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The West Australian scored a hundred in his second Test coming in as nightwatchman

Daniel Brettig14-Nov-2019Tony Mann, the West Australian wristspin bowler who scored the first Test century by an Australian nightwatchman, has died in Perth at the age of 74 after battling pancreatic cancer.In the midst of a long and successful first-class career for WA during the association’s strongest era, Mann played four Tests in the first season of the World Series Cricket split as Bob Simpson’s team played out a fascinating contest against India.His wristspinners brought early success to the tune of 3 for 12 in his first innings at international level in Brisbane, but it was to be as a nightwatchman where he made a most lasting impact during the second Test at his WACA home ground.ALSO READ: Rocket Mann, by Ashley MallettComing in to bat at No. 3 on the fourth evening after Bishan Bedi had snared John Dyson, Mann got through to stumps, but then carried on all the way through to a fluent 105. He dominated the scoring while he was at the crease and was not dismissed until the hosts were more than halfway to a steep target of 339 for victory, which they ultimately reached with two wickets to spare.Mann found the going harder after that and was dropped after the fourth Test, but his efforts helped ensure Simpson’s side claimed the series 3-2 without being able to call on the host of stars lured away by Kerry Packer. He carried on for WA until 1984, finishing his first-class career with exactly 200 wickets at 34.54, notable for his frequent use of a googly, almost to the point where his leg break became the variation ball.In addition to his wrist spin and lower order batting, Mann was famed for his fielding and in particular a fast, flat and accurate throw. So much so, in fact, that Mann was nicknamed “Rocket” in its honour.”We are deeply saddened to learn of Tony’s passing,” the Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said. “Tony was a strong contributor to the local community in Western Australia and Australian Cricket generally. He was an excellent allrounder – a left-hand bat and legspin bowler – through four Tests and 80 first-class matches.”Many fondly remember him for his feats in the 1977-78 Perth Test against India when he became only the second man to score a century as a nightwatchman. On behalf of the entire Australian cricket family, we send our condolences to Tony’s family.”WACA CEO Christina Matthews said: “Tony was a fantastic servant of the game, from a player to the head of cricket here at the WACA and going on to coach in a number of our programs. He played a big part in the careers of many WA players, including the likes of Adam Gilchrist and Brad Hogg and was never shy to drive everyone to be better.”On behalf of everyone at the WACA and the WA cricket community we send our deepest sympathy to the Mann family.”

The opener has looked Australia A’s best batsman in India, but hasn’t pushed onto make substantial contributions

