Category Uncategorized

Leicestershire County Cricket Club has secured a £1 million loan from the city council to improve its facilities in time for next year’s Women’s World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-2016Leicestershire County Cricket Club has secured a £1 million loan from the city council to improve its facilities in time for next year’s Women’s World Cup.The loan, which will be repaid in full from Leicestershire’s ECB grant in 2018, will be serviced at a 5% interest rate and secured by a formal legal agreement between the club and the ECB.It follows Leicester City Council’s lifting, in February 2014, of a 50-year-old covenant that had previously restricted development at the club. The club was granted permission, in January, to install permanent floodlights, which they hope will be in place by the start of this season’s NatWest T20 Blast in May.Grace Road was named earlier this month as one of the five venues for the Women’s World Cup, alongside Taunton, Derby, Bristol and Lord’s, which will host the final on July 23.”We have a robust business plan and want to improve the experience of coming to the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road as quickly as we can,” said Wasim Khan, Leicestershire’s chief executive.”Our plans include improving public Wi-Fi, increasing the number of quality food and drink outlets to reduce queuing, and developing our existing stands all around the ground. We also want to restore the Maurice Burrows Balcony to give supporters a great view of the action.”It’s imperative that we drive forward these plans as quickly as possible, as we are hosting major match days in the next two years, including our popular NatWest T20 Blast games and the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017. That event will help inspire a generation of young cricket supporters and will encourage more female cricketers to take up sport in the city of Leicester.Despite ongoing concerns about the level of debt that the club has accumulated in recent seasons, Leicester’s City Mayor, Peter Soulsby, said that he recognised the wide-reaching benefits of investing in sports facilities.”The cricket club has ambitious plans which will help to attract more people to attend matches, and will raise the profile of the club and the city across the country,” Soulsby said. “Having successful sports clubs brings major benefits to the city, as the recent success of Leicester City Football Club has shown. By providing this loan the council can help the cricket club to fast-track its improvements, and we will earn interest on the repayment.”Five per cent interest is more than we would get if we left the money in the bank,” Soulsby told the Leicester Mercury. “We are intensely aware that other well-meaning councils have had their fingers burned when they have made loans to sports clubs. [But] we have done all the due diligence on this and the loan is secured.”

Ian Bell termed Alastair Cook’s display on the third day in Abu Dhabi a “masterclass” and said he had been an inspiration for him during his own struggles

