Ravindra Jadeja to undergo knee surgery, could miss T20 World Cup

Ravindra Jadeja will have to undergo a surgery on his injured right knee, which is expected to keep him out of action for an indefinite period. India head coach Rahul Dravid, though, said* it would be too early to rule him out of the T20 World Cup, to be played in Australia in October-November.

"Jadeja has injured his knee; he is obviously ruled out of the Asia Cup," Dravid said ahead of India's Super 4 match against Pakistan. "He is under the care of the medical team, he is going to see the doctors, see the experts. The World Cup is still a fair bit away, and we don't want to jump to any conclusions and rule him out or rule him in. We'll see how it goes.

"Injuries are a part of the sport; it is part of our job to try to manage them. A lot will depend on rehab and the severity of the injury. I don't want to rule him out or don't want to make too many comments until we have a much clearer picture and a better idea, especially because the World Cup is six or seven weeks away from now."

An unnamed BCCI official, meanwhile, told PTI that Jadeja's injury was "pretty serious". "He is supposed to undergo a major knee surgery and will be out of action for an indefinite period of time," the official said. "At this point, if one goes by the assessment of the NCA's medical team, one can't put a timeline on his imminent international comeback."

Jadeja, who played the first two games of the Asia Cup against Pakistan and Hong Kong, provides the team the requisite balance - along with Hardik Pandya - with his all-round abilities and his absence will come as a blow for Rohit Sharma's side.

Jadeja was a key performer in both of India's matches at the Asia Cup so far. Against Pakistan, he bowled two economical overs before being promoted to No. 4 in India's chase of 148, specifically since he was the only left-hand batter in India's top seven. He steered India towards victory with a 29-ball 35, and ensured that Pakistan held back left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz's fourth over until the final over of the match. Against Hong Kong, he dismissed top-scorer Babar Hayat and only gave away 15 runs in his four overs.

This is not the first time Jadeja has been troubled by his right knee. An injury to the same joint had forced him to miss the ODI leg of India's tour of the West Indies in July.

* This news article was updated at 3.15pm GMT on September 3 following Rahul Dravid's statement to the press.

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Asia Cup 2022 - Why do some of the top Asian batters struggle to attack spin in T20 cricket

Are Asian batters the best at attacking spin? While popular perception given the pitches in the sub-continent might indicate that they are, the numbers tell a different story, especially in T20 cricket.

Mickey Arthur, who has coached Pakistan and Sri Lanka as well as teams in the PSL and BPL, believes that while the subcontinent does produce great spinners, he's had to work hard with batters - even the likes of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan - to raise their game against spin.

"That was something that did amaze me," Arthur said on ESPNcricinfo's T20 Time Out during the Asia Cup. "I thought going and coaching in the subcontinent, which is a fantastic place to coach, we'd see batsmen play [spin] particularly well because they grow up with it. I saw incredible spin bowlers. But something we had to really work on was batsmen playing spin better. They could defend against spin but it was in the white-ball cricket, where you have the wrist-spinner or the finger-spinner that suffocated through the middle.

"You know we worked so hard on Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman using their sweep shots a lot more. And these were the areas we focused on and worked incredibly hard on. To make them better players particularly through their middle overs."

Since the 2021 T20 World Cup, batters from the top Asian teams - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan - have better strike rates against pace than spin. On the other hand, teams like England (134.15 against spin and 135.26 against pace), Australia (131.04 against spin and 128.48 against pace) and South Africa (142.16 against spin and 143.17 against pace) have similar strike rates against spice and pace.

A top batter like Fakhar, who has scored at 130-plus against pace since the T20 World Cup last year, has a strike rate of only 105.95 versus spin. India's openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have the same issue: Rahul strikes at over 126 against pace but he slows down (86.11) against spin, while Rohit scores at 156.27 against pace and only 115.87 against spin.

During his time as coach in the subcontinent, Arthur observed that Asian batters are traditionally wristy players who don't use high-risk-high-reward shots like the reverse sweep against spin. According to ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball data, Virat Kohli and Babar have attempted the sweep or the reverse-sweep just twice and three times respectively since the 2021 T20 World Cup. Suryakumar Yadav and Dinesh Karthik, on the other hand, have attempted a sweep or reverse sweep 24 times (scoring 56 runs) and 20 times (scoring 36 runs) respectively.

"I found that the modern Asian batsman didn't really sweep," Arthur said. "They didn't reverse-sweep. Australia, England, South Africa used the sweep shot and reverse-sweep shots a lot more than the Asian batters, who relied on their wrists to work the balls into an area. And it was once that we got the sweep shots going that teams then had to change fields - that created holes for the Asian players to use their wrists where they're predominantly comfortable and confident scoring.

"Reverse sweep is something you continuously have to work on. It's not like a cover drive that's natural. This is something that takes subcontinent batters out of their comfort zones. Because they've relied so much on their excellent wrists - so if you look at the Indian batsman, Sri Lankan batsman or Pakistan batsman, they rely on opening the bat face and closing the bat face to push the ball into different areas. They don't get a massive amount of power into those shots though. Those shots are good for singles or twos but not for boundary options. So they had to find options to get boundaries. For getting boundaries, it's easier to attack the ball square of the wicket and that's to sweep and reverse sweep …"

Has having to deal with four or five quicks in opposition teams made Asian batters prioritise playing spin less? Arthur said it could be a reason.

"We work on [playing] short-pitched bowling and pace because we think that takes them out of the comfort zone when they've got to play away from home. Where really if the batsmen's technique is good, they play those balls particularly well. It comes down to actually playing spin, and that's something as coaches we generally forget because we take it for granted that they play spinners well."

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Dave Houghton: 'Nice to get these reward top-ups to show the guys what they are doing is right'

Zimbabwe head coach hopes for more big-ticket matches after historic win over Australia
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Recent Match Report - Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Super 4 2022

Sri Lanka 179 for 6 (Mendis 36, Nissanka 35, Gunathilaka 33, Rajapaksa 31, Mujeeb 2-30, Naveen 2-40) beat Afghanistan 175 for 6 (Gurbaz 84, Ibrahim 40, Madushanka 2-36) by four wickets

Last Saturday, Sri Lanka were all out for 105 against Afghanistan. Just seven days later, though, the very same batters put in a strong all-round performance - this time batting second, out of choice - to thwart Afghanistan's challenge and complete a four-wicket win in the first match of the Super 4 round of the 2022 Asia Cup.

Even though the highest individual score for Sri Lanka was 36, many of their batters chipped in, pulling their weight with a target of 176 in front of them. Kusal Mendis provided the early assault, Pathum Nissanka showed his many gears, Danushka Gunathilaka helped them shift the momentum, and as the game entered the death overs, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga mauled the Afghanistan bowling to help the competition's official hosts win with five balls to spare.

However, it wasn't all about the Sri Lanka batters. Rahmanullah Gurbaz's special innings of 84 off 45 balls meant Afghanistan were eyeing 200 at one stage, but the Sri Lanka bowlers restricted them to a much-lower total.

