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Visitors five down and just 39 ahead after Hannon-Dalby knocks over top order

George Dobell10-Apr-2021There was a time when, confronted by tricky conditions and a tight match situation, a batsman might be expected to buckle down for some dogged resistance.Take Alan Hill, for example. Hill is something of a folk hero among Derbyshire supporters for his obdurate batting. He holds the record for the highest first-class score (103, since you ask, made for Orange Free State v Griqualand West in 1976-77) without a boundary. He’s one of only three men to have made a first-class hundred without hitting a four or six. Once, when batting against Kent at Derby in 1977, he went 68 minutes before getting off the mark. He might not have had the spectators flocking in, but by God bowlers had to earn his wicket.Modern cricket isn’t like that. While there are one or two Hill-types out there – Dom Sibley isn’t a bad example – the default response to most situations these days appears to be to attempt to hit the ball harder and further. You couldn’t say the game was less skilful than it was previously; batters play shots of which Hill and co could never have dreamed. And you might argue the contemporary game is more entertaining than it has ever been. But maybe, somewhere along the way, some subtle skills – not least the will and ability to defend for long periods – has been lost.Related

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So it was that Derbyshire, starting their second innings with a deficit of 32 runs, seemed intent on thrashing their way into a match-winning position before a ball could come along to defeat them.It was a puzzling tactic. While the conditions were certainly offering some assistance to the seamers, evidence from the Warwickshire innings – and the success of Matt Lamb, Rob Yates and Tim Bresnan, in particular – suggested there was little benefit in pushing for the ball and more in waiting for it.Maybe Derbyshire’s batters simply wanted to return to the warmth of the dressing room? This match has been played in miserably cold conditions and was interrupted by sleet on the third afternoon. Even while play was in progress, the temperature was just under three degrees. It’s literally warmer in a fridge.The man beneficiary of Derbyshire’s loose approach to batting was Oliver Hannon-Dalby. Bowling, as ever really, an immaculate length, he probed around off stump with unrelenting accuracy. And while he is not especially quick – somewhere around 80mph, you would think – his height (6ft 8in) enables him to gain disconcerting bounce. Combined with an ability to hit the seam and gain swing and you have, in these conditions at least, a dangerous bowler.In taking all five wickets to fall so far in the second innings, he has sustained his outstanding recent performances. His overall career record may look modest – that average hovers just above 30 – but, since the start of 2017, he is taking his first-class wickets (and there have been 106 of them) at a cost of 22.36 apiece. He has developed into a fine operator and key member of this side.”It’s a good cricket wicket,” Hanon-Dalby said afterwards. “Yes, there’s something there for the bowlers. But if you don’t put the ball in the right place, there are runs to be scored. We did’t expect them to come as hard at us in their second innings as they did.”What am I doing differently over the last few years? I’ve sure I’ve matured a bit as a cricketer. But mainly it’s about opportunity. There were so many great bowlers ahead of me when I came to Warwickshire: Chris Woakes, Keith Barker, Rikki Clarke, Chris Wright, Boyd Rankin… the list goes on. I was coming on fourth change sometimes.”So, I’ve had to bide my time for a chance to take the new ball and show what I can do.”Here, Luis Reece, usually so disciplined, drove loosely at one angled across him, Anuj Dal played across a straight one and Leus du Plooy – maybe that should read “du Pl00y” – completed a pair when he was beaten by a fine delivery that nipped back into him. By the time Billy Godleman jabbed at one he could have left, Derbyshire were four down and only two ahead.Wayne Madsen could consider himself unfortunate, though: the ball that dismissed him pitched on middle, bounced and left him to take the edge. It might have been too good for anyone.That the match goes into the final day is largely due to the weather – there was no play after 2.40pm – and Matt Critchley. Critchley has enjoyed a fine game. His first-innings contribution of 64 remains the most fluent knock of the match, and he has top-scored so far in Derbyshire’s second innings, once again demonstrating some lovely timing off his legs and a pleasing pull for four when Liam Norwell dropped short.He also helped polish off the Warwickshire innings on the third morning. Yes, he’ll confront more testing batsmen in his career, but he ended Lamb’s worthy resistance with a legbreak, Madsen holding on to the sharpest of catches in front of his face at slip, almost defeated Danny Briggs with a first-ball googly, then trapped Norwell with one that skidded on.So that’s variety, control and an ability to bat he has demonstrated in this match. A career bowling average in the mid-40s suggests he is nowhere near international cricket. But, given England’s relatively meagre options and his relative youth at 24, he may be a cricketer to keep an eye upon.He has some work ahead of him on the fourth day. Perhaps, if Derbyshire can stretch this lead to 150 or so, they may yet put Warwickshire under pressure. You suspect, however, they will rue the frenetic way they went about their second innings.

