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  • England face buoyant Windies with one eye on World Cup

    England face buoyant Windies with one eye on World Cup

    England enter the home stretch of World Cup preparation with a five-match one-day international series beginning on Wednesday at the Kensington Oval against a West Indies team seeking to feed off the success of their Test side.

    Fresh from a surprising 2-1 triumph in the Wisden Trophy duel, Jason Holder leads a Caribbean team which continues to struggle in the 50-over format and is hampered by the absence of key players for a variety of reasons.

     

    Randy Brooks/ AFP

    In contrast, Eoin Morgan’s England settled squad have powered to the top of the world rankings and a comfortable 171-run victory in their lone warm-up fixture on Sunday suggests that they will not be hamstrung by the challenges encountered by the Test team against surprisingly Competitive and fiercely motivated opponents.

    Opening batsman Jason Roy and Test skipper Joe Root both stroked fluent hundreds in a total of 371 for seven, while all the bowlers used enjoyed a measure of success against the West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s XI with opening bowlers Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, together with Leg-spinner Adil Rashid, taking two wickets each.

    Having a 186-run thrashing in the first match of the three-Test series Of a home outfit in complete disarray.

    West Indies results have not improved significant since that humbling, with the after champions missing out on the 2017 Champions Trophy and scraping through last year’s qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe to advance to the World Cup in England and Wales, which starts on May 30.

    Already without mystery spinner Sunil Narine and all-rounder Andre Russell, West Indies have been forced to amend their original squad for the first two ODIs with injuries ruling out opening batsman Evin Lewis and all-rounders Rovman Powell and Keemo Paul.

    West Indies: Jason Holder (capt), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas

    England: Eoin Morgan (captain), Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

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  • England expects as World Cup looms into view

    England expects as World Cup looms into view

    With 100 days until the 2019 World Cup gets underway, might it be the year that England lift the global game’s premier limited-overs trophy at long last?

    England — the pioneers of one-day cricket as a professional sport — have taken part in every World Cup since staging the inaugural men’s event in 1975.

    But all they have to show for their efforts are runners-up medals from the 1979, 1987 and 1992 finals.

     

    Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/ AFP

    Test cricket has long been the priority for everyone in English cricket, be they players, fans or administrators.

    That changed, however, after another World Cup group-stage exit at the 2015 edition in Australia and New Zealand was sealed with a woeful loss to Bangladesh.

    Then England and Wales Cricket Board supremo Andrew Strauss decreed that white-ball cricket would no longer be the “poor relation”, with the former England captain sacking head coach Peter Moores and bringing in Australian Trevor Bayliss specifically to turn round the team’s limited-overs Form.

    The transformation has been remarkable with a newly-liberated England twice setting new records for the highest ODI totals — their 444 for three against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2016 a prelude to last year’s colossal 481 for six at the same ground.

    England, captained in 50-over cricket by former Ireland batsman Eoin Morgan, with the side featuring Test skipper Joe Root and the hard-hitting talents of Jason Roy, Alex Hales and Jos Buttler, now sit atop the ODI world rankings heading into their upcoming Five-match series away to the West Indies.

    ‘Now is the time’ 

    “We can say we were the best ODI side to play for England… but without a trophy, it will be difficult to say that,” said all-rounder Moeen Ali, looking to help England’s men win just their second major global event Following the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

    “We have come close and we feel now is the time.”

    “We don’t feel we have to win it, it’s more ‘this is the time to win it’. We are an amazing side but we know this year is massive for us,” added Moeen, with England, as was the case In 1975, playing host to a World Cup and an Ashes series in the same season.

    But unlike that first eight-team edition 43 years ago, which featured two then non-Test sides in East Africa and the long since elevated Sri Lanka, this year’s event will be a 10-team affair contested based by Test nations.

    Ever since India and Pakistan were both knocked out in the group stage of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, including putting a huge dent in broadcast audiences, attendance figures and commercial revenues for the rest of the tournament, International Cricket Council chiefs have been Determined such such ‘nightmare scenario’ will ever befall both Asian giants again.

    The result has been a decrease in the number of non-Test nations involved to the point none will take part this year. 

    That has seen the ICC criticised for making the World Cup too narrow at a time when other sports are expanding rather than cutting the number of teams involved in their global showpiece events.

