All posts by n8rngtd.top

He said conditions in the series meant a batter has “never really felt in” although Australia have still scored more than enough runs

Andrew McGlashan03-Jan-2022On a scale of problems, it’s pretty low down the list – and one that England would love to have. A Test batting average last year of 53.75 and three innings ago a score of 93, but Steven Smith admitted he is still searching for his best rhythm in a series where he feels conditions have favoured the bowlers, adding he had never seen the ball move as much as it did in Melbourne.England have managed to keep Smith under a reasonably tight leash in this series, certainly compared to the 2019 edition in which he made a chart-topping 774 runs, with scores of 12, 6 and 16 aside from his major contribution in the first innings in Adelaide when he had been rushed into the captaincy.After a brief slump against India in the 2020-21 series, where he was dismissed for three single-figure scores in a row, Smith rebounded with 131 and 81 at the SCG. That century remains his only Test hundred on home soil since returning from his ban.”It’s been a little while since I’ve scored a hundred; [I] got close in Adelaide,” Smith said. “Think we’ve played on some pretty bowler-friendly wickets in the first three Tests. You’ve never really felt in. Anyone can bowl a good ball at a certain time.Related

• The curious case of Steven Smith

• Australia continue hunt for whitewash, England playing for pride and careers

• Lyon excited about bowling partnership with Swepson

• Selectors ready for 'hard conversations' around Australia's bowling depth

• Six and out for Boland? Australia's fast-bowling log jam for Sydney

“It’s about hanging in there as along as possible, defending well and leaving well and pouncing on anything loose. Think that’s what the guys who have scored runs in this series have done well. It’s been tough to get rhythm and to get into a groove but hopefully this week [I] can score a big one.”In Melbourne, Smith fell to James Anderson during an excellent spell on the second day before being able to watch the excellence of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins during the final hour stood in the slips.”I’ve probably never seen seam movement like that in my life,” he said. “One of those balls that [Haseeb] Hameed left that evening when it hit him, that came back like an offspinner. The ball was seaming as far as I’ve seen on any wicket in my career. It was never going to be easy. Our bowlers were relentless with their line and length.”Steven Smith looks back to see his bails missing during the MCG Test•Getty Images

Despite being what Smith termed a “bowler-friendly” series, Australia twice passed 400, in their first innings in Brisbane and Adelaide, to set up their victories. Of the top order, only Cameron Green has not contributed at least a half-century but they will be without Travis Head in Sydney after his positive Covid-19 result.Two days out, the SCG pitch was proving a tricky one to read with a significant covering of grass which is likely to be trimmed before the game. However, with that and the dodgy forecast, any chance of a debut for legspinner Mitchell Swepson appears to have receded.”It’s pretty green at the moment, so what it’ll do I’m not sure, but [will] sum it up when we are out and there and play accordingly,” Smith said. “If it starts with a lot of grass it doesn’t seem to break up that much whereas if they take it off it has the ability to break up a bit more and the footmarks come into play a lot more. I dare say it may not take too much spin late in the game which was the traditional SCG…which I would like to see personally.”Josh Hazlewood is continuing his recovery from a side strain that has kept him out of action since the Gabba Test and had a lengthy run out on Monday. “The ball seemed to be coming through quite nicely,” Smith said. “Not sure how he’s pulled up. I know that the guys have a lot of trust in him to make the right decision.”There are fast-bowling riches for Australia to pick from, with Jhye Richardson having taken a five-wicket haul in Adelaide before being left out as a precaution in Melbourne where Scott Boland grabbed a stunning 6 for 7 which may yet not be enough for him to retain his place. Another of the good problems to have that England would dearly like.

