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In the first MCL auction held in Dubai, Jacques Kallis and Adam Gilchrist were the most expensive buys after two marquee players were handed to each team from a list of 12 former international players

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Dec-2015Former South Africa allrounder Jacques Kallis attracted the highest bid of US $175,000 at the inaugural Masters Champions League (MCL) auction, held in Dubai on Monday. Kallis was signed by the Libra Legends franchise, owned by Popcorn Sports and Entertainment Private Limited.

MCL marquee players

• Abdul Razzaq and Michael Vaughan (Capricorn Commanders)

• Scott Styris and Heath Streak (Leo Lions)

• Sourav Ganguly and Graeme Swann (Libra Legends)

• Virender Sehwag and Kumar Sangakkara (Gemini Arabians)

• Mahela Jayawardene and Daniel Vettori (Sagittarius Soldiers)

• Graeme Smith and Azhar Mahmood (Virgo Super Kings)

Former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist was the second most expensive player in the auction, purchased for $170,000 by the Sagittarius Soldiers franchise.Kallis and Gilchrist were among the six icon players listed for the auction, along with Muttiah Muralitharan, Brian Lara, Paul Collingwood and Brett Lee. The base price for all icon players was set at $100,000. Collingwood was picked up for $140,000 by Capricorn Commanders, while Muralitharan was signed by Gemini Arabians for $120,000. Lara and Lee were picked up by Leo Lions and Virgo Super Kings respectively, for their base prices.Each team was assigned two marquee players from a list of 12 that included eight former international captains.Former Pakistan players Abdul Razzaq, Saqlain Mushtaq and Azhar Mahmood will also participate in the league for Capricorn Commanders, Gemini Arabians and Virgo Super Kings, respectively. Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and pacer Shane Bond will play for Sagittarius Soldiers, while allrounders James Franklin and Scott Styris were bought by Leo Lions. Kyle Mills was picked up by Gemini Arabians.The MCL is slated to be played in January 2016 in the UAE and has received a ten-year approval from the Emirates Cricket Board. The league is the brainchild of Dubai-based Grandmidwest Sports.Capricorn Commanders – Michael Vaughan, Abdul Razzaq, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Symonds, Chamara Silva, Ashwell Prince, Upul Chandana, Ryan McLaren, Jeetan Patel, Rikki Clarke, Rory Kleinveldt, Ben Laughlin, Rizwan Cheema, Geraint Jones, Sunil Joshi, Saleem Elahi.Gemini Arabians – Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kyle Mills, Saqlain Mushtaq, Jacques Rudolph, Naved-ul-Hasan, Justin Kemp, Paul Harris, Brad Hodge, Richard Levi, Ashish Bagai, Graham Onions, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Saqib Ali.Libra Legends – Sourav Ganguly, Graeme Swann, Jacques Kallis, Brad Hogg, Ryan ten Doeschate, Ajay Ratra, Chris Read, Sean Ervine, Shaun Tait, Ryan Sidebottom, Michael Lumb, Marcus North, Taufeeq Umar, Nicky Boje, Ian Butler.Leo Lions – Heath Streak, Scott Styris, Brian Lara, Herschelle Gibbs, Brendan Taylor, James Franklin, Johan Botha, Robin Peterson, Fidel Edwards, Mohammad Tauqir, Neil Carter, Hamish Marshall, Kyle Jarvis, Ramesh Powar, Simon Jones, Darren Gough.Sagittarius Soldiers – Mahela Jayawardene, Daniel Vettori, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Bond, Khurram Khan, Phil Mustard, Tino Best, Nathan Hauritz, Alviro Petersen, Michael Carberry, Krishmar Santokie, Jonathan Trott, Yasir Hameed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Gavin Hamilton.Virgo Super Kings – Graeme Smith, Azhar Mahmood, Brett Lee, Jonty Rhodes, Neil McKenzie, John Mooney, Dirk Nannes, Owais Shah, James Foster, Murali Kartik, Malinga Bandara, Gareth Batty, Hasan Raza, Jacob Oram, Humayun Farhat, Mohammad Yousuf.

