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.

#West #Indies #vicecaptain #Anisa #Mohammed #sixmonth #break #cricket https://www.globalcourant.com/west-indies-vice-captain-anisa-mohammed-to-take-six-month-break-from-cricket/?feed_id=19591&_unique_id=6312ed077c54f

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.

#Eng #Pak #T20Is #Jason #Roy #set #Pakistan #T20I #tour #T20 #World #Cup https://www.globalcourant.com/eng-vs-pak-t20is-jason-roy-set-to-miss-out-for-pakistan-t20i-tour-t20-world-cup/?feed_id=19115&_unique_id=6311999b53402

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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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

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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Eng vs SA, Test series

No further details have been provided about their itinerary except that they will "stay together as a group" and engage in team activities including golf rather than have individual time away, as was initially discussed. Speaking after the second Test, Dean Elgar said they would use the time to reconnect, to "pull ourselves towards ourselves", and "don't forget why we are here".

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Pakistan flash floods - PCB to donate gate receipts from first England T20I to PM's Flood Relief Fund

The PCB will donate gate receipts from Pakistan's first T20I against England, in Karachi on September 20, to flood-relief efforts to help the country deal with the catastrophic situation that has caused over 1000 deaths.

The floods were caused by the highest rainfall in the country in more than three decades, an occurrence described by Sherry Rehman, the minister for climate change, as a "climate catastrophe". Over 33 million people in the country have been affected and, according to some estimates, the flooding has caused over $10 billion worth of damage.

Ramiz Raja, the PCB chairman, said in a statement, "As cricket unites our proud nation, we stand firmly with the victims and all those involved in​ the flood relief and rescue operations. As a responsible and caring organisation, the PCB has always stood with its fans and public in tough, challenging and testing times. In this regard, we have decided to donate gate proceeds from the first T20I against England ​next month to the Prime Minister's Flood Relief Fund.

"I encourage all spectators to participate in this initiative by purchasing tickets for the first T20I and turning up in big numbers so that we as a cricket family can donate ​a substantial amount to the fund and show solidarity with those affected by the catastrophe."

"We have already sent trucks full of food, medicines and other commodities to the affected areas and will continue to support our ​nation and rescue operational teams in any way we can," Ramiz said. "Our thoughts and prayers remain with the people of Pakistan."

After the Asia Cup, Pakistan will host England upon their return home for a series of seven T20Is. It will be England's first tour of Pakistan in 17 years and the matches will be held in Karachi (the first four) and Lahore (the remaining three). After the series, the teams will travel to Australia for the T20 World Cup, and England will then return to Pakistan for a three-Test series, to be played in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi in December.

#Pakistan #flash #floods #PCB #donate #gate #receipts #England #T20I #PMs #Flood #Relief #Fund https://www.globalcourant.com/pakistan-flash-floods-pcb-to-donate-gate-receipts-from-first-england-t20i-to-pms-flood-relief-fund/?feed_id=18065&_unique_id=630eb983b4e4a

Asia Cup 2022 - India vs Hong Kong

Ravindra Jadeja was at his jovial best at Tuesday's optional training session, ahead of India's final group game against Hong Kong in Dubai. And when he rather unexpectedly came for the pre-match press conference, he was greeted with a huge cheer from the room.

"Bakra mil gaya kya?," (Have you guys found your sacrificial lamb) Jadeja laughed as he settled into his chair. And over the next 10 minutes, his answers alternated between dry humour and insight into India's strategies at the Asia Cup.

"Aapka sawaal mere book se baahar hai," (your question is out of syllabus) he joked when asked whether Rishabh Pant would continue to be benched.

"Aap zyada sochte ho, main itna nahi sochta," (you seem to think a lot, I don't think so much) he quipped when asked about his role of primarily being a bowler in Test cricket vis-a-vis his role in the white-ball teams.

Chuckles turned into full-blown laughter when Jadeja responded to a question on how he dealt with rumours about his sudden injury during the IPL and the possibility of him not being selected for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.

"Once I heard news that I was dead, it can't bigger than that," he responded. "I don't think too much about it. I just focus on my work, try to play well and perform."

Jadeja's answers were quick. He can go through half a dozen questions in the time he takes to bowl an over.

With Pakistan playing a legspinner in Shadab Khan and a left-arm spinner in Mohammad Nawaz, Jadeja was sent up the order to negate the threat of a right-hand batter having to face a ball turning away from him. Jadeja responded with a 29-ball 35 and his partnership with Hardik Pandya helped India win the game with three balls to spare. He revealed that he's been preparing to bat anywhere in the order, and that the decision to move up was something he had expected.

"If you play for India, there will be pressure always. You need to play with responsibility sometimes. When you get a chance to bat when the team is in trouble and then you have to win it from there, it's challenging."

