All posts by n8rngtd.top

The allrounder was struck on the arm by a delivery from Hardik Pandya

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-20231:29

Moody: Massive step for Green in his IPL career

Australia appear to have avoided a significant injury concern after Cameron Green was able to resume his innings in the IPL Qualifier against Gujarat Titans having been forced to retire hurt from a blow on the arm.Green left the field in the second over of Mumbai Indians’ chase when he was struck just below his left elbow by Hardik Pandya from a delivery clocked at 146kph.He was initially treated in the middle by the physio before retiring hurt but was not absent for long when he returned in the seventh over with his forearm taped up.Related

• David Warner on the WTC final: 'It should be at least a three-game series'

• Hazlewood hopeful of WTC final: 'My fitness is pretty good'

• Hazlewood included in Australia's WTC final squad amid fitness race

• Neser looms as World Test Championship reinforcement amid Hazlewood's tight turnaround

• Peirson earns Ashes call as temporary Inglis replacement

He did not appear impeded at the crease as he collected two sixes in a brisk 30 before falling to Josh Little in the 12th over at a vital moment in the chase.Despite another superb display from Suryakumar Yadav, Mumbai eventually fell well short in their steep chase to bring an end to their IPL which means Green will be able to head to the UK to link with the Test squad who left Australia on Friday.Cameron Green copped a blow to his left forearm off a short delivery from Hardik Pandya•BCCI

The balance that Green brings to the Test side is vital for Australia and his absence was clearly felt in the final Test of last season against South Africa and the first two matches in India when he was recovering from a broken finger.He will only have a short period of time to adjust his game from T20 mode, but coach Andrew McDonald said through the early stages of his career Green had shown how quickly he could learn and adapt.”The challenge for Cam now is as he starts to become a three-format player is how he focuses [on] that, shifts between formats, and he’s going to have another challenge in front of him going deep into the IPL finals to get ready for the World Test Championship match,” McDonald told SEN Radio. “So that will be a challenge for him, but he’s a fast learner and every hurdle he’s got over so far.”Australia will name their 15-player squad for the World Test Championship final against India on Sunday with the biggest question mark hanging over Josh Hazlewood. Mitchell Marsh also returned early from the IPL having suffered a minor adductor injury.

Club makes plea for “reasonable sanction” after previously admitting four charges

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-2023The ECB has recommended that Yorkshire be fined £500,000 and face points deductions in all three competitions this season in the wake of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal.Yorkshire pleaded guilty to four amended charges of bringing the game into disrepute earlier this year, with their punishment due to be decided after a Cricket Discipline Committee (CDC) sanctions hearing.Jane Mulcahy KC, representing the ECB, said the governing body was not trying to put Yorkshire out of business and aimed to “strike a balance” in its recommendations.The fine was broken down according to the four charges: £100,000 for mishandling the Rafiq inquiry, £100,000 for destruction of data, £150,000 for not taking action in relation to racist behaviour, and £150,000 for the systemic use of racist language at the club. It was suggested that £350,000 of the fine would be suspended, with the rest paid in instalments.The ECB also proposed sporting sanctions comprising a deduction of 48-72 points in the LV= Insurance County Championship, 4-6 points in the One-Day Cup and 4-6 points in the Vitality Blast.Yorkshire lost a swathe of sponsors over their handling of the Rafiq affair and face severe financial difficulties, with the club owing almost £15 million to the family trust of the former chair, Colin Graves, and in the process of seeking new investment.In a statement released ahead of Tuesday’s hearing, Yorkshire asked that the CDC consider imposing sanctions that “are reflective of the circumstances of the club” after almost two years of turmoil and concerted attempts to “encourage greater inclusivity and tackle discrimination”.”Racism and discrimination in any form is unacceptable and, as a board, we have been clear on the need to take accountability for the historical cultural issues that allowed racist and discriminatory behaviour to go unchallenged at the club,” the statement said. “The acceptance of four amended charges brought by the CDC was part of a continued effort to acknowledge what happened in the past so we can learn and move forward.”In making representations to the CDC panel, we hope to achieve a reasonable sanction which takes into account our acceptance of the charges, YCCC’s current financial position and the robust work we have undertaken to build the foundations for a club which is truly inclusive and welcoming to all.”The Yorkshire hearings took place on the same day that the ECB issued an apology to those who had experienced discrimination in the game following the publication of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket report.

India’s spinners picked up five wickets between them to keep the pressure on a brittle Australian batting line-up

The Report by Alagappan Muthu04-Jan-2019
1:39

What’s ailing Shaun Marsh?

