All posts by n8rngtd.top

Head ton tips thriller South Australia's way

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

South Australia’s last pair of Joe Mennie and Chadd Sayers eked out the last eight runs required for the Redbacks to complete a thrilling last-day chase of 317 and beat Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield match at the Adelaide Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Nov-2015
ScorecardFile photo – Travis Head stroked his maiden first-class hundred•Getty Images

South Australia’s last pair of Joe Mennie and Chadd Sayers eked out the last eight runs required for the Redbacks to complete a thrilling last-day chase of 317 and beat Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield match at the Adelaide Oval.The hosts appeared to have the chase well in hand for most of the day, thanks to a long-awaited maiden first-class hundred from their captain Travis Head, after 17 previous scores of 50 or more.Mark Cosgrove had also contributed a sturdy 63 at the top of the order, and at 4 for 269, South Australia looked headed for a more comfortable victory than they could have imagined when the Warriors were 2 for 217 the previous afternoon.But Alex Ross, Head, Tim Ludeman, and Adam Zampa all fell in quick succession to allow WA a glimpse of victory, with Michael Hogan and Simon Mackin both bowling well.It was left to Mennie and Sayers, who had combined well with the ball on day one to roll the Warriors for 211 in their first innings, to scramble the last few runs, something they managed to achieve to the delight of the new captain-coach combination of Head and Jamie Siddons. WA and SA now have one outright win apiece entering round three of the Shield.

Cairns investigation 'biased', defence claims

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The perjury trial against Chris Cairns has been held together by “rumour upon rumour, sustained by a biased investigation” a Southwark Crown Court jury has been told as Orlando Pownall QC continued his summing up for the defence

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Nov-2015The perjury trial against Chris Cairns has been held together by “rumour upon rumour, sustained by a biased investigation” a Southwark Crown Court jury has been told.Orlando Pownall QC was summing up for the defence for a second day in the trial in which Cairns denies two counts of perjury and perverting the course of justice, relating to his successful libel action in 2012 against Lalit Modi who had accused him of match-fixing.Pownall sought to undermine a Crown case which has involved nine witnesses, including the evidence of Lou Vincent, who has confessed to match fixing, and the New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum.”We invite you to be careful to make no assumptions,” Pownall said. “Beyond rumour, beyond self-motivated lies, you cannot be sure Mr Cairns is guilty. For that reason, we invite you to acquit him.”Vincent was described as the “foundation stone” of the case against Cairns. “He is someone who is dishonest, who has lied, who has lied to you,” Pownall told the jury. If the jury concluded he was lying they should acquit Cairns as a consequence and the evidence of McCullum “doesn’t matter”.Pownall also examined McCullum’s recollections of a meeting with Cairns over dinner in 2008 in a Kolkata hotel room. McCullum’s evidence, to the ICC and later the Metropolitan Police, had changed three times – in 2011, 2013 and 2014 – and was “shifting sands” he said.Pownall said match-fixing was never mentioned in the first statement McCullum made in 2011, although the word “betting” was used time and again.”There was a meeting and Mr Cairns has never denied it, in that hotel in Kolkata, but what was discussed in that meeting was very different from the description given,” Pownall said. “What he’s talking about here is betting. Not match-fixing, betting.”McCullum also did not remember that Cairns had “definitely” told him that Vincent and Daryl Tuffey were allegedly involved in match-fixing at Chandigarh Lions until after Vincent had been interviewed by the ICC in September 2013.Pownall also invited the jury to consider why would Cairns would try to recruit McCullum to cheat, as he was a young player yet to reach the “zenith of his career” paid large sums of money in the Indian Premier League, not a “flaky individual” like Vincent who would risk his career for the sake of a “few extra dollars”.When McCullum said in a second statement that he told Kyle Mills and Shane Bond that Cairns had approached him, it referred to a meeting in Worcester the same year. He had not mentioned Kolkata.”Does it make you wonder why didn’t Mr McCullum mention the hotel meeting? Was it because himself he wasn’t sure about what it was about?”Pownall then referred to McCullum’s final statement, three years later. Only then had the names of Vincent and Tuffey – who also played at Chandigarh – also been mentioned.Pownall theorised that McCullum and Daniel Vettori, who also gave evidence for the prosecution, did not want Modi to lose his libel case because he ran IPL and his defeat might put their income at risk. “‘I don’t want him to lose, because that might imperil my contract. I don’t want my reputation to be tarnished, was what they were thinking,” Pownall said. That, he said, led them to give an account to the ICC in 2011.Pownall said that the evidence produced by the prosecution had not shown Cairns to be a liar. “He was vulnerable, but he wasn’t shown to be a liar.” Pownall said. “That’s not because he’s some clever dick who is able to evade, he’s a combative individual.”Cairns is accused of lying under oath in court when he said in that libel hearing: “I have never, ever cheated at cricket. Nor would I ever contemplate such a thing”.His co-defendant and former legal advisor, Andrew Fitch-Holland, denies one count of perverting the course of justice.

