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The ECB is not intending to implement proposals to downgrade the 18 county academies in favour of regional training hubs

David Hopps10-Mar-2017The ECB has privately indicated that it has retreated from proposals to downgrade the 18 county academies in favour of creating “regional training hubs as opposed to county programmes” as part of a plan to “define a new pathway for English cricket”.ESPNcricinfo revealed last month that independent consultants had concluded in a confidential report, commissioned by the ECB, that the much-vaunted eight-team T20 tournament could “impact on the future structure” of the professional game in England and urged the ECB to take the chance to “reorganise the geographical structure of county cricket”.The revelations caused immediate disquiet within several counties as they prepared for a meeting at Lord’s on March 27 which will further examine plans for the new T20 tournament. If given the go ahead, the tournament will have major ramifications for the professional game in England and Wales.When the potential implications of the independent report became clear, Andrew Strauss, England’s director of cricket, was forced to undertake a ring round of the counties to assure them that the ECB had no intention of adopting it in its most radical form.Strauss gave private assurances that the 18 county academies will remain the chief pathway for professional cricket in England – and that there would be no attempt to drain county academies of revenue to concentrate coaching resources upon the regional hubs that will stage the envisaged new T20 tournament.There is appetite for some change, however. The ECB will advocate a limited centralisation of services, with counties encouraged to share support that, for financial reasons, might not otherwise be available to them, such as specialist coaches, psychologists or expensive technology.One recommendation of the report has been implemented already, with the appointment of Alun Powell to the new position of national talent development manager. Powell will join from the RFU and work alongside Andy Flower and Andy Hurry – the Lions and U-19 coaches – to identify and develop players below international level.It remains to be seen whether the counties will be appeased by Strauss’ intervention. Throughout the process towards an eight-team T20 tournament, many have sought to suppress the underlying fear that in the medium term they might be signing their own death warrant.The details of how such an arrangement might work – and which grounds might host such facilities – remain in their infancy. The ECB has yet to comment openly upon the plans.

BCB chief Nazmul Hassan has said that the issues India have with the ICC’s proposed revenue model need to be sorted as a “weaker BCCI means weaker Bangladesh”

12-Apr-2017BCB chief Nazmul Hassan has said that the issues India have with the ICC’s proposed revenue model need to be sorted as a “weaker BCCI means weaker Bangladesh”.The BCB chief, who is also a part of ICC working group, met the BCCI’s Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai in Delhi today, to discuss issues related to the ICC board meeting later this month.”Everybody is trying to find a middle path to solve [the revenue structure problem] in a more amicable manner,” Hassan said after his meeting with the CoA, according to PTI. “We don’t want any member country to get hurt. Especially India as they have always supported us. If India becomes weak, we also become weak.”However, Hassan is an advocate of equitable distribution of ICC revenue. “I was a party to the decision when N Srinivasan was there [as ICC head] and the Big Three concept was mooted. Look, I believe we need a more equitable distribution but that certainly doesn’t mean you take away India’s share. No, no that’s not what we want.”Hassan said there was still a need, though, to help member countries which are going through financial crises.Asked about the proposed changes to the ICC’s governance structure, Hassan said different member countries had different issues with it. “Not all of us had agreed on the governance structure. There are a lot of issues that others don’t agree and there are some with which we don’t agree. That’s why it was placed at the ICC board meeting for everybody’s observation.”Hassan said both the BCCI and the BCB have submitted their observations on the governance issue with the ICC. He said the BCB discussed its reservations with the CoA. “The COA put forth their point on what their concerns on revenue model and governance structure are, while we also told them why we are supporting a few issues and not all. We will meet again and want more countries to join us,” he said.Hassan also met ICC chairman Shashank Manohar in Nagpur before his meeting with the CoA in Delhi. Hassan is part of the five-man ICC steering group lead by Manohar, which prepared the new draft constitution, which will be discussed at the second quarterly meeting of the ICC board later this month in Dubai.Hassan said the steering group will be meeting before the ICC meetings to discuss the responses filed by various Full Member boards on the draft constitution. According to Hassan, he met Manohar to discuss a possible date for the steering group’s meeting. “We are trying to find a suitable date because there are lot of recommendations from various boards. [If] we have to incorporate changes, we need to change the governance structure and finalise it before the next [ICC] board meeting.”Rai told PTI that many ICC-member directors had met with the CoA recently. David Peever (Cricket Australia, chairman), Haroon Lorgat (Cricket South Africa, CEO), Tavengwa Mukuhlani (Zimbabwe Cricket, chairman), Thilanga Sumathipala (Sri Lanka Cricket, president), Dave Cameron (WICB, president) and Associate representative Imran Khawaja were in India to meet the CoA in the last few weeks, Rai said.Asked if he was hopeful that other Full Member boards would agree with the viewpoint expressed by the the CoA last month on its reservations regarding the ICC’s draft constituion, Rai said he was optimistic. “I am very confident as we have proposed a formula that will be acceptable to everyone. It is a win-win situation where the Indian cricket board will not lose out on anything and every other board will benefit from the model. In the last two weeks, discussions with every board head who has come to India has been fruitful.”

