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A family matter has forced the keeper-batter to leave Bangladesh’s bio-bubble

Mohammad Isam26-Jul-2021Liton Das became the latest Bangladesh player to be ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Australia, after a family matter forced him to leave the Zimbabwe bio-bubble on Monday evening. Upon his return to Dhaka sometime on Tuesday, Das will be unable to join the Dhaka quarantine, which automatically puts him out of the squad.”Liton is out of the series,” Akram Khan, chairman of the BCB’s cricket operations, said. “He has to attend to a family matter, for which we can’t really do anything. We initially had a 20-man squad but after Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim had to pull out, Liton is also not in the squad. We are down to 17 players. The quarantine in Dhaka started on July 20, so we can only have the players who are traveling back from Zimbabwe on July 28.”Related

• Bangladesh unhappy as Australia's Covid-19 demands force Mushfiqur Rahim to miss home T20Is

• BCB wants Ashwell Prince to stay on as batting consultant until T20 World Cup

• Soumya Sarkar: 'Biggest competition is with myself'

• Hungry Shamim shows he is a quick learner

• What lies ahead of the nine teams in the next World Test Championship cycle?

Das was initially thought to be one of several injury concerns after he suffered a left thigh injury during the first T20I against Zimbabwe on July 20. Chief selector Minhajul Abedin told ESPNcricinfo on Monday afternoon that Das and Mustafizur Rahman could be available from the third match against Australia, fitness permitting.”Liton and Mustafiz should be available from the second or third game,” Abedin had said. “We are not too worried about them. They will be back. Overall, we are confident about the squad. We have just won a T20 series [away against Zimbabwe].”Das didn’t bat in the first T20I and later missed the second and third T20Is against Zimbabwe. Rahman only played one ODI and one T20I during the tour after suffering an ankle injury on July 14 during a tour match. Apart from them, Soumya Sarkar is nursing a groin niggle from the third T20I on Sunday, while Shakib Al Hasan is understood to be managing a long-standing groin injury.The selectors, however, don’t have to announce a squad in advance – according to the playing conditions agreed by the two boards, the teams can only field players who have either been in quarantine in Dhaka since July 20, or been a part of the tours in Zimbabwe and, in Australia’s case, the West Indies. For Bangladesh, the 18-man squad involved in the 2-1 series win in Zimbabwe will move directly to the team hotel in Dhaka after reaching the country on July 29.Among those originally named in the Zimbabwe tour squad, Tamim Iqbal is out with a knee injury while Mushfiqur Rahim is out after he was forced to miss the July 20 quarantine deadline because of a family matter. Legspinner Aminul Islam is also out of contention after he travelled back to Bangladesh midway through the T20I series following the death of his father.Bangladesh have added Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Mithun and Mosaddek Hossain, who were part of the ODI squad, to make up for the missing players in the T20I squad.Bangladesh T20I squad: Mahmudullah (capt), Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan (wk), Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Mohammad Naim, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Afif Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Mithun, Mosaddek Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Shamim Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan.

England seamer James Anderson, who is five wickets away from reaching the landmark of 300 Test wickets, intends to dig up some ‘extra in the tank’ for the final Test against New Zealand in Auckland