Ravindra Jadeja

"Definitely, sometimes it happens if a left-arm spinner or legspinner is bowling, it's easier to have a left-hander," Jadeja said. "In the top-seven I was the only left-hander. I knew there would be such situations, where they have a left-arm spinner and legspinner so I may have to bat up.

"I was preparing myself mentally for it. Luckily, I got the runs, and whatever I did, it was crucial. I can't say [the same will happen against all teams]. Every opponent has different bowlers, we'll plan from that point of view."

Jadeja rued not finishing the game off but expressed satisfaction at having delivered a key performance in a pressure situation. "If you play for India, there will be pressure always," he said. "You need to play with responsibility sometimes. When you get a chance to bat when the team is in trouble and then you have to win it from there, it's challenging.

"You can sometimes come to bowl in similar situations. If you perform well in such situations, it gives you satisfaction and confidence as a player."

And how would Jadeja bowl to a batter like Jadeja? "If there's someone like that in T20s, I'll look at the areas the batter plays in, what his strong zones are, which end I'm bowling from, and which part of the outfield is bigger."

In 2018, the Asia Cup was Jadeja's launchpad for a comeback after he fell out of favour for close to a year. Four years on, Jadeja and Hardik Pandya are key pieces of India's T20I puzzle as they look to win a tournament - the T20 World Cup - they haven't won since 2007.

Jadeja isn't focused on Australia just yet. He's looking to do his best against Hong Kong, and then take the Super 4s as it comes.

"One game at a time, one game at a time," he laughed, before coolly walking off, sipping ice-cold water.

Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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Aus vs Zim, 2022 - Wessly Madhevere hopes for a run at No. 3 after successful last-minute call-up

Wessly Madhevere is eager to establish himself as Zimbabwe's No. 3 in ODIs after making the most of an unexpected opportunity in the opening match against Australia in Townsville.

Madhevere only found out shortly before the game started that he was in the team when Sean Williams was ruled out having taken a blow on the elbow at training on Saturday. An indication of how late the change was made came from the hasty scribbles on the team sheet.

"To be honest I didn't know I was going to play," Madhevere said. "Was told [on Saturday] I wasn't going to play but found out that Sean wasn't doing too well with the elbow and that's when the coach told me that I was playing.

"I normally get nervous the day before, especially when I know I'll be playing, but today I was kind of relaxed."

Madhevere went on to make his fourth ODI fifty and a new career-best of 72 to give Zimbabwe a platform from where they could have accelerated at the death, but after he gave a return catch to Adam Zampa's final delivery they lost 6 for 15 to be bowled out for 200 with 15 balls unused.

However, Madhevere wants to take on the No. 3 role in a more permanent capacity having made 5 and 2 in the position on the previous occasions he had batted there, in the recent series against India.

"I see myself batting there, it's one of the crucial positions when you want to be exposed to the pressure, so that's one of the key areas and I quite like that challenge," he said. "It also helps me grow as a cricketer if I get exposed to it right now, then it will be easier for me in the future."

He built steadily against seam and spin, reaching his fifty from 67 balls, and said he found the Townsville surface similar to those he had played on while at school in South Africa.

"I quite enjoyed it," he said. "Got exposed to those kind of conditions while I was at school so I knew what was happening."

Madhevere added that he felt 250-260 would have been a competitive total and Zimbabwe are hopeful that spin will be become more of a factor in the remaining two games. Sikandar Raza caused a few problems with his offspin while legspinner Ryan Burl collected three wickets as the Australians played aggressively against him.

The second ODI takes place on Wednesday.

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WI cricket - Fabian Allen ready to return for West Indies after 'difficult time' for him and family

Fabian Allen has made himself available for international selection again ahead of the T20 World Cup, six months since his last appearance in a West Indies shirt.

Allen, the left-arm spin-bowling allrounder, declined a retainer contract with Cricket West Indies earlier this year and has been absent for "personal reasons" throughout West Indies' home season.

He revealed in a statement that he had lost his father to cancer earlier this year, thanking CWI for their support throughout "a very difficult time for me and my family", and confirmed that he is available for international selection.

"I'd like to thank my family, friends and fans for their support over the past four months," Allen said. "As some of you may know, I recently lost my father to cancer this year and it has been a very difficult time for me and my family. He was my biggest fan and I'm happy he got [to] see me live my dream as a professional cricketer. I will continue to make him proud.

"As a professional athlete you learn to quickly put things behind you and move forward but it has been particularly difficult for me over the past couple [of] months. I'm very grateful to the Mumbai Indians franchise for allowing me the time to handle my personal arrangements and being flexible with my schedule.

"After laying my dad to rest I immediately had to turn my focus to the IPL. While it kept me busy and focused, I knew after the tournament was completed, I needed to take some time away from the game."

Allen was the leading run-scorer in the inaugural season of the 6ixty last week and he will represent Jamaica Tallawahs at the CPL, where he will hope to push for a place in West Indies' T20 World Cup squad.

