Seamer describes Edgbaston pitch as one of England’s slowest in memory

Matt Roller17-Jun-2023

Stuart Broad believes England ended the second day in a “really positive” position on an Edgbaston pitch that he described as one of the slowest he has encountered in his 94 Test matches on home soil and a “nightmare” for a fast bowler.Ben Stokes, England’s captain, publicly requested “fast, flat wickets” for this summer’s Ashes series but the Edgbaston pitch has been on the slow side across the first two days. “Hopefully it’s not a trend for the whole series,” Broad said at stumps, speaking to broadcasters.”How can I be polite? It’s a very slow, low surface that saps the energy out of the ball, would be the nice way to put it,” Broad added. “It’s been pretty characterless so far – a bit soulless. But ultimately you can only judge it towards the end of a Test match and see how it develops.”It’s certainly one of the slowest pitches I can remember bowling on in England. I think there was a stat that, for the Aussies in the first 10 overs, it moved the least-ever recorded. It has certainly been hard work for the seamers.”Ultimately, we’re looking to entertain and have fun and get the crowd jumping, and it’s quite a difficult pitch to get plays-and-misses on and nicks to slip and stuff… these sorts of pitches are your worst nightmare when Steve Smith walks to the crease, to be honest.”Australia reached stumps trailing by 82 runs with five first-innings wickets remaining after Usman Khawaja batted through the day for an unbeaten hundred. But with Pat Cummins – who has averaged 11.71 in his last 40 innings – due in at No. 8, Broad believes England’s toil resulted in “a really good day”.”The game is nicely poised: we’re one or two wickets away from the tail,” Broad told the BBC’s . “It’s been a hard, gruelling day on a pitch that’s offered very little so far, but for us, being 90-odd ahead with five wickets to get, and trying to get in a position where we’re not batting last on that pitch is a really positive place to be.”He added to Sky Sports: “To still be 82 runs ahead of Australia with Pat Cummins and the tail next, we’re pretty happy. Things could happen pretty quickly for us in the first hour tomorrow… to pick up their key batters relatively cheaply, we’re pretty happy.”Australia have scored at 3.30 runs an over in their first innings compared to England’s scoring rate of 5.03, and Broad believes that the “clash in styles” will make for an intriguing series.”I think that’s the nature of the pitch slightly, to be honest,” he said. “It certainly doesn’t feel like the sort of pitch you’d have eight slips and gully, and the sort of pitch that you can play really extravagantly on.”I think the great thing about this series is both teams have got quite a clear style of play and both teams will stay true to how they’re going to play that. So I think they [the teams] probably clash in styles, but that will make for exciting cricket.”

Mitchell Marsh has capped a remarkable rise to one of Australia’s most important players by being named the Allan Border Medalist at the 2024 Australian Cricket Awards, while Ashleigh Gardner has taken out the Belinda Clark Award for a year where her bowling became integral to the team across formats.Marsh made a stunning return to Test cricket during the Ashes in England in mid-2023 when he was recalled at Headingley, where he hit a run-a-ball 118. He then went on to make 441 runs at 49 during the ODI World Cup, including 177 not out against Bangladesh.He became emotional during his acceptance speech as he thank his wife, Greta, captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald”I’m a bit fat at times and I love a beer but you see the best in me always and you’ve changed my life,” he said. “For your support and your leadership, Patty, playing under you is a dream.” “I often spoke to my wife about…,” Marsh said before having to collection himself “… that I just wanted to get one more crack at it, and it’s been amazing. She gave me the perspective on life that I needed.”Overall during the voting period, which runs from January 22, 2023 to January 9, 2024, Marsh scored 594 runs in six Tests at 66. In ODIs, he hit 858 runs at 47.66, and had a strike rate of 113.94. He will also have gained points for his prolific T20I series against South Africa during which he hit 92* and 79* out of three innings.He polled a massive 79 more votes than second-placed Cummins in the overall medal tally, with Steven Smith at third.”I’m sort of hoping me winning this is not like Covid and you look back on it and three years time and go, ‘This was a weird time’,” Marsh joked. “One of my friends sent me the list today and I just thought – if I win it’s going to look weird.”Ashleigh Gardner spun Australia to victory in the Ashes Test•Getty Images

