Apart from a seam quartet, the squad also includes five spin-bowling options, including the ambidextrous Kamindu Mendis
Madushka Balasuriya12-Feb-2024Sri Lanka have brought in left-arm fast bowler Binura Fernando in place of the injured Dushmantha Chameera for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The 16-member squad is otherwise unchanged from the one that faced Zimbabwe last month.Chameera has been out of action since injuring his left quadricep in the first ODI against Afghanistan, which Sri Lanka had won by 42 runs. At 6ft 7in, his replacement Binura is a rare breed as far as quick bowlers go, but his time with the Sri Lankan national side has been punctuated too by injury lay-offs.Binura had last played for Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup game against Australia in October 2022, but was forced off after just five deliveries with a hamstring injury. But since regaining fitness, he has made a significant impression on the franchise circuit during stints with Jaffna Kings and Dambulla Aura in the Lanka Premier League and the Abu Dhabi T10, respectively.Related
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Binura will be part of a seam quartet that also includes Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara and Matheesha Pathirana. The spin-bowling department, meanwhile, will be led by Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, with Akila Dananjaya as back-up. The ambidextrous Kamindu Mendis, and the offspinner Dhananjaya de Silva, are also available as spin options.The batting unit, though, takes on a familiar flavour, with Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka all included in the squad.The three-match T20I series gets underway on February 17, with the second and third games scheduled to be played on February 19 and 21, respectively. All matches will be staged in Dambulla.Sri Lanka T20I squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (capt), Charith Asalanka (vice-capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Akila Dananjaya, Kamindu Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama
Michael Neser has been recalled to Australia’s Test squad for the tour of New Zealand with the selectors taking a horses-for-courses approach based on conditions they expect across the Tasman in what is otherwise a very settled group for the two-match series.Neser has often been around the Australia set-up in recent years and was part of the World Test Championship final squad last year. His two Tests have both come in Adelaide – against England in 2021-22 and West Indies the following season. His Sheffield Shield numbers are significantly down this season with nine wickets at 50.33 but he is viewed as an ideal bowler for New Zealand while his ever-improving batting adds another element.”It’s great to see Michael Neser get another opportunity in the squad following his ever-consistent performances over a long period of time and the conditions we expect,” national selector George Bailey said.Related
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Lance Morris picked up a side strain during the third ODI against West Indies in Canberra, but Bailey indicated he would not have made the trip as back up to Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. The expectation is that those three will play both Tests against New Zealand – along with Nathan Lyon making it seven Tests in a row for the frontline bowlers – but Neser and Scott Boland will provide the support.”We’d be looking at a different type of fast bowler,” Bailey said. “The luxury of this tour only being in New Zealand, it’s not a massive trip, so a number of players in specific roles that if we do need to get them across that it’s not too much of a challenge, so Lance would have been in that boat.”The new-look batting order that came together against West Indies, with Steven Smith opening and Cameron Green at No. 4, will be given at least two more matches to settle in. After the New Zealand tour Australia have a long gap in Test cricket before the arrival of India for next summer’s five-match home series.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Matt Renshaw has retained his spot as the reserve batter having been earmarked as the next in line amid the reshuffle that followed David Warner’s retirement.The overall squad is relatively small at 14 names with the short flight between the two countries meaning replacements could come in reasonably easily. However, it could leave Australia a little exposed if an injury occurred shortly before a match or in the event of a concussion during a game especially around the wicketkeeper or spin bowler with no direct cover for Alex Carey or Nathan Lyon.New Zealand are currently top of the World Test Championship following their opening victory over South Africa and will expect to consolidate that in Hamilton. The upcoming tour has grown in significance for Australia have they lost to West Indies at the Gabba.”As we know every Test match provides vital opportunities to obtain valuable WTC points and we expect this tour will be a tough challenge against a very strong side who have been so consistent at home for a long period of time,” Bailey said.The first Test begins in Wellington on February 29 followed by the second in Christchurch on March 8.
With the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, GOAL looks at the state of the outside backs in the U.S. pool
Less than a year out from the World Cup, the U.S. Men's national team still has so many questions to answer. Can Mauricio Pochettino shape the culture to his liking? Can they actually compete at the World Cup?
