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The greatest retirement statement to the heart-stopping finish, ESPNcricinfo rounds up the memorable moments from the 2016 County Championship, from No.10 to 1 …

David Hopps24-Sep-20162:02

WATCH – Middlesex celebrate Championship title

10 The summer of the nightwatchman

Nightwatchmen can produce some great stories. Liam Norwell had never made a hundred in any form of cricket until he took one off Derbyshire at Bristol in April. But the one we deem worthy of a place in the Top 10 moments came from Owen Morgan, a Swansea-born allrounder, whose maiden hundred was also the matchwinning shot against Worcestershire at New Road in August. He was the first Glamorgan player to achieve the feat and the win took them off the bottom of the table.9 It’s the taking part that matters

Sometimes it really is true to say that it is not the winning that matters but the taking part. Tom Fell, made a memorable comeback for Worcestershire after first testicular cancer and then chemotherapy for lymph cancer and made a stylish half-century against Leicestershire at New Road after an absence of nearly 10 months. The most uplifting fifty of the season.8 Taunton last-wicket heroics

Summers can turn on days like this, when events unfold quickly and heroes emerge. So it was for Somerset on a bewitching day in Taunton at the end of May, as Nos. 10 and 11, Jack Leach and Tim Groenewald, eked out the 31 runs they required for a victory that felt close to impossible 24 hours earlier. Groenewald cover drove the winning runs after he and Leach had nervelessly played out 11 dot balls with just one required. Taunton had freed itself from a sequence of turgid draws – and was never quite the same again.7 ‘Old dog’ Tomlinson heads back to the den

Retirement statements are often cobbled together by communications officers and spout predictable thanks. Not so James Tomlinson. Tomlinson might not have been one of the most eye-catching county pros, but he provided a warm and witty farewell to county cricket, recalling a nature documentary about wild dogs on a hunt and comparing himself to the old dog at the back of the pack, trying to keep up. Lovely stuff.6 John Simpson’s six

John Simpson’s six over fine leg off Jim Allenby capped a thrilling run chase at Taunton by Middlesex which proved to be a key moment in their Championship success. Middlesex’s two-wicket win seemed unlikely with 96 needed off the final eight overs, but Simpson’s unbeaten 79 from 80 balls brought victory with two balls to spare.John Simpson and James Harris embrace after victory against Somerset at Taunton•Getty Images5 Graham Napier’s Colchester farewell

Graham Napier was among his people, in the town where he was born. That it was his last appearance at the Colchester Festival before his retirement was incontestable and there was talk, too, that the Festival itself was under threat. He left everyone something to relish – a marvellous draw-securing 124 against Sussex, one of the key moments in Essex’s securing of the Division Two title.4 Chris Woakes’ whirlwind

When your task is to replace Ben Stokes in a Test on Stokes’ home ground, you must replace a force of nature. Chris Woakes pronounced he was ready with figures of 9 for 36 against Durham at Edgbaston. His relentless swing bowling at pace was a harbinger of a fine summer ahead. Woakes would be seen in a new light from that day forward.3 Tim Bresnan’s bonus point

Yorkshire’s Championship challenge had stuttered all season but somehow they hung in there and thanks to the greatest knock of Tim Bresnan’s career – an unbeaten 142 – they kept their ambitions alive against until the final moments of the season. The tension was unbearable as Bresnan and last man Ryan Sidebottom edged towards the 350 Yorkshire needed to stay in the hunt. Who would have thought that the search for a batting bonus point could be captivating?2 James Hildreth’s hobble

For the most courageous innings of the season look no further than James Hildreth in Somerset’s final match of the season. Hildreth was only 15 when he was struck on the ankle by Jake Ball, but hobbled on with a runner to make one of the most defiant Championship centuries in history. Hildreth’s black-and-blue ankle circulated around social media and an x-ray confirmed it was broken. A couple of days later, Somerset were broken too.1 The title hat-trick

After 16 matches and nearly six months, the Championship was settled by a hat-trick. Toby Roland-Jones secured Middlesex’s first title since 1993 and, whatever the shenanigans to set up the denouement, their unbeaten record insisted they deserved it. The Championship enjoyed a heady afternoon when it was talked about as much as Premier League football and even their salt-of-the-earth director of cricket Angus Fraser, central to the Middlesex resurgence, was beaming with contentment.

