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Former chairman backs governance changes that will return Test cricket to Headingley

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Mar-2022Colin Graves, the former chairman of Yorkshire, and a man whose family trust has been at the centre of a row over governance reforms at the club, says that he backs the crucial changes required to ensure the return of international cricket at Headingley.Yorkshire was suspended by the ECB from its major-match status in November, with all of its major sponsors severing their ties as well, following Azeem Rafiq’s revelations about a culture of institutional racism at the club.With a new chairman, Lord Kamlesh Patel, at the helm, the club has been striving to meet an ECB-imposed deadline of March 31 for the reinstatement of this summer’s Test match against New Zealand and an ODI against South Africa – without which, Patel has warned, the club would face a stark financial crisis.However, two attempts to hold an Emergency General Meeting to usher through the necessary reforms have been kiboshed by Patel’s opponents – chief among them another former chairman, Robin Smith, whom Patel accused of attempting to “delay and derail” the process.But Graves – whose family trust is owed approximately £15 million following a bail-out in the early 2000s – has told the BBC that the county “needs to move on”.”As a Yorkshire vice-president and member I have voted to support the changes as outlined by YCCC to its members,” Graves told the BBC. “I really hope that the legal advice taken by the club on these issues is sound and solid.”The club now needs to move on, and get back to staging international matches and playing cricket at the highest level in England and Wales.”The talent that Yorkshire continues to produce is outstanding, as shown in the recent West Indies Test match where four out of 11 players came through the Yorkshire academy.”Graves’ comments come after Patel last week warned Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, that his position was being made untenable by Smith’s obstruction. In particular, he feared being made personally liable for millions of pounds in compensation, following the dismissal of 16 members of Yorkshire’s back-room and medical staff at the height of the crisis last year.In a statement the ECB said it was “deeply concerned about reports of division at Yorkshire CCC”.”Given all that we have heard from Azeem and others about the club, it has been absolutely clear that reform is needed,” the statement read. “Lord Patel has set out a significant and serious plan to make Yorkshire CCC a modern and diverse club capable of representing and engaging all communities in Yorkshire.”We want to see all parties work together to support Lord Patel in the reform package he has set out. It is not acceptable for anyone to stand in the way of progress at YCCC.”Julian Knight, the chair of the parliamentary select committee that has been conducting an inquiry into the racism allegations, added: “Lord Patel needs the support of the ECB and the wider cricket community in his battle to change Yorkshire’s culture and I’m pleased that this seems to be happening.”

Former England international will join Auckland’s support staff after New Zealand’s European tour

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2022Luke Wright, who was recently appointed to New Zealand’s support staff for the forthcoming tours to Ireland, Scotland, and Netherlands, has now got a new gig with Auckland as their performance and talent coach. He will start working with Auckland from September after New Zealand’s tour to Europe.Wright’s wife is an Aucklander and he himself had played for Auckland in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 Super Smash tournaments, scoring 188 runs in ten innings and taking two wickets.Related

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“I really enjoyed my time on the pitch with the team but it was the memories of how my family and I were treated that stood out,” Wright said.”My core values as a coach are to build relationships and belief in players. When players have confidence and belief, amazing things can happen. I can’t wait.”Auckland head coach Doug Watson is looking forward to working with Wright.”He will bring fresh ideas to our set-up and has a good understanding of our team culture,” Watson said. “Having someone of the calibre of Luke in our setup will be great for the development of the players and our overall team environment.”Wright was part of the England side that won the T20 World Cup in 2010 in the Caribbean. He scored 90 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 123.28 and though he bowled only one over in the tournament, it was a crucial one, as he took the wicket of Cameron White in the final against Australia.On the coaching front, Wright has had stints with Melbourne Stars (BBL), Rajshahi Kings (BPL) and Southern Vipers women (Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy).

South Australia captain Hunt’s century in vain as WA reach the target with nine balls to spare in Perth