Rescheduled ODI series will take place immediately after conclusion of IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2022West Indies’ postponed ODI series in the Netherlands will start “immediately after the IPL” on May 31, according to a joint press release by CWI and the KNCB.The tour will see West Indies play a full international match on Dutch soil for the first time – following two 55-over friendly matches in 1991 – and will be the sides’ first meeting in international cricket since the 2011 World Cup.The three ODI Super League fixtures will take place at the VRA Cricket Ground in Amstelveen on May 31, June 2 and June 4, with tickets due to go on sale this weekend.Johnny Grave, CWI’s chief executive, said: “We have been working closely with our colleagues at KNCB to put together this series immediately after the IPL and we are happy to now be able to announce the match schedule.”It’s going to be exciting to tour the Netherlands for the first time. It is a short tour, but we expect great entertainment during what promises to be a wonderful week of quality cricket for the fans in the Netherlands.”The BCCI is yet to announce exact dates for this year’s IPL but ESPNcricinfo understands that the tournament will start in late March and run until the last week of May.Seventeen West Indies players are due to play in this season’s IPL – the most from any country other than India – and CWI confirmed on Sunday that they would be “fully available” for the full season, as per a guarantee to players in their retainer contracts.Roland Lefebvre, the KNCB’s high performance manager, said: “The KNCB is very excited to welcome the West Indies cricket team back to the Netherlands. The last time the team visited our country was in 1991, for two 55-over friendly matches, with the likes of [Viv] Richards, [Desmond] Haynes, [Curtley] Ambrose and [Malcolm] Marshall present.”These matches will be the second Cricket World Cup Super League home series for the Dutch team and we look forward to a great Caribbean-style contest”.The series was initially due to take place in June 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Netherlands’ home schedule for 2022 also includes visits from England for three ODIs in June, and New Zealand for two T20Is at the end of July.Fixtures:
1st ODI – May 31
2nd ODI – June 2
3rd ODI – June 4 (all matches at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen)

He had left the PSL just over a week ago, citing bubble fatigue as the main reason for his withdrawal

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2022Alex Hales will make a surprise return to the PSL to help an injury-battered Islamabad United progress to the final of the seventh season.United are due to take on Peshawar Zalmi in the first eliminator at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, a game Hales is now expected to be available for. His return will be a massive boost to the two-time champions, who have been hit especially hard by injuries and absences this season.Hales had left the PSL just over a week ago, citing bubble fatigue as the main reason for his withdrawal. But a couple of amendments to the existing health and safety protocols, approved today, have allowed Hales to return and play immediately without the need to isolate beforehand once he arrives. Hales will have to clear a Covid-19 test on arrival.The amendment means that at this late stage teams can bring in players and make them play the day of their arrival. They will, however, be kept apart from the team as much as possible, including not having access to the team’s dressing room, staying in a separate area of the hotel and traveling in a separate car to the stadium.The other amendment has been to cut the isolation period for asymptomatic cases from seven to five days – with a negative rapid antigen test required to exit isolation. A number of members of the Zalmi and Multan Sultans squad have tested positive in the last couple of days, including Tim David. This tweak allows some room for positive cases – depending on when they tested positive – to return should their teams make the final on Sunday.According to the PCB, “the amendments were presented and unanimously approved by the six franchises this afternoon and were run past the Medical Advisory Panel before being introduced.”United, though, will be happiest, given how crucial Hales was to their fortunes this season. Despite not playing three games, Hales is United’s top-scorer this season, averaging over 40 at a strike rate of 156.44. Along with Paul Stirling – who had to leave for national duty with Ireland – his starts meant United were among the highest-scoring sides in the Powerplay earlier in the season.But Hales’ abrupt departure was part of a string of changes to what would’ve been their first-choice XI; Stirling and Rahmanullah Gurbaz both had to leave for international duty; Shadab Khan, the captain, has been injured; Colin Munro is injured; Zeeshan Zameer, their promising young fast bowler, is also out for the season. That has impacted United’s performances, the franchise stuttering into the playoffs with three defeats in their last four games (the last two especially comprehensive). Even with a close-to-full strength side early on though United had won three and lost three of their first six games.There is cautious optimism within United that Shadab might be fit to play in the first eliminator against Zalmi. Given the season he – and Hales – have had, they will be very welcome returns.

He has been given a four-year deal to coach all three formats after a brief period as interim coach in Pakistan

Alex Malcolm12-Apr-2022Former Test allrounder Andrew McDonald has been officially confirmed as Australia’s new full-time men’s coach and selector for all three formats after signing a four-year contract.McDonald takes over the same roleJustin Langer resigned from messy circumstances in February following an offer from the Cricket Australia board for a six-month contract extension only.McDonald, who has been the senior assistant and bowling mentor since late 2019, took over as interim coach for the Pakistan tour. He led the team to a 1-0 Test series and won praise from Test captain Pat Cummins. Australia lost the ODI series 1-2 but won the one-off T20I in Lahore.McDonald has coached Australia on several tours during Langer’s four-year tenure while the former coach rested, including an ODI series in India in 2020, a five-match T20I tour of New Zealand in 2021, and a five-match home T20I series against Sri Lanka earlier this year.”The journey so far has been particularly pleasing, and I am honoured to be given this incredible opportunity for what is an exciting period ahead,” McDonald said.”The success of the World Cup, the Ashes Series and now Pakistan has been testament to the hard work and leadership of Justin, Pat and Aaron [Finch] along with the players and the support staff.”My plan is to build on the growth, depth and experience of the squad while working collectively with the group and across the game. There are many challenges in the short-term which I know excites the leadership group, the players and the staff. I’d also like to thank my family for their support.”Related