Plays of the Day from the match between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mumbai

Abhishek Purohit07-May-2015Watson v WarnerThe Sunrisers Hyderabad openers had raced to 40 in the first four overs when Shane Watson brought himself on. With no third man and no deep point, he started short and wide, and Warner happily helped himself to successive fours with a steer and an upper cut. Watson corrected himself third ball, pitching it up on a tighter line. Wanting another boundary, Warner flailed from the crease, and nicked it behind.Binny’s boundary blundersMoises Henriques did not get too many but he made Stuart Binny labour for no return twice. In the tenth over, Henriques pulled James Faulkner towards deep midwicket. Binny was not exactly sprinting across from deep square leg. He dived awkwardly the first time, and only helped the ball into the boundary. On the second attempt, by the time Binny sprawled on to the ground, the ball had already gone past.Dhawan’s reverse rouletteShikhar Dhawan had taken a liking to the reverse-swat, using the shot often against offspinner Deepak Hooda. Off the last ball of the 14th over, he reverse-hit a four past short third man off the same bowler. Next up was James Faulkner. Dhawan immediately tried the shot against the much quicker bowler, but had his off stump rattled after missing a length delivery.Morris’ triple shockWith Royals needing an improbable 40 from two overs and only three wickets standing, Chris Morris delivered a succession of jolts to Sunrisers. Praveen Kumar started the 19th over with a length ball, and Morris deposited it just out of Eoin Morgan’s reach at deep midwicket. Morgan had no chance next ball, as Morris heaved a full toss way over the fielder. Praveen tried the short ball now. Morris cranked up and pulled it over deep square leg for six more. Sunrisers just about survived this scare in the end.

Alastair Cook believes England’s fresh start extends beyond team selection and offers opportunities to improve on all fronts

George Dobell in Melbourne25-Dec-20130:00

Cook admits captaincy flaws

The sight of Jonny Bairstow with the gloves, taking catches from Matt Prior at training, underlined the impression that England go into the fourth Test of this Ashes series embracing a fresh start.With the Ashes lost, and the winds of change starting to pick up, Bairstow will, barring injury, replace Prior in the England side for match at the MCG. He is far from the finished article with the gloves, but his batting looks in good shape, he has a competitive instinct that should serve him well and, most of all, he is fresh.That fresh word should not, in normal circumstances, be overly relevant. But as it becomes clear that the current England team is listless and jaded from too many battles, too many journeys and too much time in the same environment, the need for new faces and new energy has become apparent.So, for the first time since August 2008 (when an England side with Tim Ambrose as keeper and Monty Panesar as spinner defeated South Africa at The Oval), England go into a Test without Prior, Jonathan Trott or Graeme Swann. While Swann has followed Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood into retirement, Prior, like Trott, might be considered a casualty of the schedule and the environment in which they have found themselves: fine players prematurely worn by over-use.Prior’s international career, like Trott’s, is not necessarily over. He has been dropped before and showed the determination and class to bounce back. He is only 31 and a period of rest and recuperation may work wonders.But this time it will not be easy. Once a side has moved on to a rebuilding phase and embraced the promise of younger men, it is much harder for those aged over 30 to fight their way back irrespective of how well they do in domestic cricket. Just ask Mark Ramprakash or Alan Richardson. So, with the likes of Jos Buttler progressing, there is a real possibility that, after 75 Tests, nearly 4,000 runs and 230 dismissals, the Prior era is over.If that is so, he can look back on a terrific career characterised by selfless batting and reliable keeping. While never in the class of Alan Knott or Bob Taylor, Prior nevertheless became a decent keeper and, with his encouragement and advice, the heartbeat of England’s fielding unit. Even his DRS calls will prove hard to replace. It was telling that, when all the cameramen and photographers had departed and the rest of the team dispersed after training, Prior hugged Bairstow and wished him luck. His commitment to the team remains exemplary.

Alastair Cook on…

Graeme Swann:
“It wasn’t a big surprise when I spoke to him. Looking into his eyes, it was quite an emotional chat. Graeme gave up a lot for that England shirt and he had no more to give. I thought it was a very brave decision. When somebody gives up playing for England it’s a huge decision. He’s only 34 in age but obviously speaking to him about his body and his mind, he said he had nothing more to give and he couldn’t do it any justice. To me, once a guy is in that situation there was no point hanging around because he will only drag energy from the group, whether you want to or not. No-one forces you to play cricket for England. We’re very privileged. He could have just hung on for these two games and, whether he had played or not would have been pretty irrelevant, but he could have stayed, but he said he had no more to give and he felt he had no more left. It’s a brave decision. He will be missed as he was a fine, fine cricketer for England.”
Kevin Pietersen:
“He has a huge part to play in the future. He’s another guy I’ve talked to quite a bit over the last couple of days, and his hunger and determination to play a lot more for England and help England win games of cricket is as high as ever. In this series he has hit the ball pretty well, just he’s made some mistakes which have cost him. He’s desperate to turn it round. He loves the big stage and there’s no bigger stage than a Boxing Day Test match.”
Monty Panesar:
“Monty is playing his 50th Test if he plays this game and that in itself is a great achievement. He had a very successful first part of his career and then Swanny came along and achieved what he achieved so quickly. He’s played the part of the second spinner when we’ve needed one. He’s a fine bowler. Technically he’s excellent, we all know that, and he’s got the chance to try to establish himself as England’s No1 spinner.”

