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Former India opener will explore “new opportunities in the world of cricket and the business side of it”

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2023M Vijay has called time on his international career to explore “new opportunities in the world of cricket and the business side of it”.Vijay played 61 Tests, 17 ODIs and nine T20Is in an international career that began in 2008 when he replaced Gautam Gambhir in India’s XI for the final Test of the 2008-09 Border Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur. He last turned out for India in the Perth Test in December 2018, and last played first-class and List A cricket, for Tamil Nadu, in late 2019. His last appearance in professional cricket was in the IPL, in September 2020.A classical Test opener, who, when at his peak, had a solid technique and immense patience against the new ball – his ability to leave the ball earned him great praise during India’s tour of England in 2014 – Vijay finished with 3982 Test runs in 105 innings at an average of 38.28. He made 12 centuries and 15 half-centuries, with a best of 167 against Australia in Hyderabad in 2013.Related

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“I am excited to announce that I will be exploring new opportunities in the world of cricket and the business side of it, where I will also continue to participate in the sport that I love and challenge myself in new and different environments,” 38-year-old Vijay said in a statement. “I believe this is the next step in my journey as a cricketer and I look forward to the new chapter in my life.”

Will Vijay explore opportunities in overseas T20 leagues?

In June last year, speaking at an event to launch the 2022 edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League, Vijay had said he wanted to “play as long as possible”. While he hasn’t said if he would be pursuing opportunities in T20 leagues around the world, Vijay’s retirement note didn’t make a mention of retirement from anything apart from international cricket.Not long ago, in fact, he had hinted at playing outside India. “I am almost done with BCCI and am looking for opportunities abroad,” Vijay had told former India batter WV Raman on Wednesdays With WV, a weekly show on . “After 30 in India, it’s a taboo. I think people see us as 80-year-olds walking on street.”The media should also address it differently. I feel you are peaking in your 30s. Sitting here right now, I feel I can bat the best way I can. But, unfortunately, the opportunities were less, and I had to search for chances outside. I honestly feel as a person, you can only do what’s in your hand. You can’t control the uncontrollable. Whatever happened, happened.”M Vijay had his best years in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings, winning the title in 2010 and 2011 with them•BCCI

Vijay was a key member of India’s Test squad for a five-year period between 2013 and 2018. From December 2013 to January 2015, when India played all their Test cricket away from home – in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia – Vijay faced the most balls and scored the second-most runs for the team. He was also one of only three players to average more than 40.Though a Test opener in the classical mould, Vijay also featured in 106 IPL games and led two franchises: Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) and Punjab Kings. However, much of his success came for Chennai Super Kings, with whom he won two IPL titles, in 2010 and 2011. The triumph in 2011 was particularly special as Vijay earned the Player-of-the-Match award for his 52-ball 95 in the final against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Overall, he scored 2619 runs in the IPL, with two centuries and 13 half-centuries, scoring his runs at a strike rate of 121.87.Vijay also had short stints with Essex and Somerset in the English county championship.”My journey from 2002-2018 has been the most wonderful years of my life,” he wrote in his retirement note. “It was an honour representing India at the highest level of sport. I am grateful to the opportunities provided by the BCCI, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, Chennai Super Kings and Chemplast Sanmar [the corporate that runs Jolly Rovers, Vijay’s club team in the TNCA league].”

Former Australia captain calls time on his first-class career following Tasmania’s draw with Queensland in the final Sheffield Shield round of the season