For Gardner, it was her second Belinda Clark Award after also taking the honour in 2022. Her performance in the Ashes Test, where she took match figures of 12 for 165, played a big part in her clinching the top spot, just 13 votes ahead of Ellyse Perry, while Annabel Sutherland was third.In ODIs across the voting period, Gardner claimed 20 wickets at 18.55, while in T20Is, including Australia’s title-winning run at the World Cup in 2023, she got 19 wickets at 22.73 with an economy rate of 7.49. With the bat, she averaged 33.16 in ODIs, and 24.10 – with a strike rate of 118.13 – in T20Is.”It’s been an interesting year,” Gardner said. “Think a lot of people probably think I’m more of a batter, or batting allrounder, but over the last 12-24 months think my bowling has probably evolved a lot quicker than what I was thinking. I’ve put a lot of trust in my captain to bring me on at different times and being able to reap those rewards of taking wickets has been a nice change.”To emphasise how close the Belinda Clark count was, Perry took both the individual white-ball honours after a stellar year in ODIs and T20Is – the latter where she has taken her batting to a new level.Marsh’s outstanding ODI form saw him walk away with the prize for that format as well, as he was named the Men’s ODI Player of the Year. Left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff, meanwhile, was chosen as the men’s T20I player of the year.Nathan Lyon, meanwhile, was named Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year despite missing three matches of the Ashes due to the calf injury he suffered at Lord’s. Either side of that, he took 8 for 64 in Australia’s victory over India in Indore, and played a key role in the opening Ashes victory at Edgbaston. Back on home soil this season, Lyon collected his 500th Test wicket against Pakistan in Perth.Nathan Lyon got to his 500th Test wicket during the voting period•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Domestic cricket

Matt Short was BBL Player of the Tournament for the second consecutive year after making 541 runs at 60.11 and having a strike rate of 153.25, as Adelaide Strikers reached the Challenger final after a superb late-season surge.Chamari Athapaththu had been announced as Player of the WBBL after that tournament finished in December, capping a remarkable few weeks for her having not originally been picked up in the draft.Among the rest of the domestic cricket scene, the voting period covered December 5, 2022 to December 5, 2023.Cameron Bancroft, who was overlooked for a Test recall, took the men’s award after dominating in the Sheffield Shield, and also for his consistency for Perth Scorchers in last season’s BBL before he switched to Sydney Thunder.The women’s award was a tie between Sophie Day, the Victoria and Melbourne Stars left-arm spinner, and Tasmania top-order batter Elyse Villani. Day was the leading wicket-taker in the WBBL with 27, and also took 14 in the WNCL during the voting period.Villani, meanwhile, led Tasmania to a second WNCL title, scoring 627 runs at 69.67 with a top score of 112, including striking a century in the dramatic victory over South Australia to clinch the title.The Bradman male young cricketer of the year went to Victoria quick Fergus O’Neill, while the Betty Wilson female young cricketer of the year was handed to Emma de Broughe from South Australia and Melbourne Renegades.

Award winners

Allan Border Medal: Mitchell Marsh
Belinda Clark Award: Ashleigh Gardner
Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year: Nathan Lyon
Men’s ODI Player of the Year: Mitchell Marsh
Women’s ODI Player of the Year: Ellyse Perry
Women’s T20I Player of the Year: Ellyse Perry
Men’s T20I Player of the Year: Jason Behrendorff
BBL Player of the Tournament: Matt Short
WBBL Player of the Tournament: Chamari Athapaththu
Men’s Domestic Cricketer of the Year: Cameron Bancroft
Women’s Domestic Cricketer of the Year: Sophie Day and Elyse Villani
Bradman male Young Cricketer of the Year: Fergus O’Neill
Betty Wilson female Young Cricketer of the Year: Emma de Broughe

It was their first Shield win at the WACA since 2012 and keeps them in the hunt for the final

