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On the day that wooden spoonists Glamorgan announced an external review, their batsmen finally showed signs of life at Sophia Gardens

ECB Reporters Network and ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-2018
ScorecardGlamorgan, still searching for their second victory in Division Two of the Specsavers County Championship, responded to the announcement of an external review into their dismal season by reaching 331 for 8 at the close of the first day against Leicestershire at Sophia Gardens.In stark contrast to this season, the Welsh county built a series of solid partnerships to set the foundations of the innings, with five in excess of 50, a rarity for them in Championship cricket this season.Leicestershire initially took control on the first morning, as Glamorgan ended on 109 for 3 at lunch.Their Championship debutant fast bowler Tom Taylor had picked up his first two scalps in the morning, dismissing Nick Selman and Jack Murphy cheaply, as an all too familiar tale of batting woes for Glamorgan had looked set to continue. Taylor struck in successive overs, striking Nick Selman in front, before Jack Murphy holed out to Ben Mike at backward point.On the stroke of lunch, experienced South African Stephen Cook, who was brought in for late-season stability but who had only previously managed a highest score of 20 for the Welsh side, was leg before to Callum Parkinson for 36, as Glamorgan found themselves 96 for 3. Carlson remained at the crease on 48, with seven fours to his name from 67 balls.They secured their first batting point at Sophia Gardens since June during the afternoon session. Kiran Carlson brought up his 70-ball half-century with his eighth boundary in the first over of the afternoon from Dieter Klein, and he raced to 61 with two further fours.The boundaries flowed in the 32nd over, as Carlson drove Taylor either side of the wicket in consecutive deliveries before finding the ropes again two balls later and again in the following over, driving Ben Mike through backward point for the fifteenth boundary of his innings.Carlson’s resistance ended, however, when he was bowled by Mike for 83. Lawlor, off the mark from his nineteenth delivery, soon followed, leg before to Dieter Klein for two, as Glamorgan lost two wickets for no runs.When Craig Meschede and Chris Cooke came together at 148 for 5, another rescue mission was required and they duly obliged with a fifty partnership in 10.1 overs securing Glamorgan’s first batting point since the game against Warwickshire at Colwyn Bay in late August.A sixth wicket fell on 207, however, when Chris Cooke was caught behind off Gavin Griffiths for 27, ending a stand of 59 with Meschede, who was unbeaten on 39 as Glamorgan reached 228 for 6 at tea.Having waited a month since their last batting point, Glamorgan obtained a second as Graham Wagg and Craig Meschede, for the seventh wicket, guided their side beyond 250.Meschede, soon after he had reached his half-century from 107 balls, saw Graham Wagg dismissed lbw to Callum Parkinson for 28, ending a 61 partnership, before he was caught at backward point for 55, attempting a cut shot off Colin Ackermann to leave Glamorgan on 268 for 8.Timm van der Gugten, who scored an unbeaten 60 against Gloucestershire here two weeks ago, and Kieran Bull added an unbroken 63 for the ninth wicket.

England and New Zealand played out an entertaining series, although the decider was one-sided. What stood out over the five matches?

