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Lord MacLaurin of Knebworth, the former chairman of the England & Wales Cricket Board, will make a return to the sport later this year when he succeeds Matthew Fleming as president of MCC

ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-2017Lord MacLaurin of Knebworth, the former chairman of the England & Wales Cricket Board, will make a return to the sport later this year when he succeeds Matthew Fleming as president of MCC.Lord MacLaurin, who also served as chairman and chief executive of Tesco and chairman of Vodafone, is widely credited for ushering in a new, more professional era for English cricket during his five-year term from 1997 to 2002.On his watch, which coincided with the formation of the ECB to succeed the former governing body, TCCB, England laid the foundations of the team that, in 2005, ended Australia’s 18-year stranglehold on the Ashes.Aside from the appointment of Duncan Fletcher as England’s first overseas coach, and the groundbreaking introduction of central contracts, MacLaurin oversaw several incremental changes, such as ending the practice of sharing rooms on tour, and insisting on a stricter adherence to dress codes when travelling.Fleming, whose nomination of MacLaurin was ratified at MCC’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, believes that his successor is “uniquely qualified” for a role that will commence on October 1.”I first came to know Ian in the late 1990s, when I was chairman of the PCA and he was chairman of the ECB,” said Fleming. “Ian was exploring ways of restructuring domestic cricket, recognising the increasingly important role of international cricket and international cricketers.”I was struck by his fairness and clarity of thought about the future of the game, qualities that I believe will be needed in the year ahead, given the uncertainties in the cricketing landscape at present and the opportunities and threats facing the sport.”In choosing my successor, I was looking for someone who can harness a passion and knowledge of cricket with experience and pragmatism. Ian was a talented cricketer, who played to a good level, and has always been a passionate supporter of MCC. A visionary leader of the ECB, widely respected in the business world he is, all in all, uniquely qualified for and deserving of the role of MCC President.””It is one of the greatest honours in cricket to be invited to be the President of the finest cricket club in the world and I am thankful to Matthew Fleming for asking me to succeed him,” said MacLaurin.”I have been a member of MCC for over 50 years, and I take great pride in seeing how the club has blossomed over that period – not only with the development of this iconic ground but also with all of the work done to promote the game for men and women, boys and girls, around the world. I very much look forward to my year in office and hope to help the excellent team at MCC continue all this good work.”

Australia will consider bringing Aaron Finch back into the side to face Bangladesh despite Usman Khawaja’s solid opening innings in the loss to New Zealand in Dharamsala

Melinda Farrell20-Mar-2016Australia will consider bringing Aaron Finch back into the side to face Bangladesh despite Usman Khawaja’s solid opening innings in the loss to New Zealand in Dharamsala.Khawaja made a free-flowing 38 off 27 balls before being run out pushing for a second with David Warner, but coach Darren Lehman is sticking to the policy of flexible selection, which could see several changes made to the Australian XI in Bangalore for Monday’s game.”[Khawaja] played beautifully, he played beautifully,” Lehmann said. “It’s not unfortunate [he was run out], he can say no. He’s just got to get better at running between the wickets, all the little things we didn’t do well enough.”He played beautifully, but it depends. We’ve got Bangladesh in Bangalore, so work out what the best option is for that game and play it from there.”Lehmann spoke glowingly of Finch, lauding the “brilliant” manner in which he handled the news of his omission for Australia’s opening match.”He has been fantastic,” Lehmann said. “He has been unbelievable. We only made the final decision when we arrived. One final look at the conditions, the wicket and the weather and that’s what we decided but he’s been brilliant. Can’t speak highly enough of him.”Lehmann echoed the sentiments of captain Steven Smith after New Zealand’s eight-run victory, blaming Australia’s batting through the middle overs for the loss but struggled to put his finger on the reason behind their poor shot selection.”Smith, Warner, Maxwell, Marsh, the whole lot of them – they need to be smarter,” he said. “They know that. They don’t mean to play the shots they play. At the end of the day we’ve just got to be better. We had a really good start. We should close that game out. Not comfortably, but we should close it out from 1 for 50.”I don’t know [why they didn’t play smarter], you’d have to ask them. They’re out there batting. Also understand it’s a pressurised game. It’s easy for us sitting back watching in the media box or as a coach, so it’s pressurised out there and the wicket was slow and spun and that’s what we’re going to get.”But we’ve got to be better at finishing those sort of scenarios. As long as they learn and understand the pressures of World Cup cricket and now knock-out cricket. Basically you lose, you’re out for us. Can’t explain why we played how we played after six overs but as long as they get better at it.”Australia’s preparations for their vital match against Bangladesh – although they consider every game to be do-or-die from here on – weren’t helped by the dreadful weather in Dharamsala on Saturday. Massive hailstorms and treacherous icy roads prevented the team leaving their high-altitude hotel as scheduled, with roads blocked and their morning chartered flight unable to land at Dharamsala airport.While they were eventually able to reschedule travel arrangements and arrived in Bangalore in the evening, it was hardly helpful with such a tight turnaround and Australia can ill-afford any further slips in this tournament.”Every game is a must-win when it is such a short tournament and you have to win three out of four,” Lehmann said. “You want to win the first game and get the tournament off on the right note. But at the end of the day we have still got to beat Bangladesh, we have still got to beat Pakistan we’ve still got to beat India, so you’ve got to win enough games and if you do that you qualify.”That is the great nature of the tournament. It is so quick you haven’t got too much time to think about it.”

