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Offspinner placed on PSL’s watch list, but can continue bowling in the tournament unless reported a second time

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-20181:35

WATCH – Sunil Narine’s bowling action reported in PSL

Sunil Narine has once again been reported for a suspect bowling action, this time during the Pakistan Super League game between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators on March 14. This means he has been placed on the PSL’s watch list, but can continue to play the tournament unless reported again. The PCB will pass on the match officials’ report on Narine’s action to Cricket West Indies (CWI).”Mr Narine has now been placed on the warning list and may continue to be selected to play and bowl for his team in the PSL,” the PCB said in a statement. “As the PSL follows the ICC regulations on illegal bowling actions, if a player is reported [again] while on the warning list, the player shall be suspended from bowling for the remainder of the PSL tournament.”The match officials report on Mr Narine’s bowling action will be sent to the West Indies Cricket Board and he will have to go through the process that is followed by the West Indies Cricket Board, for suspected illegal bowling actions.”A history of Sunil Narine’s action•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The West Indies offspinner has had his action reported several times in the past. During the Champions League T20 in 2014, he was reported twice in two matches and missed the final. He pulled out of West Indies’ World Cup 2015 squad to give himself time to work on his bowling action following that, returned during the IPL, and was reported once again during that tournament. After testing, his offbreaks were banned, but later in the tournament he was given a “final warning” by the BCCI and struck off the watch list.He returned to international duty in November 2015, only to be reported once again during his first series back – limited-overs games against Sri Lanka. He was suspended from bowling – even while the No. 1 bowler in the ICC rankings for ODIs and T20Is – at the end of November, and missed the 2016 World T20 as well to work on his action. He was cleared to bowl again ahead of IPL 2016.Narine was one of only two players retained by his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of this season, which begins on April 7, and questions remain over whether this will affect his participation in the tournament. It is unlikely to affect it, unless he is called for a second time in the PSL, or CWI runs tests that find his action to be illegal.

“Competent Authority” appointed by sports ministry to oversee day-to-day affairs of the board, even as elections continue to be pushed back due to procedural violations

Madushka Balasuriya01-Jun-2018The running of Sri Lanka Cricket has temporarily been brought under the Sri Lankan government after a “Competent Authority” was appointed to oversee day-to-day affairs. The move comes after the term of the present board, headed by Thilanga Sumathipala, ended on May 31, even as the election of a new governing body failed to materialise. The elections had been postponed due to procedural violations, with an injunction having been imposed by the courts.The Competent Authority is headed by the secretary of Sri Lanka’s sports ministry, Kamal Padmasiri.For the time being it is unclear how this will affect SLC’s standing in the eyes of the ICC, which in the past has not taken kindly to government interference in cricketing affairs. In 2015, when the government had appointed an interim committee, SLC had had its ICC voting rights suspended, while payments due to SLC were also held in escrow.Sumathipala, who emphasised that he was against government intervention, said he would have preferred to be allowed to run the board until fresh elections could be held, for the sake of stability.”With a South Africa tour, Asia Cup, and England tour coming up, these next four-five months are incredibly challenging for us, and we require stability to carry out these responsibilities,” he said. “As the ICC could demote us to observer status, it is also doubtful if we will receive the next set of funds from them. These are huge problems that need to be considered.”However despite pleas by Sumathipala for an extension so as to allow him and his officials to continue in their posts till elections are held, Sri Lanka’s sports minister Faiszer Mustapha maintained this was the only decision available to him given the circumstances.”We have to act within a particular legal framework and as per the advice of the Attorney General, I have chosen the most prudent approach,” Mustapha said. “I believe in a democratic process, and that democratically elected office bearers should run sports bodies. But, consequent to a writ application and an interim order, I am compelled to take this decision to ensure the continuation of Sri Lanka Cricket.”This appointment is the latest turn of events in a months’ long election saga in which SLC has twice run foul of Sri Lanka’s sports law, despite seemingly being granted special dispensation by the sports ministry on each occasion. As it stands, the announcement of fresh elections will be contingent on the matter being taken up in court on June 14. Mustapha has stated that elections will take place by at least July 31.

