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A board official says hosting it this October would be ‘too big a risk’

Nagraj Gollapudi and Osman Samiuddin27-May-2020As the prospects of the men’s T20 World Cup proceeding on schedule in Australia this October recede by the day, the ICC board will consider alternative scenarios on Thursday.An official decision may not come after the board meeting – the ICC issued a statement to say that reports of a postponement were “inaccurate”– but according to one official familiar with the contingency planning, a tournament this year would be “too big a risk” in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The official said the logistics of arranging a global tournament would be “impossible to manage,” and that the “safe option” would be to not have it this year.Alternative options as to when the tournament can take place were drawn up in a meeting of the Finance & Commercial Affairs (F&CA) Committee, an influential sub-committee within the ICC, on May 22.Although it is looking increasingly likely that international cricket will resume soon enough the challenges of bringing together 16 teams from across the world into one country and creating a bio-secure bubble for them is of a different scale altogether. The ICC has to take into account multiple travel restriction policies, different quarantine measures in different countries and the loss of revenue from a tournament played behind closed doors (not to mention the additional costs of playing matches in a bio-secure environment).It is possible that the ICC Board does not make the decision official tomorrow – the ICC pointed to a “number of contingency plans” in its statement – and instead waits till its annual conference scheduled for mid-July. But one official said leaving the final decision late would hurt all stakeholders. “If there is uncertainty too close to the actual event itself then stakeholders like the broadcaster will not like it.”The four main scenarios for when the tournament can be postponed to in chronological sequence are:Scenario 1: February-March 2021. Venue: AustraliaMoving the T20 World Cup to February-March next year. For that to happen though the ICC will have to reschedule the 2021 women’s ODI World Cup – currently scheduled between February 6 and March 7 in New Zealand – to start mid-January. The proximity of the events shouldn’t be an issue, the ICC having held back-to-back world events in 2017 with the men’s Champions Trophy and the women’s ODI World Cup in England. Another key advantage is that keeping it in Australia ensures a continuity to plans already in place.Questions: Will there be an appetite among the game’s commercial and broadcast stakeholders to have two men’s T20 World Cups in the same year (and three major ICC events overall) considering India are scheduled to host the 2021 men’s T20 World Cup in October-November? And don’t forget the year might include a de facto global event in the IPL as well. Also, will the pandemic have eased enough to make this viable?ICC/Getty Images

Scenario 2: October-November, 2021. Venue: AustraliaPostpone the event by a year without changing the venue. Australia can then play host to a big summer of cricket, which also involves the 2021 Ashes, scheduled from November through January 2022.Questions: India is already down as the host for the 2021 edition of the men’s T20 World Cup (tax exemptions notwithstanding). This would mean India hosting the event in October-November 2022, but one senior BCCI official has indicated the board would not be in favour as the 2023 World Cup is also scheduled to be held in India in February-March 2023: two global events would take a significant chunk out of the BCCI’s bilateral home season. It could also impact broadcast and commercial revenues to hold back-to-back global tournaments.Scenario 3: February-March, 2022. Venue: AustraliaAustralia host the tournament 14 months later subject to all other teams adjusting their international schedules.Questions: The predicament of two T20 World Cups within the space of five months remains, if India host the 2021 edition. Also would Australia want to play a global tournament on the back of five-Test Ashes which could leave some of their key players exhausted?Scenario 4: October-November, 2022. Venue: AustraliaAustralia hosts the tournament two years down the line. The tournament still gets played in the Australian summer and by then crowds could be back and gate money and merchandising are key revenue streams for Australia.Questions: Again, would the ICC, as well as the broadcaster, want two world events in the space of five months (with the men’s ODI World Cup in early 2023)? That World Cup is, as of now, the only ICC event scheduled in 2023 so potentially that could be pushed to October-November later that year.

Top-scoring for his team and claiming a wicket with his fourth ball, young import makes impressive start