    But ICC officials point to the creation of a qualifying tournament — from which two-time champions West Indies only narrowly emerged — as proof the non-Test world still has a shot at the World Cup.

    Rather than have pool stages this year, the ICC have opted for an all-play-all group format — a move that many believe has more to do with ensuring India, cricket’s financial powerhouse, are guaranteed a minimum of nine matches than sporting fairness For all the teams taking part.

    Such a lengthy group phase ahead of the semi-finals does reduce the chances of any team going through to July 14 final at Lord’s unbeaten.

    Reigning champions Australia, set to be boosted by the return of star batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner following their lengthy ball-tampering bans, will be bidding for a sixth title.

    India, with Virat Kohli at the helm, are a major force in all formats while Pakistan defied expectations to win the 2017 Champions Trophy in England.

    New Zealand will be keen to go one better after losing in the 2015 final, while South Africa will arrive hoping to end years of World Cup heartbreak.

    West Indies, the 1975 and 1979 champions, will have an extra incentive this year after Sunday’s announcement that star batsman Chris Gayle will retire from ODIs following this year’s World Cup.

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    World Cup 2019England
  • Braithwaite makes comeback to Windies ODI squad

    Braithwaite makes comeback to Windies ODI squad

    Hard hitting batsman Carlos Braithwaite has been recalled to the Windies squad for the ODIs against England, slated to begin on the 20th of February. 

    Injuries to Rovman Powell and Keemo Paul also sees Sheldon Cottrell make a return, while opening batsman John Campbell, who impressed in the recent Test series, gets his maiden white ball call-up. The other significant changes will see Evan Lewis left out due to a groin injury while Shannon Gabriel misses out serving his four-match suspension. 

     

    Arun Sankar/ AFP

    “With our squad suffering from a few players with injuries even before a ball is bowled, an opportunity presents itself for other players to make a claim for World Cup spots. After a good showing as an opener in the Test matches, John Campbell – a Fearless and attacking opening batter – will replace Evin Lewis who had to be withdrawn from the squad with a groin injury,” Windies chairman of selectors Courtney Browne said.

    He added “Carlos Brathwaite who last played in the World Cup qualifiers and who was a replacement in the last ODI series in Bangladesh will also join the squad along with Sheldon Cottrell who last played against Bangladesh last year in the Caribbean. They will replace Rovman Powell And Keemo Paul who are also both sidelined with injuries.

    “The panel take this opportunity to wish the injured players a speedy recovery and to wish the team success in the upcoming ODIs.”

    West Indies squad for first two ODIs: Jason Holder (capt), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas

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  • Happy birthday ABD!

    Astoundingly Brilliant de Villiers blocked till eternity.Amazingly Busy de Villiers kept the scoreboard ticking.Audaciously Belligerent de Villiers teed off in a jiffy.

  • Sri Lanka sensation Perera hailed for Test-winning heroics

    Sri Lanka sensation Perera hailed for Test-winning heroics

    Kusal Perera became a national hero in Sri Lanka on Sunday after scoring an unbeaten 153 to guide his country to a sensational first Test victory in South Africa. 

    The country’s cricket legends and politicians lauded Perera, who has become a linchpin for the ailing national side since fighting off doping charges in 2016. 

    Anesh Debiky/ AFP

    Former skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who had staunchly defended Perera when he was suspended in December 2015, called the performance at Kingsmead in Durban on Saturday “unreal”.

    “What an amazing win,” Sangakkara said on Twitter. “One of the best if not THE best overseas win by (Sri Lanka). Kusal Janith Perera was unreal.”

    Sangakkara stood by Perera when he was wrongfully accused of doping in 2015. The International Cricket Council lifted the suspension in 2016 and apologised for the botched testing.

    Another former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena said on Twitter: “What a beauty! One of the best innings under pressure.” 

    Jayawardena said Perera, who put on a last wicket partnership of 78 had shown “intelligence and mental strength”. 

    Perera scored 67 in an unbroken last-wicket stand with Vishwa Fernando which gave his underdog team a sensational victory.

    Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also took to Twitter to hail the win.

    “Congratulations to our cricket team on snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat,” Sirisena said. “Kusal Janith Perera makes mother Sri Lanka very proud today! Keep fighting!

