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Andrew McDonald, the former Australia allrounder, has been confirmed as the new coach of the Melbourne Renegades

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Aug-2016Andrew McDonald, the former Australia allrounder, has been confirmed as the new coach of the Melbourne Renegades. McDonald has impressed as coach of Leicestershire over the past two seasons and has been linked with the job of Victoria coach, which like the Renegades position has been vacated by Australia’s new assistant coach David Saker.”I’m delighted to have been appointed head doach at the Melbourne Renegades and it’s a role I’m very much looking forward to,” McDonald said. “The Big Bash League is extremely competitive and you do need some luck in this league but you create that as well. The smarter we play as a team and the more pressure we can put on our opposition, the more we’ll find ourselves in winning positions.”McDonald, who played four Tests for Australia during 2009, began his BBL career with the Renegades before moving to the Sydney Thunder. He played one game for the Thunder last summer but at 35, coaching appears to be the future for McDonald.”We had a good field of people who were very interested in this role and we’re really pleased Andrew has agreed to come back to the Melbourne Renegades as our next coach,” Stuart Coventry, the Renegades CEO, said.”Andrew has a wide breadth of experience playing for Australia and from a T20 perspective in the Indian Premier League, the BBL and now in his coaching role at Leicestershire. He obviously knows plenty of the players in our squad so he’ll be a great fit to inspire our team towards a finals appearance this season.”

Rain has now become the dominant aspect of this Test – and the series – with a third successive day completely washed out in Dhaka

The Report by Firdose Moonda02-Aug-2015Play abandoned
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details Dane Vilas and JP Duminy walk across a wet outfield in Mirpur•AFP

Rain has now become the dominant aspect of this Test – and the series – with a third successive day completely washed out in Dhaka. No play was possible even though the covers were removed and the ground was prepared for a 1pm inspection. An hour before the umpires were due to determine whether it was fit for any action, the heavens opened.The match is still in its first innings and only 88.1 overs have been bowled, all on the first day. Dale Steyn, who became the 13th bowler to 400 Test wickets on the opening day, is yet to complete his 17th over. Given the match situation and the time lost, a drawn game and a shared series seems the only likely scenario.Before the series started, Bangladesh opener Imrul Kayes said a draw would be a “big achievement” for the team, considering they are ranked ninth on the Test rankings, while South Africa are on top. Bangladesh may not have wanted to share the spoils in this way.South Africa would also be disappointed with the outcome. These two Tests were the first of 10 they will play in the next seven months and the only long-format fixtures ahead of their high-profile tour of India later this year.

New Zealand allrounder Grant Elliott has been named as a replacement for Corey Anderson, who has sustained a fracture to his left thumb

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jan-2013New Zealand allrounder Grant Elliott has been named as a replacement for Corey Anderson, who has sustained a fracture to his left thumb, for the ODI series against South Africa.Anderson was struck on his hand while bowling during practice. He will be in a cast for the next two weeks, thus ending his chances of making his ODI debut on this tour. Anderson played in all three T20s against South Africa last month, scoring 17 runs in two innings and failing to take a wicket.Elliott, who grew up in Johannesburg, has played five Tests, 37 ODIs and a single T20 for New Zealand but hasn’t featured in an international game since December 2010. He has scored four fifties and a century in his ODI career. He has played only once before against South Africa, in the 2009 Champions Trophy.New Zealand will play three ODIs against South Africa, between January 19 and 25.

