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A superb batting effort from Fraser-McGurk, Porel and Stubbs took Capitals to 221

Abhimanyu Bose07-May-20243:17

Why the decision to give Samson out was the right one

Sanju Samson’s 46-ball 86 went in vain as Delhi Capitals’ 221 proved to be too much for Rajasthan Royals to chase. Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed shared six wickets between them as DC successfully defended their total after being asked to bat, subjecting RR to their second defeat on the trot.Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abishek Porel set up DC’s batting effort as they both hit rapid half-centuries.R Ashwin, who had come into the game with two wickets in the season, returned a three-wicket haul to slow DC down, but Tristan Stubbs once again provided the hosts with a powerful finish to take them to a total beyond RR’s reach.

Fraser-McGurk, Porel bedazzle

Fraser-McGurk walked in to bat with an average of 57.33 and strike rate close to 300 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. To stop him, Trent Boult started from around the wicket to try and keep him quiet. For one over, it worked.But when Boult returned for his second over, Fraser-McGurk met him with a loft down the ground for six before hitting him for two more fours in a 15-run over. He then tore into Avesh Khan, starting his first over with three consecutive fours and finishing it by going 6, 4, 6 to bring up his half-century off 19 deliveries.Ashwin struck in the final over of the powerplay when Fraser-McGurk thrashed a low full toss straight to cover. Shai Hope was then run-out at the non-striker’s end as Sandeep Sharma got a hand to deflect Porel’s straight drive on to the stumps.But Porel did not let DC’s momentum slip, racing to a 28-ball half-century of his own. He took on Riyan Parag and Yuzvendra Chahal to keep the boundaries coming. Even after Axar Patel fell in the tenth over, Porel took 27 runs off the next two overs. But in the 13th, he became Ashwin’s third victim of the night.

Stubbs provides the finish

When Rishabh Pant fell to Yuzvendra Chahal in the 14th over, DC faced a slowdown as Stubbs began slowly. Between the 14th and 17th overs, DC added just 22 runs with Stubbs on eight off 11 balls. But Stubbs changed it around when he took on Chahal in the spinner’s final over. His assortment of sweeps helped take 16 run off Chahal’s final over.Gulbadin Naib was out to Boult next over, but Impact Player Rasikh Salam hit two scoops to take DC past the 200 mark. Stubbs then hit back-to-back sixes to start the final over to ensure DC finished beyond 220.

Samson stands up to DC’s bowlers

Khaleel Ahmed had Yashasvi Jaiswal miscuing to mid-off in the first over of the chase, but Samson kept motoring on in the powerplay. Khaleel, Ishant Sharma and Mukesh all bore the brunt of Samson’s assault as he raced to 41 off 16. His runs helped RR finish on a strong 67 for 2 after six overs, losing Jos Buttler to Axar in the penultimate ball of the powerplay.Kuldeep then gave away just 11 runs off his first two overs as Samson and Parag trudged along in a 36-run stand that came off 31 balls. Salam’s slower ball ended the partnership when he castled the in-form Parag for 27.Samson had made just eight runs off nine balls in the partnership with Parag, and the dismissal appeared to bring out a sense of urgency in the RR captain. A six off a free-hit against Kuldeep that brought up his half-century was followed by two sixes and a four off the next over, bowled by Salam. A 17-run over off Ishant was followed by a wayward one from Khaleel, who bowled four wides in a row.But with the momentum just shifting towards RR, Mukesh had Samson hole out. Hope took a catch running to his left from long-on and almost tripped himself on to the boundary rope. After the third umpire confirmed that it was indeed out, Samson went to the umpire in protest but had to keep walking.

Kuldeep wraps it up

With RR still ending 60 off 26 balls, Shubham Dubey’s big shots off Khaleel briefly gave them hope, but Kuldeep’s double-wicket 18th over gave a knockout blow.He first had Donovan Ferreira trapped lbw off a skiddy delivery that was given not-out initially. Then, he tossed up his final ball of the spell wide outside off stump, and Ashwin miscued his slog. He finished with 2 for 25 in four overs, leaving RR needing 37 off the last 12.Salam and Mukesh closed it out, and DC moved to fifth on the points table with their third home win in a row.

