Having secured fourth place in last-gasp style, the legspinner believes the pressure is off against the table-topping Hurricanes

Sam Perry13-Feb-2019Some years ago a former New South Wales cricketing prodigy talked of his decision to forego an invitation to a winter at Australia’s then-famed cricket academy. “Why would I want to go in and out of form ten times before the season starts?” he asked, rhetorically.As the BBL finally reaches its crescendo – with the final four teams now decided – it’s hard not to view contenders the same way. Hobart Hurricanes aside, each of the Sydney Sixers, Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars have had time to impress, then dip, then rally, then flop, then return all in a seemingly endless summer. As they prepare to match up on Thursday and Friday respectively, it’s entirely conceivable that everything we’ve seen until this point bears little meaning now.The Hurricanes’ dominance has been such that a mere home final feels scant reward for their regular season supremacy. Moreover, they’ll now face an ever-mercurial Melbourne Stars in a clash that, for all the reasons outlined above, is arguably inverted toward the visitors, at least psychologically. The reward for consistency? A fixture against Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis on a good wicket. The Stars are precisely the last team the Hurricanes would want to play in such circumstances.Paradoxically, this may be the Stars’ best opportunity to break their title duck. They arrive unheralded and unfancied, but bolstered by multiple big-name internationals capable of destroying the best-laid plans of any franchise the world over. As Adam Zampa explained, they’re relishing the opportunity to take on the Hurricanes and turn a few heads in the process.”We’re really confident,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “Now that we’ve sneaked into fourth the pressure is off us a little bit.”The Hurricanes have played great cricket all year, but finishing first comes with a bit of pressure. They’ve known they’re in the finals for half the season so they’ve been waiting a while. They’ll be nervous in front of their home crowd, too.”ALSO READ: Wade’s superstition hasn’t stopped perfect balance with Short
While Zampa’s bullishness comes with tongue firmly in cheek, he does understand that the attitude comes with the territory of being a Stars player. Embracing the glam identity of his team, he doesn’t disingenuously play the dignified underdog, and nor do his team-mates.”Stoinis said it in an interview recently: we do strut around and we own it. But at the end of the day if we do lose it hurts us.”It’s one of those things – when I didn’t play for the Stars, I didn’t really like them, to be honest with you. I remember playing against them – I was just scared of them. They had big names across the park, they played at the MCG, had guys like Eddie McGuire involved and the super coach Stephen Fleming. It was one of those franchises where you envied them, but now being a part of it is great.”While not from Melbourne originally, Zampa is happily the franchise’s spirit animal.There’s swagger, confidence, and results on the park. In his own way, his estimation of the Stars tallies with comments from cross-town Renegades rival Kane Richardson, who denounced the glam franchise as a team “that had never won anything, so probably shouldn’t be walking with a head wobble.”Zampa was keen to exercise right of reply. “I don’t know if Kane knows this but he’s only been in the Renegades side for maybe a year now,” he said.”I know they stayed at our hotel in my first year at the Stars. I think it might have got a bit too much for them. The big bright lights of South Yarra were a bit much, and I think they were driving Suzuki’s back then too.”They were trying to get the keys to our Mercedes from reception to drive it around and it ended up just getting a little bit too much, I think. So they had to tone it down, go to Prahran, get their mopeds or whatever they drive around, I’m not sure…”They don’t even have a team bus.”Asked who he felt would gain the most support were there to be an all-Melbourne final, Zampa was unequivocal.”I think we’d probably get majority support in Melbourne. I think the glam suburbs would probably support us. I’m not too sure who’d take the Renegades.”Those that support them probably feel sorry for them for having to play at Etihad [now Marvel], and the fact they can’t stay in South Yarra any more, I don’t know…”I put it this way: if you go to New York, and someone says ‘we’re going to a Yankees game’, everyone will say ‘great, that’s a great day.’ But if someone says ‘we’re going to a Mets game’ most people will say ‘I’ll, ah, see if I have something better to do’. That’s pretty much how we see the rivalry.”While the Stars’ list has always remained true to its name in one way or another, there’s something about its make up that now confounds T20 orthodoxy. While they may see themselves as the strutting team of individual talent, even more vogueish are those franchises built on data-driven metrics, and role-based players.More than any other fixture in this BBL tournament, their semi-final with the Hurricanes will showcase a clash of philosophy as much as anything else. And despite the Hurricane’s regular season reign, if the Stars can get their strut on, they’ll be tough to stop.

