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The Gujarat Titans captain also praised his team-mates for their match-winning performance against Lucknow Super Giants after only a day’s rest

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2023Hardik Pandya has hailed Rashid Khan’s athletic outfield catch to dismiss Kyle Mayers that broke Lucknow Super Giants’ strong opening stand as a “match-changing” effort, after Gujarat Titans prevailed by 56 runs in Ahmedabad.Chasing 228, Mayers had powered to 48 off 31 balls in a partnership of 88 with Quinton de Kock in just 8.1 overs. Then, he top-edged a pull over square leg off a Mohit Sharma slower ball. Rashid came sprinting in, running diagonally from fine leg, then slid and dived to take the catch to his right after making a last-minute adjustment.Super Giants lost momentum after losing Mayers and scored only 33 runs between overs 9 and 14, leaving them with too much to do in the last six.Related

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• Rashid, out of form? Try telling Royals that

Hardik said that Rashid’s catch was the game-changer at a time when his team was under pressure. “The way the game changed after that… at one point of time at the eighth or ninth over we were even-stevens but that catch just changed the momentum and we were able to squeeze in a couple of tight overs,” he said after the match. “And after that I think they were chasing the game more than us.”We started controlling the game. Before that they were taking [us] on and we had to chase the game and make sure that we don’t concede as many runs and let them get into the game. So I think that catch was match-changing.””I think we both were driving at 100 kilometers per hour as a team but I think that bump in their innings cost them the game and got us back in the game.”Hardik also praised his team-mates for producing a match-winning performance after only one day’s rest. Titans’ last game was on Friday night and their match against Super Giants was the afternoon game on Sunday.”I don’t think I can ask anything better from the boys, Hardik said. “Especially, playing after one day’s gap and playing an afternoon game, the boys showed up and how.”Mohit, who gave Titans that vital first wicket, finished with 4 for 29, his best figures in the IPL since 2014. He has 12 wickets in eight matches in IPL 2023 with an economy rate of 6.96 despite bowling many of his overs at the death.”We keep discussing how to go about it, especially once the ball gets a little old how we can mix it up,” Mohit told broadcasters after the game. “And if I get the chance with a new ball, then what can I do with it. Today it was a day game so I knew that the wicket could get a little drier and be on the slower side so how we can mix it up in those conditions, that’s the kind of stuff I discuss with Shami.”I have practiced the knuckle ball, but I have a slight injury on my fingers so it’s not holding, so I am not able to bowl the knuckle ball. But I am using back-of-the-hand deliveries. When it’s the second innings and there’s a bit of dew, I can’t pitch it up too much, I have to bowl it away from the batter. So I am trying to stay as far from the batter’s range as possible.”I keep talking with Ashu Pa [Nehra] off the field. We talk a lot about bowling, what kind of balls I can bowl to different batters. Especially how we can mix up the length ball,” Mohit said. “He keeps saying that it shouldn’t be too short. It should be around top of off.”The win against Super Giants was Titans’ eighth victory in 11 games, giving them a three-point lead over Chennai Super Kings at the top of the table.

Central ended the day 124 ahead of East; North East 475 runs behind North’s total

Himanshu Agrawal29-Jun-2023

Avesh, Saurabh lead for Central

Fast bowler Avesh Khan and left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar hit back against East Zone by helping Central Zone secure a handy 60-run first-innings lead. With Central restricted to 182 on the first day, the two bowlers took three wickets each to bowl East out for 122 on day two in Alur.After Avesh had already struck twice on the previous evening, Saurabh gave Central their first wicket on the second morning. He trapped Sudip Kumar Gharami lbw for 27 in the 20th over of the innings, before cleaning up nightwatcher Shahbaz Nadeem six overs later. In between, Yash Thakur had the experienced Anustup Majumdar caught behind for 4. As a result, 44 for 2 soon became 76 for 7, as Avesh had Shahbaz Ahmed bowled for 3.Riyan Parag and Manisankar Munasingh then entertained with a quick 40-run partnership. But Central captain Shivam Mavi had Parag caught for 33, during which the batter hit five fours and a six, before dismissing Akash Deep for his second wicket of the innings.In the second innings, Central’s openers Vivek Singh and Himanshu Mantri added 64 in an unbroken stand, stretching the lead to 124 before rain brought an early end to the day’s play

