Legspinner heads to Nepal for an ODI series while they await confirmation of Haris Rauf’s return

Alex Malcolm26-Jan-2020The Melbourne Stars have been dealt another major blow on the eve of the BBL finals with legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane unavailable because of international duty while they also face a nervous wait on Haris Rauf’s availability.Lamichhane was believed to be available for the whole season, but he informed the Stars last week that he would not be around for the finals as he heads home to Nepal for a tri-nations ODI series with Oman and the USA which forms part of the qualification pathway for the 2023 50-over World Cup.Rauf is currently playing for Pakistan in a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Pakistan which concludes on Monday and was expected to be back in Australia for the Stars’ BBL qualifier on Friday at the MCG. He has missed the past four games of which the Stars have lost three. However, the Stars believe there is a chance Rauf could be held back in Pakistan to potentially play in the first Test which starts on February 7 in Rawalpindi although he was not named among the probables for that series.The Stars will also be without opener Hilton Cartwright for the finals due to a broken finger. They won 10 of their first 11 matches of the tournament to guarantee a double chance at reaching the final but have lost three in a row including to the Brisbane Heat on Saturday.The Stars were confident on Friday that Rauf would return but coach David Hussey conceded after the loss to the Heat that it is not guaranteed.”He might get picked to play Test cricket [but it’s] not confirmed as yet. We’d like him back,” Hussey told reporters. “We’ll see what happens there. We’re still working behind the scenes.”It’s great that he started off his journey playing for the Melbourne Stars and now he’s representing his country. I’m rapt for him, great person, and hopefully, we do get him back for the qualifier.”Whatever he does, I hope he actually represents Pakistan for 100 Tests and 400 T20s and 150 one-day internationals. He’s brought a different dynamic to our group, he’s tried every game he’s played, he fields his butt off and he’s just fitted in the group perfectly.”Lamichhane’s loss is an even bigger blow to the dynamic of the Stars attack. He took 1 for 16 from four overs against the Heat and the Stars have bowled more spin than any other team in the BBL. The Stars spinners have bowled 25 more overs and taken 20 more wickets than the Melbourne Renegades who are second on that list but Lamichhane’s exit will force a rethink.”I’m always a big believer that spin is going to your friend throughout the tournament,” Hussey said. “It’s a fantastic strategy that we have that we might have to rejig a little bit. I must admit I didn’t deal with it too well when he told me he was leaving because he’s a quality person, a quality player and a big part of our plans to go deep into the tournament.”But when you get called up to international cricket, it should be celebrated. It was a couple of days of kicking cans about losing a great player but I’m pretty happy for him.”The Stars took a punt on unknown Pakistan quick Dilbar Hussain against the Heat and it backfired with the Lahore Qalandars development player conceding 56 runs from his four overs. But Hussey was prepared to stick with him and he will stay on as Lamichhane’s replacement even if Rauf returns.”It’s his first time at the MCG in front of a decent crowd representing a new team, his English is not great, he’s only arrived with the Stars in the last couple of days,” Hussey said.”Foreign conditions. I thought there was a lot to offer – 145kph away swingers, good slower ball, good fast bouncer, good control, good yorker. I think he’s got a pretty good future in the game. I think he’s going to ruffle a few feathers later on in the tournament.”

Soumya Sarkar, Rubel Hossain and Al-Amin Hossain have also been left out

Mohammad Isam16-Feb-2020Bangladesh have dropped Mahmudullah in one of four changes to the squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe next week. Rubel Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain and Soumya Sarkar have been axed, while there were comebacks for Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman. Rookie medium-pacer Hasan Mahmud and batsman Yasir Ali have also earned their first Test call-ups.

One-off Test v Zimbabwe

IN: Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Yasir Ali
OUT: Mahmudullah, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Soumya Sarkar
Squad: Mominul Haque (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Yasir Ali