As he is out for over a third of the season, Malinga himself suggested Mumbai may be better off replacing him for the entire tournament

Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Mar-2019Lasith Malinga has ruled himself out of at least the first six IPL matches for Mumbai Indians in order to qualify for the Sri Lanka World Cup squad. With Sri Lanka’s selectors having told players they must play in the forthcoming Super Provincial One Day domestic tournament if they are to be considered for the World Cup, Malinga has chosen to fulfil that requirement.As he is out for over a third of the season, Malinga himself suggested Mumbai Indians may be better off replacing him for the entire tournament.Although bought at the auction for INR 2 crore (approx USD $290,000), Malinga recently stated his commitment to Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign. Not only is he Sri Lanka’s present ODI captain, he has also been named captain of the Galle side in the Super Provincial tournament. That Super Provincial tournament runs from April 4 to April 11, with the squads expected to be training a few days before the tournament starts. Malinga does not get back to Sri Lanka until March 26, as he is still with Sri Lanka’s T20 side in South Africa.”I had asked the board for the No-Objection Certificate for me to play in the IPL, and they had said that was fine, but that all players who want to go to the World Cup would need to stay back for the provincial tournament,” Malinga told ESPNcricinfo. “So I told them I’d play in the provincial tournament, and I asked the board to inform Mumbai Indians and IPL, since it was their decision. I’m ok with losing those earnings from IPL. I’m doing it for the country.”SLC CEO Ashley de Silva also said Malinga had “intimated his interest” in playing the Super Provincial tournament.Malinga had not been bought for the 2018 IPL, and had worked instead as a bowling mentor with the Mumbai Indians side. In that year, he had missed Sri Lanka’s foregone Sri Lanka’s provincial tournament in favour of working at the IPL, but after his good limited-overs performances for Sri Lanka reignited Mumbai’s interest in him as a player, Malinga has now shown a preference to go all in on his Sri Lanka commitments.”Once I become available for Mumbai Indians, I would have missed seven or eight games,” he said. “So there’s probably no point in them waiting around for me. Better for them to find someone else to replace me with.” If Malinga is picked in Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad – which is highly probable, given he has arguably been Sri Lanka’s best ODI bowler over the past six months – he may also be required to attend training camps through May, when the later stages of the IPL are still ongoing.Although Malinga is captain of the Sri Lanka team for now, there is a chance he will not lead the side at the World Cup, with the selectors stating they will consider both Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne for the captaincy, largely due to Malinga’s woeful record as ODI captain. They have not ruled out a continued Malinga captaincy either, however.Despite not having played the 2018 IPL, Malinga remains the highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history, with 154 dismissals at an average of 19.01, and an economy rate of 6.86.

County leapfrog Somerset and Gloucestershire to set up Lord’s showdown with Lancashire

ECB Reporters Network07-May-2019A belligerent, career-best 166 from Max Holden helped Middlesex reach the Royal London One-Day Cup knock-out stages after a 33-run win over south group rivals Kent Spitfires.Batting first on a Canterbury shirtfront, Middlesex posted a mammoth 380 for 5 – their highest ever one-day total against Kent and a List A record for the county, beating the club’s previous best of 367 for 6 against Sussex at Hove in 2015.Despite Zak Crawley’s classy, career-best 120, Middlesex dismissed the hosts to 347 to complete their sixth win of the campaign with seven balls to spare.The crucial victory saw Middlesex leapfrog Somerset and Gloucestershire to finish second in the south group and into Friday’s play-off game against Lancashire Lightning at Lord’s.Having won the toss, the visitors lost opener Sam Robson to the eighth ball of the innings when he picked out second slip after attempting to cut.Left-handed, second-wicket partners Holden and Nick Gubbins came together to feast on wayward Kentish bowling. But Gubbins, when only three shy of a half-century, danced down the pitch to pick out long-on.Holden reached 50 from 56 balls, forcing Kent to use seven bowlers, including three spinners, in a bid to stem the flow of runs.Holden and Ross Taylor, the Kiwi Test batsman, took it all in their stride to post a century partnership inside 18 overs while Kent’s Ollie Robinson replaced Adam Rouse behind the stumps after the starting keeper picked up a hand injury.The Middlesex run-fest continued with Taylor’s 62-ball 50 and Holden’s maiden List A century off 102 deliveries and with nine fours.Performing against his former county, Kent’s Harry Podmore struck in his final over to end a stand worth 191 by having Taylor caught on the deep square-leg boundary for 94 from 85 balls, but the bowler’s 10 overs had cost 88 runs.Stevie Eskinazi perished in similar fashion by holing out to long-on then Holden went, run out at the non-striker’s end when attempting to steal a bye to Robinson. His was the second highest one-day score against Kent and the best in limited overs cricket by any Middlesex batsman, beating 163 by Andrew Strauss against Surrey at the Oval in 2008.Kent’s implausible pursuit of 381 at an asking rate of 7.62 an over started badly when a swishing Daniel Bell-Drummond toe-ended a short one to the keeper.The hosts rebuilt through an attractive second-wicket stand worth 93 between Crawley and Matt Renshaw (49) that ended when Renshaw’s reverse paddle was caught at backward point.Crawley moved fluently to a 58-ball 50 but Kent’s required run rate crept beyond nine an over and, with only 20 overs remaining, Spitfires still needed 180.Interim captain Heino Kuhn contributed 36 to a stand of 87 before his sliced drive sailed to backward point then Rouse heaved to cow corner to gift his wicket to James Harris, who finished with four for 65.Crawley posted his maiden List A century from 103 balls with 13 fours moments and quickly moved past 107, Colin Cowdrey’s List A record for Kent matches against Middlesex scored at Lord’s in 1972.With 110 required off the final 10 overs Crawley perished, bowled when cutting at a Nathan Sowter arm ball – and Kent’s slim victory chances went with him.

