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Apart from the four suspension points that resulted in the sanction, five demerit points have also been added to his record

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2022Netherlands fast bowler Vivian Kingma has been banned by the ICC for four ODIs/T20Is for ball-tampering. The incident took place during the third ODI against Afghanistan, which Netherlands lost by 75 runs, in Doha on Tuesday.The incident occurred in the 31st over of the match – part of the Men’s Super League – when he “changed the condition of the ball by scratching it with his nails,” an ICC release said. He finished with figures of 1 for 50 from his 10 overs.Kingma was found to have breached article 2.14 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “changing the condition of the ball in breach of clause 41.3 of the ICC Standard Test Match, ODI and T20I Playing Conditions.”The ICC release said that Kingma – for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period – had admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by the expert panel and that there was no need for a formal hearing. Apart from the four suspension points that resulted in the sanction, five demerit points have also been added to the disciplinary record of the fast bowler.”As each suspension point equates to a ban from one ODI or T20I, whatever comes first for the player or player support personnel, Kingma will miss the next four matches that his team plays in either format,” the ICC said in a statement.Kingma, 27, first played for Netherlands in an ODI against Canada at Mount Maunganui in 2014. He then made his T20I debut in 2016 against Scotland. Overall, Kingam has taken 12 wickets in 10 ODIs and eight wickets in nine T20Is.

Sri Lanka struggled to get breakthroughs with the ball and endured a collapse of 4 for 8 in their chase

Shashank Kishore16-Sep-20252:13

Maharoof: Sri Lanka played with a ‘fear of failure’ mentality

Two weeks ago, Sri Lanka were stretched into a decider by a spirited Zimbabwe side. On Monday, they nearly stumbled against Asia Cup’s lowest-ranked team, Hong Kong, but eventually pulled through, courtesy Pathum Nissanka’s 68 in their chase of 150.What ought to have been a cruise – Sri Lanka needed 32 off 30 with eight wickets in hand – turned into a mini-collapse. Nissanka was run-out at the start of the 16th over while chancing a second that didn’t seem on, and Kusal Perera fell off the very next delivery when he was lbw attempting a slog sweep.Six balls later, it was the captain’s turn to be dismissed as Charith Asalanka sliced a fullish delivery to short third. And when Kamindu Mendis slogged one straight to deep midwicket, attempting a release shot, Sri Lanka had lost 4 for 8, needing another 23 off 17 balls.Related

• Nissanka helps Sri Lanka edge sloppy Hong Kong in a thriller

“In that moment, I think our heart was in our mouths,” Asalanka said. “There are a few areas I am really disappointed about. First three overs when we were bowling and then the 16th over, we lost a couple of wickets and then lost my wicket.”In the shorter format, these things can happen but it cannot keep happening consistently. We have to analyse it and improve ourselves.”It wasn’t just the middle-order batting Asalanka was critical about. He wasn’t happy with the way they started with the new ball, with Hong Kong racing to 38 without loss in four overs, after Anshy Rath and Zeeshan Ali took on the new-ball bowlers.In the sixth over, Sri Lanka missed a DRS appeal for lbw with replays confirming all three reds, reprieving the experienced Babar Hayat. After his dismissal, Rath and Nizakat Khan put on 61 to shore up Hong Kong to 149 for 4.”We felt confident of chasing it because the pitch was looking good,” Asalanka said. “Credit goes to them (Hong Kong), they batted really well and we bowled badly in the first three overs.Wanindu Hasaranga’s nine-ball 20 not out saw Sri Lanka through•Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images

“This is not the way we wanted to play. When we are playing these sides, there is always pressure. But we are professionals and as professionals, we have to do much better than this.”It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Sri Lanka. Nissanka rallied their chase with a patient innings, his second straight half-century. The ball wasn’t coming on, and Hong Kong’s seasoned spinners – Ehsan Khan and Yasim Murtaza – had Sri Lanka in a stranglehold.Yet, at no point did Nissanka look like a batter desperate for a release shot, fully knowing the target was always within touching distance. He brought up a half-century off 35 balls, and it wasn’t until the asking rate jumped past eight an over, with eight overs left that Nissanka decided to shift gears.And when he did so, it was exhilarating to see him beat two deep fielders on the leg side with precision with two pull shots off two different deliveries – first off a slower bouncer that needed him to hold his shape, and the next off a hard-length delivery dug into the pitch.”Over the last two years, I’ve worked on my strike rates,” Nissanka said at the post-match press conference. “I started off as a red-ball batter, but I’ve worked on becoming consistent across all formats. The coach [Sanath Jayasuriya] has always given me the confidence to play my game, that really is a boost.”After starting the tournament with two wins, Sri Lanka will automatically progress to the Super Fours if Afghanistan beat Bangladesh on Tuesday. A Bangladesh win will leave the two spots to be decided on Thursday, when Sri Lanka play Afghanistan. That said, it’s Bangladesh who have all the catching up to do on the net run rate front.

From on-field defeats to off-field meltdown, it’s been an annus horriblis for South Africa

Firdose Moonda20-Dec-2019The decade is almost over but South African cricket has rewound back to the start. Graeme Smith, Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis and maybe even AB de Villiers are back and the same man who was acting CEO in 2012, Jacques Faul, is acting CEO in 2019. In-between, a lot has happened. Here, ESPNcricinfo explains the goings-on at Cricket South Africa in the last few weeks.

How did we get here?

