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Yousuf had been named interim head coach on March 13, but that decision was changed just a day later

Umar Farooq22-Mar-2023Mohammad Yousuf, who had been appointed the interim batting coach of the Pakistan men’s team, has withdrawn from the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah citing personal reasons. As a result, Abdul Rehman, the interim head coach, has taken over the batting coach’s responsibilities too.Yousuf had been announced as the interim head coach on March 13, but that changed within a day when Najam Sethi, the PCB chairperson, tweeted a list of support staff that were different from the earlier lot. The PCB clarified that the announcement about Yousuf was erroneous and that he would continue as the batting coach.But hours before the team’s departure for the UAE on Wednesday afternoon – the series starts on Friday – Yousuf pulled out.Pakistan haven’t had a formal head coach since Saqlain Mushtaq’s contract ended. The PCB made interim arrangements by picking coaches from the domestic set-up, and elevated Rehman to the main role. Umar Gul came in as bowling coach, while Yousuf and Abdul Majeed continued as the batting and fielding coaches, respectively.

Pakistan name touring party before finalising coaching staff

As for the squad for the series, it was named on March 13, a day before the staff was announced. The squad was named by the Haroon Rasheed-led selections committee and had wholesale changes: Imad Wasim and Faheem Ashraf have been recalled, while Shadab Khan has been named captain, and big PSL 2023 performers Saim Ayub and Ihsanullah have received call-ups for the first time. The core of the squad, meanwhile, has been rested – Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Afridi don’t figure in the list.”I understand the coaching staff was named after the squad because it’s a temporary job,” Rehman said on Tuesday. “Had there been a permanent staff, this question should have been more relevant, but since I have been given an interim job, my role is just to try and win the series.”Rehman was also asked about heading a team with many senior coaches, and he said, “I am doing this job for the last 15 years. It’s not like I will be dictating terms to them. In fact, having them with me gives me confidence. It’s a privilege to work with them; we have to work together and I have to take advantage of their experience.”Umar Gul is a big name in T20 cricket, Mohammad Yousuf is a big name, who has done big service for the country, and it’s a blessing that you have such people with you in the dressing room. It’s a team job and we will be working together. Every decision regarding the team will be taken after discussion within the team.”The first T20I will be played on March 24, followed by two back-to-back games on March 26 and 27. This will the first bilateral series in any format between the countries.