The total prize money of $10 million will be the same as it was in the 2015 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff17-May-2019The winner of the 2019 men’s World Cup will walk away with a monetary reward of US $4 million, with the runner up getting half the amount ($2 million), as the ICC, on Friday, announced details of the total prize money on offer for the 10-team tournament.The total prize money of $10 million will be the same as it was in the 2015 World Cup, which was contested among 14 teams with Australia defeating New Zealand to take the trophy and the winner’s cheque.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The prize purse for both the winners and the runners-up is an increase from 2015, when the winning team was awarded $3.75 million, while the runners-up were given $1.75 million. The prize-money pot for the 2015 World had seen an increase by 25%, from $8 million previously to $10 million.In the 2019 edition, the two losing semi-finalists will get $800,000 each, also an increase compared to the 2015 edition, where losing semi-finalists were awarded $600,000. The winners of each league-stage match will receive $40,000 each, and teams whose campaigns end at the league stage will get $100,000 each.The 2019 World Cup format is similar to the nine-team edition played in 1992, where each team plays the others in the round-robin phase, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. The 46-day tournament will be played across 11 venues from 30 May to July 16.The ICC also announced its panel of commentators for the World Cup, which starts from May 30. The 24-member panel features World Cup captains Graeme Smith, Nasser Hussain, Kumar Sangakkara, Wasim Akram, Brendon McCullum, Shaun Pollock, Mike Atherton, Sourav Ganguly and Michael Clarke. Clarke, who had led Australia to victory in 2015, will be making his ICC TV commentary debut. The panel also features other experienced commentators like Ian Bishop, Simon Doull, Michael Holding, Melanie Jones, Isa Guha and Alison Mitchell, as well as Sanjay Manjrekar and Harsha Bhogle.

Williamson and de Grandhomme shared in a 91-run stand that set up New Zealand’s pursuit of South Africa’s 241 for 6

The Report by Liam Brickhill19-Jun-2019
As it happenedSouth Africa came well and truly a cropper against Kane Williamson’s cool and Colin de Grandhomme’s muscle, New Zealand all but knocking their opponents out of a World Cup for a third time with a four-wicket win at Edgbaston.Williamson and de Grandhomme shared in a 91-run stand that set up New Zealand’s pursuit of South Africa’s 241 for 6, Williamson pumping a last-over six off Andile Phehlukwayo that brought up a match-winning hundred before his umpteenth dab to third man brought up the win.South Africa spilled several chances in the field – and would have had Williamson caught behind in the 70s had they used their review – wilting under the pressure as New Zealand secured their fifth World Cup victory over them.South Africa’s scarcely believable lapse in gifting Williamson a life came in the midst of a haywire couple of overs when the match was in the balance, panic setting in and Faf du Plessis’ men, unfortunately, were left gagging, coughing, and gasping for breath.When Imran Tahir came on to bowl his final over, New Zealand were five down, needing a further 72 from 12 overs. Something, one felt, was about to give, and with his first ball Tahir very nearly had de Grandhomme caught by David Miller at full stretch close in on the leg side. Two balls later, another uppish whip flew hard to Miller’s left, and he put in a dive that was no less hearty, but equally ineffective as he could only palm the tough chance away.But worse was to come. Tahir’s final delivery – a legbreak – gripped and spun past a Williamson, wrong-footed in a rare moment of uncertainty, flicking the finest of bottom edges on the way into Quinton de Kock’s gloves. Tahir was convinced – as he always is – but de Kock didn’t even appeal. South Africa had a review, and could have used it, but didn’t.Kane Williamson celebrates his century•Getty Images

