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“Losing is a normal thing, but we’re too good a team to lose by this kind of margin,” says the Sri Lanka captain

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Aug-20221:31

Jaffer: Farooqi sets up batters by swinging the ball both ways

Sri Lanka must ask their batters “whether they were ready” for the challenges Afghanistan’s quicks threw at them, Dasun Shanaka

The swing Fazalhaq Farooqi got was the big problem, Shanaka said. Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka fell to the quick off deliveries that moved into them. The rest of the top order struggled against Naveen-ul-Haq.”We have to ask our batters whether they were prepared,” Shanaka said. “We know that Farooqi swings the ball both ways. Naveen-ul-Haq also swings it most of the time. It’s not like in our conditions; these bowlers are a bit skiddier. We have to ask that question of whether we were ready for them.”It was a really good pitch. It was the first two overs that changed the whole situation. It’s been a concern over the past two years that we haven’t had partnerships upfront. That’s where we should be concerned.”Afghanistan raced to the small target, losing only two wickets before they completed the victory in 10.1 overs. Sri Lanka’s net run-rate will be a concern going forward too, as qualifying for the next round might come down to it.”When you lose two wickets in the first over, and four inside the powerplay [in 7.2 overs], it’s really hard to get back into the game,” Shanaka said. “Losing is a normal thing, but we’re too good a team to lose by this kind of margin. They bowled really well with the new ball, but we have no excuses. You’ve got to be able to bat in any conditions.”The team that beat them has the chance to take it all the way, though, Shanaka said.Afghanistan’s spin attack, led by Rashid Khan, but comprising experienced bowlers such as Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi, has long been their strength. But with the quicks now among the wickets, and the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (40* in 18 balls) and Hazratullah Zazai (37 in 28) batting well, they may be serious contenders.”These are their home conditions, so if their batsmen come good in the tournament, they have a really good tournament, they have a very good chance to make it into the finals,” Shanaka said. “There’s no doubt that their bowling is world class – their spinners especially.”

His ban has been backdated to October 31, 2018, when he was provisionally suspended

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Apr-2021Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa has been banned for six years from all cricket for breaching three offences in the ICC anti-corruption code.In November last year, Zoysa was found guilty of offences related to:

• Article 2.1.1 “for being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspect(s) of a match.”
• Article 2.1.4, which involves “directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.”
• Article 2.4.4 which deals with “failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code.”

Zoysa’s ban has been backdated to October 31, 2018, when he had been provisionally suspended. Zoysa has also been charged by the ICC on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching four counts of the ECB Anti-Corruption Code for Participants for the T10 League. Those proceedings are still ongoing.”Nuwan played 125 matches for Sri Lanka, attending a number of anti-corruption sessions during a decade-long international career. In his role as a national coach, he should have acted as a role model,” Alex Marshall, ICC general manager of the integrity unit, said. “Instead, he became involved with a corrupter and attempted to corrupt others. Contriving to fix a game betrays the basis of sporting principles. It will not be tolerated in our sport.”Since 2016, Zoysa is one of four former Sri Lanka players to have been found guilty of breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. In 2019, Sanath Jayasuriya was banned for failing to co-operate with an Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) investigation. In 2016, former Sri Lanka offspinner Jayananda Warnaweera was also suspended for breaching the code. Earlier this month, former Sri Lanka allrounder Dilhara Lokuhettige was banned for eight years.Zoysa played 30 Tests and 95 ODIs for Sri Lanka in an international career that spanned close to a decade. He picked up a combined 172 wickets across both formats.

