Skipper Eoin Morgan has confirmed England will select their strongest Twenty20 XI for the two-match series with South Africa as they build up to the World T20. Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Joe Root, who have played all nine competitive matches on this tour, were rested for the tourists’ 44-run warm-up win over South Africa at Boland Park last night. But with the World T20 in India next month, Morgan…
Billings hails invaluable PSL experience
Sam Billings believes his experience in franchise cricket this winter will prove invaluable ahead of England’s Twenty20 international series against South Africa. The Kent wicketkeeper-batsman has just linked up with the England squad after his stint with Islamabad United in the inaugural Pakistan Super League. Prior to playing with the likes of Misbah-ul-Haq, Brad Haddin, and Shane Watson in the PSL, Billings featured for England Lions during their tour of United…
Shrubsole leads sensational fightback
Anya Shrubsole took three late wickets as England women mounted a remarkable late fightback to win the first T20 International against South Africa by 15 runs in Paarl. The hosts looked to be cruising when they reached 96 without loss in reply to England’s 147 for seven. But Shrubsole took 3-9 in her second two-over spell, and with the run-rate mounting South Africa capitulated to finish on 132 for six….
Tredwell, Borthwick, Onions in MCC XI
James Tredwell will come up against several England team-mates in the Yorkshire side © Getty Images The MCC has named a team featuring five England Test cricketers to play Yorkshire in the Champion County match next month. Ian Bell had already been announced as captain and he will lead his Warwickshire team-mate Rikki Clarke, Graham Onions, James Tredwell and Scott Borthwick. Kent offspinner Tredwell played for England most recently, alongside…
Afghanistan's pedigree, Oman's debut
The recently reinstated Mohammad Shahzad provides Afghanistan plenty of firepower up the order © Chris Whiteoak Afghanistan A maiden Asia Cup appearance was the result of wowing a very small but influential crowd. Successful talks with the BCCI and the SLC placed Afghanistan as the fifth member in the 2014 edition and the team shook the world, beating hosts Bangladesh and registering their first win against a Test-playing nation. This…
De Villiers to keep opening role
South Africa are expected to stick with AB de Villiers at the top of the order for the two Twenty20 internationals against England. De Villiers, having opened the batting with Hashim Amla in their last sprint-format series versus India four months ago, is set to retain the role as the Proteas look to finalise their plans ahead of the ICC World Twenty20. But De Villiers could have a new opening…
Taylor happy to be back in the runs
Sarah Taylor was pleased to return to form as England women secured a 15-run victory in the first of three T20 Internationals against South Africa. Taylor produced a string of paddles, sweeps and ramps in her unbeaten 51-ball 74, which guided England to 147 for seven form their 20 overs. That proved far too many for the hosts, despite a 96-run opening stand between Dane van Niekerk and Trisha Chetty,…
Morgan happy with form, England options
Eoin Morgan made 64 runs in five innings during the ODIs with South Africa © Getty Images Eoin Morgan has said that he is not worried about his dip in form during the ODI series with South Africa and suggested that England are close to settling on their best XI ahead of the World T20. Morgan, England’s limited-overs captain, made just 64 runs from five innings during the ODIs, which…
Taylor provides platform for victory
England 147 for 7 (Taylor 74*) beat South Africa 132 for 6 (van Niekerk 52, Shrubsole 3-25) by 15 runsScorecard Sarah Taylor made an unbeaten 74 to set up victory (file photo) Stephen Pond / © Getty Images England’s bowlers fought back to secure a 15-run win in the first T20 with South Africa, after Sarah Taylor‘s blistering, unbeaten 74 had masked a top-order failure with the bat. Chasing 148…
Ombudsman asks Harbhajan to dissociate from Bhajji Sports
BCCI Ombudsman, Justice AP Shah, used the conflict of interest allegation against Harbhajan Singh to set a guideline for similar cases in the board © AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi The BCCI ombudsman, Justice AP Shah, has asked the board to take an “unequivocal undertaking” from spinner Harbhajan Singh that he will no longer be in the management of the sports apparel company, Bhajji Sports, and will not be associated with the…