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A number of cricket boards have offered to help Pakistan raise relief funds for the people affected by the floods that have devastated the country

Osman Samiuddin21-Aug-2010A number of cricket boards have offered to help Pakistan raise relief funds for the people affected by the floods that have devastated the country over the last month. Some of the offers, including one from New Zealand cricket, could simultaneously help bring international cricket back to the country, which has become a no-go destination after the terror attacks on the Sri Lanka in Lahore in March 2009.The worst floods in living memory have ravaged Pakistan, submerging an estimated one-fifth of the country, affecting up to 20 million people and causing over a thousand deaths. The country’s already stuttering economy is likely to face greater pressure once the flooding recedes and the process of rehabilitation begins in full. International aid is finally starting to come in, though the response was initially sluggish.The PCB has been doing its bit and is keen to organise a flood relief game in England while the national side is touring the country, though the busy itinerary has not yet yielded a date or venue. The board also donated over Rs 11 million (approximately US$130,000) for relief efforts and players have contributed match fees while on tour. Salman Butt dedicated his side’s third Test win at The Oval to victims of the floods and said that the side would be attending fund-raising dinners and events on tour. Separately Shahid Afridi, the ODI and T20I captain, and Aleem Dar, the elite panel umpire, have also helped with relief efforts and raising money. Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has also started a fund-raising campaign.Strauss also confirmed that England had followed their opponents’ lead by donating to the Pakistan flood relief effort. “We’re donating a proportion of our match fee to the fund,” he said. “It’s a humanitarian catastrophe out there and we’re trying to help as much as we can. The more people who do that the better.”The biggest contributions might come from flood relief matches, however, and as well as the proposal for a match in England, the board has been working on other options. One reportedly includes arranging a game during the series with South Africa in the Middle East in October-November this year. There were also reports that the board had sounded out the BCCI over the possibility of such matches at a neutral venue, but the PCB has not elaborated on this. One other option has come from New Zealand who have offered to help by playing in a flood relief game, even if it means playing a game in Pakistan, though this is still in a very early stage.”An offer has been made by New Zealand cricket to help with the devastation in Pakistan, maybe through a flood relief game,” Nadeem Sarwar, the PCB media manager told Cricinfo. “It is at a very early stage just now but they have even said they would be willing to come to Pakistan if needed for that.”Zimbabwe has also offered to tour to help raise funds. The PCB had been working on a series with Zimbabwe in any case, Sarwar said. Any such visit is now likely to include a match for flood relief. “Yes, they have made a formal contact with us and we highly appreciate their [Zimbabwe’s] noble gesture for supporting the cause. They have asked us to provide them with suitable dates for the series,” Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, told News One TV.Since the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers, matches from the 2011 World Cup matches have been moved out of Pakistan. The national team has since had to play ‘home’ series at neutral venues such as the UAE and England but there is now a concerted effort within the ICC to find ways to revive international cricket once again in the country. The ICC is considering sending over an ICC World XI to Pakistan and the options of Zimbabwe and New Zealand are likely to further boost that effort.

WA chase a historic four-peat, Tasmania hope to go one step better, while SA and Queensland start new eras

Alex Malcolm and Andrew McGlashan04-Oct-2024

New South Wales

Captain Moises Henriques (Shield only)
Coach Greg ShipperdSquad Charlie Anderson (R), Sean Abbott (CA), Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins (CA), Joel Davies (R), Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hackney, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood (CA), Moises Henriques, Ryan Hicks (R), Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Sam Konstas, Nathan Lyon (CA), Nic Maddinson, Blake Nikitaras, Jack Nisbet, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Will Salzmann (R), Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan Shaw (R), Steven Smith (CA), Mitchell Starc (CA), Chris Tremain, Adam Zampa (CA).CA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Nic Maddinson (Victoria), Josh Philippe (WA), Sam Konstas
Out Baxter Holt (WA), Blake MacDonald, Ross Pawson, Jason Sangha (South Australia), David WarnerLast season ThirdHow they shape upThere were signs of significant improvement last season and three wins in four matches either side of the BBL had them in contention for the final having suffered two heavy losses early in the season. They have made two of the most significant off-season signings with Nic Maddinson returning to his home state and Josh Philippe coming in from Perth. Philippe has already scored a hundred in the One-Day Cup and is motivated to resurrect his red-ball career. Maddinson, meanwhile, arrives on the back of a stellar finish to last season with Victoria and more such runs could put him in the national conversation.Even though runs were tough to come by last year, they still need more from the top order: only three regulars averaged over 30 last season. Elsewhere, it’s largely familiar faces. In Chris Tremain and Jackson Bird they have a potent new-ball attack if they are able to stay fit but Tremain is set for a late start due to neck and shoulder issues. It will be hoped that legspinner Tanveer Sangha can get some first-class cricket after a run of injuries.Related

• Mature McSweeney making his mark in South Australia

• Khawaja, Labuschagne, Head and Marsh named for first round of the Shield, Smith rested

• 'Feels like we're in rarified air' – WA face their toughest test in pursuit of history

• Australia sweat on Green as selection for India becomes complicated

• Indore to Hobart: Kuhnemann's journey to revive his red-ball career

Player to watchOllie Davies is one of the most exciting young batters in Australia. Last season, he found the formula to marry his tremendous ball-striking ability to the demands of red-ball cricket, finishing with three centuries and an average of 67.00 in a campaign where runs were at a premium across the country. It’s understood he was in serious consideration for the recent white-ball tour of the UK and is likely to be in the mix for Australia A honours. Having been allowed to bed in at No. 6, it may also be time for a move up the order.Australia impactNSW may see a little more of their multi-format international players than previous seasons. The big three quicks are expected to play at least one Shield match before the India series while Nathan Lyon is likely to feature in two, and perhaps three games, while he could also return late in the season after the tour of Sri Lanka. Steven Smith will also get an outing before the Test summer and there’s still interest over where he will bat although Cameron Green’s injury may have changed that dynamic. In theory, Adam Zampa will be available for a rare window of Shield cricket between the Pakistan white-ball series in November and the start of the BBL. Sean Abbott had an expensive ODI series against England but will likely remain in contention. Davies and Jack Edwards could push for the Australia A matches against India A which start late October.Marnus Labuschagne is the new Queensland captain•Getty Images