Netherlands cricket has received a major boost after securing a four-year sponsorship deal with the major Dutch bank ABN AMBRO

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jan-2012Netherlands cricket has received a major boost after securing a four-year sponsorship deal with the major Dutch bank ABN AMBRO. It will allow them to pump more money into central contracts as they build towards the 2015 World Cup.As with other Associate nations, Netherlands’ players have to balance their cricket careers with full-time jobs to ensure they can make a living. Some of their leading stars, like Ryan ten Doeschate and Alexei Kervezee, play county cricket – where Netherlands compete in the CB40 competition – while Tom Cooper has reached as far as the Australia A setup. Currently three players have contracts with the Netherlands board but they now expect that to increase.”We are delighted to be able to secure this deal, which also provides us with a two-fold opportunity,” Richard Cox, the Netherlands chief-executive, said. “Firstly we will be able to offer considerably more full-time playing contracts to our players and effectively turn professional for the foreseeable four years and beyond. Secondly we will be able to offer a career-path for our best young cricketers from our development programmes in to the national team. This is a sea-change for the future of Dutch cricket and is the fruit of many months of work by team manager Ed van Nierop and the KNCB.”Netherlands took part in last year’s World Cup but did not manage to win any of their group matches, although they gave England a tough outing when ten Doeschate struck 119 in Nagpur. In March they will be one of 16 teams taking part in the World Twenty20 qualifiers in Dubai, from which two sides will qualify for the main event in Sri Lanka. Their attention will then turn to preparing for the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, in 2015.

Ian Bell carried his sparkling Test form into the one-day arena with an elegant, unbeaten 102-ball 124 to guide England to a comfortable seven-wicket victory against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval

Andrew McGlashan at Manuka Oval09-Jan-2011
ScorecardIan Bell finished unbeaten on 124•Getty Images

Ian Bell carried his sparkling Test form into the one-day arena with an elegant, unbeaten 102-ball 124 to guide England to a comfortable seven-wicket victory against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval. Bell’s innings made light work of an adjusted target as he added 82 with Steven Davies and 98 with Jonathan Trott before the team made a hasty trip to the airport for their flight to Adelaide.The Prime Minister’s XI total was built around brisk fifties from the captain Tim Paine and Daniel Christian before a late flourish from Brett Lee. Michael Yardy was the pick of England’s bowlers with 3 for 33, but while the visitors had rested their frontline quicks after the Test series they played a strong batting line-up and even needing more than a run-a-ball didn’t stretch them.Bell hasn’t been part of England’s Twenty20 set-up since 2008, but in his current form could push Michael Lumb for an opening berth against Australia in the absence of Craig Kieswetter. He is also trying to ensure he retains his place in the 50-over line-up with competition for places in England’s top order. Bell reached his hundred from 89 balls with ten boundaries and cleared the ropes with a straight drive as victory approached.However, as good as he was, he was fed some filth by the PM XI’s attack. Trent Copeland and James Pattinson, two young bowlers tipped for Test honours, struggled to tie the batsmen down while Christian, bought for US$900,000 at the IPL auction, was taken for ten-an-over. The fielding was also poor with Davies offered two lives during his 23 – on 2 and 20 – and Bell was put down at midwicket on 71 by Callum Ferguson.England scored at more than seven-an-over early in the chase as Copeland repeatedly dropped short and Lee also failed to make an impression despite showing decent pace. Xavier Doherty eventually broke the opening stand when Davies drove to cover but the early charge had put England well ahead of the rate when rain arrived to cut the chase from 44 to 35 overs. It made things a little tougher, at least on paper, but Bell was in serene touch and did as he pleased.Trott, who could be in a straight fight with Bell for a one-day berth, was equally comfortable as he switch from Test to one-day mode. Shortly after the rain break he collected consecutive boundaries off Pattinson to get his innings going. Christian bowled consecutive no-balls as the PM XI’s showed poor discipline. Doherty had Trott caught behind and Kevin Pietersen (13) missed a straight ball from Lee with four, but they were minor blips.The PM XI’s innings was a mixed affair with some attractive strokeplay but England managed to pull them back after a swift opening stand following a delayed start. Having playing little cricket in recent weeks, Ajmal Shahzad and Chris Woakes were rusty with the new ball as Paine and Usman Khawaja (22) added 75 with Paine taking 14 off one Woakes over.Spin was introduced for the 11th over in the shape of James Tredwell and he provided the breakthrough in his second over when he held a sharp caught-and-bowled from a thumping Khawaja drive. Paine went to a 55-ball half century but fell three balls later when he played back to Yardy’s left-arm darts and was lbw.Yardy proved especially difficult to score off as he went for just eight in his first four overs and collected a second wicket when Alex Keath, the Victoria batsman who turned down an AFL contract in favour of cricket, was also trapped on the back foot. The innings was steadied as Ferguson and Christian added 59 for the fourth, but a short shower interrupted their momentum and on the resumption Ferguson lost his leg stump when he backed away against Shahzad.Yardy then claimed his third when Tom Thornton, an ACT batsman, popped a regulation leading edge back to the bowler and Woakes took his first wicket in England colours courtesy of a fine catch at midwicket by Paul Collingwood to remove Sam Miller. Christian went to a 51-ball half-century with a thumping straight drive off Shahzad but couldn’t remain to finish off the innings when he tried a scoop over short fine-leg and was taken by Pietersen.Lee and Doherty added 35 to give the innings a late boost, but with a view to gaining some meaningful practice ahead of the one-day matches England probably didn’t mind a tougher run chase and they made it look so easy.

