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Ishant Sharma and Dinesh Chandimal have been handed one-match suspensions for their behaviour in the SSC Test

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Sep-2015Ishant Sharma and Dinesh Chandimal have been handed one-match suspensions for behaviour that breached the ICC code of conduct during the SSC Test, while Dhammika Prasad and Lahiru Thirimanne were fined 50% of their match fees.This means that Ishant (who received “two suspension points”) will miss India’s first Test against South Africa, in Mohali, in November. Chandimal (“one suspension point”) will miss Sri Lanka’s opening ODI in the home series against West Indies.Chandimal was penalised, an ICC release stated, for a breach relating to “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a player”. The incident occurred in the 76th over of India’s second innings, when Chandimal made what was deemed to be deliberate physical contact with Ishant, who was batting at the time, even while the batsman was in the middle of an exchange of words with bowler Dhammika Prasad.The ICC release said Thirimanne had also got involved at this time, despite two warnings from the umpires not to, and he hence was fined. Prasad too was fined for his role in this incident.India captain Virat Kohli, however, said after the game that this particular incident was to India’s benefit, as it charged up Ishant. “I was very happy with the incident when he was batting because it happened at the right time for us – we had to bowl yesterday and they made him angry and it couldn’t have happened at a better time for us,” Kohli said. “The timing was absolutely perfect and everything fell in place for us as far as being aggressive is concerned. And the way he bowled in the second innings, he didn’t concede a boundary for 19 overs. And that’s the kind of pressure he created on those batsmen because of one incident. So it had to be controlled but in the end it benefitted us.”Ishant received his suspension for a separate incident in the final innings of the Test, wherein he gave Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga a send-off after dismissing him. By doing so, he had breached the ICC codes relating to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an international match”.Ishant had also been fined for two separate incidents during the second Test, a total of 65% of his match fee for having given send-offs to Thirimanne and Chandimal. Hence he received a suspension this time. Another such breach in the next 12 months could have him suspended for a fixed period going up to a year.All four players admitted to their offences after the game, and so there was no formal hearing.Match referee Andy Pycroft said after the match: “Monday’s incidents were not good advertisements for international cricket. These experienced cricketers forgot their fundamental responsibilities of respecting their opponents as well as the umpires, and got involved in incidents which were clearly against the spirit of the game. Their actions cannot be condoned and must be discouraged.”Chandimal was not directly involved in the incident between Prasad and Sharma, but came into the conflict and made deliberate physical contact with Sharma, and had the umpires not intervened, the situation could have escalated.”As regards Sharma, he had been put on notice after being charged twice for send-offs in the previous Test. Any repeat of this action within the next 12 months will potentially see him suspended for a much longer period.”

Two attacking knocks and a collapse secured Dhaka Gladiators’ 29-run victory over Chittagong Kings in Mirpur

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo: Shakib Al Hasan led Dhaka Gladiators to a strong total•Bangladesh Cricket Board

Two attacking knocks, by Shakib Al Hasan and Tillakaratne Dilshan, and a collapse – eight wickets for 37 runs – secured Dhaka Gladiators’ 29-run victory over Chittagong Kings in Mirpur. The win gave the Gladiators second spot in the points table at the end of the group stages.They suffered an early blow after being put in to bat, when opener Joshua Cobb was dismissed cheaply in the second over. However, Dilshan helped steady the innings, with a 66-run stand with Anamul Haque, who scored 23. After Dilshan departed in the 12th over for 49 off 38 balls Shakib, who ended with 59 off 29 balls, added 75 runs with Darren Stevens, dominating the partnership, and lifting the run-rate to 8.40 by the end of the innings. Ryan ten Doeschate was the most expensive bowler, conceding 45 runs in his four overs.The Kings, however, were in the contest when Nurul Hasan and Marshall Ayub added 72 runs for the second wicket in 48 balls. But spinners Mosharraf Hossain and Dilshan brought the home side back with two quick wickets each, and the Kings couldn’t recover. Six of the last seven batsmen scored in single digits, and they slipped from 92 for 1 to 129 for 9 in the penultimate over. Four bowlers took two wickets each.The match did not hold much consequence, however, with both teams already in the final four.