"Cricket West Indies has been supportive throughout the entire process and I really want to thank Johnny Grave [chief executive] and Jimmy Adams [director of cricket] for their consideration. I want to use this opportunity to make it clear, I'll always want to represent my country and the West Indies.

"Even though I did not necessarily make it clear why I made myself unavailable for selection during the recent summer schedule, it was important for me to finish my grieving process and spend some time with my family.

"Most importantly, I've been getting myself physically and mentally ready for the CPL and hopefully the T20 World Cup (if selected) later this year. The best of Fabian Allen is yet to come. I know I have the ability to be one of the best batting allrounders in the world and I look forward to showcasing it for all to see."

#cricket #Fabian #Allen #ready #return #West #Indies #difficult #time #family https://www.globalcourant.com/wi-cricket-fabian-allen-ready-to-return-for-west-indies-after-difficult-time-for-him-and-family/?feed_id=17610&_unique_id=630d65f673117

Shaheen Shah Afridi injury update

Injured Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi will complete rehabilitation for his knee injury in London. The PCB has said he is expected to regain complete fitness before the T20 World Cup in October though his return to cricket will be decided by the board's medical advisory panel. The decision represents a reversal of the PCB's initial plan, who had initially said Afridi would travel with the team while undergoing rehab.

Afridi sustained the right knee ligament injury while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in July. He has been kept on the sidelines ever since, but he did travel with the team - and some doctors as well - to the Netherlands for a three-match ODI series in August.

Ahead of their departure to Rotterdam, Babar Azam said Afridi would play no more than one match. Still, he went on that tour, and it was in the middle of it that the seriousness of the injury emerged. Afridi was ruled out of both the Asia Cup and a seven-match T20I series at home against England in September.

"Shaheen Shah Afridi requires uninterrupted, dedicated knee specialist care and London offers some of the best sports medical and rehabilitation facilities in the world," PCB's chief medical officer Najeebullah Soomro said in a release issued by the board on Monday. "In the best interest of the player, we have decided to send him there.

"The medical department will receive daily feedback on his progress whilst in London and we are confident Shaheen will return to full fitness before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup."

In recent years, 22-year-old Afridi has established himself as Pakistan's frontline bowler across all three formats, and alongside Babar, is Pakistan's best known and most marketable cricketer. He has tended to play most of Pakistan's internationals, providing the team with serious wicket-taking threat, especially in the Powerplay.

Pakistan missed him in their Asia Cup opener on Sunday, where India were able to recover from a bit of early damage during a chase of 148. Afridi has previous with India having wrecked their top-order in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Overall, he has 47 wickets in 40 T20Is, and has played at least 25 internationals in all three formats since his debut in 2018.

#Shaheen #Shah #Afridi #injury #update https://www.globalcourant.com/shaheen-shah-afridi-injury-update/?feed_id=17540&_unique_id=630d2d649771a

Eng vs SA, 2nd Test - New bowler, new ball

On Wednesday, on the eve of the second Test against South Africa, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad were driving back to the team hotel after a round of golf at The Mere Golf Resort & Spa. It was here that Broad first heard he would not be taking the new ball at Emirates Old Trafford.

He wasn't told, expressly. Instead, his captain floated the idea to the 36-year-old, whose last appearance as the third seamer in a home first innings was 100 Tests ago, at Trent Bridge in the 2013 Ashes Test. Broad had a think and quickly agreed the logic was sound.

The response from Broad was to be expected for one who thrives on proving a point. His 3 for 37 in the first innings after being introduced first-change included Proteas skipper Dean Elgar. He ended up being the fifth option in the second innings, following an early foray for the spinners, but accounted for Aiden Markram, whom he'd earlier missed out on after overstepping.

He now has 559 Test dismissals, four short of his hero Glenn McGrath who sits fifth on the all-time list. It's not always the case that someone so decorated is so accommodating - indeed there have been times in the past when Broad might have contested the notion. But he took the demotion with grace, and Stokes lauded his senior man: "For Broady to understand the bigger picture about why I wanted that to be the option was an absolute credit to him."

What helped Broad see the bigger picture was that Stokes wanted to give the new ball to Ollie Robinson. Of all the quicks he has seen come through the changing-room door, Broad regards Robinson as one of the most skilful, which makes sense given that James Anderson was already inside when Broad himself walked in back in 2007. Despite Robinson being recalled for just his 10th Test, and his first since Hobart in January, Broad knew his team-mate was the better option.

The prospect of this switch emerged after the England Lions match against South Africa at Canterbury, where the feedback to the main group was of Robinson's joy against Sarel Erwee. After missing the series opener at Lord's, and getting match-ready in the shadow of England's innings defeat, the cord was pulled in Manchester to great effect.

Robinson was unlucky to just take just the one wicket for 48 on day one - "he was on the best none-for that I've ever seen," Stokes said at the post-match presentations - but bagged England's best figures of the match on day three, with 4 for 43 as South Africa folded for 179 to confirm defeat and make it 1-1 going into the final match at The Oval.

