AUSSIE
RULES -- Dan Christian, the Australian all-rounder who captains Notts
Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast side. (PHOTO BY: Simon Trafford) 
Kagiso Rabada is ready for his debut
Showing posts with label Cricket News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cricket News. Show all posts
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Win tickets to see Notts Outlaws v Yorkshire Vikings in NatWest T20 Blast
AUSSIE
RULES -- Dan Christian, the Australian all-rounder who captains Notts
Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast side. (PHOTO BY: Simon Trafford) Worcestershire wicketkeeper agrees new long-term deal at New Road
Ben Cox has scored 3,344 runs and claimed 251 dismissals in all cricket for WorcestershireWicketkeeper-batsman Ben Cox has signed a new four-year contract with Worcestershire.
Academy-graduate Cox, 24, had one year left on his existing deal but has now agreed to stay at New Road until at least 2020.
"I'm a Worcester boy through and through - to sign for another four years is brilliant," Cox said.
"I've been here since I was nine-years-old and never thought of leaving. I want to play my cricket here."
Cox famously made his debut for the club as a 17-year-old schoolboy in September 2009 against Somerset at Taunton.
He scored 61 and claimed former England opener Marcus Trescothick as his first victim behind the stumps.
Cox's tally of 778 runs - including a maiden hundred and five half-centuries - was Worcestershire's second-highest as the county were relegated from Division One of the County Championship in 2015.
"To have somebody of his loyalty towards the club, and passion for the club, to reward him with a long contract is exactly what we are all about." director or cricket Steve Rhodes said.
"He's a terrific cricketer now, as consistent a wicketkeeper in county cricket that I have seen and to do that at a young age is incredibly good.
"But also his match-winning experience and ability with the bat in the different formats has been excellent."
Cox is the 10th player to have signed a new long-term contract at Worcestershire in the last 10 months.
CREDIT TO:http://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/36672985Successful England tour can make Mickey Arthur Pakistan’s hero
Pakistan’s legendary World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan always wanted to achieve two things during his cricketing career: to beat England and India at their homes.
Having to lead a bunch of mercurial cricketers, he managed to materialise both dreams, beating India and England in the 1987 tours.
India may be Pakistan’s fiercest rival, but beating England in England has a charm of its own – which has immortalised two performances in Pakistan fans’ minds: Fazal Mahmood’s heroic spell at the Oval in 1954, and Imran Khan’s 10-wicket haul in Leeds 1987 that gave Pakistan its first-ever series win in England.
But tourists don’t often get the friendliest reception there. Like in Australia, there can be tough competition, both on and off the field.
Pakistan’s later tours to the country in 2006 and 2010 were marred by controversies.
From forfeiting a Test in reaction to a ball-tampering allegation to key players getting caught in the act of spot-fixing, Pakistan players and team officials have faced their fair share of problems.
Read | A dying swagger: The evolution of Pakistan Cricket
These haunting past events make Pakistan’s tour to England, which kicks off with the first Test in Lord’s on July 14, all too important.
Renowned fielding coach Julien Fountain believes coming out victorious from such a demanding tour can turn newly-appointed head coach Mickey Arthur into a national hero.
“Mickey can become a hero if the England tour is a success; if the tour goes badly he becomes the proverbial whipping boy. In a fair and balanced world everybody will understand that Mickey cannot change the world in a couple of months.
“However, sometimes certain portions of the cricket media can look for scapegoats rather quickly,” Fountain, who was hired by Bob Woolmer in 2006 as a specialist fielding coach for Pakistan team, says in his blog for PakPassion.
“I hope that he gets a fair chance to plan and implement his own policies and measures over a suitable timescale, along with the cooperation of the board, the players, the fans and the media; as he will be the one who is ultimately held accountable if the team fails over the longer term,” he says.
A brutal tour
The 45-year-old fielding specialist considers England visit a brutal tour especially for sides travelling from hotter climatic regions.
“England can be a brutal place to tour if you come from a hot climate. Even at the peak of the so-called British summer, temperatures can plummet making spending long periods out on the field pretty taxing,” he says.
For Fountain, acclimatising to English conditions is the key if the visitors want to pose real threats to a strong England team, who recently secured comprehensive victories over Sri Lanka in Tests and ODIs.
“Hard ball plus cold hands equals fielding mistakes and dropped catches,” he says.
Read | Remembering Fazal Mahmood: Pakistan cricket's first ‘poster boy’
It will be a test of nerves for Pakistani batsmen, who have in recent times struggled to establish long partnerships and give their bowlers enough on the board to defend.
“Batting in the United Kingdom requires the ability to adjust mid shot, as you bring your bat through, because the ball may be changing its location due to swinging conditions. Hitting blindly through the ball is a recipe for snicks to the slips and keeper,” says Fountain.
He adds that both Pakistani and English bowlers have the ability to trouble batsmen, which will bring down the quest of survival to those who are tougher physically and mentally and who would be able to stand pace, seam and swing for a longer period of time.
Having coached Pakistan for quite a time, Fountain surely has had a taste of the complexities that surround Pakistan cricket.
He says: “Teams have to hire new coaches; it’s just how it is. So with a big tour to England [and] a new coach in, Pakistan has to be in a positive frame of mind. He brings a wealth of experience from a wide range of teams and formats.”
CREDIT TO:http://www.dawn.com/news/1268195/successful-england-tour-can-make-mickey-arthur-pakistans-heroEssex Second XI v Surrey Second XI
Essex team: Dan Lawrence (28), Jaik Mickleburgh (32), Liam Gough (11), Kishen Velani (8), Callum Taylor (67), Matthew Cross, Graham Napier (17), Aron Nijjar (19), Aaron Beard (14), Tom Moore (33), Jamie Porter (44), Matt Dixon (30).
Surrey team: Oliver Batchelor, Ryan Patel, Gary Wilson (14), James Burke (8), Olly Pope, Will Jacks, Conor McKerr, Matt Pillans. Freddie van den Bergh (5), Matt Dunn (4), Mark Footitt (6), Guramar Virdi.