The chances kept coming, but South Africa’s luck had turned and with every missed opportunity, New Zealand pulled further ahead. They missed Williamson, again, when he had 77 and fended at a short one from Kagiso Rabada, hesitating before setting off on a run even as de Grandhomme sprinted across from the other end. Rabada swooped in his follow-through and shied with Miller in position for the run out, but Miller couldn’t take it cleanly, disturbing the stumps empty-handed as the ball burst past him.Two balls later, de Grandhomme edged Rabada through the vacant slip region to raise the fifty stand, leaving New Zealand needing 52 from 48.While Williamson eventually sealed the deal, and bagged the Player of the Match award, de Grandhomme’s knock was no less crucial in the final analysis. On a day when just one South African batsman was able to strike it at better than a run a ball, when everyone else struggled to come fully to terms with a two-paced track, de Grandhomme middled absolutely everything.Born in Harare and playing for New Zealand at Edgbaston, his home away from home (he plays for Birmingham Bears in the Vitality T20), he swatted and clubbed his way to a 39-ball fifty that shattered South Africa’s resolve.When South Africa dropped short, he pulled powerfully. Full outside off, and he slashed. On his legs, he clubbed. It wasn’t the most cultured knock – and he enjoyed a couple of lucky getaways along the way – but it was the perfect foil to Williamson’s calm accumulation and helped to spark South Africa’s anxiety. As the match slipped from their grasp, so did more chances – Williamson was dropped again (albeit off a high full-toss that was called a no-ball), and South Africa then contrived to turn an opportunity in the outfield off a de Grandhomme slog into four runs, Miller and Rabada both diving past the ball.Williamson, meanwhile, was anything but anxious. New Zealand’s captain is rarely better than when constructing a chase, and he passed 1000 ODI runs in England (at a monstrous average of 74.28 while systematically cobbling together his 19th fifty-plus total, and fifth hundred – in one-day chases.Imran Tahir shows his frustration•Getty Images

There’s no violence to Williamson’s batting, he bats utterly without ego and is clearly mighty effective all the same. While he was pristine on the drive all afternoon, the shot that sticks in the memory is the dab down to third man. No less than 21 of his runs came in that region, with a total of 32 coming behind square on the off side. Fittingly, it was also the shot with which he sealed the result in the final over, one ball after he had brought the scores level by rocketing his first six – and first shot in anger – in an echo of Grant Elliott’s dream-shattering knock during the last World Cup.New Zealand’s World Cup record against South Africa now stands at 6-2, while Williamson completed what was just the sixth century from a captain in a successful World Cup chase.It could all have been very different, had South Africa been able to find inspiration in Chris Morris’ breakthroughs earlier in the innings. Following on from the lucky dismissals of Colin Munro (caught and bowled off an inside edge on to his thigh) and Martin Guptill (hit wicket), Morris burgled a wicket in his fourth over when he strangled Ross Taylor down the leg side with a ball that could easily have been glanced for four.There was nothing lucky about his next wicket, a brutal lifter finding Tom Latham’s outside edge on the way through to de Kock, and at 80 for 4, it was anyone’s game. Morris returned in the 33rd over with the match once again in the balance, snapping a 57-run stand when James Neesham steered one to slip. But then came Williamson and de Grandhomme’s partnership, and whatever luck South Africa had enjoyed evaporated.They might have been able to manufacture a little more of their own good fortune had they not been quite so tentative with the bat earlier in the day. Admittedly, there must have been some trepidation when they lost a rain-delayed toss and were put in this morning, and the early loss of de Kock to Trent Boult (again) won’t have helped.As a result, South Africa were hesitant up front, and equally diffident when the time came to swing the willow at the death. For much of their innings, it seemed like they had turned their back to the future and were stuck in 1990s mode: Hashim Amla ground out the third slowest fifty of his career, sharing in plodding fifty stands with du Plessis and Aiden Markram that essentially bought South Africa time without really taking the innings anywhere, and the top four’s strike rates were all in the 60s.South Africa finally found some momentum when Rassie van der Dussen was joined by Miller, the pair adding 72 for the fifth wicket at close to a run a ball. They took a while warming up the engine, and had hit just one boundary between the two of them by the time the fifty stand came up in the 43rd over, but van der Dussen gave the innings a little flourish at the finish with 15 runs off the final over – and he was the only batsman to finish with a strike rate above 100.He ended with 67 not out, and South Africa reached 241 for 6, but it was not to be. Williamson’s match-winning hundred capped New Zealand’s day, and South Africa’s World Cup dreams are all but extinguished.

