The ICC has given the Ahmedabad pitch used for the 2023 World Cup final between India and Australia an “average” rating. The ICC updated its list of pitch and outfield ratings this week, and surfaces for as many as eight World Cup matches across five Indian venues were rated average overall. This included five games involving hosts India. The World Cup final on November 19 was played on the same…
When the inaugural WPL auction took place last year, the players were busy with the T20 World Cup in South Africa, with England scheduled to play Ireland the very same day. This time, England will be playing a T20I against India just after the auction on Saturday. England wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones, who is among 165 players on the auction list, said that while it was a challenge last year, this…
Big picture – Final throes for 50-overs in 2023 Ding and then dong. Punch and then counterpunch. The series set up for a decider in Bridgetown. England found their feet after being wobbled in the first game but West Indies can still come back off the ropes with the aim of landing a knockout blow under the Kensington Oval floodlights this weekend. If they do so, it would result in…
A series of historic allegations of racist abuse at Essex County Cricket Club have been upheld by an independent report, including that one player was found to have been nicknamed “Bomber” due to his South Asian heritage, and another taunted with bananas for being Black. The allegations formed part of an independent investigation led by Katharine Newton KC, which was commissioned in November 2021 in the wake of the resignation…
Abrar Ahmed is almost certain to miss Pakistan’s first Test against Australia in Perth after complaining of “discomfort in his right leg”. ESPNcricinfo understands that while the extent of the injury is unclear, a recovery period that sees him available for the first Test, starting December 14, is believed to be “highly unrealistic”. With his involvement in the remainder of the series not yet confirmed, the PCB is understood to…
New York Strikers 121 for 5 (Gurbaz 56, Qais 2-24) beat Samp Army 80 for 9 (Qais 31*, Holder 22, Hosein 5-6) by 41 runs Akeal Hosein‘s sensational 5 for 6 in two overs dismantled Samp Army as New York Strikers posted a 41-run win in the Qualifier 1 to storm into the Abu Dhabi T10 final, on Friday. Defending 121, Strikers’ left-arm spinner picked up a hat-trick in the…
In a media statement on Friday, the ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) said it was revoking the life ban having received from Vincent “compelling evidence demonstrating the very highest levels of contrition and remorse and the very best efforts to make amends wherever possible”. The CDC’s decision comes in response to a “clemency” appeal by Vincent. In 2014, the ECB had imposed a life ban on Vincent barring him from…
Sydney Sixers 175 for 6 (Smith 61, Henriques 40, Sutherland 2-21) beat Melbourne Renegades 167 for 7 (Sutherland 51*, Fraser-McGurk 48, Dwarshuis 3-36) by eight runs Steven Smith smashed a half-century in another statement as Sydney Sixers overcame a superb allround performance from Will Sutherland to edge Melbourne Renegades out at the SCG. In what will be a rare BBL appearance this season, six days before the first Test between…
Former India allrounder Sanjay Bangar has been appointed the head of cricket development at Punjab Kings. He was the franchise’s assistant coach in 2014 before serving as head coachin 2015 and 2016. “It’s my privilege to be with the Punjab Kings again,” Bangar said in a media release. “We have a good core of players as evidenced by the fact that we have the lowest number of player releases this…
David Teeger will captain South Africa at next year’s Under-19 World Cup, which will be played on home soil. The tournament was moved from Sri Lanka to South Africa after the SLC was suspended by the ICC last month, and is expected to be played on the same dates – January 13 to February 4 – with venues yet to be confirmed. Given it will take place alongside the SA20,…