Usman Khawaja believes ODI cricket is “dying a slow death” and he’s not surprised England’s Ben Stokes has quit the format. Stokes, 31, brought the demands of international cricket on players into sharp focus when he confirmed his 105th ODI appearance for England against South Africa would be his last. Stokes, who has taken over as England’s Test captain, said authorities can’t treat players like “cars” and there was “too…
Ponting and Khawaja flag BBL concerns amid rise of new T20 leagues
Cricket Australia is under more pressure than ever before to attract big-name overseas talent to the BBL due to the huge sums of money that might be on offer in the new South Africa and UAE T20 leagues which will run at a similar time of the year, according to both Ricky Ponting and Usman Khawaja. Ponting has moved into a team role in the BBL for the first time…
'Doing things together' key to the Shikhar Dhawan way
Shikhar Dhawan has already done on the West Indies tour something not many others can claim to have done – orchestrating a smash hit Instagram reel featuring head coach Rahul Dravid. It features most members of the squad currently in the Caribbean for the three ODIs beginning on Friday at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain. For Dhawan, “doing things together” and “sharing experiences” off the field are as…
Pooran: West Indies must 'believe that we can fight'
West Indies’ white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran has called for greater fight and game awareness from his players, irrespective of the conditions, after they were recently swept 3-0 by Bangladesh at the Providence. “As a group we felt like in international cricket 9.30 [am] games, you can’t control certain things. For us I felt the biggest learning is believe that we can fight – doesn’t matter the conditions,” Pooran said on…
Four innings, four awards: Tahlia McGrath stars again in big Australia win
Australia 182 for 4 (Lanning 74, McGrath 70) beat Ireland 119 for 7 by 63 runs Four times Tahlia McGrath has batted in T20Is, and four times she has been player of the match. Her extraordinary start in the format, having only debuted last October, continued against Ireland in Bready as she and captain Meg Lanning combined to set up a convincing Australia victory. The pair added 135 for the…
Sophia Dunkley turns on the power after Katherine Brunt four-for in crushing England win
England 114 for 4 (Dunkley 59) beat South Africa 111 for 9 (Wolvaardt 55, Brunt 4-15) by six wickets Career-best figures from Katherine Brunt and an exceptional first outing for Sophia Dunkley as opener propelled England to a resounding six-wicket win over South Africa with five overs to spare in the first T20I, and a multi-series triumph. The result at Chelmsford, led by Brunt’s 4 for 15 and sealed by…
Josh Bohannon rediscovers form to put Lancashire within reach of victory
Lancashire 132 (White 5-14) and 192 for 5 (Bohannon 92*, Croft 47, Sanderson 3-46) need a further 86 runs to beat Northamptonshire 235 (Sundar 5-76) and 175 (Rickleton 59*, Kerrigan 43, Williams 5-41, Bailey 4-65) Lancashire endured a day of fluctuating emotions as the realisation dawned that only victory against Northamptonshire would keep their Championship challenge alive. They lunched like kings, took tea like paupers, and by the time the…
Joe Denly century gives Kent a golden shot at vital victory
Warwickshire 225 (Hain 99, Saini 5-72) and 28 for 2 need another 297 runs to beat Kent 165 and 384 for 9 dec (Denly 141, Cox 79) Joe Denly’s 30th first-class century gave Kent a strong scent of victory over Warwickshire on the third day of their vital LV=Insurance County Championship match at Edgbaston. Kent shrugged off the loss of the first session to rain to advance their second innings…
Miles Hammond gives Gloucestershire hope as Cheltenham factor kicks in at last
Gloucestershire 201 (Price 59, van Buuren 58*; Dawson 4-44) and 191 for 4 (Hammond 109*; Barker 3-34) trail Hampshire 457 (Organ 118, Vince 95, Barker 50) by 65 runs “We’ll be all right when we get to Cheltenham.” For generations of Gloucestershire cricketers these words have come as a comfort and a reassurance. However grim their season had been, a fortnight in the south Cotswolds would always improve matters. Some…
Brooke Guest scores fourth century of season to hold back Nottinghamshire
Derbyshire 318 (Guest 109, Madsen 74) and 79 for 0 (Came 38*, Reece 30*) trail Nottinghamshire 618 for 8 dec (Duckett 241, Hameed 196, Patterson-White 54) by 221 runs Derbyshire wicketkeeper Brooke Guest scored his fourth century of the season to hold up Nottinghamshire on the third day of the LV=Insurance County Championship match at Derby. Guest batted six-and-a-quarter hours for his 109, sharing a third wicket stand of 140…