Maheesh Theekshana conceded just eight runs off his two overs at the death, Hasaranga went for only 23 in his four overs, and left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka took 2 for 37. Overall, it was the highest successful T20I chase in Sharjah and, more importantly, gave Sri Lanka two points on the Super 4 table.

For Afghanistan, it was a first T20I loss after posting a 170-plus total. They will now have to recover quickly, otherwise a slide is a realistic possibility with fixtures against India and Pakistan to follow. Rashid Khan went for 39, no other batter apart from Gurbaz looked fluent, and the 2022 Asia Cup suddenly seems very wide open.

The Gurbaz show
It was an early reprieve for Gurbaz that kickstarted the Afghanistan innings' lift-off. After hitting his first six of the day in the third over, Gurbaz tried to repeat the same on the next ball but ended up hitting it to long-off where Gunathilaka took the catch but stepped on the boundary skirting in the process.

Gurbaz's eight off five balls soon became 50 off 22 as he continued finding boundaries, preferring the region between long-on and deep midwicket most. With Hazratullah Zazai struggling to a 16-ball 12 before being bowled by Madushanka, and Ibrahim Zadran, the No. 3, slow off the blocks, it was Gurbaz's attacking shots that brought up the team fifty in 6.1 overs.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit four fours and six sixes in his 45-ball 84•Getty Images

The pitch was two-paced - there was the occasional low bounce - but Gurbaz rallied on to take Afghanistan to 70 for 1 by the eighth over. But no boundary in the next four overs brought Sri Lanka back into the game. Gurbaz, though, dragged the momentum back in Afghanistan's favour by finding sixes off Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne in back-to-back overs, and Ibrahim joined in with a few lusty blows of his own down the ground.

The Sri Lankan squeeze
Karunaratne's 21-run 14th over meant Afghanistan entered the final six overs needing only 68 more to reach 200; with nine wickets in hand, that was a real possibility. But Hasaranga gave away only six in the 15th over, and Gurbaz was caught at deep midwicket in the next while trying to take Asitha Fernando on. Theekshana's 17th and 19th overs went for a total of eight runs, and Ibrahim fell to Madushanka, for a 38-ball 40, in the 18th.

Najibullah Zadran did smack 17 in ten balls, but his dismissal, along with the quick wickets of Mohammad Nabi and Rashid in the last two overs, meant Afghanistan could add only 12 off the last 12 balls, and only 43 off the last 36.

Sri Lanka's openers put on 62
Nissanka struggled early against Fazalhaq Farooqi - their wrecker-in-chief in the previous outing - but Mendis was not afraid to take on Afghanistan's two main spinners. His region of choice was the square boundary on the leg side against both Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid, as he creamed a slog sweep over deep midwicket off the former in the fourth over and hit two sixes off the latter in the sixth, which went for 17.

Only once before had Rashid conceded 17 or more runs in his opening over in T20Is, and with Sri Lanka at 57 for no loss after the powerplay, the base was set for the middle order to take the chase forward.

Mendis fell for a 19-ball 36 just after the powerplay ended, mistiming a pull off Naveen-ul-Haq to deep midwicket, which brought the spotlight on Nissanka. Nissanka looked like the anchor around whom the others would hit out, but he fell in the ninth over, for 35 off 28, when trying to chase a Mujeeb half-tracker.

The middle order steps up
With both openers out in quick succession and two new batters at the crease, Afghanistan had their tails up. Gunathilaka and Charith Asalanka were watchful initially, and that saw the required run rate creep up to 9.88 after 11 overs. But Gunathilaka then attacked Mohammad Nabi, and Sri Lanka took 14 and 11 from his two overs, the 12th and 14th of the innings respectively. That ensured the required run rate stayed under ten even though Shanaka and Asalanka fell attempting big hits.

However, Afghanistan's back broke when Rajapaksa hammered Naveen for 4, 4, 6 in an 18-run 16th over. The first boundary was hit past point, the next one was straighter through deep extra cover, and the best of the lot - the six - was hammered over the bowler's head. Rajapaksa was dropped off the final ball of that over, and with the Afghan shoulders drooping in unison as a reaction, it seemed like the match was already in Sri Lanka's pocket.

Rashid then got into a chat with Gunathilaka after the batter reverse-swept him for four, forcing Rajapaksa to intervene and keep matters under control. Even though Rashid won that battle with Gunathilaka's wicket for a 20-ball 33, Sri Lanka needed only 25 from 20 balls at that stage.

Hasaranga smacked three fours off the first six balls he faced, and even though Rajapaksa fell for a 14-ball 31 trying for a glory shot when the target was two runs away, celebrations began among the Sri Lanka fans well before the winning runs were hit.

Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx

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AUS vs NZ 2022 - Lockie Ferguson 'refreshed and raring to go' in Australia

New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson made his ODI debut during the the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in December 2016. He dismissed David Warner in his first over at the SCG, but then had a forgettable series - taking 1 for 73 and 0/50 in two games. His return to Australia in 2020 lasted just one ODI, before the series was cut short by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ferguson, 31, is hoping that his third limited-overs series down under will be more successful than the previous two, as New Zealand begin their quest for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in Cairns on Tuesday.

"Hopefully the first game goes better than my debut and I manage to bowl all ten overs," Ferguson said. "It's nice memories. I think back to how nervous and excited I was to play against Australia, the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. It's another opportunity to try and get the trophy overseas."

Ferguson is coming off a tour of the Caribbean in August where he had mixed results. He took 1 for 49 in eight overs in New Zealand's 2-1 victory in the T20I series, but then took 1 for 135 in 18 overs in the 2-1 win in the ODI series. Ferguson played only the first two games and his economy of 7.5 made him the most expensive fast bowler in the series.

"[It was] not the toil I wanted one-day wise in Barbados," Ferguson said. "[It was] disappointing on a few levels. It was nice to take a break and be away from the game having been away [from home] for five months.

"It's amazing how you come home for 24 hours and you feel a bit more relaxed sleeping in your bed, seeing your loved ones, your girlfriend... Refreshed having that week at home and now back again.

"Last week I was working on the basics and when you have tough times, the basics are the most important. I would be working on similar things in the next few days and [I'm] certainly fit and raring to go."

Ferguson also said that chats with fast bowlers from other countries - like Pat Cummins when they played for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2020 and 2021 - had helped his progress.

"It was nice to take break and be away from the game having been away [from home] for five months. It's amazing how you come home for 24 hours and you feel a bit more relaxed sleeping in your bed, seeing your loved ones, your girlfriend."

Lockie Ferguson on taking a break after being on the road for months together

"I had Pat Cummins in my side in KKR," Ferguson said. "It was interesting talking to him about how he goes about training, loading, try to maintain himself on the field as much as possible, so it's all good learnings.

"You see how competitive those guys are on and off the field, on a few rounds of golf. The Aussies, when they put the yellow jersey on, they tend to lift to another level. We have to do the exact same wearing our black jersey."