Andrew McGlashan in Auckland20-Mar-2013James Anderson is five wickets away from becoming only the fourth England bowler to claim 300 Test scalps, but milestones will not be near the forefront of his mind as he steels his tired body for one last effort in Auckland.Ian Botham, Bob Willis and Fred Trueman are the three who occupy the 300-club and, although globally the figure is not as exclusive as it once was, it will be further validation towards Anderson being one of England’s finest bowlers.Anderson’s journey has not always been smooth. After bursting onto the scene in 2003, he became a fringe player by the end of that year for a period of two more, before suffering a career threatening back injury following attempts to modify his action. It was only when Peter Moores became coach in 2007 that Anderson was given a sustained second chance and since 2008, the previous tour of New Zealand, he has not looked back.From that comeback in Wellington, an excellent career has taken on a number of guises. He has taken 233 wickets at 28.13, the most by any bowler in the world over the same time frame albeit in 14 matches more than second-placed Dale Steyn on 227 scalps. It is, though, further proof as to why those two are talked about in the same breath.He has not been quite at his best in this series – collecting seven wickets at 33.14 – although there have been examples of his skill, including a spell with the second new-ball in Dunedin, which was accompanied by much pent-up frustration, and a burst of reverse swing in Wellington, when he was being buffeted by a strong wind. However, Anderson’s own uncertainty about his numbers shows the pending landmark does not occupy all his thoughts.”It would be a huge achievement. But first of all, I’ve got to get some wickets,” he said. “I think two is the most I’ve got in an innings on this trip. I’m aware of it. But it’s something once I get into the game, I won’t be thinking about.”Yet, if Anderson’s statistics are a guide, an England victory and the 300-landmark could go hand-in-hand. Since returning to the side in 2008 he has averaged 4.82 wickets in matches England have won.There were concerns about Anderson’s fitness during the Wellington Test, where he needed some treatment on a stiff back, but he has benefited from an extra day off due to the rain which curtailed that match. England also did not train on Wednesday except for those who wanted an extra net, which were Nick Compton, Jonny Bairstow and Graham Onions.”When you’ve got just one big Test left, you always manage to find something a little bit extra in the tank – knowing we have got a few weeks off when we get home,” Anderson said. “I feel okay. The rain probably helped in the end, getting an extra day off.”There was expectation before the series that England’s quick bowlers would enjoy a profitable time in New Zealand, but the successes that have come their way – notably Stuart Broad’s 6 for 51 in Wellington – have been hard-earned. That, however, does not come as a surprise to Anderson who has become used to trying to extract wickets in tough conditions.”Test pitches around the world are generally quite flat, and you’ve got to work hard for your victories,” he said. “It’s no different out here. So you can’t say they’re not result pitches … you’ve just got to work hard as a bowler to get 20 wickets in a game.”That’s just the way things are. You have to find different ways of getting people out. You can’t always just steam in and try and roll sides over. You’ve got to use other skills, and that’s what we’ve been trying to do this trip.”Anderson, without doubt, has the skills. Now he just needs to find the energy.

Selectors opt for additional cover while medical team assesses fast-bowling group

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Dec-2021Australia have added fast-bowling cover to their squad for the third Ashes Test, with Scott Boland called up.Boland had been training with the Australian team in Adelaide, being brought into the squad after Pat Cummins’ close contact with a Covid-19 positive person. Australia were captained by Steven Smith during the second Test with Cummins forced to be ruled out. They also missed Josh Hazlewood, out with a side strain, as Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser got a go. Additionally, Mitchell Starc also appeared to twinge his back while batting in the second innings at Adelaide.Related

• Starc expected to be fit for Boxing Day but Hazlewood remains unlikely

• Cummins out of second Test after Covid close contact

• Ashes bolter: Scott Boland strengthens his case for Australia call-up

• Richardson relieved with comeback five-for after 'tough' first innings

Australia won the Test by 275 runs to go 2-0 up in the series, and while both Cummins and Hazlewood were part of the squad for the third Test, Boland has been added “while the medical team assesses the fast bowling group”.Boland has been in good form for Victoria this year in the Sheffield Shield, picking up 15 wickets in two matches – both against New South Wales – at an average of just 10.80.Boland also played for Australia A against the England Lions side this month, taking 1 for 16 and 1 for 64 in Brisbane, before joining the Australia squad in Adelaide.The third Ashes Test will begin at the MCG in Melbourne on Boxing Day.Australia squad for third Ashes Test: Pat Cummins (capt), Steve Smith (vice-capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.

