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Phoebe Litchfield was named WBBL ‘Young Gun’ as the best player under the age of 21

Alex Malcolm24-Nov-2021Harmanpreet Kaur is hopeful a women’s IPL can be established sooner rather than later, after she created history becoming the first Indian to be named WBBL player of the tournament following a stunning season for Melbourne Renegades.The India T20I captain made 399 runs for the tournament at an average of 66.50 and strike-rate of 135.25, including three match-winning half-centuries. In addition to being Renegades’ leading run-scorer, she was also their leading wicket-taker bagging 15 wickets at an economy rate of 7.46, bowling a lot of vital powerplay and death overs.She was Player of the Match three times and polled 31 votes, under a 3-2-1 voting system that is voted on by the standing umpires after each match. She finished three votes clear of Perth Scorchers duo Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine.Harmanpreet becomes the third overseas player to be named the WBBL’s player of the tournament after New Zealand duo Devine (twice) and Amy Satterthwaite. She hoped it was another stepping stone towards the establishment of the women’s IPL in the short-term future.”I think we have been looking at this for a long time and I hope, you know, sooner this women’s IPL will also start and we will also invite overseas players over there so that they can also share their experience with our domestic players,” Harmanpreet said. “I think this is something we are really waiting for and I hope, you know, this will start.”Performance is something which is in our hands and that’s what we have been doing and the rest of the things are totally dependent on BCCI and the cricket board.”We can’t do something extra on that but we can only request and that’s what we have done, you know, for many years.”They know better than us. They know when to do it and how to start and they are also thinking about that and I’m sure, you know, they will definitely come up with something for women’s cricket.”Harmanpreet Kaur was involved in a team hat-trick in the 20th over of Melbourne Stars’ innings•Mark Brake/Getty Images

Harmanpreet has been breaking ground for Indian women’s cricket ever since becoming the first Indian to play in both the WBBL and the Super League in England. She is hoping to inspire the next generation of players with her deeds in the WBBL.”Playing any tournament will give you lots of confidence and WBBL is something, you know, it’s a very, very big platform back home,” Harmanpreet said. “Every Indian wants to play in this league and I was the first one who got this opportunity to play and today, you know, winning this player of the tournament definitely gives lots of confidence to Indian girls also. They can also come here and perform and, you know, be part of this and then there are all the chances to achieve a lot in their cricket career.”Harmanpreet paid tribute to Renegades teammate Jemimah Rodrigues and coach Simon Helmet for their support throughout the tournament.”I think that is the reason I was more calm,” Harmanpreet said. “I was enjoying [playing] more because you know I had a teammate from back home and I really, really enjoyed her company.”Simon is a very, very nice human and is a great, great coach. I was lucky, you know, I played under him and I learned a lot from him and I think when I go back, I will definitely share his working skills with our coaches and definitely share this experience with my teammates.”Harmanpreet knows the job is not done as the Renegades wait to face the winner of Tuesday’s Eliminator between Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers in tomorrow night’s Challenger. If they win the Challenger they will fly to Perth to face Scorchers in the final on Saturday. Harmanpreet didn’t bat in the last match against Heat but is fit for the Challenger.”I was not feeling well that day,” Harmanpreet said. “But luckily I’ve got four or five days off now and feeling much better now and I’m ready to go.”I have never [won] any title like this so far. And if we win, that will be a very great achievement for me.”Meanwhile, Phoebe Litchfield was named WBBL ‘Young Gun’ as the best player under the age of 21. The award is selected by Australia’s national selection panel.The 18-year-old Sydney Thunder batter made 263 runs at 21.91, striking at 109.12.”It means a lot to be recognised with this award,” Litchfield said. “It’s a surprise, to be honest. I could think of a number of other young players who would be deserving of this award, which is really exciting for the future.”Batting at No. 3 was a challenge but also a great opportunity. I was very privileged that Trevor Griffin trusted me with that spot and I hope I made the most of it.”

