Mark Wood feels the ache of satisfaction after providing the speed that England need

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Fast bowler back to Test cricket with a bang after proving he’s not out of road yet

Vithushan Ehantharajah12-Dec-2022On Sunday evening, Mark Wood sat in his room at the Ramada By Wyndnam Hotel in Multan worried.Pakistan had 157 left of a target of 355 going into day four of the second Test, five wickets in hand and a composed Saud Shakeel unbeaten on 54. The pitch was playing truer with every compression of the heavy roller, losing turn and bounce as the match wore on.The result was a coin-flip, though Wood feared Pakistan could have an edge. Not because of a distrust in his team-mates or his own skills. But, after 11 overs in the second innings up to that point, a reverse-swinging stunner to get Abdullah Shafique his one reward for them, he had never felt worse after a day’s play. As ever the spirit was willing, and given the nature of his work, the body understandably was sore. But the tank was precariously close to empty.Earlier that day, as the rest of the team left the field after 64 overs, boosted by Jack Leach’s late dismissal of Imam-ul-Haq, Wood paused his trudge a few feet from the boundary’s edge. There he met the physiotherapist who had brought a few bands and a medicine ball down with him. Wood ignored the apparatus and slumped to the floor. He was stretching out his hip, but who would have begrudged him a kip on the outfield at that point?Less than 24 hours later, he was sat on that same spot again, just to the right of the England dressing-room as you face it. He looked decidedly worse for wear. Like a man who had been bundled into a washing machine and tossed down a hill: dishevelled, battered and a little bit confused. And yet altogether better for it.”I’m absolutely shattered,” he answered, the words tumbling out of his mouth like shopping through a torn carrier bag. The question: With three vital wickets in the final throes of an anxious run-chase, how did it feel to be responsible for a historic series win in Pakistan? A fair response, all told.Mark Wood burst through Zahid Mahmood•Matthew Lewis/Getty ImagesHe had been on the field for all four days, sending down 32.5 overs of immense effort, backing up 2 for 40 in the first innings with 4 for 65 in the second. This was his first first-class match of any kind since injury once again struck – his elbow this time – during the first Test of the Caribbean tour way back in March.Following a couple of elbow surgeries, Wood’s competitive return came in the T20I series in Pakistan only a couple of months ago, then straight into a T20 World Cup before joining up with the Test squad for this series after a couple of weeks at home. That period back at Ashington was spent recovering from a hip injury sustained ahead of the knockout round of that tournament, meaning he arrived back in Pakistan without having bowled a red ball in anger. Even that moment took a while longer yet to come: he had to quarantine in his room at the Serena Hotel soon after arrival in Islamabad due to an illness brought from home. It was an issue unrelated to the virus that upended England’s preparations for the first Test.He missed the victory in Rawalpindi, but Liam Livingstone’s injury, coupled with Ollie Pope’s capability behind the stumps, provided a clean route back into the XI. From that point on, the next thing to figure out was how to use him effectively. Luckily, in Ben Stokes, Wood had a captain who knew him well.Recognising his Durham team-mate and long-time rouser-in-chief had been exclusively on a four-over diet for the past nine months, Stokes utilised his quick in exactly those amounts. Of his 13 spells in the match, five were of four overs (the most he bowled in a row). Each asked something different of him: straight pace at the start, reverse-swing on days two and three, and a two-over burst of short balls before lunch that removed Mohammed Nawaz (45) and then Saud Shakeel (94) in the space of six balls.That last bit was, ultimately, the game. Both left-handers looked at ease, dovetailing expertly for Pakistan’s sixth wicket as Nawaz played his shots and Shakeel stayed level. Wood steamed in from around the wicket and got both caught down the leg side.”What type of bowling does the batter not want to face at these times?” Stokes said, as he reflected on his decision to give Wood the opportunity to close out the session. “I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t want to be facing bowlers at 145, 150kph with 20 minutes left, even if I had faced as many balls as those two.”The message to Wood was clear: “Stokesy said to me, ‘make a difference, change the game’.” He obliged, turning a target of 65 to win with five wickets to spare into 64 with just three. Pakistan, deflated by the losses – not to mention the contentious nature of Pope’s catch off Shakeel – emerged from lunch with vengeance on their minds. That soon went the way of Zahid Mahmood’s off stump – flattened emphatically – as Wood picked up where he left off, this time on a fuller length to utilise what late movement was on offer.Related

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“That little burst there is why you want Mark Wood in your team and why you want high pace,” Stokes said, beaming at finally being able to call on him as full-time skipper, after his absence from the first eight games of his reign. “It’s so, so valuable to have out in these conditions, especially when you’ve got the skill of Robbo [Ollie Robinson] and Jimmy [James Anderson] at the other end.”Stokes is right. High pace clutters the mind – neither Shakeel nor Nawaz should have bitten at those deliveries going across their bodies. High pace also makes up for mistakes: the collapse of 5 for 38 instigated by Wood ensured England’s own slump of 5 for 19 on the morning of day three went unpunished.His accuracy was also worthy of praise, and what underlines that most is that Monday’s average pace was the slowest of the four days. It had descended from day one, when he averaged 93.4mph, to 87.7mph on day four. Not that you could tell, given the discomfort of those facing him, particularly when fending off deliveries angling for the armpit and, occasionally, head.”All game I got my bouncer a bit too off-side,” Wood said, recalling his similar barrages earlier in the match. “But in that spell, I got it right.”He was understandably emotional at the end of play. However much he believes in his body, bowling faster than any Englishman has before is a constant dalliance with trauma. Thus, each appearance comes with a sense of gratitude, never more so when it is a Test. Having missed 10 of England’s 14 so far this year, including the entirety of the home summer, this is as much a return to savour as it is a statement from Wood. He’s still here.”My body might let me down,” Wood said to Sky, sweat on his brow, cheeks somehow both ruddy with toil and pale with exhaustion. “But I want to keep coming back, I want to keep trying to play for England. There’ll be one day when my body gives up and I can’t do it anymore. But at the minute, I’ll try my best to just charge in when the team really wants me.”With 27 caps now to his name, and his Test average getting closer to being on the “right” side of 30, Wood’s six victims in the match mean he is now just 12 away from 100. There is more road to come. When he does eventually reach the end of it, even a stop-start career such as his has more to savour than most.The 50-over and T20 World Cup wins. The winning Ashes dismissal in the summer of 2015. That 5 for 41 in St Lucia at the start of 2019, when he first felt like he belonged at this level and when seasoned observers reckoned they’d rarely seen a faster spell from an England bowler. The damned tour of Australia last winter when he was one of the few to stand tall. Now this.Wood’s body will ache so much more on Tuesday than it did on Sunday or Monday. At least, though, he will be soothed by the knowledge that, in bowling England to their first series win in Pakistan for 22 years, he has secured himself, and his team-mates, a permanent place in cricketing folklore.

