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Stakes in all Hundred teams for sale for 2025 with ECB sending prospectuses to potential investors next month

Matt Roller21-Aug-2024Lancashire want to partner with an IPL franchise and run Manchester Originals as a joint venture from 2025. The ECB will distribute prospectuses to potential investors early next month, with stakes in each of the eight Hundred teams for sale, and Lancashire have met with various interested parties over the last month.The club have actively grown their profile in India over the last five years, with a strategy which has included men’s and women’s pre-season tours, friendlies against teams linked to Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the signings of Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar and Venkatesh Iyer as overseas players.As the owners of Emirates Old Trafford, Lancashire will be gifted a 51% stake in Manchester Originals by the ECB as part of the Hundred’s sale process. They have made clear that they are looking for a “sporting partner” rather than a purely financial investor, and their chief executive, Daniel Gidney, told ESPNcricinfo that they would “love” to work with an IPL franchise.Related

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“Our preference is a partner who will partner with us on cricket, who can really help us grow our cricket, and clearly we have a strong interest in India,” Gidney said. “We’d love to work with an IPL team, of course, because of the opportunities that would bring – both for us and for them… our pathway is the best in the country, and so is our medical staff.”The ECB is running the sale of stakes, with the Raine Group – the American bank involved in the recent deals at Chelsea and Manchester United – and Deloitte acting as financial advisors. But Lancashire will be actively involved in choosing a partner, and hosted officials from several franchises – understood to include Lucknow Super Giants – during the Hundred.The two London Hundred franchises – London Spirit (Lord’s) and Oval Invincibles (The Oval) – are expected to be worth the most, with Manchester Originals and Birmingham Phoenix (Edgbaston) following. “As I’ve said to different people from that part of the world, the first round is being run by the ECB, so you need to get your number up,” Gidney said.”If you want an ego and to pay a lot of money, then London is your gig. There’ll be loads of people that want London, but there’s only two teams, and one of those only wants a passive investor so it narrows your choice down. Outside of that, I said to people: ‘If you want cheap, we are not it. If you want the best , we are it.”Avram Glazer, the co-owner of Manchester United, owns Desert Vipers in the UAE’s ILT20 and is understood to be considering a bid for a stake in a Hundred franchise, with representatives attending matches over the past few weeks. But the Glazer family’s ownership has been unpopular with United fans, meaning a bid for a stake in the Originals appears unlikely.”We are unique in the cityscape of the UK in having two massive brands and Premier League football teams that both [feature] the name of the city,” Gidney said. “All I’m going to be drawn on that subject is I think it would be very difficult for Manchester Originals to be renamed either Manchester United or Manchester City.”A Lancashire spokesperson said that the club have also held talks with other American sports investors, including from the NFL, women’s football and the NBA and are not ruling any options out before the process officially gets underway.Gidney believes that the ECB should consider increasing the number of overseas players per team in the Hundred from three to four when private investment arrives and salaries increase. He would also favour a tweaked draft system which would allow for more “local heroes” in Hundred squads, with two of Lancashire’s best players – Liam Livingstone (Birmingham Phoenix) and Saqib Mahmood (Oval Invincibles) – not involved in the Originals set-up in the Hundred’s first four seasons.”I would absolutely see the benefit of some form of consolidated contracting,” Gidney said. “An opportunity for us to have a bit more Lancashire personality would be great. You’ve still got to be best vs best, you’ve still got to get in the XI, but originally, we talked about having some local heroes within a squad and I would love to see that come back in.””The key for the success of the Hundred going forward is that player salaries have to go up – on both the men’s and women’s side – to attract the best talent. You can’t have a scenario where [Shaheen Shah] Afridi is choosing to play in Canada over us. That’s just nonsense.”I think there’s probably 30 to 40 players who are currently playing in the Hundred but I don’t think they should be. I think they should be playing in the One-Day Cup… if you’re looking at the investment, you have to have best vs best. On some occasions, have you had the best players in the world playing in that game? I would say the answer is no.”August 22, 1000 GMT – This story was updated to include a clarification from a Lancashire spokesperson.

