Former captain weighs in on Australia’s attack for Edgbaston, and Pat Cummins’ no-ball issues at the WTC final

Andrew McGlashan09-Jun-20230:51

Smith: ‘Intrigued to see how Bazball goes against us’

Ricky Ponting believes that Josh Hazlewood will start the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston ahead of Scott Boland if he is fully fit.Hazlewood was withdrawn from Australia’s World Test Championship (WTC) squad after it was decided he was not quite ready following his truncated IPL, from which he returned home with some side soreness although he was later cleared of any injury.He was said to be “very close” to being available and is on track for the first Test against England, but Boland has continued to make a strong case to be selected as one of Australia’s three specialist quicks.He was the pick of the bowlers in the first innings of the WTC final against India with 2 for 59 from 20 overs, removing Shubman Gill with one that nipped back on the second evening then spearing a delivery through KS Bharat with the second ball of the third day.”Nothing changes for me,” Ponting said. “If Hazlewood is fit and they are 100% convinced that he can get through the game, then I think he’ll start, but if he doesn’t you have a pretty good back-up.”Hazlewood has only played four Tests in this WTC cycle through a combination of injury and the balance of the side on the subcontinent. He made an impressive return against South Africa at the SCG in January but picked up an Achillies injury due to the soft run-ups.Over the last 18 months, Boland has made a remarkable start to his Test career, bursting onto the scene with 6 for 7 at the MCG in the previous Ashes, and appears to be a bowler with all the attributes to be successful with the Dukes ball in England.”Scotty is very impressive,” Ponting said. “The thing the selectors might be thinking about is Josh’s injury record over the last few years. When you look at it, with Scotty bowling the way he is, it’s a pretty compelling argument to say is he in their starting XI for the first Test.”Looking ahead, though, with five Test matches in six weeks, don’t think we can expect either bowling group to get through [fully], both teams will probably have to rest a quick or two here and there through the series.”However, Ponting added that he thinks Pat Cummins’ stated ambition to play all six Tests in the condensed schedule is possible because of the presence of Cameron Green in Australia’s line-up.”In series gone by, where there hasn’t’ been that world-class allrounder to throw the ball to for 15 overs an innings, then it would have been less likely,” he said. “But I think if Pat manages himself well enough, with Green there to help out, I think the captain can get through.”Cummins took three wickets in India’s first innings but cost himself three due to no-balls. On the second day he would have removed both Ravindra Jadeja and Ajinkya Rahane lbw, then on the third he pinned Shardul Thakur in front but was marginally over again.In all Cummins was called for six no-balls, the most he has sent down in an international innings, and Ponting said it was a symptom of his lengthy layoff from the game having not played competitively since the end of February when he left the tour of India early for personal reasons. However, there is evidence that he has been called more frequently since the automated front-foot technology was introduced.”Simple, he’s lacking rhythm, he hasn’t played for three months,” Ponting said. “He’s bowled six no-balls in this innings, two [three] of them have cost him wickets…but he’s never been someone that I can remember that’s been plagued by any kind of no-ball issue.”I just think it’s because he’s not back into full game mode, and not back into his full rhythm. As today went on, I did think he looked better and I think he’ll be better in the second innings as well.”

Duo stage second-wicket stand of 95 to overcome gale-force winds and win with 26 balls left