Andrew McGlashan in Hamilton11-Mar-2018England’s batting can adaptThere was little doubt about England’s prowess on true batting pitches, but questions remained how willing they were to curb their natural instincts with the Champions Trophy semi-final against Pakistan and two startling collapses against the swinging ball, at Lord’s and in Adelaide, as examples. The victory in Wellington on a grubby, uneven drop-in pitch was, therefore, significant with them having to assess that it wasn’t even a 270 wicket and dig their way to a defendable score. In fact, the major collapse which came in this series was a new variety: losing 8 for 46 in Dunedin having been 267 for 1. But to knock off the runs in Christchurch in such domineering fashion meant that the batting bandwagon continued to role.Liam Plunkett plays a vital roleLed by Man of the Series Chris Woakes, England were outstanding with the new ball – never letting New Zealand get off to a flyer and twice keeping them to under three-an-over in the first 10. In three of the matches that was backed up very effectively by the spin pair of Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali. However, the contrast between spin and pace in the middle overs was stark: between overs 11 and 40, the spinners took 11 wickets and conceded 4.50 per over, the quicks took three wickets and conceded 5.96. Partly, that can be attributed to the spinners bowling extensively in that period, but it also highlighted the crucial role that Liam Plunkett has played in extracting life when the two new balls have become a little softer and before ‘death’ skills take over. In 2017, Plunkett was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in ODIs. He is in that World Cup starting XI, fitness permitting.New Zealand have a problem at the topNew Zealand’s opening partnership had a shocker. The highest stand between Martin Guptill and Colin Munro in five matches was 12. It meant, in the four matches he played, Kane Williamson was exposed early. He is good enough to overcome that, but it’s an added pressure on the captain. Barring his 49 in Wellington – a worthy if lucky innings – Munro was batting in single digits. It appeared to have a knock-on effect on Guptill who, even in his two more substantial innings, could not break the shackles. Munro had showed some promise when pushed up to the opening role but against high-quality seam and swing he is vulnerable. With the 2019 World Cup in the first part of the English season, that could be a problem.Ross Taylor brings out the trademark hundred celebration•Getty Images

Ben Stokes can keep his focusThe start of the series marked the big comeback. Five months after the incident in Bristol that led to a not-guilty plea to a charge of affray, Ben Stokes returned to international cricket. In truth it was a soft landing, a world away from the reception and scrutiny he would have received in Australia. Still, Stokes has had a lot on his plate so it wasn’t a given how seamlessly he would slot back in. Parking the debate about whether he should have been on the tour, it was a successful series for him. He almost turned the opening match with two wickets and was Man of the Match in Mount Maunganui. He was never used for his full 10 overs – and his Test workload will be interesting to watch – but he hit good pace, looked in decent nick with the bat (his determination in Wellington was impressive) and was a livewire in the field.Ish Sodhi makes his caseAt the beginning of the series, Ish Sodhi was effectively included in the squad as cover for fellow legspinner Todd Astle who was carrying a niggle. He quickly became the first-choice. Hamilton was Sodhi’s first ODI since last May, when New Zealand took a second-string side to Ireland, but was preferred throughout when the XI wanted two spinners and his career-best 4 for 58 helped turn the match in Dunedin. There was some severe tap for him in Christchurch courtesy of Jonny Bairstow and there remained plenty of loose stuff thrown in, but he is a wicket-taker. Continuing to work on his batting and fielding could be key to whether he makes the 2019 World Cup squad.Ross Taylor on one leg is better than some on twoIt’s a decent pub debate: was New Zealand’s greatest ODI innings played by Ross Taylor in Dunedin? He is batting on another level at the moment, the unbeaten 181 followed another matchwinning hundred in Hamilton, and New Zealand will be desperate that his body stands up for at least another 18 months. Alongside Williamson he is irreplaceable in this current New Zealand era. The match he was run out in and the two he missed, New Zealand lost. Though Tom Latham showed development in the middle-order role – combining with Taylor for stands of 178 and 187 – the loss of either Taylor or Williamson is too great a burden for the team to cover.

Promoted Worcestershire have been hard to break at the Ageas Bowl and Hampshire needed Kyle Abbott’s ability not just with the ball but also with the bat

ECB Reporters Network15-Apr-2018
ScorecardKyle Abbott stood out with bat and ball•Getty Images