Umpires: B J Debenham & I N Ramage
Scorers: J E Booth & P Parkinson
Toss: Surrey won the toss and decided to bat
Once again the weather had a deciding hand in a Second XI Championship match, with Essex’s run chase barely able to get to the lunch interval on Day 3.
Set 321 to win in a minimum of 80 overs, the wicket of Jaik Mickleburgh in the last over before the interval was the last action in the match.
Surrey elected to bat first and thanks to some tight bowling found it hard to find the boundary. Graham Napier, returning from injury, made a double breakthrough in his 2nd over; Oliver Batchelor well held at first slip by Kishen Velani, then Gary Wilson trapped leg before first ball.
James Burke took a more positive route, hitting 5 fours and a six in 52, as he and Olly Pope added 76 in 22 overs. Tom Moore returned to dismiss Pope, one of three excellent leg-side catches for Matthew Cross, and Matt Dixon proved too good for Will Jacks and Burke on his way to 3-32.
Matt Pillans also played a positive innings, striking well down the ground, with 7 fours and 2 sixes in an unbeaten 66. With assistance from the last three in the order, Pillans rescued the Surrey innings from 156-7 up to 252.
Essex didn’t find it any easier on the first evening, reaching 92-3 by the close; two wickets falling to the off-spin of Guramar Virdi (3-56), who found excessive turn.
Liam Gough was patient for his 36, but a flurry of wickets midway through the morning session, 2 for Matt Dunn (3-25), saw Essex struggling at 122-7.
Aron Nijjar (31) and Aaron Beard (22) put on 45 for the 8th wicket, but the side was dismissed 60 runs behind at 192.
In contrast to what had gone before, Surrey’s opening pair of Batchelor and Ryan Patel eased their way to a stand of 121; the only troubling moment came from a Napier bouncer that struck Patel flush on the side of the helmet.
Batchelor lost his off-stump to Jamie Porter, and the unfortunate Wilson picked up a king-pair, falling to another leg-side catch by Cross to slow the momentum before rain ended play early on 143-2, a lead of 203.
Patel eventually fell on the third morning for a Championship-best 80, giving Dixon his 5th wicket in the match. Burke hit 6 fours and 2 sixes in his 2nd 50 of the match, bludgeoning 97 in 10.1 overs with Pope, who added 4 sixes in his unbeaten 50. This allowed Surrey to declare after an hour with a 320 run lead, but the run chase never materialised once the rain started during lunch.
CREDIT TO:http://www.essexcricket.org.uk/2016/06/30/match-report-essex-second-xi-v-surrey-second-xi/ Bolton League U21 team selected to play Greater Manchester League U21s
CAPTAIN: Ryan AyresBOLTON Cricket League Under-21s continue their season with a fixture against the Greater Manchester League U21s at Woodbank Cricket Club on Sunday, 1.30pm start.
Players are asked to arrive at the ground no later than 12.30pm.
Team: Ryan Ayres (Farnworth Social Cirle, captain), Jack Wainman (Eagley, wicketkeeper), Oliver Sutclife (Heaton), Will Shuttleworth (Eagley), Jake Cooper (Darcy Lever), Jake Waterworth (Golborne), Ayaz Hanif (Little Lever), Josh Gilluley (Atherton), Danny Higham (Westhoughton), Jack Shovelton (Atherton), Jay Chhana (FSC), Joe Ducker (Heaton). Reserves: Leighton Smith (Atherton), Harry McManus (Atherton).
CREDIT TO:http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/boltoncricket/14589646.-/Samaraweera to work with Aussie Test hopefuls for Lanka tour
Brisbane,
June 30: As part of their preparations for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour,
Cricket Australia (CA) roped in former islander Thilan Samaraweera to
work with some of the Test hopefuls at the National Cricket Centre here.
Samaraweera,
who has been hired as a consultant for just two months, has already
begun to work with Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh and Jackson Bird as they
prepare for the tour.
"At the moment I'm involved with the
National Cricket Academy here. I'm working with a few Test players who
are not involved in that West Indies tri-series. They are just coming
here to train," Samaraweera was quoted as saying by espncricinfo.
Samaraweera,
who lives in Melbourne, said he was unlikely to accompany the
Australians on their tour as he was also working with Australia's A team
players.
To get a feel of the subcontinent conditions, the
39-year-old has been working with the Test hopefuls on two specially
designed turning pitches at the academy.
"I've had a hit on the
spin wicket here and it's very good, very similar to what you get on the
subcontinent and it was a challenging net session," Marsh said.
"Samaraweera
was throwing a few offies as well, and it's been really good to chat to
him and get a bit of an insight into the sort of conditions we'll be
facing in the next couple of months. He's been helping with advice on
how to play spin, he's good to chat about that with."
Australia will leave for Sri Lanka in early July, well ahead of the first Test, which begins in Pallekele on July 26.
CREDIT TO:http://www.vcricket.com/news/samaraweera-to-work-with-aussie-test-hopefuls-for-lanka-tour-59546 'Kumble made an impact from his first interaction'
Wednesday marked a special day for two members of the Indian cricket team who could play a crucial role in the upcoming series in the West Indies.
While it was the first day in office for legendary spinner Anil Kumble, who took charge as the head coach, it was also a moment to savour for young pacer Shardul Thakur.
The Mumbai pacer had his first outing with the Indian cricket team at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
The youngster's day began with Kumble addressing the team. It set the tone for the rest of the day.
"I must say he created an impact right in his first interaction itself. I am keen to work with him and learn a lot of things. He is a legend. He has loads of experience and it is going to be very useful to the team and me. I am looking forward to spending time with him on this tour," Thakur told bcci.tv.
The 24-year old pacer made it to the Indian team on the back of impressive Ranji Trophy performances in the past two seasons (41 wickets in 2015-16 and 48 wickets in 2014-15).
Accepting that he is a bit nervous ahead of his maiden international series, Thakur also said he is delighted to be part of the senior team.
"There is always a bit of nervousness when you are new to the setup. I was nervous before landing here (Bengaluru), but once I talked to the guys, I settled down. When we fly to St. Kitts, I might be a bit nervous, but at the same time it gets the best out of me," he said.
