ECB events director confident venues will withstand external factors during West Indies series

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jun-2020Steve Elworthy, the ECB’s director of events, believes that the plans for July’s Test series against West Indies are robust enough to withstand a second wave of Covid-19 outbreaks, following this week’s announcement that the Ageas Bowl and Emirates Old Trafford have been chosen to host the three games.Speaking on Sky Sports’ Cricket Show, Elworthy went into greater depth on the rationale behind the selection of the two venues, both of which have on-site hotels – which was the primary reason why grounds such as the Kia Oval, where the first Test of the summer had been due to get underway today, were ruled out in the ECB’s search for “bio-secure” environments.West Indies are due to arrive in England next week, with their initial training block set to take place at Old Trafford before England themselves gather at the Ageas Bowl in the build-up to the first Test on July 8. The two squads will then practice in closer proximity in the days leading up the match, before relocating to Old Trafford for the final two matches of the series, commencing July 16 and July 24 respectively.ALSO READ: Oval ticket-holders show faith in Test cricket after cancellationAnd while there have been concerns in the local media that Manchester, in the north-west of England, is particularly susceptible to a surge in Covid cases, Elworthy is confident that the series will go ahead without a hitch, especially if the ICC agrees to sanction the introduction of like-for-like replacements in the event of infection within the secure environment.”The way we have structured the ‘bubble’ is that it can operate under the most extreme circumstances,” said Elworthy. “All of our planning has been based on the worst-case scenario, from an infection and a rate-spike point of view. So external factors should not affect that because, if you are secure within the venue, and you don’t break the confines of that venue, then your game should be able to go ahead with no problems at all.”The likeliest opportunity for that bubble to break will come when the teams make the 220-mile journey from Southampton to Manchester, but Elworthy justified the need to vary the conditions in which the series is played from the point of view of cricket “integrity”, and also to provide a change of scene for players, support staff and media who might otherwise be confined to one place for up to a month.”If you were to hold your first two Test matches at the same venue, you could end up possibly winning a series in the same conditions in the same venue, back-to-back,” he said. “We felt that, to win a series, you should have to win it in two separate sets of conditions.”We’re trying to reduce the amount of time that stakeholders or groups of people are locked down in [a particular] venue for periods of time,” he added. “We’re trying to cover as many of those bases as possible.”ALSO READ: West Indies confirm 25-man squad for bio-secure England tourThe Ageas Bowl, Elworthy added, had been chosen for the series opener because its out-of-town location includes a full-sized practice pitch, situated right next to the main venue. “We wanted both teams to be able to practice and train and prepare for a Test match, and having two full grounds available to be able to train was key.”The provisions for bio-security, as outlined by the ECB when announcing the match allocation, include controlled access at the perimeter of the venues, as well as on-site medical screening and testing provisions, including designated areas for isolation of anyone presenting symptoms.Steve Elworthy has played a leading role in the ECB’s planning for behind-closed-doors cricket•Getty Images

“It’s not only the players we thinking about,” said Elworthy. “With circa 250-odd people within the venue, any one of them could possibly test positive in a period of a five-day Test match.”They would immediately be put into isolation, and our on-site Covid medical practitioner and Public Health England would be informed immediately,” he added. “And that player or person would then be put into isolation for a period of time based on the government guidance and the medical overlay.”Earlier this week, West Indies confirmed their squad for the England tour, and while it will be missing three players who chose not to travel due to fears of infection – Keemo Paul, Shimron Hetmyer and Darren Bravo – Elworthy preferred to focus on the 25 names who had chosen to trust the contingencies that have been put in place.”Everybody was given the right to make their own decision, and that’s not the first time that’s happened across cricket, even with the England team at times,” he said. “But I look at it glass-half-full. It’s incredibly positive that we have a West Indian squad of 25 players who are coming to compete in a Test series against England. I think that’s fantastic for the game.”It’s incredibly challenging putting this all together, but at the same time I think it’s hugely, hugely rewarding for the game. As a cricket family, we’ve got to come together on this to make it work.”

