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Hampshire crash and burn in reply as visitors secure points by convincing margin

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-Jun-2025Dom Sibley continued Surrey’s dominance at Utilita Bowl in the Men’s Vitality Blast with a crushing 70 against Hampshire Hawks.Former England Test opener Sibley’s breezy 46-ball knock provided the backbone for his side’s commanding victory on the south coast – Surrey’s sixth straight T20 win on the ground.Opening partner Will Jacks and Sam Curran whacked quick-fire runs to back Sibley up as Surrey reached 193. Despite short explosive cameos from South African duo Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, two wickets apiece for the returning Reece Topley, Chris Jordan and Mitchell Santner, and 3 for 18 for Nathan Smith, gave the visitors a one-sided win.Having been put into bat, Jacks and Sibley seemed to amass runs without massive swings of the bat, with Sibley’s two sixes over midwicket anomalies in a 59-run powerplay.Jacks’ sweet timing had brought him 41 in a blink-of-an-eye 24 balls but Benny Howell’s introduction began a squeeze. Howell and Liam Dawson stopped the flow of runs with their off-pace deliveries, with Howell getting Jacks slapping to point and Jason Roy run out via a one-motion dive by James Vince.Sibley continued to turn over the strike, along with the odd boundary, as he found a tempo and stuck to it, reaching his ninth T20 fifty in 32 balls.He eventually fell for an impressive 70, but that only began the Surrey fireworks – with 51 runs coming from the last four overs. Sam Curran baseball-swatted Chris Wood and then swivelled James Fuller for sixes, and when he was out his brother Tom fired an outrageous six over extra cover.In the second half of the innings, Surrey only allowed 10 dot balls, with power-hitting interspersing smart running.In Hampshire’s reply, Pretorius almost monopolised the strike in the first three-and-a-half overs, but when he hit the ball, it stayed hit. His third-ball wristy flick off his pads cleared the ropes with ease, before one of three fours cannoned off the non-striker’s stumps and into the padding in next to no time.But Jacks stopped him in his tracks, when a reverse sweep went wrong, before Vince – who had only faced eight balls in 4.5 overs – spliced to mid-on.Toby Albert was caught behind by a tumbling Laurie Evans, but Brevis blew some life back into the innings with a six straight into a cameraman and then an audacious back-foot hammer for another maximum. But scoreboard pressure saw more and more desperate rash shots, and each seemed to be paired with a catch.Brevis, Joe Weatherley, Fuller, Dawson, Howell, and John Turner all took to the sky, while Wood was castled.

Fast bowler proud of collective efforts as teams reconvene at Old Trafford in wake of epic third Test

Andrew Miller21-Jul-2025Brydon Carse says that England’s attritional approach to victory in last week’s pulsating Lord’s Test has shown how the team is willing to adapt its familiar free-flowing style in pursuit of glory against India and Australia this year.Carse contributed a vital half-century in England’s atypically slow-paced first innings of 387, which came at a run rate of 3.44 across 112.3 overs. He then claimed 3 for 118 across India’s two innings, including a pivotal two-wicket burst late on the fourth evening, when he utilised the Lord’s slope to perfection to trap Karun Nair and Shubman Gill lbw from the Pavilion End.”The atmosphere was incredible, the adrenaline was flowing,” Carse told ESPNcricinfo. “It was an incredibly crucial stage of the game that I was desperate to make an impact in, and I felt in good rhythm bowling that evening.Related