The series is still alive, but only just, with England making four changes as they look to hit back

Andrew McGlashan25-Dec-2021

Big Picture

The Ashes is alive heading to Melbourne…thanks to the schedule. In the last two series Australia have had things tied up before Christmas, but with two Tests in the New Year this iconic fixture was always going to have plenty riding on it regardless of what happened in the first two games.And what has happened is that England have been steamrollered. Sydney, the venue for the fourth Test, has not had an Ashes Test without the urn retained since 1994-95 and it would be a brave person to think it will come the first week of January.Things have gone almost perfectly for Australia barring the lack of runs for Marcus Harris. And it’s still possible to say that when their captain, Pat Cummins, was ruled out on the morning of a Test as a Covid close contact. The way they won the second Test with half their first-choice attack missing and a stand-in skipper (albeit an experienced one) was an encouraging sign for the way this team is developing.England, however, have barely challenged them so far. When there was a glimpse of the batting wobbling in Brisbane Travis Head slammed the door shut with a thrilling century. When England briefly fought back on the second day in Adelaide, Alex Carey’s maiden Test fifty helped repel them. When Joe Root and Dawid Malan threatened a counterattack on the third day, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Cameron Green sucked the life out of the innings.Related

• Scott Boland handed Boxing Day debut with Australia cautious over Jhye Richardson

• Are England enjoying themselves? Or has cricket turned into an obligation for them?

• No Hazlewood, no worries with Green cherry-ripe

• Joe Root might need to set new record to make sure England don't

It is perhaps worth noting that in their last two Ashes drubbings, Melbourne has produced some of England’s better cricket. In 2013-14 they actually claimed a first-innings lead before being unable to make the most of it and slumping to defeat while four years ago Alastair Cook’s unbeaten 244 put them on top but a dour pitch had the final say. Even that, however, is slim pickings.What they need this time is something akin to the spirit of 1998-99 when they arrived 2-0 down (Australia had retained the Ashes) and having been humiliated by Australia A but through the performances of Alec Stewart, Darren Gough and Dean Headley among others conjured a remarkable 12-run victory. Anything less than a win and the Ashes are gone with jobs perhaps to follow.

Form guide

(most recent first)
Australia WWLDL
England LLLWL

In the spotlight

When the two parts of Cameron Green‘s game come together he could be a world beater. But it hasn’t quite happened yet. Last season against India his batting impressed as he worked his way back to bowling after injuries. In this series, the bowling has taken centre stage while the batting has been less convincing. It remains early days in what should be a long career, but England’s success against Green has been one of their few plus points (the second-innings runs in Adelaide were largely freebies). At the Gabba he shouldered arms first ball and lost off stump then in Adelaide he was beaten by a terrific delivery from Ben Stokes that did the same damage. Things are not quite in sync. However, he’s still had a major say by removing Joe Root twice. That would be a handy skill to continue.England’s entire top order is under the scanner, even those who have made runs. In lower-scoring games back home a brace of 80s might be enough on occasions, but that will rarely be the case in Australia. Techniques are being picked apart as well, especially with the opening pair of Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed. The former has lost his place to Zak Crawley. Jos Buttler was a missed chance away from having his series – and maybe Test career – ended after Adelaide. It is not just this contest that has shown up the batting failings, but unless they find some answers it could be a particularly gruesome few weeks.Pat Cummins is back to lead Australia (barring late drama) as they look to wrap up the Ashes•Getty Images

Team news

Australia have juggled their fast-bowling pack again. Cummins’ is back after his enforced absence in place of Michael Neser while Scott Boland will make his debut in place of Jhye Richardson who has a leg injury. Josh Hazlewood has not recovered from his side strain.Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Marcus Harris, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Scott Boland, 11 Nathan LyonAs expected, England have made a number of changes. Rory Burns, Ollie Pope, Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad have all been left out in favour of Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood and Jack Leach. It means that England have what looks a more balanced attack with the extra pace of Wood and left-arm spin of Leach, although he is sure to be targeted by the Australia batters as he was in Brisbane.England 1 Haseeb Hameed, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Ollie Robinson, 9 Mark Wood, 10 Jack Leach, 11 James Anderson

Pitch and conditions

The MCG surface has been through a facelift since the last Ashes and everything points to a pitch that should offer something for everyone. There was a decent covering of grass two days out although some of that may be trimmed off. In recent seasons bounce and carry has also returned. The weather is set fair through with temperatures ranging from the low teens to mid-20s so heat should not be a factor.

Stats and trivia

• Joe Root needs 159 runs to set a new record for a Test batter in a calendar year
• Steven Smith needs 46 runs to go past the tally of current coach Justin Langer while David Warner needs 13 to go past Mark Taylor
• England are five ducks away from equalling their duck-est year of 54 in 1998

Quotes

“I love that just about every player from our team has got into the series and had a real big impact.”
“The only thing I’m worried about is winning this week. Start well and get that first hour right.”

