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Weather could have a say in fifth day's action in Headingley Test

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Rain is forecast for the lead up to the start of play and there could be intermittent showers thereafter too

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jun-2025Weather could have a say in what has shaped up as a blockbuster finish to the Headingley Test between England and India. The early-morning forecast for Leeds is of showers in the lead up to 11am local time (3.30pm IST) start and intermittent showers through the day thereafter, which, if it does come true, could mean a stop-start flow to the day.The game is tantalisingly poised after the two teams finished on an even keel after the first-innings exchanges, India first scoring 471 and England replying with 465, just six runs between them. India have since scored 364 in their second innings, leaving England a target of 371, of which they have shaved off 21 with a day to go. And 350 runs don’t seem too many in 90 overs for a team known to score quickly, come rain or shine.”[We will] just go for the win. That’s the clear message in the changing room,” Josh Tongue, who cleaned up India’s tail in the second innings for figures of 3 for 72, said after the fourth day. “It’s just [about] being as positive as we can. They’re going to bowl well at times tomorrow. It’s just crucial we soak up that bit of pressure and reapply it. I don’t see why we can’t chase that down.”All of which, in what promises to be overcast conditions at Headingley, will likely bring Jasprit Bumrah & Co into play in a big way.”There’s definitely going to be a result,” KL Rahul, century-maker in India’s second innings, said. “That’s what England have said very openly, and their style of cricket suggests that as well. It gives us a good opportunity to pick up ten wickets. We know how they’re going to come out and bat on day five.”The wicket today was a very tricky wicket: I spent a lot of time batting there and I didn’t feel set at all at any given stage. The wicket’s taken a beating, and tomorrow might break even more… We know their style of cricket, so [we’ll] try to keep that in the back of our heads and try to see what lines and lengths we can bowl and how we can get them out.”

Arshdeep: 'I was thinking I would be the culprit of the game'

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India’s last-over hero in Bengaluru glad to get a chance to bounce back from an expensive start to win the game for his team

Hemant Brar03-Dec-20232:06

Arshdeep: It was a nothing-to-lose situation for me

It’s not always that you score 160 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and feel you are 15 to 20 runs above par. But that’s what Arshdeep Singh said after India beat Australia by six runs in the fifth and final T20I to take a 4-1 series win.After being sent in, India hobbled to 160 for 8. In response, Australia were 144 for 7 after 18 overs, needing 17 from 12 balls with Matthew Wade in the middle. Mukesh Kumar gave away only seven in the 19th over, making it ten required from six balls.Arshdeep, who had conceded 37 in his first three, bowled an excellent last over. After bowling two dots, though the first one should have been a wide for height, he had Wade holing out to long-on on the third to ensure India’s win. The last time a team defended 160 or fewer in a T20 at this venue was in 2017.Related