ESPNcricinfo previews the teams in the South Group for the Vitality T20 Blast

David Hopps02-Jul-2018

Essex Eagles

T20 best: SF 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013
2017: 8th, South Group; Run rate 8.70; Economy rate 8.58
Captain: Ryan ten Doeschate
Coach: Anthony McGrath
Overseas Players: Neil Wagner (NZ), Adam Zampa (Aus), Peter Siddle (Aus)Essex, perpetually nearly men, had qualified from the group stages five times in a row until last season’s blip and the addition to the coaching staff of Dimitri Mascarenhas, recently coach to the Melbourne Renegades, aims to recover that reputation. They also field a legspinner they have long yearned for – Australian Adam Zampa is available throughout. One fact not widely appreciated is that Varun Chopra was in the top three six hitters last season, quite a feat for an orthodox batsman not known for brutish strength. With their Championship defence misfiring, some raucous nights at Fortress Chelmsford could come at a good time.One to watch: Zampa was described in one Australian newspaper as “a deep-thinking vegan warrior” which might come as a shock on a raucous Friday night at Fortress Chelmsford. His primary task is to take wickets in the middle overs and he comes with a wealth of T20 experience. Eager to prove his worth, he has been warming up with a month’s club cricket in the Essex League for Brentwood.In a word: Unfulfilledbet365: 12

Glamorgan

T20 best: SF 2004, 2017
2017: SF; RR 8.82; ER 8.50
Captain: Colin Ingram
Coach: Robert Croft
Overseas Players: Usman Khawaja (Aus), Shaun Marsh (Aus)Which Glamorgan are we about to see? Will it be the county which reached the semi-finals in 2017 and, powered by Colin Ingram, were championed as the most dangerous white-ball side in the county’s history, or will it be the county that has had a nightmarish season in both Championship and 50-over cricket as efforts to build a team with a strong Welsh flavour have proved such a difficult challenge? Ingram’s 59 sixes last season won recognition as the PCA’s T20 Blast Player of the Year and attracted interest from Australia and Pakistan. Now captain and white-ball specialist, his task is to build a Glamorgan side in his own image.One to watch: Andrew Salter has long regarded as a natural successor to Robert Croft, his county coach, as a run-making offspinner and some useful overs would be of great benefit to a Glamorgan side that convinces more in batting than bowling.In a word:Yearningbet365: 18Michael Klinger flicks into the leg side•Getty Images

Gloucestershire

T20 best: BF 2007
2017: 9th, South Group; RR 7.53; ER 7.87
Captain: Michael Klinger
Coach: Richard Dawson
Overseas Players: Michael Klinger (Aus), Andrew Tye (Aus)Michael Klinger retired entirely from first-class cricket in Australia earlier this year, but he has two more seasons as a T20 cricketer with Gloucestershire, where he has been one of the most productive and popular overseas cricketers of recent years. He faces a considerable task to rally a Gloucestershire side that finished bottom last year and which looks short on star quality. Ryan Higgins, a shrewd acquisition from Middlesex, has proved himself more than just a batsman who makes things happen by improving his medium-paced swing bowling so much that he finds himself top of the county’s Championship averages: Gloucestershire need some exciting nights from him.One to watch: Benny Howell is one of English cricket’s most underrated T20 cricketers and that frustrates him so much that he even took to the pages of magazine to present himself as worthy of an international cap. Howell, who learned his change-ups by studying baseball pitchers, is likely again to prove himself one of the most skilful and economical T20 bowlers around.In a word: Resourcefulbet365: 20