Queensland

Captain Marnus Labuschagne
Coach Johan BothaSquad Lachie Aitkin (R), Xavier Bartlett (CA), Max Bryant, Hugo Burdon, Jack Clayton, Liam Guthrie, Lachlan Guthrie, Lachie Hearne, Usman Khawaja (CA), Marnus Labuschagne (CA), Angus Lovell, Ben McDermott, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Jem Ryan (R), Gurinder Sandhu, Jack Sinfield, Mark Steketee, Tom Straker (R), Bryce Street, Connor Sully, Mitch Swepson, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Tom Whitney (R), Jack WildermuthIn Angus Lovell, Lachlan Hearne, Callum Vidler, Lachlan Aitken, Jem Ryan, Tom Straker
Out Joe Burns, James Bazley, Blake Edwards, Aryan Jain, Matthew Kuhnemann (Tasmania), Will Prestwidge (Tasmania)Last season SixthHow they shape upIt’s a new era in Queensland with a new coach in Johan Botha and a new captain and vice-captain in Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Swepson, following a dismal last summer which saw long-time coach Wade Seccombe depart after they finished last in the Shield. Botha is not afraid to push change and has already done so with the leadership as well as asking former captain Usman Khawaja to open the batting in the Shield team after previously slotting in at No. 4. They have some injury issues in their bowling ranks with Xavier Bartlett nursing a side strain, while Gurinder Sandhu missed the first two One-Day Cup games with a calf issue. Michael Neser is returning from a calf problem in the pre-season but got through the One-Day Cup games unscathed. Queensland’s bowling was uncharacteristically lacklustre last year as they struggled to take 20 wickets and they did not have a single batter score more than 555 runs in the Shield season and only three managed 400 or more. They are looking for improvement in both areas with a particular focus on settling a young middle-order.Player to watchJack Clayton will be pivotal for Queensland with the bat. The 25-year-old left-hand batter was their leading run-scorer last year scoring two centuries at No. 4, but he was shuffled around the order through Nos. 3, 4, and 5 over the course of the season and only averaged 32.64. Queensland’s top order will be unsettled due to the possible comings and goings of Khawaja, Labuschagne and even Matt Renshaw with Australia A duty. Clayton will likely be a constant unless he gets an Australia A call-up himself. Much will rest on his shoulders as the bedrock of the Bulls’ middle-order when the Test players aren’t there.Australia impactKhawaja and Labuschagne will play the first two matches at least and Khawaja will likely play the third while Labuschagne may miss due to Australia’s ODI series with Pakistan. Labuschagne is unlikely to return until mid-March when the Champions Trophy is complete. Khawaja should be back in mid-February after Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka and might be available for the last couple of matches of the summer. Renshaw and Neser could be called into Australia A squads or even the Test squad as cover at various stages during November and December which could impact their availability, and Renshaw may be considered for Sri Lanka. Swepson is another who could be a candidate for Australia A cricket and the Sri Lanka tour. Bartlett’s return from injury is an unknown, but his progression into Australia’s white-ball ranks could see him picked for the Pakistan series in November if he is fit.Nathan McSweeney will lead South Australia•Getty Images

South Australia

Captain Nathan McSweeney
Coach Ryan HarrisSquad Wes Agar, Kyle Brazell (R), Jordan Buckingham, Aidan Cahill (R), Alex Carey (CA), Harry Conway, Brendan Doggett, Daniel Drew, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Travis Head (CA), Henry Hunt, Spencer Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Harry Matthias (R), Nathan McAndrew, Conor McInerney, Nathan McSweeney, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Campbell Thompson (R), Henry ThorntonIn Jason Sangha (NSW), Mackenzie Harvey, Conor McInerney, Campbell Thompson
Out Jake Carder, David Grant, Isaac Higgins, Kelvin SmithLast season FifthHow they shape upSouth Australia’s Shield woes led to some significant leadership changes, with Ryan Harris taking over as coach and Nathan McSweeney being appointed captain on top of changes in the high-performance department with long-time general manager Tim Nielsen departing. They have once again recruited from interstate with Jason Sangha moving across from New South Wales and Mackenzie Harvey joining the squad after a strong season of grade cricket in Victoria. The batting remains the major Achilles heel in Shield cricket while the fast-bowling stocks are strong. McSweeney will lead the batting unit at No. 3. Henry Hunt had a lean summer, except for one big century, and missed the last three games with injury so his return at the top will help. They are hoping to settle the top six after cycling through endless combinations in the recent past. Jake Fraser-McGurk is set to bat at No. 6, if selected, after an unsuccessful attempt at opening late last summer. The bowling attack will be led by Nathan McAndrew and Jordan Buckingham. Offspinner Ben Manenti was excellent with the bat last summer scoring five half-centuries but he took just 13 wickets at 64.30, albeit Adelaide Oval has been a graveyard for Shield spinners in the drop-in pitch era.Player to watchNathan McSweeney will have a lot of responsibility on his shoulders but the 25-year-old is relishing the challenge of captaining and batting No. 3. He is coming off his best domestic season to date, scoring 762 runs at 40.10 last summer including three centuries. He is on the Australia selectors’ radar having captained Australia A already, but his batting record isn’t quite at the level of some of the other Test batting candidates dominating the Shield at the moment. He is keen to emulate what Cameron Bancroft has done in WA and consistently deliver big runs for his side.Australia impactTravis Head may only play one Shield game before the Border-Gavaskar series with the imminent birth of his second child limiting his availability. Alex Carey was set to play the first three but his return to form in the ODI side may complicate matters as Australia’s first ODI against Pakistan coincides with the third Shield game. Fraser-McGurk is a likely candidate to play in the ODI and T20I series against Pakistan if the Test players are rested as expected. Spencer Johnson is already unavailable through injury but if he does return to fitness by November, he may well be called away to play white-ball cricket for Australia. McAndrew, Buckingham and McSweeney are all candidates to play for Australia A in two matches against India A, which could rule them out of the third Shield game and affect their ability to play in the fourth given the short turnaround between fixtures.