For the full picture, we have to go back to September 2017 when former CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat’s tenure ended. Lorgat was forced out largely because he was unable to sell television rights for the Global League T20, and was replaced by Thabang Moroe, who was then CSA’s vice-president. Moroe had little executive management experience and it showed almost immediately when he used his first media engagement to indicate that he wanted to change CSA’s relationship with the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA), and essentially weaken its powers.In Moroe’s time in charge, CSA and SACA’s relationship hit an all-time low which included a delay in the signing of the memorandum of understanding, which effectively lays out the terms and conditions of players’ employment; a lack of consultation over a restructure of the domestic game and two violations of commercial rights agreements. CSA also projected losses of R654 million over the next four-year cycle, as a result of fewer high-profile incoming tours, among other factors. That’s the behind-the-scenes side of the story.Front and centre of the issues were how things played out on the field. Under Moroe, coach Ottis Gibson was first told his contract would only be renewed if he won the 2019 World Cup, then that he needed to reach the final, then that his deal would be extended to 2021 and then that he and his entire coaching staff were being let go. CSA announced a new structure, which consolidated power in the CEO’s hands. A director of cricket (DoC) was to be appointed who would choose a team director, who, in turn, would choose his staff. The DoC would report to the CEO.These changes were only put forward in August which left too little time for permanent appointments to be made by the time South Africa toured India in September. Instead, an interim director of cricket, Corrie van Zyl (who previously worked as CSA’s General Manager of Cricket) appointed an interim team director Enoch Nkwe for the tour. South Africa drew the T20 series and were whitewashed in the Tests. At the same time, CSA conducted interviews for the DoC and other roles.On their return home, amid mounting media pressure to explain everything from the domestic restructure to the appointment of the men’s team’s coaching staff to the financial issues, Moroe revoked the accreditation of five journalists which set in motion a chain of events that led to his suspension and the resignation of four board members. This included the withdrawal of a major sponsor and an ultimatum by another, as well as a chorus of former administrators including Ali Bacher and Norman Arendse calling on the CEO and board to resign.On Friday, December 6, Moroe was suspended and Faul was appointed, Smith accepted the DoC job for three months and put a coaching staff in place. And here we are…Graeme Smith has become CSA’s first director of cricket•Getty Images

The National Team

What is the role of Smith as director of cricket?Most urgently, to appoint the men’s national team coaching staff, which has now been done. Over time, the DoC will oversee all cricket played under the CSA umbrella, which includes the national women’s team, domestic cricket, and age-group cricket. The position requires someone well acquainted with all aspects of the game in South Africa and with a deep knowledge of international cricket. Smith, who captained South Africa for 11 years including nine years undefeated in Test series on the road and two World Cups, is familiar with varying conditions and expectations and is an expert on the landscape at home and abroad. He is well-respected abroad and brings gravitas to an organisation recently bereft of cricketing expertise.If Smith has only signed on for three months, what does that mean for the future? Smith’s term is currently limited because of his commentary stint at the IPL, which was he signed up to do before being offered this position, but also because he wants to get a feel for the job before deciding if he will take it on permanently. A key determinant in whether Smith stays is the future of the CEO’s position. Smith was initially approached by Moroe to take the DoC job but when weeks of negotiation yielded no outcome, Smith withdrew interest, citing lack of confidence in the leadership. It was only on Moroe’s suspension that Smith signed on and then, Smith reiterated that he didn’t think he could do the job under Moroe but has confidence in Faul.What’s happened to the title ‘team director’?It has been scrapped. Smith has decided to return to terms people know – head coach and assistant coach.Who is the head coach, what are his credentials and how long has he been appointed for? Mark Boucher, who played 147 Tests, 295 ODIs and 25 T20s for South Africa in a career that spanned 15 years. Boucher has a Level 2 coaching certificate and has been in charge of the Titans franchise since August 2016. They have won five trophies in that time. He has been appointed until after the 2023 World Cup.Graeme Smith, Enoch Nkwe, Mark Boucher and Linda Zondi at the unveiling of South Africa’s new coaching structure•AFP