Andrew McGlashan15-Oct-20151:22

Cook did exactly what we want to do as a batting unit – Bell

Ian Bell has called Alastair Cook’s display on the third day in Abu Dhabi a “masterclass” and said how his performances throughout the year have provided inspiration for him during his own struggles.Cook is now the leading global run-scorer in 2015, having started the year trying to break a century drought that stretched back two years. A hundred came in Barbados, followed by a marathon effort in the second innings against New Zealand at Lord’s to set-up a remarkable victory but this innings stands out.He finished the day unbeaten on 168, flicking the final ball to deep square leg then taking the generous congratulations of every Pakistan player, having faced 329 deliveries in more than seven-and-a-half hours at the crease.There was a tight lbw review off Zulfiqar Babar on 101 and he was dropped once, top-edging a sweep off the same bowler on 147, but other than that handled the spin with utmost skill, heeding the pre-series advice of Paul Farbrace and Mahela Jayawardene to use the sweep judiciously.”He’s so organised,” Bell said. “When I watch him against spin his defence is incredible. He executed the sweep today as well as I’ve ever seen him through a day of Test cricket. The way he works out his angles, for left-handers the rough outside their off stump can be tricky, but it was a masterclass today: how to defend, how to come down occasionally to chip over midwicket but also sweep from a full length.”This is the fourth year Cook has passed 1000 runs – equalling the England record held by Kevin Pietersen – and he is now second, behind Jacques Kallis, in runs scored by non-Asian batsman in Asia. Bell said Cook’s durability to fight through the tough times was a reminder to make the most of the days which go your way, which left Bell frustrated he had fallen for 63.”To play the amount of Test cricket he has, you aren’t always going to be at your best but you have to show some character at times to get through them,” he said. “What he’s done well, especially last few months, is when he gets in he makes scores like this. They do cover your bad days. What he’s been through, and what I’ve been through a little as well in the last few months, he’s a good role model to watch. When you get days like this, cash in, and he does that as well as anyoneBell was 1 off 35 balls, a period which had included a drop catch and tight shout for lbw, and it was not until he reached double figures that he started to look more secure.”It’s difficult to start, we know that from last time here. In the subcontinent, your first 40 to 50 balls are tough and if you get through that it will get easier,” he said. “It was nice to bat long, but I was gutted not to go on – or certainly be there overnight with Cooky – I know that on a pitch like that you want to get in, make the most of it and get a big one.”Mushtaq Ahmed, Pakistan’s bowling coach who worked with England until 2014 so has witnessed previous Cook epics from the opposite dressing room, also lauded the innings.”He’s got a great record in Asia, he played it beautifully,” he said. “He has a lovely temperament and the way he played took the pressure off the other batsmen. He killed the zip of the spinners and seamers nicely. It was a brilliant innings once again.”Cook’s career best of 294 – made against India at Edgbaston in 2011 – is still some way off but he may never get a better second chance for that maiden triple hundred.

The lawyer of arrested cricketer Sreesanth has insisted his client is ‘totally innocent’ and that he will seek bail during the next hearing

ESPNcricinfo staff17-May-2013The lawyer of arrested cricketer Sreesanth has insisted his client is ‘totally innocent’ and that he will seek bail during the next hearing. On Thursday, a judge had remanded Sreesanth and two other Rajasthan Royals players to five days in police custody after they had been arrested by Delhi police on corruption charges.”I asked them what is the evidence you have against him, they failed to give any kind of paper against Sreesanth in the court,” Sreesanth’s lawyer Deepak Prakash said. “Please support Sreesanth, the person is innocent, we are doing a crime right now giving the wrong news about him. I clarified from him, he is never involved in this, he is totally innocent.”He never talked to any bookie,” Prakash said. “No money is received, no telephone call, nothing is established, he is innocent.”Police alleged Sreesanth had promised bookies that he would concede at least 14 runs in his second over against Kings XI Punjab on May 9 in exchange for Rs 40 lakh (US$73,024). The police alleged that Sreesanth made the appropriate signal, which was to ask for a towel that he would tuck inside his trousers before bowling the over. Prakash dismissed the charges. “A person can use a towel in any way, how is this evidence?” he asked. “It is a matter of luck. He can use a towel whenever he wants.”Sreesanth can only apply for bail after his time in police custody, which means he will have to wait at least four more days. The Delhi police commissioner Neeraj Kumar had also suggested that the police could invoke the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, offences under which are non-bailable.

Nicola Browne, the New Zealand bowler, has decided to return to international cricket. The decision is a remarkable U-turn after retiring seven months ago

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Mar-2012Nicola Browne, the New Zealand bowler, has decided to return to international cricket despite announcing her retirement seven months ago. She discovered she was suffering with celiac disease, changed her diet and is now hungry to play for New Zealand once more.Browne, 28 from Waikato, felt “the flame inside her had been extinguished” when retiring in August 2011. The news came as something of a shock after rising to sixth on the world bowling rankings and being named Player of the Tournament at the 2010 Women’s World Twenty20.”I wasn’t tracking where I should have been,” Browne said. “I was plagued with health problems and just couldn’t get my energy levels right.” She thought her health problems stemmed from Temporomandibular joint disorder and reached a low point after the Christchurch earthquake of February 2011, prompting her departure from the game.But a joint disorder proved not to be the problem. Browne changed doctors and was found to be suffering with celiac disease – where gluten in the body damaged the lining of the small intestine causing fatigue.A simple change of diet did the trick. “I had more energy that I could ever remember having,” Browne said. “It was like I had been living my life at only 70%.” Pasta and pizza went off the menu as part of her new gluten-free regime that provided new-found energy and a reignited passion for cricket.Browne returned to action with seven wickets at 16.85 for Northern Districts and now has her sights on an international recall and becoming a professional. “I’ve found myself,” she said. “And I’ve found the energy to go and achieve beyond where I reached before, and bring others along for the journey.”

