Category Uncategorized

Lancashire have announced the appointment of Daniel Gidney as Jim Cumbes’ successor as chief executive of the club

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2012Lancashire have announced the appointment of Daniel Gidney as Jim Cumbes’ successor as chief executive of the club. Cumbes, 68, who joined Lancashire as a player 50 years ago, is due to retire at the end of 2012, with Gidney joining from Ricoh Arena, the holding company that operates Coventry City’s ground, where he occupied a similar role.Gidney will take charge at Old Trafford for 2013, with Lancashire set to unveil a brand new pavilion in the spring before the ground returns to hosting Test cricket during the Ashes in August.Lancashire chairman, Michael Cairns, said: “We are delighted to appoint Daniel, whose experience and track record in overseeing a highly regarded sporting venue will serve our business well as we embark on a new and exciting era.”Daniel will be taking over from our well-respected and long-serving chief executive Jim Cumbes. Jim initially joined the club as a player and made his debut in 1962. He returned to Old Trafford as sales and marketing manager in 1987 before becoming chief executive in 1998.”Jim was a key member of the team throughout what has been a monumental period for the club which saw us ultimately overcome a number of potentially devastating hurdles to be in the position where we are today. Everybody connected with Lancashire County Cricket Club owes a tremendous amount of gratitude to Jim for his unfaltering service to cricket and the business of cricket over the years and we all wish him well in his retirement.”

Worcestershire squandered a decent position on the first day of their County Championship match at Sussex despite a debut half-century from teenager Aneesh Kapil

10-Aug-2011
Scorecard
Worcestershire squandered a decent position on the first day of their County Championship match at Sussex despite a debut half-century from teenager Aneesh Kapil.The 18-year-old from Wolverhampton made an attractive 54 in his first four-day
game while skipper Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali also made half-centuries.When Kapil and Dutchman Alex Kervezee were adding 88 for the fifth wicket
either side of tea to take their side to 244 for 4, Sussex’s decision to bowl
first looked a mistake. But the tide turned when Kervezee chanced his arm looking for a third run which would have taken him to 50 and was run out by Joe Gatting’s accurate return
running round from third man.Worcestershire collapsed, losing their last six wickets for 56 runs and were
bowled out for 290. That left Sussex six overs to negotiate before stumps and Ed Joyce and Gatting, promoted to open in the absence of Chris Nash who is with England Lions,
survived comfortably to close on 16 for none.Sussex had been hoping to exploit any early dampness in the wicket and the
immediate signs were good. Matt Pardoe feathered a catch behind when James Anyon
seamed one away in his first over and then Vikram Solanki was beaten for pace
and bowled for a duck by Anyon to leave Worcestershire six for two.Mitchell and Moeen rebuilt in an excellent stand of 143 in 43 overs. Moeen was
particularly productive through the covers while his more pragmatic partner
accumulated steadily to blunt a Sussex side who used six bowlers before lunch in
search of another breakthrough.It finally came thanks to Monty Panesar, who bowled another long, probing spell
which was rewarded with three wickets. Mitchell (66) was leg before aiming
towards mid-wicket and then Moeen (71) was surprised by a ball which spun back
into him and gave a catch to wicketkeeper Ben Brown.Kapil showed few nerves, top-edging a six when Anyon tried to test him against
the short ball, and he reached his 50 with his fifth four. A pull off Kirk
Wernars brought him a sixth boundary but he perished to a gully catch off the
next ball and was sixth out.Sussex then encountered little resistance from the tail. Panesar returned and
immediately had Gareth Andrew well taken by the diving Mike Yardy at slip.Anyon finished with four for 71 after picking up two wickets with the second
new ball while Wayne Parnell had Saeed Ajmal well caught at third slip off a
flat-footed waft outside off stump.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has backed the decision of its selection committee not to offer central retainer or developmental contracts to Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor or Narsingh Deonarine