England were given a good workout in the field on the opening day of their first warm-up match of the tour as the tail wagged for the ICC Combined XI

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jan-2012
Scorecard
Stuart Broad took three wickets in his first three overs but ICC XI fought back on day one in Dubai•Getty Images

England were given a good workout in the field on the opening day of their first warm-up match of the tour as the tail wagged for a ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate XI. First-class best innings from Christi Viljoen and Boyd Rankin revived the innings after England made a rampant start.Stuart Broad claimed three wickets in his first three overs as England took command at lunch but Namibian allrounder Viljoen and Warwickshire bowler Rankin rallied in the lower order with a partnership of 96 to give England a testing final session.Viljoen’s 98 from 189 balls prevented the ICC XI from being blown away. Broad’s wickets were followed by two for Graeme Swann and a wicket for Steven Finn – playing because of Chris Tremlett’s eye infection and an elbow injury to Tim Bresnan.At 91 for 6 at lunch, it was a gentle introduction to the tour for England. But Viljoen added 32 with Afghanistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad, whose half century was the first resistance for the ICC XI. His counter-attacking innings came from 55 balls and included seven fours.The second act of resistance came through Viljoen after James Anderson had Shahzad caught behind after lunch. Viljoen struck 13 fours and a six to take his side to tea on 182 for 8. But Warwickshire’s Rankin also made a useful score after tea to provide another partnership for ICC XI.Broad returned to wrap up the innings by having Viljoen caught by James Anderson two short of a maiden first-class hundred. He finished with 4 for 46 before Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook safely negotiated four overs to close on 16 for 0.The day had begun with Strauss winning the toss after which England used the new ball to good effect. Broad enjoyed his return to an England shirt for the first time since September by removing the ICC XI top three. William Porterfield tried to flick a full ball to leg and edged behind for one before Paul Stirling played on trying to pull. Kyle Coetzer also fell for single figures as he tried to force off the back foot and edged to Steve Davies – keeping wicket in place of Matt Prior who injured a finger in training yesterday.Finn produced an edge from Majid Haq’s loose drive outside off stump, pouched by Swann low at second slip. Swann was introduced into the attack and was struck down the ground for six by Craig Williams before he pushed forward and edged behind to Davies. Swann then lured Mohammad Nabi out of his crease and he missed with a wild hack to be bowled for a second-ball duck.The fightback arrived before Anderson claimed his second wicket having Rankin caught by Finn at point to break the main stand of the innings. Broad then took his fourth as ICC XI were bowled out for a far higher score than might have been expected.

Steve Davies will now spend the next three weeks travelling around Australia knowing he’s not wanted in the subcontinent having previously been the favourite for the role