ECB Reporters Network15-Jul-2023Maia Bouchier and Georgia Adams scored notable half-centuries in challenging conditions to steer Southern Vipers to a four-wicket victory over Western Storm in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Millfield School.Chasing a revised target of 238 in a match reduced to 48 overs-a-side by rain, Bouchier and Adams posted 71 and 59 respectively and staged a stand of 95 for the second wicket as the visitors overcame gale-force winds to win with 26 balls to spare.Emma Corney had earlier made a career-best 69, while Fran Wilson hit 49 and Niamh Holland 44 as Storm raised 230 for 5 having been put into bat. Adams completed an outstanding all-round performance by taking 2 for 50 with the ball, and fellow spinner Linsey Smith weighed in with 2 for 36 as Vipers took wickets at key moments to restrict the scoring.A third win in nine outings lifted Vipers to fifth place in the table, but Storm remain rooted to the bottom after losing for a fourth time in eight games, their progress further frustrated by three rained off fixtures.With the threat of rain ever present, bowling first was always going to be the preferred option and Vipers made a decent fist of chasing. Storm struck an early blow with the ball, new loan signing Phoebe Graham having Ella McCaughan superbly held by Chloe Skelton at deep backward square for 10. But the fluent Bouchier set the tone for the reply, smiting Australian Piepa Cleary over extra cover for a huge six into the wind.Ultra-positive in her approach, skipper Adams managed to out-score her partner, twice cover driving leg spinner Nicole Harvey for four and then hoisting her over extra cover for six to give Vipers a super-charged start.Scoring freely on either side of the wickets against the spinners, Bouchier reached a chanceless 50 from 54 balls as the visitors kept on top of the rate, raising 100 from 20 overs. Adams went to 50 from 53 balls, by which time the second-wicket pair were cruising.Storm urgently required a breakthrough and Alex Griffiths obliged in the 26th over, Bouchier attempting to work her into the leg side and succeeding only in offering a return catch via a leading edge. Bouchier had faced 72 balls, accrued five fours and a six and provided her team with a solid platform.Emily Windsor joined Adams with a further 102 runs required at 4.50 an over, and was afforded a life when Wilson dropped her on 12 at mid-wicket off the bowling of Skelton. But Wilson made no mistake when holding onto the next chance that came her way, Adams clipping a ball from Cleary to mid-wicket to bring her 66-ball innings to an end in the 32nd over. She had harvested five fours and a six and laid the foundations of victory.When Windsor holed out to deep backward square for 21 off the bowling of Skelton, Vipers were 175 for 4, requiring a further 63 runs from 79 balls, and Storm sensed an opportunity. Cleary removed Maitlan Brown for 10, but Freya Kemp held her nerve, timed the ball beautifully and struck 47 from 36 balls with eight fours to render victory a formality.Promoted up the order earlier this season, teenager Emma Corney had played her part in some useful opening stands without quite managing to go on and convert a series of decent starts. That changed on this occasion, the Devonian registering her maiden half-century to give Storm a strong footing.It might have been a different story had Bouchier held onto a chance at mid-on in the fourth over when Corney had made just 1. The 19-year-old chanced her arm against Smith, only for the ball to then hold up in the swirling wind and render life difficult for the fielder. Corney made good her escape to dominate an opening stand of 43 with Griffiths in 12.4 overs.Griffiths struggled with the fierce winds and scratched seven runs from 38 balls. Bowled by an Alice Monaghan no-ball in the ninth over, she eventually perished four overs later, driving the same bowler hard to mid-on, where Bouchier demonstrated safe hands to atone for her earlier error.Determined tocarry the fight to Vipers, Sophie Luff proved adept at finding gaps in the field, raising the tempo in a profitable alliance of 52 in 13.2 overs for the second wicket, despite a slow outfield turning fours into twos and the wind rendering aerial shots unwise.Corney accelerated to 50 from 75 balls, pulling Brown behind square to reach that landmark with her fifth boundary as Storm advanced to 93 for 1 at the halfway point of the innings. Luff had made 20 and looked set to post a substantial total when she unexpectedly succumbed to temptation, pulling Adams violently and falling to a stunning diving catch by Monaghan at mid-wicket with the score on 95.Wilson provided mid-innings impetus, helping Corney add a further 36 for the third wicket before the latter stepped down the pitch to Smith and drove high to Adams at long-on. Holland joined the experienced Wilson at the crease and these two had progressed the score to 167 for 3 in 38.3 overs when heavy rain forced the players off.An early interval ensured just two overs were lost and a damp ball and outfield aided Storm when play resumed, Wilson and Holland scoring at a good lick in adding 63 for the fourth wicket in 10.1 overs. Having faced 47 balls and accrued five boundaries in reaching 49, Wilson chipped Smith to mid-on, leaving the adventurous Holland to score 44 at slightly better than a run-a-ball to hoist the home side to respectability.

