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Steven Smith and David Warner will be the centre of attention but South Africa are the team with issues to solve

The Preview by Alan Gardner20-Feb-2020

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The last time these two teams met in this setting, things got a little rough. Even before Newlands, sandpaper and the inquisition that followed, there had been boorish behaviour on the field, boorish behaviour off it, a skirmish in a stairwell and Faf du Plessis intervening dressed only in a towel. In fact, that last one was family-friendly by the standards of Australia’s 2017-18 tour of South Africa, the ripples of which were still observable during the most recent northern summer, when Steven Smith and David Warner made their comebacks in England.Almost two years on, in the wake of various bans, reviews, leadership changes, coaching appointments and many, discussions about “culture”, Australia return to the scene of their DIY crimes. Well, not quite to Cape Town, yet, but back to the same Johannesburg hotel, as Smith noted earlier this week, where so much crisis management took place between the third and fourth Tests – and from where Smith, Warner and Cameron Bancroft set off for home, amid tears, recriminations and the sense of Australian cricket rapidly imploding.And yet, ahead of three T20Is and three ODIs, it is the tourists who will walk into the Wanderers with a lighter tread. Smith and Justin Langer have spoken enthusiastically about being back in South Africa, having dealt with brickbats aplenty in England, while Aaron Finch leads a team that are unbeaten in T20Is stretching back to 2018, and reached a World Cup semi-final in between times. The Ashes remain in Australian hands, Smith and Warner have resumed their phenomenal run-scoring feats and their only defeats of the “home” summer came while away in India last month.Contrast that with South Africa’s 2019-20 season. Following the administrative turmoil that saw Graeme Smith, Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis and several other former greats co-opted to the team’s management, South Africa managed just one win in each of the three formats against England, losing Test and T20I series, and drawing the ODIs. Subsequently, du Plessis has stepped down from the captaincy, and planning for this year’s T20 World Cup seems to hinge on whether AB de Villiers can be talked into a comeback. Throw in long-standing issues around finance and transformation, and it’s hard not to become pessimistic.That said, contests with Australia rarely fail to bring out South Africa’s best. They will be buoyed by the return of Kagiso Rabada, who last played during the Port Elizabeth Test in January, and du Plessis has sidelined any lingering resentment about his treatment to bring his considerable experience as a T20 batsman. The T20Is against England were closely contested, featuring positive performances from Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klassen and Lungi Ngidi, while Dale Steyn will hope to find his groove ahead of a final World Cup tilt. If South Africa are underdogs, they still know how to bite.And, starting at the Bullring, they will be roared on over the next 11 days by partisan crowds eager to see nothing more than Australia upended once again. T20Is can often seem lacking in context – but in a World Cup year, and beneath the long shadow of Cape Town 2018, this could be a series to savour.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)South Africa LLWWL
Australia WWWWW

In the spotlight

He has often been the man to step into the breach for South Africa, and du Plessis will not be letting his country down now, despite relinquishing the captaincy (or was he pushed?) seven months out from the T20 World Cup. He is vastly experienced in the shortest format, and should provide a shoulder for de Kock to lean on as he juggles leadership and keeping wicket, as well as adding class and nous with the bat. A miserable Test series against England saw du Plessis record a top-score of 36 in eight innings, but he has enjoyed T20 success this season, guiding unfancied Paarl Rocks to the Mzansi Super League title.There’s no doubting who the camera operators will be focusing on when Smith and Warner step back on to a South African playing field for the first time since Newlands. Both, however, seem ready to deal with the scrutiny. Smith enjoyed another stellar Ashes, ticked along at a fraction below his usual standards during the summer, and comes into this series off the back of an ODI hundred plus a walk-on role in Sydney Sixers’ Big Bash triumph. Warner, meanwhile, put his torment at the hands of Stuart Broad behind him to ravenously rack up 1219 runs at 135.44, which included a maiden T20I hundred and his Test best of 335 not out. The Wanderers crowd will be hard pushed to throw either off his stride.