Sindhu, Harshit dominate North East

North Zone’s Nishant Sindhu slammed 150 while No. 9 Harshit Rana cracked an unbeaten 122 off just 86 balls to cement the side’s strong position against North East Zone. Their heroics led North to 540 for 8, at which point they declared the innings.Nishant Sindhu raises his century•PTI

North had begun with Sindhu and Pulkit Narang resuming their overnight seventh-wicket partnership, which ended at 130 when Narang fell for 46. Sindhu and Harshit then got together, adding another 104 at almost a run-a-ball. Sindhu got to his highest first-class score of 150, as the two North batters kept scoring runs at will.Harshit continued being aggressive even after Sindhu departed. He hit 12 fours and nine sixes during his innings, which was his maiden first-class hundred. Harshit formed an undefeated union of 64 off 58 balls for the ninth wicket with Siddarth Kaul.When North declared their innings after 136 overs, there was finally some relief for the North East bowlers and fielders. With a mountain of a score in front of them, North East’s openers started cautiously, before Kaul cleaned up Kishan Lyngdoh in the fourth over. Next over, it was Baltej Singh’s turn to strike, as he removed Joseph Lalthankhuma for 4.From 10 for 2, Nilesh Lamichaney and captain Rongsen Jonathan added 47 for the third wicket to stage a brief recovery, but Harshit then hit back with the ball to have Jonathan lbw late in the day. North East ended the day 475 behind North’s total as rain played spoilsport in the final session here as well.

Team chases down 278 inside 43 overs to overhaul Scotland’s net run rate

Danyal Rasool06-Jul-2023Netherlands have qualified for the ODI World Cup in India later this year after beating Scotland in Bulawayo by six wickets. They sealed qualification with a stunning win spearheaded by Bas de Leede, who smashed 123 off 92 balls, to take the team to the 50-over World Cup for the first time since 2011.It seemed an uphill task for the Netherlands, who needed to win by a comprehensive enough margin to overhaul Scotland’s superior net run rate. Scotland were inserted into bat and scored 277 thanks to a century by Brandon McMullen, leaving the Dutch requiring 278 in 44 overs to qualify.Related

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While Scott Edwards’ side appeared on track for victory through the chase, reaching the target within that threshold looked unlikely. However, needing 45 off the last four overs, talisman de Leede, instrumental to the chase, shot through the gears in an astonishing onslaught, smashing four of the five sixes that Netherlands hit off the next two overs. Those overs saw 42 runs scored, and all of a sudden, the qualification that looked a distant dream was suddenly a foregone conclusion. De Leede was run out just before the winning runs were hit, but the Netherlands got home with seven balls to spare.That means Netherlands and Sri Lanka will go through to the final of the Qualifier, as well as to the World Cup proper. Regardless of the result in the final, the Netherlands go through as Q1, and Sri Lanka as Q2. The Netherlands are the only Associate side to qualify for the World Cup since the tournament shrunk to include just 10 teams.The final will be played on Sunday in Harare.

Miles Hammond resists but can’t prevent Gloucestershire from slipping to three-day defeat