Andrew McGlashan in Hobart19-Jan-2011England have been very clear on their selection plans in recent times, but the one area that has caused them plenty of headaches is the limited-overs wicketkeeper and at the 11th hour they have gone back to Matt Prior for the World Cup. Steve Davies will now spend the next three weeks travelling around Australia knowing he’s not wanted in the subcontinent having previously been the favourite for the role.It has been one of the mysteries of English cricket in the last few years as to why Prior has never established himself in the one-day team despite having all the skills to be the ideal man. He will open the batting alongside Andrew Strauss, beginning in the second one-day international at Hobart, where his clean striking should make him perfect for the role. Yet from 55 ODIs, in 27 of which he has been used as an opener, he averages 25.38 and during his last stint in the side he batted in the middle order.England’s squad for the one-day series against Australia was named in mid-December and a month has proved a long time in cricket. Prior timed his Ashes form well, finishing the series with 85 in Melbourne and 118 in Sydney, then joined Victoria for the Big Bash which meant he was never far from Flower’s view.”The circumstances have changed,” Andy Flower, the England team director, said. “Matt Prior did very well out here for the Test matches. He is a combative aggressive cricketer and he fits our aggressive fielding unit. So those are the reasons why he’s been picked for the World Cup.”It was a tough decision,” Flower added. “We always knew the timing of the World Cup announcement would be tricky. It’s not ideal one game into a seven-match series. Steve Davies was picked in our last one-day series in England and he did OK against Pakistan.”We picked him for this series in Australia because of the conditions out here. But as we get closer to the World Cup we’ve made that adjustment and we want Prior to get a few games under his belt before we get out there so he’s going to be arriving in Hobart [on Wednesday].”Another aspect in Prior’s favour will have been his near-faultless work with the gloves during the Ashes series and he is now a world-class keeper. Davies is solid, but the subcontinent can be a tough place for wicketkeeper’s and in one-day cricket, where the smallest margins matter, it could prove valuable to have Prior’s class behind the stumps.This isn’t the first time Flower has been involved in significant selection calls around a global tournament. At the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, James Anderson missed out for the entire campaign when it was decided Ryan Sidebottom’s left-arm angle and control of yorkers was a better option. Flower has a ruthless streak and Davies has just found that out.”Of course he’s disappointed, any player would be disappointed to be left out of the England side,” Flower said. “It means a lot to our players. They’re very difficult decisions to make because they affect people’s careers, but those are the harsh realities of playing professional sport and Steve and others that are left out will have to accept it.”The other marginally contentious positions in the final 15-man squad were the back-up bowlers, but it was widely expected that Ajmal Shahzad, preferred ahead of Chris Tremlett or Chris Woakes, and James Tredwell, the Kent offspinner, would get the nod.With England’s plans revolving heavily around two spinners they need a frontline option in reserve should illness or injury strike, and Graeme Swann will also miss the warm-up period to be at the birth of his first child, while Shahzad has impressed in his brief international appearances so far.”We wanted to make sure we not only had two frontline spinners or a third in case of injury or illness out there,” Flower said. “Spin will play a significant part in the World Cup, there’s no doubt. Shazhad was very impressive in the last game that we played in Melbourne. He’s been in and around our squad for a while now, just getting tastes of international cricket and hasn’t secured a spot yet. We think he shows a lot of potential. He can reverse swing the ball which will be important on the subcontinent and he’s a good competitor.”At the other end of the experience scale is Paul Collingwood, England’s most capped one-day cricketer, who was dropped for the first match against Australia following his poor Ashes and Twenty20 form. Andrew Strauss said Collingwood needed time away from the spotlight and Flower believes the allrounder, who is also on paternity leave in the build-up to the World Cup, still has a crucial role to play.”He missed out the last game but his experience, his credentials as a player, the energy he gives in the field and the quality of his fielding and obviously the all-round capabilities with bat and ball make him a strong contender,” he said. “The reason why he was left out in the first place was he was struggling recently and needs a little time to reassess but he’ll be back in the side.”Now that the final 15 has been named preparations can swing into full gear for the tournament which starts on February 19. England’s first match is against Netherlands, in Nagpur, three days later and Flower said there will be a duel focus to the rest of the one-day series in Australia.”It’s a balance of both,” he said. “This series is important in its own right. It is very important series for our preparation for the World Cup. Some of our training will evolve around subcontinent-type methods and certainly we’ll be working towards that. I think our one-day cricket has improved significantly over the last couple of years and I believe that we can do well.”

