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“The biggest difference is that you know your team-mates really well playing for Australia,” Cummins says of leading a franchise T20 side

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Mar-20242:29

Steven Smith: ‘Starc won’t be affected by his price tag’

Pat Cummins vs Mitchell Starc. INR INR 20.50 crore vs INR 24.75 crore. Hardly a rivalry, even if it’s been talked up ahead of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) game at Eden Gardens on Saturday. For Cummins, it’s only going to be “weird looking across and seeing him in the other dugout”.”I will say this: hopefully I don’t have to face Starc because that means our batters have done quite well,” Cummins said at a press conference a day off from the game. “It’s funny… it’s one of the beauties of the IPL; I have been playing with Starcy for 15 years, [and] I can’t remember another game where I have played against him. Also it’s going to be weird looking across and seeing him in the other dugout.”But there’s that big salary to live up to. “Yeah, being an opposition captain, seeing how we go about playing him will be an interesting part of tomorrow. But we’re both bowlers, so I am not sure we’ll cross [paths] too much.”Related

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Cummins, as has been discussed ever since he was named SRH captain for the 2024 IPL season, has never captained a T20 side at a competitive level despite being Australia’s Test and ODI captain and playing international cricket – all formats – since 2011. A fast-bowling captain at that.”Really excited, good to go,” Cummins said while acknowledging his lack of experience helming a T20 side.”It’s got its challenges,” he elaborated. “In that you play 14 games in six-seven weeks, plus finals. I’m used to playing a lot of Test cricket, so four overs isn’t as taxing on your body. But it can be mentally taxing, the travel, obviously a different country, play a new team every few days you have to prepare for… But it’s nothing new, we’ve done it before. Obviously, the game day is most important. That’s what we put most days into. No teams play the same XI for all 14 games. I am sure we’ve got to call on our squad and we’re lucky we’ve got a young, fit squad.”I think it’s been a part of the IPL, you have expectations, you have a lot of fans who demand a lot out of the team, they want results. Yeah, being captain is probably a little bit more [of responsibility]. But it’s not much different to what we’re used to as players. We’ll give it our best.”As for the players who don’t get many chances, Cummins has a simple message: “You want a bit of people rivalry, you know, a bit of rivalry when people try to break into the XI.”At SRH, Cummins will have for company Travis Head, who he leads in Tests and ODIs, but it’s going to be very different from leading Australia, who he has captained to world titles in both those formats.”The biggest difference is that you know your team-mates really well playing for Australia. There’s a lot of things doesn’t need to be said, because I have played with Joshie Hazlewood and Starc for 15 years. So there’s a real kind of trust and you just don’t really need to say much, everything kind of runs by itself,” Cummins said. “I think here, learning [about] some new players, that’s going to be the biggest difference, and just learning those different roles within the team. I know a few of the other guys, obviously, and have done a bit of homework to try and get the best out of the guys. But that’s probably going to be the biggest difference.”Washington Sundar adds depth to the SRH batting while also bowling his quota of overs•Associated Press

Are SRH light on the spin-bowling front?

There is Wanindu Hasaranga in the ranks, but that takes away an overseas slot and leaves just two, with Cummins as captain a starter. Outside of Hasaranga, SRH’s best spin options are Washington Sundar and Mayank Markande. Both solid performers at the IPL over the years, but not quite names that would strike fear in opponents.”Whilst not having any huge names that have played a lot of cricket for India, I’ve been really impressed with the guys we do have,” Cummins said. “Washington, who can bat in the top seven but also give handy overs. Markande as well, who’s had some success as well. So I feel like we’ve got that covered. We’ve also got guys like Aiden Markram and Travis Head, who can chip in if we need to as well. So feels like there’s a bit of quality there and if it’s a spinning wicket, we’ve got plenty of guys who can bowl.”Which might be the case at Eden Gardens, which Cummins knows well, having turned out for KKR in the past. His great 14-ball half-century, however, didn’t come in Kolkata, but in Pune, against Mumbai Indians, though Cummins would like to give it another heave on Saturday.”Maybe, I’d love to. It’s great fun. It’s much more fun than trying to block and hang around and cop a few on the body,” he said. “So yeah, I look forward to that, especially the IPL, I’ve got a few runs over the years… I’ve been hit for a lot of sixes in my life, so I’ll try to get a few back.”

