Cricket Updates: July 2016

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Statistical highlights: Ashwin the third-quickest to 18 fifers

India's domination over West Indies extended into the first day of the second Test match at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. West Indies were bundled out for 196 in 52.3 overs with only Jermaine Blackwood making a noteworthy contribution with 62 off 62 deliveries. R Ashwin once again proved to be the tormentor for West Indies as the off spinner claimed his 18th five-wicket haul in Tests. An opening stand of 87 between Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul ensured that India were strongly placed at the end of the opening day's play.

Somerset secured a home quarterfinal in the Royal London One-Day Cup on Saturday (July 10) after picking up a tense 10-run win over Sussex at the County Ground in Taunton. Tom Abell, 22, was the star of the show as he struck a well compiled century for the hosts to propel Somerset to 237 before the bowlers led by Max Waller's 2 for 30 sealed the game.

After securing a massive lead of 412 runs, New Zealand reduced Zimbabwe to 121 for 5 in their second innings at stumps on Day 3 of the first Test in Bulawayo on Saturday (July 30).

For Australia, the tour of Sri Lanka seemed like a perfect opportunity to exorcise their demons of playing on the dusty tracks in the sub-continent. Ever since their golden era ended in 2007 with the retirements of legendary bowlers Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, a succession of Australian teams under different captains have endured an abhorrent time in the subcontinent (and Pakistan's home base of the UAE) yielding just one win over that period. Time and again, they have been tangled and strangled by spin bowling in a nightmarish rerun of horror shows.

Williams, Cremer frustrate New Zealand

Top-ranked Jamaica Tallawahs and third-placed St Lucia Zouks will hope to walk into the playoffs at the back of a victory, when the two teams meet in dead-rubber cash at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida on Sunday (July 31).

With Guyana Amazon Warriors beating Barbados Tridents and eliminating them from the tournament, Dwayne Bravo's Trinbago Knight Riders are assured of a play-off berth before their last group-stage fixture against bottom-placed St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida on Sunday (July 31).

Andre Fletcher and Johnson Charles slammed belligerent half-centuries as St. Lucia Zouks pipped heavyweights Jamaica Tallawahs by 63 runs in a Caribbean Premier League 2016 encounter at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida on Saturday (July 30). The Zouks duo put on an 89-run opening stand in under 10 overs before a sparkling 43 from Shane Watson helped push the total past the psychological 200-run mark.

Historically, not too many Australian sides have enjoyed much success playing on turning tracks. In order to improve their record in the sub-continent, Cricket Australia has taken various measures over the last few years. Among other things, a tour to India was organised for the Australia A side and specifically designed spin-pitches were set up in the National Cricket Centre. Even before going to Sri Lanka for the four-match Test series, select players were sent to Chennai for pre-tour acclimatisation, before a two-week build-up for the squad took place in Colombo.

Glenn Maxwell, Australian all-rounder, has been stunningly dropped from Australia's 15-man squad for the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka.

Harmanpreet Kaur will become the first Indian cricketer to join a Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) franchise, as defending champions Sydney Thunder confirmed the signing of the national team vice-captain on Sunday (July 31). After Board of Control for Cricket in India's landmark decision to allow its female cricketers to participate in foreign leagues came about early last month, Harmanpreet had confirmed back then to cricbuzz about picking the Thunder over two other franchise offers, and awaiting a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian board.

Jason Mohammed and Chris Lynn scored half-centuries to help Guyana Amazon Warriors usurp the highly-rated Jamaica Tallawahs to the top of the points table, with a resounding six-wicket victory over the Barbados Tridents, who were knocked out of the tournament in the process, at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida on Saturday (July 30).

On the day he top scored for West Indies in the first innings of the second Test against India, Jermaine Blackwood addressed the press. Excerpts from the conference:
On his half century..
It is always good to play in front of my home crowd. This is the second time I am playing for West Indies in front of my home crowd. I was feeling confident but I was also a bit tentative at the start because you always want to make runs at your home ground. So it was a good feeling getting some runs today and I was happy that I was able to help the team's cause and score some runs, just happy to being back in this nick.

R Ashwin addressed the media at the end of the first day's play of the second Test between India and West Indies, in Jamaica. Excerpts:

Turn or bounce that got batsmen out?
A little bit of bounce and speed variation, that was important I thought. Most of the dismissals were brought about by difference in speeds rather than much of spin, actually. It was initially damp and there was some turn, but after that it flattened out a bit and started going straight. This ball, once it gets older, it becomes easier to bat. There's a lot more time. I think it was more about bounce and speed variation that created the problem.

Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lankan skipper, heaped praise on Kusal Mendis and Rangana Herath following his side's remarkable victory over Australia in the first Test on Saturday (July 30). Mendis struck 176 off 254 balls in Sri Lanka's second innings on a surface where the next best score was Steven Smith's 55 during Australia's failed chase. The whirlwind knock from the 21-year-old put the visitors on the backfoot despite them gaining a first innings lead of 86.