Ben Stokes appears by video-link from New Zealand to plead not guilty to affray, alongside two other defendants

George Dobell at Bristol Crown Court12-Mar-2018Ben Stokes, the England allrounder, will miss the Lord’s Test against India – beginning on August 9 – after his trial date for affray was set for August 6 at Bristol Crown Court.Stokes, 26, who is currently on tour with England in New Zealand, appeared in court by video link this morning to confirm his identity and issue his not-guilty plea, at his trial preparation hearing in Bristol.He missed the Ashes after being suspended from playing for England following an alleged incident outside a nightclub in Bristol in the early hours of September 25, but returned to action during England’s one-day series against New Zealand early this month.Stokes stands accused of affray, alongside two other men, Ryan Ali, 28, and Ryan Hale, 26. The trio appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court last month, where the clerk read out the charges and all three defendants indicated not guilty pleas.Stokes is being represented by Mr Gordon Cole, Hale is being defended by Michael Hall and Ali by Giles Nelson. The prosecutor is Lucy Organ. Hale and Ali attended in person to confirm their not-guilty pleas.The alleged incident took place outside Mbargo nightclub in the Clifton Triangle area of Bristol, where England had earlier played a one-day international against West Indies.It is alleged a 27-year-old man suffered a fractured eye socket in the incident, at which fellow England cricketer Alex Hales was also present.The dry nature of proceedings was alleviated briefly when Stokes, wearing a collared grey shirt without a tie, responded to the formal introduction to His Honour Judge Blair QC, The Recorder of Bristol, by replying “Hi, Judge”. The video link also buffered as Stokes confirmed his “not guilty” plea leading to a moment of confusion.While Stokes was given special dispensation to miss the Plea Trial Preparation Hearing, all three defendants were told they “must be here
for your trial”. They were warned that, if they did not attend, a warrant would be issued for their arrest and they could forfeit their bail. They were also strongly advised to provide defence statements, setting out in detail their case, by May 22.The trial is expected to last between five and seven days.

The fast bowler has returned to Bangladesh to sort out his visa ahead of the T20 World Cup

Deivarayan Muthu and Mohammad Isam03-Apr-2024Mustafizur Rahman is a doubtful starter for Chennai Super Kings’ next IPL game against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on Friday. It is understood that the left-arm seamer has returned to Bangladesh to sort out his visa, along with the rest of the travelling contingent, for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by the West Indies and the USA.The T20 World Cup will kick off on June 1, less than a week after the IPL final on May 26 in Chennai.Mustafizur had provided a potent point of difference to CSK’s attack with his whippy cutters and extra pace, claiming a chart-topping seven wickets in three games at an average of 15.14 and economy rate of 8.83. Four of those seven wickets came in a space of ten balls on his CSK debut, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in the season opener on March 22 at Chepauk. He is the only Bangladesh player to have attracted a bid in the IPL 2024 auction.Related

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• How CSK put opposites together to become an IPL batting behemoth

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• KKR vs Royals match moved to April 16

• IPL 2024 orange cap: Virat Kohli, purple cap: Harshal Patel

In the potential absence of Mustafizur, CSK could bring back Sri Lanka mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana against Sunrisers. England’s offspin-bowling allrounder Moeen Ali is the other overseas option for CSK. This might result in CSK breaking up a strong pairing between Mustafizur and Matheesha Pathirana, who also operates at the death in T20 cricket.”Having options all the way through your line-up is very important,” CSK bowling consultant Eric Simons, said on the eve of their game against Delhi Capitals in Visakhapatnam. “One of the things is having a squad that gives you balance. You can make those sort of adjustments. If you can’t make those adjustments, then you can’t utilise the assets that you’ve got.”But having the batting strength we have, having the allrounders in the top order, that makes a big difference to our balance and what we can achieve. And the fact that they’re so different…having a left-armer is important, some of the balls are kind of slow, but what he [Mustafizur] does, and then the uniqueness of Matheesha as well, that’s a massive asset. No one likes to face him – our batsmen don’t like to face him – so I’m sure the opposition doesn’t either.”If CSK want to replace Mustafizur with a local option, then a fit-again Mukesh Choudhary could get a game. The Maharashtra left-arm seamer, though, has not played a competitive match since December 2022 because of multiple injuries. At the end of IPL 2022, he had suffered a rib fracture and then a lower-back injury.”Injury is always tough, like coming back from an injury is always going to be very difficult to get back into the team,” Choudhary told reporters in Chennai earlier this season. “This year we have eight fast bowlers. So, it’s difficult to play in the team. But I’m trying my best and I’m fit now and bowling really well.”I’m bowling more pace than when I was in 2022, so my pace has increased because I have worked a lot on my fitness level in the last eight months. I’m working really hard each and every day, so definitely my pace has increased and I got the swing and everything – like more control and more experience now.”CSK are currently third on the points table, with two wins in three games, with both victories coming at their home base Chepauk.

