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The board has also proposed increasing the gap between matches from three days to four, especially during the first-class tournaments

Shashank Kishore11-May-2024The 2024-25 Indian domestic season is set for an overhaul with the BCCI keen on staging the Ranji Trophy across two phases to minimize weather-related disruptions, particularly in northern India. As per the proposal that will be reviewed by the BCCI’s apex council, the Ranji season could begin in late September or early October.The first five rounds of matches will be followed by the senior men’s white-ball tournaments – the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50 overs). The remainder of the Ranji season, which will include three rounds of group fixtures and the knockouts, will be staged immediately afterwards.Related

• Ranji Trophy to be split into two phases, no zonal teams in Duleep Trophy

• Mumbai men to get 100% pay raise from 2024-25 domestic season

• Indian players stand to earn INR 45-60 lakhs per Test

• Shardul Thakur: 'Extremely tough on domestic players to play ten games with three-day gaps'

In 2023-24, the Ranji Trophy began in early January, with several matches during the first half of the competition severely affected by bad weather. Disruptions due to fog also caused logistical nightmares for a number of teams, leading a number of captains and coaches to voice their concerns publicly.The board has also proposed increasing the gap between matches from three days to four, especially during the first-class tournaments. A number of players, Shardul Thakur most notably, had spoken of the need for bigger breaks between matches to facilitate better recovery and preparation for players keeping in mind the length of the competition.Mumbai, for example, played 10 first-class matches in under 10 weeks during their run to the 2023-24 Ranji title. “If boys keep playing like this for two more seasons, there will be a lot of injuries across the country,” Shardul had said. “Next year, they [the BCCI] have to re-look at it and give more breaks. When I remember playing Ranji Trophy back in the day, [a] good seven to eight years back, the first three games used to have a three-day break, and then it was a four-day break, and knockouts were played with five-day breaks.”There has also been a lot of conjecture around the BCCI looking to further increase the match fees of domestic players, as a follow-up to its increase of match fees for contracted Test cricketers.However, ESPNcricinfo understands there are no immediate plans in the pipeline, even though discussions around the possibility of central contracts at the state level are ongoing. In March, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) agreed to incentivise its senior men’s team with a 100% pay raise from the 2024-25 season.

Coach Gary Stead hopes the team’s late start to the tournament will enable them to learn about conditions

Andrew McGlashan04-Jun-20241:11

Sodhi: So many unknowns is a huge challenge in a World Cup

Some of the New Zealand squad are still trying to work out what timezone they are in, but head coach Gary Stead is hopeful that their late start to T20 World Cup 2024 – they are among the last teams to begin their campaign – will give them enough time to prepare and gain intel from the matches beforehand.The squad has also had to dodge the rain since arriving in the Caribbean across various groups but has managed two full training sessions, which have included centre-wicket scenarios in the absence of warm-up matches.New Zealand could have had warm-up matches but opted against them with their squad only having come together in its entirety on Sunday with the arrival of Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson. Like Australia, they allowed those involved late into the IPL some brief time at home, which resulted in long journeys crisscrossing the globe. It means that some players won’t have played a match since the end of the home season in March.”You don’t always get ideal [situations] when people are coming from all over the world,” Stead told reporters. “And one of the things we have found here is jetlag probably hits you a little bit hard. I know a number of people have been up in the middle of the night, which isn’t great for your preparation, but thankfully we have enough time leading in being the 14th game of the tournament that guys can sort that out.”As with many of the teams, there will also be a nervous eye on the weather with how any rained-off games could impact qualification, while shortened games could bring the jeopardy of DLS. New Zealand also have the challenge of starting with two huge matches against Afghanistan and West Indies in what is potentially the toughest group.”Looks like the weather bomb that was hitting here has passed us by,” Stead said. “It’s definitely somewhat of a concern that in such a quick period of time of pool play that you want to play every match you can.”Stead gave a clean bill of health to the 15-player squad with Finn Allen training freely following the back injury which ruled him out of the Pakistan tour. “He’s progressing well, has taken a full part in training so at this stage, touch wood, we are 100% with no injuries,” he said.Stead added that he would be taking a close interest in the Afghanistan-Uganda match on Monday evening which was the first night game in Guyana with New Zealand also playing Afghanistan under lights. The dew factor was visible with bowlers regularly using a towel to dry the ball.”We’ll get an idea if that helps the ball slide on a little more…it will be interesting to see after tonight how that plays out,” he said. “We’ve tried to select a group of guys who we think are adaptable and can adapt to the different roles and situations in the match. When you look at our squad it’s been the strength of a number of players in the past, working out what par is on any given pitch.”I do think there will be a difference between playing in the daytime and in the evening. I suspect there will be a high dew factor here to play in the evening and that’s certainly the news we are getting.”