Varun Shetty in Alur08-Sep-2018″The answer is straight up ‘no’.”That was Australia coach Justin Langer’s response to the when asked a few weeks ago if he knew who the best six batsmen in Australia were.”You take Smith who has got 79 hundreds, you take Warner who has got 88 hundreds — I am talking about all A-grade cricket — you take those out. You take [out] Cameron Bancroft who you could say had just started to find his feet, he was a bit of the heartbeat of the team…there are certainly some questions,” Langer had said.That was a few days before the Australia A squad flew to India for a quadrangular one-day series, and about two weeks before Australia A’s four-dayers against India A. With just one batting innings left in the series for the Australians, Langer, perhaps, still doesn’t have too much clarity on who those best six are, with Australia’s tour of the UAE looming. So inseparable have been the performances from the Australians, that barring Khawaja’s grand performances on one extreme, and an underperforming Peter Handscomb’s on the other, the contest is neck-to-neck.In that middling group is New South Wales’ Kurtis Patterson, who had been pushed up to open – what he calls the “best place to bat” in the subcontinent. He has looked the visitors’ best batsman so far, but hasn’t converted his starts into substantial scores.”Yeah it is a bit frustrating,” Patterson said. “I feel like I’m batting nicely and having not opened that much in my career, I know that opening over here is probably one of the better places to bat. It starts turning later and skidding and playing tricks. So a little bit disappointed that I haven’t been able to push on.”Patterson made 48 off 71 balls, including eight classy boundaries, before he was bowled through the gate by left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem in Alur. Until the dismissal, it was an innings full of grace, and he was particularly fluent down the ground against spinners who were taking the ball away from him. In his batting were glimpses of why the 25-year-old left-hander is rated highly, but the premature exit marked something of a career trend.Patterson began his first-class career in style, when he became New South Wales’ youngest centurion in Sheffield Shield cricket at the age of 18, on debut in 2011. Not long after that, Patterson turned down a Big Bash League contract in order to focus on a national Under-19s tournament and a NSW Second XIs appearance.These were signs of a man leaning towards conventional growth as a batsman, but things haven’t gone along that trajectory. Patterson’s 157 on debut continues to be his highest score in first-class cricket, and he has since made four hundreds in 90 innings, with the last one coming in October 2016. Not ideal numbers for a top-order batsman over seven years, but his average still sits at 40-plus. The bigger concern is that since that debut innings, Patterson has faced more deliveries on only four occasions.But Patterson downplayed it, and felt he wasn’t far away from a big score. More importantly, he said, he is now a better player than he had ever been. Patterson was the tenth-highest scorer in the Sheffield Shield in 2017-18, with 672 runs in 19 innings, and for the second season in a row, made more than 600 runs.”I’m a lot better player than I was back then [during the debut].” Patterson said, “I had a lot of luck in that innings. It was one of those days that comes along once every now and then in your career, and I was just lucky that it was my first day when it happened.”I feel like I’m a lot better player and cricketer, a lot more mature person than I was. To win a title with my state team, both one-day and Shield cricket and also a Big Bash title in there as well. It’s been a good six years and hopefully it continues in that trajectory.”With Australia A captain Mitchell Marsh approaching a hundred in Alur, the battle for what could be the final few spots for the Pakistan series has ostensibly narrowed into that of one starter and one reserve batsman. Handscomb, Head, and Patterson would appear the frontrunners, with Queensland’s Marnus Labuschagne, who wasn’t picked for the four-dayers originally, a left-field choice.”We’re all aware that there are some spots available, it doesn’t take a genius to know that,” Patterson said. “But I think the thing we’ve really done well is come over here and play as a team and put in two good performances. We obviously did that in game one, and we’re doing the exact same in game two.”I think that’s the best way. When you’re winning, generally, a lot of players are picked. We all know as batters we’ve to try and get runs. Yes there’s a carrot there with the Test side, but I think what the leadership group has done really well is emphasie the importance of playing as a team and playing to win.”At the moment, even with average numbers in India, Patterson comes in second in the aforementioned three-horse race. But in an Australian cricket year that’ll be long remembered for its tumult, and with a management focused on repair, there isn’t a better chance for Patterson to finally turn his potential into a baggy green. If only he can make that last innings count.

Mitchell Starc has confirmed Australia’s top players are not prepared to contemplate the offer of multi-year contracts from Cricket Australia – in exchange for skipping the IPL – until a new pay deal is struck between the board and the Australian Crickete