Darren Gough was at his best in the heat of an Ashes confrontation but he is not about to write off the current generation

Andrew McGlashan12-May-2013Darren Gough was at his best in the heat of an Ashes confrontation, and he was often central to the rare occasions England managed to overcome Australia during the 1990s, but he is not about to write off the current generation, ahead of the first of this year’s back-to-back series.Australia’s 16-man squad was met with reactions ranging from ridicule to dismissiveness in some quarters. Even down under there is more trepidation about the forthcoming series than since the late 1980s. But Gough, who took 74 wickets in 17 Ashes Tests, believes the strength of their fast bowling resources gives them a chance in England.”I’m not going to be as critical as some people are,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “Their bowling attack is very strong and the fast bowlers are superbly talented. What’s interesting to me is that most of them are coming over with the A team to have a little roll and I think that’s very important. Last time they bowled too short so they’ll be able to learn the length to bowl.”There has been little doubt of late that Australia are building a formidable pace unit – although keeping players like James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Ryan Harris fit for extended periods is proving a challenge, while Pat Cummins continues to lurch from injury to injury. But without support from the top order, they are often going to be in the position of trying to keep the side in matches.Gough suspects that some of the batsmen on the trip will not be given much more of an opportunity to show they can handle Test cricket, but added that the decision to bolster the squad with the experience of Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin could prove a shrewd move.”These guys have an opportunity,” he said. “They had a poor series in India, got beaten by South Africa, and are now coming to England with a lot of them fighting for a spot in the Ashes back home. If they can get runs on the board, England will have a heck of a fight on their hands.””They’ve realised you can’t pick players who aren’t ready. Against bowlers like Anderson, Broad, Finn and Swann you need some experience. Rogers has been a fantastic player for many years and Haddin still deserves to be Australia’s No. 1.”The key to Australia’s run-scoring potential is the captain, Michael Clarke, who has enjoyed a phenomenal run of form over the last six months. Beyond his batting, however, Gough sees an intriguing match-up between him and Alastair Cook as captains. Trent Bridge will be Cook’s first Ashes match as a captain, while Clarke first lead Australia in the Sydney Test in 2011.”Clarke’s from the Shane Warne mould of captaincy. He likes to adventurous, sometimes a little controversial, he’s a very attacking captain which will be vital. The head-to-head with Alastair Cook, who is a different style of captain, will be fascinating. I think Clarke has handled things well so far, especially India with some of the trouble they had – I thought he came out as someone with a strong personality.”ESPNcricinfo have teamed up with Last Man Stands to offer one of our lucky readers the chance to play a celebrity LMS match at Lord’s nursery ground on Friday May 24. One team will be captained by Darren Gough, the other team by Ian Harvey. To be in with a chance of winning this unique opportunity, register a team to play Last Man Stands before May 17 and enter promotional code CRICINFO at www.lastmanstands.com

ESPNcricinfo previews the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers in Chennai

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran03-May-2012

Match facts

Friday, May 4, Chennai
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Cameron White’s return to form has helped Deccan Chargers to two victories•AFP

Big Picture

Dale Steyn, the world’s best fast bowler, has been Deccan Chargers’ outstanding performer this season, but their only wins in 2012 have come when Steyn’s had no impact, or worse: they left him out in their first success against Pune Warriors, and in the other victory, he had his poorest figures of the year – 4-0-46-0.The other common factor in Chargers’ wins have been the big-hitting of Cameron White, who shrugged off a year-long drought with a couple of powerful half-centuries. Chargers have now lifted themselves to five points, and one more triumph will see them cut the once yawning gap between them and at least two other teams at the bottom to a mere one point.While Chargers have picked up four points from their previous three matches, their opponents on Friday, Chennai Super Kings, have just one point from their previous three. Their last victory came two weeks ago and had given them a share of the top spot, but they have since slid seven points behind the leaders. What has been particularly disappointing for Super Kings fans is that a team filled with match-winning batsmen has only managed to post a score in excess of 170 twice this season. Super Kings, though, have perfected the art of peaking at the right time in the season, winning two titles despite not having been the best team in the league phase. Their fans will hope that repeats this year as well.