Australia’s IPL players are set to meet the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) in Sydney on Tuesday as concerns grow over player security at the event

Cricinfo staff22-Feb-2010Australia’s IPL players are set to meet the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) in Sydney on Tuesday as concerns grow over player security at the event. Players’ unions have reportedly been told by security adviser Reg Dickason that the terrorist threat from the 313 Brigade, Al-Qaeda’s operational arm in Pakistan, is credible and security cannot be guaranteed in India.The ACA chief executive Paul Marsh will meet with the players to discuss whether or not they should head to the tournament, which begins on March 12. Shaun Tait is one of the players contracted to take part in the IPL and he said he was waiting for further information before deciding whether to go to India.”The whole situation is a little bit disappointing because I would love to go to the IPL personally and hopefully everything can work out and we can go,” Tait told AAP. “I am not sure whose decision it is yet and I think we will probably find out a bit more in this meeting tomorrow. Obviously we talk to Rajasthan over the next couple of days and we see what they have to say but apart from that, the rest is out of our control.”The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) warned last week that a spate of player withdrawals was possible due to security concerns over playing in India. Andrew Symonds said last week he was planning to play in the IPL, while Shane Warne initially said he had concerns.Simon Katich, who played in last year’s IPL but is not in the Kings XI Punjab squad this year, said it would be a harder call for many players than when national tours are being assessed for security. “It’s going to be a big decision because obviously there’s going to be guys that might think it is fine to go and others that probably don’t,” Katich said.”But tomorrow we’ll find out for sure where everyone stands. It’s hard to say (what they will decide) at this point, and it’s hard to say what the other countries are going to decide as well. We always as players trust the security advice we’re given. In the past we’ve not gone on tours like Pakistan, and if there’s issues with India … we’ll find out tomorrow the full extent when the meeting is held in Sydney.”

Hetmyer scored his first T20I fifty since August 2023 but it wasn’t enough

Andrew McGlashan28-Jul-20251:29

David, Owen pepper the stands with sixes

Australia put on a final display of their batting power to secure a 5-0 T20I whitewash over West Indies. Tim David and Mitchell Owen launched seven sixes between them, as the overall series tally ended as the second-highest for a bilateral series, with Aaron Hardie then finishing the chase after Akeal Hosein had kept West Indies’ hopes alive.The victory was set up by an excellent performance with the ball after Mitchell Marsh had won his fifth toss – making it all eight for Australia on the tour – and declining the opportunity to have his side set a target. They claimed three wickets in the powerplay to set West Indies back and kept chipping away each time a stand threatened to turn the game. Shimron Hetmyer and Jason Holder added 47 for the fifth wicket and the former went to his first T20I fifty since August 2023 but fell the ball after reaching the landmark.Nathan Ellis was again excellent in the closing overs, including a very sharp piece of work off his own bowling to end the innings as he under-armed into the stumps, while Adam Zampa claimed a wicket in his 100th T20I – the fourth Australia men’s player to reach that milestone.Australia’s powerplay was hectic as Holder struck twice in his first over, Mitchell Marsh was cleaned up by a beauty from Alzarri Joseph and David bludgeoned 30 off 12 balls with four sixes all inside five overs. From there, the asking rate was never an issue, it was just a question of whether West Indies could keep taking wickets. Their chances took a blow when Joseph limped out of the attack and while Hosein was excellent, there were not enough runs to work with in the end.2:13

Australia clean up West Indies for 170

Dwarshuis’ powerplay inroads

Ben Dwarshuis is building a handy record for Australia as the left-arm pace option in this attack. He may well have pushed himself to second in the pecking order ahead of Spencer Johnson, who missed this series through injury, and behind Mitchell Starc.Having been rested for the fourth match, he returned with a brace of early inroads, responding to a pair of boundaries from Shai Hope by spearing one through him, then having Brandon King taken at midwicket to bag West Indies’ in-form openers.His figures were dented in his final over that cost 19, including a big full toss to Hetmyer which resulted in a free hit that was sent for six. Next ball, Hetmyer went to his half-century from 30 balls but couldn’t stay to finish the innings when he was well caught by Sean Abbott running in from long-off to give Dwarshuis his third wicket.