Wicketkeeper-batsman Ashish Bagai will lead Canada for their last two matches of the World Cricket League Championships against Netherlands

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Aug-2013Wicketkeeper-batsman Ashish Bagai will lead Canada for their last two matches of the World Cricket League Championships against Netherlands. Bagai was recalled to the squad in May this year, after spending some time away from the game pursuing an academic degree.The two matches will be held in King City on August 27 and 28. While Canada, who are placed last on the table with three points, will look to salvage some pride, Netherlands will look to strengthen their case for direct qualification into the 2015 World Cup. The top two teams in the WCL Championship gain direct entry into the World Cup and Ireland have already sealed their place with an unassailable lead. Netherlands, second on the table with 15 points, will look to win both matches to open up a lead ahead of Scotland and Afghanistan, who are also on 15 points. Teams that finish between the third and seventh places will play a second qualifying tournament in 2014The two teams will also play their final league match of the Intercontinental Cup on August 22-25. Canada are placed last with 23 points in six matches, while Netherlands are second from last with 36 points from six matches. Canada’s squad for the Intercontinental Cup match will be led by Amarbir Hansra.Squads for the WCL Championship games
Canada Ashish Bagai (capt), Harvir Baidwan, Damodar Daesrath, Jeremy Gordon, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Amarbir Hansra, Kenneth Kamyuka, Nitish Kumar, Usman Limbada, Salman Nazar, Henry Osinde, Hiral Patel, Raza Rehman, Junaid SiddiquiNetherlands Peter Borren (capt), Wesley Barresi, Mudassar Bukhari, Daan Van Bunge, Ben Cooper, Tim Gruijters, Timm Van Der Gugten, Ahsan Malik, Stephan Myburgh, Michael Rippon, Edgar Schiferli, Pieter Seelaar, Michael Swart, Eric SzwarczynskiSquads for the Intercontinental Cup match
Canada Amarbir Hansra (capt), Ashish Bagai, Harvir Baidwan, Damodar Daesrath, Jeremy Gordon, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Nitish Kumar, Usman Limbada, Salman Nazar, Henry Osinde, Hiral Patel, Cecil Pervez, Raza Rehman, Junaid SiddiquiNetherlands Peter Borren (capt), Wesley Barresi, Mudassar Bukhari, Daan Van Bunge, Tim Gruijters, Tom Heggelman, Vivian Kingma, Ahsan Malik, Paul Van Meekeren, Stephan Myburgh, Michael Rippon, Pieter Seelaar, Michael Swart, Eric Szwarczynski

