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Northamptonshire batted out for a draw on the final afternoon at Wantage Road after Leicestershire declined to offer a reasonable chase

ECB Reporters Network16-Aug-2016
ScorecardPaul Horton fell for 99 as Leicestershire opted to stretch their lead•Getty Images

Northamptonshire batted out for a draw on the final afternoon at Wantage Road after Leicestershire declined to offer a reasonable chase. They set the home side 415 to win in 51 overs, so Northants just played out time for a 10-point draw on 118 for 1.Leicestershire’s 11 points keeps them in touch with the promotion race, with Division Two leaders Essex to play next week at Grace Road.Hope were raised of a last day run chase after Leicestershire resumed 49 without loss, 177 ahead but they made only steady progress in the morning session. Even 319 in front by lunch with 63 overs remaining, they felt the need to add a few more into the afternoon before eventually declaring 292 for 6.Northants might have hoped for a chase to tune up for Thursday’s 50-over quarter-final at home to Surrey but the size of the task left them with no option but to bat out for a draw, which they did only for the loss of Rob Newton, bowled by Ben Raine for 22.The day began full of intrigue but a tedious morning session ensued. Saif Zaib, with his left-arm spin, was the only beneficiary, picking up his maiden first-class wicket by having Angus Robson caught at midwicket for 84. He also denied Paul Horton a third century of the season by a single run, sharply held by Rory Kleinveldt at slip.Zaib went on to complete a five-wicket haul as Mark Cosgrove slapped a full toss to extra-cover shortly after lunch, Mark Pettini was stumped by Rob Keogh – who took the gloves to allow David Murphy to bowl – and Neil Dexter was lbw. Zaib finished with 5 for 148 having bowled 26 overs unchanged from the Lynn Wilson End.It was the only noteworthy performance of the day. It was thought a run chase would be agreed after Northants called in their first innings 122 behind on the third evening. But there was no sign of a charge from Leicestershire. Only in the final overs of the morning session were shots played with any great intent, Horton and Robson swinging Zaib over long-on.Northants only resorted to declaration bowling later in the morning when Alex Wakely and Adam Rossington sent down overs. Murphy also removed the pads and picked up a maiden first-class wicket when Ned Eckersley lifted to Wakely at long-on.

MS Dhoni has hit back at his critics, saying the captaincy was a responsibility he was given and not something he craved or clung to

Sidharth Monga21-Jun-20155:02

MS Dhoni – “If I am the reason for all the bad that is happening to Indian cricket, definitely I would love to step away and play as a player”

MS Dhoni has hit back at his critics, saying the captaincy was a responsibility he was given and not something he craved or clung to. In the aftermath of India’s successive ODI defeats and subsequent series loss to Bangladesh, Dhoni said he would love to give up the captaincy if that guaranteed a change of fortunes for India.”I am really enjoying my cricket,” Dhoni said when asked of his captaincy plans, before making plain his annoyance at the media scrutiny. “I know this question was coming. I know the media loves me. These are the questions that will keep popping up.”Yes, if it is a justifiable thing that if you remove me and the Indian cricket will start doing really well, and if I am the reason for all the bad that is happening to Indian cricket, definitely I would love to step away and play as a player. Ultimately you want India to win. It doesn’t matter who is the captain. I was never really in line to become a captain. It was a job or responsibility for me. I have taken that responsibility. It was given to me, I took it. If they want to take it away, I am happy to give it away.”What is more important is to play for the country and contribute to the team and try to keep the dressing-room atmosphere good. So that whenever youngsters are coming in, they can come and perform. That will be the ultimate achievement for me. Also, it is slightly different. Indian cricket had been used to players coming in toned, ready for international cricket. Now it has changed. You have to grind it through. Cricket has changed and all that. We have had tough times. That’s what cricket is all about. You can’t win every series you play.”It was interesting that Dhoni said he would love to step aside as captain and play just as a player. For as a pure batsman, Dhoni has not been in great form. His last match-winning performance with the bat came in July 2013, when he won India a triangular-series final in the West Indies. Until that match, he used to win a Man-of-the-Match award once every 13 games. He is currently 38 matches without a match-winning innings.One of the reasons for that is Dhoni has chosen to take the extra responsibility of batting at No. 6. In the second ODI, though, he came in to bat at No. 4. He showed glimpses of the old Dhoni in scoring 47, but as India kept losing wickets at the other end, he kept getting slower and failed to kick on in the end. He hinted that this could be a long-term shift, and that it was perhaps time a good batsman took that responsibility of batting at No. 6.”The whole idea was for me to go up and play more freely,” Dhoni said. “The last four-five years, I have batted at 6, and there is always some kind of pressure other so I have not been able to bat freely. I wanted to get set and bat freely, but when I got set we lost wickets. Then we had to build some kind of partnership before we could go after the bowlers, then again we lost a couple of wickets. It was not really possible.”I feel it is very difficult for someone like Jadeja to justify his selection because more often than not they don’t get to bat. To always come in an international game and expect an individual to score a fifty is not really possible”•Associated Press