Australia produced a commanding all-round performance to take a 2-0 lead with a 140-run demolition of Pakistan at the SCG

The Bulletin by Peter English24-Jan-2010Australia 6 for 267 (Watson 69, White 55, Aamer 3-53) beat Pakistan 127 (Yousuf 58, McKay 3-15) by 140 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Cameron White scored 55 and took two catches as Pakistan were over-run at the SCG•Getty Images

Australia produced a commanding all-round performance to take a 2-0 lead with a 140-run demolition of Pakistan at the SCG. After being led by Shane Watson and Cameron White in their 6 for 267, the hosts delivered a stinging bowling display to knock over the tourists for 127 in 37.3 overs.Pakistan lost their first five wickets for 42 in an awful opening and the result added further to the troubles of the captain Mohammad Yousuf, who is being replaced after the series. Yousuf had mistakenly chosen to bowl first in the hope of getting an advantage from the overcast conditions in the afternoon, but all the support came for the fast men as the sun started to go down. The ball seamed and bounced dangerously for Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle and Clint McKay and the tourists could not cope.Salman Butt (2) went in the fifth over nicking a shorter one from Bollinger and was taken at second slip by White. Three balls later the combination repeated the dismissal, dropping Pakistan to 2 for 7, when White dived to his left to catch the edge of Younis Khan.Kamran Akmal was soon run out for 16 after chasing a quick single, having been sent back eventually by Yousuf and then beaten by McKay’s direct hit in his follow through. Akmal’s brother Umar joined him in the dressing room two deliveries later after his off stump was clipped by Siddle.The hosts would not allow a recovery and lost their fifth man when Ricky Ponting leaped to his left at point for the superb one-handed take of Shoaib Malik (2). Yousuf was watching all the damage from the other end but was ultimately helpless, although he struck a strong six to long-on off Watson and was committed in his 58 off 94.Rana Naved-ul-Hasan kept him company for an explosive 27 before being stumped off Nathan Hauritz, who caught Yousuf at short fine leg. There were few highlights for Pakistan on a night dominated by the hosts. Bollinger had 2 for 19 off nine, Siddle and McKay (3 for 15) also gave up less than three runs an over, and Hauritz collected 2 for 45.Australia were challenged in Brisbane on Friday but they controlled most of match from the moment Watson struck the opening ball for four through point. While Watson lit up the innings with 69 off 71 balls and dominated a 100-run stand in 19.5 overs with Shaun Marsh, the chances of a massive total were upset by the frugal Afridi. In the end it didn’t matter.Afridi removed both openers and it was difficult for the hosts to increase the pace until White led the final thrust. White followed his century at the Gabba with 55 off 58 and benefited from delaying the batting Powerplay until the last five overs.White belted a six and a four in an over from Naved-ul-Hasan and scrambled to the finish, bringing up his fifty with a drive over point. He departed on the fourth-last ball – the wicket went to Mohammad Aamer, who returned 3 for 53 – and Brad Haddin helped out with an unbeaten 27 off 14.Afridi was central in regaining control for Pakistan after the opening burst and gave up only 35 from 10, including a crucial eight-over spell of 2 for 25 after coming on in the bowling Powerplay. He picked up Watson and Marsh while Saeed Ajmal and Malik were also tight, going at slightly more than four an over.Watson muscled nine boundaries and a six off Naved-ul-Hasan that landed not far from the dressing room at midwicket. After five overs he was 34 off 22 – Australia were soon speeding at 65 off 10 – and brought up his fifty from 42 deliveries before accepting a standing ovation.Yousuf called for the bowling Powerplay as soon as possible and Watson was held back by the spin as Afridi arrived. Afridi struck when Watson tried for another clearance and was well taken by Malik at deep midwicket.Marsh (41) also fell to Afridi when he attempted to hit to the leg side and got a leading edge to long-on in a troubling period for the home side. Ponting (13) lacked fluency for the second match in a row and Australia were 4 for 166 when Michael Clarke fell on 25. White rallied and the bowlers backed up his charge, giving Australia the chance to claim the five-match series in Adelaide on Tuesday.