The conditions in Cairns, a city in tropical Queensland, were humid and New Zealand were greeted with some rain on Thursday.

"[The weather is a] bit sticky for sure, but I think we are getting quite used to that as a team," Ferguson said. "There are talks that there may be some dew around at night when the wind sort of dies down. These are indicators we got to build into our plans."

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Match Preview - India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2022, Super 4

It wasn't until Friday night that this fixture was officially confirmed, but make no mistake, the second instalment of India versus Pakistan had long been pencilled-in in the minds of supporters, organisers and players for this Sunday. Its proximity to the sides' most recent contest, just a week ago, gives it that added layer of intrigue and context, with the sides not quite as unfamiliar with each other as they usually are. This will be the first time since the 2018 Asia Cup that the two face each other in such quick succession.

That this game is the first for both teams in the Super 4 stage allows it to be stripped of context in the bigger picture. But this is another opportunity for them to work each other out ahead of their men's T20 World Cup game in Australia in just under two months' time. Not to forget, any insight gleaned into the opposition's methods might be particularly handy in a week's time, if there is to be a Part 3 of this story in the final next Sunday.

There isn't too much to separate these sides, especially in these conditions, as was evident in their tight contest a week ago, but by dint of India pulling the result out, they do go in as slight favourites. Their bowlers fared admirably in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, using the short ball to devastating effect in a way Babar Azam's men could neither cope with nor replicate. In the middle order, India have the luxury of a two-in-one player in Hardik Pandya, whom they were able to rest against Hong Kong. Virat Kohli, meanwhile, seems to be creaking back to form, taking advantage of an early reprieve against Pakistan to score a vital 35, followed up by an unbeaten half-century against Hong Kong.

Pakistan's dominant, record-breaking win over Hong Kong allayed any fears that they might stumble at the group stage. Mohammad Rizwan played his way back into form with an unbeaten 78 off 57, while Khushdil Shah warmed up nicely with an unbeaten 15-ball 35. The bowling, Pakistan's stronger suit by a distance, was in top form, with Shadab Khan taking career-best figures of 4 for 8, and Mohammad Nawaz taking 3 for 5. Dubai might not allow the spinners as big a role, but a well-rounded bowling attack remains Pakistan's most reliable avenue to victory.

And, of course, there are Super 4 points on offer. Even if that feels like a bit of an afterthought for now, they will become increasingly prized as these two jostle with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in a bid to reach the final.

India WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Pakistan WLLWW

Kohli might have begun this tournament with the vultures circling, but it is Rohit Sharma whose recent form represents something of a top-order vulnerability for India. There's only one half-century peppered amongst a swathe of low-to-medium scores over his last dozen T20Is or so. Against Pakistan, that effect is even more exaggerated, his average dropping to 13.66 from a career average of 32. His strike rate takes a similar dive from 139.84 to 112.32. When the sides met last week in Dubai, a scratchy 12 off 18 balls was all Rohit managed. If he, too, can shake off this indifferent spell, India's top order suddenly poses more challenging questions for Pakistan.

It looked like Iftikhar Ahmed was doing the rebuilding work for Pakistan against India through the middle order when the sides met last week, even if he eventually fell at an inopportune moment. With the value of Pakistan's middle order becoming clearer by the day, he should have a more noteworthy role to play on Sunday. As one of the few Pakistan middle-order batters who can perform the dual role of consolidation and power-hitting, he should be key to Pakistan's hopes, particularly if they are thrust in to bat first again. Against Hong Kong on Friday, Babar Azam brought him on inside the powerplay, suggesting he might play more of an all-round role against India.

The temperature is expected to hit 40°C in the afternoon, and though it's supposed to drop down a few degrees by the time the game starts, oppressive heat will continue to be a factor.

Avesh Khan is doubtful for the match because of fever. Meanwhile, Hardik should return, and Axar Patel should come in for Ravindra Jadeja, who has been ruled out of the tournament and the T20 World Cup with a knee injury. The Dinesh Karthik vs Rishabh Pant question remains there.

India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Rishabh Pant/Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Avesh Khan/R Ashwin, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal

Pakistan have been hit with an injury to another fast bowler, with Shahnawaz Dahani ruled out of Sunday's game with a "suspected side strain". Hasan Ali or Mohammad Hasnain will take his place.

Pakistan (probable): 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Iftikhar Ahmed, 5 Khushdil Shah, 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Asif Ali, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Hasan Ali/Mohammad Hasnain

"Any game against India feels like a final, but the more normal you can feel in such a match, the better it is. I don't follow the hype around that game much, but out in the middle, the ball has to play the bat."
Mohammad Rizwan tries to downplay the hype of another India-Pakistan match

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T20 World Cup 2022 - England keep faith with old guard as Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes return for T20 World Cup

Ben Stokes has been recalled to England's 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia, but will sit out the preceding seven-match tour of Pakistan, for which his fellow World Cup selections Chris Woakes and Mark Wood are among the notable returnees in an enlarged 19-player squad.

The Pakistan series - England's first visit to the country since 2005 - will be led by Jos Buttler, as will the World Cup campaign, although Moeen Ali is earmarked to captain the side in the opening contests in Pakistan while Buttler recovers from the calf injury that ruled him out of the latter stages of the Hundred.

As anticipated, the notable absentee from England's ranks for both tours is Jason Roy, one of the linchpins of the team that reached the T20 final in India in 2016 and went on to lift the 50-over World Cup at Lord's in 2019. His place in the squad has been handed to Lancashire's opening batter, Phil Salt, although Jonny Bairstow had been earmarked as Buttler's opening partner until he was ruled out of contention following a freak golfing injury. Yorkshire's Harry Brook is also included as a batting option, having made the first of his four T20I appearances to date in the West Indies earlier this year.

Between them, Stokes, Wood and Woakes have not played a single T20 contest this year - international or domestic - through a combination of injury and rotation, but the selectors have kept faith with their experience. Stokes, England's Test captain who retired from ODIs in July, will go into the World Cup build-up after 18 months out of the T20I set-up, with his immediate priority being next week's deciding third Test against South Africa at the Kia Oval.

Two other members of England's World Cup squad, Liam Livingstone and Chris Jordan, will also miss the Pakistan tour as they recover from ankle and finger injuries respectively, but both are on track to be fit for the tournament in Australia, the first match of which is against Afghanistan in Perth on October 22.

Wood, who broke down with an elbow injury during England's Test tour of the Caribbean in March, underwent the second of two operations on the joint in July, although he is expecting to train with the Test team at The Oval this week as he continues his return to action. Woakes, meanwhile, has been hampered by persistent knee problems in recent months, and having been limited to a solitary 2nd XI match for Warwickshire this summer, also underwent surgery in July in a bid to be ready for the World Cup.

England have named three travelling reserves for the World Cup, among them Tymal Mills, who featured in last year's T20 World Cup in the UAE. Unlike his fellow reserves, Liam Dawson and Richard Gleeson, however, Mills will not travel to Pakistan as continues his recuperation from toe surgery earlier this month.