“I would like to bat slightly up in the order so I can play a bit more freely. Yes I have adapted to what the team needed of me since 2006, but for the longer run it is important for us to see who is a good batter at No. 6, at 7 or even maybe 5. That is why I dropped (Suresh) Raina (down the order). He has been successful at that slot.”If I move up there, it should be someone experienced at that slot. It is a difficult slot. You can’t just go out there and play the big shot. You don’t really have as many big batsmen behind you. If an opener plays a big shot. he thinks twice, but if you are No. 6 or 7 you have to think three times or you don’t think at all because you are not worried about anything else.”One of the occupants of that lower-middle-order slot has been Ravindra Jadeja. Now Dhoni has always backed Jadeja, playing an important part in using him as a match-winning bowler in Tests when nobody rated him in the longer formats. Since his shoulder injury, though, Jadeja has struggled a bit in international cricket.That Jadeja plays for Dhoni’s IPL team and that he is managed by Dhoni’s friend’s management agency has always been brought up, and once again, Dhoni was asked about his persistence with and “preservation” of Jadeja. An unflustered Dhoni came up with a cricketing assessment.”We use every bowler according to his potential,” Dhoni said. “I don’t like to bowl him in the first 10, but after that he has bowled for us consistently, in the second Powerplay and even in the slog. I have used him late in the innings, and he has bowled three decent overs in the Powerplay. I feel it is very difficult for someone like him to justify his selection because more often than not they don’t get to bat. In the last one year even I have not got a decent chance to bat. The only decent chance you get is when you are four-five down in 20 overs.”To always come in an international game and expect an individual to score a fifty is not really possible, so it is a difficult one. Also, our top order has done really well so we haven’t tested the bottom order. You can say these two matches our lower order was tested so it is difficult for him to justify his batting. From bowling point of view, in between he was up and down, but later on, during the World Cup he bowled well and after that here he is bowling well.”Dhoni hinted that he might be bat at No.4 more often in the future to “play a bit more freely”•AFP

Another issue with India in the transition since the World Cup has been to identify a coach and proper supporting staff. When he was asked if there was a correlation between the uncertainty there and the results in Bangladesh, Dhoni did not lose the opportunity to praise the former coach Duncan Fletcher.”At least indirectly you are saying you are missing Duncan Fletcher,” Dhoni said. “I felt he was one guy who was never really appreciated by the media. He did all the hard work. He was with the team for a long time. He went on really tough tours but I don’t think we should blame the support staff. Ultimately it is the individuals that go out and adapt and do what is required. I don’t think it is the support staff.”If you are indirectly hinting that we need a coach and all that, we have enough people in the support staff to take care of us. And even if the position of the coach is vacant for some time, it is okay. Don’t put just anybody there just because the post is vacant. Then it will have a bad impact in the long run. It takes time to make these decisions, and our team generally doesn’t have that time because we keep playing non-stop.”As with the support staff, Dhoni said no big changes were expected in the personnel of the actual squad. “This is the best lot of players we have,” Dhoni said. “What we have to think about is, if we are playing in the subcontinent whether we want to go in with the extra spinner, whether we really want fast bowlers who bowl quick but are not good with line and length. At times we have seen they can really go for runs.”If you see Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar), he is not exceptionally quick but even when the batsmen are scoring fast he gets away with it. The only problem is, if he doesn’t take wickets the other bowlers are not smart enough to get away with the kind of bowling they do. Overall you have to see what is the best balance and accordingly you move forward.”