Form guide

(most recent first)
Chennai Super Kings: LLNrWW
Deccan Chargers: WLWNrL

Players to watch

Kumar Sangakkara’s decision to drop himself for a match on Sunday prompted plenty of debate. He was back in charge of the side for the game against Warriors, and his spirited fist pump after reaching his half-century shows how much performing in this series matters to him.For a side which has regularly found it difficult to put up big scores this season, Super Kings have utterly under-used Albie Morkel – he has only got 41 deliveries to face though he has played eight matches in 2012. Super Kings need to re-jig the order to give Morkel a little more time in the middle as they try to recapture the form of 2011.

Stats and trivia

• MS Dhoni had a strike-rate of 158.70 in the IPL last season but this year, he’s going at only 116.08. For more stats on Super Kings’ batting, click here.
• Amit Mishra had a solid IPL last year, but is struggling to match those performances this year. In 2011, he finished with 19 wickets at an economy-rate of 6.71; the corresponding figures this year are five at 7.91.

Quotes

“Always said I’d rather go for 40 and win than bowl great and lose!”

“We need to look at the personnel as well as this is the first time we’ve been challenged for form.”

Jon Kent and Yusuf Abdulla will not be retained by the Dolphins franchise while the Titans’ Blake Snijman had retired from the game

Firdose Moonda05-Apr-2011The Dolphins will not renew the contracts of allrounder Jon Kent and left-arm seamer Yusuf Abdulla for the 2011-2012 season. The decision was made in keeping with the franchise’s policy of blooding young talent, which started in February 2010 when they axed five senior players, including Andrew Hall.Kent, who will turn 32 next month and represented South Africa in two ODIs, has played for the Durban-based team for 11 seasons. He has a first-class batting average of 35.77 and was one of their strike bowlers. Although an experienced campaigner, he will be out of contract because the Dolphins have decided that they need to focus on development.’Unfortunately for Jon, the focus of Dolphins is to develop a team that will be successful in a couple of years. In order to achieve this, opportunity needs to be given to younger players to develop their skills and gain match experience,” Jesse Chellan, chief executive of Kwa-Zulu Natal Cricket Union said. “Going forward, it is a concern that Jon would block the path of a young player.”Abdulla, who made his name during second season of the IPL in 2009 in South Africa with the Kings XI Punjab, has played two Twenty-20s for South Africa, but has seen his career slide downhill in the past 18 months. He has struggled to recover from injury, battled with his weight and failed to make the Dolphins team this season. “Yusuf has struggled with fitness and form for the past two seasons and moving forward we will be investing in a younger generation of bowlers,” Chellan said.While both Kent and Abdulla have fallen out of favour with their franchises, up north at the Titans, Blake Snijman has voluntarily opted to end his career. Snijman announced his retirement, even though he is only 25 years old, in order to further his business interests. Snijman made his debut for Gauteng in the 2003-04 season, where he become an accomplished opening batsman. He leaves the game with a first-class batting average of 31.36 and a List A average of 32.75.He moved to the Titans during the 2006-07 season and was part of the squad that won the SuperSport Series in 2008-09, the MTN limited-overs competition twice and the Standard Bank Pro20 in 2007-08. “I have been giving my career much thought over recent months and have decided that I will be retiring from cricket at the end of the current 2010/2011 season. I would especially like to thank the players. I have loved spending time with them and building friendships,” Snijman said.

The messages to Nathan Bracken telling him it’s time to get a real job have been light-hearted, but he knows his mates are right