As it happens, despite the seed of an idea being planted at the start of August, and revealed to Broad on Wednesday, Robinson was only informed he was opening from the Brian Statham End after Elgar had won the toss on Thursday morning and opted to bat first.

"I got told 10 minutes before we were going out I was taking the new ball," Robinson said on Saturday night, "and then got the nod as we walked onto the field.

"I was buzzing because I feel that's my strength - making the batsman play as much as possible with the new ball. So it was a nice confidence booster from Stokesy and Baz as well."

Ollie Robinson says he has become a 'gym freak' in the months since his previous Test appearance in the Ashes•Getty Images

For the 28-year-old, who now boasts 44 dismissals at 20.93 at Test level, this felt like the turning of a page in a 14-month international career that has already been punctuated with controversy and misfortune. Of the 10 matches he has missed since making his debut at Lord's against New Zealand at the start of the 2021 home season, one was due to a suspension after the emergence of historic offensive tweets, three were because he was not fit enough to cope with the rigours of a Test winter, and the four at the start of this summer were due to a combination of Covid-19, back troubles and a dental issue.

"It's been a tough six months with injury and a few doubts about myself," Robinson said. "So it's really satisfying to get the win here and make a decent contribution at the end.

"I've tried to keep my head up, be quite positive and try to work as hard as I can to just get back into this environment. I was chuffed to be in this squad before we played the first Test, and to play this one I was over the moon. It's just great to be back and that winning feeling - you just can't beat it."

The overriding narrative around Robinson has been about fitness, something made public during the Ashes. Bowling coach Jon Lewis said Robinson needed to be fitter after struggling in the fifth Test of the 4-0 defeat, stating: "He's got to get used to understanding what it takes to be a full-time year-round international cricketer."

It was a statement that resonated beyond the dressing-room because of the implication that Robinson was not as professional as he should be. But there were also some who felt the public chastising was not the best approach. Robinson, however, accepts nothing said was incorrect, and that Lewis, who remains part of the backroom staff but will be moved back to the ECB pathways at the end of the summer, was not saying anything he hadn't told Robinson in private. Since working together at Sussex, the pair have a strong relationship.

"It's not easy but we're an honest group," Robinson said. "I took that on the chin and took it as a wake-up call as well. So I've used that to drive me forward in the last six months and, when times have got tough, I've just used that as a drive to try and keep positive.

"I've always had that positive mindset that I would get back," he added. "I think people don't realise that me and Jon go back quite a long way. He was my bowling coach at Sussex for three, four years. So we do have that honest relationship. It's just hasn't obviously come out in the press before, but we do have that honest relationship where we can say what we feel and how we felt and we just moved on after that. We spoke about it, moved on, and like I said it drove me for the last six months to get to this place today."

It is a place where, now, training no longer feels like a chore. "I've become a bit of a gym freak," he added with a smile, "which I never thought I'd say.

"I wake up in the morning and I'm like, I've really got to go to the gym. Yeah, so it's become a bit of a habit, whereas before it was a chore and I think that's really helped me as well. The running three times a week, the gymming three times a week, it's just ingrained in me now, which hopefully will help for years to come."

The real change has been one of mindset rather than diet and behaviour, something triggered by chats with Stokes during the period in which Robinson was sidelined. Much of that was of the standards expected, but there was empathy, too. Stokes used himself as an example of someone who did not fully appreciate the importance of fine-tuning your body until later in his career.

Stuart Broad took his demotion to first-change with grace and produced a vital first-innings spell•AFP/Getty Images

"When he first started international cricket he wasn't in the shape he is now, and I spoke to him about how he got there - mentally, physically, the lot. And he really helped me in that stage of building back to this point today. Along with the England medical team and everyone behind the scenes, they really helped me. I'm not there yet, I'm not the finished article at all, but we're well on the way of getting there hopefully."

Robinson regards the last six months as something of a blessing in disguise. An intense first half of his career has given way to a much quieter one in which he has been able to improve his numbers without a ball in his hand.

"We've got obviously the last Test and then we've probably got six, seven weeks again before Pakistan," he said. "So I have the opportunity again to go to the next level again. So that's what I'm thinking at the moment, just using that time as wisely as I can to improve myself as best I can."

This realisation, authentic if overdue and all the more welcome for it, comes at a crucial juncture for the life cycle of this England side. As much as there has been a reinvigoration of Anderson and Broad, quite how long both have left is a constant fear, even if the pair state they are as happy and as willing as ever.

Beyond their world-class ability is longevity, which has offered England an earthing, even in troubled times. And while they are still around, Robinson says he will absorb as much of their knowledge as possible while also working out how he might replicate their endurance, popularity and, ultimately, legacy.

