Under-fire NCA states team management and general manager of operations were aware of all developments

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jul-2018India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha is set to undergo surgery on his right shoulder in Manchester in the last week of July or early August. There is no timeline for his return to action after that, but it is likely that he won’t be able to even lift a bat for two months after such a surgery. This bulletin was made public on the BCCI website on Saturday, three days after Saha was left out of the England tour with no reason given.Even the head of the national selection panel MSK Prasad seemed to have been unaware of the shoulder injury. A day after the selection meeting in England, Prasad was quoted by the Kolkata-based as saying that Saha’s thumb fracture had not healed in time. However, it emerged later that Saha had been struggling with a shoulder injury for close to six months.According to the bulletin, Saha complained of pain in his shoulder after returning from South Africa in January with a left hamstring injury. An MRI scan revealed a labral tear, for which he was given an “ultrasound-guided injection”. The BCCI bulletin however doesn’t say what the injection was.Saha was discharged from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru after being declared fully fit on March 19, but he injured the shoulder again on May 7 during an IPL game. Another ultrasound-guided injection was administered, this time under the supervision of the Sunrisers Hyderabad physiotherapist. Saha was forced to miss give IPL games and visited the NCA for rehab again.The NCA physio Ashish Kaushik found the shoulder to be in the same condition as it had been before treatment in early February. When Saha recovered and finally played for Sunrisers again, on May 25, he fractured his thumb. When the BCCI announced, on June 2, that Saha was going to miss the one-off Test against Afghanistan, it made no mention of the shoulder injury. The thumb fully healed by July 2. Saha reported to NCA the next day, and it emerged that his shoulder condition had worsened.On July 6 another steroid injection was administered, but it failed to heal the shoulder. On July 13, according to the bulletin, Saha was declared unfit and recommended surgery. Five days later, the selectors met to pick the team, but the BCCI didn’t make a mention of the injury to Saha in its release.”The entire course of treatment and consultation that was carried out at the NCA was performed in co-ordination with the India team management and the GM of operations,” the bulletin from the under-fire NCA said. The team management includes captain, vice-captain and coach. The GM of operations is Saba Karim, the former India wicketkeeper.

Foreign nationals ejected from domestic T20 for “using their mobiles in a suspicious manner”

Madushka Balasuriya27-Aug-2018A group of foreign nationals were ejected from an ongoing SLC T20 League fixture, Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed, after “suspicious individuals” were reported to the board’s Anti-Corruption Unit. Though no approaches are believed to have been made to players, SLC has since taken steps to tighten anti-corruption measures at match venues and team hotels.”Sri Lanka Cricket has also notified the team managers and the players taking part in the tournament to inform SLC, immediately, of any approach by those suspicious individuals,” a SLC release said. “In the meantime, the Anti-Corruption Unit of the SLC has already taken steps to refresh the players on the Anti-Corruption Code of Sri Lanka Cricket.”While SLC was unable to confirm the exact numbers or nationalities of the individuals in question, it is understood that they were from the subcontinent. The suspicious use of mobile phones is what is believed to have led the tournament director flagging the individuals to SLC’s Anti-Corruption Unit, who then asked police to eject those under suspicion.”There were a few – we think Indian nationals – at the ground, who had been using their mobiles in a suspicious manner. Immediately we brought them to the notice of the police, who proceeded to eject them from the stadium,” SLC CEO Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo.While it is unclear what exactly constitutes using mobiles “in a suspicious manner”, it is understood that officials have been told to keep a look out for excessive use of mobiles, while de Silva noted that officials are particularly vigilant in the case of foreign nationals.”When there are foreign – South Asian – spectators at the matches you’re always a bit more suspicious,” he explained. “And during domestic matches, when matches are not being broadcast terrestrially, we’re especially cautious. We don’t know for sure if they were match-fixers, we were only suspicious and we didn’t want to take any chances.”While these games are not being broadcast terrestrially, they are on local cable and are being streamed on YouTube, which means they are accessible to a global audience. That global availability would make the tournament more attractive to bookies.Also, de Silva said the number of spectators at the ground for the game during which people were ejected stood around 600. Given the number is usually significantly smaller at domestic games in Sri Lanka, this too could have piqued the interest – and subsequently the suspicion – of officials.The SLC T20 League features four teams representing Galle, Colombo, Dambulla and Kandy, and is set to conclude on September 9 in Colombo.