ESPNcricinfo top four prediction

Surrey
Hampshire
Essex
Sussex

Hampshire

T20 best: Winners 2010, 2012
2017: SF; RR 8.44; ER 8.17
Captain: James Vince
Coach: Craig White
Overseas Players: Colin Munro (NZ), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afg), Dale Steyn (SA)Hampshire have made seven Finals Day appearances, more than any other county, and disposed of Kent over 50 overs in the Royal London Cup final on Saturday. It would be no surprise to see them follow up with the Blast. The Ageas Bowl should fairly be bouncing, such is the talent on show. The replacement of George Bailey and Shahid Afridi with Colin Munro and Mujeeb Ur Rahman gives the squad a more youthful feel and Sam Northeast brings more vigour to the middle order. James Vince has been in dreamlike batting form since his England omission and Reece Topley is desperate to reassert himself with the ball. Mason Crane’s fitness is a worry.One to watch: Discovering how Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, only 17, copes with a summer of T20 in England will be one of the great delights. No spinner with more than 10 wickets had a better average at the IPL this year and his ability to bowl off and leg spin identifies him as the most exciting teenager around.In a word: Eminentbet365: 8Darren Stevens bowls against Essex•Getty Images

Kent Spitfires

T20 best: Winners 2007
2017: 6th South Group; RR 8.63; ER 8.88
Captain: Sam Billings
Coach: Matt Walker
Overseas Players: Adam Milne (NZ), Carlos Brathwaite (WI), Marcus Stoinis (AUS)Canterbury is one of the sleepier T20 venues with indifferent advance ticket sales. They deserve a rush of enthusiasm because they have one of the most exciting batting line-ups in the country even without Northeast, who upped sticks to join Hampshire with a few sideswipes at what he regarded as old-fashioned committee ways. It has to be said that Kent have responded to his absence in positive fashion, on and off the field. The batting form of Heino Kuhn and Joe Denly swept Kent to the Royal London Cup final, and the skipper Sam Billings is back from IPL and England duties, but the seam attack is vulnerable and James Tredwell’s long-term shoulder injury puts a lot of spin bowling responsibility on Imran Qayyum.One to watch: Darren Stevens, at 42, fills every club cricketer with hope as they imagine if only they could match his guile and control then, at between 65 and 70mph, they to could become one of the stalwarts of the county circuit. Add his 3,128 runs at a strike rate of 141.92 and it is little wonder that Stevens is held in such regard. If this really is his final season, he deserves a great send-off on every ground he plays on.In a word:Unbalancedbet365: 16

Middlesex

T20 best: Winners 2008
2017: 7th South Group; RR 8.34; ER 8.41
Captain: Dawid Malan
Coach: Daniel Vettori
Overseas Players: Ashton Agar (Aus), Dwayne Bravo (WI)Much was made last season about the recruitment of Daniel Vettori as coach and Brendon McCullum as part-time captain, but the outcome was much as ever as Middlesex, often disappointing in the decade since they won the trophy, finished seventh. Vettori, who has also overseen some modest seasons at Royal Challengers Bangalore, is back again, this time overseas recruitment consisting of Dwayne Bravo and an Australian version of Vettori himself, if somewhat less hirsute – Ashton Agar. Middlesex will hope to be in contention when Eoin Morgan returns from England duties: his record last season of one fifty in 14 goes (average below 23, strike rate below 130) lacked the inspiration Middlesex need from an England captain and questioned his ability to mentally attune to the county game.One to watch: Ireland’s uncomplicated strokemaker Paul Stirling had a brilliant 50-over competition, making three hundreds in eight innings and averaging 73.57 at strike rate of 89.25. His impact at the top of the order will be crucial.In a word: Disappointingbet365: 14Corey Anderson gave Surrey a scare•Getty Images

Somerset

T20 best: Winners 2005
2017: QF; RR 9.04; ER 8.75
Captain: Lewis Gregory
Coach: Andy Hurry
Overseas Players: Corey Anderson (NZ)Somerset only field one overseas player and Corey Anderson, the New Zealand allrounder, is back to complete his “unfinished business” after his 2017 season was interrupted by a back injury while bowling his first over of the campaign, against Surrey at Kia Oval: he worked off his frustration by slamming 81 from 45 balls and managed four matches. Somerset’s impressive young Championship skipper, Tom Abell, steps down for Lewis Gregory in T20 which is not ideal with Gregory’s future still in doubt. Some high-scoring matches are in store at Taunton, but Somerset might be pushed to repeat last season’s quarter-final. Legspinner Max Waller is a homegrown T20 specialist.One to watch: Quite which of Somerset’s young batsmen will get opportunities in the Blast is uncertain, but if George Bartlett finds himself on the team sheet ahead of Fin Tremouth and Tom Banton he will not be overawed. Bartlett, who struck the highest overseas score by an England U-19 batsman last year – 179 against India in Nagpur – has followed up this season with a maiden Championship hundred and has shown flashes of great promise as a top-order batsman.In a word: Entertainingbet365: 12