Team news

Bavuma will miss this match after picking up a hamstring strain against England, putting a pause on his prolific opening partnership with de Kock – as well as hurting South Africa’s chances of hitting their transformation target. Du Plessis, without the burden of captaincy, will slot straight back in, which could mean Jon-Jon Smuts assuming a more familiar role as opener, while Rabada is in line to lead the attack alongside veteran campaigner Steyn. Anrich Nortje could also be involved, after sitting out both limited-overs series against England.South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (capt, wk), 2 Jon-Jon Smuts, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Kagiso Rabada, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Tabraiz Shamsi, 11 Lungi Ngidi/Anrich NortjeGlenn Maxwell’s comeback on this tour was derailed by elbow surgery, which leaves Australia a little light on middle-order options – his replacement in the squad is D’Arcy Short, who usually opens but like Maxwell can also provide a spin option. Warner and Finch seem locked in to start the innings, having been so successful during the home summer, so that leaves two from Short, Matthew Wade (whose last T20I was in 2016) and Mitchell Marsh (last T20I 2018) to fill out an otherwise settled line-up, with two frontline spinners and the pace of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.Australia (possible): 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch (capt), 3 Steven Smith, 4 Matt Wade/D’Arcy Short, 5 Mitchell Marsh, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Ashton Agar, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Kane Richardson

Pitch and conditions

The pitch at the Wanderers for the pink ODI earlier this month was a little on the slow side, with some unexpected assistance for England’s two spinners, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid. That said, short boundaries and thin Highveld air usually combine for entertaining (read: batsman-friendly) encounters. The game is sold out, but the possibility of thundershowers could lead to interruptions.

Stats and trivia

• South Africa have only won three, and lost seven, of their last ten completed T20Is against Australia.
• Their last such meeting in Johannesburg saw Australia successfully chase 205 – although South Africa have won the other three encounters at the Wanderers.
• Australia have not lost more than three wickets in a completed T20I innings since February 2019, when they made 127 for 7 in Vizag at the start of their winning run.

Quotes

“It’s great to have him back. He is excited, he still understands he has a big role to play for us. He is still seen as a leader amongst all of us. He is one of the senior-most members in the team and he brings a lot of experience and can help guide the younger players in the team. His knowledge will help us going forward.”
“Coming off the summer, I feel good and the boys feel good. The team knows their roles. It’s very well defined. [Previously], the order was out and players didn’t really know what their role was but at the moment it’s very clear. Every person knows what their role is.”

Their induction takes the count of women match officials across different ICC panels up to 12

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2020Indian umpires Janani Narayanan and Vrinda Rathi were inducted into the International Panel of ICC Development Umpires on Tuesday, taking the count of women match officials across different ICC panels up to 12.Narayanan, 34, and Rathi, 31, who hail from Chennai and Mumbai respectively, have officiated in domestic matches in India since 2018. While Narayanan, who counts the late English umpire David Shepherd and retired India umpire S Venkataraghavan among her idols, doesn’t come from a cricketing background, Rathi played for Mumbai University as a pace bowler from 2007/08 to 2010/11.”It feels great to know that Vrinda and I have been inducted into the ICC’s development panel,” Narayanan said in an ICC release. “This gives me the chance to learn from seniors on the circuit and improve in the years to come. Cricket has become part of my daily routine since the 90s and I look forward to be associated with the sport at a higher level.”I take this opportunity to thank the BCCI for the opportunities given and the ICC for giving me this break. I would like to thank Mr Radhakrishnan, who has been my mentor since I first started umpiring. I would also like to thank my parents who never stopped me from watching cricket on TV, my senior umpires Sai Darshan, Ashwin Kumar and all my state panel umpires, national panel umpires and referees who have helped me learn and grow.Rathi has had several scoring stints in international matches, and it was while keeping scores during the 2013 women’s ODI World Cup in India that she was inspired to take up umpiring after watching retired woman umpire Kathy Cross of New Zealand officiate in the tournament.”I feel privileged to be named in ICC’s development panel as this opens new avenues for me,” Rathi said. “I am sure I will get to learn a lot from other members of the panel and look forward to future assignments.”Having played cricket and also officiated as a scorer, this was a natural progression for me and I am happy at the way things have unfolded.
“I am thankful to the BCCI for backing me over the years and to the ICC for giving me this opportunity. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my family, colleagues and mentors for all the help and support over the years.”Narayanan and Rathi’s induction comes close on the heels of the launch of 100% Cricket, a 12-month campaign aimed at building on the momentum of the recently concluded women’s T20 World Cup 2020 and amplifying the buzz leading up to the Women’s World Cup 2021 in New Zealand.Adrian Griffith, the ICC Senior Manager, Umpires and Referees, welcomed the decision, saying, “These are exciting times for women’s cricket, and it is only appropriate that we have more women officials at the international level. We will work proactively with Member Boards to give female officials the pathway needed for their growth.
“I am sure Janani and Vrinda are looking forward to their time on the panel. I wish them all the best and hope they not only perform well on assignment, but continue to develop their skillset with our support as they travel along their journey.”The other women match officials across the ICC panels include GS Lakshmi, Shandre Fritz (International Panel Match Referees); Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Shivani Mishra, Claire Polosak, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Mary Waldron, Jacquline Williams (all International Panel of ICC Development Umpires).