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jul-2020Curtis Campher marked his senior international debut with an accomplished all-round performance that would have allowed even a far more seasoned campaigner to hold his head high.Top-scoring as Ireland’s last man standing with an unbeaten 59 then claiming a wicket with just his fourth ball in ODIs, 21-year-old Campher would not change much – except the result and perhaps adding the noise of a crowd.”I loved it,” Campher told Sky Sports after England comfortably won the first of three ODIs behind closed doors at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday. “You can’t ask for a better debut in my eyes. Maybe one or two things could have gone differently but, for me, really it was just taking the moment.”All the guys spoke to me, and just said, ‘just enjoy your debut and relish the challenge’.”ALSO READ: Willey enjoys five-star return after ‘rollercoaster’ England rideCampher’s only previous List A game was for Ireland Wolves against Namibia in February but captain Andy Balibirnie was comfortable throwing him into the action after he had impressed in the nets. His 59 not out was the second-highest by an Irish ODI debutant, behind the man leading the opposition, Eoin Morgan.”I thought it was very impressive for a guy who’s not even played a game in Ireland yet to come in as a 21-year-old and put in a performance like that,” Balbirnie said. “It was sort of an old-school knock, but it was exactly what we needed – we needed someone to occupy the crease and adapt to conditions, which as top-five batters we weren’t able to do.”It was as good a debut as I’ve seen in an Irish shirt in the last number of years, and it’s a huge positive to take. He’s only 21 and hopefully he can get better from today.”While the flag Campher was flying was perhaps not the one he had originally envisaged, having switched allegience from South Africa – whom he represented at Under-19 level – on the basis of his mother’s Irish passport, he has slotted into his new team comfortably.”It’s been the easiest thing to walk into this environment and everyone’s been welcoming and just been so good to me,” Campher added. “Having the backing of all the players, the captain and all the support staff has just been a dream really.”Campher came in with Ireland in dire trouble at 28 for 5 and saw off David Willey’s hat-trick ball. He shared a 51-run stand with 134-match veteran Kevin O’Brien and managed to pull Ireland up to a more respectable 172 with a patient innings lasting 118 balls and the best part of three hours before he ran out of partners.Curtis Campher celebrates reaching fifty•Getty Images

“It was a bit weird facing guys with no crowd,” Campher said. “I just tried to stay focused for as long periods as possible. Kev was just amazing to me, mentoring me and taking me through it.”It’s been an amazing journey so far and hopefully it’s the start of something good.”Ireland’s task of defending a relatively modest target against the world champion side, albeit with a few new faces on board, hit a snag early when Barry McCarthy limped off with a knee injury just five balls into England’s innings.But they managed to make inroads thanks to Craig Young and Andy McBrine as England’s top order of Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and James Vince fell cheaply.England promoted Tom Banton and Sam Billings up the order and it was Campher who struck to remove No. 4 Banton, not for the first time.In a youth ODI for South Africa U19s in 2018, Campher dismissed Banton lbw for 9. During their latest encounter, Banton wafted at a short ball and top-edged to Lorcan Tucker behind the stumps for 11 – but Campher played down the symmetry.”I think sometimes it’s just how it goes to be honest,” he said. “Just happy to to be doing something for for the side and contributing.”It was good to get a bowl. I didn’t think it would be that soon. Sadly Baz got injured but for me it’s just keeping it simple and trying to restrict. Happy to do a job for the captain today.”

Pair put on unbroken stand of 126 for fourth wicket to guide hosts out of trouble on opening day