Thakur is looking forward to bowling to India's run-machine and Test captain Virat Kohli.
"Bowling to good batsmen in the nets is always an advantage, as it shows you where you stand, what you need to work on and how you can improve. So I am looking forward to bowling to Virat Kohli in the nets and test myself," he said.
CREDIT TO:http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/kumble-made-an-impact-from-his-first-interaction/20160630.htmCupid struck Ishant Sharma on the basketball court, a cute love story unfolds
Ishant, who got engaged to Pratima Singh in June, has a cute
little love story of his own and it all began on the basketball court.
While cupid struck on the basketball court, in 2011, it was Pratima’s
elder sister Divya Singh, who requested Ishant Sharma to attend a
basketball match organised by her and be the chief guest. (Photo:
Facebook)
Mumbai: Love can brew anywhere. While there have been countless of romantic stories in the hills or the deep blue sea, this one is a court apart for Team India’s speedster Ishant Sharma.
Ishant, 27, who got engaged to basketball player Pratima Singh in June, has a cute little love story of his own and it all began on the basketball court.
As for Pratima, who spent most of her time on the court, meeting the lanky cricketer for the first time and subsequently falling for him, might have been the best thing that could happen to her.
Pratima hails from a family of athletes and is the youngest of the five sisters. The family is widely reckoned as the ‘Basketball family of India.”
Divya was elated by the subsequent turn of events. “It’s a perfect match”. Ishant’s a great guy; down to earth, easy going and respectful. Fame’s not gone to his head. It helps that they play sport,” she was quoted as saying.
Pratima too on her part has had her fair bit of success. She emerged a star at the 2008 Senior Nationals in Delhi and also represented India at the 2010 Asian Games. As fate had it, Pratima faced a career-threatening knee injury a year later and successfully recovered.
The best part of this union is both these sports personnel are committed to their sport and have also dedicated time for the relationship.
“Not much will change regarding my commitment to sports even after marriage. We both know and understand how to maintain a balance between career and relationship. I have always been great in time management, the reason I could play for so many years for the nation. This will not change even after marriage. My duty towards the nation will not be kept aside by Ishant, no matter what”, Pratima had said recently.
CREDIT TO:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/cricket/300616/cupid-struck-ishant-sharma-on-the-basketball-court-a-cute-love-story-unfolds.htmlBeing a Youth Icon Is a Huge Responsibility: Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Picture Credit: Getty Images)New Delhi: He has not only earned the tag of being a swashbuckling batsman of the Indian cricket team but also that of a youth icon. Star player Virat Kohli says being a role model for others is a huge responsibility as it can "affect a lot of people".
Living under the constant public gaze is not always a smooth ride, and Kohli has often been caught on the wrong-foot be it his angry rants or heated conversations on the field.
The cricketer, who is rumoured to be in an on-and-off relationship with actress Anushka Sharma, says he "wishes to learn from his mistakes".
"Being a role model for the young people is no doubt a great feeling. When people come up and say that they look up to you and they draw inspiration from you, it means a lot personally. But it also carries a huge responsibility as everything I do and say affects a lot of people," Kohli, who has been connecting personally with his fans via his fan club Fanbox, told IANS in an e-mail interview.
He says he often wants to talk to people about what has worked in building his success story.
"For me, discipline and hard work are top priorities. I am also passionate about learning, which means that I look at my past performance and wish to learn from my mistakes. These are some of the things that I hope get picked up by my fans," Kohli added.
Kohli has made a place for himself outside the cricket field as well. The 27-year-old made his fashion debut with a menswear clothing line called Wrogn and he also has his charity foundation to help underprivileged children.
The Delhi-based sportsperson was first noticed when he captained India to the ICC Under-19 World Cup title in 2008. There has been no looking back since then.
Kohli has clinched many awards like ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2012 and BCCI International Cricketer Of The Year for the 2011-12 and 2014-15 seasons. He also received the coveted Arjuna Award in 2013.
Internationally, in 2014, a British magazine SportsPro named Kohli as the world's second most marketable athlete.
Kohli asserts that there is no shortcut to success.
"There is no substitute for working hard towards what you want to achieve - whether it is about success in your job or about winning a game or a tournament," he said.
There was a time when social media was full of messages terming Anushka as a big distraction in Kohli's life. He has lashed out Twitterati for trolling her.
All said and done, the cricketer says "fans make you what you are".
"They motivate me to do my best every time I am out on the field. I love connecting with my fans through social media but there is no substitute for a personal face-to-face meeting," he said.
Kohli also launched an exclusive fan club in partnership with PrivyPlex in April. It helps him connect with his fans on a more personal level. Over 35 select fans got a chance to meet him last month in Gurgaon through the fan club, and more fans met him in Noida just last week.
"The whole point of Fanbox is for me to connect with my fans on a more personal level. It's all about being there in the real life; so people can see and hear you right in front of them."
CREDIT TO:http://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/being-a-youth-icon-is-a-huge-responsibility-virat-kohli-1264180.htmlReviewing the effectiveness of the points system in place, is it worth the hype?
Arguing why the new point system is not the best option to revive test cricket.
After winning the test series England lead the super series 16-4
When things tend to go wrong, nothing much appears too bright. Just look at England, especially this week and this adage is vindicated.
This week has been a rather haphazard one for England. First, the referendum that forced the much vaunted Brexit, and then the colossal upset to Iceland in the Euros. Amidst all the doom and gloom, cricket has been holding its own (although the gloomy English weather has threatened to play spoilsport).
The young, revamped England One Day International side has been marching all over Sri Lanka and is dishing out one dominating performance after another. They had their moments of embarrassment too in the 2015 World Cup but have since mended their ways with some aplomb.
The innings of Jason Roy epitomised the new free spirit that has seeped into England, and no wonder the team is brimming with confidence. In a rather innocuous way, they offer hope to the rest of the country that if wise heads come together and plan and foresee with conviction, the distant light at the end of the tunnel can be attained.