West Indies will host an ODI tri-series featuring India and Sri Lanka in June-July next year

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Dec-2012West Indies will host an ODI tri-series against India and Sri Lanka in Jamaica and Trinidad from June 28 to July 11, 2013. It will substitute for Sri Lanka’s limited-overs leg of their full tour of the Caribbean, which has been reshaped so that the cricketers from both countries can participate in the IPL.According to the original FTP schedule, Sri Lanka were due to play two Tests, three ODIs and two Twenty20s in the West Indies. The Twenty20s have been done away with, and the two Tests will be held later at a later date, allowing the players to play the IPL between April 3 and May 26.The tri-series comprises seven matches, with each team playing the other twice before a final. With Zimbabwe and Pakistan also scheduled to visit the West Indies next year, it will be the first time four international teams will tour the Caribbean in a year (excluding a world tournament).

Sean Ervine, the Hampshire allrounder, has signed for Zimbabwean side Matabeleland Tuskers for the remainder of the season.

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2011Sean Ervine, the Hampshire and former Zimbabwe allrounder, has signed for Zimbabwe domestic side Matabeleland Tuskers for the remainder of the season. He could make his debut on December 12 against Mountaineers.Having scored 1,155 runs and taken 22 wickets in all competitions for Hampshire last season, Ervine, 29, will be available for the Castle Logan Cup and Coca-Cola Pro50 Championship. He will return home in time for Hampshire’s pre-season tour of Barbados.Ervine has previously played for other franchises in Zimbabwe’s Twenty20 competition. In February 2010 he played for Southern Rocks before appearing for Mountaineers in November of that year.

The ECB have added Steve Gale and Steve O’Shaughnessy to the First Class Umpires List for 2011 following the retirements of Barry Dudleston and Vanburn Holder last season

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2010The ECB have added Steve Gale and Steve O’Shaughnessy to the list of first-class umpires for 2011 following the retirements of Barry Dudleston and Vanburn Holder last season.Steve O’Shaughnessy played first-class cricket for Lancashire and Worcestershire between 1980 and 1989, and has been umpiring since 2007. He is delighted to now get the chance to umpire first-class games. “I am thrilled to be given this promotion and am looking forward to having the chance to further my career as an ECB official,” he said.Steve Gale, meanwhile, is promoted after spending three seasons on the Reserve List following a playing career representing Shropshire in Minor Counties cricket between 1975 and 1987. ECB umpires’ manager, Chris Kelly said: “We are pleased to welcome both Steve Gale and Steve O’Shaughnessy onto the Full List for 2011. Their commitment and attitude on the Reserve List has been outstanding and their promotion is the result of some exceptional performances in County Championship matches.”In addition, three new umpires have been added to the Reserve List for 2011: Alex Wharf, who played 13 ODIs for England between 2004 and 2005, Billy Taylor and Russell Evans. Wharf and Taylor retired from first-class cricket at the end of the 2009 season and Evans was contracted by Nottinghamshire between 1985 and 1990.”We are pleased to welcome Billy, Alex and Russell onto the Reserve List for 2011 which maintains the number of umpires available at this level,” said Kelly. “There is now plenty of competition for places on the Reserve List and these three have shown that they are in an excellent position to take their officiating forward.”ECB Full List 2011: Rob Bailey, Neil Bainton, Mark Benson, Martin Bodenham, Nick Cook, Nigel Cowley, Jeff Evans, Steve Gale, Steve Garratt, Michael Gough, Ian Gould, Peter Hartley, Richard Illingworth, Trevor Jesty, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Jeremy Lloyds, Neil Mallender, David Millns, Steve O’Shaughnessy, Tim Robinson, George Sharp, John Steele, Peter Willey.ECB Reserve List 2011: Paul Baldwin, Ismail Dawood, Mark Eggleston, Russell Evans, Andy Hicks, Graham Lloyd, Steve Malone, Martin Saggers, Billy Taylor, Alex Wharf.

The Indian fast bowler has blamed his lack of success at the international level on not getting the new ball, which he said compromised his natural ability to swing