Yorkshire's reckoning with racism needs a progressive outcome

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Punishment for the county must be weighed against further hits to inclusion and diversity

David Hopps01-Apr-2023Once a war approaches its end, it is instructional to remind yourself of the point of the peace. In the case of Yorkshire cricket, that should be blindingly obvious: to create an environment in which talented cricketers have equal opportunity to succeed in a culture free from prejudice and discrimination, and in which all spectators can feel a true sense of belonging. An outcome about which everyone – or at least everyone who really cares – can take pride.Now judgment has been passed on Yorkshire’s racism scandal, focus must be upon achieving such an aim. This should not be about a thirst for further punishment, or yet more trashing of reputations. Nor should it be about the further vilification of Azeem Rafiq or the parading of holier-than-thou responses towards those he has accused. And those who think it’s all about Michael Vaughan have clearly surrendered long ago to the cult of celebrity. Although with charges against him unproven, there is no justification to prolong his absence from the BBC.The ECB chair, Richard Thompson, has already set the direction of travel, pleading that if cricket is to find lasting benefit from this, it must be “a time of reconciliation”, a chance “to collectively learn and heal the wounds”. Many still remain aggrieved. But Yorkshire cricket must never visit here again.Related

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Rafiq, Vaughan, Yorkshire: a race reckoning

Such aspirations are not exactly groundbreaking. They were all enshrined in the Equality Act of 2010, a hotchpotch of laws brought together in a single act by the last Labour Government: protection against discrimination not just because of race, but religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age, disability, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy. An Act intended to underpin the basic tenets of a fair and equal society.Presumably Yorkshire were otherwise occupied at the time.Presumably much of English cricket was, too, because one of the reasons Rafiq’s allegations struck a chord was because English cricket felt guilty by association.But Yorkshire has a right to a wider context. As the media digested the guilty verdicts handed down by the ECB’s cricket disciplinary committee, Yunus Lunat, a Leeds-based lawyer with a particular expertise in discrimination in sport, underlined on BBC Look North that this is not a Yorkshire cricket problem, or even a cricket problem, this is a society problem. To deny that is to retreat into an act of supreme self-delusion.It is not to engage in “whataboutery”, or to dismiss Yorkshire’s failings as inconsequential, but merely to search for a sense of perspective, to reflect that the ECB cricket disciplinary committee announced its verdict at the end of a month in which the Metropolitan Police, the nation’s fire brigades and Welsh Rugby have been dubbed hotbeds of racism, homophobia and misogyny. Or to point to the vile racism openly on show during anti-immigration protests fanned by far-right groups last month in South Yorkshire, and captured by the News Agents podcast. There are countless other examples. All of them deeply disturbing.As culture wars play out across Britain, it is also instructional to reflect that Yorkshire admitted to institutional racism before the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Committee a year or so before the Home Secretary dismissed the phrase as “politically charged” and “not helpful”, appearing to blame the phrase itself rather than blame people’s inability – or refusal – to understand what it means.

Opportunity for disadvantaged and minority-ethnic kids is not best served by heavy fines that at best might cause cuts in development budgets and at worst tip Yorkshire into bankruptcy

In cricket, though, there is now cause to hope that the world has changed. From all this, Yorkshire cricket must move forward, owning its shame and committed to a more enlightened future. And here’s the thing: it already is. Those who value Yorkshire primarily as a convenient symbol of bigotry might be reluctant to concede as much, or chide that they have heard it all before, and indeed they have, but a recently-constituted and more progressive board has been driving change across the county even though trust is low, opinions are entrenched, feelings run high, and the county (not for the first time) is on the verge of bankruptcy.A joint statement from the interim chair, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, and chief executive Stephen Vaughan, made the right noises, saying: “As a club we needed to accept and take accountability for the cultural issues which allowed racist and discriminatory behaviour to go unchallenged. We are making great progress in our ambition to become a more inclusive and welcoming club for all.”But this is not just noises off while the scenery collapses all around them from a county that pled guilty on four amended charges – essentially, failing to address and act upon allegations of racist and discriminatory language. Matters had to come to a head for Yorkshire to recognise their wider responsibilities, but the facts bear out that they have embarked upon a new direction.Central to Yorkshire’s ambition has been their serious attempts to transform a previously narrow performance pathway that had favoured children of monied and well-connected white parents – a charge that it has long been established can be levelled not just against Yorkshire but, to varying degrees, every county club in the land.To increase access from lower income households, match fees have been removed, free kit has been provided, winter coaching has been free of charge and there has been a hardship fund for those worthy of further support.Potential bias in selection has been addressed by abolishing private one-to-one coaching from staff involved with age-group pathways – a recognition that parents who pay for such coaching expect results from those who can influence team selection. Selection committees have been established. It would be naïve, though, to imagine a perfect world. Already there are grumblings of parental pressure and potential conflicts of interest. Junior selection in sport is a perpetual minefield wherever the power lies.Nevertheless, these and other changes have brought a 60% increase in participants from minority-ethnic or poorer backgrounds in the age-group performance pathways. Poorer kids, too, because the issues of race and class are intertwined.Under the heading “Cricket is a Game for Me”, Yorkshire’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion plan, modelled on the ECB’s “Inspiring Generations” strategy, is being implemented with conviction. Inclusivity is also increasingly at the heart of the spectator experience.So much, so boring, some social media sabre-rattlers will be thinking. What’s our next campaign? As Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart indicated on a recent The Rest is Politics podcast, the coming generation might have a stronger moral conscience than many who passed before, but by their own admission they have less appetite for civic contributions. But only by tens of thousands of hours active commitment by hundreds of people does change occur. After the dislocation must come the vision and after the vision must come the dedication.Lord Patel failed to get everyone pulling in the same direction at Yorkshire•Getty ImagesWhat still seems to be lacking in Yorkshire’s approach – and what has been lacking on all sides since the Rafiq affair began – is a recognition of the importance of education in building deep and long-lasting trust in a multi-racial environment. Lord Patel did not go in for education – despite promising upon his emergency appointment to “take people on a journey”, he summarily sacked 16 people, a decision that eroded trust and divided the county. It did not just go against natural justice, or cost the club millions in legal fees, but erroneously concluded that the problem was in the individual, rather than the culture.It is worth remembering that as much as Yorkshire can, and must, use its influence to be a general force for good, its primary function is that of a professional sports club – to find and develop elite players and to run a successful and profitable business.What Yorkshire also need therefore is a social contract for all players who appear in their age group sides and beyond, an appreciation of the cultural and sporting codes of behaviour that underpin the right to a non-discriminatory environment, but also which makes clear their own responsibilities in a talent-driven sporting environment. A new code of White Rose values that goes beyond the traditional image of playing hard and telling it straight.There will never be a better chance for minority-ethnic communities to abandon their pessimism and trust that the opportunities are for real, to play an active part in a club from which they have largely regarded themselves as excluded. Not to do so would deny Rafiq a valuable legacy and a victory – because victory it has been – of lasting substance.While Yorkshire wrestle with the many social and ethnic challenges that (apart from a brief period earlier this century) have been beyond them, to punish a county that has now embraced change would seem to be entirely counterproductive.By announcing their verdict, but delaying their sentence, the ECB’s disciplinary committee appears to recognise that. They may be in a quandary, but opportunity for disadvantaged and minority-ethnic kids is not best served by heavy fines that at best might cause cuts in development budgets and at worst tip Yorkshire into bankruptcy. By showing evidence of progress to the disciplinary committee, as they now must because the process will drag on for a while yet, they will have reason to appeal for clemency.Not everyone will be placated. If not fines, they say, then points deductions. The ECB will fear reputational damage if they are seen to be lenient and considering that they recently deducted 10 points from Durham for an oversized bat precedent is hardly in Yorkshire’s favour.But even this – a more likely option – has little purpose nearly seven years after Rafiq first complained formally about racism, and then was eventually released for the second time at the end of that season. It would be a brutal response to a young Yorkshire side that is entirely unconnected with the racism allegations. In the meantime, they must begin a second successive season not knowing what points deductions they may face, but their consolation is that with every week that passes the extent of that punishment may lessen.It is time to embrace the positives. The success over the past three years of the African-Caribbean Engagement programme, tirelessly headed by Ebony Rainford-Brent, has become the template on what can be achieved to champion diversity in sport. ACE began in South London but it has expanded into Birmingham and Bristol, and has ambitions, among others, to gain a foothold in Leeds, too. Make that happen.According to figures from , the charity has already touched 10,000 pupils in their schools’ programme and provided 44 players for county age-group sides. As Lawrence Booth, editor of , asked: “If a charity can produce them from scratch in next to no time what on earth has the game’s governing body been up to?”ACE has enjoyed substantial financial backing, not least from Sport England and the ECB, as well as attracting individual donations. Yorkshire are a long way from building the credibility to receive such support. Building their own membership and attracting sponsors is battle enough. Their expansion of coaching is already a heavy drain on their finances.But the success of ACE is a reminder that for the ECB to debilitate Yorkshire financially at precisely the time they are striving to change for the better would be one more terrible miscalculation in a saga that has been full of them.