The Adelaide Strikers allrounder is the leading run-scorer and six-hitting in this year’s tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-2019Sophie Devine, the Adelaide Strikers and New Zealand allrounder, has been named player of the tournament for this season’s WBBL after playing a starring role in the Strikers’ progress to finals weekend.Devine currently tops the run-scoring with 699 at 77.66 and a strike-rate of 130.16 including eight half-centuries. Her 28 sixes puts her well ahead of the next best of 19 from Lizelle Lee. She also claimed 16 wickets at 20.25 and an economy rate of 6.35With potentially two matches to play should the Strikers reach the final on Sunday, Devine has a chance of eclipsing Ellyse Perry’s record of 777 runs in last year’s tournament. At one stage during the regular season she went 207 deliveries without being dismissed.Devine earned votes in 12 of the 14 matches she played, finishing 13 clear of Brisbane Heat’s Beth Mooney (35 votes) and Melbourne Renegade’s Danni Wyatt (33).Votes were awarded on a 3-2-1 basis by the standing umpires at the end of each match meaning a player can receive up to six votes per match.Of the players to top the voting only Perry, whose campaign was ended early by a shoulder injury, will not be appearing at finals weekend in Brisbane.Leading votes1 Sophie Devine (Adelaide Strikers) – 48 votes
2 Beth Mooney (Brisbane Heat) – 35 votes
3 Danni Wyatt (Melbourne Renegades) – 33 votes
4 Jess Duffin (Melbourne Renegades) – 31 votes
= Meg Lanning (Perth Scorchers) – 31 votes
= Ellyse Perry (Sydney Sixers) – 31 votes
5 Jess Jonassen (Brisbane Heat) – 27 votes

Victoria had a handy lead by the close thanks to a calm half-century by Cameron White

Alex Malcolm17-Nov-2018Chris Tremain’s third five-wicket haul of the Sheffield Shield season helped Victoria dismantle Tasmania on day one of the clash at Bellerive in Hobart.After being sent in to bat by Victorian captain Peter Handscomb, the Tigers were bowled out for 81 in just 29.5 overs.Tremain picked up three of the first four wickets of the innings trapping Alex Doolan in front, getting Jordan Silk caught at point with a sliced drive and finding Beau Webster’s outside edge to leave the home side 4 for 34.James Pattinson and Scott Boland also got in on the act. Pattinson picked up three scalps of his own in a brisk five-over spell while Boland claimed Jake Doran and the crucial scalp of Matthew Wade.Tremain returned to claim the last two wickets of the innings including Australia’s Test captain Tim Paine.Victoria were in early trouble at 2 for 21 in reply after Travis Dean was run out and Handscomb nicked a superb delivery from Gurinder Sandhu. Marcus Harris failed to capitalise on a start edging an attempted cut off Riley Meredith.Cameron White steadied with a calming half-century. His patient 63 from 121 balls featured just five boundaries but put Victoria in control. He got good support from Seb Gotch who remained 23 not out at close and will look to build a significant lead early on day two with the help of Victoria’s lower order.

Asanka Gurusinha had stepped down from the role alongside the Sanath Jayasuriya-led selection committee after a string of defeats to India last month

Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Sep-2017Despite having stepped down from his role as Sri Lanka selector just weeks ago, cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha has been reappointed to the position, along with three new selectors.Graeme Labrooy, the former Sri Lanka seamer, had already been confirmed as the head of the committee on Friday. The remaining members are former national team manager Jeryl Woutersz, former Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Gamini Wickremasinghe, and Sajith Fernando, who was once a prolific allrounder at domestic level.Gurusinha had been part of the Sanath Jayasuriya-led selection committee since April, and had resigned alongside that committee, saying: “When the others are stepping down, I can’t stay there.” His reinstatement affirms that SLC are happy for him continue in his powerful, tri-partite position. As cricket manager, Gurusinha effectively fulfills the roles of a team director, a team manager, and now, again, selector.Woutersz, meanwhile, had been team manager as recently as January last year, before he was replaced by Charith Senanayake.The new selectors’ first assignment will be to choose the squad for the Tests against Pakistan – the first of which begins on September 28. The team is scheduled to depart on Sunday.

