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Western Australia veteran calls time after 22 years of Shield cricket and 38 Tests for Australia

Tristan Lavalette10-Mar-2023Shaun Marsh has retired from first-class cricket after 22 years of service for Western Australia at Sheffield Shield level, and 38 Test matches for Australia.Marsh made his first-class debut at the age of 17 for WA in 2001, and achieved a career-long ambition to win a Sheffield Shield title last season where he captained in the final in the absence of his brother Mitchell Marsh.At 39, Marsh decided to play another season in 2022-23, but he has been plagued by injury and has only managed one Shield game this summer.Having just returned to Perth club cricket after a fractured finger, Marsh’s retirement is effective immediately, meaning he won’t be part of WA’s bid to defend their title. They play Victoria at the WACA next week before hosting the final starting on March 23.”This year in particular has been really hard,” Marsh told reporters. “It wasn’t the way I planned it after winning the Shield final last year.”I had great expectations of myself to win another Shield but through injuries it hasn’t worked out how I wanted it to.”Marsh finishes as WA’s third-highest run scorer in the Shield, tallying 8347 runs including 20 centuries. His 122 matches is the second-most in WA’s history behind former captain Tom Moody.But at a training session on Tuesday, he realised his indefatigable first-class career was over.”I batted for about 20 minutes and the quicks came over…I said to V [WA coach Adam Voges] that I’m done and want to do my weights [session],” Marsh said. “I probably did half my weights [session]. I walked out and thought, ‘that’s not me’. Over the last 24 hours it hit home that my time is done.”It’s been an amazing journey, never in my wildest dreams did I think that I’d be here for 22 years and that’s something that I’m very proud of.”Father and son – Shaun and Geoff Marsh pose with the Sheffield Shield title•Getty Images

Marsh paid special tribute to his father Geoff Marsh, a former Test opener and coach for Australia.”That’s where I found the love of the game as a young kid when I was watching dad play,” he said. “From a young age all I wanted to do was be like him and he’s had a massive impact on my career.”Long touted as a Test star, having struck his maiden first-class ton as a 19-year-old against a strong New South Wales side featuring Steve and Mark Waugh, Marsh enjoyed a spectacular debut in 2011 with a century against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.He loomed as Ricky Ponting’s natural successor at No. 3 but suffered a calamitous form slump against India at home in 2011-12, where he scored just 17 runs in six innings.Inconsistency and injuries became a bane for the left-handed Marsh, whose stylish batting marked by elegant cover drives ensured he continued to tempt the national selectors.But he was an enigma at the crease and, similarly to younger sibling Mitchell, suffered wrath from fans left frustrated by the gulf of his performances.Marsh’s highest Test score of 182 was made against West Indies in Hobart in 2015, where he combined in a 449-run fourth wicket stand with Voges. It remains the second-highest partnership in Australia’s Test history.His Test pinnacle was arguably during the 2017-18 Ashes series, where he struck centuries in Adelaide and Sydney. At the SCG, Marsh memorably shared a 169-run partnership with Mitchell, who also scored a ton. It was the last of his six centuries, but he played a further 10 Tests over the next two years.”Any time you get to represent your country…those memories will last forever,” he said.Marsh finished with 2265 Test runs at an average of 34.31, playing his last Test in January 2019 against India after providing a veteran presence following the sandpaper scandal. He has enjoyed enjoyed more success in ODI cricket with an average of 40.77 from 73 matches and seven centuries.Marsh, who turns 40 in July, is set to continue in the BBL. He has one season left on his deal with Melbourne Renegades.