A Test-series win for India in Australia has never looked so close, nor been better deserved. Indeed, through large parts of this tour, they have dictated terms in much the way Steve Waugh or Ricky Ponting’s men had done, amassing big totals and suffocating opposition batsmen out. Cheteshwar Pujara took care of the first part of that equation. The bowlers as a group were taking care of the second part when the storm that threatened Sydney finally arrived to put an early end to proceedings.At stumps, the hosts were 6 for 236. Marcus Harris made an eye-catching 79 and, if none of his team-mates pass that, he will hold the record for the lowest highest score in a Test series for Australia in 100 years.Things were smooth in the morning, largely because their newest opening batsman was showing how he belonged at this level. The fast bowlers would tease his outside edge. He would leave them. Then they’d attack the stumps, he’d flick them through midwicket. The spinners didn’t get their lengths right early on and he was remarkably quick putting them away through point. On the back of three fours in an over off Kuldeep Yadav, he moved to 63 off only 80 deliveries.Then India regrouped. They had an old ball in hand and it appears they very much relish it. In any case, the new one wasn’t offering any help. Nothing in terms of bounce. Less than nothing in terms of swing.By sticking to their discipline – which includes maintaining the shine on one side of the ball so as to can generate reverse swing – Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep and Ravindra Jadeja became a mighty threat between overs 30 and 80. They picked up five wickets, giving away a mere 126 runs.Kuldeep Yadav is jubilant after dismissing Tim Paine•Getty Images

The wear and tear that was now on the pitch after three days’ play certainly played a part – so did brain fades from Shaun Marsh and Tim Paine – but India deserve credit for creating an environment that was hostile for batting. Even the most fluent of Australians fell to the pressure. Harris plodded along for 16 runs off 40 deliveries before he inside-edged Jadeja onto his stumps.Then came the moment of the day. Marnus Labuschagne was proving equal to the task of batting at No. 3 even though he was doing it for the first time in Test cricket. He was able to survive a vicious yorker from Jasprit Bumrah as soon as he came to the crease and then showed fine technique against the old ball tailing into him.India had two midwickets in place to catch the errant flick shot, but the 24-year old split them with a ridiculously cool boundary in the 48th over and topped it with a straight drive, in position to play such strokes because of his balance at the crease.The next ball, Virat Kohli moved himself to silly mid-on. He also had Ajinkya Rahane move to the right, closer to square leg than midwicket. The drive was off limits now.Shami ran in again. He was getting the ball to reverse just a touch, but by pitching it up and keeping a tight line on the stumps, he knew it could still prove troublesome. Labuschagne came onto the front foot. He knew hitting down the ground wouldn’t fetch him runs so he turned the bat’s face to find some on the leg side. And though he hit the ball superbly again, Rahane was there. India’s best close-catcher was there to complete a beautifully planned wicket.After that, Travis Head popped a full toss back to Kuldeep. If that wasn’t bad enough, the wicket had fallen four minutes before tea.First over after the break, Tim Paine was bowled without moving his feet.A little earlier, Shaun Marsh, who averages 18 since his century against England in January 2018, played for non-existent turn and poked a catch to slip. And Usman Khawaja, after getting himself set, had slogged it straight to short midwicket.These are simple mistakes – avoidable mistakes – especially on a flat deck. But Australia’s line-up is struggling for solidity so much that even when there is a good partnership – like the 72 the openers put on in Sydney – there is no escaping a collapse.In the end, it was left to the herculean Pat Cummins to restore calm in the dressing room and he too looked uncertain as Kuldeep hit rhythm. The left-arm wristspinner has spoken about his struggle to adapt to red-ball cricket many times over the last six months or so. In Australia, having taken the place of India’s premier spinner, and on a pitch that offered him very little, he is beginning to prove he belongs at Test level. An early start beckons at the SCG on Sunday. It won’t be long before he’s front and centre again.

The injury-prone quick pulled up injured after bowling five balls against Mumbai Indians before completing his over and going off the field

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Apr-2023Deepak Chahar will undergo scans this week to determine the extent of the left-hamstring injury he sustained during Chennai Super Kings’ seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday night.Chahar, the leader of Super Kings’ seam attack, pulled up injured after five balls of his first over before receiving treatment from Tommy Simsek, the franchise’s long-serving physio, who appeared to tape up his left hamstring.He completed his over, tentatively bowling a 73mph/118kph half-volley which was hit for four by Rohit Sharma, but was then replaced by substitute fielder Subhranshu Senapati for the rest of the innings. During Super Kings’ run chase, Chahar was replaced by Ambati Rayudu under the Impact Player rule.Related