With so many changes enforced upon England, there may be few other alterations. Panesar looks certain to play, as does Stuart Broad, while Boyd Rankin has been impressing in training and has made a strong case for inclusion ahead of Tim Bresnan. Any plans England may have had to drop any more senior players, even Kevin Pietersen, have been shelved. Fresh blood is important, but experience is also required for a game which will attract more than 90,000 spectators on the first day alone.”It’s all well and good saying ‘the future, the future’, but you’ve got to believe those players are ready to play as well,” Alastair Cook said. “So there is a bit of a balancing act. We are so lucky with the support we’ve got, we owe it to them to try and put in a good performance.”The next age of England cricket extends beyond selection. Cook also admitted that results ahead of this series – the draw in New Zealand and the victories in the English summer – might have ‘papered over cracks’ in the side and that the fresh start provided an opportunity for improvement at all levels. Not least, according to Cook, there is a need for him to examine and improve his captaincy.”When you win games of cricket it papers over some of the cracks that have been developing lately,” he said. “And when you lose it hits you with stark reality exactly what you think needs to improve. There is no hiding place because you can’t hide behind the fact that you are winning.”So yes, I do believe [this situation] it is a chance for me to really stamp my authority. I think it will take time, as always. I’ve always tried to do the best job I can do, and maybe, by losing 3-0, I’ve really had to look into myself and see where I need to improve as captain.”Previously, before that, we had won against New Zealand, we won the Ashes at home and won away in India, which is a great achievement but maybe that papered over some of the cracks in my captaincy as well.”After these two games we have a bit of time off Test cricket – I think five months – and it’s a real good chance to get very clear about exactly the direction I want the side – or we want the side – to go.”When you lose games of cricket, you have to look at yourself first and what I could’ve done better. As a captain, I haven’t had too much captaincy experience before I got the England job. There’s always going to be a huge amount of stuff to learn and I’ve always said that, but we’ve always managed to win, so you always tend to look at yourself even more after losing games of cricket and see where I need to improve.”What England need most from Cook, though, is runs. It was his runs that led them in India and his runs that provided the platform for England’s success here in 2010-11. Leadership comes in different forms and for Cook and England, a return to batting form from their captain would prove more influential than any field placing or inspirational speech.

Being on the end of Kevin Pietersen in full force can make or break a bowler. Simon Kerrigan just saw it has part of his learning curve