Maiden T20 hundred for Wharton as home side pile up 224 for 4 on way fifth win in a row

ECB Reporters Network09-Jun-2023Centurion James Wharton and England star Dawid Malan shared 159 for the second wicket – Yorkshire’s all-time highest T20 partnership – as part of a high-scoring Vitality Blast 26-run victory for the Vikings over Worcestershire Rapids at Headingley.Wharton, 22 and in only his fourth career T20 match, struck a fabulous unbeaten 111 off 56 balls and was more than ably supported by Malan’s excellent 79 off 48 as they underpinned a daunting 224 for 4 batting first. Yorkshire’s previous record partnership in T20 cricket was 150 shared between Adam Lyth and David Willey at Northamptonshire in 2018.In typically excellent Headingley batting conditions, it proved a target beyond a Rapids side whose spirited response of 198 for 6 saw Jordan Thompson claim 4 for 34 from four overs of seam and Kashif Ali make 48 not out.Worryingly, Worcestershire lost New Zealand overseas allrounder Michael Bracewell, who collapsed mid-pitch clutching his right leg on 11 and retired hurt early in the 225 chase.Yorkshire have now won their last five Blast fixtures having lost their first three in the North Group, and they are well placed in the race for the quarter-finals. Worcester, top of the table earlier this week, have now won four and lost three.Yorkshire began the night by becoming the latest county to sign up for the Muslim Athlete Charter – also referred to as the Nujum Sports’ Charter – which is a commitment to recognise the needs of Muslim cricketers, fans and staff within the game and which further underpins the county’s avowed commitment to equity and diversity.More than 75 sports clubs and organisations have signed the Nujum Sports’ charter since it was first enacted in June 2021, including the RFL, the Premier League, and the Football Association of Wales. The ECB agreed a formal partnership last year, since when nearly half the counties have adopted the charter which is based upon Nujum Sports’ core values of equalty, community, support and aspiration.Yorkshire have signed up to the Muslim Athletes Charter. Darren Gough, director of cricket (third from left) is joined by (l-r) captain Shan Masood, Ebadur Rahman, CEO for Nujum Sports and Mo Hussain, Yorkshire’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager.•SWPix.com

Worcestershire actually made a bright start having lost the toss, restricting their hosts to 13 for 1 after three overs. Bracewell’s offspin accounted for Adam Lyth caught at midwicket following a miscued slog-sweep. However, that only brought Wharton to the crease, and he started like a train amidst a partnership with Malan lasting a little less than 14 overs.Right-handed Wharton hit the lion’s share of 49 off the next three overs, including two savagely pulled sixes off seamers Pat Brown and Dillon Pennington, to leave Yorkshire 62 for 1 after six overs.The assault continued, with Wharton, dropped on 19 at mid-on by captain Brett D’Oliveira, reaching his fifty off only 20 balls as the Vikings moved to 108 for 1 after 10 overs.When Malan followed him to the same milestone off 33 balls shortly afterwards, a score in excess of 220 was a looking almost certain.This was Malan’s fourth fifty in his last five Blast innings, but Wharton was the standout having been given his chance following some excellent recent second-team form, including a century opening the batting. He mixed power with finesse. One of three sixes added to 16 fours was savagely pulled into the Western Terrace off Adam Finch before he later scooped Brown over the rope at long-leg to reach his maiden century off 51 balls.At one stage, he was on course to better Yorkshire’s fastest-ever century off 47 balls, scored by Ian Harvey in 2005.Wharton was particularly strong on the drive. It was somewhat surprising that his innings only included three sixes, indicating that this was an innings of pure batting – very similar to how Malan, who hit four, has made his name in this format.Worcester were poor in the field, missing a handful of opportunities. Just before Wharton was dropped on 19, Jack Haynes couldn’t get his hands to one which seemed to hang in the air for an age as he ran back from cover.Not that the Rapids were out of this match at halfway. They had already scored 226 for 5 in a win at Nottinghamshire earlier this month. But everything had to go swimmingly for them – and it didn’t.After Bracewell limped off in the second over, Haynes miscued David Wiese to mid-on and Adam Hose top-edged Thompson behind, leaving the score at 48 for 2 in the fifth over.The run-rate wasn’t an issue, but the loss of wickets was. Opener D’Oliveira tried to rectify his earlier error in the field with a quick-fire 47 off 31 balls before pulling the seam of Matthew Revis to deep midwicket.When Mitchell Santner (27) clubbed Thompson to long-on, leaving the score at 109 for 4 in the 12th over, the Rapids had a mountain to climb.Kashif helped them at least reach basecamp with some lusty hitting. The target became 62 off four overs at 163 for 4. He shared 81 with fifth-wicket partner Cox. But the latter holed out as Thompson struck twice in as many balls in the penultimate over, which ended with the score at 191 for 6.