India opener records second double-hundred and second-highest List A score in England

ECB Reporters Network09-Aug-2023Prithvi Shaw secured his place in the record books with a magnificent 244 off just 153 balls to set up an 87-run victory over Somerset in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at Wantage Road. Shaw’s innings was Northamptonshire’s highest ever score in List A cricket and the sixth-highest worldwide in List A history.The India international put on a batting masterclass blasting 11 sixes and 28 fours. Along the way he eclipsed his undefeated 227 for Mumbai against Puducherry at Jaipur in 2021. He also moved past Ben Duckett’s 220 not out for England Lions against Sri Lanka A in 2016 to post the second-highest ever List A innings made in England. Only Alistair Brown with 268 for Surrey against Glamorgan at the Oval in 2002 has scored more.After almost chopping on before scoring, Shaw did not offer another chance until he passed 200. He made batting look effortless, scoring all around the wicket, threading the ball through the gaps with surgical precision. Somerset did not help matters either with some uncharacteristically subpar ground fielding and catching. Shaw took on the spinners, using his feet to hit down the ground or sweeping high over long-off, one ball flying out of the ground. He also played fluently against the seamers, controlling the hook shot well, driving and cutting and twice depositing Somerset’s most experienced bowler Jack Brooks over long-off for six.He reached his first 100 off 81 balls before powering to 200 off just 48 more. In the process, he overtook David Sales’ 161 in 2006, the previous best for the Steelbacks in 50-over cricket, before moving past David Willey’s 167 in 2013 and Wayne Larkins’ 172 in 1983, both scored in 40-over affairs.Somerset opener Andy Umeed offered the visitors some hope with his highest List A score of 77 off 67 balls, smashing the ball with some ferocity, and sharing a century stand with Lewis Goldsworthy. Rob Keogh’s spin however prompted a mini collapse as Somerset lost three wickets for eight runs in 12 balls. Sean Dickson and Curtis Campher put on 77 in seven overs but were left with too much to do, with Northamptonshire’s sharp fielding in marked contrast to their opponents. Keogh finished with figures of 4 for 49, his best in List A cricket.Emilio Gay had given Northamptonshire’s innings a strong foundation in the powerplay with an opening partnership worth 63, hitting six boundaries before he played Shoaib Bashir straight to mid-on.Shaw found another partner in Ricardo Vasconelos with the pair sharing a stand of 112 in 16.3 overs. They targeted Curtis Campher, taking 18 off one over, Vasconcelos taking Northamptonshire past 150 by hooking him for six.Vasconcelos was gifted three lives, first on 22 when short midwicket couldn’t hold onto a tough chance, then when more straightforward chances were put down on 32 and 38. George Thomas had the final word though, taking a sharp catch off his own bowling.Shaw duly brought up his century off 81 balls, slowing slightly as Goldsworthy extracted some turn. He soon found his feet against Brooks, as the former Steelbacks bowler conceded 19 off one over.Sam Whiteman hit a six and five fours in a run-a-ball 50, but otherwise played second fiddle to Shaw as they put on 194 in 18.3 overs. They brought up Northamptonshire’s 200 in the 32nd over and motored to 300 in the 39th before Whiteman was bowled by Danny Lamb.Tom Taylor was run out after being dropped first ball – the first of four wickets to fall for two runs as Northamptonshire lost three batters to catches while attempting to force the pace, giving Brooks three consolation scalps.Shaw started the final over with six down the ground, but his long stay finally ended when he holed out off Lamb and left to a standing ovation.In the reply, Thomas fell attempting to pull a short ball from Taylor, but Umeed was in good touch, pulling Jack White for six and hitting Simon Kerrigan for two huge sixes, one into the top of the Spencer Pavilion and one which flew over the top. His downfall came when he was trapped in front by Keogh, attempting to sweep.Goldsworthy had played the junior partner, striking just four boundaries, and chipped Keogh to long-off where Vasconcelos took a stunning catch. The spinner then collected his third scalp when he trapped the in-form James Rew lbw attempting a reverse sweep.George Bartlett fell to Luke Procter for 13, but Dickson and Campher went on the offensive, trying to keep up with an ever-rising run rate. Dickson hit Kerrigan down the ground for six while Campher meted out similar treatment to Taylor before he fell to a fine boundary catch from James Sales off Taylor.Lamb reverse-swept Keogh for six but gave Taylor his third wicket when he was caught at wide mid-off. Dickson’s captain’s knock ended when he was caught in the deep and with him went Somerset’s last hope. The tail wagged vigorously but ultimately in vain.”The sun was out, it was kind of like Indian weather today so it was really looking good,” Shaw said. “You know when an inside edge doesn’t get me out, that means this day is for me. You have to be lucky sometimes, so I think this was a day for me. I didn’t look back after that.”The 227 was in my head to be honest. I spoke to Whitey [Whiteman] when he was there and I told him it’s 227, my highest score. But it was a good team effort all around. I always try and win matches for the team and I’m the kind of a player who puts my team first and then myself. If scoring like this can help my team to win, then I should continue this.”On his motivation for playing county cricket, Shaw added: “Definitely experience for sure. Not really thinking what the Indian selectors may be thinking, but I just want to have a good time here, have a good time with the players over here and the support staff. Northamptonshire have given me this opportunity… they’re really looking after me. I’m really enjoying it.”