Alviro Petersen made a memorable return to Test cricket, while Jacques Kallis enjoyed his new-found batting freedom as South Africa made a merry mockery of Sri Lanka’s decision to bowl first at Newlands

The Report by Nitin Sundar03-Jan-2012Stumps
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAlviro Petersen and Jacques Kallis made a mockery of Sri Lanka’s decision to bowl•Associated Press

Alviro Petersen made a memorable return to Test cricket, and Jacques Kallis enjoyed his new-found batting freedom as South Africa made a merry mockery of Sri Lanka’s decision to bowl at Newlands. Kallis had a sense of occasion, converting his 114-ball century into a 150-plus score in his 150th Test. His first ton against Sri Lanka, and his first in a year, was all the more significant since it silenced murmurs of failing form following the first pair of his glittering career, in Durban.Kallis’ century reaffirmed his love affair with Cape Town, a venue where he now has nine Test hundreds and over 2000 runs. But one man who might be happier with his day’s work is Petersen, whose fluency during his second Test ton glossed over the fact that he was returning to the side after a year. The pair’s dominance yielded 205 runs in under 50 overs, and negated any advantage Sri Lanka had gained from Dhammika Prasad’s early breaches.Regardless of the ease with which South Africa progressed, there was merit in Sri Lanka’s call to bowl; their historic win in Durban did not mask their problems against pace and bounce, and was founded upon South Africa’s own abject batting display. Dilshan’s decision shielded his weaker suit, and gave his seamers the mandate to attack South Africa in marginally helpful weather. He was, however, let down by a sketchy plan of action, and conditions that quickly played into the batsmen’s hands. Sri Lanka were too full in the first hour, too short in the second, and all over the place in the afternoon, before tightening their act after tea.

Smart stats

• Jacques Kallis became the sixth player overall and the first South African to feature in 150 Tests. Among South African players, Mark Boucher is next with 144 matches.

• Following his first pair in the Durban Test, Kallis scored his 41st century in his 150th Test. It is also his first century against Sri Lanka. Among batsmen with 10000-plus runs, Kallis has the highest average (56.98).

• In the course of his innings, Kallis passed 2000 runs in Cape Town. He becomes only the third player after Mahela Jayawardene and Graham Gooch to score 2000-plus runs at a particular venue.

• Kallis’ present strike rate of 73.95 is his third-highest for a 100-plus score. The highest is 74.44 during his 201 against India in Centurion in 2010.

• Alviro Petersen, making his comeback, scored his second century in his 10th Test. He has now scored 681 runs at an average of 37.83.

• The 205-run stand between Kallis and Petersen is the third-highest third-wicket stand for South Africa in Cape Town since their readmission. It is also South Africa’s best third-wicket stand against Sri Lanka.

• Rangana Herath was the most economical bowler conceding just 63 runs off his 26 overs. The remaining bowlers conceded 282 runs in 64 overs (economy rate 4.40).