Lancashire lose fourth game in a row after posting sub-par total

ECB Reporters Network02-Aug-2024Kasey Aldridge recorded career-best figures of 6 for 33 and George Thomas a maiden List A century as Somerset made it three wins from four Group A games with an eight-wicket victory over Lancashire at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.The visitors could post only 218 all out after losing the toss, Australian allrounder Chris Green hitting 65 off 68 balls and opener George Bell 56 off 81. Tall seamer Aldridge was not introduced into the Somerset attack until the second half of the innings and took his wickets from 7.1 overs.In reply, the hosts raced to 220 for 2 off 40.5 overs, Thomas leading the way with an unbeaten 106 off 142 deliveries, with 14 fours and two sixes. James Rew contributed 60 not out and Lewis Goldsworthy 38 to inflict Lancashire’s fourth defeat in as many group matches.They never gained much momentum to their innings after a cautious start against the impressive Alfie Ogborne, which saw Bell and Harry Singh put together an opening stand of 47, ended in the 13th over when Singh was bowled by Jack Leach aiming a forcing shot through the leg side.It was 79 for 2 in the 20th over when Thomas bowled visiting captain Josh Bohannon playing down the wrong line. Bell went to fifty off 72 balls, but the tempo of the innings was never fast enough on such a quick-scoring ground.Balderson was caught and bowled by Goldsworthy off a leading edge for 27 and Aldridge had IPL winner Venkatesh Iyer caught by the diving Sean Dickson at cover as Lancashire slid to 121 for 4.Bell chipped a catch to mid-on off Aldridge and Rocky Flintoff gave Goldsworthy a second caught and bowled before Aldridge sent back Jack Blatherwick and Tom Aspinwall with successive deliveries, forcing Mitchell Stanley to face a hat-trick ball on his List A debut. He survived it before falling to a stunning catch by Leach, diving full length on the run from mid-off as two team-mates converged on him to give Aldridge his fifth wicket.Green blasted four fours and four sixes and shared a last-wicket stand of 51 with Charlie Barnard. But when he also skied a catch off Aldridge in the final over Lancashire looked well short of a competitive total.So it proved, as despite losing Andy Umeed early in their reply, Somerset attacked the meagre target with gusto, Thomas and Goldsworthy producing a boundary blitz that took their team to 64 for 1 by the end of the tenth over. The score had extended to 73 when Goldsworthy was bowled leg-stump by left-arm spinner Barnard in his opening over.Thomas slog-swept a six off Barnard in moving to a 79-ball half-century and soon celebrated with a pulled six off Aspinwall. He found a reliable partner in Rew, who gradually found his timing to join in the glut of boundaries.Thomas was given a life of 77 when dropped at long-on by Stanley off Green before bringing up the century stand with Rew by sweeping a four off Barnard. The Taunton-born 20-year-old went to three figures with a single off Green, raising both arms in celebration before turning to hug Rew, who seemed equally delighted for his friend and team-mate.A handsome cover-driven four off Blatherwick took Rew to a 56-ball fifty as the stand with Thomas became a Somerset List A record for the third wicket against Lancashire, beating the 118 put together by a certain Ian Botham and Vivian Richards in a 40-over game at Bath in 1978.

Marcus Stoinis back with Durban’s Super Giants, Paarl Royals have traded in Dayyaan Galiem from Joburg Super Kings for Tabraiz Shamsi

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2024Jonny Bairstow will feature for Joburg Super Kings in 2025. It will be his first time participating in the SA20. Faf du Plessis, Gerald Coetzee and Donovan Ferreira are among the other players retained by the franchise. They have traded in Tabraiz Shamsi from Paarl Royals with Dayyaan Galiem going the other way.JSK’s overseas retentions include Moeen Ali, Maheesh Theekshana and David Wiese. Nandre Burger, Lizaad Williams and Imran Tahir will also return to the Super Kings after helping them reach the Qualifier in the previous edition.Reeza Hendricks and Sam Cook are the notable absentees from last season. There will be additions to the 13-member squad, which du Plessis will continue to captain, at the auction.Related