Sanju Samson returns as well, while Shreyas was rested and Rahul not selected

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jan-20246:24

Is the Rohit-Kohli T20I selection a step forward or back?

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have returned to India’s T20I squad after an absence of more than a year from the format for the three-match series against Afghanistan, India’s last T20I series before the T20 World Cup in June.Rohit has been named captain of the squad while those who led the side in his absence, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, are injured and unavailable for selection.Rohit and Kohli have not played T20Is since India’s semi-final defeat to England in the T20 World Cup in November 2022, choosing to prioritise Test cricket and ODIs in the lead-up to the World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup in 2023. Their selection now, which comes after India’s chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar flew to South Africa during the New Year’s Test in Cape Town, means that both players are back in India’s plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.India have mostly been led by Hardik in T20Is since the 2022 T20 World Cup, and Suryakumar stood in as captain after Hardik injured his ankle during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Suryakumar led India in the five-match T20I series at home against Australia and the three T20Is in South Africa in December but has also been ruled out for a couple of months because of an ankle injury he picked up in South Africa. Both Hardik and Suryakumar are expected to return for the IPL in March.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Ruturaj Gaikwad hasn’t been picked as he continues to nurse a finger injury that he picked up in South Africa last month. There is no place for KL Rahul in the 15-member squad, while Ishan Kishan has opted out, citing the need for a break to help him refocus on his game. Kishan also missed the two-Test series in South Africa for the same reason.Wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, who was part of the T20I series against both the Australia and South Africa recently, retained his spot and Sanju Samson, who hasn’t been in India’s T20I plans since touring Ireland with a second-string squad in August last year, comes in as his back-up. Samson struck his maiden international century during the ODI leg of the South Africa tour last month.Mumbai allrounder Shivam Dube also gets another crack in T20Is following an impressive IPL 2023 where he was Chennai Super Kings’ spin-hitter in the middle overs. Dube was most recently part of India’s second-string squad that clinched the Asian Games gold in Hangzhou in October last year. From there, he went into the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy and produced some useful cameos for Mumbai batting down the order. His role with the ball, though, was minimal.Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have been rested keeping in mind their workloads ahead of the upcoming five-Test series at home against England. Also missing are Shreyas Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja, who was vice-captain during the South Africa T20Is that India drew 1-1. Jadeja missed the first Test against South Africa because of a neck spasm.Deepak Chahar, who was named for the South Africa T20Is but didn’t take part due to a personal emergency, misses out altogether, with the selectors continuing with Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar. Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi form the spin attack. Kuldeep, who picked a five-for in his most recent T20I in South Africa, picked up three wickets for Uttar Pradesh in the first-round Ranji Trophy fixture against Kerala.Following the three T20Is against Afghanistan on January 11, 14 and 17, India host England from January 25 to March 11, after which the players will disperse to join their respective IPL teams for the 2024 season, which will conclude only a couple of weeks before the T20 World Cup begins on June 1.

