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Daniel Hughes’ unbeaten 59 took New South Wales closer to the 309-run target set by Victoria on the third day

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2018
ScorecardAn unbeaten half-century from Daniel Hughes put New South Wales in a strong position at stumps on day three as the Blues pursued a target of 309 against Victoria at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.The Blues made an outstanding start to the run chase with Hughes and Nick Larkin putting on 83 for the first wicket in less than 22 overs before Fawad Ahmed broke through.He had Ed Cowan stumped to put the Blues under pressure but Kurtis Patterson and Hughes built steadily towards stumps.Earlier, Travis Dean made his second hundred in successive matches to help the Bushrangers set a substantial target. He scored 106 from 270 balls and got good lower-order support from Peter Siddle (28) and Dan Christian (22). Trent Copeland picked up Chris Tremain to secure his 15th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.Victoria batsman Will Pucovski, who had been substituted out of the match with concussion, indicated he would return to action once he feels better. The 20-year old was struck on the helmet by a Sean Abbott bouncer on the second day after which he was taken off the ground for medical assistance. “It was unfortunate but that’s cricket,” Pucovski said in a statement. “I’m under the supervision of Cricket Victoria’s medical team and we’ll look at my return to play options once I have fully recovered.”

Ben Stokes has a strong chance of resuming his international career in Hamilton on Sunday, 155 days after he last put on the England shirt, barring any reaction to an increased bowling workload during training

Andrew McGlashan23-Feb-20181:00

How do England make room for Stokes?

Ben Stokes will resume his England career in Hamilton on Sunday, 155 days after he last put on the shirt, barring any reaction to his bowling workloads in training over the last few days.*When Stokes flew out to join the tour after his court appearance in Bristol, where he pleaded not guilty to affray, England coach Trevor Bayliss indicated the second match of the series against New Zealand would be a likelier comeback date following Stokes’ absence from international cricket since late September.However, towards the end of the tri-series, when Stokes had linked up with the squad, Eoin Morgan was more positive about his potential to make the opening ODI at Seddon Park. The England captain has watched him at close quarters – Stokes’ workload included an eight-over spell in the nets on Friday – since the squad returned to training ahead of the one-day series.England had a final training session on Saturday, in which Stokes batted and bowled, but Morgan will wait until the day of the match to make sure Stokes has come through without issues although indicated he would not have to be available for his full ten-over allocation straightaway.”He’s pulled up well over the last couple of days and providing he gets through a little bit of bowling these next two days of prep, then he’ll be fit,” Morgan said. “If he’s not, it’s not a big decision for me to leave him out but he’s arrived here, he’s pulled up really well. He’s travelled very well and he’s turned up incredibly fit. The bowling would be the hiccup if he did pick up a niggle or something where it might put him back, but at the moment, it’s looking good.”He could equally be picked as a batter, but if he can’t bowl there will be a reason behind that, a niggle or something wrong with some part of his body. If he’s fine, he should be able to play some part with the ball. Coming back in the Champions Trophy, he couldn’t bowl at a hundred percent so he bowled four or maybe five or six overs and built it up from there.”Since the incident in Bristol following the one-day international against West Indies on September 24, Stokes’ on-field action has been limited to six pre-Christmas outings for Canterbury in the Ford Trophy and Super Smash competitions. Having been made available for England selection again last month, his journey to New Zealand was delayed when his initial court date clashed with the T20 against New Zealand in Wellington.Morgan had no doubt Stokes would be able to focus on his cricket. “It’s a skill of any professional sportsman, or any professional when it comes down to doing your job, and it’s actually a nice release because you get to focus on one thing. He looks in great nick, he’s hit the ground running and he’s been himself which has been great to see.”Stokes’ availability would give England a sixth frontline-bowling option and allow them to return to the balance of four quicks and two spinners, while also having Joe Root up their sleeve after he played an important role in the one-day series against Australia.In turn, that will provide a selection conundrum to open up a spot for Stokes. It would appear that it is Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales vying for position with Jason Roy seemingly safe in the security of his England-record 180 in the first ODI against Australia. Even though his scores have faded since, it is unlikely it would have any bearing on his chances. In that series, Hales batted at No. 3 with Root – who was Man of the Series – at No. 4, with Root likely to move back up to first drop with Stokes’ return. Potential indication of England’s thinking could have come from the fact that Hales did not bat in the nets on Saturday.”Again, it’s a tough decision,” Morgan said. “We’ve been spoilt for batters the period of time we have been together in this group but it’s a nice choice to have. I can’t tell you which way I’m leaning, sorry.”Since being called on to open the batting in the Champions Trophy semi-final against Pakistan last year – when Roy was dropped – Bairstow has scored 502 runs at 62.75, including two centuries. He, however, failed to build on starts against Australia with scores of 14, 60, 39 and 44.Hales made three single-figure scores in the one-day series against Australia alongside a half-century in Brisbane and 35 at Perth. Given he joined Adil Rashid in signing a white-ball-only contract with his county, Nottinghamshire, this week, it would be a blow to his psyche if he were to miss out on England’s first limited-overs side since making that decision.*0120GMT, February 24: This story was updated following England’s training session on Saturday