• SA20: Gurbaz to reunite with Trott at Pretoria Capitals

• SA20 in 2025 will run from January 9 to February 8

• Sunrisers Eastern Cape sign Bedingham, Crawley and van der Merwe for upcoming SA20 season

Joburg Super Kings squad
Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Maheesh Theekshana, Jonny Bairstow, Gerald Coetzee, David Wiese, Leus du Plooy, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Donovan Ferreira, Sibonelo Makhanya, Tabraiz Shamsi, Imran Tahir

Stoinis back with Durban’s Super Giants

Last season’s runners-up, Durban’s Super Giants, had announced earlier that they have Kane Williamson and Chris Woakes on board this time. They will also have firepower in the form of Marcus Stoinis, who was the team’s wildcard pick last time around. They’ve also retained a strong local core in Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock and (their captain) Keshav Maharaj.Also back on their books are Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq and Noor Ahmad, local players Prenelan Subrayen, Dwaine Pretorius, Jon-Jon Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, Junior Dala, Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith and Bryce Parsons.Durban’s Super Giants squad
Keshav Maharaj (captain), Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan), Matthew Breetzke, Junior Dala, Quinton De Kock, Wiaan Mulder, Naveen-ul-Haq (Afghanistan), Bryce Parsons, Dwaine Pretorius, Jason Smith, Jon-Jon Smuts, Prenelan Subrayen

Paarl Royals retain Miller, Ngidi, Phehlukwayo

Captain David Miller, Lungi Ngidi and Andile Phehlukwayo are among a list of ten South African players retained by Paarl Royals for the new season of the SA20 in 2025. Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, rookie signings from the 2024 edition, have also been retained by the Royals ahead of the auction.Dane Vilas, Evan Jones, Wihan Lubbe and Ferisco Adams have been let go to make space in the squad that currently has 11 players, including being seam-bowling allrounder Galiem.David Miller led Royals to the Eliminator in 2024•SA20

Royals made the Qualifiers in the last SA20 edition but suffered five straight losses including a nine-wicket thumping in the Eliminator against Super Kings. The new season begins on January 9.”We are delighted to go into the upcoming auction with a very formidable core of capped and uncapped South African players,” Kumar Sangakkara – Royals’ Director of Cricket – said in a press release. “After the disappointment of last season where we faltered towards the latter stages of the tournament, it was important to re-look at the squad and make certain changes.”Paarl Royals squad
David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin, Andile Phehlukwayo, Mitchell van Buuren, Codi Yusuf, Keith Dudgeon, Nqaba Peter, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dayyaan Galiem (Traded in)

MI Cape Town hold on to Rabada, Brevis

There were not too many surprises in MI Cape Town’s announcements. They held on to Kagiso Rabada and Dewald Brevis via pre-signings, and also retained Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Delano Potgieter, Thomas Kaber and Connor Esterhuizen.They let go of Beuran Hendricks, Duan Jansen, Grant Roelofsen and Neelan van Heerden, statement from the franchise saying: “MI Cape Town would like to thank [these] players for their support and contribution over the last 2 seasons and wish them the very best.”

Sunrisers Eastern Cape bring in Crawley

Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the defending SA20 champions, have signed South Africa batter David Bedingham, England opener Zak Crawley, fast bowler Craig Overton, and Netherlands allrounder Roelof van der Merwe for the upcoming season. More on their squad here.

