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The captain marked his return to international cricket with a crucial 78, as New Zealand made light work of a chase of 246

Mohammad Isam13-Oct-20231:36

Why is Lockie Ferguson’s form important for New Zealand?

Kane Williamson resumed international cricket by doing , scoring a precise 78 against Bangladesh. He shepherded New Zealand close to the eight-wicket win, but couldn’t quite see the chase through, as he left the field retired hurt in the 39th over. Daryl Mitchell got New Zealand home with 43 balls to spare, putting the seal on the team’s dominating start to this World Cup.Williamson missed seven months of competitive cricket due to a right knee injury he sustained during last season’s IPL, and his World Cup return was thought to be improbable at the time. Even when he was named in the New Zealand side as their captain, he was expected to miss the initial stages of the competition. But not only did he return sooner than expected, Williamson showed little drop in quality, as he went through the gears against Bangladesh.Related

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• And just like that, Williamson is back, bringing the warm glow of the familiar

• Bangladesh hoping to bat with 'courage, open-mindedness and freedom'

Williamson struck ten fours and a six in his 108-ball 78, eventually going off with cramps. More than his innings, Williamson’s biggest contribution was to add to two sizable partnerships. First, he made 82 for the second wicket with Devon Conway after New Zealand lost an early wicket. Then alongside Mitchell, he added 108 runs for the third wicket. It made the chase an easy one for New Zealand as they won with plenty to spare.At the start of New Zealand’s 246-run chase, Bangladesh gave their fans some hope when Mustafizur Rahman removed the high-flying Rachin Ravindra, opening for the first time in ODIs, in the third over. Mustafizur produced a second chance shortly afterwards when Conway, batting on 4, drove away from his body, only for Mehidy Hasan Miraz to drop the chance at point. It was a difficult diving chance, but that one sticking could have charged up Bangladesh.Soon after the reprieve, Conway struck Shoriful Islam for two fours to break free. Williamson then took his turn on Shoriful, cracking him over point and through point and cover in the 10th over. Then, it was Taskin who went for two fours in the 13th over, before he dropped Williamson at short midwicket when the New Zealand captain was on 27.Shakib, who suffered that drop, broke the second-wicket stand when he trapped Conway lbw for 45 off 59 balls. Conway’s attempted reverse sweep went awry as he missed the shot, hitting his back leg. The Conway wicket however did little to help the Bangladesh cause as the next batter, Mitchell, immediately picked up the pace.Daryl Mitchell plays a reverse sweep during his half-century•R. Satish Babu / AFP / Getty

He opened his account with a six off Shakib, before Williamson lifted his opposite number over long-on for his first six. Williamson continued to find the odd boundary for the next ten overs, hitting Shakib and Mehidy for four more boundaries before Mitchell got back into action with a stinging pull off Taskin, followed by two straight sixes off Shakib and Taskin.Even after Williamson called off his innings in the 39th over, Mitchell went after the Bangladesh bowling till the chase was completed in the 43rd over. Mitchell smashed six fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 67-ball 89.Earlier, when Williamson put Bangladesh to bat first, it took them little time to fall into their familiar top-order slide. Litton Das clipped the first ball of the innings, from Trent Boult, right into Matt Henry’s lap at fine-leg. It was a well-timed shot that he met after coming down the track but he tried it on a difficult angle with the bat. Litton became only the second Bangladeshi opener to fall in the first ball of a World Cup match, the previous being Hannan Sarkar against Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas in 2003.Tanzid Hasan produced four boundaries in a quick recovery partnership with Mehidy, but the rookie left-hander once again fell on 16. It was a tame dismissal when Tanzid clipped a ball to short square-leg in the eighth over.A third soft dismissal followed in the 12th over when Mehidy pulled Lockie Ferguson into fine-leg’s lap for 30. He struck three superb cover drives in his 46-ball stay but once again, Bangladesh sent him to a batting position which usually takes a bit of time to getting used to.New Zealand reduced Bangladesh to 56 for 4 in the next over when part-timer Glenn Philips had the in-form Najmul Hossain Shanto hit to midwicket. Conway took a tumbling catch but Bangladesh regrouped through their most experienced pair.Mahmudullah gave the ball a good bash towards the end of Bangladesh’s innings•Associated Press