Luke Ronchi, the New Zealand wicketkeeper, has announced his retirement from international cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-20171:17

Luke Ronchi retires from International cricket

Luke Ronchi, the New Zealand wicketkeeper, has announced his retirement from international cricket.Ronchi, 36, played in four ODIs and three T20Is for Australia in 2008 and 2009, but came into his own after transferring his allegiance back to his native New Zealand in 2013.He added four Tests, 85 ODIs and 32 T20Is for the Black Caps, and was an integral member of the 2015 World Cup side that captured their country’s imagination in a memorable run to the final.Ronchi averaged 23.67 in ODIs at a strike-rate of 114.50, and 18.89 in T20Is at 141.33, but was trusted for his ball-striking skills, not least in his final international campaign, the Champions Trophy in England earlier this month, when a brisk 65 from 43 balls as opener put New Zealand into a winning position against Australia, only for rain to have the final say.His finest hour with the bat was an unbeaten 170 from 99 balls in an ODI against Sri Lanka at Dunedin in 2014-15. He then followed that up with scores of 88 and 31 on his Test debut against England at Headingley, as New Zealand secured only their fifth win in 54 attempts on English soil.Ronchi will continue to be available to play for Wellington, as well as on the domestic T20 circuit around the world – with his next assignment coming in the NatWest T20 Blast for Leicestershire.”It was a dream come true,” Ronchi said of his time as a New Zealand cricketer.”I can’t think of a better time to have been involved with New Zealand cricket. From the 2015 World Cup campaign, through to the overseas tours of that time and some amazing games and series, it’s been a genuine highlight for me.”It would also be remiss of me to not acknowledge the incredible support provided by my wife Shaan and our children Brody and Indi. Cricket takes you away from home for long periods of time, and my family have been very understanding,” he said.Mike Hesson, New Zealand’s coach, described Ronchi as the ultimate team man and the epitome of a professional athlete.”We’ll remember Luke fondly for the energy he created in the field and his selfless attitude towards the team,” said Hesson.”He was always prepared to play a role for the greater good of the team; to do what was required even if that risked sacrificing his wicket.”Luke was one of the best glovemen going around and I think that’s often overlooked in a game increasingly dominated by batting and run-scoring,” added Hesson. “He was a very skilful wicketkeeper, and a very destructive batsman.”We’ll miss having him around the group and we wish him well in his future endeavours.”

A five-man panel, appointed to recommend a candidate for South Africa head coach, has been given an extension till the end of the ongoing England tour after failing to meet the July 21 deadline

Firdose Moonda21-Jul-20172:34

Archive – ‘Fantastic honour to work with this team’

Cricket South Africa have given the five-man panel appointed to recommend a candidate for the position of head coach an extension until the end of the ongoing England tour. The committee, which includes former national coaches Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons, have “not completed their work” since being tasked with it on May 18 and could not meet Friday’s deadline, according to a CSA release. As such, no decision on the coach has been made.That means the South African team go into the final two Tests against England with continued uncertainty over who will take charge from September. Current coach Russell Domingo’s contract expires at the end of the England series. In January, CSA announced they would advertise the post but he could reapply. Initially, Domingo indicated he was unsure if he wanted to continue but confirmed his reapplication in July, ahead of the first Test against England at Lord’s.Domingo enjoys the support of several senior players including Test and T20 captain Faf du Plessis and ODI captain AB de Villiers, who has indicated his international future depends on who the coach is. Since team results improved last summer, when South Africa won all eight series’, Domingo was thought to be the favourite to continue but a wretched Champions Trophy campaign put that in doubt. Lions’ coach Geoffrey Toyana is the front-runner to take over.South Africa’s domestic franchises are currently in pre-season training and if the new coach comes from one of those teams, it will leave them scrambling for a replacement when the new season gets underway.CSA have not provided reasons for the panel’s delay. After the tour to England, South Africa’s next assignment is a home series against Bangladesh, at the end of September.