Stats – Devine slams 74 off 22 against spinners as RCB ace record chase

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Royal Challengers Bangalore chased down the target of 189 with 27 balls to spare.

Sampath Bandarupalli19-Mar-2023189 Target chased by Royal Challengers Bangalore against the Gujarat Giants, the highest successful chase in the major women’s T20 leagues. Yorkshire Diamonds’ chase of 185 against Southern Vipers in 2019 was the previous highest chase. Brabourne also stood host to the highest successful target chase in women’s T20Is – England chased down 199 against India in 2018.12.19 Run rate of Royal Challengers during their 189-run chase, the highest for an innings of 150-plus runs in women’s T20 leagues. The next highest is 12.1 by Sydney Sixers in the 2017-18 WBBL against Melbourne Stars, when they posted 242 for 4 in their 20 overs.99 Sophie Devine’s score during the 189-run chase, the highest individual score of the WPL. Alyssa Healy’s 96* was the previous highest, which came during the 10-wicket win of UP Warriorz against the RCB.275 Devine’s strike rate during his 36-ball 99 against the Giants, the second highest for a 50-plus runs innings in women’s T20 leagues. Tess Flintoff’s unbeaten 51 off 16 balls against Adelaide Strikers came at a strike rate of 318.75 during the 2022 WBBL.336.36 Devine’s batting strike rate against spinners during her 99-run knock. She scored 74 runs off 22 balls against the spin, with six fours and seven maximums. No batter before Devine had a strike rate of 300-plus against a bowling type (spin or pace) in a women’s T20 league game (minimum of 50 runs scored vs a bowling type).

3 T20 Scores of 99 for Devine, including the 99 against the Giants on Saturday. Devine remained unbeaten on 99 twice, previously – vs Northern Districts in 2010 and Hobart Hurricanes in 2019. Had Devine got to her century instead of the dismissal, she would have equalled her own record of the fastest century in women’s T20s – off 36 balls in the Super Smash 2020-21.5 Dismissals for Smriti Mandhana in the WPL against offspinners, the most for any batter in the tournament. Mandhana faced 39 balls against off-spin across the seven innings, scoring 23 runs at an average of 4.6 runs per dismissal.53 Runs conceded by Megan Schutt in her four overs on Saturday. It is the first time she gave away 50-plus runs in a T20 game in her 290-match career. Earlier, 48 runs were the previous most, which she conceded during the Australia Women’s T20 Cup game in 2013 against New South Wales.

Yorkshire in the spotlight again on return to second tier

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

We take a look at the teams vying for promotion in our Division Two preview

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Apr-2023

Derbyshire

Last season: 5th in Division Two
Head of cricket: Mickey Arthur
Captain: Leus du Plooy
Overseas: Suranga Lakmal, Haider Ali
Ins: Matt Lamb (Warwickshire), Zak Chappell (Nottinghamshire), Mark Watt
Outs: Alex Hughes (retired), Dustin Melton (released)Are there stirrings of a revival in the Peaks? Mickey Arthur is among the more ebullient characters on the county circuit – so full of enthusiasm for the game that this season he will combine coaching Derbyshire with acting as a consultant for the PCB – and his determination to deliver on the “four-year project” that he signed up for shows no sign of abating. Last season was, in Arthur’s words, about changing perceptions – both inside the dressing room and out – and Derbyshire made clear strides, keeping promotion hopes alive into the final month of the season (as well as reaching a T20 Blast quarter-final).While Derbyshire were much harder to beat, their clear shortcoming in Championship cricket was a cutting edge to finish games off. Wayne Madsen was the leading run-scorer in either division, Shan Masood romped past 1000 runs in just eight appearances, and Anuj Dal added 957 at 73.61 – but Derbyshire drew all six of their fixtures at the County Ground, and won only three out of 14 all told. Sam Conners enjoyed a banner campaign, reaching the 50-wicket mark for the first time – but the fact they cost 35.80 told of the hard yakka experienced by Derbyshire’s attack.One to watch: Getting promoted will require taking 20 wickets more often – and the arrival of Zak Chappell could be vital in realising Arthur’s ambition. Chappell fits the template for this Derbyshire side of coming in with a point to prove, having trod water during an unfulfilling three-season stint with Nottinghamshire. Chappell, now 26, was seen as one of the brightest talents on the circuit when he emerged at Leicestershire and has already featured for the Lions. Alongside a fit-again Suranga Lakmal, he could provide the extra firepower Derbyshire need. Alan GardnerRelated

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  • Arthur fires Derbyshire dreams: 'We've got to think big'

Bet365: 12/1

Durham

Last season: 6th in Division Two
Director of cricket: Marcus North
Head coach: Ryan Campbell
Captain: Scott Borthwick
Overseas: David Bedingham, Matthew Kuhnemann
Ins: Ollie Robinson (Kent), Nathan Sowter (Middlesex), Brandon Glover (Northamptonshire), Bas de Leede
Outs: Chris Rushworth (Warwickshire), Sean Dickson (Somerset), Matt Salisbury (Leicestershire), Ned Eckersley (released)Durham were fancied to be Nottinghamshire’s closest challengers for promotion last season but their push never materialised and, despite stabilising the club through a “period of transition”, James Franklin was let go after three years as head coach. His replacement, Ryan Campbell, won plaudits for his work with Netherlands and has not chosen the easy life for his next assignment, a year on from suffering a life-threatening heart attack.The transitional feeling has been hard to escape at Chester-le-Street ever since Durham’s abrupt demotion to the second tier in 2016. That will be heightened as they begin a Championship campaign without the services of their leading first-class wicket-taker, Chris Rushworth, for the first time since 2009. Rushworth is 37 this summer but, having asked to be released for “personal reasons”, will move up to Division One with Warwickshire. The emergence of Matthew Potts – 58 wickets 17.87 in 2022 – might help ease the disquiet, though his availability is likely to be impacted by England demands.Durham have also lost the services of their second-leading run-scorer, Sean Dickson, who opted to move back to the south of the country with Somerset, but Alex Lees will have increased availability after being discarded by England and Dutch allrounder Bas de Leede could prove a shrewd signing.One to watch: Talented wicketkeeper-batter Ollie Robinson arrives looking to burnish his reputation in all formats after being pigeonholed as a red-ball player at Kent. Robinson pinned down a spot in the Championship side as a 20-year-old and has four first-class centuries to his name, but found his path blocked in limited-overs cricket by the presence of Sam Billings and Jordan Cox. A loan spell at Durham for the Blast was followed a permanent move over the winter – in between which Robinson smoked 206 not out – Kent’s highest List A score – in the Royal London Cup. AGBet365: 9/1Australia spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has signed for Durham•Getty Images