R Ashwin, however, said it was ‘brave’ and ‘commendable’ that Bangladesh batted first on a pitch with a ‘bit of life’

Mohammad Isam14-Nov-20193:35

‘Brave’ of Bangladesh to bat first on a pitch with ‘life’ – Ashwin

Mominul Haque’s press conference at the end of the first day’s play in Indore could be interpreted in many different ways.The new Bangladesh captain seemed to be riled at the suggestion that his team isn’t used to playing fast bowling. Mominul then tried to delicately broach the idea that journalists’ questions sometimes put the players under more pressure. To be fair, the question was whether the Bangladesh batsmen were scared of India’s fast bowlers, to which no cricketer would ever answer in the affirmative.”You guys might find it funny but ahead of every series, even against Afghanistan, you [media] have a major role to play,” Mominul said. “This thing can go against me, so don’t take it otherwise, please. When we are playing against Afghanistan, the way you ask questions, by saying they have Rashid Khan, etc. Even if you don’t want to think about them, it will creep into your mind. I just think how you present it makes it difficult.”Later, when he was asked why he was feeling under pressure at a press conference when he and other cricketers are trained to avoid much more difficult situations in the middle, Mominul didn’t back down.”I am the one who has to answer your questions, of course, but sometimes we don’t think about a certain thing, and then when you ask us about it, we start thinking about it,” Mominul said. “This is how the mind works. But you’re right. Myself and the rest of the side have to be mentally stronger.”Throughout the press conference, it was clear that Mominul was relishing the captaincy, so much so that he let go of his usual introverted self and became a lot more outspoken. This was only his second interaction with the media after becoming captain.Mominul Haque plays a copybook forward defence•BCCI

But perhaps his inexperience at handling a prickly press conference got the better of him, after a tough day in the field. He perhaps didn’t need to admit that he was at fault for choosing to bat first after winning the toss. Initially, when asked about the toss, he said he would have to live with the burden of the decision since Bangladesh made a low score.”When you take this decision at the toss and things don’t go your way, these questions will definitely come up,” Mominul said. “Because we were bowled out cheaply, it was probably a bad decision on my part. It was totally my fault. I think if I had batted for longer with Mushfiq [Mushfiqur Rahim] , we would have posted a bigger total.”Another way to look at Mominul’s decision was that it was a positive one, showing his – and his team’s – willingness to meet the Indian attack head-on. The trust he placed in his batting line-up was remarkable, and perhaps a positive sign from a new captain.R Ashwin came out with the exact thought in his press conference.”I personally thought it was a very brave decision to bat first having won the toss,” Ashwin said. “We didn’t expect that. We thought they’ll bowl but they batted first which is very commendable on their part. I also thought some of their batsmen batted beautifully in the morning, it’s never easy to come and play on a wicket that’s got a bit of life. It was damp. And I thought Mominul Haque and some of the other batters batted beautifully.”It is not as if Mominul isn’t used to harder challenges but handling questions at the end of a long day in the field can get the better of many top players. In only his first day as captain, Mominul can be given some leeway, but this Test series will not just be a test of Mominul the cricketer and new captain of Bangladesh, but also of Mominul the communicator.

Brett Hutton’s five-for and a Ricardo Vasconcelos fifty put Northamptonshire on top against Derbyshire at Wantage Road

