11:32 AM GMT Rohit Balaji Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals, Sharjah Pro Tip: Pack your teams with top-order batsmen from both sides and good death bowlers. Our XI: Jos Buttler, Prithvi Shaw, Steven Smith, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, Marcus Stoinis, Kartik Tyagi, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Jofra Archer Substitutes: Shikhar Dhawan, Mahipal Lomror, Axar Patel, Rahul Tewatia NOTE: We might not always be able to tip you off…
Meg Lanning resumes reign at top of ODI rankings, Rachael Haynes achieves career-best
Captains’ shot: Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning pose with the Rose Bowl series trophy 7:44 AM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Australia captain Meg Lanning vaulted to No. 1 in the ICC rankings for women’s ODI batters for a fifth time on the back of her 163-run tally in her side’s 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand that culminated in a record-equalling 21st ODI win in a row. Left-hand batter Rachael Haynes, the…
Sheffield Shield edges back from Covid-19 precipice but uncertainty will remain
Marnus Labuschagne backs new blood to flourish with Cameron Gannon gone (1:24) The Australia batsman believes Cameron Gannon’s Western Australia move gives new Queensland quicks a chance to shine (1:24) 7:19 AM GMT Back in May, at the height of Cricket Australia’s anxiety about the impact of Covid-19 on this season, draft plans for the Sheffield Shield had it pared back to just five rounds, all played after the conclusion…
Vernon Philander's younger brother reportedly shot dead
7:03 AM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Tyrone Philander, the younger brother of South African seamer, Vernon Philander, was shot dead on Wednesday afternoon in the family’s home town of Ravensmead in Cape Town. Vernon confirmed the news in a statement released on Twitter. “Our family is coming to terms with the brutal murder in my hometown of Ravensmead earlier today. I would like to ask that the family’s privacy be respected…
Cricket Australia high performance chief concedes spin bowling needs greater focus
5:35 AM GMT Drew Ginn, Cricket Australia’s high-performance chief, concedes that not all states are mindful enough of nurturing spin bowling in domestic cricket, and has empowered the pathways manager Graham Manou to take a more focused approach to developing Australian spin bowlers as one of the key blind spots of the national team’s armoury for overseas tours in particular. Speaking ahead of the start of the Sheffield Shield in…
Matthew Mott: Alyssa Healy's pre-match talk helped motivate record-equalling victory
5:01 AM GMT Australia women’s head coach Matthew Mott has praised the leadership qualities of Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes after they stepped up in the absence of Meg Lanning to ensure the team completed a record-equaling 21st ODI win in a row. Mott revealed that Healy had spoken to the squad the day before the final game when they were told Lanning would not be fit to play, after…
Sheffield Shield preview: Squads, players to watch, new signings and fixtures
2:37 AM GMT Andrew McGlashan Close Deputy editor, ESPNcricinfo Deputy Editor Andrew arrived at ESPNcricinfo via Manchester and Cape Town, after finding the assistant editor at a weak moment as he watched England’s batting collapse in the Newlands Test. Andrew began his cricket writing as a freelance covering Lancashire during 2004 when they were relegated in the County Championship. In fact, they were top of the table when he began…
New South Wales depart early for Sheffield Shield after Sydney Covid-19 cases
11:25 PM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon are part of New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield squad that will depart earlier than planned for the hub in Adelaide following a return of Covid-19 cases around Sydney. On Wednesday, three new cases of community transmission were confirmed ending a 12-day run of zero cases outside of hotel quarantine in New South Wales. There is currently an open border between…
New Zealand domestic season to begin on October 19 with Plunket Shield
11:03 PM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff The New Zealand domestic season will begin on October 19 with the first round of the Plunket Shield followed by men’s and women’s one-day competitions starting in late November. Four rounds of the Plunket Shield will be played until mid-November then the tournament resumes in mid-March with the last round taking place in the first week of April. Other than the New Zealand players involved…
Rahul Tripathi, bowling innovations carry Kolkata Knight Riders to ten-run win
11:58 PM IST Saurabh Somani Close Saurabh Somani is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo Kolkata Knight Riders 167 all out (Tripathi 81, Bravo 3-37) beat Chennai Super Kings 157 for 5 (Watson 50, Russell 1-18) by 10 runs An intensely tactical battle between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Chennai Super Kings ended with the Knight Riders triumphant by ten runs, with both teams having dominated the first half of…