Warwickshire bagged four wickets for four runs in the space of 10 deliveries to take command of their clash with Middlesex in Uxbridge

09-Jul-2013Middlesex 177 for 4 (Voges 81*, Simpson 50*) trail Warwickshire 486 for 6 (Chopra 228*) by 309 runs
ScorecardEven though close to a career-best, Varun Chopra puts the team first•PA Photos

Warwickshire bagged four wickets for four runs in the space of 10 deliveries to take command of their clash with Middlesex in Uxbridge.After their acting captain Varun Chopra declared unbeaten on 228 and with his Warwickshire side sitting pretty on 486 for 6, Middlesex crumbled to 28 for 4 before launching a comeback after tea to reach 177 for 4 at the midpoint of the game.Having fielded in blazing heat for the best part of 10 hours, Middlesex quickly wilted in the face of some impressive new ball bowling by the reigning champion’s attack. Dawid Malan fenced at one from left-armer Keith Barker and nicked to third slip then, four balls later, Joe Denly was squared up by a leg-cutter to edge to the same fielder.Without addition to the total Sam Robson followed a lifting delivery from Chris Wright to pick out Jeetan Patel for a third successive catch at third slip then Neil Dexter feathered Wright’s next delivery through to the keeper to go for a first-ball duck.John Simpson survived Wright’s hat-trick ball and, after the tea break, joined forces with Adam Voges to frustrate Warwickshire’s bowlers throughout the third session.Voges, the Australian right-hander, posted a 70-ball 50 with eight fours and went in at stumps on 80 not out, while Simpson reached the landmark from 86 balls and with nine fours in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 149. Even so, the hosts will go into day three requiring a further 160 runs to avoid the follow-on.Warwickshire batted for much of Tuesday’s opening two sessions before Chopra’s selfless declaration gave them a session and eight overs of day two in which to make inroads into the Middlesex top-order.Having featured in stands of 113, 113, 55, 100 and 66 Chopra – who was dropped twice on the opening morning before even scoring a run – finally said enough soon after 3pm having batted nine-and-a-half hours for his double century.When only five short of equalling his career-best 233 (scored for Sri Lanka Premier League side Tamil Union against Sinhalese SSC in Colombo, January 2012) and 14 short of his 1,000th run of the summer, Chopra called time on his marathon stay of 428 balls that led to 20 boundaries.Resuming on 141, Chopra soon lost his third-wicket partner Ateeq Javid for 22 when he prodded forward to a Corey Collymore delivery only to edge to the keeper. Left-hander Tim Ambrose marched in to add more pep to the innings with a brisk 60 from 78 balls before his push drive against off-spinner Ollie Rayner picked out Malan at short extra cover.Having gone it at lunch on 388 for 4, Warwickshire promoted Chris Woakes to carry in the impetus Ambrose had given them and he duly obliged with a straight six against Ravi Patel in a cameo 34 that ended when he chipped a return catch to Rayner.Middlesex dropped their fourth catch of the innings when Rikki Clarke, on 10, saw Joe Denly down a skier at long-on, but only 12 runs later Clarke miscued to cover against Collymore to see Voges pull off a fine over-the-shoulder catch running back toward the rope.Chopra declared soon after throwing the gauntlet down to his bowlers to extract some response from a, hitherto, extremely placid Park Road pitch – which they duly did.

Though Sachin Tendulkar shrugged off one of the worst slumps of his career with a resolute 76, it was the visitors’ day as a high-quality England attack nipped out seven wickets on a track that gave them little encouragement

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran05-Dec-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Gautam Gambhir struck his second successive half-century•BCCI

The feverish speculation over the nature of the Eden Gardens track finally came to an end as 83-year-old curator Prabhir Mukherjee unveiled a seemingly benign surface, the sort India’s batsmen have feasted on at home in recent years. MS Dhoni may not have got the square turner he wanted, but for the third Test in a row he won an important toss, and chose to bat, aware that India had amassed 600-plus scores in the first innings in each of their three previous Kolkata Tests.Though Sachin Tendulkar shrugged off one of the worst slumps of his career with a resolute 76, it was the visitors’ day as a high-quality England attack nipped out seven wickets on a track that gave them little encouragement. Monty Panesar again showed how improved a bowler he is, barely bowling a bad ball all day, James Anderson produced a reverse-swing masterclass, and they were backed up by the large-hearted efforts of a fit-again Steven Finn, who took the place of the ineffectual Stuart Broad.The England bowling was relentless, and were helped by the wastefulness of the India batsmen. At least three wickets were gifted away on a pitch that didn’t provide any alarming turn or bounce. Virender Sehwag was run-out after a schoolboy error, Gautam Gambhir played a loose cut after getting set and Yuvraj Singh gifted a catch to cover.In contrast, Sachin Tendulkar looked determined to break his run of low scores. Walking in 15 minutes before lunch, he was extremely watchful to begin with, happy to play out the unyielding Panesar, who had dismissed him both times in the Mumbai Test. Panesar was in the middle of a marathon 21-over spell in which he varied his flight and pace, and bowled the odd ball with the scrambled seam, all without bowling any hit-me deliveries.The runs dried up, and at the other end Finn and Anderson were getting the ball to swerve just a bit to worry Tendulkar outside off. Even when the ball was little more than 40 overs old, Anderson was getting the ball to reverse, highlighted by a dramatically indipping yorker to Tendulkar. The sustained pressure from both ends got the wicket of Virat Kohli, who nicked to second slip on 6 to extend his poor run in this series. There could have been further reward if Yuvraj had been given lbw when he was caught in front by an inducker from Anderson on nought. India would have been 136 for 5 if that appeal went England’s way.