ECB Reporters Network12-Sep-2018
ScorecardBrett Hutton’s five-for and a Ricardo Vasconcelos fifty put Northamptonshire on top against Derbyshire at Wantage Road, although Hardus Viljoen’s four wickets ensured the home side were not out of sight at the end of the day three, with Northants leading by 231 in their second innings.Hutton’s third five-wicket haul of the season helped bowl Derbyshire out for 222, giving Northants a first-innings lead of 33, before Vasconcelos built the advantage. But from 154 for 2, the home side slipped to 192 for 8 to leave the game nicely poised heading into the final day.Initially, progress was slow-going for the home side in their second-innings as they made 49 in 24 overs by tea for the loss of Ben Curran for 11 to a tremendous low return catch by Ravi Rampaul, diving down low to his right. But runs began to flow after tea. Luke Procter, after a difficult 21 in 128 balls, was strangled down the leg side but it brought Richard Levi to the crease and the lead was quickly extended.The South African pulled Alex Hughes for six and drove the same bowler down the ground for four before pulling Viljoen for another six over midwicket and slamming Matt Critchley’s legspin over the sight-screen. But trying to pull his way to fifty, he skied a catch to deep-square to fall for 46.Vasconcelos wasn’t as brutal but still played some attractive strokes – he drove Rampaul on the up through the covers and then pulled the same bowler for four more. Viljoen was uppercut off a top-edge over first slip for the left-hander’s seventh boundary and his eighth – timed perfectly past extra-cover – brought him fifty in 85 balls.But after Levi fell, ending a bright partnership of 75 for the third wicket, Vasconcelos chipped Critchley to midwicket and when Adam Rossington was bowled by Rampaul for 1, Northants had lost 3 for 1 in eight balls. Charlie Thurston, on his first-class debut, made a positive 25 before driving Viljoen to point and the same bowler had Josh Cobb caught behind for 3 and Hutton taken at mid-off for 0 to keep Derbyshire in the game.Earlier in the day, Hutton had helped bowl Northants to a first-innings lead. He bowled Anuj Dal via an inside edge and induced a thin outside edge behind from Viljoen before returning after lunch to have Tony Palladino caught a long-leg after an enterprising 26 that delivered Derbyshire a batting point.That point looked unlikely when Derbyshire slipped to 150 for 7 in the morning session but Harvey Hosein flicked three boundaries off his legs in making 30 before falling lbw to Ben Sanderson in the over after lunch – his 50th wicket of the season.

Heather Knight led England to 220 on a slow surface before their bowlers strangled West Indies in the chase to set up a semi-final clash against South Africa

The Report by Akshay Gopalakrishnan15-Jul-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsHeather Knight brought England back into the game with a well-paced half-century•Getty Images

West Indies threw away a top-class spin-bowling performance by showing a dismal lack of intent with the bat on a slow pitch in Bristol. Having shown little urgency in a tricky chase of 221, West Indies lost wickets in a cluster, and ended up ambling to 128 for 9 as England ended the group stage of the 2017 Women’s World Cup on top of the table.England had hardly been clinical themselves when they batted. They played all around the legspin of Afy Fletcher, who returned figures of 3 for 33. With Anisa Mohammed and Hayley Matthews playing more than just a supporting hand, the trio tied down England until their captain Heather Knight mounted a late fightback with a gritty 67.The cushion provided by those extra runs was all England needed. Unlike in England’s innings, it was a medium pacer – Natalie Sciver – that inflicted the bulk of the damage. With her team having already combined to reduce West Indies to 73 for 4, Sciver struck thrice in the space of 15 balls to push West Indies into a hole they never got out of.West Indies’ only period of stability came during an opening stand of 34 in 9.4 overs. Matthews and Kycia Knight employed great caution in playing out the new ball. By the end of the sixth over, West Indies had scored 16 with just one boundary.West Indies soon found their fluency. It began with Knight collecting a four with a trickle down to fine leg off Katherine Brunt. She then pulled Anya Shrubsole through midwicket before Matthews launched Laura Marsh for a monstrous six over long-on in the next over. Any signs of a shift in momentum, though, were snuffed out with a run-out the next over.England then swiftly seized control, helped by a 12-ball duck from Stafanie Taylor, the West Indies captain. Then, Matthews, after a brief period of solidity, was deceived by the angle of a straighter ball from Alex Hartley that she attempted to sweep.It wasn’t until the 27th over that the first signs of intent appeared, when Dottin swept Knight for a boundary. By then, the required rate had crept over six, which meant West Indies needed a sustained period of acceleration. Heather,however, denied them that when three balls later, Dottin perished lbw trying the same stroke.With West Indies on shaky ground, Sciver then produced a double-strike in the 32nd over to hasten the slide. First, Chedean Nation was caught brilliantly by Tammy Beaumont running to her right at deep backward square leg, before Merissa Aguilleira misread a straighter one to be trapped lbw. Sciver finished with figures of 3 for 3 in four overs, and West Indies managed all of 29 runs from the final 88 balls.It might seem strange that the turn had been sharper and a lot more vicious in the first innings when England batted, but that was down to the skill of West Indies’ spinners. Perhaps influenced by the overcast conditions, Taylor, surprisingly, chose to put the opposition in with the surface expected to get slower as the game progressed. Fletcher, in particular, got the ball to rip past the outside edge of right-handers, and reaped the benefits of looping it up and slowing it down.She struck in her second over, removing the well-set Beaumont, who scooped a full toss onto her helmet which then ended up a catch to the wicketkeeper. Two balls later, Sciver was sent back for a duck, bowled by one that spun from leg stump to crash into middle and off. Fran Wilson toe-ended a sweep to her body for the Merissa Aguilleira to snap up another catch behind the stumps and England had slid to 105 for 5.Knight then mounted a fightback in the company of the lower order. She did have her share of luck, surviving an lbw shout against Fletcher on 39, with replays showing that the ball would have hit middle and off. The legspinner should have had a slip, considering the purchase she got, but West Indies did not afford her one and Knight, on 45, benefited again. England’s captain enjoyed another reprieve when she had sprinted more than halfway down the pitch at the non-striker’s end after the ball had struck batsman Jenny Gunn on the pad. Aguilleira went after the ball to effect the run-out, but in her haste she couldn’t pick it up cleanly.West Indies also slightly slipped up with their fielding towards the end, letting a couple sneak through to the boundary. But the bigger mistake, perhaps, was their giving away as many as 24 wides on a pitch that was hard to score on.