Moeen Ali has leapfrogged his team-mate Ben Stokes to be ranked as England’s leading allrounder, following his triumphant performance in the first Test against South Africa at Lord’s

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2017Moeen Ali has leapfrogged his team-mate Ben Stokes to be ranked as England’s leading allrounder, following his triumphant performance in the first Test against South Africa at Lord’s.Moeen’s second-innings haul of 6 for 53 completed career-best match figures of 10 for 112, as South Africa were bowled out for 119 on the fourth day to succumb to a 211-run defeat. That effort followed a vital 87 from 147 balls with the bat in the first innings, as Moeen helped add 177 for the sixth wicket with Joe Root and drive England towards a healthy total of 458.His efforts meant he became the fifth-fastest player to reach 2000 Test runs and 100 wickets, as well as the first for England to score a fifty and record a ten-wicket haul in the same match since Ian Botham in 1980.

Latest ICC Allrounder Rankings

1 Shakib Al Hasan (Ban) 432 pts
2 Ravindra Jadeja (Ind) 422 pts
3 Ravi Ashwin (Ind) 413 pts
4 Moeen Ali (Eng) 384 pts
5 Ben Stokes (Eng) 319 pts

As a consequence, Moeen has achieved career-best batting, bowling and allrounder marks in the latest ICC player rankings, and is now considered the third-best allrounder in the world, behind Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan and India’s Ravindra Jadeja, with Stokes back in fourth place.Joe Root, who marked his first Test as England captain with a notable victory, is now ranked as the second-best Test batsman in the world, after leapfrogging his New Zealand opposite number Kane Williamson in second place thanks to his first-innings 190.Root had entered the Lord’s Test trailing Williamson by 32 points, but now leads him by eight points. Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, remains 53 points clear in top spot, on 941 points – the fifth-highest ranking ever recorded.England’s wicketkeeper, Jonny Bairstow, entered the top ten for the first time after his fighting fifty in England’s second innings at Lord’s, while Alastair Cook, the former captain, rose two places to 11th with his 69. Moeen is England’s fourth-highest ranked batsman, in 21st place.In the bowling table, Moeen’s ten wickets mean he has climbed nine places to enter the top 20 for the first time, while South Africa’s Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel gained one place each to sit 10th and 13th respectively. The table is headed by Jadeja, with his India team-mate Ravichandran Ashwin second and Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka third.

After scoring his first Test hundred – also his first official one – the India allrounder was so intoxicated that he just started blurting things out

Sidharth Monga in Pallekele13-Aug-20173:18

‘It was an ideal opportunity for me’ – Pandya

“I scored in Under-19. I am 24, no 23. So some four-five years back, I scored my hundred. Actually I don’t remember when I scored the hundred.”You might imagine Hardik Pandya was so intoxicated by his first Test hundred that he just started blurting things out. In actual fact, though, this was just a straightforward response to a question: “Do you remember your last hundred in any format at any level?”The question was not out of line. On Sunday, Pandya scored not only his first Test hundred but also his first official one. He came into the Pallekele Test with none in any first-class, List A or Twenty20 cricket. Test cricket can seem easy as such times, when you score your first fifty one Test, maiden hundred in the next, and fetch your team crucial breakthroughs with the ball as well.”Obviously not,” Pandya said, when asked if he was finding it easy at the moment. “But I am pretty glad. God has been pretty kind to me. I got things. I am pretty lucky I got things pretty quickly in life. I am just happy in that way. I have worked hard enough and I am getting whatever I have worked hard for. It is not easy but I don’t mind it as well.”Pandya might not have scored many centuries, but he experienced something new when he was constructing his 96-ball innings, or neared the hundred. “First time in my life I have not had the 90s butterfly,” he said. “Otherwise – I don’t remember previous centuries but – I used to have butterflies from how much I can remember. In today’s game – I have said earlier as well – that when I bat, I am in a different zone. When I bat, I don’t think about my personal scores and achievements. It has helped me enough. One thing I learned from Mahi is that you always put your team ahead, see the scoreboard and play accordingly. That has helped me throughout.”During his maiden Test century, Pandya also broke the record for most runs, 26, in a single over by an India batsman. “It just happened, honestly I didn’t want to go all out in that over, but I don’t know what happened,” Pandya said. “Maybe I was connecting pretty well, let me try this over and scored 26 runs. [It] feels obviously good. From there I saw the scoreboard, and I was batting on 80 and I was like, “Wow.” Then I noticed I was in the zone, I don’t usually look at the scoreboard, I don’t want to know what’s happening around. I just focus on how I can help the innings progress.”The clarity of thought became apparent when he was asked if trying to hit over all nine men on the fence was a challenge. “Could there have been a bigger opportunity than that?” Nine wickets were already down and I knew if I stay in the crease and connect the ball well, it would go for six,” Pandya said. “Even if I were to mis-hit, I had to. I had no choice. It was an ideal opportunity, and obviously there was a team’s goal and which was to get to 400. We scored close to 490.”