Daniel Brettig11-May-2017Mitchell Starc has confirmed Australia’s top players are not prepared to contemplate the offer of multi-year contracts from Cricket Australia – in exchange for skipping the IPL – until a new pay deal is struck between the board and the Australian Cricketers’ Association.A report in the on Thursday revealed that CA’s team performance manager Pat Howard had individually approached five of Australia’s most valuable players – Starc, the captain Steven Smith, David Warner, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins – with the offer of three-year contracts in exchange for giving up the prospect of playing in the IPL during the players’ official leave period.In the final stages of his rehabilitation from a foot fracture ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy in England, Starc responded to the question of whether he had been offered a multi-year deal with the words “that’s what it says in the papers” before stating that he was uninterested in further talks until current pay talks are settled.”It wasn’t in the discussions this year when I decided to pull out [of the IPL], going forward it’s between the ACA and CA to come up with an MOU first and foremost, and then we’ll talk about contracts once that’s done,” Starc said.”That’s what the ACA are there for and we’ve got full confidence in them. We have discussions with them from time to time with different stages of the discussions between CA and the ACA. But the ACA definitely have the full support of the male and female groups and that’s where it stands at this stage.”Little more than six weeks remain before the current MOU is due to expire, with both the players and the board remaining very much at odds over the shape of the next agreement. The ACA are adamant in their desire to maintain the fixed revenue percentage model that has been in place over the past two decades, while CA have been equally trenchant in declaring the model has “done its job” and needs to be replaced by an agreement that recasts the players less as partners of CA than employees on fixed wages.Should an agreement not be reached by the deadline, there is the possibility that the current MOU will have to be rolled over for another year. A more extreme scenario is for the players to fall out of contract and deal with CA on a series-by-series basis – they have already indicated their unwillingness to take part in promotional and marketing duties for the home Ashes series in the absence of a fresh MOU. The two parties are due to meet again on Friday.Ahead of the Australian squad’s departure for England, Starc spoke warmly about the prospect of playing alongside his pace counterparts James Pattinson, Hazlewood and Cummins. He also expressed hope that a way might be found for the quartet to play in the same Ashes XI alongside Australia’s No. 1 spin bowler Nathan Lyon, noting that Pattinson in particular had recently bloomed into a highly capable batsman.”I think the fact we can all bat presents a stronger case for that,” Starc said. “You’ve got Nathan Lyon who’s the ‘GOAT’, I can’t see him being left out, you’ve got to pick him, he’s a world-class spinner who’s taken wickets all round the world. Jimmy Pattinson, I think he’s averaging about 80 in his last 10 first-class games, Josh very capable with the bat, Cummins very capable, I know what end of the bat [is up], so it’s a stronger case where we can all bat.”The other way to look at it is if we’ve got four guys fit we can all work off each other and if some guys have high workloads bring the other one in and keep everyone fresh. There’s a couple of options there. Now that I’m pretty much fit to have the four of us ready to go is great. Jimmy’s been bowling really well in England, Patty bowled really well in India in the Test and then the IPL, and Josh is back bowling.”So the four of us are ready to go and it’s exciting. We’ve come through the ranks together but haven’t had the opportunity to be in the same squad together with our injuries over that time. It’s an exciting time for the four of us but for Australian cricket too, to get together and build a strong cartel for the next five or so years.”In physical terms, Starc said his latest period of rehabilitation had been less problematic than the foot and ankle surgeries that sidelined him for a large chunk of 2015-16. “It was only a six- or seven-week layoff from bowling, so much easier to come back from than the last injury, which was more like seven months,” he said. “That’s been positive, hasn’t taken too long to get some rhythm back into the bowling, body’s feeling good, spending some good time in the gym and getting some strength back. It’s been a good period of rehab.”

Veteran James Hopes and rookie Jack Wildermuth combined to bowl Queensland to victory inside three days in a low-scoring Sheffield Shield match against Victoria

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Mar-2016
ScorecardFile photo – Jack Wildermuth finished with seven wickets for the match•Getty Images

Veteran James Hopes and rookie Jack Wildermuth combined to bowl Queensland to victory inside three days in a low-scoring Sheffield Shield match against Victoria. Set 228 for victory, the Bushrangers were skittled for 127 as Hopes collected four wickets and Wildermuth picked up three, with Rob Quiney’s 53 the only innings of note for Victoria.Batting was tough throughout the match at the Gabba, with Queensland’s first innings of 190 the highest total of the game. They resumed their second innings on 9 for 174 on the third morning and added only 10 runs for the loss of their last wicket, but they already had enough of a lead given the scoring trend of the match.Mark Steketee and Peter George picked up early wickets to leave Victoria at 2 for 15, but it was Hopes and Wildermuth who did most of the rest of the damage. Hopes picked up 4 for 43 and Wildermuth finished with 3 for 26, continuing his emergence after he made his first-class debut late last season.Wildermuth has a rookie contract with the Bulls and previously worked as a barista at the Allan Border Field. “It was only a couple of years ago he was making us coffees,” Hopes told reporters after play, “so he has come a long way in a short time.”

Monty Panesar, the left-arm spinner who has endured a troubled season, has been released by Sussex and will join Essex for the rest of the summer

