and give the lesser team a lot more opportunity to get wickets and the game will move quite quickly.”But Zimbabwe’s coach Heath Streak thinks that approach could also create an opening for the “smaller” team to work its way back into the game. “It’s much harder to bat a team out because in doing so you may make it easier for them to save the Test,” Streak said.Zimbabwe have recent experience of saving a game. They drew the second Test against West Indies, in a series they lost 1-0, and showed their ability to compete. Before that, they came close to upsetting Sri Lanka in an epic Test match in Colombo.Now Streak wants his team to take that one step further and not settle for anything less than winning.”It’s about shaking off the underdog mentality and playing to win, not to compete and to not embarrass ourselves,” Streak said. “Our series in Sri Lanka was a watershed moment for us, more mentally than anything else. We are out to play winning cricket and we’d rather lose trying to play a winning brand than to just compete. We’ll have our challenges, especially in the longer format because we don’t play that much, but this team is going places.”An obvious challenge is the lack of game time for Zimbabwe, who play significantly fewer matches than the other Test teams. Streak admitted they would welcome any matches, in any format, just to get better. “It’s less about the type of cricket and more about playing at international level, whether we are playing ODIs or Tests. It’s the gaps in between the international fixtures that are the biggest challenge for us. Our domestic level of cricket isn’t high so for us to step up, that’s the challenge.”However, Zimbabwe could be set to play even less. Earlier this year, ZC’s new MD Faisal Hasnain admitted the country would seek to host fewer Tests in future, once the new Test league comes into place, because they are financially unviable. Instead, they would concentrate on shorter formats at home and hope to play Tests overseas, as they are doing now in South Africa. And that will mean taking fixtures in whatever format the hosts offer, as is the case now.The Boxing Day Test won’t just be the first four-day Test since 1973, but will also be a day-night game, which Zimbabwe are unused to. With no floodlights at either Harare Sports Club or Queens in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe only play day-night games abroad, and now they have to do it with a pink ball.Many teams, especially batsmen, have had problems with the pink ball at twilight and Cremer’s early assessment is that Zimbabwe will experience the same. “We’ve had two sessions under lights with the pink ball. It was good to see how it reacts,” he said. “At that twilight time, a little bit more seems to happen with the ball off the wicket. We’ll be careful of that. It will probably swing.”Zimbabwe are yet to decide on their team combination but will use the upcoming three-day warm-up match, which starts on Wednesday, to decide on the best combination. “We’re very inexperienced at this,” Cremer said. “The warm-up game will give us a good idea of how to go forward in the Test match.”They will also use it to see how they fare against a returning Dale Steyn, who is expected to make his Test comeback this summer. Steyn has not played for South Africa since last November, when he broke a bone in his shoulder in Perth, but has been named in the Test squad and his final availability will be confirmed on the basis of how he comes through the practice match. Rather than fear what is effectively an audition for Steyn, Cremer said Zimbabwe’s line-up was looking forward to it.”It is very exciting,” Cremer said. “Dale brings a lot to cricket in general. He is a good guy and he is one of the better bowlers going around. It will be good to have him back, not only just for this Test match but going forward in his career. He is great to watch and we are excited to see him in the three-day game and hopefully in the Test.”