• Pat Cummins rested for Sri Lanka T20Is; big guns return for white-ball leg

• Jeff Vaughan leaves Australia assistant post to coach Tasmania

• Five key challenges for Andrew McDonald as Australia's new head coach

• Andrew McDonald: Coaching recruitment 'won't become a distraction' on Pakistan tour

• 'The boys absolutely love him' – Pat Cummins praises interim coach Andrew McDonald

CA did conduct a global search for a new men’s coach following the departure of Langer via a recruitment firm and sounded out a number of potential candidates including former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, former England coach Trevor Bayliss and current Australia women’s coach Matthew Mott. But McDonald’s popularity with the playing group and the team’s recent results made him an obvious choice, as CA general manager of high performance Ben Oliver confirmed.”Andrew was the standout candidate in a high-quality field of coaches,” Oliver said. “And we believe he’s the best person to help continue the growth of the team over the coming years.”McDonald has vast coaching experience having coached Victoria and Melbourne Renegades to four Australian domestic titles, including completing the Sheffield Shield, Marsh Cup and BBL treble in the same season in 2018-19. He has also been head coach of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and was hired as head coach of Birmingham Phoenix for the inaugural Hundred but was unable to coach in person due to Australia commitments.CA did not want to split the men’s job along format lines with McDonald to be the head coach of all three formats. McDonald himself was keen to be the coach of all three formats however that was not raised in discussions with CA until he became the preferred candidate.But given Australia’s heavy touring schedule over the next 18 months including an away Test tour of Sri Lanka, a home T20 World Cup, home Test series against West Indies and South Africa, an away Test series against India, a possible World Test Championship final, an away Ashes and a 50-over World Cup in India, McDonald wanted a coaching structure that allows for him and his assistants to be rested for certain periods.Under such a scenario a senior assistant could well take charge of certain tours or sections of tours that are viewed as lower priority series during that time, and consultants may be used more frequently as was seen when former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori joined Australia’s limited-overs squad in Pakistan as a spin consultant in the absence of Sridharan Sriram.”Once it was decided that I was a preferred candidate then I got an opportunity to sit down with Cricket Australia and the people around that to shape and formulate role,” McDonald said. “But it was a huge part of it. No doubt about it.”I think the great challenge for coaches and players is to manage your workload across the four years, being my term at the moment. But I’d like to think that I’ve got coaching staff around that can step up. We can elevate certain coaches at different times to take on different tours and different challenges and whilst we’re doing that it’s growing the depth of our coaching staff.”McDonald already has Michael Di Venuto, Jeff Vaughan and Sri Sriram in place as batting, fielding and bowling coaches respectively, and praised Langer for making those appointments during his tenure. McDonald seconded Andre Borovec on the tour of Pakistan as an interim assistant with expertise in strategy. But he will need a full-time bowling coach to replace his own role within the coaching structure.McDonald will sit on the three-man selection panel alongside chairman George Bailey and third selector Tony Dodemaide for all three formats.

Both teams are likely to go in spin-heavy at a venue which hasn’t hosted a drawn game since 2015

Andrew Fidel Fernando22-May-2022

Big picture

On a flat Chattogram surface, neither Bangladesh nor Sri Lanka had the kind of superlative attack that would have swung the game decisively. The result being the first Test ending in a draw with not even three innings completed after five days. Although Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have both had their bowling stocks depleted – Sri Lanka unlikely to field Vishwa Fernando; Bangladesh having lost Nayeem Hasan to a finger injury and Shoriful Islam to a fractured hand – the Mirpur surface has very rarely hosted draws. Both squads are awash with spin options. Historically, Bangladesh have picked three slow bowlers and one seamer in Mirpur. The pitch, this time around too, is expected to take sharp turn.Bangladesh have won five of their last eight Tests here, but perhaps that stat is slightly misleading, because they are on a two-game losing streak in Mirpur. Last year, finger spinners Rahkeem Cornwall and Sajid Khan took them down, delivering wins for West Indies and Pakistan respectively.Related

