2:10 PM ET Sidharth Monga On the eve of the start of the Ranji Trophy, the state units have received a letter from the BCCI asking them to adjust the logistics and travel arrangements of their teams in three different events because of the unavailability of umpires and match officials for those days. In a press conference in August, called to apprise the media of the BCCI’s readiness to stage…
3:00 AM ET Toss Pakistan opt to bat v New Zealand Shaheen Afridi reacts after a shot is played off his bowling Associated Press Pakistan elected to bat in a bid to extend their winning record in the UAE. Sarfraz Ahmed opted to stick with the formula that served his side well in the series against Australia, wanting to post “above 160.” Looking for their eleventh series win in a row,…
10:30 AM ET Madushka Balasuriya Nuwan Zoysa has been charged with three counts of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. Owing to the seriousness of the charges, the Sri Lankan bowling coach has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect. Although he has never directly worked with the national team, Zoysa is the incumbent bowling coach of the Sri Lanka A team, and was part of tours of West Indies and Bangladesh…
9:58 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff The ECB’s new city-based competition will take place at the same time as county cricket’s existing 50-over tournament, after a review of the domestic schedule from 2020 onwards was ratified by the 18 first-class counties. The Men’s Domestic Playing Programme group (MDPP), chaired by Leicestershire chief executive Wasim Khan, has also confirmed that three counties will be promoted to Division One of the County Championship…
9:50 AM ET Liam Brickhill In light of its restructuring exercise based on the new ICC-backed strategic plan, Zimbabwe Cricket has announced a revamped domestic format with an abridged first-class season and the dismantling of the national academy side Rising Stars. Created to give emerging players and Under-19 cricketers a pathway to the national side, Rising Stars won the Pro50 domestic tournament last season and helped nurture players such as…
9:12 AM ET Liam Brickhill South Africa have had two nights to acclimatise and get over any jetlag since arriving in Australia, but opener Aiden Markram admitted they were still a little rusty and, perhaps, a little lacking in intensity after their four-wicket defeat to Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra. “We got here two nights ago, so I don’t think it’s too much of an excuse,” Markram said. “We had…
3:00 AM ET Zimbabweans 145 for 5 dec (Masakadza 39, Raza 32*, Ebadat 2-13) drew with Bangladesh Cricket Board XI 56 for 2 (Shanto 22*, Jarvis 1-8) Sikandar Raza drives through the off side AFP Rain ruined Zimbabwe’s final preparations for their first Test in 11 months, after the match only went on for 66 overs, most of it on the third day. It was particularly frustrating for their bowlers who…
8:46 AM ET Matt Roller A look around most lecture halls at British universities in late October paints a picture of despondency: students slump behind walls of laptops, heavy-hearted as winter draws in, and as the tedium of academic work grinds them down. For Pat Brown, the monotony has hit harder than most. After a breakthrough summer, in which his reputation grew from unknown tyro to England hopeful thanks to…
8:23 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff Matt Parkinson, the Lancashire legspinner, has been ruled out of the England Lions tour of the UAE after routine scans found a stress fracture in his back. Parkinson enjoyed a stellar season in all formats last summer, claiming 59 wickets all told, including 18 in the Royal London Cup, the most by any bowler, and a further 25 in the Vitality Blast. On the strength…
8:23 AM ET ESPNcricinfo staff Matt Parkinson, the Lancashire legspinner, has been ruled out of the England Lions tour of the UAE after routine scans found a stress fracture in his back. Parkinson enjoyed a stellar season in all formats last summer, claiming 59 wickets all told, including 18 in the Royal London Cup, the most by any bowler, and a further 25 in the Vitality Blast. On the strength…