Hosts have the edge after a “fast food” red-ball feast at Lord’s

Vithushan Ehantharajah28-Apr-2023Sometimes, you can measure the importance of a fixture by the quality of play. It’s not always a direct correlation.There’s a lot on this one here at Lord’s between Middlesex and Kent, not least because these relegation candidates only play each other once this season. Taking points off each other, perhaps even landing a couple of psychological blows, is all the more important. As 16 wickets fell on day two, it was clear these historic counties have simply resorted to clawing clumps out of each other.This has not been pretty or particularly high-grade cricket. Both sets of batters deserve a lot better than this pitch – the closest you can be to the Tavern Stand for a first-class match – though their decision-making has left a lot to be desired. It speaks volumes that the main run-getters on either side have been a barnacle-like Ben Compton, with 52, and a brawler in Ryan Higgins, who made 71. A lot of the usual principles have been lacking.And because of that, it has been a lot of fun. Red-ball fast food for the soul, packed full of the bad stuff that’s actually good as you’re taking it all in. Regarding the bare facts: Middlesex are in the better spot for now, though not by much. They will go into the weekend with a lead of just three but with two of Kent’s second-innings wickets.Only in the last two hours of day two did the hosts take hold of this match. Higgins, a fourth half-century of the season in the bag from 93 deliveries, peppered the short boundary to the Tavern Stand, two sixes helping him fashion an extra 21 from 14 deliveries before he was caught well by Michael Hogan down at long-on. By then, the allrounder had added 126 alongside Luke Hollman, Tom Helm and Tim Murtagh, which took Middlesex ahead of Kent and onto a lead of 43. The real killer came when Zak Crawley was dismissed for a golden duck and then followed by Daniel Bell-Drummond lbw, as Murtagh took two in two at the start of the second innings.Those final flourishes with the bat were vital for Middlesex. And to be fair, “flourishes” probably undersells it. They were 90 for 6 when Hogan got one to pitch leg and seam to off from over the wicket to catch John Simpson’s edge through to Sam Billings. That brought an end to what at the time was the longest and most productive stand – 10.3 overs, 28 runs – which came in response to yet another top-order collapse from Middlesex. This one was 25 for 4, coming after a fifth-gear start from Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson, who raced to 22 after the first two overs.The manner of Stoneman’s demise – technically caught Jordan Cox at first slip, but parried his way by Crawley at second – spoke of how hard he was going. What seemed like an approach carried over from the remarkable run-chase of last week against Nottinghamshire on the other side of the square came to an end then and there. Wes Agar would end up with both openers on his way to a tidy four, with Grant Stewart nabbing Pieter Malan with a tame half-volley outside leg stump that was helped around the corner, before Max Holden presented the bat face to one well outside off stump. Stand-in captain Stephen Eskinazi was the last of those five to fall for just 62 runs when he feathered an edge off Matthew Quinn’s first ball of the match.It was broadly reminiscent of the fightback from Kent, 92 for 6 themselves before they re-emerged on Friday morning on 113 for 6. They managed 73 more, albeit from a source other than Compton, who arrived locked in on 38 not out.Having been the lone survivor from the top order, one expected much of the same perseverance. But when he was bounced out by Bamber, one of the friendliest bowlers on the circuit (for disposition; his manipulation of the Dukes borders on cruel), Stewart decided to take a short-cut to a respectable score on this surface via the smaller boundary.Unlike Higgins, Stewart didn’t quite have the support at the other end but he bettered him for power by hitting the top of the Allen Stand rather than just clearing the rope, as Higgins did when just evading Crawley at deep square leg. A 10th first-class fifty for Stewart looked certain, even when he skied Higgins over the wicketkeeper. Tom Helm, however, charged in and took a spectacular tumbling catch – the kind that makes you wince and check he’s okay before applauding – to clip his and Kent’s wings.That Crawley was dismissed as quickly as he was felt an inevitability, not only given the scrappiness of this match but the fact it means he has followed up last week’s 170 with 11 and 0. Streaky is as streaky does, but the delivery from Murtagh – lifting much higher than usual after urging the bat to come forward – was worthy of a dismissal regardless of batter.What bodes well for Kent is how seamlessly Jack Leaning ticked over on 19. His approach to the hat-trick ball was brave, advancing down the track to ensure he was not caught on the crease, offering a full face and keeping out Murtagh. He applied that clear head throughout. Compton, of course, quickly reacquainted with the grind and, together, they worked through to the bad light call that came after 17 overs with a degree of comfort, bar the odd vociferous appeal.This match could well be done with a day to spare, and the best you can say of what we’ve seen so far is it’s hard to say who will end up on top.

