All posts by n8rngtd.top

Increase in team purses from £800,000 to £1 million should help attact overseas stars too

Matt Roller01-Dec-2021England’s leading white-ball cricketers will earn up to £135,000 for their involvement in the Hundred next summer, following a 25% increase in salaries for the competition, ESPNcricinfo can reveal.Men’s salaries were due to range from £30,000-£125,000 – with a £10,000 bonus for captains – in the inaugural year of the Hundred in 2020 but were cut by 20% following the competition’s postponement.But according to regulations circulated to Hundred teams this week and seen by ESPNcricinfo, salary bands have reverted to their initial levels for the 2022 edition, meaning teams will have a purse of £1 million rather than last year’s £800,000. As a result, the country’s top limited-overs players including Jason Roy, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan and Liam Livingstone are in line for pay rises.The ECB will also hope that the increase in earning potential helps to attract leading overseas players for the 2022 season after a raft of internationals including Glenn Maxwell, David Warner and Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew from the first edition due to international travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.Men’s teams will be allow to retain up to 10 players who were contracted for the 2021 season, including those who withdrew due to injury or Covid-related factors like Maxwell, Warner and Shaheen. The window for retentions opened at 9am on Wednesday morning and will run until mid-February, before the draft is held in March.Changes in England’s central contracts system have not had a major impact on the draft process, despite the removal of public distinctions between players on Test, white-ball and all-format deals. Test players are due to be available for up to three group games before the start of the South Africa series in mid-August and potentially the knockout stages in the first weekend of September.Four out of the 20 centrally-contracted players – Moeen, Morgan, Roy and Adil Rashid – are considered white-ball specialists, meaning that they will continue to be paid through the draft mechanism, while the remaining 16 will either be retained or reallocated through a central contract draft. Some players, including James Anderson and Stuart Broad, will be given dispensation to miss the competition and be designated ‘non-playing players’.Related

• ECB doubles Women's Hundred salaries for 2022 edition

• County Championship comes in from the margins in rejigged 2022 schedule

• ECB announces contracts overhaul as 20 players get new deals

• ECB set to increase women's Hundred salaries, committed to double-headers

• Hundred faces salary cuts and partial re-draft – PCA chairman

The order of picks in March’s draft will be the reverse of the final standings for the 2021 season, meaning London Spirit will pick first in the first round and defending champions Southern Brave will pick last. Each team will have one ‘right-to-match’ option available in which they can re-sign a player who was contracted for 2021, so long as they have a free spot at the salary band offered to them by another team.Australia and New Zealand players are expected to prove popular, with the majority of other major international teams due to play series during the Hundred’s window. New Zealand are due to play three Tests in England in June before white-ball series in Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands in July and early August, while Australia have a window free between a tour of Sri Lanka and three early-season ODIs at home to Zimbabwe.The wildcard draft will be held in July after the group stages of the T20 Blast, with each team picking one final squad member based on performances in that competition. As ESPNcricinfo revealed on Tuesday, the four-week window for the Hundred is due to start in early August, around two weeks later than in 2021.Salaries for the women’s competition are also expected to increase after a record-breaking first season, with Tom Harrison, the ECB’s chief executive, promising “some good news” in August. The open-market system for retentions is expected to continue.

Chasing 202, Galle Gladiators came undone in the face of Kings’ superb attack after Danushka Gunathilaka’s 54

Andrew Fidel Fernando23-Dec-2021Avishka Fernando and Rahmanullah Gurbaz put on a manic opening stand in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2021 final against Galle Gladiators, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shoaib Malik, and Thisara Perera muscled Jaffna Kings to a total of 201 for 3, and then their superb attack closed the match down.On Thursday, Maheesh Theekshana (arguably the best bowler in the tournament) and Jayden Seales (the best quick of the LPL) went for runs, as Danushka Gunathilaka produced a fearsome opening salvo, that set Gladiators’ chase off to a rocket-fueled start. But Kings have a lot of good bowlers, one of whom is Wanindu Hasaranga. He produced a vital double-strike, and an excellent spell overall. Suranga Lakmal and Chaturanga de Silva also delivered tight spells.Related