India’s T20I squad for series vs Afghanistan

Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar

The New Zealand captain is under some pressure heading into the final Test of the season against Australia

Alex Malcolm07-Mar-2024Tim Southee cut a lonely figure out in the middle of Hagley Oval on Wednesday. It is rare that in the middle of the afternoon two days out from a Test match there is no one on the playing surface.But while New Zealand’s players trained in the nets out the back, and the ground staff had all disappeared to attend to other matters, Southee was running shuttles alone on the verdant outfield.It is a week of celebration for Southee and his mate Kane Williamson as they play their 100th Tests together. But for Southee, it doesn’t quite feel as celebratory as it does for Williamson. Some time alone with his thoughts might have been a relief, but they also might have been torturous.Related

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New Zealand are under pressure, 1-0 down in the two-Test series, and Southee is at the centre of it. Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor has offered some rare criticism of Southee and the team, although it has not been as sharp or as pointed as some in the media have suggested.But Southee doesn’t need to be told. He knows what his recent Test record looks like and he’s not shying away from it.”You always want to be performing at your best and I think there’s no hiding from the fact that the currency we deal in as a bowler is wickets, and the last three Test matches I haven’t got the wickets I would have liked,” Southee said on Thursday.”I still feel like there’s more to it. There’s roles within that as well. I have probably not been where I should be as the most experienced bowler seamer the side. But like everyone, each week you’re trying to get better. Each week you’re trying to go out and put your best foot forward. Prepare as well as you can to give yourself the best chance and that’s the same over the last couple of days. I’ve done that.”But there’s no hiding from the fact that the last couple of Test matches have been disappointing. I know that. I’d always like more wickets. And hopefully, there’s some to come.”It’s a big few days for Tim Southee, in more ways than one•Getty Images

Southee didn’t opt to bowl in the nets on Wednesday. Before his solo running session, he worked on his own on a practice pitch in the centre under the watchful eye of stand-in bowling coach Kyle Mills. The pair had earlier met for a coffee on Monday in Wellington.Southee was pragmatic about his recent bowling efforts, but he said he and Mills had identified a couple of areas to improve.”I’ve felt okay at times,” Southee said. “Sometimes you feel good and you don’t get the wickets. Sometimes you feel not so good and you actually pick up a few wickets. So I think it’s just about trusting your game. Trusting what you do.”I’ve worked hard over the last couple of days alongside Kyle Mills on a couple of things. So it’d be great to finish the season strong. Just a couple of minor things that we’ve been looking at over the last couple of days.”You don’t always get the wickets you feel like you should but hopefully I can contribute to what should be a good week.”Southee becomes the first bowler to play 100 internationals in each format this week. It is a remarkable feat. He has shown an extraordinary ability to adapt and endure across 16 years at the top of the game. He revealed that desire to evolve is still there, as evidenced by his running session on Wednesday.”I think no one’s getting any younger,” Southee said. “But the desire to train, to work hard away from the game is still there. It’s an absolute honour to do what we do and represent our country and I still love that.”I still wake up every morning hoping to go out there and do people proud and put performances on the board. So as long as that’s still there and you can come live to those standards then…”But he didn’t get to finish that sentence as another question about Wagner’s retirement was fired his way. Perhaps it was the universe sending him a message. Perhaps it could be fuel to rekindle a fire within that has become embers in recent weeks.Southee is under no illusions the game owes him nothing despite all he has given to it. He and New Zealand will hope he doesn’t cut a lonely figure in the field this week.

