All posts by n8rngtd.top

'We're not going to take any risk' – Rohit on Shami's fitness for Australia

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

India captain says “it’s high time somebody from NCA talks about him, where he is rehabbing”

Shashank Kishore18-Dec-2024India are not going to take a punt on Mohammed Shami unless they are “not 100%, but 200% sure” about his fitness to fly him to Australia, captain Rohit Sharma has said. Rohit has placed the onus of the decision entirely on the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, formerly known as the National Cricket Academy (NCA), for clarity on where Shami’s fitness stands.Shami has returned to domestic cricket since his ankle surgery kept him out of action for nearly a year and will next play the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy for Bengal starting December 21.”About Shami, I think it’s high time somebody from NCA talks about him, where he is rehabbing,” Rohit said at the press conference in Brisbane after the third Test ended in a draw. “Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update.Related

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  • Rain has final say as Australia, India draw at the Gabba

  • Shami named in Bengal's Vijay Hazare Trophy squad

“I understand he’s playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee as well. So, look, the last thing you want is the player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens.”So, there is no way we want to take that chance unless we are like, not 100%, 200% sure, we’re not going to take any risk. But yeah, like I said in the last press conference, the door is open if those guys at the NCA feel that he is okay to go and recover and play, we’ll be happy to have him.”Shami has been under the Centre of Excellence’s watch ever since he underwent surgery ankle surgery in London this February. He had been on track for a comeback during the home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand and had even bowling full tilt prior to the start of India’s domestic season in August but aggravated a knee problem while at rehab, which forced the BCCI to take a more cautious approach.Over the past month, Shami has elicited talks over his impending Test return at some stage of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after featuring in every single domestic game for his state side Bengal since he regained match fitness. This includes one Ranji Trophy game, where he picked up seven wickets, as well as nine T20 outings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT).Since his return to the domestic fold, Shami had been under full-time monitoring by Nitin Patel, the Centre of Excellence’s head of sports science. This team, headed by Patel, has been travelling around the country to take stock of his progress and apprise the board and team management of his progress.As things stand, Shami is yet to fully receive the BCCI’s nod as he is believed to have complained of some swelling in his knees during the T20 competition, which Rohit touched upon following India’s loss in Adelaide.At the time, however, the Bengal team management is understood to have received no specific requests over Shami’s workload and he subsequently played, most recently the SMAT quarter-final last week where Bengal were knocked out by Baroda. Shami picked up nine wickets in 11 games at an economy rate of 7.85, with a best of 3 for 21 against Hyderabad.Shami’s participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy could help ascertain his readiness possibly for the Champions Trophy with time running out for him to be available for the last two Australia Tests.

Afridi trumps Klaasen after Babar-Rizwan stand sets up Pakistan

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Ghulam struck 63 off just 32 balls towards the end to help post series-sealing total

Danyal Rasool19-Dec-2024Pakistan turned in their best all-round ODI performance across all three series over the past six weeks, dismantling South Africa by 81 runs and sealing a third straight ODI series win.Shaheen Afridi sizzled with the ball after half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam and Kamran Ghulam helped Pakistan amass 329 in the second ODI in Cape Town. South Africa never quite got partnerships going despite a heroic 74-ball 97 from Heinrich Klaasen. Afridi, however, got his mojo back, menacing at the top and lethal with the reverse swinging ball at the death, finishing with four wickets as South Africa were bowled out for 248.South Africa began the chase in much the same way as they started off in the first innings in Paarl – with conviction and purpose. From the moment the returning Temba Bavuma flicked Afridi off his pads for four off the first ball, South Africa were up and running, routinely piercing the thickset infield to find the boundaries they needed to keep the asking rate in check. When Naseem Shah drew a leading edge from the South Africa captain to draw first blood, Tony de Zorzi and Rassie van der Dussen carried on at the same brisk tempo, and South Africa had much the better of the opening powerplay.However, the hosts were beset by the clumps of wickets Pakistan have found a knack of taking to stymie opposition momentum. De Zorzi, van der Dussen and Aiden Markram all fell within 39 runs of each other, immediately placing all the pressure on Klaasen to pull off another Houdini act. Alongside David Miller, he appeared to have set South Africa back on course with a partnership that combined security with aggression, the run-a-ball 72 they added bringing the hosts right back into the contest.But Afridi picked his moment to deliver perhaps his most impressive spell since picking up the injury two years ago that has somewhat stalled his career. With the lights taking full effect and the contest balanced on a tightrope, he found it in himself to bowl closer to the 140kph mark, angling his wrist position to take advantage of the reverse swing that suddenly appeared to be on offer. He fizzed one past Miller, cutting him in half – or so we all thought; Afridi was sure it had kissed the inside edge, and when they went upstairs, the technology bore him out.But it was the dismissal of Marco Jansen that had the greatest technical purity to it. Coming around the wicket, it angled into middle stump before appearing to deviate away, with Jansen’s bat nowhere near it as it crashed into the base of middle and off. He was finding late swing at such pace even the umpire struggled to pick it up, and it required another review to establish Andile Phehlukwayo had been struck on the toe before the ball hit his bat, and that he was indeed plumb in front.Shaheen Afridi produced a three-wicket spell•AFP/Getty Images