Andre Russell struck a 42-ball century, his first in T20 cricket, to lift Jamaica Tallawahs to 195 and set up a convincing win over Trinbago Knight Riders in Qualifier 2

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Andre Russell brought up with century off 42 balls to propel Jamaica Tallawahs to 195•CPL/Sportsfile

Andre Russell struck a 42-ball century, his first in T20 cricket, to lift Jamaica Tallawahs to 195 and set up a convincing win over Trinbago Knight Riders, sealing their place in the CPL 2016 final. After a lengthy rain interruption during the run chase, Knight Riders’ adjusted target of 130 in 12 overs always looked out of their reach, and they fell 19 runs short in the second Qualifier.After being asked to bat first, Tallawahs made halting progress in their first 10 overs. Openers Chadwick Walton and Chris Gayle got off to reasonably brisk starts, with Gayle hitting two fours and three sixes in his 26-ball 35. But both fell to Kevon Cooper before they could convert their starts into more substantial knocks. Kumar Sangakkara and Rovman Powell were dismissed in single figures to leave Tallawahs at 67 for 4 in the tenth over.That brought Russell to the crease. It did not take long for the fireworks to begin. Russell launched Anderson Phillip for two mighty sixes down the ground in the 11th over and he was away. Phillip, Cooper and Ronsford Beaton all came in for heavy punishment in the ensuing overs as Russell pummelled three fours and 11 sixes to blaze his way to 100 off 44. His 101-run fifth-wicket partnership with Shakib Al Hasan came off just 53 balls; Shakib contributed 19 off 23. In the midst of the carnage, Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo managed to keep things relatively tight, but that could not prevent a Russell-powered Tallawahs side from racing to 195 in their 20 overs.In reply, Knight Riders lost Umar Akmal early, to a run-out, and pottered to 18 for 1 in three overs before a lengthy rain delay led to a D/L-adjusted target of 130 in 12 overs. With his team in need of quick runs after the resumption, Colin Munro wasted no time in providing some impetus, hitting three fours off Kesrick Williams in the fourth over. More boundaries flowed from Munro’s bat, before he miscued a flighted ball from Imad Wasim to depart for 38 off 26, with Knight Riders still requiring 63 from the last four overs.Hashim Amla took over briefly, hitting a couple of fours and one six. But, in the end, the magnitude of the task proved to be too great and Knight Riders lost five wickets in the last two overs as they stumbled to a 19-run defeat.

India batsman Suresh Raina has denied allegations made by former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi that he had received bribes from a businessman while playing in the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jul-20158:06

‘BCCI should have investigated leaked letter thoroughly’

Suresh Raina has denied allegations made by former IPL chairman Lalit Modi that he had received bribes from an Indian businessman. In a statement issued by his management team Rhiti Sports, Raina insisted he had “never been involved in any wrongdoing”, and said he was considering legal action against Modi.”In the wake of recent media reports about me, I would like to make my fans around the world aware and clear the air that I have always played the game in right spirit and with utmost integrity,” the statement said. “I have never been involved in any wrongdoing and all allegations against me are false. Playing cricket is my passion for whichever team I have represented. I’m also figuring out my legal rights to take the right steps ahead in this matter.”Modi, in a letter to ICC chief executive David Richardson in October 2013, had said he had been informed that the three cricketers – Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo – had received houses and cash from a businessman involved in real estate, who, Modi’s letter had alleged, was also a bookie. The ICC confirmed receiving Modi’s complaint and stated that the ACSU handled that information in accordance with its standard operating procedures, which included sharing it with the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit.On Monday, the BCCI said they had not received any new information from the ICC and hence believed the players had been given a clean chit.”The follow-up is there is nothing in that,” BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said. “If they had found something, they would have reported it back to us. If there is nothing from the ICC on it, it has to be a clean chit.”