Tasmania

Captain Jordan Silk
Coach Jeff VaughanSquad Gabe Bell, Iain Carlisle, Nick Davis (R), Jake Doran, Kieran Elliot, Nathan Ellis (CA), Jarrod Freeman, Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Matthew Kuhnemann, Rafael Macmillan (R), Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Aiden O’Connor (R), Mitch Owen, Nivethan Radhakrishnan (R), Jordan Silk, Billy Stanlake, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Mac WrightIn Matthew Kuhnemann (Queensland), Will Prestwidge (Queensland), Kieran Elliot, Rafael Macmillan
Out Sam Rainbird, Matthew Wade, Paddy DooleyLast season SecondHow they shape upLast season’s finalists look well-placed to be competitive again, especially with the recruitment of Test spinner Matt Kuhnemann, who will bolster their attack significantly. They have lost Matthew Wade, who has retired from first-class cricket. But he only played six games last year, although he scored a vital century in their record fourth-innings run chase against Queensland.The batting failed them in last summer’s final but they had a good year led by Beau Webster and Jordan Silk. Tasmania would be keen to see Caleb Jewell and Tim Ward return to their best at the top of the order.The attack remains their strong suit in home conditions especially, and Kuhnemann provides versatility when they play elsewhere. If they can get Riley Meredith and Billy Stanlake fit enough to play more than the four games they managed between them last season, then that adds another dynamic. Nathan Ellis did not play a single Shield game last season but has a decent first-class record and could be available for a few games early in the season around his white-ball commitments for Australia.Player to watchIt will be hard for Beau Webster to back up last season’s heroics but if he can, he will almost certainly catch the selectors’ attention. He was the highest scorer in the Shield last season with 938 runs at 58.62 and took 30 wickets at 29.30. Sir Garfield Sobers, in 1963-64, is the only other player in Shield history to score more than 900 runs and take more than 30 wickets in the same season and only three other players have scored more than 800 and taken 20 wickets in a season. He had an excellent winter in the County Championship for Gloucestershire and started the summer with wickets in the opening two One-Day Cup games. Australia’s Test allrounders Green and Mitchell Marsh have clouds over their bowling capabilities. Webster’s bowling is more akin to Marsh’s than Green’s but his versatility and resilience could be an asset if he scores runs and takes wickets early in the season.Australia impactTasmania won’t be as affected by Australia call-ups as other states. Ellis is working his way back from a hamstring injury but will likely feature in Australia’s ODI and T20I series against Pakistan if fit. He didn’t play a Shield game last summer and isn’t central to their plans. Meredith falls in a similar category if he can recover from a side issue. Webster could play for Australia A in two games in late October/early November against India A that overlap with two Shield rounds. Jewell is another who may get called up for that series. Kuhnemann is unlikely to feature in those matches but is a great chance to go to Sri Lanka in February which could see him miss one or two games.Todd Murphy is hoping for a big summer•Getty Images

Victoria

Captain Will Sutherland
Coach Chris RogersSquad Austin Anlezark (R), Liam Blackford, Scott Boland (CA), Dylan Brasher, Josh Brown, Ashley Chandrasinghe, Xavier Crone, Harry Dixon (R), Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Jai Lemire (R), Reiley Mark (R), Glenn Maxwell (CA), Cameron McClure, Jono Merlo, Todd Murphy (CA), Fergus O’Neill, Tyler Pearson (R), Mitch Perry, Will Pucovski, Tom Rogers, Matt Short (CA), Peter Siddle, Will Sutherland, Douglas Warran (R)In Josh Brown
Out Travis Dean, Matt Fotia, Nic Maddinson, Tom O’Donnell, Wil ParkerLast season FourthHow they shape upVictoria are hoping to bounce back after back-to-back losses at the end of the season cost them a chance at a third consecutive Shield final. But they are bullish about their chances this summer with a similar group that is another 12 months older and building experience year on year. They do lose the prolific Maddinson at the top of the order, while Will Pucovski’s likely retirement also means there’s opportunities for younger players like Ashley Chandrasinghe and Campbell Kellaway. Pete Handscomb remains a rock at No. 4 and Matt Short, when available, has been an outstanding performer at No. 5. The attack is well balanced and they are building some depth. They will need it as Scott Boland’s availability will be limited while captain Will Sutherland is slowly building his workloads after a back injury and has already flagged that he will miss the odd game and be on restrictions when he returns. Fergus O’Neill and Peter Siddle will be bankers while a fully fit Todd Murphy balances the attack nicely after he was plagued by shoulder issues last year. The off-season development of Sam Elliott is also a positive and he will be vying for a spot alongside Mitchell Perry.Player to watchTodd Murphy performed superbly across the six Tests he played in India and England in 2023, including playing as the lone spinner in his last Test at The Oval when he took six wickets in Lyon’s absence. But his place as Australia’s No. 2 Test spinner and Lyon’s natural successor is under threat from Western Australia’s offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli after Murphy took just 17 wickets at 38 for Victoria last summer, while Rocchiccioli took 46 wickets at 27.60. Both men are vying for a spot on the Sri Lanka Test tour where Australia could play as many as three spinners in the same XI. Prior to that, though, Lyon turns 37 during the opening Test against India and although he wants to play until he is 40, his body and, more specifically his calf may have other ideas. If an opportunity arises sooner than Sri Lanka, Murphy will hope to be bowling well enough to get the call.Australia impactBoland’s management by CA will be the biggest hurdle for Victoria to navigate. He was only allowed to play six games last season despite not playing a single Test match. He will again be carefully managed coming off plantar fasciitis and a knee issue and might only play one of the first three before Australia A duties or the Test series. Short will be unavailable around Australia’s ODI and T20I series against Pakistan but also could be involved with Australia A. Marcus Harris is another who might be called into the Australia A series.Glenn Maxwell is usually assumed not to be available at all but the schedule does allow him the opportunity to play upwards of four Shield games either side of the ODI and T20I fixtures, but it seems more likely he will play one or two, if any. Sutherland could get a limited-overs call-up if fit in November while O’Neill is a chance to play for Australia A. Murphy might play one Australia A game but will almost certainly go to Sri Lanka later in the summer. Handscomb is another who might be called-up for the two-Test tour given he is one of the best middle-order players of spin in Australia.Aaron Hardie has a lot to gain this season•Getty Images