Surrey

T20 best: Winners 2003
2017: QF; RR 8.49; ER 8.65
Captain: Jade Dernbach
Coach: Michael Di Venuto
Overseas Players: Aaron Finch (Aus), Nic Maddinson (Aus)Surrey should once again have bragging rights among the two London counties and packed crowds at Kia Oval should be rewarded with a last-eight place. The presence of Morne Morkel on a two-year Kolpak deal has allowed Surrey to major on two overseas batsmen: the Australians Aaron Finch and Nic Maddinson, who headed Sydney Sixers’ run charts in last season’s Big Bash. Youngster Will Jacks might also force his way in. Jade Dernbach, quite the trusted old pro these days, skippers an attack based on the two Curran brothers, England calls notwithstanding. Gareth Batty, overshadowed in the Championship these days by Amar Virdi, will be hankering for a scrap or two.One to watch: Ollie Pope’s invention created a favourable impression when he broke into Surrey’s T20 side last summer and since then his reputation has leapt ahead with three centuries and an average of 93 in the Championship. England is drowning in talented batsman-keepers and Pope’s exuberance has already won him a host of admirers.In a word: Exhilaratingbet365: 7Jofra Archer shows off his athleticism as he puts out a sliding stop•BCCI

Sussex Sharks

T20 best: Winners 2009
2017: 5th; RR 8.63; ER 8.31
Captain: Luke Wright
Coach: Jason Gillespie
Overseas Players: Rashid Khan (Afg), Tom Bruce (NZ)No county possesses a more talented bowling attack than Sussex – indeed, if they all stay fit, fitting them all in the side might be the biggest challenge for the coach, Jason Gillespie. The IPL-tested trio of Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan and Tymal Mills, the parsimonious left-arm spin of Danny Briggs and the teenaged Afghan leg-break bowler Rashid Khan (who might limit opportunities for Will Beer) are just for starters. Sussex’s major task will be to make enough runs which makes the New Zealander Tom Bruce, who replaces the injured Stiaan van Zyl, the most vital player of all in an XI that will need to bat deep and has the capacity to do so.One to watch: Laurie Evans is likely to take over the top-order role that Chris Nash, now at Nottinghamshire, performed so successfully for many years. Evans topped the batting averages in the 50-over competition and he will also be crucial to Sussex’s chances.In a word: Panachebet365: 7

ESPNcricinfo has learned players weren’t allowed to enter the ground after a suspicious package was found unattended at the venue

Peter Della Penna28-Jul-2019A bomb threat delayed the start of the GT20 clash between Montreal Tigers and Winnipeg Hawks on Friday in Brampton. While little information has been forthcoming about the 90-minute delay that truncated the fixture to 12-overs-a-side, ESPNcricinfo spoke to a number of players from both squads.Global T20 Canada organisers said, “play has been delayed due to some technical reasons” through their Twitter account in a tweet posted at 4:50 pm local time, 20 minutes after play was scheduled to begin. However, a running scroll on one of the official TV broadcasts said “security issues” were the reason for the delay. A number of fans tweeted images of standing in long queues outside the ground, after being denied entry by the police.The players ESPNcricinfo contacted confirmed they weren’t allowed to enter the makeshift ground at the CAA Centre after a suspicious package had been left unattended at the venue. The police then closed off the venue to perform a sweep of the facility, by employing bomb-sniffing dogs.”Routine sniffer dogs checks found a substance that alerted security,” one player told ESPNcricinfo. Another source also said that alarms were raised after a hole was found in a temporarily constructed perimeter fence that surrounds the cricket portion of the facility, contributing to the precautionary measures taken by local police.The players were eventually let in to warm-up and begin the match after the package was deemed not dangerous. The reduced-overs match went off without any further hiccups.When the match finally began, the only other mention for the delay came through one of the commentators, who said a “security situation” was the reason without elaborating further. Montreal Tigers won by 24 runs, courtesy Sunil Narine’s 30-ball 59.