Shakib and Mushfiqur added 96 runs in almost even time by pressing back at the New Zealand side. Mushfiqur wasted little time by hammering Philips with his favoured slog sweep for a six. Two more Mushfiqur fours later, Shakib pulled Henry before smashing Mitchell Santner for a straight four. Mushfiqur hit Ferguson for his second six, over third man, as Bangladesh looked to be on the road to recovery.Shortly after Mushfiqur reached his fifty though, Shakib cramped up. After taking a bit of medical attention, the Bangladesh captain took off his helmet as he smashed Ravindra for a straight four and a six over midwicket. He added another six off Ferguson but he was out next ball, again trying to slog the fast bowler.Mushfiqur followed him back shortly afterwards, though the Henry delivery that bowled him kept really low. It was still a valiant knock given that he had walked in with the task of reviving Bangladesh’s innings.Tohwid Hridoy, now batting out of position at No 7, couldn’t kick on so it was left to Mahmudullah, batting at No 8 for the first time in 13 years, to ensure a decent finish. He ensured Bangladesh batted out the 50 overs, himself remaining unbeaten on 41, but it was still a sub-par team score.

World Cup-winning captain to call time on era-defining seven-and-a-half-year reign

Matt Roller27-Jun-2022Eoin Morgan is expected to step down as England’s white-ball captain and retire from international cricket on Tuesday after seven-and-a-half years in charge.Morgan was appointed in 2014 and has spearheaded England’s revolution in limited-overs cricket, transforming the one-day sides and leading them to their first World Cup in 2019, but his form and fitness have left him considering his future.He has been unable to play games on back-to-back days this year due to regular muscle injuries in his right leg, and missed Wednesday’s third ODI against the Netherlands with a “groin niggle” after consecutive ducks in the first two games of the series.The reported on Sunday night that Morgan was considering his future and he looks set to announce his international retirement. Jos Buttler, who has regularly deputised as captain, is expected to replace him.”He obviously feels like he’s done with international cricket,” Moeen Ali told the BBC’s Test Match Special, “and the team for him still comes first, which just shows how unselfish he is. He’s done a remarkable job and he’s the best we’ve ever had, for sure.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“It is and it isn’t [a surprise] at the same time. It is because of the World Cup not being too far away at the end of the summer and he for us is our perfect leader. He’s done an amazing job, he knows what it takes to win. It’s a shame, it’s strange to comprehend the side without him at the moment. Obviously things move on and you kind of get used to it, but it is sad.”And I’m not surprised at the same time because he’s a very selfless person and he’s thinking about the team more than anything. We’ve been so strong over the years and he probably himself feels like his time is done and he’s given enough time for Jos or whoever the captain is going to be to embed his way.”Morgan enjoyed some of the best form of his career in 2019 and 2020 but his returns have nose-dived in the last 18 months. He has scored a single half-century in 48 innings across domestic and international white-ball cricket since the start of 2021 and failed to score a run in two innings against the Netherlands.It remains to be seen whether Morgan will remain involved with the set-up in some capacity under Matthew Mott, the new white-ball head coach, and whether he will retire from all cricket or continue to play in franchise leagues.Moeen has also deputised for Morgan on occasion, but threw his support behind Buttler. “The great thing is he has captained before,” he said. “Obviously when Morgs doesn’t play, Jos captains when he’s playing and he’s got extreme experience now. He’s been around the world playing franchise cricket and he’s been part of this whole journey. He knows what it takes and he’s tactically fantastic.”Reacting to the news ahead of the final day’s play of the Headingley Test, Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, told Sky Sports:
“Eoin Morgan has been the most influential white-ball cricketer England have ever had. He’s been our best white-ball captain, and he has been a fantastic player. And he gave us the best moment in English white-ball cricket that we’ve ever had, at Lord’s. It was an incredible day, an incredible finale, and a lot of it was down to the skipper.”