Glamorgan declare on 521 for 8 at Derby after Chris Cooke plunders 70 from 51 balls

ECB Reporters Network26-Jul-2023A combination of determined batting and rain frustrated promotion hopefuls Glamorgan on the second day of the LV=Insurance County Championship match against Derbyshire.Glamorgan racked up 521 for 8 declared, the county’s highest ever score at Derby, with wicketkeeper Chris Cooke plundering 70 from 51 balls.But their bowlers also struggled on another placid Incora County Ground pitch as Luis Reece, 52, and Harry Came, 37, shared an unbroken opening stand of 95 in 40 overs before rain prevented any play after tea.Only two wickets fell in two sessions with the pattern of the first day repeated in the morning as Cooke and the lower order punished some erratic bowling.Cooke pulled Anuj Dal, who was fit to bowl after turning an ankle yesterday evening, for six on his way to a 40-ball fifty and took his team to maximum batting points by steering the medium-pacer to the third man boundary. He drove off-spinner Alex Thomson for a second six over wide long on but three overs later he edged Dal to the only slip.Andy Gorvin, who had helped Cooke add 65 from 81 balls for the seventh wicket, was caught behind trying to turn Sam Conners to leg but Glamorgan batted on for six more overs before the declaration came.It had been another chastening spell in the field for Derbyshire with 113 runs coming from 22 overs and in total, 322 of Glamorgan’s runs had come in boundaries.The home side was left with a potentially tricky eight overs to bat before lunch but the benign nature of the pitch meant there were few alarms for Reece and Came apart from a close run-out chance just before the interval.Timm van der Gugten and Jamie McIlroy did beat the bat after the break but there was little encouragement for the Glamorgan attack.Their bowlers did at least keep it tight but Reece, who became the 19th Derbyshire player to score 6,000 runs and take 150 wickets in all cricket, completed his fifty from 111 balls as he and Came batted through the second session.It was back-to-back fifties for Reece after his unbeaten 54 against Durham on Friday but his chances of converting it into a century on Wednesday were dashed when rain arrived during the tea interval with play called off for the day at 17.10.

Umpiring great retired in 1996 after officiating in 66 Test matches

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Sep-2025Harold “Dickie” Bird, one of the most beloved umpires in cricket’s history, has died at the age of 92.Bird, who officiated in 66 Tests and 69 ODIs, including three World Cup finals, was synonymous with his home county Yorkshire, for who he began his career as a top-order batter in 1956, and later went on to serve as Yorkshire president in 2014.He averaged 20.71 in 93 first-class matches, making two centuries including a best of 181 not out against Glamorgan in 1959. But when, after moving to Leicestershire in 1960, his career was cut short by injury four years later, his switch to umpiring would set him on the path to becoming a household name.Bird’s idiosyncrasies would become part of his appeal, including his famously anxious attitude to timekeeping. Having made his umpiring debut in May 1970, he travelled to London for his second match – Surrey versus Yorkshire at The Oval – arrived at 6am for an 11am start, and was caught by a policeman attempting to scale the wall of the still-locked ground.As an umpire, he was famously reluctant to raise his finger for lbw appeals – several of his decisions would have been quickly over-turned in the age of DRS. In mitigation, he was at least consistent in offering the benefit of the doubt to batters … with one possible exception. On the morning of his final Test, England versus India at Lord’s, he arrived in the middle with tears in his eyes after a guard of honour from the players. And duly gave Mike Atherton out lbw in the first over of the match.Other memorable moments included his decision, during the West Indies Test at Old Trafford in 1995, to call a halt to play for an excess of sunlight, which had been reflecting off a greenhouse behind the bowler’s arm. In that same fixture, as related by Atherton in his autobiography, Bird dropped the pocket-ful of marbles that he used to count the deliveries in an over.”Play was halted momentarily while Dickie scrambled around on his hands and knees looking for his counters,” Atherton wrote. “‘I’ve lost me marbles! I’ve lost me marbles! He cried. Most of us thought he had lost his marbles a long time ago.”He was frequently the victim of practical jokes – particularly at the hands of Ian Botham and Allan Lamb. On one occasion, Lamb arrived at the middle with his 1980s brick-style mobile phone still in his pocket. Bird duly stashed it in his coat, whereupon Botham rang the device from the dressing-room, telling a startled Bird to pass on a message for his team-mate to get a move on.Bird himself had believed his likeliest route to sporting success was football, although as he related in his autobiography, a cartilage operation on his knee at the age of 15 put paid to that ambition. Instead, he became a fixture in Barnsley’s 1st XI cricket team, where his team-mates included Michael Parkinson – who would later become a world-renowned chat-show host – and later, Geoffrey Boycott.”I have known Dickie nearly 70 years as a friend,” Boycott wrote in his tribute to Bird. “When I was 15 I was taken to Barnsley Cricket Club by my Uncle Algy. I was in awe of him because every week Dickie was the star batsman.”Boycott added that Bird was a “very good technical batsman” but added that “nerves got the better of him” during his Yorkshire career. As an umpire, however, he described him as “absolutely brilliant”.”Players all over the world respected and admired him for his firmness, fairness, and he did it with a sense of humour. He was loved by so many and became a legend.”In 2009, Bird was honoured with a bronze statue on Barnsley’s Church Lane, set in his familiar umpiring pose with one finger raised. The council was soon obliged to place it on a higher plinth than had been intended, due to the public’s temptation to hang objects on said finger.He was appointed an MBE in 1986 and an OBE in 2012 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cricket, having stood in his last first-class match in 1998, Yorkshire versus Warwickshire at Headingley.In a statement, Yorkshire confirmed that he had died peacefully at home”He leaves behind a legacy of sportsmanship, humility, and joy — and a legion of admirers across generations,” Yorkshire added.”The thoughts of everyone at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club are with Dickie’s family and friends during this time. He will be truly missed by all at the Club having spent an incredible amount of time in support of everyone here and will be remembered as one the greatest characters in Yorkshire’s history.”