England’s tone-setting opener feared the worst when suffering a hamstring injury but is now ready to make an impact on their World Cup semi-final

George Dobell07-Jul-2019Jason Roy is no stranger to dealing with setbacks. He was out to the first ball of England’s limited-overs revolution in 2015 and he was dropped ahead of their last visit to the semi-final stages of a global ODI tournament two years ago.But even he was struggling to contain his frustration when he succumbed to a hamstring injury during the early stages of this World Cup. Having battled back from the disappointment of the Champions Trophy in 2017, having established himself as a key part of the side, and having skipped the IPL to ensure he was fit, he admits his latest injury setback was hard to deal with.He also admits that, for a while after he was forced off the pitch during England’s victory over West Indies, he feared his tournament was over.ALSO READ: England not scared of chasing in World Cup semi – Bayliss“I’ll be honest there was a bit of a fear I might be out,” Roy says. “Initially we thought I’d be back for the Australia game, but then the scan came back and it was a little bit worse that we had thought, so I needed more time.”There was a bit of a scare there. But I needed to stay positive around the group. I was staying around the lads and travelling with them so I had to keep giving out positive vibes and try to help where I can.”But having been dropped in the Champions Trophy and then working my backside off to get here for the World Cup and being in good form only to then get injured, I was like ‘give me a break!'”I thought I was having no luck. It was frustrating and a bit hard to deal with.”While he remains some way off full fitness, Roy has been able to return to the side with some success. He made 66 and 60 in the two innings since his return – both victories for England – and is now facing the prospect of a World Cup semi-final saying he is “mentally and physically” in the right place.Jason Roy got off to a flying start•Getty Images

“I’m as close to 100 percent as I’m going to be,” he says. “It was a decent injury, which was a shame, but I was overworking it a touch and these things happen. The doctors and physios have been incredible to get me to the stage I’m at now where I’m at match fitness and I’ll be able to get through the next two games for sure. But I might not be back at point for a little bit; I’m quite enjoying being at mid-off.”I’m right where I wanted to be, both mentally and physically. This is the reward for the hard work and sacrifices we all make. I didn’t put myself in the IPL auction, I did everything I possibly could to get myself to this point I’m at now.”I’m ecstatic with where I’m at with my cricket and it just goes to show that all the hard work and dedication that goes in really helps.”It is nice to be in a completely different place to where I was in Cardiff [where he was dropped for the Champions Trophy semi-final], but to be honest I think I’ve been here for a while now, since I came back into the side. It has been a really positive journey for me since returning to the England team and it is great that it is still going strong into a World Cup semi-final.”It’s hard to imagine Roy being dropped these days. But, back in 2017, he had failed to pass 20 in nine innings in a run that included six single-figure scores. He owed his return to the decision to omit Alex Hales following the incident in Bristol and performed so well in partnership with Jonny Bairstow, that England’s new opening pair was established.”There’s no secret to it apart from the fact that we both work hard and love batting together,” Roy says of their partnership. “We enjoy each other’s company out in the middle and we just go to work really. There isn’t much rocket science behind it. He’s obviously a great player.”Roy struggled for runs when he first came into the ODI side. He failed to reach 40 in that first series against New Zealand and, after 13 innings, he was averaging a modest 27.69. But the team management had spotted some characteristics they liked, not least a commitment to the newly defined aggressive approach and a selflessness to the team cause. For those reasons, they stuck with him through that underwhelming start.And, up to a point, that might be why they are likely to draft him into the Test side in the coming weeks. While there is an acceptance he has spent most of his first-class career in the middle-order – his county coach, Michael Di Venuto, recently expressed his reservations over the idea of him opening in Test cricket – it is increasingly apparent that he will be given an opportunity to bat in the top three, probably as an opener, during the Ashes.”Yes, there has been a bit of chat about it,” he says. “Playing Test cricket and playing in the Ashes has been an ambition of mine for years. It hasn’t just come about in the last couple of months.”If the call comes, then great it comes, but if it doesn’t then so be it. Of course my ambition is to play Test cricket and see how I go.”When you’re young you don’t understand a huge amount about batting, you just go out there and bat. But now I feel like I know myself a lot better as a batsman.Jason Roy fired up Surrey’s innings•Getty Images