Smart stats

• Sachin Tendulkar scored his first half-century since the second innings of the Sydney Test in January 2012. In 10 innings in between, he had scored 153 runs at an average of 15.30.

• During the course of his innings, Tendulkar went past Sunil Gavaskar to become the highest run-getter for India in Tests against England. He also shares top spot with Gavaskar on the list of India batsmen with the most fifty-plus scores (20) against England.

• James Anderson dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for the eighth time in Tests. He moves level on top with Muttiah Muralitharan on the list of bowlers who have dismissed Tendulkar most often.

• This 76 is Tendulkar’s sixth half-century at Eden Gardens, bringing him level on top with VVS Laxman on the list of batsmen with the most fifty-plus scores at the venue.

• Tendulkar scored 15 runs off 18 balls from Anderson (three fours). However, all three boundaries were scored behind square on the off side.

• Tendulkar scored only 20 runs off 83 balls from Monty Panesar. The scoring rate (1.44) is the second-lowest for Tendulkar in an innings against a particular bowler in matches since 2002 (min 60 balls faced in innings).

• Tendulkar, who top-scored with 76, scored 40 runs (53%) on the off side. In contrast, Gambhir, who made 60, scored 43 runs on the off side (72%).

• The 79-run stand between Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh is the second-highest fifth-wicket stand for India against England in Kolkata. The highest is 214 between Mohammad Azharuddin and Ravi Shastri in 1984.

Instead, an increasingly fluent Tendulkar and a positive Yuvraj brought some stability to the innings. Though there were a few trademark Tendulkar strokes before tea, including an effortless backfoot punch down the ground for four, he was at his best in the final session. The first ball after the break was glanced to fine leg for four to bring up his first Test half-century since the New Year’s Test in Sydney, a milestone which would have had his legions of fans dancing for joy, just like Harbhajan Singh was in the dressing room. Over the next hour there were paddle-sweeps, a punch over point and a cover drive reminiscent of his pomp. Thoughts of a first Test century in nearly two years were brushed aside by the nagging Anderson, though, who induced an edge to keeper with Tendulkar on 76.Before Tendulkar, it was Gambhir who held the innings together with his second successive half-century. It wasn’t his most fluent performance – he was beaten several times early on and edged a few – but he was far more assured once Panesar came on as early as the eighth over. The footwork was more certain, and the tendency to be fidgety that he has repeatedly shown against the quicks reduced. Panesar was greeted with a slap past cover in the first over, and was launched over mid-on in his next.Early on, Sehwag was looking comfortable, untroubled by the defensive fields England set for him and India rattled along at more than 4.5 an over. Then came a moment of madness. Sehwag played what looked like the shot of the session, a fluid whip towards midwicket; Samit Patel, often the butt of jokes about his weight, sprinted across from deep-square leg to make a tumbling stop and Finn was on hand to rifle the ball back accurately. There was plenty of time for three, but both batsmen had dawdled the first two, and though Gambhir screamed ‘no,no’ while looking at the fielder, Sehwag started to hare back for the third, and it was too late to turn back.That immediately brought down the scoring rate, with only seven coming off the next six overs. With the ball not doing much, Gambhir and Pujara calmly set about building the innings. However, with lunch approaching, Pujara misjudged the length of a Panesar arm ball and stayed back, only to miss the ball which hit the middle of the stumps. Panesar was whistling and dancing in celebration, knowing well the importance of the wicket of India’s form batsman of this series.With the old ball reverse-swinging prodigiously, the new ball was delayed till the 87th over, and it produced dividends almost immediately. MS Dhoni and R Ashwin had been together for about an hour, looking to safely take India through to stumps but Anderson cleaned up Ashwin for 21.India would have been mighty pleased when they ended the first day on the square turner in Mumbai on 266 for 6. On a far less testing surface in Kolkata, the first-day total of 273 for 7 will be far less satisfying.

