IPL 2016

Scotland vs South Africa Dubai, 2pm local time Scotland squad: Kathryn Bryce (capt), Chloe Abel, Abbi Aitken-Drummond, Olivia Bell, Sarah Bryce (wk), Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji, Katherine Fraser, Saskia Horley, Lorna Jack, Ailsa Lister, Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Hannah Rainey, Rachel Slater South Africa squad: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune…

McGrath, who joins on a five-year deal, returns to his home county having developed through the age-groups at Headingley as an allrounder, going on to earn 28 England caps, including four Test appearances. The 49-year-old began his coaching career at Yorkshire following his retirement in 2013 before moving to Essex, where he was appointed director of cricket as recently as July. The move south proved particularly fruitful for McGrath. He…

Olly Stone will fly home from England’s tour of Pakistan on Wednesday ahead of his wedding this weekend, and appears unlikely to return in time to be considered for the second Test. Stone took seven wickets in two Tests against Sri Lanka at the end of the English summer, which were his first caps for three years in the format. Brydon Carse was preferred as England’s high-pace option for the…

New South Wales 297 for 7 (Konstas 152, Philippe 56, Pope 3-61) against South Australia Teenage prodigy Sam Konstas has announced himself on the big stage, striking a coming-of-age century for New South Wales against South Australia in Sydney. Konstas went to his maiden century on day one of the Blues’ Sheffield Shield season opener, hitting 152 as the hosts went to stumps on 297 for 7 against South Australia…

Victoria 330 for 7 (Harris 143, Handscomb 129, Bell 3-44) vs Tasmania Victoria duo Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb have sent very timely reminders of their talents to Australia’s selectors with twin centuries for Victoria against Tasmania at the Junction Oval on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield season. With Cameron Green’s availability for the Test series against India still unknown due to a back injury and Steven Smith’s…

Lunch Pakistan 397 for 6 (Shakeel 67*, Salman 0*) vs England Pakistan continued to build on solid foundations, despite losing two wickets during the morning session in Multan. Saud Shakeel notched his 10th 50-plus score in 13 Tests and was unbeaten at lunch to steer the home side in pursuit of a match-defining first-innings score – but it was the unlikely figure of Naseem Shah who proved the major irritant…

Sam Curran says he was a “bit gutted” to be overlooked for a Test recall in the wake of Ben Stokes’ hamstring injury this summer, but hopes that a central role on England’s white-ball tour of the Caribbean will restate his credentials across formats. Despite being named Player of the Final and Tournament during England’s T20 World Cup triumph in Australia two years ago, Curran’s international career is at something…

Suzie Bates, the former New Zealand captain, doesn’t think the side’s 3-0 defeat in Australia before the Women’s T20 World Cup will have any bearing on Tuesday’s fixture between the Trans-Tasman rivals. Both sides are coming off emphatic wins in their opening game with New Zealand defeating India by 58 runs and Australia brushing Sri Lanka side by six wickets. “I think we were still sort of figuring out our…

When the going got tough, three of England’s most senior players stepped up to preserve their unbeaten start to the T20 World Cup. Sophie Ecclestone – the spearhead of England’s four-woman spin attack – contained a threatening South Africa with her 2 for 15 from four overs, despite their 124 for 6 making them the first side to pass 120 in Sharjah’s run-scoring desert. Then came Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Nat…

An emotional Abdullah Shafique said he was relieved to put the “challenges of failure” behind him after just his second hundred in two years. Having been through a prolonged slump after a blistering start to Test cricket that once put him on the cusp of becoming the fastest cricketer ever to reach 1000 Test runs, Shafique put together a 253-run stand with captain Shan Masood, managing a stirring century of…