The Pakistan campaign features a range of notable call-ups, among them Warwickshire's Olly Stone, one of England's 90mph-plus fast bowlers, who battled back from a stress fracture last year, only to miss this year's Hundred with a broken finger. Tom Helm, the Middlesex and Birmingham Phoenix seamer, is among five players in the 19 who have yet to be capped at T20I level.

Lancashire's Luke Wood receives his second England call-up of the year, after being an unused reserve in the Netherlands in June, while on the batting front, Will Jacks is rewarded for an impressive home summer which included only the second century in the history of the Hundred, for Oval Invincibles against Southern Brave last month.

Nottinghamshire's Ben Duckett is also back in England's ranks, having played a solitary T20I since 2016, while Jordan Cox receives his first call-up, 12 months on from his starring role in Kent's T20 Blast triumph in 2021. There is no place, however, for Somerset's Will Smeed, the scorer of the first Hundred hundred, nor a recall for the ever-prolific Alex Hales.

England T20 World Cup squad Jos Buttler (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Travelling Reserves Liam Dawson, Richard Gleeson, Tymal Mills

England T20I squad to tour Pakistan: Jos Buttler (capt), Moeen Ali (vice-capt), Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Liam Dawson, Richard Gleeson, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Luke Wood, Mark Wood

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West Indies vice-captain Anisa Mohammed to take six-month break from cricket

Anisa Mohammed, the West Indies vice-captain, has been granted leave from international cricket for a period of six months. "Mohammed requested to take a break from the game with immediate effect, after a hectic year of cricket both home and away," said a CWI statement, adding that the board had given Mohammed its "full support".

Offspinner Mohammed, just a few days away from her 34th birthday, hasn't played a T20I since West Indies' series at home against South Africa in September last year, but has turned out in 14 ODIs in the past 12 months. The last of them was in March this year at the 50-over World Cup in the semi-final against eventual champions Australia in Hamilton. It didn't end well for Mohammed on that occasion, as she pulled up with a hamstring injury while fielding and had to be driven from the field.

Mohammed, the highest wicket-taker in women's T20Is with 125 strikes in 117 games - to go with 180 wickets in 141 ODIs - has been a part of the action at the ongoing Women's CPL 2022, where she returned 1 for 9 in two overs in her only bowling innings, against Barbados Royals. Their second game, against Guyana Amazon Warriors, had to be called off because of rain, but Mohammed could be in the fray in the final, where Knight Riders will meet the winners of the Royals vs Amazon Warriors contest.

Prior to the WCPL, Mohammed played the women's 6ixty competition, where she turned out for Knight Riders as well. Knight Riders lost in the final to Royals then, and Mohammed finished the tournament with four wickets in four bowling innings, with an economy rate of 8.00.

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Match Preview - Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup 2022, Super 4

Big picture

Sri Lanka can breathe easy. Or can they?

Having been blown away by Afghanistan and then having to use every ounce of firepower to get past Bangladesh, they will once again face a trial by spin. Against the Rashids and the Mujeebs. However, the current Afghanistan team is beginning to establish a new bowling order. Their fast bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen ul Haq have been the perfect prelude to the spin superstars. So as a batting unit, there's unlikely to be any respite.

Does the current line-up have the confidence to take on bowling straightaway? In their virtual knockout, Sri Lanka had to go for broke, for a flight was waiting to take them home otherwise. Can they replicate a similar mindset with the stakes significantly higher?

Chris Silverwood's focus is on bringing back Sri Lanka to their refreshing approach to white-ball cricket that revolutionised the ODI game in the 1990s, the kinds that gave opponents nightmares when Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana destroyed attacks with disdain.

However, that is easier said than done. The proof lies in the pudding. Saturday will be another opportunity to test that.

Afghanistan have proved they're giant killers no more. UAE conditions are as good as home conditions. Most players are residents here, and train and play all year round on pitches such as these, and in weather far more oppressive. What they will want to guard against is complacency.

So far, they haven't been tested while batting first. How they approach it - should this scenario play out on Saturday - will be interesting to watch.

Afghanistan have the edge but having just about stopped the door from shutting them out of their own party, they will now want to barge it open.

Form guide

Pakistan: WLWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Hong Kong: WWLWW

In the spotlight

On T20I debut, Asitha Fernando won Sri Lanka game that even his teammates thought had slipped away. His 10 out out of three balls helped clinch a thriller to put Sri Lanka in the Super 4s. Against Bangladesh, Asitha seemed a tad nervous and sprayed the ball around even as the Bangladesh top order took him on. He finished with 1 for 51 off his four overs. Now, he'd be looking to impress with the new ball, which is his primary skillset.

Can Fazalhaq Farooqi repeat his Group B performance?•AFP via Getty Images

Afghanistan are slowly beginning to establish an identity beyond their globetrotting T20 superstars. Among those who putting themselves high on the radar of franchises around the T20 circuit is Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The hard-hitting 20-year-old was given out on zero in the Asia Cup opener but overturned the lbw call on review and went on to take Sri Lanka's attack to the cleaners by making an 18-ball 40 in a low-key chase. Can he rise to the occasion? Now the stakes are high, and a Super 4 game win first up could set them on the road to the final.

Pitch and conditions

The surface in Sharjah will be the same as the Pakistan v Hong Kong game. There is likely to be some rough patches and dry spots that could aid the spinners. That said, the ground dimensions are significantly smaller than Dubai, and both sides have batters than can take surfaces out of the equation. So far, there hasn't been any dew across both venues. Toss should not be a deciding factor.

Team news

Both sides have a fully fit squad of players to choose from. They are unlikely to make changes.

Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Danushka Gunathilaka, 5 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Dilshan Madushanka.

Afghanistan: 1 Hazratullah Zazai, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Ibrahim Zadran, 4 Najibullah Zadran, 5 Mohammad Nabi (capt), 6 Karim Janat, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Azmatullah Omarzai, 9 Naveen-ul-Haq, 10 Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Stats and trivia

Hazratullah Zazai and Gurbaz are the second-most prolific pair for Afghanistan in T20Is. They have eight fifty-run stands in just 21 innings together, including a 37-ball 83 against Sri Lanka last week.

In 13 T20Is this year, Sri Lanka have conceded runs at 8.21 during the powerplay at an average of 42.73. While this average is the worst among all Full Members, their economy is third worst, behind England and West Indies.

Mujeeb ur Rahman has a prolific record in Sharjah: 10 wickets in four T20Is.

