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Allrounder to return for ODI series in March, having played no matches in three countries

Andrew Miller26-Feb-2021England will not be able to call upon Chris Woakes for next week’s fourth Test against in Ahmedabad, after he left the tour on Thursday for his pre-arranged break from the team’s bio-secure bubble.Woakes, 31, has endured a frustrating winter with England, having been involved in squads in South Africa, Sri Lanka and now India without playing a single game.He travelled to South Africa for England’s white-ball tour in December, but having sat out the T20I leg (his last such match came in 2015), the ODI series was then cancelled due to concerns over the implementation of Covid protocols in the team hotel.Next, Woakes’ chances of pushing for a place on the Sri Lanka leg of England’s Test tour were kiboshed from the outset, after his Birmingham-based travel companion Moeen Ali was diagnosed with Covid-19 on arrival in the country in January, meaning that both men were required to undergo an extended period of quarantine.Woakes was then left out of the first three Tests against India, including this week’s pink-ball Test – which might have been his one realistic shot at involvement, given England’s belief that the conditions may have favoured seam bowling.However, his prowess with the bat was overlooked in favour of a reunion of England’s old guard, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, neither of whom took a wicket as spin dominated for both teams in the two-day finish.In keeping with the ECB’s policy for all of their multi-format players, Woakes now returns home to be with his wife Amie and their two young daughters, Ella and Evie-Louise, who was born in October.Already this year, Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes have missed the Tests in Sri Lanka, as did Rory Burns, who was on paternity leave, while Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood flew home for the Chennai leg of the India tour.Jos Buttler, Sam Curran and Moeen are also unavailable for the remainder of the series, but will return to the squad next week to prepare for the five-match T20I series that starts on March 12.Related

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One squad player who may yet come back into the side for the fourth Test in Ahmedabad is the spinner Dom Bess, who was dropped in favour of Moeen in Chennai despite claiming 17 wickets at 22.41 in his three Tests against Sri Lanka and India.The England management had been concerned that Bess lacked the control to restrict India’s batsmen on turning wickets – a view partially vindicated by the performance of his de facto replacement, Joe Root, who took the startling figures of 5 for 8 in 6.2 overs at Ahmedabad.However, with the fourth-Test wicket every bit as likely to offer turn from the outset, and at least one of England’s three seamers likely to be surplus to requirements, there’s an obvious opportunity for Bess to return to the line-up.”He’s in contention,” Chris Silverwood, England’s head coach, said. “He was left out of this one because of the potential movement we could have got out of the pink ball. In training, we thought how do we make best use of this pink ball and who we have available?”We’ve got two bowlers in the top 10 [Broad and Anderson] and if they can move the ball around, they’re a handful. So from Bessy’s point of view I wouldn’t read too much into that. He’s played an important part in helping us win games in the past and I’m sure he will do again in the future.”He’s been great around the group,” Silverwood added. “We’ve got a good group here who do get around each other and help each other out, keep each other going. You have to do that in bubble life, which is what we’re living in at the moment. We’re lucky we’ve got that sort of environment.”

“I had informed the head coach and selector that I won’t be available for the T20I series”

Mohammad Isam18-Mar-2021Tamim Iqbal will not be available for the T20Is against New Zealand that follows the ODI series due to personal reasons. Iqbal, who is the ODI captain, said that he had already informed the head coach Russell Domingo and the selection committee led by Minhajul Abedin about his decision earlier.”Before coming to New Zealand, I had informed the head coach and selector that I won’t be available for the T20I series,” he said. “It is for personal reasons. My best wishes are with the team. When the coach said that we have an opportunity to do well here, it includes the T20Is as well.”The Bangladesh selectors haven’t named the T20I squad yet – which is led by Mahmudullah – as they first play the ODI series until March 26, followed by the three T20Is on March 28, 30 and April 1.Iqbal, who has played 74 T20Is, is currently the team’s highest run-getter and their only centurion in the format. He has also made eight fifties.Bangladesh last played a T20I against Zimbabwe last year, and the three-match series against New Zealand will be their first set of matches to gear up for this year’s T20 World Cup in India. They also have T20I series planned against Zimbabwe, Australia, England and New Zealand later in the year.