Chief selector Minhajul Abedin suggested that senior batsman Mahmudullah needed a break from red-ball cricket, after scoring just one half-century in his last ten Test innings, before which he had hit centuries in back-to-back Tests in Dhaka, against West Indies, and in Hamilton.”We felt that Mahmudullah needed a break from the red ball,” he said. “Al-Amin has niggles and that’s why we thought he should be given the time to be fully ready for the limited-overs matches [three ODIs and two T20Is] where he is more important. Rubel is not part of our red-ball plans for the moment. Soumya had applied for a leave and therefore has not been considered.”I believe we have selected the best possible Test squad under present circumstances. There is a very nice blend of experience and potential. It is unfortunate that some players had to miss out but our priority has been to ensure balance and continuity.”ALSO READ: Can Bangladesh bank on Mahmudullah in Test cricket?About the two newcomers, Minhajul said, “We think Hasan Mahmud and Yasir Ali Chowdhury have tremendous potential and they are very much part of our future plans. Yasir is from our high-performance squad, and he has done well in the BCL recently. We want to develop upon his potential.”Yasir has averaged 60.28 in five first-class matches in the last 12 months, while Mahmud has been picked based on his potential even though his recent form hasn’t been great: he has picked up only six wickets in three matches at an average of 40.83 in the last year.Meanwhile, Mushfiqur has returned after opting out of the Pakistan Tests because of security concerns. Mehidy and Taskin have been recalled after regaining full fitness following injury layoffs, and Mustafizur convinced the selectors of his ability in the long-form game with six wickets in Central Zone’s last Bangladesh Cricket League game.”We picked Taskin as we need a consistently quick bowler,” Minhajul said. “I believe his fitness problem during the BCL is now over.”

C Shamsuddin was struck by the ball, so KN Ananthapadmanabhan did double duty for a while in Rajkot

Shashank Kishore in Rajkot10-Mar-2020C Shamsuddin will take no further part as an on-field umpire in the Ranji Trophy final in Rajkot because of swelling in his lower abdomen, after a ball thrown by a Bengal fielder following the fall of a wicket on Monday hit Shamsuddin when he wasn’t looking.”He didn’t look comfortable taking the field because of pain, so we took him to hospital and he underwent medical examination,” a Saurashtra Cricket Association official told ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday. “He was advised a week’s rest, so he will return home.”For one full session on Tuesday, KN Ananthapadhmanabhan, the other on-field umpire, officiated from both ends, with local umpire Piyush Kakkar doing duty at square leg. The BCCI regulations require the presence of neutral umpires from both ends; Kakkar, being from Rajkot, wasn’t allowed to officiate from the main end.S Ravi, the designated third umpire, couldn’t take the field as he was the only match official equipped with BCCI’s limited DRS available for the match. However, after lunch, Shamsuddin was temporarily slotted in as TV umpire, with Ravi taking the field to comply with BCCI’s neutral umpires’ criteria.The absence of a fourth umpire for a televised five-day game, that too a final, could raise questions over the board’s contingency measures in case of unforeseen situations like external injuries to officials, like in Shamsuddin’s case, or concussion.The BCCI has summoned Yashwant Barde from Mumbai as replacement. He is expected to arrive on Tuesday evening, and will officiate along with Ananthapadhmanabhan from Wednesday, the third day of the final.

Former India allrounder wants the national team to hire a team psychologist

ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-20202:38

Here’s who Yuvraj Singh thinks will break his fastest fifty record

Yuvraj Singh believes Hardik Pandya has the potential to become a “massive asset” for India by the 2023 World Cup, subject to the latter working on his temperament. Yuvraj said Hardik was a “phenomenal” talent and only one of the two current batsmen, along with his Indian teammate KL Rahul, who have the potential to break his record for the fastest T20I fifty, achieved in the 2007 World T20 against England.”I feel Hardik has the potential (to break my fastest T20I fifty record),” Yuvraj said on Sportscreen’s YouTube page. “I feel Hardik is someone who has got amazing talent, phenomenal talent. But probably someone needs to work with his head, where his head is, he is such a hard working guy, he is a nice guy.”Yuvraj buttressed his assertion by pointing to having seen Hardik’s amazing ball-hitting skills from up close during his stint with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2019. He cited the example of Hardik’s 91 – his personal T20 best – against KKR at the Eden Gardens. Mumbai still lost the game, having been set a massive target of 233.Yuvraj had even called Hardik’s innings “the best” he had seen in IPL, and had told the Baroda allrounder he could be India’s lynchpin at the 2019 World Cup with both bat and ball. Eventually, Hardik made 226 runs in the World Cup without a half-century, and picked up 10 wickets. In the semi-final against New Zealand, Hardik made 32 a slog across the line proved to be his undoing.According to Yuvraj, Hardik still needed to perform in “crunch” moments, which could be achieved by working on the mental side of the game.”He hits the ball spectacularly,” Yuvraj said. “I was at Mumbai Indians last year and he got 90 odd off 30 balls [91 off 34 against KKR], it was a phenomenal innings. He can actually be the next big allrounder for India, but he hasn’t performed at crunch times. Those performances haven’t come because he is a big hitter and he likes those big hits, but when he starts to know when to take a single and a double, and when to hit those big sixes, then he will actually work as a better player. So Hardik has massive potential to be a world class player. If someone works on his mind, he can be a massive asset till we get to the next World Cup.”Yuvraj Singh joins in the celebrations•Craig Golding/AFP/Getty Images