Captain is very confident in the way her players have trained ahead of series against South Africa

Annesha Ghosh06-Mar-20213:23

Mithali Raj – ‘It’s time we started our campaign for the 2022 World Cup’

When India face South Africa in the ODI series opener in Lucknow on Sunday, they would be taking the field after a 364-day gap in international cricket. South Africa, on the other hand, have had two full limited-overs series – of three ODIs and as many T20Is each, against Pakistan – during this period. Mithali Raj, the India ODI captain who is 85 away from 10,000 runs in international cricket, would herself be turning out in India colours after 487 days. With the next ODI World Cup in 12 months, Raj, 38, is hopeful that both she and the team will be able to get in into “rhythm” quick enough to challenge South Africa, whom they have faced more times than they have any other opponent since the 2017 ODI World Cup.”I am training the same way I do before any international series. But I am really looking forward to getting more runs. I was in rhythm in the last seriesm against West Indies, in 2019. Hope to do the same here,” Raj, senior-most player in the ODI side, said at a virtual press conference on the eve of the first of the ODI in Lucknow.”This series is very important for two reasons. We have young players, and it is the right platform to give them opportunities in the home conditions. At the same time, it is important to see that the core players get enough game-time to get out there and develop their rhythm, come together and set our standards out there and take it from there,” she said.Related

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In the six games between the two sides, played across two-match bilateral series, since the 2017 50-over World Cup, India, runners-up in that edition, lost only once to South Africa, semi-finalists in that competition. But South Africa have the advantage of more game time under their belt since the 2020 T20 World Cup in March last year, several of their players even playing a domestic T20 tournament in December following the Covid-19-enforced cancellation of the national team’s England tour. By contrast, the India cricketers have had the four-match Women’s T20 Challenge in November as their only opportunity of playing any top-flight competitive cricket in the whole past year.Raj believes that India’s preparations in the lead-up to the series, including the three training sessions they’ve had in Lucknow over four days since completing a five-day quarantine on March 2 – would hold them in good stead.”Clearly they’ve had game time, but we are playing after a gap. Having said that we definitely have put in the efforts, trained ourselves, have these short camps, four days of sessions here,” Raj said. “It doesn’t look like we are rusty or anything. I think the girls clearly are quite excited to get on the field and start putting our best performances because it’s time that we start our campaign for the World Cup, and start playing some cricket.”The girls have been training in their respective places before coming here. During the lockdown, we have all kept in touch and kept up with our routines via Zoom and other apps. We are communicating with the staff. It’s no different in that sense. A lot has gone in the mental set-up because it has been a long gap.”This series is very important for two reasons. We have young players, and it is the right platform to give them opportunities in the home conditions. At the same time, it is important to see that the core players get enough game-time to get out there and develop their rhythm, come together and set our standards out there and take it from there.”From the start of 2017 until November 6, 2019, when India last played the format, they scored 240 runs or more only nine times out of 22 instances while batting first. Among the top eight-ranked ODI teams, India’s tally in this regard is only the fifth-best, with South Africa one place above them.India kicked off their 2017 ODI World Cup preparations with a 50-over game on February 7, 2017. Their last appearance in the format was on November 6, 2019•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Raj said that while India would look to put on about 250 runs when batting first on the Ekana pitch, the priority for the home team in the first match would be to regain lost momentum.”Clearly, coming back into the one-dayers after 15 months, we first look forward to developing a rhythm, a momentum,” Raj said. “If it’s a good batting track, we definitely look forward to around 240-250. It’s something we can start aiming at. But if we get a good start may be, you know, push beyond.””But again, it all depends on how we take the first game, the wicket. But as on today, the girls seem to be very confident. We’ve had some very good sessions. So, clearly, I’m looking at a very confident unit to take the field tomorrow.The South Africa assignment is also the first time since July 2015, when they squared off against New Zealand at home, that India would be playing five ODIs in a bilateral series. Raj said that the length of series might allow her to field the four uncapped players – left-hand batter Yastika Bhatia, legspin-bowling allrounder C Prathyusha, left-arm medium pacer Monica Patel, and wicketkeeper Sweta Verma – named in the 17-member ODI squad.”[I am] Definitely [considering the possibility of trying them out], because it’s a five-ODI series. We have some young players in the side. As captain I would like to give them opportunities to show their talent, so yes, we’re definitely looking forward to giving them opportunities in these five ODIs.”She also explained that though 17-year-old Shafali Verma, the batter with the most runs – 163 – for India and the best strike rate – 158 – among those with 50 runs or more across teams in the 2020 T20 World Cup, was picked only for the T20Is against South Africa, a debut in the 50-over format may not be far away.”She definitely is in the scheme of things, she is on the radar. We need to have a little bit of patience and we will see her very soon,” Raj said, smiling.