Stokes record and Bairstow's ton tramples South Africa

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

This was joy, utter joy, no matter where your loyalties lie: a feat to stir the youthful, cheer the sick and bring reveries from the old. Ben Stokes bludgeoned one of the great attacking Test innings – the second fastest double century in Test history

The Report by David Hopps03-Jan-2016Close
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsThis was joy, utter joy, no matter where your loyalties lie: a feat to stir the youthful, cheer the sick and bring reveries from the old. Ben Stokes bludgeoned one of the great attacking Test innings – the second fastest double century in Test history – on the second day of the second Test in Cape Town and those who were there to see it must have been enriched by the experience.When it was all over, shortly before England’s declaration at 629 for 6, a humungous total they could not have remotely imagined at start of play, Stokes’ demolition job had brought 258 from 198 balls with 30 fours and 11 sixes. Freckled of complexion and brawny of stroke, he wielded his bat like a wrecking ball, razing South Africa’s attack to the ground.Even his dismissal summed up South Africa’s broken state of mind. Stokes heaved at Kagiso Rabada, AB de Villiers dropped the skier at mid-on – AB of all people – but he steadied himself to throw down the stumps and complete a run out as Stokes jogged towards the bowler’s end, by then entirely sated. England declared two balls later once Jonny Bairstow’s 150 – an emotional maiden Test hundred that will receive limited recognition – had been gathered in.South Africa will resume the third day 488 adrift with eight wickets intact after enduring an extraordinary batting assault. England struck their second-highest partnership in Test history, 399 in 59 overs, with Bairstow, no slouch himself, playing an intelligent subordinate role. England made 312 for 1 off 38.5 overs in the day.Statistics underlining the achievement jostled for attention. It was once-in-a-lifetime, jaw-dropping stuff with virtually every delivery from a disorientated South Africa attack seemingly ripe for slaughter. There was little of the resourcefulness worthy of the No.1-ranked side in the world.Stokes played with untrammelled power as blue skies shone over Table Mountain and 12,000 cheering England supporters revelled in every moment. It was a stupendous achievement, a day to treasure, the time-honoured rhythms of Test cricket giving way to something more murderous.Barely anything threatened Stokes’ immense sense of feelgood. On 138, a six against the offspinner Dane Piedt barely cleared the outstretched hands of van Zyl, who significantly was a yard off the boundary at long off. On 197, Chris Morris almost yorked him, perhaps to the bowler’s surprise. And he pottered around for, oh, all of a few seconds before he pulled Morne Morkel through midwicket to reach 200.Jonny Bairstow celebrates his maiden Test century on the second afternoon at Newlands•Getty Images