Yuvraj further emphasised the need for India to rope in a mental conditioning coach, particularly with a view to help youngsters deal with the intense scrutiny and pressure of the international game. He cited the examples of Rishabh Pant and Prithvi Shaw, who he felt could benefit most from such an appointment. Pant, in a short international career, has already experienced volatile ups and downs scarcely imaginable for a 22-year old, and Shaw, a centurion on Test debut, has served a ban for a doping violation.During Yuvraj’s time, Paddy Upton combined as the mental conditioning and strategic leadership coach, finishing his three year stint in those positions after India won the 2011 World Cup. Yuvraj felt that though India had done well under the current coaching staff, a psychologist was needed to help youngsters cope with the mental side of the game.”I feel the current players don’t have anyone to speak about the mental side of the game to,” Yuvraj said. “We have guys like Rishabh Pant, guys like Prithvi Shaw, they are so talented, and obviously unfortunately there’s intense scrutiny these days because of the number of media outlets – one game you fail, you feel like you’ve failed the series. So, there’s nobody to talk to them about the mental side – what’s going on? How can we get better? Or probably don’t do this or do that. Share your experiences. I’ve been saying for a while, the team needs a good psychologist. But it should be someone the players respect. That’s important because there are a lot of young players, and younger players, as when we are growing up, we feel we know more than our parents and coaches.”Yuvraj even questioned whether the Indian coaching staff lead by Ravi Shastri and batting coach Vikram Rathour, while being equipped to deal with the technical stuff, could manage to sort the mental challenges players faced.”Players have done quite well under Ravi Shastri. They won in Australia, they have done quite well. But my point is – as a coach I don’t know how Ravi is – I know that you cannot have a particular way with every player, you have to have a different way with every player. I don’t see that with the coaching staff. You have guys like Vikram Rathour, he has been my senior, he has been a mentor at times when I was playing state, but with all due respect, if someone has not played cricket at that level for a long time, the younger generation which is more prone to T20 and 50-over, what are you going to tell them? Vikram Rathour might tell them about technique or how to hit the ball, but there’s no one to work on the mental side. The captain can only do so much. The coach can only do so much. That’s why I’m saying that you need a psychologist who actually talks to players after a particular session.”