• 'It's ridiculous' – Shastri frustrated with Indian quicks' recurring injuries

• Deepak Chahar on returning from big injuries: 'Mentally it's very tough'

• Archer misses Mumbai vs CSK clash in the IPL as precaution

• Jadeja, Santner and Rahane hand Mumbai a drubbing

• Rahane encouraged by Dhoni to 'be Ajinkya Rahane and play like Ajinkya Rahane'

Chahar has struggled with injuries over the last 18 months, and admitted recently that he had found it “mentally… very tough” to deal with missing so much cricket. “Chahar will undergo scans to identify the extent of the injury once the team returns to Chennai,” the franchise said in a statement on Sunday.Ben Stokes, Chennai’s INR 16.5 crore buy at December’s auction, was ruled out of Saturday night’s game with what the franchise described as “a minor toe injury”, which is understood to be unrelated to his ongoing left knee issue.Stokes travelled to the ground with the rest of the squad on Saturday night but only played a minor role in the warm-ups. “Stokes played Chennai Super Kings’ first two matches of IPL 2023 before injuring his toe during training ahead of the third game, which the Super Kings won by seven wickets,” the franchise said. “The Chennai Super Kings medical staff are closely monitoring both the players and will provide all support necessary for their recovery.”Moeen Ali, who missed Saturday’s game because of illness, is also expected to be available again soon. Chennai’s next fixture is on April 12, at home to Rajasthan Royals.

Three times at the SCG the TV official ruled that slip catches hadn’t carried

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jan-2023Pat Cummins says there has to be a better way for the third umpire to adjudicate on catches after Richard Kettleborough was forced to make three contentious decisions during the third Test.Sydney match umpires lodged reviews for three catches taken low to the ground in the slips at the SCG. On each occasion, third umpire Kettleborough found evidence the ball had touched the ground before the fielder was able to control it. Consequently, none of the catches were given.Cummins’ team-mates Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Hazlewood previously suggested the first step to changing the way such catches were officiated would be to scrap the on-field umpire’s soft signal, given the third umpire overturned it on two of the three occasions, although that decision now only becomes a factor if technology fails or is unavailable for the third umpire.Related

• Non-striker run outs and catches close to the ground shouldn't be as complicated as they are

• The Labuschagne non-catch – South Africa 'convinced it was out' but replays show otherwise

• Cricket Australia to review third umpire's camera set-up

• Australia don't make big spin gains at SCG ahead of India tour

“I don’t really know the answers but there has to be a way to try and improve it somehow,” Cummins said after the Test against South Africa ended in a draw. “As it currently stands, it’s really hard to give a batter out. If there’s any kind of benefit of the doubt, it goes the batter’s way.”I think with a couple of camera angles really slowed down, it’s pretty hard to not find doubt somewhere. I do feel for Ketts a little bit up there.”In making a decision, the third umpire only has access to footage from the host broadcaster, Fox Sports and not from Seven Network cameras.”Maybe there’s more cameras we can use down the track,” Cummins said.South Africa captain Dean Elgar was visibly frustrated when his side was on the receiving end of the first non-catch call but at stumps said he was pleased the umpires remained consistent throughout the match.”The way the umpires conducted the three was pretty good. I think it was brilliant,” he said. “Once you’ve set the bar with the first one, you can’t really budge much from there.”Those things are always going to be a grey area, some guys will say out, some guys will say not out. At the end of the day, their decision is final and as players we respect that.”

With England on top in Rangana Herath’s final Test, Piyal Wijetunge admitted that Sri Lanka’s spinners had been outbowled by the visitors

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Galle08-Nov-2018Thus far in the Test, Sri Lanka’s spinners have possibly been outperformed by England’s. That is suggested by the statistics – England’s spinners have taken their wickets at 18.5 apiece, while Sri Lanka’s average 42.25 in the Test. But it is also the opinion of Sri Lanka’s own spin bowling coach, Piyal Wijetunge.The reason, he feels, is that Sri Lanka’s slow bowlers did not adapt well to their own surface. England’s spinners, meanwhile, were more disciplined and patient.Asked if England’s slow bowlers had bowled better, Wijetunge replied: “You can’t say they didn’t. What we are used to here in Galle was to come and take a lot of wickets, so that was the mindset. But what we saw from the England spinners is that they bowled to one pattern right through. They let the batsmen make the mistake.”In this match that worked for them. But what we are used to in Sri Lanka is to get wickets, because the conditions support us. In looking for those wickets, rather than doing a holding job, maybe there were errors. We didn’t move from that attacking mindset.”One bowler who attacked and did so fruitlessly for large chunks of the first and second innings was Akila Dananjaya, whose returns from the Test were 2 for 183. What’s worse for Sri Lanka is that he went at more than 4.7 runs an over. These are worrying figures for a bowler who will be expected to take a greater share of the bowling burden in Pallekele, with Rangana Herath now having hung up his bowling spikes.”We see some X-factor in Akila, and that’s the reason for bringing him into the side and playing him alongside another offspinner – Akila is not just an offspinner for us,” Wijetunge said. “Credit to the English batsmen they handled the spinners well. Akila had one of his off days, and he didn’t bowl that well. I’m sure he’s going to come back well in the next game.”Rangana Herath leaves the field after his final spell as a Test bowler•Getty Images