How does Enoch Nkwe fit in? Nkwe, who was made interim team director after one season as a franchise coach during which he won a trophy with the Jozi Stars and two with the Lions, is now the assistant coach. Nkwe has a Level 4 coaching qualification and worked in the Netherlands after his first-class career ended. Smith indicated the long-term plan is for Nkwe to succeed Boucher.Who makes up South Africa’s full support staff? South Africa have a batting and bowling consultant – Jacques Kallis and Charl Langeveldt – who are contracted only for the 2019-20 summer. Kallis is expecting his first child in 2020 which may affect his availability in the future, while Langeveldt was poached from Bangladesh, where he had been signed on a two-year deal. He left after five months. Also in Bangladesh are former national coach Russell Domingo and batting coach Neil McKenzie, both of whom South Africa may want back. Fielding coach Justin Ontong has been retained from the Ottis Gibson era.What happened to Gibson’s other backroom staff like Malibongwe Maketa, Claude Henderson and Dale Benkenstein? Maketa, like Nkwe, was appointed with a view to succeeding the head coach, but has found himself all but frozen out of the new regime. Maketa was named as an assistant coach to the South Africa A side but has not landed a permanent job on the local scene. His home franchise, the Warriors, have appointed Robin Peterson as their coach for this season and there is no room at any of the other five franchises either, including Boucher’s Titans. Mandla Mashimbyi, who assisted both Boucher and his predecessor Matthew Maynard at the Titans, has been promoted to the job there.ALSO READ: The crisis in South African cricket – full coverageHenderson lives in Leicester and is coaching there. Benkenstein held a concurrent job at Hilton College, an elite school in Kwa-Zulu Natal, while working as South Africa’s batting coach and has returned to that role. What is Ashwell Prince’s role? He has been named coach of the SA A side and will continue to coach the Cobras. Sources claim Prince was offered the role of batting consultant to the national side but rejected it.Does South Africa have a convenor of selectors and selection panel? Not yet. Former convenor Linda Zondi has been brought back in until April 2020 as an independent selector. Part of Moroe’s revamp was to appoint a full-time selection convenor, who would be a CSA employee. Zondi was interviewed for that role, alongside Monde Zondeki and Patrick Moroney, who Moroe was likely to appoint. However, this job has been put on ice until the end of the financial year in April because of budgetary constraints.Who selects the South African team? For now, Zondi, Boucher, Nkwe and captain Faf du Plessis.Is du Plessis still going to lead SA in all formats? If du Plessis could choose, the answer would be yes. He confirmed his interest in captaining in all three formats at the conclusion of the Mzansi Super League, where his Paarl Rocks team took the trophy. At the same time, du Plessis emphasised the need to give other players leadership experience so that South Africa don’t find themselves in a captaincy vacuum when he calls it a day. Du Plessis indicated we may see some changing of the armband in shorter formats through the summer, something that has already happened. Du Plessis was left out of the T20 side to tour India in October and Quinton de Kock was named captain. At the time, the talk was that de Kock and Temba Bavuma were being groomed for future leadership roles. That could change under Smith. Will things get better now? The inclusion of past greats has gone a long way to restoring credibility to the South African set-up but their impact will only be seen in a few months’ time. On-field results will be the most obvious way to judge the success of the new regime but there are many other markers. Commercial interest is one. Cohesion is another.The legacy of South Africa’s history of centuries of segregation and exclusion continues to be felt today and it has not gone unnoticed that the new regime consists of mostly white former players, including those who were accused of forming a clique that controlled South African cricket. The demotion of Nkwe and the sidelining of Maketa are being spoken of as an attempt to disenfranchise and disempower a section of South Africans.A floodlight failure at Newlands caused play to be held up for considerably long•Getty Images

The bottom line

Is CSA still projecting losses of R654 million and why?The exact figure is not known at the moment, but it’s safe to say CSA are in a financial crunch. R654 million was forecast in September 2018 for the four-year cycle which ends in 2022 and was based on South Africa’s FTP, which is leaner than it has previously been. However, it did not include the losses from the MSL, which were calculated at R110 million for the 2018 edition and will likely be a little more in 2019, as well as the television rights deal, which will be renegotiated with pay-television broadcaster in 2021 and is expected to fetch less than previous contracts. As a result, SACA put the projected losses at over R1 billion. CSA, however, claim to have taken austerity measures to bring this down to around R300 million.What is CSA doing to cut costs? Again, we don’t exactly know but the organisation has had budget cuts (hence Zondi’s short-term appointment). The domestic restructure was due to be the biggest cost-cutter with the removal of an entire tier of teams, and associated costs. It is worth remembering that none of the six franchises or 14 provincial teams are financially independent and all rely on CSA’s money to function. Former ICC CEO Dave Richardson has been put in charge of a committee that will fully investigate and report back on the viability and need for a domestic restructure, given the financial landscape.Does CSA have any sponsors? Yes, for now. Standard Bank remain on board until April 2020, but have confirmed they will not renew their deal after that date. Momentum have issued an ultimatum that unless either the entire CSA board is dissolved or president Chris Nenzani and vice-president Beresford Williams step down, they will reconsider their sponsorship post April 2020. CSA were due to unveil Betway as a sponsor last Saturday but the details have not been finalised.Does this mean South African players could risk smaller paycheques? Maybe. Which is why South African cricketers will continue to seek opportunity abroad, especially if they can earn hard currency such as dollars or pounds. However, more seriously, SACA claim that if the domestic restructure goes ahead, 70 domestic cricketers could lose their jobs.Jacques Faul has become the acting CEO of CSA once again•Getty Images