The BCCI medical team has told him that the decision is in line with safeguarding his back and keeping the long-term in mind

Nagraj Gollapudi29-Jul-20251:31

What attack should India pick at The Oval?

Jasprit Bumrah will not play the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval starting Thursday. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the BCCI medical team has told Bumrah that the decision is in line with safeguarding his back and keeping the long-term in mind.The development is not entirely a surprise, considering the medical team in coordination with Bumrah, the Indian team management, and the selectors had decided he would play only three of the five Tests during the England tour. Bumrah played in the first Test at Headingley, sat out in the second Test at Edgbaston, which India won, and played in the following two Tests at Lord’s and last week at Old Trafford.With Bumrah having not bowled since the fourth morning at Old Trafford, coupled with a three-day break between the final two Tests, India might have toyed with the idea of changing the original plan, especially with a possibility of levelling the series 2-2 with a win at The Oval.Related

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However, a combination of a slowish, flat surface and the workload had impacted Bumrah’s pace in the fourth Test. He picked two wickets in 33 overs, which was the most he has bowled in an innings, and for the first time, his runs column had breached 100. As the series progressed, the number of balls he bowled above 140kph in the first innings of each Test also reduced from 42.7% at Headingley to 22.3% at Lord’s to 0.5% at Old Trafford.Bumrah is currently the joint-second-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in the series alongside Mohammed Siraj. After the draw in Manchester, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir had said Bumrah was available for the final Test, but two days later, India have decided to rest him.Gautam Gambhir chats with Akash Deep during India’s practice session•PTI

Akash Deep likely to replace Bumrah

Who will replace Bumrah was evident at India’s optional training session on Tuesday. Akash Deep, who missed the fourth Test with a groin niggle, found his rhythm easily as he seamed the ball appreciably on the greenish practice pitches. In the second Test at Edgbaston, which was his first Test since Melbourne in December, Akash Deep picked up a ten-wicket match haul, including a career-best 6 for 99 in England’s second innings, extracting movement from a benign surface.In the following Test at Lord’s, though, Akash struggled for consistency, especially bowling down the slope from the Pavilion End. He picked up just one wicket in the Test, but the seamer-friendly conditions at The Oval could help Akash get back in the saddle quickly.Still, Gill and Gambhir will have to deal with finding the right balance in the bowling attack. That it is a challenge is primarily because of the below-par performances from three other fast bowlers who have featured so far in the series: Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur and Anshul Kamboj. Prasidh has not played since the win in the second Test, while Thakur and Kamboj barely got to bowl after their first spells at Old Trafford.In the absence of Bumrah, Siraj, the only fast bowler to play all the Tests, will once again lead the pace attack. Siraj has bowled the fourth-most overs among seamers this series – 139 – but hasn’t let his intensity down. India will be worried about his workload and fitness but they have little choice other than playing Siraj. Even then, India will have to make a call regarding the third seamer.1:20