Cricinfo staff02-Sep-2010The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has backed the decision of its selection committee not to offer central retainer or developmental contracts to Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor or Narsingh Deonarine. When these three, along with Denesh Ramdin and Travis Dowlin, were cut from the contracts list it was suggested that the fitness of Sarwan, a former captain, and Deonarine was “deemed unsatisfactory”.Taylor, the fast bowler, was not helped by his limited availability and alleged questionable approach to his rehabilitation following a back injury when the WICB contracts for the period from October 1 were announced.”The team management, selection committee and the WICB are concerned about Sarwan’s extremely indifferent attitude and sporadic approach towards fitness, particularly in recent years,” read a statement released by the board.”It is the considered view of the selection committee, following consultations with the specialists in the team management, that Ramnaresh’s less-than-satisfactory and fluctuating fitness levels have directly contributed to multiple injuries thereby causing him to be unavailable for selection to the West Indies team.”Sarwan, who was most recently affected by a hamstring problem, has not played a Test since 2009 although he appeared in four ODIs and seven Twenty20s this year. He has a top score of 100 not out against Ireland but was less effective when facing the better teams. Taylor was sent home from the tour of Australia late last year with back stress fractures and has made only nine limited-overs appearances since then.”The WICB is disappointed with Taylor’s lack of commitment to his own rehabilitation following injuries sustained in Australia in 2009 and in the ICC World Twenty20 2010,” continued the statement. “Jerome, despite being under retainer contract, has not shown the expected attendance and commitment to pursue the required assessment and consequent rehabilitative programmes that would be required.”Further it has been explained to Jerome that his physical make-up requires a specific programme of fitness and exercise to ensure his availability to play cricket at the highest level and avoid frequent breakdowns. There has not been a demonstrated commitment to achieve that level of fitness and ensure that he can perform consistently at the highest level.”The statement also made particular mention of Deonarine as a player whose attitude towards fitness and training continued to be unsatisfactory “despite the official notice”.”Deonarine’s level of fitness is regrettably, unacceptable for an international cricketer,” read the statement in a hard-hitting indictment of the player’s physical condition. “His results are below par in the majority of fitness tests conducted by the team management specialists. Narsingh, despite numerous opportunities, continues to show gross disregard for his fitness. Team management has pleaded with, beseeched and cajoled Narsingh to improve his overall fitness but to no avail.”

The CPL could be the reason behind Heinrich Klaasen, Anrich Nortje, David Miller and Tabraiz Shamsi’s exclusion

Firdose Moonda14-Aug-2024Fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, who was the Player of the Tournament at this year’s Under-19 World Cup, is in line for a senior international debut after being included in South Africa’s squad to play West Indies in three T20Is later this month.The call-up tops a stellar year for Maphaka, who helped South Africa U-19 to the semi-final of the World Cup, where he took 21 wickets at an average of 9.71. He also made his provincial debut for Lions just before that, and was picked by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2024, all in the space of three months.”Kwena has been identified as a player with significant potential, and this tour presents a great opportunity to include him in the Proteas environment, and gain valuable international experience,” South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter said.Related

• Build-up to 2026 begins for West Indies, South Africa – with some ghosts of 2024 still to bury

• Bavuma: 'My focus is on Tests, and I'm going to play the best I can in that format'

• Maphaka is making things happen, and things are happening for him

• CPL 2024: Nortje, Shamsi to replace Thushara, Hasaranga at Patriots

In his short career so far, Maphaka has shown a remarkable level of maturity in balancing pace and control against some of the best young batters in the game. He is completing his final year at school, with matriculation examinations imminent, but will take some time away from the books to possibly make his international cricket bow.Jason Smith, a middle-order batter who was Dolphins’ top-scorer in the CSA T20 challenge in 2023-24, is the other new name in South Africa’s playing group.With T20I cricket taking a backseat after the recent World Cup, and with the next one two years away, South Africa’s squad contains a mix of old and new names, and is without several regulars. Quinton de Kock is perhaps the most notable absentee from the T20 World Cup squad – he has not confirmed his international retirement, although it has been widely speculated.De Kock had stepped away from Tests in 2021, from ODIs in 2023, and had indicated that the T20 World Cup in June this year would be his last international assignment. However, he has not made a definite announcement yet, and will be playing for Barbados Royals in the CPL, which starts on August 30, three days after the third and final T20I against West Indies.The CPL could also be the reason behind the exclusion of Heinrich Klaasen, Anrich Nortje, David Miller and Tabraiz Shamsi, although Tristan Stubbs, who has been signed by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, has been included in the squad. Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen are being rested, while Nqaba Peter, the legspinner who made his T20I debut against West Indies in May, could not be considered as he continues rehabilitation after a shoulder injury.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

That will leave the main spin-bowling duties to Bjorn Fortuin, who was a reserve player at the T20 World Cup.Lungi Ngidi will lead the pace pack, with Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams alongside, while Wiaan Mulder and Patrick Kruger will provide seam-bowling allrounder options. Rassie van der Dussen has been recalled after missing out on the T20 World Cup, but there is no room for Matthew Breetzke. Aiden Markram, meanwhile, will continue to captain the side.”This tour allows us to continue developing our player pool whilst maintaining the core of experienced players,” Walter said. “It will also expose our emerging talent to quality international opposition, similar to the last time we played against West Indies in May.”The three matches will all be played at the Brian Lara Stadium from August 23-27. South Africa had also toured the West Indies for three T20Is in May, just before the T20 World Cup, but lost that series 0-3.