Cricinfo staff22-Dec-2009Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan has blamed his lack of success at the international level on not getting the new ball, which he said compromised his natural ability to swing. He said bowling first change meant he never produced the swing which he could have generated with the new ball.”I’m not complaining that I should be given the new ball, but yes, if you are bowling first change, you are not going to get that much swing,” Irfan said. “Your wicket tally is going to reduce.”Irfan, who last played for India in the 2009 World Twenty20, against West indies at Lord’s in June, believed even in seamer-friendly pitches in England and South Africa, it was never easy for a first-change bowler to pick up wickets.”In terms of swing, I don’t think natural talent will die,” Pathan said. “Wherever you go, even places like England and South Africa, where the bowlers get help, even bowling there first change with white ball, especially with the Powerplays on, he [the bowler] is not going to get that many wickets. His economy rate is going to increase along with his wicket-taking average. Same happened with me.”However, he asserted that he was in good rhythm and primed for a comeback, given his impressive performances with Baroda in the Ranji Trophy Super League. He picked up 22 wickets in five matches at 18.54, as Baroda narrowly missed out on a quarter-final berth from Group B. When asked about his chances of a comeback into the Indian squad, Irfan said he had done his best and now it was upto the selectors to decide.”There was a phase when I came back after injury and struggled with the ball. But that phase is gone now. I am preparing well to make a comeback. It has been a good domestic season and I also scored close to 400 runs, besides captaining the side.”Captaining in domestic cricket was new to me. I came to know what happens in selection meetings, how to pick up different players. That experience is one of the few positives for me after injury.”As a player we expect a lot of things. I was expecting to be in the side for the Sri Lankan tour, but that is every player’s personal feeling and I had it as well.”Irfan believed it was because of his lack of performances which led to his ouster from the national team. “When you don’t perform well, you will get dropped,” he said. “People think that I should have been given more chances but I personally believe that if you are performing to the expectations of what your team wants, then you are not going to get dropped.”He also felt the advent of Twenty20 had helped turn the game into a global sport, but advised players that they should opt out of a tournament in case they were fatigued. “With more money getting involved in the sport, cricket is becoming more professional,” Irfan said. “Fitness will get affected. But it’s upto the individual. If he feels he will get injured and needs rest, he should let the team know how he’s feeling so that chances of him getting injured reduce.”

Ayush Mhatre raced to an 80-ball 126 but with all results on the table, rain had the final say again

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Jul-2025Ben Dawkins struck a century and Ralphie Albert claimed a ten-wicket haul as England Under-19 drew against India Under-19 in the second Youth Test in Chelmsford. Kent opener Dawkins made an impressive 136 and shared a 188-run opening stand with Adam Thomas before England declared on 324 for 5 thanks to some middle-order firepower, as they looked to pursue an unlikely win. But Ayush Mhatre’s century extinguished those hopes despite Surrey spinner Albert’s eventual match figures of 10 for 129. The result meant that the two-match series finished level.With the pitch offering little assistance at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, England’s openers picked up where they left off and Dawkins brought up his half-century with a flick off his pads for two in the fourth over of the day.Thomas provided ample support, on his way to 91, as England quickly extended their lead towards 200 in the first hour as the Indian attack toiled.India had a half-chance for an opening wicket as both openers entered the nervous nineties, but Dawkins narrowly avoided a run-out after taking a hasty single to cover.With lunch looming, Aditya Rawat finally got the breakthrough, taking a regulation caught-and-bowled chance as Thomas fell short of a century.Dawkins brought up a deserved hundred on the brink of lunch with a piercing cover drive for four, having nearly been caught on 99 playing the same shot on the previous ball.Ben Mayes looked to counterattack but was dismissed by Rawat for a quickfire 11 when a leading edge flew straight down the throat of Henil Patel at deep third.As England’s lead passed 250, Dawkins and Thomas Rew began to attack more with the skipper hitting a flurry of boundaries before Rawat bowled him for 19.As the runs flowed, so did the wickets, as Dawkins and Rocky Flintoff continued the boundary assault before both were caught in the deep.After Aaryan Sawant and Ekansh Singh smashed a few sixes of their own, England eventually declared on 324 for 5, leaving India with 65 overs to chase down 355 or simply survive.England got off to a dream start when Alex Green’s opening delivery was chopped on by 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, fuelling the hopes of victory.But India soon extinguished these hopes. While Vihaan Malhotra dug in, Mhatre attacked, racking up 50 in just 25 balls as India steadied the ship.Albert’s drop at long on when Mhatre was on 54 looked like a potentially pivotal moment as the clouds grew darker and the floodlights switched on.But Albert wasted no time in making amends with the ball, as he dismissed Malhotra in his first over, leaving India 100 for 2 as tea beckoned.India also harboured dim hopes of victory as Abhigyan Kundu joined Mhatre and hit two sixes in the first two overs after the break to keep ahead of the required run rate.Mhatre also kept the momentum going and made the most of his earlier reprieve to bring up a remarkable century off 64 balls.Kundu was equally aggressive in the middle and brought up his half-century with a well-placed four, striking at over 150 in the process.But Mhatre finally fell for 126, caught by Mayes on the long-on boundary as Albert got his revenge, triggering a mini-collapse for India.Kundu edged to slip 15 minutes later before Rahul Kumar chipped the ball straight back to Mayes, swinging the momentum back towards England.However, India’s lower order rallied and when drizzle forced the players off the umpires ended the match as a draw.