    “Great spirit by @kusaljperera and all the youngsters #SAvSL,” added Wickremesinghe while thanking the national side which has been the butt of jokes due to poor recent results.

    “U beauty”, said Sports minister Harin Fernando on Twitter.

    Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996 and since has been plagued by management scandals, allegations of corruption and player squabbling. 

    They were swept 3-0 in a home Test series against England last year and were then beaten in Australia and New Zealand.

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  • Perera takes Sri Lanka to sensational win in South Africa

    Perera takes Sri Lanka to sensational win in South Africa

    Kusal Perera carried Sri Lanka to a sensational one-wicket win on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Saturday as he hit a career-best 153 not out.

    Anish Debiky/ AFP

    Perera and Vishwa Fernando put on an unbeaten 78 in a last-wicket partnership to secure only Sri Lanka’s second win in 14 Test matches in South Africa.

    Victory seemed unlikely when the ninth wicket fell with the total on 226, with the tourists chasing a target of 304.

    But the left-handed Perera successfully farmed the strike, with South African captain Faf du Plessis persisting with wide-spread fields for the in-form batsman, while Fernando only had to face 27 balls during a 96-ball partnership.

    Perera was on 86 when the ninth wicket fell but managed to keep most of the strike and to hit some telling blows in an innings of 200 balls which included 12 fours and five sixes.

    “It was a superman effort,” said Du Plessis. “He (Perera) deserves all the accolades.”

    Low previous average 

    South Africa took the second new ball with the total on 263 but still kept most of their fielders on the boundary for Perera, who hit sixes off both Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada before slashing Rabada to third man for the winning boundary.

    Perera, who came into the match with a career batting average below 30 and with his only previous century in 14 previous Tests having been made against Zimbabwe in Harare two seasons ago, shared three important partnerships.

    He put on 58 for the fourth wicket with debutant Oshado Fernando (37) and 96 for the sixth wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva (48) before his extraordinary association with Vishwa Fernando.

    “I’m a little tired now, I don’t know what to say,” said Perera when he received the man of the match award. “I did my part but we are winning as a team.”

    The stand with Oshado Fernando was broken by Dale Steyn, who had Fernando caught at second slip by South African captain Faf du Plessis. Two balls later he caught Niroshan Dickwella off his own bowling.

    Sri Lanka were still a distant 194 runs short of their target when Perera was joined by De Silva, Sri Lanka’s last recognised batsman.

    South Africa, who were without opening bowler Vernon Philander because of a strained left hamstring, struggled for the next two hours as Perera and De Silva brought the target down to single figures.

    Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took two wickets off successive balls, dismissing De Silva leg before wicket and having Suranga Lakmal caught at slip.

    The next two wickets fell quickly – but what seemed certain victory for South Africa turned into a triumph for the tourists, who are assured of at least a share of the honours in a two-match series.

    The second Test starts in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.

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    South AfricaKusal PereraSri Lanka
  • Guptill runs flow sweeps New Zealand past Bangladesh

    Guptill runs flow sweeps New Zealand past Bangladesh

    A rejuvenated Martin Guptill wound back the clock with his second century in as many games as a clinical New Zealand clinched their one-day series against Bangladesh in Christchurch on Saturday.

    The long-serving opener, who had a disappointing recent series against India, rated his 118 as a more satisfying knock than the unbeaten 117 when he returned to form in the first match against Bangladesh.

    Marty Melville/ AFP

    “There was a lot of flow and rhythm in that one,” he said after New Zealand comfortably knocked off their 227-run target for the loss of two wickets and with 13.5 overs to spare.

    “It felt like I got back to where I was a couple of years ago.” 

    Guptill cut, drove and pulled the Bangladesh attack apart as New Zealand cruised to victory and went 2-0 up in the three-match series.

    With the World Cup looming, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was pleased to see his side had taken lessons from the 4-1 drubbing inflicted by India.

    “It was what we were wanting,” he said.

    “That was a really tough series and (the) guys got taught some harsh lessons and it’s important you learn from those.

    “Today and in the last game there were a couple of nice performances obviously led by Martin Guptill.”

    Against India’s tight bowling, Guptill was restricted to a top score of 15.