Andrew McGlashan19-Aug-2013Monty Panesar, the left-arm spinner who has endured a troubled season, has apologised for his recent behaviour after being released by Sussex and joining Essex for the remainder of the season. He was allowed on loan to a Division Two side and is still hoping to earn a place on the Ashes tour to Australia, while harbours hopes of being the “best spin bowler in the world.”Panesar was fined by police for being drunk and disorderly earlier this month after urinating on bouncers following a night out in Brighton and has not played for Sussex since. He was left out of England’s squad for the final Ashes Test at The Oval when, under normal circumstances, he would have been expected to be included with England naming two spinners.”I have endured a challenging time this year off the field and my frustrations have sometimes got the better of me professionally,” Panesar said in statement. “I apologise for letting the club, my colleagues and my fans down.”I am grateful to Sussex for allowing me to be released from my contract for 2014 and 2015 in order to explore other opportunities to further develop my cricket. I want to give myself the best chance of playing all forms of the game at the highest level.”I would like to thank Sussex for the opportunities, experiences and support I have enjoyed at the club since 2010, and my gratitude for the contribution Sussex have made in providing me with a platform to gain selection for England on three successive winter tours.”Essex is now the next stop in a career that began at Northamptonshire and has often flourished for club and country but is need of repair. Panesar said he would be working again with Neil Burns, his former mentor, to try and get his career back on track. Where his full-time future lies remains open to debate.”I have re-engaged with Neil Burns at London County Mentoring, to help to develop my cricket further and I feel that Neil, along with a trusted support structure in place around me will help me put my personal and professional problems behind me and enable me to put all my energies and focus into the game and a new club.”I am determined to do whatever it takes to gain selection for England this winter. I want to become the best I can be.”I believe that if I maintain the bowling progress I have made in recent weeks which enabled me to be selected for the Test squad at Old Trafford, I can fulfil my long-held ambition of becoming the best spin bowler in the world, over time.”Panesar is set to make his debut against Northamptonshire, his first county, on Tuesday and Paul Grayson, the Essex coach, said: “We are delighted to welcome Monty to the club for the remainder of the season. He is a world-class spinner and we are confident that he will have a positive impact on the team. He will join us from today and will hopefully be playing tomorrow at 11am against Northants.”Sussex’s investigation into the events in Brighton has concluded with the club saying “both parties have reached agreement.” Panesar will become a free agent on September 27.Zac Toumazi, the Sussex chief executive, said: “Clearly this season has been a very difficult time for Monty Panesar. Having reviewed the whole situation the club has agreed that Monty be released from his contract. This will give him every opportunity to put his personal and professional life back on track.”Sussex’s professional cricket manager Mark Robinson said: “Monty has been an integral part of the professional cricket team and has been a valuable contributor to the overall performance of the club during his time at Sussex. He is an outstanding bowler. I would like to thank Monty for his contribution and wish him well for the future. “Even before Panesar’s drinking incident it had been a difficult season for him. In 11 Championship matches he claimed 23 wickets at 40.39 and lost his place for a match. He had been included in the England squad for the Old Trafford Test against Australia and it was after his omission from that game that the latest problems occurred.His most recent Test was against New Zealand, in Auckland, during March when he was deputising for the injured Graeme Swann. Earlier in England’s winter campaign he had formed a key double-act with Swann during the historic series victory in India.

Explorer Mike Horn has been very important in South Africa’s preparations for their tour of England and he returned to their camp ahead of the final Test