Travis Head has been rested by Cricket Australia ahead of the West Indies Test series

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jan-2024Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey have been made available for their club’s next BBL matches in the small window between the Pakistan and West Indies Test series but ODI World Cup final hero Travis Head has been rested.Khawaja and Labuschagne are both set to feature for the undefeated Brisbane Heat against Perth Scorchers at the Gabba on Wednesday while Carey will line up for Adelaide Strikers against Hobart Hurricanes the day before.Steven Smith is also expected to feature for Sydney Sixers against Sydney Thunder on Friday with David Warner planning to helicopter to the game after his brother’s wedding.Related

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The availability of Khawaja and Labuschagne, who featured in the first game of the season against Melbourne Stars, will lead to some tricky selection decisions for Heat who have been the standout team so far this season with six wins in eight matches and are already assured of at least a top-three finish in the regular season.Their remaining two games are against defending champions Scorchers with those fixtures likely to determine who will finish top and host the Qualifier final on January 19.”It will be good for the group to have Usman and Marnus back around the team, especially as we get into the business end of the competition,” Heat coach Wade Seccombe said.Carey’s return is a boost for the struggling Strikers who are currently sixth with just two wins and will likely need to win their remaining three games to stand a chance of progressing.A Strikers statement added: “In consultation with Cricket Australia medical staff, Travis Head will not be available for Big Bash selection during the break between international Test series”Steven Smith was in spectacular form for Sydney Sixers last season•Getty Images

It has yet to be confirmed whether Carey will be available for the return fixture against Hurricanes in Hobart on Thursday. Mitchell Marsh won’t be available for Scorchers against Heat in Brisbane on Wednesday.Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc signed as marquee supplementary players with Thunder and Sixers respectively this season so they can have a role promoting the competition but have never been in line to play. Cameron Green does not have a BBL deal having opted not to take one this season due to a combination of the schedule and to focus on red-ball cricket.Lance Morris (Scorchers) and Scott Boland (Stars) have previously been released from the Test squad to play in the BBL.Nathan Lyon won’t be able to debut for Melbourne Renegades this season with their next game on Saturday, the day the Test squad is due to gather in Adelaide ahead of the first Test against West Indies from January 17.There is set to be a far larger window for Australia’s Test players to feature in the BBL next season with the Sydney Test against India in the first week of January to be the last of the home summer. This season’s schedule was pushed to a later start due to the ODI World Cup.

England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies are represented this season

Andrew McGlashan09-Oct-2022

Suzie Bates (Sydney Sixers)

The leading run-scorer in T20Is is back in the WBBL after missing last season and is set to form Sixers’ opening pair alongside Alyssa Healy. Bates has been in excellent form this year with runs throughout the ODI World Cup, Commonwealth Games, Hundred and tour of West Indies (plus a few wickets in the latter).

Tammy Beaumont (Sydney Thunder)

Beaumont has lost her England T20I place but brings a vast amount of experience to Thunder where she will have a key role at the top of the order. She has scored 1063 runs from 55 WBBL innings and will be looking to increase a strike-rate of 94.23. Had a lean end to the home season, not reaching 20 in her last nine innings in various competitions

Alice Capsey (Melbourne Stars)

One of the most exciting young players in the game, 18-year-old Capsey has followed Hundred success with evidence of her talent on the international stage. Has been used sparingly with the ball by England so far, but don’t be surprised to see her used significantly by Stars.

Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers)

Devine is the leading overseas run-scorer in WBBL by a comfortable margin – 3076 at 39.94 and a strike-rate of 128.81 – and will again line up for the defending champions, forming a formidable combination with Beth Mooney at the top of the order.