Captain doesn’t bowl for second day running after bagging golden duck as well

ECB Reporters Network24-Jun-2020Brathwaite XI 275 and 99 for 3 lead Holder XI 193 by 181 runsRaymon Reifer appeals succesfully for the wicket of Jason Holder•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Left-armer Raymon Reifer seized his chance to impress with five wickets in the space of 11 balls on day two of the West Indies’ intra-squad match at Emirates Old Trafford.The all-rounder produced an inspired spell in the afternoon session as Kraigg Brathwaite’s XI took a dominant position over the side led by Test captain Jason Holder.Holder’s team were set fair on 95 for 2 when Reifer ripped their middle order out in quick time, leaving them 111 for 7 and, eventually, 193 all out.In just a few minutes’ work he removed Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua da Silva, Holder, Shayne Moseley and Rahkeem Cornwall, paving the way for an 82-run first-innings lead.That had stretched to 181 at stumps, opener John Campbell making up for his day-one duck with an attacking 49 in a score of 99 for 3.
It was Reifer who gained most from the outing, though, making up for his lack of express pace by zeroing in on the perfect length and using his angles well. Three of his victims nicked to slip or gully – Bonner, Da Silva and Moseley all feeling for contact in the channel – while Cornwall hacked unimpressively to mid-on to seal the five-for.But in terms of advancing his outside chance of an appearance in the series opener against England on July 8, the most notable scalp would have been Holder, pinned lbw for a golden duck. The Bajan commands huge respect among his squad and is increasingly one of the most respected voices in the global game but that did not stop the fielding side whooping in the loudest celebration of the day as he was given first ball.Holder also declined to bowl himself for the second day in a row, inviting further questions over the niggling ankle injury he has been working his way back from.Reifer, who won his only Test cap in 2017 against New Zealand, finished with 5 for 60 as Kyle Mayers added a bright 45 to bring down the arrears. He was last man out to Marquino Mindley, who also dismissed Roach.Mindley had earlier uprooted Jermaine Blackwood’s middle stump as he auditioned unsuccessfully as a top-order rival for Campbell.Blackwood is one of of 14 players in the official 14-man squad – with Shannon Gabriel set to be added – while the remainder of the 25-man party are listed as reserves.It was two of those standbys who did the bulk of the scoring for Holder’s team, Moseley eking out 40 and Sunil Ambris riding his luck on his way to an unconvincing 52.Campbell and Blackwood returned to the crease for the evening session and raced to their 50 stand in just 7.4 overs. There were a few thick edges but also plenty of clean hits and good running, with Gabriel taking the brunt of the pain with 38 off his first four overs.Campbell was not always secure, and was dropped at mid-off on 29, but moved within a single of his half-century before Alzarri Joseph set him up lbw.Joseph bowled a wonderful spell late on, winning another lbw when he went full and straight to Shai Hope, who was dropped on nought and gone for two.”You can always give yourself a chance with the Dukes ball in England,” Reifer said at the close.”If you’re able to get a bit of shine on it there is always some movement to be found in these conditions. If the ball is seaming around then it is favourable for me.”I was pretty pleased with the five wickets, I just put the ball in the right areas and it started to bite.”Reifer, cousin of batting coach Floyd, has not worn the West Indies whites since his debut against New Zealand in 2017, but did feature in a pair of one-day internationals in Ireland last summer.”The ultimate dream is always to play Test cricket and to play as many Tests as possible,” he said.”I made my debut three years ago and haven’t played since, so if the opportunity presents itself I’ll be looking to play.”I’m not thinking too far ahead, we have another day in this match and potentially another chance with bat and ball then a four-day game coming up, but I’m pretty pleased with how it’s gone.”

England will wonder what brings out Holder’s best against them – last year’s double ton, now his bowling best

Nagraj Gollapudi09-Jul-2020Without Statsguru-ing, who’s the best one-change fast bowler in Test cricket since 2018?How many of you guessed it was Jason Holder? Pat Cummins, Neil Wagner, Mohammad Shami; any of these would be valid, understandable guesses. All three have over 60 wickets each in that period, compared to Holder’s 39 but it is Holder who has the best average (14.66) among bowlers with more than 20 wickets. He also has the best economy rate (2.66). He has the best strike rate of the three. He has four five-fors in that period, the joint-most with Wagner.ALSO READ: Holder’s career-best haul puts Windies in controlUsually, when we think fast bowling, we think speed. More so when we think Caribbean fast bowling. Holder is the tallest fast bowler in Test cricket. He is strong. Yet he is not quick. And so the perception builds about him, that he’s somehow lesser.Yet fast bowling is not just speed. Control, discipline and, most importantly, skills – it is this package that makes a fast bowler complete and this that has made Holder one of the best fast bowlers in all conditions, on any continent, with any ball in the past few years.Since 2017, in countries where the Dukes is used – England and West Indies – Holder is on par with the master – James Anderson.The England strike bowler has 82 wickets in 19 Tests at 17.10 with an economy of 2.43. Holder has played three fewer matches, but has picked 67 wickets at 17.97 with an economy of 2.49. In the rest of the world, where the Kokaburra and SG Test balls are used, Holder has played just five Tests, taken 14 wickets (one five-for) at a healthy average of 25.92. He’s still not easy to score off, conceding just 2.44 per over.On Thursday, Holder put that complete package on full display to rack up his best Test bowling figures of 6 for 42. Asked to bowl, in the first match of a series away from home, playing their first Test match since last November, the stakes were high. The onus was on his fast bowling attack, which Roddy Estwick, the Windies assistant coach, said in June could better any team in the world.Jason Holder leaves the field with the ball after taking six wickets•AFP