Sam Billings hit the highest ever one-day total by a Kent player at Canterbury and Darren Stevens snared five wickets

12-Aug-2012
ScorecardSam Billings hit the highest ever one-day total by a Kent player at Canterbury and Darren Stevens snared five wickets in 19 balls to ease the Spitfires to an emphatic 111-run win over Derbyshire.In front of their second best crowd of the summer, Kent wrapped up their 161st Canterbury Week with their fourth win of the Group C campaign secured with 56 balls to spare. Billings’ innings of 143 helped the hosts on their way to a score of 248 for 6, before Stevens took centre stage with the ball to help bowl out Derbyshire for 137.Batting first after losing the toss, Kent suffered two early blows on possibly the hottest day of the season at the St Lawrence ground. Home skipper Rob Key fell for a five-ball duck when he pushed tentatively at a Tim Groenewald leg-cutter to snick one low to Wes Durston at slip.Then, having faced only three balls, Sam Northeast also went without scoring when he departed leg before after playing across a full-length ball from Mark Turner that made it 16 for two.The situation might have worsened had keeper Tom Poynton held on to a diving, one-glove chance to his left from Steven’s first-ball glance, but Poynton could only parry the chance for four to allow the Kent right-hander to get off the mark.Stevens helped steady the Kentish ship with Billings in a third-wicket stand of 85 in 15.3 overs that ended when Stevens dragged one on to leg stump against Chesney Hughes to go for 40 and spark a secondary mini-collapse.Azhar Mahmood hit 8 before he holed out against Peter Burgoyne then Alex Blake, with three to his name, nicked a drive to the keeper off the same bowler to leave Kent in trouble at 123 for 5.That was the cue for 21-year-old Billings to move into top gear. He eased to his 50 from 46 balls then cut loose with an array of shots, the majority of which were orthodox, yet some were impish and improvised in the fashion of another wiry Kent gloveman, the legendary Alan Knott.Sweeping wristily, driving on the up and chipping the ball to all parts, Billings reached his first century for Kent, off a misfield to backward point, from 97 balls and with 11 fours.He really cut loose when in tandem with Geraint Jones as the two wicketkeepers added 117 in 14.1 overs. Billings was so dominant that his senior partner Jones contributed only 38 to their hundred stand.With 143 to his name come the final over of the innings, Billings went all guns blazing for his 150 but missed out with an attempted Dilscoop over fine leg to be bowled. He left to a standing ovation after 113 balls and with 17 fours and a six.Needing 6.22 an over for an unlikely win, Derbyshire were already up against it after a tight opening spell from Mark Davies of 3 for 25.Any lingering hopes were completely blown away when Darren Stevens replaced Davies at the Nackington Road End to bag 5 for 36 – including a 19-ball purple patch of 5 for 7 that eased Kent to victory.

Pakistan’s chairman of selectors, Mohsin Khan has denied that the Pakistan board has an agenda against senior players