Durham held at bay as young allrounder helps put visitors on top

David Hopps12-May-2023Yorkshire 254 and 91 for 3 lead Durham 227 (Robinson 44, Hill 4-43) by 118 runsIt must be a comparatively simple and joyful life being a young Yorkshire cricketer, full of ambitions no more complicated than to make runs and take wickets. George Hill was one such player on show at Emirates Riverside. Tousle-haired and lightly built, he does not immediately fit the stereotype of a seam-bowler, but Yorkshire think highly of him and four good wickets against Durham enhanced his reputation as an improving allrounder.Hill, like Harry Brook, is a product of Sedbergh School, and while Brook has shown an out-of-the-ordinary talent to suggest that Yorkshire will see little of him for the next decade, Hill might instead develop into a highly reliable, purposeful, adaptable county cricketer, doing useful things, day in, day out. He might have higher ambitions, of course, and, at 22, so he should.Hill is batting at No. 6 this season and while some observers fear this will limit his development as a batter – he first got an opportunity as an opener, despite minimal previous experience in the role – it seems a sensible place for his all-round talents to develop. His batting can find more freedom there and he looks capable of a fourth-seamer role, hitting the seam and maintaining sound length and line.What a pleasure to be young and concerned only with the cricket. No need to take notice of the undercurrents that continue to swirl as Yorkshire seek a route out of potential bankruptcy. If the club find a way forward, and also manage to placate most of their supporters in the process, it will be quite an achievement. Talk of a uniting vision will sadly have to come later: that chance has been lost during two years of endless recriminations. There are people who want Yorkshire to fail because of the racism allegations, there are others who want them to fail because they are resentful about the racism allegations. Make sense of that,Yorkshire must feel they can’t win – although they might actually win on the pitch for the first time this season. They closed the second day 118 ahead with seven wickets remaining when bad light brought a premature end with Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan’s fourth-wicket stand so far worth 50. Endless sunshine is forecast for Saturday afternoon so Yorkshire have work to do yet if they are to defeat a Durham side that looks capable of a prolonged promotion challenge. They will hope that the bounce becomes even more treacherous in the final innings.There are times when you need to don a mental suit of armour just to watch Yorkshire, never mind play for them. Time on the journey north up the A1 to put on endless repeat Curtis Stigers’ “What’s So Funny Bout Peace Love and Understanding” – a contender for the best cover version of all time. Hill might prefer something more modern, but Yorkshire must move on together.In this difficult atmosphere, the coach Ottis Gibson is nurturing and improving young players – Hill being just one example. He had dismissed Alex Lees lbw the previous evening, a crucial blow with Yorkshire defending 254, and added three lower-order Durham batters on the second day: finding extra bounce to have Graham Clark caught at slip, seaming one back to have Brydon Carse lbw, and leaving only middle stump standing as he also moved one back, this time to the left-hander, Ben Raine, and bowled him through the gate.As they remark around here, the day was positively Baltic with a cutting wind and mizzle in the air. It might have been February. The bounce remained indifferent, and the ball nibbled around, but there was not as much swing to be had. Hill put the lack of swing down to a wet outfield and described the weather as “pretty minging”.Yorkshire were grateful for early breakthroughs – two of them to Jordan Thompson with break-backs that had the nightwatch, Matthew Potts, and David Bedingham lbw. Ollie Robinson looks to be the transfer of the season and he batted brightly for 44, productive through the off side.Yorkshire would have anticipated a first-innings lead considerably greater than 27 runs after Durham lost half their side for 71 and then, following Hill’s interventions, looked almost spent at 173 for 9. A last-wicket stand of 54 between Bas de Leede and Ajaz Patel put the kibosh on that with Patel’s frolicsome 34 from 30 balls removing all logic from the game in a way that only a No. 11, taking liberties, can.By the time Patel top-edged a pull over the keeper’s head to bring up the 50 stand, and then caused Dom Bess to parry another edge high above his head at slip, Matt Fisher, who had been brought back to quell the rebellion, had endured more than he could bear. Patel’s stumps were duly ripped out and Fisher responded with a meaningful time-to-stop-this-nonsense punch of the air.Yorkshire lost a trio of left-handers in a difficult first hour full of playing and missing. Adam Lyth made a pair, again falling prey to a square cut. Also among them was Finlay Bean, who was batting as a concussion substitute after the Pakistan batter, Saud Shakeel, who had been struck on the head by Potts, and who also injured an ankle badly enough to need a runner on the first day, reported symptoms overnight. Shakeel’s brief stint in county cricket has ended in disappointing fashion.Shan Masood dragged on against Potts for the second time in the match. Masood was appointed as Yorkshire’s new captain with considerable fanfare. He seemed exactly what they needed – a classy top-order batter, a good tactician and the sort of appointment that would help heal wounds among slighted and suspicious minority-ethnic communities.Then, unexpectedly, Pakistan came calling again and Masood, who has already missed the first month of the season, can expect further absences for a Test engagements in Sri Lanka in July and the Asia Cup in September. It is to be hoped there is still a Yorkshire club left when his international days have ended.