Firdose Moonda14-Aug-2012With South Africa’s preparation for the final Test in the series against England almost complete, they have called on a special assistant to add the finishing touch. Explorer Mike Horn, famous for his solo full circle of the globe without motorised transport, has joined up with the camp in London to complete a journey that began at his home in Château d’Oex, Switzerland, before the tour began.The squad spent four days with Horn before arriving in England on an excursion that was focused on gaining mental strength through physical exertion. Their challenges included cycling up Alpine slopes, hiking for miles and skiing. Although they will not be doing anything similar with Horn this time, his presence will serve as motivation as they approach the match that will determine whether they are crowned world No.1.”He is an inspiration for us, he played a big role in our preparations before the tour and he will no doubt add value to our current team environment,” Gary Kirsten, South Africa head coach, said.Horn and Kirsten are friends who have worked together before, most notably during India’s 2011 World Cup campaign, which ended in victory. The Indian squad did not shy away from crediting Horn with helping them believe they could achieve and Kirsten is hopeful he will have the same effect on the South African side.”I can’t come here and teach the players how to bat or to bowl,” Horn admitted. “I am here to bring something away from the game. They have proven that they are a better team than before. There is a good ambience in the camp and the players are looking forward to performing better as a team. I’m not going to say much, I think my presence will say a lot.”Horn’s impact on the changes made to the South African mindset are obvious. Jacques Kallis referred to it as simply a “very positive frame of mind,” but it is more complex than that. There is a sense of confidence that did not run as deeply as before. Even Mark Boucher, the toughest, hardest member of the squad whose retirement was forced in the first match at Taunton after a horrific eye injury, admitted he had never been so severely challenged as he was in Switzerland.Along with Boucher, other members of the squad called the camp the toughest few days of their lives. Dale Steyn remembered the a day when they scaled a 3,300-metre peak, which included a rope climb and an ice-field which exhausted most of the squad but left Horn looking like he had “just pitched up home after a stroll in the park”.The day did not end there as Horn then led them to the top of a 750-metre peak, on an uphill cycle for 7 kilometres. “Players used every swearword in the book, until they were too exhausted to swear… and there was still more to climb,” Steyn wrote on his blog. “I had never been so physically exhausted in my life. But I was in Mike Horn territory, so I refused to get off my bike, refused to rest, refused to walk. I found reserves that I never knew I had.”AB de Villiers said that he had never been that exhausted before and that he pushed harder than he had ever had in his life. He now knew he could do more than he believed.”A lot of the rhetoric the team squad has sprouted since that trip has been of a similar nature. It sounds contrived and candyfloss but the expedition to the Alps appears to have made a major difference to the South African mindset. Often criticised for collapsing at the crucial moment, South Africa have shown displays of fortitude in the series so far.After a lacklustre start on the first day at The Oval, they returned to knock England back on the second morning and then batted them out of the match. When it looked like Kevin Pietersen was going to seize the series back for England at Headingley, South Africa returned to remove him swiftly the next morning. Having arrived in England with the mantra that winning crucial moments will win the series, South Africa have done that so far.Their most crucial moments await at Lord’s. Having Horn on the balcony to remind them of the things they have already conquered is what South Africa hope will spur them on to triumph in their biggest Test to date.

After six and a half years away from Test cricket, Zimbabwe soak in their triumphant return after beating Bangladesh

Firdose Moonda in Harare08-Aug-2011Brendan Taylor, Kyle Jarvis and Alan Butcher, the Zimbabwe coach, were soaked in pink champagne and beer as they walked into their post match press conference after Zimbabwe’s historic win over Bangladesh. “Now I know what it means when they say you smell like a brewery,” Butcher said.What it really meant is that Butcher and his men had just sipped from the cup of victory, something Zimbabwe had not even had the chance to experience in the Test format in almost six years. To announce their return to the premier format of the game with authority was better than just a sip, it was gulp after gulp of satisfaction.”The good win might have silenced a few critics,” Taylor said. “Zimbabwe cricket invested in us and were patient with us encouraged us and we are really glad to replay that favour.”The new Test team represents a coming of age for some of the older players, who were once a group of young, inexperienced men thrown into the international scene out of need, not merit. After the player walkout in 2004, Zimbabwe had no choice but to field the best they had, even though many of them were not ready for the pressures of playing at the highest-level. Seven years have passed since then and their poise and self assurance has grown, their maturity is evident, and, finally, they appear ready. “It’s nice to see a lot us have stuck together,” Taylor said. “We’re a side that’s always worked really hard to try and improve.”The match had special significance for Taylor, who scored his maiden Test century in the second innings, at a time when the match was on the verge of tilting in Bangladesh’s favour. Zimbabwe resumed day four on 92 for 4, a lead of 175, but in a position that needed consolidation. “At the end of day three, we certainly felt a bit of pressure,” Taylor said. “I must commend Tatenda [Taibu] and Craig Ervine for the supporting role they played to get us back into a wining position.”Taibu scored 59 and Ervine, who was at the other end when Taylor reached his landmark, an unbeaten 35. “Getting the hundred was special but winning the match was more important,” Taylor said, taking the spotlight off himself and shining it on the collective effort. “The guys showed good courage and had smart heads on their shoulders.”Such a composed performance may seem somewhat extraordinary, given the length of time Zimbabwe has spent away from Test cricket, but it’s a testament to their domestic four-day tournament, which has become more competitive with the introduction of the franchise system two season ago, and the A team tours, such as the recent one against Australia A. “We prepared the best we could possibly prepare,” Taylor said, while Butcher added that even though the side lost to Australia A it showed them that could compete against big name players.One such big name player is Tamim Iqbal, who was named Test Player of the Year by the Wisden Cricketer magazine in 2010. The Bangladesh opening batsman was confident his side would chase down the target against an “ordinary” bowing attack. Instead, they crumbled, giving Taylor a reason to get his own back. “His [Tamim’s] performance was pretty ordinary too,” he said. “He is a quality player and his team were looking for him to get a big total and he got out pretty carelessly. He should let the performances do the talking and not concentrate too much with the mouth.”In particular, Tamim was made to eat his words about Jarvis, the bowler he called “just ok”, when Jarvis claimed the last two Bangladesh wickets after lunch to end with five for the match. Jarvis’ new-ball partner, Brian Vitori, also bagged five wickets and together they provided a big reason to be optimistic about Zimbabwe’s future. “They were outstanding,” Butcher said. “Every time they picked the ball up they looked a threat and made the Bangladeshis look uncomfortable.”With such an exciting side under his guidance, Butcher couldn’t hold back his smiles as he entered a new era with a Zimbabwe side that has gone from fractured to fertile under his tenure. “When I first took on the job, I felt that what the team needed was some love,” he said. “It seemed to me that any time that they did something wrong there were lots of people ready to jump down their throats. I have tried to instil a more positive outlook and culture and I think people have responded to that.”

