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India captain confirms series finale will be veteran fast bowler’s international swansong

Valkerie Baynes21-Sep-2022India targeted victory over England in the second ODI so that they could give Jhulan Goswami a fitting send-off at Lord’s, captain Harmanpreet Kaur has said.Harmanpreet confirmed that Saturday’s third and final fixture of India’s tour will be Goswami’s last before she retires from international cricket after a career spanning two decades.Victory in Canterbury meant India took an unassailable 2-0 lead into the final match having clinched their first series win in the format against England in England since 1999. The margin of victory on Wednesday was emphatic – by 88 runs with 34 balls to spare – and built on Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 143 as she took her side to 333 for 5, their second-highest ODI total.Related

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“When you win the first game, the second game is always important and we always try to finish that game as a winning side and today also we were looking at that only because we don’t want to carry any extra pressure on ourselves going to Lord’s,” Harmanpreet said.”The Lord’s game is very special for us because it’s Jhulan’s retirement and we wanted to enjoy that game without any pressure and I’m really happy that we were able to win today and now we can just have fun in that game.”The next game will be the first time either side has played at Lord’s since their thrilling 2017 World Cup final showdown, which England won by nine runs, and Harmanpreet said India were keen to reverse the result for Goswami. But, more importantly, they wanted to enjoy the occasion.”It’s very important [to win] because that will be her last game,” Harmanpreet added. “It will be a very emotional moment for all of us and we definitely want to win that game.”Moreover, after winning the series now we just want to have fun because I know it’s the last game for her.”Goswami, 39, was named in India’s squad for the three ODIs in England after missing the preceding 50-over series in Sri Lanka in July. She had previously played for India during the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand in March, where she missed India’s final group game against South Africa with a side strain.All that set up a farewell tour of England on which she has so far taken one wicket from two games and where her presence, Harmanpreet said, had been invaluable as India look to build the experience of their younger seam bowlers.”She’s someone who has taught us a lot,” said Harmanpreet who made her ODI debut in the 2009 World Cup, when Goswami was captain. “When I debuted she was a leader and I learned a lot from her and now our young bowlers, like Renuka [Singh] and Meghna Singh, they are also learning from her. They are learning how she bowls and getting that rhythm from her. She’s been a great inspiration for all of us and we’ve learned a lot from her.”Goswami will leave the game as the highest wicket-taker in women’s internationals, with 353 wickets so far across formats. She began her international career as a 19-year old in January 2002, and has played 12 Tests, 68 T20Is and 203 ODIs. She holds the record for the most wickets in ODIs with a tally of 253.

Delhi replaced Hiten Dalal with Shokeen, with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka – among other teams – also using the tactical-substitute rule

Shashank Kishore11-Oct-2022Delhi’s Hrithik Shokeen became the first tactical substitute – known as “Impact Player” – in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy that began across the country on Tuesday. Shokeen, an offspinner, was brought into the game at the start of the second innings, with Delhi defending 167 against Manipur in an Elite Group B fixture of the T20 competition.Shokeen replaced opener Hiten Dalal, who had earlier contributed 47 from 27 balls after Delhi were put into bat. Eventually, Shokeen had an impact with the ball, finishing with figures of 2 for 13 in three overs as Delhi opened their campaign with a 71-run win.Related

• BCCI set to introduce tactical substitutions in Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20s

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Elsewhere, among other notable substitutions on the opening day, Tamil Nadu opener Hari Nishaanth replaced fast bowler T Natarajan in their game against Chhattisgarh, while Karnataka’s legspinning allrounder Shreyas Gopal came in for opener Devdutt Padikkal in their tournament opener against Maharashtra.The decision to play Nishaanth gave Tamil Nadu an extra batting option in their chase of 133 after it seemingly emerged that Natarajan, listed at No. 11 in the starting XI, was unlikely to have any further impact in the match. Nishaanth opened the batting and made 33 from 36 deliveries. However, defending champions Tamil Nadu ultimately fell short by six runs.In Mohali, Karnataka brought in Gopal in their defence of 215 after Padikkal became this season’s first centurion with a blistering 124 scored using only half the number of balls. Gopal ended up bowling three overs for figures of 1 for 15 as Karnataka won by 99 runs.The BCCI has trialled the impact-player concept at the SMA T20s to get feedback from players and coaches. Should it receive a positive nod, this rule could be introduced in IPL 2023.As per the rules, teams are supposed to list four substitutes along with the starting XI at the toss. One of these four players can then replace any member of the starting XI before the end of the 14th over of either innings, and will be able to bat and bowl his full allotment of overs.There are no restrictions on the role the incoming impact player can play. For example, the impact player can replace a batter who has already been dismissed, and still get to bat as long as the team only uses 11 batters; or he could replace a bowler who has already sent down a few overs and still get to bowl his full four-over quota.The only scenario where teams can’t use an impact player is when shortened games are reduced to below ten overs per side right from the start. However, if the match begins as a full 20-over match and is then truncated with the batting side having already faced ten overs when interruption happens, both sides will be able to use the impact player regardless.

Eighty-run victory keeps pressure on Nottinghamshire as Division Two climax looms

ECB Reporters Network23-Sep-2022Having had Leicestershire on the ropes at 13 for four at Thursday’s close, Middlesex took rather longer than anticipated to finish the job, but duly completed an 80-run victory to set up an unexpectedly exciting finale to the Division Two campaign in the LV= Insurance County Championship, with still three contenders for the two promotion places.Toby Roland-Jones finished with four for 50 and seven wickets in the match as Leicestershire were bowled out for 194, Colin Ackermann mounting the most significant show of resistance, batting almost four hours for his 80.Tailenders Chris Wright and Michael Finan had some fun at the end, thrashing 61 runs in just over 11 overs for the final wicket.Nottinghamshire had looked to have the Division Two title in the bag after seven wins, but after their humbling defeat by Worcestershire at New Road earlier this week, Middlesex’s victory makes a substantial hole in their cushion at the top of the table.It means the leaders will begin the last round of fixtures on Monday with their advantage cut to just nine points, with Middlesex in second place, although themselves looking nervously over their shoulders at Glamorgan, whose win against Derbyshire in Cardiff puts them only nine points further back in third spot.Nottinghamshire’s final opponents are Durham at Trent Bridge, while Middlesex themselves travel to Worcester. Glamorgan take on Sussex at Hove.Leicestershire might have been in further disarray on the third evening had bad light not allowed them to return to the haven of the dressing room earlier than scheduled.They lasted just over half an hour on the final morning before losing their fifth wicket, Harry Swindells walking even before the umpire’s finger was raised after a swinging delivery from Roland-Jones hit him squarely in front.Tom Scriven, the former England Under-19s all-rounder, played nicely alongside Ackermann as the pair added 34 for the sixth wicket, but the introduction of Luke Hollman’s leg spin brought an immediate dividend, as it had twice previously in the match.Scriven was his victim this time, popping up a bat-pad catch to short leg as he sought to flick one away. When Barnes fell without scoring, beaten for pace when lbw to Ethan Bamber, Leicestershire were 70 for seven.Yet with the obdurate Callum Parkinson now at the other end, Middlesex were frustrated for more than an hour and a half before they could claim the eighth wicket, Leicestershire adding 65 runs in the process, with Ackermann surviving a chance to wicketkeeper John Simpson on 51.The breakthrough came via an unexpected route. Sam Robson succeeded where Hollman had been unable to make further inroads, the off-spinner deploying a leg break to have Ackermann leg before on the sweep.One wicket brought another as Parkinson fell in the next over, Tim Murtagh pushing one through to hit the front pad in line.Yet Middlesex were made to wait for a little longer before their celebrations could begin, Wright and Finan taking the opportunity to swing the bat under no pressure, the former finishing 36 not out after Finan holed out to deep midwicket off Robson to end the contest at 3.15pm.Leicestershire, deeply rooted at the bottom of the table, have one more chance – away to Derbyshire – to avoid another full season without a Championship win, a fate that befell them three times in the last decade.

The Pakistan legspinner will provide cover for Tanveer Sangha as he continues his recovery from a stress fracture

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2022Sydney Thunder have signed Pakistan legspinner Usman Qadir to bolster their bowling attack for the BBL.He will chiefly provide cover for Tanveer Sangha who has yet to play this season due a stress fracture of his back. Qadir is the fourth overseas player on Thunder’s list alongside Alex Hale, Rilee Rossouw and Fazalhaq Farooqi with a team able to field three in an XI.Farooqi, the Afghanistan quick bowler, was a recent signing after David Willey withdrew from his deal having been Thunder’s platinum signing in the overseas player draft earlier this year.Related

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Qadir, who has played 23 T20Is for Pakistan, has previous BBL experience having played for Perth Scorchers and three years ago had declared an ambition to play for Australia before pursuing his international career with Pakistan.His record for Scorchers was modest with six wickets in seven matches with an economy rate of 8.45. He was a reserve player for Pakistan at the recent T20 World Cup in Australia.”Usman joins us with plenty of experience, having represented Pakistan, and playing in T20 leagues around the world,” Andrew Gilchrist, the head of Sydney Thunder, said. “Importantly, he has firsthand knowledge of Australian conditions, he played for Western Australia and South Australia’s Futures League, so he knows what to expect.”Thunder begin their BBL campaign on the opening day of the tournament against Melbourne Stars in Canberra.Qadir’s father, Abdul, who died in 2019, was recently inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.Sydney Thunder squad Ben Cutting, Ollie Davies, Brendan Doggett, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Usman Qadir, Alex Ross, Rilee Rossouw, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner.

Teenage legspinner will become England’s youngest men’s debutant

Vithushan Ehantharajah15-Dec-2022Rehan Ahmed will become England men’s youngest Test debutant after being named in the XI for Karachi*. Ahmed comes in as one of two changes, alongside the returning Ben Foakes, as England look to complete a 3-0 series sweep.Ahmed, the 18-year-old legspinning allrounder, was added to the squad during the pre-tour camp in Abu Dhabi. He has not been directly involved in the first two Tests but has been a regular substitute fielder, in particular in the Rawalpindi Test when Liam Livingstone suffered a tour-ending knee injury.Ahmed came close to the XI for that first Test when left-arm spinner Jack Leach’s participation was thrown into doubt after he was struck down by a virus that infected half the squad. Leach pulled through and, along with the offspin of Joe Root and Will Jacks, has provided the slow-bowling options on two flat pitches.Livingstone’s injury, however, means that Ahmed is the only wristspinner in the squad. His work in the nets continued at Karachi’s National Stadium on Thursday, when he and the other alternates underwent a training session while those who played a part in the series-sealing 26-run win in Multan were given the day off to rest or play golf.Related