Glamorgan

Last season: 3rd in Division Two
Head coach: Matthew Maynard
Captain: David Lloyd
Overseas: Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser
Ins: Harry Podmore (Kent), Zain-ul-Hassan (unattached)
Outs: Michael Hogan (Kent), Lukas Carey, Joe Cooke, Tom Cullen, Tegid Phillips, Ruaidhri Smith, James Weighell (released)Glamorgan perhaps surprised themselves in 2022. But for a 10-wicket loss to Middlesex in the third-last match of the season, it could have been them rather than the north Londoners preparing for life in Division One. The acquisition of Sam Northeast was inspired as he led the line with 1189 runs, the headline innings being a spectacular 410 not out in the victory over Leicestershire. But healthy contributions from established batters like David Lloyd (899), Chris Cooke (840) and particularly Colin Ingram, who managed 596 from just five appearances, gave the batting a more settled feel which they will look to carry forward.The difference this time around is the overseas help. With Australia in the World Test Championship final before the Ashes, Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser have limited availability and will only be around from Glamorgan’s second match against Durham at Sophia Gardens. With the loss of club legend Michael Hogan to Kent, Harry Podmore – who made the move the other way – needs to hit the ground running, while the experienced James Harris must shoulder more responsibility after a disappointing 2022 by his standards, with 31 wickets at 38.09. The club could also do with repeating last summer’s trick of bringing in a player of Shubman Gill’s quality for the second half of the season if they are to push for promotion this time around. If local lads Kiran Carlson and Andrew Salter step up, too, the club could challenge for promotion once more.One to watch: The last time Dan Douthwaite featured in a first-class match was way back in September 2021. Now, in part because of the loss of Hogan, the allrounder will have to go into this season’s County Championship from a standing start. It might help that he probably won’t start the summer, but it has been an encouraging pre-season for the 26-year-old. He had a quietly impressive tour of Zimbabwe, returning home to take a five-wicket haul against alma mater Cardiff UCCE – his first in Glamorgan whites. Currently the only Glamorgan player in the men’s Hundred after being picked up for £40,000 by Welsh Fire, Douthwaite could stand up for his county in more ways than one. Vithushan EhantharajahBet365: 5/1

Gloucestershire

Last season: 10th in Division One
Head coach: Dale Benkenstein
Captain: Graeme van Buuren
Overseas: Zafar Gohar, Marcus Harris
Ins: Marchant de Lange (Somerset)
Outs: Ryan Higgins (Middlesex), Benny Howell (Hampshire), Ian Cockbain (released)Gloucestershire suffered a bruising return to top-flight cricket, losing eight and drawing four of their first 12 games to be cast adrift at the bottom of Division One long before the relegation battle got interesting (although they played their part in making it so, beating Warwickshire and Yorkshire in the final two rounds as the former leapfrogged the latter on the last day of the season).They suffered some misfortune, with overseas signing Naseem Shah picking up a shoulder injury on his Championship debut. David Payne, the attack leader who won a maiden England cap on the tour of the Netherlands in June, was limited to six first-class matches and 17 wickets, while Ryan Higgins, the talisman from their 2019 promotion campaign, averaged 36.85 with the ball. Higgins, at least, will get the chance to test himself again in Division One straight away, having opted for a move back to Middlesex at the end of the summer.Both Marcus Harris and Zafar Gohar, who initially signed on a pay-as-you-play deal but ended up as Gloucestershire’s leading wicket-taker, will be back in Bristol after successful campaigns, and with veteran quick Marchant de Lange adding some beef to the attack, the plan will be to bounce straight back up.One to watch: Tom Price, a tousle-haired 23-year-old allrounder, had only played seven first-class matches when he came into the Gloucestershire XI midway through last season, but he quickly set about making himself undroppable. He claimed a maiden five-for in his first outing, then produced astonishing figures of 8 for 27 against Warwickshire to help set up the team’s first win in the penultimate round; with 32 wickets at 20.09 from eight appearances all told, he topped the Gloucestershire averages. Has a first-class best of 71 with the bat, too. AGBet365: 8/1Rehan Ahmed will be a key player for Leicestershire his stellar winter•Getty Images

Leicestershire

Last season: 8th in Division Two

Head coach: Paul Nixon

Captain: Lewis Hill

Overseas: Ajinkya Rahane, Wiaan Mulder, Peter Handscomb

Ins: Sol Budinger (Notts), Matt Salisbury (Durham)

Outs: Ben Mike (Yorkshire), Hassan Azad, Sam Bates, Nat Bowley, Alex Evans, Gavin Griffiths, Abi Sakande (all released)It was another rock-bottom season in 2022 for Leicestershire, their eighth wooden spoon in 14 summers and the fourth time in the last ten that they had failed to register a single victory. And though that precipitated a predictable churn of players – with seven squad members moving on, including the influential Ben Mike to Yorkshire, as well a change of captain following Callum Parkinson’s contract rejection – there are just a few reasons for optimism at Grace Road this season.The signing of Ajinkya Rahane is one. He’ll join up with the squad after the IPL, and at the age of 34 with his India Test days seemingly behind him, he could be just the sort of hardened campaigner required to shore up a batting line-up that passed 300 on just six occasions in 27 attempts in 2022. James Taylor, the ex-Leicestershire and England batter who was until recently on the national selection panel, is back as batting coach to further stiffen up that department. But the biggest bonus is surely the flourishing of Rehan Ahmed after his breakthrough winter with England across formats. This time last year, he hadn’t yet made the first of his three Championship appearances. Now, he’s indisputably the county’s biggest drawcard.One to watch: Rehan Ahmed’s most recent appearance for Leicestershire, against Derbyshire in September, produced his maiden five-wicket haul as well as a hard-hitting maiden century from No. 5, 122 from 113 balls all told. And it is this string to his bow that will guarantee Rehan’s presence in Leicestershire’s line-up even if the early-season conditions aren’t entirely conducive to his legspin. “He’s in our team, 100 percent, absolutely,” Paul Nixon, the head coach, confirmed on the county’s media day. “People haven’t seen his real talent with the bat yet. He is going to surprise everyone. I genuinely think in three years’ time he could be a number four or five for England in any format.” Andrew MillerBet365: 20/1

Sussex

Last season: 7th in Division Two
Head coach: Paul Farbrace
Captain: Cheteshwar Pujara
Overseas: Pujara, Nathan McAndrew, Steven Smith
Ins: Tom Alsop (Hampshire)
Outs: Luke Wright (retired)In 2021, Sussex used 26 players and finished bottom of Division Three (in the one-off conference structure). They started the following summer amid some optimism about the potential of a young squad… and arguably had it even worse. By the end of 2022, they had picked 29 different players to feature in the Championship and won just a single first-class match for the third season running – that, coupled with an off-field issue concerning young spinner Jack Carson, led to Ian Salisbury departing after two years in charge of the red-ball side and ushered in the end of twin head coaches at Hove, James Kirtley dropping back to the ranks after the arrival of Paul Farbrace.Having spent four seasons as sport director at Warwickshire, Farbrace has decided to get his hands dirty again – and he has already signalled his expectations by challenging Sussex to push for a return to Division One for the first time since 2015. Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored runs by the ton – 1094 at 109.00, including three double-centuries – takes on the captaincy on his return, allowing Tom Haines to focus on pushing his case as England’s next opener, while the availability of Ollie Robinson for the start of the season should lift an otherwise callow attack. The kids must do more than all right if promotion is to be secured – but the bookies are already on board.One to watch: Haines won selection for England Lions over the winter but he is not the only Sussex opener receiving good notices. Ali Orr, who turns 22 on the opening day of the season, has less than two full campaigns behind him but currently averages 44.30 in first-class cricket. He was the only Sussex batter other than Pujara to pass 1000 runs in 2022, and finished by blasting 198 off 174 balls against Glamorgan – having also made Sussex’s highest List A score (206 off 161) in the Royal London Cup. Look out for more “Shock and” Orr this summer. AGBet365: 9/2Ollie Robinson’s availability at the start of the season should be a lift to Sussex•Getty Images