Hosts Isle of Man and Italy moved to the top of their respective groups with their second successive victories of the tournament

Cricinfo staff28-Jul-2010Hosts Isle of Man registered their second win in as many games, with an authoritative 93-run win against Switzerland in Castletown. Openers Adam McAuley and Carl Wagstaffe were once again the architects for a good score, with a stand of 58 before the former was run out. Midhun Sandhya struck thrice in the middle overs, but had little impact on Ryan Burns who smashed 81 off 68 balls to take his side to 204 in the 40 overs. Captain Daniel Hawke then scuppered Switzerland’s hopes with a stifling spell of 3 for 9 in six overs. Harry Vines struck 41 as the innings meandered to 111 for 9.Italy’s bowlers set up an easy 60-run win against France in Castletown to take their side to the top of their group. Roshendra Abeywickrama kick-started Italy’s innings with 43 off 28 balls, but the rest of his side’s batsmen could not sustain the effort. Thomas Liddiard picked 4 for 46 in seven overs as Italy were bowled out for 155. Harpreet Singh then turned the tables on France with an incisive spell where he picked 4 for 15. France’s final score of 95 was an improvement of sorts, given they were 29 for 6 at one stage.Belgium brushed aside Greece’s challenge in quick time, racing to an eight-wicket win in a game that lasted under 40 overs in Tromode. Naman Parikh scythed through the Greek batting line-up with a six-wicket haul. Fraser McRae helped himself to three wickets as well, as Greece were shot out for 66. Things could have been much worse if not for Ioannis Vasilas and Georgio Kantas who scored 19 apiece. McRae followed it up with an unbeaten 45 as Belgium crossed the line in 16.1 overs.Germany ran Austria close in Crosby before losing by six runs in a tight encounter. Ciju Puthupally scored a patient 63 off 101 balls with only two boundaries as Austria laboured to 157 in their 40 overs. Jaskaran Singh and Tushar Marwaha picked three wickets each. Germany’s chase followed a similar template with opener Jaskaran scoring 55 off 83 balls, but without adequate support. Christoph Moslinger, Puthupally and Sohaib Farooq grabbed two wickets each as Germany lost one wicket too many, the last man departing off the penultimate ball with seven runs still required.

Sears, who made his Test debut against Australia earlier this year, is suffering from a knee injury

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Oct-2024Ben Sears, one of four frontline fast bowlers in New Zealand’s Test squad for their tour of India, will not be taking part in the three-match series because of a knee injury. Jacob Duffy, uncapped in Tests, has been called up as Sears’ replacement, and will leave for India on Wednesday morning, the first day of the first Test of the series.”Sears experienced pain in his left knee while training during the recent Test series in Sri Lanka and underwent scans in New Zealand last week,” a New Zealand Cricket statement on Tuesday morning said. “His departure to India was delayed after scans revealed a tear to his meniscus, and the first available medical consultation was sought in the hope that he might have been cleared.”However, following the medical advice, the decision was made to rule him out of the series. A plan on the best course of treatment and rehabilitation for the injury will be advised in due course.”Related