Starc damaged his middle bowling finger in the field on day one at the MCG

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Dec-2022Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc is in major doubt for the third Test against South Africa in Sydney after damaging his finger in the field on the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.Starc dislocated the tip of his middle finger on his left hand, his bowling hand, while attempting to take a catch at long-on during the middle session on day one.Starc immediately left the field for treatment. He later returned to the field for the end of South Africa’s first innings after having a brief bowl in the nets out the back of the MCG, but he was not required to bowl.Australia’s team management confirmed on the second morning that Starc had been cleared to continue to play in the match and he did bat in the nets before play. But the CA statement said his “condition will be reassessed at the completion of the match” and there were no details of the result of his scan overnight.Australia have two spare fast bowlers with the squad. Josh Hazlewood and Lance Morris both had a bowl in the nets on the second morning at the MCG. Morris had been called up ahead of the Adelaide Test against West Indies as specific cover for Starc who has been Australia’s most durable fast bowler having played the last 18 consecutive Tests since only being selected for one of the five Tests in the 2019 Ashes.Australia may also consider adding another specialist spinner to the Test squad for the third Test in Sydney given the only Sheffield Shield match played there this summer was a spinner’s paradise with New South Wales offspinner Chris Green taking nine wickets and West Australia offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli taking eight in a low-scoring game.

“One of my goals and dreams the last year was to break into England’s top four”

Valkerie Baynes14-Jul-2022No sooner had Sophia Dunkley established herself in England’s middle order, she set her sights on making a place in the top-four her own. No sooner had England switched focus to the next Women’s World Cup cycle, she is doing just that.In her first international outing at No. 3, Dunkley scored 22 from 24 balls as England convincingly beat South Africa in their first of three ODIs at Northampton. The knock was in keeping with her proactive batting style, which Dunkley said she was reluctant to give up heading into the second match at Bristol on Friday. It was also a key part of England’s bid to shake up their batting line-up, with the successful addition of new opener Emma Lamb and Danni Wyatt shuffling back down into the middle order.”One of my goals and dreams the last year was to break into England’s top four,” Dunkley said. “So the fact that I have an opportunity now to bat at three, it’s an amazing feeling. It’s something I’ve done in regional cricket for the last two years, so not completely new, but obviously a different level in internationals.”Naturally the bowling’s a little bit tighter, you don’t get as many bad balls, and you get a lot of pressure built on you in the powerplay, so it’s about learning how to deal with that and how I want to go about it. It’s probably not going to come overnight, and the next two games might not go as well as I’d like, but it’s about building for the future, how I see myself doing that role in the long term.”Dunkley’s first knock as England’s No. 3 included three powerful fours, driven through cover and twice hammered past long-on before she fell lbw to Nadine de Klerk.”I don’t want to take away too much of my natural aggression and intent because I think that’s still really important to push us on as a team,” she added. “So it’s finding the balance really and just doing the low-risk things for longer. I’ve had some good practice in the nets so I’m feeling good.”Related