Mark Ramprakash, Robert Croft and the former England captain Mike Denness have been recognised in the New Year Honours list

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Dec-2012Mark Ramprakash, Robert Croft and the former England captain Mike Denness have been recognised in the New Year Honours list.Ramprakash and Croft, who both retired from first-class cricket in 2012, have been awarded MBEs while Denness, who played 28 Tests for England, has gained an OBE for services to sport.Ramprakash ended a 25-year career at the age of 42 having amassed 114 first-class hundreds, to become one of 25 players with a hundred centuries, and finished with 35,659 first-class runs at an average of 53.14.That success was rarely translated to the Test arena where he averaged 27.32 across his 52 Tests, but on the domestic scene he was often without equal for Middlesex and Surrey. He has recently returned to Middlesex as batting coach.”I think this MBE eclipses all that I have achieved in the game,” he told . “It came straight out of the blue. I think for most players representing your country is the biggest moment in your life.”When you experience winning Test matches, there is little other feeling that comes close to that. I have been lucky to play for so long and achieve things throughout my career like the 100 first-class centuries. But this is an acknowledgment of your entire career.”I have been committed to cricket for 25 years. That is a very long time but I enjoyed every minute of it. To have that acknowledgment from someone outside of what you did is an immensely proud moment.”Like Ramprakash, Croft, the Glamorgan offspinner, called time on his career at the age of 42 after scoring more than 12,000 runs and claiming more than 1100 wickets at first-class level. He played 21 Tests and 50 ODIs for England, but one of his most famous moments came with the bat when he helped save the Old Trafford Test against South Africa in 1998. He retired from international cricket in 2004 and continued to be a key part of Glamorgan cricket.”It is a great honour and a privilege to receive an MBE,” Croft said. “It’s fantastic to receive recognition of years of hard work, and especially in a team sport it’s good when an individual receives an accolade.”It’s not something that you set out to get, but it is wonderful when it comes along. I don’t think it has sunk in properly. I’m still just a Carmarthenshire boy who did quite well in cricket.”I count myself lucky that I was able to play for as long as I did and I’m grateful for the support I have received over the years from team-mates, coaches and everyone at Glamorgan Cricket.”However I don’t think I could have achieved what I did without such supportive family and friends. I owe a lot to my parents, Susan and Malcolm, my grandparents, my wife Marie and children Callum and Kara Beth.”Denness, meanwhile, is the only Scotsman to have captained England and led the team in 19 of his 28 Tests although it was a controversial tenure, particularly during the 1974-75 tour of Australia. However, his 188 at the MCG was, at the time, the highest score by an England captain in Australia. In his first-class career, where he played for Kent and Essex, he scored more than 25,000 runs. He later became an ICC match referee and president of Kent.”I never expected this and it really is a great honour,” Denness said. “This completes a thrilling year, during which I have served as Kent Cricket president. It really has been outstanding, there has been so much commitment from everybody; I thoroughly enjoyed Canterbury Week and all that it involved, and I will treasure the memories for the rest of my life.”David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said: “The award to Mike Denness is a fitting recognition for a long and distinguished career in cricket which has seen him fulfil a variety of key roles.”Mark Ramprakash was among the most supremely gifted batsmen of his generation and can be justifiably proud of being one of an elite band of cricketers who have scored 100 first-class hundreds.”Very few cricketers achieve the feat of scoring more than 10,000 first-class runs and taking more than 1,000 first-class wickets as Robert Croft did for Glamorgan during a 23-year career. His honour is richly deserved.”

Michael Clarke has conceded that Phillip Hughes may need to go back to state cricket to regain his form after another failure in the second innings of Australia’s loss to New Zealand in Hobart