At Bridgetown, a year ago, Kemar Roach had skittled out England for 77. At lunch on Thursday England were struggling at 106 for 5 with Shannon Gabriel snaring three wickets with extreme pace. But Ben Stokes had a reprieve on 14 when Roach dived to pouch a dying ball at deep square leg in response to a perfect short-pitched delivery from Alzarri Joseph. Immediately after the break, Shamarh Brooks dropped a sitter at short cover off Roach.Stokes, along with Jos Buttler, took the charge to Gabriel, who pitched wide and short in contrast to the fuller lengths in the first session. Holder was in the slips watching the drama unfold. He took over from Gabriel straightaway.In the morning, as ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data recorded, Holder hardly bowled a full delivery. But as he built up his rhythm he improved. Post-lunch, Holder bowled only a dozen deliveries short of good length. The best length to bowl on a pitch with variable bounce and conditions that supported seam movement was on a good length. Post the break, Holder capitalised, pitching 20 deliveries on a good length, which fetched him three wickets.Two of those were Stokes and Buttler, men who were threatening to take England swiftly into a commanding territory. From the slips, Holder would have observed Stokes stepping out of the crease to negate any swing and take advantage each time the ball was pitched fuller. Without getting distracted Holder continued to attack the off stump. Off the second delivery in his second over, Stokes attempted to outsmart Holder by charging his counterpart. The ball pitched on length and straightened. Stokes let out a smile.Next ball Stokes was on the march. Holder pitched slightly fuller from wider of the crease. But the ball pitched again on off stump and this time took the outside edge as Stokes attempted to play across. Stokes shook his head in disgust. Holder celebrated.An over later, Holder came closer to the stumps, pitched on a length, drew Buttler forward as the ball once again took the outside edge which Shane Dowrich pouched smartly. Holder had snatched the momentum back.ALSO READ: Taking the knee ‘meant the world to me’ – HolderAs a fast bowler, Holder has plenty of strengths: the height from where he delivers, his wrist is straight, as is the seam most times, and he actually moves the ball in the air and off the pitch most in this Windies bowling line-up. And he uses the crease wisely. These are things he has observed and learned from the likes of Anderson and Glenn McGrath, Holder told Sky Sports.Holder has now seven five-fors, which puts him fourth on the all-time list of captains. In addition to getting the milestone four times at home, Holder has taken at least five wickets in an innings in India (2018) and Sharjah (2016) – with non-Dukes balls – and in two places that pose unique challenges for fast bowling.Jason Holder celebrates with team-mates after dismissing Jofra Archer•Getty Images

In a chat with Ian Bishop after West Indies had won the Wisden Trophy at home last year, Holder had said that his performance in the UAE against Pakistan four years ago was the turning point of his career. Remember he was just one year into his international cricket then. Pakistan were leading the series 2-0 going into the final Test in Sharjah. Holder went wicketless in the first innings. On the third evening he had three wickets. The next day, he grabbed his maiden five-for to set up the victory.During the CPL a few years ago, Mel Jones, the broadcaster, asked Holder if he fights fire with fire. Holder said he fights fire with water. That is Holder’s character: he is naturally aggressive, but does not like to wear it on his sleeve. He knows his job is that of a leader: to motivate, guide, mould West Indies into a successful unit.England will wonder what is it that brings Holder’s best against them. In 2019, it was Holder’s maiden double-century that set the tone for the series win. Holder became the No. 1 allrounder in ICC rankings. A year later Holder now has his best bowling figures against them in Test cricket.He is not like West Indian fast bowlers we are used to. He is an understated personality and he is not spoken about as much. But right now, Jason Holder is one of the best fast bowlers in cricket.