Maxwell’s match-up win

It wasn’t quite as memorable a night for Glenn Maxwell. He dropped a sitter at mid-on to reprieve King (although it did not prove costly) and would later collect a first-ball duck when he edged Holder to short third. However, he did have one key moment when he won his brief match-up with Sherfane Rutherford as the left-hand batter, who has struggled for form since last year’s T20 World Cup, was threatening to turn the innings around.Rutherford had moved to 35 off 16 balls, lifting West Indies from 32 for 3 inside the powerplay, when he exposed the stumps to Maxwell against a delivery that slid on. He was aiming too square with his stroke and the ball cannoned into middle stump. With one of the left-hand batters gone, Maxwell’s work with the ball was done for the night.0:53

Hetmyer streak ends with Dwarshuis’ third wicket

Only one way in the powerplay

It is pretty much all-out aggression for Australia with the bat. After Maxwell’s early departure – courtesy of a juggling catch by Jediah Blades – Josh Inglis missed a reverse scoop first ball and collected two boundaries before finding mid-on in the same Holder over. Marsh, who has had a lean series, found the boundary twice off the middle and once off the inside edge before Joseph produced a terrific delivery to nip past the inside edge to leave Australia 25 for 3 in the third.David’s response was to take 16 off four balls against Holder then two further sixes against Joseph as he threatened a repeat of the record-breaking 37-ball hundred in the third match. But for once, he couldn’t get enough elevation on an attempted six as he was well taken at deep square leg.

Hosein’s late entry

Owen picked up where David left off, taking consecutive sixes off Matthew Forde and sent another onto the roof against Blades. Hope had held back Hosein, no doubt conscious of what Australia’s hitters could do, but when he was introduced in the 10th over, he removed Owen second ball when he skewed to short third.Cameron Green, later named Player of the Series, was shaping as though he would finish another chase but found long-off with 30 still needed to give West Indies a glimmer. However, Hardie produced a composed hand and by the time Hosein removed Dwarshuis it was too late.

Visitors went 14 ahead on first innings, even as Mitchell Marsh struck his fourth half-century of the series

Tristan Lavalette05-Jan-2024Babar Azam fell late on day three to complete a frustrating series, as Pakistan crumbled in their second innings with Australia closing in on a victory at the SCG. Pakistan’s hopes of setting Australia a challenging total nosedived when quick Josh Hazlewood claimed Saud Shakeel, nightwatcher Sajid Khan and Salman Agha in the penultimate over of the day’s play.A rampant Hazlewood finished with 4 for 9 from five overs as Pakistan reached stumps in ruins at 68 for 7 with a lead of only 82 runs. Mohammad Rizwan and Aamer Jamal, who had both struck half-centuries in Pakistan’s first innings, were at the crease.Pakistan’s late collapse has eroded their hopes of snapping a 16-Test losing streak in Australia, but the surface is playing tricks with rough patches causing variable bounce and sharp spin.In a manic final session, Pakistan gained a slim first-innings lead of 14 runs after Jamal crashed through Australia’s lower order. But the visitors made a disastrous start to their second innings when opener Adbullah Shafique was clean bowled by a gem of a delivery from quick Mitchell Starc in the first over. After an impressive start to the series, Shafique fell away and finished with a pair, but could do little against a Starc delivery that swung in late and rattled the stumps.Pakistan slid further in the next over when captain Shan Masood nicked off for a golden duck in a loose shot off Hazlewood. The pressure was on debutant Saim Ayub, who had endured a tough initiation to Test cricket with a second-ball duck in the first innings, and two dropped catches when Australia were batting.Aamer Jamal finished with a six-wicket haul•Getty Images