AAP06-Feb-2024New South Wales captain Moises Henriques heaped praise on Chris Green after the offspinner played a starring role in his side’s four-wicket Sheffield Shield win over Western Australia.Chasing 182 for victory, the Blues were cruising at 117 for 1 before suffering a collapse of 5 for 36 to put the game on a knife’s edge. Fearless knocks from Oliver Davies (24 not out off 23 balls) and Green (16no off 11) got the visitors over the line just after lunch on day four, handing them their first Shield victory at the WACA Ground since 2012.Related

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• Chris Green six-for puts New South Wales in front

• Kellaway guides Victoria to nervy win as Lehmann slams 'horrendous' day one pitch

NSW’s second success on the trot has lifted them to within a win of second spot, and they are also now neck-and-neck with defending champions WA.Green was named player of the match after returning figures of 3 for 33 and 6 for 83 to go with his handy knocks in the low-scoring affair.”I think these conditions and this wicket kind of suits him. He does rely on bounce a lot,” Henriques said. “In the second innings I thought he found his length beautifully. I felt like he dominated that whole innings.”NSW resumed play on day four at 77 for 1 and victory looked a mere formality as Daniel Hughes and Blake Nikitaras dug in.But Charlie Stobo’s dismissal of Nikitaras opened the door for WA as NSW’s middle order crumbled.Spinner Corey Rocchiccioli snared Hughes and Matthew Gilkes, while Henriques was left in disbelief when he was given out caught behind down leg side for five. Replays suggested Henriques didn’t get any bat to the Joel Paris delivery.NSW endured another piece of misfortune just before lunch when Jack Edwards shouldered arms to Paris and was given out lbw, despite the ball appearing to be too high. That left them needing another 29 runs for victory, but Davies and Green came out swinging after the break to quickly put the contest to bed.”A big part of what we tried to do today was to hang in there,” Paris said. “I’m sure we gave NSW a bit of a scare in the change room. I’m really proud of the effort, but it’s a disappointing result.”WA are sweating on the fitness of paceman Matt Kelly, who tore a pectoral muscle during the match. It comes on the back of a frustrating run of soft tissue injuries for the 29-year-old.”He’s a bit sore at the moment,” Paris said. “He’s had a rough 10, 12 months after being so durable for such a long time. We’ll get around him as best as we can.”

India’s spinners came to the party on day three in Ranchi after their wicketkeeper dug them out of a hole

Valkerie Baynes25-Feb-20241:11

Manjrekar: Ashwin’s artistry on show once again

R Ashwin’s five-wicket haul, and Kuldeep Yadav’s four, spun India to an achievable target for victory in the third Test, and the series.On a day when two youngsters, each playing their second Tests, confirmed their arrival by exerting considerable influence on the match, it was the vastly experienced Ashwin who lit up India’s efforts to seize some control, with Kuldeep stepping in for an economical 4 for 22 from his 15 overs to help contain England’s advantage to 191.Ashwin followed two wickets in as many balls with that of first-innings centurion Joe Root as England slipped to 65 for 3, then sealed his 35th Test five-for late in the day to bowl England out for 145 in their second innings and give India’s openers a nibble at the deficit over the final 20 minutes or so before the close. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal negotiated that period safely, reducing their task to 152 runs.It came after 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel had posted his maiden Test fifty, falling just 10 runs shy of a ton to be India’s top-scorer as he pushed his side to 307 all out, closing the first-innings gap to 46 after they started the day 134 runs adrift with three wickets in hand. Shoaib Bashir, England’s 20-year-old offspinner who toiled through 32 overs – 31 of them on the trot – for his four wickets on the second day, became the second-youngest England bowler to take a five-for in men’s Tests behind Rehan Ahmed, whom he replaced for this match.England lost 5 for 25 in 21 overs after the tea break as the pitch began to grip and turn more frequently. They were 19 for 2 in the fifth over after Ashwin had Ben Duckett caught at short leg off a length ball which drifted in and found the inside edge, popping to Sarfaraz Khan for a regulation catch. Ollie Pope was out for a pair when Ashwin pinned him lbw next ball, one which didn’t turn as much as the batter had perhaps expected as he was rapped on the back pad in line with leg stump.Root shared a 46-run partnership with Zak Crawley before Ashwin struck again, finding some turn from around the wicket with a full ball that beat Root’s inside edge and rapped the pad. Adjudged not out initially, India reviewed with question marks hanging over whether the ball had pitched outside leg stump, with replays suggesting the ball had pitched marginally in line with leg and was going on to hit it.2:08

Did Kuldeep’s slower pace help him be more dangerous?