After losing 4-0 in India and 2-0 in the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan, Australia were hoping for a change in fortunes in the subcontinent against a Sri Lankan side that was low on confidence after a poor tour of England. The world number one Test side went on to take a lead of 86 runs in the first innings before Kusal Mendis changed the entire complexion of the game with a 254-ball 176.

Vernon Philander, the South Africa A seamer, has expressed reservations about the pink ball's durability after bowling with it for the first time in a first class game on the opening day of the clash against Australia 'A' in Brisbane on Saturday (July 30). Even though South Africa 'A' managed to pick up five wickets on a day in which the hosts scored 302, Philander wasn't pleased with the ball getting soft too early.

Barbados Tridents in must-win situation against Guyana Amazon Warriors

Two days after losing to the already-qualified Guyana Amazon Warriors, the Kieron Pollard-led Barbados Tridents are set to face the second-placed side once again in a must-win encounter at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Florida on Sunday (July 31). For the Warriors, a win will guarantee them a chance to finish in the top two.

Rangana Herath's 24th five-wicket haul helped Sri Lanka register a 106-run win in the first Test at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Saturday (July 30). The victory was only the second time the Asian side managed to triumph over Australia in the longest format of the game. With that win, Sri Lanka take a laudable 1-0 lead to the three-match Test series.

Mustafizur Rahman is likely to undergo a shoulder surgery next month - one which could have him sidelined for almost six months. The Bangladesh left-arm paceman, who was in England playing for Sussex in the T20 Blast, was ruled out of the tournament after he picked up the shoulder injury after two games, and was subsequently recommended to undergo surgery for his SLAP (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior) tear.

With a spot in the knockouts secured, it is only a question of extending their winning streak for Jamaica Tallawahs when they go up against St. Lucia Zouks for the first time in the competition on Saturday (July 30).
After winning their opening game of the tournament, the Zouks were on a downward spiral, losing three successive games. However, in their backyard, they turned things around for themselves to win three games of the four to break into the top three. Darren Sammy has proven his worth as a leader, and a player, with useful knocks, especially at home, on the ground that was named after him.

South Group

Hampshire vs Somerset
Somerset suffered a humiliating 83-run loss at the hands of Hampshire in the Natwest T20 Blast at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on Friday (July 30). Chasing 182 for victory, the visitors surrendered to the left-arm spin of Liam Dawson, who picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in Twenty20 cricket. Ryan McLaren picked up two wickets upfront as Jim Allenby and Ben Green were the only two batsmen to register double figures.

Four wickets in the opening session of the fifth day's play reduced Australia to 141 for 7 in their chase of 268, to put Sri Lanka in command on Saturday (July 30). With Steve O'Keefe unlikely to bat, Sri Lanka need only two more wickets to register a come-from-behind victory in Pallekele.

Virat Kohli was not flustered by the presence of a greenish tinge on the Sabina Park surface on the eve of the second Test in Jamaica. In fact, he relished the opportunity to play on a surface that is bound to challenge the batsmen's application and concentration. Despite India's 1-0 series lead, the inimitable skipper was unwilling to leave anything to chance.

Jason Holder preached the virtue of consistency to his young West Indian side as they seek to overturn a 1-0 series deficit in the four-match Test series against India. On the eve of the second Test at Sabina Park, Jamaica, the all-rounder shared his views on the pitch, the possible debut for teenage sensation Alzarri Joseph and more.

India opening batsman, Murali Vijay has been ruled out of the second Test against West Indies in Jamaica starting on Saturday (July 30). The right-hander failed to sufficiently recover from a finger injury sustained during his side's victory in Antigua.

South Africa 'A' begin their tour of Australia with the first of the two, four-day games against the hosts at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Saturday (July 30), in a game that will see several of South Africa's Test regulars get their first taste of the pink ball in first-class cricket.

Graeme Cremer, the Zimbabwe skipper, said that his side wanted to stretch the contest for as long as possible after admitting that he would be ok if the visitors batted all day again on the third day. New Zealand ended the second day of the first Test with a lead of 151 after Tom Lathan struck his fourth Test century and Kane Williamson fell nine short of a ton.

Graham Ford, the Sri Lanka coach, has hailed Kusal Mendis' 176 in the ongoing first Test against Australia as one of the best innings he has ever seen. Ford reasoned that Mendis had a plan to counter every single Australian bowler on a track where no other batsman from either side managed to register a half-century.

Contrary to popular opinion on the behavioral patterns of wickets in the sub-continent, the surface used for the ongoing first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia will not crumble on the final day, according to Stuart Law, Australia's batting coach. Having been asked to chase down 268 for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, Australia ended Day 4 at a precarious 83 for 3, still needing 185 more runs for the win.

Arjun Thyagarajan, Nisarg Patel, Usman Rafiq and Prashanth Nair are the four new faces named in the United States of America squad for the invitational game against a Caribbean Premier League Invitational XI at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida on Friday (July 29).

The fifth edition of the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) will be played in Mysuru and Hubli between September 16 and October 1 2016, Brijesh Patel, Karnataka State Cricket Association Secretary, announced at the tournament's launch ceremony on Friday (July 29) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

In a match full of sharp turns and twisting fortunes, the spin trio of Lakshan Sandakan, Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera struck at regular intervals as Australia found themselves perilously placed at 83 for 3, in their chase of 268, at stumps on Day 4 of the first Test at the Pallekele International Stadium on Friday (July 29).