But Ayub’s nerves eased when he pounced on width from Starc, including a remarkable upper cut for six to showcase his innate aggression. His confidence grew, and he treated quick Pat Cummins with disdain by clobbering his first delivery over mid-on in an audacious stroke. He then settled alongside Babar, who had only previously averaged 20.6 in the series and been dismissed by Cummins on three occasions.They built a 57-run partnership until Ayub, on 33, succumbed to Nathan Lyon and was trapped on the pads in a decision that failed to be overturned on review. Thus, Pakistan desperately needed Babar to survive through to stumps, but on 23 he could only outside edge part-timer Travis Head, as Alex Carey claimed an agile catch.Earlier in the day, Australia had recovered well after their first innings fell away in a flash. They appeared to be inching towards a valuable lead when the in-form Mitchell Marsh scored his fourth half-century of the series, and combined with Carey in a partnership of 84 runs. Marsh capitalised after being dropped by Ayub on 7, and counterattacked against the second new ball.Carey had entered the summer under pressure after being dropped early in Australia’s title run at the World Cup, but a crucial second-innings half-century in the Boxing Day Test had provided him with a much-needed boost. He continued his momentum with several spectacular strokes through his favoured off side, as the partnership raced past a half-century stand.Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh added 84 for the sixth wicket•Getty Images

But Carey was bowled by Sajid for 38 on the stroke of tea to trigger a stunning collapse of 5 for 10. Marsh fell on 54 in the second over after the tea interval when he mistimed Jamal to mid-off, and two balls later, Cummins was out lbw after missing a full toss in a decision overturned by DRS. Jamal claimed his second five-wicket haul when he dismissed Lyon, before also removing Hazlewood for a duck to finish with 6 for 69 from 21.4 overs.But in a topsy-turvy day’s play, Australia had threatened to gain control when Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith overcame a short-ball barrage in a 79-run third-wicket partnership, only to fall before lunch.Jamal sought a short-ball approach as he continued on from his plan against the batters before play had stopped on day two. With the slips taken out and a slew of fielders on the leg side, Jamal bent his back and bowled a lively spell but was thwarted. Smith, who has struggled for some time against short-pitched bowling, did have a narrow escape when he almost hit to short midwicket.Looking to shrug off a lean 2023, where he averaged 35 in Test cricket, Labuschagne was patient but assured, and reached his half-century with a superb pull shot as he dealt with seamer Hasan Ali’s modest pace with ease.Pakistan reverted their tactics when left-arm quick Mir Hamza re-entered the attack, as the off side was filled with catchers. The change of plan worked when Smith, on 38, hit straight to cover and looked in disbelief at the pitch before trudging off. In the next over, Salman clean bowled Labuschagne for 60 with a spectacular delivery that spun sharply off the rough.But by stumps, Australia’s bid for a series sweep remained on track, with the stage perfectly set for retiring opener David Warner to enjoy a fairytale farewell on day four, even as the third day of the traditional New Year’s Test was dedicated to Australia great Glenn McGrath’s late wife Jane, who had died of breast cancer in 2008.

The young seamers are starting to develop, Todd Murphy is a spinner to keep an eye on and Will Pucovski is back

Alex Malcolm05-Oct-2022Captain Peter Handscomb

Coach Chris RogersSquad

R=Rookie, CA=Australia contract
Peter Handscomb, Scott Boland (CA), Travis Dean, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch (CA), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Holland, Nic Maddinson, Cameron McClure, Glenn Maxwell (CA), Jono Merlo, Todd Murphy, Tom O’Connell, Wil Parker, Mitchell Perry, Will Pucovski, Matt Short, Will Sutherland, Ashley Chandrasinghe (R), Brody Couch (R), Sam Elliott (R), Campbell Kellaway (R), Fergus O’Neill (R) In Ashley Chandrasinghe, Campbell Kellaway | Out Xavier Crone, Seb Gotch (retired), James Seymour, Tom JacksonWinter moves

Victoria lost some of their fast-bowling depth with James Pattinson stepping away from his contract while Henry Thornton joined South Australia. Opener James Seymour lost his contract after losing his place in the side last season despite making a maiden Shield century against New South Wales on a difficult pitch at the MCG. Wicketkeeper Seb Gotch has also retired due to a severe finger injury that saw him miss all of last season. Sam Harper is the only specialist wicketkeeper on Victoria’s list although skipper Peter Handscomb does have a lot of keeping experience if required.Last season