Lancashire’s players agree to take 20% pay cut for May

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Apr-2020Lancashire have become the latest county to cancel their overseas signings for the summer, pulling out of deals for BJ Watling, Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner after discussions with the players’ agents.New Zealand wicketkeeper Watling had been due to feature in Lancashire’s first nine Championship games, on their return to Division One, while the Australia pair of Maxwell and Faulkner were signed for the Vitality Blast. However, with the English season in limbo due to the coronavirus outbreak, those plans have been scrapped – although options remain for them to be contracted again in 2021.”I would like to thank BJ, Glenn, James and their representatives for their total understanding of the current situation and full agreement of this decision,” Lancashire’s director of cricket, Paul Allott, said.”These are clearly very uncertain and challenging times for all counties, both financially and operationally, and it’s clear the issues we face at the moment will have an impact on the way we prepare for the domestic season. The overseas player situation is a policy that has been discussed nationwide and we think it’s prudent to mutually come to an agreement with the players we had originally signed.”We will keep in touch with the players and their representatives, and as part of the agreement we’ve come to, we do have an option to sign them for the 2021 campaign.”Clearly, we are looking at a condensed and truncated season, and whilst it is of course disappointing not to have any overseas players at our disposal, it does mean that we will be able to give our young, and homegrown players increased opportunities.”Several other overseas moves have been called off in recent weeks, including Nathan Lyon’s stint at Hampshire, Michael Neser at Surrey, Cheteshwar Pujara at Gloucestershire and Matt Henry at Kent.Lancashire’s players, meanwhile, have agreed to take a 20% pay cut for May. While the club’s non-playing staff have already been furloughed on 80% of their wages, the players have not – meaning they can still access medical and psychological support – but they unanimously backed the cost-saving move.”I would also like to thank the current Lancashire squad for agreeing to a 20% salary reduction for the month of May,” Allott said. “The players were very keen that any salary reductions for them should be in line with the rest of the club’s staff. It has truly been a unified approach to what is a very difficult situation we currently find ourselves in.”We have been really pleased with the application shown by the players over the past month in what is a completely unprecedented situation. What has impressed me most is their willingness to get involved and help out in any way they can whether it be calling our older members and creating content for the club’s digital channels.”They have supported with fitness tips and coaching videos for recreational clubs and players, involved themselves with the Lancashire Cricket Foundation and have also assisted the club from a commercial perspective, whilst continuing their fitness programmes set out by the sports science and medical team.”

Helping Scotland achieve Full-Member status and playing in a couple more World Cups is at the top of the captain’s agenda

ESPNcricinfo staff23-May-2020Kyle Coetzer has expressed concern that with no cricket in Scotland until at least August, the sport could well “start to be forgotten in some ways”, and cricketers who are not getting a chance to do what they do best might just move away from the game.”Any sport that isn’t getting any headlines will slowly but surely start to be forgotten in some ways,” the Scotland captain told the BBC. “People who are playing at the grassroots may well just decide ‘well, we are not playing this year’ and some might just decide ‘well, actually I am not going to bother coming back’. You just hope that isn’t the case.”Scotland last played competitive cricket in December 2019, when they were in the UAE to take part in a chunk of World Cup League 2 fixtures. The next round of matches in the competition – slotted for early April in Lauderhill, Florida – was cancelled along with all other major cricket following the Covid-19 outbreak. As things stand, their limited-overs matches against New Zealand and Australia in Edinburgh in June are likely to be scrapped as well, even though Scotland has expressed a willingness to host the games behind closed doors if needed.ALSO READ: Downtime Diaries with Kyle Coetzer“These opportunities don’t come round every year and playing those games gives the whole cricketing public in Scotland real hope,” Coetzer said. “I don’t think cricket in Scotland will fall behind – I think everyone is pretty much in the same place give or take a bit of finance. We will be as eager as any other team to keep pushing forward.”The good thing from Scotland’s point of view is that they have already made the cut for the group stage of the T20 World Cup, scheduled for October-November in Australia. The tournament hasn’t been cancelled yet, but there is a great sense of uncertainty around it, and even if it does take place, there is a good chance of the matches being played to empty stands.Despite the possibility of the tournament moving to a later date, 36-year-old Coetzer has big plans when it comes to Scotland cricket. “We have Full-Member status on the horizon, which is something that is massively on my agenda. And I would love to play in a couple more World Cups.”I keep proving myself wrong by doing things that I didn’t think I was capable of and that is a very special thing. I can see myself managing another few years yet anyway.”

Cricket Ireland CEO insists tournament still has “viability, purpose and interest”

Matt Roller22-Jul-2020The Euro T20 Slam’s launch has been postponed by another year due to uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.The league’s inaugural season was initially planned for 2019, but was cancelled at two weeks’ notice when its organisers ran into financial difficulty. The three boards behind the competition (Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands) had made various contingency plans amid the pandemic, including the option of staging the tournament in its entirety at Malahide, but pulled the plug on Wednesday due to the continued uncertainty.”We had been discussing in recent weeks alternative arrangements to get the competition started – single venue, reduced team and player pool, a shorter competition – and, given the speed with which we set up the tri-series between the three boards in Dublin last September, we felt confident to leave the decision as late as possible to give ourselves the best chance to make it work,” said Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland’s chief executive.ALSO READ: Thompson added to Ireland squad for England ODIs“However, we have now run out of road, particularly with the Irish Government’s recent decision to delay the next stage of relaxing its restrictions to August 10, and the Slam Board reluctantly reached the conclusion that the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and compromises being made to the original objectives did not make it a viable start in 2020.”Deutrom insisted that there was still support for the “concept” behind the tournament, of a league involving teams from Europe’s three biggest cricketing nations outside of England.”I believe we have made, and will continue to make, decisions that give the concept the best chance to succeed, including being prudent in not proceeding if the circumstances aren’t right,” he said. “The three participating cricket boards have also made it clear that the competition must deliver on the original objectives of providing high-quality cricket experiences for our players – that is the reason we set out on this road initially.”Even if it takes until the third time of asking, we still very much believe in the viability, purpose and interest in a European T20 franchise concept, and will continue to do our best to bring it to fruition.”Despite the tournament’s postponement, players from all three nations will be involved in some top-level cricket this summer. An enlarged Ireland squad is currently at the Ageas Bowl preparing for a three-match ODI series against England, while Scotland returned to training on Monday.Netherlands were among the first nations to cancel their home internationals, but following the Dutch government’s announcement last month that sporting events would be permitted again, the KNCB has announced series against Denmark in August and Scotland in late September.

Only action in the middle is a series of inspections as rain rules in Nottingham

Paul Edwards at Trent Bridge16-Aug-2020It was a dreich day, the sort which finds cricketers drawing back their hotel curtains to see whether passing cars have their windscreen wipers flapping. Rain did not appear to be falling but the air was damp and the heavy murk seemed certain to prevent a prompt start. Nottingham was quiet; as quiet as Aberystwyth on a Sunday morning in the 1960s, when the sober-suited diaconate walked to chapel, certain of their positions in this world and their places in the next one.At half-past ten groundstaff began removing sheeting from the square, although that signified nothing except the absence of rain. Some players strolled over to the indoor nets while others, including Luke Fletcher, who is not playing in this game, bowled a few balls. Workouts do not come any gentler. “Start delayed,” declared Trent Bridge’s plush scoreboard, although everyone knew that already and one’s attention was taken more by the board’s tickertape gadgetry than the news it conveyed. No other sport involves this amount of waiting around; a football or rugby match takes place or it doesn’t. Abandonments are very rare and no one suggests to players in such games that they might fit in ten minutes later on if the weather improves. Yet cricketers turn up at grounds with the hard-won knowledge that while no play is probable they must prepare as though something can be salvaged.By midday the whole square was covered again and the umpires had decided an early lunch would be taken, followed by an inspection at one o’clock. The latter event seemed far more likely to be the prelude to abandonment than the first sign cricket might be possible. On most days in summer the view from the top of the Radcliffe Road Stand at Trent Bridge stretches far into the surrounding countryside and the former pit villages. Today visibility was no more than 500 yards and everywhere was freighted by cloud. Most cars on Melton and Loughborough Roads had their headlights on. But for the leaves it could have been a mild November afternoon.Anyone looking out from the press box at 12.45pm would have seen nobody at all on the ground. One missed the cheerily deranged optimists under their odd umbrellas, patiently waiting for nothing whatsoever to happen and reading their until some announcement interrupted their strange reveries. As far as one could see, any inspection was of the most cursory variety: “It is still raining? “Yes”, “We’ll stay here, then.”There are, of course, many worse grounds in which to sigh away Sunday than Trent Bridge and many duller places in which to do so than Nottingham. The city contains reminders of its vibrant manufacturing history and the names of famous firms are still blazoned from warehouses, even if those cavernous interiors are being converted into snazzy apartments for the chillingly aspirational. One such is Hickings on London Road. This was a great textile factory in the 20th century, although somewhat ironically, the ground floor of the site is now the location for Hooters, a themed restaurant where, so one understands, the provision of ample clothing is less of a priority.The general view is that we will all need a few waterproof layers before this game is done. Just after half-past one the staff began to peg down all the covers as though they knew the really rough weather was on its way. “Start delayed,” insisted the scoreboard, obstinate in its adherence to the party line. At 2.15pm the umpires walked on to the outfield from one corner of the field and the groundstaff advanced to meet them from the opposite corner. One might have thought a duel was about to commence, especially so when the group was eventually joined by James Whitaker, the match referee. But the group stood around for ten minutes and Whitaker practised his forward defensive shot. The problem, one supposed, was that while the ground was hardly drying at all and the forecast was ghastly, it was not raining at the moment. It was decided to hold another inspection at 3.15pm, then another at 4pm, and yet one more at 4.30pm. Everyone did their best.Over seven hours after the cricketers had arrived at Trent Bridge play was abandoned. It was darker than it had been all day and a group of Lancashire’s staff marked the occasion by lapping the ground a few times. The weather forecast for the next two days is worse than it was this morning. Yet two months ago, when England’s cricket grounds wore heavy padlocks, many of us would have given a great deal to sit in a deserted press box on a wet afternoon. And even now, thousands of supporters long for the moment when they can return to these places, the other homes where they have spent much of every summer until this one.

