Kurtis Patterson soaks up the moment of his first Test century © Getty Images A year ago Kurtis Patterson had completed the high point of his career – a maiden Test century – and looked a more-than-even chance of being part of the Ashes. However, things did not turn out that way and this week in Sydney he will play just his second first-class match of an injury-disrupted season which…
Six to watch as the Sheffield Shield resumes
1:47 AM GMT Alex Malcolm The Sheffield Shield returns on Friday after the BBL break. There are four rounds remaining with all six sides still a mathematical possibility to play in the final, with all rounds set to be played with Dukes balls. Australia’s Test side is currently very settled after five consecutive wins but there is always a chance to make the selectors take notice. Here are six players…
'I don't plan on letting anyone take my spot' – Lungi Ngidi
10:00 PM GMT Lungi Ngidi knows a thing or two about making a comeback. In his short international career, which has just turned two years old, he has already had to recover from a stress fracture, a side strain and a slew of hamstring niggles, the latest of which kept him out of this summer’s Test series against England. He returned for the white-ball matches and he has now shown…
'Experiences like this are so valuable' – Eoin Morgan takes positives ahead of T20 World Cup
9:03 PM GMT Eoin Morgan, England’s captain, backed his team to learn quickly and come back stronger after a thrilling one-run defeat in the first T20I, but added that the pressure to which his players had been exposed was a priceless experience in the final countdown to the T20 World Cup in October. After an erratic display with the ball, in which South Africa racked up 105 runs in the…
PCB mulls logistics as South Africa brace for Pakistan tour
7:05 PM GMT South Africa’s tour to Pakistan in March will come with logistical challenges for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). South Africa end their tour to India on March 18 and PCB intend to make them stay in Dubai – until the Pakistan Super League (PSL) ends on March 22 – and then fly them directly to Islamabad for a three-match T20 series in Rawalpindi. Cricket South Africa (CSA),…
Jos Buttler continues as opener as England choose to chase in East London
Jos Buttler bats at England training ahead of the first T20 International against South Africa 8:00 AM GMT England won toss and elected to field vs South Africa England have signalled their intentions to continue to use Jos Buttler as an opening batsman in T20I cricket, after picking him at the top of the order for the first game of their three-match series against South Africa in East London. Buttler…
Shane Getkate in Ireland squad for T20Is against Afghanistan in India
2:08 PM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Fast bowler Mark Adair has been sidelined from Ireland’s tour of India for three T20Is against Afghanistan with an ankle injury. Shane Getkate has been called up as a like-for-like replacement. The Durban-born Getkate has played 14 T20Is so far, picking up eight wickets at an economy rate of 9.22. ALSO READ: Shane Getkate’s calm fortitude in the face of adversity Adair’s enforced exit is…
Delhi Capitals co-owner questions India's plans for Pant, Ashwin
1:30 PM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff In an unusual development, Parth Jindal, head of Jindal South-West Sports (JSW Sports), the co-owner of Delhi Captials, has questioned the exclusion of two players from his franchise – Rishabh Pant and R Ashwin – from India’s limited-over teams. Describing both of them as “X-factor” players in a series of two tweets, Jindal said leaving out Pant from the limited-overs leg of New Zealand series…
UAE 'exposed' in Nepal due to poor administration, says coach James Pamment
Interim coach James Pamment surveys the scene after a grim defeat © Peter Della Penna Interim coach James Pamment has put down USA’s five-match losing streak to poor administrative handling from the fallout of a drinking incident on the side’s tour of the UAE last December. He also criticised the lack of proper structures put in place by the national board and said recent pay hikes for the players were…
Vernon Philander blames CSA 'chaos' for prompting early retirement
12:45 PM GMT Vernon Philander has admitted that interference in selection ahead of the 2015 World Cup semi-final, and the recent crises at Cricket South Africa (CSA) both contributed to hastening his retirement, which took place last month. In an extensive interview with Afrikaans weekly Rapport, Philander confirmed he would have considered playing longer but opted to end his international career and sign a Kolpak deal, because “too many things…