Rob Key, England men’s managing director, says full squad will convene ahead of Pakistan series

Matt Roller30-Apr-20241:49

Why Hartley beat Rehan to England’s second spinner spot

The ECB has made members of England’s T20 World Cup squad unavailable for the IPL play-offs and will call them home ahead of a four-match T20I series against Pakistan which starts on May 22. As things stand, the decision is likely to affect Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals), Phil Salt (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Moeen Ali (Chennai Super Kings).Rob Key, England men’s managing director, spoke to the players selected in their provisional World Cup squad on Monday to tell them that they had been picked, and told those involved in the IPL that they will not be available for the knockout stages. The play-offs run from May 21 until May 26, clashing directly with England’s Pakistan series.The other players who are involved in both England’s World Cup squad and the IPL are: Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone (all Punjab Kings), Will Jacks and Reece Topley (both Royal Challengers Bengaluru). Both franchises have struggled this season and may need to win all of their remaining group fixtures to qualify for the play-offs.ESPNcricinfo understands that players will be expected to return to the UK on the weekend of May 18-19, which could rule them out of their respective franchises’ final group-stage fixtures. The group stage runs until May 19 and England are keen for their World Cup squad to have a few days together before their first T20I since December.Phil Salt has been in formidable form for KKR but will miss their likely play-off matches•Associated Press

“You can’t just call people back for no reasons: there are protections,” Key said on Tuesday after announcing England’s provisional squad. “Without injury or England commitments, we couldn’t say to Phil Salt, for example, come back and have a rest for the next 15 days. But there is a window just before an England series when you can bring players back for England duty or injury.”Key revealed that Buttler, who has hit two centuries for table-topping Rajasthan Royals, had instigated the decision to come home before the end of the IPL. “I asked him very early on in the piece and said, ‘Look, as England captain, you’re obviously going to have this series against Pakistan. How do you see it?’ And straightaway, he said, ‘No, no, I want to come back and start getting ready for the World Cup in that series that’s just before it.’Buttler and his wife Louise are expecting their third child next month, so he may miss the start of the Pakistan series on paternity leave regardless. “When the due date is and when the baby comes is slightly fluid,” Key said. “But whatever happens, I think you put your family first and make sure you’re at the birth of your child. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”Key told players when they left for India: “Look, there is a good chance that you’ll be coming back [early],” he said. “There is a chance you could stay out there. We may feel that if you get through to an IPL final that, maybe, that’s the best thing to do. It might be that if there’s only one of you then you’d let you go on and do that… we have to keep it pretty fluid.”Related

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• Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer recalled for T20 World Cup

• India's T20 World Cup squad: IPL form unlikely to heavily influence selection

• Rashid: 'Things change quickly… we have the mindset of champions'

• South Africa's batting options for T20 World Cup: de Kock? Hendricks? Du Plessis?