His stint will run till the end of the 2022 T20 World Cup, in October-November in Australia

Firdose Moonda12-Aug-2021Ashwell Prince has resigned as head coach of South Africa’s Western Province to take up a permanent role as batting coach of the Bangladesh men’s national team. His present stint will be till the end of the 2022 men’s T20I World Cup, to be played in Australia in October-November.Prince was in charge of the Cobras – the franchise which has now dissolved into Western Province, Boland and South Western Districts – from the 2016-17 season and has been with Bangladesh in a temporary capacity since their tour of Zimbabwe last month. He remained with them during their historic T20I series win over Australia more recently, and will now be part of the set-up for the T20I World Cup later in the year.Related

• Ashwell Prince quits as Bangladesh batting coach

• Prince: Not looking to change Bangladesh batters

• BCB wants Prince to stay on until T20 World Cup

• Prince on being a player of colour: 'It was a lonely place'

Assistant coach Faiek Davids will take over Prince’s role in an acting capacity at Western Province when the South African domestic season starts in September.Prince, who played 66 Tests, 52 ODIs and a solitary T20I for South Africa between 2002 and 2011, began his coaching career at the Cobras, first as an assistant to Paul Adams and then taking over full time later in the same season. Under Prince, the Cobras did not win any trophies but produced several players for the national side, including the Malan brothers, Zubayr Hamza, Kyle Verreynne and George Linde.”What I will treasure most about my stint as head coach of the Cobras is, along with my coaching staff, assisting six young players to make their international debut for the Proteas,” Prince said in a statement.Prince joins a strong South African component in Bangladesh’s coaching staff, which includes two former South Africa men’s national head coaches: Russell Domingo, who was in charge of South Africa between 2013 and 2017 is Bangladesh’s head coach, while Ottis Gibson, who took over from Domingo between 2017 and 2019, is Bangladesh’s bowling coach.

The defeat to India has brought suggestions that all is not well in the dressing room after a season that has tested everybody

Daniel Brettig01-Feb-2021Justin Langer believes rumblings within the Australian dressing room about its uncompromising environment are a “wake-up call” he cannot ignore, ahead of key meetings among administrators who have the ultimate say about how long he remains as coach of the national team.The CA Board are due to meet on Friday for the first time since the end of the series loss to India, while any concerns from within the team about Langer’s approach as a coach may well be addressed when the new Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) chief executive Todd Greenberg has his first formal sit-down with the governing body’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley later this month.A shocked Langer had fronted some of the concerns in reply to a piece published in the on Friday, seemingly adamant the anxieties raised are without basis. But the fact that a way was found for sensitive internal issues to be raised publicly underlines that numerous players have either not been comfortable enough to front Langer about them directly, fearing selection or other consequences, or do not feel that any feedback already presented thus far has had the desired effect.Speaking to ESPNcricinfo on Monday, Langer acknowledged that any issues could be a matter for discussion between Greenberg and Hockley, and described the episode as a considerable reality check for him between the end of a draining India series and the proposed tour of South Africa.Related