The NSW total was the fourth-lowest in the history of the Sheffield Shield

Andrew McGlashan21-Mar-2021On an extraordinary second day in Hobart, defending Sheffield Shield champions New South Wales were demolished for 32 – their lowest first-class total and the fourth-lowest of all-time in the Shield – as Jackson Bird bagged a career-best 7 for 18.Only captain Peter Nevill reached double figures, unbeaten on 10, when last-man Harry Conway edged Sam Rainbird to Tim Paine with the injured Sean Abbott, who split the webbing in his right hand yesterday, unable to bat. Tasmania opted not to enforce the follow-on and were bowled out on the stroke of stumps to end a day where 22 wickets fell.”It was one of those days, felt like the ball was coming out nicely from ball one,” Bird said. “It was nipping just enough and swinging just enough and everything was nicked or lbw. It was a great bowling display from the group, especially Peter Siddle at the other end, he could have been in my position quite easily the way he bowled.”I felt like today was just around the corner, felt like that for the last 12 months, haven’t really got a big bag of wickets like that for a while but feel like I’ve been bowling well. Didn’t think it was going to be as good as that was.”New South Wales lost two wickets in their first over – Daniel Hughes and Daniel Solway lbw to Bird – and the entire innings lasted less than 20 overs. Before they had managed a run, Kurtis Patterson also departed when he got an inside edge against Bird.Seven overs past before the mayhem resumed, Jason Sangha beaten by one from Peter Siddle that nipped back and perhaps kept a fraction low.Getty Images

Then it was back to Bird who had Nick Larkin taken at short leg from an inside edge that ballooned off the pad with Mitchell Starc walking in at No. 7 before lunch.He did not last long after the interval, flashing an edge to Matthew Wade at slip to give Bird his five-wicket haul in the space of 45 deliveries.Fortune was on Bird’s side for his next wicket when Trent Copeland’s edge was parried by third slip and taken by first and two balls later Nathan Lyon chipped to mid-on.Bird had been at the forefront of the action when play resumed with Tasmania 7 for 258 as he struck a career-best 54 off 55 balls, just his second first-class half-century, in an eighth-wicket stand of 83 with Paine to lift the home side well over 300.Earlier in the season, New South Wales had been bowled out for 64 by Tasmania in Adelaide but were able to turn that match on its head to secure victory and it’s a performance the team will draw on in trying to produce a miracle.”I know the players are hurting in there about their batting performance and will want to do something about it in the second innings,” coach Phil Jaques said. “The players in that changing room can win from anywhere. I know they have the character to do that. We don’t want to keep getting bowled out for under a hundred and winning games, there’s easier ways than that, but we have full belief we can win from anywhere.”Having decided to bat again, it wasn’t entirely smooth sailing for Tasmania as they slipped to 3 for 48 but such was their cushion that it didn’t make much of a difference. A series of handy middle-order contributions kept them moving with Paine in the runs for the second time in the match.Sangha, who struck twice in three balls, and Lyon worked through the lower order as New South Wales rested their quicks in the final session. The last five wickets falling for 17 as Tasmania opted not to give a shellshocked batting line-up an awkward little period before the close.

