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Callum Parkinson replaces Colin Ackermann as Leicestershire four-day captain

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Ackermann has struggled with the bat in 2022 but remains T20 skipper

ESPNcricinfo staff18-May-2022Callum Parkinson has taken over from Colin Ackermann as Leicestershire’s captain for the County Championship.Ackermann has made just 168 runs across 10 innings this summer and has been replaced as four-day captain, though will continue in his role as T20 captain.Parkinson was Leicestershire’s leading wicket-taker in 2021 and has chipped in with the bat from the lower order this year; only openers Hassan Azad and Sam Evans have scored more runs than him in 2022.Related

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“It is a huge honour to be appointed four-day captain and I’m incredibly grateful to the club for placing that faith in me,” Parkinson said. “Personally, I feel I have matured massively over recent seasons and developed into a player that can help guide the club to success.”I have learned so much from Colin during my time as vice-captain. I will continue to lean on him for advice, whilst implementing my own ideas and direction to win matches for Leicestershire.”Claude Henderson, Leicestershire’s director of cricket, said: “Firstly, we want to thank Ackers for leading the team with great pride and honour throughout his time as four-day captain. He did a fantastic job and will continue to be a massive player for Leicestershire moving forward, where he will remain as our T20 captain.”We have decided that now is the right time for a change and recognised Callum’s qualities are ideally suited to leading the team in four-day cricket for the remainder of the season. Callum has been an inspiring voice in the changing room, and he commands huge respect through the way he approaches his cricket. We have full belief that he is the right man to take up the role.”Lewis Hill will continue as 50-over captain during the Royal London Cup.

Duminy determined to pull his weight

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South Africa allrounder JP Duminy said that the team has identified the need to stay in the present and not think too far ahead as key to their success in the Champions Trophy

Firdose Moonda02-Jun-2017Among the many diagnoses for South Africa’s failure to win a major tournament in almost two decades is the theory that they are simply too scared to take the final step.If that sounds silly, just consider that South Africa always have everything else waxed. Their preparations are among the best, their squad always includes some of the world’s best players, and they rarely enter an event without some form on their side. That’s why the likes of Herschelle Gibbs and Lance Klusener, who have been there and not done that, too, believe that if a South African side can avoid over-analysis and trust themselves to think on the fly, their fortunes will change.This time, they have a poster boy to lead the way: Quinton de Kock.At 24, de Kock is already being spoken of as a legend in the making, in the same breath as Adam Gilchrist and MS Dhoni. It’s not difficult to understand why. Last year, de Kock was South Africa’s highest ODI run-scorer and third globally. This year so far, he has been the second highest for South Africa, behind Faf du Plessis, and fourth overall.With de Kock in the side, South Africa have scored over 300 while chasing four times in the last three years. Barring one of those occasions – when he scored 19 in South Africa’s successful chase of 328 against Australia in Harare – de Kock set them up each time. He slammed 70 off 49 balls in a chase of 372 against Australia in Durban in October 2016. . He did better against England, plundering a century in Centurion last February, and more recently, striking 98 , albeit in a losing cause.The last of those illustrates best the importance of de Kock’s role in the South African line-up. Like every opener, he sets the tone, but seldom pre-empts what that will be. He is talented enough to pull off the spontaneous approach, something South Africa have been specifically working on in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy.”It’s those pressure moments that we identify to make sure we stay in that moment and don’t think too far ahead,” JP Duminy said. “That’s what we’ve learnt over the last couple of weeks – to stay in the moment and focus on what is in front of you and not look too far ahead about the outcome of the game.”JP Duminy, who has gone 11 innings without a half-century, has gone out of the way to prepare for the Champions Trophy•Getty Images