The Report by Valkerie Baynes16-Jul-2020It was slow, steady and sensible after England’s difficult start – on and off the field.Dom Sibley’s 86 not out, amid an unbroken 126-run stand for the fourth wicket with Ben Stokes, rescued his side from 81 for 3 and put them in a far more comfortable position at the close than appeared likely earlier in the first day of a must-win match for the hosts.ALSO READ: Archer dropped after breach of biosecurity protocolsIt was a day when the drama of Jofra Archer’s match-morning omission dominated the narrative, after the revelation that he had breached biosecurity protocols by stopping at his house in Brighton en route from Southampton to Manchester.But Sibley did the needful for England in the face of a West Indies bowling performance which stuttered, then contained the hosts before running into serious resistance as Sibley and Stokes saw their side to stumps still only three wickets down.It could have been so much worse for England when they lost Rory Burns, Zak Crawley and Joe Root cheaply.Jason Holder won the toss and elected to bowl first in hopes of making the most of gloomy overhead conditions when play finally began 90 minutes late due to the mop-up operation required to deal with a wet lead-up to the match.Both sides took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, as they had done in Southampton, before play began.Holder played around with his attack in the hour of play to lunch, replacing Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach after just three overs each with himself and Alzarri Joseph. That was after Gabriel had looked uncomfortable in his run-up and out of rhythm. Roach, meanwhile, toiled hard for no reward once more.Gabriel – player of the match at the Ageas Bowl where his nine wickets, including a five-for in England’s second innings, helped West Indies to victory and a 1-0 series lead – returned with more control after the lunch break for another four-over spell. But he limped from the field with an apparent hamstring problem, returning in the evening session but without making any inroads in three more overs.Roach, who is only seven away from claiming 200 Test scalps, remains wicketless for the series despite bowling with accuracy for the most part.It was not until Holder brought offspinner Roston Chase on in the last over before lunch that West Indies made a breakthrough with Chase trapping Burns lbw with a ball that beat the inside edge and rapped him on the pads bang in line with middle stump.That signalled lunch but Chase struck with the next ball after lunch with one that spun a little as Crawley flicked low to Holder at leg slip. Crawley, whose second-innings 76 in Southampton cemented his place at the expense of Kent team-mate Joe Denly who made way for Root’s return from parental leave, was out for a first-ball duck.Root survived the hat-trick ball as he and Sibley built a 52-run partnership. But when Gabriel left the field Holder turned back to Joseph, who had accounted for three of Root’s previous four dismissals against West Indies going into the match. Joseph made it four in the last five with a full, outswinging delivery which Root swiped to Holder at slip.That left Sibley and Stokes in the middle and the pair set to work, Sibley keeping it low-key while Stokes produced the odd flash of strokeplay when it was warranted, including the first six of the series when he smacked Chase back down the ground.Sibley’s circumspection was familiar. After a duck in the first innings at the Ageas Bowl, he faced 164 deliveries in the second innings there before he was out moments after bringing up his fifty. This time, he stuck around upon reaching the milestone, grinding out his score off 253 deliveries so far.He was dropped on 68 when, in Gabriel’s first over since returning to the field, he sent a thick outside edge straight to Holder at second slip, only for the ball to slide through Holder’s hands, hit him in the stomach and fall to the ground.Roach was imploring when he reviewed a not-out decision for lbw which would have dismissed Sibley for 82 but, with the ball striking high on the front pad, the batsman survived on the umpire’s original call.Either Stokes, Sibley or both have been involved in each of the five highest partnerships of the series so far, all of them yielding in excess of 50 runs. Their union on Thursday took their team past England’s first-innings total at the Ageas Bowl of 204, which proved too low and was a factor in the hosts’ defeat there.If they are able to push on into the second day in Manchester, it will put less pressure on the England bowling attack, which has had an overhaul in the absence of Archer and the resting Mark Wood and James Anderson.Stuart Broad returned after being left out of the first Test and was joined by Chris Woakes and Sam Curran, with Stokes taking up the fourth seamer’s position. Their fresh legs could be key as England seek to thwart West Indies’ quest for a first Test series win in England for 32 years. But, after their batting performance in Southampton fell short, England will be happy to delay the appearance of their bowlers, regardless of who they are, a little longer.

Worcestershire pay price for sloppy bowling display as Jake Libby’s 75 not out goes in vain

ECB Reporters Network03-Sep-2020Somerset 229 for 8 (Davies 60, Mitchell 3-35) beat Worcestershire 213 for 7 (Libby 75*, Davey 4-41) by 16 runsSomerset achieved their highest T20 score away from Taunton as they defeated bottom placed Worcestershire Rapids by 16 runs in a Central Group encounter at Edgbaston. Steven Davies continued his liking for batting on the ground as he top-scored with 60 in a total of 229-8 after being put into bat.It was a total Somerset had only surpassed twice, in scoring 250 for 6 against Gloucestershire in 2006 and 235 for 5 versus Middlesex in 2011 – both on their home ground. But they were aided by some indisciplined bowling by the Rapids who conceded 14 wides and three no-balls and saw skipper Ed Barnard removed from the attack for bowling successive high full tosses.The Rapids lost early wickets but Jake Libby – with a T20 best of 75 not out – and some late hitting by Daryl Mitchell, who had earlier become Worcestershire’s leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket, lifted the final total to a respectable 213 for 7 with Josh Davey returning 4 for 41.Somerset’s second win has kept them in contention to qualify for the knockouts but the Rapids, winners in 2018 and runners-up last September, are without a win after four matches.Davies has scored centuries on his last two appearances in the County Championship at Edgbaston – in August 2019 and last month – and his assault today provided the perfect platform.Somerset welcomed back Babar Azam and Vitality Blast captain Lewis Gregory who had been on opposite sides in the Pakistan-England T20I Series at Emirates Old Trafford. Pakistan T20 captain Azam scored 578 runs in 13 knocks for Somerset in the Blast last summer with one century and four fifties at an average of 52.54. He replaced George Bartlett with the rested Craig Overton making way for Gregory.Worcestershire handed a Blast debut to paceman Adam Finch who has impressed this season while on loan to Surrey in the Bob Willis Trophy with four-wicket hauls against Essex and Kent. He came into the side for Rapids spinner Brett D’Oliveira as part of a four-pronged pace attack on the same pitch where Gloucestershire plundered 157 for 3 off 12 overs against Warwickshire the previous evening.Former Worcestershire wicketkeeper Davies clubbed Pat Brown for sixes over long-on in his first over. He picked up two further boundaries at the expense of the England T20 paceman to complete the Powerplay at 53 for 0. Barnard’s first over cost 17 runs including a six over long-on by Azam.Mitchell broke the stand with the total on 90 when Azam on 42 from 35 balls chopped a delivery onto his stumps. It meant that Mitchell became Worcestershire’s all-time leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket with 93 victims, edging one ahead of Jack ShantryDavies completed an excellent 27-ball half century with two sixes and seven fours but the Rapids enjoyed a second success when James Hildreth lofted Pennington into the hands of Riki Wessels at long-on. Davies’ excellent knock ended on 60 when he picked put Ross Whiteley at deep square leg off Pennington.Mitchell struck in successive balls in his final over as Tom Abell swung across the line and was bowled and Gregory offered a low return catch.There was another breakthrough when Ben Green cut Brown straight to short third man but then Worcestershire’s attack lost its way.Brown conceded three wides in an over and Barnard was removed from the attack for bowling successive high full tosses – which were dispatched for four and six by Roelof van der Merwe – at the start of the 19th over. Finch had to complete the over which cost a total of 29 runs although he gained some consolation with Eddie Byrom taken at long-on before Josh Davey was run out in the final over.Worcestershire had to score at more than 11 an over and they soon lost wickets in pursuit of their daunting target. Wessels skied Gregory to mid-on, Hamish Rutherford perished on the deep square boundary off Ollie Sale, who in his next over had Jack Haynes caught behind. Ben Cox then departed to a sharp return catch by Davey.Sale held on to a fine low catch at backward square to dismiss Ross Whiteley to give Davey his second scalp.Libby brought the Rapids 100 up with a six from a highish Gregory delivery in the 12th over before Barnard was lbw to a Davey full toss as he tried to work the ball to leg. Mitchell was also in good form with the bat and Green was hit for three sixes – all in the midwicket region – in the same over.Libby completed his maiden T20 fifty for Worcestershire from 35 balls with one six and four fours. Mitchell became Davey’s fourth victim to leave Libby undefeated with his 46-ball knock containing two sixes and seven fours.