    But against a less confining Bangladesh attack, he scored freely, with 14 fours and four sixes from the 88 deliveries he faced.

    After rolling Bangladesh for 226, Guptill made a flying start in New Zealand’s reply as they passed through 10 overs at 59 for one while Bangladesh were 32 for two at the same stage.

    Mustafizur Rahman claimed the early wicket of Henry Nicholls for 14, leaving Kane Williamson to partner Guptill in a 143-run stand for the second wicket.

    When Guptill went in similar fashion to Nicholls, caught on the boundary by Liton Das off Mustafizur Rahman in the 29th over, New Zealand were 188 for two.

    Williamson and Ross Taylor then guided the home side to the finish with Williamson not out 65 and Taylor on 21.

     Sloppy fielding 

    After Williamson won the toss and opted to bowl under cloudy skies, the Bangladesh top order again failed to fire. 

    They were in trouble at 93 for five after 21 overs before Mohammad Mithun and Sabbir Rahman provided some backbone for the innings, putting on 75 for the sixth wicket.

    Mithun again played the anchor role, as he did with his hard-fought 62 in the first match.

    In game two, he scored 57 off 69 deliveries before he was bowled by Todd Astle, while Sabbir contributed 43 off 65. 

    New Zealand assisted the Bangladesh cause with 23 extras and some sloppy fielding while Rahman had fortune on his side when an edge off a Todd Astle delivery nicked the stumps but the bails stayed on. 

    Colin de Grandhomme had an eventful first over that lasted 11 deliveries, included five wides and also produced the wicket of Soumya Sarkar who was caught by Ross Taylor for 22.

    But Taylor dropped two catches in the following overs.

    Ferguson finished as the most successful New Zealand bowler with three for 43.

    The third and final ODI is in Dunedin next Wednesday, followed by three Test matches.

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  • Finch’s Renegades win Melbourne derby BBL final as Stars implode

    Finch’s Renegades win Melbourne derby BBL final as Stars implode

    Aaron Finch’s Melbourne Renegades clinched their first Big Bash League title Sunday after city rivals the Stars imploded during a tense run chase. 

    Chasing 146 to win at Docklands Stadium, Glenn Maxwell’s men were 93 without loss and cruising before losing an incredible seven wickets for 19 runs. 

    They finished on 132 for seven, losing the first ever all-Melbourne BBL final by 13 runs at the end of the near two-month tournament.

    Saeed Khan/ AFP

    “It’s unbelievable,” said Finch. “I thought when we got (Ben) Dunk caught and we had two new batters in we had a chance. It’s a wicket that was so hard to chase runs on, that’s why I was happy to bat first.

    “The boys just executed well under pressure. Very special to win in front of our home fans,” he added.

    After some tight bowling to restrict the Renegades, the Stars signalled their intentions early with left-hander Dunk smacking a boundary off the first ball of the innings from Kane Richardson.

    But he and fellow opener Marcus Stoinis weren’t taking any chances, knowing that wickets in hand could be vital in the final overs.

    Instead, they picked off runs when they could to keep the scoreboard ticking over coupled with some extravagant shots, including a Dunk six off Cameron Boyce and Stoinis smashing an even bigger one down the ground from the same bowler.

    Dunk brought up his 50 off 38 balls with a four before Stoinis finally fell for 39 after 93-run stand, bowled by Boyce to spark the incredible collapse.

    Gutted Maxwell 

    Test batsman Peter Handscomb came to the crease but only lasted two balls and then Dunk holed out to Dan Christian off Boyce for 57 before Maxwell was out for one.

    Nic Maddinson followed for six and then Seb Gotch for two. Dwayne Bravo was the next to go for three.

    It turned the game on its head and there was no way back for the Stars.

    “We played some great cricket this tournament, to fall short at the end is disappointing,” said a gutted Maxwell. 

    “Hopefully we win it next year. Congratulations to Renegades, we’ve had some great tussles. To my boys, I’ve asked a lot of you and you’ve delivered in spades.”

    The Renegades, sent into bat in front of 40,000 fans, made 145 for five off their 20 overs.  

    Test opener Marcus Harris clubbed 12 runs off Jackson Bird’s first four balls but he then rashly went for another big hit and top-edged to wicketkeeper Handscomb.

