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Former Warwickshire batsman Andy Moles has been put in charge of South African provincial team South Western Districts (SWD) for the next two seasons

Firdose Moonda25-May-2016Former Warwickshire batsman Andy Moles has been put in charge of South African provincial team South Western Districts (SWD) for the next two seasons. Moles, who had coached New Zealand, Hong Kong, Scotland, Kenya and Afghanistan in the past, has a long-standing association with South African cricket, having spent five seasons playing at Griqualand-West in Kimberley and coaching Free State.Moles was in charge of the Free State side, which included players such as Boeta Dippenaar, Nicky Boje and Morne van Wyk, in 1998 – before South Africa’s domestic system was franchised. Then, he coached at the highest domestic level in the country.He has now accepted a post in the second tier of the structure. South Africa’s six franchises form the top level of domestic cricket, with the 13 provincial semi-professional sides making up a lower level. SWD, who are based in Oudtshoorn – 350 kilometres east of Cape Town – feed into the Cobras set-up and contain a rich basin of cricketing talent that Moles hopes to tap into.”I have followed the structures and growth in SWD during the past decade and I firmly believe that there is a pool of exceptional talent in the Southern Cape,” Moles said.In 2013, SWD were granted CSA affiliate status and they have continued to grow since then. Their home ground has received major upgrades, and this summer, they are one of the four hosts of the Africa T0 Cup, which will also be Moles’ first assignment. Last year, SWD missed out on a place in the playoffs after beating Gauteng and losing to Kenya by one run. However, they are hoping to improve on those performances this time around and challenge in the three-day and one-day cups as well.”Andy has achieved great success at every level he has coached at and we expect that he will continue to achieve such success at SWD upon his appointment as our new head coach,” Rudy Claassen, the SWD president, said. “We believe that he has what it takes to get the best out of our players as he brings something special with him in that he has a proven track record, and hopefully his experience and expertise aids in SWD winning some silverware in the near future.”

Pace bowler Mark Footitt and opening batsman Billy Godleman guided Derbyshire to a seven-wicket win over Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Press Association29-Apr-2015
ScorecardMark Footitt took six second-innings wickets•PA Photos

Pace bowler Mark Footitt and opening batsman Billy Godleman guided Derbyshire to a seven-wicket win over Gloucestershire at Bristol.Footitt took three of the last four Gloucestershire wickets to fall on the final day to finish with 6 for 94 and a match haul of 9 for 166. Hamish Marshall, with 79, and James Fuller, who made 51, put on 94 for the seventh Gloucestershire wicket, but both were dismissed by Footitt as the hosts were bowled out for 411.Set 142 to win in a minimum of 53 overs, Godelman made 51 as Derbyshire secured their first four-day victory of the summer and handed Gloucestershire their first defeat.Gloucestershire began the day on 253 for 6 and a draw did not look out of the question as Marshall and Fuller took advantage of good batting conditions.

Floodlights approved

Gloucestershire have been granted planning permission to install floodlights at Bristol after the city council approved plans on review.
Floodlights were essential for Bristol to stage World Cup matches in 2019, of which they have been allocated three games, and further international cricket.
“This decision finally allows us to realise our ambitions to bring international cricket to Bristol,” Will Brown, Gloucestershire chief executive said.
“We would like to thank everyone who has helped us develop these plans, particularly our neighbours whom we have continued to work with since February.
“We will continue to work with them and officers to ensure the Floodlight Management Plan is in place before we start using the lights.
“We will now work towards installing the lights ahead of the start of the 2016 season.”