UK Government confirm postponement of return of fans to stadiums from October 1

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2020The ECB has reiterated that the impact on cricket would be “severe” if fans were unable to return to grounds for the 2021 season, after the UK government confirmed that plans to reintroduce spectators to sporting events were being paused.Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon, the prime minister Boris Johnson confirmed that a spike in Covid-19 cases in the UK had required a postponement of the proposed date of October 1 for a trial reintroduction of fans in stadiums.The final rounds of the rescheduled T20 Blast had been set for October 1 (quarter-finals) and 3 (Finals Day), in an attempt to enable some spectators to return to watch the action. However, those plans are now on hold, following the rise of the UK’s Covid-19 alert level to 4, meaning that transmission is “high or rising exponentially”.”We have to acknowledge the spread of the virus is now affecting our ability to reopen large sporting events,” said the prime minister.
“We will not be able to do this from October 1 and I recognise the implications for our sports clubs, which are the life and soul of our communities.”Earlier this week, 100 leaders of sports and fitness bodies, including the England & Wales Cricket Board and the cricket charity, Chance to Shine, wrote to the UK government to warn of a “lost generation of activity” if sporting clubs were to face financial hardship as a consequence of Covid-related measures.According to a report in the Guardian, the government is braced to bail out eight sports facing a financial black hole as a consequence of lockdown measures.ECB officials were among those to sit in on a phone call with the sports minister, Nigel Huddleston, in the wake of the prime minister’s announcement, alongside representatives of the Rugby Football Union, the Football Association, the British Horseracing Authority and the governing body for Formula One.ALSO READ: ‘We can’t let this crisis narrow our ambition’ – Clare Connor“Like other sports, the financial impact of Covid-19 on cricket has been severe,” read an ECB statement, “and we welcome today’s constructive call with the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport where we discussed potential ways to overcome the significant challenges facing sports across the UK.”Through this crisis we have worked closely with the government to enable cricket to be played through the summer, and we will continue to work with the Government and other sporting bodies to see the safe return of crowds to stadia as soon as possible.”The impact of having to stage cricket behind closed doors again next year would be severe. Many clubs will also face a significant financial impact if they are unable to host conferences and events over the coming months.”Meanwhile, restrictions on indoor team sports will also mean a reduction in activity levels and could particularly hit those whose participation has been limited during the pandemic.”We will continue to work with the government over the coming days and weeks to ensure the challenges facing our sport are understood and can be overcome.”