Left-arm spinner holds nerve in final over after smashing 60 not out

ECB Reporters Network29-Aug-2020England spinner Sophie Ecclestone offered a glimpse of her ability with the bat as Thunder launched their Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy campaign with a four-run win over Lightning in a rain-affected match at Trent Bridge, smashing an unbeaten 60 off 61 balls.The 21-year-old, who tops the women’s T20I rankings as a bowler but rarely bats above nine in international cricket, hit six fours and two sixes, plundering 21 runs in the last over of the Thunder innings as they racked up a challenging 206 for 9 from their 50 overs.Lightning’s hopes of overhauling that total were dealt a major blow when their England opener Tammy Beaumont perished for just two. Scotland’s Sarah Bryce hit nine fours in her 52 but once she had succumbed to Ecclestone’s bowling the home side’s chances always looked slim.After 14 overs were lost to rain, a revised target of 151 left Lightning needing 32 off five overs once play resumed, but the combined experience of Ecclestone, England team-mate Kate Cross and World Cup winner Alex Hartley enabled Thunder to prevail in a tight finish.Teenager Sophie Munro – who turns 19 on Monday – was the pick of the Lightning bowlers, the right-arm seamer taking 3 for 32, including two wickets in her opening three overs with the new ball.However, a stand of 82 for the fourth wicket between wicketkeeper Ellie Threlkeld and allrounder Nat Brown rescued Thunder after a wobbly start and Ecclestone’s big hitting ensured that their hard work was made to count – although some spirited hitting by Abbey Freeborn and Lucy Higham set up a close finish after the rain.Lightning made good early inroads after Thunder had chosen to bat first on a bright morning, Munro striking with her third delivery for the Loughborough-based home side as Laura Marshall’s miscued pull went straight to Beaumont at mid-wicket.The right-arm seamer, who took 20 wickets for Nottinghamshire in county cricket last summer, was added to the England women’s training squad during the winter. She picked up a second scalp in her third over, dismissing Emma Lamb in a similar fashion as Beaumont pouched another straightforward catch.Thunder were 30 for two after 10 overs and immediately suffered another setback when Georgie Boyce was run out by Sophie Harman’s fine throw from deep cover.Sophie Ecclestone tucks one off the pads•Getty Images

However, Threlkeld and Brown patiently brought Thunder back into contention, Threlkeld punishing England spinner Kirstie Gordon with a series of boundaries before Brown was run out for 38 by Abbey Freeborn’s throw from point.Munro claimed her third success when Threlkeld, having completed a 76-ball fifty, gave Beaumont her third catch with another mishit pull, but though Gordon and fellow spinner Lucy Higham were able to get among the wickets as Thunder chased runs, crucially neither was able to dislodge Ecclestone, who finished with a flourish by striking Higham’s offbreaks for six, four, four and six in the final over of the innings.Sarah Bryce looked fluent from the outset as Lightning began their reply, striking Brown’s medium pace for three consecutive boundaries, but Beaumont had managed only two singles when, squared up by Brown, she squirted an easy catch to Olivia Thomas at short extra cover.Joined by older sister Kathryn, the Lightning captain, Sarah led the way in a stand of 52 for the second wicket to keep their side close to the required rate but Kathryn was run out for 17 when Sarah declined her call for a single. Soon afterwards, after completing her own half-century, the younger Bryce was bowled by Ecclestone off a bottom edge.Beth Ellis having been leg before to Hannah Jones, Lightning were still 88 short of their target with 19 overs left when rain took the players off for almost an hour, after which the DLS calculation revised the requirement to 32 off 30 balls.It gave Lightning a glimmer of a chance but Higham’s leg-before dismissal to Hartley sparked the loss of four wickets in seven balls and though Nancy Harman picked up a couple of boundaries, Ecclestone had the last word by bowling her off the penultimate ball.”It was just so nice to get out there and play some competitive cricket and I think it would have been a good game to watch if there were any spectators in the ground,” Ecclestone said. “For me, it was great to be able to bat at No. 6 when it is normally No. 9 or No. 10 for England; great to have the opportunity to get some runs.”We’re seen a bit as the underdogs in this competition but we have some good young players and it is a chance to show what they are made of.”

The St Lucia Zouks captain says he’s ‘closer to retirement than playing more T20 cricket’