Sialkot Stallions, who won 25 consecutive games between 2006 and 2010, remain on top of the list

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-2019Sialkot Stallions, 25 wins, 2006-10
Competition: National T20 CupLong before Shoaib Malik became a sought-after allrounder in T20 leagues around the world, he was a serial match-winner for his regional T20 side in Pakistan: Sialkot Stallions. Stallions’ stunning streak comprised five consecutive National T20 Cup titles, a feat unlikely to be bettered given how competitive the circuit has become in modern times. If the low-profile nature of a domestic T20 competition makes it sound like a mean feat, its superlative nature is emphasised by the fact that no other T20 side has come anywhere close in the decade since then.With a core comprising players who featured in Pakistan’s run to the inaugural World T20 final in 2007 – Malik, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Asif and Abdur Rehman – they were clinical in dispatching all comers through that five-year run. A significant part of their winning streak came under Nazir’s leadership, when they won all 13 of their games between 2006 and 2009. Stallions’ streak made them the first Pakistan side to be invited to the Champions League, in 2012, where they did not make it past the abbreviated qualifying stage. They would go on to win the 2011-12 edition under Malik, but that was the end of their golden age.Karnataka, 15 wins, 2018-19
Competition: Syed Mushtaq Ali TrophyIt is rare in any T20 competition these days for a side to go through an entire tournament without being beaten, but that’s exactly what Karnataka did in the 2018-19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s domestic T20 competition, away from the glitz and hype of the IPL. While they are blessed with a number of players who have made the step up to India colours, it was Karnataka’s youngsters who stepped up through the tournament. The tournament’s top run-getter Rohan Kadam and their highest wicket-taker V Koushik were both stars from the local Karnataka Premier League, while big names like Mayank Agarwal, Manish Pandey and Karun Nair stepped up in big games towards the business end.The 2019-20 edition of the tournament kicked off on Friday, and there was no change in the team’s attitude – ruthless and clinical – as they ran out nine-wicket victors in Visakhapatnam. Abhimanyu Mithun and Shreyas Gopal picked up two wickets each to stop Uttarakhand at 132 for 6, and Kadam, continuing his own streak, hit 67 not out and Devdutt Padikkal, another promising youngster, hit 53 not out to seal the chase in 15.4 overs. Luck ran out against Baroda, though, as captain Kedar Devdhar’s quick half-century and left-arm quick Meriwala’s five-wicket haul trumped Karnataka.Otago, 15 wins, 2012-13
Competitions: New Zealand Domestic T20 (HRV Cup), Champions League T20Otago, led by the vastly experienced Derek de Boorder, were a cut above the rest of the teams in the six-team competition at home, starting with a 24-run loss to Northern Districts but then recording nine consecutive wins in the league stage and then topping Wellington by four wickets in the final.That took their streak to ten in a row, which they extended to 15 after reaching India later in 2013 for the Champions League T20 tournament.They started in the qualifiers. First up, Brendon McCullum hit a 65-ball 83 not out to give them victory against Faisalabad Wolves, then came a Ryan ten Doeschate starrer, as he picked up two wickets and then smashed 64 in 32 balls in a big win over Kandurata Maroons, and the other McCullum, Nathan, then led a brilliant bowling display to give Otago victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.All those games were played in Mohali, and Otago made it 14 when they beat Perth Scorchers in Jaipur in the main competition next, Neil Broom’s 117 not out in 56 balls leading their cause. It could have been tricky for them had their match against eventual champions Mumbai Indians – before the one against the Scorchers – not been washed out, but they did go on to win the one-over eliminator against Lions to get to 15 after that before going down to Rajasthan Royals.Kolkata Knight Riders, 14 wins, 2014
Competitions: Indian Premier League, Champions League T20Kolkata Knight Riders were down and out in IPL 2014 with four points after seven matches when the tournament’s most storied winning streak began. Away from their familiar home conditions at Eden Gardens till the 47th game of the tournament, thanks to the 2014 parliamentary elections, they struggled to get going, first in the UAE and then at different makeshift venues around the country. Robin Uthappa, shifted up to the top of the order, smashed his way to the top of the run chart, Morne Morkel and Umesh Yadav led the pace attack, while the spinners – Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan and Piyush Chawla – starred with the ball to revive their winning formula.If they were unstoppable in the latter stages of the IPL, their continued dominance in the Champions League makes the case for this to be the most comprehensive winning streak in T20 franchise history. They beat the champions of Australia (Perth Scorchers), Pakistan (Lahore Lions) and South Africa’s second-best team (Dolphins) on their way to the final, where Chennai Super Kings ended their run at 14 games.