Those with state and WBBL contracts stand to earn $151,000 on average next season

AAP02-Apr-2023Cricket is poised to become the first sport in Australia to break the six-figure wage mark for the vast majority of its domestic female athletes, with players on state and WBBL contracts to earn an average of AU$151,000 from next season.Cricket Australia and the players’ union are closing in on finalising the sport’s new pay deal, with a Memorandum of Understanding likely to be announced as soon as early this week.Final details are still being sorted, through a negotiation that has been largely amicable and headed by Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley and union counterpart Todd Greenberg.Sources from both sides have confirmed talks have been far removed from the dramas of the pay war of 2017, which resulted in an abandoned tour and threats of strikes.The big winners of the deal will be domestic female cricketers. AAP has been told that the lowest-paid players with state and Women’s Big Bash League contracts will earn AU$83,000, with state squad sizes to increase from 14 to 16 across each of the seven WNCL sides.Players will also continue earn match fees for WNCL matches beyond their salary, meaning a significant portion of those on a minimum salary will earn more than AU$100,000 in 2023-24.Ultimately, the deal will take the average salary to AU$123,000 and AU$151,000 after match fees.In comparison, players with a minimum WNCL and WBBL contract last year who received full match payments were paid AU$70,000.The deal will rocket cricket well above other women’s sports, with its nearest competitor being Super Netball where the minimum salary is AU$43,000 with no additional match payments.The AFLW minimum wage sits at close to AU$40,000, while NRLW is AU$30,000 and A-League women’s is AU$25,000.It’s also believed that contract values will significantly increase in the WBBL for overseas and Australia’s centrally contracted stars in a bid to keep the league competitive with England’s Hundred and other franchise tournaments.Organisers are hopeful the pay rise will be able to continue to attract the best overseas talent to Australia, for a tournament that was once unrivalled as the stand out in global women’s cricket.The deal will also mean Australia’s centrally contracted players have the potential to earn close to AU$1 million a season, when factoring in national deals and big-money offers from the WPL.

He played one Test for Australia on the 1956 tour of India, becoming the first WA-based player to earn a baggy green

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Apr-2022John Rutherford, the first Western Australian-based player to be selected for Test cricket, has passed away at the age of 92.Rutherford is part of Australia’s one-Test club having played his only Test match on the 1956 tour of India, that was held on the way home from the Ashes series that year.Related

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The right-handed opener made 30 and took a wicket in the second innings, dismissing Vijay Manjrekar at the Brabourne Stadium in the drawn match.Rutherford, who hailed from Bruce Rock, a small country town 243km east of Perth, played 67 first-class matches between 1952-53 and 1960-61 scoring 3367 runs at 31.76 with six centuries and 15 half-centuries.WA had no official Test representatives prior to Rutherford’s debut, although WA-born Ernie Bromley played two Tests for Australia in 1933-34 after moving from WA to play for Victoria. WA began playing first-class cricket in 1892-93 but were not formally invited into the Sheffield Shield competition until 1947-48.In an interview with ESPNcricinfo in 2015, Rutherford outlined in detail the barriers he faced as a WA-based player trying to earn selection into Australia’s Test team ahead of the 1956 tour of England, Pakistan and India.Rutherford’s career ended suddenly at 31 when he suffered a stroke on the field while captaining WA in a tour match against West Indies in 1960.While Rutherford struggled for opportunities at Test level, he paved the way for a generation of WA Test greats that followed with Graham McKenzie, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh becoming household names over the following two decades.WA Cricket chief executive Christina Matthews paid tribute to Rutherford after his passing.”John Rutherford played an enormous role in placing WA Cricket on the map, at a time when the national side was dominated by players from the eastern states,” Matthews said.”He was a talkative and charismatic personality, and his passion for cricket was infectious.”On behalf of everyone at WA Cricket and the State’s cricketing community, we send our deepest condolences to the Rutherford family.”