Deivarayan Muthu08-Sep-2020Daren Sammy’s place in the XI was often questioned when he was the West Indies captain. He didn’t quite have the flair or aura of his predecessors, but he undoubtedly brought results, particularly in T20 cricket. Things aren’t too different with Sammy at the helm of St Lucia Zouks in the CPL. He has managed just 34 runs in nine innings at an average of 5.66 and a strike rate of under 80 this season. He has bowled a mere two overs, giving up 19 runs for one wicket. But the Zouks have made the playoffs for only the second time in their history, and will make their first-ever final if they topple five-time finalists Guyana Amazon Warriors on Tuesday.Not many gave the Zouks a chance to go so deep in the tournament, especially after some of their key players, including Chris Gayle, became unavailable. Head coach Andy Flower said as much last week, while reiterating his faith in Sammy, whom he called an “inspirational figure”.So has the lack of expectations worked in Zouks’ favour? “A lot of people have said a lot of things about the St Lucia Zouks and the performance in the history of the CPL. But I’m one who has always been confident silently in our dressing room,” Sammy said ahead of the semi-finals. “I said that the guys we have in the squad this year are not superstars, but guys that could be very effective in these conditions.”You [have] seen the way we played throughout this competition – you know especially when we’re out there in the field as a unit, I can’t stress enough on how my men, especially my bowlers, have responded in these conditions. And the way we defended low totals and we have to do it two more times to win this competition.”While Mohammad Nabi’s displays with ball and bat have made up for Gayle’s absence, the Zouks have also found unlikely heroes in Roston Chase and Javelle Glen. Chase was not a CPL regular before this season, but he has regularly fronted up to bowl in the death overs and accumulate with the bat in the middle order on the turning tracks in Trinidad.Glen wasn’t a CPL regular either before 2020. The 22-year-old was sidelined from the 2018 season with injury and was with Jamaica Tallawahs in 2019, playing as a batsman who could bowl a bit. This season, however, Sammy has used Glen as an attacking legspinner, matching him up with right-handers and restricting them from accessing the smaller boundaries.The pitches for the final week at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy have been more batting-friendly than earlier in the season, but Glen, Chase, and Zahir Khan still combined in the end overs to strangle the Tallawahs in their chase in the last league fixture.”You look at the situation of the game – you know you have the advantage of whether the pitch assists spin or there’s a big boundary to which the batsmen have to hit,” Sammy said. “If you see throughout the tournament spin has been difficult to get away. Plus, Javelle every time he comes on to bowl, he brings this type of energy – positive energy – and it’s infectious and the team goes with it. I needed somebody who can spin the ball away from righty to hit in the big side and he was the guy.”I know he has done it before against Barbados and the confidence level he has…we trust him enough to do the job for us when required. And Roston has showed, his ability to execute – whether wide yorkers or making them hit to the big side – you always go for that experience.”Darren Sammy has become Peshawar Zalmi’s head coach•Pakistan Super League

Sammy had a taste of coaching earlier this year, moving upstairs at Peshawar Zalmi after giving up the captaincy in a mid-season reshuffle at the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Sammy, who will be 37 next year, conceded that CPL retirement has “crossed his mind”, but he hoped to exit in front of his home fans in St Lucia at the stadium named after him.”I’m pretty sure this year if we were playing in front of the crowd and I get to play in front of my home fans in St Lucia, I probably would’ve called it [a day] – like I always say; that’s it. I still have some time and I would really love to finish in front of St Lucia and my St Lucian fans at home and bow out at the Daren Sammy cricket ground. But, it all depends on how hard I work after this. If we win the cup, I will definitely have a think about it. I know I’m closer to retirement than playing more T20 cricket – that’s the truth.”‘One country can’t get all the love’
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the entire CPL season has been played behind closed doors in Trinidad. League leaders Trinbago Knight Riders, who have a bevy of Trinidad-based players in their squad, have enjoyed overwhelming home advantage. Before the start of the tournament, some of their players were also allowed to remain outside the bio-bubble and train while the rest of the squads were holed up in their hotel rooms. That didn’t go down well with Sammy. When asked if he would come back and play the entire tournament in just one country in a similar scenario, Sammy said he would, but wanted another country to get the chance to host the tournament.”I was very vocal in my dissatisfaction of what I was seeing in terms of bubble – guys having access to training and facilities every day when others were not,” Sammy said. “I questioned that but one thing I didn’t question is the availability of cricket for all those probably 160 cricketers that are here showcasing their talent.”Now if, let’s say next year, we still have to play in one country, I know for sure it can’t be Trinidad. You’ve got to share the love somewhere else – whether St Kitts, whether St Lucia – and we can come back. And one country can’t seem to be getting all the love all the time. That’s what I’ll say on that.”