Alex Malcolm17-Mar-2023Former Australia captain Tim Paine has bid a quiet farewell from first-class cricket at the conclusion of Tasmania’s draw with Queensland in the final Sheffield Shield round of the season, drawing to a close a rollercoaster 18-year career.Paine, 38, had not made any public announcement that he was playing his final match but had made it known to the Tasmania team that the clash against Queensland would be his last.Following the early conclusion to the match, after both captains agreed to end it after just 62 overs of the final day with a result not possible, Paine was given a guard of honour as he left Bellerive Oval for the final time.He did not do a press conference after play. It was instead left to Tasmania captain Jordan Silk to confirm that Paine was ending his first-class career.”He’s been a phenomenal player,” Silk said. “I think it’s around 22 years of professional cricket. It’s an incredible effort to have the longevity that he’s had. He’s certainly going to be missed behind the stumps. I certainly won’t play, I’m sure a lot of guys who are playing now will say that there will never be another keeper as good as Tim Paine in Australia. So we’ve been incredibly blessed down here. And we wish him all the best in whatever he chooses going forward.”Silk was full of praise for Paine given he played this final season without a contract having endured a turbulent time off the field in 2021-22 when he resigned from the Test captaincy.”Considering his age the level of the standard of keeping and he’s still been able to generate has been really incredible,” Silk said. “He’s always someone that you know is doing the work behind the scenes. I think he sets a great example for work ethic and all that sort of stuff for all of our guys.”Paine’s career ends having played 154 first-class matches including 35 Tests and 95 Sheffield Shield appearances for Tasmania. He holds the record for the most Shield dismissals by a Tasmania wicketkeeper in Shield cricket with 296 and finishes 12th all-time on the Shield wicketkeeping dismissals list.He scored 6490 first-class runs at 29.63 with three centuries including a best 215. He averaged 32.63 in 35 Tests with the bat and made nine half-centuries, but never made a Test century. He completed 157 Test dismissals.He led Australia admirably post the Sandpaper saga in Cape Town, captaining the Test side in 23 matches between 2018 and 2021 including retaining the Ashes in a drawn away series in England in 2019.But his Test career ended abruptly in a scandal of a different kind when it was revealed he had sent explicit text messages to a Cricket Tasmania employee in 2017. He was cleared of any wrongdoing by Cricket Tasmania and Cricket Australia at the time but the text messages were published on the eve of the 2021-22 Ashes series and he resigned as Test captain and took a leave of absence from the game.Paine never played Test cricket again and was dropped off both CA and Tasmania’s contract lists in 2022. He wrote a memoir in 2022 where he opened up about his off-field errors but also claimed he was hung out to dry by CA.But he played six more first-class matches for Tasmania across the 2022-23 season.He played in two of Tasmania’s only three Sheffield Shield triumphs in 2007 and 2013 making 87 in the 2013 decider against Queensland. He missed the 2011 triumph due to injury.Paine also played 35 ODIs for Australia, captaining five of them on the 2018 tour of England. He made an ODI century and played in Australia’s 2009 Champions Trophy triumph. He played in two Australia One-Day domestic titles for Tasmania in 2008 and 2010. He was player of the final in 2010 after making 100 off 118 balls against Victoria at the MCG. He also played 12 T20Is for Australia.

Adverts featuring him and 22Bet India have been geoblocked for users in New Zealand

Vithushan Ehantharajah14-Apr-2023The ECB is “exploring” a possible breach of their anti-corruption rules by Test head coach Brendon McCullum regarding his relationship with bookmaker 22Bet India.McCullum’s deal with the Cyprus-registered company was announced in November 2022, six months after he was appointed to his current role with the England men’s side. However, over the past few weeks, adverts on YouTube and posts from the 41-year-old’s social media feeds have come under scrutiny, particularly in New Zealand.In response to McCullum’s relationship with Bet22 India, the ECB released the following statement: “We are currently exploring the matter, and [are] in discussions with Brendon around his relationship with the Cypriot-based betting company, 22Bet. We have rules in place around gambling, and will always seek to ensure these are followed.”The ECB’s anti-corruption code states “participants” are prohibited from “directly or indirectly enticing, persuading, encouraging or facilitating any other party to enter into a bet in relation to the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any match or competition”.Last week, New Zealand’s Problem Gambling Foundation filed an official complaint to the country’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). In response, the DIA confirmed 22Bet’s adverts are misleading because “they are not a registered New Zealand sports bookmaker, nor are they licensed or regulated in New Zealand by the DIA”.As a result, adverts featuring McCullum and 22Bet India have been geoblocked for users in the country. The Problem Gambling Foundation also contacted the ECB.In the adverts, McCullum encourages betting on the IPL. In a video posted on Facebook, he says: “The IPL is coming, and I think all cricket fans are excited for this big event. My friends at 22Bet are ready to make your IPL experience even more fascinating. 22Bet India guarantees the best odds.”McCullum’s agent, Simon Auteri told the Times newspaper in a statement: “We are speaking to the ECB about this. I am not going to comment on anything. We are working through it.”Since taking over as head coach, McCullum and captain Ben Stokes have led the Test side to ten wins out of 12, an upturn on their previous run of just one win in 17. McCullum is currently back home in New Zealand, and is due to return to the UK next month, ahead of England’s first Test of the summer against Ireland at Lord’s, which begins on June 1.