The administration

Who is Dr Jacques Faul and how long will he be CSA’s Acting CEO? Faul is from the west of Johannesburg and has been involved in cricket administration throughout his career. After working as a prosecutor and serving on the North West Cricket Board, Faul was made CEO of North West Cricket Union at the age of 35. He was previously acting CEO when Majola was dismissed in 2012 after the 2009 IPL Bonus Scandal. Faul holds an MBA and a doctorate in Economic Management Science and has been CEO of the Titans franchise since 2013. His latest role at CSA will not exceed six months, during which time Moroe will undergo a disciplinary process. If cleared, Moroe could return. Faul has not indicated if he would be interested in continuing in the job beyond that, but if he is, he is likely to have to undergo an application process.Who appointed Faul? The CSA board.Who makes up the CSA board? In theory, a president, vice-president, six provincial presidents chosen from the 14 affiliates, and five independent directors. The current president is Chris Nenzani, and the vice-president is Beresford Williams. Currently, there are only two independent directors, Marius Schoeman and Steve Cornelius, following the resignations of three others (Professor Shirley Zinn, Iqbal Khan and Dawn Mokhobo) and six provincial presidents along with president Chris Nenzani and Beresford Williams. Jack Madiseng of the Gauteng Cricket Board resigned last week. The remaining provincial presidents on the board are Zola Thamae (Free State), Tebogo Siko (Easterns), Donovan May (Eastern Province) and Angelo Carolisse (Boland)Does that mean the board effectively appoints itself? Just about. Almost half of the 14 provincial presidents that make up the Members Council are on the board. However, these presidents are obliged to act on the mandates of their respective provinces and at least three – Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Western Province – have issued directives to their president calling on the board to step down.Who is Chris Nenzani? A schoolteacher from the Eastern Cape and former Border president, Nenzani was elected CSA President in 2013. He has already served two terms, the second of which was extended by a year in September 2019 by constitutional amendment. At the time, Nenzani argued his prolonged stay was aimed at bringing stability to CSA in the face of major changes and challenges including the domestic revamp, the new coaching structure and looming debt. Nenzani said CSA needed “sensible” leadership, which he could provide. What kind of relationship does Nenzani have with the players?A poor one. SACA have made repeated calls for Moroe and the entire board to step down and have refused to negotiate with any CSA panel that includes board members over any issue. Most recently, SACA said they would not engage with the Richardson committee over the domestic restructure, because the matter is sub-judice and needs to be resolved in court first.Is SACA’s position likely to change with Tony Irish’s departure to England’s Professional Cricketers’ Association from 2020?No. Irish’s successor Andrew Breetzke has been SACA’s head of legal and player advocacy since 2012 and will continue to push for the same demands. What does this mean for the players?On a day-to-day basis, SACA acts as a buffer for the players when it comes to dealing with administrative issues. However, the extent of the animosity in recent months has had an effect on the field, according to Smith, Boucher, and du Plessis. While it’s difficult to claim causality between these issues and results, South Africa’s poor on-field performances have coincided with the crises at CSA and the strained relationship with SACA.How badly has the South African team done? 2019 has been an annus horribilis for them with five straight Test defeats, including a first-ever loss to Sri Lanka at home. As a result, they now sit at the bottom of the World Test Championship points table. South Africa also fell way below expectations at the World Cup, and were effectively eliminated after just five group-stage matches.

The India captain, however, had a word of warning for England’s big-hitting batsmen, saying going gung-ho from ball one can backfire in the knockouts

Andrew Miller in London23-May-2019Virat Kohli, India’s captain, says it is a great compliment to have been name-checked by Jofra Archer as the wicket that England’s newest fast-bowling recruit most wants to claim in the forthcoming World Cup, and believes that he has an “X Factor” that justifies his fast-tracking into England’s 15-man squad for the tournament.However, Kohli also suggested that the batting line-up that has lifted England to No.1 in the world rankings is “obsessed” with becoming the first team to post 500 runs in a single ODI innings, and warned that they would struggle to play their full-throttle expansive game when the pressure ramps up at the sharp end of the tournament.Sitting next to England’s captain, Eoin Morgan, at the World Cup captains press conference in East London, Kohli took his chance to fire the first shots in the psychological battle between the two teams that most pundits believe are the likeliest to contest the World Cup final at Lord’s on July 14.If the World Cup captains could choose another player from the opposition team•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

India’s captain has recent experience of World Cup glory, having played a role in the 2011 victory over Sri Lanka in Mumbai, whereas England have never won the tournament in 11 events dating back to 1975, and have not won a knock-out match since reaching the final in 1992.And while England’s batsmen were in ominous form going into this year’s event, having become the first ODI side in history to put up 340-plus totals in four consecutive matches, en route to a 4-0 win over Pakistan, Kohli hinted that life would not be quite as simple for Morgan’s big-hitters when there’s a trophy at stake, as they discovered in 2017 when losing to Pakistan in a low-scoring Champions Trophy semi-final in Cardiff.”They [England] seem to be obsessed with getting to 500 before anyone else,” Kohli said. “They smash it from ball one and for the full 50 overs.”It could be pretty high-scoring, but 260/270 is going to be as difficult to get as chasing 370, 380 in a World Cup.”England’s record total displayed on the Trent Bridge scoreboard•Getty Images

The World Cup’s history bears out Kohli’s warning. Only twice has a total more than 300 been posted from the semi-finals stage onwards – although it was Australia who twice achieved the feat against India, in the final in 2003 (359 for 2) and the semi-final in Sydney in 2015 (328 for 7).”I don’t see too much high-scoring in the later half of the tournament,” Kohli added. “Some teams might get on a roll, but you’ll see 250 defended as well as because of the kind of pressure that comes with it.”When you get closer to the knockout phases, that is going to bring greater pressure and no-one is going to go gung-ho from ball one. Generally teams will find a way, but I see pressure playing a massive role.”For that reason, England may well be grateful for the added firepower that Archer adds to their bowling ranks, in the wake of a quietly impressive first bow in international cricket against Ireland and Pakistan earlier this month.Speaking on in the wake of his naming in the final 15, Archer had said that he wanted to get Kohli’s wicket above all others – not least because, in their four IPL clashes to date, his Rajasthan Royals team-mate Shreyas Gopal had bagged the big one before he could get him in his sights.”I’d quite like to get Virat out, because I wasn’t able to get him in the IPL because I think a leggie [Gopal] got him in every game he played,” he said.Jofra Archer celebrates the wicket of Fakhar Zaman•AFP

“Did he say that?” asked Kohli at the captain’s event. “That’s news to me, news to Morgs as well. I don’t really focus on these things.”I take a lot of pride in performing well for the team and making a big impact on each game I play so, if Jofra said that, it’s a big compliment as he himself is a world-class bowler.It is high praise coming from a player of Kohli’s calibre, who will go into the World Cup as the No.1 ranked batsman in both Test and ODI cricket, following a stellar run of form that has included nine 50-over hundreds since the start of 2018.And though their head-to-heads at the IPL have been limited, Kohli has seen enough of Archer’s talents with the white ball to know what he will offer to England’s bowling attack.”The way he has come through at the IPL over the last couple of years, I have seen him and he’s played all round the world and done well, so there’s a good reason why he’s been fast-tracked into playing for England in a tournament like the World Cup.”I think he’s going to be the X-factor because he has all the skillsets and he’s very different from anyone else. He can generate a lot of pace which can be intimidating and you don’t really expect that from his run-up. He’s just a great athlete and I’m sure the England team will be delighted to have him and he will be exciting to watch at the World Cup. I personally will be watching his bowling because whatever I’ve seen of him he is really impressive.”