Worcestershire

Last season: 4th in Division Two
Head coach: Alan Richardson
Captain: Brett D’Oliveira
Overseas: Azhar Ali
Ins: Adam Hose (Warwickshire), Matthew Waite (Yorkshire)
Outs: Moeen Ali, Ed Barnard (both Warwickshire), Tom Fell, Josh Dell, Jacques Banton (all released)
Worcestershire had some big run-scorers last season with two players posting double-centuries in overseas retention Azhar Ali and Jake Libby, plus five more centurions but consistency and their record of just four wins set them adrift of the top three. They have retained all bar Ed Barnard, their leading batter of 2022, but it was with Ed Pollock that they saw some encouraging signs with a match-winning knock against Middlesex as he played 13 of the 14 matches after limited opportunities at Warwickshire.Seamers Dillon Pennington and Joe Leach led Worcestershire’s efforts with the ball and may be required to do so again with the addition of allrounder Matthew Waite, who struggled for a regular place at Yorkshire but impressed on loan at New Road last season with six wickets against Leicestershire.One to watch: Adam Hose’s move form Warwickshire was motivated by the desire to breathe new life into his red-ball career after his T20 credentials went on show in the Vitality Blast and a maiden BBL gig with Adelaide Strikers. He hasn’t played a first-class match in more than three years making this an intriguing phase if he can convince Worcestershire to give him a chance, as they did with Pollock last season. Valkerie BaynesBet365: 9/1

Yorkshire

Last season: 9th in Division One

Director of cricket: Darren Gough
Head coach: Ottis Gibson

Captain: Shan Masood

Overseas: Shan Masood, Neil Wagner, Shai Hope

Ins: Ben Mike (Leicestershire), Matt Milnes (Kent), Jafer Chohan (unattached)

Outs: Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Somerset), Tom Loten (Notts), Matthew Waite (Worcs), David Willey (Northants), Steven Patterson (retired), Gary Ballance, Harry Sullivan, Josh Sullivan (all released)In the end, it was arguably a mercy killing. Yorkshire’s last-gasp relegation in 2022 at least spared the club (and the wider game) the uncertainty that would surely have accompanied their survival, given the probability of sanctions in the wake of the racism crisis that had been such a key contributor to their downward spiral. Those could yet still come to pass after the club accepted four charges of bringing the game into disrepute, but at least they have been able to prepare for the new season from a solid bottom-tier base.A wholesale changing of the guard has taken place over the winter, with long-term captain Steven Patterson retiring after being denied a new contract, and Gary Ballance committing his own future to Zimbabwe after his central role in the racism case. Tom Kohler-Cadmore and David Willey complete a clearing-out of disillusioned senior figures, but in real terms, the club’s talent drain may not end there. Harry Brook is unlikely to play a single Championship fixture given his breakthrough winter across formats for England, while Dawid Malan is also eager to manage his availability with the carrot of the 50-over World Cup later this year. Given their ECB incremental contract status, both men remain firmly on Yorkshire’s books. For a club that faced bankruptcy over the winter, it’s a sub-optimal scenario.With uncertainty around the involvement of New Zealand’s Neil Wagner after he tore a hamstring on Test duty, and fellow newcomer Matt Milnes still working his way back from a stress fracture, there’s likely to be a lot on the plate for Shan Masood, a potentially inspired signing as captain following his stellar showing at Derbyshire last season – that is when he arrives from Pakistan duty, with Shai Hope signed as short-term cover and Jonny Tattersall set to lead the side for the first month of the season.One to watch: Even if all else fails for Yorkshire, there’s still the prospect of Jonny Bairstow defying the doubters all over again and putting together an unanswerable run of pre-Ashes form. Bairstow has hardly held a bat in anger since his freakish golfing injury at the height of last summer’s Bazball antics, and recently pulled out of his IPL deal with Punjab Kings. There’s still no knowing whether he can recover sufficient fitness to challenge for his England spot, let alone find that same sweet spot of form, but he is eyeing up a comeback at the start of May, maybe even with the wicketkeeper’s gloves to heighten his Test claims. And generally speaking, when anyone suggests a challenge is beyond even Bairstow’s capabilities, that’s when he truly steps up. AMBet365: 6/4

Orange is the new pack: Netherlands add a bit of joy to pre-World Cup camp

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

A week-long training session in Alur gave the players a chance to meet fans and journalists alike, over dinner, drinks and plenty of laughs

Shashank Kishore26-Sep-2023″I’m looking for Logan van Beek. Can you help me find him?” An organiser is frantically looking for the allrounder, who is like the best man at a wedding. Everyone wants him at the same time. “This is Logan speaking. How can I help you?,” he replies as everyone breaks into a chuckle.A few rows behind him, Bas de Leede is on an Instagram live, Scott Edwards, the captain, is signing jerseys, Teja Nidamanuru is discussing blockchain, bitcoins and startup ecosystems. On the stage, Vikramjit Singh is professing his fandom for Punjabi singer AP Dhillon, and Max O’Dowd, the team’s vice-captain, is humming by Australian pop star Fisher.”When that Super Over was about to begin, was playing in our dressing room; I can tell you now, I was definitely losing it then,” O’Dowd says to a room full of laughter.Related

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Head coach Ryan Cook chimes in, “Before the tournament, at the coaches’ meeting, when the ICC was spelling out the playing regulations, I remember taking the Super Overs regulation with a pinch of salt. What was the probability of it happening? Not much. But when we got to it, with everything on the line, it was so tense. I remembered that moment from the meeting.”We’re in Alur, in Bengaluru’s outskirts, where Netherlands have camped for a week-long training camp ahead of the World Cup beginning October 5. The event is organised on behalf of Nordek, a UAE-based technology firm, that has come onboard as their team sponsor for the tournament. Events of this scale are generally reduced to being a dull PR exercise where players chit-chat among themselves and quietly make a beeline for the exit doors at the first available opportunity.The Netherlands players, though, are soaking in the rare opportunity to meet and greet people, a few fans and journalists over dinner and drinks. It’s unlike anything they’re used to. It seems a culture shock to some that players from a national team can be so laidback and outgoing, happy to resonate the warmth they’ve received.De Leede, like van Beek, is one of the favourites for the evening. He is busy signing memorabilia, posing for pictures, and generally talking to an array of cameras, one after the other, without losing his smile or focus. “Jeez, back home, we aren’t even recognised,” he says. “Phew, that’s as much media as I’ve done, ever. Great fun, though.”Twenty-seven years ago, his father, Tim de Leede, came to India for his first World Cup. It’s a wonderful story of a father-son duo playing their maiden World Cups in India across two different eras. While much has changed in India from the train and bus journeys to the airports, hotels and the cricket infrastructure, Tim passed through a chaotic-yet-charming experience of the subcontinent, whereas Bas comes to a country he calls “super passionate”.It seemed a culture shock to some that players from a national team can be so laid-back and outgoing, happy to resonate the warmth they’ve received•NordekIt has been just two nights in India so far for Bas, but he is already taken in by the warmth and, of course, the facilities to train and play in Alur. Netherlands have been hosted by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and three grounds at Alur are at their disposal, as are the indoor facilities.In the outdoor area, surfaces of varying degrees of dryness have been prepared to help them train against spin. The sprawling facility, where cricket is on at every nook and corner in some form, has caught their imagination. One moment they are training, next they are dining with VVS Laxman and some of the next-in-line India players, who are also undergoing a camp prior to the Asian Games. It’s an immersive experience like no other.Netherlands are on a tight budget. Prior to their sponsor coming on board, they had invited applications for net bowlers to be part of the tour group for their week-long stay in Bengaluru. They received over 10,000 applicants from which they shortlisted just four players: a left-arm wristspinner, a fast bowler who can bowl over 140 kmph, a left-arm orthodox spinner and a left-arm seamer.Among them, Hemant Kumar is an administrative officer at the Rajasthan High Court. He has previously been a net bowler for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Left-arm wristspinner Lokesh Kumar does food delivery with an app-based service when he isn’t playing fourth-division cricket in Chennai. Left-arm spinner Harsh Sharma hails from Haryana, and has previously been with RCB, while fast bowler Rajamani Prasad from Telangana has previously bowled for Chennai Super Kings.