ECB Reporters Network12-Jul-2023 Durham 453 (Lees 195, Clark 82, Carse 62, Goodman 4-73) and 52 for 1 beat Gloucestershire 316 and 188 (Hammond 86, Potts 4-24) by nine wicketsDurham wrapped up a dominant nine-wicket victory over Gloucestershire inside three days to edge themselves further towards promotion from Division Two in the LV= Insurance County Championship.The hosts began day three needing 17 to secure maximum batting points and Matthew Potts duly obliged with the bat before he blew the game open with the new Kookaburra ball. The England seamer claimed figures of four for 24 in his six-over burst dismantling the Gloucestershire top order.Miles Hammond prevented an innings defeat with a defiant knock of 86, but Matt Parkinson and Brydon Carse claimed two wickets apiece to clean up the tail, leaving Durham to chase only 52. The hosts eased over the line within 12 overs to extend their lead at the top of Division Two with five games remaining after claiming 24 points from the contest.Resuming on day three on 433 for seven and Carse unbeaten on 60, Durham looked to press on and reach the 17 runs required to secure maximum batting points for the fifth time of the campaign.But, Matt Taylor ended Carse’s knock to claim his 200th first-class wicket after the Durham all-rounder added only two runs to his overnight score. Two boundaries from Potts saw the hosts over the 450-mark before he was caught on the fence to hand Dominic Goodman his fourth wicket, finishing with career-best figures.After rain forced an early lunch, Potts turned the screw with a devastating new-ball spell to demolish the Gloucestershire top order.Having been overlooked by the England selectors for the 4th Ashes Test, Potts continued his devastating Championship form as he bowled Ben Charlesworth, Ollie Price and Chris Dent with outstanding deliveries, removing the top three for single-figure scores, reducing the visitors to 10 for three.Grant Roelofsen soon followed with an outside edge to present Potts with a fourth wicket, while at the other end, Hammond was given a reprieve when he was dropped at slip on six. Hammond and James Bracey offered resistance against the new ball to prevent Potts surging through the line-up.The backbone of the Gloucestershire line-up was broken when Bracey chased a wide one from Migael Pretorius to end the stand for 39. Zafar Gohar survived a couple of close calls against Matt Parkinson, but then gave his wicket away attempting to launch a slog-sweep that only ended up in the grasp of Carse.Hammond held up the Durham victory charge with a defiant knock of 86, scoring his second fifty of the game. He shared a partnership worth 62 with Taylor to prevent an innings defeat for the visitors. Taylor frustrated the Durham attack for almost an hour, keeping Potts and Carse at bay. But, Raine’s return broke the stand removing Taylor for 22 before Hammond was caught on the leg-side pushing for his century, falling 14 runs shy, leaving Durham requiring only 52 to register their fifth win of the campaign.Alex Lees was the only man to fall in the chase when he was bowled by Gohar for 22. Scott Borthwick and Michael Jones were there at the end to secure the win within 12 overs, taking maximum points in the process.

“Our T20 games have been getting longer and longer each year, and we want to do what we can to arrest this trend”

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Aug-2023The 2023 Caribbean Premier League – men’s and women’s – has announced severe penalties for teams going through their overs slowly, even putting in place a red card-like system of removing a player if the fielding side is behind schedule at the start of the 20th over of an innings, a first in the game.”We have been disappointed that our T20 games have been getting longer and longer each year, and we want to do what we can to arrest this trend,” Michael Hall, the CPL’s tournament operations director, said in a statement on the subject. “It is the duty of those involved in cricket to ensure that the game keeps moving and we have sensitised both the franchises and our match officials to this duty ahead of the tournament. Our hope is that these in-game penalties are not needed, but we believe they are proportionate and necessary.”The slow over-rate penalties

• If behind the required over rate at the start of the 18th over, one additional player must enter the fielding circle – for a total of five players inside the circle
• If behind the rate at the start of the 19th over, two additional fielders must enter the fielding circle – for a total of six inside the circle
• If behind the rate at the start of the final over, teams will lose a player from the field – selected by the captain – and have six inside the fielding circle
• There will also be an onus on batting teams to keep the game moving. After a first and final warning from the umpires, the batting team will be slapped with a five-run penalty for each instance of time wasting

Using the 85-minutes-per-innings rule for T20 cricket, a CPL statement said that the issue “will be monitored more closely” in the 2023 edition of the tournament. The 17th over of the innings must be completed by 72 minutes and 15 seconds, the 18th by 76 minutes and 30 seconds, and the 19th by 80 minutes and 45 seconds, before the last over ends within 85 minutes.”Over rates will be monitored by the third umpire and communicated to the captains via on-field umpires at the end of every over, as well as to the crowd and TV audience, with graphics showing how far they are behind (or ahead of) the over rate,” the statement said. “Dispensations will be given for injuries, DRS and time-wasting by batting side where appropriate.”The men’s CPL 2023 starts on August 17 with Jamaica Tallawahs taking on St Lucia Kings in Gros Islet, and the women’s event will start on August 31 with a game between Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors in Barbados.