The allrounder is already on the radar of the national selectors and has made the most of a chance to bat No. 3

AAP20-Jan-2023Touted for Test selection by Ricky Ponting, West Australian allrounder Aaron Hardie looms as a multi-format star in the making after continuing a superb BBL season.Hardie’s imperious form since being promoted to No. 3 has been a key factor in Perth Scorchers making yet another run at the title.The 24-year-old again starred in Wednesday night’s seven-wicket win over Hobart Hurricanes at Optus Stadium, plundering an unbeaten 90 off 62 balls as the Scorchers easily chased their target of 147.Four-time champions Scorchers sit atop the BBL ladder with two games remaining and have lost just once at their home fortress.Related

• From fringe domestic player to Australia A: Hardie's rapid rise marks him out

• Hardie cracks 90* as Perth Scorchers return to top of the points table

Hardie has scored four half-centuries since being elevated to first-drop to replace the injured Mitchell Marsh, who noted during the broadcast he might have to consider handing over the No. 3 slot for good.The young gun has shown an ability to adapt his game across formats, having scored a remarkable 174 not out in last season’s drawn Sheffield Shield final to secure WA the title.All-time great Ponting floated Hardie as a bolter for the Sydney Test against South Africa, and the towering right-hander who averages 45 with the bat in first-class cricket seems destined for higher honours.That could include the IPL, with fellow West Australian fast-bowling allrounder Cameron Green recently sold at auction for $3.15 million – a record price for an Australian player.Hardie did not nominate this season and is believed to be considering a return to county cricket which could place him in the sights of national selectors ahead of the Ashes series.”I’ve put my name in the draft before but didn’t put my name in this year for various reasons,” Hardie told reporters after Wednesday night’s game. “Obviously if you put a number like that on the end of it, it’s silly to say no.”I don’t really want to pigeonhole myself into any sort of format. Just being able to contribute in all the games possible. That allrounder role takes its toll on the body in four-day cricket but I also love that challenge…I’m enjoying playing all three while I can.”Hardie has not bowled in the BBL since straining his groin earlier this season but said he was ready if needed, although that may be unlikely given the Scorchers’ enviable depth.Lance Morris snared 2 for 21 against the Hurricanes after being named in Australia’s squad to tour India next month. Fellow quick Jhye Richardson is expected to return from a hamstring injury in time for the finals.

A prospect of reserve day and even a shared trophy could be on the cards

Andrew McGlashan11-Nov-2022There will be some nervous looks skywards over the coming days in Melbourne with rain threatening the men’s T20 World Cup final between England and Pakistan at the MCG on Sunday, raising the prospect of the reserve day being needed and even a shared trophy.There is currently a 95% chance of rain forecast for Sunday with between 15 and 25mm falling. “Very high (near 100%) chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe, with heavy falls possible,” the Bureau of Meteorology was saying as of Friday morning.The reserve day is allocated on Monday, but that also has an uncertain forecast with again a 95% chance of rain and falls between 5 and 10mm.For the knockout matches in the tournament a minimum of 10 overs per side is needed to constitute a match, compared to five overs during the group stages.The first priority will be to complete a shortened match on Sunday if required, meaning the overs will be reduced before the reserve day is activated. If the game has started on Sunday but can’t be completed then it will resume on the reserve day from the position it was halted. Once the toss has taken place, the game is considered live.If the game begins on Sunday and there is a reduction of overs but play does not have a chance to restart due to weather then the game will resume as a 20-over contest on the reserve day.While only 30 minutes of extra time are allocated to the original day of the final, if the reserve day is used there are four extra hours available* with play starting on the Monday at 3pm local time.”The Event Technical Committee (ETC) has increased the provision of additional playing time on the reserve day to four hours from the original provision of two hours (clause 13.7.3 of the Playing Conditions), in case more time is required to complete the match and get a result,” an ICC release stated.”It may be noted that 10 overs per side are required to constitute a match in the knockout stage and every effort will be taken to complete the match on the scheduled match day. Every effort will be made for the match to be completed on Sunday, with any necessary reduction of overs taking place and only if the minimum number of overs necessary to constitute a match cannot be bowled on Sunday will the match go into the reserve day. Play on the reserve day will begin at 15h00 and would be a continuation of play from the scheduled match day.”If there is not enough time over the two days to achieve the minimum overs the trophy would be shared. The 2002-03 Champions Trophy between India and Sri Lanka ended in such a way although under the playing conditions at the time a new game was started on the reserve day. Both matches were abandoned at virtually the same point. In the 2019 ODI World Cup, the semi-final between India and New Zealand at Old Trafford was played across two days.Melbourne has been badly hit by rain during this tournament with three Super 12 matches abandoned without a ball bowled: New Zealand vs Afghanistan, Afghanistan vs Ireland and Australia vs England. The England-Ireland game in Melbourne was also curtailed by rain, but Ireland were able to take a famous win on DLS.Aside from the South Africa-Zimbabwe game in Hobart which was also a no result, the rest of the tournament has largely escaped the rain during what has been a wet start to summer across the east and south east of Australia.The forecast was also poor leading into the India-Pakistan game at the MCG but cleared to allow a full game with the contest developing into one of the best T20 matches of all time. Organisers, players and supporters will hope the final is graced with the same good luck.*GMT 1040 The story was updated after the ICC confirmed that there will be four extra hours, rather than two, available on the reserve day to complete the final.