Duminy is speaking from the opposite end of the spectrum. He enters the Champions Trophy under immense pressure, having failed to pass 50 in 11 innings this year. He has made more than 30 only once in that period. This is not the first time he has had such an extended dry run; between July 2015 and June 2016, too, he went 11 innings without a half-century, but had four scores of 30 or more. The close proximity of the lean patches has him hanging on to his place by a thread, and though he would not explicitly say so, it seems he knows it.Instead of spending the period between the end of the South African summer and the start of the English one at the IPL, Duminy opted to stay at home and work on his game. “I put in a lot of hard work in the six weeks I was off,” he said. “The main thing was to try and be mentally fresh for this tournament and what lies ahead on this tour.””I’m feeling that I’ve achieved that. In terms of my skills, there were one or two things I worked on that I felt needed a bit of work. I don’t feel like there’s added pressure. There’s always high expectation within the team and my expectation on myself in terms of my performance is always high. That will never change.”The difference is that Duminy has fallen short of expectation too often, while de Kock has recently begun to exceed it. As a result, the responsibility in the South African batting line-up has shifted somewhat, though Duminy insists the division is the same. “Whether you’re a youngster, whether you’re a senior player, I don’t think that (the responsibility) changes,” he said.Ultimately, the entire South African squad has a responsibility to return home with something to show for their No.1 ranking and the star-studded line-up. They have a responsibility to show that something has changed, that the oft-spoken of conservative mindsets are really in the past and that the shackles have been broken. And they all know it.”We don’t want to put extra pressure on ourselves by thinking that we need to win this tournament but we definitely want to,” Duminy said. “I don’t think there’s any other team that wants it more.”

Trashes to Ashes: England find the calm before the storm

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Given their imperfect preparation, England are probably just about as well-placed as they could be going into the series

George Dobell in Brisbane21-Nov-2017If any of the old adages are true – you know, the ones about empty vessels making the most noise and pride coming before a fall – then England are well placed to win the Ashes.Certainly some in Australia have risen – perhaps sunk is a better word – to new levels of ferocity as the series has grown closer. Suffice to say, if the Ashes requires players talking about wishing to end one another’s careers to gain traction in the media, it is in a much worse state than any of us feared. Nathan Lyon will, you suspect, one day reflect on this episode with some embarrassment.But as Floyd Mayweather (among many others) has taught us, these things do not always come back to bite and the fact is Australia go into the series as firm favourites. Their side has some holes, for sure, but it also has some serious weapons. They really don’t need the trash-talking and, you suspect, for most of them it doesn’t come naturally.There is, to some extent, a sense of returning to the scene of an accident about England coming back to the Gabba. The sight of Mitchell Johnson – but not Mitchell Johnson as we had ever seen him before – charging in at the start of that 2013-14 series was spell-binding. It didn’t take long to know England were in real trouble. And, if that was difficult to watch from the perspective of an England supporter, it was assuaged by the knowledge that all present were blessed to see a magnificent spell of fast bowling that seemed to last all summer.A first view of the pitch would appear to offer England no respite. It will, you suspect, be a typically good Gabba surface. The curator, Kevin Mitchell Jr, who is preparing his 27th – and last – Test track after 33 years at the ground, reckons it will offer decent pace and bounce and a little turn later. If England hoped there may be extra grass for their seamers, they will have been disappointed. It looks the sort of surface that will reward well-directed pace. It is a department in which Australia have a significant edge.Most of this England squad weren’t born the last time England won here. And it is probably telling that the victory in 1986-87 was inspired by their great allrounder of the time, Ian Botham. Such a player has been lost to them this time for entirely avoidable reasons.England train at the Gabba•Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