Peter English08-Apr-2010The messages to Nathan Bracken telling him it’s time to get a real job have been light-hearted, but he knows his mates are right. Bracken lost his Cricket Australia contract on Wednesday and will spend the winter without the security and status of the precious item he has owned for most of the past decade.At 32, having overcome some serious knee operations, he is effectively a state player despite being ranked as high as No.2 last year in the ICC’s one-day list. Bracken was surprised by the decision, figuring his limited-overs talents would be relied on heavily in the next 12 months, but he has been over-run by a group of younger, fitter and faster bowlers.He is not angry when he speaks about his omission and at times sounds like he is already in retirement, but he is definitely not stepping down. Just stepping back after five Tests and 116 ODIs, and beginning to think about what life might be like away from his bowling mark.It doesn’t mean he’s taking the news well. “It’s very disappointing to lose it,” he told Cricinfo. “As David Hussey said in the paper, he enjoys proving people wrong. I’m in a position where I’ve done that before and it feels pretty good. I want to prove that me being ranked No.1 in the world [in 2008] was no fluke, to show that I can get back there.”The cross from Andrew Hilditch and his selectors “changes things dramatically” for Bracken, who was planning to be at full fitness for the tour of the British Isles in June. He points out he was the one-day player of the year at the 2009 Allan Border Medal, but is realistic enough to know that if he heads to England during the winter it will be for the county Twenty20 competition.”I thought this year, with the amount of one-day cricket and the World Cup in India, that would really improve my chances of getting a contract,” he said. “The World Cup years are usually more in favour of the one-day players, but it didn’t quite go through as I thought it might.”He has already turned down a T20 contract with Northamptonshire for the winter because it clashed with Australia’s itinerary and his management is now scouting for other opportunities on and off the field. Having started a communications degree before his international career blossomed, he would enjoy a role in the media.Ideally he’d love to be a sideline reporter or a behind-the-scenes man who details the extensive preparation of high-profile players. “Missing a Cricket Australia contract gives me these sorts of opportunities,” he said. Support has come quickly from his followers on Twitter and Facebook and 47% of voters in a poll on Cricinfo’s Australia home page believe he didn’t deserve to lose his deal.Bracken isn’t sure what happens next in New South Wales’ contract process but he does know about the IPL auction later in the year. Injuries and Australian commitments ruled him out of the first two tournaments and his contract for this event was bought out by Bangalore during his knee rehabilitation. He is well-suited to a role as a Twenty20 bowler for hire, giving away less than seven runs an over and achieving a strike-rate of 19.8 during 19 internationals.While he was away from the Australian team Ryan Harris, Clint McKay and Doug Bollinger grew in popularity and won contracts along with Brett Lee and Shaun Tait. At New South Wales there is impressive younger talent in Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Trent Copeland. The environment has changed and Bracken is aware of it.”I’ve been lucky to be on a CA contract for the last eight or nine years and it’s been very good to be on them,” he said. “Missing out is never a great state to be in … It’s a chance to get back and re-set goals. It’s a time to sit back and have a look at a few things.”He is determined to be ready for New South Wales’ first game in October and the overall aim remains. “I want my contract back, plain and simple.”

Will Smeed sets tempo for visitors but Kent captain anchors 198-run chase

ECB Reporters Network07-Jun-2024Kent 198 for 6 (Billings 106*) beat Somerset 197 for 6 (Smeed 68, Kohler-Cadmore 42) by four wicketsA superb century by Sam Billings helped the Kent Spitfires to a four-wicket win over Somerset with four balls to spare, in a Vitality Blast thriller at Canterbury.Kent were reeling on 37 for four in the fifth over but they were rescued a sensational innings by Billings, who hit a career best 106 from 66 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes.The Spitfires’ skipper fell in the 19th, but with Kent needing just six from the last six balls, Joey Evison hit the winning runs to complete a brilliant comeback for the hosts, who closed on 198 for six.Earlier Will Smeed blasted 68 from 30 balls as Somerset posted 197 for six, while Tom Kohler-Cadmore was the next highest scorer with 42. Having shipped 95 in eight overs for the opening wicket, Kent reined the visitors in slightly as Matt Parkinson took two for 36 and Zak Crawley took four catches, equalling Kent’s Blast record.Somerset were asked to bat and Smeed rode his luck at times, but he creamed Evison for 18 in the eighth over, only to hit the final delivery to Tawanda Muyeye on the boundary.Tom Banton went three balls later for 26, when Marcus O’Riordan saw him charge down the wicket and had him stumped off a wide. Parkinson then got Tom Abell for 12 when Crawley covered 40 yards to reel him in at deep midwicket.Sean Dickson made 26 from 18 before he skyed Parkinson to Crawley, who then took his third catch when Kohler-Cadmore miscued a full toss from Beyers Swanepoel.Lewis Gregory went for 12 when he hit Bartlett’s penultimate ball of the innings to Crawley on the cow corner boundary, but Crawley then hit the first ball of the Kent reply, from Overton, straight to Roelof van der Merwe.Overton then bowled Daniel Bell-Drummond for three and took a brilliant diving catch off Sonny Baker to remove Muyeye for 15 before O’Riordan went for 14, when he hit Jake Ball straight to Smeed at fly slip.Billings and Denly dragged Kent back into it with an exhilarating stand of 109, before the latter went for 32 when he tried to ramp Ball and was caught by Baker.The 18th over proved pivotal. Billings smeared Gregory through cover to reach his century and he celebrated by leaping in the air before doing a baby-rocking motion. Evison then hit successive fours to leave Kent needing just 10 from the last two.When Billings was caught by Dickson on the boundary Kent still needed six off the last over, but Evison cut van der Merwe’s first ball for four and scrambled two off the next ball to complete a stunning win.