Quotes

"Chris Silverwood is trying to bring back the positive, aggressive brand of cricket we used to play a couple of decades back. He has given us the freedom to think as adults and not be pampered." - Bhanuka Rajapaksa on Sri Lanka wanting to channel their 1990s brand of cricket

"The way the boys have performed, the way they have adjusted and taken the responsibility upon themselves has been great to see. In the Super 4s too, our focus is on playing the same brand of aggressive cricket, but also learn from the mistakes we made and not repeat it." - Rashid Khan on Afghanistan's simple mantra going forward

Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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SA20 auction longlist - West Indies' Jayden Seales and Odean Smith set themselves highest base price

Jayden Seales and Odean Smith, the West Indies internationals, have listed their base price at Rand 1,750,000 (US$101,000 approx), the maximum for any player at CSA's SA20 player auction. Eoin Morgan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Tymal Mills, David Willey, Jimmy Neesham and Chamika Karunaratne have listed themselves at the second-highest base price of Rand 1,700,000 ($98,000 approx).

The auction longlist has 533 players, out of which 248 are from South Africa. Eleven out of those 248 - Dean Elgar, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorious, Janneman Malan, Keegan Petersen, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi and Temba Bavuma - have set themselves a base price of Rand 850,000 ($49,000 approx.), the highest among South African players.

Of the 52 players who are in the Rand 850,000 ($49,000 approx.) category are Sri Lanka's Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka, England's Craig Overton and Matthew Potts, West Indies' Alzzari Joseph, Keemo Paul, Carlos Brathwaite and Shamarh Brooks, Afghanistan's Hashmatullah Shahidi, Samiullah Shinwari and Karim Janat, and Ireland's Harry Tector. New Zealand's Ross Taylor, who has retired from international cricket, has also listed himself at this base price.

The final auction pool will be confirmed by CSA once it receives the wishlist from the six franchises, the deadline for which is September 8. The auction is on September 19 in Cape Town.

Fast bowler Seales is uncapped in T20Is but has proved to be effective both in the powerplay and death overs during his time with Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL and at the LPL with Jaffna Kings. He has played nine Tests and seven ODIs so far, and recently earned his first national contract. In LPL 2021, which was dominated by spinners, Seales emerged as the most prolific seamer, with 15 wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of 7.81.

Smith has played 19 T20Is and five ODIs apart from playing for Punjab Kings in the IPL and a bunch of teams in the CPL, and has showcased his big-hitting both at the international and franchise levels.

Although all six franchises are owned by IPL owners, there are no Indian players on the list, because of the BCCI's policy against allowing its players to play overseas T20 leagues. Former India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand, who announced his retirement last year, has signed up as a USA player at a base price of Rand 175,000 ($10,000 approx.). Chand began a Minor League career in the USA last year. He is also the only Indian male cricketer to feature in the Big Bash League. He played two matches for Melbourne Renegades last season.

Khaled Ahmed is the only Bangladesh player who has put his name in the auction, listing himself at a base price of Rand 175,000 ($10,000 approx.). Ben Dunk and Jerome Chinia are the only two players from Australia to have signed up.

As reported by ESPNcricinfo, there were no Pakistan players on the list. There have been suggestions that they were not picked because the franchises are owned by team owners from the IPL, where Pakistani players are, in effect, barred. But a league official, while clarifying that the league doesn't get involved in selections, said Pakistan's schedule constraints - they have home series and then the PSL this year - have played a part in their players' non-availability.

The six teams have already signed between two and five players apiece from a pool of 30 marquee players as part of the direct-acquisition process. The franchises have an overall purse of $2 million and can buy as many more players as they can, or want, with the maximum squad strength set at 17.

The money available to them at the auction will be based on what is left of the purse after acquiring the pre-auction players [the five included a maximum of three overseas players, one South Africa international, and one uncapped South Africa player]. In total, franchises will be permitted to sign up to seven international players and ten South Africans, with a view of fielding an XI with a maximum of four overseas players, the same as in the IPL.

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Recent Match Report - Pakistan vs Hong Kong 6th Match, Group A 2022

Pakistan 193 for 2 (Rizwan 78*, Fakhar 53*, Khushdil 35*, Ehsan 2-28) beat Hong Kong 38 (Shadab 4-8, Nawaz 3-5) by 155 runs

Pakistan made it to the Super 4s with a 155-run win over Hong Kong, who were bowled out for 38, the lowest total against a Full Member in T20 internationals. It will sound silly at the end of it all, but there were moments of concern when Pakistan were put in and found themselves stuck against Hong Kong's slower bowlers on a low and slow pitch. However, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan read the conditions well, and steered Pakistan towards a safe total. They then scored 129 in the last 10 overs and 77 in the last five to get to a well-above-par total, with some help from a Khushdil Shah assault.

Pakistan's quality with the ball then proved too much for Hong Kong, none of whose batters could make it to double figures, losing out to 10 extras. Naseem Shah and Shahnawaz Dahani set the tone with their high-pace spells before Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz took seven wickets in 4.4 overs between them to set up Pakistan's biggest T20I win. This was also Hong Kong's lowest total.

Pakistan under pressure
Hong Kong went in with the same philosophy as against India: bowl at the stumps, give the batters no pace to work with, and build up dots. Pakistan, though, were in a must-win situation against a side that didn't have much to lose. Early doors - as Babar Azam fell in the third over and Rizwan struggled for timing - it was apparent even 150 might be enough for an attack as good as Pakistan's, but you can never say if two batters go for it and have a good day.

Rizwan and Fakhar, though, didn't look too hassled. They were happy to knock the ball around when the spinners were on. Fakhar looked to give the charge once in a while but the wily Yasim Murtaza kept him in check with slow pace and mastery over length. Rizwan kept trying to sweep, but struggled to find the right line for it. When they went into the drinks break halfway into the innings, neither Fakhar nor Rizwan was going faster than a run a ball. There might have been questions about their approach but this was not for want of trying. The conditions were difficult and the bowling good from a side that plays its home cricket on low, slow surfaces.

The counter
After the drinks break, more used to the pace of the pitch, both batters started taking on the spinners. Rizwan skipped down to the tall legspinner Mohammad Ghazanfar to hit him over long-on. He kept attacking spin to break away from Fakhar and bring up his fifty off 42 balls. In the 15th over, Fakhar found his timing, and when he did, he hit a six and a four off left-arm spinner Murtaza in a 13-run 16th over.

Fakhar got out soon after getting to his fifty, but the military medium of Ayush Shukla and Aizaz Khan was cannon fodder for Khushdil in the 18th and 20th overs. He ended the innings with four successive sixes off Aizaz.

Bowling too good
The Hong Kong batters never looked at ease. They stayed deep in the crease to even full balls from the quicks, and looked to stay leg side of the ball. The first wicket was a result of that: captain Nizakat Khan looked to drive with his weight back, got no power into the shot and offered an easy catch off Naseem. Babar Hayat played three dots and heaved at one to be bowled top of off stump. Dahani hurried Murtaza up with a quick short one for a top-edge on the hook.

The powerplay ended at 25 for 3, but Hong Kong's troubles were only just beginning. Their batters failed to pick Shadab's wrong'uns, and he proceeded to have fun with them. Three of his four wickets were bowled off wrong'uns: the first one on the cut, the second behind the legs, and the third off a big slog. Nawaz didn't have to work hard either as the batters kept falling on the sweep. Zeeshan Ali tried to hit a six down the ground but found long-on.