"Watching them two is so inspirational for me." he said. "That's how I want to be: I want the crowd cheering my name and that's what I'm driving to do.

"I had a point today when I was fielding at mid-off and I thought 'I don't want to do this for 18 months. I want to do this for five, six years' and I feel more driven today than I did at the start of my career. I feel in such a good headspace now, after this week's game, I can drive on and push on a lot more."

Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor for ESPNcricinfo

#Eng #2nd #Test #bowler #ball https://www.globalcourant.com/eng-vs-sa-2nd-test-new-bowler-new-ball/?feed_id=17176&_unique_id=630c12c0d7ded

Ben Stokes hails 'benchmark' performance as England learn to adapt their aggression

Captain proud of manner in which England bounced back from Lord's defeat
#Ben #Stokes #hails #039benchmark039 #performance #England #learn #adapt #aggression https://www.globalcourant.com/ben-stokes-hails-benchmark-performance-as-england-learn-to-adapt-their-aggression/?feed_id=16777&_unique_id=630abf65246d0

Hasan Ali in Pakistan Asia Cup squad after Mohammad Wasim is ruled out

PCB confirmed that the team management had asked for Hasan as a replacement and chief selector Mohammad Wasim accepted the request. When the 16-man squad had been announced earlier this month, Naseem Shah had been called up to replace Hasan. Now, with Afridi and Wasim out, Pakistan's pace-bowling unit has Haris Rauf, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shah and Hasan. Their campaign at the Asia Cup starts on August 28 against India.

#Hasan #Ali #Pakistan #Asia #Cup #squad #Mohammad #Wasim #ruled https://www.globalcourant.com/hasan-ali-in-pakistan-asia-cup-squad-after-mohammad-wasim-is-ruled-out/?feed_id=16399&_unique_id=6309a43e4c0d9

Clear winners spotted after four-way bidding for ICC media rights

There will be no second-round e-auction for the ICC media rights after a clear winner - or winners - emerged when the sealed bids were opened on Friday. The identity of the winner/s for the right to broadcast ICC events in India has not been disclosed yet - the ICC board makes that call on Saturday after a recommendation is sent to it by the media-rights advisory group appointed to adjudicate on the bidding process.

There has been no official communication from the ICC on whether a solitary winner won both the TV and digital rights or whether there were separate winners in the two categories. What is also not yet confirmed is whether the rights have been sold for four years or eight, as the ICC had kept the tenure of the rights flexible, in order to exploit the best number commercially.

Though the value of the winning bid is unlikely to be made public, the ICC is believed to have set a base price of USD 1.44 billion (for a four-year deal) and USD 4 billion for an eight-year one. Its last rights deal, for eight years, was worth approximately USD 2.1 billion. Because of the changing nature of the market and especially the digital streaming landscape, as well as the increased number of ICC events in this cycle, the expectation was that any new deal would be considerably bigger than the last one.

A total of six packages were on sale with the sealed bids opened on Friday at the ICC headquarters in Dubai in the presence of the bidders. It is learned that four bidders participated, including Disney Star*, Sony, Viacom and Zee.

After facing mounting pressure from the bidders over the past month over concerns about the transparency of the process, the ICC had said that an e-auction would take place as a second round of bidding should the value of the two best bids in the first round be within 10% of each other.

By Saturday, it is expected that the ICC Board comprising 17 directors will discuss the recommendations of the rights advisory group and announce the identities of the winner/s. The five-person advisory group includes ICC chair Greg Barclay, Ross McCollum (the chair of the ICC's Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee), Anurag Dahiya (the ICC's chief commercial officer), Richard Freudenstein (finance & commercial affairs director) and BCCI acting CEO Hemang Amin.

*Disney Star and ESPNcricinfo are part of the Walt Disney Company

#Clear #winners #spotted #fourway #bidding #ICC #media #rights https://www.globalcourant.com/clear-winners-spotted-after-four-way-bidding-for-icc-media-rights/?feed_id=16350&_unique_id=63096bcde565c

Eng vs SA 2nd Test 2nd day

Ben Foakes admits fitting into this new England men's Test side can be a struggle but hopes Test century number two is a sign he is going about it the right way.

Foakes finished unbeaten on 113 on day two against South Africa at Old Trafford, as the hosts declared on 415 for 9 to establish a first-innings lead of 264. While it was by no means the kind of aggressive innings we have become used to under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, the Surrey wicketkeeper reaching three figures from 206 deliveries, it was a vital contribution when England needed it most.

It was an especially helpful knock alongside Stokes, who scored 103, as the pair put on 173 for the sixth wicket. Having come in on 147 for 5, still trailing the Proteas by four, the absorption of pressure and the subsequent accumulation of runs, which sped up when Foakes was batting with the tail, was a nod to a lot of introspection and hard work paying dividends for the 29-year-old.