But he said that England’s management decided the Pakistan series would help them to find clarity in the players’ roles ahead of their opening T20 World Cup fixture, against Scotland on June 4. “We’ve got to the point where actually, we think it’s more important that you come back and that group gets together: the likes of Phil Salt, opening the batting for England, getting that role going with Jos Buttler.”You just want them to get together and spend a bit of time and build up to it. So much of what our white-ball team has done has been turning up a couple of days before and, bang, we’re into a series, whereas I think that Pakistan series is going to be important for that, so they’ll all come back ready for that.”You want people to really start understanding what their roles are, what your best XI is going to be, and that’s what we want to make sure: when we hit Barbados, we know exactly what that is. Last time, for the [50-over] World Cup, Adil Rashid was injured in that series versus New Zealand and we probably didn’t take into account how much, when he came back, that altered the balance.”Other boards’ approach to clashes between T20I series and the IPL play-offs have varied. New Zealand fielded a second-string team in Pakistan earlier this month, while the BCB have pulled Mustafizur Rahman out of the IPL early for a series against Zimbabwe. CSA will allow their players to stay in India for the play-offs, despite a clash with a three-match series against West Indies.

The WPL final is scheduled for March 17 in Delhi, two days before England’s first T20I against NZ in Dunedin

Matt Roller02-Feb-2024The ECB has made an unsuccessful request to New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to move the dates of England’s upcoming women’s tour, with four players deemed unavailable for the first three T20Is as a result of their Women’s Premier League (WPL) commitments in India and two others pulling out of their franchise contracts.NZC confirmed the fixtures in July for the tour, which comprises five T20Is and three ODIs between March 19 and April 6. The BCCI had only publicly announced the window for the WPL last Wednesday, with the final scheduled for March 17 in Delhi – two days before the opening T20I in Dunedin.ESPNcricinfo understands that the ECB asked NZC to consider shifting the series back but were told it would not be possible. “We explored every option available to us to make sure all our players were available during the New Zealand series, but that didn’t quite work out as we would have liked,” Jon Lewis, England’s coach, said.”Yes, there are things that other boards could have done, but they’re things that are totally out of our control to be honest. We’ve had to react to the situation as best we can… it’s quite a unique situation. It’s quite complex… we talk to everyone as individuals and work out what we think is the best plan for them.”Lewis blamed the late release of the WPL’s schedule, which was decided several months after NZC had confirmed the dates of England’s tour. “[The series] was in our diary for a very long period of time,” he said. “The WPL dates came out very late. Moving forward, all the boards around the world will create a window for the WPL similar to the men’s game.”Related

• Nat Sciver-Brunt: 'I'd be lying if I said money wasn't a factor'

The ECB told the eight England players with WPL contracts that to be considered for selection in the first three T20Is, they would need to leave India before the knockout stages. Jonathan Finch, the director of England women’s cricket, said: “All players participating in the WPL were given our backing to remain in India for the duration of the tournament.”Lauren Bell (UP Warriorz) and Heather Knight (Royal Challengers Bangalore) both pulled out of their deals last week. “They withdrew once they learnt that the WPL regulations don’t allow for replacements mid-tournament, not wanting their respective WPL teams to be disadvantaged by their early departure,” Finch said.Lewis himself will leave the WPL after UP Warriorz’s final group game on March 11, with assistant coach Ashley Noffke likely to deputise if they reach the knockout stages. “I had good discussions with the franchise,” Lewis said. “Hopefully, we’re in a really strong position. We’ve got a lot of cover in the coaching department and UP have been really accommodating.”Jon Lewis: “Moving forward, all boards around the world will create a window for the WPL similar to the men’s game”•ICC via Getty Images