• Mushfiqur becomes first Bangladesh batter to reach 5000 Test runs

• Nayeem to miss Dhaka Test because of finger injury

• Shoriful ruled out of Test series, likely to miss first WI Test as well

The problem for Sri Lanka, however, is that neither left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya, nor offspinner Ramesh Mendis, were especially impressive in Chattogram, taking just 1 for 123 between them. They do have another frontline spinner in the squad though – slow left-armer Praveen Jayawickrama has already helped win a match against Bangladesh, when he took 11 wickets against them in Pallekele, last year.The batting order for both teams is in decent shape heading into this game. Oshada Fernando and Dhananjaya de Silva continue to be short of big runs for Sri Lanka, but the other batters have made solid contributions. For Bangladesh, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim struck hundreds, while Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Liton Das made half-centuries in the first Test.Both teams have busy schedules coming up. While Bangladesh go to West Indies for another World Test Championship series post the Test, Sri Lanka host Australia, then Pakistan, at home. These teams are so far back on the Championship table that it seems unlikely either can make a serious run for that top two, but a victory here will at least help keep the dream alive.

Form guide

Sri Lanka DLLWW (completed matches, most recent first)Bangladesh DLLLWMominul Haque hasn’t been in the best of form in 2022•Getty Images

In the spotlight

2, 5, 6, 2, 0, 37, 0 – so read the last six scores of Mominul Haque, despite him having started the year with an excellent performance in that spectacular Test win against New Zealand. This Bangladesh side has several past captains, and the captaincy seems to have weighed heavily on all of them. If Mominul can get himself to a big score in Dhaka, he will feel much better about his leadership.Now essentially a single-format player on the cusp of turning 35, Angelo Mathews’ international career may be entering its twilight. He will hope that in this format at least, there can be a late renaissance, perhaps put in motion by that Chattogram 199. With a tough couple of home series coming up, Sri Lanka need their most-experienced batter near his best in June and July.

Pitch and conditions

Some rain is forecast for the first two days in Mirpur, but then the clouds are expected to clear, and temperatures are expected to rise to as high as 39 degrees for the rest of the week. Even if there are rain interruptions, there tends to be a result on this spin-friendly surface.

Team news

Mosaddek Hossain’s offspin will be put to maximum use if he plays in place of Nayeem. Ebadot Hossain is likely to get his place back after Shoriful’s injury. Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mominul Haque (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Liton Das (wk), 7 Shakib Al Hasan, 8 Mosaddek Hossain, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Khaled Ahmed, 11 Ebadot HossainSri Lanka will have to decide which of their seamers – Asitha Fernando or Kasun Rajitha – will play in Mirpur. Rajitha had come in as a concussion sub for Vishwa, and been the pick of the bowlers in Chattogram. But Asitha claimed three wickets himself. Jayawickrama is likely to come into the XI in place of the second seamer.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Oshada Fernando, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Dhananjaya de Silva, 6 Dinesh Chandimal, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Ramesh Mendis, 9 Lasith Embuldeniya, 10 Praveen Jayawickrama, 11 Asitha Fernando/Kasun Rajitha

Stats and trivia

• Although he began the year with scores of 88 and 13* in Mount Maunganui, Mominul Haque averages 19.12 after nine innings in 2022. His average as captain is 33.44; he scores at 41.47 when not leading.
• Thanks largely to that 199, Angelo Mathews now averages 83.25 in Bangladesh. That was also his first century against this opposition in Test cricket. He is only missing hundreds against West Indies and South Africa out of teams he has played against in the format.
• There have been no draws in Mirpur since 2015.
• Sri Lanka have won each of their four previous series in Bangladesh, winning the last two series 1-0.

Super Kings lose their way after 54-run opening stand to leave their playoffs hopes hanging by a thread