Brydon Coverdale at the Bellerive Oval12-Dec-2011Michael Clarke has conceded that Phillip Hughes may need to go back to state cricket to regain his form after another failure in the second innings of Australia’s loss to New Zealand in Hobart. However, Clarke said it was unfortunate that there was no Sheffield Shield cricket scheduled until after the Test series against India ends in February, meaning Hughes will have nothing but Twenty20 in which to regain his touch.Hughes walked off the field a defeated man, his weakness outside off stump having almost certainly ended this phase of his Test career, with Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson expected to return to the side on Boxing Day against India. Hughes was caught by Martin Guptill in the cordon off the bowling of Chris Martin for the fourth time in the series. Clarke said the lack of runs for Hughes – he has scored 9, 9, 88, 11, 10, 7, 4 and 20 in his past eight Test innings – was a concern.”He’s obviously really disappointed like all the batters are, the way we played today,” Clarke said. “But Hughesy is probably the most disappointed. He’s been getting out the same way. I know he’s been working hard in the nets trying to improve that deficiency in his technique and he’ll continue to work on that. But he needs to find some runs, it’s as simple as that. If he’s not making them for Australia he’s going to have to go back and score some for New South Wales.”Besides the Big Bash League and club cricket, the only other opportunity for Hughes to score runs before the end of the Test summer will be in next week’s Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI match against the touring Indians in Canberra. In that three-day encounter, Hughes will be competing with other top-order men such as Marsh and Usman Khawaja, who are also in the side. David Warner is also set to play at Manuka Oval, but he has already pencilled in his name for the Boxing Day Test by carrying his bat for 123 not out in Hobart, almost conjuring victory for Australia from a dire position.”There is no four-day cricket now for New South Wales, unfortunately,” Clarke said. We go back and play Twenty20 cricket so, yeah, if that’s the case for somebody, people who get dropped from this team, they’re going to have to go back to Twenty20 and score some runs. I’m not sure how it’s going to work but you’re going to have to be picked back into the Australian team from the Big Bash. We’ll wait and see what happens.”The lack of first-class cricket in Australia from early December to the start of February – covering the majority of the Australian summer – was deemed necessary by Cricket Australia to allow the new eight-team BBL to flourish. When asked if he would have preferred Shield cricket during the period, Clarke was careful not to directly criticise the scheduling, but his discontent was evident.”Well, we’ve got what we’ve got,” he said. “At the end of the day let’s deal with it. My opinion is not going to change anything. It’s about scoring runs in any form of the game you play. If it’s Twenty20, score runs. If it’s one-dayers, score runs and just continue to get your name, push your name up in front of the selectors’ eyes to get selected for any form of the game. It’s what we’ve got.”Australia play four Tests against India, beginning on December 26 at the MCG, and finishing in Adelaide on January 28. The Shield season has a major hiatus from December 9 until February 2.

A round-up of the latest action from the Logan Cup, Zimbabwe’s domestic first-class competition

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Dec-2010Nick Compton carried his fine Twenty20 form into the first-class format as his first century of the season helped Mashonaland Eagles earn a draw against Southern Rocks at the Harare Sports Club. Rocks, however, took one point from the game after securing the first-innings lead.Compton, who was the leading run-getter in the Stanbic Bank 20 Series that Eagles won in November, came to the crease with his team in trouble at 61 for 5 in their second innings. By stumps on the third day, Eagles had lost another wicket and Compton was unbeaten on 44 with his team at 127 for 6. At that stage, Rocks were odds-on favourites to win the match, having taken a 36-run lead in the first innings. But Compton found an able partner in fast bowler Trevor Garwe, and the two defied Rocks well into the second season on the final day. When Garwe was out for 64, Eagles declared at 293 for 7, with Compton unbeaten on 136. Rocks needed 256 to win in half a day, and the match petered out to a draw.Rocks had taken the advantage on the first day, bowling Eagles out for 202 after putting them in to bat. Seamers Robertson Chinyengetere and Michael Chinouya took three wickets each as Eagles struggled to get going, with none of their batsmen reaching 50. Their bowlers responded well on the second day, reducing Rocks to 180 for 7 at one stage. Eagles seamer Innocent Chinyoka took 4 for 53 and Rocks needed Steve Tikolo’s 57 to give them a first-innings lead. Rocks bowlers then struck five early blows to give them a chance for their first win of the season, before Compton’s match-saving innings. Eagles stay above Rocks in the table, with two points compared to their one.Matabeleland Tuskers were hampered by incessant rain at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo as they tried to catch up with Mountaineers at the top of the table. The first and then the fourth day were completely washed out and neither team picked up any points.Tuskers elected to bat first and when play began on the second day, managed to reach 264 in their first innings, riding on Paul Horton’s 121. Tuskers’ bowlers then gave them a shot at the first-innings lead, reducing Mountaineers to 99 for 4 on the third day. But rain played spoilsport and ensured there was no more play in the match.