The 29-year old India pacer will replace Gautam Gambhir as Delhi’s captain for the tournament. Rishabh Pant, however, will continue to be captain for limited-overs tournaments

Arun Venugopal22-Sep-2017Ishant Sharma, the India fast bowler, has replaced Gautam Gambhir as Delhi captain for the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy season.This is the first time Ishant, 29, has been entrusted with the leadership of the side. With an experience of 77 Tests under his belt, a DDCA official felt Ishant was the best man for the job. “He is the senior-most man in the team,” the official told ESPNcricinfo. “Also, we felt it was better to have a bowler as captain. Over the years, many international sides, too, have had success with bowlers as captains, like Imran Khan and Wasim Akram, so we wanted to have a man who understood the bowlers’ perspective.” Ishant, however, will have to hand over the reins to Virat Kohli if the latter is available.Atul Wassan, the chairman of the selection committee, said the decision to appoint Ishant was arrived at following a discussion with Gambhir. “We just wanted another role for Gambhir” Wassan told ESPNcricinfo. “We wanted him to concentrate more [on his batting] and he also wanted more responsibility as a batsman, so we just wanted a change. So, it’s not like we have removed him. He was our first choice [as captain].”We wanted to groom Ishant and Gambhir suggested this was the way forward. We are all on the same page.” Wassan also said that Rishabh Pant, who was appointed captain ahead of the Vijay Hazare Trophy last season, would continue to lead the limited-overs sides. “Rishabh is the future of Delhi cricket and we would like to groom him,” he said. “And, Gautam will be the mentor [to Pant]. We have all seen how well he has captained in the IPL. And, this is the best chance because Gautam might not be there for too long. But, till the time he’s there, we can utilise his mentorship.”Apart from the off-field administrative issues plaguing Delhi cricket, there was an altercation between Gambhir and coach KP Bhaskar in March following which an enquiry committee found Gambhir guilty of “seriously inappropriate behaviour.” The committee, however, suspended the punishment for a two-year period, ending on March 19, 2019, contingent on Gambhir accepting the ruling. He served a four-match suspended ban.Gambhir had accused Bhaskar of creating an insecure environment for youngsters. Bhaskar, however, has retained his job ahead of the 2017-18 season.

The selectors said Malinga was not considered due to his current form and in the context of the team’s plans in view of the 2019 World Cup

Andrew Fidel Fernando04-Oct-20171:24

Lasith Malinga’s rise and fall

Lasith Malinga has been omitted from Sri Lanka’s squad for the Pakistan ODIs, while Angelo Mathews is again unavailable through injury. Sri Lanka Cricket said that Malinga was not considered due to his current form and in the context of Sri Lanka’s plans in view of the 2019 World Cup.

Sri Lanka squad

Upul Tharanga (capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella,Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Seekuge Prasanna, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay

Malinga has played only 13 ODIs since his return to international cricket in June this year, and his most-recent international match was the T20 against India, on September 6. In ODIs since his return, however, Malinga has clearly been a diminished force, averaging 62.30 for each of his 10 wickets, and going at six an over.The other surprise was the omission of opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka, who averages 42.41 in 12 ODIs this year. Test captain Dinesh Chandimal found a place in the squad, as did Chamara Kapugedara.On the spin-bowling front, Jeffrey Vandersay returned to the ODI fray after having been left out since February this year, pushing out left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan. Akila Dhananjaya was the other specialist spin option, while slow-bowling allrounders Seekkuge Prasanna and Milinda Siriwardana were also present.Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera retained his place in the ODI squad, though he had been dropped for the Tests. Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Vishwa Fernando were the other frontline seam bowlers.The first of five ODIs begins on October 13, in Dubai.