Fuller dominated the stand with nine fours in his 76-ball half-century, most of which were driven through the covers. He was eventually undone by a perfect inswinger from Footitt, which clipped the top of middle and off stumps.Marshall’s four hours of resistance ended two overs later when he fell victim to Martin Guptill’s third brilliant catch of the innings, as the New Zealander snaffled a square drive from Marshall high above his head at backward point.Craig Miles and Liam Norwell added 45 for the ninth wicket before the innings was wrapped up shortly after lunch. Norwell edged a drive to wickeketkeeper Harvey Hosein to give Footitt his sixth wicket, before Matt Taylor fell to another backward point catch by Guptill, this time off Shiv Thakor. Miles was left unbeaten on 31, having struck five fours.Godleman and Ben Slater ensured Derbyshire’s victory chase would be a straightforward one with an opening stand of 81, in which Godleman played much more freely than his fellow left-hander. Slater fell for 25 when he carved a delivery from Norwell to Will Tavare at point. From the next ball, Godelman edged Taylor to Chris Dent at second slip, having struck seven fours in his 62-ball innings.Derbyshire skipper Wayne Madsen joined first-innings double centurion Guptill in the middle and pair upped the tempo with a stand of 52 in six overs. Guptill, who hit 11 sixes in the first innings, struck three more in his unbeaten 31, all of which came in an over from Fuller.Madsen cracked five fours in his 20 before Fuller had him caught at second slip by Dent with nine runs required. But the win was duly completed by Wes Durston.”It was a tough final day and, to be fair, I thought they played really well today and yesterday,” Derbyshire captain Wayne Madsen said. “We had to toil hard and we were a bit disappointing in the first hour. But we came back strongly just before lunch and picked up a couple of wickets, which were crucial. Footie bowled with exceptional pace to get those wickets and then I thought we were quite clinical in the way we went about knocking the runs off.”Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson said: “The last two days we showed character, the first two days we didn’t. We needed to get more runs in the first innings. We got into a position where we should have got 300-plus and then we’ve dropped catches again when Derbyshire batted, which didn’t help us, and we didn’t put the ball in the right areas for a long enough time. Those are the bare facts. I can’t fault the last two days, but we need to improve in first innings cricket.”

A third successive evening game in the Champions League Twenty20 was washed out today, in Durban

The Report by Abhishek Purohit19-Oct-2012
ScorecardRain seems to be following the IPL sides wherever they go. A third successive evening game in the Champions League Twenty20 was washed out today, in Durban. While some play had been possible in the previous no-results, even the toss could not take place at Kingsmead as a persistent, but not heavy, drizzle set in. It was Delhi Daredevils’ turn to be satisfied with two points, after Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians on the previous two evenings.While the rain had knocked Knight Riders out, and left Mumbai Indians hoping for a Yorkshire win against Lions, it did not impact Daredevils’ chances as much. They were still placed second on the points table, behind Titans, and ahead on net run-rate of Auckland Aces, who also pocketed two points.

Eoin Morgan has been ruled out of England’s five-match ODI tour of India, which gets underway next month

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2011Eoin Morgan has been ruled out of England’s five-match ODI tour of India, which gets underway next month, after it was confirmed by the ECB that he is to undergo surgery to correct a long-standing shoulder problem.Morgan’s absence will be a big blow to England on the slow and spin-friendly tracks of India, where his unique ability to create and work gaps in the field would have been invaluable. He was withdrawn from the squad for the home series against India ahead of the second ODI at the Rose Bowl earlier this week, after feeling “acute” pain during the Twenty20 international at Old Trafford.”After seeing a specialist today it has been confirmed that Eoin will require surgery to his right shoulder with the likelihood of repairing a chronic SLAP lesion,” said the ECB chief medical officer, Nick Peirce. “We have managed the injury to date with a conservative program but Eoin has now reached the stage where surgery is most appropriate progression of his treatment.”Following the operation Eoin will undertake a rehabilitation programme ruling him out of all cricket for approximately 12 weeks. The recovery period is anticipated to see him return to full fitness ahead of England’s tour of the UAE commencing in January.”Morgan initially developed discomfort in his shoulder during the Ashes tour in the winter, but until the pain flared up during the Twenty20, it had not been a significant hindrance to his batting. The bigger problem areas had been diving and throwing from the outfield.”It’s obviously a massive loss,” said England’s captain, Alastair Cook. “He’s an outstanding player. It’s gutting news for Eoin that he has to have this operation and miss a substantial amount of cricket and an important tour. But as always, it gives someone else an opportunity.”Eoin’s been a hallmark of our batting, a fantastic middle-order finisher,” added Cook. “But someone else now gets the opportunity to do that, and if we can develop more people in that role it can only strengthen our team. We want to keep improving as a team, and need a good squad to do that.”Earlier this year Morgan suffered a finger injury during the one-day series in Australia but continued to play on after suffering the blow. By the time he was sent home two days before the end of the tour, the damage was serious enough to stop him heading to the World Cup. However, he did eventually join the tournament after Kevin Pietersen suffered his hernia.Late last month Morgan made his international captaincy debut when he led England against Ireland in Dublin and has also begun to settle himself in the middle-order of the Test side.