The tournament has had its first upset – and one of the biggest of all time – while two teams face an almost must-win clash in Lucknow

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Oct-20233:56

Trott: ‘Manner and margin of Afghanistan’s win makes it significant’

—Fixtures | Squads | Points table | Tournament Index

Top Story: The Great Upset – Afghanistan bring World Cup to life with England conquest

Afghanistan claimed the most famous scalp of their international history, and in the process provided the first big shock of the 2023 World Cup, by routing England’s world champions by 69 runs in a spin-and-seam masterclass under the Delhi floodlights.Their dominance was set in motion by a fearless display of power-hitting from the 21-year-old Rahmanullah Gurbaz, whose 80 from 57 had promised so much more until a run-out sawed him off in his prime. But Ikram Alikhil marshalled Afghanistan’s lower-order with a precious half-century in his first game of this year’s World Cup, whereupon they set about making a target of 285 seem as dim and distant as England’s hopes of defending their title must now feel.Click here for the full report

Match analysis: Forget Bazball, this was Gurbazball

Rashid Khan clinches Afghanistan’s historic win against England•Getty Images

The ball skidded past Mark Wood’s bat and into the stumps, and Rashid Khan stood with his arms outstretched, arching his back and facing the night sky. It was a moment to savour, one which will reverberate across Delhi, India and far beyond: Afghanistan had not only beaten the world champions, but thrashed them.This was the performance of a team with no fear or inhibition, attacking first with the bat and then with the ball. Afghanistan had won once in their 17 previous World Cup matches, a one-wicket victory over Scotland eight years ago: they were a team with nothing to lose, who gained everything.Amid political turmoil and humanitarian crises, India has become a home away from home for Afghanistan. This, their most famous night as a sporting nation, came in front of over 25,000 fans in a city with a substantial Afghan diaspora. Many of them waved Afghanistan flags and danced along as played over the PA system.Read the full analysis by Matt Roller in Delhi

Have your say: Which is England’s most shocking loss?England have been on the wrong end of some big upsets in ICC events and have been shocked once again in this World Cup, by Afghanistan in Delhi. Which of these defeats was the most surprising? Click here to vote

Must Watch: Aaron Finch on Pat Cummins

4:43

Finch: ‘Everyone in the team respects Cummins and his tactics’

News headlines

• Travis Head is hopeful of being able to fly out to join Australia’s World Cup squad later this week as he continues to recover from his fractured hand
• England captain Jos Buttler has said the team “must let this defeat hurt” after they were toppled by Afghanistan

Match preview

Australia vs Sri Lanka, Lucknow (2pm IST; 8.30am GMT; 7.30pm AEST)1:32

Kumble on Australia’s limited spin attack

Even in a tournament with nine group-stage matches which allows room for a slip up or two, you don’t want to be 0-3 early in the competition. But that’s exactly the situation which will confront one of Australia and Sri Lanka after they face off in Lucknow in what already shapes as a contest to retain realistic semi-final hopes. It has been a tough start for both sides, but two points in this fixture will revive belief that they can still challenge for the top four.Full previewTeam newsAustralia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodSri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Dunith Wellalage, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Dilshan Madushanka