Kyle Abbott mastered both bat and ball for Hampshire during a rain-affected third day of their Specsavers County Championship with Worcestershire.Abbott scored an impressive half century in the morning before striking three times either side of a prolonged break to leave his team needing seven wickets on the final day, with Worcestershire requiring 265 runs to win.Abbott took 60 wickets and scored a useful 418 Championship runs in his debut campaign after joining Hampshire as a Kolpak. And a similarly prosperous season could be in store, with six wickets and 51 runs already chalked up in the opening fixture of 2018.After running our Hashim Amla the previous day, Abbott admitted he felt he had work to do.”To be honest I lost a little bit of sleep last night running out the best batsman in the world but I came out this morning with a little bit of fire in my belly,” he said.There’s plenty in that wicket. It’s going up and down, it’s still nibbling about. I think it would take a big effort. Nothing’s impossible but I still think we’ve got the ball firmly in our court.”I wasn’t in the greatest rhythm to be quite honest, I struggled a bit. The run ups are still a bit wet and now and then you just slip on the crease and lose your body position a bit.”Resuming on four in the morning, Abbott owed his side with the bat having suffered a golden duck in the first innings before running out well-set debutant, and former South African teammate, Hashim Amla the previous evening.The name of the game for Worcestershire was grab the two early wickets and set about a chase, but that was not to happen. Abbott, alongside Brad Wheal, batted in supreme comfort – with the ball offering very little for the Worcestershire bowlers despite a green-tinged wicket and thick grey skies.The pair proceeded to keep pushing Hampshire’s lead, which started the day 242 runs ahead, with crunching drives and delicate flicks off the legs the regular method of scoring.Abbott and Wheal added 72-runs for the ninth wicket before the latter edged Ed Barnard to Joe Clarke at second slip – scoring his 100th first-class run and his highest professional score of 19.Abbott continued and reached his seventh first-class half century from 69 balls – along with adding another 15 runs with Fidel Edwards.
But he ended the innings with an attempted drive, which flew to George Rhodes at first slip -Hampshire reaching 244 and setting their visitors 324 runs to win.In a tricky seven over spell before lunch, Abbott struck to dismiss Brett D’Oliviera – the opener stuck on the crease to an in-ducker.
Progress was then stunted by a prolonged rain break – which forced play to be suspended for the entirety of the afternoon session and most of the evening.In total 51 overs had been lost to set up a tricky 16 over spell for the Worcestershire batsman. And so it proved when man-of-the-day Abbott struck just five balls after the resumption, as he created an angle to slam into Tom Fell’s off-stump.Daryl Mitchell and Clarke appeared to have bedded down with a riskless 32 run stand before Abbott rapped the latter on the pads.
Mitchell, who ended on 34 not out, was assisted to the close by nightwatchman Josh Tongue.

India are unlikely to make any changes to their playing XI, but West Indies might be tempted to bring in the left-arm pace of Jediah Blades

Sidharth Monga09-Oct-20253:13

Gill outlines the challenges of being an all-format player

Big picture: Series sweep on India’s mind

The late Khushwant Singh, one of the more illustrious lovers and residents of Delhi, called October in the city the “pleasantest” of all the months in the northern hemisphere. Like with most things Khushwant, the statement sparks lively debate, especially with lovers of spring in late February and March.This is all relative now: with rampant urbanisation and climate change, it is now more about which months are less unpleasant and less harmful to your health. The BCCI has just about winged the most harmful time for elite athletes to undertake high-performance activity – not before being called out for it – and the early snowfall in the hills has cooled the temperatures to the usual October levels to tease those given to wistfulness for the Delhi of old.Related

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Those given to wistfulness also yearn for the West Indies of the old. Not the one that lasted just 89.2 overs in the first Test. More importantly, not the one that looked unthreatening with the ball in an effort of 5 for 448. Not the side whose coach Daren Sammy has to hope a player will “accept” the opportunity when he calls to inform them they have been selected for West Indies.There is not a lot West Indies can hope to change between the two Tests. Ahmedabad, with an early-season greenness on the pitch, was their best chance, but they were without the Josephs, Alzarri and Shamar. In Delhi, the onus will be more on the slower bowlers.It doesn’t help that India are somewhere close to their best after the blip against New Zealand last year. With the exception of Rishabh Pant, whose fractured foot hasn’t fully healed yet, they are at full strength. They are keen on making this a clean sweep, which will take their WTC points percentage to 61.9, still in third place.