Tristan Lavalette16-Nov-2022Josh Inglis issued a reminder to national selectors with a match-winning 85 as Western Australia continued their unbeaten start in the Marsh Cup with a tense two-wicket victory over South Australia at the WACA.Chasing 267, after Redbacks captain Henry Hunt notched his first List A century, Inglis appeared to be guiding WA to a comfortable win until he was part of a late collapse of 5 for 34.Still needing 13 runs, stalwart Andrew Tye eased the nerves with lusty hitting, including the match-winning six off spinner Ben Manenti, as WA reached the target with nine balls to spare.Inglis, playing his third match since missing out on the T20 World Cup after a freak injury playing golf, was back to his belligerent best with nine boundaries and a six in his 70-ball knock.It was WA’s fifth straight victory to skip clear of second-placed South Australia, who have three wins and two losses.”It was a bit dicey towards the end…but it was nice to get over line and AJ (Tye) to hit the winning runs,” Inglis said.After receiving a dressing down from coach Jason Gillespie following their capitulation in the Sheffield Shield earlier in the week, South Australia were far more competitive on a friendlier pitch for batting amid warm conditions nudging 30 degrees.Hunt, who has been tipped as a future Test opener, played the short ball well to continue his good form in Perth after looking a class above his team-mates in the Shield match.”It’s nice to get the first one (century) off but disappointing we couldn’t get the win coming so close at the end,” he said.He found a willing ally in Nathan McSweeney in a second-wicket century stand, but South Australia’s slow start ultimately backfired.
Tye became WA’s most prolific wicket-taker in 50-over cricket when he claimed Nathan McAndrew on the last ball of South Australia’s innings.It was his 104th career wicket to overtake Kade Harvey, who is the current WA cricket general manager.

Pace bowler feels he has a point to prove upon returning to India

Vithushan Ehantharajah23-Jan-20246:02

Will Bazball work in India?

The coloured clothing has been shelved for creams, but remnants of blue feeling remain among those England players returning to India after a chastening 2023 ODI World Cup.Five of the current Test squad spent October and November traipsing across this country on a trip that began with great expectations of a successful title defence and ended with calls for a generational reset. Some of the signage – official and otherwise – remains scattered throughout Hyderabad as ghosts of that failure, even though England’s varied schedule did not include the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium. Even while the formats accelerate on their divergent paths, success in India will offer some redemption for those few, if not full closure on a tournament that cut them deep.That certainly provides some of the fuel for Mark Wood’s motivation over the next eight weeks. Wood played seven of England’s nine group matches, taking six wickets at an average of 58.16. His economy rate of 6.46 was the second-highest among the English seamers, after Sam Curran’s 8.07 from his three appearances. Wood’s last match in the tournament was the defeat to Australia in Ahmedabad which finally killed off the 2019 winners.Related

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It was only after the tournament was over and the players returned home that the scale of their failure truly sunk in. And after much introspection, Wood wants to make amends with the red ball.”I think it hurt everybody,” said Wood, who missed the December tour to the Caribbean. “I’ve texted Woakesy, Jos and other lads in that group. We came here with big expectations and we didn’t live up to it. Nowhere near up to it. It just didn’t go well. We wanted that chance to create something as a group and we fell well short.”I was really upset with it, after the first week I got home. When you go from game to game, you’re disappointed but then you’re like ‘right, it’s the next game, then the next game’. For about a week once I got home it was, ‘why did I do that’ or ‘why was this happening’, ‘what did we do that for’. It really hurt for a while, but that’s why that was the hunger to come back into this environment. I’m ready to try to prove that was just a one-off.”I feel like I’ve got a point to prove a little bit here. Very disappointed with that whole campaign, personally and as a team. Conditions might not be favourable for me, but I’ll be trying to put a better show than I did at the World Cup.”Mark Wood is out to prove a point in Hyderabad•Getty Images

For Wood, this is his first full step into the unknown. None of his 31 Test caps have come to India, though he was on deck for the back end of the 2021 series. He played three ODIs and four T20Is on that tour. Other ventures to these parts came on Indian Premier League duty for Chennai Super Kings and, now, Lucknow Super Giants.Much like the Ashes last summer, when he took 14 wickets, short, sharp bursts will be the way to go. The difference, of course, will be conditions, especially on what the tourists expect to be turning tracks, starting with Hyderabad on Thursday.”If I can get reverse swing that will bring me into it a bit,” said Wood. “The two bouncers an over with a certain amount of guys back in one-day cricket limits you. The situation of the game, we were chasing the game at times when we didn’t have enough runs. It could be similar here. In general, it’s a different format, but I still feel like I didn’t bowl well then and didn’t live up to the standards that I want to set for myself. I’m going to have to change things here.”There are cues to take from the opposition – “you look at what their bowlers have done well, Bumrah and Siraj, trying to get some learning off them” – along with familiarity with how Ben Stokes has used him. “I think Stokesy will use me as someone to try to make something happen, make an impact. That was my role in Pakistan. I don’t see it being any different here. Whenever he needs me, or whatever game he needs me, whatever situation, I’ll be there to charge in for him.”Constant management of his left ankle means he will not play all five, even with the bigger gaps between the second and third, and fourth and fifth Tests. Nor will Stokes want him to, given the debilitating effect such a workload would have on his pace.Indeed, a new role as the sole quick could be in the offing. With spin set to play such a prominent part in the five-match series, the onus will be on the quicker bowlers to add variety. If England do decide to go with three full-time spinners, supplemented by Joe Root’s off spin, Wood believes he has the requisite skills and robustness to be the lone ranger.”I think with my track record, being the one seamer there would be question marks over me. But if it does happen it’s another thing I can hopefully prove to people I can do. My injury record has been better the last few years. If that is the case, it will be a chance for me to show people that I’m up to it.”As for hopes for the series, Wood was pragmatic; that India are strong favourites should be seen as an opportunity to dream big.”It’s a free hit, to be honest. Not many teams come here and win. If we give it a good go, we could go down in flames. But if we give it a go, it’s no different to any other time.”