  • Ice-cool Arshdeep clinches thriller as India finish series 4-1

“I guess for the big part of the game, for almost the first 19 overs, I was thinking that I gave away too many runs and would be the culprit of the game,” Arshdeep said on the official broadcast. “But god gave me another chance and I believed in myself. Thanks to god that I defended it and thanks to the staff as well who believed in me.”When asked what his thought process was for the final over, he said: “To be honest, nothing was going through my mind. Surya [Suryakumar Yadav] told me that whatever happens, happens. The credit goes to our batsmen as well. They gave us a really good total here on a tricky wicket and we had a cushion of an extra 15 to 20 runs.”Before this match, Bengaluru had hosted seven T20s in 2023, all in the IPL. The average first-innings total in those games was 196. But this was not a typical Chinnaswamy pitch, which Ben McDermott later called “sticky”, because of the weather around. “I am not really sure what Chinnaswamy is normally like,” McDermott, who was playing at the venue for the first time, said. “But I heard it was a really high-scoring ground but the rain coming in all day, these little sprinkles here and there kept it pretty moist. The outfield was quite soft as well. But coming in, it [pitch] looked beautiful, looked really nice but yeah, it was a little bit sticky.”In the first innings, legspinner Tanveer Sangha registered figures of 1 for 26. When it was India’s turn, Axar Patel was the pick of the bowlers, conceding just 14 from his four overs while picking up the wicket of Tim David. Ravi Bishnoi, too, chipped in with 2 for 29.Shreyas Iyer, whose 37-ball 53 had steered India to what they eventually got, agreed with Arshdeep’s assessment.”To be honest, my mindset was to go boom-boom from ball one,” Iyer said. “But when I saw three wickets falling down, my mind started calculating what would be the best total on this wicket. Then I had a few batsmen contributing as well. It wasn’t an easy wicket to bat on, but if you have a total in mind, you try to play accordingly and today was the right example of how we did it as a team.”I feel 160 was the right total, which we got eventually. After losing consecutive wickets in the powerplay to get to 160, it was a commendable effort, and to defend it at the same time, brilliant performance by the team.”Still, it was not a perfect outing for India’s seamers. They missed their lengths on multiple occasions and Arshdeep and Mukesh were lucky to get the wickets of McDermott and Matthew Short, respectively, off full tosses.”According to the standards we have set as a bowling unit in the Indian team, it was not even near par,” Arshdeep accepted. “But a lot of lessons learnt and, in the future, I will make sure to rectify those mistakes and come back stronger.”

Santner and Mitchell fifties seal New Zealand's 11-0 Europe sweep

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That’s 6-0 over Ireland in ODIs and T20Is, 3-0 over Scotland in ODIs and T20Is and now 2-0 over Netherlands

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-2022New Zealand wrapped up their tour of Europe with an 11th straight victory as Mitchell Santner smashed an unbeaten 77 off 42 balls in a chase of 148.Netherlands appeared to give themselves hope of staying in the game when they picked up two early wickets, but enjoying the perks of being stand-in captain, Santner promoted himself to No. 3, hit a six off the second ball he faced, and took complete control.He was responsible for six of the eight boundaries that New Zealand hit in the powerplay on Friday, racing to his half-century in 29 balls.Alongside him, Daryl Mitchell, purred away on 32 off 21 balls, managing a strike rate of 157 despite hitting only three fours. Eventually he too opened up his shoulders and cruised to a fifty of his own – the boundary that brought up that landmark also bringing up the win.Netherlands, whose bowlers were able to stifle New Zealand in the first T20I, would have hoped for a similar performance but there really was no recourse after they could put up only 147 on the board. Bas de Leede was the top-scorer with 53 not out but he was part of a top four that barely managed a run a ball. Tom Cooper (26 off 17) and Scott Edwards (26* off 20) gave the innings a bit of impetus at the end but it wasn’t enough.Michael Bracewell, who began this tour of Europe with a jaw-dropping innings of 127 that rescued New Zealand from dire straits, ended it with a two-wicket haul. Overall, during the course of three ODIs and three T20Is against Ireland, two more T20Is and an ODI against Scotland, and one T20I against Netherlands, he has managed 272 runs at an average of 136 and 11 wickets (including a hat-trick) at an average of 19.63.

Jason Sangha leads strong response from young New South Wales batting line-up

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With a place in the final up for grabs it was the home side who took the early advantage