Western Australia

Captain Sam Whiteman
Coach Adam VogesSquad Cameron Bancroft, Mahli Beardman (R), Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Keaton Critchell, Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Cameron Green (CA), Sam Greer (R), Aaron Hardie (CA), Liam Haskett, Baxter Holt, Josh Inglis (CA), Bryce Jackson, Matt Kelly, Mitchell Marsh (CA), Hamish McKenzie, Lance Morris (CA), Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson (CA), Corey Rocchiccioli, D’Arcy Short, Charlie Stobo, Ashton Turner, Josh Vernon (R), Corey Wasley (R), Sam Whiteman, Teague WyllieIn Brody Couch, Keaton Critchell, Baxter Holt, Corey Wasley
Out Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Josh Philippe, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew TyeLast season FirstHow they shape upThe defending champions shape up with a very similar squad to the one that has yielded a hat-trick of titles and they will be hard to beat again. No team has won four titles in a row since the Shield became a six-team competition in 1977-78. WA has faced plenty of challenges with injuries and international departures over the last three seasons, but this campaign looks like it could be their most challenging yet. With full availability, they have an international standard team. But they will need to rely on the depth of their squad. The attack is going to rely on Joel Paris, Matt Kelly and Cameron Gannon again as Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson’s availability is going to be limited at best due to careful management. Richardson is unlikely to play Shield cricket in the first half of the summer. Offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli has been a lynchpin across the three titles having played 24 of the last 25 matches. But his success may lead to higher honours with Australia A matches and a Sri Lanka tour this summer, meaning WA will need to find another option in either Cooper Connolly or recalling the uncontracted Ashton Agar.Batting wise, WA still have the most reliable and experienced opening duo in the competition in Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman, who is now the official captain having captained the last two titles as stand-in for the absent Mitchell Marsh. Hilton Cartwright and Ashton Turner will be important, ever-present figures in the middle-order because there will be a lot of international players coming and going including Marsh, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis and possible Cameron Green if fit. The likes of Jayden Goodwin, Sam Fanning, Teague Wyllie and allrounder Keaton Critchell will get plenty of opportunities at various stages when the international players are absent or managed. Philippe’s move to NSW means Baxter Holt and Joel Curtis are vying for the back-up keeper’s role, although Curtis did replace Philippe at one stage last season.Player to watchCameron Bancroft will garner a lot of attention at the start of the summer due to the injury to Green but Aaron Hardie could be the player with the most to gain. He had an excellent white-ball tour of England and has shown his talent at Shield and Australia A level with both bat and ball. If he can score heavily in the early rounds, take wickets and increase his bowling loads while staying fit, a Test opportunity may present itself a lot sooner than many would have expected for him.Australia impactWA will have a revolving door of players coming and going and Whiteman may also have to manage bowling restrictions on certain CA contracted players during games. Green’s injury means his availability is unknown but he looks unlikely to bowl regardless. Marsh and Hardie may play the early rounds as batters only. Marsh will then be rested ahead of the Tests while Hardie could have Australia A, ODI and T20I duties in November. Inglis will also be unavailable after the first two rounds for the same reasons. Bancroft and Rocchiccioli are a strong chance to play for Australia A and Rocchiccioli could go to Sri Lanka following the BBL and miss the first two rounds of the new year. Morris could also be called into Australia A and possibly limited-overs teams in November. Connolly might be part of Australia’s ODI and T20I squads against Pakistan.

Simon Harmer claims eight for the match as Sam Cook and Jamie Porter add impact

ECB Reporters Network14-Jun-2023Sam Cook, Simon Harmer and Jamie Porter confirmed Essex’s 196-run victory over Somerset – their first LV=Insurance County Championship win at the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford for 11 months.Fast bowler Cook grabbed two in two with the new ball before Simon Harmer took two more wickets to claim match figures of 8 for 178 and Porter rounded off the tail.Somerset had batted stoically in the hope of batting out 151 overs, or reach 466 to win, but they were eventually bowled out for 269 with two sessions to spare.Essex only won two Championship matches at home last season, have gone unbeaten at Chelmsford between September 2018 and September 2022.The day’s play was preceded by a minute’s silence for the victims of the Nottingham attacks, while players from both teams and the umpires wore black armbands and the flags were at half-mast. The two students who died had links to Essex and Somerset cricket. Barnaby Webber, 19, played for Bishops Hull Cricket Club in Taunton. Grace O’Malley Kumar, 19, played and captained Essex Women from Under-11 to Under-15.Somerset had shown great fight and grit on the third evening to give themselves of saving a draw, having been bowled out for 167 with a first-innings lead of 295. But Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s dismissal to the final ball of the day swung things strongly in Essex’s favour.Tom Abell and James Rew did bat out the first 137 balls of the morning, putting on 56 with great skill. The second new ball was coming though and that would prove damaging for the visitors.Sam Cook needed just two deliveries to extract a thin edge behind to see off Abell for 83 before a wobble-seamed delivery nipped off the seam and into Kasey Aldridge’s off stump next ball.Craig Overton navigated a hat-trick ball that teased the outside edge but Rew soon fell to Harmer – who had shared the fresh nut. Left-handed Rew drove at the off-spinner with the edge brilliantly taken at first slip by a fully stretched Alastair Cook.Matt Critchley took an equally great catch at leg slip when Craig Overton turned Harmer around the corner.Essex’s second victory of the campaign was confirmed with Matt Henry tickling behind and Josh Davey was sensationally caught behind by Will Buttleman, both off Porter.Essex take 22 points, to Somerset’s two, to keep their nose in the Championship race.