The tournament enjoyed a resurgent season but cricket’s crammed schedule will continue to present challenges

Tristan Lavalette06-Feb-2023Twelve months ago, there was a lot of unrest over the maligned BBL after a second straight season was ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.Everyone, including BBL general manager Alistair Dobson, seemed to acknowledge that the tournament’s 12th edition was going to be a pivotal juncture magnified by Cricket Australia’s vital media rights negotiations in the backdrop.Fast forward a year, in the aftermath of a riveting season capped by a fitting finale at a heaving Optus Stadium, the BBL is glowing amid a stunning revival to rekindle its heyday from mid-last decade.Here are some of the main reasons for the BBL regaining its standing as a hot ticket in the congested Australian sports summer after being mired in uncertainty in recent years and some of the questions that remain.

Return of homegrown stars

Australia’s best players have rarely ever been available to play in the BBL. Finally, David Warner returned after nine years, but it was his great mate Steven Smith who stole the show with a spectacular whirlwind of a stint to become the marquee drawcard.Related

• Dan Christian: 'T20 is the key to ensuring other formats survive'

• 'Mate, we can do it. I have full faith in ourselves'

• Peirson 'immensely proud' of Heat's late season revival despite falling short of title

• Turner puts Scorchers' success down to 'confidence in the depth of our squad'

Smith and Warner, the latter who had been courted by the cashed-up new UAE T20 league, were paid a lot of money to play in the BBL, but it was worth every dollar. Some of the returning Australian stars struggled during their short stints, including Warner and Strikers skipper Travis Head, but they lit a fuse under the latter stages of the regular season during what is perennially a dreary period.The star power provided a much-needed injection of talent into the BBL after a slew of overseas players left for the new UAE and South African T20 leagues. The competition was upended with lowly Heat storming into title calculations after the inclusions of skipper Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw.By any metric the returns of some of Australia’s best and most popular players was a huge success. It’s well and good to covet top international players but, ultimately, homegrown heroes whip up local interest.South Africa controversially pulling out of a three-match ODI series set for mid-January – to ensure its players were available for their new T20 league – proved a godsend for CA.Steven Smith made two stunning centuries•Getty Images

New-name match-winners

But, as in the past, the BBL showed it wasn’t all about the A-listers. Some players took the chance to make a name for themselves. Left-arm spinner Paddy Dooley and left-arm quick Spencer Johnson led the way as key parts of Hurricanes’ and Heat’s attacks respectively.Johnson’s team-mate, Josh Brown, meanwhile produced one of the most memorable individual performance of the season with his fierce 62 off 23 balls against Sixers.And in the final itself, Nick Hobson, an accountant by trade who had taken annual leave to play the BBL, composed himself after a mix-up Ashton Turner to help take Scorchers to victory. “I’ll come back the week after,” he said of returning to the day job. “I’ll let it all decompress.”

Should a dedicated BBL window be created?