Solid stand between Billy Root, Eddie Byrom sees hosts to safety after early danger

ECB Reporters Network09-Apr-2023A Graeme van Buuren hundred led a brilliant Gloucestershire comeback in their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Glamorgan in Cardiff to secure a very creditable draw.Having trailed by 239 runs after the first innings, Gloucestershire made 569 for 7 in their second innings to set Glamorgan 331 to win.Three early wickets gave Gloucestershire a slim chance of pulling off the unlikeliest of wins, but a solid stand between Billy Root and Eddie Byrom saw the home side to safety at 110 for 3.The pitch in Cardiff continued to improve for the batters as the match wore on, with all the bowlers struggling to slow the scoring or claim wickets. The draw gives Glamorgan 12 points and Gloucestershire eight from this first-round match.Having started the day at 373 for 5, Gloucestershire still had work to do to make this game safe. Van Buuren resumed on 36 not out and brilliantly held things together on his way to his fifth first-class hundred for his county.With support from Ollie Price, Zafar Gohar, Jack Taylor and Tom Price, van Buuren guided his team well past 500. That took Gloucestershire into a position where the draw was the most likely result and they had a chance, albeit a remote one, of pulling off a remarkable comeback win.The real attacking intent came from Price, who backed up his excellent bowling performance in Glamorgan’s first innings with a 60-ball fifty. Given how this pitch just got better for batting as the match progressed, Gloucestershire were perhaps understandably cautious with their declaration. When it did come, they had set Glamorgan 331 runs to win in 46 overs.With the required rate starting at above seven runs an over it was always going to be a tough ask for Glamorgan to chase this down, but captain David Lloyd certainly showed some intent when he opened their second innings. He had made it to 6 from five balls when he scooped a ball into the leg side off Price that was caught on the deep square leg boundary by Marcus Harris.Looking to attack against the high-class spin of Zafar was more difficult. The Pakistani slow left-armer was once again given the new ball and he rewarded his captain with the wicket of Colin Ingram when he bowled him between bat and pad. That left Glamorgan at 35 for 2 with 38 overs left to be bowled.When Kiran Carlson poked at a ball from Price that was well taken on the second attempt by Jack Taylor at first slip, it left Glamorgan 38 for 3 at the tea break.With Gloucestershire now the team most likely to secure victory, they were impressive in the final session. Zafar was the most consistent threat, but Marchant de Lange was also beating the bat regularly. But the pitch won out in the end, with the two teams shaking hands for the draw with nine overs left unbowled.Glamorgan have a two-week wait until their next match against Durham, with Gloucestershire set to take on Yorkshire in Bristol on Thursday. Both teams will feel they have a lot of positives to take away from this game, especially given how the weather hampered pre-season preparations.

SRH batter wasn’t happy with the on-field decision for the full toss being overturned, saying, “Not great umpiring”

ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-20232:02

Avesh’s non no-ball: the issue of subjectivity in umpiring decisions

There was an unsavoury moment during Sunrisers Hyderabad’s innings against Lucknow Super Giants when an object was thrown from the stands, forcing the umpires to intervene.The incident took place in the 19th over of the innings, shortly after a decision by the third umpire to overturn a no-ball call – off the bowling of Avesh Khan – given by the on-field umpire for a full toss. Heinrich Klaasen and Abdul Samad were the batters at the crease and they both made their displeasure evident, Klaasen more than Samad.Klaasen hit the next ball for four, but after that there was a stoppage when the object was hurled at Super Giants batter Prerak Mankad, according to Jonty Rhodes.Related

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Rhodes, the Super Giants fielding coach, tweeted that the object hit Mankad on the head while he was fielding at long-on, close to the Super Giants dugout.Speaking to the broadcaster after the innings, Klaasen said that the episode broke the Sunrisers batters’ momentum, and added his criticism of the umpiring.”Disappointed with the crowd. That’s not what you want from a crowd. It broke a lot of momentum,” Klaasen said. “Hopefully the umpires stay consistent. Not great umpiring.”He was later fined 10% of his match fees for breaching the IPL code of conduct. The official IPL statement didn’t specify the reason for the penalty, only saying, “Klaasen admitted to the Level 1 Offence under Article 2.7 which states the use of public criticism/inappropriate comment in the IPL’s Code of Conduct.”Super Giants’ Amit Mishra was also found guilty of breaching the code of conduct, but he just faced a reprimand. “Mr Mishra admitted to level 1 offence under Article 2.2 of IPL’s Code of Conduct which states abuse of equipment during the match. Mr Mishra accepted the sanction,” the statement said.A similar incident had taken place very early in IPL 2023 when R Ashwin expressed his displeasure about the umpiring during a Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals game, and was fined 25% of his match fee.Klaasen scored 47 to help Sunrisers reach 182 after opting to bat. But a half-century from Mankad and explosive knocks from Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran helped Super Giants win the game in the last over.