• Sophia Dunkley sets sights on top-four batting spot for England

• Danni Wyatt set for return to middle-order despite World Cup semi-final century

• Lamb's maiden ton, all-round Sciver, fiery Brunt help England go 1-0 up

• Emma Lamb seizes England's opening vacancy on 'amazing' day in Northampton

• Nadine de Klerk: Ismail available, South Africa must up intensity

When opener Tammy Beaumont fell in just the third over of the match, Dunkley had the best view in the house as Lamb carved out a maiden century in just her fourth international appearance.Lamb had opened alongside Beaumont in the drawn Test which kicked of the multi-format series between the sides in Taunton last month and took a massive step towards establishing herself at the very top of the order in the ODI format with her knock.”Emma batted outstanding in the last game,” Dunkley said. “I’m so pleased for her. I’ve played a lot of cricket with her growing up, and grown up with her in the academy, so when we were batting together we were joking about how it was like the old times and it was nice that we could do that in an England shirt together.”It was amazing to watch her do her thing and show the world that she deserves to be an England opener, so I’m sure it’s the first of many for Emma.”It will be one day shy of 13 months since Dunkley made her Test debut against India – also in Bristol – where she notched up an unbeaten 74 in a keenly contested draw.She went on to play an important part in the white-ball part of India’s tour before finishing the English summer playing in all five ODIs against New Zealand. A trip to Australia as part of England’s ill-fated Ashes tour was followed by the World Cup, where she made a couple of half-centuries, including in England’s semi-final defeat of South Africa.”Personally it’s been a pretty crazy year and there’s been a lot of different cricket, playing in an Ashes and a World Cup was a surreal experience,” she said. “Now coming in batting at three is something different so yeah, it’s been lots of experiences, ups and downs, but a great year of cricket all round.”And she was expecting South Africa to come back fighting after a muted display in the first ODI, when their batting failed to fire. Katherine Brunt returned to international action with an imposing first spell and figures of 3 for 18 from nine overs before Chloe Tryon’s 88 gave the tourists some hope. Then their bowlers struggled against Lamb’s accomplished display and a brutal 55 off just 36 balls from Nat Sciver, who had also taken four wickets.South Africa’s bowling could be boosted by the return of Shabnim Ismail, who is available for selection in what would be her first appearance of the tour after recovering from a calf strain, with England leading four points to two.”We bowled really well in the first innings last game and it made it really hard for them to get a big score on the board,” Dunkley said. “Credit to our bowlers and Katherine up front bowling in that amazing spell, five overs for five runs.”We’re just really clear as a batting unit that we want to go out and be positive, so it was a great to be able to put that into practice and we definitely put pressure on their bowlers so I’m sure they’re going to come back hard at us in the next game.”

The visitors could only make 132 as Queensland registered their fourth win of the season

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Oct-2022Queensland made short work of ACT as they raced to victory with more than 26 overs to spare. Georgia Redmayne’s brisk half-century led the chase after the home side had put in an impressive bowling and fielding display.The tone was set in the fifth over of the day when captain Jess Jonassen plucked a one-handed catch above her head at mid-on to remove Rebecca Carter. When ACT’s leading batter, Katie Mack, cut to point and Matilda Lugg clipped to square leg they were 3 for 31.They were unable to mount a recovery as the Queensland attack chipped away. Jonassen would finished with figures 2 for 5 from seven overs which included three maidens. There was some resistance in a ninth-wicket stand of 33 between Holly Ferling and Chloe Rafferty which was ended when Georgia Voll held a stinging return catch as all seven of Queensland’s bowlers got among the wickets.Voll, who made 145 in the opening game of the season against New South Wales, then helped Redmayne skip out of the blocks in a first-wicket stand of 83 in 15 overs.The victory means Queensland have started their season with four wins from four while ACT have four losses.