Matt Roller04-May-2022Royal Challengers Bangalore halted a run of three consecutive defeats to boost their play-offs hope thanks to a scrappy win against Chennai Super Kings in Pune, iced by a death-bowling masterclass from Josh Hazlewood and Harshal Patel.Super Kings needed 56 runs off 30 balls with six wickets in hand when the final strategic timeout was taken in their run chase but then lost their way, losing three wickets for 25 runs across the next five overs. Harshal was hit for two sixes in the final over to close the margin of defeat but in dismissing Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja, he had already won the game for them.Royal Challengers had scrapped their way to 173 for 8 after being asked to bat first, as five batters passed 20 but Mahipal Lomror top-scored with 42 off 27 balls. They had started brightly, with their highest opening stand and highest powerplay total of the season, but floundered against spin in the middle overs.Lomror’s 44-run stand with Rajat Patidar kept them ticking before Maheesh Theekshana struck three times in the 19th over, but Dinesh Karthik took 16 runs from the final over to take them to a defendable total.Super Kings are mathematically still in contention for the play-offs but will need a miracle after seven defeats in their first ten games, while this result sees Royal Challengers return to the play-off positions for the time being – though with a poor net run-rate and having played a game more than their nearest contenders, they will need to finish the group stages strongly.Royal Challengers lose their wayFaf du Plessis and Virat Kohli made a nervy start, both picking up streaky boundaries via the edge of the bat as MS Dhoni used his seamers with the new ball, but then pushed on: Kohli launched Simarjeet Singh for six over the covers, while du Plessis cashed in against Mukesh Choudhary, taking 18 runs from his third over.But as has often been the case this season, they struggled against spin with the fingerspinners finding some grip from a good length: du Plessis holed out to deep midwicket off Moeen, while Kohli’s own struggles with the bat continued.After calling Glenn Maxwell through for a single that was never there and seeing him run out by Robin Uthappa, he was bowled through the gate by a sharply-spun offbreak from Moeen for a scratchy 30 off 33 balls. From 51 for 0 after five overs, Royal Challengers had stuttered to 79 for 3 after 10.Lomror, Karthik lead rebuildLomror was promoted to No. 4 after a cameo finishing the innings at No. 7 against Gujarat Titans and started brightly, hitting Moeen back over his head for four and slog-sweeping Theekshana for six after knocking the ball around alongside Patidar. Choudhary’s brilliant catch at deep square leg brought in Karthik with 4.5 overs remaining, but Dhoni had planned accordingly.Clearly conscious of Karthik’s strength against pace and relative weakness against spin – as well as his seamers’ inexperience at the death – Dhoni held Theekshana’s final two overs back for the 17th and 19th. He conceded only eight runs – six of them scored by Karthik, off seven balls – and struck three times in his final over, removing Lomror, Wanindu Hasaranga and Shahbaz Ahmed.But Lomror had hit Pretorius for four and six – and been dropped by Jadeja – in the 18th to keep the scoreboard moving and after surviving an incredibly tight review for lbw off the first ball of the final over, Karthik whacked him over deep midwicket twice to take Royal Challengers to 173.Devon Conway raises his bat to celebrate his half-century against RCB•BCCI

Conway’s cruiseDropped one innings into his IPL career, Devon Conway marked his return to the side with 85 not out against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday and made it back-to-back half-centuries on Wednesday night with a fluent 56. He started brightly, reverse-sweeping then sweeping Shahbaz for fours in the first over of the chase, and put on 51 for the first wicket alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad.As Royal Challengers had done, Super Kings lost their way through the middle overs against spin, and Maxwell in particular who bowled four tight overs and removed both Uthappa and Ambati Rayudu, cramping them for room from around the wicket. But with Conway there and the required rate intact, Super Kings were always in the game.Hazlewood, Harshal finish the jobdu Plessis held Harshal back until the 13th over, then ensured he would bowl three of the last five by throwing the ball to Hasaranga for the 15th. He had been expensive, hit for three sixes in his first two overs, but du Plessis’ gamble paid off: Hasaranga went full, but Conway could not clear Shahbaz at deep backward square leg.Moeen looked as though he had found his rhythm when he lofted Hasaranga’s final ball down the ground for six, but Super Kings capitulated after the time-out. Bowling his variations from around the wicket, Harshal had Jadeja well caught by Kohli off a skier and Moeen pouched at extra cover, the ball after swiping him for six over the leg side.When Hazlewood had Dhoni caught at deep midwicket with the first ball of the 19th over, the game was effectively over and his four overs had been crucial: he went for only 19 runs, bowling his hard lengths in the powerplay and at the death; Pretorius’ top-edged pull off his penultimate ball was the only boundary he conceded.

After a Player-of-the-Match performance in her comeback game, she revealed that she’s picked up advice from Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant among others

S Sudarshanan23-Jun-20223:48

Rodrigues: ‘I’ve understood my game better in last few months’

Jemimah Rodrigues has seen more ups and downs in the last couple of years of her cricket career than a rollercoaster. She was benched during the first ODI in England last year and the T20I series that followed, before missing the ODIs against Australia and returning for the T20Is Down Under. Despite impressive outings in The Women’s Hundred as well as the Women’s Big Bash, the 21-year-old missed the flight to the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year.She continued to work hard away from the spotlight and it showed as she amassed 243 runs in six matches of the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy at an average of 60.75 and a strike rate of 167.58 while captaining Mumbai to the quarter-finals. She then followed it up with attention-grabbing performances in the Women’s T20 Challenge.Related