Andrew Strauss, the director of England has been the brains behind this transformation. He assumed charge during a very difficult period but has turned things around with his pragmatic approach. In connivance with Trevor Bayliss, Strauss has transformed the mundane and stoic English cricket to a much more vibrant outfit. Credit should be given where it is due!
Strauss is also the brain behind the point system which is in place for the ongoing series against Sri Lanka. He believed, and he is justified to a great extent that introducing a point system will add much context and fervour to a bilateral series. There will be cynics around who will jump at any moment and criticise any new development, but the introduction of the point system was without a doubt a novel concept.
However, even after 3 test-matches, and 4 ODIs, this system has not won any accolades with the fans. Perhaps, this is one blip which needs more introspection. In many ways, this system might just devalue the worth of Test Cricket in the future. And this is where the aberration lies. All this experimentation and new changes are primarily aimed at engaging with the audience, but then is it serving the purpose?
Test Matches undermined?
Test matches and test victories will any day be of much greater importance than an ODI victory, but according to the current point system, a Test victory is undermined in many ways. Factor this, a test victory yields 4 points and victories in One Dayers and T20 is worth 2 points. Hence, if a team wins a 3-match Test Series 1-0, and goes on to lose the subsequent 5-match series 4-1. The series will then be tied at 8 points each and just like that a test series win is undermined.
If the series is played between Sri Lanka and Australia, and Sri Lanka win the Test Series which is a significant achievement, will be of no avail by the end of the tour! This does no justice to the worth of a Test Victory, and this fact is just what the doctor did not order for Test Cricket.
Test cricket is and should be the pinnacle of all formats and nothing should rob its glory. In the current scenario, we are compromising on the longer format and perhaps this is why the fans have not yet taken to the concept. Also, if a team wins the first Test Match it becomes very difficult for the opposition to play catch up in the rest of the tour.
And then what happens when the Ashes comes around. Historically England have not done very well in the ODI series which follow the Ashes triumph. They win the Test Matches and then go on to lose the subsequent limited overs leg. No one remembers the ODI defeats, but if the point system remains intact it will, by all means, take the sheen out of the test triumphs.
“I believe you have to look at giving every match context. If it is a case of just another Test match or just another five-ODI series between two nations, it loses some of its context and some of its meaning and that is something the ICC needs to look at. I personally think there is scope in linking up Test, ODI and T20 cricket in some sort of bigger world championship that involves all three formats. It’s an idea I’ve been a fan of for a long time", Strauss said.
He sounds right, the plans seem to be in the right vein, but when implemented it may not have too many takers because of the massive loopholes prevalent. Nothing should ever erode the sanctity of Test Cricket, and this points system in a very uncanny manner is doing exactly that. Perhaps a further tweak is needed!
CREDIT TO:http://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/reviewing-the-effectiveness-of-the-points-system-in-place-worth-the-hypeHall on the ball as Co-op edge Askam in Furness Women's League
DEBBIE Hall set up the Co-op for victory in a closely-fought Furness and District Women’s Bowling League match against Askam.
They took five games each in the Division One match, but Hall’s 21-2 win gave the Co-op the aggregate by 14 chalks.
In another tight match, Hawcoat Park came away with a 7-5 victory from Ulverston Cons.
Val Willis and Ann Smith were Red River’s only winners when they played Roose and they went down 10-2.
Dalton won well at Roose A and Biggar Bank beat North Scale.
The front runners in Division Two showed good form. King Alfred A beat Park North, Hawcoat Park A defeated Abbey and West Mount overcame Barrow Island.
The other two games both came down to the aggregate, Biggar Bank A winning by 12 chalks and Askam A by seven.
RESULTS
DIVISION ONE
NORTH SCALE v BIGGAR BANK
K Walker 16 P Sharpe 21, J Strefford 14 S Batte 21, P Ellis 11 A Wright 21, J Stevens 19 J Pritchard 21, K Boulton 21 S Murdoch 16, E Wakefield 20 J Turner 21, P Charnley 21 S Burns 19, J Badham 13 J Thorburn 21, M Munro 21 M Griffiths 14, M White 21 G Johnson 11. Totals: 4 and 8.
ROOSE A v DALTON LADIES
E Ryland 21 L Keen 16, S Johnson 16 M Alexander 21, P Backhouse 16 D Riley 21, D Quinn 9 L Valentine 21, N Nicholson 10 K Salisbury 21, J Cupid 16 M Kirk 21, E Dawson 9 V Shepherd 21, C Williamson 21 M Hindmarsh 13, S Adams 21 M Smith 15, J Shaw 8 W Bowes 21. Totals: 3 and 9.
RED RIVER v ROOSE
V Willis 21 T Hool 14, A Wilson 12 K Fitzsimmons 21, A Smith 21 A Fearn 20, N Halpin 16 S Milmine 21, P Harris 8 H Whitehouse 21, S Buckley 20 A Hamilton 21, S Kyle 16 K Clarke 21, B Greenwood 13 J Marshall 21, S Birkett 20 D Turner 21, E Wood 11 S Crellin 21. Totals: 2 and 10.
ULVERSTON CONS v HAWCOAT PARK
T McBratney 13 E Carton 21, G Balderstone 21 J Cairns 11, A Anderson 21 M Ratcliffe 16, M Birkbeck 21 J Wernham 18, A Silvester 21 A McDonald 13, S Wareing 21 M Woods 10, P Bevins 10 L Kneale 21, A Davidson 5 C Bushell 21, B B irkbeck 9 J Moxham 21, L Keating 18 A Rowan 21. Totals: 5 and 7.
CO-OP v ASKAM
B Gillen 17 S Rigg 21, L Dawes 14 K Milburn 21, A Fieldhouse 21 E Casson 9, P Kyriacou 21 K Lodge 12, M Barrow 12 A Kendall 21, C McKenzie 21 L Duggan 12, A Cottam 21 P Jackson 18, D Hall 21 P Westall 2, A Coulson 15 K Clough 21, C Critchley 9 L Rigg 21. Totals: 6 and 5.