Yorkshire seamer made England debut in Barbados but is a major doubt for the 2022 season

Matt Roller17-May-2022Matthew Fisher is unlikely to feature for England this summer after scans revealed that his back injury was worse than initially feared.Fisher, 24, made his Test debut in Barbados in March as a late replacement for the unwell Craig Overton and took a wicket with his second ball, having John Campbell caught behind. He finished with match figures of 1 for 71 but would have been in contention for the first Test of the summer if fit, not least with a swathe of English fast bowlers unavailable through injury.Fisher was initially diagnosed with a “stress reaction” in his back following Yorkshire’s win against Gloucestershire in their first County Championship fixture this season and was expected to miss a month of cricket.Related

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• Mahmood ruled out of season with back stress fracture

• Robinson's lack of appetite raises more doubts about Test recall

But the reported on Monday evening that Fisher had suffered a stress fracture and Yorkshire confirmed in a statement that he is “set for a longer spell on the sidelines” than first thought.”Fisher’s rehabilitation program has been progressing well and the club’s medical staff will continue to monitor and work with the young fast bowler with his long term performance in mind at all times,” Yorkshire said.”Initially I’d said four weeks,” Ottis Gibson, their head coach, had said on Sunday. “But further reports from the medical team seem to suggest that’s going to be a slower process than anticipated. Because of his injury history, we’re going to have to take a more cautious approach with him.”Fisher is expected to miss the majority of the 2022 summer and it is highly unlikely he will have bowled enough overs to be considered for their final Test against South Africa, which starts on September 8.ESPNcricinfo understands that Fisher’s Hundred team, Birmingham Phoenix – for whom he signed a £50,000 contract last month – have already started to look at replacement options in the expectation that he is unlikely to play any part in the tournament, which runs from August 3-September 3.Tom Helm, who played for Phoenix in 2021 but was not retained and went unsigned in the draft, is understood to be the frontrunner after a bright start to the Championship season with Middlesex.

His path into the Test XI has been plagued by health issues – interspersed by bucketfuls of runs

Andrew McGlashan06-Jan-2021January 2017: Professional debut
Having dominated the Under-19 Championships with a record-breaking tally of 650 runs at 162.50 on the back of run-scoring feats at school and club cricket, Pucovski made his List A debut for a Cricket Australia XI against the touring Pakistan team. He opened the batting for a side that also included Cameron Green and made 10 before falling to Hasan Ali.February 2017: First-class debut
Less than a month later he was in the Victoria Sheffield Shield side, making 28 in the first innings against New South Wales before the next day, on his birthday, suffering a concussion when he was hit in the head while in the field.October 2017: More concussion worries
Playing in a One-Day Cup match against Queensland he was hit by a short ball from Ben Cutting and forced to retire hurt. He did resume his innings but was soon dismissed and later diagnosed with delayed concussion. A month later, in a Futures League match, he was struck again and retired hurt.February 2018: First milestone
Just over a year after his first-class debut, Pucovski made his first significant impact with his maiden first-class century when he struck 188 off 414 balls against Queensland in the Sheffield Shield. “It was pretty special, especially out on the G,” he said.Will Pucovski won the Bradman Young Cricketer Award in February 2019•Getty Images

March 2018: Hit again
Two weeks later, Pucovski was subbed out of the Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales after being hit by a short ball from Sean Abbott. He did not play again that season.October 2018: Doubling up
That first Sheffield Shield hundred was well and truly eclipsed at the start of the following summer when Pucovski made 243 against Western Australia in Perth. He became the ninth player to score a Shield double-century before his 21st birthday. However, a week later it was announced he was taking a break from the game for mental health reasons. He would later reveal how he had little recollection of the innings. “It was one of those things where what it looked like from the outside wasn’t quite matching up with what it was on the inside… I was more confused than at any other time in my life,” he told Fox Cricket’s podcast in January 2019.”I actually look back on it and don’t have much of a recollection on the innings, which is rare for me.” He returned a couple of months later making 67 in his comeback match.January 2019: Test call-up
In the wake of the series loss to India, the Australia selectors made a number of changes to the batting line-up for the series against Sri Lanka and one of those was a maiden call-up for Pucovski. The batting contenders were then played together in a CA XI against the Sri Lankans in Hobart where Kurtis Patterson scored two centuries and, despite not being in the original squad, was handed a Test debut ahead of Pucovski. A few days later he was released from the squad to manage his mental health. “Will’s decision to speak up and continue to ask for assistance in managing his ongoing mental health is extremely positive,” CA doctor Richard Saw said. He returned to the Victoria side a couple of weeks later, scored an unbeaten 131 against Tasmania and helped his state to the Shield title.July 2019: Australia A tour
He was part of the Australia A squad that toured England alongside the World Cup and Ashes squads in 2019, although he did not earn elevation to the Test squad. However, the tour did bring a maiden one-day century when he struck 137 against Gloucestershire.This season, Will Pucovski has already been part of a Sheffield Shield record stand of 486 with Marcus Harris•Getty Images

November 2019: Mental health break
Pucovski started the 2019 season with a century against South Australia – albeit on a road at the Junction Oval – and added a half-century in the next match. He was then included in the Australia A side to face Pakistan in the pink-ball warm-up match in Perth. During that game he made himself unavailable for Test selection to manage his mental health. “Will’s decision not to nominate for Test selection was the right one in the circumstances and one that everyone in the Australian cricket family supports,” said Ben Oliver, CA’s head of national teams.February 2020: Trip and fall
Pucovski had returned to action a couple of weeks later, making 82 in his comeback against New South Wales, but his season was halted in February by another concussion caused when he tripped and hit his head taking a run while playing for a CA XI, which he was captaining, against England Lions on the Gold Coast. He had not returned to playing before the pandemic hit.Related

• The great sadness at what could have been for Pucovski

• Will Pucovski sees concussion specialist after head knock at training

• Will Pucovski to have shoulder reconstruction and will miss six months

• Will Pucovski makes 'very special' debut count, the 'Australian way'