Form guide

India WWDLW
West Indies LLLLW1:33

Chopra: ‘West Indies batters need belief on better batting pitch’

In the spotlight: Nitish Kumar Reddy and Jomel Warrican

Test cricket is not where you prepare players for the future, but like Hardik Pandya almost a decade ago, India want to give Nitish Kumar Reddy a proper workload in slightly lesser challenges so that he can be the seam-bowling allrounder India need not just in away Tests but also the ODI World Cup in South Africa in 2027. Ryan ten Doeschate, their assistant coach, said just that two days before this Test. In Ahmedabad, he got to bowl only four overs and didn’t get to bat at all. It remains to be seen if India go out of their way to involve him more in this Test.Jomel Warrican is the vice-captain of the side, their most experienced specialist spinner, and joint-most experienced bowler. But he averages 54.25 in four Tests against India, two each at home and away. He will want to do way better in Delhi than the 29-5-102-1 he returned in Ahmedabad.0:49

Chopra: ‘Sai Sudharsan needs runs or the pressure will mount’

Team news: Could Devdutt Padikkal get a game?

India have no reason to change their XI. However, is B Sai Sudharsan feeling any heat, and is Devdutt Padikkal breathing down his neck?India (possible): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 B Sai Sudharsan, 4 Shubman Gill (capt), 5 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed SirajIt doesn’t make a lot of sense to change the batting on such a short trip. The one change West Indies might consider is bringing in Jediah Blades to give themselves a left-arm seam option.West Indies (possible): 1 Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 2 John Campbell, 3 Alick Athanaze, 4 Brandon King, 5 Shai Hope (wk), 6 Roston Chase (capt), 7 Justin Greaves, 8 Jomel Warrican, 9 Khary Pierre, 10 Johann Layne/Jediah Blades, 11 Jayden Seales

Pitch and conditions

Delhi is likely to be a typical Indian track, good for batting on the first two-and-a-bit days before bringing the spinners into the game. The drop in temperatures should make it difficult for the pitch to break up suddenly. The week in the lead-up to the Test has brought some rain, but the Test is not likely to be affected.3:31

Sammy: ‘Our problems are rooted deep into our system’

Stats and trivia

• India haven’t lost a Test in Delhi since November 1987, which, incidentally, was to West Indies. Since then, they have won 12 and drawn 12.
• Ravindra Jadeja is ten short of 4000 Test runs. Only Ian Botham, Kapil Dev and Daniel Vettori before him have achieved the double of 4000 runs and 300 wickets.

Quotes

“We think it would be unfair on the guy [Reddy] if we only play him overseas. Because that doesn’t give him that many opportunities. In the next year and a half, we aren’t playing that many matches outside of India, so to be able to back a guy who can bowl 10-15 overs in a day and can bat as well – we sat his ability and potential in Australia – so we want to give him as much game time in India to help him.”
India captain Shubman Gill doesn’t feel Reddy is an option only for overseas Tests“If we complain about not having the best facilities, not having enough manpower like the other teams, not having the best technology, all these things which the other teams are superior to us [in], then why the hell are they still outworking us? The only way we could match up [and] compete at a consistent level is if we as the coaches and the players are prepared to outwork the opposition, and we’re not doing that.”

Kusal Mendis, too, has started the World Cup with two low scores, but John Lewis says both players are too good not to come right soon