DIVISION TWO
WEST MOUNT v BARROW ISLAND
L Dodd 21 A Hartshorn 12, H Lancaster 21 J Rigg 16, W Huddleston 21 K Walmsley 14, D Bramham 21 A Ducie 9, P Ireland 21 A Arthur 6, D Cornthwaite 21 M Bailey 10, J Pike 18 B Dent 21, J Corkish 20 P Carr 21, K Greenhow 21 J Postlethwaite 18, B Quinn 11 J Fogharty 21. Totals: 8 and 3.
HAWCOAT PARK A v ABBEY
R Tongue 21 C Maxfield 2, S Gammack 21 N Wheeler 6, J Brough 21 J King 16, J Coward 15 G King 21, M Hart 21 M Mullin 9, A Graham 19 K Leech 21, A Willison 21 D Poole 12, V Crosby 21 M Atkinson 5, D Broom 15 H Short 21, J Kaighan 21 D Heywood 14. Totals: 8 and 3.
PARK NORTH v KING ALFRED A
K Wright 16 E Johnson 21, M Sweirkocki 6 E Waring 21, D Murrell 20 A Todd 21, G Money 11 K Wernham 21, K Knott 14 A Bradley 21, M Kelly 7 A Millard 21, P Doughty 21 S McCormick 18, S Horner 12 J Atkinson 21, M Constantine 14 R Gomersall 21, C Muldoon-Smith 21 walkover 0. Totals: 2 and 10.
BIGGAR BANK A v WALNEY PARK
M McMillan 21 B Ducie 7, A Pickerill 21 D Lackey 15, P Graham 21 P Bain 11, E Schultz 21 C Cooper 19, J Western 21 S Jeffries 7, G Shipley 16 O Fry 21, C Kelly 21 d Jackson 13, R Simpson 5 A Kidney 21, C Frazier 9 B Sharp 21, E Nixon 12 P Smith 21. Totals: 7 and 4.
ASKAM A v CO-OP A
P Caine 19 S Dower 21, M Tyson 19 A Scott 21, M Proctor 21 D Bamber 14, E Latimer 21 J Garner 15, D Delaney 21 S Swinglehurst 14, A Kavanagh 16 P Rogan 21, S Coulson 6 M Logan 21, A Coates 21 S Sharp 5, C Butler 15 M Slater 21, A Slater 21 E Hayes 20. Totals: 6 and 5.
CREDIT TO:http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/bowls/Hall-on-the-ball-as-Co-op-edge-Askam-in-Furness-Womens-League-47ff25cb-4a98-424b-9bee-d3f01336eb8a-dsLodha Panel Report - Supreme Court Hearing Hits Home Stretch: 10 Developments
The Supreme Court is in its
final stretch of hearing the RM Lodha panel report. The Lodha panel has
made some telling suggestions to make structural changes in the BCCI 
The RM Lodha panel report has suggested structural changes to the powerful BCCI to ensure more transparency in its operation.
A two-member Supreme Court bench, consisting of Chief Justice of India TS Thakur and Justice Ibrahim Kalifullah, is expected to give its order on the recommendations made by the RM Lodha panel to make structural changes in the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The panel recommended cooling off period between successive terms for top BCCI officials, suggested ministers and government servants cannot occupy BCCI posts and sought professionals under a chief executive officer to run the board's day-to-day activity.
In other recommendations, all of which would be binding on the board if the Supreme Court deems so, the panel wanted the BCCI to be brought under the Right to Information Act which would allow citizens to access information held by the Board which is discharging a public function.
Here are the top 10 developments:
1. In January 2015, the Supreme Court appointed the RM Lodha panel to look into the functioning of the BCCI and suggest structural changes to bring in more transparency.
2. On January 4, 2016, the Supreme Court released the recommendations made by the three-member Lodha panel. The proposals were mainly aimed at structural changes for better governance. Age and tenure caps, one-state-one-vote and accountability and distribution of BCCI's funds were mainly in focus.
3. On January 7, 2016, the BCCI takes note of the proposals in Lodha panel report and tells its affiliated units to send their views. Several BCCI units object to the one-state-one-vote proposal. The states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal have multiple associations with voting rights
4. On February 4, 2016: The Supreme Court sets a March 3 deadline for the BCCI to make their stance clear. The Bench is adamant that the proposals must be implemented. "If you have any difficulty in implementing it (the reforms), we will have the Lodha Committee implement it for you," Justice Thakur tells the BCCI counsel
5. On February 19, a BCCI SGM points out anomalies and difficulties in implementing the Lodha panel report. Then secretary Anurag Thakur is asked to file an affidavit to challenge the Lodha report.
6. On March 2, the BCCI files its affidavit. Meanwhile, the BCCI executes some of the proposals made by the Lodha panel. The Board appoints a CEO, appoints an ombudsman (Justice AP Shah) and addresses conflict of interest issues. The BCCI is firm to oppose the one-state-one-vote proposal and restriction of commercials during live broadcast of Tests and ODIs.
7. On March 3, the Supreme Court objects to BCCI's views. The Bench remains firm on restricting advertisements during live matches. Responding to the BCCI counsel's argument that a cap on advertisements during a match would "cripple" the board's income, Justice Thakur asks: "Do you mean that your commerce should overtake the enjoyment of the game?"
8. On April 5, the Supreme Court slams the method of distributing funds to its affiliated units. The court is not amused with unequal distribution of money, lack of focus on north-east states and how money is being used to corrupt and catch votes.
9. Over April and May, the Supreme Court continues to slam the BCCI saying it is refusing to reform itself and "running a prohibitory regime." "You have complete monopoly. If any cricket club or association wants to do anything, we are least bothered. We are not here to reform every cricketing club. But if any institution which is discharging public duty like BCCI, then any organisation or association associated with it will have to reform itself."
10. Before it breaks for the summer vacation on May 3, the top court makes it clear that state associations will have to fall in line and implements the reforms suggested by the Lodha panel report. "Once the BCCI is reformed it will go down the line and all cricket associations will have to reform themselves if they want to associate with it. The committee constituted in the wake of match-fixing and spot-fixing allegations was a serious exercise and not a futile exercise," the two-judge bench said.
