England’s upcoming T20I series against New Zealand could give the strongest indication yet of how England plan to line up at the World Cup in Bangladesh. Speaking from a soggy Southampton before the first of five fixtures on Saturday, England captain Heather Knight said that while conditions were virtually impossible to replicate at home, her side would look to play combinations and scenarios as though they were there. “All we…
Southern Vipers 281 for 6 (Elwiss 101*, Norgrove 64, K Bryce 2-43) beat The Blaze 278 (Graham 78, K Bryce 65, Taylor 3-32) by four wickets Southern Vipers strengthened their position at the top of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy table after defeating in-form Blaze by four wickets at Chesterfield. In a repeat of last season’s final, Blaze were hunting their 14th win in 15 games in all competitions, but…
Big picture – Opportunities galore The new T20 World Cup champions were given a rousing welcome on their return home but even as the country celebrates their history-makers, one eye turns towards the future. Fifteen of India’s promising colts – captained by Shubman Gill – are in Zimbabwe now laying the groundwork for the time that they too may one day experience: the high of an open-top bus parade with…
Toss India chose to bowl vs South Africa Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and India elected to bowl in first women’s T20I against South Africa in Chennai. They opted for a three-pronged spin attack on a black-soil Chepauk surface Harmanpreet felt would take turn. For the record, this is India’s first women’s T20I at this venue. Shreyanka Patil, the offspinner, was a surprise exclusion from India’s XI, with the team…
Harry Brook has been handed his first taste of captaincy since his England Under-19 days, after taking over from Wayne Parnell at Northern Superchargers for this year’s men’s Hundred. The appointment is a significant step up for Brook, 25, who is seen as a potential successor to Jos Buttler as England’s white-ball captain, in the wake of their disappointing World Cup defences across 50 and 20 overs in recent months….
Pakistan will host seven Tests in 2024-25 in what is set to become their busiest red-ball international home season this century. Bangladesh, England and West Indies will all play Test series in Pakistan between August this year and January 2025. The PCB announced the dates and schedule for the entire home season, which also includes hosting the Champions Trophy. However, it has released only a draft schedule for the Champions…
They had been set 593 by Gloucestershire and entered the final over of the match needing two to win after centuries from Labuschagne and Sam Northeast. Mason Crane played out four dot balls before taking a single to level the scores leaving No. 11 Jamie McIlroy on strike. He swung hard at Ajeet Dale, edging through to James Bracey who took a spectacular one-handed catch having removed his right glove…
Kent have signed Melbourne Renegades seamer Tom Rogers for the second block of Vitality T20 Blast group games. Rogers, 30, has several years’ experience in the Big Bash League with Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes but this will be his first stint in county cricket. In all T20 cricket, Rogers has taken 60 wickets at 24.78 with an economy of 8.38. “We’re pleased to have got Tom on board to sure-up…
Virat Kohli felt the T20 World Cup was going to “slip away” from India at one point of Saturday’s thrilling final against South Africa. Five days later, while celebrating their victory with thousands of fans in Mumbai, he asked that Jasprit Bumrah be applauded for his “phenomenal” show to bring them back into the final. “Like everyone in the stadium [here], we also felt at one point if it is…
It has not even been a year since Laura Wolvaardt took over the South Africa captaincy from Sune Luus but it’s been hard for her as a captain. Though her batting has flourished in this period, on paper, South Africa haven’t been able to find much success, especially in T20Is. Coming off two series defeats against Australia and Sri Lanka, Wolvaardt said on the eve of the series opener against…