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

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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

Since Yuvraj has played in overseas leagues, the BCCI has to clear him to participate in the T20 tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Dec-2020Yuvraj Singh could be back in the Indian domestic circuit early next year, after being named in Punjab’s 30-man list of probables for the 2020-21 Syed Mushtaq Ali (T20) Trophy, to be played in January.Related

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Singh, now 39, had announced his retirement from international – and IPL – cricket in June last year, but was requested by Puneet Bali, the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) secretary, last month to come out of retirement and play for Punjab in all formats. As things stand, with Singh having taken part in the Global T20 Canada and the Abu Dhabi T10 tournaments since retirement, his participation for Punjab will have to be cleared by the BCCI, because the board considers players to have officially retired before providing them NOCs for overseas leagues.A final decision is expected after December 20, the deadline date set by BCCI for state associations to finalise the transfers and granting no-objection certificates.Bali confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Yuvraj had been training with the Punjab squad and would perform the role of the mentor-cum-player once BCCI gave the green signal. “No he hasn’t been (named in the squad) because we are just waiting for the nod from the BCCI to come yet,” Bali said. “He has been selected in the camp, but it is subject to approval and confirmation from BCCI.”The BCCI plans to host the national T20 championship from January 10 to January 31, with the venues to be announced in a few days’ time, and the teams would need to assemble at the respective bio-secure hubs across the country by January 2. Sran returns to Punjab fold too
Barinder Sran, the 28-year-old left-arm seamer who played six ODIs and two T20Is in 2016, has also been included in the probables’ list, after having switched to Chandigarh last year.Prior to the start of the last season, Sran finalised his transfer to Chandigarh after being left out of Punjab’s Vijay Hazare Trophy (50-over competition) squad. At the time, he had said that he did not want to “waste the entire season” because of the snub, and opted for the switch instead.Punjab have lost a number of key players to other states in recent years. Among them are Manan Vohra, who had moved to Chandigarh like Sran, Jiwanjot Singh (Chhattisgarh) and Taruwar Kohli (Mizoram).Punjab probables: Mandeep Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Salil Arora, Gitansh Khera, Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh, Karan Kaila, Rahul Sharma, Krishan Alang, Sandeep Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Ikjot Singh, Naman Dhir, Abhishek Gupta, Himanshu Satyawan, Gurkeerat Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Anmol Malhotra, Aarush Sabharwal, Abhinav Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Mayank arkande, Baltej Singh, Siddharth Kaul, Barinder Sran, Gurnoor Singh, Harjas, Abhijit Garg, Kunwar PathakSreesanth finds place in Kerala longlist
Sreesanth has moved a step closer to a return to competitive cricket after being named in Kerala’s 26-strong probables’ list for the Mushtaq Ali trophy, reported.Thirty-seven-year-old Sreesanth, whose BCCI ban for spot-fixing ended earlier this year, had resumed training in June, including with the Kerala Under-23 team and a few senior players at a KCA facility in Ernakulam.Giving Sreesanth company in the list of probables were star players like Sanju Samson, Sachin Baby, Jalaj Saxena, Robin Uthaapa and Basil Thampi.

Ricky Ponting, Sanjay Manjrekar and Brad Haddin all think so, citing Ashwin’s record against Australia and the nature of The Oval track