The 25-year-old allrounder had represented South Africa women in 3 ODIs and 1 T20I in 2013, and was active with coaching at the grassroots level after that

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-2019Elriesa Theunissen-Fourie, the former South Africa women’s allrounder, died in a road accident on April 5.Theunissen-Fourie, who would have turned 26 on May 2, played three ODIs and one T20I for South Africa, all in 2013. She was part of South Africa’s squad for the Women’s World Cup in 2013, and made her ODI debut against Sri Lanka women in Cuttack. She last played for South Africa in a series against Bangladesh Women in September that year.In domestic cricket, she represented the North West Dragons and was described by Cricket South Africa as “very active at the grassroots level, coaching at the local community hub until she had to take maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child”.CSA said she died in a “motor car accident in Stilfontein, North West. The life of her child was also lost in the accident.””This is a dreadful tragedy in the true sense of that word,” CSA chief executive Thabang Moroe said. “This is devastating news for all of us. Elriesa did so much for the community in which she lived and gave excellent service both as a national player of note and in the work she did at grassroots level to help in the less fortunate communities.”On behalf of the CSA family I extend our deepest sympathy to her husband, Rudy, her family, friends and all her cricketing colleagues.”

He added an unbroken 117 for the third wicket with KJ Perera as SL chased 192 down

Madushka Balasuriya07-Sep-2025Zimbabwe put forward a team effort led by Tadiwanashe Marumani’s fourth T20I fifty to post an imposing 191 for 8. But Sri Lanka’s top four batters made light work of their target by ending the game with 14 balls and eight wickets to spare. With it, Sri Lanka took the series 2-1.Kamil Mishara will be the name on everyone’s lips after the game, though, with his 73 not out off 43 balls the shining light in an outstanding display of batting from the Sri Lankans. Pathum Nissanka (30 from 20 deliveries) and Kusal Mendis (30 off 17) once more delivered a strong start in the powerplay. But while Sri Lanka have long struggled to maintain that momentum, on Sunday, Mishara and the returning Kusal Perera dusted off the 192 chase with ease with an unbeaten stand of 117 from 63 balls.Earlier, Marumani rode his luck to propel Zimbabwe’s efforts, and he was ably assisted by cameos throughout the innings. At one point, Zimbabwe looked poised to breach 200, but Sri Lanka again excelled during the death overs, particularly with Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana, to ensure Zimbabwe had a total that was eventually gettable.Tadiwanashe Marumani scored a steady half-century•Zimbabwe Cricket