Royals bowler wonders why the ball was replaced during CSK’s innings of the “umpire’s accord”, and calls for decisions to be “standard” through the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-20232:04

Ashwin: Some of the umpiring decisions in this year’s IPL have left me flummoxed

R Ashwin has come out strongly against what he considers to be irregular decision-making from the umpires, asking why the ball was changed during Chennai Super Kings’ chase against his Rajasthan Royals side without the bowling team asking for it.”I’m quite surprised the umpires changed the ball for dew on their own. It’s never happened before and I’m quite surprised,” Ashwin said at the post-match press conference. “Some of the decisions in this year’s IPL on the field have left me a little flummoxed, to be honest. It left me flummoxed in a good or bad way because what you need is a little bit of balance. We’re going as a bowling team and we’re not asking for the ball to be changed. But the ball was changed on the umpire’s accord. What reason – I did ask the umpire but he said we can change it.”So I hope every time there’s dew they can change it – every single time going forward in this IPL. You can do whatever you want but you need to be standard.”

Ashwin penalised

R Ashwin was fined 25% of his match fee for an IPL code of conduct breach. Ashwin was deemed to have breached Article 2.7: public criticism of, or inappropriate comment in relation to an incident occurring in a Match or any Player, Team Official, Match Official or Team participating in any Match, irrespective of when such criticism or inappropriate comment is made.

The ball was changed at the fall of Shivam Dube’s wicket, with Super Kings on 92 for 3 in the 12th in a chase of 176. Ashwin had pinned Dube lbw, in a spell in which he had also accounted for a charging Ajinkya Rahane. Royals would go on to snatch victory by three runs at Chepauk, despite a late burst from MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja.File photo – R Ashwin finished with figures of 4-0-25-2 against Chennai Super Kings•BCCI

Both the laws of cricket and the IPL’s playing conditions allow for the umpires to change the ball when they see fit, with Law 4.5 and playing condition 4.4 saying: “If, during play, the ball cannot be found or recovered or the umpires agree that it has become unfit for play through normal use, the umpires shall replace it with a ball which has had wear comparable with that which the previous ball had received before the need for its replacement. When the ball is replaced, the umpire shall inform the batters and the fielding captain.”Related

• Royals hold off Dhoni and Jadeja in grandstand finish

• R Ashwin crashes Chennai Super Kings' party to silence Chepauk

• Dhoni asks CSK's batters to take 'ownership' after middle-overs muddle

• Dhoni on injury list with CSK 'operating on pretty thin resources'

But Ashwin is not the first one to question the irregularity of the umpires’ decision-making this IPL. Punjab Kings’ Sam Curran was seen having a discussion with the umpires during his side’s five-run win over Royals in Guwahati on April 5. When asked what the discussion was about after the game, he told the broadcasters: “I found it a little bit strange how they changed their ball in the first innings when it was a little bit wet and I was trying to get our ball changed because it was like a soap. I don’t really get how that works when they can change their ball and we can’t, so we had to get on with it.”Umpires KN Ananthapadmanabhan and Saidharshan Kumar were in charge of that game, while Vinod Seshan and Virender Sharma stood officiating at Chepauk.