CREDIT TO:http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/260222-lodha-panel-report-supreme-court-hearing-hits-home-stretch-10-developmentsYorkshire Vikings v Lancashire Lightning
Yorkshire Vikings v Lancashire Lightning, NatWest T20 Blast, Friday 1st July, Headingley.
In this edition of ‘Yorkshire Informer’ we look ahead to Friday’s NatWest T20 Blast fixture when Yorkshire Vikings face Roses rivals Lancashire Lightning at Headingley.
We hear from Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq who recently re-joined the Club.
We also bring you all the team news and a statspack.
Azeem Rafiq:
So Azeem, good to be back at Yorkshire, how did your first fixture at Headingley go?
Yes, it went quite nicely. Obviously it was nice to get over the line against Derby. It’s been very exciting, and things have gone quite quickly but I’m enjoying every day.
A big game on Friday against the Roses rivals, you must be really excited for it?
Generally it’s gone really nicely for me in those fixtures, but more importantly I think for the fans and all the boys it’s one of those fixtures you look for when the fixtures first come out. Everyone’s really excited so yes, I’m really looking forward to it.
What do you know about Lancashire as a team?
I think obviously you watch them on TV and we know a bit from past experiences, but we want to keep everything really simple and perform our own skills.
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How does bowling in the powerplays suit you?
Well I haven’t done it much before. I think I’ve only done it once in one of my first games as a 17 year-old, but it was something Kane (Williamson) wanted me to do and I’m just really happy to be in the team. Whatever I get asked to do, I’ll try to do it to the best of my ability.
It’s been an inconsistent start to the campaign, can we still qualify for the quarter-finals?
Yes, I think in T20 now with the way the fixtures are, it’s a long season. Sometimes it can work in your favour. Hopefully we can kick on from Friday and then you just never know, you’ve got to take each game as it comes.
Team News
Yorkshire name the same squad as the one that travelled to Durham last Friday. However, Jack Leaning will have a late fitness test after suffering an ankle injury whilst fielding on day two of Yorkshire’s fixture against Pakistan A.
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- Yorkshire Vikings 14-man squad to face Lancashire Lightning:
Gary Ballance, Tim Bresnan, Karl Carver, Ben Coad, Ryan Gibson, Andrew Hodd (wicketkeeper), Jack Leaning, Alex Lees (Captain), Adam Lyth, Steven Patterson, Azeem Rafiq, Will Rhodes, Josh Shaw, Kane Williamson.
Milestones
Lancashire Lightning have won three successive matches over their Yorkshire Vikings rivals, their best ever run.
The Vikings have won four of their last six at home (L2).
Lancashire Lightning have only lost twice across their last eight matches played outside of Manchester; those defeats came in their most recent games on the road however (W5 T1).
Liam Livingstone scored his only half century (55) when these sides last met (June 2016); helping Lancashire Lightning seal a 26 run win.
Jason Roy falls just short of record, but still leads England to ODI win over Sri Lanka
England's Jason Roy celebrates reaching his century during the One Day
International against Sri Lanka at the Oval in London, Wednesday June
29, 2016. (Simon Cooper/PA via AP)Jason Roy was left with a bitter-sweet taste after his spectacular match-winning 162 clinched a one-day series win over Sri Lanka on Thursday.
The Surrey star would have loved to have set a new individual highest ODI score by an England batsman on his home ground The Oval. But he fell five agonising runs short of Robin Smith’s 23-year record 167, which he made against Australia at Edgbaston.
The 25-year-old, whose man of the match display helped England to a six-wicket win and an unassailable 2-0 lead with just one game left in Cardiff on Saturday, was annoyed for getting out so close to the end of the game.
But he admitted he had little idea that he was close to overtaking Smith while at least still setting a new highest ODI score by an England batsman at The Oval.
“I didn’t know about the record and I am still proud of being second on the list," he said. “It’s a shame and a little disappointing I could not be there at the finish of the match but to play an innings like that and help the side win a series is still very special. It was even better to do it on my home ground and in front of a packed Oval crowd cheering me and the guys on.
“I’ve put in a lot of hard work and I’m now seeing the rewards of that hard graft. I’ve had low points this season but this is certainly a very high one. I expect someone will be able to beat Robin Smith’s score one day. I am sure they will. I will certainly push for it if I get the chance."
Roy thrilled the England fans with 13 fours and three sixes before being bowled by Nuwan Pradeep. It was his second century in three ODIs. England captain Eoin Morgan Morgan saw his side reach their revised target of 308 to beat Sri Lanka with 11 ball remaining in a rain-hit game. And he claimed: “We have lots of match winners in our team which is growing and improving all the time. I have no doubt that one of them can achieve the goal of surpassing Smith.
“Jason was magnificent. He’s in fantastic form now and he is cashing in. It feels good to win this series but we want to finish it off in Cardiff on Saturday with another great performance and win if we can."
Joe Root, out of sorts recently having struggled with the bat, returned to form with 65 but he was less happy with his bowling attack. Morgan said: “We bowled too many loose deliveries and balls which asked to be hit. It’s a very good wicket here so you have to bowl tight and accurately. But I always knew we could chase down the target."
Sri Lanka had amassed 305-5 off their allotted 42 overs, reduced from 50 by the persistent Oval drizzle with Kusal Mendis top scoring with 77.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Matthews admitted: “We allowed England to get off to a flying start and couldn’t claw it back by taking wickets. We are disappointed to lose the series but we want to do our best to end on a high in Cardiff if we can."
England will give Alex Hales a fitness test today to decide if the opener can play in the final clash. Hales sustained a minor back strain while fielding at The Oval and had to go off for treatment. He was unable to bat.
CREDIT TO:http://www.thenational.ae/jason-roy-falls-just-short-of-record-but-still-leads-england-to-odi-win-over-sri-lankaPetersen hopes Lightning can pick up T20 form
Alviro Petersen is hoping “clever” Lancashire have finally kick-started their NatWest T20 Blast title defence.