Nathan Lyon, who will be playing his 100th consecutive Test, is keen to use the slope at Lord’s to his advantage

Andrew McGlashan27-Jun-2023Stuart Broad looked cooked. James Anderson wasn’t given the second new ball and looked grumpy. The opening Test at Edgbaston was decided by very fine margins, but it felt as though England’s pace attack ran out of steam for the final push.There has been a reasonable break ahead of the second Test at Lord’s. But if England go unchanged, there’s an opportunity for Australia to put more miles in their legs and see how two ageing greats can manage, although it’s worth stating their superb records at a ground where Anderson has 117 wickets at 24.58 and Broad 108 at 27.42.Of the fast bowlers on show at Edgbaston, Broad, who had an outstanding match, bowled the most overs with 44, followed by Ollie Robinson on 40.4. Then came Anderson (38) before we reach the first Australian with Pat Cummins on 32.2. Scott Boland and Josh Hazlewood did not get out of their 20s. Cameron Green only bowled eight, while even Ben Stokes, with his bad knee, sent down 14.Related

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They are largely small differences at the moment, but could soon add up, especially with Lord’s and Headingley being back-to-back Tests separated by only a three-day break. That is where the respective pace-bowling depths, and endurance of those who play on through, will be on show.One byproduct of England’s rapid batting approach is their innings tend not to give the quick bowlers lengthy downtime – they bowled on each day at Edgbaston, albeit only briefly in the first after Stokes’ declaration. By contrast, Australia are happy to bat time, although it is worth noting that 386 runs in 116.1 overs is certainly not slow, even if it doesn’t match up to Bazball and led to Robinson questioning their approach.”Potentially, for sure,” Cummins said about the prospect of wearing down England’s attack. “I’ve played a lot of Tests back-to-back and you certainly feel much fresher when in the first Test match, you’ve had a big gap in between both innings or you only bowled 30 as opposed to 40, 50. Our number one goal when we go out there is to score runs and it doesn’t matter how long it takes.”Nathan Lyon will be playing his 100th consecutive Test at Lord’s•ICC/Getty Images

Australia may have a change to their attack at Lord’s with Mitchell Starc in the running to replace Boland. It would also be a surprise if Michael Neser did not remain with the squad for the rest of the series when the squad is reassessed after this Test.The other key figure Australia have is Nathan Lyon, who will be playing his 100th consecutive Test at Lord’s. Although he finished with an almost identical economy rate to Moeen Ali (4.32 to 4.34) at Edgbaston, Lyon was a regular wicket-taking threat and claimed eight in the game.”It’s a huge privilege captaining him, it’s so easy – just chuck him down one end and he basically just bowls all day,” Cummins said. “In all conditions, being one of the four bowlers that get picked is just hugely impressive. Just the way he’s a man for all conditions, keeps getting better, so reliable.”The Lord’s pitch may not offer him much. There have been 12 wickets to spin in 13 County Championship innings this season, while Jack Leach went at four-and-a-half an over in the second innings against Ireland when the surface flattened out. But it’s a place Lyon has enjoyed bowling on his previous visits in 2015 and 2019, having been omitted in 2013 – the last Test match he did not play – making use of the slope in both directions, even though his six wickets have cost 41.66.”I actually really enjoy bowling here using the slope to our advantage as bowlers,” he said. “I think you can bowl with it and hopefully spin [it] more or you can bowl up and use the angles and hopefully bring in both edges. I don’t think it’s one end got to be the spinners’ end or the fast bowlers’ end. You’ve got to have that ability to adjust and really enjoy that challenge of bowling with it or against type thing. So I think we can use it as a weapon up our sleeves.”[But] we’re not sure what the wicket is going to look like on day one, whether it’s going to be overcast or whatnot. So if the seamers do work and I don’t have to do much and that’s all well and good, but I’m happy to put my hand up in the tough situations and have a crack.”Steven Smith has a look at the Lord’s pitch•Getty Images

Lyon and Cummins were also central in the cat-and-mouse that went on with England’s batters at Edgbaston, particularly in the second innings when the lead was all-important, and they both bowled impressively. Meanwhile, on the opening day, Australia’s largely defensive fields were much scrutinised but Cummins indicated he would remain happy playing the long game even if it meant England could sometimes make the running.”You’ve got a problem solver out there, which is great fun as a captain and as a bowler,” Cummins said. “It’s just maybe a bit more like T20 and one-day game, where the problems that you try to solve are a bit more like that, as opposed to trying to create something from nothing, which sometimes you have to do in a Test match.”I thought we managed to tempos really well last week,” he added. “When we had to attack, we really went for it, but there’s other times where we just had to suck it up and wait.”One win does not mean they have got it all right, but another one at Lord’s this week and it will be hard to question their approach.