When the ball comes onto the bat, and cricket is a simple game, Stokes’ destructive power knows few bounds. This was only his third Test hundred, to follow equally exciting affairs against Australia – including Mitchell Johnson at his fiercest – in Perth and New Zealand at Lord’s, and there have been malfunctions along the way, but it was an innings that spoke volumes about the importance of the combative allrounder, able to balance a side and change a game in an instance with bat or ball.His mind was entirely uncluttered, his physique more demoralising by the minute. His backlift was huge and flowing. Shot selection became entirely a matter of where he would hit the ball – pulls bludgeoned through mid-on a speciality, and not always against balls all that short – because he rarely defended and left only deliveries that were virtually too wide to reach. He powered up and let the shots flow.Newlands was at its most seductive for batsmen – and Stokes took a golden opportunity at face value. He is not the sort to see fears where none exist. South Africa lacked the waspish pace of Dale Steyn, or the Cape Town nous of Vernon Philander and those asked to fill the roles had no solution. Half-an-hour before tea on the second day, England were impregnable, hoping that the pitch would break up along with South African minds.England had stolen the game on the previous evening with Stokes and Bairstow taking 46 from the first seven overs with the second new ball. Now they did not just keep it, they ravaged it. That assault began from the outset, helped by some ragged South Africa bowling. An initial plan to bowl wide of off stump proved misguided. Ten came from the first over, from Morkel; a hapless over of short and wide stuff from Morris was flayed to the boards three more times. Playing yourself in was for wimps at a time like this. There were pulls and drives galore. It looked a very simple game.On this sort of pitch, Stokes fancied he could destroy Morris at will. Morris is a T20 specialist, so Stokes dismissed him from his presence as if playing T20. He looked predictable, a bowler operating at a convenient pace. Morkel produced the occasional good ball – but almost exclusively to Bairstow, one thick edge falling drainingly short of the slips. Rabada’s latest lesson in Test cricket was a painful one and his short balls lacked venom. By the time Piedt’s spin was introduced, 12 overs into the day, Stokes’ eye was set.Stokes was entirely relaxed, the power of his strokeplay leaving South Africa’s captain, Hashim Amla, lost for a response. Bairstow offered no release. Misfields crept in and South Africa’s pitch map should have been entitled “desperation”. The boundaries rained down, one of the best of them a pulled six against Rabada by Stokes that flew out of the ground in the general direction of the brewery, where accountants could celebrate the profits provided by celebrating England fans. About the only ball he pushed at cautiously in the morning was the last ball of the session: playing for lunch, Ben Stokes style.England had made 196 in 25 overs in the morning, they added 116 in another 13.5 in the afternoon. What plans South Africa had – and they did not have many – were abandoned at the first sight of failure. Bairstow secured his hundred by cutting van Zyl to the fence and his primeval holler of delight, beard bristling, tightly curled and tightly jawed, holding emotions in check as he looked to the heavens, was a moving moment.From then on, England slogged in the heat, happy to imagine themselves indestructible, Piedt was slow to chase a half chance behind the wicketkeeper as Bairstow top-edged Rabada and Morkel put down a sitter at long off as he same batsman smeared at Morris. It had to end surely, and it did as Rabada had the presence of mind to roll his fingers across the ball and outwit Stokes. England’s ginger quota had proved awfully successful.What followed was very much the undercard, but with Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers still together at the close, and the deficit clipped to 488, South Africa will hope their partnership will swell into something substantial on a third day that should still favour the batting side.South Africa started hamfistedly when Stiaan van Zyl was run out for 4, sent back by Elgar, and Stokes had enough stardust left to have Elgar caught in the gully off a leading edge, but Joe Root dropped de Villiers, on 5, a waist-high chance at second slip – cue a James Anderson black mood – and Amla logged his first half-century in 11 attempts, courtesy of a neat clip off Stokes that suggested form reawakening. England had plans and South Africa scored at 3.4 an over. Normality was restored.

Maxwell fires to give Australia the series

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

In Perth 309 was insufficient, and in Brisbane 308 was inadequate. But for a short while it looked like India’s 295 in Melbourne might have been enough to keep this series alive

The Report by Brydon Coverdale at the MCG17-Jan-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:54