But most of this squad weren’t involved when England last lost here, either. And three of the four England players who were there – Alastair Cook, James Anderson and Stuart Broad – also have memories of being there in 2010-11 when England made 517 for 1 in their second innings. Not all the memories are bad. Not all the scars are English.That was a point that everyone involved in the England tour party – the players, the management, the woman who makes balloon animals (really, there are dozens of support staff) – seemed to want to make on Tuesday. Whoever you bumped into offered the reminder: “England have won four of the last five Ashes series, you know. Including the last one.”It’s a reasonable point. And one that leaves you wondering if some of the pre-series talk from the Australian players is designed to convince themselves as much as anything. If they were really confident, wouldn’t they let their cricket do the talking? Do they really want to model their pre-series talk on the example of Marlon Samuels?Moeen Ali was sent out to face the media on Tuesday. He was a good choice, too, as he does a good line in affable self-deprecation that nicely defused any simmering antagonism that might have been lurking.Asked about recent footage of Ben Stokes bowling in the nets, Moeen said: “I sent him a message saying that ball would be hit for six every day…. He didn’t get back to my last message.” Asked about his own batting he said: “I’ve played some horrific shots in the past.” And asked about his bowling, he admitted: “Most teams come after me and try to attack me. I don’t mind.” Questioners were disarmed; provocateurs wrong-footed. Lyon may be the better spinner on the pitch, but off it?England had reinforcements at their training session on Tuesday. With the England Lions (effectively the second XI) also training in Brisbane, their bowlers were invited to bowl at England’s batsmen in the nets at the Gabba. The result? Several young, fast bowlers trying to impress the watching coaches. It may have been slightly uncomfortable for the batsmen, but it was probably exactly what they needed ahead of the challenges to come later in the week.Mark Wood stood out. He bowled sharply and he did so for a sustained period of time. It remains possible he could play a part in this series. Perth is an obvious target.Stuart MacGill, the former Australian legspinner, was also present. He is monitoring a few young spinners (Delray Rawlins, Matt Critchley and Matt Parkinson) the ECB have sent out to Sydney for the winter and was flown to Brisbane for a few days to work with some of the more senior players, predominantly in the Lions squad.Meanwhile, Trevor Bayliss’s suggestion that the ECB and CA get together to provide better pre-Ashes warm-up schedules appears to have been met with some wry amusement by CA. Insiders point out, with some justification, that Australia rarely, if ever, get to play on Test grounds in England before the Ashes begins and that they are invariably asked to play counties towards the bottom of Division Two. Bayliss, to be fair, has always said both sides were as guilty as one another and merely asked for the boards to talk for the betterment of all concerned. It doesn’t seem such an unreasonable request.It is moments like this, perhaps, Bayliss’s qualities come to the fore. Whereas, four years ago, England became tense and tetchy, he remains as calm as ever. The opposition may be furious, the stakes may be high and the audience vast, but Bayliss has created an environment where his team remain quietly good-natured and hard-working. It counts for little once the cricket starts but, given their imperfect preparation, England are probably just about as well-placed as they could be going into the series.

WI grapple with the loss of Pollard, Narine and Samuels

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Both T20 heavyweights have pulled out due to personal reasons, leaving the world champions short on firepower as they face a New Zealand team in top form

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Dec-2017

Big Picture

They are the world champions in this format, but will this depleted squad cut it against a rampant New Zealand? A small galaxy of T20 stars has not made the trip. Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine have pulled out due to personal reasons. Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy are at odds with the board. Marlon Samuels was withdrawn due to injury.While Chris Gayle and ace legspinner Samuel Badree are present, West Indies still have the potential to blow the opposition away, but they haven’t exactly left themselves with the best possible chance of ending New Zealand’s five-match winning streak on this tour. The visitors are relying on the lesser-known agents of firepower – the likes of Andre Fletcher, and Shimron Hetmyer – and on the sudden exuberance that seems to invade their cricket when they switch to the shortest format.The hosts are somewhat depleted themselves – Kane Williamson being rested for the first T20, leaving Tim Southee to lead the side. Trent Boult – unstoppable in the ODIs – is also being given a two-match break. New Zealand will be wary of West Indies’ reputation, but not worried just yet, so emphatically have they turned home conditions to their favour in the last few weeks.

Form guide

New Zealand LWLLW (completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies WWWWW

In the spotlight

Although Carlos Brathwaite‘s form has been patchy in domestic T20 tournaments, the captaincy appears to be treating him well at the top level. He averages 48 with the bat across five innings this year, though at a modest strike rate of 116. With the ball, he has consistently taken wickets, but even more importantly, West Indies are performing under his leadership, having won six of their last seven games. Most of those victories had come with Narine and Samuels in the XI, however. In going up against a strong home side with this particular squad, Brathwaite faces perhaps his sternest captaincy challenge yet.There can be little question. Adam Milne is no longer the quickest bowler in New Zealand. That mantle has passed to Lockie Ferguson, who has been fast tracked into the national side, and is beginning to enjoy success at the top level. For now, he is getting wickets with pure pace, hitting the wickets before batsmen have a chance to play their shots, and prompting panicked fending with well-directed bouncers. Having seen him through the ODIs now, West Indies will feel themselves more capable of countering Ferguson in a format where the very quick bowlers can often be expensive.Ross Taylor crunches one through the off side•AFP

Team news

With Williamson and Colin de Grandhomme (who left the country following the death of his father) unavailable, there may be opportunities for the likes of Anaru Kitchen and Tom Bruce. Ross Taylor’s return to the T20 XI may mean that those two players are competing for only one spot, however. Martin Guptill also comes back to the top of the order, after missing the ODIs due to injury.New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Ross Taylor, 4 Glenn Phillips (wk), 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 Tom Bruce, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Doug Bracewell, 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Tim Southee (capt.), 11 Ish SodhiRonsford Beaton has returned home with a side strain, and with Pollard also having pulled out, West Indies’ XI is difficult to predict. They have plenty of options: three potential wicketkeepers and a number of allrounders gracing their squad. Sheldon Cottrell – the left-arm quick who had success in the ODIs – may get his chance to shine in this format also.West Indies (probable): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Andre Fletcher, 3 Shimron Hetmyer, 4 Shai Hope (wk), 5 Jason Mohammed, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Carlos Brathwaite (capt.), 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Samuel Badree, 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 Kesrick Williams/Sheldon Cottrell