Angelo Matthews remains under an injury cloud and must undergo a fitness test on Wednesday before he can be cleared to play in the second ODI against England at Edgbaston on Friday

Melinda Farrell22-Jun-2016Angelo Mathews remains under an injury cloud and must undergo a fitness test on Wednesday before he can be cleared to play in the second ODI against England at Edgbaston on Friday.The Sri Lanka captain hobbled from the field suffering stiffness in his left hamstring after bowling six overs during Sri Lanka’s tie with England in the first ODI of the five-game Royal London series at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.The hamstring failed to improve overnight and Mathews saw a doctor in Birmingham on Wednesday to undergo further assessment.His absence would be keenly felt by Sri Lanka on several levels; in the first ODI Mathews’ steadying innings of 73 was the highest of any batsman in his side and he then took 2 for 22 with the new ball before injury forced him from the field.Sri Lanka may also have benefited from Mathews’ experience as captain as England chased down 286 to draw level with Sri Lanka – particularly in the final two overs when Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett plundered 30 runs, culminating in Plunkett’s six off Nuwan Pradeep’s final ball.Sri Lanka’s pace attack has been gradually depleted since the start of the tour, with the loss of Dushmantha Chameera, Dhammika Prasad and Shaminda Eranga and, in the remainder of the squad, there is no like-for-like replacement for the all-rounder Matthews.Sri Lanka’s team management has told ESPNcricinfo they were already preparing to draft a replacement for Eranga from the Sri Lanka A squad, which arrives in England on Wednesday night ahead of a series of matches against Pakistan A and England Lions. If Matthews fails to recover in time for Friday’s game, Sri Lanka may need to call in further reinforcements.

For most counties Friday is T20 night but Middlesex have always preferred Thursdays. The stroll from St John’s Wood to Lord’s, brimming with City types anticipating their first T20 game of the season, showed why.