The league will see six teams play 25 matches in 18 days from July 20 to August 6

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2023Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, Shakib al Hasan and Mohammad Rizwan are among some of the most prominent players drafted in for the third edition of the Global T20 Canada. The league, which returns for the first time in four seasons, will be played between July 20 and August 6 in Ontario.The league has gone through something of a revamp since its last edition. Winnipeg Hawks, who won the league last time it was held, no longer take part, while Edmonton Royals are also absent. Their place is taken by Surrey Jaguars and Mississauga Panthers. Each side will include two marquee players and three Canadian players from the national side, as well as three emerging Canadian players, with 25 matches to be played across the 18 days.This means there will be two high-profile North American T20 franchise-based leagues this summer, after dates for the inaugural season of Major League Cricket, set to be played in Texas in July, were announced last month.The GT20’s return adds further strain on a cricketing calendar already groaning under the weight of several T20 leagues. It will clash with Pakistan’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka in July, with 14 Pakistan players picked up across the six franchises. The PCB has insisted that players chosen for the Test series will not go to the GC20.The first two seasons took place in 2018 and 2019, but following payment disputes and the Covid pandemic, a third edition wasn’t held in the next three years.Squads []:Surrey Jaguars: Alex Hales, Iftikhar Ahmed, Jason Behrendorff, Liton Das, Karim Janat, Mohammad Haris, Sandeep LamichaneMississauga Panthers: Shoaib Malik, Chris Gayle, Azam Khan, James Neesham, Cameron Delport, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tom CooperBrampton Wolves: Harbhajan Singh, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Mark Chapman, Usama Mir, Hussain Talat, Usman Khan, Logan van Beek, Jan Nocolas Frylinck, Max O’DowdVancouver Knights: Mohammad Rizwan, Rassie van der Dussen, Naveen ul Haq, Reeze Hendricks, Corbin Bosch, Najibullah Zadran, Kartik Meiyappam, Ruben TrumpelmannMontreal Tigers: Shakib al Hasan, Andre Russell, Chris Lynn, Sherfane Rutherford, Carlos Brathwaite, Abbas Afridi, Zahir KhanToronto Nationals: Colin Munro, Shahid Afridi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zaman Khan, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Gerhard Erasmus

“The many times I have played in India, we have enjoyed the pressure and crowds there because it gives you motivation and conditions in India suit us”

PTI and ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jul-2023Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has advocated for his country’s team be allowed to compete in the ODI World Cup in India and said that not sending the side for the mega event will be “depriving people” of the opportunity to see the arch-rivals clash on the biggest stage.”When there can be contacts between the two countries in other sports, why not in cricket,” Misbah said at a function in Karachi. “Why link cricket with political relations? It is unfair to deprive people of a chance to see their teams play against each other.”It is great injustice to the fans who follow Pakistan and Indian cricket a lot.”Related

• Pakistan vs India set for September 2 in Kandy in Asia Cup

• Pakistan PM sets up high-profile committee to take call on ODI World Cup trip

• Four Asia Cup matches in Pakistan; remaining nine in Sri Lanka

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently conveyed to the ICC and the BCCI that the national team’s participation in the World Cup in October-November this year is subject to government clearance due to the tense relations between the two countries.India have refused to play their Asia Cup matches in Pakistan owing to geopolitical tensions, and after months of speculation around it, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced that the event will be staged in a hybrid model with four games in Pakistan and nine in Sri Lanka (neutral venue) from August 31 to September 17.Misbah felt it was time Pakistan should go to India and the Indian team should also come to Pakistan to play matches.”Certainly, Pakistan should be playing in the World Cup even in India,” he said. “The many times I have played in India, we have enjoyed the pressure and crowds there because it gives you motivation and conditions in India suit us. Our team has the capability to do well in Indian conditions.”Pakistan’s league stage matches at the 2023 ODI World Cup•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Misbah also advised the players to just focus on the cricket and winning the World Cup.”What is happening outside their sphere, they should not think about it,” he said. “The key to doing well in the World Cup in India is to get the playing XIs right at particular venues and against particular opposition.”During a media round-table on Friday, ICC chair Greg Barclay had said that all ten participating teams will “turn up” for the World Cup that begins on October 5 and will run until November 19. “We are expecting as per the terms of the participation agreement that all teams will turn up for all events. Nothing to suggest otherwise that it won’t be the case at the World Cup later this year.”Misbah’s former team-mate and captain Shahid Afridi too felt Pakistan must travel to India for the World Cup.”There is pressure but the fun is also [playing under] that pressure,” he said. “People are saying we should not go to India and boycott [the World Cup] but I am totally against that. Pakistan should go to India and win the World Cup.”