In between-times, though, Prasad managed to hit the in-between lengths. His ability to ramp the pace up to 140 kph – a rare feat in an attack missing Dilhara Fernando – earned him success against Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla. Both batsmen began well, but perished to familiar failings – Smith chopped on while attempting a reckless cut, and Amla was trapped in front as he walked across the stumps. Amla consulted with Petersen, and rightly chose not to review the decision. That wasn’t the only instance of Petersen’s solid judgement in his comeback innings.A couple of early drives down the ground and a nudge through square leg signalled that Petersen had carried his domestic form into the big league. Thereafter, he built steadily, before summoning the spirit to thrash Prasad over square leg for a six. He brought up his fifty with a brace of boundaries against Thisara Perera, before receding into the background.Kallis came out throwing punches in all directions, reminiscent of his half-century against Australia in the recent Johannesburg Test. He nearly pulled his fourth ball straight to fine-leg, where Chanaka Welegedara inexplicably didn’t go for the catch. Another pull off Angelo Mathews spiralled towards midwicket and landed safe. Encouraged, Mathews persisted with the short stuff, and Kallis pounded him into pulp with a raft of murderous pulls in front of square. Sri Lanka had missed their chance to nip him out early, and Kallis proceeded to enjoy himself.Sri Lanka’s discipline faltered dramatically after lunch. The early-morning moisture had evaporated, and with it all traces of sideways movement. Kallis rushed to his fifty off just 42 balls, and went on to expose their lack of pace, and Rangana Herath’s lack of spin on the first-day surface. A 21-over phase without a single maiden suggested Sri Lanka’s afternoon could not get any worse, but it did when they wasted both their reviews in desperation.Petersen’s signature shot was easily the straight drive, a shot he executed with an assured forward step and exemplary timing. Kallis, on the other hand, went on to produce shots of immense beauty in every direction. The punchy pulls gave way to picture-perfect cover drives and sublime straight hits, but the stroke that stood out was an astonishing whipped on-drive from the line of off stump when Thisara Perara was looking to angle one across defensively.That shot came after Petersen’s fall, sucked into an uppish drive by a Welegedara slower ball. The run-rate dropped below four for the first time in the 66th over, with de Villiers struggling to deal with Welegedara’s offcutters. Having batted out of his comfort zone all day, Kallis seamlessly shifted into accumulation mode and chugged past 150. The stand was worth 86 by stumps, leaving Sri Lanka wondering if they had lost the Test even before it had started.

James Frankin and Hamish Bennett have both earned elevated contracts from New Zealand Cricket after regular appearances in the national team

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Feb-2011Allrounder James Frankin and fast bowler Hamish Bennett have both earned elevated contracts from New Zealand Cricket after regular appearances in the national team.Franklin, 30, has three half-centuries in one-dayers in his past six innings, and also took three wickets with his medium-pace in the consolation victory over Pakistan on Saturday. In a squad filled with allrounders, Franklin has cemented a starting place edging ahead of the likes of Grant Elliott.Bennett, 23, impressed the team management with his pace and was picked in every match of the six-ODI series against Pakistan, in which he was the highest wicket-taker, finishing with 11 at 20.90.Players who have not received central contracts from NZC get an elevated contract after they play a specified number of matches for the national team. The new contracts of Franklin and Bennett, both part of New Zealand’s 15-man squad for the World Cup, will run till the end of July.

Cricinfo previews the second Test between South Africa and England in Durban

The Preview by Andrew Miller25-Dec-2009

Match facts

December 26-30, 2009
Start time 10.00 am (0800 GMT)