Pair bowl Sussex out for 106 before Rob Keogh, Saif Zaib fifties spur Northamptonshire on further

ECB Reporters Network06-May-2021Ben Sanderson and Gareth Berg sliced Sussex apart before Rob Keogh and Saif Zaib garnered half-centuries as Northamptonshire enjoyed a dominant day in the LV= Insurance County Championship.Veteran fast bowlers Sanderson, 32, and Berg, 40, both returned five-wicket hauls, 5 for 28 and 5 for 18 respectively, as Sussex were skittled for 106.The visitors’ pain could have been worse – having been 25 for 7 – had it not been for England Test hopeful Ollie Robinson’s unbeaten 49.Robinson then claimed 4 for 31 but Northants romped to 214 for 5 thanks to Keogh’s 66 and Zaib’s 66 not out, to lead by 108 at the end of day one at Wantage Road.Related

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Play was delayed by half an hour due to rain, but Northants made up for lost time having stuck Sussex in to bat.Tom Haines prodded to first slip for a golden duck, with the fourth ball of the innings. He was quickly followed by Aaron Thomason and the bowled Stiaan van Zyl.Berg produced an almost unplayable ball angled across debutant Travis Head to nick behind before Ben Brown was lbw three balls later.Tom Clark was pinned by Sanderson while Delray Rawlins’ attempt to slog Sussex out of trouble ended with a wild swing landing in first slip’s lap and a duck.While the pitch offered significant nip for the quick bowlers, largely the quality of bowling from the experienced pair rather than reckless batting accounted for the slump – although none of the top seven reached double figures.Robinson, who was dropped thrice, and Stuart Meaker provided a rear-guard 56-run stand for the eighth wicket.But Berg returned after lunch to find Meaker tamely edging behind before completing the sixth five-for of his first-class career when he castled Jack Carson.Sanderson collected his five-for when Joe Sarro poked to Berg at fourth slip to end Sussex’s innings.Northants’ reply started slowly as Ben Curran was leg before to Robinson second ball and 19-year-old Sarro had Ricardo Vasconcelos lbw with the fifth delivery of his first-class career.But Charlie Thurston showed a carefree blueprint with his 24 from 25 balls, before edging to first slip, which pointed Keogh in the direction of his 22nd career half-century. He reached the milestone in 64 balls with three successive boundaries off spinner Carson.Luke Procter was bowled by Robinson, but Keogh and Zaib teamed up for an 88-run stand to steam into a first-innings lead – with the run-rate never dipping below four an over.Keogh departed caught at second slip after some confused umpiring but Zaib, who reached an 83-ball fifty, and Adam Rossington added a further 66 before the close.

Australian batter “deeply upset to miss out due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control,” says Trevor Hohns

Daniel Brettig17-May-2021Marnus Labuschagne is missing from the Australia limited-overs squad for a tour of the West Indies starting next month, after it was decided he would play out his current county stint with Glamorgan instead.A vast preliminary squad for the tour – which may still theoretically be followed by a trip to Bangladesh for more white-ball matches – includes the likes of Matthew Wade, D’Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Swepson, all of whom missed out on Cricket Australia contracts in the annual list.Related

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“Anyone who knows Marnus understands he would give absolutely anything to play for Australia and he is deeply upset to miss out due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control,” selection chairman Trevor Hohns said. “We worked through numerous options in conversations with Marnus to find a workable solution but ultimately came to the conclusion it was more practical for him to remain in the UK.”Had we not been in the middle of a global pandemic, Marnus would be on this tour as a well-established member and important part of the one-day side. It’s an unfortunate circumstance of the many challenges the world is facing right now. As it stands, Marnus has the opportunity to continue in county cricket and T20 games with Glamorgan as we head into the World Cup and home summer.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Daniel Sams, who was part of Australia’s squad for the recent limited-overs tour of New Zealand but then endured an unhappy time during the IPL where he tested positive for Covid-19 before the tournament, which was then cut short by India’s spate of outbreaks, asked not to be considered for the trip because of personal and mental health reasons.Ben Oliver, the head of national teams, said that while discussions about the Bangladesh phase of the tour were continuing, the squad had been cleared to receive vaccinations before their departure in line with those being afforded to Australia’s Olympic team scheduled to compete in Tokyo later this year.”It was great to see our Olympians receiving their vaccination shots ahead of the Tokyo Games and we are working through logistics for the Australian men’s team with the relevant agencies.” Oliver said. “We will comply with all government directives in relation to vaccinations and international travel.”The Australian men’s team has completed successful tours of England and New Zealand during the pandemic, including the accompanying quarantine periods, and we are hopeful of being able to travel to Bangladesh at the completion of the West Indies tour. Those discussions are progressing well and updates will be provided in due course.”Australia are scheduled to play five T20Is in St Lucia and three ODIs in Barbados between July 9 and July 24, their tour sandwiched between tours of the Caribbean by South Africa and Pakistan.