It’s become an annual pastime to debate what the ideal Australian cricket summer should look like, but this season might have provided answers.In other words, a clear window for the BBL after the traditional New Year’s SCG Test is probably optimal. But with cricket’s calendar increasingly brimming to capacity, it’s not always going to be possible for Australia’s Test players to be available.There will be a clash next year with West Indies set to be playing a two-Test series in the latter half of January. While it’s laudable that Test cricket is still a major priority for CA, it feels like a matter of time before they follow the lead of several other nations and dedicate space for their T20 league to ensure the BBL’s long-term viability, although it appears unlikely under the recently confirmed Future Tours Programme with the expectation that, on average, every other season will see significant clashes.Spencer Johnson was one of the breakout stars•Getty Images

Bigger crowds help turn around BBL’s perception

Tune into a BBL game in recent years and often the first thing that stood out was the near empty grandstands. Of course, some of that had to do with the Covid-19 situation but the sterile surrounds further fuelled the BBL’s spiralling reputation with crowds having already started to dip prior to the pandemic.With Australia’s strict policies on Covid-19 effectively binned, crowds returned with around a million fans attending games this season to beat the combined turnouts of the last two seasons.The crowds have, of course, helped create better spectacles which have translated well onto television screens, where ratings have jumped.The BBL has undoubtedly benefited from a scrapping of Covid-19 policies, particularly in Western Australia where Scorchers only played five home games in the previous two seasons due to the state’s hard-line pandemic rules. With WA’s hard border removed, the beloved Scorchers attracted healthy home crowds all season, including around 95,000 fans for the two finals staged at Optus Stadium.It only added to a growing belief that Scorchers are more popular among parochial West Australians than the Australian cricket team.Several marquee BBL games, such as Strikers’ annual New Year’s Eve game at the Adelaide Oval and the Melbourne Derby at the MCG, also reeled in the masses to help turn around the competition’s perception.

Thrillers and controversies create constant headlines

An opening night thriller between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars foreshadowed what was ahead for a madcap BBL season.There were numerous nerve-jangling finishes, while records were made along the way, including Strikers’ epic chase down of 230 against Hurricanes at home. Thunder, too, were in the record books but for all the wrong reasons after being humiliated for just 15 against Strikers in a disastrous performance that made global headlines.Michael Neser’s contentious juggled catch on the boundary and Adam Zampa’s attempted run-out of Tom Rogers at the non-striker’s end also sparked furious debate worldwide. All of this attention helped BBL lift firmly back to relevance and become an almost daily talking point.Matthew Short’s century in a huge chase was one of the moments of the season•Getty Images

Dud Test summer created an appetite for the BBL

When the BBL memorably started peaking in 2015-16, marked by a still record BBL crowd of 80,000 for the Melbourne Derby, there had been a major thirst for competitive cricket on the back of a lacklustre Test series between Australia and West Indies.Similarly, this Test summer was mostly one-sided with West Indies again out of their depth and South Africa enduring a rare misfire in Australia. Much like seven years ago, the BBL stepped up and delivered a riveting season filled with instant classic games and never-ending storylines.But it has proven harder for the BBL to find the same amount of oxygen during summers involving England and India, which are likely to get more bloated in the future.

Is a scaled down BBL needed?

After such a success, it can be now pondered whether shortening the BBL season from its current 61 games to 43 – a key plank in the new media rights deal with plans for it to be implemented as early as next season – was done in haste. Sticking with the 14-game home and away format for each side has advocates.”I have no problem with reducing the season but I think the current format is fairer,” Strikers coach Jason Gillespie told ESPNcricinfo. “I think the length of the BBL could have been condensed without losing games by having more doubles headers and teams playing back-to-back games.”That type of schedule can better test out a BBL list, where currently there are a few players who don’t often get a look in.”But a shorter season is happening, and could yet start next summer if everything can be put in place, and time will tell if it’s the right formula amid cricket’s changing landscape.