Allrounder takes 3 for 16 in eight overs then hits unbeaten 152 in run chase

ECB Reporters Network04-Aug-2024Ed Barnard was outstanding with bat and ball as Warwickshire beat Gloucestershire by six wickets at Bristol’s Seat Unique Stadium to extend their winning start to five matches in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.Having claimed 3 for 16 to help dismiss Gloucestershire for 267 in 49.4 overs, the in-form allrounder posted a brilliant match-winning knock of 152 not out from 134 balls as the Bears chased down their target with 2.1 overs to spare.He dominated stands of 79 and 135 with Hamza Shaikh and Chris Benjamin for the third and fifth wickets respectively and helped himself to two sixes and 14 fours as Warwickshire continued to match joint-leaders Glamorgan blow for blow at the top of Group B.Jack Taylor had earlier done his utmost to make a game of it, Gloucestershire’s skipper scoring a brilliant unbeaten 139 from 115 balls with eight sixes and 10 fours. He shared partnerships of 101 and 54 with Ben Charlesworth and Graeme van Buuren for the fifth and sixth wickets respectively to rescue Gloucestershire from the wreckage of 43 for 4.But Gloucestershire were kept in check by the irrepressible Barnard, who took his wicket tally in the competition to 13, while teenage legspinner Tazeem Ali returned career-best figures of 3 for 55.Now unbeaten in their last five outings in the 50-over competition, Warwickshire can virtually guarantee a place in the quarter-finals by defeating nearest rivals Glamorgan at Edgbaston on Thursday. Beaten in three of their five outings, Gloucestershire will almost certainly have to beat Sussex in their next game at Bristol on Wednesday to keep alive their chances of making the knockout stages.Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat, but might well have been regretting that decision after Barnard made early inroads. He found early movement off the pitch to remove Cameron Bancroft without scoring and account for Ollie Price and James Bracey in single figures. Michael Booth had Miles Hammond caught at the wicket for 15 as Gloucestershire were reduced to 43 for 4.Relieved to finally see the back of Barnard, Charlesworth and Taylor launched a recovery, staging an unbroken stand of 50 from 65 balls and forcing Will Rhodes, who conceded 22 runs in three overs, out of the attack. Pulling and driving with refreshing freedom, Charlesworth was first to 50, attaining that landmark via 68 balls with his first six, lofted over long-off at the expense of Tazeem.Tazeem had his revenge when Charlesworth, who had accrued six fours and a six, holed out to midwicket with the score on 144 for 5 in the 31st over. Warwickshire’s three spinners sent down 22 overs between them, Tazeem, Jake Lintott and Rob Yates conceding a combined total of 116 runs.Tazeem had some success, having van Buuren held on the long-off boundary, but only after he had contributed 18 in a crucial stand of 54 for the sixth wicket with Taylor. Warwickshire’s 18-year-old legspinner also sent back Tom Smith, but the visitors were unable to take the prized wicket of Taylor.Gloucestershire’s captain certainly exacted a heavy price, going to his first hundred of the season from 101 balls, and then orchestrating a late flurry that saw the home side plunder 52 runs in 3.4 overs at the death. Taylor’s onslaught reached a climax when he smashed former team-mate Craig Miles for three successive sixes in the penultimate over.Mindful that Warwickshire had chased 328 to defeat Essex at Chelmsford last month, Gloucestershire were aware of the importance of taking early wickets. Matt Taylor obliged, persuading Yates to hole out to midwicket for 16, while Josh Shaw had Rhodes caught at the wicket without scoring as the visitors slipped to 46 for 2.But Barnard and Shaikh provided much-needed reassurance. Having already posted a career-best knock of 173 in this competition this season, Barnard went to his latest 50 from 52 balls, finding the boundary with sufficient regularity to keep the required rate below six an over.Appointed captain of the England Under-19 side in June, Shaikh is enjoying a breakthrough season, and he further enhanced his burgeoning reputation here, making 37 in a stand of 79 for the third wicket. Content to play second fiddle to Barnard, the 18-year-old demonstrated his quality on occasions, caressing van Buuren’s slow left-arm over square leg for six before slicing the same bowler high to cover and departing in the 25th over.Price then bowled the reverse-sweeping Michael Burgess, at which point the visitors were 136 for 4, requiring a further 132 runs from 22.2 overs.But they were unable to unseat Burgess, whose serene progress saw him go to three figures from 99 balls. He found a willing ally in Benjamin, these two making 50 from 56 balls to keep the chase on track. Playing within himself, Benjamin rotated the strike beautifully in making a valuable 45 not out from 59 balls, while Barnard displayed impressive concentration to see the job through, carrying his bat for a second time in five innings to break Gloucestershire resolve.

An overseas player who does not register for the mega auction will not be allowed to register for subsequent mini auction

Nagraj Gollapudi29-Sep-2024Overseas players who make themselves unavailable for an IPL season after being bought at an auction without legitimate reasons will henceforth be penalised with two-year bans. That aside, overseas players’ maximum price in a mini auction will be the lower of the highest retention price (INR 18 crore, or US$ 2.1 million approx.) and the highest auction price at the mega auction.As reported by ESPNcricinfo earlier, the request to act against players opting out after being bought at auctions had come from all ten IPL franchises during their meeting with the IPL governing council in July. Disgruntled at their plans being thrown into disarray by late pullouts, the franchises asked the IPL to put in strong deterrents.In a document shared with franchises listing the retention rules, the IPL said: “Any [overseas] player who registers for [an] auction and, after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season will get banned from participating in the IPL/IPL auction for two seasons.” The only exception, the governing council said, will be for “an injury/medical condition, which will have to be confirmed by the [player’s] home board”.