‘Phenomenal from Sandeep Sharma’ – R Ashwin all praise for his team-mate

At the press conference, Ashwin also lauded seamer Sandeep Sharma, who faced up to Dhoni in the final over of the chase and held his nerve to take Royals home despite the batter smacking him for consecutive sixes.Sandeep Sharma held his nerve in an extremely nervy final over•BCCI

Super Kings had begun the over needing 21 and Sandeep began with two wides, before a pin-point dot-ball yorker to Dhoni. He got the next two wrong, and Dhoni duly dispatched the resulting full tosses for six, six. Those hits left Super Kings needing seven off three balls, but Sandeep finished off with a wide length ball and then two yorkers that Dhoni and Jadeja could only manage singles off.”I really enjoy his commitment and attitude. He’s someone who’ll fight, doesn’t get flustered,” Ashwin said. “Even when we walked up to him at three balls seven [required], he was okay. He was relaxed. He had his own plan. He wanted to deliver what he could deliver at best.”I feel going full to MS Dhoni at that stage is not the best option but any bowler would think that – you have 20 runs, you want to shut down two-three balls. Going forward it’s a lesson learnt. But I think it was phenomenal from Sandeep, I really enjoyed the composure he showed.”

Fifties for James Bracey, Ben Charlesworth and Miles Hammond give visitors something to smile about

Alan Gardner19-Apr-2024Gloucestershire, recipients of the wooden spoon last season, have not won a County Championship fixture since September 2022. Their last red-ball win over Sussex, meanwhile, came almost 20 years ago, when the current head coach, Mark Alleyne, was in the twilight of his playing career. Phil Weston top-scored at Arundel with 81 while Jon Lewis – a Gloucestershire legend who ended up in Hove – took 8 for 100 in a nine-wicket win.They could be forgiven, then, for not relishing this trip to the seaside. But Alleyne, who returned for his second spell in charge over the winter and is trying to rebuild confidence, will have been quietly encouraged by his side’s performance here. After losing the toss and being inserted on a chilly, changeable spring morning, Gloucestershire battled through the interruptions to give themselves a first-innings foothold in the face of the jinkin’, jivin’ Dukes: Ben Charlesworth, Miles Hammond and James Bracey – one of the heroes of last week’s rescue act against Yorkshire – all produced fifties of notable pugnacity.Sussex had the best of their two draws in the opening rounds of the season to sit top of the early standings, and there seems to be increasing optimism at Hove that Paul Farbrace can put together a side capable of securing promotion. They were able to call on Ollie Robinson, a bowler looking to make a statement about his England credentials, after he sat out last week’s trip to Leicester. But while Robinson went wicketless, his frustrations compounded by seeing Bracey dropped, it is perhaps a mark of Sussex’s development that they found contributions from other quarters.While the Dukes, in this case, did not fly back and forth like the waltzer on Brighton pier, Sussex chipped away, chiefly through the efforts of Danny Lamb, Jayden Seales and Jack Carson, who shared seven wickets. A century stand between Charlesworth and Hammond provided the main plank for Gloucestershire before Bracey steered them to a brace of batting points before the close.Rob Key, England men’s managing director of cricket, had described the experiment with the Kookaburra in the first two rounds of the Championship as “fantastic” and expanded on his views while talking to Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast. Essentially, he said, the less-biddable Australian ball encouraged faster bowlers and spinners at the expense of those classical English seamers who bring the keeper up and nip it around at 75mph and below. There was mention of Darren Stevens – the former Kent allrounder whose reign of medium-paced terror began under Key’s captaincy – but not a favourable one.We can easily imagine Key’s reaction then, as the return of the Dukes coincided with scoreboard wickets columns rattling into life up and down the country, with the likes of Ben Sanderson, Shane Snater and Ryan Higgins threatening to run amok. In Hove, after fruitless opening spells from Sussex’s two Test match seam bowlers, Robinson and Seales, it was Lamb who made the breakthroughs with his nibbly mediums. Little more than an hour into the day, John Simpson was stood up behind the stumps as Lamb applied the shackles to Gloucestershire’s top order. Fynn Hudson-Prentice was next into the attack, followed by Tom Clark. At which point, presumably, Key would have closed the livestream window.This, of course, is not to denigrate Lamb, whose opening analysis of 8-1-19-2 reflected the threat he brought to proceedings after Charlesworth, opening in place of the injured Chris Dent, and Cam Bancroft had ticked along comfortably enough during a stand worth 49. The former Lancashire allrounder scored a century up at Leicestershire and already looks a shrewd signing. He had Bancroft lbw as he shuffled across to one angling in and then saw Ollie Price taken at second slip on the drive after coaxing some movement away from right-hander.Later, after squally showers led to an extended lunch break, Gloucestershire opted to take a more assertive approach to Lamb and his brethren. Hammond lofted him over mid-off and followed up with a slap that flew all the way over extra cover; Charlesworth then went to his half-century with a dismissive leg-side flick off Hudson-Prentice that sailed out towards the scoreboard for another six.Hammond had just followed suit in striking Hudson-Prentice over midwicket when the partnership came to an end as Jack Carson found some turn in his third over to trap the Gloucestershire No. 4 in front. Seales then struck with the first ball of his fourth spell, finally inducing an error outside off stump from Charlesworth. The West Indies bowler celebrated by charging off towards backward point, and generally bowled better than figures of 2 for 72 would suggest, having also seen Hammond badly dropped by Clark at second slip when he had made just 17.Sussex’s other blemish in the field was even more costly. Three balls after being swatted dismissively for four, Robinson found Bracey’s outside edge only for a low catch to be grassed by James Coles at third slip. Bracey was on 23 at the time, and had progressed to 69 by the time Seales finally won an lbw decision as the shadows lengthened.