Fast bowler set for Surrey and Hundred returns after winter of freak injuries

Andrew Miller24-Jul-2023Reece Topley is expected to make a playing comeback for Surrey in a 50-over contest against Suffolk next week, ahead of a full stint with Northern Superchargers in the Hundred, as he begins his comeback from a cruel run of injuries that derailed his participation in both the T20 World Cup in Australia last year and the IPL.Topley, 29, travelled to Australia in October expecting to play a key new-ball role in what turned out to be a triumphant tournament for England, who went on to become the only men’s white-ball team to hold the 50- and 20-over World Cups concurrently.Instead, he stepped on a boundary marker while warming up ahead of a practice match against Pakistan in Brisbane, and had to fly home from the tournament for ankle surgery. And then, having been signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 1.9 crore (£190,000 approx.) for his maiden IPL stint, Topley bowled just two overs in his opening match against Mumbai Indians before landing heavily in the outfield and suffering a dislocated right shoulder.Related

• Topley on year-round franchise deals: 'Better off having a seat at the table than being left behind'

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“I knew I was going home,” Topley said, recalling the incident at the Chinnaswamy in early April. “When I was sat in Bangalore with my humerus bone in front of my pec, I was just like, ‘wow, how quickly can I get home to have surgery?’ It wasn’t like I was going to hang around or whatever. It was just, like, let’s just get out of here.”Now, however, he’s on the comeback trail, and given his extraordinary physical attributes – a 6’7” frame capable of generating pace, swing and bounce from an awkward left-arm angle – his recovery is sure to be monitored closely by the England selectors, as their attentions switch from the ongoing Ashes to the white-ball series against Ireland and New Zealand in September, ahead of this winter’s defence of the 50-over World Cup in India.Reece Topley dislocated his right shoulder after diving awkwardly on his IPL debut•BCCI