All this while, Klaasen had been fighting a lone, and, as became increasingly obvious, losing battle. He was particularly ruthless taking down last game’s hero, Salman Agha, stepping onto the back foot for his trademark hook over cow corner, and using his range efficiently to carve the ball into the off side. If anything, he was guilty of not shielding the strike better as he approached his own hundred, and, in the end, ran out of partners when he whacked Naseem to deep midwicket in a doomed attempt at reaching a hundred he richly deserved.Babar scored his first half-century in 22 innings, combining with his old friend Rizwan in a 115-run third wicket partnership as Pakistan set South Africa an imposing 330 to chase. That number never looked as steep when those two were batting, though, and only ballooned thanks to a blistering late flurry from Ghulam, who bludgeoned 63 off 32 balls. They were helped by South Africa falling away sharply with their lines as well as in the fielding.Bavuma had opted to field first on a picture-perfect day at Newlands, and South Africa made a similarly dreamy start when Marco Jansen knocked over Abdullah Shafique for a second successive duck. But South Africa only truly perked up when Saim Ayub was removed at the tailend of the powerplay, slashing at a wide one off debutant Kwena Maphaka, and finding van der Dussen well placed at deep third.Pakistan’s level of urgency tailed away immediately, with Babar and Rizwan opting for the more classical pacing that comes so naturally to them. Both were trying to work their way back into the runs, and with South Africa happy to strangle the scoring than go after the wickets, it appeared for a while that the game entered a passage of play where each side was getting what they wanted.There were still moments of belligerence, such as when Rizwan smeared Markram over cow corner for six, and Babar milked the spinners for the occasional boundary. But the asking rate steadily hovered between 4.75 and 5.1, and it was evident Pakistan were backloading the innings.Babar had gone past 50 and seemed to be edging towards that elusive hundred, but then he slapped Phehlukwayo straight to Markram at short midwicket, who just about held on after it thudded into his chest. Maphaka got rid of Rizwan with a splendid diving return catch, and South Africa suddenly had the momentum.But Ghulam put paid to any such notions. Alongside Salman, who punished some errant bowling, Ghulam demonstrated his value as a lower-order power hitter, making splendid use of his bottom hand as he smashed five sixes in a whirlwind of a knock. The half-century came up in just 25 deliveries, with both pace and spin taken to task. Irfan Niazi, Shaheen and Haris Rauf were good value for the odd six from the other end, but until he holed out to Maphaka in the final over, and the late charge which saw Pakistan score 128 in the final 12 overs was largely down to Ghulam.That it was possible, though, was because Pakistan had done something which has eluded South Africa all series. They had paced their way through an ODI innings while keeping wickets in hand. Klaasen may well have been just as adept at playing the Ghulam role at the death, but, as he went down on his knees after Pakistan sealed victory, he simply had no one to play it with.

Smith's triumph: Australia surge to clinical 2-0 series victory

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The visitors had few alarms as Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne knocked off the target before lunch on the fourth day

Tristan Lavalette09-Feb-2025Australia 414 (Carey 156, Smith 131, Jayasuriya 5-151) and 75 for 1 (Khawaja 27*, Labuschagne 26*) beat Sri Lanka 257 (Kusal 85, Chandimal 74, Starc 3-37) & 231 (Mathews 76, Kusal 50, Kuhnemann 4-63, Lyon 4-84) by 9 wicketsSteven Smith completed an outstanding series at the helm with his 200th Test catch, but he wasn’t needed with the bat as Australia clinically sealed a rare series victory in Asia early on day four.After wrapping up Sri Lanka’s second innings within the opening 20 minutes of the day’s play, Australia only lost opener Travis Head in pursuit of the 75-run victory target to win the second Test by nine wickets and sweep the series 2-0.Related