Daniel Brettig03-Apr-2021New South Wales 4 for 299 (Sangha 81*, Hughes 74, Gilkes 66) vs QueenslandBack in November 2017, an 18-year-old Jason Sangha cuffed an attractive century against the England touring team in only his second first-class appearance. Having represented Australia at Under-19 level and been written up as a batting talent of infinite promise, he appeared ready for a breakout prior to his 20th birthday.The intervening three summers brought glimpses but largely indifference. His one full season of Sheffield Shield matches for New South Wales reaped one more century but very little else besides.It’s clear the early expectations weighed heavily on Sangha, while opponents delighted in the chance to take a bright young talent down a peg or two in domestic ranks.But a sun-kissed April day in Wollongong brought a return of runs for Sangha after the team’s 32 all out in the previous round and a pessimistic assessment of the batting stocks of Australia’s largest state by no less a judge than the former Test captain Mark Taylor.The likes of Daniel Solway and Nick Larkin made way for youth that also included the free-scoring debutant Lachlan Hearne, but it was to be Sangha who shone brightest.Granted a platform by Daniel Hughes and Matthew Gilkes after the Blues were sent in by Queensland’s captain Usman Khawaja, Sangha showed plentiful evidence that his hard early lessons are being well learned. A composed but also proactive unbeaten 81 took Sangha to the outskirts of a third first-class century, and set NSW on the path to a substantial first innings tally.Gilkes enjoyed plenty of good fortune on his way to 66, an innings ended when he missed a short ball from the fit-again wrist spinner Mitchell Swepson and was lbw, but he had fewer reasons to quibble with his exit than Hughes, seemingly caught behind off his thigh, and Kurtis Patterson as victim to an lbw decision where the ball kept low but might also have pitched outside leg stump.Those wickets after the biggest NSW opening stand of the summer might have given the Bulls a way back into the day. But Sangha built a sturdy platform in the company of Jack Edwards, who showed some nimble footwork and precise judgment of length to punish even marginal errors from Swepson, before laying back to cut the part-timers of Marnus Labuschagne and being defeated by a little extra bounce and turn – Jimmy Peirson’s catch was a good one.Hearne, though, showed very few nerves on his first appearance, and if anything aided Sangha’s sense of positivity as they added a chanceless 81 in the last 19 overs of the day. Hearne showed a terrific range of strokes, dealing comfortably with the new ball in the hands of Xavier Bartlett and Michael Neser, while one of Sangha’s few nervy moments arrived when he snicked Neser past the cordon to go past 50.By day’s end the NSW innings was in exceedingly good shape as they chase the points they need to ensure a spot in the Shield final, and Sangha could dream of a century on the ‘morrow.

Graeme Smith appointed CSA director of cricket for three months

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Smith’s availability beyond May is not known but will be established by CSA in future

Firdose Moonda11-Dec-2019Graeme Smith has been announced as South Africa’s first director of cricket, albeit in a temporary role, after several months of negotiation. Smith has signed on for three months and will begin work immediately, with two weeks to go before South Africa play England in a four-Test series at home, starting on Boxing Day, followed by three ODIs and as many T20Is. The position was created in the aftermath of South Africa’s underwhelming 2019 World Cup campaign, and involves overseeing all cricket played under Cricket South Africa’s administration.The former captain could not take on the role for longer at this stage, because of his commitment to commentating in the IPL in 2020, a tournament which runs from March 23 to May 12. Smith’s availability beyond May is not known but will be established by CSA in future.The time frame means that Smith will only be able to work on the men’s national team for the England series and the limited-overs matches against Australia which conclude on March 7, and not take on all the responsibilities intended for the director of cricket. The position was intended to include the women’s, age-group and academy teams and to create an national strategy. However, given the limitations on Smith’s time, he will not be involved in the Under-19 World Cup (which starts in January 2020) or the Women’s T20 World Cup (which will be played in February-March 2020). Instead, Smith’s most urgent task will be to appoint a national selection panel and coaching staff for the men’s national side as they prepare to take on England.Speaking of his new role, Smith said: “I’ve publicly stated a number of times that I would love to assist CSA in this difficult time, particularly in developing this new role of director of cricket. I’m still as passionate about South African cricket as I ever was, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the role. There is a lot of work to be done in the next few weeks and months and my objective will always be to make a positive impact during my tenure.”ALSO READ: 2019 South African cricket’s annus horribilisSmith was initially approached for the job on August 28, at a meeting mediated by former United Cricket Board (now CSA) managing director Ali Bacher and involving suspended CEO Thabang Moroe. On November 9, ESPNcricinfo revealed that Smith had been interviewed alongside suspended interim director of cricket Corrie van Zyl and former national selector Hussein Manack.Five days later, Smith posted on social media confirming that he had withdrawn his interest in the role and cited lack of confidence in CSA’s administration as his main reason.Since then, CSA has been through turbulent times which have resulted in the CEO being suspended over allegations of misconduct. However, president Chris Nenzani continued discussions with Smith over the role. Acting CEO Jacques Faul finalised the deal with Smith.Faul said of Smith’s appointement: “I am delighted that Graeme has agreed to assist Cricket South Africa up until the IPL next year. Obviously, Graeme has had his concerns during the course of the last few months, but I am pleased to say that we have overcome those concerns and I look forward to working with him to urgently address pressing cricketing matters in particular.”Graeme is … a natural leader and his knowledge of the game is second to none. To have him on board to work with the professional cricket arm of CSA, as well as the cricketing pipeline, which is so vital for our game, is a massive shot in the arm for CSA during this period.”With Smith set to appoint the national coaching staff, it remains to be seen if Enoch Nkwe stays on as team director – he was appointed in the role in an interim capacity in August.