On who else might comprise the Sri Lanka spin attack in that next match, Wijetunge also dropped a hint. If the hosts play three spinners again – though they may feel two seamers are preferable on a Pallekele surface that generally aids quick bowling – left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara is first in line to take Herath’s place in the side.A prolific wicket-taker at first-class level, Pushpakumara is reputed as a crafty line-and-length left-arm orthodox operator in the mould of Herath. But he had not impressed in his two Test outing so far, averaging 47.5 against India last year.He is preferred, though, to left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan, who has frequently been expensive in Tests.”Dilruwan Perera is going to take the lead in the spin attack going forward, but from the next game onwards we might go with Malinda Pushpakumara to take Rangana’s place,” Wijetunge said.”At the moment, Sandakan is in a particular stage, and we’re doing some developments with him. If we need to bring him into this series, he’s at a place where we can do that. But to improve his quality as a spinner, we’re doing some adjustments with him. After we do that, I think we should be able to regularly bring him into the XI.”

The India fast bowler has been handed one demerit point and fined 15% of his match fee

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Aug-2018Ishant Sharma has earned a demerit point and a fine of 15% of his match fee for his send-off to Dawid Malan in England’s second innings at Edgbaston. The Level 1 offence violated Article 2.1.7 of ICC’s code of conduct, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an international match”.As he ran away in celebration after getting Malan caught at gully, Ishant was seen turning towards the departing batsman and yelling out.After the day’s play, Ishant admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Jeff Crowe and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing. The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Chris Gaffaney, third umpire Marais Erasmus and fourth umpire Tim Robinson.Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, and a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

The batsman said the decision was taken so that he could focus on his limited-overs career

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2018Ambati Rayudu has called time on his first-class career in order to focus on limited-overs cricket. Rayudu, who recently made a comeback into the Indian ODI side, communicated the decision to the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) on Saturday.Rayudu will continue to play international and domestic matches in the shorter versions. He had a successful outing in India’s recently concluded five-match ODI series against West Indies, hitting a century in the fourth ODI to cement his claim to what had been a fairly long search to fill the No. 4 spot in the Indian team.The 33-year-old Rayudu had begun his career with the HCA, making his first-class debut as a teenager in 2001. He played only the one game that season, but the next year he made an immediate impact with 210 and 159 not out against Andhra in just his third match. However, Rayudu had a rocky ride at Hyderabad with reports of differences with Arjun Yadav, and he soon moved to Andhra – one of the four teams he would eventually represent in domestic cricket.Yadav, son of former India player Shivlal Yadav, is the current Hyderabad coach.His stint with Andhra was also short, and he came back to Hyderabad before joining the now-defunct Indian Cricket League, thus being banned from participating in any BCCI-sanctioned tournaments. When the ICL dissolved and its players returned, Rayudu also returned to Hyderabad, but moved out a season later to Baroda. In 2016-17, he signed up with Vidarabha, although injuries prevented him from playing a single first-class match for the team though he did turn out in a few domestic limited-overs matches.Rayudu returned to Hyderabad before the 2017-18 season, but since making his debut for India in 2013, Rayudu has not played in a full Ranji season. Last year, he played only three matches for Hyderabad, scoring 278 runs at an average of 69.50 with a century and two fifties.He ends his first-class career with 6151 runs in 97 matches, at an average of 45.56 with 16 centuries. The 210 he scored in his third first-class match remains his highest score.

Andre Russell, Alzarri Joseph and Kieran Powell have been recalled to the West Indies side for their three-match ODI series against Bangladesh beginning July 22

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jul-2018Allrounder Andre Russell is set to play his first ODI for West Indies since November 2015 after being named in a 13-man squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh beginning on July 22 in Guyana.Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and batsman Kieran Powell also earned recalls while Marlon Samuels, Carlos Brathwaite, Nikita Miller, Sheldon Cottrell and Kesrick Williams were dropped from the ODI squad, after they played in the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe to clinch a spot for West Indies at next year’s World Cup.