Crawley raised his 13th in Test fifty and third of this series, and settled into another stand with Jonny Bairstow, worth 45. Jurel missed a stumping chance off Bairstow when he was on 23 with England 106 for 3 but Kuldeep began to find appreciable turn which accounted for Crawley, bowled on middle stump for 60.Stokes couldn’t stifle a wry smile when he survived an lbw appeal off Ravindra Jadeja on umpire’s call, given his questioning of that element of the DRS earlier in this series, as Jadeja beat him on the inside edge with a delivery that ball-tracking suggested was headed for the top of leg stump.Jadeja and Kuldeep were getting the ball to turn more often late in the middle session on a pitch that was still behaving unpredictably and Kuldeep got Stokes with a gem that stayed low, slid onto the back pad, between the batter’s legs and into the stumps.That left England on 120 for 5 at tea, but Jadeja made it 120 for 6 with the first delivery after the interval, tossing one up off stump which turned away out of a crack as Bairstow jabbed towards Rajat Patidar for a simple catch at short cover.Kuldeep doubled his tally in his ninth over – an eventful one in which he had Tom Hartley well caught by Sarfaraz at mid-on, bringing Ollie Robinson to the crease following his first-innings half-century. Robinson had to call for a review immediately after he was given out lbw attempting a reverse-sweep with replays showing the ball struck his glove on its way through to the pad. There was no reprieve two balls later though, Robinson’s attempt to overturn another lbw decision failing when Kuldeep turned the ball in towards middle and leg, hitting the pad below the knee roll and he was given out umpire’s call on leg stump.Ashwin claimed his fourth with a return catch when Ben Foakes, who had just overturned an lbw decision off the same bowler, failed to pick the carrom ball and chipped straight back. He removed James Anderson for a pair three balls later when Jurel took an excellent one-handed catch behind the stumps.Earlier, Jurel and Kuldeep capitalised on the most favourable batting conditions of the day as they put on a 76-run partnership for the eighth wicket in a steady first hour.Jurel upped the tempo after Anderson bowled Kuldeep for 28 off 131 balls. With a maximum already to his name when he resumed the day on 22, Jurel smashed Bashir down the ground for six and four off consecutive deliveries. He struck two more sixes, off Bashir and Hartley, before he was last man out, bowled by an excellent Hartley delivery which angled in and spun past his defence, crashing into middle and off stump to end an innings of great maturity.Before his dismissal, however, came that of Akash Deep, who also struck a six off Bashir before he provided the spinner’s crucial fifth wicket, lbw for 9 in a decision which stood on umpire’s call despite his hopeful review.

The England batter was part of the Delhi Capitals squad, having been bought for INR 4 crore at the auction in December

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Mar-2024England batter Harry Brook has withdrawn from IPL 2024 to be with his grieving family following the death of his grandmother in February.”I can confirm that I have made the very difficult decision not to play in the upcoming IPL,” Brook said in a statement. “I was so excited to be picked by Delhi Capitals and was so looking forward to joining up with everyone. Whilst I don’t think I should need to share my personal reasons behind this decision, I know there will be many asking why. So I do want to share this.”I lost my grandmother last month – she was a rock to me and I spent a huge amount of my childhood in her home; my attitude to life and love for cricket was shaped by her and my late grandfather. When at home, there would hardly be a day go by that didn’t include seeing her. It makes me so happy that she was able to see me play cricket for England. I’m proud that she could collect some of the awards I have won over the last couple of years when I couldn’t be there and I know she enjoyed doing that.Related

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Harry Brook pulls out of England tour of India

