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Nottinghamshire sign Fergus O'Neill for start of Championship

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Australian agrees short-term deal for first four rounds of red-ball competition

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2024Nottinghamshire have signed Australian seamer Fergus O’Neill for the first four rounds of next year’s County Championship.O’Neill, who has an impressive first-class record of 94 wickets at 19.91, is only eligible for a short-term visa but he will cover for the absence of Dane Paterson for the start of the season, with the South African’s availability uncertain after his Test recall earlier in the year.”It’s really exciting to get Fergus on board as a player who has enjoyed real success over the last couple of seasons for Victoria and I hope this is just the start of the Notts’ relationship with him,” Notts head coach, Peter Moores, said.”Whilst we can only secure his services on a short-term basis due to visa restrictions, it looks like he’s improving all the time and I think his style of bowling will work well in the early season conditions in England.Related

  • Silverwood makes Essex return as director of cricket

  • Scott Borthwick takes up player-coach role at Durham

  • Verreynne seals Nottinghamshire return ahead of potential WTC final

“His strengths are his consistency and lateral movement, which are ideal skills to complement the rest of our bowling unit. He is more than capable with the bat, too, and will bolster our lower middle-order, from which runs are crucial – especially early in the season.”He will, in effect, replace Dane Paterson, who won’t be with us for the start of the season as his re-entry into the Test arena and our desire to strengthen our batting means we have opted for a slightly different style of player.”It is worth highlighting what a fantastic servant Dane has been to the club, though. His record is outstanding; he has built a great legacy with Notts in just a few years and remains an immensely popular character in the dressing room.”O’Neill is currently the joint-leading wicket-taker in the 2024-25 Sheffield Shield with 22 at 19.31. Last season, he took 40 wickets at 17.25.”The opportunity to play in England is really exciting, and one I’m looking forward to,” O’Neill said. “That it’ll be for Nottinghamshire with Trent Bridge as home is extra special – it’s somewhere that, as an Australian, has a real aura, and I can’t wait to step out there.”Hopefully I’ve got attributes with the ball which suit the conditions, and, coming off the back of an Australian summer, I’ll be heading into the Championship with games under my belt which always helps.”Notts finished eighth in Division One of the Championship last season, having been promoted from the second tier the summer before.

Winless Pakistan have uphill task of facing near-invincible Australia

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The pitch in Colombo isn’t expected to allow free-flowing batting

Madushka Balasuriya07-Oct-20252:07

Preview – Should Australia play Megan Schutt?

Big picture: Pakistan 0, Australia 16

Pakistan have never beaten Australia in any format of women’s international cricket. And if that trend continues on Wednesday, their path forward in the ODI World Cup will become very complicated given they have already lost their opening two matches to Bangladesh and India.What might be even more concerning for Pakistan is that in 16 ODIs against Australia, they’ve not even come close to victory, with the narrowest margins of defeat being 37 runs and four wickets, both way back in 2014.Pakistan’s most recent contest against Australia, a three-match rubber in 2023, had these results: eight-wicket defeat, 10-wicket defeat, 101-run defeat. And while they are also yet to beat India (12 tries) or England (15 tries) in women’s ODIs, their 16 defeats to Australia make them, statistically, the toughest opponent.Related

  • Ellyse Perry and Sidra Amin highlight the contrasts in Australia and Pakistan

  • Schutt praised for response to omission as another selection call awaits

All this is to say that Pakistan have a considerable mountain ahead of them. As for Australia, their opening game against New Zealand was an ultimately comfortable win, and their second against Sri Lanka was washed out. They are also a team in near-invincible form. In 32 matches since the last World Cup, they’ve won 27 and lost just four. Pakistan in that same period have played 34 ODIs, won 13 and lost 18.So what exactly are the straws Pakistan might look to clutch here? One, Australia haven’t played since October 1 as a result of their washout against Sri Lanka. They are also yet to play at the R Premadasa stadium, where conditions don’t necessarily seem conducive to free-flowing batting. With Pakistan already having experienced these conditions in their defeat to India, there could be an advantage to be exploited.Finally, Pakistan will be hoping the law of averages catches up and gives them the crucial win and points that they need.2:40

Australia exude an attitude of ‘we know how to win this’

Form guide

Australia WWLWW (last five ODIs most recent first)
Pakistan LLWLL

In the spotlight: Sandhu and Mooney

Since the 2022 World Cup, no Pakistani bowler has picked up more wickets than spinner Nashra Sandhu – her 42 strikes in this period coming from 28 matches. But more interestingly her 248.1 overs are the sixth-most bowled by any bowler in the last three and a half years. This serves to highlight just how much Pakistan lean on Sandhu. This year has also been her most impactful one – she’s picked up 17 wickets in 10 games, including a six-wicket haul against South Africa. The only thing is, in her past five matches, she’s gone wicketless three times. Pakistan will need her at her best if they are to upset Australia.You’d be hard pressed to find a team Beth Mooney doesn’t like batting against, but even so, her ODI record against Pakistan is better than most. Across eight innings she’s struck 279 runs at an average of 69.75, an average that has been boosted by the fact that she’s only been dismissed four times. Mooney’s recent form too has been ominous, with a century and two fifties across her last five innings.Megan Schutt has a good record against Pakistan: 10 wickets in nine ODIs•Getty Images

Team news: Will Schutt get a look in?