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford06-Aug-2012If Simon Kerrigan does fulfil the predictions of many good judges by one day playing Test matches for England, the media will do well to make a headline out of anything other than his cricket. Then again, they may not need to.The quietly-dedicated slow left-armer, Kerrigan only made his Championship debut for Lancashire in 2010, but his performances since then have grabbed the headlines in a manner only international spinners tend to manage. What is more, perhaps, they have attracted high praise from shrewd judges. Last week Kerrigan claimed the 100th wicket of his first-class career; this week or next, he may make his four-day England Lions debut in an unofficial Test against Australia A. He is in the 13-man squad for the two-match series and despite the presence of fellow twirlers Samit Patel and James Tredwell, it would seem a little odd if he didn’t get his chance either at Old Trafford or Edgbaston.Yet while Kerrigan, 23, admits he is delighted to be in the Lions squad, it is entirely consonant with his approach to his cricket that he regards this week’s match on his home ground as “just another game”. To do anything else would be to risk losing the settled rhythm and calm approach that have served him so well in his brief but burgeoning career. He is already a technician, well versed in arts like drift, drop and loop which are essential items in a top-class spin bowler’s tool-kit. While he concedes that it must be “very special” to make a Test debut in front of a full house at Lord’s, as his Lions colleague Jonny Bairstow did earlier this summer, he knows that such experiences will only come about if he remains focused on his skills.”I need to look short-term,” he insisted. “It doesn’t work for me to start thinking I need to do this or that today. If you go out thinking you have to impress the selectors you end up getting cluttered in your head. If I can perform in every game then, before I know it, things like being selected for an England Lions squad can happen for me.”And when they do happen, Kerrigan makes good use of the detailed preparation offered to England cricketers. For example, he has already studied a pen-drive of the eight wickets Ian Blackwell took against Australia A in Durham’s victory over the tourists last week. But the ability to learn from his own and others’ experiences is only one of the things which have impressed coaches like Lancashire’s Peter Moores, who believes that Kerrigan has the qualities to cope with Test cricket.”Simon’s got an attacking mindset, he makes good decisions, he spins the ball hard, he’s got a quick bowling arm, he gets the right shape on the ball and he gets good players out,” said Moores. “His job is to become consistent and skilful and calm enough under pressure to deliver when it counts. If he does, he’ll get his chance in international cricket. When it’ll come I don’t know, but he’s certainly got the talent and the necessary qualities.”Moores is not alone in his assessment of the spinner. The ECB’s national lead spin bowling coach Peter Such began working with Kerrigan three seasons ago and he too has been impressed with a cricketer who may not reach his peak for some years.”Simon’s got a very good attitude to the game, he works hard and he certainly puts a shift in whether he’s practising or playing,” said Such “Other attractive qualities about his cricket are that he has a strong mind and knows his game. He has clear ideas and plans, and those plans are based around his strengths. He’s a very talented young spin bowler.”Yet for all that Kerrigan has taken 38 County Championship wickets this year, there have been days when he has been taken apart. The most notable of these was at Guildford when he encountered what might be seen as the spin bowler’s perfect storm: a slow, flat wicket, a quick outfield, shortish boundaries – and Kevin Pietersen in his most destructive pomp. On that extraordinary Friday afternoon Pietersen made 234 not out off 190 balls and seven of his eight sixes were struck off Kerrigan’s bowling. The slow left-armer’s figures were 23-0-152-1.Kerrigan’s response to that onslaught impressed his coach. “Simon didn’t back off the challenge,” said Moores “He still wanted to bowl at KP, he still wanted to set attacking fields and that’s part of his quality as a cricketer.”And on the following morning when it was clear that the final day of the game was to be lost to the weather, Kerrigan sought advice from a spinners’ symposium of Mushtaq Ahmed, Murali Kartik and Ian Salisbury, all of whom offered advice as to how to deal with a world-class batsman on the rampage.”One thing they said was give Pietersen a single and bowl at the other batsman, but that’s easier said than done when he’s hitting a four every other ball,” observed Kerrigan. “They also told me to keep putting the ball in the right area and not worry about anything else. Even if a batsman does keep hitting you for six, he’ll eventually make a mistake.”I just had to keep going and going,” he added “The only time you have been defeated as a bowler is if you have given in mentally and I felt like I didn’t do that. I kept plugging away and I learnt a lot from it. If it happens again I will be more ready for it. In some ways it is good to know that I still have a long way to go to be where I want to be. But it was still nice to see Pietersen get that 149 at Headingley because at least that showed that it’s not just me he’s does it to.”

A statistical preview to the third Test in Cape Town, where England have lost all their matches since South Africa’s re-entry into the Test fold.

Nitin Sundar02-Jan-2010A victory denied by the narrowest of margins in Centurion followed by a brutal hammering in Durban – so far, nothing has gone right for South Africa in this series. Yet, they will believe they can turn the tide as they begin the new year in Cape Town, the venue that has witnessed more South African wins than any other since their re-admission to Test cricket. In addition, it is also the most result-oriented of all South African grounds, with less than one in six matches ending in a draw.

Given their recent form, the likelihood of a result should please England more than South Africa and they will entertain thoughts of wrapping up the series at Newlands. However, if the visitors are in need of an antidote against complacency, they need not look beyond their record here – Newlands is easily their worst Test venue in South Africa since 1992.

In addition, England should also be wary of the trend followed in their duels with South Africa in the recent past. Momentum was a redundant factor between these sides in the first decade of the 21st century, when there were only two instances of back-to-back victories for either team, and only once in the same series. England should expect a strong backlash from the hosts in Cape Town.Historically, Newlands has been a wonderful venue for Test cricket. Out of the 44 matches played here, 18 have been won by teams batting first and the exact same number by teams that batted second. The track has traditionally remained good through the course of the match, a fundamental pre-requisite to take the toss out of the equation. However, since 2000, the trend has taken a curious turn and batting first has resulted in success only twice in the eleven matches that have ended decisively. The driving factor for this has been that while the pitch has eased out considerably since 2000, it has been comparatively much more batsman-friendly during the second and fourth innings of the match. These stats will offer the team winning the toss a compelling reason to insert the opposition.

South Africa’s comeback bid in the series will be led by their batsmen, all of whom have done extremely well here. Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith lead the run-charts, while AB de Villiers will be eager to improve his average. Kallis will have fond memories of the last time he faced England here, when he scored over 200 runs in a match-winning performance. Andrew Strauss is the only English survivor from that match and was guilty of throwing away starts in both innings.

While two poor matches have put Makhaya Ntini almost out of contention for this Test, his Cape Town record harks back to his glory years. He has taken more wickets here than anyone else and is comfortably ahead of Jacques Kallis among current players. Dale Steyn has a fantastic average and strike rate here and South Africa will desperately want him to maintain those numbers.