A half-century by Anthony McGrath guided Yorkshire into the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40 with a four-wicket win over the Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road

01-Sep-2010
ScorecardA half-century by Anthony McGrath guided Yorkshire into the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40 with a four-wicket win over the Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road.Rob White top-scored for the Steelbacks with 61 off 68 balls as they struggled in posting 204 for eight off their 40 overs, with Tim Bresnan claiming figures of 3 for 40. Yorkshire then recovered for a poor start and McGrath hammered 70 off 82 balls as they ensured victory with nine balls to spare, despite Jack Brooks taking 3 for 41.Northamptonshire won the toss and chose to bat in the sunshine and started brightly with Rob Newton reaching 35 before he was trapped lbw by Steven Patterson in the eighth over. Eighteen-year-old debutant Robert Keogh went cheaply for 11 when he smashed Patterson straight to McGrath at mid-off.Alex Wakely followed suit by sweeping Adil Rashid to the same man, who this time was standing at fine leg and David Sales, having scored 29, was pinned lbw by Rich Pyrah. Northamptonshire continued to limp along when their captain Andrew Hall saw his off stump clipped by Bresnan’s yorker.White then reached his half-century off 60 balls including one six pulled over square leg, but he eventually holed out when he launched Pyrah to Jonathan Bairstow at deep cover. James Middlebrook was bowled by Bresnan and Brooks smashed him to Pyrah at deep extra cover in the penultimate over.Chasing 205, Yorkshire got off to a terrible start when their captain, Andrew Gale was superbly caught at deep midwicket by Keogh off the bowling of Brooks, making just seven. Brooks struck again in his next over when Adam Lyth, who faced eight balls without scoring, edged to wicketkeeper David Murphy to leave the visitors on 10 for 2.Jacques Rudolph reaching a half-century off 72 balls, but he was to depart on 54 in the 24th over when he was caught behind by Murphy off young spinner Tom Brett to break up a partnership with McGrath worth 90.Yorkshire wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy (26) threw his wicket away by smashing Brooks to Hall at short midwicket. McGrath hung around to complete his half-century in 68 balls and Bairstow hammered 25 off 19 balls before launching Lee Daggett to Wakely at long-on.McGrath finally went when Hall’s delivery went under his bat and on to his off stump, before Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad, unbeaten on four and nine respectively, guided their side home.

The incumbent No. 3 will be the batter under pressure ahead into the World Test Championship final in June

Andrew McGlashan13-Feb-20252:15

Marnus in or out? Finch and Clarke pick their WTC Final XIs

Aaron Finch believes Australia should drop Marnus Labuschagne for the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s in June with his lean run having extended too far to be accommodated.Australia face some tough selection calls for the final following the recent successful debuts of Sam Konstas, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis which has led to a battle for batting spots.Related

• Green hopeful of Shield return and county cricket ahead of WTC final

• Australia emerge from Test season with flying colours and new options

• Australia face Labuschagne call amid batting squeeze

Travis Head, who opened in Sri Lanka, said he expected Konstas to regain his position at the top of the order against South Africa while Cameron Green is in the frame to play as a specialist batter as he recovers from the back surgery that ruled him out of this season.It leaves Labuschagne, who has one century in his last 51 Test innings and an average of 31.54 since the start of the 2023, under significant pressure for his spot for the first time since establishing himself in 2019.”I’ve gone with Cameron Green or Josh Inglis. They’re at No. 3,” Finch said on ESPN’s when the panel was asked to pick their XIs for the WTC final.”And the reason is, I just think that [Labuschagne’s form] is such a concern because it’s been over four series. If it’s over two or three, I think that you can say, you know what, he’s just around the corner. But the fact that it’s been four, to me, that’s a really alarming sign.Marnus Labuschagne is the Australia batter under scrutiny•Getty Images