Kyle Abbott registered his best bowling figures of the season as Hampshire completed a 114-run victory over Worcestershire

ECB Reporters Network06-Sep-2018
ScorecardKyle Abbott registered his best bowling figures of the season as Hampshire completed a 114-run victory over Worcestershire in the Specsavers County Championship relegation battle at New Road.Abbott ended with 6 for 39 from 14 overs as Worcestershire, who resumed on 120 for 8, were dismissed for 133.Abbott claimed one of the two remaining wickets to fall as he followed up yesterday’s first hat-trick of his career to finish with eight wickets in the game.Hampshire’s third win of the season earned them 19 points and lifted them above Lancashire into fifth spot.It enabled them to complete a double over their opponents and was the perfect response after last week’s hammering by an innings and 52 runs against current champions Essex at Chelmsford.Their experienced international pace trio of Abbott, Dale Steyn and Fidel Edwards were a handful throughout for the home batsmen in seamer-friendly conditions. Ball dominated bat throughout with the only half-century of the game registered by Hampshire wicket-keeper Tom Alsop.”It was a great effort. The first morning, we knew it was going to be tough so to get 190 was a good effort and then to bowl them out and take a 70 run lead into our second innings was crucial,” Craig White, the Hampshire coach, said.”The partnership between Alsop and Dawson in our second innings was fantastic and then Abbott’s spell last night sort of cracked things open for us. There were a lot of key performances and it was generally a great team effort. Everyone chipped in.”You play a brilliant game like we did against Nottinghamshire, you perform like we did against Essex and then like we did today. It is so up and down. But when we are on form, we know we can match anyone.”Whilst Hampshire have significantly boosted their hopes of survival, Worcestershire are now facing an uphill task to avoid an instant return to Division Two after back to back defeats. They picked up only three bowling bonus points from this game and remain in bottom spot.The challenge to survive does not get any easier as champions elect Surrey head to New Road next week ahead of a visit to Essex and the final game of the campaign at home to Yorkshire.Worcestershire resumed on 120 for 8 with Ross Whiteley unbeaten on 37 and Wayne Parnell 17 not out. A cover drive for four by Parnell against Steyn brought up the half century stand.But Abbott’s first delivery of the day accounted for Whiteley who was beaten all ends up and bowled without addition to his overnight score.Parnell and last man Dillon Pennington hung around for nine overs. But it was Steyn who ended proceedings when Parnell on 26 nicked through to Jimmy Adams at second slip.

The left-arm seamer was sidelined from the Test series against Bangladesh after sustaining a groin injury during the third ODI

Liam Brickhill28-Oct-2018Left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava has been ruled out of Zimbabwe’s two-Test series against Bangladesh after he sustained a groin injury during the third one-day international on Friday. Ngarava, 20, was in line to make his Test debut, but his injury means that Chris Mpofu has been called up as a replacement.

Zimbabwe Test squad

Hamilton Masakadza (capt), Brian Chari, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Peter Moor, Regis Chakabva, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, John Nyumbu, Wellington Masakadza, Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu

“Ngarava sustained a groin injury and also complained of pain in the gluteal region after our last ODI,” said Zimbabwe national team physiotherapist Anesu Mupotaringa. “Even with aggressive treatment, he will not recover in time for the Test series.””Ngarava is part of our plan to deliberately inject youth into the team and he has worked hard on this tour, on the sidelines, readying himself for an opportunity to play,” said Zimbabwe convener of selectors, Walter Chawaguta.”We had plans to possibly rotate our seamers and rest those who have played all matches since the tour of South Africa and this would have presented an opportunity for Ngarava.”As part of their preparations for the Test series, the Zimbabweans will take on Bangladesh A in a three-day practice match starting on Monday at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The first Test begins on 3 November in Sylhet, while the second starts on 11 November in Dhaka.Chawaguta is confident Mpofu’s experience will prove useful in the series. The 32-year-old seamer has played 15 Test matches since making his debut against Bangladesh in Chittagong in January 2005. He has been on three further tours to Bangladesh since then.”Mpofu was with the team in the build-up to South Africa and, having toured Bangladesh before, he would know how to quickly adjust to conditions here,” said Chawaguta. “He is very experienced and would give us an opportunity to continue with our set plan of rotating our pace bowling department.”Zimbabwe suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI series against Bangladesh, and Chawaguta said that they would look to make amends in the Tests with the senior players expected to lead the way.”The team was obviously saddened by our performance in the ODI series and we are looking to make amends during the Test matches,” he said.”It’s a different ball game demanding a specific set of skills. We have decent Test experience in the squad and are calling on our experienced players to carry the team and show the younger players how to play Test cricket.”