Masood scored an unbeaten 78 to end Northern’s defence of the National T20 Cup, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa joined them in the final

Danyal Rasool17-Oct-2020Southern Punjab beat Northern by seven wickets
Southern Punjab followed up their sensational win against Balochistan with a thumping win over defending champions Northern to stride into the National T20 Cup final.Chasing 161, one fewer than they did with 56 balls to spare in their last game, Shan Masood’s side was much more businesslike, the captain top-scoring with an unbeaten 78 in 58 balls and knocking off the winning runs with eight balls and seven wickets to spare. Masood and Zeeshan Ashraf – whose swashbuckling 55 off 32 kept the asking rate down – shared a 91-run opening partnership, which broke the back of the chase. From thereon, it was something of a procession, with the final single coming from a dab down to third man.The usually free-scoring Northern were kept on a leash by the rejuvenated Southern Punjab bowling attack, who, after conceding 200-plus in seven of their first eight games, have kept sides below 165 in the preceding three. That was possible thanks to a disciplined start by Aamer Yamin and the ever-reliable Mohammad Abbas. Though Ali Imran scored a half-century, there was no real support for him from the other end. Zahid Mahmood removed three big-hitters in Haider Ali, Asif Ali and Imad Wasim, and only a late flurry from Shadab Khan, who smashed an unbeaten 48 off 27, took Northern past 160. But against a batting line-up as high on confidence as Southern Punjab, it proved something of a cakewalk. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Sindh by eight wickets
Blistering half-centuries from Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan helped Khyber Pakhtumkhwa thrash Sindh heavily to take their side through to the final. The duo shared a 113-run opening partnership to set up an emphatic eight-wicket triumph, achieved with over 5 overs to spare.KP was solid in the chase right from the start, making 66 in the Powerplay to get off to a flying start. Zaman hammered 57 off 29 balls before edging off Danish Aziz behind the wickets, while Rizwan made a crisp 67 off 50. By the time they fell, the ask was relatively straightforward, and the experienced duo of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik led the side home with no further drama.Earlier in the evening, KP’s decision to bowl first brought instant results as they left Sindh reeling at 10 for three inside three overs. Neither Sharjeel Khan and Azam Khan, two power hitters Sindh will have relied on, could make an impression; both were dismissed without scoring. Khurram Manzoor (74 off 57) and Danish Aziz (39 off 27) were the only batsmen who resisted, propelling their side past 140 with an 80-run sixth wicket stand. But Shaheen Afridi, Imran Khan and Usman Shinwari had done enough to make the task for their batting colleagues relatively straightforward.

Players staff involved in the Sheffield Shield were forced to go into 14 days quarantine after the Adelaide Covid-19 outbreak

Alex Malcolm23-Nov-2020Sidelined Australian paceman Jhye Richardson is on track for the start of the BBL with the Perth Scorchers, but the club has been denied a training exemption by the Western Australia government for the players and staff undergoing quarantine following the Covid-19 outbreak in South Australia as the Sheffield Shield hub came to a conclusion.Those who were involved in the Shield matches in Adelaide with Western Australia will remain in isolation until the end of the month and will not be able to return to training until November 30 leaving them just over a week before heading to Tasmania for the start of the tournament.”Certainly, for the Perth-based guys, we will have a period of time that is not too dissimilar to what we would normally have in terms of BBL preparation,” Scorchers coach Adam Voges, who is among those in quarantine, told ESPNcricinfo. “I guess, as all teams will find, it will be a case of getting everyone together only a couple of days out before the first game.”Richardson, who was not in Adelaide so can continue to train, has had a wretched run with his right shoulder that he first dislocated while fielding on Australia’s 2019 ODI tour of the UAE, but Voges is expecting him to have a significant impact on the BBL after recovering from shoulder surgery.ALSO READ: Perth and Melbourne handed BBL fixtures in JanuaryThe injury cost him a chance to go to the 2019 World Cup and the Ashes, but he returned to domestic cricket last season and had an excellent BBL taking 15 wickets in 14 games at an outstanding economy rate of 7.07. Only Haris Rauf had a better economy rate among those with 15 wickets or more.Richardson toured South Africa with Australia’s limited-overs squad in February and March and played in the third ODI in Potchefstroom when Mitchell Starc flew home. However, he required further surgery on his shoulder in May and has only returned to bowling in club cricket in Perth in the last three weeks.”He’s actually going really well,” Voges said. “He’s progressed really nicely over the last few weeks in his return from that shoulder surgery. He’s played three weeks of club cricket now and he will have another bowl this weekend. He’s building really nicely and we’re really confident that he’ll be ready to go at the start of tournament.”Jhye had a terrific BBL last year. He probably started a bit slowly but built his way into and was probably the form bowler of the comp in my opinion at the backend. We’re hoping for something similar from him.”Richardson has bowled two lots of 10 overs in each of his last two club matches for Fremantle in WA Premier cricket, but he still can’t throw properly.”He won’t be able to throw at any real capacity,” Voges said. “He’s got one of the best underarms in the game. He can underarm from the boundary and his movement to the ball is pretty good so he should be okay.”The tournament will also see the return of Jason Behrendorff who has not played any professional cricket since having back surgery in 2019 following the World Cup. His recovery has been slow but he has also played some club cricket in Perth, bowling in three of the four matches he has played for Subiaco-Floreat.Jason Behrendorff celebrates after taking a wicket•Getty Images