Manjrekar: Kuldeep has to come in for the Oval Test

It is likely to be one of Prasidh and Arshdeep Singh, who bowled and batted without any discomfort, showing he had recovered completely from the freak injury he picked up on his bowling hand in the days leading to the fourth Test while trying to intercept a ball on follow-through.With Rishabh Pant ruled out of the Oval Test, Dhruv Jurel will keep wickets and bat in the middle order. Despite the boldness of his batting, which can turn eyes, Jurel’s inexperience, especially of playing in England, might tilt India to focus on retaining Thakur to provide the batting depth. That would mean there will be no room once again for Kuldeep Yadav.India might also believe Kuldeep could be surplus to the requirement, especially keeping in mind the pitch and the cloudy conditions that are likely to play a role during the Test. Two days ahead of the match, the pitch had enough greenish patches, so India could continue with the spin pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.Apart from that, the bowling numbers at The Oval this domestic season are predominantly favourable to the seamers: fast bowlers have picked up 131 of the 150 wickets in five matches. Surrey have won twice at home with three draws, including the last round against Durham, where the fourth-highest score in county cricket was registered. Surrey made 820 for 9 declared on the back of Dom Sibley’s triple-hundred, but that match was played with Kookaburra balls as part of the ECB’s drive since last year to upgrade the bowlers’ skills.

Lance Morris picked up a side strain against West Indies but would not have made the squad

Andrew McGlashan08-Feb-20242:14

Is Matt Renshaw still the next Test batter in line?

Michael Neser has been recalled to Australia’s Test squad for the tour of New Zealand with the selectors taking a horses-for-courses approach based on conditions they expect across the Tasman in what is otherwise a very settled group for the two-match series.Neser has often been around the Australia set-up in recent years and was part of the World Test Championship final squad last year. His two Tests have both come in Adelaide – against England in 2021-22 and West Indies the following season. His Sheffield Shield numbers are significantly down this season with nine wickets at 50.33 but he is viewed as an ideal bowler for New Zealand while his ever-improving batting adds another element.”It’s great to see Michael Neser get another opportunity in the squad following his ever-consistent performances over a long period of time and the conditions we expect,” national selector George Bailey said.Related

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Lance Morris picked up a side strain during the third ODI against West Indies in Canberra, but Bailey indicated he would not have made the trip as back up to Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. The expectation is that those three will play both Tests against New Zealand – along with Nathan Lyon making it seven Tests in a row for the frontline bowlers – but Neser and Scott Boland will provide the support.”We’d be looking at a different type of fast bowler,” Bailey said. “The luxury of this tour only being in New Zealand, it’s not a massive trip, so a number of players in specific roles that if we do need to get them across that it’s not too much of a challenge, so Lance would have been in that boat.”The new-look batting order that came together against West Indies, with Steven Smith opening and Cameron Green at No. 4, will be given at least two more matches to settle in. After the New Zealand tour Australia have a long gap in Test cricket before the arrival of India for next summer’s five-match home series.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Matt Renshaw has retained his spot as the reserve batter having been earmarked as the next in line amid the reshuffle that followed David Warner’s retirement.The overall squad is relatively small at 14 names with the short flight between the two countries meaning replacements could come in reasonably easily. However, it could leave Australia a little exposed if an injury occurred shortly before a match or in the event of a concussion during a game especially around the wicketkeeper or spin bowler with no direct cover for Alex Carey or Nathan Lyon.New Zealand are currently top of the World Test Championship following their opening victory over South Africa and will expect to consolidate that in Hamilton. The upcoming tour has grown in significance for Australia have they lost to West Indies at the Gabba.”As we know every Test match provides vital opportunities to obtain valuable WTC points and we expect this tour will be a tough challenge against a very strong side who have been so consistent at home for a long period of time,” Bailey said.The first Test begins in Wellington on February 29 followed by the second in Christchurch on March 8.