Feature: Tired and tested – Australia’s challenges at this World Cup

It’s no doubt a view coloured by recent results and the mediaperson’s tendency to hanker for shiny new things to talk about, but there’s a definite jadedness to Australia’s ODI set-up. Where some other teams – India, for instance – have torn up their ODI template and started over more than once over the last two World Cup cycles, Australia continue to play the way they’ve always played. They have an explosive line-up buttressed by a pair of busy anchors, and they trust in their best – which usually translates to Test – fast bowlers no matter what the conditions are.Read the full piece by Karthik Krishnaswamy in Lucknow

Steven Smith is likely to return after missing the Afghanistan game, whereas Bangladesh will be without Shakib Al Hasan

Tristan Lavalette10-Nov-2023

Big picture: Australia look to fine-tune against Bangladesh ahead of semi-final

Before Glenn Maxwell unleashed the most surreal batting imaginable, Australia appeared headed for a hefty defeat against Afghanistan and almost getting into must-win territory against Bangladesh. That nervy scenario was alleviated by Maxwell, who powered Australia into a semi-final against South Africa. But Australia won’t be treating this as a dead rubber and will field their strongest available line-up for the clash in Pune.Even though Australia have won six consecutive matches, after such a rocky start, their form has been patchy at times. They’ve been relying on individual brilliance – none more so than Maxwell’s tour de force – rather than a collective.Australia still face selection issues in a bid to find the right balance. They have several players struggling for consistency as Australia look to produce a more complete performance against an opponent out of semi-final contention.But Bangladesh are in a fight to be among the top eight teams to qualify for the Champions Trophy. An upset will go a long way towards this and notching consecutive victories will also ensure a strong finish for Bangladesh, whose tournament hopes nosedived after beating Afghanistan in their opener.But there is a feeling that this is more than the end of their campaign amid off-field rumblings. Bangladesh are dealing with several exits from their dressing room. Fast-bowling coach Allan Donald and computer analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekaran have announced that they won’t be renewing their contracts. In Donald’s case, there is controversy as the BCB sought an explanation from him after he criticised captain Shakib Al Hasan’s appeal in the drama over Angelo Mathews’ timed out dismissal.More coaching staff changes are likely, but Bangladesh will be hoping the off-field turmoil does not affect them in their bid to finish a disappointing World Cup campaign on a bright note.

Form guide

Australia WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Bangladesh WLLLL

In the spotlight: Mitchell Starc and Taskin Ahmed

Only Glenn McGrath and Muthiah Muralidaran have taken more World Cup wickets than left-arm quick Mitchell Starc, who starred in the 2015 and 2019 editions. But Starc has struggled to find his top form in this tournament with 10 wickets at 43.90 and an economy rate of 6.55. He has taken just five wickets in his last five games culminating with 1 for 70 from nine overs against Afghanistan, where Starc couldn’t trouble the batters early and he was torn apart at the death in a ragged display. If Australia are to win a sixth title, Starc will have to rediscover his best and he has a golden opportunity to turn around his form against a Bangladesh batting order susceptible to left-arm pace.Taskin Ahmed has bounced back in the last few games•Associated Press

Quick Taskin Ahmed finally bowled well in the World Cup after several ordinary outings. Even though he finished wicketless for the second straight match, his pace was up and his wobble seam delivery was on show against Sri Lanka. He bowled a strong opening spell, and then delivered tight bowling in the middle and at the end. He conceded just 39 runs in 10 overs to be clearly his team’s most economical bowler. Taskin is known as the bowling pack leader, so it was important that he bounced back after indifferent performances.