‘Maximum fee’ for overseas players at mini auctions

The IPL has also agreed to the franchises’ suggestion to make it mandatory for overseas players to register for mega auctions. This, they argued, will prevent players and their agents from trying to earn big money during the mini auctions, where teams are usually willing to shell out massive sums to plug specific holes in their squads.This was in evidence at the last IPL auction. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who went on to win IPL 2024, and runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) set auction records to acquire the services of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins respectively. Cummins was sold for an auction-high INR 20.50 crore (US$2.47 million approx. at the time) early on in the bidding process, and Starc later went to KKR for INR 24.75 crore (US$2.98 million approx.) to set a new record.Related

• Harry Brook pulls out of IPL for second year running

• IPL retention: How many players can a team keep? And at what cost?

• SRH set to retain Klaasen, Cummins, Abhishek

• IPL retention FAQs: What is the modified RTM rule? Has the auction purse increased?

• Decks cleared for 'uncapped' Dhoni to be retained

To counter that, the IPL has devised a twin strategy. Firstly, an overseas player will not be allowed to register for a mini auction if he does not register for the preceding mega auction. “Any overseas player will have to register for the big auction. In case the player does not register, then he will have to miss the subsequent small auction. Only exception will be in case of an injury/medical condition which will have to be confirmed by the [player’s] home board before the big auction.”The IPL has also decided to impose what it called “maximum fee” for overseas players at mini auctions.”Any overseas player’s auction fee at small auction will be lower of the highest retention price [of INR 18 crore] and the highest auction price at the big auction,” the IPL said in the document. “In case the highest auction price at the big auction is INR 20 crore, then INR 18 crore will be the cap. If the highest auction price at big auction is INR 16 crore, then the cap will be INR 16 crore.The rule in place going forward is that the auction for the player will continue as normal till the player is sold, and the final auction amount will be charged to the auction purse. The incremental amount over INR 16 or 18 crore, as the case may be, will be deposited with BCCI. The incremental amount deposited with BCCI will be utilised towards players’ welfare.”

Stephen Parry let go after two seasons as head coach of Originals women

Matt Roller15-Oct-2024Manchester Originals have handed Simon Katich a one-year contract extension after a season in which his men’s team won only once, but Stephen Parry has been let go after two years in charge of their women’s side.The decisions over the two coaches’ futures were made by the Originals board, which has been restructured to reflect their closer ties with Lancashire from 2025. The county will become majority shareholders in Originals next season, when they are handed a 51% stake by the ECB, with the other 49% set to be sold to a private investor.Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s director of cricket, has been given responsibility to lead the recruitment process for Parry’s successor as women’s head coach as a result. James Sheridan, who is on the Lancashire board, has also taken over from the broadcaster Mark Chapman as Originals’ chair, though Chapman will remain on the board.Related

• Michael Klinger appointed head coach of Manchester Originals women

• Lancashire want IPL link for Manchester Originals

• ECB plans huge wage hikes, increase in overseas player limit in the Hundred

Katich, the former Australia batter, has coached Originals men since the Hundred’s inaugural season in 2021, and said he had “unfinished business” after agreeing to return in 2025. “I have absolutely loved my time leading the Manchester Originals over the last three years and I’m already looking forward to next year,” Katich said.Originals were runners-up in the 2022 and 2023 seasons of the men’s Hundred, losing tight finals against Trent Rockets and Oval Invincibles. But they failed to overcome the absence of the injured Jos Buttler this year, finishing seventh after winning only one of their eight matches with Phil Salt deputising as captain.”We were all disappointed with how this season went, particularly after coming as close as we did in 2022 and 2023,” Katich said. “I feel we have unfinished business given the events of the last three editions of the Hundred and all of us at the Originals will ensure that we get back on track next year… We are determined to win it for Manchester.”Parry, meanwhile, has been replaced after his side finished sixth in the women’s Hundred this season. Originals are the only women’s team who have not reached the knockout stages in any of the tournament’s first four editions, and are hoping to appoint “a world-leading women’s short-format head coach” for 2025 and beyond.”Stephen leaves us with our thanks and best wishes,” Sheridan said. “He joined us with our women’s team under-strength and still finding its feet at this level of cricket… We are in a much better place following two years with Stephen at the helm.”The recruitment process for Parry’s successor, which Chilton will oversee, will start immediately. “Our aim now is to recruit a world-leading women’s short-format head coach, and we are very excited where this group of players can take Manchester Originals next year and beyond,” Chilton said.The announcements come shortly before Friday’s deadline for first-round bids in the ECB’s sale process of the Hundred, with Lancashire actively seeking a “sporting partner” to become co-owners of Originals. Daniel Gidney, the county’s chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo in August: “We’d love to work with an IPL team.”The ongoing introduction of private investment is expected to make 2025 a season of transition in the Hundred, with the timeframe likely too tight for new owners to make sweeping changes to playing or coaching staff. The ECB has told prospective owners to expect significant wage hikes, though these could be delayed until 2026.