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“To be able to pick up a couple of wickets in that spell and put the momentum back into our hands going into day five was incredibly satisfying. At times, over the course of the series so far, I feel like I’ve been bowling well and maybe haven’t had as much luck as I would have liked, but that was certainly satisfying for me.”It was not the typical style of cricket that we would like to play, and it took some adjustment, but it shows this side can move forward and adapt to certain situations.”We spoke a lot at the start of the series about how to get to that next level, about being a dominant Test team and the best Test team in the world. And as this game panned out, we showed that it’s not always going to be one-minded or a certain style of cricket. So, it was very satisfying as a group.”By the end of it all, however, Carse admitted his over-riding emotion was “relief”, when – with India just 22 runs adrift after an epic rearguard led by Ravindra Jadeja – Shoaib Bashir defied the pain of a broken finger to extract the final wicket of Mohammad Siraj.”You wanted to fall to your knees, almost,” Carse added, speaking in his new role as an ambassador for Step One underwear. “It was unbelievable, after all the hard work that the group put in over those five days. It was the best game that I’ve been involved in with England. And, from speaking to the guys who’ve played a lot of franchise cricket and Tests, like Harry Brook, who I get on really well with, he was saying that’s his best Test win. So to hear that among the group, and to share those thoughts after the game, was a special feeling.”Once we got off that field and walked through the Long Room, it was an incredible atmosphere … really loud. A couple of the guys who had played in the Ashes said that’s the loudest they’ve ever heard the Long Room. It was a pretty special week.”After a week’s break, England reconvene at Emirates Old Trafford this week with a 2-1 series lead, and two Tests left to play. The downtime, Carse admitted, had come at an opportune moment after the team had been forced to dig extraordinarily deep to close out a classic contest.The England players celebrate after Siraj’s dismissal•PA Images via Getty Images

“It was a complete collective effort from all the bowlers,” he said, with England pounding through nearly 200 overs on a slow Lord’s surface that offered little once the hardness of the new ball had worn off.”At times in that first innings, it was an incredibly long slog. But we kept coming and we kept on trying different plans. And, even in that second innings, all five bowlers contributed at certain times, so it felt really satisfying as a group of bowlers.”No one epitomised the hard graft better than England’s captain, Ben Stokes, who took it upon himself to deliver two gut-busting spells on the final day – one of 9.2 overs in the morning session, and another of ten in the afternoon, when the Dukes ball was at its softest and least responsive.”We had spoken about it as a group of seamers in that morning,” Carse said. “When we started that day, the ball was maybe 20 overs old and relatively hard, so we knew the first hour was going to be important again. But Lord’s was sold out and it was loud and tense at times, and the way Stokes captained the side, he doubled down on his method, and stuck to it right up until the end.”There was always that level of calmness that comes from him out there, and that feeds on to the players. But it probably went on a little bit longer than we would have liked. And that second session, looking back at it now, was probably one of the toughest sessions that I’ve had so far in my Test career.”Physically, however, Carse insists he’s still in a good place despite his exertions. Earlier this year, he was forced to miss the Champions Trophy after suffering an infection in the second toe of his left foot, and even joked that he’d considered amputation in a bid to get round a problem that had been caused by the heavy impact of his braced front leg in his delivery stride.”Yeah, I’m good,” he said. “Obviously, over the winter I was struggling, because I was playing with an open wound and eventually I just couldn’t sustain bowling on it.”But that problem is gone, it’s completely healed up. My feet are never going to be perfect, but at the moment, they’re in a good enough space that I’m happy with. I am going through bowling boots quite quickly – I had a couple of fresh pairs in the last game – and hopefully there will be a slightly better solution longer term.”Stokesy’s feet aren’t the greatest looking things, either, and he always jokes with me, it takes a couple of balls just to knock the top off, and then you’re into your work. But when you’ve got eight or nine times your body weight [being transferred through your bowling action], and with the amount of cricket that I’ve played so far this summer for England, I’m very comfortable and confident at where I’m at in regards with my body.”It was a tough contest mentally as well, as shown by various flashpoints between the teams across the five days – from Zak Crawley’s confrontation with Gill on the third evening, to Carse’s own altercation with Jadeja after an inadvertent collision while running between the wickets. The respect between the teams was in full evidence at the end, when England’s fielders came over to console Jadeja and Siraj after their heroics with the bat, but up until that point there was no quarter given.”We had a conversation on the evening of day three, when the Indian side was getting stuck into our two batters,” Carse said. “That shifted the mentality and the mood of our whole group, that we were going to be right up for this and get stuck in.”When you playing Test cricket, with the crowd and the pressure and the emotion, and how much everyone wanted to win that game, I think it’s great. There’s always obviously a line, and you don’t want to cross that line. But when you’re out on that field, and there’s 10 other blokes all fighting your corner, it’s pretty cool. And it’s what the game needed at that time.”Step One is a pioneering eco-friendly underwear brand known for its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and performance. For more info on all Step One products visit www.stepone.life