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Bristol10-Jun-2019Angelo Mathews has batted 11 balls at this World Cup, and made a grand total of zero runs. Kusal Mendis has faced all of three deliveries, getting out to two of those, and hitting a streaky two past slip off the other. Together, the pair are supposed to comprise Sri Lanka’s middle-order engine room, but in both matches so far, they have hastened collapses, and copped criticism in vast volumes. But they are too good not to come right soon, insists batting coach Jon Lewis. Mathews knows how to get himself out of these funks. And young Mendis just needs a bit of love.ALSO READ: Nuwan Pradeep ruled out of Bangladesh game“I think with Angelo, you’ve got to have faith in the guy who has done as much as he has over such a long period of time, and he tells me that he’s in a good place,” Lewis said ahead of Sri Lanka’s match against Bangladesh. “He’s comfortable with his game. You know, at this stage I’ve got no reason to doubt that the runs will come for him. You can’t expect him to go on not producing big runs soon. It’s going to come for a player of his quality.””Kusal could do with a little bit of a confidence boost. For him it’s just a case of getting through those first 20 balls, because in the build up to the World Cup, in Scotland, he played very well. The two warm-up games against excellent bowling attacks, he was in good form. He only got 20s and 30s (24 and 37), which was a bit of a downer – it would have been a good opportunity to get a big score. But there was nothing about his form in those two games that suggested that there’s anything to worry about. He’s had two low scores, and yeah, it will be good if he had some more runs behind him. But he’s probably only 20 balls away.”Although a developing Test batsman, having hit 1000 runs in the longest format last year, Mendis, 24 now, hasn’t quite cracked ODIs. Late last year he went through a stretch when he made three consecutive one-day ducks, and then a five. A free-flowing player at his best, he has made only one ODI hundred, and averages 27.77 after 63 innings.”In Tests and T20s, Kusal’s numbers at the moment look good, but in 50-over cricket, his numbers aren’t where a player of his ability should be, yet,” Lewis said. “He’s still quite early in his career to be fair to him. I know he’s played a lot of games, but they do rack up quite quick. I think his conversion from 20s and 30s into 80s, 90s, hundreds is the big step forward he needs to make. He looked in really, really good touch in the warm-ups, but got 30-odd in both games, so those are the sorts of days when you’ve got to get a hundred because you know you can’t be in good touch every day.”It would give him a lot of confidence if he can get those big scores. He’s only got the one hundred so far in his career, and I think that was against Bangladesh. So maybe that’s a good omen, and he’ll get a second one tomorrow.”

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

Tourists hold their nerve against spirited England bowling effort to take 1-0 series lead

The Report by Valkerie Baynes02-Jul-2019
Australia – led by the bowling of Ellyse Perry and the batting of Alyssa Healy – have claimed early Ashes honours, winning a tight opening contest by two wickets in the first one-dayer at Leicester.England never recovered from a top-order batting collapse, led by Perry’s three wickets, despite the best efforts of England spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who claimed 3-34 as the tourists wobbled in their modest run chase. They reached the target with 45 balls remaining on the back of Healy’s half-century but, in the face of some tense moments, the match was close, peppered with some poor shot selection, particularly from England, and nervy fielding on both sides.The loss ended England’s winning streak across all formats at 14 after they crumbled to 19 for 4. Player of the Match Perry had Amy Jones out attempting a pull which ballooned to Healy behind the stumps and accounted for Jones’s fellow opener, Tammy Beaumont, who chopped on a short time later.Megan Schutt bowled Sarah Taylor with an in-swinger and then Perry had Heather Knight out lbw for a duck, walking across her stumps.It became 44 for 5 for England when Fran Wilson was out to a dubious lbw decision to spinner Jess Jonassen. Replays showed Wilson clearly gloved the ball first but, with no DRS for this series, Wilson could do nothing but march off the field making no secret of her consternation.Natalie Sciver launched a salvage mission with a spirited 64 off 95 balls but when she and Katherine Brunt were out lbw, to Jonassen and Delissa Kimmince respectively, and Anya Shrubsole was caught brilliantly by a leaping Rachael Haynes at mid-off, it fell to Ecclestone to carry on the attempted fightback.Ecclestone showed fine touch, reaching 27 of as many deliveries, including five fours, but her cameo ended when she attempted to loft Ashleigh Gardner for a second four in a row but found Beth Mooney just inside the long-on boundary.Laura Marsh was left standing unbeaten on 24 off 52 when Schutt bowled Kate Cross with a beautiful leg-cutter which clattered into off-stump.Chasing just 178 for victory, Australia more than fancied their chances. Despite the early loss of Nicole Bolton, caught behind attempting to drive Shrubsole, the tourists were in control at 41 for 1 after the first Power Play.But Brunt, celebrating her 34th birthday and in the rare position of first-change bowler, made the breakthrough with the first ball of her second over when she had Meg Lanning out to a plumb leg-before decision.Sarah Taylor’s stunning glovework shone as usual with a leg-side stumping to dismiss Perry cheaply off the bowling of Sciver.The England bowlers kept the pressure on Australia by claiming wickets at fairly regular intervals, including that of the dangerous Healy – who reached 66 off 71 balls before holing out to Wilson off Marsh. By the time Marsh bowled Mooney, attempting a paddle-sweep, Australia were 150 for 7 and, while the run rate required was easily attainable, England were in with a sniff if they could just take the remaining wickets.Shrubsole put down what should have been a regulation caught-and-bowled off Kimmince, demonstrating the less-than-assertive fielding that had bothered both sides at times. Orthodox spinner Ecclestone gave England a glimmer of hope with her penultimate ball, when she tempted Jonassen into a stroke that went straight to Shrubsole at mid-on.Needing 11 runs off the last 10 overs, the Australians held their nerve, Kimmince struck a lofted four off Brunt which had everyone’s hearts in their mouths as it went just wide of star fielder Wilson and five wides off the next ball sealed a low-key end to a thrilling contest.Both sides admitted nerves were a factor, with England captain Knight putting the hosts’ batting collapse down to “maybe absorbing pressure a little bit more”.”Disappointed with the bat, we lost too many early wickets and that ultimately cost us,” Knight told Sky Sports. “I’m really proud of the way the girls managed to get us to a total, would have liked a few more, but not to be today. I don’t think it was particularly being too aggressive that cost us the wickets. It’s maybe a few soft dismissals instead.”Australian captain Lanning said her side would be looking to improve going into Thursday’s second ODI.”Our bowlers did really well to put England on the back foot early but England bowled well as well so it’s just nice to get over the line,” Lanning said. “Hopefully the quality improves over the series. It was a great contest and everyone fought really hard but we feel like we’ve got a little bit to work on, as probably England do as well.”The Ashes will be decided over three one-dayers, a four-day Test and three T20Is.