Big Picture

For South Africa, Christmas so nearly came early in Centurion last week, when England’s lower order crumbled in the face of an inspired new-ball spell from Friedel de Wet, and it was left to Graham Onions’ improbably broad bat to salvage a shred of dignity in a contest that, as late as tea on the final day, had seemed dead-set for the draw.At Cardiff at the start of England’s Ashes summer, a similar scenario had felt like a victory, given the extent to which England had been outplayed throughout that contest. This time, however, there was no way that England could claim to have emerged from Centurion with momentum. As Andrew Strauss admitted at the end of the game, it was pretty embarrassing to have got themselves into such a predicament in the first place.Nevertheless, the drama of that last hour has confirmed just how competitive this series is set to be, and as the teams reconvene in Durban for the Boxing Day Test, Graeme Smith and his men will believe that, having come so close in such an unlikely fashion, they will be even better placed to apply sustained pressure over the coming five days, especially if Jacques Kallis’ return to bowling fitness is supplemented by the comeback of their world No.1-ranked bowler, Dale Steyn.England will still, however, believe they have the wherewithal to put South Africa under equal amounts of pressure. For proof of that possibility, they need only cast their minds back to their previous tour of the country in 2004-05, when – having themselves been thwarted two wickets from victory in a gripping Boxing Day Test – they headed off to Cape Town for New Year and found themselves on the wrong end of a 196-run hiding.Strauss will know that there is considerable room for English improvement in Durban, both in terms of onfield performance, but also luck. In hindsight, winning the toss on a misleadingly green wicket was no advantage whatsoever, and England will surely use their umpiring review opportunities much wisely than they did in Centurion. Either way, both teams have reason to believe that the series is still very much theirs for the taking.

Form guide (last 5 Tests, most recent first)

South Africa DWLLL
England DWLDW

Watch out for

Ian Bell was the understandable focus of England’s first-Test failings, given that he had been a last-minute pick to shore up the batting, yet mustered seven runs in two innings, including a hideous first-innings leave to Paul Harris. Nevertheless, all the focus on Bell has detracted from another under-achiever higher up the order. Alastair Cook’s match was scarcely any better – he managed scores of 15 and 12, and would have fallen for a first-ball duck to Makhaya Ntini had it not been for AB de Villiers’ rare blemish at slip. Despite extensive remedial work on his technique with Graham Gooch, he’s managed just two centuries in the past 24 months, and having turned 25 on the eve of the match, a return to the precocious form of his first year in international cricket is overdue.Leading into this tour, England still had their doubts about Hashim Amla. He made an important century at Lord’s in 2008 to save the Test that turned that particular series, but a weakness against the short ball ensured that he remained a target in the top-order, just as he had been on his home Test debut, on this very ground in 2004-05, when he was tormented by Steve Harmison and managed one run in two innings. At Centurion last week, however, he came of age in the eyes of his previously sceptical opponents, producing a century of exceptional skill and diligence to stave off the prospect of an England heist. He now belongs in South Africa’s middle-order entirely on merit.

Team news

De Wet’s demolition job in Centurion set a cat among the selectorial pigeons, and in any ordinary circumstances, he would surely expect a follow-up Test appearance as reward for the match-turning efforts he produced on debut. However, with Steyn set to return to the fold after his hamstring injury, the only other candidate to make way is the venerable Makhaya Ntini, and that – for innumerable different reasons – just isn’t going to happen. At least with Kallis expected to play a more rounded all-round role, South Africa will be armed with an extra bowling option.South Africa: (probable) 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Ashwell Prince, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Paul Harris, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini.Bell and Cook are under the cosh, but England like to avoid panic measures wherever possible, and with doubts still existing about Luke Wright’s readiness for Test cricket, the likelihood is of an unchanged starting XI, and a chance for the players who mucked up in Centurion to atone for their errors. A similar policy has paid dividends in the past, but England’s lack of genuine batting alternatives is probably the single biggest reason for the mass reprieve.England: (probable) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Ian Bell, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Graham Onions.

Pitch and conditions

Durban is hot, hot, hot, and Kingsmead is one of the muggiest venues in the international game. It promises to be a strength-sapping contest for fielders on both sides, but equally, it could be one of opportunity if the pitch turns out to be a traditional “green mamba”. Five years ago, Smith won the toss and rightly fielded first, whereupon Shaun Pollock, Steyn and Ntini routed England for 139 in their first innings inside two sessions. Strauss will surely be wary of taking such a route given what happened in Centurion, but he’d be unwise to dismiss such a notion out of hand.