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  • Lyon 'extremely proud' of Kuhnemann's courage

Usman Khawaja, who set the tone with a double century in the first Test, finished unbeaten on 27 while Marnus Labuschagne made a fluent 26 not out in a confidence boost with his place in the side attracting some scrutiny.Frontline spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon claimed four wickets apiece in Sri Lanka’s second innings to cap their brilliant series. They combined to take 30 of the 40 Sri Lankan wickets in the series.It was Australia’s first Test series victory in Sri Lanka since 2011 having lost four of five matches across the 2016 and 2022 tours. Australia’s only other series victory in Asia since 2011 was in Pakistan three years ago.The only concern for Australia will be the fitness of Smith, who looked sore in the field in what might be an aggravation of an elbow injury that he suffered ahead of the series in the BBL. But he remained on the field and was padded to bat.Sri Lanka’s hopes of setting a tricky chase rested entirely with Kusal Mendis, who had raced to 48 in a counterattack late on day three. Resuming at 211 for 8 with a lead of 54, Sri Lanka promoted Lahiru Kumara to No. 10 after he survived 26 balls in the first innings in a 33-run last wicket partnership with Mendis.Mendis on his second delivery of the day’s play reached his second half-century of the match, but he fell two balls later to vicious bounce from Lyon as a top-edge ballooned to fine-leg where Smith became the first Australian to claim 200 Test catches.With Sri Lanka’s hopes dashed, the only remaining interest centered on whether Kuhnemann or Lyon would finish with a five-wicket haul. Lyon had two big lbw shouts on Nishan Peiris turned down by umpire Adrian Holdstock as Australia reviewed unsuccessfully.Lyon’s frustrations grew after Kumara edged low down to Beau Webster at second slip only for replays to show it didn’t carry. Webster took it upon himself to end the innings when – just like late on day three – he unfurled his offspin and clean bowled Kumara on his first delivery.It completed a strong allround match for Webster, who showcased his versatility with the ball and he also took several sharp catches.Kusal Mendis’ half-century was ended by a top edge•Getty Images

Desperately needing early wickets, skipper Dhananjaya de Silva went straight to his offspinners and Peiris produced sharp spin, but Head pounced when the bowlers missed their lengths.After a nervous start, Head whacked Ramesh Mendis down the ground before Khawaja hit a couple of boundaries as Australia started to cruise. De Silva had to quickly resort to left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who promptly dismissed Head off the top-edge.With just 37 runs needed, there wasn’t a lot to gain for Labuschagne who had missed out in this series amid a century drought stretching back to the 2023 Ashes.He eased his nerves with a superb drive to the boundary and he whacked another off Jayasuriya to bring up Australia’s 50. After a tough tour, Labuschagne had the satisfaction of hitting the winning run as Australia celebrated their first clean sweep in Asia since beating Bangladesh 2-0 in 2006.Contests between the teams in Sri Lanka had been traditionally competitive, but Australia flipped the script with consecutive ruthless performances that felt out of the Steve Waugh era.Their selections worked well and Australia had contributions across the board with four centurions and an attack that was all over Sri Lanka’s struggling batting-order.Lone quick Mitchell Starc built on his outstanding record in Sri Lanka, while Kuhnemann claimed a series-high 16 wickets at 17.18 to prove why he has been deemed so valuable in these conditions. He also showed plenty of grit to play through a sore thumb he injured in a BBL game on January 16.After having little to do during the seam-dominated India-series, Lyon as expected shouldered plenty of responsibility and finished with 14 wickets at 22.5.But this battle for the Warne-Muraliduran Trophy will be remembered for stand-in skipper Smith. He issued a reminder on his mastery in Asian conditions with brilliant back-to-back tons as his renaissance continues. Smith led superbly in the absence of Pat Cummins with his tactical nous coming to the fore as he made all the right moves in the field.In contrast, Sri Lanka were bitterly disappointing in a sad end for retiring opener Dimuth Karunaratne as they slumped to their fourth straight Test defeat.

Should Buttler promote himself from No. 6 in England's batting order?