The ex-South Africa international’s 68 was a mainstay of the Lightning’s home win over Worcestershire last Friday, although Stephen Parry claimed 5-13 and Nathan Buck 3-12.
Lancashire posted 149-5 before bowling the Rapids out for just 53 to win by a massive 96 runs.
It was the win their Blast campaign has been crying out for following only two wins in their previous seven North Group games.
Petersen’s effort was his highest T20 score in a Lancashire shirt and his highest for anyone since midway through 2011 when he played for Glamorgan.
Parry also returned Lancashire’s best ever bowling figures in this format.
The Lightning face Yorkshire Vikings next at Headingley tomorrow, starting at 6.30pm.
“It has been (an indifferent start),” said Petersen, 35, who also scored 191 against Middlesex in the Championship at Lord’s earlier this week.
“But what we did really well on Friday was to assess the conditions.
“We knew that it was a deteriorating wicket and that we had to get runs on the board.
“Bowling second on there, we knew if we did that we’d have the upper hand because chasing was always going to be difficult.
“I think we played clever cricket. We know that Twenty20 cricket is about hitting sixes and fours and that sort of stuff, but we were clever.
“Our bowlers were really good. Nathan Buck set the tone at the top with three wickets before our spinners really controlled the game in the middle.
“It should be a stepping stone for us in the competition to make sure we get ourselves in contention for Top Four. From there, anything can happen.”
One of Lancashire’s three wins so far came over Yorkshire at Emirates Old Trafford at the start of June, contributing to the Vikings’ miserable campaign so far.
They are rooted to the bottom of the table with one win from seven, and they accept that it will be difficult for them to secure a quarter-final berth.
But they would love nothing more than to put a spanner in the works for their arch-rivals.
“The guys don’t need any motivation for that game,” said Petersen. “It’s just about rocking up. Everyone will be in the zone and want to play. It’s another big game for us.
“Their players will feel exactly the same. They will want to beat us. It should make for a good contest.”
Last year, Petersen only played two 20-over matches for the Lightning. This year, however, he has played six of the eight matches at the top of the order.
“It’s been good to play T20s, but every single format is good to play in,” he added.
“I just want to contribute wherever I can. Now and then, it’s good to have rest. I’ve had two games off with a foot injury, but I’m back now and enjoying every minute.”
CREDIT TO:http://www.lccc.co.uk/cricket/news/2016-news/petersen-hopes-lightning-can-pick-up-t20-form/Shastri-Ganguly feud: Gautam Gambhir's scathing attack on 'desperate' Ravi Shastri
New Delhi, June 30: Veteran India discard Gautam Gambhir lashed out at former Team India director Ravi Shastri for the latter's feud with the former India captain Sourav Ganguly in the wake of national coach appointment.
'Hurt and extremely saddenned' by Shastri's comments: Ganguly
Ravi Shastri is apparently miffed with the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), of which Sourav Ganguly is a part, after his candidature for Team India's head coach was rejected and Anil Kumble was handed over the baton.
Speaking to ABP News Gambhir, who is known for his hard words, was critical of Shastri's comments saying latter is only showing his desperation.
"The way Ravi Shastri is reacting, during interviews and all, it only shows his desperation. According to me, there couldn't be a better choice for India's coach than Anil Kumble," Gambhir told ABP News.
(Sourav Ganguly-Ravi Shastri feud: This is what former cricketers had to say)
As per the Kolkata Knight Riders' skipper, Anil Kumble was not only the biggest name among the candidates but also the most professional.
"I think Ravi Shastri couldn't accept the fact that he didn't get the job. The way BCCI has selected the coach, Anil Kumble was the best choice among all the candidates. It's no surprise. When Anil Kumble applied for the job, he was the biggest and most professional name," he added.
(Shastri lashes out at Ganguly)
"Ravi Shastri has been claiming that Indian team was very successful under him but he never told us that India lost ODI series to Bangladesh, lost ODI series to South Africa at home. So if you see, you played two World Cups (50-over World Cup in Australia and World T20 in India) and one of them was held at your home where you could only reach the semifinals. That's not a big achievement.
"You are trying to show that India became No. 1 in T20s and Tests during your tenure, but what did India win in the last 18 months? You didn't win an overseas series, you lost to South Africa at home, you went to Bangladesh and lost," Gambhir further added.
(Anil Kumble is 'the best in the world': Ganguly)
Gambhir's statements are in sync with former India batsman Sanjay Majrekar who too criticised Shastri for unnecessarily creating a controversy.
After he was overlooked for the coach's job, Shastri slammed Sourav Ganguly for not being present in the meeting with CAC when he was interviewed through skype.
Meanwhile, hitting back at Shastri, Ganguly said former is 'living in a fool's world'.
OneIndia News
CREDIT TO:http://www.oneindia.com/sports/cricket/gautam-gambhir-attacks-ravi-shastri-sourav-ganguly-anil-kumble-bcci-2141093.htmlAll smiles! Sehwag posts awesome pic of the sun and birds 'smiling'
He maybe one of the most deadliest batsmen of any era in cricket, but many would be surprised to see Virender Sehwag's eye for nature's beauty.
The Indian cricketer posted an amazing picture on his social networking account which shows the sunset amidst the clouds that shows it smiling and also a three birds flying abov positioned in such a wat that it looks like a smile.
Wow! The birds smiling back at the Sun.#BeautyOfNature pic.twitter.com/SqHDAIMn6W— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 29, 2016
Virender Sehwag is known to post some interesting tweets with a lot of puns as well.
Sehwag announced his retirement from cricket in October last year. He played 104 Tests with 8,586 runs and 251 ODIs with 8,273 runs.
CREDIT TO:http://www.mid-day.com/articles/all-smiles-sehwag-posts-awesome-pic-of-the-sun-and-birds-smiling/17389174Sunday, April 24, 2016
Top 10 most handsome Cricketers in the world
Cricket is one of the most popular and glamorous sport in the world and one of the reasons ladies might want to watch this game would be the sheer number of good looking and hottest cricketers around. Let’s check out such 10 hottest cricketers around.