Stats and Trivia

• Durban was famously the venue of the Timeless Test in 1938, but even since readmission, it has retained a certain reputation for staging stalemates. England have never yet lost in three attempts since 1995-96, while South Africa have drawn six of their 17 Tests there since 1992.
• Jacques Kallis is certainly a fan of Kingsmead. He has amassed a formidable 1046 runs in 20 Test innings, at a mighty average of 58.11. His four centuries include the 162 he made on England’s last visit.
  
• For a full statistical preview, Click here

Quotes

“My life has turned around in a big, big way from running around here as a kid to where I am now. I love it; I would never ever change anything.”

“I’m not sure he’s taken part in any of our meetings.”

Board is hopeful of creating a demographically-reflective national men’s team by the 2027 ODI World Cup

Firdose Moonda25-Jul-2024Cricket South Africa [CSA] will host a three-day diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) Indaba (conference) from Friday, with the main aim of identifying a roadmap to ensure a demographically-reflective national men’s team by the 2027 ODI World Cup at home.They will also address issues of representation in the game overall but have changed the labelling of the event from Transformation to DEI to reflect an agenda that addresses the cricketing infrastructure in totality and is not entirely focused on a particular race group.”It is not only about black players but about building a diverse structure,” Mudutambi Ravele, CSA board member and DEI Chairperson told ESPNcricinfo. “For example, we have looked at the data from the Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) province and seen that the number of players of Indian heritage has got less and less. We want to address that. We have looked at Limpopo and there are no white players. We can’t have that. We want to address the issues holistically.”The cases explained above are important when contextualised against the backdrop of South Africa’s history, demographics, and national representation in cricket. While 84.8% of the population is black African, before readmission in 1992, South Africa fielded all-white national sides. Since then, efforts have been made to reflect the country’s other, and most significantly, majority race group, but there was only one black African player in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad – an issue that raised concerns and makes the timing of this conference important.Related

• CSA reports profits of R815 million for 2023-24 fiscal year

• Rabada on transformation: 'I'm a black player, but I'm not invincible'

• 'It feels like we're starting again and again as a team' – Bavuma and SA ready for red-ball grind

• T20 World Cup squad: CSA criticised for failing to meet transformation targets

• CSA punished for slow transformation

While CSA has expressed concerns with the lack of black African international players, they also hope to develop the game holistically, especially in places where they can identify gaps in the talent pool such as in Ravele’s examples. The KZN province is the area in the country with the largest percentage of people of Indian descent – 9.3% compared to 2.7% countrywide – while Limpopo, the northernmost province of the country, has a 97.3% black African population but still around 2% of white citizens. Both those race groups have historically high participation in cricket and CSA will seek to understand why those numbers have dipped.However, even their more wide-reaching approach does not take away from the key problem which is the lack of black African representation, that could set CSA back on the agreed annual targets with the country’s sports ministry. In 2016, failure to meet targets saw CSA, and three other sporting federations, banned from hosting major events and with 2027 in mind, CSA is keen to demonstrate a strong commitment to change.When asked why Kagiso Rabada was the only black African in the T20 World Cup squad, South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter pointed to the domestic system and asked it to “really up the ante”. Broadly, CSA agrees with him. At the time, they recognised that “various initiatives that have been pursued over the years have not yielded the desired results,” and now, Ravele said they continue to look at the domestic system to identify where it is lacking.”We want to look at the pool of players who are available and how we can support them to stay in the pool. There are a number of social issues that affect players from disadvantaged backgrounds.”CSA has also launched a specialised program for black African batters since this is an area of particular need.Walter will be present at the DEI , where he will be part of a panel of a discussion with black African batter Khaya Zondo, women’s international bowler Tumi Sekhukhune and former selector Patrick Moroney, who served on South Africa’s last panel under Victor Mpitsang.The selection committee was done away with when Walter and Test coach Shukri Conrad (who will not be in attendance as he readies the squad to leave for a two-match series in West Indies) were appointed last January. As head coaches, they were given sole decision-making powers over their squad selections. This is likely to change with some inside CSA pushing for the return of a panel, which Ravele supports. “A panel helps a lot because there are different views and people can think more broadly. There are more ideas,” she said.If the re-introduction of a selection panel emerges as one of the recommendations from the , it will still need to be ratified by CSA’s board but will ultimately take away Walter and Conrad’s independence.Kagiso Rabada was the only black African in South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad•ICC/Getty Images