Two catches and a stumping build on brilliant debut century as England keeper settles into primary role

George Dobell in Galle07-Nov-2018Ben Foakes produced another flawless performance on the second day on his Test debut at Galle, adding two catches and a sharp stumping to the maiden Test century that he completed in the morning session, to help cement England’s dominance of the first Test against Sri Lanka.After resuming on 87 not out overnight, Foakes made it through to three figures with just England’s No.11 James Anderson left for company, before combining with Anderson once again at the start of Sri Lanka’s reply, holding onto a second-ball catch to set the tone for a fine England performance with the ball.By the close, England led by 177 with ten wickets left in hand, and Foakes was able to reflect on a remarkable couple of days.”I was pretty calm this morning with Leachy [Jack Leach] there,” Foakes told Sky Sports, “then obviously I had about five [runs] to go when Jimmy came out, so I got a bit nervous. But he nicked one just short, so it was meant to be my day. It’s amazing to get it.”

A dismissal made in Somerset

Foakes’ glovework took the plaudits, but the most treasured catch of the day was Jos Buttler’s snaring of Dilruwan Perera in the covers, as it came off the bowling of his former Somerset team-mate, Jack Leach.
“I was running at him shouting ‘caught Buttler, bowled Leach.'” Leach said. “Those were my exact words. That was a nice moment for me and I hope for him, as well.
“To be out there with him is something very special for me. It’s brilliant. We started at U11s together. That would have been the first ‘ct Buttler, bowled Leach’.
“Obviously I was gutted when he had to leave Somerset. We’ve always had it as an aim for playing again together. Hopefully for England. Hopefully for Somerset. I’m working on that! To be in an England short together is very special. It makes us proud and a lot of people back home proud, as well.”

After thumping a pull through midwicket to move to 99, Foakes reached his hundred with a firm push down the ground off Suranga Lakmal that eluded Rangana Herath at mid-on to run away to the boundary.”I thought I had enough on it,” he said. “I saw Herath running around and he didn’t look like he going to get it, but I wasn’t sure if Jimmy was about stop running, so if it wasn’t going for four I might get run out. But it was such a relief and a great feeling.”Foakes’ efforts were witnessed by his brother, who arrived in Galle on Monday night, with his mother due to join them soon after the close of play. It has all made for a celebratory performance from a cricketer whose primary suit, his glovework, attracted plaudits as Sri Lanka were rolled aside for 203.”Obviously getting a few runs settled me down,” he said. “But getting in the game early as a keeper is awesome and obviously with Jimmy bowling you know you’re in the game. So to get the first one early was great.”While picking off an edge from the seam of Anderson was fairly routine, it was a different challenge to cope with England’s three-pronged spin attack, featuring an offspinner, left-arm spinner and, in particular, a legspinner in Adil Rashid.”it’s very different [to facing them in the nets], but the same principles,” Foakes said. “When I came out I was trying to cram it all in, especially with Rashid as he’s got some good variations. But you just have to keep clear in your head and do the basics, basically.”So far, Foakes added, the pitch hadn’t played quite to its reputation as a spinner’s paradise, but he reckoned could all change if the sun comes out for any length of time in the coming days.Ben Foakes completed the stumping of Dinesh Chandimal•Getty Images

“As it dries out it loses that tackiness, so it’s spinning quicker, and the odd one skids on,” he said. “When it’s wet it’s easier to keep as it’s consistent spin and spinning slow.”It depends what’s overhead, if it’s cloudy it won’t dry out as quickly but if it bakes for two days it will turn more and more throughout the game and be difficult for batting.”And if the sun does come out, then Foakes admitted he may need to change his own preparations to maintain his stamina.”I was speaking to Matt Prior before the day because I did my normal pre-game routine and I was knackered,” he said. “So it’s about limiting that. He was saying the second you feel good, get yourself in [to the pavilion]. That will be my plan going forward.”

The Ashes series against Australia will once again contested on a points system across all three formats

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-2018England women will host West Indies next summer as part of their build-up to the Ashes, with the series against Australia once again contested on a points system across all three formats.Taunton is set to host its first women’s Test since 2006, while the Ashes will begin on July 2 at Leicestershire’s Grace Road ground, venue for the first two of three ODIs. Canterbury will be the location for the third ODI, while the three T20Is will be held at Chelmsford, Hove and Bristol.