• Harris, Pucovski set new Sheffield Shield record with 486-run stand

October 2020: Double doubles
Part of the Victoria squad that was required to quarantine for two weeks in Adelaide before the Sheffield Shield, Pucovski began his season in breathtaking style with back-to-back double-centuries against South Australia and Western Australia. His first was part of a Shield record stand of 486 with Marcus Harris. At the age of 23, he had three double-centuries to his name.December 2020: Another blow
In November, Pucovski was included in Australia’s Test squad to face India. “It’s been a long journey but I don’t think I could be in a much better place to take this challenge on,” he said. However, in the closing stages of the Australia A match against India at Drummoyne Oval he was struck on the helmet when he got into a tangle against a bouncer from Kartik Tyagi. He was diagnosed with concussion – his ninth – and was ruled out of contention for the first two Tests.

He is set to miss next month’s one-off Test against Afghanistan and the T20I tri-series which follows, making it the first time he will not be available for Bangladesh barring injuries

Mohammad Isam10-Aug-2019Tamim Iqbal has requested for a break from cricket. The 30-year-old opener had gone to the Bangladesh Cricket Board in early August to seek time off, and ESPNcricinfo understands that it has now been approved. As a result, he will miss next month’s one-off Test against Afghanistan and the T20I tri-series which follows.This follows the BCB’s decision to give Shakib Al Hasan a break – following a request from the player – during last month’s ODI series against Sri Lanka. They had also allowed Shakib time off during the 2017 Test series against South Africa.Tamim, who will leave the country in the next few days to work on his fitness, will be available for Bangladesh’s next assignment, a tour of India in November when they play three T20Is and two Tests.ALSO READ: Out-of-form Tamim needs patience, and a spot of luck, says batting guru Jamie SiddonsIn his letter to the BCB, Tamim asked for a break after he had gone through a tough time in the last three months. Apart from an ordinary World Cup campaign in which he scored only one fifty, and a disastrous ODI series against Sri Lanka, in which he also led Bangladesh, Tamim was subjected to a lot of criticism on social media.During the 2019 World Cup, Tamim spoke about the demons of the 2015 tournament, in which he made only 154 runs in six innings, and was subsequently abused on social media. Tamim said those memories affected his preparation for this year’s event in England and Wales, leading to a sequence where he was bowled in six consecutive ODI innings.After his match-winning 141 in the BPL final in February, Tamim had a rough time in the ODIs in New Zealand before bouncing back superbly in the Tests. He then continued his good form during the tri-series in Ireland, scoring crucial runs before slowly going off the boil in the World Cup.

He has led his team to four successive losses and now they face an in-form Kolkata Knight Riders on home turf in a knockout game

The Preview by Alagappan Muthu24-May-20184:36

Swann: KKR start as favourites against Sunrisers

Form Guide

Kolkata Knight Riders: beat Rajasthan Royals by 25 runs, beat Kings XI Punjab by 31 runs, lost to Mumbai Indians by 102 runs
Sunrisers Hyderabad: lost to Super Kings by two wickets, lost to Knight Riders by five wickets, lost to RCB by 14 runs

Big Picture

Sunrisers Hyderabad play the perfect game. That’s why their wins in the league phase were so remarkable.To defend small totals, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had to outsmart the enemy. Siddharth Kaul had to frustrate them. And Rashid Khan had to deliver the knockout punch. The legspinner’s lucky his googly has top-secret status. Batsmen under the age of 90 can’t read it.And to chase ’em down, they needed Kane Williamson to understand that his mastery of defence has other uses as well. Like, when he extends his arms, while taking his usual care to pick the gaps, he can hit boundaries at will.Elevating their individual skills to insane levels, and combining them seamlessly, is how Sunrisers made the playoffs. But, like any gamer worth his salt would tell you, boss mode doesn’t last forever. You need contingencies.And that’s where Kolkata Knight Riders have been brilliant this season because if Lynn doesn’t hit you, Narine will. If Karthik doesn’t smash you, Russell will. If Narine doesn’t make you question why you ever picked up a bat, Kuldeep will. This from the team that came out of the IPL auction with the smallest squad. Friday’s going to be fun.

In the news

Sunrisers have lost four matches on the bounce – their longest losing streak in the IPL – soon after winning six on the trot – their longest winning streak.KKR have won their last four matches and are relishing playing at home, something which wouldn’t have happened according to the original IPL schedule, which had the playoffs in Pune.Wriddhiman Saha, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury, was seen going through rigorous practice in Mumbai. Nevertheless, it was Shreevats Goswami who took the gloves for Sunrisers in the first qualifier and he may well do so again.

Likely XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Chris Lynn, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Dinesh Karthik (capt & wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Shubman Gill, 8 Javon Searles, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Piyush Chawla, 11 Prasidh KrishnaSunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Shreevats Goswami (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Carlos Brathwaite, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Siddarth Kaul, 11 Sandeep Sharma

Previous meetings

Bhuvneshwar, Billy Stanlake and Shakib Al Hasan kept KKR to 138 in Hyderabad and chased it down with Williamson scoring a fifty.Chris Lynn and Robin Uthappa brushed aside a target of 173 at Eden Gardens, where the average winning first-innings score this season is 193.

Strategy punt

Andre Russell has faced four kinds of bowling in IPL 2018 and here is how he’s gone about his work: 229 runs at a strike rate of 209 against right-arm quicks, 38 at 237 against left-arm quicks, 16 at 200 against left-arm spinners and 30 at 103 against right-arm wristspinners. Pick the odd one out. Hint: Rashid Khan.