Deandra Dottin (Adelaide Strikers)

Now, effectively, a freelancer cricketer having retired from the international game, Dottin will be at her third club in Strikers. She will hope to improve on her overall modest WBBL record, but recently led Trinbago to the inaugural WCPL title where she was the leading run-scorer and player of the tournament.Sophie Ecclestone will have a big role for Sydney Sixers•Getty Images

Mignon du Preez (Hobart Hurricanes)

Hurricanes’ leading run-scorer last season with 414, du Preez will hope for more support in this campaign. She now focuses on T20 having retired from ODIs and Tests following the World Cup earlier this year. Is closing in on becoming the third overseas player to 2000 WBBL runs after Devine and Rachel Priest.

Sophie Ecclestone (Sydney Sixers)

The world’s No.1-ranked bowler across ODIs and T20Is, left-arm spinner Ecclestone will play in the WBBL for the first time as part of a Sixers side looking to rebound after three poor seasons under new head coach Charlotte Edwards. The team specifically targeted a left-arm spinner, having had India’s Radha Yadav last year, and could not have gone for a better option.

Maddy Green (Perth Scorchers)

With the top order well looked after, Scorchers have recruited Green with an eye on bolstering the middle order. She has previously played 28 games for Heat, averaging 17.52 with a strike-rate of 104.28. Was impressive in tough conditions in West Indies. She is also an excellent fielder.

Shabnim Ismail (Melbourne Renegades)

One of the fastest bowlers in the world is back at her original club after a spell at Thunder were she produced some rapid spells and had an economy rate of just 5.72. Will help cover for the absence of Tayla Vlaeminck who remains sidelined with injury.Marizanne Kapp has a fantastic record of winning domestic tournaments•Getty Images

Hayley Jensen (Hobart Hurricanes)

The New Zealand allrounder, who was drafted in by Hurricanes as a replacement player in 2020, has been signed following the withdrawal of England’s Issy Wong. Her bowling has proved effective on the recent tour of West Indies.

Amy Jones (Sydney Thunder)

After a break of a couple of seasons, Jones returns to the WBBL for her third club following spells with Sixers and Scorchers. She arrives having captained England in the final stage of their home season and joins team-mate Beaumont at the club.

Marizanne Kapp (Perth Scorchers)

The South Africa allrounder is something of a trophy-winning machine having been part of back-to-back Hundred titles with Oval Invincibles alongside last season’s WBBL title with Scorchers – and she was Player of the Match in all three finals. Her 102 WBBL wickets make her comfortably the leading overseas bowler in the tournament’s history.

Harmanpreet Kaur (Melbourne Renegades)

One of the in-form players around the world at the moment. Harmanpreet, India’s captain, enjoyed a prolific ODI series in England and also had an impact in the Commonwealth Games with 65 against Australia. Is a well-known force in WBBL with 1119 runs at 41.44 and a strike-rate of 121.63. Will likely miss the start due to the Asia Cup.

Amelia Kerr (Brisbane Heat)

Kerr, the legspinning allrounder, is back in WBBL having missed last year as she took a break from the game. She has had a terrific year across formats, beginning with the prolific batting form that led into the ODI World Cup and has recently been very consistent with the ball in the Commonwealth Games, Hundred and in West Indies. Her 31 wickets for Heat have come at just 20.16 with an economy of 5.80.Jemimah Rodrigues has swapped Melbourne teams•Associated Press

Jess Kerr (Brisbane Heat)

The sister of Amelia who is a swing bowler has been drafted in by Heat as cover due to the later arrivals of Danni Wyatt and Pooja Vastrakar.

Lizelle Lee (Hobart Hurricanes)

Like Dottin, Lee is now a freelance cricketer having retired from South Africa duty amid a stand-off with the board. She has two WBBL hundreds, both made for Stars, and her move to Hurricanes comes after she opted out last year due to bubble fatigue.

Hayley Matthews (Melbourne Renegades)

At her best, Matthews is a dynamic player with bat and ball. After five seasons with Hurricanes she has moved to Renegades and will be looking to improve on batting returns of an average of 18.02 and strike-rate of 98.18. Her bowling has brought more WBBL success, though, with 40 wickets.

Jemimah Rodrigues (Melbourne Stars)

Rodrigues has moved across town from Renegades where she was their second-leading run-scorer last season. She was in superb form during the Commonwealth Games before picking up an injury at the Hundred. Is part of the Asia Cup squad, so will likely miss early matches.