Populist victory confirms that cricket is still viewed with affection by the wider sporting public

Andrew Miller15-Dec-2019The signs, it has to be said, were translucent from the outset, from Gary Lineker’s introduction of cricket’s man of the moment as the “main award-winner” a full hour before the voting was due to open, to the presence at the ceremony in Aberdeen of the man himself – kept back from England’s tour of South Africa on a supremely well-founded hunch.And sure enough – cue tickertape and triumphant chords – Ben Stokes duly became cricket’s fifth winner of the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, following in the footsteps of Jim Laker, David Steele and – rather more tellingly – each of the two other great allrounders whose feats are synonymous with an unforgettable summer of English cricket, Ian Botham in 1981 and Andrew Flintoff in 2005.You could tell from Stokes’ emotional acceptance speech that this accolade was a big deal personally. He’s been to the brink and back in an extraordinary two years – a fact that he graciously addressed head-on as he thanked both his agent Neil Fairbrother for standing by him through Bristol, and for his wife Clare for being there throughout – including through some more recent tabloid moments that come with the celebrity territory that he now occupies.But what will it mean to Stokes beyond the sportsman’s initial buzz of victory? As other recent winners, Andy Murray (three times) and Lewis Hamilton (in 2014) can attest, it’s one thing to win the biggest prizes that your sport has to offer, but there is something distinctly gratifying about capping all that with a public vote of acceptance – especially when, for whatever reason, your very personality has previously divided opinion.But, for the rest of us – especially regular sports-fans who get their kicks from on-field antics and aren’t especially enamoured by SPOTY’s focus on X-Factor-style “journeys” – why should we care about this show, especially now, 65 years after inception, that it has begun to resemble less a review of the year than an annual festival of diminishing broadcasting rights?It’s a question that Stokes’ team-mates weren’t especially forthcoming in answering either, as they gathered round in their team-room in Johannesburg to watch the crowning moment. Leaning back on a beanbag at the front of the room, Sam Curran’s near-perfect impression of a performing seal epitomised the “yeah! But meh…” vibe that SPOTY generally exudes.Curran and his team-mates were quietly delighted, for sure, but jump-around-the-room-high-fiving-like-a-Jamie-Vardy-title-party delighted? Not so much. It’s safe to say that the actual feats with which Stokes secured this festive bauble – at Lord’s in July and at Headingley a month later – were rather more rapturously received.However, a standing camera in the corner of Tom Harrison’s living room might have captured rather more dramatic #scenes.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Because, for Harrison, the ECB’s chief executive, this moment of populist palanquin-ery arguably represents the most complete moment of triumph of an extraordinarily golden sporting summer.The return of cricket to front-and-centre billing on the BBC – and not just through Stokes himself, but through a trilogy of triumphs, Team of the Year and Sporting Moment of the Year too – is the final leg-up that the sport needed before its emotional return to the nation’s bosom in 2020, the final pep-talk-before-the-hot-date that a desperately needy sport was angling for, as it dares to dream that it can be loved again by more people than just its die-hard supporters.For cricket will be back on the BBC next summer – albeit in the guise of ten Hundred matches, a brace of T20 internationals and a raft of women’s fixtures – which is not exactly the type of banquet that will fill a SPOTY montage by the time next year’s ceremony comes around. In fact, it was revealing that, having at least forked out for some of the key highlights this year (2013, I’m looking at you…) the producers opted to pad out Stokes’ moment with footage from a Red Bull advert. The cupboard really is bare these days.But at least this evening’s ceremony was ultimate proof that people care – arguably even more proof than was gleaned from the 4.5 million viewers who flipped over to Channel 4 at the completion of the Wimbledon final this summer. It’s one thing to channel-surf and have an event thrumming along in the background, it’s quite another to go to the effort of finding your BBC login and actually placing a vote. Just ask Lab … actually, let’s not go there.Either way, it is easy to sneer about the relevance of SPOTY – and cricket’s fans have done so on an annual basis for the past 14 years of free-to-air banishment. But at the end of a summer that simply couldn’t have gone better for England’s administrators (yes, the team could have won the Ashes, but any marketeer worth his salt would have traded a routine win for the sort of timeless jeopardy that Stokes served up at Headingley) the sport’s main man, and more than a few of the supporting cast too, have been handed another prime-time, free-to-air moment of triumph.And let’s not under-estimate the importance of household names in sport. In 2014, thanks to the BBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics, Lizzy Yarnold earned a nomination for sliding down a mountain on a tea-tray (for all that she slid exceptionally well). Whereas Moeen Ali, squirrelled away behind Sky’s paywall, did not, despite spinning England to victory in a come-from-behind Test series against India.ALSO READ: From the bank clerk to Botham – cricket’s previous SPOTY winnersSimilarly Formula 1, golf (through The Open), show-jumping and darts have all been better represented on the SPOTY podium that cricket since Flintoff’s win in 2005. Ian Bell (2013) and James Anderson (2018) have both been nominated in recent years, but without any expectation of harvesting anything close to enough votes.But now cricket’s back, and therefore all fans of the sport are obliged to leave their SPOTY cynicism to one side, and sing the ceremony to the rafters. Yes, we really are that fickle, but it’s been a long and fruitless wait in the shadows.And while it does seem random that that famous TV-camera trophy has been claimed by more racing drivers than even footballers down the years, it’s rare that the winner has not been responsible for an indelible moment that makes his or her chosen sport proud.Leaving aside Steele’s victory in 1975, which was Jack Leach-esque in its everyman attributes, it’s fair to say that Laker’s match in 1956, Botham’s Ashes in 1981, Flintoff’s Ashes in 2005, and Stokes’ summer of 2019 all share a shorthand that will echo down the ages.And, moreover, this latest addition to the annals will ripple into next summer too. Suddenly, Northern Superchargers versus Manchester Originals won’t seem quite so lacking in context to the casual sporting public. Especially once Stokes, Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy and Jofra Archer (last seen lolling on Jonathan Ross’s sofa) have done a few more of the BBC’s light-entertainment rounds to build on this World Cup win among sports PR triumphs.