SL’s powerplay one-upmanship

After Zimbabwe posted their highest total against Sri Lanka – and their third highest total at the Harare Sports Club – Sri Lanka knew what they needed to do to chase it down.Part one played out as expected, with Kusal Mendis and Nissanka once more providing the Sri Lanka with a customary blistering start to the chase. The pair put on an opening stand of 58 off 32 deliveries, as Sri Lanka struck 67 runs in the powerplay for the loss of just one wicket.It was the ideal response to Zimbabwe, who had done similarly well in the powerplay by scoring 58 for 1. That effort had been led by a somewhat chancy knock by Marumani, who played anchor, as both Brian Bennett and Sean Williams provided the aggression.Dushan Hemantha picked up three wickets•Sri Lanka Cricket

Mishara announces himself

Prior to this tour, Mishara had briefly introduced himself to Sri Lanka’s cricket followers in 2022 during matches against India and Australia before swiftly finding himself back in the domestic wilderness. In the years since, he has crafted himself as a batter full of intent and aggression – it was ill-advised in the second T20I, but on Sunday, he showed how useful that skillset can be.Coming into bat late in the powerplay, Mishara soon found himself the senior man in a partnership with Perera, as both Mendis and Nissanka had fallen in quick succession. But with lopsided boundaries on offer, both Mishara and Perera smartly took the singles and twos on offer, without searching for the boundaries – a luxury afforded by the strong powerplay.However, a stunning loft down the ground for six, hitting through the line, signalled to all watching what Mishara was all about. It would be another ten deliveries until he found his next boundary, but scarcely was a dot ball registered under his watch.Mishara’s assurance also seemed to revive Perera, who had been dropped for the second T20I following a lean patch of form, but here he seemed to be finding his feet once more. The pair eventually began finding boundaries as and when needed, with Mishara in particular looking always keen to take on the onus. By the end, Mishara looked assured in a challenging middle-order role, one Sri Lanka will be hoping he can hold on to for a while.Sikandar Raza batted at a high tempo•Zimbabwe Cricket

Chameera, Pathirana dent Zimbabwe’s charge

Sikandar Raza said after the game that he was absolutely thrilled with Zimbabwe’s batting effort, and with 191 on the board, you don’t have to wonder why. It was a performance built on a strong powerplay, but more importantly, smart and aggressive cricket throughout.Dushan Hemantha, for example, picked up three wickets – the most in the innings – and they were the prized scalps of Williams, Raza and Marumani. But such was the trajectory of the Zimbabwean innings that it hardly halted their momentum.Each of Zimbabwe’s top seven reached double digits, while five of them struck at a strike rate of 150 or more. It was the quintessential team innings, and one that saw them score 95 runs through the middle overs (7 to 16). Yet, by the end of the game, many watching on may have felt they were perhaps 30 runs short.That is primarily down to Sri Lanka’s excellent effort with the ball at the death, where they conceded just 38 runs and picked up four wickets, a period which culminated in a final over where the returning Pathirana gave away just six runs and accounted for two wickets – one of which was a run-out.

In the only change of positions on the Test table, England have overtaken Australia to fourth position