England named two separate T20I squads on Friday, one for the first three matches and another for the final two. Hollie Armitage and Linsey Smith will be replaced by Alice Capsey (Delhi Capitals), Sophie Ecclestone (UP Warriorz), Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indains) and Danni Wyatt (UP Warriorz) ahead of the fourth T20I. Kate Cross (RCB) will arrive for the ODIs, while Issy Wong (MI) was not selected for either format.”We tried to make sure that all the players that are in New Zealand with us will get a really fair crack, rather than worrying about Nat Sciver-Brunt getting knocked out [of the WPL] on one day, flying in three days later and taking their position in the team,” Lewis said, framing the clash as “a brilliant opportunity” to test England’s depth ahead of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year.With Wyatt in India for the full WPL, Tammy Beaumont looks set to open the batting in the first three T20Is and will win her 100th cap in the format. A pedestrian strike rate meant she has spent two years out of the side since her 99th, but she has since shown her dynamism in domestic cricket. “We asked her to go away and improve in certain areas,” Lewis said. “She went away and she did that.”Mahika Gaur, who has played in England’s last two T20I series, is unavailable as she continues to study for her A-Levels, while Freya Kemp has been picked as a specialist batter for the parallel England A tour to New Zealand after a recurrence of a back injury. Kirstie Gordon (T20s) and Grace Scrivens (ODIs) will captain the secondary tour, while Tash Farrant and Emma Lamb both feature after back injuries.England T20I squad vs New Zealand: Hollie Armitage*, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey+, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone+, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (captain), Nat Sciver-Brunt+, Linsey Smith*, Danni Wyatt+ ()England ODI squad vs New Zealand: Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (capt), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni WyattEngland A squad vs New Zealand: Georgia Adams, Hannah Baker, Alice Davidson-Richards, Tash Farrant, Kirstie Gordon (T20 captain), Freya Kemp, Emma Lamb, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Sophie Munro, Grace Potts, Paige Scholfield, Grace Scrivens (ODI captain), Seren Smale, Rhianna Southby, Mady Villiers

Grace Harris will be part of the T20I series before being replaced by King for the ODIs

Andrew McGlashan12-Jan-2024Legspinner Alana King continues to be squeezed out of Australia’s T20I squad in what remains a settled group for the limited-overs legs of South Africa’s multiformat visit which begins at the end of January.King will return for the three-match ODI series with Grace Harris, who is part of the T20I squad, dropping out.King, who has 21 wickets at 19.52 in 22 T20Is, has not featured in the format since the group stage of last year’s World Cup in South Africa following Georgia Wareham’s return from injury. She could not find a spot against England during the Ashes, the home series against West Indies last year or the recent tour of India.Related

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• Healy, Sutherland lead clinical Australia to another series win

However, she has continued to feature regularly in the 50-over side and produced a delivery that was compared to Shane Warne’s ball of the century during the third ODI against India.Australia’s selectors have also named the squad to form the Governor-General’s XI which will face South Africa in a T20 warm-up match in Sydney on January 24. It features exciting young fast bowlers Milly Illingworth and Chloe Ainsworth who caught attention with their pace in the WBBL. Ainsworth, who plays for Perth Scorchers, took 15 wickets at 19.66 while Illingworth has modelled her action on Jeff Thomson.The GG XI will be captained by allrounder Sophie Molineux who has recently returned from a year-long layoff due to an ACL injury. In her second game back for Victoria she hit 62 against New South Wales and claimed 6 for 45. Brisbane Heat allrounder Charli Knott, who was named young player of the WBBL, is also included.”The Governor-General’s XI fixture presents a great opportunity to see some of the brightest young cricketers take on a high-quality international opposition,” national selector Shawn Flegler said. “The talent in this squad shows the depth in the women’s game in Australia and we’re excited to see our next generation of players progress through the ranks of Australian cricket.”It’s pleasing to be able to reward those players who have impressed throughout the WBBL in addition to a few up-and-coming players who will hugely benefit from the experience.”As is tradition a member of the Australia Defence Force is included in the GG XI with Private Kayla Stuchbree, a medium-pace bowler and middle-order batter, selected after her performances in the Cricket ADF national carnival.The three T20Is will be played in Canberra and Hobart on January 27, 28 and 30 followed by the ODIs in Adelaide and Sydney on February 3, 7 and 10. The tour concludes with a Test, South Africa’s first against Australia, at the WACA from February 15-18 with that squad still to be named.

Vlaeminck and Lanning back for Victoria

Meanwhile, fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck is in line to return to action for Victoria in the WNCL after being named to face ACT. She has not played since the Australia A tour of England in July where she suffered a shoulder injury to continue her long run of setbacks.”Tayla has worked incredibly hard to get back into a position to play cricket again,” Cricket Victoria’s head of female cricket, Sharelle McMahon, said. “She has been so positive and resilient throughout her injury, and we can’t wait to see her back out there.”Meg Lanning has also been named in the Victoria squad after she took a break during the WBBL for personal reasons following her retirement from international cricket.