Women’s fixtures 2019

• Thursday June 6 – 1st ODI v West Indies, Fischer County Ground, Leicester

• Sunday June 9 – 2nd ODI v West Indies, Blackfinch New Road, Worcester

• Thursday June 13 – 3rd ODI v West Indies, Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford

• Tuesday June 18 – 1st IT20 v West Indies, County Ground, Northampton

• Friday June 21 – 2nd IT20 v West Indies, County Ground, Northampton

• Tuesday June 25 – 3rd IT20 v West Indies, County Ground, Derby

• Tuesday July 2 – 1st Women’s Ashes ODI, Fischer County Ground, Leicester

• Thursday July 4 – 2nd Women’s Ashes ODI, Fischer County Ground, Leicester

• Sunday July 7 – 3rd Women’s Ashes ODI, Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury

• Thursday July 18 – Women’s Ashes Test, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton

• Friday July 26 – 1st Women’s Ashes IT20, Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford

• Sunday July 28 – 2nd Women’s Ashes IT20, 1st Central County Ground, Hove

• Wednesday July 31 – 3rd Women’s Ashes IT20, Brightside Ground, Bristol

• Sunday September 1 – Kia Super League Finals Day, 1st Central County Ground, Hove

The West Indies visit will feature three ODIs – which will form part of the ICC Women’s Championship and go towards qualification for the 2021 World Cup – and three T20Is, starting on June 6 at Grace Road. Worcestershire’s New Road ground will host the second ODI, before the series moves to Chelmsford. The teams will then play two T20Is at Northampton, before concluding with a game at Derby.The Kia Super League, the ECB’s domestic women’s T20 competition that is set to be replaced by The Hundred from 2020, will take place in August, with Finals Day at Hove confirmed for September 1.Clare Connor, the ECB director of England women’s cricket, said: “As we have just seen in front of record crowds at the ICC Women’s World T20 in West Indies, both West Indies and Australia will be sure to provide a great challenge for us as well as skillful, entertaining cricket for the growing fan-base for the women’s game.”Every Ashes summer is a privilege for us all to be part of and we’re looking forward to collaborating with all our venues to ensure we deliver high quality match-day experiences throughout the summer of 2019.”England, who finished as beaten finalists at the Women’s World T20 for the third time in four editions of the competition, are also due to play series in Sri Lanka and India before the 2019 home season.

It is understood that the session on Tuesday was not yet the official fitness test, and a final decision could also be made only on the morning of the match

Sidharth Monga in Sydney01-Jan-2019On a day when Australia went through an optional training session and India gave it a complete miss, one man resumed his race against time to make it to the Sydney Test. India would have given training a miss on the first day of the year, irrespective of the happy scoreline of 2-1, but they might have a happier headache if R Ashwin, who turned up at the SCG indoor nets on the team’s day off, is fit and ready for selection. Ashwin was accompanied by physio Patrick Farhart and trainer Shankar Basu to the SCG even as Australia wound up their optional training session.Ashwin injured himself on the fourth evening of the Adelaide Test, and he further aggravated the injury as Australia kept India on the field for almost the whole fifth day, before the visitors sealed their first win of the series. Ashwin went on to miss both the Perth and Melbourne Tests with the “left-sided abdominal strain”.It is understood that the session on Tuesday, where the trio spent more than an hour in the nets, was not yet the official fitness test. A final decision might not be made even on Wednesday when the team reconvenes to train for the series decider that begins on Thursday. The latest update on Ashwin’s fitness was given by captain Virat Kohli on Sunday, moments after the Melbourne Test, which India won, making sure they can’t lose the series now.”I think Ashwin’s very close to being match-fit,” Kohli had said. “He’s been bowling a lot of overs, and I’m sure these next four days will make him even stronger. So regardless of it being the last Test match, he will be willing to push himself and start for the team but again it depends on what kind of pitch we get in Sydney.”The last few words might be crucial to Ashwin’s chances even if he is fully fit. If Ashwin’s selection depends on the pitch, India might possibly have made their minds up to go with Ravindra Jadeja should they deem only one spinner is required.Sydney has been through a warm week, Tim Paine said he expected a dry pitch, and given that Australia need a result and they have added another spinner-batsman [Marnus Labuschagne] to their squad, don’t be surprised if India feel the need to play two spinners themselves. If India do play the extra spinner, they might consider including Hardik Pandya as the seam-bowling insurance. Pandya could take the place of Rohit Sharma, who has gone back to India for the birth of his daughter. If they want to play to preserve the lead, India might choose differently. All that depends on how they read the pitch on Wednesday and Thursday morning.