“Most of my batting in first-class cricket has been at No.4, No. 5 or No. 6, but I played at No. 3 twice last year so I’m happy wherever they want to put me. They can put me at No. 9 if they want, although I can’t bowl a few overs! I think I’m better off at the top of the order and then I can give it a go from there.”If I get the chance then I’d like to think I’ll be able to cope, but I don’t want to speak too soon because there is plenty that goes on. You get analysed a lot more in Test cricket. They are long days and the media have got to talk about something which will be interesting.”I’ve played a lot of white-ball games for England so if I get a chance then that should hold me in good stead. Everyone knows what I’m about so if I get caught at fourth slip driving at a ball that maybe a ‘traditional’ Test cricketer wouldn’t drive at, then people hopefully won’t be too outraged by that.”He learned early that, for him at least, that absence of traditional thinking may be one of his greatest strengths. In his second ODI – against New Zealand in June 2015 – he had spent so long thinking about Trent Boult’s skills that when a “juicy half-volley” greeted him, he wasn’t expecting it and edged a drive to point.”I over-analysed my first game by thinking about Trent Boult and how he hoops the ball in,” he says. “I thought I had to watch that front pad.”Instead he gave me a juicy half-volley that didn’t swing at all and I wasn’t expecting it. So since then I haven’t over-analysed bowlers because on the day things can be different. I just play each ball as it comes.”That day was a disaster for me. But now I’ve got a World Cup semi-final to look forward to. It’s unbelievable.”

Domingo will join fellow South Africans Neil McKenzie, Charl Langeveldt and Ryan Cook, who are already part of the coaching support staff

Mohammad Isam17-Aug-2019Bangladesh will have a strong South African presence in their backroom after Russell Domingo was named head coach for a two-year period on Friday. The 44-year-old pipped Mike Hesson and Mickey Arthur in the race to succeed Steve Rhodes, who had taken charge last year and parted ways with the BCB after the team finished eighth at the 2019 World Cup.BCB president Nazmul Hassan said Domingo’s long-term planning and full-time availability played a big part in their decision. Domingo had been the only candidate to have traveled to Dhaka for his interview, impressing Hassan and some of the directors last week.”Domingo wants to integrate the national team with the A team, High Performance team and Under-19s, so that our strong pipeline becomes useful,” Hassan said. “He has showed his commitment. He said that he will be here all the time, and we have been looking for someone just like him. A coach who can be with the player all the time.”The board president further added that Domingo understood the senior team’s requirement of winning more in foreign conditions.”He said that Bangladesh are unstoppable at home but they also have a hard time when they play in places like South Africa, England and Australia. This is the reality, and it was good to find out that he exactly knew what is required here.”.The BCB have already renewed the contracts of batting coach Neil McKenzie and bowling coach Charl Langeveldt, both of whom were part of the support staff under interim coach Khaled Mahmud for the ODI series in Sri Lanka last month.Both McKenzie and Langeveldt were part of South Africa’s support staff during Domingo’s tenure as head coach of South Africa from 2013 to 2017. Along with fielding coach Ryan Cook, Domingo will be the fourth South African in Bangladesh’s coaching set up. Domingo will take over formally on August 21, ahead of Bangladesh’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in Chattogram.”It is a massive honour to be appointed the head coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team,”Domingo said in a statement. “I have followed Bangladesh’s progress with keen interest and I am extremely excited to assist the team in reaching the goals that they are capable of. I look forward to continuing the ongoing development of current players whilst also looking towards the future and developing some new bright stars from within the talent pool of Bangladesh cricket.”