India’s quicks made three late inroads in a dramatic conclusion to third day to put them on track for a huge victory

Tristan Lavalette24-Nov-2024In the same city where Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli scored legendary centuries, India’s latest batting prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal produced a masterclass of his own with a majestic 161 to decimate a listless Australia in the first Test at Optus Stadium.Kohli then rammed home the advantage late on day three with a drought-breaking century to add to his epic ton on the same ground in 2018. On that occasion his heroics were in vain, but this time around will almost surely be different after India declared their second innings at 487 for 6.Related

• The Kohli hundred that snuck up on everybody

• Undercooked Australia lose the plot in Perth

• Live blog – Bumrah and Siraj wrap up comprehensive India win

• Rahul and Jaiswal show defence is (sometimes) the best form of defiance

• Stats – Jaiswal converts yet another ton into a 150-plus score

Chasing a record 534, Australia crashed to 12 for 3 in a dramatic 4.2 overs bowled in the shadows before stumps. They had a horrible start when opener Nathan McSweeney fell in the first over for a duck as a wicked delivery from stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah crept low and smashed into his pads. It capped a tough debut for McSweeney, who made 10 in the first innings.With 20 minutes until stumps, captain Pat Cummins came in as the nightwatchman but didn’t last long as he edged quick Mohammed Siraj to leave Australia at 9 for 2.Marnus Labuschagne belatedly came out but could not stop the unplayable Bumrah as he unsuccessfully reviewed the lbw decision having shoulder arms. After a five-wicket haul in the first innings, Bumrah had the remarkable figures of 2 for 1 from 2.2 overs.It completed a day of utter domination for India after their long-time talisman and his protege completely broke Australia’s spirits on an oppressive day in Perth where temperatures reached 36 degrees celsius. Much like on day two, Australia went through the motions in a performance set to attract plenty of scrutiny.The much discussed pitch appeared benign earlier in the day until coming alive with notable signs of uneven bounce that will further buoy India. Having batted through the final two sessions of day two, Jaiswal and KL Rahul started the day’s play with a golden opportunity to put India into an impregnable position.Yashasvi Jaiswal soaks in a century at Perth•Getty Images

They were confronted by an Australia attack that was keen to make amends for a lacklustre performance on the second day where they appeared weary and rattled by the sudden changing nature of the pitch.Australia had their eyes on the second new ball, but before then Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood gave it a crack with the old ball. After some conservative tactics from Australia turned heads on day two, Starc and Hazlewood started with attacking lengths as they preyed on the nerves of Jaiswal, who played and missed several times in the 90s.But Jaiswal was not to be denied and, befitting his audacious skills, he reached his century in the most spectacular fashion. On 95 he looked to ramp a bouncer from Hazlewood over the slip but instead hit to fine leg where the ball smacked into the boundary marker on the full. Starc fielding nearby signalled a six, but the umpires had to check leaving Jaiswal with a nervous wait. The all clear came as Jaiswal took his helmet off before raising his arms aloft and punching the air.There was a brief loss of concentration when the openers had a mix-up and Jaiswal would have been run-out by a mile only for Cummins to miss the direct hit from mid-off. It wasn’t the first time the openers had miscommunicated between the wickets as a run-out appeared a flagging Australia’s best chance of a breakthrough.Jaiswal and Rahul became the first India openers to produce a double century partnership in Australia, but on the next delivery the 201-run stand finally ended when Rahul on 77 was caught behind poking at a delivery in the channel from Starc. There were muted celebrations from Australia, more relief, at ending the sixth highest opening partnership from overseas batters in Australia.Virat Kohli goes up and over the off side•Getty Images