The former Kerala legspinner fills the vacancy left by Nitin Menon’s promotion to the Elite panel

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Aug-2020Former Kerala legspinner KN Ananthapadmanabhan has been promoted to the ICC’s international panel of umpires. Ananthapadmanabhan will be the fourth Indian umpire on the international panel and fills the vacancy created by Nitin Menon’s move to the ICC Elite Panel.The other three Indians on the international panel are C Shamshuddin, Anil Chaudhary and Virender Sharma.Ananthapadmanabhan has officiated in nearly every domestic tournament in India, including the IPL, an England Lions match, and Women’s List A and T20 games.Before moving into umpiring, Ananthapadmanabhan played 105 first-class matches for Kerala, starting in 1988-89, and represented them until 2003-04. He was the first player from his state to achieve the double of 2000 runs and 200 wickets in the Ranji Trophy, and was briefly in the reckoning for an India cap. Playing for India A against the visiting Australians in 1998, he took the wickets of Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehmann.

Overnight rain pushed the start back to 4.15pm, eating away any chance of England pushing for victory

The Report by Matt Roller25-Aug-2020James Anderson became the first seamer to take 600 Test wickets as England’s third and final Test against Pakistan petered out into a rain-affected draw at the Ageas Bowl.Anderson had Pakistan’s captain and first-innings centurion Azhar Ali caught by Joe Root at slip in his third over of the final day after overnight rain and standing water had pushed back the start until 4.15pm. He was the second-fastest man to the landmark, six balls behind Muttiah Muralitharan, and the first Englishman.Despite Anderson’s early breakthrough, England never looked likely to bowl Pakistan out as they followed on on a flat pitch that offered little for bowlers throughout the Test match, particularly with the old ball. Root had Asad Shafiq caught at bat-pad three balls before the second new ball was due, but four overs later he had bumped fists with Azhar.After heavy overnight rain across the UK, it had initially looked unlikely that there would be any play at all on the final day. The Ageas Bowl ground staff faced a long clean-up operation, with a vast amount of standing water on the covers and several problem areas in the outfield. Following several inspections, the umpires decided that the ground would fit for play from 4.15pm, with up to 42 overs possible.All eyes were immediately on Anderson, who shared the bowling with Jofra Archer from the outset, as Azhar and Babar Azam successfully negotiated his first two overs with several fielders catching in front of the wicket and Joe Root positioning himself as the solitary slip.James Anderson celebrates taking his 600th Test wicket•Getty Images

The moment arrived at 4.37pm, from the second ball of Anderson’s third over. The ball pitched slightly short of a length in the off-stump channel, nipping away with a hint of extra bounce as it took the shoulder of Azhar’s bat. England’s slip catching has caused them problems throughout the summer, but this chance could hardly have been simpler for Root, who clung on to take Anderson to the 600 mark.He immediately burst into a broad grin, high-fiving substitute fielder James Bracey, embracing Root, shaking hands with Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad and then being congratulated in turn by each of his team-mates. He acknowledged the handful of backroom and venue staff in the ground by holding the ball aloft to them, beaming from ear to ear.That left England with seven wickets to get, and despite Anderson nipping one past Asad Shafiq’s outside edge, he was soon taken out of the attack. Babar and Shafiq ticked over towards the new ball, with Dom Bess and Root operating in tandem, while Dom Sibley’s part-time legspin was given a first outing in Test cricket.Babar raced towards fifty with a flurry of boundaries off Bess, reaching his second half-century of an underwhelming series by nudging Root through the leg side with the new ball almost due, but Shafiq fell the very next ball, prodding him to Bracey under the lid at short leg.Anderson took the new ball and found sharp movement in his first over, but not long after Root decided that he had seen enough and the captains bumped fists for the draw at 6.05pm.That meant a 1-0 England win – their first series victory against Pakistan since 2010 – with Anderson taking the headlines. Both of the Ageas Bowl Tests in this series were marred by inclement weather, but this one will undoubtedly be remembered – for Zak Crawley’s epic 267 as well as Anderson’s milestone.

“I think he’s someone who has got so much talent that he can play a number of roles.”