His first century came in his first innings in this format, back in November 2018 in Sri Lanka. Since then, he has established himself as a reliable No. 5 for Surrey: seven of his now 13 first-class hundreds have come for the county - he began his career at Essex, for whom he has three - at an average of 43. While he struggled at first to truly get to grips with batting lower for England, and adopting an altogether different mindset, this was a sizeable step in the right direction.

"It's a different role, at Surrey I just bat five and just play," Foakes said. "When you get on quite challenging wickets batting at seven, obviously there's a good chance you lose wickets quickly and you have to play a different way. I think for me it's learning how to do that as well as I can. Just because it's not my natural game. Finding a way to be able to, quite early on in my innings, put pressure back on the bowler rather than just batting.

"When I bat at five hundreds are definitely something I think about, but at seven I think more about just trying to contribute because obviously you're not going to get as many opportunities to get a hundred. If I can get 40 with the tail and dominate that partnership, that's my job. Getting a big partnership here and getting a century definitely gives me some confidence going forward."

There was palpable relief at getting another significant score on the board 14 Tests and four years later, not just with the celebration of fist pumps to himself before receiving a warm embrace from his partner at the time, Ollie Robinson, and the appreciation of a packed out Emirates Old Trafford.

Since his debut, Foakes was either thrust in and out on a whim or missed out through injury, as happened at the start of 2021 when he tore his hamstring. Then, during the Headingley Test against New Zealand earlier this summer, a bout of Covid-19 ruled him out of the second-half of the match and the next Test against India. Twin failures at Lord's (6 and 0) heaped more misery on him, but he has come out the other side in impressive fashion. An average of 26.91 coming into this match has already improved to 31.82 thanks to the red ink.

"I just felt awful in that game [Headingley]," he said. "Getting the opportunity of being number one and then pretty soon after getting something like that is very frustrating, I've had a bit of stuff going on since I first played but I'm used to little setbacks like that

"To be honest, in my first 10 games I was kind of looking and thinking 'jeez how hard is Test cricket'. The West Indies tour [in 2019], the wickets out there - and then I came in for those three in India [last year] and it was obviously crazy to bat on and I guess this is a different role as well.

"I think it's just that I've been a little bit out of touch," he said of his performance at Lord's last week. "I haven't been lining it up as well as I'd like in the last couple of Championship games and then in the first one at Lord's. So for me it was just working out how to do that better. That's what I worked on between these two games. And I felt like I did line it up better and play better.

"Because it's not my natural game, it's just trying to work out how to play best. And I think sometimes I haven't got the balance right because I'm not an explosive batter. If I'm trying to get the score up I can start pushing at the ball and things like that and playing at balls I shouldn't be. It's been really clear, obviously practising in a different way for that role, but also being really clear when I am just going to bat or when I have to push the button... how I'm going to do it. Don't just throw my bat outside off stump. I'm happy to get out if I'm doing this or this, but not just giving it away."

Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor for ESPNcricinfo

#Eng #2nd #Test #2nd #day https://www.globalcourant.com/eng-vs-sa-2nd-test-2nd-day/?feed_id=16266&_unique_id=6309335aec617

New Zealand cricket - Trent Boult hoping he's not done with Tests just yet

Trent Boult is aware that his decision to withdraw from New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) central contract earlier this month is going to "affect" his selection in Tests but he hopes he hasn't played his last match in the long format yet.

New Zealand are scheduled to travel to Pakistan in December 2022 and January 2023 for two Tests, and will host England for a two-Test series in February 2023 - including a day-night match in Mount Maunganui, Boult's home ground - and Sri Lanka in March.

However, Boult is likely to miss the Pakistan tour due to his commitments with T20 leagues abroad. He is among the 12 players who have been given platinum status in Australia's BBL draft, which comes with a price tag of AU$340,000. The BBL begins on December 13, with the group stage running till January 25. Boult has also signed up for the UAE-based ILT20 - which is expected to be played between January and February - where he would be representing MI Emirates.

"I hope not," Boult said when asked if the Test he played against England in June was potentially his last. "I'm fully aware that with the decision I made to give that contract back, it's going to affect that selection. I'm taking it almost week by week really.

"There's a lot of cricket to be played before then. I know the next series is in Pakistan and then at my home ground [Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui] against England in the new year, but it's too far away to tell. I'm going to leave that with New Zealand Cricket and respect their decision."

For New Zealand's next assignment, the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in Australia featuring three ODIs, Boult has held on to his spot, but NZC had made it clear that his future selection would be made on a case-by-case basis and that the board would prioritise contracted players.

Boult also said that he wants to have "another crack" at the ODI World Cup next October, slated to be held in India. He is also expected to lead New Zealand's pace attack in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia in October. If he does feature in the global event next year, it would be Boult's third ODI World Cup.

"I remember talking to Kane [Williamson] after 2019 at Lord's [where England pipped New Zealand in the final] and saying we want to be there in four years' time," Boult said. "It's only a few months around the corner and there's a lot of hunger to try to have another crack at that trophy."