Agarkar: A very un-Maxwell innings

In Perth 309 was insufficient, and in Brisbane 308 was inadequate. But for a short while it looked like India’s 295 in Melbourne might have been enough to keep this series alive. That was until Glenn Maxwell took it upon himself to bat India out of the match, his 96 steering Australia to a third successive record chase to seal the five-match one-day series with two to play. Though Maxwell fell with one run still required, James Faulkner finished the deal with seven balls to spare.In the past week, Australia have now set new records for successful ODI pursuits at the WACA, the Gabba, and the MCG. No wonder Steven Smith sent India in when he won the toss. A run a ball holds no fears for his team at the moment. This time it was Virat Kohli’s century that set up India’s innings, but their bowlers were again unable to restrain Australia. On a pitch that offered some turn, it was a mistake that they left out R Ashwin.That said, India gave themselves their best chance of the series by having Australia four down inside 30 overs. The heroes from the first two games – Smith and George Bailey – were among those dismissed, along with the openers Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch, and it meant a mountain of work for the allrounders. It turns out Maxwell is quite the mountaineer.A searing throw from Umesh Yadav in the deep ran out Mitchell Marsh with the help of MS Dhoni’s quick hands, and Matthew Wade skied a catch off Ishant Sharma, but James Faulkner was able to help Maxwell put the chase beyond doubt. Australia needed 65 off the last 10 overs with Maxwell and Faulkner at the crease, then 35 off the last seven. Maxwell played some extraordinary shots, including a slap for six over extra cover off Barinder Sran, and was the key man.Maxwell timed the chase well enough to give himself a chance at a hundred, reaching 96 with one run needed. But he skied a catch next ball and left Faulkner to finish the job. Their partnership of 80 was the biggest of Australia’s innings, which was formed of several solid stands, unlike India’s innings that was based around two century partnerships and little else.Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh put on 48 for the opening wicket before Finch was caught behind off Yadav, and Marsh then combined with Smith for 64 to set Australia’s chase on its path. Marsh’s fifty came up from his 53rd ball, but on 62 he edged behind off Ishant Sharma to give India a sniff. Smith (41) had already been taken at slip when Ravindra Jadeja found some turn, and Bailey had been sharply stumped off Jadeja. But as it turned out, Maxwell was the wicket India really needed.India came to this match knowing that a run a ball may not be enough to set Australia – it certainly wasn’t in the first two matches of this series. And Smith was keen not to change a winning formula, sending India in when he won the toss. The early loss of Rohit Sharma, who scored hundreds at both the WACA and the Gabba, perked Australia up, but Kohli played the anchor role this time with 117 off 117 deliveries.Kohli worked hard during his 119-run partnership with Shikhar Dhawan and his 109-run stand with Ajinkya Rahane, both of whom made half-centuries. Only 40 of Kohli’s runs came in boundaries, seven fours and two sixes, and he was constantly taking off for singles to rotate the strike and ensure things did not stagnate. His fifty came from 51 deliveries and his century from 105, and when he brought it up he leapt in celebration: it was his first ODI hundred against Australia in Australia.Kohli fell in the 47th over when he drove a John Hastings slower ball straight to cover; Hastings’ variations again proved useful for Australia and he finished with a career-best 4 for 58. Dhoni slapped a quick 23 from nine balls in the dying stages but also fell to Hastings, pulling a 140kph bouncer to deep midwicket. Debutant Gurkeerat Singh was bowled for 8 by a Faulkner slower ball, before Jadeja and Rishi Dhawan steered the innings home.Hastings had also got rid of Rahane for 50 from 55 deliveries, brilliantly caught on the deep midwicket boundary by a combination of Smith and Maxwell. Rahane pulled a short ball and Smith hared around the boundary to make the catch but felt his momentum carrying him over, and threw the ball back inside play for Maxwell to complete the catch. That was one of four wickets in the final six overs; India managed 88 runs in their last 10, fewer than in Perth, more than in Brisbane.The innings had started with Rohit at the crease fresh from two consecutive ODI hundreds, but this time he failed to reach double figures let alone triple. In the fifth over, Rohit drove at a Kane Richardson delivery and edged behind to Wade, to leave India at 1 for 15. But any hopes Australia had of restricting India through top-order wickets were scuppered by Kohli and Shikhar.In both of the previous ODIs, Shikhar had fallen in single figures but here he began to find his touch and was especially powerful through the leg side. A straight drive for four off Hastings in the second over of the match was the nearest Shikhar came to scoring an off-side boundary, but he struck nine fours in all and brought up his fifty from his 76th delivery, one ball after Kohli raised his half-century.But, seemingly aware that India needed to lift their tempo to avoid the kind of stalling that occurred in Perth and Brisbane, Shikhar took it upon himself up the ante. He scooped a boundary over the head of wicketkeeper Wade off Hastings but next ball he again moved into position for a premeditated shot through the on side, and lost his leg stump, bowled for 68 off 91.Shikhar’s idea was right, though, for India had to lift their rate to push beyond 300 this time. Australia proved once again that they are happy to chase a run a ball.