Tom Taylor carries Worcestershire fight until the end as visitors stumble to target of 62

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay26-Sep-2025Sussex 350 (Simpson 129*, Coles 102, Taylor 4-106) and 63 for 7 (Taylor 4-22) beat Worcestershire 123 (Robinson 6-68, Unadkat 4-43) and 287 (Libby 72, Robinson 5-74) by three wicketsSussex survived a fourth-innings scare to secure a three-wicket win over Worcestershire on the third morning of their final Rothesay County Championship fixture of the season.The final four wickets of the Worcestershire innings fell inside 25 minutes, where the hosts could only add 16 runs to their overnight total, as Ollie Robinson took his second five wicket haul of the match. Requiring just 61 to win, Sussex made hard work of the chase, eventually knocking off the total despite Worcestershire seamer Tom Taylor finishing with 4 for 22 on his way to ending the season with 58 Division One wickets.With the fate of both sides already sealed, the visitors’ final flourish saw them secure a mid-table finish, whilst the Pear’s resilient efforts went unrewarded with relegation already confirmed.Ben Gibbon was the first wicket to fall on a troubling morning for Worcestershire, when he was pinned lbw after offering no shot to an Robinson delivery that nipped back and clipped the pad of the nightwatchman, bring an end to his stubborn knock of 13.Roderick was the next man to depart, when his innings of 27 was brought to a close by the impressive Jaydev Unadkat who claimed his seventh wicket of a match dominated by the Sussex seamers. Matthew Waite and Ben Allison were dismissed in successive balls as Robinson finished with five wickets in the innings, walking away with superb match-figures of 11 for 142.Chasing 61 to win, Sussex lost opener Tom Haines for 1 when an excellent, diving catch at slip by Rob Jones helped open the Worcestershire account.A seemingly routine chase was momentarily thrown into doubt however, as Sussex slipped to 28 for 4, losing Hughes and James Coles in consecutive overs courtesy of Taylor and Ben Allison, before Taylor struck for the 57th time this season in Division One to have Tom Alsop caught at slip.With just 16 required to win, Worcestershire refused to go down without a fight, as Matthew Waite claimed a wicket with his first ball of his spell, first-innings centurion John Simpson caught by Rehaan Edavalath after mistiming a pull shot into the deep.Taylor had time to claim his 58th wicket of the season before Waite struck for a second time with Sussex still requiring three runs, but Robinson hit his first ball through midwicket for four to ensure his side ended the season with a win.

Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen and Lutho Sipamla ran through the hosts’ line-up, reducing them to 161 for 3 to 178 for 9, picking three wickets each

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Sep-201925 overs a sideShikhar Dhawan showcased his fluency with a 52 off 43, but that was not enough for India A as they lost to South Africa A by four runs after failing to chase a DLS-adjusted target of 193 in the fourth one-dayer in Thiruvananthapuram. South Africa A quicks Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen and Lutho Sipamla ran through the hosts’ line-up, reducing them to 161 for 3 to 178 for 9, picking three wickets each.Resuming from 57 for 1 on the reserve day, needing 136 from 104 balls, India’s second-wicket pair of Dhawan and Prashant Chopra added a 79-run stand before Sipamla struck to remove the latter. Dhawan, who had scored more freely the previous day, played with more caution but fell shortly after bringing up his fifty to Jansen.With the asking rate climbing, Shivam Dube joined captain Shreyas Iyer, and the duo went for some big hits, including scoring 23 runs off a Sipamla over in their 51-run stand. But in the very next over, they both lost their wickets within a space of three balls to Nortje.Shikhar Dhawan steers one into the leg side•Getty Images

A collapse ensued as the next four batsmen fell in the space of 20 balls. Rahul Chahar at No. 9 battled alone, but couldn’t take India over the line as they finished at 188 for 9 at the end of 25 overs.Earlier, the visitors rode on Reeza Hendricks’ unbeaten 60 off 70 to post 137 for 1 in 25 overs.Opener Matthew Breetzke was the only one dismissed, for a 31-ball 25 that included two sixes and a four, legspinner Chahar accounting for him. Heinrich Klaasen blasted a 12-ball 21 that included three sixes to provide a late impetus. Klaasen arrived after captain Temba Bavuma retired hurt on 28.So far all four matches of the series, in which India A already have an unassailable lead, have been rain-affected.