ESPNcricinfo staff02-May-2019India’s lead over New Zealand in the ICC Test rankings has narrowed to just two points after the annual update today. In the ODI rankings, England have held on to their top position.Following the update, series from 2015-16 were removed from the calculations and results from 2016-17 and 2017-18 were weighted at 50%, with series after that weighted at 100%.Success against Ireland and Pakistan will mean England host the upcoming World Cup ranked No. 1 in the format.India, who have held the top spot in Tests since October 2016, were on 116 points before the update but their 3-0 win over South Africa and 2-1 win in Sri Lanka during the 2015-16 season have dropped out of the ranking period, meaning they lost three points. New Zealand, meanwhile, were on 108 but have had their two 2-0 defeat to Australia expunged from their record, gaining three points to move to 111.In the only change of positions on the Test table, England have overtaken Australia to fourth position and are on 105 points. Australia are on 98 points after dropping six points they had held from winning four of their five series in 2015-16. Further down the table, the gap between seventh-placed Pakistan and eighth-placed West Indies has been trimmed from 11 to two points.In order to go into the World Cup as the top ranked ODI side, England will need to beat Ireland in Friday’s one-off ODI and then beat Pakistan 3-2 or better at home later this month. If they lose to Ireland, then beat Pakistan 4-1 or better, they will still hold on to their position.South Africa have overtaken New Zealand in ODIs, moving into third position, while another change in positions sees West Indies moving ahead of Sri Lanka to seventh place. No team has dropped out of the top 10, and the 10 top-ranked sides are all taking part in the World Cup.Namibia, Oman and USA were all awarded ODI status at the end of the World Cricket League Division 2 competition and will join the rankings once they have played the requisite eight qualifying matches. Papua New Guinea join the rankings immediately having played several ODIs prior to April 2018, and Netherlands, who already had ODI status, will need to play two more ODIs to achieve a ranking.The annual update to the T20I team rankings will be made on May 3.

After giving them an ultimatum to step down, Zimbabwe Cricket has sacked the entire coaching staff following an unsuccessful World Cup qualifier campaign

Firdose Moonda30-Mar-2018After giving them an ultimatum to step down by 3pm on Friday, Zimbabwe Cricket have sacked its entire coaching staff following an unsuccessful World Cup qualifier campaign. The captain Graeme Cremer was another high-profile casualty with reports in the Zimbabwean press suggesting Brendan Taylor will take over leadership of the team.In addition to the national coaching staff – head coach Heath Streak, batting coach Lance Klusener, bowling coach Douglas Hondo, fielding coach Walter Chawaguta, fitness coach Sean Bell and team analyst Stanley Chioza – all other coaching staff, including the Zimbabwe A coach Wayne James and Under-19 coach Stephen Mangongo have been booted out. Convener of selectors Tatenda Taibu has also stripped of his position.In an email sent to Streak on Thursday evening, Zimbabwe Cricket MD Faisal Hasnain wrote: “Further to our discussions, please give your technical staff (and yourself included) until 3pm tomorrow to formally resign. After which time the technical team can consider themselves dismissed and relieved of their duties with immediate effect.”Streak and his staff refused to resign, on the principle that they did not consider their overall work a failure – Zimbabwe’s ODI win-loss percentage under Streak was 37.5%, significantly more than the 22.6% Zimbabwe achieved between April 2014 and October 2016, when Streak took over – and decided to let the board make their decision.Streak conveyed his disappointment in a brief conversation with ESPNcricinfo. “For everything I have given Zimbabwe Cricket, as a former player and a coach, to be given an email with no full explanation or even the courtesy of a hearing is something I didn’t expect,” Streak said. “I understand that every coach’s tenure will come to an end, but we should at least have been given the chance to give our comments and ask some questions. I was looking to take the team to the World T20 in 2020.”Streak is the only one with alternative employment at the moment. He was appointed the Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach for this year’s edition of the IPL.The mass purge is mostly a result of Zimbabwe missing out on the 2019 World Cup, after a three-run defeat to UAE in the final Super Six match, but will no doubt also be related to finances. Zimbabwe Cricket is muddling through another monetary crunch, only made worse by the fact that they will not be participating in the World Cup.ZC staff, including the players who were attempting to qualify for the World Cup, were only paid 40% of their salaries in February. But with Streak and Klusener accepting 40% of theirs, the squad was eventually paid in full for their work during the month. No salaries will be paid in March, as ZC looks to make up the deficit in salaries to the rest of its staff.