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Nick Knight, Nasser Hussain want Buttler to come in earlier to maximise his impact

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-20253:17

Knight: ‘England’s best batter’ Buttler should bat up the order

Jos Buttler should promote himself in the batting order with his England captaincy on the line in Wednesday’s Champions Trophy game against Afghanistan, according to former England opener Nick Knight.Buttler walked out to bat in the 35th over in England’s five-wicket defeat to Australia on Saturday, hitting 23 off 21 balls from No. 6 before holing out to deep midwicket. He explained before the start of the Champions Trophy that he saw that position – where he has batted more than any other in ODIs – as his “super-strength”.But Knight, who played exactly 100 ODIs between 1996 and 2003, believes that England are not getting the best out of Buttler in his current role and must give him the chance to have a bigger impact on games. “I have really strong feelings about this,” Knight said on ESPNcricinfo’s Match Day show.Related

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  • Carse ruled out of Champions Trophy with toe injury

“Jos Buttler, for me, is not taking enough part in the construction of an innings,” Knight said. “He’s one of the best in the world, simple as that, let alone one of the best in the team. He’s the best player. With your best player, you want them to play as much of a role within the outcome of the innings as possible.”I thought England made an error in the last game when they had that partnership broken between [Joe] Root and [Ben] Duckett and they brought in Harry Brook. Harry Brook is a very fine player but is a little bit out of touch at the moment. I personally would have just sent Buttler in. As soon as it ticks over to 20-25 overs, Buttler’s in next… Be flexible with your batting line-up, get your best player in.”Buttler struggled in the 2023 50-over World Cup and averages 26.16 in ODIs in Asia, but Knight played down the relevance of those stats. “I’ve seen him destroy attacks in the IPL – very good, high-quality attacks,” he said. “He can play in Asia, don’t worry about that. He’s scored hundreds galore in one-day cricket in those conditions. Really, it’s just about finding the best balance for him.”When you look at the best of Jos Buttler, he gives himself five, ten, 15 balls to get in… He’s one of England’s finest players of all time. He’s one of the world’s greatest in this format. Of course, he will have areas where he might get a little exposed from time to time but get him out there. Let’s give him that chance to really shine.”Buttler and Brendon McCullum share a joke in Lahore•Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

Nasser Hussain, Knight’s England captain at the 2003 World Cup, also believes that Buttler was wasted down the order against Australia, with England posting 351 for 8 having been 200 for 2 after 30 overs. “The damage that Buttler could do [higher up] compared to what he can do at the end, I think I would have him up the order,” Hussain said on the Sky Sports cricket podcast.”If he bats at No. 3 or 4… he could get out for ten or 20, but if he gets in, Jos Buttler at his best – one of England’s, if not England’s, greatest batter – on that surface, could go on and get 150 because he’s so talented. If, on a pitch like that, England’s best white-ball player of all time is sitting and watching 40 overs of cricket from the pavilion, as an opposition captain, I’m thinking, ‘That’s good, I’m enjoying that’.”And also, this is a defining tournament now for Buttler. If they don’t get through the qualification here, the group stages, he could well lose his job. For that reason, if I’m Jos Buttler, I’m thinking, ‘My job is hanging on the line here, I have to have a massive impact on this game and on this tournament right now’. As opposed to, at the end of the tournament, wishing, ‘Why didn’t I promote myself and give it a go?’ They see it differently. They see him as the finisher.”Buttler is expected to continue batting at No. 6 when England face Afghanistan in Lahore on Wednesday. He conceded on Tuesday that he was “absolutely” under pressure. “Any time as an England captain you want to perform, you want to perform well, and you want to lead your team to winning games of cricket. We haven’t been doing that enough in the recent past.”