“Josh Inglis, I think to get him into the side, he will get that opportunity. Or if Cameron Green is healthy, he just provides so much extra to that bowling line-up as well as with the batting. He’s got the ability to bat anywhere in the order.”However, Michael Clarke and Callum Ferguson retained Labuschagne in their sides for the decider although Clarke said it could be make or break.”I hope they pick him for the Test Championship [final],” Clarke said. “It’s completely different conditions against a different team. He’s played a lot of county cricket. He knows English conditions as well as anyone.”Remember, he bats in the hardest place as well. I think No. 3 is the hardest place to bat in Test cricket. You’re right, the numbers don’t tell a lie. He’s out of form. He’s due.”And to me, I reckon the Test Championship…could be his last opportunity. Going to West Indies, I would like to think that’s an opportunity to give a young player a go if Marnus makes no runs in this Test Championship. If he does, then no doubt he holds his spot because he’s been a wonderful player.”Ferguson, meanwhile, would include both Labuschagne and Green with the latter batting at No. 6 and backing for frontline bowlers.”I’m backing the four bowlers in to get the job done in a one-off hit out in a Test match,” he said. “We didn’t use Mitch Marsh a lot over the last few years. He’s been in that No. 6 position. So we’ve played effectively without that stone cold all-rounder in that position, bowling 10 overs a day. So that’s how I see it.”Stand-in captain Steven Smith backed Labuschagne to emerge for his slump, seeing similarities in how he was low on runs before making four centuries in his last five matches.”Marn’s similar to me, in a way,” Smith said. “I’ve said this a lot of times about myself, there’s a difference between being out of form and out of runs.”I don’t think he’s out of form, personally. I’ve watched him train, I’ve watched him play and a lot of the things that he’s done so well are there. He knows he’d love to score more runs, we’d love him to score more runs, but in my opinion, it’s just around the corner.”

Phillips, Latham and the bowlers combine to down Afghanistan while Warner suggests umpire’s decision stats should be shown on scoreboards

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-20231:07

Bond: Latham always ends up with contributions that matter

—Fixtures | Squads | Points table | Tournament Index

NZ keep perfect record as Afghanistan fall apart in chase of 289

After causing a major stir in the 2023 World Cup by beating defending champions England on Sunday, Afghanistan briefly harboured hopes of upsetting the 2019 runners-up too. But the New Zealand brand of professionalism and experience came to the fore once more as they managed to keep their unbeaten record intact to make it four out of four in the competition.Sent in to bat, New Zealand slipped from a comfortable 109 for 1 in the 21st over to a not-so-comfortable 110 for 4 in the space of nine balls. However, captain Tom Latham and the do-it-all man Glenn Phillips revived the innings with a 144-run stand for the fifth wicket. They were also helped by Afghanistan’s sloppiness in the field with as many as six chances – five catches and a run out – going a begging as New Zealand racked up 288 for 6.Click here for the full report

Match analysis: New Zealand’s do-it-all man Glenn Phillips shows he can play the waiting game

1:07

Bond: Pleased with how Phillips batted today

Glenn Phillips is a man of many hats. He played both hockey and football at school before becoming a professional cricketer. He is also into archery, hiking, surfing and mountain-biking. He even has a flight simulator back home and dreams of becoming a commercial pilot after he finishes his sporting career.Phillips is also New Zealand’s do-it-all man on the cricketing field. He has opened the batting alongside Rachin Ravindra in Under-19 cricket. He can tee off from the get-go in the middle order. He can finish an innings. He can also keep wicket, though a back condition has somewhat restricted that skill. His outfielding skills need no introduction. He can also bowl quickish offspin. He is also an innovator.Click here to read the full analysis from Deivarayan Muthu in Chennai

Must Watch: Did Afghanistan make a big mistake at the toss?

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Deep Dasgupta’s advice to Afghanistan: ‘Bat first and back your bowlers’

News headlines

• Afghanistan’s head coach Jonathan Trott lamented Afghanistan’s sloppy catching against New Zealand and urged them to improve on that front.
• David Warner has called for greater umpire accountability and has vented his frustration at the ball-tracking technology following his lbw dismissal in Australia’s win over Sri Lanka in Lucknow on Monday.