10. Eoin Morgan(England)
The Irish-born player, who currently plays for England has the boy next door looks that put him on the wanted list of the female folks. With fiery blue eyes and brownish black hair, the English player has won many hearts. His abilities with the bat and unmatched energy he shows on the field, his looks are nothing but an added advantage. The cricketer has the enticing looks to justify his place in this list. The young cricketer might remind you of a pop singer. One of our favourite parts about Morgan is the way he can rock in black. A simple V-neck tee shirt is enough for him to pull off his charm.
9. James Anderson(England)
The English pacer, with his good boy gone bad look, Anderson’s style statement lies in his tattoos. His tattoos cover a large section of his well-sculpted upper torso. He is the perfect lad for a fashion photographer’s photo shoot. His abilities to swing the new ball and his killer inked arms makes him one of the hot favorites in this list. He represents England national cricket team.
8. Mitchell Johnson(Australia)
Mitchell Johnson is considered as one of the most devastating fast bowlers in world cricket. As a presenter of Australian National Cricket Team, Mitchell Johnson has played 61 international test matches and 144 one day international matches. This 33-year-old Australian pacer was born in Townsville, Queensland, Australia on 2 November 1981. Mitchell Johnson with a tall figure and appealing look are well enough to hit the hearts of thousands of girls. This handsome and hot fast bowler is remaining as prince charming among many cricket fans.
7. Yuvraj Singh(India)
His ODI debut was when he was 19, and since then this charming and destructive cricketer has been an immense contribution to Indian cricket. His heroics extended from starring in a World Cup winning campaign to successfully battling cancer and returning to win the President awarded Arjuna Award, he has done it all. With lots of talents, this cricketer has some serious look to kill and is sure thing for ladies eye candy.
6. Alastair Cook(England)
Cricketer Alastair Cook represents the English national cricket team, as well as the regional teams Essex (squad no. 26) and MCC. He mainly plays his role as an opening batsman in his clubs and national teams and known for his left-handed batting and occasional Right-arm medium bowling. Alastair Cook debuted in Test matches 1 March 2006 against India and debuted in ODI matches on 28 June 2006 against Sri Lanka. He is counted among the hottest men in the field of cricket.
5. Brendon McCullum(New Zealand)
Cricketer Brendon McCullum represents the New Zealand national cricket team, as well as the Brisbane Heat and earlier Chennai Super Kings and now Gujarat Lions. He mainly plays his role as wicket-keeper Batsman in his clubs and national teams and known for his right-handed batting. Brendon McCullum debuted in Test matches on 10 March 2004 against South Africa and debuted in ODI matches on 17 February 2002 against Australia. He is quite capable of turning heads with his looks.
4. AB de Villiers(South Africa)
Cricketer AB de Villiers represents the South African national cricket team as well as the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He mainly plays his role as wicket-keeper Batsman in his clubs and national teams and known for his right-handed batting. AB de Villiers debuted in Test matches on 17 December 2004 against England and debuted in ODI matches on 2 February 2005 against England. He is also quite capable of keeping all eyes on him because of his killer look.
3. Shahid Afridi(Pakistan)
Cricketer Shahid Afridi represents the Pakistani national cricket team as well as the Dhaka Gladiators and Ruhuna Royals. He mainly plays his role as an all-rounder in his clubs and national teams and known for his right-handed batting and occasional right arm leg spin bowling. Shahid Afridi debuted in Test matches on 22 October 1998 against Australia and debuted in ODI matches on 2 October 1996 against Kenya. He is considered as one of the most handsome cricketers.
2. Kevin Pietersen(England)
Cricketer Kevin Pietersen represents the English national cricket team, though out of favour for quite sometimes now, as well as the Rising Pune Supergiants in Indian Premier League and his regional team St Lucia Zouks. He mainly plays his role as a Batsman in his clubs and national teams and known for his right-handed batting and occasional right-arm off break bowling. Kevin Pietersen debuted in Test matches on 21 July 2005 against Australia and debuted in ODI matches on 28 November 2004 against Zimbabwe. He has also won quite a number of fans for his great look
1.Virat Kohli(India)
Cricketer Virat Kohli represents the Indian national cricket team as well as the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Indian Premier League and his regional team Delhi. He mainly plays his role as a batsman in his clubs and national teams and known for his right-handed batting and occasional right arm medium pace bowling. Virat Kohli debuted in Test matches on 20 June 2011 against West Indies and debuted in ODI matches on 18 August 2008 against Sri Lanka. He is one of the most fashionable cricketers of recent times.
Please drop your opinion in the comment section below
CREDIT TO: http://sportzwiki.com/cricket/top-10-most-handsome-cricketers-in-the-world/10/
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Afghanistan opt to bat in knockout clash
Zimbabwe were made to chase for the first time in the World T20 qualifiers after Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai chose to set a target in a knockout clash between the two teams. The winner of this match will enter the Super 10s stage of the World T20. Both teams have won two games each in the group stage so far and Zimbabwe's wins have come defending totals. Their batting line-up has struggled upfront but they did not make any changes to their XI in the must-win encounter.
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Atl. Madrid - Dep. La Coruna 1WIN
Afghanistan seemed to hold all the aces, having beaten Zimbabwe in all four of their previous T20I encounters and securing a comfortable win over Hong Kong. They kept the same team from that match for this one and expected conditions to be similar to what they were on Thursday.
Hamilton Masakadza would have preferred to win the toss and bat but hoped the pitch would remain "good" for the 40 overs. "These are the sort of the games you live for," he said, about the match. Afghanistan will feel the same way.
Zimbabwe: 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 4 Sean Williams, 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Malcolm Waller, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Donald Tiripano, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Tinashe Panyangara, 11 Tendai Chatara
Afghanistan: 1 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 2 Noor Ali Zadran, 3 Asghar Stanikzai (capt), 4 Gulbadin Naib, 5 Mohammad Nabi, 6 Samiullah Shenwari, 7 Najibullah Zadran, 8 Shafiqullah, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 Dawlat Zadran, 11 Hamid Hassan
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CREDIT:http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2016/content/story/981483.html