Graeme Swann has had a fantastic series till now, but going by history, he and Paul Harris might not have a very fruitful Test with the ball. Spinners have traditionally struggled to make an impact in Newlands, averaging nearly eight runs more per wicket than fast bowlers.

India are going into a Test without Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane for the first time since November 2011

Karthik Krishnaswamy24-Jan-20247:50

Explainer: What is Bazball?

Big picture

Bazball vs spin. It promises to be the story of these five Tests, and it might be a story of parallel plots. There is, of course, Bazball vs India’s spinners. But perhaps even more relevant to England’s chances is the question of Bazball vs England’s spinners.What? Hang in there. All will be explained.England’s spinners conceded roughly 18 runs more per wicket than India’s did during the 2016-17 tour, and 12 runs more per wicket – on far spicier pitches – in 2020-21. Even if Bazball manages to inflate the averages of India’s spinners on this tour, it’s hard to see it translate into results if England’s spinners can’t bridge the gap in the other direction.Related

• The stakes in play for India, England and Test cricket

• Switch Hit: Let the spin cycle commence

• A chance for Shubman Gill to level up against England

• Rajat Patidar added to India Test squad as Kohli's replacement

Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen batted magnificently in 2012-13, but England won that series primarily because Monty Panesar, Graeme Swann and James Anderson outbowled a transitional India attack. Since then, Australia have been the only team to come close to even drawing a Test series in India; they came as close as they did in 2016-17 and 2022-23 because their bowlers came close to matching the skill and discipline of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.Can England find a way to do this? They’ve named their XI for the first Test in Hyderabad, which begins on Thursday on a pitch that looks dry and selectively watered, and that XI includes three frontline spinners. Those spinners have played played 36 Tests between them, of which Jack Leach accounts for 35.Hardly Swann and Panesar, then.It’s a selection that reflects a broader reality – spin occupies a narrow and an ever-shrinking space in 21st century County cricket – and England can only choose from what they have. It means that the odds are stacked against them at the start of another India tour, but do not bet against Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes finding a way to make things interesting.

Form guide

India WLDWL (last five Tests, most recent first)

England WDWLLShubman Gill averaged 19.83 the last time England toured India•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight

Shubman Gill finds himself at an interesting juncture in his Test career, seeking to establish himself in a new role at No. 3 while still finding his feet in the format. There’s no doubting his talent, and his average of 30.58 after 20 Tests is partly down to the bowler-friendly pitches he has usually had to play on, but he’ll feel under some pressure as Virat Kohli, who has opted out due to personal reasons, might return after the second Test. Gill endured a torrid series the last time England toured India, averaging 19.83 and falling five times in seven innings to fast bowlers. He’ll want to show an improved defence against conventional and reverse swing this time, and ensure he’s around for the notionally bigger challenge of scoring runs against spin.Talk of spin has dominated the lead-up to this match, but England will not be unaware that Umesh Yadav, Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel shared 18 wickets in the last Test played in Hyderabad. That may have been more than five years ago, and an entirely different surface may have been prepared for this game, but if there’s bounce on offer – as there was in 2018 – then Mark Wood could find a way to make it his ally.

Team news

After keeping wicket for the first time in his Test career on the recent tour of South Africa, KL Rahul will return to being a specialist batter, though he will remain in the middle order. KS Bharat, who kept in all four Tests of India’s last home series, seems likely to return to the XI ahead of the uncapped Dhruv Jurel, though Rohit Sharma didn’t give a definitive answer to this question in his pre-match press conference. Axar Patel’s batting and encouraging recent form with the ball is likely to earn him selection as third spinner ahead of Kuldeep Yadav. With Kohli out, India are spared the headache of leaving out one of Rahul, Gill and Shreyas Iyer.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 KS Bharat (wk), 8 Axar Patel, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed SirajBen Foakes will keep wicket for England in Hyderabad•Getty Images

England have made a similar decision to India in handing the big gloves to their best pure keeper in Ben Foakes, and letting Jonny Bairstow focus on his batting.England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Rehan Ahmed, 9 Mark Wood, 10 Tom Hartley, 11 Jack Leach

Pitch and conditions

With the World Test Championship points structure putting extra pressure on teams to win games, teams around the world have taken to preparing bowler-friendly pitches. This, in India, has meant tracks that turn from day one, and Hyderabad is unlikely to buck this trend, with the pitch sporting distinctly dry-looking strips at either end on a spinner’s good length.The weather is expected to be clear and pleasant, with daytime temperatures in the high 20s (Celsius).R Ashwin (490) and Ravindra Jadeja (275) begin the series with an eye on Test wicket milestones•PTI

Stats and trivia

• Ashwin (490) and Jadeja (275) begin the series with an eye on Test wicket milestones.
• Joe Root (2526) is only ten runs away from surpassing Sachin Tendulkar as the highest run-getter in Tests between England and India. Root already has the most centuries (nine) in these contests, and averages 63.15.
• Leach will look to build on a solid first tour of India in 2020-21, during which he took 18 wickets in four Tests at 28.72. He will be pleased that India are without Rishabh Pant, who hit him for 88 runs in just 59 balls during that series, while only being dismissed once.
• India are going into a Test match without either Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane in their XI for the first time since November 2011.