In the last five years, batting averages there have diminished as the game has progressed, with spinners having taken more than 100 wickets each on days three and four

Mohammad Isam16-Jun-2025Bangladesh batters are eager to cash in on the Galle pitch before it starts responding to spinners, according to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. The visitors begin their Sri Lanka tour with the Galle Test starting on Tuesday, with recent performances putting both batting units under pressure.Shanto had scored his maiden Test century in the first game during Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2021 – he scored 163 in Pallekele, which remains his highest Test score. This time around, Bangladesh will be playing only their third Test in Galle, the last of which was back in 2017.In the last five years, batting averages in Galle have diminished as the game has progressed – from 45.64 on the first day to 35.61, 28.53, 28.31 and 20.65 in the subsequent days. Spinners have taken more than 100 wickets each on the third and fourth days of Tests in Galle during this period.Related

• Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh: New beginnings for both teams as WTC restarts in Galle

• Ebadot Hossain back in Bangladesh squad for SL Tests

• Shanto banks on away form, squad flexibility for fresh WTC

“I have some good memories in Kandy, but I want to take the opportunity in Galle,” Shanto said. “Playing spin may be challenging, but there’s also a lot of runs in the first two or three days in Galle. We want to take that opportunity. There will be challenges for the batters as spinners take a lot of wickets in this venue. We have to bat well. We are enjoying each other’s company despite all the challenges.”Shanto said he is pleased with the combination of players he has in the current Test squad, although Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who reportedly has a fever, remains a doubtful starter against Sri Lanka. Bangladesh will take a last-minute call on the playing XI after confirming whether Mehidy is available.”Mehidy is still under observation, but his health is improving. A lot depends on his availability,” Shanto said. “If he is in the team, we can go into the Test with a good combination. I don’t want to reveal where I am going to bat in the Test match. I don’t want my opponent to know. We still have a few things up in the air. Miraz is still not fully well.”I am happy with the Test squad. I think it is also quite positive that we all could agree on this combination. It is a balanced side with enough options for batting and bowling. We can pick the XI depending on the opposition and conditions. We also have to execute our plans by playing good cricket.”Earlier this year, Bangladesh levelled the Test series against Zimbabwe after defeat in the first Test•AFP/Getty Images

Bangladesh’s batting struggles are often attributed to the absence of their batting heavyweights, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. While Tamim has retired from all formats, Shakib could be available just for ODIs. In Tamim’s absence, Bangladesh are yet to settle on an opening pair, while Shakib’s role as a batter hasn’t been totally replaced either. Shanto, though, is hopeful that the current Test players can do their jobs in Sri Lanka.”They are not in the team for the last two or three years; Shakib and Tamim served Bangladesh cricket for a long time,” Shanto said. “But we don’t want to think about the past. We have some experienced cricketers in the squad. They will do well here. I hope those in the team will take the team forward.”Bangladesh will be looking to bounce back after having won just two out of ten completed matches across formats so far this year. In February, they exited the Champions Trophy in the group stage, before going down to Zimbabwe in the Sylhet Test in April. Bangladesh then lost back-to-back T20I series against UAE and Pakistan in May-June. Shanto, however, said that the team will take inspiration from their drawn Test series against Zimbabwe, where they bounced back in Chattogram after the defeat in Sylhet.”We don’t want to think too much about the Zimbabwe series. We came back well in that series,” Shanto said. “It will motivate the team. We are playing in conditions that many of us have played in the past. We have to play good cricket, especially the batters.”We have good memories in Sri Lanka, which will be helpful but every series is a new beginning. The top order has to provide the team with a good start. We have a good squad here, so it will be a great opportunity to do something special here.”