The wicketkeeper-batsman fills the post vacated by Peter Fulton

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Nov-2020Luke Ronchi has been appointed New Zealand batting coach for the upcoming season to fill the vacancy created by Peter Fulton’s departure.He has been a regular around the squad in the last couple of seasons as Gary Stead has used various specialist coaches.”I’m absolutely pumped,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed being back with the team in recent seasons and it’s exciting to be given the opportunity full-time this summer.”Getting the chance to continue working with our batsmen is a great honour and I’m looking forward to seeing how I can help improve their games and best prepare them to perform at the highest level.”It’ll be great to sit down with Gary and the other coaches to begin planning for what will be a busy summer with four touring teams who will all bring different challenges.”Bryan Stronach, NZC’s general manager of high performance, said that Ronchi had received good feedback when he had previously worked with the players and there was the added advantage of his wicketkeeping knowledge.”Luke’s got a very good cricket brain and is especially strong tactically,” he said. “He has a positive mindset and is good at building relationships but he’s also not afraid to challenge people which is a really important aspect of coaching.”The feedback we got from the players and team support staff at last year’s World Cup in particular was very positive and I know he’s looking forward to continuing his work with the team this summer. There’s no doubt that, alongside the batsmen, our wicketkeepers will also benefit from having Luke around.”New Zealand’s home season will start with T20Is against West Indies at the end of November followed by two Tests. Pakistan then visit for T20Is and Test matches with Australia and Bangladesh slated to tour next year although those series are still awaiting government approval.

Opener ready to dig deep again as she struggles for runs

Valkerie Baynes15-Nov-2020Tammy Beaumont has been here before, not so long ago, battling for runs but with a hand still firmly in her own destiny.Having scored just 96 runs from nine innings so far, with a strike rate of 71.64 and highest score of 30 for Sydney Thunder in this edition of the WBBL, opener Beaumont is determined to “put that right”. Thunder need all the contributions they can get with four matches remaining ahead of the finals after defeats to Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers over the weekend saw them drop from second to fourth on the table.”It’s a strange one, I can’t really put my finger on it,” Beaumont said. “I feel like I’ve been playing really well in the nets and then just getting out while I’m in the middle or not really getting off to a good start, which is obviously what we need. Hopefully I can put that right in the last few games and play a good knock for the team.”ALSO READ: Former FA chairman’s comments show there’s work to do – KnightBeaumont found herself in a similar situation heading into England’s behind-closed-doors T20 series against West Indies in September, having played a limited role at the T20 World Cup as a floating batsman before a second-ball duck in her preferred position as opener when the same sides met in their last match of the global tournament.She retained her place at the top of the order though, and her 62 from 49 balls handed hosts England a comfortable victory in the first match of the series they went on to sweep 5-0 against West Indies. Beaumont admitted to harbouring self-doubts going into that first game.”I had a bit of a word to myself, said, ‘you’ve still got a hand in it, you’ve still got four or five games, just do your best, and just enjoy it and really embrace it,'” Beaumont said at the time.Her half-century against West Indies remained her best score of the series and Thunder could do with a similar knock when they take on bottom side Melbourne Renegades on Tuesday.Stars are three points clear on top, while the second-placed Scorchers are two points ahead of Brisbane Heat, then Thunder and Sydney Sixers, who are all locked on 10 points each and separated only by net run rate.Having ground out 14 off 27 deliveries against Stars on Saturday, Beaumont unleashed a signature reverse sweep only to find England team-mate Nat Sciver, who sprung high to her left and pulled down a stunning catch at point. On Sunday, Beaumont faced just two balls for one run against Scorchers before she was caught behind by Beth Mooney off Nicole Bolton.”It’s really full-on this season,” Beaumont said. “It’s almost games every two days so that’s something a little bit different to try and make sure you’re really on top of your recovery and all of that.”I haven’t necessarily played as well as I wanted to yet… the standard is as strong as it’s ever been. I guess with this one because the games are coming so fast you don’t always get a chance to really prepare for your certain opposition. You’ve just got to bounce from one to the other.”Despite facing a further onslaught of four matches in this coming week, it was the not playing before the tournament which Beaumont said she found the hardest, having to spend two weeks in strict quarantine.”Being literally locked in a hotel room for 14 days with your treadmill was certainly a different experience but since we’ve been out, the bubble here is pretty big,” she said. “They’ve put a lot on for us. We just had a trivia night run by Grace Harris so there’s plenty going on.”Beaumont’s on-field experience so far this tournament is in contrast to Thunder team-mate Heather Knight, the England captain, who is the competition’s fourth-highest run-scorer for the season with 295 at a strike rate of 121.90 and with three fifties. She has also taken eight wickets.Knight hit back after a duck against Stars to strike 44 from as many balls against Scorchers but it was not enough as Thunder were bundled out for 97 chasing 132 to win.