Yorkshire’s interest in Liam Plunkett lapsed the moment he accepted a late IPL deal, leaving Surrey to offer him a three-year contract

David Hopps26-Jul-2018Liam Plunkett has signed a three-year deal with Surrey and will leave Yorkshire at the end of the season after becoming the first casualty of the IPL rivalry to England’s county gamePlunkett’s future at Yorkshire was thrown into question on the eve of the season when he accepted a last-minute offer to go to the IPL as a replacement for the injured South African quick Kagiso Rabada at Delhi Daredevils.His departure, plus that of his team-mate David Willey, who also won a late deal with Chennai Super Kings, severely weakened Yorkshire in the early part of the season and prompted Martyn Moxon, the county’s director of cricket, to call for a cut-off window for late IPL call-ups.Willey did sign a new contract at Headingley, but Yorkshire came to the conclusion that Plunkett no longer offered value for money, also taking into account his regular absence with England’s ODI side, and presented white-ball only deals as an inevitable future consequence of divided loyalties.Surrey have the financial clout to play the longer game, in the anticipation that Plunkett may soon be available more regularly, but even for them, and even considering Plunkett’s exceptionally high level of physical fitness, a three-year deal at 33 for an out-and-out fast bowler represents a calculated risk.Alec Stewart, Surrey’s director of cricket, made light of that, saying: “When a player of Liam’s ability and experience becomes available it makes perfect sense to sign him. Adding him to our squad gives us great options in all formats and we look forward to seeing him playing for Surrey over the coming years.”Yorkshire’s emphasis, meanwhile, is on developing a group of young pace bowlers with good availability to foster consistency and togetherness.Moxon said: “We are trying to assemble a squad that has availability and is within our budget to compete in all three domestic competitions. With that in mind we are not in a position to be able to offer Liam a new contract. He has played a big part in our recent success and we obviously thank him for that and wish him well for the future.”In 2017, Plunkett claimed 36 one-day international wickets in the calendar year, the joint-second best haul in the world behind only Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan. He is ranked No. 20 on the ICC’s list of ODI bowlers.But 2017 saw him play only 10 times across all three forms for Yorkshire, with injury ruling him out for large parts as well as the regular international commitments. This year could be even more unproductive as he has played only three Royal London Cup matches and one game in the Vitality Blast.Plunkett, a four-time Specsavers County Championship winner – twice with Durham in 2008 and 2009, and twice with Yorkshire in 2014 and 2015 – was a faltering county pro when Yorkshire took him from Durham, his confidence low and his accuracy awry.Moxon, who had worked with him at Durham, retained faith in his ability and he rebuilt his career under the tutelage of Jason Gillespie, Yorkshire’s former coach, as he concentrated on fast, aggressive bowling – short or full.That method should be suited to The Oval’s pitches and Surrey will surely make better use of him than Yorkshire as a dangerous lower-order hitter in T20. That reluctance in a side not overstocked with late-order firepower has been hard to understand.”It’s disappointing that it has come to an end,” Plunkett said. “Obviously Yorkshire took a chance on me after Durham and I appreciate everything they’ve done for me. I feel as though I’ve played some of my best cricket at Yorkshire, including getting myself back in to the England team.”There comes a time in people’s careers where you don’t get offered a contract. Obviously, Yorkshire want to go in a different direction. I feel like I’ve met some really good people, made some fond memories and won some good trophies for an incredibly passionate club.”