South Africa have beaten them 10 times in a row, in a streak stretching back to 2014

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando04-Aug-2018

Big Picture

Try as they might, Sri Lanka can’t seem to put together a competent ODI performance against South Africa. In the first ODI of the series, the batsmen failed spectacularly. In the second, they hauled themselves to a competitive score, only for fielders to drop near-undroppable catches early in South Africa’s chase, in addition to producing several other acts of fielding slapstick. The moment Sri Lanka put out one fire, another one breaks out in some other part of their ODI game. Then while they are heading over to deal with that flame, they discover their trousers have also been set alight. They’ve lost 10 consecutive ODIs to South Africa now – a sequence that goes back to July 2014. People who can’t control their bowels have less embarrassing streaks than that.South Africa, meanwhile, have restored a little dignity to their own outfit with the two comfortable wins, and may have begun to feel like there is some depth to their ODI squad, despite the 5-1 drubbing by India earlier this year. Lungi Ngidi continues to impress, much like Tabraiz Shamsi and Andile Phehlukwayo. Wiaan Mulder showed in Dambulla that he could be a handy utility option in the long term, while Quinton de Kock produced a solid innings to break out of a spell of poor scores. But at some point, even South Africa might start to wonder if they are really gaining much by repeatedly thumping this same opposition over and over and over. What happens in Sri Lanka might stay in Sri Lanka, essentially – it’s not necessarily going to leave them that much better placed for the World Cup next year.So with the series on the line in Pallekele, the situation is that it might be a good thing for both teams for Sri Lanka to get themselves to a winning position on Sunday. The hosts would have the chance to break this terrible bad run, and South Africa may have their skills and mettle properly tested, if they have to fight through a tough match situation.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LLWWW (completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa WWLLW

In the spotlight

Aiden Markram has not had a lot of fun so far on this tour. He didn’t breach 20 in any of his Tests innings, and unlike for most of his team-mates, the troubles against spin have followed him into the ODIs, where he has collected scores of 0 and 3. Anyone who watched South Africa’s Tests against Australia earlier this year will know Markram is a phenomenal talent. But it may be that at 23, he is not a complete batsman yet, and he is finding out his shortcomings on this tour.Kusal Mendis, also 23, also a possible future star, has not had a productive series either, thrice making starts in the Tests, and yet failing to get past 30. In the ODIs, his scores are identical to Markram’s – 3 and 0. It will be hoped by the coaching staff that an average of less than 30 will be much closer to 40 by the time Sri Lanka go to the World Cup next year.

Team news

South Africa are likely to keep their XI from Wednesday.South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Aiden Markram, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt.), 5 JP Duminy, 6 DA Miller, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Andile Phehlukwayo, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Tabraiz Shamsi, 11 Lungi NgidiSri Lanka may think about leaving Shehan Jayasuriya loose in favour of Dhananjaya de Silva, but are likelier to keep the same team as well.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 3 Upul Tharanga, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Shehan Jayasuriya, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Akila Dananjaya, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Kasun Rajitha

Pitch and conditions

Pallekele is Sri Lanka’s wettest venue, and there is some rain forecast for Sunday. Showers at this time of year tend to be short and sharp, however, so it is likely there will be a completed game, even if there are some delays. The pitch generally has plenty of bounce and zip for the quicks, though spinners can be effective as well.

Stats and trivia

• Throughout this streak of ten losses, Sri Lanka have not even come close to beating South Africa, with the lowest margins of victory being 40 runs and four wickets.
• Aiden Markram has not passed fifty in eight innings, since he hit 66 against Bangladesh on debut.
• Sri Lanka have lost a whopping 27 of the 35 completed ODIs they have played since the start of 2017.