The plan to conduct a three-match Twenty20 International series between India and West Indies at Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida, where a six-day stint of the Caribbean Premier League 2016 is going on, in late August could run into logistical issues pertaining to dates and visa procurement.

Nic Pothas, the former South African wicketkeeper-batsman, was named Sri Lanka's fielding coach on Friday (July 29). The 42-year-old was previously Director of Cricket at Guernsey and was Leicestershire county's academy director when Sri Lanka Cricket approached to hire his services.

In a big blow to Australia, Steve O'Keefe has been ruled out of the remainder of Sri Lanka tour. On the third day of the Pallekele Test on Thursday (July 28), the left-arm spinner left the field two balls into his 17th over, having tweaked his right hamstring. Jon Holland, the 29-year-old left-arm spinner from Victoria, has been called up as O'Keefe's replacement.

David Hussey has confirmed he will continue as the captain of Melbourne Stars in the upcoming season of Big Bash League (BBL). The 39-year-old ruled out replacing David Saker as Victoria's head coach, content to remain the Bushrangers' batting mentor. Saker recently became Australia's full-time bowling coach, succeeding Craig McDermott.

Despite losing control of the match, Nathan Lyon, Australian off-spinner, insists Australia are still in a good position to win the first Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy because there are "no demons" in the pitch.

Amidst murmurs of his Test retirement after the ongoing series against India, Marlon Samuels, one of the senior members of the current West Indian side, spoke about the prospect of playing and winning in front of his home crowd in Jamaica during the second Test, starting on Saturday (July 30), the need for the hosts to play as a unit to bounce back in the series and why there isn't a better time to give Alzarri Joseph, the 19-year-old uncapped pacer, a go.

Ahead of the second Test against West Indies in Jamaica, starting on Saturday (July 30), India's No. 3 batsman Cheteshwar Pujara shared his views on the team's goals for the series, his batting and fielding preparations, the dressing room atmosphere and West Indies' latest fast-bowling addition - Alzarri Joseph.

NatWest has inked a four-year deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and will do the branding of various teams, taking over from Waitrose, whose stint will end in early 2017.

Ben Stokes, the England all-rounder, is hopeful of taking part in the English summer once again. Stokes walked off the field midway into his sixth over in the second innings of the Old Trafford Test against Pakistan due to a calf injury.

Aaqib Javed, the former Pakistan fast bowler, has agreed to work with the Bangladesh bowlers on a short coaching stint, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO, Nizamuddin Chowdhury told ESPNcricinfo on Thursday (July 28). Javed will be present at the BCB's High Performance Unit and will be coaching the fast bowlers from the high performance squad and the national team as well.

Australia suffered a huge blow on the third day of the ongoing Pallekele Test against Sri Lanka when left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe left the field two balls into his 17th over, having tweaked his right hamstring.

Ireland received a major boost on Thursday (July 28) as the trio of Niall O'Brien, Craig Young and Boyd Rankin were named in the squad to face Pakistan in a two-match One-Day International series next month.
The trio did not feature in the series against Afghanistan earlier this month which ended 2-2. While O'Brien and Young were recovering from calf and elbow injuries respectively, Rankin's stint with Warwickshire prevented him from taking part.

Despite receiving a thrashing at the hands of England in Manchester in the second Test, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan's chief selector, feels that there is nothing for the side to worry. The former skipper feels that the exposure of playing at Old Trafford, where they lost by 330 runs, will hold the young side in good stead for the future.

Kusal Mendis reigned supreme with an unbeaten 169 to power the home team to a position of strength at stumps on Day 3 of the first Test at the Pallekele International Stadium on Thursday (July 28). He was aided by Dinesh Chandimal (42) and Dhananjaya de Silva (36). Due to bad light and subsequent rain, play was called off in the final session, with the home side 196 runs in front.

Pacers rattle Zimbabwe early

New Zealand pacers struck early to reduce Zimbabwe to 49 for 4 at Lunch on Day 1 of the first Test in Bulawayo on Thursday (July 28).

Kusal Mendis's redoubtable 157 not out elevated the home team from the depths of despair at Tea on Day 3 of the first Test at the Pallekele International Stadium on Thursday (July 28). Mendis repelled the good deliveries and took his chances against the spin duo of Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe with daring sweep shots to mastermind the remarkable turnaround.

"Hopefully the CPL will actually be consistent with having games here in the US. If it's just a one-off thing, then it'll be a problem for the game of cricket in the United States as well. If it can actually progress, I know this leg will be a good one for CPL and if it can continue next year and keep letting the people here in the US get a chance to see it live, then it should be a fantastic thing for the game of cricket here in the US as well." - Chris Gayle.

Kusal Mendis's pugnacious unbeaten half-century and the 40-run stand he shared with Angelo Mathews (9) helped the hosts to erase the deficit on Day 3 of the first Test at the Pallekele International Stadium on Thursday (July 28) in Kandy.

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Thursday, July 28, 2016