5:11 AM GMT Brisbane’s inferior facilities may yet see it hosting Afghanistan in the first Test match of next summer before the better-equipped venues in Adelaide and Perth claim the first two of four matches against India, who are expected to be open to a day/night fixture for the very first time. Cricket Australia’s negotiations with the BCCI for next season’s Test fixtures will be aided by the fact that…
Sophie Molineux takes a break from WBBL for mental health reasons
4:18 AM GMT Alex Malcolm Australia and Melbourne Renegades women’s allrounder Sophie Molineux has become the latest cricketer to step away from the game for mental health issues. Molineux has played all 10 of the Renegades WBBL games so far this season, as she was pushing to return to the national side ahead of the T20 World Cup. But she has withdrawn from Saturday’s Melbourne derby against the Stars at…
KL Rahul, Manish Pandey lead Karnataka to thumping win
Nov 21, 2019 Saurabh Somani Close Saurabh Somani is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo Karnataka, Delhi, Baroda and Punjab opened their Syed Mushtaq Ali 2019-20 Super League matches with victories on Thursday. The first day of the Super League games had several teams putting up big scores, while Karnataka were the only team to win while chasing. Among others in attendance for the matches were John Wright and Malolan Rangarajan,…
Tim Southee burst lifts New Zealand after Ben Stokes 91
8:00 AM GMT Lunch England 329 for 8 (Buttler 29*, Leach 12*) v New Zealand Tim Southee’s three-wicket burst put England on the back foot during an eventful morning session in Mount Maunganui. Having profited from a cautious approach on day one, England’s batsmen reverted to type during a middle-order collapse, although an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 34 between Jos Buttler and Jack Leach did manage to repel New Zealand…
Tom Banton kickstarts globetrotting winter with 80 off 28 balls
10:12 PM GMT Barny Read in Abu Dhabi In the coming years, it will likely be difficult to recall a time when Tom Banton was not lighting up franchise leagues the world over; lapping, scooping, reversing, driving and hooking bowlers to the end of their wits. The 2019 Vitality Blast, in which he was the second-highest run-scorer (549), proved Banton’s breakout tournament and promised a future filled with both runs…
Rain plays spoilsport after Lungi Ngidi jolts Durban Heat's chase
8:00 AM GMT No result Durban Heat 21 for 3 (Ngidi 2-2) v Tshwane Spartans 141 for 4 (Elgar 57*, de Bruyn 40, Siboto 1-25) There were only 17.1 overs of cricket played between the Tshwane Spartans and Durban Heat as rain forced a fourth no-result in 12 matches in the Mzansi Super League so far. The impact of the weather-affected games has been most keenly felt on the points…
CSA to make announcement regarding director of cricket position on Friday
7:05 PM GMT Cricket South Africa will make an announcement regarding the director of cricket position, effectively the most important role in the organisation on Friday. The post was created in the aftermath of the 2019 World Cup and was filled in an interim capacity by CSA’s general manager Corrie van Zyl since August. Fresh interviews were conducted two weeks ago and at least three candidates including van Zyl, former…
Puja Chakravorthy, Rabeya in Bangladesh women squad
Bangladesh legspinner Rumana Ahmed in her delivery stride © IDI/Getty Images Bangladesh Women have made sweeping changes to their T20I squad for the 13th South Asian Games to be held in Nepal in December. Puja Chakravorthy and Rabeya have earned their maiden call-ups, while allrounder Rumana Ahmed, who had returned as captain for the ODIs against Pakistan earlier this month, has been left out. The other notable absentees include Panna…
Fielding could be the biggest challenge in pink-ball cricket – Virat Kohli
6:12 PM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Fielding, rather than batting, could be the biggest challenge faced with the pink ball, according to Virat Kohli. The India captain spoke about adjusting to how quickly the ball travelled, and getting used to its feel on the eve of India’s first day-night Test, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. ALSO READ: ‘Wanted to play in our own conditions first’ – Kohli on pink-ball change…
Steven Croft signs two-year deal to extend Lancashire career
5:22 PM GMT ESPNcricinfo staff Steven Croft, Lancashire’s long-serving allrounder, has signed a new two-year contract that will keep him at the club until the eve of his 37th birthday. Croft’s extension was secured after a productive 2019 season in which he was the second-highest run-scorer in the Royal London One-Day Cup, with 516 runs at 73.71, and helped Lancashire secure promotion back to Specsavers County Championship Division One. In…