Batsman recalled for three T20s against Afghanistan in June

Mohammad Isam20-May-2018The Bangladesh selectors have recalled batsman Mosaddek Hossain to their T20 squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan next month. He last played T20 internationals last year in Sri Lanka, and this is his first senior call-up since being dropped after the first Test against Sri Lanka in February.

Bangladesh T20 squad

Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Ariful Haque, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nazmul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Hider, Rubel Hossain, Abu Jayed
In: Mosaddek Hossain
Out: Imrul Kayes, Taskin Ahmed, Nurul Hasan

There was no place for batsman Imrul Kayes, pacer Taskin Ahmed and wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan from the squad that played their previous international assignment: the Nidahas Trophy in March. Imrul and Nurul didn’t play a match in the tournament in Sri Lanka while Taskin was below par.Batsman Soumya Sarkar, who made just 50 runs in five innings in the Nidahas Trophy, and seamers Abu Jayed – who didn’t get a game in the Nidahas Trophy – and Abu Hider – who didn’t have an impact in the one game he played – have been retained.”We also had a question about Soumya but the captain [Shakib Al Hasan] and coach [Courtney Walsh] thought that it would be better to add him,” chief selector Minhajul Abedin said.Bangladesh play Afghanistan on June 3, 5 and 7 in Dehradun, in what is the teams’ first-ever bilateral T20 match-up.

“I bowled almost 30 overs in that match [against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy]. So I never lost my rhythm”

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Feb-20251:09

Jadeja: Rohit hundred ‘set the platform’ for India

Ravindra Jadeja has credited the domestic cricket he played for his rhythm in ODIs, the first he has played since the World Cup final in 2023. In two matches, against an explosive England side, Jadeja has conceded just two boundaries in 19 overs while also picking up six wickets. He has played a key role in India’s series win, which they achieved even before the final ODI, which will also be his 200th.”Feeling very good,” Jadeja said. “Especially playing ODIs after almost two years. You have to adapt quickly in this format. I believe that the domestic game that I played [against Delhi] helped me a lot. I bowled almost 30 overs in that match. So I never lost my rhythm. And I am trying to bowl Test lines and lengths in ODIs as well. What we call the rhythm, the continuity, was in place because my break from cricket wasn’t that long. So in my view, I have benefited from the domestic match that I played.”Jadeja retired from T20Is after India’s World Cup win in June last year, which left him with no cricket between the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which ended in the first week of this year, and this ODI series. Jadeja played two Ranji Trophy matches in this period but bowled in only one of them: 30 overs for 12 wickets across two innings.Related