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2011Pakistan’s chairman of selectors, Mohsin Khan has denied that the Pakistan board has an agenda against senior players. Mohsin was responding to Pakistan allrounder Abdul Razzaq’s comments, in an earlier interview, in which he had accused the Pakistan Cricket Board of indulging in conspiracy to keep senior players out of the national team.It’s the job of the selection committee to finalise the team,” Mohsin told . “I don’t know about any lobby and I don’t feel there is any agenda against the senior players.”While senior players like Razzaq and Shahid Afridi were not included in Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, the selectors also chose to rest fast bowlers Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed and Wahab Riaz, with fringe seamers Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Aizaz Cheema and Junaid Khan making up the pace attack. There was also a change in the spin department with Abdur Rehman being rested and Yasir Shah being given an opportunity to make his international debut.Reacting to the team selection, Razzaq had told the Urdu newspaper , that “axing of senior players is not in the interest of Pakistan cricket”. Razzaq alleged there was a lobby within the PCB that was misguiding the board chairman Ijaz Butt. “It’s a conspiracy against the senior players,” Razzaq said. “There’s a lobby which is misguiding the chairman who is working sincerely for the promotion of the game. They just want to secure their position in the board and their agenda is against the interest of Pakistan cricket.Razzaq, who last played for Pakistan when they were beaten by India in the World Cup semi-final earlier this year, said that he had “fallen victim to the conspiracies of this lobby”.”This lobby is active in slowly ousting all senior players from the team and there is one main person who is calling the shots from behind the curtain,” he said.However Mohsin dismissed the allegations and said the senior players “should not be disheartened and should work on winning their place by proving their worth in the domestic tournaments”.”The selection committee is working on a simple policy that any player who is doing well should get a chance,” Mohsin said. “We just want to give a chance to the youngsters who are our future. If there was an agenda then we wouldn’t have a 35-year old captain [Misbah-ul-Haq] who is also a very senior player.”The squad for Zimbabwe includes three uncapped players – top-order batsman Rameez Raja, legspinner Shah and seamer Cheema. Mohsin had earlier explained that the fresh look to the squad was an effort to blood youngsters. “We have to bring in young players along with seniors so that they could be groomed,” he said.

Alan Isaac, the candidate who replaced John Howard as Australia and New Zealand’s nominee for the ICC vice-presidency, has supported the creation of a window in the Future Tour Programme for the IPL

Cricinfo staff31-Jul-2010Alan Isaac, the candidate who replaced John Howard as Australia and New Zealand’s nominee for the ICC vice-presidency, has supported the creation of a window in the Future Tour Programme for the IPL. The ICC had earlier ruled out accommodating lucrative Twenty20 leagues in the already cramped international calendar, but Isaac said that was likely to change as the ICC’s sub-committee is working on remodelling the FTP.”The Future Tours Program has to allow the IPL, because unless it is accommodated we will end up with more challenges,” Isaac told the . ”There will be more pressure put around the scheduling of ICC events [such as World Cups and the Champions Trophy], and those ICC events are so critical to members because of the revenue generated.”It has to be worked into the Future Tours Program because there is a demand and an interest. The players seem to like it, and there is more money coming into the game. ‘The sub-committee work is being done on that basis [that the IPL will be part of the FTP].”Isaac, the New Zealand Cricket chairman, replaced former Australia prime minister John Howard as the ICC vice-president nominee following Cricket Australia’s refusal to choose another candidate. Howard’s nomination was blocked last month in Singapore by members from six countries. After being told by the ICC board to find another option by August 31, New Zealand asked Sir John Anderson, the country’s original recommendation, to reconsider. When Anderson refused Isaac, 58, stepped forward.Isaac said Anderson’s decision to decline contesting was unexpected. ”He shocked me when he said he wasn’t available, then encouraged me to make myself available,” Isaac said. ”That was the first time I started thinking about the role. I don’t see myself as second or third choice, ultimately I will be judged on the work that is done.”Isaac conceded that the ICC has had its share of criticism on the way it works and how certain powerful members like India have got their way. He said India have a very significant role to play in the game’s governing body in terms of the revenue they generate.”I think one of the most important things is that we work to enhance the reputation of the ICC,” Isaac said. ”The media are quite critical of it, sometimes justifiably, and lots of decisions it makes get criticised. Each member around the table has got their own issues and agendas, I understand that, it is about leading everyone in a common direction.”There is no doubt [India] are powerful, that is a matter of fact. When the ICC sells its commercial rights a lot of that comes from India, that is the commercial reality and we have got to recognise that. The Indian officials I have dealt with in my 20 months at the ICC have been really good to work with, there are no issues at all.”