Garth and Gardner help Australia finish their northern summer on a high

AAP28-Jul-2023Phoebe Litchfield became the second youngest Australian woman to hit an ODI century en route to taking her country to a comfortable 10-wicket win over Ireland in Dublin.Chasing 218 for victory, Litchfield hit an unbeaten 106 and Annabel Sutherland hit 109 not out to help Australia reach the target in 35.5 overs.The win wrapped the series up 2-0 for Australia and ended their northern summer tour after drawing the multi-format Ashes series with England to retain the Ashes.Playing without Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning, Rachael Haynes or Megan Schutt in an international for the first time in 14 years, Australia showed a glimpse of the future in the win.Irish-born seamer Kim Garth took 3 for 34 against her old side, while Ashleigh Gardner also claimed 3 for 38.In reply, Sutherland and Litchfield took hold as both struck their maiden white-ball international centuries. Sutherland’s 109 from 101 balls included 11 boundaries, while Litchfield’s 106 from 114 featured 14 fours.At 20 years and 101 days, the NSW prodigy also became the youngest Australian woman other than Meg Lanning to score a century in a 50-over match.”It means a lot,” Litchfield said. “We spoke about trying to have a better start up top, and I have been pretty dry in the runs column. So for Bellsy [Sutherland] and I to go out and win the game, was pretty cool.”The win came after Healy and Perry were both ruled out of the match and withdrawn from The Hundred in England through injury.Perry hurt her knee while batting in Australia’s ODI win over Ireland on Tuesday, and has now been ruled out for up to six weeks with the injury.And after battling through the Ashes with a fracture in her left index finger and right ring finger, Healy suffered a fresh break in her index finger on Tuesday after another blow.Australia expect both to be fit to return for their next international against West Indies in early October, while Litchfield will replace Healy at the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.Healy and Perry’s absences do come as a sizeable blow to The Hundred, given they are two of the biggest names in women’s cricket.Fellow Australian Heather Graham pulled out of the tournament earlier this week due to a calf injury, while Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell will both skip the men’s Hundred to manage their workloads.

“Still a long way to go to be performing how I’d like to,” says seamer after Ageas Bowl three-for

Vithushan Ehantharajah11-Sep-2023Reece Topley admits he will be overcoming “a bit of PTSD” when he boards the plane later this month for the 50-over World Cup in India after leaving last year’s T20 edition on the eve of the tournament due to an ankle injury.The left-arm seamer was dealt a sickening blow when he damaged ligaments in his left ankle after stepping on a boundary sponge at the Gabba during a fielding drill ahead of England’s final warm-up match against Pakistan. He was soon on a flight back from Australia and watched from afar as England became the first men’s white-ball team to hold both 50-over and 20-over World Cups simultaneously.”You could say I have a bit of PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] about getting on the plane again because it was pretty emotional coming back from the last one injured,” said Topley. “But injuries happen in sport. You can only do so much to prevent them. I don’t really think about it too much, but hopefully, they stay away.”Related