Team news: Smith set to return from vertigo, Shakib ruled out

Steven Smith is likely to return after missing the match against Afghanistan due to vertigo, while Maxwell faces a fitness test after severely cramping during his herculean innings. If they are available to play, Australia will have a fully fit squad to choose from for the first time this tournament. Marnus Labuschagne or Marcus Stoinis will likely make way for Smith depending on what type of balance the team management leans towards. Labuschagne is a similar type of batter to Smith and has been a consistent scorer in the tournament although he is striking sedately at 77. Stoinis has generally struggled, but provides alluring big-hitting and all-round skills much like Maxwell. Sean Abbott could also come into the mix if one of the big three quicks is given a break before the semi-final.Australia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Travis Head, 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Marcus Stoinis/Marnus Labuschagne, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodCaptain Shakib Al Hasan will miss this game with a fractured left index finger and he is likely to be replaced by allrounder Mahedi Hasan or left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed. Anamul Haque, Shakib’s replacement in the squad, might be in line to replace opener Tanzid Hasan, who has made just one half-century from eight innings in the tournament.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Litton Das, 2 Tanzid Hasan/Anamul Haque, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 7 Nasum Ahmed/Mahedi Hasan, 8 Towhid Hridoy, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Shoriful Islam

Pitch and conditions

The Maharashtra Cricket Association surface has been batting-friendly with South Africa and England posting scores over 330 after batting first in the last two matches at the ground. But seamers have also done well on a pitch offering bounce and carry.Warm and sunny conditions are expected on Saturday with a maximum temperature of 32 degrees Celsius forecast.

Stats and trivia

• Australia and Bangladesh have not played against each other in ODIs since the 2019 World Cup.
• Australia have won 19 of 20 completed ODIs against Bangladesh and all three contested in World Cups.
• Glenn Maxwell is 108 runs away from becoming the 19th Australian to reach 4000 ODI runs.
  

  Quotes

  “It will be based on the surface. If we think that we have a surface that is challenging in a certain area then we can shift in one direction. The more bowling options that we have we feel we can cover in terms of the opposition batting.”
  “We [are] actually spoiled. We had him for a long, long time and I mean when you have someone like Shakib’s calibre, [the] No. 1 all-rounder, it’s two players in one so it’s hard to do much with the combination. So, we will definitely want to fill his bowling vacuum with another spinner or a fast bowler. It’s batting we’re going to miss and his leadership. So, it’s hard.”

Former World Cup winning captain backs Buttler and Mott as captain-coach combo to lead England’s defence in the T20 World Cup next year

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2023Eoin Morgan has described the idea he should replace Matthew Mott as England’s white-ball coach ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup as “a bit far-fetched” and said that Mott should be given the chance to put things right at next year’s tournament.Morgan, who captained England to their first men’s ODI World Cup in 2019, has been working on the 2023 tournament as a broadcaster, either side of a trip home for the birth of his child. Since returning to India last week, he has been highly critical of England’s performance, which has left them on the brink of elimination after five defeats in six games.Mott coached England to the T20 World Cup last year and on Sunday, he denied Morgan’s implication that there are issues in the dressing room. He has come under growing scrutiny from the English press and after England’s 100-run defeat to India in Lucknow, one column in the argued that Morgan should take over in the event that the ECB decide Mott’s time is up.Related

• Stokes to undergo knee surgery after World Cup and 'hopefully be fine' for India Tests

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• England turn focus towards Champions Trophy qualification

• Matthew Mott dismisses Eoin Morgan suggestion of squad rift as England hit rock-bottom

Speaking on Sky Sports, Morgan said that the column was “a bit far-fetched” and said that he had no intention of becoming a coach in the near future. “Everybody’s entitled to interpretate [sic] my comments,” he said. “I was very clear in what I thought might be a cause to the performance that the England team have produced throughout this World Cup.”Nobody in the changing room – captain or captain, any of the players – can explain the situation that they find themselves in. But I’m very happy and cemented, hopefully, in what I’m going to do for the future. I spend a lot of time at home now with my young family, which is great, and I love watching on.”Eoin Morgan: “The players have to look at themselves and take a bit of responsibility”•Getty Images