Pitch and conditions

The weather in Nelson is forecast to be dry for the duration of this match, with temperatures likely to reach the low 20 C range. Saxton Oval has never hosted a T20, but ODI scores of over 300 have occasionally been reached there.

Stats and trivia

  • West Indies have won seven T20Is and lost six under Brathwaite’s leadership. Each of those losses was against Pakistan.
  • Tim Southee is two dismissals short of becoming the second New Zealand bowler to 50 T20I wickets, after Nathan McCullum.
  • Of the 10 T20Is these sides have played, a staggering three have been tied. West Indies have twice won the super over, and New Zealand one bowl out, back in 2006.

Quotes

“Chris Gayle has been kept quiet so far on this tour of New Zealand but good players don’t stay quiet for too long so hopefully we can continue the way we’ve been bowling to him.”
New Zealand stand-in captain Tim Southee on neutralising a major threat“Regardless of whether we win or lose we need to play like world champions. People in the Caribbean look to the T20 format for the success and feel good and we need to do that. If there’s added pressure then so be it. We have a legacy to carry on.”
Carlos Brathwaite wants his side to live up to reputation

Jos Buttler earns 'best in the world' tag after immense century

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The series was long-since won, but the most thrilling passage of play was left for the end as an incredible innings unfolded at Old Trafford

George Dobell at Old Trafford24-Jun-20182:03

Great to win games you might not deserve to – Buttler

Jos Buttler has been hailed as “the best white-ball wicketkeeper batsman in the world” in the aftermath of England’s dramatic victory at Old Trafford.Buttler helped England recover from an apparently hopeless position of 114 for 8 to secure a one-wicket victory and, with it, a first 5-0 whitewash over Australia in ODI cricket. He finished unbeaten on 110. Nobody else in the England side passed 20.He also completed a smart stumping to account for Shaun Marsh – pouncing when the batsman lifted his back foot for a moment – and running out Tim Paine with a wonderful direct hit from a lightening fast pick-up and throw.That left Australian captain – and fellow wicketkeeper batsman – Paine full of praise for Buttler and admitting his own side’s batsman could learn plenty from watching him.”He’s good; he’s very good,” Paine said of Buttler. “Right now, at the moment, he’d have to be the best white-ball wicket-keeper batsman in the world. I don’t think there’s too many guys to challenge him. MS Dhoni is pretty good, but right at this moment, Jos is at the absolute peak of his powers. He understands his one-day game so well and knows his strengths inside out and just doesn’t go away from him.”He’s someone for our batters to watch and see first hand. Those experiences are going to be really good for D’Arcy Short or Travis Head to see him and Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy at their best.”While Buttler has often provided example of his extravagant stroke-making ability in the past – he made a 46-ball century against Pakistan in 2015 – it was more his clear head and game awareness that impressed here. So while his 50 – which occupied 74 balls – was slower than four of his ODI centuries, it was so well-paced that he never allowed the run-rate to get out of control always seemed to be able to produce the shot required to release the pressure.He did make one miscalculation, however. Finally left with just Jake Ball – the only real tailender in the side – for company, Buttler told his new partner they would only run if they could be sure Buttler could get back on strike. “But then I smashed it to long-off,” Buttler said, “didn’t see the guy and just ran. It was a poor decision from me.”That left Ball to see out a nerve-wracking over from Ashton Agar – “He was fighting his instincts,” Buttler joked later, “I think he wanted to run down the pitch and smack it” – before Buttler, back on strike, was able to ease a Marcus Stoinis delivery to the cover boundary to seal the victory.”It was pure elation,” Buttler said of the moment that followed. “You’ll probably never match that. I knew I had to be there at the end. Then plucking it from nowhere with one wicket left when we didn’t really have the right to win the game… it was very enjoyable. Winning games when you didn’t deserve to, they’re almost the more enjoyable ones.”While accepting there were areas that needed attention in England’s batting display, in particular, England’s captain, Eoin Morgan felt the ability to win from an almost hopeless position would serve England well.”When he plays like that he creates a lot of belief in the changing room that rubs off,” Morgan said. “He’s used all his experience and he’s somehow managed to get us over the line. It’s outstanding.”Could anybody else in the side have done it? Probably not. But it shows the fight and the character we have in the locker when we need it.”