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There was further heartbreak at the start of the year for Topley. Having returned fully fit, a maiden stint in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore was cut short after bowling just two overs against Mumbai Indians on debut when a heavy fall in the outfield resulted in a dislocated right shoulder.Topley’s return to action after surgery came at the start of August in the Hundred for Northern Superchargers, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker with 13, resulting in selection for England’s provisional World Cup squad. That faith from Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott was rewarded on Sunday with 3 for 37 in the second ODI against New Zealand to help square the series.”Obviously, for anyone to come back from seven months out of 12 injured is tricky. When I came back from my ankle injury, I was getting back into it and then it was like having the rug pulled from underneath me when I came home from India. It’s all part of that process again, and hopefully it’s another box ticked, but it’s still a long way to go to be performing how I’d like to.”As you get older, the injuries do get a bit harder to come back from – just the nature of just being years older. It’s not like you won’t ever come back from it, it’s just always a bit trickier.””Hopefully, the bad days just sort of become less and less. I definitely wouldn’t say I’m out of the jungle in terms of my ankle and my shoulder, but it’s a case of doing the right things, and hopefully, there’s more performances like Sunday.”The outing at the Ageas Bowl was encouraging after an indifferent none for 47 from seven overs in the first ODI, which New Zealand won by eight wickets. After England set a total 227 in a rain-reduced 34-over affair, Topley was tight for the first five overs with the new ball (conceding just 19) before returning from the 21st over to take three in eight deliveries. His gutting of the middle order with the dismissals of Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra triggered a terminal collapse, with the last seven Kiwi batters falling for the addition of just 36 as the hosts triumphed by 78.While these were his first ODI dismissals in over a year after going wicketless at Cardiff and in two matches in South Africa before the IPL, Topley was as much encouraged by underlining his capabilities beyond the new ball as the return to form.”I like to think I take wickets in all stages, but with the new ball the other day [first ODI], I wasn’t great. It’s tricky. Obviously for seven months of this year I’ve been out injured, so it’s nice to be finding my feet again, hopefully just at the right time for India.”My record in the format is pretty good [36 wickets at 26.83 across 24 caps]. I like to think that I can contribute whenever needed. It was nice to get that performance. Last game, I was pretty nervous about getting back in the ODI squad and it was my first ODI since South Africa as well.”It’s tricky playing and getting yourself back into it mentally and physically after some injuries. The game moves on and people move on, and you obviously don’t get the chance to because you’re sidelined and can’t play cricket. It’s nice to sort of get yourself back up to speed and it’s all part of the process. It’s not the end of it now: it’s just another good day.”That being said, Topley is allowing himself to look further ahead. At 29, this will be his third global tournament for England, after featuring in the 2016 World T20 and again in 2021, when he was an injury replacement for Tymal Mills. Having overcome a spate of back issues which saw him suffer five stress fractures in six years, the last of which came in 2018, he has sights set on two more tournaments for his country, starting with 2024’s T20 assignment in the Caribbean and USA.”It would be the third World Cup I’ve been involved in,” he said of the upcoming trip to India. “I’d like to be involved in next summer’s as well. I’ve set myself a goal to be involved in five World Cups and that’d be something pretty special as a player.”

Kuldeep Yadav talks about how he revamped his bowling after taking 2 for 42 against Australia in India’s opening game of the World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-20231:47

Kumble: Kuldeep’s wicket of Warner was crucial

Left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav attributes his recent success in white-ball cricket to an increase in the pace of his deliveries and putting a lesser load on his right leg while delivering the ball.His transformation, especially in ODIs over the last couple of years, has been exemplary and he’s taken it up a notch in 2023. Kuldeep has picked up 35 wickets in 17 innings this year at an average of 16.31 and an economy of 4.68. No other Indian bowler has more wickets in 2023, while overall only Nepal’s Sandeep Lamicchane is ahead with 43 scalps.”Everyone told me my deliveries required pace but no one told me how to do it,” Kuldeep, who dismissed David Warner and Glenn Maxwell in India’s ODI World Cup opener against Australia, said after the game. “Important aspect on a turner is the speed at which the ball turns. At times there are slow turners, important is to vary pace.Related

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“It wasn’t a slow turner [in Chennai], but I had to increase the pace of my deliveries. For example, Glenn Maxwell didn’t get time and if you saw how Smith got bowled (to Jadeja). So, along with turn, pace on deliveries also become important.”The turning point in Kuldeep’s career came after he underwent knee surgery in 2021. During the rehab phase, former India team physio Ashish Kaushik advised him to put less pressure on his right leg and the move seems to have done the trick for Kuldeep. He took 2 for 42 in his ten overs against Australia with both wickets coming at a crucial junctures.”Once I was coming back from injury, it was physio Ashish Kaushik who advised that the load on my right leg should be less,” Kuldeep said. “Post rehab, I implemented that in my training and then in match situations and I felt the difference. It didn’t happen overnight though. It took around six months to get the rhythm back.”Kuldeep Yadav has been raking in the wickets in 2023•ICC/Getty Images

India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey was also pleased with Kuldeep’s rise in the ODl format this year. “The credit should be given to Kuldeep for the fact that he’s worked on it. Sometimes when you have a conversation like that with the bowler, you do get a self-realisation of what are the areas I need to work on,” Mhambrey said. “He’s worked on certain things, made those technical changes and you could see that in his bowling. The speeds have gone up, the lengths and areas have become better and in that sense, there are a lot of big ticks for us.”The way he’s played, the way he has bowled in the last few years. It’s not just the numbers, it’s also the way you adapt. He offers a different variety to the team.”While India went with the spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin and Kuldeep for their opening fixture of the World Cup, Kuldeep was of the opinion that the combination might well change at other venues.”Not sure about the entire tournament, but over the years, we have seen you can play with three spinners in Chennai,” Kuldeep said. “If the other team had three quality spinners, it would have been difficult for us as a batting unit as well. I think Maxwell bowled well but he didn’t have support from the other end.”