The fullback position, however, isn't a question; it's one of the few that should be set in stone. There are two obvious starters here, two players that the U.S. can lean on in games at the highest level. The only issue has been availability and that, admittedly, has been a significant concern for the USMNT over the last year.
Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest haven't always been there. Robinson dealt with injury issues over the second half of Fulham's season. Dest, on the other hand, had a long recovery from an ACL tear, one that kept him out of the Copa America, the Nations League and, despite nearly being fully fit, the Gold Cup.
Theoretically, both are in a good place heading into their European seasons. They'll need to stay that way for the U.S. to be anywhere near full strength next summer.
That said, there are some interesting players in the player pool around them, those that can either plug gaps right now or down the line. These contenders almost certainly won't catch the two starters, but big picture, there are some good fullbacks in the pipeline.
Post-Gold Cup, GOAL is looking at the state of the USMNT, analyzing the positional battles that will ultimately define next summer's team. Next up: fullbacks.
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The Starters: Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest
If their absences proved one thing, it's that the USMNT's starting fullbacks are virtually irreplaceable.
Starting on the left, Robinson solidified his place as one of the Premier League's best fullbacks last season, lifting his game to new heights before injury issues slowed him. Even with those injuries, the Fulham defender finished fourth in the Premier League in assists with 10, trailing only Mohamed Salah, Jacob Murphy and Anthony Elanga.
Robinson, at his best, is a fantastic modern left-back, who can impact the game on both sides of the ball.
Dest, meanwhile, is an attacking weapon. At his best, he's a game-changing presence, one that unlocks a different style of play for the USMNT. Since his ACL injury, that version hasn't been on display – the one who funnels through a dangerous right-hand side. When he returns, it'll be interesting to see how Pochettino finally makes use of him and how his presence impacts how the Argentinian coach sets up his team to play.
The same reality applies to both sides of the defense: if either is missing, the U.S. will have to change how they play, and that, ultimately, makes them a less effective team.
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The Backup: Joe Scally
There are other players in consideration, but, Scally is the only one with tangible USMNT experience.
No, he isn't Dest or Robinson, and he brings different skills. But that game has value, particularly at the international level. A more defensive player by nature, Scally offers little in the attack. But he does provide stability, which can be helpful in case of an injury or in a late-game situation in which the U.S. needs to hold things down.
The issue is that, when Scally plays, the U.S. has to change to accommodate him, which is never ideal. Even so, he's the most capable backup on the right, while Dest can and has played on the left should he need to take Robinson's spot in case of injury.
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In The Mix: Max Arfsten, John Tolkin, DeJuan Jones, Marlon Fossey
The race for fullback spots is an interesting one outside of that top three. It's largely up for grabs and full of players with different characteristics.
Max Arfsten, for example, was the Gold Cup starter at left-back, even if he isn't a natural in that spot. More of a left-wingback by trade, Arfsten's attacking ability was key to a team that didn't have many dynamic options out wide. Pochettino clearly valued that this summer, but will Arfsten fit in as well when the more dynamic options return to the team?
John Tolkin, meanwhile, was largely his backup throughout the tournament despite a solid first half-season with Holstein Kiel. His future is uncertain and much will depend on what happens next for him on the club level. The former New York Red Bulls player is certainly in the mix, thanks to his defensive stability and flair for big moments on the attacking end.
Meanwhile, DeJuan Jones and Marlon Fossey have been in and around the team and could certainly make a run to a World Cup spot.
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For The Future: Alex Freeman, Caleb Wiley, Nathaniel Brown
Start with Alex Freeman, who could arguably be in mix sooner than later. The 20-year-old Orlando City rising star certainly looked capable during his Gold Cup run, and could genuinely be the go-to reserve at right back. Even if he isn't, though, the sky is seemingly the limit for him. Known as an attacking fullback, he was solid defensively – aside from the final against Mexico – and there's reason to believe he'll get better.
There are other youngsters on the rise, too, particularly on the left-hand side. Caleb Wiley had some good moments at Watford and looks set for another go at the Championship this season. Currently at Chelsea, the former Atlanta United defender has three caps and was on the Olympic team last summer. At 20, he's just getting started.