Stats that matter

• Five KKR batsmen have made 300 runs or more: Dinesh Karthik (490), Chris Lynn (443), Robin Uthappa (349), Sunil Narine (331), Andre Russell (313). Sunrisers, meanwhile, have two. Kane Williamson, who is 15 short of becoming only the fifth player to score 700 runs in an IPL season, and Shikhar Dhawan (437)
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar is four wickets shy of joining an exclusive list – bowlers who have picked up 100 wickets playing for one franchise. Awaiting his entry are Lasith Malinga (154 for Mumbai Indians), Harbhajan (127 for Mumbai) and Narine (111 for KKR)
• Considering the quality of other wicketkeeper captains in IPLs – Adam Gilchrist, MS Dhoni, etc – Dinesh Karthik will savour becoming the first of his kind to 500 runs in a season
• Sunrisers’ economy rate in the death overs has risen from 7.49 to 11.87 over the last five games. Individual numbers have taken a hit too. Bhuvneshwar (8.2 to 15.1), Kaul (6.5 to 9.9), Shakib (7 to 13.5)

Fantasy pick

Grab as many as you can – Williamson, Russell, Karthik, Narine. But also keep an eye on Prasidh Krishna. The 22-year-old uncapped seamer has picked up 10 wickets in six matches. All of them have come in overs 16 to 20. Since his inclusion in the XI, KKR’s fast bowlers have conceded 8.5 runs an over. Before that, they leaked 12.6 an over.

Quotes

“Kane’s playing well at the moment. Sometimes people forget to just bowl good balls at him. He’s one of those bowlers who respects a good ball. It’s not to be intimidated and go away from the plan. He’s a good player, if you bowl enough in the right area you will create chances. But right now he’s picking line and length very well, so the margins for error are very tight.”

Joe Root enjoyed a rewarding Champions Trophy warm-up – and saw off his brother for good measure in the first time they had met in county cricket

George Dobell29-Apr-2017
ScorecardJoe Root and his younger brother Billy had fielded together for England•Getty Images

Joe Root began his preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy with his highest and, he felt, best List A innings for Yorkshire to help them to a comfortable victory at Trent Bridge.In a match containing 18 international players, and eight in Champions Trophy squads, Root provided the definitive contribution: an hurried, unfussy and unbeaten innings of 75.In a game where only one other man made 50 and against an attack containing five international bowlers, he was calm and restrained. Against three bowlers who are likely to feature in the Ashes later in the year, he made batting look easy.In truth, this was an anti-climactic encounter. On a ground where the average score in this competition last year was an eye-watering 385, Nottinghamshire provided a reminder of the reasons they were relegated in the County Championship with a feckless batting performance that saw them bowled out with more than nine overs of their allocation unused. Their total was 200 below last year’s average and every bit of 100 below par on a slow and perhaps slightly two-paced surface.Just for a moment, as Stuart Broad charged in from the Pavilion End, it seemed we might see a contest. But for all the pace he generated, for the immaculate length he bowled and for all the intimidating stares he aimed in Root’s direction – several of which were met by a bemused grin – there was no way past Root’s bat and no way to apply pressure with such a paltry score to defend.And, having largely seen off Broad and the accurate Jake Ball, he milked the rest with ease. Shortly before the end he reverse swept his brother Billy Root, a spinner with a hint of Murali in his action, for four and then pulled him for six to complete the victory with more than 17 overs to spare.The pair, who had never faced each other in county cricket – although they have fielded together for England when Billy fulfilled 12th man duties – travelled to and from the game together. After the six had landed, they exchanged a hug. Joe will play the next two Cup games for Yorkshire before departing on England duty. Billy, a terrific fielder and more than competent batsman if his List A debut against Worcestershire on Thursday is any indication, may struggle to retain his place if Steven Mullaney, who missed this game with a foot injury, is fit to return next week.”It was a horrible situation,” Root senior said of his treatment of Root junior in the dying moments of the game. “I do feel guilty, but you’ve got to be professional. I know he’d have done the same to me if I’d been bowling. I might suggest on the way home he doesn’t bowl too many half-trackers.”Stuart bowled really well, with good pace. I think he was trying to create a bit of theatre, but it’s hard to take it seriously when you know someone that well.”Playing against this attack is about as close to international cricket as you get. It probably was my best one-day innings for Yorkshire. We were very clinical all day. It was a good, ruthless performance.”The result gives Yorkshire a perfect start to their white-ball season but means Nottinghamshire have lost both their opening matches in this competition. Bearing in mind that the team which qualified for the quarter-finals last year suffered a maximum of three losses from their eight games and the fact that this year’s qualification process – involving a play-off to reach the semi-finals – is even more stringent and you might conclude that Nottinghamshire have, already, left themselves little margin for further error.Yorkshire’s bowlers deserve credit for applying pressure. Liam Plunkett, who didn’t concede a boundary until his eighth over, and Tim Bresnan, who struck Michael Lumb a blow on the thumb that saw him skip fielding in order to go for an X-ray, were especially impressive.But Nottinghamshire would accept that there was a lot of self-inflicted damage within their batting. Having negotiated the powerplay without much alarm (they were 43 for 0 after 10 overs) Alex Hales chipped Azeem Rafiq’s first delivery straight back to him, Lumb pulled a long-hop to mid-wicket and Samit Patel pulled another long-hop to mid-on.Riki Wessels and Brendan Taylor rebuilt sensibly during a fourth-wicket stand of 65 but when Wessels clipped a leg-stump half-volley to deep backward square, it precipitated a sharp decline.Root, arguably the only man in the top six to be dismissed, edged one angled across him, Taylor picked out deep mid-wicket and James Pattinson was run-out having presumed, wrongly as it transpired, that his drive had beaten Rafiq at short extra-cover. The image of Broad, last man out and caught on the boundary despite having 55 unused deliveries, rather summed up the somewhat overly aggressive nature of the innings.Broad struck with his first ball in reply – Jonny Bairstow shuffling in front of a straight one – but the result was hardly in doubt. Adam Lyth took three boundaries off Pattinson’s first over in reply and, although Lyth fell pulling, Root was not to be denied. It was, perhaps surprisingly, only his third List A half-century for Yorkshire. It was also only his 17th innings.Having caressed Broad for boundary through mid-on – his on drive perhaps the highlight of the day – Root eased him off his hip for four more. He only scored off seven of the 22 balls he faced from Broad (four singles and a two completing the picture), but he recognised that seeing him off was more important than seeing him punished and showed the composure and maturity that was lacking in the Notts innings.”Their bowlers created some pressure and we had a few soft dismissals,” Taylor admitted afterwards. “They made it difficult to score, for sure, but 180 is never going to be enough at Trent Bridge. I’d think 260-270 was on the cards on that pitch.”Yorkshire face Lancashire at Leeds on Monday, meaning Root will face, as he put it, “another grumpy fast bower” – in the presence this time of James Anderson. He will then face Mark Wood and co. when Yorkshire host Durham on Wednesday.The pitches may not be quite as quick as those we anticipate in the Champions Trophy, but the level of competition isn’t far short. It bodes pretty well for England that Root, at least, is finding his form.