Rizwan, Haider and Shadab lead Pakistan to comprehensive win

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West Indies crumbled in their chase after the home side had put up a massive 200 for 6

Shashank Kishore13-Dec-2021
Pakistan were provided a peek into their middle order future in the absence of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik. Haider Ali showed why he’s the next big thing, overcoming a slow start before springing the innings to life with a robust 39-ball 68 to set the tone for a dominant batting display. Pakistan’s 200 for 6 was more than sufficient as West Indies unravelled easily against spin. The Karachi faithful went home perhaps wishing for a more even contest.An eventful start
Babar Azam was out second ball after West Indies elected to bowl. Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein got one to spin sharply to take the edge to Shai Hope, the wicketkeeper. Then, Fakhar Zaman fell to Romario Shepherd’s change of pace as he toe-ended a slog to long-on. Inside the powerplay, Pakistan were two down and sputtering like a two-stroke engine running on kerosene.Rizwan and Haider’s recovery
Mohammad Rizwan kept the runs ticking along with timely boundaries, extremely quick on the pull. His picking of lengths against pace was immaculate as he raised a 34-ball half-century. However, he had to hold his end of the bargain against spin, especially off Hosein, who finished his four overs with 1 for 19 by the 11th over. At that stage, Haider was on 12 off 14, looking for the big hits without being able to hit them clean. Then, like a flick of a switch, it all turned around.Off the 12th over, he climbed into Odean Smith’s medium pace, hitting him for three fours and six to get his innings going. It proved to be the trigger for a run-surge from there. Under his bus were debutant Dominic Drakes, who also struggled for consistency, as Haider raised his half-century with an 83-metre six. It had come off just 28 balls, with Pakistan at 140 for 2 at the 15-over mark. Off the first ball of the 16th, Rizwan was out as Odean’s running catch around the ropes at deep midwicket sent him back for 78. A 105-run third-wicket stand had been broken.Nawaz’s finish
Rizwan’s exit gave six-hitter Asif Ali the platform to launch into an inexperienced attack, but he managed just 1. With Iftikhar Ahmed too failing, Pakistan needed someone to side with Haider. As it turned out, Mohammad Nawaz did more. His three fours and two sixes blindsided the visitors, who until then were hoping to restrict Pakistan to 180. That was to change, however, as the 19th over by Romario Shepherd went for 21, thereby allowing for a massive finish.Wasim’s rip-roaring spell
First ball: a glorious cover drive on the up. Third ball: a short-arm jab for six. Enough to demoralise a rookie 20-year old wanting to impress the team management? Not Mohammad Wasim. He responded with pin-point yorker to flatten Nicholas Pooran’s off-stump as he was late on the shot. Perhaps he underestimated Wasim’s pace. Then, off the second legitimate delivery off his next over, the sixth of the innings, he struck comeback man Devon Thomas flush on his boot. Gone, he didn’t even bother reviewing. West Indies were 46 for 3 inside the Powerplay.Nawaz, Shadab apply the choke
With the target already looking beyond reach and the asking rate spiralling by the minute, Nawaz and Shadab Khan spun a web around the batters, using the crease and variations in length superbly to tie the batters down. Hope was out lbw sweeping, Shamarh Brooks bowled trying to heave into the leg side and Rovman Powell caught brilliantly by a diving Nawaz at long-on. At 88 for 7, West Indies were in danger of being bowled out well inside 20 overs. However, Odean (24 off 16) and Shepherd (21 off 16) got together to swing their bats for some powerful blows. although they merely served to reduce the margin of defeat.