And then there's Nathaniel Brown, a talented dual-national currently playing for Eintracht Frankfurt. The son of an American father and a German mother, Brown has represented Germany thus far, but has been linked with a USMNT switch. If that does happen, he could be in the mix in this cycle.
Nicolas Jackson has been urged to avoid a move to Manchester United amid rumours of a potential Chelsea exit, with former Premier League star Jermaine Pennant suggesting Brighton would be a better fit for the Senegal striker. Despite interest from top clubs, the Blues have placed a hefty price tag on the forward and don't look too eager to part ways.
Chelsea want up to £100m for Nicolas JacksonManchester United showing interest in the strikerPennant says Brighton better fit than a top-six clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Chelsea have reportedly set an £80-100 million ($108m-135m) asking price for Jackson, who is attracting attention from Premier League and European sides. Manchester United are among the clubs interested, but Chelsea are under no pressure to sell despite the Senegalese striker being likely to lose his starting spot following the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Jackson has managed 30 goals and 12 assists in 81 appearances for Chelsea since arriving from Villarreal. However, with his role under threat, rumours of an exit have intensified with Manchester United being touted as a potential destination. However, Penant believes that the 24-year-old should be against a move to Old Trafford and insisted that he would be a better fit at a club like Brighton.
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Speaking to Adventure Gamers, Pennant said: “I’m not sure if Nicolas Jackson is the man for a top team as we’ve seen during his time at Chelsea. It’s an interesting one to see where he goes if he leaves the club. He’s in the Darwin Nunez bracket for me – he gets loads of chances, but he isn’t prolific.
“If I were him, I’d look a little below that level – someone like Brighton. I think that could work because he’d do well there – they should be looking at him.
“Manchester United are linked but I’m not too sure that’s the right move for the club – it could be another Rasmus Hojlund situation. He obviously believes in himself and thinks he should be at a top team, but I can’t see him being the number one for a top six side.”
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WHAT NEXT FOR JACKSON?
Chelsea are unlikely to let Jackson leave unless their valuation is met. Brighton are highly unlikely to show interest unless the price drops heavily, while United’s interest may cool over the next few weeks. The striker’s future will depend on both Chelsea’s squad plans and clubs' willingness to match the Blues' asking price.
With Mitchell injured, Josh Clarkson is set to make his T20I debut in the three-match home series against Australia
Deivarayan Muthu13-Feb-2024Trent Boult is back in New Zealand’s squad as they prepare for the T20 World Cup with a three-match T20I series at home against Australia, which begins on February 21 in Wellington.The left-arm seamer, though, has been picked for only the second and third T20Is. He is currently with MI Emirates in UAE’s ILT20 league, where his franchise has made it to the knockouts. Should MI Emirates make Saturday’s final, Boult will only have a six-day break before he lines up for New Zealand in the second T20I in Auckland.Boult has not played for New Zealand since the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final in Mumbai, where New Zealand lost to India. He then linked up with Deccan Gladiators for the Abu Dhabi T10 league before joining MI Emirates. This will be his first T20I appearance since New Zealand’s T20 World Cup semi-final defeat against Pakistan in November 2022.Boult’s return is a significant boost to a New Zealand side that will be without its regular captain Kane Williamson, who is on paternity leave, and premier allrounder Daryl Mitchell, who is undergoing rehab for a long-term foot injury. Mitchell has been carrying the injury for around six to seven months and is giving himself the best chance of recovering for the two-match Test series against Australia, which begins on February 29, also in Wellington.Related
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Mitchell’s injury-enforced absence opens up a potential debut for Central Districts’ big-hitting allrounder Josh Clarkson. Clarkson has played three ODIs for New Zealand so far, but is uncapped in T20Is. Since 2020, Clarkson has had a strike rate of 160.07 in the Super Smash, New Zealand’s premier domestic T20 tournament, the highest among all batters who have played more than 30 innings during this period.Clarkson, 27, hurt his shoulder during the most recent Super Smash, but the injury wasn’t as serious as initially feared and he returned to action for Central Districts in the 50-over Ford Trophy, where he also pitched in with the ball.”It’s been pretty crazy really,” Clarkson said, reacting to his T20I call-up. “Pretty crazy to be called up for the Bangladesh series and then now [for] the T20I series against the Aussies…it’s a pretty special feeling.”Growing up, Aussies are usually the pinnacle and the way they go about their game is sort of something that I try to imitate in my game. But yeah, pretty special feeling for myself and my family as well. I rang the old man yesterday and he’s in shock. He’s already booked his flight.”New Zealand selection manager Sam Wells was also impressed by Clarkson’s bowling in the ODIs against Bangladesh in December. On his international debut in a rain-hit game in Dunedin, Clarkson came away with 2 for 24 in his four overs.”Josh hits the ball as long and as hard as anyone and we were encouraged by his performances with the ball in his maiden ODI series against Bangladesh before Christmas,” Wells said.Josh Clarkson is in line for a T20I debut•Getty Images
Jimmy Neesham, who is currently with Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), and Michael Bracewell, who is recovering from a finger injury, were unavailable for selection. Mitchell Santner, who will captain the team in place of Williamson, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips are the spin-bowling allrounders in the squad.Tim Southee has been picked for only for the opening T20I as New Zealand manage his workload between the South Africa and Australia Test series. Lockie Ferguson, who missed the Super Smash final for Auckland with injury, is fit again, so he replaces young tearaway Ben Sears.Ferguson will have a chance to prove his fitness and form when he turns out for Auckland in the Ford Trophy this Sunday before he joins the New Zealand set-up on Monday in Wellington. Matt Henry retained his place in the side after impressing against Pakistan in January.Wells said that that the T20I series against a strong Australia team will tune New Zealand up for the World Cup, which begins in June in the USA and the West Indies.”Facing Australia is always special for a New Zealand side and even more so when it’s at home in front of a big Kiwi crowd,” he said. “Australia has named a strong squad which is packed with power and match-winners, so it promises to be an entertaining series. With a T20 World Cup just around the corner in June, the series should provide a good gauge of where the sides are at.”The first T20I will be played at Sky Stadium in Wellington before Australia and New Zealand will move to Eden Park in Auckland for the last two games.
New Zealand squad for Australia T20Is
Mitchell Santner (capt), Finn Allen, Trent Boult (second and third T20Is), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (first T20I only)
Heather Knight calls Devine’s innings “a really good lesson for our middle order and our batting group”
Valkerie Baynes07-Apr-2024
Sophie Devine got to her century with two sixes in the 39th over•Getty Images
Sophie Devine has described New Zealand’s victory in the final match of England’s tour as validation for the work her team has done behind the scenes to improve their position in world cricket.Devine led New Zealand to a seven-wicket win in the third and final ODI in Hamilton on Sunday after missing the fifth T20I and first two ODIs with a quad strain. Her unbeaten century, sealed with two sixes off what turned out to be the last three balls of the match, took the hosts to their 195 target for the loss of just three wickets with 11 overs to spare.It was a consolation given that England had won the T20 leg 4-1 and already assumed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODIs, but to Devine it represented more. It showed that New Zealand’s efforts to build depth within their existing squad were working after her pre-series lament over a lack of fresh names pressing for selection in a relatively tiny talent pool.Related
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“The great thing was everyone chipped in,” Devine said. “I thought Hannah Rowe was excellent up top, obviously Jess Kerr coming back in through the middle, the spinners did a great job as well.”I’m a bit wary though of Suzie Bates thinking that she’s going to be golden arm now, so we’ll have to keep her in check,” she added with a faint, wry smile. “But just a fantastic all-around team performance, and I guess it probably validates the work that we’re doing behind the scenes and knowing that when we get things right, we’re going to be a hard team to beat.”Veteran opener and part-time bowler Bates showed a knack for prising out key wickets in sparing spells during both series, but it was the performance of the whole bowling unit that most pleased Devine. She deployed six in this match while missing injured seamer Rosemary Mair since the T20Is finished. Seamers Rowe and Jess Kerr set up the win with three wickets apiece while Amelia Kerr chimed in with 2 for 46 to bowl England out for 194 with 3.3 overs remaining.”That’s what’s been happening probably the last 18, 24 months as we’ve been trying to build that bowling depth, [we have] so many options now and we bought Eden Carson in for another spin bowling option there today,” Devine said. “I thought Rosemary Mair has probably been our bowler of the series, unfortunate to lose her to injury, but the fact now that we’ve got players that can come in and perform, it puts us in a really good position in terms of putting pressure on each player, but also knowing that once you’re there that you can really do a job, especially being able to perform the way we have against a really strong England team.”Sometimes we’ve got to have a bit of perspective that what we are asking them [young players] to do is bloody tough and they’re not going to succeed every single time. That’s where the confidence and belief comes as we’re sticking with them and knowing that they’ve got the skills. We see how hard they work behind the scenes day in, day out, and hopefully they can get belief from that.”It was Devine’s powerful 93-ball century that sealed the win after New Zealand had stumbled to 14 for 2, losing openers Bates and Georgia Plimmer – promoted for an injured Bernadine Bezuidenhout – cheaply. She shared an unbroken century stand with Maddy Green after putting on 76 with Amelia Kerr. With 12 runs needed to win and reach her hundred, Devine struck Charlie Dean over the deep midwicket fence twice in three balls to secure both.Hannah Rowe took three wickets for New Zealand•Getty Images
“I’d been chomping at the bit to get out there and just help the team I guess and wanting to lead from the front, so when I got the opportunity today, I wanted to really knuckle down,” Devine said. “I’ve seen how hard these girls have worked the past couple of weeks on this series, and although results haven’t gone our way, the work that’s been going on behind the scenes I think is starting to show that we’re trending in the right direction.”Obviously we’ve still got a lot of work to do to stay in touch with the Australias [and] the Indias, but winning games of cricket like that I think shows that that was, I’d say, a comprehensive win for us against a top quality side.”And while her plan wasn’t to finish the match with two maximums, Devine particularly enjoyed looking Nat Sciver-Brunt in the eye afterwards. “I just wanted to get the job done and be really ruthless with that, and then Nat Sciver-Brunt started to chirp me and said, ‘you’ve got two shots, two balls, have a crack,’ sort of thing. If someone eggs me on, yeah, I’ve got a bit of a rubber arm. So yeah, look, the way it went, I’m just happy to finish the game with some overs to spare.”Heather Knight, the England captain, described the result as “frustrating” and was full of praise for Devine’s innings: “The pitch wasn’t quite straightforward, it was a bit of a tricky one, but I thought Sophie showed us exactly how to bat. The way she soaked up pressure at the start of her innings, tactically targeted a bowler that was a good matchup for her and was able to soak up that pressure and then put it back on us, I think is a really good lesson for our middle order and our batting group.”Both sides will meet again in England for three ODIs and five T20Is in June and July as they ramp up preparations for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year.Before travelling to England, Devine said her side were apprehensively looking forward to putting in more hard work to ensure gains made at home weren’t lost.”We’re going to be absolutely flogged if I’m being honest, and that’s what it takes,” Devine said. “We’ve identified a number of areas both with bat and ball and in the field that we’re going to have to improve a fair amount to keep up with these top sides and to play the style that we want to. There’s going to be a lot of balls being hit, a lot of balls being bowled and just doing that dirty, hard work in the pits of Lincoln and Mount Maunganui, so really looking forward to getting stuck in and working hard with this group.”
Pat Cummins has been appointed captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2024, replacing Aiden Markram who had led the team in the 2023 season.Cummins has not led a side in the IPL before – in fact, he has not led a team in top-flight T20 cricket before – but his appointment comes after a successful period as captain of Australia, during which he led them to victory in the World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup, with both wins in the finals coming against India.The move means that SRH will have the flexibility of playing their new signings – Australian batter Travis Head and Sri Lankan legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga – in addition to finisher Heinrich Klaasen instead of Markram if they want to do so, while Cummins slots in as the overseas fast bowler. Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi and South Africa’s Marco Jansen are the other overseas quicks in the squad, while New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips rounds off their roster of eight overseas players.Related
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Cummins had withdrawn from IPL 2023 to focus on international cricket but entered the auction for the 2024 season, where he became the first player in IPL history to get a bid of INR 20 crore (USD 2.4 million approximately). SRH’s record bid of INR 20.50 crore (USD 2.47 million approximately) for Cummins was shortly broken by Kolkata Knight Riders, who bid INR 24.75 crores (USD 2.98 million approximately) for Mitchell Starc. Cummins, coincidentally, had been part of the KKR squad from 2020 to 2022.