Australia face selection squeeze after impressive return of Mitchell Marsh

Andrew McGlashan09-Jul-2023David Warner’s position could come under scrutiny for the Old Trafford Test with Australia facing a selection squeeze after the impressive return to the side of Mitchell Marsh.Cameron Green, who sat out the Headingley match opening the door for Marsh’s comeback, is on track to be fit for the fourth Test after a minor hamstring strain. He bowled and did sprints ahead of the final day’s play in Leeds as well as briefly acting as a substitute fielder.But Marsh’s stunning century on the opening day, in his first Test for four years, has made him very tough to leave out which means someone else will have to make way unless they opt not to bring Green straight back in.The spotlight has again returned to Warner after his twin failures at Headingley where he twice edged Stuart Broad to slip from around the wicket, making it 17 times he has now fallen to Broad.Related

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However, that followed some useful contributions earlier in the series, led by the 66 on the opening day at Lord’s in tricky batting conditions, although he was dropped in the slips on 20. His overall Test average since 2021 remains 28.17 and that includes the double century against South Africa at the SCG.Captain Pat Cummins, who is not a selector, said that Australia would use the break before Old Trafford to take stock of their options as they look to avoid the Ashes going to a decider at The Oval.”You keep all options open,” Cummins said. “We’ve got nine or 10 days now, so we’ll take a deep breath. We’ll go away for a few days.”But everyone comes back into it. Greeny should be fit for Manchester. Josh [Hazlewood] will be back in there as well. So we should have a full roster and we’ll have a look at the wicket and have a chat and work out the best XI.”Marsh’s third Test century, all of which have been against England, came from 102 balls while he also chipped in with a couple of wickets.Cummins conceded he would be difficult to omit. “Yeah, it’s possible but, I mean, it was a pretty impressive week, wasn’t it?” he said.David Warner smiles after being dismissed by Stuart Broad for the 17th time•Getty Images

Warner has mapped out his retirement plan, announcing earlier in the tour that he hoped to finish against Pakistan on his home ground of the SCG in January. Prior to that, the original Ashes squad was only selected up to the end of the Lord’s Test which raised further questions over Warner, but he did enough in the early matches to dampen talk somewhat.The situation Australia now find themselves in is not dissimilar to what happened on the 2019 tour when Marnus Labuschagne performed so well as Steven Smith’s temporary replacement that someone else had to make way for Smith’s return. On that occasion the fall guy was Usman Khawaja.Meanwhile, Cummins indicated that he remained on track to play all six Tests on the tour which he had stated as his aim before the World Test Championship final against India. He is the only Australian quick to play all four matches to date. England have had Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson in all three of their attacks, but the latter is now under an injury cloud after suffering back spasms at Headingley.”I feel great, actually, probably better than I would have hoped,” Cummins said. “I don’t have any niggles or injuries. So fingers crossed, should be sweet.”Elsewhere in the squad, Michael Neser has been released to play the next round of County Championship matches for Glamorgan while Josh Inglis, who flew home after Edgbaston for the birth of his child, will return on Friday. Jimmy Peirson filled in for him as reserve wicketkeeper.Australia’s players will break up for a few days and make use of the longer gap between these two Tests before beginning preparations for Old Trafford – the venue where they were able to retain the Ashes in 2019.Cummins gave a succinct response when asked if he felt England’s win would shift the momentum in the series. “No, not really. It’s 2-1.”

Australia allrounder signs three-month contract spanning Championship and Blast

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jan-2025Beau Webster, the Australian allrounder, will tune up for the World Test Championship (WTC) final by playing for Warwickshire in the County Championship, after agreeing a three-month deal for the 2025 season.Webster made 96 runs – including a first-innings half-century – on Test debut this month to help Australia clinch a 3-1 series win over India and a spot in June’s final against South Africa at Lord’s. He has since been picked for their upcoming tour to Sri Lanka and will be in contention for a place in their side for the final.His deal with Warwickshire runs from the start of May until the end of July, and he is due to be available in both the County Championship and the T20 Blast. If he is named in Australia’s squad for the WTC final – as expected – then he will likely miss a handful of Blast fixtures, with the final scheduled for June 11-15. Australia then have a tour of West Indies, which includes three Tests, from late June.Webster will likely be competing against Cameron Green for a spot in Australia’s final XI, and his inclusion may depend on Green’s return to fitness after a significant back injury which has ruled him out since September.Other members of Australia’s Test squad who are not involved in either the IPL or PSL may follow Webster’s lead in seeking out county contracts in the build-up to the WTC final. Two South Africa regulars in David Bedingham (Durham) and Kyle Verreynne (Nottinghamshire) have already secured deals.Related