• LPL: Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Imran Tahir, Jayden Seales headline ESPNcricinfo's team of the tournament

Gladiators were tenacious, but Kings defended their total comfortably, winning by 23 runs.There has been a controversial ownership change since the last LPL, but Jaffna have now won the first two LPLs. Thisara Perera has led them to both victories. Theekshana, Hasaranga, and Lakmal have been valuable assets to both campaigns. And for the second year, former Sri Lanka batter Thilina Kandamby has put together an excellent squad, and been at the helm of the best tactical side of the competition.Gurbaz’s opening salvo
Gurbaz had had a mediocre first five matches of the LPL, but caught fire towards the end of the tournament, and was in outstanding striking form in the powerplay again. He got his first boundary thanks to a misfield at point at the end of the first over, but then exploded, hitting three straight sixes and a four off his next seven deliveries, to get the Kings’ innings into a high gear, from which it never really switched down. He eventually holed out against the canny left-arm spin of Samit Patel, but his 35 off 18 was instrumental in Kings reaping 61 in the powerplay.Fernando motors to another fifty
Having hit arguably the tournament’s best innings against Dambulla Giants, in the qualifier on Tuesday, Fernando produced another impressive innings in the final, to keep Kings’ momentum going through the early middle overs. He had not been a slouch in the powerplay, hitting five boundaries, but continued to be effective against Gladiators’ spinners, clearing the boundary against Patel and later the legspin of Pulina Tharanga. When Nuwan Thushara had him caught at deep midwicket for 63 off 41 in the 13th over, Kings were still motoring at around 10 an over.Kohler-Cadmore and Perera finish off
Kings’ top five have been ruthless through the course of the tournament, and they are all the batters they needed to use to get to yet another total of over 200. Kohler-Cadmore’s 57 not out off 41 helped the side push on through the middle overs. And then Thisara, the most explosive batter of the tournament, hit two sixes and a four at the start of the final over, to collect 17 not out off nine balls.Mendis and Gunathilaka give Kings a scare
Kusal Mendis and Gunathilaka, both of whom are currently suspended from national duty, had points to prove in the LPL, and Mendis at least has provided reason for Sri Lanka’s selectors to consider him again once he becomes available, top-scoring in the league, with his 327 runs at a strike rate of 149. Today, though, it was Gunathilaka who was most effective, laying into Theekshana, Seales, and Lakmal in the first four overs of the powerplay, to hit an outstanding 54 off 21 balls. That salvo saw Gladiators plunder 81 from the powerplay overs.Hasaranga changes the game
Such is the depth in Kings’ attack, though, that their third-best bowler this tournament has been Hasaranga, who currently sits atop the world T20I rankings. And it is he who dismissed Gunathilaka, having him caught at cover, before dismissing Ben Dunk the next ball with a googly. His fast thinking, upon receiving a throw at the non-striker’s end, also helped end the innings of Mohammad Hafeez, when he quickly threw the ball to the keeper, to find the batter short.Later in the game, his brother, Chaturanga, contributed as well, taking the wickets of Dhananjaya Lakshan and Tharanga. Wanindu took an excellent catch running back from cover to complete the dismissal for his brother.

He has had a breakout series after stepping in for the injured Nortje, and has now been picked in South Africa’s ODI squad