Brook had also pulled out of England’s recent five-Test series in India from January to March after being part of the pre-tour training camp in the UAE. He left the team in the UAE and did not travel to Hyderabad for the first match.”I made the decision to leave the India Test tour the night before we flew from Abu Dhabi to India because I was told for the first time that my grandmother was ill and didn’t have long left,” he added. “Now that she has passed my family and I are grieving and I need to be around them. Over the last few years I have learned to prioritise my mental wellbeing and that of my family’s, honestly nothing is more important to me than family. So whilst this may come as surprising to some, I know it’s the right decision for me. I’m young and hope to have many, many more years of cricket to come which I intend to make the absolute most of.”I couldn’t be more grateful for the support I have received, especially from the ECB and Delhi Capitals, thank you.”The statement comes ten days before Capitals play their first match of the season – against Punjab Kings on March 23 in Mullanpur. There has been no information on whether Capitals will look for a replacement player for Brook, whom they had bought for INR 4 crore (US$ 482,000 approximately) at the auction in December.Brook, 25, made his IPL debut in the 2023 season after Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for INR 13.25 crore (US$ 1.6 million approximately) based on the power-hitting he displayed in the T20Is in Pakistan in 2022. In his maiden IPL season, however, Brook scored only 190 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 123.37; one of those innings was an unbeaten 100 off 55 balls against KKR.The Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal had told ESPNcricinfo that the team management led by Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting had slotted Brook as No.6 to add strength to a batting order comprising David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh and Rishabh Pant.Brook’s absence leaves Capitals with an overseas roster comprising Warner, Marsh, Tristan Stubbs, Shai Hope, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and Jhye Richardson. Capitals had finished ninth out of ten last season, having won only five out of 14 games under Warner’s captaincy. They will be led in IPL 2024 by Pant, who was given clearance to play as a wicketkeeper-batter by the BCCI after recovering from injuries suffered in a car accident in December 2022.

Ruben Amorim has praised Manchester United's recent signings, Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon, after their debuts in a 0-0 pre-season draw against Leeds.

• United boss says "Cunha showed what we need"
• Amorim says Leon will be a "very good" player
• Red Devils hoping to improve on US tour

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Cunha and Leon started in Stockholm, playing 45 minutes before their manager rung the changes in a disjointed and uneventful contest. The ex-Wolves man was a lone bright spark in an otherwise forgetful first-half performance by the Red Devils. His manager praised the Brazilian's ability to pick the ball up between the lines, and push the ball forward "aggressively".

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Leon has joined the Old Trafford club from Cerro Porteño in his native Paraguay. Amorim praised the 18-year-old's work ethic. He believes the left wing-back will become "a very good player".

• WHAT AMORIM SAID

  Amorim told MUTV: "I think Matheus Cunha showed what we need. That he is a player when he receives the ball between the lines can be really aggressive in the direction of the opponents."

  On the team's overall performance he added: "We have a lack of pace, especially in the middle of the park. And you can feel it is hard to win/bring the ball. But we created chances."

  And on Leon, he explained: “Diego Leon comes from Paraguay. It's his second week in Manchester. He's done well. He's powerful, he's learning, he will be a very good player."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

  Amorim will be hoping to welcome Bryan Mbeumo to the squad ahead of the Red Devils' pre-season tour of the US. The Brentford man's assimilation to the squad, alongside the continued integration of Cunha and Leon, will be key focuses for the United manager as he prepares for the upcoming season.

Everything you need to know about the new West Ham United kits for the 2025-26 season.

West Ham head into the 2025-26 season with Umbro once again supplying their kits, continuing a partnership that was extended in 2023 in a deal reportedly worth over £7 million per year. The club's shirts will have new commercial elements as well, with Boyle Sports making an appearance as the main shirt sponsor and QuickBooks on the sleeve.

Shop West Ham kits at UmbroBuy now

As always, fans can expect a blend of classic claret and blue heritage with modern design touches, as Umbro aims to deliver kits that honor tradition while fitting the demands of today’s game. With a deal with New Balance reportedly on the cards from the 2026-27 season, the current manufacturer will be looking to sign off with a bang.

New 2025-26 football kits: All kits in one place

GOAL takes a closer look at what the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and the rest of the Hammers squad will be wearing this season.