Moeen set to deputise, but captain expected to travel to World Cup as planned on Friday

Matt Roller27-May-2024Jos Buttler is set to miss England’s third T20I against Pakistan on paternity leave.Buttler travelled home to London after captaining England to a 23-run victory at Edgbaston on Saturday, giving them a 1-0 lead in the four-match series after the opening match at Leeds was washed out. He and his wife Louise are expecting their third child imminently.He missed Monday afternoon’s training session in Cardiff and is considered unlikely to feature in Tuesday evening’s match. It is not yet clear whether he will return in time to play in the final match of the series, at The Oval on Thursday night, but at this stage it appears that he will travel to the Caribbean for the T20 World Cup with the rest of the squad on Friday.While the news is disruptive to England in the short term, Buttler’s absence should ensure that he is with the team throughout their World Cup campaign, which begins next Tuesday (June 4) in Barbados against Scotland. He had previously confirmed he would be at the birth regardless, raising the prospect that he could miss a group-stage match.Related

• Rain wrecks third T20I between England and Pakistan

• Jos Buttler backs England to learn lessons from 50-over World Cup debacle

• England bring back Manchester City psychologist for T20 World Cup

• Jos Buttler to keep wicket and captain at World Cup despite over-rate concerns

• Jofra Archer impresses on comeback as Jos Buttler makes the difference in 23-run win