Cummins will be SRH’s third captain in three seasons. Kane Williamson led them to an eighth-place finish in 2022 before he was released ahead of the 2023 season, in which SRH finished last under Markram’s captaincy with only four wins in 14 league games. Markram scored only 248 runs at a strike rate of 129 in IPL 2023, and he remains in the SRH squad for the upcoming season. In the SA20, Cricket South Africa’s T20 league, Markram had led the Sunrisers Eastern Cape franchise to back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.In addition to the latest captaincy change, SRH had also named a new head coach ahead of the 2024 IPL season, with former New Zealand left-arm spinner and captain Daniel Vettori taking over from Brian Lara, who had in turn replaced Tom Moody as coach for IPL 2023.SRH also replaced Dale Steyn with former New Zealand allrounder James Franklin as their bowling coach.SRH begin their IPL 2024 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on March 23, and then play Mumbai Indians in Hyderabad on March 27.
Delhi Capitals, on a run of four defeats in five before the game, ended Lucknow Super Giants’ stranglehold on 160-plus defences
Alan Gardner12-Apr-20242:01
‘Kuldeep bowled the perfect ball to Pooran’
Delhi Capitals ended Lucknow Super Giants’ stranglehold on 160-plus defences and lifted themselves off the bottom of the IPL 2024 table with a six-wicket win in Lucknow on Friday. Kuldeep Yadav provided the inspiration on his return from injury before a sparkling half-century on IPL debut from Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk saw them reel in their target with 11 balls to spare.After choosing to bat, LSG produced a stuttering innings that still finished above the 160-mark – from which they had never lost when batting first. KL Rahul gave them a fast start with 39 off 22 before Kuldeep ripped out the guts of their line-up in the space of his first nine balls. Rahul’s dismissal by Kuldeep left LSG 77 for 5 and their position got worse before it got better.With the score 94 for 7 after 13 overs, DC appeared to be on course for a walkover. But Ayush Badoni’s 31-ball fifty and an unbroken stand of 73 with Arshad Khan – an IPL record for the eighth wicket – at least gave LSG’s vaunted spin attack something to bowl at.DC, on a run of four defeats in five, might have wondered if their chance had gone. Prithvi Shaw gave the chase a punchy start to settle some of the nerves and then it was over to Fraser-McGurk, the 22-year-old from Melbourne, to provide the fireworks. His first scoring shot was a wallop for six over deep midwicket and he cleared the ropes four more times to raise his half-century from 31 balls. He and Rishabh Pant departed after a stand of 77 off 46 but by then DC were well on track.Rishabh Pant and Jake Fraser-McGurk set up the chase for Delhi Capitals•Associated PressFraser-McGurk continues stunning riseIt is only six months since Fraser-McGurk grabbed headlines worldwide by breaking AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest List A hundred when he reached the mark off just 29 balls while batting for South Australia. Remarkably, that was his first century in professional cricket, but he enjoyed a breakthrough summer that culminated in him being capped during Australia’s ODI series against West Indies. He hit his third ball on debut for four, his fourth for six, and then was out to his fifth.Coming in at No. 3 in Lucknow, following the dismissal of David Warner by Yash Thakur, he stayed true to first principles. His second ball was swatted insouciantly off the front foot over midwicket – a shot his DC coach, Ricky Ponting, would doubtless have enjoyed – and he then launched an even bigger hit over wide long-on from his fifth.Another slash for four took him to 16 off seven (with three scoring shots) before the arrival of the LSG spinners to present a new challenge.A slowdown duly followed, with nine runs coming