Wolvaart made an unbeaten 70 out of 121 before Strikers’ bowlers provided an amazing defence as Thunder fell three runs short

AAP and ESPNCricinfo staff21-Nov-2023

Laura Wolvaardt made 70 not out•Getty Images

Adelaide Strikers have taken the outright lead on the WBBL ladder after a rescue mission by opener Laura Wolvaardt set up a thrilling three-run win over Sydney Thunder.Both sides were 4 for 2 early in their innings as ball dominated bat at Cricket Central. Wolvaardt’s class and composure in an unbeaten 70 proved the difference after Strikers were sent in.She grafted as wickets tumbled at the other end before unleashing at the death. The South African star combined with Megan Schutt to take 38 runs off the final three overs and lift the defending champions to 121 for 7, with Schutt making 16 not out off 10.The Strikers’ bowlers were brilliant early with Jemma Barsby dismissing dangerous Chamari Athapaththu in the first over and Schutt snaring Phoebe Litchfield in a deep cover trap in the second.The hosts were meandering along at 53 for 5 after 14 overs until Tahlia Wilson (33 off 23) and Sammy-Jo Johnson (26 not out off 14) threatened to get their side home.A crafty last over by spinner Anesu Mushangwe, where she conceded just five runs, clinched the win and kept the Thunder to 118 for 7. Mushangwe finished with 2 for 24 from her four overs.Australian pace bowler Darcie Brown returned from a hamstring injury for her first WBBL game of the season and found instant form claiming 1 for 15 from four overs. She bowled 14 dot balls and gave up just one boundary.Thunder looked good early. Marizanne Kapp’s opening over of the innings was made to order. She trapped Katie Mack plumb lbw first ball of the innings. The South Africa international snuck the fifth delivery under the bat of Australia star Tahlia McGrath to have the visitors 4 for 2.The low bounce was utilised perfectly by the Thunder attack as they put in an accomplished display of stump-to-stump bowling at its best. The Strikers were 47 for 4 after 10 overs but Wolvaardt then stepped up to play the only substantial innings of the match.The Strikers went to 18 points with the win, two clear of Perth Scorchers and three ahead of Thunder.

Karnataka’s 24-year-old left-handed batter Satheesh Shubha also earned a call-up for the Tests against England and Australia

Shashank Kishore01-Dec-2023Renuka Singh has made a comeback from a stress injury, while WPL breakout stars Shreyanka Patil and Saika Ishaque have earned maiden T20I call-ups for the three-match series against England beginning December 6 in Mumbai.Renuka and Ishaque are also part of the Harmanpreet Kaur-led 15-member squad for two back-to-back Tests against England and Australia. There was also a maiden Test call-up for Karnataka’s 24-year-old left-handed opener Satheesh Shubha, who impressed with scores of 99 and 49 in the practice four-day fixture prior to selection.India will be playing a home Test for the first time since November 2014. Since then, they’ve featured in just two Tests (one each in England and Australia). The upcoming games will mark a change of guard in many ways, given it will be India’s first Test outing in over 20 years without retired stalwarts Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. This will also be the first time that Harmanpreet will lead India in a Test.Related

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Patil was one of the bright stars for Royal Challengers Bangalore during an otherwise dismal maiden WPL campaign for the team. Earlier this year, she also became the first Indian to play in the women’s CPL where she was the tournament’s top wicket-taker while representing Guyana Amazon Warriors. Patil is currently part of the India A squad for the three-match T20 series against England A.Meanwhile, Ishaque, the left-arm spinner, was a key figure for Mumbai Indians during their spectacular run to the inaugural WPL title in March. Ishaque was the tournament’s joint second-highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps, with her ability to bowl across phases earning plaudits. Ishaque’s inclusion in the T20I squad leaves no room for experienced left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad, while Patil’s call-up has led to Devika Vaidya being dropped.In addition to Patil, Ishaque and Deepti Sharma, India also have a fourth spin option in the form of left-arm fingerspinner Mannat Kashyap, who was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup winning squad earlier this year. Middle-order batter Kanika Ahuja, who like Patil impressed for RCB in the WPL, retains her place in the T20I squad.Saika Ishaque picked 15 wickets to help Mumbai Indians win the inaugural WPL title•BCCI