The squad Walter picked for the T20 World Cup 2024 was South Africa’s most successful and reached the final for the first time, but Ravela would not be drawn into conflating their success with the issue of representation. “The squad did really well, but did they do well because they didn’t have black players? I think we should view their performance as a matter of progress, as they have been to the semi-finals several times before.”She stressed that CSA will not revert to stipulating a quota for XIs, as they have done in the past, but remain set on average goals. “For the national teams, we don’t put a number of players per event. We want to develop a plan for the year and ask what combinations of players can be used to make sure we are fielding diverse teams.”As things stand, South Africa’s national teams are required to field, on average over the course of a season, at least six players of colour of which two must be black African. At the provincial level, the same target is expected to be met but at least three of the six players of colour must be black African.The SA20, in which CSA owns the majority share although teams are privately owned, has no transformation target or even expectation imposed on it and will remain untouched. Ravele hoped that the franchise owners would keep South Africa’s segregated history and attempts at redress “in the back of their minds,” but so far, the competition is the least representative domestic event. In 2024, there were 13 black African players listed across the six squads, with one – the Pretoria Capitals – having none at all. Of those, only Rabada (MI Cape Town), Junior Dala, Tony de Zorzi (both Durban’s Super Giants), Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo (both Paarl Royals) and Sibonelo Makhanya (Joburg Super Kings) played more than one match for their team.

Colin Munro has retained his place in a New Zealand squad where the majority of the names were very settled

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-20192:03

Blundell picked because of his superior keeping – Stead

Ish Sodhi and Tom Blundell have claimed the two uncertain spots in New Zealand’s World Cup squad with the 15 names being confirmed in Christchurch on Wednesday.The roles of second spinner and reserve keeper had the most debate attached to them with Sodhi being preferred to fellow legspinner Todd Astle and Blundell, who is uncapped in ODIs, earning a late call-up following an injury to Tim Seifert.The rest of the squad, the first for the ten competing nations to be confirmed, is very much as expected with the shape of the World Cup party having largely taken shape since Gary Stead took over from Mike Hesson as coach.ALSO READ: How the World Cup squads are stacking upColin Munro keeps his place although is likely to find himself as the reserve batsman with Henry Nicholls slated to open alongside Martin Guptill. Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme have taken the seam-bowling allrounder spots with Mitchell Santner, who has recovered from knee surgery, set to be the main spinner.”As with any squad named for a major tournament, there’s had to be some tough calls and there will be some disappointed players,” coach Gary Stead said. “The key for us was finding the right balance for the squad and making sure we had our bases covered for what is going to be a very competitive World Cup. As a one-day unit we’ve been pretty consistent over the past few years and possess a very experienced group of core players, proven at the top level.”The World Cup is the pinnacle of cricket and to be the first nation to name a squad for the tournament is really exciting. I’d like to congratulate all the players selected. To represent your country at a World Cup is a huge honour and I know the entire squad and support staff are looking forward to the challenges ahead.”The squad will have a series of two-day training camps in Christchurch later in April before heading to Australia for a trip that includes three unofficial one-day matches. A large number of the World Cup squad won’t be present for that tour as they are at the IPL so a collection of reserve players will be included.”We will have three training camps through April which will involve many players who are not in this squad as it’s important they’re ready on stand-by should we lose anybody in the lead up to or at the tournament,” Stead said.Squad Kane Williamson (capt), Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Tom Blundell, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