Deivarayan Muthu23-Sep-2020Aaron Finch’s arrival has added more quality to Royal Challengers Bangalore’s top order, but their squishy middle and lower order came into focus during their narrow opening win against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday. After a blistering start, led by Devdutt Padikkal, the 20-year-old IPL debutant, captain Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers added only 33 off 28 balls. Despite de Villiers finding a higher gear in the slog overs, the Royal Challengers finished with 163 for 5, having been on 53 for 0 after the Powerplay and then 90 for 0 in the 11th over.Allrounder Shivam Dube, who was promoted to No.5, couldn’t get the big hits away either, labouring to 7 off eight balls. On another night, such a slowdown might have cost the Royal Challengers, but Yuzvendra Chahal and Sunrisers’ own squishy middle order ensured Kohli’s men started their campaign with a victory.ALSO SEE: Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore live score 24 September 2020With Padikkal showing plenty of promise at the top, and de Villiers not (yet) keeping wicket, the Royal Challengers left out Parthiv Patel from the XI and made room for the Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Philippe at the expense of the allrounder Moeen Ali. The 23-year-old batted out of position at No.6 – he has broken through with 662 runs in 23 innings at the top at a strike rate of 135.37 – and was unbeaten on 1 off two balls. In 33 innings in his T20 career, Philippe has batted only ten times in the middle order (all at No.6), scoring 137 runs in ten innings at 152.22. His Australia white-ball captain and his IPL team-mate Finch, however, believes Philippe can come good as a finisher, too, if he’s given a fair run in that role.”Absolutely [he can be a finisher]. I think he’s someone who has got so much talent that he can play a number of roles,” Finch said on the eve of the Royal Challengers’ game against Kings XI Punjab in Dubai. “We’ve seen how successful he can be at the top of the order in Big Bash and things like that. He’s someone who can play all around the ground. He’s got a lot of talent and a lot of skill and so I think if he’s given enough time at each role, I think he will start to develop into that beautifully.”Devdutt Padikkal launches one down the ground•BCCI

Finch also called for similar flexibility when it came to his role at the top with Padikkal. Against the Sunrisers, it was Padikkal who set the early pace with seven boundaries in the powerplay as opposed to Finch’s one. Finch said their roles could be reversed depending on the pitch and conditions across the three venues in the UAE.”Dev obviously got off to a great start the other day, so then it was my job to just try and get him back on strike and let him keep playing really well and really aggressive,” Finch said. “But there’ll be some days when that role is reversed and I’ll get off to a bit of a flier and then our partnership becomes important again. I think my game has evolved probably by playing more and more T20 cricket. You understand roles and you understand game scenarios a little bit more. Hopefully, I can contribute heavily for Bangalore.”While the pitches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have provided some assistance to the seamers so far, the one that was used for Sharjah’s first game of the season on Tuesday was much flatter and offered less bounce. A record 33 sixes were hit in the game between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, with the dew setting in later in the evening. Finch was wary of the dew and tiring tracks in the second half of the tournament, but backed the Royal Challengers to find a way past them.”I think the dew will play a big part in the tournament,” he said. “Probably the last three games and the game in Sharjah last night, there was more dew than expected from us. So, I think, as the games go on and a lot of games [are] played on the same wickets over and over, the wickets will get slower and the dew will become even more of a factor. But you still have to play your best and can’t use that as an excuse. If you happen to bat first on a slow wicket, you have to adjust to that and come up with plans and processes to give you every opportunity to be successful in all the conditions.”

No suggestions of an increased quota, but focus on including more black African players in the national sides