The end came as swiftly as the Shadab flipper to get No. 11 Ghazanfar lbw pad first.

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Eng vs Pak, T20Is - Jason Roy set to miss out for Pakistan T20I tour, T20 World Cup

Jason Roy is expected to be the high-profile omission from England's T20I squad for next month's tour of Pakistan, and thereafter the T20 World Cup in Australia in October, after failing to emerge from a season-long form slump.

Roy, 32, was an integral influence within the white-ball dressing-room under Eoin Morgan's leadership, and a mainstay of the side from the moment of his debut in the wake of the 2015 World Cup. His uncompromising aggression at the top of the order has yielded nearly 5,500 white-ball runs in 171 appearances, including 1,522 at 24.15 and a strike rate of 137.61 in T20Is, and has been crucial in dictating the team's proactive approach - one that ultimately delivered glory at the 2019 50-over World Cup.

However, Roy has struggled for form this summer, with just 78 runs at 12.66 in six T20Is, and at a subdued strike rate of 77.55. A century in the third ODI against Netherlands in Amstelveen in June boosted his ODI numbers, but he failed to reach fifty in five further appearances against India and South Africa.

England's T20I squads are due to be announced on Friday. Jos Buttler - Morgan's successor - is still recuperating from the calf injury he sustained during Manchester Originals' Hundred captain, and will only come into contention for the second half of the tour, with Moeen Ali likely to deputise at the start of the series. Roy, however, is understood to have informed his Oval Invincibles team-mates that he has missed out on selection.

Given the huge regard with which Roy is held in England's white-ball set-up, he could have rescued his place in the team with a strong showing for Invincibles in this year's Hundred. However, he began his campaign disastrously with three ducks in four innings, while his haul of 51 runs at 8.50 culminated in a tortuous 21 from 19 balls against Birmingham Phoenix.

He missed Invincibles' last two matches of the competition after suffering stiffness in his lower back, including Wednesday night's decisive loss to Originals at Old Trafford, and finds his place in the England squad for the Pakistan tour taken by his domestic opening partner, Will Jacks, whose impressive run of form included a century against Southern Brave. Another of Roy's Invincibles team-mates, Jordan Cox - a star of Kent's T20 Blast victory last summer - is also understood to be under consideration as a potential bolter for that trip.

Will Smeed, who scored the Hundred's first century - also against Brave - is another name in the frame but it is Phil Salt who seems most likely to get first crack at replacing him, initially in Pakistan and then in Australia.

Among the current incumbents, Dawid Malan's stellar returns at the top of the order for Trent Rockets - a tournament-high 358 runs at 59.66 and a strike-rate of 172.11 - are likely to earn him a promotion to open at some stage of the Pakistan tour after his prolonged run at No. 3 in England's T20I side.

Alex Hales, Malan's opening partner at Rockets, and a player who has been blackballed by England ever since he failed two recreational drugs tests on the eve of the 2019 World Cup, has also been mentioned for a recall. After several years of impressive displays on the global T20 circuit, Hales this summer became the first English player to pass 10,000 runs in the format.

However, even with Morgan - his most ardent critic - now retired, a rapprochement under the new regime of Buttler and Matthew Mott seems an outside bet. It is understood no discussions have taken place between Hales and the England set-up, and there is little appetite for Hales to be recalled among senior players in the group.

Another likely absentee from the Pakistan squad will be England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, who retired from ODI cricket this summer in a bid to focus on the other two international formats. His immediate priority, however, is the forthcoming Test series decider against South Africa at the Kia Oval next week, which concludes just days before the team is due to depart for their seven-match tour of Pakistan.

On the bowling front, the uncapped left-arm quick Luke Wood is likely to make his England debut in Pakistan, having been an unused squad member in the Netherlands earlier this year. He has bowled with pace and penetration throughout Rockets' run to the Hundred final, with nine wickets at 24.33, and is likely to be among an abundance of seam options in an enlarged, 19-man squad.

Mark Wood, who has missed the whole English summer through injury, is also in line for his comeback and will train with the Test squad at the Kia Oval this week as part of his preparation. A 19-man squad to tour Pakistan will be named on Friday morning, along with a 15-man squad (plus three reserves) for the T20 World Cup and the three Australia T20Is which precede it. Among those reserves will be Tymal Mills, who featured in the last T20 World Cup in the UAE but has been out of action since undergoing toe surgery earlier this month.

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Asia Cup 2022 - Ban vs SL - Shakib Al Hasan

Among Bangladesh's several errors, Shakib Al Hasan rued Mahedi Hasan's no-balls the most in their two-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka that knocked them out of the Asia Cup.

Mahedi's first no-ball allowed Kusal Mendis, who was reprieved on four occasions, to bat beyond the seventh over. Kusal who opened the innings, top scored with a 37-ball 60 to lay the foundation for Sri Lanka's 184 chase.

His second no-ball came in the last over when Sri Lanka needed three runs off four deliveries. In a comical turn of events, as soon as Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana ran two, they heard the buzzer that pointed to Mahedi's no-ball. Soon enough, the giant screens flashed the replay and Bangladesh knew their fate had been sealed. This moment was particularly disappointing for Shakib as he reflected on the team's performance under pressure, and their early exit from the competition.

"No captain wants no-balls from their team," Shakib said. "It is a big crime when a spinner bowls a no-ball. We bowled a lot of wides and no-balls today. We were not disciplined. We didn't know what to do when we were under pressure. We knew Kusal (Mendis) plays spin really well, so if we could get him early, it would have set platform for our spinners to come into the game.

"But till he was there, it was hard for our spinners to bowl. He was dropped on two, and then when he was out, it was a no-ball. The spinner bowling a no-ball is a big no-no. Our spinners usually don't bowl no-balls, but today it was proved that we break down under pressure. We are losing in crunch moments. If we won 50 per cent of the close matches, we would have a better record in this format."

What also hurt Bangladesh was Ebadot Hossain's inconsistency in his final two overs which went for 38. The penultimate over, especially, turned the tide Sri Lanka's way as he conceded 17, including a no-ball and a wide. This undid all his good work until then. At the end of his first two overs, he had unreal figures of 3 for 13.

Ebadot Hossain had mixed returns on T20I debut•Getty Images

"Ebadot has never played a pressure game like this, regardless of his experience," Shakib said. "He has a lot to understand. He brought us into the game after his first two overs. We thought it was going to be his day. You expect a bowler to have good rhythm and be positive when he has taken three wickets in his first two overs. It wasn't to be. He can learn a lot from this game.

"Our plan was to get their batsmen out. That's exactly what we did. They needed 25 or 26 in the last two overs. Eight wickets down, you back your main bowlers to defend those runs against their tail."

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Shakib underlined the importance of having to identify the best fast bowlers soon. "This was an eye-opener to see how we bowl in pressure situations," he said. "You can expect good 10-12 overs of fast bowling in this type of pitch. Only those who can deliver will be in the team.