Firdose Moonda17-Jan-2022Marco Jansen is a man of few words, until he steps onto a cricket field.”I am a bit of an introvert but when I’m on the field, that’s the one place where I want to express myself,” he said, after his first stint as an international player. “All those emotions just show the passion and love I have for the game. If there is one place where I feel I can show my passion and emotions, it’s on the field.”Not only will Jansen’s debut series be remembered for being the most successful by a South African seamer in a three-match contest, but also for the exchange he had with his Mumbai Indians team-mate Jasprit Bumrah at the Wanderers. South Africa were going after the Indian tail in an attempt to ensure the target was as low as possible, Jansen bounced Bumrah several times and then sprayed him with unpleasantries.At one point the two were eye to eye (or rather Jansen was looking down at Bumrah, who is a foot shorter than him) and there was the threat of something more serious happening but Jansen backed off while Bumrah smirked. Turns out, it was all just fun and games. “I played with Bumrah in the IPL. We are good friends but sometimes on the field things get heated,” Jansen said. “You’re playing for your country so you are not going to back down for anyone, and he did the same. There’s no hard feelings, it was just in the heat of the moment, two players, giving their all for the country.”For Jansen, being able to represent the nation has come a little quicker than he thought it would. Despite spending most of 2021 as a non-playing member on South Africa’s Test tours (to Pakistan and West Indies), in a squad with seven specialist seamers, he thought he would have to bide his time. “I have been in the Test squad previously but I didn’t expect it (to play). I was hopeful that I would get picked,” he said.His first outing, at SuperSport Park, did not go as planned after he went wicket-less for 18.2 overs and appeared to struggle with his lengths. “I didn’t start the way I wanted to. I was very, very nervous. It’s normal for every player to get nervous,” he said.Marco Jansen has had a breakout series after stepping in for Anrich Nortje•AFP via Getty Images

Then, he took the wicket of none other than Bumrah, who edged to third slip. Jansen bowled 85 more overs in the series and took 18 for 244, including a best of 4 for 31. He showed the advantage of variation but also the importance of height to extract awkward bounce off the South African surfaces. “I’m really glad that after that innings, I came back and contributed to the team,” he said.Now, he has a new challenge. With Anrich Nortje still out of action because of a persistent hip injury, Jansen has been included in the ODI squad. He has just 13 List A caps and has not played in the format for almost two years, since March 2020, so once again, he isn’t quite sure he will get game time. “This is a call up I did not expect,” he said. “I’m very glad and honoured to be selected in the squad. I just want to go there and try to learn as much as possible and if I get an opportunity, hopefully I’ll grab it with both hands.”Jansen’s inexperience extends across white-ball formats. He has also made just 13 T20 appearances but two of them have been at the IPL. That’s the tournament that brought Jansen to the fore. He was part of the Mumbai Indians outfit and took his twin brother Duan, also a left-arm seamer, currently playing for North West, with him to the tournament. “We know everything about each other and he is my best friend. It’s weird in some way that we are basically the same player,” Jansen said. “He came along as a net bowler. He practiced with us. And he also learnt a few things from us as well. It was a great experience for him and for us to experience that together. We never would have thought we would be sitting here, both of us, playing the sport we love.”While it may seem like it now, things didn’t always come easy for Jansen. He remembers “back at high school, especially, I didn’t play nearly as well. I didn’t even get picked for sides.” Think about that and everything you’ve seen of him over the last few weeks and it may leave you at a loss for words too.

Captain defends players saying the departed coach leaves a ‘significant legacy’ but they need a ‘new style of coaching’

Alex Malcolm09-Feb-2022Australia Test captain Pat Cummins says Justin Langer should not be surprised that the players asked for a coaching change when they were consulted on his contract extension.Cummins spoke on Wednesday for the first time since Langer resigned on Saturday after declining a six-month contract extension, just an hour after releasing a strong statement that defended his and the players’ role in Langer’s exit after four years as coach.Cummins confirmed that the players had felt it was time for a change of voice on the back of some of the feedback that had been provided to Langer in several reviews following a turbulent 12 months that included a home Test series loss to India and two away T20I series losses to West Indies and Bangladesh prior to the T20 World Cup and Ashes triumphs.”I don’t think he should be surprised,” Cummins said. “I think two years of evaluations in our environment at Cricket Australia, it’s probably pretty boring, but we get 360 [degree] reviews all the time. So we get our strengths and weaknesses poked, prodded, always trying to learn. I think it’s become more public probably in the last week or two, but I don’t think there are any big surprises.”I think he tweaked and changed a lot and was brilliant. He made some really big changes and deserves a lot of credit for that. I guess the question, after the success last couple of months became, do we think it’s sustainable? And, again, it’s probably a matter of varying opinions. But we thought it’s the right time to make a change.”Cummins gave an insight into the type of environment that the players had asked for during those review sessions with Langer last year.”We had a couple of instances where we wanted to really flesh out our team culture and what we think is important and what we think is going to get the best out of our group,” Cummins said. “A few of those things that came out really strongly was owning your own space, and having a really calm, consistent, composed environment in which to operate.”Tim Paine and Pat Cummins had given Justin Langer feedback last year•Getty Images