Chloe Tryon (Sydney Thunder)

Tryon, the South Africa allrounder, has previously represented Hurricanes and will bring power to Thunder’s middle order with a T20I strike-rate of 139.13 – the highest of anyone who has played at least fifty innings. In the recent 6IXTY competition in the Caribbean she struck 63 off 29 balls.

Pooja Vastrakar (Brisbane Heat)

The allrounder was considered a little unlucky not to bag a deal last season, especially as the Indian players were already in Australia at a time when border restrictions were still in place. This time, however, she has been picked up by Heat who have previously had Poonam Yadav and Smriti Mandhana. Will likely be tasked with bringing some power to the middle order.

Lauren Winfield-Hill (Melbourne Stars)

Winfield-Hill, who has previously played 41 WBBL matches, has lost her England place but, in her own words, has “fallen in love” in the game again after struggling through the Covid years. The results have shown on-field where she impressed in the Hundred for Oval Invincibles, striking at 136.02, then finishing the domestic season in prolific style for Northern Diamonds as they won the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint trophy.

Danni Wyatt (Brisbane Heat)

Having played 55 matches for Renegades between 2015 and 2019, which brought 1345 runs, Wyatt returns to the tournament with a new team. On the Ashes tour of Australia earlier this year she made 70 off 54 balls in the T20I in Adelaide which began the series. Will have a delayed arrival due to workload management.

Laura Wolvaardt (Adelaide Strikers)

Wolvaardt returns for another season at the top of Strikers’ order after finishing as their second-highest run-maker last season. Her off-side strokeplay can be highlight reel in itself, but she will want to convert some of the starts into more substantial contributions after two fifties in 16 innings last time out and four overall from 45 WBBL knocks.

It is understood that spectators only need to wear masks when moving around inside the ground

George Dobell26-May-2021Up to 18,000 spectators will be able to attend every day of the Edgbaston Test between England and New Zealand after the match was deemed a pilot event by the UK government.It was feared that the Test, which starts on June 10, would see spectator numbers limited to 25% of ground capacity because of Covid-19 restrictions. But, in what may feel like a major step towards a return to normal, Warwickshire announced on Wednesday that 70% capacity will be admitted.Spectators will be contacted imminently and asked to sign a consent form and take a lateral flow test. It is understood that they only need to wear masks when moving around inside the ground.The first three days of the match have effectively been sold out for many weeks. Tickets for day four will go back on sale. Around 10,000 have been sold at present.ESPNcricinfo revealed in April that Warwickshire, with the backing of council leaders and the local mayor, had written to the government requesting that the game be utilised as a “validation event”. At the time, though, the club hardly dared hope for more than 50% attendances.Although there is relatively little financial upside to the news – Warwickshire were insured for lost revenue and are going to need to spend heavily to ensure the correct protocols are followed – it will come as a significant morale boost for players and spectators, and for a region that has suffered financially in recent months.With England having played their entire 2020 home summer behind closed doors, the game will be the first home match since 2019 that England have played in front of something approaching normal conditions.”This is great news,” Becky Fairlie-Clarke, of the Cricket Supporters’ Association, told ESPNcricinfo. “People have been through a lot over the last year and more. The chance to return to cricket with friends and family will feel like a giant step back towards normality. It really does give us a hope that we are getting through this. I think the entire game will feel like a celebration.”There will be no such boost for Lord’s. The first Test of the series, which starts there on June 2, will be played in front of crowds of 25% capacity, or about 7,500 a day. “We too have been communicating with the ECB and government with a view to staging a pilot for some time,” an MCC statement said.”However, with decisions only just being made following the first round of the government’s Events Research Programme, we simply ran out of time with the New Zealand Test match starting next Wednesday. This timeframe has been compounded by the additional complexities of delivering our new Compton and Edrich Stands this season, the biggest redevelopment in the history of Lord’s.”Although timing is one issue, Warwickshire’s ability to demonstrate the closeness of their relationship with local government and provide details of their willingness to work together across the travel and hospitality sectors to make the event work are also understood to be relevant. As such, the news is something of a triumph for the club’s new chief executive, Stuart Cain, and the city’s mayor, Andy Street.The decision to allow larger crowds at Edgbaston follows successful trials at a range of other events. There were around 20,000 spectators at the FA Cup final and around 1000 at the World Snooker Championship final – which was an indoor event – and many more at various gigs and concerts adding up to a total of 58,000. In all, the government reported 15 positive Covid-19 cases from those involved.May 26, 0930 BST – This story was updated following confirmation from Warwickshire