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Webster will be representing his third county in as many years, after recent stints with Essex (in 2023) and Gloucestershire (in 2024). His stock has risen significantly in that time: his deal with Essex came about when he was playing club cricket in the UK, before he joined Gloucestershire for most of their successful T20 Blast campaign last summer.”I’m really pleased to sign for the Bears for part of the 2025 season,” Webster said. “Having played Birmingham League cricket [for Knowle and Dorridge] in the past, I have great memories of the people and the area. I played some Championship cricket last summer with Gloucestershire and loved the challenge of the competition.”Mark Robinson, Warwickshire’s head coach, said: “We’re delighted Beau has chosen to become a Bear. Since we first approached him he has made his international debut which shows how highly regarded he is thought of by Australia’s selectors. As an allrounder he will give us great balance in both the Championship and Blast.”

A report into the tournament was presented to Cricket Australia this week and will now be considered further

Andrew McGlashan30-Jul-2025Private investment in the BBL has come a step closer after it was one of the recommendations put forward for the future of the competition, alongside the potential of a later start for the men’s tournament to avoid an extended overlap with Test cricket.Boston Consulting Group (BCG) had been commissioned by Cricket Australia (CA) to assess the current model and future structure of the BBL. They presented their findings to CA earlier this week and the report will now undergo further study over the coming months.BCG said that there was “significant existing commercial value” in the BBL and “strong potential for further growth.” Todd Greenberg, the CA CEO, said the report was a “strong validation” of what the BBL had achieved heading into its 15th season, but it was vital to keep the tournament at the forefront of the sport.Related

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“The success of the T20 format has been a huge boost for the game globally in attracting new audiences and increasing participation,” Greenberg said. “We need to ensure that the Big Bash remains among the world’s top sporting competitions.”We will now undertake an exploratory process of the recommendations in this report to ensure any action we take achieves this potential and is in the best interests of Australian Cricket and cricket fans.”Among major T20 leagues around the world, the BBL has remained one of the holdouts against private investment, but it is now seen as highly likely that it will follow that path, especially with the sums of money that have been produced in the recent sale of Hundred franchises in England with the teams valued at £975milion amid significant interest from India and the US.The BBL has seen an increase in salaries in recent seasons – a top-level overseas player in the BBL can now earn AU$420,000 – but continues to be challenged by the SA20 and ILT20 which run concurrently. An injection of private capital would allow salary caps to rise further.But away from overseas players, one of the big challenges for the BBL has been availability of Australian Test stars given the significant overlap with the Test summer which runs from late November to early January.This season the BBL starts three days before the third Ashes Test in Adelaide although there is a clearer window after the series ends, which could potentially allow players to appear during January. However, in the 2026-27 season, Australia will head to India for five Tests from mid-January. The next Future Tours Programme for beyond 2027 is currently being finalised.Given the pressures on the calendar and the marquee Boxing Day and New Year Tests in Melbourne and Sydney it is unlikely the BBL will ever have a completely clear window. The other issue is trying to complete the tournament within the summer school holiday window which goes to late January – there was previously a failed experiment of extending the BBL into February.Expansion of the BBL was also put forward by the report as an avenue worth further consideration. Earlier this year New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that there had been informal talks about putting a team into the BBL while Singapore has been mooted as an expansion location. Cricket ACT has also made clear they would like to host a team in Canberra.The WBBL has largely been able to carve out its own window in October and November although this season the schedule has been squeezed by the Women’s ODI World Cup which means it will begin in early November with the final on December 13, the day before the start of the BBL.The BBL went through a difficult phase when it expanded to a full home-and-away season in 2018-19 coupled with the challenges brought by two years navigating the impacts of Covid-19. In 2023-24 the tournament was reduced to a 10-game regular season.”It is very important to understand that no decisions have yet been made, and that any action taken will be for the benefit of the BBL, WBBL, fans and Australian Cricket more broadly,” CA chair Mike Baird said. “That would include providing strong benefits across the game including investment in participation initiatives and player development.”