South Africa squad for T20I series in the West Indies

Aiden Markram (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams

Injury, as well as an abundance of caution, have seen him play just four Tests in the last two years

Andrew McGlashan14-Jun-2023History could be about to repeat itself for Josh Hazlewood as he waits to see whether his services will be required for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. But while he accepts playing the whole series is unlikely given his recent injury record, anything fewer than three appearances would leave him disappointed.One of Hazlewood (222 Test wickets at 25.83), Mitchell Starc (310 wickets at 27.64) or Scott Boland (33 wickets at 14.57) will not make Australia’s side on Friday, with the decision likely to be between the two senior quicks after Boland’s impact in the World Test Championship final against India added to his fairytale start in Test cricket.Neither Hazlewood or Starc made Australia’s starting XI four years ago with James Pattinson and Peter Siddle joining Pat Cummins. Hazlewood, who had missed the preceding ODI World Cup through injury, would go on to play the remaining four games, taking 20 wickets at 21.85 in the 2-2 draw where Australia retained the urn.”If we go back a few years, I would have said [I expected to play] all six [Tests]. But I guess it’s a little bit different now, based on the last two years of history,” he said. “I think three would be nice pass and four is probably a tick. Any more than that is great. Any less then I am probably a little disappointed again.”But I think when you have that depth for each game you [can] really go as hard as you can and then reassess after the game because you always have someone of high quality sitting on the pine and ready to go. So it’s a great position to be in for the team.”

Two years, four Tests for Hazlewood

A very cautious approach was taken with Hazlewood for the Test Championship final after two years which has seen him play just four Test matches. He returned home from the tour of India with an Achilles injury caused by soft run-ups at the SCG in his previous comeback Test in January and was then withdrawn from the final after leaving the IPL early with side soreness.”I think if it was a one-off game I probably could have played,” he said. “[But] with what’s coming up now, it just would have been too big of a risk. This sets me up nicely if I’m selected for game one, then we have a nice rest after and we’ll take it from there.”Captain Pat Cummins has stated that he wants to play all six Tests on this trip. Meanwhile, Scott Boland believes that it will be tough unless a couple of the games have early finishes. Having missed so much Test cricket of late, Hazlewood is desperate to get his place back but also has tempered expectations.”Think having those [fast bowling] options helps that mindset,” he said. “No doubt you still want to play every game and it’s hard to sit on the sidelines and watch. No shying away from that.”But potentially if you [have] back-to-back Tests and you bowl 50 overs and you’ve someone [like] Boland, Starc or myself on the bench, fresh and ready to go for the next Test, it makes those conversations a little bit easier. The guys are a little bit more open to it to create that longevity. Perhaps the all-format guys are more open to it than others.”He also acknowledged the depth of Australia’s attack means that bowlers don’t push themselves beyond breaking point. “You might miss one or two games with a niggle rather than pushing it and missing three or four months,” he said.Josh Hazlewood presents Test debutant Scott Boland with his ‘Baggy Green’ cap•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Hazlewood’s outstanding English record

With 222 Test wickets and 36 at 23.58 in England, Hazlewood does not need to prove his credentials, although there are perhaps questions marks around his durability even though coaches and medical staff have been at pains not to link his run of injuries (four of the Tests he missed were also due to conditions in Pakistan and Sri Lanka).He admitted to wanting to make statement when he returned against South Africa in January where he bowled impressively and found reverse swing, only for his exertions as part of a two-man pace attack to sideline him again, but now the overriding emotion is one of anticipation.”I probably felt that maybe a little bit more in Sydney leading into that game. I think in England, my record is pretty good. Pretty confident in these conditions,” he said. “What’s exciting is probably what England have done the last 18 months. It’s what a few of us need to get the best out of ourselves.”

England still get out the same way

With India having been dealt with to secure the World Test Championship, Australia’s quick bowlers will sit down over the next 48 overs to map out their plans for England’s Bazballing batting line-up but they won’t be reinventing the wheel. They are familiar with the majority of the players, although the statistic about Ben Duckett only leaving eight deliveries so far in his Test cricket pricked Hazelwood’s interest.”That’s a quite amazing,” he said. “Obviously he likes bat on ball. So [we will] try and use that to our advantage as best we can.”While we are bowling at their batsmen it’s about sticking to that six to eight metre length. Think what we’ve seen through the numbers in the last 18 months to two years, they are still getting out in similar ways, they are just scoring more runs quickly in between. So it’s about sticking to that line and length. If they hit us off that for five Tests then that’s good for them.”