“They will return to Bengaluru for their final league game against India on November 12. By then, they hope to have taken down “a few big scalps.” For now, practice, fitness work and plenty of song, dance and cheer, like on Monday evening, will do”

All the four members are popular within the group for the variety and skillsets they bring, but importantly, the hours they spend bowling tirelessly as the squad trains in batches. They go from morning to evening, with short refreshment breaks, and have grown so comfortable with the squad that they are often referred to by their nicknames. Coach Cook presented them caps at a welcome ceremony prior to their camp. It highlights how close-knit the group is, pushing each other to bring out their best.”We have a community of 6500 people who are passionate cricket-lovers, not more,” O’Dowd says when asked of the interest surrounding their World Cup participation. “We’re a country of 1.8 million, so you can see how small it is. Still, the kind of interest and appreciation we’ve received for getting this far has been immense. Hopefully it’s just the start.”Prior to this event, Netherlands had just finished a warm-up game against Karnataka that went “not so well”. It gave them a reality check as to the challenges they are bound to expect over the coming weeks. On Tuesday evening, a team dinner is on the cards as they plan to explore eateries in downtown Bengaluru before they turn in early for another warm-up on Wednesday. Their Bengaluru leg will end with a visit to the Netherlands High Commission in the city, before they fly off to Thiruvananthapuram for the World Cup warm-ups.They will return to Bengaluru for their final league game against India on November 12. By then, they hope to have taken down “a few big scalps.” For now, practice, fitness work and plenty of song, dance and cheer, like on Monday evening, will do.

Slow and steady Australia just about justify their caution

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Proof will be in the final result but long game earns slender lead despite England fightback

Andrew McGlashan28-Jul-20231:43

‘One-innings shootout’ to decide tight fifth Test

Not for the first time in this series, Marnus Labuschagne could barely drag himself away from the crease. Having been virtually scoreless since the start of play, he nibbled at a length ball from Mark Wood and the edge was spectacularly held by Joe Root at first slip.It was gloomy at the time and Labuschagne appeared less than impressed. He departed for 9 off 82 balls. His innings was part of a morning session in which Australia made 54 runs off 26 overs, and that was boosted by a brief flurry when Steven Smith arrived at the crease. After 47 overs, they were 96 for 2 – and with 21 of those being byes and leg byes, just 75 runs had come off the bat.Smith later said he was not aware of any specific gameplan for Australia to bat at such a tempo, but it has been the visitors’ method to try and grind down the England attack, particularly in the first two Tests where they secured the victories which have ultimately enabled them to retain the Ashes. They were also batting in conditions that have undone many previous Australia sides in England.”The clouds were in, there was a bit of swing around,” Smith said. “They might have bowled a little bit short, not given us too many scoring options, they didn’t give us many drives, so the guys were able to leave a lot of balls. Obviously, you want the scoreboard to be ticking over quicker than that. But guys are allowed to bowl well, it’s Test cricket, and you are allowed to block and leave a few, absorb some pressure.”Even if not an overall team tactic, there was logic in trying to do so here against an England attack without their spinner, as Moeen Ali remained off the field with a groin injury, and consisting of four quicks aged 33 or above. It may yet prove its worth in the second innings when Australia are chasing a target.Todd Murphy and Pat Cummins added vital lower-order runs•Getty ImagesHowever, during the afternoon it appeared that Australia could have dug themselves a hole. The danger with only absorbing pressure for long periods and barely scoring – something that stands out even more when contrasted with England’s approach – is that if wickets fall, the scoreboard hasn’t moved very far and the bowling side can get back in the game.That’s what started to transpire when Stuart Broad removed Usman Khawaja (who took his tally of balls faced in the series over 1000, comfortably the most of any batter) and Travis Head in quick succession. James Anderson then claimed his first wicket for more than 35 overs when Mitchell Marsh – after a monstrous six down the ground off Broad that went against the trend at the time – inside-edged onto leg stump.With Smith watching from the non-striker’s end, he was let down by the shot selection of Alex Carey, whose form with the bat in this series has steadily diminished, and Mitchell Starc. When the seventh wicket fell, Australia were still 98 behind and there were plenty of similarities to how the corresponding Oval Test in 2019 panned out for a weary visiting team when, on that occasion, they could not match England’s 294.That, though, was where the storylines diverged a little, although it remains difficult to call the conclusion with any certainty, as Australia secured a small lead. In a series of fine margins, it could be that the borderline run-out call which went in Smith’s favour, when third umpire Nitin Menon ruled the bail was not fully out of the groove before the bat crossed the line, has a huge bearing.Related

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Smith forged a stand of 54 with Pat Cummins, who was then able to add another 49 with Todd Murphy as he belied his position at No.10 by three times hooking Mark Wood into the stands. It was as these partnerships developed that there was a glimpse into what Australia could have achieved with their long-game approach as England’s quicks were forced into further spells with the second new ball. However, they did not have the batting left to truly make the most of it.”They stuck to the style of play that has been very successful for many years,” Broad said. “Ultimately Australia are World Test Champions, won every game in their summer, [they are] not going to change their style of play just because we are playing a different style.”That is the way the Aussies play, they try to see off the new ball, grind you down, and see off a huge number of overs. At 40 overs, it looked like that could happen, but we had to keep our patience and we felt there was enough in the pitch that you could get a quick bang-bang like happened yesterday. That is how the day did turn out.”So it’s 283 all out off 54.4 overs versus 295 off 103.1 overs. Two contrasting methods to get to a very similar position, as it was in the opening game of the series at Edgbaston. Australia are desperate to leave with their first series win in England since 2001. It’s now down to a one-innings shootout to see if they can achieve it.

Rahul Singh 'attracts attention' with second-fastest double-century by an Indian

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

After Hyderabad were relegated to Plate Group, Rahul knew he needed to do something different to catch the selectors’ eye

Shashank Kishore05-Jan-2024Rahul Singh woke up on Friday morning thinking he needed to do something different. His side, Hyderabad, had been relegated to Plate Group and were taking on Nagaland in their 2023-24 Ranji Trophy opener. The stakes were low and players needed “extra motivation” to push themselves at a level that is a notch below where they aspire to be.Rahul found himself in the thick of things, in the third over of the match, after Nagaland captain Rongsen Jonathan elected to field. Rahul responded by smashing the second-fastest first-class double century by an Indian (where data is available), off 143 balls, behind Ravi Shastri’s 123-ball one against Baroda in 1984-85.Rahul made 214 in all, his highest in first-class cricket. This included century stands with Tanmay Agarwal (80) and captain Tilak Varma (100*). Hyderabad raced to 474 for 5 in 76.4 overs, at a run rate of 6.18 before declaring in the final session.Related