Boult, 33, reiterated that his decision to withdraw his central contract and move into "life after cricket" was primarily to spend more time with his wife and three children. "Without getting too financially specific, I'd be more able to bring them on tour [when playing T20 leagues]," Boult said. "I've got three young boys that only see dad for eight weeks a year at the current moment. If I don't play any international cricket - obviously I still want to - then that might be a couple of leagues a year and 10 months at home rather than the other way around.

"I'm not getting too far ahead - it's a hard one to forecast at the moment."

#Zealand #cricket #Trent #Boult #hoping #hes #Tests https://www.globalcourant.com/new-zealand-cricket-trent-boult-hoping-hes-not-done-with-tests-just-yet/?feed_id=15930&_unique_id=6308515967b4f

ICC eyes $4 billion-plus media rights money for Indian market

The ICC are about to discover how much their cricket is worth when they open bids for the Indian market from various broadcasters on Friday. At stake are the rights to broadcast ICC events - men's and women's - for the next four or eight years, on TV and digital, straight to your device of choice. And given the massive amounts generated by the bidding for the IPL, there's an expectation that the ICC could benefit from the big money swirling around the game.

Here's what you need to know about the bidding.

Why do I even need to know about ICC rights when all I care about is who my team plays next?
Because, ultimately, the money from these rights forms a chunk of the money that makes the rich (India, England and Australia) richer but keeps the game going in the smaller member countries. So, if you care about that, you probably better care about this too.

Fine, so what's being bid for?
A whole bunch of events from 2023-31: 16 men's events (over eight years between 2023-31) and six women's events (over four years - between 2023-27). World Cups, Champions Trophy, T20 World Cups, U19 World Cups, you name it, every ICC event - men and women - you watch until 2031 will be part of this deal.

Brought to me by?
As ESPNcricinfo understands it, one or more of Disney Star*, Sony, Zee, Viacom and Amazon.

And am I watching it on my phone, TV, tablet?
Either, both, all. For the first time, the ICC has unpacked its rights. No longer is it selling one set of TV rights to the highest bidder; it is now selling its rights as separate packages of TV only, digital only, and TV and digital combined. All three are for four or eight years. In case any of the packages are sold for only four years, the ICC will open another window to sell the rights for the second four-year period.

That sounds like bidding could get complicated.
That's exactly what four of the main broadcasters in the running thought, and several emails were sent to the ICC about the lack of transparency in the process. And as a symbolic protest, they didn't initially attend some training sessions - or "mock auctions" as they called them - designed to familiarise them with the process.

Expand.
Disney Star, Zee, Sony and Viacom expressed various concerns over the transparency of the bidding process. TL;DR: the broadcasters were unhappy with the fact that the bids were not going to be shared once opened, among those who bid; that there was no clarity about how close the highest bids needed to be to trigger a second round of bidding; and they wanted to know more about how the ICC would judge a bid for a four-year deal against a bid for an eight-year deal.

What happened next?
The four broadcasters eventually did go ahead and put in bids, and according to some reports, the clarity they wanted has been given. For example, according to a report in the Times of India, broadcasters have been told that if a bid is within 10% of the highest bid/combination bid, it will trigger a second round of bidding - only this time through an e-auction (more on that shortly).

There has also been some more information around a pre-determined multiplier, which will be used to judge an eight-year bid against a four-year one. The ICC will look at the best bids for both tenures and then look at the ratio between the two, compare that with the multiplier, believed to be set at 2.8. If the ratio for eight years exceeds the multiplier, then the ICC will pick the winner for the eight-year bid. If the ratio is less, then the highest bid for four years will be selected.

I'm sorry, what?
Here's an example. If the best four-year number is 100 and the best eight-year number is 270, the ratio is 2.7 (270/100). That is below the 2.8 multiplier set by the ICC. So in this case, the ICC will go with the highest bidder for four years. But if the best bid for four years is 100 and the highest bid for eight years is 300, then the ratio of 3 means the ICC will pick the highest bid for eight years.

Does that mean there could be an e-auction, like the one at the IPL?
Only, as we say, if the second-best bid is within 10% of the best bid; the first round of bidding is the old-school, sealed-bid methodology, which the ICC says has worked best for years (some broadcasters wanted an e-auction from the start, after the success of the IPL). The ICC also argue that the unbundled nature of their rights offering means that it is too complex for a simple e-auction process. In fact, at first they had ruled out an e-auction but have since stepped back from that. The e-auction, if needed, will take place a few days later.

Why have they gone to the Indian market first?
In short: money. It is cricket's biggest market and as the IPL rights proved, there is massive appetite among the biggest broadcasters there for more cricket content. The ICC is banking on the belief that since two different broadcasters - Disney Star and Viacom - have won the TV and digital rights respectively for next five-year cycle of the IPL, both as well as other participants will bid aggressively to bag the second biggest rights in cricket, that of the ICC.