India and Sri Lanka to play T20 series in February

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

India and Sri Lanka are set to play a three-match T20 series, prior to the Asia Cup, as both teams look ahead to the World T20

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jan-2016India and Sri Lanka are set to play a three-match T20 series, prior to the Asia Cup, as both teams look ahead to the World T20.The tour begins in Pune on Feburary 9, then the teams head to Delhi to play the second match on February 12 and the final T20 will take place in Visakhapatnam on February 14. These matches will be the first time the two sides face each other in the shortest format since the final of the 2014 World Twenty20, which Sri Lanka won in April 2014.The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, which acquired Test status in November 2015, will host only its third international match, and only its second T20I.

HK coach fuming at 'cowardly' Oman-kad

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Oman left-arm spinner Aamir Kaleem provided the biggest talking point of the match by mankading star batsman Mark Chapman prior to delivering the final ball of the ninth over of the Hong Kong chase

Alagappan Muthu in Fatullah19-Feb-2016An innings of 122 off 60 balls by Hong Kong No. 3 Babar Hayat – the fourth highest score in T20Is and the best by an Associate player – would normally have been the biggest talking point on most days, but it was Oman left-arm spinner Aamir Kaleem who provided that by mankading star batsman Mark Chapman prior to delivering the final ball of the ninth over of the Hong Kong chase. Oman went on to win the game by five runs in an eventful Asia Cup debut for the Persian Gulf state.At the end of an action-packed and immensely tight game that went to the final over, the two sides took opposing views on the mankad. Kaleem said he had seen both batsmen leaving their crease too early more than once and decided to run them out if they attempted to do so again. But Hong Kong coach Simon Cook said mankading without any warning was a “cowardly act”.”Yes it’s in the laws but I think it goes against the spirit of the game when you’re not at least giving a warning,” Cook said. “Ultimately it’s a cowardly way out really, if you’re battling against one another, man against man, out in the middle and you choose to go down that route to get a wicket and win the game, it’s not really in the spirit of cricket.”First, Oman made excellent use of a batting track to post 180 but it began looking light when Hayat took charge in pursuit of the target. The match had been in the balance when the incident took place.Oman had just picked up their second wicket in the previous over, but Hong Kong had put on 77 runs and needed 104 more from the remaining 67 balls with Hayat set on 57. It was then that Kaleem got into his delivery stride, pulled out, turned on his heel and under-armed a throw at the non-strikers’ end to catch Chapman out of his ground.Chapman waved his hands in disbelief for a moment, but walked off once the on-field umpire upheld Kaleem’s appeal. Everything was legal as per ICC regulation 42.15 which says, “The bowler is permitted, before releasing the ball and provided he has not completed his usual delivery swing, to deliberately attempt to run out the non-striker.”There is no ICC regulation demanding courtesy a courtesy warning, referenced by Cook, but it has been common practice for a bowler to warn the non-striker who is straying out of his crease. Kaleem argued that it is the batsman’s job to know better than to make such errors.”No, I didn’t [warn Chapman],” he said. “As a batsman, if I am non-striker, I know if I leave the crease before the delivery, bowler can do the same thing. I had just noticed two or three times that both batsmen – Babar was also doing it – so I just thought if they did the same thing, I would do this.Kaleem also brought up the example of West Indies U-19 seamer Keemo Paul’s actions in their victorious campaign at the Under-19 World Cup. In a must-win group stage match, Paul mankaded the last man standing Richard Ngarava for Zimbabwe as he ran up for the first ball of the 50th over with the opposition needing three runs and sealed West Indies’ progress into the quarter-finals.”We have all seen it happen in the Under-19 World Cup so it is not a wrong thing. It is under the rules. If the batsman goes before the ball has been released, any bowler can do this. So I did this.”It wasn’t Kaleem’s first mankad either.”Five or six months ago, when we were in Nepal playing against Malaysia, their batsman was also doing the same thing. Our coaches have told us if they are doing the same thing [and backing up prematurely], go ahead and run the batsman out.”