With a week’s break since their last game, Australia will be itching to get out on the field. Their biggest dilemma is down to healthy competition, as it remains to be seen if Darcie Brown continues to keep Megan Schutt out of the XI.Australia (probable): 1 Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Beth Mooney, 5 Annabel Sutherland, 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Tahlia McGrath, 8 Sophie Molineux, 9 Alana King, 10 Kim Garth, 11 Darcie BrownOmaima Sohail was replaced at the top of the order by Sadaf Shamas last time out, but with both openers struggling Sohail might find herself back in the side.Pakistan (probable): 1 Muneeba Ali, 2 Sadaf Shamas, 3 Sidra Amin, 4 Aliya Riaz, 5 Natalia Pervaiz, 6 Fatima Sana (capt), 7 Rameen Shamim, 8 Diana Baig, 9 Sidra Nawaz (wk), 10 Nashra Sandhu, 11 Sadia Iqbal

Pitch and conditions: Tricky batting conditions

Rain has been pestering Colombo and its surrounding suburbs over the past week, but Wednesday should arrive with clear, if cloudy, tidings. The pitch at the Khettarama has stayed true to form in the first two games its hosted at this World Cup, making life tricky for batters – expect that to stay the same.

Stats and trivia: Australia’s return to Colombo

  • This will be Australia’s first women’s ODI in Colombo since 2016
  • Only against Ireland (17-0) do Australia hold a more dominant ODI record than the one they have against Pakistan
  • Australia have won their last 10 completed Women’s World Cup matches
  • Annabel Sutherland is four away from 50 WODI wickets

Quotes

“We do have an edge but it all depends on what the team does with this advantage. We were unlucky to have our warmup game against Sri Lanka washed out but we’ve also played two games here and know the conditions very well.”

Ajaz triggers late India slide after Jadeja five-for keeps New Zealand to 235

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Mitchell and Young hit half-centuries for New Zealand, while India lost three wickets in two overs just before stumps

Sidharth Monga01-Nov-2024Stumps Ravindra Jadeja bowled 22 unchanged overs in the oppressive heat and humidity of Mumbai to pick up his 14th Test five-wicket haul and help bowl New Zealand out for 235. However, India threw away the advantage with the loss of three wickets in the last two overs of the day to end at 86 for 4.Jadeja had to work much harder for his wickets than New Zealand did at the fag end of the day. It included bowling through the whole middle session, during which Washington Sundar, who took four wickets, went off the field to rehydrate, and the batters got drinks almost every three overs.Jadeja’s was a timely intervention, as Daryl Mitchell and Will Young, half-centurions both, threatened to run away to a big total on a pitch that showed enough signs – with puffs of dust and variable turn – that it was going to be a nightmare for the side batting last. Mitchell and Young added 87 runs in a fourth-wicket partnership that looked under more threat from dehydration than the bowling.The collapse from 159 for 3 to 235 all out brought some respite for India, playing to avoid their second-ever series whitewash at home (of two or more Tests) and also vital WTC points. However, the last two overs – Yashasvi Jaiswal bowled to a reverse-sweep, the nightwatcher Mohammed Siraj burning a review, Virat Kohli running himself out – were a downer for them.Virat Kohli was run out looking for a quick single•BCCI

That’s because they had got into a desirable position after Tom Latham won another important toss and got the right to bat in the best batting conditions of the match. He led New Zealand’s initial progress even though he lost Devon Conway to Akash Deep from around the wicket. A pace attack missing Jasprit Bumrah was only going to go so far. R Ashwin came on to bowl as early as the eighth over, the last time of the day he would be considered the likeliest spinner to get wickets.Latham scored 28 off 44 before a vexing one-two from Washington sent him back. From a near identical spot, with near identical seam orientation, Washington beat the inside edge one ball and the outside edge next ball to take out top of off stump. For the third time in three times of asking, Washington hit the off stump of Rachin Ravindra with a near identical delivery to leave New Zealand delicately poised at 72 for 3.The half-an-hour to lunch was a nervous period for Young and Mitchell as both their edges were threatened regularly. Post lunch, though, the pitch settled down for an hour and a bit. With the temperature hitting 37 degrees, the high humidity of the coast and little breeze, this session tested everybody’s fitness. The batters got a drink every couple of overs to go with iced towels or ice packs around their necks.Every now and then, the ball turned if Jadeja slowed it down, but he was looking for quick turn. Young and Mitchell, though, looked at ease. The sweeps and reverse-sweeps were employed to good effect, but Young also danced down the wicket to languidly loft the ball. This was Young’s first fifty of the series even though he has given the impression he has been the most comfortable batter on either side.Ravindra Jadeja acknowledges the cheers after his 14th Test five-for•BCCI