In terms of the outcome, this was more Belfast 2009 then Bangalore 2011 as England edged a match that was interrupted frequently by the weather

Andrew McGlashan in Dublin25-Aug-2011In terms of the outcome, this was more Belfast 2009 then Bangalore 2011 as England edged a match that was interrupted frequently by the weather and, like at Stormont two year ago, Eoin Morgan was central to the victory. On that occasion it was one piece of fielding on the boundary edge which saved England, but here he contributed the most fluent innings of the game and made calm captaincy decisions in the closing stages.It meant he finished his brief stint as captain with a 100% record, although he has no qualms about handing back to Alastair Cook. He said he’d got a “buzz” from the day, especially when it came to watching the younger players, and believed that an inexperienced side will have gained immensely from the tight situations they found themselves in. Although the three debutants – James Taylor, Ben Stokes and Scott Borthwick all had quiet matches – Morgan knows how valuable it will have been to be around the set up.”It was something completely different and something they aren’t used to in county cricket,” he said. “A bit of an indifferent pitch is challenging, where dot ball follows dot ball and you have to calm yourself down and I thought they showed a lot of maturity in the field. It took me 10-12 one-day internationals to get going and for them to be around guys like Jonathan Trott really helps, guys who have been there, done that and be able to learn from them. Experiences like today will really help.”Morgan, himself, also showed some tactical acumen when he had to juggle his bowlers in the final part of the game. Before the rain he’d given Chris Woakes and Steven Finn standard new-ball spells, but after the reduction in overs it meant they’d completed their allocation so the likes of Samit Patel and Ravi Bopara played important roles.Although Morgan took the Man-of-the-Match award for his 59 off 65 balls the match-winning performance for England came from Jade Dernbach, who produced another nerveless display of yorkers, slower balls and bouncers with 3 for 30. He is already being suggested as the best England have had in that ‘death’ role since Darren Gough or Andrew Flintoff and his ball to remove Kevin O’Brien, who was turning the game Ireland’s way with a flurry of boundaries reminiscent of Bangalore, was unplayable.”The wicket really helped his slower ball,” Morgan said. “Going from 85mph to a slower ball is a hell of a skill and is something that’s worked consistently for him since he’s come in. He stepped up in the last series against Sri Lanka, particularly the last game at Old Trafford where he was exceptional. We haven’t had someone like that in a long time and he fits the bill.”The day, though, didn’t quite live up to the hopes and expectations of the locals. Of course the weather and result played a part in that but there remains a lingering thought that England could have done a little more to feel part of the occasion. Sending young players was completely understandable but the team, minus Morgan who is staying on to spend time with friends and family for a few days before the squad meets up in Manchester on Sunday, were flying straight back to Heathrow that evening. Two of them, Taylor and Craig Kieswetter, are involved in Twenty20 Finals Day but it would have been nice to see them linger with the hosts.England’s swift departure also meant there wasn’t the usual extra hour available to compensate for the rain which required overs to be lost earlier than would have otherwise been required. It may not have altered the result, but Ireland captain William Porterfield admitted the final requirement of 90 in 10 overs was “steep” on that surface.However, while Kevin O’Brien was batting for Ireland they were favourites to make it back-to-back victories over England and Porterfield had a wry smile when it was suggested to him that his run out, off the second ball of the final 10 overs, may have been tactical. “I could have got a better dive in but it probably did us a favour,” he said. “When Kevin was in they whipped the spinners off pretty quickly. Another couple of overs of them and it could have been over pretty quickly but seam wasn’t easy to get away on that wicket when you bowled straight.”It’s a sign of the development in Ireland’s cricket that defeats like these really hurt. As the supporters and home players looked back on the day with a few pints of a local tipple in the Clontarf pavilion they, no doubt, reflected on one that got away. England, meanwhile, were already on their way to the airport grateful that they had at least come out on the right side of this result.