First home fixture of the Vitality Blast is washed out without a ball being bowled

ECB Reporters Network28-Jun-2021Hampshire versus Middlesex – match abandonedHampshire Hawks’ hopes of a happy homecoming was ruined by rain after Monday’s Vitality Blast clash with Middlesex was washed out without a ball being bowled at the Ageas Bowl.A torrential downpour over Southampton two hours before play was due to begin left the outfield covered in puddles.Although the ground-staff did mop up most of the excess water, play was abandoned when the heavens opened again five minutes before a pitch inspection was due to take place.It was the third time in four matches Hampshire have received a no-result point due to rain and it keeps them rooted to the foot of the South Group table.The Hawks, who have played their first seven matches away due to their home ground being used for international purposes, desperately needed a win to keep alive their flickering hopes of reaching the knock-out stages of the competition.It was a similar story of frustration for Middlesex, who sit one spot above the hosts, but have played a game more having lost seven of their opening nine fixtures.Both sides return to action later this week with Hampshire hosting Surrey on Wednesday and Middlesex taking on Sussex at Lord’s on Thursday.

Today’s fixture took on added significance with the possibility that these teams will meet in the final

Matt Roller16-Aug-2021The Hundred timed its first dead-rubber to perfection, with this undercard bubbling away while England and India’s men were battling it out at Lord’s, but Southern Brave’s defence of 115 could yet prove significant.Both sides came into this game with their knockout fate secured: Brave qualified for Saturday’s final with their victory against Welsh Fire last week, while Oval Invincibles’ progress to Friday’s eliminator at their home ground was secured by Trent Rockets’ defeat against Manchester Originals. But today’s fixture took on added significance with the possibility that they will meet in the final.Sophia Dunkley, England’s breakthrough player this summer, set up Brave’s win with 58 not out from No. 3, taking her to within four runs of Jemimah Rodrigues’ tally for the tournament. Their total of 115 for 3 looked slightly under-par despite the used hybrid pitch playing slowly, but Amanda-Jade Wellington ripped through the middle order with a spell of 4 for 12 in 20 balls.Brave’s win was their seventh in eight group games and there is no doubt that they are the favourites heading into the knockout stages. Victory here came without Smriti Mandhana – who has returned home to spend time with her family before India’s series against Australia – and while their big names all performed well, their core of uncapped domestic players – Lauren Bell, Tara Norris and Fi Morris – were crucial in keeping things tight in the chase.Dunkley’s dreamlandDunkley is in the form of her life and has piled on the runs at the Ageas Bowl in this competition. She has scored 172 runs for once out in her four innings at home, with 131 of those coming since her last dismissal. “It’s a great place to play,” she laughed at the interval.Dunkley was not at her best, and rode her luck with Invincibles uncharacteristically sloppy in the field. She survived a missed stumping on 2 when Sarah Bryce failed to gather a low full toss while unsighted, was dropped at long-on by Jo Gardner – the first of two chances she missed in the space of four balls – on 30, and benefited from some untidy work in the outfield.But she was destructive through the leg side, latching onto anything short and scoring heavily through midwicket. Dunkley’s split-hand grip gives her immense power when she swings to leg, and she was ruthless in targeting Mady Villiers, whom she hit for five fours – heading into a potential re-match in the final, the psychological advantage from those head-to-head match-ups should not be underestimated.Wellington’s wizardryWellington was a late replacement for Amelia Kerr in Southern Brave’s squad but has been their star bowler throughout the Hundred. She is the only bowler in the women’s competition to have taken 10 or more wickets while conceding less than a run a ball, and has pitched her case for an Australia recall, three-and-a-half years since her last cap.She struck with her first ball on Monday, having Fran Wilson stumped to give Brave a much-needed breakthrough immediately after the Powerplay, and got the key wicket of Marizanne Kapp in the second half of the innings, who chipped tamely to mid-off.The game was almost up by the time she returned for her last five balls, but she picked up the vital wicket of Dane van Niekerk, who holed out to Dunkley – who else? – in the deep on the leg side before having Gardner stumped second ball to complete her ignominious afternoon. That left one delivery for her to complete a five-for, which she ripped past Sarah Bryce’s outside edge; she had to make do with the best bowling figures thus far of the women’s competition.

