10:11 AM ET Dale Steyn‘s chances of playing any part in the ongoing series against Australia have all but disappeared after he was not named in the Titans’ squad for the final fixture of the season, which starts on Thursday. Steyn, who has not played any cricket since injuring his heel in the New Year’s Test against India, has resumed bowling but needed to prove his fitness by playing in…
8:22 AM ET When Steven Smith confirmed an unchanged team for Australia’s Newlands bout with South Africa, his matter-of-fact tone belied that this had been a far from straightforward decision. Mitchell Starc had been hampered by a calf problem and Mitchell Marsh by a groin strain, and both had to pass bowling fitness tests in front of the selection chairman Trevor Hohns. Much like the vagaries of the charge, hearing,…
3:00 AM ET Big Picture Two pieces of news regarding Kagiso Rabada have emerged since the Port Elizabeth Test. One is that he is free to play in Cape Town, courtesy of a partially successful appeal against his Code of Conduct charge for brushing his shoulder against Steven Smith. If you’re reading this preview then it’s safe to assume there is no possible way you have missed that news. The…
7:10 AM ET Annesha Ghosh In the wake of India’s rousing run to the final of the 2017 World Cup, there have been loud calls for the creation of a women’s IPL. India ODI captain Mithali Raj and fast bowler Jhulan Goswami, however, don’t think the idea is feasible just yet, given the current depth of talent in Indian women’s cricket. “It’s important to have a pool of players who…
Different ball game: England’s outdoor practice was limited to football by the rain 6:16 AM ET New Zealand may have gained a small advantage over England before a ball has been bowled in the day-night Test at Eden Park after England’s one floodlit training session was washed out on Wednesday. They had been due to train from around 6pm but were restricted to a kickabout on the outfield before being…
Only two points and a slender net run rate difference separate the top five teams in the World Cup Qualifier 5:05 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff Is the West Indies v Scotland match a knockout?The winner of the match is assured a spot in the final of the qualifier and therefore the 2019 World Cup. If Scotland lose, they are out of contention. If West Indies lose, they have to hope…
4:54 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff Australia left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen has climbed to the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings for women bowlers after she took eight wickets in three matches against India recently. Jonassen’s team-mate and opening quick Megan Schutt rose to No. 2 as the duo overtook Marizanne Kapp and Jhulan Goswami, who are third and fourth respectively. Jonassen has a career-best 676 points after she…
3:02 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff Australia quick James Pattinson has signed a two-year deal with Brisbane Heat for the Big Bash League. Pattinson, who had been with Melbourne Renegades between 2013 and 2017, missed the entire last season because of a back stress fracture – the fourth such time he had been diagnosed with the injury in more or less exactly the same spot in his back. He subsequently underwent…
2:59 AM ET Australia captain Steven Smith has declared that the Kagiso Rabada appeal verdict sets a troubling standard for allowable physical contact in the game. He also indicated that Australia’s long-time policy of not contesting the charges of ICC match referees may well change after South Africa’s successful legal challenge. Clearly surprised by the outcome, Smith questioned why he had not been asked for his version of events as…
3:00 AM ET Big Picture Those players who took part in the 2002 Test between these sides at Eden Park may think they played the first day-night Test. On the fourth evening, New Zealand batted on a dank evening illuminated by the lights much to the disgruntlement of England. That, of course, was with the red ball. Now it’s time for the real thing with the pink one. New Zealand…