• WBBL: Jemimah Rodrigues moves from Renegades to Stars for 2022-23 season

• Rodrigues: 'My game is not very flashy, but I don't have to be someone else'

• Harmanpreet: 'When I lead, I feel more involved in the game'

• Navgire, Meghana, Rodrigues knocks provide relevance to Women's T20 Challenge ahead of big-ticket season

• Rodrigues, spinners script comfortable win to put India 1-0 up

Playing her first international match since October 2021, Rodrigues contributed a crucial knock of 36 not out off just 27 balls against Sri Lanka in the first T20I in Dambulla to help India start their tour with a win.”My height is the same but mental thing has changed a lot. In the last few years, from the last Sri Lanka tour, the journey hasn’t been very smooth and there have been a lot of ups and downs,” Rodrigues said after her Player-of-the-Match performance.”I also had the opportunity in the last few months to talk with cricketers like Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant and others. They actually told that these moments define you and prepare you for something greater that’s coming. If you look at it [in a] negative way it is not going to help. But these are the moments that define you as a cricketer. I was blessed to speak to them and some of our team-mates.”I have become calmer in this time and have understood the value of having good relationships… my family who have been there. The last few months have helped me understand even my game better. This is the cricketer’s life – nobody’s life is smooth and what I am learning is to get better every time.”Her entry on Thursday was sandwiched between the dismissals of set batters Shafali Verma and Harmanpreet Kaur on a slow pitch that was not conducive to strokeplay. The ball was not coming on to the bat and the spinners, led by the experienced Inoka Ranaweera, were making merry in stifling the batters.But Rodrigues wasted little time and got going off the fifth ball she faced, dabbing it past the wicketkeeper against Ranaweera. The confidence was back.Jemimah Rodrigues got going with a late-cut boundary off Inoka Ranaweera•Sri Lanka Cricket

“I am back in the Indian team after 4-5 months. I was very pumped up today and wanted to give my best,” she said. “Anytime you wear the India jersey you are naturally pumped up and this is something that always works for me. I love to be aggressive.”After getting the late-cut first boundary, I felt much more confident because I was a bit nervous coming back in after a long time. That boundary got me going.”The steer past the keeper aside, Rodrigues used the sweep shot – both conventional and slog – to good effect against the spin to score freely, playing just eight dot balls during her stay. She played the sweep on seven occasions and scored 14 runs with the shot.Rodrigues, who averages over 75 and has a strike rate in excess of 150 in T20Is in Sri Lanka, credited the conditions in Mumbai – where she comes from – for her success in the island nation.”These are very similar tracks to [the ones] back in Mumbai,” she said. “In Mumbai, you get the turning tracks, slow tracks, and I am a good sweeper of the ball because of that. So being in Mumbai has helped me tackle these conditions and adjust my game to these conditions.”India scored 53 off the last five overs of their innings and that was all thanks to the unconquered 32-run stand between Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma, which included a 20-run final over. Apart from four boundaries, the partnership involved a lot of chuckles and cheering as the momentum shifted from Sri Lanka towards India.”Deepti coming in and hitting those three consecutive boundaries removed all the pressure,” she said about the allrounder’s eight-ball 17, “because firstly it wasn’t an easy wicket to bat especially for a new batter coming in and getting those boundaries was where the momentum changed and our bowlers got a target to bowl freely.”The chuckles were about ‘Shot Deepti! Let’s go!’ whenever she hit. And [when I ended] it off with a six, Deepti started cheering for me and the roles changed, but it was fun.”

Joe Root, with a career-high 923 rating points, is now at No. 19 on the list of the highest-rated batters in Test history