“The Hundred is almost like end-stage rehab, I guess,” Topley said at the launch of the KP Snacks community cricket pitches initiative in Tottenham. “Obviously I’ll look to put in some good performances and I’ll want to do well for Superchargers because we’ve got a great squad that wants to go all the way.”But then, obviously, you got New Zealand and Ireland,” he added. “Those games will be quite pivotal in the lead-up to the World Cup. I know that the conditions are slightly different, but 50 overs is something we don’t play a lot of anymore, so that game-time in an ODI will be massively important. So I’ll look to hopefully play those, and get up to speed as soon as possible.”Almost exactly 12 months ago, Topley was at the very top of his game – most notably with a remarkable haul of 6 for 24 against India at Lord’s, the best figures ever recorded by an England bowler in a men’s ODI. He blew away India’s top-order once again in the next match at Old Trafford, and though England could not close out that particular contest, the performance ensured that he was in high demand at the subsequent IPL auction in December, where he attracted bids almost of three times his base price.The fact that Topley is suddenly in such high demand – especially after an injury-plagued career that encompassed four stress fractures between 2016 and 2020, and the genuine belief that he might never play again – has helped him to compartmentalise the frustrations of his freak setbacks this year, and double down on the rehab to make sure he’s ready for whatever opportunities come his way.”It has gone really well,” he said. “Obviously it’s never nice to get injured, but then I suppose the nature of the two injuries I had this year, you can spend a lot of time soul-searching and asking questions why, but I think you’ve just got to get on the front foot and deal with it, and almost take a typical British attitude, stiff upper lip and crack on.”I suppose you flip it [on its head] and ask yourself what’s going to be achieved if you don’t get on with things? I’m really excited to get back out there. I’ve bowled really well when I’ve played, so the fact that I’m playing again and getting out there fills me with so much excitement.”When you are out there, you do have a big sense of gratification, you love the fact that you’re playing cricket, rather in any sense turning up and thinking it’s just another game. So let’s hope it’s the start of a relatively successful end of the summer and winter, obviously with the World Cup on the horizon.”Assuming he’s able to prove his fitness for the rest of this summer, Topley will be returning to India for his second World Cup campaign, having played a part in the squad that reached the final of the World T20 in Kolkata in 2016, where Carlos Brathwaite famously cracked four sixes in a row off Ben Stokes to swipe the trophy from England’s grasp.”I suppose it’s nice that you’ve got people that have experienced that sort of heartbreak, especially out in quite an emotional place which is India,” Topley said.”When you’re playing, everyone’s emotions seem to be running high, whether you’re one side of the boundary rope or the other. But, equally, there’ll be some new faces in that squad. There’s a few stalwarts and ever-presents, but even those new faces have got IPL experience. So I don’t think there’s anything that’s going to throw up any surprises to anyone.”I’m really excited. There’s a lot of debate about 50-over cricket, but when there’s a World Cup on the horizon, there’s few other things that you can say you’re going to prioritise ahead of 50-over cricket.”It’s a nice run-in with the Hundred, but those ODI series against Ireland and New Zealand will be about people trying to get in the XI for October.”From a personal perspective, I’ve had some success and it’s really about emulating that, but I wouldn’t say I’ve stayed still,” he added. “I’ve got injured, but it’s been a time to work on my own game and learn some new things, because people say that, if you’re standing still, you’re going to get overtaken, so it’s about adding more strings to my bow.”KP Snacks are funding 100 new community cricket pitches over the next three years. To find out more and search for a pitch visit: https://www.everyonein.co.uk/pitchfinder

Former Rapids allrounder takes three and strikes 65* as Warwickshire top Group B with nine-wicket win

ECB Reporters Network13-Aug-2023Warwickshire seamers Oliver Hannon Dalby and Ed Barnard demolished Worcestershire Rapids with the new ball to maintain their side’s unbeaten record in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with a resounding nine-wicket success at New Road.Hannon-Dalby and former Worcestershire allrounder Barnard bowled superbly in seam-friendly conditions under cloudy skies to reduce the home side to 25 for 5 during the initial Powerplay. Hannon-Dalby later returned to complete the second List A five-for of his career and he is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 14 scalps.He ended with figures of 5 for 31 from 10 overs, while Barnard ended with 3 for 14 from six overs. Only Matthew Waite (44) offered much resistance as the Rapids were dismissed for 108 in 30.2 overs. Barnard then excelled in the opener’s role in partnership with Rob Yates as Warwickshire made light work of their modest target in just 16.2 overs.He completed a 35 ball half-century, his third in this year’s competition, and only six runs were needed for victory when Yates (34) fell to spinner Josh Baker. It means Warwickshire have won their opening four games and they are well on course to reach the knockout stages. Despite this setback, the Rapids remain in contention to qualify after triumphing in three of their five matches to date.Worcestershire were put into bat on the same pitch used for Thursday’s win over Gloucestershire when they amassed 375 for 7. They had to initially battle against the new ball in seamer-friendly conditions on that occasion and only lost a wicket during the powerplay. It was a different story today as Hannon-Dalby and Barnard bowled superbly.Oliver Hannon-Dalby prepares to deliver the ball•Getty Images