Washington, Siraj and Ashwin bowled from the other end, but Jadeja kept going from his. Towards the end of the session, he got what he wanted: turn at high pace. Now he was in it. Young edged to slip one that turned at 94kph. Three balls later, Blundell saw one pitch on leg and hit off at 92kph. Puffs of dust started making more regular appearances.Now Jadeja took full control. He kept attacking the stumps with subtle changes of pace and the occasional undercutter. He took out Glenn Phillips with one that didn’t turn to go past Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma into the list for top-five wicket-takers for India.India began the final session with Jadeja and Washington again, something that will hurt the competitor in Ashwin. Jadeja wasted little time to dismiss Ish Sodhi and Matt Henry in the same over. Sodhi fell to one that turned and stayed low, and Henry was bowled on the off to Jadeja’s slowest wicket-taking delivery: at 90kmph.Whatever the support staff did to Mitchell during the tea break worked wonders as he found enough energy to hit three sixes in three Washington overs after having struggled to run during the middle session.Mitchell didn’t farm the strike with the No. 10 for company, but eventually made a mental error by guiding a flat delivery straight to slip just like how coaches do during catching drills. Not before having scored 82, though. Ajaz Patel, on whom lay the onus to improve dramatically from Pune, hit a six before padding up to one that didn’t turn, giving Washington his fourth wicket.Daryl Mitchell celebrates his fifty•Getty Images

Rohit Sharma enjoyed some early luck as Will O’Rourke dropped him at long leg, but his attacking mindset meant he had committed too much to a forceful shot when Henry seamed one ball away. The Rohit that went to England in 2021 would have had time to bail out, but now he just edged it to second slip.Jaiswal and Shubman Gill weathered the storm to assuage fears of a repeat of what happened in Pune. They even began to dominate the bowling in a 53-run second-wicket stand. Then, with about ten minutes to stumps, Jaiswal was beaten on the reverse-sweep, the first time he has got out to the shot in Test cricket having tried it 14 times previously for 36 runs. Ajaz then bowled perhaps his best delivery to Mohammed Siraj first up, pitching on leg and hitting off. For some reason, though, Siraj decided to review it.Amid the DRS drama, Kohli walked in for the first time this series without an applause for the wicket preceding him. Part-time spinner Ravindra tried the old left-arm-spinner-full-toss trick but Kohli got past the lethal delivery – it had been his downfall in the previous Test – with a boundary. However, he couldn’t get the better of his own instinct of running with the shot despite hitting the ball firmly enough to mid-on. The only way Kohli could survive this was if Henry misfielded or missed. He did neither.

Pressure mounts on ICC amid Afghanistan women's fundraising drive

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Afghanistan’s exiled players launch plea for donations as MCC, ECB show their support

Valkerie Baynes and Firdose Moonda31-Jan-20252:03

Mel Jones: This group of Afghanistan women are trying to rebuild their lives

Pressure is mounting on the ICC to act amid the announcement of fundraising efforts to support Afghanistan’s exiled women’s cricketers, who played their first match together this week.The Pitch Our Future campaign, led by former Australia cricketer turned commentator Mel Jones, launched on Friday aimed at attracting online donations to support the players’ sporting, physical and mental needs so that they can continue to compete regularly as a team.Meanwhile, the MCC and MCC Foundation have set up the Global Refugee Cricket Fund to support refugees worldwide, backed by a £100,000 donation from the ECB and with an initial focus to raise money for Pitch Our Future.Related

  • Afghan women have few rights under Taliban rule, but does sanctioning the men's cricket team help them?