The return of Richardson, Behrendorff, and Andrew Tye, who has been called into Australia’s limited-overs squad after playing just one professional match in the last 12 months due to elbow surgery, has Voges confident about the composition of the Scorchers attack.”Obviously to get AJ and Dorf back who didn’t bowl a ball for us last year it almost feels like we’ve got two new signings again and they will bring us a lot of experience and it’s going to be really important for our attack,” he said. “Yes, they’re all coming back from injury in some way shape or form but we’re hopeful preparation wise that we’ve got that right and they’ll be ready to go for the first game.”Mitchell Marsh is also close to returning from his ankle injury and Voges believes he is on track to play in the Australia A games against India in a couple of weeks.”He’s had his first hits this week,” Voges said. “I think that the ankle has been a little bit slower in terms of recovery that he or we would have liked. He’s still on track to play the Australia A games that he has been selected for primarily as a batter to start with and we’ll continue to work with his bowling but he’s making some good progress albeit a little bit slower than we would have liked.”The Western Australian players and coaching staff were forced to isolate at home for 14 days after returning from Adelaide on November 15. The WA government, which has had a hard border to the rest of Australia protect against the spread of Covid-19, has denied the WACA and the Scorchers a training exemption that had been available to the AFL clubs that travelled interstate during the winter.”It’s just a case of when we do get out of quarantine I think we will still have eight or nine days’ prep before we get on the plane to Hobart,” Voges said. “We’ve got guys flying in from England, we’ll have a couple of our overseas guys playing over in South Africa, Colin Munro is coming from New Zealand.”We have our guys from the eastern states who we won’t see until we get to Hobart as well so it’s a bit of a disjointed preparation, but in saying that we will hopefully all be able to come together a couple of days before that first game and at least be together as a team before we start.”Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy will not join the team until they have completed the compulsory 14-day quarantine after arriving from South Africa in mid-December and will not be available until after Christmas. Joe Clarke has been signed as an early-season replacement and will fly to Australia shortly to undergo quarantine in Perth in order to join the squad before heading to Hobart.Munro, and the Scorchers’ eastern states based players in Kurtis Patterson and Fawad Ahmed, will link up with the team in Hobart prior to their first game.

Gunathilaka’s half-century in vain as Galle slip to fourth straight defeat

Madushka Balasuriya03-Dec-2020Jaffna Stallions 174 for 5 (Avishka 84, Bhanuka 40, Asitha 2-30) beat Galle Gladiators 170 for 6 (Gunathilaka 56, Walton 31, Hasaranga 2-29) by five wickets
How the game played out
An all-round display from Wanindu Hasaranga capped off yet another fine display by the Jaffna Stallions, as they won their fourth game on the trot, and subjected the Galle Gladiators to a fourth straight defeat, with an ultimately comfortable five-wicket win.Despite a 44-ball 56 from Danushka Gunathilaka and cameos from Ahsan Ali, Azam Khan and Chadwick Walton, the Gladiators’ batting line-up exhibited familiar failings as they once more faltered in crucial periods of the game. The Stallions, in contrast, showcased their clutch mentality, on numerous occasions, reining in the Gladiators just as they would have been hoping to do some real damage.The chief culprit as far as the Gladiators were concerned would be Hasaranga, who was not only responsible for breaking a threatening 67-run opening stand between Ali and Gunathilaka – completing a extremely tough return catch – but returned later to dismiss Gunathilaka in the 15th over, just as he would have been looking to launch a late assault.That wicket completely snuffed the momentum from the Gladiators’ innings, though Walton’s 14-ball 31 did briefly threaten to reignite it – taking them from 127 for 4 at the end of the 16th over to 152 midway through the 17th. However, after Walton nicked one through to the keeper, the Gladiators just could not recover, taking just 17 runs off the final three overs to limp to a sub-par 170 for 6.In their chase, the Stallions were in control pretty much from the get-go – largely thanks to a mature innings from Avishka Fernando. After Tom Moores fell with the score on 26, Fernando and Minod Bhanuka put on 99 for the second wicket.With less than 50 runs to get, the Gladiators would make a game of it dismissing Thisara Perera, Avishka, and finally Shoaib Malik (in the final over), but Wanindu would prove to be the bane of the Gladiators one final time – his seven-ball 17, inclusive of four boundaries, ensuring there would be no late drama.Stars of the day
While Thisara has rightfully hogged the spotlight over the course of the Stallions’ unbeaten run, Wanindu has arguably been as, if not more, critical to his side’s success. Quietly going about his business with bat, ball, and in the field, Wanindu once again showed what an invaluable asset he his. His control and variations were a constant thorn in the side of the Gladiators on his way to figures of 2 for 29, before his late cameo extinguished any faint hopes the Gladiators might have had of stealing a win.There was something rather ominous about the way Avishka went about his innings; the period of play from the 11th to the 13th over highlighted this perfectly. At the end of the 10th over he was on 35 off 31 deliveries, but realising the scoring rate needed picking up, he took Dhananjaya Lakshan for a six and four. The next over was a tight one from Lakshan Sandakan, but Avishka didn’t panic, calmly turning over the strike – even playing out a dot ball. It was as if he he could up the rate whenever he so chose. Three consecutive sixes in the arc between long-on and midwicket later, these suspicions were confirmed. At 22, this new-found assurance bodes well for the Stallions and Sri Lankan cricket in general.Chadwick Walton smears one away•AFP via Getty Images