Karnataka rookie D Nischal brings up maiden first-class ton; Hyderabad enforce follow-on against Assam

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2017Manish Pandey’s counter-attacking 238, his highest first-class score, ran Uttar Pradesh ragged for a second day running in Kanpur. Karnataka, resuming on 327 for 3, were still going strong at 642 for 7 at stumps on day two. Pandey was well complemented by rookie D Nischal, who struck his maiden first-class ton (195) – as the pair added 354 for the fifth wicket.Pandey, who wasted a strong start and was out for 70 in his first Ranji outing of the season last week in Alur, rattled along, striking 31 fours and two sixes in his 301-ball knock before falling to seamer Imtiaz Ahmed. In comparison, Nischal, who was returning to fill the void left by KL Rahul’s departure to join the Test team, battled along for 425 deliveries. He hit 23 fours in his knock. Not even the pair’s dismissal with Karnataka well in control forced R Vinay Kumar, the captain, to insert Uttar Pradesh in towards the fag end of the day. Imtiaz and Dhruv Pratap Singh, the seamers, picked up six wickets between them.With 23 points in four games, Karnataka are currently Group A toppers. A first-innings lead will seal their quarter-final berth. Uttar Pradesh, meanwhile, are placed sixth with little but pride to play for.Hyderabad kept themselves in contention for a quarter-final berth with a superb bowling display that helped them enforce the follow-on against Assam in Guwahati. Fast bowler Mohammad Muddassir ripped through Assam’s line-up to return five wickets on first-class debut and bowl them out in just 48.5 overs for 136. Ravi Kiran, their other frontline seamer, took 3 for 30.Having to wipe out a 190-run deficit, Assam continued to falter in the second innings, slipping to 36 for 2 at stumps. Riyan Parag, the 16-year-old who was part of India’s Under-19 squad that returned from the Asia Cup earlier in the week, had a forgettable first-class debut, falling for 3 to take his match tally to 12 runs. Sibsankar Roy was the second batsman to be dismissed, with Ravi Kiran and Ravi Teja taking one wicket apiece. Assam still need to score 154 to prevent an innings defeat.Hyderabad, currently on nine points in four games, will look for a bonus-point win that could bring them back into the mid-table jostle with Delhi and Railways for the second qualification spot from the group. But the two washouts earlier in the season mean Hyderabad’s hopes are also hinged on how Delhi fare.

Elsewhere, Keenan Vaz and Amogh Desai steadied Goa after Bengal’s Ashok Dinda struck to pick three wickets on the day

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-2017Anmolpreet Singh’s unbeaten 252 propeled Punjab to 645 for 6 dec in Amritsar. This is Anmolpreet’s second double-century this season, his previous being his career-best 267 against Chhattisgarh in Raipur earlier this month. In reply, Services were off to a shaky start as they finished the day on 130 for 4.After a 99-run partnership with Shubman Gill (129 off 142 balls), 19-year-old Anmolpreet struck two century partnerships on the day – 146 runs with Gurkeerat Singh Mann and 125 runs with Abhishek Gupta – to take Punjab past 500 before lunch. He also stitched an 87-run stand with No. 7 Taruwar Kohli to push Punjab’s total past 600.Services, however, endured a top-order wobble as they lost their top three batsmen within 12 overs for 33 runs. It was the 72-run stand between the captain Rahul Singh and Nakul Verma for the fourth wicket that saved them from further trouble.Amogh Desai (53*) and Keenan Vaz (40*) steadied Goa after Ashok Dinda’s three-for rattled their line-up as they finished on 191 for 5 against Bengal on the second day in Kolkata.Resuming from their first day score of 305 for 5, Bengal lost their overnight batsman Writtick Chatterjee in the day’s fourth over. In the 96th over, medium pacer Heramb Parab struck back-to-back to remove Boddupalli Amit and Kanishk Seth. In the subsequent over, Lakshay Garg dismissed the overnight centurion Anustup Majumdar (119 off 208 balls), to finish with a four-for. Within the next three overs, Bengal were bowled out for 379.In reply, Goa were off to a decent start and were 115 for 3 at tea, after which Dinda effected a couple of wickets, leaving them reeling at 130 for 5. It was Desai and Vaz who sparked the resistance to add a 61-run partnership for the sixth wicket.The captain Faiz Fazal (125*) and Sanjay Ramaswamy (104*) struck a 237-run opening partnership to give Vidarbha the upper hand against Himachal Pradesh on the second day in Nagpur. The pair had earlier made the highest opening stand in the team’s history, heaping 259 runs in the match against Bengal in the previous round.Starting the day from their overnight score of 287 for 6, Himachal Pradesh surrendered within the first 18 overs for 353 on the day as Rajneesh Gurbani picked three wickets to finish with a six-for. In reply, Vidarbha saw a strong start, with Fazal and Ramaswamy bringing up their 150-run partnership shortly before tea, as Himachal bowlers found no respite.