Underpinning this is also simple maths: by unbundling its package of rights into men's and women's events, into digital and TV, by going into different territories, they stand to make much more money than they have in previous cycles.

I'm not sure how it has taken this long to get to the crux of this: how much money are they expecting to make?
Nobody can be certain but here are some facts. In the last cycle, the ICC sold its rights for just over US$2 billion. But that was a different, linear world: that figure was for all rights on all platforms globally. For this cycle, the ICC is believed to have a benchmark figure in mind, an "asking price" of $1.44 billion for a four-year deal and $4 billion (1.44 multiplied by 2.8) for an eight-year deal. That is double the last deal for eight years, and it is only a benchmark figure - so the minimum they expect - and it is only for the India market.

Expectations have risen not just because of the way broadcasting and the digital landscape has changed since the last cycle, but because there is more content. There were six men's events in the previous eight-year cycle, whereas there will be one annually in this next cycle. Six of the eight events fall in the Indian time zone; India play host to three men's event; four of the eight events in the next cycle take place during the Diwali festive season when the Indian market is usually in spending mood.

Separate women's rights will help. An element of development still remains, in that the highest bid will not necessarily guarantee the winner. The ICC is keen to find the right broadcasting partner who can promote women's cricket globally. The highest bidder(s) will make a presentation in front of the Media Rights Advisory Group (MRAG) - formed specifically to adjudicate the bidding - to showcase how they aim to help women's cricket grow, and that will not just be limited to the global events but the overall game.

*Disney Star and ESPNcricinfo are part of the Walt Disney Company.

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Eng vs SA, 2nd Test, Old Trafford - South Africa middle order 'under pressure' to score runs

South Africa's middle-order batters are "under pressure" to score runs at Old Trafford after none of them got an individual score over 25 at Lord's. While Test captain Dean Elgar supports backing the same batters who did duty in the first Test, he acknowledged that there needs to be more runs from them if South Africa are to play to their full potential.

"As long as we are still getting the results on our side, backing is extremely important for those guys. We have given them a decent run of late and I am sure they know they are under pressure to perform," Elgar said. "They are proper batters. They are here for a reason.

"If they are firing in the middle order and we conduct ourselves like we have been doing of late, our Test side can only grow. But they are here, they are being backed. I don't see a change. Consistency is key to success, and even consistency in selection. It's a tough series playing against England away from home. You need to back your horses that you've been backing for a while now."

South Africa have opted for Aiden Markram at No.4, Rassie van der Dussen at No.5 and Kyle Verreynne (who batted lower at Lord's after his grandfather took ill in the stands) at No.6. Between them, they scored 46 runs and, with Test vice-captain Temba Bavuma due to return from an elbow injury later in the year, could end up competing for two spots. The choice could become between Markram and van der Dussen, who have both had lean runs, and who selection convener Victor Mpitsang is particularly concerned about. Earlier in the week, Mptisang told South African media: "If they are putting up big numbers, and contributing it would help the conversation around them."

Markram has only recently moved into the No.4 role after effectively being dropped as an opener in New Zealand following a poor run. He had scored 140 runs at 15.56 in five Tests before that. But, Keegan Petersen contracted Covid-19 and missed the trip, which opened up a spot for Markram to bat at No.3. He scored 76 runs in four innings on that tour and 16 runs at No.4 at Lord's. Van der Dussen has done better, but only slightly. He has scored 233 runs in his last six Tests at 23.30 and has not scored a half-century since his unbeaten 75 in West Indies last year.

Verreynne is the player with a lot more slack. Not only is he the wicketkeeper and likely to be in that role for the long haul but he is one of only four South African batters to score a century in their last 11 Tests. His only serious competitor at the moment is Ryan Rickelton, though he is not thought to be South Africa's first-choice gloveman. While South Africa have won eight of those matches, they remain concerned with the line-up, especially in difficult conditions.

Though he has not said it outright, that was one of the reasons Elgar chose to bowl in cloudy, humid conditions at Lord's, even though he is usually a bat-first captain. England are expecting Old Trafford to present more challenges for batters with Ben Stokes explaining Ollie Robinson's selection as being due to extra pace and bounce in Manchester.

Elgar brushed that off as tactical talk, and, as he so often does, leaned on South Africa's stronger suit to counter that. "I love the mind games," he said. "If there is going to be extra pace and bounce, I am pretty sure our fast bowlers will extract it."

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Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna part of India A squad to face New Zealand A

Umran Malik, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sarfaraz Khan also make the cut for the three four-day games
#Kuldeep #Yadav #Prasidh #Krishna #part #India #squad #face #Zealand https://www.globalcourant.com/kuldeep-yadav-prasidh-krishna-part-of-india-a-squad-to-face-new-zealand-a/?feed_id=15482&_unique_id=6306fe700c2d3