• Jadeja and Axar give India a good headache to have

India’s domestic cricket, especially the Ranji Trophy, has been in the news because of the board’s edict to its players to not skip matches unless injured or having their workload managed. Virat Kohli turned out for Delhi for the first time in 12 years and Rohit Sharma for Mumbai for the first time in ten. The board also received some criticism for what was seen as headmasterly treatment, especially when the cricket India was expected to play after the break was a different format.Staying in touch with cricket doesn’t seem to have done any harm to Jadeja, which the decision-makers will take as vindication as they have maintained that the best way to improve as a cricketer is by playing matches.

Half-century anchors run-chase as Kent are outgunned

ECB Reporters Network25-Aug-2024Worcestershire secured their second successive win in the Vitality County Championship to bolster their hopes of retaining Division One status as they overcame bottom-placed Kent by eight wickets at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Tom Taylor and Joe Leach picked up the final two Kent wickets this morning to leave Worcestershire, who were promoted last summer, with a modest victory target of 101.Although Worcestershire openers Gareth Roderick and Jake Libby fell cheaply, Kashif Ali (52 not out) and Rob Jones (23 not out) saw their side over the finishing line with an unbroken stand of 69.Worcestershire’s 23-point haul followed on from victory in their previous game against Durham at the Seat Unique Riverside, albeit nearly seven weeks ago.They were in the ascendancy for the bulk of the game once Kent had lost 10 wickets for 98 runs in their first innings after being 73 for 0 at one stage.It was two of their players returning from lengthy spells out through injury who made significant contributions.Joe Leach, who is retiring at the end of the season, rolled back the years with a six-wicket haul in Kent’s first innings his first appearance for three months after a recurrence of a knee problem.Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira has been troubled by a shoulder injury for a year but he returned after having extensive rehab during the past month to score 97 from 90 balls and change the momentum of the game in Worcestershire’s favour.Gareth Roderick, with a half century and seven catches behind the stumps, Rob Jones and Ethan Brookes also produced key roles with the bat while Tom Taylor bowled well throughout and deserved a more tangible reward than his five wickets in the game.Kent are now facing an uphill battle to maintain their top flight status after suffering their sixth defeat in 10 games.The big plus point for them was the stunning form with the bat of Tawanda Muyeye who hit a half century and a career best 211.Kent resumed on 353 for 8 – an overall lead of 76 after the last over dismissal of Muyeye yesterday evening.Akeem Jordan, who had picked up five first-innings wickets on his Championship debut, cover drove Taylor for four.Taylor continued his impressive form with the ball demonstrated throughout the game and went past the outside edge on several occasions.He claimed his fourth wicket when Jordan’s off stump was sent cartwheeling out of the ground after he attempted a drive.Leach wrapped up the winnings when George Garrett (6) pushed forward and Gareth Roderick held onto a low chance away to his left.It was Roderick’s fourth catch of the innings and seventh of a game where he has gone past 100 dismissals for Worcestershire.Jordan struck an early blow for Kent when Worcestershire set off in pursuit of their modest target in holding onto a return catch from Roderick.Jake Libby then shouldered arms and was bowled by Garrett at 33 for 2 and rain caused a 40 minute delay after lunch and the loss of 10 overs.But Kashif was soon into his stride with a succession of boundaries to banish any fears of a late twist in the outcome of the match.He twice cut on loan Alfie Ogborne for four and turned the same bowler off his legs to the ropes.A slash to third man off Ogborne brought Kashif his 50 from 67 balls with 10 fours and clinched the victory.