Mashrafe hoping for strong Kolkata support

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

If there is one venue in the world that could be home from home for Bangladesh, it is the ground they will begin their Super 10s on Wednesday

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Kolkata15-Mar-20161:28

Agarkar: Bangladesh will want a bit more from Shakib

If there is one venue in the world that could be home from home for Bangladesh, it is the ground they will begin their Super 10s on Wednesday. Kolkatans speak with a different inflection, and a recent trade embargo means Bangladeshi no longer makes it into this city’s eateries, but still, Bangladesh is elementally tied with Bengal; through shared history, struggle and language.It is on this common soil that Mashrafe Mortaza hopes to break ground on the next phase of their World T20 campaign. Dharamsala, where Bangladesh played their group stage, was so cold and wet, he said, it almost felt like Irish conditions. Bangladesh haven’t played in Kolkata for 25 years, but if Mashrafe gets his wish, this game will feel a little like coming home.”I think this is a good opportunity to play in this ground,” he said. “I don’t know if 90,000 people will turn up for tomorrow’s game, but we are excited to be playing here and we want to make it memorable. As a Bengali, I can hope that Kolkata will be behind us.”Even for non-Bengalis, Bangladesh have become an easy team to get behind. Over the past 14 months, a distinct brand of cricket has developed around a battery of canny seam bowlers, of whom Mashrafe himself is Exhibit A. Their rise began in ODIs, but has now spread to their T20 game. Having been Asia Cup finalists in the past fortnight, they go into the tournament as dark horses of sorts.”We were not really good in T20s but now we are playing fearless cricket,” Mashrafe said. “We are giving it our best, and all our players have their role. When we do all this together, we know we can win. Our coaches have really helped us.”In a 12-month period populated with happy firsts, Bangladesh got their first T20 century-maker on Sunday, when Tamim Iqbal struck 103 not out against Oman. Mashrafe said his whole top order was poised to deliver in the Super 10s.”Tamim is in good touch since the last World Cup. Not only Tamim, actually, but all the batsmen are fired up, especially in T20 cricket. In India they can do much better than at home, because the Asia Cup was played on seaming wickets. Tamim and Sabbir are scoring regularly and Soumya is doing it in patches too. I think when the top order does well, the pressure is off the middle order.”If there is a concern in that middle order, it is the relative lack of runs from Mushfiqur Rahim. He has been out in single figures in four of his five most recent outings. Shakib Al Hasan has also been a little quieter than usual with the bat, though he does have a much better string of scores behind him.”I want everyone to perform but in this format, you don’t always get time,” Mashrafe said. “Especially for those batting in the middle order who don’t get time to get settled in the crease. I think Shakib and Mushfiqur are trying their hardest and they have performed regularly in the recent past.”Shakib is an important player for us. He has performed under pressure for the last seven to eight years. We can always bounce off ideas from him about this ground as this is where his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders is based.”