• Defeats, bubbles and absent players: how Australia threatened to unravel

• Langer: Culture talk left Australia open to criticism after SCG scenes

• Australia left with difficult questions after a humbling at home

• Paine admits Australia's failures but determined to 'soldier' on

• What next for Australia? Captain, No. 5 and Starc in the spotlight

“I’m not going to ignore this, of course, and absolutely it is a wake-up call,” Langer said. “Whenever I finish this coaching career I hope I’m still calling myself a novice coach…I’ll see this criticism as a great gift in a few weeks or months.”My greatest mentors in life are the people who told me the truth and were toughest on me, and I’ve always needed that honest feedback. I might not enjoy it at the time, but it is so, so valuable.”The Test captain Tim Paine stepped forward to defend Langer over the weekend via , where he is contracted as a columnist, but others have been extremely hesitant to stick their heads above the parapet in public.”JL is a passionate guy, particularly when it comes to this team and Australian cricket,” Paine said. “He’s also the guy who kicks the bin over and then puts the rubbish back in. He wears his heart on his sleeve, is tough, fair and at times emotional, just as he was as a player and now as a coach. You would be worried if that wasn’t the case.”Justin Langer has a huge amount on his plate as Australia’s head coach across formats•Getty Images

Langer and his backers argue – with plenty of merit – that his methods, moods and propensity for the occasional outburst at players and staff have not changed over the course of nearly three years in the coaching job. He began amid the depths of the months after the Newlands scandal, through grueling but successful World Cup and Ashes campaigns to this summer’s draining cycle of Covid-19 bubbles and Australia’s third consecutive Test series loss to India.However, the counter view is that Langer should have changed more significantly, evolving his ways and loosening up slightly with a group of players he has now spent a lot of time alongside that is no longer the remorseful and less seasoned bunch he inherited from Darren Lehmann in 2018.The key question is whether Langer’s intensity – a tag that has followed him around across his whole playing and coaching career – can again be tempered as it was somewhat by the presence of Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh at considerable expense on the 2019 England tour.Anxiety about broaching sensitive issues with Langer has been a recurring theme from time to time over that period among players and staff, a dynamic captured quite frankly in the Amazon documentary The Test.Greenberg, as a former chief executive of the NRL and the Canterbury Bulldogs before that, is well acquainted with the difficult conversations around a long-term coach’s future. He was only a matter of months into the Bulldogs job in 2008 when he and the Canterbury board guided the late Steve Folkes to the exit after a period of underperformance at the end of 11 seasons as coach that had also reaped five premierships.There were sound judges of Australian cricket who felt, even as Langer was about to take the job in 2018, that the aftermath of Newlands was the only time when his ways would have suited the national team coaching role, given a set project to improve the team’s reputation and performance over a specific period. At other points, they reasoned, Langer’s methods were better tailored to domestic cricket, as he had demonstrated with the Perth Scorchers in the BBL in particular.Since the Newlands scandal, Justin Langer and Tim Paine have worked well together•Getty Images

Equally, Langer’s tenure has been marked by a gradual build-up of handpicked staff and support around him. The team manager Gavin Dovey stayed on in his role after Lehmann’s departure largely due to his closeness to Langer, while the head of national teams, Ben Oliver, had a long history of working alongside Langer in Western Australia prior to his appointment – alongside high performance chief Drew Ginn – to fill the large managerial hole left by Pat Howard and then temporarily occupied by Belinda Clark.Among team support staff, the likes of David Saker and Graeme Hick departed in 2019 and 2020, replaced by Andrew McDonald as senior assistant, while others such as Troy Cooley and Trent Woodhill have lent their support on a tour-by-tour basis. The former ODI captain George Bailey joined Langer and Trevor Hohns on the selection panel towards the end of the 2019-20 season, a deeply respected figure among Australian playing ranks.Paine and Aaron Finch, the national ODI and T20I captain, have formed effective working relationships with Langer during that time. Paine is set to lead the Test squad on the proposed tour of South Africa later this month, while Finch leads a white-ball squad on a short tour of New Zealand, where that team is to be coached by McDonald. Langer has always been strident in his belief that the national team coach needed to be in overall command given how much the game’s formats overlap.”I don’t see anywhere around the world where it’s worked well to split the roles between formats, and that’s stayed true since the first letter I wrote to David Peever and James Sutherland about the job,” he said. “I love the job, there’s nothing I don’t love about it, including the criticism.”