Young legspinner adds valuable runs then claims two wickets to keep West Indies in check

Valkerie Baynes23-Sep-2020Valuable runs and crucial wickets for youngster Sarah Glenn handed England a second 47-run victory in as many contests with West Indies and a 2-0 lead in their five-match T20I series.Having lost the toss and been sent in, England’s recognised batters struggled to post a significant score among them, leaving it to Glenn – supported by the experienced Katherine Brunt – to push their side beyond 150 mark with a 46-run partnership when a significantly lower total looked likely.Legspinner Glenn then made the breakthrough that removed a dangerous Deandra Dottin, lbw for 38 off 40 after posting 69 in a losing cause in the first of five matches, and effectively ended West Indies’ hopes when she had captain Stafanie Taylor stumped on 28 thanks to wicketkeeper Amy Jones’ second piece of brilliance for the evening.All of England’s youthful spinners prospered with Glenn, Sophie Ecclestone and Mady Villiers taking two wickets each.Opportunity goes begging for WindiesWest Indies had their chances in this match, but a rash of dropped catches, a failure to finish off the England tail having done the hard yards and then the inability of anyone to step up when likely stars Dottin and Taylor fell left them wanting.At the end of the Powerplay, the tourists were in touching distance at 36 for 1, having lost Hayley Matthews – who looked to be suffering from back pain – for just 3 when Brunt got a leading edge to fly to Heather Knight. That compared with England’s 44 for 1 and, with Dottin and Taylor at the crease, they can always entertain hope.By the time Glenn struck Dottin high on the back leg, kneeling down as she shaped to sweep, West Indies had moved to 72 for 2. Offspinner Villiers had Lee-Ann Kirby stumped thanks to some swift glovework from Jones before Glenn deceived Taylor for a stumping that had the visiting captain striding off the pitch while the TV umpire was still taking a look. From there, it seemed there was simply no-one to stand up amid a stream of wickets which left West Indies well short for the second game in a row.Seventh over and out, outWest Indies did some serious damage in an eventful seventh over bowled by Taylor.Nat Sciver had survived two chances in the previous over. The first came as she looked to heave a Shakera Selman cutter to the leg side but chipped back to the bowler, who got her fingertips to it but shelled the return catch as she went to ground. She was then put down by Shemaine Campbelle, diving to her left behind the stumps.Sciver’s luck ran out with just eight runs to her name when Taylor pinned her back with the first two balls of her second over and then tossed one up, beating the outside edge as Sciver charged and the ball skidded on, Campbelle whipping off the bails with Sciver well out of her crease.Knight, who was yet to score, was put down after slashing Taylor to Afy Fletcher at short third man. She was then involved in a mix-up with Danni Wyatt, who nudged Taylor into the off side and set off for an ambitious single, only to be sent back by her captain as Campbelle gathered Dottin’s sharp throw from backward point and removed the bails.Wyatt was run out for 14 and England were 43 for 3, having added just 11 runs since Tammy Beaumont, the star of England’s win in the first match, was out for 21 lofting Selman to Chinelle Henry at mid-on in the fourth over. Taylor finished with 2 for 12 from her four overs after she also had Fran Wilson stumped by Campbelle for 4.Taylor’s contribution with the bat later took her past 3000 T20I runs, making her only the second woman to the landmark.Better ending for England battingEngland were teetering at 96 for 6 when they lost Jones for 25 and Knight for 17. With no-one in the top or middle order having posted an innings of real note, it fell to Brunt and Glenn to fulfil the team brief identified after the first match of finishing better.They did so with distinction, with Glenn taking the lead in a 46-run partnership with Brunt from just 30 balls. Just-turned 21 and playing her 12th T20I, Glenn notched up 26 runs of 19 balls, including four fours before she was run out by Henry on the last ball of the innings. Brunt struck 18 off 14 before she was bowled by an excellent yorker from Selman, bringing in Ecclestone, who added nine off four balls.Having lost five wickets and added just 31 runs in the last five overs of the first match, this time, England added 51 runs for the loss of two wickets in that time.