Yastika Bhatia was handed a comeback as one of two wicketkeeping options alongside Richa Ghosh. Bhatia was dropped from the Asian Games squad that returned with a gold medal from Hangzhou in October. Her inclusion meant there was no place for rookie wicketkeeper Uma Chetry.The selectors have also opted to overhaul the pace stocks for the Tests. With Goswami having retired and Shikha Pandey left out, Renuka will lead a four-member attack consisting of Titas Sadhu, Meghna Singh and allrounder Pooja Vastrakar. Also returning for the Tests is Sneh Rana, the offspinning allrounder.The upcoming home series marks the beginning of a long stretch of games for the Indian women’s team leading into next year’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. After the three T20Is and Test against England, India are slated to play Australia in a Test, followed by six white-ball matches.The upcoming series marks the first assignment as head coach for Amol Muzumdar, the former Mumbai captain, who takes over from Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who had helmed the team in an interim capacity.India Women’s squad for England T20Is: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Mannat Kashyap, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh, Titas Sadhu, Pooja Vastrakar, Kanika Ahuja, Minnu ManiIndia Women’s squad for England and Australia Tests: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Shubha Satheesh, Harleen Deol, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh, Titas Sadhu, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar

Eliz-mari Marx gets a maiden call-up for the ODI squad

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2023Fast bowler Ayabonga Khaka and allrounder Nadine de Klerk, who had missed the T20I series against Bangladesh with injuries, have recovered to participate in the upcoming ODI series against them.Marizanne Kapp, who had been rested for the T20I series, is also back for the ODIs. Kapp was recently in action for Sydney Thunder in the WBBL, where her team Sydney Thunder made it to the Eliminator. Chloe Tryon, though, remains unavailable for selection as she continues to work her way back from a groin injury.Eliz-mari Marx, 20, earned her maiden ODI call-up, having recently made her T20I debut against Bangladesh earlier this month. Meike De Ridder is the other uncapped player in the ODI side.Related

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“Special mention goes to the promising Eliz-mari Marx, earning her maiden call-up – a testament to her talent and potential,” Clinton du Preez, South Africa women’s convenor of selectors, said in a statement. “We believe this squad is well-equipped to deliver an outstanding performance on the field.””I am very happy that we can continue to bring youngsters in to add to the experience we have,” Hilton Moreeng, South Africa women’s head coach said. “We know what is at stake, with both teams having successful ODI series recently, so for us, it’s to make sure, particularly on home soil and after the way we started the T20Is, we can improve on that.The three-match ODI series, which will run from December 16 to December 23, will be part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 qualification campaign for the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India.”It’s a different ball game now; it’s the ODIs and there’s a lot at stake regarding qualification for the World Cup, so with the experience that we brought in now, we as a team feel very confident going into the series,” Moreeng said.”We know what the six points will mean for us because post this tour, we will be finishing the year on a high, especially after the way the year started. We just want to ensure we stay focused, stick to our disciplines and execute on the day.”

South Africa squad for ODIs against Bangladesh

Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Mieke De Ridder, Lara Goodall, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Eliz-mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Delmi Tucker

He says the freshly-installed selection panel, headed by Tharanga, had him in their T20 World Cup plans

Andrew Fidel Fernando15-Jan-2024Expect to see more of Angelo Mathews in Sri Lanka’s T20 side this year. Expect to see him bowl more frequently. And because this is late-career Mathews, coming back into the white-ball frame after years of being picked only for Tests, expect him also to be driven by grievance to some extent.Following his first T20I outing in almost three years, Mathews seemed to take aim at the previous set of selectors – headed by Pramodya Wickramasinghe – for working to their own “agendas”. He also said the freshly-installed selection panel, headed by Upul Tharanga, had him in their T20 World Cup plans.In any case, in his first international T20 outing since March 2021, Mathews played a critical role in a last-ball win, top-scoring with 46 off 38 balls. This is after he had taken the new ball and bowled two overs for 13 runs. He thinks he shouldn’t have spent so long in the white-ball wilderness.Related