Quotes

“By no means whatever record we have in the past decade or so gives us the guarantee that we are going to come out here on top as well, and win the series. We still have to play our best cricket – good cricket that we know that we play in these conditions… The last team to beat us here in our conditions was England. I wouldn’t say we are not beatable. Definitely we are. We want to think that if we don’t step up or if you don’t show up, well, we are going to find ourselves in trouble.”
“I don’t necessarily think it’s bold or brave, it’s just me and Baz looking at the wicket and picking the XI that we think will give us the best chance. That’s the XI we’ve gone with. It’s very exciting for Tom Hartley to make his Test debut. Looking forward to seeing him out there, and captaining him. He’s been very impressive in the buildup in Abu Dhabi. It’s a team based around what we think will give us the best chance of winning this game.”

Both teams come into the clash with two wins in two games

S Sudarshanan08-Mar-20235:27

Matthews punches well above her base price

A Lanning vs Harmanpreet clash in MarchAfter the epic final of the Women’s T20 World Cup in March 2020, Meg Lanning and Harmanpreet Kaur yet again lead opposite teams in a top-of-the-table clash in the WPL.Lanning-led Delhi Capitals are quite on a roll, with the Australian captain herself hitting back-to-back half-centuries at the top of the order. Capitals’ batting line-up is one of envy – power-hitters aplenty – and they have bowlers in Jess Jonassen, Marizanne Kapp and Shikha Pandey who have delivered in one spell or the other.Mumbai Indians have strung together a side filled with allrounders and they are firing in unison. If Harmanpreet’s heroics following Hayley Matthews’ explosive start at the top helped them in the chase in the opener, their bowlers stymied Royal Challengers Bangalore and cruised in the second game, with Matthews starring in an all-round effort.The Mumbai versus Capitals game could well be one of the contenders of the ‘final before the final’ though the WPL has a fair distance to go.Players to watchShortish boundaries combined with flat surfaces could mean that it could be a perfect time for Marizanne Kapp to show her experience mainly with the ball. In the opening contest, she was a tad expensive after her cameo with the bat and if she does play her third successive game, she could be one of the key players to Capitals’ success.Amelia Kerr contributed with bat and ball in the opening contest and was taken for runs against Royal Challengers, though she picked up a couple of wickets to hasten the end. Having had the better of Lanning for some time now in international cricket, that is a player battle to relish.Marizanne Kapp will have to bring all her experience to the fore•BCCI

Playing XIsDelhi Capitals (possible): 1 Meg Lanning (capt), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Marizanne Kapp, 4 Jemimah Rodrigues, 5 Alice Capsey/Laura Harris, 6 Jess Jonassen, 7 Taniya Bhatia (wk), 8 Arundhati Reddy/Titas Sadhu, 9 Shikha Pandey, 10 Radha Yadav, 11 Tara NorrisMumbai Indians (possible): 1 Hayley Matthews, 2 Yastika Bhatia (wk), 3 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Amelia Kerr/Chloe Tryon, 6 Pooja Vastrakar, 7 Issy Wong, 8 Humaira Kazi, 9, Amanjot Kaur, 10 Jintimani Kalita, 11 Saika IshaqueStats and trivia Both Capitals and Mumbai have two players each among the top five scorers in the WPL so far Mumbai have played three uncapped players while Capitals are yet to play oneQuotes”Seeing the enjoyment and smile on her face out [from] her playing cricket again, that’s something I am pleased with, as her team-mate in a number of teams. It’s hard to believe Meg Lanning could get better. She was already incredible before her break, but has come [back] with a new lease of life.”
“Being a bit more responsible at the crease is something I had to pull on with the West Indies and that has helped me in my T20 game as a whole. Probably, [I] wasn’t getting the number of runs I would have wanted in the past due to giving away my hand quite a bit. Now that I am being forced with responsibility at the international level, it’s helped me realise how to plan my T20 innings.”