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In Sears’ absence, and without Duffy reaching India in time for the first Test, New Zealand will have to make up their fast-bowling attack from among Tim Southee, Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke. Among frontline spin options, they have Ajaz Patel as their primary bowler, allrounders Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra and Michael Bracewell, and the handy part-time spin of Glenn Phillips. New Zealand can also call upon the pace-bowling services of Daryl Mitchell if required.”We’re obviously disappointed for Ben, who made a strong start to his Test career during the home summer, and offers a genuine pace option,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said of Sears, who made his Test debut – his only appearance in the format so far – against Australia in Christchurch in March this year, and picked up five wickets in the game.”It remains to be seen how long we’ll be without him for, but we’re hopeful his road to a full recovery will be a short one. It’s an exciting opportunity for Jacob, who has been around Test the squad before. With three Tests ahead of us, he has every chance of making his Test debut.”Duffy, 30, has played six ODIs and 14 T20Is so far, and has 299 first-class wickets to his name.”Jacob’s recent experience playing for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship certainly pushed his place,” Stead said. “His performances in white-ball cricket for the Black Caps have always been impressive, and we’re confident he’ll be able to contribute if called upon.”New Zealand’s tour of India begins with the first Test in Bengaluru, before the series moves on to Pune and Mumbai.

Handscomb will still lead Victoria’s one-day team; Todd Murphy has been withdrawn from the Australia A squad

Alex Malcolm08-Sep-2023Will Sutherland has been named Victoria’s new Sheffield Shield captain and is also set to lead Australia A in three 50-over matches against New Zealand A in Queensland starting on Sunday.But his Australia A side won’t feature Test and Victoria offspinner Todd Murphy, who has been withdrawn from the series because of a niggle, which is understood to be minor.Sutherland, 23, led Victoria in four Shield matches late last season in the absence of long-time captain Peter Handscomb, who was touring with Australia’s Test side in India.His elevation as captain of both Victoria and Australia A is a sign of how highly he is regarded within the game. He has been named Australia A’s 50-over skipper ahead of Ashton Turner, who is also in the squad, despite Turner captaining Western Australia to the last two Marsh Cup titles and Perth Scorchers to the last two BBL titles.Victoria have made the last two Shield finals under Handscomb but have fallen short twice against WA. Handscomb, who will continue to lead Victoria’s 50-over Marsh Cup team, believes it is the right time to hand over the Shield role.”Will is a tremendous leader and has all the right attributes to succeed as a captain,” he said. “I have absolutely loved leading Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, but it’s now Will’s time to take our side forward.”I’m still excited to be captaining our one-day side and will be doing everything I can to support Will and the rest of the squad, both on and off the field.”Sutherland was full of praise for Handscomb and thrilled to get the opportunity to lead his state.”Pete has been a fantastic captain for us and has been incredibly supportive of me taking on this responsibility,” Sutherland said. “It’s an honour to captain Victoria. I loved the chance I had to captain the side last season while Pete was in India and am looking forward to taking on the challenge this season.”Knowing I have the support of Pete, Chris Rogers and the rest of the coaching and playing group fills me with a lot of confidence and I can’t wait to get started.”Meanwhile, Caleb Jewell has been added to the Australia A 50-over squad to face New Zealand A following his stunning 131 in a losing cause in the second four-day game against New Zealand A in Mackay.Melbourne Renegades fast bowler Tom Rogers has also been added to the squad. Wes Agar (back), Ben Dwarshuis (back) and Murphy (general soreness) have all been ruled out.Agar was due to play in the four-day matches but was ruled out with a back complaint and has not recovered in time. Dwarshuis injured his back during the second four-day game in Mackay.Murphy had been training with Victoria, having not played since the final Ashes Test in July, but suffered a slight niggle in the lead-up to travelling to Queensland and is understood to have been withdrawn as a precaution.Australia A 50-over squad: Will Sutherland (capt), Ollie Davies, Liam Hatcher, Caleb Jewell, Matt Kuhnemann, Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Tom Rogers, Gurinder Sandhu, Matt Short, Mark Steketee, Ashton Turner