  • England-Afghanistan to go ahead despite ECB speaking out over 'gender apartheid'

  • Exiled Afghanistan women players to men's team: 'Please be the voice of the girls'

  • Powerplay: How cricket helped Afghanistan women escape

  • World Cricketers Association calls out 'random and inconsistent' support for Afghanistan women

In announcing the fund and the establishment of an advisory board, the MCC “invited” the ICC’s participation, while Clare Connor, the ECB’s deputy chief executive, hoped the fund’s launch would “inspire other cricketing organisations” to lend their support.The announcements follow pleas to the ICC to ring-fence funding for the players on the basis that Afghanistan remain full ICC members despite no longer being able to fulfil the requirement to field a women’s team under its Taliban government.The players wrote to the ICC last July asking for help in establishing themselves as a refugee team. In lieu of a response, they formed an Afghanistan Women’s XI with the help of Jones and a team of dedicated volunteers, and played their first game on Thursday.As told to ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast, Jones was instrumental in helping 19 players formerly contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board and their families escape to Australia after the Taliban took over in 2021 and banned women’s sport in their country. Since then, women have been subjected to increasingly restrictive laws in Afghanistan which have effectively excluded them from public life.Jones was helped by Emma Staples, Cricket Victoria’s Head of Diversity and Community, and Dr Catherine Ordway from the University of Canberra among others, whose efforts resulted in Thursday’s T20 exhibition against a Cricket Without Borders XI.

Cricket Without Borders won the fixture by seven wickets but the match represented a significant step for the Afghan players, not only in their development as cricketers but in raising awareness of their plight.Jones said that for their first couple of years in exile, the Afghan players feared for their safety if it became known that they were in Australia playing cricket for various club and community sides.”Now, we want to build a really strong community and high-performance programme around these young women, so they can develop not only as players, but also as coaches and administrators, so that they can stay within the sport and progress,” Jones said.The exiled Afghanistan women’s team played their first game at Junction Oval in Melbourne•AFP/Getty Images

Pitch Our future aims to raise A$1.5 million for an initial three-year program which will also include education and life-skill support for the players, some of them not even 18 years old when they escaped and many of whom couldn’t speak English when they arrived in Australia.Meanwhile, the MCC and MCC Foundation have launched the Global Refugee Cricket Fund to support refugees worldwide and with an initial focus to raise money for Pitch Our Future.The Global Refugee Cricket Fund aims to provide access to facilities, offer education and mentorship, promote advocacy and awareness and build high-performance and community programs for players, coaches and administrators.Announcing the fund in a press release on Friday, MCC said an advisory board would be set up including representatives from the MCC
Foundation, MCC, ECB, Pitch Our Future, refugee organisations, and community leaders such as Afghan women’s advocates. “The ICC is also invited to participate in this effort,” the statement added.Aiming to raise £1 million initially, the fund was boosted by the ECB’s donation.Connor said: “The cricket community must take action, to support the brave Afghan women, and to give hope that cricket can be a sport for any woman or girl. We hope the launch of the Fund will inspire other cricketing organisations to support this cause, and to unlock cricket’s power to unite communities around the globe.”Dr Sarah Fane, Director of the MCC Foundation, said: “With Pitch Our Future leading the way in Australia, we hope to amplify their efforts and inspire the global cricketing community to join us in making a difference.” Donations to Pitch Our Future from Australia can be made here and from outside Australia via Global Refugee Fund here.

Tim David 'working really hard' on his legspin

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

“I started bowling legspin in nets about nine months ago, and they came out really well,” he said

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jun-2024In the first round of the T20 World Cup 2024, when a lot of cricket was played in the USA, the fast bowlers held sway. Now, with the show moving fully to the West Indies, spin is more likely to be the dominant force, and Tim David is preparing for that: with bat, and with ball.Ahead of Australia’s first Super Eight game, against Bangladesh in Antigua, David, a big-hitting finisher and part-time offspinner by trade, said he has been trying out legspin over the past few months, hoping to give his side another option should they need it.”It just gives you options as a match-up. I started bowling legspin in nets about nine months ago, and they came out really well,” David, who is yet to get a chance to bowl at this World Cup, said. “So just been working really hard on it. And to be honest… I really enjoy bowling. It’s more fun in the game than just sitting there for 20 overs in the field.”Related

  • Stats – It's been a bowlers' World Cup, but that might change now

  • Warner on sandpaper 'flak': 'I'm not going to cop it anymore'