Khawaja may not bat in the fourth innings as Queensland need just 83 to win after Kuhnemann and Sandhu star with the ball

Alex Malcolm25-Nov-2021South Australia skipper Travis Head has made a major statement in his bid for the final batting spot in Australia’s Test team scoring 101 but Gurinder Sandhu’s career-best six-wicket haul put Queensland on the brink of a dominant victory at Karen Rolton Oval.South Australia were forced to follow-on early on day three after folding in their first-innings to be all out for 102 with Matthew Kuhnemann taking his third five-wicket haul in three matches. Queensland’s lead of 197 left captain Usman Khawaja with no choice but to ask South Australia to bat again. But in an unusual twist of fate, it handed Head the opportunity to make amends for his first innings failure and denied Khawaja himself the same chance with both men fighting for the final middle-order spot in Australia’s team for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.While national chairman of selectors George Bailey insisted last week that the selection panel was already leaning towards one of the two prior to this match and that they were not involved in a bat-off for a spot in the lead-up to the Test match, Head’s hundred would undoubtedly have made an impression.On a surface that had been extremely difficult for batting, where only Marnus Labuschagne and Bryce Street had scored more than 42, Head withstood Queensland’s relentless pressure making a fluent 101 from 149 balls with 11 boundaries.It was his second Sheffield Shield century of the season, adding to his staggering record at Karen Rolton Oval. In nine Shield innings at the ground, he has made three centuries and two half-centuries and averages 79.25. That doesn’t include his 230 in a Marsh Cup game there earlier this season. His first-class average at Australia’s Test venues is 36.35. But this century came on a pitch far less friendly for batting than some of his previous at the venue.The rest of South Australia’s top order were suffocated by Sandhu whose height and accuracy proved incredibly difficult to handle. He took five of the first six wickets in the second innings to claim just his second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and his first since his debut way back in 2013.Harry Nielsen fought doggedly alongside Head making 42 while Nathan McAndrew made 37 not out to ensure Queensland would need to bat again. Kuhnemann picked up three more scalps to claim eight for the match before Sandhu returned to take the final wicket and complete his career-best figures to leave the Bulls needing just 88 runs to win.Street and Joe Burns survived seven overs to stumps to leave the Bulls needing just 83 for victory on the final day.

They will receive a monthly stipend of PKR 25,000 (approx US$150) each from August to October

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-2020To fight with the economic challenges thrown up by the Covid-19 pandemic, the PCB has announced a three-month financial support package for 25 unemployed national women cricketers. Under this scheme, the players who meet the eligibility criteria such as featuring in the 2019-20 domestic season, and are presently without a contract for the 2020-21 season as well as a day job or business, will receive a monthly stipend of PKR 25,000 (approx US$150) each from August to October.In June, the PCB had announced a list of women’s contracted players, which included nine centrally contracted cricketers and as many emerging contracted players. These are 12-month contracts, which commenced on July 1. The latest PCB decision takes the count of women cricketers receiving PCB support to 43.”The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a halt to all women cricketing activities worldwide. This has adversely affected our women cricketers, some of whom are the sole breadwinners of their families,” Urooj Mumtaz Khan, the head of the PCB women’s wing, said in a statement issued by the board.”As the women’s game is making steady progress, it was imperative that the PCB came up with this scheme to not only protect and support our players but to also make them understand and realise that the PCB values them and will look after them in difficult times.”Forty-eight players featured in the 2019-20 national domestic season out of which 25 became eligible to benefit from the scheme. The remaining players are either contracted by the PCB or employed elsewhere.”In May, the PCB had offered one-time support to 161 stakeholders through an identical scheme, including former men’s first-class cricketers, match officials, scorers and curators.

Kings XI Punjab ride on KL Rahul’s blistering half-century and Nicholas Pooran’s finishing job to sign off with six-wicket win

The Report by Peter Della Penna05-May-201912:32

What went wrong for Kings XI in IPL 2019 after a promising start?