Pride and points to play for as Tammy Beaumont looks to end season with a better taste

Valkerie Baynes23-Sep-2022A Lord’s finale to mark the end of India’s tour of England on Saturday will serve up plenty of nostalgia with a big helping of the future thrown in.Jhulan Goswami’s international swansong, Tammy Beaumont’s 100th ODI and the first time either side has played at Lord’s since their memorable 2017 World Cup final have the history covered. But, considering the number of new faces in England’s squad in particular, there is a strong transitional flavour.”You’ve got to remember that the team is really young,” Beaumont said. “We always do a team photo and the front row is the people that have played the most caps and Charlie Dean [18 ODIs] is on the front row this year and she made her debut last year. That shows the youth of this squad.”I feel incredibly old at 31. But that, for me, is exciting. I believe a couple of years ago, before the Hundred, before the KSL really got going, that if you’d picked that many people that had less than 10, 15 caps between them, you wouldn’t necessarily compete with the opposition.”I know at times we’ve not played well. But at the same time, you look at the T20 squad, how they went about things, the amount that the young players are coming in and performing straight away. When I started it took us 20 games to actually put in a performance for England and really kind of announce yourself on the on the world stage.”Related

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Beaumont found herself on the wrong end of England’s youth policy this summer when she was overlooked for the T20 squads to contest series against South Africa, India and the Commonwealth Games, leaving her stranded on 99 T20I appearances – for now. England’s abandonment of their planned tour to Pakistan and a rain-hit leg of the Ashes series didn’t help.”I think it’s one of those things that just doesn’t seem like it’s meant to happen at the moment,” Beaumont said. “I haven’t retired from T20 cricket or anything like that and hopefully I’ll come back and maybe play one more game but the girls did really well this summer. They played really good cricket. So there’s not a lot you can do about it.”England won the T20 leg of India’s tour 2-1 but are 2-0 down heading into the final ODI, meaning they have only ICC Women’s Championship points and pride to play for.But there is also a huge sense of occasion returning to Lord’s for the first time in five years – too lengthy an absence in Beaumont’s opinion. With her 2017 team-mates Heather Knight (hip injury), Nat Sciver (mental health break) and Katherine Brunt (rested) all out, Beaumont is one of only two players in England’s squad, alongside Danni Wyatt (in 2011 and 2012), to have played an international game at the ground.”I think it’s far too long,” Beaumont said. “For some of the girls that were involved in that [World Cup final] game to have never got to come back in the last few years it’s been a real shame.”I’ve got a lot of nostalgia coming here. I’ve been coming to Lord’s, training here, since I was about 13 years old. I have a lot of memories walking in the place, a real good feel about it.”Even at the beginning of my career, we used to get at least one game a year here… so I think it is a sign of the times that we’re getting a bigger crowd here. But I think it’s something that potentially should have happened a bit sooner and it is somewhere that we should be able to come and play more often. It’s great to see that it’s starting to happen and hopefully it will keep happening more regularly.”The balance will be redressed further next year when Lord’s hosts the third T20 of a Women’s Ashes series that will see matches played at Test venues around the country, including a five-day Test at Trent Bridge, giving Beaumont plenty to look forward to.”It’s been a tough year and I don’t think there’s probably that many highlights, to be honest,” she said. “The World Cup was very difficult after a very tough Ashes. Being part of that Test match in Canberra is a highlight for me, even though it ended in a draw.”It showed that women’s Test match cricket is very much alive and kicking. I think you when you play a Test match you always kind of doubt whether people will ever want to see another one with women’s Test cricket but that one in particular to me shows that my value in Test match cricket is warranted and is worth continuing.”The ODI series against South Africa was obviously another good one, but other than that, it’s been really very tough for me, missing out on the T20s and also not performing to the way that I would have wanted for most of the year.”Victory over India on Saturday, however, has the potential to end the season with, as Beaumont put it, “a better taste”. But they will be up against it with their opponents determined to send Goswami out on a high.”It’s not just what she does on the pitch,” Beaumont said. “She’s an absolutely lovely human. She’s been great for the game and she’ll be a very big loss but I think it’s great that she gets to have a good send off at Lord’s and hopefully something special, but not too special,” she added with a laugh.