Morgan believes that the short turnaround before next year’s T20 World Cup in June will play in Mott and captain Jos Buttler’s favour. “I actually think talk of replacing captain and coach is not a good idea at the moment, simply because of the high turnover of World Cups,” he said. “They’re double world champions for a reason: they’re not a bad team by any stretch.”Matthew Mott is going through his biggest challenge of his England coaching career at the moment, and it’s one that he should be given time to put right, certainly towards the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA,” he added.Mark Wood became the latest England squad member to defend Mott on Wednesday, saying that the players themselves need to take more responsibility for their underperformance. Asked by the BBC if there is still support for Mott among the players, Wood said: “For a [T20] World Cup-winning coach? Support for a World Cup-winning coach? Absolutely.”As a player you have everything you need… you cannot pin everything on the coach. Sometimes, the players have to look at themselves and take a bit of responsibility. I have not performed well enough in this World Cup… I don’t think you can pin it on the captain or the coach. Sometimes you have to look at yourself and say you haven’t been good enough.”England still have plenty to play for in their final three group games, starting against Australia in Ahmedabad on Saturday before fixtures against the Netherlands and Pakistan next week – not least qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The ICC confirmed last week that hosts Pakistan will be joined by the other seven-highest finishers at this World Cup, and England sit 10th as things stand.Morgan said that failure to reach that tournament would leave the ECB and men’s managing director Rob Key in a difficult position. “If the England team don’t qualify for the Champions Trophy, the likes of Rob Key and the board at the ECB will come under increasing pressure surrounding his [Mott’s] job,” he said.

He copped a blow to little finger of his right hand during the sixth over of Australia’s second innings on third day

Tristan Lavalette16-Dec-2023Australia No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne has avoided serious injury after copping a blow to his finger during a withering short-ball assault from Pakistan’s quicks late on day three of the first Test in Perth.During the sixth over of Australia’s second innings, Labuschagne was whacked on the little finger of his right hand from a rearing delivery by debutant quick Khurram Shahzad that jumped off a length. He sought medical attention immediately, but resumed batting after several minutes.A seemingly rattled Labuschagne fell shortly afterwards for 2 in an ungainly dismissal when he top-edged a pull shot that was caught by wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed. Labuschagne was captured during the broadcast receiving treatment from medical staff in Australia’s team room.Related

• No cure in sight for Pakistan's chronic troubles in Australia

• Australia end the day 300 ahead with Nathan Lyon stuck on 499 Test wickets

• 'I wanted to be really true to myself' – Marsh keen to stay Australia's No. 6

Labuschagne, who has played 39 Tests in a row since becoming a permanent member of the team during the 2019 Ashes series, went for a scan after play but was back in the nets on Sunday morning.A spokesperson said: “An x-ray taken last night did not demonstrate any visible fracture. Marnus was able to bat unhindered in the nets this morning.”If Australia do need a replacement batter during the series, the door would likely open for allrounder Cameron Green to return.”He was with the doc and physio for the last hour just chatting through it and doing a few tests on the finger…dare say he might be pretty sore,” Australia quick Josh Hazlewood told reporters after the third day’s play.Australia’s top order faced a thorough examination on an Optus Stadium surface that had more bite as the day wore on. Steven Smith copped several blows on his arm during a short-ball barrage from spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi.Smith needed medical attention just before the close of play after an Afridi delivery whacked into his forearm. But Smith and opener Usman Khawaja survived as Australia reached stumps at 84 for 2 with a lead of 300 runs.”He’s incredibly brave,” Hazlewood said of Smith. “I think it’s probably going to be tougher to play the short ball than in the first innings.”Batting looked really tough there in the end. I think as the game goes along the cracks will come more into play. It’s another hot day tomorrow.”

India coach Amol Muzumdar insists the team still has a “happy dressing room” despite comprehensively losing the ODI and T20I series

S Sudarshanan10-Jan-2024Two moments at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday summed up the women’s white-ball series between India and Australia.The first in the tenth over of the Indian innings. Alyssa Healy waited for Harmanpreet Kaur, on 3 off 5, to look up before ringing in the field changes. Ellyse Perry was moved to her right to deep backward square leg. Ashleigh Gardner was pushed back from the ring to deep midwicket. Harmanpreet had just faced a couple of dot balls – the first on a shortish length, pushed towards backward point, and the second on a good length outside off that she defended towards the off side.Annabel Sutherland then slipped in a full ball on the fourth-stump line. Harmanpreet anticipated another short-length ball and moved back and across early, and ended up chopping it onto her stumps. the result – her sixth single-digit score across formats in the series against Australia.Related