The 35-year-old allrounder will continue playing white-ball cricket, he said on Twitter

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jan-2019South African allrounder Ryan McLaren, 35, announced Thursday that he is retiring from first-class cricket. McLaren posted a screengrab on Twitter where he said it was the “right time” and that it was “time for some white ball fun.””I have learned from many to know when it’s the right time. The time has come for me to retire from first-class cricket. I’m grateful to share a changeroom with some of the best our country has produced. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for the support I have had from my wife, family, coaches and teammates both in SA and in county cricket. I have absolutely loved every part of what this game has taught me…time for some white ball fun now,” McLaren’s screengrab read.
The fast-bowling allrounder enjoyed reasonable success in limited-overs cricket for South Africa between 2009 and 2014, before being left out of their 2015 World Cup squad. He played only two Tests, which came four years apart. During his second Test against Australia in 2014, he picked up a mild concussion after being hit by a bouncer, and missed the rest of what would be his last Test series.He is, however, a well-travelled first-class cricketer. He debuted with Easterns in 2003-04 under Allan Donald, played for the Knights from 2005 to 2014, and briefly moved to Dolphins, before returning to finish with Knights, who he represented at the start of the year against Cape Cobras. McClaren also has stints in County cricket, including one as a Kolpak player for Kent between 2007 and 2009. Most recently, he played for Hampshire and Lancashire.In all, McLaren played 154 first-class matches to score 6298 runs at 33.86 and took 459 wickets at 27.61.

All you need to know about Lt General (retd) Ravi Thodge, the newest member of the Committee of Administrators

Nagraj Gollapudi22-Feb-20191:06

Will take a call on World Cup match in consultation with government – Vinod Rai

On Thursday, the Supreme Court added Lieutenant General (retd) Ravi Thodge as the third member of the Committee of Administrators (CoA). Thodge’s addition was a step towards resolving the differences between the two original members – Vinod Rai, the former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and Diana Edulji, the former India women captain.Thodge says he’ll take the challenge on “like a good soldier”, and he got his hands dirty straightaway. He was part of the CoA meeting in Delhi today (he attended via tele-conference) where the panel took the unanimous decision to send a letter to the ICC asking the global body to support the BCCI’s call to “sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates”.Here’s a lowdown of Thodge’s background, and why he accepted the court’s offer to join the CoA.Where does Thodge hail form?Born in Yavatmal (Maharashtra), Thodge studied in Sainik school and graduated from the Indian Military Academy in 1977.What is his army background?Thodge joined the Gorkha Regiment in 1977 and quit in 2016 after 39 years in the Army, by which time he had reached the post of Lieutenant General. He received the Param Vishist Seva Medal, a honour conferred by the Indian government for the highest order of distinguished service.Thodge has had extensive experience of being at the helm of fighting insurgency in various parts of India and overseas, including Punjab, Kashmir, North-east India and Sri Lanka.Before he quit the army, Thodge’s last job was that of Master General of Ordnance from 2014 to 2016. The position’s key job is to keep the army operationally fit. Thereafter he has been a consultant to India’s Defence Ministry.Why he accepted the offerWhat strengths does he bring to the CoA?Thodge believes his extensive administrative experience in the army, spanning nearly four decades, can aid the CoA in managing the BCCI. “I will have to see, learn and then take my call. With so much of experience it is about moulding yourself to the job.”

The 35-year-old fast bowler might quit ODIs after the World Cup this year too

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Mar-2019Sri Lanka limited-overs captain Lasith Malinga has announced his decision to retire from the game after next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.The 35-year-old fast bowler, who made the announcement following Sri Lanka’s 16-run loss against South Africa in the second T20I, also said there was a chance he would quit ODIs after the World Cup this year. “I want to play in the T20 World Cup and then end my career,” Malinga said after the match in Centurion.Malinga made his Sri Lanka debut in 2004 and has played 30 Tests, 218 ODIs and 72 T20Is. He’s Sri Lanka’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is and is also one short of Shahid Afridi’s world record of 98 wickets in the format. He is the team’s third-highest wicket-taker in ODIs too, behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas. One of his greatest highs was leading Sri Lanka – in Dinesh Chandimal’s absence – to the T20 World Cup title in 2014.He’s been a part of Mumbai Indians in the IPL since the fourth season and also served as their bowling mentor in 2018. Despite not having played last season, he remains the highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history, with 154 wickets at an economy rate of 6.86.This year, however, Malinga has ruled himself out of at least the first six matches of the IPL in a bid to qualify for Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad, with the selectors having told the players they must play in the forthcoming Super Provincial One-Day domestic tournament to be considered for the World Cup.