Decision effectively rules him out of T20 World Cup 2022, but he’ll reconsider if team’s circumstances become difficult

Mohammad Isam27-Jan-2022Tamim Iqbal has made himself unavailable from T20Is for the next six months, effectively staying out of contention for the T20 World Cup later this year. Tamim, however, said that he could reconsider this decision if the BCB asks him again before the World Cup, although he doesn’t believe it will be required.The announcement follows recent discussions between Tamim and top BCB officials including president Nazmul Hassan, who tried to dissuade him from taking the decision. Tamim had been mostly away from Bangladesh’s T20I side for the past 12 months.In a press conference in Chattogram on Thursday, Tamim insisted that it was a cricketing decision, and that his focus is on Tests and ODIs this year, but he will only reconsider T20Is if circumstances get difficult for the team.”There have been discussions about my T20I future,” Tamim said. “In the last few days, I have been doing meetings with the BCB president (Nazmul Hassan) and Jalal (Yunus) and Kazi Inam (Ahmed). They wanted me to continue T20Is till the World Cup (this year). I had a different sort of thinking. I will not be considering T20Is for the next six months. My full focus will be on Tests and ODIs. We are preparing for the World Test Championship and qualification for the 2023 World Cup. I will not be thinking about T20Is in the next six months. I hope that those playing will do so well, that the team won’t need me in T20Is. But if God forbid the team or cricket board needs me, and I am ready, I will possibly think about it.”Related

• Tamim Iqbal announces retirement from T20Is

• BPL draft: Dhaka sign Mashrafe, Tamim and Mahmudullah

• Tamim drops out, says other players deserve a chance

Ahead of last year’s T20 World Cup, Tamim voluntarily pulled out of the tournament in order to give the other openers like Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim opportunities. Tamim said at the time that since he missed the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, it was only fair for him to skip the tournament.His last T20I was against Zimbabwe in 2020, after which he missed the rest of the three-match series due to a knee injury.Tamim is Bangladesh’s third highest run-getter in T20Is. He has played 74 T20Is for Bangladesh and four for World XI teams – three in Pakistan in 2017 and one against West Indies at Lord’s in 2018. He has 1701 runs for Bangladesh, at an average of 24.65 and a strike-rate of 117.47, while his overall T20I record is 1758 runs at 24.08 and a strike-rate of 116.96. He is Bangladesh’s only centurion in the format.Till the end of 2018, Tamim was one of the most regular members of the T20I side, having played 75 out of 84 T20Is (89.3%) that Bangladesh played. But in the last three years, he has only played three out of 38 matches.Tamim will continue to play in domestic T20 leagues, having already made two half-centuries for Minister Group Dhaka in the ongoing BPL.Tamim insisted that the new players who will be tried in his place should be given a long rope. He drew an example from his, and other senior Bangladesh cricketers’ early days, to compare the situation for the likes of Naim, Sarkar and Saif Hassan.”We handed chances to a number of youngsters in the last (T20I) series. We cannot lose hope in them quickly. We have to give them time. I think six months is a good enough time. I am pretty confident that I won’t be needed in T20Is. Even then, if the team management or cricket board feels otherwise, I will be open for discussion.”The team has to go forward. You know my stand ahead of the last T20 World Cup (of giving the young openers more opportunities), so it won’t be wise to judge anyone after one or two series. Many of us seniors went through three or four bad series, and then bounced back with maybe three good series on the trot. Considering those who will play in my place, I am sure they will find their feet and do well,” he said.

Australia’s limited-overs captain Aaron Finch fell for a first-ball duck in a rare domestic outing

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2022Two brilliant 80s from Matthew Wade and Jordan Silk and a vintage four-wicket haul from Peter Siddle helped Tasmania vault into March Cup final calculations after thumping Victoria by 139 runs at Bellerive Oval.Wade produced a player of the match performance thumping 86 from 55 balls and shared in a century stand with Silk who stroked a composed 82 as the hosts posted 6 for 295 from their 50 overs. Siddle then ripped through Victoria’s talented top order taking 4 for 22, including two maidens, as the visitors crumbled to be all out for 156 in response.Wade, Australia’s T20I wicketkeeper, batted at No. 5 as Tasmania opted to open with stand-in skipper Jake Doran and Caleb Jewell. They slumped to 2 for 17 after being sent into bat, but Silk and Mac Wright steadied with a century stand before Wright fell for 49.Wade then unleashed on Victoria’s inexperienced attack cracking 11 fours and three sixes in a vicious assault. He looked set for a century but fell in the 43rd over to an excellent catch at long on with Brody Couch holding onto a flat, flushed lofted on-drive just inside the rope. Silk also missed out on a deserved ton after anchoring the middle order, holing out to deep midwicket for 86 with 21 deliveries left in the innings.Victoria’s chase never got going on with Siddle knocking over the top three. Australia’s white-ball opener and captain Aaron Finch was demoted to No. 3 behind Jake Fraser-McGurk and Mackenzie Harvey. He fell for a first-ball duck as Siddle was on a hat-trick in the fifth over. Siddle had both Harvey and Finch caught behind, Harvey off the inside edge by one that nipped back off the seam and Finch off the outside edge to a superb leg cutter.Glenn Maxwell was the only Victoria batter to get established reaching 44 off 66 but he flicked Siddle straight to fine leg to hand the veteran his fourth scalp. Victoria’s tail folded with Tom Andrews bagging three wickets.Tasmania now go top of the Marsh Cup table but they need either Victoria to beat Western Australia or South Australia to defeat New South Wales in the final two games on Tuesday to qualify for Friday’s final at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.