Firdose Moonda12-Oct-2020Cricket South Africa (CSA) intends to outline the implementation of a more aggressive transformation policy to parliament, if they are allowed to present their plans to the sports portfolio committee on Tuesday. The meeting comes a week after CSA were hauled over the coals by the same committee for failure to present the forensic report they used to fire former CEO Thabang Moroe.At a two-hour meeting last week, in which no other matter was discussed, CSA committed to furnishing the committee with a copy of the report by Friday. The deadline was met, though the version of the report CSA sent contained redactions, and discussion over the report are expected to take up most of the meeting time tomorrow. However, if the meeting moves past the report, CSA may have the opportunity to unveil its Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) agenda.Among CSA’s proposals is an emphasis on ensuring “that more black players, particularly black African players are included in national teams on a sustainable basis,” and major changes to the way cricket is governed at franchise and provincial level, to ensure greater representation of black women. Beginning in December this year, CSA would like all its affiliates to make new appointments according to affirmative action requirements, and will fine those who do not.”It will become part of the membership requirements that the executive management teams of unions and the boards become predominantly black with a heavy focus on black female members in these critical positions. The intention is to identify at least 10 black female candidates. The onus will be placed on Affiliates to address the current status of non- transformed positions especially in CEO and Executive positions. Failure by the Unions to do this will result in financial penalties,” CSA’s presentation reads.Similarly, CSA have committed to filling the independent director vacancy on its board, which resulted from the resignation of Steve Cornelius in August “by a black female, preferably with skills in media and marketing”. The position is expected to be filled by the end of November, before the rescheduled AGM which will take place on December 5.On the playing field, the presentation notes that “the number of selections for whites’ dwarfs (54%) the numbers for any of the black demographic, with the players of Indian descent and Coloured players, making up an equal 12% selection in any of the 15 matches played,” over the last year. It notes that selection was particularly skewed in fifty-over cricket primarily because of the consistent inclusion of four players. “It is particularly within the ODI format where the selection frequency is predominantly in favour of white players. These numbers are boosted by the consistency in selection of (Quinton) de Kock, (Rassie) van der Dussen, (Faf) du Plessis and (David) Miller.”While the presentation does not say there will be an increased quota (currently the national team is required to field six players of colour, of which at least two must be black African, on average over the course of a season), it does state that there will be no target reduction and that the direction of cricket, the coaches and selectors will have to adhere to transformation key performance areas, which will be part of their contracts. CSA exceeded their 2018-19 transformation target, with the 2019-20 data yet to be released, but have also come under fire from the sports minister, Nathi Mthethwa, for failing to have people of colour in senior roles.Since then, CSA have committed to applying a preference for consultants of colour and now appear to be taking the policy further. The presentation also mentions addressing the salary difference between the men’s and women’s teams and confirms a cash injection of R10 million (US$604, 575) for the SJN project, which could offer reparations to players who were discriminated against in the past. In August CSA named Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza as their SJN ombudsman and they intend to begin hearing at provinces in January 2021. The ombudsman will also independently present to parliament and the sports minister.

Captain Shreyas Iyer wants Capitals to improve in powerplay with both bat and ball

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-20202:46

Gautam Gambhir: Quality Indian players make Mumbai Indians the best team

On Monday Ricky Ponting had said that if there was one team the Mumbai Indians will not want to face in the final it would be the Delhi Capitals. On Tuesday, defending champions Mumbai dominated the Capitals thoroughly to not only register their fourth win against the team coached by Ponting, but also win their fifth IPL title.Ponting, who was part of two of Mumbai’s title victories – as player in 2013 and coach in 2015 – acknowledged Mumbai were the “best” team this IPL.”You have got to give credit where credit is due: MI have clearly been the best team all the way through this IPL,” Ponting said at the post-match presentation. “They’ve beaten us four times in the tournament now. They turned up and played a great game today in the final when it really matters. As a coach it is can be frustrating sitting in the dugout when you haven’t got control over things, but I’m extremely proud of the way we player cricket this tournament. Just to finish off, MI thoroughly deserve their win.”Several teams have mentioned the biggest challenge this IPL has been to perform while living out of a biosecure bubble. Ponting, too, felt that did play a role in the Capitals’ inconsistency. He said the Capitals “probably had too much preparation” ahead of the IPL after they arrived in the UAE in late August, a month prior to the tournament.”We had about three-and-a-half weeks of training before our first game. We knew that that was always going to be a challenge to try and keep the boys up through what’s been a 10 or 11 weeks of a hard slog.”The Capitals made their first IPL final in 13 seasons, but Ponting was honest to admit that they had work to do.”The IPL is a hard tournament, certainly a hard tournament to win. And at different times you’ve probably seen with our level of cricket – although we played some brilliant stuff, then the level dropped down a little bit and we fought back really well at the end. It has been a really challenging tour.”Captain Shreyas Iyer, who top-scored for the Capitals in the final with an unbeaten 65, wanted them to improve in two specific areas in 2021 IPL.”We have been lacking at the starts especially in majority of the games we lost pretty early wickets,” Iyer said. “That is what we need to work on. We need to strategise our bowling plans as well because we have leaked a lot of runs in the powerplay, especially in the second half of the season was not really the best.”