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jun-20231:36

Manjrekar ‘surprised’ by Ashwin’s omission

Did India fall into the trap of picking an attack that works only for the first innings at the WTC final? Ricky Ponting, the former Australia captain, certainly thinks so.Ponting said on television commentary that the dryness underneath the surface, which had more than just a sprinkling of live grass, would have brought him into the game, especially with Australia having four left-hand batters in the top seven – Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Travis Head and Alex Carey.”Australia have many left-handers; Ashwin would trouble the left-handers more than Jadeja. I saw the grass, yes there was grass but the deeper I looked, it seemed dry to me,” Ponting said on Star Sports.Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar, meanwhile, felt highly-skilled bowlers like Ashwin had the potential to take pitches out of the equation, so it was worth India taking a punt on him.”It need not be always a turning track as sometimes the spinners rely a lot on the bounce, sometimes that little bit of zip that they get off the pitch, also on the overhead conditions and it depends a lot on the shiny side of the ball,” he said in the build-up to the toss, on his website . “If they are able to get that drift, they can make the ball talk in the air without the pitch coming into play. So, The Oval is going to be good venue for India.”Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar echoed Ponting’s views on the surface, expressing surprise at Ashwin’s omission. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s analysis show Match Day, he cited Ashwin’s success against Australia, both in Australia (2020-21) and India (2022-23) and his overall record overseas since 2018.”It seems like they’re convinced this pitch is very seam-friendly, because Ashwin of late in overseas matches has been pretty good,” Manjrekar said. “There’s clearly a green look to it [pitch] but the soil underneath looked white to suggest there’s some dryness as well, and The Oval historically has never been a seaming pitch.”Manjrekar also felt Jasprit Bumrah’s non-availability may have influenced the team management, pushing them towards four seamers and one spinner instead of a 3-2 attack. With Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami picking themselves and India seemingly intent on playing Shardul Thakur for the all-round depth he lends alongside Ravindra Jadeja, it was between Umesh Yadav and Ashwin for the final spot and India went with the former.In Thakur’s favour, his previous performance at The Oval was match turning: twin half-centuries to go with three wickets to help India to a 157-run win and go 2-1 up against England in September 2021.Former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, Manjrekar’s co-panelist on Match Day, also felt the absence of a fierce competitor like Ashwin in a contest as big as this may put “massive pressure” on India’s four-pronged pace attack.”It [Ashwin] would’ve been the first name I would’ve looked at [on the team sheet] if I was one of the [opposition’s] left-handers,” he said. “You want a player, especially in a big event like this, who walks towards the fire. And Ashwin’s definitely one of those guys against Australia.”He loves playing against them, gets into the contest. I know he gets under the skin of the Australian batsmen. One of the big successes India have had over Australia has been due to Ashwin’s presence. They’ll miss him out there and the pressure is on four quicks to put pressure on that middle order.”

Did the experience of the previous WTC final play a part in India’s decision?

Ashwin was part of India’s XI when they played the WTC final in 2021 against New Zealand in Southampton. Back then, India fielded three seamers and two spinners, while New Zealand played four specialist seamers and had a fifth option in allrounder Colin de Grandhomme.It’s a decision India rued later, as they lost in conditions where there was plenty for the fast bowlers all through – and rain around. Ashwin didn’t feature in any of the four subsequent Tests India played later in that summer against England.Were India scarred by that decision from 2021?”Maybe,” Manjrekar said. “But conditions were different. It was a venue where seam bowlers had to bowl. New Zealand had five seam options. I believe you have to look at the history of a certain venue and a pitch rather than how a pitch looks on day one.”Ashwin, for many reasons, would’ve been a good selection [here], plus he adds a bit of batting depth as well. The Ashwin we saw against New Zealand in that WTC final and the Ashwin of today, there’s a marked change in the way he bowls. This Ashwin you’d think would’ve done well in these conditions. Having said that, Jadeja against the left-handers isn’t too bad, maybe that is the reason why they felt we can still it do with one spinner.”

Babar says he will continue to play for Pakistan in all three formats, Shan Masood the favourite to take over the Test captaincy

Danyal Rasool15-Nov-20233:16

Hayden: Pakistan’s issues are never to do with leadership group

Babar Azam has resigned as Pakistan captain in all formats following their poor 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, where they failed to qualify for the semi-finals with just four wins in nine matches.”I vividly remember the moment when I received the call from PCB to lead Pakistan in 2019. Over the past four years, I’ve experienced many highs and lows on and off the field, but I wholeheartedly and passionately aimed to maintain Pakistan’s pride and respect in the cricket world,” Babar said in a statement announcing his decision. “Reaching the No. 1 spot in the white-ball format was a result of the collective efforts of players, coaches, and management but I’d like to express my gratitude to passionate Pakistan cricket fans for their unwavering support during this journey.”Today, I am stepping down as the captain of Pakistan in all formats. It’s a difficult decision but I feel it is a right time for this call. I will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats. I am here to support the new captain and the team with my experience and dedication. I want to express my sincere thanks to the PCB for entrusting me with this significant responsibility.”Babar scored 320 runs in nine matches during the World Cup – the third highest for Pakistan – at an average of 40 and strike rate of 82.90.No official statement has been made about a potential replacement, but Shan Masood is the overwhelming favourite to take over the Test captaincy with immediate effect. Masood is understood to have been at the Gaddafi Stadium today.