However, the players’ silence leaves questions hanging

Mohammad Isam20-Oct-2020A year on from the players’ strike that shook Bangladesh cricket, senior BCB officials believe that their relationship with country’s cricketers remains “cordial”. But the players have refrained from making any public statements about the strike, despite it being widely acknowledged that they had raised relevant issues which were affecting the country’s cricket.Their use of the word “respect” at the very beginning of their address to the media, on October 21 last year, touched a chord with the public. Players in Bangladesh have felt aggrieved for decades and last year, particularly after the World Cup, a few episodes in particular motivated them to take such a bold step. However a meeting with the BCB two days after the strike began, chaired by board president Nazmul Hassan, which led to the concluding of the strike, has seemingly had a long-term effect on the cricketers who were in attendance.They have hardly followed up on their plan to redraw the leadership of the Bangladesh players’ association, the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), which was the first point on their list of demands. When ESPNcricinfo contacted several cricketers who are either centrally contracted or under the first-class contract of the board, they
refused to talk about the follow-up to the strike. The general feeling was that they were reluctant to stir up more controversy, and wanted to avoid the repercussions of any comments made by them which may be viewed as contrary to the board’s stance.Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the BCB’s chief executive, said that the board is receptive to any approach made by the players, citing the example of how president Hassan has always been regularly in touch with players. He said that they are keen to listen to the players, whether they want to communicate at a personal level or through the players’ body, the CWAB.”I don’t see any deterioration in our relationship with the players,” Chowdhury told ESPNcricinfo. “They are the main stakeholders of the board. The board takes responsibility like a guardian. I don’t think there was any gap between us. They had some issues, which we have addressed. The relationship between the players and board is always cordial.”We have kept all channels open, whichever medium they want to use [to communicate with us]. There’s considerable player representation in the current board, [more] than ever before. By constitution, there is players’ representation in the board. Players have access to everyone in the board. You very well know that our president has a personal relation with the players.”Getty Images

BCB director Ismail Haider Mallick, who also heads the BPL’s governing council, termed the players’ demands “logical” and believes the board has taken steps to resolve some of the issues that were raised. Mallick said that they have brought back the usual domestic-player transfers, an open-market concept through which the players can go to a club of their choice in the List-A Dhaka Premier League within a set window, as opposed to the players-by-choice system, which was a type of draft wherein the clubs chose the players. He also said that they will revert to a franchise-based model for future editions of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), after a season in which the teams were owned by the board.”Except the first-class cricketers’ salary, a number of their demands have been met. We have raised the first-class match fees and the number of players who get monthly salaries.”We have also removed players-by-choice in Dhaka Premier League (DPL) and returned the BPL to its previous format. They made some logical demands which were met positively,” he said.Mallick said it is a continuous process, and the board will deal with more issues in the future. “It is not a static situation. We haven’t fixed everything. We will address issues whenever they come up again,” he said.One official, requesting anonymity, said that while the BCB has come across as genuine in its approach towards the players after the strike, the relationship is strained at the very least.”The players made logical demands but their process wasn’t great. They are no longer valued like they used to be, though the BCB remains sincere in their approach to solve the issues,” the official said. “There are fewer personal favours now.”The differing opinions and the players’ reluctance to comment prompt some questions. But there is no denying that the BCB began to meet demands less than a week after the strike was concluded. They increased match fees and allowances and raised provisions for travel, accommodations and meals in the first-class competitions. They have also committed to increasing the monthly salary for contracted first-class cricketers.But the players have been mostly reticent about discussing CWAB elections and the overall restructuring that they had demanded. CWAB general secretary Debabrata Paul said that they have had only one fruitful meeting on this particular matter with the players in the past year.”Within a month after their strike, we briefed the players including Shakib Al Hasan, about our association’s constitution,” Paul said. “Shakib told us that they will get back to us in three days, but they didn’t get back to us for two weeks. They wanted another meeting but they only sent [Jahurul Islam] Omi. Shakib didn’t come to the meeting.”But we have been in touch with the senior cricketers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic when we had online meetings about first-class cricketers. They have been quite active in five meetings so far. I would say that our relationship with the players is in better shape than at any point in time.”Paul said that CWAB remains on course to hold its AGM and elections as soon as players gather in the capital for the DPL.Ideally, though, in the aftermath of a dispute between the players and the board, the players’ association plays a central role in mediating a balanced working relationship between the two. CWAB has to be a more visible participant in the process, and work at reducing the apathy that the cricketers have felt towards them, leading to the protest in the first place.That said, it is perhaps a positive sign that the strike has caused both players and administrators to be a little wary of relying too heavily on their personal relationship. A working partnership is what is desired by everyone involved, and the sooner it takes shape, preferably moulded by the players’ association, the better it will be for Bangladesh cricket.