Australia’s frontline spinners, Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa, have been working with David on his bowling. “It’s been really good to bowl with Ash, [and] bowl with Zamps when they’re around in the nets, [and] rub ideas off them,” David said. “There’s [also] bowling coaches, and it’s really good to get different ideas from people. But again, it’s about what works for me and [about] finding my own method.”Australia are grouped with Bangladesh, India and Afghanistan for the Super Eight, so they are wary of it being a trial by spin. Bangladesh’s new poster boy, legspinner Rishad Hossain, could pose a particular challenge since Australia have not seen much of him, but David said they will not back down.”I suppose that’s the nature of the World Cup, isn’t it? You play every team once,” David said. “You might get a team twice if you play in the final, so you don’t get to face a lot of lot of these guys; you don’t get a big look at them. I don’t think anyone in our team will have played against him [Rishad]. So we’re going to take him on.”David has been batting against spin in the nets in preparation for all this, but at this point in time, so close to the game, it’s not worth thinking too much about it. “I’ve practiced a lot against spin over the last couple of weeks. Day before a game or couple of days before game [though], it’s not that big of a stress,” he said. “You know you can’t change too much in that last stage. You just get feeling good [in the nets], ticking a couple of boxes, having fun at training. That’s the most important thing for me [so close to the game].”One thing he’ll particularly be looking at come game day, is the direction of the wind at the ground. “Yeah, the wind’s really important. You hit the ball into the wind, [and] it goes 50 metres shorter; you get one downwind, [and] you can’t stop it. I think the other night in St. Lucia, if you hit the ball downwind, it went out of the stadium,” David said.”So yeah, that all comes into stuff when you’re out in the middle, you’re weighing up risks, weighing up what the best option is for taking ends down, and I guess… if you can sum it up quicker with your experience, you have an idea of what the risk is like if you have to take it on. You can feel [the wind] out there. It’s pretty strong in the Caribbean. Some islands are windier than others.”

Compton digs deep for Kent after Scriven makes 99 from No.10

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Table-toppers still lead by 268 overnight as stragglers make good fist of first innings

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay30-Jul-2025Kent 203 for 3 (Compton 101*) trail Leicestershire 471 (Rehan 119, Patel 85) by 268 runsBen Compton was leading Kent’s resistance as they reached 203 for three on day two of their Rothesay County Championship match with Leicestershire at Canterbury, a deficit of 268.The Division Two leaders posted 471 after a final-wicket stand of 108 between Tom Scriven, who slapped Kent’s bowlers around to make a career-high 99, and Josh Hull, whose 35 was also his highest first-class score.Compton, however, replied with a mixture of doggedness and adventure to make his 18th first-class century and he was 101 not out when bad light stopped play.Leicestershire were 386 for nine overnight and quickly secured a fourth batting bonus point when Scriven swept Matt Parkinson for four.Scriven was on 70 when he was dropped by Ekansh Singh at cow corner after mowing a Joey Evison full toss and the number 11 Hull took them past 450 when he drove Parkinson for four.Parkinson was then denied what would have been a career-best eighth wicket when Compton somehow dropped Hull at midwicket.If that suggested Scriven’s luck was in, he missed out on his century in agonising fashion. The four that took him to 98 fell just short of the rope; he was on 99 when the batters ran two and the crowd were already applauding, only for the umpires to signal leg byes; two balls later he was plumb lbw to Joey Evison.(The only previous number 10 to get out one short of a first-class century was Athar Laeeq for Karachi Blues v Islamabad at Karachi, March 1996).Kent survived five dicey overs to reach lunch on 18 without loss but Jaydn Denly was then lbw for 20 to Louis Kimber.Ekansh got a life when he was on 22. He tried to pull Hull, who nearly had him caught and bowled, only to drop a head high chance.Compton reached 1000 runs for the summer when he passed 23, eased to 50 with two off Rehan Ahmed and Kent were 117 for one at tea.Ekansh went for 33 in the first over after the resumption, driving Ian Holland straight to Scriven at mid on, and with so many young players in Kent’s side the third-wicket partnership between senior players Compton and Tawanda Muyeye always looked like being crucial.The former’s battle with Rehan Ahmed was gripping, especially in the 90s, as he missed out on a rank long hop and then might have been run out but for a misfield. He was stuck on 99 at the other end when Rehan produced a sharply turning delivery that found Muyeye’s edge and was caught by Peter Handscomb for 46.George Garrett was sent in as the night watcher and he blocked the rest of the over before Compton stole a single off Green at the start of the 68th to reach three figures and that was the last meaningful action before the light deteriorated and the players went off with two overs remaining.

Settled SL meet a Bangladesh in transition for ODI series opener

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Mehidy Hasan Miraz will be full-time Bangladesh captain in ODIs for the first time

Madushka Balasuriya01-Jul-2025

Big picture: A new era for Bangladesh

After a hard-fought Test series, the action now switches to the white-ball format, with the first of three ODIs starting on Wednesday. For Bangladesh it’s the dawn of a new era in many ways. They have a new ODI captain for starters, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking over from Najmul Hossain Shanto, but more pressingly are the recent retirements of stalwarts Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah.To say it signals a changing of the guard would be an almost textbook definition of the idiom, in fact, as Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah were the last remaining vestiges of Bangladesh’s fab five, which also included Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. You would have to go all the way back to September 2005 to find the last ODI that neither of these players took part in – coincidentally, also against Sri Lanka in Colombo.Related