Clark, Neesham maintain Durham's hold over Yorkshire

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

It was Durham’s second Vitality Blast win over Yorkshire in six days

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay20-Jun-2025Durham claimed their second Vitality Blast win over Yorkshire in six days as they strengthened their position inside the North Group’s top four places with a comprehensive victory at the Banks Homes Riverside.With this 63-run success, Durham’s fifth in eight matches, they all but ended Yorkshire’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals. This was their sixth defeat in eight as they failed to chase 194.Durham’s 193 for 4 included a series of dynamic contributions, led by opener Graham Clark’s 53 off 35 balls. New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham also starred with 42 not out off 21 before striking twice with the ball in defence.Yorkshire’s forlorn chase continued through a ground power-cut, and they were bowled out for 130 inside 18 overs. Opener Adam Lyth top-scored with 38.Durham beat Yorkshire at York on Sunday, a game in which England seamer Matthew Potts starred with 5 for 17.Yorkshire started tidily in this return fixture, conceding only seven in the first two overs having elected to bowl. But Durham hit back courtesy of their captain, Alex Lees.He clattered four fours in five balls – strong on the pull – as 17 runs came off Will O’Rourke in the third over, the hosts going on to reach 50 without loss from five overs. Lees edged the same bowler behind in the sixth over, falling for 40 off 24 balls.Every Durham batter aside from Ben McKinney, who made 5 before top-edging behind off Jafer Chohan, got set and contributed.Chief among them were Lees, fellow opener Clark and experienced Neesham, who crashed two sixes in his late assault, including a huge heave over midwicket off fellow Kiwi O’Rourke.Clark started the 13th over by muscling back-to-back sixes down the ground off Chohan’s leg-spin before reaching his fifty off 30 balls later in the over.Having shared 56 with Lees, Clark added a third-wicket 62 with Colin Ackermann, 28, before both holed out to O’Rourke in the 15th over.Neesham then ended with a bang to give Yorkshire a sizeable task in reply.The visitors started well with the bat, captain Dawid Malan hoisting a six over midwicket off Callum Parkinson’s spin as 24 came from the first two overs.Malan, on 21, was bowled by Potts with the score on 42 in the fifth over.The brief power cut didn’t stop play despite no floodlights or scoreboard, and it also seemed as if Yorkshire’s power was cut as the score reached 74 for 3 after 10 overs, with 120 more needed.Jonny Bairstow was bowled for 19 as he tried to attack Nathan Sowter’s leg-spin before Will Luxton dragged left-armer Parkinson to long-on.And when Lyth was run out backing up by Parkinson following a fierce Will Sutherland drive, Yorkshire were 91 for 5 in the 12th over and under severe pressure.It was quickly evident that their task was too tall, and with it surely went their hopes of quarter-final qualification.Sowter struck again to remove Jordan Thompson shortly afterwards before Neesham’s seam – 2 for 23 from three overs – ousted Sutherland and Chohan as the White Rose subsided.

Joe Root proposes limit to how often teams can request ball changes

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“I personally think that if you want to keep getting the ball changed then each team gets three challenges every 80 overs and that’s it,” Joe Root suggests

Valkerie Baynes11-Jul-20253:04

Root: ‘Great to see Archer smiling, enjoying his cricket’

Joe Root has proposed that each team be given three chances to swap the ball over the course of 80 overs in a bid to ease frustration over the repeated changing of the Dukes ball during England’s home Test series with India.His suggestion, at the end of the second day’s play in the third Test at Lord’s, came after India had expressed their displeasure with the replacement for the second new ball, which came after just 10.3 overs of use.Jasprit Bumrah had taken three wickets in his first 14 deliveries with the original, but his side was unable to take another during the first session with Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse at the crease.Related

  • India unhappy with replacement ball as Dukes loses shape

The ball was changed again, 48 deliveries after the previous change, the incident adding to criticism of the Dukes ball during this series, and dating back five years, over its loss of shape and becoming soft too quickly.”I personally think that if you want to keep getting the ball changed then each team gets three challenges every 80 overs and that’s it, if you want to get it changed,” Root said when asked about the issue at the close of play. “But the rings have to be the right size, not too big.”That would be a nice way of compromising and saying it’s not all on the manufacturer. Sometimes these things happen but you can’t just keep asking and wasting time and slowing the game down at the same time.”But Root, who had been unbeaten on 99 overnight and brought up his 37th Test century with the first ball of the morning, also suggested teams needed to adapt to conditions regardless and get on with the game.”I don’t know the ins and outs of how they make it,” he said. “I do know that they’re handmade so you’re never going to get two balls exactly the same. I do think this summer has been a bit of an anomaly for us. We’re not used to getting this much sun and this much heat and squares as hard and outfields as firm so whether that plays a part or not [I don’t know].