Barnard was first to strike when Gareth Roderick, a century-maker against Gloucestershire, pushed hard at a delivery and was pouched by Rob Yates at first slip. Ed Pollock collected the first boundary of the innings with a lofted straight drive at Barnard’s expense but Hannon-Dalby picked up two wickets in the next over.Rob Jones took a stride forward but outside-edged another catch to Yates and captain Jake Libby pushed forward and nicked through to keeper Michael Burgess. There was no let-up in the pressure exerted by the opening pair and Pollock was bowled by a Barnard delivery which nipped back in.Kashif Ali adopted an aggressive approach and lofted Hannon-Dalby for six over long on but it was his only scoring stroke. He tried to put the pressure back on the bowlers and came well forward to Barnard but fell to a fine legside catch by Burgess away to his left.Ben Cox and Waite joined forces and more than doubled the score in adding 33 before the former attempted to cut Michael Booth and presented Yates with another catch. Waite looked in good touch, pulling Booth for four and on drive Craig Miles to the boundary.Logan van Beek gave him good support in a partnership of 28 but there was nothing the Netherland international could do when a delivery from Hannon-Dalby popped up off a length and he fended it to gulley. Hannon-Daly then struck with successive deliveries in his final over.Having battled away for 44 off 60 balls, Waite was bowled by a ball of full length and a similar delivery trapped Baker LBW. Dillon Pennington survived the hat-trick ball but the pace bowler was neatly stumped off Jake Lintott to wrap up the innings.Worcestershire needed early wickets to have any hope of putting their opponents under pressure and Barnard got off the mark with an inside edge for four against Joe Leach. But there were few other alarms for the openers and Barnard upper cut Waite for six to third man and pulled the same bowler through mid-wicket to complete a 35-ball fifty with seven fours and a six.Baker ended the partnership by accounting for Yates but Barnard hit the winning boundary in the next over to conclude a one-sided contest. His unbeaten 65 contained one six and 10 fours.

Unbeaten 154 off 145 balls secures his side’s first batting bonus point at home this season

ECB Reporters Network26-Sep-2023Rob Keogh gave Northamptonshire supporters a rare moment to celebrate with a stunning century against Essex at Wantage Road, scoring 154 off just 147 balls.With the county already relegated and playing for pride after a nightmare season, Keogh put on a show with boundaries all around the ground as Northamptonshire claimed their first batting bonus point at home this summer and closed on 279 for 6 on day one of this LV= Insurance County Championship match.Keogh batted with a sense of freedom, taking the positive, attacking route, but timing the ball to perfection and not offering any chances. Strong on the drive and cutting and punching firmly off the back foot, when Essex resorted to bowling short, he dismissively hooked and pulled the ball away to the ropes, hitting 23 fours and four sixes.He ticked off milestones along the way too, passing 6,000 career first-class runs and becoming Northamptonshire’s highest run scorer in the Championship this season. The innings neatly bookends his season following 116 in the Steelbacks’ opening fixture against Kent in April.Keogh came to the wicket after Jamie Porter (2 for 82) had struck twice, finding plenty of movement outside off-stump and immediately took the positive route against the Essex seamer, sharing a stand of 107 with Saif Zaib (28) in exactly 25 overs.Earlier Essex won the toss and decided to field and Sam Cook and Porter took a wicket apiece to reduce Northamptonshire to 23 for 2 after five overs. First Emilio Gay was adjudged to have edged Cook behind to the keeper. Then in the next over Porter squared up Steelbacks skipper Luke Procter, the ball flying off the inside edge to Matt Critchley at third slip who took a good low catch.Azad was joined by Indian batter Karun Nair and the pair batted for 12 overs, putting on 40. Azad moved onto 32, picking up five streaky boundaries behind square on both sides of the wicket. He eventually middled one through backward point before Simon Harmer’s second delivery earned the breakthrough, an arm ball which trapped Azad lbw.Nair (21), fresh from scoring 150 at the Oval last week, played a couple of handsome shots including a beautifully timed on drive off Porter, but departed when he got an inside edge onto his stumps against the same bowler with Northamptonshire 95 for 4.Keogh then took command against Porter, driving through midwicket and extra cover, pulling over midwicket and guiding him off the back foot to bring up Northamptonshire’s 100 in the 27th over.After reaching his half-century off 62 balls before tea, Keogh continued to score freely after the interval, garnering 14 off one over from Harmer. He slog swept the spinner for four, hit the next ball over long-on for six and then played a back-foot punch for another boundary.He moved towards three figures by pulling Porter for six and four and then swung Critchley through mid-on to bring up his 16th first-class century off 105 balls. Consecutive boundaries followed off Umesh Yadav including a push down the ground for four before he pulled the Indian quick behind square for six and smashed him back over his head for four.Zaib largely played the supporting role to Keogh but deployed the sweep shot against the spinners to good effect before he was caught behind off Critchley. It was the twelfth time in 19 innings this season that Zaib has been dismissed between 25 and 49.In his next over, Critchley (2 for 22) trapped Lewis McManus lbw with Northamptonshire 214 for 6. Keogh, though, was joined by Justin Broad, who kept him company in a partnership of 65 off 76 balls, scoring just 17 as Keogh went on the rampage at the other end.