Brendan Nash managed only 18 in his first game at the Gabba since being dropped by Queensland in 2006-07

Peter English at the Gabba27-Nov-2009Out walks Brendan Nash, the West Indies No. 6, for his first game at the Gabba since he was dropped by Queensland in 2006-07 and the man holding the ball is Mitchell Johnson. Nash’s former house-mate is a sensitive brute but was not being friendly.”They are booing you mate,” Johnson said sneakily before following up the verbal welcome with a slightly misguided bouncer. “It was always going to happen, bowling a short one first up,” Johnson said. “I think he expected it as well, but I probably wish it was a bit more towards his helmet.” Johnson is smiling but that doesn’t mean he won’t repeat the method again the next time he runs in. Nash knows it too.As Nash took guard Shane Watson, another former team-mate, was standing in the slips and Nathan Hauritz was hovering in the field. Nash and Hauritz, the offspinner, went to school together at Brisbane’s Nudgee College and played together for the Norths club. The reunion of the quartet is even stranger considering none of them live here anymore.Johnson and Watson followed their girlfriends interstate while Hauritz and Nash realised their cricketing lives lay elsewhere when squeezed out by Queensland. Hauritz followed the spin to New South Wales and Nash returned to his family roots in Jamaica, with both embarking on amazing journeys that earned them international status and a life of perks.All four achieved something on the second day of the first Test but the three Australians were in the better place. Johnson’s two wickets helped reduce West Indies to a wobbly 5 for 134 at stumps. Nash struck a couple of cut boundaries before edging Watson behind on 18 after Hauritz’s unbeaten 50, his maiden half-century, had pushed Australia to a formidable 8 for 480 declared.The brief battle of the housemates was the most fun. It’s always awkward when friends oppose each other and the bond between Nash and Johnson was strong during their lives sharing washing up duty and fighting for the best spot on the couch. Both were on the outer with their states and Johnson appeared to be in a lost battle with his fragile back. Nash, who was then working as a mortgage broker, was one of those who assisted Johnson on the journey from delivery driver to the ICC’s Cricketer of the Year.”I was walking back to the top of my mark and it was quite strange,” Johnson said. “The first couple of balls I was laughing on the inside to myself that I was bowling to him, but after he cut me I wasn’t too happy. I thought I have to get a bit more serious about this.”Denesh Ramdin, the West Indies vice-captain, felt Nash was more worried than usual as he went out to face his old team-mates in front of small group of supporters wearing “Team Nash” shirts. Nash’s parents still live in Brisbane and his wife Hannah grew up here too.”I’m sure he went out there today with a few nerves,” Ramdin said. “He hit a couple of boundaries there and I’m sure he wanted to press on and get some runs in front of his people and his fans. Unfortunately that’s cricket. Hopefully he gets another chance in the second innings.”