Turning point
It’s unusual that an over in which 26 runs were plundered could be a positive for the bowler, but that Usman Shinwari ended the 31-run cameo from Chadwick Walton – 24 of which came in this over – before he could do any more damage, was crucial in limiting the Gladiators’ late charge. Following Walton’s wicket, just 18 runs were conceded by the Stallions over the next three overs – any more and it could have been a much trickier chase.The big miss
In the 18th over of the chase, Avishka flat-batted one hard to long-off. The man in the deep, Shehan Jayasuriya, however, chose to peddle back and stop the boundary instead of coming in for the catch. To compound matters, a misfield would lead to a boundary as well. Two balls later, Avishka would nick one through to the keeper. The umpire had already raised his finger before realising Azam had dropped a sitter behind the stumps. Fortunately for the Gladiators, Avishka would give another opportunity off the final ball of the over, skying a catch to Jayasuriya.Where the teams stand
The Stallions have firmly installed themselves as the team to beat – four wins in four, bowlers performing, batsmen clicking, what more could you ask for? It would take an astounding drop-off in form for them not to make the semi-finals. As for the Gladiators, they don’t really have much margin for error. Though the format of the tournament – where the top four teams go through as opposed to a play-off system – means they can sneak through with a couple of wins, provided other results also go their way.

Glenton Stuurman pushed his case for a Test call-up following wickets with the new ball

Firdose Moonda16-Dec-2020Results Summary There has been no word on whether or when the top-tier clash between the Titans and the Dolphins will be replayed, after the match was called off following a case of Covid-19 but the four other teams in action made some important gains on the respective log leaders.In Pool A, the Warriors now lie 4.7 points behind the Titans – though the Warriors have played an extra game – after their 80 run win over the Cobras. In Pool B, both the Knights and the Lions have overtaken the Dolphins. The Knights beat the Lions by nine wickets and remain favourites to compete in the first-class final.In Bloemfontein, the Knights were set up by Raynard van Tonder’s 200 which, along with Ferisco Adams’ 96, saw them total 472 in their first innings. But the worth of that total became apparent when the Lions were bowled out for 262 thanks largely to Shaun von Berg’s 5 for 93. With little more than a day to play at the end of both first innings, the Knights opted to enforce the follow-on.The Lions were 210 behind and the best they could hope for was to bat out the draw but their tail did not manage to hold out. They lost 5 for 44 in their second innings but managed to make the Knights bat again, to chase 18 runs for victory.On the coast in Port Elizabeth, the Warriors came back from a first innings deficit of 31 runs to beat the Cobras in a low-scoring encounter. Rudi Second’s 55 held the Warriors first innings together but a total of 194 did not look too competitive to start with. However, when the Cobras crashed to 32 for 3, it seemed that the Warriors had something to work with. Kyle Verreynne’s 97 and George Linde’s 49 pushed the Cobras into the lead but Second led the way in the Warriors second innings, with 117, to set the Cobras a target of 265.Aiden Markram had plenty on his mind after bagging a pair•BCCI