England fast bowler may face surgery as ECB plan next steps of recovery

Andrew Miller16-May-2021Jofra Archer has been ruled out of England’s two-Test series against New Zealand, starting at Lord’s on June 2, and may face surgery on his troublesome right elbow after failing to come through this week’s return to first-class action.Archer, who was withdrawn from this year’s IPL prior to its postponement earlier this month, had undergone a series of cortisone injections to enable him to get through the T20I leg of England’s white-ball tour of India in March.Related

• Ashley Giles: England will be conservative with Jofra Archer's comeback

• Jofra Archer: 'If I don't get this right, I won't play any cricket. Period'

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• Jofra Archer ruled out of entire IPL 2021

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He also underwent an operation on the middle finger of his right hand while receiving further treatment on his elbow, to remove a splinter of glass following a bizarre incident involving a fish-tank. He showed no ill effects following that treatment and has been playing without protection on the affected digit.After a low-key return to action for Sussex’s second XI against Surrey two weeks ago, Archer appeared to be returning to his best when he picked up two wickets, including his England Test team-mate Zak Crawley, in a hostile new-ball burst on his return to the County Championship against Kent at Hove this week.However, he bowled just five overs in Kent’s second innings, and none on the final two days of the match, a situation that appeared to have caused confusion for his Sussex captain Ben Brown on a rain-shortened third day, when he gestured for Archer to open the bowling but had to turn instead to his team-mate George Garton.”It was a communication thing with Jofra on Saturday evening,” Brown said at the conclusion of the match. “There is no issue. I asked him beforehand if he was going to have a bowl and he said yes in a warm-up capacity. But he was feeling too sore to bowl.”The issue here is a sad one for Jofra. He’s a champion cricketer, so talented and so gifted, but at the moment he cannot do what he wants to do, he cannot do his skill.”I really feel for him. He’s in a difficult situation, with that skill of bowling really fast being taken away from him if you like. This week has been very challenging for him. He was hopeful about how it would go, but he’s felt pretty sore in this game.”An ECB statement subsequently confirmed that Archer “was suffering from pain in his right elbow when bowling and was unable to bowl in the final two days of the match.”The England and Sussex medical teams will now seek guidance,” the statement continued, “and Archer will see a medical consultant later this week to determine the next course of action on the management of his elbow.”Archer first suffered problems with his right elbow during the tour of South Africa in January 2020, when a stress fracture was detected that ruled him out of the final three Tests of the series, as well as the subsequent one-day campaign.The option of surgery may be the preferred course of action for Archer and for England – not to mention his IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals – given his importance to the team’s plans across formats in the back-end of the year.As the MVP in the last IPL in November 2020, and following a series of hostile displays in the 3-2 series loss in India, Archer’s value to England’s T20I attack is paramount, especially given that the team will go into the T20 World Cup in October and November as one of the favourites, and seeking to become the first team to hold the 50-over and 20-over titles concurrently.Then there is the Ashes campaign in Australia hot on that tournament’s heels – a tour that England’s Test captain, Joe Root, admitted this week was the “pinnacle” of their plans for 2021, notwithstanding a five-match home series against India before that.In the meantime, England have already indicated that they will be giving opportunities to fringe members of their Test squad during the New Zealand series – not least among them, Archer’s fellow Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson, who has been a fixture in the biosecure environment without yet being given a Test debut.Mark Wood and Olly Stone, who like Archer can bowl at speeds in excess of 90mph, are expected to be included in the squad, although the contingent of players who have recently returned from the IPL – including Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Moeen Ali – are expected to be rested, due to the time they have already spent in bio-secure environments.Ben Stokes is already ruled out of the series after sustaining a broken finger during his stint with Rajasthan Royals at the IPL.

Dick Westcott, who played five Tests for South Africa in the 1950s, has died at the age of 85

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2013Dick Westcott, who played five Tests for South Africa in the 1950s, has died at the age of 85.Westcott, who was the first and to date only Test cricketer born in Portugal, was a more-than-useful allrounder who opened the innings with style rather than dourness, and was also a capable if little-used medium-pace change bowler. His achievements were all the more remarkable considering that he suffered a serious injury to his left arm in a car crash early in his career.He made his Test debut in the third Test against the touring New Zealanders in 1953-54, scoring a career-best 62 in the second innings, but failed to shine in the remaining two matches.He forced his way back into the side during the series against Australia in 195-58 with a good run of form which included two of his four career hundreds as well as an impressive half-century against the tourists for Western Province. However, he scored 18 runs in three innings against Australia and was dropped for good – all 18 runs came in the second innings of his comeback Test when he was the only South African other than Trevor Goddard to reach double figures.

