6:14 PM IST ESPNcricinfo staff Ben Stokes will miss the rest of England’s Test series against Pakistan after withdrawing from the squad for family reasons. He is set to travel to New Zealand, where his parents live, next week and will not be available for the two behind-closed-doors Tests in Southampton. Stokes’ father Ged was hospitalised in South Africa during England’s winter tour, and has since been recuperating back home…
2:06 PM IST ESPNcricinfo staff The BCCI is mulling a truncated domestic season in 2020-21, featuring only the first-class Ranji Trophy and the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for men, apart from the IPL. The tentative plan, seen by ESPNcricinfo, is yet to be ratified, but it would mean no 50-overs competitions – neither Vijay Hazare Trophy nor Deodhar Trophy – in a season that will run from November 19…
In India, scorers are not contracted employees of the BCCI, or even on retainers 1:07 PM IST After almost a year of knocking on various doors for their grievances to be heard, 17 former BCCI scorers, whose services had been terminated last year without notice or any retirement benefits, have now formally approached their respective state association heads seeking some kind of relief. The scorers – those whose detailed scorecards…
3:41 AM IST In another era, an era in which England didn’t have one of the best all-rounders or swing bowlers in their history, Chris Woakes may have played a hundred Tests and be something of a household name. He’s won more World Cups than Sir Ian Botham, after all. He’s made more Test centuries at Lord’s than Sachin Tendulkar, taken more 10-wicket hauls in Tests than Bob Willis and…
1:45 AM IST Joe Root says that England will give Jofra Archer all the patience and understanding necessary to bring out the full potential of his Test career, after an at-times subdued display with the ball in the first Test against Pakistan at Emirates Old Trafford. Despite claiming four wickets in the match, including an important first-innings haul of 3 for 59, Archer’s performance was lacklustre compared to the standards…
Play 01:27 Is this the end for Azhar Ali as captain? Test cricket is a peculiar game, but Pakistan cricket is odder still. In front of an eerily empty Old Trafford, Chris Woakes squeezed – edged, let’s be honest – Shaheen Afridi through third slip where, for some reason, a catcher wasn’t present. The ball rolled away for four, and England celebrated a famous win against a Pakistan side that…
12:59 AM IST Valkerie Baynes Close Valkerie Baynes is a general editor at ESPNcricinfo Jos Buttler played his part in England’s thrilling victory against Pakistan believing that if he didn’t make runs, he was probably playing his last Test. Buttler made the frank admission after scoring 75 and sharing a century stand with Chris Woakes, who finished not out on 84, to help England chase down an imposing fourth-innings target…
Jordan Thompson fends into the leg side © MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images Nottinghamshire13 for 1 trail Yorkshire 264 (Thompson 98, Brook 62, Nash 3-20) by 253 runs Jonny Bairstow‘s joie de vivre is sometimes so well-concealed that only someone whose eyesight has been sharpened in Barnard Castle can detect it. Nonetheless, even Yorkshire’s sometimes stony-faced wicketkeeper might allow himself a wry smile at the ironies of this game. For…
11:55 PM IST ECB Reporters Network Lancashire 33 for 0 trail Durham 180 (Lees 66, Gleeson 3-32) by 147 runs Lancashire finished on top at the end of day one of their Bob Willis Trophy match against Durham after bowling out the home side for 180 at Emirates Riverside. Richard Gleeson was the standout bowler for the visitors, claiming figures of 3 for 32, while the rest of the wickets…
11:51 PM IST ECB Reporters Network Derbyshire 101 for 1 (Reece 50*) trail Leicestershire 199 (Dearden 70, Melton 4-22) by 98 runs Derbyshire enjoyed an outstanding first day with ball and bat in the Bob Willis Trophy match against Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road. The visitors bowled Leicestershire out for 199 after the Foxes had chosen to bat first before a fine unbroken partnership of 92, compiled…