Notes on sexual consent added to NZ players' handbook

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Players’ association includes section on “good decision-making”, which offers guidelines on good communication in sexual relationships

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Oct-2018The New Zealand’s players’ handbook now includes guidelines relating to good communication when engaging in sexual relationships, with particular reference to consent.Amid growing concerns of harassment of women in the work place and by men in positions of power, brought to light through the #metoo campaign, the New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA) included a section in the players’ handbook for the first time on the importance of consent in sexual relationships.The notes, under a section titled “good decision-making”, begin by saying: “Making good decisions is important in all aspects of life. This is particularly important when relating to sexual relationships, and especially around matters of consent. No matter the situation, sexual consent is crucial.”The notes go on to point out that consent is required by law and that “if they say no, it means no“. It also talks about not pressurising a person into giving their consent, and respecting a person’s freedom to withdraw consent even after sexual relations have started.

A programme on the potential risks a cricketer faces has been run by NZCPA for about seven years, according to a report in the , but this is the first time it has been included in the players’ handbook. Sexual relationships apart, the programme on “personal development” also deals with other potential risky situations, including doping and coping with life after cricket.NZCPA chief executive Heath Mills said the handbook was updated with this information simply to make it more accessible to players all over New Zealand.”If people are making good decisions they’re aware of the risks around being a professional cricketer and are aware of the importance of respect and responsibility, then they’re going to be skills and attributes they’re going to have for life no matter what career they’re involved in,” Mills told . “There’s a whole heap of pages in here, and they’re all aspects of the personal development programme that we run. Good decision-making is one aspect to it.”

Graham Ford to take over as Ireland head coach

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The 56-year-old former South African first-class cricketer has signed a three-year deal with Cricket Ireland and will succeed John Bracewell in December

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Sep-2017Graham Ford is set to take over as Ireland’s head coach in December, when the incumbent John Bracewell’s contract comes to an end. Ford, the 56-year-old former South African first-class cricketer, has signed a three-year deal with Cricket Ireland.In June, Ford ended his second stint as Sri Lanka’s head coach, stepping down after 15 months of a tenure that was originally scheduled to stretch until the end of the 2019 World Cup. His first stint lasted from 2012 to 2014. Before that, he had served as South Africa’s head coach from 1999 to 2002. He has also worked with Dolphins (formerly Natal) in South African domestic cricket, and Kent and Surrey in England.”I am really excited to be a part of this new era in Irish cricket,” Ford said. “I have always enjoyed working with decent people and, in their attitude, character and camaraderie, the Irish cricketers have always come across as such.”With my knowledge and experience I believe I can genuinely make a difference. All my efforts will be dedicated to assisting the players to improve and achieve their full potential while playing an enjoyable brand of cricket.”