Lawrence Neil-Smith bagged three wickets while player of the match Brad Hope took two as New South Wales failed to push the game into the fourth day

AAP and ESPNCricinfo staff20-Nov-2023Tasmania have maintained their dominant start to the Sheffield Shield season, thumping New South Wales by an innings and one run to stay top of the table after five rounds.After resuming on day three at 46 for 3, New South Wales worked hard at Bellerive Oval to take the game into the final day and make the home side bat again but fell short.Spinner Jarrod Freeman made the key breakthrough late in the final session, trapping Ben Dwarshuis lbw for 21 and ending his 51-run stand for the eighth wicket with Chris Green.Freeman also had Chris Tremain caught behind for a golden duck, ending the match, with the Blues dismissed for 311. The visitors could only manage 181 on day one and Tasmania took control with their first innings of 493.Tasmania are the only unbeaten side after five rounds and this is their third win. They are on 28.77 points, with second-placed Western Australia on 25.22.Ryan Hackney and Matthew Gilkes put on 82 for the fourth wicket early on Monday, raising the Blues hopes that they could take the game up to Tasmania. Gilkes made 56 while Hackney made 44.Ollie Davies top-scored with 62 and Green made his highest Shield score, an unbeaten 61 that came off 159 balls and featured 10 fours, as he and Dwarshuis batted deep into the afternoon.But the Blues lost their last three wickets in four overs and remain second-last on the ladder. Tasmania’s Bradley Hope was player of the match for his unbeaten century and two wickets.Lawrence Neil-Smith took 3 for 57 in the Blues second innings, while Freeman and Hope claimed two wickets apiece.New South Wales will host Tasmania from November 28 in their next Shield game with Test spinner Nathan Lyon set to return after being rested from the trip to Hobart.

BCCI secretary confirms tournament will begin in “second or third week” of February

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2023The second edition of the Women’s Premier League will take place in “one state” of India, starting from the “second or third week” of February. BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed as much on Saturday, talking to journalists after the WPL auction in Mumbai.”It is decided that we will have the tournament in February,” he said. “Most probably we will start in the second or third week.”As far as the venue is concerned, it will be held in one state only so that it is better logistically. Logistics are very important for us this time, next time we can figure it [having more venues] out.Related

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“We can do it either in Bangalore [Karnataka] also or Uttar Pradesh also. We have so many venues, even in Gujarat, where we have Ahmedabad, Rajkot and after a few years Baroda can build their own stadium. Basically, it is a joint call between the franchises and the BCCI. We will sit together and we will decide. We will let you know. It will be in one state, that is for sure.”Last year, the first edition of the WPL was played only in Mumbai, across two venues: the Brabourne Stadium and DY Patil Sports Academy. India women’s ongoing international season, featuring series against England and Australia, will also solely be played in Mumbai. When asked if there was a plan for India Women to play in other cities or states, Shah said: “The domestic season is going on, so we will have to see – where the venue is available, we will have it. There are [other] matches happening in Gujarat, Chandigarh, Ranchi… it is not the case that we want to organise matches in Mumbai only.”The auction ahead of the second WPL was held in Mumbai on Saturday afternoon, with the uncapped Indian pair of Kashvee Gautam and Vrinda Dinesh commanding the biggest pay cheques.