Janneman Malan’s 65 kept the Cobras in the hunt but the Warriors attack, led by Glenton Stuurman and bolstered by Jon-Jon Smuts kept nipping at the Cobras heels and bowled them for 184 to give the Warriors their second victory of the competition. The Cobras remain the only winless team in this tournament.On the National Radar Selection convener Victor Mpitsang would have been pleased with the bulk of the returns from those members of the national squad who were in action in this round.After Aiden Markram’s 75 and Dean Elgar’s 52 in the match was called off, Rassie van der Dussen’s 107, albeit in a losing cause for the Lions, bodes well for the Test top-order while Verreynne’s 97 have pushed the case for him to included in a lower-middle order spot. Verreynne could also relieve Quinton de Kock of the wicketkeeping gloves if needed.In the bowling department, Glenton Stuurman made a strong case for a Test debut after striking with the new ball in both innings against the Cobras. Allrounder Wiaan Mulder bowled 18 overs for the Lions, and took 2 for 68, which suggests he is ready for a decent workload while the national squad’s newest recruit, Migael Pretorius, took 2 for 53 and1 for 49 for the Knights. Beuran Hendricks’ 1 for 77 may not look as eye-catching, especially as he went for 3.67 runs an over, which sets up an interesting contest between him and Stuurman for the third seamer’s spot. South Africa may choose to go all pace against Sri Lanka, which could see both Hendricks and Stuurman play but left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj reminded them what he could do with 3 for 48 at SuperSport Park.De Kock, Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma and Anrich Nortje did not play in this round.Top Performers Just days after the Test squad to play Sri Lanka was announced, Raynard van Tonder’s double-hundred must have put him front and centre of selection convener Mpitsang’s mind. Van Tonder leads the run-scorer’s list and averages 67.11 and although South Africa have a reserve batsman in Keegan Petersen in their group, expect to see van Tonder in amongst the national squad soon.Von Berg leapt to the top of the bowling charts with nine wickets in this round and now lies ahead of Warriors’ Marco Jansen, who took four wickets against the Cobras, and Pretorius. Other spinners who performed well were Linde (4 for 52 in the first innings against the Warriors) and Smuts (3 for 40 and 3 for 47 against the Cobras).Second’s century saw him rise to third on the overall run-scorers’ list while Dominic Hendricks’ 98 puts him in fourth place.

Ben Dwarshuis, who was out with a groin injury, included in Sydney Sixers squad, but might not be ready for action yet

Matt Roller12-Jan-2021Daniel Sams is set to return to the Sydney Thunder side in their derby fixture against the Sydney Sixers on Wednesday night in Canberra following a break because of concussion. Sams missed the Thunder’s last two games after being subbed out of the defeat against the Brisbane Heat under concussion protocols, but has been added to an enlarged 19-man squad for Wednesday’s game at Manuka Oval.”He’s tracking really well,” Callum Ferguson, the Thunder captain, said. “He felt like he was really good and ready to play within a day or two of copping the head knock, but protocols don’t allow that. Obviously his health is the most important thing; not just now but in the long-term future.”Ben Dwarshuis has also been included in the Sixers’ 18-man squad after missing the win against the Heat with a groin injury he picked up against the Perth Scorchers, though stand-in captain Daniel Hughes said that he was a doubt for Wednesday’s fixture.”I think tomorrow might be a bit of a stretch but we’re not sure yet,” Hughes said. “He’s probably more likely to be ready for the game on Saturday against the Scorchers.”Related

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Meanwhile, the Heat have applied to add Morne Morkel to their squad ahead of Thursday’s game against the Melbourne Renegades, but have lost Mujeeb Ur Rahman to international duty earlier than expected.They had hoped Mujeeb would be available for the Renegades fixture before flying to the UAE ahead of Afghanistan’s series against Ireland, but a change in travel plans means that he has played his final game of the BBL season.”Unfortunately, he had to leave a little sooner than we had both anticipated and we will miss him,” Darren Lehmann, the Heat head coach, said. “But he has been excellent, and we wish him all the best with representing his country and for his cricket this year.”Morkel, a Sydney resident, signed a deal to play as a local in this season’s BBL but is yet to make an appearance after a prolonged period of rehabilitation following an ankle injury. Joe Denly has been cleared of a fracture after dislocating his finger against the Sixers.For the Renegades, leading run-scorer Shaun Marsh will return to the side after missing two games when he went on paternity leave. English allrounder Benny Howell could return to the squad with Mohammad Nabi on international duty and Rilee Rossouw injured, though coach Michael Klinger hinted that he would prioritise giving opportunities to young players with qualification for the finals in jeopardy.”Getting games into these guys now is going to develop them even quicker,” Klinger said. “With the injury to Rilee Rossouw and now with Nabi being away, these guys are going to keep getting opportunities. If they can be involved in winning teams it’s going to be huge for them.”Thursday night’s game will be the first of the season staged in Melbourne. Victorian public health officials have capped attendance at 15,000 for games in the city, at both the MCG and Docklands Stadium.