“It’s one of those things where if the balls are going out of shape, you change them, and you don’t make a big deal out of it. I don’t think it’s the end of the world. I think it adds a different dynamic to the game and you’ve got to be skilful enough to adapt to the changes, whether it stops swinging or starts swinging or does a little bit more.”Over rates also came under scrutiny for a second day running. After seven overs were lost on a slow opening day, a further 15 were left unbowled when stumps were called at 6.33pm on the second evening.”I don’t want to get myself in trouble by trying to rewrite the thing but I think that’s one way of policing the ball thing,” Root said. “In terms of over rates, it can be quite difficult on a day like today. We’re not used to this, are we? Thirty [degrees] in England feels like 45 elsewhere. But I guess just try and keep on top of it as much as you can.”Bumrah said he didn’t have a clear memory of the ball being changed during his two previous tours of England in 2018 and 2021 or the two World Test Championship finals he has played.5:34

How the Dukes ball is made and why it’s going out of shape

“The ball changes, I don’t really control that,” Bumrah said. “Obviously I don’t really want to lose out on money because I worked very hard, I bowled a lot of overs, so I don’t want to say any controversial statement and get my match fees deducted. But we were bowling with the ball that we were given and that’s how it is. We can’t change it, we can’t fight it. Sometimes it goes your way [and] sometimes you get a bad ball, that’s how it is.”Meanwhile, Root was understandably delighted with the brilliant catch he took mere millimetres above the ground at first slip to dismiss Karun Nair and move to 211 Test catches, clear of Rahul Dravid to hold the record outright.”I’ll be watching it back, for sure,” Root told . “It should’ve been a long time ago. There’s been a few drops in there, but it was an important one, so nice to cling on to it and keep contributing in the field today.”That’s the whole point, you want to try and contribute; you want to add to the team and find ways of affecting the game, if you’re out there in the field. I might bowl the odd over here and there, but there’s only limited ways that you can get yourself in the game. In order to drop catches, you’ve got to put yourself in those positions in the first place. That’s one thing I’ll always keep trying to do, [think] how can I make an impact? How can I help the lads? Standing at first slip is one of them.”

Thamsyn Newton retires from all forms of cricket

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She was part of four Super Smash title wins with Wellington Blaze and two HBJ Shield titles – one each with Wellington and Canterbury

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Aug-2025New Zealand Women allrounder Thamsyn Newton has announced her retirement from all forms of cricket. She brought curtains to a 14-year career that included ten ODIs and 15 T20Is between 2015 and 2021, and was part of the New Zealand squads for the 2016 T20 World Cup and the 2017 ODI World Cup.Newton was a top-order batter, known for her hard-hitting, and bowled medium pace. In just her third T20I, she ran through Sri Lanka’s middle order with figures of 3 for 9 and in November 2016 against Pakistan, picked up her first five-for in ODIs. But it was in New Zealand’s domestic circuit where Newton truly shone.She began her domestic career with Wellington in 2011-12 before switching over to Canterbury from 2014 to 2018. She returned to Wellington again for a further five years before moving to Central Districts ahead of the 2023-24 season. She appeared in four Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, the domestic 50-over competition, finals – in 2015 and 2017 with Canterbury and in 2022 and 2023 with Wellington – winning it once with each team. She also won the Super Smash with Wellington four times and finished runners-up last year playing for Central Districts in a thrilling finale against her former team.While Newton last played an ODI in 2017, she earned back her central contract with New Zealand in 2021 after a gap of three years. But she only played three more T20Is after that. She also played for Perth Scorchers in the WBBL 2017-18.Newton is also a dual code star and played rugby in the Farah Palmer Cup, the domestic women’s rugby union competition in New Zealand, for Wellington Pride and the Hawke’s Bay Tui.

Ireland name five uncapped players in Test squad for Bangladesh

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Senior seamers Mark Adair and Josh Little fit to return for T20I leg of tour