Cummins said he had been in contact with Langer in recent days and that the players still cared for him and were appreciative of his guidance over a four-year period.”We’ve had a few messages over the last few days, and we’re all good,” Cummins said. “From my viewpoint, I’ve got huge respect for the man and I love what he’s done. I owe him a lot. He’s been brilliant, not only for the team but for me individually. He’s given me a lot of opportunities, backed me in a lot. So yeah, that’s probably more or less what I passed on. We’re all good. And hopefully, we can catch up soon and talk about it. He’s someone I’m sure in the future I’ll keep leaning on.”A raft of former players, many of whom are Langer’s former team-mates have criticised Cummins for his role in the saga after Langer noted in his resignation letter that media reports had suggested “several senior players and a couple of support staff” did not support him continuing on as coach and that he accepted that decision.Former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson wrote in a column for the newspaper that Cummins had failed his first big test as captain and described his media performances prior to Langer’s resignation as gutless.Cummins was diplomatic in his response to Johnson and the criticism in general.Related

• 'The boys absolutely love him' – Pat Cummins praises interim coach Andrew McDonald

• Pat Cummins is golden – for now at least

• Andrew McDonald 'never seems to get flustered' – Aaron Finch

• Bailey and Khawaja call for an end to speculation on Langer

• Langer apologises for being 'too intense' in resignation letter

“He’s just standing up for his mate,” Cummins said. “I absolutely disagree with what he said. No, he hasn’t reached out. But that’s fine.”I haven’t really had much [criticism] before so it’s actually been good to get it out of the way early in the captaincy. I knew when I took on the job it was going to come with added scrutiny and so the last week has been good to know that I’ll cop it, but I’m absolutely fine with it. I know a lot of it’s come from the right place. We all want to do what’s best for Australian cricket.”I think the reality of some of those comments as well, is the Aussie cricket team is full of cricket players. It’s our job and in fairness, the 11 players, they’re the guys who are out there on the field so absolutely I think it’s fair that we get a say.”Cummins was far more forthright in his written statement earlier in the day that was issued by Cricket Australia just over an hour prior to his press conference.”For good reason, I haven’t made public comment before today,” Cummins said in the statement. “To speak about a decision, which was yet to be made and which is for Cricket Australia to make, would have put Cricket Australia and the team in an impossible position. I’d never do that. I believe in respecting the sanctity of the change room and proper process.”Now that a decision has been made by Justin to resign and given his own public comments and others by Cricket Australia, I can provide some clarity.”Justin has acknowledged that his style was intense. And it was. He has apologised to players and staff for his intensity. I think the apology was unnecessary. Because the players were ok with JL’s intensity. It came from a good place – his fierce love of Australia and the baggy green – something which has served Australian cricket well for three decades.Cummins went on to explain why he had requested to CA that the players wanted a fresh voice as coach moving forward.”We have been very well schooled in how to play cricket in the right way – in the correct Australian way. We understand the importance of always playing to the highest ethical standards. And the players need no motivation as I’ve never played with more motivated cricketers. To be better players for Australia, from this solid foundation, we need a new style of coaching and skill set.”CA have made a brave call to transition, given the team has been winning. Finally, we are custodians of cricket, with one very big thing in common: our first duty is to Australian cricket, which is bigger than any one of us. I take this responsibility seriously. I live and breathe it. We also have a duty to our mates. Many former players have reached out to me and silently offered me their advice which is welcome.”Some others have spoken in the media – which is also welcome and comes from a love of the game and their support of a mate. To all past players, I want to say this: Just as you have always stuck up for your mates, I’m sticking up for mine.”