  • Asalanka expects seam and batter-friendly pitch at Khettarama

  • Madushanka back in SL squad for Bangladesh ODIs

  • Freed from the burden of captaincy, Shanto could relaunch his career

  • Rebuild, resurrect, recalibrate – Mehidy has an unenviable task as ODI captain

So what does this new look Bangladesh entail? Well, they’ll be hoping recent form isn’t an accurate indicator. They’ve lost their last six completed ODIs, and 8 of their last 11 ODIs since the start of 2024. Though more promisingly, two of those wins were part of a series victory against Sri Lanka.Since that series defeat though, Sri Lanka have been on a bit of a tear, particularly at home. They’ve beaten India, West Indies, New Zealand and Australia on home turf in the past year, with their only ODI series loss coming away to New Zealand.And while Bangladesh are seeking to fill some big holes, Sri Lanka very well might be settling into a favoured setup. Their batting is now replete with ever more dependable performers, while their bench strength is becoming quite formidable.Nowhere is this more exemplified than in the pace contingent with Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka included ahead of the likes of Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara and Matheesha Pathirana. Meanwhile a spin department headed by Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana is comfortably in world-class territory, and even deadlier in home conditions.But Bangladesh have exciting talents of their own, even if overall depth is still lacking. Rishad Hossain was a key part of Bangladesh’s most recent win against Sri Lanka, while in Mehidy they have one of the premier allrounders in world cricket. Shanto, meanwhile, unburdened by captaincy will be eyeing to turn over a new leaf of his own.So it very well could be a fresh start for this young Bangladesh outfit, and where better to start than by targeting a first-ever series win in Sri Lanka.

Recent form

Sri Lanka WWWLL (most recent first)

Bangladesh LLLLL

In the spotlight: Theekshana & Rishad

Maheesh Theekshana played just one out of a possible three ODIs against India last year, and then two out of three against West Indies. But since then he’s played in every home ODI he’s been available for, while even picking up seven wickets across two games in New Zealand. While Theekshana has for the most part been considered a T20 specialist, it seems the think tank is increasingly more attuned to the utility of his skillset in ODIs as well. And even when he’s not picking up wickets, he’s creating the pressure for the bevy of spinners around him to profit.Unlike Sri Lanka’s, Bangladesh’s spinners haven’t had all that great a time as of late, but in Rishad Hossain they have the kind of talent every team in world cricket is looking for – namely, a leg spinning all-rounder that can hit the ball far. But sadly for Bangladesh and Rishad, neither facet of his skillset has been coming off as of late. His last 10 games, internationally and in franchise cricket, has seen a high score of 13 and 11 wickets. But when Bangladesh last played Sri Lanka in the format, Rishad struck a devastating 48 off 18, with a wicket to go with it. If Bangladesh are to challenge a strong Sri Lankan outfit, Hossain will have to be on top of his game.

Team news: Major changes expected for visitors

Sri Lanka’s XI is largely settled but there are a few areas wherein things might not be as nailed down. An opening partner for Pathum Nissanka is one of them, with Nishan Madushka preferred over Avishka Fernando in Sri Lanka’s last ODI. Eshan had a storming IPL and domestic season, which means it’ll likely be between Asitha and Madushanka for that final seamer spot.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Nishan Madushka/Avishka Fernando, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Charith Asalanka, 5 Kamindu Mendis 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Dunith Wellalage, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Maheesh Theekshana 10 Eshan Malinga 11 Asitha Fernando/Dilshan MadushankaThe visitors have to make at least two major changes to their middle-order with Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah gone from ODIs since their last match in this format. Shanto will likely move into the middle-order with Mohammad Naim and Litton Das set to get into the top-order.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das (wk), 3 Mohammad Naim, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 7 Jaker Ali, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Nahid Rana

Pitch and conditions

The weather looks to be mostly clear, so ideally there shouldn’t be any rain interruptions. The pitch itself will likely be your standard Khettarama surface, with any score in the region of 300 a challenging target, while spin is expected to play a prominent role.

Stats and trivia

  • Since Mahmudullah’s debut in July 2007, Bangladesh will play their first ODI without any of Mahmudullah, Mortaza, Tamim, Shakib or Mushfiqur
  • Bangladesh have never won an ODI series in Sri Lanka
  • In five innings, Shanto has a century and two fifties against Sri Lanka, averaging 85.50
  • Hasaranga is one wicket away from 100 ODI wickets

Quotes

“Actually, we are good friends. When it comes to playing, it looks like a rivalry. That’s what everyone expects to see – those kinds of games, that kind of heat. But we’re good friends.”
“Our numbers doesn’t necessarily mean we are a bad team. We only played two ODI series last year. We mainly played Tests in 2024. We understand our situation. We are planning to make things better. Hopefully, with regular ODIs, we will be back in full flow.”