American investment fund is first to conclude negotiations as it expands Birmingham sport portfolio

Matt Roller25-Jul-2025The American investment fund Knighthead Capital has completed a £40 million takeover of Birmingham Phoenix, marking the first finalised transaction in the Hundred’s sales process.Knighthead, the New York-based group, acquired a majority stake in Birmingham City FC two years ago and were successful bidders for a 49% interest in Birmingham Phoenix in late January. The sale transaction was completed on July 15, per paperwork filed to Companies House, and the franchise will be run in partnership with host county Warwickshire.Tom Wagner, Knighthead’s co-founder, has been appointed to the Phoenix board as a director along with colleagues Andrew Shannahan and Kyle Kneisly, both of whom are on Birmingham City FC’s board. The legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady has a small interest in Knighthead but will not serve as a director.Knighthead’s purchase forms part of wider plans to create a ‘Sports Quarter’ in Birmingham, which would include a new 62,000-seat football stadium. Wagner has already successfully lobbied for government funding for new transport links and said last month that he saw the Hundred as an opportunity to underline his commitment to the city.Related

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“We really, genuinely want to see Birmingham continue to develop and grow,” Wagner told the BBC. “The Phoenix is a great way to expand the exposure of the city to a broader, more global audience. It’s also a way for us to tie-in to the substantial south Asian community that is here in Birmingham.”Warwickshire and Knighthead will assume operational control of the Phoenix after the 2025 season of the Hundred, which runs from August 5-31. The county will retain four out of seven board seats as majority owners, with Mark McCafferty (chair), Stuart Cain (chief executive), Craig Flindall (strategy director) and Adam Lowe (commercial director) serving as directors.The ECB initially planned for all eight sales transactions to be signed off by early April but negotiations over paperwork have dragged on far longer than first anticipated. “It is about the ‘what ifs’,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould told ESPNcricinfo last month. “I hate to think how many sets of lawyers are in on this, but that’s what they’re paid to do.”ESPNcricinfo has learned that several other transactions are either finalised or close to completion, though it remains to be seen if all eight will be signed off before the 2025 season starts in 10 days’ time. Four of the seven other new investors are owners or co-owners of IPL franchises, while the other three are US-based like Knighthead.

Trapdoor opens on visitors after crushing defeat at Chester-le-Street

ECB Reporters Network12-Sep-2024Durham’s Matthew Potts took a career-best nine for 68 to help his side complete their innings and 63-run thrashing of Lancashire in the Vitality County Championship match at The Riverside.Resuming on 155 for four and needing another 190 runs to avoid their their fourth innings defeat of the season, Lancashire lost their last six wickets in less than a session and were bowled out for 282. The only shred of comfort for the visitors was offered by 20-year-old Matty Hurst, who made 67, his second fifty of the match and fifth half-century of the season.At one stage of his devastating spell from the Lumley End, Potts was on a hat-trick but he had to settle for three wickets in four balls when Tom Bailey nicked his second delivery to first slip Scott Borthwick.The Durham spearhead, who hadn’t featured in the Championship since June due to his England commitments, finished his first spell on this final morning with figures of 10-1-30-5 and ended the game when he had Anderson Phillip leg before wicket to complete a match return of 12 for 126.”That feels really good,” Potts said afterwards. “It was great to come back and deliver for the boys at the end of the season. I felt that was only right that we turned up to do the job.”Scott Borthwick told me after my sixth over that it was time to put my feet on ice but I got a wicket and he said: “Okay, I’ll leave you on,” and I said “Good luck taking me off,” but after my tenth over I was absolutely goosed. I’d thrown everything I could at them.”I took the second new ball and threw the old one as far as I could off the field. It’s a disgusting thing, I’ve got it in my pocket and it looks as though I’ve been throwing it for my dogs for the past hour.”Durham take 24 points from the game, effectively ending any lingering fears of relegation, whereas Lancashire take one point, a return which keeps them in ninth place in Division One and deepens their anxieties that they will be playing in the second tier next April.”Ours is a very quiet changing room at the moment,” Keaton Jennings, Lancashire’s captain, said. “The players are hurting. It’s tough to take, you don’t want to turn up every week and get spanked around, it’s not why we spent months and months working in the winter.”We now have to make sure we turn up next week. We have two really big games ahead of us and it could come down to eight days of cricket.”Lancashire’s collapse began with the ninth ball of the morning when George Balderson was leg before wicket to Potts for 16 but it really moved into top gear about half an hour later when Venkatesh Iyer played on to the Durham fast bowler and Tom Hartley immediately lost his off stump when not attempting a stroke.Bailey prevented the hat-trick but nicked his second ball from Potts to Borthwick to leave yet another Lancashire innings in tatters on 195 for eight.Hurst and Anderson Philip delayed Durham for a few overs but Borthwick’s bowlers were not to be denied. Having made a fine 67 off 125 balls, Hurst hooked Potts to long leg where Callum Parkinson took an excellent tumbling catch a few inches from the boundary rope.After an entertaining last-wicket stand of 61 in 12 overs between Anderson Philip and Tom Aspinwall, the game ended when Potts was recalled and dismissed Phillip for 41. Aspinwall finished unbeaten on 26.The bad news for Durham supporters ahead of their final two Championship games is that Potts will now join England’s squad for the one-day internationals and will not be available to the county for the rest of the season.