BCCI president expects the tournament to be “as big and grand a success as men’s IPL”

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Feb-2022The BCCI is at the final stages of planning for a Women’s IPL, according to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who has said he strongly believes that the tournament should take off in 2023.”We are at the level of formulation to have a full-fledged WIPL. It is certainly going to happen,” Ganguly told PTI on Friday. “I strongly believe that next year i.e. 2023 will be a very good time to start a full-fledged women’s IPL which will be as big and grand a success as men’s IPL.”After India finished runners-up to England in the 2017 ODI World Cup, and then second-best to Australia at the T20 World Cup in 2020, the women’s game in the country has cornered a lot more attention than it had previously.But despite prominent voices asking for a T20 league for women in India along the lines of the WBBL or the now-defunct Kia Super League (the women’s Hundred has taken its place), the BCCI has opted not to go ahead, so far, choosing instead to only host a three-team Women’s T20 Challenge alongside the playoffs of the men’s IPL. This started in 2018 as a two-team event, with one exhibition match, and expanded to a three-team affair in 2019 and 2020, but was scrapped in 2021, even though the men’s tournament took place (in two parts because of the Covid-19 situation).The BCCI’s argument against the Women’s IPL has been that Indian cricket doesn’t possess the sort of depth in its domestic circuit that is required for the tournament to be worthwhile. In 2019, Ganguly had, in fact, suggested that a seven-team women’s IPL could well come to fruition in 2023, when he had said, “You need a lot more women players. I see that in four years’ time, to get a seven-team IPL with the best women players [in participation].”As such, there are at least 1100 registered women’s players in India in any domestic season, and around 40 players who have either played for India since the 2018-19 season or are on the fringes of selection.

Former England offspinner confirms end to 24-year playing career

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2021Gareth Batty, the former England offspinner, has called time on a playing career spanning 24 years and will take up a position as assistant coach at Surrey.Batty, who will be 44 this month, captained Surrey in T20 cricket over the last two seasons, but confirmed his retirement at the club’s end-of-season awards evening. In two spells at the club, he played 377 matches and took 534 wickets. He finishes as Surrey’s joint-leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket, alongside the also departing Jade Dernbach, with 114.He also spent eight successful seasons at Worcestershire, claiming almost 500 wickets across the formats. It was while at Worcestershire that he first won recognition with England, making his ODI debut on the 2002-03 Ashes tour and playing the first of nine Tests in Dhaka the following winter.Related

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In 2016, at the age of 39, he won a remarkable England recall for the Test tours of Bangladesh and India, playing in Chattogram and Mohali after 11 years out of the side.Batty had already begun coaching on a part-time basis with Surrey, working with the club’s young spinners, Amar Virdi, Dan Moriarty and Will Jacks, and will now move on to the backroom staff, under director of cricket Alec Stewart and head coach Vikram Solanki.”It’s been a privilege to have played the professional game for more than 20 years,” Batty said. “I never took a moment of it for granted and I know how fortunate I am to have represented the teams I have.”I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has been involved in a highly enjoyable career: team-mates, coaches, family, friends and fans. I’m now excited to start a new career at this great club and looking forward to all the challenges and opportunities that will bring.”Having made his first-class debut with Yorkshire in 1997, Batty moved down to Surrey and then on to Worcestershire, before returning to the London club in 2009. He was Surrey’s club captain between 2015 and 2017, during which time they were promoted back to Division One of the Championship, ahead of a successful tilt at the title in 2018.He also oversaw a run of three consecutive Royal London Cup finals – although Surrey were defeated on each occasion at Lord’s – as well as an appearance at Finals Day in last year’s T20 Blast.Back in an England shirt: Batty won a surprise Test recall in 2016•Getty Images

Stewart said: “Batts should look back on his playing career with immense pride. He achieved so much in the game and has always given 100% commitment to every team he has represented. His knowledge and passion for the game is second to none which will be a great asset as he embarks on his coaching career.”He will be missed in the dressing room for everything he has given as a captain and player, but I know that loyal and caring nature will now be transferred across into his coaching. As we congratulate him on all he has achieved as a player, we now look forward to him starting out on his coaching career which I have no doubts he will make a great success of. Cricket is in his blood and we’re very fortunate to have him at Surrey helping to develop and improve our players.”Solanki added: “There are few that have given as much of themselves to both the game and the teams they’ve played for than Gareth. Time and again, whether as player, captain or player/coach, he has put Surrey CCC ahead of himself when the club has needed him most. Fiercely competitive, totally committed and entirely selfless, Gareth epitomises what it is to be a professional sportsman in team environments.”On a personal note I am grateful to have had the privilege to play alongside Gareth and look forward to working with him as a coach. He has a wealth of experience across all aspects of the game that will hugely benefit our squad.”