Victoria played the equal least number of games last year (seven in the home and away season) in the Covid-19 shortened season, won the equal most number of games (three) and had the fewest losses (one). But it wasn’t enough to claim the title. The final round of the season cost them hosting rights for the final after they folded for 114 and 172 at the WACA to be beaten by an innings inside three days. They had a chance to claim the crucial bonus-point lead on the first innings of the final at 233 for 3 needing to score just 45 runs more off 15 overs without loss. Had they done so they could have claimed the Shield title if the game finished in a draw. They instead lost 7 for 73. In WA’s second innings they had the hosts 110 for 5, leading by only 190, with plenty of time left in the game but failed to break a crucial partnership between Sam Whiteman and Aaron Hardie. There were some positives to come from the year. Handscomb returned to form as the Shield’s leading run-scorer (697 runs) while Nic Maddinson and Travis Dean also had excellent seasons. Scott Boland was outstanding again and the emergence of Will Sutherland and Mitch Perry with the ball are positive signs for the future after the retirement of Pattinson. Offspinner Todd Murphy also produced a stunning performance in his second game to earn a surprise call-up for Australia A’s tour of Sri Lanka.

Victoria Shield fixtures

October 6-9: vs South Australia, Karen Rolton Oval
October 17-20: vs Western Australia, Junction Oval
October 29-November 1: vs Tasmania, Hobart
November 10-13: vs Queensland, Allan Border Field
November 24-27: vs Tasmania, MCG
December 1-4: vs New South Wales, Junction Oval
February 9-12: vs Queensland, MCG
February 20-23: vs South Australia, Junction Oval
March 2-5: vs New South Wales, SCG
March 14-17: vs Western Australia, WACA

Player to watch

Nearly every person associated with Australian cricket is eager to see the return of Will Pucovski this summer after a drama-filled 18 months following his Test debut. He did return to play in the Shield final but his concussion-related issues last summer saw him play only three Shield games. He had a positive tour of India with a select group of Australian youngsters that were sent to train at the MRF Academy in Chennai in August. He made 193 retired for Victoria’s 2nd XI against New South Wales’ 2nd XI last month. Run-scoring is never the issue for Pucovski. It will simply be a case of playing every game and remaining healthy across the entire season, something he has never managed as a professional cricketer.Australia radar
Scott Boland remains firmly in the Test frame for Australia given the heavy workload that Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc face this summer. He will almost certainly be included in the Test squads and will be the first cab off the rank if there is an injury. Marcus Harris remains in the selectors’ long-term plans, but the success of the David Warner-Usman Khawaja combination means he will need to keep piling up Shield runs to hold his position as the next opener in. The selectors will be patient with Pucovski but there will be hype around him if he starts the season well.Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson remain in the Australia A frame. Handscomb in particular could well be considered for the Test tour of India in February. Glenn Maxwell is going to be a curious case. There will be a Sheffield Shield match on December 1 against New South Wales that he is set to be available for having not played Shield cricket since 2019. He nearly played Test cricket on the last tour of Sri Lanka and looks set to be picked for the India tour. It will be interesting to see how he is used by Victoria in that game should he play, given he has stated that he doesn’t need to play Shield cricket in order to prepare adequately for that tour.