The only way is up after last season with a host of new overseas names key to their hopes

Alex Malcolm07-Dec-2020Captain Aaron FinchCoach Michael KlingerSquad Noor Ahmad (Afg), Cameron Boyce, Brody Couch, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Peter Hatzoglou, Jon Holland, Benny Howell (Eng), Josh Lalor, Shaun Marsh, Mohammad Nabi (Afg), James Pattinson, Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Rilee Rossouw (SA), Will Sutherland, Imran Tahir (SA), Imad Wasim (Pak), Beau WebsterIn Noor Ahmad, Josh Lalor (Heat), James Pattinson (Heat), Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge (Heat), Rilee Rossouw, Imran Tahir, Imad Wasim
Out Dan Christian (Sixers), Tom Cooper (Strikers), Jack Wildermuth (Heat)Overseas player availability Noor Ahmad (available from Dec 18), Mohammad Nabi (available from Dec to Jan 9), Rilee Rossouw (all season), Imran Tahir (available from Jan 9), Imad Wasim (available from Dec 26)Last season: 8thThe Renegades had a horror defence of their title in BBL09. They lost their first eight games under new coach Michael Klinger and never recovered, managing just three wins for the tournament. Their attack, which was the key to their title in 2018-19, really struggled to contain opponents and they simply couldn’t score enough runs to overcome that. They have gone on a very specific recruiting drive to bolster the attack for this season.Bubble impactJames Pattinson will be the only local player affected by the Australia Test squad bubble but they should have full availability for the rest of the local players although Marcus Harris will miss the opening two games due to Australia A duty. Their five overseas players will be in and out at various times. Rilee Rossouw is available all season but his compatriot Imran Tahir won’t be available until January 9. Noor Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi will miss the first two games because of delayed starts to quarantine, but will be fine until January 9 when Nabi is heading to the UAE for international duty. Ahmad will remain with the Renegades. Imad Wasim is due to head over after Pakistan’s series in New Zealand.Player to watchWill Sutherland has already had an impact as a bowling allrounder in Sheffield Shield and one-day cricket for Victoria but that has not yet translated to the BBL for the Renegades. He is only 21, so expectations do need to be tempered in what can be the toughest form to master for young players. However, with the way the Renegades have set up their squad, and the performance of their bowlers last season, Sutherland becomes an extremely important piece for the balance of their XI. If he can have an impact with bat and ball, it will give the Renegades a lot more flexibility with their line-up, even with the new sub-rule coming into effect.Key stat (Gaurav Sundararaman)The Renegades won the 2018-19 BBL by virtue of being the best bowling team. However, in 2019 they were the worst bowling team conceding runs at 8.55 per over and and average of 32.59. They also took only 69 wickets compared to the finalists Stars who took 114 wickets. The addition of Noor Ahmed and Imran Tahir could help in solving the problem.