It’s not on the FTP, it’s not part of the WTC, and it won’t feature any of England’s IPL players (bar one)

George Dobell31-May-2021This series between England and New Zealand isn’t on the Future Tours Programme (FTP), is it?
It is not.And it’s not part of the World Test Championship?
It is not. It was added on as an extra series.Related

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Wasn’t the schedule already pretty hectic?
It sure was. Particularly given that players (and support staff) have been obliged to live in biosecure bubbles for much of the last year. There really wasn’t a huge clamour for more cricket.So why is it happening?
Well, the 2020 summer was heavily disrupted and the ECB incurred significant financial losses. So the board wanted to give host venues and broadcasters an opportunity to host or show more cricket. One of these Tests is being played at Edgbaston, for example, which doesn’t have a Test during the India series which follows. So the aim was to boost the cricketing economy and give spectators an extra match to enjoy. The hope was it would be something of a celebration. It may well still feel that way, especially by the time they arrive at Edgbaston with 18,000 spectators in the ground.Didn’t England fulfil their entire home international schedule last summer?
They did. And by doing so, albeit in a shortened window, without crowds and at vast expense, they were able to satisfy most of the requirements of their various broadcast deals. But they were not able to play the Hundred, which was a key part of the broadcast deal, and were reliant upon their broadcast partners’ understanding when it proved impossible to stage any cricket before July.So does the ECB gain extra money from broadcast revenue for putting on these games?
No. These games have effectively been put on to reward broadcasters – and Sky in particular – for their goodwill last year. And with capacity for the first Test limited to 25% of capacity, the scope for boosting the coffers is limited, too. You can see what the intention was, though. And much of the other revenues are insured to mitigate for the losses around Covid. So this will bring a boost to the English game and ensure the relationship between the ECB and its key broadcast partner remains very good.What’s in it for New Zealand?
As things stand, they will be able to use the series to prepare for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. And while their place in that final was not assured at the time the tour was arranged, it was always a possibility. So, they will have time to acclimatise to the pitches and, in particular, the Dukes ball which they don’t use at home. At the same time, they are keen to support the ECB and repay them for their visit to New Zealand at the end of 2019. That tour wasn’t part of the FTP or the WTC, either. But if the last year or so has shown us anything, it is that all international teams need one another. They are all, to a greater or lesser extent, in the same boat.Why aren’t England’s IPL players involved?
By the time the Test series was arranged, the ECB had already agreed to allow its top players to appear in the IPL: contracts had been signed and no-objection certificates agreed. At the same time, the ECB has been keen to ensure players exposed to sustained times in bio-bubbles would be given time to refresh and see friends and family. It was accepted they would not be involved in this series. And remember: there are no WTC points available here. This is a chance to take a look at some fringe players and plan for the future.Wasn’t Sam Billings at the IPL?
He was. But he didn’t play. And while he was in England’s limited-overs squads over the winter, he didn’t spend as much time in bio-bubbles as many others. He was also the only one of the England players at the IPL to return to county action in the round of games starting on May 20 and, in Ashley Giles’ words, put forward a “strong case” for inclusion.Would this series have taken place even if England had reached the WTC final?
Yes. The ECB is adamant that, even if both England and New Zealand had reached that final, this series would still have taken place.