Marsh played 96 Tests and claimed what was then a world record 355 dismissals behind the wickets

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2022Australian cricket great Rod Marsh has died, aged 74, in an Adelaide hospital, where he had been admitted last week after suffering a heart attack in Queensland.A combative wicketkeeper-batter, Marsh played 96 Test matches for Australia between 1970 and 1984 and 92 ODIs. On retirement, he held Test cricket’s then world record for most wicketkeeping dismissals, 355. It included the iconic “c Marsh b Lillee” entry in a scorebook what remains a record 95 times in Test cricket, during a iconic pairing with fast bowler Dennis Lillee.Marsh was also an aggressive left-handed batter who was the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a Test century. He made three Test centuries in his career, which was interrupted for two years by World Series Cricket. While Marsh’s on-field exploits were legendary, he was also a deep thinker of the game and was renowned around the world as a coach and talent-spotter. Marsh headed Cricket Australia’s academy before filling the same role in England, and was the first head of an ICC world coaching academy in Dubai.He also served as commentator and became Australia’s chairman of selectors in 2014, a position he held for two years.Australia’s Test players are expected to wear black arm-bands when the first Test against Pakistan starts later Friday in Rawalpindi, as a mark of respect for Marsh.”Rod was a colossal figure in Australian cricket who gave close to 50 years of incredible service to Australian cricket, from his debut in the Ashes series of 1970-71, through to his time as National Selector, when many of the current group of Australian men’s players came into close contact with him,” Australia men’s Test captain Pat Cummins said.Rod Marsh, Greg Chappell and Dennis Lillee pose after their final Test•Getty Images

“He was brilliant to deal with because he knew the game inside-out, but also had a way of dealing with you to put you at your ease. I, along with countless other people in Australia, grew up hearing the stories of him as a fearless and tough cricketer, but his swashbuckling batting and his brilliance behind the stumps over more than a decade made him one of the all-time greats of our sport, not just in Australia, but globally.”When I think of Rod I think of a generous and larger-than-life character who always had a life-loving, positive and relaxed outlook, and his passing leaves a massive void in the Australian cricket community.” A joint statement by Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) president Shane Watson and chair Greg Dyer said, “In a very real way, Rod’s contribution and more accurately, his wonderful connection, reach through all generations of players before and after his own, all the way to the present group. His loss will be deeply felt by them all. Rod’s legacy to cricket is profound. He loved cricket, and cricket loved him back in spades.”CA chair Lachlan Henderson said, “This is a tremendously sad day for Australian cricket and for all those who loved and admired Rod Marsh. Rod will be forever remembered for the way he played the game and the pleasure he brought crowds as a member of some great Australian teams. ‘Caught Marsh, bowled Lillee’ has iconic status in our game. “Rod also made an enormous contribution to the game by identifying, coaching and mentoring many future stars in his various roles as coach and director at cricket academies in Australia and other cricket playing nations.”ICC chief executive Geoff Allardice also paid tribute, pointing out Marsh’s role in developing the ICC Cricket Academy. “As a young boy in Australia, falling in love with the sport of cricket, Rod was one of my heroes,” Allardice said. “And he also made such a contribution after his playing days as well, with young players in many countries. He had a strong involvement with the ICC, with the establishment of the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai. He masterminded the design of the facilities there. And young players are enjoying those facilities every day. So his legacy lives on.”Marsh also became a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1982 and was elected to the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame in 1985 and the Cricket Hall Of Fame in 2005. He leaves his wife Ros and sons Dan, who captained Tasmania to their first Sheffield Shield win, Paul, a former CEO of the ACA, and Jamie.