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jul-2022Jonny Bairstow and Rishabh Pant, the standout batting stars of the Edgbaston Test, have burst into the top ten of the ICC men’s Test player rankings – Bairstow at tenth place and Pant at a career-best No. 5. The unbeaten century in the second innings didn’t hurt Joe Root’s cause either, as he consolidated his position at the top of the table, that too with 923 rating points, his best.Bairstow was the Player of the Match following innings of 106 and 114 not out in England’s seven-wicket win, which helped them square the five-match Test series 2-2. That made it four centuries in his last three Tests for him, and he moved up 11 places to No. 10. He has 1218 runs at an average of 55.36 with six centuries in the current World Test Championship cycle.With Bairstow moving up, Virat Kohli, who only managed scores of 11 and 20 at Edgbaston, fell four spots to No. 13. This is the first time since 2016 that Kohli has not featured in the top ten in Test cricket. As for Bairstow, it was a continuation of his stunning rise in recent weeks. Prior to the New Zealand Test series in June, he was ranked 47th. Now, he is back in the top ten for the first time since 2018.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Root, who collaborated with Bairstow in an unbroken 269-run stand that took England over the line against India and scored an unbeaten 142 himself – to go with 31 in the first innings – stretched his lead at the top of the table to 44 ratings points over second-placed Marnus Labuschagne. Root is now also among the top 20 highest-rated batters in Test history, at No. 19.Steven Smith and Babar Azam were at three and four respectively, with Pant at five. Pant was the main performer with the bat for India in the Test, hitting 146 in the first innings and 57 in the second. That took him up six places from No. 11.Two bowlers who gained in the latest rankings update were James Anderson and Nathan Lyon. Anderson picked up six wickets at Edgbaston, including 5 for 60 in the first innings, to move up one spot to sixth among Test bowlers. And Lyon, who picked up nine wickets in the first Test in Sri Lanka, has risen five spots to 13th.

Full rankings tables

• Click here for the full team rankings

• Click here for the full player rankings

There was also a new top-tenner in the men’s T20I bowling rankings: Akeal Hosein. Hosein has returned 1 for 22 and 1 for 27 in the two T20Is at home against Bangladesh so far – the first ended in a no-result because of the weather and West Indies won the second by 35 runs. That has given him a jump of ten spots, and a joint-eighth position with Maheesh Theekshana.Papua New Guinea’s Norman Vanua’s impressive all-round showing in the T20I series in Singapore, meanwhile, has put him in the top ten among allrounders in the format. He hit 20 and picked up 2 for 30 in the first game, and scored 71 and returned 1 for 33 in the second, moving ten places to No. 9 as a result.

Individual bests abound as little-known young players take chances

ECB Reporters Network19-Aug-2022Taylor Cornall came within three runs of his maiden List A century to lead Worcestershire Rapids to a second win in 48 hours as they overcame Essex Eagles by seven wickets in a Royal London Cup encounter at New Road.Cornall, a left-handed batter in his first season with Worcestershire, followed his 61 in the victory over Northamptonshire with another excellent contribution as the Rapids chased down a 280 target with eight balls to spare.He shared in a decisive second wicket stand of 158 in 28 overs with Gareth Roderick who hit his maiden List A half century for Worcestershire.Cornall was eventually lbw to Luc Benkenstein on 97 but Jake Libby and Ed Barnard saw the Rapids, who had lost their opening five games, over the finishing line during an unbroken stand of 57.Seventeen-year-old Robin Das, and Benkenstein, aged 20, had also achieved their highest scores in competition with 63 and 55 respectively.
Worcestershire captain, Jake Libby, opted to bat and Ben Gibbon made the first breakthrough when Josh Rymell drove at the left armer and edged to Ed Pollock at first slip.Essex captain Tom Westley went into the game as his leading run-scorer in the competition with 335 but he went lbw first ball against Dillon Pennington in the next over.Related