No. 3 Devdutt Padikkal, who had his chance in the absences of captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, made an excruciating 23-ball duck in the first innings. But he had a much better chance to succeed with a massive platform built and in better batting conditions. Padikkal got off the mark from his fourth delivery with a push through gully as he combined well with Jaiswal through to lunch.Jaiswal was unstoppable and had an answer for every Australia strategy. Cummins resorted briefly to a short-ball tactic to no avail. Labuchagne was utilised but he started with a wayward bouncer that was called a wide and he didn’t threaten to the extent that later in the day he reverted back to legspin.The second new ball was taken before lunch but Jaiswal and Padikkal had no issues as they scored freely. Padikkal, however, fell to Hazlewood, clearly Australia’s best bowler in the innings, on the first ball after the interval as a determined Kohli came out eager to end his form slump.Underlining his desire, Kohli had spent much of the first session padded up with his helmet on and he quickly showed that he had learned from his baffling brief stint at the crease in the first innings when he batted well out of his crease. This time around, Kohli made a change in his set-up and did not bat nearly as far out of his crease. He looked far more comfortable, albeit in easier circumstances, and he was content to let Jaiswal hog the limelight.Jaiswal once again passed 150, but one run later he had a let off after wicketkeeper Alex Carey dropped a tough chance down the leg-side. Australia’s torture continued when Jaiswal smashed Cummins with disdain through mid-off before, out of nowhere, he carved a short and wide delivery from Mitchell Marsh straight to point.KL Rahul congratulates Yashasvi Jaiswal on his hundred•AFP/Getty Images

Jaiswal threw his head back in disbelief and the 26,000 crowd too was stunned before giving him a deserved standing ovation as he took off his helmet and looked up the heavens on his way off the field.Australia had their best passage of play since the middle of the opening day when Lyon outfoxed Rishabh Pant to have him stumped on 1 before Cummins finally claimed a wicket after trapping Dhruv Jurel lbw as India lost 3 for 8.But Kohli was on a mission and in an aggressive mood as he carved Starc over the slip cordon for six in a blow that unfortunately hit a sitting security officer on the side of the head.With a declaration in their sights he put his foot down alongside debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, who unfurled T20 style batting. Having last scored a Test century in July 2023, Kohli reached his 30th Test ton in style with a boundary to deep fine leg. He took off his helmet, blew a kiss to his wife and walked off the ground amid India’s declaration as a famous win beckons for the tourists.

A come-from-behind batting display ended West Indies’ 11-match ODI losing streak against Bangladesh

Mohammad Isam08-Dec-2024Sherfane Rutherford’s maiden ODI century helped West Indies break their 11-match losing streak against Bangladesh with a five-wicket win in St Kitts. The home side hunted down a target of 295 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with Rutherford’s 80-ball 113 comprehensively overturning a slow start to the chase. West Indies, who had at one point needed 161 off 114 balls, reached their target with 14 balls remaining.Rutherford, who was struck twice on his helmet during his innings, reached his century when Bangladesh conceded six runs via overthrows in the 47th over. He celebrated the milestone with consecutive sixes off Soumya Sarkar, over long-off and midwicket. Then he squeezed one to short third man where Nahid Rana completed a catch, but by then West Indies only needed seven more.Rutherford struck seven fours and eight sixes as he went from 19 off 29 balls in the 32nd over to score a further 94 runs in 51 balls. He now has five consecutive 50-plus scores in ODIs, becoming the fourth West Indian after Gordon Greenidge, Chris Gayle and Shai Hope, who have six in a row each, to achieve this feat.Rutherford added 99 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Hope who contributed an 88-ball 86 after coming in at 27 for 2. Then Rutherford and Justin Greaves blasted 95 runs off just 57 balls for the fifth wicket. Greaves scored the winning runs and finished on an unbeaten 41 off 31 balls with five fours.West Indies were in trouble for much of the first half of their chase. They lost both Brandon King and Evin Lewis in the first powerplay and couldn’t get going against Bangladesh’s fast-bowling trio. Tanzim Hasan Sakib trapped King lbw for 9 off 17 when he tried to pull one that wasn’t short enough, and Nahid Rana struck Lewis’ back pad in front of the stumps with a 148.9 kph delivery in the next over It was then up to Hope and Keacy Carty to consolidate.Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford added 99 runs for the fourth wicket•Randy Brooks