Richard Gleeson the pick of the wildcards as Hundred's final selections loom

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Scrimshaw, Eskinazi, Mousley also in contention for deals ahead of second tournament

Matt Roller06-Jul-2022Richard Gleeson is top of several teams’ shortlists ahead of the Hundred’s wildcard draft on Thursday after his stellar form in the T20 Blast for Lancashire earned him a first full England call-up at the age of 34.Gleeson is not expected to play in Thursday’s first T20I against India at the Ageas Bowl but looks certain to be picked up as a £30,000 wildcard signing earlier in the day. He was due to play for Manchester Originals in the inaugural competition but withdrew due to his back injury, and their coach Simon Katich will be able to use their ‘right-to-match’ card if another team attempts to sign him first.The wildcard draft will see each of the eight men’s teams add one final player to their squad based on performances in the Blast. Last year, Jake Lintott was picked up as a wildcard by Southern Brave and finished the season as their leading wicket-taker as they won the inaugural tournament.Teams will pick in reverse order to last year’s wildcard draft, meaning Birmingham Phoenix will pick first and Northern Superchargers will pick last. Last month, each team also picked a wildcard overseas player.Along with Gleeson, George Scrimshaw is likely to be picked up after his performances for Derbyshire earned him selection in the England Lions squad to play South Africa in two 50-over games next week. Middlesex captain Stephen Eskinazi, Warwickshire batter Dan Mousley and Leicestershire allrounder Ben Mike have also been mentioned in conversations with teams as possible wildcards.The ECB have also confirmed to teams – though not to media – that Toby Roland-Jones has been signed by London Spirit as a replacement for Blake Cullen, who will miss the second season of the Hundred with a back injury.Related

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  • Michael Rippon becomes first left-arm wristspinner picked by New Zealand

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  • Richard Gleeson wins first England call-up for T20Is against India

ESPNcricinfo understands that Northern Superchargers have lined up Michael Pepper, the Essex wicketkeeper-batter, as a replacement for Luke Wright, who is expected to withdraw from the tournament to fulfil his coaching commitments with New Zealand, though the deal had not been officially confirmed to other Hundred teams by Wednesday evening.Wright is approaching the end of his playing career and played only eight of Sussex’s 14 T20 Blast games this season, struggling with a foot injury. He is due to act as an assistant coach on New Zealand’s white-ball tours to Europe and the Caribbean and will be part of Auckland’s support staff from this winter onwards, though he intends to see out the final year of his Sussex contract next summer.The move would mean that Wright, the all-time leading run-scorer in English domestic T20 cricket, may never play a game in the Hundred, having been an unused squad member at Trent Rockets last summer.Pick order: 1 Birmingham Phoenix, 2 Welsh Fire, 3 London Spirit, 4 Manchester Originals, 5 Southern Brave, 6 Trent Rockets, 7 Oval Invincibles, 8 Northern Superchargers

Max Sorensen retires from international cricket

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The 31-year old fast bowler last played international cricket in June 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jul-2017Ireland fast bowler Max Sorensen announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday. The 31-year old had made his debut in 2012 and was groomed as a replacement for veteran seamer Trent Johnston, who would quit the game a year later. In all, Sorensen played 13 ODIs and 26 T20Is, picking up 16 and 26 wickets in each format. He was excellent in first-class cricket, with 28 wickets at 19.57, including a best of 5 for 37 against Scotland in 2013 that also paved the way towards the Intercontinental Cup title.Sorensen, born in Johannesburg, last represented Ireland in June 2016. Considering his age and troubles with injury – a shoulder problem has forced him to play as a specialist batsman for his club Leinster Lightning – he has decided to look beyond cricket.Max Sorensen last played for Ireland in June 2016•Getty Images/Sportsfile

“At this stage of my career, I feel I need to move on with my life,” Sorensen said. “I realise the likelihood of me getting back into the set-up is unlikely, with my various injuries and fluctuating performances in the past year or so. It’s time for me to move forward and hang up the international boots. Once again I want to thank all involved with Irish cricket for their help and support – it truly means a lot.”Sorensen was part of Ireland’s three most recent World T20 campaigns and he opened the bowling when they beat West Indies in the 2015 World Cup. He is currently fifth on the list of bowlers with most T20 wickets for Ireland, taking 43 in 37 matches. Sorensen’s peak performance came in 2013 when he was their leading wicket-taker during the 2013 World T20 Qualifier in the UAE, with 14 in 8 games, which helped Ireland win the tournament. However, his performances tapered off in the following years, leading to the 2016 World T20. In that tournament, against Oman in Dharamsala, Sorensen had to defend 14 runs off the last over, but ended up conceding 16 as Oman pulled off a two-wicket win.Outgoing head coach John Bracewell marked him as a “tireless worker, never giving anything less than 100% effort”.”He always exhibited professionalism and passion, as well as obvious skill. He was a fine role model to the younger players in the squad, and was a very popular figure in the dressing room. I wish him all the best in his future.”Despite a shoulder injury limiting Sorensen’s ability to bowl, he struck a match-winning 98 not out for Leinster against Munster Reds in the Inter-provincial T20 tournament in June.