O'Keefe fined over hotel incident

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Injured spinner Steve O’Keefe has been fined $10,000 by Cricket Australia after being issued with a criminal infringement notice by New South Wales Police following an incident at a Sydney hotel on Saturday night

Brydon Coverdale08-Aug-2016Injured spinner Steve O’Keefe has been fined $10,000 by Cricket Australia after being issued with a criminal infringement notice by New South Wales Police following an incident at a Sydney hotel on Saturday night.O’Keefe, who played the first Test of Australia’s ongoing tour of Sri Lanka before being forced home due to a hamstring injury, accepted his penalty from Cricket Australia for breaching the CA Code of Behaviour.”Just before 11pm, on Saturday 6 August 2016, a 31-year-old man attempted to enter licensed premises at The Corso, Manly,” a New South Wales Police media statement said, as reported by the . “It will be alleged the man behaved offensively towards a security guard, who had refused the man entry.”The man allegedly verbally abused the security and management personnel, and refused to leave. Officers attached to Northern Beaches Local Area Command attended and the man was issued a criminal infringement notice for offensive behaviour, and excluded person remain in vicinity of licensed premises.”O’Keefe was charged by Cricket Australia with “conduct unbecoming of a player”. Cricket Australia executive general manager of team performance, Pat Howard, said CA was “extremely disappointed” by O’Keefe’s behaviour.”We take a zero-tolerance approach to this type of behaviour from players at any level in Australian cricket,” Howard said. “Steve understands our expectations and that we’re extremely disappointed this situation occurred, particularly as he is recovering from an injury.”Andrew Jones, the chief executive officer of Cricket New South Wales, said: “Steve has had a difficult couple of weeks but that is no excuse. We expect a high standard from our players on and off the field and in this case Steve failed to meet those high standards.”I have spoken to Steve and he is very disappointed with his behaviour. He has apologised to the management of The Steyne Hotel and accepts that he will be sanctioned.”O’Keefe had only recently returned from Sri Lanka, where he played the third Test of his career. He said in a statement that he took full responsibility for his actions.”I know I failed to uphold the high standards expected of a NSW and Australian cricketer and apologise to all concerned,” O’Keefe said. “I take full responsibility for my actions and accept the sanction handed to me by Cricket Australia.”

Lyth, Wood in squad for NZ Tests

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England may feel they have rid themselves of one devil having informed Kevin Pietersen he will not be considered for selection this season but they will inherit another with Adam Lyth set to become the 666th Test cricketer for England having been named in

Alex Winter14-May-20151:14

England could field two debutants in 1st Test

England may feel they have rid themselves of one devil having informed Kevin Pietersen he will not be considered for selection this season but they will inherit another when the first Test begins against New Zealand next Thursday with Adam Lyth set to become the 666th Test cricketer for England.Mark Wood, the Durham fast bowler who toured West Indies, could also debut against New Zealand after being included in the 12-man squad for the first Test of the summer against New Zealand at Lord’s.Lyth, 27, was reduced to 12th man duty in the Caribbean as Jonathan Trott was given an opportunity to revive his international career but Lyth will now get his chance as Alastair Cook’s sixth opening partner since the retirement of Andrew Strauss in 2012. Lyth enjoyed an outstanding 2014 with 1489 Championship runs at an average of 67.68 as Yorkshire won their first title since 2001.

Lyth’s devil-may-care attitude

Adam Lyth has taken a devil-may-care attitude to the expectation that he will become England’s 666th Test debutant – a number normally associated with the devil or anti-Christ.
The ECB would be open to any request from Lyth to skip a number based on some religious or superstitious concern.
Lyth, however, presumably not an addict of horror movies, was unconcerned by such outlandish notions.
“Any Test number, I’m not bothered,” he told . “A Test debut at Lord’s, walking through the Long Room with Alastair Cook to open the batting for England – it doesn’t get much better than that, does it? It will be one of the proudest moments of my life, and the same for my family.”