"It is simple math. We looked at four fast bowlers here, and we will look at more in the tri-series in New Zealand so that we have a clearer idea who can do well in Australia."

Shakib then focused on the few positives from the tournament. Like how the move to bump up Mehidy Hasan Miraz to open the innings in his first T20I in nearly four years, worked.

Mehidy responded with an aggressive 26-ball 38, hitting two fours and as many sixes. Shakib said this was something they had contemplated against Afghanistan too, before going in with regulars Mohammad Naim and Anamul Haque.

"He has done well in our domestic tournaments, so we had faith in him," Shakib said of Mehidy's promotion. "Even in the first game, he was in the mix to bat in the top-order. He didn't play the first game. He showed his character today. He wasn't nervous. He was playing after three years so it wasn't easy for him. You have to give him a lot of credit, the way he handled the pressure in the first six overs."

Shakib also asked for a bit of patience from everyone as they try to work out plans going into the T20 World Cup. For starters, he was encouraged by the team's attitude and body language.

"I have returned to T20I captaincy with these two matches. We have a lot in mind when we make a new beginning. Our planning started with the game against Afghanistan, so there will be right and wrong.

"We have a plan in place. We want to reach a goal slowly. But if you notice our attitude and body language in these two games, despite the poor approach in batting in the first game, I think we have improved from our last three or four series."

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84

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T20 World Cup 2022 - Being a finisher was not a sole focus for Tim David, who has naturally evolved into that way

It felt appropriate that Tim David reflected on being called up to the Australia squad from the UK, where he has played the T20 Blast and the Hundred over recent months, on his way to the CPL in the West Indies where he will have a handful of games before heading to India and a likely Australia debut.

He has forged his own, very modern, route in the game and it has now taken him to the top. Quite how he fits into Australia's XI for the World Cup remains to be seen, but over the last couple of years Singapore-born David has built a record as a finisher that few can match and which has already brought him success around the globe.

It wasn't something he singularly focused on when he lost his rookie contract with Western Australia after the 2018-19 season, but he has followed the path that was opening in front of him.

"It probably hasn't been a sole focus, it's just naturally evolved into that way," he said. "My first opportunity after being released by Western Australia was to go and play for Singapore, so went and did that then came back at the opportunity to go to the [Hobart] Hurricanes.

"From there the only thing I was going to do in professional cricket was play T20, so you focus on those skills and I have had more opportunities from there. It may look unorthodox but I've been out playing a lot of T20 cricket and really stoked to be getting to this point."

David detailed the situation that unfolded earlier this year when he had been picked in Australia's T20I squad to face Sri Lanka and found out hours before he was due to fly to the PSL. He believed the certainty of games with Multan Sultans would be better value for him and national selector George Bailey was on board.

"To be honest, at no point there was being picked for Australia really something I was thinking about," he said. "I was flying to Pakistan later that day and got the call from George and at that point I didn't know what to do. I thought, they've just won the World Cup and that was still a really strong team.

"I've always tried to make decisions that are best for my career. I thought that would be an opportunity for me to improve and if I could do that over a period of time then maybe I was going to be a player who could be an asset to the Australian squad. For George to be able to see that and be really supportive of that it was great."

"If you look at franchise and international teams around the world the ability to finish an innings, whether that's two, 12 or 20 balls, is highly sought after."

George Bailey, Australia national selector

The next part of the conversation will likely come after the World Cup where there are more bilateral T20I series that will overlap with domestic tournaments. If David was to hold a CA contract - which he would be eligible for if he played 12 T20Is this season - then he would not have the same freedom, particularly during the September-April period.

How the game accommodates a player such as David without hindering their earning potential will likely be a topic of much debate in the next few years. Bailey was unsure whether he would become a trendsetter for how to build a career outside of traditional domestic set-up, but his body of work had made him impossible to look beyond.

"He's been a star of the Big Bash for some time," Bailey said. "We get to the end of the Big Bash and we like to look at who is leading the run chart and facing the most balls, but if you look at franchise and international teams around the world the ability to finish an innings, whether that's two, 12 or 20 balls, is highly sought after.

"It's a different journey, no doubt about that, and when you get the opportunity to hear about the journey it's great. He has been part of our domestic systems…but it's certainly unique. I think it's really challenging for players to just be a franchise cricketer without having a base or support network. And it's new, too. You might see it more and more but there are some challenges as well."

For now, all roads lead to the World Cup for David. Via a couple more stops along the way.

Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo

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NZ vs WI 2022 - Jess Kerr, Molly Penfold, Lauren Down return for New Zealand tour of West Indies

Jess Kerr had withdrawn from the competition in Birmingham because of a foot injury while Down had taken time off to prioritise her well-being.

"We've seen the success Jess has enjoyed on the international stage in her career to date and it's been encouraging to see her working her way back from injury, and training with the London Spirit over here in the Hundred in recent weeks," Ben Sawyer, New Zealand head coach, said. "It's great to see Lauren return after taking some personal time away from the game. She was flying with the bat heading into the ODI World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year only to be ruled out of the tournament with that thumb injury. So we're looking forward to welcoming her back into the environment."

Penfold had made her international debut last year against England and was part of New Zealand's reserves for the World Cup earlier this year. "I first saw Molly bowling when I was working with Australia at the ODI World Cup and remember telling them how good I thought she was, just from watching her practice," Sawyer, who was Australia's fast bowling coach at the World Cup, said. "You could see she had all the natural attributes for fast bowling and I've been sent a few videos of her recent progress - she seems to be going really well."

"Hayley Jensen is already over in the Caribbean playing in the CPL and she said the conditions are extremely hot and the wickets are keeping a little low - so that's what we can expect," Sawyer said.

While Devine, Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu and Maddy Green were involved in the Hundred, and Jensen is in the West Indies already, the other players had a camp in Lincoln, with assistant coach Sara McGlashan overlooking the preparations. Having done well at the Commonwealth Games by beating England to win the bronze medal, New Zealand's next big goal is the T20 World Cup in South Africa early next year.

"I know the team took a lot of confidence from winning that bronze-medal match against England," Sawyer said. "To do it in front of a packed house at Edgbaston and to do it so convincingly will have given the whole unit so much belief.

"This tour will be important for us to continue building on the good work done in England. We'll of course be out to win both series in the Caribbean - but will also be looking to offer opportunities to different players as we try and nail down our combinations for the T20 World Cup and refine our game-plans.

"We'll also be giving the one-day series plenty of attention, having identified that as the format most in need of improvement."

New Zealand and West Indies play three ODIs - part of the ICC Women's Championship - followed by five T20Is. All the games will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. This is the first time New Zealand are touring the Caribbean since 2014, when the hosts won the ODIs 4-0 while New Zealand won the T20Is 2-1.

Squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

#Jess #Kerr #Molly #Penfold #Lauren #return #Zealand #tour #West #Indies https://www.globalcourant.com/nz-vs-wi-2022-jess-kerr-molly-penfold-lauren-down-return-for-new-zealand-tour-of-west-indies/?feed_id=18604&_unique_id=63104614aff5d

Recent Match Report - India vs Hong Kong 4th Match, Group A 2022

India 192 for 2 (Suryakumar 68*, Kohli 59*, Ghazanfar 1-19) beat Hong Kong 152 for 5 (Hayat 41, Kinchit 30, Bhuvneshwar 1-15, Jadeja -15) by 40 runs

A blazing half-century from Suryakumar Yadav, and a more sedate one from Virat Kohli, helped India cruise into the Super 4 round of the Asia Cup as they beat Hong Kong by 40 runs in Dubai. The victory ensured India would finish as the top team in Group A.

After being put in, India struggled to force the pace on the ball on a sluggish surface. But as the game progressed, the pitch seemed to ease out. Suryakumar cashed in on that, smashing six fours and as many sixes to post 68 not out in just 26 balls. Kohli, too, found his timing after a slow start and finished unbeaten on 59 off 44. His knock included one four and three sixes. The pair added an unbroken 98 in just 42 balls, propelling India to 192 for 2.

From there on, it was always going to be an uphill task for Hong Kong. Despite scoring 51 for 2 in the powerplay, they were behind the asking rate, and once the field spread out, their scoring rate dipped further. In the end, they could manage only 152 for 5.

However, it was a far from perfect game for India. Apart from a slow start, Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh looked off colour. Avesh gave away 53 from his four overs, and Arshdeep went for 44 from his quota. Both picked up a wicket each, though.

India' slow start
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul started slowly; India managed just six runs in the first two overs. Rohit broke the shackles by jumping out of his crease to seamer Haroon Arshad and launching him for a straight six. Rahul joined him later in the over when he dispatched a free hit over deep midwicket. Off the last ball, Rohit hit a four to make it 22 from the over.

Ayush Shukla broke the stand in the fifth over when Rohit mistimed an offcutter to mid-on. He scored 21 off 13 balls but Rahul was struggling for timing at the other end. Kohli too found it difficult to get going. At one stage, Rahul was on 21 off 25, Kohli on 12 off 14, and India hadn't managed a boundary for 22 balls. Rahul ended that drought with a six off Aizaz Khan but despite that India only got to 70 for 1 at the ten-over mark.

Suryakumar Yadav smoked 68 not out off just 26 balls•AFP/Getty Images

Suryakumar lights up the night
Kohli showed signs of aggression after the halfway stage, hitting Mohammad Ghazanfar for a four and a six in successive overs from the legspinner. Ghazanfar, though, ended Rahul's struggle by having him caught behind for 36 off 39 balls.

That brought Suryakumar to the middle, and he swept the first two balls he faced, from Yasim Murtaza, for fours. That was just the teaser, and soon he showed his full range. In the 16th over, he hit Aizaz over short third for four before scooping him for a six, off consecutive balls. A couple of overs later, he flicked Shukla over deep square leg to move to 41 off just 17 balls.

Kohli, meanwhile, brought up his fifty off 40 balls. Three balls after reaching the landmark, he slog-swept Ehsan Khan for a 91-metre six but it paled in comparison to Suryakumar's dazzling strokeplay.

In the last over of the innings, Suryakumar hit Haroon's first three deliveries for sixes - the second one took him to his fifty off just 22 balls and was arguably the shot of the day. He had initially shaped up for a scoop but seeing Haroon bowl it full and wide, he changed his shot and lofted it over deep cover. The fourth ball was a dot, and Suryakumar pulled the next one over short fine leg for another six. Haroon escaped with a couple off the final ball but India already had a daunting total.

Ravindra Jadeja hurt Hong Kong with a run-out and the wicket of Babar Hayat•AFP/Getty Images

Spinners put brakes on after Babar Hayat's brisk start
Arshdeep bounced out Yasim in the second over but Babar Hayat's power-hitting took Hong Kong past 50 in the sixth over. The tall right-hander smashed Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Avesh over their heads for a six off each. In the sixth over, he took on Arshdeep, hitting him for two fours.

India found some relief when Nizakat Khan was run out on the last ball of the powerplay. It was a free hit that Nizakat steered towards backward point before taking a couple of steps down the pitch. But Ravindra Jadeja nailed a direct hit before he could get back in.

Yuzvendra Chahal and Jadeja then conceded only 14 in the next four overs. That left Hong Kong with a monumental task of getting 128 from the last ten.

The chase peters out
At the end of the powerplay, Babar was on 29 off 17 but could manage only 12 off the next 18 balls he faced. Jadeja sent him back when he miscued a cut to backward point. Kinchit Shah and Aizaz offered some resistance by adding 31 off 22 balls for the fourth wicket but it was too little to trouble India. In the final two overs, Zeeshan Ali and Scott McKechnie hit a flurry of boundaries but that was too little too late to have an impact on the final result.

Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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ICC Rankings - 2022 Asia Cup

Hardik Pandya's all-round performance in India's opening game of the 2022 Asia Cup has helped him jump eight places on the T20I allrounder's rankings to a career-best fifth position.

Hardik was instrumental in India's five-wicket victory against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. Hitting the hard lengths consistently, Hardik picked up 3 for 25 in his four overs to help India dismiss Pakistan for 147 in 19.5 overs. He then shepherded a tricky chase, smashing an unbeaten 33 off 17 balls to take India over the line with two balls to spare.

Hardik has had a successful year with both bat and ball. He led Gujarat Titans to the title in their maiden season in the IPL, and he's taken his all-round form into international cricket as well.

Since the end of IPL 2022, Hardik has played 14 T20Is, scoring 314 runs at an average of 34.88 and taking 11 wickets with best figures of 4 for 33 against England. He also captained India in three T20Is - two against Ireland and one against West Indies - and won all three matches.

"In bowling, my plans were pretty simple," Hardik told Star Sports after the India-Pakistan clash. "I always tell the same thing. It's just how I use it. I tell that it's important to kind of assess the situation and conditions, and use your weapon which I feel, you know, hard lengths and hitting the length is my strength. But I make sure I use it very wisely, put some doubt in the batter and ask them to play the wrong shot."

About his batting form, Hardik said, "In batting, over the years, I have understood [that] the calmer I can stay, it's going to help me execute all the plans. Those executions, the 50-50 chances that I take, if I am calmer, it helps me to pull it off. Chases like this, you always plan overs."

There were gains for Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the T20I rankings for bowlers after Afghanistan became the first team to qualify for the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup. Rashid's 3 for 22 against Bangladesh helped him jump two spots over fellow wristspinners Adil Rashid and Adam Zampa on the list of T20I bowlers. He is now No. 3 with only Tabraiz Shamsi and Josh Hazlewood ahead of him.

Mujeeb is ranked ninth - having moved up seven places - after taking five wickets in the first two games at the Asia Cup.

In the Test rankings, Ben Stokes' efforts in England's win over South Africa in Manchester, saw him move up in all three rankings list. He is now 18th in the Test rankings for batters, 38th among bowlers, and second among allrounders.

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