Opening batter expresses pleasure at “added responsibility” of being chosen by Gujarat Titans

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Mar-2022As an opener over the last two seasons of the IPL, Shubman Gill has struck at only 118.45. This, despite the fact that he comes out to bat in the powerplay, where only two fielders man the boundary. Whether Gill goes at too slow a pace and ends up putting pressure on the batter at the other end has often been a topic of debate, but the man himself says every situation requires a different “mindset”.”It differs from situation to situation, and when you go in to bat, there are different targets. Your mindset can’t be the same in every innings,” Gill, who will be representing Gujarat Titans this season, said. “The wicket might be different. So you have to plan accordingly. As a player, that is the challenge, and you know that if you play with the same mindset and game plan, then it becomes very easy for the opposition to plan tactically.Related

• This is the Shubman Gill we all want to see

• Titans preview: Rashid, Ferguson lead potent attack

• Titans sign Gurbaz as Roy's replacement

• Titans' Abhinav Manohar lives the IPL dream

“And it is all about experience when it comes to adapting to different situations. That is what helps you grow. This year, I’ll be working with Gary Kirsten, who is our mentor [and batting coach], and hopefully, I get to learn some new tricks to put up my sleeve.”Despite playing 52 of the 70 innings in his T20 career as opener, Gill says he will be happy to contribute in any way his team needs. The last time he batted at any spot other than the top was against Sunrisers Hyderabad back in 2019, a season when he kept floating around the batting order – from No. 1 to No. 7 – for Kolkata Knight Riders.”I am looking forward to whatever the team demands from me,” he said. “I am sure the captain and the coaching staff have a particular thing in mind… hopefully, we all can work together and help the team.”Having so far played only Tests and ODIs for India, Gill, who is only 22, has aspirations of making the national squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.”If any player does very well in the IPL, then obviously there are chances that he is considered [for India]. And a World Cup is a very big tournament for everyone, and everyone wants to play it,” he said. “And if I do well in this IPL and get that opportunity, then I’ll be very thankful.”Titans, being new to the IPL, were allowed to pick three players from the auction pool before the mega event even took place. They chose Gill, Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan and the young opener is eager to repay the faith that has been placed in him by the franchise.”Unfortunately, I didn’t get retained by KKR… but it felt great when I when I got to know that Gujarat Titans were interested in retaining me,” he said. “If any team retains and trusts you so much, then you gain a lot of confidence.”This is also a very good and a big opportunity for me at Gujarat. Ashu [Ashish Nehra, head coach] and Hardik showed a lot of trust by retaining me. This brings an added responsibility, and I like taking responsibilities.”Apart from fulfilling his role, Gill also wants to ensure that Titans build a good head of steam and then keep it going through the long season, where each team plays 14 matches before entering the playoffs.”IPL is a tournament where you can’t take any team lightly because T20 is the shortest format, where chances of making a comeback are a lot higher, no matter whichever team you play,” he said.”Most importantly, being such a long tournament means it is very important to carry forward the momentum you have gained after winning your first few matches. The matches are held one after the other, and so likewise, you could even lose two or three matches [in a row]. And the team that is able to break their run of losses turns out to be having the best chance.”

Comeback earmarked for ‘early May’ after heavy bowling workload in Caribbean

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Apr-2022Ben Stokes’ return to the County Championship has been put on hold for at least the rest of the month, after England’s allrounder underwent a scan on his left knee in the wake of last month’s Test tour of the Caribbean.Stokes was visibly troubled by the long-standing injury during England’s 1-0 series loss, but nevertheless was England’s most-used seamer in the course of the three Tests. Despite suggestions that he would be eased back into action after struggling with a side strain in Australia, he sent down 99 overs for his seven wickets, including 41 in the series opener in Antigua, his heaviest workload since 2016.Having opted out of the IPL auction in a bid to redouble his focus on England’s waning Test fortunes, Stokes’ intention had been to play several early-season fixtures for Durham, before the Test series against New Zealand gets underway on June 2.However, he admitted on the Round the Wicket podcast last week that his return to county action was likely to be delayed.Related

• Durham bite back before weather takes out another chunk

• Ingram stint as Labuschagne stand-in pays off for Glamorgan

• Stokes' Championship involvement delayed by knee scans

• Stokes opted out of IPL because 'Test cricket is No. 1 priority'