Iqbal becomes No. 1 ranked T20I bowler before Ecclestone snatches it back

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

With a small gap of eight points, the positions might change again before the World Cup ends

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2024Sadia Iqbal briefly became the first player from Pakistan to top an ICC women’s T20I player rankings table when she overtook Sophie Ecclestone to become the top-ranked bowler in the world. It didn’t last long, though, as Ecclestone snatched it back by the end of the week when the updates were made public.Ecclestone has been the top-ranked women’s T20I bowler since February 2020 – and continues to be – but for a few days over the week past, the throne belonged to Iqbal. Iqbal first drew level with Ecclestone after taking 3 for 17 against Sri Lanka in Pakistan’s women’s T20 World Cup opener. Ecclestone, in her first match of the World Cup, returned 0 for 21, and slipped behind Iqbal as a result. But Iqbal then took 1 for 23 against India, and Ecclestone bounced back with a Player-of-the-Match winning 2 for 15 against South Africa to claim the top spot again.There’s just an eight-point gap (762 and 754) between the two, though, so it’s quite possible that the positions might change again before the World Cup is done.

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As such, left-arm spinner Iqbal is having her best year in T20Is. Among all players at the World Cup, she has the most wickets in 2024 – 28 wickets in 17 games. Sana Mir, the former Pakistan captain, is the only other Pakistan woman cricketer to top an ICC player table – she was the top-ranked ODI bowler in 2018-19.The tussle at the top of the T20I bowlers’ rankings aside, a number of other players have made notable movements as the World Cup has worn on.Among batters, Suzie Bates’ 27 against against India has lifted her two spots to seventh, while Harmanpreet Kaur is up to 12th, a jump of four spots, after her 15 against New Zealand and 29 (retired hurt) against Pakistan. One of the top performers at the World Cup so far has been Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who has so far hit 41 and 43 against Bangladesh and South Africa, respectively, helping England win both games. That’s lifted her from No. 20 to joint 18th, where she is joined by team-mate Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was 19th last week, after she scored 48 not out in the win over South Africa.Among bowlers, Megan Schutt has risen nine places to enter the top ten at No. 10 after picking up 3 for 12 against Sri Lanka. Within the top five, Sarah Glenn is up one place to third, behind Ecclestone and Iqbal, after picking up a wicket in each of England’s two games so far. Below her, Ash Gardner is up three places to sixth and Rabeya Khan is up one place to No. 9.Nonkululeko Mlaba, who set up South Africa’s opening win against West Indies with returns of 4 for 29, and has since picked up 1 for 22 against England, has zoomed up nine spots to 13th.

Michael Burgess century cements Warwickshire fightback

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Building on good work by Ed Barnard and Will Rhodes, Burgess is 126 not out against Somerset