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-2025Ireland have named five potential debutants in their 15-man Test squad to tour Bangladesh next month, while Mark Adair and Josh Little are fit to return for the T20I series that follows.Ireland were without their two senior seam bowlers for the recent T20Is against England but have received a boost to their preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup with both available for Paul Stirling’s side. Adair underwent knee surgery in August, while Little had been suffering from a side injury.The Test leg will see Ireland play a multi-match series for only the second time. Top-order batters Cade Carmichael and Stephen Doheny, allrounder Jordan Neill and left-arm seamer Liam McCarthy have all received maiden call-ups, while legspinner Gavin Hoey, who is uncapped in Tests, also returns to the squad.They will be captained by Andy Balbirnie, with Ireland having won their last three Tests dating back to February 2024.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Andrew White, Ireland Men’s selector, said: “It is fantastic to have Test cricket on the horizon again – and with that we are excited to see Cade Carmichael come into the Test squad following his ODI debut against the West Indies earlier this year.”Not only has he had a great season, but he has also demonstrated the qualities required to be an international cricketer in this format. Cade compiled an excellent century against Afghanistan A in a four-day match in the UAE earlier this year, and anyone watching his two ODI appearances against West Indies will have noticed his composure and his technical ability against quick bowling.”Stephen Doheny is another player who has had a good domestic season and demonstrated a number of technical changes that we hope will enable him to be successful going forward.”It is likely that we will need all of our seamers across the back-to-back Tests. Given the recent number of injuries we have been managing, and the volume of cricket in the coming months, we will need to proactively manage the group in what will undoubtedly be hot and humid conditions. This is only the second time we have played consecutive Tests as part of a tour – it’s a challenge I know the squad will relish as they adapt to Asian conditions.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The T20I squad is broadly similar to that which played against England, with the additions of Adair, Little and batter Tim Tector. Neill and seamer Graham Hume were omitted.”In terms of the T20 squad, the likelihood is that spin will play a more prominent role – so Gareth Delany, Matthew Humphreys and Ben White are expected to provide options in this area,” White said. “And with Mark Adair and Josh Little returning to the squad, Graham Hume makes way on this occasion.”On the batting front, the 15-player squad allows us to bring in Tim Tector while retaining Ben Calitz to give us middle-order depth.”

Ireland Test squad

Andrew Balbirnie (capt), Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Liam McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Jordan Neill, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young

Ireland T20I squad

Paul Stirling (capt), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young

Fixtures

November 11-15 – 1st Test, Sylhet
November 19-23 – 2nd Test, Dhaka
November 27 – 1st T20I, Chattogram
November 29 – 2nd T20I, Chattogram
December 2 – 3rd T20I, Dhaka

Leeds fans blast Harrison performance vs Boro

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

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Loads of Leeds fans have been running the rule over Saturday’s dramatic draw at Middlesbrough, and they’re not too happy with the performance of Jack Harrison.

When Harrison and Izzy Brown joined last summer, Leeds fans were delighted to secure two “big six” talents for the season.

The pair have not had the desired impact though, as Brown is yet to play a Championship game due to injuries and Harrison has managed just two goals and one assist in 22 league appearances.

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Harrison was once again given the nod on Saturday as the Whites travelled to the Riverside Stadium to take on the league’s sternest defence, and the match went exactly how you’d expect it to, with the visitors dominating the ball but creating very little.

Lewis Wing then put Boro in front just after half time, and it wasn’t until the 110th minute that Kalvin Phillips popped up with the equaliser, after an issue for Jack Clarke caused a lengthy stoppage.

Harrison completed just 55 per cent of his passes in the match, and fans are absolutely crucifying the 22 year-old’s display.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Between The Lines: Calvert-Lewin hints Everton youngsters can outdo senior teammates

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

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Everton attacker Dominic Calvert-Lewin spoke to the club’s official website following his side’s 2-0 defeat to new Premier League leaders Manchester City at Goodison Park on Wednesday night, and some of his comments were a little eye-catching.

What’s the word, then?

Well, despite the reverse the Merseyside outfit certainly put in an improved display from the one that saw them beaten 3-1 at home by Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, with Calvert-Lewin and Jonjoe Kenny two of the younger players to come into the starting XI in place of Cenk Tosun and Seamus Coleman.

The two 21-year-old’s impressed and the attacker was quick to send a message to manager Marco Silva post-match that hinted that he and a few other starlets should continue to start for the foreseeable future, at least.

The England U21 international told Evertonfc.com: “We played to our strengths, we put the ball in behind when we needed to. Also, there was me, Tom [Davies] and Jonjoe [Kenny] in the team. All young lads who love playing together.”

How could his comments be taken?

Firstly, he is clearly saying that Silva should invest in the youth even more with the team struggling for form and results in recent weeks, with himself, Kenny and Tom Davies all knowing each other’s games really well.

In addition though, the quotes could easily be taken as a dig at senior players such as Coleman, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison – all of whom were left on the substitutes’ bench against City – that the younger players can make more of an impression than their more senior and experienced teammates.

Silva showed he isn’t afraid to be ruthless with his selection against Pep Guardiola’s men, and it will be interesting to see what he does when his team travel to Watford on Saturday.

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