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• Angelo Mathews back in T20I squad after three-year absence

• Angelo Mathews stars in thriller as Sri Lanka go 1-0 up

“In the last two Lanka Premier League (LPL) seasons I batted and bowled well, but unfortunately I wasn’t selected for the T20 World Cups, and I wasn’t given reasons for that,” he said after the game, having picked up the Player-of-the-Match trophy. “If you take decisions that are driven by agendas, these kinds of things can happen – we haven’t even qualified for the Champions Trophy.”But one thing I believe is that if you train and play wholeheartedly, you can create an environment for yourself where you can perform. I kept my efforts up over the last couple of years. I think I can play for a little while longer.”Mathews’ bowling has been a sticking point over the years. He had been an important member of the attack in arguably Sri Lanka’s best white-ball sides (between 2007 and 2014), where he frequently bowled in the powerplay in T20s. But a growing catalogue of injuries over the years had either prevented him from bowling, or put him in a frame of mind to play only as a specialist batter, depending on who tells the story.More recently, though, he has become a regular contributor of quiet overs again – a role he said he relishes.”The communication with me and the new selectors is quite clear. They asked me what my plans were for the future and [told me] their plans as well. We had a very good discussion. They said that I’m in their plans for the T20 World Cup, and if I could bowl a few overs. I said: ‘Absolutely – if I can help the team in any way’.”I’ve been bowling in the LPL as well, and you saw me bowling in the [domestic] one-dayers as well recently. If I can bowl a few overs that helps the balance of the team and the captain can decide whether he wants to play an extra batter or a bowler.”In this particular match, which he helped Sri Lanka win from a dire position, Mathews said he relied on his experience. Sri Lanka needed 61 off the last six overs, with four wickets in hand, when Mathews and Dasun Shanaka came together at the crease. The pair added 55 runs off 34 balls together, when Mathews was dismissed trying to hit the winning runs (they would come off the bat of Dushmantha Chameera eventually).”When we batted together I talked to Dasun about how if one of us gets out it will be really difficult,” Mathews said. “We thought it would be better if we batted until the 16th or 17th over, and keep the required rate at an achievable level – around 10 runs an over. In the end we had to go after their best bowlers as well. We took some calculated risks.”Dasun played a good innings, and the person who played the most important innings was Dushmantha Chameera who got six off the last two balls, or else everything else we did would have been meaningless.”

Maddinson made his second successive century while Will Pucovski and Peter Handscomb posted unbeaten half-centuries to put Victoria in command

AAP17-Feb-2024Resurgent Victoria batter Nic Maddinson has scored a century for a second-straight Sheffield Shield match to continue his impressive return from a serious knee injury.The former Test player hit a superb 108 from 136 balls to put Victoria into a commanding position at stumps on day two against New South Wales at the SCG on Saturday.Victoria are 277 for 2, holding a first-innings lead of 25, with Will Pucovski and Peter Handscomb making unbeaten half-centuries to put the visitors on top at stumps.Maddinson’s 17th first-class century comes two weeks after he hit a dominant 104 against South Australia in his first Shield innings since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in a BBL game on New Year’s Day 2023. It was also his ninth for Victoria and his third against his former state. He averages 52.09 in his last 37 Shield innings since moving states in 2018.Despite struggling for form during his return to cricket in the BBL for the Melbourne Renegades, Maddinson has quickly returned to his best in the longer form of the game.Maddinson put on a 114-run opening stand with Marcus Harris in reply to NSW’s 252. Harris made 32 from 117 but fell to a wild shot off Nathan Lyon. The Test spinner claimed both Victorian wickets in his last Shield appearance before embarking on Australia’s tour of New Zealand.But it has been tough going in the field for the Blues, rotating through seven bowlers as they search for breakthroughs.Pucovski will be vying to score his seventh first-class century when play resumes on Sunday with he and Handscomb sharing an unbeaten century stand after Maddinson’s dismissal.The talented 26-year-old missed Victoria’s last-start Shield win against South Australia due to suffering delayed symptoms of concussion. But Pucovski, regarded as one of Australia’s brightest batting prospects, recently spoke about feeling more on top of his mental health battles and concussion issues than ever before.Pucovski’s last first-class century came back in November 2020, two months before he made his one and only Test appearance.