    The tenacious Bird, recalled to the side in place of all-rounder Evan Gulbis, struck again in his next over to take an easy catch off his own bowling and send Sam Harper packing for six, leaving the Renegades struggling.

    Veteran Cameron White joined Aaron Finch and they took 11 off spinner Adam Zampa’s first over before the Renegades skipper was out in bizarre fashion for 13 just as he was hitting his stride.

    White hit a straight drive and it deflected off bowler Bird’s boot to hit the stumps, with Finch stranded outside his crease, leaving the Renegades 47 for three off six overs.

    When White went soon after for 12, lbw to Zampa, they were in big trouble, managing just 65 runs by the halfway mark.

    The pace was picked up over the final 10 overs with Christian, their semi-final hero, and Tom Cooper sharing an 80-run unbroken partnership to push the total into respectable territory, with the 29 runs bludgeoned from the last two overs proving vital.

    Cooper ended on 43 not out and Christian was unbeaten on 38.

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    Melbourne RenegadesGlenn MaxwellMelbourne StarsAaron Finch Big Bash League
  • Farbrace leaves England set-up for Warwickshire role

    Farbrace leaves England set-up for Warwickshire role

    England coach Trevor Bayliss will lose a key member of his staff ahead of the team’s home World Cup and Ashes after it was announced Saturday that assistant coach Paul Farbrace will leave to join Warwickshire.

    Farbrace, credited with helping kickstart England’s revival in one-day cricket, will succeed Ashley Giles as the sport director at Edgbaston after England’s tour of the West Indies ends next month.

    Ishara S.Kodikara/ AFP

    Former England spinner Giles left Warwickshire in December to become England’s managing director of men’s cricket, succeeding Andrew Strauss.

    Bayliss had already announced he was standing down as England head coach when his contract ends in December, leaving Farbrace facing an uncertain future. 

    Former Kent and Middlesex wicketkeeper Farbrace, who first worked under Bayliss when the latter was Sri Lanka coach, joined the England staff in 2014 after guiding Sri Lanka to the World Twenty20 title that year.

    After England’s woeful early exit at the 2015 World Cup, which saw Peter Moores sacked as head coach, Farbrace took caretaker charge of the side before joining forces with Bayliss again.

    The pair have since helped guide England to the top of the one-day international rankings and made them one of the favourites as they go in search of a maiden men’s World Cup title on home soil.

    But Farbrace, 51, will not now see the job through, although he was confident the team would succeed without him.

    ‘Create history’ 

    “I have been fortunate to taste some genuine success and be part of the development of some excellent players, who have the world at their feet this summer,” said Farbrace in an England and Wales Cricket Board statement.

    “I wish them every success. I believe they have the right attributes to create history by lifting the World Cup in July and winning the Ashes that follows it.

    “There is never a great time to leave an international set-up and despite what will be a fantastic summer for English cricket, the opportunity to shape the future of one of the game’s biggest counties was too much to resist.

    Giles paid tribute to Farbrace by saying: “Paul was integral, alongside, Andrew Strauss, Trevor Bayliss and Eoin Morgan, in transforming our white-ball strategy, which has seen us become the best team in the world leading into a World Cup year.”

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  • Chris Gayle to retire from ODIs after World Cup

    Chris Gayle to retire from ODIs after World Cup

    Veteran West Indies batsman Chris Gayle will retire from one-day international cricket after this year’s World Cup in England and Wales, Windies Cricket announced on Sunday.

    Marty Melville/ AFP

    The big-hitting 39-year-old opener, who has scored 9,727 runs in 284 ODIs, is set to play his first international since last July against England on Wednesday.

    Gayle needs 677 more runs to surpass the great Brian Lara as the West Indies’ all-time record ODI runscorer, a feat he will be hoping to achieve at his fifth World Cup, which starts on May 30.

    He has been mainly a T20 specialist since making his last Test appearance in 2014, and most recently played in the Bangladesh Premier League earlier this month.

    Since making his debut in 1999, Gayle has also scored a Windies record of 23 ODI hundreds, including the first ever World Cup double century against Zimbabwe four years ago.

    The game in Barbados on Wednesday is the first of a five-match series against World Cup favourites England.

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    World Cup 2019Chris Gayle