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“The mindset was to dominate and not just grind my way in,” Rahul told ESPNcricinfo. “The only way we can attract attention, if at all that is possible at this level, is by doing things differently. By which I mean scoring a quick hundred or a double-hundred, else you are never going to be eye-catching. That was the motivation when I went out to bat. Glad it worked.”It was extra special because this was Rahul’s first first-class outing for Hyderabad. More than a decade ago, he made his List A and T20 debut for them, before a job opportunity with the Indian Army forced him to make a switch to Services, a side comprising players from the armed forces.Rahul, who moved to Hyderabad as a five-year-old, was recommended for a job in the army by Biju Nair, a local coach who led the army’s cricket recruitment process in Hyderabad. And when the lure of job security clubbed with the opportunity to play cricket came up, he jumped at it.In his first first-class season with Services, in 2016-17, Rahul finished as the fifth-highest run-scorer. Only Priyank Panchal (1310), Nitin Saini (989), Prashant Chopra (978) and Rishabh Pant (972) scored more than Rahul’s 945 runs in 15 innings, including two hundreds and seven fifties.Rahul made his return to Hyderabad after representing Services•Courtesy Rahul SinghFor the better part of the next seven seasons, Rahul played for Services. Ahead of 2023-24, when he felt things were not working out, he decided he needed to play for a different team. His first port of call was his old side, Hyderabad. It helped that the team was at its lowest ebb and in dire need of experience to get them back on track.”It wasn’t a tough decision, returning to Hyderabad was my first option since that’s where I grew up playing,” Rahul said. “I was honed here during my age-group days by Vijay Paul [former Hyderabad batter, who has mentored the likes of Ambati Rayudu and Pragyan Ojha]. I also played for AOC, a club owned by the army set-up in Hyderabad. Luckily this year, club cricket was back on the calendar and scoring runs there earned me a chance at selection games where I performed well to get this opportunity.”Along the way, Rahul has also received a lot of backing from MSK Prasad, the former India wicketkeeper. Prasad had noticed a young Rahul playing at the Gymkhana grounds and invited him to play for his employers, Bharat Dynamics Limited, a government organisation under the Ministry of Defence.”MSK sir also bought me my first cricket kit,” Rahul said. “He has been a constant support for me along the way. He was always a call away, his contribution in my cricket journey has been immense, along with my parents’.”At 28, Rahul knows there is a lot of work to be done. He is pragmatic in saying helping the next generation of batters is more realistic than something more far-fetched, like the India cap.”The goal over the next couple of years is to help Hyderabad win at least one of the three domestic tournaments. And mentor the next group of batters,” Rahul said. “If we can do that, we would have taken some steps towards regaining some lost pride and becoming a more competitive team in the domestic circuit again.”

Stats – England's death-overs heist in a six-hitting fest

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

England pull off a dramatic chase with one ball to spare as the runs flow in Grenada

Sampath Bandarupalli16-Dec-202321 Runs needed for England at the start of the 20th over in the third T20I. These are the joint-most target runs successfully chased by any team in the 20th over in T20Is, matching last month’s effort by Australia of chasing 21 runs in the final over against India in Guwahati.34 Sixes hit by both West Indies and England on Saturday are the second-most in a T20I match, behind only the 35 during the Centurion T20I between South Africa and West Indies earlier this year. England hit 18 sixes, the second-most by them behind the 20 against South Africa in Bristol in 2022.71 Target runs needed for England at the start of the death overs (17-20). These are the most target runs successfully chased in the death overs of any men’s T20 match, bettering Sussex’s 69 runs against Gloucestershire in 2015 (where ball-by-ball data is available).109* Phil Salt’s score in the run chase is the second highest for an England batter in men’s T20Is, behind only the unbeaten 116 by Alex Hales against Sri Lanka in the 2014 T20 World Cup.442.85 Harry Brook’s batting strike rate during his unbeaten seven-ball 31 is the second-highest for a men’s T20I innings of 30-plus runs. The highest is 520 by Dipendra Singh Airee, who scored an unbeaten 10-ball 52 against Mongolia earlier this year.9 Sixes hit by Salt during his unbeaten 109 are the joint-most for England in a T20I innings, equaling Liam Livingstone, who also hit nine maximums against Pakistan in 2021.3 Successful target chases of 220-plus targets for England in T20Is are the most by any team, going ahead of Australia and Bulgaria, who have done it twice. Only one team other than England has successfully chased down 220-plus targets on three occasions in T20s – Middlesex in the T20 Blast.448 Runs aggregated by West Indies and England in the third T20I are the most in any T20I match hosted by the West Indies. The previous highest was 428 runs in Bridgetown in 2022, also during a T20I between West Indies and England.There have been only three higher men’s T20I totals in West Indies than England’s 226 for 3 in the chase, all during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier in 2021 in Coolidge.153 Runs collectively scored by West Indies and England during the death overs are the highest for any T20 match where ball-by-ball data is available. The previous highest was 144 by Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in Dubai in 2020.The 79 out of those 153 runs scored by West Indies are the second most in death overs in men’s T20Is, behind the 89 by Nepal against Mongolia in the Asian Games earlier this year.

Danni Wyatt: 'When I'm playing at my best, it's seeing ball, hitting ball. Pretty cool'

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Having missed out on the WPL last year despite a stellar run in international cricket, the UP Warriorz batter is determined to make it count this year

Shashank Kishore21-Feb-2024You can see Danni Wyatt inject energy into the UP Warriorz team room as she walks in for their media day. After exchanging pleasantries with her team-mates and a few media personnel, her gaze turns to a pocket diary on the table as she sits down for our chat. In it are keywords that provide cues to help steer our conversation.”It’s a good habit, eh?” Wyatt asks, pointing to the diary. “I still maintain a journal. It’s a habit I’m incredibly proud of and have continued to keep after all these years.”At this time last year, she had written about being “embarrassed and heartbroken” after failing to attract a single bid at the WPL auction ahead of the inaugural edition. The one word on her mind this time around is “gratitude.”Related