Stand-in captain Peirson’s quickfire 69 was in vain as Strikers defended 17 off the last two overs

Alex Malcolm23-Dec-2020The Adelaide Strikers have survived an extraordinary innings from Jimmy Peirson to pull off a nail-biting win at the Gabba and ensure the Heat remain winless after three games.The Heat were 8 for 68 needing 83 to win from 40 balls. But Peirson nearly stole the game, smashing 69 not out from 36 balls with seven fours and two sixes. He got great support from Mujeeb Ur Rahman but when Mujeeb fell he had no margin for error.Peirson and Ben Laughlin needed just 17 runs off the last two overs but faced eight dot balls between them as Laughlin couldn’t get off strike in the penultimate over and Peirson was unwilling to risk him getting on strike in the last.The result came at a huge cost for both clubs with Chris Lynn and Rashid Khan suffering hamstring injuries. Lynn damaged his left hamstring running to catch a high ball during the warm-up and was unable to play. The injury occurred after the toss but the Strikers allowed the Heat to change their team as per the BBL guidelines. Simon Milenko came into the side and Peirson took over as captain for the first time in his T20 career.Rashid injured his right hamstring chasing a ball in the 18th over and limped off in some discomfort having earlier taken 2 for 30.Renshaw returns
Matt Renshaw was one of a number of players who left the Heat during the off season and he returned to have an impact early. He entered at 1 for 2 in the first over after Jake Weatherald fell. The standard of umpiring in the lack of DRS in the BBL has been a significant issue this season and Weatherald’s dismissal only added to the dismay. Batting well out of his crease against Xavier Bartlett, he was struck well above the knee roll and was adjudged lbw. Ball tracking had it going well over the stumps. Renshaw and Phil Salt put together a 60-run stand which took 53 balls. But in the context of the game on a two-paced surface, it was a significant stand. Salt nearly ran himself out three times but Renshaw looked composed punishing anything short. But both men fell to Mark Steketee in consecutive balls in the 10th over to leave the Strikers vulnerable.Adelaide Strikers celebrate after Jimmy Peirson’s stunning knock nearly stole the game•Getty Images

Understudy Nielsen steps up
Harry Nielsen only got his opportunity because Alex Carey was ruled out due to the Queensland border closure. But he played a brilliant innings to help the Strikers reach 150. He found the rope more than any other Strikers batsman, hitting three fours and a six on the Gabba’s expansive boundaries. Nielsen and Jonathan Wells combined for 57 in just six overs including 25 off the Power Surge overs. Nielsen holed out in the 19th over to Jack Wildermuth and Wells fell in the 20th to Bartlett. The Heat quicks completed outstanding spells taking 4 for 49 from their combined eight overs and conceding just one boundary each.Heat horror show
It was always going to be a challenge without Lynn but the Heat top order did themselves no favours as they collapsed to 8 for 68. Sam Heazlett guided a catch to backward point second ball to start the rot. Daniel Worrall had the ball swinging late away from the right-handers but stand-in captain Peter Siddle turned to his spinner Danny Briggs for the second over, despite the fact he had been subbed out of the last two games. Briggs bounced back in a big way. He picked up Milenko before Rashid Khan completely deceived Max Bryant and Dan Lawrence with neither able to pick him. Briggs picked up two more in the collapse although one would have been overturned had there been a DRS in place. Tom Cooper was given lbw when he got a huge deflection from a reverse sweep onto his pad. The decision could be the most definitive case yet for the introduction of the DRS in the BBL.Peirson Power Surge pyrotechnics
All hope looked lost for the Heat when they took the Power Surge in the 15th over but Mujeeb did what the top order of his side could not, clobbering Rashid Khan for two reverse-swept fours and a six. Peirson then clubbed Siddle for 23 with two attempted yorkers sailing over fine leg’s head into the crowd. Suddenly the Heat needed just 37 from 24. Peirson should have been run out diving for two but a poor throw and the rule change that allows for the bat to bounce once it had been ground behind the line meant he survived. He clubbed two more boundaries off Wes Agar to reach 50 and reduce the equation to just 23 from 18 balls. But Siddle made up for his mistakes in the Power Surge nailing a yorker to clean bowl Mujeeb.That left Peirson will no room for error. A well-placed two off the last ball of the 18th over was the nail in the coffin. Ben Laughlin faced five dot balls in the 19th over from Agar. It left Peirson needing 13 in the last to win. He paddled Worrall’s first ball for four and found a gap at midwicket to run two and leave just seven to get from four balls. But Worrall hit three yorkers in a row that Peirson hit straight to fielders in the deep. He turned down the single on each occasion knowing that an attempt at two would have resulted in a certain run out. It meant he needed six off the last ball to send it to a Super Over but could not get any elevation, slumping to his knees after finding the rope to leave the Heat two runs short.