Timely show of form with injuries mounting could earn Durham quick a Test recall

ECB Reporters Network20-May-2023 Gloucestershire 292 (Charlesworth 71, Harris 52, Patel 5-113, Potts 3-43) and 181 for 6 (Harris 71*) need another 244 runs to beat Durham 445 (Clark 100, de Leede 65, Coughlin 59*, Borthwick 53) and 272 for 4 dec (Jones 121*)Matthew Potts did his prospects of featuring in the upcoming Ashes series no harm at all as Durham put Gloucestershire under the pump on the day three of the LV=County Championship match at Bristol’s Seat Unique Stadium.On a day when Sussex paceman Ollie Robinson joined Joffra Archer and Jimmy Anderson on the treatment table, Potts claimed 2 for 21 in an impressive five-over burst with the new ball to issue a timely reminder to the England selectors.Building on a first-innings lead of 153, Durham posted 272 for 4 declared second time around thanks to a fine innings of 121 not out by Michael Jones and a quickfire half century from Ollie Robinson, setting Gloucestershire a notional victory target of 426 in 142 overs on a deteriorating pitch.Potts then went to work, removing left-handers Chris Dent and Ben Charlesworth with successive deliveries in the third over to commence a slide which saw Gloucestershire subside to 58 for 4. Although Marcus Harris proved cussed in registering 71 not out to see the home side through to 181 for 6 at the close, they still trail by 244 and, with the weather set fair for the final day, the overwhelming likelihood is that Durham will complete a fourth victory in six outings to cement their position at the top of the Second Division.Given that Archer has already been ruled out of contention for the remainder of the summer and Anderson continues to be troubled by a groin strain, news that Robinson had sustained an ankle injury and been unable to take the field for Sussex against Glamorgan at Hove after lunch, served to further propel the 24-year-old Sunderland-born paceman back into the international reckoning.With England’s first-choice seamers dropping like flies, opportunity could yet come knocking for Potts, who has now claimed 28 wickets in five red-ball outings since early April. Certainly, he was too much for Dent and Charlesworth, the former caught behind and the other wafting outside off stump and nicking to third slip as Gloucestershire made the worst possible start to their second innings.Miles Hammond survived the hat-trick ball, but did not last much longer, nicking Ben Raine to first slip, while Jack Taylor was lured onto the front foot by Ajaz Patel and stumped for a first-ball duck as the home side slipped to 58 for 4.Eager to press his claims for inclusion in the Australia team to face India in the ICC World Test Championship final at The Oval next month, Harris held up Durham’s victory charge with his second half century of the match, going to that landmark via 89 balls. He was at last afforded the support his efforts deserved when joined by Bracey, who contributed 50 from 78 balls in a fifth wicket partnership of 92.But Gloucestershire’s stand-in captain blotted his copybook when nicking a delivery from Scott Borthwick to leg slip, while Zafar Gohar danced down the track to Patel and was comprehensively stumped for 11 to leave Durham on the cusp of an inside-the-distance triumph.Potts had earlier wrapped up Gloucestershire’s first innings on 292, clean bowling Ajeet Singh Dale for 15 to finish with 3 for 43. Josh Shaw remained unbeaten on 37, smashing 3 sixes and a brace of fours to dominate a last-wicket stand of 65.With a declaration figure already in mind, Durham were understandably eager to score quickly and Jones and Alex Lees obliged in a progressive opening stand of 119 in 27.1 overs. The pick of the Gloucestershire bowlers, Singh Dale troubled both openers in a venomous new-ball spell before retiring to the pavilion with an injured knee. Jones in particular cashed in, twice carting Zafar over mid-wicket for six and meting out the same treatment to Matt Taylor as he went to 50 from 73 balls.Depleted Gloucestershire continued to fight hard and debutant Zaman Akhter generated a head of steam from the Ashley Down Road End to bowl Lees for 40, while Zafar pinned Borthwick lbw for two to briefly slow northern progress. David Bedingham scored 29 from 26 balls in a rapid stand of 56 for the third wicket before coming forward to Shaw and guiding a leading edge to cover with the score on 178.Unperturbed by goings-on at the other end, Jones simply kept going, raising three figures for the first time this season with his ninth four, a cut to the square leg boundary at the expense of Zafar, who was struggling to exert any control. Aided and abetted by 5 sixes, Jones’ second 50 occupied just 54 balls.Robinson scored at an even brisker pace, rushing to 50 via 25 balls with all but four of those runs coming by way of boundaries as dot balls became a rarity. Without the protection of scoreboard pressure, spinners Zafar and Jack Taylor suffered horribly, conceding at 6.36 and 9.25 an over respectively.By the time Robinson overbalanced and was stumped for 67 off the bowling of Zafar, Durham were ready to spare Gloucestershire’s hard-pressed bowlers further punishment by declaring. Robinson’s whirlwind innings comprised 36 balls and included 9 fours and 3 sixes, while Jones finished unbeaten on 121 from 148 deliveries, with 11 fours and 5 sixes. Their fourth wicket alliance yielded 94 runs in just 10.1 overs.