Tim Wigmore28-May-2015
Scorecard13:33

The Blast: How to bowl a yorker

For most counties Friday is T20 night but Middlesex have always preferred Thursdays. The stroll from St John’s Wood to Lord’s, brimming with City types anticipating their first T20 game of the season, showed why.Many had come armed with the permitted maximum four cans of beer and intending to drink rather more than that. Such supplies have often come in handy for Middlesex fans in T20: the side finished bottom of the South Group last season, winning only two of their 13 completed matches. A seven-wicket defeat at Bristol last week hardly suggested 2015 would be much better for Eoin Morgan’s side.A lot has happened since Morgan last played in a game in England. He has been made ODI captain, an appointment widely cheered; led England to a particular gruesome World Cup exit, even by recent standards; and retained as ODI captain to the chagrin of many. A sojourn in the IPL brought few runs but much tut-tutting about missing an England ODI in Ireland..So perhaps it was just as well that from his fourth ball, nonchalantly lofted over long-on for six, Morgan reaffirmed his limited-overs class. The next ball thundered to the square leg boundary, and Morgan felt near his best; Fabian Cowdrey, swatted for two huge sixes over the legside, will certainly testify as much. Morgan was utterly blasé upon reaching a 25-ball half-century, a man set on plundering plenty more runs this summer.As it happened, Morgan’s was far from the most destructive innings of the night. That accolade fell to his Irish compatriot Paul Stirling, with whom Morgan amassed a century stand in only 48 balls. He has a chunky demeanour and uses his bat rather like a chisel, swatting anything slightly short over long-on or midwicket. At his best there is something wonderfully dismissive to his batting, marrying timing and raw power and caring little for foot movement.Several of Stirling’s seven sixes were monstrous. Having sailed past 82, his previous best T20 score, it was a matter of considerable surprise when he lashed Stevens to midwicket on 90. Still, the authority with which Stirling played – Morgan reckoned it was the best he had ever seen him play – added to the sense of bewilderment that he is marooned in Middlesex’s second XI in red ball cricket.The upshot was that Middlesex cleared 200 and reached their highest-ever T20 score at Lord’s, though it could have been even more: only 35 runs were added in the 4.4 overs after Morgan’s dismissal, with Mitch Claydon bowling with skill and subtlety. Joe Burns, Middlesex’s high-class overseas batsman who has made his name in the first-class game, cut a rather incongruous sight attempting to heave in the death overs.As Kent had hit 178 to win in their previous T20 match at Hampshire, they would not have regarded the total as unreachable, especially when Joe Denly exquisitely flicked his first ball, a good length delivery on off stump from Kyle Abbott, to midwicket for four.Any optimism did not last much longer as Kent’s innings rapidly descended into a series of brainless slogs. Against the New Zealander James Franklin, who does not count as an overseas player because of an Irish passport, the swipes kept finding the legside fielders. He twice found himself on a hat-trick en route to his maiden T20 five-for.Aspects of Kent’s strategy – promoting Matt Coles to No. 3 while demoting Sam Billings to No. 5 – also appeared perplexing. Bowled out inside 15 overs, the final dismissal – Cowdrey caught behind attempting a reverse sweep – seemed appropriately calamitous. So ignominious was their effort that it might have reminded the Lord’s crowd not distracted by their drinks of Middlesex’s own batting performances here last year.”As close to a perfect performance as we’ll get throughout the whole summer,” was Morgan’s assessment. That Nathan Sowter, a 22-year-old legspinner born in Australia, picked up two wickets in four balls merely added to Middlesex’s sense of contentment.

Visitors will have Mehidy Hasan Miraz back and could go with three spinners at SSC

Madushka Balasuriya24-Jun-2025

Big Picture: WTC points at stake for both sides

After a draw in the first Test in Galle, the action moves to Colombo with more World Test Championship (WTC) points on the line for a Test arguably more important for Sri Lanka than Bangladesh. As their remaining two home series in this cycle are against India and South Africa, two Tests without a win against a lower-ranked Bangladesh might leave the hosts feeling like they left points on the table.As for the visitors, they were the closer of the two sides to getting a positive result in Galle, and will be heading to Colombo with the belief that they can go one better. And with their remaining two away series this cycle against WTC 2025 finalists Australia and South Africa, the points might prove more valuable than most.It is also Sri Lanka’s first Test of the post-Angelo Mathews era, with the search for his replacement now moving into full gear. The first to get a go looks likely to be spin-bowling allrounder Sonal Dinusha, whose slow left-arm spin makes him a handy option – particularly in home conditions. With no Tests on Sri Lanka’s cards until next year, he’ll be itching to make this opportunity one to remember.Related

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• Focused Shanto regains form despite instability all around him

If Sri Lanka opt to throw all their spin eggs in the Prabath Jayasuriya basket, then one of Pavan Rathnayake, Pasindu Sooriyabandara or even Oshada Fernando could come in.Bangladesh, meanwhile, welcome Mehidy Hasan Miraz back after he missed the first Test with fever. You would expect the No. 2-ranked allrounder in the world to be welcomed back with open arms. But his replacement Nayeem Hasan was arguably the best bowler on show in the first Test.With the SSC surface expected to be dry and batter-friendly, both teams will be trying to decipher the ideal combination. Dhananjaya de Silva hinted that three seamers were likely for Sri Lanka – which could potentially mean a debut for Isitha Wijesundara – but if Bangladesh were to follow suit, it might mean Nayeem misses out.Bangladesh, though, have the seam options to go with a three-pronged spin attack, with both Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain available for selection. With Ebadot just returning from an injury layoff, Khaled could get the nod, particularly owing to his proficiency with the new ball.