Legspinner Cameron Boyce joins Tasmania

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Legspinner Cameron Boyce has moved from Queensland to Tasmania, signing with the Tigers for the 2016-17 season

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-2016Legspinner Cameron Boyce has moved from Queensland to Tasmania, signing with the Tigers for the 2016-17 season. Boyce, who has played for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL for the past three seasons and played in Australia’s T20 side this summer, has completed the move south after being chosen for only one Sheffield Shield match for the Bulls in 2015-16.He will be joined in the move to Tasmania by allrounder Simon Milenko, who made his debut for Queensland in 2014-15 but did not play a Shield match last summer. Tasmania have also handed contracts to Cameron Stevenson, Jake Hancock and Andrew Perrin, all of whom have made the move from Victoria’s premier cricket in the hope of making their state debuts.Local fast bowler Cameron Wheatley has earned a state contract, while new rookies include Mac Wright, who has joined from the ACT, and local allrounder Corey Murfet.After a disappointing season in which the Tigers finished last in the Shield the selectors have cut several players. Allrounder Evan Gulbis, who won the Ricky Ponting Medal as Tasmania’s best player in 2013-14, has lost his contract after a summer in which he claimed eight wickets at 50.25 in the Shield.Wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt was also delisted despite playing eight of the state’s ten Shield matches for the season, while spinner Clive Rose and batsman Sean Willis were also axed. The Tigers have also lost allrounder Luke Butterworth and fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus to retirement.”We have some very new faces added to our list but also some familiar faces who have been a part of the Hobart Hurricanes squad and the Tasmanian cricket system,” Cricket Tasmania general manager Andrew Dykes said.”While there is plenty of youth, with Tassie having the third youngest playing list behind South Australia and Western Australia, we are confident we have signed a strong Tasmanian team full of new signings and some very positive re-signings.”Tasmania squad George Bailey (CA contract), Jackson Bird, Cameron Boyce, Xavier Doherty, Alex Doolan, Jake Doran, Ben Dunk, James Faulkner (CA), Andrew Fekete, Jake Hancock, Hamish Kingston, Ben McDermott, Dom Michael, Simon Milenko, Tim Paine, Andrew Perrin, Sam Rainbird, Jordan Silk, Cameron Stevenson, Beau Webster, Cameron Wheatley.
Rookies Gabe Bell, Caleb Jewell, Ryan Lees, Riley Meredith, Corey Murfet, Mac Wright.

Time right for Dhoni to hand over to Kohli – Shastri

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Former India team director and allrounder Ravi Shastri has said Virat Kohli is ready to take over the captaincy from MS Dhoni across all formats, and this is the right time to make the switch “in the interest of Indian cricket”

ESPNcricinfo staff31-May-2016Former India team director and allrounder Ravi Shastri has said Virat Kohli is ready to take over the captaincy from MS Dhoni across all formats, and this is the right time to make the switch “in the interest of Indian cricket”.Kohli already captains India in Test cricket, from which Dhoni has retired, but Dhoni still leads in the shorter formats. Given India play a lot more Tests than limited-overs cricket in the coming months, Shastri said “the gaps” in play for Dhoni will be hard on him. He said he would “definitely be thinking” of naming Kohli captain across formats if he were a selector.”I definitely think so [Kohli should be given the job across formats],” Shastri told India Today Television. “You have to see where India is going to go three years down the line. There are no major events till about three years down the line when you are back with the World Cup. So, this is your best time to think and build.”India play hardly any one-day cricket if you see the next 18 months-two years, and the gaps between Tests and ODIs are massive. So, here’s your time to look ahead and see what you can do with an Indian side all-round three years down the line. If I am the chairman of selectors, I would be thinking in that direction, no question about it.”

‘Virat is a very thorough captain’ – Ashwin

Speaking to , India offspinner R Ashwin lauded Virat Kohli’s captaincy. “Virat is a very thorough captain. He does his homework before the game,” Ashwin said. “We do a lot of team meetings before the game, there’s a lot of honesty around. That gives me the confidence and interest while going out on the field. He gives me enough freedom to express myself and take control of what fields I want to set and how I want to bowl.”