Paul Edwards at Tunbridge Wells26-May-2017
ScorecardJoe Denly’s century was the bedrock of Kent’s innings•Getty Images

Joe Denly may play finer innings for Kent but he will make no century more precious than that which he completed just before five o’clock on an afternoon borrowed from Elysium. Denly’s hundred was constructed in the style of former Kent openers: Wally Hardinge, Arthur Fagg, Brian Luckhurst. It anchored his side’s effort when choppy seas threatened and it was largely responsible for his team ending the day moored in the relatively safe harbour of 316 for 8.Yet Denly’s 119 was freighted with more than statistical significance and this day’s cricket embraced more than deep enjoyment. Tunbridge Wells, you see, is quite gloriously the same but England is different. We did not need the early announcement of evacuation procedures over the public address to remind us of a new reality. Those travelling to this match by train from the north on Thursday were privileged to take part in a perfectly observed minute’s silence when the only noise was the gentle hum of the Pendolino. Then there were the extra police at Euston and a capital city with its Union flags at half-mast. We are suddenly more alert and newly protective of our liberties.Those liberties include sport, of course, and so it was with a special pleasure that folk arrived to watch the cricket on a day when rugs were needed only to prevent the sun’s glare reflecting off windscreens. The game began with a succession of four faultless maidens, which sounds rather like a medieval ceremony of purification. A sun-hatted slip cordon remained in vigilant attendance throughout a first hour in which Kent scored 25 runs off 15 overs and lost Sean Dickson for nought, the opener being caught behind when failing to cover Jofra Archer’s movement and bounce. Archer, of whom fulsome panegyrics have already been written, bowled well throughout the day yet enjoyed no more success.The next wicket fell instead to David Wiese, who sent down a nondescript bouncer to Daniel Bell-Drummond and was no doubt gratified to see the Kent opener waste his 65 minutes’ watchfulness and slap the thing to Danny Briggs at backward point. The French Open begins at Roland Garros this weekend so maybe that was on Bell-Drummond’s mind. Twenty minutes later Sam Northeast followed Vernon Philander’s fine away-swinger – a shot more from Hamelin than Harrow – and gave Michael Burgess the second of his three catches.Denly, meanwhile, was batting with studied precision, driving the Sussex seamers through the off side when they overpitched but otherwise protecting his stumps and playing shots only when they appeared necessary or without risk. At least he obtained full value for his aggression; the ball ran away across the square like a marble on glass.Kent lunched on 69 for 3 and many spectators promenaded contentedly on the outfield. This was “keeping calm”, and few places in our land are more conducive to serenity than the Nevill Ground; and this is “carrying on”, though we did so in the painful knowledge that there are people for whom the mere idea of getting through any day has become almost inconceivable…Kent dominated the afternoon session, scoring 126 runs in a style which brought pleasure to many of the near-as-dammit three thousand spectators. The pitch eased a shade and the ball softened. Joe Weatherly hit six pleasant boundaries and promised more before he was caught behind off a good delivery from Wiese. Darren Stevens, who is having the time of his life this season, batted with much greater aggression, taking three successive boundaries off Wiese and whacking eight fours in all in a run-a-ball 44 which was ended when he went down on one knee but only miscued Briggs to Chris Nash at short midwicket. Denly, meanwhile, had reached his fifty with a straight drive off Archer and the ball was beating his bat infrequently. The temperature settled in the seventies and the crowd basked in their sport. It was the sort of day when the gods turn up and watch the cricket while enjoying a pint of Goacher’s mild in the CAMRA tent.The honours in the evening session were shared, Kent scoring 121 runs but losing three batsmen to leg before decisions. Briggs was cut without mercy by Will Gidman whenever he pitched short but gained his revenge when he trapped the allrounder for 42, the ball striking the pad just prior to the bat. Denly reached his century off 188 balls after 290 minutes of fierce concentration but he then played tiredly across the line to Philander. James Harris became Wiese’s third victim and the day ended with Adam Rouse unbeaten on 32 and batting for Saturday morning in partnership with James Tredwell.The spectators drifted away, though many will be here again on Saturday; the county match is prized in these parts. And the crowd who watch their cricket at Tunbridge Wells over the weekend will share a bond with the thousands attending concerts or the slightly fewer turning up to Tredwell’s hog-roast at Pembury tomorrow evening. The same association links them to those going to the Cup Final at Wembley or the athletics events in the scarred city of Manchester. So perhaps such a day at the end of such a week even gives one the licence to paraphrase very slightly the greatest cricket poem of all, “J M Parks at Tunbridge Wells” by Alan Ross: “Kent 316 for 8. Moss roses on the hill / A dry taste in the mouth, but the moment / Sufficient, being what we are, ourselves still.”