• Root rested for opening rounds of Championship

“I think it was pretty obvious that I was struggling with my knee a bit out in the Caribbean,” Stokes said. “At the moment there is no training. So I will go and get the scans and then we can find out what’s going on, and then hopefully can make a plan from there.”In a short statement on Friday, the ECB confirmed that the scan had taken place, but played down the long-term significance of the findings.”Ben had a scan on his left knee which didn’t reveal anything new,” a spokesperson said. “We had planned for him to return to LV= Insurance County Championship cricket in early May and, while he is feeling tender in the knee, that plan remains the same following the scan. We’ll continue to manage him in conjunction with Durham.”Assuming there are no further complications, Stokes’ return could be earmarked for Durham’s visit to Worcestershire on May 5, or their home fixture against Glamorgan the following week. Durham then take on Middlesex at Lord’s on May 19, before the start of the T20 Blast, and England’s preparation for the New Zealand series.England’s Test captain, Joe Root, is also due to miss the early weeks of the season as he rests up after the stresses of England’s winter campaigns in Australia and West Indies. It is thought that he may return to action for Yorkshire on April 28, when they take on Kent at Headingley.

Four wickets after top-scoring with bat ensures Leicestershire fall well short

ECB Reporters Network26-May-2022Durham 184 for 8 (Coughlin 42, Ahmed 2-22) beat Leicestershire 130 (Patel 40, Coughlin 4-15) by 54 runsPaul Coughlin shone with bat and ball as Durham shrugged off the loss of three of their squad on England duty to beat Leicestershire Foxes by 54 runs in their opening North Group match in the Vitality Blast.The 29-year-old allrounder made 42 from 30 balls to help Durham post 184 for 8 from their 20 overs after being asked to bat first, before taking 4 for 15 as the home side were bowled out for 130.Rehan Ahmed, the 17-year-old legspinner who is exciting Leicestershire and England after taking 12 wickets in the Under-19 World Cup, bowled beautifully for his 2 for 22, taking a wicket with his first ball. But the youngster’s Blast debut – he also hit two sixes in his 18 – was one of few plusses for Leicestershire, for whom New Zealand’s Hamish Rutherford was out for a first-ball duck.Three fours by Graham Clark off Roman Walker in the second of the innings set the tone for a brisk start by Durham but the Foxes hit back to claim two wickets in the powerplay, which ended with Durham 47 for 2.Michael Jones, making his debut in this format, hoisted Callum Parkinson for six but was bowled by the left-arm spinner’s next delivery and Walker came back after his expensive first over to bring an early end to Ollie Robinson’s debut for Durham on loan, the Kent man slicing to backward point.Ahmed introduced himself to Blast audiences in sensational fashion, taking a return catch with his first ball after inducing a leading edge from David Bedingham.The youngster should have Ashton Turner as his second big scalp in his second over but Arron Lilley dropped what should have been a straightforward catch at deep midwicket when the Australian was on 17.From 82 for 3 at the halfway point, Durham slipped to 109 for 5 in the 12th. Clark clubbed Lilley for his first six but was yorked by the next ball and Turner, threatening to inflict some major punishment for that dropped catch, walloped Ben Mike for his third maximum only to lose his middle stump to the next ball.But Coughlin and Ned Eckersley, whose 20 off nine included two sixes in an expensive last over that went for 19 as Walker finished with 2 for 52, helped Durham set a challenging target. Ahmed picked up his second wicket when Brydon Carse found the fielder at long-on.Leicestershire made a horrible start to their reply. Rutherford – a late replacement as overseas batter after Rahmanullah Gurbaz became unavailable – lost his middle stump first ball to an inswinger by Coughlin, who had Lewis Hill caught at third man in the same over before Lilley holed out to deep midwicket in his second.At 36 for 3 after the powerplay, Leicestershire’s required run rate was already at almost 10 and the loss of skipper Colin Ackermann, caught at deep backward square off Turner’s offspin in the ninth over, set them back further. Even after Patel found the boundary three times off Carse the Foxes were well off the pace at 70 for 4 after 10.Ahmed, seemingly nerveless, twice hit Liam Trevaskis over the top for six, but Leicestershire’s already diminishing hopes all but disappeared when Patel was stumped off Trevaskis, who inflicted another blow by bowling Mike for 24 after Ahmed had been caught at mid-on off Coughlin.