Mominul Haque, meanwhile, has denied that Bangladesh complained about excessive sledging after the first Test

Firdose Moonda07-Apr-2022Dean Elgar has told Bangladesh to “harden up” and accept the tough talk of Test cricket even as Mominul Haque denied complaining about excessive sledging after the Durban match. Bangladesh expressed their intent to lodge an official objection over both South Africa’s conduct and the umpiring at Kingsmead in the immediate aftermath of their defeat, which Elgar felt was an overreaction, especially since he felt Bangladesh were equally vociferous.”I don’t think they’re justified, whatsoever. We play the game hard, and if anything we were just giving back what we were getting when we were batting,” Elgar said before the second Test in Gqeberha. “It is Test cricket. It’s a man’s environment when it comes to playing at this level, and I intend to play the game hard. By no means did we swear or use foul language towards the Bangladeshi cricketers, because we respect them. We were just giving them back what we were receiving. I think they need to harden up and play the game at a level that maybe they’re not used to. We received it first, and we responded in that way.”Despite his admission that South Africa were vocal, Elgar insisted they never crossed the line. “One of my messages to the players is that we do everything with dignity, and we don’t throw our badge or our name away. I didn’t see any bad sledging out there, even from their side,” he said. “This is Test cricket, and we need to dry our eyes sometimes.”Related

• Bangladesh taking steps to become 'a lot harder and tougher'

• Mulder and Olivier run through Bangladesh top order after Maharaj lifts South Africa to 453

• 'Hard leader' Elgar adopts carefree approach in search of big runs

• Stats – A rare triumph for spin in South Africa

• Elgar: Maharaj and Harmer helped us play a 'style of cricket we're not used to'

Shortly after Elgar addressed the media, Mominul was asked for his reaction to Elgar’s comments and indicated Bangladesh have already dried their eyes, as Elgar may have put it. “I never complained against sledging,” Mominul said, despite comments after the Durban Test that the umpires didn’t seem to notice South Africa’s verbal assault on Bangladesh. “In cricket, sledging happens, and you have to absorb it. You have to take it very easily. I think you guys heard it wrongly.”Among Bangladesh’s criticisms of South Africa was that they were particularly harsh on Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who is 21 years old, was playing in his third Test, and became the first Bangladesh batter to score a Test century against South Africa. Elgar denied that Mahmudul was a target because of his inexperience and said South Africa treated him as they would any talented batter. “We wouldn’t go out there and intentionally try and intimidate a young player. We’ll play the game at a hard level, but we’re not there to use language to try to intimidate guys. We’d rather try and intimidate by our skill,” he said.South Africa’s spinners ran through Bangladesh in the second innings at Kingsmead•AFP/Getty Images

But he was quick to caveat it with a bit of “in my day,” and reminded Bangladesh, rightly or wrongly, that things used to be worse. “Also, this is Test cricket. When I started playing it, the environments were a lot harsher. You were told everything that you didn’t want to know about yourself. We’re representing our country and we want to win, and if you’re playing a little bit of a mind game on the opposition, why not?” Elgar said.Ultimately, Elgar believed Bangladesh unraveled in the second innings because of the quality of the bowling and not anything South Africa said. “It was the level of intensity at which we were playing. I felt our intensity was right up there with regards to the conditions. Even though we were bowling spinners, the ruthlessness and relentlessness that they showed was world class,” he said. “Maybe Bangladesh got caught up in the moment, which played perfectly into our hands. That’s what comes with gamesmanship. You’ve got to outsmart and outplay and outwit your opposition. That’s the total emotional and mental side of Test cricket that people forget about sometimes. Then, if you incorporate your skill and ticking the boxes to the best of your ability, that’s what sums up Test cricket.”Elgar was also asked about the standard of the umpiring after eight decisions needed to be overturned at Kingsmead, four against South Africa, and had no complaints. “The umpiring was tough. I don’t think the pitch helped, especially with the variable bounce, which can challenge the umpires. I feel for them because they’re good umpires,” he said. “Marais [Erasmus] is the umpire of the year. Adrian [Holdstock] is just starting off in the Test arena, and he’s definitely not a bad umpire. After all, they are human beings — they do make errors, as do the players. But I’m pretty sure they’re going to learn a hell of a lot out of that. Whatever the umpire decides, we need to respect that.”Bangladesh also had three appeals not given against South African batters, but chose not review, and replays showed all three would have been out. They found no sympathy from Elgar, who reminded them that they could have taken matters into their own hands. “Technology is there for a reason. If you don’t use the technology, then you’re holding yourself accountable for their decisions,” he said. “Hopefully in the second Test we can have a better show.”Erasmus and Allahudien Palekar will stand in the second Test, with Holdstock as television umpire.

ESPNcricinfo’s updates from Qualifier 1 of IPL 2020

Matt Roller05-Nov-2020