Mitchell Marsh’s recent success and the possible return of Steven Smith have added to the crush at the top of the order

Andrew McGlashan02-Aug-2021The game of musical chairs in Australia’s T20I batting line-up will continue, with Matthew Wade set to play in the middle order during the series in Bangladesh, with that now being his likely position at the World Cup in October.It is a change of plans from what was spoken about ahead of the West Indies series last month, when Wade said he expected to bat in the top three alongside Aaron Finch and David Warner. However, Mitchell Marsh’s success in the West Indies, where he made 219 runs batting at No. 3, and the potential return of Steven Smith from injury have added to the crush for top-order spots, meaning that Wade, who will lead the side in the absence of Finch, will probably have to find a berth lower down.Related

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“It’s something I’m looking forward to,” he said. “I’ve been up the top for three years and feel like any time called upon I can do a good job up there, so to go back into the middle order is a challenge I’m excited to do. It doesn’t faze me too much, whatever needs to be done.”Then once the World Cup comes around, whether than means I go back up the top or stay in the middle order we aren’t 100% sure. The way Mitch has come out and played at No. 3 that’s certainly another option for us at the top. He could open as well if we needed him to. So we are probably rolling through a few different scenarios of where guys can fit in the best team come the World Cup.”Wade batted at No. 6 in the last match against West Indies – he made 26 off 18 balls – and when he returned to the T20I side last year in South Africa, he was in the middle order. Most of his innings in the latest stage of his career have been opening, although in total he has played 19 of his 34 T20I innings at No. 4 or lower.Across his full T20I career, he has a strike rate of 117.40 batting at No. 4 and below, compared to 137.61 overall and 144.57 when batting in the top three. But he believes he now has the game to adapt to the middle order as Australia continue to search for their finishers.”Thankfully I’ve played for Australia in the middle order a lot, especially in one-day cricket and even T20 have probably played 50-50 [of my innings],” he said. “It’s probably more a chance to get there now and get some more work in, I haven’t done it for three years so it certainly has its challenges compared to opening the batting but it’s a good opportunity to do it.”I’ll find a way to make it work and win some games” – Matthew Wade•NurPhoto via Getty Images

“I’ll find a way to make it work and win some games. Things I probably didn’t have seven or eight years ago in my game I feel like I’ve added – laps and things like that – which are really important towards the back end. Feel like I have a few more tricks than I had a few years ago and the advantage in these five games is that I can get in there and see what works and what doesn’t.”Filling the middle-order positions has been a long-running challenge for Australia in T20Is. Dan Christian and Ashton Turner, who were late additions to this squad after players withdrew, have been selected on the back of their roles in the BBL and will likely get more opportunity in Bangladesh.Wade believes Australia have to find a solution that works for the players they have and that while every country “would like an Andre Russell” that will not be the case.”We’ve got guys who aren’t here who can come in and do a really good job. We all know what Maxi [Glenn Maxwell] can do towards the end of an innings,” he said. “No secret that every country would like an Andre Russell, not everyone has one. We are going to it differently to the way West Indies do it, we don’t have as much power probably as what they have got but we’ll find someone to do a good job come the World Cup.”