Cartwright’s lone hand could not give WA substantial lead on rain-curtailed day

Tristan Lavalette16-Mar-2023Victoria were on the cusp of sealing a spot in the Sheffield Shield final, but rain and bad light halted their push for victory on day three against Western Australia at the WACA.Chasing a target of just 61 runs, having bowled out WA for 236, Victoria’s second innings did not start due to bad light prompting stumps.The final two sessions were heavily impacted by persistent drizzle to frustrate Victoria, who with a win can secure a place in the final starting on March 23. But they remain firmly in the box seat with sunny conditions expected in Perth on Friday.Related

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A determined Victoria once again outplayed WA, who have been lacklustre throughout in essentially a dead rubber for them with a home final already secured.WA were 8 for 210 when play resumed with one hour left in an extended day’s play. But they lost their last two wickets quickly before the gloomy conditions intervened.In his Shield return, Scott Boland has been spectacular with four wickets in both innings and showed little rust despite not having played since the first Test against India in Nagpur last month.Starting day three at 88 for 3, still trailing by 88 runs, nightwatcher Corey Rocchiccioli fell early to a relentless Boland who had dismissed openers Sam Whiteman and Cameron Bancroft during two menacing bursts late on day two.WA were on the ropes, but Hilton Cartwright provided resistance in an absorbing battle with Boland. He picked off rare loose deliveries to ensure the scoreboard ticked over and absorbed probing bowling, including getting hit in the groin by a sharp delivery from Boland.But Cartwright was playing a lone hand as allrounder Aaron Hardie’s crucial wicket fell just before lunch for a painstaking 13. WA’s slim hopes were left to Cartwright and Ashton Turner, playing his first Shield match since October 2020.Turner had batted well alongside Cartwright in WA’s best partnership in their subpar first innings of 122, but he needed to perform a major rescue job akin to his continual feats as skipper for BBL champions Perth Scorchers.Fergus O’Neill took 3 for 52 in the second innings•Getty Images

In a far cry from his belligerent batting in the BBL, Turner wisely dug in as Boland unleashed a probing spell after lunch. Turner played second fiddle to a determined Cartwright eyeing his first ton of the Shield season.They added 41 runs to put WA on the brink of getting a lead before Turner was caught behind off quick Fergus O’Neill, who in his next over claimed the big wicket of Cartwright for 82.It was disappointment for former Test allrounder Cartwright, hoping for a ton after unluckily missing out on WA’s 50-over Marsh Cup triumph last week.Cartwright has made seven half-centuries during a solid Shield season and has been clearly WA’s best performer in this match having also taken three wickets on day two.Victoria could sniff wrapping up victory quickly but rain – a rarity in Perth this time of year – halted their charge multiple times as the match dragged into a final day.

Joins owners of Mumbai Indians and Manchester United FC in owning teams in the upcoming tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2022GMR Group, part-owners of the Delhi Capitals franchise in the IPL, have become the third group to acquire a team at the upcoming UAE T20 League, expected to start later this year, after Lancer Capital, the owners of Manchester United Football Club, and Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, the owners of Mumbai Indians.”Our team has 14-seasons’ experience in managing the franchise process, through our Delhi Capital team’s involvement in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and we will integrate the same elements of these processes into UAE T20 League and help establish it as a premier and an integral part of the global cricket ecosystem,” GM Rao, group chairman of the GMR Group, said in a statement on Wednesday.Kiran Kumar Grandhi, the corporate chairman of the group, said, “UAE has a world-class niche of cross-cultural individuals with a big cricket fan following and excellent cricket infrastructure. We, at GMR Group, based on our years of experience in the IPL will harness to create a thriving cricket environment to budding players which will infinitely excite cricket aficionados.Related

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“From our solid supportive management, we will bring best practices, processes, top-notch coaches, players, and support staff to have an unparalleled professional team.”The six-team league has been sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), and the plan originally was to host the first edition by the end of March this year. Though that isn’t likely at this stage, the ECB said in the statement that it “remains well on track to be played in 2022 where senior committee members are encouraged by the enormous interest shown from a number of high-profile individuals and well-established corporates from across the world”.Khalid Al Zarooni, the ECB vice-chairman, said, “The standing of this League, across the cricketing world, is vitally important to us, and we have aligned ourselves with partners that share the same values toward the game; holding its spirit, integrity and longevity to the highest regard.”The ECB is also hoping that the league, once it takes flight, helps improve the playing standards within the UAE as well. “At its heart, the UAE T20 League will provide this opportunity for players within the Associate structure to play alongside world-class internationals and be provided with a much-needed opportunity to showcase their skills to a wider audience,” ECB general secretary Mubashshir Usmani said.While the owners of Manchester United FC and Mumbai Indians are already team owners in the league, the owners of the Knight Riders franchise (Kolkata and Trinbago teams) are also understood to be interested in taking over one of the teams. The statement said that the “remaining franchise partnerships” would be announced shortly.