5:28 PM IST ESPNcricinfo staff Chris Jordan will miss England’s ODI series against Ireland after suffering an arm injury. Jordan was among three players in an extended training group who were not considered for England’s 24-man training squad named on Thursday due to injury. The three day-night matches are to be played against Ireland behind closed doors at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl on July 30, August 1 and August 4. Pat…
BLM gesture shows that cricket is beginning to look beyond the boundary
3:20 PM IST On the face of things, the first day of this series didn’t offer much in the way of memorable cricket. Oh, Dom Sibley will have nightmares about the one he left – his new abstemious attitude clearly has drawbacks – and we were reminded that our wonderful game is often confronted by an enemy far more familiar than Covid-19. With rain limiting play to tiny patches –…
Phil Jaques: Dukes ball helped stretch Sheffield Shield players
11:58 AM IST New South Wales coach Phil Jaques believes splitting the Sheffield Season between two types of balls was a good way of challenging the players to improve. Since 2016-17, the second half of the season played after the Big Bash had used a variation of the Dukes as part of Cricket Australia’s plans to give players more exposure to that type of ball ahead of last year’s Ashes…
Cricket Victoria assessing early-season plans amid Melbourne lockdown
8:51 AM IST Cricket Victoria are starting to consider the various scenarios that could be required to allow their domestic season to start on schedule if the new Covid-19 lockdown of Melbourne means the teams are unable to play at home. Melbourne and Mitchell Shire – an area north of the city – returned to lockdown at midnight on Wednesday after a spike in Covid numbers which has also led…
Sophie Devine named permanent New Zealand captain
What cliché does Sophie Devine wish commentators would retire? (4:03) Hint: it’s a groan-worthy pun on her name (4:03) 7:29 AM IST ESPNcricinfo staff Sophie Devine has been named the permanent New Zealand captain with her predecessor Amy Satterthwaite taking the vice-captaincy on her return from maternity leave. Devine stepped into the captaincy when Satterthwaite took leave last year to have her first child with wife and team-mate Lea Tahuhu…
Club cricketers to observe 1-metre rule as ECB clarify guidelines
An anti-bacterial hand gel pot next to a cricket ball during a net session at Blagdon Hill Cricket Club 12:59 AM IST Amateur cricketers in England and Wales will be obliged to maintain social distance, even when attempting a quick single or standing up to the stumps, according to the latest ECB guidelines governing the return of recreational cricket. The new gameplay requirements, in accordance with Step 4 of the…
Relieve us from BCCI role, CAG asks Supreme Court
12:19 AM IST The Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) of India has asked the Supreme Court to relieve its nominee from the BCCI’s Apex Committee, on the grounds that it is “unable” to function as an independent voice and carry out the primary job assigned to it: to provide financial oversight to the BCCI and the state associations. This move has come soon after its representative on the panel raised…
Rain blights cricket's comeback
England and West Indies take a knee ahead of Test (0:40) Players from both squads took a knee in support of Black Lives Matter before the first Test in Southampton. (0:40) 11:01 PM IST Matt Roller Close Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets at @mroller98 England 35 for 1 v West Indies After months of pain-staking preparation, cricket’s long-awaited return was held up not by bio-security…
Black Lives Matter: South African cricketers mull fresh expression for 3TC game
What exactly is the 3TC? (3:55) Mark Nicholas explains (3:55) 10:42 PM IST The 24 South African players who will take part in an exhibition 3TC match, featuring three teams in the same game, may not wear the Black Lives Matter (BLM) logo on their shirts but will join in the anti-racist movement. The BLM slogan has been worn by players in the English Premier League and the logo is…
Players, officials take a knee in moving gesture before first Test
Play 02:07 I want to see the conversation continue – Butcher on BLM movement Players from both teams and match officials have taken part in a poignant gesture in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before play in the first Test between England and West Indies at the Ageas bowl. The players, support staff and umpires all took a knee, with each member of the West Indies team wearing…