James Anderson admits his wife talked him out of retirement after injury setbacks

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England seamer says he struggled after calf problem forced him out of 2019 Ashes

George Dobell03-Aug-2021James Anderson has admitted he had to be talked out of retirement by his wife after a series of injury setbacks.Anderson managed just four overs in the 2019 Ashes after a recurrence of a calf injury ruled him out in the opening moments of the first Test. In the aftermath, he concedes he was struggling with the prospect of more rehabilitation work and it required the intervention of his wife, Daniella, to persuade him to continue.He has claimed 42 more Test wickets at a cost of 23.00 since then, becoming the only seamer in Test history to reach the milestone of 600 wickets.”A big reason I am still playing cricket is my wife,” Anderson said ahead of the first LV= Insurance Test against India at Trent Bridge. “She’s been really supportive.Related

  • Joe Root on Ben Stokes: 'I just want my friend to be okay'

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“When I pulled my calf in the first Ashes Test, it was the second or third time I had pulled my calf and I was really considering whether I wanted to go through the rehab again. She basically took us away on holiday and told me to stop being silly. She told me to carry on.”Of course there have been difficult moments. I think everyone goes through it playing professional sport, whether you are out of form, have a loss of confidence or if it’s injuries. There are all sorts of things you have to deal with. For me it’s about having a good support network: friends and family that you can rely on and lean on.”My wife has been really supportive. She wants me to keep playing; she encourages me to keep playing. She’s quite happy for me not to be around the house I think.”Despite his age – he celebrated his 39th birthday a few days ago – Anderson dismissed any suggestion that the next 10 Tests (five against India and five against Australia) could prove the finale of his career.”Absolutely not,” he said. “I feel like I’m bowling as well as ever. I feel great physically. I’m just looking forward to this series against India.”We’ll look at everything else once we’re past this. That’s something I’ve done really well throughout my career. But right now I’m bowling as well as I ever have and I’m really looking forward to this series.”James Anderson in action during England nets•Getty Images

Anderson has an excellent record at Trent Bridge. In 10 Tests at the ground, he has claimed 64 wickets at an average of 19.62 apiece with seven five-wicket hauls. He also made his highest score – 81 – here against India in 2014. While that Test may be best remembered for rumours of an altercation between Anderson and Ravi Jadeja as the players made their way to the dressing rooms after a session, it remains a ground upon which he has happy memories.”I do like playing here,” Anderson said. “I feel at home here. It is such a friendly place to play. The stewards and staff are incredibly friendly. It’s just somewhere I feel really comfortable.”In years gone by, swing has played a big part here. It’s a ground where you look up [at the atmospheric conditions] not down at the pitch. If there’s cloud cover or if it’s humid, it’s generally a good place to bowl. If there’s a bit of grass on the wicket it will carry to the keeper and slips.”While conceding the India battling line-up is “riddled with talent”, Anderson insists he is relishing the prospect of testing himself against them and Virat Kohli, in particular.”I’m definitely excited to play against him again,” Anderson said. “You always want to challenge yourself against the best in the world and he’s certainly that. We know how big a player he is for them both as a batsman and as captain, he has a huge influence on that team. So we know he’s a big wicket and to be honest I don’t care if I get him out. As long as somebody gets him out that’s the main thing. He’s an important wicket.”But I think challenging yourself against the best in the world is really exciting and their top six is riddled with talent. It’s going to be a big challenge for us seam bowlers.”

BCCI unhappy with $290m under new model

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Under the new financial model proposed by the ICC, the BCCI will earn US$ 290 million from ICC revenues in the 2015-2023 rights cycle