ECB Reporters Network30-Jun-2024Michael Burgess hit his seventh first class century to cement a determined Warwickshire fightback on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship Division One match with Somerset at Taunton.Going in at No. 8, the 29-year-old wicketkeeper made an unbeaten 126, off 167 balls, with 14 fours and three sixes, to build on the good work of Ed Barnard (92) and skipper Will Rhodes (63) after their side had slumped to 40 for 4 on losing the toss.Chris Woakes contributed 39 to an eighth-wicket stand of 110 with Burgess that enabled Warwickshire to close on 373 for 8. Migael Pretorius was the pick of Somerset’s bowling attack with 4 for 72 from 20 overs.Josh Davey made the first breakthrough with the Warwickshire total on 19 as Alex Davies edged a defensive push to Tom Abell at first slip in the fifth over.It was 34 for 2 when Rob Yates, on 15, nicked a lifter from Pretorius and Kasey Aldridge accepted a sharp chance at second slip. The South African struck again in his next over with an excellent delivery that clipped the top of off stump to send back Sam Hain for a duck.Warwickshire were in a deep hole at 40 when the inspired Pretorius induced Dan Mousley to edge an attempted leg-side shot to give Aldridge another slip catch at which point the seamer’s figures were 3 for 6.Rhodes survived a couple of scares before lunch, which was taken at 97 for 4, the skipper having made 42 and added 57 with Barnard, who was unbeaten on 25.The afternoon session saw Rhodes move to fifty off 87 balls, with seven fours, and the partnership with the unflappable Barnard extend past the century mark before Somerset struck two blows in rapid succession.Jack Leach, preferred to Shoaib Bashir as the only specialist spinner in the side, tempted Rhodes into an error as an ugly mishit saw him cloth a gentle catch to Andy Umeed at mid-on. The following over saw Craig Overton force a defensive edge from Jacob Bethell through to wicketkeeper James Rew.Barnard remained a solid presence, having moved to a chanceless half-century off 94 balls, with eight fours. He was unbeaten on 79 at tea, sensibly picking the right balls to attack, and had helped his side to 214 for 6, with the help of Burgess, on 33 not out.Somerset began the final session with the occasional leg-spin of Umeed, who was quickly dispatched for six by Burgess over a short leg-side boundary. It proved a solitary over as Leach changed ends to good effect.Burgess moved to an impressive fifty off 87 balls, with five fours and a six, but Barnard fell unexpectedly with the stand on 99 as the England left-arm spinner bowled him attempting to cut a slightly quicker delivery.Barnard had faced 159 balls and struck 12 fours on the ground where he claimed his best Championship bowling figures of 6 for 37 (11 for 89 in match) for Worcestershire in 2018.A Burgess single of Leach took Warwickshire to a first batting point at 250 for 7. As the time for the second new ball approached, Burgess went on the attack, launching Leach for two sixes over long-on.It was 291 for 7 when the new ball was taken, with Burgess and Woakes looking well set. Woakes brought up 300 with a glorious cover driven four off Overton as Somerset’s bowling lacked the accuracy of the pre-lunch session.Burgess went to three figures with a straight drive for two off Overton, having faced 146 balls and hit 10 fours and three sixes. The pitch was offering precious little seam movement as he and Woakes batted with increasing comfort and aggression.Woakes suffered a couple of painful blows, one to his right hand, but the England allrounder battled bravely through until chipping a catch to Umeed at mid-on to give Pretorius his fourth wicket. Michael Booth then survived a caught and bowled chance to Davey to increase Somerset frustration.

Jayden Seales, Ollie Robinson strike hard as Gloucestershire crumble at Hove

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Sussex surge into ascendancy after series of half-centuries secure slender first-innings lead

ECB Reporters Network21-Apr-2024Ollie Robinson took two wickets in three balls as Sussex put themselves in a strong position to claim their first win of the season in the Vitality County Championship.Having bowled 27 wicketless overs in the match, Robinson was finally rewarded when he pinned Cameron Bancroft and James Bracey leg before as Gloucestershire slumped to 27 for 4 in their second innings. They reached stumps on 81 for 6, leading by just 19 at Hove.Ben Charlesworth pulled his third ball over mid-wicket for six, but Robinson quickly settled into an impressive rhythm at good pace down the slope and was rewarded in his sixth over. Bancroft played across a ball which cut back that would have hit leg stump and Bracey, offering minimum footwork, was plumb in front of a straight one.Robinson’s workload is being managed by the ECB and his 9-3-21-2 spell was his longest – and best – spell of the season so far. He bowled four more testing overs and had 2 for 32 from 13 overs at stumps – with power to add tomorrow.Jayden Seales had taken two wickets in his first two overs after Gloucestershire had gone in again trailing by 62 on first innings having dismissed Sussex for 479.Charlesworth drove loosely to backward point in the West Indian’s first over and in his next Ollie Price made a fatal misjudgement when he left a length ball which uprooted his off stump.Skipper Graeme van Burren and Miles Hammond effected a brief recovery before off-spinner Jack Carson struck with his fifth ball when van Burren missed an attempted pull at one which kept a shade low.James Coles then got Sussex a sixth wicket in the penultimate over when Tom Price was leg before.Earlier, Cheteshwar Pujara, John Simpson and Danny Lamb had all passed 50 before Sussex were bowled out for 479 and it was surprising that none went on to make the first hundred of the match.Pujara eased effortlessly from his overnight 75 to 86 and looked odds on to complete his hundred before gifting his wicket. He drove the ball to deep extra cover and hesitated going for a third run. Sub fielder Jack Taylor’s throw was accurate enough to enable Bracey to run him out.When Fynn Hudson-Prentice was beaten in the flight by Zafar Gohar and smartly stumped Sussex still trailed by 103 runs but Simpson and Lamb tilted the balance in their favour with a measured stand of 143 in 34 overs, beating the previous eighth-wicket county record against Gloucestershire of 122 by George Brann and Walter Andrews which had stood since 1892.Lamb was the more aggressive, but Simpson, who made a maiden double-hundred against Leicestershire last week, reaching his fifty by lofting Gohar over long on and added eight fours before he misjudged a pull and Hammond ran in from the midwicket boundary to take a fine catch.Lamb, who scored a century at Leicester, continued his good form with 83 off 116 balls including nine fours and a six. Looking to force the pace, he was bowled by Don Goodman attempting to ramp him over the wicketkeeper.

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