Both players were due to be released from hospital in Perth on Saturday afternoon

Tristan Lavalette and Andrew McGlashan03-Jan-2025Cameron Bancroft is set to be ruled out of the remainder of the BBL with a broken nose and fractured shoulder while Daniel Sams faces at least 12 days out of action under concussion protocols following the scary on-field collision at Optus Stadium on Friday night.Both players were due to be released from hospital on Saturday afternoon following the results of CT scans which have not shown further significant injuries. They will remain in Perth, supported by members of Thunder’s backroom staff, while the rest of the squad travels to Brisbane.Being from Western Australia, Bancroft has family in Perth while Thunder have flown Sams’ wife across to be with him while he recovers. A decision on when Sams returns to Sydney will be made based on medical advice. There is a chance he does not feature again in the tournament.”Largely, the players are in good spirits,” Thunder general manager Trent Copeland told reporters at the SCG. “In the last hour, we’ve had confirmation that CT scans have come back largely pretty clear.”Cameron is with family in Perth, he had family with him at the hospital along with team staff. The likelihood is that he’s going to be out for the remainder of the BBL. Dan Sams doesn’t have that luxury, away from home, so we’ve flown his wife Dani over there today and we’ve had some team staff not go on the team flight to Brisbane for the Heat match tomorrow night. It’s a monitoring process from here. Hopefully through the next couple of days, we get some good news.”Ollie Davies and Hugh Weibgen were brought into the Thunder side as concussion substitutes with Weibgen going on to hit a crucial six in what became a final-ball victory. Davies was in the team hotel at the time of the accident with a virus and quickly made his way to the ground.”Sydney Thunder would like to thank medical and other staff on hand following the accident, including those from the Scorchers, Cricket Australia and our own staff,” a club statement added. “Cameron and Daniel have received the best care possible and we will support them and their families as they recover from their injuries.”The incident happen in the 16th over of Scorchers’ innings, when Cooper Connolly hit Lockie Ferguson aerially on the leg side. Sams sprinted from the infield with eyes on the ball. At the same time, Bancroft also ran in at full speed from the outfield. They crashed into each other, knocking their heads.The Thunder players quickly ran to the pair, who lay motionless on the ground, and frantically gestured for medical support, which came immediately.Sams was stretchered off in a mini-ambulance, while Bancroft managed to walk off the ground with a physio’s support with blood gushing from his nose.Play was halted for about 20 minutes as Thunder captain David Warner and the team’s coaches were involved in discussions with match officials.”I’m praying that they can come out soon and be back on the park,” said Sherfane Rutherford, who hit a boundary off the last ball to lift Thunder to a four-wicket victory. “I actually saw everything but when I saw the blood, I turned because I’m not a fan of blood. It was pretty tough. It was definitely motivation for us. We had a little chat before we went out to bat and it was just [do it] for them.”The collision took place close to where Hilton Cartwright was stretchered off after suffering a fielding mishap in the BBL season-opener.