They call for targeted investment in the game around the world; addition of cricket to Olympics

Annesha Ghosh13-Jan-2021England captain Heather Knight and Australia wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy have called on the ICC to create “more centralised funds” that could help accelerate and spread the professionalisation of the women’s game.Knight and Healy, two of the world’s premier all-format stars in the women’s game, underlined the need for the ICC to widen its role in addressing infrastructural inequalities in women’s cricket and increase the volume of cricket across more countries.”As players, we understand that cricket countries around the world are in very different financial positions,” Healy and Knight wrote in the FICA Women’s Professional Cricket Global Employment Report 2020. This is a second such review conducted by FICA, after the inaugural edition was released in October 2018, two years after the female players were formally brought under the ambit of FICA.”Having said that, there needs to be equal commitment from all countries to addressing barriers, and promoting and investing in the women’s game if we are to achieve gender equity on the global stage and in individual cricket countries,” they further wrote.”At [the] global level, we think there is an opportunity for the ICC to prioritise increased and targeted investment in the game around the world, not just in global events. This could include for example more centralised funds to assist the professionalisation of the game in more countries and to ensure more cricket can be played.”Healy and Knight’s recommendation threw into sharp focus the larger sense of uncertainty around the women’s game borne out by the 2020 report, a 31-page document published on Monday. As per the report, based on the findings of the 2019 FICA players’ online electronic survey, 46% of its respondents specifically highlighted remuneration as the foremost concern.”Two-thirds of players feel insecure in their cricketing employment, whilst a further 81% would favour contract and job security over playing in different competitions. This anxiety is caused by limited, short-term and insecure contracts, with 82% of women cricketers currently on contracts that are one year or less in duration,” the report stated.There has been increased broadcast exposure of global tournaments, leagues have flourished in Australia and England – first with KSL and now potentially with The Hundred. Yet, the study identifies women’s cricket as “an exclusive sport” as it comprises “a very small pool of players worldwide” at the elite level.It puts the number of full-time professionals worldwide in 2018-19 at “just 119 (compared to over 400 professional male cricketers in England and Wales alone). Also, during the report period, there were a small number of semi-professional contracts available in just three countries: Australia, England and New Zealand.” This is down in part, according to the report, the “flight of talent” which typically sees a “worrying number of players who opt to leave the game.””Players often play cricket alongside their studies before going onto pursue professional careers elsewhere. This could manifest itself in a general lower standard of play as a consequence of a lack of competition for places, as well as an increasing ability gap between the top players and the rest,” the report said.”The seven-week Kia Super League (KSL) tournament was the only semiprofessional structure below the national team, but it’s 90 contracted players were often forced to find a supplementary income to be able to participate in the competition.”Alyssa Healy (L) hasn’t been afraid to voice out against governance issues in women’s cricket•Getty Images