West Indies ODI squad

Jason Holder (capt), Devendra Bishoo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell
In: Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Andre Russell
Out: Carlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cottrell, Nikita Miller, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Kesrick Williams

Russell’s last ODI for West Indies came nearly three years ago against Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Colombo. He scored 41 off 24 balls but also suffered a leg injury that kept him out of the following two matches in the series. That match is the only ODI Russell has played since the 2015 World Cup.He had been suspended for a year in January 2017 after he was found guilty of an anti-doping violation. Russell was charged with failing to file his whereabouts paperwork three times within a year, which amounts to a failed doping test under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.After the ban, he returned to 50-over cricket for Jamaica in the Regional Super50 tournament but withdrew himself from consideration for the West Indies squad for the World Cup Qualifier in March, allegedly because he wanted to regain his confidence in the format first. Instead, he chose to play in the Pakistan Super League during the same time frame.”Great to have Dre Russ back as well,” West Indies coach Stuart Law said in a CWI press release announcing the squad for the Bangladesh series. “His explosive power and energy will breathe life into an already motivated squad.”Aside from the five players dropped, Kemar Roach was rested for the ODIs in what the selectors described as managing player workloads in the lead-up to next year’s World Cup. Roach was also rested for the second Test against Bangladesh after picking up a hamstring strain in the first Test and was replaced in the squad by Joseph.

‘Don’t you accept the challenge of playing England in overcast conditions in their country?’ the offspinner asked. ‘If we could take up that challenge why not pink-ball cricket?’

ESPNcricinfo staff17-May-20187:18

Gloves Off: Were India right to refuse to play with the pink ball?

Harbhajan Singh has asked India to embrace day-night Test cricket on a day when top BCCI officials said they declined to play a day-night Test in Australia to give India the best chance of winning the series. Administration and former players in Australia and believe India have rejected the offer to deny a potential advantage to an Australian team already weakened by bans to their two best batsmen, Steven Smith and David Warner.”I believe every team wants to win the series and that’s why we want to give our team the best possible chance,” the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai said at an event in Delhi. “What’s wrong in us wanting to win all the matches? Any team that steps out on a pitch wants to win. Thirty years back they said India play Test matches only to draw but they don’t say that anymore.”Harbhajan was also present at the function, but speaking on the sidelines he chose to differ with the opinion of the administrators. “I don’t know why they don’t want to play day-night Test matches,” he said. “It’s an interesting format and we should try it. I am all for it. Tell me what’s the apprehension of playing with pink ball? If you play, [then only] you can adjust. It may not be as difficult as it seems.”India’s team management is believed to look at this tour as their best opportunity to win a series in Australia. Australia have already played four day-night Tests, which gives them a big advantage according to India, who have played none so far.”So what if you get out?” Harbhajan said. “We have fast bowlers to trouble them. And what makes us think our batsmen can’t take up the challenge of facing Aussie pacers? It’s a challenge, and what’s the harm in taking up the challenge? When we were new to Test cricket, we had only learnt how to bowl with SG Test ball and then slowly learnt to bowl with Kookaburra and Dukes.”Don’t you accept the challenge of playing England in overcast conditions in their country? Isn’t that a challenge? If we could take up that challenge why not pink-ball cricket?”The board’s CEO Rahul Johri held a different view, though. “Who we play, when we play, where we play and how we play is our prerogative,” Johri said. “We will back everything for the Indian team to play to win.”Technically India are well within their rights to not play the day-night Test. The playing conditions in bilateral series state that both sides have to agree for a day-night Test to take place. However, once the Test championship kicks in, India might not have that choice. The host side can schedule up to one Test under lights without needing the consent of the touring side.Harbhajan was not the only one in disagreement with the administration. India are believed to have learnt their lesson from the defeat in the Test series in South Africa, and are travelling to England a month in advance, but former opener Gautam Gambhir is not impressed. Most of that month will go in playing ODIs and T20Is, and India will go into the Test with one tour game with Duke balls behind them. Gambhir believes playing the white Kookaburra on flat limited-overs surfaces is no preparation for Test cricket in England.”Playing with red Dukes in Test is completely different from playing white-ball cricket,” Gambhir said. “The three T20s and three ODIs isn’t an indicator of how well you are prepared for the Tests.”At the function, Gambhir asked the board to focus less on limited-overs formats to ensure the primacy of Test cricket.”I don’t think BCCI has marketed Test cricket as well as they have done with ODIs and T20s,” Gambhir said. “I remember a Test match at Eden Gardens against West Indies [in 2011-12]. India batting on the first day and there were [just] 1000 people. Imagine Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman playing and there are only 1000 people.”