Only an unlikely hefty South Africa defeat at the hands of England can keep Afghanistan’s tournament alive

Tristan Lavalette28-Feb-20251:49

Jaffer: Omarzai a ‘proper genuine allrounder’

Match abandoned due to rain Befitting the latest chapter in this budding rivalry, there were wicked swings of momentum while a hobbled Australia batter at the crease evoked the wildest match in the short history between these teams.But in a great shame, Lahore’s inclement weather cut short a high-stakes contest that felt like it still had several twists ahead. Australia had been well placed at 109 for 1 after 12.5 overs chasing 274 before a downpour hit the ground. Rain eventually stopped but parts of the field were soaked and the match had to be abandoned.The teams shared the points and that was enough for Australia to progress through to the semi-finals after their second consecutive match was negated by rain. But Afghanistan saw their hopes of progression wash away as only an unlikely hefty South Africa defeat at the hands of England can keep their tournament alive.Chasing a tricky total under lights, Matthew Short came to the crease limping after picking up a quad injury in the field. Unable to run, he was clearly laboured and one wondered why he was even out there.Perhaps his one-legged presence was to spook Afghanistan and revive memories of Glenn Maxwell’s astonishing double-century at the 2023 World Cup – the last ODI between the teams.Travis Head and Steven Smith put on 65 before having to go off for rain•ICC/Getty Images

It wasn’t quite Maxwell-like, but Short’s stand-and-deliver innings did help Australia get off to a flier as he put on 44 inside five overs with Travis Head.But they were aided by sloppy Afghanistan fielding with Head dropped by Rashid Khan on 6 at mid-on after miscuing a pull off quick Fazalhaq Farooqi. He then smashed a six off the next ball to rub salt in the wounds.Short on 19 was given a reprieve by substitute Nangialai Kharoti at deep square leg as Afghanistan were getting flashbacks of Mumbai. But Short could not capitalise and fell off his next delivery when he hit Azmatullah Omarzai towards mid-on where Gulbadin Naib took a good catch before showing off his muscles in celebration.Head quickly regained Australia’s ascendency and pounced on wayward bowling from Farooqi, reaching his half-century off 34 balls. Stand-in skipper Steven Smith donned the cap once Afghanistan’s spinners entered the attack but Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad did not threaten. Rashid had yet to bowl by the time rain spoiled the party in the 13th over with Head on 59 off 40 and Smith unbeaten on 19.It ended what had been a topsy-turvy match, with Afghanistan’s innings of 273 from 50 overs a rollercoaster. They started well with No. 3 Sediqullah Atal dominating the first half of the innings with 85 off 95 balls before Omarzai blazed 67 off 63 to power Afghanistan in the back end. But their total could have been greater if not for several rash dismissals which derailed momentum at crucial junctures.Australia’s performance with the ball was also a mishmash. Once again life without the big three quicks of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood proved tough and their 37 extras was Australia’s joint-fifth-most conceded in ODI cricket.Sediqullah Atal dominated the first half of Afghanistan’s innings with 85 off 95 balls•ICC/Getty Images

With heavy rain lashing Lahore ahead of the match, there had been fears that the match might be completely rained out much like Australia’s clash with South Africa earlier in the week.But the weather cleared in the nick of time and Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi had no hesitation to bat first on what was expected to be a flat surface. However, the ball moved around considerably on a pitch that had spent plenty of time under the covers in the lead-up.Left-arm quick Spencer Johnson retained his spot in the team ahead of seam-bowling allrounder Sean Abbott despite being overlooked in the death overs against England.Having long drawn comparisons with Starc, Johnson would have made his mentor beam when he unfurled a deadly inswinging yorker that went through the defence of Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the opening over.Johnson isn’t a noted exponent of the full-pitch delivery, with back-of-a-length bowling more his prowess. But he was wayward after his initial breakthrough and a flustered Smith could not contain his annoyance as the extras leaked.All eyes were on Ibrahim Zadran after his record-breaking Champions Trophy knock of 177 against England. He and Atal were in survival mode early as the ball flew past the bat on numerous occasions, but they held firm in a 67-run partnership to see off the new-ball threat.After all that fight, Zadran didn’t kick on and he fell tamely on 22 when he whacked a short and wide delivery off legspinner Adam Zampa straight to backward point. Maxwell supported Zampa well and picked up Rahmat Shah after a sharp catch by Josh Inglis behind the stumps as Afghanistan slumped to 91 for 3.Azmatullah Omarzai kept Afghanistan going even as wickets fell at the other end•ICC/Getty Images