from his next 16 balls. But just when the game appeared to be back in the balance, Fraser-McGurk let loose against Krunal Pandya, carting him over midwicket, extra cover and long-off for three consecutive sixes that effectively put a nail in the home side’s chances.Pant leads from the frontAmid Capitals’ struggles, Pant has carried a particularly heavy burden: captain, wicketkeeper and star batter, and all this after more than a year out of the game after a car crash. His anguished chat with umpire Rohan Pandit during the LSG innings, having unsuccessfully tried to review a wide – Pant seeming to say he hadn’t reviewed it in the first place – summed up how things have been going.But after Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Shaw, via a superb diving catch in the deep from Nicholas Pooran, Pant played an astute hand. After ticking along initially, and with Fraser-McGurk becalmed, he skipped out to his 12th delivery to launch Bishnoi down the ground for an enormous straight six, following it up with a smash through the covers for four. Two more boundaries came in Marcus Stoinis’ over, including an audacious reverse-scoop, to keep DC up with the rate before Fraser-McGurk unleashed.The requirement was below a run a ball by the time Fraser-McGurk carved to deep third and although Pant was stumped in the next over, charging at Bishnoi, the hard work had been done.ESPNcricinfo LtdRahul rules early exchangesLSG have a tried-and-trusted template for batting first and looked to be well on track at the end of the powerplay. Quinton de Kock took a brace of fours off the opening over, Rahul’s third ball was emphatically thrashed over cover for a flat six, and although Khaleel Ahmed hit back to remove de Kock and Devdutt Padikkal – who extended his run of single-figure scores in an LSG shirt to five – there was no sense of panic in the stands (although things might have been different if Khaleel had held on to a sharp return catch off Stoinis’ first ball).Rahul responded by punching Khaleel back down the ground for four, before finding the boundary twice more off Mukesh Kumar as LSG ended the powerplay comfortably on 57 for 2. Ominously for DC, Rahul’s 30 off 14 represented his joint-highest six-over score for LSG.Kuldeep back with a bang-bangCapitals’ premier wristspinner had missed their last three games with a groin injury but he immediately grabbed the LSG innings by the throat. Stoinis was unable to make the most of his early reprieve, slicing a googly to backward point to give Kuldeep a wicket with his third ball. The next delivery was even better, another expertly disguised wrong’un duping LSG’s leading run-scorer Pooran, who played all around the ball to lose his off stump.In his second over, Kuldeep snuffed out Rahul’s punchy knock, too – a review confirming a thin edge behind as the LSG captain attempted to cut a quicker, wide delivery. With impact sub Deepak Hooda top-edging tamely to point and Krunal gloving a Mukesh bouncer behind, LSG had slumped to 94 for 7 and were seemingly in deep trouble.2:37
Jaffer: Badoni continues to surprise us
Badoni finishes like DhoniThe LSG innings went six full overs without a boundary as the middle order crumbled, but Badoni and Arshad steadily resurrected their chances. Badoni ended the drought with back-to-back fours off Mukesh, pulled fine and slapped over backward point, but otherwise focused on hoovering up ones and twos against the spin of Kuldeep and Axar Patel.With the return of pace for the 18th, Badoni decided it was time to go. Khaleel was duly smoked over deep midwicket for six, before Arshad followed suit by muscling his first boundary over mid-off. The No. 9 was dropped by Shaw off the final ball of the over, to compound Khaleel’s pain. Badoni lofted and then swept Mukesh on the way to a 31-ball fifty in the 19th, as the eighth-wicket pair successfully drove LSG above the 160-mark. This time, however, the magic deserted them.