X/WestHamWest Ham 2025-26 home kit, release date & price

West Ham United have officially revealed their new home kit for the 2025/26 season, continuing their partnership with Umbro in a design that blends modern simplicity with timeless club tradition. The shirt presents a refined take on the Hammers’ iconic claret identity, introducing a stripped-back aesthetic that highlights the strength of the club’s visual legacy while offering a fresh, minimalist look.

The 2025/26 home shirt is predominantly claret with subtle tonal blue inserts beneath the arms, creating a sleek, uninterrupted silhouette. The smart ribbed collar and sleeve cuffs are detailed with alternating claret and blue stripes – a respectful nod to the club’s storied heritage. The front of the kit features a reinstated full-color West Ham United crest, paired with Umbro’s white logo for contrast and clarity. Adding a final, thoughtful touch, a subtle crossed hammers motif is placed on the back of the neck, paying homage to the club’s deep-rooted identity and its historic symbolism. Clean, classic, and unmistakably West Ham, the new kit is now available via the club’s official store, with the short-sleeved version available at £75.

AdvertisementWest Ham UnitedWest Ham 2025-26 away kit, release date & price

West Ham United have revealed their new 2025/26 Umbro away kit, blending nostalgia with modern design in a tribute to a memorable era in the club’s history. The shirt features an elegant Ecru base complemented by Navy detailing and subtle flashes of Claret – a colour combination last worn by the Hammers nearly 30 years ago.

Drawing inspiration from the 1996/97 campaign, the kit is designed to stir memories of iconic figures such as Julian Dicks with his fearless tackles, John Moncur’s flair in midfield, and Ian Bishop’s pinpoint passing.

Adding to its retro charm, the shirt includes a stylish mono-colour version of the club crest, along with branding from Principal Partner BOYLE Sports, Technical Partner Umbro, and Sleeve Partner Intuit QuickBooks. The new away kit is available now both online and in-store, priced at £75.

Getty Images SportWest Ham 2025-26 third kit, release date & price

No leaks yet regarding the third kit of West Ham for the upcoming season. It is expected to be launched later this year.

The third kit for the 2024/25 season showcased a clean white design, accented with a burgundy polo collar and cuffs trimmed in gold. An embossed zig-zag pattern featuring the Hammers crest added texture, celebrating the shared heritage between the club and Umbro. This kit was first worn in the Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace.

Fans eagerly await the unveiling of the 2025/26 kits, hoping for designs that continue to honor the club's rich history while introducing fresh elements.

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West Ham 2025-26 goalkeeper kit, release date & price

As of now, there have been no leaks revealing the design of West Ham's 2025-26 goalkeeper kit.

The adult version of the goalkeeper jersey is usually listed at around £75 ($95).

The BCB has said the matches will be reduced to 20-over games from 50-overs a side

Mohammad Isam29-Apr-2024

The BCB’s school cricket matches will be shortened from 50-over contests to 20-over games owing to the heatwave in Bangladesh. Temperatures have consistently been above 40 degree celsius for most of April and meteorologists are calling it the longest heatwave in the country’s history.”In consideration of the ongoing heatwave that has impacted the country, the age-group tournament committee of BCB has decided that starting from today (April 29), all remaining divisional round matches of the Prime Bank National School Cricket tournament will be played in Twenty20 format,” the BCB said in a statement.According to BCB’s game development manager AEM Kawsar, 64 district teams are taking part in the competition being held at 14 venues across Bangladesh.”We have instructed all match officials to complete the matches by 12.30 pm,” Kawsar told ESPNcricinfo. “We have even advised them to start the matches at 8.30 am if the teams agree. The usual start time is 9.00am. There will also be a drinks break every 40 minutes. We are providing enough ice, lemon juice and of course water. In some places where possible, we are providing ice-bath facilities. One good thing is that every venue has proper cooling facilities in the dressing rooms.”There will be a total of 57 matches, with the initial rounds being knockouts followed by a group stage for the qualifiers before the semi-finals and final. It is the BCB’s biggest cricket competition and one that began in the early 1980s.The Dhaka Premier League, however, continues in this oppressive heat. The one-day tournament’s Super League phase is ongoing, with the remaining matches likely to end in early May. These are the only domestic tournaments currently being played, mainly due to Ramadan falling during the cricket season in March.The country’s education ministry had ordered schools, colleges and universities to remain closed from April 21 to 25. The closure continues till May 2. The temperature went up to 45 degrees celsius in parts of the country including the capital Dhaka. There have been more than 30 heat-related deaths so far and hundreds have been hospitalised.