West Indies’ Shai Hope agrees the track was a tricky one, but wants his side to “find ways to score”

Hemant Brar27-Jul-20231:14

Wasim Jaffer: ‘West Indies didn’t show up today’

On a Kensington Oval pitch that offered bounce and carry for seamers, and turn for spinners, 15 wickets fell in less than 46 overs in the first ODI between West Indies and India. After being sent in, West Indies were all out for 114 in 23 overs. India, who promoted their white-ball specialists up the order, lost five wickets in the chase before Rohit Sharma, batting at No. 7, hit the winning runs.”To be honest, I never thought the pitch was going to play like that,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation. “It had everything for seamers and spinners, and the run-scoring was quite difficult. But to restrict them to that score was a superb effort from our bowling unit.Related

• Kuldeep, Jadeja rout West Indies on spin-friendly track

“We never thought we would lose five wickets but it was good to give some game time to a lot of those ODI guys who have just come in. But firstly, it was important for us to get into a good position. Restricting them to 115 [114] was a great effort, and I thought we had that commanding position that we needed, which is why we thought okay, we could try some of those guys who haven’t played a lot of cricket in a while and give them a go.”I don’t know when they will get time moving forward, so whenever we get an opportunity like that, we will try to accommodate all these guys.”Rohit also praised Mukesh Kumar who, having made his Test debut earlier on the tour, was playing his first ODI. The seamer started with a maiden and bowled a tight line and length, although his first wicket in the format came off a delivery that was short and wide – Alick Athanaze failed to clear a leaping Ravindra Jadeja at backward point.”Mukesh has been brilliant,” Rohit said. “Even in the Test series we saw he can swing the new ball, has got a bit of pace and is quite consistent as well. So we want to see what he has to offer. I haven’t seen much of him in domestic cricket either, so it was good to see him playing with the white ball as well.”West Indies captain Shai Hope, meanwhile, lamented the lack of application by his batters. Despite losing three wickets inside nine overs, West Indies had reached 88 for 3 with Hope looking in full control. Jadeja then triggered a collapse by sending back Shimron Hetmyer, and West Indies lost their last seven wickets for 26 runs.”Too many words come to mind but let’s just say we didn’t play the way we needed to,” Hope said. “On a challenging surface like that, as a batting group, we need to find ways to score.”Anyone who was watching can see what happened there. Any 9.30am start in the Caribbean will be difficult [for batting] and the Indian bowlers bowled pretty well on this surface, but again we didn’t score enough runs.”

Sarah Coyte is aiming for an astonishing 10th state title against a Queensland side further hit by Georgia Voll’s absence

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2025New South Wales veteran Sarah Coyte makes no secret of the fact a grand-final win on Sunday over Queensland would mean more than her first six WNCL titles with the state.”Just for the sheer fact that NSW have spent the last four or five years rebuilding,” Coyte told AAP.Coyte, at age 33, is one of the last remaining members of NSW’s days as the powerhouse of women’s domestic cricket. She won six competitions with the state between 2010 and 2015, as part of the Breakers’ record run of 10 straight titles in the 2000s and 2010s.Related

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So dominant were the Breakers in the early days of the 50-over WNCL, they claimed 20 of the first 23 competitions and finished runners-up in the other three.”Back when NSW kept winning, it was just an expectation, because we had all the big names,” Coyte said. “The program has completely changed since then. You don’t have as many big names, the Australian team have always got something on. Now we have to fight and work so hard for it, and it shows.”Coyte is no stranger to winning. On leaving NSW for South Australia in 2015-16, she broke NSW’s streak with a title there. Another two came in Tasmania, with the seamer now gunning for a 10th WNCL title in 13 full seasons separated by a mid-career break.”It would be the ultimate. It would mean everything for NSW to be back at the top,” she said. “Not just for me but for Cricket NSW to be back after having to rebuild.”Winning machine: Sarah Coyte is searching for a 10th WNCL title•Getty Images