Moeen Ali is England’s vice-captain, and last week played down the significance of a leadership change. “Obviously if it happens, then it’s a great honour – as it always is,” Moeen said. “I’ll be fine. Nothing will change too much: it’s just taking over from what he’s doing and then when he comes back, he takes over.”Hopefully, the baby comes at the right time where he doesn’t miss too many games. For me, it’s just whatever will happen, will happen. [Deputising] is not really difficult, to be honest with you, because we speak often, me and Jos. We talk about other things, the team, and all that. We’re on the same page anyway.”Buttler underpinned England’s innings at Edgbaston on Saturday, hitting 84 off 51 balls while opening the batting. In his absence, the most likely change to their side would see Will Jacks and Jonny Bairstow moving up a spot each and Ben Duckett batting at No. 4, though they could instead add another bowling allrounder to their side in Sam Curran.There is also a case for Duckett to replace Buttler at the top of the order, which would give England’s first-choice batting line-up the chance to bat in their likely roles for the World Cup. Jacks looked in fine touch on Saturday, hitting 37 off 23 balls from No. 3, but admitted on Monday that he is still “learning on the job” having opened for most of his T20 career.”It’s no lie that I’m new to batting at No. 3,” he said. “The biggest thing I’ve found is just the uncertainty of not knowing when I’m going in: obviously if I’m opening, it’s 0 for 0 every time, bowling first or second. I know exactly what’s going to happen: I’m facing the swinging ball or, if it’s a spinner opening, I know what the field is going to be.”[Batting at No. 3] is just a different scenario each time, which is more of a mental thing. I know I’ve got the game and the technique. It’s just adjusting to coming in outside the Powerplay, coming in the fifth over: when do I put my foot on the pedal? It’s about figuring out what I need to do at the right time… it’s all about the team, not about yourself.”Mark Wood had a long bowl before Saturday’s match with his knee heavily strapped, and could come into contention in Cardiff if England opt to take a cautious approach to Jofra Archer’s fitness following his international comeback. Despite England being keen to give Tom Hartley his T20I debut before the World Cup, ESPNcricinfo understands he won’t be involved in this contest.In any case, Tuesday night’s match is under threat from the weather, though Jacks suggested that playing a shortened match could serve as useful preparation for the World Cup. “Preparation is not always ideal, but we have to be adaptable and T20 is all about thinking fast on your feet, and assessing the situation as quickly as possible,” he said. “We’ll be ready for anything.”

Georgia Voll could make a Test debut while Beth Mooney will take the keeping gloves

Andrew McGlashan23-Jan-2025Australia remain hopeful that Alyssa Healy will be fit to feature in the day-night Ashes Test at the MCG, and have named her in a 13-player squad, but it will be as a batter only if she does recover in time.Healy was ruled out of the first T20I at the SCG with a stress reaction in the same foot that she injured at the T20 World Cup. With Healy not keeping Beth Mooney will take the gloves for the Test, which may result in her moving down the order, which would increase the chances of a debut for Georgia Voll.If Healy ultimately did not make the Test, then Tahlia McGrath would again stand in as captain.Related

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Allrounder Ashleigh Gardner is expected to recover from her calf strain in time for the Test but is doubtful for the final T20I in Adelaide. Heather Graham has been added to that squad as cover.”We’re pleased with the form of the 13 players that have taken part in the series to date and feel it’s a squad that offers a variety of options when it comes to selecting the makeup of the Test side,” national selector Shawn Flegler said. “Alyssa has been named in the squad as a batter only and we’ll give her as much time as we can to prove her fitness ahead of the match. Ash will continue to be assessed daily… at this stage, she is on track to be available for the Test match.”Mooney’s experience wicketkeeping in longer-form cricket is limited and she is aware it will be a new physical challenge.”I don’t think I’ll be able to walk after if I have to keep but we’re pretty lucky in the Australian team where we’ve got lots of players that can step into different roles,” she said after the first T20I. “But when [Healy’s] been out, I’ve been able to step into that role and got some good feedback along the way, so just happy to do what’s required of the team.”If Voll did debut at the MCG, it would complete a full set across the three formats in less than two months following the start of her ODI career against India and then a T20I debut at the SCG.Beth Mooney on keeping in a Test match: “I don’t think I’ll be able to walk after”•Getty Images and Cricket Australia

“I’m more than happy to try and do a job up the top of the order,” Voll told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday. “I love batting there and batting up the top with Beth Mooney was pretty cool [in Sydney]. I’m more than happy to fit in wherever the team needs.”Megan Schutt has again been named in a Test squad despite often saying her days in the format are over, but the pink-ball day-night element to this game may see her come into consideration for the final XI.The other decision that will need to be made is whether to play both Alana King and Georgia Wareham, who have caused England huge problems in the limited-overs matches.The match will be the first day-night Test at the MCG and the first women’s Test match at the venue since 1948-49.

Australia squad for Ashes Test

Alyssa Healy (capt), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney (wk), Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham