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Jamaica Tallawahs lose Andre McCarthy and Jeavor Royal, who had come into contact with a player who had tested positive for Covid-19

Shashank Kishore03-Aug-2020St Kitts & Nevis Patriots have had to rejig their backroom staffers’ line-up just two weeks before CPL 2020 after Simon Helmot, their head coach, and Malolan Rangarajan, the assistant coach, were forced to miss the tournament for different reasons. The franchise has brought in former West Indies captain Courtney Walsh and Mark O’Donnell from New Zealand, who had worked together with Jamaica Tallawahs in 2015, to fill the gaps.Helmot tested positive for Covid-19 on July 27, the day he was to fly out of Melbourne to the Caribbean, while Rangarajan is a talent scout at Royal Challengers Bangalore, and is expected to be involved in the team’s pre-season camp in the UAE from the end of August. Rangarajan will, however, continue to assist the Patriots remotely as a strategic consultant.Current CPL guidelines require all players and support staff to clear Covid-19 tests before they fly out to the Caribbean and fulfil a two-week quarantine period in Trinidad & Tobago, where the entire season will be played.”I tested positive five hours before I was to fly out, and I’m shattered that I won’t be able to be part of Patriots this season,” Helmot told ESPNcricinfo. “I was asymptomatic, and my second test has come back negative, but I’m still in home isolation until the department of health and human services give me a green signal.”Victoria is currently in stage four of lockdown, after a recent spike in cases. Because of my quarantine restrictions, I wouldn’t have been able to make it in time for the season owing to the quarantine protocols. I’m incredibly thankful to Mahesh Ramani, the franchise owner, and the CPL team of Pete Russell, Tom Moody and the others for working incredibly hard behind the scenes to put it together.”Helmot, who was coach when Trinbago Knight Riders won the title in 2015, has a multi-year contract with the Patriots, and is hoping to return to the Caribbean next year. He has also previously been involved with Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash league, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, apart from stints in Bangladesh as head of their high-performance centre.Patriots were also hit by the news, reported by , that 33-year-old left-arm spinner Dennis Bulli has also tested positive for Covid-19, and has been replaced in the squad by 36-year-old Trinidad & Tobago legspinner Imran Khan.Meanwhile, Tallawahs have been hit by the withdrawal of two squad members, Andre McCarthy and Jeavor Royal, who had come into close contact with another player who had tested positive for Covid-19. “To lose both players… it is a big blow,” Tallawahs CEO Jeff Miller told . “But at the end of the day, the safety of the players comes first.”Jermaine Blackwood, West Indies’ leading run-scorer on their Test tour to England, will come in as a replacement player, while young Australian allrounder Antum Naqvi replaces Tabraiz Shamsi, who has had to opt out because South Africa’s borders remain closed.

Opener’s attacking 80 sees Sussex overturn first-inning deficit of 79 and push on into useful lead

ECB Reporters Network06-Apr-2019A typically vigorous innings from Sussex opener Phil Salt helped dispel his side’s unhappy memories of their disappointing first-innings display against Leicestershire at Hove. Salt hit 11 fours and a hooked six off Will Davis as he and opening partner Tom Haines made light work of a first-innings deficit of 79.Salt’s dynamic 80 from 67 deliveries helped make up for his four-ball duck on the opening day. In the first over, he hit Chris Wright for three fours, straight, to third man and to backward-point. He scored 41 off 27 balls as he and Haines raised the 50. And the opening pair took just 16 overs to wipe off the arrears.As the Sussex press officer quipped: “We’ve had Greenidge and Haynes – now we have Salt and Haines!” And Salt, like the legendary West Indies openers, was brought up in Barbados.Salt’s tempo slowed, allowing Haines to catch up a little. But he still managed to reach his half-century off 41 deliveries. In a bid to stem the tide Leicestershire brought on offspinner Colin Ackerman to bowl the last over before tea, and with his fifth ball he had Haines lbw for 39.Ackermann removed Salt, too, with the score on 136 in the 29th over. It was a tame end to a vivid innings as he tapped a return catch to the bowler. But then the Leicestershire bowlers came up against another Sussex batsman with a point to prove. Luke Wells had also made a duck in his first innings, but he showed determination as he dug in with Stiaan van Zyl. The unbroken third-wicket partnership is so far worth 75, with both batsmen undefeated on 41.Leicestershire had started the cold and blustery second day on 131 for 5, 42 runs behind, and looked unlikely to reach their 252 when, in the fifth over of the morning, Harry Dearden, half-forward, was lbw to a ball from Ollie Robinson which kept a little low.But a seventh-wicket stand of 52 in 17 overs between Lewis Hill and Tom Taylor took them past the Sussex total. When Hill leg-glanced David Wiese for a single in the 14th over of the day Leicestershire went past the Sussex total. Hill took a battling hour to add the 10 runs he needed to reach his half-century.Sussex fought back with three wickets in seven overs. Spinner Danny Briggs bowled Hill, sweeping, for 67 and then Haines had Taylor lbw for 33. Gavin Griffiths was caught behind off Chris Jordan for 1, but then a last-wicket stand of 31 between Wright and Davis frustrated the Sussex bowlers and delayed lunch by 30 minutes.

Lahore Qalandars whimpered to 119 against Quetta Gladiators, who in turn waltzed to their target with nine wickets and six overs to spare

Danyal Rasool24-Feb-2018In a nutshellThis was less a match than an incisive analysis of Lahore Qalandars’ weakness. In an amateur, unthinking batting display, Lahore whimpered to 119 against the Quetta Gladiators, who in turn felt no need to take any risks, and waltzed to the target with nine wickets and six overs to spare.The Qalandars were put in to bat, and Brendon McCullum, opening with Sunil Narine, gave their side the best possible start. Narine smashed Shane Watson for 24 runs in an over as Lahore raced to 45 in the first three overs. McCullum was timing the ball beautifully too, but as soon as Narine fell, Quetta’s bowlers found a way to break in. The first five overs fetched 50, the next 15 fetched 59, and the hollowness of Lahore’s middle order was on full display yet again.Watson was in devastating form, and Asad Shafiq at the other end was the perfect foil to him. Even though the pair took no unnecessary risks – just 41 were scored in the first six – Watson was just warming up. He took Narine for 21 runs in the seventh over, and from thereon Sarfraz Ahmed’s men were coasting. With scoreboard pressure non-existent, Quetta played as they wanted. In the end, the straight drive that sealed the win was a merciful end to a rotten day for Lahore.Where the match was wonLahore were playing a high-risk game. The result hinged on how long they could sustain that intensity. It was crucial for Quetta to strike early, and Narine’s wicket in the fourth over proved vital. Fakhar Zaman couldn’t repeat his heroics from Friday, spooning a return catch to Jofra Archer for one, and a clever review to effect a McCullum lbw saw Lahore lose their top three within 11 balls of each other. With the big three out of the way, Quetta’s stranglehold on the game was virtually invincible.The men that won it
Last year, Lahore nearly defended 59 in a thrilling game they eventually lost by three wickets. A target of 120 could have been tricky, but Shafiq and Watson stomped on Lahore’s hopes. A wicketless Powerplay was followed by the pair finally letting loose, Watson responsible for much of the carnage as he stormed to 50 in just 28 balls. By the time he was dismissed for 66, his side were merely 28 runs away from victory, and the contest was all but over.Nawaz’s record
Mohammad Nawaz would have been perfectly happy with not bowling in the Powerplay overs, but when he did come on, he couldn’t have been much better. Nawaz’s introduction dried up the singles altogether. Bowling a tight, unrelenting line and varying his pace adroitly, Nawaz rendered the the batsmen helpless. In a stunning four-over spell, he accounted for the dangerous McCullum and Cameron Delport, conceding just four runs – the most economical spell ever in the PSL.Moment of the match
Watson is a seasoned T20 professional, and his pride would have taken a dent when Narine took him to task in the third over of Lahore’s innings, walloping him for three fours and two sixes in an over that cost 24 – the most expensive at this year’s PSL so far. Quietly, he began plotting his revenge, and finally pounced in the seventh over of the Gladiators innings. With Narine bowling, Watson hit him for two sixes and two boundaries, and took 21 off his over to give the West Indian a taste of his own medicine.Where they stand
Lahore Qalandars are rock bottom of the table with two losses from two. Quetta have won one and lost the other, and are placed fourth.

With his fifth century of the season – the most by a Gujarat batsman – Priyank Panchal dominated Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy semi-final in Nagpur

The Report by Shashank Kishore in Nagpur01-Jan-2017
ScorecardPriyank Panchal is 151 runs shy of overtaking VVS Laxman’s record for most runs in a Ranji Trophy season•Sunny Shinde

On January 1, 2016, Priyank Panchal wrote in his diary – a habit he had inculcated at the age of 19 – “Need to learn to convert starts and not just be happy with 650-700 runs in a season.” On January 1, 2017 his entry could possibly read: “Aim to convert an unbeaten 144 into a double or possibly a triple-century and help Gujarat reach their first-ever Ranji Trophy final.”During the course of his fifth century of the season, the most by a Gujarat batsman, Panchal almost doubled his previous best aggregate of 665 runs in 2015-16. His innings had flair and grit in equal measure and helped Gujarat dominate on a green-tinged surface that belied expectations.As the day progressed, a wearing Jharkhand attack were ground down further by Parthiv Patel’s aggressive 62 in a third-wicket stand of 139 as Gujarat ended day one of the semi-final against Jharkhand on 283 for 3 at Nagpur’s old Civil Lines ground.During the course of his 252-ball vigil, Panchal also displaced Wasim Jaffer from fourth position in the list of highest run-getters in a Ranji season. With potentially another day’s batting and at least one more innings to come, the record books could have a fresh entry at the top. Panchal is only 151 runs short of VVS Laxman’s all-time record of 1415, achieved in 1999-2000.Jharkhand, without the injured Ashish Kumar, their best fast bowler this season, struggled for rhythm with the new ball. Waywardness in the first six overs, where six boundaries flowed, set the tone. Panchal began with two nonchalant flicks for four in the second over, off Vikash Singh, and his opening partner Samit Gohel, who made a record-breaking, unbeaten 359 in his previous innings, drove Ajay Yadav confidently at the other end.It took the introduction of Rahul Shukla, who impressed with deceptive pace and accuracy, to stall Gujarat. He hit Panchal on the box, induced an edge that flew past third slip and then beat him with a superb outswinger. Jharkhand finally broke through in the 19th over as Gohel jabbed at a length ball from Vikash to gully where Virat Singh completed a fine, low catch.Panchal, at the other end, was unaffected. So confident was he in his abilities that he played the cut shot even with two points in place. So good was his timing that he beat the man in the deep thrice. He got eight of his 21 fours with the cut shot. Panchal showed proper technique against the bouncers too – dropping his wrists and swaying out of the way or fully ducking under them with the bat nice and low. He did get in trouble when he stabbed at short balls away from the body and if Nagpur had provided a two-paced pitch, he may have been surprised by the one that reared up. But on this true-paced pitch, he was able to adjust. Still Jharkhand could have dismissed Panchal for 110 in the 59th over, but Ishank Jaggi gave him a reprieve.Gujarat’s No. 3 Bhargav Merai, as he’s often done this season, got off to a solid start but wasted it when he was caught behind off Vikash for 39. The delivery was good, but the catch even better – Ishan Kishan took a step or two to his right before diving full length to take the ball, one-handed and in front of first slip. Gujarat were 127 for 2 but with little support for Vikash from the other fast bowlers, Jharkhand’s hopes of building on that wicket were on left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, who is also the season’s highest wicket-taker. However, there was hardly any turn for him on a surface where the ball slid on nicely. Parthiv’s swift footwork – both forward and back – made life even tougher for Nadeem, who toiled over 25 wicketless overs.Shortly before stumps Kaushal Singh, the part-time offspinner, got one to straighten from around the stumps to trap Parthiv lbw after a stylish half-century. But Manprit Juneja and Panchal saw off the final 45 minutes of play and Gujarat took the honours on New Year’s day.

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has urged the set batsmen to carry on and make a big score rather than leave it for the others in the batting group

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur08-Nov-2015Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has urged the batsmen in the side to carry on and make a big score once they are set instead of leaving it for the others in the batting group. Having clinched a 145-run win in the first ODI, Bangladesh will look to wrap the series in the second ODI in Mirpur on Monday.In the first ODI, Mushfiqur Rahim struck his fourth century that guided the hosts to a competitive 273, before Shakib Al Hasan’s five-wicket haul sealed the big win.Tamim said that if Mushfiqur hadn’t made the big score or hadn’t added 119 for the fifth wicket with Sabbir Rahman during a critical phase, things would have panned out differently. A set batsman should try to make the big score himself, Tamim said referring to his innings of 40 which ended in the 24th over after 96 minutes in the middle.”It is good for the team that someone comes up with a big score,” Tamim said. “But none of us should think about it. I got out for 40 and then what if [Sabbir Rahman] Rumman and Mushfiqur didn’t do well? The question would have been different. Whoever gets set, should try to score big. It shouldn’t be left to others.”My dismissal wasn’t great. I was set. I should have batted longer. I was doing what I wanted but my application, in that delivery, wasn’t correct. I was trying to hit the ball over cover but I ended up playing that way [long-on]. It was a mistake. I have to start from zero in the next match. I was on 40 yesterday so in that regard, it was a big miss. I wasn’t scoring freely at the time of my dismissal but I could have covered it. I will try to play a bigger innings tomorrow.”Tamim also said that there was some unusual extra bounce in the Mirpur pitch but conditions would get easier once batsmen spent more time in the middle. When asked whether the Bangladesh batting line-up has the potential to make 300-plus scores, Tamim agreed saying that they can do it against most bowling attacks if things go according to plan.”There was extra bounce on some deliveries in the early stages, which isn’t usual here,” Tamim said. “But I felt it was easier to play the pace bowlers than the spinners. There was some turn, either quick or slow. It took a bit of time to adjust. But those who batted for 20-30 balls, it became easier for them. We thought we would get around 250-260 when Mushfiqur and Sabbir were batting quite well. I think 273 is a good score on this wicket.”If everything goes to plan and we bat properly, we can get a bigger score [like 320-plus]. And that can be against any team. We have to keep an eye on their bowling too.”

South Australia’s interest in the Victorian legspinner James Muirhead has cost them a $15,000 fine after they were found to have breached Cricket Australia’s rules on player movements

ESPNcricinfo staff08-May-2013South Australia’s interest in the Victorian legspinner James Muirhead has cost them a $15,000 fine after they were found to have breached Cricket Australia’s rules on player movements. Muirhead, 19, was given a rookie contract by Cricket Victoria in July last year and made his Sheffield Shield debut against the Redbacks in Adelaide in January.But a Cricket Australia grievance tribunal has found that during the 2012-13 season, the South Australian Cricket Association held discussions with Muirhead before informing Cricket Victoria, thus breaking the rules regarding to contracted players. The tribunal made its ruling on April 3 but delayed a decision on its penalty until reconvening this week.Rule 4 of Cricket Australia’s Rules for Interstate Competitions states that a “state association must not (and must ensure that its constituent clubs do not) hold discussions with a CA contracted player or a state contracted player who is bound to another state association concerning the possible transfer of that player without first informing the player’s home state association”.Keith Bradshaw, the SACA chief executive, said: “SACA has always maintained that it has not breached Rule 4 of the Rules for Interstate Competitions but accepts that the Cricket Australia grievance tribunal process is now complete and a $15,000 penalty issued”.Muirhead had made his BBL debut for the Adelaide Strikers in the 2011-12 summer before he was given his rookie deal with Victoria. However, he switched to the Melbourne Renegades for the 2012-13 season.

Matt Coles, Charlie Shreck and Darren Stevens took three wickets apiece as Kent dominated the first day of their County Championship match against Northamptonshire

12-Apr-2012
ScorecardMatt Coles claimed 3 for 32 as Northamptonshire slumped to 132 all out after choosing to bat•PA Photos

Matt Coles, Charlie Shreck and Darren Stevens took three wickets apiece as Kent dominated the first day of their County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Northampton.The home side were bowled out before tea for a paltry 132, with Alex Wakely top-scoring with 33 and Coles, who hit a hundred at No. 9 against Yorkshire last week, taking the best figures of 3 for 32. A partnership of 83 between West Indies international Brendan Nash and Ben Harmison then helped Kent to 127 for 3 at the close.Northamptonshire won the toss but they lost opener Rob Newton for 7 in the fifth over when he edged Mark Davies to James Tredwell at first slip. It was slow going during a chilly morning session and Stephen Peters was the next batsman back in the pavilion after being trapped lbw by Coles.Kyle Coetzer crawled to 11 off 60 balls before he fell cheaply by smashing Shreck to Nash at cover and captain David Sales was to perish on 13 in the penultimate over before lunch when his edge off Shreck was superbly taken at second slip by Tredwell diving low to his right.Shreck then picked up his third wicket in the ninth over of the afternoon when he pinned Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien lbw for 12. James Middlebrook threw his wicket away when he launched Coles high into the air and Kent captain Rob Key took the catch at midwicket.Chaminda Vaas lasted just three balls without scoring before he became Stevens’ first victim when he nudged him to Geraint Jones. Wakely then fell to Stevens, caught leg before, and the same man bowled Lee Daggett two balls later.The innings was brought to an end when David Willey, who provided some resistance with 24, was well caught by Davies at square leg off Coles.In reply, Kent lost Key in the eighth over when he was trapped lbw by Brooks and Scott Newman followed for 26 two overs later when he slashed Brooks to Middlebrook at gully. Harmison played confidently before he ran himself out when he was sent back by Nash and Willey made a direct hit from point.Nash then survived the remaining four overs with nightwatchman Davies to ensure their side will start tomorrow in a strong position.