PCB said West Indies have agreed to play three T20Is in Pakistan “in early 2023”

Danyal Rasool28-Mar-2022West Indies will tour Pakistan for a three-match ODI series in June, the PCB announced. All three matches, which are part of the 2023 World Cup Super League, will take place in Rawalpindi. They will take place on June 8, 10 and 12, with the visitors arriving in Pakistan on June 5.ESPNcricinfo understands the PCB is yet to decide whether the series will be played in a bio-secure bubble, and whether the travelling West Indies contingent will have to undergo any quarantine. The PCB also announced that West Indies have agreed to play three T20Is in Pakistan “in early 2023”, with the precise dates yet to be announced.The ODIs were initially part of a West Indies tour of Pakistan in December 2021. At the time West Indies were due to play three T20Is and three ODIs in Pakistan. The three T20Is were completed, with Pakistan winning the series 3-0. However, Covid-19 cases began to spiral in the West Indies camp, and, with mutual consent, the ODI leg of the series was postponed.The announcement adds to a growing list of visitors to Pakistan in the most extensive home calendar in over a decade. Australia are currently touring Pakistan for three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I. England and New Zealand are also scheduled to visit Pakistan later in the year.

Along with an undisclosed sum, New Zealand will play extra games when the two sides meet in Pakistan next year

ESPNcricinfo staff19-May-2022New Zealand have come to a agreement to compensate Pakistan for pulling out of a bilateral series last year. It involves New Zealand Cricket (NZC) paying an undisclosed amount to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), as well as agreeing to play extra games when the two sides meet in Pakistan next year. New Zealand have also invited Pakistan to take part in a T20 tri-series at home ahead of the World Cup in Australia, which Pakistan have in principle accepted. That series is understood to include Bangladesh as the third team.New Zealand pulled out of their scheduled white-ball tour of Pakistan minutes before the start of the first ODI of the tour, citing a “specific and credible” security threat. The PCB made their displeasure plain over the days that followed, and demanded financial recompense for broadcasting, logistics and security expenses incurred.ESPNcricnfo understands the issue has been resolved although neither board has made any official public pronouncement on the matter.New Zealand’s pull-out citing security reasons last September was viewed as a major setback for Pakistan in their bid to ensure international cricket returns home. It was followed by England pulling out of a short tour the following month, though that decision generated significant blowback, both in Pakistan and beyond. Pakistan has since undone much of the damage those withdrawals caused, hosting West Indies in December, a full Pakistan Super League season as well as a historic all-format tour of Australia.Pakistan are next due to host West Indies for the ODI leg of a bilateral tour that had to be postponed due to a Covid outbreak in the West Indies camp last December.

Home side need 61 runs with five wickets in hand, despite efforts of Kyle Jamieson

Alan Gardner04-Jun-2022England 141 and 216 for 5 (Root 77*, Foakes 9*) need a further 61 runs to beat New Zealand 132 and 285 (Mitchell 108, Blundell 96)There is a recent history of dramatic encounters between England and New Zealand at Lord’s – particularly those involving Ben Stokes. This rip-roaring Test was set to become the latest instalment as England, inspired by Stokes and his predecessor as captain, Joe Root, did the bulk of the legwork in their fourth-innings chase of 277.New Zealand were not out of it come the close, needing five more wickets and with a lengthy tail to come. Kyle Jamieson blasted out four of England’s top six, including taking the wicket of Stokes just as he seemed to have located his momentum-stealing mojo – but they were also left to wonder at what might have been, had Colin de Grandhomme not overstepped at a crucial juncture in the day.Stokes, on 1 at the time, dragged de Grandhomme’s delivery into his stumps but was cheered back to the middle as the no-ball was signalled. To add to New Zealand’s problems, de Grandhomme, the fourth seamer, was forced off mid-over shortly after by a heel strain and did not return.It was the birthday present England’s new Test leader needed, and Stokes set about stamping his mark on the contest during a 90-run partnership with Root that resurrected the team’s chances after Jamieson had helped reduce them to 69 for 4. New Zealand have been here before: in 2015, when Stokes scored the fastest Test hundred at Lord’s to set up victory over a side captained by Brendon McCullum, now in charge of England’s Test fortunes; in 2019, when, well, we probably don’t need to remind you.There was even an echo of the World Cup final in one of the lighter moments of a tense tussle, as a shy at the stumps with Stokes scrambling for his ground ended up deflecting off the back of his bat. This time, overthrows were not an issue.