Shastri admitted it would be a tough call to make, but said it would be for the good of Indian cricket. “It’s a catch 22, it’s a hard decision, but I would be thinking about it from now.”The game has to evolve, hard decisions have to be taken, such is life. And nothing wrong in that, it is in the interest of Indian cricket. If you see down the line and you think Dhoni is still the best captain, keep him as captain. But the issue here is the breaks [between Tests and ODIs], and do you have a guy ready [to succeed Dhoni]. My answer is you have a guy ready.”Shastri had worked with the Indian team as director for two years, from August 2014 till the 2016 World T20. Dhoni had captained the team across formats till December 2014, when he retired from Test cricket mid-series in Australia. Kohli took over as Test captain from the New Year’s Test against Australia in Sydney in January 2015. Shastri said Dhoni could still contribute in limited-overs cricket as a player, if he is freed of the responsibilities of captaincy.”By no stretch of imagination you are taking anything away from Dhoni [by making Kohli captain]. He can still contribute massively as a player. I think the time has come for to allow him to enjoy himself and enjoy the game.”End of the day, it is about how hungry Dhoni is, how passionate he is, whether the juices still go as in wanting to play for India. Also the time has come where you have a guy whom you have groomed over a period of time. Virat is ready.”

Levi powers Northants' record chase

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Richard Levi’s 28-ball half-century helped Northamptonshire to a second consecutive win in the NatWest T20 Blast and the highest successful chase at Wantage Road

ECB Reporters Network27-May-2016
ScorecardRichard Levi thrashed 58 off 37 balls•Getty Images

Richard Levi’s 28-ball half-century helped Northamptonshire to a second consecutive win in the NatWest T20 Blast and the highest successful chase at Wantage Road. Levi’s 58 gave Northants a quick start and Steven Crook smacked 33 in 24 balls finished the job.Requiring close to ten an over, Northants kept pace with the chase throughout with Jobb Cobb making 35 in 23 balls and Ben Duckett 29 in 15 balls. Only legspinner Matt Critchley found any control for Derbyshire, with 2 for 19 from his three overs.Levi was in belligerent mood once again after an opening-round 61 against Leicestershire. His second scoring stroke was a six – the trademark clip off the legs – and he added three more maximums, including a sweet straight lofted drive off Shiv Thakor before the Powerplay was complete. The first six overs were worth a healthy 77 for 1.Cobb found form in two second XI T20s earlier in the week and here began with a classic straight-drive before clearing his front leg to smear Alex Hughes over midwicket and pulling another wide of long-on.Duckett got his “duck-scoop” away to begin the 15th over that yielded 18 runs to bring the equation back to 46 required in 30 balls. But after an outrageous reverse sweep that flew straight into the burger van for six, he tried the same stroke and top-edged to Thakor at backward point.Crook helped reduce the target to 16 from 12 balls and then smashed Jimmy Neesham over extra-cover for four. Just five were needed from the final over but Rory Kleinveldt was caught at long-on trying to finish the game in style, before Andy Carter yorked Rob Keogh to still leave a single needed from two balls. But a no-ball from a high full toss sealed Northamptonshire’s victory.It was a mighty chase – the highest for Northamptonshire in T20s – after Derbyshire posted 195 for 7. Buoyed by an opening-round victory at champions Lancashire, the visitors were sent in and raced off to a great start thanks to Wes Durston. He took Crook’s first over for 19 – two heaved pulls flew towards the short boundary and a slammed uppercut for six over point to the long side of the ground.He helped the visitors to 65 off the Powerplay – Hamish Rutherford falling to a catch at extra cover for 10 – but they lost Durston on the cusp of a half-century before skipping down to Seekkuge Prasanna and being stumped for 47.It ended a stand of 74 for the second wicket in just 36 balls. Chesney Hughes played his part with 46 in 29 balls, having begun with three boundaries, all of them off the edge of the bat: two flashing past slip and a top-edge that Adam Rossington couldn’t take behind the stumps.But having been 110 for 3 after 11 overs, Northants hauled back the Derbyshire innings with four wickets in 11 balls. Cobb, the stand-in captain, was taken for four, six, four in successive balls by Wayne Madsen before gaining his revenge by trapping Madsen lbw trying to sweep. Hughes then missed a straight delivery and was bowled middle stump to give Cobb a second wicket in the over.Ollie Stone returned to have Neesham caught at first slip and when Graeme White claimed a return catch from Thakor, 140 for 3 had become 151 for 7. But Tom Poynton found two boundaries in the closing overs, coupled with some good running in his 37 in 21 balls, to put up a testing target. It proved not enough.