MatériaMais Notícias

As Sereias da Vila já sabem o caminho que devem trilhar para levar o Santos até o mata-mata do Brasileirão Feminino.A Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) divulgou a tabela de jogos, com maiores informações para as 10 primeiras rodadas. O torneio começará no dia 24 de fevereiro e se encerrará no dia 17 de setembro.

O Peixe dá o pontapé para o começo do campeonato contra o Flamengo, na Vila Belmiro. A última rodada do Santos na primeira fase será contra o Real Ariquemes, fora de casa.

RelacionadasSantosHoje no Santos, Lucas Lima não marca um gol em partidas oficias há quase 500 diasSantos17/02/2023SantosCriticado pela torcida do Santos, Mendoza já evitou duas derrotas do time no PaulistãoSantos17/02/2023SantosANÁLISE: Lucas Lima pode ser grata surpresa para o ano do SantosSantos17/02/2023

+ATUAÇÕES: Oportunista, Mendoza empata para o Santos e arranca ponto fora de casa

CONFIRA TODOS OS JOGOS DAS SEREIAS NO BRASILEIRÃO

1ª rodada – Santos x Flamengo, 24/02, às 20h, na Vila Belmiro
2ª rodada – Athletico-PR x Santos, 04/03, às 15h, à definir
3ª rodada – Santos x Ferroviária, 12/03, às 11h, na Vila Belmiro
4ª rodada – Real Brasília x Santos, 18/03, às 15h, no Defelê
5ª rodada – Santos x Palmeiras, 27/03, às 20h, na Vila Belmiro
6ª rodada – Grêmio x Santos, 01/04, às 15h, no Eldorado do Sul
7ª rodada – Santos x Avaí/Kindermann, 16/04, às 11h, na Vila Belmiro
8ª rodada – São Paulo x Santos, 25/04, às 20h, no Marcelo Portugal
9ª rodada – Santos x Internacional, 01/05, às 16h30min, na Vila Belmiro
10ª rodada – Cruzeiro x Santos, 06/05, às 15h, no Sesc Alterosas
11ª rodada – Corinthians x Santos, 14/05, à definir local e horário
12ª rodada – Santos x Atlético-MG, 21/05, à definir local e horário
13ª rodada – Ceará x Santos, 28/05, à definir local e horário
14ª rodada – Santos x Bahia, 04/06, à definir local e horário
15ª rodada – Real Ariquemes x Santos, 11/06, à definir local e horário

Western Storm demonstrated tremendous tenacity with the bat to register an unlikely victory over top-of-the-table South East Stars in an entertaining Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy match at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton.Set a daunting target of 299 to win in 44 overs in a rain-shortened contest, Storm reached 236-5 in their chase when the weather again closed in to force a premature conclusion, the home side winning by eight runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method thanks to assured half centuries from skipper Sophie Luff and Fran Wilson and a forthright knock of 40 not out from Nat Wraith.Stars looked to have done enough with Paige Scholfield, Alice Davidson-Richards and Aylish Cranstone scoring 74, 65 and 63 not out respectively. But a stand of 131 in 19.5 overs between Luff and Wilson put the home side firmly back in contention before the rain returned.The first side to defeat Stars in four matches this term, Storm have now won back-to-back games and have an opportunity to put themselves into the title mix when they host Southern Vipers at Bristol on Saturday.Related

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Their confidence high following three straight wins, Stars made light of being inserted on a drying pitch after rain delayed the start of play by an hour and 15 minutes. Openers Bryony Smith and Alexa Stonehouse more than made up for lost time, staging a whirlwind stand of 42 in five overs to give the innings crucial early impetus.Signed on loan from Sparks, seam bowler Ellie Anderson endured a difficult debut, conceding 22 from two overs with the new ball and being withdrawn from the attack. Slow left armer Sophia Smale fared little better. Contending with a wet ball and exposed to a short leg-side boundary, the England Under-19 international went for 29 in three overs as the aggressive Smith opened her shoulders to plunder a 19-ball 30 with a quartet of fours and a six.Seamer Mollie Robbins induced Smith to drive to cover point in the sixth over, but the respite proved short-lived as Scholfield picked up the cudgels in a progressive alliance of 47 for the second wicket with Stonehouse. The South African-born right-hander posted a brilliant match-winning hundred against Storm at Bristol 12 months ago and appeared capable of repeating the feat when hoisting Smale for two towering sixes over midwicket in the space of three deliveries.With Stars scoring at eight an over, it was proving a good toss to lose. Stonehouse attempted to cut Harrison and was superbly held by Wilson at backward point, departing for 29, only for Davidson-Richards to announce herself with a straight six at the expense of Amanda-Jade Wellington as runs continued to flow.At least the Australian spinner succeeded in exerting a degree of control during nine overs from the River End that yielded just 35 runs.Otherwise, Storm’s bowlers found the going hard in the face of relentless pressure from Scholfield and Davidson-Richards. Scholfield raised 50 from 48 balls and the 100 partnership occupied a mere 107 deliveries as the third-wicket pair ruthlessly exploited anything short of a length on an easy-paced track.Called into the attack for the first time, Niamh Holland required just two balls to break the partnership, pinning Scholfield lbw for 74 with the score on 189. But the damage had been done, Scholfield having harvested five fours ad three sixes in an enterprising innings that spanned 64 balls.Davidson-Richards went to 50 from 74 balls, was afforded a life on 52 when dropped at extra cover by Chloe Skelton and advanced her score to 65 from 85 balls before top-edging a pull shot to fine leg off the bowling of Alex Griffiths.Thereafter, Cranstone ensured there was no let-up in the tempo, the Surrey left-hander smiting a quickfire 63 from 40 deliveries, accruing eight boundaries and dominating a whirlwind unbroken sixth-wicket alliance of 47 in four overs with Ryana MacDonald-Gay. Under the pump at the death, Storm were guilty of numerous misfields and two further dropped catches as the pressure told.Paige Scholfield on her way to fifty•Getty Images