The visitors are set to trial a new set of players – largely plucked out of the MSL and the South Africa A sides – under a new captain in de Kock

The Preview by Deivarayan Muthu14-Sep-20197:39

Agarkar: Don’t think India will be intimidated by South Africa

Big Picture

South Africa’s Vision 2019, their grand plan for 50-over World Cup success, went completely awry. World Cup hangovers aren’t easy to shake off, but South Africa will now have to quickly shift their focus to the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia. They are set to trial a new set of players – largely plucked out of the Mzansi Super League and the South Africa A sides – under a new captain in Quinton de Kock.A few of these players were also part of a spin camp in Bengaluru last month, held to help them come to grips with Indian conditions ahead of the three T20Is and three Tests. And, while some of these players have also been part of the IPL, South Africa’s squad lacks T20I experience on the whole. All told, their squad has a collective experience of 210 T20Is while India’s potential top three – Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and captain Virat Kohli – have a collective experience of 219 games in the format.ALSO READ: The T20 game: India haven’t figured it out yet, but they are willing to changeHashim Amla, Imran Tahir and JP Duminy have all retired following the meltdown in England and Wales, while Faf du Plessis will tune up for the Test series with an extended spell at Kent. In their absence, the onus is on de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen, who has established himself as a well-travelled and versatile franchise T20 player – to lead the way with the bat.ALSO READ: ‘I’m going to feel 21 again’ – Bavuma awaits dream T20I debutKagiso Rabada, who was troubled by injury in the World Cup, will test out his hamstring, and 25-year-old tearaway Anrich Nortje, who had been sidelined from the entire World Cup with injury, will be awaiting his international debut. South Africa have at least nine matches to figure out their combination ahead of Australia 2020 while India have the bigger cushion of at least 17 games to work with.Rassie van der Dussen goes for a pull•Getty Images

The hosts have already begun their build-up, having swept West Indies 3-0 in the Caribbean last month. They are now going to have to adapt to the changing T20 landscape, a departure from their safety-first approach in the previous T20 World Cup in 2016. This series is another chance for the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey and Rishabh Pant to settle in the middle order.With India’s premier spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal swapped out for this series too, finger-spin-bowling allrounders Washington Sundar and Krunal Pandya and legspinner Rahul Chahar will look to push their cases for a longer stint in the team.

Form guide

India WWWLL (completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa WWTLW

In the spotlight

Around this time last year, 19-year-old Washington Sundar was at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, recovering from an ankle injury sustained while playing football during training in England. Washington doubted if he could be effective with the white ball on return, but he overcame that and posed a threat to the left-handers in the Caribbean and then was among the wickets in the one-dayers against South Africa A. South Africa could have at least three left-handers among the batsmen – de Kock, David Miller and Andile Phehlukwayo – and Washington will relish bowling to them.Rassie van der Dussen stood out with his nous and middle-order gears amid South Africa’s World Cup rubble, and even had du Plessis earmarking him as a future captain. He has been there and done that in domestic T20 competitions at home, CPL, MSL and Global T20 Canada, and also has a reputation of being a good player of spin. Now, it’s over to him to replicate that form in T20Is and take full charge of the middle order as South Africa rebuild for another World Cup.Virat Kohli, and India, have at least 17 games to prepare for the 2020 T20 World Cup•Getty Images

Team news

Having been rested for the Caribbean tour, allrounder Hardik Pandya is set to slot back into the side. It remains to be seen whether KL Rahul or Shikhar Dhawan partners Rohit Sharma at the top.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan/ KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Manish Pandey/Shreyas Iyer, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Ravindra Jadeja/Rahul Chahar, 9 Washington Sundar, 10 Deepak Chahar, 11 Navdeep SainiSouth Africa’s XI following the World Cup shake-up is hard to predict. Temba Bavuma, who has been widely perceived a red-ball player, might make his T20I debut, while allrounders Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius are likely to fit into the lower-middle order.South Africa (probable): 1. Quinton de Kock (capt & wk), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Temba Bavuma, 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 David Miller, 6 Andile Phehlukwayo, 7 Dwaine Pretorius, 8 Bjorn Fortuin/George Linde, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Junior Dala/Anrich Nortje, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi

Pitch and conditions

The pitch, too, is hard to predict, considering the rain threat. The pitch had to be covered because of afternoon showers on Saturday. Some rain has been forecast for Sunday too. The last time India faced South Africa in Dharamsala – it was the first T20 at this venue, in 2015 – South Africa hunted down 200 as Rohit’s hundred went in vain.