ODIs ‘are all-important’; Olympics desiredWhile most national boards and the ICC have through the past decade identified the T20 format as the most appropriate vehicle to promote and grow the women’s game, the review shed light on the players’ appetite for the 50-over game.”In the absence of regular Test cricket,” the report stated, “and despite the continued emergence of T20, 63% of players view ODI’s as the most important format of the game. In 2018-19, only 39 women’s ODI’s took place (compared to 128 men’s) – that equates to just 21% of the scheduled women’s international cricket for that year.”As far as Test cricket goes, though, the report doesn’t offer any specific insights on players’ stance on the gradual petering out of the longest format, especially when taking in account that in the review period – the 2018-19 season – the lack of an Ashes series meant no Test cricket was played by women. This, while total international fixtures in 2018 spiked to 186, more than doubling from 85 in 2017.Additional findings in the report also underscored that 81% of survey respondents highlighted the inclusion of women’s cricket in the summer Olympics as something they would like to see in the near future.”Along with cricket’s recent inclusion in the Commonwealth Games, and provided it fits in a well-structured global calendar, involvement in the Olympic Games would provide much-needed exposure as well as a boost to the amount of scheduled international women’s cricket on offer.”

Zimbabwe bat again after being bowled out for 287 in response to Afghanistan’s 545 for 4 declared

Firdose Moonda12-Mar-2021Stumps Afghanistan are ten wickets away from squaring the two-Test series against Zimbabwe, having enforced the follow-on in Abu Dhabi after dismissing the opponents for 287 in the first innings for a 258-run lead. On a pitch that’s taking turn but remains good for batting, Zimbabwe openers Kevin Kasuza and Prince Masvaure batted out the 13 overs before close in their second innings to shave 24 runs off the deficit.Rashid Khan and Amir Hamza shared seven wickets between them in Zimbabwe’s first innings and ensured that Zimbabwe were unable to build on a decent start. The opening pair of Kasuza and Masvaure put on 91 then, but Zimbabwe then lost four wickets for 54 runs before Tarisai Musakanda and Sikandar Raza steadied them. Musakanda and Ryan Burl were then dismissed in successive overs and Raza was again needed to do a repair job. He put on 53 with Regis Chakabva, Zimbabwe’s only other half-century stand, and after Chakabva was dismissed, Zimbabwe lost their last four wickets for 45 runs in the hour after tea and had to bat again.Khan, who got four wickets in the first innings, was given the new ball, which he shared with left-arm seamer Sayed Shirzad, who had a significant impact with the old ball in the first innings with two wickets in two balls. It was Shirzad’s double-strike in his first over after lunch that put paid to any thoughts Zimbabwe might have had of batting out the day.Which is what they must have hoped for at the start of the day, with Kasuza and Masvaure unbeaten overnight and the scoreboard showing 50 for no loss. But Kasuza reached for a wide delivery from Khan that he could have left alone to fall for 41, and Masvaure was then bowled by Hamza. Shirzad rushed Sean Williams into a pull, which he could only top-edge to midwicket, and then removed Wesley Madhevere for his second golden duck of the series. Shirzad found Madhevere’s outside edge with a delivery that angled in and left the batsman, who doesn’t have a run in Test cricket so far.Those wickets were a redemption of sorts for Afghanistan’s lone seamer in this match after a poor morning spell. His four overs cost 22 runs and Kasuza plucked boundaries off him with ease, forcing Asghar Afghan to use spin from both ends early on. Offspinner Javed Ahmadi found sharp turn but the breakthrough only came when Khan was introduced and removed Kasuza. Zimbabwe have gone without a century opening stand in almost ten years, since August 2011.Sikandar Raza top-scored for Zimbabwe in their first innings•Abu Dhabi Cricket