Pat Cummins expects David Warner to be fit for Adelaide Test after blow in the ribs

Andrew McGlashan11-Dec-2021Josh Hazlewood and David Warner will be monitored ahead of the second Test in Adelaide after finishing the opening match with side and rib injuries respectively.Hazlewood had a scan on the third evening of the Gabba Test which revealed a “very minor” side strain and he was able to bowl five overs on the fourth morning having not been used after the 29th over the previous day.Related

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Pat Cummins said a cautious approach was taken with managing Hazlewood and that there will be an eye to future Tests when a decision is taken on whether he lines up in the day-night contest which starts on Thursday.”He’s a little bit sore,” Cummins said. “He came out today and was able to bowl, got through a really good spell. We just managed him, it’s a five Test summer and he’s key for us so don’t want to blow him out of the water on day three.”Nothing too serious but didn’t want it to turn into a huge injury. The key is we don’t want to put him in jeopardy for the whole series. We’ll take our time.”Jhye Richardson, who played two Tests in 2019, and the uncapped Michael Neser, fresh from a five-wicket haul for Australia A against England Lions, are the other two quicks in the Test squad should a replacement be needed.Warner, meanwhile, is nursing painful ribs after a blow on the second day against Ben Stokes. He was off the field throughout England’s second innings and did not open in Australia’s small chase with Alex Carey promoted up the other. Australia said that Warner had been available to bat but with just 20 runs needed the risk wasn’t worth it”Think he had a hit earlier and got through,” Cummins said. “Still pretty sore but should be right for Adelaide. We’ll monitor him but think he’ll be fine.”Usman Khawaja is the spare batter in the squad having been beaten to the No. 5 spot by Travis Head. Although largely a middle-order player, he has opened in five Tests – including a day-nighter against South Africa in Adelaide where he made 145 – and has an average of 96.80 in the position.However, it would be a disruption for Australia if they needed to make a change particularly given the uncertainty over Warner’s opening partner. Marcus Harris was unconvincing in Brisbane as he fell for 3 in the first innings and was saved by an inside edge against Chris Woakes from being lbw for a duck in the second.

Top-order batter has averaged 73.75 in 2021 with a century and two fifties

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jan-2022Experienced top-order batter Punam Raut has expressed her disappointment at not making India’s squad for the Women’s ODI World Cup, saying “it is very disheartening to be continuously left out.”On Thursday, the BCCI named an 18-player contingent for the upcoming global event in New Zealand in March-April, where Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey were also among the notable absentees. The release that carried the squad announcement, however, did not explain the exclusions.Related

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Raut, 32, was part of the ODI squads for the England and Australia tours last year and also featured in the previous edition of the World Cup when India finished runners-up. In the six ODIs that she played in 2021, Raut accumulated 295 runs, including a hundred, at an average of 73.75.”Having being considered amongst the experienced batsmen and a consistent run scorer for India, I am extremely disappointed at not being a part of the World Cup squad,” Raut wrote on Twitter.”In 2021, I averaged 73.75, scoring 295 runs which included a hundred and two half centuries in the six ODI games that I played. It is very disheartening to be continuously left out even after performing. Having said that, I would like to extend my best wishes to all the players who will be representing India.”Raut has scored 2299 runs in 73 ODIs at an average of 34.83 and has been part of three ODI World Cups and four T20I World Cups. It is not the first time that the right-hander was outperformed by younger, aggressive batters. Even in 2018, she was overlooked for a place in the ODI squad when the team management began grooming the teenaged Rodrigues.Though Raut has often been criticised for being slow, she improved her strike rate to 68.92 in 2021. Her career strike rate was 56.96 before the start of 2021.”I don’t think too much about strike rate. I focus on my contribution to the team,” Raut had said during ODI series against South Africa in March last year. “As for making comebacks [as I have in the past], it is important to stay mentally strong. There are people who tell me that my strike rate is low, but I don’t let it worry me. I keep working on my game.”In 2021, Raut was also promoted from Grade C to B in BCCI’s central contracts that are handed out for India Women, after a successful limited-overs series against South Africa at home.