Australia squad for T20Is and ODIs vs South Africa

Alyssa Healy (capt), Darcie Brown, Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris*, Jess Jonassen, Alana King**, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham
* = T20Is only; ** = ODIs only

Governor-General’s XI squad vs South Africa

Sophie Molineux, Chloe Ainsworth, Maddy Darke, Amy Edgar, Tess Flintoff, Sianna Ginger, Milly Illingworth, Charli Knott, Courtney Sippel, Amy Smith, Georgia Voll, Private Kayla Stuchbree (Australian Defence Force)

Brett D’Oliveira batted Worcestershire into a strong position on a used New Road pitch upon which they will look to R Ashwin to capitalise on the second day

ECB Reporters Network28-Aug-2017Brett D’Oliveira batted Worcestershire into a strong position•Getty Images

A dusty, used surface awaits R Ashwin when he finally gets to bowl at New Road on his Worcestershire debut, but on the opening day he had to satisfy himself with a useful supporting role for Brett D’Oliveira, who celebrated a new county contract with a top-score of 93 on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship clash with Gloucestershire.Ashwin has started a four-game spell at New Road as Worcestershire strive to reinforce their promotion credentials, with Sussex, Kent and Northants all vying to join runaway leaders Nottinghamshire in the top two, and he looked full of class in making 36 in the middle order on a sun-soaked day.But the main innings of the day came from D’Oliveira who, along with Ed Barnard, has committed his long term future to the County with new deals.The 25-year-old fell just short of his third Championship hundred of the campaign but his efforts were a key component in Worcestershire totalling 338 for 7 from 98 overs on a used pitch.There were useful contributions all down the batting order and now Worcestershire will be hoping Ashwin can work the kind of magic with the ball which has brought him 292 Test wickets.Gloucestershire opted for a toss but lost out as home skipper Joe Leach decided to bat first on a pitch used for the England Under-19 v India Under-19 four-day ‘Test’ and a NatWest T20 Blast fixture.Paceman Liam Norwell struck an early blow as Daryl Mitchell went for a drive and Cameron Bancroft held onto a low chance at first slip. But he then dislocated the little finger on his bowling hand fielding a return shot from new batsman Tom Fell and went for a hospital x-ray and did not return to the attack until after tea when the second new ball was taken.Spin was introduced as early as the 13th over via Tom Smith.Fell has experienced a poor summer with the bat but he looked in good form during a stand of 72 in 26 overs with D’Oliveira. He went past his previous highest Championship score of 35 in 2017 but added only three more before he was lbw to Smith.D’Oliveira was not afraid to use his feet and lofted Jack Taylor for a straight six and repeated the stroke against Smith. Joe Clarke reeled off a series of exquisite drives in making 32 but would have been disappointed with the way a casual flick off his legs from Kieran Noema-Barnett ended up in the hands of short midwicket.Smith enjoyed a second success as George Rhodes played back and nicked to George Hankins at first slip. D’Oliveira continued to score freely but on 93 he played forward to Smith and Hankins completed the catch after Will Tavare had initially got a hand to the ball at second slip. His 188 ball knock contained two sixes and 10 fours.Ashwin was warmly applauded on his way to the wicket in what is arguably Worcestershire’s most high profile overseas player since Glenn McGrath in 2000. He looked full of composure and class and it soon became evident why he often bats in India’s top six.He made 36 off 50 balls with a six and four fours before being undone by a ball of extra bounce with the second new ball from Norwell which was edged to Chris Dent at second slip.But keeper Ben Cox (56 not out) and Barnard ensured Worcestershire remained on top during a partnership of 86 in 15 overs before the former on 46 from 49 balls was run-out after a mix-up.