With Trott having retired from international cricket, Lyth will be the latest batsman to try and forge a new partnership with Cook. None of the other five players tried – Nick Compton, Joe Root, Michael Carberry, Sam Robson and Trott – have lasted more than nine Tests. Having toured the Caribbean, Lyth has only played one match in the UK this season, making 53 and 23 against Hampshire at Headingley, but a lack of cricket having been with the England squad was naturally not held against him.”I’m over the moon,” Lyth said, “I’m looking forward to opening the batting next week. It’s very exciting, I’m sure there will be a lot of nerves next week but I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead. It will be one of the proudest moments of my life. It was great to get the experience in the West Indies but now I get my chance and there’s no better place to make your debut than at Lord’s. Hopefully I can be in the side for a long period now and would love to play an Ashes series.”Alex Hales, the Nottinghamshire batsman, staked his own claim for a call up with a double century against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge and 141 and 94 at the Ageas Bowl – he is the leading run-scorer after five rounds of the County Championship – but Lyth has been given first opportunity and Hales has been called up for the knockout stages of the IPL with Mumbai Indians.”Adam Lyth has waited patiently for an opportunity with England having performed consistently for Yorkshire and England Lions in the last year,” national selector, James Whitaker, said. “He fully deserves his chance to cement a place in the side at the top of the order. Mark Wood has also impressed and his pace and style of bowling ensure the coach and captain have options in the bowling attack.”There were some positive signs during the recent Test tour and it is key that this group of players learns from the instances when the opposition was put under pressure and we were in a position to press for victory but couldn’t quite manage it. New Zealand are a very talented side and I expect a very competitive series between the two teams to start what will be an incredibly exciting summer of cricket. Good luck to Alastair, Paul Farbrace and the rest of the squad.”Wood, who played in the washed-out ODI in Dublin last week, may be the second England debutant at Lord’s if England decide to make a change to the attack that played in the Caribbean. Ben Stokes, England’s seam-bowling allrounder, is likely to be persisted with despite just three wickets at 85.33 in three Tests against West Indies. He bowled some impressive spells and also made 79 in Antigua. Chris Jordan, who took six wickets at 42.66 in the Caribbean, could make way for Wood as third seamer.Mark Wood is in contention for a Test debut at Lord’s•Getty Images

Wood, the 25-year-old Durham bowler, was fast-tracked into the England set-up and could make his Test debut after just 24 first-class matches. He impressed for Durham in 2013 with 27 scalps at 24.07 in the county’s third Championship triumph. Injury reduced him to just one warm-up match on England Lions’ tour of Sri Lanka but this winter toured South Africa with the Lions. He was also in England’s party in the Caribbean.This is the first squad of Strauss’s reign as director of England cricket. He sat in on the selection meeting led by national selector James Whitaker, whose role is the latest to come under scrutiny after Strauss’s appointment. England go into the series without a permanent coach after Peter Moores’ sacking. Paul Farbrace, the assistant coach, takes temporary charge. Alastair Cook, who made his first Test century for almost two years in Barbados, continues as captain after Strauss offered his public backing at his unveiling on Tuesday.Liam Plunkett, who also toured the Caribbean and featured for England in Test matches last summer, might have been considered but he was left out of Yorkshire’s match at Headingley this week for disciplinary reasons.England squad for first Test against New Zealand
Alastair Cook (capt, Essex), Adam Lyth (Yorkshire), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Jos Buttler (wkt, Lancashire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Mark Wood (Durham)

Match abandoned without ball bowled

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Incessant rain and drizzle forced abandonment in the first ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Pallekele, without a ball being bowled

Andrew Fernando in Pallekele01-Nov-2012
ScorecardThe covers were never removed on Thursday in Pallekele•AFP

Incessant rain and drizzle forced abandonment in the first ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Pallekele, without a ball being bowled. The covers were never removed, and match referee Andy Pycroft called off the match at 17.15 local time. The weather had also severely hampered both teams’ preparation in the lead-up to the match. Tuesday’s Twenty20 was also a washout, after only 16 overs were bowled.The action now heads to Colombo, which hosts the second and third ODIs of the five-match series. The monsoon rains have been no less prevalent there however, and more rain is forecast across the island over the next few days. The second ODI is scheduled to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.