Form guide

Sri Lanka: DLLLL
Bangladesh: DWLWLLAnamul Haque fell for 0 and 4 in the Galle Test•Associated Press

In the spotlight: Dhananjaya de Silva and Anamul Haque

For most of his career, Dhananjaya de Silva has batted at No. 6 or lower. He was tried at No. 5 for the entire 2021 as well, and to some success. But with Mathews retired, Sri Lanka’s Test middle order is getting its first real shake-up in over a decade. The biggest beneficiary of that might be the Sri Lanka captain himself. Dhananjaya looks set to slot into that No. 4 role – at least initially – a position he has batted in on only six prior occasions, and one where he averages just 20.33. DDS, as he’s commonly known, has always been the man for a crisis in Sri Lanka’s lower order, and Sri Lanka will be hoping that crisis-management mode kicks in upon the retirement of one of the country’s stalwarts.Anamul Haque’s Test career hasn’t been one to write home about. Having made his Test debut back in 2013, he was in the wilderness from 2014 to 2022. Anamul’s return to the national team was brief, though, as he was dropped after a single Test for another three years. At 32 years of age, his return against Zimbabwe this April was less comeback, and more a reintroduction. He scored 39, his highest Test score, the only time he batted in that game. The Galle Test brought Anamul scores of 0 and 4, not ideal either. But on an SSC track that is expected to be as batter-friendly – if not, more – now, if ever, is the time to deliver.Mehidy Hasan Miraz will be back in action after a fever•AFP/Getty Images

Team news

Sri Lanka will be pondering Mathews’ replacement, as well as whether to play three seamers. Milan Rathnayake’s injury has left open a spot for a bowling allrounder, and Dinusha seems likely to fill that role. Tharindu Ratnayake will be the one to make way if Sri Lanka go for an extra seamer.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Lahiru Udara, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Sonal Dinusha, 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Prabath Jayasuriya, 9 Vishwa Fernando, 10 Kasun Rajitha/Isitha Wijesundara, 11 Asitha FernandoBangladesh will have to decide how to slot in the returning Mehidy, while also pondering whether to go with three seamers or an extra spinner. It could be Nayeem who misses out if the extra seamer does come in. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto also picked up a finger injury at training, but it doesn’t look likely to rule him out.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Jaker Ali (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Nayeem Hasan/Khaled Ahmed/Ebadot Hossain, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Nahid Rana, 11 Hasan MahmudOf active Sri Lanka players, Prabath Jayasuriya’s ten wickets are the most at SSC•AFP/Getty Images

Stats and trivia

• Sri Lanka have lost four of their last eight Tests at the SSC. Prior to that, they had gone 21 Tests without defeat at the venue.
• Of active Sri Lanka players, Jayasuriya’s ten wickets are the most at the SSC.
• Bangladesh have beaten Sri Lanka just once across 27 Tests.

Quotes

“Runs in the first innings is the key. Then we can try and take 20 wickets in the game. Toss will not be a major factor. Even in Galle, we were able to score the same number of runs as them.”
“To leave Naeem out is difficult. But we make sure everyone is on the same page, and if a decision has to be made, people understand that it’s what’s best for the team.”

New development deals for Mahika Gaur, Lauren Filer and Bess Heath

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2023Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson have been awarded ECB central contracts for the first time, while there were new development deals for teenager Mahika Gaur, Lauren Filer and Bess Heath, as part of the 2023-24 cycle for England Women.Top-order batter Bouchier, 24, has been in the England set-up for the last few years but announced herself with 95 from 65 balls in her third ODI against Sri Lanka in September. Gibson, the seam-bowling allrounder, made her full debut in the summer’s Ashes and hit the winning runs to seal the T20I series against Australia at Lord’s.Their elevation comes following the retirement of Katherine Sciver-Brunt after a 19-year England career, with seamer Freya Davies also missing from the 18-player list.Related