The changed nature of the WNCL means Sunday’s final features no Australian players, with Queensland’s Georgia Voll the last to leave for India and the WPL on Friday. But that does open the door for other players to eye off lifelong dreams. For table-toppers Queensland, up to six of their XI will hunt a first title after losing to Tasmania in last year’s decider.”It’s disappointing – we would have loved her to play, and I know she would have loved to have played as well, but it’s a great opportunity for her and a good reward for her season so far,” Queensland captain Georgia Redmayne said. “Considering the urgency to get her to India, I really hope they give her the opportunity she deserves on Tuesday.””The good thing about having so many players in and out is that we’ve been able to give a lot of opportunities to a lot of girls throughout the season. Everyone in our squad of 13 has played games this season, so everyone’s been there and been exposed to it – we’re not bringing new players into the team suddenly for a final so I think that bodes well for us.”Georgia Voll has beeen handed a late call-up to the WPL•Getty Images

For NSW, a new generation wants success after finishing fifth and sixth for the past two years. And for the likes of senior Breakers quick Sammy-Jo Johnson and spinner Sam Bates, a title shot awaits after NSW’s dominance was a double-edged sword as teenagers.Knowing only of NSW’s stars winning, both were forced to move to Queensland and ACT respectively for a chance before returning in recent years.”The goal for me growing up was to play for NSW,” Johnson said. “That’s all I dreamt about, I just wanted to wear a baggy blue. But Queensland gave me an opportunity, and I wouldn’t have made a name for myself if I didn’t go chase it somewhere else.”Now, they know the chance awaits for NSW to create a new legacy on Sunday.”The history is very rich, but the cool thing about this group is we’ve forged our own path,” Johnson said. “We’ve gone through the struggles. We’ve had so many injuries … We’ve had to go through the grind.”

WNCL final squads

Queensland Georgia Redmayne (capt), Charli Knott, Lily Bassingthwaighte, Lucinda Bourke, Sianna Ginger, Lilli Hamilton, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Laura Harris, Grace Parsons, Courtney Sippel, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Mikayla WrigleyNew South Wales Georgia Adams (capt), Sam Bates, Maitlan Brown, Lauren Cheatle, Sarah Coyte, Hannah Darlington, Elsa Hunter, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Claire Moore, Frankie Nicklin, Kate Pelle, Tahlia Wilson

Shaheen returned to bat despite hurting his knee but could not win the match for Lions

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2024Dolphins ensured they did not bow out of the Champions Cup without a win, as they beat Lions by 16 runs in the last league game of the tournament.With Lions needing 81 from five overs with three wickets in hand, a Dolphins win seemed a mere formality. But Khushdil Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, batting with an injured knee, threatened to pull off a heist. The pair hit seven sixes and two fours in the next four overs to reduce the equation to 23 needed from the final over. But Abbas Afridi held his nerve to give his side a consolation win.It must have been a no-brainer for Dolphins to bat after winning the toss; the teams batting first are yet to lose a game in the tournament. Dolphins lost Sahibzada Farhan in the sixth over but Muhammad Hurraira and Muhammad Akhlaq added 77 in 10.1 overs to set the platform.Hurraira scored 47 off 41 balls and Akhlaq 52 off 50. After the two fell in quick succession, Umar Amin took over. Despite Lions making regular breakthroughs, he found enough support from the lower middle order to steer Dolphins ahead.By the time Amin fell, for 75 in the 42nd over, Dolphins had 275 on the board. Even though they were all out in the last over, they had posted a challenging 326.In response, Abdullah Shafique and Rohail Nazir gave Lions a steady start of 78 in 13.3 overs. Nazir was the aggressor, scoring 62 in 70 balls.After 22 overs, Lions were well placed on 125 for 1 but Saud Shakeel dismissed Nazir and Omair Yousuf in his back-to-back overs. That derailed Lions’ chase.Lions needed 100 in the last ten overs with four wickets in hand. Then, a Faheem Ashraf delivery hit Shaheen on the left knee and he had to retire hurt. He returned at the fall of the next wicket, in the 45th over, but struggled with running between the wickets.That did not seem to matter as he and Khushdil dealt in boundaries. Shaheen hit Mir Hamza for back-to-back sixes in the 47th over. Khushdil went one better against Abbas in the next. But despite their best efforts, Lions fell short of their target.