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“It wasn’t a good feeling last year,” she says. “We were in South Africa for the T20 World Cup. We were in the same hotel as the Indian team and they were screaming. They were all watching on a projector and there were loud cheers and high fives every time someone got picked.”We were just leaving the hotel and en route to the ground for a game against Ireland. I was on the team bus, so I wasn’t watching when my name came up. Suddenly I get a series of messages from my friends over in the UK to say, ‘You’ve not been picked.'”I was just a bit embarrassed. I had got my hopes up a lot, which I shouldn’t have done in hindsight. I’d done well in international cricket. I’d been part of BCCI’s Women’s T20 Challenge in India prior to that. I was confident of being picked. But to not get a single bid was pretty heartbreaking.”A year on from that disappointment, Wyatt is in a better state of mind. There’s a relaxed vibe to her after she had the chance to spend “more than usual” time with her family. In October, she withdrew from the WBBL, saying she was fatigued. Wyatt says she is over that phase now.Wyatt was Player of the Series in the 2023 Women’s Ashes, with 272 runs•Steve Bardens/ECB/Getty ImagesThis is her second trip to India in two months. In December, she was part of England’s squad for the Test and T20I series. Back then, a day before the auction, she struck a fierce 75 to flatten India at the Wankhede Stadium.”I was trying to be in a headspace where I was only focused on doing well for England,” she says. “It was difficult [to keep the WPL distraction away], and I must admit, as the auction drew nearer, I got increasingly nervous. I’d done well in the match before [the auction], but I was clear about one thing: I wasn’t going to let another possible disappointment chew me.”I thought, if it happens, great. If it doesn’t, it’s not meant to be. There’s more to life. I was at the gym when the auction started, and by the time my name came up, I was back in my room. When the Warriorz raised the paddle, I must admit it felt wonderful, a lot different to last year.”Wyatt says rejection is something she says she had been lucky to avoid for a better part of her journey into professional cricket.”I got into the England academy setup as a 15-year-old, made my international debut at 18. Over the years, I guess I was lucky enough to perform in front of the right people at the right time. Everything just happened, and one thing synced into another.”This is her 15th year in international cricket, and looking back now, she can see the moments that have led her to where she is now. “It was in the middle of 2017,” she says of a turning point. “I’d decided enough was enough. I was happy just being a pinch-hitter, you know. I was happy just being part of the XI. I knew something had to change.”Over the years, I guess I was lucky enough to perform in front of the right people at the right time. Everything just happened, and one thing synced into another”•Ashley Allen/ECB/Getty Images”Until then, I didn’t quite care as much about my cricket as I should have. But losing my grandfather, a massive personal loss at the time, just before the Ashes that year, made me look at things in a different light. That’s the moment when I decided I had to change.””I mean, I opened the bowling with some spin. I hadn’t rated my batting at all. There was no confidence to bat long. But that changed mindset and attitude brought about a different approach. I knew I had to be the main character, not a part-timer who could do a bit of this and a bit of that.”I sat out of the Tests, didn’t play in the one-dayers either. But in the third T20I, I grabbed my chance and scored a century, I think off 58-59 balls [57]. That I was able to finally show the world what I could do was a take-off point. I’d like to think I haven’t looked back since.”Wyatt, like so many in England, was captivated by the game in 2005. She can’t remember every game she may have played in but her memories of that year’s historic Ashes series are sharp. She was in the stands with her dad to watch the cliffhanger of a Test at Edgbaston. Her love affair with cricket began there.Nearly two decades later, she reflects on how it had a transformative effect on her career. “Just like what Bazball is doing to many these days, it was absolutely inspirational,” Wyatt says. “It’s amazing what the guys have been able to do to Test cricket over the last two years.”They’ve taken the game to the next level. It’s entertaining, inspirational, they’ve got the entire country talking about it. Surely they’re doing a lot of things right. It’s similar to the way we [England women] play. Jon Lewis [England women and Warriorz head coach] wants us playing fearlessly. It kind of suits my style; that’s when I’m playing at my best. Seeing ball, hitting ball. Pretty cool.”

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Wyatt is chatty, slipping in and out of being reflective. The weather – bright and sunny for early February – she says made her so eager to come over that she arrived much earlier than planned, just to be able to “soak it all in” before the tournament starts.Just as she gets warmed up, there’s an interruption. A shoot for an advertisement is waiting. It means our chat has to be cut short abruptly. The media coordinator suggests she still has two minutes to wrap up the interview.I ask Wyatt how she de-stresses.”I watch lots of movies,” she says. “I don’t like thinking cricket all the time. I want to be out of that bubble. I recently got engaged, I’m getting married in August, so there’s a fair bit going on (). I like to FaceTime my friends and family back home to chat about what’s going on.”And what is the one thing she’s looking forward to at the WPL?”Just the experience,” she says. “I want to live every single moment. Who knows, maybe I’ll never play it again. So I just want to have lot of fun. And enjoy the tournament.”

Opening act: Can Conway shake off his funk to fly high again with Allen?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

One is in the form of his life, the other is in a prolonged slump spanning formats. New Zealand will be hoping the Australia T20Is are a turning point for Conway, with one eye on this year’s World Cup

Andrew McGlashan20-Feb-20241:19

Marsh: ‘World Cup not the only focus’

The last time New Zealand faced Australia in a T20I, the opening pair of Finn Allen and Devon Conway were the stars of the show to launch their World Cup campaign at the SCG in 2022. Allen thundered his way to 42 off 16 balls inside the powerplay and the hosts never recovered with Conway then marshalling the rest of the innings with an unbeaten 92.Right now, however, fortunes for the pair have diverged. Allen’s stock is on the rise after a prolific T20I series against Pakistan where he made 275 runs at 55.00 and a strike rate of 195.03, including 137 off 62 balls with a record-equalling 16 sixes. Conway, meanwhile, is enduring the first prolonged slump of his career.Related

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His last eight T20I innings – albeit over a span of more than 12 months – have brought a top score of 20. Across all formats, the lean run perhaps highlights a greater concern: since his unbeaten 152 against England in the ODI World Cup he hasn’t passed fifty in 20 international innings. In his last 12, his highest score is 29.During the recent Test series against South Africa, local media asked if there were any problems with Conway’s eyes, with reports that he had struggled in Bangladesh when struck down with an illness, but head coach Gary Stead said there were no problems in that regard.Finn Allen and Devon Conway schooled Australia the previous time these two sides met in a T20I•ICC via Getty Images”He was sick … but his eyes are fine now,” Stead said after the Hamilton Test. “I wasn’t over there [in Bangladesh] so I don’t know for absolute sure. All our batsmen get their eyes checked reasonably regularly just to make sure, and he has no problems with his vision. He’s seen eye people, so I’m sure he’s had them tested.”Mitchell Santner – who will captain in the T20I series, in place of Kane Williamson who’s awaiting the birth of his third child – highlighted the significance of the contrasting roles Allen and Conway play with an eye on the T20 World Cup in June, so there may be some nervousness if Conway can’t arrest his slump. Just to add to Conway’s load, he will need to keep wicket in this series following Tim Seifert’s injury.”He’s good. That’s the nature of the game, it’s quite fickle at times, and he still looks like he’s striking it well, just needs that one innings to turn it around and he’ll be away again,” Santner said. “There are no technical flaws or anything in his game, it’s just [about] when you [can] get a couple away so hopefully that’s this series.Allen, who currently has the second-highest strike rate for anyone with more than 1000 T20I runs, and Conway have opened together 21 times in T20Is, second for New Zealand behind only the 25 innings of Martin Guptill and Colin Munro.Devon Conway has gone 20 international innings without a fifty•R. Satish Babu / AFP / Getty”Someone who can take the game away from you at the start is pretty important,” Santner said of Allen’s role. “We know that power game he’s got and in that last series he showed that if he does get going he can singlehandedly win a game for us. It’s trying to generate the strike rate in the powerplay, it’s the best time to bat, then cash in if you can after that.”Think the combo between Conway and Finn is a good one – Conway likes to have a little look then Finn, obviously, doesn’t. It’s that kind of combo we are banking on for the World Cup. Then Kane and guys like that come in after that.”If Conway wants to look for positive omens, his career-best 99 not out also came Australia in Christchurch in 2021. While he searches for a return to the sort of form that saw him averaging 57.38 in T20Is after that Sydney innings at the 2022 World Cup, Allen hopes to have a similar impact during this three-match series.The attack will be very similar with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa all part of this tour. From that whole Australia XI, only three players will definitely not be on show in Wellington: Aaron Finch (retired), Marcus Stoinis (injured) and Matthew Wade (paternity leave for the first match).”We wanted to strike first against them, that’s what we talked about, that mantra of throwing the first punch,” Allen said of his SCG display. “Obviously it worked well that day for the team, so hopefully we can go into it [here] with a similar mindset. A little bit of individual success is always nice, [you] take that confidence going forward, but I have no doubt they are going to come out firing at us this series and it should be a good challenge.”Mitchell Marsh, Australia’s captain for this series and likely the T20 World Cup too, was part of the team in Sydney when Allen left his mark. “Finn is an outstanding talent and as we’ve seen his record over the past 12 months, especially at home in New Zealand, he can take the game away from you in that powerplay,” Marsh said. “So the onus is on us to try and take a few wickets in the powerplay and put them on the back foot.”

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