There are a number of players unlucky not to make the cut

Andrew McGlashan22-Nov-2021

Beth Mooney (Perth Scorchers)

The No. 1 T20I batter in the world was the leading run-scorer in the regular season with another prolific display at the top of the order. The standout was the 62-ball century against Melbourne Renegades. As a reminder that there are different ways to be successful in the format, she struck only one six.

Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers)

Devine just keeps churning out the numbers. The value of the pairing with Mooney – the most destructive T20 opening combination in domestic cricket – cannot be understated. Her medium pace adds further value as does the extraordinary record in Super Overs. She won two off her own bat this season.

Georgia Redmayne (Brisbane Heat)

It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore Redmayne’s claims for a place in the Australia side even with the argument that it’s a tough batting order to break into. She showed terrific consistency with five half-centuries, giving further evidence of her expanded stroke-range. The leg-side stumping in Heat’s final group game was another highlight and she would challenge Mooney for the gloves in this side.Harmanpreet Kaur was magnificent in the middle order•Getty Images

Grace Harris (Brisbane Heat)

With a permanent place at the top of the order (although slipping down a little in this XI) Harris added consistency to her game this campaign, with four half-centuries in 13 innings, without forgoing her natural flair. A little lean on wickets and a touch expensive, but this side has no shortage of bowlers. Katie Mack very unlucky to miss out, but with a number of other accumulators in the order, Harris’ power shades it.

Harmanpreet Kaur (Melbourne Renegades)

Revived her reputation as a masterful finisher – notably against Adelaide Strikers with 73 off 46 balls – in one of the key elements of Renegades’ impressive campaign. Some of her off-side driving was stunning and she topped the regular-season sixes tally with 18. A very handy option with the ball and impressive leadership qualities.

Kim Garth (Melbourne Stars)

The former Ireland allrounder, who is now based in Australia but was classed as an overseas player, was very consistent with the new ball and a regular threat. Became the first bowler to send down three maidens in a WBBL innings with her extraordinary spell of 3-3-0-3 against Sydney Thunder. Was useful with the bat as well and one of only two of Stars’ regular batters to strike over 100.Alana King could have pushed herself into Australia contention•Getty Images

Jess Jonassen (Brisbane Heat)

After missing the India series through injury, Jonassen was back doing what she does best – dominating with the ball as the leading wicket-taker. Didn’t quite fire with the bat but still bolsters the lower order.

Alana King (Perth Scorchers)

There is an opening for a legspinner in the Australia side after Georgia Wareham’s injury and King must be in contention after picking up her Stars form with her new club. Produced a number of high-reel deliveries during the campaign while going at under a run-a-ball and was a banker for her captain.

Lauren Cheatle (Sydney Sixers)

Could be viewed as something of a surprise inclusion, but having belatedly found a spot in the XI her left-arm swing, often finding sharp late movement, she made a significant impression although she rarely had runs to work with. If the form line continues, a spot in the Australia A team is certainly within reach again.Darcie Brown regularly claimed top-order wickets•Getty Images

Darcie Brown (Adelaide Strikers)

Her pace continues to provide a point-of-difference to whichever attack she is part of and would regularly take top-order wickets to set opposition back. Removed her Australia team-mate Ash Gardner first ball twice. Will occasionally prove expensive in the hunt for wickets but definitely a price worth paying.

Tayla Vlaeminck (Hobart Hurricanes)

Often bowled better than a haul of 13 wickets would suggested and regularly pushed the speedgun into the mid-120kph area. Significantly, too, managed to play all the matches which was a promising sign for her durability after a lot of injury problems. This XI is packed with bowling options, but if the balance had been for another specialist spinner it would have gone to Lilly Mills from Scorchers.