Visitors begin reply brightly at Hove but lose six wickets and still trail by 135 as spinner snares four

ECB Reporters Network30-Apr-2021Young off-spinner Jack Carson continued his impressive start to the season with four wickets as Sussex fought back strongly against Lancashire in the LV=Insurance County Championship Group 3 match at Hove.The 20-year-old from Northern Ireland finished the second day with 4 for 50 from 28 overs as Lancashire reached 193 for 6 in reply to Sussex’s 328, having been 137 for 1.Carson now has 15 wickets this season while 18-year-old debutant Jamie Atkins also had cause for celebration after removing Lancashire skipper Dane Vilas for a duck to claim his maiden first-class scalp.Related

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Lancashire openers Alex Davies and Keaton Jennings had put on 93 with few alarms with Jennings passing 50 for the first time this season, but Carson broke through in his fifth over when a quicker ball deceived Davies, who chopped on trying to cut after nearly three hours at the crease.Jennings had been badly missed at slip by Stiaan van Zyl on 53 off the luckless George Garton but it wasn’t expensive. He added just seven more before edging Carson to slip off a delivery which turned just enough out of the rough.That left Lancashire 137 for 2, but they then lost four wickets for the addition of just seven runs. Stuart Meaker was rewarded for an excellent spell down the slope when Luke Wells, on his first return to the county where he spent ten seasons, followed one and was caught behind.Carson’s third victim was Steven Croft, who was athletically caught off bat and pad by wicketkeeper Ben Brown diving forward, and it was 151 for five when Vilas was bowled off an inside edge trying to force Atkins through the off side.Liam Livingstone’s first Championship innings of the season lasted just four balls as Aaron Thomason took a juggling catch at short leg to give the irrepressible Carson his fourth wicket and Lancashire had lost 5 for 24 runs in 8.5 overs. Josh Bohannon and Danny Lamb negotiated 23 overs to stumps but their side still trail by 135.Carson’s haul followed his 5 for 85 in Yorkshire’s second innings at Hove last week, the visitors winning that match by 48 runs.Earlier on Friday, Sussex added just 10 runs to their overnight 318 for 7 before they were bowled out with Lamb taking the last three wickets including Carson, bowled via an inside edge, and the bizarre run out of Henry Crocombe, caught short when George Garton struck the ball straight back down the pitch and Lamb stuck out a hand on his follow through, deflecting the ball onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Garton was last man out, caught at fine leg as Lamb finished with 3 for 59.Tom Bailey took 3 for 69 before Lancashire’s reply was held up by rain just under half an hour before the scheduled lunch break, causing a 40-minute delay.

Allrounder persuaded to turn down Nottinghamshire deal as opportunity looms with Philander’s retirement

Firdose Moonda and George Dobell29-Dec-2019Dwaine Pretorius has opted out of a Kolpak deal with Nottinghamshire and has committed his future to South African cricket.ESPNcricinfo has learned that Pretorius was ready to relocate to the United Kingdom before the change in Cricket South Africa’s administration but has since negotiated a national contract that will keep him in the country.Pretorius was not among the 16 players who were contracted in March this year – two of whom, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn, have since retired and another, Vernon Philander, is due to so at the end of this series.Neither is he a regular in the South African side. Since making his debut in September 2016 in an ODI against Ireland, Pretorius has played some part in series against Australia (October 2016), Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh (all 2017) and Australia (2018).He played in five of the 10 ODIs South Africa hosted prior to the 2019 World Cup, against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, was included in the squad and played in matches in three of South Africa’s nine group stage matches. He has also featured in six T20s.However, with little certainty over his long-term role in the set-up and a pay cut looming in his franchise contract – as South Africa’s domestic set-up battles debt – Pretorius was ready to seek security in the United Kingdom.Had he done that, he would have joined several of his countrymen, including the likes of Kyle Abbott, Rilee Rossouw and Duanne Olivier, who quit South Africa in the midst of their international careers. He was convinced otherwise by the new interim director of cricket Graeme Smith, who has been involved in player negotiations throughout the week.Pretorius is on Test debut at SuperSport Park, where he has impressed with a patient 33 in the first innings, made in almost an hour-and-a-half at the crease, as well as aggression with the ball. With South Africa seeking to fill the lower-order allrounder role, and Philander nearing the end of his career, Pretorius has the opportunity to make the spot his own over the summer.