Atal was unperturbed by the predicament and decided to force the issue against the spinners, targeting deep midwicket to good effect as he smashed a six to reach his half-century in style off 64 balls.Atal was on a roll and successfully collared Zampa out of the attack. He did have luck on 74 when a big lbw shout from seamer Nathan Ellis was turned down. Australia did not review in the belief that the ball pitched outside leg stump, but replays confirmed otherwise.Australia were not made to pay after Smith made his latest successful bowling change by reverting back to Johnson, who ended Atal’s bid for a second ODI century when he hit straight to cover.With Atal’s free-flowing innings dashed, Afghanistan went through a lull in the middle overs with the culprit being Shahidi who dawdled to 20 off 48 before miscuing a sweep off Zampa to square leg. His strike rate of 40.81 was the third lowest by an Afghan batter in ODIs (min 40 balls faced) in this decade.Australia so far in this tournament have banked on batting depth, but they’ve had part-time spinners step up. Against England it was Marnus Labuschagne’s legspin, while Short stepped up here to concede just 21 runs from seven extremely handy overs.Afghanistan spiralled and lost Nabi to a comical run-out as they slid to 199 for 7 and seemed to be falling well short of a competitive score. But Omarzai took over by farming the strike and his power-hitting saw five mighty blows sail over the rope, three off Ellis who is normally so proficient at the death.There was an unusual incident late in the innings that could have blown up when Noor drifted from his crease believing the over was done only for Inglis to take the bails off after the throw came in from the deep. Inglis appealed for a run-out only for Smith to nip a potential controversial moment in the bud by telling the umpires not to consider the appeal.The moment proved a non-event to foreshadow what was ahead later in the night.

Fast bowler adds to Durham’s growing squad ahead of maiden season as Tier 1 county

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2024Lauren Filer, the England fast bowler, has joined Durham on a three-year deal, ahead of the club’s maiden season as a Tier 1 women’s county in 2025.Filer, the fastest bowler in England’s current ranks, follows her international team-mate Mady Villiers as another significant signing for Durham, who have taken over from Headingley-based Northern Diamonds as the northern-most representative in the new women’s domestic set-up.Now aged 23, Filer made her mark on the international game during last summer’s Ashes, including a memorablly hostile debut in the one-off Test at Trent Bridge. To date, she has played 17 matches across formats for England, but was overlooked for this month’s T20 World Cup in the UAE.She heads to Durham after coming through Somerset’s pathway, having made 41 appearances for Western Storm since signing her first professional contract in 2020, with her best figures of 3 for 8 coming in this season’s Charlotte Edwards Cup.She has also appeared for Welsh Fire, London Spirit and Manchester Originals in the Women’s Hundred, and claimed an England-best haul of 3 for 10 during the recent ODI series against Ireland in Belfast.Related

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“I’m super excited to make the move up north,” Filer said. “Durham is a great place where I share some very happy cricketing memories.”The values the club holds as a whole were extremely important to my move up to the North East and they hold everything I think is necessary for a successful and healthy environment.”After the change to the women’s structure, it’s important to keep the women’s game moving in the right direction, and I believe Durham has the support and infrastructure to do that. With this vision and the extremely talented group of girls we have, it’s very exciting to see what we can do.”Marcus North, Durham’s Director of Cricket, added: “We are delighted to have signed one of the most exciting young fast bowlers in England.
“Lauren is already regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the women’s game since bursting onto the international scene during the Women’s Ashes last year and we cannot wait to welcome her to Durham.”Our squad is coming together nicely and with the addition of Lauren she adds a huge point of difference with her pace and quality.
“We look forward to supporting Lauren’s ambitions on the field for England and in playing an integral part in establishing a successful Women’s Team at Durham.”