Australia allrounder set to play T20 group stage as well as two rounds of Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jan-2025Will Sutherland, the Australia allrounder, has agreed to join Yorkshire as one of their overseas players for the Vitality Blast. The 25-year-old will also be available for two rounds of the County Championship in June/July.Anthony McGrath, Yorkshire’s new head coach, had previously tried to bring in Sutherland when in charge at Essex, only for a back stress fracture to rule him out of a stint at Chelmsford during 2023. Sutherland signed to play for Somerset last season but was forced to withdraw with another back injury.Sutherland, who has been capped twice in ODIs, will join up with Yorkshire in May for the start of the Blast and play the entire group stage, as well as being involved for Championship fixtures against Nottinghamshire and Essex.Related

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“Yorkshire are a Club with big ambitions, and I want to do all I can to contribute to a successful year,” Sutherland said. “I know how hard the guys will have worked to get promoted last season and I’m looking forward to putting in the hard yards with the team.”I’ve worked closely with Mags [McGrath] and Mick [Lewis, Yorkshire bowling coach] previously over in Australia so the opportunity to join them both again was one I couldn’t turn down.”Headingley and its atmosphere is famous in Australia, and I can’t wait to experience a Roses game. I know it’s the first fixture so many look out for, and I was no different.”Captain of Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash, Sutherland has taken 36 wickets in 63 appearances with an economy of 8.80. He strikes at 134.32 with the bat, and made his highest T20 score earlier this month – 70 off 45 balls – to help his side beat Perth Scorchers.McGrath said: “Will is someone I have admired for a long time and feel he can add something extra to our bowling attack for that middle period of the season as well as offering us an added dimension with the bat.”I know the Australian selectors think highly of him, and they know a thing or two about allrounders, so I am confident Will can hit the ground running and deliver for us in both red and white ball games.”Gavin Hamilton, Yorkshire’s general manager of cricket, added: “Will is an immense talent. His record is impressive, and I’m delighted that we have got his signing over the line.”Having discussed this opportunity with Will over recent weeks, it quickly became clear that he was aligned to our philosophy for the year ahead and his ambitions matched ours. We look forward to welcoming Will to Yorkshire.”

England Lions batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond spanked an unbeaten 90 from 55 balls to steer Kent Spitfires to a comfortable seven-wicket NatWest T20 Blast win over Essex Eagles in Beckenham

ECB Reporters Network09-Jul-2017
ScorecardThere was no big debut for Tamim Iqbal•Getty Images

England Lions batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond spanked an unbeaten 90 from 55 balls to steer Kent Spitfires to a comfortable seven-wicket NatWest
T20 Blast win over Essex Eagles in Beckenham.Bell-Drummond put his poor championship form behind him by hitting eight fours and four sixes as Kent eased home with nine balls to spare
for their first south group win of the campaign. Essex, who lost narrowly in a tight run-chase at home to Surrey on Friday night, were
again seriously outgunned and are left looking for their first victory in two starts.Essex coach Chris Silverwood conceded that his side under performed with both bat and ball. “This game has moved on, batsmen are braver
and hit the ball harder and further, and there are fewer hiding places for the bowlers,” said Silverwood. “That said, I felt we were well
short in terms of setting a target today.”Responding to the Eagles’ total of 166 for 8, Spitfires made a flying start as Joe Denly, who hit a championship 180 on this ground
against Northamptonshire earlier in the week, clubbed 23 off the second over from Mohammad Amir. Fresh from his Champions Trophy win
with Pakistan, Amir went for three sixes and a four as Kent’s openers posted 50 in five overs.After adding 32 from 16 balls, Denly heaved across the line to be bowled by off-spinner Simon Harmer bringing together Sam Northeast and
Bell-Drummond for a sparkling partnership worth 70 from 49 balls.The pair drove with gusto and ran excellently to draw a string of Essex fielding errors as the hosts cantered to 94 at the mid-point of
their reply.Bell-Drummond raised the first 50 of the match from 32 balls and with six fours and a six as, in his desperation to take a wicket Ryan ten
Doeschate, the Essex skipper, made five bowling changes in as many overs.Eagles’ ploy finally succeeded when Northeast’s miscued reverse sweep against Harmer sailed to backward point to end his stay for 33.Sam Billings perished for six when edging a sweep leg-side to James Foster from Asha Zaidi’s first delivery of the game, but Bell-Drummond
could not be shifted.The 23-year-old lofted Jamie Porter for a brace of sixes to ensure Spitfires remained well ahead of the asking rate and, for good
measure, hit a fourth six from a short-arm punt over long on against Amir to win the game at a canter.Daniel Bell-Drummond marshalled Kent’s reply•Getty Images