• Gaur hits her straps as England's next generation step up

• Jones credits youngsters' injection of energy for England turnaround

• Sciver-Brunt targets India bowling comeback after stellar batting form

• Beaumont, Brook named PCA Players of the Year

Left-armer Tash Farrant, who last played international cricket in 2021, was again retained, having suffered a recurrence of her back stress fracture, while Issy Wong also keeps her contract – evidence of the “scaffold of support” needed by the young fast bowler after a difficult summer in which she struggled for rhythm and was only picked once by England.The introduction of development contracts means extra support for the likes of 17-year-old left-arm swing bowler Gaur, following her switch to England after representing UAE since the age of 15, and the rapid Filer, whose extra pace was a notable feature of the women’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.The contracts, which run until October 31, 2024, include an enhanced family provision entitlement, bonuses for success against higher-ranked opposition, increased retainers and the equalisation of match fees, announced earlier this year by the ECB.”The central contracts are awarded to the players we feel will play a significant role over the next 12 months and beyond,” Jonathan Finch, the ECB’s director of England Women’s cricket, said. “We are at the start of an unprecedented busy period of international cricket and the group reflects the requirements of the multi-format schedule we face.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson have been part of our group over the summer, have performed well and will be important players for England moving forward.”The introduction of development contracts is a key step for us and allows us to support a wider group of players in their ongoing development and we will work closely with the regions to manage the players’ development and workloads.”After a record-breaking Ashes summer, we have a really exciting 12 months of cricket ahead and we feel this group of players will form the foundations of our side that will take us through various bilateral series, and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.”Our thanks as ever go to the England Women’s Player Partnership and the PCA who continue to play an important role.”England Women central contracts: Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt
England Women development contracts: Bess Heath, Lauren Filer, Mahika Gaur

Hosts end Day 3 323 ahead after Pakistan fell 147 behind in the first innings, although they fought back with the ball

Andrew Fidel Fernando26-Jul-2022Stumps Pakistan removed Sri Lanka’s top five in a little over a session, but had given up so much ground in the first innings that they remain in a desperate situation. They are 323 runs back at the end of day three, with five Sri Lanka wickets still remaining.On a day curtailed by bad light, the hosts took the visitors’ last four wickets for 40 runs, obtaining a 147-run first innings lead thanks to Ramesh Mendis’ five-wicket haul. Pakistan’s bowlers then did their best to keep Sri Lanka in check by having the hosts 117 for 5 in the second innings, before a 59-run unbeaten stand between Dhananjaya de Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne re-established Sri Lanka’s dominance.Karunaratne was clearly struggling with a lower-back injury that had kept him off the field for much of Pakistan’s first innings and prevented him from coming in any earlier than at No. 6, where he was unbeaten – with de Silva at the other end – before the teams went off for bad light.Pakistan had begun the day well, though perhaps unambitiously. Yasir Shah and Hasan Ali batted out almost 14 overs, but struck only one boundary when Hasan came down the track to launch Prabath Jayasuriya over midwicket, and made just 30 runs together for the eighth wicket.Sri Lanka’s spinners had occasionally threatened with the old ball, but when they took the new one – just before the first hour of play was up – they were consistently menacing.Jayasuriya broke the stand, as Hasan could only get an under-edge on to the stumps as he tried to sweep. Soon after, Nauman Ali had his outside edge taken by a big-turning Ramesh delivery, before Yasir was trapped in front by the same bowler to wrap the innings up for 231. Ramesh got 5 for 47 – his third five-wicket haul in Tests – while Jayasuriya took 3 for 80.Agha Salman was intent on reviewing a decision against Angelo Mathews, and eventually had his way•AFP/Getty Images

As Karunaratne could no earlier than 2.20pm local time since he had been off the field too long, Niroshan Dickwella opened the innings for Sri Lanka, but without substantial success. He survived the five overs he and fellow opener Oshada Fernando faced before lunch, but was out in the first over of the afternoon, nicking a Naseem Shah ball that was angled across him on 15.Three other Pakistan bowlers took the three remaining wickets to fall in that session. Yasir had Oshada lbw less than five overs after Dickwella’s dismissal. Mohammad Nawaz got Kusal Mendis lbw trying to sweep very soon after that.Then came perhaps the most controversial decision of the day. Angelo Mathews, playing his 100th Test, was given not out edging a ball that ricocheted off the keeper’s gloves to slip. But the bowler Agha Salman was intent on reviewing that decision, and third umpire Marais Erasmus ruled Mathews out, despite Snicko having showed only the merest tremor. Mathews left the field shaking his head, having made 35.After tea, Naseem struck again. Dinesh Chandimal attempted a booming drive to a full, wide delivery, and ended up only edging it behind for 27 – his lowest score in his last three Tests.De Silva then made his presence felt with some early boundaries, and set about establishing a partnership with Karunaratne, who was clearly hampered in both his batting and his running between the wickets, by his back injury.De Silva was especially effective on the back foot – as he often is – pulling Naseem in front of square for four, while also cutting Yasir for three boundaries behind point. Karunaratne hit two boundaries in his 51-ball stay – a reverse sweep off Yasir, and a conventional sweep off Nawaz. He went to stumps on 27; de Silva on 30.