Former Sri Lanka opener Avishka Gunawardene has been appointed coach of the Sri Lanka A team, and former senior team coach Roy Dias will take up a similar role with the Under-19 side

ESPNcricinfo staff18-May-2016Former Sri Lanka opener Avishka Gunawardene has been appointed coach of the Sri Lanka A team, while former senior team coach Roy Dias will take up a similar role with the Under-19 side. Both teams are scheduled to tour England in July, while the Sri Lanka U-19 team will also tour South Africa later.Gunawardene is part of Sri Lanka Cricket’s coaching panel and, until recently, was assistant coach of the U-19 team. He played six Tests and 61 ODIs between 1998 and 2006, scoring one century against West Indies in the ICC knockout in 2000. He is also remembered for his 53 against South Africa in the semi-final of the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, where Sri Lanka lost by one wicket.Dias, who played 20 Tests and 58 ODIs between 1979 and 1987, was appointed Sri Lanka coach in 1998 before he took up the role with Oman and Nepal. Dias coached Nepal’s junior and senior sides.Sri Lanka A will play two four-day games against Pakistan A from July 3, followed by a 50-over tri-series between the two teams and England A from July 18. Sri Lanka U-19 will play two Youth Tests against England U-19 from July 26, while the three-match Youth ODI series starts from August 10.

Division One leaders Middlesex are well placed to claim their third successive win after another bowler-dominated day at Hove

Press Association11-May-2015
ScorecardBen Brown top-scored with 46 for Sussex as the bowlers continued to thrive in Hove•Getty Images

Division One leaders Middlesex are well placed to claim their third successive win after another bowler-dominated day at Hove. Twelve wickets fell on a second day that ended with 21 overs unused after a sea fret rolled in.Middlesex closed on 126 for 6, having extended their overall lead to 203 after dismissing Sussex for 192 earlier in the day. No player has yet passed 50 in the match (although there have been 112 extras) and that statistic looks unlikely to change with batsmen on both sides struggling to combat a pitch of erratic bounce that is unlikely to get any easier.Sussex were indebted to Ben Brown’s counterattacking 46 for keeping their first-innings deficit to manageable proportions and although Middlesex slumped to 68 for 4 and then 102 for 6, Ollie Rayner defied his former team-mates with an unbeaten 19 before the mists descended.Sussex were hampered by the absence of their leading wicket-taker Ajmal Shahzad, who suffered an arm injury on the first day. In his absence Ollie Robinson took three wickets to take his tally on his home debut to seven, which just about kept Sussex in contention.Batting again with a precious lead of 77, Middlesex lost Nick Gubbins in Robinson’s first over when he edged an outswinger before Steve Magoffin reaped an instant reward for a change of ends when he plucked out Sam Robson’s off stump.Middlesex lost two wickets with the score on 68. Substitute fielder Simon Harmer ran out Nick Compton with an underarm throw from the covers and James Franklin completed a pair off the next ball when Magoffin had him taken at second slip.Robinson’s lifter accounted for Neil Dexter and Mike Yardy claimed his third slip catch of the innings shortly after tea when Adam Voges drove at another Robinson delivery that spat up off a length. Rayner and John Simpson survived for six overs before the players went off.Earlier, Sussex’s first innings had been something of a procession once skipper Ed Joyce shovelled a leg-side ball from James Harris to long leg in the second over of the day. Luke Wright briefly flourished with five boundaries in his 26 but it needed Brown to give the total some respectability. He attacked vigorously after lunch, hitting eight boundaries in a stand of 31 for the ninth wicket with Shahzad, who offered solid support despite being clearly inconvenienced by his injury.Brown gave Rayner his second wicket with a tame catch down the leg side while the pick of the Middlesex seamers was Toby Roland-Jones, who found the right length and was unfortunate to only finish with two wickets.

The ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Pallekele will be the first played with the altered playing conditions

Sa'adi Thawfeeq in Pallekele31-Oct-2012The ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Pallekele will be the first played with the altered playing conditions, and Ross Taylor said it was important for his team to get used to them as fast as possible.Under the tweaked playing conditions, there will be only two blocks of fielding restrictions: the first ten overs, when a maximum of two fielders can be placed outside the 30-yard circle, and a second block of five overs – the batting Powerplay, when three fielders are allowed outside the circle – that needs to be completed by the 40th over. The bowling Powerplay has been done away with. During non-Powerplay overs, a maximum of four fielders can be placed outside the circle, a reduction from the earlier five.”These new rules, the players and I guess the officials will need to adjust quickly,” Taylor said. “It’s more a mindset change, for our batsmen. We’ve got to get ourselves in and keep wickets in hand, and capitalise in the last ten overs. With the new rules and the two new balls, it is difficult for whichever team does bat first, but if you can get a good total on the board, under lights it can be difficult as well.”New Zealand had one fitness concern ahead of Thursday’s contest, with fast bowler Adam Milne not turning up for practice on the eve of the game. “He [Milne] has picked up a bug and been out with it for the last couple of days,” Taylor said. “He won’t be in consideration for this match but hopefully he comes right and he’ll be in consideration for the match in Colombo.”The weather in Pallekele remained a concern after rain washed out the Twenty20 between the sides on Tuesday. New Zealand’s innings was reduced to 14 overs and they struggled to 74 for 7, and Sri Lanka made 6 for 0 in two overs before the game was abandoned.”Tomorrow is a new day. We played a little bit out there last night, it’s going to be a tough wicket for the batsmen,” Taylor said. “I feel sorry for the groundsman. It wasn’t an ideal wicket for a Twenty20 match and it was very damp. In saying that, we didn’t apply ourselves as well as we would have liked.”They did put balls in the right areas but it was very tough to score, and it shows you what kind of wicket it was when we set them 72 in 14 overs. It would have still been a tough chase and we would have been in the match.”Considering the weather and the state of the pitch, Taylor said the toss would play an important role in the first ODI. New Zealand had lost it in the Twenty20 and were put in to bat.

Geoff Marsh, the former Australia batsman and coach, has confirmed discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket about the possibility of becoming national coach

Daniel Brettig10-Sep-2011Geoff Marsh, the former Australia batsman and coach, has confirmed discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket about the possibility of becoming national coach.In Pallekele to witness his son Shaun’s century on Test debut, Marsh has been weighing up the possibility of taking over the position vacated by Trevor Bayliss following the 2011 World Cup. Sri Lanka has since been under interim coaches, first Bayliss’ assistant Stuart Law in England and then the former Sri Lanka fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake in this series against AustraliaGraham Ford, the former South Africa coach, was also sounded out about the role but reportedly declined. Marsh said that his former Australia team-mate Tom Moody, who coached Sri Lanka before Bayliss, had also been engaged in discussions.”They had a word but nothing’s come of it. I’m here totally focused on the Test match, but they’ve had a word to quite a few people,” Marsh said.”Definitely nothing formal, no. I may consider it but we’ll just see how things go. You’ve got the IPL and all that to take into consideration, a lot of things, there’s my job back at home. So they’ve spoken to Tom Moody and a whole heap of people, so we’ll see how that all pans out.”Marsh played 50 Tests for Australia and then coached the national team for four years. He also worked as the coach of Zimbabwe and is presently with the IPL franchise Pune Warriors.The Sri Lankans have not won in nine Tests since the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan. They appear in need of a strong hand in the backroom to deliver stability and direction to a team that is in transition following the loss of Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas. The batsmen in particular failed to give a worthy account of themselves against Australia, rolled for 105 and 174 in two first innings in Galle and Pallekele.