England captain limps off field 10 days before first Test against Sri Lanka

Matt Roller11-Aug-2024Ben Stokes is a major doubt for England’s first Test against Sri Lanka after retiring hurt with a hamstring injury while playing for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred on Sunday evening. He is set to undergo a scan on Monday which appears likely to rule him out of the three-match Test series.He ended the night on crutches, and was being assessed by medical staff on Sunday evening. “It doesn’t look great, unfortunately,” said Harry Brook, the Superchargers’ captain and Stokes’ England team-mate, after their win against Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford. “I think he’ll be getting a scan tomorrow and we’ll see how he is.”Stokes ran through for a quick single early in the Superchargers’ chase and pulled up injured after completing the run. He was helped off the field by their medical staff and was seen clutching his hamstring on his left leg. He was at the non-striker’s end when Ollie Robinson, his Superchargers team-mate, attempted a scoop which he mistimed into the leg side, and scampered through for a single.He appeared to pull his muscle as he made his ground then collapsed to the ground and threw his gloves off in frustration. Harry Booker (strength and conditioning coach) and James Pipe (physiotherapist) immediately ran on to provide treatment. After Booker and Pipe helped him back to the Superchargers dugout, supporting his weight, Stokes was placed onto a stretcher and wheeled towards an ambulance.Related

• Ben Stokes to miss Hundred ahead of legacy-defining Ashes winter

• Hamstring tear rules Ben Stokes out of summer, aiming for Pakistan tour

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• Crawley ruled out of SL Tests due to fractured finger; Lawrence set to open

Around an hour later, Stokes was back in the dugout but had to use crutches when shaking hands with the Originals squad after Nicholas Pooran snatched a seven-wicket win with his innings off 66 not out. A Superchargers spokesperson said: “Ben Stokes is having his hamstring assessed. Further updates will be available from tomorrow [Monday].”The injury appears to put Stokes’ chances of playing in the first Test – which starts on August 21 in Manchester – in significant jeopardy. He has managed a chronic left-knee injury throughout the second half of his international career but returned to bowling earlier this year after undergoing surgery over the English winter.Stokes was due to play four group-stage games in the Hundred between England’s series against West Indies and Sri Lanka, with the possibility of staying with the Superchargers if they qualified for the knockout stages. He was dismissed first-ball by Tim Southee in his first appearance, made 2 off four balls in a rain-ruined match in Cardiff on Thursday, and now appears certain to miss their final group fixture against London Spirit on Tuesday.Stokes went down clutching his left hamstring

England are already missing Zak Crawley for the Sri Lanka series due to a fractured finger. Dan Lawrence is set to open the batting in his absence, with Jordan Cox called into their squad as batting cover last week. Ollie Pope is their vice-captain, and would be the strong favourite to lead England for the first time in international cricket in the event that Stokes is ruled out.The Sri Lanka series is squeezed into a short timeframe, with two three-day gaps between Tests. England are then due to arrive in Pakistan in early October ahead of a three-match series which starts in Multan on October 7.

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.

Steven Mullaney digs in for unbeaten 78 after visitors slide precariously to 52 for 4

Paul Edwards08-Apr-2022Steven Mullaney is far too respectful a professional to say so publicly but his chief thought in asking Sussex to bat first on the opening morning of this match was that his fine attack could use an April-fresh pitch to trample on a weakened batting line-up, thus creating an immediate victory opportunity. 148 plays 110-1 at the end of the day might have been something like the line-score he envisaged. Well, Burns – both Rabbie and Rory after the latest Ashes series – could have advised one of Warrington’s more famous sons that such schemes “gang aft agley”, an observation that might not have enlightened Mullaney greatly, unversed as he surely is in late 18th century Scots. “Tits up” probably carries greater resonance in the Trent Bridge dressing room.Such a brusque verdict is too harsh an assessment of the first day’s play at Hove but by this second afternoon with the floodlights on and the ball seaming around, some variety of utter balls-up was suddenly more likely. For at that point Nottinghamshire’s skipper had seen Sussex make 375 in their first innings before his own team shambled to a miserable 53 for 4 in reply with their marquee players in the pavilion, two of them removed by the 33-year-old debutant, Steven Finn. Mullaney, though, has always been a scrapper as well as a leader and he was joined in a rescue operation by the highly regarded Lyndon James, who, as a Nottinghamshire-born Nottinghamshire batsman would probably earn you 500pts or so in The Observer’s Book of Cricketers