He will call curtains on a legendary career at the ground where it all began for him 21 years ago

Vithushan Ehantharajah11-May-202411:21

James Anderson ‘England’s greatest ever bowler’

James Anderson has announced he will retire from international cricket after England’s first Test of the summer at Lord’s, against West Indies, bringing the curtain down on a legendary career where it all began 21 years ago.Anderson, who turns 42 in July, made his Test debut at Lord’s in 2003 against Zimbabwe. He has gone on to take 700 wickets – the most by any pace bowler in Test history. His eventual tally of 188 caps will be the second most in Test history, with just Sachin Tendulkar ahead of him on 200.In a personal statement released on Instagram, Anderson confirmed he would represent England one last time, although speaking later to the BBC’s Tailenders podcast, he did not rule out the possibility of extending his playing career with Lancashire.”Hi everyone. Just a note to say that the first Test of the summer at Lord’s will be my last Test,” Anderson wrote on Instagram.”It’s been an incredible 20 years representing my country, playing the game I’ve loved since I was a kid. I’m going to miss walking out for England so much. But I know the time is right to step aside and let others realise their dreams just like I got to, because there is no greater feeling.””I couldn’t have done it without the love and support of Daniella, Lola, Ruby and my parents. A huge thank you to them. Also, thank you to the players and coaches who have made this the best job in the world.”I’m excited for the new challenges that lie ahead, as well as filling my days with even more golf.”Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years, it’s always meant a lot, even if my face often doesn’t show it.”See you at the Test,”Go well”Jimmy x”Anderson had previously harboured ambitions to play England’s six Tests this summer against West Indies and Sri Lanka and even refused to rule out being around for the 2025-26 Ashes, by which point he would be 43. However, following a face-to-face meeting on the golf course with Test head coach Brendon McCullum in April, and further conversations involving managing director Rob Key, Anderson was informed the team needed to look beyond him this summer with a view to building to that tour of Australia.The news of that meeting, initially reported in on Friday, ultimately brought confirmation from Anderson 24 hours later. He was due to feature as part of the BBC’s live coverage of England Women’s first match of the summer against Pakistan at Edgbaston on Saturday but has subsequently pulled out.James Anderson is set to finish his career with 188 Tests to his name•Getty Images

Speaking to Tailenders, Anderson confirmed that his discussions with McCullum had come up as part of his annual appraisal, at the six-month mark of his one-year contract.”I feel like I have talked about it for ten years with every coach I have had, asking ‘how long you going to play for’,” Anderson said. “Looking ahead, could a 43-year-old me make the Ashes in 18 months time? I sort of came to the decision ‘probably not’. From my point of view it feels like a stretch at this point in my career, and from their point of view there are 15 or so Tests before the Ashes so it gives them time to get other guys Tests and experience before that Ashes series.”I feel good about it, I have had an amazing career. Stuff about retirement has been hanging around for years now, ever since I turned 30 and grown even more since I turned 40. I just feel really lucky that I have managed to get to this stage, still playing at this very high level.”Anderson reached the 700 Test-wicket mark earlier this year in the fifth and final Test of England’s tour of India. Though he has long been the lynchpin of the English attack, he bowled just 110 overs in seven innings in that series after a tough Ashes campaign last summer in which he took just five wickets at 85.40 in four Tests. Anderson is currently on a one-year central contract which expires at the end of the summer.Regarding his county career, however, Anderson admitted he was “not 100% set” on hanging up his boots, and could yet feature in the latter half of Lancashire’s Championship campaign.”There are games at the end of the season that I’m not ruling out at this moment,” he said. “That’s a conversation I’ve got to have with Lancashire and see what they want to do.”It is part of the thought process. I’m not 100% set on what I’m going to do next. That will be a conversation further down the line with Lancashire and see what they want to do, see if I’ve actually got the desire and willingness to do that as well. Again, that will be later in the year.”In a statement released by the ECB alongside Anderson’s, chair Richard Thompson said:”I don’t think we’ll ever see a bowler to match Jimmy again. It has been an honour as an England fan to watch him, and to marvel at his skill with the ball.”To still be bowling at the top of his game at 41 is remarkable, and he is a true inspiration and role model for peers and younger generations alike.”His final Test promises to be an emotional one, and having been there for his first Test in 2003, it will be an honour to watch his final one at Lord’s in July.”English cricket owes Jimmy Anderson a send-off like no other.”