Musakanda was around when Masvaure got to his third Test fifty, which came with a quick single that almost led to the batsman being run-out at the non-striker’s end. Musakanda went on to a career-best 41 and was particularly severe on Khan’s short balls, but the legspinner had the last laugh when he trapped Musakanda lbw. In the next over, a Hamza delivery that turned in from the rough clipped Ryan Burl’s leg stump to dismiss him for a duck and leave Zimbabwe on 189 for 6 and staring down the barrel.Raza and Chakabva not only stabilised Zimbabwe but also took the fight to Afghanistan. They would have wanted to see Zimbabwe to the close, but Chakabva was victim to an outstanding catch from Ibrahim Zadran at short leg when he looked to work a Khan delivery to the leg side but sent the ball in the air, Zadran sticking out his left hand and taking the catch low to his right.That left Raza, who was on 43 at the time, to usher the tail and work towards avoiding the follow-on. He reached 50 off 80 balls and then saw Donald Tiripano given out four balls later to a catch at silly point although there did not appear to be any bat involved. Raza played some shots after that, whacking Khan over mid-on for four and Hamza over long-on for six, even as he tried to keep the strike away from Blessing Muzarabani.Afghanistan were on to Zimbabwe’s survival tactics and it was around then that we got a moment that may be talked about long after this Test is done and dusted. Raza hit a shot off the last ball of a Shirzad over, and the ball went towards the point boundary before stopping just short. But Hashmatullah Shahidi, in bending down to pick the ball up, had one foot over the line. The umpires awarded five runs to Zimbabwe allowed Raza to get back on strike as per Rule 19.8.None of that counted for much, though, as Muzarabani was run-out in the next over, and Raza holed out to long-off off the next ball to end Zimbabwe’s first innings.

The Redbacks lost 9 for 76 after being on course to haul down a huge target at the WACA

Andrew McGlashan02-Mar-2021Cameron Green and Travis Head traded spectacular centuries at the WACA but it was a South Australia collapse that decided the game as Western Australia secured the win in a contest that had 725 runs, including four centuries.Green scored his first one-day hundred from 82 balls, powering the latter part of Western Australia’s innings with some fierce strokeplay, but Head responded in kind with a brilliant 68-ball century, which put his team on course in a rollicking stand of 226 in 25 overs with Harry Nielsen, who struck a maiden one-day hundred too.However, when Head was run-out – beaten by Green’s strong arm – it started a collapse of 9 for 76 as the middle order lost its cool. Alex Carey was also run-out, through an excellent gather by wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, without facing a ball before Nielsen and Callum Ferguson brought the equation down to 55 off 43 balls with seven wickets in hand.Ferguson missed a hack across the line against Aaron Hardie, who then had Nielsen caught at deep cover, and the lower order couldn’t recover. Cam Valente gave South Australia an outside chance of getting 15 of the last over but he became the fourth run-out of the innings as he tried to keep the strike but failed.The target was within sight for South Australia as long as Travis Head was around•Getty Images

It meant another agonising near-miss for the Redbacks on their trip west after they came within one wicket of securing victory in the Sheffield Shield.While the game was decided by a collapse and some rather headless batting, there was some outstanding strokeplay throughout the day.Green, who scored an unbeaten 168 in the Shield game, had taken time to lay himself a base and was 33 off 45 after playing out a maiden from Daniel Worrall in the 33rd over. He then cut loose, bringing up his half-century with three consecutive sixes off Head and there was no stopping him after that. The last 56 balls of his stay brought 111 runs as he carted the ball to all parts of his home ground, which included five fours off the first five balls of Worrall’s ninth over.Shaun Marsh had earlier brought up his 19th hundred in the format off a comparatively sedate 99 deliveries in a stand of 156 in 22 overs for the third wicket with Green. Green and Inglis then added the finished touches with a partnership of 88 in seven overs.Remarkably, though, it did not look like it would be enough as Head produced a thrilling display of striking, which followed his double-century in the Shield earlier in the week. He struck his first ball for four although he wasn’t consistently above a run-a-ball until passing 20.He went to his fifty from 39 balls with a six off Charles Stobo in the 24th over, which cost 21 and really kick-started the chase when the required rate had passed nine an over. After celebrating the hundred, which required just a further 29 deliveries, he was sending the ball to and over the boundary almost at will until he was caught just short coming back for a second.Western Australia had an opening and they made it count, although the Redbacks will know a stunning chase slipped from their grasp.