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Stokes’ confirmed England’s team a day out from the final Test, with Ahmed and Foakes replacing Will Jacks and the rested James Anderson. Foakes’ return behind the stumps will allow Ollie Pope to focus on batting at No. 3.Speaking at the team hotel in Thursday, Stokes insisted that handing Ahmed his first cap would be a decision based on ability rather than an act of charity. His selection at the age in of 18 years and 126 days means he will surpass the long-standing record held by Brian Close (18 years and 149 days) as England’s youngest male Test player.”We’ve been thinking about it,” Stokes said. “We can’t go into too much detail until me and Baz [Brendon McCullum] have had a look at the wicket.”When we spoke about having Rehan into the squad, it was more than just bringing him in and integrating him into the squad. We did speak about us having no issues with selecting him if we felt it was the right option. I don’t think this is a case of, if he was to play, of giving caps away. We picked him in the squad not just because of his talent, but because we thought it would be a good opportunity to play if we thought it was necessary.”A maiden international cap ends a breakthrough year on a high for Ahmed. It began with 12 wickets during the Under-19 World Cup in February as England finished runners-up to India. A first-class debut in Division Two of the County Championship came in May, and he ended the summer with a maiden five-wicket haul and century against Derbyshire. In between whiles, he training alongside England’s white-ball squads during their series with India and South Africa, and played five matches for Southern Brave in the Hundred.Though Ahmed was not originally in the 15-man squad selected for this first series back in Pakistan since 2005, but his addition was not as last-minute as it seemed. The prospect had been floated in the initial selection meeting with two primary takeaways: the importance of insulating Ahmed from outside pressure, particularly from the media, and that head coach McCullum wanted to see and work with Ahmed first before taking him on tour.That opportunity came during the training camp, and McCullum was suitably impressed by both Ahmed’s ability and mentality. Though he did not enjoy the best time with the ball in the England versus England Lions warm-up match, conceding 73 in eight wicketless overs, he provided a snapshot of his pluck with the bat, striking 26 from 10 deliveries for the Lions.He has continued to make an impression over the last few weeks. And it was instructive that, when asked of what he has made of the youngster, Stokes admitted he isn’t sure which of Ahmed’s two suits is his strongest.Ahmed was an integral member of the England team that reached the Under-19 World Cup final this year•ICC via Getty

“I’m struggling to work out what he is, whether he’s a batter or a legspinner, which is I guess good, because it shows how much talent he’s got. We got snippets of what he can do with the bat in that warm-up game briefly.”But having a wrist-spinner is always exciting, especially for England, but it’s not getting too carried away with the potential that he has, because he is only young, and you’ve still got to nurture talent, even how exciting it is.”It is worth noting that Ahmed will be the first player from a minority background selected under Stokes’ captaincy. All nine XIs selected previously have been exclusively white.English cricket is currently enduring a period of introspection around race, with Azeem Rafiq saying the sport is in denial about racism during his DCMS committee hearing on Tuesday. The new year will see the delayed Cricket Discipline Commission hearing into allegations of racism against Rafiq’s former county, Yorkshire, along with recommendations to the ECB from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) to improve equality around race, gender and class.A lack of diversity around the England team is primarily a reflection of issues further down the chain. When asked about the issue, Stokes said he believed cricket was an inclusive sport but acknowledged Ahmed could inspire future generations.”Whenever I have been asked about this, I have always felt cricket is a very inclusive sport,” he said. “Certainly, in my time in the England team you have been selected on your skills as a cricketer first and foremost. That still should be the way going forward regardless of your beliefs or what you look like or anything like that. If you’re good enough to represent this country, you’re going to get picked.”Players especially like Rehan, he could be an unbelievable example to set to younger kids who want to come up. They may have maybe heard about what’s happened in cricket recently [but] he can be seen an example of ‘no, we’ve got this 18-year-old hopefully a potential superstar, why can’t I be that?’ But English cricket to me has always been if you’re good enough, you’re going to get selected and I don’t see it being any different going forward.”*December 16, 08.15 GMT – This story was updated with confirmation of Ahmed’s debut

The Afghanistan board calls CA’s decision “pathetic”, and says it will write to the ICC over the issue

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2023Rashid Khan has threatened to pull out of the BBL, where he plays for Adelaide Strikers, following Cricket Australia’s decision to withdraw its men’s team from a bilateral ODI series against Afghanistan in March because of the Taliban’s stance banning university education for girls in the country.”I am really disappointed to hear that Australia have pulled out of the series to play us in March,” Rashid said. “I take great pride in representing my country, and we have made great progress on the world stage. This decision from CA sets us back in that journey. If playing vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia, then I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. Therefore, I will be strongly considering my future in that competition.”Rashid played eight matches for Strikers this season before leaving to play for MI Cape Town in the SA20. He was not expected to return to the BBL this season because of conflicting commitments.