A stand of 119 between Carey and Jake Lehmann put South Australia on top but the visitors fought back

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2024Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey scored 90 as he helped South Australia earn a 205-run lead in their Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland.After a chaotic opening day at the Adelaide Oval when 17 wickets fell, the Redbacks were able to halt the carnage and force their way in front of the Bulls on Saturday.Related

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South Australia lost six wickets in the final session but the 119-run stand between Carey and captain Jake Lehmann could still prove to be matchwinning.They lost 5 for 18 after Carey was dismissed 10 runs short of his seventh first-class century – scooping into the hands of Jimmy Peirson – to keep Queensland in the contest.South Australia were out for 232 in their second innings, setting the bottom-of-the-table Queensland a chase of 206. Carey’s knock off 116 balls, coming after he made 49 of the South Australia’s 132 in their first innings, was timely ahead of Australia’s upcoming Test tour of New Zealand.The 32-year-old has been below his best with the bat since the infamous stumping of Jonny Bairstow during last year’s Ashes and Australia will be hoping Carey returns to his best against the Black Caps.The Redbacks’ second innings ended seven minutes before stumps were due to be called, with Nathan McAndrew blasting an unbeaten 24 to push the lead over the 200 mark.Queensland bowling allrounder Michael Neser, who has been recalled to the Australian Test squad for the New Zealand tour, took 3 for 51 to finish with five wickets for the match.Young South Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has been touted as a future Test player by the likes of Ricky Ponting, was out for 1 after being dismissed for a fourth-ball duck in the first innings.Queensland will be hoping for big knocks from Marnus Labuschange, who is captaining the Bulls in a Shield match for the first time, and fellow Australian batter Matt Renshaw to give them a chance of securing their second win of the season.

The ball turned and skidded to the tune of Mohammad Nabi and Nangeyalia Kharote, who combined with Mohammad Nabi to grab nine wickets and fashion a big win for Afghanistan in the third ODI against Ireland in Sharjah. Nabi, who turned 39 at the beginning of the year, got his maiden ODI five-for 15 years after his debut. Kharote, the 19-year-old left-arm spinner, was on debut and pocketed four.Ireland lost 8 for 26 in a startling collapse, as a comfortable 93 for 2 in the 22nd over turned into 119 all out in 35 in pursuit of 237. Afghanistan won by 117 runs, and took the three-match series 2-0 after victory in the first and a washout in the second.Nabi bowled all ten of his overs in a single spell – he finished with 5 for 17 – using all his experience to keep varying his pace, line and length and sternly testing the Ireland batters. Nabi’s best on night was his fifth wicket. He went around the stumps to Graham Hume, and angled it into the left-hand batter. The ball dipped on the shorter side of a length on off, and rushed through to strike the stumps after beating Hume’s defence.Kharote bowled nine overs on the trot at the other end and finished with 4 for 30, with his first wicket coming in the 25th over. Curtis Campher, on 43, tickled one to the wicketkeeper, having smashed Kharote’s first two balls in international cricket for 6 and 4 back in the 19th over.The slowness of pitch meant it wasn’t easy for a new batter to start on, and Nabi had, earlier in the day, played his part with the bat too. He added 97 in 21 overs for the fifth wicket with Hashmatullah Shahidi, before departing for 48. Shahidi, though, batted deep for a patient 69. Both batters’ knocks were much needed after their side were 96 for 4 despite a half-century by opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz.From there Ireland’s bowlers did well to restrict Afghanistan to 236, claiming 5 for 45 in the last eight overs. But their batters were not allowed to back up that effort as, despite the absence of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, the veteran Nabi found an able partner in teenager Kharote to help carry Afghanistan’s spin-bowling baton.