Future Sheffield Shield titles would only be awarded to the outright winner of the final, under one of several proposals currently being considered by Cricket Australia to revitalise the competition decider

Daniel Brettig29-Mar-2016Future Sheffield Shield titles would only be awarded to the outright winner of the final, under one of several proposals currently being considered by Cricket Australia to revitalise the competition decider.Planning of the domestic schedule for next summer is at an advanced stage, and ESPNcricinfo understands the Shield final is safe from being cut, as there are no plans to grow the number of Twenty20 Big Bash League games from their present number before the 2017-18 season. Any changes to the final could then be tested before a decision is made on whether it is retained against an expanded BBL.CA, the states and the players have been in talks about ways to revitalise the five-day final, which has run to largely predictable scripts over the years. While outstanding contest like the first final in 1983, a one-wicket win for New South Wales over Queensland in 1985 and South Australia’s last-gasp escape in 1996 have stayed in the memory, most have been duller affairs on flat pitches.This has been largely due to the fact that competition rules allow for the Shield to be awarded to the team finishing top of the table in the event of a draw, meaning the surface is invariably prepared to increase the likelihood of that outcome. The proposal to leave the Shield shared between the two finalists unless there is an outright result is geared towards ensuring a more lively contest on a fairer surface.Pat Howard, CA’s team performance manager, has floated this possibility among numerous other thought bubbles, and it is believed to have met a favourable response from CA Board directors, state associations and players. A five-day final is considered ample time to gain an outright result, provided the pitch offers enough.Ironically, the strip prepared for this year’s meeting between South Australia and Victoria at Glenelg Oval has proven to be an excellent example, affording enough seam movement to the fast men and some appreciable turn for the spinners. At the same time, batsmen have been able to make runs when applying themselves. Outstanding innings by the youthful trio of Travis Dean, Peter Handscomb and Jake Weatherald have underlined the value of the final as a proving ground.”I’m not surprised there has been discussion,” the Cricket Victoria chief executive Tony Dodemaide said. “We’ve had those in meetings with Cricket Australia. The cricket world changes over time, it’s very different to when it was first installed in the early ’80s.”But I think we are seeing today how valuable it can be in terms of this sort of intensity of cricket, particularly for young players, it’s been outstanding in this particular game how young players from both teams have really stood up and shown what they can do under pressure. That is something worth persisting with I think personally.”I think it’s been a very, very good cricket wicket, what it’s done with the new ball, with the spinners and how they’re getting a little bit out of it, there’s a chance for everyone to have some input in the game. The surfaces are crucial in ensuring there’s a decent balance.”Glenelg’s successful hosting of the final, where the smaller ground has leant a pleasant festival air to proceedings while also providing an ideal surface, has not been lost on Victorian administrators as they work on long overdue upgrades to Junction Oval as a cricket hub and secondary venue after the MCG.”I’m very impressed, I’ve done several laps of the ground over three days through nervousness and also wanting to have a look a what they’ve got here,” Dodemaide said. “This is a terrific arena for Shield cricket, it’s an excellent atmosphere and a perfect fit for what Sheffield Shield cricket can be. With what we are looking for at the Junction Oval this will definitely influence it.”

Former chief justice of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court, Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury, will chair the 10-member disciplinary panel that will help conduct the disciplinary proceedings against the nine individuals charged with alleged corruption during this year’s Ba

Mohammad Isam15-Aug-20130:00

Isam: Sense of pride among fans that issue is being addressed

Former chief justice of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court, Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury, will chair the 10-member disciplinary panel that will help conduct the disciplinary proceedings against the nine individuals charged with alleged corruption during this year’s Bangladesh Premier League. Chowdhury’s appointment as panel chairman is the first step of the disciplinary process, according to Article 5 of the BCB’s anti-corruption code.Chowdhury, who was chief justice from March 2001 to June 2002, confirmed to the on Wednesday that he had agreed to take up the role. He will now pick the other nine members of the panel, from which the three-member anti-corruption tribunal that will hear the case – if it goes to trial – will eventually be picked.”I have given my consent to the BCB with regards to heading the panel,” Chowdhury said. “I will appoint the other members of the panel, but I have not reached any decisions yet. I have some names in mind but have not yet made any offers; it will take some time.”The nine persons charged have till August 27 to make their pleas – the tribunal will need to be formed and the case goes to trial only if they plead not guilty. In that case, the ICC will reply to them while Chowdhury picks the members of tribunal.While the case is under the BCB’s jurisdiction, ICC chief executive Dave Richardson had mentioned during Tuesday’s press conference that “the prosecution of the case and conduct of the hearing will be carried out on behalf of the BCB by the ICC”. A senior BCB official told ESPNcricinfo that the ICC will assist in an administrative capacity throughout the proceedings because of its resources and experience in the field. “BCB will only have to appoint the chairman of the disciplinary panel,” the official said. “The ICC will do everything else leading up to the hearing.”According to Article 5 of the anti-corruption code, the convenor of the tribunal could call a preliminary hearing with the anti-corruption officials and the persons charged before the hearing begins, “to address any issues that need to be resolved prior to the hearing date”. That date must be within 40 days of the accused having received the charge letters.If there are no exceptional circumstances arising during this time, the full hearing should begin within the third week of September.