Stats and trivia

• There is a case for South Africa to pick Junior Dala and let him have a crack at Rohit with the new ball. The seamer has dismissed Rohit three times in seven balls in T20s.
• Since his T20I debut in December 2017, Washington has claimed nine wickets in the Powerplay. Only Sri Lanka’s Akila Dananjaya, England’s David Willey, and Australia’s Billy Stanlake have taken more wickets in the first six overs in T20Is, but they have all had the benefit of playing more games than Washington.

The new policy includes three weeks leave for partners and support for children up to four to be brought on tour

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2019Cricket Australia has launched a parental leave policy, which guarantees players who become pregnant 12 months of paid leave along with three weeks for partners and other support including additional funding for tours.CA and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) have been working on the policy for two years and it came into action earlier this year. Alongside 12 months of parental leave, players who fall pregnant will be guaranteed a contract extension for the following year. Other points include:

• Players who have a partner who gives birth will be entitled to three weeks paid leave upon the birth or adoption of a child
• At any time after giving birth, the player can return to the game subject to medical clearance
• Travel support for players who are primary carers including flights, accommodation and other applicable travel expenses for the child and a carer will be available until the child is four years of age.

“Were a woman cricketer to become pregnant, it typically signalled the end of their career,” Alistair Nicholson, the chief executive of the ACA, said. “The travesty of this is that so many great athletes have not been given the chance to reach their true potential, denying the rest of us the opportunity to enjoy and admire their talent.”A key figure in bringing the policy together was former Australia player Clea Smith who is now general manager of member programs at the ACA.”This policy is the combination of three years of collaboration within Australian Cricket, the ACA and the players, and we’re delighted with the outcome,” she said. “This is a world-leading, player-centred policy providing balance in the lives of all players. The policy is designed to keep female players in the game for longer which will have a positive impact at all levels of the game.”Sarah Elliott, who scored a Test century against England in 2013 at the time she was breastfeeding her first child, was also consulted about the policy.”Probably the bit that jumps out is the support afterwards,” she told the . “It takes out that stress of who’s going to pay for flights, accommodation, transport and logistics. I felt like I was always causing trouble, kind of like a squeaky wheel and that everyone was tippy-toeing around me.”It was an uncomfortable space, whereas now that policy really lays it out clearly. The players and coaching staff know exactly what they can expect and everything is laid out.”There was controversy in 2016 when it was revealed that Cricket Australia asked female players to declare if they were pregnant when signing central contracts.Earlier this year New Zealand captain Amy Satterthwaite announced she was pregnant and would be taking time away from the game. Under NZC’s policies she will retain her central contract.

Lynn said that the whole of Australia would be behind Maxwell as he steps away from the game indefinitely

Andrew McGlashan31-Oct-2019Shivers went down Chris Lynn’s spine when he heard the news that his close friend Glenn Maxwell would be taking time away from the game for his mental health.Lynn, who only became aware of the development when he left the field at the end of the Cricket Australia XI match against Pakistan at Bankstown Oval, spoke of his shock and added that the entire country would be behind Maxwell.”It sends shivers down my spine when you hear something like this, Glenn’s a close mate of mine,” he said after the match. “When one man goes the whole team feels it; but I think the whole of Australia feels it. What he’s got to realise is that, as men, we don’t speak up enough about it, so I’m really proud that he’s really come out and assessed that cricket isn’t for him right now.”He has to realise there are 25 million people from Australia behind him and that’s the main thing. Whatever we can do, whether it’s more or less, we’ll be there. I wish him all the best, if he needs me I’ll be there. I feel for the bloke and just hope he can bounce back because over the last week, we’ve seen how good he is. Cricket will have a big dent with him sat on the sidelines, but I don’t want him to rush at all.”As Justin Langer did when speaking in Melbourne, Lynn talked about the pressures faced by professional cricketers and that what is on public display may only be a fraction of what is going on for a player.”A lot of people think it’s a gravy train, play for Australia and get to travel the world but there’s a lot of hard work beneath the water that people don’t see and the mental toughness that a lot of cricketers have to show is next level,” Lynn said. “It’s a good thing for cricket he has spoken up, there are organisations who can help out. I’ve no doubt his friends and family will be most important right now.”We are seeing a number of people taking a break from the game, but as I said it’s not all gravy, it’s a big iceberg and sometime we only see the tip of it.”