Martin Williamson on how the Lucky Report has to result in changes within the WICB
Martin Williamson30-Aug-2005The West Indies Cricket Board had hoped to keep Justice Anthony Lucky’s report into the handling of the sponsorship negotiations with Digicel under close wraps, but that wish has disappeared in a spate of leaks. The resulting fallout has left the board’s reputation again under fire. Far from resolving the issue and clarifying what happened and who was to blame for what ended up as a shambolic mess, the report only seems to have further muddied the waters.Of the three main parties – the WICB, Digicel and Cable & Wireless – the two telecom companies have emerged largely unscathed. It is the WICB’s already tattered public image that has taken yet another beating. Their activities have been roundly condemned, and several senior officials have been openly criticised. And yet, because of comments made by Lucky which have grabbed the headlines, it may well be that some people who should be out on their ear actually survive as attention is diverted away from their actions.The problem is that even if the leaked comments are accurate – and nobody has come out to deny them – some close to board and sponsor privately feel Lucky has overstepped the mark with the additional personal comments he appended to the report itself. While he has rightly identified some dreadful practices, in stating that the contract with Digicel could be considered “null and void” they claim he made statements beyond his remit.Whatever the rights and wrongs of the board’s conduct, the fact is that Digicel are not going anywhere. Their part in the negotiations has not really been questioned, nor has their right to be the sponsors of West Indian cricket. The deficiencies of the board in their internal operations are not actually relevant to the outcome. Yes, the whole handling of the transfer from Cable & Wireless to Digicel was appallingly handled, and Digicel appear to have ended up with some clauses in the contract that should never have been allowed. But Digicel are legally the sponsors and will remain so. End of story.What Lucky has done is to highlight what most people suspected – that the WICB is a mess, and has conducted its operations in virtual secrecy. “Perhaps it is a good thing that some things have come out in the media,” Lucky said this week. “The WICB has been running the show as if it was a secret society or private club.”They might have got away with that had the business been run efficiently. But it has not, and financial worries, recent player strikes and on-field defeats have left Caribbean cricket at its lowest ebb since West Indies became a Test-playing nation. Much of the blame for that has to be laid at the door of the board, for the manner in which it has run its show.The latest leaks have cast light on the role of an intermediary in the negotiations. While such a ploy – and this was aimed at keeping Digicel’s identity secret from Cable & Wireless – is not abnormal business practice, the way that the board treated Cable & Wireless is certainly worth a closer investigation.The WICB’s own marketing officer has said that two main “driving forces” behind the Digicel deal were Teddy Griffith, the president at the time of the negotiations, and Roger Brathwaite, the chief executive. It is those early negotiations with Digicel which have indirectly led to the contract crisis in the Caribbean.Griffith stepped down in August, but Brathwaite remains. His position appeared increasingly shaky before the Lucky report landed on his desk. Now, in the light of the findings, it is even harder for him to continue to represent West Indies cricket. His relationship with the West Indies Players’ Association is almost non existent, and in many people’s eyes he is inexorably linked with the current state of West Indies cricket. Others on the board, especially in the commercial and marketing departments, are also under the spotlight.The board, a naturally secretive beast, opened Pandora’s Box with it’s decision to bring in Lucky to investigate the sponsorship dealings. However much it might now want to keep the bulk of his findings under wraps, the information is in the public domain and it will need to deal with the consequences – and to do so in the full glare of the public. Only then can West Indies cricket start to draw a line under the past and look towards building for the future.
The Indians were subjected to further misery on the third day of the Karachi Test by a batsman who was returning to Test cricket after three years in the wilderness
On the Ball with S Rajesh31-Jan-2006After suffering yet again at the hands of Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, the Indians were subjected to further misery on the third day of the Karachi Test by a batsman who was returning to Test cricket after three years in the wilderness. Faisal Iqbal had shown plenty of promise when he first came into the Pakistan side, starting off with 42, 52 not out and 63 in his first three Test innings, and then cracking a thoroughly impressive 83 and 39 in a low-scoring game against the Australians. Since then, he lost his way quite alarmingly, adding 80 in his next eight innings. (Click here for Iqbal’s innings-by-innings stats.)Coming back into the team due to Inzamam-ul-Haq’s back injury, Iqbal ensured that Pakistan didn’t lose out on any of the solidity that Inzamam usually provides. On a pitch getting increasingly easy for batting, Iqbal hardly gave the Indian bowlers a chance, managing an incredible in-control percentage of 94 – that is, he edged, mistimed or was beaten by only 12 out of 191 deliveries. He was fluent on both sides of the wicket, with the cover and midwicket regions fetching him the maximum runs.Iqbal’s 84-run partnership with Shahid Afridi for the fifth wicket also showed he possesses a fine temperament for Test cricket. Afridi did his usual thing, blasting the ball to all parts, but that didn’t tempt Iqbal to change his game. He contributed just 22 to the stand despite facing 23 more deliveries than Afridi did, but throughout, he played his own game, and at the end of the day, he was standing tall with a knock that could make him a regular in the Pakistan Test squad.