They added 67 runs in the following 13.3 overs for the third wicket, with Carty scoring a cautious 21 off 37 balls. Rishad Hossain’s short ball had him caught at short midwicket in a disappointing dismissal for the in-form West Indies batter.The home side slowed down significantly during this third-wicket partnership, and the required rate reached eight an over with 21 overs remaining in the chase. That’s when Hope slammed his opposite number Mehidy Hasan Miraz down the ground for six. It broke a spell of 28 balls without a boundary.That hit opened the floodgates as Rutherford struck Mehidy for a four and a six in the 32nd over, before driving Taskin for a boundary in the 33rd. Hope hammered Rishad down the ground for sixes in consecutive overs, and Rutherford, bothered by the short ball until this point, pulled Rana for a six in between. He reached his fifty in the 36th over.Mehidy then gave Bangladesh a lifeline when he had Hope caught at deep midwicket, but the 99-run fourth wicket stand had already given West Indies much-needed impetus. Greaves then hit three fours in as many overs, and ensured he kept the momentum going.Rutherford then upped the ante when he pulled Tanzim for his third six, following it up with his fourth in the following over off Mehidy. Rutherford reached his highest ODI score in the 43rd over, with twin sixes off Taskin. When Greaves carved Tanzim through the covers in the following over, West Indies’ required rate came down to a run a ball, with just 37 needed.Tanzid Hasan played his shots from the get-go•Randy Brooks

Bangladesh’s innings had also revolved around three significant partnerships. They got off to a quick start before Soumya Sarkar fell in the fifth over. Soumya, fresh from becoming the GSL’s Player of the Tournament, struck Alzarri Joseph for consecutive fours before falling caught behind later in the same over. Litton Das followed him shortly afterwards, getting caught behind to Romario Shepherd.Tanzid Hasan, however had already struck a straight six and three fours. He added 79 runs for the third wicket captain Mehidy, who survived two chances, with Carty dropping him on 1 and 31. Mehidy rode his luck, top scoring with 74. Tanzid looked by far the more confident of the two, hitting two more sixes over long-off and finding boundaries all around the wicket.Tanzid, however, fell against the run of play in the 24th over when Alzarri Joseph had him caught at point. He made a run-a-ball 60, walking off disappointed at missing out on a bigger score. Mehidy meanwhile continued to rotate the strike with the returning Afif Hossain. The fourth-wicket pair added 54 before Shepherd got Afif caught on the leg-side boundary.Mehidy eventually made 74 off 101 balls, hitting six fours and a superb whipped six over fine-leg off Jayden Seales. He fell to the same bowler in the 38th over, skying to extra cover where Rutherford took the catch.Mehidy had laid the perfect foundation for Jaker Ali and Mahmudullah, who added 96 runs for the sixth wicket, 84 of which came in the last ten overs. Mahmudullah smashed three sixes on the leg side, and as many fours, in his unbeaten 50 off 44 balls.Jaker also struck three sixes, one of them off Joseph landing outside the stadium’s premises. He made 48 off 40 balls, falling off the penultimate ball of the innings to Shepherd, who finished with three wickets. Jaker and Mahmudullah struck all their six sixes in the last 6.3 overs of Bangladesh’s innings.

Series all square heading into the deciding fixture in Stellenbosch

ECB Reporters Network19-Jan-2025South Africa Under-19 164 for 5 (Rowles 33, Ahmed 2-24) beat England Under-19 161 (Dawkins 59, Moores 59, Daniels 4-25)
South Africa Men U19s levelled their series against England Men U19s with a five-wicket win in the second Youth ODI in Cape Town.Raeeq Daniels did the damage on his home ground, with 4 for 24, as the tourists were bowled out for 168. South Africa opener Jason Rowles top scored with 33, as the target was knocked off in 30.1 overs.Ben Dawkins and Joe Moores both posted half-centuries, but were the only Young Lions batters to reach double figures.Kent opener Dawkins reached his fifty from 74 balls but lacked support until Moores joined him in a 41-run stand for the sixth wicket. The Lancashire left-hander expertly counter-attacked and his fourth six, an effortless pull off Daniels, helped him to a half-century from 58 balls.It was not enough, however, as opener Rowles shared a 46-run second-wicket partnership with captain Bennie Hansen before Paul James and Bandile Mbatha added 30 each. Farhan Ahmed claimed 2 for 24.The series is set to be decided in Stellenbosch on Wednesday before the two-match Youth Test series begins on January 26.