Month: February 2017

File photo – Morne van Wyk, 37, expects to continue to play for ‘another two to three years’ for Dolphins © Gallo Images Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Morne van Wyk has stepped down as captain of the Dolphins franchise, making way for middle-order batsman Khaya Zondo to take over. Van Wyk will continue playing for the franchise, who have recently had to say goodbye to senior batsman Daryn Smit, who is relocating…

The hamstring strain revealed on Tuesday was different from the injury that kept Martin Guptill out of the two ODIs against Australia © Getty Images Martin Guptill has been ruled out of the one-off T20 international and the first two ODIs against South Africa due to a hamstring niggle. Auckland wicketkeeper-batsman Glenn Phillips has been named Guptill’s replacement for the T20I, while Dean Brownlie will take his place in the…

The ECB is considering recommendations to restructure the county academy system © ESPNcricinfo Ltd The ECB is considering a report that calls for the number of county academies to be cut. The report, titled “County Talent Pathway”, recommends the creation of “regional training hubs as opposed to county programmes” as part of a plan to “define a new cricket pathway for English cricket”. It also suggests that the creation of…

George Bartlett (facing) joined Max Holden in a record-breaking stand [file picture] © Getty Images Max Holden and George Bartlett earned a select place in the history of England Under-19s cricket as they extended their marathon partnership on the second day of the first four-day match against India in Nagpur. They were finally separated after a stand of 321 in 82 overs, a new record for any wicket for England…

Pakistan flags at the PSL opening ceremony © PSL Two men have been arrested in the UK in relation to alleged corruption in the PSL. The National Crime Agency (NCA) released a statement on Tuesday saying that it was “working closely” with PCB and ICC anti-corruption units and that both men had received bail. The NCA statement said: “Two men in their thirties have been arrested by National Crime Agency…

Nick Gubbins has been overshadowed of late © Getty Images Sri Lanka President’s XI 153 (Chandraguptha 48, Helm 3-18) and 324 (Chandraguptha 91, Fransisco 72, Rayner 3-55) drew with England Lions 279 (Westley 95, Livingstone 84) and 171 for 6 (Gubbins 52*, Pushpakumara 3-35)Scorecard Nick Gubbins hit an unbeaten half century to steer England Lions to the brink of victory in their warm-up game in Sri Lanka A before they…

Saeed Ajmal’s remodelled action lacked fizz in 2015 © AFP Saeed Ajmal, who has not played international cricket since April 2015, hopes that the second season of the Pakistan Super League will be a stepping stone towards a comeback. Ajmal, who injured himself during training last season and played only six matches in Islamabad United’s run to the title, has been recruited as a full-time player by the same team…

David Willey is out of action until April © AFP David Willey will miss England’s three-match One-Day International series against the West indies in the Caribbean next month. The Yorkshire all-rounder had surgery on his left shoulder on Friday to further assess the injury he sustained whilst bowling in the third ODI against India last month. He has suffered a partial tear of a tendon and will be out of…

Mike Yardy leaves the pitch for the last time in 2015 © Getty Images Mike Yardy, who ended a long professional career in 2015 after an eight-year battle with mental illness, has rejoined Sussex as the club’s first full-time batting coach. Yardy has been credited with improvements among Sussex’s young batsmen and has encouraged hopes that he can help reinvigorate a production line of players that has been unproductive in…

Playing his second first-class match, Ben Cooper showed tremendous focus to bat nearly seven hours © Panda Man Netherlands batsman Ben Cooper says his overriding emotion was “relief” after he batted through the entire final day of play to ensure his side secured an improbable draw with Hong Kong in the Intercontinental Cup on Monday. Set a target of 507 to win, Cooper was at the crease on 19 at…