A blistering half-century from KL Rahul to begin their chase ensured Kings XI Punjab avoided the wooden spoon, scoring a consolation six-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings to finish their IPL 2019 campaign on a high. Rahul’s 71 off 36 balls as part of a 108-run opening stand with a sedate Chris Gayle powered Kings XI towards the target of 171, eventually knocked off with 12 balls to spare.The main objective for Super Kings, though, was to ensure the second innings lasted at least 14.3 overs, which would ensure their spot in the top two of the standings and an automatic berth in Tuesday’s Qualifier 1. Nicholas Pooran had threatened to overhaul the target in that span after taking over the reins from Rahul with some sensational big-hitting, but the spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja continued slowed down the Kings XI charge long enough to get the job done.KL Rahul got to his half-century in just 19 balls•BCCI

Rahul’s innings turned Faf du Plessis’ superb 96 off 54 balls into a footnote. But the fall of du Plessis, Sam Curran’s third wicket on the day, ground the Super Kings innings to a halt at the death. They managed just seven runs off the last nine balls thanks to the brilliance of Curran and Mohammed Shami. It set up a cinch of a chase for Kings XI to give the home fans a bit of cheer at the end of another season in which they fell short of the playoffs.

Du Plessis turns it on

The South African’s innings was classically paced, easing his way to a half-century off 37 balls before bringing out the fireworks. Du Plessis added 120 for the second wicket with Suresh Raina, who made a 34-ball half-century of his own, to steer Super Kings through a majority of the innings after Shane Watson had lost his off stump to Curran in the Powerplay.ALSO READ: Raina’s return to form has made up for Watson’s strugglesBut Du Plessis ramped up the intensity from the 15th over. He charged M Ashwin twice in that frame, driving him for four and six before unleashing more carnage on Andrew Tye in the next over, cracking the first three balls for two fours and a six. Another pair of sixes off Curran took him into the 90s, the latter of which was flat-batted over the leg side to take him one shot away from a century – he had added 46 off the next 17 balls after reaching 50. But that’s when the wheels came off, both for du Plessis and Super Kings.Faf du Plessis was dismissed by Sam Curran when in sight of a century•BCCI

The Curran and Shami death choke

The England allrounder made his presence felt at various stages of the Super Kings innings. It was Curran who made the initial breakthrough. Raina then became his second victim when he got too cute trying to flick a slower ball past short fine-leg that instead became a simple catch for Shami on the ring.But his finest ball was the follow-up to du Plessis after a half-tracker had been belted over the leg side. Curran speared a yorker into the pads of du Plessis, who couldn’t get his bat down in time as the ball ricocheted off his toes on to the stumps, leaving the batsman bundled over on the ground.Shami then built off Curran’s trio of wickets in the final over with a pair of his own. Ambati Rayudu clipped a full ball in the air to deep midwicket before Kedar Jadhav flailed over a yorker that cannoned into off stump for a golden duck. Despite having plenty of wickets in hand thanks to the platform set by Raina and du Plessis, Super Kings stumbled in the last two overs leaving a well below-par total for Kings XI to get.

Harbhajan’s Jekyll & Hyde spell

During the Powerplay, it looked like Harbhajan Singh might be the reason for Super Kings to keep their fingers crossed for a Mumbai Indians loss to Kolkata Knight Riders later in the day to ensure a top-two finish. Harbhajan was pummelled by Rahul in his first two overs after opening with the new ball.After two sixes by Rahul to round off the second over, the batsman showed nifty footwork to carve Harbhajan over the off and leg side for three straight boundaries to start the fourth. He then charged Harbhajan off the fourth ball to hit him inside out over extra cover for six, and then ended the over with another straight drive for six to bring up a 19-ball half-century as the score stood at 60 for no loss.At that stage, Kings XI needed a very achievable 111 off 57 balls to make Super Kings sweat on the Mumbai result for a place in the top two.That equation was 65 off 27 balls by the time Harbhajan was reintroduced in the 11th. Within four balls, he was on a hat-trick having claimed both Rahul and the far more sedate Chris Gayle. Rahul miscued a drive after charging down the pitch before Gayle flat-batted a pull to long-on. Harbhajan fetched a third in his next over as Mayank Agarwal pulled him to Jadeja on the leg-side rope. Having conceded 41 off his first two overs, he took 3 for 16 off his final two to at least stem the bleeding.Pooran’s fiery cameo followed, in which he blasted three sixes in his 36 off 22 balls before Jadeja claimed him with seven needed for victory. Having taken three key wickets in the first innings, Curran appropriately finished off the chase with a boundary.