Essex had high hopes that Tamim Iqbal could energise their top order and he did just that when he drove Adam Milne straight back over his head for six. The Kiwi paceman extracted immediate revenge however, bowling Tamim, on 7, with a slower
ball as the diminutive left-hander advanced to drive.Eagles mustered 43 for from their powerplay forcing Chopra to up the pace with a risky, leg-side flick for six off Darren Stevens that just cleared the ropes at square leg. The visitors continued to struggle for their timing on this Worsley Bridge Road pitch and lost Tom Westley to a yorker from Jimmy Neesham, Milne’s Black Caps team-mate who was also making his home debut.Chopra was just three shy of his 50 when he chipped leg-side against off-spinner James Tredwell to pick out Denly at deep mid-wicket as
Tredwell finished his four overs with fine figures of 1 for 18.Ten Doeschate posted his side’s 100 with a pulled four against Milne as he and fourth-wicket partner Ravi Bopara – the duo boast almost 350
T20 appearances between them – added 73 in 6.1 overs before falling in successive overs.Ten Doeschate, with 38 to his name off 18 balls, holed out to deep midwicket, then, after scoring 45 from 33 balls, Bopara chipped to
long-on to be caught low by Alex Blake and give Milne figures of 2 for 24.Three wickets fell in a dramatic final over from Neesham, who sent three packing in successive deliveries. Foster (9) was caught on the
ropes at deep cover, Ashar Zaidi was superbly caught and bowled as Neesham ran toward cover then Neesham athletically turned and threw in
his follow-through to run out Paul Walter with a direct hit to the non-striker’s end.Neesham finished with 3 for 37 leaving Kent to face an asking rate of 8.35 to win their opening Blast south group game for the fourth successive
season.The hosts had been forced into a late change ahead of the game when Mitch Claydon pulled out after picking up a niggle in his side in the warm-ups, giving all-rounder Adam Ball the chance for his 38th T20 appearance.

He sustained a blow to his right hand during nets; his replacement will be announced in due course

Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Nov-2024Jordan Cox has been ruled out of England’s Test series against New Zealand after sustaining a fractured right thumb during a nets session ahead of the final day of their tour match against Prime Minister’s XI.The incident occurred on Sunday morning in Queenstown where England have been preparing for the first Test, which begins on Thursday at the Hagley Oval. Cox was taken to a local hospital for a scan that revealed the extent of the damage. The 24-year-old was all set to make his Test debut with regular keeper Jamie Smith missing the tour for the birth of his first child.A replacement will be announced in due course, with Durham’s Ollie Robinson expected to be handed a maiden call-up, ahead of England’s white-ball regular Phil Salt and Essex’s Michael Pepper, who toured the Caribbean with the limited-overs side. Other keeping options included Somerset’s James Rew and Lancashire’s Matty Hurst, both of whom are due to tour South Africa with the Lions. Jonny Bairstow, still with a year remaining on his central contract, is unlikely to be recalled at this juncture.Related

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Ollie Pope stood in for Cox for the culmination of the warm-up fixture, but England will not want to burden him with more responsibility on top of his duties at No. 3. Having averaged 11 on last month’s tour of Pakistan, a strong showing from Cox might have tested the selectors’ loyalty to the vice-captain.Cox will now have to wait a little longer to complete the set of caps having debuted in the ODI and T20I formats in the last two months. He will remain with the squad in Christchurch and may opt for a break in Australia before returning home having had little time off since the end of the English summer.”I’m gutted for Jordan (Cox),” Test head coach Brendon McCullum said. “He has been shaping up nicely, both with the bat and gloves, since we got to New Zealand.”That’s sport, and unfortunately, these things happen. We will get around him and look after him. He is resilient, and his time will come at some point in the future.”The immediate aftermath of Cox’s injury left England short of bodies for play on Sunday, resulting in James Anderson donning the whites four months after he was pushed into international retirement. With three players opting out of the match for extra time in the nets, Anderson subbed in the field, alongside captain Ben Stokes who had chosen to sit out the first day’s play.Jacob Bethell and Rehan Ahmed will join the rest of the squad in Christchurch on Monday after a few days off following the white-ball tour of the Caribbean which finished last week. Cox’s replacement should be on deck in the next 48 hours.