Coach Matthew Mott says they won’t rotate players for the sake of it on the tour of New Zealand

Andrew McGlashan10-Mar-2021Australia are determined not to be “caught out” at next year’s 50-over Women’s World Cup with memories of falling short in 2017 still often referred to by members of the current squad who took part.Four years ago, Australia were bundled out by Harmanpreet Kaur spectacular 171 at Derby. That became a watershed moment for the side who realised they had started to stagnate and it has been a key motivator behind their record since which has included two T20 World Cup titles and a record-equaling run of 22 ODI wins.They will use the upcoming tour of New Zealand, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs, as a chance to gather intel ahead of the tournament and also to keep challenging themselves to lift their own performance levels.”What we are trying achieve in T20 is also what we are trying achieve in one-day cricket which is try to take the game on, push the boundaries a little bit and see how far we can take it,” head coach Matthew Mott told ESPNcricinfo.Related

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“We learnt our lessons from the last World Cup, not evolving and probably thinking we could keep rolling along doing the same thing. We don’t want to be caught out this time, this is a perfect opportunity against good opposition – I know they’ve struggled against England but the Kiwis always give us a good run, in their home conditions we won’t be taking them lightly.”We are going over with a reasonably open mind, there’s a good mix of players, experience and some youth, so for us it’s about having a real dress rehearsal seeing what it will be like at that World Cup. We’ll play on a few of the same venues and getting some intel against New Zealand on those grounds will be great for us.”Australia are taking a 17-player squad across the Tasman – offspinner Molly Strano a late replacement for injured allrounder Annabel Sutherland – which includes the uncapped pace bowlers Darcie Brown and Hannah Darlington, but there won’t be caps handed out for sake of giving everyone a game.Australia beat New Zealand 3-0 at the start of the season•AFP via Getty Images

“Think our batting will stay the same, we’ve had a good run in our ODI cricket and style of cricket we’ve been playing we’ve been happy with,” Mott said. “In our one-day bowling attack there’s a lot of options. What we want to maintain is a bit of unpredictably so teams don’t know what to expect, so certainly different bowling combinations will happen. They’ll be subtle changes in there but our games are pretty similar and our best players are our best in both formats.”Players don’t generally want to give up their spot, either, so you have to manage that…but if there’s a close call to be made and there’s a player who has an opportunity and a senior player could do with a game off to refresh then those are the sorts of conversations we’ll have with the selectors.”Even just being the squad for a couple of people who haven’t been there is an enormous opportunity to understand our culture, how the team operates so there’s plenty of benefits even if they don’t get a game.”Mott has also been encouraged by the volume of runs being scored in the WNCL, highlighted by Elyse Villani’s prolific form which has brought 538 runs 134.50 including three hundreds. Of the squad heading to New Zealand, Rachael Haynes, Beth Mooney and Nicola Carey have scored centuries, Meg Lanning has a best of 96, Alyssa Healy 92 and Mott believes Ellyse Perry’s batting is heading back to its peak.”What’s been really exciting recently has been the number of players getting big hundreds,” he said. “That’s a trend that we like to see as a selection group – someone gets a hundred and the next day one of their team-mates is trying to get one as well. I’ve been inspired by players putting their hands up with those big hundreds.”The strength of Australia’s top order makes it a tough route back for Villani, who last played in March 2019, with the team generally only including three specialist batters in Haynes, Mooney and Lanning alongside wicketkeeper Healy and a plethora of allrounders.Elyse Villani has had an outstanding WNCL season•Getty Images

“It’s probably one of the best things you can see as a coach,” Mott said of Villani’s form. “I’ve been in regular contact with Elyse over the last couple of months to say keeping going, keep doing what you are doing, and she’s definitely playing with a lot of freedom at the moment. She looks self-assured, relaxed and if she can keep doing that then there’s obviously a future for her in Australian colours again.”She was in the team for a long time and by her own admission probably didn’t smash it out the park so all these runs and the way she’s doing about it is really exciting and shows how much depth we’ve got when we can leave a player of her class and caliber out.””It’s a bloody hard team to break into at the moment and all those other players in front of her have been scoring big runs as well. For Elyse she is competing in that team as a specialist batter. She’s doing all the right things it’s just unfortunate when you have good players in front of you.”The squad will depart for New Zealand on Saturday and then undergo two weeks managed isolation in Christchurch during which they will be able to train.