ESPNcricinfo previews the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab in Mumbai

The Preview by Nitin Sundar01-May-2011

Match facts

Monday, May 2 Mumbai
Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)Adam Gilchrist returns to the Wankhede, where he played one of his best Test innings back in 2001•AFP

Big picture

Having played only six games, Kings XI Punjab are in a far better position than their eighth place in the points table suggests. They will know, though, that they could have been much better off if not for defeats in their previous two games. The bowlers came a cropper in the run-fest against Delhi Daredevils, before the batting misfired against Kolkata Knight Riders. Punjab’s other problem is potential rustiness. They have played only twice in ten days, a luxury rarely afforded in a tournament with mind-bogglingly fast turn-arounds. Positions in the league have changed with the randomness of a top-end washing machine; the next few days could be Punjab’s chance to move up the ladder.Their defeat in Jaipur notwithstanding, Mumbai Indians have been a clinical and efficient juggernaut. If anything, they will be smarting from the drubbing at Rajasthan Royal’s hands. Sachin Tendulkar has had a couple of failures after a strong start to the tournament. Davy Jacobs and Ambati Rayudu have also gone off the boil in the last week. Punjab’s bowlers should brace for a strong resurgence. Their batsmen should find armoured toe-caps since Lasith Malinga will once again look to sling down those yorkers.

Form guide (most recent first)

Mumbai: LWWWW (third in points table)
Punjab: LLWWW (eighth in points table)

Team talk

Abhishek Nayar’s place in the Punjab XI will come under scrutiny. Paras Dogra or Mandeep Singh could come in if they look to bolster the batting. They might also choose to bench one of their three spinners, in which case either Piyush Chawla or Bipul Sharma will sit out.Mumbai might have run out of reasons to retain R Sathish. T Suman will consider himself unlucky if he misses out again.Predict the playing XIs for this match. Play ESPNcricinfo Team selector.

In the spotlight

Paul Valthaty loves to get a half-step forward and hit cleanly through the line. Lasith Malinga loves to push batsmen like Valthaty into their crease with scorching yorkers. The former is from Mumbai. The latter plays for Mumbai. The real fans at the Wankhede will root for Valthaty. One way or the other, this mini-battle should be fun to watch.Adam Gilchrist played one of his most memorable Test innings at this very ground, back in 2001. He came up against Harbhajan Singh, on the threshold of greatness, and tamed him with an unforgettable assault. Ten years hence, Gilchrist has called time on an illustrious career, and enjoys himself in the IPL. Ten years hence, Harbhajan has managed to produce sparks of brilliance without reprising 2001. Expect fireworks when he runs in to Gilchrist on Monday.

Prime numbers

• Malinga has the most wickets (17), the best strike-rate (9.7) as well as the best average (9.64) in the tournament
• Harbhajan and Malinga have picked up two of the three five-fors in the tournament

The chatter

“They are the best team in the competition, no doubt about that. They have a star-studded line-up that includes some good Indian domestic talent.”

Junaid Siddique, the Bangladesh opener, has been ruled out of the unofficial four-day Test series against South Africa after injuring his hand while fielding on day two in Mirpur

Cricinfo staff25-Apr-2010Junaid Siddique, the Bangladesh opener, has been ruled out of the unofficial four-day Test series against South Africa after injuring his hand while fielding on day two in Mirpur. Junaid, captaining Bangladesh A, hurt himself while fielding in the slips and faces at least a ten-day lay-off.”He had three stitches in his right hand and needs at least 10 to 12 days to recover from it. There is no chance for him to play the second four-dayer also,” said the Bangladesh chief selector Rafiqul Alam.The second unofficial Test begins April 28. Bangladesh will then host a one-day tournament against South Africa A and West Indies A. They will then play two four-day games against West Indies A.

Victor Osimhen reportedly faces the threat of a fine at Napoli following his substitution outburst against Bologna.

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• Striker missed penalty in 0-0 draw
• Taken off towards the end
• Disagreed with decision of head coach

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Nigeria international, who helped to fire Napoli to Serie A title glory last season, did not take kindly to being hauled off with four minutes remaining in the goalless stalemate. He had earlier missed a penalty that could have wrapped up all three points for Rudi Garcia’s side.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Osimhen was caught on camera airing his frustration towards Garcia after seeing his number held up, with the 24-year-old frontman of the opinion that Napoli should have gone with two strikers while pushing for a late winner.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Garcia has said the details of a heated discussion will remain private, with claiming that club captain Giovanni di Lorenzo has been charged with the task of speaking to Osimhen about his behaviour. It is also reported that the African ace could now be fined as a result of his touchline rant.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Napoli are eager to make it clear that no player is allowed to step out of line, or to question the decisions of head coach Garcia, with Osimhen having that pointed out to him during a chat with Di Lorenzo. A meeting between the star player and frustrated manager is due to take place at the club’s training ground on Monday.