Alex Davies and Keaton Jennings put on fifty opening stand after Lancs put in

ECB Reporters' Network20-May-2021Lancashire openers Keaton Jennings and Alex Davies posted their fourth 50 partnership of the season as day one of their LV= County Championship clash with Northamptonshire was cut short by heavy rain.Just 70 minutes play was possible as Northamptonshire welcomed back crowds to Wantage Road to watch Lancashire advance to 59 without loss from 16.5 overs in the morning session.Northamptonshire captain Adam Rossington had won the toss and opted to give his seamers first use of a pitch in overcast conditions. Gareth Berg and Ben Sanderson beat the bat regularly and saw a number of edges fly just wide of the slip cordon.The Lancashire pair though looked to be positive, with Davies striking three fours and bringing up the 50 stand when he clipped Tom Taylor through midwicket. Jennings then found the boundary by going down one knee to stroke Wayne Parnell through the covers before surviving a big shout for leg before wicket against the same bowler on 20.The rain then forced the players from the field. A planned resumption after lunch had to be abandoned when the bad weather returned and play was eventually called off shortly after 4pm.

Pakistan stumbled in a chase of 119 in the one-off Twenty20 International in Nelson to round-off a winless tour of New Zealand

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-2016
ScorecardLea Tahuhu triggered Pakistan’s top-order slide•Getty Images

Pakistan stumbled in a chase of 119 in the one-off Twenty20 International, the first bilateral T20I between both sides, in Nelson to round off a winless tour of New Zealand.Lea Tahuhu, the medium pacer, was involved in four top-order wickets – she took three of them and then inflicted a run-out – as Pakistan slipped to 22 for 4 in the sixth over. Only two of the top six got into double digits.Amelia Kerr, the sixteen-year old debutant, picked up three wickets with her legspin to scythe through the lower order. Aliya Riyaz, the No. 10 batsman, top scored and remained unbeaten on 28, when the last wicket fell. Pakistan were bowled out for 104 off the last ball of their innings.After being blanked 5-0 in the ODIs, Pakistan made a strong start, dismissing opener Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest by the second over. New Zealad continued to lose wickets in clumps – Amy Sattherthwaite and Sophie Devine fell off consecutive deliveries to Sana Mir in the fifth over – to be reduced to 36 for 4.That they got to three figures was courtesy cameos from Liz Perry (26), Katie Perkins (17) and Tahuhu (16). Mir, the offspinner, took 2 for 18 off four overs, while Asmavia Iqbal, the medium pacer, took 2 for 30. Left-arm spinner Sadia Yousuf was the most economical bowler, giving away just 13 in four overs while taking a wicket.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood scored half-centuries in stiflingly hot conditions as the West Indians moved to 8 for 303 on the first day of their tour game against a Victoria XI in Geelong

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Dec-2015
ScorecardKraigg Brathwaite was again in the runs after his 94 in the first Test (file photo)•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood scored half-centuries in stiflingly hot conditions as the West Indians moved to 8 for 303 on the first day of their tour game against a Victoria XI in Geelong. The two-day match is the West Indians’ only scheduled fixture ahead of the Boxing Day Test, which starts at the MCG next Saturday, and due to the BBL commitments of state players, the Victoria XI was made up largely of men without first-class experience.The temperature reached 43.8C at Simonds Stadium in Geelong on Saturday but Brathwaite seemed unfazed by the conditions and picked up where he left off from his second-innings 94 in the first Test in Hobart. He scored 78 from 175 deliveries in the first two sessions before he retired to give the rest of the West Indians a chance, although he was the only batsman who retired as the Victorians found seven wickets through the day.Rajendra Chandrika shouldered arms to the bowling of Jackson Koop and was lbw for 28, which brought Marlon Samuels to the crease in an aggressive mood. Samuels struck seven fours as he moved to 45 from 39 deliveries before he was caught behind off the bowling of fast bowler Jackson Coleman to leave the West Indians at 2 for 115 after they were sent in.Blackwood, who was coming off a pair in Hobart, combined with Brathwaite for a 99-run stand before Brathwaite retired, and Blackwood brought up a half-century of his own to give him some confidence ahead of Boxing Day. Blackwood was lbw for 69 to legspinner Jeremy Hart, who finished with 4 for 93 after running through the lower order in the final session of the day.Hart had Jason Holder for 9, Carlos Brathwaite for 4, and Jerome Taylor for 4, while Shai Hope, the opener who was overlooked for the Hobart Test, came in at No.8 and managed only 1 before he was lbw to Matthew Doric. Denesh Ramdin finished unbeaten on 38 from 73 deliveries.