Pandya was Player of the T20I Series against Australia but has not played a Test match since 2018

Varun Shetty08-Dec-20203:31

Kohli: Playing six games ‘in no time’ is something we all must ‘address’

Hardik Pandya will have to resume bowling before India consider him as a Test option again. This much was made clear when Virat Kohli was asked if the management would be tempted to retain the allrounder for the Test series, after a string of important performances in the limited-overs leg of the tour, where he played as a specialist batsman and ended up Man of the Series in the T20s.Apart from bowling an impromptu spell during the second ODI against Australia, Pandya has gone all season – including the IPL – playing only as a batsman, as he continues to build up to full fitness following a back surgery last year. The messaging around his non-bowling, from voices like Mumbai Indians’ Mahela Jayawardene and Zaheer Khan, had been one of caution – of not rushing him back into a bowling workload, and that seems to be the picture in the national team as well.ALSO WATCH: Match highlights: Wade and Maxwell set up win for Australia (Indian subcontinent only) “He’s been outstanding,” Kohli said in a press conference after the T20I series concluded. “He couldn’t bowl and we knew he’s not going to bowl. But what we saw of him in the IPL, and the headspace that he’s in, you know – you can just see in his game – that he’s wanting to make the team win. But Test cricket is a very different challenge altogether and we need him to bowl. We’ve spoken to him about it.”We need him to bowl. That’s when he becomes that one guy who brings a lot of balance for us. If you’ve seen our cricket overseas as well, in South Africa and England, we were able to compete for longer periods through Test matches because of the fact that he brought a lot of balance in terms of his bowling. We’ve communicated that to him.”After the second T20I, Pandya had been asked on air if he would like to stay back for the Tests, and showed brief interest in the idea. “It’s a different ball game I think I need to be…I mean, I don’t mind. But at the end of the day it is the call for the management and everyone (to make),” he had said. By the end of the third T20I on Tuesday, though, he said he was keen on spending time with his family and not thinking of a Test comeback at the moment.Hardik Pandya produced a stunning innings to win India the series•Getty Images

Pandya has played 11 Tests for India since debuting in 2017, the last one in England in 2018. Recurring lower back niggles have since kept him away. He averages 31.29 with the bat, with five fifty-plus scores, and 31.05 with the ball with one five-for. The management’s requirement for him to be firing as a complete allrounder to be considered for Tests is something he is clear about.ALSO WATCH: Video highlights: Virat Kohli’s 85 (Indian subcontinent only)“He’s definitely in a zone where he wants to get stronger, figure out and iron out all these niggles, and he wants to be able to provide for India with all three disciplines – and that’s always been his X-factor and it will continue to be,” Kohli said. “In white-ball cricket, we’ve found someone who can finish games and consistently. But he himself wants to get back into the bowling space and be available as a pure allrounder in Tests, which becomes way more important. Over five days, you need a little extra from a player in that role. So he understands that and is working really hard to come back.”Shami, Bumrah were being kept fresh for first TestIndia were slated to play two multi-day tour games, one of which concluded on Tuesday without the involvement of senior fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, who were with the T20I team. Bumrah, however, didn’t participate in any of the three T20s and Shami only played in the first one at Canberra. Kohli said this was an attempt to beware the packed schedule and what it could do to fitness levels.”It’s very important to understand that you need guys fresh for the first Test,” Kohli said. “You need to take some calls along with playing so many games. The fact that we’ve played six games in absolutely no time is something that we all need to address and be wary of.”You don’t want guys starting the Test match feeling sore or feeling like their legs have had too many miles in them. So we keep constantly communicating with the bowlers, asking them how their bodies are feeling, and they’ve been pretty professional and pretty good in communicating back what they need. We need to show absolute trust and faith in their processes and make sure they’re in the right headspace heading into the first Test.”ALSO WATCH: Video highlights: Zampa gets rid of Pandya (Indian subcontinent only) In all, India have played six limited-overs matches since the tour began on November 27, and the constraints in the schedule meant one of their practice games overlapped with the last two T20 matches. The time available before the Test series begins is a useful pause, Kohli said, but the overall schedule meant workload management was inevitable for those involved in all formats.”I think before we go into the first Test, the feeling that we’ll want to have is that our games are at an acceptable level,” Kohli said. “But more important than that is that you’re physically fresh. We can’t afford the slightest of niggles or muscle strains. That is the biggest priority for us – to keep our main players physically fit. To start the Test series well, we will need our fittest eleven players on the field.”India’s final tour game starts on Friday, before the first Test in Adelaide from December 17. It will be the only Test Kohli plays before departing on paternity leave. Kohli said he was personally in a good headspace heading into the longer format, after what he called a scratchy start to the tour.”Tonight I felt particularly good. I think I’m in the right headspace now. I think it was a bit scratchy in the first ODI to begin with, but then I addressed a few things and worked on a few aspects of my game that I wanted to. Purely to get into the best headspace that I possibly can, not thinking too much technique. Because when I get into a good headspace is when I feel like I can play and switch between all formats, and adjust according to the conditions as well,” he said.