• The Hundred don't want him but Steven Eskinazi can't stop scoring

• Lancashire tower in Blackpool as Keaton Jennings sets new heights

• Tom Bevan's maiden hundred stops Hampshire in their tracks

• Ben Geddes' efforts come to naught as Tom Price triumphs in breathless finale

Grant Roelofsen and Feroze Khushi, Essex’s other in-form batters, scored freely in adding 55 in nine overs. But Tongue came into the attack and was rewarded when Roelofsen on 31 went across his stumps and was caught down keeper Ben Cox down the legside.There was more joy for Tongue when Khushi (43) went to pull a delivery that came onto him quicker than expected and Cox running back held onto another legside chance.Worcestershire were firmly in the ascendancy when Nick Browne was run out by Barnard’s direct hit at the non-striker’s after he had turned Pennington to point and set off for a single.Essex were then 132 for 5 and Benkenstein on three had a let off when he inside edged Tongue on his return to the attack and Cox was unable to hold onto the chance.It was a rare error by Cox whose two catches today lifted his dismissals in all cricket to the 600 mark.Tongue’s permitted quota of eight over for his comeback match resulted in encouraging figures of 8-0-41-2.Benkenstein also survived a sharp chance to Barnard at midwicket off Libby and he and Das brought about an Essex recovery during a stand of 83 in 13 overs. It took a good catch by Pollock running around to deep midwicket to break the stand after Das aimed a big blow at Barnard. His List A best 63 off 64 balls contained nine boundaries.Gibbon struck for the second time as Aron Nijjar picked out Tongue at mid on and then Pennington took a good at midwicket to dismiss Benkenstein off his own bowling after he attempted a hook. His 55 was also his best score in List A cricket and came from 59 deliveries with seven boundaries.
It became two wickets in two balls for Pennington as Jamal Richards was bowled after playing an expansive drive before some late blows by Shane Snater lifted the final total to 279 for 9.Pollock, recalled in place of the injured Azhar Ali, got the Rapids innings off to a flying start and hit Snater over midwicket for six. He made 34 from 25 balls out of 50 before he pushed forward to Jamal Richards and was bowled.Cornall was joined by Gareth Roderick and the pair batted with great authority and kept the score moving along at the required rate throughout. Cornall raced to a 59 ball half century with Roderick needed only six more deliveries to reach his maiden List A fifty. Seamers and spinners alike were not allowed to settle although Cornall had a life on 67 when he was dropped at midwicket off Toole.Roderick was full of improvisation, twice reverse sweeping Westley for boundaries, but the same stroke eventually brought about his downfall on 76 from 85 balls. He picked out Jamal Richards at point off Benkenstein to end a partnership of 158 in 28 overs with Cornall.All eyes were now on Cornall to see if he could reach three figures but he fell agonisingly short when lbw to Benkenstein and left the field to a standing ovation.

ECB efforts to add an extra day rebuffed due to South Africa’s scheduled departure on Tuesday

Vithushan Ehantharajah09-Sep-2022The third Test between England and South Africa will resume on Saturday “to pay tribute” to Queen Elizabeth II. However, there will be no extension of the Test, with South Africa set to depart from the UK on Tuesday.Following the death of the Queen, day two at the Kia Oval was cancelled as a mark of respect, along with all scheduled matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Following conversations with government, the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and between the ECB and CSA, it was agreed to continue the Test match. England women’s T20I match against India at Durham will also go ahead on Saturday evening.The game will resume on day three, following a first-day washout and then the suspension of Friday’s play, with England bowling having won the toss.Related

• Third Test 'like a World Cup final' – Dean Elgar

• First day washed out after England win toss, South Africa ring changes

• Test suspended in mark of respect following death of Queen

“Cricket will resume on Saturday to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and honour her remarkable life and service,” read an ECB statement.”Following the cancellation of Friday’s cricket fixtures as a mark of respect on announcement of her death, the England and Wales Cricket Board can confirm that play will resume from Saturday including international, domestic, and recreational fixtures. The decision has been taken after consultation with DCMS and in line with Official National Mourning guidance.”This means the Men’s Test match between England and South Africa will begin at The Oval and the Women’s IT20 match between England and India will also go ahead at the Riverside in Durham. The scheduled match between England and Sri Lanka Men’s U19 along with recreational cricket fixtures will also take place as planned.”Before each match, a minute’s silence will be observed followed by the national anthem. All players and coaches will wear black armbands. Branded inventory will be replaced with messaging paying cricket’s respects to the Queen.The ECB had been hopeful of extending the Test match into Tuesday to ensure four days of play. However, CSA chief executive Pholetsi Moseki confirmed to ESPNcricinfo the tourists would stick to their original itinerary ahead of leaving for a limited-overs tour of India on September 23.”Yes we have lost a day,” Moseki said. “The team was part of the decision, considering that they are due to fly to India a few days later after their return.”In an official statement, Moseki added: “CSA is in full support of the ECB’s decision to go ahead with the third Test match between England and South Africa following the UK’s day of mourning. After consultation with the Proteas’ team management and given the schedule ahead, it was clear that it would not be in the players’ interests to extend the Test and reduce the few days the players have with their families before another long tour.”There was cautious optimism on Friday morning that the Test would continue. The ECB was part of a 9.30am DCMS meeting with other national sporting bodies whereby the advice given was to make their own individual decisions. A government spokesperson said: “There is no requirement, or obligation, to cancel or postpone events or sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues, during this period. It’s at the discretion of individual organisations.”They may wish to consider cancelling or postponing, particularly on the day of the state funeral, but they are under no obligation to do so.”Following that meeting, sources at the ECB and Surrey County Cricket Club, where the match is being hosted, were confident the game was likely to continue. The only sticking point seemed to be whether the resumption on Saturday would be “day two” or “day three”. The former would have required South Africa to move back their flight home, originally scheduled for Tuesday.