• Alyssa Healy, Annabel Sutherland lead clinical Australia to another series win

• Harmanpreet and Healy – different methods, same ambition

And then the second moment, in the 17th over of Australia’s chase. Phoebe Litchfield, in after a double-strike from Pooja Vastrakar, was to face Shreyanka Patil for only her fourth ball. Spooked by her abilities to hit behind the stumps, the four fielders India had on the boundary were cover-point third, backward square leg and midwicket. It took no time for Litchfield to shimmy down and loft one over mid-off, and then again to find the gap between mid-off and cover. Eventually, Australia got to their 148-run target with eight balls unused.After completing their 2-1 T20I series win against India, Australia’s captain Healy lavished praise on Litchfield, who finished the white-ball leg with 344 runs at an average of 86.”I was joking sitting on the bench that I remember when I was that fearless when you come out and you have lost two wickets in an over and play a ramp over the keeper for four,” Healy said. “Unbelievable talent but at the same time she has got a good head on her shoulders and has fitted in beautifully in our squad and will play a key role for us in the Bangladesh [T20] World Cup [2024] and the ODI World Cup [2025] in these conditions in the next 18 months. She is great to watch and hopefully she is going to have a long and successful career for Australia.”Healy also threw her weight behind Harmanpreet, after India head coach Amol Muzumdar had brushed off concerns surrounding the captain’s form by saying a form slump “happens to every cricketer”.Harmanpreet began the T20Is against England with 26 off 21 before two single-digit scores including an unbeaten 6 in the third T20I win. She then scored 49 and 44 not out in the one-off Test against the same opposition before returning single digits in each outing with the bat against Australia.”She got out playing the sweep shot quite a lot, which she traditionally plays quite well,” Healy said. “It might be down to some form. She has had probably had two hard series on the trot and this series has been a long one. [We had] no specific plans in place, but we know we need to be switched on when she walks out to the crease and our bowlers did a great job at keeping her quiet.”Despite Pooja Vastrakar’s blows, it was not an evening to remember for Harmanpreet Kaur’s side•Getty Images

Healy and Harmanpreet had contrasting build-ups to the series and Healy, in her first tour as full-time captain, alluded to the different attitudes they have.”[Harmanpreet and I] are two competitive cricketers going out there doing their job. We approach it differently and that is no disrespect to her, and that’s over to her to deal with that. From my point of view there is no animosity there. If I need to be given a send-off, so be it. I am all for it, because at the end of the day, I am chirpy behind the stumps. If you are willing to dish it out, you have got to be able to cop it.”While India won the one-off Test against Australia, they lost the ODI and T20I series comprehensively. Despite the result, Muzumdar said that the Indian dressing room “a happy space” and was “proud” of the way they played.”Irrespective of the result, we should be proud the way we played all the games,” he said. “Apart from the third ODI, all the other games have been close, so they should be proud of what they have done. The biggest positive is the girls have responded nicely in all the formats, whether it was Test cricket – we played after nine years in India. Not many had played red-ball cricket till then. In white-ball cricket we really need to focus on our fielding and our fitness.”At the moment it is a happy dressing room. I know we have not gotten the results we would have wanted this series, but they are in a happy space in the dressing room. That is how it should be and that is how I intend it to be till the World Cup.”Healy was also happy with the learnings from the series and said Australia played only “two and a half days” of poor cricket on their part.”I am just really, really proud of this group of people. We are here in India over a month that we are traditionally at home spending time with our families, and it is the first time we are away this time of the year.”The month that we have been here, we have played two and a half bad days of cricket – one and a half days in the Test match and one T20 – and I am really proud of the group. Hopefully we can have a really successful 2024 on the back of it.”