Nagraj Gollapudi04-Feb-20173:01

Samiuddin: Expect BCCI to influence changes in new model

Under the new financial model proposed by the ICC, the BCCI will earn $290 million from ICC revenues in the 2015-2023 rights cycle. That figure, according to a BCCI member familiar with the numbers, is the net amount of earning and amounts to a 34% cut from what would have been their net earning under the Big-Three model – the net earning in that model was $450 million (the more widely circulated figure of $571.25 was the gross earning).In principle, the ICC Board voted in favour of passing a new constitution in a meeting in Dubai on Saturday. But the BCCI voted against it, after initially asking for the vote to be deferred to April, and the reduced revenue was its biggest bone of contention – the BCCI believes it should be earning in the region of $400 million in any financial model.According to the ICC’s old revenue distribution formula used between 2007 and 2015 – before the Big Three – the Full Members stood to gain an equal share of a surplus revenue of $525 million: each member received approximately $52.5 million. Under the new proposal, the BCCI stood to make $290 million as the highest earning Full Member – a 452% increase from the earlier TV rights cycle. According to an official privy to the discussions, Manohar’s point of contention was about why the BCCI wanted more when it was already getting more than it did under the old distribution.The BCCI’s preferred figure was $450 million under the Big Three’s financial model, an 757% increase as opposed to the 452% increase currently calcuated. So far the Big Three financial model had been in operation for the early stages of the 2015-2023 cycle, and only one ICC event of financial benefit to the Full Members had taken place so far – the 2016 World T20. The contribution cost payment due from that event was held back because of the uncertainty over the model.It is not yet clear whether the BCCI’s share of $290 million is just the revenue from the contribution cost metric the Big-Three model introduced – that is, a percentage earning of the ICC’s total revenues based on that board’s contribution to the game – or a total figure that includes also a distribution amount that is divided equally among the ten Full Members. In the Big-Three model, based on ICC revenues of $2.5 billion, the distribution amount would have meant an extra $63.75 million on top of the contribution cost.A BCCI member said there was no need for the ICC members to vote on the new constitution and financial model in a ‘tearing hurry’•PTI

In either case, the BCCI is unhappy because it is earning less money in this model while, according to the member, every other board stands to earn more than projected in the Big-Three model. What has also irked the BCCI is that the ICC decided to push ahead with the new constitution and governance structure and, by going to vote, presented it to the Indian board effectively as a fait accompli.The irony will not be lost on some that the BCCI is unhappy at the lack of transparency in the calculations behind this new financial model. The ICC said the model was built on guiding principles of equity, good conscience, revenue generated by members, and a recognition of an interdependency among members. The BCCI claims that in the working group’s report – from which this model comes – the ICC said its calculations were not backed by a scientific model. One of the major points of opposition to the Big Three’s calculations was that its authors never revealed the formula by which they had arrived at their figures, instead measuring in generic terms the financial and historic contribution of boards to the game.At today’s meeting Vikram Limaye, the BCCI’s representative at the ICC Board, argued that two wrongs don’t make a right. “You are deciding the fortunes of world cricket on good faith?” the BCCI member said.In a statement issued minutes after the ICC’s press release on the meetings, the BCCI said it had wanted to defer the vote. But ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, the driving force behind these proposals, was eager to have the draft of a constitution approved in principle, while leaving room for members to discuss and debate smaller changes by April.The BCCI was not impressed. “What was the tearing hurry?” the BCCI member said. “We could have easily moved the vote to next round [of meetings]. Given the Committee of Administrators [temporarily overseeing the BCCI] has just come in four days back. Give it time to find its feet, to understand the nuances. In the interim engage with us actively before the vote.”The BCCI is, however, unperturbed by the 7-2 vote (Zimbabwe abstained; Sri Lanka joined the BCCI in the opposition) that favoured the new constitution. It had entered the board meeting expecting to be the lone opponent against nine Full Members. “So a 7-2 vote with one abstention is actually good,” the BCCI member pointed out. “And we will get the numbers on our side by the time final vote takes place.”He said the ICC needs a three-fourth majority to pass any resolution, and numbers will favour BCCI. “They need an 8-2 majority. And the vote cannot go forward if four members oppose the resolution. We will get them.”In the past the BCCI has managed to maintain its grip over the ICC by having the Asian bloc on its side. Thilanga Sumathipala, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president, objected to some of the proposals in the new governance structure and hence voted against the new model. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which has often sided with the BCCI, was in a spot given that its president Nazmul Hassan was part of the ICC working group that produced the report. During an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting, approaches are believed to have been made by the BCCI to the PCB but they were rebuffed; the PCB is unhappy with the BCCI for failing to honour an MoU for bilateral cricket as a reward for supporting the Big Three in 2014.But the BCCI remains confident it will be able to make its “huge clout” count by luring smaller members with more bilateral cricket outside the proposed Test league. Under the proposed nine-team Test structure, each country is supposed to play the other once in two years. “One extra match against a Bangladesh or West Indies is a huge one for them in monetary terms. India just has to play them once in four years and they stand to earn a lot,” the BCCI member said.