Required to score at seven an over, Storm stumbled out of the blocks, Smale offering a return catch to Phoebe Franklin and departing in the third over. When Griffiths was bowled by Stonehouse soon afterwards, the home side were 10 for 2.Charged with the task of rebuilding, the experienced pair of Luff and Wilson could ill afford to take undue risks, instead adopting a cautious approach against the new ball. Even so, Luff was fortunate to escape on 8, Franklin fumbling what should have been a straightforward catch off her own bowling with the score on 27.Making good her escape, Storm’s captain helped Wilson add 50 in 52 balls, the third-wicket partnership growing in belief all of the time as they kept the required rate at about eight an over. They found acceleration to extend their alliance to three figures via a further 41 deliveries, rotating the strike and making Stars work hard in the field.Wilson was first to 50, from 46 balls, while Luff required 18 deliveries more to pass the same milestone as the home side advanced to 122 for 2 at the halfway point, requiring a further 176 at 8.1 an over.Just at the point where the stand was becoming a concern, Stars effected a breakthrough, Bethan Miles bowling Luff for 59 as she advanced. Her gutsy innings spanned 73 balls and included five fours and, with her, went Storm’s best chance of pulling of an unlikely victory. Wilson received a life on 61, dropped at midwicket by Franklin off Dani Gregory, but was out soon afterwards, stumped by Chloe Hill off the same bowler for 65.Up against it, the fifth-wicket pair of Wraith and Wellington adopted the aerial route as they sought to bring the required rate back down to manageable levels. The only Storm batter to target the short boundary, Wellington helped herself to three sixes at the expense of Miles, who was relieved when exacting swift revenge and having the Australian caught in the deep in the act of slog-sweeping for a 16-ball 30.Needing 74 off the last 10 overs, Wraith and new partner Holland mustered sufficient boundaries to heap pressure on Stars for the first time in the match. Their partnership was worth 44 when the rain arrived, forcing the players off with the score on 236 for 5 and Storm on the right side of the equation by eight runs.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após o empate com o Botafogo, no domingo, o Fluminense volta a campo nesta quarta, às 21h45, para medir forças com o Corinthians, na Neo Química Arena, em duelo válido pelo Brasileirão. Fernando Diniz optou por repetir a escalação e colocar em campo a espinha dorsal da equipe para tentar buscar os três pontos fora de casa.

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Com 55 pontos, o Tricolor terá pela frente cinco rodadas para garantir uma vaga na fase de grupos da próxima edição da Libertadores. Com isso, o duelo desta noite é um confronto direto, visto que o Timão tem dois pontos a mais e está no G4 (porém tem um jogo a menos).

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasilieiro

Ao longo da temporada, o Fluminense conviveu em uma verdadeira montanha russa contra a equipe paulista. Vale lembrar que no primeiro turno, o time das Laranjeiras goleou por 4 a 0 com o último gol da carreira do ídolo Fred.Por outro lado, foi eliminado na semifinal da Copa do Brasil justamente na Neo Química Arena.

O Fluminense vai a campo com a seguinte escalação:Fábio, Samuel Xavier, Nino, Manoel e Calegari; André, Martinelli, Yago e Ganso; Arias e Cano.

Onde assistir: Globo, Premiere, tempo real do L! e em áudio na parceira LANCE!/Voz do Esporte

O #TimeDeGuerreiros está escalado para a partida contra o Corinthians! VAAAAMOS, TRICOLOR! pic.twitter.com/OYAm3B812x

— Fluminense F.C. (@FluminenseFC) October 26, 2022